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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: Lealman YMCA Preschool Academy

Lealman Exchange is home to a variety of tenant organizations who serve our community and beyond.  Today, we are chatting with Ulas Butler, Lealman YMCA Preschool Academy Director

Tell us a little about yourself and your organization:  Lealman YMCA Preschool Academy is a part of the larger YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg network, offering early childhood education in a supportive and nurturing environment. We provide children with the foundational skills they need to succeed in school and in life, emphasizing social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development. At our academy, we strive to create a community where families feel supported, and children are empowered to thrive.

Tell us who you serve and how:  We serve children from the Lealman area and surrounding communities, typically between the ages of infants and 5. Our preschool programs focus on creating a positive learning environment, offering a blend of structured educational activities and play. We serve a diverse group of families, including those in need of financial assistance, ensuring all children have access to high-quality early childhood education.

What drives your mission?  Our mission is driven by a commitment to providing accessible, quality early childhood education to all families. We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to develop to their fullest potential, regardless of their background or financial situation. By fostering a strong sense of community and providing children with the resources they need to grow academically, socially, and emotionally, we aim to build a brighter future for everyone we serve.

Do you have an accomplishment you are particularly proud of you'd like to share?  One of our proudest accomplishments is our ability to maintain high retention and satisfaction rates among our families. Despite the challenges of recent years, including the pandemic and changes in staffing, our commitment to providing a stable and supportive environment for both children and parents has led to positive feedback and continued enrollment. Additionally, we are proud of the relationships we’ve built with local families and our continued efforts to ensure all children, regardless of their background, have access to a quality education.

What programs or opportunities are available through your organization to our Lealman neighbors?  The YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg at Lealman Exchange serves as a key resource center for the community, offering a wide range of programs and services designed to support individuals and families of all ages. Some of the programs and services available to the Lealman community in addition to our preschool include:

Free Programs & Services:

Family Night Open Gym: Every Friday, 6PM - 8PM, where families can enjoy an active evening together. Open to all ages.

Drop-In Adult Basketball: Mondays and Wednesdays, 6PM - 9PM, providing adults with a fun way to stay active.

Paid Programs & Services:

Parkinson's Disease Programs: Exercise and support programs designed to improve function and independence for individuals with Parkinson’s Disease and their care partners.

SilverSneakers®: A fitness program for seniors held on Tuesdays & Thursdays, focusing on maintaining a higher quality of life through physical activity.

These programs, along with our supportive environment, ensure that we are meeting the diverse needs of the Lealman community, from young children to older adults.     

To learn more about the YMCA at Lealman Exchange, visit www.stpeteymca.org and follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/stpeteymcayouth  

MO-Bull Clinic is moving to the third Wednesday of each month. TSee you on March 19th!

NEW - Schedule appointments online!

Hoot & Harvest celebrates the joys of front-yard farming

Via St. Pete Catalyst

Hoot & Harvest has created quite the stir at Gulfport’s Tuesday Fresh Market, where crowds eagerly line up to purchase its farm-fresh eggs and locally-grown produce before it sells out.

Launched by partners Anne Gloeckner and Joe Morris just two years ago, Hoot & Harvest is a vibrant urban front-yard farm located less than two miles from the Gulfport market. The company is rapidly growing its reputation as a purveyor of locally-grown, seasonal produce with a focus on community and connection.

It started as a modest operation intended to feed the couple and has quickly grown – both figuratively and literally – now spanning a plot of nearly 4,500 square feet of yard space and serving hundreds of community members who crave their healthier, lower-intervention produce options. The produce shifts seasonally, but a few current offerings include collard greens, daikon radish, bok choy, two different kinds of broccoli, and kohlrabi.

While they always had a passion for growing, a chance conversation with a front-yard farmer in New Port Richey opened the couple’s eyes to the possibility of taking the leap into urban agriculture and growing their own food supply. Inspired by her grandmother’s Victory Garden during World War II, Anne started a small plot during the Covid-19 food shortages, overhauling her front yard to grow enough produce to feed their household.

When a neighbor approached them and offered their front yard as additional land to cultivate, Gloeckner and Morris decided to dive in, leaving behind their jobs in the veterinary and electrical fields and becoming full-time farmers.

The duo behind Hoot & Harvest reject the notion that they have green thumbs; they’re proud of the work they’ve put into learning the skill of farming. “Do you know how many plants I’ve killed?” Gloeckner said, laughing.

She followed up with encouraging words: “You can do this too, and it’s minimal money. It’s time, but you don’t have to do it on such a large scale. You can do it in a small plot of land and feed your family. It’s important … it’s an equalizer and a connector.”

They both assert the accessibility of urban gardening for everyone, and underscore the importance of reconnecting with food and the community around food. 

Added Morris: “I want everyone to do this. We don’t do classes; it’s free. Come talk to us. We’ll tell you exactly how we do it.”

Community and connection play are driving forces in the Hoot & Harvest ethos. The farm has had a “great reception from the community, and [we’ve] met so many more people, because that’s really important to know your neighbors,” Morris said. “That’s been a huge thing for us.”

When asked about the biggest surprise from their farming business, they both paused and appeared to get a little emotional. They agreed that the appreciation they feel for the community that supports them is what keeps them going. Gloeckner: “I guess it would be giving gratitude back to everybody who does come purchase from us. We appreciate the business because they do literally keep us growing, and we want to keep growing because … Joe and I’ve never worked jobs with pensions or retirement plans. This is something we can do for a long time to keep us going; this is our retirement.

“And we enjoy doing it. It’s nice to bring this to the community. I’m proud when we bring this to market.”

Hoot & Harvest can be found weekly at the Gulfport Tuesday Fresh Market, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., on Facebook, and on Instagram.

Habitat continues transforming a previously ‘lost area’

Via St. Pete Catalyst

An underserved area just outside St. Petersburg’s city limits will soon receive another boost from a strategic partnership between Pinellas County officials and the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate.

Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside now has an underutilized 5.94-acre parcel and $2.29 million in funding to provide another 57 affordable homes in unincorporated Lealman. County Commissioners unanimously approved the allocation and land swap Feb. 25.

Over the past few years, the organization has provided about 50 homeownership opportunities in Lealman. Sean King, executive vice president, is proud of Habitat’s work in “kind of this lost area of Pinellas County that was almost forgotten.”

“It’s a great little area of the community that, unfortunately, has just kind of lacked investment for quite some time,” King told the Catalyst. “So, I’m glad to see the county being thoughtful about the approach and trying to impact the residents who have lived there for decades.”

The unnamed $10.13 million project will provide 31 single-family houses and 26 townhomes around the intersection of 40^th Street and 58^th Avenue North. Potential residents who complete 38 homeownership classes and contribute at least 350 hours of sweat equity will receive a 0% mortgage.

County officials selected Habitat, which has built over 900 homes in Pinellas, through a competitive process. King said the organization is already working to secure gap funding to cover infrastructure costs.

“And the land is huge,” he added. “Pinellas is a peninsula on a peninsula. We’re not building any more land, so everything has to be redeveloped.”

Habitat will acquire the site from the Housing Finance Authority of Pinellas County. King said partnering with local governments is “crucial to our success” as it eliminates the need to compete with private developers on the open market.

He called centrally located Lealman a “great area” with much-improved social services and infrastructure, thanks to the county’s recent investments. Providing accessible homeownership opportunities allows low-income families to build generational wealth.

Habitat will also transform a vacant 1.35-acre lot in Clearwater into a community with 24 townhomes. The county allocated $1 million to the $9.58 million project, dubbed Lake Belleview, and the city provided the land.

Mike Sutton, CEO of Habitat, noted that local partnerships have supported nearly 950 homes. “It takes all of us to make affordable homeownership a reality for hardworking families in our service area,” he said in a prepared statement.

The recently expanded organization has 11 developments with 320 homes in progress from Spring Hill to St. Petersburg. However, King reiterated Habitat’s commitment to Pinellas.

The affiliate was founded in South St. Petersburg and celebrates its 40^th anniversary this year. King said about 70% of the nonprofit’s annual projects will break ground in Pinellas.

“We remain committed to St. Pete, as well,” he added. “Lealman has become more and more of a focus area because it’s a focus area in the county. So, there are resources there, and we like to be a good partner in that.”

King said the long-awaited Shell Dash Townhomes near Tropicana Field would welcome residents in about two months. Construction on The Grove, another Habitat development in the South St. Pete Community Redevelopment Area, should conclude by the end of the year.

King said city officials have approved Habitat’s site plan for Pelican Place, a 44-townhome community directly across from the embattled Tangerine Plaza site. “That project is basically shovel-ready; we should be doing a groundbreaking soon.”

“It’s going to be an exciting time for us,” King continued. “Specifically, the Shell Dash project. That’s going to be huge for those families as the Historic Gas Plant gets redeveloped.”

Joe's Creek Survey - Input Needed

 Pinellas County is advancing efforts to revitalize Joe’s Creek Industrial Park (JCIP) through a comprehensive master plan designed to support existing businesses, attract reinvestment, and enhance infrastructure.

The JCIP Master Plan aims to evaluate potential land use and zoning changes while addressing critical infrastructure needs, including utilities, transportation, mobility, and stormwater management systems. The plan will also develop economic strategies to retain businesses and encourage new development in underutilized areas.

The project, which launched on July 31, 2024, will proceed through multiple phases, including real estate market evaluations, infrastructure assessments, and stakeholder engagement. A final master plan is expected to be completed by mid-2025.

Residents and business owners are encouraged to participate in shaping the future of JCIP by providing input through an online survey. The county seeks community feedback to ensure the plan aligns with economic and community needs.

For more information or to share your vision for Joe’s Creek Industrial Park, visit the project’s online survey.

Discovering Lealman: Ikigai with a Taste of Saigon

Article and Photos by Becca McCoy

In the 4195 plaza on 54th Avenue, a sushi restaurant has been in Unit E for years.  After an extended closure for renovations, it reopened in 2024 with the addition of a Vietnamese menu, notably including a DIY garnish bar for their phenomenal Pho.  Ikigai with a Taste of Saigon consistently makes “best of” and “top 5” lists for its fresh, fast-casual offerings.

“Ikigai” is a Japanese word that encapsulates a broad concept: a passion that gives joy and value to life.  It genuinely feels like Ikigai with a Taste of Saigon is that passion for this family-owned business.  Inside the restaurant is bright and clean, warm and welcoming - featuring a bold mural, fun kawaii details, and friendly employees.

Their popular menu items, in addition to the Pho, include Sushi and Poke Bowls, Baked Green Mussels, and Specialty Sushi Rolls (like the Volcano Roll, pictured).         

Ikigai with a Taste of Saigon is located in Lealman at 4195 54th Avenue North, Unit E.  They are open 7 days a week from 10:30am-9pm.  Dine-in, take-out, Uber Eats, and catering are all available – call 727-999-0444 for more info.  Follow them on social media: Facebook @ikigaisushistpete / Instagram @ikigai.witha.tos.

Register now for Pinellas Citizen University

Ever wanted a behind-the-scenes look at how Pinellas County government provides first-class services? Find out by applying to attend this year’s Pinellas Citizen University. Participants will get an inside look at various Pinellas County operations each week and talk to experts as they explore a range of county functions.

The application window is open for the six-week course, which is scheduled for select Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from April 23 through May 28.

Exploring the Lealman Mural Tour: A Colorful Journey Through Community and Creativity

Tucked away in the heart of Pinellas County, Lealman is transforming into a vibrant hub of public art, thanks to the Lealman Mural Project. Since its inception in 2021, this initiative—led by Creative Pinellas in collaboration with the Lealman Community Redevelopment Area—has been on a mission to beautify the neighborhood, celebrate its culture, and engage the community through stunning large-scale murals.

And the best part? The mural tour is just getting started. With seven murals currently on display and more planned for 2025, this open-air gallery is a must-visit for art lovers, locals, and anyone looking for a little inspiration.

A Tour of Lealman’s Must-See Murals

From bold and colorful abstracts to nature-inspired masterpieces, each mural tells a story about Lealman’s identity, people, and landscape. Ready to explore? Here’s a breakdown of the current murals and where to find them:

1. Lealman Landmark Mural + “Better Together” by Leo Gomez

📍 Lealman Exchange - 5175 45th St N
This eye-catching mural at the Lealman Exchange serves as a welcoming landmark for the neighborhood. The piece emphasizes unity with the phrase “Better Together”, reinforcing the spirit of collaboration and growth within the community.

2. “Welcome to Neri Park” by Cory Robinson

📍 Raymond H. Neri Park - 4303 46th Ave N
A tribute to Raymond H. Neri Park, this mural by Cory Robinson greets visitors with a warm, inviting design that highlights the natural beauty and recreational space the park offers.

3. “Pink Breeze” by Hanna Eriksson Patry

📍 Atelier St Pete - 5298 Haines Rd
Soft, flowing forms and warm hues define “Pink Breeze”, a piece that brings a sense of movement and tranquility. This mural adds a modern, artistic touch to Atelier St Pete, a creative space dedicated to art and design.

4.  Blooming in the Landscape Mural by Reid Jenkins

📍 Tommy Todd Landscape & Design - 5017 Haines Rd N
Reid Jenkins brings a naturalistic element to his mural, complementing the landscaping business it adorns. His work reflects themes of growth and the beauty of Florida’s flora.

5. "Roar of the Jaguar" by Daniel “R5” Rojas

📍 Lealman Innovation Academy - 4900 28th St N
A striking and dynamic piece, “Roar of the Jaguar” embodies strength, resilience, and power. This mural at Lealman Innovation Academy symbolizes the bold spirit of the community and the school’s dedication to innovation.

6. Desert Landscape by Cheryl “Jujmo” Weber

📍 Red Mesa Warehouse - 4633 28th Street N
Whimsical and vibrant, Cheryl “Jujmo” Weber’s Desert Landscape brings a playful energy to Red Mesa Warehouse. With pops of color and stylized desert flora, this mural creates a visual escape into another world.

7. “Garden Variety” by Laura “Miss Crit” Spencer

📍 Mother Kombucha - 4360 28th Street N
True to its location at Mother Kombucha, this lush, botanical-inspired mural celebrates nature, sustainability, and the beauty of organic growth. Laura “Miss Crit” Spencer’s work is a perfect match for the kombucha brand’s ethos.

The Lealman Mural Project is more than just an art initiative—it’s a movement that’s shaping the area’s identity and fostering a deeper sense of community pride. And with new murals planned for 2025, this is just the beginning.

Whether you’re a local looking for a weekend adventure or a visitor exploring the creative side of Pinellas County, the Lealman Mural Tour offers a colorful journey through art, culture, and community spirit.

Plan your visit, snap some photos, and immerse yourself in Lealman’s evolving public art scene.

Shop Simple with MyPlate: Eat Healthy on a Budget

Eating healthy doesn’t have to break the bank! Shop Simple with MyPlate is your go-to tool for making nutritious choices while sticking to your budget.

With Shop Simple, you can:
✅ Find local savings on healthy foods in your area
✅ Discover budget-friendly recipes to make the most of your groceries
✅ Get smart shopping tips to stretch your dollar without sacrificing nutrition

Whether you’re looking for affordable meal ideas or ways to make the most of grocery deals, MyPlate has you covered. Start shopping smart today and fuel your body—without emptying your wallet!

Use Shop Simple on your computer or tablet

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