Cromwell Heights rolls out plans to build membership in its association and recognize outstanding property owners.
By ANDREW MEACHAM
Published June 1, 2003
ST. PETERSBURG - The city last month honored Cromwell Heights as an "up and coming neighborhood." It's easy to see why.
A Wednesday meeting drew about eight residents to the Enoch Davis Center. But within an hour, the group had dispensed with last month's business and mapped out a plan to recognize outstanding properties and gain members at the same time.
If the meeting is an indication, this is a cheerful group. After a solemn opening prayer, just about every other business item was interrupted by laughter.
The residents, led by president Jerome Smith, plan to distribute newsletters next month on foot, through the neighborhood's boundaries from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to 16th Street, between 18th and 22nd avenues S.
Each newsletter will come with a registration form for the association, as well as a stapled business card from the association. Inside, the newsletter will recognize a home of the month, a most improved property, and also a most improved rental property to recognize landlords who help with beautification.
When the group meets June 18, they will pass out fliers for Cromwell Heights Neighborhood Association and distribute small yard signs for "proud members" of the association. Winners of home of the month and most improved property honors may be invited to a future meeting to be thanked in person.
All of the activity is a far cry from the dormant Cromwell Heights of recent years. Residents say a change of leadership to funeral director Jerome Smith and others helped trigger the new activity.
If you're looking for timely advice over the summer, don't forget the Pinellas County Extension. The office, based in Largo, is a partnership with the University of Florida, which provides research-based information to the public.
The service maintains experts who have frequently spoken before neighborhood associations on their nine landscaping principles and related topics. The principles include knowing which plants work best in which spot in your yard (which may have different damp or dry conditions within it); efficient watering; proper use of mulch and fertilizer; stormwater runoff; and interacting with wildlife.
For more information, contact the Pinellas County Extension at 582-2100, or visit their Florida Yards and Neighborhoods program on the Web at: http://coop.co.pinellas.fl.us/default.htm.
The Euclid-St. Paul neighborhood has scheduled a street party, starting at 2 p.m. Saturday along 10th Street N, between 19th and 21st avenues. The party, like others over the same weekend, commemorates the 100th birthday of St. Petersburg and the 300th birthday of St. Petersburg, Russia.
Meetings
BAYOU BONITA: 7 p.m. Thursday. Bay Vista Recreation Center, 7000 Fourth St. S. Neighborhood transportation manager Michael Frederick; neighborhood planner Bernice Darling.
EUCLID ST-PAUL: 7:30 p.m. Thursday. St. Paul's Catholic Church school cafeteria, 1900 12th St. N. Representative from city Water Resources Department.
HISTORIC KENWOOD: 7 p.m. Thursday. Albright United Methodist Church, 2750 Fifth Ave. N. Open Q&A.
LIVE OAKS: 7 p.m. Tuesday (6:30 p.m. Crime Watch). St. Luke's Methodist Church, 4444 Fifth Ave. N. Deputy Mayor Mike Dove.
SNELL ISLE: 7:30 p.m. Thursday (7 p.m. social). St. Petersburg Woman's Club, 40 Snell Isle Blvd. NE. Ed Hamm, construction committee chairman, St. Raphael's Church; architect Earl Wardrum; City Council member Bill Foster.
