Found by Ginny Powell
Two very interesting blogs:
http://www.houseinprogress.net/ ("We call it home improvement because it can't get any worse") and http://www.houseblogs.net/. ("Houseblogs.net is a community-powered home improvement publication. Everything here is contributed by real people (like you) with a passion for homes and home improvement."
I get this email freom Rene Stewart that she has sent to all of the neighborhood leaders
"With your permission I am starting a new committee in Seminole Heights. The Seminole Heights Welcoming Committee. We will welcome new business' and residents to the area with information on the Heights. I am taking helpful suggestions from everyone. Naturally there are some legalities that this committee must follow because of the privicy act, but I'm certain that there won't be to much of a problem. I look forward in helping to make this community a better place and increasing our membership to BGoSH and the neighborhood associations. "
Great Idea. SESH has or had a welcoming committee but I am not sure how well it worked out. I think the idea of a Seminole Heights wide committee is great.
Here are some ideas. Tell newcomer which neighborhood association they belong to, give them coupons from local businesses, get them added to area, email groups, and get pointed to various websites. Tell them they can join the Tampa Bay Federal Credit union if you are member of one of the asssocations? I think Suncoast Fereal Credit union is granting geographic membership. Association newsletters might find it easier to get ads form some of these new businesses.
Not your typical strip mall office building. No, it is something with gables, a building that could look like someone lives there. Not surprising because the man who builds some of the best modern bungalows, is the man who built this building. For months as I watch this building at New Orleans and Nebraska (5001 N. Nebraska) go up, I wondered who was moving in. Now I know thanks to the St. Pet Times. It is Jerry Martinez, who wons JBC Builders. Want to look at one of his house. Just look behind his building at 900 E. New Orleans or look behind Curtis Drugs.
"Resembling a two-story house, the 2,650-square-foot office will be split between JBC and another office tenant that Martinez has yet to find. "
""I think the growth is back in the inner city," said Martinez, who has been building homes throughout Hillsborough County for 35 years"
. . .
"Land has been cleared at a long-vacant lot nearby at Cherokee and Comanche avenues.
Martinez has received preliminary approval from the city's Architectural Review Commission to build a 2,300-square-foot two-story house there in the craftsman bungalow style.
A wraparound porch, wood floors, granite counter tops, four bedrooms and 2 1/2 bathrooms are among the planned details. Martinez said he'll offer it for about $480,000, and that construction should start in about three months."
Thank you, Mr. Martinez for keeping Seminole Heights looking good in its old style.
Southeast Seminole Heights lost one of its long time residents, Ralph Lazzara on February 1.
"By just a couple of years later, he opened his own grocery store, Lazzara's Courtesy Market, on Nebraska Avenue, a few blocks south of Hillsborough Avenue. The store became a neighborhood institution and remained open until Mr. Lazzara retired in 1981.e of its long standing residents, Ralph Lazarra on February 1.
"Mr. Lazzara passed away Feb. 1 at age 90. His health had been declining recently, but he was still active until just days before his death. He spent his entire life in Tampa. In fact, in his 90 years, he never lived farther south than 11th Avenue or farther north than Hillsborough."
. . .
"Fruits and vegetables weren't just his livelihood, they became his calling card. When he'd visit his children and grandchildren, he'd always bring boxes of apples, grapes or guava pastries. At the retirement home, he became known as "Nano" or "The Banana Man," because he delighted in giving out bananas to everyone he knew there.
. . .
"He had an enormous back yard at his house, full of fruit trees and flowers," Griffin said. "I have memories of him coming in from the yard, and it was obvious he loved being outdoors, working with his hands. The fruits and flowers he gave showed his generosity, that he wanted to keep providing for us."
. . .
"Besides his grandson, Mr. Lazzara is survived by sons Ralph Lazzara III and Philip R. Lazzara, daughters Marie A. Sanchez and Marlene L. Sacarello, eight grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren."
We were fortunate to have him speak at one of our SE Seminole Heights Home tours.
Our condolences.
Great article in the St. Petersburg Times, about the "Mount Rushmore of neighborhood presidents", all from Seminole Heights. Randy Baron, SherryGenovar-Simons and Gary Elsworth
A local 'Mount Rushmore'St. Petersburg Times - St. Petersburg,FL,USASEMINOLE HEIGHTS -Before they moved to Seminole Heights, Randy Baron was just a computer programmer, Sherry Genovar-Simons didn't know her neighbors and ...See all stories on this topic
"SEMINOLE HEIGHTS -Before they moved to Seminole Heights, Randy Baron was just a computer programmer, Sherry Genovar-Simons didn't know her neighbors and Gary Ellsworth had never thought of joining a civic association - he didn't even know whether his neighborhood had one.
But something transformed the three into what Shannon Edge, the city director of neighborhood and community relations, calls "the Mount Rushmore of neighborhood presidents."
"What turned them into leaders?
"Seminole Heights did it," Baron said."
. . .
"In Seminole Heights, neighbors joined to tackle problems. Then they realized they liked each other."
. . .
"Everybody gets excited about presidential elections, and we're already focusing on the 2008 elections," Ellsworth said. "But if you want to improve your quality of life in the day to day, it happens on the local level.""
So where do we carve their likenesses?
Hankering for some pizza and gave them a call. Got a message that they were 'temporarily closed'
Anyone know what's up with that?
Bummer, though, because I really liked their pizza and they are very close to us.
Ah well...off to Cappy's it seems.
With some of the issues regarding some of the city Departments, currently Code Enforcement for example, or Housing under Steve LaBrake under Greco, I sometimes wonder if there should be a Citizens Advisory Committee that could look into issues in various departments and issue recommendations to the Mayor and City Council (and to the media) for changes.
Bike Stories sent us some photos.
It's become a ritual: Ending a 100-mile bike ride on a gorgeous day with a quick peak at the sun setting over Lake Roberta.
Thought I'd pass along 3 photos for your blog that took tonight.
The photos also ran on my bike trip post at:
http://alansnel.com/blog/2007/02/hillsborough-pasco-county-century-ride.html "
Yesterday in the Tribune there was a profile on the District 1 (Citywide candidates).
Gwen Miller must be showing some weakness because the Tribune used the following "Gwen Miller is the retired school teacher. She also is the incumbent in the race, trying to hang on to a second term in the seat." Trying to hang on . . . . hmmmm.
Then it goes on to say "None of the other candidates - Rick Barcena, Randy Baron, Denise Chavez, Julie Jenkins and Joe Redner - has had any experience holding elected office, but they all believe that they would do a better job than the incumbent. "I don't think so," Miller said. "I've been on council 12 years. I've been chair three years. That shows leadership."
Really. To rephrase Forrest Gump "Leadership is as leadership does." Others on City Council did much leadership. I never saw any on hers. I wonder if she was booted upstairs to Chair to keep her out of the way of the rest of City Council. Sort of a Peter Principle. She was on the Expressway board for years when all the problems were occurring and did not do anything until Thomas Scott finally stood up.
"Miller says she wants another term to continue working for the residents of Tampa. She doesn't list specifics. Instead, she promises to listen to the concerns of Tampa residents and find solutions."
Here is what Randy said
Baron, president of the Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association, lists several issues among his priorities, including traffic calming, spending more money on code enforcement, redeveloping commercial corridors such as Florida and Nebraska avenues, and finding money within the budget to fix the city's infrastructure.
"I agree with the mayor that the city is crumbling from underneath," Baron said.
and
"Baron says he's not sure a tax cut is necessary and would prefer that the council and administration work together on the budget earlier in the process."
A very interesting article about the role of Tampa in area politics and the role certain neighborhoods in Tampa politics. Note that Seminole Heights is mentioned ,which is good. However I would like for it referenced in the future that "In city elections, getting the support of Seminole Heights is critical."
How do we do that? We need to get a good turn out at every election. The 4 associations need ot plan election forums for every election months or even years in advance. We need to really market those forums and get people there. We need to go to each other's porch parties and events so we get to see ourselves as a connected Seminole Heights family the way South Tampa and West Tampa folks do. And we need to have people on various boards. We need to have candidates for office. And some of those need to win. We also need fun stuff. Events people will come to whether big or small that so that Seminole Heights is on everyone's mind when they think Tampa. All of these we are doing, much better than in the past. Lets keep the momentum going, however and get a good turn out.
"South Tampa, with its mansions on Bayshore Boulevard, its bungalows in Palma Ceia and its new condos on Howard Avenue, has long been the base of political power in the city. Families there are well-established, with roots stretching back generations.
Residents there make their voices heard politically. Turnout in south Tampa precincts hovered in the 30 percent and 40 percent range during the last municipal election.
"One of the things that struck me is if you can't win south Tampa, you can't win," said Frank Sanchez, who lost to Iorio in the 2003 mayoral election. "They go out to vote at higher rates than the rest of the city. They seem to be more engaged in civic activities. You need to win south Tampa and do strongly in other parts of the city."
Precincts in Seminole Heights and Forest Hills also tend to show up on Election Day. West Tampa - where politics are always the topic of the day at Cuban breakfast joints - is important, too.
"West Tampa votes," said Jan Platt, a former county commissioner and city councilwoman. "In city elections, getting the support of West Tampa is critical."
New Tampa, though, hasn't shown much of an appetite for city elections. About 21 percent of New Tampa's residents voted in the 2003 election. Citywide, turnout was about 33 percent.
"Because of the transient nature in New Tampa, you can't build a power base, which is completely opposite of south Tampa, where people have roots," Platt said.
Only as New Tampa residents further settle into town will they feel more connected politically and turn out on Election Day. Considering the rapid growth there, when that happens, New Tampa voters will be more of a factor in city elections."
Also in the Tribune, where our mayoral candidates stand on some issues.Green wants to focus on attracting small businesses to the city. He wants to create jobs where people have a future. He also wants to attract international trade and business to the city.
His other priorities include emergency disaster planning and working with the school district to find ways to keep students from dropping out.
"I'm looking to affect people's lives in a very real manner, not just pave streets," Green said.
Lewis wants to focus on infrastructure improvements by requiring developers to include new infrastructure in their developments.
"Our streets are in Third-World condition," Lewis said. "That comes from being neglected by the past and current administrations."
Like Green, Lewis wants to find ways to bring higher-paying jobs to Tampa.
"You have to be able to reach out and bring everyone together and then you come up with a master plan of how you want to accomplish it," Lewis said.
He criticizes Iorio for not working well with people and points to friction this past year between the city administration and museum board and to tension between the city and county as examples.
If re-elected, Iorio would focus on developing a mass transit plan for the city and further investing in neighborhood improvements, such as building new fire stations and fixing the aging stormwater system.
She intends to bring to fruition the development of the city's cultural corridor, including a new art museum building and the Riverwalk"
Blogger.com has modified its software and I have had to move to the new version. There were a bunch of things that did not transfer and I had to add or modify. I am not finished fixing things. You will notice some new elements, such as categories. Part of this requires the blog contributors to sign in using a Google sign in. Things will be explained the next time you sign in to post something. People commenting have no changes,
Last Year, I posted two blog articles about Mary Carol Hill (Frederick). Where is Mary Carol Hill (Frederick)? and Response on Mary Carol Hill.
She was a Seminole Heights resident who disappeared sometime after 9:30 P.M. on June 3, 1994.
From the St. Pete Times ""Authorities are investigating the disappearance of Mary Carol Hill, a 37-year-old mother and a student at Stetson University College of Law. Hill was last seen by a neighbor about 9:30 p.m. Saturday, standing in front of her home at 1601 E Powhattan Ave. in the Seminole Heights section of Tampa. Her sister reported her missing Monday. Tampa police Detective Gary Saunders said Hill's house was locked and her car was parked in front. "There's nothing at this point to indicate she was abducted," Saunders said. Hill is 5 feet 3 and weighs 125 pounds. She has curly red hair and blue eyes. "She was tremendously excited by beginning law school, where she hoped to continue her work as a child advocate," said her husband, Ken Frederick, who was camping in Colorado with their 5-year-old son when his wife was reported missing.""
From the Tribune "The career and most everything else possibly could have been left behind, "but not her son," says her husband of a decade, Ken Frederick, 46.
"She didn't walk away," declares one of her four sisters, Diana McCumber of Temple Terrace. "She had too much going for her."
Hill has not been seen with certainty since the afternoon of Friday, June 3, at Stetson's Pinellas County campus in Gulfport, although others may have seen her later that evening, according to Detective Jerry Keith of the Tampa Police Department."
The TPD missing persons website article on her notes: "The night before she had dinner with a friend and watched videos with him at her home."
Speculation centered around Louis Hlava, a close friend of the family who was the last person to be with her.
On my blog article this comment appeared reportedly from her husband, Ken Frederick. I have no way to determine the validity of this comment.
"While I choose also to remain anonymous to avoid cruel harrassment, I am Ken Frederick, former husband of Mary Carol Hill, remarried, my son, wife, her children, and myself now living in a kinder environment, a place that I had hoped prior to her disappearance/death would have also become Mary Carol's home.
It has been 12 years and to the best of my knowledge Mary Carol's case continues to be labeled a homicide by TPD. My specific reason for writing is to clarify a question earlier in the article: "So is Louis Hlava a person of interest, or a victim?"
Louis Hlava (DOB 7/1/53) is the ONLY suspect in Mary Carol's disappearance and certain death. Mary Carol and Louis Hlava had been co-workers at the (then) HRS, we regarded him as a close friend, and we had helped him during his times of trouble. Louis Hlava gave one interview to TPD and then refused to cooperate further with the investigation and also, without explanation, discontinued any further contact with me and our son. To the best of my knowledge it is Louis Hlava whose police interview created those "...discrepancies in early investigation testimony (that) were exposed." And I, too, had early begun to discover inconsistencies and a selective withholding of information from Louis Hlava in my personal conversations with him although I had initially regarded him as yet another victim of this event.
I appreciate the continued interest in Mary Carol's case and life. I am very grateful to have shared a part of that life with her, and continue to hope that we might one day respectfully bury her."
Respecfully bury her. Simple request.
Is there someone reading this blog who knew something that has not yet been reported to the police? That maybe they did not attach any significance to at the time? Do you know anyone who was around that part of the neighborhood at the time of disappearance, who might have information? Or someone who knew or knows someone involved in the case?
The last time a news article of any significance done on this was in 1995. Perhaps now it the time again. Interview Mr. Frederick. Interview the detective who was handling the case Det. Jerry Keith. Interview Louis Hlava. Interview old neighbors. Maybe TV news story could be done. Perhaps TPD can put this at the top of list of their cold cases.
It is a shame that nothing more has been found out in this case. For that reason every year from now on, I will post on article on her, so that Seminole Heights will not forget her, and hopes that we will know what happened and if she was murdered, that her murderer is caught, and that her husband and son will get to respectfully bury her.
Anyone having information about Mary Carol Hill is asked to contact the Tampa Police Department Missing Persons Unit at: (813) 276-3516 or E-Mail Missing Persons
No it's a plane, at the Gasparilla Parade, towing a banner asking you to Vote for Randy Baron for City Council, District 1. More on this the Tribune
"The banner included his Web site, www.baron4tampa.com. At least 400,000 people could have seen the banner—many of whom undoubtedly are registered voters"
I guess this is Randy is taking the high route in this race. Does this make him a banner candidate for City Council? Does this place him head and shoulders above all the other candidates?
Using that plane and banner is innovative, the kind of thinking we need in City Council.
There are two new blogs in Seminole Heights that fellow residents created.
The first is Seminole Heights Lost and Found, created by Renee Stewart. Lose or find something in Seminole Heights? Here is another place to send that info.
The second is Hot Topics!! The description reads:"EVERYTHING SEMINOLE HEIGHTS!! All the boring stuff no one likes to see on Scott's Seminole Heights Blog! Good ole fashioned neighborhood gossip! Local news, some photos......Whatever! The comments (if there are any!) will guide the direction"
This makes it blogs number 27 and 28 coming out of Seminole Heights. We must be the blogging capital of Tampa Bay, as what other neighborhood can boast of that many blogs?
According the City Council records, Greg Smith's plans for a restaurant and bar at 6401 Nebraska Avenue is moving along. After more than a year of work, he finally was able to get approval from City Council to rezone the land for his restaurant. Where is 6401 N. Nebraska? Drive north from Hillsborough until you see Rick Fifer's photo. His billboard sign is at the location. What kind of restaurant? Maybe Randy knows.
According to the Tribune, Mark Holland's hostel Gram's Place may be allowed to continue operating.
"Holland's European-style hostel, the recipient of numerous code citations, could win a reprieve from the city council. Taking down a dead palm tree, cutting back vegetation and eliminating onsite parking at Gram's Place, 3109 N. Ola Ave., may be all it takes."
From OSHNA Bungalow Alert
Trash, trash, trash, trash, trash,
Trash, trash, trash, trash,
Trash, trash, trash,
Trash, trash, trash,
Sligh Avenue Trash Clean-Up
Who?: Hosted by the Tampa Financial Group, Inc.
What?: Please join us as we pick up trash on Sligh Avenue .
Where?: We will begin with coffee and doughnuts at the Tampa Financial Group, Inc. at 301 E. Sligh Avenue . We will clean up Sligh Avenue between Florida and Nebraska Avenues, specifically concentrating on cleaning up the I275 exit ramps.
When?: Saturday, February 10th from 8am to 12pm.
Why?: You will receive free coffee and doughnuts, get to know your neighbors better, and help to improve the look of our neighborhood. You’ll also get some exercise, and depending on the weather, you might even be able to work on your tan. Just think of it as a porch party with trash bags!
Seminole Heights
Business Guild of Seminole Heights (BGoSH)
We now have a central data base of available commercial properties for sale or lease...
Business Recruitment Committee
Our goal is simple: to have thriving commercial corridors populated with businesses who share the vision and who will promote the atmosphere of Seminole Heights. To realize this goal, BGoSH will be will be encouraging businesses that meet our revitalization vision to open and do business in Seminole Heights. In order to promote this positive commercial growth, the Business Recruitment Committee, chaired by Raquel Coryer, has been formed.
Raquel, a Tampa native, has been a homeowner in Seminole Heights for more than 11 years. She is committed to encouraging the growth of the business sector and to the improvement of the Seminole Heights commercial corridors. As a service to BGoSH members and parties interested in establishing their business in our neighborhood, the Business Recruitment Committee will keep a database which lists all available commercial properties and the important information about each location. With this information, Raquel will be able to help new businesses find the perfect location.
She is requesting that anyone who has information regarding business properties on the market, whether for sale or for lease, be submitted to her so that it could be added to the BGoSH database. Also, those interested in commercial properties are encouraged to make use of this new committee.
If you are interested in assisting with future Business Recruitment Committee projects, or have ideas or information to share, please feel free to contact Raquel Coryer of Levin Investment Realty Corporation. Her office number is 813-832-5500 She can also be reached on her mobile: 813-857-6814 or via e-mail bgoshproperty@hotmail.comNope, not really just TECO.
From IFly:
"Given some of the previous posts regarding unusual helicopter activity, this may be of interest.
The Tampa Electric Company (TECO) will be conducting transmission lines
inspections utilizing a helicopter throughout Hillsborough County from
February 1 - March 1, 2007. Inspections will also be conducted in the
area of Pasco County serviced by TECO. The helicopter is an MD500, tail
number N5027P. The helicopter is manned by a pilot and an observer, who
is located outside of the helicopter, photographing power lines. In the
past, these inspections have generated numerous calls. POC is Det.
Randall Hierlmeier at 813-267-0627."
