The Official Unofficial Seminole Heights Blog

We believe that, as an OSHNA member, you will agree that the success of any organization lies in the dedicated functions of its committees. Certainly, our association’s lengthy respected community impact has proven this to be true. Unfortunately, today we find ourselves facing double indemnity. Two of our committee chairs are vacant, which is an unusual simultaneous occurrence. The Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association needs committee chairs for Code Enforcement and Historic Preservation.We offer below job descriptions for each of the vacant chair positions for your information.

Code Enforcement Committee:
The basic purpose of this committee is to encourage the proper care and maintenance of commercial and residential properties in the Seminole Heights area through the enforcement of applicable building, zoning and minimum housing codes.
 
Pridefully promoting Seminole Heights because of its beauty, would be an important qualification for serving as chairperson of this committee. A willingness to speak in person with code violators, encouraging them through your positive suggestions to achieve compliance. Taking time to assess the true reason for their failure to maintain their property to an acceptable standard. This could be due to illness, finances or feeling overwhelmed by too much responsibility. Become familiar with neighborhood organizations or City government resources that you could suggest as possible help for them. When necessary, offer to contact these resources on the resident’s behalf. Always encourage rather than threaten. However, if “friendly persuasion” is not successful, your committee will have no choice but to report the resident/owner as being unwilling to comply with City Codes, and report them as violators.
 
A positive approach can make chairing this committee both challenging and deeply rewarding. You will need several dedicated OSHNA members to serve on your committee.
 
Historic Preservation Committee:
The primary purpose of this committee is to protect Seminole Heights as an area of historic significance. 
It will be helpful to have knowledge, or to gain knowledge, of the history of Seminole Heights. Your primary focus will be to appreciate the architecture and greenspaces preserved for us by our early residents. You will need to have the dedicated commitment to publicly protest the willingness of our State and local governments to allow the destruction of our historic areas in order to replace or modernize them for financial gain. This is an extremely important committee which requires its members to fearlessly fight to preserve the history of our long-revered neighborhood.
 
If, after reading the preceding job descriptions, you feel that you would like to be considered for one of these chairmanships, please email OSHNA’s President, Jeff Harmon at jharmon@tampabay.rr.com or call (813) 231-9102, to express your interest. Also, if you know of someone who you feel would be interested in any of the described positions, please approach them and ask that they contact Jeff Harmon.

Please join this large group of dedicated folks at our very first meeting on Wednesday, February 4th at The Tampa Metro Center located at 6412 N. Florida Avenue, at 6:30pm. Please RSVP as the space is small and we may relocate the meeting. I’ll need to have your contact info to make sure we can notify you if the location changes. If you have a location for a garden you would like to recommend, please email me, Robin Milcowitz at robin@greenerpixels.com or call me at (813) 298-5518. And if you have any other ideas you would like to express, contact me as well or just bring them to the meeting! (I will send you the detailed email I have sent out to the group.) I hope you’ll join us! Warm Green Regards, Robin Milcowitz robin@greenerpixels.com (813) 298-5518

I had originally said that this site would not be for lots dogs. However, when the story about this dog ran in the papers it was so unusual, I posted the article. For those of you wondering, here is the follow up. From the Tampa Tribune:

TAMPA - Kaiser, the 4-year-old male Basenji who scooted away from his Seminole Heights home during a recent burglary, is back safely, owner Lauren Lewis said. A couple looking for their lost dog Thursday night found Kaiser on Waters Avenue west of North Dale Mabry Highway, fed him and called Lewis, who had put up more than 200 fliers about her dog. “He’s a little shell-shocked but won’t let myself or my husband out of his sight,” Lewis said this morning. The dog has lost 8 pounds and has worn his paws raw, so he’s resting and on antibiotics. “He was sleeping all wrapped up in his blanket on the couch,” Lewis said. Kaiser escaped from the couple’s Lambright Street home Jan. 20 after someone broke in and stole their 40-inch Toshiba television and a plasma television. The burglar left the front door open. Lewis said she didn’t care about the televisions; she just wanted Kaiser. “We are so lucky to have him home and so thankful to everyone who called and e-mailed with advice or just thoughts and prayers,” she said. Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800 or vkalfrin@tampatrib.com.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jan/30/dog-bolted-during-burglary-back-home-safe/