Photo taken during the 2014 Halloween Open House at the Allstate Center

Are you ready for the 2nd Annual Halloween Open House event at St. Petersburg College’s Allstate Center? We sure are!

This year is going to be bigger and better than last year. Those visiting the Allstate Center‘s open house later this month should be ready to get into the spirit of the holiday. The invitation is open to all SPC students, staff, faculty and the public!

• The Oct. 30 event will offer a flavor of the season. Attendees will get to view the creative “Door Decoration Contest” that takes place between students and staff on Oct. 28. Decorations from the contest will be left in place for the open house.
• Parents can bring their children for “safe” trick-or-treating. They’ll have the opportunity to trick-or-treat with a firefighter or police officer on the first floor of the campus.
• A haunted house will take place throughout the center’s entire second floor. It will include a jail cell, the crime scene lab and the courtroom!

Attendees will also have the opportunity to learn about St. Petersburg College programs and local community vendors.

Open House activities

• Hear about ghost investigation stories from Dr.  Brandy Stark, Humanities Instructor at SPC
• Take “spooky” campus tours
• Take children 11 and under trick or treating
• Get  food and treats

Event times

• Safe Trick-or-Treating from 5 – 6 pm
• Haunted House from 6 – 8 pm

Last spring, Therapy Dogs International (TDI) brought five dogs to the Allstate Center Library to help students de-stress during their exams. It was one of the library’s most popular events so the therapy dogs were brought back on October 6th to help students once again as they prepared for their Fall midterms.

You may be wondering, “What is Therapy Dogs International (TDI)?” According to their website, they are a “volunteer organization dedicated to regulating, testing and registration of therapy dogs and their volunteer handlers for the purpose of visiting nursing homes, hospitals, other institutions and wherever else therapy dogs are needed.” The organization was founded in 1976 in New Jersey. You can click here for more information about Therapy Dogs International (TDI). You can also find them on Facebook.

I had the pleasure of meeting a couple of the dogs, and I can attest to the fact that indeed they can assist in helping a person. I felt much more relaxed after visiting with them. So who did I meet? First, I met James Taylor the Poodle. His owner, Lisa Palmer, shared with me that he was rescued from the streets in Polk County by an officer when he was two years old. He is now four. He likes to visit area hospitals and schools. James Taylor was a joy to visit with.

I also met Dora the Golden Retriever. She is pictured to the right with SPC Fire Academy #45 student Jordan Dahlstrom. Her owner, Bill Shivers, shared with me that she is three and a half years old. He said that recently she visited a school, and she listened to children as they read books to her. Dora was an attentive listener when I met her, and you can tell by the picture that she’s a joy to be around.

From what I heard, students walked away a little less stressed and ready to tackle their midterms. We want to take this time to thank TDI for all you do to help people from all walks of life cope with the stressors life can bring. We’d also like to thank the owners of all of the therapy dogs that were present at the event. We are hoping that we will see you next spring!

Until next time…have a great weekend!

Faith-based organizations are one of the top five at-risk sectors in terms of security and emergency preparedness, according to a 2007 U.S. State Department Briefing. Many places of worship are “behind the curve, compared to the secular world” when it comes to keeping their people safe, the Briefing revealed (Center for Public Safety Innovation [CPSI], 2015). The results of a 2008 poll of 4,000 churches highlighted this fact, with 75 percent saying they had no security at their churches, and 22 percent saying security wasn’t necessary (CPSI, 2015).

To change these statistics, St. Petersburg College’s Center for Public Safety Innovation (CPSI) held an 8-hour training at the Allstate Center on September 25^th titled, “Keeping Your Church and Ministry Safe in an Uncertain World.” Dr. Fronrath, Allstate Center Provost, kicked off the event by warmly greeting the 55-plus ministry leaders, volunteers, and law enforcement practitioners attending the event, some from as far away as Gainesville.

The class, taught by Thomas Gillan, Founder and Director of The PSU Crisis Management and Training Group, Inc., addressed how to handle a variety of threats, including medical emergencies, domestic violence, child care protection, and active shooter events. The course also covered liability issues, the need for a security assessment checklist, organizing safe mission trips, and how to prepare for and recover from natural and man-made disasters.

The training was well received by attendees, with one participant saying, “The information I learned today is so important to the safety of my church. I’m so glad St. Petersburg College provided this training to the community.”

Eileen LaHaie, CPSI’s Executive Director, noted that, “As part of our ongoing commitment to the community policing philosophy, these important training opportunities offered by the College benefit not only our law enforcement agencies but also the communities they serve.”

We want to take this time to thank St. Petersburg College’s Center for Public Safety Innovation, Dr. Fronrath, Eileen LaHaie and Thomas Gillan for all you are doing to help equip our church leaders with the knowledge and training that they need to keep our nations faith-based organizations safe for all who attend.

In regard to CPSI, each CPSI division services a particular area of public safety. All divisions develop and deliver a broad range of training products in each area of expertise. Also, the CPSI provides a Training Calendar that lists future training opportunities. If you’d like more information about CPSI, you can send an email to CPSI.Info@spcollege.edu.

Center for Public Safety Innovation. (2015, September 25). Keeping Your Church and Ministry Safe in an Uncertain World. Training provided at St. Petersburg College Allstate Center, St. Petersburg.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me….
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.

T’was Grace that taught…
my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear…
the hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares…
we have already come.
T’was Grace that brought us safe thus far…
and Grace will lead us home…

John Newton

Last Friday was no ordinary Friday. Early in the morning, a gathering took place outside on the grounds of the St. Petersburg College Allstate Center. What kind of gathering am I talking about? The Allstate Center honored those lost on September 11^th, 2001 with a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony. Dr. Shirley Johnson, professor at St. Petersburg College – College of Public Safety, presented the history of the 9/11 tragedy. Her presentation was followed by Presentation of Colors by the Pinellas Park Police Department Honor Guard. After the Raising of the Flag and the Pledge of Allegiance, Police Recruit Class 198 cadet Ashley Mehler presented a remembrance speech. The Bag Pipe musicians played Amazing Grace to a sober and respectful audience.

Carol Mashburn, Senior Administrative Services Specialist at the St. Petersburg College Allstate Center noted, “It’s hard to believe that 14 years ago one of the most tragic and devastating events occurred in our nation’s history.  “Where were you when the world stopped turning….” kept churning in my head as I remembered exactly where I was, what I was doing and thinking as I was glued to the news in unbelief. Today, the destruction is no longer visible. Buildings and memorials have been constructed. But we set aside a few minutes to honor and mourn thousands of people we’ve never met. We are mindful that in a heartbeat our lives and a nation can change forever, and we will never forget.”

Thank you Carol for sharing your thoughts with us. We are grateful to you for sharing your personal insight into such a tragic event. And thank you to everyone at the Allstate Center who participated in this most important event that, as Carol said, we must never forget.

Until next time…

Contributors: Carol Mashburn, Senior Administrative Services Specialist at St. Petersburg College Allstate Center, Dr. Shirley Johnson, Professor at St. Petersburg College Allstate Center

 

On Wednesday, Sept. 2, the Southeastern Public Safety Institute (SEPSI) hosted the fall Law Enforcement Academy Recruitment event at the St. Petersburg College  Allstate Center. The turnout was great with 55 cadets in attendance! The get-together was held in the Florida Room which was filled with cadets enjoying lunch and/or visiting with law enforcement representatives from area agencies.

Regarding area agencies, I had the opportunity to visit with Officer R. Hunt from the Pinellas Park Police Department. When I asked her if she’d would mind sharing her thoughts about the event, she kindly shared with me, “This is my 3rd time attending this event. I enjoy the one on one with the recruits since I’m usually on campus observing them in the classroom setting with little time to talk. This is a good opportunity.”

In addition to the Pinellas Park Police Department agency presence, several other agencies participated in the event as well including:

• Gulfport Police Department
• Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
• St. Petersburg Police Department
• Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
• Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office
• Plant City Police Department
• Altamonte Springs Police Department

As a result, SPC Law Enforcement Academy cadets were provided with a valuable opportunity to talk one on one with law enforcement personnel as they learned which agencies are hiring. Dwayne Williams, St. Petersburg College Student Support Assistant at the Allstate Center noted, “The bi-annual law enforcement career fairs that we conduct in the Fall and Spring class sessions have proven to be an effective recruiting and career placement tool for the agencies and cadets. We also open these events to the general public as well because there are hundreds of civilian jobs in law enforcement that go unfilled every year.”

In closing, we want to say thank you to Officer R. Hunt for sharing her thoughts as well as to all the police and sheriff’s officers who attended the event in representation of their agencies and communities. You’ve helped equip our cadets with the tools they need to succeed upon graduation, and for that we are most gracious. We look forward to the next Law Enforcement Recruitment event at the Allstate Center.

Until next time ~ Have a great week, and good luck with your studies!

 

 

 

 

 

We want to share with you that serving students is job one for faculty at the Allstate Center. Therefore, if you are reading this blog, and you are a student, please know that you are their priority. Given so, they understand how important library services are to their students. Thus, faculty members are staffing the Allstate Center Library, which is in room 202, every Monday through Thursday from 10 A.M. to noon. They invite you to stop by! They are there to serve students in whatever capacity they can. The following services are offered, but not limited to:

• academic advice such as writing help and suggestions on how to conduct better research
• help navigating the many resources offered to students at the Allstate Center such as free tutoring
• referral to the many student services now located at the Allstate Center like Disability Resources and the Test Center

Also, our faculty want to remind you that you can use the library computers to compose and print assignments or simply to check emails.

Additionally, faculty want to share with you that there is an Allstate Library Club. You are invited to join. The AC Library Club provides an opportunity for your voice to be heard. For example, you can help plan library events and mentor fellow students. To find out more about this club, you can call Emily Young at 727-341-4486.

Regarding opportunities for you to get involved on campus, have you heard of the One Book, One College event? This is an annual program that invites students, faculty and staff, across all campuses, to connect with one book and with each other to stimulate discussion, critical thinking and recreational reading. You can click here for more details: One Book, One College. You can click here to access the list of nominees. And to help with selecting a title for this event, you can click here to vote now.

Lastly, if you haven’t met her yet, Emily Young, our amazingly energetic librarian, who we mentioned above, staffs the library Monday through Thursday from noon to 7 P.M. Emily as well as the faculty at the College of Public Safety hope to see you there!

Until next time! Have a safe and enjoyable Labor Day weekend!

Contributor: Dr. Shirley Johnson, Faculty member, St. Petersburg College – College of Public Safety

You’ve probably heard that dozens of times from various teachers and professors. But what does it mean? What’s the difference between MLA style and APA style? How do you know if you’re doing it right?

Don’t panic: we’ve all been there. Last night, I just finished writing the longest essay of my life for a grad school class. (Trust me, I’m not exaggerating.) And now, it’s time for me to cite my sources. What does that mean? When I cite my sources, I’m telling readers where I got the information I used in my essay. You always cite your sources if you’re using someone else’s quotes, or even their ideas. But sometimes, that process can be a little confusing. That’s why I’m going to share some of my favorite citation websites with you. They’re life-savers when it comes to academic papers.

1. Need help understanding MLA or APA? These websites tell you everything:

Here’s my favorite citation website: Purdue University’s OWL. They have specific pages devoted to both MLA format and APA format. (If you’re not sure what your professor wants, check the syllabus or ask them.) OWL tells you everything you need to know: how wide your margins should be, how to do an in-text citation, and how to format your Works Cited or Reference List. They even have PowerPoint presentations and sample papers you can look at. Check them out below:

• OWL MLA
• OWL APA

Here’s another option: The SPC Library has their own version of OWL. The SPC Library Citation Assistance gives you sample papers, power-points on APA and MLA, and helpful videos. Check out the following link if you’re looking for a little extra information:

• SPC’S Library Citation Assistance

2. Need help writing your works cited or reference list? This website does the hard work for you:

Now, here’s a shortcut. At the end of your essay, you’re going to need to write a Works Cited or Reference List—something that lists every book, article, video, or interview you used for your paper. The website Knight Cite will help you make each citation: you just fill in the information, and it does the hard work for you.

• Knight Cite

3. Are you feeling confused? Ask a Librarian for help:

If you’re feeling confused, just ask a librarian! You can call the Allstate Library at 727-341-4486, email us at Young.Emily@spcollege.edu, or drop by for a visit. Our hours are Monday-Thursday, 12-7pm. I’ll be happy to help answer your question(s).

And if I’m not around, you can always contact a librarian through the online resource Ask a Librarian, which lets you text, email, or chat with a Florida librarian. They’re available most evenings until midnight, which is great when you’re pulling one of those all-night writing sessions. Just send them a chat message if you feel stuck.

• Ask a Librarian

4. Remember this website for all your writing and researching needs:

Finally, one of the best websites I’ve ever used is the SPC Research Workshop. It gives you all the helpful links I’ve just shown you, plus much, much more.

• SPC Research Workshop

Good luck writing that essay, and remember, your librarians are always here for you!

Contributor: Emily Young, Library Services Paraprofessional, St. Petersburg College – Allstate Center Library