WE HAVE MOVED!!

You can now find us at our new website:


Tommy in Seminole Heights
http://tommyseminoleheights.com/

The new Speed Racer on USA Today

Go Speed Go! New speed racer movie coming out next year and a photo of the new car has been released.

First look: 'Speed Racer's' demon on wheels
By Scott Bowles, USA TODAY
Emile Hirsch was 6 years old when he saw his first episode of the cartoon Speed Racer and, more important, caught a glimpse of the Mach 5.
"It was one of the coolest things I'd ever seen," Hirsch says by phone from Germany, where filming will begin next week on the movie adaptation. "That's when I started thinking it would be great to be on TV. And have one of those."
Sixteen years later, he finally got behind the wheel of the speedster, which gets its first look here and will be at the heart of the film, due May 9, 2008.

Lake Roberta-Urban Lake Rescue

The second and final meeting regarding the Urban Lake Rescue Project addressing water quality improvements for Lake Roberta.

Tuesday, May 29 2007
7-9pm
Seminole Heights Garden Center

42 Arrested In Crime Crackdown

42 Arrested In Crime Crackdown
By CHRIS ECHEGARAY The Tampa Tribune
Published: May 26, 2007

TAMPA - There were 42 arrests in Tampa police District 2 on Friday, stemming from a crime reduction campaign.
Of those arrests, 22 were warrant arrests, eight were on charges of solicitation of prostitution, 11 were narcotics-related and one was on charges of driving with a suspended license, Lt. Jill Kwiatkowski said.
The suspects were being held at Orient Road Jail.
There were 40 officers involved in operation Blue Heat, Kwiatkowski said. The operation also included zero tolerance for traffic infractions.
District 2 covers the north part of Tampa, including Seminole Heights, the University of South Florida area and New Tampa.

Incident on Branch Ave

Well its my first week in the neighborhood and I've already had to call the police. There was a teenager (16-19yo) on a silver mountain bike hanging out in front of my house (backside of the high school) talking on a cell phone. My neighbor let his dog off leash to play with my dog. The kid got on his bike and my neighbor's dog went to follow him. At that point the kid stopped and started kicking my neighbor's dog. Then he picked a fight with my neighbor, we backed off and the kid left. Then my neighbor went to walk his dog and kid tried to fight my neighbor at the corner of Wilder and Branch. So I called the cops but the kid had already fled by the time they arrived. The kid is a young black male, tattoos, short hair, white shirt, blue jean shorts and a silver mountain bike. The cops told my neighbors and I to call them if he comes back around.

Moved in!!!

Its been a crazy week of packing and moving. I am still unpacking and I don't think I'll finish for at least a week. Plus I need to get rid of all of these boxes. Stefanie left for Honduras on Sunday morning a few hours before we got the keys for the house so she doesn't get to stay in our new home until at least next month. But Stef did get to attend the porch party on Saturday and we met some wonderful people. Today I started my new job and I think I will enjoy it. I plan on attending the preservation meeting this week so we'll see how that goes. I am so fricken tired. I can't wait to finish unpacking so I finally enjoy the neighborhood.

Family Hit Hard By Word Of Soldier's Death

Family Hit Hard By Word Of Soldier's Death

By MARI ROBYN JONES The Tampa Tribune
Published: May 1, 2007

She didn't think anything of the soldiers who knocked on her door. She thought they were part of her husband's team in the U.S. Army Special Forces. In actuality, they carried news of her husband's fate.

Fresh out the shower, Teresa Thomas opened the door. The soldiers didn't say anything until they walked inside. Then, the words came: her husband, U.S. Army Special Forces Staff Sgt. Michael Thomas, died in combat in Afghanistan.

Click here for Full Story

Court issues Darfur arrest warrants

The Janjaweed continue to kill and destabilize central Africa and the world just watches. How many times will we say never again and allow genocide to happen? The international continues to talk but there have been no serious measures taken against the Sudanese government. And while the movie stars and public continue to look a Darfur, people are living in extreme conditions in southeast Sudan too. Not to mention the thousands of refugees that are not being allowed into Kenya to flee fighting in Somalia.

The International Criminal Court issued its first arrest warrants Wednesday in the murderous Darfur conflict, seeking to try a government minister and a janjaweed militia leader on charges of mass slayings, rape and torture. Sudan immediately refused to arrest them.

Yay, I found Drum n Bass in Tampa :)

L.A. tops list of nation's most polluted but what about Tampa?

L.A. tops list of nation's most polluted but how did Tampa do? Here is the link: Hillsborough County's State of the Air

Merino's Seminole Heights Deli

After a long day of moving my stuff into storage I decided to give Merino's Deli try. The service was outstanding and the sandwich (Big Daddy)was good too. I look foward to returning with my family. It's not everyday that you find a place that is so dedicated to customer service. I've stolen the menu from the Seminole Heights Blog and posted it below.

Body Found in Burned SUV

Body found in burned SUV

Tampa, Florida - Tampa Fire and Rescue responded to a car fire this morning in Seminole Heights and found a body inside.

A 1996 Cadillac sedan was well involved in flames, but firefighters were able to quickly put the fire out. That's when they found the body of an adult male inside.
The cause of the fire and how the man died are still under investigation.

Florida Yards & Neighborhoods

For those that didn't make it to the OSH general meeting to see the presentation on Florida Friendly Gardening; here is the link to the Florida Yards & Neighborhoods website. The site includes a handbook and great tips to improve your garden into an environmentally friendly land of "happy plants and flowers"....... I miss Bob Ross.

Florida Yards & Neighborhoods can help you transform your yard into a beautiful oasis that will not only conserve precious water resources and reduce pollution, but will also help you save time, energy and money.Florida-friendly landscaping emphasizes nine major principles:Right Plant, Right PlaceWater EfficientlyFertilize AppropriatelyMulchAttract WildlifeControl Yard Pests ResponsiblyRecycleReduce Stormwater RunoffProtect the Waterfront

Gore Calls Canada Climate Plan a 'Fraud'

Gore called out Canada's conservatives on their new plan to address global warming. You tell em Green Machine.

Gore Calls Canada Climate Plan a 'Fraud'
The Associated Press Sunday, April 29, 2007; 11:31 PM

TORONTO -- Al Gore condemned Canada's new plan to reduce greenhouse gases, saying it was "a complete and total fraud" because it lacks specifics and gives industry a way to actually increase emissions.

Under the initiative announced Thursday, Canada aims to reduce the current level of greenhouse gas emissions 20 percent by 2020. But the government acknowledged it would not meet its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, which requires 35 industrialized countries to cut greenhouse-gas emissions by 5 percent below 1990 levels by 2012.

Today's Letters: A strange anxiety about Hispanics

I am sure most Seminole Heights residents are aware of the drama on the Seminole Heights Blog concerning recent articles about Hispanic resturants and Seminole Heights. Well it continues in the SP Times letters to the editor:

Today's Lettrs: A strange anxiety about Hispanics
By LETTERS TO THE EDITORPublished April 28, 2007

Seminole Heights Blood Drive

Stef and I can't give blood due to our travels to the Middle East and Central America but we encourage those that can.

Lake Roberta - Urban Lake Rescue

Lake Roberta - Urban Lake Rescue

The City of Tampa has contracted with Dyer, Riddle, Mills and Precourt, Inc. (DRMP) to provide professional engineering consulting services necessary for the preparation of construction plans and specifications for the Lake Roberta - Urban Lake Rescue project. The project will address water quality improvement associated with stormwater management within Lake Roberta and the enhancement of stormwater capture in adjacent right- of-way areas. Vegetative plantings and removal will also be discussed.
The public meeting is your opportunity to provide comments and suggestions regarding design elements which may be a part of the project. Representatives from DRMP and the City will be in attendance to provide an overview of the project as well as to listen to your priorities for water quality improvement in Lake Roberta. All comments received during the public meeting will be considered in finalizing the project design. Please note this project is limited in scope to the improvement of water quality and, therefore, will not address aesthetic improvements to Lake Roberta.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007, 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Seminole Garden Center, 5810 Central Avenue, Tampa
For further information, contact Ben Koplin, City of Tampa Stormwater Department, at (813) 274-8371, or by email: Ben Koplin
Doreen Di Bona, Trustee, OSHNA
email: bungalowalert@gmail.com
web: http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=e4abj4bab.0.mqyxi7bab.bzzqi7bab.685&ts=S0240&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.oldseminoleheights.com

Running Up That Hill

In late-October I finished a second video. It was my moving on video after the death of Chavis. The first video was very crude and I wasn't sure what I was doing but the other troops wanted another one. And I wanted people to better understand what we were experiencing. So this is what I came up with:

Det-7 Baghdad

Photos of the Bungalow

Click on the photos to enlarge.

Packing and Planning

I have collected so much junk from the military over the past 9 1/2 years. The military wouldn't take most of it back. Please let me know if anyone needs any camouflage pants for gardening or renovation work. Keep in mind I'm over 6ft tall.

It's strange that it had taken me 15 minutes to get into the military but it's taken several months of processing to get out. Part of the problem is that "Admin and Personnel Command" thought I was in Korea. I have never been to Korea. And I was told I couldn't get out until I got home from Korea? So I assume I returned from Korea last week, at least that's what the papers said. I was even awarded a "Korea Defense Service Medal". Of course, I've been waiting a year for medals from things I have actually done. Finally, tomorrow morning at 9am I get my final discharge papers...I can't wait.

I'm driving back down to Seminole Heights this Thursday for the home inspection. Last time I was in town I went to the Taco Bus. I thought it was nice that the restaurant let our dog sit on the patio with us. I think this time I'm going to try Cappy's Pizza. I'm not sure about going to the American bungalow presentation, that may run a little late for me.

We're a little discouraged by the permit process in Seminole Heights. I think our first projects, after moving, will be a deck and fish pond. The previous owners did a wonderful job with the interior of the home and there is little I would change.

:)