Being lovers of the written word here at Patch, we couldn't help but highlight one of the happiest corners in Seminole Heights. If you've ever rounded the corner at Branch Avenue and Lambright Street and spotted a shabby chic bookshelf with a peaked roof and an eclectic collection of novels, biographies and textbooks, here's what it's all about: About a year ago, Seminole Heights residents Kathy Morris and Kelly Benjamin decided to bring an idea they'd spotted in a magazine in Portland, OR, to their neighborhood. They placed a bookshelf outside their front yard fence, tacked on a roof to keep…

If you've wondered about the construction that started last month next to the Sulphur Springs Pool, we've got good news and bad news. The pool will remain open and there won't be any disruption to traffic or business, but unfortunately they are not building a new water slide. The construction is taking place at the pump station on Nebraska Avenue, adjacent to the Sulphur Springs Pool, and just north of the Hillsborough River. According to Eric Weiss, Chief Engineer of the Tampa Water Department, the work is necessary to control water flow and salinity between the Sulphur Springs Pool and the …

Independent Bar and Café customers, take note. The grass parking lot is now off-limits for imbibers, according to a recent post on The Independent's Facebook page. Cappy’s Pizza owns the lot between the two businesses and is no longer allowing The Independent to rent it, the March 12 post said. But workers at both businesses were quick to point out that there is no dispute. “There’s no bad blood at all,” said Veronica Vellines of The Independent. The pub's customers are now permitted to park at the front of the WSM Co. building at the corner of Florida and Wilder avenues, in addition to the …

In what sounds like a Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys book, the mystery of the chained up church has been solved. Neighbors of the Central Avenue Baptist Church in Old Seminole Heights thought that maybe it had closed. After being greeted by pad locks and "private property" signs, the neighbors who usually exercise their dogs on the church's property were left singing not hymns but "who locked the dogs out?" A call to the church revealed the congregation is fine. Worshippers are still welcome, but the dogs have been excommunicated. Apparently, they'll embrace sinners...but not Saint Bernards. Church…

If you've driven past the former boat repair shop at 4500 N. Nebraska and wondered what the big purple paint job is all about, you can guess no more. Southern Brewing & Winemaking, currently at 1717  E. Busch Blvd., is making a new home for itself. The business is co-owned by Brian and Kelly Fenstermacher, who live in Riverside Heights. Brian Fenstermacher said new architect drawings should be completed this week that will include a partial build out. The couple is waiting on some permit approval by the city, but so far everything looks like it's a go, he said. The owners did not have a firm …

I've had more than a few few people ask me about the vacant building at 6401 N. Nebraska Ave. and the apparently closed Taco Ola at 6828 N. Florida Ave. The phone number for Taco Ola is disconnected and there no owner is listed for the property at 6401 N. Nebraska Ave. in the county's online records. Do you know what's up with these two sites?

This pile of old carpeting, furniture and car parts has sat next to the curb of 6902 N. Lynn Avenue for nearly three weeks, neighbors say. Patch spoke to the husband of the owner to ask: "What's up with that?" Daniel Harris said the family has been cleaning out the interior of the main house and the garage apartment for several weeks to renovate the property. The pile hasn't gone unnoticed. Harris said two code officers have stopped by to question him about the nearly 15-feet long pile of debris. However, he said the family was not cited for code violations. Harris said the officers gave him …

Last April, Riverheights Cleaners Inc. obtained a new business license for the vacant building at 5404 N. Florida Ave. Renovations are still underway. When I called the dry cleaner's other location at 3918 N. Boulevard, a staff person told me that an opening date for the Florida Avenue store was not yet determined. The new location will be a drop-off point for customers. The cleaning will be done at another plant location.

If you've been following our coverage of the panhandling debate in Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa and wondered what's next, here are two upcoming events that address the issue.The Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners will address the issue at Wednesday morning. County Administrator Mike Merrill will give commissioners a report on the issue based on findings from four previous meetings of a county committee that examined a possible ordinance to ban roadside solicitations. On Thursday morning, the Tampa City Council will hold a public hearing and a second reading of a proposed …