Green Bench Monthly - Vol 1, Issue 1, September 2016

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Editors

Cristina Juska Nadine Maas Pam Sica

Writers

Amy Beeman Nicole Brand Jack Spinrad

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Green Bench Monthly A little about us and what we do

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Slō Restaurant Coming Soon - St. Pete’s New Concept Eatery

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The Green Bench History Lesson A little story about how our city got its name

Photo Credits Cover and photos for The Green Bench History Lesson from State Library & Archives of Florida and Floridapast.com Photos for Slō Restaurant by Kelly Nash Photography Back Cover photo courtesy of City of St Petersburg

Publishers

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Calendar of Events

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St Petersburg Free Clinic The clinic’s 37th annual hunger action event at the Coliseum is coming up on Oct. 7 at 11:45 a.m

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Ashley & Tony Sica

Contact

PO BOX 76095 St. Petersburg, FL 33734 (727) 280-5406 info@greenbenchmonthly.com

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St. Petersburg Fire Rescue Celebrating Fire Prevention Week 2016 from October 9th to 15th

greenbenchmonthly.com

Inside this issue

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symbolizing community and welcomeness.

As long time Tampa area residents we decided to make the leap across the bay in 2014.

This idea really resonated with us. So we decided to use our 15 years combined experience in the publishing industry to create a magazine that caters to the city we have fallen in love with.

After looking all over St. Pete for a home, we purchased (and will forever be renovating...) a 1928 bungalowish style home in the Magnolia Heights neighborhood.

When we first moved here, one of our neighbors, Valerie, gave us a book, “The Making of St Petersburg�. Flipping the pages, we stumbled on the story about the iconic Green Benches that lined Central Ave in the early 1900s. These benches served as a gathering place for residents and tourists,

greenbenchmonthly.com

Welcome to the first issue of Green Bench Monthly!

We are also big believers in supporting local business and look forward to highlighting some of the best of what St Pete has to offer.

We hope you enjoy this issue and consider adding us to your monthly reading lineup.

Above: Tony & Ashley Sica. Photo By: Kelly Nash Photography.

We want to hear from you!

Till next time,

Please submit your ideas, stories, events, art and photos to editor@greenbenchmonthly.com or call (727) 280-5406.

Direct-mailed to 15,000 homes in zip codes 33701, 33704 and 33713. Neighborhoods included in our mailing: Allendale Park, Allendale Terrace, Crescent Heights, Crescent Lake, Downtown, Euclid-St. Paul, Five Points, Greater Woodlawn, Historic Kenwood, Historic Old Northeast, Magnolia Heights, North East Park, Snell Isle, & Woodlawn

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Slō – St. Pete’s New Concept Eatery

While Slō will be open for breakfast and lunch during the operating hours of Bob Lee’s Tires, serving many of the same menu items it currently offers as Bowled, Cecere aims for the restaurant to be a dinner destination after Bob Lee’s closes for the day.

To entice the dinner crowd, Cecere is offering new options like Barolo Braised Beef Short Ribs, Slow Roasted Chimichurri Pork, and Filet Mignon prepared in the French sous vide style—meaning the meat is sealed airtight with seasonings in a bag, and slowly cooked at a precisely controlled temperature in a water bath. He says this method means you can cook a filet mignon for two days and still have it come out medium-rare, then take a quick torch to the outside to crisp it up a bit, and voila!

Coming Soon Inside One of the City’s Oldest Businesses

by Amy Beeman

Sometimes the most unlikely of pairings make for the most memorable experiences. At least that’s what restaurateur Michael Cecere is hoping for as he transitions his restaurant, Bowled, into a new concept eatery called Slō Restaurant, where slow-cooked food is the theme. The twist—it’s located inside Bob Lee’s Tires, St. Petersburg’s iconic 70-yearold auto mechanic shop.

Above: Restaurateur Michael Cecere

By Kelly Nash Photography

“We’re really nothing without the people in the neighborhood”

Bowled moved into the location last November after Cecere says the restaurant struggled financially at its former location further north on Fourth Street. The new location has brought more success to the five-year-old business, in part because of the built-in crowd of the bustling auto shop’s customers and employees.

While his goals for Slō as a singular restaurant are ambitious, he also appreciates the importance of creating a nice lounge space for Bob Lee’s customers.

“We’re really nothing without the people in the neighborhood,” he says.

“I want people to have an amazing experience while they get their tires

“Cecere is offering new options like Barolo Braised Beef Short Ribs, Slow Roasted Chimichurri Pork, and Filet Mignon prepared in the French sous vide style.” changed,” Cecere says with a twinge of humor. Ultimately though, the mildmannered entrepreneur with baggy clothes and kind brown eyes says his goal is “to help foster a new place in the neighborhood. Really, it’s about the community.”

Above: Braised Blueberry Bourbon Barbeque Beef Brisket

Cecere’s concept for Slō means that everything on the menu will have some element of slow cooking, whether it’s savory meats and seafood cooked on smokers out front, slow-simmered crockpot meals, or some of his signature sauces that take days to prepare and perfect.

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Cecere’s concept isn’t just about slow food preparation, it’s also about taking a pause and slowing down in life. One of his many ideas for the restaurant is a phonecharging station, where people can leave their phones while they sit and enjoy their food—and their companions—without the seemingly endless distractions of technology.

“Slō also means slow down, actually enjoy your presence on this earth,” he says.

In contrast, just because the name is Slō, it doesn’t mean that you’ll have to wait a long time for your food.

Below: Chef Craig Schenker

By Kelly Nash Photography

greenbenchmonthly.com “Everything is slow but the service,” says Cecere. Since the nature of slow cooking means things are made ahead of time and not cooked to order, wait times for food will be short.

And as for fans of Bowled, no need to worry, Slō will still serve some of Bowled’s signature dishes at dinner, including the Chicken Piccata, Spicy Thai and Mexi-Italian Lasagna, among others. Cecere also promises to offer lots of vegetarian and vegan dishes that aren’t salad. As a vegetarian, he says, he understands the need for options.

He also says he doesn’t want to be pigeonholed as a barbecue restaurant, which is why he offers what he describes as “global” options.

“The food coming out is going to taste like a five-star restaurant,” Cecere says.

Cecere has lots of plans for his new venture: renovating the space, bringing in more tables for indoor and outdoor dining, ambient lighting, full table service, serving wine and local craft beer on tap, live music on the weekends, and eventually opening on Sunday for brunch and a family-style dinner night, all within the space of a tire shop.

While his goal is to create a classy experience, he says the prices for his “too big” food portions are mid-range and there’s something for every budget.

Above: Spicy Thai Noodles By Kelly Nash Photography

“Slō also means slow down, actually enjoy your presence on this earth” Below: Cuban Sandwich By Kelly Nash Photography

“Nobody walks out hungry,” Cecere says.

Slō Restaurant is located at 1631 4th St. N. in St. Petersburg. Hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Mon.Thurs., 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Fri. and Sat., and closed Sundays.

For more information please call 727-433-1415 or visit www.facebook.com/ bowledrestaurant.

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Community Events Celebrate Sinatra at the Historic Vinoy Hotel Saturday, September 24 501 5th Avenue Northeast

end of September

Learn About Medicare 101 at the Main Library

September 28 & 30 at 11am 3745 9th Avenue North

6:00 pm Optional dinner at Rococo Steak, Call 727-8220999 for reservations

The seminar will provide an introduction to Medicare, and attendees will learn about Original Medicare, 8:00 pm Latin entertainment Supplemental Plans, Medicare in the Copa Room that will end Advantage Plans, Part D at midnight Prescription Drug Plans and financial assistance programs.

9:00 pm Dancing to the The seminar is free and open to sounds of Andy Stefano's big the public. band orchestra on the main stage with Natalie Nelson, Amy During the Medicare open Morgan, Paul Wilborn and Paul enrollment period, October Phillips that will end at 1:00 am 15 to December 7, a SHINE counselor will be available at On-line reservations will the Main Library on Tuesdays end at 3:00 PM on the day of from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; the event and admission may call 727-893-7724 to make an be purchased at the door if still appointment. available. No refunds.

You can also call the Call 813-251-0500 for SHINE helpline for phone more information. assistance at 1-800-963-5337.

October

Keep St. Pete Lit Offers $10 Writing Classes at the Morean Arts Center Class Dates Vary 719 Central Avenue Part of Keep St. Pete Lit’s LitSpace Literary Art Institute, offering dozens of affordable, practical and fun classes on a wide range of topics taught by local authors, teachers, and bloggers.

details, and to reserve your seat, visit LitSpace at www.keepstpetelit.org

15th Season Saturday Morning Market at the Al Lang Stadium Parking Lot

Saturday, October 1st from 9am to 2pm 230 1st Street SE

The Saturday Morning Market returns Saturday, All classes are held at the October 1st! You don't want to Morean Art Center at 719 miss out, the Urban Gypsies will Central Ave, St. Petersburg.

Classes are two hours and start be performing live. The Market times vary. For specific dates, will be open from 9am-2pm and 8

greenbenchmonthly.com is located at 230 1st St SE (at 1st Ave S. & 1st St.).

National Night Out in the Gateway Target Parking Lot

Tuesday, October 4th 2016 from 6 to 8 pm 8151 Dr. MLK Jr. St. N. To promote policecommunity partnerships in an effort to build safer, more caring communities. Free

family-friendly event for the community.Meet members of the St. Petersburg Police and Fire departments.

health screenings and accessing investment guidance, travel news, retirement choices and attend a variety of educational seminars. Tampa Bay’s Senior Expo is an event you don’t want to miss!

Tampa Bay Senior Expo at the Coliseum

Fighting robots, a tiny shark, MAD scientists, a sea turtle hurdle, a life size right whale calf and looking at cool stuff under microscopes and through telescopes is what makes our science so much fun!

Tuesday, October 11th 2016 from 10am to 3pm 535 4th Avenue North

Tickets: Free Admission Visit www.stpetescifest.org For more information, visit for more information. www.tampabayseniorexpo.com

Attendees at this Expo, one of the Bay area’s most well attended, look forward to free

St. Petersburg Science Festival: Science in the Sun at Poynter Park

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We’re looking for great content! Please

Saturday, October 22nd from 10am to 4pm 140 Harborwalk Avenue S

send your ideas, events,

A free festival to have fun learning science!

greenbenchmonthly.com.

art or news to editor@

The United States healthcare system is notoriously the most expensive in the world. Even more disturbing, the U.S. also ranks dead last for developed nations in better health outcomes over time, according to The Commonwealth Fund.

In addition, Census Bureau statistics show that Florida is among the states with the highest percentage of uninsured citizens. While it is easy to point fingers at the causes of these travesties, there’s a glistening silver lining in this storm. While local and federal governments continue to argue over who is responsible, one organization continues to shine its humanitarian light.

Above: Beth Houghton, Executive Director at SPFC

St. Petersburg Free Clinic: It Takes a Village

By Nicole Brand

It’s easy to fall into the mindset that people who don’t have enough to eat or can’t afford healthcare must have made terrible choices. However, a quick chat with a staff member or volunteer at the St. Petersburg Free Clinic (SPFC), or even a glance at their website, might leave you questioning your assumptions. One medical bill, chronic illness or crappy boyfriend could leave you in temporary hard times with few options. Beth Houghton, Executive Director at SPFC, helped to challenge my perception of this demographic. While the free clinic certainly does attend to the St. Petersburg homeless, Houghton shared that “the vast majority are the working poor.”

The St. Petersburg Free Clinic sits unassumingly on the corner of MLK Jr. St. and 3rd Ave. North. Passers by might never guess the immense amount of time, effort and volunteers that course through the veins of this old building.

In any given month, over 70 doctors and nurses, one nurse practitioner, and 400 other volunteers work with 48 paid staff members to attend to and restore the health of the community.

A recent Florida Blue Foundation grant now allows the SPFC to offer a denture service to the community.

Gina Ruiz, Director of Communications for the clinic, relays a touching story about witnessing a patient’s “first smile” after spending a lifetime in the service industry, turning his head away from his customers—afraid to face them as he spoke.

Not only does the clinic do its best to meet immediate health needs, its mission extends to advocacy and beyond.

Walk in and you can 10

access a number of fliers that keep you up-to-date on their mobile medical unit, refer you to other valuable services, and let you know the date and time of their next Health Education Learning Series session.

Most impressive is the clinic’s holistic approach to meeting the community’s needs. Instead of offering a single solution, the We Help services at the clinic focus on the complex nature of poverty and its effects in a multitude of areas. Families and individuals can learn how to obtain birth certificates, identification cards,

“The clinic’s food programs focus on everything from elderly assistance to end-ofthe-month food”

greenbenchmonthly.com distribution of food in the same location was impeding the productivity of the warehouse in the back. The location of the loading dock in a public alley, too close to the limited parking for the rest of the clinic’s The clinic’s food programs services, wasn’t ideal. Hechtkopf focus on everything from elderly assistance to end-of-the- saw solving this problem as the month food for individuals and perfect way to memorialize her families who just can’t make that late husband, and the idea of a better warehouse was born. paycheck stretch. In fact, the volume of food distributed by The new warehouse is SPFC’s programs has doubled in located in Lealman, and since recent years. With needs quickly the clinic’s food pantry requires outgrowing their current a tremendous amount of location, Houghton wanted to coordination for its deliveries, act fast. the 14,000-square-foot location is perfect. SPFC is used to Several months ago, thinking about location. With Houghton sat down with the clinic and the pantry, community member Bonnie Hechtkopf to address a problem: SPFC must consider the small things, like accessibility to a namely that the drop-off and and temporary assistance with water bills and food. With one in seven citizens of Pinellas County unable to purchase enough to eat, the food assistance is a gem on its own.

nearby bus line. However, these aren’t the issues a distribution warehouse needs to focus on.

Food collection and distribution will soon be fulfilled at the warehouse, which can be easily accessed via U.S. 19 and I-275.

The warehouse is scheduled to open in January of next year.

Make a Difference:

St. Petersburg Free Clinic is always looking for volunteers. If you’re a dentist, doctor, nurse or just want to lend a helping hand, consider donating one or two hours a month. Visit the St. Petersburg Free Clinic at 863 3rd Ave. N. For more information, call 727-821-1200 or visit www. stpetersburgfreeclinic.org.

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Upcoming Events:

The clinic’s 37th annual hunger action event at the Coliseum is coming up on Oct. 7 at 11:45 a.m. This year’s event will benefit the Pack-ASack program, which provides food for the weekend for hungry kids.

The Green Bench History Lesson

By Jack Spinrad

In the summer of 1955, as a wide-eyed 15-year-old, I sat on one of the famous green benches that lined Central Avenue in downtown St. Petersburg. It was a typically steamy summer day, and as I sat in the shade of the McCrory’s building, resting, enjoying an RC Cola, I was soon joined by an elderly gentleman.

His skin was burnished a dark bronze and weathered by the Florida sun. Soon we struck up a conversation, and I became spellbound as he related the history of St. Petersburg.

The man’s father, an early Florida settler, had explained to him how the railroad was brought to Tampa by Henry B. Plant, who in 1883 was offered a subsidy of 13,840 acres of land for every mile of track he laid. There were many skeptics, but on January 23, 1884, Plant’s line to Tampa was completed, putting Tampa on the map.

After the completion of his rail line, Plant did everything he could to hinder development of the Pinellas peninsula, but a young Philadelphian named Hamilton Disston had other ideas. In exchange for depositing one million dollars in the ailing state treasury, Disston obtained four million acres of land from the state in 1881, to become the largest landowner in the United States.

Disston developed much of the land around the Tarpon Springs area, but in the summer of 1884, he looked south to the area around Boca Ciega Bay, and found what he considered

On top: Sanford & St. Petersburg Railway Company engine number 7 circa 18--, Above: The famous green benches at St. Petersburg, Florida. circa 194City name, as it conflicted with another city in Hillsborough County. Eventually, the name was changed to Gulfport.

Disston tried unsuccessfully to have Peter Demens, who was building a line southward from By 1885, there were three Sanford, Florida, extend his stores, a post office and a 26railway to Disston City, but they room Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

The United States Postal Service were unable to come to terms, would not recognize the Disston and St. Petersburg would reap the perfect place to build his “Capital” city. That year he filed a 25-square-mile city plat with streets and boulevards running along the waterfront. He named it Disston City.

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the benefit.

By this time the old man’s voice was becoming hoarse, and he asked if I wouldn’t mind running into McCrory’s to get him one of those RC Colas.

When I returned with his drink, he took a sip and continued his narrative. He told me he had been among a crowd of settlers and railroad workers

greenbenchmonthly.com Above: Detroit Hotel, St. Petersburg, Fla. circa 19-who watched as “Mattie”, the first locomotive of the newly completed Orange Belt Railway, huffed and puffed its way to a stop near the corner of 9th Street and 1st Avenue South on June 8, 1888. Behind Mattie were one empty freight car and a single coach, carrying a single passenger, a salesman from Savannah, Georgia.

Since there was not yet a proper depot, he stepped off the train onto a shaky wooden platform fronted by dusty streets. You can imagine his confusion as he looked out at the crowd carrying signs stating ”Welcome to Wardsville”. He thought his destination was called St. Petersburg. His confusion was understandable since the only building in sight was the combination general store and post office owned by E.R. and Ella Ward.

In actuality, he had truly arrived in St. Petersburg. Peter Demens, a Russian immigrant who controlled the Orange Belt Railway, named the area St. Petersburg in honor of his hometown in Russia. Soon a petition signed by five people made its way to Washington, D.C., where it was approved by the U.S. Postal Service, signaling the birth of St. Petersburg, Florida.

Demens had negotiated with John C. Williams, a wealthy land owner whose property blocked the line’s progress, for the right of way to finish his railroad. Their relationship was less than amicable, but they eventually came to terms and shared the cost of clearing away countless palmettos and pine trees to make way for the town’s grid of streets and avenues. In a coin toss, Demens won the right to name the town, while Williams built the first hotel in St. Petersburg and named it The Detroit Hotel, in honor of his hometown.

The old gentleman told me that he had been there on February 29, 1892, when St. Petersburg was first incorporated as a town, and again when it was reincorporated as a city in June of 1903.

As I sat mesmerized by the old man’s tale, my parents, who had been shopping for souvenirs, returned. Sadly, it was time to go. I could have listened for hours, but I thanked the gent for a wonderful history lesson, shook his boney hand, and bid him good day. As I turned to leave, he called after me to let me know I could find him sitting there on “his” bench most Sunday afternoons.

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St. Petersburg Fire Rescue is Celebrating Fire Prevention Week October 9th to 15th, 2016 Submitted This year’s theme is “Don’t Wait, Check the Date! Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years” According to the latest NFPA research, working smoke alarms cut the chance of dying in a fire in half. Meanwhile, almost two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

Fire Prevention Week will kick off with an Open House at all St. Petersburg Fire Stations from 10 am to 12 pm, on Saturday, October 8th. Stop by and meet your local firefighters! For a listing of all St. Petersburg Fire & Rescue Stations please visit: http://www.stpete.org/fire/stations.html Fire Prevention activities will continue throughout the week, and will end with St. Petersburg Fire Rescue’s 27th Annual Fire Prevention Block Party on Saturday October 15th, from 10 am to 2 pm. The Block Party will take place at the familyfriendly Fossil Park, located at 6635 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N., featuring a variety of fun and educational activities for all ages including: a showcase of Fire & Rescue apparatuses, SPPD K9 demonstration, Fit4AllKids Teen Chili Cook-Off Challenge, Bayflite helicopter landing, bounce houses, face painting and much more! In addition, free food and drinks will be provided throughout the day.

This Year’s Fire Prevention Week Campaign Includes the Following Smoke Alarm Messages:

If you are in need of a smoke alarm, please call St. Petersburg Fire Rescue HomeSAFE Hotline at: 727-893-SAFE (7233)

• Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years.

• Make sure you know how old all the smoke alarms are in your home.

• To find out how old a smoke alarm is, look at the date of manufacture on the back of the alarm; the alarm should be replaced 10 years from that date.

Annual Haunted House at Fire Station #7

On Saturday, October 22nd, Fire station #7 will host their Annual Haunted House. This will take place at Fossil Park Fire Station #7, located at: 6975 9th Street North from 6pm-9pm. Besides the haunted fire house filled with ghosts, spirits and creatures of the night, there will be carnival games, hay rides, snow cones and DJ music. Free and open to the public.

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