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Friends of the Seminole Heights Branch Library Endorsement and Recommendation

Dear Friends of the Seminole Heights Branch of the Library:

 Cori Toler is one of the two final candidates for a vacant position on the Hillsborough County Library Board.  The Couny Commission will vote next Wednesday on who will be on the Board.  The Friends of the Library is supporting her candidacy as are many others including myself.  Our leadership has written to OSHNA and SESHCA asking for their support.  They have written e-mail letters of support to the Commissioners asking that the Commissioners vote to confirm Cori’s appointment.  Her appointment to this Board would give some well-needed representation to this area of the City.  I would appreciate it if you, as members and supporters of the library, would consider e-mailing letters of support as well.  The letters/emails would need to be received by the Commission before next Wednesday as this matter is time-sensitive.  Any individual letters of support and/or recommendation would be welcome.  The County Commissioners can be easily contacted via the County Website.  Thanks for your consideration of this request. 

 Peggy J Huey, Ph.D.

Membership Chair

Friends of the Library

Seminole

Heights

Branch

Charity Hockey Scrimmage Benefits Fallen Officer’s Family

Tampa, FL August 28, 2009 - 

What: Tampa Police Hockey Team takes on Tampa Bay Lightning

Location: St. Pete Times Forum

Date/Time: Saturday, August 29, 3 - 8 p.m. (Charity scrimmage 5 – 6 p.m.)

Details:
The Tampa Police Department hockey team will take on Lightning players in a charity scrimmage. The proceeds benefit the Cpl. Mike Roberts Memorial Fund. The event is free to the public. During the game each player’s jersey worn on the ice will be available for auction on the concourse behind section 101. Each player will autograph his jersey following the game. There will also be a memorabilia auction behind section 120. Fans will also be able to make financial donations via donation bowls at numerous locations throughout the St. Pete Times Forum throughout Fan Fest.

The game features Lightning players Martin St. Louis, Steven Stamkos, Mattias Ohlund, Victor Hedman, Matt Walker, Andrej Meszaros and Adam Hall. Also scheduled to play are Community Representative Dave Andreychuk, radio/television personality Chris Dingman, Director of Youth Hockey Brian Bradley, Pat Jablonski and Stan Neckar, all former Bolts stars. 

Donations can also be made to Tampa Police Memorial Fund, to 411 N. Franklin St., Tampa, FL 33602. Those making donations are asked to write "Cpl. Mike Roberts Memorial Fund" on the memo line of the check. In addition, account No. 538412 has been set up with Tampa Bay Federal Credit Union. Those checks should be made out to Cynthia Roberts or the Tampa Police Memorial Fund. Donations can also be made at any Tampa Bay Federal Credit Union in the Tampa Bay area. 

On 8/19/09 at 9:58 p.m. Cpl. Roberts was patrolling on Nebraska Avenue in a neighborhood that recently experienced several burglaries. He observed a suspicious person pushing a shopping cart full of items and initiated a stop. The suspect began struggling with the Corporal who attempted to use his taser. The suspect ran across Nebraska Avenue at East Arctic Street and the officer chased him on foot. They began fighting again on the westside of Nebraska Avenue when the suspect pulled out a gun and began pistol whipping the officer. He then fired one shot. The bullet hit Cpl. Roberts. Witnesses observed the suspect run back to the shopping cart and remove a large canvas bag. At 10:03 p.m. Corporal Roberts’ Sergeant pulled up and observed the suspect running from the scene. The suspect then pulled out an AR-15 assault rifle from a canvas bag and pointed it at the Sergeant. The suspect then took off running and the Sergeant ran to help Mike Roberts. Cpl. Roberts was transported to Tampa General Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 10:50 p.m. A K-9 officer tracked the suspect to 812 Yukon Street where he surrendered to police. Two witnesses saw the suspect pistol whip and shoot Cpl. Roberts. 

The suspect was armed with 4 guns and ammunition (3 handguns and 1 assault rifle) He will be booked into the Hillsborough County Jail.

Solid Waste Labor Day Collection Schedule

Tampa, FL August 28, 2009 - The collection schedule for City of Tampa Solid Waste residential customers with regularly scheduled collection days on Mondays and Thursdays will be affected by the Labor Day holiday. 

There will be no residential service collection on Monday, September 7, 2009. Residential garbage collection, for affected customers, will resume on Thursday, September 10, 2009. Residential yard waste and recycling collection, for affected customers, will resume on Monday, September 14, 2009. Services for all other customers will resume on Tuesday, September 2009.

The Labor Day collection schedule for the Department of Solid Waste and Environmental Program Managements remaining services is as follows: 

Mckay Bay Transfer Station/Scalehouse will be closed on Labor Day. Normal schedule will resume on Tuesday, September 8, 2009.

Manhattan Brush Site will be closed on Labor Day. Normal schedule will resume on Tuesday, September 8, 2009.

Commercial Services will occur one day after the normally scheduled day from Tuesday, September 8, 2009 through Saturday, September 12, 2009. 

For questions or concerns, please contact the Department of Solid Waste and Environmental Program Management at (813) 348-1111, or visit the website atwww.tampagov.net/solidwaste. 

Donations for Tampa Police Corporal Michael Roberts

A special account has been established with the Tampa Bay Federal Credit Union
for anyone interested in making a donation to the family of Tampa Police Corporal Michael Roberts.

Make Checks Payable To:
Cynthia Roberts or

Tampa

Police Memorial Fund
Account Number - #538412-00

You can make a donation in person at any credit union in the bay area.
For additional information -  please contact Mrs. Susan Delage at 276-3373.

TPD Memorial - Honoring Our Heroes

 

 

Sherry Genovar-Simons,
PRESIDENT
Cell: 813-789-9849
Email: genovar.simons@SESHCA.com

 

BOOKSALE!  BOOKSALE! BOOKSALE!   FRIENDS OF THE SEMINOLE HEIGHTS LIBRARY Will host an impromptu book sale in the meeting room at the Seminole Heights Library   SATURDAY, AUGUST 22ND From 10:00 am Until 1:00 pm   EVERYONE WELCOME Corner of Central and Osborn Avenues     SEMINOLE HEIGHTS BRANCH PUBLIC LIBRARY 4711 North Central Avenue Tampa, Florida 33604

 

Tampa’s Crime Rate Down 17.9% for First Half of 2009

08/06/09

 

Tampa’s Crime Rate Down 17.9% for First Half of 2009

 

 

The Tampa Police Department’s Focus on Four plan has already helped drive down Tampa’s crime rate for six years in a row.  The crime statistics for the first half of 2009 show the same reduction trend.  Through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s semi-annual crime report,

Tampa’s crime is down 17.9%.

 

Focus on Four is the Tampa Police Department’s policing philosophy.  It is compromised of four guiding components that target four of the most manageable crimes.  The plan launched a dramatic change in police culture from the traditional, reactive mode to a new, proactive approach.  The administration restructured the organization to ensure this new philosophy became integrated into every aspect of the department.    

 

Despite tough economic times that reportedly lead to increases in crime, Tampa Police Officers have managed to combat that trend through our Focus on Four strategic policing.  Through the Focus on Four plan, coupled with officers unwavering commitment, crime continues to decline in our city.

 

Tampa’s Crime Rate Drops 17.6% in First Half of 2009

 

Crime	January –June 2008	January-June 2009	Percent Change
Murder	16	6	-62.5
Forcible Sex Offenses	60	61	1.7
Robbery	496	434	-12.5
Aggravated Assault	934	803	-14
Burglary	2,002	1,733	-13.4
Larceny	4,770	3,852	-19.2
Motor Vehicle Theft	848	629	-25.8
Total	9,126	7,518	-17.6

 

 

August 19 Meeting Announcement - Location change

Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Watch

 

in conjunction with the

 

Tampa Police Department

 

presents an opportunity for you to become better informed about gangs

 

 

Learn the difference between

Gangs, Gang Wannabes, & Kids

 

 

Date:                Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Time:                7pm

Location: Seminole Heights United Methodist Church

– In the Sanctuary  

 

 

This meeting is open to concerned residents of Old Seminole Heights, Southeast Seminole Heights, Sulphur Springs and other interested groups

 

You Could Be Wasting Water in Your Sleep

Tampa, FL August 11, 2009 - Many homeowners and businesses use automatic irrigation systems that are scheduled to operate in the wee hours of the morning. ‘Setting and forgetting’ irrigation systems and failing to have functioning rain sensors can result in unnecessary irrigation, and, sometimes, higher than anticipated bills.

Turning off your irrigation system during rainy periods to let nature do the watering is one way to manage your use and your water charges.

In Tampa, water is billed on a tiered-rate system, which means that the more water used the higher the bill. For example, irrigating a 100 foot x 100 foot landscape with one half-inch of water a week can range from about $25 to $80 a month in water charges, depending on how much water is used for other purposes at that location.

Free information and resources on ways to conserve water are available online at www.TampaGov.net/SaveWater or by calling (813) 274-8121 Ext. 1010 for a Water Conservation pack. Start saving water and money today.

For customers residing within Tampa’s reclaimed water service area now is the perfect time to get connected. Using reclaimed water helps conserve our drinking water supply and it does not have the same restrictions for irrigation. For more information about Tampa’s reclaimed water, visit www.TampaGov.net/ReclaimedWater or call (813) 282-7827.

Be notified automatically about restrictions changes, upcoming workshops, conservation events and other Water Department information by subscribing to the Tampa Water Department's Customer Newsletter, The Pipeline, at www.TampaGov.net/Water or the Water Department Real Simple Syndication (RSS) feed available at www.TampaGov.net/appl_rss_feeds/

Tampa Water Department serves a 211-square mile area with a service population of approximately 657,000 people. The Tampa Water Department’s mission is to provide superior drinking water and reclaimed water services to its customers.

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New Ybor Flavors TV Show

Ybor Flavors, a new City of Tampa television show, airs monthly. To view the Flavors shows online, please copy/paste the following link:

http://www.tampagov.net/dept_economic_and_Urban_development/programs_and_services/Community_redevelopment_areas/Ybor/Ybor_Flavors_CTTV_Program.asp

City of Tampa Television Wins Two National Awards Tampa, FL August 6, 2009 - City of Tampa Television (CTTV) recently won two first place Hometown Video Festival awards from the Alliance for Community Media (ACM). From the Corps, a high-energy, teen-oriented program, won in the Magazine Shows - Youth category. Ybor Flavors, a festive show that highlights the tradition, culture and activity in one of Tampa's most colorful neighborhoods, won in the Entertainment Talk Show category. The ACM is a nonprofit organization with national membership that represents over 1,000 public, education and government access stations, community media centers and their contributors. Among its many stories, the From the Corps episode that was submitted featured Youth Environmental Services, Inc. (YES), a program designed to rehabilitate delinquent youth and prevent at-risk kids from entering the Juvenile Justice System. It also highlighted Personal Energy Transportation (PET) vehicles, hand-cranked transports that are made in Tampa and distributed charitably to disabled people worldwide. An in-studio interview featured a noted high school music teacher who discussed the importance of music education in our schools. The episode of Ybor Flavors that won the Hometown award focused on the festivities preceding Super Bowl XLIII. It included a visit to the NFL Hall of Fame Alumni luncheon, a behind-the-scenes look at Fox Sports Network’s Best Damn Sports Show, and an appearance by NBC Today Show weatherman Al Roker. Both shows can be seen on CTTV, Channel 15 on Verizon FiOS and Channel 615 on Bright House Networks. Replays of From the Corps can be seen on Sundays at 3 p.m., Mondays at 9:30 p.m., Tuesdays at 6 p.m. and Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. Ybor Flavors is replayed on Sundays at 7 p.m., Mondays at 11 a.m., Fridays at 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 6 p.m. For additional information please contact City of Tampa Television Public Relations Coordinator Mark Flynn at (813) 274-7034 or mark.flynn@tampagov.net.