Statement from State Attorney Bernie McCabe

Letter of Statement from Bernie McCabe's office about the Javon Dawson shooting.

Download the PDF here.

SPPD-JavonDawson.pdf

August President's Message

CONA Challenges. CONA members have been dealing with a wide variety of issues this spring and summer. CONA thanks everyone who participated in the lengthy process. Many issues are still unresolved and we will continue working hard on them. So fasten your seat belts because we have a lot to accomplish in the next few months. Here are some of the items (and some new ones):

• Public Safety (CONA Goal #1)
• Homeless (CONA Goal #2)
• Affordable Housing (CONA Goal #3)
• Preservation / Landmarking of historic resources (CONA Goal #6)
• By-Laws updating
• Baseball visioning – (A Baseball Community, the coalition)
• St Petersburg Pier Visioning
• Codes – new policies

Please volunteer for these Committees and offer your suggestions. Can’t join a Committee? Use e-mails, US mail and phone calls to make your case to the Committees working on the issue. CONA needs to hear from your neighborhood as to where you stand on these
issues.

You cannot expect to push your solution if you have never been part of the process. Please take the time and make the effort. The loudest voice in the room many times does NOT completely understand the problem. Loud no longer works here at CONA. Doing the research, learning the facts, finding reasonable solutions does work and moves all of us forward. Please participate.

Neighborhood Concerns – we can help. We have many mentors who are ready and willing to assist you with your neighborhood challenges. Please contact Tom Killian or any officer with your problem and you will be put in touch with a mentor who can help your association find a solution.

Vote – August 26th Primary. Our forefathers paid heavily for us to have the opportunity of free and unfettered elections. Please honor them and this country by casting your ballot in the August Primary and again in the November General Election. CONA hopes that you are working to find a solution and making a difference in your neighborhoods.

Because that is what you and we do best – find solutions!!

Annual Pinellas County Hurricane Expo

The very best way to get interactive information from professionals on the approaching hurricane season is to plan to attend the informative PINELLAS COUNTY Hurricane Expo, 9am-2pm, Saturday May 17 at the Largo Cultural Center, 105 Central Park Drive. Largo, Fl. It's FREE to all residents.

This will be an exciting day of important information for the community. Learn all about the valuable resources that are available to you from the city and the county by visiting exhibitors with information on emergency assistance. Ask questions and get answers on insurance issues from the Florida Department of Financial Services. Find out how you can get connected to government resources through SW County Connection. Visit with the City of Largo Fire and Rescue and Emergency Management teams to learn how
communities can be prepared through CERT. And what are the new laws & resources regarding your pets during a storm? Get the answers from Pinellas County Animal Services. And the Red Cross and United Way; what would we do without them? From Pinellas County Utilities, learn about conservation and ways to prepare for storm waste reduction.

And what about the commercial items that you need to purchase to protect your family, home and property? Talk with the retail experts who can help you make your decision about which products and services to buy. There will be many displays from wind resistant windows, to ways of bracing your garage doors and a way to permanently document your homes' possessions .

Meteorologists from BayNews 9 will be available to answer questions & pass out information. Attendees will be able to register for door prizes from a variety of businesses.

Indeed, this is a "must attend" day of valuable information that you won't want to miss. This event will help you organize your Storm preparedness TO DO LIST.

Need more information? Please call Patricia Calvert, event organizer, at
727-825-0018.

SPPI - Historic Evening at the Bradshaw Mansion

We hope you will join us next week on Saturday, March 29, 6 to 9 p.m., at the historic Bradford Mansion, 609 Ingleside (11th) Avenue South.

You will find parking easy - on Ingleside Avenue and in two grass lots across from the mansion.

Unfamiliar with the Roser Park Historic District?
http://www.stpete.org/RoserPark.htm

http://www.roserpark.net

For an introduction to the Bradshaw Mansion, see the attached file.

If you come for the pre-party tour (and gravestone rubbing) in the Greenwood Cemetery between 5 and 6 p.m., you may come directly to the cemetery (3 blocks west of the mansion) or to the front gate of the mansion at 5 o'clock to join other walkers.

The event committee has been working busily to prepare a memorable evening on a historic theme, including food and drink, music, art, costumed historical characters of early Saint Petersburg, and much more. We will be welcomed inside the mansion and in the lushly landscaped garden/patio surrounding a new pool. Dress comfortably for this gala party.

We have received many generous contributions to our silent auction - several on a historic Saint Petersburg theme. One of these is a new, framed, oil on canvas of the Vinoy Hotel tower, by local artist Carrie Jadus. For a sneak preview of "Morning Moon" visit her website, http://www.xephyrart.com Or, you may go home with a gift certificate for native plants from "twigs & leaves" or a basket of collectibles from the Soreno Hotel.

If you have questions, or want to tell us your check is on it's way ($30 or $50 couple) - to save you a place - please call one of the following:

824-7802 SPP Message & Events Line
894-0514 Rebecca Falkenberry
504-9651 Irma Wehle
or reply by e-mail

Looking forward to seeing you on March 29!

Saint Petersburg Preservation, Inc.
P. O. Box 838
St. Petersburg, FL 33731
www.stpetepreservation.org

Seeking Home of the Year Award 2008 Nominations

Home of the Year Award 2008

One of the activities of the City Beautiful Commission has been the City Beautiful Awards Program. This program seeks to recognize building design. Categories vary from year to year, and generally include businesses and professional offices, places of worship, multilevel dwellings and annual categories such as neighborhood streetscape or special beautification projects.

Last year a new category of “Home of the Year” was added. This landscaping award recognizes outstanding achievement in residential properties for exterior curb appeal, landscaping design and yard maintenance, and overall contribution to the character of the neighborhood. Each Neighborhood Association may submit one nominee from within its boundaries to the City Beautiful Commission for consideration. Entries are due by July 15, 2008. The award will be given at the City Beautiful Annual Beautification Awards held in October.

I. Basic Rules
A. Property must be within city limits
B. One home can be submitted by each Neighborhood Association
C. Landscape must be in place for one full year
D. Judges must not be local residents
E. Photograph of the property

II. Judging Criteria
A. Overall curb appeal
B. Professionalism in landscape, design, color, and balance
C. Quality of landscape and building maintenance
D. Preservation of trees and natural amenities
E. Contribution to character of the neighborhood

Last year there were nine nominations.

The winner was Alice Roess, 401 Appian Way NE, Snell Island.

There were also two award of merit winners.

They were Wendy Wesley and Kevin Bailey, 1819 12th Street N, Euclid-St. Paul
and Alan and Sharon Pulnik, 163 20th Avenue S, Old Southeast.

This year we are hoping to expand on the number of entries. We are asking for your assistance in supporting this program and assist us in distributing the information to all neighborhood associations.

Application are available on the City of St Petersburg Web’s site: www.stpete.org/parks/citybeautiful.htm . If you have any questions, please call the Parks Department at 893-7335.

Historic Old Northeast Spring Garden Stroll

***PRESS RELEASE***

HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST SPRING GARDEN STROLL
“Enchanted Gardens”
Sunday, May 4, 2008, 12:00-4:00 PM


A much-loved rite of spring, the Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association Garden Stroll returns to St. Petersburg on Sunday, May 4 from 12:00 to 4:00 PM. Visitors will have a rare opportunity to wander through a diverse selection of private gardens featuring lush landscape designs, native and exotic plants, creative patio designs, and unique water features and garden accessories.

Ticket prices are: $10 advance, $15 day-of.

This year the ticket price includes admission to Sunken Gardens on the day of the stroll. Sunken Gardens, a 4-acre botanical garden is located in the neighborhood at 1825 4th Street North. Bill O’Grady, Supervisor of Educational Programming at Sunken Gardens will be at one of the private gardens to answer all of your Florida gardening questions.

Tickets can be purchased in advance for $10 either by mail, (check should be made out to HONNA and sent with a stamped, self-addressed envelope to HONNA Garden Stroll, c/o Nona Peebles, 136 19th Avenue NE, St. Petersburg, Florida 33704) or beginning on March 28th at the following outlets:

Dolins Garden Center
801 62nd Avenue N

Bloom
3005 S. MacDill Avenue, Tampa

Jene’s Tropical Fruit Trees
6831 Central Avenue

Marion’s
1301 4th Street N

Savannahs Nursery
2601 34th Street S

Advance tickets will be redeemed at the Westminster Presbyterian Church at
126 11th Avenue NE.

Day-of-event tickets can be purchased for $15 at Westminster as well.

For further information see www.honna.org or call 727-825-0479.

October President's Message

VOTE City Council Elections on November 6th
Are you going to let 11% of the voters tell you what to do? If you sit home and do not cast your vote on November 6th, that is what will happen. Eleven percent is the predicted turnout for Council Races in Districts 1, 3, 5 and 7. Those elected to these four City Council seats
will help set the direction and pace for St. Petersburg for the next four years.

Freedom to cast a ballot is a right we have that our forefathers gave their lives for and our current service men and women continue to fight for. They made a difference for us – now you can repay them by making a difference too. VOTE on November 6th (or earlier by Absentee Ballot).

Pinellas Hope – Pilot Program for the Homeless
“Pinellas Hope” is an innovative pilot program aimed at reducing street homelessness in Pinellas County. It will provide a centralized location for assistance, counseling, placement and shelter. Built on the three C’s of community, commitment and compassion, the proposal calls for the donation of land by the Catholic Diocese. Private commitments will cover capital costs and the County will fund the operations costs. Pinellas Hope backers already include Progress Energy, St. Pete College, Religious Community Services of Pinellas County and the Pinellas County Coalition for the Homeless Pinellas Hope will continue to rally community support for its efforts, as current plans call for it to open its doors as early as the first of December. It will give all of us a chance to help others less fortunate. Pinellas Hope supporters also understand that, as a pilot project, it will be as much a learning experience as it is a provider of crucial services.

Neighborhood Associations grow in Pinellas County
In July, CONA welcomed the formation of CNCN (Council of North County Neighborhoods). CONA provided guidance and the framework for their by-laws and organizational setup. Cass Rael is our CONA liaison to them and attends their meetings. We now look forward to working with the City of Largo as they develop a plan for their various neighborhoods. This is in the very beginning stages and we are excited for them. As we have done in the past, CONA will offer them assistance and guidance as requested. We hope that, in time, they will also form a CONA like umbrella association to assist all their neighborhoods. CONA continues to work closely with CNCN (and any new groups) on all relevant county items. We are all committed to making Pinellas County a great place to live.

Crime Watch Coordinators Meeting – October 9th
St Petersburg Police Department hosted their annual Crime Watch Coordinators meeting on Tuesday, October 9th at the Main Branch Public Library. Officer Johnny Harris brought everyone up to date on latest practices and techniques. CONA’s Public Safety Committee
members were introduced and answered questions from the various neighborhood coordinators.

Snipe Sign Patrol
Please remember to e-mail Travis Jarman with locations of snipe signs. The City is developing a database of these offenders. Please do not remove these snipe signs. Let City personnel do that for us. Just keep reporting those locations. We are making progress. Thanks everyone.

Barbara Heck, CONA President

Historic Kenwood - Bunglow Fest 2007

More details available on www.historickenwood.org.

Download PDF here.
1420BungalowFest_Watermark.pdf