1 1 ` __ February 2012 Crescent Heights Neighborhood Association Newsletter www.mychna.org Save the date for our annual yard sale on Saturday, March 10, 2012! Neighbors from all of Crescent Heights are invited to participate. The yard sale is a great way to purge all of your gently used or unwanted items and start the spring cleaning process. As an added benefit for our dues-paying members of CHNA, your home address and details of your sale can be included on our neighborhood map, which will be distributed to potential buyers at all participating homes. Neighbors who wish to be included on the map should contact Molly Sipp ([email protected]) by March 1, 2012. Visit www.mychna.org for information about how to pay your 2012 dues. Only $20 a year per household! You can also pay the $20 out of your yard sale proceeds and be included on the map. We'll make it easy for you and stop by toward the end of the sale on the 10th and collect your dues at that time. After the sale, Suncoast Hospice will be accepting donations of furniture, clean clothing, and other gently used items between noon and 2 pm. If you e-mail Molly with your name and address in advance, the truck can even come directly to your home. Please box up your items for easy transportation on the day of the sale and make sure that the donated items are clean. E-mail Molly Sipp ([email protected]) for additional information or to request a pick up on the day of the sale. Please put “CHNA Yard Sale” in the subject line. Check out our website (www.mychna.org) and CHNA Facebook page for more details in the coming weeks. Hope you are able to join in on the fun! – Jen Wright & Molly Sipp Get Ready for CHNA Yard Sale March 10th CHNA Neighborhood Happenings --FEBRUARY 2012— “Porch Party” When: Fri, Feb. 17 Time: 7-9 pm Where: Kristen Noakes-Fry, 2917 7 th St. N. --MARCH 2012-- “Garage Sale” When: Sat., Mar. 10 Time: 7-11 am Where: Throughout Crescent Heights “Porch Party” When: Fri., Mar. 16 Time: 7-9 pm Where: The Allums, 750 25 th Ave. N. --APRIL 2012— “CHNA Neighborhood Meeting” When: Tues., April 17 Where: Sunken Gardens Time: Gardens open 6:30 pm, Meeting 7-8 pm (Gardens to remain open ‘til 8:30 pm) Speaker: Leslie Curran, District 4 Councilwoman --John Sullivan Happy Valentine’s Day! The photo at left offers just a glimpse of the good times and camaraderie that took place at our Melting Pot event on January 19 th . If you missed this chance to get together with neighbors, see the schedule at right for more opportunities.
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February 2012
Crescent Heights Neighborhood Association Newsletter
www.mychna.org
Save the date for our annual yard sale on Saturday, March 10, 2012! Neighbors from all of Crescent Heights are invited to participate. The yard sale is a great way to purge all of your gently used or unwanted items and start the spring cleaning process. As an added benefit for our dues-paying members of CHNA, your home address and details of your sale can be included on our neighborhood map, which will be distributed to potential buyers at all participating homes. Neighbors who wish to be included on the map should contact Molly Sipp ([email protected]) by March 1, 2012. Visit www.mychna.org for information about how to pay your 2012 dues. Only $20 a year per household! You can also pay the $20 out of your yard sale proceeds and be included on the map. We'll make it easy for you and stop by toward the end of the sale on the 10th and collect your dues at that time. After the sale, Suncoast Hospice will be accepting donations of furniture, clean clothing, and other gently used items between noon and 2 pm. If you e-mail Molly with your name and address in advance, the truck can even come directly to your home. Please box up your items for easy transportation on the day of the sale and make sure that the donated items are clean. E-mail Molly Sipp ([email protected]) for additional information or to request a pick up on the day of the sale. Please put “CHNA Yard Sale” in the subject line. Check out our website (www.mychna.org) and CHNA Facebook page for more details in the coming weeks. Hope you are able to join in on the fun! – Jen Wright & Molly Sipp
Get Ready for CHNA Yard Sale March 10th
CHNA
Neighborhood
Happenings
--FEBRUARY 2012—
“Porch Party” When: Fri, Feb. 17 Time: 7-9 pm Where: Kristen Noakes-Fry, 2917 7th St. N.
--MARCH 2012--
“Garage Sale” When: Sat., Mar. 10 Time: 7-11 am Where: Throughout Crescent Heights
“Porch Party” When: Fri., Mar. 16 Time: 7-9 pm Where: The Allums, 750 25th Ave. N.
--APRIL 2012—
“CHNA Neighborhood
Meeting” When: Tues., April 17 Where: Sunken Gardens Time: Gardens open 6:30 pm, Meeting 7-8 pm (Gardens to remain open ‘til 8:30 pm) Speaker: Leslie Curran, District 4 Councilwoman
--John Sullivan
Happy Valentine’s Day!
The photo at left offers just a glimpse of the good times and camaraderie that took place at our Melting Pot event on January 19th. If you missed this chance to get together with neighbors, see the schedule at right for more opportunities.
President’s Letter… I hope this note finds you doing well! A few quick updates for you... • Thanks to Jim Tomlinson, Jenette Balogh and the City of St. Petersburg for their
help in refurbishing our neighborhood monuments! The electrical has been upgraded, lights replaced, and the plaques and monuments are getting a fresh coat of paint.
• We are finally getting the bricking imprinted on the raised intersections throughout the neighborhood. Please keep an eye out for this as it may cause some traffic interruptions. Great news for both controlling speed and maintaining the historic charm of our neighborhood.
• CHNA is exploring an idea to group-purchase tree trimming services in advance of storm season. Would you be interested in participating? The idea is you get a deep discount on the service and a reason to take action while a certified arborist is already working in the neighborhood. As a neighborhood, we benefit by having less debris flying around in a storm - and when trees are trimmed correctly, they remain healthy and preserve our wonderful tree canopy! If interested, please email [email protected].
• While we're talking about trees, please also email [email protected] if you're interested in getting in on the group purchase of live oaks this fall. That is the best time to plant, and we again hope to offer a steep discount to encourage neighbors to plant a tree or two. Our existing laurel oaks are wonderful trees but will only live 15-20 more years. Help us make sure that we have mature trees to fill in behind them for the benefit of those who will follow after us in CHNA.
• Thanks for those who came out for our January event at the Melting Pot. It was a huge success! Please add the other upcoming events listing in the newsletter to your calendar and plan to attend.
• If you haven't yet joined CHNA for 2012, please get on Paypal or mail in a check. Your $20 will help us to continue doing the important work of keeping CHNA great. We would also love to have your help and input on existing programs/projects - and perhaps bringing new ideas to what we do.
As always, thanks for all the things both big and small that you do to help make our neighborhood a great place to live! In your service,
Greg
CHNA Jan. 2012 News -- p. 2
Welcome to new members… A especially warm welcome to these neighbors who have joined CHNA as new members for 2012:
Larry & Leonora Anton, Troy & Angie Connor, David English Rebecca Kagan, Toby & Megan Linthiam, Matthew Mann Sally Marck, Seth & Esther McKee, Gary & Ellenn Possick
Whit & Sarah Taylor, Bruce Watters We’re so happy to have you with us!
--Molly Sipp
Are You On Facebook? Crescent Heights Neighborhood Association has its own page on Facebook. If you “friend” us, you will have immediate access to news about events – useful if date or time is changed due to weather or other conditions. We know that you are already a friend of ours. So… why not make it official?
"I have always wished for my computer to be as easy to use as my telephone; my wish has come true because I can no longer figure out how to use my telephone." -- Danish computer scientist Bjarne Stroustrup
"When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down 'happy.' They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn't understand life." – John Lennon
CHNA Feb. News -- p. 3
February Home of the Month: 610 25th Ave. N.
Congratulations to the February 2012 Home of the Month! Your hard work and dedication has made your home a beautiful place to live. Owners: John & Linda Hottsclaw Year home was built: Unknown How long have you lived in the home: 12 years
Why did you choose to live in Crescent Heights? To move from a condo on Lake Seminole to a home and neighborhood like Linda was raised in. Also our son and his family had already bought a house on 28th Avenue and we wanted to be closer to them. Have you done any major renovations on your home? So many projects and renovations! The major ones were removing a glassed-in porch and leaving it an open porch, jacking the house up so it would be level, new pool, new double driveway, waterfall, deck, new kitchen cabinets, lots of painting, crown moulding, carpets, wallpapering, pavers on the patio area, and new bathroom in part of the now “finished” garage. Are there any unique features in your home? Hanging stained glass windows, pantry, and a wall filled with family pictures that we call our “rogue’s gallery.” What do you love about living in St. Pete? We love the neighborhood and our neighbors. Linda was born in St. Pete – why leave paradise? Any other information you would like to share? John’s profession is also his hobby. Being self-employed and working at home in financing is a real joy. We have two birds (Mello-Yello and Cubbie) and three cats, Midnight, Samson, and Annabella. Linda’s profession is being zookeeper and homemaker. We attend Community Bible Baptist Church and are very active there with Sunday School class, choir, bus to pick up children for church, plus the church nursery. We are blessed also to participate in the child evangelism programs in the public schools. We enjoy traveling and visiting our other two sons and their families out of state. – John & Linda Hottsclaw
What does it Take to be “Home of the Month”? The criteria for being selected Home of the Month are fairly simple. You have to love Crescent Heights and be proud of your home – its appearance, its history, your plans for it. In some cases CHNA members will see a house they like and leave a note in the door. In other cases, the homeowner brings the home to the attention of CHNA. We’d like to know you and your home better. Interested in your home being featured? You can get in touch with me at [email protected]. – Erica Allums
CHNA Feb. News -- p. 4
When the Crescent Heights Neighborhood Association (CHNA) was formed in 1988, Peter Bramley – a nationally known artist and designer who had been the first art director for “National Lampoon” – and his wife, Nano Riley, were among the first participants. They had moved here in 1984 from New York City to live in the family home at 7th St. N. and 24th Ave N. that Nano’s grandfather had built in 1927.
When the association decided to establish a neighborhood name and logo, Nano Riley noted that her deed description listed the name “Crescent Heights Lake” and suggested the name “Crescent Heights” for the association name. That being solved, Peter offered to design a logo. He began by walking throughout the neighborhood, sketching various home architectures. This effort produced the logo that we see and use today to designate our neighborhood – on the front page of this newsletter and on the beautiful neighborhood markers that indicate the boundaries of Crescent Heights.
Peter Bramley passed away April 12, 2005, at the age of 60. Among Peter’s other works in St. Petersburg were folk-art style murals painted on the outside of several of the businesses along Martin Luther King Street (9th St. N.), notably Dave’s Restaurant (See photo at right), Wilson’s Book Store, Hook’s Sushi Restaurant, and the Casual Clam. Although some of these delightful colorful public murals can still be seen today, others have been painted over as buildings have been renovated. Those that remain are – along with our logo -- part of Crescent Heights history.
– Jim Tomlinson (Aticle is based on the author’s research, prior to Bramley’s death, which included interviews with Nano Riley and Peter Bramley and the minutes of CHNA Board meetings.)
Nationally Known Artist Creator of Crescent Heights Neighborhood Association Logo
For many years, Peter Bramley’s landmark mural of a folk-art hibiscus bush has graced the exterior wall adjacent to the entrance of the building that was formerly Dave’s Restaurant on 9th St. N.
Porch Party Hosts Needed We are looking for neighbors to host a Porch Party in 2012. These popular events are a great way to get to know your neighbors. As a host, you would pick a date, typically a Friday or Saturday, and choose the time, typically 6-8 or 7-9. We ask the guests to BYOB and a snack to share – so you don’t have to worry about cooking all day to prepare for it! It’s easy, and you don’t even have to have a porch. If you have questions or are interested in hosting a Porch Party, contact me at [email protected]. – John Sullivan
A Quick Look at Crescent Heights Yesterdays Paging through old CHNA newsletters, we got a glimpse of what was happening in the neighborhood at around this time in previous years: • January 1997: Traffic Committee chairman made a
presentation about an agreement with the city for “traffic calming” to slow speeding on 26th and 28th Avenues.
• January 1999: Deadline announced for ordering trees through “Operation Treescape,” a city-sponsored neighborhood program for planting Live Oaks.
• February 2002: Announcement of March meeting, at which an architect was scheduled to give tips on how to identify the architectural style of a home.
• February 2003: Jim and Eva Tomlinson chronicled for the newsletter their experiences with the process of registering their home as a “historical landmark site.”
• January 2005: Scheduled speaker for the monthly meeting was Ace Hardware, introducing the site plan for improvements in its parking lot at 9th St. N. and 27th Ave. N.
• January 2006: Contract signed with city for historical lighting at intersection of 5th St. N. and 26th Ave. N. First meeting of “Home History Research” project scheduled.
– Kristen Noakes-Fry
A Note of Thanks CHNA sends out heartfelt thanks to the loyal volunteers who have been hand-delivering the newsletters to homes in Crescent Heights over the past months:
Sylvia Raymond Lorraine Kelly
Genine and Robert Silverberg Phil Trocchia Wendy Griffin
Maureen & Tom Camphire Greg Garber
Leslie & Marvin Gay Alexis Novak Alice Logan
– The CHNA Board
CHNA Feb. News -- p. 5
Let’s Make 2012 a Better Year for Crescent Heights’ Homeless Animals Our neighborhood is home to several feral cats, a condition that has persisted for decades. It is sad. For the past two years, the Humane Society of Pinellas has offered free spay and neuter service for cats, including feral cats. According to the Humane Society, February 2012 is spay and neuter month. It is my understanding that the free program is offered as funds permit, so it may not be possible to know if the service will be offered again this year or for how long it will remain available. Four million cats and dogs—about one every eight seconds—are put down in U.S. shelters each year. Spay/neuter is a proven way to reduce pet overpopulation, ensuring that every pet has a family to love them. A solution is possible and starts with each of us taking one small step: getting our own pets spayed or neutered. Spay Day, the last Tuesday of February, is an annual campaign of The Humane Society of the United States to inspire people to save animal lives by spaying or neutering both pets and feral cats. In years past, the Humane Society of Pinellas has offered free and low cost spay and neutering services throughout the month of February. Contact them today at (727) 797-7722 for details about having your pet or a feral neighborhood cat spayed or neutered. – Jen Wright
CHNA Feb. News -- p. 6
JANE FORBES A longtime resident of St. Petersburg
Information reported in this ad is based on information from the Pinellas Realtor Organization MLS, Realtors, Owners & Public Records. The properties on the list have been listed & sold by various participants in MLS.
Maple Roasted Sweet
Potatoes 2 lbs small sweet potatoes,
(about 5), peeled, cut length-
wise into 1-inch wedges Kosher salt & black pepper 1-2 Tbsp pure maple syrup 1/2 tsp grated lemon zest Sea salt & freshly grated nut-
meg to taste
Preheat Oven to 425 degrees.
Toss the sweet potatoes on a
large, foil lined rimmed baking
sheet with the oil; season, to
taste, with salt & pepper. Roast
potatoes for 20 minutes. Re-
move pan from oven & toss
potatoes with maple syrup. Put
back in oven, roast, tossing
twice, until potatoes are begin-
ning to brown about 15
minutes more. To serve, sprin-
kle warm potatoes with freshly
grated lemon zest, sea salt, and
nutmeg to taste. 6 Servings
Calories 159, Total Fat 2g
Tax News for 2013 for Short Sales/Foreclosures
You may owe federal income taxes in 2013 if
you have a short sale, foreclosure after this year.
Now is the time to make the hard decision: Are
you going to walk away from your underwater
home?
Uncle Sam is still giving homeowners until Dec
31, 2012, to go through a short sale or foreclosure
without tax consequences—as long as the lender
officially releases the debt.
But on Jan 1, 2013, the rules change: The
amount a lender forgives, either in a short sale or
foreclosure, on a PRIMARY residence will be
taxable on federal income taxes.
So if a house sold $50,000 short of what is owed
on the mortgage, then the selling homeowners
will owe federal income taxes on that $50,000.
Homeowners would owe $12,500 if they’re in the
25 percent bracket: $7,500 if in the 15 percent tax
section. Homeowners would be on the hook even
if the house sold but the bank had not formally
forgiven the loan in a letter: The banks must offi-
cially sign off in writing before Dec 31.
The law first came into affect five years ago as
the housing market went bust nationwide.
The Mortgage Debt Relief Act of 2007
“generally allows taxpayers to exclude income
from the discharge of a debt on their principal
residence,” according to the Internal Revenue
Service.
So homeowners should decide now what they are
going to do-to give themselves time. Call Jane today at 727-580-0110. Or check out
my website www.forbesteam.com.
Visit www.Forbesteam.com
2331 Fourth St N, St Petersburg, FL 33704 cell: 727-580-0110 [email protected]
Your friend in Real Estate 727-580-0110
News SOLD 711 28th Ave N
3Bed/2Bath/1774 htsqft
Pool, Lot 75x127
Fireplace, Hardwood
$285,000
SOLD
1601 8th Street North
2/2.5/2 Car 1422htsqft $250,000
615 22nd Avenue North
2/1.5/1 Car 1341 htsqft $227,500
711 28th Avenue North
3/2/1 Car 1774 htsqft $285,000
1315 16th Avenue North
3/2 1674 htsqft $172,000
2621 11th Street North
2/1 912 htsqft $115,000
1815 12th Street North
3/1 1181 htsqft $ 64,500
783 30th Avenue North
3/1.5 928 htsqft $ 66,000
1511 27th Avenue North
2/1 1080 htsqft $ 93,000
727-580-0110
Join the Crescent Heights Neighborhood Association TODAY! Help support the neighborhood and efforts to make this a great place to live. Cost is just $20
a year (Jan-Dec). Sign up for membership online and pay with PayPal at www.myCHNA.org! Or fill out the membership form below and mail or bring to the next
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CHNA Feb. News -- p. 8 6
111 2nd Ave NE | Suite 400 St. Petersburg, FL 33701
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Turn your TV to MUTE, when you hear about National Real Estate!
Real Estate is a Local Business, and
Homes in Pinellas County ARE Selling!
It is no longer a buyer’s market! We are down to a 7 month supply of homes.
Much better than 20 months just last January!
Currently, there are 6 Active Listings with an average Asking Price of $225,217
There are 11 Pending Sales/Active with Contract with an average
Asking Price of $157,450
There are 3 Sold properties in the last 3 months with an average Sales Price of $253,333
Call ME for a current market value on YOUR home!
YOUR AD COULD BE HERE!
CHNA Newsletter Advertising Rates, 2012
1/8 page (“business card”) -- $15 1/4 page -- $25 1/2 page -- $40 Full page – call for rates.
3-month minimum
Kristen Noakes-Fry – 727-258-8389 Chris Giebner – 727-420-6868
