Don't Fence Me In

DON'T FENCE ME IN

Oh, give me land, lots of land under starry skies above
Don't fence me in
Let me ride through the wide open country that I love
Don't fence me in
Let me be by myself in the evenin' breeze
And listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees
Send me off forever but I ask you please
Don't fence me in

Just turn me loose, let me straddle my old saddle
Underneath the western skies
On my cayuse, let me wander over yonder
Till I see the mountains rise

I want to ride to the ridge where the West commences
And gaze at the moon till I lose my senses
And I can't look at hobbles and I can't stand fences
Don't fence me in

Oh, give me land, lots of land under starry skies
Don't fence me in
Let me ride through the wide country that I love
Don't fence me in
Let me be by myself in the evenin' breeze
And listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees
Send me off forever but I ask you please
Don't fence me in

Just turn me loose, let me straddle my old saddle
Underneath the western skies (do do-do, do do do-do-do-do)
On my cayuse, let me wander over yonder
Till I see the mountains rise (ba be ba ba ba)

I want to ride to the ridge where the West commences
And gaze at the moon till I lose my senses
And I can't look at hobbles and I can't stand fences
Don't fence me in, no
Pop, oh don't you fence me in
Bing Crosby
- words and music by Cole Porter
- from the Warner Bros. Picture "Hollywood Canteen"
- lyrics as recorded in Los Angeles July 25, 1944 by The Andrews Sisters
with Bing Crosby and Vic Schoen & His Orchestra


Aaah, yes, just more barbed wire in Seminole Heights.

Holy Cow Batman! It's the Fern Mobile!

I spotted this at the Lights On Tampa. This truck is stenciled with fern leaves. If you blow up the photo on the side of the truck, it seems to be a building stencilled with fern leaves.

Green Shift

There's a little blurb about Greenshift in the TBT* (Tampa Bay Times) featuring a photo of employee Holland King. Go visit and tell him he did a good job holding up those comic books. (Nebraska and Giddens)

"What goes better with comics than guitars? The shop is a combination of vintage musical instruments, comics, rare films and collectibles. The store is so packed with merchandise that some sections are hard to navigate. An extensive amount of back issues are in the back of the store, and many rare issues from the golden and silver age hang on the wall. A different movie usually plays every day on a small TV to complement the vast amounts of classic and hard-to-find movies in stock. Green Shift is a must-see store, even non-comic book fans."

In my opinion, Green Shift is a Seminole Heights cultural icon. Check out the newest paintings on the front of their building and then go in a buy a comic, a guitar, or something. At least read the signs on their front door.

Republicans Gabfest

Well,

according to the Tribune

, the first local polical debate has occurred. The Republicans running for county commissions had a debate Tuesday.

Seminole Heights is affected by the race that has Rose Ferlita, Brad Swanson and Gary Santti running.

Of interest is that "The primary's internal politics were evident at the county Republican meeting when Swanson got a special introduction by Commissioner Ken Hagan. He mentioned Commissioner Brian Blair also was on hand to support the former Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce official."

Swanson . . . "ticked off a litany of boilerplate Republican themes such as smaller government and lower taxes until challenged by a member of the audience to provide the "substance" of his vision for Hillsborough"

The ruors are that Swanson is a hack/puppet for east Hillsborough County behind-the-scene king makers Sam Rashid and Ralph Hughes. He certainly will not be a friend of Seminole Heights. "He also spoke in favor of the county's ban on gay pride."

Just say no to Swanson!

Yesterdaze gets some local color. I love it. This is absolutely great! Imagine if more of Seminole Heights were done up like this. The artist is Robert Laslett.

Recent Seminole Heights News Stories

In the Tampa Tribune there is an article about some controversy regarding Lake Roberta. "Lake Roberta - The city turned the lake into a retention pond and is now trying to clean it up. A landscape designer wants the city to turn the lake into a park."

In the St. Pete Times there is an article about "Interior designer Karen Brown gave up her studio, instead adding an office to her home on the Hillsborough River."

There is a little blurb in the St. Pete Times about Stephanie Beckel opening up Tampa Antiquarian Books in Seminole Heights. (It's the third business blurb in thr article)

Rohama Chomick wrote a great letter to the editor to the Tampa Tribune about fireworks.

Seminole Heights goes to Lights On Tampa

Tonight was the opening of Lights On Tampa.

The first exhibit was at the City Hall by Stehpen Knapp.



We then came across the world largest poem.


And it's author, Tampa's Poet Laureate James E. Tokley. In the photo with him is Beverly, Susan and Rohanna.


Next is the exhibit at the National Wall Art Gallery by Wenby Babcox.


Next is at the Cube next to the Beer Can Building by Erwin Redl.


We crossed the bridge and along the way saw the exhibit at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center by Tobey Archer.


We ran into members of the Seminoole Heights Book Group. Ginny, Laura and Virginia.


We wait for the the exhibit at the University of Tampa to start. Created by Jorge Orta.


It begins.








Finally another view of the Perfomring Arts Center. I missed one exhibit at the Tampa Trib/Channel 8 News Center by Chris Jones. It will be as a video in the next posting.

Anti-Prostitution Activities in Seminole Heights - Part 3

This is a follow up to Anti-Prostitution Activities in Seminole Heights - Part 2 and Anti-Prostitution Activities in Seminole Heights - Part 1
For years Seminole Heights residents attempted to get rid of the prostitution activity. The following is a set of articles that appeared in the St. Petersburg Times on the subject. The Tampa Tribune did a more extensive and detailed job on the subject, but you can't read their articles without paying for them. These articles should give you a good flavor as to whats occurred.

This long winded series will end up talking about the various anti-prostitution activities including the Exercise Club, the June 2001 meeting, the Prostitution Task Force, the Neighborhood Watch Patrols, TPD reorganization and how all of this led up to the fact that Seminole Heights is no longer the place to go for prostitution.

20 charged with solicitation; St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Fla.: May 27, 1989. pg. 10.B
TAMPA - In the third crackdown in three weeks on prostitution in north Tampa, undercover police officers arrested 20 men early Friday and charged them with solicitation, police said. The arrests bring to 49 the number of people - including one woman and a 14-year-old boy - who have been charged in the anti-prostitution sweeps in the Sulphur Springs-Seminole Heights areas. The latest sweep occurred between 9 p.m. Thursday and 6 a.m. Friday around Robson Street and Nebraska Avenue. Those arrested were charged with solicitation and a variety of other charges, including drug and driver license offenses, police said.

Residents fight crime their own way; DAVID BRACKMAN. St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Fla.: Jun 5, 1989. pg. 1
TAMPA - Rather than rely on an overburdened police department to rid Nebraska Avenue of prostitutes and illegal drugs, homeowners and renters in north Tampa have employed a few tricks of their own to take their streets back from the streetwalkers. "Miss Ridolfi is the spokeswoman for the Citizens of Evelyn City, a neighborhood watch group made up of people living east of Nebraska between Sligh Avenue and the Hillsborough River. Evelyn City comprises the northern portion of Tampa's Seminole Heights neighborhood. Thursday about 75 Evelyn City residents and business owners attended a Neighborhood Watch meeting. Miss Ridolfi said they logged about 30 specific complaints, most of them related to prostitution and drug dealing along Nebraska and its side streets."

100 picket to protest prostitution;SUE CARLTON. St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Fla.: Mar 4, 1990. pg. 1.1
Between Saturday-morning appointments at a Nebraska Avenue hair salon, hairstylist Tom DeForest had about 15 minutes to make his views known.
About 100 people, mostly residents of the Sulphur Springs and Seminole Heights neighborhoods, gathered along several blocks of Nebraska Avenue for several hours Saturday, carrying signs and yelling to motorists. Some brought dogs, some brought children, and some even dragged folding chairs curb-side for a more comfortable protest. Neighbors around Nebraska Avenue say they are tired of living with the notorious reputation Nebraska Avenue has gained as the place for prostitution in Tampa. While they doubt it can be eliminated, they say they do not want it in their back yard.

Residents in southeast Seminole Heights are working to close off 70 alleys. NADINE SMITH. St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Fla.: Dec 13, 1992. pg. 3
The Southeast Seminole Heights Civic Association is circulating petitions to get the city to close off 70 alleys in the neighborhood. Residents complain that the alleys have become convenient hideouts for prostitution, illegal dumping and burglars. If successful, the alleys will be closed, and the property divided between adjacent property owners.

A publicity stunt, not policy EDITORIALS; St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Fla.: Mar 3, 1997. pg. 10.A
Bob Buckhorn, a Tampa City Council member, wants to seize the cars of people arrested for soliciting prostitutes. The idea is reckless but politically appealing. No wonder the council has toadied along. Buckhorn said the law "allows us to go after the johns . . . and basically, for the first time, shame them." Good luck. Some criminals - and some politicians - aren't easily shamed.

Crime-fighting can go too far: EDITORIALS; St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Fla.: Aug 22, 1997. pg. 16.A
Tampa needs to use caution to prevent a crackdown on petty crimes from becoming an extralegal roundup. Several well-meaning ideas could curb prostitution and drug sales, and protect businesses from costly nuisance crimes, such as trespass and graffiti. Residents of the urban neighborhoods north of downtown, Tampa Heights and Seminole Heights, are overdue for relief. The attack is two-pronged and modeled after the "broken windows" theory. Using city ordinances and police deployments, Tampa will try to stem petty crimes - the broken window - before whole neighborhoods fall prey to apathy, disrepair and violence. Police commanders will use a computer-mapping program to get a better idea of when and where certain crimes take place. The plan will give residents a larger stake in their own security and reinforce the city's commitment to community policing. That is good. It also will give police far more discretion to detain and search, to judge the limits of tolerable social behavior, to declare parts of Tampa off-limits to certain people and to act independent of central authority. That is troublesome.

A TV program some won't want to see; St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Fla.: Feb 27, 1998. pg. 3.B Frustrated that tougher laws and more aggressive enforcement haven't stamped out prostitution in Tampa, City Council member Bob Buckhorn proposed a new crime-fighting tool: public shame.

Tampa officials unveil new plans to tackle prostitution; JEFFREY GETTLEMAN. St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Fla.: Mar 27, 1998. pg. 3.B
Go to Nebraska Avenue after dark and a certain business is flourishing - prostitution. It's been part of the neighborhood fabric for years. But on Thursday, fueled by complaints from people who live along the Nebraska corridor, the City Council decided it's time to stamp out streetwalking, or at least to try. Council members and police unveiled at a council meeting Thursday a wide-reaching plan that bolsters prevention efforts and raises penalties for those convicted of solicitation or prostitution.

Prostitution defies community vigils, police action; TAMARA LUSH. St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Fla.: Jan 7, 2002. pg. 3.B
The older neighborhoods around Nebraska and Hillsborough avenues are magnets for prostitutes. But younger and wealthier people are moving in to renovate tired, inexpensive homes. The result is a renewed effort to rid the area of prostitutes. "Nebraska has been a monster ever since Nebraska has been around," said Officer Rick Sementilli, who has worked undercover prostitution stings for three years. Seminole Heights resident Tracy Miller talks to someone who she said is a man dressed as a woman on Nebraska Avenue.; Shows the area along Nebraska Avenue where Tampa police say most of their prostitution arrests are made and includes the number; of prostitution cases for 2000.;

East Tampa crime sweep includes counselors; [LATE TAMPA Edition] TAMARA LUSH. St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Fla.: May 13, 2003. pg. 6.B
About 50 officers will patrol east Tampa neighborhoods through May 24. Halfway through the initiative, city officials will meet with neighborhood groups to get feedback. [Bennie Holder] intends to permanently beef up police coverage in the area after the sweep. Dan Kane, executive director of Tampa Crossroads, which provides substance abuse counseling and therapy for people who have broken the law, said counselors might be able to break the cycle of addiction and jail. David Banghart, a member of both the Southeast Seminole Heights Neighborhood Watch group and a the Prostitution Task Force, is grateful for the effort. Police Chief Bennie Holder and Mayor [Pam Iorio] announce the two-week sweep in a news conference Monday afternoon.

Teamwork to improve homes; hip site for club; [LATE TAMPA Edition] ERNEST HOOPER. St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Fla.: Sep 30, 2003. pg. 3.B
In Southeast Seminole Heights, a group of neighbors are no longer dreaming. Their civic association's Home Improvement Team actually helps fellow residents get one-day projects done. Every month, about 20 residents draw the name of one team member. The winner provides the materials and the team provides the labor.
Southeast Seminole Heights also has draw attention for its crime prevention efforts. Late night and early morning patrols by neighbors have significantly reduced the level of prostitution and drug dealing in the area. Through Tampa's Greenprinting Initiative, a 10-year project of the Mayor's Beautification Program, the park would undergo a $500,000 makeover similar to the renovation of Hyde Park's Kate Jackson Park.

Moral Courage nominees named; [LATE TAMPA Edition] SHANNON COLAVECCHIO-VAN SICKLER. St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Fla.: Dec 13, 2003. pg. 1.B
Among others, the list of nominees includes strip club owner and constitutional rights activist Joe Redner, and seven Old Seminole Heights neighbors who chased hookers from Nebraska Avenue

Walking the beat EDITORIALS; St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Fla.: Jan 21, 2004. pg. 12.A
Steve Hogue]'s redeployment plan splits the city into three patrol districts, instead of two. Each district will have a full complement of policing forces, from anti-drug and street crime units to detectives who develop some expertise in their geographic area. In the past, responsibilities bounced around, often making it difficult for police to spot trends in specific areas. Hogue wants the districts to focus on their particular problems. Grant writers will help each district obtain state and federal money to address their individual needs.

A nightly street fight; SHANNON COLAVECCHIO-VAN SICKLER. St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Fla.: Mar 14, 2004. pg. 1.B
[Helen Harmon] keeps an eye out for prostitutes along Nebraska Avenue.; [Sherry Genovar-Simons] looks through mug shots of suspected prostitutes to identify a woman working the street.; A suspected male prostitute walks along Nebraska Avenue.; Problems; with prostitution: Map shows the number of reports of prostitution processed by the Tampa Police Department since January 2003. There is a concentration of prostitution along Nebraska Avenue, in particular the stretch between Hillsborough and; [Sligh] avenues in Seminole Heights.

Prostitution blitz opens TAMPA UNCUFFED: INSIDE DOPE ON COPS & COURTS; SHANNON COLAVECCHIO-VAN SICKLER, CHRISTOPHER GOFFARD. St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Fla.: Apr 1, 2004. pg. 4.B
Orange Motel owner Babubhai J. Patel, 72, and Swann Motel owner Bhailalbhai I. Patel, 66, were charged with renting their rooms out for prostitution, a second-degree misdemeanor. They have since been released from the county jail. Olga Ortiz, a 36-year-old Tampa woman staying at the Haven Motel, was arrested and charged with prostitution, renting a room for prostitution and driving without a valid license. She remains in jail, according to jail records.

Police arrest 11 men in prostitution sting; Edition] St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Fla.: Apr 27, 2004. pg. 3.B
As promised, Tampa police are targeting the men who solicit prostitutes along Nebraska Avenue in Seminole Heights with as much fervor as they target the prostitutes....

Neighborhood not amused about WLLD's hooker gag; SHERRI DAY. St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Fla.: Apr 2, 2005. pg. 1.B
The men apparently were not looking for johns, something [Sherry Genovar-Simons] has witnessed on numerous occasions as she patrols with her flashlight attempting to scare away prostitutes. To understand Genovar-Simons' anger, consider that Seminole Heights is ground zero for gentrification in a central Tampa area once plagued by blight, drug dealing and rampant prostitution. Given the station's programming and history of controversial publicity stunts, some residents, including Genovar-Simons, are not sure they want the station's help.

Anti-Prostitution Activities in Seminole Heights - Part 2

This is a continuation of Anti-Prostitution Activities in Seminole Heights - Part 1

Next is 2003 - again Seminole Heights has the most arrests for prostitution.



Next is 2004- we see the beginning of a trend, with North Tampa (just South of Fowler) having the highest grid amount.




Finally 2005. For the first time, Seminole Heights has a minor amount of arrests. The activity has shifted north to Sulphur Springs and North Tampa (just south of Fowler). Seminole Heights is no longer the hotbed of prostitution. I suspect most of the arrests in Seminole Heights are stings by undercover cops arresting Johns.

What I can't get are hard data on arrests in the county but I suspect you would find that the county areas of Nebraska north of Fowler to Bearss, and Hillsborough east of 47th Street would have increased over the years. This is based on observations by residents and police and from HCSO online arrest reports.

Why has this dropped? This will be explored in the next post - but basically due to the organized efforts of the Seminole Heights residents.

Chili Cook Off

The 2nd Annual SE Seminole Heights Chili Cook Off will be held tomorrow night at 7:00 P.M. at the home of Mike & Joel at 1012 E. Chelsea St. They have about 10 entries and expecting a good crowd.

The "fee" to enter your chili is $10.

Please be sure to tell all of your neighbors and friends to attend. Everyone in attendance will get a free meal and will be eligible to vote for their favorite. Obviously, the more friends and family members that you have, the better your chances of winning the pot. They just ask that those attending the event, but not entering, to please bring chili condiments, i.e., cheese, sour cream, crackers, hot sauce, beverages etc., along with them.

The winner last year, Liz H., very graciously donated her $100 to assist the victims of last year's Tsunami in Asia.

It will be about 50 degrees so please dress warmly. They will have hot beverages and fires going so it won't be that bad. In lieu of or in addition to anything you plan to bring, you can also bring some firewood. They will have about 4 outdoor fireplaces going on so wood would come in very handy.

All of my Starbucks posts

There is a huge discussion going on at a recent post - Starbuck Builds
In case anyone is interested, here are all of my postings on the subject of Starbucks. I especially recommend reading posting 4/19/05 which include comments from the City Council meeting.

4/1/05 http://seminoleheights.blogspot.com/2005/04/starbucks.html

4/8/05 http://seminoleheights.blogspot.com/2005/04/arc-versus-starbucks.html

4/15/05 http://seminoleheights.blogspot.com/2005/04/we-have-starbucks.html

4/19/05 http://seminoleheights.blogspot.com/2005/04/starbucks-one-last-time.html

6/7/05 http://seminoleheights.blogspot.com/2005/06/arc-and-starbucks_07.html

6/8/2005 http://seminoleheights.blogspot.com/2005/06/more-on-arc-and-starbucks.html

6/15/05 http://seminoleheights.blogspot.com/2005/06/tampa-tribune-and-starbucks-and-arc.html

7/13/05 http://seminoleheights.blogspot.com/2005/07/july-13-starbucks-arc-hearing.html

7/14/05 http://seminoleheights.blogspot.com/2005/07/starbucks-is-coming.html

7/18/05 http://seminoleheights.blogspot.com/2005/07/trib-and-starbucks.html

9/28/05 http://seminoleheights.blogspot.com/2005/09/whats-up-with-starbucks.html

10/19/05 http://seminoleheights.blogspot.com/2005/10/starbucks-delayed.html

Pronouncing Powhattan

So how do you pronounce Powhattan ( an east/west street in Seminole Heights)? Well first who or what is is Powhatan? He was "1. a member of any of the Indian tribes belonging to the Powhatan Confederacy. 2. the Eastern Algonquian language spoken by the Powhatan people. 3. c1550–1618, North American Indian chief in Virginia, father of Pocahontas and founder of the Powhatan Confederacy."

Here is how Yahoo pronounces it

Here is an interesting discussion about the subject on a train club forum.

Anti-Prostitution Activities in Seminole Heights - Part 1

This is actually a continuation of a post that I began on May 3, 2005 with the Nebraska Avenue Stories Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. These outlined prostitution problems we faced in anecdotal form and some early attempts to deal with the issue by Seminole Heights residents.

This next series of posts will show the extent of prostitution in Tampa, Seminole Heights and Nebraska Avenue graphically and statistically, how it has been reduced dramatically and how Seminole Heights caused that reduction. Nowadays, Seminole Heights is no longer the place to find a prostitute, just a place to get arrested if you try.

The data I am presenting is from the Tampa Police Department, obtained from their Thematic Crime Maps and their Crime Statistics. The data only goes back to 2000.

Seminole Heights is composed of the following police grids: TPD District 2: 43, 44, 45, 46, 50, 51, 52, 53, 57, 58, 59, 60, and TPD District 3: 69, 70, 71. South Seminole Heights is Grid 69. Southeast Seminole heights is Grid 71 and part of Grid 70. The rest is Old Seminole Heights.

This map shows the prostitution arrests (Johns and Prostitutes) from 2000 to 2005. Most occured on the Nebraska Avenue corridor (the black line to the east that runs parallel to I-275.) Seminole Heights Grid 52 (Hannah to Sligh) had 357 to 447 arrests in that time period. The next highest is just south of the City/County Line at Fowler Avenue. The third next is again in Seminole Heights in grids 45 and 44 (179 to 268 each)


Next we have data from 2000. Notice how it is spread all over the city, with the highest arrests in SH grid 52 with 107 to 161.


Next is 2001. SH grid 52 has (124 to 164) and grid 45 has (83 to 124).


Next is 2002. Almost all of Seminole Heights along Nebraska was evenly hit as the most arrests in the city (37 to 46 each)

**(2003 to 2005 will be posted tommorrow as it it late)

Cool New blog - Tampa Taxi Shots

Take one cab driver, one digital camera and one computer and you end up with Tampa Taxi Shots written by Tim Fasano.

This is really cool. He share cab driver insights, and photos he has taken as he goes around the city. There are photos of models C.J. and Raquel Gibson (who just hit the big time), actors in period costumes in a History Channel production at Plant Hall, Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission Regulationsvarious waterfront photos and others, including an interesting insight into the Tampa Trib's newracks. He advised us where are the best places to flag down cabs.

We all have our daily routine, seeing the same things every day. As a cab driver he cuts across those routines, giving him the opportunty to show us slices of Tampa, that we might not see.

The *TBT! or the Weekly Planet need to do a story on him.

Searching for Images of Seminole Heights

I received this email from Andrew Meadows

". . . I don't know if youve ever posted this on your blog but I recently found a link to the Florida Electronic Library's site which is quite amazing. Go to the site and hit the Florida on Florida entry on the left side. The search engine allows you to peruse tens of thousands of historical Florida photographs. I looked up Seminole Heights and Nebraska Avenue and several local landmarks and found many interesting photos, some more than 80 years old. The site is quite addictive. Anyway, I thought your readers might enjoy. . . .The link is http://bibt10f-8.fcla.edu/cgi/b/bib/bib-idx "

Thanks Andrew. I've been aware that the Tampa-Hillsborough County Library has a searchable site for their photos at http://www.hcplc.org/hcplc/liblocales/jfg/H&G/burgert/
but not the site you found. That site is good because it allows searching from a larger collections of images for a larger part of Florida.

Andrew's email prompted me to start searching. Here are some images I found today:

Citrus Motor Lodge, 7001 Nebraska Avenue (taken in 1949)
http://burgertimages.hcplc.org/archive12/11198.jpg

Craftsman style home of Jose Suarez, 4203 Nebraska Avenue (taken in 1924) now the
La Casa Domicana Community Support Center. ( north of North Bay on the east side) http://burgertimages.hcplc.org/archive15/14311.jpg This photo show how much right of way was eaten up in the expansions of Nebraska to its current dimensions.

Henry West & Sons Hardware, 4001-3 Nebraska Avenue (taken in 1934) now the Tampa Door Store.
http://burgertimages.hcplc.org/archive10/9487.jpg

Dickerson home at 5602 Nebraska Avenue (intersecting with Comanche Avenue), front and side facades: (taken in 1923)
http://burgertimages.hcplc.org/archive02/1379.jpg. Is this the former site of Taboo?

There used to be a theatre in SE Seminole Heights. NorthTown Theatre, 4020 Nebraska Avenue (taken in 1943) http://burgertimages.hcplc.org/archive03/2568.jpg

Residence of Albert Taylor at 4902 Nebraska Avenue (taken in 1924). This is still standing http://burgertimages.hcplc.org/archive04/3865.jpg


Streetcar and automobile traffic on Nebraska Avenue (4000 block) at intersection of Buffalo Avenue (800-900 blocks) (Taken in 1925) http://burgertimages.hcplc.org/archive02/1031.jpg

Steve Gluckman is or was involved in some sort of cataloging activity with the Burgert Brothers photos and he was looking for help. Perhaps some can can post an update on that project.

Have fun with this. Look up your street and see what you find. Put links to anything interesting in the comment section.

Insights into the mind of a John

***WARNING*** The following is offensive and disgusting****


One of our readers sent me an email that was sent to him by someone who knows he lives in Seminole Heights. The original emailer came across this comment on an adult forum website.

Just got here from Tacoma, Washington
Damn, I miss the ladies up there now!

I have driven up and down Nebraska, and can see a few black providers, but I am done with them - they tend to not provide as agreed upon at first.

10 years ago when I was here last, I could find the ho's left and right on Nebraska, but there aren't any left.

Anyone here who has a good idea about a better area, or maybe even a good time to hook up with them?

Thanks.

The following are some rules for pickling up a prostitute that were posted on a prostitution web site a couple of years ago. These came up in one of our meetings of the Prostitution Task Force. They provide some insights into the mind of a John.

Hi guys,

I haven't been in the Tampa area now for almost 2 years, but I spent 10 years before that there. I hit the AMP's (Asian Nassage Parlors) and the SW's (Steetwalkers)most heavily during 5 of those years. I just wanted to add some things that I learned over the years when picking up SW's. I was never arrested or stopped or in too much trouble. A gun was pulled on me once by some knockout blonde that used to frequent the area around Sligh and Nebraska and the used car dealerships there.

1. The girl must be alone, or at the most - 1 girlfriend with her. I wont stop in a crowd of three.

2. I'll drive by MINIMUM once to check out the area - guys hanging out anywhere close that could run up to the door and carjack me? Cops up ahead with binoculars? Nosy homeowners looking out the windows?

3. The girl can't be wasted and weaving all over the sidewalk... one time i had the misfortune of picking up a superhot girl that was maybe 17 walking down the middle of hillsborough, crying, and limping.. I thought maybe she was hit by a car... but, nope - she said - was raped by some johns (2-3) and her legs were bruised, AND she was high on something, paranoid that I was one of their friends, and got nutso in the car. I had to drop her off asap.

4. If they give me the hooker stare - like the black girls do sometimes - I just drive by. It's like they have attitude and who the hell needs that when I'm going to offer them a ride in MY car and give them something nice to go buy their crack with?

5. If they are on a main street, Hillsborough or Nebraska, and there is a lot of traffic, just pullup one of the sidestreets ahead of where she is walking. Park and turn off your lights. Believe me, she saw you. Crack the window a bit, keep the doors locked, talk to her outside the window for a few just to see if she's high, got smoker breath, whiskey on her breath, missing teeth, whatever.

6. If you decide to let her in, just unlock HER door, not the flip of the switch for all doors to unlock b/c there just MIGHT be someone else getting in the back door while she is getting in the front. SW's are in some scary areas man, you gotta be VERY careful.

7. When she gets in you can almost assume that she is not law enforcement b/c I don't think cops EVER get into a car with a John, though I did see it on COPS once I think. Do NOT follow where she tells you to go, just drive and talk for a minute. Ask if she is a cop and tell her to prove that she is not. She will show her ****, but I always ask to see the ****. I don't think any cop will show her ******. haha. She might ask to see yours, show it at that point.

8. She'll say what do you want. You have to KNOW what you want beforehand b/c if you are not she will sense that you are weak and start to control the situation. Never be weak, even if you ARE weak. Just act like you got your **** together and take control of this situation, you're the buyer here. She will con you in any number of ways if you don't tell her exactly what you expect, like, "I want head and you gotta swallow" or, "I want head and to blow in your mouth but you could spit it out the door." Make it clear what you want.

9. Carry your own condoms, and use it for the BJ TOO!

10. If you ask for a handjob, they may agree and then just start the BBBJ because they can make you lose the load more quickly and get on to someone else. Be ready for that, because you won't have a condom on and there is all kinds of weird **** you can get from a bj.

11. If she's not successful in the first 2 minutes she'll come up for air and say "oh come on, lets go, I cant do this forever" and other stuff. Be ready for it and say "OK, give me the $ back and get out." Say it firmly but not mean. Most times she'll get back down there and finish the job, but not without some more bs.

12. Uhm, hmm, what else? Oh, when she gets out of the car, check your freaking car because she may have put her glass crack pipe in the holder in the side of the passenger door, she might have left the used condom or the wrapper somewhere on the passenger side for your wife / g/f to find! It's happened to me man (the condom). I found the glass pipe while cleaning the interior. That **** is not funny because if a drug dog alerted to your car while in the parking lot of publix you'd be explaining something you shouldn't have to be.

13. If she gets in and you remotely, even REMOTELY, suspect that the girl you let into your car is a man, say "Are you a guy?". Half the time they will deny it, so say, "I'm going to be really pissed off if I find out that you're a guy." That will get them to bail out of the car because they've almost all had some violent experiences with guys that realized too late that they just gave their manhood to a man.

14. If she gets in and is covered with perfume or smoke and you have a g/f or wife- get her the hell outta the car. I always ask if she has perfume on while talking out the window.

15. I rarely STOP anywhere to receive what's coming to me, I just drive around the back streets. It's much safer than coming to a stop and having a neighbor call LE and be caught like that. Much harder to catch a moving vehicle.

16. I agree with the other post, do NOT go anywhere they TELL you to go. Stay within the limits that they ask, but don't go to any specific location.

17. Do not EVER agree to any price or sex act when the girl is outside the car because that is a cop trick. I was VERY nearly busted at Busch and Nebraska in this way. She said "How much you want a bj for?" I said "come on in the car." She said "30?" I said "no" and kept driving, and saw the goon squad down the block a bit waiting to pick my ass up had I said " yes".

18. if the girl is too paranoid, tell her to get out. That's what happened to me when the girl pulled out the gun. She thought I was someone she had ripped off before and got really scared I was going to beat her or something! Nuts!
Anyway, ok, I hope that helps.

Sean Tampa

Now in regards to the above rules, these days, the only person you are going to see walking the street in Seminole Heights will be an undercover cop. So if you come to our area looking for a prostitute, what you are going to get is a ride to jail.

The Blotter and Seminole Heights

Well, this blog was mentioned in the Weekly Planet. Joe Bardi, who writes the Blotter - a column on crime stories - completed a top 10 of his stories. Receiving an honorable mention was a story:

"THE STING (10/26/05) followed the exploits of a female undercover cop
working vice in the Seminole Heights area of Tampa as she met such local
luminaries as the dude who rubbed his penis though his pants while negotiating
for sex and those two guys who would not take no for an answer. A blog called
"Seminole Heights" took The Sting and attempted to put faces to the names. Check
it out at: http://seminoleheights.blogspot.com/2005/10/prostitution.html."

Thanks Joe. Your column is one of the reason I read the Planet.

Old Rules for Crack Cocaine Dealers

I was on the library web site, searching through old articles about Seminole Heights, seeing what was news when I came across this old 1989 column of Mary Jo Melone's in the St. Pete Times about crack dealers in the old Riverview Terrace Housing Project. Here are some excerpts:

1. Do not assume they are the neighborhood Welcome Wagon, as they run into
the street, waving and smiling at you.

2. Do not assume those little
white things in their hands that they
appear to be hawking are Bucs tickets.

3. Do not stop. Do not slow down.

8. Recognize how Mrs. Warren and other law-abiding people who live in
Riverview Terrace have built their lives around avoiding the crack trade, and
have concocted an etiquette of survival.

9. Never yell at the crack
dealers, even when they are doing business near your front door. Be polite. Call
them sir. ``If I went after them the wrong way, they'd go after me the wrong
way,`` Mrs. Warren said.

10. Do not point out the dealers or speak about
them in a loud voice. Never advertise whether you have called the police to
report the dealers' goings-on. These things make the dealers nervous. Do not,
under any circumstances, make them nervous. `'When you see the violent part of
it,`` said Mrs. Warren, who has heard the dealers' gunfire, ``it's because they
were provoked.``

12. Learn to accept the fact that Riverview Terrace
bears some resemblance to a war zone in which people like Cheryl Warren are the
civilians. At night, she does not:
a. let her children out even under her
supervision.
b. sit on her porch.
c. walk through Riverview
Terrace.

15. Recognize that most people, who don't have crack dealers on
their street corners, may not give a damn what happens in Cheryl Warren's
neighborhood.

16. Wonder whether those people will ever wake up.

Well, things have changed since then. It's been a while since I have seen a drug dealer doing business. Thanks to the increased police enforcement and Mayor Iorio's Operation Committment , the razing of the project and it's replacement Oaks at Riverview, and the Neighborhood Watch Patrols and neighbors actions , the crack dealers have gone to play somewhere else.

White/Blacks Percentages in Seminole Heights and Central Tampa

Here are the black/white percentages. There will be crossover with Hispanics as these include whites and blacks of all ethnicities

White Percentages








Black percentages

Found Cocker Spaniel

I received this email:

A very sweet male cocker spaniel was found wandering the streets in
North Seminole Heights on New Year's Day. His back leg appears to be injured. He has no tags or collar. Attached is a picture. If anyone is looking for this dog or know who he belongs to, please email me at eb73(at)tampabay.rr.com.

(Editors Note: To reduce robot spammers to that email I subsituted "at" for "@" in the email address)

Starbucks Builds

Yipee! Starbucks in Seminole Heights has started construction and soon we will be sipping our latte's there watching our dogs drink from the water trough.


However not everyone is happy about it. There is a "Just Say No To Starbucks" crowd who midly expressed thier opinion on the subject.


I don't know if this is the corporate logo of the naysayers or someone who wandered by and slapped their commentary on top of the "nabobs of negatism" mission statement.

Hispanics in Seminole Heights

There is a discussion going on Never Take It All that led me do some research about our population breakdowns.

I went to the census website to get some numbers.

2000 Census
City of Tampa
Population 303,447
2004 estimate 306,547
Race/ethnicity Numbers - % of total
White 194,871 - 64.2
Black or African American 79,118 - 26.1

Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 58,522 -19.3
2004 estimate 67,488

In Central Tampa and Seminole Heights the numbers differ

In the maps below the darker green the color the higher percentage of hispanics, the lighter yellow the lesser percentage.

As you can see, there is a very large percentage of hispanics to the west of Seminole Heights ranging from 30 to 50% of the population with a pocket of 58 to 74%. On the average, most of Seminole Heights has 11- 20% and southern Seminole Heights has 21-34%. Bear in mind these are 2000 percentages. Based on the 2004 estimates and my visual observations, these percentages could be higher.

Later I will report on the white black percentages.

Whole Dog Journal

As dog lovers, Susan and I want to know as much as possible about issues affecting our dog, more than we get told by a vet. The best source of infomration we have found is The Whole Dog Journal. It is described as "A monthly guide to natural dog care and training. "But our stated goal expressed in the mission statement that appears below is to offer useful, dog-friendly information that helps owners help their dogs. Our unstated mission (one that should be apparent due to our intentional lack of advertising) is to provide reliable information on topics you can't find in mainstream publications, where, in consideration of conventional, commercial interests (which contribute the vast majority of advertising dollars), hardly anything appears that runs counter to conventional practice."

They review wet and dry dog food every year, dog toys, treatments for various illnesses conventional and holistic, dog training and lots more. We have found it to be very helpful. Early this year both of our dogs develooped a hacking sneezing cough that lasted for days. We wondered if there was something we could give thme that would soothe thier throat. Our very good vet said no. As it turns out there is something does that, which we just read about in Whole Dog Journal.

Here are some recent articles:

January 2006

A Super (But Secret) Industry
We’re fans of wet pet food, but that hasn’t (yet) gotten us into a factory!

Language Barrier
Learn how to avoid “saying” the wrong thing to a dog.

Don’t Despair; Just Care
Holistic care and home support are effective for treating canine cancer.

Adoption Advice
Here’s how to make your new dog’s adoption work for life.

Aged to Perfection
Older dogs benefit from developments in veterinary geriatric medicine.

December 2005

Come to Me, Run to Me
To teach your dog perfect recalls, use praise, practice, and more practice!

Fending Off the Flu
It’s not neccessary to put your dog in solitary because of viral threats.

Conventional Cancer Care
Many well-known and new treatments are helping canine cancer patients.

Can We All Just Get Along?
A lot of normal dog “play” behavior looks scary to people.

To Crop and Dock? Or Not?
Some canine physical therapists say that dogs suffer from amputations.

Positively the Best
WDJ’s all-time favorite books on positive dog training.

2 Sample articles you can read online are

Sit Happens
After you learn how easy the positive approach to training really is, you’ll never push a pup’s butt to the floor again!

Toy Story
WDJ institutes a new grading system for reviewed products: 1-4 Paws.

In Future Issues
Here are some of the special reports and test comparison features we're working on for future issues of Whole Dog Journal.

Targeted Goal
“Targeting” is more than just a cute trick; you can use it to teach your dog many vital skills (and lots of other cute tricks!)

Brains of the Operation
The Tour of the Dog looks at the central nervous system.

Annual Dry Dog Food Review
What’s in the bag (and how you can tell whether it will be good for your dog).

Preventing Canine Cancer
The least-considered tool in the fight against canine cancer.

Training with a ZAP!
Shock collars are marketed as effective, simple, and humane training tools. We agree with only one of those words: marketed.

The Whole Dog Journal is available by subscription for $29 a year for 12 issues. It is well worth the money.

Next Seminole Heights Business Guild Meeting

The Business Guild of Seminole Heights (B'GoSH) will hold its next
General Meeting at 7pm on Jan. 19, 2006, at A.W. Windhorst Lodge.
Business Owners, Artists and all parties interested in Seminole Heights
are encouraged to attend.

The meeting will discuss a variety of topics and will include a
presentation from B'GoSH's By-Laws Committee, which will address the
committee's progress on the internal structuring of the organization.
At the meeting, attendees will have a chance to offer their input on
the new committees that will be influencing such projects as the
beautification of Seminole Heights and the development of marketing and
financial assistance for the area's business district(s).

A.W. Windhorst Lodge is located in Seminole Heights at 5011 N. Nebraska
Ave. (on the southeast corner of Caracas Ave. & Nebraska Ave.)

Don't Mess with Seminole Heights Resident Armando Corces

In the Tribune and other news outlets, is a story about a 90 year old Seminole Heights resident, Armando Corces, fought with an car jacker in the parking lot of our Publix on Monday, December 26.

(In the Trib)

"Armando Corces drove to the Publix, at 6001 N. Nebraska Ave., shortly before 3 p.m. Monday to buy brown paper to mail a package to his son. The man who accosted Corces as he walked toward the store was identified by police as Johnny Lee Jones, 25, of 1506 E. Comanche Ave. Another shopper intervened and Jones ran, police said. Officers arrested him nearby on a charge of carjacking."

(On WTSP)

"Armando Corces, 90-Years-Old:
"..started walking here and he come up on me, I want your key, said the hell you're going to have that key. Grabbed my arm and I said you're gonna have to fight me and I pushed him around."

The feisty 90-year-old took on a larger, stronger, 25-year-old.

Armando Corces:
"We fought for about five minutes, back and forth. He was trying to grab the key, so I put it in my pocket, finally was able to reach in my pocket and get the key. Tried to keep him from getting in the car so wrestled with him he pushed me and I fell down here."

But the carjacker bent Armando's key so he couldn't start the car.

Another guy in the parking lot saw the struggle and pulled the man out of Armando's car. The suspect took off and police caught up with him a few blocks away."

So far in the news stories I've seen, the shopper who intervened was not identified.

Johnny Lee Jones, DOB: 12/4/80 was arrested on 12/26/05 at 15th St. and Giddens. He is in jail with no bond. This joker of course has a long history of arrests, including battery on a police officer, possession of cocaine with intent to sell, petit theft, driving with a license suspended or revoked, loitering or prowling, and more. He has lived in Seminole Heights for years. Perhaps this time he will get some serious prison time. Perhaps we can get him banned from Seminole Heights, just like Willie Findley was sent to prison to follow with probation and banishment.

Moral of the Story: Don't mess with Seminole Heights. Even our 90 year old neighbors can kick your butt.

Snipe Sign King - 2 weeks ago I drove by Kmart and counted more than 80 of these signs posted in the City right of way all around the Kmart at Waters and Florida. This has been going on for months now. How could the City not see it themselves and fined the heck out of Kmart? I am not impressed.

Crime Things

Some recent crime things.

1. I received this email:

I know you talk about crime prevention on your blog so I thought I would tell you about an incident that happened today. This afternoon, shortly after 5pm, there was a green Mercury mini-van parked in front of our house. We live on North Street, between Florida and Central. I had not noticed it at that point but a neighbor stopped by with the make of the car and it's license plate (New York tag). There was a single mid to late 40's latino male, about 5'6, medium build. The car was parked across the street from our house yesterday for a while and neither my neighbor nor I have ever seen the car before yesterday. The suspicious part is that as soon as my neighbor came by, the guy started packing up. The other suspicious thing was, he had the jack out in front on the car. There were no flat tires and the car wasn't off the ground, just had the jack pushed under the front end. As soon as he saw me look out my window, he put the jack in the car and started up and drove away. I didn't see any oil stains or indication of any leaks and the car had no trouble starting. Just wanted people in the neighborhood to be on the lookout. It could be legit or it could be something else. We just got a strange feeling about it

.

I think strange, funny or odd feelings are important things to pay attention to. Things that are out of the ordinary always bear paying attention to. Sometimes it is nothing or something innocent but sometimes it is not. Some of these things I report to police and some I just note mentally or write down. Sometimes I just watch a little bit longer to see how things play out.

Some of the more common words in my Neighborhood Watch vocabulary are suspicious vehicle, suspicious behavior/activity, or suspicious person. I call the police when anything meets that criteria. How do you define suspicious? Well generally it is self evident.

Note when you call police to report suspicious behavior use the words suspicious in your call. If I called the police and just said there is some man parked across the street and I would like you to check it out they give me some resistance. However, if I said there is some suspicious activity occurring across the street, then they will respond. It also helps, I'm for mew to identify myself as a neighborhood watch member, as it gives me more credibility. (By the way, always ask the police operator for the event number. That way you can be assured your call will be logged and dispatched.)

2. Another email item I received, this from a Neighborhood Watch Coordinator:

Yesterday about 3 PM there was a 5’8”-5’9” black male wearing a white t-shirt and housing jean shorts. He was skinny with short hair. He spoke with a Jamaican accent. He was walking N on 13th toward Crawford. He asked one of the female neighbors who was walking her dog where he could catch the 9. She told him to go back to Sligh and turn right. He continued toward her and began exposing himself. She had a large and, at time, not nice dog. The man kept eyeing the dog and finally ran S on 13th. He did not follow the directions given to him about how to catch the 9.

We had this problem several years ago, but here we go again. If anyone has seen this man, please call the TPD at 231-9254 or District 2 at 931-6500.

It's too bad the dog did not play tug of war with the guy.

Silver Linings

Well, it looks like we have another new store in Seminole Heights. Silver Linings. It is 2 doors down from Tampa Antiquarian Books between the dog grooming place and the barber shop. It looks like they might have gift items/home decors things. I'm not completely sure if they are open or not

Seminole Heights Bakery and Sandwich Shop

According to the man painting the windows, the Seminole Heights Bakery opens up December 26. Hours Mon - Friday 6 AM to 6PM Sat 7-5 Sun 7-3. Apparently there are new owners running the place. I will drop by this week and make a report.

Abuela's Supermarket

I have not been able to visit Abuela's Supermarket, the store that replaced Ansley's, to give a review. Fortunately, one of my neighbors had and sent the following out to the our email group Here is his report:

. . . . and I made our first visit to the new Abuela's Super Market located at the former Ansley's location at the corner or Sligh and Central. We were totally impressed!! The place is clean, brigh and comfortable. And the best part is that it is right here in Seminole Heights. We walked in and were immediately and graciously greeted by the owner Fernando (who is Cuban). He offered us a free espresso. Couldn't turn that down!! They have bilingual staff, so please don't fear not being able to communicate. The best things to buy at the latin-style markets are meats, and produce. It is also customary that if you spend $30 or more, then you receive a free gift. Usually, the gift is a huge bag of rice, gallon of milk, pack of coffee or oil. Not all of the products are on the cheap, though, so know your prices first.

I will try to follow up sometime next week my own review and photos.

Running Through Tampa and avoiding dogs

Running Through Tampa has a recent post about trying to avoid getting dog bit. He was on Ola south of Broad. He says:

"“Sir, can you please call your dogs,” and he gives a half-assed whistle to
which the animals simply cock their heads momentarily before returning their
growling, teeth-baring attentions to me. “Don’t worry, they won’t bite you,” he
says, obviously annoyed.This is possibly the stupidest thing that anyone could
say about his or her animals. “They won’t bite” is right up there with “Hey
y’all watch this” for famous redneck last words."

Well, other dogs did bite someone in the neighborhood recently, in area of the 1300 block of Park Circle.

My husband and I were walking on the sidewalk. A couple of dogs were barking in a chain link fence. We came to the end of the fence and saw these other two dogs trying to get into the back yard of a house. The dogs turned toward us, we knew instantly we were in the wrong place at the wrong time. We stopped and everything I have ever learned about dogs went through my mind. The dogs walked toward us, started growling and one of them jumped up and bit me on the cheek, corner of my mouth and under my chin.

This was the most terrifying thing that has ever happened to me. I cannot imagine what would have happened if I had fallen down or if I was a small child. I am a dog lover, and until the last few years I have owned dogs, usually large ones. I have never feared them, but know to respect them. These dogs attacked! We were lucky that the Parks and Recreation employee was driving by and witnessed the whole thing.

The Parks and Rec person was later able to keep them away from us, because they kept trying to come towards us as we waited for the police. One of the Police Officers said that the dogs had attempted to attack him when he was attempting to capture the dogs. I do not blame the dogs, but I do blame the owners.

Hillsborough County Animal Control has a Dogbite Prevention Program

These requirements apply only to animals that have bitten, chased or threatened
people, companion animals, or livestock without provocation. An unprovoked
incident shall be one where the victim, who has been conducting himself or
herself peacefully and lawfully, has been bitten, chased in a menacing fashion,
or attacked by a companion animal. Not every animal that has bitten, chased or
threatened once would be placed here - if an attack is of sufficient magnitude
some will be placed under investigation as a 'Dangerous Dog'.

Fines for an initial unprovoked vicious incident will increase to $450. The fine will be
reduced to $25 if the owner provides proof of each of the following prior to the
citation's hearing date:

Obedience training, with a graduation certificate
Current health examination from a veterinarian
Proof of spay/neuter, either prior to or after the incident
Microchip registered to the owner at their current address
Receive responsible ownership training at Animal Services
A misdemeanor criminal complaint can be filed if the owner
of the dog had prior knowledge of the dog's dangerous propensities, yet
demonstrated a reckless disregard for such propensities under the circumstances.

They have a Dog Bite Prevention Guidebook for Kids.

They used to have list of Bad Dogs but I can't find it.

I-275

Susan and I have had reason to drive to downtown St. Pete several times in last few months, most recently last Saturday. As we drove down we saw all of the great landscaping along I-275 there, contrasting it with the lack we have in our section.

This subject was being discussed in our email group last month:

. . . . . Since 275 is controlled by FDOT, we will probably continue to see
little improvement. I made calls to FDOT and got a very great person on the
line. With the widening and the new wall, they did not allow anywhere
for the garbage to go, so he was concerned it will get worse. I am
working with him to try to put together a case to get the chainlink
removed. He asked that I visit a site they he is going to try to
get to replace ours. It is black and does not go under the overpass, instead it
goes up the hills near the side. While it is still ugly, it will at least
do away with the trash trap under the bridges.

This prompted this among many responses

I have a vision of seeing the fences along our interstates, particularly I-275,
set back about 20 feet - wrought iron would be beautiful, green or black chain
link would be fine, and an asphalt trail meandering along its length.
Understandably, the Suncoast Parkway Trail was designed and built as part of a
brand new road, BUT the Turnpike has received such accolades and can you imagine
how popular FDOT and a trail would be along a highway in such dense communities
as West Tampa, Tampa Heights, Seminole Heights, Sulpher Springs, and
beyond?! By the way, the project underway to widen 275 south from downtown
to the Courtney Campbell DOES include trail segments, now we need
to connect northward to our community. Granted some gaps would likely
exist but could be connected with on-road bike lanes to get you to the next
off-road part of the trail. Maybe it would need to switch back and
forth from the Taliaferro and Central sides - whatever works. The biggest
obstacle to trail building is the cost of right-of-way, in this case FDOT
already owns it and the costs would be for design & construction.

I'm sure Running Through Tampa might be able to provide some insight to such a trail.

Don't think that this could not be done. The idea to restripe Nebraska Avenue came out of Seminole Heights. With the activism we have, we could get it done.

Tampa Antiquarian bookstore in the news

There was an article about the Tampa Antiquarian Books in today's Central (ooops) South Tampa section of the Trib.

The shop is the new home for more than 40,000 rare and collectible books.

The owner is Stephanie Beckel. Drop by her store at 6116 N. Central Ave 9corner Hanna) and welcome her to the neighborhood.

Drug Dealer Finally Gets Prison Time

In May I wrote about drug dealer Willie Findley. For 5 years we have been trying to put away this guy. We'd get him arrested and then he either would be put on probation or just serve a minor jail sentence. Invariably while on probation he would abscond or commit another crime. Not any more.

He was finally arrested and in today's Tampa Tribune it was noted that yesterday he was sentenced to 5 years in prison to follow with 10 years of Probation. He also has been banned from Seminole Heights while on probation.

This conviction was only possible because residents kept making a fuss and kept reporting sightings of him, because police kept their eyes out and kept arresting him, because the news media kept doing stories on him, because the State Attorney's Office acted on residents concerns, and because residents showed up in court to testify against Willie.

Thanks to State Attorney Mark Ober, Tampa Police Department Major George McNamara's and his District 3 police officers and those named and un-named residents.

In the article the reporter noted "In a courthouse hallway, a supporter of Findley criticized the three women who testified against him, saying they should have minded their own business. "

They were minding their own business. They were keeping their homes and neighborhood safer from this creep.

By working together we are making this a better place to live. Government can't do it's job alone. It needs the citizens involved to do a better job. If you want your neighborhood to get better, you have to do something about it.

Child Care

I received this email:

"I frequently visit the Seminole Heights blog and there is something that has been giving me quite a bit of trouble and it finally occurred to me that perhaps the blog would be a good way to find a solution to my problem.... quality child care! Is there a way to get some communication going about quality child care in the area? I can't seem to find a decent place to send my daughter while I am at work and I would love to know what other parents of preschoolers in the area are doing."

Note: You can do some checking of chld care providers via a Statewide website http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/childcare/ and specifically via their Provider Search. You can also view Child Care files at the local office http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/childcarelicensing/

Child Care Licensing Program
8900 N. Armenia Ave., Suite 210
Tampa, FL 33604
Telephone: (813) 272-6487
Fax: (813) 903-3422

We have a bunch of child care providers in Seminole Heights, but I do not know anything about them.

Businesses and Christmas and Holiday Decorations

All 3 Seminole Heights have Christmas light decorating contests to see who have the best residential displays in each hood.

I say residential because generally the businesses have no displays.

There are some exceptions and I'd like to honor those exceptions and thus encourage more business to participate.

Please send in nominations for businesses with any Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanza and other Holiday decorations. Give the name of the business and street address. (If you can remember the address then an approximate location.) Note the ones you thing are the best daytime and best nightime displays. If you can take a photo of the best ones, that would be helpful but is not needed. Once we get a good selection I will see If I can create a poll and people can vote on it.

I will post a list of all the businesses who decorated. I will make up some certificates (unless some loyal reader would like to help by making some) to give to the best in each category for them.

Tonight Susan I went up Nebraska Ave in SE Seminole Heights to see what we have
The Seminole Heights Bakery 5214 N NEBRASKA AVE - Windows Painted
Ybor Pizza 4703 N Nebraska Ave - Windows Painted
And suprisingly the wig place across from Mega Market (Garland and something else across the fron of the building. Will go back and get the name and address.

I'm not sure yet I would rank any of them until I go out and see more to compare to.

Scam Artists

A friend on the west side of Seminole Heights in the area behind Front Porch notified us of a scam going on. Two men claiming to be Solid Waste employees are dropping off envelopes so they can collect money as Christmas tips. A call by our friend to Solid Waste reveals that is not a practice Solid Waste engages in. If you encounter these people call the police immediately as they are pulling a scam.

Seminole Heights Cafe and Bakery Reopens

Driving down Nebraska Ave. tonight I saw that the windows of Seminole Heights Bakery nicely decorated for Christmas, some thing I had not noticed before. In fact more and more businesses In Seminole Heights are decorationg for the holidays than previously.

As I drove by I did a double take and had to drive around the block. Sure enough, there was an Opening Soon sign painted in the midst of the decorations. Great! However I wondered why as the current owner had a lunch time cafe there for about a year that closed. He just continued with the whoesale bakery in back. I wonder if ownership changed or if the sucess of Martha's restaurant has prompted the change.

I saw something at Hanna and Central I had not seen before. Christams deocatins in the windows two empty storefronts between the barber shop and the book store. Does this mean someone new has rented those places or is this Christmas cheer spreading to the landlord?

Publicity for the Hood

In a previous post comments were made about concerns regarding an article in the Tribune about the Seminole Heights Mobile Crime Patrol and publicity.

Since I have moved in the neighborhood 5 1/2 years ago I have heard some of the same concerns raised about negative news about the neigborhood. 5 1/2 years ago some residents did not want to read about prostitution and the neighborhood preferring just to have positive news.

That philosophy brought us nohere. At that time Nebraska Avenue had more prostitutes than Ronda Storms has insults.

Instead of hiding the problem, residents plastered the problem across front pages and TV screens and shoved it in the faces of our government leaders. An early embarrament for the Police Department was that residents were walking up and down Nebraska Ave. confronting prostitutes, without police support. Some bad apple police officers were seemingly (or actually) taking the side of the prostitutes.

As a consequence of this in your face activity, the work of the SE Seminole Heights Exercise Club and then the Old Seminole Heights residents who joined the group, the Prostitution Town Hall Meeting with residents and government officials, the Hillsborough County Prostitution Task Force and finally the Old Seminole Heights and Southeast Seminole Heights Neighborhood Watch Vehicle Patrols, things changed. Goverment got on board with the residents. City Hall Departments, State Attorney, City Council, State Legislators and others. A treatment program was started with a Seminole Heights ex-offender treatment program. Status quo deadwood retired from the police department. The Police Department became very energized and proactive themselves on the issue. Law were changed to increase penalities and offer treatment. Prostitution has decreased dramatically.

One of the things I always tried to stress and create a positive spin during all of this was that Seminole Heights does not simply complain about problems, but offers solutions and tries to help implement them, and that Seminole Heights is a very organized and activist neighborhood and it is that activism that should cause people to move here.

I think the press about the transgender prostitutes getting arrested is a good thing because it lets the transgender prostitutes know we are serious about removing all prostitution from our neighborhood and will get them arrested any way we can, if they choose to practice here.

Having said all of that, I do agree we need more positive press. I just don't think we need to supress the negative aspects. To me any press is good press, just depends on how you spin it. For example the Steve Lorenzo thing has had people across the nation come to my blog as I mentioned something about it once (actually about A Living Hominid's story on it). I know some of these same people read other positive posts on my blog, thus getting a better idea of what Seminole Heights is. I'll bet that almost everyone in Tampa Bay area has heard of Seminole Heights. How many have heard of V.M.Ybor, Ybor Heights, Riverside Heights, Wellswood, Forest Hills and others?

One of the things people need to know about positive press is that the press needs to know about the positive activity in order to write about it. And it has to be interesting or have some sort of hook.

We do not do a good enough job about getting the positive stories out. All of us need to find these stories and get them out. These stories do not just have to be about big events like home tours. Any positive story will do. A story on a 102 year old resident having a birthday, some new store opening up, some new drive by a non profit organization, someone with an interesting hobby, yard, past life experience. Anything people will want to read. There are thousands of stories out there. We just have to get other people to hear them.

In SE Sem Hts we get a lot of stories written about us. One reason is that we have representives from the media on our email list. Warren Ely from Channel 13. Kathy Steele from Tribune. Sherri Day and Elizabeth Bettendorf from the St. Pete Times. Also before the blog I used to call Kathy Steele or her predecesor Sean Lengell up to give them stories all the time. Some they would use and some they would not.

When we come up with these stories we need to think broadly about where these stories go. Obviously the local TV, radio and newspapers. However should the story go the the news reporters, to the columnists and or to the events sections? What about getting pictures of the event in the society section? I will often see a story about an event get written up in the paper but not find it in the coming events section. Don't forget the smaller newsoutlets like Florida Sentinel Bulletin, the Penny Saver, Channel 38 and others. What about WUSF Radio and WMNF radio? WMNF also has a community bulletin board on their website that they will also read on the air. What about local magazines, such as Florida Trend? What about specialty magazines and periodicals such as The Watermark or a trade publication? How about putting some of these stories on the neighborhood websites or sending them to selected bloggers?

In Seminole Heights we have an advantage over other parts of Tampa in that we have some great reporters who live here and experience some of these stories themselves. And also because we are a more interesting part of town than New Tampa or Brandon.

Here are some Tampa media listings off of Mondo Times
Bay News 9 TV
St. Petersburg Times newspaper
Tampa Tribune newspaper
USF Oracle (university) newspaper
Tampa Bay Business Journal newspaper
Accent On Tampa Bay magazine
CitiLife magazine
Event (city guides) magazine
Tampa Bay Metro (city guides) magazine
WEDU TV 3 (PBS) TV
Weekly Planet Tampa Bay (city guides) newspaper
WFLA TV 8 (NBC) TV
WFTS TV 28 (ABC) TV
WMNF FM 88.5 radio
WMOR TV 32 (IND) TV
WTSP TV 10 (CBS) TV
WTTA TV 38 (WB) TV
WTVT TV 13 (FOX) TV
WUSF FM 89.7 (NPR) radio
WUSF TV 16 (PBS) TV

Events in the Heights

There are plenty of events coming up in Seminole Heights. Here are few:

Hillsborough River Holiday Boat Parade
When: Saturday, Dec. 10, 6-8 p.m.
Holiday Boat Parade To Light Up Hillsborough River

You'll see more kayaks and canoes than McYachts in the 5th Annual Hillsborough River Holiday Boat Parade on Saturday, Dec. 10, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Boaters with kayaks, canoes and motor-craft will gather at Lowry Park boat ramp at 5:30 p.m. and travel upriver past the illuminated Sulphur Springs Tower to Hanna's Whirl. Boat entry is free; decorations and lights are encouraged but not required. Battery-powered lights are available at local stores, including Walgreen's. If boaters prefer, they can join in the parade at any point along the route. If you have a boat, please join in!

The free event is sponsored by Friends of the River. Lowry Park boat ramp is located off North Boulevard, north of Sligh Avenue, across from Lowry Park Zoo. Spectators will find a cozy place to watch at the recently re-opened Harbor Club restaurant, which is hosting a community caroling party during and after the parade. The riverfront Harbor Club restaurant is located in Sulphur Springs, 915 E. Grant St., just east of Nebraska Ave. -- turn right at the light at Sitka, across the street from the city's Sulphur Springs pool. Food and beverages (including full bar) available for purchase. For information, contact Liz Taylor, 813-237-8497, greeningtampa@tampabay.rr.com

Covivant
This Saturday night Covivant is hosting a cornucopia of exhibitions and musical talent not to be overlooked!

Saturday, December 10th 7-11pm | $5 Donation 313 vs. 813 DETROIT VS. TAMPA "L'Agent des trois" A selection of works by Trong G. Nguyen and Art Hijack including the "Humanitarians Not Heroes" project, the "Art Collection of Rick Haatj," and "Messages from Guantanamo." Opening of the "Boutique" Blank Cartel, Iron-on resistance, Dirty but Sophisticated and more. Musical Guest: Red Tide @ 9pm Also One Cold Night in Tampa by Marnee Good, a studio exhibition of new plaster sculptures housed in an arctic installation.

Old Seminole Heights
December 1st through 12th, 2005
HOLIDAY DECORATING CONTEST
It's time to dust off the wreaths and untangle the lights! Nominate any home in Old Seminole Heights by calling 231-9102 or sending an email to hharmon@seminole-heights.org. Please include the address of the house and contact information for the owners. Nominations will be taken until December 12th. The winner will be announced at the Holiday Porch Party on the 16th (Details below).

Old Seminole Heights
Sunday, December 11, 2005 at 6:00pm
ANNUAL HOLIDAY DINNER
Doors open at 5:00pm, dinner begins promptly at 6:00pm - Seminole Heights United Methodist Church, Social Hall, (corner of Central and Hanna Avenues). Socialize, share a recipe and eat your fill of covered dish delights! If your last name begins with A-M, please bring a side dish or dessert. If your last name begins with N-Z, please bring a vegetable or salad. The Association will provide plates, utensils, beverages, and the main course.

Old Seminole Heights
Tuesday, December 13, 2005 at 7:00pm
HOLIDAY CONCERT
The Dickens Carolers perform to help us get into the Holiday spirit. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs to 1009 East Clifton Street at 7:00pm. This is a fun event for the young and young at heart, and is always a crowd-pleaser. Our new location will provide a beautiful view of Lake Roberta!

Alley Cat Players
Please join the Alley Cat Players for Be Not Afraid poems of courage, humor, and good cheer
by various authors

(The Alley Cat Players' series of Poetry Readings features professional actors performing dramatic readings of the work of famous poets. Be Not Afraid will be a multi-media performance.)

4pm and 7pm on Tuesday, Dec. 13, at the Seminole Heights library, 4711 Central Ave, Tampa
Art for Everyone -- All our library shows are FREE! See alleycatplayers.org or call (813) 231-8478 for directions or more information.

Old Seminole Heights
Friday, December 16, 2005 at 7:30pm
HOLIDAY PORCH PARTY
You're in the holiday home stretch! Enjoy yourself and gather with friends and neighbors on Randy and Debbie Baron's front porch at 217 West Comanche Avenue. Party begins at 7:30pm. Please bring a holiday beverage and/or snack to enjoy.

New Tenants on Florida Avenue

I understand the former lithograph or (something graph) building at Florida and North Street (the northern end of the block from Blosfield's Clock shop) is going to have new tenants. I've noticed a new paint job. I've heard a rumor as what might go in there, but wonder if anyone has a confirmation.

SE Sem Hts. Home Tour

There are two article in the papers about the upcoming SE Sem Hts Home Tour. For those who don't want to go on the tour, there are vendors you can come at shop at at Giddens Parks.

In the St. Pete Times " A tour of homes touches heart" A year later, Erin Parsons and her husband will open their new home to others......

And in the Tribune "A home for the holidays"

By KATHY STEELE ksteele@tampatrib.com

Published: Dec 1, 2005

SEMINOLE - HEIGHTS -- For Claude Maggi and Rich Guagliardo, the rehabilitation of their 1925 craftsman-style bungalow has been like peeling layers off an onion.

"It gets more and more involved," said Maggi, a commercial real estate investment consultant. He and Guagliardo, a residential real estate consultant, moved into their home on McBerry Street in December 2004.

Last week, construction on a remodeled master bathroom and kitchen was heading toward completion. The living and dining rooms, with polished oak floors, were decked out in holiday glitter.

Stockings hung from the fireplace mantel. A battery-operated Santa waved a candle. Tiny white lights twinkled on a Christmas tree.

By Sunday, everything must be finished and in its place.

The bungalow is the designer showcase for Homes for the Holidays, the Southeast Seminole Heights Civic Association's second annual Historic Home and Garden Tour.

"It's forcing us to get the place ready in a timely fashion," Guagliardo said.

Nine other holiday-themed historical houses, Seminole Heights Baptist Church and the new facility of community radio station WMNF, 88.5 FM, also will be featured on the tour.

Holiday gifts and arts and crafts will be sold at Vendor Village at Giddens Park and Kathryn Malone Community Center.

A portion of tour proceeds will benefit Joshua House, a home for abused and abandoned children.

The inaugural tour drew more than 700 people.

"We're anticipating hitting the 1,000 mark this year," tour organizer Stan Lasater said. An active civic association and a hot real estate market have boosted the neighborhood's appeal, he said.

A couple who came to the first tour bought a home soon after and their Victorian bungalow is on this year's tour.

"They had never even been to our neighborhood," Lasater said.

Guagliardo and Maggi, who used to live in Beach Park, said they liked the passion and activism of Southeast Seminole Heights.

"We want people to know Southeast Seminole Heights has wonderful homes," Maggi said. "It's a great place."

Their 2,700-square-foot bungalow was owned for most of its 80 years by the Pimm family, well-known Tampa land surveyors.

"The original architect put a lot of thought into how it would be designed," Maggi said.

Constructed of terra cotta block, "It was built to last," Guagliardo said.

Rooms have 10-foot ceilings; floors are oak and heart pine.

But there were problems. Plaster was peeled. Flooring needed repairs. An upstairs room had been closed off, unused for 50 years.

Maggi and Guagliardo have modernized while preserving the period look. About 1,500 square feet of terrace was added to the back yard. Maggi laid the intricate mosaic floor in the kitchen.

For the remodeling and holiday decorations, they worked with Jennifer Winchell of Winchell Interiors in Lutz. She combined their personal tastes and possessions with touches of her own, Maggi said.

"It's an eclectic mix that works," he said.

IF YOU GO
WHAT: Southeast Seminole Heights Historic Home and Garden Tour

WHEN: 1 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: Buses will depart every few minutes from Seminole Heights Baptist Church, 801 E. Hillsborough Ave.; parking available at the church.

COST: $10; free for ages 12 and younger. Tickets available Sunday at the church.

INFORMATION: (813) 239-0025 or www.holidayhomeand

garden.com

"We want people to know Southeast Seminole Heights

has wonderful homes. It's a great place."