C.O.N.A. of South Pinellas County

Pray For April Showers

Apr 13, 2001

St. Pete Vision 2020

BLUEPRINT FOR THE FUTURE

"St. Pete Vision 2020" is a community-driven, long range planning program to create a vision of St. Petersburg in the Year 2020. The visioning process will provide an opportunity to learn about the history and development of St. Petersburg; how the land is used; how integrating
housing, parks, traffic, business, education and cultural facilities can produce a higher quality of life for its citizens; and applying that information to create a vision of what St. Petersburg should be in the Year 2020.

A series of educational forums will examine the city's history, development patterns, environment, neighbor-hoods, economy, cultural assets, and transportation. The
Educational Forums are scheduled every Wednesday
beginning April 11th from 7:15 to 9:15pm. Forums on April 11th, 18th, 25th, May 9th and 16th will be held at University of South Florida's CAMPUS ACTIVITY CENTER. The May 2nd forum will be held at the Sun Pavilion Room at the Bayfront Center.

Following the educational series, the Vision Committee will host a DESIGN CHARRETTE which will flesh out the VISION for the City's future. A CHARRETTE is a public workshop allowing interested parties to roll-up their sleeves and discuss issues, brainstorm ideas, draw
sketches, etc, that will become the VISION. This
CHARRETTE is tentatively scheduled for the weekend of May 18th.

GREEN THUMB FESTIVAL
April 28 & 29 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m
Walter Fuller Park, 7891 26th Avenue North
The fifteenth annual, free outdoor garden and patio show features horticultural and environmental exhibits, shorts seminars on recycling, herb growing, plant care, xeriscap-
ing and other environmental subjects, along with lawn and plant care tips, children's arts and crafts, a Children's Plant Fair, the St. Petersburg Garden Club Flower Show, and free
mulch and seedlings. This year's event theme is "2001 A Plant Odyssey," and will also feature various plants,designer mulch, a Plant Auction, refreshments, and more.

The family-oriented festival has attracted up to 15,000 people in previous years under the shady park setting at Walter Fuller Park. For more information, call (727) 893-7335.

26th Annual
MAINSAIL ARTS FESTIVAL
Saturday April 21 and Sunday April 22
9am to 5pm Rain or Shine
North Straub Park 5th Ave. North and Bayshore Drive

This two-day event combines visual and performing arts along with opportunities for children to actively engage in art activities. There is a delicious assortment of culinary arts and as well as Mainsail souvenirs. There is no cost to the
public to view the show. Over 200 exhibiting artists from all over the United States have their art on sale or available for commission. For more information call 892-5885.

ST. ANTHONY'S TRIATHLON
April 28 & 29
18th Annual Triathlon Weekend featuring Swim,
Bike, and Run event. For more information call
825-1271 or www.stanthonys.com/triathlon

CONA Board Meeting
April 21 - 7:00P.M.
St. Petersburg Times Building
490 1st Avenue South


Presidents Report


Dear Neighbors,

It's that time of the year again, the snowbirds are going home and the gasoline prices are increasing. Which means you need to keep a look out for your neighbor?’s homes while they gone. If you see something suspicious, be a good neighbor and call the police.

Did you notice the article in the paper the other day? The city has finally figured out what we have been telling them for a long time. The new low flow toilets don't always save water. Sometimes you have to flush these new toilets several times, which in turn uses more water than the old ones. I checked two of my water bills this month and they showed a reduction of water over last year. We save and save but the water problem keeps getting worse. I still don't know how we can conserve water by issuing more building permits. Maybe someone needs to use some common sense.

The Sierra Club will be one of our speakers at April?’s Board Meeting. They think that they have a solution to our water problems. Also the 2020 chairperson wants to talk about neighborhood participation in the up coming seminars. I hope that every neighborhood gets involved. I know that after some decisions are made someone is going to say they didn't have input even though everyone got a notice in their water bill this month. We also have a group that wants a few minutes to talk about bike trails. They made a study in Europe and want to talk to you about it.

Next month I hope to get our Representatives in the Florida Legislature to our meeting. There seems to be a lot going on that we need information on. The better you are informed the better you can handle problems in your neighborhood.

Skip and Linda are rewriting the Neighborhood Guide. It needed some updating and they have spent many hours working on it. The leadership class also ends this month. There is a great group of people in this year?’s class and the Alumni did an outstanding job. See you at the meeting.

Your Neighbor, Jim Biggerstaff


6th Annual
COLOR ME HUMAN WEEK
May 3 to 9
Diverse St. Petersburg

Activities include Family Fun Day at Sanderlin Center, Hopkins Middle School Creative Writing Collection dinner, NCCJ (National Conference on Community & Justice) interfaith dialogue dinner and Healing the Heart of Diversity workshop. For more information please call 328-1769.

5th Annual
FAMILY FUN DAYFESTIVAL
May 5 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Weed & Seed Program of St. Petersburg, presents a day of musical entertainment, games, face painting, storytelling, food, beverages & give-aways. 70 civic and cultural groups are participating. The festival will take place at James Sanderlin Center, 2335 22nd Avenue South. Admission is free, for more information please call 893-9841.


2001 CONA Officers:
President - Jim Biggerstaff
Disston Heights
327-7355 Web: jjbigger99@aol.com
First Vice President - Skip Brooks
Woodlawn Oaks
823-3670
Second Vice President - Theresa McEachern
Harbordale
823-6390
Secretary - Conrad Weiser
Edgemoor
522-5008 Web: MAOA1999@aol.com
Treasurer - Libby Steele
Lakewood Estates
867-6916 Web: MPH56@aol.com.

Committees
Budget
Theresa McEachern - 823-6390
Cochair-
Ingrid Comberg - 821-2192
Computers for Our Community
Brent Fisher - 867-2026 Web: abfgte@gte.net
Newsletter
Jan Brami - 827-0011 Web:jan@sunworks.com
Bob Funari - 894-3881 Web: bayside2@gtefcu.net
Citizens Police Council
David McEachern - 823-6390
Parliamentarian
Dale MacKenzie Gross - 323-2730
Stormwater Issues - Rosemary Grasso - 321-7299
Internet Webmaster - Conrad Weiser - 522-5008
Council Liaison - Jim Biggerstaff - 327-7355
Membership
Charles Miller - 576-6867 & Skip Brooks - 823-3670

Time to Renewal Membership for 2001!
Just fill out the C.O.N.A. 2001 Membership Renewal Application. Mail it and
Membership fee to PO Box 3529, St. Petersburg, FL 33731 or bring it to the next Board Meeting
Association Name __________________________________________________________________
Address __________________________________________________________________________
Boundaries ________________________________________________________________________
Number of Households ___________________ Numbers of Members _________________________
Meeting Dates & Location ____________________________________________________________
President _____________________________________________ Phone #______________________
C.O.N.A. Representative ________________________________ Phone # _____________________
Alternate Representative _________________________________ Phone # _____________________
E-mail Address _________________________________________________________________