Green Bench Monthly - Vol 4, Issue 2, February 2019

VOL. 4, ISSUE 2, FEBRUARY 2019

St. Pete’s Direct-Mail Community Magazine

Raising Locals: Love Letters to St. Pete pg. 18

People of St. Pete

Terri Lipsey Scott pg. 7

Heart Gallery

The Road to Home pg. 16

Mix Things Up

Weekend Trips pg. 26

Publishers

Ashley & Tony Sica

Advertising Sales Eileen Brock

Editors (this issue)

Rui Farias, Marilyn Malara, Mary Jane Park, Cathy Weisberg

Contributors (this issue) Tina Stewart Brakebill, Vandi Carmella, Erin Cody, Rui Farias, Denielle Kennett, Marilyn Malara, Karin Wahlrab, Nehemiah Warner Brian Zucker

“Phuddle Shot” by David Calvin of David Calvin Furniture Studio (see ad on pg. 6)

Photographers

FROM THE BENCH

Brian Brakebill, Emily Canfield, Kelly Nash

Valentine’s day is just around the corner so we are sending you a little extra community love this issue (pg 18). We hope these stories inspire you to learn more about St. Pete history (pg. 5), honor those who preserve it (pg. 7), build inclusivity (pg. 10), find the road to home (pg. 16); or to a weekend destination (pg. 26); or to a Greek-Lebanese restaurant (pg. 29).

Cover Photo: Vandi Carmella Girls at North Straub Park

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

Proud member of:

Till next time,

In This Issue:

hello@greenbenchmonthly.com

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From the Museum’s Archives: McAdoo Bridge

14 ActionCOACH Tampa Bay: Finding the Right Solutions

22 Smith & Associates: Celebrating Fifty Years

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People of St. Pete: Terri Lipsey Scott

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News & You

16 Heart Gallery of Pinellas and Pasco: A Picture Tells a Thousand Words

24 Adopting A Cat in Pinellas County - The Purr-fect Opportunity

18 Raising Locals: Love Letters to St. Pete

26 Mix Things Up: Quickie Weekend Trips

12 Sherpa Wealth Partners:

Advice The Way You Want

20 Stylish & Functional Spaces for Kids? Peek-a-Boo is Here for You!

29 Downtown Developments

by St. Pete Rising

10 Building Inclusive Community at Tomlinson Adult Learning Center

30 Events

Green Bench Monthly Is Direct-mailed to 15,500 homes and businesses in zip codes 33701, 33704 & 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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From the Museum’s Archives: McAdoo Bridge

With St. Petersburg Museum of History Executive Director, Rui Farias One hundred years ago this month, North Carolina developer William McAdoo made life for the St Petersburg Chamber of Commerce much easier. On February 9, 1919 McAdoo opened the first automobile bridge connecting St. Petersburg with Long Key - now St. Pete Beach. A front page story of the St. Petersburg Daily Times on the morning of the opening claimed the building of the toll bridge marked a mile stone in the development of Pinellas County. Although Pass-a-Grille was the first resort area on our Gulf Beaches, Long Key was the largest of the barrier islands, stretching

for over six miles. According to Museum of History Curator and Historian Nevin Sitler, McAdoo owned 500 acres on the northern end of Long Key and was planning his next development - St. Petersburg Beach. Beginning on the west shore of St. Petersburg at Villa Grande Avenue, motorists would exit McAdoo’s bridge at today’s 87th Avenue on St. Pete Beach.

This historical image of St. Petersburg, and many more, are available in the Museum’s archives. For more information, visit HistoryStPete.org.

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Savannah’s Loss is St. Pete’s Gain Scott was born and grew up in Savannah, where she attended Savannah State University. Four years after a chance meeting on the first day of college, she and her husband, Clarence, married and relocated in 1981 to his hometown of St. Petersburg. After a lifetime in Savannah, she was immediately struck by how deeply race divided the town and set out to do what she could. For the next twenty-plus years she effected change, as she put it, “little by little,” while also raising two children and building a successful career as an administrator in the mayor’s office. In 2004, after working with five mayors and seven City Councils, Scott decided she was ready for a change. It was time to be, as the late Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm famously declared, an “unbought and unbossed” advocate for equity and fairness.

An Advocate for the Community Her passion wasn’t new, but Scott’s retirement meant that she could devote more time and energy what brings her the greatest joy: “making a difference in the lives of others.” The Woodson Museum offers a perfect platform for her to dive deeper into this work. In 2004, she became the chair of the board for the Woodson and tirelessly volunteered as an advocate for the museum and the African American community. In 2017, the museum was able to create a paid director position, and Scott transitioned into that role. As she describes it, the job is similar to the previous volunteer position, but “on steroids.”

People of St. Pete: Terri Lipsey Scott

“Where Can I Fill the Gap?”

By Tina Stewart Brakebill St. Pete is celebrated for its fabulous weather, beautiful vistas, world-class food scene, and thriving cultural atmosphere, but the people of St. Pete truly make this city something special. In appreciation, each month Green Bench Monthly shines a light on one of the many people who make St. Pete unique.

This month our focus is on Terri Lipsey Scott, executive director of the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum. Its goal, in part, is “to preserve, present, and interpret African American history” while also promoting “understanding among various groups that comprise the St. Petersburg community to enhance our ability as a society to respect, value diversity, and foster equal rights and social justice.” It’s a mission that requires perseverance and integrity.

After spending time with Scott, I can say, without reservation, those words describe her perfectly. She’s also gracious and delightful. I enjoyed our talk immensely.

Asking that question has led Scott’s advocacy in many directions.

Recently, she helped find suitable housing for involuntarily dislodged elderly Jordan Park residents. For years, she has organized an annual tea party weekend event to celebrate a group of underprivileged young girls. She helps shape the annual Diversi-Tea, which brings women from “every walk of life, every race, every creed, every culture together to talk.”

Her influence doesn’t stop there. Scott is committed to using what she has learned over the years to continue her work as a “champion for the underdog,” Under her direction, 2018 was a “banner year” for the Woodson as the museum hosted toy drives, piano lessons, book discussions, One City Choir rehearsals, speakers, concerts, and much more. Visitors also can enjoy the Legacy Garden and the artfilled museum space.

You can find Scott and the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum at 2240 Ninth Ave. S, St. Petersburg, and online at www.woodsonmuseum.org.

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Photo by Roman Kraft

The News & You: A Guide To Sane Consumption

By Erin Cody Regardless of your political proclivities, it can be oh-so-tempting to slip into the black hole of news overload. Sure, we all want to know what’s going on in the world, but too much can feel incredibly overwhelming.

Instead of simply being in-the-know, we may experience anxiety, fear, helplessness, or even hopelessness. If you do a news detox, however, there can be a sense of guilt associated with not keeping up on the state of things.

Really, who needs any of that?

Perhaps you can think of your relationship with the news as similar to that of a close relative who is important to you, but can also make you lose your darn mind. As in any healthy relationship, boundaries are key.

So how to ensure the correct dose of news coverage? Different strategies work for different folks. I have a few I cycle through, depending on my mood and/or what’s going on in the world. I, like many, saw my news consumption explode in 2016. I was either reading the news or listening to WUSF, our local public radio station, all of my waking hours.

Podcasts What ultimately saved me from this spiral was the NPR One app.

This offered a vast array of news-related podcasts, but also, importantly,

podcasts that had nothing to do with the news. I’ve since gathered quite a collection, and they are a saving grace. On One or any free podcast app, you can find a seemingly unlimited supply on pretty much any topic. There is a wealth of free content. Give it a try!

International News Sources When I do pointedly decide to imbibe some news, I have three main ways to do so without falling off the deep end. Firstly, reading/listening to foreign news sources (like the BBC) can be extremely beneficial to sane news consumption, as they are thorough yet detached from the situation. Getting your news from a dispassionate source can help you avoid getting all riled up. No spin, no drama, no partisanship, just the news. You can also keep it hyper-local, like Radio St. Pete.

Time Limits Next option is to keep it short and controlled. Perhaps you give yourself a 30-minute window each day to dig through the muck all you want. You can even set yourself an alarm, then once you’ve hit your allowance you are finished for the day. Just don’t do this before bed!

Personally, I wake up to NPR’s ten-ish minute podcast, Up First. It gives me a Cliff Notes version of the major stories of the day, and I know that anything else that comes up will be on the next day’s short-take.

Some days I need more news, some days I need less, but this is my usual routine, like a healthy green smoothie in the morning.

Lighthearted Fun Then there are the times when you just need to laugh so you don’t cry. This can take many forms, based on where you stand politically.

The current lineup of late night hosts generally lean left, though you have some who keep it pretty centered such as Jimmy Fallon. You can also easily find conservative or libertarian comedians out there, as well, especially within the podcasting sphere.

I never sit down to watch full late-night shows or comedy specials, but instead ingest short, manageable clips by way of YouTube. Just the bits I want, no commitment, no late-night hours. Eating the whole cake can leave you feeling like trash, but a simple slice is just right.

This is the perfect time to reevaluate your relationship with the news, and consider how you can make it a healthy one. Good luck out there!

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Tomlinson Adult Learning Center is an inviting, affordable community resource for adults of all backgrounds and financial positions.

Building Inclusive Community at Tomlinson Adult Learning Center

By Marilyn Malara The moment you walk through the doors of Tomlinson Adult Learning Center, overlooking lovely Mirror Lake Park in St. Petersburg, a sense of wholesome ambition arises. You become motivated to grow, learn, and adapt to the changing world around you.

Often for those who attend the center for GED, English for Speakers of Other Languages, or vocational computer classes, that ambition is paramount.

The long-established Tomlinson Adult Learning Center is an inviting, affordable community resource for adults of all backgrounds and financial positions. For just $30 per trimester, students can gain computer skills for new jobs, learn English, or study for their GEDs. Thanks to financing from the Pinellas County Schools, the center has provided support for adults seeking to further their educations for more than 30 years. Tomlinson also offers literacy and citizenship classes and is a great place for volunteers.

Supporting Refugees and Immigrants With a mix of locals and students from all over the world -including immigrants, refugees, and tourists -- Tomlinson is an international hub. Many of the center’s 680 currently enrolled students come from countries such as Brazil, Costa Rica, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Iraq.

“Our program is a great opportunity for people to learn English in a variety of ways,” ESOL teacher Tanja Vurunic says. The goal of the program, she says, is for students to become self-sufficient in American society through English-language education.

Most ESOL courses at Tomlinson are “open entry” meaning that students are free to enroll at any time during a term. The school offers daytime and nighttime classes. For those unable to attend in person, online classes are available. The programs are also “open exit,” meaning students may cease their schooling at any time without penalties.

Refugees in need of assistance in English and other areas also find solace within Tomlinson’s historic, sunlit hallways. The school takes the initiative to help displaced individuals and families transition into life in the United States. With the aid of community partners, monthly workshops, and a team of mentors, refugees find comfort and resources to help rebuild after traumatic or life-altering events.

Passionate Career Counseling In addition to complete GED and ESOL curriculums, Tomlinson also provides top-notch career support. Dr. Barbara Riddle-Dvorak is the school’s career counseling guru. She assists both GED and ESOL students in the often-confusing process of searching for work.

“Ninety-eight percent of what I do is help people believe in

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At Tomlinson, students are able to build their resumes, research careers, and discover educational pathways. Photos by Marilyn Malara

themselves,” Riddle-Dvorak says. The passionate career counselor is always looking for new resources for Tomlinson students, especially those from other countries. A whole-hearted believer in the power of diversity, she adds that those who enter the United States from other countries “all want to work. They all want to learn English. They don’t want anything handed to them.”

Riddle-Dvorak teaches students how to navigate an online portal that helps build their résumés, research careers, and discover educational pathways. She encourages graduates to take next steps by providing information on further education, scholarships, and internship opportunities such as YearUp (yearup.org).

A Powerhouse Team From administrators and teachers to volunteers, the Tomlinson team actively supports its diverse community through instruction and building relationships.

“The people who come to this country [now] are just like the people who have come to this country,” administrator and former high school teacher Patrick Jennings says.

Helen Brown-Keys, who teaches computer skills, works mostly with students hoping to build their digital literacy or earn Microsoft Office certifications. Her warm personality instantly brings a sense of ease to her tech-filled classroom. She invites anyone interested in learning how to better work a computer to visit her lab and watch a class “just to see what’s it’s like.”

A Life-Changing Volunteer Opportunity Tomlinson Adult Learning Center is the perfect place for community service. The center warmly welcomes volunteers for support throughout the year. After the initial application process, background check, and brief training, volunteers are either assigned tutees or placed in classrooms to assist teachers.

Currently, the center needs volunteers to help tutor ESOL students who cannot read or write in their native languages. The center’s literacy classes are a life-changing, dignifying resource. Oneon-one volunteers add value to these classes, since students often achieve at different levels. General ESOL and GED volunteers also are accepted during each term.

To volunteer at Tomlinson Adult Learning Center, contact Nina Cornelius by phone at (727) 893-2723 or e-mail Corneliusn@ pcsb.org. To enroll or seek further information about Tomlinson, visit pcsb.org/tomlinson, call (727) 893-2723, or e-mail Tomlinsonadult@gmail.com

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Joshua Shulman, Co-Founder of Sherpa Wealth Partners. Photos by Kelly Nash Photography

Sherpa Wealth Partners: Advice The Way You Want

by Tina Stewart Brakebill Who are Sherpa Wealth Partners?

Sherpa Wealth Partners is an independent practice founded by long-time Tampa Bay residents Joshua Shulman and Pamela Price.

Josh and Pam each had extensive and successful careers as Financial Advisors at large firms, but in 2016 they decided that they could best serve their clients by offering individualized independent services.

Their partnership was born from that decision and their philosophy as Financial Advisors is simple: “the focus is always on you and your personal journey.” Even their partnership name reflects that approach.

In Tibet, hopeful mountain climbers seek out Sherpas because their

Sherpa Wealth Partners

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expertise and experience makes them excellent guides and advisors.

Sherpa Wealth Partners wants to be your financial Sherpa applying their expertise and experience to help guide you through your personal financial journey. This philosophy is at the core of everything they do.

Your Goals Our Guidance Sherpa Wealth Partners serves the entire Tampa Bay region but as a long-time St. Pete resident Josh Shulman is deeply enmeshed in the local community, both personally and professionally. His family’s roots go back four generations and Josh has served on Boards for numerous local groups including Leadership St. Pete, the Chamber of Commerce, and PSTA. This immersion means that he understands the changing and diverse needs of our local community. St. Pete is no longer viewed as just a retirement haven. It’s booming and Sherpa Wealth Partners’ clients are as likely to be business owners, corporate executives, healthcare professionals, families with kids, couples, singles, and the occasional lotto winner as they are to be retirees. And although this diverse list may not have a lot in common, they all could benefit from financial guidance. Sherpa Wealth Partners knows that no single “cookie cutter” plan fits everyone’s financial needs or wants, but they also know there is a plan that fits YOUR needs! As Josh notes, “being that guy” means he’s the one you can turn to for help in finding YOUR solution. Sherpa Wealth Partners will use their expertise and experience to help you understand the big picture and your options so that you can make a fully informed decision that fits YOUR specific situation. Or as Sherpa Wealth Partners says: Your Goals, Our Guidance.”

In Tibet, hopeful mountain climbers seek out Sherpas because their expertise and experience makes them excellent guides and advisors.

Sherpa Wealth Partners wants to be your financial Sherpa.

How Can Sherpa Wealth Partners Help You? This approach—Your Goals, Your Guidance—means that they are NOT focused only on big-money investment management. You don’t have to be rich to ask for advice. They also are NOT focused on selling you a particular product or service. Instead, they offer a comprehensive array of services and products that can be tailored to fit your specific needs. And when Sherpa Wealth Partners says they offer “comprehensive” services they are NOT exaggerating. Among other things, Sherpa can help assess your current financial situation, analyze your budget, review your estate planning, prepare a personal tax strategy or evaluate your plans for charitable giving. Perhaps you need an insurance review or help with your Social Security strategy— Sherpa Wealth Partners can advise. They also can help guide retirement planning or debt management. And, of course, they can be your investment planning professionals. And to top it off, as part of their goal to “work the way you want,” they also offer hourly fee consulting, flat fee plan construction, as well as asset-based fee comprehensive advisory services.

You Don’t Have to Do It Alone Bottom line, Sherpa Wealth Partners makes it as easy as they can for you to reach out for advice. As they like to remind their clients and prospective clients: “Life is full of unexpected events, we will be there with you to help you and guide you. You don’t have to do it alone.” So if you need or want help navigating your present-day or future financial journey, then reach out to Sherpa Wealth Partners at 727-474-9922 or toll-free at 888-598-7024. You can also find them online at www.

SherpaWealthPartners.com.

Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Sherpa Wealth Partners, LLC is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services, Inc.

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ActionCOACH of Tampa Bay provides a full range of services including business and executive coaching, team training, and assessments.

Photos on this page by Kelly Nash Photography.

ActionCOACH Tampa Bay: Finding the Right Solutions

By Tina Stewart Brakebill Businesses fail all the time. In fact, over 95 percent of businesses ultimately fail before they reach their ten-year anniversary. And while those odds are scary, the important thing to remember is that YOUR business CAN be one of the 5 percent! Studies show that obtaining “professional advice” can make all the difference between a successful venture and one that fails.

Luckily, Tampa Bay businesses have access to a proven professional voice for guidance: ActionCOACH Tampa Bay. They provide a full range of services including business and executive coaching, team training and assessments. These services don’t just help keep businesses from failing, they guide them to the next level.

As they put it, ActionCOACH’s “vision of world abundance through business re-education” helps clients achieve their “full potential in business and in life by igniting their inner passions and strengths with an actionable operations plan.”

Who is ActionCOACH Tampa Bay? ActionCOACH Tampa Bay is owned and operated by a local family of business coaches: Ford, Barb, and Juliet Kyes. This team is also a local franchise of the “most successful and recognized businesscoaching firm in the world.”

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ActionCOACH Tampa Bay is owned and operated by a local family of business coaches (left to right) Juliet, Barb, and Ford Kyes

As one of 1,000 offices in over 80 countries, ActionCOACH Tampa Bay benefits from the resources and knowledge of a company ranking 35th on the Top 100 Global Franchise list. It’s also first on the Franchise 500 listing for business coaching firms. And with a combined 55 years of Tampa Bay business experience, Ford, Barb, and Juliet Kyes bring their indispensable understanding of the local business community to the table.

For clients, this combination of local knowledge and international support creates a team that can “guarantee to offer the most practical, applicable and innovative strategies for business growth.”

How Can ActionCOACH Tampa Bay Help You AND Benefit the Community?

You went into business with a simple plan: You were going to create a successful company and work for yourself. No boss, more money. You also knew that small businesses are the lifeblood of the community and were going to support your local economy. But now, things don’t seem so simple. This is where ActionCOACH can help.

They serve as a “trusted sounding board” that doesn’t just keep your business from failing, but helps it thrive. They do so in a fun and positive environment conducive to establishing relationships built on mutual trust and belief in your business’s potential. This relationship is a key factor in motivating you to take the action necessary to follow that roadmap to success.

In short, ActionCOACH Tampa Bay understands that “if business owners can build a business that works without them – which gives them more profit and free time – in turn, they will create abundance with more wealth, more businesses and more jobs in our local economy.”

One of Many Success Stories: Jenkins Law P.L.

ActionCOACH clients James S. Jenkins III and Kelly-Ann Jenkins

Jenkins Law P.L. had all the components necessary to be winners.

They combined the foundation of Founding Partner Jim’s existing clients and Kelly-Ann’s knowledge as Managing Partner to serve their community. They both wanted to treat clients as individuals that needed help, instead of just numbers. They experienced great initial success, but as the practice took off, they realized that learning how to grow and manage a business took time away from their primary focus: their clients. As Kelly-Ann notes, it often felt as if she was “spinning her wheels” to figure out the next steps for the business. So they reached out to ActionCOACH Tampa Bay for guidance.

Nearly a year later, they are thrilled with their decision.

ActionCOACH suggested new systems to help things run smoothly.

Communication with clients improved. And they have been able to add four new team members. In Kelly-Ann’s words: “Ultimately, we are working to have our business run without us, and I am now able to see what that would look like. I am really excited to continue our growth and training with ActionCOACH Tampa Bay.”

Want to Know More?

Let ActionCOACH Tampa Bay help you reach that next level of success. Meet them in-person at 2963 46th Avenue N. or call (727) 351-8055. You can also find for more information about how they can help you achieve success at ActionCOACHTampaBay.com.

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Quanadrayvia, who goes by “Quana,” is known to be a good friend and likes to help everyone around her feel included.

Photo by Base Camp Photo.

Aidan likes putting together model cars and drawing. He also also enjoys swimming, bicycling and watching the Tampa Bay Rays.

Photo by Liara Studios Phographic Art and Design.

Heart Gallery of Pinellas and Pasco: A Picture Tells system will become homeless. This urgency sparked the original Heart a Thousand Words Gallery in the first place. Nationally, the concept of using compelling

By Nehemiah Warner Wall-to-wall canvas prints of smiling foster youngsters greeted me when I met with Patsy Stills, executive director of the Heart Gallery of Pinellas and Pasco in the small, third-floor office on the corner of Fifth Avenue N and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street. A tall shelf contained even more canvases cataloged like books in a library: a lifetime of stories.

During her tour, I paused to catch a vista of the highway branching like veins through the city.

The Road to Home There is no simple road map for the adoption process, but the Heart Gallery of Pinellas and Pasco certainly provides navigation along this emotional journey, every step of the way. Heart Gallery focuses on the neediest of foster youths looking for a forever home: those with medical concerns, teenagers, and sibling groups. Stills said the hardest thing to see is foster youth age out of the system without ever finding a forever home.

Studies show that one in five youngsters who age out of the foster

photography to portray foster youths in their best light so they could secure an adoptive family began in New Mexico in 2001. The St. Petersburg affiliate launched in 2006 and has connected 359 youth with loving, forever families. You could adopt a local child every day of the calendar year and not meet the need.

Small But Mighty Stills’ passion to fight for vulnerable youth brought her to the agency a year ago. She has a wealth of knowledge from the criminaljustice and child-welfare systems. She knew the preventative power of matching children with their forever families as soon as possible and took on the task of doing so for the most disadvantaged youth.

“Last year, seven foster youth aged out without being adopted,” she said. “That’s not okay.”

Stills wants to increase awareness of the Heart Gallery and the help it can offer to anyone interested in adoption.

Our local Heart Gallery is a small but mighty team of two. Stills is at the helm; Lexie Lindert, an adoptee herself, is the community liaison.

Professional photographers volunteer their services and then their photos are displayed in areas throughout the city. Those who would otherwise not know the faces of need in the foster world are drawn into the cause by these lovely works of heart.

Stills has a keen skillset to get people plugged in wherever they are in their adoption journey – whether it be an informational session, parenting classes, or a home study. While time frames can vary, her motto is to “fall in love with the process.” Having experienced adoption, Lindert offers insights to families through formal support groups and more casual follow-up calls..

Adopting a Bigger Vision

Patsy Stills, Executive Director of Heart Gallery of Pinellas and Pasco

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Heart Gallery has dreams for much more. Grant-funded videos are able to capture even more personality of the youths. Stills illustrated her point by gesturing to a large canvas print of Joshua, a bespectacled youngster flexing his muscles and showing every tooth in his smile from his wheelchair. She explained that the picture didn’t quite convey

Yaromie wants to serve her country as a Marine someday. But for now, Yaromie is happiest when she gets to hang out with her friends.

Photo by Angela Clifton Photography.

Joshua’s unique personality, but a video created with some of his favorite Tampa Bay Rays baseball players sparked a connection with his forever family.

Help is needed; whether it be time or other resources. Partners who can host galleries in their storefront windows would increase exposure exponentially. Galleries can be temporary or permanent installments. Financing to cover printing and video costs also is also critical. The agency hosts private match and post-adoption events that need funding as well. These are a fun way for families to bond through shared experiences such as sporting events or theme parks. There are many ways to help: Host a third-party fundraiser, add the agency’s link to your website, volunteer your professional services, or consider opening your heart and home.

Happy Endings and New Beginnings If a picture tells a thousand words, then two pictures can make those words into a beautiful story. My favorite part of the process is that after the match is made and youth find their forever homes, they are photographed again. This time they hold their original portraits, surrounded by their new, loving families. The joy in their eyes flashes like lightning captured in a bottle, a mere glimpse of their ties to their forever families.

To learn more about the Heart Gallery of Pinellas and Pasco contact Patsy Stills at (727) 258-4806 or visit heartgallerykids.org

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Photos by Vandi Carmella

Raising Locals: Love Letters to St. Pete

By Vandi Carmella and Denielle Kennett Dear St. Pete, Maybe it was love at first sight or a reverence that grew with each trip to one of your world-class museums or waterfront parks. We aren’t quite sure when it happened, but we fell head-over-heels. So we write this letter to you during the most romantic time of year to share our love and gratitude for giving us such a beautiful place to raise our families.

As ordinary moms in this extraordinary city, the love we feel -- from the people to the places and all of the murals in between -- is pure magic.

Even your old brick streets (and new bike lanes) welcome our bicycles and wagons as we adventure on a sunny Saturday afternoon to local markets and events.

This Valentine’s Day, we want to give the love back to you, our Sunshine City. We asked other local families, children included, “What do you love about St. Pete?” The answers are enough to give you the warm and fuzzies from head to toe (and maybe even a little giggle).

From the Parents: Thank you, St. Pete, for giving us a place to raise our children in an open-minded, welcoming city that not only understands but emanates love. - Denielle K.

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I love living in a city where museums like the Dali and MFA are just a bike ride away; where art and music are everywhere; where diversity is celebrated; and where local leaders make decisions to protect our future generations. - Vandi C. It’s so family-friendly and there is always something to do here! We’re so lucky to have sunshine and warm weather year round so we can spend time outside. - Jaime D. I love the culture and community! - Lauren S. I love the community and being around people who support progress, technology, the arts, and the culture of our area. I also love that St. Pete has so many beautiful parks and charmingly unique neighborhoods.

- Kristin N. I love the ease of living and raising kids in St. Pete where winter beach days are a thing, live music and amazing food are all around, familyfriendly entertainment and events are nearly every weekend, and nothing is too far apart. - Jamey. D I love St. Pete because it’s big enough to have all the wonderful things you want from a big city -- cultural and educational experiences, sports, nature, great food -- yet small enough that it feels like a cozy community where every weekend you see friends and classmates while out and about.

- Karri M.

I love St. Pete because it has been my home my whole life and I’m so excited for my babies to get to experience the same town that just gets cooler and cooler every year. - Samantha R. I love the accessibility to public parks. - Aaron C.

From the kids: It’s like paradise and that’s why people vacation here. I like going to the beach. And I like that it has less traffic than Tampa. - Brayden, age 10 I love St. Pete because I get to walk places to get ice cream, donuts, and coffee. - Lennon, age 3 I like all of the parades, playing at Boyd Hill, and our mayor.

- Alex, age 7 I love St. Pete because at Christmas time they have a huge tree with lots of lights and decorations for all the families! - Liam, age 7 I love riding bicycles everywhere and Pathfinder’s Open Tree Climb.

- Alexander, age 7 I like living close to so many friends, playing at all of the parks, and seeing alligators. - Carter, age 7 It is sunny and hot! - Drew Our parks are the best! - Tyler, age 7 There are lots of cookies here. And my home is here. - Rosie, age 3

Vandi and Denielle are the moms behind Sunshine City Kids, an online resource for all things kid-friendly in St. Petersburg. Follow the Sunshine City Kids at www.sunshinecitykids.com.

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Stylish & Functional Spaces for Kids?

Peek-a-Boo is Here for You!

By Erin Cody Janira Rodriguez has a seriously fun job. She and her husband, Steven, are the innovative minds behind the children’s interior decorating firm, Peek-a-Boo Room Designs. “Mrs. Creativity” herself was kind enough to answer a few of my burning questions.

Grow with the flow How do you decide on a direction for a child’s space?

Working as a fashion stylist over the last decade, I have had the opportunity to work with many clients in the privacy of their own homes. I realized that most of the time parents have the tendency to focus on the parts of the house that are more visible. Their kids’ rooms did not have the same flow or décor as the rest of their houses because they were messy a majority of the time. Peek-a-Boo focuses on making spaces look bigger and less cluttered. We match the functionality of the

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space with the specific interests of the kids for whom we are designing.

I imagine it must be difficult to design a room that can grow with a child. Do you have any tricks for handling that?

We try to use neutral colors when it comes to painting and focus more on décor that matches the ages of the children we are working with. By selecting the right furniture pieces, we can transition to a new space easily.

Don’t forget the unicorns!

What are some trends you are seeing right now? Do you have a favorite?

One of the most popular trends for children’s rooms is incorporating a modern, edgy style with metallic accents. Neutral and blush colors are also trendy. They are always a good idea for children, because they play well with dramatic “pop” accessories and throw

Janira and Steven, Owners of Peek-a-Boo Room Designs.

Photo by Emily Canfield.

linens. You also can’t forget about unicorns, which are a hit visual for kids right now.

On your website, you encourage people to take on their own DIY (do-it-yourself) projects. How/why did you start this practice?

DIY is very gratifying and often produces one-of-a-kind projects.

I used to do DIY projects as a little girl with my mom and sister. It was more than just clever craftiness; it was a time to enjoy the process of constructing, changing, and fixing things. It was our time to spend together, invite family/friends, and have fun. I encourage every family to set a weekly DIY time because it is a fantastic experience for any child and helps remind adults how important it is to stay creative as well.

Build Your Dream Space What would you tell someone who is unsure about taking the plunge & working with a kid’s interior designer?

We would definitely encourage them to visit our webpage to see what Peek-a-Boo Rooms can do for them. We are based locally and very passionate about the design projects we take on. Our training and experience can also help with the process of building or renovation, resulting in a dream space that is both attractive and functional.

Want to bring some style and sanity to your children’s bedroom, playroom, or any other space for kids? Take a stroll around www.peekaboorooms.com, then hit up the dream team to start making some magic!

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Smith and Associates group photo at an American Heart Association event.

Smith & Associates Real Estate: Celebrating Fifty Years of a Local Heart with a Global Reach

By Tina Stewart Brakebill Mary Smith Conover originally founded Smith & Associates Real Estate in 1969. As part of a fourth-generation Tampa Bay family, she knew she wanted to create a real estate company built on values that put clients and community first. Soon after Smith’s founding, she met fellow agent Robert Glaser. Realizing that they shared a similar vision, he joined the Smith team. Fifty years later, this shared vision to put clients and community first lives on. Smith & Associates Real Estate ranks as the leading luxury broker in the area and remains one of the few independent brokers in Florida. Plus, they have continued to nurture those deep community roots by giving back and “staying true to their hometown heart.”

Clients First For Smith & Associates, putting clients first means finding solutions for their real estate needs while also making things as stress-free as possible.

Smith & Associates accomplishes this by making sure their agents and staff are experts in their fields. With 50 years of experience in Tampa Bay, their market wisdom is deep. Smith & Associates agents understand the intricacies of our local neighborhoods while noting Tampa Bay’s growing international allure. Their luxury listings get international exposure through affiliations with Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®, Mayfair International®, and Luxury Portfolio®. Moreover, whether you are buying, selling, renting, developing, or looking for property management solutions, Smith & Associates can help. They are able to provide a wide variety of streamlined expert services. From buying, selling or renting, to title and insurance coverage, to relocation services and unparalleled customer service, if it’s connected to the real estate business, Smith & Associates has a solution.

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Community First For the Smith & Associates team, it’s about more than real estate transactions. Serving and giving back to the local Tampa Bay communities they serve is as important to Smith & Associates today as it was fifty years ago. They value the part they’ve played in Tampa Bay’s growth and change over the last half-century. Smith takes the idea of corporate philanthropy very seriously and has donated or volunteered with numerous local organizations and charities, including the Mahaffey Theater, the Morean Arts Center, the Museum of Fine Arts, the American Heart Association, and the University of South Florida Foundation.

Smith & Associates’ agents also pride themselves on getting involved with the community and giving back as well. Every year, agents vote for a fellow realtor to be the “best citizen.” The winner receives the coveted Mary Smith Conover Citizenship Award, which is given to the agent who has done the most for the community. And if they need an active example, they don’t need to look any further than Robert (Bob) Glaser, President of Smith & Associates. His philanthropy is well-known, widespread, and award-winning. Among other accolades, the Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture and the Arts recently recognized him with an Impact Award for his three decades of participation in more than 50 organizations throughout Tampa Bay, most notably on numerous fundraising and nonprofit boards, including St. Pete favorites like the Morean Art Center and the Palladium.

Fifty Years Strong Glaser would likely be the first to remind everyone, it’s not about the awards -- putting the community first is part of the DNA that makes

NO LIMITS TO Your STYLE

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Join Us For An Evening Featuring Local Artists, Wine & Appetizers 3rd Wednesday Of Every Month • 6pm-8pm FURNITURE, ACCESSORIES, LOCAL ART & INTERIOR DESIGN SERVICES | (727) 821-4100 | 3034 Dr. MLK Jr. St. N. | TampaBayFurnishings.com

Above: Smith Logo in main lobby framed by Morean Center glass plate art Right: Face paiting for Big Brothers Big Sisters Halloween event hosted by Smith & Associates on 4th St. Photos on this page by Emily Canfield.

Smith & Associates great. He beautifully encapsulates the company’s attitude looking backward AND forward: “Smith & Associates Real Estate is made of a team of real estate professionals who are known for their market wisdom and community service, engaged leadership, and love of community. Celebrating our 50th year of serving real estate in Tampa Bay, we feel deeply connected to the neighborhoods we serve and are committed to supporting causes that enhance the culture and identity of the region.”

So look for some celebratory events in 2019 as they continue to commemorate their 50th Anniversary year, but also expect their commitment to clients and community to continue into the future!

Locations & Contact Information Tampa Bay boasts six Smith & Associates Real Estate offices with two locations in St. Pete: 330 Beach Drive NE (727) 342-3800 and 1100 4th Street N (727) 240-1500. You can also find more information online, as well as read their blog, at smithandassociates.com. To read Smith & Associates Real Estate Market Review and 2019 Outlook for Old Northeast, visit http://bit.ly/ONE-market-review FEBRUARY 2019 /

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Left: Miss Moo-named for her black and white coat. Right: Lotus-a striking Siamese kitty, are both looking for forever homes.

Contact Save Our Strays Cat Haven for more information. Photos by Emily Canfield.

Adopting A Cat in Pinellas County The Purr-fect Opportunity

By Karin Wahlrab What is Save Our Strays, Inc? Save Our Strays is a 501c3 non-profit organization with no paid employees; the organization runs entirely through the dedicated work of compassionate volunteers. The Cat Haven in Pinellas Park is a humane, no-kill shelter that houses around 30 cats, including a few of the featured potential adoptees. Cats usually come to the shelter after they were previously adopted as SOS cats and the owners can no longer care for them. Donations keep the shelter running by paying for the cats’ food, litter, medical needs such as vet wellness visits, spaying and neutering.

How Does Save Our Strays Benefit St. Petersburg?

Cats and kittens that would otherwise be homeless are taken in by the SPOT organization and given medical treatment, food, care and love until they are adopted into forever homes. Young kittens are home-fostered by volunteers, while adult cats are cared for at the Cat Haven. The organization provides veterinary care and spays and neuters the rescue cats, helping to keep the stray population in St. Petersburg under control. Last year, the organization provided adoptive homes for over 350 cats in Pinellas County.

Meet Some of SOS Stars: All of the kitties currently under Save Our Strays need your help!

Here are just a few featured stars who are ready for adoption. Violet: is a sweet and loving kitty looking for a one-cat home. She needs daily eye drops from a former perforated eye, but is otherwise healthy.

This loving and sweet kitty needs a stress free environment with a foster family who can administer eye drops daily. Her foster family could no longer care for her so she needs a new residence as soon as possible. Lotus: a strikingly beautiful Siamese with a friendly face and a gorgeous coat. She is FIV positive, but can live a long and healthy life on her own or with other cats. She is currently healthy, friendly, inquisitive and very sweet. She does enjoy being around other cats, though it is best if she goes to a home where the cats are calm and there is little chance of conflict between animals. Miss Moo: is named for her black and white coat, resembling the pattern of a Holstein

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A frightened Tabby is consoled by a Save Our Strays volunteer.

dairy cow! This adult kitty is extremely friendly, talkative and very loving. She will make a great companion as she is curious, tactile, and often very involved with the humans who are caring for her.

Any one of these kitties will give you love and companionship for the rest of their lives. Although kittens are available, adopting an adult cat can be less chaotic and these wonderful animals will be incredibly grateful to find a permanent home. Welcoming one of these cats in your home will enrich both of your lives, as cats are known to relieve stress and loneliness when they have bonded with their owners. To quote SOS board member Donna Johnson, “Look to cats for unconditional love.” Get in touch with SOS to find your new best friend today.

How to Get Involved: Monetary donations are always welcome, which can be made at Saveourstraysinc.com, as well as donations of clumping cat litter and canned food for kittens and adults, among other things. However, as the organization is entirely non-profit, new volunteers are always welcome! You can help out by spending your time in the SOS’ clean, nurturing CAT HAVEN where you will feed the current feline residents, clean litter pans and, most importantly, socialize with and attend to a community of cats. Visit the website or call (727) 545-1116 to start an application process for this highly rewarding and FUN volunteering experience.

Fostering is another excellent way to help the SOS organization.

This more involved approach requires screened candidates to take kittens into their homes and care for them until they are ready to find their forever homes. These kittens must weigh 2 lbs before they can be spayed/neutered, vaccinated and microchipped before adoption. Fostering is an enriching and rewarding process! An SOS representative will help you get started.

Adoption counselors are at two PetSmart locations every weekend, and Pet Supermarket once a month - you are encouraged to visit, meet an array of friendly felines, and engage with the volunteers.

Call or visit the SOS Facebook page for upcoming dates and locations.

Please consider taking a new friend into your home; your care will be rewarded with love and loyalty.

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Mix Things Up: Quickie Weekend Trips

By Erin Cody No matter how much you love where you live, sometimes it’s just nice to get away. While wild trips across the country or even the world are incredible, we don’t always have the time or money for major vacations. Sometimes just spending a couple days out of town can be amazingly rejuvenating. The following are some tried ‘n true, fun ‘n thrifty weekend trip options that will get you into vacation mode with less than a three-hour drive. Many you’ve likely never even considered!

Just one question: what are you in the mood for?

Photo by STIL

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Weird and wondrous? Head out bright and early to manatee mecca Crystal River. Swim with the gentle giants in their natural habitat and luxuriate in the gorgeous surroundings. Then take a short jaunt to Weeki Wachee Springs State Park where you can rent a kayak, paddleboard, or take a river cruise. Next cool off at Buccaneer Bay water park, free with admission to the state park. Be sure to end your trip with the the most unique experience of all: a live mermaid show!

Also included with your admission, the deliciously campy mermaid production has been running for six decades straight. Their show, witnessed from a submerged auditorium, is quite a sight to behold.

Boozy and bright? Start your weekend right with a stop by beautiful Fiorelli Winery in Bradenton. Their wines are Italian inspired, locally crafted, and a must-try. Weekend tours start every hour on the hour, and are only $12.50 - including a tasting! Once you’ve had your fill, keep heading south to Sarasota and spend the rest of your day traversing the stunning Ringling property. Wander the gardens, check out the art and circus museums, tour the Venetian Gothic mansion, and take in a show at the Historic Osolo Theater. Consider staying the night near St. Armand’s Circle and exploring that area in the evening or the following morning.

Airy and impressive? Get ready for a visual feast, folks. A true Florida treasure tucked away in Lake Wales, Bok Tower Gardens boasts acres of rolling hills, exquisite gardens, and a 205-foot neo-Gothic “Singing Tower.” Guided tours at noon are included in admission price, as are concerts at 1 and 3pm daily from the extraordinary 60bell carillon that tops the tower. On your way back to St. Petersburg, be sure to stop in Lakeland to check out the Frank Lloyd Wright architecture at Florida Southern College, the largest concentration of Wright designed structures anywhere in the world. They are truly not to be missed.

Awesome & adventurous? Want to get your kicks next weekend?

Look no further than the otherworldly Devil’s Den up in Williston. The prehistoric spring offers scuba diving and snorkeling opportunities that seem to have been created by a special effects director as opposed to Mother Nature. Really, Google it; this place is epic. On your way home, swing into Treehoppers Aerial Adventures in Dade City for tree climbing, obstacle courses, and zip lining. Let your inner daredevil run wild, and you will surely be riding high enough to banish the blahs come Monday.

Never discount the revitalizing power of a vacation, even if it’s a small one. You’re almost guaranteed to feel refreshed and ready to take on the world upon your return. Bon voyage!

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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 Galley, a Downtown St Pete tavern, is expanding! This March, St. Pete natives Pete Boland and Ian Taylor set sail on their next adventure -- opening a cocktail bar, dubbed The Ship’s Hold, at 37 Fourth Street North. The new bar will be next door to The Galley, which opened in 2016. Continuing the nautical theme, The Ship’s Hold refers to the lower part of the interior of a ship, often used for cargo. In this case, the cargo is liquor. The Ship’s Hold will have the largest collection of fine & exotic rums on mainland Florida.

As the new St Pete Police HQ nears completion, the City has already begun discussing what will replace the old headquarters. Last month, the City of St. Pete released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the purchase and development of the site, which is located at 1300 1st Avenue North.

The ultimate goal of the RFP is to attract development proposals that are mixed-use in nature with retail, office, mixed-income housing, civic/ park space and possibly a hotel. The City also requests a minimum of 50,000 square feet of office or entrepreneurial space on the site along with 300 public parking spaces. Given the prime location of this piece of land, whichever proposal is ultimately chosen, this project could be a gamechanger for the EDGE District. RFP submissions are due on May 10th.

Truffula, an eco-boutique featuring earth-friendly products, is now open at 2935 Central Avenue in The Grand Central District! A collaboration between Jeff Schorr of Craftsman House Gallery and Leslie Curran of ARTicles Art Gallery, Truffula caries clothing made from sustainable materials, upcycled jewelry, nature-inspired furniture, solar lights and phone chargers, hammocks, and a variety of accessories such as reusable bags, straws made from avocado pits, bamboo utensils and bamboo toilet paper.

Last month, a rendering was released of a new mixed-use tower to be built at 400 Central Avenue. The development will soar 50 stories above Downtown St Pete and will include 325 condominiums, a 200room hotel with event space, 800 parking spaces, ground-level retail, and possibly some office space. The developer, Red Apple Group, hopes to

400 Central Ave rendering courtesy of Red Apple Group

submit plans to the city within the next few months and hopes to break ground by the end of the year. Once complete, 400 Central will be one of the tallest buildings in Western Florida.

Baba, a Greek-Lebanese restaurant and bakery, is coming soon to 2701 Central Avenue. From the owners of Bodega on Central, Baba will occupy nearly 3,000 square feet of what used to be a former auto repair shop. The restaurant will offer a variety of Greek-Lebanese entrees and starters, plus a full-liquor bar with cocktails that have a Lebanese and Greek inspiration. The bakery will carry menu items like house-made pita bread, kebabs, sandwiches, Greek coffee and sometimes pastries. Roll-up garage doors will open onto a garden-style hangout area. Look for Baba to open sometime this Spring.

St. Pete Rising is an urban development blog covering future retail, restaurants, and real estate in Downtown St. Petersburg, FL. Stay uptodate, visit StPeteRising.com.

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Firestone Grand Prix returns to downtown March 8th - 10th. Visit www.gpstpete.com for more info. Photos by City of St. Petersburg.

EVENTS

Southeastern Guide Dogs Walkathon

When: Sunday, Feb. 17th at 4pm Where: Palladium Theater, 253 5th Ave N Cost: GA $20 in advance, $25 day of show One City Chorus seeks to create community and promote change through singing songs of social justice, civil rights, diversity and equality. Founded in 2016 by their conductor Jon Arterton (as featured in GBM Vol. 3, Issue 6, June 2018: People St. Pete), they’ve grown to a group of about 140 singers. Their music has been described as “joyous, uplifting and beautifully sung” by Creative Loafing who honored them with a Best of the Bay Award for “Best Voices Raised Together in Song.”

They’ll be joined at this concert by special guest Roy Zimmerman.

To purchase tickets, visit www. mypalladium.org.

When: Saturday, Feb. 23rd from 9am - 2pm Where: Vinoy Park, 701 Bayshore Dr NE Cost: Fundraiser with incentives, see website for details Join us at Vinoy Park for our family-friendly, dog-friendly, make-a-difference Walkathon.

Walk for a worthy cause as we provide paws for people with vision loss and veterans with disabilities. Bring lots of dogs because we’re going for a world record! Help us break a world record for the most dogs wearing a bandana at a single event. You provide the dogs, we’ll provide the bandanas! This free, familyfriendly event includes a 3K walk and a Waggin’ Tails Festival with live music, a beer garden, food trucks, doggie zone, kids’ corner, vendor fair, and an exciting raffle drawing. For more info, visit https://guidedogswalkathon. org/locations/st-petersburg/

One City Chorus with Special Guest Roy Zimmerman

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spring holiday. It is a mashup of holidays and combines elements of Hallowe’en and Valentine’s Day. Give your sweetheart a black When: Art show now through calla lily and take a stroll on the Friday, March 1st / Ghost Tour local ghost walks. Give those Feb. 16th from 7pm - 9pm you love your heart -- (made of Where: Art Lofts Studio (above chocolate and sweets, of course).

Florida CraftArt), 10 5th St N Create a Valentwine in the vein Cost: Art for sale / Ghost Tour of the classic poem: Roses are $20 per person red, violets are blue, blood is Recognizing that there is never sweet and so are you! Grim enough Halloween to last the Victorian inspired art made by year, Valentwe’en compensates by local artists will be on display at offering a fun and spooky new Art Lofts Studio through March

Valentwe’en 2019 Hosted by SPIRITS of St. Petersburg

Royal Palm Market every Thursday at Intermezzo. www.facebook.com/royalpalmmarket/

1st. For more info, visit www. spiritsofstpetersburg.com For the opportunity for a ghostly encounter with someone special, the SPIRITS of St. Petersburg is hosting a ghost tour at Art Lofts on Feb. 16, from 7 9pm. The tour includes a ghost hunting 101, the history of the building, and a walk through of the haunted areas. Limited spots available, order your tickets now through eventbrite: http://bit.ly/ valentween-2019

Children’s Museum. To order tickets, contact Beth Timberlake at bethtimberlake@verizon.net.

Preserve the ‘Burg Preservation Awards

When: Nominations due Feb. 15th, Awards ceremony March 19th from 6pm - 8:30pm Where: The Cathedral Church of St. Peter, 140 4th St N Cost: Starting at $20 per person Recognizing those who have invested in preserving the ‘Burg!

Award winners range from 61st Annual Queen of homeowners to business owners Hearts Ball to organizations — those whose When: Saturday, March 2nd dedicated work keeps St. Pete from 5pm - 10pm special. A reception with cash Where: Hilton St. Petersburg bar (by donation), hors d’oeuvres Bayfront, 33 1st St SE and music will precede the Cost: starting at $135 per person award presentations. This event A fundraiser to honor St. Pete’s takes place in one of the oldest women of exemplary volunteer and most beautiful buildings service and raise money for two downtown - The Cathedral deserving local charities. This Church of St. Peter. Make your year’s charitable recipients are reservation now, you won’t want the Kind Mouse Productions, to miss out! For more info, visit Inc. and Great Explorations preservetheburg.org.

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Green Bench Monthly P.O. Box 76095 St. Petersburg, FL 33734

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