Celebrating Nina Light

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By Arleen Hadden

• When you thought we weren’t looking we saw how you were concerned with rising crime in the neighborhood after having a home invasion in February 2007. It inspired you to start the Allendale Neighborhood Crime Watch Association that same year receiving Crime Watch of the year for the State of Florida.

The neighborhood benefited because you helped unite us as a community, while making Allendale known in the city as the safest neighborhood in which to live. In addition, by providing cameras for strategic areas in the neighborhood you facilitated the elimination of drug problems.

• ·When you thought we weren’t looking we saw how you increased neighborhood safety: getting more street lights installed in the neighborhood, getting lighting at Roberts Community Center Park, providing dusk to dawn light bulbs, getting the speed limit lowered from 35 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour, getting traffic-calming devices installed on 12th Street and getting a 4 way stop at 42nd Ave North and 12th Street.

We learned the neighborhood is safer by having more well-lit homes, streets and park at night. We appreciated the frequent safety warnings to “lock your car doors and leave a light on your porch at night”.

• When you thought we weren’t looking we saw your TAKE ACTION approach when developers attempted to buy homes in Allendale trying to make the estate size lots into 45-foot-wide lots (NT1). Through the letter writing campaign, active participation in city council meetings and the hiring of former Mayor Bill Foster as our attorney, the zoning was changed from NT1 45 to 50 foot lots to NS1 75- foot lots.

We benefited by getting Allendale and Monticello Park 2 designated as Neighborhood Suburban (NS1) with 75-foot lots, keeping the Allendale charm and character that has existed since the beginning of the neighborhood in 1922 by Cade B. Allen.

• When you thought we weren’t looking we saw your love of hosting large events, such as the Allendale Block Party and Christmas Eve Parties.

We learned what an amazing cook you are, especially the baked beans, pasta salad, tiramisu, and many, many hors d’oeuvres.

• When you thought we weren’t looking we saw how you shared your many baking talents with the Christmas Cookie Baking and Distribution Enterprise. We learned how you further built the love of community by those who helped bake the many, many cookies and all the groups that enjoyed the cookies including the police department and mayor’s office. In fact, the police department would make calls each year anticipating the cookie platters.
• When you thought we weren’t looking we saw your love of dogs, cats, and even a few bunnies by providing treats for them during crime watch rounds. You even helped solve the mystery of the cat lady leaving food on a property every morning.

The neighborhood benefited because the dogs recognized your vehicle in anticipation of the treats so if they were lost they would easily come to you to be rescued. If there was a lost dog in the neighborhood you would stop what you were doing to help rescue them.

• · When you thought we weren’t looking we saw how Allendale participated in the citywide Neighborhood Disaster Safety Project. Through your hours and hours of time you created and maintained a neighborhood list with contacts including block captains with safety kits. This resulted in Allendale having the only approved safety plan in Saint Petersburg.

We benefited as Allendale was recognized as the Mayor’s Neighborhood of the Year in 2012 receiving two grants which paid for the safety kits for the block captains.

• When you thought we weren’t looking we saw your concern to keep the Allendale charm through participation in the Saint Petersburg Care Fest and converting the neighborhood Triangle into a beautiful memorial for the three Saint Petersburg police officers killed in the line of duty. This was dedicated in 2012. In addition, you personally paid for solar lights for the Triangle and took responsibility to keep the Triangle maintained at your own expense.

We benefited from the addition of a beautiful Triangle Park area with a bench for reflection that is well lit at night. Other projects included painting the Allendale Terrace signs and cleaning up the alleys.

• When you thought we weren’t looking we saw how you lead the effort for the designation of 3900 Dr Martin Luther King Jr St N home (Acheson-Mackey Residence) as historic. There was a real threat that it was going to be demolished with multiple homes built in its place. Approximately 900 signatures were collected along with guidance and support from the Saint Petersburg Preservation Society, “Preserve the ‘Burg,” and by multiple meetings. This was accomplished in 2015.

We learned the necessity of becoming actively involved in the political process to preserve the character of Allendale and with great leadership and a united effort GREAT things are possible.

• Due to the ongoing development in the Allendale area, there was an increased loss of the oak canopy for which Allendale is known. When you thought we weren’t looking we saw how you led the way saving several trees from being cut down. In addition, you initiated rebuilding the aging oak canopy by encouraging neighbors to participate in the Live Oak Replacement Project. There were 13 trees added to the neighborhood with the first planting in 2019. The Oak Replacement Project continues to add Live Oak trees.

We learned the necessity of forward thinking and proper care of our canopy is a neighborhood responsibility and should not be taken lightly.

• When you thought we weren’t looking we saw how you and the Allendale Crime Watch Association supported the summer sports programs at Roberts Community Center by paying for the registration fees and T-Shirts for those children who could not afford them.

We learned by keeping children in structured programs in the summer that it resulted in less crime in the surrounding neighborhoods.

• · When you thought we weren’t looking we saw how you participated in a bicycle and helmet donation project in the neighborhood for the North Shore Elementary students. In addition, you supported one of the teachers at the same school for several years so she could purchase school supplies for her students who couldn’t afford them.

We learned you are an excellent role model and what it means to share your time, talent and treasure with the community.

• When you thought we weren’t looking we saw how you supported the Allendale Neighborhood Garage Sale by purchasing signs, painting signs, placing ads, and assembling door hangars to encourage participation year after year.

We learned it is beneficial to declutter your home, make extra cash, connect with the community while being environmentally friendly.

• When you thought we weren't looking there are tears in our eyes for we learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry. From weddings to new babies to funerals and to the neighborhood ever changing, we learned the road less traveled provides life’s greatest journey.
• When you thought we weren’t looking we looked at you and wanted to say, 'Thanks for all the things we saw when you thought we weren’t looking.’ For we are ALL better people for having you as our neighbor and friend!

With great fondness and love, from your Allendale Neighborhood friends and family