Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood News - December 2006

Page 1 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Volume 33 Issue 4 www.honna.org December 2006
Old Northeast
Neighborhood
News
Historic
Published Quarterly
HONNA Neighborhood
Meetings
are held the third
Monday of each month
(except August and
December)
at Westminster
Presbyterian Church
126 11
th
Avenue NE
6:45 p.m., social
7:00 p.m., business
I N T HI S I S S U E
HONNA Board Meetings
are held the second
Monday of each month
at 7pm and are
open to the public.
Housing Swoon?
.......................... Page 2
Halloween Horrors
........................ Page 11
Shore Cleanup
................... Page 14/15
Holiday Gorging ...........
........................ Page 22
Season Traditions
........................ Page 28
UPCOMING
MEETINGS
Mark your
calendar!
December
No Meeting
January 15
th
General Meeting
February 19
th
General Meeting
continued on page 2
Dear Local Historic District Voter,
Thank you for voting in the recent Local His-
toric District campaign. If you voted “YES”, the
Neighborhood Association most sincerely thanks
you for your support. If you voted “NO”, we
thank you for taking the time to make your posi-
tion known. Regardless of how you voted, it
seems from our conversations with residents on
both sides that most all agree we live in a very
special neighborhood and that we want to keep
those special qualities.
As you can see below, the results for those who
actually voted were overwhelmingly positive.
However, this was not enough as two-thirds of all
property owners living in the proposed district had
to agree to the designation for it to be adopted.
Annual Candlelight Tour of Homes
Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!
YES: 971 • NO:170 • Non-Voting:
1065
Although our goal was not reached
for the neighborhood as a whole,
many “blocks” did vote to approve
the proposal. In addition, a number
of positive things occurred during the course of
the campaign:
• Increased public recognition that The Old
Northeast has a special charm and character which
most agree should be maintained even if they dif-
fer on the best way to accomplish this.
• Some of the pressure to tear down and rede-
velop existing properties has been reduced, at least
Are you one of those people so consumed by
the Christmas holiday rush that you’ll be running
around like a dervish going from the UPS store,
to WalMart, to Walgreen’s and Lowe’s and pass
yourself coming in the
front door? Maybe
you will fail to keep
your annual vow to
make a lavishly deco-
rated home Holiday
Priority #1 and instead
find yourself procras-
tinating until the real-
ity hits you: I’ve got to
get in gear…NOW? If
either of these descrip-
tions fit, The Historic
Old Northeast Neigh-
borhood Association is
offering the perfect
antidote: its annual
Candlelight Tour of
Homes.
Need to chill out, step back and just enjoy what
others have done to celebrate the season? Des-
perate for some inspiration on how you can trans-
form your home into a winter wonderland (Florida-
style)? Either way, the Candlelight Tour is just what
the doctor ordered.
This traditional high-
light of the holiday season
returns on December
10th, from 3-8pm, when
the Ninth Annual Historic
Old Northeast Candlelight
Tour of Homes throws
open the doors of some of
St. Petersburg’s loveliest
homes decked out in their
best yuletide finery.
A popular event since
1997, the Candlelight
Tour allows visitors – on
foot, by car or riding trol-
leys staffed by informa-
tive guides -- to explore
homes representing many
architectural styles found in the historic neighbor-
hood. This year’s tour will feature eight homes,
continued on page 2
An Open Letter to All Our Neighbors
The letter which follows was mailed to all who voted in the Local Historic District
designation campaign. For additional information about this, please go to the report of
the Historic Preservation Committee on page 3.
Page 2 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
*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 three weeks
prior to the publication month. The next deadline is February 9th. Pay-
ment for new ads should be submitted at the same time that the ad layout is
provided and should be addressed to “HONNA Advertising.”
The newsletter is distributed by mail to all homes in The Old Northeast (bound-
aries are 5th Ave N to 30th Ave N, and 4th St N to North Shore Dr/Coffee Pot Bayou
Blvd). There are approximately 2,800 active home mailing addresses.
Contact Rachel Sartain: [email protected]
Ad space is limited so please make arrangements early.
AD SIZE 1Qtr 2 Qtrs 3 Qtrs 1 Year
Business card 40 74 102 128
1/4 page (4.75" x 3.5") 80 147 204 256
1/2 page (9.5" x 3.5") 160 294 408 512
Full page 320 589 816 1024
Single page insert* 220 440 660 880
AD RATES
Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association
OFFICERS and BOARD
HONNA Board meetings are held the second Monday of each month
at 7pm and are open to the public. Check with HONNA for the location.
President
Cathy Martin 821-8656 [email protected]
Vice President
Chuck Lindeen 822-8444 [email protected]
Secretary
Anne-Marie Stephenson 897-9398 [email protected]
Treasurer
Douglas Haan 488-5514 [email protected]
Directors
Julia Brazier 403-2237 [email protected]
Rick Carson 898-7834 [email protected]
Bob Dobbs 823-9824 [email protected]
Nicole Durkin [email protected]
Quinn Henderson 894-2222 [email protected]
Bob Hunter 898-7987 [email protected]
Brian Johnson 391-9756 [email protected]
Mary Alice Lange 251-2034 [email protected]
Virginia Littrell 823-9042
Wendy Mansfield 894-1057 [email protected]
Robin Reed 825-0480 [email protected]
Published quarterly – March, June, September and
December and mailed to all households in The Old Northeast
P.O. Box 76324, St. Petersburg, FL 33734
e-mail [email protected]
Editor Rick Carson
Columnists and Reporters
The Newsletter of the Historic Old
Northeast Neighborhood Association
Mike Dailey
David Forman
Yvonne Swanson
Linda Dobbs
Peter Stanhope
Susan Alderson
John Gee
Chuck Lindeen
Lisa Mazinas
Barbara Rhode
Amy Labie
Circulation Cathy Leonard and Joe O’Connor
Contributors All our Old Northeast neighbors
Newsletter Layout & Design Sharon Bond: [email protected]
Advertising Information Rachel Sartain: [email protected]
including a charmingly renovated cottage, transformed Florida
bungalows, a modern town home in a 1920’s Spanish-style apart-
ment building and a prominent landmark home. And you assur-
edly will be dazzled by a glittering array of seasonal decorations.
Holiday spirits will be warmed by refreshments courtesy of
neighbors at the Dickens House Bed & Breakfast, Westminster
Palms Colonnade Guest House and Westminster Presbyterian
Church.
Proceeds from ticket sales will go toward beautification efforts
within the neighborhood, most specifically the decorative acorn
lighting program along 1
st
Street, with a portion of the monies col-
lected benefiting the YWCA Family Village, which helps families in
need, and the Westminster Presbyterian Church’s new roof fund.
Tickets purchased on the day of the Tour are $20 but are $15
if purchased in advance. If purchased through the mail, checks
should be made payable to HONNA and sent with a stamped,
self-addressed envelope to: HONNA Home Tour, P.O. Box 76324,
St. Petersburg FL 33734. Advance tickets may be purchased at
the following outlets:
A Green & Yellow Basket (205 1st Street NE)
Premier Group Realty, Inc. (2331 4th Street N)
Dolin’s Garden Center (801 62nd Avenue N)
Beach Drive Papery (2435 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street N)
Florida Craftsman Gallery (501 Central Avenue)
Annual Candlelight Tour of Homes from page 1
Something Different From Around the World (3252 Tyrone
Blvd N and 9445 Ulmerton Road, Largo)
Uncorked (2706 4
th
Street N)
Advance tickets must be redeemed on tour day at either
Westminster Palms Colonnade Guest House (9th and Beach Drive
NE) or Westminster Presbyterian Church (126 11th Avenue NE)
between 2-7pm. Day-of tickets will also be available at these two
locations.
The event sponsor is The Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood
Association which is an active force preserving the historic integ-
rity, quality of life and unique environment of The Old Northeast.
For further information about the tour, contact Julia Brazier at
895-4443 or [email protected].
for now, by a slowing real
estate market.
• The unanimous adoption
by the City Council of new
Land Development Regula-
tions (“LDRs”) which will
address some of the same
issues regarding mass and
scale that were primary goals
of Local Historic District
designation.
It is now time to move
on. A committee member will
be coming by shortly to pick
up the “YES” signs. Going
forward, we will be looking
for ways to build neighbor-
hood consensus on how best to preserve the special qualities that
help define The Old Northeast. Please let us know of any sug-
gestions you may have.
Thank you again for your participation.
HONNA Historic Preservation Committee
An Open Letter to All Our Neighbors from page 1
Page 3 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Association News & Activities
Committee Reports
President
Cathy Martin
Thank you to Robin Reed, her husband Joe, and the entire
Historic Preservation Committee
Whether we voted yes or no — or didn’t vote — we owe
many thanks to Robin and her Committee for the many hours of
service to the neighborhood during the campaign for Local His-
toric District status. Local Historic District has been discussed in
the neighborhood for a dozen years or more, but only when we
asked Robin (the force behind many other neighborhood initia-
tives as well) to develop and execute a voting plan were we able
to get the initiative underway.
Robin worked tirelessly to learn about the preferences of neigh-
bors, to explain the process and the consequences accurately and
to make sure that everyone had the information they needed in
order to vote. Joe, her husband, spent many hours assisting and
discussing pros and cons with neighbors, as well. The entire His-
toric Preservation Committee stayed on track for a long and dif-
ficult campaign that brought many issues to the fore, confirmed
the neighborhood’s commitment to character and historic roots
and challenged us to find ways to work together to achieve a
common goal.
Thanks to the entire committee and especially to Robin and Joe
for their hard work, perseverance and commitment to a civilized
and neighborly campaign.
Secretary
Anne-Marie Stephenson
There was no general monthly meeting in August and the Sep-
tember and October meetings provided updates by committee
chairs on activities in their areas of responsibility.
The November meeting [held after this issue went to press]
was devoted to the election of Board members for the coming
year, and the results will be in the March issue of the newsletter.
No monthly meeting is held in December.
Historic Preservation
Robin Reed, Chair
The Historic Preservation Committee met twice in October to
discuss the results of the campaign for Local Historic District
designation and to decide where we go from here. The first order
of business was to thank voters and pick up the VOTE YES signs.
(See letter on Page 1 for voting results.)
Although the vote was overwhelmingly positive, there were
not enough YES votes to attain the required 2/3 percentage of all
property owners in the proposed district (if you are interested in
knowing how your block and those nearby you voted, please
contact me). However, over the course of the campaign it be-
came apparent that almost everyone could agree that The Historic
Old Northeast is a very special place and that those defining char-
acteristics should be maintained.
The following are ideas which the Preservation Committee will
be developing to further build consensus on preserving these spe-
cial characteristics:
+ Form a HONNA Activities Committee which will reach out
particularly to new residents and younger people in the neighbor-
hood
+ Develop a historical plaque program
+ Create a resource list of products of particular interest to
those restoring or renovating properties
+ Develop a series of workshops dealing with restoration/reno-
vation projects
+ Research individual preservation easements
+ Remind residents that “PRESERVE” banners are still avail-
able (in green, navy blue and wine red)
+ Develop and print walking tour brochures of the neighbor-
hood
+ Create an advisory committee to help residents with COA
applications for the ad valorem tax exemption
+ Continue to attend Historic Preservation Commission meet-
ings which are relevant to HONNA
We encourage each of you to participate in these various ac-
tivities. Together we can make a difference and help to keep those
things that we enjoy and love about The Old Northeast. If you are
interested in joining the Preservation Committee, please contact
Robin Reed (825-0480; [email protected]).
Battling Demolition
in Florida and Texas
[from American Bungalow, Fall 2006]
“Most people don’t realize how fragile their historic neighbor-
hood can be,” says Robin Reed, historic preservation committee
chair of her St. Petersburg, Florida, neighborhood.
In the front yards of Reed’s Historic Old Northeast neighbor-
hood, the blue “Yes” signs and red “No” signs signal dissension
over the proposal to put the community of 2,200 homes on the
local Register of Historic Places. Requiring approval by two-
thirds of the residents, the proposal has generated heated debate.
Those who say “yes” see the designation as the only way to
prevent developers from indiscriminately tearing down houses
and replacing them with buildings out of character with the neigh-
borhood. Though the area is on the National Register of Historic
Places, the Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association
(HONNA) explains that national designation is mostly honorary.
Local historic district status is needed to regulate demolition, new
construction and exterior alterations to ensure protection of the
area’s architectural integrity.
Meanwhile, residents voting “no: argue that the national desig-
nation is sufficient and that the city’s building codes and neigh-
borhood design review process offer adequate oversight. De-
fending their property rights, the no-voters say there is no need
for more government involvement in their lives.
The controversy has intensified with disputes over facts and
effects on property values, and HONNA has geared for battle
with information. They’ve developed community and media vis-
ibility and a Web site (historicstpete.com) complete with articles,
city codes, Q&As, approval forms and “10 Reasons to Approve.”
Page 4 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Check out the HONNA website www.honna.org
New
Members
Jerry Cline and Fran Bridges-Cline ............... 14
th
Avenue N
Bob and Jo-An Christie ................................ 20
th
Avenue NE
Thomas Edmonds ......................................... Oak Street NE
Judy Koch .................................................... 16
th
Avenue NE
Thomas Linton ............................................. 14
th
Avenue N
Virginia Littrell ............................................... 19
th
Avenue NE
Clyde and Molly Markey .............................. 9
th
Avenue NE
Loren and Jean Mathe .................................. 23
rd
Avenue NE
Kent and Maggie Mitchell ............................ 9
th
Avenue NE
Ben and Beverly Noun ................................. 15
th
Avenue NE
Cathy O’Kelley ............................................. 17
th
Avenue N
Tom Parker .................................................... 8
th
Avenue N
Rodney and Rebecca Paulk .......................... 11
th
Avenue NE
Dennis Shelt ................................................. 7
th
Avenue N
Patricia Smith ................................................ 6
th
Avenue NE
Dan Soronen ................................................. 7
th
Avenue N
Suzanne VanGorder ....................................... 24
th
Avenue N
Manual Vilaret ............................................... 7
th
Avenue N
Rita and Jed Wilkinson ................................. 21
st
Avenue N
They’re also pounding the pavement as 35 volunteers disperse to
call on each household with information packets making the case
for local historic status.
“‘Things have been fine in the past,’ is a familiar phrase,” says
Robin Reed. “A local historic district campaign must make resi-
dents aware of the threat of tear-downs, inappropriate new con-
struction and condo development that’s especially insidious dur-
ing economic boom times when the value of the land outpaces
that of the historic houses.”
Membership
Douglas Haan, Chair
It is the end of the year and I wanted to give you an update on
the recent membership renewal drive we conducted. In total we
mailed out 402 renewal postcards to members whose membership
had already expired or was due to expire shortly. As of November
9
th
we had received 77 renewals, and they keep on coming in. That
is almost a 20% response rate which is considered very good. In
addition,12 of those 77 renewing HONNA members included a to-
tal of $400+ extra to be put towards tree planting, the acorn street
lighting project already under way on 1
st
Street, Florida- friendly
landscaping and the HONNA general fund. The 12 generous mem-
bers who contributed the additional $400+ are:
As a reminder, all HONNA memberships will renew January
1
st
. We will send out a reminder postcard that you will be able to
return with your dues payment. We will also offer you the option
to add monies for the projects mentioned above.
In my remarks for the September newsletter I informed you of
the addition of Anne Shumate and Cathy Leonard to the mem-
bership team. I would now like to thank Quinn Henderson who
has been a Board member and head of the Membership Commit-
tee for the past two years. Quinn is transitioning off the Board
and will hopefully have more time for family and other endeav-
ors. Quinn has been the one to get out our broadcast e-mails and
announcements as well as updating our membership records. Many
of you may have met Quinn at the membership table during our
monthly homeowner meetings. Quinn’s efforts are greatly appre-
ciated and we will miss his valued input on the Board.
I have been on the HONNA Board now for six years and your
Treasurer for the past two. When I joined the Board I was the
“new kid on the block” with much to learn. Many people were so
very kind to me and generous with their institutional knowledge
about this neighborhood. One of those people was Joe O’Connor.
I do not even know how long Joe had served on the Board before
I joined it, but he continued to serve for several additional years.
When he transitioned off the Board he continued to support by
helping to get the newsletter mailed and most recently assisting the
Historic Preservation committee with a mailing. Joe is one of those
people who is a whiz with computer databases. He is the one who
built and maintained the HONNA membership database and to this
day continues to advise us on ways to enhance and broaden its use.
Joe, thank you so much for your continued gifts of time, talent,
insight and energy. We are all most grateful!
Neighborhood Planning and Design
Review
Mary Alice Lange, Chair
Monuments and Medians
On Saturday, October 21st, HONNA held a neighborhood-wide
Clean-Up which included a “mulching party” to spruce up our
monuments and medians. It was a great success with many vol-
unteers choosing to move to another site to assist others finishing
up the tasks. Neighbors passing by would honk their horns and
say “Thank you!” to the volunteers which made their efforts even
more rewarding.
Phillipe Piquet, owner of
Twigs & Leaves (a garden
center specializing in
Florida native plants at
1013 Dr. Martin Luther
King Street S) stepped up
to the plate to assist us with
mulching all locations.
Shortly after delivering
mulch to the eight locations volunteers started phoning me to get
more mulch. When it became evident that we needed a lot more
mulch, Phillipe drove back to the nursery to pick up additional
supplies. Volunteers were eager to finish their projects and waited
patiently for more mulch. Phillipe, thank you for your commit-
ment to HONNA.
- Robert Green
- Curtis & Cecily Gresham
- Katherine Kronenberg & John Gee
- Kevin & Jeanne Milkey
- Tom & Andrea O’Neill
- Lou & Linda Santoro
- Evelyn Seroor
- James & Glicia Spencer
- Marcia Turner
- Garth & Monica Vernon
- A. Voarick & P. Tournier
- Theresa Watson
Page 5 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
JOIN OUR COMMITTEES
Activities: chair vacant
Spring Garden Stroll (May): vacant
Candlelight Tour of Homes (December):
Co-Chairs Ann Caviness, 502-0870, and
Elaine Normile, 821-3479
C.O.N.A. Rep: Chuck Lindeen, 822-8444
Crime & Safety: Brian Johnson, 391-9756
Historic Preservation: Robin Reed, 825-0480
Membership: Douglas Haan, 488-5514
Neighborhood Design Review:
Mary Alice Lange, 823-5401
Neighborhood Plan: Mary Alice Lange, 823-5401
Newsletter: Rick Carson, 898-7834
Traffic: Nicole Durkin, [email protected]
Website: Bob Dobbs, 823-9824
Your volunteer involvement in one of our committees will
help enhance your neighborhood and our association. Please
contact any committee chair for information.
Historic Old Northeast
Neighborhood
Association Membership
The Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association was
founded i n 1974 to promote ci vi c i mprovement of our
neighborhood. We invite and welcome all residents of the
Old Northeast to join the association and become involved.
Annual membership dues are $20 per household.
Send this completed form to:
Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association
P.O. Box 76324
St. Petersburg, FL 33734
Name(s): ________________________
Address: ________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
Phone: __________________________
E-Mail: __________________________
When did you move into the neighborhood
(month and year)?: _______________
Like our neighborhood?
Want to make it even better?
Volunteer with one of our committees!
ANNUAL DUES ENCLOSED
$30 through 12/31/07
HONNA purchased
160 bags of the eco-
friendly Florimulch. The
Forest Service produces
Florimulch after the re-
moval of invasive
melalucca trees in the
Everglades (the product
is treated to remove any
active plant growth.
Work was not the
only thing on the agenda
– volunteers were eli-
gible to win prizes!!!
This list represents only
a few of the many neigh-
bors who volunteered:
Julia Brazier, Anne-Marie
Stephenson, Robin Reed, Nona
Peebles, Cathy Leonard, Randy
Hodge, Rick Carson, Carlton
Rowell, Karen Murray and
Celine Kapiolani.
Land Development
Regulations
New Land Development
Regulations (LDRs) have been
processed for review by the
State of Florida and Pinellas
County. Final public hearing
should be in March 2007 for final adoption.
Redevelopment Projects
+ 2420 Andalusia Way NE: So sad. This home in Granada
Terrace was in the process of restoration and renovation when it
became evident that the foundation and stem wall were deterio-
rated beyond the point of repair. The Historic Preservation Com-
mission for the City of St. Petersburg voted to allow for the demo-
lition of the home with an exact replica of the home restoration
plans being rebuilt on the site with modifications to the garage.
This project will go before the Board of Adjustment for approval
of the setback requirements to rebuild the home.
+ Plans have been submitted to the City to redevelop the North
Shore Retirement facility at 10th and Beach Drive NE into con-
dominiums. The developers are proposing 78 units with dedi-
cated parking spaces, swimming pool and other amenities for the
complex residents. The developer is requesting a variance to the
impervious surface ratio (ISR) at 65% while the current code
allows 55%. The future Land Development Regulations will al-
low a 65% ISR. The City is evaluating the proposal before it goes
to the Environmental Development Commission.
+ The owner/developer of the Brown Nash Building, previ-
ously used as the 4th Street Antique Arcade, is proposing a park-
ing lot along 15th Avenue N on the east side of alley – where the
church currently stands — to provide parking spaces for the build-
ing. Today, the approvals allow for office and retail tenants while
the developer’s proposal includes a restaurant use. HONNA has
voiced concerns to the City zoning office over the impact on the
Thank you very mulch!
Page 6 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
adjacent and nearby residents. The case will be heard before the
Environmental Development Commission.
+ HONNA has been speaking with representatives of a devel-
oper for a condo/hotel project along the south side of 5th Avenue
NE between 1st and 2nd streets. The project drawings and study
information are not available at this time. HONNA will meet with
the representative and the City zoning office in the near future.
Crime and Safety
Brian Johnson, Chair
The Crime and Safety Committee has created a letter that is
being sent as an insert in this newsletter which will make signing
up as a member of the Neighborhood Crime Watch easy. All you
have to do is fill out the application, fold and staple it and drop it
in the mail (the postage is pre-paid by the HONNA). Each mem-
ber will receive a Crime Watch sticker to be placed in their front
window to show that they have joined. E-mail addresses are im-
portant as it is planned to be used as a network for notifying
neighbors of crime activity as it happens. The better informed we
are as a group the better chance we have of preventing crime in
our neighborhood. Please be on the look-out for the Crime Watch
application and take the time to fill it out and return it.
Traffic
Nicole Durkin, Chair
The City has completed the installation of the new, neigh-
borhood-wide 25mph speed limit signs. We have notified
local law enforcement and hope to continue efforts to slow
down traffic in and around our neighborhood. Remember, the
speed limit applies to resi-
dents also!
I’ve had many inquiries
related to the creation of a
“resident only” parking
zone in the southeastern end
of the neighborhood as a re-
sult of the numerous festi-
vals and events occurring at
Vinoy Park. We are in the
process of gathering infor-
mation related to the signifi-
cant traffic impact these fes-
tivals and events have on the
neighborhood and the inabil-
ity of residents to find park-
ing during these frequent
events. We are currently
seeking volunteers to docu-
ment the parking problems
created during the busy event seasons. Please contact me if you
are willing to volunteer.
As always, feel free to contact me with any traffic related is-
sues. I will gladly forward the same to the appropriate City em-
ployee for action and make every attempt to continue to follow-
up. As previously indicated, while I will always attempt to re-
spond to your reports of accidents, near-misses, cut-through traffic
or speeding, you should also contact Michael Frederick, City of
St. Petersburg Neighborhood Transportation Manager
([email protected]; 893-7843).
New “acorn” lighting on 1st
Street thanks to HONNA’s
matching grant from the City.
Your own Personal Assistant
for the holidays!

www.harmonyconcierge.com
Great gift idea ~ Gift Certificates available
~Gift shopping
~Gift wrapping & mailing
~Party preparation

Let us help with your...
~Organization projects
~Errand running
~and more
(727)
502-5212
200 Central Avenue, Ste 620 (Bank of America Tower)
Page 7 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Curb
Appeal
by Chuck Lindeen
This little corner of our neighborhood newsletter is specifi-
cally focused on spotlighting the homes of our neighbors who
have worked magic in one way or another to create “curb ap-
peal” —that much sought-after quality in their little corner of
The Historic Old Northeast.
In the last issue “Curb Ap-
peal” focused on the out-
standing job our neighbors at
2728 Coffee Pot Boulevard
NE have done with their
property. Thank you for your
call following the newsletter’s
publication. As you said, it’s
nice to know people are pay-
ing attention. Thanks again
for your efforts!
In this issue we would
like to add our neighbors at
180 21
st
Avenue N to the
Curb Appeal Hall of Fame.
This is one of the many
houses in our neighborhood
that I looked at before pur-
chasing my home. It is
blessed to be on one of those
streets with a pretty nice tree
canopy. I remember that being a major plus back when I looked
at it, but I also remember it being considerably smaller then than
it is now.
Sometime since I last saw the house someone has virtually
doubled the size of this charming bungalow. Living space was
added in the back and did not alter the façade of the house at all.
As I was driving through the neighborhood looking for a property
to highlight for this issue, I was struck by the number of homes
with dead or dry lawns. I realized that without much rain it’s
easy to tell who has an automatic sprinkler system and who does
not. There were a number of homes I passed by that were being
maintained very nicely, but I hadn’t found one yet that had that
instantaneous zing that is what Curb Appeal is all about…until I
happened on this beauty.
The landscaping here appears to be relatively low maintenance
in design. There are two huge trees that frame this property, one
of them in the immediate front yard. This provides a large amount
of shade 24/7 for them, which
can be a big challenge in se-
lecting grass and plants. Sev-
eral palm trees provide the
foundation for their design
with attractive ground cover
filling in the rest.
This house is on a brick
street which naturally adds
that historic feel that attracts
me so much. Attention to de-
tail is evident in the updating
that was done to the house and
to the maintenance of the
grounds — especially that fine
line where the grass meets the
granite and the granite meets
the brick. This is the defini-
tion of Curb Appeal! Thanks for your hard work and attention to
detail to make your part of our neighborhood beautiful.
Page 8 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
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 the
pew behind us in church and, yes, even passed over the back fence. If you have something
you’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!
1S 2S
a
n
d
b
y
Can’t You Hear Me Now?...Having problems with dropped cell
calls or no connection when trying to make phone calls while
here in the neighborhood? If so, you’re not the only one (if that’s
any consolation).
Noise Pollution…Was it really necessary for the Susan Komen
Race for the Cure on October 7th to begin testing its sound sys-
tem at Vinoy Park at 5:50am? And then start broadcasting at
6:10? Great cause, lousy timing….And speaking of noise, has
anyone noticed a change in flight patterns over the neighbor-
hood? A resident reports hearing loud, jet engine noises overhead
every evening, presuming them to be planes banking in order to
land at TIA. While she can recall hearing this in the past years on
occasion, never has it been every evening or every few
minutes. Does anyone know why this is
occurring daily and if it will stop anytime
soon? Has the air traffic pattern
changed? Are they getting lower and louder
or is it her imagination?
Dog Doo and Other Mementos…We’re
fortunate to have lots of green space in the
neighborhood – parks, lawns and parkways
– that our dogs can also appreciate when
they have to do their, er, business. But dog
owners by law have a responsibility to pick
up after Fido, especially when he has graced
your neighbor’s property with a memento.
Writes one resident, “I thought this was a
‘neighborhood’, a place that you care about
your neighbor and work hard together to keep your property and
area a nice environment; maybe the animal owners need to be woken
up a bit to be considerate and clean up after their pets.” If this
sounds like anyone you know, please gently remind them of their
duty to take care of their dog’s duty...And while we’re on the sub-
ject of cleaning up, we sure hope all the visitors to our neighbor-
hood for RibFest enjoyed themselves, but we’re so sorry they don’t
seem to have garbage cans at their homes for all the beer cans and
bottles, paper cups and water bottles they left strewn on our lawns
and our gutters. Seems a lot of graffiti was left behind on some
park benches and the traffic noise (especially the motorcycles) and
parking congestion way, way into the neighborhood was incredible.
A Neighborhood Treasure...Those of us in our neighborhood who
know the Alderson family — and even those who do not — want
them to know they are in our thoughts. Ben suffered a massive heart
attack a while back and his rehabilitation will be long and difficult.
You may have encountered Ben strumming his guitar somewhere
around town, or enjoyed a live family production in front of their
home at Halloweens past or seen Susan taking photographs here in
the neighborhood as part of her duties with the Northeast Journal.
For readers of this newsletter, she’s shared with you what it’s been
like for her and other Old NR “oldtimers” in our “I Remember When...”
column. Ben and Susan have brought lots of smiles and joys to us.
As a result of Ben’s condition, the Aldersons are facing a host
of challenges on many fronts, from respite care, to meal preparation
and financial help. If you’d like to assist in some way, let them know
through [email protected].
Ouch!...Is the housing market slowing down in our neigh-
borhood? If you need any proof, check the Property Trans-
fers on page 27. A year ago there were 51 sales in The Old
Northeast compared with 12 for the same time period this
year. For whatever it’s worth, the county property appraiser’s
office considers us a “prestigious neighborhood,” according
to St. Petersburg Times Editor of Editorials and Old NE prop-
erty owner (and former resident) Phil Gailey who discovered
that accolade while trying to appeal a tax assessment on a
rental property he owns here.
Names in the Paper…Some of our
neighbors were featured in recent issues
of the St. Petersburg Times. Jo-An and
Bob Christie (20
th
Avenue NE) were
singled out (10/26) for their award-win-
ning Halloween house decorations in
years past. This year it was a singing
and dancing Johnny Depp pirate…A look
into the minds of nine voters for a “Per-
spective” piece (10/22) included Julia
Brazier (20
th
Avenue N). Considering
herself an Independent, she was quoted
as saying, “The only power we have is
the vote.”
Show Time…Don’t forget the Snell
Isle-Old Northeast Winter Home Show being held January 13
th
-
14
th
at the St. Petersburg Woman’s Club at 40 Snell Isle Boule-
vard NE. From 10am-4pm each day there will be exhibits and
displays featuring top notch products and services – landscap-
ing, outdoor kitchens, deck designs, door and window
treatment…you name it. Drawings for Lowe’s gift certificates
and other businesses, too. Free admission, and most of us can
walk to it! FMI, 825-0018...You’ll want to catch the holiday
programs at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Their Christ-
mas Cantata will be on Sunday, December 17
th
and the day school
will be having its Christmas program on Wednesday, December
20
th
, at 6:30pm. A candlelight service will be observed on Christ-
mas Eve.
Thanks... After many years volunteering to keep the lights lit in
our entry monuments, Tom Hennessey (North Shore Drive NE)
has finally decided to hang up his light bulbs. If you’ve ever
wondered who it was making sure our entryways were welcom-
ing, you – and we – have Tom to thank.
Shop ahoy!... Marion’s will be moving from 5320 4th Street
N to the old Simply Splendid space at 1301 4th Street in January
2007. Not quite in the neighborhood, but a neat find, is Rickshaw
Home, next to Bonefish Grill – imported exotic furniture from
Asia and the Pacific Rim
O OO OOv vv vve ee eer T r T r T r T r The B he B he B he B he Ba aa aac cc cck F k F k F k F k Fen en en en ence is a ce is a ce is a ce is a ce is a
STEP ON UP STEP ON UP STEP ON UP STEP ON UP STEP ON UP
and and and and and
L LL LLE EE EET’S T’S T’S T’S T’S H HH HHE EE EEA AA AAR RR RR
F FF FFR RR RRO OO OOM M M M M Y YY YYO OO OOU UU UU
e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected]
S SS SSo oo ooa aa aapb pb pb pb pbo oo oox... x... x... x... x...
Page 9 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Ponderings
Banks Don’t
Like Me
by John Gee
John and his wife Kathy moved to St. Pete from New Mexico
four years ago, and he currently teaches history at a Sarasota
high school. He has served on the HONNA Board where he
co-chaired its Historic Preservation Committee. You can also
read more from John in the Northeast Journal.
Individual and Business
Tax Returns
Small Business
Accounting &
Consulting
St. Petersburg
424 22
nd
Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33704
Seminole
7700 Seminole Blvd, Ste 200, Seminole, FL 33772
(727) 393-1922 office • (727) 392-3266 fax
Monica M. Vernon • Garth A. Vernon
I consider myself a courteous
customer. Raised by American
middle-class standards, I was
taught to assume that people were
generally doing the best they can
and it was impolite to point out any
perceived slights or bad service.
The assumption was if a business
treated customers imperfectly, the
owners would suffer the loss of in-
come and disappear to some financial hell
and eternal damnation of their own choos-
ing. If the food is a little cold or has an odd fla-
vor, the wine a bit too sour or if the shirt self-de-
structs after two washings, just accept it. After all, the
universe is still spinning and you can chalk it up to experience
and never return to the malefactor’s place of business again.
This system works well for most places, but what happens
when you must endure bad service from a place you have no
recourse but to use? Since most people are not rich enough to
buy a plane for travel, we are stuck with taking off our shoes in
airports for no reason and throwing shampoo and toothpaste in
the garbage before boarding. If we feel slighted by the electric
company, our choices are to accept it or erect a windmill on the
roof. There is a human acceptance of things we know we can’t
change that is designed to keep us all sane in an insane world.
You may not think that a bank would fit into the definition of a
business you can’t change if disappointed by the service. After
all, banks are springing up like mushrooms around a cow patty
and there seem to be many choices to make. But be warned --
they are all alike and they are not our friends. My bank treats me
like dirt every time I enter and either they don’t know it or, worse
yet, don’t even care. Allow me to give some examples:
After walking my dogs to the bank to perform a transaction,
I discovered the lobby was closed but the drive-in window was
opened. Standing in front of the thick customer-proof glass, the
teller said that, as a mere pedestrian, business transactions were
not allowed at the window. Apparently the bank’s lawyers fear
some type of damage could happen to customers too clueless to
look either left or right to see if any car is approaching. After
asking if they thought I was that stupid, I was told to leave. My
bank thinks I am a moron.
Some weeks later, I entered the lobby acting like the good
customer following the rules and ready to do business. Stand-
ing in front of the thick plastic with my papers in hand, the
teller told me to remove my hat and my sunglasses. After
asking why, the teller said she wanted to make sure I was
not a bank robber. I asked if the bank thought I had decided
to stop being a dedicated customer and now have chosen to
enter a life of crime. She offered no answer. My bank thinks
I am a criminal.
Months passed before I dared to endure another insult.
After selling off some personal property and forced to mo-
tivate quickly to the bank, I returned to the drive-in window
— this time in a car. After waiting for some time at the
window, the teller said the check could not be ap-
proved for deposit without a personal audience
with the manager. With anger rising, I faced
the manager waiting for the next insult.
With all the sincerity of a dentist telling
you it won’t hurt, he told me that the check
was not a “normal” deposit. For this in-
fraction I had to wait one week for the
check to clear before using any of the pro-
ceeds for personal use. So that was it -- I
was involved in some check-kiting scheme
and due to his diligence, he put me in my
criminal place before I could grab my ill-
gotten money and disappear to Rio. My
bank now thinks I’m a money launderer.
I am old enough to remember when
banks wanted your business. They even
gave you free gifts just for showing up. They
welcomed people into the always-safe-looking
building and with a strictly business demeanor
and sincerity they made you feel that your money
would be safe in their vault. Nowadays, I don’t feel I can
trust these guys with mowing my lawn let alone my money.
My father (a banker, just like his father before him) rarely
gave advice, but he did tell me something that rang true for
a long time. He told me that I should always treat people like
a potential depositor. In his day that meant something --
nowadays I could get shot treating people like that.
Page 10 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Each issue of this newsletter introduces you to a neighborhood
house which has recently or is presenting undergoing a major reno-
vation. Perhaps some of the trials and tribulations (and joys!) expe-
rienced by these homeowners will give you ideas and inspiration as
you consider a renovation or your present home. Maybe you’ll be
motivated to bite the bullet and purchase that next house you’ve been
thinking about.
If you’d like to share your renovation story or know of a neigh-
bor with a good one, let us hear from you.
A Work In Progress
Peter and his partner Marc moved to Florida seven years ago from
their home in the historic German Village section of Columbus, OH. Peter
offers renovation and interior design services. He may be contacted at
[email protected]
Rebirth and Renewal
by Peter Stanhope
The holidays are billed as the season of good cheer. It is also a
time of rebirth and renewal. When Ron Bott and Brigette
Vanderlaan relocated from San Francisco in October of 2005,
they were cheerful and excited to go on The Old Northeast Neigh-
borhood Candlelight Tour of Homes to see what others had done
to make their houses a home. Their house is a great example of
urban renewal.
The house, located at 236 15
th
Avenue NE — and appropriately
painted for the holidays with green exterior and red trim — has
been a year long project. It truly has changed in all aspects, inside
and out. This 1924 Bungalow looked good…until they took a
closer inspection. The true condition was less than stellar. Ron
and Brigette liked the style of the exterior. They wanted a house
with large rooms in a great neighborhood that was close to ameni-
ties. The Historic Old Northeast was where they wanted to live.
This house, once cared for and lovely, had suffered over ten
years of neglect. It had become a crack den and regularly housed
prostitution. Dark and dingy, the landscaping was overgrown and
it had a large dead tree in front that compromised the structure
and the houses on either side. They call the treatment taken on
the outside “reverse
landscaping” as they
had to have everything
removed in order to
see the house as it truly
was and to know
where to begin. The
biggest surprise was
the level of neglect. It
was staggering. Every
project led to another
project, and yet an-
other.
Before they knew it,
they had a phoenix ris-
ing from the ashes.
Wood, stone, and steel
along with vibrant
youthful color have
given this house new
life. They redesigned
the interior floor plan to
suit their contempo-
rary taste. The kitchen,
once a dark galley, has
been open to the rest
of the house as a focal
point. With
new appli-
ances, cus-
tom cabinets
and a cus-
tom built is-
land, it is the
ga t he r i ng
point for
family and
guests alike.
All the bathrooms were gutted and rebuilt with custom tile,
cabinetry and floors. The guest bath has a most interesting pebble
floor that is similar to smooth river rocks. Ron built a low mod-
ern cabinet based on a Scandinavian design for the entertain-
ment center. The guest bedroom adjacent to the guest bath is
done in traditional style and houses the antiques Brigette has
collected in her travels. The oriental rugs are from her travels as
well.
In the center of the house is an office shared by Brigette and
Ron. This is where they run their business, Bluepoint.com. Be-
yond that is the master bedroom. It is complete with a spacious
walk-in closet and a large bath with a two-person shower. The
back wall of the bedroom is all windows. They open into French
doors leading out to the pool deck. The pool, with a completion
date this month, was designed by Ron as was the surrounding
deck. A portion of the garage has been divided off to house
Ron’s art studio and an additional bath for pool use.
Ron also designed and built an Asian inspired fence around
the property for the safety of their two bulldogs, Roxy and Axel.
All in all the house has a new foundation, A/C, roof, kitchen,
baths, floors, wiring, lighting, doors, pool and landscaping. Their
best advice: be prepared for the unexpected, do your research
and have resources available — and if you can do it yourself, it
is a skill well worth learning. Don’t try to live in the property
while you are doing the work. Give yourself a safe zone to es-
cape and make plans. Would they do it again? Absolutely!
Page 11 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Halloween 2006 was another fear-fright-and-fun fantasy for
children and adults alike in The Old Northeast (just who enjoys
this day more, anyway, kids or their parents?) As the St. Peters-
burg Times noted in a pre-Halloween (10/26) profile of residents
Jo-An and Bob Christie on 20
th
Avenue NE:
1
st
3
rd
2
nd
Halloween 2006 Halloween 2006
1
st
Tom Sheehan and Jenny Noyes
112 16
th
Avenue N
2
nd
Kathy and Ed Anthony
436 13
th
Avenue NE
3
rd
Jeanie and Brian Johnson
435 16
th
Avenue NE
Best Theme Renee Celli and Ann Glover
605 16
th
Avenue NE
BEST
THEME
In Historic Old Northeast St. Petersburg, Halloween is a
community celebration; the streets close to make way for
hundreds of trick-or-treaters. It’s something that the Christies,
who have lived in the same house for 35 years, missed when
their kids were young. “The tone of this neighborhood has
changed,” Bob said. “Thirty-five years ago, there were very
few kids in this neighborhood. Northeast was a neighbor-
hood of older people. Our kids didn’t hardly have anybody to
play with.” Now the display brings joy to the Christies’
grandkids and the neighborhood children. “They’ll just come
and start peering in the windows,” Jo-An said. “Kids will
say, ‘We always come to your house every year.’”
This year Cynthia Serra (3
rd
Street N) with Smith & Associ-
ates Realtors provided cash prizes for the best house decora-
tions. We thank them and the volunteers who served as contest
judges – and all our neighbors who go all out to make The His-
toric Old Northeast the place to be on Halloween.
Page 12 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
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PORCH P PORCH P PORCH P PORCH P PORCH PAR AR AR AR ARTIES TIES TIES TIES TIES
Porch Parties are held the third Friday of the month from
7:30-10pm (except December). Porch Parties are strictly
social and provide and informal and fun 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 Julie
Feeley (822-4969; [email protected]).
January 19
th
Location will be sent by e-mail to those
on HONNA list. If you are not on e-mail
list, contact [email protected] or
check www.honna.org
February 16
th
Jean and Bob Hunter
229 18
th
Avenue NE
Page 13 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
City Hall ............................................................. 893-7171
Mayor’s Office .................................................... 893-7201
Mayor’s Action Center ......................................... 893-7111
City Council ....................................................... 893-7117
Police (non-emergency) ..................................... 893-7780
Community Police Officer
Tom Loveland .................................................. 892-5933
Codes compliance/enforcement/
assistance .......................................................... 893-7373
Remodeling permits ............................................ 893-7231
Fence permits .................................................... 893-7231
Neighborhood Design Review ............................. 893-7257
Historic Preservation/Urban Design . 894-7491 or 893-7153
Planning/zoning .................................................. 893-7471
Neighborhood traffic/parking ............................... 893-7843
Junk/debris/brush collection (alley) .......................... 893-7398
Overgrown property ............................................ 893-7373
Water/sewer problems ........................................ 893-7261
Street maintenance ............................................. 893-7421
Sidewalk repair .................................................. 893-7850
Tree removal/trim (on city property) ........................ 893-7298
Graffiti ................................................................ 893-7394
Mulch (free) ........................................................ 893-7398
Rodent control (free) ........................................... 893-7360
Animal services (loose dogs) ............................. 582-2600
Street Light Out
(Progress Energy) ..................................... 800/228-8485
Park Light Out .................................................... 893-7335
Bus schedules.................................................... 530-9911
Senior services .................................................. 893-7101
Library (main) ..................................................... 893-7724
Mirror Lake branch........................................... 893-7268
County Commissioners ....................................... 464-3000
County building department ................................. 464-3241
Property taxes .................................................... 582-7771
Senator Mel Martinez .................................... 407/254-2573
Senator Bill Nelson ...................................... 407/872-7161
Congressman Bill Young..................................... 893-3191
“Jus “Jus “Jus “Jus “Just The t The t The t The t The
R i g h t R i g h t R i g h t R i g h t R i g h t
N NN NN u mb e r ” u mb e r ” u mb e r ” u mb e r ” u mb e r ”
Here are some phone numbers you may need
Gallery & Framery
The only direction you need to
know for all your framing needs
is EastWest...
529 Central Avenue. St. Petersburg · 727-823-9629

Over 1500 frames to choose from

Free on-site consultation. pickup & delivery

Professional design assistance

Conservation Framing
Page 14 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Cleaning Up Our
Bayfront Coastline
by Chuck Lindeen
The Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Clean-Up held in con-
junction with the Keep Pinellas Beautiful Coastal Clean-Up was a
great success thanks to the efforts of over 40 participants. There
were 17 neighbors who showed up in North Shore Park on Satur-
day, October 21
st
, to get the job done. Joining our neighbors were
20 eager youngsters from Girl Scout Troops 128 and 352 and their
mothers along with six students from Southside Fundamental with
their parents.
The plan was to focus on the waterfront park areas between the
entrance to Coffee Pot Bayou all the way down to Vinoy Park. We
started at the north end and worked our way down. Several people
headed out into the bay and scoured the seawall and beach areas.
The good news is that everyone did an awesome job and we
made an impact. The bad news is that we could do it again today
and find almost as much garbage, trash and debris! Don’t wait for
our twice-a-year events to pick it up!
We will be doing an organized Neighborhood Clean-Up twice a
year, in the spring and fall. If you have ideas on how to make the
next clean-up throughout the neighborhood even more successful
please share them with me ([email protected] or 822-8444). Also,
please plan to participate next time and encourage your neighbors
to do the same.
For more information visit www.keeppinellasbeautiful.org
To learn more, call Robyn Lyle 727.827.3808
Visit us at: www.hwb.myarbonne.com
*Income based on individual efforts
$100,000 PER YEAR
HEALTH & WELLNESS INDUSTRY
Coordinator - Chuck Lindeen
Volunteers –
Chuck Lindeen
Anne-Marie Stephenson
Bob Hart
Rick Carson
Jean Hunter
Bob Hunter
Cathy Leonard
Kathi Harris
Kim Wolfe
Don Silvestri
Sue Strott
Carol Olson
Ben Panyard
Karen Coale
Dave Coale
Michelle Moore
Dan Rutishauser
Tara Newsom
Samuel Newsom
Southside Fundamental
Melanie Garrett
Carson Williams
Jordan Hall
Lesli Williams
Keep Pinellas Beautiful
Volunteer Sign-in Record
A Happy and Safe A Happy and Safe A Happy and Safe A Happy and Safe A Happy and Safe
Holiday to Holiday to Holiday to Holiday to Holiday to All Our All Our All Our All Our All Our
Old Northeast Neighbors Old Northeast Neighbors Old Northeast Neighbors Old Northeast Neighbors Old Northeast Neighbors
Page 15 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Girl Scout Troops 128 &352:
Linda VanOosting, Barbara Kinney, Jessica Ball, Jennifer
Ball, Kathryn Ellett, Amber Frank, Viola Frank, Heather
Peterson, Amada Emert, Brandi Bennett, Ronnie Bennett,
Pamela Bolu, Christina Constantine, Maria Constantine,
Tessa Vestel, Aurora Vestel, Shelbi Vestel, Dawn Vestel,
Brinn Tobiai, Julia Barlow
Page 16 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Downtown
Downtown
by Chuck Lindeen
Central Avenue is getting
Hot, HOT, HOTT!
It’s hard to believe that the holiday
season is here again! I guess this is what
my mother was talking about when I
was a young boy and she said not to
wish my life away, that time would one
day pass quicker than I wanted it to.
Along those lines, the downtown
cityscape seems to be keeping pace
with the rapid passing of time. The
changes along Central Avenue are
some of the most exciting for me.
From existing sidewalk café dining to
new museums on the horizon, it is be-
ginning to look like Central Avenue is
once again going to live up to her
name: Central!
My most exciting “new” find is a
true Asian jewel tucked away in a non-
descript storefront section of the old
McCrory’s building. The unfortunate
thing about so many Central Avenue
businesses is that if you don’t know
specifically what you are looking for
you might never see many of them un-
less you happen to be walking by. This
really underscores the need for a good
advertising program to ensure new pa-
trons are finding these businesses!
One example I can think of is Pick-
led Franks, which was located on Cen-
tral Avenue just to the west of MLK Street. It had good food, a
fun atmosphere… and a location that was apparently hidden to
many potential diners. It closed over a year ago.
This issue’s feature, The King & I, is located in just such a
stretch at 445 Central Avenue. I heard about the restaurant
from friends who had eaten there and said it was definitely
worth a try. Frankly, I had been by it many times without see-
ing it.
So give it a try is exactly what I did. I meet with a group of
friends on Wednesdays
and Fridays to catch-up
and share what’s going
on in our lives. After we
have talked each other to
death we go out for din-
ner. Creatures of habit,
there are two locations —
which shall remain name-
less — that see us on
most occasions. Every
now and then one of us
will pipe-up and suggest
we try something new.
On one such occasion I
suggested we try a new
place on Central. I was
met by quizzical looks.
When I explained it was
a Thai restaurant, I was
quickly informed that it
was not new…but had been there for years. I explained I was not
referring to either of the “other” two ven-
erable restaurants on Central specializ-
ing in the same cuisine. Again, quizzical
looks. When I confirmed Thai was okay,
I gave them all directions and said “see
you there.”
Our first visit was on a Wednes-
day night at 9:45pm. I was the first to
arrive and confirmed a party of 8-10
would not be a problem for them to
accommodate. They serve until 10pm
so I was half expecting to hear it was
too late. The hostess confirmed the
number and quickly began rearranging
tables to accommodate our group with-
out question or complaint. By the time
the next person had arrived, our table
was ready, menus in place. I will tell
you right up front, this is the kind of
service that we experienced from be-
ginning to end, and on subsequent vis-
its. Service here is prompt and ex-
tremely gracious. Even though the last
of our party arrived shortly before the
posted closing time, we were never
rushed.
Our group requires separate checks
due to debit/credit card payment, and
even that didn’t prompt a raised eye-
brow. My fairly basic restaurant rating
system consists of the three areas critical for me: quality of food,
quality of service and the atmosphere. In every dining experi-
ence, service here has been well above average. From the out-
side, you would have no clue what you were going to find once
you stepped inside. I expected to find a cramped, shotgun style
layout with the expected Asian décor. I was very pleased to find
my expectations way off base. While the dining area is long and
narrow-ish, it does not feel the least bit cramped. There are booths
for those who like booths and ample tables for those who prefer
Page 17 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Chuck has been a resident of The Old Northeast for over 10 years
and a 33-year resident of the city. He served two appointed terms on
the St. Petersburg Arts Advisory Committee and has volunteered for
numerous arts organizations including the Salvador Dali Museum,
American Stage/American Stage in the Park and the Arts Center. He
is currently serving on HONNA’s Board as Vice President.
to have their own chair. The dining room is well lit without being
overly bright. The décor has a decidedly upscale feel, much like
you would expect to find in the East Village in NYC. There is a
sushi bar toward the rear for those who prefer that option.
As you might imagine, the menu is quite extensive. There are
several soups and appetizers to select from as starters. Dining
options include: stir-fried, fried rice, noodles, salads, curries and
an assortment of house specialties. Although I can’t tell you what
everyone in my group had, I can say that there was not one single
critical word concerning the food, which is unheard of with this
group!
Several of us ordered appetizers. I chose the Tom Kha Gai
soup, which is a favorite of mine. It contains sliced chicken in
coconut milk, galangal, lemon grass, mushrooms and kafir leaves.
It was hot & delicious. For my entrée I selected the Pad Thai,
another of my favorites. Pad Thai is a wonderful combination of
sauce stir-fried with rice noodles, eggs, scallions, bean sprouts,
roasted ground peanuts and your choice of chicken, pork, beef
or tofu. I almost always go with chicken as I did that evening. I
think it was about the best Pad Thai I have had. As I looked
around the table, I noted the servings were all as generous as the
one in front of me. Over half of the table had to-go containers as
we left. One of my friends ordered from the separate sushi bar
menu and was very happy with his selections. The house special-
ties include vegetarian, chicken, duck and seafood selections.
There are several dessert options, but frankly everyone in the
group was too full from their meal to even consider them.
As I indicated earlier, my group has been back several times
and we have experienced the same level of service and same level
of satisfaction with the food each time. The King & I easily rates
three stars: great food, great service and great atmosphere. If the
scale allowed for more The King & I would merit it! If you like
Thai cuisine, do your self a favor… head downtown!
The King & I is located at 445 Central Avenue. It is open for
lunch Monday through Saturday from 11am-3pm and for dinner
from 5-10pm. Most major credit cards are accepted. Phone
number is 898-8056.
Central Avenue is coming back to life once again with “a true
Asian jewel tucked away in a non-descript storefront section of
the old McCrory’s building.”
Page 18 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
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Rutland’s Department
Store c.1942
Mike, an Old Northeast resident since 1996, holds a Master of
Architecture degree from the University of South Florida.
Preserving the Character
of Old Northeast Houses
by Mike Dailey
As the people gathered along the seawall, a boat trolled lazily
out into the bay and three pelicans made a clumsy landing at
Bird Island. The embarkation point for the second walking tour
of The Historic Old Northeast could not be more scenic. Even
with unseasonably high temps in the 90s, we had 23 people and
one very cute Welsh Terrier join us to look at some of the most
architecturally significant homes in the City. After hearing a short
introductory speech by Rob Wertz, the tour organizer, the group
set off on a path that went as far west as 1
st
Street and as far
south as 16
th
Avenue. We never ventured farther north than 21
st
Avenue, concentrating mainly on finding an example of at least
one of each of
the high styles
in the neigh-
borhood. One
house that we
expected to
find suddenly
went missing:
a modest but
dignified yel-
low Craftsman
bungalow at
the corner of
17
th
and Wal-
nut NE that
saw that part
of the neigh-
b o r h o o d
transformed from pine forest and wetlands to subdivisions in
the span of 20 years. This house, built in the teens, was one of
the oldest structures in what is now the North Shore Addition,
which was constructed in the 1920s.
Pictures tell the story so much better than words when it comes
to architecture, so let me direct your attention to a website we cre-
ated with photos from our second walking tour (the first, back in
March, focused on southern portions of the neighborhood). Point
your browser to flickr.com/photos/oldnortheastwalks, where you’ll
see photos with descriptions and titles. You can even leave com-
ments if you join Flickr, which is free for the basic account (note that
there is no “e” in the word “Flickr”).
Watch for announcements of future “walking tours” highlight-
ing historic and unique features of our neighborhood.
Before After
Tudor— Pretty uncommon in Florida, Old Northeast has
more than its share of Tudor Revival houses, recognized by
their half-timbered gables and steep rooflines.
Walking the Neighborhood
– No Better Way to Appreciate What We Value
Page 19 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Right: Renaissance
Revival —Sitting at
the intersection of
North Shore Drive
and Coffee Pot Blvd,
this villa has near-
perfect proportions
and fine detailing.
Below: A Vernacular house on 20th Ave NE received a
makeover that some neighbors may not appreciate. Our
National Register Historic District does not prevent certain
types of modifications.
All things for the wine lover! Our unique
concept invites you to select wine by flavor and
body while sampling a special daily offering
from the world’s finest wine-producing regions.
Vino 100 also has great gifts for the wine
enthusiast and cigars for aficionados . We can
put together a last-minute gift basket for any
occasion. Stop by Vino 100 today and savor
the flavors of the world.
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5056 4th Street North • St. Petersburg, FL
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10% OFF
wine purchase of $30 (or more)
with this ad (expires 10/31/06)
(expires 1/15/07)
Left: This exquisite Craftsman house on 20
th
Avenue NE near Coffee Pot is now dwarfed by a
new three-story garage that towers above it.
Page 20 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
In Case You Missed It:
Updates and Follow Ups
Keeping You Current on Some
Neighborhood Stories That
Have Been in the News
JUST AROUND THE CORNER,
JUST DOWN THE STREET,
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WE ARE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD WINE MERCHANT
Wine-of-the-Month Club Private Wine Tastings
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Free Delivery* Uncorked Wine Academy
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™The Renaissance Vinoy Resort will be seeking City ap-
proval to construct a two-story 17,000sqft spa and fitness
center which would be located north and east of the complex.
Part of the parking garage and tennis courts may have to be
sacrificed to accommodate the new space. Due to a 20 year
old land agreement between the City and the Vinoy’s owners
the City’s voters would have to give their okay. The referen-
dum has been tentatively set for March
13 of next year providing the City
Council gives its consent. [source: St.
Petersburg Times, 10/18]
™The bird roost island in Coffee
Pot Bayou may be the target of a devel-
oper who has submitted to the City a plan
for four wooden stilt houses on the privately-
owned property.
Land-use maps
bar development on
the almost 3-acre
mangrove spot, and the
City Council has voted
it preservation land. The
developer has indicated he
may challenge zoning regulations that
would block his plans. Bird Island, as it
is often called, is home to about a dozen
bird species and over 400 breeding pairs
according to the Audubon Society.
[source: St. Petersburg Times, 10/21 & 22]
SHOP US ONLINE
“YOUR ‘VIRTUAL’ NEIGHBORHOOD WINE MERCHANT”
www.uncorkedwi nes.com
Uncorked Fi ne Wi nes & Accessori es
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t h
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Page 21 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

The swimmers’ sculpture (left) has been
moved to the new contemporary-look
entrance (below)
New sod (above) enhances the landscape, while the resurfaced
parking lot (below) has helped beautify the complex.
Have you been to a
See page 12 for the upcoming schedule
P P
P PPorch orch
orch orch orch
P P
P P Party arty
arty arty arty
™The North Shore Pool complex is getting
closer to an official grand opening. The Huff N’
Puff Adapted Fitness Expo – an event to promote
good health for folks with physical disabilities –
was the new second pool’s first guest on No-
vember 4
th
, but the official opening will occur after
a “play feature” is installed. [source: St. Peters-
burg Times, 11/1]
yet?
Page 22 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Thinking in
by Barbara Rhode, LMFT
Purple
Barbara Rhode is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
who provides trainings and workshops to corporations and non-
profits on wellness and life balance. She lives in a very purple
house in The Old Northeast, a place where she contemplates in
shades of “purple.”
by Barbara Rhode, LMFT
Blame It on the Pilgrims
The holidays are just around the corner and for some strange
reason some of us have come to believe that this is the perfect
time of year to go ahead and
overindulge. We generously al-
low ourselves to eat whatever
treat happens to fall in front of
us. It almost becomes rude at this
time of year to turn down an-
other chocolate brownie or say
“no, thank you” to an extra slice
of cheesecake. I wonder when
food and holidays first became
so enmeshed…
Aren’t the holidays really sup-
posed to be about the time you
spend with loved ones?
Shouldn’t they be about trea-
sured memories that you make
together? What does any of that
really have to do with food, any-
way?
First of all, I am considering
putting the blame on the Pil-
grims. Weren’t they were the
first ones who really kicked off
the holiday season with that new
tradition of eating a huge meal?
Did they typically have to haul themselves away from the table
and stretch out on a sofa to rest while their stomachs tried to
digest? I can remember certain holiday meals in the not too dis-
tant past when I would get up from the table feeling pretty un-
comfortable after eating as much as I wanted with family and
friends. My stomach would feel as if I had swallowed something
the size and weight of a bowling ball. I’ll admit that it has been
awhile since I “overdid” to that extent, but that is only because I
consciously push food away that is being continuously offered
by my Italian mother or aunt. Now that I think about it, forget
about the Pilgrims — I blame my Italian mother and aunt for this
tradition of overindulging. You can too, if you want.
One of my favorite memories when Tim and I were first dating
(which was about 20 years ago) was watching him eat his first
Thanksgiving dinner at my aunt’s house where we feasted in our
traditional Italian-American way. At least it was considered tradi-
tional in my family. He was a rookie at this type of tradition and I
neglected to warn him ahead of time. (I think I was secretly
watching to see how he would handle himself with so many of
my family members gathered in one place.)
He just compliantly sat there while my mother and her sister-
to-be sister served the food; stuffed shells, meatballs, antipasto
and garlic bread. I can still remember the eagerness on his face as
he dug into his plate of stuffed shells, even asking for seconds
which delighted the two women. They literally rejoiced in feeding
a good eater and took it as the sincerest form of compliment
when someone asked for seconds.
The truth was that Tim was under the impression that this was
the extent of our holiday meal so he dug in eating more than
usual, enjoying every bite. You
should have seen his face
when they cleared that course
away and brought out the rest
of the meal which was your
traditional turkey, mashed po-
tatoes, gravy and all the typi-
cal trimmings. He left my
aunt’s house a little green
around the gills and, if
memory serves me right, did
not call me again until late that
next day. He still talks about
that memorable gastric expe-
rience.
Now, most of us won’t get
caught up in a family tradition
quite like that but the holiday
season is traditionally loaded
with excuses to overeat, over
drink and just plain overdo.
This does not pose too seri-
ous a problem for anyone who
is typically careful during the
rest of the year and maintains
Page 23 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Please Support the
Advertisers
in Our Newsletter
healthy habits for the most part. But what
about the people who are already strug-
gling to lose weight or have been warned
by their doctors that they are either bor-
derline diabetic or diabetic? November and
December can be pretty tough months to
navigate through.
One suggestion might be that as host-
esses and hosts we try to offer healthier
fare and give our guests a few more op-
tions when they celebrate with us. Why
not put a balanced spread out so anyone
who is struggling with health issues has
something more than carrot sticks to
choose from? There are so many wonder-
fully creative cookbooks available these
days that offer nutritious snacks and ap-
petizers anyone would be proud to serve.
There is something especially gratifying
about putting a spread together that tastes
great and is also nutritionally sound.
Another idea might be to purposely
move the focus away from food and drinks
and put it back on the company gathered
together. Recent research tells us that the
art of face-to-face conversation is badly
in need of rejuvenation since the prolifera-
tion of cell phones and e-mail. When is the
last time you struck up a really interesting
conversation with someone at a party or
gathering? I am referring to something
more than that superficial, topical fluff
most of us have had to endure. And think
of the benefits — good conversation con-
tains zero calories and does not leave you
with a hangover!
Out of control overindulging can also
be a hidden symptom of low mood swings
that people can experience this time of year.
There is a lot of extra pressure packed into
this “ho, ho, ho” season. Our culture tends
to lay it on thick, and if you are not feeling
particularly jolly you might catch yourself
sneaking into the kitchen to snack your way
through the 12 days of Christmas. Food
can become a form of “self-medication”
anytime of the year but especially during
the holidays. Try to take a deep breath be-
fore you rip that box of snack cakes open
and ask yourself what specific mood is
pushing you into those “Little Debbies.” It
could be sadness, loneliness, boredom…
Instead of eating your way through a funk
why not go for a walk or volunteer to help
someone less fortunate? And if nothing
Barbara Rhode is a licensed psychotherapist and co-founder of Transitions & You,
Inc. offering educational programs to increase awareness and understanding about
young adult growth, healthy family development and personal wellness. For more
information, visit www.transitionssite.com or 418-7882.
seems to help, talking with a professional might be just what Santa would recom-
mend.
So, join me right now and take a deep breath while in unison we agree to be more
realistic about the holiday season. Just maybe, by taking some of the store-bought
glitter out of the holidays we will remember that there really are some magical mo-
ments left this holiday that don’t just focus on loads of food or drink.
And have a blessed, peace filled holiday season and new year.
Page 24 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
S
p
o
o
fe
r
s
The
Old Northeast
… by D.S. Forman
DISCLAIMER: The stories you are about
to read are not true. Not even the names
have been changed to protect the innocent. Enquirer
“Spoof” is a noun which the dictionary defines as a “light humorous parody.” Actually the word is an acronym devised in the early 20
th
century from the phrase
“St. Pete: Our Outlandish Funtasyland.” SPOOFers was a column in the local newspaper, The Leningrad LAMPOON (the precursor to the St. Petersburg TIMES).
Declaring that “nothing brings in tourist bucks
like a good museum,” St. Pete’s long-legged mayor,
Rick Baker, revealed plans to turn The Old Northeast
into a “living museum” where tourists will witness
actual homeowners restoring their turn-of-the-cen-
tury homes during visiting hours. The neighborhood
wi l l be rechri stened “Renovati onl and, ” and
homeowners will get a share of the admission fees in
return for making exhibits out of their historic homes.
DO DO DO DO DOUB UB UB UB UBL LL LLE S E S E S E S E SH HH HHOT O OT O OT O OT O OT ON 4 N 4 N 4 N 4 N 4
T TT TTH HH HH
Speculation has been buzzing about the new
business that will occupy the restored Art Deco
building in the heart of 4
th
Street’s Garden
District: Crate ‘n Barrel? California Pizza
Kitchen? Pottery Barn? None of them, ac-
cording to landlord Ray Meeker who final-
ized the lease last week with his new ten-
ant, Gas ‘n Go. “This will be the city’s first
indoor gas station,” boasted rookie devel-
oper Meeker. “Not only will you be able to
drive right into our building for a fill-up, but
we’ll also offer drive-through espresso
and scones.” The indoor gas station,
named 4
th
Street Gaspresso will be-
come the area’s most fashionable
— and fresh smelling — fill-up. A
state of the art ventilation system filtered
with Febreze will rid the building of any unpleasant and potentially volatile gasoline
fumes while retaining the rich coffee aromas
S SS SSN NN NNOWB OWB OWB OWB OWBI II IIRD B RD B RD B RD B RD BL LL LLI II IIN NN NND DD DDED BY T ED BY T ED BY T ED BY T ED BY TH HH HHE L E L E L E L E LI II IIGHT GHT GHT GHT GHT
The museum will also offer summer camp programs for
kids. Working alongside actual homeowners, the interns
will learn plastering, custom millwork and even replac-
ing knob and tube wiring. “Along with the coming
Chihuly Glass Museum, a new addition to the Museum
of Fine Arts and a new home for the Dali Museum The
Old Northeast ‘Renovationland’ will turn St. Petersburg
into the Museum Capital of Florida!” beamed the ever-
growing Baker.
O OO OOL LL LLD N D N D N D N D NOR OR OR OR ORT TT TTH HH HHEAST O EAST O EAST O EAST O EAST ON EX N EX N EX N EX N EXH HH HHIB IB IB IB IBIT IT IT IT IT
Unable to sell their homes in the sluggish real estate market, a hand-
ful of Old Northeast home sellers are now peddling their houses at
downtown’s popular Saturday Morning Market.
Homeowners Thad and Anita Kusch moved their 1924 bungalow
onto a flatbed truck and planted it in the vacant lot north of Central
Avenue. “It took us all Friday night to move our house here, but if we can
get just a handful of these market-goers to look at it then it’s worth the
effort,” claimed a fatigued Thad.
The idea is catching on as more and more frustrated home sell-
ers are jacking up their foundations and transporting their bunga-
lows to-and-from the bustling morning market, the most popular in
all of Florida.
However, with space at a premium, market managers are now restrict-
ing home sellers to single story buildings no larger than 1800 square feet.
DESPERATE HOUSEHOLDS
MOVE TO SATURDAY
MORNINGS
A neighborhood woman was temporarily blinded by the sunlight when she
emerged from her home after six months in seclusion. “My eyes just weren’t used
to the sun,” claimed Netty Fargo, who shut herself inside her home last April and
refused to come out until the weather cooled down. “I was born with overactive
sweat glands, so I have no tolerance for the high heat and humidity of Florida
summers,” explained the native of Guelph, Ontario. Ms. Fargo had planned to fly
back to her native Canada last April, but an early heat wave forced her to stay
inside her air conditioned home for six months nonstop. Ms. Fargo, whose sight
returned to normal after 24 hours, is now enjoying the cooler weather with her
pet salamander, Ernest.
Dave Forman is a happily transplanted
Los Angeleno living here with his wife
and young daughter.
Page 25 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Dec 1 World AIDS Day Williams Park;
824-6900
Dec 1 Get Downtown Music Series
Central b/w 2
nd
-3
rd
; 393-3597
Dec 2 PilotMall.com Open House
Albert Whitted Airport; 209-2586
Dec 2 St. Pete Lions Club Santa Parade
Downtown; 525-5950
Dec 2 Snowfest North Straub Park; 892-5874
Dec 2 The Great Figgy Pudding Street
Corner Caroling North Straub Park;
821-1200
Dec 2-3 ArtWalk at BayWalk
Baywalk; 352/546-2322
Dec 3 Pinellas Youth Symphony Holiday
Orchestra Concert Palladium; 438-3149
Dec 3 Historical Holiday Celebration Tour of
Homes (benefits St. Petersburg
Museum of History) Roser Park; 894-1052
Dec 8 MarineMax Lighted Boat Parade
The Pier; 821-6443
Dec 9 Gallery Walk Downtown locations;
821-6767
Dec 9 TubaChristmas Concert of Holiday
Music The Pier; 526-7159
DEC 10 OLD NORTHEAST CANDLELIGHT
TOUR OF HOMES (see page 1)
Dec 10 Lunch with Santa
Albert Whitted Airport; 822-1532
Dec 13 Boley Centers Jingle Bell Run
The Pier; 821-4819
Dec 22 Grand Central Stroll & Outdoor Movie
Central b/w 21
st
-30
th
; 341-7198
Dec 31 First Night St. Petersburg Downtown
and other various locations throughout
city; 823-8906
Jan 5 Get Downtown Music Series
Central b/w 2
nd
-3
rd
; 393-3597
Jan 15 National MLK Jr. Drum Major for
Justice Parade Downtown; 327-0085
JANUARY 15 NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING
JANUARY 19 PORCH PARTY (see p. 12)
Jan 20-21 Straub Park Festival of the Arts
North Straub Park; 304/659-2075
Jan 21 Annual Sunshine City Band Concerts
Williams Park; 898-1541
Jan 28 Annual Sunshine City Band Concerts
Williams Park; 898-1541
Feb 2 Get Downtown Music Series
Central b/w 2
nd
-3
rd
; 393-3597
Feb 3 Suncoast Classic Run for Kids
(benefits Ronald McDonald House)
BayWalk; 787-8221
Feb 4 Annual Sunshine City Band Concerts
Williams Park; 898-1541
Feb 9 Festival of States Scholastic Arts & Writing
Program Dali Museum; 321-9888
Feb 11 Annual Sunshine City Band Concerts
Williams Park; 898-1541
Feb 16-18 Sailing World’s NOOD Regatta Kickoff
Downtown waterfront; 822-3873
FEBRUARY 16 PORCH PARTY (see p. 12)
Feb 18 Annual Sunshine City Band Concerts
Williams Park; 898-1541
FEBRUARY 19 NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING
Feb 24-25 Florida Wingfest Family-oriented Festival
Vinoy Park; 392-7610
Feb 25 Annual Sunshine City Band Concerts
Williams Park; 898-1541
ON THE DOCKET:
Some Upcoming Events In and Nearby Our Neighborhood
For a current and more detailed listing go to the City’s website at www.stpete.org
Page 26 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
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by Yvonne Swanson -- Master Gardener
How Does Your Garden Grow?
Yvonne Swanson is a master gardener for Pinellas County. She
also writes a garden column for the St. Petersburg Times.
As the end of the year approaches, it’s a great time to take a
good look at your garden, pat yourself on the back for everything
you’ve accomplished and make plans for 2007. You might want
to add something new to your yard — perhaps a butterfly or herb
garden — or maybe 2007 will be the year for the arbor or foun-
tain you’ve been wanting.
It’s also a good time to look at your gardening expenses for
the year. If you’re like the typical U.S. gardener, you spent more
than $450 on plants, gardening supplies and equipment in 2006.
Add the costs of landscape maintenance, such as lawn mowing
and tree trimming, and that figure can easily add up to $1,000 or
more. Gardening is not a cheap hobby. But you can save money
on gardening next year with these smart cost-cutting tips:
+ Reduce or eliminate your lawn. Turfgrass is our biggest
maintenance plant, requiring constant watering, fertilizing, mow-
ing and treatment for pests and disease. If you do all the work
yourself, you’ll save a bundle. Better yet, replace turf with low-
maintenance groundcover or garden beds with native plants that
require minimal care.
+ Put the right plant in the right place. It’s a waste of
money to stick a sun-loving plant in shade or a shade-lover in the
hot afternoon sun. Ask for advice at a garden center with knowl-
edgeable staff, borrow a Florida gardening book at the library or
search the Internet for information. Sunken Gardens offers classes,
as does the Pinellas County Extension Service in Largo.
+ Be a smart shopper. Don’t go to the nursery without a list
of plants — and stick to it. You’ll be less likely to make an impulse
purchase on a plant you really don’t need. Read the weekly gar-
den calendar in the St. Petersburg Times for plant sales. The Sat-
urday Morning Market is another good source for plants.
+ Buy smaller plants. Typically they’ll catch up in size to
their larger counterparts, so just be patient. You can save even
more by starting your plants from seed. A package is usually about
$1 and has from 40 to 100 seeds.
+ Propagate (divide) large clumps of plants and transplant
in your yard or exchange with neighbors. Daylilies, cannas
and other tuberous perennials are easy to divide. Sharing plants
with other gardeners is one of the best ways to reduce your costs.
+ Buy mulch, compost and soil in bulk (usually by the
yard). Split the order (and expense) with a neighbor or gardening
friend if it’s more than you need. Better yet, get all the free mulch
you want from one of 20 sites in Pinellas County (call the Exten-
sion at 582-2100 for information).
+ Cut back on expensive chemical fertilizer. Start amend-
ing the soil with organic matter — such as compost, manure,
leaves and mulch — and your plants won’t need chemical fertil-
izers.
+ Start a compost pile. Stop paying to haul away your grass
clippings and leaves. Dump them in a homemade compost pile
along with non-meat kitchen scraps. Build one using chicken wire,
recycled wood scraps or even an old plastic trash can or thick
plastic bag. Turn it now and again; in a few months you’ll have
free “black gold” to nourish the soil.
+ Consult garden catalogs for ideas, then shop at discount
stores. Garden accessories in catalogs from Smith & Hawken,
Frontgate and Plow & Hearth are typically pricey and include
hefty shipping charges. You can find similar-looking pots and other
accessories at local stores such as Target, Wal-Mart, T.J. Maxx,
HomeGoods, Marshall’s, Big Lots and Tuesday Morning.
+ Find big bargains at yard and estate sales. Shop early for
the best finds and think creatively. Look for pots, garden tools
and plants at great prices.
+ Reduce your water bills by collecting rainwater. All you
need are one or more rain barrels connected to downspouts. You
can find them in garden catalogs, on the Internet or locally from
the local Extension Service.
+ Invest in quality tools and pamper them. Don’t buy cheap
tools; they won’t last and could cause an injury.
+ Join the Old Northeast Garden Club. It’s a great way to
meet like-minded neighbors, learn more about Florida gardening
and exchange plant cuttings. Or join one of the many plant soci-
eties (there’s one for just about every plant) which regularly host
plant exchanges for members. You can get a list of local groups
by calling the Extension office at 582-2100.
Year-end
Checklist
✔
The Old Northeast Garden Club
meets the first Friday of each month
For information please contact
Marilyn Johnson at 553-9155
or e-mail: [email protected]
Page 27 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Property Transfers
155 9
th
Avenue NE .......................... David and Cherie Petterson
108 11
th
Avenue N..................... Abelardo and Rachel Agustines
138 14
th
Avenue N .............................................. Dixie Crawford
426 14
th
Avenue NE ............................................. Adam Marland
405 15
th
Avenue NE ......................... Kenneth and Tracey Locke
445 15
th
Avenue NE .......................................... Jeffrey Brandes
606 15
th
Avenue NE .......................................... Jack Hamersma
336 19
th
Avenue NE ................................. Garry and Julie Eaves
166 21
st
Avenue N.................................................... Philip Piser
241 24
th
Avenue N .............................................. Robert Markin
824 Bay Street NE #A .................................... Christopher York
Following is a listing of recent property transfers in our North
Shore neighborhood. The individuals listed are new owners
of the properties cited but not necessarily the residents of
those properties. The properties are listed in chronological
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 public records by the
Florida New Business Report.
Page 28 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
“I Remember When...”
Although The Old Northeast neighborhood continues to experience a renaissance of its own along with the downtown, not
everyone who lives here is a relative newcomer. Some of us have lived here all — or most — of our lives and remember when life
in the northeast (it wasn’t always “Old”) was quite a different experience. “I Remember When…” provides an opportunity for one of
your more “senior” neighbors to share with us newer kids on the block a personal reflection of what it was like “way back when.”
If you know long-time Old Northeast residents who might like to share some memories of the area from previous years, please
contact [email protected].
Fiddling Around With Tradition
by Amy Labie
When you see or hear the phrase “Happy Holidays” at the be-
ginning of the season — which is approximately Halloween —
what’s the first thing that comes to mind?
Is it the panic and countdown of Christmas shopping? The
aroma of cinnamon or peppermint or a feast in the oven? Deco-
rating? Snow-covered trees and cars?
Candles melting in the sun? Santa in a
sleigh? Lighting a menorah and frying po-
tato latkes? Sending greeting cards? The
church Christmas pageant? Having an open
house or preparing to let yours be on tour?
Finding the perfect tree? The Nutcracker?
A child’s face at the wonder of it all?
The answer is that it depends on your child-
hood memories — family, friends and where
you’ve lived. That’s one of the charming as-
pects of The Old Northeast. Its eclecticity cre-
ates a comfort zone for both natives and neo-
phytes. When I ride my bike down some of
the streets, I feel as if I’m a kid again back in
Kenmore, New York during summer vaca-
tion, of course. Not having to deal with snow
and near freezing temperatures around
Thanksgiving can be a bit disorienting.
The Old Northeast, according to those I ca-
sually interviewed, abounds with the spirit of
Christmas, a word once again deemed politically
correct. There are annual block parties, the annual Holiday Tour of
Homes, hayrides and sometimes Santa puts in an appearance.
Barbara Ulrich (26
th
Avenue N) says they began a tradition
which is now being carried on by their children and grandchil-
dren who also live here in the ‘hood. Before they dive into the
gifts on Christmas morning, they devote a moment to the inspira-
tion behind the celebration. At breakfast, a candle is placed in a
coffee cake while they congregate to sing Happy Birthday to Jesus.
It is rewarding to see one’s traditions be carried on. When our
children were growing up, we made quite an elaborate time of
decorating cookies. As they grew older, the efforts became more
detailed and actually a shame to eat. It’s no wonder that two of
the four have artistic careers and now our grandchildren host an
annual cookie-decorating party in Vermont.
Christmas Eve finds Fred and Caroline McCoy (18
th
Av-
enue NE) and his family and friends gathered on their front lawn.
While sitting cozily on blankets, the children are treated to the
reading of Christmas stories. Often the Grinch is a topic, but he
never shows up. (The neighborhood watch is ever present.)
Jean Galanos (18
th
Avenue NE) takes a pragmatic approach
to the holiday. After the vigil at their church on Christmas Eve,
their children are allowed to open one present. Here’s the clever
part. Each package contains a pair of pajamas to be worn in an-
ticipation of Santa’s arrival so they will be camera-ready in the
morning. (Wish I’d thought of that! Some of our family videos
are total blackmail fodder.)
And then there’s us. Having lived
in colder climates all our lives, it just
didn’t feel like Christmas the first
year down here. But we are used to
adapting and assimilating our tradi-
tions. As our family grew and mul-
tiplied, it became overwhelming to
fill everyone’s stockings by myself.
So, I suggested that we draw names.
Since some were on limited budgets
— school, new careers, etc. — I
turned it into a contest. No one could
spend over $20 and the most cre-
ative and frugal would win a prize
— an ornament. This worked for
awhile until we had to disqualify Su-
san, the elementary school teacher.
She was able to recycle her students’
gifts and always spent the least. Now
it’s a fun tradition, but no contest.
We’ve also transitioned from cut-
ting down a “real” tree to reconstruct-
ing an artificial one that’s even pre-
lit. This is one compromise I love as there are no needles to
vacuum up later and the time saved is incredible — not to men-
tion the other disadvantages that come with doing what you
think you’re supposed to. In one of our other traditions — a ’99
Christmas letter to our friends far and wide about our move to
Florida — I explain what that means. I hope you can relate.
Hey, I think I finally found Christmas!!! You wouldn’t
think you could lose anything as big as that, something
that’s been celebrated for a millennium, yet for awhile I
had. Everything seemed out of place. But then I’ve been
having trouble finding all sorts of things lately since we’ve
been living out of boxes in various countries, states, and
storage for the past year.
Here’s to finding the miracle of Christmas when you’re
still hunting for the mundane. Lots of rethinking like com-
ing in out of the heat in December. Then, the other day, as
I was riding my bike in a T-shirt and shorts under a pink
sky along the blue water, it occurred to me that I had
never seen a picture of Jesus holding a snow shovel. Or
for that matter, three wise men bearing gifts (that I doubt
Holiday storytelling on 18
th
Avenue NE.
Page 29 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
they bought themselves) either.
I dug out the tabletop tree we’d had in Paris, added
some new ornaments, and rescued others from Palmetto
bugs. Found a few more decorations. Packrats, AKA do-
mestic historians, unite. You are what you save.
I know some people who go away for the holidays think
it’s silly to put up a tree or decorate, but even though we
were heading up north to see most of our family, for me, it
was the right thing to do. To feel at home until we truly
could be, to collect the bits and pieces of my intangible
identity, I needed tangible reminders, a dose of ritual, roots.
Not all of the ornaments fit on the little tree, but the ones
that did evoked memories of people and places, past and
present. Gradually, as I hung the most meaningful ones, I
realized that this quaint little Christmas tree was a tan-
gible version of our family tree.
What I’ve also discovered is that the intangible part of
Christmas, the true spirit, is portable enough to carry with
you no matter where you are.
And it is alive and well in The Old Northeast.
Amy Labie is a wife, mother and grandmother who is enjoy-
ing life in St. Petersburg. A freelance writer and aspiring novel-
ist, she loves people-watching and listening —whether it’s at a
sidewalk café in Paris or a truck stop in White River Junction.
Often accused of having an imagination almost as vivid as the
brighter-than-expected color of her house, she believes you can’t
make the best stuff up. That’s why she loves her front porch.
Snell Isle & Old Northeast
held at the beautiful, historic-registered
Saint Petersburg Woman’s Club • 40 Snell Isle Boulevard • St. Petersburg
Saturday and Sunday • January 13 — 14, 2007
10:00 a.m. — 4:00 p.m.
Grand Prize Drawings
Gift certificates to Lowe’s
plus many other prizes and gift certificates
Presenting a small, upscale and uniquely different homeshow
F
r
e
e F
r
e
e
What’s your next project? Dreaming about an outdoor kitchen? Your garage looks like a war zone and needs to be organized?
Want the addition of a fabulous outdoor deck? Thinking of going totally digital? Elegant home interiors or furniture?
Window treatments and shutters? Driveway pavers? Hurricane window protection? Landscaping needs a makeover?
Get even more ideas from the experts at the Snell Isle-Old Northeast Home Show.
Co-sponsored in part by —
Bokara Rug Gallery
Brinks Home Security
Southern Exteriors
Roll Shield, LLC
Daniel E. Ashline, Inc.
Paver Solutions, Inc.
European Tile and Floors
Premier Garage
Knology
FAS Windows and Doors
Treehouse Gallery
Best Design Center
Archadeck of St. Pete
Creative Painting, Inc.
Sunburst Shutters
Vintage Interiors
Visit these exhibitors
Coordinated by Calvert Promotions
Celebrating 25 years
727-825-0018
Page 30 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Page 31 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Alley
Décor:
My Trash – Your Trea-
sure
Looking For A Good Home
(2) Double pane windows – 45”x26” $75@
(1) 15 pane French door – 80”x36” $50
Power lift for electric scooter
(fits in a standard Reese hitch) $50
1995 Kawasaki 80cc dirt bike $250
Phone 641-9063.
Mahogany (?) sunken panel door (c. 1932), old wood
screens and screen door. Phone 560-4557 or
[email protected]
Spring
Neighborhood-
wide Yard Sale?
Interested in having another
Old Northeast neighborhood-
wide yard/garage/alley sale similar to the one last March?
Maybe in April or May?
It can happen if a few neighbors volunteer to put it together.
Only need a few motivated folks.
Contact [email protected] if you’d consider being a
part of such an effort.
1825 4th St. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33704
727-551-3100 • www.stpete.org/sunken.htm
Sunken Gardens is a botanical garden and
educational center which features daily garden
tours, Saturday gardening programs, wildlife
presentations, garden displays, and a walk-through
butterfly enclosure.
Page 32 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association
P.O. Box 76324
St. Petersburg, FL 33734
www.honna.org
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
ST. PETERSBURG FL
PERMIT #1020
Next Neighborhood Meeting: Monday, January 15
th
, 7pm
All neighborhood residents invited
IN THIS ISSUE
• Home Tour Time
• My, Thai
• North Shore
Pool
Improvements
• Garden
Guidelines

Plus Spoofers
and more
ST. PETERSBURG IS UNIQUE, NEWSWORTHY, ENERGETIC AND EXCITING
Now Featured On Several Top Ten Lists - from Places to Live, Work & Play
St. Petersburg has “Arrived”
We have arrived- And as we hear talk about the market’s transition, we can look at St. Petersburg’s popularity,
and growth in Business, Real Estate Development, Theater, the Arts, Education, & Tourism. It has over the past
few years, become known as one of the best (and less expensive) places to live in Florida. This area offers a somewhat
urban landscape of unique waterfront living for those residing close to downtown. One could consider the downtown
areas of St Petersburg as a “City by the Bay” with public access to miles of waterfront & parks & walking/running
pathways- St. Petersburg offers variety- Just look at my current listings, they range from Italian Renaissance,
Mediterranean Revival, Key West, Colonial, Mission Revival, Art Deco to Modern Contemporary- St. Petersburg
is often considered as a healthy destination for all generations & lifestyles. A pedestrian-friendly and, yes, “dog-friendly”,
destination. Downtown St Petersburg, Old Northeast, Snell Isle, & all the surrounding areas are sought after properties-
Properties that are far too localized and unique to be affected by the overall vicissitudes of market trends. In terms
of real estate, this area has limited space- prices will appreciate again and again. St Petersburg is valuable,
exhilarating, exciting and affordable. It is “The Place to Be”
Call Alona Dishy for some of the Finest Listings in the Area
www.ALONADISHY.com
Main Number (727) 458-8037
Office (727) 823-8000 X 129. Pager (727) 462-8887
Realty Executives [email protected]