Credit: Leo Gomez Studios

Hello there.

We're back with Edition 6 of the Lealman Voice.

Thank you to everyone who has shared information, updates, and events; keep them coming! We've got events, career opportunities, and great ways to support your neighborhood this week!

Our mission is simple: To help connect the people of Lealman.

You have the ideas, the projects, the events, and the energy - everything needed to keep Lealman thriving. The biggest challenge is often simply getting the word out. The Lealman Voice will help us meet that challenge. 

Opportunity is blooming in Lealman, and people are noticing. By staying connected, we can stay aligned and make sure that the rich history of Lealman is preserved and that the people of Lealman drive the future of Lealman.

-The Lealman Voice

With Your Help, Neighborhood Watch Prevents Crime

Neighborhood Watch is one of the oldest and most effective crime prevention programs in the nation. Formally adopted by the National Sheriffs’ Association after its successful debut in Los Angeles in the 1960s, the program is well-established in Pinellas County. There are more than 100 established volunteer watch programs from Tierra Verde to Tarpon Springs, working in partnership with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. 

A Neighborhood Watch Group to cover the west side of the Lealman community would be a great addition to the existing Watch network. What's required are three volunteers to serve as chairperson, co-chairperson, and communications lead. The Sheriff's Office Crime Prevention and Community Awareness Unit (727-582-2222) can talk to you about what's involved and how to get started. 

But as important as volunteer leadership may be, the best crime prevention asset is an informed and engaged neighborhood where residents understand their role in community safety and crime prevention. 

Sergeant Dan DiFrancesco of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office and his colleagues have trained thousands of Pinellas County residents on how to be better observers of their surroundings and identify the earmarks of crime. 

He recently shared some valuable information with the Lealman Voice on how Neighborhood Watch works -- and debunked some misconceptions about the program. 

"First and foremost, there's no active patrolling or putting yourself in harm's way. We want your eyes and ears on the community while you go about your normal daily activities," said Sgt DiFrancesco. "We say 'contact not confront,' meaning, report suspicious activity, don't take matters into your own hands."

People want to help but often have question about how. What does a burglar look like? How do you define suspicious activity? What are the signs of drug or human trafficking? 

Sgt. DiFrancesco's rule of thumb: "Judge situations and people by actions and patterns, not appearances," he said. Race, gender, or age are not red flags, but behavior patterns may be. 

"Do you see someone going from car to car and peering into windows? Say something. Is there an unusually high level of activity at a residence or location that stands out? Follow your instincts and report it." It's 'see something, say something' -- then let the experts follow up. 

Sgt. DiFrancesco and his colleagues are available for community presentations and trainings on Neighborhood Watch strategies or to share trends and issues with crime in your area. Residents can also view crime reports from your neighborhood anytime or receive regular email updates via the Pinellas County Crime Viewer. 

Want to report something suspicious in your area? Here's how. 

• If you have a known neighborhood watch team in your area, reach out to them via email or their preferred method of contact. 

• The Sheriff's Office has a non-emergency number for suspicious activity. Call 727-369-7864. Tips can be anonymous. 

• Call 911 if the situation is a true emergency or crime appears to be occurring at the time. In Florida, dialing 9-1-1 connects you to EMS, law enforcement and fire and rescue. If you are unsure of your situation is a true emergency, officials recommend that you let the 9-1-1 call taker determine if you need emergency help. 

CRA Update

A lot is happening in your community!  From parks and trails to sidewalks and roadway improvements, Lealman is slated to receive significant investment over the next few years.  While most are in the engineering phase and still must be designed and constructed, the Neri Park master plan construction is scheduled to break ground in January 2024.  For any projects of interest to you, click the links below for more information including contact information for the project managers who can answer any questions you have, or you can always contact us at the Lealman Exchange Community Center at 464-5404. 

-Lealman CRA

Roadway Improvements

54th Avenue N. Improvements - Pinellas County

62nd Avenue N. Roadway Improvements (49th Street N. to 66th Street N.) - Pinellas County

62nd Avenue N. Roadway Improvements (49th Street N. to 34th Street N.) - Pinellas County

71st Street North Roadway Improvements - Pinellas County

Parks and Trails

Raymond H. Neri Community Park Improvements - Pinellas County

Joe's Creek Restoration and Greenway Trail - Pinellas County

Sidewalk Projects

46th Avenue North Sidewalk Improvements (49th Street North to 37th Street North) - Pinellas County

-Lealman CRA

Summer Camp helps kids be ready for school

Summer is a much-cherished time for children and their families. The freedom of no homework, extra sleep, and a more relaxed schedule are much-needed breaks after the busyness of the school year.

However, research shows that the average student in grades 1-8 can lose up to 34% of the prior year’s learning during the summer break. And that loss can be even more depending on race and socio-economic status. One study even suggests that students who lose ground in one summer are more likely also to lose ground in subsequent summers. That means teachers must spend valuable time at the beginning of the school year bringing students back to where they were academically just months before.

According to Parenting Science, studies suggest summer learning loss can be prevented by engaging kids in summertime reading, math games, and hands-on STEM activities. But the benefits depend on making sure kids are truly stimulated – and having fun!

That idea is what the YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg Summer Day Camp curriculum is built on. According to Ashley Carter, Summer Day Camp is designed to be fun, so much fun that the participants don’t even realize they are learning or using the skills they have learned in school.

“Our program includes STEM, arts and crafts, literacy, fitness, nutrition and team building,” Carter said. “But it’s all really based on having fun.”

Full Story

Youth Basketball Heads to Lealman

At the Y, our youth basketball leagues are designed to develop fundamental basketball skills while teaching teamwork, strategy and sportsmanship. Skills taught include passing, shooting, dribbling and the rules of the game. The focus of our youth basketball leagues is to have fun, meet new friends and play in a non-competitive environment.

Summer Youth Basketball Leagues

• Dates Held: May 29 - July 22, 2023
• Registration Deadlines: Save 10% during Early Registration April 10 - 28; Registration closes May 19
• Offered at:  YMCA at Lealman Exchange (Ages 9 - 13)

Register

Why the area needs more IT professionals

According to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, software and applications developers are the fourth most advertised occupation in Pinellas County, while computer systems engineers and architects rank 12^th.

HR Digest published an article Tuesday morning naming data analytics and science as its fastest-growing careers of 2023. CareerSource Pinellas, local tech-focused companies and St. Petersburg College are increasing efforts to meet the rapidly growing demand.

Jared Womack, director of information services for NetWolves, said the average company’s cybersecurity offerings are  five to 10 years behind. That jumps to between 10 and 15 years for the healthcare sector, underscoring the need for more workers to protect expanding networks from rapidly evolving threats.

“The bad guy only needs to get it right once,” Womack explained. “The good guy needs to get it right every time.”

He added that federal government statistics show companies must safeguard against 1,500 to 3,000 new vulnerabilities monthly. Womack called that a “significant amount of work” and noted that the skills needed to breach networks have decreased dramatically.

CareerSource is dedicating its latest job fair to helping meet the growing need for local information technology (IT) professionals. The event runs from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Wednesday (April 26) at the St. Petersburg College (SPC) EpiCenter.

Learn More

Career Corner

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