Former Tampa City Councilmember Mary Alvarez was sworn in as the new president of the Ybor Rotary.  The Ybor Rotary is part of a worldwide network of 31,000 clubs located in 166 countries devoted to humanitarian service and making a difference in our communities.

Women in Federal Law Enforcement (WIFLE) held their ninth annual Leadership Training Conference at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Tampa.  WIFLE was established in 1999 by the U.S. Departments of Justice and Treasury and is part of the Interagency Committee on Women in Federal Law Enforcement.  The organization works to promote the value women bring to law enforcement and helps in the recruitment and retention of women in federal law enforcement positions.

Woodland Terrace Park has even more to offer with the opening of its new 3,977 square-foot addition.  The park facility now has a new computer clubroom, game room, weight room, larger kitchen, office, handicap accessible restroom, and storage.

The City of Tampa was presented with a 2008 Outstanding Achievement City Livability Award by the United States Conference of Mayors during the organization’s 76th Annual Meeting.  City Livability Awards recognize cities and mayors that have initiated programs to improve the quality of life in their communities. Tampa’s nomination focused on its youth programs including the Mayor’s Youth Corps, Mayor’s Mentoring Program, and the city’s newest youth based initiative, the “Mayor’s Book Talk” program on City of Tampa Television.

The Mayor's Symposium on Community Trees and the Urban Forest gave the public an opportunity to learn about the benefits, current condition and value of Tampa's urban forest.  The half-day seminar, held at the Tampa Convention Center, was co-sponsored by the City of Tampa, the University of South Florida, and Hillsborough County Extension.  Attendees participated in the initial steps to help create a strategy for urban forest sustainability for Tampa's 7.8 million trees and woodlands.

Serving as Jr. Mayor, Hannah Wise attended several functions with Mayor Iorio.  Hannah is 11 years old and a graduate of Beach Park School.  She will be in sixth grade and attend Tampa Preparatory School in the fall.

Bob Glaser passed the gavel to Charles David, the incoming President of the Tampa Downtown Partnership, at their 22nd Annual Meeting and Luncheon.  President and CEO of CEOs for Cities Carol Coletta, and host and producer of the nationally syndicated public radio show Smart City, was the keynote speaker at the event. 

A news conference was held to announce the selection of Charles “Chip” Fletcher as the new City Attorney.  Fletcher, currently a partner with the law firm of Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, is set to begin working for the City of Tampa on July 16, 2008.  He has a Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from Florida State University College of Law and previously served as an interim member of Tampa City Council.

Members of the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA) board traveled to Charlotte, Dallas, and Denver, on a fact-finding tour to learn about the regional transportation initiatives for each of the cities.  The TBARTA Board had the opportunity to experience the transit systems and talk to the people who developed, operate and fund these transit systems.  The Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority was created by the Florida Legislature in 2007 to plan and develop a multimodal transportation system that will connect the seven counties of the Tampa Bay region.  

The Tampa Bay History Center celebrated its topping out ceremony by placing the giant steel beam, signed by over 500 Tampa Bay residents at the groundbreaking, over the shaft of the museum's main elevator.  The new 60,000-square-foot Tampa Bay History Center is expected to open in December 2008 and will include classrooms, a research library, a cartographic center and special events space.  Established in 1989, the Tampa Bay History Center educates the community through the discovery, preservation, and interpretation of the rich cultural heritage of the people of our region and their relation to the United States and the world.

A ribbon cutting was held to officially reopen the Cyrus Greene Pool in East Tampa.  The newly reconstructed 25-yard pool is now handicap accessible.  The $1.5 million renovation project also features six swim lanes, a splash pad with three water drops, floor sprays, two rain arches and a tube slide.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held to officially open the San Lorenzo Senior Living Complex.  The complex is owned and operated by St. Lawrence Housing, Inc., a non-profit corporation operating under the rules and regulations of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  This 80-unit apartment complex, on North MacDill Avenue, provides housing for low-income seniors and was financed in part with $500,000 in HOME funding from the City of Tampa and $6 million from HUD.

A ribbon cutting was held to celebrate the grand opening of Fast Lane Clothing's new facility.  The company moved to East Tampa and invested $1 million for its new 10,000 square-foot facility and created ten new jobs for local residents. The company is a screen print apparel manufacturer and is located at 5112 North 22nd Street.

Tampa's new W/MBE Disparity Ordinance was signed into law by Mayor Iorio following City Council's approval.  This ordinance provides women and minority companies doing business with the city equal contract opportunities in goods and non-professional services, professional services, and construction.  Tampa's new ordinance also includes provisions for small businesses and a tracking system for compliance.

Assistant Police Chief Mike George recently announced his retirement after 29 years of dedicated service to the Tampa Police Department. George began his career as a police officer in 1979 and has served in nearly every division of TPD, most recently overseeing the investigations, narcotics and gang units and managing the department's $120 million budget. George's accomplishments include investigating the largest marijuana drug-smuggling operation in the department's history and being a major force in Tampa's crime rate reduction.

The 2008 Annual Meeting of the Tampa Bay Chapter of the American Red Cross was held at the University of Tampa.  This humanitarian organization is represented locally by numerous volunteers.  The organization provides assistance to those affected by disasters and helps citizens prevent, prepare and respond to emergencies.

Mayor Iorio expressed her appreciation to Clean City employees Timothy Williams and Kendrick Atwood for their assistance in controlling a motel fire they spotted on May 27 while on routine duties.  Using the hose from their tanker truck, they helped control the fire until the arrival of Tampa Fire Rescue.  According to the responding firefighters, their assistance helped limit the damages to only one room and helped ensure there were no injuries to motel guests.

Tampa International Airport officials and the Tampa Sister Cities Committee dedicated a display of gifts to be housed in the main terminal of the airport.  These gifts had been presented to the citizens of Tampa from its eight Sister Cities from around the world and were originally housed in the City of Tampa archives.  The U.S. Sister City Program, started in 1956, strives to build global cooperation at the municipal level, promote cultural understanding and stimulate economic development.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held for Tampa's new IKEA store, which is scheduled to open summer 2009.   The new 353,000 square-foot facility will be located on Adamo Drive at 22^nd Street and is expected to create 400 jobs.  IKEA strives to incorporate environmentally and socially responsible efforts into its daily business practices and supports many initiatives that further aid these efforts internationally, nationally and locally.

The week of June 2, 2008 was proclaimed "Code Enforcement Officers' Appreciation Week."  The proclamation was presented in recognition of these professionals who work to protect the health, safety and welfare of our residents through the enforcement of building, zoning, housing, fire-safety, and environmental codes and ordinances.

The Lions Eye Institute for Transplant & Research broke ground on its new ocular research center.  The 12,000 square-foot facility will be located in Ybor City.  Founded by a group of Tampa Lions in 1973, this center is known as one of the world's largest eye institutes devoted to sight restoration, education and research.

Mayor Iorio spoke to the fifth-grade students at Westshore Elementary School and extended best wishes as they move up to middle school.  Principal Harriet Foundas, along with school staff, also presented awards to the students during the annual recognition program.