From the President

Regency Cove President, Ron Herb, through a written notice, announced to the board members this weekend that he is taking a medical disability leave. He will soon be having surgery. You can read his entire message in his column "From The President" in the September issue of the Outlook, coming out tomorrow.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you Ron. Relax and heal. Do what the doctor tells you.

The Gandy Debate Continues

Yet another workshop put on by the Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority occurred tonight. The public hearing took place at The New Beginnings Christian Church, on Manhattan Ave. I salute the handful of Regency Cove residents present.



As usual , the two sides of the controversy were divided, the locals in the seats facing the speakers at the microphones, and the other side, standing in the back.

Councilman Dingfelder, currently running for a County Commisioner seat, listens attentively to residents on the stage?

OOps no, a little preoccupied.

These are the folks who aren't particularly listening, or even applauding as the neighborhood residents express their concerns for their businesses and livelihoods, for their homes, their families, and the futures of their children living under a 35 foot concrete bunker.


Photos below depict the Ranch House Grill restaurant without and then with the concrete roadway. Attractive? I think not.

Here is SweetBay on Gandy with and without a concrete choker. Hmmm... what do YOU think is more attractive?

They never presented any computer generations of the front of Regency Cove. We probably don't want to see what that's all about. There are negotiations for a path behind the bait stores for a safe exit, with a light. Fooey, I'll believe it when I see it. Will I live that long?

The audience was definitely stacked with the locals who are against this atrocity defiling our neighborhood. See their vision below. If you can remember what they presented years ago, the photos are becoming more chilling, more descriptive of what Life will be like under a concrete embankment.

Jerry Frankhouser, the president of Bayside West Neighborhood Association, has made it clear to the Authority that we do NOT want the overhead or the round-about plans at West Shore Blvd or Manhattan, set forth by the Expressway Authority. The Authority, he claims, does not even have a current traffic count to show that it is necessary, nor an Economic Study as to what their plan will do to the neighborhood businesses. Most of the business are against this plan and many business owner spoke tonight opposing this plan. Many local residents also took took the microphone.


Regency Cove, along with the neighborhood association has been battling this project since its inception years ago. Past-President Ellen Nimon continues to serve as a champion against the cause, the Authority. When will it ever end?

The First Amendment Prevails

For the second time in less than two years, this blog has been under attack, with attempts made to shut it down, or to forbid certain topics to be posted. Living in Paradise was finally, publicly vindicated today by corporate attorney Ellen DeHaan, with 8 board members and the manager listening.
"Come on, people," she exclaimed, "it's Freedom of Speech, the First Amendment! Get with it!"
(or something like that).

I will make some minor revisions, so people who don't know this blog from a hole in the ground will not get confused any more. There is already a NEW IMPROVED DISCLAIMER to the right of this posting (until this gets pushed down into the archives). I only hope that the bronze beauty of the pool persuasion will finally get off of my ass, or just stop signing in.

I am looking for a new logo. Any ideas?

Freak Storm Today

This is the time of year for our usual afternoon "pop-up storms". Today's was a doozey!

At 2pm, I happened to be on my way downtown and saw the ominous black clouds over Hillsborough Bay, but everything looked fine to the west, towards Regency Cove. At 2:30 this afternoon, wind gusts were recorded at 50 m.p.h. by area weather stations. Downtown streets were difficult to cross, but it seems that all hell broke loose, for just a few minutes, in Regency Cove. Residents reported hearing a loud BANG, and TVs ( and all power) across the park darkened. Several power lines were down on Blvd 14 and 15. Power outtages were reported throughout the park. I heard from neighbors that the manager and maintenance supervisor were present on Blvd 15 to control the hazardous situation. Can you believe that a resident actually argued with them about their refusing to allow him to drive down the street, with hot power lines on the ground???

Other curious seawall pedestrians were walking between the houses to view the mayhem, practically walking under the compromised transformers and lines. PEOPLE!! What's wrong with you? Electricity KILLS you! How stupid can you be?

After TECO showed up, the power was slowly restored throughout most of the park in the late afternoon. The western end of the park was the hardest hit. The crews concentrated their efforts on those downed lines, behind and on top of the homes on Blvd 15, and as the sun was setting, I was able to snap a few pictures.

It wasn't until 10pm tonight that power was restored to Blvd 15, 14, and 13.

You gotta thank those guys, those heroes, who come out here in/after a storm, climb our poles, walk around our houses, and just put things back to normal. You gotta thank our manager and maintenance crew who came out here to make things safe for our residents, despite the ornery nature of some of our residents.

Its over now. Everything is fine, and I am again Living in Paradise. My computer is back online!

Life is good.

A Note From Mary Willsey

The summer has been very quiet as far a Club Regency goes but we will be getting into the swing of things come October. We will have a dinner on October 19th and a dance on the 26th. Our menu will be posted in the Outlook with our cooks Matt, Joe, Chuck and Wes preparing for us. Our entertainment for the evening will be “THE HAPPY HOOFERS” a vintage chorus line ranging in age from 56 to 88 it will be very entertaining. Tickets will be $5.00 for the dinner and may be purchased from any Club Regency board member.

I need volunteers from Blvds. 8-9-Canal – Apts and Cul de Sac to co-chair the October Dinner, if any of you out there are reading this and live on any of these Blvds. It would great if I could get a phone call to volunteer to co-chair. I will thank you ahead of time. My number is 805-2572.

Our dance on Oct. 26th will be our Halloween Dance, with costumes optional. The Del & Gary Show – Yester-Year Dreams will be performing and they are very good. We had these fellows for the Western Dance in March and they were a big hit with the line dancers, but they also do 50’s 60’s 70’s old time rock and roll. It should be a really fun evening. Tickets will be on sale for the dance from the members of the Club Regency Board. Cost of tickets will be $5.00.

Don't Kill Black Snakes

A friend just sent me an email with the following photos, and the warning not to kill black snakes because they eat the poisonous ones. This rattler 's tail rattled til it disappeared.

BURP!

Landscaping

If anyone needs any landscaping done of any kind, I have used this company more than once, and would highly recommend them.. They are fair, inexpensive, and prompt.

Landscaping Services
Chris Benito
727-557-8216

Obituary

Carolyn Culver, the mother of Peggy Scobee, our office secretary, succombed to cancer Wednesday afternoon. She met her peace at home with family members present. A memorial service is being arranged.

Condolences to the family may be addressed to:
Mrs. Peggy Scobee
4314 S. Coolidge
Tampa, FL 33611