Green Bench Monthly - Vol 3, Issue 6, June 2018

Vol. 3, Issue 6, June 2018

St. Pete’s Direct-Mail Community Magazine

From New York to St. Pete:

a Millennial’s Coming Out Story pg. 22

Sunshine and Skateboards

Skate Park Alliance pg. 4

Building Affordable Homes

Habitat for Humanity pg. 12

21 Million for the Little Guys

Justice Served pg. 16

In This Issue:

Publishers

Ashley & Tony Sica

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Editors

Kristi Kasak, Mary Jane Park, Laura Viviana

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Contributors [This Issue] Tara Britton, Tina Stewart Brakebill, Anthony Close, Erin Cody, Luke Cross, Rui Farias, Erik Jasek, Cindy Garza Ontkos, Karin Wahlrab, Nehemiah Warner, Alan Venable

Photographers Brian Brakebill Kelly Nash Evan Sigmund

On the Cover:

St. Pete Pride Parade Photo by City of St. Petersburg

Contact

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

Proud member of:

Photo by Denzel JG

From the Bench Hello, neighbors. We come to you with much love and joy this issue. We hope these stories warm your heart as they do ours. But before you take the plunge, here’s a few things to keep in mind:

Prepare for Hurricane Season June 1st was the official start of hurricane season. Now through the end of November, be prepared to hunker down if needed. Last year, as hurricane Irma loomed, many stores ran out of bottled water, plywood, gas and batteries.

A friendly reminder, if you haven’t already, be sure to stock up before we face another major threat.

Parts of Pier Approach Closed, but SPMOH will remain open through construction Spa Beach and the Pier approach parking lots were recently closed and will remain off limits until the new Pier is complete (sometime early 2019). In the meantime, The St. Petersburg Museum of History and the pub next door, Hops and Props, will remain OPEN during construction! Please stop by to show them some love while the rest of the Pier gets a makeover. Parking is available on Bayshore Dr. For more info visit spmoh.com or hopsprops.com.

Congratulations Class of 2018!

To new beginnings and your continued success!

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St. Pete: the City of Sunshine and Skateboards From the Museum’s Archives: Spa Beach Crescent Lake Park

10 Suncoast Developers Guild: Community in Coding 12 Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas: Building Affordable Homes

14 Bee Green Lawn Care

16 Justice Served - 21 Million for the Little Guys 18 Sparkle Wash: Clean it Right the First Time

20 Lisa Gilmore Design:

Livable Glamour, Fabulosity Guaranteed!

22 From New York to St.Pete: a Millennial’s Coming Out Story 24 Donate-a-Bench

26 DTSP on a Dime: Theater on the Cheap 27 People of St. Pete: Jon Arterton 28 Movers & Makers: Summer Markets

29 Downtown Developments 30 Events

Till next time,

hello@greenbenchmonthly.com

Green Bench Monthly Is Direct-mailed to 15,400 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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Photos on this page by Nick Nicks

St. Pete: the City of Sunshine and Skateboards

By Luke Cross

Nearly five years ago, St. Pete skateboarder Nick Nicks recognized the need for a municipal skate park. Now, the city has nearly 30,000-square-feet of concrete in Campbell Park to shred. Nicks, 43, has been skateboarding for three decades and is a founding member of the St. Pete Skate Park Alliance, a group advocating for a regional skate park in St. Pete. The city has two other parks in its system, but neither are regional parks, which must be a minimum size to serve locals and skateboarders from beyond St. Pete alike. “We noticed trend of municipal skateparks popping up all over the greater Tampa Bay area -- Lakeland, Bradenton, Apollo Beach,” said Nicks. “We just thought there’s no reason we can’t have a really nice, state-of-the-art skate park here in St. Pete.”

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The Alliance approached the city with the idea for a regional skate park in 2014, spurred on by a news segment they had seen.

Karl Nurse, former city council member for district six, which includes all of downtown St. Pete, was in the process of lifting the 20-yearold ban on skateboarding downtown. “This was all coincidentally going on right as we started meeting, and thought it was the perfect opportunity to bring up the park,” said Nicks.

City Approval

Nurse welcomed the idea of a regional skate park, and advised that the concept be presented to the rest of city council. From there, the Alliance had attended “at least 40 or 50 meetings over the next few years.”

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According to Nicks, the most important meeting was the very first public assembly they attended, where they invited local skaters and advocates to show their support for the park.

“It was standing room only, we had so many people there,” said Nicks. “Men, women, kids, teens, to the point that the city couldn’t doubt there was any support for the project.”

City projects often hit a wall when it comes to funding, but the regional skate park had capital waiting for it, thanks to Weeki Wachee Springs. The City of St. Petersburg used to own land in the tourist hotspot which was sold to the state, and the proceeds were set aside for parks, recreational, preservation, and beautification purposes. Because the money is a public fund, the park’s contract was put up for bid, eventually awarded to Team Pain Skate

Photo by Jonah Hinebaugh

Parks, an Orlando based designer.

“Team Pain was ultimately chosen because they were local, they have a bunch of skateparks in Florida already and they have a relationship with the city,” said Nicks. “We weren’t involved in the process of selecting, but we’re happy with the choice.”

To the Community

While the finalists for the contract were required to submit a conceptual design prior to construction, the final product was partly molded by the community. “The conceptual build before they were awarded the contract was good, but public outreach sessions were also held for a while after for skateboarders and citizens to put in suggestions on the design of the park,” said Nicks. Team Pain started construction August 2017, pouring the skateable portions of the park until January 2018, and the city added other aspects such as the sidewalks and light fixtures.

May 26 was the park’s “soft opening,” when construction officially ended and skaters were allowed inside, two weeks before the grand opening ceremony June 2. The grand opening featured a best tricks competition, where skaters and BMX riders pitted their most intense tricks against each other to win a portion of the $2000 purse and prizes donated by local sponsors.

“The park has been years in the making, and there’s still so much community outreach to do,” said Nicks. “It’s a long process, but when you’re passionate about it, and have this much support, its not really work at all.”

The St. Petersburg Regional Skatepark is located in Campbell Park and will be open to the public free of charge, from 10am -11pm every day.

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

Sixty years this month, the Civil Rights movement collided head on with the city’s tourism machine over the right for African Americans to enjoy Spa Pool and Spa Beach. On June 5, 1958, eight African Americans purchased tickets and used the once segregated pool on the edge of the Million Dollar Pier. Federal courts had ruled earlier that the City must integrate Spa Pool and Beach. In response, the City Manager closes the pool and beach to the public. It remains closed for seven months.

Fearing the loss of tourism revenue, the St. Pete City Council votes 4-3 to open the pool and beach to all residents and visitors.

The St. Petersburg Museum of History is open during Pier Construction! Visit them 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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Crescent Lake

By Alan Venable

Photos by City of St. Petersburg

With as much access to the sun as we get here in St. Pete, it’s no wonder so many people take to the local parks and public areas, basking in the pockets of Florida nature throughout the area. Here, they can soak up the rays and enjoy the calmer corners of the bustling downtown as well as the calm gulf waters nearby.

Regardless of your preferred entertainment, trips to the park for exercise or relaxation help us separate from typical negative feelings and work stress. Don’t neglect taking advantage of some of the most beautiful parks and recreational centers you’ll find in Florida! They’re free, they’re fun, and they can provide a lot of healthy benefits.

Here’s what you need to know about Crescent Lake Park: Crescent Lake Park 1320 5th Street North St. Petersburg, Florida, 33701 Hours of Operation: Opens 30 minutes before sunrise and closes 30 minutes after sunset.

Crescent Lake Park is the quintessential public outdoor adventure, offering many more beautiful sites and activity spaces than your average park. Crescent Lake Park is nearly 53 acres in total, and, as you’ve probably guessed, is centered around the serene Crescent Lake.

You might have seen it on your drive through Crescent Heights:

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jogging paths and a great open field next to a glassy lake with plenty of other amenities (tennis courts, a jungle-gym for the kids, and the iconic St. Petersburg Banyan tree). It’s not uncommon to stumble upon yoga classes in full swing on the grassy field or a baseball game in the Huggins Baseball Field.

The Huggins Field is a marvel in itself; a perfect little baseball field in the thick of the city that’s available to rent. For the history buffs, the field was the former spring training field for the New York Yankees, hosting such well-known ball players as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Joe DiMaggio.

Perhaps most picturesque of all, Crescent Lake Park (and the Huggins field especially) falls in the shadow of the Crescent Lake Water Tower, a local landmark built in 1923. Today, the painted water tower is the only remaining historic water tower in St. Petersburg.

Size: 52.5 acres Art: Crescent Lake Water Tower mural, painted by Tom Stovall Amenities: Tennis courts, dog park, jungle gym, jogging tracks, baseball field, benches Bathrooms: No Kid-Friendly: Yes Dog Friendly: Yes Fishing: Yes, open for shoreline fishing until Labor Day

Bringing Out YOUR Style With Local Art! We are so lucky to live in a vibrant city full of local artists!

When you buy local art, you are supporting your community while getting a unique item.

We like to incorporate local art into our designs to add more character and interest. Art is very personal so adding these pieces really creates a unique design.

When choosing art, one option is to select pieces that draw an emotion. It might be something vibrant that makes you smile or a beautiful photo of a relaxing destination or an abstract with just the right color to complete the room.

Every month we have a lifestyle night featuring a local artist. Stop by and join us between 6 and 8pm at our upcoming TBF Lifestyle nights to meet the featured artist and learn about their work.

June 20th featuring Robert Phelps July 18th featuring Amanda Pratt with Imagine Life Visual Artistry August 15th featuring Frederick Woods with St Petersburg Arts Alliance

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

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

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Interior Designer Lydia Mason

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Community in Coding: How Suncoast Developers Guild is Using Technology To Build A Foundation for the St. Petersburg Economy

By Karin Wahlrab

Above: SDG Coders gather for a meetup Below: SDG President, Toni Warren Photos by Kelly Nash Photography

Amid the bustling art community and thriving tourism in St. Petersburg, the Suncoast Developers Guild, a not-forprofit organization, is founded on ideals that will keep the city vibrant and economically stable through one of the most powerful tools of all: education.

Coding and Community: What Suncoast Developers Guild Is

The guild’s chief goal is to benefit the Tampa Bay area’s software engineers, developers, designers, and programmers. President Toni Warren, is a community-focused, progressive thinker who strives to provide and incorporate tech knowledge to people throughout the Tampa Bay area. She has focused on ending gender stereotypes by hosting classes for women in coding; she has also offered youth classes in the hopes of introducing coding as an accessible career path.

How Does SDG Benefit the Economy of St. Petersburg?

Suncoast Developers Guild offers a networking system for coders.

After graduating from college, or outside of the workplace, coders have had few opportunities to gather and share ideas or simply enjoy the company of others who understand coding as a language. With the guild’s meetup options, developers can teach and learn from one

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another in informal settings, and develop their skills — strengths that are highly desirable and can be used to benefit local businesses. Artists, new businesses, musicians, and corporations often need help building their websites. The guild exists for sharing information and building a sense of camaraderie. Creativity flourishes in this environment, with additional meetups for game developers and graphic designers. Where creativity flows, friendships and bonds are formed, as well as networks that can lead to new job opportunities.

Where Can St. Petersburg Residents Take Advantage of This Opportunity?

SDG also provides a community learning space and a support system for those in the Tampa Bay area through a central location and several offshoots and gatherings. Its website, Suncoast.io, showcases the groups that SDG already hosts, encouraging first-time coders and experienced pros to showcase their abilities, teach one another, and commune in a fun and exciting way. Such groups include Tampa Bay WordPress, St. Pete .Net, Women Who Code and Tampa Bay Ruby Brigade. They convene in various locations — a visit to the SDG website provides meetup links with more information. The current hub is at 2220 Central Ave, St Petersburg.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Warren emphasized the importance of such an outlet in the Tampa Bay area, focusing on the successes the group has had in bringing members of the community together and forming a sense of friendship amongst participants.

How To Get Involved

If you’re excited about creating a stable economic future for yourself please visit Suncoast.io to learn more about Suncoast Developers Guild.

Their enthusiasm for the future of the Tampa Bay Area is infectious, and after a chat with Toni Warren, you may find yourself inclined to move in the direction of this exciting new economic and social opportunity!

Tony Sica

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Photos by Taylor Withers

Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas: Building Affordable Homes

By Nehemiah Warner While everyone agrees that there’s no place like home, Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas takes the adage a step further: there’s no place like an affordable home. Habitat CEO Mike Sutton is concerned about adequate affordable housing in St. Pete citing the average home in 2017 in St. Pete was about $525,000. He sees the city at a crossroads with the threat of losing working class families if no one takes any action to fight this affordable housing crisis. Fortunately, Habitat has the tools to work alongside our community to provide what Mr. Sutton calls “a hand up, completing 20 homebuyer education classes and 350-450 hours of “Sweat Equity”. Sweat Equity is the concept of contributing to your own success not a hand out.” through hard labor, whether you volunteer with the construction of your home or another home being built. It goes all the way back to before Sweat Equity Habitat for Humanity began in 1976. Clarence Jordan, the founder of The biggest misconception about Habitat is that they give away Koinonia Farm (where Habitat for Humanity began), wrote in a 1968 free homes. In fact, eligible families have an identified housing need— letter: “What the poor need is not charity but capital, not case workers whether it be overcrowding, unsafe conditions, or a steep percentage but co-workers.” This “co-worker approach” informs Habitat’s emphasis of income going to their rent (more than 30 percent)—and they must on sweat equity: everyone working together so that homeowners can also have an ability to pay the 30-year zero-interest mortgage on their achieve the strength, stability, and independence they need to build a new home. As well, they must be a willing partner in the process by better life for themselves and for their families.

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The Dignity of Homeowning

Habitat plans to build their 500th home in Pinellas County this year, a fourth of which are all in St. Pete. In 1985 they built their first home alongside homeowner Jane Dunaway. In 2004, she paid her mortgage off and burned it, vowing to continue to volunteer with the organization. The confidence and security families experience in homeowning is evidenced by their successful life choices thereafter. Mr. Sutton said, “We see these families transform over time”, explaining that they go back to better their education, their relationships improve, or they get promoted at work and advance their careers. The beauty of the program is that because the families worked so hard as a partner in the process, they can truly take ownership in their success and walk away from the program with real dignity as a homeowner.

Currently 90 families in Pinellas are in some stage of Habitat’s programming. Each qualifying family is presented to the Board of Directors for final approval which can take up to four months. Families begin their classes and start their Sweat Equity hours working on current projects. Upon hitting 100 hours, Habitat will begin to locate a suitable lot for their home and then construction begins. The family proceeds with their Sweat Equity on their own home. The path to home ownership can typically take about 12-18 months from time of approval to finished home.

A Renewed Commitment

In March of 2018 Habitat opened the St. Pete Resource Center in the Midtown area. CEO Mike Sutton explained that Habitat is committed to the redevelopment of Midtown and South St. Pete, both areas in need of affordable, safe housing. This new office in the center of St. Pete stands as a promise to the community that the hope of affordable housing is alive and well. Mr. Sutton expressed gratitude for Mayor Kriseman and the City of St. Pete in focusing on this crisis but called out for more partners, stating that it must be “a community focus and effort.”

Habitat needs thousands of volunteers to build and renovate their projects, plus operate and shop at their “ReStores”—Clearwater and Palm Harbor store fronts selling discounted construction material.

Additionally, Habitat operates a $15 million budget and funding is always necessary to serve more families. Finally, they need referrals of families who need Habitat’s services. Habitat has a concept that they call “The Theology of the Hammer” which means that no matter what your background or beliefs are, we can put that aside and build in partnership to make the community stronger.

Besides contributing to a better St.Pete, the true benefit is the feeling you get from giving back.

Come visit the Habitat Pinellas St. Petersburg Resource Center at 1350 22ND Street South, St. Petersburg, FL 33712. It is open to the public Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10am – 2pm. Call 727-5364755 for more information. Please visit HabitatPinellas.org.

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Want Your Lawn to Be Green for the Summer? Call Bee Green Lawn Care!

by Cindy Garza Ontkos

It’s summertime in the Sunshine City! Time for backyard grilling, 100% Organic Based, Sustainable, cornhole, lawn darts and afternoon thundershowers. I mean, who doesn’t appreciate squishing their toes into plush green grass, the smell of a freshly Environmentally Innovative cut lawn or a lazy afternoon napping under the shade of a tall palm tree?

Lucky for us, we have a local expert right here in St. Pete ready to help But more often than not the chemicals we use to keep our grass green and ease your mind. Bee Green’s organically-based products help keep your plush can be a detriment to our environment and health, particularly our patch of the planet clean and green! Mike Feliciano, owner and operator kids and pets. of Bee Green Lawn Care, has 20 years of experience in the green industry.

Most recently, he has focused on innovative ways to care for lawns and shrubs. A year and a half ago, Mike, his wife Billie and their two dogs, Bruiser and Finn, took a leap of faith and moved from Pennsylvania to our warm and sunny Bay Area. “I want people to know there are better, more sustainable ways to care for their lawns. Your lawn will be greener, and the environment will benefit,” says Mike. For him, however, people are what is most important. “I believe in giving back to the community and treating my employees and customers just like my family.” This is the motivation behind the mission of Bee Green Lawn Care and why Mike only uses only 100% organic Holganix. Holganix is made of 800 plus species of living soil microbes and nutrient enhancers for your lawn. Not only does Holganix provide a lawn safe for your children and pets to roll around on, it is DNA coded to ensure continuity in the product. Basically, it works as a plant probiotic for your soil just as a probiotic benefits your digestive system.

This approach will reduce the use of pesticides and traditional fertilizers by up to 75%. Additionally, the emphasis on root growth will encourage the soil to retain water and, over time, greatly reduce the amount of water required to maintain your lawn. Every plot of soil has a make up all its own.

So, on Mike’s first visit, he will send a sample of your soil for testing. “When I know what the soil needs, I will be able to provide the solution to fix it in the most sustainable way possible” says Mike. For the average lawn, Bee Green can reduce the use of herbicides and pesticides by 75%, and Nitrogen by over 50%.

Lawn Care Tips

Mike Feliciano, Owner and Operator of Bee Green Lawn Care Photos by Kelly Nash Photography

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Mike is so passionate about the environment that he encourages every homeowner to consider taking a more organic based approach to their lawn care. A few helpful tips to keep in mind are to first consider having your soil tested. This will help you to provide the most appropriate nutrients needed for your soil. Secondly, mow high--especially if you have St. Augustine grass. This will help to naturally starve weeds and protect your root system; otherwise, your lawn becomes more susceptible to bugs and fungus. Yuck! Lastly, be sure to irrigate properly and as the roots develop, they will become more effective at retaining the water thus reducing irrigation requirements. Bee Green Lawn Care is all inclusive, with one monthly payment for the treatment and care of your lawn. There are no hidden costs and getting started is simple: you can either call for a consultation or inquire on their website. They are able to instantly provide

a monthly quote based on the square footage of your property. All you have to do is provide your address. Once you are a customer, Bee Green is available 24/7 via the customer service link on their website. Any concerns submitted after normal business hours come straight to Mike first thing in the morning and he will contact you right away.

Fun in the Sun

Seems to me that thanks to Mike and Bee Green Lawn Care, I can kick off my shoes, pull out the grill and invite all the neighbors over for a fun day in the sun. I can’t wait to get started! How about you?

You can contact Mike Feliciano by calling 727-231-1149, on Facebook (Bee Green Lawn Care) or by visiting the website at www.BeeGreenLC.com.

Be sure to mention his ad for some awesome savings.

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Plaintiff, Alfred Lee Williams (left) and Personal Injury Lawyer, Scott Johni, P.A. (right) Photos by Kelly Nash Photography

Justice Served - 21 Million for the Little Guys

By Tina Stewart Brakebill

We’ve seen the drama of a class-action lawsuit played out in movies or on TV. We’ve seen the advertisements seeking plaintiffs to opt into a legal fight, predicated by the ominous “you may be eligible for ….” But, for many of us, it’s little more than that—a plot line or a slightly suspect late-night plea. Real life is not always so dramatic or interesting. Or is it?

You may change your mind after you read this story. One man’s complaint about a propane tank rental fee grew into a 65,000-member class action suit benefiting Floridians in ways that would have been hard to imagine thirteen years ago.

The Wronged Party

The story begins with St. Pete resident and Actuary, Alfred Lee Williams (Fred). In March 2005, Fred’s propane supply company informed him that he was being charged a newly added tank rental fee. Fred knew this bill was an error. His contract did not include a tank rental fee, so he called the company’s billing department to rectify the mistake. Their failure to acknowledge they had erred prompted him to contact the company’s legal department. When they failed to even return his call, Fred reached out to the Law Office of Scott Johni. (See the November 2016 issue of Green Bench Monthly for more details on Johnilaw: greenbenchmonthly.com/ issue-03-16/scott-johni-pa-st-petersburg-personal-injury-attorney/)

The Meeting

Scott Johni’s law practice centers on seeking redress (compensation for a wrong) for the little guy. Even so, it might have been understandable, if he

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had rebuffed Fred’s request to pursue this case legally. After all, the newly added rental fee amounted to only $5.00 per month. But Fred’s position was a noble one. Yes. He could easily afford the increase, but what about the “little old lady on a fixed income”? To her, five dollars a month could buy “two chickens.” In his view, the propane company was literally taking food out of her mouth. Plus, it was a matter of principle. He had a contract.

And the company unilaterally changed the terms of the contract. For Scott, it was also a matter of principle. His duty was clear. Scott put together a trial team that included Jeff Liggio, and local lawyers, Kent Whittemore and Erin Lohmiller.

The Court Cases: David v. Goliath

Fred would be the lead (the only person named) plaintiff in a class action lawsuit meant to seek redress for the entire class (those affected).

Moving forward required court certification (approval) and this initial phase provided a telling predictor of the class size. The first two judges had to recuse (excuse) themselves when they realized they were part of the 65,000 affected Floridians. Once certified, the fight moved forward. The propane company attempted to use its size and resources to derail the case or simply wear them down. But Scott’s legal team, as well as Fred, remained committed to the fight. Time after time, Fred appeared at legal proceedings as affidavits, depositions, and testimony marked the nearly thirteen long years it took for the case to wind its way through the liability trial phase, two damages phases, and nine different appeals. Finally, it ended with complete victory for the plaintiffs.

Victory

Alfred Lee Williams, et al. were awarded repayment of the unlawfully collected tank rental fees, plus taxes. In addition, the company was sanctioned (penalized) for actions they had taken over the course of the lawsuit. In total, the verdict added up to more than 21 million dollars.

Best of all, those affected customers didn’t need to opt in or opt out to receive their payment. In fact, no action on their part was needed. If they were affected then they received a check—not a coupon or promise of future service discounts—a check, to cash. So, 65,000 people scattered across Florida got a happy surprise in their mailboxes. But affected customers weren’t the only winners in this case. Thousands of Floridians will also benefit.

Victory, Part II

Class action settlements often result in unclaimed funds, especially when, as in this case, sanctions boost the payout amount. A legal doctrine called cy pres requires that those unclaimed funds go to entities that are capable of remedying or addressing a similar type of harm. In this case, cy pres meant that 3.7 million unclaimed dollars went to a variety of nonprofit organizations across the state devoted to helping and/or protecting consumers. The Salvation Army received 1.5 million dollars to help customers with utilities payments and to fund consumer initiatives. The Florida Bar Foundation received $500,000 to be used for grant funding for access to civil justice for the underprivileged and access to courts. Tampa Bay Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates received $100,000 to be used in promoting professionalism.

The Florida Justice Association Educational Foundation received $100,000 to educate lawyers on issues of civil liability, in essence, “to train the Davids” to fight the Goliaths. Another 1.5 million was split between fourteen different Legal Aid Societies committed to consumer advocacy in all 67 Florida counties. Fred and Scott were on hand when the checks were

Scott and Lisa Johni. Lisa is instrumental in running the firm and has worked in every office capacity, from claims handling, accounting, and the management of the various administrative aspects.

presented to three of these local groups: Gulf Coast Legal, Bay Area Legal Services, and Legal Aid of Manasota. As Fred noted, after years of fighting, the celebration felt good. The circle finally closed. Victory is sweet.

If you think that The Law Office of Scott Johni can help you, particularly in the arena of complex personal injury litigation, contact him at (727) 520-7376. You can also find more information at www.johnilaw.com.

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Sparkle Wash: Clean it Right the First Time

By Tina Stewart Brakebill

Sand, salt, pollen, mold, moss, mud, grease, grass, bird droppings….

Florida living can get dirty! Left unchecked, this grime can be damaging.

We wash our cars to keep them shiny and to protect them. Don’t we owe our biggest investment, our home, the same level of care? After all, that same grime can dull and damage siding, shingles, awnings, pavers, patios, and other surfaces. This damage can mar curb appeal and possibly reduce value. Don’t let Florida grime win! Call Sparkle Wash of Pinellas County and they’ll “bring the clean” to your house.

Who is Sparkle Wash of Pinellas County?

Sparkle Wash of Pinellas County is locally owned and operated by Jack Walsh. Jack is from Manchester in the UK, but he fell in love with St. Pete during his years as a soccer-playing Eckerd College student.

After graduating with his degree in International Business, he set out to make St. Pete his permanent home. Sparkle Wash provided the perfect opportunity—he could own his own company in the community he loved. Fortunately, Jack also benefited from the professional backing of an internationally-respected corporation with over 50 years of experience in the pressure washing business.

Locally Owned with Corporate Support: Why is that good for customers?

Jack Walsh, owner and operator of Sparkle Wash of Pinellas County, can help you clean your hexagon sidewalks and more!

Photos by Brian Brakebill

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As a Sparkle Wash franchise owner, Jack is certified, licensed, and insured. He’s also trained in the best industry work practices and equipped with the highest quality products and equipment. This guaranteed quality in service and product matters. Cleaning and protecting your home is not just about turning on a high-pressure hose. If the technician doesn’t understand the products or how they may affect different surfaces, then the results may be second-rate. Or worse, they may do damage to your home.

As Jack explains, a lot of his jobs involve “fixing other guys’ mistakes.”

Sparkle Wash understands that the cleaning business is as “much about science as it is pressure.” They are the oldest and largest mobile pressure washing, restoration and preservation franchise in the world. But don’t let their size scare you. You won’t be dealing with a faceless corporate voice. Jack’s a local guy and he’ll come up with a plan just for you that uses environmentally responsible and cost-effective products. Whatever your goal may be, Sparkle Wash will offer a competitive price and get it right the first time.

Jack’s truck is equipped to tackle even the toughest jobs!

I don’t own a house, but I’m in business.

What can Sparkle Wash do for me?

Sparkle Wash also specializes in cleaning for a wide variety of commercial entities, including property management companies, gas stations, condo associations, bus companies, waste collection fleets, and grocery stores. These companies may offer vastly different services and products but they all have one thing in common: they understand that first impressions are important. Parking lots, signs, awnings, building exteriors, as well as truck cabs and vehicle windows, are constantly exposed to dirt and pollutants. Layers of grime and unsightly stains like graffiti, grease, rust, or lime runoff can signal neglect—ending potential business before it even begins. Jack will help you protect your investment by providing a cost-effective and successful clean-up that complies with federal, state, and local environmental requirements.

Bottom Line it For Me

If you’re looking for a high quality, reliable, cost-effective pressure washing service for your home, business, or fleet vehicles, then you’ve found it with Sparkle Wash. Jack Walsh and Sparkle Wash provide quality service at very competitive prices. You’ll get a local guy and you’ll benefit from the professional backing of a corporation that has been doing this since 1965. Don’t settle for second best. It’s your home. It’s your business.

Clean it right the first time!

You can find more information about their services and products at www.sparklewash.com/pinellascounty/ or you can contact Jack Walsh by email at jwalsh@sparklewash.com or by phone at 727-954-5365.

Plus, mention their advertisement in this month’s Green Bench Monthly for a 10% discount on first-time services.

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L to R: Lisa Gilmore, Nicole Maldonado and Kristin Marshburn Photos on this page by Kelly Nash Photography

Lisa Gilmore Design: Livable Glamour, Fabulosity Guaranteed!

By Erin Cody

Lisa Gilmore has a creative career most of us only dream of while on our sofas watching YouTube or HGTV. On a sunny Wednesday morning, Gilmore breezes into her conference room, smiling warmly.

Her bright red hair and lipstick are striking, and her style is both fabulous and approachable. She is immediately engaging, the pinnacle of authentic “cool,” and I just couldn’t wait to pick her brain about her interior design business.

Livable Glamour

Cody: Tell me about your slogan, “Livable Glamour.”

Gilmore: “Livable Glamour” came out of the air one day when I was working with one of my mentors to come up with my statement. I said I want people to understand whatever is glamour to them. It could be glitzy chandeliers, industrial, modern, or cotton and denim. Whatever it is, take that glamour and make it livable and achievable.

Cody: What would be a dream space to design?

Gilmore: I would love to do an amazing boutique hotel. We just

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completed our first hotel project in Clearwater Beach. It was fun and beachy and minimalistic. I would really love to do something chic and layered, with antiques mixed with modern, and wallpaper and velvet and cool lighting.

Hiring local talent to build it, rather than buy it

Cody: How does St. Petersburg influence your design?

Gilmore: St. Petersburg really influences me because it’s such a cool urban area, but it’s also tropical and artsy. It has so many different flavors, which I love. It’s not a small beach town, but it’s not Miami or New York City. It’s got the murals, the artists, and it is so locally driven. What I really love is that there is such an amazing supportive community, and I feel I could really find something for everyone here. If I need a carpenter, if I need someone to create an amazing piece of art, it really inspires me to flex my muscles and build it and find it rather than buy it.

Lisa Gilmore Design recently worked on the Penny Hoarder office space in downtown St. Petersburg. Beautiful!

A well-designed space changes the way you live

Cody: Tell me about the power of a welldesigned space.

Gilmore: It is very powerful. A lot of people think, and at one point I was guilty of this, that doing interior design is kind of a vain luxury that no one really needs because we’re not saving lives, we’re not curing cancer. Then I started thinking about it...so maybe we’re not curing cancer, but we’re creating spaces for the people who are. It might be a therapist or a doctor for a young kid who’s going through trauma, and this space is one where they can be calm and let go. Every little thing people come into contact with affects their day. I believe a well-designed space changes your mood and changes the way you live.

My personality exudes my passion

Cody: What is your superpower? What makes you stand out in this industry?

Gilmore: I am really good at layering and blending; putting together things that people might not have expected. I like that headscratch moment. For instance, we just did the Penny Hoarder office space in downtown St. Petersburg. It’s beautiful. Their whole brand is finance. That could be traditional and stuffy, but this company is very cutting-edge and up to date. We did some traditional furnishings like Chesterfield sofas and area rugs, and then we got really crazy with a T-Rex with gold teeth on the mantel over the fireplace. It’s unexpected, but it works, and it’s so fun.

In personal homes I like to push it with quirky stuff like that as well, but also with color stories. We did a really beautiful house in South Tampa with black walls, chartreuse drapery with magenta-striped trim, really bold lighting, and blue velvet sofas. My client said every time someone walks into the room they comment that it looks like a hotel in New York City. Then there are the monochromatic spaces that are very simple, but I like to push it and find out how much can I layer into them, while still being restful to the eye.

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A lot of feedback I get from people is that my personality exudes my passion. It is in my DNA, and it comes out of me all the time. I think that really sets me apart...also the red hair. I can never change my hair color because I’m known as the redheaded interior designer in St. Pete!

Cody: Do you have a special way of celebrating a job well done?

Gilmore: Champagne!

Cody: What’s your favorite kind?

Gilmore: Any with bubbles. I’m an equalopportunity Champagne drinker.

Lisa Gilmore Design started in St. Pete, and has been going strong for the past six years.

Nicole Maldonado and Kristin Marshburn have rounded out the company for the past three.

They make quite the team, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll find yourself wistfully dreaming of becoming their fourth musketeer.

If you are ready to elevate your home or business, infusing it with personality, poise and pizzaz, give the team at Lisa Gilmore a call at (727) 201-8902. Check out LisaGilmoreDesign. com to see the magic for yourself. Fabulosity guaranteed!

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2017 Pride Parade Photo by City of St. Petersburg

From New York to St.Pete: a Millennial’s Coming Out Story

By Karin Wahlrab

I grew up in Skaneateles, NY—a beautiful Iroquois word, naming a beautiful lake which stretches 16 miles shore to shore. It’s a tourist town: quaint, and stolidly upper class, with a fluctuating population that never exceeds 7,500. Growing up, through quiet observation, I learned the strict rules of social conduct. I witnessed the consequences of deviation, the price paid for not playing along with the game.

From a young age, I was aware of my sexual orientation. I found a place for it, a room with padded walls in the back of my mind where I acknowledged its existence. I kept the door to that room tightly locked.

My life flowed forward in the direction I allowed it to. College, a litany of jobs, cohabitation. According to other millennials, I curated a persona that reflected how I wanted to be seen. With the lack of foresight to fully understand how selfish this was, I barrelled straight through other people: left them angry, hurt, resentful.

For fifteen years, I hid behind a meticulously fashioned lie. Then, in December of 2016, I left upstate New York. Now, 1400 miles away from the state in which I had spent most of my life, I felt a loosening of the bands I had coiled around my own chest. I opened the door to the room, now pushed so far back it was little more than a broom closet. This was a chance to start over; to be honest for the first time in my life. I was terrified. I was reluctant, obstinate, defiant: cutting my hair pixie-short seemed a radical act (though if I’m honest, I was mostly driven to it by the sudden intensity

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of the humidity and heat). But the simple act of saying the words “I’m gay” to a coworker made my throat tighten.

My initial months in coastal Florida were spent in a retirement community: picturesque, but not terribly different from the town I’d left behind. I felt unmoored, drifting through the hazy heat until one evening, in my boredom, I messaged a girl on an internet dating site (I’ll leave it nameless, but I’m sure you can guess). To my surprise, she lived nearly two hours away. My car has no air conditioning unit, and the prospect of meeting a stranger whilst dehydrated and covered in a sheen of sweat didn’t seem very romantic. Yet there was a gnawing there, a bug humming just out of reach, which urged me to take the trip. Intuition served well in this case: we met in February and moved in together at the end of June.

As I settled into my home in St. Petersburg, I was startled to find the city as loud and alive as a human being with a personality, a vision, and methods of communication. Before moving, I’d pictured a resort town with high rise condos and lavishly expensive cars. When I walked the streets of downtown, however, past Bayshore Drive—past gift shops, hotels, and high-end restaurants—I found an art district, teeming with life: and a rainbow flag in almost every window. Gay couples, holding hands with one another in public. Stickers in the windows proclaiming that restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques and furniture stores were all “safe spaces.” I found myself overwhelmed. I texted pictures to my friends back

Businesses show their support along Beach Dr. Photo by City of St. Petersburg

home all captioned, “Where am I? What have I stumbled upon?” Visibly queer people were everywhere: shopping at Publix, working in takeout restaurants, making art and displaying it in galleries and all over buildings.

Nightlife boasted plenty of gay-friendly clubs and bars, and banners crying “Come out St. Pete!” appeared in October, another bubble in an endlessly cheerful stream.

The most pleasant surprise was the existence of the LGBT welcome center. Its presence, rooted firmly in the Grand Central District, solidified a sense of warmth—the extension of a friendly hand, an encouraging smile.

I felt a sense of homecoming, a collective to which I had always wanted to belong, but never believed I would have access to. In the interest of full disclosure, I will say this: I’m not an activist, nor do I view my sexuality as a defining perimeter of my existence. But the exposure to other members of the LGBT community, the nonchalance of such a taboo declaration, being open without risk of compromising or losing my job, and the chance to walk down the street with my girlfriend without fear of being chased down by a group of men in an SUV (yes, this has happened to me) changed my life in a way that I could not have imagined. Truthfully, I never intended to call Florida my home. Yet this small city within the Tampa Bay Area has a permanent hold on my heart—wherever I go, it will always be home.

This years’ St. Pete Pride celebration takes place June 22nd - 24th.

For details, visit www.stpetepride.com.

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Donate-a-Bench lead volunteers, Sharon and Dennis Sercombe Photo by Ernie Franke

Donate-A-Bench: Don’t You Just Love it When a Plan Comes Together?

By Ernie Franke and Merle Korejwo

You know how you feel when a project comes together. When you see all the interested parties winning, it warms your heart to meet each of their needs. That’s what happened with the Donate-A-Bench program here at The Shores of Long Bayou Condominiums. It took initiative and vision to start, and once it started, it took off like wildfire.

To set the scene, we live in a 77-acre condominium community in St. Pete, with about half of the acreage devoted to a nature reserve.

The Shores of Long Bayou allow the residents of nearby communities (Long Bayou, The Palms and The Villas at Long Bayou) to enjoy our lakes, ponds and nature trail. Most of the residents are mature, and love to spend time watching the ducks, herons, ospreys, turtles and alligators. Folks love to watch the tilapia build their nests, the blue crabs do their sideways dance, the common moorhens feeding their little balls-of-fluff babies. It’s Florida wildlife viewing at its finest!

How it All Began

The project started with one resident who spent countless hours sitting on a refurbished park bench alongside a stormwater pond.

When he passed away, his son approached the community’s Wetlands Committee saying, “I would like to donate a proper park bench in memory of my father.”

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Wooden and metal benches (and the mature residents) don’t always weather well over long periods of time. The first key move was to search for an affordable bench that would be environmentally friendly, withstand the heat and sunlight in Florida, and offer a place of comfortable, quiet enjoyment. We selected a durable, recycled plastic park bench that would withstand the rigors of time.

It could have stopped there, but then we heard about a lady who was wondering how she could honor her husband, who had been the overseer of our green space for many years. Our reaction was, “Wow, another bench!” We liked the idea so much that we each donated another bench. The program had begun.

Community Benefits

Before we knew it, by word of mouth, eight new benches were donated to the community, even before it was sanctioned by the Homeowners Association. The benches are all identical, giving the community a uniform look.

In the past, the Wetlands Committee had spent numerous hours rejuvenating various discarded benches. It had become a burden on the volunteers to sand the wood and metal before applying new paint every year. Now, we have maintenance-free benches that enhance the

Aerial view of the Shores of Long Bayou. Photo by Ernie Franke

appearance of our community, replacing the “yard-sale” assortment of benches in various stage of repair.

Today, as folks stroll through our nature reserve, they are reminded of some of the people they know or knew. We hear heartwarming comments like, “I sat on Dewey’s bench today,” or, “Just sitting there made me think of Rick.”

What makes the Donate-A-Bench program special? The homeowners are the ones in charge. There is no cost to the Homeowners Association, and anyone can donate a bench to memorialize a loved one or to create their own legacy. The cost of the bench includes a plaque indicating if the bench is a memorial or a donation. The Wetlands Committee assembles the benches and helps with the preferred placement and anchoring of each bench.

To learn more, visit www.theshoresoflongbayou.org/bench.html.

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Photo by City of St. Petersburg

DTSP on a Dime: Theater on the Cheap

By Erin Cody

A theater habit can get pricey fast, so why spend upwards of $50 on a theater ticket when you can go to a movie for a fraction of that? Why, there is a special magic to live theater, of course! The pageantry of it, the immediacy, the intimacy, the experience of a show playing out right in front of you is absolutely enchanting. It is never exactly the same twice. There is no hiding behind a screen, no falsehoods; just real, raw talent.

It also makes for a perfect classic date night! An evening at the theater has a very different feel to it than a movie night with sticky seats n’ a bucket of popcorn, no?

Supporting the local arts is our duty after all, and luckily for us, St. Pete offers an array of fantastic options. Much lies in the gray area between the awesome-but-expensive Broadway national tours that make the rounds, and the community theater production of Annie that your sister’s best friend’s daughter guilted you into attending.

I suggest checking out the following three local, professional theater companies which produce an array of styles. There’s really something for everyone, and with the right planning you can score you a ticket to any show for under $30!

You are likely familiar with American Stage Theater, who puts on the grand musical productions in the park each spring, but have you attended any of their other shows? You’ve been missing out! The hubs and I saw their extraordinary production of the new sci-fi drama Marjorie Prime at their Raymond James Theater in Downtown, and cannot wait to see Bad Jews, opening on 7/11.

What’s the best way to save a buck at any theater? Attend previews!

American Stage shows officially premier on Fridays, but Wednesdays and Thursdays just prior are the same experience at a discount. You are seeing exactly what Friday night audiences will see, but Wednesdays are pay-whatyou-wish, and Thursdays are $29. Other showings range from $39-$49.

Free ticket with an active military ID; student tickets are $20.

Speaking of young-uns, the under-thirty set can pay $15/month to score tix whenever they’d like, as well as perks like discounts on food n’ drinks.

FreeFall Theater is another great addition to the local scene, known for taking classic shows and giving them a twist. Pirates of Penzance (in space) and The Importance of Being Earnest (with zombies) both certainly kept me on my toes! I plan on scooping up a couple $25 tickets for the 6/22

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and 6/23 previews of their next show, The Musical of Musicals. Standard ticket prices range from $47-50.

FreeFall also offers a program for theater-loving younger folks. For those under 40, $99 scores you a ticket to the first Thursday performance of each of the six productions in a season, and a social event before or after the show. That is one heck of a deal!

Last, but certainly not least, is the St. Petersburg Opera Company.

Do not fear the opera, my friends! St. Pete Opera takes care to make their work easily digestible while still upholding the integrity of the shows - no small task. Many works, like their upcoming The Music Man (previews begin 6/14), are in English, but those like their recent The Magic Flute float seamlessly between the language of the original music and English dialogue, to ensure that the audience is not left behind.

Their productions call The Palladium home, and while tickets top out at $75 a pop, you can get a perfectly fine seat for a sweet $20. St. Pete Opera preview productions take place in different museums, galleries and cafes about town. Pretty neat idea, eh? $20 general tix, $17 senior, $10 student.

Now go forth and enjoy some local theatrical art! It truly is an experience like none other. Drink in Champagne culture on a beer budget, my friends, and revel in all this lovely city has to offer. You’ll be yelling “encore!”in no time.

One City Chorus founder and Director, Jon Arterton, with his pup Papi.

Photo by Evan Sigmund

People of St. Pete: Jon Arterton

By Tina Stewart Brakebill

St. Pete is celebrated for its fabulous weather, beautiful vistas, world-class food scene and thriving cultural atmosphere. But if you live here, then you know it’s the people that truly make St. Pete special, especially those people we see every day: the store clerks and wait-staff, the bus drivers and baristas, the postal workers and park staff, the custodians and teachers. It is easy to take these folks for granted, but each of them has a story. Here at Green Bench Monthly, we want to do our part in recognizing the value of their stories. So, beginning this month we will shine a light on one of the many folks who make St. Pete special.

Falling for St Pete

This month we’re featuring Jon Arterton. Several years ago, Arterton and his husband, James Mack, visited St. Pete, looking to escape the icy cold of a Cape Cod winter. The city worked its magic, and they returned, this time to stay. It wasn’t just the weather that captured them. They hoped to combine Jon’s extensive background in music and choral conducting with their shared passion for social justice to create an interracial community chorus. They believed St. Pete was the perfect place to launch it.

Creating Community Togetherness

They began gathering volunteers in the spring of 2016. By fall, those volunteers were the One City Chorus, a community choir based on the philosophy that singing in a group “builds community and leads to new relationships and better understanding among people.” Auditions are not required. To join, participants need only the desire to spread a message based on ideas of social justice, civil rights, and equality. The singing comes from “heart and soul.” So far, the response has been positive. As Arterton puts it, the chorus is “great with enthusiasm,” and audiences respond in kind. Among other worthwhile events, they performed at (and cosponsored with) the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum Embracing the Dream: Honoring the Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Keep Reinventing Yourself”

Arterton’s story takes its share of twists and turns. A friend once said of him, “You keep reinventing yourself.” He has a graduate degree in choral conducting as well as an MFA in acting. He taught music at a boarding school and understudied all five male roles for a play that opened and closed on Broadway in one night. (“Rightfully so,” he says.) Throughout the 1980s, he worked an AIDS hotline in New York City. In 1988, he cofounded the long-running, popular gay a cappella singing group The Flirtations. If you’ve seen the movie Philadelphia, then you’ve seen Jon and The Flirtations perform “Mr. Sandman” in the party scene. In 2002, he founded the successful Outer Cape Chorale in Massachusetts. And he and Mack sing together, even releasing a CD entitled “Legally Married … And the Sky Didn’t Fall.”

Embrace Diversity. Promote Harmony.

Arterton’s positivity is infectious. And even though I don’t sing, I think I have the potential to be “great with enthusiasm.” Plus, I’d love to help him spread his message about diversity and harmony. If you think you’d also like to sing along, One City Chorus is always looking for new voices. Singers rehearse at the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum on most Monday evenings. For more information, contact Arterton at Info@ OneCityChorus.org or through the website at www.onecitychorus.org.

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Brocante Market Photos by Tara Britton

Movers & Makers: Summertime Markets

By Tara Britton, co-founder of Market Mafia

St. Pete plays host to a plethora of makers’ markets. There are so many, in fact, that sometimes it’s hard to keep up. Check in with us monthly to learn more about the St. Pete market scene, find upcoming events and show your local support by shopping small.

As the temperatures rise, the market scene in St. Pete cools down.

Many of our favorite local events shut down for a brief summer hiatus.

However, market lovers looking to beat the heat, fear not. You can still find an opportunity to step off the streets and in to the air conditioning at free indoor markets in the months ahead!

Brocante Vintage Market is the only monthly vintage market in the city, and it’s held the first weekend of each month! Visitors can expect repurposed, rare and unique finds within the walls of the 15,000 square foot warehouse, the market’s permanent location. It’s only fitting that the old warehouse was formerly a piano factory! The space is restocked all weekend long during their events, promising brand new finds each day! If you can’t take your purchases with you during the market, they offer a postmarket pick up window. Although they won’t deliver, they can refer you to a local partner for big ticket item delivery. Shoppers can stay hydrated

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with free bottled water or get caffeinated at their coffee stand within. Many shoppers take advantage of the food truck on site or stroll across the street to 3 Daughters Brewing for a cold one after the market!

St. Pete Indie Market moves toward cooler climates for their indoor market summer series! The first Saturday of the month market goers can hit Nova 535, one of Downtown St. Petersburg’s most remarkable, historic venue spaces. The building has been around since 1920 when it was built as a five and dime store! Visitors can expect what they’ve come to love from the St. Pete Indie Market: hand makers, designers, original artists of varying mediums, musicians, horticulturists, a full bar, food options and more!

Over 45 vendors will come together each month to celebrate the season.

Hit the market at these indoor events this summer: Brocante Vintage Market: July 7th-8th, August 4th-5th, September 1st-2nd 9am-7pm Saturdays and 9am-5pm Sundays St. Pete Indie Market: July 7th, August 4th, September 1st 10am-2pm Market Mafia is a resource connecting residents and visitors throughout Greater Tampa Bay with local handcraft markets. To find local happenings and #HitTheMarket, visit www.MarketMafia.com.

Central Avenue

Photos by City of St. Petersburg

Downtown Developments

By Anthony Close, Founder & Writer at 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.

Trophy Fish, a laid-back fish house, opened earlier this month at 2060 Central Avenue. It is a welcome addition to Downtown St. Pete, which has historically lacked affordable seafood restaurants despite it’s proximity to the water. The new eatery, which is owned by the folks who brought us Mandarin Hide, one of Downtown’s most popular bars, prides itself on providing its patrons with the freshest fish (brought in daily) and delicious boat drinks to wash it all down. Trophy Fish is open Thursday through Sunday from 5:00 pm until close.

In the downtown core, Avanti, St. Pete’s newest apartment building, recently opened at 201 4th St S. The 9-floor, 366-unit residential building is being developed by the same people who built Beacon 430. Avanti, which has been under construction since 2016, will feature

studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units along with resort-like amenities including two pools, one on the rooftop and one in a ground floor courtyard.

Further west in the EDGE District, the recently renovated Central Arcade is now open at 1114 Central Avenue. The building, which used to house Creative Clay, was recently redesigned to showcase an array of local shops and boutiques including Adorn & Co, a boutique that sells jewelry, watches, and fragrances, as well as Shoptoska, a women’s clothing boutique that has been featured in local pop up markets.

Betty Shop also joins Shoptoska in the women’s boutique realm. Betty Shop offers laid back beach wear that’s reminiscent of old Florida.

They also donate a percentage of their sales to marine conversation efforts!

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Also in the Central Arcade is Billy’s Corner Barber Shop, a popular local barber that first opened on 4th Street, as well as Orange Blossom Photography, a photography studio that focuses on newborns, children and families. Milagros Soap Company, which was located just a few doors from the Central Arcade, moved in to sell their locally made soaps. And lastly, Monticello Merchant opened a shop in the Arcade building. Monticello sells premium hemp products including apparel, aromatherapy, and other natural products.

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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Photo by City of St. Petersburg

Albert Whitted Airport by Evan Sigmund

Events EDGE District Sip & Stroll

When: Sunday, June 17th from 12pm - 4pm Where: EDGE District, 11 Dr MLK Jr St S B, 33705 Cost: $15 per person Guests will get an official Sip & Stroll cup and map to enjoy complimentary beverages and food at 20 of the EDGE District’s favorite eateries, pubs, retail shops and other very cool businesses. Guests can enjoy their drinks while exploring the EDGE District, which has become one of the most popular destinations in the Tampa Bay region. And, in honor of Father’s Day, offerings like “Bubbles for Boys,” “Papa Americana,” and “Dad’s Razz Lemonade” will highlight the Stroll. All proceeds support the 501(c)(3) EDGE District Main Street and its district improvement projects.

For tickets or more information, see edgedistrict.org.

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How to Research & Write Your Business Plan

When: Wednesday, June 20th from 5:30pm - 8pm Where: The Greenhouse, 2nd floor Training Room, 440 2nd Ave N, 33701 Cost: FREE Most business problems arise from not planning ahead. Your business plan, provides you a method to take a look inward at yourself and your business, find the STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES, and THREATS, (SWOT), and be able to assess, analyze, and correct the direction of your business BEFORE it becomes a critical threat to your success. To register for this free workshop, visit stpetegreenhouse.org.

Pride Weekend

When: June 22nd - 24th Where: Downtown St. Pete Cost: FREE Kicks off with SP2 Concert on Friday in North Straub Park. The LGBT Pride Parade on Saturday in

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the Downtown Waterfront Area.

Wrapping up with the festival on Sunday in the Grand Central District.

For more info, visit stpetepride.com.

genuine aircraft to FLY St. Pete.

Spaces are limited. For more info, email flystpete@gmail.com or call (727) 822-1532.

Albert Whitted Airplane Camp

Simmer & Sift @ the MFA

When: The weeks of June 25th - June 29th; July 9th - 13th; and July 30th August 3rd; Monday - Friday from 9am - 3pm Where: Albert Whitted Airport Preservation Society, 451 8th Ave SE, 33701 Cost: $300 (includes t-shirt, daily snacks, field trip, and aircraft flight) Fly St. Pete Summer Camp is STEAM infused hands-on learning.

(Science, Technology, Engineering, Aviation, and Math). Young aviators will explore the history of aviation, types of aircrafts, occupations and careers in aviation, guest speakers, field trips, and will hop into a genuine aircraft to FLY St. Pete.

Spaces are limited. For more info, email flystpete@gmail.com or call (727) 822-1532.occupations and careers in aviation, guest speakers, field trips, and will hop into a

When: Wednesday, June 27th from 6pm - 8pm Where: Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Dr NE, 33701 Cost: $35 for MFA Members $45 for Not-Yet Members Tampa native Chef Gary Moran has trained and worked in some of the best restaurants in the Northeast after training in Europe. Former Chef d’ Cuisine at the famed Tavern on the Green in New York City, he moved back to Tampa, commanding his own kitchen as the executive chef for Datz and The Mermaid Tavern. Moving to his own restaurant, the award-winning chef opened South Tampa’s highly popular Wimauma restaurant where he fused his international culinary skill with traditional Southern fare, a tradition he has embraced with Callaloo. To purchase tickets, visit mfastpete.org.

Photo by City of St. Petersburg

St. Pete Summer Solar Co-Op!

When: Wednesday, June 27th at 1:30pm Where: Allendale United Methodist Church, 3803 Haines Rd N, 33703 Cost: FREE Want to go solar? Come to St. Pete summer co-op information session! We bring homeowners together into a group, or co-op. We provide unbiased, installer-neutral support to co-op participants through each stage of the process of going solar. Our experienced team ensures you understand how solar works, how it can be financed, and how it can be installed on your home.

Co-ops take advantage of the group’s bulk-purchasing power to get discounted pricing and a quality installation. Volunteer co-op participants choose an installer on behalf of the entire group through an open and competitive bidding process.

The selected installer provides co-op participants a personalized proposal for their consideration.

For more information, visit www.solarunitedneighbors.org.

Bouchercon, the World Mystery Convention

When: September 6th - 9th Where: Renaissance Vinoy, 501 5th Ave NE, 33701 Cost: $225 per person Bouchercon is the World Mystery Convention, the premier annual event for readers, authors, and all lovers of crime fiction. This ​​ event ​​is ​​open ​​to ​​mystery, ​​thriller ​​and ​​ suspense ​​fans, ​​authors, ​​book ​​dealers ​​ and ​​other ​​vendors, ​​librarians, ​​and ​​ publishing ​​industry ​​professionals ​​ from ​​all ​​over ​​the ​​world. ​​Guests of honor include Ian Rankin, Karin Slaughter, Lisa Unger, and Tim Dorsey, and several hundred (literally) more. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet and mingle with their favorite authors—and discover new ones—at a variety of events, including panels, author signings, interviews, receptions, and luncheons. Hurry, spots fill quickly.

For more info, to sign up for alerts, or to register for this event, visit www.bouchercon2018.com.

JUNE 2018 /

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