Professional Documents
Culture Documents
A
POTLUCK s the days become cooler and you find
An Informal Opportunity yourself heading outside more and more to
to Enjoy Good Food and the relax, entertain, dine – or all three – make
Company of Neighbors and the most of the season by thinking of your yard as
Friends, Both Old and New an extension of your home. Creating an outdoor liv-
Come to the third of this ing space is no longer just about increasing property
year’s Potluck Dinners in lieu values or impressing the occasional guest. It’s about
of the usual monthly ”busi- creating a warm, welcoming, nurturing place to come
ness-oriented” neighborhood home to -- a place that soothes the stress out of daily
meeting. The date is Monday, life and brings us closer to nature and spirit.
September 20th, at our regular One of my favorite things about The Old North-
gathering place, Westminster east neighborhood is that almost every home has a
Presbyterian Church at 126 space that can be transformed into an outdoor room.
11th Avenue NE. Whether a formal living and dining space, a tropical
continued on page 2 poolside retreat or small reading nook carved into a
sliver of available landscape, we have to remember
that decorating our home should not stop inside our
front door. That being said, here are a few steps to
plan a comfy and welcoming retreat that can fit any want to use the space. For outdoor dining? For
budget. entertaining a crowd? Are privacy and protec-
tion from sun or wind important or is your idea
Identify goals and make a “big picture” of paradise a roofless room that allows you to
plan stargaze at night?
Before you add a patio or deck or begin clearing
or shaping an existing landscape, determine how you continued on page 9
1
Jan Magray, Youth Music The
In this issue
Historic Landmarks
JOIN OUR COMMITTEES The Ridgely Residence, located at 600 Beach Drive NE, will be
Interested in working on publicity for the Association? the first of our neighborhood’s local landmarks to display a beauti-
ful bronze plaque in honor of its architecture and contributions to
Getting involved in upcoming special events like the the history of St. Petersburg. To promote an appreciation of these
Easter Egg Hunt or the 4th of July Children’s Parade? exceptional homes, the Neighborhood Association is making the
Contact Mary Alice Lange at president@honna.org . plaques available at no cost to the owners. Congratulations to
Bruce and Mary Sadler for having the first historic home in The
Old Northeast to be recognized in this special way.
Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association
OFFICERS and BOARD Crime & Safety Committee
President: Mary Alice Lange 251-2034 Jay Marshall, Chair
Vice President: Maureen Stafford — Happy anniversary! Your Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood
Secretary: Larry Smith — Crime Watch Program celebrates its first anniversary. Through the
Treasurer: Douglas Haan, 488-5514 leadership of Maureen Stafford and the HONNA Board of Directors,
Directors: and the hard work of Ron Magray, all whom gave shape to the pro-
Paul Boudreaux — gram, our Crime Watch effort is recognized throughout the City as a
Rick Carson 898-7834 Bob Hunter 898-7987 model. In fact, we have been asked to sponsor next year National Night
Rick Kantner — Robin Reed 825-0480 Out (NNO) for Police District Two, which covers over 40 separate
Mark Lawson 365-3155 Barbara Marshall 385-4746
neighborhoods. NNO is to honor residents who take an active role in
Crime Watch and to recognize our partnership with law enforcement
Ron Magray 502-9065 Jay Marshall —
to make our community a safer place to live, work and play. For our
To contact an officer or Board member via e-mail, go to www. neighborhood to be selected is one of the highest compliments.
honna.org/board-and-committees.html where you can click on This is a good time to let you know what accomplishments we
the name of the person you wish to contact and send him/her a have achieved and where we want to be when we celebrate or
message. second anniversary. First, we need to recognize that The Historic
Old Northeast neighborhood geographic area is huge, running from
HONNA Board meetings are held the second Monday of each
month at 6:30pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church and are
5th Avenue to 30th Avenue N and from 4th Street N to North Shore
open to the public. Check beforehand with the Board president in Drive/Coffee Pot Boulevard. Our community can be reached by
case the meeting day has been re-scheduled. anyone at any time using street ways and alleys, totaling over 135
access points.
Page 4 Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood News
Sundial Planned as Memorial to Waterfront Parks Centennial Year
by Sydni Ann Shollenberger, Public Relations Consulting
A
s a memorial to the Waterfront Parks Centennial in 2010, sculptor Eric Higgs -- whose monumental sculptures have been
installed and his works exhibited around the world, from France to Japan and from California to Florida -- has designed a
one-of-a-kind stone sculpture, a human-scale sundial.
Robin Reed, who lives near the site where the Waterfront Parks Centennial Sundial will be placed, researched the history of ear-
lier sundials at “Vista Point” in North Shore Park, where Tampa Bay and Coffee Pot Bayou meet. She approached Higgs, who was
inspired by the possibilities of creating a lasting monument to the Waterfront Parks Centennial year.
Eric is contributing the design and his installation expertise to the project, and the City of St. Petersburg will provide both the in-
frastructure and landscaping when the sundial is installed next to the Pinellas Trail at Vista Point this fall. The dedication is planned
for Saturday, November 6th, during the 100th all-day birthday party, taking place in all 12 of the downtown waterfront parks. HONNA
was the first donor, setting aside $1,000 toward the project. The Old Northeast Garden Club and its members contributed almost as
much, and additional donations have since been received.
Save the date and join the fun – November 6th -- Party in the Parks!
[The “Neighborhood Times” section of the 8/15 St. Petersburg Times ran an article by Sandra Gadsden, Assistant Metro Editor/
Community News, “Time for an artistic sundial.” The piece gave some history about plans for the sundial sculpture to be erected near
the North Shore Drive-Coffee Pot Boulevard curve in the road. Old NE resident and sculptor Eric Higgs was approached by HONNA
Historical Preservation chair Robin Reed about creating something special for this spot, and since a sundial was once located here the
idea developed to create a “human” sundial. There will be a semi-circle of markers in the ground marking each hour, and when someone
stands in front of the half- Vista Point Sundial proposal
circle facing north a shadow draft; design by Eric Higgs
will fall upon the appropri- copyright 2010
ate hour marker. The cost
of the project is estimated
to be about $17,000 and
valued at $35,000 with Eric
donating his time “as a gift
to the neighborhood.” To
be known as Vista Point,
it’s scheduled to be finished
along with the North Shore
Trail with a target date of
November 6th.]
See related article page
26.
Judi Reed has been absolutely superb managing our Citizens on would like to have your own
Patrol (COP) component. Through her diligence, we have trained sign, all you have to do is
over 40 individuals through the St. Petersburg Police Department go to the HONNA website
to patrol our neighborhood and have deployed vehicle, biking (www.honna.org/contact-
and walking patrols. Most of you recognize these folks by their us) and let us know.
distinctive markings and lights, going out all times of the day, to If you see someone who
report suspicious activities. We have made a great start by actively is acting suspiciously, call
engaging these residents who take great pride in their community the police at 727/893-7780
and its safety. We have 11 vehicle patrols and three walking patrols. and report. If you can, please
Not a bad start. To all of you, a big thanks for your community go to the HONNA website
services. But, we need more residents to patrol! (www.honna.org/crime-
The biggest assets we have to prevent crime are your “eyes and watch) and let us know so
ears,” telephone and e-mail. Complementing our COP component we can alert your neighbors
are ways to encourage all residents to notice and report suspicious about the suspicious activ-
activities and make visible signs throughout the area that we do ity through e-mail blasts. It
just that. The City has placed four “Neighborhood Watch” signs at will only take a few minutes
strategic locations around the perimeter of the neighborhood and and will be well worth your
more are expected. However, we have taken this one step further. time to keep someone from
Everyone is encouraged to consider posting your own Crime Watch burglarizing a residence,
sign on your own property. Many are already out there, but if you stealing property or robbing
Citizens on Patrol
by Judi Reed
O
ne of The Old Northeast Crime Watch patrollers the other evening said that we “Need to take back the neighborhood,”
and it made me reflect on how our neighborhood has changed throughout the years regarding neighborhood crime. Were
they right or was I forgetting how it was here 20 years ago?
Of course, for 14 of those 20 years I only lived here on weekends, having a career that sent me somewhere every week and most of the
time I didn’t know until the last minute where I was headed. However, I don’t remember people breaking into homes or cars at the rate
they do now or having so many panhandlers and vagrants. And there wasn’t a need or thought for having a Crime Watch program.
Times have changed though, and I’m home most days now and somewhat settled into a more “normal” lifestyle. And I guess the
other world has changed as well. Now I find myself in my spare time volunteering to run The Old Northeast neighborhood Citizens
on Patrol. We are a group of volunteers who care enough about our community to give our time to patrol. Our mission is to work
with the St Petersburg Police Department and our neighbors to help keep our community free of crime.
We’re not out there patrolling to capture or corral anyone -- we’re out there to report any suspicious criminal activity, to report street
lights not working or malfunctioning or to report egregious code violations that would facilitate crime in our community. Volunteers
drive cars, ride bikes and scooters and walk throughout our neighborhood. We have certain
areas we’re assigned, usually our own backyard areas we reside in, but we’re not restricted
such that we can’t help out or go elsewhere.
The people who volunteer are only asked to give one hour a week or whatever they can
spare. The training is condensed into one evening and it teaches you not only how to look
out for potential problems but provides information that you can use on how to look out for
your own family and residence.
Volunteers come from many different professions and many different parts of the country
or world. Some are retired and some are still working at two jobs. For instance, there is a
retired Air Force fighter pilot and his wife, a surgeon, someone who’s worked all over the
Middle East for the oil companies, another who works for a ministry, a person running a
limo service in another state, government contractors, Realtors and many others from vari-
ous professions. They are all different and interesting but what they all have in common is
an interest and desire to make The Old Northeast the wonderful and safe community that it
should be and was meant to be.
So please join with us in any way you can and help “take back our neighborhood.” Make
The Historic Old Northeast not only beautiful but a safe place for our families, our friends,
our neighbors and our loved ones (the furry ones, too). If you can donate just a little of your
time to make things safer, we’d love for you to join us. We encourage dog and cat walkers
to take part. Turn your morning or evening stroll into a little something different. It’s all for
a wonderful cause, and it could be for your own as well. To volunteer or for more informa-
tion, e-mail jaymarshall@honna.org.
Judi with Officer Gabe Lopez Thank you all, and stay safe!
T
Address_______________________________________ Zip____________
he Historic Old Northeast
Neighborhood Associa- Home Phone:_______________ Office Phone:_________________
tion has joined the social
networking world to enable us to Cell Phone:_________________ E-mail:_______________________
better interact with our members
and residents. Come join us on Emergency Contact Person______________________________________
Facebook at www.facebook.com/ Contact’s Phone #_________________________________
honnaorg. Several pages have
been created for various other HONNA Member: Yes____ No____
“Old Northeast”s so watch for the
HONNA logo. This is a great way to Would like more info on membership Yes___ No___
exchange information and discuss
topics concerning our neighbor- Signed:_ ________________________________________
hood. HONNA, PO Box 76324, St. Petersburg, FL 33734
Look for Us on Facebook!
New
Members
Laurence & Emily Fasan..........................19th Avenue NE
Jonathan Coleman, Rick Kerby.......... Andalusia Way NE
Amy Robison & Doug Robison................13th Avenue NE
Susan & Mark McGarry............................23rd Avenue NE
J. Warren Alessi & Linda Reifler-Alessi.......13th Avenue NE
Pat Byars........................................North Shore Drive NE
Brooke &Todd Himot...............................12th Avenue NE
Anne McDaniel.........................................14th Avenue NE
John & Rebecca Barie....................................1st Street NE
Cara & Wade Cooper.................................. 29th Avenue N
Pulling the Weeds of Worry Worry in itself is an action often accompanied by other behav-
iors such as yelling, loss of sleep, forgetfulness and irritability.
For some reason, the song “War” by Edwinn Starr comes into While it seems like we should be able to simply change these
my head whenever I find myself worrying too much. Replace the behaviors with a little discipline, again we need to look deeper
word “war” with “worry” and you’ve got yourself a hit. “Worry – to have any sort of effect. In many ways, our behaviors are just
what is it good for? Absolutely Nothing!” outward expressions of what we are experiencing on the inside.
Call 727-743-5543
Mary-Beth Wagner B. S. Horticulture, Owner Advanced Art of Gardening.com
Clothes to Kids... This organi- might decide to take a preemptory lunge without any pre-sniffing
zation is critically short of school niceties. Best to be able to keep Fido under control at all times
uniforms. Twenty-three Pinellas (for Fido’s safety and your peace-of-mind). Sure, the open spaces
County schools now require their of North Shore or Crescent Lake parks are tempting but that’s why
student bodies to wear uniforms. we have convenient dog parks at both these locations.
A large majority of these children Museum of Fine Arts dates... Some upcoming dates to re-
cannot afford a single uniform! member at the Museum of Fine Arts. Exhibitions: A Passion for
For Clothes to Kids to properly Photography: Selections from the Carol A. Upham Donation
help these needy children, they and Changing Identities: The Len Prince Photographs of Jessie
will need many uniform donations Mann (through September 26th); A Decade of Collecting for the
as well as cash to purchase uni- Community (began July 31st); Transcending Vision: American
form pants and polo shirts. Their Impressionism 1870-1940 (provided by Bank of America Art in
current supply is critically low. our Communities program) August 28th-January 9th, 2011. During
The mission of Clothes to Kids is to provide clothing free of September there are programs like “Coffee Talks,” “Discovery
charge to low-income school-age children in Pinellas County. Hour,” “Encore,” “World of Imagination Storytelling,” “Friends
They appreciate donations of new and gently used clothing, shoes of Photography” and the “Arts Alive Free Museum Day” on Sep-
and school uniforms for school age children from kindergarten tember 25th. Go to www.fine-arts.org for details.
through 12th grade. This is a year-round program, and they are Rhode in the news... Old NE resident and architect Tim Rhode
always in need of clothing and shoes. All donations, clothing was the “resident expert” in a feature series on older homes called
and cash can be dropped off from 9am to 5pm Monday-Friday “Attention to Details” which ran in the St. Petersburg Times over
at the Clearwater (1059 N. Hercules Avenue) or St. Pete (3251 a period of four weeks in July’s Saturday “HomeLink” section.
3rd Avenue N Suite 145) store locations. For more information, His articles, complete with explanatory photographs, were on the
contact Lynne McCaskill at 461-3645 or visit the website at www. topics of columns and entries, windows, brackets and overhangs
clothestokids.org. and gables. Check out his website at www.trhode.com.
Our own “newswatcher”... Neighbor Linda Dobbs has Westminster makeover... The soon-to-open Westminster Palms
become a “news watcher” for the St. Petersburg Times’ new (as Palm View is looking good after its major makeover. New parking
of June) daily online newspaper. Her “beat” areas have been paved and fresh land-
is our neighborhood, a place she knows well scaping is in place. This continuing care
from her years contributing articles to this Over The Back Fence is a
retirement community, which now en-
newsletter and the Northeast Journal. Got a compasses the better part of two blocks,
lead on a story? Anything about a neighbor-
hood business, people or anything of interest
Soapbox... has opportunities for volunteers. If that’s
something that interests you, contact
to us locals? Contact Linda at linda_dobbs@ Step on up Anne Osborne, Director of Volunteers,
yahoo.com. and at 894-2102 x251.
Fundraiser for Tampa Bay Watch... We’ve “Speak Up, Speak Now”... Neighbor
heard that Energize Tampa Bay is holding an let’s hear Tracey Locke, who was featured in the
all-day fundraiser on Saturday, September 25th, from you inaugural feature “The Power of 1” in
at the Push Ultra Lounge (128 3rd Street S). the June issue of this newsletter for her
For a minimum donation of $10 ($5 for kids) work creating the Paris Project, was in
you can participate in yoga and fitness classes e-mail: nsnaeditor@aol.com
the spotlight recently for the “Speak Up,
geared to all ages and skill levels. Contribu- Speak Now” project at the Florida Holo-
tions will go to Tampa Bay Watch, the non- caust Museum. The eight-week summer project, whose objective
profit stewardship program dedicated exclusively to the protection is to get middle school students to understand the importance of
and restoration of the marine and wetland environments of the civic responsibility and not tolerating intolerance, was written up
Tampa Bay estuary through scientific and educational programs. in an August 4th St. Petersburg Times article, “Youths Urged to
So be part of Tampa Bay’s health and wellness community’s ef- Speak Up.” As a museum volunteer, Tracey wanted to create a
forts to positively impact an important local need. For more info, program that tied in the museum’s message with the realities of
go to www.energizetampabay.com. our local community today. A students’ art exhibit is on display at
Dog walking Ps and Qs... If you’re one to walk your dog off the museum (55 5th Street S) through October 10th. For more info,
leash, be reminded that the City has a leash law. Your sweet Fido go to www.speakupspeaknow.org.
may be an angel, but that approaching mutt may not be. Or Fido
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McKee Botanical Garden, Inc. is a private, not-for-profit cultural organization located at the southern
gateway to Vero Beach, Florida, with the mission of “nurturing and enhancing a historic garden in a
unique tropical setting for the education, enjoyment and enrichment of all.”
The garden is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a historic Florida landmark. It
has been endorsed by The Garden Conservancy as a project of National Significance and received the
Florida Trust’s “Outstanding Achievement in Landscape Architecture” in 2002.
McKee Botanical Garden is known for its 18-acre subtropical jungle hammock, filled with plants
appropriate for horticultural growing zone 9B. This dense and diverse collection also features several
restored architectural treasures.
Your PAID REGISTRATION holds your spot.
REGISTER by calling Sunken Gardens at 727-551-3102 to reserve your space
via credit card or stop by the Gardens during business hours to register with the
cashiers. First come, first served.
DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION IS OCTOBER 12TH!
MUST HAVE a minimum of 35 participants in order for trip to go.
Are you one of those people who goes about your day-to-
day life noticing things happening around you (or not hap-
pening) in the neighborhood and our City and you wonder
why (or why not) but never get around to discovering the
answer? We’ve decided to ask one of our neighbors, Sue
Strott, who’s lived in The Old Northeast almost forever, to
track down the explanations for some of those puzzling
questions which bug, bedevil and frustrate us.
So here’s a start with some of those nagging, niggling
WHYs? and WHAT’s?. Let us know if you have a particular
issue or query you’d like The Answer Lady to check out
and we’ll see what she can learn. Like FiOS... will we ever
“hear them now”? Contact The Answer Lady at nsnaedi-
tor@aol.com.
Watering After a Rain Compliance for the City, to determine a height limitation of
Most residents are aware of the request that we change our grasses and foliage.
sprinkler timers after a substantial rain to conserve water. But, Mr. Bush said that the height limitation is 10”, which is stipu-
some of us have wondered why the City tanker trucks and some lated by a City ordinance. Anyone can report a violation to the City
other contracted company tanker trucks water City property after main codes at 893-7373. By the next business day, that property
a rain. will be cited and noted that the overgrown foliage must be cut by
Kathy Markiewicz, Parks Operations Foreman, explained that a specific date. If this is not complied with, the City Sanitation
all the water they use is reclaimed water (recycled). However, Department will do the cutting and a special assessment lien will
her department is very aware of the weather and the depth of be placed on the property, where it will remain until paid or when
that rain all across town. Sometimes it will rain in The Old the property is sold.
Northeast and hardly rain at all in the northwest part of the City Yard Signs
or elsewhere. In case you’re wondering who has been removing your yard
Ms. Markiewicz pointed out that if plantings are new, the signs or notices from the curbside or on posts, the City employs a
regulation for the material is to water every day for 30 days, person to remove and dispose of them. The City has an ordinance
every other day for 90 and then once a week for the pre- against advertisements anywhere they are not permitted. As the
scribed establishment period. She said that some new trees political campaign season gears up, remember that yard signs (of
are 100 gallon users, and even in a downpour enough water any sort) may not be erected on the parkway – which is that area
may not be realized. So they are being good watchmen and between the curb and the sidewalk.
watchwomen Bob Turner of the City says that “For Rent” or “For Sale” signs
Overgrown Property are allowed on the property affected but they may not be placed
As many rental properties in the neighborhood are run by absen- within “an arm’s reach of the street,” which is about three-four feet
tee landlords and many residents are considered snowbirds during from a roadway. Mr. Turner may be reached at 893-7394.
this summer Fire Hydrant Flushing
season -- as F r o m “ Yo u r L e t t e r s ” i n t h e 8 / 1 5 e d i t i o n o f t h e
well as the “Neighborhood Times” section of the St. Petersburg Times; a letter
fact that some from William R. (Bill) Buckholder of south St. Petersburg: “Have
properties are you noticed the water gushing from fire hydrants almost daily for
in foreclo- several weeks…I see literally thousands of gallons dumped out
sure – many of hydrants and draining into the bay….Water is flushed from
of these prop- the hydrants to clean out the system because the water may not
erties may be be safe. Thousands of gallons of this ‘unsafe’ drinking water go
overgrown into the bay. An employee is paid to sit and watch it flow out…It
with grass would seem that (1) the water being flushed could be made more
and weeds. pure in the first place, (2) it could be put back in the system and
We checked purified again, or (3) pumped into the trucks used to water city
with Gary landscaping. This all becomes a disincentive to be frugal in our
Bush, Direc- water usage.”
tor of Codes Why do we seem to still be “wasting water” by flushing fire
Page 18 Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood News
hydrants when everyone is so water conscious are also checked for maintenance and to pursue other solutions. For further in-
and conservative lately? are purged of older water at that time. formation or to suggest other ideas, you
City residents use approximately 24 million Because we do this and even paint the may contact Mr. Kinard at 892-5105.
gallons of water a day, but the pipes through hydrants for visibility regularly, we Sue was born in Chicago and lived
which the water flows were built for three times maintain a Class A fire rating with insur- in Canada before moving to The Old
that amount. (During the ‘50s and ‘60s large pipes ance companies. NE in 1973 where she continues to run
were installed on our South Side, presuming such Mr. Kinard stated that the City is an apartment rental business. She lives
a need for potable water to be used for drinking, “keenly aware of the issue” and of all of with her dog, Foxy Lady, and is one of
irrigation and fire protection; however, the area the ideas yet put forth and will continue those people who enjoys being busy!
did not grow as anticipated.)
Without flushing, St. Petersburg officials say
that residents would run the risk of poor water
quality, as the water can stagnate in these large
pipes which would allow bacteria to grow.
Pressure Washing
We here in St. Pete and six other governments
purchase our water from Tampa Bay Water, and Drywall Installations
they have been adding chloramine since 2002 Residential/Commercial
to purify the water. This chloramine is weaker
than regular chlorine and therefore becomes less Interior/Exterior Painting
potent in less time. The flushing from the source General Renovations
through to the South Side allows it to remain at Free Estimates
its specified potency. This is why we see more
flushing at that end of town.
The City flushes about 30 million gallons a
month to keep it safe. The thought of capturing
it as it is flushed has been discussed and debated
. .
PHONE: 727 823 8020 EMAIL: FLACMS@YAHOO.COM
for a long time. In speaking to City Supervisor
Jim Kinard, he noted that it would take maybe September/ october/ november Special
15 minutes to fill a tanker truck and a whole fleet MAR/APRIL/MAY SPECIAL:
would have to be standing by. It is also not fea-
sible to direct the water to nearby lawns due to “Exterior Facelift”
the quantity and pressure.
The thought that the flushed water could be Up to 2500 sq ft, minor repairs and 3 colors
funneled to the storm drain system, which in turn
would get treated and recycled, is a theory on $1795.00
which the City has been working for some time.
Unfortunately, in our economy, some of the costs
to ensure that the water trail hits its mark might
be prohibitive for now.
Mr. Kinard mentioned that we must comply
with fire codes, as well, and that all hydrants must
be flushed for one minute annually. The hydrants
credit: www.electrichouse.com
Invited
way to mix and mingle with your neighbors. Bring your
own beverage. Cups, ice and light snacks are provided.
Ask a neighbor to ride or walk over
with you. For more info, contact Larry
Smith, smithlb@earthlink.net.
September 17
Bob and Linda Dobbs
2296 Coffee Pot Boulevard
October 15
Steve Deal and Frank Hay
Annual Halloween Rehearsal
and Costume Tryout
315 8th Avenue NE
November 19
Mark and Susan Williams
635 15th Avenue NE
727-896-5165
111 2nd Avenue NE, Suite 102, St. Petersburg FL 33701
The Hood
Check the HONNA website – www.honna.
AÊGREENERÊCLEANER
CLEANSÊBETTER,ÊDRIESÊFASTER
STAYSÊCLEANERÊLONGER,ÊANDÊSMELLSÊGREAT!!
org -- for updated details about the annual 727-612-7444
house decorating contest, special block info@citrusolutionfla.com
Julie Maguire Citrus Solutions of St. Petersburg
extravaganzas and other ghastly plans for www.citrusolutionfla.com
Halloween Central in The Old Northeast…
the place to be for Halloween festivities.
a r e h o l ding a
yo u u r w ork!
o f o
sample
Newsletters ~ Brochures ~ Flyers ~ Manuals
Reports ~ Forms ~ Church Bulletins ~ Folders
Saddlestitch Booklets ~ Post Cards
Business Cards ~ Envelopes ~ Letterheads
Digital and Offset Printing
Flyers
ms
Lightning Print
Phone: 727-321-0785
ers
Email: ipublish@tampabay.rr.com
3063 - Lown St. N. • St. Petersburg, FL 33713
pes
ds
A
and despite our best efforts became food for either a feral cat
recent gardening article in the St. Petersburg Times or the hawk. The next year there was a repeat of this scenario
reported, “The Live Oak…, if properly cared for, could and our efforts worked for a few days. We watched the parents
be enjoyed by your baby’s grandchildren and great swoop down and feed the little jay and we put the baby jay
grandchildren.” This statement reflects the ages of two Live Oaks into a cat carrier every night. Again, the youngster disappeared
which flank our 1910 cottage and were probably planted when into a predator’s mouth. The parents must have learned to
the house was built. The oaks stand as giant guardians, one to the make a better nest because there have been no more premature
east, one to the west -- offering shade, the mysterious-appearing fledglings hiding in the grass under the oak. Geckos scurry
Spanish moss, limbs to climb and hanger access for dripping plant around the trunk
garlands. Bromeliads are bountiful in the oak to the east. For and branches,
our 6th Avenue NE animal kingdom, the trees offer protection which delight
and a playground. Also, according to the Times, Live Oaks children who at-
can spread their branches as much as 120 feet and can grow tempt to catch
as tall as 80 feet high. They have deep roots, are hurricane them. The Live
resistant and thrive in this climate, through winter despair Oaks make for
and summer fever. natural zoos with
Our Live Oaks (Quercus virginianas) have provided us with disparate inhabit-
more nature entertainment than many a NatGeo program. The ants.
oaks have hosted circus squirrels, an acrobatic mother opos- The Mourn-
sum and her babies, nests of inexperienced Blue Jay parents, ing Doves tee-
nervous Mourning Doves, pigeons and people. They also offer ter along the oak
hiding places for smaller bird species as hungry hawks peruse branches with
overhead and sometimes land to have a better view of possible their chicken-
meals. For a few hours one winter afternoon, a Sharp-shinned like dance steps.
hawk alighted on a branch and ate his catch while staring in More doves
at my husband who was working at his desk. appear and it
Squirrels deftly chase one another up and down, and jump seems as though
from tree limb to tree limb along the spreading branches as a meeting is be-
though the oak was a mere walking trail. Why none of the ing held as they
squirrels has hit the ground during their agile races is a testa- teeter back and
ment to their athletic abilities. We have yet to see a squirrel forth together.
hanging on for dear life nor have we found one lying on the Their soft “coo”
Page 22 Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood News
sounds can be very haunting through
an open window. Sadly, the number
of Mourning Doves declines when the
hawk appears.
The green spaces between the side-
walks and the streets and avenues in The
Old Northeast belong to the City but
it is up to the homeowner to maintain
and be responsible for those spaces. A
neighbor reported that the majestic Live
Oak, which inhabits our western green
space, sported a child’s swing while we
were away on vacation. I called the City
and spoke to an official who assured
me that even though the City owns the
green space no one can infringe upon
the adjacent homeowner’s shrubs, trees
or plantings within that space. There is
also a liability issue because any child
in a swing that close in proximity to a
street or sidewalk could tumble out and
be severely injured. The tree remains
a safe and mighty hanger of Spanish
moss only.
Our eastern Live Oak shades our terrace Jill and Ed McGrath (who grew up together in the Hudson River
area and hosts orchids and trumpet vines. An extraordinary num- Valley of New York) are restoring a 1910 cottage on the corner
ber of flowering bromeliads live within the towering branches, of Bay Street and 6th Avenue NE. This is Jill’s fifth (Ed’s third)
a veritable garden in the sky. The pleasure which our two Live complete house restoration project and they have promised each
Oaks give us is just another example of why we love living in other that it will be their last.
The Historic Old Northeast.
S
eeing the large populist “green” movement penetrating story. But is there a beginning, too? Maybe to a debate on how to
at so many levels is quite a welcome coming of age. I insure the environmental and personal long term impacts are fully
recently attended three national professional conferences provided for, and finally resolve historic issues and politics that
and at least 80% of the content focused on sustainable and low brought us to this point, maybe like 40 years ago.
impact architecture, conservation, alternative energy, revolution- To help stir the inquisitive and weekend tree-huggers with facts,
ary products and reducing the toxicity of our environment -- very parallels and events hidden by time, some historic green facts and
positive stuff. timelines.
This is almost deja vu from a brief Early 20th century: The conserva-
period in the late 1970s when archi- tionist movement is with a great vision
tecture schools and the profession to protect and preserve nature from the
focused on energy performance, solar pressures of the coming industrial era.
power, experimental materials and Late 1950s: Under President Eisen-
ecologically balanced buildings long hower, the first presidential white pa-
before green was “green.” Then the pers indicating our need for new energy
oil embargo ended, gas lines were sources were developed.
forgotten, OPEC’s cheap oil surged 1959 The Food & Drug Admin-
and the environmental movement istration finally gets some teeth: An
withered and lost till we reached the amendment to the law is passed stating
millennium. “No additive shall be deemed safe if it
As an old school environmentalist is found to induce cancer when ingested
and tree hugger, I celebrate Earth Day by man or animal.”
every year, except this year with great 1962 Rachel Carson: Her book
irony. The Deepwater Horizon sank Silent Spring focuses the public’s atten-
in the Gulf on April 22nd with some tion on the unregulated and unbridled
ghostly symmetry: 41 years ago, a misconducts of the chemical industry.
rupture on an off-shore rig blackened 1969: Gas was 35 cents a gallon
California’s Channel Islands and the and the environmental movement was
beaches of Santa Cruz and Santa ignited with the Santa Barbara coastline
Barbara. It ignited the public’s ire and a fierce public backlash to spill mentioned above.
what was (then) unimaginable destruction and became the catalyst
1970, April 22: Earth Day is born with “teach-ins” to inform
for the first “Earth Day” in 1970. A mere 2 million gallons spilled
our nation about the consequences of human’s impact on the global
over 12 short days, it was truly a leak compared to the Deepwater
ecosystem.
Horizon’s 2.23 million gallons a day for over 85 days. Think about
it: less than a day of Gulf oil = Earth Day. 1969-1974: While Roosevelt is the father of Conservation,
Richard Nixon is arguably the Father of Environmentalism. He
Over 5 million barrels -- 210 million gallons -- flowed into the
delivered progressive and historic landmark regulations and laws:
Gulf. That one Exxon Valdez (270,000 barrels, 11 million gallons
Page 24 Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood News
the Endangered Species Act lessons learned or not?
was passed, the Environmen- We can’t view all indus-
tal Protection Agency (EPA) trial giants as the same --
was born, car mileage stan- some are vanguards and
dards were mandated, lead others are the ogres (sorry
was eliminated from our gas Shrek) and no two events
and the Clean Air Act, Clean are the same. What is left
Water and Energy Star were is the wisdom from his-
implemented. tory to not re-learn some-
1976 Love Canal: Highly thing you don’t want to
toxic material was buried in learn in the first place.
an abandoned canal for two Deepwater Horizon
decades; 40 years later 21 can never be un-done.
tons of degraded barrels had slowly leached The oil may be of sight, but not out of
toxins into groundwater, flooded basements, our lives. The spill is a legacy, it is un-
puddles and seeped into pools. Significant precedented and we can’t understand or
cancer cluster popped up in surrounding predict the consequences of the oil and
communities that pointed to a gross neglect the dispersants on how the sea life or the
and cover-up and led to the Superfund Act. greater eco-system that we are part of will
1979 Ixtoc 1: A blowout preventer failed react. We need vigilance.
on an exploratory well in Mexico’s Bay of I think our society is at a “moment.”
Campeche for 290 days, totaling around We are being confronted with many
3.3 million barrels of oil dumped into Gulf. conflicting priorities and choices, and
This was the largest ocean spill prior to some mind-numbing realities. How we
Deepwater. act, what we support, who we elect, what
1984, December 3: The world’s worst we trust in will all matter in how we will
industrial catastrophe occurred in Bhopal, look back on this day. Be inquisitive, be
India, at a Union Carbide pesticide plant informed, be well.
producing methyl isocyanate (MIC). Ne- Time to head back to the tree house.
glected equipment, failed control systems, Peace!
inadequate maintenance and training, short cutting, higher profits
and disregard for the safety of workers or the public lead to a chain
reaction that leaked 41 tons of MIC. It flowed from the plant down- Michael Panet-
slope over surrounding slums in the middle of the night and 3,000 ta moved to The Old
people were killed instantly. Conservatively, 8,000 died within the Northeast In 1998 and is
first weeks, another 8,000 since. president of his architec-
tural practice, Panetta
1989 Exxon Valdez spill: Exxon vigorously fought require- + Associates, Inc. For
ments for double shell hulls on ocean going oil tankers because additional information,
“it’s too expensive to build a boat within a boat” and “the cost of comments or fact checks
mitigating a small potential risk will unfairly burden business and he can be contacted at
consumers with higher cost.” The Valdez then ran aground in Prince GreenInfo@PanettaAs-
William Sound, fouling 1,100 miles of Alaska’s coastline. In 1989, sociates.com.
Exxon executives promised to take care of everyone affected by
the spill. $5 billion in punitive damages was originally awarded
in 1994 to fishermen, Alaska natives, business owners. Exxon
launched a series of appeals and in 2006 a jury agreed to cut the
settlement in half. Finally, 20 years later, in June 2009, the Supreme
Court ruled for a fraction of the initial settlement -- $507.5 million
amounting to about $400,000 per litigant. The whole cleanup cost
Exxon $2.5 billion. Looking back, Exxon never stepped up and
took responsibility for it’s action or consequences and it’s clear
that it’s only concern was the bottom line (a very comprehensive
memory of Valdez, www.blackwavethefilm.com).
2010 Now: Reports indicate a great deal of oil remains, pooling
on the sea floor. Blue Crab larvae were found to have ominous signs
that the crude has already infiltrated the Gulf’s vast food chain and
could affect it for years to come. The Ixtoc environment recovered
better then anyone expected, but there is no way to predict who
or how the oil will affect the delicate web of life in the gulf. We
are on chapter one.
Do events sound familiar/similar? Patterns emerge? Messages
in comparisons and parallels? Are there teachable moments from
Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood News Page 25
CELEBRATING THE WATERFRONT PARKS’ 100th BIRTHDAY
Even though it’s steamy mid-summer in St. Petersburg, there’s a lot of planning underway for cool projects and events this
fall celebrating the Waterfront Parks Centennial.
SUNDIAL TO MEASURE TIME FOR THE NEXT 100 YEARS
On the drawing boards for placement this fall is a one-of-a-kind stone sculpture, a sundial designed by sculptor Eric Higgs and
scheduled to be placed in North Shore Park as a lasting memorial to the Parks Centennial year. Higgs’ design includes educational
components and symbols of St. Petersburg’s history, from the coquina shells to be used in the concrete base to one element of
the sundial reflecting the city’s sister city in Japan.
The project affords an opportunity for neighborhood associations throughout the city to make a contribution to financing this
project for which artist Higgs is donating his design and installation expertise. [See related article page 5]
N
othing exudes the spirit of the holiday season more
than the annual Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood
Candlelight Tour of Homes. Taking place from 3-8pm
on Sunday, December 12th, this 13th annual yule-
tide tradition offers self-guided tours of some
of our historic neighborhood’s most charming
homes, all decked out in their holiday finery.
Celebrate the season by strolling the oak-
lined, brick streets of The Historic Old North-
east. Tickets will be $20 in advance and $25
on the day of the tour. Partial proceeds from
ticket sales support The Historic Old Northeast
Neighborhood Association, dedicated to the
preservation and enhancement of this
treasured community.
For more information on the
Candlelight Tour of Homes,
visit honna.org.
St. Petersburg
424 22nd Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33704
Seminole
7700 Seminole Blvd, Ste 200, Seminole, FL 33772 Ty Joslyn and Jackie Irby
(727) 393-1922 office • (727) 392-3266 fax Licensed Insurance Agents
Recurring Events
Monday
Celebrity Critter of the Week The Pier; 895-7437
Pilates Sunken Gardens; 551-3102
Jazz Jam for the Al Downing Tampa Bay Jazz Association
(1st Mon) Albert Whitted Terminal
Every Monday, Wednesday & Friday
StrollerFit/Baby Boot Camp, Sunken Gardens; 637-7913
Every Monday & Wednesday
Great ART Explorations, Great Explorations; 821-8992
Lunchtime Yoga Sunken Gardens; 551-3102
Every Tuesday & Wednesday
Hoop Dancing, Sunken Gardens 551-3102
Every Tuesday & Thursday
Muscle Bar Sculpture Women’s Fitness, Sunken Gardens;
637-7913
Awaken Yoga with Vandana, Sunken Gardens; 637-7913
Wednesday
Tea Dance (1st & 3rd Wed., Oct & Nov) Coliseum; 892-5202
Oldies but Goodies Dance (2nd & 4th Wed) The Pier;
821-6443
Every Wednesday & Friday
Lunchtime Yoga Sunken Gardens; 551-3102
Terrific Tots Great Explorations; 821-8992
Thursday
Movie and Music in the Park/Waterfront Centennial (Oct)
North Straub Park
Dali & Beyond Film Series (1st & 3rd Thurs) Dali Museum;
823-3767
Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood News Page 29
How Does Your Garden Grow?
Chocoholics can plant all kinds of “chocolate plants,” in-
cluding chocolate vine (Akebia quinata, “Silver Bell”’), sweet-
smelling chocolate columbine (Aquilegia viridiflora, “Chocolate
Soldier”), bronze and burgundy coral bells (Heuchera, “Choco-
Hip and late Ruffles”), exotic dark-leafed canna (Canna “Australia”),
black-colored daylily (Hemerocallis, “Ed Murray”), dark
Plants
the sweet smell of chocolate indoors and out, chocolate orchid
(Oncidium, “Sharry Baby”) is one of the easiest orchids to grow
and it blooms several times throughout the year.
The hands-down best plant for a block party is the night
blooming cereus (below), which is a gangly, twisting member
I
of the cactus family. It’s downright ugly every day of the year
t’s fun and rewarding to try new plants in the yard, but except for the one night when its fuzzy buds stretch and un-
forget the run-of-the-mill ones at the big box stores. This ravel, then open into ghostly white blossoms as big as saucers
fall, go all out with some totally hip and trendy plants and as fragrant as expensive perfume. There are two types: the
that will spice up your garden and impress your friends and cactus Queen of the Night (Selenicereus grandiflorus) and the
neighbors! Orchid Cactus (Epiphyllum oxypetalum), which is actually an
These plants are easy-to-grow and typically available at lo- air plant (epiphyte). Both are native to tropical rainforests and
cal garden centers (remember, if you don’t see them in stock, have similar nocturnal blossoms. Cereus blooming parties have
you can always ask the nursery manager to order some for been around since this plant became popular in the early 1900s
you; that’s one of the advantages of shopping at locally-owned – and The Historic Old Northeast neighborhood is known to
nurseries): host blooming parties from time to time. It’s quite the sight –
For a sweet tooth, grow the stevia herb. Its green leaves contain neighbors with lawn chairs and cameras, some in their pajamas,
stevioside, which is gathered around this spectacular plant that opens each petal in
200 times sweeter slow, dramatic fashion. It’s a party like no other!
than sugar but con-
tains no calories
and doesn’t affect
blood sugar levels.
It’s the same herb
used in sweeten-
ers such as Tru-
via and SweetLeaf
and added to soft
drinks. Grow this
South American
native in a sunny
garden with rich,
organic soil and
keep it well-wa-
tered. Munch on
fresh leaves to satisfy a sweet tooth or add to foods and bev-
erages. You can also harvest and dry leaves, crush them and
store for later use or steep leaves to make a liquid. [Recipe:
Add one cup of warm water to ¼ cup of fresh, finely crushed
leaves (not dried). Let the liquid mixture set for 24 hours, then
refrigerate.]
If you like lemons, oranges, tangerines and limes -- but only
have room for one tree -- plant the ultimate space-saving “cock-
tail tree.” Thanks to ingenious multi-plant grafting by growers,
this 10-to-12-foot tree produces several varieties of citrus and is
available in a variety of fruiting combinations. You can plant it in
a large container or in the ground; just choose a sunny location
and water daily for the first several weeks. (Jene’s Tropicals in
St. Petersburg stocks cocktail trees).
727 895-6090
www.TerrierProperties.com
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Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood News Page 31
Neighborhood Potluck: Monday, September 20 , at 6:45pm
(see p.1)
All neighborhood residents invited
Prsrt Std
Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association U.S. Postage Paid
St. Petersburg FL
P.O. Box 76324 Permit #1020
St. Petersburg, FL 33734
www.honna.org
In this issue
• The Power of 1
• HONNA on
FaceBook
• Of Oaks and
Animals
• The Gree Page
• Room With A View
... and more!
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