Pasadena Community Church celebrates 100 Years

ST. PETERSBURG — Pasadena Community United Methodist Church marked its 100th anniversary as a church in St Petersburg with a celebration on the church grounds on Nov. 15. This milestone event honored the church’s history of ministry and service to the West St Petersburg community.

The celebration included a time for visiting archive exhibits and socializing.

A commemorative service was led by senior pastor Rev. Dr. Mark Holland and included past church ministers Dr Charley Reeb and Corey Jones.

In 1924, a small group of west St Petersburg residents convinced the developers of Pasadena Estates to allow them to meet in their offices. Worshippers brought their own chairs to the real estate office until the sanctuary was completed and the first service was held there on March 25, 1925.

Pasadena Community Church grew rapidly and by 1938 there was an outdoor “Garden Sanctuary” which then grew into an Automobile Radio Park in 1939. Easter Sunday, March 25, 1951, approximately 10,500 worshippers arrived in 3,435 cars to listen as Rev. Dr. J. Wallace Hamilton led worship. Hamilton was the senior pastor from 1929 until 1968.

Today, the church has a history of serving the community through its preschool, Mom’s Morning Out Program, Christian Playgroup and After School care programs for children, a food pantry and Pack A Snack program for those with food insufficiencies, Angel Outreach ministry, Faith Build through Habitat for Humanity, ESOL classes and providing the St Petersburg Police Department P.A.T.H. with “Street Eats,” bags of non-perishable food items handed out by officers to those experiencing homelessness or hunger.

St. Petersburg to invest $19M in infrastructure, resiliency

ST. PETERSBURG — The City Council has approved more than $19 million in infrastructure improvement and resiliency projects, which include updates to the city’s stormwater system and Southwest Water Reclamation Facility. The projects are designed to increase resiliency against climate change and ensure the city can provide more reliable public works service to residents before, during, and after a disaster.

The council approved a resolution selecting Jacobs Engineering Group for the Citywide Stormwater System Conveyance Restoration Assessment Project in the amount of $770,500. The work is designed to make necessary improvements to the city’s stormwater infrastructure system. Under the agreement, the city will use Jacobs Engineering Group to assist with inspecting and rating stormwater infrastructure, provide project management services, and data management and development services.

The council also approved a Guaranteed Maximum Price Proposal in the amount of $18.3 million for the Southwest Water Reclamation Facility Operations / Maintenance Building Project. This project is partially funded by a grant from the Resilient Florida Program in the amount of $8.9 million and will make necessary improvements to the city’s Southwest Water Reclamation Facility, which has been operational for more than 50 years. Multiple buildings at the Southwest Water Reclamation Facility no longer meet the needs for operational functionality under emergency and daily situations.

The project provides for the construction of a new 14,000-square-foot, three-story operations and maintenance building elevated to 22 feet. The new building will combine the operations and maintenance functions into a singular, more resilient facility that is elevated high enough to handle storm surge and has enough space to allow city staff to safely shelter in place during a hurricane, if needed.

St Petersburg honors MLK with mini-grant program

ST. PETERSBURG — In celebration of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the city of St. Petersburg has created the MLK Communities in Action Mini-Grant Program. The new program will provide funding to local small businesses, nonprofit organizations, and civic groups to host healing and wellness-focused events that honor Dr. King’s legacy of service and resilience.

The application period will close on Nov. 21.

The program will award up to 20 mini-grants of $1,500 each, totaling $30,000 in funding, to support community-driven activities occurring between Jan. 2 and Feb. 15, 2026. Eligible organizations include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, faith-based groups, educational institutions, small businesses, and community-based organizations.

Grant funds may be used for supplies, space rentals, healthy food resources and promotional materials. All awardees must incorporate official MLK “Power of a Dream” branding and contribute to a collective impact report.

Organizations are invited to submit an application and a two-page proposal detailing their project’s alignment with Dr. King’s legacy, community needs, implementation plan, and expected outcomes. A detailed budget and proof of tax-exempt status (if applicable) are also required.

Applications will be accepted until Friday, Nov. 21, at 4 p.m.

Details and the application can be found at https://tinyurl.com/mt3ayx2a

SPC, Wells Fargo aid entrepreneurs through Grow Your Business

St. Petersburg College (SPC), supported by a Wells Fargo Foundation grant, has successfully concluded its Grow Your Business eight-week program, designed to provide entrepreneurs with the tools, strategies and confidence to scale their businesses and achieve measurable growth.

The program combined business fundamentals with hands-on training in financial planning, market research, AI applications and digital marketing. Participants engaged with a diverse range of experts — including business leaders, legal and tax professionals and SPC faculty — who provided practical, real-world guidance.

Participants gained an average of eight to 17 new clients and achieved revenue growth ranging from 20 to 40%, with some businesses experiencing peak increases of up to 86%, SPC said in a press release.

Businesses also streamlined scheduling, financial management and staff processes with new tools and strategies, and entrepreneurs mastered digital marketing, AI applications and business planning, while also strengthening confidence, clarity and communication skills.

Graduates expanded their teams, secured external funding, opened new markets — including Orlando, New York City and online — and built the foundation for future scaling.

With a $500 stipend, participants applied lessons directly to their businesses, funding social media campaigns, website upgrades, premium packaging and employee incentives.

For more information about upcoming entrepreneurial programs at SPC, visit https://tinyurl.com/4a43rny4

Donations sought for Gulfport Thanksgiving needs

GULFPORT — Help from the public is requested in sharing a Thanksgiving meal this year.

Jax In & Out Cafe will again assist Gulfport residents who are food insecure. She has partnered with The Gulfport Boomerangs and Thrivent Investments to distribute meals.

Donations accepted at Jax In Out Cafe and Regions Bank, both on Gulfport Boulevard. The Gulfport Boomerangs Senior Softball Team also has a Venmo account.

For more information, contact Bill Drexler, treasurer, Boomerangs, at 407-908-5868.