Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog

From Hillsborough County:

County to Proclaim June as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Fund Month

Hundreds of Hillsborough County high school graduates have had an opportunity to pursue a higher education, thanks in part to the generosity of county employees. In honor of their commitment to enhance the educational aspirations of local students, the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners will proclaim June as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund Month. The Commissioners plan to recognize the contributions made by participating county employees during their June 6 Board Meeting, beginning at 9 a.m. in the 2nd floor boardroom of County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd. in Tampa.

In 1988, the county’s employees established the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund to commemorate the life and legacy of the slain civil rights leader. Since that time, more than 400 deserving students - regardless of race, creed or color - have received more than $500,000 made possible through voluntary payroll deductions and fundraisers.

City of Tampa employees joined the effort in 1992 to provide more than 20 academic scholarships yearly to area students. Each award, worth $1,000, is given based on academic achievement, financial need and community service. Today, support for the scholarship fund has grown to include contributions from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department.

For more information about the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund, contact Joyce Russell, African American Liaison, at 276-2637.

Back in April, meteorologist John Winter killed himself, and many wanted to know why. According to reports, he was very distraught over an extramarital affair he had. He “felt he was an embarrassment and that his wife would not forgive him.”

I still have difficulty understanding the end result.

And I can’t even imagine how this affects those involved.

Sunday’s editorial by Rosemary Goudreau says we should “engage citizens in a discussion” about growth, but she doesn’t want those pesky citizens actually VOTING on their Comprehensive Plan, because that “could grind growth to a halt and destroy jobs.”

Never has the time been better to engage citizens in a discussion about how the region should grow, the attributes we want to preserve and the trade-offs we might accept.

Next year a state constitutional amendment called “Hometown Democracy” will go to voters requiring citizens to approve any change to a community’s “comp plan.” It’s a misguided proposal that could grind growth to a halt and destroy jobs.

Tuesday’s Tribune editorial adds:

“If [citizens] manage to slow down the construction of houses and apartments, they will slow the state’s economy…”

Contrary to these hysterical warnings of the economic doom that might come from letting citizens control development in our communities, unrestrained growth is NOT good for our economy. In fact, unrestrained growth is drowning us in debt. A new county study (the FIELD model) shows that unless we rein in development, in twenty years our county will be $3.3 billion in debt on roads alone, while schools and other infrastructure will increase that deficit. Each new house costs Hillsborough taxpayers several thousand dollars just in road costs not covered by impact fees. Our county is right now about to borrow $500 million against our future taxes just to make a small down-payment toward our $3.8 billion unfunded roadway need.

Furthermore, a healthy job market does NOT depend on unsustainable numbers of new houses being built every year. I’ve employed numerous plumbers & electricians, and bought new roofs & appliances, even though I’ve never bought a brand-new house. I’ve employed realtors too, each time I’ve bought another old house. And we all spend plenty of money on goods & services totally unrelated to the building of new subdivisions.

Our taxes subsidize development. We also pay for over-development in time wasted sitting in congested traffic. Our children pay sitting in overcrowded schools. We pay in water and other natural resources.

Yet the Tribune implies that we should be disregarded if we try to defend our communities (and our property values) against over-development that degrades our neighborhoods, lowers our quality of life, AND costs us dearly.

I’m all for “engaging citizens in a discussion,” but that would incorrectly imply that our elected officials would actually listen. Simply put, if our leaders consistently fail to vote the way we wish they would, then we need to take the reins ourselves and vote on these matters directly.

24, of Orlando, Fla.

assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Hawaii; killed Jan. 26 when the CH-53E helicopter in which he was riding crashed near Rutbah, Iraq. Twenty-nine Marines and one sailor also were killed.

Gael wasn’t their first-born child, but he was the Saintvils’ first son. He was proud to be a Marine, and he wasn’t shy about wanting to be near the action.

what is this?

This week, the musical group of which I have been assured that I am an “integral” part of is heading north to Music City, USA.

We will be busy all day Friday and then Saturday night, but will have Sunday to be a tourist.  What’s the one thing I don’t want to miss?  And please don’t suggest I check out their recently completed commuter rail project.

21, of Plant City, Fla.

assigned to 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif.; killed Dec. 23 by enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq.

James R. Phillips couldn’t wait to return to his two great loves: his family and his car. His family couldn’t wait for him to get back, either, postponing celebrations for Christmas and Thanksgiving. “You’re not going to miss out on anything,” his mother told him. “He went from baby to boy to Marine,” said Ronald Tew, a lifelong friend. “Everyone loved him. He will be missed.” Phillips graduated high school in 2001 and his father said he loved to fish, hunt, ride four-wheelers and work on his car _ a poppy orange 1965 Ford Mustang. Rachel Cundiff, a friend of Phillips’ since both were eighth-graders, said he was always upbeat and would shower her with kind words that brightened her day. “He was an awesome person to be around,” she said. Phillips is survived by his parents, Mike and Lisa. Next Christmas, the Phillipses said they will put up a tree and ornaments to celebrate James’ life.

what is this?

Back in April, Hillsborough County warned Town & Country residents about odors from their wastewater problems, which went on for at least a week and a half. In May, the county’s Valrico wasterwater plant earned some fines for allowing too many contaminants through. Earlier this month, the city of Tampa’s wastewater plant had mechanical problems, and the city tried to keep it out of the news.

What’s going on with our wastewater departments?

A blind man from Ft. Myers in town for a conference was mugged Friday as he asked for directions to the bus stop.

At 2:30 p.m. Friday, in broad daylight, the 27-year-old — in town from Fort Myers for a conference for the blind at the Wyndham Westshore — asked a man for directions to the bus stop.

The man grabbed Scheppe’s T-shirt.

“Give me the money,” he demanded. Then came a rain of kicks and punches.

When it stopped, and the man ran away, Scheppe felt for his belongings.

His cane was gone. His phone. The duffel bag was gone, and with it his clothes, digital camera, about $190 and National Federation for the Blind shot glasses to sell to raise funds for the group. He also lost a checkbook belonging to the Student Division of the National Federation for the Blind of Florida, for which he’s treasurer.

The Ft. Myers newspaper lets potential visitors know: Local man attacked, robbed in Tampa

Pathetic.

Tampa Police are looking for the attacker. He’s described as a black man, 18-21 years old. He’s 5′4″ tall and weighs about 140 pounds. He was last seen wearing a knit cap, dark shirt and light shorts.