Hello there.
Welcome to The Lealman Voice

Welcome to the Lealman Voice, your ultimate guide to everything happening in our vibrant neighborhood! We're dedicated to highlighting the heartbeat of our community by sharing upcoming events, the latest news, and stories that matter most to you. Whether it's a local gathering, community initiative, or notable achievement, we want to hear from you. Let's celebrate the spirit of Lealman together and keep our neighborhood thriving. Share your news with us, and let's continue to make your voices heard!

Lealman Independence Day 

Lealman came out in full force to celebrate America’s birthday with its second annual Lealman Independence Day Celebration.

The free, family-friendly event included bounce houses, a water slide, music, a beer and wine garden, family-friendly activities, a Kona Ice truck and free hot dogs and burgers courtesy of the Lealman Fire Department. Baked beans and other sides were donated by Sonny's BBQ in Pinellas Park. Sweet treats were donated by Bimbo.

The event was held at Lealman Park this year as Pinellas County continues construction to renovate Ray Neri Park. The event was planned and put on by the Lealman Engagement Committee, a group of local organizations and partners created to develop and host community events in Lealman.

"The Lealman Engagement Committee (LEC) is an action-oriented group of volunteer organizations that believes Lealman is on the rise and that community growth should be an integral part of its development,” said Zelda O'Connell, Chief Operating Officer of the Florida Dream Center. “A favorite part of my job is what we all accomplish together in the LEC."

Commissioner Charlie Justice gave opening remarks, noting the event was filled with patriotism, unity, and a profound sense of community pride. 

The event was sponsored by Crown Automotive, Duke Energy, Pinellas County, HCA Northside Hospital, Community Foundation Tampa Bay, Pinellas Housing Authority, Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties, Blue Sky Communities, and Coastal Waste &Recycling.

"We're thrilled to continue this new tradition in Lealman," said Amy J. Cianci, who runs the Lealman Exchange. "Events like these are crucial in building a sense of community, and we're proud to see Lealman residents coming together to celebrate and create lasting memories."

The success of Lealman's Independence Day celebration was made possible by the tireless efforts of dedicated volunteers and the community organizations that make up the Lealman Engagement Events Committee, which includes Pinellas County, Florida Dream Center, Lealman Fire District, Pinellas County Housing Authority, Lealman Community Association, Lealman Community District Services, St. Petersburg Foundation, and Exquisite Events & Marketing. 

Event organizers say the park was left in great condition after the celebration, making post-event cleanup a breeze and demonstrating how much Lealmanites care for their community. Lealman's second annual Independence Day celebration was a resounding success, setting the stage for future years of holiday festivities.

County selects firm to restore, reimagine Joe’s Creek

Via St. Pete Catalyst

Long-awaited plans to breathe new life into Joe’s Creek and, by proxy, historically underserved areas surrounding the once prominent watershed, are moving forward.

Pinellas County officials comprising an evaluation committee selected Environmental Science Associates (ESA) July 2 to provide project engineering services. The San Francisco-based, employee-owned environmental consultancy firm’s proposal emerged from a competitive process that included Johnson, Mimriam & Thompson and Kimley-Horn.

The previously estimated $59.5 million Joe’s Creek Restoration project will primarily occur throughout Lealman. Over 20,000 residents live in the unincorporated community just outside St. Petersburg city limits; ESA will begin the first phase of what local officials have called the most important thing for this area that’s going to happen in the next five to 10 years.

“I was happy to see they have coastal experience as well as stream restoration,” said Emma Dontis, county environmental specialist, in her evaluation. “I think having those two skills for this sort of project is really quite important, and it seems like they’ve been able to tackle both.”

The 9,256-acre Joe’s Creek watershed also includes portions of Kenneth City, Pinellas Park and St. Petersburg. While the urban waterway resembles a large, flood-prone drainage ditch, local leaders have long planned to transform it into a public amenity.

The current project’s boundaries are Park Boulevard to the north, 54^th Avenue North to the south, 71^st Street North to the east and Park Street to the west. ESA will oversee nuisance vegetation removal and design stormwater controls – including green infrastructure that better absorbs harmful nutrients and other pollutants affecting water quality.

Contractors will plant native vegetation and trees, stabilize banks, remove a mosquito ditch, restore a tidal salt marsh and dredge the channel to improve water flow. Downstream waterbodies like Cross Bayou will also receive enhancements.

The engineering phase intertwines with additional Joe’s Creek initiatives. Those include creating an extensive, elevated and permeable pavement multi-modal trail to foster community connectivity.

County documents call the Lealman Community Redevelopment Area “disadvantaged” due to the high percentage of low-income households with limited transportation access. Officials believe a reimagined Joe’s Creek will foster much-needed economic development.

The evaluation committee credited the ESA’s “vast” experience. “They even have a drone pilot on their staff,” said Daniel Umberger, a county hydrogeologist.

Full Article

 Lealman kids enjoy second annual STEAM Day Camp

It was a spectacular convergence of curiosity, creativity and innovation as young minds embarked on a remarkable journey of discovery during the second annual Lealman STEAM Day held at the Lealman Exchange on July 10th. 

The Lealman Exchange was transformed into a vibrant hub of intellectual exploration and fun, with various areas dedicated to science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM). The event aimed to engage young minds and nurture their interest in these disciplines through hands-on activities, workshops, and demonstrations.

Students were able to learn from the Water Warrior Alliance, AmSkills, eSmart Recycling, Orlando Health, Clam Bayou Education Center, the St. Petersburg College of Marine Science, SPCA Tampa Bay and the St. Pete Innovation District. The passionate professionals at these organizations became role models, inspiring the young attendees to dream big and pursue their passions.

“Lealman STEAM Day is a fantastic opportunity for our community to come together and inspire our youth through hands-on learning and innovation,” said Ashley Morales, Engagement Director of the St. Petersburg Foundation, the nonprofit that sponsored and conducted the event. “We love seeing the impact this event has on the next generation of thinkers and creators. So many children were engaged in what they were learning, asking thoughtful questions and for many, considering a future in STEAM for the first time. Plus, it’s always a great day when you get to play with fun machines!”

The event ended with a free pizza lunch and a STEAM Science Bowl, where kids could compete in a Trivial Pursuit-style competition to share what they learned. The STEAM Day Camp is one way the Lealman community is coming together to provide an engaging, interactive platform for young learners, nurturing a future generation of critical thinkers, problem solvers, and innovators.

Around Town: South Pinellas news briefs

Via TBN Weekly

Lukacz Grabowski of Lealman Fire District has been named HCA Florida Pinellas Market's newest EMS All-Star. 

Grabowshi was nominated by his Lealman Fire District peers. His nomination read, in part: “Throughout his time at Lealman Fire District, Lukacz has gone above and beyond the call of duty to provide high-quality care to patients in their times of greatest need. His quick thinking, decisive actions, and calm demeanor under pressure have saved countless lives and eased the suffering of many. Not only does Lukas excel in his clinical abilities, but he also embodies the values of teamwork and professionalism. He is highly respected by his colleagues for his leadership on the field and his willingness to support others in their roles.”

Pinellas County Survey

Pinellas County is inviting residents to participate in a comprehensive quality-of-life survey. Residents can take the survey by visiting 

National Community Survey - Pinellas County

 The survey is available online in English and Spanish until July 30.

The National Community Survey allows the County to compare results and benchmark residents’ opinions against other communities across the country. Questions will include topics such as quality of life, important characteristics of community, services provided by Pinellas County and potential priorities for the future.

Everyone living or working in Pinellas County is invited to take the survey and guide the community’s future.

Flyers (English & Spanish) attached.

Also, don’t forget to catch The Wave ‍, Pinellas County’s newsletter.

Preview and sign up.

Girls Rock starts the countdown to 2024 concert

Via St. Pete Catalyst

Camp Week is about to start at Girls Rock St. Pete, and every day, the campus will be buzzing with young people between the ages of 8 and 18, learning the basics of guitar, bass, drums, and keyboards from seasoned and/or professional musicians, all of them women.

The end game is the annual showcase concert, Saturday, July 20 at Jannus Live. Executive Director Jesse Miller believes the garage band, punk rock DIY ethos really works for her girls: “You learn a few chords and you’re on the way.”

The campers are putting rock bands together, writing songs together, and performing them at the Jannus Live show. All in five days.

Modeled after a nationwide program, the nonprofit Girls Rock St. Pete has been working with local girls for nine years. Although there are year-round programs, including several for adults, summer camp is the centerpiece. Fifty campers have signed up for 2024.

There’s more to it than music. Music, Miller likes to tell parents, is a “Trojan horse,” a delicious carrot-y temptation to dangle. “We’re trying to build a community of sisterhood – not just for girls, but also non-binary, trans, gender-expansive youth, but also adults and men. We’ve built this huge ripple effect of positivity throughout our camp and into all of our programs.”

Girls Rock Camp is all about building self-esteem through collaboration, trial and error, creativity … and fun.  “Working in bands,” Miller explains, “kind of creates this perfect microcosm of learning healthy communication skills, learning conflict resolution skills … if you’re quiet, you have to learn how to get out of your comfort zone and speak up. If you talk a lot, you have to learn to become a passionate listener.

“Working in this band model, you have to have fast decision-making – we put this pressure cooker on them of only having five days. They’re learning a brand-new instrument; so they’re all learning that making mistakes is OK. And in fact necessary.”

Full Article

County increases home repair program payout to $75,000

Residents in unincorporated Pinellas County and most cities outside of Belleair Shores, Clearwater and St. Petersburg can now receive an up to $75,000 forgivable home repair loan with no monthly payment. County officials also increased the Independent Living Grant supporting accessibility improvements like wheelchair ramps to $20,000. Homeowners earning less than $53,000 annually can qualify for both programs and avoid making monthly payments if the home is their primary residence.

Submit your pics for Pinellas County Parks Month Photo Contest

July is Park & Recreation Month and we want your help celebrating the beauty of Pinellas County with a photo contest! Submit a photo from a Pinellas County park through this form or share it on our Facebook page with a title, where it was taken and the hashtag #PCRPic. Categories include beaches, recreation, landscapes, plant life, playgrounds and wildlife! Get your cameras out and start snapping!

Hello Lealman