Green Bench Monthly - Vol 3, Issue 1, January 2018

Vol. 3, Issue 1, JANUARY 2018

St. Pete’s Direct-Mail Community Magazine

St. Petersburg PAL More Than Just Basketball Dome Sweet Dome

Tropicana Field pg. 4

Eichmann at

The FHM pg. 8

pg. 18 Giving Vintage Style New Life

Buster’s Antiques pg. 14

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Photo by Tony Sica

Publishers

Ashley & Tony Sica

Editor

Cristina Juska

Contributing Editors Nadine Maas, Pam Sica

Contributors [This Issue] Luke Cross, Rui Farias, Molly Hunsinger, Erik Jasek, Whitney Johnson, Stephanie Sims, Brian Zucker

From the Bench In This Issue...

Happy New Year, St. Pete!

Hello, 2018! This issue is overflowing with community goodness!

Join us online: greenbenchmonthly.com; Facebook and Instagram: @ greenbenchmonthly; for extra photos, quotes and content that didn’t make it to print this month. But before we get started, here’s a few things you should know:

Photo Credits

On the Cover: PAL Dome Sweet Dome

by City of St. Petersburg

Buster’s Antiques and Gregory Air

by Kelly Nash Photography

Contact

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

Proud member of:

The third annual CASA SOUP-ER BOWL Food Drive Kicks Off Jan 17th. CASA (Community Action Stops Abuse) provides support and services for domestic violence survivors. The drive runs through Feb 28th.

It’s easy to get involved; Bring non perishables to one of 50+ food drop locations; Donate or sponsor to fund fresh food and health initiatives; Hold a food drive with your office, club or group; Become a food drop location; Collect food at your own Super Bowl watch party. For more info on becoming a sponsor, donation location, or in-kind supporter; visit casa-stpete.org, email info@casa-stpete.org, or call 727-895-4912.

Congratulations, WADA! Late December, the Warehouse Arts District Association Board of Directors announced their unanimous decision to appoint Diane Bailey Morton as new Executive Director.

“We are thrilled to have her on board,” WADA President, Mark Aeling said in a Press Release. Ms. Morton commented, “This position combines my love of Diane Bailey Morton community with my love of the Arts. I am looking forward to putting my business experience to work for the whole district.” Ms. Morton can be reached at diane@whereartismade.com.

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Dome Sweet Dome

From the Museum’s Archives

Eichmann at The FHM

10 Comic

12 MidiCi - A Taste of Naples in St. Petersburg 14 Buster’s Antiques: Giving Vintage Style New Life

16 Business is Heating Up for Gregory Air 18 St. Petersburg PAL - More Than Just Basketball 21 Downtown Developments 22 Events

Thanks for reading GBM! Till next time...

Direct-mailed to 15,400 homes in zip codes 33701, 33704 and 33713.

Neighborhoods included in our mailing: Allendale, 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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St. Pete icons: The trop

Dome Sweet Dome

By Whitney Johnson

Ever since opening its doors in 1990, as the awkwardly named Florida Suncoast Dome, Tropicana Field surely has had its share of pulp knocked out of it. People won’t come to watch baseball indoors, the catwalks attract too many baseballs and Tampa fans won’t drive across the bridge, naysayers said. But when you write the history of sports in Tampa Bay, Tropicana Field deserves its own playbook.

The Trop (or The Pit, as Rays’ former manager Joe Maddon liked to call it) has not only been home to our professional baseball, hockey and arena football teams, but it has hosted soccer games, NBA exhibition games, tennis matches, a Final Four basketball championship, and multiple college football bowl games. It even did its part to help in the wake of Hurricane Harvey by hosting three games between the 2017 World Champion Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers.

Humble Beginnings

The Florida Suncoast Dome was built in hopes of bringing a major league baseball team to the area, either through expansion or relocation.

However, the first professional sports team to make its mark there was the Tampa Bay Lightning, who in 1993 moved across the bay from the Expo Hall to play hockey in the newly named (and more excitingsounding) Thunderdome. For three years the Lightning set attendance records week after week thanks to cheap ticket prices and numerous

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two-for-one promotions. A sure-footed fan could even get a free ticket for a Tuesday game by kicking a field goal set up in the cavernous Thunderdome on a Monday.

The Thunderdome set a record for the largest crowd to watch a NHL playoff game on April 23, 1996, when 28,183 screaming fans witnessed the Lightning face off against the Philadelphia Flyers in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals—an attendance record that still stands today.

After that remarkable season, the Lightning skated back across the bay, settling into their new Channelside home.

Moments to Remember

In 1996 came another name change, this time to the definitely more Florida-friendly Tropicana Field, named for the Florida-based orange juice company. Three years later the Trop hosted the 1999 Final Four college basketball championship, in which the UConn Huskies downed the Duke Blue Devils 77-74.

Five months later, during a Rays game versus the Cleveland Indians, the second most exciting moment in Trop history occurred. Rays’ third baseman Wade Boggs was three hits away from the hallowed and historic mark of 3000 hits. He slapped two singles in his first two at bats. Then in the sixth inning he became the first player in history to smack a home run for his 3000th hit.

The most thrilling Trop moment also involved the Rays. This time it was a mundane ground ball. The 2008 American League Championship Series between the Rays and the Boston Red Sox all came down to Game 7, the winner going to the World Series. The Trop was filled to the gills

Construction on the dome began in January of 1987 Photos by City of St. Petersburg

and the place seemed to be bouncing when the Rays went up 3-1. In the ninth inning with two outs, Boston’s Jed Lowrie hit a slow grounder up the middle. Rays’ second baseman Akinori Iwamora cleanly scooped up the ball, and instead of flipping it to shortstop Jason Bartlett, ran over to second and jumped on the base for the out. The entire crowd seemed to jump with him. The Rays were going to the World Series.

Today, the future of the Trop is in doubt. Will the team move to a new site in Tampa? Will a new Tropicana Field be erected next to the old one? Will they move out of town when their lease is up? No one knows the future of the Trop, but the past certainly has given thousands of Tampa Bay sports fans enough memories to sell the place out.

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Bringing Out YOUR Style For The New Year

With the new year comes a fresh start. Here are a few things I like to do to freshen up my home. My plan is to tackle the toughest jobs first and then reward myself with a shopping trip.

CLEAN OUT YOUR CLOSETS I clean and organize my closets. Ugh, I know…but you will feel so much better when it is done. My goal is to toss any items that are too worn or no longer fit. Next, sort the clothes by color on matching hangars.

ORGANIZE YOUR OFFICE I go through the file cabinet, shred the old statements, and make a tax folder for the incoming statements. I even set up the files for the new year (and yes, my files are color coded, green for investments, red for liabilities, blue for insurances, etc.,). The idea is to make it interesting and easy.

NOW FOR THE FUN PART—LET’S SHOP! My focus room this year is my living room. I will add some new pillows, throws and accessories. I like to bring in a touch of whimsy with a fun pillow like the one above. Something that will make me smile when I walk in the room. Adding a pop of color with a pillow is the easiest way to add a fresh look. A new throw will add texture and color. It needs to be machine washable because my dog, Bobby, will be curling up in it when I’m at work. A new piece of art work will be the finishing touch.

Let Us Help Tampa Bay Furnishings Interior Designer, Lydia Mason, would love to talk with you about your design goals for your home.

Visit our showroom located at 3034 9th Street North. Or for more info visit tampabayfurnishings.com or call 727-821-4100.

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Interior Designer Lydia Mason

HISTORY

From the Museum’s Archives With St. Petersburg Museum of History Executive Director, Rui Farias

Webb’s City...and the Live Mermaid Show!

In 1925, James Earl “Doc” Webb came to St. Petersburg and changed the city’s retail and tourism landscape forever. Starting with a small drug store on 9th Street South, Doc Webb expanded his retail and entertainment empire to six square city blocks, 70+ retail outlets, 3,000 parking spots and made sure everyone east of the Mississippi River knew of Webb’s City in sunny St. Petersburg. Along with his double-dip ice cream cones, dancing chickens, and famous gimmicks to undercut competitor’s prices, Doc Webb’s live Mermaid Show intrigued and mesmerized children of all ages. A beautifully painted porcelain mermaid greeted visitors to the “World’s Most Unusual Drug Store”, and when Webb’s City met its demise in 1984, Lorelei the mermaid was lowered and stored in the Museum of History’s vault. It’s time for Lorelei to return. The Museum has launched a campaign to fund the renovation and raising of the painted porcelain Lorelei on the building’s exterior wall.

To help raise the mermaid, visit www.historystpete.org.

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History

Photo by Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage

Eichmann at The FHM -

See the bulletproof glass booth in which a Nazi war criminal sat during his trial

By Molly Hunsinger

Adolf Eichmann Trial at Beit Ha’am in Jerusalem, Israel, 1961 Photo courtesy of Government Press Office

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“We must learn from the Holocaust, especially as you see what is happening around the world today with bombs, international tensions, and crimes against humanity,” said Avner Avraham in a press release from The Florida Holocaust Museum (The FHM.) Avraham is the curator of Operation Finale: The Capture & Trial of Adolf Eichmann - a new and compelling exhibition on display at the worldrenowned museum, Feb. 10 to July 15, 2018.

“This exhibition illustrates what we are talking about when we say ‘never again.’ That message is even more important as survivors turn 80 and 90 years old because they will not be able to tell their stories forever,” Avraham said.

Operation Finale: The Capture & Trial of Adolf Eichmann tells the dramatic story of how one of the world’s most notorious escaped Nazi war criminals was brought to justice.

Adolf Eichmann stood trial in 1961 for transporting millions of European Jews to

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death camps. The trial captivated millions world-wide, and was one of the first in history to be broadcast on television in its entirety. For many viewers, it was their first exposure to the horrifying details of the Holocaust.

“There was a march of survivors, I would say approximately 100 survivors, who came into the witness box and told the story of what happened to them. And people watched them and listened to them and heard them in a way they hadn’t heard them before,” said Deborah Lipstadt, renowned historian and professor of Religion and Holocaust Studies at Emory University, in a press release from The FHM. Named “Operation Finale” after the code name of Israel’s effort to find Eichmann, the exhibition reveals the compelling story of his capture, extradition and trial through recently declassified artifacts from The Mossad - Israel Secret Intelligence Service and co-producers of the exhibition along with Beit Hatfutsot - The

Museum of the Jewish People, Tel Aviv, Israel and the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, Cleveland, Ohio.

Unique to the exhibition at The FHM will be commentary of three local survivors who will share their reactions to Eichmann’s capture and trial.

The interactive exhibition includes artifacts, photographs, Telly Award winning films and audio made available outside the country for the first time, including the iconic bulletproof glass booth in which Eichmann sat in during his trial.

Over the past seven years, Avraham met with thousands of people collecting documentation and interviewing those involved in the operation.

Avraham to Speak at the Annual Gala

Avraham will also serve as the Keynote Speaker for the museum’s annual gala on Feb. 10, 2018 at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, entitled To Life: Honoring the Past; Empowering the Future! Highlights of the gala include an appearance by a special guest who has attended each of the museums five main education and outreach programs including Law Enforcement and Society, Teaching Trunks, Summer Institute for Teachers, the Anne Frank Humanitarian Award program and Speak Up, Speak Now! The gala will also feature stories from the museum’s 25th anniversary oral history series, 25 Survivors, 25 Stories… Celebrating 25 Years!

Produced in partnership with Eckerd College, the series showcases a different Holocaust survivor on the 25th day of each month for 25 months.

One of the largest Holocaust museums in the country, and one of three nationally accredited Holocaust museums, The FHM honors the memory of millions of men, women and children who suffered or died in the Holocaust. On any given day at the museum, local survivors come and tell their stories to visitors and groups.

From the Kindertransport in Vienna to Clearwater, Florida

Lisl Schick, a 90-year-old Clearwater resident, recently told her survivor story to a

Comb, pocket knife, cigarette holder and keys to the house on Garibaldi Street found on Adolf Eichmann the night he was captured, May 11, 1960 Photo courtesy of Mossad Archive

Falsified Israeli passport prepared for Adolf Eichmann in the name of “Ze’ev Zichroni,” including a photograph that was taken and developed in the safe house, 1960 Photo courtesy of Mossad Archive

group of middle schoolers at The FHM. “I’m going to take you back to Vienna. It is April of 1939. It’s exactly one year since Hitler came into Austria.” she said. Her family had lived a “comfortable life,” she said. “Their only crime was the fact that they were born Jewish.”

She went on to share what she witnessed as an 11-year-old girl before escaping deportation and genocide with her 7-year-old brother on the Kindertransport that saved some 10,000 children like her.

The signs in her neighborhood park that declared, No Jews or Dogs Allowed.

The hulking portraits of Hitler that replaced the crucifixes hung in every classroom.

Public transportation, libraries and swimming pools suddenly became off limits, and she was shunned by friends who started calling her names like, “dirty Jew.” The aftermath of Nazis wreaking havoc in the streets, setting fire to their synagogues and looting stores owned by Jews.

And the neighbors who started disappearing - sent off in droves to the concentration camps.

By 1945, she and her brother were miraculously reunited with their parents in the United States.

“I’ve always said our parents gave birth to

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us twice. Once when we were actually born and the next time when they had the foresight and the courage to put us on the train to safety to England,” she said. “I’ve been very very lucky all my life. Hitler took away all our material things that he could take away. Nobody can ever take away what’s in your head and in your mind.”

Visit Us - Share Your Story

Operation Finale: The Capture & Trial of Adolf Eichmann opens to the public on Saturday, February 10, 2018 at The Florida Holocaust Museum, located at 55 5th Street S, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.

To Life: Honoring the Past; Empowering the Future! Saturday, February 10, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, located at 2900 Bayport Dr., Tampa, FL 33607. Gala tickets are sold out! To be added to the waiting list, contact Terrie Maines, 727.820.0100 ext.

249. For additional information, please visit: www.TheFHM.org/to-life-annual-benefit.

If you’re a local survivor and want to share your story, contact Erin Blankenship, eblankenship@thefhm.org.

For additional information, please visit www.flholocaustmuseum.org.

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Art & Entertainment

Erik Jasek is a local cartoonist and illustrator. From a very young age he has been drawing comics and making films inspired by animated cartoons, sketch comedy and science fiction films. He hasn’t changed much to this day in that regard.

Erik has immense love for the city of St. Petersburg as the city’s fruitful music and art scene is a huge motivator for his work. Erik can be often spotted downtown vending comics at festivals, painting for art shows or just having a good time.

If you would like to contact Erik by email: jurassicjasek@gmail.com.

Sponsorships and individual tickets avalable at: https://StPetePal.UseTopScore.com When you need more than just a stamp!

727.572.6245 • www.ModMail.com

Contact John Vigue at 813-245-8511 for more information.

A Proud Sponsor of

the 2018 Founder’s Club

February 8, 2018 at the St. Petersburg Coliseum Catering by Parkshore Grill 10

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Local Business

MidiCi - A Taste of Naples in St. Petersburg

By Molly Hunsinger

Photos by Grand Brand & Co.

“When a ‘guest friend’ comes in and asks, what can I have on my pizza? I tell them, MidiCi! You tell me!” said Dan Disbro, general manager of MidiCi The Neapolitan Pizza Company, a new restaurant in Tyrone Square Mall. Located next to Bonefish Grill, MidiCi is making a splash with its wood-fired pizzas.

Whether it’s half chicken pesto and half truffle prosciutto, or crushed Italian tomato with pesto, garlic and artichoke hearts, MidiCi will make it, with pleasure.

“Create whatever you’re thinking, whatever’s on the tip of your tongue that day,” Disbro said. “Can I have half pesto and half red sauce? Yeah!

Well, what if I want chicken on it? You can say anything you want to have and I’m going to go like this (nodding yes). Yeah!” Disbro said. “This is the epitome of what MidiCi is. This is what I love most.”

Whether it’s date night or time for take-out, adding MidiCi to the list of restaurants you frequent is a must. The service is attentive, the prices are affordable and the food is downright fresh. The presentation and taste of the food complements the restaurant’s contemporary ambience—fresh and modern.

A projector illuminates old, black-and-white Italian movies on the wall and loungey music plays softly in the background. A real live olive tree grows right in the middle of the dining room, adorned with twinkling lights to give the illusion of being at an Italian outdoor cafe.

A fresh herb garden with live potted basil invites guests to garnish their plates to their liking.

But the real spectacle is the show-stopping, exhibition-style kitchen at the center of the restaurant. They call it “the heart”.

The heart – where all the magic happens

“The center of the restaurant is the heart,” said Harold Bradshaw, MidiCi co-franchisee. “You get to see us make all the pizza, we cook it all in front of you...You’ve got your stretcher who stretches your pizza, your pizzaiolo who makes your pizza and puts all your toppings on it.”

Two Acunto-Napoli brick pizza ovens, shipped over by boat from Naples, Italy, are perhaps the real stars of the show. With some parts of the oven heating up to 900 degrees, the pie is cooked within 90 seconds, keeping the crust soft on the inside, crispy on the outside, while the veggies stay fresh.

But most impressive of all are MidiCi’s over-the-top quality standards.

To meet them requires sophisticated equipment and meticulous processes.

Over-the-top standards for quality

Disbro says foodies, master baristas and fellow restaurateurs marvel at their top-of-the-line equipment and high quality standards—including the owners of Mazzaro’s Italian Market, who fast became MidiCi regulars after the restaurant opened its doors last October. He says they rave about the housemade meatballs, and say their espresso machine is the “Tesla” of all machines.

“I’ve been in the restaurant business 20-plus years, and I’m learning all these new things, and I’ll tell you, I thought pizza, you know sauce, cheese, I got this! Uh-uh. This is very serious pizza. This is the culinary pinnacle of pizza,” Disbro said.

From the aforementioned brick ovens to the crimson-shellacked, hand-crank Vittoria meat slicer, which is built by hand in Italy, “It’s definitely some bragging rights,” Disbro said.

And then there’s the dough room.

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Left to right: Co-franchisee John Eckermann, General Manager Dan Disbro and Co-franchisee Harold Bradshaw

Nutella calzone with fresh berries....

Ummm, YES PLEASE!

MidiCi uses a climate-controlled room just to house their dough, which is made in-house fresh daily using only four simple ingredients: sea salt, water, fresh yeast and flour. The dough is batched, balled and served fresh every 24 hours, giving MidiCi pizza that certain craveability factor.

Disbro says he’s shown the room to Cordon Bleu-educated pastry chefs who’ve traveled the world, and say they’ve never seen anything like it.

Talk about street cred.

Diners—known as “guest friends” to MidiCi staff (a.k.a. “team friends”)—are a mix of casually dressed families and more formally dressed friends and couples, both young and old. Over shared meat and cheese plates, they chat, sip cocktails and escape the chaos of the mall.

$6.95), and signature stand-outs like the Nutella calzone with fresh berries ($5.95) and burrata served iced cold with candied oranges and honey ($4.95).

MidiCi’s full bar serves a wide selection of beer, wine and signature cocktails. For those who like a little heat there’s the devil’s margarita, made with fresh lime juice, rimmed with black salt and garnished with Fresno chili peppers ($7).

“All of our recipes are in house. They’re very simple recipes,” said John Eckermann, MidiCi co-franchisee. Eckermann says their clientele comments that “this is all healthy, it’s cheaper and I’m getting more food...

They’re blown away.”

All that, and guests get what they want.

“MidiCi in Italian means ‘tell us what you want,’” Eckermann said.

“The whole deal is for us to make fresh fare that you want.”

Ready to dig in?

Most items on MidiCi’s menu cost $11.50 or less.

Appetizers include housemade meatballs with fresh mozzarella ($5.75) and burrata with melon and prosciutto ($8.50). Salads include purple kale and ricotta ($7.50), and rock shrimp and avocado ($8.50).

A wide variety of classic Neapolitan and specialty pizzas are on the menu ($6.50 to $13.50). Best sellers include the margherita ($7.50), double pepperoni ($9.50) and the devil’s pizza ($10.50). Staff favorites include the meats ($10.50) and salty aged prosciutto with earthy truffle cream ($13.50). There are more than 30 toppings to choose from and creating your own is strongly encouraged. Housemade gluten-free Neapolitan crust is $1.50 extra. Vegan cheese and vegan sausage are available.

Desserts include Italian gelato and fruit-based sorbetto ($2.95 -

Visit MidiCi

MidiCi’s lunch special includes any two-topping classic Neapolitan pizza, a Caesar or house salad and any soft drink ($8.95). MidiCi’s happy hour special is two-for-one draft beer and wine by the glass, Sunday through Thursday, 3 p.m.-6 p.m., and 9 p.m. to close.

MidiCi is conveniently located in Tyrone Square Mall next to Bonefish Grill at 2424 Tyrone Blvd. North, St. Petersburg. For more information visit mymidici.com. For take-out, call 727-302-0777.

Delivery available via Uber Eats. Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and 11 a.m. until midnight, Friday and Saturday.

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Local business

Photos on this page by Kelly Nash Photography

Buster’s Antiques: Giving Vintage Style New Life

By Luke Cross

You may find yourself wanting a new look for your home in the New Year. Instead of revamping your living space with generic department store furniture, Buster’s Antique’s offers a unique twist on vintage furniture. Owner Keith Gilbert opened Buster’s four years ago with a specific purpose in mind.

“When I bought the shop, the previous owner was selling a lot of lamps, it was sort of their specialty. I took it a different direction,” Gilbert said. “What appealed to me is making something more modern-looking out of vintage furniture, so that the shop would be more reflective of my own interests and personality.”

Repurposing and Upcycling

Buster’s is more than the typical antique shop, specializing in breathing new life into classic pieces. “People will bring me their furniture, and I will update the look of it. There’s a lot of different looks that can be made from them, it all depends on what the customer wants,” Gilbert said.

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Owner Keith Gilbert with his loyal friend/brand ambassador, Buster Buster’s Antiques is accustomed to serving a diverse clientele in St. Petersburg. “I get older customers interested in the smaller decor, but also lots of younger people establishing homes. Instead of buying something new and putting it together, the quality is often better with older furniture, especially since they can update the look,” Gilbert said.

He mentioned that many customers opt for vintage decor due to its superior quality, as well as out of concern for the environment. The shop has a focus on the 50s and 60s, mostly midcentury.

“Modern generic furniture, the build quality of it, sometimes it’s not even solid wood,” he said. “This is a green thing, too. You’re not stuffing a landfill with a thrown-out piece of furniture; you’re instead repurposing and upcycling.”

Only the Best Paint

Gilbert exclusively uses Annie Sloan Chalk Paint® on the pieces he upcycles and sells at Buster’s. Designed for easy application and sealed with soft wax, Chalk Paint® offers superior versatility and durability.

Right from the start, Gilbert knew the Chalk Paint® was the only choice to use in his work at Buster’s Antiques. Once his application to become a Stockist was accepted he went through a training process to learn the Annie Sloan Method.

“I learned the standard methods for working with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint®, how to properly use and seal it. What’s nice about her paint is that you don’t have to sand or prime, it can go right on the furniture and it adheres beautifully to most surfaces without much prep work,” he said.

His restyled furniture with Chalk Paint® is so popular that Gilbert decided to host Annie Sloan training sessions at Buster’s. Registration is

Photo by Kelly Nash Photography

Keith (pictured here with Annie Sloan) went through a training process to learn the Annie Sloan Method of Chalk Painting. open to the public so that anyone interested in DIY renovations using the versatile paint can purchase a spot in the workshop.

“I host three-hour workshops, which cover the most popular techniques with the paint. People can learn the specific methods to achieve a look, and how to use the paints to give a distressed look, a modern look or a rustic one. I also sell what I make in the workshops,” Gilbert said.

Building upon the success of Buster’s Antiques and the current workshops, Gilbert is looking to offer even more workshop options in the future. He said: “I want to expand the workshops to include makeand-take, where people complete small projects to take and use in their

own homes. Perhaps also bring-your-own-piece (BYOP) where people can bring in a piece from home and they use my workshop to complete their projects. Expanding the workshops to offer more techniques so more people can enjoy what vintage furniture has to offer.”

Come out and see how beautiful repurposed furniture can be at Buster’s Antiques. The shop is located at 2536 Central Avenue. They are open Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and closed on Mondays. Call 727-202-8961 with any questions. For more information on Annie Sloan Chalk Paint® and the workshops offered, please visit www.bustersantiques.com.

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Local business

Business is Heating Up for Gregory Air

By Stephanie Sims

Gregory Mathis, owner and operator of Gregory Air, is proud to be a St. Petersburg native. He grew up here in the ‘Burg and knew he wanted to live here for the rest of his life.

There really isn’t anywhere else he’d rather be.

That’s not only because it’s a beautiful city, but also because of the people who live here.

Mathis knows that St. Pete’s residents make it a great, close-knit community, and he would also like to express his sincere gratitude for their support of Gregory Air. “I want to say ‘thank you’ to the awesome people of St. Petersburg for making 2017 a great year and helping grow Gregory Air Conditioning Services,” he said. “Both my biggest challenge

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and accomplishment has been growing my business, but the people of St. Pete have helped make my company successful. I look forward to continuing to grow, and to continue serving and helping to provide comfort to St Petersburg for many years to come.”

Keeping the Neighbors Cool

Mathis has been in the air conditioning business for almost 20 years. He has been honing his skills since 1998, working for a bigger corporation, before starting his own company in June of 2016. Since then, Gregory Air has been growing consistently, providing affordable HVAC options that not only benefit

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the consumer, but also the environment.

That was partly why Mathis wanted to break out on his own and start his own business—he cares about his community, his neighbors, and wants to make sure they have access to the best air conditioning services at an affordable price. That even means prompt service during the summer months! Despite Mathis’ busy schedule, he visits each customer and does the installations and repairs all on his own.

“I decided to start my own company because I felt that I could do it better than the other companies in the area, and I wanted to give back to the community,” Mathis said.

Gregory Mathis, owner and operator of Gregory Air, is thankful for the support his business has received from our community Photos by Kelly Nash Photography

Keeping the Planet Green

Gregory Air specializes in all aspects of residential HVAC, including service, preventive maintenance and installation, with a special focus on providing environmentally conscious products and services.

HVAC systems can have a big impact on the environment, and Mathis wants the systems he maintains to have a positive one. Plus, typically, the more positive the impact on the environment, the lower the homeowner’s electric bill.

Nearly half of the energy used in a home goes toward heating or cooling it, depending on the season (but here in Florida, it’s definitely going towards cooling, more often than not). Mathis actually specializes in installing a ductless HVAC system that helps to positively impact the environment and save his customers money on their electric bills.

Some customers are hesitant to install one of these systems at first, because they look so different. “They look very similar to hotel air conditioners, but they are not loud, and don’t have ducts,” Mathis explained.

“People don’t necessarily like how they look, but they’re so much more efficient, they’re a no-brainer.”

How this system works is each room has its own A/C controller, with one outdoor unit and one indoor unit. With each room having its own controller, homeowners can customize the temperature of the rooms they are using versus rooms that are empty. With the duct systems, if you keep lowering the temperature, the system has to keep working to keep the entire house at that temperature. However, the ductless system uses different technology to regulate each room, so it’s much more efficient.

Mathis admits there is an initial investment required to install one of these systems. “But it’s worth it due to the amount of money people will save on all future electric bills, not to mention the greener environmental impact,” he said.

Mathis said that when looking at HVAC equipment, look into its

SEER rating, or Seasonal Energy Efficient Ratio. SEER ratings typically range from 13 to 24, with the highest numbers being the most energyefficient systems. Mathis’ ductless system provides a SEER rating of 22.

Since specializing in and promoting this system, unsurprisingly, his equipment sales and installations have increased by 80 percent. This type of unit typically takes a day to install, depending on the specific needs of the customer, and he’s installed ten within the past six months.

Mathis says he hopes to help make as many homes and businesses more comfortable and “greener” in any way that he can.

“Every single one of my customers’ satisfaction is my highest priority,” he said.

Winter is a great time to schedule a system check with Gregory Air! Contact Gregory Mathis at gregoryair170@gmail.com or 727-7235851. Visit his website at www.gregoryair.com.

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UPLIFT ST. PETE

St. Petersburg PAL - More Than Just Basketball

By Molly Hunsinger

There’s nothing unusual about seeing a group of kids shooting hoops after school, but it may be surprising when a fully uniformed police officer jump in and joins the game.

For David Lopez, a St. Petersburg Police Department officer and athletic director for St. Petersburg Police Athletic League (PAL), it’s part of his daily routine.

“It gets a little hot and sweaty sometimes, but it keeps me in shape!” Lopez said.

He says wearing the uniform is a positive thing. “Even though I’m playing in uniform, I think it kind of does break a barrier, where the kids can see that even though you’re a police officer, you can get active, play sports and interact with them.”

Lopez organizes team sports programs and events for PAL, including flag football, wrestling, basketball and cheerleading. It’s a full-time assignment he’s had for more than two years.

“Sports has a lot of teaching moments,” Lopez said. “When you’re playing a sport, you’re working as a team.”

He and fellow PAL athletic director, Officer Qyieisha Middlebrooks, revolve their schedules around after-school programs, weekend tournaments and open-gym basketball on Friday nights.

“These kids may not have anything else to do on a Friday night,” Lopez said. PAL’s sports programming gives these kids “the opportunity to be in a safe environment and participate in a productive activity... a positive alternative as to what they could be getting into.”

PAL Builds Community Relationships

The Police Athletic League is a nationwide program that helps local police departments build relationships in the community. With two locations in St. Petersburg, in the Woodlawn and Midtown neighborhoods, PAL’s programming serves more than 300 kids in need, ages five to 13.

“A lot of the families that we deal with just feel like they’re on their own,” Lopez said. “I think the common misconception is that we just have a bunch of juvenile delinquent criminals...

That’s not the case at all. We deal with kids who need services. Maybe there’s no male role model or maybe they’re living in a one-parent household where they’re just working all the time,” Lopez said.

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When Lopez and Middlebrooks aren’t busy working with the kids in the facility, they’re out in the community, on the courts and in the classrooms.

“Our mission is crime prevention through athletics, recreation and education,” Lopez said.

“Our motto is, ‘We Grow Great Grown-Ups’.

We’re trying to teach them how to become better people for life.”

During the year, they open up the garden to the community.

“When we do community events, we cut a lot of the collards and we hand out collard greens to people. So it’s fun and they enjoy it and the community loves the fresh produce.”

PAL offers youth development training and employment opportunities in the facility for lowincome and some special-needs youth through a partnership with The Bolley Center, which shares the cost of their salary with PAL. “It makes us feel good that we’re helping a population of kids go and find future employment,” Boyle said.

But maybe most importantly, kids at PAL have a support system.

More Than Just Athletics

Although PAL is well-known for its athletic programs, operations director Denyve Boyle wants the community to understand that PAL is “not just recreation and athletics.” She says that they “do a lot more than run and jump.”

PAL’s programming is designed to address the five key components that empower a family out of poverty: academic attainment, healthy living, mentoring, employability, and having a safe place to spend time during high-crime hours. The kids are exposed to a variety of healthy activities, from tennis and gardening to reading and presentation skills.

“We’re a catch-all. We do a lot with a little here, but we’re able to do it well,” Boyle said.

PAL’s afterschool and summer programs provide homework assistance, field trips, nutrition education, personal fitness training and Zumba classes.

They even have an urban garden onsite, bursting with everything under the sun for sautés and salads, including kale, strawberries, spinach, basil, bok choy, collard greens and more.

“Allowing the kids to taste new things and have new experiences like that is really important,” Boyle said.

Through a partnership with KC’s Camp, the youth tend the garden, learn to cook and get to bring fresh produce home to their families.

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PAL Cares About Families In Need

PAL has a special meaning for Officer Middlebrooks.

It means community, relationships and bridging the gap between the police and the schools. It means family.

Officer Middlebrooks spends a large majority of her time at local schools mentoring kids with behavioral issues.

She recalls a specific success story that is close to her heart. The principal of a nearby elementary school, recommended Officer Middlebrooks as a mentor to a child headed toward a life of crime.

After mentoring the child on multiple occasions, she has been an exemplary student and turned her life around. Eventually, this child and all 5 of her siblings became PAL kids.

“I’ve been able to bring families into PAL and that’s amazing,” Middlebrooks said. “Seeing the impact, we have on one child is great but seeing the impact we have on an entire family is even better.”

“Being a police officer and having the

opportunity to build a strong relationship with the community — my community — is what makes PAL so special to me,” Middlebrooks said.

“I grew up here and I want my community to be successful. Investing in these kids is like investing in the future of this community. This is what it’s all about, training future generations to create better, safer and more successful communities.”

Becoming A PAL Kid For Life

Paula Potts, the PAL Program Director, has been with PAL for over 20 years. In fact, Paula was a PAL kid. Her oldest sister was a PAL tutor, who brought her siblings to PAL daily.

“I’m grateful for the opportunities PAL had shown me many years ago and I will do anything to keep this program alive for generations to come,” Potts said. “I found my purpose here at PAL and I will continue to do for these kids what PAL had done for me.”

Most of the PAL kids live in neighborhoods were there isn’t much exposure to the arts. “We expose these kids to opportunities outside of their communities that they’ve never seen before. We open their eyes to a whole new world,” Potts said.

In many cases, PAL may be the only safe place these children can have fun and get the help they need for issues not discussed in school.

A story close to her heart involves a young man who aged-out of the PAL program but reached out to her about his current situation.

One day after school, he went to his local neighborhood park to play basketball and ended up lying face down in the grass, caught in the crossfire between two gangs.

“He said to me, “I just want to play basketball Ms. Paula”,” Potts said.

This conversation sparked the start of the new middle school program in which they bus kids from their neighborhoods to the midtown PAL location for a healthy snack, tutoring, character building classes, and of course to play ball. The program started with only 10 boys and now they have 29 middle-school-aged boys on the roster.

“We give kids a fighting chance,” Potts said. “We don’t judge their past, we encourage them to do better and one day they may return to give back to this program and their community.”

Get Involved

Become a PAL mentor, volunteer or attend an event! PAL hosts community events throughout the year. Their next event is the Brinner (Breakfast for Dinner) fundraiser on February 8, 2018.

Tickets, tables and sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, visit stpetepal.org, email palsp@stpetepal.org or call 727-800-1PAL (1725). Police Athletic League of St. Petersburg is located at 1450 16th Street North, St. Petersburg, FL 33704.

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Photo by Tony Sica

news

Downtown Developments

By Brian Zucker, Owner of St. Pete Rising

It seems like each time we take a stroll through downtown there are new restaurants and galleries opening and more apartment complexes and condo towers being built. We realize it’s difficult to keep track of everything. Luckily, we’ve done the research, so you don’t have to.

Each month we will feature a few of the most exciting new downtown developments that are on the horizon for the Sunshine City.

The 1600 block of Central Avenue, currently home to World Liquors, will soon be under construction. Milhaus, a real estate construction and development company from Indianapolis is erecting a large six-story, mixed-use development that will feature 251 apartments and over 12,000 square feet of retail space, which will front Central Avenue. The community will include a courtyard and pool, small dog park, rooftop lounge, fitness center, and co-working space. Approximately 65% of the units will be studios and one-bedroom units, which are typically most popular among young professionals. Construction is scheduled to begin during the first quarter of 2018 with the first residents moving in around the Spring of 2020.

Ray’s Vegan Soul has ditched their successful food truck in favor of a permanent brick and mortar location at 169 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N. Ray Milton, a boxing instructor and former pastry chef, will offer a rotating menu of vegan soul food, but says he will always have the mac and cheese, raw tacos and African almond soup — his three

most popular menu items, all made “with 100 percent organic love.” For now, Ray’s Vegan Soul is only open on late-night Fridays from 8 pm to 1 am and Sundays from 11 am to 6 pm.

After much anticipation, Downtown St Pete’s only 24-hour diner has finally opened their doors. 2nd and Second is the creation of three local restaurant veterans — Renaud Cowez of Tryst, Raphael Perrier of Kahwa and Chef Jeremy Duclut of Cassis. The eatery is a twist on the classic American diner that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner all day long. Early favorites include the Smoked Turkey Cordon Bleu Sandwich, Hot Roast Pork Loin Sandwich, and the BLT Omelette. 2nd and Second is, not surprisingly, located at the intersection of 2nd St N & 2nd Ave N. After finding success in Tampa, Mini Doughnut Factory has hopped the Bay and opened their second location, on 4th Street in St. Pete. These made-to-order mini morsels are about one-third the size of a regular doughnut, but pack just as much flavor!

Choose from 16 different doughnuts or create your own by customizing the doughnut,

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icing, topping and drizzle. Top sellers include the Sweet Pig (maple icing and bacon), the Peanut Butter Cup (chocolate icing, mini peanut butter cups and Reese’s drizzle) and the Homer Simpson (strawberry icing and rainbow sprinkles). Mini Doughnut Factory is located at 730 4th St N. Red Mesa Cantina, one of the most frequented restaurants in Downtown St. Pete, has expanded by taking over the 2nd and 3rd story of their current building. Each level represents a different concept with their own distinct food and drink menus. The 2nd floor is home to Cantinita, an intimate balcony bar featuring a variety of hot and cold plates (Hint: Order the Korean BBQ Ribs!). Walk up the steps to DeSanto on the 3rd floor rooftop.

DeSanto is more spacious than Cantinita and offers around ten cold plates and a breathtaking view of Downtown St. Petersburg. Red Mesa Cantina is located at 128 3rd St S. St. Pete Rising is an urban development blog covering future retail, restaurants, and real estate in Downtown St. Petersburg, FL. Stay up-to-date, visit StPeteRising.com.

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Events

The Greenhouse. Photo by City of St. Petersburg

How the City Buys

When: Tuesday, Jan 16th from 2 pm - 3 pm Where: The Greenhouse, 1st Floor Training Room, 440 2nd Ave N, 33701 Cost: Free If you operate a business, small or large, and are interested in learning about contracting and procurement opportunities with the City of St. Petersburg, attend this workshop to learn about how the City sources its supplies and services and how to become a registered city supplier. For more info, visit stpetegreenhouse.com.

Happy Hour with the Historian

When: Thursday, Jan 18th Doors open at 6 pm, Lecture from 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Where: St. Petersburg Museum of History, 335 2nd Ave NE, 33701 Cost: $5 Suggested Donation The SPMOH’s popular lecture series that features an evening of wine, words and wisdom. This month’s guest is Dr. Jack Davis author of The Gulf: The Making of an American Sea. Cash bar provided by Hops & Props, plus an opportunity to meet the author/speaker. For more info, visit spmoh.com.

2018 Tampa Bay Frogman Swim

5th Annual LOCALTOPIA

Fire & Light Ball: Imagination Museum Grand Opening

Operation Finale: The Capture & Trial of Adolf Eichmann

When: Sunday, Jan 21st from 5 am - 11 am Where: Gandy Beach, St. Pete to Picnic Island, Tampa Cost: Donations Accepted 5k point to point swim has evolved into an annual event that is now an official Navy SEAL Foundation fundraiser. The proceeds will be used to provide injury assistance to Navy SEALs and tragedy assistance for families who have lost a loved one in training or combat.

For more information, visit www.tampabayfrogman.com.

When: Saturday, Jan 27th from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm Where: Imagine Museum, 1901 Central Avenue, 33713 Cost: Tickets $95 each The 10,000 SF museum’s official grand opening event. Enjoy cocktails, a strolling dinner, private tours of the collection and entertainment throughout the evening. RSVP at your earliest convenience to lisa@imaginemuseum.com.

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When: Saturday, Feb 3rd from 10 am - 5 pm Where: Williams Park, 330 2nd Ave N, 33701 Cost: $5 Suggested (Min) Donation St. Pete’s largest “Community Celebration of All Things Local” showcasing nearly 200 of our city’s favorite independent businesses and community organizations.

The family-friendly festival also commemorates KSPL’s 6-Year Anniversary! For more info, visit KeepSaintPetersburgLocal.org/ Localtopia.

When: Feb 10th through July 15th from 10 am - 5 pm, daily Where: The FL Holocaust Museum, 55 5th Street S, 33701 Cost: Tickets $16 & Under (Senior and Student Discounts) The first exhibition in the US to fully document the pursuit, capture, extradition, and trial of a Nazi war criminal. For more info, please visit: flholocaustmuseum.org.

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