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October 20, 2009
This Week's Speaker: Cindy Sharpe with Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority
Cindy Sharpe has been working on the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority Public Education and Engagement Team since TBARTA’s inception as the Public Relations Liaison for both Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties. Her role is to help inform and educate the public about TBARTA and get people engaged about the Tampa Bay region’s Transportation Master Plan. Her other responsibilities include working with the news media, planning special events and developing informational materials.
Cindy has over 20 years experience in public relations where she has specialized in the transportation and travel and tourism industries. She is accredited in public relations by the Public Relations Society of America.
TBARTA has developed and adopted a Master Plan for regional transportation in the seven-county West Central Florida Region, including Pinellas County. As part of TBARTA’s public outreach effort, we would like to brief your members on the Master Plan and hear their thoughts regarding transportation improvements that will work best for our communities.
TBARTA’s board approved its Master Plan in May 2009, creating both a Long-Term Regional Network (a vision leading up to the year 2050) and a Mid-Term Regional Network (a plan leading up to year 2035). The Regional Networks consist of transportation corridors that demonstrate improved mobility and get people to where they want to go, regardless of how many city boundaries or county lines are crossed. These corridors feature transportation technologies that include short and long-distance rail, express bus, and bus rapid transit, and managed lanes on the highway.
The agency’s next steps include prioritizing the projects included in the Regional Networks, exploring funding options and partnerships, and determining operating details.
What’s Happening
Anniversary Cheers
Carl and Rita Collins have been married for 50 years as of October 3rd. After the meeting on Tuesday, Carl gave Charles Stuart a check for the Youth Investment Shares for $500.
He has been a club member since September, 1964 and was president for the 1983-84 year.
Project Save-A-Smile
Kiwanian Dr. Ron O’Neal is sponsoring Project Save-A-Smile for the fifth year. On Saturday, November 14, at Dr. Ron’s office at 7401 Dr. MLK, Jr. St., N at 8:15 a.m. work will begin on children up to the age of 16. Please contact Kathy Condon to volunteer for this most rewarding experience. You will enjoy being a part of this event. And, thanks Ron, for helping young children in need.
Last Minute Elections
We have a slate for an election to be held on Tuesday, October 27th. Special elections only require a one week notice not the two weeks required for the general election in May.
For Vice President (a one year term) to replace Cyndi Mulligan who resigned from the board will be:
Michael Brown
Rob Kapusta
For Director to replace Dan Stone and serve for two years will be:
Paul Misiewicz
Pat Kraujalis
Last Week at Kiwanis
Kiwanian of the Day, Dick Koch, served as moderator of a mayoral debate between Kathleen Ford and Bill Foster, former City Council members. Dick introduced each candidate, and they subsequently delivered an introductory speech regarding their candidacy and plans for St. Petersburg.
Many political debates are compared to boxing matches, but this particular debate did not lend itself to “The Thrilla in Manila” or anywhere close. A close comparison reminded one of a pillow fight between adolescents. Say what? An issue about a Krispy Kreme donut calendar tweaked Mrs. Ford to ask Mr. Foster about that circumstance. Mr. Foster, in turn, wondered why Mrs. Ford has dinosaurs on her desk.
At any rate, questions asked by the Kiwanis members and guests sparked few differences of opinion out of Ford and Foster. Both support the airport, increases in police budget, opposition of the annex plan for Tierra Verde, the public sanctity of sidewalks, gay rights employment opportunity, the Doorways Program initiated by Mayor Baker, more open government, and opposed Mayor Baker’s slashing of the tents for the homeless.
So, what do we have here? Two committed, qualified candidates and one of the few differences that we learned is that Ford supports evolution, and Foster sides with intelligent design.
The net result for the voters who watched our debate: the debate did not separate the candidates enough to make it easy for the voters to make a clear cut voting decision.
To quote member Pat Kraujalis: “I was undecided going into the meeting and from the debate there was nothing to sway me to one candidate or the other.” Pat also was concerned about the 286 million dollar city reserve many of us learned about today, and wonders if as a citizen the tax rate has been excessive through the years. Pat felt the reason for the reserve budget should have more clarity and explanation.
Thank you, Dick Koch, for your help arranging this timely event, and to you, the voters please vote on November 3rd.
Guests and Visitors
We had 61 members and 46 guests: Judy Stuart, wife and guest of Charles Stuart; Paul Ullmark, Lorraine Ullmark, Peggy Eisnaugle (wife), and Dorothy Longstaff, guests of Harry Eisnaugle; Bob Svlte and Mike Haverty guest of Kevin Kelso; Melanie Harris, guest of Steve Cunningham; Sandra Donelan, Carl Mostelliar, Carol Mostelliar, and Dale Koch (wife), guests of Dick Koch; Sheery Peetchure, Becky Davis, Madi Klavans, and Stephanie Unng, students from the Shorecrest Key Club; John Johnson, guest of Mary Ann Lynch; Cathie Sznerch, guest of Doug Lampe; H. Tulloch, guest of Bill Stover; Bud Strawn, guest from the Sunshine City Kiwanis Club; Three guests from the Seminole Breakfast Kiwanis Club
This Week’s Quiz
- How did Halloween originate?
- How much do Americans spend on Halloween candy, costumes, decorations, and parties?
- Why do people wear masks and costumes?
- How did Halloween come to the Americas?
- How did Trick or Treating start?
Last Week’s Quiz
- The city was co-founded by John C. Williams, formerly of Detroit, Michigan, who purchased the land in 1876, and by Peter Demens, who was instrumental in bringing the terminus of a railroad there in 1888.
- St. Petersburg was incorporated on February 29, 1892, when it had a population of only some 300 people.
- In 1914, airplane service across Tampa Bay from St. Petersburg to Tampa and back was initiated, generally considered the first commercial airline. The company name was the "St. Petersburg–Tampa Airboat Line" and the pilot was Tony Jannus, flying a Benoist XIV flying boat. The Tony Jannus Award is presented annually for outstanding achievement in the airline industry. Jannus Landing, a local music/entertainment venue on Central Avenue in Downtown, is also named after him.
- In 1914 baseball spring training came to St. Petersburg. The St. Louis Browns were the first team here.
- Albert “Al” Lang was the person who convinced the first baseball team to come to St. Petersburg.
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