Seminole Heights

Kid(s) Photo Contest Ends May 31

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

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

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

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

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

EMAIL YOUR CONTEST ENTRY TO: KidsPlay@UCTampa.com today!
Deadline for entries, May 31, 2009!
Winners will be notified by mid-June 2009.
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Did You Know? UC Tampa is preparing to launch multiple social networking initiatives in July! Sign up early and be the first to get our most up-to-date news, rumors and articles. Three great options are currently under construction:

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

UC TAMPA MAGAZINE May/June 2009 Edition

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

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

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

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

GREEN&EARTH
Home Detox

FOOD&DRINK
Downtown's The Tampa Club

PEOPLE&PLACES
Working Out At The Gem

ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT
The Fave 5ive

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

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

The world has lost its Style

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

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

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

My condolences to his family and friends.

New Heights Magazine - Mar/Apr 2009 Edition

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

Just Released!

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

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

Kids at Play Cover Photo Contest

Health & Wellness: Biking for the Rest of Us

Home & Family: España en Tampa

Neighborhood Spotlight: Tampa Twilight Criterium & Festival

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

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

Green & Earth: Free Rain

Arts & Events: The Fave 5ive

News & Rumors: Hear it through the Grapevine.

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

Seminole Heights Foundation, Inc.

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

Seminole Heights Foundation, Inc.

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

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

(501(c)3 applied for)

Two Female Dogs Need Home

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

Not my normal post -- but on request:

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

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

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

Contact: Katherine at:
kjmorris74@yahoo.com

Thanks for your help spreading the word. Please read their story below.
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This family has lost their home and the apartment does not allow dogs.They are looking for a home for the two Labs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

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

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

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

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

Digital Billboards...who needs street lights!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

New Heights Magazine - Jan/Feb 2009 Edition

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

Just Released!

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

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

Health & Wellness: Posed for Greatness

Home & Family: A Gothic Tampa Romance

Neighborhood Spotlight: Downtown Tampa

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

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

Green & Earth: Revelations in Insulation

Arts & Events: Gasparilla Festival of Arts

News & Rumors: Hear it through the Grapevine.

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

NEW YEARS EVE SERVICE

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

Seminole Heights new all inclusive chruch

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

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

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

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

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

Saturday 12/6 - Outdoor Movie & Family Bike Ride

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

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

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

SPECIAL EDITION: 2009 Guide to the Urban Corridor
Mid-Nov '08/Mid-Jan '09 • Vol. 1, Edt. 6
See this newsletter online at: www.newheightsmag.com/newsletter
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NEIGHBORHOOD SECRETS
In this SPECIAL EDITION, New Heights uncovers your neighborhood's secrets - its many, one-of-a-kind retail shops, restaurants and art venues that you've been missing out on. (Complete with news and rumors of what's to come in '09!)

We then answer the question, "What is the Urban Corridor?", and take a look back at NH's first year accomplishments.
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FOOD & DRINK
They're fresh, they're convenient and they're close. Join NH as we check out the UC's truly "Super" Markets.

Afterwards, enjoy a new dining experience while feeding your local economy; when you try one of the many independent restaurants listed in our Buyer's Guide.
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ARTS & EVENTS
Internationally known gallerist, Erika Schneider of Tampa Heights' Bleu Acier, examines Tampa’s Art Scene.

Then NH shows you how to explore the local art community and find out what's happening in your neighborhood.
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UC BUYER'S GUIDE
Prepare to get your (local) shop on with this issue of NH - just in time for the holidays and the New Year. You'll discover over a hundred reasons why not to make the trip to the giant malls and "-marts" of the suburbs.
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NEWS & RUMORS
Is it Real or Rumor? From the Newsline to the Grapevine, New Heights goes myth-busting to bring you the latest scoop!

In this Issue: NH lists more than 60 rumors and news clips about what's happening near you.
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Newsletter sponsored by:* Rover Done Over Mobile Pet Grooming * Grafx Design * SunBiz Solar * Greener Pixels Print Media Design
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Urban Corridor = Seminole Heights, Downtown Tampa, Hyde Park, Channel District, West Tampa, Riverside Heights, Ybor City, Ybor Heights, Davis Islands, Tampa Heights, The Heights, VM Ybor & surrounding areas.

The Death of Cranky Conservatism

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Moderates arise and cast off your shackles!

Sanity returns to the County

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

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

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

Greater Seminole Heights Vision Plan--Oct 29th

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

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

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

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

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

King of the Hill...a Commentary

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rick Fifer

OSHNA Great Tree Giveaway

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

Posted at the request of Greg Barnhill

Neighbors, Nature and Natural HistoryGrowing Together

Dear Members,

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

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

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

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

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

New Myspace Page - Please check this out

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

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

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

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

Challenging the TECO Rate Increase

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sincerely,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

New Heights | mid-Sept/mid-Nov 2008

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Urban Puzzle

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

(Illustration/Christophe Vorlet Graphic)

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

The "Vote" Postcard

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

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

OSHNA Board,

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

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

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

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

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

Christie Hess

Candidate Forum (OSHNA Candidates)

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

Dinner with a side of Politics

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

Number Please

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

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

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

editor@newheightsmag.com or 813-389-8116

Thanks!

Join Us for a Celebration as New Heights turns 1!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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