Lealman Voice Edition 15
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Credit: Leo Gomez Studios
Hello there.
Welcome back to our returning readers, and a warm welcome to our new connections.
Our mission is simple: To help connect the people of Lealman.
The Voice of Lealman is growing; if you have news, ideas, or events you'd like to share, please click the button below and send it our way. Please forward this email to a friend so they can subscribe here.
Hurricane Idalia: County-wide flooding in photos
Photo by Monica Kile
Photo By Representative Lindsey Cross
Photo By Representative Lindsey Cross
Photo: Christie Bruner
Thursdays @ 9AM
August 26th - September 8th
AmSkills Bootcamp (Check schedule for LEX reopening)
New Date Coming Soon!
Mosquito Control Town Hall @LEX
September 16th @ 9AM
Mobile Pet Clinic @ LEX
September 23 @ 10AM
Sep 26 and 28, 2023 (Tuesday/Thursday), 9:00AM - 11:15AM
Healthy Steps for Older Adults
September 29 @ 11AM
Dozens attend Parkinson’s Lunch and Learn
It was an afternoon of lifelong learning and community health as nearly 50 people packed the Neri Room at the Lealman Exchange for a YMCA Total Parkinson’s Lunch and Learn on August 17th.
Dr. Rodriguez-Cruz, a Neurologist and Movement Disorder Specialist, led a presentation and Q&A session. Acorda Therapeutics sponsored the event, providing Chick-fil-A for the attendees to enjoy during the presentation.
“Dr. Rodriguez-Cruz gave a talk on the effects of different kinds of medication on Parkinson's Disease,” said Kieran Gabel, Director of Community Health for YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg. “There's no cure for Parkinson's, but there are medications that can mitigate some of the symptoms; however, they're very sensitive. You need to take them at a certain time and they affect people differently. So he answered a lot of questions on when to take the medications, and what new ones are out there.”
Gabel says Dr. Rodriguez-Cruz also encouraged attendees to share their symptoms with their physicians, noting, “If they're fatigued more than normal, he encouraged them to have their medications checked because maybe the dosage isn't quite right. The talk was very informative.”
The Lunch and Learn was not only a chance to stay educated about Parkinson’s and related diseases, but also an opportunity for those living with the disease and their care partners to socialize and meet others in the community.
“It’s a great way to support each other and create fellowship,” said Gabel.
The Lunch and Learn was part of the YMCA’s Total Parkinson’s program, an evidence-based exercise program designed by leading Parkinson’s fitness specialists to retrain the mind and body. The program meets every Tuesday and Thursday at the Lealman Exchange to target daily functional challenges and symptom-specific fitness goals. During the Thursday fitness class, a support group for caregivers is also held at LEX.
“The Total Parkinson’s program helps people delay the onset of Parkinson's related symptoms for people living with the disease, so it helps with balance and rigidity,” said Gabel. “This program helps them to become larger, to talk louder, and do large exercises and big stretched movements.”
You can learn more about the YMCA’s Parkinson’s Disease programs here. Gabel encourages the community to attend the YMCA’s upcoming free fall-prevention workshop for seniors, Healthy Steps for Older Adults. In this community-based fall risk screening and education class for adults aged 65 and older, participants attend workshops addressing proper footwear, safety at home, good nutrition for bone health and the importance of exercise to prevent falls. Healthy Steps for Older Adults will be held at the Lealman Exchange on Tuesday, Sept. 26 and Thursday, Sept. 28 from 9 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Learn more and enroll here.
Moffitt trial helping Bay area man beat stage 4 cancer
-Via Bay News 9
Battling cancer can take a nasty toll on the body, especially when it comes to chemotherapy or similar treatments.
Steve Cleveland knows it all too well. He has battled cancer for years.
Cleveland is dealing with stage 4 cancer, but it’s in remission. He is beyond thankful for the time he has had with his family and doesn’t waste a minute of each day.
“The brain says I am 21, but the body says, ‘No, you are a little older.’ I feel good,” he said.
Cleveland is extremely active and continues to work. He helps train former inmates to become carpenters or forklift operators. He loves to give back to his community.
His history with cancer is hard to believe. He was initially diagnosed with prostate cancer – he had his prostate removed – but the cancer spread, and at one point the doctors found a tumor in his back and gave him less than a year to live.
However, Cleveland said that he wanted to fight and went to Moffitt Cancer Center, where he qualified for a new study approved by the Food and Drug Administration. It’s been three years on this trial and his cancer hasn’t grown. In fact, his tumor has disappeared.
“I feel very lucky, I feel blessed. I mean, again, I’ve been able to spend a lot of time with my kids and my family and watch my grandkids grow,” he said.
Dr. Daniel Abate-Daga works at the cancer center and, with technology ever-changing, is finding new ways to battle cancers like Cleveland’s.
His research is focused on the development of T-Cell based immunotherapies. T-Cells are a type of white blood cells that help the immune system fight germs and protect from disease.
Abate-Daga is taking those cells to create Car T-Cell therapies. The cells are taken from a patient’s blood and changed in a lab by adding a gene for a receptor to attach to specific cancer cells – those are then put back into the patient.
It’s still in the testing phase, but Abate-Daga says the results have been positive, showing tumors shrinking in lab tests.
“I find it intellectually stimulating and also rewarding to help other people – that the result of our work may have a positive impact in the lives of many people,” he said.
Lealman Post Storm Clean Up Resources
Per Coastal Clean Up - Lealman residents with post storm debris can place it in bags or bundle up to 2 cubic yards to leave with their regular pickup day.
Thank You
In the wake of Hurricane Idalia, we want to extend our gratitude to the Lealman area first responders, and emergency services. These men and women worked tirelessly ensure the safety and well-being of the community they serve.
Their unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of others is a reminder of the true spirit of service. It is with deep respect and admiration that we recognize their heroic efforts and offer our sincerest gratitude.
Affordable Pediatric Health Insurance
Florida KidCare is a government-sponsored health insurance program that offers quality, affordable health and dental insurance for children from birth through age 18. The program is designed specifically with kids in mind, providing access to the services they need at each stage of growth and development.
Eligibility: All children above the age of 1 are eligible for Florida KidCare coverage through a subsidized or full-pay program, even if one or both parents are working. Children from birth until their first birthday are eligible for Medicaid if their household income is below 200 percent of the federal poverty level.
Easy Enrollment: Based on the age of the child, household size, and family income, Florida KidCare automatically matches each child with their best fit of the four Florida KidCare programs.
Comprehensive Coverage: Florida KidCare covers a wide range of services, including doctor visits, immunizations, dental care, emergency care, hospital stays, and much more.
Florida KidCare is a great option for families who want to ensure their children have access to quality health and dental care. With its comprehensive coverage, affordability, and easy enrollment process, Florida KidCare is a valuable resource for families across the state.
Jeremy Heath
Please introduce yourself to your neighbors.
My name is Jeremy Heath, and I currently serve as the Lealman Citizen Advisory Committee Chairman.
How many years have you lived in Lealman?
I have lived in Lealman since 2009. However, my family has lived in Lealman since 1947. I have been actively involved with the CRA for three years.
What organizations are you involved in?
Besides the Lealman CRA, I am actively involved with the Nature Conservancy of Florida and Tampa Bay Watch and have been involved to a lesser extent, with the Police Athletic League, Lealman Fire Department, LCS, and the Florida Trail.
What gets you out of bed every day?
My amazing wife, Amanda, is a huge supporter in all of my endeavors and my travel buddy. We are both avid outdoorsmen and hikers. I thru-hiked the Florida Trail in 2009 and the Appalachian Trail in 2012. We have hiked the Inca Trail together, later summitting Machu Picchu, parts of the Swiss Alps, and rim to rim at the Grand Canyon as well as other small weekend hikes with our two dogs, Mia and Zoey.
What is one thing you’ve seen change for the better in Lealman in the last few years?
The quality and quantity of community involvement in Lealman. Our CRA meetings have not only increased in participation rapidly in the last few years, but the issues that are being raised and how the community chooses to tackle them have been simply inspiring. Whether it’s community meetings or gatherings such as the Christmas Tree Lighting in December, Lealman is undoubtedly ready to show the rest of Pinellas County that they’re prepared to put their best foot forward. While the progress in the last 24 months have been tangible and significant, it is my fervent belief that the best is yet to come. Between word of mouth, the creation of a distinct Lealman “brand,” and some fairly significant infrastructure projects, I feel Lealman is about to undertake the kind of progress that decade-old residents and new residents alike can take a ton of pride in.
What’s next for you?
My wife and I try to check off a trip or two each year. Fingers crossed for Paris in 2023!
Career Corner
Recovery Awareness Expo and Job Fair
Held in conjunction with SPC Careers Week, sponsored by WestCare, Operation PAR, Inc., & CareerSource Pinellas, the Expo will feature 40+ Second Chance Employers & Behavioral Health vendors, on-site healthcare resources & social services, & Proclamation for Recovery Awareness Month by Mayor Kenneth Welch, Senator Darryl Rouson, Councilwoman Deborah Figgs-Sanders, Chief of Police Anthony Holloway & SPC President Dr. Tonjua Williams.
Join us for on-site resume building, door prizes, scholarships, supply drive donations, music, food, & interactive activities while connecting with Dress for Success Tampa Bay for professional attire, interview haircuts, child care services, first-time homeowners programs, groceries on the go, expungement services, yoga & meditation classes, & recovery support for those re-entering the community.
Enroll for classes at SPC as we highlight their new Bachelor in Human Services & Applied Mental Health programs, celebrating sustainable recovery through employment & education. We encourage all community organizations, sober living residences, re-entry programs, & PHP/IOP facilities to attend & invite clients in need of transitional support to access all the components needed to create a continuum of care into long-term recovery.
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