My Gandy to Cease Publication

The editorial and advertising deadline for the 5th issue of My Gandy was to have been today, so you can imagine our shock when this missive from publisher Derek Reusser arrived via e-mail:

"I regret to inform you that My Gandy Magazine will be shutting down operation. Everything was on track until yesterday when two key advertisers pulled out. It was a last minute surprise that we could not overcome at this late stage of production.

I greatly apologize for any wasted time invested in advertisements and stories.
I appreciate the great amount support we received from advertisers, writers and readers alike. The time for my company and the market was just not quite right."

Full disclosure-the Port Tampa blogger wrote a couple of short pieces for My Gandy issue number 4 on a strictly volunteer basis.

The demise of Derek's venture makes us wonder when we'll have a critical mass of commercial/retail activity SOG so that instead of saying "I rarely venture north of Kennedy," we can honestly say, "I rarely have any reason to do business north of Gandy."

Author Chronicles Historic Tampa through Photos

Join the Friends of the Library of Tampa-Hillsborough as they unveil the book Historic Photos of Tampa tomorrow at 2:30,downtown in the John F. Germany Public Library . Listen to author Ralph Brower as he reveals the distinguished story of Tampa through the lens of the Burgert Brothers. On his journey Brower observes the influences of Henry B. Plant and Vincente Ybor on the town that would be known as "Cigar City." Light refreshments will be served.

If you can not make this book signing, the Ybor City Museum Store will have
the author visiting on the evening of December 8. The Museum Store is
located at the corner of 9th & 19th streets.

Helping Hands Need Help

Volunteers Needed
(From the Women's Club Newsletter)
Last year, Port Tampa City’s “Helping Hands” made Christmas possible for approximately thirty families in our small community.
Westshore Elementary School
provided names of families who needed the help and support of Special Santas. People and businesses donated time, money and food to make this possible.

I know we all want to awaken on Christmas morning this year knowing that we have again shared our prosperity with those who are less fortunate. “Helping Hands”
will be reaching out again to give hope and to make Christmas possible for those in need. Volunteers are needed to take people shopping. Donations
of food and money are also needed. For a family
of two adults and two children, about $250.00 is needed
to supply gifts and food.

“Helping Hands” seeks your support in one of the following
ways:
Santa’s Helper Volunteer to collect and deliver items or to take people shopping.
Special Santa Financial Sponsorship of one family($250.00).
Santa’s Angel Donation of items or money.
Please contact Cookie Robinson at 390-9766 if you are able to assist “Helping Hands” in any way.

Cookie Robinson started "Helping Hands" and the Port Tampa City Women's Club has officially adopted the effort as one of its many community service projects. More on the club, which is open to men as well as women, in later posts.

Steve Silver Endorses Bernie Silver in Judicial Race

While the Port Tampa Blogger occasionally takes a position on local issues, it is the policy of this blog not to endorse candidates. However, if you want to send a plug for your candidate go ahead. Steve Silver has been busy working on his father's campaign and sent this as a comment. It is also posted at Sticks of Fire.

Hello, I am writing to ask your help in spreading a message to clients, family, friends and neighbors in Hillsborough County to vote for Bernie Silver for Circuit Court Judge 32. I am sending this not only because Bernie is my father. I am writing because I think he's a fair and honest man, and by far the best person for the job. The October 24 St. Petersburg Times’ endorsement stated: “Bernie Silver is the better candidate even if his opponent.... had not been removed from the bench for ethical mistakes.” I agree. I would like to ask you to support Bernie on your blog and forward this message to your friends and family in Hillsborough County. As you probably know, many will not cast a vote for any judge; some will vote based on name recognition. A great many will not have the time or inclination to research candidates’ qualifications or suitability for the job. Most will not contemplate or understand how the outcome of judicial races affects people’s lives or the integrity of the system. Bernie is endorsed by The Tampa Tribune, St. Petersburg Times, LaGaceta and Florida Sentinel Bulletin newspapers, West Central Florida Police Benevolent Association, West Central Florida Federation of Labor and City of Tampa Firefighters. He received a 95% approval rating from The Hillsborough County Bar Association and the endorsement of 20-plus former presidents of both the Hillsborough County Bar Association and Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers. Bernie is an ethical and experienced attorney who has been practicing for 35 years. He enjoys the highest level Martindale-Hubbell rating, is a board certified trial lawyer, a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and an Inns of Court Master. Bernie is a certified mediator in both state and federal court since 1991 and served as Judicial Nominating Commission Chair for the Second District Court of Appeal. Since 1998, he has served on the board of directors and board of trustees for The Spring, a non-profit dedicated to preventing domestic violence and protecting its victims. As pointed out in the Tampa Tribune's October 11 endorsement of Bernie, his opponent is "a former county judge who was removed from the bench by the Florida Supreme Court in 1998. The court said she neglected her clients, concocted evidence against her former husband during a legal proceeding in 1996 and misled judges in court." She has no board certifications, no Martindale Hubbell rating and received only a 13% approval rating in the Bar poll. I ask you to please post this on your blog and forward this message to all the Hillsborough County voters you know. I think it’s important.

Thank you much,
Steve Silver

For the St. Petersburg Times endorsement, go to: St. Pet Times Opinion For the The Tampa Tribune endorsement, click: here Check out this an article in the St. Petersburg Times on his opponent --- Steve Silver http://www.silveradomedia.com http://steve-s.livejournal.com

Movement to Rename Library Opposed

Recent efforts to rename the Port Tampa City Library in honor of the late Ellen Green have spurred some to oppose such a move. Jan Simpson shared the letter she wrote to the library board with the Port Tampa Blog. I tend to agree with Jan. The park that was already in progress when Ms. Green died seems a more appropriate tribute as it makes a positive new contribution to the neighborhood. The library is a landmark in both our geography and our history as its very existence is a tribute to the hard work of many community members. It should remain the Port Tampa City Library.


November 2, 2006



Mr. James B. Johnson, Jr., Chairman
Tampa-Hillsborough Public Library Board
900 N. Ashley Drive
Tampa, FL 33602

RE: Port Tampa City Library

Dear Chairman Johnson:

As a resident of the Port Tampa community, I do not support a petition to rename the Port Tampa City Library. I sincerely hope the Library Board will not approve the petitioners’ request.

In April 1998 the Port Tampa community, after much discussion with county officials, voted at a civic association meeting to name the building the Port Tampa City Library. Several options were considered and debated. The consensus was that the imposing edifice should be dedicated to the Port Tampa community in recognition of the hard work and perseverance of many, not any one individual (such as James G. Yeats who commissioned the building) or organization (such as the Port Tampa City Woman’s Club that ignited the campaign to save the building for our library), who worked together for a common cause.

Speaking only for myself, the name “Port Tampa City Library” represents the names of all the volunteers that contributed to the five-year effort to save the building from demolition; the library board staff and director who succeeded in finding the right paths to save the building and fund our dream; the city, county, and state officials who acted favorably to secure the building as a library; and the planners, architects, and contractors who made our dream a reality.

The building was officially opened on June 14, 1998 and dedicated as the Port Tampa City Library. It stands proudly at the curve in the road as a tribute to the entire community.

Sincerely,