Trolleys may link downtown, beaches
The trolleys -- or adapted buses -- would offer more frequent pickups and longer hours, from 5:45 a.m. to 9 p.m.

2 schools will help achieve 2 goals
The recently approved construction begins the school district's move to replace aging schools and end court-ordered busing.

City will pay out more for consultant on police morale
The Pinellas Park council votes to spend nearly $10,000 more to complete the interviews. One member votes no.

Short-term chief in line to earn the long term
The city manager speaks of the police chief's ideas for the future, and one council member says the job is "hers to earn."

A good start on righting wrongs
Re: Chief resigns after suspension, Sept. 1.

Don't let cash crisis undo alliance
If crisis is an alias for opportunity, the Community Alliance, St. Petersburg city officials and the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce now face a moment full of possibilities.

Business briefs
New Kinkade gallery to open at Tyrone Mall

Minority business awards, events set
MED Week 2000 runs Monday through Saturday with a luncheon, workshops and networking opportunities.

Apartments planned for Detroit Hotel downtown
Twenty-four units, with 6-foot windows and 12-foot ceilings, replace the idea of hotel rooms.

CVS, neighborhood group come to terms on store
An agreement is reached after months of haggling and little hope.

Rotarians stand and clap to honor former police chief
A member suggested the standing ovation for David Milchan, who resigned after being suspended without pay.

Pinellas Park council member weds
PINELLAS PARK -- Patricia Bailey spent part of Thursday handing out wedding announcements to the mayor and fellow City Council members.

Food is the star at Taste of the Beaches
TREASURE ISLAND -- Taste of the Beaches continues at 1 p.m. today at County Park, 104th Avenue and Gulf Boulevard. Music groups scheduled are Interior Motives, Hero and Bang-a-rang.

City, Times settle public records suit
The Times filed the suit in 1997, claiming St. Pete Beach refused to hand over documents.

Guilt trip or not, TV brings smoother ride
We debated it off and on for weeks. Finally we gave in, but we still felt guilty. We bought a TV with built-in VCR to plug into the cigarette lighter of our car. We were taking a nine-hour drive to the South Carolina coast with a 3-year-old and 19-month-old and wanted to make it as easy on them -- and therefore us -- as possible.

Interim clerk stays for $35,000 a year
Redington Beach commissioners also pass a $1,020,900 budget, which includes funds to repair the town's drainage system.

City housing program has 11 lots up for sale
ST. PETERSBURG -- The city is offering 11 vacant lots for sale to qualified developers and other interested applicants.

New budget to hoist sewer rates
PINELLAS PARK -- Council members tentatively approved a budget with a leap in sewer fees, a bump in garbage rates and no increase in the tax rate.

Trolley for Treasure Island holds promise
Kinks in the plan are smoothing out. Commissioners will make a decision Sept. 19.

Fifth annual On the Town calendar
Time to wake up and smell the creme brulee, to liberate the jewels from the vault, to dust off your dancing shoes. The social season is about to begin.

Neighbors battle over road access
A light at a busy intersection likely to become busier seems like a good idea to some, but others aren't interested.

Help us with School Search
We are preparing School Search, our annual guide to schools, which will publish in the fall. We are mailing a letter to schools we are already aware of. If you do not receive a letter -- and if you run a private elementary, middle or high school that draws students from south Pinellas and want to make sure we are aware of your program -- please mail basic details of your school to Alicia Olazabal by Sept. 15. The address is School Search, Attention: Alicia Olazabal, St. Petersburg Times newsroom, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731. (No preschools or day care centers, please.)

Luncheon to benefit Sanderlin Center
ST. PETERSBURG -- A meeting to organize a community effort to save the James B. Sanderlin Center has been scheduled for noon Tuesday in City Hall.

Portable speed monitors popping up around town
This week, three are near schools. To gauge the monitors' effectiveness, we observed the reactions of 50 drivers.

Water view planned for rec center
Plans for the Treasure Island rec center include changing the entrance and putting recycling bins in a soundproof building.

Once-apathetic Tritons going in for kill
The Eckerd College volleyball team is starting to take itself seriously.

Many Web sites are ready to get ball rolling
With the bowling season opening at most Tampa Bay area centers this week, players are more attuned to the game and perhaps looking for personal and professional information on the Web.