JAN/FEB 2013 St. Petersburg, FL Est. September 2004 Woo! Wounded Commander Rebekah Lazaridis just passed away inside his gallery. Upon hearing Battles On this news, I jump in my car and head downtown. low, bright moon looms above the brick Silence hangs like a wet blanket on the typically Imam Askia Muhammad Aquil alleyway on 6th Street and Central bustling block as the crowd outside thickens. eet Kathryn F. Champion, former paramedic/emergency AAvenue. A small crowd gathers outside Meanwhile, in the alleyway behind the crowd, medical technician practitioner, public school teacher, of 689 Central Avenue, home the gallery of Bill an aggressive sound of a shaking spray-paint college professor, commander in Iraq of a United States Correira “Woo,” a local celebrity artist in these M can clicks in my ear. “Let’s do this,” says Christian Army special forces civil affairs unit made up of 500 men, and parts. Murmurings and quiet hugs are shared Thomas. Thomas, a local maniacal muralist is wounded warrior. Her many decorations and citations include through tears as the word spreads that Woo has Continued on page 18 the Bronze Star. Her life of service and sacrifice, triumphs and disappointments, victories and setbacks, is a case study of ups and downs, highs and lows. Her determination, dedication to helping others, and sense of purpose are rock solid. Kathy, as she prefers to be called, grew up in a large family whose roots are in Texas and the state of Washington. At 16 years old, Kathy was involved in an alcohol-related driving incident that took the life of her 11-year-old brother. She joined her high school Junior ROTC unit and decided to enlist in the x Kathy Champion and her aptly-named guide dog, Angel Maximo Park’s Indian Mounds Army. She took dual-enrollment courses, finishing high school Will Michaels Amateur archaeologist and Another celebrated early and college at the same time. She adopted her six-month old naturalist Sylvanus T. Walker amateur archaeologist Clarence nephew during her senior year in college. She later survived an t the very tip of the visited the area in 1879 and Bloomfield Moore visited the abusive marriage that produced a daughter. She is a devoted southern end of St. wrote a description of his area in 1900. Archaeologist mother and remains emotionally close to her family. Petersburg is Maximo A findings for the Smithsonian. Continued on page 24 “I was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Reserves at Park. There are two archaeo- the age of 20,” Kathy explained. “I served throughout the United logical sites within Maximo States, including at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX. I was Park: Maximo Beach Archaeo- commissioned as a transportation officer rather than a medical logical Site and Frenchman officer, in spite of my training and experience.” Creek Archaeological Site. To Kathy has college degrees in several disciplines including the east of Maximo Park, on biology, health sciences, and an MBA in small business admin- the other side of US Hwy 19 istration. She has medically examined countless children, led and the approach to the soldiers safely through intense firefights, and survived deadly IED Skyway Bridge, is what is explosions. Her unit in Iraq lost five men. known as the Maximo Point Kathy went on active duty in 2001. She changed her career site. And to the east of that is from transportation to civil affairs so she could use her skills in the Pinellas Point Mound. education and the medical field. She was deployed to Bosnia, Archaeological investiga- Afghanistan and Iraq. tions along Maximo Point and “During my 15-month-long deployment to Iraq in 2005-06, Beach began well before the Artist’s imagination of Indian Mound complex with large platform and temple I was put in charge of rebuilding the 32-acre zoo in Baghdad. I founding of St. Petersburg. mounds with ramps and plaza. Source: City Pinellas Point Mound Designation Report. Continued on page 20 Page 4 January/February 2013 NORTHEAST JOURNAL PUBLISHER’S NOTE 12/31/12 My Year-End Donation: LOVE feelings throughout the community. Our The end of our calendar year always writers, photographers, and graphic brings with it a seemingly endless stream designer give by taking the time to put of paper and electronic mail soliciting our forth their best efforts, because they know tax-deductible donations to this charity and that their hearts and souls are reaching that cause. I always feel an enormous others through their words and images. range of emotions when I receive these Our readers continue to “show us the love” heart-felt and legitimate pleas to help about how much they treasure reading the beings (people and animals) from around Journal from cover to cover. And then they the world and in our own backyards. spread more by often contributing story On the one hand, I feel a deep sadness ideas about people they know who do and empathy for those who need my help. good things in the community and beyond. I then feel guilty that I cannot make even It’s all a form of love, plain and simple. a reasonable dent. I even feel anger and I will share a secret that further illus- resentment, sometimes, when the trates how we can give love in indirect, message is always about giving money. yet meaningful, ways. One of the main And, most of all, I really get frustrated reasons I chose to be in the publishing because it feels like I cannot do what I business is so I can help disadvantaged want to do. I want to adopt every orphan children. I realized early in my career that and every child in foster care; I want to I do not have financial means to do much rescue every abused and neglected animal; good, nor do I have the patience or I want to save and preserve the integrity expertise to work within “the system.” I and character of every historic building decided that I could help most by spreading and archaeological ruin; I want to maintain the word about people and organizations our civil rights and help others liberate that ARE making a difference in the lives theirs; and I want to give gobs and gobs of these children. My contribution: free of money to save the world. space for the Heart Gallery (see page 30) First of all, it’s absurd to think that I can in every issue, and as much publicity for even accomplish one of the “wants” in the other organizations as I can fit. Our readers above list. Secondly, who says that what I give of their time, money and expertise. think is right or best is actually so? My goal is to share information about Everyone can give something, children who need our help. I can’t give though, and that something is love. money or even that much time, but I can It may show up in ways that are foreign spread the word to those who can. to one person, but perfectly natural to It’s that time of year. If you have money, someone else. I, personally, do not have give it and give with gusto. If you have any money to give, but I can give love time, give it and give with verve. If you through the words on these pages – have words to express, say them with my own love, and the love from all who feeling. If you have gestures to impart, do contribute to make the Northeast Journal so with an open hand. If you are needing a vehicle for just that – to spread the some of what others have, give some of magical stuff! what you have – namely love – and feel it Every advertiser gives love by spending in return many times over. Happy, healthy, his/her marketing dollars here ensuring love-filled 2013! that we can spread good and positive Jen ORTHEAST OURNAL WRITERS N J Askia Muhammad Aquil Jim Sheehan is published bimonthly by Mary Hampton Sandy Williams ASL Media, Inc., St. Petersburg FL Rebekah Lazaridis Sara Wolski ADVERTISING Will Michaels, Ph.D. Eugenia Woods Susan Williams PHOTOGRAPHERS (727) 259-3149 Susan Woods Alderson [email protected] Rick Carson EDITORIAL Rebekah Lazaridis Jennifer MacMillen SPECIAL THANKS (802) 356-5228 • Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Publisher/Editorial Director Association; Rick Carson, editor [email protected] • Snell Isle Property Owners Association Susan Woods Alderson • Jamie Mayo, distribution Managing Editor/Photographer PRINTED BY [email protected] Chromatech Printing, St. Petersburg FL Julie L. Johnston, Copy Editor Eco-friendly printing with soy ink on post-consumer recycled paper ART DIRECTOR Julie L. Johnston, Ad Design/Layout [email protected] DISTRIBUTION Jamie Mayo, Distribution/Subscription Mgr [email protected] Page 6 January/February 2013 NORTHEAST JOURNAL EUGENIA WOODS GOES... ...All About the Y e all know this building since from local popular historians.” The it’s been a popular hot topic museum will be a space for showcasing Wthese past few weeks. Wrought of local talent, education, interactivity with impending doom, the Historic and community. Sound familiar? Sound YMCA still stand proudly on 5th Street like what the Y did all those years for South awaiting its fate. Will the many generations of St. Petersburgers? wrecking ball have its way or will this In addition, the museum will also be gem be salvaged and preserved to share open to the public for live concert events for generations to come? and even have a dance club that incor- The Y was a communal place for porates all four floors, open on the everyone starting back from 1926, a weekends.