You Can Not Make This Stuff Up!!

“The Neighbors from Hell” tale
(10)
    Next to our home was a small wooden house. It was vacant, window broken, doors open for many years.We even asked Mayor Greco to “tear it down!” Everyday it received more code violations. Finally the house was sold on the courthouse steps. The neighborhood was so excited. Finally, they would tear it down & build a new house. WRONG!!!  The new owner wanted to rebuild it. In February moved in an old man named Ed with his guns & his crazy drugged out white trash maybe son(??) Jimmy. They moved in with a dozen chickens and roosters. They soon started repairs without any permits & no windows. Code & city building permit staff started to come out eveyday. By the second week Jimmy & Ed thought it was us calling. It was not, there is an active neighborhood crime watch that were calling daily and the city already had sights on this questionable duo. Jimmy put a noose around a large stuff toy in an old car tire & hung it on the front porch with a handmade scribbled sign that read, “DIE FAGGOTS DIE”.
    Lucky for us we have a 6′ wood fence around our property. Our other neighbors were not so lucky and were faced with daily confrontations from Jimmy. This went on for 10 months. Code violations, building inspectors and roosters crowing at 5am!  Then 4am one night we were thrown out of our bed by a super vibracious & loud explosion. We both jumped up & then again hit the floors. For the 1st time we called the police. The police came out and after checking it out told us to not go anywhere close to them. The police were kicked off the property!  “They were really crazy!”
    Then New Year’s Eve night, we spent the night at the Suncoast Resort in St. Pete. When we came home the next day there were fire trucks in the front yard. The house next doors had caught fire & burned thru the roof and half the back of the house outer walls. Ed came over & told us Jimmy had set the house on fire (making meth) and he had kicked him out. Great now they were going to tear the house down. WRONG!!!
     Ed pulled in a travel trailer to live in. The house was condemned and scheduled for demolition. That didn’t stop ED, he put a new soso roof over the burned one. Over the next 10 months Jimmy came back, the police & code enforcement were there many times every week. One day Jimmy was out of control screaming ” F**k this & F**k that” in the backyard. The police were called again. Mark was watching all this thru the blinds out the windows.
    As the officers entered the side gate in front of Mark lurking, Jimmy’s mean pitbull dogs charged the officer and the officer shot his gun POP! POP! POP! killing one of the dogs. Jimmy then attacked the officers. We again called the police, “Shots fired & officer needs help, NOW!” You couldn’t count the police cars that came within minutes. They took Jimmy away!
    About 2 months later I thought I saw something fall off the roof. I heard moaning and looked over the fence. There was old man Ed rolling in the dirt completely naked! For the second time ever we called the police. When the paramedics arrived Ed told them that his chickens had attacked him and picked away all his clothes. Then the chickens chased him up on the roof. They then took Ed away. Then we called the code violation department. They were excited that Ed was not there & knocked the house down the very next day.
    The following week Ed was knocking at our door. He actually said, “Somebody stoled my house! Was it you?” Then he went on to say that everybody here was” F**k’n nuts” and he was going to take his trailer and move to Colorado where all the people are normal. That was the last we ever saw of Ed & Jimmy. Today there are two beautiful town homes on the lot. You just can not make this stuff up!

Featured GaYBOR Member of the Week

The Stone Soup Company
(55)
    Runner -Up to the BEST Cuban Sandwich Competition in Florida!!! Recently the Swiss delegation toured Ybor and tasted their first Cuban Sandwich at Stone Soup Co. Very interesting and all thumbs up! There is so much more you will find in this one of a kind specialty restaurant on 7th Ave. The menu is full of old family favorites and soup of the day. Local art collections on the walls and fun musicians playing for you. All that is incredible!!!  Did you know that every night the left over soups are donated to local charities! WOW that is fantastic. Chef – owner Ilya Goldberg is “Ybor’s Soupman”. Next time you’re in GaYBOR/Ybor City stop by and show some love.

Mark & Carrie’s Nephew/ Niece of the Week

Brian “Prada” Betz
(120)
    When not busy working 2 jobs Brian loves to spend time with his friends & family. His nick name is “Prada” but we call him “Porsha”. What ever you call him he love to meet new people. next time you see Prada out introduce yourself and meet a fun wonderful person.

From the MC Film Mail Bag

Alert Tampa a letter from Jane Castor

July 18, 2012

Dear Resident,

As the Republican National Convention approaches, the City of Tampa wants to ensure all citizens and business owners are well informed and safe during this large-scale event. In order for the City of Tampa to quickly and effectively communicate developing incidents connected to the RNC, it is imperative that everyone, especially the residents and office workers who will be in downtown Tampa during the event, register for Alert Tampa. Alert Tampa allows City officials to send out emergency and informational notifications over email to inform residents about city events including solid waste service changes, street closures, and critical threats.

The City of Tampa’s communication with our citizens was recently tested during Tropical Storm Debby. Since the storm, we have enhanced the system to provide timely and pertinent information. The alerts will help you and your family during the RNC and any other major incidents and events in Tampa. These time-sensitive notifications will be sent directly to your e-mail address, cell phone, and, in some instances, your home phone.

The service is free and it only takes a minute to sign up for these invaluable alerts. Just go to www.tampagov.net/alerttampa or call (813) 231-6184. Stay in the know, sign-up for Alert Tampa today!

Regards,

 

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The Cuban Sandwich Show: All Art. All Tampa. August 1-31

The annual Cuban Sandwich Show returns with a month long series of art and

cultural events whose sole subject is the city of Tampa. No mayo, thank you!

This annual celebration of all things Tampa is organized by the Artists and

Writers Group, Inc. Events featuring visual arts, literature, theater, music, and cuisine are scheduled throughout August. New events this year include a symposium discussing the history of Tampa cuisine, a food festival, and the First Annual Chicken Parade and Rooster Promenade in Ybor City.

David Audet, a founder and current artistic director of the Artists and Writers Group, was one of the artists in the first Cuban Sandwich Show in 1991, which was created by Gordon and Denise Myhre of Seminole Heights. David recently served with the Tampa City Council’s Cultural Assets Committee as chair of the ”Sub-committee to Identify the Historic Ingredients of the Cuban Sandwich”, which was proclaimed by Tampa City Council in April as the “official sandwich of Tampa.” This has lead to interesting arguments with Miami about sandwiches.

This month long show displays, for better or worse, the sense of whimsy, history, serious humor and other idiosyncrasies of Tampa’s creative citizens, ranging from professional visual and culinary artists to storytellers, historians, writers and other joyful fabricators of the truth. The mantra given to the participants is to play, be playful, while honoring the truths about our little city by the bay.

MASTER SCHEDULE-CUBAN SANDWICH SHOW 2012

 

August 1

Opening Night Celebration

7 p.m. Free

Grownman Brand Studios

6412 Central Ave. Seminole Heights Phone 813-238-6242

August 1-23

Kurt Piazza: Composite (System) Configuration

Gallery Hours Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Hillsborough Community College-Dale Mabry Campus,

Library, 3rd Floor Phone 813-831-8858

Nine large-scale architectural prints, including several Tampa building facade

August 2

Tampa Films and Filmmakers: Curated by Paul Guzzo

7 p.m. $3.

The Buzz Coffee Bar

710 Harbour Post Drive, Harbour Island

August 3-30

The Cuban Sandwich Show

Artists reception 5:30-9 p.m. August 3, Free

Gallery hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays; Tuesdays noon-7 p.m.

A group of Tampa artists create a labyrinth of spaces, objects and

audio illuminating the mysterious city sheltering them.

Hillsborough Community College-Ybor Campus.

HCC Performing Arts Building,

2204 N. 15th Street Tampa, FL 33605.

August 4

Absolut Art and Animals

1-4 p.m., $10. donation

Gaspar’s Grotto, Ybor City

1805 East 7th Ave., Tampa, Fl., 33605

A benefit for Animal-Based Charities; with a silent auction, artist Joanna Karpay painting animal portraits, and the revealing of a new mural depicting local pets.

August 5

Chusmeria de Ybor: Fables and Tales of Our Town

2-5 p.m. Free

King Corona Cigar Lounge, Ybor City

1523 East 7th Ave., Tampa, Fl. 33605

Open to all of Tampa;s storytellers, embellishers and taletellers.

Hear the “real” history of Tampa and Ybor. And believe it or not …

August 8

Strange Fruit: Readings by Tampa Writers and Poets

7 p.m. $3

Grownman brand Studios, Seminole Heights

6412 Central Ave., 33609 Phone 813-238-6242

Melissa Fair, Rhonda Nelson, Lisa Birnbaum, Don Morrill, Gianna Russo,

Cole Bellamy, Silvia Curbelo James E. Tokely, Sr.

August 11

Food for Thought: Forum on the History of Food in Tampa

10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free

Hillsborough Community College -Ybor City, Performing Arts Building,

Corner of 14 Street and Palm Avenue. Phone 813-253-7674

10 a.m: History of Food in Tampa Panel Discussion

1:30 p.m: Living in America: 100 Years of Ybor. Film Director Gayla Jamison

will screen and host a panel discussion of her documentary.

3:30 p.m: I Am a Cuban Sandwich, a one-man performance by Richard DiPietra.

Panelists include moderator Tom Shereberger, from the Poytner Institute and former food editor for the St. Petersburg Times; Dr. Susan Greenbaum, Professor Emerita of Anthropology at University of South Florida; historian and USF scholar Gary Mormino, Chris Sherman, former restaurant critic for the St. Petersburg Times; Michelle and Robert Faedo, food truck owners, among others.

August 12-31

Epic of the Sandwiche Cubano and other Poems of Tampa

Artist’s Reception, Aug. 12 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Free. Regular hours, $10.

Florida Museum of Photographic Arts

400 N. Ashley Dr., 33602 Phone 813-221-2222

Photo installation based on the poetry of Tampa Poet Laureate James E. Tokely, Sr. Photographers include David Audet, Jeff Fey, Michelle Fader, Laslo Horavath, Peter Melarango, Fred Smith, Matt Wiggins.

August 12

Tampa Musicians Get Down

2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Free

New World Brewery, Ybor City

1313 8th Ave., 33605

August 18

Taste of the Cuban Sandwich

11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free

Cuban Club, Ybor City Phone 813-248-2954

Food fest featuring traditional Tampa cuisine, featuring winners of the Cuban Sandwich Festival held in Ybor in May, plus Cuban sandwiches from numerous local restaurants; plus roast pork, deviled crabs, empanadas, flan. Live music by Ray Viladonga and Dreamboat, and a special performance of I Am a Cuban Sandwich, a one-man performance by Richard DiPietra is scheduled.

August 19

BBQ Block Party and Chicken Parade and Rooster Promenade

2 p.m.-7 p.m. Free

Big Al’s BBQ, Gaspar’s Grotto, Dirty Shame, Ybor City

Lots of BBQ and drinks, live music, and a costume parade open to everybody: children, dogs, pirates, hipsters, and, of course, fowl of all feathers. Bring costumes, do-da hats, wagon floats and umbrellas as we celebrate the life and alas, demise of James E. Rooster, a famous feathered citizen of Ybor City. Parade begins around 6 p.m. Wear sunscreen and comfy shoes. Beads optional.

August 27-30

Common Sense

Various hours. Free, call for gallery hours.

West Tampa Center for the Arts,

906 N. Armenia Ave. www.wtca-arts.org

National juried art show highlighting socio-political issues and documenting current public sentiment as seen through the eyes of the artists.

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WMNF Premier of “Vegucated”

WMNF Presents Tampa Premier Of Acclaimed Documentary “Vegucated” Aug. 15, Plus Post-Screening Panel Discussion
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJuly 23 , 2012
WMNF 88.5 FM Community Radio is presenting the Tampa Bay Area premiere of “Vegucated”—an award-winning, feature-length documentary tracking three dyed-in-the-wool meat and cheese eating New Yorkers who accept a challenge to go vegan for six weeks—on August 15 at the Roosevelt 2.0 in Ybor City, 1812 N. 15th Street, Tampa.
“Vegucated” screens at 7:30 pm, followed by a panel discussion about the film and the issues it raises. Tickets are $9 and available online at www.WNNF.org or by calling the station: 813-238-8001. The Roosevelt will provide free vegan nibbles before the screening (offered closed captioned.)
“Vegucated” writer-director Marisa Miller Wolfson will discuss the film on WMNF’s “Talking Animals” August 15 at 11 am.
The three people at the center of “Vegucated” include Brian, the bacon-loving bachelor who eats out constantly; Ellen, the single mom who prefers performing comedy to cooking; and Tesla, the college student who goes out of her way to avoid vegetables and beans.
We see their challenges and triumphs in embracing a vegan diet, but “Vegucated” explores far more than just what this trio is eating for six weeks, widening out to look at animal agriculture, factory farming and related issues.
Part of what accounts for the film’s acclaim—it won Best Documentary at the 2011 Toronto Independent Film Festival—is its light, often-humorous tone. “Vegucated” is not preachy or ham-fisted–or tofu-fisted.
Those slated to appear on the post-screening panel discussion, representing viewpoints across the omnivore-to-vegan continuum, are Eve Prang Plews, nutritionist and host of WMNF’s “Alternative Health” program; Isabelle Tassi. chief organizer of Tampa Bay Veg Fest, longtime vegan and animal rights activist; Lee “Flee” Courtney, WMNF music director and host of Monday’s “It’s The Music,” who experienced a profound change after seeing “Vegucated”; and Duncan Strauss, host of “Talking Animals.”
* * *
CONTACT: Duncan Strauss (714) 321-2224 Duncan@wmnf.org
Lee “Flee” Courtney (813) 238-8001 x102 Flee@wmnf.org
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Sonia Plotnick Health Fund
Serving on the board of the Sonia Plotnick Health Fund is a great way to help other women in our community!

The Sonia Plotnick Health Fund periodically recruits board members as we like to keep our Board energized with new perspectives. The Board typically meets once per month for 2-3 hours to consider the business of the board and to review grant applications.

There are additional meetings held as needed to plan and execute our fund raising events. A background in business or the medical field is welcome, but not required. A sincere desire to help others is a must!

If you would like to join us at our August board meeting, please contact us by July 30!

Applicants will be sent a short questionaire to complete.
All applicants must have a background check completed (at the expense of the Fund) for eligibility and a one year minimum commitment is required.

SoniaPlotnickUpdates@Yahoo.com
subject: board member
Due to the confidential nature of medical information and the anonymity of applicants,SPHF board meetings are not open to the public.

SPHF is a 501c3 charity that awards grants for
women’s health care in the Greater Tampa Bay Area.
Submit your application for assistance or if would like to help the Fund help others by making a donation go to
We would love to fund 100% of your preventive healthcare!
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Conversations at the Dali
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THE SECOND ANNUAL JEFF NORTON AWARDS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 7/23/2012
PRESS CONTACT: Michael Murphy, Theatre Tampa Bay (813) 300-3585
RESERVATIONS: (727) 823-7529 or www.americanstage.org

Theatre Tampa Bay proudly announces
THE SECOND ANNUAL JEFF NORTON AWARDS

MONDAY AUGUST 20, 2012

The Jeff Norton Awards celebrate the best of professional theatrein Tampa Bay.

The second annual Jeff Norton Awards will be held August 20, 2012at the Palladium Theater in St. Petersburg. Awards will be presented toaudience favorites in the categories of Outstanding Actor, Actress, SupportingActor, Supporting Actress, Director, Lighting/Sound Designer, Costume Designer,and Set Designer.

The awards ceremony will begin at 8pm, with a pre-show mingle(with cash bar) from 7pm and an after-party and celebration (with cash bar,complimentary hors d’oeuvres and dancing) until 11pm.

Popular comedic actor Matt McGee will be the Master of Ceremoniesfor the event, and Karla Hartley directs. Additional entertainment – includingmusical numbers – will be provided by notable local artists.

Attendees are urged to “dress to impress” to have a chance ofwinning an award of their own: a prize for the Best Dressed Couple.

The Jeff Norton Awards are produced by Theatre Tampa Bay on behalfof the professional theatres in the Tampa Bay area. Theatre Tampa Bay is aprofessional theatre alliance whose purpose is to promote professional theatrein Tampa Bay.

Theatre Tampa Bay aims to deliver a fun-filled Jeff Norton Awardsevent that is the biggest theatre party in Tampa Bay.

~~~

Jeff Norton was a beloved member of the local theater community,and a portion of proceeds from the event will go to establish a grant in hisname.

The Palladium Theater at St. Petersburg College is a generous sponsor of the event.

~~~

WHEN
Monday, August 20, 2012
Awards ceremony at 8pm. (Pre-show mingle at 7pm and after-party till 11pm)

WHERE
Palladium Theater, 253 5th Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL33701

TICKETS
$25

RESERVATIONS
American Stage box office: (727) 823-7529 or www.americanstage.org

Caught @ G.BAR

Caught @ Bradley’s on 7th

Caught @ Hamburger Mary’s

Caught @ Liquid TAMPA

Caught @The Social