12 Businesses Take on Leadership Role in Buy Local Movement

LocalShops1 is excited to announce that 12 local businesses have signed up for leadership roles in Neighborhoods!, LocalShops1's new member-to-member initiative to further grow Tampa Bay's Buy Local movement. Following is the list of the LocalShops1 Neighborhood Advocates: here

Moving To Florida?

 It is not all about lower taxes. It is about having decent public services, good infrastructure, excellent public education, more accessible public parks, museums and cultural experiences among other things. Florida under Republican leadership has not developed any of these things as well as it should and part of corporate culture is to have vibrant urban areas with all the amenities that are involved with that. Despite ranking third in population partly due to the low tax rate, Florida currently ranks 12th in Fortune 500 companies and 43rd in manufacturing jobs. These pathetic rankings come after the Republicans have had complete control of state government for 16 years. here

Gay Marriages to Begin Today in Florida

LegiCamp Tampa

January 31, 2015  Saturday   9:30 AM - 5:00 PM International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Hall 5621 Harney Rd, Tampa info

Join Rivera Sun, Author of THE DANDELION INSURRECTION for an Evening of Conversation at Sacred Grounds in Tampa

info

ken Hagan Corporate Welfare King

Film director Tim Burton, who is seriously considering making his next movie in the Tampa Bay area, may be getting some incentives to make sure he doesn’t look elsewhere. Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan  wants the county to craft a financial incentive package that will improve the chances Burton will shoot “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children”
in the Tampa Bay area. here

Mario Cuomo RIP

June 15, 1932 - January 1, 2015

Hillsborough gets ‘F’ rating on air quality

here

What Stogie Had For Lunch

Beef in Black Bean Sauce

with fried rice and egg roll

at New China, 8900 N. 56th St. in Temple Terrace

Mrs. Betty Bowers, America's Best Christian 2014

Halestorm- "Mz. Hyde

Florida for Care attends Department of Health’s

Public hearing on rewriting of SB 1030; Calls on Legislature to pass broader reformToday the Florida Department of Health conducted a public hearing in Orange County on rulemaking for Senate Bill 1030. SB 1030, also known as the Charlotte Web Law, was passed in 2014 by the Florida Legislature and was signed into law by Governor Rick Scott. This bill will allow for a high CBD, low THC form of cannabis known to help people with epilepsy and sever seizure disorders.

The DOH's plan today was to rewrite the rules on how the cannabis oil medicine will be produced and distributed.  Florida for Care’s Legislative and Policy Director, Dan Rogers, was present during the hearing.
“While the Department of Health is making progress, this bill is just not comprehensive enough for the vast majority of truly sick and suffering Floridians,” said Mr. Rogers. He continued, “Florida for Care intends to advocate for the passage of a comprehensive bill in the 2015 legislative session that will allow all suffering Floridians who could see relief through the medicinal use of marijuana to realize that relief.” Florida for Care will be working with members of the legislature to introduce a medical marijuana bill following the broad majority support the issue received in the November 2014 elections.
“A half million more Floridians voted for medical marijuana than voted to reelect our Governor. We need to make sure the will of people is heard and acted upon,” stated Ben Pollara, Executive Director of Florida for Care.
Florida for Care will spearhead legislation in March of 2015 in Tallahassee, setting the standard for what the state’s medical cannabis system should look like and how it can function most effectively. Such a system must balance three core principles: first, safe, affordable patient access; second, a tightly controlled state regulatory structure; and third, a robust, free market commercial enterprise.

For more information or to schedule an interview, please call Bianca Garza at 407-930-3525 or email her at press@floridaforcare.org

Florida for Care · 801 N Magnolia Ave, Suite 315, Orlando, FL 32803 

The Kriseman Administration 2014 Survey

here

Pam Bondi is Florida’s Loser of 2014

Pam Bondi. It's hard to imagine how someone who won re-election so handily could emerge from 2014 more wounded and diminished as our Republican attorney general. Put aside the unseemly junkets funded by groups seeking to influence her. Bondi's clumsy communication skills and relentless defense of Florida's gay marriage ban have made her a modern-day Anita Bryant.....more

Stogie Recommends

All Is Lost is a 2013 survival film written and directed by 
J. C. Chandor. The film stars Robert Redford as a man lost at sea.  Redford is the only cast member, and the film 
has very few spoken words. here

The Citrus Taliban tries to stop gay marriages with lawsuit

A conservative group is trying to stop a county clerk of courts, Orlando's mayor and a judge from helping same-sex couples get married next week in Florida. 

A Few Hours Left to Make a Big Difference to WMNF!

We know you are asked to support several worthy organizations at the end of the year.  Please take a moment to consider the value that WMNF adds to your life and to the vitality of the community now and every day. here 

Florida Banana Republican T-Shirt

$25.99 

Florida - Land Of The Banana Republican
Order Here

Ethics Training For Florida Senators

Legislators are reserving two hours of committee meeting time next week for members of the Florida Senate to receive ethics training. here

Tampa SWAT Marijuana Raid

$2 worth of marijuana
How we "Git ur done" in Tampa, Florida
Jason Westcott RIP

Local Hero Christina Ammons

Little Bubba and Diesel 

 My name is Christina and I am a law enforcement officer in Tampa Florida. Several months ago I discovered a colony of over forty cats and small kittens in an area where I work. I am in the process of building a large building which will be constructed into a kitty haven for these boys and girls to safely live out their lives free from worry and possible harm at the hands of humans. I am seeking assistance of any kind to help me with food and other necessities to carry this out. Most will need veterinarian treatment as well. Anything will help and I thank you for taking the time to listen to their story! here

Robert Reich's 2014 year in review

Join Central Florida Norml

Central Florida NORML! 

 We wont stop till responsible Central Floridian marijuana users have the rights they deserve! Since its founding in 1970, NORML has provided a voice in the public policy debate for those Americans who oppose marijuana ...prohibition and favor an end to the practice of arresting marijuana smokers. A nonprofit public-interest advocacy group, NORML represents the interests of the tens of millions of Americans who smoke marijuana responsibly. here

Highlights of IFAW’s 2014 Work Protecting Animals

AAA: Free Tows On Years Eve

1.800.222.4357

GOP Consultants Mock Floridians

Data Targeting

The mega-shady, right-wing outfit 
that drew our extraordinarily gerrymandered legislative and congressional boundaries 
for the 

Florida GOP 

in direct violation of our state constitution wants you to take it deep. Check out the Christmas card they sent us. here

freelube@yborcitystogie.com

 Make THE Experience More Memorable.

Imagine Dragons - Radioactive

Tampa Bay Locavore

Meet Charlie and Bob. Owners of the local food delivery service

A List Steaks And Stuff

Call them at 813.935.2495 or visit them here

Manhattan Monica In Ybor City

The Vin 2014 Stupid State Award: Florida Wins Again

FLORIDUH!! He didn't even fool you once, you knew he was a criminal. And then he got elected. He cut funding for everything and gave to his cronies, he ruthlessly cut disabled children's funding, locked up medically fragile children in adult nursing homes, and he abandoned his own rescue puppy.

Fool you once, shame on you. Fool you twice... what the fuck? This proves Florida deserves the title of My Stupid State. here

The Seminole Democrat

Florida Cracker In Ybor

Florida Cracker

My favorite Cigar City Beer.
I had just opened a cold one standing on a balcony on 7th ave. Then the truck came along, it was faith. Drink local, support local beers.

Gulfport's Cathy Salustri

"Blogging before blogging was a thing people did to make money. I still don’t make money blogging, because I’m keeping it real. And bringing it back." here

January Solidarity Sunday at Lee's

Do you have a boss?Do you like beer? 

Tampa's monthly worker meetup resumes with beer and pizza 
on the patio at Lee's.

 Sunday, January 11, 2015 at 6:00pm - 9:00pm

2210 N Central Ave, Tampa info

History of Ybor City

here

Ybor City Stogie T-Shirt

$28.00

 here

100% preshrunk cotton

WMNF: New Years Eve with Donna the Buffalo

Skipper's Smokehouse

here

The shrimp dock cats of Tampa

Help them out here

What Stogie And Pilar Had For Lunch

Fajitas

At Tequilas in Ybor City

Outfoxed Effect • Ten Years Later

Support Cuban Bloggers

Many people want to do something to help the bloggers directly. The most important thing is to read them, talk about them, comment on their blogs, share their blogs with others,

keep them IN THE PUBLIC EYE, 

which is a shield that helps to 
protect them.

If you want to help with a donation, one way to do that, from the comfort of your home, is to 
put money in their cell phone accounts.
This allows them to KEEP communicating, Twittering, making and accepting calls and text messages within Cuba and overseas. info

Tampa's Centre For Girls

Visit them here

Ybor Paparazzi

Carlos Hermida of Central Florida NORML at Tequilas

Three Days Grace - Animal I Have Become

What Stogie Had For Lunch

Pepper Steak with Fried Rice

At China Palace in North Port

Visit them here

Stogie Recommends

Goodbye World is a 2013 American post-apocalyptic film directed by Denis Hennelly and written by Hennelly and Sarah Adina Smith. It tells the story of a couple who raise their daughter while living off the grid, until a disaster brings about radical changes in the life they have been living and the way they will view their friends. here

Time for Cubans to decide for Cubans

The American President, Barack Obama, decided on behalf of Cubans. His holiness the Pope decided on behalf of Cubans. The Army General Raul Castro decided on behalf of the Cubans. Everyone, except the Cubans , decided on behalf of Cubans. here

Miami Cuban Mafia Exposed

Opens Nationwide Dec. 25th, 2014

Starring

La Senora
(Ileana Ros-Lehtinen)
here

El Guapo
(Marco Rubio)
here

Fredo
(Mario Rafael Díaz-Balart)
here

Also starring

Lincoln Díaz-Balart as El Bruto

 Debbie Wasserman Schultz as Lefty

Mel Martinez as El Jefe

and Rick Scott as Shifty

Suitable for those under 17 years of age only when accompanied by an adult.

Equality Florida Prepared To Fight

Most of Florida's 67 clerks of court don't plan to issue marriage licenses to 
gay couples on Jan. 6. here

"We are prepared to fight," 
Sharon Kersten, Equality Florida

"I've been with the gay community on the issue of equality, forever. I want to see this resolved," Pat Frank, clerk for Hillsborough County

SHRIMP DOCKS KITTY RESCUE PROJECT

Hello,
My name is Christina and I am a law enforcement officer in Tampa Florida. Several months ago I discovered a colony of over forty cats and small kittens in an area where I work. I learned that some people feed the cats when they are around but that is not constant because they are fisherman on shrimp boats. Although their intentions are noble, I have never seen fresh water put out for the cats so they drink out of rain puddles in the parking lot when available. As a result, everyone is dehydrated and almost all suffer from some sort of cold or upper respiratory infection. I am seeking assistance of any kind to help me with food and other necessities to carry this out. Most will need veterinarian treatment as well. Anything will help and I thank you for taking the time to listen to their story!

PLEASE HELP

Feliz Navidad Tampa Bay