Green Bench Monthly - Vol 3, Issue 8, August 2018

Vol. 3, Issue 8, AUGUST 2018

St. Pete’s Direct-Mail Community Magazine

A Brighter Future: Solar Power Glows in St. Petersburg

pg. 24

History of the

Open Air Post Office pg. 6

Local Business

Kapok Marketing pg. 14

Where to Find

Summer Produce pg. 21

Publishers

Ashley & Tony Sica

Editors

In This Issue:

Rui Farias Kristi Kasak, Mary Jane Park, Cathy Weisberg

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Contributors

Andy Bragg, Nicole Brand, Tara Britton, Tina Stewart Brakebill, Erin Cody, Rui Farias, Erik Jasek, Jack Spinrad, Karin Wahlrab, Brian Zucker

Photographers

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From the Bench

Cover Photo by: Olivier Fahrni

This month we highlight a few local groups that are making strides to support and encourage women (pg.16-20); explore where to buy produce that’s in season (pg.21); and how the City is working with local groups to distribute that produce to food deserts (pg. 22). For those of you that asked for community news; we listened. See pg. 8 for the latest on the MLK repaving, Pinellas County School news and a hint at what the new pier park could look like! We also expanded our calendar to include on-going events; as well as current art exhibits (pg. 30). Enjoy!

Contact

Proud member of:

Open Air Post Office Community News

10 Monika’s Cleaning: Spotless in St. Pete

Photo by City of St. Petersburg

Brian Brakebill Kelly Nash Evan Sigmund

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

From the Museum’s Archives: Chester James Sr

12 Jess + Nik: Life & Health Coaching

14 Kapok Marketing: Your Local Team for Online Marketing 16 The Doyenne: Leadership Training

18 Power, Passion, Purpose: Women on the Way 20 People of St. Pete: Deneen Wyman 21 Summer Produce

22 St. Pete Champions Healthy Communities

24 A Brighter Future: Solar Power Glows in St. Pete 26 Comic: Warehouse Arts District

Till next time, hello@greenbenchmonthly.com

26 Movers and Makers: Nighttime Markets

29 Downtown Developments 30 Events

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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Tony Sica

PHOTOGRAPHY

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create a FREE account, visit TonySica.com 4

GREENBENCHMONTHLY.COM / AUGUST 2018

From the Museum’s Archives: Chester James Sr.

With St. Petersburg Museum of History Executive Director, Rui Farias As we enter the election season, it’s important to look back at some of the key people, like Chester James, Sr., who made it possible for all St. Pete residents to participate in the democratic process. Pictured here receiving an award from Fred G. Minnis, Sr., James arrived in St. Petersburg in 1911 and immediately began looking after his community of Methodist Town. A man of many talents, James worked hard and pressured City Hall over the years to improve the neighborhood and crack down on landlords who neglected their properties. James was also involved in the Civil Rights movement, registering black voters. Both the NAACP, and President Lyndon B. Johnson honored him for registering 1,000 voters. In 1974 the City Council named him Mayor of Methodist Town and later renamed the neighborhood to Jamestown in his honor.

James died in 1979 at age 95.

For more information about exhibits, hours, and ticket pricing visit SPMOH.com.

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Open air post office and Princess Martha Hotel, St. Petersburg, Fla., “The Sunshine City”. 1938. Hand-colored postcard. State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory.

History Breezes Through the Open Air Post Office

By Jack Spinrad

Now that I’ve retired and have free time, one of the pleasures I most enjoy is finding a comfortable place to sit and watch the comings and goings of other retirees, visitors and those still engaged in the daily grind.

Today I’m under a large, old, grand oak that shades the green bench I sit on in Williams Park. From my vantage point, I look diagonally across 1st Avenue North at the southwest corner where it meets 4th Street North and cannot help but notice St. Petersburg’s historic Open Air Post Office. The rich detail and arches of the Mediterranean Revival style building are reminiscent of the designs found in early renaissance Florence, Italy. I have passed this building many times but have never

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felt the need to explore it further. For some inexplicable reason, today it has tickled my imagination and forced me to wonder how and why someone had decided to build such a thing as an “open air post office”?

I have an inquisitive nature (some would call it nosey) and so decided to delve into the history of this iconic building.

In my research I discovered this was not the first open air post office in St. Petersburg. In 1907 its predecessor was being built on the corner of Central Avenue and 4th Street North. Then Postmaster of St. Petersburg, Roy S. Hanna, suggested they leave the front façade off the building so residents would be able to get to their post office boxes day

or night to retrieve their mail. When the federal postal authorities found out about it they refused to pay rent on such a design. Feeling the open air feature was best for the city, Hanna stood firm.

A few months later a postmasters’ convention was held here.

Five government officials in attendance, including the Postmaster General, endorsed the building as adapting to the needs of a city like St. Petersburg; soon the rent was being paid.

By 1915, our city had outgrown the building and the post office was moved temporarily to the first floor of City Hall then located on 4th Street South. That year congress approved $102,500 to construct a new full-service post office which would suit the city’s needs for years to come.

Initial plans for the post office called for a grand structure built above street level with steps leading up to it but Postmaster Hanna didn’t care for it. He worked on and submitted a street level design with no steps, that was open on all sides, giving patrons 24-hour access to their post office boxes. The design was only open on three sides and maintained the grand historic Mediterranean Revival style. The impressive details feature many terra cotta ornaments based on Renaissance designs, marble columns and a roof covered in Spanish tiles. Work on the new building began on March 2, 1916 when a thousand people witnessed Postmaster Hanna turn over the first shovelful of dirt. The cornerstone was laid on October 12, 1916 and the building was completed and dedicated on September 27, 1917.

In 1969, the south wall and south one-third of the east wall were enclosed to allow for indoor service counters, air conditioning, heating and additional postal boxes; yet the building still manages to preserve the look and feel of the original design. On April 4, 1975 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

In the rear of the post office there is tiny postal museum. In 1994, a custodian told then Postmaster Harry W. Scott of plans to discard some

Photos on this page by City of St. Petersburg

boxes filled with junk. When he checked out the boxes, Scott found many items from the early days of the post office. Among the rescued documents now displayed in the museum is postal money order No. 1, purchased by John C. Williams, the founder of St. Petersburg. There is also an old leather mail bag, typewriters, and old postcards showing the historic post office.

It is still a functioning post office and I recommend you visit someday to see it for yourself. That’s the best way to appreciate this picturesque building with its many beautiful architectural details that are just too numerous to mention.

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Community News City Council Considers Proposed Utility Rate Increases

St. Petersburg City Council will continue to consider proposed increases to water, wastewater, reclaimed water, stormwater, and sanitation utility rates during a public hearing August 23rd at 6 pm. The meeting will be held in City Hall Council Chamber, 175 5th St. N. Citizens may view the proposed rate adjustments at www.stpete.org/utility.

If approved, utility rate increases would take effect on October 1st.

MLK Resurfacing Project As part of the Complete Streets program, the City of St. Petersburg is planning to mill and resurface Dr. M.L. King Jr. Street from approximately 5th Ave. N. to 34th Ave. N. sometime this year. Following community meetings held November 2017-June, the City proposed a concept involving turning one

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of five traffic lanes into a bicycle lane in each direction and adding several crosswalks. After concern from some business owners along MLK, the City put the project on hold to gather more information. The City website says they will make a final decision this month. For more info and the current status of this project, visit stpete.org/completestreets.

Pinellas County Schools Will Now Text In Case of Emergency Beginning this year, Pinellas County schools will use text messages as an additional way to communicate with employees and families. The text messages will only be sent to communicate information related to emergencies. Employees and parents/guardians of students in Pinellas County Schools can text “Y” or “Yes” to 67587 to begin receiving text messages from the school district. Send the message “Stop” to 67587 at any time. The mobile number used to opt in must already be on file with the school district.

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Friends of Woodlawn Elementary Forms for 2018/19 School Year

Crescent Heights, Crescent Lake, Euclid St. Paul, Woodlawn, and North Kenwood Neighborhood Associations are joining forces to support Woodlawn Elementary. Volunteers are needed for Mentor training. To get involved join their Facebook Group: Friends of Woodlawn Elementary or email president@ mychna.org.

Natural Playground Now Open at Boyd Hill In a first for St. Pete, Boyd Hill opens a Natural Playground. The playground itself is made almost entirely out of African Wood, and uses less plastic and metal than what you would see in a typical modern playground. If the playground proves to be a success, be on the lookout for a similar design at the new Pier.

Coyotes in St. Pete

By Andy Bragg

Owners of small dogs and cats that venture outside should take steps to ensure their pets are safe from coyotes, according to officials at Pinellas County Animal Services (PCAS).

Coyotes have existed throughout Florida since the 1970s. They are amazingly adaptable, can survive in nearly any habitat, and have been spotted regularly in this area. They are active primarily between dusk and dawn and move about solo or in small groups rather than in large packs.

At 24 to 37 pounds fully grown, they generally resemble small, scrawny German Shepherds but with long, thin legs and bushy tails.

The PCAS website cites several important points to remember concerning coyotes: - Providing easy meals for them eliminates their natural fear of humans and increases their population. Keep wildlife wild!

- Never leave pet food or trash outside where it will attract wildlife.

- Avoid walking dogs during dawn or dusk hours, which are coyotes’ normal feeding times. Avoid using a retractable leash. Coyotes will notice a dog walked frequently on an extended leash. The coyote will come back, grab the dog, and leave the owner holding an empty leash. When walking a pet, carry a stick, whistle, or air horn.

- Clear brush and dense weeds from around dwellings. This reduces cover for coyotes and their prey, such as rodents and other small animals.

- Protect children. Although rare, coyotes have been known to seriously injure children. Do not leave young children unattended.

- Protect pets and livestock. These are favorite prey for coyotes. Keep pets indoors, especially at night. When not indoors, keep dogs and cats leashed at all times. A Pinellas County ordinance prohibits dogs and cats from roaming freely.

- Use negative reinforcement. Make sure coyotes know that they are not welcome. Repel them with loud noises, clapping hands, yelling, throwing rocks at them, using air horns, or spraying with a garden hose.

PCAS Director Doug Brightwell says the coyote population in this area is stable, and the creatures are here to stay. The department does not regularly trap and remove them because the void is soon filled by other coyotes attracted to the same food sources. Occasionally, they are spotted during daylight hours as their fear of humans has decreased slightly over time. Mangy, unhealthy-looking coyotes also may appear in the daytime.

Such sightings should be reported to PCAS at (727) 582-2600.

Brightwell cites statistics to put the limited danger of coyotes to people in perspective. A recent study found that between 1970 and 2015, there were no coyote attacks causing injury to people in the United States east of Texas.

PCAS welcomes information on sightings for informational purposes at www.pinellascounty.org/forms/4coyote.htm. A private commercial wildlife removal service should be contacted for the removal of individual offending animals.

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Photo from left: Kari, Tara, Kim, Dottie, Monika, Bill, Kendra and Nisha.

Not pictured: Frank and Michelle.

Monika’s Cleaning: Spotless in St. Pete

By Tara Britton Inviting me into their home, Bill and Monika Turner offered up homemade strudel and a taste of what makes their cleaning service exceptional. The husband and wife team started Monika’s Cleaning Service in 2016, cleaning “the German way”, and in little more than two years, they’ve grown their client list from six to over one hundred and twenty and employ a staff of eight.

The German Method of Cleaning

According to Monika, the German method and tradition of cleaning is the exact opposite of cutting corners--it’s getting into them. Monika moved to St. Petersburg from Bavaria in 2007. She agrees wholeheartedly in the existing stereotypes that German people are tidy and that their homes are kept neat. In Germany, she grew up witnessing the value in keeping not only the home, but sidewalks, streets and storefronts clean. Pride plays a big factor in traditional German methods of cleaning, and these methods have paid off by setting them apart from other cleaning services around town. Monika’s grandmother taught her early on the importance of attention to detail, and this has carried over to her now-booming business.

The Magnolia Heights-based business celebrates a strong sense of community. Their clientele are mostly within a 20-mile radius

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and include surrounding areas like Old Northeast, Snell Isle and Woodlawn. Not only does Monika’s service the neighborhood’s needs, but they make it a point to try and keep their outgoing money local as well. It’s important to the Turners to put their money back into the small businesses nearby when they can. They attribute their steady growth to advertising locally through Green Bench Monthly, as well as the popular website nextdoor.com. They’re proud to boast the highest star rating on Nextdoor, a resource which connects locals with service providers and offers reviews and updates in their immediate neighborhood.

More Than Just A Working Relationship

Because the Turners take their relationships with employees and clients so seriously, they take time to vet both groups thoroughly to ensure they’re the right fit for one another. When hiring a new staff member, Monika is known to have the applicant clean her own home as part of a “working interview.” She ensures all employees are trained in the German cleaning techniques and that the employee will represent company values, including honesty.

Prior to accepting new clients, Kari Connor, Manager, will sit down with the interested party in-person to address their needs, oftentimes accompanied by Tara Lewis, Cleaning Supervisor and Trainer. This gives Monika’s Cleaning Service the opportunity to meet the potential customer, see the type of home or office space, and get to know any allergies or special needs of the client. Monika’s is known for creating individualized cleaning plans in order to meet specific needs, even if that includes the use of “green” cleaning solutions. Recently, when Monika fell ill, clientele visited her at the hospital. They’ve been continuing to check in on her ever since-a testament to the care she’s put in to those who hire her and the shared respect they have for one another.

A Word of Advice

The Turners are happy to offer up cleaning tips and trade secrets for readers regarding what they call “old fashioned cleaning.”

They suggest cleaning as you go so that a chore doesn’t seem so overwhelming later on; this applies to tidying up as you cook or even putting bathroom supplies away immediately after using them.

Never underestimate the power of vinegar. Lastly, Windex has surprising stain removing capabilities, but you’ll have to ask them yourself for more details on that topic!

If you’re looking for a thorough cleaning team who prioritizes integrity and community, look no further. Get support maintaining your space, give someone you love the gift of a clean home, or find a new employment opportunity with Monika’s Cleaning Service.

Monika’s is accepting new clients and currently hiring dependable people. Owner Bill Turner can be reached at (727) 504-3142, or you can contact Manager Kari Connor directly at (727) 290-7855.

They’re sure to welcome you like family, with strudel if you’re lucky.

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Sisters, Jess + Nik Juliano help clients move “toward the life you really want”. Photos by Kelly Nash Photography.

Jess + Nik: Life & Health Coaching

By Tina Stewart Brakebill

Are you stuck in a rut? Do you feel like you should be further along your path to somewhere or something? Does your life feel out of balance? Are you unhappy in your job? Are you struggling to find joy after your life has taken a negative turn? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then Jess + Nik, Life & Health Coaching, can help you figure how to make a change in your life and move forward.

or mentors, but instead of targeting a single factor, like your free throw or your job performance, they focus on the WHOLE you.

Simply put, they help you set clear goals, discover what’s holding you back, and guide you through action steps towards those goals. As Jess describes it, they will help you move “toward the life you really want so you can feel confident in accomplishing whatever you set out to do.”

Jess & Nik: Inspire to Inspire

Sounds Great. How Do I Get Started?

After her father was diagnosed with cancer, a life coach helped Jess Juliano deal with her “roller coaster of emotions.”

After his passing, she realized how vital that help had been. She decided to take the things she had learned through that personal experience, as well as the skills gained through her Health Coach Institute training, to guide others. As Jess explained, “I realized that difficult times in life don’t have to lead us into a dark pit of despair. There is another way.” Her sister Nik Juliano shared that belief and that bond gave life to Jess + Nik, Life & Health Coaching.

What is A Life & Health Coach?

A Life & Health coach is similar to other coaches, trainers,

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Getting started is easy! Jess & Nik offer a free Clarity Session for all potential new clients. Appointments are made through their website so you can contact them from anywhere at any time to set up this free consultation. As an exclusively online business, this consultation, as well as the follow-up appointments, are held remotely so location is not a factor. The goal of this 60-minute initial conversation is to begin the process to “uncover what’s holding you back so you know how to move forward.” In essence, they help clients peel back the layers and verbalize what it is they really want. Jess & Nik understand that “we have the power to change the things we don’t like” but that stress or fear can keep us from moving forward. The free consultation is the first step in breaking through.

What’s Next?

Once the free Clarity Session has provided an idea of the kinds of things that may be holding you back from achieving your goals—whatever those may be—they will recommend one of two possible program paths to help clients reach those goals.

The first is their signature 12-week customized “Alive & Aligned” program. Each week Jess & Nik work with clients as they move towards their goals. They will provide action steps and hold clients accountable for reaching those goals. The second option is their 7-week “Maximize Your Money Maker” program. This path is customized with a financial focus because they know that money is a primary stress factor for many people. They are not financial advisers, but they can help clients feel “more confident and free” when it comes to financial matters so they can regain a better life balance.

What Does A Success Story Look Like?

As Jess pointed out, success can mean different things for different people. For example, a college professor was stuck in a repeating cycle of work overload. Frazzled and exhausted, she turned to Jess & Nik for help. With their guidance, she learned to set and KEEP clear boundaries between work and home. Now she has a life beyond her job and is hopeful, better-rested, and proud of her choices. Another client, recently divorced, had lost herself in a bad marriage. She came to Jess & Nik for help in reclaiming her life. Together they mapped a strategy to get her off the couch and into the world. Each day she gains confidence as she plans for a future of her own making.

Where Can I Find Jess + Nik Life & Health Coaching?

If you feel like you need a better work/life balance, that you’re stuck in a rut or that you’re just not as happy as you’d like to be in your life, job or relationships, then let Jess + Nik help you find CLARITY! Visit their website at jessandnik.com for more information and to make your FREE Clarity Session appointment. You can also follow them on Facebook @jessandnik or Instagram @jessandnikalive.

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Kapok Marketing: Your Local Team for Online Marketing

by Tina Brakebill Stewart

Mirela Setkic and Jake Braun make a great business pair. She’s a Bosnian immigrant with a marketing degree and an MBA from the University of South Florida. He’s a Wisconsin native with a Decisions and Information Sciences degree from the University of Florida. As luck would have it, their skill sets were brought together when they were colleagues

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L to R: Andrea Gomes, Ariel Canchani, Mirela Setkic, Jake Braun, Brittany Crider, and Zak Cabric. Not pictured: Doug Perry.

Photo by Kelly Nash Photography.

at an e-commerce/online marketing company. They enjoyed their work, and as they looked to the future, they had a vision of something more. So they combined her marketing/operations expertise and his information technology/website knowledge, recruited a small team, and created their own business: Kapok Marketing.

What Does Kapok Marketing Do?

The short answer is that it specializes in digital marketing for Tampa Bay companies. More specifically, Kapok Marketing helps guide organizations through content marketing, paid advertisements, socialmedia marketing, website design development, and overall strategic planning. Kapok Marketing team members can do it all or they can advise on just a piece of the overall course of action. They treat each client as a unique entity, which means they tailor their work to individual needs.

What Kind of Clients Can Benefit from Kapok Marketing?

Because they don’t have a one-size-fits-all approach, they have something to offer virtually any small Tampa Bay business or nonprofit. From one-person start-ups to established small companies, Kapok Marketing can be of service. Its current clientele ranges from retail and restaurants to health-care facilities and online entrepreneurs. In short, Kapok Marketing’s mission “to make digital marketing simple and accessible for local organizations” can encompass almost any job. If you have a website that’s not working for you, Kapok Marketing can help. If you need guidance in crafting a total marketing strategy because you’re not reaching people in the way you envisioned, then Kapok Marketing can show the way. If your company profits have dropped, and you don’t know why, Kapok Marketing can offer answers.

Local Local Local

Kapok Marketing is the perfect choice for the marketing needs of Tampa Bay organizations because they ARE Tampa Bay. Co-owners Setkic, who moved to St. Petersburg in 1996, and Braun, who moved to Palm Harbor in 1993 and to St. Petersburg in 2008, bring their experience as professional marketers in the area AND their experience as business owners in Tampa Bay to their company’s strategy. They understand what local businesses are going through and the challenges they face. They and their six-member team also live in the area. They are members of the local community, both personally and professionally. They understand the community and the culture. They know that the “fabric of the community” in downtown St. Petersburg differs from that of St. Pete Beach, Tampa, or Clearwater. Those differences matter in marketing. They may see you at dinner or in the park or at a ball game, and when they do, they want you to be happy!

What’s Special About Kapok Marketing?

Kapok Marketing specializes in marketing so it’s not surprising that they provide a great explanation of what makes them so special. “At Kapok Marketing, establishing strong relationships with clients is our competitive strategy,” the company website reads. “The ‘we’ relationships we have with our clients are based on collaborations, respect, understanding, and personalized partnership. They are unique and irreplaceable. We promise to thoroughly understand and always consider our clients’ needs, wants, and viewpoints. We are here to listen, offer ideas and solutions, and help our clients become better at what they do.” So if you’re a Tampa Bay organization looking go take your marketing strategy to the next level, Kapok Marketing can help.

Visit kapokmarketing.com for more information. If you have any other questions or if you want to schedule a FREE consultation then you can message them at at info@kapokmarketing.com or call them at (727) 214-5844. You can also follow them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest @kapokmarketing. Because they are local, you can find them in person at their office, 447 3rd Ave N, Suite 300.

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The Doyenne focuses on three core values per workshop; this one was geared toward confidence, effective communication, and time management.

Photos by Kelly Nash Photography.

The Doyenne: Leadership Training for Women

By Erin Cody Taking an elevator to the 33rd floor Industrious Tampa, I grew excited to take a peek at the Doyenne’s very first workshop. Thirteen bright, enthusiastic businesswomen had gathered for the four-hour, interactive women’s leadership training workshop.

The Doy’s co-founders, Maghan Morin and Jeanine Suah, were upbeat and engaging. Both project an easy confidence. Whatever it is that fuels these two, I want in!

Congrats on your first workshop! How did it go? What did you learn?

Thank you! It was absolutely amazing! Because it was our first one, we can only go up from here. All of our attendees were engaged and left feeling as though they had built genuine connections. What we learned (as we always do), is how to adjust and adapt our model and our timeline to achieve optimal effectiveness and efficiency. We

also re-learned that there is a large need for what we are doing, which helps us propel our mission even more forward.

How did you decide upon the content?

Based on our life experiences, we decided that there are 12 core values to making a successful leader. That is the basis of all of our programming. As a result, we decided to touch on three core values per workshop. This workshop was geared toward confidence, effective communication, and time management — three skills that many women have expressed they struggle with. Because confidence is our No. 1 value, we thought it would be a great way to kick off our leadership workshop series.

When and how did you two meet? How was the Doyenne born, and how has it grown & changed since its inception?

We met at work, though we didn’t get close until we both left the company in July 2017 to start our own individual companies. From there, we started helping each other in areas in which the other may have lacked. We realized that we were stronger, more confident, and more productive together than we were apart, so we had the crazy idea of providing the same level of encouragement and resources for other female entrepreneurs.

Thus, in October 2017, we decided to open up an all-women’s co-working space. Yet in doing market research and in testing our ideas through pop-up co-working events, we found that it was the community, collaboration, and camaraderie that drew the women to us, and not the physical space.

We have since shifted into leadership development training to help cultivate and catapult women into positions of leadership.

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The Doyenne’s next workshop is on August 23rd.

Check their website for details: thedoy.com.

Currently, we host interactive leadership workshops and interactive pop-up networking events.

What would you like Green Bench readers to know about the Doyenne?

We practice what we preach. Everything we do for our ladies (and some gentlemen), we have done for ourselves. We have a genuine love for the people we serve, and our ultimate goal is to create opportunity for diversity of thought. Equal representation and equity are achieved through empathetic leadership, and progression is made evolving leadership. This is why we are such huge advocates for placing women into positions of leadership, because only when we are truly diverse, is when policies can be implemented to effect positive change.

I’ll have what they’re having! I think we could all use a bit more Doy-style in our lives, no? This gal is already signed up to participate in their next workshop, and encourage everyone to consider attending their Goal Setting Workshop on August 23rd. Just make sure you nab a spot before they fill up!

Check out thedoy.com for more information.

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Power, Passion, Purpose: WOW

By Karin Wahlrab

The Women on the Way (WOW) Program, is an inspiring resource and support program designed to meet the educational needs of women enrolled at St. Petersburg College. The program was launched in 1981 to provide women, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college, with the skills and resources to be successful in an academic setting.

What Is WOW?

WOW exists as part of SPC’s Retention Services and its purpose is to serve students as a resource for information and community referrals, provide support by partnering with community agencies, afford opportunities for students to develop leadership skills, and to increase scholarships and community donations.

Women on the Way provides an incredible opportunity for women to increase their self-confidence and their chances of economic and personal success. Some students struggle with balancing the responsibilities of home, family, work and college classes. Many of their support systems are fragile. WOW creates a “safe haven�, and serves as an extended family, where students are empowered to achieve academic, professional and personal success.

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Who Does WOW Support?

Program Coordinator WOW genuinely wants to see Shirley Crumbley women succeed in their academic endeavors and create a better life for themselves. Many of the students they support struggle financially and need assistance navigating the academic system and entering the workforce. However, they are determined and committed to earning a college degree or certification.

Coordinator Shirley Crumbley recalled with great pride the many success stories that have come from the support and camaraderie of the WOW program, as women mentor one another towards success in life, leadership, and community.

What Kind of Services does WOW Provide?

Coordinator Shirley Crumbley elaborated on students advocating for and empowering themselves. WOW provides students with textbooks, nutrition, career counseling, and appropriate work attire.

However, WOW is much more. They serve as advocates for the

students facing obstacles like homelessness, domestic violence, and food insecurities. “Intrusive mentoring,” a phrase Mrs. Crumbley employed, involves checking in on students regularly and providing guidance on how to communicate and how to manage stress.

Workshops are held regularly covering topics as varied as resume building, interviewing skills, as well as how to extract oneself from a toxic relationship. Sometimes, Mrs. Crumbley says, the workshops are just “girl talk”—bonding experiences between students. There is a focus on fun and a sense that the WOW offices, in their respective locations, can provide a much needed respite for students who have difficulty completing assignments at home, or who prefer a community atmosphere that encourages them to complete coursework with pride.

Mrs. Crumbley happily reported that coffee is always available at all five WOW Offices—a must for any college student!

How Can People Support WOW?

A great deal of support for the WOW program comes from the St. Petersburg College family, donors and collaborators that exist within the community. These include the Generated Federal Women Clubs, The St. Petersburg Free Clinic, CASA, and Radius Church, just to name a few. WOW students or as Shirley Crumbley quipped “WOW Warriors” are called upon throughout the semester to volunteer for these organizations, and they reap the benefits of the relationships.

Having a direct link to major social support systems can provide housing, help obtaining food, even help escaping a toxic relationship or compromised living situation.

Members of the St. Pete community as well as Tampa Bay can contribute to the WOW program. New or gently used professional attire can be donated to the clothing boutiques. Sundry items like toiletries and personal hygiene items can be incredibly important to students whose finances are stretched a bit tight. Monetary donations for scholarship grants are accepted as well. One of the most heartwarming ways to help is to adopt a student and/or a student’s family for the Holidays; providing a home gathering complete with festive meals in a welcome and safe environment can boost student morale immeasurably.

WOW students and staff members are grateful for any and all support they receive. In turn the organization consistently gives back to the community through volunteer work, mentorship, and most importantly arming women with the necessary education to fill crucial roles in the workforce. These women are empowered to achieve selfreliance and financial security. They leave WOW with the newfound confidence to be their own best advocates, authors of their own destinies.

For more information, visit www.spcollege.edu/future-students/ why-spc/perfect-fit/women-on-the-way

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fifth-grade girls at Melrose Elementary. As with everything else in her life, she approached the task with a mind-set that asked, “Can I do more?” She gave the “Girlfriends of Melrose” program added value. She recruited more volunteers so that each girl had a school-based mentor. She added monthly community service requirements and a visit to a college each semester.

She expanded the existing twice-monthly lunchtime “girl talk” sessions to include outside speakers and topic-based discussions.

Good Experiences

People of St. Pete: Deneen Wyman

By Tina Stewart Brakebill

Wyman’s goals for this expanded program are twofold. She wants to provide the girls “good experiences,” she said, and she wants to “show them more,” so they can expand their opportunities. They’ve been volunteer helpers for Earth Day and Science Day at the University of South Florida and water girls for breast cancer awareness runs. They visited BethuneCookman University in Daytona Beach, which was founded in 1904 by a young African-American woman, Mary McLeod Bethune, as a school for African-American girls. Girlfriend participants saw the film Hidden Figures and then visited the Kennedy Space Center. (And to my great joy, demanded to know “Where is Katherine Johnson’s plaque?”) They took a Looper tour of downtown and visited the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg. For Black History Month, they all attended the Martha Reeves show at the Mahaffey Theater, and two essay-contest winners got to go backstage and meet the performer. Wyman knows that these “good experiences” are helping to build a foundation of confidence.

Once a Girlfriend, Always a Girlfriend

St. Petersburg is celebrated for its fabulous weather, beautiful vistas, Wyman would like to see her vision of this program expand to other world-class food scene, and thriving cultural atmosphere, but the people of schools and higher grades. For now, as the girls age out of the program, she St. Petersburg truly make this city something special. In appreciation, each reminds them they will always be a “Girlfriend of Melrose.” And she hopes month Green Bench shines a light on one of the many people who make our that she’s helped them to envision bright futures. She made a believer out of town unique. me, and I look forward to seeing what they envision next.

Rising Up

A lifelong St. Petersburg resident, Deneen Wyman has been an important part of the Pinellas County school system since her 2001 graduation from St. Petersburg High School. Starting as a part-time cafeteria worker at Campbell Park Elementary School, she steadily rose to her present position as a human resources specialist for the county school board. She credits her grandmother and mother for teaching her the value of hard work and commitment. She’s also the proud parent of two boys, 2-year-old Jace and 14-year-old Jordan.

The Girlfriends of Melrose

A toddler, a teenager, and a full-time career might exhaust the energy of most people, but Deneen is not most people! When presented with an opportunity to be part of an existing district program designed to help young girls recognize their value and potential, she grabbed it. In 2016, she became the chairperson for the mentoring program for fourth- and

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Gulfport Produce courtesy of Greg Levitt

Summertime: Finding Produce Ain’t Easy

By Erin Cody

Spring, autumn and winter, The Burg’s cornucopia of local produce runneth over. When folks up North are stuck with fruits and veggies that are frozen, canned or shipped from afar, we are reveling in the juiciest of just-picked, local berries, sweet citrus, and enough cruciferous vegetables to send the kiddos running for the hills.

In the summer, however, our local options limit considerably. Gone are the days of meandering around the waterfront market, feasting your senses on our beautiful regional bounty. The inevitable day comes when

you find yourself buying your apples at the same place you buy your windshield wiper detergent; both having been shipped across the country, if not completely across the world. Is this really the best we can do? Florida, why hast thou forsaken us?

I was asking myself that question a month ago when I stumbled across a local produce stand that sold tomatoes grown in Ruskin, FL. I grabbed a couple and holy moly! I had underestimated the profound difference between the real deal and the sad, hard interlopers that taste as delicious as a knuckle sandwich. This began the quest for the holy kale (heh): fresh, Florida produce in the dead of summer.

First up: what is actually in season right now? Answer: Florida avocado, starfruit, guava, longan, mango, mushroom, passion fruit, good ol’ peanuts.

You can also find some pretty swell citrus, tomatoes, and a few other gems, if you can give ‘em just the right conditions.

Next up, where to find the jewels of our stomping ground? You can always check out some of your small, friendly, neighborhood produce markets! You know that partially open-air stand you pass on your way to the big box stores? Not all are created equal, but there are some real gems that stock fresh, inexpensive, mostly local, often organic, produce. I’ve yet to visit all of these, but each has been highly recommended. See which one is closest to you and make an exploratory mission! In no particular order, these seem to be the stars: VGP Produce, Little House Farmer’s Market, Farrah Food Market, Gulfport Produce, City Produce Fruit Market (across from Trader Joe’s).

Missing the Saturday Morning Market? Though they may be a bit lighter on options due to the season, there are smaller markets you can visit. The Williams Park Summer Market stands in for the Saturday Morning Market while its doing its snowbird thing, setting up in the Downtown park from 9am-1pm every Saturday during the summer. The Gulfport Fresh Market is up Every Tuesday, year round, from 9am-2pm. The produce selections may be slimmer than they are the rest of the year, but they do exist!

One feel-good, hyper-local, alternative is to go straight to the source and check out the farms themselves. Once again, bounty is limited in the summertime, but Brick Street Farms has you covered. The all-hydroponic outfit presents twice-weekly, on-site mini-markets. You can even ask for the tour of the facility! They do all leafy greens, all year long. Hallelujah!

Offerings change up week to week, but personal favorites have been their romaine, butter lettuce, basil, sorrel, and assorted micro greens. I now make a weekly pilgrimage, and always look forward to seeing what will be available.

Your final option is to hit some of the larger, but still locally-owned and focused health food stores, like Earth Origins and Rollin’ Oats. If price is more of a concern than local ownership, check out the new Lucky’s Market in Tyrone for some mighty fine deals on Florida produce. You can snag deals at Earth Origins by downloading the app and watching specials, and by shopping on Wednesdays, when everything is 10% off!

Don’t settle for junk just because of the season! Get creative. Have fun with it and reap the delicious benefits. Enjoy!

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Photos by City of St. Petersburg

St. Pete Champions Healthy Communities

By Nicole Brand

Anyone who’s ever organized a dinner party has had a small taste of what it takes to meet disparate interests. The selection and planning process can be a painstaking “she-eats-this-but-is-allergic-to-that” journey. Okay, imagine every single guest has these different, often life or death needs and now you have a taste of collaboration between multiple organizations.

St. Petersburg’s Healthy St. Pete initiative has taken on this feisty collaborative role as the mobilizing force of the newly formed Health360 program. Born out of the Florida Hospital system’s Food is Medicine campaign, Health360 provides a science-backed approach to community health change by connecting and strengthening existing programming from partners like Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.

Here’s how it works: St. Petersburg residents go to the Campbell Park Recreation Center in southern Pinellas County for one of three classes. A partnership with Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital offers First Steps:

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Fit4AllKids, a series for families with overweight children that addresses fun and accessible life adjustments. Lifestyle changes are more likely to stick when all family members participate, and the Health360 programming has kept that key to its design. A partnership with the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension Family Nutrition Program offers Cooking Matters, a family affair of food and fun in the kitchen. Health360’s final class series is in collaboration with St. Anthony’s Hospital and addresses small lifestyle changes for families who participate in its Diabetes Empowerment Education Program (DEEP).

The whole series’ original organizing home was in the Cathedral Church of St. Peter where Reverend Canon Katie Churchwell and other community health stakeholders saw an opportunity to strengthen and improve outreach. As she saw it, “Odds are, someone attending one class might benefit from another.” Connecting the classes allowed for stronger programming through essential components like streamlined data collection and the ability to incentivize the programming through expanding healthful food access for participants. Health360 furthers the process by offering produce vouchers.

Upon completion of every class, families receive a $10 voucher toward fruit and veggie purchases through a partnership with the locally owned and operated Gulfport Produce. The small family grocer offers Pinellas County residents fresh produce year-round. Owners Fey and Ryan Bernat were thrilled to join the growing Health360 family. They offer a robust, often Florida-centric selection and they track the pounds of produce that go to Health360 participants.

Gulfport Produce originally supplied a mobile market, setting up an on-site grocery experience. However, just as Food Is Medicine learned in Tampa, many participants had access to transportation, enabling them to visit the store in person where the selection was more extensive. It’s an interesting lesson with an intriguing history, and it doesn’t begin with our standard views of health at all. It begins with dignity.

The Law Office of Scott Johni, PA and its staff are proud to support our community. We provide sponsorships and volunteer service to the following organizations that help improve the lives of children, families and veterans in Tampa Bay:

A pantry formed in 1998 now known as the Bed-Stuy Campaign Against Hunger (BSCAH) began serving New York City’s food-insecure populations innovatively, paving the way for similar groups across the United States, including our very own St. Petersburg Free Clinic. Instead of passing out bags of pre-selected foods, BSCAH created a grocery-store experience, offering consumers the dignity of choice. They are able to select culturally appropriate foods for their homes and are not limited to bags of pre-chosen foods with which they may be unfamiliar or unsure how to prepare. BSCAH still uses the mobile market when community needs call for it, such as after Hurricane Sandy in 2012, when geographic access was limited. Similarly, Health360 and Gulfport Produce have modified the use of their mobile model. For now, participants are able to visit the store in person or preselect produce from an extensive shopping list. The mobile market will likely continue, but it will be based on community needs.

This “community needs” approach is really what the full program represents. A participating mother wrote to Healthy St. Pete to boast of the amazing progress made. She proudly shared her son’s declining bloodsugar levels! She also reported that completing the series as a family helped their 5-year-old son become less picky because “he sees what [she] puts in [their] meals and has a better understanding of why.” It’s surely in the spirit of working together, sharing knowledge and research and reaching common goals that has made Health360 such a success and it won’t stop there. Healthy St. Pete’s Community Engagement Supervisor, Christina Bruner says Health360 will eventually expand their course offerings into other areas of community need. Keep an eye out; we may soon see additions like financial health, relationship building, and to close the food loop -perhaps even a course in edible gardening!

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

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A Brighter Future: Solar Power Glows in St. Petersburg

By Karin Wahlrab

Solar power is gaining traction throughout the country. Rooftop solar panels in Florida, the Sunshine State, make use of the state’s optimal geographic position in order to reap the benefits of this financially sound, energetically sustainable program. The Solar United Neighbors (SUN) and Solar Energy Loan Fund (SELF) programs of St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay area already have helped more than 100 homeowners.

What Finance Options Are Available for Homeowners Who Wish to Go Solar?

SELF program helps assist current homeowners with the installation of solar panels by offering personal loans based on their individual budgets. The program can follow up by helping with project management of the solar-augment installation. These efficient systems, which provide access to clean and affordable energy, can help drastically lower monthly utility bills. Additional benefits include the reduction of air pollution levels produced by fossil fuels, and a more stable energy grid system for the community. The SELF program is available to all community members, with no minimum or maximum income requirements. Fifty percent of SELF’s activity has aided seniors, 40 percent has helped women-led households, and 20 percent has provided support for veterans. The program’s outreach is not limited to solar panel installation; through cityapproved grants, it is able to help with many other securities, such as hurricane-window installation. Through these avenues, SELF helps create stability and financial security throughout the community.

Direct Impact on St. Petersburg Residents

SELF recently made a loan to Campbell Park resident Demetrius Johnson, a U.S. military veteran who is pursuing a Ph.D. “I went through the St. Pete winter co-op,” he said, “and also, I had SELF help me with the financing! So, I’m very very happy that everything is getting started. ...I can’t wait until everything is installed!”

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Demetrius Johnson, a U.S. military veteran who is pursuing a Ph.D., is a recent recipient of a SELF Loan

What Are the Benefits of Joining A Solar Co-op?

Solar United Neighbors (SUN) helps St. Petersburg residents find and join solar co-ops. Through regularly held information sessions, residents learn about solar-energy conversions and about how co-ops function without any obligation to buy from the co-op installer or recruit others. SUN is a vendor-neutral nonprofit that offers free information sessions to explain solar technology, process, and economics, and explains how bulk purchasing can ensure lower prices through contractor bidding. Coming together as a group can help make a potentially intimidating process much simpler, often with discounted pricing on quality equipment and installation.

SUN seeks to guide individuals to lower utility bills by using a natural resource: our abundant, clean sunshine. What could be more appropriate for the Sunshine City in the Sunshine State?

How Can I Go Solar?

For information or to start a SELF loan application, call St. Petersburg program manager Jessica Lewis, at (727) 315-3223.

An information session for SELF will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. on Sept. 11 at Wildwood Recreation Center, 1111 18th Ave S, St. Petersburg. Visit the SELF Gulf Coast Facebook page to stay current on program activity.

If you are interested in joining a Solar United Neighbors co-op, please visit solarunitedneighbors.org/stpete or visit FL SUN on Facebook!

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Night Market St. Pete. Photo by Tara Britton.

Movers & Makers: Nighttime Markets

By Tara Britton, co-founder of Market Mafia After a long day in the Florida sunshine, market seekers can enjoy opportunities to shop small under the stars and string lights.

St. Petersburg is home to night markets that draw in visitors from all around Greater Tampa Bay. Enjoy some of St. Pete’s favorites after you get a chance to knock the sand off your shoes and rinse off the ever present layer of sunscreen.

The Night Market St. Pete is the self proclaimed biggest night market in town. It happens roughly five times a year in the heart of the Warehouse Arts District on The Side Lot. Visitors enjoy the close proximity to Three Daughters Brewery, located next to the outdoor market. Grab a cold one and enjoy more than 50 vendors, food, drinks, and music by a performing DJ. The event is both kid and pet friendly.

St. Pete Indie Market continues their summer series with a

limited run night market hosted inside of the popular co-work space, Station House. The multi-level building provides a unique ambiance all on its own, but during the night market visitors can expect not only the makers market but a rooftop bar for the cocktail enthusiasts. Station House is in the middle of our lively downtown, within walking distance of a variety of restaurants and bars.

Hit the market at these nighttime events before summer ends: Night Market St Pete: September 20th 6-10pm St. Pete Indie Market at Station House: August 24th 6-10pm and September 28th 5-9pm 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.

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Photo by City of St. Petersburg

Downtown Developments

By Brian Zucker, Owner of St. Pete Rising

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

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

Having just celebrated their 4th anniversary on Redington Shores, GypsySouls Coffee House has announced plans for a second location in Downtown St. Pete at 515 Dr. MLK Jr Street North. GypsySouls carries around 12 different origins of mostly fair-trade coffee, and promotes farmers that have high standards in sustainability and organic growth.

The downtown location will also serve as their new roasting facility for both shops. Their doors should be open very soon, so stay tuned to their Facebook and Instagram for the exact date.

Although still under construction, 930 Central Flats has opened a leasing office at 919 Central Avenue in the EDGE District. The new 218-unit apartment complex will have a 24-hour two story fitness center with spin bikes, a yoga studio, a pet spa, and a rooftop terrace with green space, a bar, and sweeping views of Downtown St. Pete. The development also includes a 258-space parking garage with EV charging stations and covered bike storage. Rent starts at $1,365 per month. The first residents are scheduled to move in around the end of October.

Attention Bostonians! A little piece of The Hub has arrived in Downtown St. Pete! Beantown Pub opened their doors earlier this month at 29 3rd Street North on the popular Jannus Block. With one other location in Boston, just steps from the historic Freedom Trail, Beantown Pub aims to bring the best of Boston to the streets of St. Pete. The menu would not be complete without Boston classics such as house-made New England clam chowder, jumbo lobster rolls, and

their famous Boston baked beans. Beantown Pub’s hours are tentatively 11am to 3am.

Saigon Blonde, a bar and lounge inspired by 60’s era Vietnam, opened last month at 265 Central Avenue (formerly LUX Nightclub).

There are five distinct areas for customers to enjoy: An outdoor walkup bar, a front bar with tiki totems and murals, a downstairs lounge with hanging lanterns and plush furniture, a military-themed bar in the back fashioned from an old plane wing, and a VIP-like loft lounge. Saigon Blonde’s drink menu features 10 hand-crafted cocktails, including Tokyo Rose which consists of Malfy Limone gin, Setteanime rosé, Joto Maboroshi Junmai Ginjo sake, St. George spiced pear, Asian pear, and hibiscus flower.

Zoës Kitchen, a fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant, opened last month at 1320 4th Street North. The eatery’s menu revolves around fresh ingredients and lean proteins to create dishes such as the cauliflower rice bowl, the baked falafel pita, and the Mediterranean lamb kafta.

Zoës prides themselves on not having any fryers or microwaves in their restaurant — most dishes are prepared on the grill. This marks the third location for Zoës in the Tampa Bay area; the other two restaurants are located in Carrollwood and South Tampa.

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

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Summer Nights at the Shuffleboard Courts. Photo by City of St. Petersburg

Events 2018 Sustainability Summit

When: Aug 14th from 3-7:30pm Where: Childs Park YMCA, 691 43rd St S Cost: Free/Open to Public How do we get to 100% Clean Energy? The Integrated Sustainability Action Plan (ISAP) is well underway in advancing our city’s sustainability and resiliency initiatives, including a greenhouse gas emissions inventory and a roadmap for achieving 100% Clean Energy. Contact StPeteISAP@ vhb.com to share thoughts, suggestions, and strategies.

Happy Hour With The Historian

When: Sept 13th doors open at 6pm; program begins at 6:30pm Where: St. Pete Museum of History, 335 2nd Ave NE Cost: Free for SPMOH Members;

Suggested $5 Donation for non-members

An evening with Historian Mark Denote discussing Tampa Bay Beer: A Heady History. An evening of wine, words, and wisdom. Cash bar provided by Hops & Props. For more info, visit spmoh.com.

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City Council Hearing: Proposed Utility Rate Increases

When: Aug 23rd at 6pm Where: Council Chamber, 175 5th St N Cost: Free/Open to Public St. Petersburg City Council will consider proposed increases to water, wastewater, reclaimed water, stormwater, and sanitation utility rates. To view proposed rate adjustments, visit www.stpete.org/ utility.

Last Sets for Friday Night Music Series at Sundial When: August 17th and 24th from 5-9pm Where: Sundial, 153 2nd Ave N Cost: Free Includes various musical genres including folk, blues, jazz, swing, rock, downtempo/lounge, and pop.

Weekly/ Friday Night Clay

When: Fridays from 7-9pm Where: Morean Arts Center, 420 22nd St S Cost: $25 Play in clay! Wheel throwing or hand building for 2 hours of fun! Pre-

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registration required. Visit www.moreanartscenter.org

St. Pete Shuffle

When: Every Friday from 7-10pm Where: St. Pete Shuffleboard Club, 559 Mirror Lake Dr N Cost: Suggested donation of $2 per non-member Club Volunteers will help you get set up on a court and show you how to play. Visit stpeteshuffle.com.

Saturdays @ The Morean When: Saturdays; Morning Session: 10am – 12:30pm Afternoon Session: 1–3:30pm Where: Morean Art Center, 719 Central Ave Cost: Free Family drop-in art studio. Art activities geared toward children ages 5-10. For more info, visit www.moreanartscenter.org.

Central Arts District Walking Mural Tour

When: Saturdays from 10-11:30am Where: meet at Florida CraftArt, 501 Central Ave Cost: $19 for adults, $11 for children ages 6-18, free for children under 5 The original St. Pete Mural Tour!

Visitors will hear the inside stories of the making of over 30 murals

found in the four block tour. Wear comfortable shoes as this involves walking on uneven surfaces. To register, visit floridacraftart.org.

Monthly / First Wednesday @ Black Crow

When: First Wednesday from 6-9pm Where: Black Crow, 722 2nd St N Cost: Free Discuss art projects, meet artists, and get opportunities to showcase your work. We are trying to make cool ideas happen in our St. Pete Art Community! For more info, visit www.blackcrowcoffeeco.com.

Keep St. Pete Lit Book Club @ MFA

When: Second Thursday @ 6pm Where: MFA, 255 Beach Dr NE Cost: Free with Museum Admission; $5 after 5 pm on Thursdays!

KSPL book club connects the visual arts with the literary arts. ALL are welcome. For more info, visit keepstpetelit.org.

First Friday

When: First Friday @ Sundown Where: Downtown, Central Ave

‘Coil’ by John Plishka. On display at the James Museum through Oct 23rd.

Cost: Free St. Pete’s biggest block party. For more info, firstfridaystpete.com.

Yoga In the Park

When: First Saturday 9-10am Where: Crescent Lake Park Cost: Free Hosted by Health 360. Don’t forget to bring a towel, yoga mat and water bottle.

Second Saturday Art Walk When: Second Saturday from 5-9pm Where: Waterfront Arts, Central Arts, EDGE, Grand Central and Warehouse Arts Districts Cost: Free ArtWalk trolley Be the first to see new affordable works of art, as ArtWalk is Opening Night as some 40 galleries and studios premiere new works. It’s impossible to take in the entire ArtWalk in one night! Plan to drive, walk or take the trolleys to visit the districts of your choice. Rain or shine. For trolley map and more info, visit stpeteartsalliance.org/artwalk/

Art Exhibits / The Dali: Clyde Butcher Visions of Dali’s Spain On display: through Nov 25th

To create this special exhibition, The Dali invited Clyde Butcher, the renowned nature photographer often called “Florida’s Ansel Adams,” to explore and visually document Salvador Dali’s homeland. For more info, visit thedali.org.

Florida CraftArt: At Home with Craft

On display: Sept 7 -Oct 27 The Gallery will be transformed into a loft-style apartment complete with foyers, patio, living room, bedroom, man-cave, boudoir, dining room and more. Every item from the light switch to the fireplace, the carpet, the silverware and the fountain will be a unique work of art created by an artist. For more info, visit www.floridacraftart.org. th

th

FHM: Bill Graham and the Rock & Roll Revolution

On display: Aug 18th - Feb 10th 2019 This exhibition explores the extraordinary life of renowned music promoter Bill Graham (19311991) who helped launch and promote the careers of countless rock & roll artists. It also traces the indomitable spirit of a man brought to the United States as an elevenyear-old Jewish refugee fleeing the Nazis, fueling a lifelong passion

and advocacy for justice.Visit www. flholocaustmuseum.org.

The James Museum: Art and the Animal

On display: through Oct 23rd The 58th Annual Exhibition of the Society of Animal Artists is a juried show of premier wildlife art from artists around the world. “Art and the Animal” will feature over 100 paintings and sculptures, with select art available for purchase. For more info, visit thejamesmuseum.org.

MIZE Gallery: !!!!

On display: through September ex·cla·ma·tion a sudden cry or remark, especially expressing surprise, anger or pain. the act of exclaiming; outcry; loud complaint or protest. Featuring BASK, Bekky Beukes, David Cabassa, Ora Fraze, Kenny Jensen, Laura Miller, Chad Mize, Yoko Nogami, Palehorse, Anna Sauer, Xina Scuderi, Jon Stine, Frank Strunk III, and Ricky Watts. For more info, chadmize.com.

MFA: Keeping Time The Art of Clocks and Watches

On display: through Nov 4th This exhibition brings together

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objects from the museum’s holdings and local private collections that embody the delicate technology and craft of clock- and watch-making. For more info, visit mfastpete.org.

for charity / PARC’s Top Chefs Event

When: Sept 15th from 6-10pm Where: The Birchwood, 340 Beach Dr NE Cost: $125 & up Chefs from some of the top local restaurants in Tampa Bay are invited to partake in an evening full of collaboration and education. This year will be with The Birchwood – Birch and Vine, Guppy’s on the Beach, Rusty’s Bistro, and The Galley: A St. Pete Tavern. With desserts by (swahrey). For more info, visit www.parc-fl.org.

2018 Butterfly Ball Papillon Á Paris

When: Sept 29th at 6:30pm Where: The Vinoy, 501 5th Ave NE Cost: $150 & up Come enjoy an evening of dinner and dancing to benefit the ALPHA House of Pinellas County.

For Tickets and sponsorships, visit alphahousepinellas.org.

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

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID ST PETE FL PERMIT NO. 4