Nearly everything relating to Ronald McDonald House usesthe phrase A Home Away From Home, because that is whatit is. A child’s struggle with a serious illness can be one ofthe darkest periods in a family’s life. A Ronald McDonaldHouse is a welcome respite from the sterile and scaryhospital environment families endure.The first Ronald McDonald House began with Kim Hill, the3-year old daughter of Fran and Fred Hill, a PhiladelphiaEagles football player. For three years, Kim was treated forchildhood leukemia, requiring Fran and Fred to spendmany a night camped out at the hospital. They watchedother families doing the same thing and learned many hadtraveled countless miles and could not afford hotel rooms.Hill knew there had to be a better way and gained thesupport of his teammates and Eagle’s GM Jim Murray. Anadvertising agency handling the local McDonald’s franchisegot involved and helped launched a Shamrock Shake(green-colored milkshake) promotion on St Patrick’s Day.Funds raised purchased an old house near the hospital.Thus, the first Ronald McDonald House was born in 1974as a “home away from home” for families of sick children.With the help of local McDonald’s restaurants and NFLteams, the concept spread. By 1979 there were 10 morehouses. By 1984 there were 60.Today, nearly 350 Ronald McDonald House programsoperate in 38 countries around the world, providing

families with comfort and a place to stay while theirchildren are being treatedThere are several Ronald McDonald Houses in Tampa Baydue to the efforts of a few key people: Dennis Sexton, LloydHorton and Ed Ameen. Sexton was the President of AllChildren’s Hospital, and Horton was the VP ofDevelopment. Ameen was a local McDonald’s franchiseowner. Sexton approached Ameen to help build Florida’sfirst Ronald McDonald House in St. Petersburg, which wasonly the 17th Ronald McDonald House in the nationThey found an old house on the edge of Roser Park,costing $30,000. When it first opened 35 years ago onJune 24, 1980, it only had 11 bedrooms. In 1983, thehouse was expanded to 18 bedrooms to accommodatemore families in need. There are separate living areas forbone marrow transplant families who require a moregerm-free environment.Horton and Ameen realizing they needed help, formed acommittee of influential business people and communityleaders. The members read like a 1980s Pinellas County“Who’s Who”. They officially incorporated June 27, 1979 as the SuncoastRonald McDonald House, Inc. This group quickly expandedand formed committees for Legal, Finance, Construction,Interior Design and Public Relations. Press conferences werescheduled and even a 30-minute documentary wasproduced and aired on area TV stations.A house manager, who could live on site and be on call 24hours a day, was needed. Rich and Donna Young wereunanimously selected. In the beginning, Donna, a registerednurse by trade, was the only paid employee. She stayed for33 years, eventually running four houses, before she retiredin 2013. Worldwide, she is the longest employed person inthe Ronald McDonald House organization.Or Current Resident

MARCH / 2015 ISSUE 31

By Bob Griffin, Publishercontinued....

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE - 35 YEARS OF SERVICE

ST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER

CITY NUMBERSCITY HALL. . . 893-7171175 Fifth Street North www.stpete.org

MAYOR OFFICE . . . . . . . . . . . 893-7201MAYOR - Rick Kriseman CITY COUNCIL - Vice Chair Steve Kornell •Wengay "Newt" Newton • Chair Bill Dudley• Charlie Gerdes • Jim Kennedy • AmyFoster • Karl Nurse • Darden Rice CITY COUNCIL ADMIN. . . . . . . 893-7117Terri Lipsey ScottINFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . 893-7111BUILDING PERMITS . . . . . . . . 893-7231BUSINESS SUPPORT LINE . . . 893-7000CITY CLERK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 893-7448CODES COMPLIANCE/ASSIST. 893-7373ENTERTAINMENT HOTLINE . . 892-5700LEISURE SERVICES. . . . . . . . . . 893-7207MIRROR LAKE LIBRARY . . . . . 893-7268PLANNING & ZONING . . . . . 893-7471SANITATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 893-7334UTILITY ACCOUNTS . . . . . . . . 893-7341EMERGENCIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-1-1FIRE DEPARTMENT . . . . . . . . . 893-7694POLICE NON-EMERGENCY. . . 893-7780POLICE TEXT MESSAGE . . . . . 420-8911POLICE TIP VOICE LINE . . . . . 892-5000-------------------------------------------BREAKFAST OPTIMISTS . . . . . 522-6143First Friday Street PartyCHAMBER OF COMMERCE . . . 821-4069COUNCIL OF NEIGHBORHOODS ASSNMichael Gulley . . . . . . . . . . . . 244-8374DOWNTOWN BUSINESS ASSN 823-4394Meeting: 3rd Wed of each month (8AM)ST. PETE DNA. . . . . . . . . . 203-530-4663Al Scafati, President. . . . . . . stpetedna.org DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS CIVIC ASSNMarion Lee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 894-9491DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP. 821-5166100 Second Ave., Suite 150FRIENDS OF SUNSHINE CENTER 821-2323FRIENDS MIRROR LAKE LIBRARYWayne Finely, President . . 813-767-5503HISTORIC OLD NE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSN Peter Motzenbecker President . 342-0653GWFC ST PETE WOMAN’S CLUB 822-498240 Snell Isle Blvd N.E.NORTHEAST EXCHANGE CLUB528-3828NORTHEAST LITTLE LEAGUE. 526-9602

ROTARY OF ST. PETERSBURG 898.6744Paula Adams, Ex Sec. SPRotary.orgSNELL ISLE HOMEOWNERS Scott Youngblood, President . . . . . . . . . . . . . ST. PETE COLLEGE . . . . . . . . . 341-4249SUNSHINE CENTER. . . . . . . . . 821-2323UNIVERSITY SOUTH FLORIDA 873-4873-------------------------------------------PINELLAS COUNTY INFO . . . . 464-3000COMMISSION OFFICES. . . . . . 464-3377 Ken Welch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 464-3614STATE:Senator Jeff Brandes . . . . . 727-395-2512Republican, District 22 3637 Fourth St. N., Suite 101 St.PetersburgBrandes.Jeff.web@flsenate.gov

Representative Dwight Dudley . 552-2747Dist. 68 - 3637 4th Street N., St. PeteDwight.Dudley@MyFloridaHouse.gov

Governor Rick ScottRick.Scott@myflorida.com FLORIDA UNITED STATES SENATORS:Marco Rubio . . . . . . . . . . . 202-224-3041www.Rubio.Senate.gov

Bill Nelson . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202-224-5274www.BillNelson.Senate.govAREA UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE:Kathy Castor. . . . . . . . . . . . 727-873-2817511 Second St. S., St. Petersburg, FL 33701www.castor.house.gov

-------------------------------------------LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

AMERICAN STAGE . . . . . . . . 823-1600FLORIDAHOLOCAUSTMUSEUM 820-0100FLORIDA ORCHESTRA . . . . . 892-3331GREAT EXPLORATIONS . . . . 821-8992JANNUS LANDING . . . . . . . 896-2276MAHAFFEY THEATER. . . . . . . 892-5798MUNICIPAL MARINA. . . . . . . 893-7329MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS. . . . .896-2667MUSEUM OF HISTORY . . . . . 894-1052PALADIUM THEATRE . . . . . . 822-3590SALVADOR DALI MUSEUM. . .823-3767ST. PETERSBURG OPERA. . . . 823-2040STATE THEATRE. . . . . . . . . . . 895-3045STUDIO @ 620. . . . . . . . . . . 895-6620SUNKEN GARDENS. . . . . . . . 551-3100CHIHULY COLLECTION . . . 822-7872THE COLISEUM . . . . . . . . . . 892-5202TAMPA BAY RAYS. . . . . 800-FAN-RAYSTROPICANA FIELD . . . . . . 825-3137

CREDITS

© 2015 Griffin Productions, Inc.

This newsletter is published byGRIFFIN PRODUCTIONS, Inc.and is mailed to many occupiedresidences in Downtown St.Petersburg’s zip code 33701 and33704. We are not associatedwith the City of St. Petersburg.

PUBLISHERBob & Becky Griffin

ART DIRECTIONBecky Griffin

SALES727-517-1997

CONTACT INFOP.O. Box 1314

Indian Rocks Beach, FL 33785517-1997 ~ 517-1998 FAX

StPeteDowntownNewsletter.com

We would like to hear from you. Isthere something you would like tosee included in this newsletter? Tell us what you think at

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ST. PETERSBURGDOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER

We are always trying to includemore of your news. People who livedowntown, plus the Snell Isle andOld Northeast areas want to knowwhat is happening in their area.That is why, if you have news orevents, please contact us. This newsletter survives on localadvertising. Please tell your homesuppliers such as pool companies,lawn care, electricians, etc about us.If you are a resident of our mailingarea and advertise, you will receivea discount.We produce similar newsletters infour other areas: Indian RocksBeach, Clearwater Beach andBelleair. You can read this and otherissues online atStPeteDowntownNewsletter.com.

SEE YOU AGAIN IN MAY!

ST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER

ST. PETERSBURG PRESERVATION’S MAYMOVIES & MUSIC IN THE PARK

Enjoy FREE film classics and music each Thursday evening in May in North StraubPark (400 Bayshore Dr., NE), presented by St. Petersburg Preservation. The funbegins with music at 7pm and movies at dark in the park, on Beach Drive between4th and 5th Avenues NE. Movies are free; pay-what-you-can donationsappreciated. May marks the 6th season for Movies in the Park, an event manyrefer to as the best “small” event in the waterfront parks.Movie goers are welcome to come early to listen to the music and to enjoy theevening with a picnic, either by purchasing food and drink from some of the St.Petersburg Saturday Morning Market's most popular vendors or by bringing theirown food. Bringing a blanket or low seats. A limited number of folding chairs areavailable for use. A great way to get there is on bicycle and secure, on-site bicyclevalet parking is available thanks to St. Pete Bike Co-Op.Movie titles will be announced at the May Movies Announcement Party at the Ale &Witch, 111 2nd Ave. N.E., on the evening of April 8. At the same time, the May2015 movie poster, created by St. Petersburg artist Carrie Jadus, will be unveiled.Movie titles and information will also be available at, www.stpetepreservation.org.

ARTISTSWANTEDWith the helpof Pinot'sPalette, theMuseum isintroducingPainted Past,Art by theGlass - apainting partywhere anyonecan create a masterpiece of a St. Petersburg landmarkunder the tutelage of award-winning artist JaclynBerantino. The first of the five-part series will take placeSunday, March 22, 2pm in the Museum's Flight OneGallery and will feature The Pier as the subject. The finalart pieces will be displayed in the Museum of History.Cost is $30 per person and includes all paint supplies,hors d' oeuvres, wine and a guided tour of the Museum.To register, call 894-1052 or visit www.spmoh.org.___________________________________________________WEEDON ISLAND Weedon Island Preserve – oftenreferred to as “the best kept secret in Pinellas County” –won’t be a secret for much longer. The world's largestrunning magazine, Runner's World, features it as its“Rave Run” in the April 2015 issue. It is 3,200 acres ofcoastal and upland ecosystems, owned and operated byPinellas County and home to the 8k Gopher WeedonTrail Run._________________________________________________THERE IS AN APP FOR THAT Buying a Florida Fish andWildlife fishing and hunting license just got easier. Aninteractive app that works with Apple, Android or Windowsis available for you to use to easily purchase licenses.Download the free app by searching for FWC in the AppStore or Google Play. The app lets you store a copy oflicense on your phone, check FWC news, findsunrise/sunset times, check coastal forecasts and reviewfishing and hunting regulations. Visit License.MyFWC.comfor more information.__________________BALLOONS, WHATGOES UP MUSTCOME DOWN Eachreleased balloon,including thosemarketed as“biodegradablelatex”, return to Earth as litter. Balloons can travelthousands of miles to pollute the most remote and pristineplaces. Countless sea animals die each year when theymistake the balloons, floating on the water, for jelly fishand eat them. The also cause power outages when theyget tangled up in transformers. Don’t release them!___________________________________________________MOON SET / SUN RISE On April 4th, the sun will riseand the sun will set within 4 minutes of each other. Butyou will have to be up around 7am to see it. On thatSaturday, the sun rises at 7:18am. The moon sets at7:22am, however, they will be in opposite directions,one in the east the other in the west. Have your morningcoffee and enjoy. _________________________________________________OUR NEXT ISSUE IS MAY Read this, as well as otherissues, online at stpetedowntownnewsletter.com

ST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER ST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER

LIBRARY CELEBRATES 100 YEARS This year, MirrorLake Library will be one hundred years old. It officiallyopened December 1, 1915 and was built with Carnegiefunds. The Library is located at 280 Fifth Street North, justnorth of City Hall. Contact Linda Branson, Library OfficeManager at 893-7318 for more information oncelebration related events. ___________________________________________________SENIOR AWARDS The Sunshine Center will bepresenting a Super Senior Employee Award Banquet onMay 1 to honor older employees in a local communitybusinesses. Older workers are a valuable resource in anyoffice due to their loyalty, reliability and productivity andthey deserve recognition for all they provide to ourbusiness community. There will be awards and honorablementions for the oldest part-time employee and the oldestfull time employee. The banquet will be held at the MirrorLake Banquet Hall. For more information call The SunshineCenter at 727-821-2323 or reach them on line atsunshinecenterfriends@gmail.com. _________________________________________________WERE YOU THERE? The Mahaffey Theater is celebratingits 50th Anniversary and we are writing a story about it foran upcoming issue. We’d like to include your memories ofit and the now gone Bayfront Center. Email your memoriesto bob@griffindirectories.com.___________________________________________________NEED ANOTHER COPY OF THIS NEWSLETTER? Pickone up at the UPS Stores at 200 2nd Avenue S. and inthe Old Northeast area at 204 37th Street N. While youare there check out their range of products and servicesincluding printing, packing, shipping, and mailbox._________________________________________________SUNSCREEN MOVIE FESTIVAL The Annual SunscreenMovie Festival, voted one of the “25 Coolest FilmFestivals in the Country” by Movie Maker Magazine, willbe held inside Sundial’s MUVICOTheaters from April 30 throughMay 1. Google it for a list ofmovies. ______________________________CINCO DE MAYO PUB NGRUB CRAWL Ride the FiestaTrolley to participating GrandCentral locations and enjoydrink/food specials at each stop,as well as other fiesta fun! Trolleywristbands are only $5 and willbe available for purchase at theGCDA office (2227 Central Ave),where the trolley will start at7:00pm.

Did You Know... and More...

ST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTERST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE, cont.In 1992, a secondhouse was built inTampa offering 14bedrooms to familieswith children beingtreated at TampaGeneral, St Joseph’s,and Shriner’s hospitals.With the house inTampa, the Board ofTrustees expanded toinclude members fromboth sides of the bay.The name was change

to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay.In 1996, a much larger second St Petersburg house openedwith 34 rooms. It is still their largest and busiest house. Thefirst house was purchased for $30,000. By comparison, thesecond house cost $1.9 million.When All Children’s Hospital opened their new and modernbuilding next to Bayfront Medical Center in 2010, it featureda fourth Ronald McDonald House inside the hospital, calledthe Central House. With 14 bedrooms, it is reserved forcritical care children’s parents. Families visiting for the daymay use its facilities for free snacks, showers and naps.Today, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bayoffers 80 bedrooms via their four houses to comfort andcare for visiting families. Criteria for staying is usually traveldistance; families traveling more than one hour or withtransportation issues, qualify to stay. The cost of operating a room today is $80 per day. Familiesare asked to contribute $10 per day, although it is notmandatory. Many cannot afford anything with theiroverwhelming medical bills and time away from work.By 2014, the local Ronald McDonald House Charities hadserved approximately 48,000 families, with an average of2,000 overnight guests. In addition, Central House servedan additional 3,000 day-use families.The houses would not exist without the 350 volunteers in thefour houses doing everything from checking in, orientation,answering phones, laundry, room maintenance and clericalduties, all while providing emotional support to the families.Volunteers work 10am to 9pm in four-hour shifts.The community meal program provides daily hot meals.Extra meals are frozen for use when no group meals areplanned. There is a pet therapy program that brings dogs tothe St. Pete East House to provide a welcome distraction forthose in residence. Other programs include arts & crafts,hair dressing and massage services.Here are some 2014 local statistics: The house has a 74%occupancy involving 20,677 room nights costing $1.6million (at $80/night). 1,837 families stayed overnight, and3,182 families were served with day use. The average staywas 9 days. 1,194 meals were prepared. 325 volunteersworked 19,563 hours (54 were teens working 1,639 hours)Today, Ronald McDonald House Charities’ operationalbudget is over $3 million. 70% of this comes from publicsupport and donations. If you would like to volunteer, callLise Fields at 727-767-8166 or in Tampa call MaggieSomerville at 813-254-2398 Ext 317. Get moreinformation on the Ronald McDonald Houses nationwide atwww.RMHC.org or locally at www.RMHCTampaBay.org.Thanks are extended to many people who helped develop this article,including Janice Davis, Alison Barrick, Roy Adams, Lisa Suprenand, AnnSeidenstricker, Ed Ameen and Sherwood White.

Instead of perfecting his golf swingafter retirement, downtown residentJohn Santamaria pursued somethingdifferent—Barbershop Harmony. Inschool, John was a singer/keyboardist(even competing in WCBS CousinBrucie’s Battle of The Bands in NewYork City). John arrived in Tampa in1986, practicing Pediatric EmergencyMedicine at area hospitals before co-founding After Hours Pediatrics (urgentcare for children), expanding to twelveoffices before his 2005 departure.Just one day after retirement, John attended a Tampa BayHeralds of Harmony rehearsal. Founded in 1945, the acappella chorus has sixty passionate men (as young asnine). It is not unusual for three generations of a family tobe simultaneously represented. Last year, the Heraldsearned The Sunshine District’s coveted spot to compete atthe upcoming International Barbershop Competition.John and his riser buddies practice weekly with directorTony De Rosa. “What an unbelievably talented guy. Tony’sone of the most decorated Barbershoppers in history, withfour international gold medals,” shares John. “He has anincredible ear. During rehearsal, Tony hears everything. Henot only can tell if something isn’t perfect but also calls usout by name for infractions. Tony does it with a sense ofhumor; he has the rare ability to personally connect withevery member, keeping us motivated to grow individuallyfor the ultimate benefit of the ensemble.”In addition to singing, John enjoys piano and is an avid

audiophile. John and his wife Kimberly moved downtownlast year. “I appreciate the culture of St. Pete and want tocontribute to its growth,” John explains. He wasinstrumental in booking a Heralds show at the Palladiumfor May. “This is new territory. We’ve built a strong base inTampa and want to spread the word in Pinellas.” Not one to sit idle, John also hopes to further the arts bycontinuing the Old Time Piano Competition currently heldannually in Illinois. John elaborated, “This popularcompetition has been organized by the same man for forty-one years, and he’s ready to turn it over to someone new.”The event has outgrown Peoria and would benefit from anew home. John is seeking like-minded people to helpmake this a reality. “Another great opportunity for our city!”Check out HeraldsOfHarmony.org for membershipinformation. The Heralds of Harmony and two internationalmedalist quartets will perform at The Palladium on May10th (Mother’s Day) at 3 pm. Purchase tickets atMyPalladium.org or 727.822.3590.

“NOTE”-WORTHY LOCAL EFFORTS TO PROMOTE THE ARTS

Donna Young, first house manager

ST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTERST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER

MARCHSpring Begins 20 Pier Final Plan Selection 20 Antiquarian Book Fair Coliseum 20-22 Florida Orchestra at the Mahaffey 21Historic Walking Tour Uptown Area 21Suncoaster’s 5K Run North Straub Park 26 Clothes 2 Kids Luncheon Coliseum 26 Grand Prix 5K Run Vinoy Park 27 Firestone St Pete Grand Prix 27-29 Gluten Free for Life Expo Coliseum 28 Old NE Neighborhood Yard Sale 28Public Schools Spring Break Begins 30 Rays Spring Training Ends 31

APRILGood Friday 3 First Friday 3 Flea Market on Grand Central 4 Last Day Gutenberg American Stage 5 Easter Sunday 5 Public Schools Reopen 6 Rays Home Opening Day 6 May Movies Announcement Party 8Martinis & Bikinis Fashion Show 10Florida Orchestra at the Mahaffey 11 Art Walk Second Saturday 11

Rowdies Home Opener Al Lang 11 Tampa Bay Blues Festival Vinoy Park 10-12 Spring Bonnet Tea St Pete Woman’s Club 12 Orchid Festival Sunken Gardens 12 Coliseum Job & Career Fair 13 Florida Orchestra at the Mahaffey 21 Main Sail Art Festival 18-19 Theatre in the Park Opens 22 Earth Day 22 Great Explorations Earth Day 22 Administrative Professional Day 23 Retro Beach Bash Museum of Fine Arts 24 Regata del Sol al Sol Waterfront Area 24 Florida Orchestra at the Mahaffey 25 Arbor Day 25 Green Thumb Festival Walter Fuller Park 25 Roaring Twenties Gala for HONNA 25 St Anthony’s Meek and Mighty 25 St Anthony’s Triathlon 26 Painting in the Park Museum Fine Arts 26 Coliseum Iconic Women Awards 29 Sunscreen Film Festival Muvico 30-1

MAYSuper Seniors Employee Awards 1 Movies in the Park 1 First Friday Get Downtown 1 Derby Day Gala St Anthony’s Foundation 2

Florida Orchestra at the Mahaffey 2 Historic Old NE Garden Stroll 3Ride to Keep Kids Safe Spa Beach 3 Teacher Appreciation Week 4-8 Movies in the Park 7 Florida Orchestra at the Mahaffey 8 Art Walk Second Saturdays 9 Postal Workers Food Drive 9 Annual Puppy Love Benefit 9 Mother’s Day 10 Happy Hour with a Historian 13 Movies in the Park 14 Stone Crab Season Ends 15Florida Orchestra at the Mahaffey 16 Relay For Life 16 97X Backyard BBQ 16 Theatre in the Park Ends 17 Safe Boating Week 18-24 Florida Orchestra at the Mahaffey 21 Florida Orchestra at the Mahaffey 23 Corvette Show South Straub Park 23 Memorial Day 25 Public School Closed 25 Movies in the Park 28 Florida Orchestra at the Mahaffey 30 Saturday Morning Market Closes 30 MFA Monet to Matisse Ends 31

CALENDAR OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTSVolunteers NeededClothes To Kids, a local nonprofit, is looking forvolunteers to fill weekly shifts from 9-12am on Mondays,Thursdays, and Friday mornings at the St. Petersburglocation. Volunteers should love working with clothing,sorting, tagging, and organizing in a casual, pleasant, smallgroup setting. Clothes To Kids provides new and qualityused clothing to low-income or in crisis, school-agechildren, free of charge. If you can help, contact PattiHanks, Executive Director, at pattih@clothestokids.org or727-215-8382. Pet Pal Animal Shelter’s 13th Annual Puppy LoveBenefit, on May 9th is their largest fundraiser of the year. Itis VITAL to the day-to-day operation of the facility andprovides much needed funds for the care and recuperationof our animals. Held at the Coliseum, the "uncorked"evening included dinner, silent & live auctions, puppypimping, 50/50 raffle, live music, and much more! Theyneed Live Auctioneers and Assistants, Goody Bags stuffers,Check In personnel, Table Escorts, Table Monitors andpeople for setup and breakdown. Emailgracie@petpalanimalshelter.com to help.Does your organization have a special volunteer need?Email your needs to bob@griffindirectories.com to havethem included in this new column.The Letter Carriers Food Drive is Saturday May 9. Althe food is taken to St. Petersburg Free Clinic, unloadedand sorted in one day by a huge volunteer effort. If youare interested in helping this year, please contact AngelSchumaker, Director of Volunteers and Special Events at727-821-1200 ext. 114 orAngel.Schumaker@StPetersburgFreeClinic.org.Does your organization have a special volunteer need?Email your needs to bob@griffindirectories.com to havethem included in this new column.

WHAT IS EARTH DAY ALL ABOUT?Earth Day is an annual event observed on April 22nd. Theconcept started in the U.S. and has spread to 192 countries.Events are held to show support for environmentalprotection. The idea was first proposed in 1969 at a UNESCOConference in San Francisco. Peace activist JohnMcConnell, proposed having a day to honor the Earth andthe concept of peace. He thought the date should be March21, which is the northern hemisphere‘s first day of spring.Denis Hayes became the primary organizer and promoter. A month later, April 22nd was proposed by U.S. SenatorGaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in day. Nelsonwas eventually awarded the Presidential Medal of Honor ofFreedom in recognition for his efforts in this area.The first Earth Day had participants and celebrants in over2,000 universities, tens of thousands of elementary schoolsand hundreds of communities across the country. Itgathered over 20 million Americans to form peacefuldemonstrations in favor of environmental reform. Once April 22nd became the “official” Earth Day, Hayestook the concept international in 1990. He organized eventsin 141 nations. Earth Day soon became Earth Week, withactivities highlighting environmental issues covering a fullweek. Earth Day is coordinated by the non-profit Earth DayNetwork and is still chaired by its first organizer, DenisHayes. Find more information at Earthday.org.

ST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTERST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER

by Bob Clark, Belleair Christian Science practitionerPrayer, the act of humbling one’s self before a higher powerto find wisdom and healing, can offer solutions to even ourmost challenging local and national health dilemmas. Andthere’s never any lack of unhealthy situations that arebegging for such solutions! One of our most pressing but somewhat hidden problemshere in Pinellas County is the plight of homeless children. Inresponse, the Clearwater Christian Science church I belongto recently started a matching fund to help local childrenfacing life homeless. Money came in immediately and ourSunday School children committed to making bags of schoolsupplies at the beginning of the school year and snack bagsthroughout the year. We did this because we discovered thenumber of homeless kids in our area is five times greaterthan five years ago and growing worse. The Bible Lesson at our Sunday service the day we voted tostart the matching fund was about Solomon. One of thelessons for me was that the “Wisdom of Solomon” wasn’t somuch his as it was God’s, and therefore freely available toall. Solomon sought wisdom humbly from his God and notonly received that gift but also gained great riches and asolid international reputation. Rulers from other continentscame to marvel at both his wisdom and his riches.Whether our need is for a home or for health we can allbenefit from this kind of prayer. For me, humble prayerseeking divinely inspired solutions, has consistently provedeffective. Whether it’s a church reaching out to its communityor a person reaching out for healing, prayer is providinganswers today as tangibly as it did in Solomon’s time.So what answers does prayer have for our national health

care dilemma, which, like our local homelessness problem,begs for relief? Soaring health care costs, which account forover one sixth of every dollar spent in the U.S., have nowreached $3.8 trillion. This is over 17% of our GDP and morethan twice as much as most other developed nations. Howmuch healthier are we for all that spending?One answer comes from a recent Newsweek article whichestimates that the U.S. spends hundreds of billions of dollarsevery year on medical procedures that provide no benefitand can even pose a substantial risk of harm.Praying for wisdom and healing when faced with local orpersonal health dilemmas, or even national crises thatthreaten our individual and collective well-being makessense. It’s open-ended. There’s no limit to what we can prayabout...or what results that might bring. The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life reports that overone-third of Americans have experienced or witnessed adivine healing of illness or injury. In rough numbers that’swell over 100 million of us who have resolved healthdilemmas through some kind of prayer.Prayer takes many different forms and means different thingsto different people. One of my favorite ways to think ofprayer is well expressed by Christian healer and author,Mary Baker Eddy, who wrote in Science and Health with Keyto the Scriptures, “The prayer that reforms the sinner andheals the sick is an absolute faith that all things are possibleto God, — a spiritual understanding of Him, an unselfedlove.”Waking up to the potential of such prayer could haveenormous benefits for us all.

HUMBLE PRAYER AND BETTER HEALTH

ST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER ST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER

All Children’sHospital’sPresident DennisSexton, calledMcDonalds’corporate office,who called me.McDonaldswanted thenearest franchiseinvolved in RonaldMcDonald House,which was me. Dennis found thehouse andapproached the elderly owner about selling it. The hospitalbought it, later selling it to Suncoast RMH Charities. I was the first Vice President. We needed $250,000 to getstarted. $30,000 was to buy the house. Three banksteamed up to make that loan and we started fundraising.Tony Bennett had a concert at the nearby Mahaffey Theater.They donated 200 tickets which we sold making $20,000. Dr. Terry and Lynn Tanner bought and donated the littlecottage behind the first Ronald McDonald House. They hadlost a child and were aware of our cause. In 1983, I became the Treasurer. I am very proud of therole McDonalds has played in supporting the RonaldMcDonald Houses, especially here in Tampa Bay. The localbudget is now $3 million per year. Locally, McDonaldshelps to raise $1,000,000 per year. That is one third of theannual budget. The remainder comes from donations. There are plans to build one more house in St Pete. Thisshould happen in about 3 years. I have since sold myMcDonalds stores and now devote 100% of my time to theRonald McDonalds Houses of Tampa Bay. Edward Ameen, Chairman of the Board____________________________________________________

“I retired March 6 after working for the Ronald McDonaldHouse for 27 years. It seems like I started there yesterday. I lived in Birmingham when my child had to have openheart surgery. I slept in her hospital room for 3 weeks, withmy husband in a nearby hotel, so I know what thesefamilies have to go through. When we moved to St Petersburg, I contacted Donna Youngto volunteer. I wanted to get involved a little. They hired meand have had my heart and soul ever since. I have seen alot of changes, but one thing never changed. The parentsthat come here are all worried and frightened. The RMHhouse is a blessing to them. It is a bitter sweet feelingleaving, but I plan to return after a long vacation andcontinue as a volunteer. This is a mission that is importantto me.” Lynn Lippincott, Family Coordinator RMH ____________________________________________________“Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) provides anindispensable service to families. The Tampa BayBuccaneers are thrilled to recognize the 35th anniversary ofthe local branch. RMHC is a group close to the heart of theBuccaneers organization, as we have always beendedicated to causes benefitting children and families. As amember of the Board of Trustees of RMHC Tampa Bay,along with Buccaneers Co-Chairman Bryan Glazer, who sitson the Advisory Board, I am proud our team can beassociated with such a meaningful piece of the community.”Brian Ford, COO, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

“I was the Second President of the Suncoast RonaldMcDonald House and President when the first houseopened. I remember getting a call from All Children’sHospital’s Lloyd Horton in 1978 about this idea. We allliked it and formed a committee. I told our committee, ‘Weonly have one chance to do this and it needs to be doneRIGHT! We need the right people involved with this project.’ McDonalds’ Ed Ameen was the biggest asset in that hedonated both time and money. Before we bought house#1, he took us on McDonald’s jet to Chicago, Birminghamand Atlanta…all in one day to see successful RM Houses. After we bought the house, we needed to remodel andfurnish it, provide food, hire a house manager and more.We had a goal of $500,000 and we eventually got it. TheNFL and McDonald’s were big contributors, but most of themoney came in small donations of $10 to $100 each.Some St Pete High School kids raised just over $150 byholding a car wash. Other neighborhood kids collectedsoda bottles and sent $1.69. The Junior League of Womenmade the single largest donation of $25,000. St Pete High’sInteract Club cared for the outside of the house and cut thelawn regularly. Everyone got a personal thank you letter.McDonald’s paid for a new red roof and put donation boxeson all their front counters, which they still do 35 years later. We had a sponsor a room campaign. For larger donations,we would put your name on the door of a room. Someonehad a sense of humor, when I somehow became thesponsor of the downstairs bathroom. Tampa Bay Buccaneer Lee Roy Selmon became the face ofthe group. He attended many events and photo ops andwas great. McDonalds put his photo with a child in the trayliners in all their area stores. I served as President for about 10 more years and enjoyedevery day of it.” Sherwood White____________________________________________________“I have so many fond memories of the Ronald McDonaldHouse from my days at All Children's Hospital. When Istarted in the late 1970s, the RMH was just getting started.I began my career as Donna and Rich Young’s PR Directorand ultimately became EVP of the Foundation. From time totime we took turns among the administrative ranks at AllChildren's as caregivers for RMH checking in families andspending time there so that Donna and Rich could get abreak some weekends. The families created their ownbonds with each other, shopping for groceries together, andforming a support group. It truly was the house that “Care”built. Joel Momberg Formerly with All Children’s Hospitaland Board Member of the RMHC Tampa Bay____________________________________________________"I spent 33 years acutely involved with the RonaldMcDonald House, 18 of those years living a driveway'slength away while my mother served as on-site HouseDirector. Living at the RMH instilled in me a calling to serve,which I did - right out of college. I went to work for AllChildren's Hospital. In 2009, I found myself on the otherside...as a parent in need of the RMH. My newborndaughter was hospitalized in All Children's NICU, andsuddenly I needed that home-away-from-home that RMH isknown for. I saw firsthand how vitally important the RMH isto parents who need a place to stay, a warm meal and afriendly smile when they are dealing with their children'slife-threatening conditions. It cast a whole new light on thevalue of this worthwhile organization."Allison Lyon (Donna & Rich Young’s daughter)

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE - HOW WE REMEMBER IT

Board of Trustees Chairman Edward Ameenand Joe Casper welcome Tony Bennett

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NOW OPEN TraderJoe’s opened in the2700 block of 4th StreetN. to a lot ofpredictable fanfare inmid-February. Now ithas settled into normalbusiness and theycertainly have a lot. Thisis their seventh locationin Florida. The store features festive décor that mixestraditional Trader Joe’s elements, such as cedar-coveredwalls and Hawaiian motifs, with some local flair thatincludes art celebrating the local neighborhood. Of coursethey also have Two Buck Chuck, their signature wineproduct, which is one of the best-selling products ever atTrader Joe's, with over 800 million bottles sold in the last12 years. ___________________________________________________MASSAGE LUXE This new massage business opened inthe space vacated by Radio Shack off 38th Avenue North.Get more info atwww.MassageLuxe.com. Orcall 895-LUXE for anappointment. ________________________NEW CREDIT UNIONOPENS The bank buildingjust south of Trader Joe’sopened last month as aMid Florida Bank, aLakeland based credit union that has been expanding intoPinellas mainly by buying other Credit Unions. It is locatedat 2646 4th Street N. and Robert Rodriguez is the newbranch manager. Get more information about them andtheir services at www.MidFlorida.com. ___________________________________________________GIVING BACK Pure Natural Nail Lounge, an all naturalnail lounge and spa open since December in downtownSt. Petersburg, believes strongly in community involvement.The salon has already participated in Making Strides forBreast Cancer and . Additionally, owner Lan Pratt serveson the Board of Women With Purpose, a nonprofit helpingcancer patients pay non-medical bills. “One of the biggestpurposes in life is to help others,” says Lan Pratt. “We arehonored to be a part of this community and feel that it isimportant to be involved and to give back.” On April17th, the salon will host “White Knight” from 6-9pmwhere customers will receive 10% off all services and 10%of the revenue will be donated to Women With Purpose.During the month of April, Pure Natural Nail Lounge isplanting a tree for every service provided. The nail loungeoffers luxury manicures and pedicures, waxing, massage,facials and make-up application. Parking is validated andthe wine and beer menu includes local craft beers andnon-sulfide, organic wine. Stop in at 101 1st Ave. N. VisitPureNaturalNailLounge.com.______________________________________NEW WALK-IN CLINIC Signature UrgentCare, a walk-in medical clinic is comingsoon in the Signature building at 120 2ndStreet South, next to Zgrill. It will be a onestop shop for the whole family's urgentmedical needs with EKG, xray and labs onsite. It will be open 7 days a week withextended hours. Faraz Pasha, MD is the Medical Director.

Business Briefs...

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EFFECTIVE AND UNDER- USED TOOL TO HELP SELL YOUR HOME:The Preemptive Inspection

by Libby & Ron Salamone, Broker Associates RE/MAX MetroFinding the right buyer and signing a contract are only intermediary steps on the path toselling your home. After the contract is signed, the buyers will have a period of time,typically two weeks, to conduct inspections in order to make sure that the house doesn’thave defects that aren’t immediately obvious. Buyers will undoubtedly conduct a general home inspection and a pest inspection at thevery least, but also likely are roof, electrical, heating and cooling, seawall, and otherinspections. These inspections almost always turn up issues that require attention, and if theresults of these inspections are surprising, they can sometimes derail the deal completely. The solution is simple, if often overlooked: Before the house goes on the market, along with the landscaper, the painter,and the carpet cleaner, the seller can hire a professional home inspector to conduct a thorough inspection. This way, theseller has the opportunity to preemptively discover and repair any unknown issues.During the closing process, the buyers are going to have a lot on their plates. If we can give them the extra boost of aclean and uneventful inspection period, they are going to be much more likely to stick with the transaction through to thevery end. Even before the perfect buyer comes along, the preemptive inspection can be a useful sales tool. After all the items on theoriginal inspection are resolved, the seller can order a re- inspection, which will now generate a clean report. This reportcan be made available to prospective buyers, enhancing the attractiveness of the house. If they are considering your houseand another uninspected house at the same time, they just might go for yours if you have the clean inspection reportalready available, since the other house may have issues yet to be discovered.The other advantage of this report is that it helps eliminate renegotiation of the purchase price. If you wait for the buyer toconduct the inspection while the house is already under contract, the inspection may turn up issues of which the seller wasnot aware. In order to deal with the financial impact of these issues, the buyer will almost always ask to lower the purchase

price. Often these renegotiations fail, since neither party was prepared for the additionalexpense beforehand, and the deal falls apart. If there are no such issues because the Sellertook care of them in advance, we can avoid this situation completely.

Libby & Ron Salamone - 727-560-667- 727-708-1800www.StPeteUnique.com

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ADDING VALUE AND COMFORT WITHCUSTOM DESIGNED FURNITURE

Custom furniture may sound expensive but with today’stechnology and computerized woodworking equipment thatis no longer the case. Personalized furniture is nowavailable at very affordable prices and offered in a widearray of attractive colors and finishes. Home organizationhas benefited greatly from this trend.Custom closets are quickly becoming a standard option forhomeowners. Improving the storage and organization in acloset can add as much as three times the usual capacity ofthe old standard rail and shelf. Beyond the benefits of extrastorage, custom closets look great and can add value to thehome. Additional benefits include finding clothes or accessoryfaster, enough space to keep clothes neatly pressed insteadof crushed and the additional room to add new clothes. With the high cost of construction utilizing the benefits of awall bed can create the opportunity for dual purpose rooms.An underused guest room can become an exercise room,home office, media room or hobby room. With the Murphybed, it can quickly convert back into a guest room. Todaythese beds feature easy lift mechanisms and use standardhigh quality mattresses that will offer the same greatcomfort as a standard bed.Home offices or study areas can be designed to fit specificneeds and accommodate one or more users. With manyoptions such as book cases, drop down tables, built in filingand storage a highly functional custom business or workcenter can be a great addition to any home. Areas such as the garage can be transformed withinnovative storage solutions that can allow enough roomfor the car to get back into the garage. Utility roomsincluding laundry rooms and pantries can all be made toaccommodate more. Today new homes feature many of these as standardoptions and if they were not included, become some of thefirst purchases by the new homeowner. Remodeled homesare also benefiting since many of these “must have”conveniences can be great additions and provide morespace particularly if the home is a downsizing project. In the Tampa bay area a good place to see examples ofthese great ideas is the More Space Place. They have twoshowrooms conveniently located in Palm Harbor and St.Petersburg. At their showrooms skilled space designers canhelp turn custom concepts into realty. With 3-D designsoftware the concept layout can be seen before it ispurchased and installed by More Space Place’s professionalinstallers. If the preference is for a free in homeconsultations you can call 727-580-0405 or 813-654-1551. For the address of the showrooms or for additionalinformation, visit www.morespaceplace.com.

KIDS AND CUBS EASELSMost people know about Kids and Cubs, the over 80ssoftball team that is such a wonder to watch. What you maynot know is they also sponsor local charitable organizations.Since 1931, they donated over $200,000 to local charities.This year, to help raise funds for local projects, they aresponsoring an Easel Project. Each easel holds a high qualityframed commemoration of an historical event that includesphotographs and descriptions. These easels are placed allover town, so you may have already seen one. If you seeone you like, offer a bid. The highest bidder will be contactedat the close of the auction. You also can donate moneydirectly by contacting any one of the officers or boardmembers. The Kids and Cubs office is in the Sunshine Centerand please see them play at the North Shore Parkball field.

by John GleeSpringtime in St. Pete! The season that brings out thebarricades, fences, street/sidewalk closures, noise and anarmy of tourists that signal the beginning of race week. Theannual St. Pete Firestone Grand Prix race is our biggestevent of the year and is the city’s springtime ritual thatcannot be ignored. So does anyone from here actuallyenjoy this onslaught on our senses? Or has the racebecome the noisy guest from the north who wasn't invitedbut who just won't go away. In a wildly unscientific survey Iasked some local residents and restaurant workers aboutthe impact of these races on their lives; here’s what I found.The Signature Condo is in race week’s ground zero. Byrace weekend the building is surrounded by fences and withmost streets blocked, there is no way to ignore the effect ofthis event. In speaking with some residents I found theunsurprising fact that people’s reactions fall into threecategories: 33% love it, 33% hate it and the rest don't careone way or the other. The race lovers usually are in condoswith a view of the track and since people keep asking for apeek, they decided to make a party of it. Those with noview, sensitive hearing or no love of racing either stay andendure or leave for quieter places. The rest just shrug andsay that, like it or not, it is here to stay so why bother withan opinion. Corrigan’s is located on turn 7 across from Pioneer Parkand without the barricades and fences, you could sit at thebar and watch the cars speed-shift out of the turn. Evenwith the surrounding concrete you can smell, hear and feelthe cars as they fly by so these guys know about the impactof the race on business. They will be closed three daysbefore the race to prepare but they reopen on March 26th

at 10:30 AM, and the party begins. They stay open from10:30 until 3:00 AM throughout the weekend and their“Turn 7 Party” on Sunday is open for everyone. No covercharges, no price increases and location, location, location. Nature’s Table is located in the Northern Trust BankBuilding right at the end of the 1st Street Southstraightaway. It wasn't open during last year’s race sobesides a lot of foot traffic and noise, they don't know whatto expect. Along with their ample inside space, three outsidetables will be added to offer as much room for customersas possible. The owner is excited about the possibilities andhopes to serve race fans before they disappear into theevent’s inner space.The Hanger has the best view of the track but ESPNrecognized this fact and they have rented the entire spacefor their headquarters and cameras. So from March 24th tothe 29th, they will be closed to the public. The Tavern at Bayboro is the place to go to be close to therace but far from the noise and crowds. Located on the USFcampus, The Tavern remains our town’s secrete place forgood pub food, local beers and an eclectic anything goescollege atmosphere. This understated looking place will beopen race weekend and is hidden enough to free you fromall the crowds. Love it or hate it, the St. Pete Grand Prix has become thenew symbol of the end of winter and the start of our strollinto spring and summer. The popularity of this raucouscelebration of our town’s new attitude makes it a forceimpossible to ignore so downtown residents and businessowners have to decide how to deal with it. Whatever youchose, think fast because those cars are fast and you betterget out of the way.

IT IS TIME FOR ST. PETERSBURG’S RACE WEEK

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by Dr. Stacey RobinsonOne of the most common symptoms that I hear in my clinicis the complaint that “my brain doesn’t work like it used to”,such as mild memory loss (can’t remember names, lose thecar keys, etc…), difficulty concentrating, “foggy brain”, anddepressed mood. Most dismiss this as a normal part ofaging; however, this is a sign that the brain is not gettingwhat it needs. Or it may also be a symptom of chronicinflammation that can lead to the development of chronicdisease. Pay attention to these signals of your body andtake action now.1. Exercise is the most powerful optimizer of brain function.Exercise increases the size of the area of the brain thatstores memory. Exercise improves memory, concentrationand mood. Studies show that it is one of the most effectiveways to prevent and treat Alzheimer’s and is the moreeffective than medication for the treatment of depression. Ifyou are not exercising, it is imperative for your brain thatyou start now.2. The brain thrives on healthy fats - every day you shouldeat healthy oils from plants (such as olive, coconut, flax,walnut and avocado oils), nuts & seeds (best for your brainare walnuts and pumpkin seeds), and oily fish (wild salmon,anchovies, sardines, mackerel and trout).3. Challenge your brain with focused activities such asmeditation, reading, crossword puzzles and memorygames. If you don’t use it, you will lose it.4. Sleep is the time when your brain repairs damage andcreates new connections. Do everything in your power to

get 7 hours of sleep. Get out in the sun during the day andturn off TV and electronics well before you are ready tosleep. This signals your brain to maintain your circadianrhythms.5. Cut sugar and flour from your diet. Excess sugar causesinflammation, which is the common link to dementia,cancer, heart disease and osteoporosis. A study from theNew England Journal of Medicine showed that even slightlyelevated blood sugar increases your risk of dementia. Askyour doctor to check your A1C level (average blood sugar)and your CRP (inflammation).6. Eat a rainbow of veggies and fruits! Vegetables and fruitsare packed with vital nutrients that protect the brain fromdamage. You should be eating at least 5 servings per day.Healthiest for the brain are greens (such as kale, spinach),cruciferous veggies (such as broccoli, cauliflower andbrussel sprouts), avocados, and berries.7. Consider a trial of a gluten free diet because somepeople have neurological symptoms such as brain fogwhen they consume gluten (any foods with wheat, barley,and rye).8. Relaxation such as yoga, meditation, listening to music,spending time with family, reading and prayer can combatstress and promote brain optimal brain function. All ofthese activities reduce the chronic stress which can impairthe memory and also increase inflammation

Dr. Stacey Robinson, owner of Robinson Concierge Medicine, is a privatephysician practicing downtown. Reached her at (727) 329-8859 or viawww.RobinsonMed.com.

IS YOUR BRAIN FOGGY? HERE ARE 8 THINGS THAT CAN FIX IT FAST. AREA PHOTOGRAPHER PAYSTRIBUTE TO THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA The names of the artists featured are as unique as theirmusical genre - B.B. King, Mississippi Slim, T Model Ford,Little Bill Wallace, Boogaloo Aimes, Sam Chatmon, andJimmy (Duck) Holmes. Local photographer David HenryWilliams grew up in the Mississippi Delta and returned tophotograph the remaining Delta Blues’ artists. The result ofthree decades of blues festival visits and private sessions,True Blues is on exhibit at the Morean Arts Center, locatedat 719 Central Avenue in St. Petersburg, through April 26. True Blues is one man’s personal, heartfeltvisual journey to capture the music thatdefined a region, a people, a time inhistory and put down deep roots for somany other musical genres to build upon.Through the images, patrons will get asense of how it sounds, how the musicianfeels making it, and where this unique andpurely American art form hails from. While99% of the exhibit celebrates Mississippi’smusic makers, it will also feature TinyDancer, an image from New Orleans, now a part of thepermanent collection at the Mississippi Museum of Art. Williams, known for his innovative use of light, texture andshadow, found a way to blend both his love of blues musicwith his keen artistic eye. The result is a moving journeythrough some of the greatest moments in the lives ofhistory’s most prolific blues men. For instance, to captureB.B. King in a different way than the hundreds of shots thatexist portraying Rolling Stone’s Number Six of the Top 100Guitarists of All Time, Williams went back to B.B.’s roots.

“I went and picked up Lil’ BillWallace, the man who influencedB.B.’s early blues, from his nursinghome. While B.B. was preparing togo on stage, he walked in and thedeep joy B.B. felt at seeing one of hisoldest friends led him to close his eyesand hug his guitar Lucille in such atender way. Those are the kind ofshots people can expect in thisexhibit,” said Williams.

Throughout his career, Williams was given unprecedentedaccess into the music and the lives of the artists he hasphotographed. “I treated these guys like they were rockstars, because they are in my eyes. I always did what Icould to show them in the best possible light,” saidWilliams. “After all, they are the poster child for cool. Thatcomes from deep within. Putting on a wardrobe isn’t goingto have an effect. These guys are born with it. It’s the ‘it’that I look for in every shot.” Proceeds from a signed and numbered Giclee print fromTrue Blues will be donated to the Music Maker ReliefFoundation, a Hillsborough, NC non-profit committed topreserving Southern Roots music by directly supportingsenior artists in need, while documenting their music andsharing their talents with the world. The Foundation helpsartists earn income by providing booking and A&R services,promotional support and quality instruments. It also helpsimpoverished artists with monthly stipends for daily needs,and emergency support in times of crisis. Through theirCultural Access Program, they bring live performances andeducational programming to audiences worldwide tocelebrate America’s musical heritage. For more information, visit www.davidhenrywilliams.com

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SUNDIAL RESTAURANTS NOW OPENFarm Table Kitchenand the Locale MarketNot your typical downtownrestaurant, this is fixedprice at $105 per person.Dinner starts at 7pm(Thursday throughSaturdays , only) and isserved family style at acommunal table. As manyas eight different chefsmay present theirspecialties one at a time.Farm Table is on thesecond level of Sundial above Locale Market. Finddetails at www.LocaleGourmetMarket.com. Sea Salt Restaurant They serve a variety of seafoodincluding shrimp, lobster, and king crab, but specializein oysters. They come from British Columbia to Maine.They are open seven days a week at 4:30pm. VisitwwwSeaSaltStPete.com.Ruth’s Chris Steak House Celebrating their 50thanniversary, this is the chain’s 144th restaurantincluding one in Tampa’s Westshore area. This is anupscale steakhouse featuring only USDA prime steaks,delicious salads and desserts made from scratch. Entrees range from $28 to $115. They open seven daysa week, at 4:30pm. This location offers inside andoutside seating on a very large covered deck. ___________________________________________________BIRCH ON TV St Petersburg is becoming well knownnationally for its culinary expertise. Jason Cline of theBirch & Vine restaurant, inside Birchwood Hotel, wasfeatured on the Cooking Channel’s Emeril’s Florida.The episode titled “Out On The Town”, aired inFebruary, but can still seen online. Jason, whoparticipates in many area charitable and special eventswas chosen as one of six nationwide chefs to participatein the Niman Ranch farmer appreciation dinner wherehe cooked for over 400 farmers. They loved hisGorgonzola & Candied Bacon Meatloaf. ___________________________________________________CIDER PRESS CAFE This new place opened at 601Central Ave. They serve a plant based cuisine and cider,of course. Check them out at www.CiderPressCafe.com___________________________________________________BAR 548 This new full liquor bar opened in place ofSaki’s at 548 Central Avenue.___________________________________________________POM POM’S TEAHOUSE & SANDWICHERIA This isthe second location of the franchise; the first is inOrlando. Billed as East meets West serving themedgourmet sandwiches, side salads, loose leaf teas anddelicious sweets, their first location is very popular. Lookfor them to open soon at 2950 Central Ave.___________________________________________________THE BLUE GOOSE Opening in the EDGE District thisbar, full of hunting trophies, should be opening soon at49 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N. ___________________________________________________STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTIONS Stillwater Tavern, 224 Beach Drive N.Hofbrauhaus, 200 4th Street S.POW Pizza, 344 1st Avenue N.

Bar & Restaurant News... More Restaurant News...MIDTOWN SUNDRIESTO REOPEN In December,Midtown Sundries SportsBar, located at 200 1st AveS., unexpectedly closed.Now, downtown developerBill Edwards has acquiredthe McNulty Stationparking garage and therestaurant came with it.Rumor is, it will open as aRowdies themed sports bar.Edwards owns the teamand they play close by atthe Al Lang Field. Look for this soon. ___________________________________________________MORE PIZZA Tony’s Pizza is opening its third Pinellaslocation. There is one in Dunedin and downtownClearwater. The location will offer dine in, take out anddelivery and may have live entertainment, as they do inClearwater. They are located at 535 Central Ave., nextto Acropolis Greek Taverna. __________________________________________________PIPOS IS BACK Pipos Café, popular, long-time Cubanrestaurant, has returned to downtown. Previously atCentral Ave. in the 400 block, they opened in the spaceoccupied by Appropos at 8 Fourth Street N. OwnerRaymond Hernandez has other locations on 4th Street N.,Bay Pines and in Tampa. They have been in the area over30 years.___________________________________________________FOURTH STREET RESTAURANT BOOM In the past twoyears, more than $8 million in business real estate hasbeen sold along Fourth Street N. The area is explodingwith new businesses and restaurants including:

PIETOPIA A new Italian restaurant that is openingwhere World of Beer was. It will be a dine-in restaurantfeaturing farm to table fresh food, pizza and more.Owner Joe DiBartolo plans to feature a 39” pizza (3+feet wide). They should open soon at 5226 Fourth St. NJUST THAI This is their second location, the first is aSouth Tampa staple. Choose the different items for yourmeal and they will make it . It is located at 3201 4thStreet N.CASITA TAQUERIA Owners Don and Gwen Arvin firstrestaurant was on Fourth Street N, but they were forcedto relocate when Trader Joe's bought their property.They moved to Central Ave., but are coming back toFourth Street with a second restaurant where DeNunzio'sPizza was. Look for it soon at 2701 Fourth St. N..FRESH KITCHEN & DAILY EATS These two conceptsown by the same group will be opening side by sidewhere Lee Garden Chinese Restaurant, 4447 Fourth St.N. Look for this to open the beginning of the summer. NATIONAL NAME COMING SOON The Villa RoyalMotel next to El Cap Restaurant at 3540 Fourth St. N,was sold and demolished. Plans call for the constructionof a restaurant and retailer. The name of the nationaltenant has not been released, but they snapped up theopportunity quickly.GUSH JUICE BAR Owner Gabe Thomas opened thisjuice bar last month. He offers a range of cold-pressedjuices, cold-brewed coffee and nitrogen coffee. He islocated at 1100 Fourth St. N next door to IAmFitness.

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MARTINIS & BIKINISFashion Show Fundraiser to End

Domestic ViolenceLocal non-profit Heels to Heal is excited to host thisyear's Martinis & Bikinis fundraiser for CASA on April 10,2015 at the Museum of Fine Arts. The event features afashion show by Cerulean Blu and Heavenly Heels alongwith Beach Drive's Best Martini Competition. Participatingrestaurants include 400 Beach Seafood and Tap House,Parkshore Grille, the Museum of Fine Arts and TheRenaissance Vinoy. Tampa Bay Buccaneer Ring of HonorPlayer Jimmie Giles will be the celebrity martini judge.This is a fundraiser you do not want to miss! Tickets andsponsorships are available at www.heelstoheal.org.

WANT TO LEARN AMERICANSIGN LANGUAGE?

Learning to communicate nonverbally opens up a wholenew world of communication andunderstanding. Azalea RecreationCenter, 1600 72nd Street N.,offers a new class on Wednesdayevenings from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Doyou have family or friends who aredeaf? American Sign Language(ALS) is a gestural language usingthe hands and face and isperceived through the eyes. Eventhe bond between infant andparent can be created muchsooner with a deaf child by

learning to relate at an early stage. Learn to communicatewith family, friends and the deaf community in a wholenew way. In addition, learning a language helps expandthe mind and increase awareness. For information, call 727-893-7150 or visitwww.stpeteparkrec.org for more classes and activities.

AFTERNOON OF FOOD & WINEThe Dalí is hosting its fourth annual wine and foodtasting, Los Vinos de Dalí, on Sunday April 12th from 3-6 pm. Guests enjoy boutique vintners pouring theirfinest, mixed with an array of tapas tastings from thearea’s top restaurants, all against the backdrop of TheDalí’s beautiful Avant-garden. Tickets also include accessto the Museum’s galleries including the special exhibitionDalí and da Vinci: Minds, Machines and Masterpieces To purchase tickets or for more information on the event,please visit TheDali.org/vinos.

FOOD DRIVEThe Letter Carriers Food Drive is Saturday May 9, 2015.To donate, set out your dry and non-perishable fooditems in a grocery bag next to your mail box that daybefore your normal mail pick-up. Your mail carrier willcollect the items when they deliver your mail. The foodstays in your local community food bank, the St.Petersburg Free Clinic. Last year, they received over132,000 pounds of food which was unloaded andsorted in one day by a huge volunteer effort by membersof the community. If you are interested in helping thisyear, please contact Angel Schumaker, Director ofVolunteers and Special Events at 727-821-1200 ext. 114or Angel.Schumaker@StPetersburgFreeClinic.org.

ST PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTERST PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER

DO YOU HAVE HAZARDOUS TREES?by Jon Wilbur, ISA Certified Arborist & co-owner of Pinellas TreeServiceHigh winds from a hurricane whip across the yard causinga tree to uproot and crash into a nearby home. Most thinkthis is an unavoidable aspect of nature or simply an act ofgod. But not all tree failures are not random acts. Although healthy trees can fail under severe conditions,many trees fail because a structural defect has firstweakened them, before the aggravating condition occurs. THE PROBLEM WITH HAZARDOUS TREES Hazard trees have a high potential to uproot or breakapart and fall on property, people or power lines.Although tree failure is most often caused by storms orhigh winds, other conditions such as a shallow root systemor restricted root or crown growth may also be the sourceof the problem. LOOK FOR THESE HAZARDOUS TREE SYMPTOMSAny tree that could potentially strike an important target ifit failed, should be inspected at least once every threeyears. Even trees that appear to be healthy can behazardous. However, if your trees are experiencing any ofthese telltale symptoms, you should immediately contactan arborist for an in-depth tree hazard evaluation.• Dead, diseased branches• Weak crotches• Co-dominant stems (This is a tree with two main trunks.)• Cracks or cavities• Rot or decay• Loose bark• Root decay that is visible near the trunk.• Mushrooms or other fungus on the ground around a tree• Depressions or swelling in the stem of the tree• Lifting of soil adjacent to the tree• Nesting holes or bee hivesAN ARBORIST’S ASSESSMENTAn arborist will review the characteristics of the tree, notingthe species, height, number of trunks, crown developmentand pruning history. Then they will examine the tree’soverall health as well as the site conditions that couldaffect the tree. Finally they will explore potential targetsand give the tree an overall hazard rating.TREATMENT FOR A HAZARDOUS TREEIf the tree is deemed to be hazardous, there are a numberof treatment options available. Often the defective part ofthe tree needs to be removed, but in other casesconventional pruning methods or even cabling andbracing may solve the problem. However, trees that arebeyond saving or trees that simply have a high hazardrating, need be removed to protect the target area.If the tree can be saved, yet it is still deemed potentiallyhazardous, the arborist should periodically return toperform additional tree hazard evaluations. Since thetree’s health and site conditions can change over time,hazard evaluation should be completed every year. FREE INFORMATION GUIDEWant to learn more? Our FREE Information Guide: “HowTo Choose The Best Tree Service Company To Care ForYour Trees” can help. Just call us at 727-474-0356 foryour copy.

ST PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTERST PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER

THE DALÍ MUSEUM 895-6620 620 1st Ave. South www.studio620.orgDalí & da Vinci: Minds, Machines & Masterpieces ExhibitNow through July 26; Explore the whole of the humanexperience through the eyes of Salvador Dalí &Leonardo da Vinci with this exhibit featuring more than75 works, including reproductions of da Vinci books andpaintings; original and reproduced Dalí manuscripts,prints, paintings and sculpture; and the reimaginedinvented objects both da Vinci and Dalí proposed inadvance of their times. Explore five major groupingsdemonstrating the range of shared themes including:Youthful Scientific Dispositions, Psychology, Invention, thePower of Mathematics and PaintingFLORIDA CraftArt 821.7391501 Central Ave. FloridaCraftArt.comOver 30 Florida artists’ works have been chosen tocreate a “Garden of Earthly Pleasures” in the FloridaCraftArt Exhibition Gallery this March and April. The cityof St. Petersburg will be awash with colorful blooms asthis show complements the “Art in Bloom” exhibition atthe Museum of Fine Arts on Beach Drive. CRAFTYFEST 324-38782030 Central Avenue ArtPoolRules.com This is a monthly market that includes local arts, Etsycrafters, vintage and retro goods, jewelry and plants. It isheld Saturday and Sunday at the Art Pool Gallery

GALLERY WALKS STPETEARTSALLIANCE.ORGHeld on the second Saturday of every month, mostdowntown art galleries stay open for the walk and manyrestaurants offer discounts. Gallery Walks are expandedto include in St Pete Beach’s Corey Avenue and Pass-A-Grille. Walks are from 5 to 8:30pm. MAINSAIL ART FESTIVAL MainSailArt.orgHeld April 18-19 in Vinoy Park, they are expecting 250professional artists. There will be a Young at Art StudentShow, Kids Activity tent, live music and a variety of foodvendors. As always, admission is free. Volunteers areneeded, email to Volunteers@MainSailArt.org it interested.MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS 896-2667255 Beach Dr NE www.fine-arts.orgMONET TO MATISSE Works of Monet, Renoir, Matisse andPicasso with over 25 new and famous works on display. LUNCH AND LEARN April 6 at Noon meet photographerSelina Roman for a lecture panel discussion and lunch.RETRO BEACH BASH April 24, 8pm, photographs by MartinParr, $100 per person, open bar, lite bites and live music.Tickets available online or call 896-2667.8th ANNUAL PAINTING IN THE PARK April 26 from 1 to4pm in North Straub Park. Explore a wealth of activitiesincluding and painting. You can even try graffiti art on acar. There will be kite flying fresh local snacks, beverages,plants, and organic products. Meet local artisians and learnabout their crafts. Co-sponsored by Keep St PetersburgLocal.

ART & MUSEUM NEWS

ST PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTERST PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER

GFWC ST PETERSBURG WOMAN’S CLUB 16th Annual Spring Bonnet Tea - April 12 at 2pm at theWoman’s Club at 20 Snell Blvd NE, $15 per persondonation. There will be a tasty selection of sandwiches andsweets. Special guest Xianna Barco, a tea vendor atSundial’s Locale Market will present an authentic ChineseGong Fu Tea Ceremony. Sunday attire is suggested withhats, if possible. Proceeds will benefit the HistoricalBuilding Restoration Fund. For reservations, please callJudy Zamanillo at 822-6659 or email atVJZAMA@Gmail.com.New Membership Menu - The Woman’s Club is nowoffering 3 levels of membership and meetings. You canjoin with the Traditional, Weekend Edition or the JustStarting Out version. The idea is to extend opportunities towomen of varying ages and circumstances. All will be partof the club. For more information call 822-4982. DOWNTOWN ST. PETE TOASTMASTERSHaving confidence is one of the key ways we find personaland professional success. This nonprofit communicationand leadership club, teaches skills to help you listen, think,speak and gain leadership qualities. Participants gainpoise, positive body language and speak more easily. Theyare an upbeat, fun loving club in an organized setting, allwith the desire to better themselves. Guests are welcome tovisit for free with no pressure to join, Wednesdays fromnoon to 1 pm at the Municipal Services Building, One 4thStreet N., 6th floor, room 600. Call 727-893-7918. VisitDTSPToastmasters.com for more information.ROTARY CLUB OF ST. PETERSBURGThey recently presented St. Petersburg Police OfficersSergeant David Gerardo and Traffic Homicide InvestigatorOfficer Michael Jockers with the 2015 Ned March/BudPurdy Award. The award is presented to Officers whodemonstrate outstanding career accomplishments. Rotary Club of St Petersburg meets every Friday at noon atthe Orange Blossom Catering facility, 220 4th Street N. Forinformation, call 822-3277 or visit www.SPRotaryf.org.ST PETERSBURG SAIL & POWER SQUADRONThey meet monthly at the St Pete Yacht Club. In addition,they sponsor local seminars and provide courses severaltimes a month. Expand your basic boating skills withtheir six week seminar beginning Monday, March 23. Itcovers required safety equipment, boat handling, rulesof the road (water), navigational aids, anchoring,adverse conditions, communications, trailering, PWCoperation, knots and lines, chart reading and more.Graduates qualify for a Florida Boating Safety ID cardand insurance discounts. The course is FREE, but booksand materials are $40 per family. The class is limited to20 people. Contact Jeff Eckhart at 424-9800 or emailhim at JeffEckhart41@Gmail.com.DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS CIVIC ASSOCIATIONThis is an association of associations representing theinterests of the residents of downtown St Petersburg.They hold business meetings on the fourth Friday of themonth in Bayfront Tower. Contact Marion Lee, President,at 894-9491 or visit www.StPete-DRCA.org.FRIENDS OF THE MIRROR LAKE LIBRARYThey meet the first Wednesday of the month at 6pm,Call President, Wayne Finley at 813-767-5503 or emailMWayneFinley@Yahoo.com.

Organizational News...HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD ASSN. ,Upcoming events:March 28: The Historic Old NE Neighborhood Yard SaleApril 25: 2nd Annual Historic Old NE Roaring ‘20s GalaMay 3: Historic Old NE Garden Stroll.They are holding their second annual Roaring ‘20s GalaApril 25, at the Birchwood Hotel on Beach Drive at 7pm.It will include a jazz band, dancing, food, drinks and asilent auction. Money raised benefits historicpreservation and neighborhood non-profits, includingSunken Gardens, Great Explorations, the Palladium andthe Waterfront Parks Foundation. Tickets are availableon their website, www.HONNA.org. Their meetings are quarterly on the third Monday of themonth (except for holidays). Call 342-0653 for eventsand voicemail. Peter Motzenbecker, President, can bereached at 248-9288 or email PeterMotz@AOL.com.ST PETERSBURG PRESERVATION SOCIETYTheir Saturday morning Historic Walking Tours seasonwraps up in April with tours offered each Saturdaymorning through April 28. Tours are free to membersand $5 for non-members. Reservations arerecommended but not necessary and can be made atwww.stpetepreservation.org or call 824-7802.For more information about the organization, seewww.StPetePreservation.org or contact Peter Belmont,Chairman, St Petersburg Preservation at 463-4612.Follow them on FaceBook by searching for SaintPetersburg Preservation.GRAND CENTRAL DISTRICT ASSOCIATIONThey hold a monthly Flea Market on the first Saturday ofevery month along the 2500 block of Central Avenue. For information on the Grand Central DistrictAssociation, call Lauren Ruiz at 828-7006 or email herat GCDA@GrandCentralDistrict.org.ALBERT WHITTED AIRPORT PRESERVATION SOCIETYTheir monthly Pancake Breakfasts at Albert Whitted inthe Hangar Restaurant includes pancakes, eggs, meat,home fries, grits, orange juice and coffee. People of allages are invited. Breakfast is from 8am until 11am. Formore information on AWAPS, go to www.Awaps.org orcall Terri Griner at 822-1532.ST PETE DNAPorch Parties are held several times a year normally atarea restaurants or businesses. Tickets are $10-15 formembers and $15-20 for non-members. This includesmost food and beverages served at the event. See theirweb site for exact dates and locations.General meetings are held quarterly at the SunshineCenter to provide members information and a forum fordiscussion regarding Downtown issues. They arenormally held on the second Thursday. Consult their website for exact dates. The next one is April 9th at 7pm atthe Sunshine Center. Their guest speaker is new PoliceChief Anthony Holloway. The DNA represents residents and homeowners in thearea between MLK Blvd. to the waterfront, from 5thAvenue S. to 5th Avenue N. Membership is $15 a year.Visit www.StPeteDNA.org.

Organizational News...