Pasco woman hurt in Lake Tarpon boating accident

A Pasco County woman was seriously injured Saturday night on Lake Tarpon, nearly losing her arm after the boat she was in crashed into another vessel and then almost landed on top of her.
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office says 21-year-old Patricia Blankenship of Holiday, her husband and two friends were in a 16-foot hydrosport boat when it collided with an anchored 21-foot paramount boat on the west side of the lake at about 6:30 p.m.
Blankenship was thrown from the boat as it soared over the anchored vessel. The hydrosport landed nearby, investigators say. She suffered multiple injuries including a nearly severed left arm from the propeller.
She was flown by helicopter to Tampa General Hospital and immediately placed into surgery.
No charges have been filed at this time.
A hospital spokeswoman on Sunday said Blankenship was listed in critical condition.
Investigators say alcohol was a factor, but did not supply further details.
Blankenship's husband, 23-year-old Justin Shields, friend Jeremy Rettman, 31, and his daughter Amanda Rettman, 10, both of Oldsmar, were not injured in the wreck, investigators say.
No one was in the other boat, according to the sheriff's office, which said the owners had left it earlier in the afternoon to join other friends on their boat.

Mike Donila, Times staff writer

SL Fashion Diva: collage13.jpg

by junko otsuka

Hair:Armidi Hair “The SuperPony - Smoked Walnut”

Skin:Rac "Tasha"

Eyes:Nevermore Studios"Prismatic Natural Eye 23″

Armwarmers :Argyle “Alpaca Knit Armwarmers (Cool Pack)”

Jacket:!_Ce_Cubic effect “Short leather jackets for women(bright gray)”

Dress:Emery “Bowie Dress”

Pants:SWA “ZipperedJeans::..Indigo”

Shoes:DIGIT DARKES “Paris Boots-Gold(boxed)”

Clutch:Tete a Pied “Gold Pailette Clutch”

Earrings:Casa Del Shai “Gold Flat Disc Hoop Earrings”

Sunglasses:Nylon Outfitters "Supa Dupa Frames - 4 colors"

All Children's Hospital passes 100 heart transplants

   ST. PETERSBURG -- All Children's Hospital has reached a milestone -- it has performed heart transplants on 100 children, more children than any other hospital in Florida.

Hospital staff held a news conference today with Anthony, a 4-year-old boy in foster care, who recently received the 100th transplant. Anthony smiled and obediently said "cheese," for the cameras.

All Children's Hospital has been performing heart transplants since 1995. Out of the 100 children who received transplants, 87 went home alive from the hospital and 72 are still alive. All 100 would have died without a new heart, doctors said.

When the medical staff gets to see the children later, running around and playing, "that means the world to all of us," said Dr. Jeff Jacobs, surgical director of the program. 

Although the news conference was scheduled for today, All Children's actually performed its 101st heart transplant this weekend.

   -- Curtis Krueger, Times staff writer

21st Century Vinyl

I'm an iPod boom box guy, so I haven't owned a proper stereo in six years. Just don't tell that to the boxes of LPs and 7 inches stashed in my closet. I've always intended on revisiting my lonely analog collection, but what little I knew about properly using and maintaining a turntable has kept me at bay. Changing a cartridge? Setting horizontal geometry? Overhang? Zenith geometry? This DVD confirms how intricate it can get, but proves that a little bit of knowledge, practice and zen-like patience goes a long way. Michael Fremer, a writer for Stereophile magazine (and a former comedian), does everything step by step in real time without skipping the minute details or sugarcoating: "When they show this in the book, it takes up one paragraph. When you do it in real life, it takes a little more time..." Among the thorough, user-friendly segments are how to change a cartridge (tip #1: be in a good mood; tip #2: beginners should use an inexpensive cartridge just in case anything goes awry). There's also a solid rundown of which tools you need and why (tip: go for hex screwdrivers rather than keys because they're longer and easier to maneuver), and why or why not to opt for that top of the line pressure gauge. Fremer keeps things pretty lively, too, with the occasional Julia Child impersonation or self-deprecating, light-hearted quip: "It's more fun watching paint chip isn't it?" or "It's not like watching Terminator 2." I'm still shopping around for my new table, but as soon as I get it, I'll be re-watching and copying his every move.

-- Steven Leckart

21st Century Vinyl: Michael Fremer's Practical Guide to Turntable Set-Up
2006,
$23
Available from Insound

Or $27 from Amazon

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Scratch

The Alan Lomax Collection Sampler

The Buddha Machine

Blair opposes student-led observance

TAMPA -- Fresh from blasting Hillsborough schools for holding class on Good Friday, County Commissioner Brian Blair is seeking to head off an annual student-led event that seeks to end name-calling, bullying and harassment of gay students.

Blair has sent an email to supporters urging them to protest the annual "Day of Silence" observance April 25 to school officials. During the observance, which is not school-sponsored, participating students take a vow of silence, handing out cards to explain why they are keeping quiet.

This year's observance is being held in memory of Lawrence King, an Oxnard, Calif., eighth-grader killed in February, allegedly by a classmate and due to his sexual orientation. Students at several area schools are reportedly participating this year, including some at Blake, Bloomingdale and Brandon high schools.

Blair says the observances are no more appropriate than noting the heterosexual orientation of soldiers killed in Iraq.

"I have always believed that all citizens are equal and should be treated accordingly," writes Blair in his email. "On the other hand, no group of citizens should be given government sanction and support to promote their social and sexual agenda upon the rest of us and especially, our children.

"Considering the fact that the same school system does not want to allow just one Minute of Silence in the classroom for God, this is preposterous."

Blair is seeking reelection in November and faces an openly gay Democratic opponent, Kevin Beckner, who is a financial planner.

-- Bill Varian, Times Staff Writer

Progress Energy has agreement to buy materials for nuke plant

Progress Energy today announced an agreement to buy long-lead materials needed for its planned nuclear power plant in Levy County.

The St. Petersburg utility announced that it had signed a letter of intent with Westinghouse Electric and the Shaw Group Inc. for certain items, but it did not provide details on the cost or materials. Progress Energy estimated last month that it would cost $17-billion to build two Westinghouse AP1000 reactors, and transmission lines to carry the electricity from the site, several miles north of its Crystal River power station.            

"This is a prudent next step that will help us remain on schedule and preserve favorable pricing for key components," said Jeff Lyash, president and CEO of Progress Energy Florida, in a prepared statement released Monday afternoon.            

The utility last month filed an application for the plant with state regulators.            

Hearings have been scheduled for late May. Other regulatory hurdles include a site application with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and an operating and licensing application with the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Progress Energy hopes to have the first 1,100-megawatt reactor online in 2016, and the second in 2017.            

-- Asjylyn Loder can be reached at aloder@sptimes.com or (813) 225-3117.            

Hundreds honor fallen soldier PJ Miller in Pasco

Tara Nelson takes a private moment at the hearse holding the coffin of her fiancé, after the funeral ceremony for PFC Patrick Joseph "PJ" Miller at the First United Methodist Church in Hudson on Sunday.
- Lance Aram Rothstein | Times

HUDSON - Hundreds of friends and family attended the funeral ceremony at First United Methodist Church for U.S. Army PFC Patrick J. Miller, known to friends as "P.J".,who was killed March 29 by an improvised explosive device and small arms fire in Baghdad. He was 23. Also in attendance were the Patriot Guard Riders who held a line of American Flags to honor the fallen.

U.S. Marine Corporal Matthew Lee (right) hugs Kim Miller (left) after the funeral ceremony for her son PFC Patrick Joseph "PJ" Miller at the First United Methodist Church in Hudson on Sunday. Lee wrestled with Miller in high school and just returned from Iraq himself only two weeks ago. - Lance Aram Rothstein | Times

Murder suspect's girlfriend now missing

ST. PETERSBURG -- Gloria McNeal didn't like her daughter's new boyfriend the first time she met him.

"He was not good enough for my daughter," McNeal said. "This is a street person, a thug if you will. A drug-dealer type person."

McNeal's instincts were right. Her daughter's boyfriend, Emanuel Levar McCray, is wanted in connection with a murder and is on the run from police.

McNeal fears McCray, 22, may have her 18-year-old daughter with him. She hasn't seen or heard from her daughter, Jonicia McNeal, since Easter. She says Jonicia hasn't even updated her MySpace page since March 27.

"I'm very, very worried," McNeal said.

Jonicia is 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 120 pounds. She has short black hair and a tattoo of either "Emanuel" or "Manuel" on one of her arms.

Police are investigating Jonicia's disappearance.

"We believe Jonicia was a witness to the homicide, and we would like to interview her," police spokesman Bill Proffitt said.

Police say witnesses saw McCray and Jason McDonald, 26, arguing in the parking lot of the motel at 275 34th St. S until the time of the shooting. McDonald was staying with someone at the motel, police said.

Police say drugs may have been involved in the argument before the shooting, although other factors may be responsible, as well.

McCray has a criminal record that includes arrests on firearms and drug-related charges, such as cocaine possession.

McNeal said she isn't sure how her daughter met McCray but said she fell hard for him and talked about marrying him.

"If anybody's seen her, please call the authorities," McNeal said.

Police ask anyone with information to call (727) 893-7164.

- Abhi Raghunathan, Times Staff Writer

Former pro wrestler charged with DUI

WESLEY CHAPEL -- The black Honda was stopped about 10:30 a.m. Sunday by an off-duty police officer.

When a Florida Highway Patrol trooper arrived, according to a report, the driver got out of the car and was unsteady on his feet and shaking. His eyes were bloodshot.

The driver was Andrew J. Martin, better known to professional wrestling fans as "Test." Born in Canada, he has a listed address on Channelside Walkway in Tampa.

According to the report, Martin, 33, failed several field sobriety tests -- including standing on one leg and stepping heel-to-toe -- and was arrested on charges of driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license.

He repeatedly fell asleep in the trooper's patrol car, the report says.

He was released from the Pasco County jail about 8 p.m. Sunday after posting $500 bail.

According to the Associated Press, Martin debuted in 1998 in the World Wrestling Federation and also performed with World Wrestling Entertainment.

--Molly Moorhead, Times staff writer

Guys: That Cubic Zirconia Is More Valuable Than You Know!

Mention the term "Cubic Zirconia" and what's the first thought that comes to your mind? "Cheap" is correct. Cubic Zirconia has been the first and last refuge for setting into diamond engagement rings from either well-meaning guys who are on limited budgets, tightwads, or RTN's (Room Temperature Nerds) who don't have a clue and never will. But wait! Today comes exciting news about the valuable properties and use of zirconia that will warm the cockles of the every tightwad and RTN out there. Engineers at Ohio State University are using zirconium dioxide (the ceramic from which we get synthetic diamonds) to protect jet engines from high-temperature corrosion. The fan blades in modern aircraft engines are coated with a protective ceramic to keep them from overheating. When the metal heats up, it expands, and the ceramic coating expands with it. But when grains of sand are inevitably sucked in and contact the many thousand-degree blades, they melt and make glass. The glass not only breaks down the coating when hot, but when it cools, it forms an inelastic layer on top of the protective coating. When the blades heat up again, the glass doesn't expand and breaks off the ceramic, shortening the life of the engine. Planes Drawing Sand into Engine at Takeoff: Photo by Department of Defense On the right, the zirconium coating protects from the molten glass. The left, with its conventional coating, is easily damaged. The promise of the zirconia lies in its ability to force the glass to bond with other elements in the coating, changing it into a stable crystal. It in effect turns the glass into an additional layer of protective ceramic every time new sand contacts the blades and melts. But unlike the CZ you put into your Gal's engagement ring, this zirconium application doesn't come cheap. It's a cost-intensive process to manufacture and has yet to be tested on complex shapes. But even in its early stages, it promises to be a boon for efficiency not just in aircraft engines, but ultimately for automobiles and all types of heat-producing engines as well. So for all of you CZ guys out there, you can start struttin like a Peacock and begin to feel that Mojo.

Ready Patch

Ready Patch easily outperforms any spackling compound and drywall mud I've ever used. I'd liken it to the superbeast that would be created if you combined the hardness of body filler with the sandability of light vinyl spackle. It can patch drywall, wood, even metal on both interior and exterior surfaces. We recently moved into a new home and needed to relocate a cable jack in our family room that has painted wood paneling. I didn't want to use vinyl spackle, but was a little lost about how to patch the holes until finding Ready Patch. Smooth and easy to apply, it goes on just like vinyl spackle, takes no more effort, and in my experience it doesn't shrink when applied, so there's no need to overfill. Sand it like you would spackle and it leaves a nice smooth surface. It cures up hard as a rock, though. (I'm not certain about the product's composition, but the Technical Data Bulletin shows the generic name is casein resin emulsion; from what I gather, casein is used to manufacture plastic, so perhaps that helps make it stronger). It hasn't sagged when I've patched larger holes (like the ones left after removing toggle bolts from drywall), so it's good to go almost immediately with no second coat. Amazing stuff. I've patched drywall holes 2 inches across with it and sanded/painted the same day. Aside from the wood paneling and various drywall repairs around the house, I used it to patch the outside of the house on the fiberboard siding where I pulled the cable back through. Just a light sand, bit of paint and it was good as new.

--Chuck Balog

Ready Patch

$13
(includes $8 shipping)
(1 quart)
Available from Amazon

Manufactured by Zinsser Co.

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Grieving father wins $9-million lottery

WESLEY CHAPEL – The day Gail Przybylski buried his oldest son, he also bought a lottery ticket.

And it won him a $9-million jackpot.

Przybylski's son Roy Hawkins, 30, passed away at home March 1. Przybylski, 52, did not wish to give the details, but said the death of his son — a musician who was trying to start a band — was unexpected.

The family laid Hawkins to rest the afternoon of March 6. On their way home from the Oakside Cemetery, they stopped at the Time Saver Food & General Store in Zephyrhills for soda.

Przybylski also bought $10 worth of lottery tickets for the March 26 drawing.

"I just happened to grab them because we stopped," Przybylski said Monday, saying he "usually" picks up some lottery tickets whenever he's at the store.

He randomly picked the numbers himself. And yes, he believes his son played a part in the winnings.

"We figured maybe he was just looking after us," Przybylski said.

Przybylski, who works at a contractor's supply store, decided to take a lump sum payment of more than $5-million. He said he plans to split the money with his wife Teresa, son David and daughter Crystal Schmitt.

If Hawkins was alive, he would get part of the share too. Hawkins sometimes played the lottery, but he never told his father what he would do if he won millions.

Przybylski plans to start a college fund for his son's two daughters and invest the rest.

He's heard the truisms that money can't buy love, and money doesn't solve problems.

Przybylski understands those words too well.

"I know you're supposed to be happy when you win it, but I'll tell you it's not no big thing," he said.

"I'd rather have my son than my money."

-- Helen Anne Travis, Times staff writer

Lemnis Pharox LED Bulb

I have been dutifully buying the various LED bulbs being marketed as home incandescent replacements for a year or two. Up until now, all have had that weird, blue flickery LED light, and all have been expensive. The Lemnis Pharox is the first one that actually delivers as a home bulb replacement. It sips electricity pulling down a mere 4 watts, will last for 35 years, and replaces the light of a 40 watt incandescent. I installed one in our recessed home lighting adjacent to normal bulbs, and asked my wife to pick out which one was the LED and she couldn't tell which one it was. The only thing I am disappointed about is that they don't have higher output ones yet available (such as a 60 or 75 watt replacement). I can only assume they are in the works. While you pay an early adopter premium on these ($50-60), they are excellent for places where it's too much trouble to replace bulbs, or if you have a solar system on your roof and you want those watts to go further.

-- Alexander Rose

Lemnis Pharox LED Bulb
$59
Available from Upscale Lighting

Manufactured by Lemnis Lighting

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TerraLUX LED Replacement Bulb * Nite Ize LED Kit

Worldchanging: A User's Guide for the 21st Century

Doc Eldritch (DE Designs): Spectra

This design has 14 parts to create a multitude of looks. It includes 3 different skirt/dress styles and 2 jacket colors in several versions to fit the dress/skirts. Sculpted cuffs and all the glitch pants needed. I knew that some would just like this top alone to mix and match with other designs. However, the jackets included are made to fit the dress and skirts and wont work very well for mixing and matching. So, I created both jacket colors in a cropped version that can be bought as separates. These also include the sculpted cuffs and come on both the Jacket and Top layers.

Available on SLex and Onrez for gifting.

You can get them here on Onrez

Direct Link DE Designs in SL

DoC

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