Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood News - September 2008

HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

LLLLLeave a Leave a Leave a Leave a Leave a Legacyegacyegacyegacyegacy

Published Quarterly

Old NortheastNeighborhood News

Historic St. Pete’s Jewel on Tampa Bay

Volume 35 Issue 3 www.honna.org September 2008

September15th

Candidates’ ForumOctober 20th

To be announcedNovember 17th

HONNA Election and Open Forum

Mark yourcalendar!Halloween Contest .................... Page 5

Our Own Eden .......................... Page 8

Preservation Award Winners ..... Page 14

Candlelight Home Tour Update .. Page 18

HONNA NeighborhoodMeetings are held the third

Monday of each month (exceptAugust and December) at

Westminster Presbyterian Church126 11th Avenue NE

6:45pm, Social • 7pm, Business

UPCOMING MEETINGSIN THIS ISSUE

continued on page 2

by Robin Reed,Chair Planning/Historic Preservation Committee

Noted author, historian, USF professor and Old Northeast resident Gary Mormino characterized our neighborhood in the following quote he contributed to the

Association’s forthcoming children’s book:“Old Northeast is pure delight,

an architectural stroll through the20th century. The Florida dream isexpressed in wooden framedcraftsman bungalows and cot-tages, while Mediterranean reviv-als whisper hints of Malaga andSorrento. But most of all, OldNortheast radiates an appreciationof St. Petersburg, a harmoniousblending of time and place.”

The 80-page, interactive bookwas developed as an educationaltool for children, but its charmingstyle will appeal to adults aswell. Titled Souvenir of St. Peters-burg, Views from the Vinoy, thehigh-quality book captures the elu-sive spirit that ties us all togetheras a neighborhood. It includeschapters on all aspects of the com-munity, focusing on history, pres-ervation and visions for the future.

One hundredbooks, along withteacher guides, willbe given to everyelementary school in St. Petersburg. The book’s educational pro-

gram has been characterized by edu-cation professionals as a “living labo-ratory” with ideas for children to ap-ply to their own neighborhoods, re-gardless of where they live. It is filledwith scavenger hunts, tear-out post-cards and “things to do and places togo” activities.

This high-quality, professional bookhas been written by Robin RobsonGonzalez and designed by Jen Larcomof the Pop Design Group. The remark-able photographs were taken by RobBovarnick of Rob/Harris Productions.

HONNA’s Planning/Historic Preser-vation Committee is currently seekingthe remaining funding (approximately$40,000) so that the book can be avail-able in time for the Candlelight Tour ofHomes in December and holidayshopping. Foundation, corporate andindividual support is welcomed. Donors

HONNA’s Book About Our Local History

(Right) Part ofScavengerHunt game

(Below) Earlypostcardimages of TheOld NE


*Preprinted inserts that you provide are delivered within the newsletter.Due to delivery restrictions, inserts are available on a limited basis.

The newsletter quarterly publication dates are March, June, September,and December. The deadline for accepting new ads and ad changes is threeweeks prior to the publication month. The next deadline is November 9th.Payment for new ads should be submitted at the same time that the ad layoutis provided and should be addressed to “HONNA Advertising.”

The newsletter is distributed by mail to all homes in The Old Northeast(boundaries are 5th Ave N to 30th Ave N, and 4th St N to North Shore Dr/Coffee PotBayou Blvd). There are approximately 2,800 active home mailing addresses.

Contact Rachel Sartain: [email protected] space is limited so please make arrangements early.

AD SIZE 1Qtr 2 Qtrs 3 Qtrs 1 YearBusiness card 50 93 128 1601/4 page (4.75" x 3.5") 100 186 256 3201/2 page (9.5" x 3.5") 200 372 512 640

Full page 400 744 1024 1280Single page insert* 300 600 900 1200

AD RATES

Contents

WELCOME & ENJOY

EXPLORE HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST

CHECK OUT THE STYLES!

PERRY’S PLAZAS, PARKWAYS & PERGOLAS

MEET AYMER VINOY LAUGHNER

GUESTS FOR THE SEASON

DISCOVER THE VINOY!

LOOKING BACK

PICNICS IN THE PARK

BRIDGE BRINGS BUSINESS

SEE SUNKEN GARDENS

COME BACK SOON!

The President’s PerspectiveMary Alice LangeAssociation President

Leave a Legacy from page 1

W E L C O M E & E N J O Y

A SOUVENIR OF ST. PETERSBURG 7 FLORIDA VIEWS FROM THE VINOY

who contribute $1,000 ormore (tax deductible!) willreceive recognition in thebook.

Here’s a great idea: leavea legacy for future genera-tions. Why not considerhonoring your children orgrandchildren by making adonation and letting themsee their names in a publi-cation that promises tohighlight their neighbor-hood for years to come?

If you would like to make a tax deductible contribution orsuggest a possible source of funding, please contact Robin Reed(825-0480; [email protected]). A draft copy of the bookis available for donors to peruse.

Looking AheadOver the summer, residents have enjoyed visiting with

their neighbors at the monthly HONNA porch parties whileover two hundred children and their parents gathered tomarch along Coffee Pot Boulevard in the Children’s 4th ofJuly Parade. We were honored to have the American SpiritFife and Drum Corps Band lead the parade and offer patri-otic music before and after the parade.

Now as the days grow shorter and fall will soon be uponus, there are many more exciting opportunities throughoutthe neighborhood for you to enjoy. The neighborhood asso-ciation will continue to sponsor monthly porch parties alongwith the Holiday Party in December. Please check the news-letter and www.honna.org for event updates, times and lo-cations.

The Board of Directors will be conducting a membershipdrive to increase awareness and get input from residentsthroughout the entire neighborhood. As a reminder -- theHONNA boundaries extend from the north at 30th AvenueN/NE, to the south at 5th Avenue and from the west at 4thStreet to the waters of Tampa Bay and Coffee Pot Bayou.Please feel free to attend any of the HONNA monthly meet-ings or events, even if you are not a member. If you havesuggestions for future programs or events, please let usknow.

October sets the stage for lots of decorations scatteredaround the yards and on top of the homes in the neighbor-hood. Halloween decorations bring out the creative naturein many of the residents and in keeping with tradition theHome Decorating Contest will be conducted during a cara-van with the judges. All you have to do is register your house– and there is no cost to register! See page XXX for details.

November marks the beginning of the fall holiday seasonand the HONNA election for officers and the Board of Di-rectors. All HONNA members are eligible to make nomina-tions and vote at the election which will be held on Monday,November 17th, at 7pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church,126 11th Avenue NE. If you are interested in serving on theboard, feel free to send me an e-mail([email protected]).

December brings in the cool festive excitement with the11th Annual Candlelight Tour of Homes on Sunday, Decem-ber 7th, from 3-8pm. Each year ticket holders enjoy stroll-ing along the historic streets viewing the holiday decora-tions and visiting some of the most fabulous homes in theneighborhood. As usual the Board of Directors will host theannual neighborhood Holiday Party allowing residents to visitwith each other during a relaxing evening in December. Markyour calendar and check the HONNA December newsletterand web site for details on Candlelight Tour ticket outletsand the Holiday Party date and location.

I look forward to seeing you at any of our neighborhoodevents.

Mary Alice


Association News & ActivitiesThe neighborhood monthly meeting in June was devoted to

the proposed new stadium on the downtown waterfront. Repre-sentatives from the Preserve Our Wallets and Waterfront grouppresented their position opposing the move; the “pro” positionhad been delivered earlier at the March meeting by Rays owner-ship reps. Susie Ajoc, with the City’s Neighborhood PartnershipDepartment, spoke at the July meeting about Crime PreventionThrough Environmental Design (CPTED) and ways in which homeowners can landscape their property to deter crime(www.fldoca.com). There was no meeting in August.

The HONNA Board of Directors voted to apply for a FY09Neighborhood Partnership Grant to extend the Decorative AcornStreet Lighting along the west side of 1st Street from 10th Avenueto 9th Avenue N/NE. The grant request is for $12,595.00. Thegrant match will be fulfilled with volunteer service hours on neigh-borhood projects throughout the neighborhood.

Council of Neighborhood AssociationsMaureen Stafford, HONNA Representative

Following is an August report from CONA’s Land Develop-ment/Historic Resources Committee (Will Michaels, Chair):

The Land Development and Historic Resources Committeecontinues to monitor the stadium and Tropicana Field redevelop-ment proposal, the “glitch” issues connected with the new LandDevelopment Regulations, and historic resource matters. The CityCouncil has finally agreed to initiate bringing Al Lang (Jeff Dannerin a City Workshop clarified his intent was to also include Mahaffeyand other land between Al Lang and the Airport) under down-town park zoning as twice requested by CONA. However, doingso will not limit building heights on that site to 75 feet (with apublic hearing) as is the case with all of the other land zoned forpark and recreational use. Heights may be up to 300 feet. This isan additional “glitch” that needs to be remedied. The Committeeis also following up on its earlier report and recommendationsregarding the Rays Owners’ proposal for a new waterfront sta-dium (see CONA web site), and monitoring implementation ofthe ABC Coalition established by the Mayor to study alternativesites (requested by CONA) and financing.

Previously CONA approved proposed land development mea-

Committee Reports

Published quarterly – March, June, September and Decemberand mailed to all households in The Old Northeast

P.O. Box 76324, St. Petersburg, FL 33734e-mail [email protected]

The Newsletter of the Historic OldNortheast Neighborhood Association

Editor Rick CarsonColumnists and Reporters

Peter StanhopeSusan AldersonJohn GeeChuck Lindeen

Keaton GreenBarbara RhodeAmy LabieJill McGrath

Circulation Cathy Leonard and Joe O’ConnorContributors All our Old Northeast neighborsNewsletter Layout & Design Sharon Bond: [email protected] Information Rachel Sartain: [email protected]

Mike DaileyDavid FormanYvonne SwansonLinda Dobbs

sures pending include: reducing the duration of site plan approvalperiods (now up to 7 years for projects under 60 units and 9years for larger projects before a proposed project needs to start— potential for numerous vacant lots and temporary parking);limits on the length of construction projects (there are none now);and requiring applications approved under the old rules to complywith the new rules if major changes are made (See Chapter16.70.010.9).

CONA Executive Board also supported Saint PetersburgPreservation’s (SPP) request to protect various historic featuresof the 1926 Crislip Arcade at 645 Central Ave., and in particularnot to board up the front of the building, which would detractfrom the appearance of the neighborhood and depress propertyvalues. The City Council approved this SPP/CONA request.

ProgramsSusan Lahey, Chair

The Candidates’ Forum will be our September 15th program. Allcandidates for county and state offices have been invited to par-ticipate with the League of Women voters moderating thesession. This is a great opportunity to hear from some of thecandidates who don’t always get a lot of media attention, and it’sa chance for you to meet these individuals and get questions an-swered. Efforts are underway to schedule reps from our localfirestation for our October meeeting (check our web site forupdated info). The election of new HONNA officers and Board ofDirectors is on the agenda for the November meeting along witha “Q&A” opportunity for residents to raise questions about neigh-borhood-related issues and otherwise share concerns and ideas.

There’s More Than OneElection in November

Your neighborhood association will be electing newofficers and a Board of Directors in November forthe 2009 calendar year. This will take place at the

regular monthly meeting scheduled for Monday, Novem-ber 17th.

If you would like to have your name placed on the bal-lot, please go to our website (www.HONNA.org) and click“HONNA Board & Committees” in the left-hand columnand then click “contact us” to leave a message notifying usof your interest. Or you may contact any of the currentofficers or Board members (listed on page 4) who willgladly answer any questions you may have.

Who might want to serve on the Board? How about: par-ents with young children, condo

owners, residents north of22nd Avenue, new-comers to the neigh-borhood, people withgeneral interests orspecific talents.

The entire neigh-borhood benefi tswhen concerned resi-dents get involved.


JOIN OUR COMMITTEES

Candlelight Tour of Homes (December):

Chair Julia Brazier, 895-4443

Co-Chair Anne-Marie Stephenson, 897-9398

C.O.N.A. Rep: Maureen Stafford, 488-8154

Crime & Safety: Ron Magray, 502-9065

Membership: Douglas Haan, 488-5514

Neighborhood Design Review:

Rick Field, 744-6697

Newsletter: Rick Carson, 898-7834

Planning/Historic Preservation: Robin Reed, 825-0480

Programs: Susan Lahey 368-8419

Traffic: Bob Watts, 821-8997

Website: Nona Peebles 894-3529

Your volunteer involvement in one of our com-mittees will help enhance your neighborhood andour association.

Please contact any committee chair for infor-mation.

Historic Old NortheastNeighborhood

Association MembershipThe Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association wasfounded in 1974 to promote civic improvement of ourneighborhood. We invite and welcome all residents of theOld Northeast to join the association and become involved.Annual membership dues are $30 per household.

Send this completed form to:Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood AssociationP.O. Box 76324St. Petersburg, FL 33734

Name(s): ________________________Address: ______________________________________________________________________________________

Phone: __________________________E-Mail: __________________________When did you move into the neighborhood(month and year)?: _______________

$30 ANNUAL DUES ENCLOSED

Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood AssociationOFFICERS and BOARD

HONNA Board meetings are held the second Monday of each monthat 6:30pm and are open to the public. Check with HONNA for the location.

PresidentMary Alice Lange 251-2034 [email protected] PresidentMaureen Stafford 488-8154 [email protected] Haan 488-5514 [email protected] Brazier 895-4443 [email protected] Carson 898-7834 [email protected] Field 744-6697 [email protected] Lahey 368-8419 [email protected] Magray 502-9065 [email protected] Reed 825-0480 [email protected] Stephenson 897-9398 [email protected] Watts 821-8997 [email protected]

Crime Watch Fact SheetName_____________________________________

Address ___________________________________

City/State: St. Petersburg, FL Zip: _____________

Home Phone: ______________________________

Office Phone: ______________________________

Cell Phone: ________________________________

E-mail: ____________________________________

Emergency Contact Person ___________________

Contact’s Phone #___________________________

HONNA Member: Yes____ No____

Would like more info on membership Yes___ No___

Signed: ___________________________________

HONNA PO Box 76324, St. Petersburg, FL 33734

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Like our neighborhood?Want to make it even better?

Volunteer with one of our committees!

CLIP AND MAIL


Anyone who has lived here more than a year knowsthat Halloween is celebrated in a VERY BIG way inThe Old Northeast! Fall is just around the cornerso it is not too early to start thinking about yourHalloween decorating plans.

This year we are asking anyone who would like toenter the contest to “register” their house. Ourneighborhood covers a lot of streets and avenues sowe want to ensure that the judges don’t miss anyhouses. Registering is easy — all you need to do is:

Mail the form below to: HONNA, PO Box 76324, StPetersburg, FL 33734 or e-mail the information [email protected] by October 29th

Name: _________________________________Address: _______________________________Phone:____________ E-mail________________

Houses will be judged based on overallcreativity – so bring out your best/scariestHalloween decorations…goblins, witches, ghosts, pumpkins, ghouls,skeletons, cobwebs, spiders...(we think you get the idea)!

House numbers must be visible so the judges canfind your house. Judging will begin at dusk onThursday, October 30th. The top 3 decoratedhouses will be announced October 31st on our website www.honna.org and viabroadcast e-mailWant to help judge? It’s a blast!Just contact Cynthia Serra at580-3335. For any updated infoabout the event, go towww.honna.org

NeighborhoodHalloween Decorating Contest


The 4th of July :Recreating an Old Tradition

By Rick Carson, Editor

If you’re old enough — and in this case fortunate enough— to recall Independence Day celebrations back home

when you were a little kid, then you’ll especially appreciate therediscovered tradition taking place in The Historic Old North-east. For the second year in a row, and after a decade-longabsence, the neighborhood had the opportunity again to expe-rience the simple pleasures of a 4th of July parade geared to theyoungest of our residents.

Upwards of 200 children and their parents, grandparents,family friends and other lucky neighbors gathered at CoffeePot Park at 30th Avenue and 1st Street NE on the Friday morn-ing of July 4th for what was, as one observer called it, a “genu-ine treat.”

A highlight of the picture-perfect morning was the appear-ance of the 97th Regimental Field Music Fife and Drum corps,which led the parade of decorated bikes, strollers, buggies,

scooters, wag-ons and dogsdown CoffeePot Boulevardwith flags fly-ing to tunesfrom the Revo-lutionary War(when was thelast time youheard “TheWorld TurnedU p s i d eDown”?). Thet e n - m e m b e rgroup, out ofPinellas Park( 5 2 7 - 8 1 2 3 ) ,also entertainedthe appreciativecrowd beforeand after theparade. Their

participation was made possible thanks to the generosity ofthe law firm of Buckley & Fudge (4th Street N; 490-3100) andneighborhood resident Donna Fudge.

Rounding out the morning’s activities was a crafts table, spon-sored by Heidi Sutton of Kidz Art (823-0123), which cre-atively channeled excess energies and imaginative talents. A fireengine from our neighborhood station on 4th Street appeared togive kids a chance to see the equipment-laden truck up closeand talk with Lt. David DeSchryver and other firemen abouttheir fire and rescue duties. Tall cooling shade trees and theplayground offered welcome respite and diversions as well.

The 4th of July Children’s Parade is only getting bigger and

better, thanks to neighborhood residents who step forward toorganize the event and subsidize some of the extra costs alongwith those who come by simply to participate in and enjoy whatis being offered.

The parade is just one more example of what membership duesin HONNA gotoward, as theevent involvesexpenses for apermit, insur-ance, flags/ban-ners, bottledwater and otheroverhead. (Nota member? Taxdeductible an-nual dues areonly $30 andmay be mailed toHONNA at P.O.Box 76324, St.Petersburg, FL33734).

Missed thisyear’s fun?Mark your cal-endar for nextyear’s.


Check out theHONNA web site

www.honna.org

Photos courtesy of SusanAlderson, Robin Reed and RickCarson. To view a slideshow of theevent, go to www.honna.org andclick on the 4th of July image.

[A version of this article appearsin the September 2008 issue of theNortheast Journal]


KIDZ KIDZ KIDZ KIDZ KIDZKORNERKORNERKORNERKORNERKORNER

With the steady influx into our neighbor-hood of new residents, we’re seeing an

increasing number of families withyoung children – plus the stork iskeeping pretty busy around here asit is. So we thought it might be help-

ful to share with parents of young-sters (as well as grandparents welcom-

ing visiting grandkids) ideas of family-friendly activities and destinations nearby,

especially ones which are free or inexpensive. If you have any suchgood “secrets” you’d like to pass along, let us know.

Our Own Garden of Edenby Linda Dobbs

We have discovered the best kept secret in all of St.Petersburg! There is a hidden jewel of a park, only15 minutes away from The Old Northeast, and hardly

anyone here knows about it. It is a veritable Eden -- better than,but different from, Boyd Hill, Fort De Soto and Weedon Island,which are all great places to go. Get this: we went in the middle ofthe day in August and were comfortable! In fact, it was almostcool, since we were under the tree canopy most of the time, andhad a steady breeze to cool our skin.

Next time you are driving to Target on Dr. Martin Luther KingJr. Street N (9th Street), abandon that idea and do something goodfor your soul. Turn left at 62nd Avenue and go to 25th Street Nwhere you will see a sign for Sawgrass Lake Park (ever heard of

it?). I guarantee you will think you have walked through the look-ing glass. And it is totally, completely free.

This is a 400-acre piece of land, right smack dab in the middleof urban St. Petersburg. It has one of the largest maple swampson the Gulf Coast, which is a good thing for wild life — they loveit. The National Audubon Society calls this park one of the pre-mier birding sites in Florida because thousands of migrating birdsare attracted in the spring and fall.

Don’t worry — there is plenty of wildlife present any time ofthe year since the park is a wildlife sanctu-ary. We saw at least seven different speciesof butterflies, five or six water and shorebirds, amazingly large spiders (four incheslong) silently perched in large hanging, almostinvisible webs, bugs, bees, dragonflies, fish,gopher tortoise holes — but no alligators (theyare present in the two lakes and several ca-nals).

We also saw a bobcat, a fox, a rabbit, askink, a tortoise, a red rat snake, a river otterand… just kidding, but there is a logbook toenter sightings and all of those and more arelisted with the date and time! We did see fivedifferent snakes, lots of fish, a large sala-mander — alive and moving — as well asnumerous fantastic stuffed birds which arehoused in the education center. If you go earlymorning or late afternoon, your chances arebetter for seeing wildlife.

As we crossed the wooden bridge into amile-long network of elevated boardwalk, the


Linda and her husband Bob moved to The Old Northeast onValentine’s Day 2003 (they wanted to be near their two grand-children who live in our neighborhood). Over the past 30 yearsLinda has been editor of a weekly newspaper, a magazine and amedical journal as well as numerous newsletters.

trail branched. Should we go toward the Red MapleSwamp and then on to the Oak Hammock Trail oron the Sawgrass Trail to the lake and ObservationTower? Our nine-year-old granddaughter wantedthe tower but we were intrigued with the swampidea and it was shady, so we did that first. Wewere the only people there most of the time andthe quiet and beauty were breathtaking, the onlysounds being our “oohs” and “aahs” and “oh, look!”

A network of canals lines the park with a pavedwalk winding beside it. The arboretum, with itsalmost 60 types of trees, is set both along the ca-nal as well as in the grassy, hilly picnic area —really it looks like a picture straight from England!The picnic area — we should have brought a pic-nic lunch! — is set among the trees with viewsand access to both the canal and Arrow Lake (morelike a pond) with cattails and water lilies. Dogsmay be walked on leash in this area — surely thisis paradise for a dog — however, they cannot goon the boardwalk trails.

The walk is easily accomplished by grade school age childrenas well as 60-something grandparents (one with an artificial hip).The boardwalks are readily accessible for strollers and wheel-chairs.

There are trained naturalists who will lead tours by reservation.There is a self-guiding brochure available, a map, and severalhandouts about the flora and fauna.

The address is 7400 25th Street N (remember, the entrance isfrom 62nd Street N), the phone is 464-3347 and the web iswww.pinellascounty.org/park/16_sawgrass.htm. Hours are daily,7am to dusk. Admission is FREE.


Over The Back Fence…is a collection of what we’ve heard exchanged in the aisles of the supermarkets,

shared waiting in line to pick up the kids from school, read in the papers, overheard in thepew behind us in church and, yes, even passed over the back fence. If you have somethingyou’d like to share about a special recognition, award received, birth, graduation, good-deed-done or observation around the neighborhood please pass it along to the Editor.“Over the Back Fence” is only going to be interesting if we hear from you!

S Sandby

Hats Off… Resident Don Strobel ofStrobel Design Build copped a first place na-tional award in the “whole-house remodelingover $500,000” category at the 15th annualChrysalis Awards for Remodeling Excellence.The project was a contemporary loft con-version in the Snell Arcade in downtown.Over the years the Strobel company has wontwo national Chrysalis awards and the onlyFlorida company to win both regional andnational recognition. The Chrysalis Awardsare sponsored by Qualified Remodeler and theAmerican Builders Network and judged byeditors and writers from publications like

Better Homes & Gardens and Southern Living magazines. Also,Professional Remodeler magazine has named Strobel Design Buildas a 2008 Market Leader in the Tampa Bay area

Going Green…Curbside recycling? Want it? According to the June29th St. Petersburg Times, a nonprofit environmental group called CleanWater Action is encouraging residents to attach signs to their trashbins that read, “Mayor Baker: Take it to the curb! I support curbsiderecycling.” To learn more about the campaign and its status, go towww.cleanwateraction.org (click on “Take Action” and “Florida”).

Inquiring Minds Want to Know… For those who have inquiredof HONNA with questions about the new residential constructionon the 2000 block of Coffee Pot Boulevard just south of thebridge, plans were submitted to and approved by the City prior tothe enactment of the new Land Development Regulations, whichwent into effect in September 2007. The structure meets the codeand zoning requirements that were in effect at the time.

Wouldn’t it be Nice If...…car drivers and cyclists could do a better job of respecting

one another – like drivers not trying to run bikers off the road andcyclists not riding two and three abreast. As the newsmagazineThe Economist said recently in an article about the boom in bikeriding, “It looks as though there is a need, on both sides, for arevolution in manners.”

…the police would patrol the arboretum-pool parking lot week-end evenings to discourage the drinking that goes on there (and therefuse the partiers leave behind)

…neighbors would park in front of their own houses whenthere’s space in-stead of in frontof yours

…drivers usedtheir turn signalsso you weren’trequired to readtheir minds

… d r i v e r swouldn’t speedthrough floodedstreets, sendingwaves of water onto sidewalks and landscaped parkways.

Lights Out!...When a street light is out, it makes a huge differ-ence on the nearby ground below. Thieves and burglars love the

ambiance! But it’s easy to fix the problem. Phone ProgressEnergy at 800/228-8485 to report an “out” light; be pre-pared to provide a street location and it helps to know thelight’s ID number which can be found near the pole’s base.Believe it or not, you can expect the problem to be fixed ina day or two – they actually are very responsive.

Guilty as Charged…Neighbor and licensed psychothera-pist Barbara Rhode (and regular contributor to this news-letter) had a spotlight thrown on her in a June 10th featurearticle in the St. Petersburg Times, in an occasional seriestitled “Deciding.” In this case, it was “Deciding: To ComeClean.” For years she has been counseling people about deal-ing with life and its “issues,” and she realized last Christmasshe had her own “issue”: she was a shopaholic. Closets fullof things she didn’t need and never wore. She came to therealization her addiction to shopping was a form of “self-medicating,” as she calls it, to help her deal with the pres-

R ❂ E ❂ S ❂ P ❂ E ❂ C ❂ T


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e-mail: [email protected]: [email protected]: [email protected]: [email protected]: [email protected]

sures of her career. So she quit cold turkey — and no counseling,thankyouverymuch. Not that she hasn’t been tempted, but she’slearned to “live with what she has.”

Lock Up!...Neighbors recently found two bicycles abandonedin the alley behind their house, and they phoned the non-emer-gency police number. When an officer arrived to pick up the bikes,he explained the typical modus operandi. Kids (usually) ride theirbikes (usually stolen) into a neighborhood, case out prospectivecars to break into or steal for joy riding and when they find whatthey’re after they leave the bikes behind. Since the bikes theysteal may be from the same neighborhood they are car-casing,make sure your garage doors and yard gates are closed and locked.And don’t forget to lock your car!


Hot

126 11th Avenue NESt. Petersburg, FL33701727-822-5906

Ages 2 - VPKState ApprovedLIC. #C610108

APPLE ACCREDITED

kaleidoscope of harvest colors (and will most surely take ourbreath away). That’s right Florida amigos — it’s hot pepper sea-son! And best of all, we can enjoy them at one of St. Pete’s oldesttreasures, Sunken Gardens, at their October Hot Pepper Fest.

If right now you are attempting to origami this very paper intosome sort of cooling device, then maybe the idea of a hot any-thing doesn’t rank high on your agenda. Well, maybe it’s time toput down the gelato and add a little spice to your imagination.

Let’s try to vision a Sunday scene set in early October. The airis ripe with that fresh “fall” feeling, soft calypso music is waftingthrough 100 year-old oak trees and you’re putting out the fire inyour mouth with a nice cool Corona. Imagine yourself doing allthat as you stroll by bright pink Chilean flamingos in the lush andtropical atmosphere at Sunken Gardens and I bet you’re ready toyell, “I’m headed for the hot tamale train!”

A hot pepper eating contest is also in the works. It’s beensuggested and everyone seems to be in favor of the idea, so it ismore than likely that there will be a pepper-eating contest. It’snow just a matter of seeing about having the paramedics on hand tosee who can eat the most peppers. Hmmm, is that a challenge?

The Pepper Fest, however, isn’t all about how much damageyou can do to your taste buds. While the price for admission isunder ten bucks, you might want to pack some extra greenbacksfor the assortment of hot pepper-themed vendors offering up ev-erything from artwork, clothing, and jewelry to pepper jellies andplants that vary in price and palette. An assortment of restaurantswill also be on hand to tempt you with flavors ranging from “not-hot-at-all” to “call the paramedics!” Basically, whatever your tastemay be, there is something in store for you when the hot tamaletrain boards October 5th. The question is…Can you take it?

If you are going:Where: Sunken Gardens -- 1825 4th Street NWhen: October 5th, 11am-4pmPrice: $8 adults, $6 seniors (55+), $4 children (2-11)

Believe it or not, fall will soon be upon us. No, we don’t get toexperience the breathtaking change of colors or the crunch ofautumnal leaves beneath our sneakers like our northern friends.However, there is something else we can crunch that comes in a

Pepper Fest 2008:Coming Soon toSunken Gardens

by Melissa Mathews,Customer Service Representative

Lunch ‘n LearnWant to learn more about gardening while lingering over

lunch and a glass of wine? Well, you need to call your friendsto join you at Sunken Gardens’ new Lunch ‘n Learn programs! The first program is Thursday, October 16th, titled “Gardeningin Florida” and the next program is Thursday, January 15th,titled “Principles of Landscape Design 101.” Both programswill be lead by Bill O’Grady, Horticultural Enthusiast. A boxlunch will be served and a cash bar will be available. Pre-reg-istration is required, and the fee is $15 for members and $20for nonmembers. Call 551-3102 to register.


Ponderings

Cyclesby John Gee

John and his wife Kathy moved to St. Pete from New Mexicofour years ago, and he currently teaches history at a Sarasotahigh school. He has served on the HONNA Board where he co-chaired its Historic Preservation Committee. You can also readmore from John in the Northeast Journal.

Have you been to a

See page 16 for the upcoming schedule

PPPPPorchorchorchorchorch P P P P Partyartyartyartyarty

LLLLL AAAAAT E LT E LT E LT E LT E LY ?Y ?Y ?Y ?Y ?

My wife and I went for a walk in Vinoy Park and noticed the damage done by the “Warped Tour” crowd.One night of raucous music, crowds of energetic

youths, large trucks and rainy season weather turned our parkinto a muddy and littered quagmire. What must have been thefront of the stage was left to look like a vast number of ruttingprimordial beasts had plowed the soil in a search for food.Throughout the park there were deep muddy ruts left by thetrucks used to carry the food and drink to keep this crowd’sappetites satiated. Scattered around like giant footprints werevarious brown spots where the once lush grass was squashedback into the earth by some type of concession stand. Overallthe place looked like a group of giants decided to use our parkfor a sandbox and, after the fun ended, lumbered away beforeanyone would notice the damage.

While I began to grumble about these crazy kids and theCity’s lack of insight into the damage potential of such an event,my wife immediately brought me back to reality. “Look at whatyou’re becoming. Just another grumpy old guy complainingabout these kids today,” she correctly noted. Of course shewas right. If we try hard enough, we can all look back at ourown spent youth and remember the damage we inflicted on

ourselves and others. Although I neverattended Woodstock, I know that thepeople who attended cared little aboutthe damage done to that guy’s farm.I made up for missing Woodstocktwice times over by attending con-certs all over the place and blithelyinflicting ecological damagewith absolutely no thought as towho was to pick up after I left.Isn’t that what being young is allabout? In any event, my wife madea bet that in two weeks, most ofthe damage in the park would beunnoticeable.

Two weeks later, I returned and our park was in factwell on the way towards a recovery. Due to a generousrainy season, an efficient grounds crew and our geneticallyengineered grass the mosh pit and concession stand areaswere all covered in a lush green. The deep ruts still wererecognizable but the first tentative tentacles of grass wereworming their way across the sand and the ruts soon willbe covered. Given time, nature will take care of itself andthe cycle of damage/repair/damage/repair will continue. I,too, am involved in a cycle as my youth disappears and anew generation takes over. They too will grow old and theirchildren will confuse them as well. It is the cycle of lifeand I should just stop complaining and marvel at it.

I hope you all had a fun summer.


RESTORATION – RESIDENTIAL (award winner)Santamaria House, 2300 Coffee Pot Boulevard NE –

Known as “The “Castle,” this Med Rev house had suffereddecades of neglect when the current owner began the lengthyprocess of restoration. Wood floors and doors were restored,bathroom tiles and fixtures repaired and a new tile roof in-stalled. Most recently, 84 steel windows were disassembled,repaired and re-glazed (the effort was featured in the March2008 issue of this newsletter on p. 20, which is available forviewing in the newsletter archives at honna.org).

Preserving the Characterof Old Northeast HousesNeighborhood is Big “Winner” in Preservation Awards

The Historic Old Northeast was a big winner in St. Petersburg Preservation’s (SPPI) recent Preservation Awards Program.SPPI works to preserve St. Petersburg’s history by saving the landmark buildings and places that make our city special. Torecognize those helping achieve this goal, the group presents preservation awards that honor exemplary efforts at restoring andrehabilitating locally significant buildings 50+ years old.

Congratulations to the following award winners in our neighborhood, and thanks to those who submitted applications for those“winning” sites.

REHABILITATION – COMMERCIAL (a tie)Fourth Street Garden Shops (J Square 4th Street Part-

ners: Jay Miller and Tom Hand), 1535 4th Street N – Origi-nally constructed as the showroom and service center forBrown Nash Motors, this building is one if the best examplesof Art Deco style in the City. Most recently an antique mall,the structure was purchased in 2006 for redevelopment. Theensuing rehabilitation project consisted of removing paint fromthe storefront windows, replacement of damaged entry doors,repair of damaged vitrolite glass tiles and repainting that em-phasizes the Art Deco friezes and window detail.

PRESERVATIONIST OF THE YEAR -INDIVIDUAL

Maureen Stafford – Maureen was nominated for hercommitment to “preservation in the community at large,”beginning with the restoration of four homes in the BartlettPark neighborhood. An additional eight houses later,Maureen has taken on a labor of love in the restoration ofan Aymer Vinoy Laughner house.


REHABILITATION – SINGLE FAMILYRESIDENTIAL (award winner)

Smith Benson House, 633 1st Street NE – This1926 bungalow was one of Maureen Stafford’sprojects. The house had fallen on very hard timeswhen purchased in 2002. Aluminum siding wasremoved, wood siding repaired, stripped andrepainted. The enclosed porch was re-opened, slid-ing glass doors replaced appropriately, windowsrepaired and missing architectural details replicatedto match the originals.

STEWARDSHIP (award winner)Martin House, 101 9th Avenue NE – Pur-

chased almost 30 years ago, this house had beendivided into five apartments when restorationbegan. Only the third owners of the property,Jim and Cathy Martin are fortunate to have theoriginal plans and construction documents forthe house. Over the years, they have been me-ticulous about any repairs and maintenance needed-- nothing is ever routine. Great care is taken topreserve not only original materials but the char-acter and charm of the house as well.

REHABILITATION – RESIDENTIAL(honorable mention)

Venture Capital (Felix Fudge and JonLaBudde), 338 15th Avenue NE – A third housein this category that was purchased in deplor-able condition, rehabilitated and updated withtoday’s modern conveniences. Aluminum sidingwas removed, paint stripped, heart pine floorsrestored and windows removed, restored and re-installed.


PORCH PPORCH PPORCH PPORCH PPORCH PARARARARARTIESTIESTIESTIESTIESPorch Parties are held the third Friday of themonth from 7:30-10pm (except December).Porch Parties are strictly social and provide andinformal and fun way to mix and mingle with yourneighbors. Bring your own beverage. Cups, iceand light snacks are provided. Ask a neighbor to rideor walk over with you. For more info, contact Julie Feeley(822-4969; [email protected]).

You’reInvited

September 19th

Chris and Laura Lenz443 14th Avenue NE

October 17th

Frank Hay and Steve Deal315 8th Avenue NE

This is becoming our annual pre-Halloween Porch Party, thanks to ourhosts. Consider this your opportunity

to test-drive your Halloweencostume!

November 21st

Craig Hyde1200 1st Street N

Property TransfersFollowing is a listing of recent property transfers in our North Shore neighborhood. The individuals listed are newowners of the properties cited but not necessarily the residents of those properties. The properties are listed inchronological avenue and chronological and alphabetical street order. If any of these folks live near you, make sure you welcome them to the neighborhood.

Compiled from records by theFlorida New Business Report.

555 5th Avenue NE #911 Jeffrey and Dianne Alaimo

223 6th Avenue N Grace Austin

156 7th Avenue NE Julie Kline

214 7th Avenue N Geoffrey McQueen

425 9th Avenue NE Leland and Susan Benson

145 10th Avenue N #15 Peggy Caldren

145 10th Avenue N Joy Austin

205 11th Avenue N Hollie Flynn

212 11th Avenue N Edward Veprovsky

210 13th Avenue N David and Careen Cramer

139 14th Avenue N Michael Gilbert

115 15th Avenue NE J. Herschel Smith

126 15th Avenue NE Heidi Trilsch

446 15th Avenue NE Dodd and Heather Disler

306 16th Avenue NE Elizabeth Petterson

October 2007 Porch Party

126 19th Avenue NE Michael Cimilluca

165 20th Avenue NE William and Margaret Ploch

185 24th Avenue N Joelle Godwin

640 1st Street N Matthew and Erin Parke

616 2nd Street N Sara Lindquist

555 3rd Street N #8 Kenneth Craig Jones

921 3rd Street N Sandra Foster

1031 3rd Street N William and Erin Nobles

824 Bay Street NE #A,B Doug Richter

920 North Shore Drive #920 Laura Hornsby

1060 North Shore Drive #4 Charles Strub

1100 North Shore Drive #504 David Downing

1100 North Shore Drive #505 Douglas and Judith Clapp


Take the Snipe Out of Signs

Snipe signs are the advertisements stuck in the ground orhanging from utility poles that clutter up our community, distract motorists from their driving, and deterio-

rate into trash and a serious eyesore. Snipe signs are prohibited(Chapter 16, Section 16-671) in St. Petersburg. So why do we seeso many? Because people persist in using this method to advertise.

Neighbors can help their community by reporting snipe signs tothe City’s Sanitation Department for pick-up by calling 893-7394.

Everyone can also help by considering that advertisers taketheir cue to illegally post snipe signs wherever other snipe signsgather. So, we must all stop violating the code. The seasonalbaseball and soccer league advertisements andthe neighborhood association meeting signs inthe rights- of-way have the same impact as the“We Buy Houses For Cash” signs. The Citycode does not differentiate either — they are allillegal.

In the code, a snipe sign is defined as a signwhich is attached to trees, poles, or to otherobjects, with a message appearing on it thatdoes not apply to the present use of the pre-mises or structure upon which the sign is lo-

cated. Thismeans any-thing in theC i t y ’ sr i g h t - o f -way is asnipe sign(unless aminor ease-ment andpermit hasbeen issuedby theCity).

A betteridea for the neighborhood meeting signs is to obtain permissionfrom a private residential property owner to place one informationsign in the front yard on the private property. These signs can enjoyan exemption as a free speech sign, as long a they meet the follow-ing conditions:

One sign — protecting residents’ FirstAmendment right to free speech which ex-presses any lawful non-commercial message— is allowed on a lot with a primary residen-tial use as long as the sign is located on privateproperty, is not in the right-of-way, and is notin the visibility triangle. A “free speech” signmust not exceed six square feet, and must notbe higher than eight feet.

Source: City of St. Petersburg


“Custom work“Custom work“Custom work“Custom work“Custom workmy specialty”my specialty”my specialty”my specialty”my specialty”

Resident ofResident ofResident ofResident ofResident ofOld SoutheastOld SoutheastOld SoutheastOld SoutheastOld Southeast

727.895.2272

GRADYThe

Historic HomeHandyman

Very soon thesubtle signs of achanging seasonwill be upon us:new featheredfriends in the birdbath, seasonalneighbors return-ing, acorns on thehex blocks. Dogwalkers will bravethe sunshine mid-day and fresh airwill stream throughopen windows. Allsigns that thenever-subtle, al-ways grand, His-toric Old Northeast

Candlelight Tour of Homes is just around the corner!A popular tradition since 1997, the Tour allows visitors — walk-

ing, biking or riding in chauffeured vans staffed by seasoned guides— a rare glimpse inside some of our community’s loveliest homes.

The 2008 Tour consists of a wide range of diverse architecturalstyles and sizes, from majestic to cozy, decked out in their holi-day finery. This year’s Tour — Sunday, December 7th from 3-8pm -- features a stunning home which has been meticulouslyand painstakingly restored over the past several years by a localaward-winning restorative/developer.

A primary source of revenue for our neighborhood association,The Historic Old Northeast Candlelight Tour of Homes draws athousand visitors to our community and also supports local non-profit charities.Tickets will beavailable for pur-chase in advancefor $15 at area out-lets and through themail startingT h a n k s g i v i n gweekend; ticketswill be $20 on theday of the tour. AsDecember ap-proaches, pleasecheck the websiteat www.honna.orgfor ticket outlet lo-cations and moredetails.

If you’re inter-ested in volunteer-ing this year, your talents are welcome! Join your neighbors andmeet new friends while working to showcase our distinctive neigh-borhood. Volunteers enjoy the perks of a private pre-tour andparty (truly a gala event!) the evening of Saturday, December 6th.Also, if you’re a principal in a business and would like to discussprime advertising or sponsorship opportunities, please contact JuliaBrazier at 895-4443 or [email protected].

Looking Ahead to theCandlelight Tour of Homesby Julia Brazier, Chair

WorshipService:Sundays10:30am

This ad courtesy of HONNA in appreciation of Westminster’sgenerous support of the Association


Cell: (727) 480-0916Fax: (727) 895-3242

E-mail: [email protected]

"From the Bay to the Gulf, from listing to closing, I will be there every step of the way to ensure that your buying or selling experience is a great one." Helen Torres

Licensed Real Estate Broker

GRI-CRS-SRES-LTG

(727) 895-4353

Fall Walking Tourof The Old Northeast Neighborhood

Sunday, November 16th, 1:30pm(meet at 13th Avenue NE and North Shore Drive)

Who were Flora Wylie and Elva Rouse anyway?

Join Rob Wertz and Mike Dailey, our neighborhood

architecture gurus, for the HONNA Planning/

Preservation Committee’s fall walking tour.

This season’s tour will delve into the history of our

waterfront parks and discuss some of the older

condominiums along North Shore Drive.

ANNUAL FLORIDA ORCHESTRA CONCERT IN THE PARK

Vinoy ParkSaturday, October 18th, 7pm

Bring a blanket, refreshments and friends. Fantasticfireworks show after concert. Don’t forget to bring a

can of food to donate to Tampa Bay Harvest.

Thank you, Helen Torres, for this wonderful giftto the community!

Individual and BusinessTax Returns

Small BusinessAccounting &

Consulting

St. Petersburg424 22nd Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33704

Seminole7700 Seminole Blvd, Ste 200, Seminole, FL 33772

(727) 393-1922 office • (727) 392-3266 fax

Monica M. Vernon • Garth A. Vernon


As we age, many of us will take steps to maintain our goodhealth. The neighborhoods and structures in St. Peters-burg likewise require maintenance to stay in good health as

they age. Individual structures and neighborhoods that are not main-tained not only deteriorate, they cost citizens more money. Propertyvalues may fall, and poor maintenance is often associated with higherrates of vandalism and crime. Individual property owners can be themost important partners in the effort to maintain healthy neighbor-hoods. Unfortunately, many people are not responsible owners. Thatis why citizens band together to ask government to create minimumstandards for housing, yards, parking, etc. These standards protectsurrounding property owners and tenants, who might otherwise suf-fer substandard conditions.

This information has been developed to explain some of St.Petersburg’s minimum housing and neighborhood standards. Look atthe Property Check List below and use it to evaluate your own prop-erty. Also included are descriptions of the ten most common codeviolations. Thank you for being a responsible property owner. (Forfurther information, please contact the Codes Compliance AssistanceDepartment at 893-7373.)

STRUCTURESRepair rotted wood, broken or missing boards, siding, or shingles

and make all exterior parts weather tight, rodent proof. Exteriors mustbe resistant to water and be covered with paint, siding, or brick that isin good condition. Inspect: exterior walls; roof parts including rafters,soffit, fascia; roof covering; railings on stairs, elevated landings andporches; fences (should be in good repair and legal height)

Keep housing safe, sanitary, in good repair and sound condition.Inspect both interior and exterior: walls, ceilings, floors; plumbingpipes and fixtures; windows and screens

Make sure that: address numbers are permanently attached to thehouse and clearly visible from the street and alley (when new numbersare installed, they must be at least 4 inches high); garbage is properlydisposed of; insects and rodents are exterminated; there are no areaswhere stagnant water collects and breeds mosquitoes.

YARD MAINTENANCE+ Mow the lawn so that grass is 10 inches or less in height+ Edge or remove growth from sidewalks, curb lines, gutters+ Properly trim hedges located within 5 feet of the property line,

refer to the code for height limits+ Trees over the sidewalks must be trimmed up to a height of 8 feet+ Trees over the street must be trimmed to a height of 14 feet above

the street surface+ Provide ground cover, such as grass, for all areas where sand or

soil is exposed+ Trim vegetation at traffic and sidewalk intersections in the area

between 3 feet and 8 feet high to allow motorists and pedestrians safevisibility (consult the code for details)

STORAGE+ Store furniture, building materials, junk, disabled or untagged

automobiles, refrigerators, freezers and auto parts inside of a legallyconstructed, fully enclosed structure

+ Store lumber or fire wood in the rear yard on open racks elevatedto 18 inches above the ground

+ No parking of domestic equipment (boat and trailer, utility trailer,camper, recreational vehicle) is permitted on the street or the city right-of-way. Some storage may be permitted in private yards under specialconditions (check with your area codes investigator)

PAVING/PARKING+ Driveways, steps, sidewalks and other paved areas must be in

good repair and free of debris+ Vehicles and motorcycles in front yards must be parked on a

legally recognized and approved parking surface+ Commercial vehicles and equipment may never be parked or stored

anywhere in a residential area except one commercially lettered stan-dard pick-up truck or van of less than 20 feet long and less than 7 feethigh may be permitted

BUSINESS ACTIVITIES+ Garage sales may be conducted, up to three a year and no more

than one in any 90 day period+ Home occupations (any business conducted from your home)

must be properly licensed and must meet strict criteria; no traffic oroutside display may occur and the occupation must be clearly sec-ondary to the use of the property as a home

+ Any other business activity in a residential area is not permittedRENTAL PROPERTYRental property owners must have:+ If two units or more, a Certificate of Occupancy and Occupational

License+ In certain areas, a Certificate of Inspection+ A Designated Legal Premises Agent form filed with Codes Com-

pliance AssistanceIF YOU RECEIVE A NOTICE OF VIOLATION . . .Find out how to correct the problem and do so promptly. You can

ask for additional time if you are making progress to correct the viola-tions. Some problems are serious and correction must not be delayed.There may be assistance available to low-income homeowners in theform of low interest loans or volunteer labor. Please contact yourCodes Investigator or area Neighborhood Planner for suggestions.Remember to get proper permits that may be required for some repairs.

If you are unwilling to take prompt action to correct the problems,there are several possible consequences. The City can arrange for alot to be mowed or for a vacant, open structure to be boarded. Thecost is then billed to you. If legal action becomes necessary, you willbe served a notice and must appear before the Code EnforcementBoard and Special Magistrate or before a judge in the Pinellas CountyCourt. You must explain your case, and ultimately correct the viola-tions in order to avoid fines and liens.

St. Petersburg:Up to CodeInformation for ResponsibleProperty Owners from theCity of St. Petersburg


1. Yard Maintenance StandardsYard maintenance standards are the responsibility of every property owner and include the maintenance of plant material in any right-of-way

around the property. Grass type ground cover must be maintained at ten inches or less. Hedges located within 5 feet of the property line mustbe properly trimmed to height limits specified in the code. The branches of a tree extending over any public sidewalk, street or other public wayshould be trimmed to a height of no less than eight feet above the sidewalk and fourteen feet above the street. Vegetation and trees must betrimmed so as not to impair vision or obstruct the travel of motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians upon any street, sidewalk or alley.

2. Junk And Rubbish/Outdoor StorageJunk and rubbish cannot be left in the yard and must be properly disposed of. This includes junk auto parts, appliances, furniture, building

materials and tires; trash such as discarded paper, cardboard, plastics, etc; and debris such as tree trimmings and fallen limbs.Outdoor storage is prohibited. Generally, any equipment, materials, or furnishings that would ordinarily not be used outdoors may not be

stored outdoors. For example, you may not keep indoor furniture, household appliances, auto parts, or building materials outside. You may notstore firewood outside unless it is stacked on open racks eighteen inches above the ground. You may store a barbecue grill, lawn furniture,garden hoses, garden tools, outdoor play equipment for children, or a lawn mower outside in an orderly fashion.

3. Inoperative Motor VehiclesInoperative motor vehicles cannot be stored except in a fully enclosed structure that was constructed with a permit. An inoperative vehicle

is a vehicle that does not display a current license tag and/or is not equipped with all parts that are required to legally and safely operate onpublic streets and/or cannot be driven under its own power (whether or not designed for use on the public streets).

4. PaintPaint or other water resistant treatment is required on the exterior of structures. Approved exterior siding or brick that is well maintained and

water resistant will also meet the code. Any repairs to the exterior of a structure must be made with materials that match the balance of thestructure. Therefore, siding or brick must be repaired using similar siding or brick. When damaged wood is repaired, the replacement wood mustbe painted the same as the surrounding wood.

5. ParkingParking in the required front yard set back is permitted for passenger cars and motorcycles on residential lots only on a legal driveway or in a garage.

A driveway or parking area must be constructed with approved parking surfaces. There are limits to the amount of yard area that can be used for adriveway or parking. Check with the Development Review Services Division at 893-7471 for more information about legally recognized parking areas.

6. Condition of StructuresThe maintenance of a structure is the responsibility of the property owner. Any wood, siding, shingles, roof covering, railings, fences, walls,

ceilings, porches, doors, windows and screens, and other exterior parts of a structure must be maintained in weather tight, rodent proof, soundcondition and good repair. The property owner is responsible for maintaining secure windows, doors or other openings that cannot be readilyopened for the outside. An owner may need to board up a vacant structure if a break-in occurs. Security boards must be made of exterior gradeplywood painted in a neutral color that blends inconspicuously with the exterior colors of the building.

7. Domestic EquipmentDomestic equipment includes motor homes, trailers, utility trailers, boats and campers. Up to two pieces of domestic equipment may be located

on certain areas of a residential lot. Domestic equipment may be located in the rear yard or interior side yard of a lot; but not in a front yard, a streetside yard, or a waterfront yard. On weekends only, equipment may be brought into the front yard to allow easy access and more frequent use.

8. Commercial EquipmentGenerally, commercial equipment and commercial vehicles may not be parked in a residential area unless they are within a fully enclosed

structure that was constructed with a permit. For each residential lot, one commercial vehicle designed as a van, pickup truck, or similar vehicleof up to 20 feet long and up to 7 feet high may be parked on a legally recognized parking area.

9. Illegal Dwelling UnitsDwelling units that have been added to the interior or the exterior of a structure without proper permits are illegal, regardless of how long the

units have existed. The city will require closure of such units.

10. Prohibited BusinessMost businesses are not allowed to operate in residential areas. This means that car and boat repairs, construction of cabinets and furniture,

and other activities that are not normally carried on in a residential district are prohibited, except that you may work on your own car, boat,cabinets, etc., provided the activity does not disrupt or injure nearby residents

Did You Know?+ On any day the Codes Compliance Assistance Department’s active case load is

over 7,000 cases.+ The most common violations cited are: (1) failure to maintain grass, plants and

trees, (2) failure to clean up junk and rubbish or outdoor storage, and (3) inoperativemotor vehicles.

+ Before work begins, permits are required for any structural repairs, most plumb-ing and electrical work, driveway installations, and even removal of certain trees. CallConstruction Services and Permitting at 893-7231 for more information.

For more information:City of St. Petersburg

Codes ComplianceAssistance Department

P.O. Box 2842St. Petersburg, Florida 33731-2842

To Report Code Violations: 893-7373FAX: 892-5558

St. Petersburg’s TOP 10 CODE VIOLATIONS


You’re just a stroll from a wonderful worship experience!

Join us Sunday mornings:

Citizens can promote their political preferences by displayingpolitical signs. The City recommends citizens review the politicalsign requirements in Chapter 16, Section 16-670 before display-ing political signs.

The basic requirements are outlined here.How many signs are allowed and where can they belocated?

• No more than one political sign per candidate or issue can beplaced on a lot.

• Corner lots may have two (2) signs per candidate or issue,one (1) sign per street facing.

• A sign may also be placed in the right-of-way provided it…1)is at least 6 feet back from the curb, or 2) if there is a sidewalk, itis located on the inside of the sidewalk away from the street.

• No part of any sign can be located on or extend over anyportion of the sidewalk.

• Signs must not exceed 32 square feet in area and 8 feet inheight.

The following apply to all political signs:• Signs must not be illuminated.• Sign placement must be approved by the property owner.• The ordinance does not restrict a property owner or tenant

occupant from removing signs from the private premises and theadjacent rights-of-way.

• Signs must be removed no later than one week after the election.• Regardless of who created or installed the sign, the property

owner or tenant occupant is responsible for compliance of theirproperty and the adjacent rights-of-way with these regulations.

• Signs may be removed by the City from rights-of-way if theydo not comply with City ordinances.

Political candidates need to do their paperwork!Political candidates or representatives of referendum issues may

distribute signs for placement within public rights-of-way, butmust comply with the City ordinances and must also file a “holdharmless” agreement defending and holding the City and its em-ployees harmless from any and all claims, liability, costs and ex-pense resulting from the existence of or erection of the sign. Theagreement must be filed with the City Clerk prior to the distribu-tion or erection of signs. The agreement requires removal of allsigns within one week after the election.

Election day exceptions:• Between 4:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., political signs not exceed-

ing six square feet can be placed in the right-of-way abuttingpolling places between the curb or edge of the street pavementand the sidewalk.

• For primary election days, each candidate or issue may haveone sign for each street side of a polling place. For general elec-tion days, each candidate or issue may have two signs for eachstreet side of a polling place.

• No part of a sign should be placed within four feet of any partof another sign.

• No part of a sign should extend over any portion of the right-of-way that is within two feet of the closest part of the curb or ifthere is no curb, the pavement or portion of road designed orused for vehicular traffic.

• Polling place signs may be removed by the City if they exceedthe height requirements of Section 29-192 while located in the visibil-ity triangle or if they violate any of the provisions of the ordinance.

Professional child care available all morning

The mission of First Presbyterian Church is to equip God's people to know, love and serve God as revealed in Jesus Christ.

701 Beach Drive N.E. � St. Petersburg (727) 822-2031 � www.fpc-stpete.org

Political Signs

“In the right place at the right time”

• Signs may not be located intraffic medians or parkland.

Size limits for a single-family residential propertyand other residentialzones:

• Signs must not exceed 6square feet in area and 8 feet inheight.

Size limits for non-residential zoningdistricts:

Source: City of St. Petersburg


In Case You Missed It: Updates and Follow Ups

Keeping You Current on Some NeighborhoodStories That Have Been in the News

Shortly after the new crosswalk, identified with twopedestrian crossing signs, was installed on Coffee Pot Boulevardat 20th Avenue NE atthe curve just southof the Snell IsleBridge, the policewere waiting forviolators. Officersissued 50 warnings“for educationalpurposes” to motor-ists who ignored thesign when pedestri-ans were attemptingto cross. An actual“ticket” or finewould be $120.[source: St. Peters-burg Times, 5/20]

The DoctorDelay columnwhich appears in theSunday “Neighborhood Times” section of the St. Pete paper noted“an ugly trend” in our neighborhood. Some residents contactedthe “doc” to complain about vehicles parked on sidewalks, soshe took a drive through the ‘hood and noticed a number of suchviolations on a single street plus cars blocking pedestrian accessto crosswalks by cars parked on corners. She writes: “Not onlyis this practice inconsiderate and dangerous, it’s illegal.” [source:St. Petersburg Times, 6/1]

The long-time executive chef at the Renaissance Vinoy isplanning to open a gourmet market on 4th Street. John Pivar hasin mind something along the lines of Fancy’s, a neighborhoodlandmark that closed in 2003 after a 20+ year run. He stated thathis market would place a big emphasis on prepared meals. [source:

St. Petersburg Times, 7/16]…The St. Petersburg Times recentlyalso gave plugs to two neighborhood eateries: Smoothie King at1052 4th Street N and Valentino’s Little Italy at 1003 4th StreetN (citing its “ala vodka” pizza with “booze-spiked tomato sauce”and a three-cheese white).

The South West Florida Management District (SWFTMD)has extended water restrictions to September 30th. This appliesto water from public and private water utilities as well as the useof all wells and surface water sources (ponds, rivers, etc.). The

schedule forSt. Petersburgfor potable wa-ter, private welland surfacewater is Satur-day (evenhouse num-bers) and Sun-day (odd housen u m b e r s ) .[ s o u r c e :SWFTMD]


ON THE DOCKET:Some Upcoming Events In

and Nearby Our Neighborhood

For a current and more detailedlisting go to the City’s website at

www.stpete.org

September 5 Get Downtown Music Series Central b/w 2nd-3rd; 393-3597September 6 FISH-ful Saturday - Rip Currents The Pier; 895-7437September 13 AIDS Walk St. Petersburg 2008 (fundraiser to benefit For AIDS Care Today) North Shore Pool; 523-2437September 13 Gallery Walk Downtown galleries; 821-6767

SEPTEMBER 15 NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGSEPTEMBER 19 PORCH PARTY (see p. 16)

September 20 FISH-ful Saturday - El Nino vs. La Nina The Pier; 895-7437.September 27 St. Petersburg College: A Legacy of Leadership (exhibit opening and photo unveiling)

St. Petersburg Museum of History; 894-1052September 27 15th Annual Fish Head Ball: Underwater Atlantis (annual fundraiser for the Pier Aquarium)

Tradewinds Resort Grand Resort, St. Pete Beach; 895-7437September 27 -28 Folk Fest 2008 Central b/w 11th and 13th; 825-0515October 3 Get Downtown Music Series Central b/w 2nd-3rd; 393-3597October 4 Race For The Cure (fundraiser for breast cancer awareness) Vinoy Park; 877/506-6927October 4 FISH-ful Saturday - It All Runs Downhill The Pier; 895-7437October 5 Hot Pepper Fest Sunken Gardens; 551-3100 (see p. 12)October 11 Gallery Walk Downtown galleries; 821-6767October 16 Lunch ‘n Learn: Gardening in FL Sunken Gardens; 551-3102 (see p. 12)October 17-19 Tampa Bay Boat Sale The Trop; 893-8523

OCTOBER 17 PORCH PARTY (see p. 16)

October 18 FISH-ful Saturday – Pollution The Pier; 895-7437

OCTOBER 18 CONCERT IN THE PARK (see p. 19)

October 19 Share the Road Ride (promoting bike safety and education) Vinoy Park; 415-3873 October 19 Bicycle Bash by the Bay Vinoy Park; 813/468-0064

OCTOBER 20 NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING

October 25 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk North Straub Park; 812-7006November 7 Get Downtown Music Series Central b/w 2nd-3rd; 393-3597November 8 Gallery Walk Downtown galleries; 821-6767November 15 St. Petersburg Studio Tour 2008 (self guided tour of professional artist studios) Throughout city; 323-ARTS

NOVEMBER 16 WALKING TOUR of NEIGHBORHOOD (see p. 19)NOVEMBER 17 NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGNOVEMBER 21 PORCH PARTY (see p. 16)

Check out our newly revamped website www.honna.org12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789011234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890112345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789011234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890112345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789011234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890112345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789011234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890112345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789011234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890112345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789011234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890112345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789011234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890112345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789011234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890112345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901

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HONNA Board Meetingsare held the

second Monday of each monthat 6:30pm and areopen to the public.

Neighborhood Book GroupNeighborhood Book GroupNeighborhood Book GroupNeighborhood Book GroupNeighborhood Book GroupUnderwayUnderwayUnderwayUnderwayUnderwayby Susan Coffey

So, The Old Northeast Book club is up and running. PatriciaCalvert, one of our members, was clever enough to come upwith our name which is ONE Great Book Club (ONE being anacronym for Old Northeast). Our book club pres-ently consists of eight members, all from The OldNE and Snell Isle. We are open to all kinds of books,be they fiction, non-fiction, biographies, classics andmodern day novels. Our book is chosen by the per-son who is hosting our bi-monthly gatherings (sec-ond Thursday every other month).

Our first meeting was hosted by me in May, andI chose Khaled Hosseini’s novel, A Thousand Splen-did Suns. You may know Hosseini from his otherbestseller, The Kite Runner, which was made into amajor motion picture. A Thousand Splendid Sunstakes us to Hosseini’s birthplace of Afghanistan;however, the novel is not about him but rathertwo Afghan girls who through incredibly tumultu-ous times become each other’s life preserver. The story is toldthrough their eyes and their circumstances as they become womenin this war-torn country. It is a story about courage, survival and

the ability to love one another even while being surrounded byhate. Hosseini’s novel received thumbs up from our group.

The second gathering took place at Linda Dobb’s home, andthe book she chose was Amy Tan’s Saving Fish From Drowning.Tan has written several books, the most recognizable being TheJoy Luck Club, which was also made into a major film. In SavingFish From Drowning the omniscient narrator is Bibi Chen, a SanFrancisco art dealer of Chinese descent. She dies under mysteri-ous circumstances and tells her story from her grave about her

friends from the art world and their excursion toBurma, now known as Myanmar. They are allwealthy and act as if they are entitled to the sameprivileges they have in the United States. They soonfind out differently and find themselves trapped bya Burmese tribe. The tribe believes one of thetraveler’s sons has special powers, which will freethem from their government’s oppression.

This novel received mixed reviews from us. Muchof the story was somewhat hard to believe, especiallyhow these tourists were kidnapped and how they over-looked so many ways to escape. Some of us werefamiliar with China and Burma, but for others of us welearned a lot about the countries and their culture.

Our next book club discussion is set for Septem-ber 11th, and the book is Here be Dragons by Sharon

Kay Penman. For more information about the book club you maycontact me at [email protected].

As The Pages Turn...


by Yvonne Swanson -- Master Gardener

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Fall PlantMaintenance

Yvonne Swanson is a Master Gardener for Pinellas County. Shealso writes a garden column for the St. Petersburg Times.

The Old Northeast Garden Clubmeets the first Friday of each month

For information please contactMarilyn Johnson at 553-9155

or e-mail: [email protected]

Plants are like people. Some like a drink now and then, somecan’t get enough and others abstain altogether. With that inmind, our especially rainy summer was like a months-longcocktail party. Some plants soaked it up and grew out ofcontrol while the teetotalers checked out early when soggysoil rotted them from the roots up.

In the aftermath, we’re left with major cleanup. Unlessyou want a jungle, it’s time to get out the pruning tools andput an end to the party — especially if you continued tofertilize plants all summer, which boosted green growtheven more.

Pruning shrubs and trees can be a simple routine or anoverwhelming chore. But you can make it a lower main-tenance place with smart planting and maintenance strat-egies.

Begin with your plant selection. Do shrubs block windows,doorways, sidewalks or a driveway? If so, you’ve got a case of“wrong plant, wrong place” — and unless you want to spendcountless hours pruning, you should remove or transplant thoseshrubs and replace with low-growing or compact selections.

Next, cut back on fertilizer — particularly nitrogen — espe-cially if your plants are mature. Adding some nutrients — particu-larly magnesium and manganese, which are in short supply inFlorida soils — may still be necessary, but let your plant’s health

be your guide. The important thing to remember isdon’t overdo the fertilizer unless you want to be

locked into high-maintenance pruning.If you’ve been shearing your landscape by uni-

formly cutting everything, you’re doing more harmthan good. Constant shearing increases pests and dis-

ease and destroys the natural beauty and shape of plants.Instead, you should “head” plants by cutting the tips of

branches or stems to promote fullness and “thin” by re-moving the branch back to another branch or to the ground

to spread more growth evenly throughout the plant.Use this pruning checklist to keep your yard at its best

this fall:• Prune dead, dying or damaged wood and plant parts,

which could easily become airborne if a storm hits in thenext few months of hurricane season.

• Lightly prune now and at anytime to improve plant health,control growth and enhance appearance. Prune branches with

early stages of insect infestation from aphids or scale, then bagand dispose of cuttings

• Don’t prune newly transplanted plants, except for dead, dis-eased, broken or crossed branches.

• Prune evergreens at any time.• Prune flowering plants that set buds on current growth (allamanda,

hibiscus, oleander, plumbago, thryallis, cassia and tibouchina are ex-amples) when they are dormant or don’t have buds.

• Don’t prune green palm fronds. Only prune those that are asafety issue or completely brown. Prune fruits at any time.

• Don’t prune flowering trees and shrubs that form buds on theprevious season’s growth (azalea, camellia, Indian hawthorn,magnolia, fringe tree, African tulip-tree and redbud). They shouldbe pruned in late spring after blooming — but before new flowerbuds have formed.

• Don’t prune young citrus trees, but remove new sprouts onthe trunk at anytime. Mature citrus shouldn’t be pruned until afterfruiting but before new growth in the spring.


2350 26th St. North • St. Petersburg, FL 33713-4329(727) 327-3366 • FAX (727) 327-9211

[email protected] • www.herrcontracting.comLic. CG-C058023

Kathe B. BierhoffRemodeling • Residential & Commercial Construction

“WE WILL REACH YOUR FITNESS GOALS”ANY CONVENIENT LOCATION: HOME, OFFICE, GYM OR PARK

NewMembers

Marc and Ivy Barnes ......................... 21st Avenue N

Frank and Lea Ann Biafora ................ 2nd Street N

Gene and Susan Kujava .................... 18th Avenue NE

Debra and Jeffery Mossoff ................. 11th Avenue N

Rachel and David Wein ..................... 22nd Avenue NE


Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood AssociationP.O. Box 76324St. Petersburg, FL 33734www.honna.org

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE PAIDST. PETERSBURG FL

PERMIT #1020

Next Neighborhood Meeting: Monday, September 15th, at 7pmAll neighborhood residents invited

IN THIS ISSUE

• HONNA’s

Book Project

• Hot Pepper Fest

• 4th of July Fun

• Up To Code?

...and much more

Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood News - September 2008

Documents

Transcript of Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood News - September 2008