Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog

Still waiting for your yard debris to be picked up? Here’s the schedule for Hillsborough County. No power? Check TECO’s progress.

Don’t forget – the first debate between presidential hopefuls John Kerry and George W. Bush is tonight at 9:00. Live from right here in Florida – Coral Gables, to be exact. It’s unlikely you’ll see any real fireworks, but hopefully you’ll get a good idea of where each candidate stands regarding foreign policy. The debate will be broadcast live on the major networks as well as cable news networks.

Related: SebiMyer says because of the overabundance of campaigning expected in Florida, local high school and college students can easily find information about the candidates, form an opinion, and therefore, VOTE.

The late Roland Mantiega was the publisher of Ybor City’s La Gaceta (America’s only tri-lingual newspaper) for decades. Local officials want to honor Mantiega’s many contributions to the area by naming the new Ybor City post office after him. The naming of any federal building (such as a post office) must be approved by all members of the state congress, and is generally just a rubber-stamping. Three Miami Cuban-American legislators refuse to endorse the honor. The rationale behind this is a interesting read, and only begins to show the vitriol that Fidel Casto inspires. You also might just learn the difference between Tampa’s Cuban community and Miami’s – especially 50 years ago. Check it out, and learn a little (just a little) about Tampa/Cuban history.

Hey don’t forget – the Boobie-thon begins Friday!

On Saturday, bring your kids to Nickelodeon’s world-wide day of play at Curtis Hixon Park, then stop by the Hyde Park Art Festival.

Saturday night brings the Artists and Voters Fair & Ball.

Tampa Theater’s annual wine tasting event is Saturday. The event began in 2002 with “Gone with the Wine,” which was followed by last year’s “Raiders of the Lost Cork.” This years theme will take you back to the late 70’s, when disco was king. Get your platform shoes, unnaturally large shirt collars, stark white leisure suit, and head down to Saturday Wine Fever. 6pm October 2 at the Tampa Theater.

Holy Manero.

In only six and a half fleeting months, Sticks of Fire had its 10,000th visitor last night. At 8:30 Tuesday, Tyler of Casimir’s Weblog came by to visit, and even commented on this post on the state of Florida’s education – not to mention following up in his blog. If you remember, Tyler is also the witty commenter who won a gmail invite from me, as well as a free song that he never received. I should acknowledge that my count wouldn’t be nearly that high if it weren’t for being instalanched way back during that first hurricane. Anyway, thanks to all of you who read Sticks of Fire – I appreciate your attention, as well as your participation. While I’m thinking about it, I’d like all you lurkers to leave a comment here, at least just to say “hi!”

You may remember during Hurricane Frances that Cargill’s Riverview fertilizer plant had some gypsum stacks breached, and the poluted, acidic water ended up in Tampa Bay. Well, Robert C. tells us that Cargill’s plant in Bartow has the same problems during Jeanne. And here’s a bonus, the fish killing company has over 100 “Cargill Cares Councils” across the US, but NONE IN FLORIDA. This too was noticed by Robert at I-4 Jamming.

As Blogwood has told you time and again, the phosphate industry is dangerous to the environment. In fact, since 1967, there have been at least ten make that eleven fish-killing spills in Florida from phosphate/fertilizer companies. The phosphate industry has spilled, killed, and spilled again – for decades. Yet the industry continues to get away with inadequate environmental protections, and receives only small fines or any other sort of punishment. Here is the Florida Phosphate Council:

Some people have expressed concern that our industry might pollute water. But the fact is, discharge permits under which we must operate require that the water we discharge must be clean enough for recreational and environmental purposes, and that it be clean enough to not cause any pollution threat to the public water supply.

Obviously, the permits and regulations are not nearly stringent enough.

It is understood that phosphate mining contributes to the area’s economic well-being. And I’m not advocating shutting them down entirely. But if your industry pollutes natural resources (an even bigger aspect of our local economy), you need to clean it up.

Links: The Phosphate Risk has suggestions on other things the industry could do. Also check out environmentalists Manasota-88 for more information. The Florida Phosphate Council is the mouthpiece for the local industry.

Beginning Friday, Oct 1, it’s Commuter Choices Week! The Downtown Partnership and Bay Area Commuter Services wants you to throw your keys on the counter, and find another way to work. Take a bus, walk, ride a bike, or telecommute. For those of you in Brandon who want to ride your bike, good friggin’ luck. Your get to choose either along Highway 60 (no sidewalks) or the Lee Roy Selmon/Crosstown expressway (may collapse on you). Here’s a listing of all Tampa area CCW Events.