C.O.N.A. of South Pinellas County

WELCOME ANDY MEACHAM

Apr 27, 2000

CONA NEWSLETTER
APRIL 2000
Where to Turn for Help By Eric Deggans The Old Southeast Gazette For homeowners, it can be an experience more frustration than clueless telemarketing calls or that neighbor who thinks every- one will enjoy the latest Metallica CD blasting from his stereo at 11pm. It's the search for information and municipal action. Faced with indifferent office clerks and long waits, what's a citizen to do if they need a pothole filled or want to learn how high their backyard fence must rise above the new swimming pool? Fortunately, there are a few telephone numbers and Internet web sites that can make the search a little easier, offering quick access to government services and information. Perhaps the simplest and most direct option is the Mayor's Action Line, 893-7111. Calls are routed to one of four cities Public Service Representatives who will investigate any problem or request for city services. Afterwards, you will receive a call with information on when (or if) your request More help can be found at www.stpete.com/chamber/welcome/, the site for the St. Petersburg area Chamber of Commerce. Though much of the information is geared toward visitors or those who are considering a move here, the site boasts information on employment, transportation and restaurants that even some longtime residents might not know. Reach government officials at www.wwcol.com/centfl/Govern ment/cfgovt, a site offering email links to U.S. Senator Bob Graham and Connie Mack, Congressman Bill Young and Michael Bilirakis and more. There's also links to other web pages, such as the Florida Legislature On-line and the Florida Government For information closer to home there are three links to important Pinellas County information sources. At www.tblc.org/sppl/ , users can peruse the Pinellas County Library's web site, featuring an online catalog and location information on branch offices. To review information on county offices such as the property appraiser, tax collector and board of commissioners, click to www.co.pinellas.fl.us. There, links allow users to search by the office you'd like to contact or the subject you're interested in with subjects ranging from child support rules to Bay Area Commuter Services. Those without a web browser can call the general information line, at 464-3000, for help over a telephone. The Pinellas County school system offers information online,at www.pinellas.k12.fl.us/default. Here, you can search for information on the county's schools, view a "Hot News" page with quick blurbs on school information and school menus, hours and a calendar of events. For the online impaired, there's also and Emergency Information Line, 588-6424, with updates on school closings, and Here's a few more useful web sites: www.dos.state.fl.us/ -The Florida Department of State page, www.leg.statelfl.us/ - Florida State COMPUTERS FOR OUR COMMUNITY CONA, in partnership with an impressive list of other organiza- tions throughout our city, has developed a project to collect and recycle used computers. COMPUTERS FOR OUR COMMUNITY (CFOC) has collected hundreds of donated used computers and is currently refurbishing these machines. The machines will be distributed to individuals and organizations who otherwise would not have access to a computer. As part of the distribution process, we are providing training so that recipients of these machines will be able to use them effectively. This is a growing and exciting project that will produce very tangible benefits for St. Petersburg. If you would like to get involved in this project as a Donor, a recipient or a volunteer, Neighborhood Link Build a Strong Neighborhood! Neighborhood Link - an Internet- based community network that offers every neighborhood a free, interactive Web site, where you can share ideas and information with your neighbors, city officials, local police and schools. Neighborhood Web Sites are Free! Entirely underwritten by corporate sponsors, Neighborhood Link will save you time, while increasing neighborhood participationand communication. CONA Board Meeting April 19 - 7:00P.M. St. Petersburg Times Building 490 1st Avenue South Presidents Report Dear Neighbors, April is getting to be a pretty busy month. The Vision-1 Committee held it?’s monthly meeting on April 4th. The committee members meet with Mike Dove and it was a very productive meeting. Our next meeting is May 2nd at 5:30P.M. and we meet in City Hall, anyone interested should contact me. Tim Clemmons has been appointed as chair of the new Vision-2 committee. They have met once and will be reporting to you before to long. As most of you know by now, Joann Walker will no longer be writing the weekly Neighborhood Notebook in the Neighborhood Times section of the St. Petersburg Times. Her new replacement is Andy Meacham. Andy can be reached at 865-3885 (Pager 508-9532) or Email - ameacham@mindspring.com. I have asked him to attend our next board meeting so you all can meet him. Joann will be truly missed and we can only hope Andy will as helpful to the neighborhood as Joann was. Good Luck Joann! On April 15th Crescent Lake Neighborhood is having it?’s annual clean up at Crescent Lake Park, which is one of the focal spots in our city. They can use some rowboats and all of the help we can give them. Anyone who would like to volunteer please contact Crescent Lake President Clifford Holenworth. We are planning a Town Meeting for May 2nd. The Town Meeting will be held at the Sunshine Center 330 5th Street North. We are inviting all the St. Petersburg City Council Members for what we are going to call An Evening with City Council. We hope to have more information for you at the board meeting. The organization that lobbies the Florida Legislature for neighborhood organization will be meeting in St. Petersburg on the 29th. I will keep everyone posted. The Police Department has informed us that last month there was an increase in auto theft through out the entire city. In a ?¼ of the cases the keys had been left in the cars and most of the thieves were young kids out for a joy ride. If you see a kid behind the wheel of a car get the license plate number and call the police. They need our help. During my travels through your neighborhoods I have seen the many accomplishments you have been making. You are all doing a great job, keep it up. See you on the April 19th at the Times Building! Your neighbor, Jim Biggerstaff Time to Renew Your Membership for 2000! Just fill out the C.O.N.A. 2000 Membership Renewal Application Mail it and membership fee to PO Box 3529, St. Petersburg, FL 33731 or bring it to the March Board Meeting Please Include $25 for Annual Membership Fee Also all member who use CONA?’s Bulk Mail Permit Number are asked to pay an extra $10.00, which covers the cost of the permit 2000 Officers President - Jim Biggerstaff Disston Heights 327-7355 jjbigger99@aol.com First Vice President - Brent Fisher Pinellas Point 867-2026 abfgte@gte.net Second Vice President - Theresa McEachern Harbordale 823-6390 Secretary - Conrad Weiser Edgemoor 522-5008 sfqmzf7u@scfn.thpl.lib.fl.us Treasurer - Libby Steele Lakewood Estates 867-6916 Committees Budget Brent Fisher - 867-2026 & Charles Payne - 827-9183 Computers for Our Community Brent Fisher - 867-2026 abfgte@gte.net Neighborhood Conference Brent Fisher - 867-2026 & Jan Brami - 827-0011 Newsletter Jan Brami - 827-0011 jan@sunworks.com Bob Funari - 894-3881 bayside2@gtefcu.net Citizens Police Council David McEachern - 823-6390 Parliamentarian Dale MacKenzie Gross - 323-2730 Stormwater Issues - Rosemary Grasso - 321-7299 Internet Webmaster - Conrad Weiser - 522-5008 Council Liaison - Jim Biggerstaff - 327-7355 Membership - Charles Miller - 576-6867 Green Thumb Festival April 29 & 30 The Green thumb Festival is the City of St. Petersburg's Earth Day celebration and Environmental Fair. During the festival there will be live entertainment, informational speakers, and a variety of vendors selling plants and outdoor-related items. There will be a Children's Plant Contest, a plant auction, free soil and water sample testing, lawn and garden tool sharping, and much more. The Green Thumb Festival is held at Walter Fuller Park 7891 26th Ave. North from 10A.M. to 5:00P.M. For more information please call 893-7335. Xeriscape University Sponsored By: Pinells-Anclote River Basin Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District, Pinellas Technical Education Center, Pinellas County Cooperative Extension Service, City of St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, Tampa Bay Water This year Pinellas Technical Education Center (PTEC) will conduct Xeriscape University on May 13th at the St. Petersburg campus. Course topics will include the principles of Xeriscaping and "hands-on" instruction in landscape design, irrigation design and plant identification. Following the course, students will be able to purchase plants from the school's nursery; and free recycled mulch will also be available. Space is limited. Please call 893-2500 ext. 1101 for more information or to pre-register.