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Welcome to The Lealman Voice

Welcome to the Lealman Voice!

Stay in the know about everything happening in our community! Be sure to read the full newsletter for important community surveys, upcoming events, and ways to get involved. Got news to share? Submit it to be featured! And don’t forget to visit the USF MoBull Clinic for FREE healthcare services and the upcoming Lealman Farmers Market!

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 MEET THE TENANTS: Pinellas County: Lealman CRA

Today, we are chatting with Amy Davis, Assistant to County Administration, who runs the Lealman CRA.

Tell us a little about yourself and your organization: The Lealman Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) was officially established by Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners in 2015; subsequently, the Lealman CRA Redevelopment Plan was adopted in 2016. The Lealman CRA is generally bounded by the City of Pinellas Park to the north, Kenneth City to the west, and the City of St. Petersburg to the south and east. The Lealman Community Redevelopment Area Plan serves as a comprehensive framework for long-term development, economic development and redevelopment revitalization strategies.

The Lealman CRA team is Amy Davis, Felix Nuñez, and Cameron Ehmig. 

Tell us who you serve and how: The CRA is part of unincorporated Pinellas County. The CRA has multiple programs and initiatives within the Community Redevelopment area, such as commercial and residential grant programs, public art/murals, sidewalk construction and park improvements. 

What programs or opportunities are available through your organization to our Lealman neighbors? We have offices in the Lealman Exchange, and we can be reached by email, phone, or by appointment if you have any questions regarding our grant programs and the online application process or any of the CRA projects.

To learn more about the Lealman CRA, visit their website at https://pinellas.gov/lealman-community-redevelopment-area/

What's Happening @ LEX

View more events on the LEX Community Calendar!

Friends of Strays Offers Free Microchips and Vaccines for Lealman Dogs

Friends of Strays Animal Shelter is offering free microchips and vaccines to dog owners in the Lealman community to help keep local pets healthy and safe. The event will take place on Saturday, April 26, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Lealman Exchange. 

Microchipping is a quick, permanent way to help reunite lost pets with their families, and core vaccines protect animals against common, preventable diseases. These services are provided at no cost, thanks to Friends of Strays’ ongoing commitment to supporting pet health and reducing the number of stray animals in the community.

All services are first come, first served while supplies last. Pet owners are encouraged to bring their dogs on leashes. 

For more information, visit friendsofstrays.org.

New Take-Home Blood Pressure Monitors Available at LEX

Thanks to the generous support of the American Heart Association, LEX now has seven blood pressure monitors available for community members to check out and use at home. The new take-home kits include five standard monitors and two with extra-large cuffs, making them more accessible for individuals whose arms may not fit comfortably in traditional models.

These units are available for checkout at the LEX front desk and offer a convenient option for those who need to monitor their blood pressure outside of regular lobby hours or for those who find the Higi Machine's fixed cuff size incompatible.

For those unfamiliar, the Higi Machine—a self-service health kiosk located in the LEX lobby—offers a quick and easy way to check blood pressure. Users simply insert their arm into the cuff, press start, and receive a reading within minutes. The machine also tracks trends over time for those who register an account, providing helpful insights into overall cardiovascular health.

Regularly monitoring your blood pressure is one of the most important steps you can take to maintain heart health. High blood pressure often has no noticeable symptoms but can significantly increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease. By checking your blood pressure regularly—whether at LEX or at home—you can stay informed and take early action if needed.

Stop by the front desk today to check out a monitor or learn more about how to use the Higi Machine safely and effectively. Your heart will thank you.

HCC students receive real-life shelter experience through vet tech program

Via ABC Action News 

Veterinary technician is one of the fastest-growing careers in the nation, according to Hillsborough Community College. It’s one of the reasons why they are partnering up with the Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center.

It’s called the Vet Tech Program, and Somnia Hevia is one of more than 40 Hillsborough Community College students participating. The program allows students to go off campus and into a real-life shelter.

“You can definitely read the textbook and learn the information but once you have that actual hands-on experience you are just more sure of yourself because you can actually handle the animals I think it sticks in my brain better,” said Hevia.

The Pet Resource Center takes in between 13,000 and 15,000 cats and dogs a year, 94 percent of which end up being adopted. They say it’s a lot of work for their vets, and they appreciate the help from students.

“They are doing everything from anesthesia to basic vaccines, to helping with spade, neuters, prepping the instruments,” said Chelsea Waldeck with the Pet Resource Center. “It’s so important to expose people, especially young people, to this field because it’s something that’s not going to go away anytime soon and we are working to help these pets in so many more ways than we have in the past.”

Vet Tech Program Director Vincent Centonze said there is a shortage of vet techs nationwide. That means many of these students will be in high demand once they graduate.

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Discovering Lealman: Dissent Craft Brewing Company 

Article and Photos by Becca McCoy

Dissent Craft Brewing Company is such an institution in Lealman that we have featured it before.  The taproom regularly features 21 beers on tap, all brewed right here in Lealman.  Head Brewer Jeromy Dana has been in the industry for a decade – learning the equipment for five years and brewing ever since.  The creative control is his, and he has a pretty simple methodology: think of something, make it, and if it works, keep making it.

Dana’s approach, coupled with Dissent’s ethos of creativity over conformity, is a winning combination – literally.  Their beer BEER! was just awarded a gold medal from Best Florida Beer, and Untappd gave a blue ribbon to the #1 ranked Sour – Berliner Weisse in Florida: Annual Passholder.  Annual Passholder was born of a suggestion from a Dissent bartender, and Dana credits it with keeping the brewery afloat during the pandemic.  It remains a bestseller to this day, along with Dissent IPA. 

Co-owners Chris Price, Ashley Mills, and Billy Demas partnered with Progressive Distribution to make Dissent’s “outspoken ales” available statewide.  But why miss out on the taproom?  It’s where all the magic happens – where ideas come to life, local art adorns the walls, and neighbors and friends can gather on their journey from here to there – and it’s in the heart of Lealman.

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Dissent Craft Brewing Company is located in Lealman at 5518 Haines Road North.  They are open 7 days a week from 3 pm-9 pm Monday through Thursday, 12 pm-10 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 12 pm-6 pm on Sundays.  Learn more at https://www.dissentcraftbrewing.com/, find them on Facebook and Instagram @dissentcraftbrewing, or call 727-827-7129.  

Care About Me program expands access to behavioral health services for school-aged children in Pinellas County

Pinellas County’s Care About Me program is partnering with Pinellas County Schools to expand access to mental health, addiction, and substance use services for students and families.

The move comes as one in four Pinellas teens report struggling with mental health issues—well above the state average. Care About Me offers hands-on guidance through the behavioral health system, helping families connect directly to care rather than simply providing resources.

Launched in May 2024, the program aims to reduce hospitalizations and crisis interventions by promoting early access to services for issues such as anxiety, ADHD, and self-harm. School social workers can refer students with parental consent.

“This program meets families where they are,” said Vicki Koller of Pinellas County Schools. “It connects them with the right provider and support.”

Residents can call or text “CARE” to (888) 431-1998 or visit careaboutme.org to learn more

Local scientists identify massive seaweed belt’s origins

Via St. Pete Catalyst

Researchers at the University of South Florida’s St. Petersburg campus have identified a “tipping point” in atmospheric conditions that caused the formation of a floating seaweed mass once visible from space.

The Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt, comprised of brown algae, made global headlines in March 2023 when it spanned 5,000 miles in length- twice the length of the U.S. The blobs were nearly nonexistent until 2011, and national agencies tasked researchers at the USF’s College of Marine Science (CMS) with tracking the ever-growing accumulation in 2016.

Stumped scientists previously posited that harmful nutrient runoff from the Congo, Amazon and Mississippi Rivers caused the potentially toxic belt’s formation. A new study showed that the primary causes of the tourism-disrupting phenomenon were extreme wind and ocean current changes.

A significant shift in atmospheric pressure from 2009 through 2010 pushed the sargassum into the tropics, where it feasted on warm, nutrient-rich waters and year-round sunlight. Those conditions, known as the North Atlantic Oscillation, were so anomalous that study co-author Dr. Frank Muller-Karger, a biological oceanographer at the CMS, believes the cycle will continue indefinitely.

“What the winds did is bring it there, and now it’s established,” Muller-Karger told the Catalyst. “Now you have a permanent population that I don’t think is going away anytime soon.”

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Pinellas County Seeks Public Input on $813M Storm Recovery Plan

Pinellas County is inviting residents to weigh in on how to spend more than $813 million in federal storm recovery funds—the largest allocation in Florida—following Hurricanes Idalia, Helene, and Milton.

The first public meeting will be held Monday, April 7, from 6–8 p.m. at the Lealman Exchange, 5175 45th St. N, in the Neri Event Room. Additional meetings and a community survey are available at recover.pinellas.gov.

The funds, provided by HUD’s Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program, will prioritize rebuilding homes, aiding small businesses, and restoring infrastructure—particularly for low-to-moderate income residents.

A draft Action Plan will be released in late April, with programs expected to launch by fall 2025.

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