Paul Wharton, 94, longtime Hillsborough County educator, dies

From the Times Breaking News blog:

Paul Wharton, a longtime educator and administrator in Hillsborough County, has died at age 94.

Mr. Wharton had suffered a gall bladder attack in early March, according to his son-in-law, Stephen Michelini. He underwent surgery and recovered, then had a relapse about a week ago. He died at 8 a.m. today, surrounded by family members.

Wharton High School in New Tampa is named for Mr. Wharton, who also is a former principal of Plant High School. During his career in the Hillsborough County School District, he rose through the administration as a student-expulsion hearing officer. He was strict but fair, both on the job and with his family, Michelini said.

"He'd take you to task in a heartbeat," Michelini said.

Funeral director Lee Anderson remembers Mr. Wharton fondly from his years at Plant, where Anderson graduated in 1966.

"He was a wonderful principal and a wonderful person," Anderson said. "He was upbeat and very nice." Though strict, "You could talk to him easily in the hallways," he said. "He didn't act like he was above the students."

Active in his retirement, Mr. Wharton followed closely the progress of the New Tampa high school and its sports teams. More recently, at his request, he received a letter jacket from Plant.

"He was beaming from ear to ear," Michelini said.

Marlene Sokol, Times Staff Writer

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Need to network?

Kathy Reed, a distributor with SendOutCards, will talk about how businesses can increase revenue by retaining customers and developing loyal relationships at the BNI Platinum Club meeting at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday (April 1) at the Heritage Golf and Country Club, 19502 Heritage Parkway, Lutz. Call (813) 263-7168.

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Crime report March 19-25

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This report contains incidents called in to the Tampa Police Department for ZIP code 33647 from March 19-25. Please contact Tampa police for more information on individual reports. Addresses may reflect where the incident happened or who reported it.

• ALTAVISTA AV, 10200 BLK, Assault/Battery, Friday, 3/20, 4:23 p.m.
• WAREHAM DR, 7100 BLK, Burglary, Thursday, 3/19, 4:12 p.m.
• PLANTATION OAKS DR, 15400 BLK, Domestic Violence, Thursday, 3/19, 12:51 a.m.
• BRUCE B DOWNS BL & TAMPA PALMS BL, Drug Law Violation, Wednesday, 3/25, 2:02 p.m.
• BURCHETTE RD, 5100 BLK, Domestic Violence, Wednesday, 3/25, 7:35 p.m.

Note to readers: Because of confidentiality laws, police agencies cannot report the addresses of sexual assaults, and this report does not contain those incidents.

Get funky

That 1 Guy plays at 8 tonight (March 31) at Skipper's Smokehouse, 910 Skipper Road. $7-10. Must be 21 or accompanied by parent. Call toll-free, 1-800-594-8499.

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New Tampa Relay for Life team looking for support

Help the New Tampa Relay for Life team making cancer a part of the past.

A team of parents and faculty from Liberty Middle and Freedom High schools are raising money for the
American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. To support their team check out their Web site. 

Here is the flyer too. Download RelayforLifeFHS

April 15 is the deadline. Contact Donna Moffatt donnaptsa@mac.com

USF Undergraduate Research Symposium Spotlights Emerging Scholars

If you’ve ever been curious about the ancient Roman diet, or pondered 17th Century fencing master Joseph Swetnam or perhaps been curious about gender and the Florida Judiciary, then the University of South Florida’s next generation of scholars and scientists may have some insights to share with you.

The 7th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 3 in the Marshall Center, featuring presentations from more than 100 emerging researchers on a wide range of topics.  Unlike more staid research symposiums, the USF’s Undergraduate Research Symposium features oral and poster descriptions as well as projects presented through modern dance interpretation and short films.

The symposium is designed to showcase the substantial research conducted by USF’s undergraduates, who will be eligible for $10,000 in scholarship prizes. The event is sponsored by USF’s Office of Undergraduate Research and USF Student Government.

“It’s everything from Alzheimer’s research to the effects of drugs on adolescent brains to the effect of early voting in the presidential election,” said Naomi Yavneh, Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research and the associate dean of USF’s Honors College.  “Anybody coming to the symposium would get a real sense of the depth and breadth of our research.”

Freedom high update

Cement your legacy. The brick sale is going on at the school until April 3. Check here for more information. Download 2008-2009PTSAFreedomBrick

Also, the Freedom Theatre presents "All Shook Up," a play inspired by the songs of Elvis Presley is at 7 p.m. Thursday (March 26) and Friday (March 27) in the auditorium at the school, 17410 Commerce Park Blvd. Cost is $5 for presale and children, $8 for students and $10 for adults.

Download 2009FreedomPlayAllShookUp

Taste of New Tampa ticket sales

Avoid lines and save $5 with discounted tickets for the 16th Taste of New Tampa at Sweetbay supermarkets at 21605 Village Lakes Shopping Center, Land O'Lakes; 27301 State Road 54, Wesley Chapel; and 17605 Bruce B Downs. The New Tampa Community Council's event is planned from 1 to 4 p.m. April 19 at Commerce Park in Tampa Palms. Tickets are $15 at the gate.

Crime report March 12-18

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This report contains incidents called in to the Tampa Police Department for ZIP code 33647 from March 12-18. Please contact Tampa police for more information on individual reports. Addresses may reflect where the incident happened or who reported it.

• Restricted Address, Child Abuse, Monday, 3/16, 6:48 p.m.
• BIRDWATER DR, 18200 BLK, Burglary-Residence, Wednesday, 3/18, 8:56 a.m.
• BRUCE B DOWNS BL, 20700 BLK, Robbery-Business, Wednesday, 3/18, 11:48 p.m.
• FOX HEARST RD, 9600 BLK, Burglary-Residence, Friday, 3/13, 11:19 a.m.
• GLEN WILLOW LN, 10400 BLK, Burglary-Residence, Thursday, 3/12, 12:11 p.m.
• HOGANS BN, 9000 BLK, Burglary-Residence, Wednesday, 3/18, 1:54 p.m.
• VENITIA REAL AV, 10300 BLK, Domestic Violence, Wednesday, 3/18, 3:21 a.m.
• VENITIA REAL AV, 10300 BLK, Burglary-Residence, Monday, 3/16, 12:02 p.m.
• PLANTATION OAKS DR, 15400 BLK, Drug Law Violation, Thursday, 3/12, 10:41 p.m.
• PLANTATION OAKS DR, 15400 BLK, Burglary, Thursday, 3/12, 6:02 p.m.
• PLANTATION OAKS DR, 15400 BLK, Stolen Vehicle, Friday, 3/13, 4:37 a.m.
• AMBERLY DR, 15300 BLK, Assault/Battery, Saturday, 3/14, 2:49 a.m.
• AMBERLY DR, 15300 BLK, Burglary, Saturday, 3/14, 10:19 a.m.
• AMBERLY DR, 15300 BLK, Domestic Violence, Saturday, 3/14, 9:42 p.m.

Note to readers: Because of confidentiality laws, police agencies cannot report the addresses of sexual assaults, and this report does not contain those incidents.

Need to network?

The New Tampa Community Council after-hours networking meeting is 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday (March 26) at Stonewood Grill & Tavern, 17050 Palm Pointe Drive. Enjoy a drink, appetizers and networking with other business members who live and work in the community. Call (813) 514-2888.

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