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Neighborhood Report

Neighborhood briefs

Briefs and news of note

By MEAGHAN FORBES and ALEXANDRA ZAYAS
Published August 25, 2006

West Tampa starts community blog

WEST TAMPA - One of Tampa's oldest communities has found a digital home.

Following Seminole Heights and Port Tampa, West Tampa now has a neighborhood blog: http://west-tampa.blogspot.com.

In her first entry Aug. 13, blogger Laura Fiorilli writes that she and her husband are moving to Spruce Street from Seminole Heights, where having a blog united the neighborhood.

"This is a place created to exchange contacts, referrals, advise, tips, communicating on forming a neighborhood watch, invitations to parties, a welcome committee, our whatever we decide," Fiorilli writes. "I believe it is a great resource for the growing West Tampa community at large."

Bridges granted historic status

DOWNTOWN - The City Council unanimously supported a proposal last week to grant historic designations to the bridges spanning the Hillsborough River at Platt, Cass and Laurel streets, Kennedy Boulevard, Hillsborough Avenue and Columbus Drive that were constructed between 1913 and 1939.

The council will take a second and final vote on the issue at 10 a.m. Aug. 31 at City Hall, 315 E Kennedy Blvd.

Stormwater project making progress

NORTHEAST MACFARLANE - Phase two of the city's stormwater project to reduce flooding near West Tampa Elementary School is done.

The project, which began in December, installed about 1,300 linear feet of stormwater pipe and inlets in Habana Avenue, between Walnut and Beach streets. It is the second phase of a multiphase effort to improve drainage in the neighborhood. It costs $630,000.

Plays to start new season Sept. 3

DOWNTOWN - The Henry B. Plant Museum, 401 W Kennedy Blvd., recently announced a new season of Upstairs/Downstairs at the Tampa Bay Hotel.

The 30-minute performances are single-character vignettes that bring to life turn-of-the-century Tampa Bay Hotel staff members and guests.

Regular featured characters include: Maggie Stroud, a 1920 laundress who tells stories about famous hotel guests; Arthur Schleman, an 1895 hunting and fishing guide with strong opinions; Otis Freedman, the 1905 head waiter who represents the professional black man of the era; Edith Roosevelt, 1901 first lady and hotel guest; and Pauline Smith, the 1913 telegrapher who details the beginning of the 20th century as a world of rapid technical and social changes.

Performances begin at 2 p.m. every Sunday Sept. 3 through Nov. 12, and Jan. 7 to May 27, 2007. Museum admission is a suggested $5 donation for adults, and $2 for children 12 and younger. Call 254-1891.

Center offers course for fathers

TAMPA HEIGHTS - The Fathers Resource and Networking Center is offering the Nurturing Dads Course in Spanish beginning Thursday at Children's Board of Hillsborough County.

The free 11-week course is open to any father or father figure and will focus on nurturance, father/child relationships, discipline, fathering sons vs. daughters, and co-parenting.

Classes will meet from 6 to 8:30 p.m. every Thursday at 102 E Palm Ave. Call 356-1293, ext. 232.

[Last modified August 24, 2006, 08:17:49]