SHARE Pickup

Don't forget to pick up your Share food tomorrow morning after 10 am.

Memorial Service

The Palmgren family welcomes you to attend a Memorial service to celebrate the Bob's life. It will be held in Goodwin Hall on Saturday, May 31, at 3pm. There will be some great singing, and joyous memories shared. Snacks will be served.

Night Security

For the second night in a row, your Board members, plus a few volunteers, are diligently guarding the park from sunset til dawn. The electronics portion of the call box has failed us, and a replacement ( or repaired) part is on its way.

Seems to me, it wasn't that long ago when it suffered damage and disgrace when it was stabbed to death by an anonymous screwdriver. Shame on you, whoever did it. I hope we catch you someday!

If you have entered the park late these last two nights, you have been greeted by smiling, friendly faces asking you about your identification and destination. I must admit that I met some residents tonight, on my midnight shift, that I have never seen before. Everyone is friendly and appreciative.

Again, I thank all the volunteers who are giving up their time to protect the park, and Chet Hindman, who is organizing this effort. You all deserve a heartfelt Thank-you from every resident.

Its That Time of Year Again

Once again, the annual slaughter of our palm trees is about to occur. I know people object to the seeds all over the ground, but the hurricane cuts are abominable! We lose our shade for the rest of the summer. The following is from an article given to me by one of the gardening specialists in the park.

"Unfortunately for Florida, the ignorant, harmful and totally unnecessary practice of trimming cabbage palms has become commonplace. Do not allow anyone to trim your palms. Trimming green fronds weakens the palm, making it susceptible to disease, pest infestation, and storm damage. The flower/fruit stalks should not be trimmed either as these are critical food sources for migrating songbirds and other wildlife. Dead (brown) stalks are important habitat for mosquito-eating bats and should be left as well. Cabbage palms are self-pruning - winds will remove fronds that are ready to go (and frond will not damage your home).

"Keep your palms strong and healthy. Avoid trimming unless there is a serious access or visibility problem. Plant palm tree where dropping fruit and fronds won't be a problem."

This is an article on recommended practices from the University of Florida extension office. We do not necessarily have to adopt ALL of their recommendations, but I do believe that Regency Cove should put some thought into the tree-trimming that will be occurring soon. Our goal is to retain the beauty of the community, while keeping it ecologically sound. THINK GREEN!

Happy Anniversary, Bloggers

Today marks the one year anniversary of this blog. In an effort to find a way to communicate instantly with the residents, the blog was born. On May 28 last year the first article was posted about the serious water shortage in Tampa, encouraging residents to begin saving water, and to limit lawn waterings to once a week. We've all learned a lot about blogging since then.
This posting marks the 201st article, telling of meetings and parties and potluck suppers. Countless photos have been published so you can print them yourself at home. Its fun to go back and look at the July 4th party, Gasparilla, Halloween, and the wonderful Summer Bunch.
During the year I've had to give the blog a new name, and declare its unofficial status, after receiving some heat from the Board. One board member vowed to shut it down.
There have been over 17,000 hits during the year. A few people contributed some articles, and for awhile, people actually wrote comments. I am still looking for authors to contribute postings, and for reporters to call me with news items. There may be some changes this year. I've even spoken of canceling the blog. We'll see what the new year brings. Thanks for your support.

Front Gate is Out of Commission

Repairmen were unable to fix the gate this afternoon, so it will remain open until the broken part is shipped to Tampa. Lock your doors and keep a vigilant eye on strange cars. Write down license plates numbers and descriptions of cars or people who don't seem to belong.

Volunteers are signing up with Chet to keep an eye on the front gate. Two man shifts have been arranged throughout the night. Contact Chet, or go down to the gate to help out. More volunteers are needed for tomorrow during the day, and again through the night.

Here you can see Deputy Dawg with Gene James on the first shift tonight after sunset. Thanks to everyone who volunteers!

America's Freedom

Let's try to remember that Memorial Day is not the first day of summer, or a day to picnic and bar-b-que with friends.Please pause to say a prayer for the fallen vets and their families.

Memorial Weekend

Have a safe holiday, whether you're here in the park, or up North, waiting for Springtime to take a firm hold. There seems to be many visitors in the park, many of whom drive your golf carts around the grounds. Kindly remind them to wear their visitors badges, and to watch the speed in the park.

If you're up North, be careful too! We can't wait for your return.

Yacht Club Luncheon

On Saturday, May 24, at 1:00, the Yacht Club will have a luncheon at the clubhouse. There is a $5 chip in fee, for a delicious Italian sausage sandwich with sumptuous sides of baked beans, potato salad, and beverages. Alex Garrido will provide the entertainment.

As the motto says, "Just Have Fun".

Obituary

Yesterday morning, Regency Cove lost a very sweet man. Bob Palmgren suffered a massive heart attack at Tampa General, shortly after a loving visit with his wife Jere, and son Andy. Bob had recently been placed in rehab with his struggle with cancer, and was looking forward to his return home.

Bob and Jere arrived from the Chicago area in 2001, and he has entertained us on numerous occasions with this barbershop singing and his quick wit.

Bob is shown here as a volunteer painter when the pool fence needed attention two years ago. Arrangements for a memorial service are being arranged, and will be posted.

$5 day at the Zoo

What can you get for $5 these days?

A one-day admission pass to Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo on Sunday, May 18 from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. for $5 day, presented by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.



As a thank you to the community it serves and to ensure the Tampa Zoo remains accessible to the area’s diverse population, the Zoo offers admission for $5 four times a year (remaining 2008 $5 days are scheduled for Sunday, May 18, Sunday, July 20 and Sunday, September 7).



On $5 days, guest can visit more than 2,200 animals and learn about endangered wildlife for just $5 per person, ages three and up (ages two and under are always free). Parking at the Zoo is free, while spaces last.

Watch Your Butt!

A resident on Sunset Blvd. reported today that he arrived home from a short errand outside the park to a smoldering fire in his landscaping mulch, just off the street. Neighbors reported that they smelled smoke at that time, but assumed it was the grass fires that are burning outside our neighborhood.

PLEASE DO NOT DISCARD LIT CIGARETTES ON THE GROUND! If you see anyone throwing cigarette butts on the ground anywhere in the park, and you are uncomfortable talking to them about it, please go to the office and ask for a Comment Form, and write it down. It will be handled anonymously.

If you smell anything burning, please go outside and investigate, or call the office or a Board member to check it out. Fire conditions in Tampa (and Regency Cove) are at a critical level.

Your assistance could save your neighbors' home or even a life!

Regency Cove's Pet Rules Enforced

Today in the Hillsborough County Court Building, in the courtroom of Judge Nick Nazaretian, Regency Cove won its first court case involving an animal running loose in the park. One officer of the Board, and one maintenance man sat for hours in the courtroom to serve as witnesses for the case. When the judge asked the resident why he allowed the cat to roam free, the gentleman explained that the cat refuses a leash, and escapes when a door is opened. Two separate violations were charged, and a hefty fine was levied by Hillsborough County.

Finance Committee Meeting

This is really a brand new event for Regency Cove. An OPEN Finance Committee Meeting will be held on Thursday May 15, at 2:00 pm. Committee chairperson Rose Reis will convene the meeting, and our guest will include First Community Bank, with a brand new proposal for us. Mercantile Bank has been invited and declined TWICE. Let's finally put them out of the picture.

Other topics on the agenda include a Reserve Study for Regency Cove, and a discussion of the new share paydowns and pay-offs.

Our new Board is intent on maintaining an open forum with the residents. All committees are keeping minutes, which are posted in a book for your perusal. All Board meetings are open to the shareholders. Please help us help you. The new comment form is available for your use. At a meeting this morning, we tweeked a final change. Very soon the new form will will be available for all the residents' use. The Board wants to hear from you.

Water Restrictions Continue

One Day Per Week Irrigation Restrictions:
Addresses ending in an even number, or the letters A-M, may water on Tuesdays only.
Addresses ending in an odd number, or the letters N-Z, may water on Sundays only.
Watering on the designated day is allowed between midnight and 8 a.m. or 6 p.m. and midnight. Any one zone of a property may only be watered once during the allowable day, NOT both in the morning and again in the evening.

For information about ordinance provisions concerning other water uses including: new lawns and landscapes, low volume irrigation, hand watering, irrigation system maintenance, chemical treatment, reclaimed water, car washing, pressure washing, recreational use, and fountains, as well as information on variances, please consult the complete Emergency Water Use Restriction Ordinance 2006-104.

Water (Mis)Management - Tampa Style

Some Regency Cove residents have been without water for most of the day today, in what has proven to be a botched Gandy Improvement repair. Water was supposed to be off intermittently throughout the morning, as a new water pipe was put in place by the Gandy Improvement project going on right outside our front gate. Seems that someone FORGOT to hook Regency Cove back into the new main that was installed.
Calls continued to come in from residents on Pelican and Parkway, the office staff and manager notified Tampa Water Dept about the lack of notice before the long shut-off. Ed Scobee conferred with the Gandy Construction Supervisor, and after 2:00pm, the Supervisor was notified of his mistake. Let's hope that water is back now.
Let your councilman John Dingfelder know about your displeasure. Six hours without water is a long intermittent period. Write him at
john.dingfelder@tampagov.net or call him at 274-8133.

New Web Site for Regency Cove

I've been working on a new web site for Regency Cove that we will actually be able to change pictures and keep up to date with social events. It is still in infancy stages, but you can check it out at
http://regencycove.net

There is a guestbook currently under the Board of Directors heading. Please check it out, and sign a greeting.
This blog will eventually become secondary to the new site.