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Efforts Underway To Name New School In Honor Of Former Educators
Commissioners Hope Citigroup Will Help Bring Rays To County
For the 2017-2018 school year, the Hillsborough County School District will be opening a new elementary school in the Riverview area.
Known as Elementary School C for now, efforts are underway to have the school named in honor of two former educators, the late Mrs. Dorothy York, and School Board member, Ms. Doretha Edgecomb.
School District Area 8 Su- perintendant, Shaylia McRae, said because the school is in her area, she has been receiving e-mails from in- terested parties suggesting what the school should be named.
“It initially started out with recommendations it be named
THE LATE DOROTHY CARTER YORK
in honor of Ms. Edgecomb, but recently, I’ve started get- ting a lot of e-mails in favor of Ms. York. Both were English instructors.”
Ms. McRae said all of the recommendations come di- rectly to her office, and they
DORETHA EDGECOMB
were successful in getting the deadline extended to this Fri- day, September 30th for names to be submitted.
“I have to present them to the Board by Tuesday, October 4th. On October 18th, the Board will make its decision.”
COMMISSION CHAIR SANDRA MURMAN
COMMISSIONER KEN HAGAN
Moffitt Cancer Center Receives National Cancer Institute Designation
The Moffitt Cancer Center has been awarded the National Cancer Institute’s highest designation – Comprehensive Cancer Center. Only four percent of cancer research institutions in the United States have received this prestigious designation.
Moffitt is the only National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center based in Florida.
TROPICANA FIELD
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
On September 21st, Hills- borough County Commis- sioners voted unanimously to go with Citigroup Investment banking to serve as their un- dercover writer as they con- tinue to lobby for the Tampa Bay Rays to come to Tampa
Commission Chair, Sandra Murman, said Commissioner Ken Hagan has been spearhead- ing the efforts, they get up- dates from him, and if the deal goes through, Citigroup will be in charge of the fi- nancing.
“The location for the pro- posed stadium has been nar- rowedto2or3sites.In6 months, they expect a deal to be brought to the table, and in 2017, a site will be selected.
“I want to make sure there is transparency, and taxpayer dollars and general revenue dollars aren’t used. I don’t want a tax increase, and I’m excited that this will create a lot of jobs if it goes through.”
Comm. Chair Murman
said they will be closely scru- tinized on this project, and she expects St. Petersburg Mayor, Rick Kriseman and Pinellas County to fight to keep the team there.
“I don’t want to see that. Any decision must be in the best interest of the team and the fans.”
Citigroup will assist the county in determining poten- tial financing mechanisms for a new stadium. The decision, however, does not lock the
county into any financial ob- ligation and there’s no budget impact related to the vote. Citigroup will absorb any fi- nancial risk that comes with not winning a stadium deal.
How a new stadium will be paid for is a source of concern for taxpayers who want to know what the cost will be to them.
Possible funding options from Hillsborough County will include funds from a Community redevelopment Area if it falls within or near downtown, or partnerships with site owners or develop- ers.
Right now, the Rays are contractually obligated to play at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg through the 2027 season. However, the city has agreed to let the team’s lead- ership explore alternative sites within the city, Pinellas County, Tampa and Hillsbor- ough.
Comm. Hagan said the working group has focused on site evaluation at nine pos- sible locations in Hillsbor- ough and Tampa. Those include the Tampa Park Apartments near downtown, the Tampa Greyhound Track, Florida State Fairgrounds, the Heights property north of Interstate 275, a dock site near Ybor City and Jefferson High school near Westshore.
Comm. Hagan said the group will be meeting again in October when two or three sites will be identified that most meet a series of criteria laid out by the Rays in its quest for a new stadium.
FYI
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2016 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 3