Zach Railey Profile Contd.

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Swap stories: The Tampa Bay Storytellers Guild Story Swap meets at 3 p.m. today and the fourth Sunday of every month at Park Station, 5851 Park Blvd. Come and hear tall tales and interesting yarns. The Story Swap is free and open to anyone who wants to listen or come and share a story. Call Billie Noakes at (727) 647-8057. ‘The King and I’: This is the last weekend for Rodgers and Hammerstein’s opulent musical The King and I, featuring fanfavorite songs like Hello, Young Lovers; Getting to Know You; and the resounding Shall We Dance? at the Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center, 324 Pine St. The show is 2 p.m. today. Tickets are $18 for adults, $12 for students, $16 for center members, reserved seating. Call (727) 942-5605. ‘The Fantasticks’: The Eight O’Clock Theatre presents The Fantasticks, the classic musical about two meddling, matchmaking fathers who scheme to get their children together, at 2 p.m. today at the Largo Cultural Center, 105 Central Park Drive. Tickets are $26 for adults, $16 for students 19 and younger, and $23.50 for group rates. Call the box office at (727) 587-6793. Sunday bingo: Games start at 12:30 p.m. every Sunday at the Knights of Columbus, 1251 San Christopher Drive, Dunedin. Free coffee and doughnuts with sign in, hot dogs and sloppy joes $1. Chips and drinks available. Smoking and nonsmoking halls. Call Jerry at (727) 216-3859.

Monday Lacrosse camp: Boys ages 6-15

. FIRE continued from 1 old-time songs from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. every Monday at American Legion Post 7, 1760 Turner St., Clearwater. Call (727) 447-9204.

Art explained

Tuesday

Special to the Times

Today The Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art offers a docent tour at 2 p.m. every Sunday. Meet in the lobby of the museum, which is on the Tarpon Springs campus of St. Petersburg College, 600 Klosterman Road. Admission is free on Sundays. For information, call (727) 712-5762. will learn how to play lacrosse at a week-long camp from 8 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday at Canal Park, 3120 Tampa Road, Oldsmar. Cost is $50 with a rec card, $75 without. Bring a snack, lunch and water. Register at Cypress Forest Recreation Center, 650 Pine Ave. N, Oldsmar, call (813) 818-0149, or visit www. ci.oldsmar.fl.us. Family Movie Night: Bring the family, relax in bean bag chairs and watch a movie on Family Movie Night at 6 p.m. in the Largo Public Library’s Children’s Program Room, 120 Central Park

Drive. Popcorn included. Call (727) 587-6715. Sing along: Palm Harbor Men’s Barbershop Chorus meets at 6:45 p.m. Mondays at the Palm Harbor Senior Activity Center, 1500 16th St. Tenors, leads, baritones and basses needed. Call (727) 771-6000. Trace your roots: Free genealogy help with volunteer genealogist John Kiwala from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Tarpon Springs Public Library, 138 E Lemon St. Call (727) 943-4922. Dixieland dance: The Bayside Banjo Band plays Dixieland and

Clearwater Central Catholic, graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. During six weeks of training, the airman studied the Air Force mission, organization and military customs and courtesies, perBorrack formed drill and ceremony marches and received physical training, rifle marksmanship, field training exercises and special training in human relations. He is the son of Ted Borrack of

Palm Harbor.

Gardening course: Learn Floridafriendly landscape design and maintenance principles from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Pinellas County Extension, 12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo. Classes also offered Aug. 19 and Sept. 9 and 23. Tuition $15 per class. Call (727) 582-2673. Dinner dance: Indulge your continental tastes with a pasta dinner and dance from 5 to 8:30 p.m. every Tuesday at the Italian American Club of Greater Clearwater, 200 McMullen Booth Road. $7 members, $9 nonmembers. The Club also hosts dinner and dancing from 6-10 p.m. every other Saturday. $13 members, $16 nonmembers. Call (727)791-8698. Trace your roots: Free genealogy assistance with volunteer genealogist Ken Nichol from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Tarpon Springs Public Library, 138 E Lemon St. Call (727) 943-4922. Double art openings: Dunedin Fine Arts Center will host opening receptions for “Wearable Art: The Exhibition” and “Down the Rabbit Hole: Vivian Ruegger’s Alice Project” from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at 1143 Michigan Blvd., Dunedin. Call (727) 298-DFAC (3322) or visit www.dfac.org. Business advice: The Pinellas chapter of SCORE will host a free seminar on “Ten Steps to Starting Your Own Business” at 7 p.m. at Tarpon Springs Public Library, 138 E Lemon St. Register at the library or call (727) 943-4922.

Military news Coast Guard Seaman Eric T. Foster, brother of Derrio D. Foster of Largo, graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Recruit Training Center in Cape May, N. J. During the eight-week program, Foster completed a training curriculum consisting of academics and practical instruction on water safety and survival, military customs and courtesies, seamanship skills, first aid, firefighting and marksmanship. Foster is a 1997 graduate of Parker High School, Birmingham, Ala. ••• Airman 1st Class Blake T. Borrack, a 2004 graduate of

••• Navy Lt. Cmdr. Rebecca S. Kaiser has retired from the Navy after 24 years of military service. Prior to retiring, Kaiser was the country director for Tajikistan, U.S. Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa. She is the daughter of John and Tamara D. Badders of Largo, and wife of Jack G. Kaiser Jr. The lieutenant commander graduated in 1980 from Largo High, and received a bachelor’s degree in 1984 from the University of Florida. She earned a mas-

ter’s degree in 1997 from the University of South Florida. ••• Army Pvt. Richard J. Bush, son of Richard Bush Sr. of Largo, graduated from basic infantry training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga. During nine weeks of training, the soldier received training in drill and ceremonies, weapons, map reading, tactics, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid and Army history, core values and traditions. Additional training included development of basic combat skills and battlefield operations and tactics.

Consolidate fire departments?

departments could transport some people to hospitals — appeals to some local officials. They’re ready to talk. “It’s an opportunity for us to sit down together and put together a plan that works for everyone,” Largo fire Chief Mike Wallace said. ••• A few years ago, Marquis’ comments about consolidation might have riled local fire chiefs. But not now. “I don’t know that consolidation is a bad word from a general perspective,” said Seminole fire Chief Dan Graves, president of Pinellas County Fire Chiefs Association. Chiefs have been talking about the possibility of regional consolidation, maybe grouping area departments or smaller departments with larger ones. But despite being open to some concessions on consolidation, fire officials still oppose creating one countywide fire district, an idea floated time and time again by county officials. “If you were to look at making Pinellas County one fire department, you end up with a money-guzzling behemoth, kind of like the School Board,” Graves said. Fire chiefs say they felt the concept was forced on them in the past. In 2005, as part of the county charter review process, the county asked for the third update of a previous study on fire service. That update found that the county could save more than $15-million a year by consolidating into one district. But the chairman of the review commission, Alan Bomstein, said such a system might cost hundreds of millions to implement if it required the consolidated district to buy the

“It’s an opportunity for us to sit down together and put together a plan that works for everyone.” Mike Wallace, Largo fire chief assets of the municipal departments. ••• Now fire officials say Marquis and other county leaders are making more of an effort to include them in discussions about fire service. “It’s the first time I’ve heard a willingness to discuss the transport issue at his level. It’s the first time I’ve heard the consolidation talk go from all or nothing to a more conceptually practical approach,” said St. Petersburg fire Chief James Large. “Nobody until now wanted to be a partner in trying to fix this,” Graves said. “The winds are changing and the county administration has some new people and they’re very interested in trying to fix it.” While both sides appear in a mood to compromise, Graves acknowledged that there may be some past animosity to work through. “You can’t take years of getting beat up and turn that off in one day,” Graves said. “We’re moving in a good direction, but I’m sure there’s going to be some speed bumps.” Lorri Helfand can be reached at [email protected] or (727) 445-4155.

“Nobody until now wanted to be a partner in trying to fix this. The winds are changing and the county administration has some new people and they’re very interested in trying to fix it.” Dan Graves, president of Pinellas County Fire Chiefs Association

. SAILING continued from 1

Setting his sights on the gold Zach Railey was playing baseball and tennis. He was a good kid, but he had his run-ins with his mom and dad, Dan Railey said. Crawford suggested the Raileys send their three children to sailing camp at the Clearwater Yacht Club. Zach fell in love the first day. “It was the attraction of being near the water that pulled me toward sailing,” he said. But his life changed in a golden flash on a track far from home. In 1996, when Michael Johnson sprinted his way into history with those golden shoes, Railey stared in amazement along with millions of other TV viewers watching the Atlanta Olympics. He called a meeting with his parents. He was only 12, but he announced his goal: the Olympic Games. In setting his sights high and devoting his teenaged years to sailing, Railey said he missed out on movies with friends and homecoming dances. “I was so concentrated on my sailing that I didn’t have a lot of free time,” he said. Railey graduated from Clear-

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Out & About Today

St. Petersburg Times | Sunday, July 27, 2008 |

water High School and headed to the University of Miami. He continued sailing while in college, but not with the ’Canes. The collegiate boats were too small for Railey, who stands 6 feet 4 and weighed 215 pounds in college. He graduated in May 2006 with a degree in sports administration and business management — tools Railey said have helped him raise the money necessary to continue his racing career. His family, including sisters Paige and Brooke, have been there every step of the way. Paige Railey, 21, also sails, rising quickly in the ranks of female Laser sailors. She qualified as the alternate for the Beijing Olympics. In 2006, the International Sailing Federation and Rolex named her women’s World Sailor of the Year. Her twin sister, Brooke, sailed in her childhood, but now serves as Railey’s anchor, grounding him when necessary. Zach Railey credits his mother, Ann, with much of his success. “She does everything we have to have done behind the scenes before we go on the water,” Railey said. “It’s her full-time job.” Ann Railey said raising two

world-class athletes is simply a matter of keeping organized, which can be hard when her children are on different continents competing. Zach Railey said he spends a lot of time away from home, but his natural friendliness helps him along the way. “It gets pretty lonely pretty quick,” he said. On the racing circuit, Railey passes time with his competitors, going out to dinner with them and comparing schedules. And because of his demanding schedule, Railey, who is single, said he rarely dates. But when he does get a chance to go home, Railey said he tries to be as normal as possible. “Outside of all this Olympics stuff, yeah, I’m a normal guy,” he laughed. ••• The Olympics will be anything but normal. Only a few seconds separate the winners from the losers. Sometimes, it’s mere inches. But Railey said his plan is to sail a focused, disciplined race. “In sailing you have to be very consistent,” he said. “You don’t

have to win every race to do well in the regatta.” Finn-class sailors are the biggest in the games. Light-wind courses like Qingdao favor boats that weigh less and make racing tough. “It’s a mental game for sure in light wind,” said Railey, who has dropped about 20 pounds to prepare for the Olympics. But Railey said he’s more than ready. He follows a strict training regimen, starting with an hour of cardio exercise in the morning, three to five hours out on the water and ending with a two-hour session in the gym before bed. When he gets back from China, Railey said he’s going to take a few months off. He’ll start with catching up with college friends in Miami. Then, his sights will be focused on 2012 and another Olympic berth. “My sister and I are definitely going again,” he said. But first, he plans to come home a winner. Jackie Alexander can be reached at [email protected] or (727) 445-4167.

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