Neighborhood News Bureau

Category: COMMUNITY

  • Soaring egg prices scramble restaurant operations citywide

    Soaring egg prices scramble restaurant operations citywide

    By Alisha Durosier 

    The servers, baristas and bussers of the St. Petersburg brunch restaurant Taylor Sam’s found themselves adjusting to a new normal in late January when they were told they were no longer permitted one free breakfast item per shift or discounts on all menu items. 

    New store policy now requires restaurant staff to pay for what they order during their shifts and pay full price for menu items featuring eggs. 

    The policy change is in direct response to the rise in egg prices, which have reached historical highs this year. 

    According to Michael Owens, head chef of Taylor Sam’s, when the flagship store opened in New Jersey in 2013, he recalls eggs being under a $1 per dozen. As of March 14, Owens said his latest shipment of eggs cost $9.02 a dozen. 

    “As of right now, we actually have taken every step we could possibly think of to not bring that impact to our customers,” Owens said. “We have made every attempt to not increase our prices.” 

    The egg problem is not specific to the local brunch spot, nor is it new. The price of eggs has notably been an ongoing issue since 2020, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on national supply chains. 

    The recent price hikes, however, have been exacerbated by a perfect storm of continuing supply chain issues, high inflation rates and an outbreak of the Avian Flu, which is impacting chicken farms nationwide. 

    This year’s first record-breaking peak occurred in January when the average price of a dozen eggs in the U.S. peaked at $4.95. In late February, some U.S. cities saw an average peak as high as $8 before the price sharply declined back to approximately a $4 average. 

    Additionally, the United States Department of Agriculture predicts the price of eggs will grow “at above-average rates.” 

    Angad Dang, a hospitality and tourism management professor instructing a restaurant operations course on USF’s Sarasota-Manatee campus, highlights two ways restaurants often navigate price hikes. 

    “They [restaurants] have to constantly… price match,” Dange said, “So they’re not always buying stuff from one vendor, and at the same time, sometimes, they have to increase the prices for the consumer as well because that’s going to be the person that actually eats the prices. So what is the cost of goods compared to what is the profit margin that you want to make? That’s how you do your menu pricing.” 

    Wooden Rooster, a local St. Petersburg cafe that specializes in crepes, employs both of these methods, utilizing several local vendors and increasing some of the prices on their menu items.

    “We are still doing our best to give the best product and not allowing it to change the way we serve our guests,” Wooden Rooster’s General Manager Melissa Phillips said. “We are taking the hit as a company.” 

    Phillips emphasized that while the price of eggs has continuously changed due to inflation, the costs have “significantly gone up” in the past year. 

    For Wooden Rooster, 40 pounds of eggs cost $45 last year. Currently the price for the same amount of eggs sits at $95. 

    “We have had issues getting eggs due to our vendors being out of stock,” Phillips added. “We have also had to change our product from time to time because of vendors not having our product in stock.” 

    So far this year, a little over 37 million commercial birds have died. 

    According to Dr. Sten Vermund, a pediatrician and infectious disease epidemiologist, once the Avian Flu is detected within a flock of chickens, the standard approach for farmers is to cull, or slaughter, the entire flock to prevent the virus from spreading. 

    “With millions of chickens being killed in the U.S., and some ducks and some geese, you end up with a rise in the price of eggs because you have fewer eggs being produced,” Vermund said. 

    Vermund also said that while chickens are easy to breed and hatch, it will take some time for farms to rebuild their stock of poultry. 

    “It still will take a better part of six months to a year to replace those millions of dead poultry, and of course, if we don’t get a good handle on the H5N1 epidemic, then the new fresh crop of poultry could also get infected,” he said. 

    The cost of eggs is starting to decrease, yet it still remains unstable. Owens said he hopes that prices become more manageable, otherwise, Taylor Sam’s may have to look into more alternative ways to maintain their preferred profit margins. 

    “I hope I’m wrong, but I personally believe that we will never see eggs below $6 a dozen again,” he said. “If I could open a chicken farm and produce enough eggs, I sure as hell would give it a shot.” 

  • Vinyl records captivate a new generation  

    Vinyl records captivate a new generation  

    By Emma Lamison 

    Vinyl records are making a strong comeback in St. Petersburg. The music industry is changing, with artists using various types of records to create a unique collectible item that helps them connect with their fans more. 

    “My walls in my room are covered with my vinyl on display shelves to show off my favorite album artworks,” said CJ Neil, a vinyl collector with 90 records in his collection. “Some of them are just so beautiful that they should be actual art pieces.” 

    Neil, who was born and raised in St Petersburg, said his love for vinyl collecting started during high school, but he grew up with vinyl when his dad first introduced him as a kid. 

    “The first album I remember listening to with my dad was Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon,” Neil said. “The album was a story from beginning to end. Artists today should make more concept albums, so people listen to the album from start to finish.” 

    Another buyer of vinyl, Gabbi Valles, is barely beginning her own collection. 

    “Did you know that vinyl was the primary medium for music for most of the 20th century,” Valles said. “It’s crazy to think about, and it is still going strong.” 

    Collecting vinyl has also become a way for the young generation to express their individuality and their musical taste. Online vinyl-collecting communities are thriving, with apps that allow users to catalog and archive their vinyl collections. 

    “I love the Discogs app,” Neil said. “It comes in handy when someone asks how many records I own. The app also allows users to see what vinyl is trending, [and it allows you to] buy and sell vinyl to each other and see their estimated collection value.  

    Neil said his collection value is currently around $2,300, though it is not as high as other collectors he has met. 

    Artists have recognized the growing demand for vinyl, and record labels have adapted their marketing strategies to cater to the collectors.  

    Artists often release limited edition vinyl variants, which creates a sense of urgency and exclusivity for fans. 

    Bananas Records is a popular record store in St. Petersburg that caters to both collectors and casual music fans. It sells many new and old vinyls, including rare and special editions. 

    “The limited variants can include different cover art from the original, special colored vinyl or sometimes bonus tracks that are not available on other formats,” said Genevieve Stout, Bananas Records manager. 

    Record Store Day is an annual event that celebrates independent record stores and vinyl culture, and it has played a big role in the vinyl resurgence. The event began in 2008 and is a major day for collectors. 

    “Our Record Store Day is a full week event,” Stout said. “We have local artists play at our store. It’s a fun time.” 

    The most recent Record Store Day occurred on April 12, with many collectors and fans there to celebrate the resurgence of vinyl in St. Petersburg.  

  • Local theatre thrives from New Port Richey citizens’ support. 

    Local theatre thrives from New Port Richey citizens’ support. 

    By Alyssa Moritz 

    Richey Suncoast Theatre has seen a surge in community support in recent years, helping the New Port Richey venue expand its reach.

    “In the time I’ve been here, the support has definitely grown,” said Alyssa Vargas, a 21-year-old actress. “We’ve definitely seen an increase in support for the theatre, but I think since I’ve started there, there’s always been a community of people that love it and come and support it regardless.”  

    Richey Suncoast Theatre’s community and audience continued to grow to the delight of its staff. Seats in the audience gradually filled over the years to accommodate the full house watching various performances, along with other events. 

    One play in March, “Calendar Girls,” brought citizens of New Port Richey to support the local theatre with its actors. From live plays to movie nights, citizens had options to choose from to contribute to Richey Suncoast Theatre’s livelihood. 

    Vargas said that the current staff promoting the theatre on social media helped reach a wider audience. 

    “Our social media advertisements and market has grown as we’ve gotten some different people in office,” Vargas said. 

    This increase in attention led to a larger budget for Richey Suncoast Theatre’s performances. This included new stage props, sets and events being held for the theatre.  

    Jess Glass, a 44-year-old creative theatre director, said that this budget helped allow for more creativity with the theatre’s technology. 

    “We can do more dynamic things with the lighting designs that we weren’t able to do before,” Glass said. “But also, because we have more income, we’re able to put more money into things like our sets for shows. Things like that just add so much and these are things we definitely couldn’t have done three years ago, even because we just didn’t have the money for the budget.” 

    Partnering with small local businesses has helped the Richey Suncoast Theatre expand its reach and strengthen ties within the community. The mutual support also fostered lasting connections with area residents. 

    “We have tribute bands, comedians and we do have movies,” Glass said. “That’s one huge thing: we diversified the offerings of the theatre, which has brought way more people in and more money. Because we’re making quite a bit more than what we were when we were doing theatrical events, it means we can also put more money into our theatrical events.” 

    Richey Suncoast Theatre received a lot of help from the city of New Port Richey as well, according to the president of the theatre’s board, 43-year-old Angela Sarabia.  

    One example is a $100,000 grant the theater received in 2024 from the New Port Richey Community Redevelopment Agency for renovations. 

    “We feel lots of support from the city,” Sarabia said. “So, that grant allows a certain amount of money to be spent on external improvements to the theatre so things that involve the building and things like that. Once we determine we’ve gotten an expense that meets the requirements to the grant, we must pay for those improvements, then we can get reimbursed through that fund […] But we feel very supported by that.” 

    The local support has allowed Richey Suncoast Theatre to host more events, leading to higher revenue. Compared to 2024, the theater is seeing a significant increase in profits this year, Sarabia said. 

    “Ticket sale information is harder to nail down, but looking at this year and comparing it to last year, we are on track to more than double our income by the end of the year,” Sarabia said. 

    With the support from the local community, Richey Suncoast Theatre continues to perform and host events for attendees to enjoy.  

    “People are coming out to support us, and they do have opinions, and they do have feelings, like it’s really, really exciting,” Vargas said. “That’s again where we feel the community too, that’s their support.” 

  • The hidden stories behind city murals inspire locals 

    The hidden stories behind city murals inspire locals 

     
    By London Evans 

    Colorful murals now line the streets of St. Petersburg, transforming the city into an open-air gallery that began taking shape a decade ago when officials eased restrictions on street art.  

    It all began around 10 years ago when local authorities relaxed their restrictions on street art and welcomed local artists’ ideas to turn the small town into a real arts destination, according to Visit St. Pete Clearwater. 

    This city has a wide range of art from early public sculptures and artistic initiatives to the celebration of its murals today. Some murals explore the clash between modern urban life and tradition, while others highlight the evolving role of public art. 

    “I really like a newer one that I always pass by on Third Street North right before it merges onto Fourth Street,” Avery Siwinski said. “It’s huge and it’s of a woman. It’s beautiful.” 

    Murals and artwork look over St. Petersburg sharing messages of hope and inspiration. (Photo by London Evans)

    Siwinski said she has lived in the Historic Old Northeast area her whole life, and she’s witnessed the evolution of the arts in her hometown. 

    “I would say one of my favorite areas in general for murals is this parking lot between First Avenue North and Central Avenue on the 600 block,” Siwinski said. “There are easily over five in that one area and they change sometimes. I used to work nearby there and walk by every day, and I just witnessed different things occurring there daily like tourists taking pictures or artists creating new murals.” 

    The PixelStix app offers an interactive way to explore murals throughout downtown St. Petersburg. This technology is now being adopted by mural organizations across the country, according to SHINE Mural Festival, which takes place annually every October. 

    Emily Ding, another St. Petersburg resident, said she has been painting murals for over eight years. She is the artist behind “The Yearling” in downtown St. Petersburg. 

    “’The Yearling’ is about how growth can be painful but simultaneously beautiful, and how we can remain soft despite hardship,” Ding said. “The deer is surrounded by sharp thorns but is blooming with soft and delicate white wild roses. The title came from a local who told me about a coming-of-age novel based in St. Petersburg about a boy and a fawn he rescued, and it seemed fitting to use the same title for my piece.” 

    Murals and artwork look over St. Petersburg sharing messages of hope and inspiration. (Photo by courtesy of SHINE Mural Festival)

    The Visit St. Pete Clearwater tourism company have weekly mural tours. The St. Petersburg Arts Alliance is one of many organizations that support public art and the arts community in the city. 

    “I recommend SHINE Mural Festival,” said Dan Katz, business manager for Florida CraftArt. “They invite both local and international artists.” 

    Katz said they also offer walking and biking mural tours, along with private tours for schools and individuals seeking a more personalized experience. 

    “We typically get between 10 to 25 people on our Saturday tours, and our private tours range from two to 30 people, depending on the organization or individual booking,” Katz said. “During the winter months, our tours are very popular and run every week.” 

    The tours have become more than just a weekend activity—they’re a way for locals and visitors alike to connect with the city’s creative identity and celebrate community pride.

    Murals and artwork look over St. Petersburg sharing messages of hope and inspiration. (Photo by London Evans)

    “A lot of the more recognizable murals impact the community by creating recognition and a sense of community such as the ‘love your neighborhood’ one by Tombolo Bookstore which I think has been created into stickers,” Siwinski said. 

    According to the artists, the murals help give tourists a sense of the city’s personality, creating a connection to an unfamiliar place. 

    “I also enjoy the smaller projects that can be found throughout the alleyways of our arts districts that allow for full creative license and reflect the city’s history and culture,” Katz said. 

    These large-scale murals highlight the impact of public art, showcasing stories important to locals and visitors of all walks of life. 

    “I value storytelling and believe in the importance of public art as an inclusive and barrier-free way for communities to enjoy and experience art,” Ding said. “What we as artists and muralists choose to paint is an important decision that forever adds to local neighborhood identities. I place emphasis on creating visual stories and emotive pieces that people can explore and hopefully resonate with.” 

  • Pinellas County adapts to the FDA’s recent ban on Red No. 3 

    Pinellas County adapts to the FDA’s recent ban on Red No. 3 

    By Christiana Eckard

    Maraschino cherries, PEZ candy, Jelly Belly treats and Entenmann’s Little Bites all share more than fan-favorite status — they contain Red No. 3, a dye set to be banned from shelves by 2027. 

     The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s recent decision to ban Red No. 3, an artificial food dye that gives food a bright red color, forces Florida’s food industry to adapt.  

    The ban, enacted due to health concerns, has created discussions among health experts, food manufacturers and consumers about its potential impact and what it could mean for the industry’s future. 

    As businesses reformulate products and consumers learn about the ban, it marks a shift toward cleaner food production for all of Florida and the United States. 

    “This ban is a step in the right direction, but the ultimate goal is to reduce reliance on ultra-processed foods altogether,” said Dr. Lauri Wright, USF’s director of nutrition programs. 

    “I shy away from vilifying additives and focus instead on the bigger picture of moving away from ultra-processed foods,” she said.  

    She emphasized that while the ban is significant, it should be part of a larger push for better nutrition. While banning certain ingredients marks a positive change, experts agree that addressing the broader food system is essential for long-term health improvements. 

    “Instead of focusing on one dye, we should encourage people to adopt a more whole-food-based diet,” Wright said. “Artificial dyes are just one piece of the puzzle.” 

    The FDA’s decision is based on recent research that connects Red No. 3 to significant health risks. While studies have shown carcinogenic effects in animals, human studies have remained inconclusive. 

    The dye, which is used in most candies and snacks, has been associated with endocrine disruption, behavioral concerns in children and gut health disturbances.  

    These findings have prompted public health experts like Wright to advocate for broader changes in food safety regulations. 

    Stephanie Ferry, a nurse who specializes in cancer treatments at Morton Plant Hospital, emphasized the importance of health awareness. 

    “I think people should understand what they are putting in their body,” Ferry said. “One hundred years ago, yes, people were chain-smoking cigarettes, but things have changed. We need to start taking care of our health and see what is right in front of our faces.” 

    Ferry also said that education about these dyes and ingredients is crucial to creating a healthier environment for everyone. 

    “This isn’t being spoken about enough,” Ferry said. “It isn’t being taught in my kids’ schools, so I doubt it’s being discussed anywhere else. Not knowing what is bad for your health is just as detrimental as ingesting these artificial dyes.” 

    Laurie Lieber, manager of Tasty Treats Café, said that she was “unaware of the ban.” 

    Tasty Treats Café, located in St. Petersburg, offers a variety of bakery items, cakes and other food options. The family-operated store was unaware of what Red No. 3 was and did not give any indication for reformulation. 

    As businesses work through the transition, consumers adjust to the new reality. Outside Rocket Fizz, a candy shop in St. Petersburg known for its nostalgic and brightly colored sweets, shoppers had mixed reactions to the ban. 

    “I had no idea they were banning Red No. 3,” said Angela Robinson, a resident who had just purchased a bag of cherry-flavored sour gummies. 

    “I guess it’s a good thing if it’s bad for you, but I also feel like we’ve been eating this stuff for years,” Robinson said. “How dangerous can it be?” 

    Others were more focused on what it meant for their favorite treats. 

    “I love how the wax bottles candies look and taste,” Rocket Fizz customer Olivia Marsh said. “If they can find a natural way to keep them the same, I’m all for it. But I don’t want them to change too much—I buy them because they remind me of my childhood.” 

    As Florida businesses and shoppers navigate these changes, experts agree that the ban signals a growing movement toward cleaner, more transparent food production. Whether this shift will lead to broader policy changes remains to be seen, but for now, consumers can expect to see reformulated products on store shelves soon. 

  • Crane safety preemption laws are becoming a citywide concern

    Crane safety preemption laws are becoming a citywide concern

    By John Mancini 

    Following the destruction of the Tampa Bay Times building, officials in St. Petersburg have finally had enough of not being able to regulate their own laws and rules regarding hoisting safety equipment.  

    St. Petersburg Sen. Darryl Rouson and Rep. Lindsay Cross have filed a bill demanding the state of Florida allow the city to make its own laws regarding hoisting safety equipment. 

    “This bill is looking at removing the preemption so that local governments, who are the ones that are interacting with their residents and their businesses daily, as well as being the frontline for trying to keep their community safe can have those conversations with the construction companies and request that cranes be taken down if they are in imminent danger,” Cross said. 

    Hurricane Milton barreled through St. Petersburg in October 2024, bringing winds over 100 mph to the city. The power of Milton’s winds led to a construction crane crashing through the building that housed the Tampa Bay Times, causing significant damage.  

    The damage done forced the Tampa Bay Times to subsequently relocate to the Poynter Institute building. 

    Tampa Bay Times reporter Ian Hodgson said he was one of the first people to arrive at the accident when he was on a go team with his colleague. 

    “It was scary when we got there,” Hodgson said. “It was still dark out. There were no police barricades set up and the police haven’t even been dispatched to the location yet. We could see what looked like sparks or a fire in the building. The air smelled a little bit like gas. We got some photos, and we quickly got out of there, it was obviously not a safe place to be.” 

    Hodgson said he called the Tampa Bay Times his home for a few years now, which was why he was emotional when he saw his place of work was destroyed. 

    “That was the Tampa Bay Times home,” he said. “It was where a lot of us spent a lot of our time. Imagine if you came home and saw the roof ripped off, you would have similar emotions.” 

    Representatives in cities like St. Petersburg and Miami need to have the power to put safety regulations in place regarding hoisting equipment, Cross said. Miami-Dade County had a similar resolution proposed this year, also requesting the repealing of preemption regarding hoisting equipment. 

    “When residents start freaking out, rightfully so, [saying] ‘what happened? How did you let this happen?’ it’s not always effective for a city or county to be like ‘sorry it’s the state’s problem not ours, ’” Sen. Jason Pizzo said. 

    The hurricane and ongoing struggles with the preemption laws led to Cross and Rouson filing Senate Bill 346 and House Bill 6009 back in January, which called for the “removal of provisions preempting to the state the certain regulation of hoisting equipment.” 

    Rouson addressed the purpose of the bill on March 12 at the Senate Committee Meeting. 

    “This bill represents a proactive step towards empowering local governments to safeguard their communities by allowing them to implement appropriate regulations for hoisting equipment, thereby enhancing public safety and addressing specific regional challenges,” Rouson said. 

    Rouson then revealed during the meeting that the city attempted to regulate and request that the crane be removed prior to the storm. However, the preemption prevented that from happening, leading to the collapse of the crane and the destruction of the Tampa Bay Times building. 

    According to the American National Standards Institute, there have been more than 1,000 crane accidents across the globe between the years 2000 and 2010 that have resulted in over 700 deaths with the primary contributing cause being wind. 

    “Since we have storms that are becoming stronger, we need to be looking at if the cranes that are being used can withstand those levels of wind [110 to 120 mph],” Cross said. “There may be a need for the manufacturing industry to make improvements in the way they are designing and manufacturing pieces of hoisting equipment so they can withstand the conditions that have already seen.” 

    According to Florida-Cranes101, a website that provides crane safety training and regulations, Florida has no licensing requirements to operate a crane. Operators must obtain a nationally accredited license that meets the conditions of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. 

    Pizzo said he felt the OSHA laws regarding the state are “overly inattentive.” 

    “In an agency, it’s hard to get local help and consideration from local buildings and local issues when the control is entirely within the agency that only has a few people in the area on the ground and its headquarters is in Tallahassee,” he said. 

    Pizzo also said that certain laws and regulations should be left to the state while others should be left to the county. For example, zoning and lot size should be regulated by the city while countywide services should be regulated by counties. 

    “I think the federal government is not as nimble as we can be at the state or the local level, and there are more opportunities for interaction in being proactive at the local level because our local leaders know where the problems are,” Pizzo said. “They are the ones that are interfacing with the residents, with our constituents, trying to help them to be prepared in anticipation of natural disasters, making sure that the cities and the counties are doing everything they can to communicate with their residents and businesses.” 

    Cross emphasized why it is important for cities to be able to regulate their own laws regarding crane safety, especially during a major storm. 

    “It’s not the federal government that you’re communicating with when there is a storm,” Cross said. “You’re talking with your mayor, your city council or your local state or elected officials.” 

    Immediately following Hurricane Milton, Florida Gov. Ron Desantis visited St. Petersburg to survey the damage done from the hurricane as well as the crane accident. Desantis said he does not believe that construction cranes need weeks’ notice to mitigate them and says that this does not need regulation but a little more “common sense.” 

    “Clearly common sense wasn’t enough to prevent the catastrophe that happened in Hurricane Milton, and so, I disagree with that,” Cross said. “Having common sense is not a directive to do something differently, it’s an idea.”  

    Press secretary for the Florida Senate Minority Office, Vincent Toranzo, said that SB 346 is on its way to the community affairs committee after going through the Regulated Industries Committee on March 12. On the other hand, HB 6009 had its first reading at the house on March 4. 

  • Wartime legacy lingers in historic neighborhoods

    Wartime legacy lingers in historic neighborhoods

    By Julian Borrmann 

    Before it became a vacation hotspot, St. Petersburg was a wartime stronghold. With more than 100,000 military trainees flooding the city, 62 local hotels were converted into barracks and hospitals. This massive influx reshaped the community, as many soldiers and their families remained in Florida long after the war ended. 

    Rui Farias, a local historian specializing in war history, recalled interviewing a student at St. Petersburg High School when World War II broke out in the 1940s. 

    “He told me it was like living in a war film,” Farias said. “Every day, he’d walk home from school and watch planes dogfighting in the sky, shooting blanks during training. He could even hear live ammunition striking the beaches.” 

    According to Farias, both trainees and officers practiced a variety of warfare maneuvers throughout the city, including aerial dogfights, anti-aircraft weaponry drills and more. 

    “Depending on where you were in the city — whether on the south side or near Pinellas Point — you could hear them bombing Egmont Key,” Farias said. 

    Many residents, including veterans and service members, are unaware of the significant impact World War II had on St. Petersburg, which brought major changes and challenges to the community in the early 1940s. 

    Army veteran Joseph Schern, who served in the Iraq War, was stunned to learn about this hidden chapter of the city’s past. Having lived in Pinellas County for 26 years, he said he found it bizarre that he had never heard about St. Petersburg’s role in the war. 

    “You’ve got to be kidding me,” Schern said. “You always hear about places like Norfolk or San Diego when it comes to military history, but here? I had no idea. That’s something people should be talking about more.” 

    St. Petersburg was home to one of the Army Air Force’s major basic training centers of its time. The base played a crucial role in training and preparing young men for the war, operating briefly from 1942 to 1943 before closing its doors. 

    Officer staff of the St Petersburg Center Headquarters in April 1943. (Photo courtesy of St Petersburg Museum of History)

    The influx of trainees was pushed into every hotel in the city, significantly increasing the population, but also leading to a housing shortage as families searched for suitable accommodations. 

    Many young servicemen brought their wives and children with them to St. Petersburg during World War II. As the war went on, some never returned home, leaving behind widows and families in search of housing. 

    The six-bedroom historic Boyce House, which served as tourist lodging for 20 years after the war. (Photo courtesty of stpeterising.com)

    Historic neighborhoods such as Old Northeast and Historic Uptown, known today for their century-old homes and apartment buildings, saw major changes during the 1940s. 

    Many large single-family homes were divided into multi-unit residences to accommodate the influx. 

    “These four- or five-bedroom homes—many of them were turned into boarding houses,”Farias said. 

    Even today, he said, the impact is visible. “When you drive up and down these brickroads, you’ll see older buildings that look too big to be a house but are now apartments,” Farias said. “At one time, they were probably a single-family home.” 

    The Department of War, presently known as the Department of Defense, and city officials went to great lengths to ensure soldiers had proper accommodations, even though it posed challenges for the local community. The AAF took over 452 hotels across the country, including 62 in St. Petersburg alone — one of which was the Don CeSar hotel.  

    Recovering airmen at the Don CeSar’s convalescent center enjoying time on the water on July 7, 1945. (Photo courtesy of stpetebeachtoday.com)

    From 1942 to 1944, the luxury “Pink Palace” was transformed into a subbase hospital and convalescent center for soldiers, one of many hotels providing medical care, rehabilitation and rest for servicemen wounded overseas. 

    “I mean, you hear ghost stories about old hospitals all the time, right,” former U.S. Marine Corey Stuempert said. “Now knowing the Don CeSar was actually a military hospital, it makes you wonder if some of those stories are tied to the soldiers who were there.” 

    Similar to Schern, Stuempert has been a St. Petersburg resident for years and never knew or heard of the crucial role the community and city played during WWII. 

    Meanwhile, the Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, Autograph Collection closed its doors to the public in July 1942 and was repurposed as a training center for the United States Maritime Service, housing military cooks and bakers preparing to serve overseas. 

    U.S. Maritime trainees relax with their duffel bags, awaiting orders, outside the Soreno Hotel in downtown St. Petersburg. (Photo courtesy of St. Petersburg Museum of History)

    Despite housing inconveniences, some businesses—particularly theaters, bars and restaurants—thrived downtown. If there was one thing these young men and their ladies loved, it was having a good time whenever they could. After a long day of training, they were also in need of plenty of food. 

    “The owner of Mastry’s Bar and Grill allegedly said he made more money from 1942 to 1945 than in all the years after the war,” Farias said, noting how frequently these men visited local bars during that time. 

    Soldiers and women being picked up by conveys to head out for an entertaining night on the town. (Photo courtesy of St. Petersburg Museum of History)

    After the war ended in late 1945, most hotels closed their doors again, remodeling their interiors to better accommodate the public and resume operations for tourists, as did other businesses in town. 

    Today, the remnants of St. Petersburg’s wartime role may be hidden beneath renovations and timeworn facades, but their influence lingers. The city’s streets, buildings and communities still echo the resilience of those who trained, served and sacrificed in the community. 

  • CASA Pinellas creates a safe haven in the community 

    CASA Pinellas creates a safe haven in the community 

    By Jensen Horvath 

    Since its founding in 1977, Community Actions Stops Abuse Pinellas has served the local community as a nonprofit center for survivors of domestic violence. In doing so, the organization offers a range of services, from legal representation to emergency sheltering. 

    To sustain these efforts, CASA hosts a variety of community-driven fundraising events that help bridge the financial gaps left by limited federal funding and grant money. Signature fundraising events, like the organization’s recently held A Night in Paris, enable CASA to direct financial support to programs where it is needed most. 

    Krissy Vogt, founder of The Motha Social Club—an inclusive community for women and mothers in St. Petersburg—shared how CASA’s mission holds a deeply personal significance for her. 

    “I had a very dear friend, who was impacted by a domestic violence situation,” Vogt said. “As it was proceeding, I felt the need to channel my energy into a healthy outlet, and that is how my involvement with CASA began. Initially, the Motha Social Club and the community service element started out completely unrelated. Next thing I knew, they started to melt together and be a really good foundation for a social club in support of women.” 

    CASA’s A Night in Paris 2025 gala was celebrated on Saturday, March 29, at The Museum of the American Arts and Crafts. The event, held to raise funds for CASA’s programs, brought the community together for an evening of elegance and fundraising. 

    The gala offered opportunities for guests to contribute to the nonprofit, including a cocktail hour with revenue enhancers from local artists, a live auction and even a fully virtual silent auction in the week leading up to the event. All proceeds raised during the cocktail hour ensured survivors’ continued access to CASA’s programs, including Florida’s only Family Justice Center. 

    Amber Valente, head of CASA’s Marketing and Events, says that community involvement is vital to aiding in the organization’s mission. 

    “CASA is so grateful for the funding it receives, but donor events like A Night in Paris really bolster our mission,” Valente said. “They allow us to grow both our staff and our programs to better serve survivors. For example, if a survivor is no longer safe where they are and they need to leave the state, CASA can use unrestricted funds to buy them a plane ticket and help them escape.” 

    The Family Justice Center at CASA Pinellas provides a centralized location where individuals can access services such as childcare, filing police reports and safety planning. This approach simplifies access to resources, transforming a typically complex process into one that is more straightforward and recovery-focused. 

     Beyond community contributions, CASA also relies on a variety of partnerships with organizations that help sustain its efforts through financial support and resource sharing. Virginia Brenman, president of Infinity St. Pete—a local nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness and funds for agencies that aid survivors of abuse—underscored the importance of her organization’s partnership with CASA. 

    “Infinity’s contributions are a very minor part of CASA’s overall funding, but I am pleased that we were able to play a small part in the expansion of services offered by CASA under Lariana’s leadership, and, in particular, the Family Justice Center,” Brenman said. “Last year, we distributed over $150,000 to our partner agencies. We’re on track to exceed that amount this year.” 

    CASA Pinellas hosts their year-round event called Denim Day at Welcome to the Farm, a local St. Petersburg bar. (Photo by Jensen Horvath)

    CASA remains active in the community year-round through events like Denim Day, an artistic fashion show thrown during March, in awareness of domestic violence and sexual assault. Each October, CASA also organizes a scavenger hunt in downtown St. Petersburg, where teams compete in challenges to learn more about domestic violence and CASA’s programs. 

    According to statistics provided by CASA, Pinellas County ranked fifth out of Florida’s 67 counties for the highest rates of domestic violence. In 2024 alone, CASA Pinellas reported that the Family Justice Center supported 33,511 individuals. 

    “On average, after a domestic violence incident, a survivor must travel 20 times, tell their story 17 times, fill out 289 pages of paperwork and miss 53 hours of work,” Valente said. “The Family Justice Center is designed to make the process easier, less overwhelming, and less traumatic. A survivor will only need to tell their story one time at one location, leading to more successful prosecutions for abusers.” 

    CASA’s Community Thrift Store, where every purchase helps fund critical services for survivors of abuse. (Photo by Jensen Horvath)

    In addition to its programs and outreach efforts, CASA generates proceeds through its local thrift store, which directly supports the organization’s services. The store not only provides financial support but also offers household items and clothing to survivors as they work to rebuild their lives. 

    “CASA’s tagline is ‘Stand Up To Silence’ because community conversations and awareness are so important to ending violence in our community,” Valente said. “CASA’s events highlight the impact of domestic violence in our community, the staggering numbers of those impacted, and testimonials from survivors.” 

  • Leadership St. Pete celebrates 55 years of shaping the city 

    Leadership St. Pete celebrates 55 years of shaping the city 

    By Dayana Melendez 

    Every Friday morning at a downtown café, a group of professionals gather for breakfast. They’re not coworkers or longtime friends — at least not in the traditional sense. Five years ago, they were strangers thrown together in Leadership St. Pete’s Class of 2017. Today, they’re part of an invisible network that has quietly shaped St. Petersburg for over five decades. 

    “I’ve worked and lived in Tampa for 20-plus years,” said Audrey Grounds, a member of that breakfast group and current Leadership St. Pete Alumni Association Class Reunion committee chair. “Coming to St. Pete is a completely different vibe. It’s much more community driven. If there could be a catchphrase for St. Pete, it really is ‘How can I help you?’”  

    Such lasting connections aren’t unusual for the program that boasts some notable alumni: Rick Baker applied three times before being accepted and later became the city’s mayor, and Charlie Crist graduated years before winning the Florida governor’s race. 

    Now celebrating its 55th anniversary, Leadership St. Pete stands as the second-oldest leadership program in the nation — a distinction that speaks to both its longevity and its impact on a city known for rapid transformation. 

    The program consists of three main components, including leadership development retreats facilitated by Eckerd College Leadership Development Institute, educational seminars covering topics from local government to environmental sustainability and a class-selected community service project for a local nonprofit. 

    St. Pete participants gather for a ribbon-cutting ceremony, highlighting the program’s collaborative spirit and community impact. (Photo courtesy of Leadership St. Pete)

    “Unlike other leadership programs where you just listen to speakers, this one requires every class member to be involved,” Grounds said. “You get broken up into groups to plan different seminars. So, everyone is invested.” 

    The program’s selection process is equally distinctive. Applications are reviewed with names, employers, gender and race redacted from submissions. 

    “We don’t want somebody getting in just because they’re CEO of some company,” Grounds said. “We really want people who care about the community.” 

    Each class selects a local nonprofit for their community project, raising funds and providing hands-on labor to transform spaces across the city. The 2024 class created an inviting gathering area at St. Pete Youth Farm, an organization addressing food insecurity while developing leadership skills in local youth. 

    “Everything they’ve done took us further, faster than we could have done by ourselves,” said Carla Bristol, director of St. Pete Youth Farm. “Every participant will forever be tied to St. Pete Youth Farm because they were involved in a project that strengthened our community.” 

    Carla Bristol, director of St. Pete Youth Farm, showcases the vibrant spirit of community service fostered by Leadership St. Pete’s 2024 class. (Photo by Dayana Melendez)

    Bristol has witnessed how the program creates lasting connections between nonprofits and the city’s professional network. 

    “Power Designs came out with their entire team after Leadership St. Pete was over,” Bristol said. “They may never have known about St. Pete Youth Farm had it not been for Leadership St. Pete.” 

    The program has evolved over time while maintaining its core focus on community needs and accessibility. 

    “We offer scholarships, so it’s not just a bunch of lawyers and accountants — the typical people that you always see going through leadership programs,” Grounds said. 

    Jenna Stock Wunsch, chair of the 2025 Leadership St. Pete class, has experienced firsthand how the program transforms participants’ relationships with the city. 

    “I just loved the experience,” Wunsch said. “I’m not originally from St. Pete, but I’ve lived here for 14 years, and you learn so much about the city, its history. You know how you can give back and get involved and help with the growth and evolution of our city.” 

    As Leadership St. Pete celebrates with a 55th-anniversary reunion on April 17, the program’s impact continues to ripple through the community. 

    “Every participant, every last one of those 40 people, will forever be tied to the projects they completed,” Bristol said. “They’re involved in something that strengthened our community in ways that would have taken us years to accomplish alone.” 

    A colorful seating area, designed and built by Leadership St. Pete’s 2024 participants, enhances community engagement at St. Pete Youth Farm. (Photo courtesy of Leadership St. Pete)

    With 55 years of leadership development and thousands of alums shaping everything from city government to nonprofit organizations, Leadership St. Pete continues to fulfill its mission of building a more connected, service-oriented community. 

    “I always tell people it is the best decision I ever made,” Grounds said. “You learn, you grow, you make a difference. From a business perspective, a friend perspective and a community perspective — it’s pretty incredible.” 

  • FEMA’s future in question after 2024 hurricane devastation

    FEMA’s future in question after 2024 hurricane devastation

    By London Evans, Julian Borrmann, Kayla Buckingham and Victoria Whitlock 

    Since 1979, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has made it possible to recover quickly and return to normal everyday life after natural disasters occur. With the organization facing potential changes, waterfront locals are anxious for answers about whether they will receive aid in the next hurricane season. 

    “Federal disaster aid is nearly everywhere,” Associated Press science writer Seth Borenstein said. “About 94% of Americans live in a county that has gotten FEMA help for disasters since 2011.” 

    President Donald Trump voiced his concerns about the productivity and success of FEMA. In January 2025, he threatened to dismantle FEMA because it “has been a very big disappointment.” 

    Since then, he has terminated hundreds of federal emergency employees. Many disaster-prone locations, such as Pinellas County, are left concerned about what this could mean for the future. Especially after the recent devastations from the 2024 hurricanes, Helene and Milton. 

    A debris-covered car sits in St. Petersburg after Hurricane Helene hits. (Photo by Kayla Buckingham)

    Mariah Kaylor, a Tampa Bay native, was working at the Emergency Operations Center for Pinellas County Emergency Management during Hurricane Helene.  

    “If FEMA wasn’t in the picture, we wouldn’t have bounced back as quickly,” Kaylor said. “It started with us going out and realizing that it was really bad, and people needed information. They didn’t know what to do besides clean. We handed out flyers on how debris should be separated and how to get FEMA assistance. We developed a community outreach program.” 

    After Hurricane Helene and Milton, 47,000 cubic yards of debris had been collected citywide. Meanwhile, FEMA provided immediate assistance to individuals, state and local governments and nonprofits that offer critical services.  

    “One nonprofit I thought was cool is World Central Kitchen,” Kaylor said. “Some people mentioned getting a meal from them. It is definitely a community effort.” 

    While the government program has its perks, some might say there are major flaws in the process as a whole. 

    “Most people didn’t know about disaster recovery centers,” Kaylor said. “There is also this corky thing with FEMA applications. Say you filled something out incorrectly and all you had to do was go back and add that information in, instead of telling you that, it would just tell you that your application was rejected.” 

    Jessica Witchie, a 30-year-old renter in St. Petersburg, said she had mixed emotions about her experience with FEMA. 

    “[It was] sometimes pleasant and sometimes extremely aggravating,” Witchie said. “Each time I got on the phone with a FEMA employee, they all provided different information, or some simply did not know anything at all.” 

    For some, this rejection came as a devastating blow.  

    “We talked to a lot of people who got rejected, and their whole house was destroyed,” Kaylor said. “So don’t take that as a final answer. It is very possible that they just clicked the wrong button. It is just a process. FEMA must have been overwhelmed.” 

    Witchie said the inconsistency in aid distribution also added to the frustration.  

    “We had friends who got relief money very quickly, while it took us about two months to finally get something,” she said. “I received money to recover the loss of items and for being displaced for two months. The money I received was extremely helpful and helped me recover everything that I had lost.” 

    The challenges of navigating FEMA’s assistance process were widespread, affecting renters and homeowners alike. While some struggled with delays and miscommunication, others found the aid to be a lifeline. 

    Pinellas County homeowners Amanda Walker and Olivia Scully said they had just begun their careers as elementary school teachers and recently purchased their first home when Hurricane Helene soaked everything they owned. 

    Scully and Walker endured multiple feet of water in their house, but despite the destruction, they said they believe that without FEMA’s assistance, they would have never been able to rebuild and return to their home. 

    “We were dealing with the loss of our entire life,” Scully said. “We would not be living in our home again, if it were not for the money that we got from FEMA. I could not imagine receiving the check that we received from FEMA, from the state of Florida.” 

    Like Scully and Walker, many others relied on FEMA’s assistance to recover not just their homes but also their financial stability. Beyond recovering lost belongings, aid provided much-needed financial stability while they struggled to get back on their feet. 

    While financial assistance was important for recovery, FEMA’s role goes beyond providing money. The agency also handles disaster response, making sure supplies and rescue teams are ready to help communities in need. 

    “The county emergency management has positions that are dedicated to directing volunteers,” Kaylor said. “That is to help direct what resources go where, [like] in an event where one area is getting more water bottles than another. They direct stuff like that.” 

    In addition to FEMA’s efforts, local governments are also investing in rebuilding their communities. For example, the Albert Whitted Airport was repaired before the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on Feb. 28, as the city council approved $1.2 million for the project.  

    Despite the city’s natural disasters, murals and artwork look over St. Petersburg, sharing messages of hope and remembering the city’s Black history. (Photo by London Evans)

    “Without FEMA aid, any city that gets hit with a natural disaster could very easily go bankrupt,” Kaylor said. “So, if the city is bankrupt, they can’t afford to make improvements or bring events here to bring in tourism. So, we were only going through that to get reimbursed for all the work the county did for emergency management. If we don’t go through those steps though, it is millions of dollars [for the] debris pickup, and the county is on the hook for that.” 

    While local governments can step in, disaster recovery is often too big of a task for any one city to handle alone.  

    Walker and Scully said they are eager to know what might happen if disaster response were left to the states. The two emphasized that disaster recovery should be a shared responsibility across the country. 

    “If we were all individually run by our states, then we would look like Europe,” Scully said. “We are a country that together is supposed to be able to rely on each other to come in and help. If we will not help other states and the federal government won’t help, than what’s the point of being united.”  

    Beyond funding issues, Witchie said she believes FEMA should improve its operations.  

    “After my experience, some changes I would suggest would be better training for their employees,” Witchie said. “They need to be able to provide accurate information, as it directly affects people’s livelihood.” 

    While FEMA has been a lifeline for many, it has limitations. Assistance is only available for a survivor’s primary residence, excluding second homes, vacation properties and rentals. As communities continue to rebuild, one question lingers: What would disaster recovery look like without FEMA?