Neighborhood notebook
Delays keep West Shore traffic on detours
By OLIVIA GIFFORD, DENISE WATSON BATTS, RON MATUS
Published April 23, 2004
GANDY/SUN BAY SOUTH - West Shore Boulevard was expected to reopen this week, about two weeks behind schedule.
In January, the city closed portions of the road south of Gandy Boulevard as part of an ongoing, $5.2-million widening project. Thousands of motorists were detoured through the Gandy neighborhoods, which miffed motorists and residents.
The city set an April 5 date for reopening, but heavy rains earlier this month contributed to the delay, said city engineer Don Cermeno.
The overall project is still on target for completion this summer.
3 people arrested after giving food to homeless
DOWNTOWN - Police arrested three people Sunday on trespassing charges for allegedly violating a city policy that prohibits giving food to the homeless in a public park.
Amberly Banks, 22, of Tampa, James Dunson, 19, of Lutz, and Christopher Ernesto, 40, of St. Petersburg, are part of Food Not Bombs, a community activist group, which hosts picnics at Herman C. Massey Park on Sundays.
All were released on $500 bonds.
Police had warned the group that feeding homeless in the park was illegal. Calling the rule unfair, members have vowed to continue and have started a petition to change the policy.
Mark Parrish, a member who was arrested last month, was in court Monday and pleaded not guilty to trespassing charges.
Commission says planned high-rise is too large
HISTORIC HYDE PARK - The Architectural Review Commission decided last week that a proposed high-rise was too large for the corner of Bayshore and DeSoto Avenue in Historic Hyde Park.
Residents have fought for a year Citivest Corp.'s plan to build on 1.1 acres. They have argued the 24-story condominium project was too big and inappropriate for the neighborhood. The ARC agreed, saying the plans were inconsistent with Hyde Park's design guidelines involving size and scale.
The developer can appeal to the City Council or return to the ARC with a different plan.
May Day races to benefit two children's groups
HYDE PARK NORTH - Lace up your running shoes and stretch those muscles. The Child Abuse Council and St. John Greek Orthodox Day School are sponsoring the May Day 5K at 8 a.m. May 1 in Old Hyde Park Village, at the corner of Swann and Dakota avenues. The 3.1-mile course will go along Swann Avenue, Bayshore Boulevard and Howard Avenue. A 1-mile Family Fun Run will start at 8:15 a.m.
Mayor Pam Iorio is the honorary chair. A post-race party will feature music, prize drawings, food and beverages. Each race participant will receive a T-shirt and goodie bag from sponsors. The top three winners in the men's and women's categories will receive cash prizes. All race applicants will be registered for the grand prize drawing, a seven-day trip for two on Holland American Cruise Lines.
Registration will begin at 6:30 a.m. Cost is $15 until Sunday and $25 through race day. The Family Fun Run is $10 until Sunday and $15 through race day. Free to children under 5. Proceeds will benefit the Child Abuse Council and St. Johns Greek Orthodox Day School. For information, call 874-7223 or visit www.maydayrun.com
Five community choruses join up for SongFest
MID PENINSULA - Five community choruses will join voices for the first annual South Tampa SongFest at 7 p.m. Monday at Bayshore Baptist Church, 3111 W Morrison Ave. Choirs from Philip Shore Fine Arts Elementary, Berkeley Prep, Bayshore Baptist Church, St. John Greek Orthodox School and the Tampa Bay Children's Chorus will perform. Tickets are $5. All proceeds will benefit the Tampa Bay Children's Chorus Scholarship Program. For information, call 977-5558 ext. 1.
Writer to discuss book about roaming children
OSCAWANA - Co-editor and contributor Nina Sichel will discuss and sign Unrooted Childhoods: Memoirs of Growing Up Global at 7 p.m. Thursday at Inkwood Books, 216 S Armenia Ave. The collection of essays from writers, including Isabel Allende, Pat Conroy and Pico Iyer, chronicles their longing to belong as children after moving from place to place with their parents who were missionaries, refugees, diplomats or in the military. Joining Sichel will be award-winning St. Petersburg poet Helen Wallace, a writing professor at Eckerd College. For information, call 253-2638.
Ybor City festival, parade to celebrate Puerto Ricans
HISTORIC YBOR - Head to Centennial Park in Ybor City from noon to 10 p.m. Sunday for the 16th annual Puerto Rican Parade and Festival. The parade will begin at 1 p.m. and go north on Nuccio Parkway, east on Seventh Avenue and north on 20th Street. Live entertainment, artists, exhibits, a business fair, arts and crafts, Creole and international cuisine, kids rides and more will be available. Free. For information, call 477-8368.
West Tampa Library to hold rededication
OLD WEST TAMPA - The rededication of the historic West Tampa Branch Library, 2312 W Union St., will be at 2:30 p.m. Thursday. The library has a new, 5,000-square-foot, handicapped-accessible addition with space for materials and computers and meeting rooms for community groups and events.
Part of the West Tampa National Historic District, the library links the former city of West Tampa, the once-thriving local cigar industry and the community's rich Latin and African-American culture. The Neo-Classical Revival building was built in 1913 and is one of only 10 public libraries in Florida funded by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. For information, call 273-3652 ext. 2.
Florida Orchestra to play at Lowry Park Zoo event
LOWRY PARK - Bring a blanket, pack a picnic and relax with the sounds of the Florida Orchestra at 7 p.m. Sunday in the bandshell at Lowry Park Zoo, 1101 W Sligh Ave. The free concert will feature a salute to Duke Ellington, showtunes from the musicals Oklahoma and The Sound of Music, and symphonic scores from the movies Jurassic Park and Harry Potter. For information, call 289-2403 or visit www.floridaorchestra.org
[Last modified April 22, 2004, 12:45:18]
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