Gandy Elevated- A Concern Again

We have learned from Sandra Murman, our county commissioner, that the Gandy elevated project has been put on the agenda for the next Metropolitan Planning Org. meeting. The demon has reared its ugly head again.
Ms. Murman has planned to meet with local residents at the Platt library on August 5 to discuss topics of interest. Our association president, Dennis Kralick, has agreed to work closely with the Bayside West neighborhood association president Jerry Frankhouser to spread the word of our opposition to this project. It is so nice to once again have a board president interested in community affairs. Dennis will share our concerns with Ms. Murman. If you are in the neighborhood, stop in and speak with her too.
The Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) once agreed to honor the wishes of the local businesses and residents. We made our objections to the Gandy overpass loud and clear and THEA took the project temporarily off the burner.

On Monday, August 8 at 1:30 pm, the Board of Directors of the Expressway Authority will meet to discuss the Gandy State Environmental Impact Report (SEIR). The Board meeting will be held at 1104 East Twiggs Street, First Floor, Tampa, FL 33602. During this meeting the study process, community involvement objectives and outcomes, and the study’s suggested preferred alternative will be presented to the Board. The Board will be asked to accept the SEIR document. Board acceptance of the study does not mean that the Board is adopting the project or deciding to move forward with implementation.

In the past we have had just a few representatives from Regency Cove. If you plan to attend, please note that you may park in the fenced Authority lot or under the Selmon Expressway. There will be signs designating the parking area. Public input is limited to three minutes per person. Please prepare your remarks accordingly.

If you cannot attend, please write your objections to the Gandy overpass in an email. You can send it to the president, in care of the Office. For all who are interested in the value of your property, we need to voice our opposition to this ghastly project.

Norway in Sorrow

This just arrived from Finn:

A week ago today we were informed about a heavy explosion in what is known as the Government Quarter in Oslo. The possibility of a gas leak was mentioned but when we got the pictures on TV we all thought of an Al Quaida attack and a tremendous bomb blast. Soon experts disregarded Al Quaida. This did not have "their mark". Fortunately it happened late Friday in a vacation period. Relatively few people were in the departmental offices And the Prime minister was at his residence.


An hour or so later we were informed of shooting at Utoya (the outer island) where the Labour Party has conducted their summer camps for decades. Here were now six hundred youngsters and a few adults to assist them. Our former prime minster Gro Harlem Brundtland had given a speech at the camp two hours earlier.

We soon heard that the police had identified the person responsible for both the bomb and the shootings. He was ethnic norwegian and my reaction was that, as bad as it was, at least he was one of our own and not one of our new fellow citizens. After he was apprehended by the terror troop, the police reported that ten persons were killed at the camp and six at the government offices.

The next morning we were informed that the number of victims were increased to 80 plus. In addition several critically ill were at the hospital. Today we hear that the critically injured most likely will make it. Also, it turned out that in the chaos counting of the dead was a little off. So what?

After this happening we have seen an unbelivable participation in the mourning by people all of the country. Outside City Hall in Oslo there were 200,000 persons with roses in their hands listening to the Prime Minister and the Crown Prince and several others. The main theme was to avoid hate and fright and to keep our open society the way it is. Our police walks in the streets without weapons and they will continue to do so.

Breivik is now in max security prison and will remain there for a long time to come. Death penalty is out in Europe and most of us agree with that. Max legal penalty is 21 years or 30 if the crime has been socall «against humanity». Thereafter he may be kept in an insitution for mentally ill. Hardly will he ever walk streets again.

Our muslims were scared to death that it was one of theirs». It turned out to be an ultra extreme far right politically person. They are in any country. Difficult to protect against. Nobody had ever heard of this man. A goodlooking fellow with nice manners.

Foreign journalists have criticised that we were not prepared for such an incident. We did not have a helicopter ready to bring the terror troops into action. The police boat that took them to the island had motor trouble. As the prime minister said.....we should remain an open society but would not have to be naive.

These gruesome happenings from last Friday have brought as all together here ..... like you wouldn't believe. Soon we will be back to everyday life but history is there. All the hundreds of thousands of flowers shall be collected and composted into earth and later used to create a site for reminiscence, for remembering the young, 14 and up to sixty that died in this unbelievable massacre.

For Berit and myself it has been a week full of questions and TV and tears. We did not know any of the victims. We did not vote with the Labour Party, but politics are put aside. We have seen people hug each other and cry over the tremendous loss. We can so well understand the sorrow, being a parent or not.

When we see what one man's hate can do, think of what the love all these people can do.

Thanks for sending mails and for calls from far and near.

Board Meeting Highlights

On Wednesday July 20, 2011, the Board of Directors met. Those in actual attendance were Dennis Kralick, Dennis Hayes, Chet Hindman, Patti Fennessy, and Elaine Belba. There were some telephone problems, but on conference call were Susan, Paul and Rose. Here are the highlights as reported to me:
The boat storage yard finally has electricity. Blacktop paving repairs will be made for this area and other locations around the park and at our main entrance.
The maintenance crew has been painting the curbs and curb stops, and the sidewalk around the clubhouse.
The fire alarms in the apartments have been repaired, and additional improvements are in the works.
The board has received three bids for the pool repair, but none have as yet been accepted. I believe that some investigation is being done on references and such.
The topic of the kayak ramp was once again discussed. Apparently the ramp is not on our property, and is under the auspices of Port of Tampa. As was reported to me, a permit may be issued for $590 for our use. The BOD voted 5 to 3 in favor of accepting the cost. Absolutely no cars will be allowed on Pelican Point or at the turnaround. No Parking signs are now (finally) posted in the area. 
The Board has announced Father Bob Day at Regency Cove on Sunday July 24.  Send your greetings and best wishes soon.
With a split decision, the board has voted for a new attorney... David Luczak. So long Ellen De Haan!

Although not announced at the board meeting, our employee Richard Gauss recently resigned and is now working for Brighthouse. At today's meeting. the board read the resignation letter of Outlook editor Judy Webb. This letter has been posted in the Information Room for several days. Apparently Judy is rather disgusted that the residents of Regency Cove exercised their legal rights by recalling a board member. Apparently its hard to embrace Democratic principles that are not in your favor. No final word has been given yet on the future of the newsletter. Stay tuned.
The topic of the Recall Ballots was discussed by the board. It was put into the minutes of this meeting that the Recall packet delivered at the last Board Meeting to director Dennis Kralick was retrieved by resident Pat Hecker shortly after the verbal resignation of the recalled president. Director McCumber spoke against this action, and asked that the Board get a legal determination. Apparently there was a lot of discussion on this issue. I wasn't there, so I won't comment further.
Two apartments are available, and the Board sanctioned a $100 Finder's Fee to the resident who recommends a new resident who actually moves in.
Chet requested that any resident reporting an incident to the Office records the actual date and time of the incident. Its extremely difficult to review days and hours of video surveillance. When reporting an incident, be very thorough in your data, recording the actual time if possible.
There is a vacancy on our BOD, but the Board is in no hurry to fill the vacancy. Dennis Kralick suggested that interested persons submit a resume to the board for consideration. Apparently this was met with some resistance from several board members, because it has never been required in the past. Heck, why not? If you feel you have the qualifications to serve on the BOD, send a resume to the BOD, in care of Dennis Kralick.
The topic of Parking was discussed. Residents are upset that they cannot park in the usual places as in the past. Drastic changes occurred throughout the community without any feedback from the shareholders. The rules of the park were modified, and the use of the common grounds was altered to benefit a few and not the majority. Our Directors need to listen to the shareholders on this topic. Please comment if you have a concern about parking. Does anyone know why this rule was altered?
That's it! It was a long board meeting, so I heard. Please leave your feedback, so our Directors know your thoughts.



Thanks to my

Father Bob Goodwin Leaves Regency Cove

Father Bob Goodwin is retiring from service. St. Patrick's Church honors this icon tomorrow after the 11:00 am Mass. The send-off is scheduled from 12:00 to 3:00pm in the school hall tomorrow. Thanks to Joe Marchitto for this information.
Father Bob Goodwin, a  Regency Cove resident for 21 years,  has sold his home and is moving to his diocese in Manchester, New Hampshire. I spoke with him tonight, and he is looking forward to the care he needs at this time in life.
I regret that I can't be there to give a final hug to the man who was my next door neighbor. Father Bob was a primary player in the history of Regency Cove.  He served on the  Regency Cove Board of Directors for more than a decade in various positions. For years he  performed in our Talent Shows. Father Bob is by all means, a legend in Regency Cove.
I hope that our community chooses to honor this wonderful legend before he disappears in the beginning of August.

New Grants Available

Anyone interested in writing the next grant to help improve our community (new pool furniture, library supplies, beautification, etc), please see below:

Good News!!!

The 2012 Neighborhood Mini-grants will be available on-line at www.hillsboroughcounty.org/onr on Monday June 27, 2011. Please note*** Since I am now the only staff in Neighborhood Relations (due to major budget short falls the office will continue to have only one staff person) there will be no orientation meetings held in the communities.
I have arranged for an on-line orientation training that is "Mandatory". There has been changes made to the application, such as submittal and deadline changes, what can be purchased, etc. Viewing of the video is "mandatory for everyone", no application will be accepted without the form at the end of the video viewing. We are accepting applications for the 2012 Neighborhood Mini-grant until August 12, 2011, however, we will not know if the grants are funded until the Hillsborough County Budget has been approved by the Board of County Commissioners.
Application deadlines have been shortened this year, so be sure to complete the application ASAP!!

Wanda Sloan
Office of Neighborhood Relations
Hillsborough County

Westbound Kennedy Ave Closed Tonight

Westbound Kennedy Boulevard Will be Closed Starting at 9 p.m. Tonight


Between Himes Avenue and Dale Mabry Boulevard



TAMPA, FL (July 7, 2011) All lanes of westbound Kennedy Boulevard will be

closed between Himes Avenue and Dale Mabry Boulevard starting at 9 p.m. tonight

to allow City of Tampa Water Department crews to repair a damaged water main.

Traffic approaching that location will be rerouted.



Repairs and road surface restoration are expected to be completed on Friday,

July 8, by 3:30 p.m., depending on weather conditions. Barricades and signs will

be located in the area to assist with traffic flow. Drivers should seek

alternate routes during this period. Please use caution when traveling in the

area.



The staff and crews of the Tampa Water Department appreciate everyones patience

during this time.



Tampa Water Department serves a 211-square mile area with a service population

of approximately 560,000 people. The Tampa Water Departments mission is to

provide superior drinking water and reclaimed water services to its customers.

Happy Independence Day

Its the start of the best holiday of the summer. I am heading up to Wisconsin's North woods, and will be out of commission. Have a safe and happy holiday. Regency Cove, enjoy your picnic, and please show appreciation to the planners and workers.

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