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Branching Out: Community Tree Talk

Join Pinellas County for a world cafe where we will talk about trees and their role in our communities!

Pinellas County is embarking on the development of their first-ever Urban Forestry Master Plan for unincorporated and they are seeking YOUR input to help guide this plan. Urban trees play a critical role in our daily lives and the County wants to ensure they are managed in a resilient and sustainable manner. It’s very important to the County to get your input about trees in our public spaces so they can better understand the benefits and challenges about urban trees.

What is a world cafe?

We will create a comfortable environment where you will feel encouraged to talk to fellow participants at roundtables about trees! Different tables will have different questions. You will get a chance to hear from your community members on their thoughts while also expressing your own. You will rotate around to different tables with different questions where your thoughts will be documented. Following the forum, all of the input provided will be summarized and provided to the County to identify common themes that will help guide their Urban Forestry Master Plan.

Who can participate?

Anyone who lives in unincorporated areas of Pinellas County. Unsure? Check out this map.

This is a unique opportunity for you to share your feedback!

Refreshments will be provided. We want to hear from you. Don’t delay and register today!

Dog daycare company opens Lealman location

A Tampa-based dog daycare company has crossed the bay and opened its first location in St. Petersburg.

Paws ‘n’ Rec is a membership-based dog daycare, grooming and boarding facility. The company has three existing locations throughout Tampa and recently opened its first in Pinellas County at 4300 28th St. N. Co-owner Taylor Wallace said the new facility in Lealman offers 10,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor space, allowing the company to serve about 150 dogs per day. 

“I've been living in St. Pete for a couple of years, so I was driving my dog to Tampa whenever I was traveling or wanting her to go to daycare, and also to run the business. Selfishly, I wanted a dog daycare over here that I could use, and we also felt like St. Pete really could use more dog daycare boarding facilities,” Wallace said. “We think that there's an opportunity to serve the pet parents over here like we do in Tampa.”

Wallace said he and Paws ‘n’ Rec co-founder Michael Mayleben chose the Lealman area to open their first St. Pete facility because of its central location.

“It's kind of up-and-coming and it's very accessible to people going back and forth from downtown St. Pete to Tampa. We wanted to be accessible to people going back and forth across the bridge, going from downtown to the airport, and even people coming up from Sarasota driving to Tampa airport who want to board their dogs. We felt like it was really central and easy to get to for most of the residents in Pinellas.”

The company currently employs 10 full-time employees at the new Lealman location, with plans to expand to 25-30 when the dog daycare is at full capacity. Wallace said his partner’s 10+ years of experience in the dog daycare and boarding industry and their employee-centric culture have helped make Paws ‘n’ Rec successful.

“We do a lot to make sure our staff are well taken care of, because they're the ones taking care of everybody's dogs. We put a big emphasis on company culture and just being a great place for young people who love animals to work and try to build a career.”

Wallace also believes Paws ‘n’ Rec’s extended hours will appeal to St. Pete’s growing number of younger residents, offering pet pickup and dropoff between 6:30 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. every day.

“So if you're going out to dinner, you can pick your dog up really late, whereas a lot of daycare or boarding facilities close early,” Wallace said. “There's a big demand for good quality pet care service providers in Tampa Bay, and I think our experience, having done this for a long time, has really empowered us to grow and find new opportunities to serve more pet parents.”

Workforce training program helps Pinellas woman revitalize career

A workforce training program is highlighting the story of one Pinellas County woman, to show how the program is transforming lives throughout Tampa Bay.

Sharon Brindamour’s life took an unexpected turn as she found herself at a crossroads in 2021. After years of being a devoted caregiver for her mother with Alzheimer’s and her husband battling cancer, both died within two months of each other.

“I was taking care of both of them and handling all their financial stuff and all the debt that comes along with that, so it was hard to make ends meet,” said Brindamour, 62. “I knew I needed to go back to work, but at my age, I didn’t know what I was going to do.”

Brindamour started going to local career fairs in search of a fresh start and noticed a booth showcasing a robot, illustrating some of the machinery used at AmSkills, a nonprofit that offers hands-on training in mechatronics, machining and robotics through its Career Discovery Bootcamps. 

At first, Brindamour was hesitant, believing her age and gender weren’t the right fit for a career in manufacturing, but the AmSkills staff encouraged her to sign up for a Career Discovery Camp.

“I’d probably say 90% of our students have no manufacturing background,” said Alisa Franz, Bootcamp and Admin Manager for AmSkills. “You don’t have to have any manufacturing background to get an entry-level manufacturing job. I always say that these companies hire for attitude first, then for skills. So if somebody is willing to learn something new, they enjoy working with their hands, and they’re able to put their mind to it, then there’s lots of room for growth.”

Brindamour was willing to give it a shot, signing up for the two-week camp that introduces job seekers to hands-on projects in precision measurement, soldering, electrical and mechatronics basics and workplace safety. The camp also includes resume and interview coaching, an employability skills assessment through the Florida Ready to Work program, and introductions to local employers. 

Largo resident Sharon Brindamour, 62, said encouragement from her children and the AmSkills team helped her successfully complete the two-week Career Discovery Bootcamp. Photo provided.

“At first, I was really scared and thinking, ‘I’m not gonna be able to do this.’ I was nervous about working with tools and being around younger people, just all kinds of things that were going through my head when I was trying to doubt myself,”  Brindamour said. “But I had to try to stay positive and tell myself, ‘I can do this.”

‘My kids were there to help me too by saying they were proud of me, every time I told them about something that happened in school or that I passed a test. They helped lift me up and make me feel good about it, so it kept me going.”

Brindamour had her first interview the day she graduated from the AmSkills camp and landed a job in January 2023 as a Production Assembly Maker at Custom Manufacturing & Engineering, a woman-owned engineering design and manufacturing company in Pinellas Park.

“I’m training people now. I’m training people how to make cables and harnesses and things, something I never in a million years thought I’d be doing at 62 years old,” Brindamour said. “I wanted to make sure, especially my age, that I was going to do something I actually like doing. The job that I’m doing now, I can actually make a difference. I’m very picky about my work and making sure I do it just right. I guess I’m a quick learner. I never thought I’d be doing what I’m doing now, but it’s fun, it’s exciting.”

The AmSkills program not only provided Sharon with the technical skills needed for her new role, but also equipped her with the confidence and preparation essential for re-entering the workforce. This successful transition highlights the valuable support that organizations like AmSkills can offer to individuals seeking to revitalize their careers or begin a new journey into manufacturing and engineering.

“About 50% of our students typically get hired on to one of the companies that we work with,” Franz said. “The ones that really put effort into the Bootcamp, they love it and they succeed. We have a lot of kids that are 18 to 24 years old, but we have a lot of older people as well. I think the oldest lady that we’ve gotten a job was 72.”

Franz said the overall positive experiences of those who go through the Career Discovery Bootcamp underscores the importance of accessible and comprehensive career training programs like AmSkills. She encourages anyone, regardless of age, gender or past work experience, to sign up for the $25 program.

“If you’re unemployed and you really want a good job with benefits, that you can move up in, then why not give it a shot?”

AmSkills hosts Career Discovery Bootcamps in Pinellas County at the Lealman Exchange community center and in Pasco County at its AmSkills Workforce Innovation Center, located at 4606 Darlington Rd. in Holiday. For more information about upcoming programs, visit amskills.org.

YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg Announces Significant Expansion in Early Childhood Education

The YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg is expanding early childhood education services at area YMCA Preschool Academies to meet the growing demand for safe and accredited childcare. The plans for expansion, which include additional rooms for toddlers and infants, reflect the organization's dedication to nurturing young minds in our community.

"The demand for safe, affordable childcare options continues to increase, especially for infants and toddlers. A key component of the YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg's strategic plan initiative to be the Organization of Choice is to expand the options for accredited early childhood education in the community," said YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg President & CEO David Jezek.

The Y’s commitment to serving the community extends beyond physical space, with collaboration agreements in place with Pinellas County and Lealman Exchange to address the needs of the community effectively. YMCA Preschool Academies focus on developing critical skills, from motor skills to reaching major milestones like counting, reading, shapes and color recognition.

Speer YMCA Preschool Academy, located in South St. Petersburg, is gearing up to expand infant care. The expansion, totaling 5,000 square feet, will create multiple infant and toddler classrooms, accommodating an additional 48 children ages 6 weeks to 2 years. The learning center, which initially opened its doors in 2015 to serve 2- to 5-year-olds, has been a proven asset to the community, providing early intervention and toddler development programs alongside a state-accredited volunteer prekindergarten program.

As of 2023, 98 students were enrolled at Speer YMCA Preschool Academy. The building, currently measuring 15,000 square feet, features classroom space, a playground, a teaching kitchen, a community center and grounds for sports and recreation.

The funding for the Speer YMCA Preschool Academy expansion will be allocated from the sale of Harbordale YMCA. After careful consideration, the YMCA made the strategic decision to reinvest the proceeds from the sale into the Speer YMCA Preschool Academy to support the much-needed childcare in the community

Additionally, Lealman YMCA Preschool Academy has repurposed two existing rooms that were designated for 3- and 4-year-olds into spaces catering to infants and toddlers. This adjustment allows the learning center to accommodate up to 18 infants (across three rooms with a 1-3 teacher to child ratio) and 24 toddlers (across three rooms with a 1 to 4 ratio).

In the future, the YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg also hopes to expand offerings at the Bardmoor YMCA Preschool Academy in Largo.

“The infant and toddler age groups are periods of rapid growth for children. Providing care at this stage of development helps prepare the children to meet milestones and ultimately be prepared for school, positioning them for long-term academic success. High quality childcare improves cognitive and language development, social and emotional development, and promotes school achievement.” said YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg Associate Vice President of Education Claire Haas

The YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg is taking a significant step forward in shaping the future of early childhood education in our community, ensuring children have access to high-quality care and education from the very beginning.

The Y emphasizes its commitment to making early childhood education accessible through Early Learning Coalition scholarships and financial aid options. For more information on availability and enrollment, visit us online at www.stpetemyca.org/preschool or call 727.895.9622.

Kick Off the New Year with Free Cooking Classes 

Lealmanite

The Lealman Honey & Arts Festival '24 is just around the corner and we would love to have your unique offerings contribute to the success of this event. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to showcase your skills to a diverse crowd during this festival’s 2nd year!

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