Great Message Bill!

This is my first time on this site (I had heard rumblings of its existance but until now had not really paid any attention). First thing I thought while reading a number of posts was ''Jeez, people ... get more involved and make changes if you don't like how things go.'' I've only started getting involved in things here in the hood... and am really having fun getting to know neighbors and helping out. I see many positive things about this neighborhood... porch parties, corner cleanup, the tour of homes, new lights all over the place, and a lot of other things. I've never ever gotten involved where I lived. It was something you just didn't do, but this community is so unique. I'd like to see more posts like you suggest Bill. Praising the efforts of those who volunteer, of those neighbors fixing up their homes, and of the clean up that takes place behind the scenes. Praise for the ones who bring out the porch from behind the boards. Praise for those people who do their best to make the neighborhood more enticing to prospective buyers, by fixing up the run-down old house or building, giving it new life and more hope for Kenwood.

I'm glad to have found this cool lil block of St. Petersburg. And I'll be here doing my best to help make it a great place to live.

By First timer

Welcome, First timer!

Sometimes I get down, too, about how negative and snippy and personal-attacky the board can get, but just try to ignore all that and stick it out anyway, because it really has it's moments! It is like Historic Kenwood itself: Sometimes certain things can getcha down, but they are far outweighed by all the profoundly wonderful aspects of life in our 'hood. Funnily enough (is ''funnily'' a word? Anyway...), sometimes the very things that BUG me are the things that I love and cherish about our community. Like, I'll find myself thinking ''Dang, the neighbor's house is just too close! Dang, why are there all these kids running around! Dang, how come everyone is saying 'hi' to me today, I just want to be left alone!'' Then I'll remind myself: Wait a minute--if the houses weren't close together, we wouldn't all know each other and be such a close-knit community, if people didn't say ''hi!'', this wouldn't be the neighborhood I know as Historic Kenwood and love so much, and if I didn' want kids playing happily all over the place, why did I march in the drug marches for years, shouting ''What do we want? Safe streets! When do we want 'em? Now!'' Then, it is like, oh yeah, that's right: Community--true community--can be a lot of work at times, but it is so WORTH IT! :) P.S. Sorry if this was rambly--I have a cold and a fever of 102 right now--and I'm at work ta boot! So, pardon any excess spaciness in this post! And welcome!

Fish scales, huh? COOL!

You learn something every day in Kenwood *lol*! You know, this thread has inspired me to get off my proverbial duff and ascertain who the person is who does the ''Home and Garden of the Month'', and nominate that house. Truly, if you could have seen it before, it was like, in pain and crying out for help! Now it is such a beautiful specimen of the best of what HK has to offer. Remarkable.

Fish scales. Who knew?

Award

Paula doesd it. Her phone # is in the newsletter.

By Bill H.