MyTampaLife » News & History

Existing Verizon customers get FREE HotSpot access

Denis Baldwin — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 15:30:49 +0000

Verizon FiOS customers in the Tampa area now have yet another perk. Any customers who has Up-to-25/15 Mbps or faster connection or HSI customers with a 3MBps or 7.1MBps connection can connect to any of the new Verizon Wi-Fi hot spots at no additional charge.

The new WiFi service is not limited to new customers, but is also available to existing FiOS Internet customers with up-to-20 Mbps or faster packages and existing HSI customers who have either an up-to-3 Mbps or 7.1 Mbps package.

Verizon continues to enhance its broadband service capabilities for consumers to offer competitive advantages over rival communication providers.

Since the beginning of the year, Verizon has introduced faster downstream and unprecedented upstream speeds for its all-fiber-optic FiOS Internet service; expanded the reach of its digital subscriber line-based Verizon High Speed Internet (HSI) service; and started offering mini netbook computers to customers as part of select bundle promotions.

And starting today, the company will expand Internet connection capabilities for millions of Verizon broadband customers by providing them free access to thousands of Wi-Fi connections across the U.S., reflecting the company’s sharp focus on developing and deploying broadband and entertainment services.

“Wherever they go – across town or across the country — Internet users today want the freedom and flexibility of staying connected online whenever they want,” said Mike Ritter, Chief Marketing Officer for Verizon Telecom. “In addition to providing in-home broadband networks and the nation’s most reliable 3G wireless network, we’re now offering even more connections with fast, free Wi-Fi that customers can use in their local communities and when traveling across the country.”

Free Verizon Wi-Fi hotspot locations include hotels, airports, restaurants, coffee shops, retailers, convention centers and public locations across the U.S.

A partial list of hot spots in the Tampa Bay Area include:

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s (Cafe / Restaurant)
5025 E Fowler Ave
Tampa,Florida 33614

Grand Suites (Hotel)
11310 North 30th Street
Tampa,Florida 33612

TPA – Tampa International Airport (Airport)
5507 W Spruce St
Tampa,Florida 33607

Camden Preserve Apts. (Other Public Areas)
6501 South Westshore
Tampa,Florida 33616

Intercontinental Hotel – Tampa (Hotel)
4860 West Kennedy Blvd
Tampa,Florida 33609

Barnes & Noble (Bookstore)
11802 N. Dale Mabry Highway
Tampa,Florida 33618

Barnes & Noble (Bookstore)
213 N Dale Mabry
Tampa,Florida 33609

STARBUCKS 10065 (Cafe / Restaurant)
3619 W GANDY BLVD
Tampa,Florida 33611

STARBUCKS 13687 (Cafe / Restaurant)
13650 WALSINGHAM RD
Tampa,Florida 33774

STARBUCKS 14316 (Cafe / Restaurant)
1600 W KENNEDY BLVD
Tampa,Florida 33606

STARBUCKS 8295 (Cafe / Restaurant)
711 S HOWARD AVE
Tampa,Florida 33606

STARBUCKS 8299 (Cafe / Restaurant)
5006 E FOWLER AVE
Tampa,Florida 33617

STARBUCKS 8312 (Cafe / Restaurant)
1510 N WESTSHORE BLVD
Tampa,Florida 33607

STARBUCKS 8324 (Cafe / Restaurant)
1600 E 8TH AVE
Tampa,Florida 33605

STARBUCKS 8384 (Cafe / Restaurant)
225 WESTSHORE PLZ
Tampa,Florida 33609

STARBUCKS 8428 (Cafe / Restaurant)
118 S WESTSHORE BLVD
Tampa,Florida 33609

STARBUCKS 8438 (Cafe / Restaurant)
2223 WESTSHORE BOULEVARD
Tampa,Florida 33607

STARBUCKS 8456 (Cafe / Restaurant)
17502 BRUCE B DOWNS BLVD
Tampa,Florida 33647

STARBUCKS 8485 (Cafe / Restaurant)
401 S DALE MABRY HWY
Tampa,Florida 33609

STARBUCKS 8514 (Cafe / Restaurant)
8229 PARKEDGE DR
Tampa,Florida 33637

STARBUCKS 8538 (Cafe / Restaurant)
3400 W BAY TO BAY BLVD
Tampa,Florida 33629

STARBUCKS 9737 (Cafe / Restaurant)
502 E HILLSBOROUGH AVE
Tampa,Florida 33604

Econo Lodge – Tampa (FL470)* (Hotel)
1701 E. Busch Blvd.
Tampa,Florida 33612

Sleep Inn – Tampa FL (FL078) (Hotel)
12282 Morris Bridge Rd
Tampa,Florida 33637

Tampa Airport Marriott (Hotel)
Tampa International Airport
Tampa,Florida 33607

Tampa Waterside Marriott (Hotel)
700 South Florida Ave
Tampa,Florida 33602

For a complete list of hot spot locations, visit www.verizon.net/hotspots.

NOVA 535 to Give Away a $50,000 “Dream Wedding”!

Denis Baldwin — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 14:51:07 +0000

On Sunday, August 9th 2009 at their first annual Bridal Gala, NOVA 535 will be holding filmed interviews for brides who are interested in winning a free “Dream Wedding” valued at over $50,000. The decision will be made by August 31, 2009. Applicants will be screened by film producer Tony Armer and must agree to be filmed for an upcoming documentary on the bridal process. The winner’s “Dream Wedding” ceremony must be held at NOVA 535 on Sunday January 31st, 2010.

Everyone attending the bridal show should RSVP by e-mailing Kdem0827@aol.com. All brides interested in winning the ‘Dream Wedding” must fill out a “Dream Wedding” application and also sign-in at the Bridal Gala between NOON and 2:00 pm. Although NOVA 535 will have the applications available the day of the gala, brides interested in entering the “Dream Wedding” contest are strongly encouraged to fill out the application in advance. The “Dream Wedding” PDF application can be downloaded and printed out by clicking here.

ALL BRIDES MUST BE PRESENT ON AUGUST 9th 2009 WITH ALL PAPERWORK 100% COMPLETED, PRINTED OUT, SIGNED AND PHYSICALLY HANDED IN BY 2 PM SHARP IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE GRAND PRIZE.

All brides must also bring a copy of their valid driver’s license for a customary background check that will be run if they are selected as a finalist.

All brides must be at least 21 years of age and legally able to marry in the USA.

Admission to the Bridal Gala is $2 and will include booths by Tampa Bay’s top professional fashion and formal wear retailers, entertainers, elegant printers, hair and make-up artists, florists, event planners, photographers, caterers, bakers, tent & rental companies and much more.

Billy Mays found dead in his Tampa home

Denis Baldwin — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 16:17:00 +0000

If you ever needed proof that the world is an unjust place, here’s a bit for you.

Billy Mays, the marketing genius/pitchman behind Oxyclean, MightyPutty and a number of other direct-sell products is dead. He was found this morning in his Westchase home by his wife.

There were no signs of a break-in, and investigators do not suspect foul play. The coroner’s office expects to have an autopsy done by Monday afternoon.

Mays’ wife, Deborah Mays, says the family doesn’t expect to make any public statements and asked for privacy. Mays was also featured on the reality TV show “Pitchmen” on the Discovery Channel, which followed Mays and Anthony Sullivan in their marketing jobs.

The injustice? Vince “Sham Wow” Offer/Shlomi still lives.

Like Jimmy John’s sandwiches? They’re only $1 tomorrow in St. Pete.

Denis Baldwin — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:07:00 +0000

If you’re like me, you most likely love Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches. Fresh meats, amazing bread and a fun atmosphere make JJ’s the place I always like to eat when I have a few extra bucks in my pocket. They’re normally not cheap at $5-7 per sandwich, but tomorrow at the St. Pete location from 11AM to 3PM, sandwiches are $1 each.

The location for your $1 sandwich is:

Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches
1410 66th St N, St Petersburg
(727) 344-0100

LocalShops1: Hyperlocal shopping for the Tampa Bay Area

Denis Baldwin — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:05:00 +0000

One of the things I’ve always found interesting about the web is how easy it is to get to powerful databases of information. What I’ve always found annoying is trying to find that information specific to a region.

For us Tampa Bay residents (and those in the surrounding counties of Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Sarasota), you may find some help in the hyper local shopping site, LocalShops1.com. They are committed to promoting locally owned, independent shops. The mission of this site is to be a place where shoppers and business owners can come to network, on social and business levels to exchange ideas, post sales, become involved in the community. Out in the “real world,” they plan lots of fun community events, charity fundraisers and store parties.

About to celebrate their 1st anniversary, Local Shops is focused on highlighting high quality businesses in and around Tampa. This site does what other yellow-pages style sites do, but in a cleaner format and each business is hand selected and reviewed for inclusion instead of an across the board inclusion that many directories do. Signing up is FREE, and can be done here:
http://www.local-shops-1.com/LocalShops1/membership-options.html

There’s lots of good news coming out of this organization. They recently began embarking on a $250,000 advertising campaign with the Tampa Tribune, WFLA, tbo.com, Tampa Bay Magazine, Tampa Bay Business Journal and Genesis radio stations 1040 and 820. They are in the midst of a complete redesign of the website to make it easier to use. In August, they are launching “1Card”, the ultimate discount card for local business.

Tampa Bay gets it’s chance to be on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire

Denis Baldwin — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:51:00 +0000

Ever want to be on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Tampa Bay residents, this is your chance.

This Friday, June 19th, producers from the show will be at the St. Pete Times Forum, auditioning potential players.

Auditions will run from 7 A.M. to 11 A.M. You will take a test (of 40 questions) and submit to an interview with a producer. A small portion of those who enter will be chosen for the show (approximately 10%), but anyone over 18 years of age can enter.

Restaurant.com has Tampa food gift certificates for 80% off right now

Denis Baldwin — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:25:00 +0000

People ask me all the time how I can afford to eat out constantly for the reviews I do. I use restaurant.com when they offer 80% off on gift certificates. Basically, for $2, you can get a $25 gift certificate. For $4, a $50 gift certificate. It’s a pretty sweet deal.

Here’s a list of every restaurant offering a certificate in the Tampa Bay area:
http://www.restaurant.com/rdc_site.net/listings.aspx?StateID=&zip=33605&x=0&y=0

You can change the zip code and range (5 miles, 10 miles, etc.) to suit your needs.

When making a purchase, put in promo code “PRESENT”. This will trigger your 80% off. This is only good for a limited time, so stock up on certificates and use them for the next year.

Digital TV Conversion is in one week, Tampa Bay!

Denis Baldwin — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:39:00 +0000

It’s been prolonged time and time again, but it’s finally upon us.

A week from today, Tampa Bay goes digital television. No more rabbit ears. No more 2 channel black and white sets.

If you have cable or satellite, you’re fine. If you don’t, you’re about to be left in the dark.

Want to know more? See the government’s digital TV conversion website:
https://www.dtv2009.gov/FAQ.aspx

HART Board Approves Service Changes, Receives Updates on New Starts Project

Denis Baldwin — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:33:00 +0000

June 1, 2009 – Tampa, Florida – At Monday’s meeting of the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority’s Board of Directors, the Board voted to approve proposed service changes that will take place in July and November. The Board also received an update on community meetings and status of the planning work on the Hillsborough County New Starts project.

Service Changes Approved
The Board voted to approve changes in HART bus service that will streamline operations over the summer and increase service on one of HART’s busiest routes in the fall. Among the changes is a reorganization of service in the Ruskin and Wimauma areas into HART’s first “flex” route, a reservation-based service that picks up passengers from any location within a given zone and transports them to another point in the same zone. The new SouthShore flex route will be a model for future such service in other parts of the county.

In addition, savings from the elimination of some of HART’s less productive services will allow the agency to increase weekday frequency on Route 6 (56th Street) during peak morning and afternoon service hours from 30 minutes to 20 minutes. Route 6 is HART’s second busiest, with ridership of more than 71,000 in April.

100 Meetings; AA Process Continues
HART reported that in the months of May and June, the agency completed or has planned a total of 100 meetings in the community to educate residents and gain input from them on the New Starts mobility initiative. Meetings include a “listening tour” hosted by the county’s Transportation Task Force, and other meetings and events scheduled with various community organizations around the county.

Plans are also moving forward on the Alternatives Analysis (AA), a study that determines the best way to meet the transit demand in an area, whether through rail, bus, or some other form of transit. The AA is required in seeking federal funding for transit projects. HART reported that it has issued a Request for Proposals for a consultant to perform the AA, and has received several responses. Once a contract is awarded, the firm would complete the work by March for submission to the Federal Transit Authority. If approved, the project would then move to the next step, preliminary engineering.

1st Place Engineering: Best Auto Repair place I’ve found

Denis Baldwin — Sun, 31 May 2009 14:41:00 +0000

I really have to hand it to Jeff Lloyd, the owner of 1st Place Engineering (4011 21st Avenue East #111, Tampa FL 33605, 813-333-1100). Part custom fabrication shop, part auto repair facility, this place is great.

When I came to them last week, I had two broken Miatas, not a lot of money and even less hope. One car was fixed up right away so my wife could get back to work. The second one required a whole engine transplant, but was still done in only 4 days.

When other shops quoted me thousands of dollars and several weeks, Jeff worked day and night to get my work done in less time than I could ever have imagined. The car runs great and the repair cost was very reasonable. I can’t thank Jeff enough.

What impresses me most about Jeff is how honest and helpful he is. Mechanics have always been known as shifty and deceptive, but I got none of that from Jeff. From the very beginning, he gave me optimistic expectations and fulfilled them. When a supplier gave him a bad part, he took care of it quickly. His ability to over deliver really was exception.

While auto repair is one facet of his business. Jeff also does a lot of race-specific engineering. He made an all wheel drive Ford Contour. He’s putting a new school Ford 4 cylinder engine in a Triumph convertible. He’s in the process of doing a complete rebuild and upgrade of a Mazda RX-7. I don’t think there’s anything this guy can’t do in terms of custom fabrication.

So, if you have a car in disrepair and need support, I’d highly recommend Jeff’s shop. I’ll be taking all of my cars back there from now on.

Ride HART? Transportation Task Force wants your feedback

Denis Baldwin — Fri, 29 May 2009 16:36:00 +0000

HART is joining a “listening tour” hosted by the Hillsborough County Transportation Task Force. Representatives of the Metropolitan Planning Organization, Florida Department of Transportation, and the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority will also be on hand to answer your questions.

Stop by one of twelve open house meetings being held in locations across the county throughout the month of June. It’s your chance to see the plans, ask questions and give your input on the future of transportation in Hillsborough County.

Meetings are from 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. in an open house format, with a presentation between 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 28
Webb Middle School, Tampa

Monday, June 1
Jan Platt Regional Library, Tampa

Wednesday, June 3
Ragan Park Community Center, Tampa

Thursday, June 4
Bruton Memorial Library, Plant City

Tuesday, June 9
Cross Creek Library, New Tampa

Wednesday, June 10
Brandon Regional Service Center

Monday, June 15
Carrollwood Cultural Center

Tuesday, June 16
Riverview High School

Thursday, June 18
South County Regional Service Center, Ruskin

Tuesday, June 23
Lutz Community Center

Wednesday, June 24
University Area Community Center, Tampa

Tuesday, June 30
City of Temple Terrace Council Chambers

Freeway closures all around Tampa this weekend

Denis Baldwin — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:43:00 +0000

Taken From:
http://mytbi.com/news/details.asp?newsid=2675

Expect lane closures and LONG TRAFFIC DELAYS this weekend as traffic is shifted to new northbound I-275 lanes

4/23/2009 – Northbound I-275 from Himes Avenue to the Hillsborough River (new alignment)

TAMPA — Traffic will be extremely slow the majority of this weekend on northbound I-275 in Tampa from the Westshore area to downtown Tampa as crews work to shift traffic to new northbound I-275 lanes adjacent to the existing highway.

Traffic impacts on I-275 will begin at 9 p.m. Friday (April 24) and are expected to be finished by 5:30 a.m. Monday (April 27). Here is what motorists can expect (with approximate times):

* 8 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Saturday: The Dale Mabry Highway entrance ramp to northbound I-275 will be closed. Drivers should use Lois Avenue or Howard Avenue to enter northbound I-275.

* 9 p.m. Friday: 1 to 2 (of 3) lanes will close on northbound I-275 from Lois Avenue (Exit 40B) to Ashley Drive/Scott Street (Exit 44).

* 9 p.m. Friday: The Ashley Drive/Scott Street exit ramps (Exit 44) will alternately be closed until 5:30 a.m. Saturday. Traffic will be detoured to whichever of these two ramps is open at the time.

* Early morning Saturday: Traffic will be shifted to the new I-275 northbound lanes. Only two lanes will be open until about 5:30 a.m. Monday. The Dale Mabry entrance ramp to northbound I-275 will also reopen early Saturday morning.

* All weekend: Traffic is expected to be very congested on northbound I-275 and likely on nearby local east-west roads such as Columbus Drive, Kennedy Boulevard, and Cypress Street. Motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes, particularly to avoid northbound I-275 and its anticipated heavy traffic congestion. The closures and detours used over the weekend are needed to build new pavement at a higher level at each end of the project where traffic currently is driving.

By Monday morning, traffic is expected to be flowing on the new alignment in three through-lanes. However, motorists will not have additional planned lanes or full lane and shoulder widths until this fall as additional widening must be done from Willow Avenue to west of Exit 44 . Until that widening is completed, northbound I-275 on the eastern end of this project will have two 11-foot lanes and a 12-foot middle lane. Trucks will be instructed to use the full-width middle lane. In additional, the speed limit will be reduced to 45 miles-per-hour until construction is completed.

The Himes Avenue entrance ramp is also planned to open to traffic Monday, April 27 (this ramp has been closed since December 1).

The most important news for motorists over this weekend is to avoid northbound I-275 if you can. If you cannot, plan at least an additional hour into your travel time. Traffic backups on the I-275 corridor will be extensive and likely will reach into Pinellas County.

Tampa Mugshot Site goes live

Denis Baldwin — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:30:00 +0000

In the tradition of the smoking gun and just about every sherriff’s page in the country, Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco county now have a collective mugshot site:

http://mugshots.tampabay.com/

Updated throughout the day, the mugshot archive shows “up to the minute” stats and records of anyone being booked in the tri-county area.

Legal Note, from the website:

The information presented here as a public service is gathered from open county sheriff’s Web sites in the Tampa Bay area. The booking mug shots and related information are from arrest records in the order and at the time the data was collected. Those appearing here have not been convicted of the arrest charge and are presumed innocent. Do not rely on this site to determine any person’s actual criminal record.

HART Plans New Airport Transfer Center, Selects Contractor for Streetcar Extension

Denis Baldwin — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 20:13:00 +0000

In March, bus service to Tampa International Airport got faster and more convenient with improved frequencies on Route 30. Now, service is slated to improve even more with an agreement to build a new multi-modal transfer center on airport property approved by the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Board of Directors at today’s regular monthly meeting.

TIA Transfer Center
The multi-agency agreement between HART, the Hillsborough Aviation Authority and Florida Department of Transportation allows construction of a transfer center at TIA that will operate as an intermodal hub in the Westshore area. The facility will connect existing and future transit services, including HART local and limited express routes, cross-bay express service operated by Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA), and future Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and circulator services. Design would be undertaken this fall, with construction underway next summer. The transfer center would be operational in summer 2011.

Streetcar Extension Contract Awarded, Ridership Strong
HART also took the next step toward bringing the TECO Line Streetcar System to downtown Tampa with the selection of Kimmins Contracting Corp. as the contractor for design-build services for the system’s extension to Whiting Street.

This action builds on the growing success of the streetcar system, which has experienced 17% ridership growth to date in FY 2009, along with a 22% growth in revenue for the month of March 2009. In fact, streetcar system ridership for the week of March 30th was particularly high, with 12,815 rides taken thanks in part to the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance holding its annual meeting at the Tampa Convention Center last week.

Federal Funding for Projects
The Board approved HART staff’s plans for funding provided to HART under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, including the purchase of new vehicles, accessibility improvements, upgrades to the 21st Avenue operations and maintenance facility, the streetcar extension, fleet overhaul and other improvements. Input at a public hearing held in March was supportive of projects to be funded with the federal stimulus dollars.

HART Mission Statement
Our Team is dedicated to providing excellent customer service while building solutions to support Hillsborough County’s needs…now and into the future.
HART’s web address is now www.goHART.org! Use our trip planning feature powered by Google Transit, order fare cards in the Online Transit Store, and get complete route maps and schedules. Call the HARTinfo Line at (813) 254-4278 to learn more.

Free Electric Cart Rides to Channelside/Ybor

Denis Baldwin — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 17:44:00 +0000

I’ve seen these all over, and I wondered about what they are. This is an awesome idea and I’m going to be using them the next time I go to Ybor so I don’t have to worry about parking costs or potential legal issues from drunk driving.

Story from St. Petersburg Times:
http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/article989786.ece

TAMPA — The little electric cart zips up to the curb of the Channelside entertainment complex.

Three clubgoers run up, and ask the driver: “Can you take us to the Embassy Suites?”

“Next stop, Embassy Suites,” he replies as they climb in.

A breezy few blocks later, the three step out and hand over no fare, just a $5 tip. Downtown boosters say the free rides are a welcome addition, helping turn the neighborhood into a place to live, work and play without needing a car for short trips.

“It improves the experience of downtown,” said Christine Burdick, president of the Tampa Downtown Partnership.

Read the Whole Story from St. Petersburg Times:
http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/article989786.ece

Bay Area Beat Magazine features local music talent and news

Denis Baldwin — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:20:00 +0000

With the disenfranchisement of so many local musicians and the continually widening rift between genres in the Tampa Bay Area, it’s time for a team of shepherds to bring the flock together. The entity making this attempt is Bay Area Beat, a new local music news rag aimed at supporting local talent and introducing the readers to the next up-and-coming bands. Their vow is to never put priority to national acts over their local counterparts and to always dig up the freshest new artists and new sounds throughout Tampa Bay.

Tonight, April 3rd at 8PM, they are having a maiden showcase, featuring Ronny Elliot, Rebekah Pulley and Blind Buddy Moody. I’ll be there to do photo recon. Cover is $6 and it’s held at:

Prostar Sound stage
3220 28th Street North
St Pete, Fl 33713

A copy of their first issue can be found online, via PDF:
http://realitysnap.com/bayareabeat/pdf/20409.pdf

Tampa Bay Water Restrictions Start Today

Denis Baldwin — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 11:25:00 +0000

Water restrictions, now talked about for the last several weeks, go into effect today.

Details from the Water Use Restrictions Page:
http://www.tampagov.net/dept_Water/information_resources/restrictions/

Effective Dates

* These restrictions go into effect on April 3, 2009.
* They are scheduled to expire on June 30, 2009.

Affected Areas

* Modified Phase IV restrictions apply to customers of Tampa Bay Water member government utilities, other utilities that receive water from the member governments (either directly or indirectly), and Aloha Utilities in Pasco County. See list at the end of this page.
* Residents using water from the City of Tampa’s Water Department are to follow the City of Tampa’s Emergency Ordinances effective on April 3, 2009.
* Residents in Hillsborough, Pasco or Pinellas counties using other sources of water, either private well water or water from utilities not affected by the Phase IV measures, remain under the current Modified Phase III restrictions.

Lawn Watering Schedule

* Same Days: All lawn watering remains limited to the same once-per-week schedule. Check with your local utility if you are unaware of your watering day.

* Different Hours:
o Midnight to 4 a.m. for properties less than one acre in size, using an in-ground irrigation system (rotor and spray sprinkler heads).
o Midnight to 4 a.m. and 8 p.m. to midnight for properties more than one acre in size, using an in-ground irrigation system (rotor and spray sprinkler heads).
o 6–8 a.m. and 6–10 p.m. for properties of any size, using sprinkling cans, hand-held hose equipped with automatic shut-off nozzle, or using a hose equipped with a portable sprinkler.

Note: The same lawn area may not be watered by multiple means, in other words, persons may not use an irrigation system and a hand-held hose to water the same area twice on their day.

Landscape (non-lawn) Watering Schedule

* Limited Days:
o Watering of landscapes using an in-ground irrigation system (rotor and spray sprinkler heads) or a hand-held hose equipped with a portable sprinkler remains limited to the same once-per-week schedule as lawn watering.
o Watering of landscapes (non-lawn) using a sprinkling can, hand watering with a hose equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle, or micro-irrigation is now limited to three days per week. Micro-irrigation includes soaker hoses, drip tubes, microjets and other forms of low-volume irrigation technology. Even addresses may use any of these forms of efficient irrigation on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Odd addresses may do so on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

* Different Hours:
o Midnight to 4 a.m. for properties less than one acre in size, using an in-ground irrigation system (rotor and spray sprinkler heads).
o Midnight to 4 a.m. and 8 p.m. to midnight for properties more than one acre, using an in-ground rotor and spray irrigation system.
o 6–8 a.m. and 6–10 p.m. for properties any size, using a sprinkling can, hand-held hose equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle, or micro-irrigation.

Establishment Irrigation for New or Replacement Lawns

* Same Days: New and replacement turf (sod, plugs, seed, etc.) continues to have a 30-day establishment period:
o On days 1–15, the new or replacement turf may be watered any day of the week.
o On days 16–30, the turf may only be watered approximately every other day. Even-numbered addresses may only water on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Odd-numbered addresses may only water on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

* Different Hours:
o Midnight to 4 a.m. for properties less than one acre in size, using an in-ground irrigation system (rotor and spray sprinkler heads).
o Midnight to 4 a.m. and 8 p.m. to midnight for properties more than one acre, using an in-ground rotors and sprays irrigation system.
o 6–8 a.m. and 6–10 p.m. for properties any size, using a sprinkling can, hand-held hose equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle, or micro-irrigation.

Establishment Irrigation for New Landscaping (non-lawn)

* Different Days: New plants (other than lawns) now have a new, 60-day establishment period:
o On days 1–15, new plants may be watered any day of the week.
o During days 16–45, new plants may be watered approximately every other day. Even-numbered addresses may water on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Odd-numbered addresses may water on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.
o During days 46-60, new plants may be watered two days per week. Even-numbered addresses may water on Tuesday and Saturday. Odd-numbered addresses may water on Wednesday and Sunday.

* Different Hours:
o Midnight to 4 a.m. for properties less than one acre in size, using an in-ground irrigation system (rotor and spray sprinkler heads).
o Midnight to 4 a.m. and 8 p.m. to midnight for properties more than one acre, using an in-ground rotors and sprays irrigation system.
o 6–8 a.m. and 6–10 p.m. for properties any size, using a sprinkling can, hand-held hose equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle, or micro-irrigation.

Fountains

* Aesthetic fountains and other water features are now prohibited.

Car and Pressure Washing

* Residential car washing is now prohibited.
* Charity car washes are now prohibited.
* Commercial car wash operations and mobile detailing services are allowed. However, cars for sale or lease may not be routinely washed; they may be washed immediately prior to sale or lease.
* Pressure washing conducted by commercial businesses is allowed for certain purposes, which include cleaning to eliminate a safety hazard, preparation for painting or similar activity, maintaining a paint or material warranty, and as needed to meet federal, state or local health and safety standards.

Water-Based Air Conditioning

* Government facilities, common areas in malls, lobbies of multi-tenant office buildings and similar public spaces using cooling towers or other water-based cooling must keep the temperature at or above 78 degrees Fahrenheit.
* There are exemptions for health and safety, such as hospital facilities.

Remaining Restrictions

* Unless modified by the new Phase IV order, Phase III restrictions remain in place in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties. This includes the use of irrigation wells and utilities not affected by the Phase IV order.

Remembering the early years of Gasparilla

Denis Baldwin — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:59:00 +0000

With so much negativity surrounding Gasparilla, I’d like to take a moment to show everyone a side of Gasparilla they probably take for granted.

This is Gasparilla, as it appeared in 1925. Eighty three years ago, before drunks puked on your lawns and police blocked off the streets to keep the riots at bay, there was a sense of unity over the pirate invasion. Cars lined the streets while people stood by and watched the pirate ship come in. It was a different time and place, but it was reflective of the world these people lived in.

If you don’t like Gasparilla, don’t go. Less people would make it easier for those of us who want to be in the thick of it to enjoy the festivities. If you don’t like people destroying your lawns one day a year, convince the Krewes to have the parade moved to another water-front area. Why not channelside? or along Kennedy?

Gasparilla is here to stay. It’s a long established tradition that has turned into an emulsion of drunks, hookers, stupidity and violence. The answer to this is not to end the celebration. The answer is to control and relocate the attendees to a more industrial or commercial venue where the damage can be minimized.

Until that day, take a look at the photo above and consider what Gasparilla once was. I find it difficult to hate something with such a deep seated history and tradition of social responsibility that has only recently become a problem.

Tampa Electric Signs Contract to Purchase Solar Photovoltaic Energy

Denis Baldwin — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 04:08:00 +0000

Story Courtesy of Solar Energy News and Reviews:
http://solarenergynewsandreview.blogspot.com/2009/03/tampa-electric-signs-contract-to.html

TAMPA, Fla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Tampa Electric (NYSE:TE) today announced that it has signed a contract to purchase solar power supplied by Energy 5.0’s Florida Solar I facility, a proposed 25-megawatt (MW) solar PV electric generating station, for a 25-year period beginning in 2011.

Today, Tampa Electric filed a petition with the Florida Public Service Commission for approval to purchase the energy generated by the solar facility. The solar energy contract was awarded to Energy 5.0, the successful bidder in Tampa Electric’s 2007 Renewable Generation Request for Proposals.

“I applaud TECO and Energy 5.0 on this exciting partnership that moves Florida closer to our goal of increasing energy diversity and reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” said Governor Charlie Crist. “Two years ago, I challenged Florida to find the ‘gold in green,’ and we continue to see companies investing in innovative solutions that promote the use of renewable energy while saving money for consumers.”

Tampa Electric President Chuck Black said, “We are committed to pursuing our state’s goal of developing and supporting Florida renewable energy sources that will benefit our customers and are in the best interest of all Floridians. This cutting edge project will be important in meeting current and future state renewable energy objectives.”

Over its 25-year proposed contract term, the project is expected to avoid the emission of up to 1.45 million tons of carbon dioxide when compared to a natural gas-fired peaking combustion turbine. The contract will also:

* promote the state’s goal of encouraging the production of renewable energy produced by renewable energy generating facilities in Florida.
* reduce Florida’s dependence on natural gas and fuel oil for electricity production.
* provide the basis for significant new investment, economic development and job creation in Polk County and in the state.
* reduce environmental impacts associated with electricity generation.
* protect the company and its customers from technical and operational risks through its energy-only, fixed pricing.
* provide fuel diversity benefits.

Energy 5.0, a Florida-based company with extensive experience and success in the development, financing and operation of renewable energy projects, will build the 25-MW facility on a proposed 200 to 400 acre site in Polk County. The facility will be one of the largest solar PV facilities in the nation.

The project will consist of silicon-based PV panels that generate electricity when exposed to sunlight. The 25-MW facility is expected to produce more than 48,000 MWh of electricity per year – enough output to serve the electric energy needs of more than 3,400 homes. The average home in Tampa Electric’s service territory uses about 14,000 kWh per year.

“As our company’s flagship solar power project, this undertaking will be a showcase for zero-emission renewable power in the Southeast,” said Energy 5.0 Chairman Bud Cherry. “Assuming approval by the Florida Public Service Commission this spring, deliveries from the Florida Solar I Project could begin in the first half of 2011.”

Tampa Electric Company is the principal subsidiary of TECO Energy, Inc. (NYSE: TE), an integrated energy-related holding company with regulated utility businesses, complemented by a family of unregulated businesses. Tampa Electric Company is a regulated utility with both electric and gas divisions (Tampa Electric and Peoples Gas System). Other subsidiaries are engaged in coal, and electric generation and distribution in Guatemala.

Energy 5.0 LLC

Energy 5.0 LLC, headquartered in West Palm Beach, is a privately held, well-capitalized, Florida-based company. Founded by energy professionals with over 80 years of industry experience, Energy 5.0 applies creative and reliable solutions to create value in energy ventures. Energy 5.0 is committed to excellence in the delivery of clean renewable energy.

Energy 5.0’s principals have over 40 years of experience in renewable energy power project development and renewable technology application utilizing cogeneration, geothermal, solar and wind technology. Energy 5.0 knows how to design, build and operate successful renewable energy projects. Energy 5.0 has assembled a team of recognized solar industry players and Florida professionals to undertake the Florida Solar I Project. Drawing on its own experience and this network of qualified professionals, the Energy 5.0 team will use its talent and state of the art technology to deliver a project with lasting beneficial impact.

For more information on Energy 5.0 LLC and its principals, visit www.energy5-0.com.

Speakers out of the back of van Scam

Denis Baldwin — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 00:31:00 +0000

This is a pretty well known tale and I’d heard of this going on when I lived in Detroit, though I never thought I’d actually see it in action.

I pulled into my local Sweetbay (805 E DR Martin Luther King Jr Blvd 0 Tampa, FL 33603-4337) today to pick up a few groceries. No sooner did I park than two guys in a rust-color van rolled up on me and said, “Hey man, I’ve got this good deal on speakers. We just did an install and we had these extra. Sell them to you cheap.”

I asked what kind they are, and was told they were “MTS Technica”, and still in the box. I knew this sounded strangely familiar, so I politely told them that I wasn’t interested and went on about my business. They proceeded to pester several more people in the parking lot.

What amazes me about this is how gullible a person would have to be to fall for it. Common sense would dictate that nothing both good and legal ever came out of the back of a van. Secondly, even if MTS Technica really was a brand name, what do you know of them? Do they carry a warranty? Obviously, you can’t return these? Also, their “bargain price” of $300 for a pair is hardly a bargain. Decent mid-level high quality brand names can be had in big box stores for that much or less.

Much like Nigerian princes, anything easily debunked by the internet is too good to be true.

No related posts.

Red Light Cameras, coming to a Tampa Road Near You

Denis Baldwin — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:25:00 +0000

I remember sitting through the meetings in Lakeland when it was decided that Red Light Cameras would be placed at several local intersections. Now, it seems that these cameras will be placed in most every major city in Florida. This was billed as a “safety measure”, meant to ensure that motorists wouldn’t run red lights. There’s a few blatant issues with that theory.

Firstly, if it was truly a safety issue, there would be accompanying signage where the cameras are posted, saying “RED LIGHT CAMERAS IN USE”. People would be extra careful if they knew there were possible consequences. By hiding the cameras in plain view without any signs to compliment them, they are likely to do little to nothing about safety issues.

Secondly, putting Red Light Cameras in busy intersections could actually cause more issues. Cities will often shorten yellow-light times to catch more drivers in the act. There has been instances where 10 second lights get shortened to as few as 3 seconds, causing drivers to lock up their brakes at cruising speeds to avoid the red light and thus causing an accident.

Thirdly, the owner of the vehicle is assessed the fine ($150) regardless of who was driving or what the situation. Driving your pregnant wife to the hospital and had to run a few yellows? Ticket. Have a health emergency? Ticket. Someone steals your car? Ticket. Imagine what a joyride in your vehicle could do to your wallet against the automaton protectors we’ll soon have policing our red lights.

The real issue here is money. Red Light Cameras are big business for cities that implement them. The contractors who install the cameras keep a small fee for running them and the rest goes into the coffers of the city. This is why you’ll see shorter yellow lights. It’s not about safety, it’s about cashflow. You can believe that in a down economy, anything that can be done to improve cash flow at the cost of it’s citizens will be used. This is just one example.

The current bill states that you will not receive points against your drivers license and your insurance premiums will not go up. I’d consider this a “for now” statement. As soon as the city governments and the insurance industry work out some kind of deal, you can be your butt that there will be hiked premiums that you’ll have a hard time fighting.

What is it? Hotel? House? Haunted Mansion?

Denis Baldwin — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:29:00 +0000

Since I moved to this part of town, this building has been a mystery I’ve been dabbling in. It’s called “The White House Apartment Motel”. No one in the area seems to know much about it, why it exists. No one answers the door when knocking. I couldn’t find any tax documents on it. It’s just “there”, and it’s on a busy enough street and in a commercial zone that there should be more information about it. The little bit of information I did find is inconclusive.

From the very small bit of information I could find from the City of Tampa, the building was originally built in 1912 as a house/dwelling in the 1898 Bryans subdivision. It continues to be listed the same in the 1915 & 1930-50 Sanborn surveys, with minor alterations. A good bit of time passes before it is renamed and sold as “The White House Motel” in 1982 by one Juana Tuero to one Gloria Rosa Pividal, who is the current listed owner. Gloria hasn’t done much with it since other than cash out equity every other year while racking up numerous fire code violations and city liens placed to collect unpaid fines. An attempt to reach Gloria Rosa Pividal has lead nowhere. Too bad, as I was really hoping to talk to her about what she was going to do with it, what it’s history is, etc.etc.

I’ve asked some locals, who tell me it’s “haunted”. Even if you do believe in the supernatural, it seems far fetched, especially considering the lack of documented history.

Either way, it has a cool sign and a creepy exterior, so here’s some photos:

Question and Answer with Kathy Karalekas of HART

Denis Baldwin — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 17:48:00 +0000

With all the discussion going on with the changes to HART, the rail system and other HART-related issues all over Tampa, I went to the source to ask about the state of mass transit in Tampa. Kathy Karalekas, Public Information Officer for the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit, was kind enough to respond to my queries.

Are there plans for expanded rail here in Tampa? I’ve taken the channelside to ybor rail trolley and it’s great. Was hoping to see more of that in the future.

We’ll be extending the The TECO Line Streetcar System soon (that’s another quirky thing about us – we call the rubber-wheel trolley-buses that circulate around downtown “trolleys,” while the little electric trains on rails are “streetcars” – so there is a difference.).

The current end of the line near the Tampa Convention Center will be extended about 1/3 of a mile to Whiting Street. Not far, but it does get us right to the doorstep of downtown. The extension can eventually get people who live in Channelside and Ybor to work in downtown – although today the service starts too late for that. We’re hoping that extending the line will cause more people to ride, which will allow us to extend the hours as well. Plus, it will be a big help for Gasparilla and other big events downtown, and can take the office workers to lunch in Channelside. There will also be a new station there at the new terminus. We’ve put that project out to bid and should start construction later this year.

As for a commuter rail or light rail system, there may be some light at the end of that tunnel as well. We had a Tampa rail project that was approved for federal funding back in 2002, but our county commission at the time did not support providing the required local funding and it was shelved. That project has been dusted off, and we’re working on getting it back into the New Starts federal funding process. There have been discussions about asking the county commission to place a referendum for local transit funding on the ballot in 2010. That funding could be used for a new rail transit system, as well as beefing up the county bus system, also vital to a healthy rail line (you need buses to get people from the train station to their final destination, especially in a hot and rainy climate like ours!).

Secondly, do your buses and trains take credit or debit cards? I ask as that’s one of the things that keeps me from riding either more often. I hate carrying cash and I know a lot of others feel the same way.

You can’t pay by credit card onboard, but there are several other options for you:

Ticket Vending Machines – the TECO Line Streetcar System has an automated TVM at Dick Greco Plaza, the current end of the line near the Tampa Convention Center. I think there are also TVM’s at Marion Transit Center downtown and at the Netpark Transfer Center near Temple Terrace for bus travel, but I’m not 100% sure about that. They take credit cards, but not debit cards right now.

Staffed Customer Service Centers – If you visit Marion Transit Center at the north end of downtown or HART on Franklin right next to Tampa Police Dept. in the heart of downtown, you can use your credit card to buy fare cards. The University Area Transit Center near USF, HART’s administrative offices on 7th Avenue in Ybor City and our operations and maintenance facility on 21st Avenue off of I-4 and 40th Street also accept credit cards for fare card purchases (those last two are only open during regular M-F business hours).

Online purchases – You can order fare cards online via our secure server at www.goHART.org. Click on the Transit Store link on the bottom bar of the page. You can pay using a credit card and receive your fare cards in the mail. One caveat: the store has been down for a few days while the company that hosts it migrates to a new server. Not sure when it will be back up, but we’re hoping it’s soon!

Lastly, what improvements are planned for HART over the next 3 months? 6 months? year? few years?

The two biggies we have going on right now are the streetcar extension to Whiting and the new Bus Rapid Transit project. BRT is an express bus system with new vehicles and station stops, fewer stops, faster boarding and some other advanced technology to help speed up travel time. The first phase of BRT will be a North-South line starting on Fletcher Avenue, then traveling down Nebraska Avenue to downtown. Construction on that should begin late this year or early next year, with operation expected sometime in 2011. The second phase of BRT service will be an East-West line between HART’s Netpark Transfer Center (at Hillsborough Avenue and 56th Street) and Tampa International Airport. The second line is still in the planning stages and is a few years away.

Here’s a link to the BRT page on our website for some more info: http://www.gohart.org/departments/marketing/brt/brt_main_page.html

We’re also adding frequency to service between the airport and downtown on Route 30, which should be cool. And we’re adding to existing service to make it work better for everyone. Our March 29th service changes include about 900 hours of new service per week.

In addition, you might have seen some news coverage in the last few days that HART is receiving $15 million in federal stimulus funds. Some of that will be used to buy new buses and update some others, and there are also some other projects in the works for that. Here are links to the stories, in the Tribune and on Fox 13:

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/feb/25/na-stimulus-to-benefit-hart/news-metro/

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/HART_022509

NEW GROUP TO KEEP HART GROWING

Denis Baldwin — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 13:07:00 +0000

Major Projects Committee Holds First Meeting Monday

February 13, 2009 – Tampa, Florida – With the federal economic stimulus package about to become a reality, a new leadership group is set to take a closer look at projects that could help take HART into the future of transit in Tampa Bay.

Getting a Start on the Future
The group, called the Major Projects and Legislative Committee, will provide guidance and input as HART takes on improvements that will change the way public transit moves people in Hillsborough County.

The Major Projects Committee is headed up by HART Vice Chair Alison Hewitt, and will hold its first meeting on Monday, February 16th at 8:30 a.m. at HART’s administrative office building located at 1201 E. 7th Avenue in Ybor City. Other committee members are Tampa City Councilman John Dingfelder, Wallace Bowers, Michael York, Dr. Steven Polzin, and Hillsborough County Commissioners Rose Ferlita, Mark Sharpe and Kevin Beckner.

The committee will discuss projects that may be funded by the federal economic stimulus package, and the status of the Hillsborough County rail system and Bus Rapid Transit project. The information packet for the meeting is available on HART’s website. Click here to download it in PDF format.

Rail Project on Track
HART continues to keep the future of rail transit in Tampa Bay on the right track, with progress on the rail project’s re-entry into the federal New Starts funding process.
A new consulting firm, Gannett Fleming, is onboard to compile information and analysis and develop recommendations on the starter line corridor.
The first meeting of the project’s new Technical Working Group was held on February 6th.
The Project Steering Committee will get together for its third meeting on February 17th.

HART Mission Statement

Our Team is dedicated to providing excellent customer service while building solutions to support Hillsborough County’s needs…now and into the future.
HART’s web address is now www.goHART.org! Use our trip planning feature powered by Google Transit, order fare cards in the Online Transit Store, and get complete route maps and schedules. Call the HARTinfo Line at (813) 254-4278 to learn more.

Media Contacts

Kathy Karalekas
Public Information Officer
Office: (813) 449-4707
Cell: (813) 545-5497
E-mail: karalekask@goHART.org

Ed Crawford
Chief of Government Affairs
Office: (813) 449-4709
Cell: (813) 309-3153
E-mail: crawforde@goHART.org

Tampa Ranks # 53 for Places to Start a Business

Denis Baldwin — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:01:00 +0000

Thanks to Sticks of Fire and to Bizjournals for this article:

http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2009/02/02/daily48.html

Looks like Florida Markets in general are all over the spectrum:

No. 7 Orlando
No. 12 Miami-Fort Lauderdale
No. 20 Cape Coral
No. 25 Jacksonville
No. 43 Palm Bay-Melbourne
No. 44 Bradenton-Sarasota
No. 51 Daytona Beach
No. 53 Tampa-St. Petersburg
No. 81 Lakeland

It’s obvious to me why Lakeland would be so far down the list. High electric cost, political corruption, the CSX fiasco and every other mess-in-progress makes Lakeland a horrible place to live, let alone work. It’s also obvious to me why Detroit was dead last. Any place built on the failing auto industry and it’s support system is going to have issues with businesses of any size right now.

By why is Tampa so far down the list?

Bizjournals used a six-part formula to analyze the nation’s 100 largest metropolitan areas, searching for the places that are most conducive to the creation and development of small businesses. These included Population, Employment, Small-Business Growth, Economy Prosperity, Rate of Expansion and Density of Small Businesses.

So, with all of that in mind, Tampa lands at #53. This surprises me, actually. There’s a lot of lower-cost places to rent here in commercial zones. We have a decent sized populous. I’ve seen a lot of small businesses thrive here. I notice it states Tampa-St. Petersberg, so it must obviously cover the entire bay area. Perhaps there’s some area of our region that really skews the numbers? Perhaps their idea of growth and success differs from mine? I also have to wonder how this compares to 5 years ago, or 10 years ago.

I’ll have to do some more research into this. I’m definitely surprised we’re so far down the list, especially compared to Orlando at No. 7. Could the house of mouse really make that big a difference?