This fall, the Northeast Journal celebrates its 20th anniversary of bringing readers the “good news” stories that make St. Petersburg such a special place. It’s a remarkable accomplishment.  What’s been the secret to success? It’s the NEJ’s mission – the celebration of community and connection, with stories about friends, neighbors, colleagues, and acquaintances who are making a difference.  

“When the personal story can be told and readers can feel the common humanity, that’s what makes the NEJ successful,” said publisher Jen MacMillen. “With every story, we can’t just take the obvious top layer. We have to go deep. Why does that person volunteer at CASA?… Read More

We are again in the thick of the hurricane season and, while St. Petersburg has not had direct hit since the devastating Tarpon Springs Hurricane in October 1921, there have been many near misses: Hurricane Irma (Cat 5) in 2017, Hurricane Ian (Cat 5) in 2022, Hurricane Idalia (Cat 4) in 2023, and already this season Tropical Storm Debby, which evolved into a Category 1 after its center passed approximately 100 miles west of St. Pete. Even glancing blows from these storms caused significant damage to our city, particularly Hurricane Idalia, which flooded approximately 1400 homes though it made landfall 150 miles north. … Read More

Picture your favorite park in St. Pete. Chances are, there’s a lake or pond right in the center of it. While we are best known for our beautiful beaches, these humbler freshwater features are hidden gems, reflecting our polychrome sunsets, soothing our spirits, and hosting a diversity of wildlife. Keeping these waterways clean and healthy is a big job – one that requires love, labor, and, sometimes, a little bit of SoUL. 

Stewards of our Urban Lakes, that is. The nonprofit organization, whose origins date back to 2007, works to improve the water quality and restore the natural habitat of urban lakes through education and community engagement, hosting regular clean-ups and educational events at eight local lakes – including Crescent, Round, Mirror, Jungle, Winston, Pasadena, Eagle Crest, and Meadowlawn – and counting.… Read More