Seminole Heights

2011-12-08T10:22:00.001-05:00

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

2011-03-11T14:35:00.003-05:00

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

2011-02-05T22:07:00.000-05:00

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

2010-09-01T22:56:00.003-04:00

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

2010-08-11T11:16:00.002-04:00

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!

2010-06-17T09:00:00.001-04:00

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

2010-04-13T20:55:00.001-04:00

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

2010-02-27T12:29:00.002-05:00

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

2010-02-17T10:16:00.002-05:00

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.

2010-02-17T09:19:00.001-05:00

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.
-------

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.
-------

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

2010-02-17T09:01:00.001-05:00

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.

Gimme Seven! New Restaurants Rolling into the Urban Corridor.

2010-02-15T15:56:00.001-05:00

Old location of Big John's Alabama BBQ.

URBAN CORRIDOR – The new year appears to have brought with it a flurry of restaurants for downtown Tampa and its nearby, Urban Corridor neighborhoods. Seven dining establishments, some with names familiar to the area, some not, have either opened or are expected to open by the end of March.

West Tampa: Green Iguana Bar & Grill, a local’s hangout on Ybor City’s Seventh Avenue, is taking over the old Stadium Bennigan’s Bar & Grille location (2520 N. Dale Mabry Hwy.). This will be the company’s seventh Bay Area location with a full bar and open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. According to its website, the new location will “open soon;” however sources indicate “by the end of March.” Updates are available on the Green Iguana Twitter site: http://twitter.com/thegreeniguana.

Downtown: The Urban Cantina is set to open in downtown Tampa (200 E. Madison Ave.) by the end of February. The owner is reported to be Christopher Rivas, who is a resident of nearby SkyPoint Condominiums, where he was once reported to be opening a Mexican restaurant called Azteca. Those plans fell through, but from visual inspection of the new location, it clearly appears to be built out, fitted with tables and dining ware, and days away from opening. www.urbancantina.com

Sono Café will open February 6 inside the new Tampa Museum of Art. It will overlook the banks of the Hillsborough River and be accessible by everyone through an admission-free entrance. The café will seat 75, including waterfront tables, and offer menu items in accordance with the “Slow Food Movement.” The owners of downtown’s Mise en Place Restaurant will operate the café.

Already open is International Café, a lunchtime eatery open five days a week at 601 E. Twiggs St.

East Tampa: Big John’s Alabama BBQ is set to open at nearly the same spot (5707 N. 40th St.) as its old, demolished location (which happened because of a city road expansion project). For the many fans of the 40-year-old establishment, their wait will be over early February.

Ybor City: Gallery Rasika has opened on Seventh Avenue in the former location of L’Olivier Cabaret. It features modern Indian fusion dishes inspired from an “age old approach to dining,” according to its website. Much like tapas bars, guests are encouraged to choose a variety of appetizers and entrees and share them with their dining companions. www.galleryrasika.com

Heights Areas: Greg and Michelle Baker, the owners of Cooks-n-Company (the personal chef service), are planning to open a brick and mortar restaurant in Seminole Heights. Although a verbal agreement has been made for the couple to take over an existing “turn key” location, a contract has yet to be signed.

Once official, the Bakers hope to open The Refinery by the end of February, which will feature a large selection of small, “bigger than most tapas” plates made from locally grown ingredients when possible.

See original posting at www.uctampa.com.

UC Tampa - Feb 2010 Edition Part 1

2010-02-02T15:59:00.002-05:00

In This Issue

-A SERIOUS ART ATTACK

-NEW RESTAURANTS ROLLING IN

-CELEBRATE THE BUNGALOW

-HALT! ARMORY BACK TO MARKET

-PRO BASKETBALL IN TAMPA

-NEWS & RUMORS ... and much more!

Animal Relief Coalition in Haiti Update 1-25-10

2010-01-25T23:02:00.002-05:00

I have been posting about the work by animal welfare agencies in helping the animals in Haiti

Animal Relief Coalition in Haiti Update 1-25-10

and

http://susanbanghart.com/themuttreport/2010/01/24/animal-relief-coalition-in-haiti-updates-1-24-10/

a FRESH look

2010-01-13T12:55:00.003-05:00

FRESH look: The recently released film "FRESH" - a documentary about people working to provide healthy, nutrient-dense foods via sustainable practices - will be playing at Ella's Folk Art Café on Jan. 24, 2010. More info here.

OSHNA Board resignations

2009-12-22T22:00:00.001-05:00

Resignation of President of OSHNA, Bill Duval and Trustees Sherry King and Stuart Hess:

December 21, 2009

To the Members of Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association (OSHNA) and the OSHNA Board:

Effective immediately we, the undersigned, resign our positions on the OSHNA board and all committee roles.

It has become abundantly clear to us that our ability to effectively serve this neighborhood and provide alternate viewpoints is not welcome or fairly considered by the majority of this board.

The action of the board, both past and present, only favors the status quo and continues to demonstrate a lack of desire to heal the divide which has consumed our neighborhood.

We would like thank those who voted for us and apologize that we were unable to be more effective. Please understand that each of us has reached this decision only after serious deliberation. Our resignation will allow us to better serve this community.

Bill Duvall

Sherry King

Stuart Hess

Independent Beer Hall's Grand Opening, Sat (12/5), 4pm-1am

2009-12-03T14:41:00.004-05:00

FREE BEER/BBQ! All UC Tampa Magazine fans are cordially invited to enjoy a free beer and some BBQ at the Independent Beer Hall's (in Seminole Heights) official Grand Opening on Saturday (12/5/09), from 4pm-1am. Live music starts at 5pm! RAIN OR SHINE. See specifics here: http://bit.ly/IndieGO

Urb Your Enthusiasm - Nov/Dec '09 Issue of UC Tampa Magazine

2009-11-19T06:32:00.005-05:00

In This Issue

URB YOUR ENTHUSIASM

WHAT IS TAMPA'S URBAN CORRIDOR?

PIZZAIOLO BAVARO RESTAURANT

THE INDEPENDENT BEER HALL

YOUR UNIQUE, LOCAL SHOPS & RESTAURANTS

NEWS & RUMORS

CHOOSING FAVORITES

STAYING CONNECTED

& MUCH, MUCH MORE

The Independent - Update (10/01/09)

2009-10-01T14:51:00.004-04:00

PHOTOS: (Seminole Heights) The opening of The Independent beer hall has been delayed slightly, but they are hoping to have a “soft” opening within the next 14 days. Its new exterior sign (which was put up today), plus the recent opening of Ella’s Folk Art Café, are undeniable symbols that Seminole Heights' FloNeHi retail & dining district is coming into its own. (For the record, FloNeHi = FLO-rida ave, NE-braska ave and HI-llsborough ave.) CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES.

UC Tampa Magazine Sept/Oct 2009

2009-09-22T20:11:00.006-04:00

See complete version online at:
www.UCTampa.com

WHAT'S HAUNTING YBOR?
The Ghostly Side of Ybor City ... Pg. 18

A HAND UP, NOT OUT
The Freecycle Network ... Pg. 06

A FAVORITE NEIGHBORHOOD HAUNT
Gaspar's Grotto Bar & Grill ... Pg. 24

NEWS&RUMORS
18 Bites of Neighborhood Gossip ... Pg. 12

FIT FOR PRINT: PART 2
The Goal ... Pg. 08

ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT
Our Fave 5ive ... Pg. 28

-----------------------------------------------------------

No Bail for Frye

2009-09-07T12:08:00.005-04:00

Circuit Judge Eric R. Myers refused to release Frye who robbed and raped a elderly woman in Seminole Heights, saying he is a danger to the community. Myers said his decision was based on the charges and Frye's criminal history.

Some items were pawned at a nearby pawn shop (EZ Pawn, 8511 N. Florida Ave) ....One more reason restrict the locations of Pawn Shops as a convenient place to cash in on stolen items.

He was located at the Mayflower Motel, 7510 N Florida Ave, Tampa, FL.

Neighborhood Watch Meeting - Wednesday

2009-09-05T12:23:00.000-04:00

Neighborhood Watch Meeting
Seminole Heights United Methodist Church
Wednesday, September 9, 2009 7:45PM

After learning that a violent crime had been committed in our area, our neighborhood did a great job pulling together to keep our neighborhood safe. Now that TPD has captured Joseph Frye it is important to continue to stay alert to people in our neighborhood. Please take some time this weekend to talk with your neighbors about Neighborhood Watch to ensure they know who their Grid Coordinator is and how they can become involved.

This crime was a test of our Neighborhood Watch and now is a good time to review what worked and what needs to be improved. To that end, a meeting with TPD – Major Bennett and Capt. Newman – has been scheduled for Wednesday, September 9 at 7:45pm. This meeting will be hosted by Grid 58 and held in the sanctuary of the Seminole Heights United Methodist Church (corner of Hanna & Central Ave). Please make an effort to attend this meeting and offer your input on how Neighborhood Watch was successful and where we should concentrate on improving.

The Mutt Report

2009-08-18T14:00:00.004-04:00

My wife Susan and I are collaborating on a new blog about dogs called The Mutt Report. The new venue will be entertaining and informative. There's a page for you to post your recommendations for dog products, places, and services; a page to post events and classes; and a themed photo page to post your pooch's picture. This week we introduce ourselves and later in the week, we'll explain what you can expect on the blog. We'd like it to be an interactive space where readers gather and share. We hope to build enough of an audience to justify regular columns by experts. So, please stop by and visit TheMuttReport.com

Seminole heights Foundation...501c(3) APPROVED

2009-08-16T15:55:00.005-04:00

After some ups and downs and a few hurdles thrown in front of it, the Seminole Heights Foundation has been granted official 501c(3) status by the IRS. This means that you can make donations and write them off as charitable contributions. There are those in this community who have said they are interested in a multitude of projects, now you get a tax deduction and keep the money in your community!

Click to visit the Seminole Heights Foundation site

The Official Unofficial Blog

2009-07-22T20:41:00.002-04:00

Essentially this blog is dead. I am only keeping it online to people can still have access to the earlier posts. What I had hoped would happen, turning this into a multiple author blog did not work out. I even had bought the address seminoleheightsblog.com to move the blog out of the blogspot domain if things went well. It did not and so I gave up the name.

So where do you go for Seminole Heights blogging?

To the Official Unofficial Seminole Heights Blog at http://seminoleheights.blog.com/ at its new address http://www.seminoleheightsblog.com/. That blog has continued what was started in this blog and is doing a good job.

So to whoever is running the Official Unofficial Seminole Heights Blog ( I really do not know) feel free to call yourself the Official Seminole Heights Blog.

UC Tampa Magazine July/Aug 2009

2009-07-14T17:53:00.003-04:00

See complete version online at
www.UCTampa.com.

READY. SET. GO!
Kids In The Corridor

HEALTH&WELLNESS
Fit For Print

GREEN&EARTH
Helping Hands

FOOD&DRINK
West Tampa's Food History

ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT
The Fave 5ive

NEWS&RUMORS
What's Happening In Your Neighborhood?!

-----------------------------------------------------------

Kid(s) Photo Contest Ends May 31

2009-05-28T16:48:00.001-04:00

Enter your child(ren)’s photo in UC Tampa’s (formerly New Heights) Kids Play Photo Contest by this Sunday, May 31, 2009, and you may win your family up to $450 in prizes!

The child(ren) in the winning photo will also receive a professional photo shoot, courtesy of South Tampa’s award-winning Andi Diamond Photography. Plus, one picture from that shoot will be selected as UC Tampa’s Cover Photo for its July/Aug 2009 issue. Your child(ren) will be famous!

Prizes
1st Place:
* $350 Gift Certificate for a “The Little Gym” Birthday Party Package
* $100 Gift Certificate for Pipo’s – The Original Cuban Café
* Child(ren)’s Professional Photo Shoot
* Picture on UC Tampa’s Cover

2nd-5th Place:
* $100 Gift Certificate for Pipo’s – The Original Cuban Café
* Winning Picture printed inside UC Tampa’s July/Aug Issue

EMAIL YOUR CONTEST ENTRY TO: KidsPlay@UCTampa.com today!
Deadline for entries, May 31, 2009!
Winners will be notified by mid-June 2009.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Did You Know? UC Tampa is preparing to launch multiple social networking initiatives in July! Sign up early and be the first to get our most up-to-date news, rumors and articles. Three great options are currently under construction:

1) www.UCTampa.com
2) Facebook
3) Twitter

UC TAMPA MAGAZINE May/June 2009 Edition

2009-05-19T09:51:00.004-04:00

UC TAMPA MAGAZINE May/June 2009 Edition (formerly New Heights Magazine)
See complete version online at www.UCTampa.com. --------------------------------------------------------------------

WIN UP TO $450 IN PRIZES!
Kids Play Cutest Photo Contest
Send us your cutest photo of your child(ren) and you could win up to $450 in prizes and see your child(ren) on the next cover of UC Tampa!

OPPORTUNITIES N.O.K.
The "North of Kennedy" Business Boom

GREEN&EARTH
Home Detox

FOOD&DRINK
Downtown's The Tampa Club

PEOPLE&PLACES
Working Out At The Gem

ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT
The Fave 5ive

NEWS&RUMORS
What's Happening In Your Neighborhood?!

-----------------------------------------------------------

URBAN CORRIDOR (UC) = Downtown, Heights Areas, South Tampa, Ybor, The Islands, West Tampa & surrounding areas.

The world has lost its Style

2009-04-14T07:57:00.004-04:00

Pat Chamburs, former host of the great WMNF radio show "The Pat Chamburs Show" or as I liked to think of it, the "Style Is Back In Style" show (after his theme song), died on April 12.

He was so cool and it was a great pleasure to listen to his show every Wednesday night. Susan and I and many of his fans were so disappointed when he retired. Halloween week was never the same without his Halloween show. Later some of his fans then shared their stories about Pat Chamburs.

My condolences to his family and friends.

New Heights Magazine - Mar/Apr 2009 Edition

2009-03-19T11:44:00.008-04:00

Just Released!

The March/April 2009 Edition of:
New Heights Magazine
Highlighting Tampa's Historic Urban Corridor

-----------------------------

*** Check Out The New Online Format ***

Kids at Play Cover Photo Contest

Health & Wellness: Biking for the Rest of Us

Home & Family: España en Tampa

Neighborhood Spotlight: Tampa Twilight Criterium & Festival

Heights Heighlights: Signs of the Times - Neon Tampa's Bright Ideas

Food & Drink: Long Live the Herbivores (Grass Root Organic Restaurant)

Green & Earth: Free Rain

Arts & Events: The Fave 5ive

News & Rumors: Hear it through the Grapevine.

Urban Corridor = Downtown, Heights Areas, South Tampa, Ybor, The Islands, West Tampa & surrounding areas.

Seminole Heights Foundation, Inc.

2009-03-13T19:21:00.001-04:00

Seminole Heights Foundation, Inc.

We would like to introduce you to the Seminole Heights Foundation. Seminole Heights is a central Tampa neighborhood known for its tree-lined streets, historic bungalow style homes and resurgent commercial corridors. The Seminole Heights Foundation has been formed to assist with revitalization and redevelopment of this vibrant and diverse area while striving to protect and preserve the unique character that this area is known for. The Foundation will work with individuals, business owners, associations, developers, and government entities to locate funding sources for and promote initiatives that will increase the quality of life for neighborhood residents, improve commerce for area businesses and identify Seminole Heights as a premier location in the city. We invite you to share your ideas on taking the first steps. Please email us atinfo@seminoleheightsfoundation.org. We look forward to hearing from you!

For further information, contact the Seminole Heights Foundation President Christie Hess at 813.237.8808 orchess@seminoleheightsfoundation.org.

(501(c)3 applied for)

Two Female Dogs Need Home

2009-02-19T17:47:00.002-05:00

Not my normal post -- but on request:

Please pass along to all family, friends, co-workers - spread the word and help find these two adorable labs a home. You never know who may want to adopt them or who may know someone that does.

Two females, both have chips implanted - well cared for. Family losing home. Desperate to find loving home.

Al ready housebroken, trained, love kids, spayed, up to date on shots....what more could you ask for. But must stay together. These are lifelong friends.

Contact: Katherine at:
kjmorris74@yahoo.com

Thanks for your help spreading the word. Please read their story below.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

This family has lost their home and the apartment does not allow dogs.They are looking for a home for the two Labs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As many of you know, we are moving in just 2 weeks. Unfortunately, I have still not been able to find a good home for Cookie and Coco. We're not able to take our beloved doggies with us and I've been desperately trying to find a home for both of them 'together'. They were raised together and pine without each other. The Lab Rescue have already said that they would probably separate them, so this is my last resort.

Recently, I tried to take Coco out in my car alone and she TOTALLY refused to even get into the car without Cookie.....!!!! She absolutely pulled back on her haunches until Cookie was by her side. Both doggies are in great health, have been spayed and have ID chips implanted under the skin.

Cookie turned 3 December 10th and Coco will be 3 on April 1st. Cookie is my mellow-yellow, and just loves her tummy rubbed. Coco is adorably funny and lives for her "ball". She also loves the water. Cookie loves lots of attention. Both doggies are loyal and love to walk. They have been raised with my 3 kids running around all over the place, and have survived Sammy's constant hugging and love of 'dress-up', so they are fantastic family dogs. This is by far one of the most difficult decisions I have ever had to make, but under the circumstances I have no choice.

Please, please forward these pics to all you know and help me find a great home for these fabulous doggies. They are just adorable and it's heartbreaking to let them go. In a perfect world, I hope that we could find someone local so that we can still keep in touch and visit them.

I pray that someone somewhere can help us keep Cookie and Coco together, and love them just as much as we do. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

Digital Billboards...who needs street lights!

2009-02-11T11:01:00.003-05:00

Ditgital billboard could soon light up your homes. It is buried in a settlement agreement that would allow these energy monsters. This is not an ordinance that can be modified at a later date these are legally binding agreements between the City of Tampa and the billboard giants Clear Channel and CBS Outdoors. City Council will revisit the issue on March 5th but the only time to speak out is before Council starts on the agenda. For information from other communities and talking points

City Council took up the issue of the settlement agreements between the City of Tampa and Clear Channel and CBS Outdoors on February 5th. As was said during the public comments and echoed by some members of City Council, the original settlement agreement was awful and this one was merely bad. I guess that is improvement. It has now been delayed until March 5th. It was good to see this process slowed or delayed. Councilman John Dingfelder made a good connection in asking what was the initial reason for the litigation by Clear Channel and CBS Outdoors. For Clear Channel it was the view corridors (Kennedy, Swann, MacDill) identified in the original agreement. For CBS Outdoors it was the fact that the original agreement had expired.This agreement would have gone far beyond the initial Clear Channel litigation. It also was beyond the CBS Outdoors litigation. The challenge is that it has so far only been delayed in a motion made by Councilman Charlie Miranda.

The big issue is digital billboards that change the message every 6 to 10 seconds. A huge distraction to drivers already struggling to stay focused on the road conditions. For urban neighborhoods it is the potential for horrendous light pollution. As one Council member stated we are not Times Square. Amen. I think that between now and March 5th City Council members need to hear lots of opposition to digital billboards in Seminole Heights and other central Tampa neighborhoods. Go look at the digital billboard at Dale Mabry & Waters and envision those lighting up 275 and the major roads running through our neighborhood.

Swamp their offices with messages of "no digital billboards" in our neighborhoods. Drive past your "favorite" neighborhood billboard, now imaging it converted to digital and sucking up enough energy to light yours and 12 other neighbors homes, and now image it is bright enough to be seen for 2 or 3 miles and glows 24/7! How many of these monsters will it take to wreck our community?
Mayor's Office
Pam Iorio, Mayor
306 East Jackson Street , Tampa, Florida 33602
Phone: (813) 274-8251 Fax: (813) 274-7050
Contact Pam Iorio

Gwen Miller, District 1 At-Large
315 E Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33602
Olivia "Libby" Wilson, Legislative Aide
(813) 274-7072
Contact Gwen Miller

Mary Mulhern, District 2 At-Large
315 E Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33602
Christina Voehl, Legislative Aide
(813) 274-7071
Email Mary Mulhern

Linda Saul-Sena, District 3 At-Large
315 E Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33602
Rhonda Y. Smalls, Legislative Aide
(813) 274-8134
Contact Linda Saul-Sena

Councilman John Dingfelder, District 4
315 E Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33602
Cynthia Sarff and James Reese, Legislative Aides
(813) 274-8133
Email John Dingfelder

Councilman Thomas Scott, District 5
315 E Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33602
Belinda Allen, Legislative Aide
(813) 274-8189
Contact Thomas Scott

Charlie Miranda, District 6
315 E Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33602
Mary Bryan, Legislative Aide
(813) 274-7074
Contact Charlie Miranda

Councilman Joseph Caetano, District 7
315 E Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33602
Thomas Nguyen, Legislative Aide
(813) 274-7073
Contact Joseph Caetano

New Heights Magazine - Jan/Feb 2009 Edition

2009-01-27T10:30:00.000-05:00

Just Released!

The Jan/Feb 2009 Edition of:
New Heights Magazine
Highlighting Tampa's Historic Urban Corridor

-----------------------------

*** Check Out The New Online Format ***

Health & Wellness: Posed for Greatness

Home & Family: A Gothic Tampa Romance

Neighborhood Spotlight: Downtown Tampa

Heights Heighlights: A Taste of Tampa -and- Devilishly Delicious

Food & Drink: Cafe con Lech -and- Drowning with Flavor

Green & Earth: Revelations in Insulation

Arts & Events: Gasparilla Festival of Arts

News & Rumors: Hear it through the Grapevine.

Urban Corridor = Seminole Heights, Downtown, Hyde Park, Channel District, West Tampa, Riverside Heights, Ybor City, Ybor Heights, Davis Islands, Tampa Heights, The Heights, VM Ybor & surrounding areas.

NEW YEARS EVE SERVICE

2008-12-28T13:04:00.014-05:00

Seminole Heights new all inclusive chruch

2008-12-08T05:29:00.004-05:00

Breath of Life Fellowship Community Church is happy to announce our new location at 7901 N. Nebraska Av. - Tampa, FL 33604. We are on the south side of the Hillsborough River.

Pastor J. Ricc Rollins, II is an award-winning talk show host, motivational speaker, lecturer, life coach, actor and proud father of two. A native of Tampa, FL. Ricc graduated from C. Leon King High School and matriculated at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, where he majored in business with a minor in marketing and merchandising. He is the only child of Allie McEady Rollins and the late Jessie Rollins, Sr.

Pastor Rollins has been preaching since the age of twelve and has been sharing the Word of God every since. Currently, he is the Senior Pastor and founder of Breath of Life Fellowship Community Church; a biblically based, Christ-centered, intentionally inclusive, radically receptive and non-denominational ministry. His vision is to facilitate fellowship and nurturing for the un-churched and those seeking a place of refuge and restoration in a time such as this. As a part of his vision, Breath of Life Fellowship desires to be a place of Christian fellowship that fosters spiritual and personal growth. Pastor Rollins has recently embarked upon his "No Mo Shame" tour; a multi-leveled workshop/teaching/preaching module combating the auspices of shame to those who are still hurting and marginally existing. He also sits on the Board of Directors for Francis House, Central Florida Black Pride, and the Ujima Men’s Collective.

Previously, he hosted a late night infotainment talk show UpFRONT with Ricc Rollins on WTVT FOX-13. Prior to his tenure at FOX 13, Ricc was the host of his own self-titled, award-winning talk show, The Ric Rollins Show, which he hosted for five years along with other specials and programs. He has also appeared on the nationally syndicated talk shows, Geraldo, Donahue and The Jane Whitney Show, discussing issues of male sexual abuse and survivorship.Pastor Rollins is also an award-winning photographer and best-selling author, to his credit are three published novels, Like Breathing, Breathe again and the recently released, Bated Breath, all a part of a series he has aptly titled, "the breathing chronicles." He is currently working the forth installment, Breathless schedule release in 2009 along with his first non-fiction work.

Saturday 12/6 - Outdoor Movie & Family Bike Ride

2008-12-03T13:42:00.001-05:00

New Heights | mid-Nov '08/mid-Jan '09

2008-11-23T15:34:00.004-05:00

SPECIAL EDITION: 2009 Guide to the Urban Corridor
Mid-Nov '08/Mid-Jan '09 • Vol. 1, Edt. 6
See this newsletter online at: www.newheightsmag.com/newsletter
--------------------------------------------------------------------

NEIGHBORHOOD SECRETS
In this SPECIAL EDITION, New Heights uncovers your neighborhood's secrets - its many, one-of-a-kind retail shops, restaurants and art venues that you've been missing out on. (Complete with news and rumors of what's to come in '09!)

We then answer the question, "What is the Urban Corridor?", and take a look back at NH's first year accomplishments.
------------------------------------------------------------

FOOD & DRINK
They're fresh, they're convenient and they're close. Join NH as we check out the UC's truly "Super" Markets.

Afterwards, enjoy a new dining experience while feeding your local economy; when you try one of the many independent restaurants listed in our Buyer's Guide.
------------------------------------------------------------

ARTS & EVENTS
Internationally known gallerist, Erika Schneider of Tampa Heights' Bleu Acier, examines Tampa’s Art Scene.

Then NH shows you how to explore the local art community and find out what's happening in your neighborhood.
------------------------------------------------------------

UC BUYER'S GUIDE
Prepare to get your (local) shop on with this issue of NH - just in time for the holidays and the New Year. You'll discover over a hundred reasons why not to make the trip to the giant malls and "-marts" of the suburbs.
------------------------------------------------------------

NEWS & RUMORS
Is it Real or Rumor? From the Newsline to the Grapevine, New Heights goes myth-busting to bring you the latest scoop!

In this Issue: NH lists more than 60 rumors and news clips about what's happening near you.
------------------------------------------------------------

Newsletter sponsored by:* Rover Done Over Mobile Pet Grooming * Grafx Design * SunBiz Solar * Greener Pixels Print Media Design
-------------------------------------------------

Urban Corridor = Seminole Heights, Downtown Tampa, Hyde Park, Channel District, West Tampa, Riverside Heights, Ybor City, Ybor Heights, Davis Islands, Tampa Heights, The Heights, VM Ybor & surrounding areas.

The Death of Cranky Conservatism

2008-11-09T22:10:00.002-05:00

Is this election the death knell of compassionate conservatism (or as I call it cranky conservatism since I never saw any compassion - just look at Sean Hannity and Ann Coulter)? Is the progressive conservative or moderate Republican on their way back from the Gulag? I think so.

According to David Broder in a great article "Ceding the Center the progressive conservative "is for using limited but energetic government to enhance social mobility." This is who Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosvelt where and who John McCain was until he allowed himself to be hijacked by the cranky conservatists as exemplified the Sarah Palin. (One of the reasons I, a moderate Republican, voted for Obama was Sarah Palin)

This trend of moderate Republicans has already been in the works in Florida as noted in the election of Charlie Crist as Governor of Florida and Rose Ferlita elected as Hillsborough county Commisioner.

We moderates Republicans need to keep this trend going. We need to come up with credible candidates to defeat cranky conservatives, these Bushtonians, these Rhonda Stormians. We need to support moderates.

We need people are less idealogues and more pragmatists. Sometimes strict idealogy is less effective in reaching goals. (This was part of the problem with communism)

For example: Abortion. If we took all of the money, millions and millions and millions of dollars, of dollars that has been spent on abortion fights and all of the time people spent on this issue (parading in front of abortion clinics, putting little crosses on church yards, organizing amendents, etc) and spent it on really dealing with the abortion issue, we would have less abortions in this country. So it is your faith that abortion is not the way to go. Leave it as a faith issue and something you personally would not want done but remove it as a policy issue. Change it to redcing the number. Lets agree on how late an abortion could be done ( a thorny issue) and then focus on prevention. First by having real sex education that includes not only abstinence but also birth control. Spend a lot of money on teen pregancy issues. Stop the resistence to morning after pill. Also make it easier for a woman give up a child for adoption, including providing her more support (which maybe should be perhaps financial) and also make it easier for someone to adopt that child. Improve the role models these children have (both boys and girls.) End result less abortions and less unwanted children and less children in poverty and less child abuse and less money spend on public assistance.

The failed Cuban Embargo for another example. The purpose if this embargo was to get rid of the Castro brothers. Well at some point you have to declare something a failure and I think 40 plus years is long enough. I believe in the subversive power of the American dollar. Drop all restrictions and let the money flow in and the American tourists and investors flow in. Do this and I predict the Castro regime would be gone pretty quickly.

There are plenty of other issues where a pragmatic approach would be more effective.

Moderates arise and cast off your shackles!

Sanity returns to the County

2008-11-06T21:35:00.003-05:00

Hillsborough County is finally looking up. Reason is returning. Brian Blair is defeated by Kevin Beckner. Buddy Johnson is defeated by Phyllis Busansky. Jim Norman will be term limited in 2010. Ralph Hughes is not around to own candidates.

Wanted: a moderate Republican to run for Jim Norman's seat in 2010. A moderate Democrat who is not in the perceived to be in pockets of developers to run for Kevin White's seat in 2010.

Greater Seminole Heights Vision Plan--Oct 29th

2008-10-27T11:38:00.006-04:00

This is the product from the "form based zoning" discussions to revitalize the commercial corridors in Seminole Heights (all of Seminole Heights: southeast, south, and old). It is important for neighbors to turnout. It is important for the leaders of ALL three neighborhood groups to be there. If our leaders aren't there and neighbors also don't show up we have no voice in the city's decision making.

****
Please join us for a Stakeholder Review and Open House which is scheduled for Wednesday, October 29, 2008, 6:30 - 8:30pm (presentation at 7:30pm) at City Hall, 315 East Kennedy Boulevard, to review the draft Vision Plan and provide input on the Vision Planning exercises for this project. City staff will be presenting findings and documenting public comments.

For additional information regarding the Greater Seminole Heights Form-Based Code project, you can visit our web site at: www.tampagov.net/ldc or contact us at (813) 274-8405.

Thanks,
Samantha Fenger
Urban Planner II
Land Development Coordination
City of Tampa

King of the Hill...a Commentary

2008-10-24T19:25:00.006-04:00

You know it is amazing the things that have been said about yours truely. Now I have people commenting and signing for me. I have been called all manner of names by a small bunch of very petty and small minded people. An this is just over a neighborhood association election.

I read the accusations that keep attacking me as the source of the negativity; I think that most people are more than capable of seeing through this all this BS. I have not screamed at board members or members of the association like Jeff Harmon. I have not trash talked about a neighborhood business like Shawn Hicks did. I have not acted in any way to tarnish the integrity of this election process. But I sure have questioned some actions. (Yeah, there “I” go with those “I” statements but at least own what I say)

I have served on 5 different boards (including OSHNA’s) over the past 20 years. I have never seen the maliciousness or the hatefulness that has been exhibited by all these anonymous cowards. What have I actually done? I have expected the board to act with integrity regarding the by-laws. They have not both in regard to a sitting board member and in holding an absentee ballot vote on the by-law revisions. It is not personal against that person, it is about the rules, and I would take the same position if it were a close friend. We have rules for a reason. I am deeply trouble by people who want to be in leadership positions on our association board who have so little respect for the rules, past precedence, the reputation, or the integrity of that neighborhood association.

There are many in this neighborhood who will tell you I have supported and included people who did not agree with me on one issue or another over my years in this community. They will also tell you that even when we have disagreed, we have remained friends because we did not make those issues personal. I have personally invested hundreds of hours and hundreds of dollars in this community. It was never about building myself a little clique or taking an ego trip.

OSHNA has had at least two prior contentious elections. Never has it reached the point where the integrity of the very election process was called into question. Though people were running against each other because they disagreed about issues or priorities, the candidates had enough respect for the process, each other, and the association that they wanted to lead that they were not willing to climb over the bodies and characters of their opponents to be declared king of the hill. The conduct of people in this election has been appalling and disgusting. The truth be told, if I am ashamed of anything I have done, it is that I have at times allowed myself to wallow in the same muck. It has certainly strained some long time friendships which I regret.

In the end, if it is about being “king of the hill” we all need to go back an examine what it means to be a neighborhood association.

Rick Fifer

OSHNA Great Tree Giveaway

2008-10-22T10:24:00.002-04:00

Posted at the request of Greg Barnhill

Neighbors, Nature and Natural HistoryGrowing Together

Dear Members,

In honor of your support and membership, OSHNA is giving away free trees! And did we mention, planting them too!

Click Here to visit OSHNA's website
Laurel Oaks*
Live Oaks*
Winged Elms
(All trees are 20 to 30 gallon in size.)
* Choice of tree is based on planting location ... due to city recommendations, oaks cannot be planted under existing power lines.
Watch for the postcard announcement in
your mailbox and join us at the next
General Membership Meeting,
Tuesday, October 28th, 7pm.
Bring your postcard for the drawing, and
if you have a neighbor unable to attend the meeting, bring their postcard along with you.

Disclaimer: You do not need to be present to win, but postcards do need to be presented for the drawing, only one tree per household, trees will only be planted within the boundaries of the Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association and all winners will be announced during the meeting, via Bungalow Alert and by personal communication.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO MAKE
OLD SEMINOLE HEIGHTS A GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD!!

Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood AssociationPO Box 360022Tampa, Florida 33673-0022

New Myspace Page - Please check this out

2008-10-21T12:25:00.004-04:00

This woman is becoming a friend of mine and I would like you to check out the myspace page. It is a site we're working on but we need help from everyone to get her story out and the myspace page known. Please pass it around. Please watch the video if you haven't seen it.

http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2008/10/7/389545.html

TAMPA (Bay News 9) -- Since Kathy Maloney lost her sales job in May, things haven't been easy.
She doesn't have money or a car, but she has the drive to get it all back.
"You can be at home depressed," she said. "I've been through that depression, what's it going to do me any good. You know, it's not going to do any good. You have to get out and see people in person."
Maloney spent the morning on busy Dale Mabry Highway handing out her life's work on a piece of paper.
"I appreciate any help," she told one driver. "Because this is desperate and this is very close to being an eviction."
More Information
Hitting the streets with resumes in hand is also a way to show off her marketing skills.
"They see you and they are going to remember you and that's marketing," she said.
Some drivers understand the desperate times.
"It's different, interesting, but hey, if it works, it works," said driver Danielle Rodriguez. "The economy nowadays sucks."
It only takes Maloney an hour and hundreds of handouts to get some hopeful calls.
"That's more response in one hour than I've had in three months, compared to the Internet, compared to job fairs, everything," she said.
Maloney landed job interviews with a law firm and a marketing company. Her persistence also got her free resume copies from a nearby daycare. "La Petite" gave her more copies each time she ran out.

Challenging the TECO Rate Increase

2008-10-20T08:50:00.007-04:00

This is an issue that is critical to our neighborhood and community and is a modified post of a letter sent asking the neighborhood association to send a representative. This is done with her knowledge and approval.

As you have read in the news and heard at the recent THAN meetings, TECO is petitioning the Florida Public Service Commission for substantial rate increases.

A number of concerned businesses and citizen groups will speak at the PSC meeting next Tuesday October 21 at 6:00 p.m. (location listed below.) It would be beneficial if neighbors from SESHCA, SSHCA, and OSHNA attend and comment on the impact on our community and our neighbors, and request the denial of their request. The proposed increases reach 21% for residents.

City Councilwoman Linda Saul-Sena proposed, and the Council officially passed a resolution asking the PSC to deny the increase until a financial and operational analysis could be conducted. AARP, The Federation of Retailers, County Operations and THAN are among the groups that will comment. BGOSH and other groups have asked to comment. The AARP and retail lawyers are working on ‘discovery’ of TECO financial documents.

Speakers will not be disputing the increase in fuel costs. The comments will focus on the Base Rate increase and the percent of profit TECO is seeking (reportedly 11 or 12% after tax, and if I understood the lawyers). I’ve included a link to their PDF, below, for you to compare the charges for your businesses. Our goal is to reduce the Base Rate and obtain a multi-year implementation.
Numbers in attendance will increase the impact, your presence carries weight with the PSC. The impact will be cumulative on our community – from schools to businesses to our homes. We know you are busy and the meeting is next Tuesday, but hope that one of you can speak.

We are organizing a prep meeting at 5:00 p.m. prior to the PSC. To confirm your participation, please let me know so we can coordinate with you. If you have any questions about the issue or comments, please feel free to contact any one of us.

Sincerely,

CJ Reynolds (to e-mail CJ: cjreynolds@solutions-insight.biz )
Seminole Heights, Tampa

Cc:
Linda Saul-Sena, Tampa City Council
Wofford Johnson, President THAN

TECO Petition Service Hearing
Tuesday, October 21 at 6:00 p.m.
Dr. Blaise F. Alfano Conference and Banquet Center,
11606 North McKinley Drive
(4oth St. becomes McKinley, corner of McKinley and Fowler)

http://www.psc.state.fl.us/library/filings/08/09508-08/aarp%20petition%20to%20intervene%20in%20docket%20080317-ei.pdf

On August, 11, 2008, Tampa Electric formally filed its request for a base rate increase.Proposed changes to your rates: proposed new rates

To learn more, visit TECO's proposed changes to your electric base rate page, or read their news release.

http://www.tampaelectric.com/data/files/filingdocs/CommInsertProposedRatesCharges.pdf

New Heights | mid-Sept/mid-Nov 2008

2008-10-15T05:23:00.003-04:00

This has been out since late September, so I apologize for the late posting.

Can't see this newsletter? Visit: www.NewHeightsMag.com/newsletter/index.html

New Heights Magazine: Mid-Sept/Mid-Nov 2008
Highlighting Tampa Historic Urban Corridor:
Seminole Heights, Downtown, Ybor, West Tampa, Tampa Heights, Riverside Heights, Davis Islands, Hyde Park & Surrounding Areas

---------------- FEATURED STORIES ------------------

Connecting the Corridor: We find out the fastest way to get around the UC ... without a car!Four mean machines - a bus, streetcar, cab and electric shuttle -race against time and each other to claim the UC's title as 2008's Top Transit ...

-------------- http://www.newheightsmag.com/ ----------------

Food & Drink: Five contenders sat in different corners of the UC, picked asunknowing finalists in New Heights' mission to discover whose Chinese Take-Out reigns supreme. And the winner is ???

Then our humorous sommelier, Mark Lasky, offers advice on great, affordable wines from lesser known regions ...

-------------- http://www.newheightsmag.com/ ----------------

Health & Beauty: Nothing says "I've had a great summer!" like snarling split ends and bleached out locks. Just in time for Fall, find out which conditioner is the cure for your frazzled hair ...

Then learn "Where the Mind Goes," according to Eastern medicine;and how a vast majority of our health problems (including depression) may originate from our mental selves ...

-------------- http://www.newheightsmag.com/ ----------------

Home & Family: Where are the bodies buried? Meet the soldiers, socialites, saints and sinners that lay at rest (or maybe not!) in the UC's eerie, historic graveyards ...

Then, NH's Licensed School Psychologist, Dr. Abby, explores why consistency is the key for parents who want their children to feel safe and happy at home ...

-------------- http://www.newheightsmag.com/ ----------------

Arts & Events: Hillsborough High & Seminole Heights Documentaries (Oct. 4); Tampa Bay International Auto Show; TBPAC's 2008-2009 Bestof Broadway Season; Cigars & Stars IV; and more!

Also: Event Listings, "Transit Race," tombstones, UC Fly Over & scenes of NH's past ...

-------------- http://www.newheightsmag.com/ ----------------

News & Rumors: Is it Real or Rumor? From the Newsline to the Grapevine, New Heights goes myth-busting to bring you the latest scoop!

This issue: New Heights Lands a Whaleys (almost); Starbuck's Closing; Five Guys Burgers and Thai; and more!

The Urban Puzzle

2008-10-12T23:10:00.004-04:00

(Illustration/Christophe Vorlet Graphic)

The above graphic accompanied an interesting article in the Boston Globe regarding neighborhoods and gentrification. Click on the image to link to the article. I think it is relevant to so many of the issues that face our urban core neighborhoods. In reading it you can hear some of the same challenges we face in Seminole Heights. Commercial redevelopment. Blight and renovation. Economic stratification and who was here first. Preserving what first attracted us to the area yet trying to move forward without changing that character. Bridging the diversity that too often seems to be a bridge to no where. The generational divides between those who have lived here for decades and are not so sure what to make of change. Throw into the mix that the bursting of the real estate bubble seems to have taken us backward rather than forward. Those that thought we had moved past the urban pioneer stage may find this set back more than they bargained.

The "Vote" Postcard

2008-10-10T00:30:00.002-04:00

I was requested to post this. At this time OSHNA has also sent out an official "bungalow alert" as a disclaimer stating as much.

OSHNA Board,

The “Vote” postcard delivered today raises some very serious concerns about the integrity of OSHNA. The main issue is not that it went out nor that it appears that the recipients are members of the association, the later is of course of concern. However, my main concern is that the postcard appears to be coming from the Old Seminole Neighborhood Association itself. As I am sure that this is not the case I am requesting that the Board communicate with the membership the following:

“If you received a ‘Vote” postcard in the mail the Association wants to assure you that the Association did not pay for nor does the Association in any way promote the information provided in the postcard. The Association has a long history of not endorsing any candidate for the Executive Board of the Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association and as such the contents of the postcard are not being provided in this Alert.

Further, the Association recently denied a request to use the membership list for the purposes of disseminating information relating to the election. And in fact, has a history of not providing the membership list to anyone.

The Association apologizes for any confusion that this may have caused you and look forward to continuing to work with you to address the needs of the neighborhood “

(You can add words to further explain the board’s position, but this must be communicated to the membership as quickly as possible. )

Christie Hess

Candidate Forum (OSHNA Candidates)

2008-10-08T23:17:00.005-04:00

Dinner with a side of Politics

The candidate forum offered by Elizabeth Graham has been set for October 13th. For More Information on the forum or to learn about some of the issues. All the candidates have received an invitation. I know that Eric Krause has gracefully excused himself as he will be out of town for business.

Number Please

2008-10-03T16:58:00.003-04:00

Will someone please provide me Greg Smith's phone number or email? He's going to be in our next feature story ... if I can contact him.

(He's the person in charge of the Greg's Pub & Grub currently being built on Nebraska Ave.)

editor@newheightsmag.com or 813-389-8116

Thanks!

Join Us for a Celebration as New Heights turns 1!

2008-10-01T06:26:00.005-04:00

A Celebration & Networking Event
See your offical inviation here: New Heights Birthday Celebration

When: Oct. 2, 2008, 6-8pm (Thursday)
Where: Gaspar's Grotto - Map
1805 E. 7^th Ave., Ybor City

Please join New Heights for this free, fun, family-friendly event - being held at Ybor City's Gaspar's Grotto, Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008, 6-8pm - to help us celebrate our one-year birthday.

Amongst our staff and your fellow readers, you'll sample complimentary fare from Gaspar's new Set Sail menu (created by Jeannie Pierola, the famous former Bern's/Side Bern's chef). You'll also be entertained by the Crystal Monkey Band, featuring the cover boy from New Heights' inaugural issue, Sebastian Castellano.

Most importantly, you'll meet New Heights' staff members face-to-face and be able to share with us your thoughts on how we can do an even better job at Highlighting Tampa's Historic Urban Corridor.

Please mark Thursday, October 2, 6-8pm on your calendar and join us to celebrate our one-year birthday and New Heights' goal to draw positive attention to the UC neighborhoods that are the true heart of Tampa. We'll see you there!

No RSVP required, but we'd love to know you're coming so we can be sure to look out for you. Feel free to email us at editor@NewHeightsMag.com.

No On Amendment 2

2008-09-26T22:52:00.007-04:00

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

2008-09-26T19:03:00.003-04:00

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

2008-09-24T13:02:00.004-04:00

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

2008-09-23T20:57:00.003-04:00

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

2008-09-23T15:56:00.000-04:00

"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

2008-09-23T15:20:00.001-04:00

Click image to enlarge

Jim Kwid...candidate for OSHNA Trustee

2008-09-23T13:53:00.005-04:00

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

2008-09-22T19:07:00.003-04:00

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

2008-09-19T00:45:00.004-04:00

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

2008-09-14T16:34:00.004-04:00

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?

2008-09-14T13:59:00.003-04:00

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

2008-09-13T21:24:00.003-04:00

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"

2008-09-02T15:32:00.003-04:00

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.

Drug Dealing and The Wire

2008-08-31T19:28:00.003-04:00

In a prior post on Prostitution dolphin makes a good point about calling TPD about drug activity. Being part of Neighborhood Watch before, I listened to TPD officers tell us how the drug dealers operate, for example how they will keep their stash in a paper cup or paper bag in the weeds or gutter, rather than on their person. I did not get a full understanding of that until I watched the first season of The Wire. This show or The Corner should be required watching for NW members because it gives be very insights at to how the street level drug dealers operate.

Thankfully we have better police department than that on The Wire.

Searching for Prostitutes

2008-08-31T14:06:00.003-04:00

Part 2 of What can be done about the prostitutes on Nebraska Avenue?

Getting a big lead on being accurate when providing information to the police, is knowing who is doing the activity. Many of the prostitutes are regulars. The SESH Vehicle patrol created a book we kept in our cars that showed the photos and names and arrests for the regular prostitutes.

There are several ways of getting this information.

1. Join a NW Watch group that already has such information.

2. Look it up yourself.

Start with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Arrest Inquiry. Go to Option 3: Inquire by Booking Date. Enter a date in following format 082908 and click Summary Report. This will generate a list of bookings at the jail for that day. There is much information in that listing including the crime. I use the search function to quickly locate the crimes I am interested in. Control – F. I type in “prost” to search for prostitution and “soli” for soliciting another. (Bear in mind there is also “solicitation to pu” short for soliciting to purchase drugs, “soliciting by inti” short soliciting by intimidation or harassment -aggressive panhandling and “solicitation to de” short for solicitation to deliver cocaine.) However not all details of the arrest are in that report so I have open a second window in which I cut and paste into the Option 1: Inquire by Name: field. This provides me all the details of the arrest include where the person was arrested, where they live and for whom they are employed by and their photo.

For example from 8/18/08 to 8/29/08 this is what I came up with for prostitution arrests.

PURYEAR, BARKU AKEEM

SENOGAZAKE, TANEISHA DAVIRA

DAWAY, ARMANDO TYROME

MCINTYRE, PIERRE M

WILLIAMS, PATRICIA ANN

HILL, TAMMY LEE

MYERS, BILLY JEAN

HILL, MARYLOU ELLEN

HANCOCK, RAQUEL M

MENDENALL, JACQUELINE J

LACHANCE, LEAH MARIE

RANDAZZO, STACY

MACHADO, LAURA ANN

SERRANO, JENNIFER

OWENS, CAROLYN DENISE

HEFLIN, CARLA ANN

THOMPSON, MARY

RAMSEY, DARLENE LAWSON

HILL, CYNTHIA M

JORDAN, ANTWON LEE

By going into the Option 1: Inquire by Name: field I can find the person’s prior arrests for last 5 years.

For more details of someone’s criminal history and status of the criminal case go to Hillsborough Clerk of Circuit Court - Search Court Records site. This site not only includes arrests where they went to jail but also those who were issued a summons to appear in court and never sent to jail at the time of arrest.

For example: Antwon Lee Jordan has an extensive history of False Name to LE officer and No Valid drivers license. If you call a report in on Antwon Jordan engaging in prostitution activity and they do a field interview and he gives a false name, he can be arrested and taken off the street for a short time.

Another site that may provide more detail is the Florida Department of Corrections Inmate Search Site. I like to use the Search All Corrections Offender Databases sub site This will tell you if they are on Felony Probation and whether they have had arrests in other counties.

This can be important because there is a statute that makes the 3rd conviction of prostitution a felony, mandating treatment.

What can be done about the prostitutes on Nebraska Avenue?

2008-08-31T13:57:00.003-04:00

This is the first of a multipart series on the topic.

My ability to speak on this topic is due to my participation in the Southeast Seminole Heights Neighborhood Watch, The Exercise Club, and SESH NW Vehicle Patrol and for moderating the Prostitution Task Force (for which I and others did extensive research.)

To deal with this problem requires cooperation and commitment on the part of the residents.

There are 5 core strategies in dealing with the prostitutes and their Johns.

Reporting
Disruption
Arrests
Treatment
Economic change of the community

These strategies requires a commitment on the part of the residents, where they need to become part of the system instead of relying on the system. This is the essential in fact of community policing. The community has a role in effective policing.

Reporting

The most basic element is observing and reporting the behavior. To effectively deal with any criminal problem, the police need information about the problem. As there are only so many police out there, they are limited in what they see. It is crucial that residents provide that information. You are in effect supplying criminal intelligence to the police. As part of this you need to make sure you are reliable in the information you provide. Also the police are often more effective in dealing with patterns rather than individual acts. So everytime you see prostitution activity, report it to the TPD non-emergency line 231-6130. Provide detailed description of what is going and who is doing it, including the name of the persons involved if you have it. Report it as you see it rather than wait till later. Describe what the person looks like, what they are wearing, what side of the street they are on which direction they are headed and specifically what they are doing. Then ask for an event number. That event number ensures it is entered into the TPD system.

Getting accurate descriptions takes some practice, especially if you decide something is suspicious for criminal activity after you pass the person by. I recommend 3 things. 1. Keep a pad and paper handy to where ever you might be when you observe criminal activity. For example by a particular window in your house. This way you can write things down instead of relying on memory as you call TPD. Don’t forget to document the time. 2. Read over material provided by police/neighborhood watch on describing people . 3. Practice describing people. Make a game out of it and observe someone, document what they look like and then see if it matches. This is a game your children can learn, which might help them later in the event they become a witness to a crime. Sometimes if I see something that might be suspicious I will run the description in my head as I decide whether it is truly suspicious and needs to be reported.

The more you report the incidents two things occur: TPD pays greater attention to the problem because they have an increase numbers for that area. Every day TPD looks over data maps to see what reported crimes are occurring where and they change their tactics to deal with those changes in crime. Secondly they have data to work on to fight the problem, they know when and where they can send undercover police to act as prostitutes and arrest the Johns or to pretend to be Johns and arrest prostitutes. They can also step up field interviews. This might pick up people who have warrants and it also disrupts business.

If you do not report it, it will not get dealt with. If you do not report it, you are part of the problem.

The next post will be on getting more information in advance on the actors in these crimes, to provide to police even more accurate information.

A correction

2008-08-30T12:05:00.001-04:00

In my July posting on the Hampton Terrace debate, I took issue with the the Creative Loafing article about the HTPRO spokespeople residing in the neighborhood (see the link).

This morning at Starbucks Gail confront me and challenged my assertions and challenged me to make a retraction. I will gladly accept that challenge, if what I post is shown to be inaccurate I have no problem retracting anything. So I again went looking in regard to the property owned by Gail Davis.

For whatever reason the property appraiser's site does not pull it up under her name but when I search Mohawk I did find the homestead under her and her husband's name.

Gail consider this my retraction.

Fun and Games

2008-08-29T15:15:00.002-04:00

SH Car Show - Sun, Aug. 31, 5-8pm - Bungalow Bistro

2008-08-29T05:57:00.002-04:00

"His heart, home are in Seminole Heights"

2008-08-21T09:34:00.001-04:00

There is a great article in the St. Pete Times about Greg Barnhill.

"Seeing Greg Barnhill, professional looking in khakis and a button-down dress shirt, it's hard to imagine him as a country boy on a farm outside West Union, Ohio. That's exactly what Barnhill was, though, and he still has great regard for the small-town way of life. It's evident in his passion for the older homes and sense of community in Seminole Heights, where he helped organize the neighborhood's first home tour and has been integral in restoring its garden center building." (more)

A Night Of Art

2008-08-15T14:14:00.002-04:00

Candidate Forum

2008-08-14T21:10:00.002-04:00

From South Seminole Heights email:

Please join us �

. . . as Metropolitan Community Church of Tampa ( MCC Tampa) will host our 2008 �Meet the Candidates� Forum on Monday, August 18, 2008 . This event is being sponsored by:

The Tampa/Hillsborough County Human Rights Council

Equality Florida

South Seminole Heights Civic Association

Our event schedule is as follows �

6:30p � 7:00p ~ Informal Meet & Greet with Hillsborough County Judicial Candidates, Hillsborough County Supervisor of Election Candidates, and Hillsborough County Property Appraiser Candidates

7:00p � 7:10p ~ Introductions of Media Representatives and Program Format

7:10p � 7:30p ~ Hillsborough County School Board, District 1 - Q&A

7:30p � 7:55p ~ Hillsborough County School Board, District 7 - Q&A

7:55p � 8:15p ~ Hillsborough County Commission , District 2 (R) � Q&A

8:15p � 8:35p ~ Hillsborough County Commission , District 6 (R) � Q&A

8:35p � 8:55p ~ Hillsborough County Commission , District 6 (D) � Q&A

8:55p � 9:00p ~ Final Comments/Program concludes

Editor's Comment: You can bet that Brian Blair and Ken Hagan won't have the balls to show up for this event. Actually according to the Tribune, they won't go anywhere someone will ask them a real question.

Ode to Nebraska Avenue

2008-08-14T08:15:00.003-04:00

According to her stepdaughter, Maggie Council (aka Dipietra) has a released a new record called Not In The House. Interestingly she says about her album "Nebraska Avenue – Ode to southeast Seminole Heights neighborhood of Tampa. Every word is true. All the extraneous sounds are actually from on or near Nebraska Avenue, where Robert hung out with a field recorder. " Aside from being a musician, Maggie has a long association with WMNF radio which resides in Southeast Seminole Heights.

Other comments about the album "Not In The House – OK. I was watching a Jeff Berlin bass instructional video and reading a book about using words to frame arguments called “Don’t Think of an Elephant” while wondering what would happen if the single mom with 4 kids I saw at the Laundromat [on Nebraska Avenue] ever became President."

Here is the first track called Nebraska Avenue. Listen for the sounds. Copies of the CD can be ordered from her CD website for $12.97.

YOGA Open House: Aug. 20, 6-10pm - Florida Ave.

2008-08-12T18:17:00.002-04:00

Save the Whaleys (for Seminole Heights)

2008-08-11T09:01:00.002-04:00

The Official Unoffical Seminole Heights blog has a campaign for Whaleys to come to Seminole Heights, which New Heights Magazine fully supports: http://seminoleheights.blog.com/3496517/#cmts

In our search we realized that Whaley's has let go of their web domain (www.whaleysmarket.com). We have purchased it to save it from competitors' clutches and will give it to them free when they reopen (anywhere), BUT will include a FREE website AND FREE advertising if they move their location to Seminole Heights.

We are still in search of a phone number for Todd Whaley, but have written him suggesting several locations in Seminole Heights, including Sem-Hi Center and the Van Gogh signs location currently up for sale. There is also a great "grocery store-looking" location across from Bali Bay that's for lease (although it's bigger than what they are probably looking for).

Please help spread the word to Whaleys that they'll have a lifelong partner with Seminole Heights residents and New Heights should they move into our neighborhood.

Whaleys can be contact at whaleysmarket@hotmail.com.

I can be contacted at editor@NewHeightsMag.com or 813-389-8116 for any questions.

Schwan's Hangs at the Corner

2008-08-10T13:54:00.001-04:00

Driving through Seminole Heights, I noticed at the SE corner of Hillsborough and Nebraska in the Auto Parks store parking lot, sat a Schwan's truck, (noted for home delivery) selling its products, out of the back of the truck, with signs like this. *Note they also take EBT. Interesting economic turn of events for that company.

Southeast Seminole Heights Kiosk

2008-08-10T13:39:00.001-04:00

From the SESH email list: " For those of you who have not seen it.........check out the fabulous KIOSK built by Glenn Cable and Buddy Williams (so how could it be anything but fab!) It is not finished as it rains every day but you can see what it looks like........ ....right now it is holding a banner for NNO, but it is meant to hold a glass front message board which will be installed as soon as it's back ordered self comes in! Note on the back of the KIOSK is a place to pick up a newsletter and to drop a flyer you want to have considered for posting on the message board!"

Update: In response to joe positive's commment: Giddens Park at 12th and Giddens

Vote for Seminole Heights

2008-08-08T11:29:00.001-04:00

From Rich on the SESH email list:

Dear Seminole Heights Neighbors,

Just wanted to remind you about the Creative Loafing Best of the Bay Voting. Below is a link:

posting.tampa. creativeloafing. com/gbase/ BestOf/BestOf

You have a limited time to vote by August 13^th , so please do not delay.

Here are some of my suggestions:

1. Best Local TV Newsperson: Brendan McLaughlin – Let’s not forget that he has done so much in promoting our neighborhood and getting our voices heard. Besides, he is the best.

2. Best Theatre Troupe: Stageworks – Stageworks is not only a wonderful theatre troupe, they also do community outreach programs for underprivileged teens and children. Season tickets on sale now for $103 for 5 shows…call me for tickets.

3. Best Kept Secret: Stageworks Rainbow Tribe Outreach Program for Kids at Risk

4. Best Local Politician: Rose Ferlita – Let’s not forget how she got us a 4-Way stop at Chelsea and 12^th when no one else would and how the current administration (no names mentioned, of course) never even so much as responded to the countless online requests we made to the city council for a 4-Way at 12^th and McBerry (Don’t get me started…)

5. Best Restaurant: We have so many great neighborhood restaurants, just make sure it’s one of ours!

6. Best Neighborhood: Hmmm, let me think…maybe “SEMINOLE HEIGHTS!”

7. Best Building: Hillsborough High School – it is beautiful!

Doggie Door Allows Unexpected Visitor

2008-08-08T10:00:00.003-04:00

According to the Tribune, a homeless man, 25 year old Jason Dennis, used a doggie door to sneak into the Seminole Heights home of Linda Marsh and when she came home she "he was wearing the woman's husband's clothing and had helped himself to some loose change,". He was arrested.

Children have died because of doggie doors. Families have them so dogs and cats go into the backyard and the child crawls out and drowns in the backyard pool, thus bypassing other pool security measures.

Kevin Denies

2008-08-08T08:00:00.002-04:00

In stories in the Tribune and the St. Pete Times, County Commissioner Kevin denies any deal in accepting illegal contributions.

Kevin says "Cox's allegations "the jailhouse ramblings of a reputed con man." and "Let me assure the residents of Hillsborough County as well as the city of Tampa that at no time was there any deal cut by myself and now-convicted felon Matthew Cox, nor any other contributor for that matter," "

He also says "It's another jailhouse snitch trying to get his sentence reduced by making false allegations against an elected public official," said White, now a Hillsborough County Commissioner. "I guess I am the target."

Kevin's aunt and his campaign opponent in the City Council race says ""The most recent allegations about Kevin, if true, suggest a pattern of unethical and illegal actions over the years," White-King said. "Sometimes it takes time for the truth to surface. But it usually does.""

Current City Council member Tom Scott says ""I would not want to be in his shoes," said Tom Scott, who now holds White's former seat on the City Council. "Those are serious allegations.""

The FBI says ""It was a very interesting story," said FBI spokesman David Couvertier. "At this time, we aren't in a position to comment.""

Even if he did accept the contributions in a quid quo pro arrangement it may be all moot, except for campaign fodder as: "The statute of limitations for elections law violations is generally two or three years, depending on the severity of the offense. An exception is made, however, when the offense involves official misconduct, such as bribery. Then the statute of limitations is two years from the time the official leaves that public office. White left the city council in November 2006 to join the Hillsborough County Commission."

What do you say?

Kevin White - getting more tarnished

2008-08-06T22:00:00.004-04:00

In a St. Petersburg Times article, a convicted swindler, Matthew Cox, has made allegations that Hillsborough County Commissioner and Seminole Heights resident, Kevin White accepted illegal campaign contributions from him when Kevin White ran for City Council. Reportedly the FBI is investigating.

"Records show that at least $8,000 was channeled into White's campaign from Cox connections, many from people who confirmed that the contributions were solicited, reimbursed and thus illegal"

Kevin White denies the allegations.

Meanwhile the sexual harassment suit against Kevin by a former aide, Alyssa Ogden, has been moved from State Court to Federal Court.

Update: the Times has a more details to the story including letters.

Tampa Transit: 10 years from now, 75 years ago

2008-08-02T02:24:00.014-04:00

The chatter over rail in Tampa has finally began to heat up (albeit a couple decades late) as the Trib's front page story earlier this week indicates, and even though it's hard to get excited about something that might take at least a decade to get rolling, if it gets rolling at all, I have to hand it to Iorio for her commitment to lighting a fire under the bureaucracy and generally being fed up with the lame feet dragging and lack of vision. The voter referendum is still a ways off, and there's a lot of "ifs" floating around this town, but it's not too early to speculate about how rail could affect Tampa and Seminole Heights in particular if Pam's "starter line" from USF to downtown to Westshore ever gets built. Will there be a Seminole Heights station? Where would the best location be? Here's some comments the mayor made recently in Creative Loafing about the development of such a rail stop:

In the other cities I have visited, it is very clear that there is transit-oriented development at these stops that is very beneficial to the community: beautiful apartments and condos and mixed-use developments, all positive. And people can live in an apartment complex and then just jump on the rail line and go to work. That is what we're going to need more of.
But it does take a consensus-building. Neighborhoods need to know that their single-family residential neighborhoods will still be protected, and the fact that further down the street there's a transit stop, and there might be a condo or apartment project associated with it, with shops and so forth and office, that does not degrade their neighborhood.

Rewind about 75 years or so: Poking around the Tampa Rail site, I found these original Tampa Streetcar Brochures and Maps from the 53 mile Tampa Electric Company Service ("Carriers of Tampans for 50 years!"). They're pretty captivating. Did you know that Tampa once had Two Hundred and Twenty Three full time Street Car employees? I think we currently have three. And the service ran almost 24 hours a day: the first car at 4:30 in the morn and the last at 2am! Wow, sounds like a real city, don't it? Beats the Hartline by about nine thousand miles, which is incidentally the distance Tampa streetcars used to travel in one day! Here's a map of the Seminole Heights line that ran up Central to the Sulphur Springs Pool on the river. My grandmother used to ride these streetcars all over town for a nickel and has often lamented to me about how stupid, wasteful, and absurd the decision to tear up the tracks was (for that sad story, consult Wikipedia's Great American Streetcar Scandal entry). But now, due to the complete and total domination of our car culture, politicians must now attempt to build consensus amongst a population raised looking through windshields and thinking buses are for poor people, that mass transportation might not be such a bad idea.

Well, at least we Tampans can take solace in the notion that (maybe) in a decade or so we can finally catch up to where we were with mass transit 75 years ago. HooraY for the brave martyrs of the social experiment of car culture addiction. Too bad it's taken an entire lifetime to attempt to reverse the bad decisions and shoddy planning of our fair city! We is Tampa!

New Heights | mid-May/mid-July 2008 issue

2008-07-31T13:52:00.003-04:00

CLICK to see our full eNewsletter.

Heights Heightlights
lUCky dogs - Dog-friendly Urban Corridor
New Heights takes you on a tour of the UC's shade covered sidewalks, its dog-loving restaurants and retail shops, and its dogparks to prove the UC area may be Tampa's dog-friendliest.

Plus: Photos & Results of our UC's Cutest Dog/Owner Contest!

---------------------------------------------------
Food & Drink
Our expert food critic gives downtown's Fly Bar & Restaurant a second look and discovers that small plates can satisfy big appetites (even at small prices, if your timing is right!).

Then, white or red? NH's critically acclaimed sommeliers recommend both can be enjoyed when sipping this summer.

---------------------------------------------------
Health & Beauty
Summer is Bridal Season. So for those of you who plan on soon saying "I do," we're providing a Beauty To-do Checklist to help your day be as grand as possible.

Meanwhile, NH's health columnist explains how acupuncture and herbs can be an effective treatment for asthma.

---------------------------------------------------
Home & Family
See why mixing grandma's favorite chair with a modern, colorful, plastic side table is a chic look that's catching on in the UC.

Then, NH's very own Licensed School Psychologist, Dr. Abby, explores how a little "Consideration" can greatly enhance your parent/child bond.

---------------------------------------------------
Arts & Events
Hundreds of thousands have visited TBPAC to see big stars; but New Heights takes you to the theatre's newest constellation, which isforming in its Patel Performing Arts Conservatory.

Also: Event Listings & Photos of Historic Fires, Flugtag, Porch Parties & more.

---------------------------------------------------
News & Rumors
Is it Real or Rumor? From the Newsline to the Grapevine, New Heights goes myth-busting to bring you the latest scoop!

This issue: Sangrias Update, Sem-Hi the new SoHo?, Free UC Taxi, B&B for SH, NoHo goes PM and more.

The By-Law discussion...

2008-07-30T23:21:00.004-04:00

Over on the Official Unofficial Seminole Heights blog, the post on OSHNA nominations has become more of a debate on the by-laws. My blog already states my views. That post is restated below.

There is an extensive revision to the Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association (OSHNA) by-laws. Naturally I have some opinions here. I strongly encourage a NO vote for the long term health and vitality of the organization.
I have reviewed the by-laws in detail. I still have a saved copy of the by-laws from when I first went on the board. Packed away in boxes notes on the first major re-write was back in 1994. I have copies of subsequent revisions. It is one thing to make corrections of spelling, grammar and such was a comprehensive revision. It is quite another to ram through a variety agenda driven changes in one big package. That is the kind of BULLSHIT Congress does to pass what could never stand on it's own merits. That is, in my opinion, what the By-law Committee and it's Chairperson have done.

Honorary membership is the one I have the most fun with; you see in the 1994-95 revisions Honorary Members included past Presidents who were given life-time voting privileges. In 1996-97 there was this rush to take away the voting privileges from those lifetime Honorary members. I was the only one that was the target for that little change, it too was mingled with other revisions to hide the agenda. Now we come full circle, now it is proposed that those rights are to be restored. Well I thought it was unnecessary then and I still do. There was no compelling reason for the first change and there is no compelling reason for the current proposal. But hey if I am wrong, and the members pass the revisions, I can save $10 a year and still have the benefits of running for office and voting.

But back to the serious side. All the bitching about no body wanting to get involved is bullshit. Yet that is the smoke screen for 2 year terms. That is the compromise for term limits.

Two year terms will prove to be a disaster and lead to a board out of touch and filled with their own self-importance.
Term limits are unnecessary. When people have choices they can choose to limit terms. Simply ask the one sitting board member who lost their trustee position in the fall of 1994. There may be people on the board that have been there far too long in my opinion but it should be up to them or the membership when their time on the board is up.
Why is it suddenly necessary to require one year of membership before being able to be a candidate? OSHNA has been in existance for 20 years. Has there been a crush of newbies storming the palace gates? It is yet one more BAR put forward to impede participation.
Why the prohibition against a sitting President running for any other position? Maybe there would be a President who still wish to serve but who because of a change in circumstances wanted a less demanding position (as a past President, I could see that happening). This also masks an unstated agenda.
In the guise of "the selection of a diverse and experienced board" the complete re-write of Article V, Section 2 "Eligibility" becomes self-serving of the incumbents.
The last time I checked it is the membership that is responsible for the selection of their governing Board.
On a 9 member board there is no sound reason to prohibit a President from voting. No President in OSHNA has ever had the sway over the Board to dictate outcomes of votes. Some have voted, some have abstained, some have selectively voted. In my time on the Board as President or as chairperson, I selectively voted but did not make motions in acting in the capacity of chair person.
There is no justification neutralize the President. The board has restricted the President's setting of meeting agenda's and speakers, and some would go so far as to say the President cannot express a view that has not already had the blessing of the board. This is to proscribe from the President the one tool or option at his or her disposal. Another hidden agenda masquerading as reform.

The board has the power to expel members from the association and remove other board members without the membership having any say but the members have no authority to recall board members before the next election???

THE ABOVE ITEMS ARE SOME VERY STRONG REASONS TO VOTE NO ON THE BY-LAW REVISIONS. THE MEETING MUST HAVE A QUORUM AND THEY MUST PASS BY A 2/3RDS VOTE.

"all animals are equal but some are more equal than others"

SESHCA seeks beautification of Nebraska Avenue

2008-07-30T11:29:00.002-04:00

From the SESH email list:

"We met with the City of Tampa this morning regarding the Beautification of Nebraska Avenue. The meeting was very productive and positive. Funds will be made available for this project; however, the city and state have to go through their respective processes and we, as an association, have our work to do in order to put the project in motion. The state showed some concerns about other situations where Civic Associations have failed in their quest to maintain sections of roadway but Shannon Edge, Director of Community Relations was very quick to applaud SESCHA as . . . . . . . . passionate and active association in the City. I know many of you have expressed a desire to get involved in the project. . . . . . . The goal is to have our section of Nebraska Avenue finished by Super Bowl in January. While that may seem like a lot of time, there is much to do behind the scenes."

Seminole Heights to get New Library

2008-07-30T09:14:00.001-04:00

According to the Trib:

""I'm very happy to tell you that in our capital fund budget, we have marked $7.3 million to replace the current library," he said.

While the county commission's 2009 budget must survive two more public hearings in September before it is fully approved, he said he didn't expect anything to change.

"We've worked really hard on this," he said, adding that it is possible to be building by late 2011 or early 2012 if the budgeted funds are approved.

Patriotism

2008-07-27T22:22:00.002-04:00

A worn out American flag with that of a beaten enemy, and that's supporting our troops?

U Got Skillz

2008-07-24T18:23:00.001-04:00

From South Seminole Heights email alert:

Please see the information below from Common Ground about a family event in our neighborhood:

"On Aug. 2, 2008 from 9 a.m. till 2 p.m., we will be offering our first ever sports and art camp, called “U Got Skillz Camp”.

This will be free to our community, and we are looking for people who can help with refreshments, soccer, basketball, and art.

We will also be preparing to give over 300 backpacks away to the students who attend this event. If you would like to volunteer, please fill out the volunteer form and bring it to the church.

For Kids (requires 2 forms to attend)

Registration Form: Click Here

Medical Release: Click Here

Other links

Poster: Click Here

Volunteer Form: Click Here

U Got Skillz Prep Meeting

July 30th, 7:00 PM
Please mark your calendars if you have signed up to help. We will walk through basic flow of the event and schedule for this event with all workers. Volunteers will work with their teams and areas they signed up for."

Contact information:

Danny Schaffner

Lead Pastor

dannys@commongroundtampa.com

813.232.1400 office

Join “The Impromptu Players!”

2008-07-23T21:27:00.002-04:00

Have you always wanted to be involved in the Tampa theater community but didn’t think you had the time or the talent?

Join “The Impromptu Players!”
Stageworks “Staged Reading Production Company!”
Be a part of this great tradition we have started of fun evenings of theater for a cause!

Purpose:
To develop a base of committed, talented people and form a mini production company to serve as a foundation for the productions. The productions are fundraisers for Stageworks’ Outreach Program for At-Risk Kids.

Background:
We have based our Staged Reading Comedy Series on a group called "The Back Porch Players", a group we organized several years ago for our theater-loving friends. Impromptu Players rehearse and produce a show in one week, utilizing non-traditional venues such as back yards and front parlors.

How We Operate:
We will produce 3 – 4 shows a year, as fundraisers for Stageworks.
Two weeks before:
Tech meeting for Producer, Director, Asst. Director, Stage Manager and Lighting and Sound Directors.
Week of show:
Tuesday: Read through, some blocking
Wednesday: blocking
Thursday: Run through with tech
Friday and Saturday: performance

It is expected that you will take on different responsibilities for each show. In one show you might act and for the next show work backstage. All members are expected to sell at least 10 tickets to each show. Although this is not a requirement for involvement, it will be the backbone of our marketing plan.

Productions:
September 5 and 6: – “The Curious Savage”
November – “Sordid Lives”
March 7 and 8 (2009) – “What The Butler Saw”
June 12 and 13 (2009) – “Psycho Beach Party”

Location scouts are needed for upcoming shows! Venues should seat 75+ people, have electricity and no restrictions on alcohol as concessions play a part of the fundraising efforts.

Interested in being part of the cast, crew, front of house, marketing or have a great venue for a show? Contact Susan Zelenka susanzelenka@verizon.net

Practice Field moved

2008-07-23T07:57:00.003-04:00

According to Kathy Steele of the Tribune the park at 22nd Street will not be used as a practice field

"That's good news to the North East Tampa Pirates, a Pop Warner football team that has been seeking to relocate from Temple Crest Community Center for nearly five years. The team's proposal to build three practice fields with volunteer labor at 22nd Street Park was met with little enthusiasm from neighbors."

"MacDugal Park, off Sligh Avenue between 12th and 13th streets, popped up as an alternative and received approval recently from city parks and recreation officials." (more)

So what should be done with the 22nd street park?

The Confederate battle Flag Is Not my flag - Call For artists

2008-07-22T22:28:00.001-04:00

From the Alley Cats website

"The Confederate battle Flag Is Not my flag .... so the Alley Cats are issuing a call to artists to create flags that represent an inclusive vision of our shared Southern heritage and express hope rather than hate.

The local media reports about the flying of a large Confederate battle flag over I4 and 75 outside Tampa have given a disproportionate share of public attention to a divisive and ugly symbol. This is a conversation that is taking place all over the South -- several states have had public discussions in recent years about the Confederate flag. The Alley Cats want to fly a different Southern flag -- yours!

We’re accepting artists’ submissions in both digital format and as physical fabric art creations. We’re going to create an art exhibit that combines displaying the fabric art flags with large-scale projections of the digital creations.

We will be accepting artwork and forming alliances with other artistic/cultural groups for this project through May of 2009, and will be arranging our exhibition for June-July 2009.

Create flags that are representative of our better selves and our varied traditions, and we’ll fly them all!"

Halls of Tradition

2008-07-22T21:21:00.001-04:00

Education Channel to premiere latest 'Halls of Tradition' Oct. 4

on July 21 2008

The Education Channel will premiere its latest locally produced documentary, "Halls of Tradition: Hillsborough High School" at 3:00 and 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 4 in cooperation with the Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association and the Hillsborough High School Alumni Association as part of Hillsborough High School's Homecoming festivities.

The documentary covers the history of Hillsborough High School from its meager 4 student graduating class in 1886 to its current astounding gothic structure on North Central Avenue in Seminole Heights. These beautiful hallowed halls have been the educational incubator for more than 38,000 alumni and is one of the oldest high schools in the South and the oldest high school in Hillsborough County.

Celebrated alumni featured in the program include: baseball greats Dwight Gooden and Gary Sheffield, country singer Slim Whitman, the father of drag racing Don Garlits as well as several City of Tampa Mayors.

Superintendent of Hillsborough Public Schools, Mary Ellen Elia and architect, Larry Wilder help establish the context for why the legions of alumni who have graduated from Hillsborough High School speak of it with such reverence. While alumni such as Dr. Braulio Alonzo, class of '35, Art Maynor, class of '46 and Judy Dery, class of '62 fill in the intimate details of being a student under its roof.

From the bronze terrier mascot to the striking clock tower that all alumni remember with pride, this documentary is a must see for them, as well as for those interested in Tampa's history, education, athletics, architecture and community spirit.

Following the premiere on Oct. 4th the documentary will be available only on The Education Channel, channel 614 on Bright House and 32 on Verizon. The Education Channel, Explorer Channel and Independents' Film Festival are services of Tampa Educational Cable Consortium (TECC). The Education Channel (703 N Willow Avenue, Tampa, FL 33606) is a non profit, non commercial television station whose mission is to invigorate the intellectual climate of community life in Hillsborough County.

TECC is a 501 (C) (3) and is underwritten in part by the City of Tampa and the City of Plant City. For additional information about programs at The Education Channel call 254-2253 ext. 211.

Tampa History - Dime Cabs

2008-07-21T22:31:00.002-04:00

Using Google Scholar, I came across this interesting little article about dime cabs FROM TROLLEYS TO BUSES AND IN BETWEEN by Robert Sims from the USF Library.

"Picture, if you will ... It is 7:30 a.m., of a
work-day and you are due at your
downtown Tampa office in one half
hour. Outside the day has dawned ugly
and gray; a hard rain is pelting down.
You step to your telephone, dial, and
presently are answered by a cheery
"Economy Cab, good morning." Your
order for a cab to drive you downtown is
taken and within five minutes a late
model Chevrolet taxi pulls into your
driveway as close to your front door as
possible so that you may encounter no
more rain than necessary. Two
passengers are in the rear seat, you take
the front. The driver heads downtown
and two more passengers are picked up.
Fifteen minutes after leaving your home
the cab stops in front of your office
building. The rain has stopped; it’s going
to be a nice day after all. You hand the
driver a DIME, and he cheerfully thanks
you.

OSHNA quarterly meeting (repost of e-mail)

2008-07-21T19:03:00.003-04:00

REMINDER .....
OSHNA Invites You to
Come to Our
9th Annual "Eating Meeting"!

OSHNA' s General Membership Meeting will be held
Tuesday, July 22nd, 6:30 PM,

at the Seminole Heights United Methodist Church
(corner of Central and Hanna Avenues).

OSHNA will provide the drinks, utensils, plates, ham and turkey.

If your last name begins with A-M, please bring a salad or dessert. If it begins with N-Z, bring your favorite side dish or vegetable.

Be a neighbor,
bring a neighbor and,
especially, bring your appetite!

Our valued Advisor advertisers will be present to provide information about their businesses!

Guests for the Quarterly General Membership Meeting include:
Joe Stines, Director of the Hillsborough County Library System - Will present information about the planned replacement library for Seminole Heights Branch.

Carrie Hurst, Seminole Heights Library Branch Head - Will share information about services at the current library and provide opportunity to sign up for a library card.
W. Ward Cox, Administrator, For The Family, Inc. - Informational presentation on Shelter Is Golden, a volunteer program which enables caring people to safely and conveniently assist evacuees from a Category 1 or Category 2 storm, or other natural disaster.

OSHNA MEMBERSHIP FORM
Annual membership dues in the Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association are $10 per adult, or family member. A business membership is $25. Paid membership entitles you to receive news and notice of activities in the neighborhood. Please clip out form and mail, along with dues payable to:
OSHNA, PO Box 360022, Tampa, FL 33673-0022. Name______________________________________________________________________________________
Address______________________________________________________________________________________
City State Zip + 4_________ Phone Number:_____________ Email_________________ Amount Enclosed _______circle one: New Member Renewing Member

The End Of White Flight?

2008-07-21T11:23:00.004-04:00

Complimenting the Essay below on the End of Gentrification, here's an article that came out this weekend in the Wall Street Journal on the End of White Flight:

For the First Time in Decades, Cities' Black Populations Lose Ground,
Stirring Clashes Over Class, Culture and Even Ice Cream

For much of the 20th century, the proportion of whites shrank in most U.S. cities. In recent years the decline has slowed considerably -- and in some significant cases has reversed. Between 2000 and 2006, eight of the 50 largest cities, including Boston, Seattle and San Francisco, saw the proportion of whites increase, according to Census figures. The previous decade, only three cities saw increases.

Thoughts on the Hampton Terrace "debate"

2008-07-20T23:09:00.008-04:00

National Register District is okay? So why not a local district? This is a question before the folks in the Hampton Terrace historic district. There are those who will oppose it until hell freezes over. Then there are those who moved in and invested thousands of dollars since that initial organizing meeting and canvassing in the spring of 1995. There is a small group wanting no part of it and bent on derailing the efforts made by others over the past 13 years. My perspective is drawn from my motivation back in 1995. I haven’t had significant discussion with either side in the current debate. What I would challenge both sides to look at what has happened since the effort to gain national district designation first began. Don’t dismiss it as the effect of a real estate bubble, the area lagged behind the Seminole Heights district on the west side of 275 both in prices and condition of the area today designated as Hampton Terrace.

National districts don’t endure forever. With enough alterations; with structures lost or destroyed the area can be undesignated. When the quest began, there were those who doubted the area had the density of contributing structures to even come close. In the years since, some that were not contributing have been restored to be contributing. Mohawk, a street that when I move to the neighborhood was the most blighted street, rivaled the streets near the old Riverview Terrace housing project. The south side of the street was all zoned commercial. Looming over the street was a two story iron I-beam structure. The south side was on a slide to low rent apartments mixed with commercial/industrial uses. Those who owned on the south side of Mohawk didn’t really care about what impact their decisions had on people who actually lived in the neighborhood. (more about this later)

That spring day back in 1995 didn’t meet opposition. Volunteers came out to help as soon as they heard what we were trying to do. At the time, I had doubts that we could meet the density goal by including Mohawk but it was the boundary between what had been lost and what was barely salvageable. . Today that seems to still be a threat.

Creative Loafing ran an article about the opposition to local district designation. The article talks about the Hampton Terrace Property Rights Organization and names three people who claim to be residents and all for preservation but totally opposed to a local district. Now help me out here, I might miss one person searching the Property Appraiser’s website but NONE of those 3 individuals have homesteaded property in Hampton Terrace. That goes back to commercial property owners who live elsewhere and really don’t have a vested emotional attachment to the area. We have encountered those folks time and again, they don’t care because they go home somewhere else.

The goal in 1995 that motivated me was neighborhood stabilization and attracting homeowners willing to invest in the neighborhood. In numerous studies from all over the country, local districts have been determined to have benefits far greater than the costs. Local districts protect the investments of owners and residents. Without some type of local regulation/ordinance, owners of properties designated as historic continue to have every right to renovate structures any way they like, including destroying them. Local districts encourage better design. Rebuilding and reconstruction, as needed for historic areas, uses local materials, local labor, and usually higher paid labor. Money stays in town. Local districts help the environment. The protection of local historic districts can enhance business recruitment potential. Preservation districts usually increase property values, and the worst you get is no different than the same area without a historic district.

So who should be calling for a vote, the folks that don’t have a homestead in the neighborhood? Should the objections of an absent, live elsewhere, property owner thwart countless hours of hard work by resident homeowners? Just as taxes are the price we pay for civilization, so too are limits on property rights.

So how many homesteaded property owners in Hampton Terrace are actually opposed? The question Creative Loafing never asked...

Starbucks is Staying

2008-07-18T09:35:00.003-04:00

From SESH email list:

"Good news: They're closing three Starbucks in Tampa, but the one on
Hillsborough in Seminole Heights is not one of them."

Here is the official list from Starbucks. Note that the PDF file is more accurate.

Here are the Tampa ones:
9294 RACETRACK RD & HILLSBOROUGH 13811 W HILLSBOROUGH AVE TAMPA FL
11415 UNIVERSITY MALL 2164 E FOWLER AVE TAMPA FL
11585 CITRUS PARK II 8021 CITRUS PARK TN CTR TAMPA FL
St. Petersburg:
14229 6TH AVE & 6TH ST S 625 6TH AVE S ST PETERSBURG FL
Clearwater
11391 COUNTRYSIDE MALL II 27001 US HWY 19 N CLEARWATER FL
13708 KAPOK COVE & MCMULLEN BOOTH 904 N MCMULLEN BOOTH RD CLEARWATER FL

I wonder if the fact that our Starbucks is a Magic Johnson Starbucks is another reason why it is not closing.

Bungalow Bistro Gets Supported

2008-07-18T07:58:00.003-04:00

From the SESH email list:

For those of you who expressed an interested in supporting the Bungalow Bistro, . . . .they received the unanimous support of the three associations for there more moderate quest for liquor licenses for the Bistro and the Salon. There were two neighbors who objected and a line of people in support. It ended with a continuance due to some language clarification needed. But it should pass when it comes before the Council in two weeks.

Gentrification is Dead!?!

2008-07-17T12:10:00.007-04:00

Although I think it's doubtful that the Seminole Heights Starbucks will be closing anytime soon, the mere speculation of such a tragic (*ahem*) event befalling our shining beacon of bubbledom truly illustrates how fully the times have changed here in the Heights from just a couple of short years ago. As For Sale signs fade and rust in hundreds of front yards and the frothy tide of foreclosures overwhelms the neighborhoods, it seems painfully clear that we have fully made the transition into the new post-gentrification age.

The examination of the abrupt and complete reversal of the boom is something that will no doubt keep economists and scholars busy for years. But much of the speculation of what comes after the brutal end of gentrification and the kind of economic cycle that will replace it seems like more wishful thinking from those carrying the burden of economic collapse who have maintained, in the face of all the evidence, that one can always make a profit off someone else.

On the flip side, South Florida housing activist Max Rameau released an essay this week throughly analyzing these questions, identifying the characteristics of our new "Capital Divestment" reality, and offering strategies of how to deal with the new dangers and opportunities that come with it. Whether you agree with his assessments or not, the essay is a must read for those affected by the housing crash and looking for different perspectives on the wider economic problems that created it:

The modern era of gentrification, starting approximately in mid 2002 and ending abruptly towards the end of 2007, is possibly the most extreme- and brutal- since the term was coined in England in the late 1800s. In June 2005, The Economist magazine, widely regarded as the world's most respected financial periodical, argued, with documentation, that never in history have home prices rose so high, for so long and across so many countries, bestowing upon the “housing boom” a more appropriate moniker: "the biggest bubble in history." A significant and integral component of that bubble was speculative gentrification.

Read the entire position paper HERE.

Watch a Youtube video I made about the affordable housing crisis in Miami featuring Max Rameau: Umoja Village.