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New Tampa Community Council May Newsletter

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The Board is in the process of considering what moneys will be granted to groups that provided volunteers for The Taste of New Tampa and proposed community grants by groups that have specific needs that serve the community. Once the Board has determined on the shares, checks will be distributed sometime in June to the organizations.

During a recent planning meeting, The Board evaluated the pluses and minuses of this April’s Taste and already is considering dates and locations for next year’s event. One thought, during our planning session, was the development of a fall event that someday could rise to the magnitude of the Taste. Several initial ideas were events such as an Art Festival, Music Festival or Family Community Fair. The earliest a fall event could successfully staged would be the fall of 2005. We have learned from the Taste that you can’t host a quality event without adequate time for planning. Any suggests or people willing to volunteer for Next year’s Taste or Fall Event should call Todd Wiener at 977-6962.

At the recent Metropolitan Planning Workshop on April 22nd at the Library, the folks who attended were pleasantly informed that due to the need and the advocacy of citizens groups such as the NTCC, New Tampa Transportation Task Force and The New North Transportation Alliance, many of our road projects would commence in 2005. The widening of Cross Creek Boulevard (given the city matching funding) should begin in the first quarter, followed by progress in such projects as the I-75 Flyover, the Bridge over I-75 to Commerce Parkway and even the widening of the first phase of Bruce B. Downs could commence, barring unforeseen delays, in late 2005. For many of us who have spent countless hours at planning meetings and workshops, it is satisfying to see things finally move a long.

Thanks again to everyone who made this years Taste a financial success for so many New Tampa groups.


Frank Margarella
President