Open letter to City Council member Joseph Caetano

Dear Joseph Caetano,

As a New Tampa resident, with children attending school in District 7, I write regarding your "no" vote at the City Council Meeting of Thursday August 27 to amend the ordinance regarding the citing of cell phone towers in the proximity of schools. The ill effects of radiation emitted from cell towers have been well documented in the USA and in several European and Asian countries; and I would be glad to present you with such documentation.

I would also like to meet with you to discuss this issue and to explain why the ordinance should be amended.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Sasenarine Persaud

*

Tampa City Council approves budget; New Tampa to get new fire station

TAMPA — At the first of two hearings Wednesday, the City Council voted unanimously to approve Mayor Pam Iorio's $754 million budget for the 2010 fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.

The budget holds the tax rate at $5.73 for every $1,000 of taxable property value for a third year, meaning if a house is worth $200,000, after exemptions, a homeowner would pay $859.50 in city property taxes.

Tampa residents also pay property taxes to the county, school system and other agencies.

The budget reduces spending by almost 10 percent, or about $82 million from last year, mostly due to a reduction in bond money and state loans.

Facing a $51 million shortfall, the city's solutions include eliminating 145 jobs; cutting overtime, vehicle replacements and equipment purchases; and freezing pay. Since 2007, the city has cut its work force about 10 percent.

Two businesses teaming up to offer a date night for parents

Need a night out?
Young Chefs Academy and Maggie's Tea Room have teamed up to offer a night out for parents next month.
The offer is limited to 12 couples, so book fast.

Date night is Friday, October 2. Parents will be able drop their kids off at YCA at 6 p.m. where they will play games and cook dinner. Five doors down, parents will enjoy a quiet dinner at the tea room.

Click here for more information.

New Tampa residents on alert; fake solicitors unlocking windows

Here's an e-mail circulating around Meadow Pointe and New Tampa:

WARNING...PLEASE READ, Especially Meadow Point Residents:  There is a
very pretty young girl (looks to be around 20 or so...) who claims to
be a USF Foreign Exchange Student.  She has a very thick accent. She
is knocking on doors all throughout MP (1, 2, 3 and even 4).  She
claims that she has books for young school aged children (she can
often have much information about you & or ur children)...she keeps
trying to talk to you, even if U say U have No interest.  Then, she
asks to use ur restroom or wash her hands & she is going in &
unlocking any window &/or side doors that she can. This is a SCAM.
Please be aware. She is VERY Persistent. She has knocked on my door
once. I've just heard that she has knocked on some peoples doors two
or three times. Apparently she might be organized with a ...group who
may have access 2 a database & have info, names of our children, the
school they attend & even teacher names...PLEASE BE AWARE,, please
post on ur FB 2 alert everyone! and pass this email on to everyone.

Even if she doesn't come to your door, or if someone lives in another
community this can easily happen in any neighborhood.  NEVER LET
ANYONE in your home...even if they seem sweet and innocent.  The MP
community website has even had some postings on message boards about
her.  Their also may be more than one girl doing this. 

*

Thousands come to church for Tampa Cpl. Michael Roberts' funeral

[KATHLEEN FLYNN | Times]

Family, friends, Tampa police officers and hundreds of visiting law enforcement officers honor Cpl. Mike Roberts during the funeral Tuesday morning at St. Timothy Catholic Church in Lutz.

LUTZ — Cindy Roberts leaned into Sgt. Mark Delage for support as she walked toward her husband's casket.

A sea of uniforms and badges surrounded her as more than 4,000 gathered at St. Timothy Catholic Church to honor the life of a man known for his love of policing and family.

Cpl. Mike Roberts, 38, an 11-year veteran of the Tampa Police Department, died Wednesday, Aug 19, after a man pushing a shopping cart full of weapons shot him on a Sulphur Springs street corner.

Delage and the rest of Tampa's police force have been offering Roberts' widow support ever since.

"Who would have ever imagined the events that have taken place in the last several days?" Father David DeJulio told those gathered in the sanctuary. "In one moment, there is this kind and generous man full of life and love. In the next minute, that life would be taken away."

DeJulio, of Roberts' home church, St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church in New Tampa, said Roberts used to direct traffic during Mass and slip into the back pew after all the cars were in place.

"It goes without saying this isn't a perfect world," DeJulio said, trying to help a room full of officers make sense of the death. "It isn't a holy one either."

Kennedy Barbeque takes over restaurant at Heritage Isles

 

[ATOYIA DEANS | Times]

Ernest Kennedy Jr. is the co-owner of Kennedy Barbeque at Heritage Isles Golf and Country Club. He owns the restaurant with his father, Ernest Kennedy Sr. “Because it’s our dime, we have the incentive to do well,” Kennedy Jr. said.

HERITAGE ISLES — The restaurant at this golf community has never been known for its cuisine. Rather, the buzz has been about its debt.

New ownership hopes to change all that.

A barbecue restaurant intent on becoming a popular New Tampa eatery has taken over.

Kennedy Barbeque already has a loyal following from its to-go barbecue smoker in the parking lot of a gas station at the corner of Cross Creek Boulevard and Morris Bridge Road. The family that owns it has moved to the Heritage Isles restaurant, hoping to attract a bigger fan club.

Land O'Lakes librarian makes good on colorful bet with young readers

[KAINAZ AMARIA | Times]

“You look like Rainbow Brite!” says Luc Benoit, 15, as he playfully picks up Land O’Lakes youth librarian Alicia Diaz, 39, on Friday. Also appreciating her “I lost a bet” locks are, from left, volunteer Thomas Brinkley, 20, and Adam Backsman, 16.

LAND O'LAKES -- Alicia Diaz spent five hours in the chair Thursday as her stylist poured and rinsed, bleached and dyed, combed and smoothed.

The dye was applied in stripes, in every color of the rainbow, across Diaz's brunet bob.

The other patrons at Shepre Color & Hair Design on Cross Creek in New Tampa couldn't help but stare, puzzled, astounded.

When the do was finally done, Diaz's stylist proclaimed this was the most colorful head of hair she'd ever seen. Diaz checked the mirror for her new look.

"She did a great job," Diaz said. "I was very pleased."

Diaz, 39, had lost the bet. And she couldn't be happier.

Sign up now for New Tampa Little League

Registration is underway for the New Tampa Little League's fall season.

This year, for the first time ever, registration is taking place over the Internet at this link:

http://public.teamzonesports.com/newtampalittleleague/registration/index

Registration is $85 for the Challenger and Midget divisions; $175 for all other divisions.
Registration takes place through Aug. 26. After that, there is a $30 late fee.

Go to New Tampa Little League website for more information.

Letter to the editor about Kinnan Street

Here's a response from a reader about our recent article about Kinnan Street:

I appreciate your bringing this problem to the attention of the public as I believe that it is long overdue to open the road. It also brings to light an even larger problem, which is the traffic congestion through all of New Tampa, and the lack of thoroughfares to ease that congestion.
Steve Ross
New Tampa Resident

*

A couple places to check out area artists

North Tampa Arts League’s Artist of the Month is Zoe Otero. Her work is on display through July at the New Tampa Regional Library, 10001 Cross Creek Blvd. Call (813) 273-3652.

See “Following the Footsteps of Van Gogh,” an exhibit featuring work by local artist Terry Klaaren, during regular business hours through September in the IMAX dome lobby at the Museum of Science and Industry, 4801 E Fowler Ave. Call (813) 987-6315.