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Digest

Crafts, antiques and baked goods available at sale

A look at what's happening around the neighborhoods.

By Meaghan Forbes, Alexandra Zayas and Michael Canning
Published November 3, 2006

OLD SEMINOLE HEIGHTS

Stock up on bargain crafts, antiques, furniture, holiday decorations, books and appliances during the Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Yard Sale on Saturday.

More than 50 homes are expected to participate in the sale, which starts at 7 a.m. Maps can be obtained at www.oldseminoleheights.com, 6111 N Central Ave. or 5103 N Central Ave. The Center for Girls, 105 W Sligh Ave., will hold a benefit bake sale.

YBOR CITY

Architects' meeting is about West Tampa

The American Institute of Architects' Tampa Bay chapter hosts a West Tampa Design Charette from 1 to 5 p.m. today at the Berriman-Morgan Cigar Factory, at Howard Avenue and LaSalle Street.

The meeting will focus on growth and redevelopment opportunities in West Tampa. The free workshop is open to anyone interested in seeing urban development in West Tampa. Call 229-3411.

DOWNTOWN

Plant Museum offers 10% discount Monday

The Henry B. Plant Museum store is offering a 10 percent discount on all purchases Monday as part of a holiday shopping day.

Wildlife artist John Costin will present his latest releases from noon to 2 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. Shopping hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the museum, 401 W Kennedy Blvd. Call 254-1891.

HYDE PARK NORTH

Word puzzle fans, this event is just for you

Puzzle Night begins at 7 p.m. Saturday at Nola Cafe & Newsstand, 301 W Platt St.

Participants can show off word puzzle skills by tackling movie quotes, hidden messages, word addition and crazy quotes. Compete as an individual or team to win prizes. Admission is free. Call 258-8778.

NORTH BON AIR

Demolition of center gets an initial okay

The City Council gave initial approval last week to a real estate investment company that wants to tear down an old strip shopping center at 4001 W Kennedy Blvd. and replace it with a Kuhn used car dealership.

Neighbors are preparing to fight the application at the second hearing Nov. 9. They don't want cars zooming through their residential streets on test drives.

Even though KLM Realty attorney Mark Bentley amended the application to keep test drivers out of the neighborhood, the North Bon Air Civic Association says the city would not be able to enforce it. The neighborhood's board unanimously opposes the plan.

"We're not opposed to growth," said board member Richard Reavis. "We just don't want a car lot."

OLD SEMINOLE HEIGHTS

Council holds off on retaining-wall citation

The city has put the issue of retaining walls on retainer.

The City Council recently decided to suspend further citations of retaining walls in city right of way. Council members also called for a series of public meetings in neighborhoods where many of these retaining walls are concentrated.

The issue surfaced in Old Seminole Heights in February, when the city cited several homeowners on Powhatan Avenue for having retaining walls that encroached on the right of way. The Old Seminole Heights Neigbhorhood Association appealed to the City Council, claiming that removing the walls would cause erosion that would bring down trees, expose city water meters and, in some cases, threaten house foundations.

A series of public meetings will be scheduled in January, said city zoning manager Gloria Moreda. In the meantime, her department is working on a draft ordinance that would create "an administrative method to deal with encroachments on city property," she said.

Such a draft would have to be reviewed by the City Council and the Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission, she said. A final vote on the issue could come in March or April.

PALMA CEIA

Rezoning hearing moved to Jan. 11

Due to a notice error, last week's City Council rezoning hearing to limit construction in Palma Ceia to single-family homes was postponed until January.

The first hearing is set for Jan. 11 at 6 p.m. The second hearing is scheduled for Jan. 25 at 10 a.m.

TAMPA

Teacher appreciation events at Stein Mart

Stein Mart will host a Teacher Appreciation Holiday Event Saturday at the Britton Plaza and Carrollwood stores.

All teachers and their families are invited to attend the free event. Stein Mart will offer merchandise discounts, drawings for Panache Card gift certificates, makeovers, massages and food.

Festivities begin at 8 a.m. at the Britton Plaza store, 3916 S Dale Mabry Highway, and the Carrollwood location, 13201 N Dale Mabry Highway. Call (813) 835-4766.

YBOR CITY

Sierra Club program about mountain trek

The Tampa Bay Sierra Club meets at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Children's Board of Hillsborough County, 1002 E Palm Ave.

The program will feature a presentation on a mountain adventure in the Sierra Nevadas. Gail Parsons will be the guest speaker. Call 741-3054.

Compiled by Meaghan Forbes, Alexandra Zayas and Michael Canning

[Last modified November 2, 2006, 12:35:30]