Green Bench Monthly - Vol 2, Issue 9, September 2017

Vol. 2, Issue 9, September 2017

St. Pete’s Direct-Mail Community Magazine

WE MADE IT! pg. 5

A Dream Fulfilled

Bavaria to St. Pete pg. 14

The Colorful History of

The Green Bench pg. 8

Local Business and

Homegrown Art pg. 16

GREENBENCHMONTHLY.COM / SEPTEMBER 2017

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Publishers

Ashley & Tony Sica

Editor

Cristina Juska

Contributing Editors

Mural by Ali Vasquez of Creative Clay with Todd Frain.

Located on the North side of 2914 First Ave N.

Nadine Maas, Pam Sica

Contributors

Andy Bragg, Nicole Brand, Luke Cross, Rui Farias, Jadyn Gonzales, Mitzi Gordon, Victoria Lasavath, Cindy Garza Ontkos, Jack Spinrad, Alan Venable, Nehemiah Warner, Brian Zucker

Web Content Manager Emily Bloxam

Photo Credits

Cover: St. Pete resident Emma Lo, celebrating her 1st birthday.

by Kelly Nash Photography From the Bench

by Jared Cordova Black Crow Coffee Co.

by Matthew Peterson

Contact

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

Proud member of:

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From the Bench

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Meet the Team

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The Colorful History of the Green Bench

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From the Museum’s Archives

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Creative Events and a Welcoming Crowd at Black Crow Coffee Co.

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Radius Church Leading the Way in Love

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Bavaria to St. Petersburg: A Dream Fulfilled

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Local Business and Homegrown Art: A Beautiful Partnership

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19 SHINE 2017: Taking It to the Streets 20 Comic 21

Downtown Developments

22 Events

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“Common Ground” Mural

by Cecilia Lueza. Located at the intersection of Central Ave. & 5th Ave.

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

Neighborhoods included in our mailing: Allendale, Crescent

Heights, Crescent Lake, Downtown, Euclid-St. Paul, Five Points, Greater Woodlawn, Historic Kenwood, Historic Old Northeast, Magnolia Heights, North East Park, Snell Isle, & Woodlawn 3

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Lineman David Long from Ameren, Missouri works around the clock to restore power for St. Petersburg residents.

From the Bench

St. Petersburg Parks & Rec hauls debris.

Photos by Jared Cordova A fallen palm tree at North Shore Park

Restoring cable and internet

Before we get started, we apologize for the delay. This issue was supposed to hit your mailbox more than a week ago, but the storm put all of us behind schedule. #ThanksIrma Originally, the September issue was meant to be a celebration of our one year anniversary. It still is. We’re still here, and we’re growing. And we have many people to thank for that—especially you, our readers. But little did we know our cover photo would take on a whole new meaning after hurricane Irma’s unwelcome visit. We’re grateful we made it; but most of all how our community banded together to support one another. “When things are at their worst, we are at our best”.

We’d like to thank all first responders, linesmen, volunteers, City and State officials (great job Mayor Kriseman and Governor Scott!), meteorologists, and countless others who were ready on a moment’s notice to spring into action. In the coming weeks, we’ll offer free ads to any restaurants or local businesses that would like to partner up and donate gift certificates to those that worked around the clock to minimize risk and damage to our precious City.

Own a local business? Email ashley@greenbenchmonthly.com to get involved.

Now more than ever, its important to “Keep St. Petersburg Local.” The end of Summer is notoriously slow for many small businesses, coupled with a storm that forced the City to board up for a week...it made a tough time that much tougher. So we ask that next time you make a purchase, please “Think Local First.” Our independent businesses need your support!

On a lighter note, Happy 100th Anniversary to the Green Benches (pg. 8) and Open Air Post Office (pg. 9); 5th Anniversary to Strands of Sunshine (pg. 15); 3rd Anniversary to Radius Church (pg. 12); 2nd Anniversary to Black Crow (pg. 4); and everyone else celebrating a birthday or anniversary this month!

Also, if you head downtown, please consider the environment and take an electric car. SP Rides is offering a BOGO free ride coupon in lower left corner of this page.

Correction: In Vol. 2, Issue 8, August 2017, the story about Marine Science in St. Pete wrongly stated that SRI was a private company founded by CMS scientists. SRI International is an independent non-profit research and development firm headquartered in Menlo Park California, with a branch in St. Petersburg. The research team includes former members of the USF College of Marine Science, but was not founded by CMS. me, Till next ti

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Green Bench Monthly

Emily Bloxam / Web Content Manager

A born and raised Floridian, Emily moved to St. Pete about two years ago. She is a senior at USF, majoring in Communication with a concentration in Culture and Media.

She has always loved to write, and recently became more interested in all aspects of publishing. On any given day, you might find her standing in line for craft beer downtown, swimming at Northshore Complex or checking a local restaurant off her never-ending foodie bucket list.

Jack Spinrad / Contributor

(Left to Right) Editor Cristina Juska, Publishers Tony and Ashley Sica and Photographer Kelly Nash. Photo by Dani Nash

Meet the GBM Team

We aren’t ones to talk about ourselves very often, but it’s been a whole year since we first hit your mailbox, so we figured it’s time to introduce you to the people who make our little magazine possible every month. As a true community publication, we are all local residents ourselves, and we are having a blast exploring and learning more about our amazing city right along with our readers.

Without further ado, meet the Green Bench Monthly team.

Ashley Sica / Owner, Publisher

Hailing from Minnesota, Ashley is happy to now call St. Pete home. Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, she’s got the passion that keeps the Bench moving forward. She juggles everything from content curation to community supporters and day-to-day tasks like answering phones. She is also the current Secretary for the Magnolia Heights Neighborhood Association. In her spare time, she enjoys yoga and exploring the city with Tony

and their larger-than-average chihuahuas, Ryker and Stella.

Tony Sica / Owner, Publisher

Born and raised in Tampa, Tony brings 11 years of publishing experience to the Bench. He’s the guy that makes sure our shirt is tucked in, our I’s are dotted and T’s are crossed before we go to press. He also moonlights as our entire IT department. Outside of GBM, he spends time honing his skills as a real estate photographer/ videographer, and also serves as the Vice President of the Magnolia Heights Neighborhood Association. A fan of basketball, craft beer and anything moderate, Tony’s laid-back vibe keeps GBM running smoothly.

Cristina Juska / Editor

Cristina grew up in Chicago (go Cubbies!). She came to St. Pete 26 years ago to attend Eckerd College and never left. She has always loved playing around with words, and has worked for several area companies as a marketing

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copywriter and communications specialist. Today, Cristina lives with her fiance, Dan, and focuses on caring for their kids, Jadyn (age 16) and Gabriel (age 2), while working from home as a freelance writer and editor. She enjoys going to the beach, listening to Pearl Jam, and trying out new Pinterest recipes on her family.

Kelly Nash / Photographer

Kelly Nash is Tampa Bay’s leading documentary photographer, specializing in photographing families and businesses in both a genuine and organic way. Her work allows families to capture real, everyday moments to keep as photo memories. She’s equally passionate about helping businesses attract new clients with strong photographs that convey the owners’ work ethic and humanity. Kelly studied the art of photography under some of the best photographers worldwide before finally settling down in St. Pete with her husband and puppy child, Mojo.

Jack was born many years ago in Brooklyn, NY. Hopping from coast to coast, he finally settled in St. Petersburg in the Magnolia Heights Neighborhood in 1991. He is happily married to his wife Cookie, and father to three kids. Now retired, he spends most of his time as President of the Magnolia Heights Neighborhood Association, repairing his midcentury house and writing for Green Bench Monthly.

Nicole Brand / Contributor

Nicole had her first article published in high school, and has not stopped writing since. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Communications, and fell in love with writing about all things related to food.

She worked for publications on both sides of the Pacific, from Hawaii to New Zealand, before returning to live in St. Pete. She now works as a freelance writer for GBM as she completes her Master’s of Science in Food Systems. In addition, Nicole recently became Program Coordinator for the new Urban Agriculture Center at Pinellas Technical College.

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Luke Cross / Contributor

Luke is 19 years old and a lifelong St. Pete resident.

He is currently finishing the last semester of his Bachelor’s in Political Sciences at USF St. Pete (provided he doesn’t mess up too much), and is planning to earn another Bachelor’s in Economics after.

Outside of writing and schoolwork, he enjoys making music, shooting and editing video, and riding the city’s waterfront on his bike. Green Bench Monthly has allowed him to admire every aspect of our lovely community, and he hopes you can say the same.

Alan Venable / Contributor

Alan Venable is a native Floridian and a literature addict. He spends a lot of his free time covering Tampa Bay happenings and local stories, utilizing an English degree from USF Tampa.

He’s written for a wide range of audiences, from NYC tech fanatics to over-the-road truck drivers, and from spirited fashionistas to bar crawlers. You might catch him downtown reading a book on a green bench, but probably not. He spends most his days behind his computer.

Jadyn Gonzales / Contributor

Jadyn is a junior in the International Baccalaureate program at St. Petersburg High School. Outside of her studies, she participates in the school’s theatre program, chorus, and Model UN. Early on, she gained an interest in reading and writing from her mother, Cristina Juska (see above, Editor for GBM).

Jadyn is a St. Pete native and is very passionate about her hometown. She is considering studying journalism in college, but ask her again in a couple years.

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Andy Bragg / Contributor

Andy moved to downtown St. Pete in 2013.

He retired in 2007 after 30 years on the business side of Time, Inc. and USA Today in New York City and Washington, DC; and after serving since 1987 as VP Finance with Time Customer Service, Inc. in Tampa. A Bostonarea native, he was briefly editor of a newspaper in New Hampshire after college. Andy volunteers with WEDU, Big Brothers Big Sisters and as Treasurer of his condominium and church. He enjoys new activities such as boating, Tai Chi and exploring St. Pete, as well as his longterm support of the Red Sox.

Brian Zucker / Contributor

Brian Zucker is a local entrepreneur and writer of our column Downtown Developments.

He owns an urban development blog, St. Pete Rising, which covers future real estate, restaurants and retail in downtown St. Pete. Currently, his favorite downtown restaurant is Lolita’s Wine Market, located at 16 18th St. N. The downtown project he is most looking forward to is the James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art, set to open in early 2018. By day, Brian works as an actuary at Wakely Actuarial in Palm Harbor. He has called Tampa Bay home since 2011.

Cindy Garza Ontkos / Contributor

Cindy Ontkos and her husband Brian moved here about a year and a half ago from Winter Garden and couldn’t be happier. They fell in love with St. Pete while on vacations and sailing trips, and just knew that this is where they belonged. They are fortunate to live in beautiful Historic Kenwood with their dog Alice.

Between the two of them,

Cindy and Brian have three amazing sons, a beautiful daughter-in-law and their first grandson on the way! Cindy is thankful to be a part of this magazine and to have the opportunity to showcase our community.

Nehemiah Warner / Contributor

Nehemiah Warner is new to the GBM team. He writes and manages grants for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay, and wants to see real change in the world for the better. His passion is his family and friends, and relationships in general.

He likes walking, running, reading, camping, taking trips just to drink coffee and beer in another city, and complaining about things of which he is in full control. He also loves picnics at the beach and budgeting.

His happy place is on the couch cuddling with his growing family and his temperamental cat.

Victoria Lasavath / Contributor

Victoria is a proud St. Petian.

Her father instilled in her a love for reading at an early age via National Geographic, and she was blessed to have teachers who encouraged her to pursue her passion for the written word. She studied journalism and received an expensive piece of paper from UF in 2011. After living in Boston for a while, she’s now back in the Sunshine City. You’ll likely find her at the Body Electric, Deep Blue Fitness, the beaches, or the park with her beloved pup, Lucky.

embarking on a 15-year career in PR and Marketing, including events for the Tampa Bay Rowdies and the 1994 FIFA World Cup. After a short stint in public facility management, Rui returned to his love of history, and St. Petersburg, by creating and teaching Pinellas County’s first Florida History class for St. Petersburg High School.

Mitzi Gordon / Contributor

Mitzi Gordon has a passion for storytelling. Focused on social practice with roots in journalism and the cultural arts, she currently works as a freelance writer, artist, and creative consultant based in the Artist Enclave of Historic Kenwood.

A founding member of the nonprofit St. Pete Women’s Collective, Gordon encourages community dialogue through an ongoing conversation series and through mobile projects such as the Bluebird Books Bus.

Erik Jasek / Contributor

Erik Jasek is a local cartoonist and illustrator. From a very young age he has been drawing comics and making films inspired by animated cartoons, sketch comedy and science fiction films. He hasn’t changed much to this day in that regards. Erik has immense love for St. Pete, and the city’s fruitful music and art scene is a huge motivator for his work. Erik can be often spotted downtown vending comics at festivals, painting for art shows or just having a good time.

Rui Farias / Contributor

A near lifelong resident of St. Pete, Rui is the Executive Director of the St. Petersburg Museum of History. He holds a BA in Journalism from USF and was a writer for the St. Petersburg Times before SEPTEMBER 2017 /

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History

The famous green benches at St. Petersburg, Florida. 194-?. Hand-colored postcard, 9 x 14 cm.

State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory.

The Colorful History of the Green Bench

By Jack Spinrad

Publisher’s Note: On the 100th anniversary of the 1917 Bench Ordinance, we wanted to acknowledge the role these benches play in St. Pete’s history, while acknowledging the fact that this history—like much of the South’s—was segregated in its early days. Like other local businesses that use the name, we chose “Green Bench Monthly” for this magazine because it is such a recognizable symbol of St. Pete. In learning more about the city and its history, we have come to understand that the symbol resonates in different ways with different people. What follows is an updated and expanded version of an earlier story.

Shortly after the first issue of Green Bench Monthly was distributed one year ago, several members of the community brought to our publishers’ attention that the green benches, which at one time lined Central Avenue, were seen by many as a symbol of the segregation practices endemic to our city at the time. It was pointed out that it was then against the law for people of color to sit on them.

There were, of course, many other injustices imposed on the black community at the time, and I would be remiss if I did not mention that not everyone looked upon this symbol of our city’s history with the same sense of nostalgia. Still, since the green benches did play a large part in the history and character of our city, I hope you, our readers, will find this story of interest.

The Beginning

The inception of the green bench dates back to 1906, when real estate salesman Noel Mitchell decided that he could improve his business by offering a place for people to sit and rest their feet. In 1907, Mitchell ordered 50 bright orange benches and placed them outside his office at the corner of Central Avenue and Fourth Street. The benches had dual purpose; they provided a great place to advertise his business and gave his patrons a place to sit.

The benches were an immediate hit. Due to the large number of

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people sitting on his benches, people began calling the crowd of bench sitters “Mitchell’s Prayer Meeting”. Soon, other business owners caught on and asked to borrow Mitchell’s benches or had their own built.

Before long there were thousands of benches of many different colors and sizes throughout the city. Al Lang, who became mayor in 1916, passed the 1917 Bench Ordinance requiring that all benches be of a uniform size and painted a dark hunter green. Local shopkeepers resisted, but grudgingly came to accept the ordinance, and soon over 7,000 green benches filled the sidewalks of St. Petersburg. Eventually, St. Petersburg, long known as “The Sunshine City” also became known as “The City of Green Benches”.

Following World War II, St. Petersburg became a magnet for retirees coming to visit and live in our city’s sunshine. With so many senior citizens sitting on the many green benches that dotted the sidewalks, resting and watching the passing scene, St. Pete was given the sobriquet “God’s Waiting Room”.

The city decided in 1960 it would like to promote a more ‘youthful image, and painted the benches in pastel colors. Unfortunately the effort failed to produce the desired results, and in 1967 there followed a city ordinance that sought to provide a more modern image. The benches started to disappear. By 1970s they were gone, but not forgotten by those of us, myself included, old enough to remember them.

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History

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

The historic Open Air Post Office turns 100 years old this month, and the Sunshine City has former postmaster Roy S. Hanna’s tenacity to thank for this iconic downtown structure.

A new post office was needed due to St. Petersburg’s rapid growth in the early 1900’s, so Hanna petitioned Washington.

Congress allocated the money to build a post office on the corner of 4th Street and 1st Avenue N, and designed a typical, closed-in building. Voicing his objection and refusing to give

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in, Hanna sought out the plans of architect George W. Stewart who designed a Mediterranean Revival style open-air facility - more suited to the style of St. Petersburg. The Open Air Post Office opened on Sept. 27, 1917.

The St. Petersburg Museum of History is located at 335 2nd Ave NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.

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

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Local Business

in and share their kindness, lives and talents with us. It’s been truly incredible to experience art so personally in an environment of collaboration and support.”

More than a mecca for creatives, Black Crow nourishes the St. Pete art scene by hosting public events where locals mingle and socialize over unique entertainment.

Art Shows Photo Cluster by Matt Peterson (@jescowoods)

Creative Events and a Welcoming Crowd at Black Crow Coffee Co.

By Alan Venable

Black Crow Coffee is St. Petersburg’s finest gathering place for artists, writers, musicians and anyone looking for an artistic haven around the corner. Here, you can tinker on the piano or pull a guitar off the wall and give it a play without any side-eye or shushing.

And that’s not to say it’s a noisy place!

Contrarily, busy writers find Black Crow a perfect place to relax and power through content in a conducive environment. It’s like visiting a home away from home, with all the same charm and comfort.

Located at 722 2nd St. N., tucked in a cozy plaza with Old Northeast Tavern and Pizza, Black Crow is easily overlooked from

the street. However, stopping in proves that this inspired little coffee shop deserves a lot more attention from passersby.

Owners Greg Bauman and Deana Hawk provide more than a delightful brew and a comfortable spot to crash while you sip.

Black Crow is a warm, accepting space where welcoming and familiar faces abound.

“At Black Crow,” Hawk explains, “we truly strive to make this space a place for everyone— to exchange ideas, to create and be inspired, to become more connected with their city, or to simply enjoy a great cup of coffee. We have young street artists, authors, photographers, artisan bakers, performers of all kinds, come

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When: Every 1st Saturday, 7pm Hawk said: “A great way to experience the artistic magic that occurs at Crow is to come out at 7pm on the first Saturday of every month to meet the new artist (or artists) of the month.

We try to offer diverse art each month so that our walls are constantly coming to life in new ways. We have had diorama zines, film and underwater photographers, screen printers, acrylic and collage artists, sculpturists––even live art!”

Poetry Readings

When: Every 3rd Thursday, 7pm Hawk said: “Our poetry open mic events happen every third Thursday monthly, and draw small and large crowds alike. With an intimate vulnerability given a platform, we encourage poets of any level to read aloud–– original or cover pieces. These nights are magical. Whether as a reader or a listener, you walk away with something to mull over.“

Open Mic Nights

When: Every 3rd Saturday, 7pm Hawk said: “Music open mic nights at Black Crow were inspired by the musical open mics of our other coffee shop, Indian Shores Coffee. We have had people of every age, experience level, instrument and style come

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Photo by Kelly Nash Photography

in and grace us with their skills. These nights are hosted by our own talented barista Matthew, who is one half of the musical duo, Blestian.”

Community Support Beyond the Shops

Beyond their consistent contributions to the artists of St. Pete, both at Black Crow Coffee and their sister shop Indian Shores Coffee, Bauman and Hawk give generously to the local community. For starters, they roast their coffee locally in the Grand Central District, and donate a dollar for every pound they sell to the local chapter of ACLU, as well as other charities.

According to Hawk: “Black Crow has offered us an amazing way to reach out to the community beyond our coffee shop doors. We have sponsored countless community events such as Don’t Stop St. Pete, Et Cultura Music Festival, Creative Mornings St. Pete, and Bike to Work day. Events are a wonderful way to partake in the collective creative

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power of our city! We have also been able to partner with and help support many incredible local organizations, such as Edible Peace Patch, Keep St. Pete Lit, St. Pete Women’s Collective, St. Pete Free Clinic, St. Pete Bike Co-op, and many more.”

If you ask them what they think makes St. Pete such an incredible city––Bauman and Hawk will tell you it’s the people. They prove it by working hard to provide everyone a welcoming, creative environment, one without judgment or apprehension.

Hawk affirmed, “We believe deeply that at the heart of success is selfless giving––giving to our community in a way that fosters sharing our passions of the arts, music and life with one another over a great cup of coffee.”

Black Crow Coffee is located at 722 2nd St. N. Open daily, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, please visit www.blackcrowcoffeeco.com or follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/blackcrowcoffeeco/.

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Not for profit

Radius Church: Leading the Way in Love

By Victoria Lasavath and Cristina Juska

St. Petersburg’s Radius Church celebrated its third birthday this month, and they are the ones giving gifts to the community. This year, the 150-member church is helping to paint the St. Petersburg Free Clinic’s family center, which houses homeless families, as well as collecting 300 twin bed sheets for the shelter at CASA (Community Action Stops Abuse).

“There are always presents at birthdays, sure, but it’s always better to give than to receive,” said Blake Clark, Radius’ lead pastor.

Love Lunches

One of the earliest ways Radius began giving back to the St. Pete community was pretty simple: they started making “Love Lunches” for the homeless. Each lunch includes a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a bag of chips and bottled water. Church members stay after their Sunday gatherings to assemble these lunches for the week.

One of the recipients of these Love Lunches in the church’s first year was Richard.

At the time, Richard was living on the street with his beloved canine companion.

Radius and, in particular, one of its families invited Richard into the fold, helping to get him back on his feet and get clean.

He was able to then find a job and housing

Top Left: Talan delivering donuts to the local fire station for Radius’ Annual Love Week Top Right: Friends and family gathering with Radius Church on a beautiful Sunday in St. Pete Above: Pastor Blake Clark (left) and members of Radius Church bringing dinner to Fire Station #4 for himself and his dog. Richard now is an active member of Radius Church, who leads their weekly Sunday morning outreach to the homeless.

“We may not be able to end homelessness, but we can make a difference by helping someone feel loved and valued,” Pastor Blake said.

Building on the foundation of its Love Lunches, Radius launched the PB & Jelly Deli food truck in February of this year. The mission of the food truck is to spread love; for every sandwich they sell to the general public, they are able to donate a meal back to people in need within the community.

You can find the food truck at events around

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town, and follow PB & Jelly Deli on social media to learn where they will be.

The Heart of Radius

Pastor Blake explains the church’s founding philosophy like this: “The heart of Radius is to share that God, through Jesus, loves us, and if we’re going to follow him, we should lead in love. Love is more than a word; it needs to be an action.”

He first moved to St. Pete in 2007 to be the youth pastor at a local church. After five years, Pastor Blake and his family took a sabbatical. As they sought for what was next, they felt their hearts drawn back to St. Pete. On their return, they began looking

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downtown for a space to meet.

“We knew we wanted to be centrally located so that we could be a radius of love and hope in the city that we love,” Pastor Blake said.

Radius’ passion to act in love propels them outward into the city.

Blake said, “We can’t do all that needs done, but we can support those who are already doing good in our community.” The church works closely with hyper-local organizations, such as the St. Petersburg Free Clinic and CASA, to achieve shared goals.

For example, Radius partners with Infused Tea Company and Dixie Hollins High School to collect and deliver full Thanksgiving meals to as many as 175 families. Each year they look to increase the number of families they can reach with a meal.

“We feel that the church should lead the way in love,” Blake said, “and that if a church closes its doors, the community should notice.”

Infused Tea, based in downtown St. Pete, is a regular partner with Radius. Not only do they support the Thanksgiving food drive, but they also offer a tea that gives 10% back to CASA for each sale.

“Right out of the gate, we wanted to partner with an organization benefiting the community,” said the owner of Infused Tea, Ray Ritola.

Radius’ Mission

Radius Church are a people on mission, moving out in everwidening circles to spread love (and peanut butter!). The church seeks to inspire all who attend to be a radius of Jesus in their family, community and world.

Pastor Blake said: “We want people to come as they are, but leave inspired to be more! We love St. Pete and are so honored to be serving this city, seeking to make a difference, one person at a time.”

Radius Church gathers on Sundays at 11am at the St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club (559 Mirror Lake Drive North). All are welcome to attend. Learn more at www.radchurch.com or email Pastor Blake at blake@radchurch.com.

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ST. PETE STORIES

Monika and her son Torsten in 1994

Bavaria to St. Petersburg: A Dream Fulfilled

By Monika Turner

Let me introduce myself. My name is Monika Turner. It is hard to believe it has been 23 years since the first time I came to Florida in 1994. A friend of my husband, Manfred, had moved to St. Petersburg and opened an antique business. He asked Manfred, who was a master carpenter, to come here and do some work for him. My husband always dreamed about retiring in the United States, and this seemed like the chance to see if it was all he dreamed.

It was six months before we actually boarded the plane for Ft. Myers. As we planned and made arrangements, his dream became my dream as well. I have to admit I was excited, but afraid at the same time and nervous about leaving our home and friends in Bavaria. It took a lot of planning and paperwork, but the day finally came to leave, and with our teenage son, Torsten, we boarded our airplane.

Before my husband started to work, we bought a motorhome and spent the first four months touring the U.S. As we toured the country we made stops at places where they had never seen or heard anyone from Germany. I did not yet speak English very well, but I have to say most everyone was very friendly and accepting.

I remember one time we stopped for gas in a little town in Idaho where the price was 90 cents per gallon. As we pulled up to the pump we spotted a man sitting in front of the station cleaning his rifle. We were ready to leave and try to find fuel somewhere else, but the man put down his gun and walked up to the motorhome to help us. His friendliness was really surprising considering our first impression, and he actually wound up inviting us into his home.

Time flew by, and when we came back to Florida we rented a home in Pinellas Park and stayed until my husband was finished with the work, five years later.

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Our neighbors and friends were wonderful. When it was time to go back to Germany we were amazed to find they had all come to the airport to throw an impromptu farewell party. We said goodbye to everyone, including our son Torsten, who by this time had married and started a family. Soon we were in the air going back to Bavaria.

In 2007, Manfred retired and we followed our hearts back to Florida. This time there was much less fear and worry, as we knew more what to expect and had Torsten there to help us get settled.

Torsten picked us up in Ft. Myers and took us to St. Petersburg, where we rented a house in Magnolia Heights. Once again we found our neighbors were just as open to us as the last time we visited. As time went on, we grew to really love this neighborhood. When we left our first home, we never considered living anywhere else, and found an apartment within Magnolia Heights.

My husband became ill in 2011 and eventually passed away.

With his death I considered going back to Germany for a while, but I no longer had much family there and hated the thought of leaving Magnolia Heights and my sons.

Three years ago I met Bill Turner and we married after a short courtship. When we married once again I never considered living anywhere else but in Magnolia Heights. We started Monika’s Cleaning Service (see ad on pg 15) last year, beginning with just six clients.

Since then, well-satisfied clients have recommended us to friends and family, so we now have over 80 clients. As our business continues to grow, we are able to hire more people, who we personally train to clean in the German methods and traditions.

Who knows for certain what the future will bring? But one thing is certain: St. Petersburg is our home and here is where we plan to stay.

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ART

Local Business and Homegrown Art: A Beautiful Partnership

By Mitzi Gordon

Artwork by Tes One on display at the St. Pete Great Bay headquarters Many business owners have an untapped power: It’s the power to foster a more vibrant community and create stronger relationships, simply by supporting homegrown arts and culture.

Kathy Gibson, a St. Pete-based art advisor and curator, has seen targeted local investments like these give back exponentially to business owners. She shared three easy and direct ways that local business owners can get involved and foster the vibrant Bay Area arts scene: 1) Purchase regional art for your business’ public lobby, if you have one. This may be one piece, a series by one artist, or a small collection of pieces by a few different artists. Include a plaque or label of some kind to identify the artists.

2) Invite the artists to see their work in your space, and consider having a simple gathering to celebrate this new relationship.

Where relevant, a business could invite clients to the gathering to meet artists or enjoy a brief presentation. If the collection is large enough, invite interested groups in for a tour or discussion about the art.

3) Local arts organizations often have programs that could use financial support.

For example, funding a table for an arts award banquet, or purchasing tickets to a local play or musical performance. Depending on

budget, a business owner could buy multiple tickets and offer them to those who may not be able to attend otherwise.

“There are so many ways to be supportive,” Gibson said. “One business I worked for bought a block of tickets to a popular local performance as an employee holiday gift, and in doing so, checked many important boxes.”

Ongoing Commitment

About ten years ago, Gibson curated a corporate art collection for the law firm Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP, and the company today remains committed to actively supporting Florida artists. Gibson meets with their art committee several times a year to discuss artists of interest and potential acquisitions. She occasionally leads tours of the collection and hosts Art for Lunch presentations to staff.

“Knowing who you are buying from makes the experience more meaningful for both the buyer and the seller,” Gibson said.

“Supporting local artists sets off a natural chain reaction...and, I think, makes future purchases more likely, which is necessary to keep artists in the region. It’s not enough to buy one piece and expect the artist to be able to stay in the area. You have to keep going back, just like you do to your favorite restaurant or coffee shop.”

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Finding Balance

What’s the best recipe for a relationship that yields positive return to both business and artist? At the core, it’s about balance.

“Both parties have to give a little, and have an open, creative mind,” said Chad Mize, a St. Pete-based artist and curator who has worked extensively with businesses like Great Bay Distributors and Bank of the Ozarks. For a healthy exchange, Mize suggests artists study and honor each client’s goals, while businesses leave room for the artist’s creative input.

Mize curated a permanent collection for the offices of Great Bay Distributors in 2016, installing about 30 different pieces by 17 local artists at their St. Petersburg headquarters.

The Contemporaries, a membership group from the Museum of Fine Arts, recently toured the Great Bay collection and got to speak with some of the artists about their process.

Gibson pointed out that patrons who build connections with artists in this way are more likely to offer up ongoing support.

“It’s not only about buying the work, but also celebrating the artists and encouraging others to support regional art,” she said.

Purchase and Participate!

John Collins, executive director of the

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Graphite charcoal and pastel on paper by St. Petersburg artist Nathan Beard, part of the Great Bay art collection St. Petersburg Arts Alliance, sees daily the impact of these types of relationships. He encourages business owners to buy—not just showcase—work from artists in their community.

“Showcase the visual arts, but purchase some of them,” Collins said. “It’s not doing a favor to anyone but the business to show art for ‘exposure’. Artists can die of exposure.”

Mize shared several more ideas for business owners who wish to support the arts scene in St. Pete: “Purchase only local art for offices. Donate to causes that benefit the local arts community.

Attend events that revolve around the arts and encourage your employees to do so as well.”

You can even support the arts with your fork by holding business lunches at a cultural nonprofit venue, such as the

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MFA Café or Café Gala at The Dali Museum.

One major contribution doesn’t have to cost a dime: just show up. Whether at an exhibit opening, a pop-up concert or a gallery walk, artists need an audience to provide feedback and encouragement. Get a group together and make an impact with your feet. Take to the airwaves and let your friends on social media know you support local arts and culture.

“Participating in a vibrant art community is a responsibility,” Gibson said. “We all have roles to keep it alive and healthy—and as a result, we all benefit exponentially. Yes, buying is the best way to keep and celebrate talent in our area, but encouragement, attendance and sharing the experience are necessary, too.”

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ART

Mural by Zulu Painter and Thirst. Located at 2914 First Ave N.

SHINE 2017: Taking It to the Streets

By Mitzi Gordon

More than 16 skilled artists, dozens of dedicated volunteers, and a whole lot of spray paint. The SHINE St. Petersburg Mural Festival brings all this and more October 5 14, 2017, returning for a third year to further transform our urban landscape into an interactive outdoor gallery.

Rounding out the festival are vibrant special events, behind-the-scenes bicycle tours, and inspiring Bright Ideas projects designed to build community around our city’s creative spirit.

Bringing more than 35 new murals to St. Pete streets since its inception, SHINE is notfor-profit public art project led by a volunteer group of artists and community members. This October, the list of outdoor canvases ready for artwork includes 15 walls and one overpass, traffic-signal boxes, and even automobiles.

Festival curators recently announced the selection of this year’s official participating artists, who are coming from as far away as Australia, and as close by as right here in town.

The featured SHINE artists who are based in St. Petersburg include:

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R5 (St. Petersburg, FL)

Born in Mexico City and now living in St. Petersburg, Daniel Barojas (known as R5) works in diverse platforms such as mixedmedia illustration, watercolor, graphic and product design, jewelry, photography, toys, and graffiti. Using cultural and street influences as inspirations for his art, R5’s mission is to spread positivity by means of creativity.

Thirst (St. Petersburg, FL)

Jared Hernandez, also known as Thirst, is a prolific St. Pete muralist who has long been active in the local street art scene. His detailed artwork, found on walls across Florida, reveals a love of comic books and pop culture, showing vibrant depth through geometric shapes and patterns.

Zulu Painter (St. Petersburg, FL)

Zulu Painter is a multi-media artist working in traditional mediums, as well as in body paint, special effects, installation, and scenic art. His aerosol-based murals can be found throughout the state, including many large-scale works in St. Petersburg’s Historic Midtown.

The recipient of this year’s SHINE Open Call Wall is local artist John Suarez, a graduate of Ringling College of Art and Design and founder of Art in the Park in Bradenton. Suarez is a contemporary artist

known for his signature portraiture work and graphic style. Using the moniker Suarezart, he creates detailed paintings, sculptures, digital illustrations, and drawings.

For more information about the festival’s internationally-based participating artists, visit the SHINE website at shineonstpete.com.

There you can also find details on this year’s Bright Ideas projects, highlighting the power of art in community spaces – including a READ Movement mural by Tampa-based artist Jay Giroux designed to engage and inspire students at John Hopkins Middle School.

The SHINE events calendar offers many great ways to connect with the art and the action, whether your thing is a family festival or a gallery show. Selected highlights include the October 7 kick-off celebration at Child’s Park Rec Center, a pop-up SHINE Indie Market in the Fringe District October 13, and the Outside In gallery exhibition and closing party October 14, featuring curated art by SHINE artists, CARMADA art cars, food trucks, and more.

Artists will be painting throughout the festival’s duration, so be sure to grab an official SHINE Guide when they drop in October at dozens of Bay area locations, and get ready to hit the sidewalk for a self-guided tour of some eye-popping murals-in-progress.

For general inquires and volunteer opportunities, please contact info@shineonstpete.com.

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news

Downtown Developments

By Brian Zucker, Owner of St. Pete Rising

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

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

The St. Pete Sculpture Museum has announced plans to open at 780 Central Ave, next door to the prominent Chihuly Collection. The museum will feature the works of award-winning sculptor Jon Hair, who has created bronze sculptures for the US Olympic Committee, The Emmys, and over 35 American colleges. The 3,200 square foot gallery will house over 200 pieces of art, including many of Hair’s original clay master sculptures. The museum hopes to be open by Christmas.

An 18-unit condominium complex broke ground this month in Downtown St. Pete.

Only a ten minute walk to Central Ave, 747 North offers three bedroom, three bathroom condos with each unit over 1,800 square feet of living space and two parking spots per unit in the covered parking garage. Some floor plans are already sold out, so don’t miss this opportunity to live in the heart of the Sunshine

City. The development is located at 747 4th Ave N. and prices start at $460,000.

A new downtown Hyatt Place located at 25 2nd Street North will start accepting reservations October 15th. The 174-key hotel shares a block with the 41-story ONE St. Petersburg condo tower currently under construction and scheduled to be complete by the end of 2018. The hotel will feature some of St. Pete’s favorite local vendors to give guests a taste of what makes our city so unique.

Oak & Stone, a self-serve craft beer and pizza restaurant is expected to open on the ground level of the hotel in December.

Wild Roots, an urban garden and gift shop, has opened at 1949 1st Ave S. The store is stocked with a variety of plants from succulents to large house plants. Gifts such as enamel pins and tote bags from O’Berry’s Succulents and local ceramics from Honey Bee Clay Co

are available. Wild Roots is the perfect place to help you decorate your Downtown St. Pete dwelling with local greenery!

Another condo tower was announced for Downtown St. Pete in September. Bezu, a 16-story 29-unit complex will be built at the corner of 1st St. and 4th Ave N. Bezu will replace The Brownstones, a 4-unit development which was recently cancelled due to a lack of interest.

Land owner Steve Gianfillipo owns other downtown destinations, such as the popular co-work space Station House, the Cordova Inn, and the Coronet Apartments. Recently, Ichicoro Ane, a Japanese-inspired eating and drinking den, was announced for first floor of Station House.

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.

in St. Pete.

For more information, contact Scott Gault at 727.502.8401

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Events

St. Petersburg Fire Rescue, the “C Shift Crew”

100th Birthday Celebration Of “The World Famous St. Pete Green Benches”

When: October 1, 1 pm - 3 pm Where: The Fountains At Boca Ciega Bay, 1255 Pasadena Ave S, 33707 Cost: Free Come, sit a spell, and have some birthday cake at the Fountains at Boca Ciega Bay; the only Retirement Community IN THE WORLD lined with: ‘World Famous St. Pete Green Benches’.

For more information, email Dick Holmes semlohdic@gmail.com

St. Petersburg Preservation’s Movies In The Park

When: Each Thursday evening in October (5, 12, 19 & 26) Where: North Straub Park, between 4th Ave. & 5th Ave. NE on Beach Drive, 33701 Cost: Free

Each movie evening starts with live local music at 6pm followed by the movie on the big outdoor screen at dusk.

Moviegoers can come early, enjoy live music before the movie and enjoy a picnic they can either bring or purchase food from vendors who will be set up on-site. Bicycling to movies is a fun way to arrive and free bicycle valet parking will be provided by Coast Bike Share during the movies.

For more information, please visit stpetepreservation.org

St. Petersburg’s Memory Café Event

When: Monday, October 9th, 11 am - 1 pm (every 2nd Monday) Where: Carrabba’s, 1915 4th St N, 33704 Cost: Free If you or loved one are concerned about memory problems, or have an early or recent dementia diagnosis, this is a chance for you and your care partner to get out together and try something new and different. The St. Pete Memory Cafe is a stimulating, friendly, lunchtime, social event, specifically created for you. Simplified food menu and beverages are available for purchase.

Please RSVP to Jane @ sensol@seniorsmile.com (727-327-0167).

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Fire Prevention Week 2017

When: October 9th - 15th Where: St. Petersburg Fire Stations (for a complete list, visit fire.stpete.org/stations. html) Cost: Free Fire Prevention Week will kick off with an Open House at all St. Petersburg Fire Stations from 10 am to 12 pm, on Saturday, October 7th.

Stop by and meet your local firefighters!

Fire Prevention activities will continue throughout the week, and will end with St. Petersburg Fire Rescue’s 28th Annual Fire Prevention Block Party on Saturday October 14th, from 10 am to 2 pm. The Block Party will take place at the family-friendly Northwest Park, located at 5801 22 Ave. Featuring a variety of fun and educational activities for all ages including.

For more information, visit fire.stpete.org

Ghost and Art Tour of the Don Vista Building

When: October 21st, doors open 6:30 pm; tours at 7 pm & 8 pm; event ends at 9 pm Where: Suntan Arts Center (Don Vista building), 3300 Gulf Blvd, 33706 Cost: SAC members are free; donations suggested for the public and guests The event will offer an opportunity to learn more about the historic Don Vista building. Come and learn the stories of the three mysterious presences who occupy the space and share it with local Florida artists. This tour is designed to highlight history, theories on paranormal investigation, and show off some of the splendor of our local artists. It is family friendly.

For more information, please visit spiritsofstpetersburg.com.

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