Lutz Dog Park

I've created a new website for the Lutz Dog Park, to show you what the park looks like, the amenities and nearby dog businesses including recommended dog and cat trainers. http://lutzdogpark.weebly.com

Southern Brewing and Wine Making is going up for their wet zoning tonight 12/8/11 at Tampa City Council.  They are the first item on the 6 PM agenda. Please post this information on the blog.
We need as many people there as possible.

The wet zoning restricts the sale of distilled liquors to before 11 PM.  No package sales of distilled liquors.  No amplified music outside and doors must be closed if amplified music inside.  

One Hundred Reasons to Mourn the Loss of Ink on Paper - from Word Weaves

On her blog, Susan is creating a list of One Hundred Reasons to Mourn the Loss of Ink on Paper

"I’m dedicating one post a week to the value of ink and paper books. My goal is 100 posts; 100 reasons they shine over e-books. My intention is not to trash e-books. I accept the digital future. But I don’t prefer e-readers and I mourn the downfall of print books. I only have 25 reasons on my list, so the Quest is to grow that list. If you’d like to share your reasons, please leave them in comments. If yours is one I don’t have, I’ll use it and credit your name.

Reason # 1. Paper books are physical treasures. When you pull them from your shelf to read again or to enjoy leafing through, you remember where you got them . . . ." (more)

If you have a reason of your own, go to Word Weaves and add a comment.

Kelly Benjamin's Seminole Heights video

Tampa City Council Candidate Kelly Benjamin released his second viral campaign video today, this one focused on creating a better quality of life in Seminole Heights.

You can watch the video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1FqXkI7rus

The first video, released 2 weeks ago, focused on West Tampa and can be viewed here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAbBnkS3RUQ

www.votekelly.org

Kelly Benjamin runs for City Council

Kelly Benjamin is running for the District 6 seat on the Tampa City Council on a pragmatic, common sense platform based on neighborhood revitalization, small business support, and improved transit (including making Seminole Heights a station if the light rail proposal passes in November).

He just filed on Monday so he does not have a website up and running yet, but he will in the next week or so. He will be qualifying via petition again and canvasing all over Seminole Heights and West Tampa in the coming weeks.

Although I'm not living in the area, I throw my support behind Kelly Benjamin. This is his second try for this office. He has a lot of interesting life and work experience since then and I think he will do a good job as a city council member.

For more details read the Creative Loafing article and TampaBay.com Bay Buzz blog

Electric fence,barbed wire and razor new rules

An email I received from reader Wendy who asked that I post this:

> The new rules for installation of electric fences, barbed wire, and razor
> wire are going before City Council on Thursday evening at 5:30 PM. The
> proposed rule states that any business that can show they had criminal
> activity on their property can be allowed to put in an electric fence,
> barbed wire or razor.
>
> A more comprehensive proposal was put forward but, apparently, City Council
> did not put it forward.
>
> This ordinance will be sent to the Planning Commission as it is written
> unless we can get City Council to either
> a) continue this to allow public input or
> b) modify this.
>
> The proposed verbiage that was set forth originally but was not approved
> was:
>
> A variance can be had allowing an electric fence, razor wire, or barbed wire
> if the applicant can:
>
> "1) provide documented police reports that clearly demonstrate criminal
> activity occurred at the property during the two years prior to the variance
> request, Reports of false alarms cannot be used to demonstrate a
> significant security need.
>
> 2) Provide evidence that, at the time the criminal activity occurred other
> means of security protection devices were installed and in proper operating
> condition. Other means of security protection devices include, but are not
> limited to, alarm systems, guard dogs, security personnel, and/or adequate
> chain link or sold wall fencing, when allowed.
>
> In applying the variance criteria, the VERB,, ARC, or BLC shall balance the
> applicant's need for the variance with the visual impact to the surrounding
> community. The purpose of the provision is to ensure that any use of
> electric fencing barbed wire or razor wire should be used only as the
> extreme last resort of property protection."
>
> Based on what is currently being proposed, any business that is broken into
> can get a variance for barbed wire, razor wire or an electric fence.
>
> If you cannot attend Thursday night, please send an email to
> Tampacitycouncil@tampagov.net asking them to change the ordinance as
> originally proposed. If ou want to send me your email, I will read it into
> the record.
>
> The more people that show up, the greater the impact.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Susan Long

Highlights Win…Oh My!

Good news. Susan was one of the 3 winners of the 2010 Highlights for Children Fiction Contest with her story "The Fog Lifts" Read more about it on her blog Highlights Win…Oh My!.

Pitbull Bans

This week in the Mutt Report I focused on PitBull Bans. The St. Petersburg Times had a recent article on the topic.

“For the past three years, Edna Elijah has carried a baseball bat when she walks because her neighbors have been attacked by dogs. Once, she had a run-in with a dog “that looked like a pit bull.” She wasn’t injured, but her words resonated with the right people. So recently, legislators in Tallahassee have been considering a bill to regulate dogs by breed . . .The bill proposed by Rep. Perry Thurston, D-Plantation, passed a senate committee last month. It would not outright ban any breed, but it would give communities the ability to require muzzling, neutering or additional insurance for certain dogs, measures that critics say would have the same effect as a ban.” (more)

Dog Dies at Curtis Hixon Dog Park

On my Mutt Report blog I write about how a 1o pound Shih Tzu was killed at the new Curtis Hixon dog run It is so small there is no way to separate the big and small dogs. Seminole Heights has a dog run at Frierson and 12th St., just south of Hillsborough, in SE Seminole Heights. It also is too small for dogs to be separated. I wonder if there have been any negative encounters there?

UC Tampa - Feb 2010 Edition Part 2

In This Issue

1. Food News: Get Greece-y. Moon Waxes. Bistro Wanes.
2. Davis Islands Dog Park Scheduled For Grooming
3. Walk into Ybor’s Secret Past
4. Seminole Heights Bicycle Club's Hub-Grub Bike Ride
5. Ride A Dragon - Tampa Dragon Boat Races

6. News & Rumors ... and much more!

Food News: Get Greece-y. Moon Waxes. Bistro Wanes.

The Bungalow Bistro of Seminole Heights will soon be home to The Refinery.

Seminole Heights ‘Bistro’ gets Refined
The Bungalow Bistro of Seminole Heights (5137 N. Florida Ave.) has been sold to Greg and Michelle Baker of Cooks-n-Company (a personal chef service). While currently still being operated under the “Bistro” moniker and menu, Greg stated the couple is planning to launch an entirely new restaurant, The Refinery, and menu by March 2009.

Click here to read full story.
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China Moon shines on Heights & West Tampa
China Moon New York Style Chinese Food is now open at 1900 W. Dr. Marin Luther King Jr. Blvd. for take out and delivery to residents of West Tampa, Wellswood, Seminole Heights, Riverside Heights and other nearby areas.

Click here to read full story.
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Shout Out for Channelside’s new Taverna Opa

Following UC Tampa’s exclusive story of Taverna Opa coming to downtown’s Channelside Entertainment Complex, the Greek restaurant is now open in the former Grille 21 location (underneath the old Margarita Mama’s).

Click here to read full story.

Seminole Heights Bicycle Club's Hub-Grub Bike Ride

Event Flyer

SEMINOLE HEIGHTS - The Seminole Heights Bicycle Club invites all to tour the neighborhood's restaurants via bicycle. At each stop, riding participants will have the get the chance to check out some of the area's favorite haunts and munch on a quick snack before heading off their next destination.

When:
February 27, 3-5:30pm

Read full article here.