Brittany Alana Davis, Times Staff Writer
Brittany Alana Davis is a reporter covering the cities of Tarpon Springs and Safety Harbor. Her coverage of those cities is not limited to government officials and business and education leaders, but aims to explore all aspects of the two communities. No matter who you are or what path you're walking, she wants to hear your story. Brittany previously covered state government at the Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee bureau. She also worked at the website and wire service Health News Florida and WLRN, the Herald's NPR station. She has a master's degree in international communication and a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Florida.
Phone: (727) 445-4155
Email: bdavis@tampabay.com
Twitter: @Britt_Alana
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Volunteers work to revive famous tree, harmed by good intentions
05/19/13 BlogArborists are working to revive what may be the oldest and most treasured tree in Pinellas County after an effort to showcase the majestic Baranoff Oak blocked its ability to get the nutrients it needs to survive.
Safety Harbor spent $350,000 in 2005 to construct a decorative tribute to the downtown oak, including a parking lot, red brick plaza, statues, a pedestrian walkway and benches where people can sit and admire the thick branches draped with moss....
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Showcasing Safety Harbor's Baranoff Oak harmed it, arborists say
05/17/13EnvironmentSAFETY HARBOR
Arborists are working to revive what may be the oldest and most treasured tree in Pinellas County after an effort to showcase the majestic Baranoff Oak blocked its ability to get the nutrients it needs to survive.
Safety Harbor spent $350,000 in 2005 to construct a decorative tribute to the downtown oak, including a parking lot, red brick plaza, statues, a pedestrian walkway and benches where people can sit and admire the thick branches draped with moss....
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East Lake Fire Rescue launches investigation
05/16/13 BlogAfter a slow start, East Lake Fire Rescue has launched an investigation into whether a lieutenant sent racist text messages to firefighters and harassed the department's only minority.
Lt. James Finley is accused of sending at least two messages, including one of a black man popping out of a brown box with this message: "Thanks for the gift, but I am sending it back it won't f------ work."...
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Diesel fuel cleanup continues in Anclote River; no cause yet for boat fire
05/16/13AccidentsTARPON SPRINGS — Cleanup of the diesel fuel spill on the Anclote River continued throughout Thursday as the U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies rolled drum skimmers over the water to collect more than 4,500 gallons of diesel-contaminated water.
A large boat fire Tuesday caused fuel to gush into the river at the city's historic Sponge Docks.
No effects on wildlife had been reported by Thursday afternoon, according to a news release from the Coast Guard. About 500 feet of floating boom had been placed around the gutted boat, the Skye Marie, to prevent the spread of pollution, the release states....
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Skimmers removing fuel spilled into Anclote River during boat fire
05/15/13FireTARPON SPRINGS — The U.S. Coast Guard will continue to roll drum skimmers over the surface of the Anclote River today to soak up the diesel fuel spilled during a boat fire Tuesday night.
It took about four hours for the Coast Guard to remove more than 1,500 gallons of the fuel from the water Wednesday, said Coast Guard Petty Officer Eric Garza.
"This is unusual, and it doesn't happen very often," he said. "But when it does, the Coast Guard is quick about it." ...
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East Lake Fire Rescue begins investigating racism allegations
05/14/13LocalEAST LAKE — After a slow start, East Lake Fire Rescue has launched an investigation into whether a lieutenant sent racist text messages to firefighters and harassed the department's only minority.
Lt. James Finley is accused of sending at least two messages, including one of a black man popping out of a brown box with this message: "Thanks for the gift, but I am sending it back it won't f------ work."...
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Safety Harbor commissioner won protest against her own board
05/13/13 BlogDuring a recent Safety Harbor City Commission meeting, Commissioner Nancy Besore stared into the television camera and urged residents to join a protest against a proposed high-end apartment complex.
"In case you're of the opinion this is finished," said Besore, "it's only finished when you stop speaking."
Besore was still incensed that in February, she was on the losing end of a 3-2 vote to approve the 246-unit complex at State Road 590 and McMullen-Booth Road, site of the defunct Firmenich Citrus Center. For nine months, she and dozens of other residents had protested the complex, finally landing a victory last week when the Pinellas County Commission struck down the proposed project because of opponents' demands....
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Safety Harbor commissioner protested decision by her own board and won
05/10/13PoliticsSAFETY HARBOR — During a recent Safety Harbor City Commission meeting, Commissioner Nancy Besore stared into the television camera and urged residents to join a protest against a proposed high-end apartment complex.
"In case you're of the opinion this is finished," said Besore, "it's only finished when you stop speaking."
Besore was still incensed that in February, she was on the losing end of a 3-2 vote to approve the 246-unit complex at State Road 590 and McMullen-Booth Road, site of the defunct Firmenich Citrus Center. For nine months, she and dozens of other residents had protested the complex, finally landing a victory last week when the Pinellas County Commission struck down the proposed project because of opponents' demands....
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Tarpon Springs commissioners criticize another unruly volunteer
05/08/13 BlogWhat is up with the volunteer boards in Tarpon Springs?
That's what commissioners wondered out loud at Tuesday's meeting, when they criticized Board of Adjustments member Nate Tallarino for being rude to people who come before the board.
After several emails discussing Tallarino's demeanor and a lengthy discussion over whether he should be replaced, commissioners decided to allow Tallarino to stay on the board if he improves his behavior....
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East Lake Fire Rescue barrels toward arbitration
05/07/13 BlogEast Lake Fire Rescue may be barreling toward costly arbitration as the department seeks to sort out the firestorm of racial accusations that led to the demotion of one of its lieutenants.
East Lake fire commissioners — elected officials who oversee the department — seemed poised Monday to reinstate firefighter Bill Figueredo, whom they demoted from lieutenant to driver after he was accused of making a Nazi salute....
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County commissioners strike down Safety Harbor apartment plan
05/07/13 BlogThe Pinellas County Commission dealt a surprising death blow Tuesday to a high-end apartment complex poised for construction in Safety Harbor.
The unanimous decision to deny a rezoning from industrial to residential shocked and invigorated dozens of Safety Harbor residents who protested and petitioned for more than nine months, even as the proposal survived Safety Harbor's City Commission and won approval from various other boards....
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County commissioners strike down Safety Harbor apartment plan
05/07/13LocalCLEARWATER — The Pinellas County Commission dealt a surprising death blow Tuesday to a high-end apartment complex poised for construction in Safety Harbor.
The unanimous decision to deny a rezoning from industrial to residential shocked and invigorated dozens of Safety Harbor residents who protested and petitioned for more than nine months, even as the proposal survived Safety Harbor's City Commission and won approval from various other boards....
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East Lake Fire Rescue barrels toward arbitration over racism claims
05/07/13LocalEAST LAKE — East Lake Fire Rescue may be barreling toward costly arbitration as the department seeks to sort out the firestorm of racial accusations that led to the demotion of one of its lieutenants.
East Lake fire commissioners — elected officials who oversee the department — seemed poised Monday to reinstate firefighter Bill Figueredo, whom they demoted from lieutenant to driver after he was accused of making a Nazi salute....
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Lawsuit: Pharmaceutical company gave kickbacks to Florida doctors
05/03/13CourtsThe U.S. Attorney's Office has filed a lawsuit against a pharmaceutical company accusing at least six Florida doctors of participating in phony conferences and taking thousands of dollars in kickbacks.
The Tallahassee doctors — who are not charged and are not named in the civil lawsuit — are among dozens implicated in an alleged national scheme by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. to encourage doctors to prescribe certain brand-name drugs to treat diabetes, hypertension and other maladies....
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East Lake Fire Rescue faces questions over race investigation
05/01/13 BlogMoments before East Lake fire Lt. Bill Figueredo was publicly stripped of his rank for alleged racial slurs, he tried to raise questions about an accuser's credibility by reading aloud two text messages.
The first showed a photo of a black man popping out of a brown box.
"Thanks for the gift," it reads. "But I am sending it back it won't f------ work."
The other text message, showing a naked woman with her hair wrapped in a towel, reads, "Not all towel heads are bad!!"...
