One of our city’s leading environmentalists and preservationists was Mayor Charlie Schuh. Charles E. Schuh served on the city council from 1971 to 1974, and then as mayor from 1975 to 1977. At that time, the city had what is known as the “weak mayor” form of government. While the mayor held the title, he really served as a “first among equals” on the council, and true executive power was invested in a paid city manager. The mayor’s salary in 1975 was $5,000 per year, about $30,000 adjusted for inflation. As Schuh said later about the job: “You preside over council meetings, and you have a couple of other ceremonial functions and that’s it.”… Read More

You’re probably familiar with the “little ditty” about Jack and Diane, the bittersweet love story immortalized by John Cougar Mellencamp. But what about St. Petersburg’s own homegrown Jack-and-Diane romance – not of two kids growing up in the heartland, but of two ospreys growing up at a local credit union? 

It all started in 2016, when the two lovebirds attempted to build their first nest atop the large sign at Achieva Credit Union off 4th Street North. It is not unusual to observe ospreys’ nests in such unlikely places; these highly adaptable raptors naturally nest atop dead trees, but will readily adapt to nesting on utility poles, channel markers, and other tall, man-made structures.… Read More

When artist Janice James died in October 2022, her family found a treasure trove of her gorgeous watercolors. Snell Isle resident and Frame Station Gallery owner, Zack Walzer, will tell you, “It was almost like magic that the Janice James Gallery Night happened.

“My son was working in the gallery for summer college volunteer credits and found one of her prints that a client wanted in Denver,” Walzer explains. “I had framed prints of hers hanging on the gallery walls, so I was familiar with a lot of her watercolor paintings and prints.

“One thing led to another,” he recalls, “and the family asked if I would sell [some of] the collection they had.… Read More

Harvard graduate and Yale Medical School-trained doctor Carlos Garcia Saul enjoyed a 25-year career as a head and neck surgeon. Now retired, he’s living the dream in a waterfront home in the beautiful Old Northeast and beginning his second act as author of his first published novel, Caravan of Specters.

The book is a mystery torn from the pages of history, a page-turning adventure with roots in both tragedy and triumph. Set on the island of Puerto Rico in the waning days of the 19th century, Caravan of Specters tells the story of Dr. Bailey Ashford, a US Army physician who attempts to discover the reason thousands of peasant farmers, and their families, are dying from severe anemia.… Read More

Since 1922, the St. Petersburg Museum of History has been collecting both rare and common materials relating to life in Florida, specifically St. Pete and the Pinellas peninsula. Today, the collections contain over 40,000 objects and over 25,000 photographs, books, maps, and other ephemera in the archives. Executive Director Rui Farias recently talked to us about what’s new and upcoming at the museum and what it’s like to have his “dream job.”

How do you feel about being the keeper of over 100 years of history for St. Petersburg?

I love it! It was a job I was meant to have.… Read More

“When there’s a hurricane coming, everything just kind of stops. You put all your focus and energy into securing your home and facing that possibility that everything could be lost. When you have to face that possibility, it’s a mental damper on the creative flow.” 

Last fall, artist and Old Northeast resident Elizabeth Barenis, a prolific and popular abstract painter, was in the midst of a very good year. On September 24, her successful solo exhibit at the Morean Arts Center, “Tropical Splendor,” came to a close. The same day, a system of thunderstorms in the tropics formed into a named storm that, within 48 hours, would prove historically catastrophic: Helene.… Read More

It’s the Old Northeast’s best-kept secret that’s not really a secret. The Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association’s (HONNA) Garden Tour was a smash from its start in 2023, when it sold out its 500 tickets almost immediately. 

This year’s tour on Saturday, April 12, from 11 am to 3 pm, returns to its popular roots as it winds through home gardens in the ONE, with each stop featuring local artists in the makeshift outdoor galleries. In total, 15 artists will participate as a part of this biannual grassroots fundraising event. 

The $50 ticket price benefits the HONNA Street Tree Replenishment Program, a local effort to keep the neighborhood’s tree canopy strong by planting trees, maintaining existing trees, and educating residents about tree care. It’s… Read More

Babe Ruth Day and the centennial of Ruth’s first year of spring training in St. Petersburg was celebrated with great gusto last month. George Herman “Babe” Ruth, Jr. played baseball during spring training in St. Pete with the New York Yankees from 1925 to 1934, and again with the Boston Braves in 1935.

Festivities began with Mayor Ken Welch issuing a proclamation at the city council meeting on February 6 declaring Saturday, February 8, “Babe Ruth Day,” honoring how Ruth’s presence in our city greatly magnified St. Petersburg’s profile as a town of sport, outdoor leisure, “and just plain fun,” and greatly contributed to the city’s sense of place.… Read More

Winter brings its share of wildlife glories to St. Petersburg. Between the graceful American white pelican and the charmingly chunky Florida manatee, larger-than-life species send us flocking to local waterways to catch a glimpse. But winter is also a great time to get to know some of the critters in your own backyard and to welcome winter animals with wildlife-friendly practices.

Nature’s Neighbors

Despite what you may have learned about winter hibernation, many Florida animals remain active this time of year. You may notice birds of prey becoming particularly industrious as they enter their breeding season. Lara Milligan, Natural Resources Agent for Pinellas County’s UF/IFAS Extension, notes that ospreys and bald eagles can be found in winter constructing their nests, soaring athletically through the skies with sticks, grasses, or moss in tow.… Read More

The glory of our waterfront parks in downtown St. Pete was on full display during Shopapalooza 2024. An extravagant feast for the senses: The sights! The smells! The deals!  But what’s this? A booth with just a bowl of Hershey’s kisses, a few stacks of documents, and a woman with a very inviting smile. Oh, and a dog bowl of water for the four-legged attendees. She looked like a favorite aunt, and curious visitors soon find she represents Suncoast Voices for Children. It turns out, Kari Mainelli has been driven to help with the needs of others for as long as she has been able to make good things happen.… Read More