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Local
Scholarship Honors Memory Of Community Activist
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On June 10, 2014, A. Jerry Cypress passed away suddenly as the result of a heart attack. His family and church has established a memorial scholarship in honor of his memory. It will be presented on Saturday, June 13th, at the Parkview Christian Center, in Daven- port. He died on the 45th wedding anniversary of his marriage to Mrs. Belenda Cypress.
The scholarship is enti- tled the A. Jerry Cypress Memorial Scholarship Parkview Christian Life Center Excellence Award.”
Mrs. Cypress said, “His life was full of meaning, love and caring and giving to all whose lives he touched. Not only in his professional business, but his personal life and family as well. “So it is with this special scholar- ship to honor his legacy that it has been established.”
The scholarship will be presented to nine (9) high
MR. A. JERRY CYPRESS 11/28/1948 – 6/10/2014
school graduates this year. However, it will become an
annual event and at some point will include college students in pursue of higher education.
A Virginia native, Cy- press grew up in a small town. After graduating from high school, he briefly at- tended college before be- coming a member of the U. S. Air Force. He met his wife while assigned at MacDill Air Force Base.
After serving a tour over- seas, he made his home in Tampa. The family became members of New Bethel
Baptist Church. After a suc- cessful career at UPS, Cy- press launched his own business as a contractor at FedEx Ground, starting with one tracker trailer. He ex- panded his fleet and launched a second com- pany.
He continued to employ people from the community and was always willing to lend help to anyone in need. The scholarship was estab- lished to continue helping students who wish to con- tinue their education.
West Tampa Community A Step Closer To Getting CRA
On Thursday, Tampa City Council convened as the Community Redevelopment Area Board met and voted unanimously to give its stamp of approval for the West Tampa CRA.
West Tampa CRA Devel- opment Manager Jeanette Fenton addressed the Board to point out the variables of the West Tampa community and the other development projects prepared to get started.
“West Tampa is a unique area in that there are a lot of properties that are owned by the city, county, school dis- trict, and state agencies. Those properties aren’t part of the overall CRA, and have been negotiating with the Tampa Housing Authority and City of Tampa for their own redevelopment plans.
“It’s important we con- tinue to get input from the community, and we will have more public hearings to put together the strategic plan, then later the Board that will be in charge of managing the West Tampa CRA.”
Among those addressing the CRA Board about the West Tampa CRA were Ken Perry, Michael Ran- dolph, Joe Robinson, and Andre Hill.
Perry said he’s definitely in favor of the West Tampa CRA and wants to see it get started.
Michael Randolph, Manager of the West Tampa
KEN PERRY
CDC said there needs to be more talk about neighbor- hood planning and rebuild- ing the community.
“What we want to see is economic development, so- cial development, and fiscal changes in West Tampa. We also need to employment in- centives for the residents and growth in the business sector and residential sector.”
West Tampa CDC Vice- Chair, Joe Robinson said he’s eager to see the applica- tions being circulated to put the committee together that will oversee the CRA.
“I ask that we use fiscal responsibility with the CRA. The West Tampa CDC has been around since 1999, and we’re ready for this to get started. This is our time, our moment, our chance, and we’re ready for redevelop- ment.
West Tampa CDC Board member Janice Williams said she feels the overall strategic plan needs to be in- cluded in the West Tampa CDC’s strategic plan. She also
JOE ROBINSON Vice-Chair West Tampa CDC
said it shouldn’t’ take 5-years before the plan is activated.
Jeanette Fenton ex- plained that the strategic plan has been included in the West Tampa CDC’s plan, and although she says 5 years, that doesn’t mean it will stop there.
“It might take longer and will be revised along the way.”
Andre Hill asked that the city be sensitive to the wills and vision of the people, and he’d like to see an aggres- sive approach to restoring the history of West Tampa.
It was also pointed out that the West Tampa CRA won’t get any funds until 2016.
The next meeting for the CRA Board will be July 23rd at which time the city’s legal de- partment and the Planning Commission will step in to put their stamp on the plan. After that process has been completed, the applications will be distributed to form the committee for the West Tampa CRA.
FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2015 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 13-A