Davis Islands Today

Escape from the hustle and bustle of the season and bask in the refined music and reflective sounds presented by Florida Pro Musica. For the sixth year running, this professional ensemble returns with its extraordinarily popular concert performance of Gregorian Chant downtown at Sacred Heart Church, only a few minutes drive from Davis Islands, on Sunday, December 14, at 4 pm.  Presented in a shorter concert style, rather than a church service, the program offers listeners a chance to experience the beauty of a sung mass as it might have sounded in the 11th or 12th centuries.

The program is the Mass for the 3rd Sunday of Advent. Selected lessons are read in English, and the printed program offers an English translation of the chants. The chants are sung from the loft at the rear of the church, and the music floats down to the listeners below, through the magnificent marble and stone interior of Sacred Heart Church.  Larry Kent, Music Director of Florida Pro Musica, has been a resident of Davis Islands with his family for 12 years. He is proud to bring this tradition once again to the downtown area.

Admission to this event is free, as a gift to the Tampa Bay community.  For more information, as well as directions to Sacred Heart, visit <a href=”http://www.FloridaProMusica.com”>www.FloridaProMusica.com</a> or call 813-293-4594.   Florida Pro Musica is also celebrating its ten year anniversary, and has exciting plans in the works for spring 2009 concerts.

The holiday shopping season is upon us, and by many accounts, it’s going to be a slow one. Over the past couple of years, insurance and taxes have risen, as have the ranks of the unemployed. Along with the value of our homes, retail spending is down.

Well, we want to help you get the most bang for your buck this holiday season, and this issue of the Davis Islands Community News is packed with ways you can help yourself this year.

Our front page story explains how shopping at local retailers keeps your money in your own neighborhood. The more you spend right here in Tampa, the more you see invested in your surroundings, including some places very close to home.

We also have some tips for saving money during this holiday season. Inside the Community News, you will see plenty of ways to be thrifty when shopping for gifts, including ways to save that just make good sense, as well as some ideas that you may have never considered.

Local non-profits give back directly to the community, too, and Judy Hill reminds us of a couple that are making Tampa a better place – for all of us.

You will want to grab the December issue of the Community News right out of your mailbox, and read it from cover to cover to find more ways to stretch your gift-giving (and grocery shopping) budget in the coming weeks.

Happy Holidays from the Davis Islands Community News!

A plane approaching Peter O. Knight Airport struck the mast of a sailing vessel and crashed 50 feet short of the runway.

The skipper of the sailboat, Windseeker, was not hurt.  Both the plane’s pilot and his passenger were treated for injuries.

With the Yacht Club and marina adjacent to the airport, it’s a bit of a surprise this doesn’t happen more often.  Some have surmised that the plane was coming in too low.

LOCAL SCHOOLS TEAMING UP FOR SUPER BOWL PROJECT TO HELP CHILDREN IN NEED

Schools in the Tampa Bay area are teaming up with the NFL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tampa Bay Super Bowl Host Committee and the NFL Youth Education Towns (YET) of Tampa Bay for a Super Bowl project that puts books and sports equipment into the hands of children in need. The project, called Super Kids-Super Sharing, has been implemented in Super Bowl host communities for the past nine years and has placed tens of thousands of books and pieces of sports equipment into the hands of children in need. There is still time for area schools to join in this year’s effort.

Beginning in December, participating schools will ask their students to donate gently used or new books and sports equipment. A week before Super Bowl, donated items will be brought to a collection point where they will be sorted, then distributed to pre-selected schools and organizations.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Warrick Dunn will champion the Super Kids-Super Sharing project. “This Super Bowl project is all about kids helping other kids,” said Dunn. “It’s a great chance for students to get involved and help out other children.”

For the first time, local football fans also have an opportunity to participate in Super Kids-Super Sharing. On Sunday, November 30, fans can help kickoff the project by bringing new or gently used sports equipment to the Buccaneers home game. Volunteers from the Tampa Bay Super Bowl Host Committee will collect the donated equipment at all gates and club entrances when fans check in.

Schools will begin their own collections in January. The Diocese of St. Petersburg, Hillsborough County Public Schools and Pinellas County Schools have all signed on to participate. Individual schools in those districts and in outlying areas interested in collecting books and sports equipment as part of Super Kids-Super Sharing may sign up by contacting Susan Groh at (401) 732-1551 or NFLenvironment@aol.com. The NFL provides instructions, posters, flyer templates and other materials to make it easy for schools to implement this project.

Super Kids-Super Sharing is part of the NFL’s environmental initiative for Super Bowl. The NFL Environmental Program plays an active role behind the scenes at Super Bowl. In addition to Super Kids-Super Sharing, the NFL Environmental Program ensures that tens of thousands of pounds of unserved prepared food from Super Bowl events are distributed to local shelters and community kitchens. The Environmental Program is also responsible for recycling cardboard and other materials from Super Bowl events and donates everything from decorative banners to building materials to local non-profit agencies. Several tree planting projects will be developed as part of Super Bowl. ‘Green power’ will also be used to power Raymond James Stadium for Super Bowl XLIII and to power the NFL Experience Football Theme Park.

The NFL Environmental Program is just one of a large number of community events and initiatives implemented each year by the NFL to leave a positive legacy in each Super Bowl host community.

By Vanessa Daniel

Not Formal, Not Fussy, Not Fusion: So states the sign that hangs outside on the walls of an old 1920s style bungalow in the heart of Old Hyde Park village. With that motto in mind, Bailey’s Catering & Restaurant is out to please diners in an extremely welcoming environment with high-quality, perfected home style cooking.

Unlike some restaurants that brag of healthy options or small servings, chef and owner Kim Bailey’s dining options complement his diet craze: The North Beach Diet. If you are unfamiliar with this latest idea, just read the title of the book to get a good idea of what he is talking about: “The North Beach Diet: Add Belly and Hip Fat Instantly with Batter Fried Twinkies and More.”

This is not your typical restaurant.

When dining at Baileys, expect the owner to personally welcome you at your table, and be prepared to enlighten him with the dessert selection you plan on devouring that evening, as it is a requirement when indulging at the “big yellow house” on Rome Ave.

The vast menu changes weekly, but will always evoke inner childhood memories with options such as pot roast and meatloaf to fried shrimp and mac and cheese.

On our most recent visit, we started with the Bailey’s AWESOME Corn Fritters ($6.95). Calling them an appetizer is an understatement; the dinner sized portion of fritters were served in a large basket, sprinkled in powdered sugar and served with orange blossom honey. This, in addition to the complimentary black bean humus and pita chips brought immediately to the table after being seated, had me full before I was even able to decide on my main entrée.

Somehow I found enough willpower to opt for the incredible homemade chicken and dumplings for two ($16.95). OK, so it’s not really made to be shared by two people, but the filled platter might as well have been split! The dish came served in a large bowl with a generous amount of shredded chicken, perfectly prepared dumplings and served with 2 sides. My side preferences that evening were the mashed potatoes and the cauliflower / broccoli mash – a must at this place!

If deciding on a menu selection is too hard for you though, don’t worry about deciding on the wrong option – everything on the menu is made fresh from scratch daily, using only the finest ingredients all the way down to Kim’s homemade Madagascar vanilla ice cream.

And don’t forget to wash down your dinner with a reasonably priced bottle of wine or beer. You may say to yourself, no restaurant offers a reasonable priced wine and/or alcohol menu and you’re right – Baileys is BYOB with no corkage fee and therefore YOU choose what price you are paying for your evening’s beverages. No Fuss, indeed!

The only downfall of Bailey’s is that they are only open from Tuesday through Thursday evenings, 5:30pm – 8:30pm. You will crave its tantalizing menu much more often than that.

If you simply can’t live without the food on those nights they are not open, you can always call upon Baileys for your catering needs. Baileys specializes in offering its clients with “delectable food from around the globe” for your corporate meeting or personal gathering at your home.

Bailey’s Catering
815 South Rome Avenue
Tampa, Florida 33606
(813) 254-8018
(800) 977-9423
www.BaileyCatering.com

From Climb Tampa:

Join us for one of the most unique events in Tampa Bay. On March 21, 2009, hundreds of people will huff and puff their way climbing the 42 flights in the Bank of America Plaza in downtown Tampa. This is more than your same old 5K this event is a vertical race to climb 42 floors/914 steps. Whether climbing for a winning time or simply to cross the finish line in honor or in memory of someone with lung disease, this event is a great way to challenge yourself physically. We guarantee that all finishers will have a newfound respect for healthy lungs!

All proceeds benefit the American Lung Association for lung cancer research, education, and prevention programs. Many do not realize that lung cancer is still the number one cancer killer in both men and women.

Paws for Thought
By Jennifer Fadal

I write this article every year because I think it is so important to remember pet safety during the holidays.

It is so tempting to “give a dog a bone”… or a piece of juicy turkey, or, gravy covered mashed potatoes or… Well, you get the point. They look at you with those sad, sad eyes and there is absolutely food everywhere! I know! Although the average American gains a pound or two over the holidays, we should not allow that for our canines and felines.

The fresh aroma of turkey basting in the oven, along with creamy gravy simmering on the stove and pies on the table will have your dog drooling. During this month and the next, it is important to watch the health and safety of our pets. Here are a few tips to help avoid an unwanted trip to the emergency vet or a sick pet at the party.

• • Keep your pet on their standard diet. Avoid giving them turkey or other meats, since this can cause an upset stomach, vomiting, or diarrhea, all of which can ruin the celebration.
  • Keep aluminum foil, plastic wrap, plastic bags and wax paper away from pets. Disposing of these items properly can prevent accidental intestinal blockage while trying to lick the last morsel of gravy from the cover.
  • While a wishbone may bring you a great wish, it can bring your dog an unwanted problem. Any brittle or splintering bone, wish or otherwise, can become lodged in their esophagus as well as puncture a hole in their intestines.
  • Discourage friends and family from feeding your dog extra snacks and scraps. Snacks that are high in salt (chips and peanuts) and other fatty foods can cause Pancreatitis, which is a life-threatening condition.
  • While chocolates may taste great, they contain theobromine which can be hazardous to your pet’s health. Baker’s chocolate is the highest in theobromine and can cause the most problems.
  • As with any holiday, see that your pet has a safe haven to move to…away from the festivities. This will give your pet a much needed “Time-Out” from the hustle of the holiday.
  • Make sure that your pet has their identification tags on during all parties or get togethers. With people coming in and out of the house it is very easy for your pet to wander through and open door. It is also helpful to get your pet micro-chipped. Most animal shelters have devices to scan for these chips and to identify the owner quickly.

Please join us on November 22 from 10-5 for Pet and Family Pictures at Wag. There is a $6 sitting fee for your pictures. You will be able to view and choose your photos online and YES! Holiday cards are available.

We will have a “safe” Thanksgiving feast for your pets that day as well!

Happy Turkey and enjoy your pets!

Jennifer and Abe Fadal
Wag, 304 E. Davis Blvd.
Davis Islands, Fl
www.wagoftampa.com
813-258-9181

By Wayne Shattuck

CITY FOLK ARE GREENER…. Here’s a bit of news to make you feel a little better about yourself. While it is known that cities are hot spots for global warming, it seems that people living in them turn out to be greener than their country cousins. According to researchers at the Brookings Institution, each resident of the largest 100 metropolitan areas is responsible on average for 2.47 tons of carbon dioxide in energy consumption each year, 14% below the 2.87 ton U.S. average. Now those 100 cities still account for 56% of the nation’s carbon dioxide pollution. But their greater use of mass transit and population density reduce the per person average. Which cities are the best and the worst? Lexington, KY had the biggest per capita carbon footprint with each resident on average accounting for 3.81 tons of carbon dioxide in their energy usage per year. At the other end of the scale was Honolulu, HI at 1.5 tons per person.

POWERFUL UNDERWEAR…. Eco-friendly clothing is supposed to be the next big thing in fashion and it seems that our inventive friends from Japan are on top of it! Triumph International Japan Ltd. has come up with the “Solar Power Bra”, which can generate enough energy to charge a cell phone. The lingerie, which is green in color as well as concept, operates on a solar panel that wraps around the wearer’s stomach. This is not the company’s first venture into environmentally friendly underwear: they have also put out a bra that doubles as a shopping bag. (I can’t make this stuff up)

WEIRD WEATHER…. (From Randy Cerveny’s “Freaks of the Storm”) On July 1st, 1955, Sharon Weron, a nine year old South Dakota farm girl was riding her pony through the grassland prairie. Suddenly a thunderstorm built over the area and she turned her horse quickly back toward her home. Unfortunately, as she galloped to within a few hundred yards of her farm, a tornado struck. She and her pony were whipped into the air, over a hill, and across a valley. The girl’s mother briefly saw them both airborne, being carried over a second hill by the tornado. The pony and youngster ended up being carried over three fences and dropped about one thousand feet from where they were picked up by the twister. Both she and her pony survived with just minor cuts and bruises.

BUT THAT’S NOT ALL….November is “National Raison Bread Month”

Real Estate Outlook
By Kevin Reder and Rick Scherer

Many distressed homeowners may be able to finally breathe a sigh of relief due to rising home costs from expired ARMS (Adjustable Rate Mortgage) or the possibility of foreclosure. Major lenders have created new policies, some even entirely new departments, to alleviate the burden facing many homeowners created by the economy and various markets.

Bank of America and its acquisition of Countrywide Financial have been leaders in this arena, offering innovative solutions to keep people in their homes. New policies, re negotiating interest rates, lowering principals, and the development of Bank of America’s Nationwide Homeownership Retention Program for Countrywide Customers are the latest tools Bank of America has implemented to keep their customers in their homes.

Starting December 1, nearly 400,000 Countrywide borrowers could benefit from the creation of the Homeownership Retention Program that will modify up to $8.4 billion in interest rate and principal reductions. “We are confident that together with together with Attorneys General we have developed a comprehensive program that provides more solutions than ever before to assist troubled borrowers and put them back on the path to sustained home ownership,” said Barbara Desoer, president, Bank of America Mortgage, Home Equity and Insurance Services. “Since acquiring Countrywide in July, we have committed significant resources and developed innovative programs to help as many Countrywide customers as possible stay in their homes.”

Other lenders are developing secured, but inventive, programs in order to offer loans in this tightening credit crunch. One lender is offering occupation specific loan programs, such as a 100% financing loan for Physicians. Wells Fargo is considering alternate underwriting guidelines that would take less emphasis on an individual’s current credit, but consider the individual’s entire credit history. While some of these programs are still in an exploratory phase, lenders are working to find a way to offer money by alternate means than simply immediate credit driven scores.

Read the rest of this post »

The Florida Kinship Center at USF Celebrates 10th Anniversary by Holding Its First Annual Tailgate Pep Rally and Fundraiser

The nationally recognized Florida Kinship Center at the University of South Florida is celebrating its 10th anniversary by throwing its first Tail Gate Party and Pep Rally on Sunday, November 23.

Proceeds from the fundraiser will raise money and awareness about Kinship Caregivers and the assistance that the Center offers them in terms of support and advocacy. The tailgate buffet includes cocktails, entertainment, raffle and more and will be held at the home of Sandy and Jim Murman from 4:30-7:00 pm. Immediately following the pep rally, guests will join USF football fans at Raymond James Stadium to cheer the Bulls at the University of South Florida’s last home game vs. Uconn. The game begins at 8:00 pm. Tickets to the game are included in the Pep Rally.

Caregivers, who are raising their relative’s (or kin’s) children, strive to keep their families together rather than placing the children into the foster care system. Eighty percent of kinship caregivers are grandparents and many of these are single grandmothers.

Sponsorship categories are: Touchdown Sponsor $6,000, Field Goal Sponsor $3,000, Extra Point Sponsor $1,000, First Down Sponsor $500, and Individual Ticket $100.

For more information, contact Carroll Gossage at the Florida Kinship Center by calling 813-974-4921.