Another Tampa native reaches Cooperstown Tampa has been long known as one of America’s leading baseball cities for producing a volume of top talent and fostering baseball culture. The roster of elite players from Tampa grew in December with the announcement that Tony LaRussa – born and raised in West Tampa – was unanimously voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. He joins Al Lopez and Wade Boggs in adding to Tampa’s rich baseball legacy in the Hall of Fame. Tony LaRussa played shortstop for Jefferson Dragons in 1962. Photo credit: TampaPix.com Widely known for his managerial accomplishments, LaRussa graduated from Jefferson High School and was drafted as a player by the Kansas City Royals in 1963. LaRussa spent 10 years as a pro and in the Minor and Major leagues. The White Sox offered LaRussa his first opportunity as a manager in 1979, which spurred one of the most illustrious careers of any manager in baseball history: three World Series Championships, six league pennants and 12 division championships. He holds the distinction of having the third most wins of any manager with a staggering 2,728 wins over 33 years, and is succeeded only by Connie Mack and John McGraw. The Tampa Baseball Museum at the Al Lopez House congratulates Tony LaRussa on his acceptance into the Baseball Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will take place July 27, 2014.

The DALI Upcoming Events

Ybor City Season Safety by Officer Sean Mahabir

Ybor Watch  https://www.facebook.com/yborcitybusinesswatch?fref=ts

Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year….right around the corner! I can’t believe how fast this year has flown by. Well, with the holidays comes crowds, good cheer, gifts, and mostly everyone’s favorite pastime…spending money. Ybor City is a great place to be….great people and great events….however, I wanted to remind you that there’s always a handful of “Grinches” out there.

Please be safe and turn on your crime radar…there are those that prey on individuals that are too busy to remember the simple rules of being safe. Here are some reminders for everywhere, not just for Ybor City…please pass this along to your employees, family, and friends. I’ll send bits and pieces of safety tips throughout the season if we are seeing any crime trends. Ybor City continues to have a very low crime rate…let’s keep it that way!

• While out and about, present an alert appearance. Be on Guard!
  Be aware of your surroundings; scan the area with your eyes/ears from time to time. Avoid concentrating so hard on shopping or work that you fail to keep track of your surroundings, others near you, or your personal property.
  • Grip carried items firmly and avoid leaving them unattended.
  • Carry minimal cash and valuables, wear minimal jewelry.
  • Get off your cell phone! Concentrate going from point A to point B. (work place to vehicle, mall to vehicle etc.)
  • Shop with friends or relatives if possible; there IS safety in numbers. As you shop, be alert in crowded places. Among pickpockets’ favorites are malls, jammed aisles, elevators, and public transportation stops and vehicles. Carry the day’s most expensive purchases closest to your body, and don’t carry so much you lose the ability to react quickly.

• When parking…roll up the car windows, lock the vehicle, take the keys, and insure your valuables are concealed (preferably in the trunk). During hours of darkness, park and walk in lighted areas to the extent possible. Keep your wallet, purse, and any other valuables on your person or otherwise out of sight, NOT on the seat next to you. If you must leave valuable items in your car while out and about, place items out of sight before reaching your destination or move them inconspicuously. This includes packages, backpacks, gym bags, GPS units, MP3 players, and so forth. Someone may be watching when you put items under/behind a seat or throw something over them. An opportunistic thief is on the lookout for “trunk-packing”, and can break into your car the minute you’re out of sight. So, be aware of your surroundings before you place valuables in your trunk.

The panhandlers are going to be in full effect and it’s important that our eyes and ears are wide open. Remember, it’s illegal to panhandle in Ybor City, please don’t hesitate to call the police. (Ybor City Flyer attached)

Do me a favor….please reply to this email…say HI! This is going out to over 250 emails in Ybor City! Let me know how things are going.  If you’d like me to come by your business, organization, neighborhood group etc. and discuss safety awareness with your employees, members, and friends….call me and let’s schedule a time.

Stay Thirsty My Friends!
Sean Mahabir, Police Officer – Ybor City Liaison

Tampa Police Department
District 3
3808 North 22nd Street
Tampa, FL 33610
813-242-3800

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Gulfport Celebrates 20 Years of Art Walks

For Immediate Release: October 15, 2013

Gulfport Celebrates 20 Years of Art Walks

Contact: Daniel Hodge; (727) 366-4086; dan@igc.org

JPG attached: “Original Art Walk Ad”

By Daniel Hodge

GULFPORT, FLORIDA: Gulfport will celebrate the 20^th anniversary of its well-known Art Walk on Friday, November 1^st.  A forerunner of similar events that are now common throughout Tampa Bay, Gulfport’s Art Walk now takes place on the first Friday and third Saturday of each month, year-round from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m.  Local and visiting artists and crafters line the sidewalks of scenic Beach Boulevard in Gulfport’s historic Waterfront District.  On the occasion of the 20^th Anniversary Celebration, organizers will offer a display of Art Walk memorabilia, a birthday cake to share with visitors, drawings for prizes donated by local merchants, and awards to artists participating for the evening.  Gulfport City officials will be on hand to help commemorate the event.  Cake will be served and awards presented in a brief ceremony beginning at 7:30 p.m. in front of Mangia Gourmet (2930 Beach Boulevard South).

The Gulfport Merchants Association has announced a “Call for Artists” to participate in the 20^th Anniversary Art Walk Celebration.  A $200 “Best of Show” juried award will be presented during the evening.  Veteran Art Walk participants will also be recognized with awards in a variety of categories.  Artists interested in participating should contact Suzanne King by email to suzfest@gmail.com as soon as possible.

The first Gulfport Art Walk, originally referred to as “Gallery Walk,” took place on the first Friday, November 5^th, 1993.  At that time, six recently-opened independent art galleries on a single block of Beach Boulevard banded together to draw attention to their burgeoning gallery scene.  An advertisement in the local newspaper announced the first Gallery Walk, and participants put out paper bag luminaries to direct visitors to the galleries, each of which offered refreshments.  The original participants were Sabal Palm Galleries (“tropical” and local art), Lynne Brown Fine Arts (Brown’s portraits and other art works), Troyka Art Gallery (Russian and European artifacts), Outta My Gourd (gourd and fiber art and basketry by Lisa Coopersmith), Kaleidoscope (stained glass work by Roger Turner), and Griffin Studio (paintings and pottery by Nan and Bill Griffin).

Gulfport’s Gallery Walk proved successful and drew increasing numbers of both locals and visitors to the firstFriday event.  As the event grew, a 1994 full-page feature by the St. Petersburg Times art critic highlighting the Gulfport art scene resulted in a “mob” of visitors that same evening, according to Turner.  Lines of people waited to get into galleries.  As Turner recalls, “We felt like we had arrived!”  By that time, additional galleries were opened, as others closed.  A year after its origin, the terms “Gallery Walk” and “Art Walk” were often used interchangeably.  Also at this time, gallery owners and locals began referring to the Waterfront District, particularly along Beach Boulevard, as the “Art Village.”  The third Saturday Art Walk, originally called the “Saturday Night Stroll,” was added to the calendar in 1999.  Now sponsored by the Gulfport Merchants Association, Art Walk expanded to include several blocks of outdoor exhibits by local and visiting artists several years ago.

Gulfport’s status as an “Art Village” has remained attached through the years, although the number of galleries has ebbed and flowed over time.  An insurgence of restaurants to the same area in recent years has created an equally strong identity as a dining hub.  Artists living and working in Gulfport continue to maintain a strong presence in the small, eclectic city, and a handful of galleries and retailers that include original art work in their mix add to the current Art Walk offerings.  The combination of art and artists indoors and out, a variety of dining choices, live entertainment venues, street performers, and the “Old Florida” charm of the Gulfport Waterfront District combine to create today’s lively Art Walk scene.  Free parking and free trolley service to and from offsite parking areas is available during each Art Walk.

The Industrial Arts Center of Gulfport (IACG) maintains quarters in Gulfport after a recent relocation to the “Alley of the Arts” off 29^th Avenue South, near Beach Boulevard.  Demonstrations and classes in hot glass-blowing and metal forging are offered at the IACG.  The nearby City of Imagination at Gulfport Arts Center (2726 54^th Street South), offers a venue for classes, exhibits and performances in a variety of visual and other art forms.

The Gulfport Historical Society will continue the celebration of Art Walk’s 20^th Anniversary by organizing memorabilia related to the history of Art Walk, artists in Gulfport and the growth of the “Art Village.”  Items will be displayed during the evening of the Anniversary event and will continue to be displayed at the Gulfport Historical Museum (5301 28^th Avenue South) through the month of November.  The Historical Society’s next monthly “Porch Party” on November 15^th will focus on the history of Gulfport’s Art Walk, Artists and Galleries. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. and includes a speaker, as well as a social hour and hors d’oeuvre, with visitors invited to bring food of their own to share, as well as their own beverages of choice.  Donations to the Society during their third Friday Porch Parties are encouraged.

For more information on the 20^th Anniversary Art Walk Celebration, contact Daniel Hodge by email todan@igc.org or phone 727-366-4086.

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