Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association

I don't know about the rest of the people who read the postings on this site, but I find it difficult to understand what has happened to you. Most of us realize the significant contribution both you an Mary Alice have made to our community.

Personally, I have supported you--believing in you and your commitment to the organization and defending you to the Board as well as others in the community.

When you talk abou the ''Stop CVSers'', you were one of them. You didn't want to stop the project--neither did most of us. You wanted assurance that the CVS folks adhered to the 150' line and responded to the concerns of the neighbors affected by the project, as well as to the Neighborhood Plan. We did, as well.

After the last meeting of NRB and the meeting at City Hall, when we discussed why everyone attacked you, you admitted that you thought that when Jim Martin called for a vote, that he made a motion to ''Stop CVS''. When I explained the three possible motions and that we voted on the second, which was to restrict the construction to the 150 foot line, you agreed that you did not hear that. You thought Jim made a motion to stop the project.

I sat behind Joyce Frey at the meeting where Mark Graveley indicated that he had told her of their plans very early on. While Joyce was upset with Greg and other things, were any of us in her position, we too would have resigned. As the professional that she is, she encouraged all of us to hang in there and support the organization.

I attended the meeting where you explained the documents retrieved from City Hall. Most of us felt that your explanations were acceptable. Perhaps you should have informed the Board earlier, but hindsight is....I also signed the petition you generated for a Special Membership Meeting, prior to our July 3 meeting.

You were upset about a group of Board members at Harvey's after the July 3 meeting. Did it ever occur that noone might be laughing at you? One day, when things settle, I will tell you what they were laughing about--it had nothing to do with you.

Sadly, some of these postings do not reflect the intelligent, committed and visionary person you really are. I for one look forward to what you have to say, and hope you will listen to some of us who have supported and cared about you.

And the Newsletter. I was proud of our last newsletter. The St. Petersburg Times covered Joyce's resignation. Courtesy and Kindness is the sign of a civilized society. Also, if you had a majority vote when you prsented the petition on July 3 for a Special Membership meeting, whey the Committee of 23? Is there really anything to say until this meeting takes place?

Disappointed...Kate Hawk

To: Kate

First off Kate, its Lange with an e.

Secondly, you find it difficult to understand what has happened to me? Are you serious?

A small clique lays in waiting to run me out of North Shore, strip me of my membership, and you, even now, are wondering where I am now coming from? Again I ask, can you be serious?

And to answer your question as to what has happened to me, I will tell you. I am __________ off. For all of the reasons I have previously posted on other postings. It is not just about me but of all those other issues I listed before. North Shore has become very sick recently. I am going to try to do something about it. If no one joins me in this corrective action and I end up in a room all by myself, then all that I would have done is led a charge that was groundless. But you and I both know that that will not happen. Lots of folks will be there. A lot of folks are coming. At least that is what I believe.

To date, you have done things which have supported me and my actions recently. Such as, sign my petition to call for a special membership meeting and you voted to keep me on the board. For both of those actions I have thanked you. I thank you again. But, you were also at that gathering at Harveys on that night with those folks.
That was difficult for me to watch. To say that I felt a little funny watching you sitting there with those people, laughing, drinking and having such a good time after what had just happened to me was a hard thing for me to watch. I am just glad that I was lucky enough to have witnessed it. I had to see it for myself to believe it.

Additionly, you came on pretty strong last Monday night for about ten minutes laying into me about having the need to meet with the group of 23 or anyone else for that matter. Just how do you think I or anyone else is going to spread the word to the silent majority out there in North Shore land. Those folks who are members but don't usually get too actively involved. Who is going to tell them whats going on if not me or someone like me. After all, our newsletter isn't telling anyone anything. So, we (me and the committee) are reduced to doing it the hard way by having to go door to door throughout the entire neighborhood. Greg's camp, as he is now calling it, is hoping that that will be too difficult and that we won't do it. That we won't have the energy or strength to go to all of those homes? Who is kidding who? As my big brother is fond of saying, ''its a piece of cake''. Do you have any idea how many times that I have walked this entire neighborhood over the last 12 years?

As for me being a Stop Cvs'er? Don''t even try. I won't waste one more letter off of my keyboard on that one.

Kate, relying on the St. Pete Times to report what goes on in North Shore when it concerns the President of North Shore, let along her resignation, is so lame, so pathetic a statement I will not waste anymore time on it except to say. North Shore needs to inform North Shore about such goings on. We do not, and should not, rely on the local newspaper who may or may not print anything about anything. Let alone all of the facts as we would write them ourselves.

Kate, to answer your last question, if the committee of 23 does not go out and inform the members of North Shore about what has been going on and encourage them to come to the meeting, then the only people who will show up will be the Stop Cvs'ers. And, we already know how that vote would turn out. I'm hoping to rewrite the ending to one that ends more happily for North Shore. I would love to count you in with us. What do you say?

By Steven D. Lange

Listening

I'm listening and hoping some good comes out of all this for all of us. Just remember, though, ''It takes a Village to raise a child''--whether that is an infant or an idea--many ideas to form a concept--and consensus for successful execution...God bless...

To: Listening

I'm listening too!

And, I agree with your village statement as it applies to North Shore and ideas. I am hoping that the ideas we will be spreading will build a concensus and that this will all end successfully for North Shore.

By Steven D. Lange