Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood News - March 2008

St.
Pete’s Jewel on Tampa Bay

Historic
Old Northeast
Neighborhood News Published Quarterly
Volume 35 Issue 1 www.honna.org March 2008
Garden Stroll
The President’s Perspective Returns!
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST
Mary Alice Lange SPRING GARDEN STROLL
Association President
Spring is Back...
“Enchanted Gardens”
Sunday, May 4th, Noon-4pm
with Changes
A
much-loved rite of spring — The Historic Old
There are so many reasons to be ex- Northeast Neighborhood Association Garden Stroll
cited about what’s happening in our neigh- — returns to St. Petersburg on Sunday, May 4th,
borhood, which includes residents spruc- from Noon to 4pm. Visitors will have a rare opportunity to
ing up their homes and yards, the return wander through a diverse selection of private gardens fea-
of the Spring Garden Stroll on May 4th, turing lush landscapes, native and exotic plants, creative patio
the Historic Walking Tour on April 13th designs, unique water features and garden accessories.
and approval of HONNA as a 501(c)3 tax Ticket prices are $10 advance and $15 day-of. Ticket sales will benefit neighbor-
exempt charitable organization. hood beautification and the Neighborhood Plan.
At the beginning of each year, many resi- This year the ticket price includes admission to Sunken Gardens on the day of the
dents start the process of upgrading and Stroll. Sunken Gardens, the four-acre botanical garden, is located in our neighborhood
preserving their properties which protects at 1825 4th Street N. As an added bonus Sunken Gardens guru Bill O’Grady will be at
the historic characteristics of the neighbor- one of the private gardens to answer all of your Florida gardening questions.
hood that we all enjoy. This spring the His- Tickets can be purchased in advance for $10 either by mail (check should be
toric Walking Tour [see page 4] will take made out to HONNA and sent, with a stamped, self-addressed envelope, to HONNA
you on a journey back in time while admir- Garden Stroll, c/o Peebles, 136 19th Avenue NE) or beginning on March 28th at the
ing homes along the way. Another favorite following outlets:
has returned as the “Enchanted Gardens”
Spring Garden Stroll [see right] will allow Dolins Garden Center, 801 62nd Avenue N
residents to view inside some of the most Bloom, 3005 S. MacDill Avenue, Tampa
beautiful gardens in our neighborhood. Jene’s Tropical Fruit Trees, 6831 Central Avenue
Make sure to mark your calendar so you
can enjoy our wonderful springtime weather Marion’s, 1301 4th Street N
walking and strolling in our neighborhood. Savannas Nursery, 2601 34th Street S
Last fall our city’s new Land Develop- All advance tickets will be redeemed at the Westminster Presbyterian Church at 126
ment Regulations (LDRs) were approved 11th Avenue NE in the same way advance tickets are redeemed for the Candlelight Tour of
by City Council, allowing traditional neigh- Homes. Day-of-event tickets can be purchased for $15 at Westminster as well.
continued on page 2 For further information see www.honna.org or call 825-0479.
IN THIS ISSUE UPCOMING MEETINGS Mark yo
u
HONNA Neighborhood March 17 th
calenda r
New Land Development Regs ..... Page 7 r!
Meetings are held the third Proposed Ray Stadium
Easter Egg Hunt ........................ Page 9 Monday of each month (except April 21st
August and December) at New Roofing Regs
Hidden Old NE Gems ................ Page 12 Westminster Presbyterian Church May 19th
Old NE Walking Tour ................. Page 24 126 11th Avenue NE Neighborhood Pictorial Survey
HISTORIC6:45pm, SocialN• EIGHBORHOOD
OLD NORTHEAST 7pm, Business
NEWS and New Neighborhood Plan Page 1
President’s Perspective from page 1
borhoods such as ours to benefit from the changes. Our neigh- community for years. Donations to HONNA as a 501(c)3 pub-
borhood is divided into two zoning codes with NT-2 running licly supported charitable organization are tax deductible as per-
from 5th Avenue to 9th Avenue N/NE and NT-3 running from 9th mitted by law. The benefits of this status come with the respon-
Avenue to 30th Avenue N/NE [see page 7]. Each of these codes sibility to protect HONNA with additional record keeping and pro-
identifies unique characteristics within the development patterns cesses established by the Board of Directors.
while allowing residents more flexibility in restoration and new As usual, we are all proud to live in The Historic Old Northeast
construction. There are many instances when a resident may be neighborhood and that shows in your answers in the neighbor-
able to construct an addition or porch without going before a hood survey [a summary can be found in the December issue of
commission. We will be running a series of articles providing this newsletter or go to honna.org and click on “HONNA Survey
information to assist you in your home projects. If you are think- Results”]. Today, 96% of the respondents live here full time com-
ing about adding on to your home or removing windows from pared to 93% in 1999 with 88% in single family homes compared
your front porch, please call Development Review Services at to 82% in 1999. Thank you for taking the time to complete the
893-7231 to see what you need to do and if you’ll need a building survey.
permit. I look forward to seeing you at one of our many upcoming
HONNA’s approval by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)3 neighborhood events – including monthly meetings, the Garden
tax exempt charitable organization allows us to maintain and build Stroll and the Historic Walking Tour.
on the fabulous programs we’ve offered to residents and the Mary Alice Lange
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Like our neighborhood?
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Want to make it even better?
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Will Add to Summer Fun
Volunteer with one of our committees!
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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 NSNAeditor@aol.com
Editor Rick Carson
Columnists and Reporters
Mike Dailey Peter Stanhope Keaton Green
David Forman Susan Alderson Barbara Rhode
Yvonne Swanson John Gee Amy Labie
Linda Dobbs Chuck Lindeen Jill McGrath
Circulation Cathy Leonard and Joe O’Connor
Contributors All our Old Northeast neighbors
Newsletter Layout & Design Sharon Bond: SharonBond@gmail.com
Advertising Information Rachel Sartain: RTSartain@yahoo.com
AD SIZE
AD RATES
1Qtr 2 Qtrs 3 Qtrs 1 Year Have you been to a
Porch
Business card 50 93 128 160
1/4 page (4.75" x 3.5") 100 186 256 320
1/2 page (9.5" x 3.5") 200 372 512 640
Full page 400 744 1024 1280
Party
Single page insert* 300 600 900 1200
*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 9th. Pay-
ment 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 L AT E LY?
LY
Pot Bayou Blvd). There are approximately 2,800 active home mailing addresses.
Contact Rachel Sartain: RTSartain@yahoo.com
Ad space is limited so please make arrangements early.
See page 16 for the upcoming schedule
Page 2 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Association News & Activities
Upon the election of new Board members at the November happen in the neighborhood in one, five and 30 years’ time. The
monthly meeting, thanks are in order for those officers and results were compiled in the Vision 20/20 format.
Board members who did not run for re-election. They are: Nicole The Board has voted to hire Bob Jeffrey and Mike Dove, retired
Durkin, Brian Johnson, Chuck Lindeen and Nona Peebles. City of St. Petersburg planners, to complete our Neighborhood
Each devoted a huge – HUGE – amount of volunteer time and Plan using the Neighborhood Profile and the Vision 20/20 docu-
effort toward making The Historic Old Northeast a better neigh- ment. The finished plan will then be sent to the City for final ap-
borhood for all its residents. Next time you see them, let them proval. Although not “legal” in the technical sense, City boards and
know their commitment was appreciated. the City Council give serious consideration to the Plan as a vision
There was no December meeting (the annual holiday party of what residents want for the future of their neighborhood.
was held in lieu – see page 23). January’s featured speaker was As Chair of the Planning Committee, I have assured Bob and
Old Northeast neighbor Dr. Gary Mormino, history professor at Mike that Committee members will be available to assist in any
USF and author of several books on Florida (his latest being Land way that we can.
of Sunshine, State of Dreams: A Social History of Modern Last year, the Historic Preservation Committee created an
Florida). He regaled attendees on curious stories about the early Events Committee to foster community spirit and bring neigh-
years in both Florida and St. Petersburg, touching on items such bors together. Our sincere thanks to Cathy Leonard who did a
as the old city trolley system, Maas Brothers and Webb City. Com- superb job of organizing this new initiative! Events include:
munity Police Office Jason Deary briefed the group on the latest
reported crimes in the neighborhood – largely incidents like bi- “Meet and Greet” – This small group of neighbors led by
cycle thefts, some grab-and-runs and graffiti. He warned resi- Cynthia Sylvestri welcomes all new residents to the neighbor-
dents to be very wary of strangers who come to the door, selling hood. It personally delivers to newcomers useful information and
things or services. Most often these people are either casing the invitations to Porch Parties and membership meetings.
premises or intent on scamming homeowners. If confronted by Easter Egg Hunt – This event, organized for children and held
such suspicious persons, Officer Deary strongly urged residents in Coffee Pot Park each spring, has been sponsored by Cynthia
to demand to see a City of St. Petersburg occupational license Serra and Smith & Associates for a number of years. It is espe-
which legitimate sales people would be carrying. If they cannot cially popular with toddlers
provide this document, tell them you will be phoning the police. and their parents!
Children’s 4th of July
Committee Reports Parade – Last year was
the first time in several
Crime and Safety years that the Association
Ron Magray, Chair has held a July 4th Parade.
We are finalizing details for our Neighborhood Crime Watch It was a terrific event – al-
program. I am still in need of three block captains for the follow- most 300 children with
ing areas: 5th Avenue NE to 9th Avenue NE; 13th Avenue NE to 22nd decorated bikes and wag-
Avenue NE between Beach and Locust; 22nd Avenue NE to 30th ons, along with their par-
Avenue NE between Coffee Pot Boulevard and 4th Street N. Please ents, joined Mayor Rick
call or e-mail me (502-9065, rfmagray@gmail.com). Baker and volunteers to
Crime Watch Tip: program the St. Pete Police Department non- march through Westminst-
emergency number — 893-7780 — into your cell phone and/or er Church’s parking lot,
the land line speed dialer. The non-emergency number rings di- down several blocks and
rectly into the St. Pete PD call center; 911 rings into a county call back again. Truly an old-
center, but always use it for actual emergencies. fashioned celebration of our
country’s birthday!
Planning/Historic Preservation Halloween Decorating Contest –

Robin Reed, Chair For many years, the Halloween Deco-
One of the most important documents that the neighborhood rating contest has been a smashingly
uses to express its hopes and desires for the future is the Neigh- popular event. Again, thanks to Cynthia
borhood Plan. The 83-page plan currently in use was written in Serra for organizing this “scary” and
1990/91. With the passage of time as well as the new Land Devel- very competitive contest!
opment Regulations (LDRs) it has become outdated. The Committee is seeking a volunteer to
In 2003, the Association contracted with Gladding-Jackson to oversee these various events along with a
take the relevant census and City statistics and create a “Neigh- chairperson for the July 4th Children’s Pa-
borhood Profile.” At the same time, the Planning Committee of rade. The parade was organized so that it
about 35 residents met regularly to write up the neighborhood’s could be duplicated with a minimum amount
Vision 20/20 document. Committee members were given dispos- of effort by someone with children. If you
able cameras and asked to document the things they “liked” and would like more information or would like
“didn’t like” about the neighborhood. These photos were then to volunteer, please contact me at 825-0480
used to stimulate discussion about what residents wanted to see or rlreed@tampabay.rr.com.
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS Page 3

Walking Tour: For several years now, Rob Wertz and
Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association Mike Dailey, our neighborhood architecture “gurus,” have
OFFICERS and BOARD taken us on fascinating tours of various sections of the
President neighborhood. Their Sunday afternoon “walks” feature in-
Mary Alice Lange 251-2034 tlcapmal@earthlink.net formation about the various architectural styles in the
Vice President neighborhood, as well as historical comments and asides.
Maureen Stafford 488-8154 MJStPetersburg@aol.com This spring’s tour will be held on Sunday, April 13 th, at
Secretary 1:30pm; meet at the intersection of 23 rd Avenue NE and
Cathy Martin 821-8656 cathy@catherinebmartin.com
Treasurer
Coffee Pot Boulevard for a tour of this area of the neigh-
Douglas Haan 488-5514 douglashaan@aol.com borhood (for more info, phone 824-8522 or contact
Directors hexblock@tampabay.rr.com). Please join us for an infor-
Julia Brazier 403-2237 jbrazier@tampabay.rr.com mative and entertaining afternoon!
Rick Carson 898-7834 NSNAeditor@aol.com Book Project: Now that HONNA’s application for 501c3
Rick Field 744-6697 townley@aol.com status has been accepted by the IRS and we are a tax ex-
Susan Lahey 368-8419 slahey@uga.edu
Ron Magray 502-9065 RFMagray@gmail.com
empt organization [see “President’s Perspective” on page
Robin Reed 825-0480 rlreed@tampabay.rr.com 1], the Book Committee can begin serious fundraising ef-
Anne-Marie Stephenson 897-9398 petalstitch@tampabay.rr.com forts. Foundations and private individuals will be ap-
Bob Watts 821-8997 rwatts7@tampabay.rr.com proached for major gifts to support the printing of Souve-
nir of St. Petersburg: Views from the Vinoy. Copies of the
HONNA Board meetings are held the second Monday of each month
book will be given to all elementary schools in the City;
at 6:30pm and are open to the public. Check with HONNA for the location.
the remaining books will be sold to fund additional neigh-
borhood preservation initiatives.
12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901 Photo Project: Carol and Burt Kline have finished taking
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No Advertisers = No Newsletter
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12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901 Avenues. They are currently working on the remainder of the
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Please Support Our Advertisers
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Who Support This Newsletter
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have a photo record as a project like this has not been done in
many years. Kudos to the Klines for visually recording our neigh-
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And tell them you saw their ad here
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Historic Old Northeast JOIN OUR COMMITTEES

Neighborhood Your volunteer involvement in one of our com-
Association Membership mittees will help enhance your neighborhood and
our association. Please contact any committee chair
The Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association was
founded in 1974 to promote civic improvement of our for information.
neighborhood. We invite and welcome all residents of the
Old Northeast to join the association and become involved. Candlelight Tour of Homes (December):
Annual membership dues are $30 per household. Co-Chairs Julia Brazier, 403-2237
Send this completed form to: Anne-Marie Stephenson, 897-9398
Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association Spring Garden Stroll: Contact 825-0497 or www.honna.org
P.O. Box 76324
St. Petersburg, FL 33734 C.O.N.A. Rep: Maureen Stafford, 488-8154
Name(s): ________________________ Crime & Safety: Ron Magray, 502-9065

Address: ________________________ Membership: Douglas Haan, 488-5514
_______________________________ Neighborhood Design Review:
_______________________________ Rick Field, 744-6697
Phone: __________________________ Newsletter: Rick Carson, 898-7834
E-Mail: __________________________ Planning/Historic Preservation: Robin Reed, 825-0480
When did you move into the neighborhood Programs: Susan Lahey 368-8419
(month and year)?: _______________
Traffic: Bob Watts, 821-8997
$30 ANNUAL DUES ENCLOSED Website: Nona Peebles 894-3529

Council of Neighborhood Associations on an interim basis, and during his tenure did a great job work-
Maureen Stafford, HONNA Representative ing with the accounts and lining up new advertisers. We thank
him for the invaluable help he provided and thank Rachel for
The Council Of Neighborhood Associations (CONA) has initi- stepping back in.
ated a study group through its Historic Resources and Land De-
velopment (HRLD) Committee to look into the development pro- Also, if there is anyone interested in getting involved in the
posal the Rays baseball team has put forward. This committee creation of this newsletter, please contact me at
met in January with City administrator Rick Mussett who pre- nsnaeditor@aol.com or 898-7834.
sented the Rays proposal and outlined the City’s timeline for their
Request for Proposal (RFP). Traffic Committee
CONA presented four recommendations to the City Council Bob Watts, Chair
following this meeting addressing the Rays’ proposal for Al Lang My first official duty as Chair of the Traffic Committee was a
Field and Tropicana Stadium. These recommendations were unani- meeting with Joe Kubicki, Director of Transportation and Park-
mously approved at CONA’s December meeting with 28 neigh- ing with the City. HONNA president Mary Alice Lange and past
borhood associations represented. They are: HONNA Traffic Chair, Nicole Durkin, were also in attendance.
1. That there be a public participation process regarding future During the meeting I learned about some exciting changes that
use of the Tropicana site before completing the request for pro- are in the works that should be a benefit to our neighborhood.
posals for plans to redevelop the Trop site; The City will soon be installing metered parking south of 5th
2. That companies interested in redeveloping the Trop site have Avenue NE on both Beach Drive NE and Bayshore Drive NE as
at least 120 days to submit their plans; well as meters along 2nd Avenue NE on the approach to The Pier.
3. That the City Council review the appropriateness of public The meters will be time-restricted to two hours on Beach and
records exemptions for projects of this kind; three hours on both Bayshore and 2nd. Although the meters are
4. That the enormity of the parking issue be a priority to be new, what is important to note is that the time restrictions on all
addressed in the planning process these streets has been increased. In order to decrease competi-
On February 11th the committee met with Rays representative tion for these spaces, the City plans to remove the current 90
Mike Kalt, Senior VP of Operations, who presented their develop- minute restriction on 5th Avenue NE from the Vinoy to the water
ment proposal and answered questions. The HRLD Committee is and encourage local businesses have employees use those spaces
developing a proposal to present to the City Council with recom- on 5th as well as those along Bayshore Drive NE and 7th Avenue
mendations at the February 21st session. NE that wrap around the Vinoy. It is hoped that the increased
time limits in the new meters will encourage folks to park in the
CONA has not taken a position on this issue at this time. HONNA
has invited Tampa Bay Rays representatives Mike Kalt and Bernie
Campbell to present their ideas to HONNA’s membership at the CLIP AND MAIL
March 17th monthly meeting. You are encouraged to attend.
Crime Watch Fact Sheet
Neighborhood Design Review Name _____________________________________
Rick Field, Chair
The purpose of the Neighborhood Design Review Committee Address ___________________________________
(NDR) is to review and comment on items appearing before vari-
ous City commissions and bodies that vote on changes or variance City/State: St. Petersburg, FL Zip: _____________
requests to existing building and zoning regulations. The review is
aimed at determining if such changes or variances are the best Home Phone: ______________________________
interest of our neighborhood. Generally, the NDR chair, in con-
junction with the HONNA President and other interested HONNA Office Phone: ______________________________
Board members, reviews each issue on a case-by-case basis to Cell Phone: ________________________________
determine follow-up action. Variances and changes could involve
building setbacks, curb cuts, zoning changes, garage apartments, E-mail: ____________________________________
parking requirements and buffer. Often the NDR committee will
evaluate larger proposed projects adjacent to our neighborhood to Emergency Contact Person ___________________
determine if there are any adverse neighborhood impacts, as well.
The NDR Committee recently reviewed and supported a requested Contact’s Phone # ___________________________
variance to a side yard set back in order to save a large oak tree on
HONNA Member: Yes____ No____
13th Avenue NE. Adjacent homeowners were in concurrence.
Would like more info on membership Yes___ No___
Newsletter
Rick Carson, Editor
The newsletter welcomes back Rachel Sartain as our ad- Signed: ___________________________________
vertiser contact. Rachel had handled this task for a couple years
before she and her family moved out of the neighborhood. But HONNA
they have returned, and she has agreed to once again take on PO Box 76324, St. Petersburg, FL 33734
this responsibility. Peter Stanhope had taken over from Rachel
free unrestricted parking on the streets around the Vinoy and plans in the works to have regular meetings with the Sunken Gar-
reduce the number of “intruder parkers” within our residential den tenants and impacted area residents to communicate about
neighborhood. compliance with the delivery truck issue and with parking during
We are also continuing to investigate the parking issue in the events at Sunken Gardens.
southern end of the neighborhood. While there is clearly an issue I look forward to your input and answering any questions on
during downtown events, we are also aware of the problem that these or any other traffic and parking issues in the neighborhood.
exists at other times. There appears to be a significant number of My phone number is 821-8997, but the best way to reach me is
non-residents using up the available street parking. We are re- via my e-mail, rwatts7@tampabay.rr.com.
searching the most appropriate way of both documenting the
number of non-resident vehicles and assessing the best method
of reducing their numbers. Programs
Another topic covered was the plan to move some of the smaller Susan Lahey, Chair
events currently held in Vinoy Park and/or Straub Park to the March 17th meeting: Mike Kalt and Bernie Campbell of the
newly-dedicated Albert Whitted Park. People attending events at Tampa Bay Rays. They are speaking before all neighborhood
the new park would be able to utilize parking at the Mahaffey, groups about the proposal for the new waterfront stadium.
USF and the regular downtown garages, decreasing the impact April 21st meeting: Karin Bolin, Florida Department of Finan-
on parking in neighborhoods (including ours). Some events may cial Services. She will be discussing the wind study and new
move as early as this year with more of the smaller events mov- roofing regulations.
ing when the 2009 events schedule is reviewed in October. May 19th meeting: A slide presentation of the neighborhood
We also discussed our continuing work with the business ten- pictorial survey created by residents working as the HONNA
ants of the Sunken Gardens property who have delivery trucks Planning Committee (and presented to the General Membership in
driving through the neighborhood on 20th Avenue N. There are August 2002). This slide presentation is an important descriptive
component of the neighborhood profile and planning process. The
pictorial survey consists of twelve categories with comments or-
ganized into five areas, such as: likes and dislikes; 1, 5 and 30
The Old Northeast Garden Club year goals, green space/open space; zoning/use of property; code
meets the first Friday of each month enforcement; traffic. Committee development of this document
For information please contact involved hundreds of volunteer hours, hundreds of photos and
Marilyn Johnson at 553-9155 over 12 months to review and summarize. Come see where we
or e-mail: MarilynJohnson@tampabay.rr.com were and where we are today.
Your Neighbor in The Historic Old Northeast

Julia Brazier
REALTOR
727-403-2237
jbrazier@tampabay.rr.com
Outstanding References!
Superior Service
Bindman Bruzas Realty Excellence Guaranteed
The New LDRs and Our Neighborhood
by Julia Brazier
Neighborhood Design Review Committee
Countless hours by hundreds of St. Petersburg citizens, City the pattern of a traditional single-family neighborhood. Generally,
staff, neighborhood associations, civic groups and historic pres- duplex and multi-family buildings are prohibited. Some multi-family
ervationists over seven years finally paid off on September 10, uses are existing and grandfathered.”
2007, when the new Land Development Regulations (LDRs) be- 4) From 6th Avenue N and NE to the south side of 9th Avenue
came reality. Heralded by the St. Petersburg Times as “the biggest we have the Neighborhood Traditional Single Family – 2 dis-
city planning makeover since the 1970s” and “a milestone for the trict which “...generally includes neighborhoods already devel-
city of St. Petersburg as the first concrete showing of develop- oped by the end of the 1920’s. These areas typically exhibit a
ment regulations years in the making,” these citywide planning higher degree of architectural legacy and have a well-developed
guidelines offer incentives to preserve historic buildings, create network of alleys. Site layout and architectural detailing is em-
affordable housing, manage density and build public art. phasized to preserve and reinforce the existing development pat-
Incorporated within the Land Development Regulations is the tern. Driveways, garages, and utility uses are limited to the rear
Comprehensive Plan which reads, in part: of the property.”
30th Ave N
30th Ave NE
“…to encourage the most appropriate use of land, 5) The majority of single-family homes in The Old
2nd Street N
Northeast, from the north side of 9th Avenue N and
29th Ave N
water, and resources consistent with the public in-
4th Street N
terest; and deal effective with future problems which 28th Ave N
NE to Beach Drive and up to 30th Avenue, fall within 28th Ave NE
1st Street N
may result from the use and development of land 27th Ave N
the designation of Neighborhood Traditional 27th Ave NE
within the City…facilitate the adequate and efficient 26th Ave N Single-Family – 3, which “Reflects the char- 26th Ave NE
provision of transportation, water, parks and recre- acter of several traditions. Lot widths are
25th Ave
Co
25th Ave N NE
ffe
eP
Br NE
ation facilities…conserve, appropriately develop, uti- larger, ranging between 60 and 65 feet.
ot
Rd
ev
Andalusia
Ba
ar
Way NE
24th Ave N
yo
u
Bl
lize , and protect natural and historic resources; to These areas are typically adjacent to large
vd
NE
23rd Ave N
adequately plan for and guide growth and develop- 22nd Ave N
public parks utilized for numerous
23rd Ave
NE
22nd Ave NE
ment within the City… and to ensure that the existing 21st Ave N
City-wide events generating large 21st Ave NE
rights of property owners be preserved in accord with 20th Ave N crowds, high volumes of traffic 20th Ave NE
the Constitutions of the State and of the United States.” 19th Ave N and other disruptions not typi- 19th Ave NE
Coff
ee P
ot B
ayou
Blvd
2nd Street N
NE
18th Ave N
cal for most neighborhoods.
Oak Street NE
Elm Street NE
Bay Street NE
It’s actually a pretty good read! Cherry Street
Walnut St NE
Locust St NE
Poplar Street
4th Street N
1st Street N
18th Ave NE
The Historic Old Northeast consists of five dis-

17th Ave N
The development pattern typi-
NE
17th Ave NE
tinct areas:
16th Ave N
cally features greater front and 16th Ave NE
th
15th Ave N side yard building setbacks than
1) Along 4 Street we have the Corridor Com- 15th Ave NE
14th Ave N the NT-2 (see above district. Ac-

mercial Traditional, “…permitting rehabilitation, cessory dwelling units, such as
14th Ave NE
E
eN
13th Ave NE
improvement and redevelopment in a manner that 13th Ave N
riv
garage apartments are not permit-

hD
ac
encourages walkable streetscapes …to reflect and

E
Be
12th Ave N 12th Ave NE

eN
ted.”
riv
Oak Street NE
Bay Street NE
eD
Cherry Street
Locust St NE
2nd Street N
3rd Street N
reinforce the unique character within each of the

1st Street N
or

Sh
Consistent with all Neighborhood

rth
districts.”
No
Traditional designations:
2) 5th Avenue N and NE are designated as a Cor- 9th Ave N 9th Ave NE
+ All buildings should present an in-

Oak Street NE
ridor Residential Traditional District. The pur- 8th Ave N 8th Ave NE
pose and intent of this designation is “…to encour- 7th Ave N

viting, human scale façade to the streets, 7th Ave NE
age development of townhomes, condominiums, internal drives, parking areas and sur-
Bay Street NE
4th Street N
3rd Street N
2nd Street N
1st Street N
apartment buildings and mixed-use buildings that are rounding neighborhoods;

appropriately scaled to the context of the corridor + The architectural elements of a build-
and to facilitate conversion of remaining single-family ing should give it character, richness and
homes to offices or limited retail uses. These uses can provide visual interest;
affordable workforce housing units and buffer the adjacent inte- + Renovations, additions and accessory structures shall utilize
rior single-family neighborhoods from the high volumes of traffic the architectural style of the existing structure;
on major streets.” + Buildings shall provide a pitched roof or a flat roof with a
3) East of Beach Drive we have the Neighborhood Subur- decorative parapet wall compatible with the architectural style of
ban Multi-Family District . “The purpose of the NSM district the building;
regulations is to maintain the existing multi-family densities in the + Building materials shall be appropriate to the selected archi-
districts. The building design and landscaping requirements are tectural style and shall be consistent throughout the structure;
intended to reinforce a suburban development pattern with safe + Driveways and garage doors shall face the alley; where no
and adequate accommodations for automobiles as well as bicycles alley exists, driveways and garage doors shall face the side street
and pedestrians. Parking areas are divided and landscaped to re- and be restricted to the rear third (1/3) of the lot;
duce the impacts of large areas of pavement.”
+ Principal entries shall include a porch, portico or stoop.
From 6th Avenue N and NE to 30th Avenue The Historic Old
Northeast is designated as a Neighborhood Traditional Single- You can access both the Land Development Regulations and a
Family, “primarily single-family in character. While some NT zoning map from the City’s website at www.stpete.org. Specific
districts allow accessory units or limited neighborhood-scale mixed questions may be directed to the Development Services Depart-
uses, the character and context along the street should reinforce ment at 893-7471 or 893-7231.
Meet Your HONNA Officers and Board for 2008
Following are brief bios of the men and women elected to serve on the current HONNA Board of
Directors. If you have neighborhood-related concerns you’d like to share with them, contact infor-
mation can be found on page 4 of this newsletter – or better yet come to a monthly neighborhood
meeting and talk to them there.
Officers
President: Mary Alice Lange (15th Avenue NE) is a St. Board of Directors
Pete native who returned home as a young adult after living in Julia Brazier (20th Avenue N) was a life-long resident of the
Germany and Maryland. She has been an active member of Washington, DC area, when she experienced an epiphany one
the neighborhood association since 1988 including as its Presi- winter night in 2000 while stranded on the Washington Beltway
dent in 1992 and 1994 and serving on the Board for a number during an ice storm. Within two weeks St. Petersburg was home.
of years as chair of the Planning Committee. Mary Alice helped While still in epiphany mode, she abandoned a 26-year career in
create the first City of St. Petersburg Neighborhood Plan for high-end corporate technology systems sales and consulting and
The Old Northeast, and the Planning Committee has worked launched a now-thriving business as a Realtor. She immediately
with the City to re-design the zoning codes which are con- recognized The Historic Old Northeast as a rare treasure — one
tained in the city-wide Land Development Regulations. some developers would like to steal. So she feels HONNA’s Neigh-
borhood Design Review and Planning/Historic Preservation com-
Vice President: Maureen Stafford (Bay Street NE) is a mittees are essential to protecting and nurturing the integrity of
Kiwi, having lived in New Zealand until age 19 when she moved our community.
to the States. Most of her time was spent in New Jersey,
raising a family (she has three grown sons living in three dif- Rick Carson (Cherry Street NE) has been editor of the
ferent states) with her then-husband before moving to St. Association’s newsletter since 2002 and this is his third year serv-
Petersburg in 1990, where she has always lived in The Old ing on the board. He has lived in the neighborhood since 2001
Northeast. Her livelihood’s been in real and in Florida since 1989. Prior to moving to
estate, and she settled into the specialty Florida he co-owned and operated a B&B in New
of home restoration – she calls herself a Jersey and before that spent a couple decades
“restorative developer.” in the D.C. area working in political campaigns,
serving on Congressional staffs and working as
Treasurer: Douglas Haan (8th Av- a lobbyist. He currently sits on the City’s Social
enue NE) and his partner bought their first Action Funding Committee and volunteers as
“fixer upper” home in The Historic Old associate editor of the United Church of Christ’s
Northeast in August 2000 when they Florida newspaper.
settled here full time (and they’re now in
their second fixer-upper). Douglas is Rick Field (15th Avenue NE), his wife Cheryl
serving his fifth term as a Board member and Chihuahua, Gomez, moved to the neighbor-
and third as treasurer. He has been the hood about six months ago to be near their daugh-
financial coordinator for the last five ter, Jamie, who married a local boy she met in
Spring Garden Strolls as well as recent college. He is a City Planner, having worked in
Holiday Home Tours. He also volunteers as a cook at St. Vincent the Washington, D.C., metro area as well as in Savannah and
homeless shelter. He is eager to foster continued neighbor- Charleston, SC. Rick earned his undergraduate degree from the
hood involvement in a place we can be proud to say we live. University of Georgia and has a graduate degree from George
Washington University. He’s currently finding time to expand the
Secretary: Cathy Martin (9th Avenue NE) Cathy previ- amount of time he can spend on his art work.
ously served 21/2 years as HONNA president. She is presi-
dent and owner of Work With Kids, Inc., a consulting com- Susan Lahey (14th Avenue NE) grew up on 13th Avenue NE,
pany that provides capacity building services and tools to agen- before the neighborhood was known as the “old” Northeast. She
cies, school districts, schools, and organizations that serve graduated from St. Pete High, the University of Tennessee and
children and youth, as well as youth employment initiatives. A graduate school at the University of Georgia (earning a degree in
human resources professional with leadership experience in counseling), where she worked until retiring in 2005. After a 40-
both for profit and nonprofit companies and in large and small year absence from St. Petersburg, Susan returned in 2006 and
organizations, she is interested in building the strength and currently works part-time in Dr. Randy Buckspan’s office and as
influence of HONNA through membership growth and involve- a tutor at Shorecrest. She has three children and three grandkids.
ment. An Old Northeast resident since 1994, she is married to
attorney Jim Martin.

Egg-Stravaganza
Time for Kids
HONNA 2008
Ron Magray (17th Avenue NE) and his wife, Jan, have
finally settled in The Old Northeast. We initially discovered
St. Petersburg while attending a sailboat show and although
we did not buy a boat we did buy a condo in downtown St.
Pete. We quickly realized that after many years of exploring
the west coast of Florida that this beautiful “Sunshine City”
was what we had been searching for and what had eluded us
in previous residences. We love the diversity and multicultural
aspects of St. Pete and are very happy that we have found
this wonderful community in which to live.
Robin Reed (16th Avenue NE) and her husband, Joe, moved
to St. Pete from northern New Jersey seven years ago. A life-
long preservationist and admitted “old house nut,” she has
participated in, and co-chaired, our annual Candlelight Tour
of Homes and is a charter member of the Garden Group. Robin
recently led our campaign to become a Local Historic Dis-
trict. For the past several years she has volunteered at Sunken
Gardens and spearheaded their Master Plan efforts. Currently, It’s almost time for the Easter Egg Hunt! Easter falls early this
she is chairman of the Planning/Historic Preservation Com- year and the children are waiting with much anticipation for the
mittee, continuing the neighborhood’s efforts to preserve our annual Old Northeast neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt. The event
special and unique qualities. will be held at Coffee Pot Bayou beginning promptly at 10am
on Saturday, March 22nd – the day before Easter. The hunt is
Anne-Marie Stephenson (12th Avenue NE) is a Florida sponsored by HONNA and The Platinum Group of Smith & As-
Cracker and proud of it, Anne-Marie and her husband found sociates Real Estate.
the charm and diversity of The Old Northeast — with its prox- Adults will hide the plastic eggs throughout the park and
imity to museums, parks, a vibrant downtown, water access have to compete with the squirrels, who come down from the
and cool breezes — an easy choice when it came to deciding trees and grab the eggs as soon as they are hidden. The kids
where to purchase their home. Among her activities, Anne- eagerly wait as they quietly plan a strategy to find the eggs and
Marie has been involved with the Spring Garden Strolls, Candle- to beat the squirrels. In a matter of minutes, all you see are
light Tour of Homes, Historic Preservation Committee, Old scampering feet as every egg is plucked from its chosen
Northeast Garden Group and the YWCA/USF Family Village. nest. Then you hear a scream when one child finds the Golden
She previously served as Board secretary. Egg that brings a special prize!
The Hunt is for children ages 10 and under. There will also be
Bob Watts (1st Street N) hails from Indianapolis and is a a special prize for Best Costume. Water will be provided.
graduate of Purdue University. He served as a board member Come join the fun. We need volunteers to distribute the eggs;
of the Historic Woodruff Place Neighborhood in Indianapolis please call Cynthia Serra at 580-3335.
for five years. His family – wife, Jonni, and two daughters
now 11 and eight — have called The Historic Old Northeast
home since moving to Florida in 2000. The Watts’ have re-
cently added a new member to the family — a Lab mix puppy Street Light Out?
named Tate. As a real estate professional, Bob understands Do yourself and your neighbors a favor
how important creating a sense of neighborhood really is and
has closely followed the City’s development and adoption of and phone Progress Energy at 800/
the new Land Development Regulations and how they better 228-8485 to report it (provide them the
describe neighborhoods like ours. He’s a graduate of the CONA location and the ID number on the
Leadership course and also a graduate of the St. Petersburg pole’s base). Don’t make things easy
Citizen Police Academy.
for the burglars and car thieves.

Over The Back Fence by 1 and2 S S
…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, good-
deed-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!
Finally!…Although it’s not one of the “official” entryways into mal lovers while supporting the SPCA. Plus, they’ll enjoy an open
the neighborhood, the plot of land at the northeast corner of 4th bar as well as catered food from some of the Bay area’s finest
Street and 5th Avenue N sits at a strategic location on a key corner restaurants including Salt Rock Grill and Island Way Grill. Plus
of the The Historic Old Northeast. While there’s always been a they’ll have a chance to win a day charter on a luxurious 109-foot
sign indicating the Fourth Street Business District – now known yacht. Entertainment includes David Mathews, a frequent pianist
for the Florida Orchestra. Black tie attire is optional. The event is
sponsored by Great Bay Distributors. SPCA Tampa Bay is lo-
cated at 9099 130th Avenue N in Largo. Events like Animal Affairé
enable the SPCA to care for more than 15,000 homeless and abused
pets each year.
Speaking of Dogs… We’ve heard of a particularly nasty case
of out-of-control dogs (in another neighborhood), which prompts
this reminder about City ordinance 4-51 and 4-53 that covers dogs
running at large and other nuisance animals. If you see dogs not
on a leash, you’re asked to call the Animal Control office at 797-
7722 (we’re told the police will no longer respond to these calls).
Paul Pal…The January 29th “Floridian” section of the St. Pe-
tersburg Times did a front page feature piece on Mary Miller
(30th Avenue N) and her door-to-door efforts on behalf of GOP
Presidential candidate Ron Paul. An elementary school teacher
and lifelong Democrat, she Googled “Ron Paul” after seeing the
web site posted on a telephone pole. Mary got hooked and, along
with her boyfriend, purchased with their own money almost 500
as the Garden District – the grounds have been in serious need of brochures to take canvassing.
landscaping. Well, in early February trees and plantings appeared Joe Miele…HONNA notes the passing of long-time resident
which have greatly enhanced this corner. Joseph “Joe” Miele, who died December 10th. Joe, a retired
An Ignoble Death…It was sad to see the lovely home on the attorney, was a formidable leader of the anti-Local Historic Dis-
southeast corner of Beach Drive and 18th Avenue NE succumb to trict designation forces and was a passionate defender of his vi-
the wrecker’s ball. This house had the distinction of being on the sion for the neighborhood.
annual Candlelight Tour of Homes in 2004. Built in the vernacular Traffic Nightmares (continued)…A reader responded to last
style in the ‘20s, the story goes that the original structure had issue’s “Bad, Worse, Worst” citation of 9th Avenue N/NE as be-
been the servant’s quarters for the home on North Shore Drive to ing one of the worst streets in the neighborhood. She writes:
which it backed up. Those lucky enough to see the house on the “They echo what I have long thought of as
Tour will recall its many special features. Hard to believe such an the unsafe conditions that are the result of making 9th Avenue a
attractive house – which had extensive remodeling only a few two way street (HONNA Traffic Committee, whatever were you
years ago — is now history. thinking of when you advocated this?!) Not only are drivers put
Book Worm Alert…Do you enjoy a good book? Do you love to in danger when they try to negotiate the corner from Beach to
discuss your feelings and interpretation of the book? Well, come 9th, but pity the pe-
join those looking to form a book club for residents of destrian who steps Ov e r T he B
The Baack FFen
en ce is a
ence
The Old Northeast. The first meeting will be at Panera’s Bread on off the curb there
Friday evening, March 7th. If you miss this meeting, info on
future times and meeting places and what books are being dis-
and is confronted
by a driver who So a pb
pboox...
cussed can be obtained by contacting Susan Coffey at
cofflash@aol.com.
because of the foli- STEP ON UP
age and the angle of
Pet Lover Opportunity…The Society for the Prevention of the corner, hasn’t a and
Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Tampa Bay presents its first-ever
Animal Affairé from 6–11pm on Saturday, March 15th. The event
clue that a person is
about to cross the L ET’S H E AR
will happen at the historic home of Fazal Fazlin at 900 Park Street
N in St. Petersburg. Tickets are available for $200 per person on-
street. The swing
off of 1st St. into 9th
F R OM YO U
is dicey, too. Cars
line at www.spcatampabay.org or by calling the SPCA at 586- e-mail: nsnaeditor@aol.com
3591. Guests will have the opportunity to mingle with fellow ani- parked along 9 th

there obscure the vision of the driver turning East as well as the
driver coming up 9th heading West. Could HONNA devote a meeting
next year to discuss this issue and any others regarding traffic
problems in the neighborhood? Hardly anyone drives Beach Drive
Creative Solutions
at the posted speed limit of 25mph. Is there a way to enforce this
better, especially for mom’s and dad’s who have their work cut
Painting & Remodeling, LLC
out for them shepherding youngsters on bikes across this road.
More worrisome is the vignette of a parent crossing Beach Drive “Your Home Makeover Specialists”
while pushing a stroller with little kids clinging to it and maybe the
family dog by their side. Let’s even out the playing field and give Paint, Repairs, Restoration For a Free & Quick
them a safer way to get down to Northshore Park.” Interior & Exterior
Lost Pets….A reminder in case you missed it in the last issue Honest & Dependable Estimate Call Stuart
of the newsletter: HONNA’s web site now contains a page post- Licensed & Insured
ing lost or found pets. Eyes&Ears has noted a lot of flyers posted Lic. #C-10020 727-459-9528
on trees announcing either lost
or found dogs. If this contact
info were to regularly appear
on the web site, it could save a
considerable amount of time in
reuniting owners with their
pets. Please take advantage of
this service (www.honna.org
and click on “Lost & Found
Pets” along the left hand col-
umn).
Lighten Up (Not)… Ev-
eryone agrees that keeping
our homes and neighborhood
safe is an important issue.
But can some of us go too
far in our efforts to safeguard
our property? A good example
are the neighbors who shine high-intensity security lights from
dusk to dawn to illuminate their properties. The problem is Check out the
those beacons also light up the yards and windows of neigh-
boring homes. Perhaps a motion-sensor security light is a bet- HONNA web site
ter option for deterring unwanted visitors, reducing energy
costs and being more neighborly. www.honna.org
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“snakes, stray cats, geckos, birds and squir-
rels” exist in the alleys, with “evidence of
rats, raccoons and opossums,” reports a
Coffee Pot resident. Many homes located
their back yards on the alley side of their
property and dogs watch from behind the
fences as dog walkers and “Dumpster
divers” pass by. Adding unique noises to the
mostly serene spaces are jays squawking,
mourning doves cooing, squirrels courting
and noisy parrots flying overhead.
Interesting residents are found in the al-
leys. Take Chuck, who declared that “Like
Chicago where I used to live, alleys have
their own life.” Chuck also uses his alley as
Hidden Gems in “a donation center.” He frequently sorts
through his belongings and carefully folds
and neatly arranges them in a box and leaves
The Old Northeast the box out by the trash container for those
who go shopping in the trash barrels.
“Within hours,” he reports, someone has
wandered by and collected their new trea-
by Jill McGrath sures. An older citizen, carrying her cane, declared, “I love to
walk in these alleys: there are no cars, I am never scared and I like
M
ost people who stroll around the streets and avenues
of The Old Northeast may be missing gems which looking at the backs of the houses.” Emerging from the alley ad-
are hidden from passers-by. A number of alleys in our jacent to her house, a new resident, who moved here from San
neighborhood are fascinating surprises. After exploring, by foot Francisco, claims, “I love this neighborhood”, a mantra also heard
and by car, almost every alley in The Old Northeast, it is discov- by most long-term residents.
ered that the rear of our architectural treasures are sometimes The quintessential Old Northeast alley explorer, John Gee, who
more intriguing than their façades. The buildings, gates and walls walks his dogs be-
which surround the alleys are very diverse, as are the houses. fore and after his
Before there were giant garbage trucks and soaring automobile teaching work day,
populations, there were alleys which were platted when cities were has accumulated an
developed. What exists here in St. Petersburg also exist in cities impressive amount
such as Denver, Chicago and in the historic Philadelphia area. of funds which he
Originally, stables for the horses and enough room for the coal has found during
deliveries and horse feed made alleys a necessity. the walks. “I can
Our alleys are diversified in many ways. Some surfaces are the only speculate
same brick as our streets, some are broken remnants of long- about the source of
ago-applied asphalt and some are cluttered by old cinders and those funds,” he an-
clinkers, the detritus from coal furnaces. Some alleys are pristine, nounces, with a wry
some appear to be grass lanes and some are obviously ignored. smile. There have
Some of the alleys are dingy and uninteresting; others are delights been rumors of
to the eye. Some are wide and some are narrow. No two alleys “johns” and their
are alike. “ladies of the night”
frequenting the al-
A mix of four legged creatures wanders the alleys. A zoo of
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leys, but John has never seen any further evidence of this tale.
There is a beautiful mix of shrubs and flowers in the alleys.
Bougainvilleas are numerous, there are pomegranate trees, a 12
foot Cereus cactus, clusters of deep purple American Beauty-
Berry, flame vines, fruit-bearing trees, hibiscus and, in sharp con-
trast, a group of brown Christmas trees, long past their glory
days. There are purposely planted and well-tended small gardens
and lengthy sections of window boxes which display colorful
petunias in glorious colors. And in one corner of the pastel petu-
nia-filled boxes is a large doll’s head which appears to be a curi-
ous sentinel. One petite garden has professional-grade paintings
of flowers as a back-drop. In some alleys there is joy in the
landscaping and obvious care in the house-keeping of those spaces.
Some of the corner houses in The Old Northeast do not have an
alley connection because they were designed as “key lots” without
any access. One corner lot has no direct alley access because the
original stable building lot was divided from the original 1910 resi-
dence and is now a small house with identifying hay mow door and claiming “Preserve Old Northeast” and a metal alligator sculpture. In
low hay storage ceiling on the second floor. Along alleys other another location there is a sculpture of a stylized group of people,
original stable buildings still retain their identity: horse shoes deco- made of a brass-like material, the figures appearing to be guardians
rate sliding barn-type doors and small windows frame wavy old of that alley. Various alley locations reveal carved hearts on a door-
glass. Some of those original way, a clothes line hung with shades of
stables are now garages or pastel towels and, in contrast, a broken
large storage areas; some are and embedded wheelbarrow, a wall of
so packed that the door can- sixteen electrical meters and piles of palm
not be completely closed and cuttings which bear the brown color of
must be easy nesting grounds years of abandonment. As beautiful as
for feral cats and other such some alleys are there are alleys full of
animals. Some of the “back debris, and despite the surprises of art
buildings” have apartments on and plantings most alleys are nondescript
the second story, and there are and betray their impressive houses on
small houses which were used the street and avenue sides.
as “guest houses” when St.
Petersburg became a tourist Alleys in The Old Northeast offer a trea-
destination. Trunks of trees, sure trove of interesting sights — an ex-
long ago planted, are growing plorer would not be disappointed. Land-
into the porches and outbuild- scaping and caring for all these passage-
ings as though they are seeking shelter with one another. ways of our neighborhood would greatly add to our area. The alleys
should be recognized for the value they add to our homes
Some of the alleys host impromptu art galleries. Examples of
artistic elements, which were discovered in different alleys, include *With thanks to “Photo-Ed” and John Gee
ornamental metal duck silhouette cut-outs, a trompe l’oeil old
stucco wall, palms painted on an old wooden fence, carved pine- Jill and Ed McGrath (who grew up together in the Hudson
apples on welcoming wooden chairs around a cement table, a River Valley of New York) are restoring a 1910 cottage on the
flag decorated with stars and stripes with the inclusive word “to- corner of Bay Street and 6th Avenue NE. This is Jill’s fifth (Ed’s
gether” painted on the front. Other alley scenes include a Hindu- third) complete house restoration project and they have promised
type goddess attached to a gate, Historic Old Northeast flags pro- each other that it will be their last.
Individual and Business

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HOME INVASION:
How You Can Stay Safe at Home
By Stephanie Jones, Newsletter Editor
Historic Kenwood News
Recently, there have been several home invasions in Historic delivering a pack-
Kenwood. A home invasion is when robbers force their way into age, flowers or lie
an occupied home to commit a robbery or other crimes. It is about an accident
particularly frightening because it violates our private space and like hitting your
the one place that we think of as our sanctuary. parked car. Once
the door is opened
for them, the home
Criminal Profile
invaders will use an ex-
Residential burglars work mostly during the day and when a
plosive amount of force and
residence is more likely to be unoccupied. Most burglars work
threats to gain control of the
alone and tend to probe a neighborhood looking for the right
home and produce fear in the vic-
residence and the right opportunity. Alarm signs and decals, bars
tims. Once the occupants are un-
on windows, strong locks and doors, big dogs, and alert neigh-
der control the robbers will begin
bors can sometimes deter burglars. Also, burglars will avoid a
to collect your valuables.
confrontation and will usually flee when approached.
Home invasion robbers, in contrast, work more often at night
and on weekends when homes are more likely to be occupied. Prevention Steps
The home invader will sometimes target the resident as well as The same tactics used to prevent daytime burglaries will go a
the dwelling. The selection process may include a woman living long way to preventing forced entry home robberies. If you can
alone, a wealthy senior citizen or a known drug dealer, for ex- delay a home invader at the point of entry then you have a chance
ample. It is not unheard of for a robber to follow you home of deterring them or have time to call the police. A solid core door,
based on the value of the car you are driving or the jewelry you strong locks with reinforced strike plates, and reinforced win-
are wearing. Some home invaders might have been in your home dow devices will stop most forced entries.
before as a delivery person, installer or repair vendor. Home The weakest home security link is the home occupant who
robbers rarely work alone and rely on an overwhelming physical fails to lock doors or windows or who will open the door without
confrontation to gain initial control and instill fear in you. The question at the sound of a knock. The best defense against home
greatest violence usually occurs during the initial sixty seconds invasion is education and planning. Parents should hold a family
of the confrontation and home invaders often come prepared meeting to discuss how to answer the door when someone
with handcuffs, rope, duct tape, and firearms. knocks. Another important topic is how to act should your home
or family be invaded. Once you know how home robbers work,
you can effectively prevent most occurrences.
Dangerous Trends
Home invaders know that they won’t have to overcome alarm Remember these security steps:
systems when the home is occupied or be worried about video • Install solid core doors, heavy duty locks, and window
cameras and silent alarms. Unlike robbing a retail store, home invad- security devices
ers expect privacy once inside your home and won’t have to deal
with the police suddenly driving up or customers walking in. Once • Lock all doors, windows, and garages at all times
the offenders take control of a residence they can force the occu- • Use four three-inch screws to secure heavy duty lock strike
pants to open safes, locate hidden valuables, supply keys to the plates in the door frame
family car, and PIN numbers to their ATM cards. Home invaders • Use the door peephole BEFORE opening the door
will try to increase their escape time by disabling the phones and • Use your porch light to help you to see clearly outside
sometimes will leave their victims bound or incapacitated. It is not • Never rely on a chain-latch as a barrier to partially open the
unheard of for robbers to load up the victim’s car with valuables and door
drive away without anyone in the neighborhood taking notice.
• Never open the door to strangers or solicitors
• Call the police if the stranger acts suspicious
Method of Operation
• Alert your neighbors to suspicious solicitors
The most common point of attack is through the front door or
garage. Sometimes the home invader will simply kick open the • Hold a family meeting to discuss home security plans
door and confront everyone inside. More common is when the • Set the home perimeter alarm at night, if you have one
home invaders knock on the door first or ring the bell. The home
invader hopes that the occupant will simply open the door, with- Let’s make our neighborhood a safer place to live! Watch for
out question, in response to their knock. Unfortunately, many suspicious activity in our neighborhood and act quickly to report
people do just that. it!
Home invaders will sometimes use a ruse or impersonation to [from the January 2008 issue of the Historic Kenwood News;
get you to open the door. They have been known to pretend to be reprinted with permission]

PORCH PAR
PARTIES
ARTIES
Porch Parties are held the third Friday of the
o
Y du ’ r e 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
Invite
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 Julie Feeley (822-
4969; fridayporchparty@hotmail.com).
March 21st April 18th May 16th

Peter Stanhope and Marc Nadeau Bob and Jean Hunter Chris and Beverly Avren
246 15th Avenue NE 229 18th Avenue NE 2810 Coffee Pot Boulevard NE
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
Alley
avenue and chronological and alphabetical street order.
If any of these folks live near you, make sure you welcome
them to the neighborhood.
555 5th Avenue NE #722
210 6th Avenue N #1
Raymond Sterway
William Linton
Décor:
245 7th Avenue NE John and Susan Arsenault
10110th Avenue N Robert Bailey
217 13th Avenue NE Thomas and Veronica Buckley
506 14th Avenue NE Brian and Leslie Waechter
My Trash – Your Treasure

636 14th Avenue NE David and Sheryl Fitz
116 15th Avenue NE Simon Black
225 15th Avenue NE Larry and Julie Vawter
116 16th Aven NE Russell and Maria Winer Vintage California-Asia rattan four piece sectional sofa with
247 16th Avenue NE Amanda Taylor coffee table - $200; Jay at 894-7025 or e-mail nhance
@tampabay.rr.com.
140 17th Avenue NE Daniel and Luanne Rechtshaid
749 17th Avenue NE Peter Katcha
246 19th Avenue NE Elizabeth Jack
166 21st Avenue NE Franziska Stiens
210 22nd Avenue NE #10 Francine Michel
131 26th Avenue NE Tyrone and Laura Cullifer
747 2nd Street N Lyn Van Voorst
700 Beach Drive NE #806 Robert MacDonald
733 Oak Street NE Mia Shaugnessy
1206 Oak Street NE #12 John Mulvibill
Compiled from records by the
Florida New Business Report.
Check out our newly revamped website

www.honna.org
Going Green St. Pete Recycling Solutions (727/452-5278 or www.
oursprs.com) provides curbside pick up for plastic, glass, alumi-
num and paper, including newspapers, office paper, junk mail,
by Yvonne Swanson
magazines and phone books. Company owner Greg Foster, a 20-
something graduate of the University of South Florida and a Shore
Have you noticed green recycling bins curbside throughout the Acres resident, launched the company last year.
neighborhood on Wednesday mornings? It’s not the City of St. The service is $15 per month. Two 18-gallon recycling bins
Petersburg finally providing recycling service, but a new local are provided free of charge if you sign up for 12 months. You can
company that’s helping to make recycling more convenient for also purchase the bins for just $10 each and pay on a month-by-
St. Petersburg residents. month basis (a good option for snowbirds).
It’s ironic that the City of St. Pete is considered a “green city”
when it doesn’t offer curbside recycling. There are drop-off lo-
cations, but that can be an inconvenience for homeowners with
busy lives. Having a curbside service makes good sense – for
those who want to recycle and for the environment.
Recycling is a great way to teach children about the environ-

ment and responsibility at home. Some local kids help load
up the paper recycling bin for pickup.
My Current Old Northeast Listings
2410 Coffe Pot Blvd. NE 219 13th Ave NE 435 13th Ave NE 416 10th Ave NE
$1,300,000 $1,125,000 $799,900 $775,000
105 8th Ave NE 265 8th Ave NE 134 6th Ave N 2600 1st Street N 217 22nd Ave N
$499,500 $599,000 $449,900 $329,900 $290,000
JUST SOLD • 556 13th Ave NE…last offered for $999,000 & 245 7th Ave NE… last offered for $475,000
Cell (727) 742.7939 • Office (727) 342.3800
View all of my listings at RachelSartain.com

access to your password, he or she can read your mail, get ac-
Teen Safety on the cess to your credit card and give your personal information to
other people. You should never share online your full name, your
INTERNET school, home phone number or even your sports team. You also
shouldn’t include part of your name in your screen name or
by Keaton Green have a provocative screen name.
Do you ever worry about your children and what they Aftab taught us that you should never meet people
do while they’re on the computer? Do you think they will in real life that you met on the Internet. In all the
protect themselves at all times? Do they even know how? cases in which students have been killed, the preda-
tor has asked the victim if he or she would meet
Local families — many from The Old Northeast — learned them, she warned.
about Internet safety recently from one of the nation’s lead-
ing Internet experts when the Canterbury School of Florida If you have a profile on a social network website
hosted a special program at its two campuses in North- such as Myspace or Facebook, don’t post photos
east St. Petersburg. The guest speaker was Internet that show objects in the background that may give
privacy and security lawyer Parry Aftab, who leads away information about yourself. Many kids think
WiredSafety, the world’s largest online safety, edu- their profile is private, but it’s easy for hackers to
cation and help group (www.wiredsafety.org). get through to read personal information that’s
posted. Facebook, or a Flip, are safer social
“What you put on the Internet, stays on the networks than Myspace, said Aftab.
Internet,” Aftab warned us as we learned about the
dangers of the Internet and on-line social networks. Aftab leads a nationwide group of
Many of us thought we had heard this story be- young volunteers called Teen Angels
fore and knew how to protect ourselves while surf- (ages 13 to 18) and Tween Angels
ing the web. Yet, after we heard what Aftab had to say, (ages 9 to 12) to help teach their
we changed our minds. Nine children have been killed by peers and other children about
Internet predators in the past 10 years and a dozen children Internet safety and how to deal
have committed suicide as a result of cyberbullying, reported with cyberbullying. She hopes to
Aftab. We don’t want to add to those statistics. start a local chapter of the vol-
unteer program at Canterbury
We can protect ourselves and our identity from strangers while School (to learn more, visit
on social networks or surfing the web by not sharing our pass- www.teenangels.com).
words — not even with our closest friends. If someone gains
“Many kids want to fight back after being cyberbullied, but
that just escalates the fighting and then, they are both guilty.
The best thing to do is turn off the computer and focus on doing
(727) 895-4353 something you love for a little while,” advised Aftab.
Parents and children can learn more about Internet safety and
Cell: (727) 480-0916 cyberbullying at www.wiredsafety.org. There’s even an “Internet
101” section for parents who don’t know what’s online. You can
Fax: (727) 895-3242 also read more about Aftab’s program at Canterbury, which was
featured in the St. Petersburg Times and written by neighbor
E-mail: homeshelen@earthlink.net Katherine Snow-Smith (18th Avenue NE), at www.sptimes.com
www.homesbyheleninc.com (archive section).
Keaton Green lives in The Old NE with her parents , sister and
brother. She is a 7th Grade student at the Canterbury School of
"From the Bay to Florida.
the Gulf, from
listing to closing, I
will be there every Your Home Companion
step of the way to Professional Dependable Compassionate
ensure that your Providing companionship and non-medical services to adults,

buying or selling at-risk elders and the physically challenged to remain at home
comfortably and independently.
experience is a
great one." Helen Torres
Licensed
Real Estate Broker
GRI-CRS-SRES-LTG You may contact us via phone (727) 388-1698
fax (727) 388-6679 or inline at www.yourhomecompanion.com

You’re just a stroll from a GRADY
wonderful worship experience!
The
Join us Sunday mornings:
Communion Worship Historic Home
Handyman
8:00 a.m., Sanctuary
Wrestling with God— Transformational Worship
9:01 a.m. Fellowship Hall
Church School for All Ages

9:45 a.m., classrooms
Worship with Choir “Custom work
11:00 a.m., Sanctuary my specialty”
Professional child care available all morning
The mission of First Presbyterian Church is to equip God's Resident of
people to know, love and serve God as revealed in Jesus Christ. Old Southeast
701 Beach Drive N.E. St. Petersburg

(727) 822-2031 www.fpc-stpete.org 727.895.2272
Preserving the
Character
of Old Northeast
Houses
by Mike Dailey
She had two options: replace her 84 windows with new vinyl or
aluminum sash — which would certainly destroy the look of the
house — or find a way to recondition the existing windows. She
decided on the latter and embarked on a very interesting journey.
Knowing that her windows were manufactured by Hope’s, she
called the company to see if they could recondition the 82 year-
old sashes. According to Julie, the company’s local representa-
tive was discouraging about the possibility of getting the win-
dows repaired by Hope’s, both from a cost and logistical stand-
point. He recommended Seekircher Steel Window Repair, a com-
pany based in New York State that restored the windows at
Fallingwater. They offered a hefty discount compared to what
Hope’s would have charged, and they definitely had the expertise
to do the job. Julie had a team of workers stay at her large house
for three weeks while they disassembled the window frames,
welded new parts to replace the unsalvageable ones, and painted
Windows 2008: and re-glazed the frames. The final step was to reattach the hard-
Repairing Historic Hope’s Steel ware -- the brass window locks and operators that give the win-
Windows in Granada Terrace dows a distinctive, rich look.
Now that the project is done, Julie can
Granada Gables, the castle-like house at the northwest cor-
show off her windows instead of cover-
ner of the Venetian Docks in the Granada Terrace portion of
ing them up with window treatments. Her
The Old Northeast, just got an extreme window makeover.
house is noticeably quieter due to the
All the original steel-framed windows were rebuilt to better-
thicker glass and the ability to close the
than-new condition, including new hurricane impact glazing.
windows tightly. She is experimenting
Julie Santamaria, the current owner, had to search to with a roll-down interior screen that
find a company to repair the 1926 Henry Hope and Sons steel Seekircher sells that stays out of the way
windows. Now known as Hope’s Steel Windows, Hope’s is most of the time, so as not to spoil the
a venerable company begun in 1912 that has made steel-framed view. The original hinged wooden screens
windows for high profile buildings including Frank Lloyd are long gone.
Wright’s Fallingwater, many museums and university build-
With the window repair, Julie has got-
ings and architect-designed houses all over the United States.
ten one step closer to restoring this house
Steel windows offer many benefits, including narrow to its former glory. Everything she’s done
sightlines (maximizing the glass and minimizing the frame), shows her mindfulness of the house’s his-
superior strength, longevity when prop- tory. An ongoing roof repair has her look-
erly maintained and the ability to be eas- ing for copper shingles for a turret, and
ily recycled. Steel windows are widely she has been busy also restoring a foun-
recognized by architects as a superior tain in one of the house’s interior court-
window frame material. yards. The rewards of her hard work
When Julie bought her house, many won’t just be enjoyed by Julie and her
of the out swinging casement windows friends, but also by future residents of
were rusted and difficult to operate. Years The Old Northeast who will be able to
of deferred maintenance by previous enjoy this fantastic house.
owners combined with a waterfront lo-
cation conspired against the steel. Julie Mike, an Old Northeast resident
faced high utility bills, uncomfortably since 1996, holds a Master of Archi-
humid conditions inside and the worry tecture degree from the University of
that a hurricane might destroy her house. South Florida.
Neighborhood Shines for
Holiday Home Tour Dickens House Bed & Breakfast, the Colonnade Guest House at
by Elaine Normile, Chair Westminster Palms and Westminster Presbyterian Church.
Candlelight Tour of Homes Committee The following businesses served as ticket outlets: Beach Drive
Papery, Dolin’s Garden Center, Florida Craftsman Gallery, Green
The 2007 HONNA Candlelight Tour of Homes was the sec- and Yellow Basket, Marion’s, Premier Group Realty Inc., Some-
ond most successful in its 10 year history and the most suc- thing Different and Uncorked Fine Wines & Accessories.
cessful since ticket prices were Special thanks are
increased in 2005. in order to the many
An impressive 957 tickets donors and advertis-
were sold resulting in an income ers along with the
of $21,200. After expenses and scores of volunteers
taxes, the net was about $13,700. – those who worked
Fifty percent of the net went di- for months as mem-
rectly to HONNA’s general fund bers of the Tour
and the other 50% was ear- Committee and those
marked for a charity and neigh- who helped on the
borhood improvements desig- day of the Tour –
nated by the Tour Committee. who made the event
The charitable group which the huge success it
received a check in the amount was.
of $1,000 was Tampa Bay
Watch, a nonprofit stewardship The check was
program dedicated exclusively to gratefully accepted
protecting and restoring the ma- by Dennis
rine and wetland environments of Kellenberger, General
the Tampa Bay estuary. Manager.
The Committee’s remaining
allocation will support the completion of HONNA’s 10 year
Neighborhood Plan.
In addition to the dedicated and capable committee members
and volunteers, I want to express my gratitude to the other en-
tities that made the 2007 Tour possible.
The 2007 Tour was made possible through the generosity of
homeowners:
Susan and Mark Williams, Linda and Robert Dobbs, Vicki
Bennett and Rich Luker, Jackie Fox, Stephanie Edwards,
Tara and Stephen Kipp, Cathy and Jim Martin and Douglas
Haan and Randy Hodge. Pete and Vivian Cammick’s home
was the site of the preview party and Albertsons Supermarket
on 4th Street N was the party sponsor.
Hospitality Houses on Tour day were The Beach Drive Inn,
New
Members
Alison Barlow................................. Andalusia Way NE
James Camp...................................... 16th Avenue NE
Sean Farris .......................................... 8th Avenue NE
Jeanne Hedrick and Mary Ann Bruton ...... 29th Avenue N
Liz Jack .............................................. 19th Avenue NE
Pete McNamara ................................. 16th Avenue NE
Barbara and Jay Marshall ..................... 8th Avenue NE
Barbara and David Powell .................. 15th Avenue NE
the kitchen and back hallway. The Burkhart’s remodeling of the
A Work In Progress powder room is in tumbled marble as they were unable to save
that section of the mosaic tile.
Each issue of this newsletter introduces you to a neighborhood The butler’s pantry had been converted to a laundry. Upon
house which has recently or is presenting undergoing a major reno- restoring the pantry they discovered the main beam had to be
vation. Perhaps some of the trials and tribulations (and joys!) expe- replaced, as well as the cross members, due to termite damage.
rienced by these homeowners will give you ideas and inspiration as The transition from the myriad of old plumbing to galvanized and
you consider a renovation or your present home. Maybe you’ll be vinyl has taken years to replace. The two-car garage includes a
motivated to bite the bullet and purchase that next house you’ve spacious apartment on the second floor, which was completely
been thinking about. rebuilt. As in the main house, the apartment has the original kitchen
If you’d like to share your renovation story or know of a neigh- cabinets.
bor with a good one, let us hear from you.
On the staircase landing is an original gliding chair to whisk
you to the second floor. It is in perfect working order and still
The “Wedding used. The master bedroom is as expansive as the living room
below. It includes two dressing rooms, a master bath with origi-
Cake” House nal subway tile and a three-way mirror. Three other large bed-
rooms share a large hall bathroom.
The Burkharts had remodeled three houses prior to purchasing
One of the most significant houses in The Historic Old North-
this one. Their best advice is to have a pre-purchase inspection
east stands on the corner of Beach Drive and 13th Avenue NE.
which will help determine planning and budgets.
Presently painted a pastel green, the home of Richard and Vicky
Burkhart was built in 1926. They have the distinction of being the A flagpole resides on the roof in the southwest corner of the
third owners of this house. The
Mediterranean beauty. Burkhart’s think
there must have
The unusual plaster
been a rope below
applied to the exterior
to raise the flag;
was hand-done in the
they have never
pattern of a palm
used it. It is an in-
frond. The heavy appli-
teresting feature
cation is reminiscent of
as are the gar-
frosting on a wedding
goyles and mon-
cake. According to the
key faces that peer
owners, the house had
from the corners
always been white and
and the eaves. The
they decided to paint
property had been
the home within the last
surrounded by
few years. Employing
royal palms. The
local artist Geraldine
Burkharts’ hope is
Hayes, the front porch
to replace the
ceiling was trans-
palms, as well as
formed into a whimsi-
other landscaping.
cal sky. Surrounding the
sky are palms that reach According to
out to the pillars. On the history of the
each pillar are the faces house, it was a
of the Burkhart’s beloved pets. It was the front beacon of hope to the neighborhood after a
porch that sold them on the house, and they spend long ago hurricane. Its height prevented dam-
their time enjoying every spare moment there. age by flooding water and it was the only
house with natural gas service. Many folks
When they purchased this house it was in its origi-
were fed here and given refuge from the
nal condition; minor alterations had not compromised
storms. During World War II its rooms were
its integrity. There are heart pine floors throughout;
rented.
they were hidden under old carpet and in one section
had been covered by parquet. Fortunately, there was Its unusual history and character, added
little termite damage and only minor repairs were to the architectural significance of this home,
necessary. Now refinished, they gleam. qualifies it as one of the most interesting
works in progress in The Historic Old North-
The rooms are expansive and bright. The light
east.
is amazing, but not surprising as there are 30 origi-
nal oversized windows downstairs and 28 upstairs. Peter and his partner Marc moved to
In addition, a pair of French doors on the landing Florida in 1997 from their home in the
on the west side of the house explains the Beach historic German Village section of Columbus,
Drive address. The mosaic tile on the front porch OH. Peter offers renovation and interior
with accents of primary colors is also located in design services. He may be contacted at
PeterStanhope.com
Holiday Party a Big Hit
Close to 100 neighbors packed the Old Northeast Tavern on Decem-
ber 17th to celebrate HONNA’s annual December holiday party. Armed
with children’s gifts that would be donated to Toys for Tots, those gath-
ered enjoyed the tasty spread of pizzas, salads and desserts provided by
hosts and owners Dan and Sarah. The cozy and friendly atmosphere
made for a happy buzz that was appreciated by newcomers to The Old
Northeast as well as the “old timers.”
(Above)
Gifts
collected at
Smith &
Associates
and the
Old NE
Tavern
(right)

ON THE DOCKET:
Some Upcoming Events In and Nearby Our Neighborhood
For a current and more detailed listing go to the City’s website at www.stpete.org
March 1 Sounds of Saturday The Pier; 631-6443
March 1 Saturday Afternoon Fun for the family MARCH 17 NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING
The Pier; 631-6443 MARCH 21 PORCH PARTY (see p. 16)
March 1 Salsa Saturdays The Pier; 631-6443
March 1-2 3rd Annual Spring Art Walk March 22 Art Parade North Straub Park; 896-2667
BayWalk; 384-6000 March 22 Baby Boomer Collectibles Show
March 2 Music Fest on the Water (Soul Scape) The Coliseum; 892-5202
The Pier; 631-6443 March 22 Sounds of Saturday (Stacey Knights)
March 2 Sunday Afternoon Fun for the family The Pier; 631-6443
The Pier; 631-6443 March 22 Saturday Afternoon Fun for the family
March 7 Get Downtown Music Series The Pier; 631-6443
Central b/w 2nd-3rd; 393-3597 March 22 Salsa Saturdays The Pier; 631-6443
March 7 St. Pete Shuffle St. Petersburg Shuffleboard March 22 Premiere of the Hazel Hough Wing
Courts; 867-7228 -23 Museum of Fine Arts; 896-2667
March 7-9 8th Annual Cajun Zydeco Crawfish March 23 Music Fest on the Water (De Lei’ed Parrots)
Festival Vinoy Park; 892-5706 The Pier; 631-6443
March 8 2008 Spring Spa Beach Splash! March 23 Sunday Afternoon Fun for the family
for the family Spa Beach; 895-7437 The Pier; 631-6443
March 8 Sounds of Saturday (Lionheart) March 26 Oldies But Goodies (The Ron Berringer Trio)
The Pier; 631-6443 The Pier; 631-6443
March 8 Saturday Afternoon Fun for the family March 27 Senior Free Fest The Coliseum; 892-5202
The Pier; 631-6443 March 28 SPIFFS 33rd International Folk Fair Vinoy Park;
March 8 Gallery Walk Downtown galleries; 821-6767 -30 552-1896
March 8 Salsa Saturdays The Pier; 631-6443 March 29 Festivals of Speed (exotic cars, cycles, yachts)
March 9 Music Fest on the Water (Cheryl Hawkins North Straub Park; 352-385-9450
and Friends) The Pier; 631-6443 March 29 Sounds of Saturday The Pier; 631-6443
March 9 Sunday Afternoon Fun for the family March 29 Saturday Afternoon Fun for the family
The Pier; 631-6443 The Pier; 631-6443
March 12 Oldies But Goodies (The Downtowners) March 29 Salsa Saturdays The Pier; 631-6443
The Pier; 631-6443 March 30 Orchid Festival Sunken Gardens; 551-3100
March 14 Florida Antiquarian Book Fair March 30 Music Fest on the Water (Mark Anthony)
-16 The Coliseum; 892-5202 The Pier; 631-6443
March 15 MS Walk (benefiting multiple sclerosis March 30 Sunday Afternoon Fun for the family
awareness) North Straub Park; 1-800-FIGHT MS. The Pier; 631-6443
March 15 Sounds of Saturday (Mellow Smooth) April 3 Festival of States - Illuminated Night Parade and
The Pier; 631-6443 Fireworks Downtown to the waterfront; 321-9888
March 15 Saturday Afternoon Fun for the family April 4-6 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
The Pier; 631-6443 Downtown waterfront; 824-7223
March 15 Salsa Saturdays The Pier; 631-6443 April 4-6 Porsche On Parade South Straub Park; 823-2555
March 16 Bay to Bay 5K and 12K Run Road Race April 5 Recycle Regatta North Shore Beach; 464-3896
The Pier; 367-RACE (7223) April 9 23rd Annual American Stage in the Park presents
March 16 Music Fest on the Water (Happy Days) -May4 The Pirates Of Penzance Demens Landing;
The Pier; 631-6443 823-PLAY (7529)
March 16 Sunday Afternoon Fun for the family April 11 Get Downtown Music Series
The Pier; 631-6443 Central b/w 2nd-3rd; 393-3597
Spring Walking Tour: Sunday, April 13th, 1:30pm

Meet at the intersection of 23rd Avenue NE and
Coffee Pot Boulevard for an informative tour of this
interesting corner of The Historic Old Northeast.
FMI, 824-8522 or hexblock@tampabay.rr.com
April 11-13 2008 Whitney Bank Tampa Bay Blues
Festival Vinoy Park; ww.tampabaybluesfest.com In Case You Missed It:
April 12 Festival of States Day Parade Downtown Updates and Follow Ups
to the waterfront; 321-9888
April 12 Festival of States – Kidsfest Keeping You Current on Some Neighborhood
North Straub Park; 321-9888 Stories That Have Been in the News
April 12 Gallery Walk Downtown galleries; 821-6767
The Renaissance Vinoy Resort and Golf Club is recon-
APRIL 13 WALKING TOUR OF OLD NE; 824-8522 sidering its options to construct a spa on its property based on
(see p. 24) city voter approval to do so. Original plans were to build it on
APRIL 18 PORCH PARTY (see p. 16) the northern end of the property (atop the garage or displacing
adjacent tennis courts) but the western side along Beach Drive,
April 19 MarineQuest FWC Fish and Wildlife Research where the garden is located, is being looked at. One reason for
Institute/USF St. Petersburg; 896-8626 the reassessment is that the resort complex was sold to a new
April 19 Young Eagles Day Albert Whitted Airport; owner, FelCor Lodging Trust, in December. [source: St. Pe-
822-1532 tersburg Times, 1/9]
April 19-20 33rd Annual Mainsail Arts Festival
Vinoy Park; 892-5885
April 19-20 Relay for Life (benefiting American Cancer Responding to a perceived need of its customers for suste-
Society) Shorecrest Prep and nance while they wait for their cars to be serviced, Bob Lee’s
Crescent Lake Park; 546-9822 Tires on 4th Street has added to its newly-renovated waiting room
the BLT Grill. The gourmet deli (offering breakfast and lunch
APRIL 21 NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING fare) is attracting more than those interested in new tires and car
repairs – customers are calling ahead to place food orders. [source:
April 26 Meek & Mighty Triathlon St. Petersburg Times, 12/12]
North Shore Pool; 825-1521
April 26 Archeology Found: Lost in Time Fuel Group, the company seeking to build a 23-story hotel
Archeology Show The Pier; 631-6443 at 5th Avenue and 1st Street NE, has filed a suit challenging the
April 26-27 Green Thumb Festival Walter Fuller Park; City’s decision to deny the project. [source: St. Petersburg Times,
893-7335 12/30]
April 27 St. Anthony’s Triathlon Spa Beach and
May 2 Get Downtown Music Series
Central b/w 2nd-3rd; 393-3597
May 4 Historic Old Northeast Spring Garden Stroll
Old Northeast neighborhood; 825-0479
May 9-11 Family and Friends Day Vinoy Park;

686-9543
May 10 Walk for Life 2008 (benefiting New Life
Solutions/Pregnancy Center)
May 10 Gallery Walk Downtown galleries; 821-6767
MAY 16 PORCH PARTY (see p. 16)

MAY 19 NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING
May 23-26 Tampa Bay Marine Super Show
Vinoy Park; 535-1234 TIM RHODE
May 30- A Taste for Pinellas (benefiting All
June 1 Children’s Hospital) Vinoy Park; 767-8831.
A R C H I T E C T
Specializing in Residential Design
HONNA Board Meetings Renovations, Additions and New Homes
are held the second Monday of
each month at 6:30pm and are Call for a Consultation visit to your home.
open to the public.
Web Site trohde.com 727-823-1566
AR12159

How Does Your Garden Grow?
by Yvonne Swanson -- Master Gardener
the environment. Some in the soil are good because they protect
plant roots and enrich the soil. Some bacteria are bad and cause
Safety illness, including Clostridium tetani, which enters the body through
a puncture wound or open sore and can cause tetanus or “lock-
In The jaw.” A potentially fatal disease, tetanus often begins anywhere
from three to 21 days after exposure by causing stiffness in the
Garden neck and trouble swallowing. If left untreated, it leads to painful
muscle spasms and eventual death.
You can also contract fungal and bacterial infections from soil,
mulch and garden water features, such as fountains, birdbaths
When it comes to safety in the garden, most people know the and ponds. Some illnesses come from contact with plants them-
common sense basics for preventing injuries, such as being cautious selves, including sporatrichosis, a fungal infection associated with
when working with power and sharp tools, applying chemicals and handling sphagnum moss. Most garden-related infections can be
lifting heavy objects. Avoid snakes and spiders and use repellant to prevented by wearing gloves, washing hands and bandaging cuts.
deter insects. Use sunscreen, wear a hat and drink plenty of fluids. That’s especially important for pregnant women, the elderly and
Sounds simple enough, but did you know there’s even more danger those with a compromised immune system due to chemotherapy,
lurking underground that could cause serious illness and even death? HIV or other diseases.
Soil is a living organism composed of solid particles, minerals, If you or a neighbor has an outdoor cat that’s been using your
organic matter, water and air. It’s also a breeding ground for all yard like a litter box, there could be cat feces loaded with millions
kinds of harmful bacteria, parasites, fungi and substances such as of Toxoplasma gondii parasites that cause toxoplasmosis infec-
lead and arsenic. Unless you’re eating handfuls of the stuff or tion, which causes birth defects. Feces from cats and dogs can
gardening with open sores on your hands, you probably haven’t also be a source of parasitic roundworm diseases, which are more
become ill from digging in the garden. But you can contract ill- common in warm climates such as Florida. Never use pet feces
ness from soil if you aren’t careful. as manure or in compost. Fresh manure from a farm or horse
stable can contain dangerous bacteria. Be on the safe side and use
There are thousands of types of bacteria that occur naturally in commercially bagged manure, which is composted and should be
free of contaminants.
Stay safe in the garden by following these guidelines:
+ Wear gloves to protect against cuts, scratches and other
injuries and create a barrier so bacteria are less likely to sneak into
your system through an open wound. Wear waterproof gloves
when reaching into birdbaths, ponds or fountains.
+ Wash your hands with warm water and soap after garden-
ing. Use a soapy fingernail brush to remove any debris that may
be under nails.
+ Wear closed-toe footwear. Going barefoot in the yard could
put you at risk for exposure, especially if you have open cuts. Sturdy
footwear will also protect your feet from tool-related injuries.
t -BOETDBQF%FTJHO
TJHO + Wear a mask when working with compost, especially on a
t"EEJOHSFQMBDJOHBOOVBMTBOETISVCT
"EEJOHSFQMBDJOHBOOVBMTBOETISVC windy day. It will prevent inhalation of compost particles. You
t"EEJOHUSFFT
USFFTPSQBMNT can buy an inexpensive painter’s mask from the hardware store.
t.VMDIJOH + Bandage cuts or open sores. Waterproof bandages will pro-
t8FFEJOH vide a barrier and stay dry when working in the yard.
t 1SVOJOH
+ Immunize yourself against tetanus every 10 years. Since
the late 1940s, children in the U.S. have routinely received an
$BMMUPEBZUPTFUVQZPVS'3&&DPOTVMUBUJPOBOE
MMUPEBZUPTFUVQZPVS'3&&DPOTVMUBUJPOBOE initial series of tetanus and diphtheria shots, followed by boosters
FTUJNBUFBOESFDFJWF
NBUFBOESFDFJWF '3&&BOOVBMT
'3&&BO every 10 years. If you’ve never had a tetanus/diphtheria vaccina-
PGZPVSDIPJDF QMBOUFEJOZPVSZBSEUIBU
VSDIPJDF QMBOUFEJOZPVSZBSE tion or you’re not sure about your immunization status, ask your
health care provider.
EBZBUOP
OP DPTUUPZPV
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+ Inform your health care provider about gardening activi-
ties. Knowing that you spend time around soil and plants could
10#PY4U1F
0#PY4U1FUFSTCVSH '- help your provider in diagnosing and treating health problems.
+ Teach your children about soil safety. They should never
UIF@EJSUZ@OBU
UIF@EJSUZ@OBUJWF!ZBIPPDPN eat the soil. Child-size gardening gloves are available at many stores.
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Yvonne Swanson is a Master Gardener for Pinellas County. She
also writes a garden column for the St. Petersburg Times.
(the admission cost is a
little higher) will go not just
to the museum but also to
the Hospice of Florida
KIDZ Suncoast for local breast
cancer patients and their
KORNER families.
The “Pink Ribbons
With the steady influx into our neighbor- Crusade,” a not-for-profit
hood of new residents, we’re seeing an charity for breast cancer,
increasing number of families with sponsors this exhibit
young children – plus the stork is around the country at no
keeping pretty busy around here as expense to the museums,
it is. So we thought it might be help- not a small feat. Local
ful to share with parents of young- Pink Ribbons volunteers,
sters (as well as grandparents welcom- headed by Maggie
ing visiting grandkids) ideas of family- Rogers, helped set up and
friendly activities and destinations nearby, rotate the exhibit objects.
especially ones which are free or inexpensive. If you have any such The exhibit curator,
good “secrets” you’d like to pass along, let us know. Audrey Fournier, is a
long-time volunteer with
Princesses, Princes… Hospice. There are 300,000 items

in the collection that will be
and a Mummy! changed every several months.
Therefore, return visits with your
out-of-town guests will not be
Get ready to oooh and aaah because royalty is on dis- boring! Limited edition royal
play, right here in St. Petersburg. Royalty — as in Prin- memorabilia will be on sale in the
cess Diana, her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry and museum’s gift shop, including one
Princess Grace of Monaco! Walking through the doors of of Di’s dresses that can be or-
the St. Petersburg Museum of History from now until Sep- dered/purchased for a hefty sum.
tember 28th is almost like walking “through the looking
glass.” This is the stuff that makes history fun. Try it — But, wait there’s more. If that
you’ll like it. Yes, the whole family! doesn’t do it for the entire family
how about a real Egyptian
From actual dresses worn by Princes Diana, to 62 rep- mummy, a replica of St .
licas of her dresses auctioned at Petersburg’s famous first – the
Christie’s, to Di’s agenda and per- Benoist airboat — and film foot-
sonal letters, family photos, royal age of Hurricane Elena in 1985.
gifts and more (much more) -- all These last items are permanent
of these are currently on display. objects in the museum’s collection.
Artifacts from a variety of British
Royals and various souvenir invi- How did a 3,000 year-old mummy wind up in St. Petersburg?
tations, menus and such round out Go find out! See dioramas of the daily life of local Indians and
the exhibit. For the first time, the authentic arrowheads and other local artifacts. Learn how dare-
dresses from the “American Prin- devils and dreams came together right here to make commercial
cess” – her Serene Highness, Grace aviation a reality.
of Monaco — are also on display, There are Family Day programs scheduled on Saturdays from
loaned by Jess and Suzanne King, April through August. These include hands-on workshops, pro-
private collectors in Austin, TX. grams, contests and lunch (some scholarships are available).
There are 62 36” tall wax dolls of “Diversity in Aviation” is the theme of these programs, culminat-
Diana wearing 1/5 size replica ing in a weekend celebration at the Museum in August, which is
dresses, hand embellished and National Aviation Month.
stitched, with miniature replica jew- Museum hours are 10am–5pm, Monday through Saturday; call
els and crowns. One dress took nine 894-1052. Admission is $12 for adults, $9 for seniors, $7 for
years to finish! The real dresses students and children aged 7-17 (free for children under age 6).
were auctioned at Christie’s a few Family of four is $24 (additional child $20).
months before Diana’s death, and one went for $85,000. The Linda and her husband Bob moved to The Old Northeast on
proceeds of this sale went to Diana’s favorite charities. Valentine’s Day 2003 (they wanted to be near their two grand-
The elegant setting for the “Royalty…Triumphs and Tragedies” children who live in our neighborhood). Over the past 30 years
exhibit (gilt mirrors, oriental carpets and satin draperies) is thanks Linda has been editor of a weekly newspaper, a magazine and a
to local designers and businesses. The proceeds from the exhibit medical journal as well as numerous newsletters.
Next Neighborhood Meeting: Monday, March 17th, at 7pm
All neighborhood residents invited
Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association PRSRT STD
P.O. Box 76324 U.S. POSTAGE PAID
ST. PETERSBURG FL
St. Petersburg, FL 33734 PERMIT #1020
www.honna.org
IN THIS ISSUE
• Garden Stroll
• Safety — At Home,
On The Internet,
In The Garden
• New HONNA
Board
• The Wedding
Cake House
...and much more

Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood News - March 2008

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St.

Pete’s Jewel on Tampa Bay

Volume 35 Issue 1 www.honna.org March 2008

The Newsletter of the Historic Old

Planning/Historic Preservation Halloween Decorating Contest –

HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS Page 3

Historic Old Northeast JOIN OUR COMMITTEES

Name(s): ________________________ Crime & Safety: Ron Magray, 502-9065

Page 4 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

Your Neighbor in The Historic Old Northeast

It’s actually a pretty good read! Cherry Street

The Historic Old Northeast consists of five dis-

14th Ave N the NT-2 (see above district. Ac-

garage apartments are not permit-

encourages walkable streetscapes …to reflect and

12th Ave N 12th Ave NE

reinforce the unique character within each of the

11th Ave N 11th Ave NE

Consistent with all Neighborhood

10th Ave N 10th Ave NE

+ All buildings should present an in-

pose and intent of this designation is “…to encour- 7th Ave N

6th Ave N 6th Ave NE

apartment buildings and mixed-use buildings that are rounding neighborhoods;

Page 8 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS Page 9

Page 10 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

Northeast Neighborhood ",/ -/ -/",

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Individual and Business

2007 - NARI Florida West Coast

1st Place 1st Place

1st Place 1st Place

2007 National Chrysalis Award

While winning awards is nice, it’s the satisfaction of

“WE WILL REACH YOUR FITNESS GOALS”

Page 14 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS Page 15

March 21st April 18th May 16th

My Trash – Your Treasure

Check out our newly revamped website

Recycling is a great way to teach children about the environ-

My Current Old Northeast Listings

Cell (727) 742.7939 • Office (727) 342.3800

View all of my listings at RachelSartain.com

HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS Page 17

ensure that your Providing companionship and non-medical services to adults,

Page 18 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

Church School for All Ages

701 Beach Drive N.E. St. Petersburg

HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS Page 23

Spring Walking Tour: Sunday, April 13th, 1:30pm

May 9-11 Family and Friends Day Vinoy Park;

MAY 16 PORCH PARTY (see p. 16)

HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS Page 25

Princesses, Princes… Hospice. There are 300,000 items

Page 28 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

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Northeast Neighborhood ",/ -/ -/",

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