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“It’s Another Great Day in Riviera Bay!”55th YEAR • NOV / DEC 2015 ISSUE www.rbcanews.com

Donna and I hope this “later-than-

usual” newsletter finds you all happy and healthy and ready to celebrate the holidays with family, friends and neighbors!!

There is a lot going on right now in the neighborhood.

First let me address the “elephant in the room.” A company, Blue Sky, has proposed putting an 83 unit workforce housing development directly north of 99th Ave. The association is opposed to this development for several reasons, all of which were presented to the Development Review Commission on Nov 4th. Despite our concerns, the DRC approved the development. More details inside, but we still have several options to explore. Warning, some options may get expensive, so if you haven’t joined the association yet, only $10 per calendar year, or bought candles to line your road and seawall on Christmas Eve, this year would be the best and most helpful time to join and buy candles and/or donate as much as you can to your neighborhood association to help with our fight.

Second, I really want to thank Brad Bess for doing most of the organizing of our neighborhood picnic

NEWSLETTER OF THE RIVIERA BAY CIVIC ASSOCIATION SINCE 1960

NEXT EVENT – LONG STANDING RIVIERA BAY CIVIC TRADITIONCHRISTMAS EVE BOAT PARADE & LUMINARY DISPLAY

Please keep an eye out for Emergency Meeting signs and e-mails concerning spending of associations funds. Some people are talking about needing up to $50,000. or more to fight this development.

and Gary West for organizing our vehicle show on Nov 9th. I don’t have all the names of everyone that contributed, so I’ll just say thanks to everyone that helped put this together and that brought out their great vehicle(s). One was a street legal Funny car, and for sure everybody thought that my “Lola” was the Best motorcycle there.

At our emergency meeting on Nov 12th, we voted to spend $5,300—if needed—of RBCA money to continue our fight against the housing development, and since we couldn’t find a place suitable for the RBCA Thanksgiving Dinner the majority of the people there also voted against having the dinner.

I’ll put it in writing right now, if I have anything to do with it, and since we will have a very talented and

active Board in place in 2016, we WILL have a BIG “Police, Fire and Veteran Hero Appreciation Picnic” AND a Thanksgiving dinner in 2016.

See ya around the hood, Prez Dave

On T he Riviera

Happy Holidays To All!

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2015RBCA EVENTS

Dec 24CHRISTMAS EVE BOAT PARADE& LUMINARIES(Rain Date 12/25

Christmas Evening)

DATES FOR 2016We are still

working out the details and dates

for our 2016 calendar.

10,000 4th StreetHousing Development

If you live North of 89th Ave N, you probably have heard about the 83 unit work force housing

development being proposed by Blue Sky for the property directly north of 99th Ave. This area includes a now- closed Car Wash, west of the unimproved portion of 2nd Street N. A hearing before the Development Review Committee was held on Nov. 4th and concerned RBCA residents filled Council Chambers and the over-flow room down stairs.

After waiting until 4PM to finally be heard, we presented the reasons for our opposition of this development. The main concern was that any southbound traffic would have to use 2nd St, over the blind hump bridge, past a walk-to neighborhood playground, past a school and a church, to access the light at 94th Ave & 4th St. Another concern was that

they were seeking 23 extra units in a High Hazard Coastal Flood area, which should not be approved. Most of us stayed till around 10:30 pm to talk.

Despite the concerns everyone voiced, the DRC approved the development, with concessions and subject to DOT approval. The development traffic could only go in and out at the Gandy Bypass and the unpaved portion of 2nd St from 99th Ave to Gandy be designated One way north to Gandy.

As I write this, there are still several options we need to iron out before we proceed. Some may get expensive, some not, but rest assured that we have several brilliant resident attorneys, donating their expensive time for your/their neighborhood, to work out something that is in the best interest of this neighborhood.

Please keep an eye out for Emergency Meeting signs

and e-mails concerning spending of associations funds. Some people are talking about needing up to $50,000 or more to fight this development. It’s your money and you should be concerned in how it is spent.

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RBCA eMail AlertsWe have been trying to set

up an email blast for the neighborhood for a while, but a lot of email addresses that were provided are no longer valid and get bounced back to us. The Blue Sky article is why it is important to have everyone’s email information. Even if the above property isn’t close to you, the next project may be. We need everyone’s email address. Debby Obst has volunteered to help with setting this up, so even if you have provided it before, please email your contact info to: rbca1960@gmail.com

We know everybody gets more than enough email, so we will only email you if we have to communicate urgent neighborhood news and/or events and your info will not be used for anything other than neighborhood news. I want to thank Debby for taking on this monumental task.___________________________________________

RBCA Thanksgiving Dinner

Due to circumstances beyond our control, we lost our original meeting room for the dinner and

could not find a local location to hold our Thanksgiving Dinner, so at the Emergency Meeting held on Nov 12 about the development, it was brought up to a vote with the majority voting to cancel it this year and concentrate on the development.

This yearly tradition WILL be held next year.__________________________________________

First Night St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg rings in the New Year with music, lights, dance, fire, bubbles, stories, creative fun,

fireworks and much more. First Night will celebrate its 23rd Annual New Year’s Eve celebration of the Arts on Thurs, December 31st in downtown St. Petersburg. Family-oriented festivities with music stages, entertainment, drama, dance, games, art, fireworks and more. For more information, visit

www.firstnightstpete.com/

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We had another successful RBCA event. With the help of the Mayor’s Mini Grant and our

volunteers we were able to pull off another great neighborhood event.

We want to Thank Chip & Lori Pitts from Babalu’s for donating the hamburgers and hot dogs again this year. They have been great supporters of the neighborhood for years. Please stop by and support the Babalu Restaurant and thank them when you see them.

We want to Thank Brad Bess for organizing most

of this and for providing the Band, Bouncy House, Obstacle Course & his group of volunteers who watched over the bouncy house, obstacle course, and did the grilling.

The kids had a lot of fun and the hamburgers & hot dogs were grilled to perfection and the band, Granny’s Gin, was great. Jake lives in the neighborhood so if you need a band, get in touch with Brad for Jake’s contact info.

We want to Thank Gary & Jill West for coordinating

Successful RBCA Picnic!

Hamburgers and hot dogs from Babalu’s

Brad Bess organized the picnic.

Funny car in our 1st Vehicle Show Prez Dave with some of our Local Heroes.

The Band, Granny’s Gin.

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our 1st Vehicle Show during our neighborhood picnic. We had 5 Cars and 1 Motorcycle on display. Thank you for those who brought their vehicles out, not bad for our 1st showing. We know there are some great vehicles hidden in our neighborhood. Please bring them out and show them at next year’s picnic. I’m sure I can get more than a few door prizes for the participants next year.

We also want to thank everyone who helped us set up, tear down, check in, etc, which includes the Frisco Family, Toni Michalove, Sean & Liz Singh, Toby Isaccson and anyone else I missed. Again, we really appreciate our volunteers and supporters, without you we couldn’t pull off this great event.

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CHRISTMAS EVE LUMINARIES

We have been beautifying the area for fifty years by

decorating our streets and canals on Christmas Eve with the “farolitos” (little beacons). Christmas Eve is truly an impressive, almost spiritual, sight when entire streets are embraced in the soft candlelight. We always have great participation throughout the neighborhood. The candles are six (6) for $5 with bags. They should be equally placed along the street and canals and are lit Christmas Eve at dusk. The candles on the seawalls really help to guide the Christmas Eve Boat Parade. In case of rain, they are lit on Christmas evening. If rained out both nights, our next rain date is New Years Eve. Please consider buying and displaying candles for residents that are unable to participate or who are out of town.

This is also a great opportunity to renew your association membership for 2013.

Turn the top of the bag over three (3) times. Crease well to stiffen the bag. Fill 1/3 full with sand. Trim the wick if it’s long so the bag doesn’t catch on fire. Place bags on flat surface. Place candles straight up in the middle of the sand so a puddle of wax forms around the wick. Also refrigerating the candles for a day before burning seems to make them burn longer.

The candles will be delivered to the homes of the distributors shortly after Thanksgiving. WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR MORE VOLUNTEERS TO HELP THOSE WITH LARGE AREAS TO COVER. The volunteers will be around to your homes and the candles will be available until

Christmas Eve. If a distributor misses you in your area, please call one of the distributors and make arrangements to pick up the candles. Please remember, these are your neighbors delivering candles and all are volunteers. Please don’t give them a hard time. They don’t buy the candles nor set the prices, and don’t make a penny doing this. Please don’t wait till Christmas Eve as many of your distributors participate in or set up to watch the Boat Parade. Let’s have a terrific Christmas Eve Luminary showing. We actually hear from people all over St. Petersburg that they look forward to seeing our display each year.

If you have any questions, please contact Jean Tyack 727-576-9300.

by Jean Tyack

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Jim Williams has agreed to lead our Christmas Eve Boat Parade this year. Again we would like to have

two categories of boats to take slightly different paths. Let’s start out with the larger boats which will turn around before the canals get narrow, then group the

smaller boats to go all the way down the smaller canals to bring the parade to everyone ending with the Santa boat, that gives everyone in the homes time to come out and see Santa at the end. Everyone should meet at the boat ramp at 5:45 pm (dusk), monitor VHF Channel 72. Rain date is Christmas night if you can make it.

You can contact Jim at jimmy.b.williams@gmail.comI regret Donna and I will be freezing our a…ah,

noses off in MD on Christmas Eve so we’ll miss this very popular party event again this year. Please stay with the parade until the end. Last year our Boat Parade got rained out both Christmas Eve and Christmas night. We did hear that there were 2-3 boats that tried to keep this tradition going even in the rain (Thank You for trying). PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU HAVE LIGHTS ON YOUR BOAT. We don’t need boats running into each other, it’s hard to navigate in the dark.

CHRISTMAS BOAT PARADE JUDGING1st, 2nd & 3rd Place Prizes

RBCA resident Clay Glover has once again offered $100 for 1st place and $25 each for 2nd & 3rd place prizes for the best lit, decorated, and maybe the merriest, boat in our boat parade. Clay will be the judge for this event. Please, unless the weather prohibits, make sure to stay with the boat parade until the end.

CHRISTMAS EVE BOAT PARADE

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It’s that time of year again and we need a few volunteers for a couple of areas. Even if all you can do is store candles at your house for residents to stop by and pickup, or help the volunteers already assigned to your street.

As you can see below, some of our volunteers are handling very large areas. We would really like to split up some of the larger areas. This is a great way to meet your neighbors. Please call Jean Tyack (576-9300) to volunteer.

CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLE DISTRIBUTORS

1) Marc & Carrie Plotnick, 9001 Treasure Lane NE - 563-0599; 97th Ave NE, 1st Str NE & Oak Str NE1A) Nancy Haines 117 98th Ave NE 576-5659; 98th Ave N & NE2) Kierstyn Hensley, 9498 Sun Isle Dr NE, 475-0731; Sun Isle Dr NE and 96th Ave N.3) Terri Hammer, 9200 Treasure Lane NE - 576-5257; Treasure Lane N, NE4) Debby & Lance Obst, 9399 Oak Str N - 578-9718; 94th Ave N, Oak Street NE & 1st Str N off of 4th Street5) Dan & Sheryl Spencer, 9485 2nd Street N - 577- 6187; 2nd Street between 92nd & 97th Ave N and 93rd Ave N6A&B) Kim Triplette, 8965 3rd Street N - 577-4117; Bay, 1st, 2nd Str & 3rd Str between 89th & 92nd Ave N

6C) Sandy Mitchell, 200 90th Ave NE - 251-5054; 92nd Ave & Oak Street6D) Karen Smith, 320 90th Ave N - 577-6717; 90th Ave NE7) Roger Eitner, 8840 Sunlit Cove Drive NE 727-520-34208) Stephanie Boyle – 8325 Riverside Dr NE – 576- 3323; South or 83rd Ave NE including Riverside Dr NE & 80th Ave NE & area eastward to Riviera Bay Park9) Wayne & Ingrid Busselle - 215 Tallahassee Dr NE - 576-3656; Tallahassee Dr NE, 87th Ave NE, Riverside Dr NE, Orient Way NE between Tallahassee & 85th Ave NE10) Denise Spornraft & Diane Croft - 301 87th Ave N - 692-0169; North side 83rd, 84th Ave N, Diagonal Rd, Waverly Rd, 3rd Str N, Tobay & Riverside Dr N. 85th & 87th Ave N11) Mike & Mary Reed - 221 Freeport Ave NE - 576- 2144; Freeport Ave NE, 84th Ave NE between Orient Way NE & Riverside Dr N. Orient Way NE between 83rd & 85th Ave NE., 85th & 87th Ave N13) Frank & Joanna Christalli, 9659 Oak St NE, 522- 9319; 80th, 81st & 82nd Ave N between 4th St & Riverside Dr. N, Waverly Rd N, Riverside Dr N & 3rd St N., South or 83rd Ave N14) Don Steer - 201 87th Ave N - 578-2859. 79th Ave N, 2nd Way N, 2nd & 3rd Street N15) Kathy Crow, 7919 2nd St N. - 578-7649; 78th Ave N & NE, 79th Ave NE, 1st Street NE

Please remember these people are all volunteers (your neighbors) and do not get any compensation for this. They are just helping to keep this long standing RBCA tradition going. You can also renew your RBCA Membership at this time. Some volunteers don’t like to ask, so ask them if you are interested in joining the RBCA or renewing your membership. They will also have membership cards available.

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HOLIDAY DISPLAY JUDGING

Last year’s winner, Jody, Jeff & Collin Gilbert will be the judge

of this year’s Holiday display. The RBCA will again award a $50 Babalu’s Gift Certificate to the winner and this year’s winner will be next year’s judge.____________________________

ADOPT-A-MILECLEAN-UP

Thanks to Toni Michalove for running our Nov 14th Adopt

–a-Mile Clean-up on 83rd Ave N. Toni Michalove, Diane Sherrill, and Dana, Malachi and Jordon Thomas collected 3 bags of trash w e i g h i n g a total of 10.6 lbs. We s e p a r a t e d 1.4 lbs of Glass, 1.6 lbs of Plastic and 1.6 lbs of Aluminum, leaving only 6 lbs of trash to be thrown away and adding another 7.5 volunteer hours from the RBCA. Every little bit helps extend the life of our landfill and also beautifies the neighborhood area. Thanks to all our volunteers because without them this couldn’t be done.

Prez Dave adds: Just to make you feel bad about not helping to clean your own neighborhood, Jordan lives in Clearwater and Malachi lives in Buffalo, MN. Instead of just walking for your health, walk AND engage your core by bending a little bit so the pickers can reach and pick up the trash instead of just walking by it. Concerned residents do things like that.

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HOLIDAY LIGHTS IN THE GARDENS - Thru Thurs, Dec 31. See more than 750,000 lights as the Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo are transformed into a holiday paradise to stroll through from 5:30 -

9:30 p.m. each night. $4 suggested donation for those 13 and over, children 12 and under and parking are free.

FLORIDA ORCHESTRA POPS: HOLIDAY POPS - thru Sat, Dec 12. Get into the spirit of the season with favorite yuletide tunes and more. Two shows 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Mahaffey Theater.

CHRISTMAS PARADE ON ST. PETE BEACH - Sun, Dec 13. Head down to Corey Avenue for a

In Memoriam

We are sad to

inform you that Ivan Crumbl iss , a long term newsletter deliverer, passed away unexpectedly. Ivan never said no to anything we asked him to volunteer for and was always up for a chat about just about anything. He resided on Tobay Road with his wife Jodi. He went into the hospital for a procedure to lengthen his life that instead ended up eventually taking it. He came out of the hospital on a Friday and then hospice was called in that Tuesday, 7 days later he passed. Please join us in sending his wife Jodi our deepest sympathies.

Remember, you are not guaranteed tomorrow, so don’t hold that grudge if you have one, and hug your loved ones as much and as often as possible and let them know you love them, because you never know when you may not have the chance to do that again.

Ivan Crumbliss

Christmas parade, visit by Santa, train rides, activities and more. The parade begins at 4 p.m. from Gulf Blvd and Blind Pass. Enjoy free fun from 4-7 p.m. at Horan Park next to the St. Pete Beach Community Center.

ANNUAL CANDLELIGHT TOUR OF HOMES - Sun, Dec 13. Stroll the brick-lined streets of Historic Old Northeast. Discover 8 festively decorated homes and seasonal music. Start at Westminster Palm View, 939 Beach Drive NE from 3 - 8 p.m.

FIRST FRIDAY ST. PETE - Fri, Jan 1. Celebrate every First Friday of the month in St. Pete with a free block party complete with live music and dancing. The action goes down between 2nd and 3rd streets on Central Ave. from 5:30-10 p.m.

For more information, www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/list/holiday-events

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Member ClassifiedI WILL REMOVE ANYTHING METAL

YOU HAVE FOR FREE - Appliances, old car parts, window frames, any kind of wire, cans, anything metal. Email Prez Dave at daybugme2@yahoo.com or leave message at 727-579-3644.

MISC. ITEMS: Office chairs (some never used) various size tables and desks, heavy duty shelving units and lateral files, weight scales, small & reg size refrigerators. Great prices. Email Prez Dave at daybugme2@yahoo.com or leave message at 727-579-3644.

VARIOUS ITEMS: Fine China, Full service for 8, PLUS Serving Platter, Bowl, Sugar & Creamer - $85 (obo); Antique End-Table, Unique, Curved, Blue Glass Insert - $150; Antique Wooden Tea-Cart, Wheels, Expanding Fold-Down Sides - $85 (obo); 6-Piece Drum Set - $350. Call 727-215-1351.

NEIGHBORS!Make sure you LIKE us

on FaceBook!You can see what your neighbors

are up to, post pictures, events, etc. You can find us going to FaceBook and typing in:

Riviera Bay Civic Association

Please send us your favorites!stpete.org – answers to almost anything about

St PeteAccentOnTampaBayMagazine.com – cur-

rent events & showsDailysale.com – Discounted itemsFreeShipping.org – Get free shipping from

over 4,000 companies petfinder.com/ - Find your forever pet pal.

USEFUL WEBSITES

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OFFICERSPRESIDENT: David Hoover ............................. 579-3644 / daybugme2@yahoo.comVICE PRESIDENT: VacantSECRETARY: Lori Intravichit ......................................................................576-2903TREASURER: Donna Hoover .............................579-3644 / donna.rbca@yahoo.comCHAIRMAN OF THE BOARDSean Singh .................................570-8458 - seanbsingh@gmail.comBOARD MEMBERS:Shawn Hannan ..........................542-7988 / Shannan160@yahoo.comJenny Healy ...........................................................................576-2765 Toby Issacson .......................................................................................Dave Kandz .........................................642-8567 / dave@rbdigital.bizToni Michalove .....................727-492-5682 / reddogs02@gmail.comChristian Rodgers ............812-243-9568 / crodgers4077@gmail.comAndrew Smith ............. 813-453-3407 / andrewacs@tampabay.rr.com

MEMBERSHIP: Donna Hoover .............................579-3644 / donna.rbca@yahoo.comNEWSLETTER EDITOR: Missy Martino ............................... 577-5500 / RBCAnews@aol.comNEWSLETTER ADVERTISING:Al Martino ...................................... 577-5500 / RBCAnews@aol.comNEWSLETTER DELIVERY: David Hoover .............................579-3644 / daybugme2@yahoo.comCONA REP: David & Donna Hoover .............579-3644 / daybugme2@yahoo.com

COMMITTEES83rd AVE/SAN MARTIN BRIDGE: Lance Obst .......................................... 578-9718 - dobst@verizon.netAndrew Smith ................ 813-453-3407 / andrewacs@tapabay.rr.comRoy O’Neil ......................................576-8754 / royoneil@verizon.netGRANTS: Donna & David Hoover ..............579-3644 / donna.rbca@yahoo.comDebby Obst ......................................... 578-9718 - dobst@verizon.netCANAL:Dave Kandz .........................................642-8567 / dave@rbdigital.bizRoy O'Neil ......................................576-8754 / royoneil@verizon.netAndrew Smith ......................... 813-453-3407 / andrewacs@msn.com

ENTERTAINMENT:Jenny Healy ..........................................................................576-2765Donna & David Hoover .............579-3644 / daybugme2@yahoo.comCHRISTMAS EVE LUMINARIES:Jean Tyack, Chairperson ......................................................576-9300 CHRISTMAS EVE BOAT PARADE:Jim Williams .....................................Jimmy.B.Williams@gmail.com

USEFUL PHONE NUMBERSMAYOR'S ACTION LINE ................................................ 893-7111(locate any dept and phone number in the city)NON-EMERGENCY POLICE ..........................................893-7780COMMUNITY POLICE SERVICE SQUAD ..................551-3182(For ongoing problems and response within 24 hours)Mayor Rick Kriseman ...................... Mayor@stpete.org / 893-7201District 2 Councilman Jim Kennedy .....................................893-7117council@stpete.orgPublic Service Rep Debbie Larson ....................................893-4138deborah.larson@stpete.orgPOLICE CONFIDENTIAL TIP LINE .............................893-4138ST PETE MARINE PATROL ............................................892-5247FL STATE MARINE PATROL ................................. 888-404-3922Animal Control ....................................................................582-2600Chamber of Commerce ........................................................821-4069CODES INSPECTOR: Thaddeus (Thad) Mitchell ............551-3171Codes Compliance ................................................................893-7373Curb, Street, Sidewalk Repair ...............................................551-3151Neighborhood Partnership ....................................................892-5141Public Utilities ......................................................................893-7761Reclaimed Water ................................................................... 892-5111Sanitation ..............................................................................893-7398Sewer Repair .........................................................................893-7261Street Light Outage ....................................................... 800-228-8485Street Signs/Traffic Signals ...................................................893-7421Water Resources: ext. 0 ........................................................893-7261Water and Navigation ...........................................................453-3385(Dock permits, report Mangrove cutting, etc.)Weedon Island Preserve ........................................................453-6500

The Riviera Bay Civic Association is not responsible for any dissatisfaction with any work or experiences

with any of our newsletter advertisers.website:www.RBCAnews.com

Membership Renewal InfoWe are your neighborhood civic association and we work for you to maintain and improve your neighborhood. If

you have not joined or renewed your membership in the Riviera Bay Civic Association, please take a moment to fill out this membership form and bring it to the next meeting or send your dues to the address below. Please show your support by sending in at least $10.00. (A larger amount would be appreciated!) One association membership per household includes your spouse and children, to be purchased each calendar year.

I would like to join/rejoin the Riviera Bay Civic Association. Enclosed please find at least $10.00 (more is always appreciated) association dues for our family for January through December.Name: ______________________________________________________________________________________Address: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Phone: ___________________________________ Email: _____________________________________________Please make checks payable to: Riviera Bay Civic AssociationMail to: Riviera Bay Civic Association, 163 87th Ave. North, St Pete, FL 33702 (727) 579-3644