No On Amendment 2

Floridians are going to face a ballot question that is called the "Marriage Protection Amendment." "Inasmuch as a marriage is the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife, no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized." --The actual language of amendment 2.
This is another attempt to put another distraction from real issues before voters in Florida. Why do I believe this? The the effort to get this divisive question on the ballot was paid for overwhelmingly and directly by the Republican party of Florida. The Republican brand is not popular with the voting public but if you can cynically put an issue that will drive right-wing Christians to the polls on the ballot, then they have the hope that those voters will also give their support to the rest of the Republican ticket.



If you don't believe in Divorce then don't get one.
If you don't believe in adultery then don't cheat on your spouse.
The point is if you don't believe in Gay marriage then don't marry someone of the same sex.
No one has the ability the legislate anyone into their understanding of Heaven.
No one has the ability to legislate someone into their understanding of salvation.

This is motivated by those who think it is their right to impose their personal or religious definition of morality on those that don't believe or live as they do. Marriage is not threatened by the specter of Gay marriage. The state of Massachusetts, a state that some say is the most liberal in the nation, has the lowest divorce rates in the entire nation. Lower than the Bible belt states. Lower than the Mormon dominated state of Utah. Gay marriage hasn't changed Massachusetts' ranking.

Those who have promoted this effort are being less than honest. In states where similar amendments have been passed have very quickly shown their true agenda. They have used it to challenge the limited legal tools available to protect both homosexual and heterosexual unmarried partners, they have used it to challenge domestic partner registries, , and they have challenged both public and private domestic partner benefits.

The proponents of this amendment will say it was ruled as meeting Florida's single issue requirement for amendments. They are correct. The big LIE is that how it will be applied. They will challenge every single one of these things as being the equivalent of marriage and therefore, should be struck down. They will say that is untrue. They are LIARS. Want to understand the present and the future? Then look at past history. History says they are liars.

So when you go to the polls, I hope you will be respectful of those who's home life may not resemble yours, who's values and faith beliefs differ from yours and that you will vote
NO ON AMENDMENT 2

Publix robbed

Police are searching for two armed men who robbed a Publix supermarket late Thursday night.
According to the Tampa Tribune the suspects entered the store through a rear loading door at 10:20 p.m. The men ordered employees to get on the ground and forced the store's assistant manager and cashier to hand over money from the safe according to Lt. William Ferguson of the Tampa Police Department.

In an update e-mail about the robbery to Christie Hess, OSHNA Crime Awareness committee:

Major Bennett asked that I send you an email, for you to disperse among your Seminole Heights email tree as far as it can go.

Major Bennett wanted to assure the residents of Seminole Heights that every available lead is being followed, and the TPD Robbery Squad is working diligently to locate the suspects. I'm including their descriptions in this email. Major Bennett personally went to the scene and met with management this morning - as he considers our "Publix" one of the sacred spots in the Seminole heights Community.

The Robbery occurred at 9-25 11:30 pm, at the Publix at 6001 N. Nebraska. No one was injured, thank goodness. TPD was on-scene in one minute, or less, and there are some strong leads to work with.

Two black males, both about 5' 9", one thin build about 170 pounds, the other, 250 pounds. They were wearing masks, so no facial descriptions are available. A dark SUV was described as being involved, but no other information on the vehicle nor suspects are available at this time. Alerts are being updated and Major Bennett will be keeping our Publix Manager, Chuck, updated as much as possible.

*Citizens are reminded to call Police at 9-1-1, or the Police Non Emergency Number 231-6130 if they see anything suspicious.

Thank You


Lisa TimmerNeighborhood Affairs LiaisonTampa Police DepartmentUniform District Two9330 N. 30th StTampa, Fl. 33612

Phone 813-931-6541Fax 813-931-6576

Bungalow Bistro Offers OSHNA Forum

The owners of Bungalow Bistro have very graciously offered to host a candidate forum for the upcoming Old Seminole Heights (OSHNA) board elections. The following letter was sent only to the current board since the Graham's did not have e-mail contact for all of the candidates and has since been circulated to all of the candidates. The date and time have not been determined.

My understanding is that there would be an effort to have a moderator not connected to OSHNA to maintain neutrality.

Personally, I think it is great that a business owner is taking such positive interest in the residential community. It looks like a win-win both for their business and our neighborhood. The Graham's had moved from the neighborhood but still own and operate two businesses in Seminole Heights. Both are attractive additions to our commercial district.

Thank you Elizabeth and Michael for your continued interest in residential areas of our community.

TPD to meet with Seminole Heights Residents

IMPORTANT MEETING with Tampa Police Department and the residents of greater Seminole Heights!

DATE: SEPTEMBER 29, 2008

TIME: 6:30 PMPLACE: TPD DISTRICT III @ 3808 North 22nd Street ~ Tampa, FL

SUBJECT:PROSTITUTION, DRUGS AND CRIME IN GREATER SEMINOLE HEIGHTS,PARTICULARLY, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE NEBRASKA AVENUE CORRIDOR.

WHO: ANY INTERESTED SH RESIDENT OR BUSINESS OWNER. BRING YOURINFORMATION, YOUR QUESTIONS AND ISSUES AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO WORK TOGETHERTO MAKE CHANGES.

If you have had issues and have been vocal in your concerns, then it is important for you to attend this meeting.

a repost from Hampton Terrace.org post by Greg Barnhill

Curtis Drugs

"I went to Curtis Drugs Friday morning to pick up a prescription refill. For those of you that don't know, they accept the same insurance as CVS and Walgreens and supply you with the medication you already take. What a surprising visit. They are now stocking household products for $1.00. $1.00!!. I bought a 33 ounce bottle of Fabric Freshener (like Fabreze) for $1.00. A 27 oz. bottle of Fabreze sells at the grocery store for $5.29. They also have paper towels, bath tissue, hand soap, etc. The only other thing I thought about was garbage bags. When I mentioned this to Duane he immediately wrote it down for order. We have lost Tampa Hardware to fire, Rose's Drugs closed, Waley's Market closed years ago and now the Tampa Antiquarian Book store is moving out in December. We can't afford to lose any other business' in our neighborhood. I don't know about anyone else, but with the gas prices being what they are and the price increase for other necessaries, I'll be shopping at Curtis Drugs more often. Take a minute to stop in and see what they carry. If they don't have it I'm sure Duane will order it.Curtis Drugs is located on the southeast corner of Curtis and Nebraska Av. 4625 N. Nebraska Av. , in Southeast Seminole Heights. Give them a call and find out how simple it is to transfer your prescription to Curtis Drugs, you won't be sorry".

Meet the Candidate Party

Click image to enlarge

Jim Kwid...candidate for OSHNA Trustee

Hello, my name is Jim Kwid and I am running for a Trustee position on the Executive Board of the Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association. While this is my first attempt to be elected to the OSHNA Board, I have been a homeowner in Old Seminole Heights for over 14 years. I love this neighborhood a great deal and if elected, I will do all in my power to make sure it remains the friendly, helpful and neighborly community it was when I moved here.

Over the past 14 years, I have been very active on various OSHNA activities and committees. I had the honor of being allowed to participate in the 2004 Home Tour. I was very proud to show my 1927 Bungalow to so many wonderful people and let them see one of the charming homes and the wonderful way of life here in Seminole Heights. I have also been involved in the Historic renovation of two commercial buildings in West Tampa over the last 20 years.

I recently volunteered and was appointed to work as Chairperson for Code Enforcement here in Old Seminole Heights. While it is a monumental task and very time consuming, it has allowed me to see some of the nagging problems we face as residents in this wonderful community. I have enjoyed working along side the City of Tampa’s Code Enforcement Director and the Code Inspectors for our area. They have told me they appreciate my help and are very impressed with how OSHNA handles the very intense problems of code violations. We have a lot of work we need to continue to do, but good, reasonable code enforcement is making our neighborhood a better place to live!

Also, I am very proud to be involved with the fine group of people in this community who put in countless hours on the annual Library Book Sale. The book sale is a wonderful OSHNA activity and provides all of us the opportunity to raise money for such worthy causes year after year. Another long hour, heavy lifting and “frantic” sales day event, the opportunity to make our Seminole Heights Library the fantastic Library that it is, and it shows what volunteering time in this community can do! I am happy to be associated with this fine OSHNA event!

I am running for the OSHNA Board because recently, there seems to be a non connection, a misunderstanding, as to who is responsible for what happens in “Our Neighborhood”. I need to show every one of our great neighbors that it isn’t what I as a neighbor wants…It isn’t what the OSHNA Board as a whole wants… and it isn’t what a group, small or large, of neighbors want……it is what the majority of OSHNA homeowners want that should be considered! I promise to uphold that standard and I would appreciate your vote for Trustee of The OSHNA Executive Board.

Thank you for your vote!

Jim Kwid


The above was posted on behalf of the candidate running for the OSHNA board elections. The comment section has been disabled. The content except for a few grammatical changes is as provided by Mr. Kwid.

Gail E. Davis...candidate for OSHNA Secretary

Greetings Old Seminole Heights neighbors, allow me to introduce myself to you. I am Gail Davis and I am running for the position of Secretary of board of our association. This is the first time in my life I have ever attempted to run for any kind of office although I have been a long time resident of Seminole Heights. My husband and I moved to Seminole Heights 23 years ago and love living here in our 1923 bungalow where we also started a business here. Being a resident here during these many years, I have witnessed first hand many changes in the area seeing how Seminole Heights has grown to be the friendly, diverse, important community it has become. I became one of the first members of OSHNA 20 years ago when the association was just forming with a small group of concerned residents who wanted to join together to try and make a difference so our area of Tampa would be a more positive, safer, place to live. I am very proud to see how far our small band of original neighbors has grown and what our organization has become.
I have worked for the same family owned business in Tampa as a Purchasing Agent for the past 34 years. I deal extensively with vendors throughout the U.S. on a daily basis possessing people and office skills that will surely be a benefit as your Secretary. I am a very dedicated employee who started as a youngster out of high school and worked my way to being a highly regarded professional within my company helping to make it the success that it has become over the past 87 years it has been in existence.
As a general member of OSHNA, I attended the general membership meetings and kept abreast of the progress and changes however I recently decided to be more active than I ever have in aspiring to be on our association's executive board. It is my belief that our neighborhood could benefit further with a change. A change where a voice will be at the board table who will represent EVERY homeowner in Seminole Heights regardless if that homeowner is a standing member or not, we all live here and deserve to be heard. The direction of OUR association must consider our ENTIRE neighborhood and their concerns with the decisions and direction it takes which has been lacking of late. I want our association to come back to where it once was 20 years ago connecting with everyone in our neighborhood as well as being transparent and open with all the board’s business which effects everyone’s lives and how they live in this great neighborhood of ours.
I believe I can make that difference and I have the experience and compassion to help make our association even better than it already is by considering all parties and all people who live here.

As your Secretary, I will listen to everyone and work with everyone because the board should always represent the homeowners as a whole and never forget that. If elected, I promise that my voice will represent what the majority of homeowners want to see in their neighborhood association and what their association can do for you.

If you agree, I would appreciate your vote to become the next new board member as your Secretary.
Thank-you,
Gail Davis

The above was posted on behalf of the candidate running for the OSHNA board elections. The comment section has been disabled. The content except for a few grammatical changes is as provided by Ms. Davis.

New Hillsborough County Logo

Based on the decision by the Board of County Commissioners to rename the Moral Courage award, to the Ralph Hughes award, it is time to unveil the new Hillsborough County logo.

Giddens Park in the Big Picture

Long long time ago...kind of reminds me of a certain Don McClean song. The City of Tampa launched the Greenprinting Initiative. A partnership of the city, the Mayor's Beautification Program and the F.E. Lykes Foundation to target 10 city parks for upgrades at the rate of 1 per year. The project was to be seeded with funds from the foundation which offered $75,000 for each park.

The first up was supposed to be Southeast Seminole Heights' Giddens Park. As the program draws to the end. The first hasn't been finished. The second in Tampa Heights was to center on Lake Robles and Robles Park but it is still in the design stage. Third is Curtis Hixon Park, a downtown Riverfront park. Now the city of Tampa has likely spent over the last 20 years more money on that piece of land than all the other urban core parks combined. And the plans of Mayor Iorio will make it so if it isn't already.

"It's functional," Debra Evenson, the beautification program's executive director, said of the fountain. "But it can't be turned on until final inspection. ...it's not 10 parks in 10 years, but we've done a lot more than we expected to do. Curtis Hixon is the final end of the foundation's commitment." as reported and quoted by Kathy Steele of the Tampa Tribune.

My question: If it was 10 parks in 10 years and the final product is at best 3 parks-maybe, how have you done a lot more than you expected to do? What sort of Orwellian talk is that?

Are Paula and Randy White Unchristian?

Today the Tribune had an article about Paula and Randy White trying to revive their Without Walls International Church. A section in the article caught my attention:

"Those who study evangelicals say it's common for prosperity preachers such as Paula to embrace a gospel of materialism.

"It has been easy for those so inclined to further de-emphasize the spiritual aspects of Christianity in favor of legitimizing full-bore materialism," said Bill Martin, a Rice University professor. "In such a climate, a growing number of preachers see — and experience — no problem with acknowledging that many people regard them as motivational speakers or life coaches first, and preachers second."

This contrast with what the AP reported Pope had to say recently:

"Pope Benedict XVI condemned unbridled "pagan" passion for power, possessions and money as a modern-day plague . . . "Has not our modern world created its own idols?" Benedict said in his homily, and wondered aloud whether people have "imitated, perhaps inadvertently, the pagans of antiquity?"

Benedict has continued with a campaign started by his predecessor, John Paul II, who worried that the affluent West was turning consumerism into a kind of religion and ignoring its Christian roots of spiritual values.

Paraphrasing from the New Testament, Benedict decried "insatiable greed" and said "the love of money is the root of all evil."

"Have not money, the thirst for possessions, for power and even knowledge, diverted man from his true destiny?" the pope asked.

Benedict blasted modern society's thirst for these new "pagan" idols as a "scandal, a real plague."

Are the Whites and other prosperity gospel preachers, Pagan and not Christian Preachers?

Jim Norman's Lack of Moral Courage

Commissioner Jim Norman is proposing renaming the Hillsborough County Moral Courage award after the late Ralph Hughes.

The perception by most people is that when he was alive, Ralph Hughes owned most of the County Commission. Now the perception must be that even while dead he still owns them.

Ralph Hughes, his developer cohorts and his pet commissioners are the reason the Moral Courage award exist. To name this award after him would be the same as renaming the Nobel Peace Prize after Slobodan Milošević.

Join us for the "Friday Night Movies"

When: Friday 7pm 9/5/08

Where: The Metro Center

6421 N. Florida Ave.

Tampa, Florida 33604

Can the love between two people ever be an abomination? Is the chasm separating gays and lesbians and Christianity too wide to cross? Is the Bible an excuse to hate?

Through the experiences of five very normal, very Christian, very American families -- including those of former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt and Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson -- we discover how insightful people of faith handle the realization of having a gay child. Informed by such respected voices as Bishop Desmond Tutu, Harvard's Peter Gomes, Orthodox Rabbi Steve Greenberg and Reverend Jimmy Creech, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO offers healing, clarity and understanding to anyone caught in the crosshairs of scripture and sexual identity.