Important dates for voter registration, change of voter information or status and request a Vote By Mail ballot. PLEASE mark your calendars for the Primary Election on August 23rd, 7 am to 7 pm, and the General Election on November 8, 7 am to 7 pm.
There are vital elections on our ballots this cycle including US Senate, Congress, Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, CFO, Commission of Agriculture, State Senator, State Representative, Board of County Commissioners, County Court Judge, School Board, multiple judge retention choices and others, . The sample ballots will be posted soon, wesbite says "Early July". To update any part of your voter registration, please visit www.votehillsborough.gov/VOTERS/Updating-Voter-Information
I also noticed a change of precinct for my registration, so be sure you double check your early voting and election day voting precincts.
So happy we will celebrate our Tampa Bay Lightning on the 4th of July and our three years in a row of phenomenal success! This team is truly special and so fun to watch!  💙⚡️🏒 #backtoboat
www.tampa.gov/news/community-invited-celebrate-tampa-bay-lightning-independence-day-during-july-4...
Community Invited to Celebrate Tampa Bay Lightning, Independence Day During July 4th Boat Parade
www.tampa.gov
Mayor Jane Castor and Friends of the Riverwalk invite the community to don their red, white and Bolts blue to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday and our amazing Tampa Bay Lightning during Boom by the Bay!Check out the progress and detailed plans.
Massive waste of money and resources. So blatant it should be called what it is; corruption. Why are we spending billions to move all of this traffic through Tampa and across the bay, when we could move it for way less cost across undeveloped Pasco? FDOT should be building the missing highway across the northern bay area linking I-75 directly to west Pasco and Pinellas, rather than keep forcing all of that traffic to go the long way through Tampa's urban core. But this is no accident. FDOT is funneling as much traffic as possible onto this highway through Tampa, so that they can use that as justification to keep destroying urban Tampa for a wider highway. It costs dramatically more to widen a bridge across the bay and a highway through the urban core, than it would cost to build a highway on flat ground through rural and suburban areas, and that's what matters to FDOT. Most cost = more budget = more job security and income for themselves and their cronies.
After 12 years, it's time for Florida Avenue Brewing Co to return to the neighborhood where it all started, in Seminole Heights! After Brew Bus Brewing acquired Florida Avenue Brewing Co. in 2015, it's been our dream to re-launch our beloved brand back onto Florida Avenue. We are excited to share that we are expanding and opening a second Florida Avenue Brewing Co. location in Seminole Heights, featuring the beers you know and love from Brew Bus and Florida Avenue.
Although Brew Bus Brewing closed its Taproom in 2021, our crew has since been steadily maintaining and safeguarding our mission and products in Wesley Chapel at our destination brewery! We invite our former Brew Bus regulars and our new neighbors in Seminole Heights to follow along on this journey as we prepare to bring Florida Avenue Brewing Co. back to its roots this fall, on the corner of Chelsea and Florida!
Welcome home!
North Highland Avenue Temporarily Closed Beginning June 20
Beginning 9 a.m. Monday, June 20, 2022, North Highland Avenue will be closed between West Frierson Avenue and West Haya Street for utility construction. Thru-traffic for Highland will be detoured to North Florida Avenue.
North Highland Avenue between West Frierson Avenue and West Haya Street will be open to traffic by 4 p.m. Friday, July 1, 2022, weather permitting. This is for the installation of the large box culvert beneath the roadway that will ultimately carry storm water from other areas to the river.
The sidewalks in the work area will be closed during construction. Pedestrians will be detoured to other available sidewalks with signage.
The City of Tampa recommends that motorists use alternate routes and follow posted detours to avoid traffic congestion.
Exciting news for Tampa transportation expansion!
Brightline's Tampa route gets $15.9 million grant - Tampa Bay Business Journal
www.bizjournals.com
Brightline is expected to expand to Tampa by the end of the decade.Is this the high speed train we would've had by now if Rick Scott hadn't sold us out on it years ago?
Exactly. The federal monies he would not accept. Now it’s a privatized service. Florida could have had high speed rail back in the early 2000s when it was approved by the voters before Jeb denied it.
end of the decade 💀
FYI Its was during President Obama's duration that he offered to help states $$ fund rail services. at that time the Florida knucklehead Governor Charlie Crist. He turned it down peel back the onion you can figure out why............. The offer was left on the table for Florida to accept it for several months. Then knucklehead Governor Charlie Crist left office due to Florida term limits. This brought in another sucker Governor Rick Scott.. ..............Then after the open offer ended another state accept the offer. All during that time under both Florida Governor serving. Back door channels had private sector company lobby to get a Florida exclusive deal for one and only one company to monopolies the Florida rail service while also defunding Amtrak.......... Back in 2020 Trump and GOP congress cut Amtrak’s subsidy by more than half to overhaul the passenger rail system to focus on more profitable intercity routes. Yea more profits $$ for share holders at the cost of the tax payers that built the lines and grants we funded. Plus customer paying higher services usage fees.
It really is too bad they’re expanding the interstate right now instead of investing in public transit connectors (trains) for our region.
UPDATE since some failed to peel back the onion deeper ..NO they both turned the $$ down. FYI Charles Joseph Crist Jr. He served as the 44th governor of Florida from 2007 to 2011...... During 2010 President Obama .. A day after delivering his State of the Union address, Mr. Obama came to Florida to announce the investment of $8 billion in high-speed rail projects in 13 major corridors, which he said would provide a down payment for the most significant advance in transportation since the Interstate highway system was built more than a half-century ago. ...Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida, who stood at the steps of Air Force One to greet Mr. Obama. For about 27 seconds, the president gripped the governor’s hand, clutched his arm and exchanged pleasantries. But they did not hug, unlike during a visit a year ago. .... Here is one of those write ups www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2010-01-28-os-high-speed-announcement-20100127-story.html
Sorry fellow locals this had over budget boondoggle written all over it. Scott did the right thing.
CDC recommends we in Tampa Bay again mask up in public, as one of the high risk areas.
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said people don't need masks if transmission of the coronavirus is controlled and hospitals are not strained. Areas ranked at low or medium risk are free to forgo their masks indoors.
However, masks are still recommended indoors for people in areas rated high risk.
That includes Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Citrus, Manatee and Sarasota counties, according to the CDC's community level website, updated Friday, Polk and Orange are listed as medium risk.”
CDC still recommends indoor masking in high-risk areas. That includes the Tampa Bay region
wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu
A major shift in federal COVID policy freed much of the country of wearing masks indoors, but not in counties considered high risk. That includes much of Florida's Gulf Coast.I viewed this article on email. It was published on February 28th⁉️
There will be no trash pick up tomorrow of any kind in observance of Memorial Day. Regular garbage will be picked up on Thursday. Recycling will not be picked up until next Monday.
Once again we're screwed outta our Monday service 😡
Of course I see this after I’ve brought my bins to the curb 🙃
Where do you see that's there's no recycling service on Thursday?
SSHCA QUARTERLY GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING TONIGHT
Reminder: 6:30 p.m. Seminole Heights Library
Special Guests: Trees and HB 1555 with Robert Northrop, UF IFAS Extension Forrester and Brian Knox, City of Tampa Senior Forester - City Planning Dept
Seminole Heights Garden Tour - Cinda Hitchcock - Friends of Seminole Heights Library
SSHCA will also award our Spring 2022 Beautification Award!
UPDATE: North Florida Avenue will remain closed from East Frierson Avenue to West Crest Avenue due to wet underground conditions and the discovery of asbestos pipe in the intersection. A hazardous materials crew has safely removed the asbestos pipe; work continues in the intersection.
While Florida Avenue is closed to thru traffic, access to all businesses is being maintained both north and south of the closure.
Motorists are strongly encouraged to follow all posted detour signs, allow extra travel time, and drive safely in the construction zone.
REMINDER: Tonight! Come meet some neighbors, new and old alike, and take a break from the construction fiasco. Drink specials from 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.Yay! They're Back Again!
SSHCA Happy Hour
Thursday, May 19th
5:30 - 8:00 p.m. **New Time**
The Velvet Gypsy
5210 N Florida Ave
$3 Bud Light and special discounts on wines and wells.
Look forward to seeing you there!
I would love to attend the next one!
SO FUN - thanks for organizing!!
5/18 UPDATE: To the residents of the 100/200 blocks of West Wilder and West Haya & the community… after many emails today and escalating to everyone I could think of, we got a work around to decrease all that Westbound traffic from Florida to Highland on the neighborhood streets for you today.
As you can see, an unmarked police car with lights on is posted to block the 2 eastern-most northbound Florida lanes. Its presence is motivating much more traffic to take the posted detour toward Nebraska, encourages only local traffic to proceed north of Osborne on Florida, and the rest of the traffic for the most part is proceeding north in the western-most lane of Florida Ave to Violet, which is far more equipped to handle the remaining diverted traffic wishing to reach North Highland.
Compared to the same time yesterday, North Highland had 1/3 the traffic of yesterday, and the bumper to bumper line of vehicles on Haya and Wilder all the way to Florida yesterday was reduced to 3 cars on Haya and zero on Wilder today. While I’m sure there will be an uptick of traffic until 6:30 or so, it is immensely better than it was yesterday.
I also received potential bad news. As project timelines always say “barring unforeseen circumstances”, we have one of those unforeseen circumstances. Asbestos around piping has been found underground in that section of Florida Ave construction. Even though it must be abated properly, the project team is not yet conceding that an extension of their anticipated completion by Friday end of day will be necessary. I will keep you updated as I receive updates. Please don’t shoot the messenger. 😉
Thank you!!!!!
Great now we can just get them to stop speeding down South ave instead EDIT… thank you everybody for working so hard to get Some control on any of the streets it’s certainly more than we had
Thank you
As a homeowner on W. Wilder, I cannot thank you enough. Sincerely. ❤️
I was wondering why I saw an unmarked car on highland. 💯 it was way better today vs yesterday Thank you!
Thanks for your efforts.
Support the businesses in this area as they are truly being effected!
Thank you!
I can't even imagine what you people living on those streets are going through. I do take Highland to Osborne everyday to go home and I notice what a nightmare it had turned into. Stay safe folks.
Thank you for all you do
Thank you!!
Thank you! We definitely noticed a huge decrease in traffic on Haya yesterday. 🙌🏽
Thank You!!
Hey man you guys want growth what do you expect us to do I'm native I'm born and raised here I know all these roads like the back of my hand and I'm gonna continue taking all my back roads it's not my fault it's not our fault I believe it's the city's fault and our fault for not pursuing the city to fix our infrastructures and roads. So to all of the people complaining I say enjoy your growth
Which street pipes have asbestos? Is this a cause for concern for the houses connected to them?
5/18/22 7:15 a.m. Severe traffic alert for Florida Ave between MLK and Hillsborough Ave and surrounding streets.
To the neighbors at the 100 block of West Haya and West Wilder, and the community as a whole... I reached out to the SESHFRP Project Team today regarding the excessive traffic that is using West Haya and West Wilder as a cut-through from North Florida Avenue. In short, it's just awful. At 4 p.m. cars were lined up to get on Highland from both of these streets, and the street was full of cars all the way to Florida Avenue. There is supposed to be LOCAL TRAFFIC ONLY on Florida Avenue north of Osborne. West Violet Street is also getting heavy excess traffic cutting through to Highland. Northbound Highland Avenue is solid car to car from Violet to Hillsborough. I took this video at 4 p.m. today, a full hour before rush hour begins in earnest. I'll keep you posted of what adjustments will be made.
In the meantime, you'd be wise to avoid this area as a northbound Florida Ave cut-through. That light on North Highland at Hillsborough only allows a few cars through at a time, and then Hillsborough has a very long green light. As such, you are probably not saving much time sitting through all of those lights.
West Haya at Highland 4 p.m.
Thank you for contacting the city! It is awful I can’t even get out of my driveway on Haya to do school pick up.
West Wilder at Highland 4 p.m.
Thank God for the street grid though. Imagine what a disaster this would be in a suburban area, where the detour would likely extend miles out of the way.
Total fiasco. Having this closure (perhaps over a month I read earlier???) congruent with the northbound closure to Central for the foreseeable future, is completely stupefying. Sadly, I don't think there's much of a solution.
People are using every road between Violet and where Florida is shut down to cut through. I’m on South Avenue and people are doing 65 trying to go from one side to the other. I did put a call into Tampa PD nonemergency telling them that we needed their presence in the section of the neighborhood during these hours they said they tell somebody but I have very little faith in that.. Somebody’s going to get hurt but no matter who you call all they have to do a stall for five days because that’s how long Florida Avenue is apparently going to be shut down
Omg, just like black hole.
Who can I speak to to plead for them to finish the mid June construction in 2 weeks? They’re verbally saying 4. I just invested a lot and I mean a LOT into a Florida Ave building and we are opening end of June. I need the city’s support so customers are able to shop with us.
Jackie
The madness of this. I thought this was supposed to be done long ago. I work remote & noise level outside some days even throughout the night with the water pump sometimes used. Get this sewage system over with 🙏🏻
Well whose F-ing idea was it to close Florida when Central is still shutdown & again NOT stopping traffic @ Osborne smdh 😡
This whole project has just been one GIANT cluster@#$%. I bet you money that S Tampa would not have to suffer through this mess as long as we have. I get improvements need to be made, and budget money is finally being released, but this is making homeowner's lives hell. I feel sorry for the businesses in the affected areas. They were just starting to come back after 2 yrs of hanging on, and now this. The city needs to plan or adjust these projects to make them a little more liveable to the affected areas.
How are the businesses like Spaddy's Coffee Co. dealing with this? Can people even get there this week?
The 4pm rush makes total sense. “Local Traffic Only” includes the hundreds of parents picking up their kids as the high school school gets out at 3:30. Parents who cannot use Central northbound.
My neighbors have video of drivers cutting through yards. The video I saw showed a yellow car cutting across the oncoming lane and into a yard. Then they proceed to haul ass in the yard and cut in front of everyone else on the street. I walked out yesterday as a lady took a wide turn into my neighbor's yard, backed up in the yard and did a u-turn. This is dangerous and frustrating.
Attend one of the City of Tampa's virtual compost programs and receive a free compost bin! (Must be serviced by the City of Tampa Department of Solid Waste to Qualify)
www.tampa.gov/solid-waste/backyard-composting-program
Yay! They're Back Again!
SSHCA Happy Hour
Thursday, May 19th
5:30 - 8:00 p.m. **New Time**
The Velvet Gypsy
5210 N Florida Ave
$3 Bud Light and special discounts on wines and wells.
Look forward to seeing you there!
Casey Austin
Hope to see our neighbors there!
www.tampaymca.org/programs/swim-programs/water-safety-programs
www.tampaymca.org
Teaching kids how to be safe around water is one of Tampa Y’s main priorities. Free and low-cost water safety programs are available throughout the year.