Green Bench Monthly - Vol 3, Issue 2, February 2018

Vol. 3, Issue 2, February 2018

St. Pete’s Direct-Mail Community Magazine

Albert whitted airport

the birthplace of scheduled flight pg. 16

Write Here and Now

Keep St Pete Lit pg. 4

The Sanctuary of Jordan Park

Carter G Woodson pg. 6

For the Love of Dogs

Three Dog Bakery pg. 12

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Photo by City of St. Petersburg

Publishers

Ashley & Tony Sica

Editor

From the Bench In This Issue...

Cristina Juska

Contributing Editors Nadine Maas, Pam Sica

Contributors [This Issue] Jacque Bishop, Tina Stewart Brakebill, Erin Cody, Rui Farias, Jadyn Gonzales, Mitzi Gordon, Robb Hasencamp, Erik Jasek, Donna Parrey, Jack Spinrad, Brian Zucker

Photo Credits On the Cover:

Albert Whitted Airport

by Evan Sigmund

The Kind Mouse Productions and Three Dog Bakery

by Kelly Nash Photography Going Home

by Jeremy Noyes

Contact

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

Proud member of:

This issue we lean into our past (pg. 6), plan for the future (pg. 8), enjoy the present (pg. 18) and maybe pick up a treat or two for our four-legged friends along the way (pg. 12). Before we dive in, here are a few things you should know:

MLK Business District Revival Join the effort to network and promote local businesses and neighborhoods stretching from 26 Ave S to 34th Ave N (membership is open to anyone interested in showing support). See ad on pg. 18 for more info and visit mlkbusinessdistrict.com for upcoming events (Green Bench Monthly will see you there!).

St. Petersburg Preservation Celebrates 40 Years (and a name change!)

After 40 years as St. Petersburg Preservation, the organization is changing its name to Preserve the ‘Burg, reflecting its active role in promoting historic preservation efforts as the city continues to grow and evolve. “Our new brand mirrors how we are working to take proactive, positive steps to preserve the historic charm of our city,” said Emily Elwyn, President of Preserve the ‘Burg.

For more about their efforts and events, visit www.stpetepreservation.org.

American Stage Offers Free Live Theatre to 20 and Under Also celebrating their 40th anniversary, American Stage announces unprecedented access to young people under the age of 20—free access to full mainstage season; and unlimited theatre to young people under the age of 30 for only $15 per month. For more info, visit americanstage.org.

Local Produce Now Available Online Can’t make it to the Saturday Morning Market? No problem! They now offer an online option: http:// stpetersburg.localfoodmarketplace.com. The online market, dubbed ‘Farmily’ features two organic vegetable farmers, two small local farmers, and local vendors. Place your order for vegetables, strawberries, citrus, pastured chicken and eggs, beef and beef bones, freshly baked breads, sea salt, artisan teas, coffees, and mushrooms!

4 6 7 8

Write Here and Now

The Sanctuary of Jordan Park

From the Museum’s Archives Today’s Kids ...

Tomorrow’s Philanthropists

10 Lights, Camera, Lip Sync

12 For the Love of Dogs 14 Going Home

16 The Birthplace of Scheduled Flight 18 DTSP on a Dime 19 Comic

21 Downtown Developments 22 Events

Looking for something? Everything we’ve ever published is on our website! Visit greenbenchmonthly.com and click the search icon in the upper right corner.

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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not for profit

Write Here & Now: Keep St. Pete Lit

By Mitzi Gordon

The annual Sunlit Festival features events like the City-Wide Read & Write In pictured above.

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As we talk over coffee and browse through local bookshops, one thing is abundantly clear: Maureen McDole is passionate about literature.

In August 2013, she founded Keep St. Pete Lit in order to build community around that passion.

The non-profit organization fosters and promotes greater St. Petersburg’s literary scene with approachable arts and educational Maureen McDole events for local lovers of words.

“I wanted to help create a vibrant literary arts scene in what was already a vibrant arts community,” said McDole, a St. Pete native. “There was already fertile soil here.”

Collaborations have been—and remain—essential to the growth and visibility of her grassroots organization. From the LitSpace writing classes and pop-up bookshop at the Morean Arts Center, to a book club housed at the Museum of Fine Arts, Keep St. Pete Lit programs take root in partnership.

“We all [as partners] have the same intention of wanting to make the city a wonderful place to live in,” McDole said. “We also want to create a community for our children to grow up in and thrive. Plus, it’s fun to make art with your friends. What’s better than that, really?”

LitSpace testimonials reveal the impact as students talk about how they are “tapping into a new kind of creativity” or “finally identifying as being a writer.”

Much of what the organization does travels beyond the printed page. Popular events like literary walking tours, held in collaboration with St. Petersburg Preservation (now called Preserve the ‘Burg), highlight the importance of finding narrative in different settings.

Literary walking tours, held in collaboration with St. Petersburg Preservation (now called Preserve the ‘Burg), highlight the importance of finding narrative in different settings.

“Writing about local landmarks gives you a sense of place, and creates a connection with that place,” McDole said.

A turning point for Keep St. Pete Lit came in 2015, hinging on the launch of their LitSpace classes. “That same year, in February when we moved the book club to the MFA, those were two key moments of alignment,” McDole said.

That book club continues monthly, drawing connections between the visual and literary by theming reading selections around artworks in the MFA’s collection or exhibitions.

Looking forward, plans are being laid to reach a larger youth audience, and expand some writing classes from single afternoon sessions into more intensive 3-day workshops. McDole said she’s also talking with the ArtsXchange, a Warehouse Arts District venue and studio space, about bringing in more literary programming.

As Keep St. Pete Lit grows, McDole hopes to establish a permanent home for the organization where classes and performances can be housed all under one roof.

In April 2018, the fourth annual SunLit Festival brings an array of bookish collaborations to venues around the city. It begins with a kick-off party April 5 at the Chihuly Collection, before rolling out two weeks of lit-themed movies and tours, typography and printing arts demos, author readings, a countywide high school essay-writing contest, and more.

A published poet currently enrolled in the Executive Program in Arts & Culture Strategy at University of Pennsylvania, McDole keeps doing her part to spread the literary love, one story at a time.

Learn more by visiting keepstpetelit.org.

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History

Photo by City of St. Petersburg

The Carter G. Woodson Museum The Sanctuary of Jordan Park

By Jacque Bishop “That’s what we’re called on the street,” says Director Terri Lifsey Scott, “the sanctuary.”

Old churches of many colors lean shoulder to shoulder along 9th Avenue South, but across 22nd Street, the Woodson is the living heart of Jordan Park. A warm yellow, bungalow-style building, it envelops all neighbors and visitors with a generous welcome, a passion for art, and a very present devotion to African American history. Entering, you become part of one neverending teachable moment. Whether you are a browser from downtown, or a little local kid looking for homework help, open arms and wise minds are present and willing. Light and color bounce off every surface here.

“African American museums are so much more than most people recognize,” says Director Scott. “They are community assets that reflect so many untold or unheard stories.” Glowing from the walls as she speaks are the lush Florida landscapes of “The Highwaymen,” an “untold” group of 26 black Florida artists. Beginning in the 1920s, a few still at work today, these men (and one woman) painted what they saw from the roadsides and sold their art from the trunks of their cars. “These folks,” says volunteer docent Lynette Hardy, “often created 15 to 21 works a day. They sold their art to pay their way, and, since many worked construction jobs as well, they painted on Upson Board and framed their work with leftover pieces of crown molding.”

Looking at the quality of their work, it scrambles the mind to know how it came into being – and to realize that no southern museum would hang the work of a black artist, well into the 1960s.

“Part of our mission,” says Scott, “is to create a multicultural encounter with artists who, despite their talent, have no other venue available to them. Our next exhibit, to be hung January 31st, will be the works of Eluster Richardson, a Tallahassee native painter with great skill.”

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In the meanwhile, the Woodson pursues its daily role of community education and enjoyment. “There are powerful spokenword art and storytelling, Black Cinema Conversations, forums and panel discussions with community leaders, Book Club meetings,” Scotts says, listing only some of the more regular events at Woodson. All presentations at Woodson, regardless of subject, include experienced presenters with state-of-the-art knowledge, lively in-depth group discussions, and....fantastic food! “It’s part of our culture,” Scott says, “to have very good and abundant food here for all who attend.” She is not overstating the quality of their hospitality.

At a recent Woodson ceremony, Mayor Rick Kriseman was observed in a rare moment of silent, serious communion with a plate of homemade chicken wings. He was not alone.

For all its generosity, the Woodson is sustained by shoe-string-level grants, donations, and the energetic spirit of its all-volunteer staff.

If proof of their dedication to the community is needed, listen to this unwritten “mission”: “The Carter G. Woodson Museum is the only museum in the city of St.Petersburg to never charge admission fees.” It’s understood here that a twenty-dollar bill is the wall that stands between places of art and history, and thousands who want badly to experience them. Real life is spoken here at the Woodson.

And how did this museum come into being? Truly, it took the combination of a riot, a subsequent visit by the US Secretary of Housing, the demolishing of a deteriorating 1940 Jordan Park Project in 1990, the scattering of a community, and a rebuilt Jordan Park in 2001. Lynette Hardy looks out the museum’s back door at its beautiful formal garden. “I remember when this was the sandlot baseball field for the kids from Jordan Park,” she says.

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The creation of Woodson came at the request of the new residents: “They wanted a black history museum,” says Terri Scott, “and so the city donated this building, which had been the old administration building for the projects. We started with a Hope 6 Grant – and not much else!” The dedication of inspired leaders - and a lot of sweat-equity from volunteers – turned the site into the “sanctuary” it is today. “Sadly,” says Director Scott, “this building was not constructed to be a museum.” She looks out her office door at the tiny communal entryroom: “Where else have you seen art hung up in a lobby? We are perfectly situated in the community, but my greatest hope is to have the funding to re-configure and expand this space in order to do justice to the art.” And the Woodson stands on hope, as well as history.

Carter G. Woodson’s greatest hope was that African American History would become an integral part of the American Story that we all learn in school. Meanwhile, in 1915, he founded an organization of noted black scholars, historians and activists. He named it ASALH (The Association for the Study of African American Life and History). A serious and enduring project, ASALH remains alive and vibrant today. In 2015, the Carter G. Woodson Museum became one of the 25 recognized branches of ASALH. If you are serious about learning Black History in the company of noted scholars, a visit to an ASALH Presentation is a must. These events are unvarnished explorations of subjects which were touchstones of African American life and history. (If you think you already know about these, come prepared to be surprised!)

The Dr. Carter G. Woodson Museum is located at 2240 9th Avenue South. For more information, call (727) 323-1104 or visit www.woodsonmuseum.org. Please call for hours before visiting.

Dr. Carter G. Woodson

The Father of African American History / Founder of Black History Month 1875 – 1950 Scholar, writer, and activist Carter G. Woodson remains unequaled in bringing awareness of black history to people of all cultures. Born in New Canton, VA, the son of freed slaves, Woodson worked as a sharecropper and a miner to help support his six siblings. Early on, his considerable intellect became apparent, and he graduated from high school in two

years. Subsequently earning a BA from the University of Chicago, he went on to become the second black man (following W.E.B. DuBois) to earn a doctorate from Harvard University.

Woodson traveled widely, starting as an envoy of the U.S. War Department in the Philippines, and proceeding on his own to Asia, Africa, and Europe, where he studied at the Sorbonne in Paris. History was his focus, his touchstone, and

his legacy. “If a race has no history, if it has no worthwhile tradition,” he said, “[it] stands in danger of being exterminated.”

A tireless writer who spoke his truth with blunt authority, Woodson authored over 30 books, the most influential being The Mis-Education of the Negro (Pub. 1933). It remains relevant today and is required reading in the curricula of many African American History courses.

Woodson was appalled at the near-

total exclusion of black history from textbooks and teaching, an issue as new as it is old. A selfproclaimed radical, he proclaimed that “Learning to adjust to insult, to compromise on principle, to betray your fellow man, is to lose your soul.”

Woodson founded “Negro History Week” in 1926 and chose February to honor Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. He dreamed of a day when designating a special week would not be necessary.

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

Just one month after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed in Memphis after supporting a sanitation worker’s strike, sanitation crew chief Joe Savage and attorney James Sanderlin led over 200 black sanitation workers on a four-month strike in St. Petersburg. Savage, shown here being arrested, participated in over 40 non-violent marches and sit-ins during the summer of 1968. Savage fought City Hall for what he thought was unfair wages for a newly implemented work week. His protests help energize the Civil Right movement in St. Petersburg. Civil Rights historian and USF St. Pete history professor Ray Arsenault, called Savage an “unsung hero” of the Civil Rights efforts in St. Petersburg. Savage died at age 75 in 2001.

The St. Petersburg Museum of History is located at 335 2nd Ave NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. For more information about exhibits, hours, and ticket pricing visit SPMOH.com.

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UPLIFT ST. PETE The Kind Mouse youth volunteers display examples of healthy snacks. Back row (L to R): Rachel DeBruyne, 13; Dexter Schneider, 13; Lily Schneider, 16; Sydney “Jingles” Merritt, 11; Elizabeth Hodgson, 17. Front row: Michael “MJ” Gay, 7; Marcus “Fruit Ninja” Clark, 6. (Photo courtesy of Stan Wilkins)

Today’s Kids ... Tomorrow’s Philanthropists

By Donna Parrey

The board of directors meeting is about to begin. The vice president calls the meeting to order with a pledge and a sharp rap on the conference room table. In the next hour, board members will recap their last fundraising event, brainstorm ideas for capitalizing on social media outreach, and discuss the status of a grant application.

The proceedings are familiar to most Tampa Bay area executives.

What makes this board meeting unique is its pint-sized participants. The board members range in age from six to 17.

What I’m witnessing is business as usual for an impressive group of children dedicated to the mission of The Kind Mouse Productions, Inc. This food distribution not-for-profit was founded by St. Petersburg resident Gina Wilkins under the premise that no one should ever go hungry. It was granted 501(c)(3) status in 2012.

These kids represent tomorrow’s philanthropists. Their work is part of the Kind Mouse’s groundbreaking Mice-in-Training program, which

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encourages children to become involved in the business of operating a not-for-profit. Indeed, they are leading their own efforts to support and market the mission of The Kind Mouse with a combination of whimsy and wisdom.

For example, Sydney Merritt, 11, vice-president of the Mice-inTraining, recites an abracadabra pledge while wielding a magic wand to circle her head and tap on the long oak table to officially start the meeting. She’s been volunteering for two and a half years and has adopted the mouse name of Jingles. Just before the meeting, Sydney had conducted a tour of The Kind Mouse facility for a new family whose seven-year-old son, Michael “MJ” Gay, was considering becoming the newest volunteer for the Mice-in-Training group of five-to-12-year-olds.

More experienced Mice graduate to become Mice Interns, the group aimed at 13-18-year-olds. Elizabeth Hodgson, 17, president of the Mice Interns, explained how typical board meetings might go. “We look at past

Proudly Supports

Mice-in-Training program members brainstorm ideas over pizza.

Photo by Kelly Nash Photography

events, like our annual Mousequerade fundraiser, and discuss how we can make them more efficient. We try to come up with different activities for various age groups.”

Lily Schneider, 16, vice president of the Mice Interns, added, “We’ve planned a food drive at Shorecrest School, and we’re looking at ways to increase our use of social media to promote The Kind Mouse, since notfor-profits are not often part of the social media discussion.”

For example, Dexter Schneider, 13, head of media for the Mice Interns, worked on Mouse Vision this past summer, a project using videos posted on social media to help spread the word.

A Personal Connection

The Kind Mouse was the brainchild of Wilkins, who has a very personal connection with this mission. As a self-employed certified architectural draftsman in St. Petersburg, after the economy hit hard times in 2006-2008, she made the difficult decision to close her firm. She also witnessed firsthand the hardships endured by many of her peers and friends—hardworking people who were too proud to ask for any help.

Wilkins hustled to mobilize resources to help feed hungry kids in her own neighborhood, whose families were going through tough times financially. “The more I learned about people in need, the more I was determined to expand my efforts,” she said.

The Mice-in-Training program was initially born of necessity. As The Kind Mouse took off, the process of sorting food donations, clearly marking expiration dates on individual items, and packaging an array of nutritious snacks into bags became a never-ending job. Extra hands were needed, and Wilkins called upon her own daughter and the kids of other volunteers to help package the nibbles for distribution.

It didn’t take long to see that these children took their responsibilities seriously. They recruited more friends to join in and, soon, the Mice-inTraining program took on a life of its own.

Rachel DeBruyne, 13, said, “I found out about the opportunity to volunteer at The Kind Mouse through my mom’s work programs for community service.” For almost one year now, Rachel has been part of the busy group that sorts, dates and packs healthy snacks.

Wilkins said, “In addition to providing packaging help, the youth volunteers also gain skills in public speaking, raise awareness of the importance of eradicating hunger, and learn how a not-for-profit operates. Their newest project is a grant proposal the youth have developed for addressing ‘food shaming’ in schools. In 2018, the two boards will have joint meetings so the younger Mice-in-Training can learn from mentors in the Mice Intern group.”

The program has continued to grow and today, “The Kind Mouse provides ‘mouse nibbles’ every Friday to some 350 Pinellas County schoolchildren who might otherwise return home to a weekend of insufficient healthy food options,” said Wilkins.

To learn more about The Kind Mouse Productions, Inc., donate or volunteer, visit www.thekindmouse.org. Contact Gina Wilkins at Gina@thekindmouse.org or 727-518-5575.

Johnilaw supports programs that provide services to our veterans. The Catch A Lift Fund provides post 9/11 wounded veterans with fitness memberships, in home gym equipment, personalized nutrition programs and a peer support network to help them recover, rehabilitate and reintegrate through fitness. Founded in memory of Army Cpl. Chris Coffland, the Catch A Lift Fund has served over 3,500 veterans across the U.S. and is helping them with dramatic weight loss, improved sleep, dropped medications and reintegration into society. CAL has reached critical need for funding with over 600 wounded veterans on the wait list.

Learn how you can help at CATCHALIFTFUND.ORG

(727) 520-7376 | johnilaw.com 2600 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. St. N. #300 St. Petersburg, Florida 33704 Hiring a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based upon advertisements alone. Before deciding, ask to receive free written information about our qualifications and experience.

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Art & Entertainment

Lights, Camera, Lip Sync

By Jadyn Gonzales

The Fever St. Pete has been coming down with since the 80’s.

Goldfever is one of St. Petersburg High School’s most popular, most competitive traditions. The school’s clubs compete in a lip sync and dance contest for the bragging right of being the Goldfever champions of the school year. Though the whole school looks forward to it, this competition is special to the school’s theatre department since it serves as a fundraiser for the the school’s Thespian troupe.

Tickets and concessions sales provide money needed for State Festival registration fees for

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students and for the annual fall plays and spring musicals.

This tradition began in the early 80’s.

The name was taken from the titles “Solid Gold” and “Dance Fever,” two television shows running at the time. Though Goldfever has been running for over 30 years now, it still retains the eccentric, totally tubular spirit of the 80’s. The performances are all about glitz and glamour.

Competitors are scored in originality, creativity of their costumes, use of the show’s theme of the year, and the energy and enthusiasm of their performance. The groups, usually made of members of each service and interest club, take the competition very seriously. With long term rivalries and pride on the line; they all put forth exciting choreography, props, and costumes in order to wow the crowd and, more importantly, the judges. Though this competitive spirit can be quite a spectacle as the clubs shout their chants over one another before the show and perform wild stunts onstage to beat the competition, the show is truly about the school coming together for a night of performance. In the words of Trish Grunz, Theatre Department Director at St. Pete High, “It’s supposed to be a fun community get together for the kids and for the benefit of the theatre. It’s nice that some take it very seriously

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but the acts where they’re lighthearted and just enjoying being onstage are just as fun to watch.

There’s room for everybody to be a part of it.”

In the school’s Goldfever of 2018, this spirit was exemplified by the President of the Leo service club and senior at St. Pete High, Chris Nguyen. When his group won the Fan Favorite award, he boldly requested the microphone to make a small, but meaningful speech. Nguyen congratulated each club and their student choreographers, disregarding the passionate rivalries of previous years. When asked about the meaning of his final Goldfever and his goal for that night, he responded, “It’s not about competition anymore. As long as everyone’s having fun, that’s what matters.”

Goldfever, though the competition may be intense, unifies the student body through music and dance. Not only does the student body partake in the event, but the community as well. Families, alumni, and teachers come to the school to watch (and, in the teachers’ case even make their own performances) the competition.

Everyone, from both past and present, has a story to share about St. Petersburg’s lip sync fever.

A special thanks to Mr. Murray Mintz and Ms. Trish Grunz for providing information for this article.

Bringing oUt YOUR Wine Style

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. For more info visit tampabayfurnishings.com or Interior Designer, Lydia Mason call 727-821-4100.

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Local Business

Three Dog Bakery: For the Love of Dogs

By Tina Stewart Brakebill

Owner Carrie Cornett (holding Dash) and Store Manager/Baker Chelsey Welden Photos by Kelly Nash Photography

St. Pete loves dogs. Just ask anyone taking advantage of our dog bars, beaches, spas, resorts, parks, playgrounds and innumerable dog-friendly restaurants. As dog lovers, we know that whether Fido and Lady are enjoying a night out, a day at the beach, or just relaxing at home, they deserve only the best in eats and treats. And now, downtown St. Pete has the one-stop shop for all those everyday needs and special-day wishes: Three Dog Bakery.

Longtime dog lover Carrie Cornett’s vision and hard work made this new Three Dog Bakery location a reality. Carrie knew that the community would welcome a dog-centered business in the hip 600 block of Central Avenue with open arms. Three Dog Bakery, a company that has been in business since 1989, provided the supportive “muscle” (as she calls it) to make her dream possible. In addition to helping Carrie through the start-up logistics, the franchise provides this local shop with national-level access to the best—the best suppliers, product lines and quality.

Three Dog Bakery offers a huge array of products, from food to accessories, for your fur babies to choose from. Fido can find a favorite flavor from the wall of different chew sticks or the bins of bones, while Lady checks out the newest in collar wear. Meanwhile their human can pick up some pre-packaged Three Dog Bakery treats for later (some Lickety Split ‘ice cream‘ from the cold case or banana-flavored nuggets from the shelf, perhaps) and stock up on pet food, all of which is guaranteed to be made with select high-quality natural ingredients right here in the USA.

Fresh-Baked Goodness

Once Fido and Lady make their way past the chew sticks and the bone bins, they will come face to face with a deliciously special aspect of the shop: the bakery case! All the goodies are baked and decorated right in the store. Store manager and baker Chelsey Welden keeps this case full of handcrafted treats, and it’s difficult to believe she had no prior professional pastry experience. Chelsey left a career in city government to pursue a more joyful path, and you can see the happiness in her baked goods. Quite simply, they look good enough to eat!

As delicious as they look, these natural, handmade baked goods aren’t for humans. They are for the dogs! Fido might be drawn to the Snickerpoodle or Peanut Mutter Cookies. Lady may love a Labrador Loaf

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As delicious as they look, these natural, handmade baked goods aren’t for humans. They are for the dogs!

Dash welcomes you and your furry friends for a Free Small Pupcake.

See ad on opposite page for details.

or a Drooly Dream Bar. No matter whether your pup is big or small, they are sure to find a favorite among the many beautifully crafted choices.

Don’t worry if wheat doesn’t agree with Fido or if Lady has an allergy, Three Dog Bakery has lots of options for them too. Plus, they clearly list all of their high-quality ingredients.

Three Dog Bakery is also the place to go if Fido has a special day to celebrate! He can find the perfect bow tie or vest to jazz up his party wear, and friends and family can find a gift guaranteed to make him feel as special as he is. Plus, don’t forget that every celebration needs a cake, and Chelsey will happily bake a personalized version just for Fido. (Just don’t forget to get Lady a special treat too!)

Bakery to check out their impressive selection of collars, she knew they had already made an impression.

Carrie and Chelsey said that they want Three Dog Bakery to be an integral part of the local DTSP community. Plus, they want to give back some love, so be on the lookout for upcoming benefit events in partnership with other local venues. Plus, a Yappy Hour is coming soon!

Be sure to check out the shop at 659 Central Avenue. You won’t be disappointed! It’s guaranteed enjoyment for puppies and people. They are open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (seasonal hours may vary). Call 727-827-7389 for more information or visit www.threedog.com.

Social media users! If you take a picture of your adorable pups loving their Three Dog Bakery fare, please share it with other dog lovers using the hashtag #threedogbakerystpete or tag @ThreeDogBakeryStPete.

Plus, like Three Dog Bakery St. Pete on Facebook to keep up with upcoming events and promotions.

Local Love

Carrie believed that Central Avenue was the perfect spot for her shop, and she was right. The store has only been open since December, but when a local Dog Bar patron sent a group of out-of-town visitors to Three Dog

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Modern Mail

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Poem By Robb Hasencamp In a place Beyond the present Before the past My heart shall rest Serenely home at last

Art & Entertainment

Going Home

Photo by Jeremy Noyes

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St Pete Icons Scene at the Albert Whitted Airport in Saint Petersburg. 193-?.

Albert Whitted Airport:

By Jack Spinrad

A couple of years ago I stood on the top deck of the inverted-pyramid Pier enjoying the view and a stiff breeze coming from the north. As I looked southward I noticed a small yellow plane struggle to make headway as it took off from Albert Whitted Airport. Eventually, the plane picked up a bit of speed and was gone.

I wondered why an airport was located so close to downtown St. Pete, and thought it would be interesting to find out more about its history. I began with a quick look on the internet, and found the Albert Whitted Airport Preservation Society’s website at https://awaps.org/, which was very informative.

The airfield was built on this land in 1928 and named for Lieutenant James Albert Whitted, a St. Pete native and one of the first 250 naval aviators. Commissioned just as the United States entered the World War I in 1917, he survived the war but died several years later in a plane he had designed and built.

Albert Whitted Airport opened under this new name in the summer of 1929. At the time it was the smallest of three airports in the area, and the only one owned and operated by the city. In 1934, National Airlines initiated service from Albert Whitted, and eventually merged with Pan Am.

Birthplace of Scheduled Flight

Through the Years

I learned that Albert Whitted Airport is recognized as the birthplace of scheduled flight. The first scheduled passenger flight in history, from St. Petersburg to Tampa, took to the air on January 1,1914, departing from the waters of Bayboro Harbor in a “flying boat” designed by Thomas Benoist. The pilot was Tony Jannus and the first paying passenger, former Mayor A.C. Pheil, who bid $400 for the privilege.

Many people are not aware that the land on which the airport is built is the result of a 1920s dredging and landfill project, which turned a fivemile stretch of the city’s natural shoreline into a “sea walled front yard”.

The dredging of Bayboro Harbor produced the landfill that would become the city’s first public airfield.

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A blimp hangar was built at Albert Whitted Airport in 1929 to house the Goodyear Blimp, which arrived in December of that year. The blimp’s time at the airport was short-lived due to the stock market crash and bank failures of the depression, but there is still an occasional touch-andgo by contemporary blimps flying in to cover special events.

In 1934-1935, the Coast Guard station was built in the southeast corner of the airport. During World War II, the Coast Guard at Albert Whitted were part of the effort to hunt German submarines in the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico. During World War II the airport was also converted to military use as a flight training base for Naval and Marine Corps aviators.

On the cover: 87 year-old Jim Siebert from Seminole still regularly flies his 71 year-old Ercoupe 415-C that he keeps parked at Albert Whitted Airport. He's been flying for 64 years, and is the oldest pilot who still flies solo out of the airport. On a sunny day, he flies with the hatch open, "It's like riding in a convertible," he says.

Albert Whitted provides various aviation services, including aircraft fueling, storage and parking; aircraft charter and rentals, sightseeing tours and more. Inside are several aviation-related businesses as well as a pretty good restaurant called The Hangar. The restaurant is on the second floor so you can dine while you watch planes and helicopters take off and land. Photos by Evan Sigmund After the war, general aviation activity resumed alongside Coast Guard activity at the airport. In 1976 the Coast Guard wanted to add four large, land-based aircraft, but they proved too large for the airport’s short runways, forcing them to move their air station to Clearwater. Albert Whitted became a non-flying Coast Guard installation and remains home to several cutters (Coast Guard ships).

In the 1970s, Albert Whitted Airport offered a “Penny a Pound” promotion: folks who would like to take an airplane flight would pay just one cent for each pound they weighed. You stepped on a scale, and paid accordingly—if it read 150 pounds, your ticket was $1.50!

Modern Day

Today the airport is still owned and operated by the City of St. Petersburg. Tens of thousands of general aviation flights take off and land there each year. Albert Whitted provides various aviation services, including aircraft fueling, storage and parking; aircraft charter and rentals, sightseeing tours and more. Several lifesaving organizations utilize the airport, including the Civil Air Patrol, Bayflite Medevac, and various organ transplant flying services, such as Care Flight.

For young people who may be interested in flying, the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) Chapter 47 offers two great programs where first flights are absolutely free: Young Eagles for ages 8-17 and Flying Start for 18 and up. Volunteer pilots give their time, planes and fuel to provide this fun and exciting service to our community.

The terminal is located on the north end of the field at 540 First Street SE. Inside are several aviation-related businesses as well as a pretty good restaurant called The Hangar. The restaurant is on the second floor so you can dine while you watch planes and helicopters take off and land.

If you enjoy al fresco dining there is a large balcony. My wife and I dine there often.

For more information on the airport and its amenities, please visit http://www.stpete.org/visiting_the_city/airport/index.php.

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keep it moving Photo by City of St. Petersburg

DTSP on a Dime

By Erin Cody

Downtown St. Pete is known to be the cool part of the Tampa Bay Area.

It’s a vibrant city full of culture, where there is always something to do…but that goes out the window if you’re short on cash, right?

Nope!

Getting outdoors doesn’t cost a thing, and this is the perfect time of year to get your butt outside. We’ve finally hit that sweet spot when you don’t need a coat, but think twice before going outside in your standard uniform of shorts, a t-shirt and flip flops. Here are six ways to have walletconscious fun in the ‘Burg this month.

1) Picnic! We tend to forget how lovely it is to have an old-fashioned picnic in the park on a beautifully crisp day. Just bring a blanket, some goodies, a few friends, maybe even some games. Remember the joy of playing charades or Monopoly when you were a kid? It is no less fun as a grown-up! A picnic can be a great, intimate, thoughtful date, too. Prepare a basket of your darling’s favorite food n’ drink, bring a small speaker to play their favorite band, overlook the water or people watch, and you can talk for hours. North Straub Park is my choice picnic spot.

2) Walk! Take a stroll by the water, or in a lovely neighborhood you’ve yet to explore like, say, Historic Roser Park. You might hoof it around DTSP with a mural map to admire the street art, or just walk along Central ’til you find a restaurant, bar, tea or coffee shop you’ve never been to. Of course you could saunter around popping into galleries, or do it up in style at ArtWalk on the second Saturday of the month!

3) Museums & galleries! Thursday evenings are not to be missed for the culture cat looking to pinch pennies. Every Thursday, the Museum of Fine Arts offers $5 tickets after 5, but the Dali Museum’s pay-what-you-can night is a particular treat in these temperate months. Explore the galleries, grab a glass of wine & sit outside in the garden overlooking the bay, then head out for cheaper drinks.

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All night on Thursdays, you can head up to hit Red Mesa for half-price pitchers of margaritas and sangria, or The Lure for $20 pitchers of Moscow mules. See next month’s article for a comprehensive day-by-day listing of the best food and/or drink specials in town!

4) Movies! Sure, all St. Pete residents know about $5 movies at the Sundial on Tuesdays, but the ultimate hack is to purchase MoviePass and go on a Wednesday. Start your evening at Farmtable for their complimentary wine and cheese tasting from 5-7, then nab a table on their lovely patio and enjoy a half-priced bottle of wine.

MoviePass is your golden ticket, deal hunters. For $9.95 you see as many movies you want at any theater that accepts debit cards (so basically any movie theater). This is the real deal. The hubs & I have been using it for a couple months now and it is awesome. Think you don’t go to movies enough to make it worth it? Consider the fact that $9.95 is less than one measly ticket. Going once means you made your money’s worth. I never used to see movies more than once every month or so - but now it’s the price of Netflix.

Have an extra couple hours? Why not embrace your inner film geek? Trust me, just do it.

5) Groupon! Not sure what to do? Let deal sites be your guide. I’m partial to the ol’ faithful Groupon, but there are also Yelp Deals, Living Social, etc. At the moment, you can grab major discounts on paddle boarding or kayaking at the Lottoboat Club, flights of beer at the St. Pete Brewing Company, tickets or a membership to Sunken Gardens, and a plethora of escape rooms.

6) Outdoor Markets! Need I say more? We all love the Saturday Morning Market, but keep an eye on local listings like marketmafia. com to see what other markets, festivals, and events are popping up.

Ilovetheburg.com is another great resource. I like to take a peek at least once a week, as there’s always something fun in the works.

‘Tis the season to be outdoors, and a little bit of planning and creativity is all it takes to stretch a buck and thoroughly enjoy a day in beautiful downtown St. Pete. Make the most of your money and live it up, Burg-ers!

Art & Entertainment Publisher’s Note: This comic is not meant to offend or hurt any group or individual. It is satire. We would like to acknowledge, that thanks to community action, Williams Park has come a long way in the past few years. It once again is host to many large events that draw crowds from all over the Bay area, but like most things, there’s always room for improvement.

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news

Photo by City of St. Petersburg

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.

On a block already saturated with bars, the Jannus Block welcomes one more. The Tamiami offers a full liquor bar, 24 beers on tap, pinball, darts, a jukebox and a huge mural of Christopher Walken on the back wall.

From the same owner as Five Bucks Drinkery, The Tamiami is an ode to the past — named after the historic Tamiami Hotel built in 1924 on 1st Avenue North in Downtown St. Pete. Check them out at 269 Central Avenue (formerly Crowley’s).

A new sushi restaurant opened last month in Downtown St. Pete, but you might have a hard time getting in. Sushi Sho Rexley is an 800 square foot restaurant with only 12 seats located at 214 2nd Street North, next to 2nd and Second, Downtown St. Pete’s new 24-hour diner. Sushi Sho Rexley will be St. Pete’s first omakase-style restaurant, owned by brothers Arte and Rexley Kwok. ‘Omakase’ translates to ‘trust the chef ’ in Japanese. The sushi chef will select each item served, allowing the consumer to enjoy the freshest fish possible. Sushi Sho

Rexley will be sourcing their ingredients from Tokyo Tsukiji market and Hawaii. Reservations are recommended by calling 727-853-8478.

It was recently revealed that Yeoman’s Cask & Lion will join Ford’s Garage at 200 1st Avenue South, formerly home to the Rowdies Den. Yeoman’s is a British-inspired pub with an expansive menu that includes classics such as fish and chips, bangers and mash, and shepherd’s pie. Yeoman’s will also have live music and serve brunch on the weekends.

Build out is currently underway with a grand opening slated for the 2nd half of 2018.

The beer scene is showing no signs of slowing in Downtown St. Pete. Inoculum Ale Works, a sour-only brewery from Spring Hill, has announced plans to open a tasting room on 1st Avenue North, two doors down from St. Pete Brewing Company. There will be no brewing operations at the St. Pete tasting room - all beer will still be produced in Spring Hill for now. However, Inoculum will be creating some small-batch kombucha and funky ciders

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in St. Pete. The plan is to have the tasting room in St. Pete open by mid-March. Once open, be sure to try Kuebiko, a soured ale with strawberries, lemons, and limes.

Phase 1 of The District on 9th has topped out in the Fringe District. ICON Residential broke ground last year on the 34-unit townhome community featuring four unique floorplans ranging from 1,500 to 2,600 square feet. Located just two blocks from Central Avenue, The District on 9th joins a growing number of businesses and developments that have opened along Dr. MLK Jr North in the past year — Ray’s Vegan Soul, 11 Chicks Yummy Creations, Planet Retro Records, Bodhi Basics, and more. Currently 17 of 34 townhomes are reserved. Prices start in the $400s. For more information, visit TheDistrictOn9thStPete.com.

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

Photo by City of St. Petersburg.

Free Ghost Tour

When: Saturday, Feb 17th tours start at 6:30 pm, 7:30 pm, and 8:30pm Where: Patty and Friends Antique Village, 1241 Dr MLK Jr St N, 33701 Cost: Free Enjoy a free family-friendly ghost tour hosted by the SPIRITS of St. Petersburg. Tours take half an hour and are contained to the building itself. At least three prominent personas are present.

Space is limited. Call Patty and Friends at (727) 822-2106 to reserve your spot.

St. Petersburg Conference on World Affairs

When: Tuesday, Feb 20th Friday, Feb 23rd Where: USFSP Student Center, 6th Ave S, 33701 Cost: Free Multiple panels of distinguished diplomats, military, media, and academic experts will discuss critical international issues of the day.

Seating will be on a first come, first seated basis. For more information, visit stpetersburgintheworld.com.

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10th Annual St. Petersburg Jazz Festival

When: Wednesday, Feb 21st - Sunday, Feb 25th (shows start each day at 7:30 pm) Where: Palladium Theater, 253 5th Ave N, 33701 Cost: General Admission $20 per day (Reserved tickets $30) The lineup includes the original compositions by the Tal Cohen trio, Jeff Rupert Quintet with Veronica Swift, B3 Fury with the Shawn Brown Quintet, The Helios Jazz Orchestra with singers Whitney James & Chuck Wansley and Latin Jazz with the Gabriel Hernandez Trio. For more info, visit www.stpetejazzfest.com.

Schoolhouse Rock!

When: Friday, Feb 23rd @ 6:30 pm and Saturday, Feb 24th @ 1 pm Where: St. Petersburg City Theatre, 4025 31st St S, 33712 Cost: Membership $20 Based on the ever-popular, award-winning 1970s cartoons. St. Petersburg City Theatre is the oldest, continuously operating community theatre in the state of Florida. For more info, visit spcitytheatre.org.

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Southeastern Guide Dogs Walkathon

When: Saturday, Feb 24th from 5 am - 11 am Where: Vinoy Park, 701 Bay Shore Dr NE, 33701 Cost: Fundraising Incentives Southeastern Guide Dogs biggest fundraising event of the year! Two and four-legged friends are invited to enjoy a 3K walk, live music, local vendors, Southeastern Guide Dogs Gift Shop, and familyfriendly fun. For more info, visit GuideDogsWalkathon.org.

Memory Mondays, Launches at Great Explorations

When: Monday, March 5th from 10 am - 12 noon Where: Great Explorations, 1925 4th St N, 33704 Cost: Free The first Monday of every month join us for a private event focusing on art, music, and movement activities for adults with memory loss and their families and caregivers. For more information, visit greatex.org.

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