The Seminole Heights Advisor The Official Publication of the Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association (OSHNA) Published Since 1988 - Our 31st Year “To promote and encourage the preservation and restoration of the area known as Seminole Heights” Annual Circulation 11,000 Fall 2019 www.oldseminoleheights.org From the OSHNA President By Tim Keeports Greetings, Old Seminole Heights! The last few weeks have certainly been interesting to watch. All the back-to-school preparation with a tax-free weekend, the local schools preparing to receive the students, and traffic increasing--the end of summer is here, but not according to the weather. Hopefully, everyone had a terrific summer! OSHNA's Porch Parties, Happy Hours, and community volunteers continued to be vibrant and active throughout the summer. We had a good number of folks come out to assist local American Legion Post 111 update their courtyard with 150 plants donated by Home Depot. We appreciated the large number of Home Depot veterans and current employees who assisted in getting the beds ready, and helped put the myriad of plant varieties in the ground with new soil, weed-blocker fabric, and new mulch. The Legion thanked all the volunteers with hamburgers and drinks. We are looking ahead to the greater Seminole Heights Yard Sale on October 12. Like last year, we will have yard signs for those who sign up in advance. The cost is $5 for OSHNA members. Non-members can join OSHNA and participate in the Yard Sale for $15. We are already getting requests to participate, so start dusting off those treasures and join in our huge annual sale again this year. Just after we conclude the yard sale, the Seminole Heights Sunday Morning Market will begin its next season on October 13th at Hillsborough High School. OSHNA will be staffing our tent with the other local Heights associations, so stop by and say hello, and buy a t-shirt, DVD or neighborhood flag. We love to meet new residents and hear new (and old) stories from those who have been here awhile, while enjoying what the vendors have to offer. Continued on page 3 THANK YOU TO THE GOLD SPONSORS OF OUR 21ST ANNUAL HOME TOUR 81 Leadership Team OFFICERS Tim Keeports (571) 527-6018 President Debi Johnson (813) 230-3517 Vice President Bill Hunter (813) 238-3036 Secretary Jeffrey Silverstein (917) 838-3647 Treasurer TRUSTEES Congratulations to our client Michael Guinn (352) 208-1663 Lynn Hurtak [email protected] KING STATE COFFEE Martha McNamee (813) 300-1997 opened Summer 2019 Alyssa Getzoff (813) 401-7614 520 E. Floribraska, Tampa Heights COMMITTEES Code Enforcement [email protected] Interested in selling or buying commercial property? Land Use [email protected] Greenspace Sue Bingham [email protected] Historic Preservation Heather Culligan [email protected] Safety Awareness Michael Guinn [email protected] Yard of the Quarter Cinda Hitchcock [email protected] Membership Rich Yates [email protected] Neighborhood Involvement Kelly O’Neill [email protected] Martha McNamee Home Tour Tim Keeports [email protected] Digital Presence/Webmaster Heath Friar (765) 425-4278 ADVISOR STAFF Alyssa Feliho (404) 849-4480 Editor-In-Chief [email protected] Heath Friar (765) 425- 4278 Graphics / e-Advisor Tim Keeports (571) 527-6018 Advertising Representative Board of Directors Meetings Held on the third Tuesday of every month at 6:30 PM at Seminole Heights Library, 4711 N. Central Ave. General Membership Meetings Held on the fourth Tuesday of January, April, July, and October at 6:30 PM, at American Legion Hall, 6918 N Florida Ave. Meeting locations are subject to change. Please refer to the OSHNA website for up-to-date information: www.oldseminoleheights.org 28 Continued from page 1 On August 5th, we got a surprise call that a new library had been purchased and Parks & Rec Our next big task is elections coming up at the wondered if we would be interested in October General Membership meeting. We have four selecting the installation spot. Trustee positions available. Inside this edition you Our library is registered at the website will see bios of our Board candidates. I am confident littlefreelibrary.org/ joining thousands whoever is elected to join the Board will serve admi- of others and has already been filled up rably and help us to continue making our organiza- by our wonderful neighbors. tion and neighborhood the best it can be. The last event in October is the annual Seminole Seminole Heights Garden Tour Heights Garden Tour. Be sure to get your tickets early for this event. Funds raised will support the By Cinda Hitchcock annual SummerFest event at the SH Branch Library. The 3rd Annual Seminole Heights Garden Tour is coming This event continues to be a wonderful collaboration up on October 27th. among multiple organizations, including Friends of the SH Library. Tickets are available 1 I know many are thinking ahead to the holidays in p.m. - 4 p.m.; gardens December. OSHNA will be having our annual holi- are open 1 p.m. - 5 day party. The date and location will be posted in the p.m. Tickets are available for a suggested donation of $20 Winter edition of the Advisor, on our Facebook page, in advance and $25.00 the day of the event. Tickets can and on our website. Sign up on the website via the be purchased from Eventbrite or the Seminole Heights link "Email Me Bungalow Alerts" to receive emails Library. with the details of each of our events so you can add them to your calendar. This event raises funds for the Friends of the Seminole Heights Library and funds SummerFest and other activities If you have any concerns or want to get involved with that are offered at the Library. Library. the many facets of OSHNA, please email involved@ oldseminoleheights.org We love our volunteers! The Little Free Library Interested in advertising in the Advisor? By Tim Keeports The Advisor is now accepting new advertisers In July, "The Little Free Library" located at the SH and invites you to add your business to our Garden Center, was damaged by a falling tree limb. We publication. Advertising rates are as follows: had a significant amount of rain during June and July Business Card and both this homemade library and all the books were 3.5 x 2 $40.00/issue or $130.00/Year a total loss. This library is part of the national "take a book, share a book" program and had been in place for Quarter Page a number of years. It is unknown who originally built 3.5 x 5 $70.00/issue or $225.00/year and placed it at the Garden Center. Half Page After the library was damaged, OSHNA 3.5 x 10 $155.00/issue or $500.00/year contacted the City's Department of Full Page Parks & Recreation when they were 7 x 10 $280.00/issue or $900.00/year removing the grand oak and falling limbs (due to disease) that had hit the Thank you to all our current and renewing library. We asked about a replacement 4 advertisers!!! and Parks & Rec offered to look into the possibility of constructing a replacement. 4 38 River Tower Festival, November 16th By Sherry Simons You’re invited to a fabulous festival to celebrate Tampa’s iconic Sulphur Springs Tower, November 16th! Local community activists are working, in conjunction with OSHNA and other generous sponsors, to promote and encourage the preservation and restoration the Sulfur Springs Water Tower. A locally famous historic land- mark, the Sulphur Springs Water Tower is more than an architectural feature in our urban core; it is a place that lives in the memories of generations of Tampa residents and visitors. The surrounding River Tower Park beauti- fies the neighborhood and has become a gathering spot for the community to engage with each other and with the natural beauty of our city. The iconic tower has not seen a significant renovation since it was painted 30 years ago. After the City of Tampa purchased the tower they added lights to the base. In addition to restoring the tower, the park needs some love, too. This group was organized to ensure that the tower and park stand vibrantly for generations to come. You’re invited to come help kick off this project at the River Tower Festival. It’s a day of fun, food, music, interac- tive art, dance and of course brews! The event opens at 11:00am and will feature a variety of live music and other entertainment, with something for everyone. The acclaimed Americana group Have Gun Will Travel will head- line the evening. Other favorites include Scapeghost and local favorite Ernie Locke with his new band, yet to be named! Kids are not only welcome but encouraged, particularly during the day. Bring your blankets and chairs but leave the coolers at home. There will be food trucks galore as well as a vendors’ area with all sorts of unique treasures. Every purchase you make will help revitalize the tower and park, so bring all your friends no matter where they live! We want to raise a ton of money so bring your cash and credit cards to support this awesome effort! If you are interested in volunteering, performing, or donating to this effort, please contact preserveourtower@ gmail.com and check out www.preserveourtower.com and the @RiverTowerFest Facebook page. 4 on new challenges. This year we had the third Friends of the SH Library SummerFest, a large celebration for the children of 10th Anniversary the area presented as a joint activity with the Friends, By Ann Hipson OSHNA, and the Library.