The outpouring of support during COVID-19 was unprecedented as St. Petersburg came together as a community, reminding us that we were all in this together.

Stories like these offer us hope. And that’s what the Northeast Journal does best. For over a decade, we’ve been delivering good news about people and organizations doing good deeds. Here are few stories we’ve collected over the past few months – stories of how some of our neighbors overcame these challenging times with creativity, commitment and grace.

St. Pete Sews

In mid-March, as TV news anchors started alerting the country about the shortage of masks for healthcare workers in places like Boston, New York, and Philadelphia, Janice Chandler and Terri Reid – a Snell Isle resident and global account manager for Cisco – decided to help.… Read More

It is said that a city’s history is written on its buildings. Perhaps no other construction company has done as much to write that history in St. Petersburg as Hennessy Construction. This year Hennessy is celebrating its centennial. The company has continuously operated in St. Petersburg since 1920. Over that time, it has built some of St. Petersburg’s most significant buildings, including St. Mary’s Church, the Fine Arts Museum, St. Anthony’s Hospital, and the Tampa Bay Times Press Building.

The company was founded by A.P. (Aneas) Hennessy. A.P. emigrated from Ireland to the United States at the age of 19.… Read More

There are remarkable people in St. Petersburg, and one of them is Dr. Anna Loyd. Not only is she multi-talented with a wide range of achievements, she is a world traveler, physician, athlete, and humanitarian. She also speaks four languages.

Anna was born in Oklahoma, where her father was an emergency-room doctor. When she was nine, the family moved to Belgium so her dad could study in a one-year tropical medicine program. He had a deep desire to bring healing to people in impoverished areas of Africa, and when his program was completed, the family moved to Zaire in Central Africa.… Read More

As you walk around your neighborhood, you may see dogs wearing bright yellow “Adopt Me” harnesses. Most of these dogs are probably rescue dogs and looking for their next forever home, while being fostered by caring families. There are many pet-rescue organizations, but one of them is located right here in Crescent Heights – Safe Paws Rescue.

Crescent Heights resident Art Shaul founded Safe Paws Rescue in 2018. The organization rescues, rehabilitates, and re-homes dogs, regardless of breed, size, age, or health conditions. I can attest to this myself, because we fostered two senior dogs, Harry (short for Harriet), and before Harry, there was Lola.… Read More

There’s a smell that comes with the cloud of red dust that rises when a runner slides into home plate. It’s the smell of childhood in spring. For 62 years, the baseball stadium at 45th Avenue North and First Street has been home to the Northeast Little League.

This year’s Opening Day on February 22nd marked the official unveiling of Northeast Little League’s new mural on the outside of the stadium. When a prior mural project stalled, the league was left with a half-finished painting. A volunteer suggested they reach out to Brian McAllister, an art teacher and muralist at Gibbs High School.… Read More

What triathlon athletes know – and many locals may not – is just how popular the St. Anthony’s Triathlon is among professional and novice competitors alike. People from all over the world love to come here for this USA Triathlon-sanctioned race, held the last weekend of April. Now in its 37th year, the St. Anthony’s Triathlon is considered one of the largest and longest-running events of its kind in the country.

Accolades listed on the website include: “one of the top-10 Great Destination Triathlons in the US,” and one of the “5 Bucket-List Olympic Distance Triathlons in North America.” In 2018, more than 3,000 athletes from 41 states and eight countries came to St.… Read More

Three Northeast St. Pete residents are helping the next generation of young people learn the skills they need to succeed in life. Kim Harvey, an interior designer; Krista Petkov, an information technology specialist at Jabil; and Bryan Stanley, a technology sales professional are volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay, a nonprofit organization that matches vulnerable, at-risk youth with adult mentors.

A resident of Shore Acres, Kim moved to St. Petersburg eight years ago, and has a wide range of passions, from running her own interior design business (Kim Harvery Design) to horseback riding, and making bags out of repurposed sails.… Read More

By Cubby with a little help from Scott Brown

Last June, the City of St. Petersburg won the 2019 Better Cities for Pets™ Award for large cities. This arguably gives St. Pete barking rights as one of the pet-friendliest cities in America. The St. Pete website includes a PAWS page that has an interactive map listing St. Pete’s dog-friendly restaurants, parks, accommodations, and services. There’s also an application form for those who want to have their business officially designated as ‘dog friendly.’

But as far as neighborhoods go, my impression is that the Old Northeast and other neighborhoods in our Northeast Journal territory are pretty close to dog paradise.… Read More

My downtown neighbors, Bob O’Connor and Francis Vocking, and their adorable chocolate Labradoodle, Indy, walked across the street to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital for their regular twice-a-month visit. They were on their way to cheer up the young patients and their families. I was fortunate to be invited along to see first-hand what a difference this unique volunteer ‘team’ makes in children’s lives.

The children loved it when Indy arrived, greeting him with a heartwarming display of affection, smiles, and petting. Whether they’re sick or not, children need fun experiences. Some of them have dogs at home that they miss, and Indy’s visit can bring comfort.… Read More

As if St. Petersburg residents needed one more reason for civic pride… In case you didn’t know, we are home to the Awesome Original Second Time Arounders Marching Band and Auxiliary. This not-for-profit organization is for those who spent time in a marching band in high school, college, or military service and now miss it. They are easy to recognize. When a drumbeat starts, they start humming the tune and unconsciously begin marching in place. This is the place for those who would like to experience the thrill of it all again. Last year, the group – now 450 performers strong –  was invited to participate in the Thanksgiving Macy’s Day Parade, considered the ‘Super Bowl’ of marching bands.… Read More