MomCare: Breaking Down Barriers for Midtown Moms

BY SAMANTHA MESERVEY NNB Student Reporter ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services almost 30 percent of America’s pregnant women do not receive first trimester prenatal care. Pinellas County is trying to reduce this number with a program called MomCare. The brochures for the program describe it as “health insurance… Continue reading MomCare: Breaking Down Barriers for Midtown Moms

New shelter on the horizon for local nonprofit

BY TRÉ LITTLEFIELD NNB Student Reporter ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Lightning struck Tuesday outside Community Action Stops Abuse (CASA), as a storm passed over the Midtown area. Inside the nonprofit that serves survivors of domestic violence, another charge filled the air. Linda Osmundson is the 64-year-old executive director for CASA and she is also a survivor… Continue reading New shelter on the horizon for local nonprofit

Midtown Health Advocate Stops Blogging: Where Is She Now?

BY SAMANTHA MESERVEY NNB Student Reporter ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — In July of 2012 Ronnell Montgomery, a community leader in Midtown, started a weight loss blog titled “25 x 45”; her goal: lose 25 pounds by her 45th birthday. Her last blog entry is dated “October 23, 2012” which means her 45th birthday has come and… Continue reading Midtown Health Advocate Stops Blogging: Where Is She Now?

Local Haven for Creative Minds In St. Petersburg

BY COURTNEY PARISH NNB Student Reporter ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Marina Williams, local artist and owner of ARTpool Gallery/Café/Vintage Shop has always been different. Williams is a St. Petersburg, Fla. native and has made herself irreplaceable in the St. Petersburg Art Scene. She graduated from New College, with a B.F.A and received a M.A. in Photography… Continue reading Local Haven for Creative Minds In St. Petersburg

The Former Rays Optometrist

BY ALEXA NEWSOME NNB Student Reporter ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Joel Marantz is an optometrist who has provided services to Midtown for almost 50 years. He is willing to see anyone and also treats some of the Tampa Bay Rays baseball players. Marantz began treating the players from the Rays in 1996, before they were an official… Continue reading The Former Rays Optometrist

After Sweetbay…What Now?

BY LORI CASTELLANO NNB Student Reporter ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — In St. Petersburg, Fla.’s Midtown neighborhood the windows of the old Sweetbay Supermarket remain boarded up with black plywood over them, and the parking lot is still empty with just a few cars that visit the existing stores at the Tangerine Plaza. In February of this… Continue reading After Sweetbay…What Now?

Local band born in Midtown

By Kiefer Woods Sidereal, a reggae-rock band hailing from Jacksonville, plays shows all over the Southeast, but they still cherish St. Petersburg as one of their favorite cities to perform. Sidereal was founded in May 2009 by Niko Costas, Lukas Costas, and Colin Paterson. Since then, the trio has also picked up Kevin Beaugrand, a… Continue reading Local band born in Midtown

Old oak charms small town

By Ellery Butler Gina Bingham, a reference librarian at Safety Harbor Public Library, excitedly tells patrons about the historic Baranoff Oak that stands tall right outside the library. She even writes a blog about this tree, the oldest living oak tree in Pinellas County. People wonder if the Baranoff Oak was a sapling when Ponce… Continue reading Old oak charms small town