Historic Old Northeast Newsletter March 2011

UPCOMING MEETINGS Mark your calendar!
Pot Luck (see below); Also, a special mini-presentation by Suncoast Electric Vehicles Diane Anderson, professional dog behaviorist History of The Old Northeast

March 21st April 18th May 16th

HONNA Neighborhood Meetings are held the third Monday of each month (except August and December) at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 126 11th Avenue NE Social: 6:45pm—Business: 7pm

Celebrating 100 Years of Community 1911-2011

St. Pete’s Jewel on Tampa Bay
Volume 39 Issue 1 / March 2011 / www.honna.org Published Quarterly

Enjoy HONNA’s favorite “new” tradition
Our March Monthly Neighborhood Meeting is a An Informal Opportunity to Enjoy Good Food and the Company of Neighbors and Friends, Both Old and New

POTLUCK

In thIs Issue
Parking Violations ................ 3 HONNA 2010 Accomplishments .............. 6 Neighborhood Yard Sale ....................... 7 Living Happily Ever After ..................... 10 Cycling Challenges ......... 12 Easter Egg Hunt ............. 14 Sensational Seniors... 18-19 Calendar of Events ........ 21 Tour with Sunken Gardens ............ 29 Assisting Families of Fallen Officers ............. 30

by Rick Carson Editor WTSP-TV Channel 10 cameraman Gene Yagle often gets up really early to leave his 15th Avenue NE home to work the station’s 5-7am The Morning Show. But on Wednesday, February 16th, he only had to walk around the corner to do his thing. That’s because the program was being broadcast live from the 500 block of 14th Avenue NE. All this came about through a whirlwind of activity which began on February 7th with an invitation from Grayson Kamm, a reporter with 10 News, in an e-mail to the HONNA Board. In it he indicated his interest in taking his Morning Keith Jones and Grayson Kamm interview Show live on the road to The Old Northeast, Sunken Gardens’ Bill O’Grady and “Mindy” saying, “We want to share the spirit of your great historic community with the rest of the Tampa Bay area! We’d love to partner with HONNA to arrange the best possible location for our broadcast and bring members of the community out to join us!” Grayson’s live show is part of WTSP’s weekly series, Why Do They Call It That? which focuses on the history of Tampa Bay and why people love the places where they live, like The Historic Old Northeast. continued on page 22

“Live, from The Old Northeast, It’s Wednesday Morning!”

The President’s Perspective

Mary Alice Lange

Association President

Historic Old Northeast Celebrates 100 Years and More!
magine an Old Northeast populated with alligators, eagles and unfenced cattle living along the bay and Coffee Pot Bayou amidst pine forests and groves of tropical fruit trees. This is the sight immediately north of downtown that greeted C. Perry Snell when he first arrived in St. Petersburg in 1904, determined to become a successful real estate entrepreneur. Certainly a man with vision, he immediately began buying property. Beginning in 1906 the area we now know as The Historic Old Northeast was amassed through the purchase of various parcels. The Bay Shore, Bay Front and Bay View subdivisions were quickly followed by the largest purchase -- the North Shore Subdivision in 1910. By 1911, development was in full swing. Although Granada Terrace was planned in 1912, it was not platted for homes until 1924. Historic Old NOrtheast NeighbOrhOOd News continued on page 2

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President’s Perspective from page 1
Snell advertised unsparingly in the St. Petersburg Times, touting the benefits and beauty of his subdivisions north of the City. Individuals purchasing lots built homes of varying architectural styles, including Mediterranean, Colonial, Craftsman, Prairie, Mission, Tudor and vernacular versions of all of these. Deed restrictions required homes to cost a minimum of $5,000 and no people of African descent were permitted to live in the main houses. In addition, there was to be no livestock kept on the premises. To counter complaints that residents were so far from downtown that they felt isolated, Snell constructed a trolley line that eventually reached all the way to 21st Avenue, running along 9 th Avenue and then north on Locust Street. He also built seawalls, sewer lines, roads, water and gas mains. An admirer of beautiful public spaces, Snell joined City fathers in advocating for the waterfront park system. He personally donated land from 13th Avenue N to Coffee Pot Bayou for parkland, as well as the land for Baywood Park at Beach Drive between 6th and 7th Avenues. The lovely promenade, pergola, urn and wishing well plazas and boat landing in Granada Terrace were also gifts to residents.

Photos from HONNA’s Souvenir of St. Petersburg: Views from The Vinoy

Today, 100 years later, our neighborhood is still characterized by C. Perry Snell’s vision of architectural diversity, waterfront parks, brick streets and an enveloping street tree canopy -- truly something to celebrate!
Information for this article was gleaned in part from C. Perry Snell, His Place in St. Petersburg, Florida History by Judy Lowe Wells. Be sure to come to the monthly neighborhood meeting on Monday, May 16th, for a program devoted to the history of The Historic Old

The Newsletter of the Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association
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 Courtney Ellis John Gee Mike Dailey Susan Coffey Jill McGrath Yvonne Swanson Laura Fage Sue Strott Mike Panetta Circulation Joe O’Connor Contributors All our Old Northeast neighbors Newsletter Layout & design Sharon Bond: [email protected] Advertising Information Rachel Sartain: [email protected]

Potluck

from page 1

*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 May 7th. Payment 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 (boundaries are 5th Ave N to 30th Ave N, and 4th St N to North Shore Dr/Coffee Pot Bayou Blvd). There are approximately 2,500 active home mailing addresses. Contact Rachel Sartain: [email protected] Ad space is limited so please make arrangements early.

1Qtr 2 Qtrs 3 Qtrs 1 Year Ad SIzE Business card 50 93 128 160 1/4 page (H 4.9” x w 3.7”) 100 186 256 320 1/2 page (H 4.9” x w 7.8”) 200 372 512 640 Full page 400 744 1024 1280 Back Cover 1/2 page 1400 *Inserts and Premium Placement: Rates Upon Request

Ad RATES

Come to the first of this year’s Potluck Dinners in lieu of the usual monthly ”business-oriented” neighborhood meeting. The date is Monday, March 21st, at our regular gathering place, Westminster Presbyterian Church at 126 11th Avenue NE. HONNA will provide the main entrée (meat and meatless), beverages and you can bring a favorite dish to dazzle our taste buds. Here’s our request of you. Depending on where you reside, here’s what you can bring: Between 5th-9th: a salad of some sort (examples: greens, cold pasta or Jell-O) 10th-14th: a dessert 15th-22nd: vegetable dish (hot or cold) 23rd-30th: bread or appetizer Make enough to serve 6-8, depending on what it is you’re bringing (of course, you get to take home any leftovers – unlikely!). If you are kitchen-challenged – or even if you’re not – we encourage you to bring a can or package of non-perishable food which we’ll donate to the church’s food pantry to pass along to those in need. Plan to arrive between 6:45-7pm so we can lay out all the food and begin dining by 7 or so. There will be no formal program – just neighborly conversation at tables over dinner. If you can’t arrive by 7, come when you can as the food should hold out until we start to close down around 8pm. Not a HONNA member? You’re definitely invited anyway. And if you decide to join, we won’t stop you. P.S. There will be a special attraction – the all-electric car being sold at Suncoast Electric Vehicles on 4th Street N!

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Historic Old NOrtheast NeighbOrhOOd News

Association News & Activities
Elected by the Board of Directors at its December meeting to be officers for the current term: President, Mary Alice Lange; Vice President, Jay Marshall, Treasurer, Monica Vernon, Secretary, Chris Avren. There was no monthly meeting in December and instead the annual holiday party was thrown at the Old Northeast Tavern and attended by over 80 neighbors. Thanks to them, several sack loads of children’s toys and books were contributed, which were delivered to families in need. Thanks, too, to the folks at the tavern for opening their doors to us to share in some seasonal celebration. At the January monthly neighborhood association meeting, a couple dozen residents shared ideas and thoughts about topics which might be addressed at upcoming monthly gatherings as well as issues and opportunities the neighborhood should consider. • Promote landscaping/beautification in common areas of neighborhood (e.g., medians, Granada Terrace parkways) • Address traffic concerns (e.g., stop sign running at intersection of 11th Avenue N and 3rd Street; pedestrian safety crossing on Coffeepot Boulevard into Granada Terrace; speeding along Locust Street between 12th and 15th Avenues; speeding, stop sign running, littering along 28th Avenue N between 4th Street N and 1st Street)

Committee Reports
Traffic
Ron Magray, Chair
Parking Violations/Violators The continuing violation of “sensible legal parking” in our neighborhood, as one neighbor characterized, is a frustrating intrusive problem. The City Transportation Department will soon have available an educational booklet for residential parking highlighting the City parking ordinances. In the meantime the neighborhood Traffic committee urges all residents to be considerate, especially parking too close to intersections, blocking traffic signs (stop signs) and obstructing the sidewalks. Parking on the improper side of the road may not seem to be important to many, but it is illegal; the law says that on two-way streets it’s passenger side wheels to the curb. The committee would like to be able to advise the police that we all are cooperating without having their presence for enforcement and potential fines.

Topics for HONNA General Meetings • History of The Old Northeast and various areas therein • How to research your house • Historic preservation of our community’s character • Making The Historic Old Northeast a “green community” (e.g., recycling, energy conservation, low impact living) • Home decorating (interior and exterior) • Hosting a “Mayor’s Night Out” • Forums featuring public officials (e.g., Mayor Bill Foster, City Councilperson Leslie Curran, County Commissioner Ken Welch, State Representative Jeff Brandes) • Public safety (crime prevention, fire safety, traffic control) • Our business community (e.g., 4th Street merchants) • Neighborhood services (e.g., codes, neighborhood partnership, public works) Issues/Opportunities/Concerns for The Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association and Its Residents • Provide assistance for needy residents or those with disabilities with light landscaping/property upkeep projects • Educate residents of law requiring posted addresses in front of house and in alleyways (address numbers should be permanently attached to the house, clearly visible from the street and alley and at least four inches high) • Help fire department be able to provide oxygen masks for dogs • Generate a sense of shared community on the part of residents of all parts of the neighborhood (e.g. throwing a HONNA-sponsored picnic in one of our parks or the pool) • Inform residents about all the various HONNA activities and programs and how they can become involved • Provide opportunities for neighbors to better know one another

Historic Preservation
Robin Reed, Chair
Students Contribute to Centennial Time Capsule Students at North Shore Elementary school responded enthusiastically to HONNA’s request for their participation in the time capsule that was part of November’s Waterfront Parks Centennial Sundial Project. Under the guidance of Multicultural Arts Instructor, Deena Szakacs, the students expressed with drawings what the parks mean to them. The student artwork was added to the list of items selected for the capsule: the November 6, 2010, edition of the The Mayor receives items from St. Petersburg Times, a key to the kids for the time capsule the City from Mayor Bill Foster,

Historic Old NOrtheast NeighbOrhOOd News

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Like our neighborhood? Want to make it even better? Volunteer with one of our committees!
Your volunteer involvement in one of our committees will help enhance your neighborhood and our association. Please contact any committee chair for information.

Candlelight Tour of Homes: Vacant C.O.N.A. Rep: Paul Boudreaux Crime & Safety: Judi Reed Historic Preservation: Robin Reed Membership/Porch Parties: Larry Smith Planning/Neighborhood Design Review: Mary Alice Lange Newsletter: Rick Carson Susan McGarry & Amir Lashgari Programs: Traffic: Ron Magray Website: Joe O’Connor
where you can click on the name of the person you wish to contact and send him/her a message.
www.honna.org/board-and-committees.html

To contact a chair via e-mail, go to

the official Proclamation of the Centennial by the City Council, items published by the Centennial Committee, a Centennial Tshirt and a copy of our own Souvenir of St. Petersburg, Views from the Vinoy. The Old Northeast thanks Deena Szakacs and the following students for their participation: Caleb Baldwin, Danny Johnson, Kiara Jones, Xavier Cassagnol, Nadia Szakacs, Jader Van, Chris Velgakis-Blanck, Kourtney Brangers, Austin Kenner, Greg Sadler, Quinton Marshall, Dylan Ohanian, Damian Duesbury, Andre Hitchcock, Joe Swann, Trevor Pastrana, Kristopher Fendt and Ty Lombard. Old NE resident and sundial sculptor Eric Higgs’ children, Aidan, Declan and Lane, also contributed their artwork to the capsule. North Shore Elementary School’s participation was arranged by Linda Whitley, Social Studies Director for Pinellas County Schools. Ms. Whitley has made possible HONNA’s several partnerships with our City’s public schools, including the donation of 50 copies of Souvenir of St. Petersburg, Views from the Vinoy to 33 public schools in St. Petersburg, Gulfport and Pinellas Park. Old NE Exhibit at Tampa Museum The Old NE’s exhibit was installed last Fall at the Tampa Bay History Center and it looked terrific. Elaine Normile, Lynne Mormino, Suzanne Laurencell and I along with Souvenir of St. Petersburg: Views from the Vinoy author Robin Gonzalez spent most of instal-

Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association

OFFICERS and BOARd

President: Mary Alice Lange ..................................... 251-2034 Vice President Jay Marshall .......................................................... Treasurer Monica Vernon....................................................... Secretary Chris Avren ........................................................... Board Paul Boudreaux ....................................... 824-7050 Rick Carson ............................................. 898-7834 Douglas Haan .......................................... 488-5514 Rick Kantner ........................................................ Amir Lashgari ................................... 800/743-8904 Susan McGarry...................................................... Ron Magray ............................................. 502-9065 Judi Reed ................................................ 804-2455 Robin Reed.............................................. 825-0480 Larry Smith ............................................................ To contact an officer or Board member via e-mail, go to www.honna.org/boardand-committees.html where you can click on the name of the person you wish to contact and send him/her a message. HONNA Board meetings are held the first Monday of each month at 6:30pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church and are open to the public. Check beforehand with the Board president in case the meeting day has been re-scheduled.

lation day hanging the fabric backdrop and putting the pieces of our exhibit into the glass-fronted community case at the museum, which is located in the Channelside district of Tampa. Thanks to Jen at Pop Design (who also designed Souvenir); it looked very professional and fit in well with other exhibits at the museum. Please Note: HONNA would like to acknowledge that the Old Northeast Garden Club made a donation to the Centennial Sundial Projec, in addition to the individual members listed in the December newsletter.

Joe O’Connor, Webmaster If you wish to contact a Board member by phone, a telephone extension has been assigned to each one. The Board members, their e-mail addresses and their telephone numbers can be found here: http://www.honna.org/board-and-committees.html If someone calls one of the extensions, they are set up the same -- they are voice mail only. If someone leaves a voice message, the system will forward the voice message and it attempts a transcript to the person’s e-mail.

Website

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Historic Old NOrtheast NeighbOrhOOd News

Judi Reed, Chair Our Crime Watch meetings are now being held at 6pm at Westminster Church immediately before the monthly neighborhood gatherings held on the third Monday of each month. All are welcome to attend.

Crime & Safety

The human sundial sculpture in North Shore Park can be enjoyed even when the sun is not shining. View this photo in color at honna.org
Photo courtesy Michael Rixon

Historic Old NOrtheast NeighbOrhOOd News

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HONNA Activities and Accomplishments During 2010
Meetings, Socials and Community Building
 Held monthly neighborhood meetings on subjects that included the new Dali Museum, fertilizer restrictions, a conversation with Police Chief Chuck Harmon, digital billboards, the sundial project  Held 10 Porch Party socials on the third Friday of the month  Hosted annual December holiday party for neighborhood residents and collected Christmas gifts for needy children  Hosted three pot luck “socials” in lieu of regular monthly meetings  Contributed to the annual Florida Orchestra Concert in the Park generously underwritten by Old NE resident Helen Torres  Provided neighborhood representation in the Council of Neighborhood Associations (CONA)  Made presentation about HONNA Crime Watch program to Florida Neighborhoods Conference  Continued distribution, promotion and sale of award-winning HONNA publication, Souvenir of St. Petersburg: Views From the Vinoy  Initiated “package tours” of neighborhood in partnership with Sunken Gardens and the Renaissance Vinoy Resort  Sold “Preserve Old Northeast” banners for residents to display  Hosted a Florida Neighborhoods Conference tour of neighborhood and provided dinner for 50 people  Held eight Crime Watch meetings  Provided Citizens on Patrol neighborhood watch throughout The Old NE thanks to the time and dedication of 32 volunteers  Set up C r i m e Wa t c h booths at three block parties in neighborhood  Sent 10 e-mail blasts to residents warning of suspicious activities in their areas  Received reports at every neighborhood monthly meeting from Community Police Officers, who took questions from residents in attendance and responded to concerns expressed  Distributed over 140 crime watch “We Notice and Report Suspicious Activity” yard signs for use by residents Mailed four issues of the neighborhood newsletter to 2,400 households; Starting publishing newsletter in color on web site, and made all newsletters since 2007 available for online reading Redesigned the HONNA website home page to make it more user-friendly and informative Provided a HONNA page in the Northeast Journal in its six issues during the year Created a Facebook page, which has over 75 “friends” Delivered e-mail broadcasts concerning 45 events to over 600 subscribers Instituted new telephone number, voice mail boxes and info messages to provide better communication links for residents to contact the association Maintained a new info bulletin board (courtesy of the City) next to the tennis courts in North Shore Park Increased number of HONNA memberships over the course of the year

Crime & Safety

 Instituted plaque program for locally designated historical landmark properties  Offered two “walking tours” of The Old NE – one along 4th

Historic Preservation

Communications

Street and the other the waterfront parks  Submitted HONNA’s updated neighborhood plan to the Florida Trust and received its Preservation Education/Media award and to Neighborhood USA and received second place as “Neighborhood of the Year”  Prepared an exhibit about the neighborhood for display at the Tampa Bay History Center in Tampa  Created a brochure featuring the history of the neighborhood and our eight landmark properties Historic Old NOrtheast NeighbOrhOOd News Page 6

Cooperated with media coverage about activities which appeared in the St. Petersburg Times and TV segments about the Candlelight Tour of Homes on Bay News 9.  Organized annual Spring neighborhood-wide yard sale on March 13th  Organized annual Halloween activities including house decorating contest, pumpkin carving and riddle hunt map  Co-sponsored annual Easter Egg Hunt at Coffee Pot Park with Smith & Associates Real Estate  Planned the annual 4th of July Children’s Parade (which had to be canceled at the last minute due to rain storms)  Organized 13th annual Candlelight Tour of Homes, raising operational funds for HONNA and providing a contribution to the Clothes to Kids charity  Led effort to design and fund the “human” sundial project in North Shore Park as the neighborhood’s gift to the City as part of the Waterfront Parks Centennial celebration

Special Events

 Maintained entryway monuments into the neighborhood  Supervised and shared in cost of repairing and repainting the dolphin sculptures at the Venetian Steps in Granada Terrace  The number of neighbors who participated in these events – as sponsors, organizers, volunteers or just participants – is in the several hundreds. These activities and programs would not have been realized without your involvement and support. Thank you…and all our neighbors are invited to become involved in these and other HONNA activities during 2011.

Neighborhood Beautification

5th Annual Neighborhood-Wide

Saturday, March 19th
Time to clean out your closets, garage, attic, under the bed, car trunk, storage units and drawers!

YArd SAle

Bargains

Tre asu Tro re ve

Old NE Yard SalE

The Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association invites you to participate in our annual neighborhood-wide yard sale on Saturday, March 19th, from 8am-1pm. HONNA will be providing publicity about the event via the newspaper, a door-to-door leaflet blitz and signage. HONNA members wishing to participate can be listed on a special locator map which will be distributed to eager shoppers on that Saturday morning at Ground Zero for the event – Westminster Presbyterian Church on 11th Avenue NE. Notify Chris Avren ([email protected] or 727/252-6400) to add your name to the list of neighborhood sellers; provide Chris with your address (and specify if the sale will be on the front sidewalk, rear yard, alley or other location) along with a brief listing of the major items (or types of items) you’ll have for sale. The deadline for getting on the list is March 10th so hurry! Not already a HONNA member? If not, you can sign up at www. honna.org (the $30 annual membership is tax deductible) or complete and return the form on page 5. HONNA is encouraging participants to donate $10 or 10% of sale proceeds to HONNA as a tax-deductible donation for ongoing projects and activities benefiting the entire neighborhood. Too late to get your act together and participate in the sale? Well, all’s not lost -- you can participate by shopping for all the great deals you’ll find on March 19th!
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CLIP AND MAIL

Crime Watch Fact Sheet
Name _____________________________________ Address ___________________________________ City/State: St. Petersburg, FL Zip: _____________ Home Phone:_______________________________ Office Phone: _______________________________ Cell Phone: ________________________________ E-mail: ____________________________________ Emergency Contact Person____________________ Contact’s Phone # ___________________________ HONNA Member: Yes____ No____ Would like more info on membership Yes___ No___ Signed: ___________________________________ PO Box 76324, St. Petersburg, FL 33734

Spring Walking Tour ... for Kids!
his Spring HONNA and The Old Northeast host a special version of our semi-annual walking tours. Come on along as Emily Elwyn, architectural historian and neighborhood resident, along with neighborhood historians Rob Wertz and Mike Dailey lead us on a tour especially designed for kids. We will talk about architecture and how the neighborhood developed and hunt for fun architectural details all around us. This tour is great for anyone young at heart, but especially those age 7-15. Please join us on Sunday, April 17th, at 1:30pm starting at Westminster Presbyterian Church on the corner of 11th Avenue and 1st Street NE, weather permitting.

T

HONNA

Bob Watts knows The Old Northeast
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Looking to sell? Call now for your FREE Comprehensive Comparative Market Analysis.

Bob Watts, Broker 727-647-3300 [email protected]
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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
A December 1st accident involving a scooter and a motorized wheelchair on 4th Street N at 14th Avenue resulted in the death of the driver of the scooter. [Source: St. Petersburg Times, 12/2]

PICTURE OF Dr. Sims-Robertson

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 The recent work being done on the Snell Isle bridge included improvements at the crosswalks, leveling pavers and repairing the deck itself. [Source: St. Petersburg Times, 1/30]

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Schedule Your full body check / Cancer Screening with us today.

PREVENTIVE
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Sun Screen Protection applied regularly and Anti-Aging Therapies and Good Nutrition are proven to be ..

A missing ¼ inch at the North Shore Pool is a large reason for the $312,000 cost of renovation of the 50-meter pool, which has required that portion of the complex to be closed from mid-January into late March. Turns out that over a year ago it was discovered that the width of the Olympic-sized pool was too short – by ¼ of an inch – to meet the official USA Swimming standards that are necessary for certification. And since the pool is used for many competitions, its measurements must be perfect. The pool is also receiving the regular maintenance it needs since its last resurfacing in 2004. During the renovation of the 50-meter pool the 25-meter pool has remained open. [Source: St. Petersburg Times, 1/12]

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Medical examinations and diagnosis of moles, dark spots, pimples , acne scars, light spots, discolored nails, thinning hair and redness , itchy areas, warts and deep pore cleansing; treated will help you look and feel better,

THERAPEUTIC

 There was a bit of commotion at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort late Christmas morning when a dryer in the hotel’s laundry caught fire and the smoke set off the sprinkler system, which successfully doused the flames. It did bring fire engines and squad cars to the property and caused Beach Drive to be blocked off to traffic. Hotel guests were evacuated as a precaution but damage and inconveniences were very limited. [source: eyewitnesses and Vinoy staff]

THERMAGE is the GOLD STANDARD for skin tightening. You will see the difference in all of our noninvasive Laser Therapies. We in addition offer Facials, skin peels, BOTOX , Juvéderm and other Injectable Fillers. We have Hair Loss therapies that are extremely effective as well as the latest and greatest in hair reduction lasers.

COSMETIC

Ask About Our

New Members
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Historic Old NOrtheast NeighbOrhOOd News

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Thoughts from the Front Porch…

by Courtney Ellis, MA, RMHCI

Happily Ever After
f I had to pick just three words to describe marriage, I would steal a quote from a mentor of mine, Dr. Harold Wahking. His quote is this: “Marriage is therapy.” And just like therapy, what we put in is often what we get out. With over half of marriages in America ending in divorce, it can be easy to take on a defeated attitude when things at home get tough. The temptation is to think that the relationship has run its course and that perhaps two people can’t actually live happily ever after. While these ideas are widely accepted in our society today, they don’t make the heartbreak of splitting any easier and certainly are not reasons to give up. Whether you’re about to get married, newly-married or can’t even remember what anniversary you’ll be celebrating next, here are some things to watch out for as well as some tools to use to promote a healthier, happier love story. Dr. John Gottman, a therapist interested in finding out what helps a marriage succeed, created a research method known as a “Love Lab” in the ‘80s. Within these Love Labs, couples were observed through videos, heart rate monitors and other measuring devices. Gottman’s aim was to watch couples in their natural environment and to see what bonded them versus what brought about division. Gottman has since shared his findings, which have been invaluable to the counseling community. One of his major findings includes several “predictors of divorce.” By predictors, I do not mean that divorce is guaranteed if these behaviors are being exhibited in your marriage. What I do mean is that these are red flags to watch out for and to replace with healthier habits if they are indeed occurring in your relationship. One of the predictors of divorce found by Gottman is a couple’s conflict style or what he calls “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.” These Four Horsemen include the following: criticism, contempt, defensiveness and stonewalling.

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Criticism is a personal attack on your spouse and often includes generalizations such as “you always,” “you never,” “why are you always so…” Criticism is different than simply verbalizing a complaint in that a complaint focuses on a specific behavior (e.g., not taking out the trash) while criticism attacks the person on a more global level – his or her personality or character. The second Horseman, Contempt, includes sarcasm, mocking and name-calling. Contempt often occurs after one spouse or both attempts to bottle in negative feelings toward the partner. As resentment and annoyance grow, so do the demeaning comments. Defensiveness, the third Horseman, happens when we view ourselves as the victim and pass the blame onto our partner. Rather than paying attention to what the other person is saying, we immediately combat his or her stance with excuses and justifications. And lastly, the fourth Horseman, Stonewalling, involves withdrawing from your spouse in order to avoid conflict. When stonewalling, we may remain silent or even leave the room due to discomfort. While it seems like this is helping because we avoid the hurt that comes with an argument, it only creates distance between you and your partner as you disengage emotionally. While the Horsemen are conflict styles to watch out for, here are some things to practice at home so that conflict can become a growth opportunity rather than a cause for strife. One of the major tools I teach clients is what Gottman calls “repair attempts.” These are those efforts we make during conflict to assuage the situation or to show we still care. Repair attempts can include physical touch, a playful joke or even a decision to take a temporary break from the conflict in order to cool down. While it may seem trivial, a repair attempt demonstrates that the issue at hand does not outweigh our love for the other person and that we are willing to work it out. It demonstrates that we are able to choose our partner over our ego. It does not solve the conflict by any means but creates room for healing to occur as we not only learn to offer repair attempts but also how to receive them. In addition, softening your conflict style, practicing humility and offering forgiveness are some of the many things that can help restore a damaged marriage and allow you and your spouse to join together once again. We may not always be right, and the more we can own up to this the better off our marriage will be. Again, conflict does not need to be a negative thing as long as we know how to fight fair and allow our love for each other to reign over our differences. The more we can communicate and connect on an emotional level, the more room we leave for intimacy and understanding.

Courtney Ellis is a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern who provides individual and couples counseling to the Tampa Bay area. She lives in a cute bungalow in The Old Northeast with her husband and two dogs. She tries to spend as much time on her front porch as possible.

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Activities at Westminster Presbyterian Church
By Rev. Gail E. Zoya Pastor, Westminster Presbyterian Church
our neighbors at Westminster Presbyterian Church have been very busy making plans for the next five months. We are excited about all the plans we’ve made and would be delighted if you would join us for any or all of these events. We are hosting a free, monthly concert on the third Sunday of each month at 3pm. On February 20th, James Weaver, pianist, performed classical, contemporary and original tunes. March 20th will be Koncertina, a piano, flute and violin trio, performing classical to modern arrangements. In April, Katie Parker and Peter Barlow (PCCA students) will perform classical and folk tunes on violin and cello. May 15th brings O Som De Jazz, playing Brazilian Jazz, and on June 19th Johnny Harris, guitarist, will be performing. Also, our Family Fun Fiestas are back, beginning with bingo night/build your own sundaes on February 19th. On March 19th at 6pm we will have card tournament night: adults can play their favorite card games (bridge, hearts, spades, rummy, etc) and youth can play their favorites; prizes will be awarded. April 16th is the date for all things “egg”ceptional, including an Easter Egg Hunt and a picnic potluck. May 21st will be bowling and July 16th will be movie night. More details will available closer to the event’s date, and you can contact the church at 727/821-5259 for information. You may have noticed that there is no FFF in June. That is because June 19th-23rd will be our Vacation Bible School. This year’s

Y

VBS will be in the evening on Sunday through the program on Thursday night. Again, more details will be available later. Last, but certainly not least, is the schedule for Holy Week Services. Sunday, April 17th, is Palm Sunday, and we gather at 10:30am to worship the King who rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. Thursday, April 21st, we gather at 7pm for a Tennebrae Service (service of darkness) as we consider the amazing sacrifice made by Jesus. Friday night, anyone who would like to view “The Passion of The Christ” is invited to come to the church at 7pm for a group viewing. Due to the graphic nature of this movie, no children, please. Easter Sunday will be a day of celebration as we gather to worship the Risen and Living Lord.

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ARCHITECTS • PLANNERS STEVEN DOUGLAS LANGE, R.A.
PRESIDENT Lic. # AR0007855

POST OFFICE BOX 7776 SAINT PETERSBURG, FLORIDA 33734 (727) 823-7868 [email protected]
Historic Old NOrtheast NeighbOrhOOd News

Page 11

Over The Back Fence

by

…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, gooddeed-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!

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S

and

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S

The Voice of Vinoy History Past….The St. Petersburg Times’ Jeff Klinkenberg did a nice reflection on the Renaissance Vinoy Resort (December 19) past-and-present, and in the course of his piece discussed a recent visit with the “official Vinoy historian,” Old NE resident Elaine Normile, “a tiny elegant woman.” She shared tales about the Vinoy with the reporter just as she does on her frequent tours of the historic property. Tours are conducted most days, with a cost of $27-$35 that includes a meal “and the possibility of spotting a celebrity.” In the photo accompanying the article Elaine, in her “stylish black slacks and a leopard-skin print blouse,” can be seen holding a copy of HONNA’s book, Souvenir of St. Petersburg: Views from the Vinoy, which is available for purchase at the hotel’s gift shop. Cycling Challenges….Columnist Bill Maxwell addressed the subject of bicyclists in his December 12th musings in the St. Petersburg Times, reflecting on the frequency with which he finds himself “stuck” driving behind 20 or more cyclists. As a cyclist himself, he goes on to invoke state law as it pertains to traversing our streets. He quotes: “A bicyclist who is not traveling at the same speed of other traffic must ride in a designated bike lane or as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway. A bicyclist may leave the right-most portion of the road in the following situations: when passing, making a left turn, to avoid road hazards, or when a lane is too narrow for a bicycle and a car to share safely. Persons riding two abreast shall not impede traffic when traveling at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions existing, and shall ride within a single lane.” Maxwell “braces” for what he calls the “pack mentality” when cyclists will move to the left and out of the bike lane to cause motorists to slow down. “This maneuver is illegal. Cyclists know it,” he writes. He goes on to report what he often sees in such situations: car drivers refuse to move over, horns are honked and drivers will illegally block cyclists. “Any chance for courtesy disappears. Each camp is ready to do battle,” he observes. He ends his column with the hope that both cyclists and drivers can “safely coexist” by “adjust[ing] their attitudes” and adhering to the law. For those of us

who travel North Shore Drive and Beach Drive, we say, “Amen.” Driving Green….There’s a new business on 4th Street which

Car being featured on the Morning Show (see page 1) garnered a nice article in the January 9th St. Petersburg Times. It’s Suncoast Electric Vehicles at 2401 4th Street N. The dealership sells Wheegos, one of 30 such operations in the country that sell these plug-in electric cars. One, the Whip, can go up to 40 miles up to 35mph on an eight-hour charge. Cost: $22,785 with a 10% tax credit. More Than Just Gas….An “On Retail” column in a recent St. Petersburg Times edition (January 25th) featured the Rally gas station at 22nd Avenue N at 4th Street (“Food pumps up gas station profits”). It tells of how “up-market” the operation is, offering 100 different beers, pricey wines, a cappuccino bar, a cigar bar and made-to-order deli selections. Owned by the Risser Oil Corporation, what is sold inside the building has to make up for the small profits coming from the sale of gasoline at the pumps. Power of an E-mail….City Councilman Steve Kornell singled out Old NE resident and former HONNA Board member Tracey Locke for alerting him to likely budget cuts that would have deprived 245 teens from attending summer camp last year. Eventually, with financial assistance from the Over The Back Fence is a Juvenile Welfare Board and the City, the slots at camp were made availSTep On up able. and Neighbors Wa t c h i n g A f leT’S hear ter Neighbors…. From neighbors FrOm yOu Mary Alice and Steve Lange: “A e-mail: [email protected] big Thank You to

Soapbox...

Page 12

Historic Old NOrtheast NeighbOrhOOd News

Claire Rowell and Barbara Rowell along with baby Lila Jane Fox for bringing our Yorkie Callie home to us. Unbeknownst to us, our Yorkie escaped from the front porch during a pizza delivery and she had traveled into the Cherry Street intersection where these fine ladies encouraged Callie to go home. Callie traveled up the sidewalk and to another neighbor’s home. Claire and Barbara felt certain that Callie wasn’t sure it was her home so they encouraged her to continue on until she ran up our sidewalk onto the front porch. They rang the doorbell to ask if she was ours. We are so thankful to have Callie home safely and to reaffirm our belief that we live in a fabulous neighborhood with wonderful people. Thank you.” Home Tour in Tampa….The Old Seminole Heights 13th Annual Home Tour in Tampa will be held on Sunday, April 3rd, from 11:30am-5pm. Homes are throughout Old Seminole Heights with the tour starting at Seminole Heights Garden Center, 5700 N. Central Avenue. Tickets are $10 in advance (online at www.oldseminoleheights.org) and $15 on the day of the tour at the Seminole Heights Garden Center. For information phone 813/231-7967 or visit www.oldseminoleheights.com. Reclaimed Water?....Old NE neighbor Ethan Goddard, who runs a geochemistry lab at USF’s Marine Science, has created a basic information page, a Facebook page and a secure (read, personal info/addresses are safe) “petition” page for Old NE residents who are interested in learning more about what it will cost to establish reclaimed water service to their residences. These are the links: • Information page: Old Northeast Reclaimed Water Initiative https://sites.google.com/site/onereclaimedwaterinitiative/ • Link to secure petition to add your name to the no-obligation City of St. Pete Water Resources Division infill request estimate: http://goo.gl/j1pMm • Old Northeast Reclaimed Water Initiative Facebook group: http://goo.gl/MtSfO • City of St. Petersburg Water Resources Department Reclaimed Water information page: http://www.stpete.org/water/reclaimed_water/index.asp Ethan advises that he’s used Google’s URL shortener (http://goo. gl/) to make two of these links much shorter than they were originally; do not be alarmed, he assures, they are legit despite their weird appearance. He may be contacted at [email protected]. Kudos to Local Realtor…. Old NE resident Cynthia Serra was recognized by Smith & Associates Real Estate with the Mary Smith Conover Award for its St. Petersburg office. This honor is bestowed annually by the company to the individual associate who demonstrates the highest level of service to buyers, sellers and industry peers. Service is gauged by positive feedback from Cynthia (second from right) about to receive award.

The 500 block of 14th Avenue NE was a popular place for filming during February. In addition to the WTSP broadcast on February 16th (see page 1), Century 21 did a national commercial shoot using the home of Brian and Leslie Waechter on February 17th. customers, election by peers and recognition from service and charitable organizations. Cynthia has a long history of involvement in the Old Northeast, particularly through her work organizing the annual Easter Egg Hunt, Halloween decorating activities and the Old NE Neighborhood Holiday Party with its gifts to Toys for Tots and Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

Historic Old NOrtheast NeighbOrhOOd News

Page 13

Property Transfers
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.

126 8th Avenue NE ........................................... Marinus Butje 535 12th Avenue NE ........................................Leslie Wharton 165 13th Avenue NE ..................... Larissa and Stephan Bryan 237 13th Avenue NE ........................................ Jacqueline Fox 425 13th Avenue NE ........................................ Steven Roach 605 14th Avenue NE .......................Patrick and Kelly Shane 118 15th Avenue N ...........................................Wayne Smith 636 16th Avenue NE .........................Chad and Jennifer Boyd 706 18th Avenue NE ..........................................Sandra Gacio 237 20th Avenue NE ...........................................Mary Fraser 335 20th Avenue NE ............................John and Mary Collins 152 21st Avenue N ............................................Jodi Lippens 229 21st Avenue N .......................... Ryan and Lydia Powers 145 23rd Avenue N ............... Richard and Christin Dalessio 136 25th Avenue N ..............................Christopher Gasinski 140 26th Avenue N ......................John and Suzanne Swisher 700 Beach Drive NE #508 .....................William Luedemann
Source: Compiled from public records by FNBR Inc. and printed in the St. Petersburg Times.

Co-sponsored and organized by Cynthia Serra for Smith & Associates Real Estate and HONNA

Annual Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt

Enjoy the mad scramble for hidden Easter eggs, a planned visit by the Easter Bunny and two prizes for best costumes.

DATE: Saturday, April 23rd TIME: 10am PLACE: Coffee Pot Park
(30th Avenue NE at 1st Street) Due to limited spaces in the lot, plan to park on a side street

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Historic Old NOrtheast NeighbOrhOOd News

Neighborhood Book Group

As The Pages Turn...
by Susan Coffey
One Great Book Club met in January at the home of Courtney Thornberg (21st Avenue NE). Courtney chose a novel with a holiday theme called On Strike for Christmas by Sheila Roberts, which was also made into a movie for Lifetime TV. The book centers on a group of women in small town USA who belong to a knitting club. Christmas is fast approaching and the women begin discussing their yearly task of preparing for the holiday. The conversation turns from one of excitement and anticipation for Christmas to how much work they actually have to do without the help of their husbands. It doesn’t help either that Laura, one of the women in the group, just had a huge Thanksgiving dinner for most of her husband’s co-workers without any help from him. As you would expect, the women decide to take action by going on strike, leaving all the holiday responsibility to their husbands. The men take on the wives’ challenge of preparing, cooking, baking, shopping and taking care of the children’s needs for Christmas. A reporter for the local newspaper picks up the story and the whole town gets involved. Basically, the men and women in the town take sides against one another. Of course, it’s one great fiasco with the men unable to do anything right. The ending was

flat, with the husbands and wives coming to a resolution to be more considerate of one another… and all turns out well for Christmas. There were two interesting side stories in this book. One of the women just lost her husband and found the strike to be foolish and thought the wives should be grateful for what they have. The other is how the women come together to help their friend who is battling cancer. The strike seemed pale in comparison to these two characters and what they had to deal with in their lives. The book lacks any real substance, and the conflict between the wives and husbands is juvenile at best. The book, however, did lead to a good discussion from our group. Some of us could not relate at all to the husbands not participating. In fact, we found a lot of us were lucky to have husbands who enjoy cooking and participating in all the preparation for Christmas. Others in our group found they could relate to carrying the burden of “doing it all.” This book was a tossup between thumbs up and thumbs down. ONE Great Book Club meets every other month, the second Thursday of that month in the evening. There continues to be a waiting list; I can be reached at [email protected]. Our sister/brother book club meets the last Wednesday of each month in the afternoon. Contact Colleen Grant at [email protected] for more information. There presently is room for two more members.

Historic Old NOrtheast NeighbOrhOOd News

Page 15

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Historic Old NOrtheast NeighbOrhOOd News

by Sue Strott
Are you one of those people who goes about your day-to-day life noticing things happening around you (or not happening) in the neighborhood and our City and you wonder why (or why not) but never get around to discovering the answer? We’ve decided to ask one of our neighbors, Sue Strott, who’s lived in The Old Northeast almost forever, to track down the explanations for some of those puzzling questions which bug, bedevil and frustrate us. So here’s a start with some of those nagging, niggling WHYs? and WHAT’s?. Let us know if you have a particular issue or query you’d like The Answer Lady to check out and we’ll see what she can learn. Like FiOS... will we ever “hear them now”? Contact The Answer Lady at [email protected].

Have you noticed an unusual item sticking out of your personal garbage container or Dumpster lately? Think of the damages it can do to the garbage trucks! Here’s an update on what should or should not be put into them as per Willie Joseph of the City of St. Petersburg Sanitation Department. 1. These containers are strictly for household garbage. However, we may place occasional yard clippings in them. Coordinate the put-out time with your twice-weekly pick up times to be considerate of your neighbors (put it out the night before or prior to 7am on pickup days). 2. The City will pick up appliances and/or furniture if we call 893-7398; we can expect to get an approximate time and date (within three days) for that pick up. 3. The City may pick up some building materials at curbside or in the alley if we call 893-7334; or we can order a roll-off container for extensive remodeling wastes. 4. For all hazardous wastes -- such as electronics, TVs, paints, etc. -- we need to call the Pinellas County incinerator at 522-5794 to determine a date and time for when we can deliver items to the site. The City does not pick up these items. The Old Northeast is filled with four legged treasures, some of whom get walked up to four times a day. We need to do our best to remove any of their excreta, not only for our neighbors but because it is the Law. According to the St. Petersburg City Code of Ordinances, Part II, Chapter 4 Animals, Article III Dogs, Sec. 4-52: It shall be unlawful for any dog owner or person in charge of a dog to fail to remove deposits of dog excreta made by a dog in that person’s charge when the deposit of dog excreta occurred in the presence of the dog owner or person in charge of the dog on any public property, including, but not limited to, municipal parks and public rights-ofway; or on private property not belonging to the owner or person in charge of the dog. If such depositing of excreta occurs, the owner or person in charge of the dog shall immediately cause its removal for disposal at the premises of the owner or person in charge of such dog. Sue was born in Chicago and lived in Canada before moving to The Old NE in 1973 where she continues to run an apartment rental business. She lives with her dog, Foxy Lady, and is one of those people who enjoys being busy!

Trash Containers - To Keep Them Neat and Safe

Brown Gold

by Jay Marshall HONNA Vice President
he Historic Old Northeast neighborhood loves its fourlegged pets. They provide a great way to get outside, exercise, meet our neighbors and have great conversations with friends. But there is one thing we can do for our pets and our neighbors that our pets cannot do: pick up their “leavings.” “Poop watch” is not a glamorous job but a really important task so that folks behind us don’t walk or run into the mess. Whether on the street, sidewalk or grassy areas, pet feces are a nuisance that makes it very unpleasant for those who happen upon it. As pet owners, it is our responsibility -- to ourselves and our neighbors -- to properly dispose of our pets’ “leavings” so that our neighborhood remains a quality place for all to enjoy. So please, as you are walking your pet, bring along one or more plastic bags, bag the “leavings” and dispose of it in a trash container. That way, we can walk assuredly without having to look down all the time while we are out for a stroll, mowing our lawns or just finding a cozy spot on lay on the grass to enjoy the sunrise or sunset. A long time ago, a neighbor of mine referred to his pet’s leavings as “brown gold.” While there may not be a market for it (yet), your reward is knowing that you’re being respectful of your neighbors and you have fulfilled a basic responsibility as a pet owner.

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dog Excrement Etiquette

Historic Old NOrtheast NeighbOrhOOd News

Page 17

e all age, but how we travel that road is going to have a significant bearing on the quality of that life. There is an amazing group of seniors in our neighborhood’s active living community, Westminster Palms and Palm View, who have in common a positive outlook and continued passion to embrace life. If only I could share the incredible lifetime memories and experiences of the many residents who are “high on life” and have good cheer and a smile as years add on. Here is a snapshot of a few special people whose lives personify “active living.” Pierre and Barbara Cooley, married 50 years with two grown children and several grandchildren, moved to Tierra Verde from Connecticut nine years ago. He was an art director for the New York Times, stage actor, director, producer, president of two symphony orchestras and a community theater and is passionate about opera and classical music. She is an author, award-winning journalist, music and theater critic (including some of Pierre’s theatrical experiences), gardener and cares for her 94-year old mother who lives close by. Her writings about many subjects are too numerous to list but include introductions to the New York Times cookbook series, editing Pulitzer Prize presentations also for the Times, children’s books and an informational booklet for parents of substance abusers. The Cooleys are world travelers, art collectors -- both whimsical and serious -- especially Japanese art, so much so they added a Japanese tea house and garden she designed on their Connecticut property. Both are survivors of brain surgery. She has a desire to read to children and continue writing for local publications. He regales with stories and accents mastered during his early days as a nightclub comedian, in the act “Cooley and Warmly: Have Tux, Will Grovel.” Their mantra -- “And the beat goes on.” E . Wi l s o n “ B u d ” Purdy had a distinguished career life in law enforcement and was personally commended by Director J. Edgar Hoover when he was an FBI special agent. He served as: Chief of Police in St. Petersburg in 1958 for four years; Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police; Director of Public Safety and Sheriff for Dade County (Florida). During his time as Dade County Sheriff, Time magazine in 1967 featured Chief Purdy’s criminal intelligence work to abate “organized crime” by the Miami mafia. Interesting stories, to say the least. When he wasn’t content in retirement, he became a private security consultant and expert witness, having involvement in more than 300 cases from coast to coast. He also taught law enforcement throughout his career at the junior college and university levels, and he taught judo in his early years when in military service as an officer in the U.S. Army Corps of Military Police during WW II. He has compiled a 218-page life memoir of family genealogy, memories, pictures, conversations and documents spanning his military and civilian careers, which ended with his retirement at age 75. Most importantly, he documents his 63 years of marriage to his beloved wife, Jane, now deceased, who became a real estate broker after raising their three children. Jane and “Bud” enjoyed years of hiking and cycling, sometimes averaging 12 miles a day hiking mountain trails at their second home in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and biking in the Everglades. His sense of humor and sharp wit are enjoyed by the Westminster Palms residents and staff. Bert and Jan Hambleton have been married 47 years and decided last year to downsize from large home living and sought an active living community in Palm View. With all the amenities to “age in place,” they are doing so quite well in their penthouse apartment with a spectacular water view on all sides. Jan’s watercolor artwork is featured throughout their home, including the award-winning piece featured in this photo. She paints still life, landscapes and people. Her penchant for home decorating is illustrated in beautiful fabrics and many accessories to include custom colorful pieces made by Bert and Jan, such as large wall mirrors featuring mosaics of glass tiles for which an interior designer would pay top dollar.

Sensational Seniors
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by Barbara Marshall

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Historic Old NOrtheast NeighbOrhOOd News

The Hambletons are faithfully committed to the practice of yoga for wellness, and Bert recreates further with golf. They are proud parents of three grown children and several grandchildren whom they see often. Providing a support system for Jan’s mother, who lives on the property as an independent-living resident of Westminster Palms, is paramount in their lives. The Hambletons’ life journey includes his U.S. Air Force military service for eight years during the Vietnam war years, with a one-year tour there as an F-4 phantom fighter jet pilot followed by a 30-year flight career as a Delta Airlines pilot and instructor. Jan was a young mother at the time of Bert’s Vietnam service and recalls sporadic communication via letters only, not what the world knows today with round-the-clock news coverage and computer technology. This couple has planned ahead and given the gift of peace of mind to their children by choosing a residential lifestyle that has different levels of health care, should it be required. As they “age in place,” they are enjoying top amenities and all that downtown St. Petersburg offers. Phyllis Roemer reflects humbly on her athletic accomplishments that began in her late 40s after raising two children. As she continued her almost 20-year work career as a vocational counselor at Dunedin High School in the 1970s, she wished to join her husband, Roy, already a serious bicycle road racer and competitor as well as sports car racer. She thought she was just going to ride “for the fun of it,” but an amazing athletic career emerged. In 1982, 50 Plus magazine featured 12 top U.S. athletes over 50, and Phyllis was recognized for her cycling. When Roy was alive, 40-mile workouts were routine for the Roemers. This unassuming octogenarian has many championships to her name, including tandem bicycle racing at age 71, and continues to ride today but no longer competes. Phyllis takes in stride that she is legally blind in one eye since the age of 12 due to a detached retina. “God gives you lemons, you make lemonade,” she states. Her current exercise regimen is morning walks with her dog, Van Lingle Mungo (named after the 1930s Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher), strength training classes and advanced yoga. And if that’s not enough conditioning to stay in shape, she commits several days a week at the ballpark where she is the official “Bat Girl” for the Kids & Kubs s e n i o r m e n ’s baseball league

-- picking up bats and balls and keeping time. And kudos to her for recently being named Westminster Palms “Volunteer of the Year.” Even though aging gracefully isn’t always easy and can bring hardships, attitude does really matter a lot to aging successfully. These sensational seniors and many others at our neighborhood’s active living community, Westminster Palms, are fun, interesting and they definitely keep up with the times. They maintain strong social networks of friends and family, and they incorporate meaningful activities that are important to them. And sense of humor thrives. St. Petersburg and our neighborhood are definitely the better with their presence.
(A version of this article appears in the March 2011 Northeast Journal)

Barbara Marshall and husband, Jay, live in The Historic Old Northeast and have recently launched House to Home Relocation, LLC, a business specializing in relocating seniors (www.hthrelocation.com). They are members of the National Association of Senior Move Managers.

You can read this issue in Go to www.honna.org and Click on “Newsletters” and then click on the archived issue you’d like to read. Great way to share the newsletter with friends who don’t receive the print copy. Pass on the good news!

COLOR

Tim Rhode

A r c h i t e c t
Specializing in residential Design renovations, Additions and New homes
call for a consultation visit to your home.
Web Site trhode.com 727-823-1566
AR12159

Historic Old NOrtheast NeighbOrhOOd News

Page 19

P O R C h PA R t I e s

ou’re Y Invited

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 Larry Smith, [email protected].

MARCH 18TH*
*Venues to be announced. Check the web site for details. Members will receive an e-mail blast.

APRIL 15TH*

MAY 20TH*

InsurING homEs of thE past for the prEsEnt and futurE.

HOW ARE YOU PROTECTING YOURs?
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n n

The trusted experts at North Shore Insurance Group can help. Give us a call today for your complimentary policy review.

727-896-5165
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Page 20

Historic Old NOrtheast NeighbOrhOOd News

ON THE dOCKET:
MARCH 5 Human Rights Walkathon North Straub Park; humanrightswalkathon.org Tampa Bay Women’s Expo Coliseum; tampabayexpos.com MARCH 6 Pontiac Car Show The Pier; 821-6443 MARCH 11-13 Tampa Bay Boat Show The Trop; 893-8523 ANTIQUARIAN BOOK SHOW COLISEUM Cajun zydeco Crawfish Festival Vinoy Park; 813/989-7978 MARCH 15 NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING • CRIME WATCH MEETING MARCH 17-18 Sunken Garden tour to Vizcaya and Fairchild Gardens in Miami (see page 29) MARCH 18 tampabaylivinggreenexpo.org Festivals of Speed Motorsports Collection & Luxury Lifestyle Display North Straub Park; 352/385-9450 Funk Fest Vinoy Park; 704/510-0539 APRIL 8-10 Tampa Bay Blues Fest Vinoy Park; 502-5000 APRIL 13-MAY 8 American Stage in the Park: RENT Demens Landing Park; 823-PLAY APRIL 15 PORCH PARTY (SEE PAGE 20) APRIL 16-17 Mainsail Arts Festival Vinoy Park; mainsailartsfestival.org APRIL 16 Get downtown Music Party Central b/w 2nd-3rd; 393-3597 APRIL 17 SPRING WALKING TOUR OF OLd NE (SEE PAGE 8) APRIL 18 NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING • CRIME WATCH MEETING APRIL 18 Tampa Bay Job & Career Fair Coliseum; tampabayexpos.com APRIL 19 & 26 Household Budgeting Seminar Sunshine Center; 461-0618 APRIL 23 EASTER EGG HUNT (SEE PAGE 14) APRIL 29-30 St. Anthony’s Triathlon Sports & Fitness Expo North Straub Park; 825-1521 APRIL 30 St. Anthony’s Meek & Mighty Triathlon North Shore Pool & downtown; 825-1521 Marinequest 2011 FWC Fish & Wildlife Research Institute; 896-8626 APRIL 30-MAY 1 Green Thumb Festival Walter Fuller Park; 893-7335 MAY 1 St. Anthony’s Triathlon downtown; 825-1521 MAY 7 Walk for Life Vinoy Park; 216-1410 x7 MAY 13-JUNE 30 Florida Craftsmen Members Juried Competition

Some Upcoming Events In and Nearby Our Neighborhood

We encourage you to go directly to the City website – www.stpete.org and look for Upcoming Events where you can click on “View All Events.” This will enable you to check updates and all the scheduled events day-by-day for the coming weeks and months.
Florida Craftsmen Galley; 821-7391 MAY 17 NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING • CRIME WATCH MEETING MAY 20 PORCH PARTY (SEE PAGE 20) MAY 20-22 Taste of Pinellas & Family Fest (proceeds to All Children’s Hospital) Vinoy Park; tasteofpinellas.com

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EVERY MONdAY-THURSdAY Awaken Yoga Sunken Gardens; 551-3102 EVERY MONdAY & WEdNESdAY Ian Holistic Workout Sunken Gardens; 551-3102 Hoop dancing Sunken Gardens; 551-3102 WEdNESdAY Tea dance (1st & 3rd Wed) Coliseum; 892-5202

(see calendar at www.stpete.org for more opportunities and details)

RECURRING EVENTS

EVERY TUESdAY & WEdNESdAY

Terrific Tots Great Explorations; 821-8992 THURSdAY Wee-Time (2nd & 4th) Weedon Island Preserve; 463-6500 dali & Beyond Film Series (1st Thurs) Dali Museum; 823-3767 FRIdAY Chute Chi Gong Sunken Gardens; 551-3102 St. Pete Shuffle St. Pete Shuffle Board Courts; 822-2083 Get downtown Music Series (1st Fri) Central b/w 2nd-3rd; 393-359 Grand Central Trolley Hop (3rd Fri) Grand Central District; 328-7086 SATURdAY Saturday Morning Market St. Pete Preservation Tours 243 Central Guided Hikes Weedon Island Preserve; 463-6500 Horticulture Workshop Sunken Gardens; 551-3102 Gallery Walk (2nd Sat) Downtown locations; 323-ARTS Salsa The Pier; 821-6443 Pier Aquarium Book Nook by the Bay The Pier (1st Sat); 821-6443 SUNdAY Inspire Yoga at the Dali Dali Museum; 823-3767 Music Fest by the Bay The Pier; 821-6443 Caricatures at the Pier (1st & 3rd Sun) The Pier; 821-6443 Photography Hike (1st Sun) Weedon Island Preserve; 463-6500

EVERY WEdNESdAY & FRIdAY

Historic Old NOrtheast NeighbOrhOOd News

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and production crew began arriving around 3am to set up the two broadcast trucks, generator and large flood lights to create the That evening, at the Board’s regular meeting, Grayson dropped mid-block outdoor “studio” location in front of Rick and Sharon by to explain in more detail what he had in mind. He didn’t have Kantner’s home. Grayson and co-host Keith Jones and weather guy any trouble convincing the HONNA Board that this would be a great Bobby Deskins appeared about 4:30 to review the shooting schedule opportunity to spread the word about all that The Old Northeast has and “script” for the next two hours. to offer. The Board enthusiastically welcomed the opportunity, which Right on cue at 5am – live from The Old Northeast! – the show set into motion a flurry of activity. Grayson gave the marching orders began….and a lawn sprinkler that hadn’t gotten the memo began to HONNA president Mary Alice Lange, which involved finding spraying water, fortunately off camera. an appropriate street location to stage the segment and contacting Off and on over the next two hours, cutting back and forth those neighborhood businesses to spotlight, which Grayson had from the Gandy Boulevard selected – all within eight days! studio to 14 th Avenue NE, The HONNA Board got right the three WTSP hosts interto work providing Grayson with viewed an eclectic array of block suggestions, and once he had Old Northeast businesses decided on the block location all and services: Old Northeast the details began to be addressed – Tavern, Melting Pot restaulike obtaining a road closure permit rant, Northeast Cycles, Reno from the City and making sure all Beach Surf Shop and Stand the residents on the block were Up Fitness, Kahwa Espresso aware of what would be taking Bar, Suncoast Electric Veplace (most were approached about hicles, Larelle and Beach the possibility of being selected Drive Inn B&Bs, the Vinoy before their block eventually was Resort, Sunken Gardens, chosen). Notices were sent to hoGreat Explorations Museum, meowners that cars parked on the HONNA and the crew from street needed to be moved the night the 4th Street fire station. For before, lawn sprinklers had to be two hours the hosts drank turned off and porch and exterior coffee, ate fondue and pizza, lights left on. rode bicycles, checked out the Gene’s colleagues with the TV It’s 4:59am, cue our three hosts all-electric car, shared surf-

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Historic Old NOrtheast NeighbOrhOOd News

ing tips, chatted up Mindy the Sunken Gardens parrot, witnessed a hands-on chemistry experiment and played miniature golf. Off camera, the convivial trio engaged in lively conversations with the business people present and the neighbors who had risen so early to be a part of this unique experience. By 7:15 the set had been taken down and soon the street was re-opened to traffic. As the sun was rising, commuters headed to work down Beach Drive, kids were shuttling off to school, newspapers were picked up from front lawns and sidewalks, joggers and dog-walkers were following their usual morning routines -- The Old Northeast was back to normal. Hard to realize that only an hour earlier this small corner of The Historic Old Northeast had been “neighborhood central” for the entire Tampa Bay area, enjoyed by thousands of early morning TV viewers. Our thanks to everyone at WTSP, all participating businesses and organizations and our inconvenienced – but wonderfully cooperative -- neighbors on 14th Avenue NE for allowing The Old NE to shine!

6:59am saying goodbye from The Old NE To view a slideshow of the “Morning Show” from the February 16th broadcast, go to honna.org. where you will also find a link to the videos of the broadcast or visit www.wtsp.com/callitthat/ archive.aspx and click on the link: “Why do they call it that? Old Northeast LIVE on the road!”

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Historic Old NOrtheast NeighbOrhOOd News

Page 23

Reed/Pace-L awler L andmark House
n The Old Northeast a landmark building validates the history of St. Petersburg -- architecturally and in the use of building materials, but most importantly by the men and women, who in settling here, made their mark on the viability and growth of this very special city. Here in The Old NE there are many interesting and historically valuable buildings that are integral to the importance of our neighborhood. As in most cases of research in the landmark designation process, a great deal of information can be obtained from records, which list the pertinent information concerning style, materials, names of those involved in the erection of the edifice and the importance of the first owner. In the Pace-Lawler residence, owned by Joseph and Robin Reed since 1999, there are photos, newspaper clippings and other valuable sources that the Reeds have unearthed about its original owners and the path of their important residence to landmark designation. The magnificent residence is located on 16th Avenue NE and was built by Helen and Virgil Pace in 1932 at the cost of $20,000. The house, defined as “an excellent example of a Mediterranean Revival style,” was designed by master architect Elliott Hadley, one of his few commissions during the Great Depression. Hadley also designed other important buildings in St. Petersburg, such as the Mount Vernon and Dusenbury hotels and the Park Shore Apartments on North Shore Drive (now condominiums), and he also designed alterations and additions to the St. Petersburg Yacht Club and the Snell Isle Country Club (now named the Vinoy Golf Club). Hadley was in charge of a great amount of work on the Don CeSar Hotel. To reflect Spanish Colonial heritage, the Mediterranean Revival style evolved in California in the 1880s and included Byzantine, Gothic, Renaissance and Moorish aspects of design. This style began to spread in the 1910s to Florida. “By the 1940s, after the collapse of the Florida land boom in 1926 and the onset of the Great Depression,” this elaborate and distinctive style faded in popularity. “This property is important for its significance at the local level in the areas of architecture, women’s history and commerce” and meets five of the nine criteria required for landmark designation status. It is an important architectural example of a cultural heritage in

by Jill McGrath

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the nation; it reflects characteristics of a valuable architectural style; has a quality of architecture which “retains sufficient elements showing its architectural significance”; it is identified as a work by a master architect; and it is “identified with persons who significantly contributed to the development of St. Petersburg, Helen and Virgil Pace.” The “residence is constructed of hollow clay tile surfaced in stucco…and an intersecting gable roof surfaced with red mission tile, asymmetrical design and arched doors and windows.” There are distinctive style elements such as stained glass windows, arches, carved stonework and arcaded porches. A stenciled beamed ceiling, elaborate tile work, frescoed walls, floors and original light fixtures enhance the house’s Mediterranean Revival style. “Windows and doors feature a variety of designs and forms typical of a high style Mediterranean Revival residence.” The imposing front door is made of thick wood and has strap hinges fashioned of iron. “The balcony on the exterior front elevation features French doors set under a visor roof with red barrel tile and a floor and railings of decorative wrought iron.” There are many decorative features seen on windows and the front door; ornamental moldings, columns and light fixtures. “The most distinctive interior feature is a double-height living room with hand-stenciled beams and a balcony.” Historic Old NOrtheast NeighbOrhOOd News

“Almost no changes were made to this house during the PaceLawler fifty-year residency.” The Mediterranean Revival definitions (with some Italianate details added by a previous owner) were duplicated when most alterations were made and additions constructed over the years. “Except for the kitchen, almost all the original features in the home have been preserved, including an elaborate master bathroom, custom light fixtures, wood windows and inlaid mahogany doors,” a most important preservation for the historic neighborhood. Robin and Joe Reed, while maintaining the original footprint of the house, have expanded the kitchen and added a bedroom and bathroom and a back stairway to the second story. During their extensive restorations, the Reeds were rewarded by finding original frescoes painted by prominent local artist Victor Robbian in the 1930s. They have worked hard to maintain a classic Mediterranean Revival house in all its historic glory. Their architect was Joe Toph of Urban Order and StrobelDesignBuild, their general contractor, won a national award for the work on the property.



Helen Pace Lawler was a Polish immigrant and a business woman in an era when most women were expected to remain at home. She was referred to as “The First Lady of Fashions.” In 1925 she developed with her husband as co-manager two clothing stores: Sherman’s, an exclusive ladies shop (named for her son, who became a physician), and The Don Leno Shop, which catered to men. She stated that she had “always been optimistic about the business climate of the City -- especially downtown.” Hers was the first business in the City to receive merchandise shipped by air express. The success of these two shops reflects Helen’s astute business and style acumen, especially during that economically challenged time, and Sherman’s successfully survived for 50 years. The Paces invested in this City, not only with their businesses but also with the construction of their residence, both entities bringing much needed employment to the City. Through her annual charity fashion shows, she contributed greatly to St. Anthony’s Hospital and the St. Petersburg Women’s Club, both successfully existing today. Mrs. Lawler said that she “…was enraptured -- very much in love” with St. Petersburg. In 1982, Mrs. Lawler died and the City lost a monumental female business icon. The Reeds realize that they are mere caretakers of the house the Paces created. They explain that, “The house and more importantly, our neighborhood, provide us with a sense of place, an historical reference point which is worth preserving for future residents to enjoy.” [All quotes are taken from the St. Petersburg Staff Report, Local Designation Request. Document, Case No: HPC 10-90300001] Jill and Ed McGrath (who grew up together in the Hudson River Valley of New York) are restoring a 1910 cottage on the corner of Bay Street and 6th Avenue NE. This is Jill’s fifth (Ed’s third) complete house restoration project and they have promised each other that it will be their last.

he Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association has joined the social networking world to enable us to better interact with our members and residents. Come join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/honnaorg. Several pages have been created for various other “Old Northeast”s so watch for the HONNA logo. This is a great way to exchange information and discuss topics concerning our neighborhood.
Look for Us on Facebook!

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Historic Old NOrtheast NeighbOrhOOd News

Page 25

by Sharon Kantner, Chair

A Candlelight Tour of Wind, Chill and Holiday Cheer!
oliday spirit filled the air for the 2010 Historic Old Northeast Candlelight Tour of Homes. Nearly 800 people strolled down candlelit streets through eight beautifully decorated homes. The houses varied in style, design and decoration with each being a hit with the tour patrons. All eight homes were within easy walking distance of each other, though trolley transportation was provided. An added touch this year were holiday bells and carolers. First Light choir group from First United Methodist Church caroled at the Hollenberg’s home and the Vesper Bells from the Lutheran Church of the Cross rang in some cheer at the Alderson home. This year’s tour grossed over $27,000, exceeding last year’s record. The non-profit charity, Clothes for Kids, was given $3,000 from our revenue and honoraria were presented to the two church groups as a small thank you. Thank you to all the advertisers, sponsors, ticket outlets, committee members and volunteers who helped make the tour a success once again. The biggest thanks go to the eight generous homeowners, without whom there would not have been a tour: Susan Woods Alderson, Brian Anderson and Michelle Clopet, Tim and Deann Coop, Dax and Stacy Cummings, Kevin and Stephanie Dyer, Rich and Jill Hollenberg, Jay and Jan Miller and David and Elizabeth Skidmore. A special “thanks’ goes out to: The City of St. Petersburg for its publicity and promotional support; Marc and Meg Earle for hosting the homeowner and volunteer reception along with Banyan Coffee & Tea Company

H

and Wine W a r e house; Westminster Palm View and Westminster Presbyterian Church for being ticket outlets and hospitality sites; Blended Winds for providing music for tour-goers a t We s t minster Presbyterian Church; Seven One Seven Parking Enterprises for trolley transportation; artist and neighbor Mary Lee Zink for her beautiful home portraits given as gifts to the homeowners; Susan Woods Alderson for her photography of the homes; and Old NE residents MJ and Jerry Robinson of Robinson Brand Builders for their publishing efforts.

Thank you to everyone who attended and supported this event. Hope you can come out again this year and bring a friend or neighbor. This year’s Candlelight tour will be held on Sunday, December 11th, so help us spread the word as we look forward to another great event. If you are interested in volunteering for this year’s Candlelight Tour or you would like your home nominated, please contact me at 727/278-5866. We welcome anyone who would like to contribute in making this an annual event for everyone to put on their calendar!

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Historic Old NOrtheast NeighbOrhOOd News

Fun!
by Rick Carson Editor
he kickoff for the Historic Old Northeast “neighborhood” exhibit at the St. Petersburg Museum of History was a lesson on how to make learning a fun experience for children. The February 13th event, sponsored by HONNA, was called “Kids: Preserving the Past and Planning for the Future,” with a panel of four knowledgeable hands enlightening the audience on how to make this happen. After welcoming remarks from Connie Kone, president of the Museum’s Board, and Robin Reed, chair of HONNA’s Preservation Committee, the panel shared how each of them has approached teaching kids about the past and making it come alive. Robin Gonzalez, author of HONNA’s award-winning publication, Souvenir of St. Petersburg: Views from the Vinoy, is an educator and author who lives in Tampa. The book is a “Learning Lab” complete with kid-friendly scavenger hunts. Her experience

Making Learning

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in teaching has focused on enlightening youngsters to the fact that places like Ybor City, Hyde Park Village and The Historic Old Northeast (“the best hidden treasure,” she admitted) come about because “people work hard, have dreams and make them happen.” In his many years as Sunken Gardens’ supervisor, Bill O’Grady has taken over 8,000 people on tours of the grounds, what he calls a “living classroom.” When the group is kids, his goal is to “keep them excited” about what they’re experiencing, and so far he has used the Souvenir book to teach 40 classes of 4th graders. While the nature of his talk depends on the sophistication of the group, it’s always done within an historic context. He tells of the grassroots effort that saved the property from becoming the site of new condos, the lesson being that each of us can make a difference. The Renaissance Vinoy Resort’s past is the domain of Old NE resident Elaine Normile [see “Over the Back Fence” in this issue for more about Elaine]. As the hotel’s historian, she loves sharing the story of the Vinoy’s two visionaries: one who built the original hotel back in the ‘20s and the one who saved it from demolition in the ‘90s. For school groups which take her tour, she strives to make the hotel less intimidating for children who may never have had the opportunity to enter such an awe-inspiring edifice. She has found Souvenir of St. Petersburg a wonderful way to encourage hope in its young readers. Before the afternoon program had gotten underway, preservation professional and Old NE resident Emily Elwyn had the half dozen children present build their own “box city.” A nationally recognized technique for introducing kids to urban planning, the exercise teaches what entities a city needs and the steps that are involved in the decision process bringing it about. By constructing their own buildings out of cardboard and placing them on an improvised city plat, they were encouraged to explain their reasons for locating the buildings where they did. This afternoon for teaching the “hows” of helping kids learn about the value of the past -- for the present and future -- was an education for adults as well. [This is the same portable exhibit that was on display at the Tampa Bay History Center [see Historic Preservation section of Committee reports in this issue]. Neighbor Don Strobel of StrobelDesignBuild donated his time and supplies and built a wall at the St. Petersburg Museum of History, which Robin Reed painted and she, Lynne Mormino and Suzanne Laurencell attached to the wall.] [Souvenir of St. Petersburg: Views from the Vinoy is available at the Vinoy and Sunken Gardens gift shops for $14.95+tax.]

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Spring Fling
by Laura Fage 1. Organize Did you know that extra clutter and crowding in your home décor can drain your energy? So, in the spirit of Spring’s renewal and rebirth, start organizing all the clutter that has accumulated throughout the Winter. Overwhelming? Take it room by room, one week at a time. Slowly but surely, your cupboards, medicine cabinets and even closets will bring feelings of peace and calm. Your newfound organization will save you time (you won’t spend extra time searching for things!), and it will do wonders for lifting your mood, as well.

inter is over and it’s time to create a feeling of renewal in your home. Whether you rent or own, accomplishing your goal isn’t complicated – just think redesign – a term coined to describe the creative reuse of what you already have. Complement your redesign with fresh paint and seasonal accessories and your home will be invigorated for Spring. Here are some ideas to help transform one room or your entire home with the change of seasons.

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2. Clean You can’t have a Spring home makeover without it -- cleaning. But it doesn’t have to be something you dread. Start by making a “to-do” list for each room -- everything needs sprucing up this time of year. Clean or replace shelf liners and dust everything from the countertops to the dresser drawer handles. And don’t forget to clean your window treatments! Check the instructions first, but most window treatments need little more than a light feather dusting or a low level dust buster to freshen them up. Once you have your “to-do” list, set the cleaning mood: play your favorite music, light some candles or spray some room spray and enjoy the prospect of a fresh start for Spring! 3. Brighten Your View If you’re ready for a more dramatic change, new updated window treatments can make one of the most profound to the look and feel of a room. With Spring in the air, you want to maximize the natural light that flows into your rooms. Choose something light and airy, like a soft drapery or sheer window shading. Worried about privacy? Many sheer window treatments offer optional room-darkening vanes that you can adjust for a look and feel that is tailored to your unique needs. Or one designer trick…crisp white or bright bed sheets hung with interesting drapery clips make a fantastic and affordable alternative! 4. Use the Power of Paint Adding a new Spring-inspired color, brightening up the existing paint in your home or changing the texture can give the room a completely new feel. Look around your home…a fresh coat of paint can make a world of difference (even if it’s just one room!). Remember…it’s just paint…and easy to change. 5. Think Sheer Sheer curtains, sheer tablecloths, sheer bed skirts, and pillows covers – all of these say “light and breezy” louder than almost any other element. Look for plain, embroidered or printed sheer designs that complement your interiors. 6. don’t Forget the Outside After Winter has left its cold, often dingy mark on the outside of your home, it may need some extra TLC. Be sure to wash the doors (especially your front door) and windows and touch up the paint if necessary. Don’t forget the garage, the driveway, tool sheds and any other areas that may be less visible in winter but when left to the bright lights of Spring can dull the look of your home. Hang a spring wreath, change your doormat, update your plant containers with seasonal favorites and freshen your outdoor furniture to complete the seasonal transformation.

Historic Old NOrtheast NeighbOrhOOd News

Ready to Redesign: The 4 Rs
7. Rearrange Furniture Okay, so you’ve purchased the latest in closet organization products, have given your home a good “Spring cleaning” and possibly even a fresh coat of paint. Your next steps don’t have to require a big budget – just a little time and creativity. Look around you. Most of your furniture has probably had the same position for years. Change it! Simply switching the placement of a couch or repositioning the TV can make you feel like you have a whole new room. If your furniture is centered in front of a fireplace, think about ways to rearrange the look by changing the focal point away from the mantel to a view of a garden or out a great picture window. 8. Rethink the Rugs Wonderfully cozy area rugs look just right in Winter. But when the temperature rises it may be time to roll them up and replace them for Summer with sisal or cotton rugs in light, cool colors. 9. Reinvention Decorate with crisp white bed sheets as they make great duvets, shower or window curtains (as mentioned earlier). Incorporate flea market finds or old furniture with a fresh coat of paint for a variety of uses in your home. For instance, an armoire creates elegance in the foyer and hides the clutter of umbrellas, school books and purses -- or use it for keep your linens, toiletries and appliances in one convenient area in the bathroom. Vintage garden furniture can be incorporated inside to create a quaint cottage look in the kitchen or dining area. A plant stand adds interest to an entry. 10. Re-Accessorize – The Final Touch The final touch in the process – and one of the most transforming – is accessorizing. Rework your accessories and makeover shelves and displays to replace objects with an eye toward keeping the look light and airy. Create vignettes by showcasing your floral china or white ironstone with a collection of pitchers or glass and include plants

and picture frames. Replace any artwork that may look heavy with inexpensive choices available from a variety of home décor stores. Change all your candles to white or bright to match your overall theme. Consider covering your sofa with slip covers with a brighter hue or spunky pattern. Store your throws and replace pillows with white, bright or pastel alternatives. Use your beloved collectibles to achieve your Spring look. Love bird houses? Round up your collection and bring it inside to use with flower arrangements, wreaths and fireplace mantle arrangements. Fill small pots with parsley, lemon verbena and basil for the kitchen sill. Clean out your fireplace and display a woven basket or terra cotta pot filled with ferns or silk flowers. Add bowls of fresh fruit -- bursts of bright colors -- and whatever says Spring to you for an effortless transition to Spring. The choices are endless! Home decorating is as much about creating a mindset and a mood for yourself and your guests as it is about making your house look great. There are a number of ways to achieve this, but you will be much happier with the results if they come from your own personality – whether you do it yourself or hire a professional. I hope these tips will help you have a refreshingly-beautiful Spring! A resident of the Old Northeast, Laura Fage is the proprietor of Casa Terra Design, which specializes in interior redesign, curb appeal, outdoor rooms, staging for sale and inspiring home owners to live a more beautiful life through creative design and elegantly-produced special events. She is an award-winning event planner, has owned a home and garden boutique, hosted a garden TV show and conducted workshops on all aspects of home decor. www.casaterradesign.com Author’s Personal Note: It’s hard to believe that my husband Frank and I have lived in our dream home in The Old Northeast for nearly one year, and are now getting ready for our Spring re-do in the home and garden. We look forward to seeing you in the neighborhood!

Travels to Vizcaya and Fairchild Tropical Garden

of International Harvester Vice President James Deering (1859–1925), was built between 1914 and 1922. Vizcaya is one of the most intact remaining architectural examples from the era in United States history when the nation’s wealthy industrialists built lavish estates inspired by the palaces of Europe. Vizcaya was designated a National Historic Landmark Vizcaya in 1994 for its national significance as an achievement of architecture, landscape design, decorative arts, and art collecting and features a main house, ten acres of formal gardens, a rockland hammock (native forest) and mangrove shore. Since 1938 Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden has assembled an outstanding collection of taxonomically arranged and well-documented tropical plants, emphasizing palms, cycads, flowering trees and shrubs, vines and fruit trees. Except for certain cultivated

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March 17th-18th

izcaya Museum and Gardens preserves, the Miami estate

plants and critically endangered species, many of these plants are collected from the wild. These collections are now a resource of world significance. With an overnight stay at the Marriott Residence Inn, Coconut Grove, Miami

COST: Includes luxury travel with Martz Motor Coach, overnight accommodations, all admissions, guided tours, tips, one breakfast and one lunch. NonMembers Members Double/one bedroom suite $232 $245 Quad/two bedroom suite $202 $215 Single/one bedroom suite $312 $325 To Reserve Your Spot: 727/551-3102

Historic Old NOrtheast NeighbOrhOOd News

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Complementing the Historic Fabric of The Old NE
by Jo-Anne Peck
utbuildings are a significant portion of the historic fabric of The Historic Old Northeast neighborhood, adding a tangible layer to the history of the neighborhood’s development. Garages located on historic alleys tell the rising story of the automobile, early cottages reflect the use of live-in help and storage sheds were often built for home business uses. Residents who are fortunate enough to have these buildings on their property know how useful they are. Those that don’t lament the lack of storage for simple items like yard tools. One of the newest outbuilding additions to The Old Northeast was installed by Historic Shed at 526 13th Avenue NE. Owned by neighborhood newcomers Warren and Linda Alessi, the new two-car garage replaced a dilapidated historic garage that came with their newly-purchased house. “You could smell the mildew inside the house from the garage when you opened the windows,” said Linda. This, coupled with the odd placement of the old garage on the lot that virtually eliminated any practical use of the yard, made the Alessis decide to replace the garage. Historic Shed custom designed a new 20’x22’ two-car garage with a 6’x12’ shed workshop with elements that complement the historic bungalow residence, such as the gable-end vents and roof slope. Since the main house has had aluminum siding installed, some elements -- such as the roof brackets -- were based on historic precedent rather than the existing, altered features. The new pre-fabricated garage is constructed of pressure-treated and dense Southern yellow pine fram-

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ing, 1x6’ cypress roof sheathing, cypress siding and a cypress bead board human-scaled door while incorporating salvaged wood windows with traditional surrounds. The interior is completely sheathed in ½” plywood for additional shear strength, and the building meets or exceeds Florida building code wind load requirements. The only non-traditional item in the garage design is the use of modern overhead garage doors, overlaid to look like traditional carriage house doors. Several neighbors have stopped by to see and comment on the new garage, remarking on how quickly it went up. One older woman who was walking her dog in the alley said, “That’s the nicest garage I’ve ever seen!” Hopefully other Old Northeast residents see it as an asset to the historic neighborhood as well. Jo-Anne Peck is president of Historic Shed and designer of custom outbuildings that complement historic homes (seen at HistoricShed. com). She can be reached at 813/333-2249 or [email protected].

arious local efforts have been organized in St. Petersburg to honor and assist the families of two slain police officers, Tom Baitinger and Jeffery Yaslowitz. These are just some of the ways the public can participate or contribute: Memorial T-shirt Sales: Sun Coast Law Enforcement Charities, a subsidiary of the Sun Coast Police Benevolent Association (PBA), is selling memorial T-shirts with all proceeds benefitting the families of the fallen officers. Shirts are $15 cash. Checks will not be accepted, however credit card payments (Visa, MasterCard, Discover) will be acceptable, but only at the PBA office location. Check in advance to make sure they are still available at these locations: St. Petersburg Police Headquarters 1300 1st Avenue N, St. Petersburg, FL 33705 727/893-7780 Sun Coast Police Benevolent Association 14141 46th Street N #1205, Clearwater, FL 33762 727/532-1722 Edward Jones Financial 1216 66th Street N, St. Petersburg, FL 33710 Contact: Kevin Hannigan, 727/345-4680 Direct donations also may be made to the Jeffrey Yaslowitz/ Thomas Baitinger Memorial Fund at any local Bay Area Wachovia Bank locations.

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Assisting Families of Fallen Officers
Saturday, March 12th, 9am-2pm Poker Run/Bike Show Ride from Jim’s Harley Davidson to Porpoise Pub, Gator’s, Dog House on Tyrone, ending at Value Market. Bands, silent auction, slide show, T-shirt sales. All proceeds benefit officers’ families Sunday, March 20th, Time TBA Bubba Bikes for Badges Poker Run. Details TBA. Sponsored by the PBA Saturday, April 16th, Time TBA Family Fun/Unity Day Fossil Park/Willis S. Johns, 6635 MLK Jr. Street N. Meet St. Petersburg Police and Fire & Rescue personnel, flag football, softball games, cookouts. NOTE: Detective Ricardo Lopez, Burglary Division/St. Petersburg Police Department, reminds everyone to please be cautious of charities or fundraising events not sponsored by the PBA, and if anyone is willing to offer, please go through the PBA office for endorsement. The St. Petersburg Police Department is asking that public inquiries regarding charitable donations or events should be made to: Sun Coast Law Enforcement Charities, Inc./Pinellas PBA 14141 46th Street North, #1205 Clearwater FL, 33762; phone 727/532-1722 Web site: www.suncoastpba.com or http://www.suncoastpba. com/memorial_shirts.php

Some Fundraising Events

direct donations

Page 30

Historic Old NOrtheast NeighbOrhOOd News

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Historic Old NOrtheast NeighbOrhOOd News

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Neighborhood Pot Luck: Monday, March 21st, at 6:45pm (see p.1)
All neighborhood residents invited
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

IN THIS ISSUE
• Wednesday Morning Live! • Neighborhood Celebrates 100 Years • Spring Walking Tour • Reclaimed Water? • The Answer Lady • Candlelight Tour Recap • Spring Fling ... and more!

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Historic Old NOrtheast NeighbOrhOOd News