2013 Back to School Issue by GoodLiving® Magazines

Connect with R

Like us on Facebook for contests, giveaways,events and news Search GoodLivingMag

Get our E-Newsletter for important updates

GoodLivingMagazine.com

The Good Stuff 8 Good News 10-11 Good Events 12-13 Good Products 14 Good Parenting Managing the Stress of the New School Year By Juli Steinocher

15 Good Parenting Preparing for the Marathon of a New School Year By Elaine Taylor-Klaus

25-26 Good Eating Healthy Breakfasts Make Smart Kids

Be a Woman of Action

I am a

27 Good Eating The Non-Sandwich Lunch by Momables

Good Eating Food Bits

Features

A Note From JWB All Kids matter Dr. Marcie Biddleman

TBWOA.com

18 A Note from Pinellas County Schools Dr. Michael A. Grego

20 About the Cover This issueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cover is a photograph by E.J. Acotto of Acotto images: Event, Wedding & Portrait Photography Model provided by AI Models (727) 485-3771 Learn more at Acotto Img on Facebook

What Do Happy Teens Do Differently Dr. Marilyn Price-Mitchell

21-23 Getting Kids Involved in Pinellas County Freda Drake

30 My Story Dr. Christopher W. Hood

Back to School 2013

Wishing everyone a school yyear full of success and fun

Publisher Light Shine Media Group, LLC

Editor-in-Chief Pamela Settle

Design and Layout Marcie Kelliher

Contributing Writers Dr. Marcie Biddleman Freda Drake Dr. Michael Grego Dr. Chris Hood Dr. Marilyn Price-Mitchell Juli Steinocher Elaine Taylor-Klaus

Distribution provided by ASAP Distribution

To submit good news ideas or events news@goodlivingmag.com

To advertise or purchase bulk copies of the magazine advertising@goodlivingmag.com

GoodLiving™ Magazine & GoodLivingMagazine.com P.O. Box 1795 Oldsmar, Florida 34677 (727) 776-3656 info@goodlivingmag.com GoodLiving™ magazine is a publication of Light Shine Media Group, LLC and is available to readers by a paid annual subscription available at tampabaygoodliving. com. Promotional copies are distributed through establishments as a courtesy to their customers and clients. Additional copies are donated to local schools as a community service. To request copies, contact info@goodlivingmag.com. All photographs, artwork, design and editorial are the sole property of GoodLiving™ magazine and Light Shine Media Group, LLC. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written permission. GoodLiving™ magazine and Light Shine Media Group, LLC are not responsible for statements made by advertisers and writers for any consequences arising from omissions or errors. Readers should verify the advertising information of the advertisers and all specials are valid to the expiration date set by the advertiser. GoodLiving™ magazine and Light Shine Media Group, LLC reserve the right to refuse any advertising for any reason. The views expressed in the publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. All rights reserved.

Harpers Ferry, WV

Letter from the Editor Welcome back from summer vacation! I hope it was restful, fun and that you had some old-fashioned summertime adventure. Our family took a vacation to our nation’s capital to see the sites. It was pretty awesome to see 4th of July fireworks over the Washington Monument, while sitting on the mall in front of the Capitol building. I was overwhelmed by the sense of history, thinking of all the generations who came before me who walked those streets with courage, passion and new ideas. Before the fireworks, though, we were walking to find our spot on the mall and saw a very large gathering of tents, tables and a stage in the middle of the grassy mall. The music got louder as we drew closer, and so we had to see what it was all about. We got close enough to read a banner and it said, “Calvary Chapel, St. Petersburg.” Well of course that totally piqued my curiosity and so the questions began. Who are they? What are they doing here? Come to find out that a large contingent of my neighbors from Pinellas County spend an entire week in our nation’s capital ministering to visitors who descend on the city for Independence Day week. They held concerts, live art demos and had counselors on hand to talk to anyone who wanted to talk. It was really something to see. And I was just so proud to see that out of the entire United States of America, that the only gathering in the park was sponsored by a church from St. Petersburg. Way to go Calvary Chapel! What a brave showing of personal belief and commitment to others. We like that sort of thing at GoodLiving®. In fact it’s one of the values we stand for in our editorial, as a business and in our ongoing service in the community. We shared some information in this issue about how community service for young kids and teenagers can help them be more successful in school and in life. We’ve devoted this issue to the idea of kids being empowered to make a difference in the causes of their own personal passion. With all the bad news about drugs, drop outs, suicides and stress, we wanted to focus on the GOOD NEWS about how growing kids’ hearts in different directions can keep the bad at bay. Here’s to a GOOD school year for all the GOOD kids in Pinellas County! Until next time,

Pamela Settle

news New Park in Dunedin Reminder to Be Prepared at School We are just hitting the peak of hurricane season, and parents need to make sure that they have updated emergency plans for all their kids, from babies to college. First, make certain your child’s school or babysitter has a current and complete emergency contact list. Review their emergency procedures and have your plans in place ahead of time. Learn more at Floridadisaster.org. For college students, The Red Cross First Aid and Tornado app has the ability to build an emergency plan and reach out to loved ones. The Earthquake, Hurricane and Wildﬁre app includes a ﬂashlight, emergency siren and ‘I’m Safe Button’ that can access various forms of social media. Apps are free on iTunes or Google Play.

Pinellas County Schools to Feed More Students Currently, all Pinellas County Schools offer breakfast at no charge. Starting this year, a new federal program has made it possible for 58 schools in the county to offer lunch at no charge to all students. Students who attend a school that qualifies for the Community Eligibility Option (CEO) will not need to submit applications for free/reduced lunch. Students at the other non-CEO schools who already qualify for reduced-priced lunches will now receive lunch at no charge. This year the district will also be testing a new hot dinner program that will work in conjunction with after-school care programs. With this program, students and a parent can eat a meal together at school for a small fee, before going home at the end of day. Stay tuned for more news on that innovative program that could be a real help to working moms.

Human Trafficking Documentary Last year, the Allegany Franciscan Ministries awarded a grant to local Tampa Bay PBS affiliate, WEDU, to produce a documentary film and community outreach campaign on human trafficking. The goal was to draw attention to the appalling reality of sex and labor trafficking, particularly within the Tampa Bay community. The public is invited to the premiere screening of the documentary, Too Close to Home, on Thursday, September 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the Tampa Theatre. Following the film, there is an opportunity to meet and hear from survivors and community members who are working to combat this form of modern-day slavery. The screening event is free but reservations are requested. Go to wedu.org/humantrafficking and click the reservation box. The documentary will air September 26th at 9 p.m. on WEDU.

Back to School ‘13

This summer, the Dunedin Youth Guild, a charitable organization that raises money for children in Dunedin, cut the ribbon on a new park. According to Anita Apley, the guild’s president, a former member’s estate provided $200,000 for the park. The new Weaver Park is now open and ready for healthy and happy families to enjoy! Check it out at 1248 Bayshore Blvd. in Dunedin.

Children’s Movement Making a Difference Flanked by legislators and surrounded by 4-year olds, Governor Rick Scott signed early learning legislation that will move the Oﬃce of Early Learning to the Department of Education. This is part of the Legislature’s three-year special focus on Florida’s early learning system. It also represents the most progress in “school readiness” support from Tallahassee in years. As a surprise, Governor Scott presented Dave Lawrence, founder of the Children’s Movement of Florida, the “Governor’s Shine Award for Inspirational Teachers” for his work in early learning. The Governor noted that Dave was the ﬁrst non-traditional classroom teacher to receive the award. A true and dedicated advocate for all the children of Florida, Dave was certainly deserving of this distinction. Join the movement so the voice for children in Florida can be louder and stronger. ChildrensMovementFlorida.org

H2O Comedy Local radio personality, Pete O’Shea and five other local comedians have created a comedy show called H2O, Humor-to-Outreach, and have offered any local non-profit organization the opportunity to host a fundraising show for their cause. They’ve been gaining steam and have several shows scheduled for the rest of the year, as audiences love and appreciate their clean approach to comedy that is family friendly. See them at the Pinellas Park Performing Arts Center on Sunday evening, October 20th, sponsored by the Pinellas Park Gateway Chamber of Commerce. Also, the Ronald McDonald House is asking churches to schedule shows this fall that will benefit the families that use their services. Listen to Pete on WTIS, AM 1110 everyday at 11 a.m. To schedule a show, contact him at (727) 710-4094.

Dr. Gary Chapman Coming to PHUMC Palm Harbor United Methodist Church is hosting the renowned speaker and author, Dr. Gary Chapman, for a one-day marriage seminar on November 2nd. Author of the best-selling book, The Five Love Languages, Dr. Chapman will present “The Marriage You’ve Always Wanted.” Tickets can be purchased online at PHUMC.net, click Adult Ministries.

events Self Defense Seminar at Countryside Library Saturday, September 21, 2 p.m. Kids Day of Service Coastal Cleanup Saturday, September 14, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Kids and families are invited to join up with Whole Foods Market Tampa for a three-hour volunteer Coastal Cleanup in conjunction with Tampa Bay Watch. The trash removal eﬀort will help experts in their work to restore seagrasses to the Feather Sound portion of western Old Tampa Bay. Volunteers will need to wear clothes and shoes that can get wet and dirty and shoes that tie. Also a towel, a bag for wet shoes, hat, sunscreen, bug spray, gloves and a reﬁllable water bottle are recommended. The Whole Kids Foundation will provide a salad lunch for volunteers. Earl R. Maize Recreation Area 2051 Feather Sound Drive in Clearwater Sign up at kidsdayofservicetampa.eventbrite.com

The free event, led by Shihan Walter Evans of the Shihan School of Survival will be a fun, interactive program with participants learning moves for safety and health. Countryside Library 2741 SR 580 (SE corner of 580 and Countryside Blvd.) in Clearwater myclearwater.com/cpl

Master Food and Nutrition Volunteer Training Monday, October 1, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Participants receive 40 hours of training in basic nutrition, meal planning, cooking techniques, food safety and working with diverse audiences. They are equipped with the knowledge and skills to help others improve their lives through healthy eating and physical activity. In return, participants are asked to give back 50 hours of volunteer service within one year of the training. Opportunities for service include health fair displays, 6th Annual YES! F.A.I.R. (Family Abilities Information Rally) food demonstrations at farmers markets, teaching food safety Saturday, October 5, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. classes, submitting articles to the media on nutrition on wellness, Everyone is invited to the 6th Annual YES! Family Abilities assisting Extension agents and program assistants with nutrition Information Rally. Visit more than 200 community partners who programs for youth and adults, and much more! Cost is $50. enrich, educate and empower those living with disabilities, their Pinellas County Extension families and the general public. Attendees can participate in a 12520 Ulmerton Road in Largo world record attempt for the Cha Cha Slide dance, along with pinellascountyextension.org loads of activities. Visit yesunited.org to learn more about this Managing Your Money celebration of all abilities. Tuesday, October 2 All People’s Life Center During these continuing tough economic times, it is increasingly 6105 E. Sligh Ave in Tampa important to establish financial goals and get control of money. City of Largo’s 2nd Annual Mom Son Messy Madness Join the Florida Master Money Mentors for a workshop that Saturday, September 21, 6 – 8 p.m. will cover evaluating wants and needs, setting financial goals, Come prepared to get messy and have fun. Dinner, dessert, messy steps to building a spending and savings plan, and using a money games and special gifts are all included in this night of messy madness. management calendar as a tracking and planning tool. Moms and sons (K–8) both partake in high energy interactive messy Palm Harbor Library games. Space is limited. Deadline to register is Sept. 14th. 2330 Nebraska Ave. in Palm Harbor pinellascountyextension.org Highland Recreation Complex 400 Highland Ave. in Largo 2013 Energy Symposium $20 per couple, $8 additional son Saturday, September 14, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Largo.com This event is hosted by Pinellas Energy Efficiency Project with Total Wellness Fair Dr. Jennifer Languell, an award-winning green building engiThursday, September September 26, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. neer with 15 years experience. Expert panel discussions will A health fair with a twist. Partake in a community health and wellness focus on water and energy efficiencies and improvements inside fair and learn about community volunteer opportunities at the same and outside the home. From irrigation to PV panels, appliances time. Sponsored by Retired Senior Volunteer Program and Volunteer to native plants, you’ll get information first-hand from Duke Corps Advisory Board of the Largo Community Center. Energy, Florida Yards and Neighborhoods, Tampa Bay Water, Largo Community Center and more. 400 Alt. Keene in Largo Pinellas County Extension Largo.com 12520 Ulmerton Rd. in Largo Seating is limited pre-registration is required at pinellascountyextension.org

Back to School ‘13

events Chick-fil-A Fall Stampede to benefit Children’s Cancer Center Saturday, September 28, 8 am – 10 am This year’s Fall Stampede will be held at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park adjacent to the Hillsborough River in downtown Tampa. Family fun activities will be in the main park before and during the 5k run and Family Fun Walk. The 5k portion will be chip timed this year. Registration starts at 6 a.m. 5k starts at 8 a.m. 1-Mile Fun Walk-8:45a.m. Mascot Race-9:15 a.m. fallstampede.eventbrite.com

Miles for Hope 6th Annual “Moving Towards A Cure®” Saturday, September 21 Family-friendly day to raise money for brain tumor research. Includes a 10k/5k Run/Walk, a 1-mile Survivor Tribute Walk, as well as 100k, 50k, or 25k cycling event at beautiful Coachman Park overlooking the scenic Intercoastal Waterway. On-site registration opens at 6 a.m., breakfast and lunch will be served. Cycling events start at 7:15 a.m.; 10k/5k Run/Walk starts at 7:30 a.m. 1 mile Survivor Tribute starts at 10 a.m. There will be entertainment, a rock climbing wall and clowns for families to enjoy, plus hamburgers and hot dogs for lunch and a beer garden for the adults. braintumorevents.org

Buddy Walk Saturday, October 12, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Walks and Runs for a Cause 2013 Tampa Bay Heart Walk Saturday, November 2

Sponsored by the American Heart Association and held at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. Enter your team and have some fun celebrating healthy and happy hearts! TampaBayHeartWalk@heart.org

The Buddy Walk benefits the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) to promote acceptance, awareness and inclusion of people with Down Syndrome and to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month in October. Join them for a family-friendly, fun-filled day at Largo Central Park. Registration starts at 9 a.m. Walk starts at 11 a.m. After the walk enjoy music, food, raffles, clowns, bounce houses, games and prizes for the kids. Largo Central Park 101 Central Park Dr in Largo firstgiving.com/tampabayareabuddywalk/2013

Freedom 5K to benefit World Relief Saturday, October 12

Sponsored by the American Cancer Society and held at Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg. Register at Makingstrideswalk.org

This year is the ﬁrst year for the Freedom 5K & 1-Mile Family Walk Fundraiser held on the scenic and peaceful Ream Wilson Trail that winds through Clearwater. Event starts and ends in Del Oro Park with parking across the street at Calvary Baptist Church. 5K starts at 8 a.m. 1-Mile Family Walk starts at 8:30 a.m. Same day registration at 7 a.m.

Light the Night Walk Saturday, November 9, 6 p.m.

Give ‘M Shelter 5K Saturday, September 21

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light The Night Walk funds treatments that are saving the lives of patients today. LLS provides patient support services, advocacy for lifesaving treatments and the most promising cancer research anywhere. Friends, families and co-workers form fundraising teams and consumers help by donating at retail outlets. Bright House Networks Field in Clearwater lightthenight.org

The Give ‘M Shelter 5K supports mission work in the U.S. and abroad. This includes, but is not limited to: El Zorillo, Mexico to build homes for impoverished families, the Mount Dora Children’s Home in Florida, Operation Compassion for Widows in India, Mission Trips to Ghana and India, and the Church of Christ Disaster Relief Fund. Please join this event and help us help the less fortunate and those in need. Held at Taylor Park in Largo. Limited to 250 participants. Packet pick up at Pinellas Park Church of Christ on September 20th from 6 – 8 p.m. Race day starts at 7:15 am.

Making Strides for Breast Cancer Saturday, October 19, 9 a.m.

Back to School ‘13

products Show Team Spirit at Meal Time! Babyganics Products A company founded by new dads, Babyganics has a full line of safe products that can make life easier for parents. Keith and Kevin were childhood friends who say they discovered a new sense of purpose once they had babies in the house and became aware of everything those babies touched. Their goal was to sell products that make life simpler for busy parents and answer the important questions, “Is it safe?” “Will it Work?” and “Is it too expensive?” A trip to their website Babyganics.com will reveal just about everything needed for home, babies, kids and even grown-ups. In their household line, they have hand soap, dish soap, laundry products and cleaning products. In their personal line, they have diapers, wipes, ointment, sunscreens, insect repellant, body and hair care products and ﬂuoride-free mouth care products.

For the little Bucs fan, order this soft-sided, insulated lunch box. Only $12.95 from Fanatics.com. Don’t forget all the new canine Rays fans who need to eat too. Even Astro would be jealous of this Rays stainless steel dog bowl with rubber rim. $19.95 from Fanatics.com.

Reader Giveaways! We have some books to giveaway to a few lucky readers of GoodLiving® magazine.

We tested the sunscreens and found them to be some of the best mineral-based sunscreen we’ve tried. It comes in a stick, spray and lotion. The SPF 50 lotion can be purchased in a pack of 12 mini tubes for convenient carrying, because in Florida you just never know when you need to put on some sunscreen. These work great for all ages. Kids are back in school and the germs are in class, too. One study showed a school desk has 300 times more bacteria than a toilet seat. Keep kids safe by using The Germinator Alcohol-Free Hand Sanitizer, a line of sanitizers that are gentle enough for your child’s delicate skin but tough enough to combat 99.9% of those nasty germs. (You want alcohol-free to keep babies and kids from being accidentally poisoned if ingested.) Diﬀerent products can be found at Walgreens, Target, Bed Bath & Beyond and Babies R Us, but all can be found at aﬀordable prices at babyganics.com.

Back to School ‘13

First, is a children’s book written by Katherine Richards that was funded through a KickStarter campaign. After looking for books that would encourage her young daughter to grow up running like she did, this mom and avid runner started a company called Fit Kids Publishing. Her inaugural book, “My Favorite Run” tells the story of Anna’s ﬁrst run with her mom. More than a just story, it’s positive role modeling for ﬁtness and parent/child interactions. Purchase the hardback book for under $20 at Fitkidspublishing.com. Second, is the World Almanac® for Kids 2014, a book packed with thousands of fascinating facts, photos, puzzles, games, maps, and more to get kids reading for fun. This year’s edition features a brand-new section that teaches how to do research for papers, projects and reports while emphasizing the importance of good online sourcing techniques, as well as avoiding errors and plagiarism. List price is $13.99. Can be found at Amazon.com. To win one of these books, go our Facebook page at GoodLivingMag and “like” us. Then send us a private message with the title of the book you’d like to win.

products

iFocus Inattentive Behavior. Impulsive Behavior. Hyperactivity. If you have children, you have dealt with these at one level or another. And unless you are a child behavior expert, you just do your best, probably saying things like, “Pay attention to what I say” or “Sit down and do your homework” over and over.

Important for the kids is that Jungle Rangers is fun and they will want to play with more than the recommended 20 minutes, three times per week. The game is suitable for helping any child improve memory, focus and attention, but is particularly useful for children who demonstrate challenges in these areas. Purchase online at focuseducation.com. Their current oﬀer is a $15 trial, followed by four payments of $50 if you choose to keep it. There is a 6-month money back guarantee as well.

You can learn from experts who have created an aﬀordable do-it-yourself training system for parents to help improve focus, attention and memory for children ages 6 to 12. The box comes with easy-to-read parent manuals that are chock full of useful information about how to help improve your child’s behavior. But the main product is an interactive computer game called Jungle Rangers that uses the latest research in neuroscience and taskbased gaming principles to rewire important neural pathways for improved focus and concentration.

Back to School ‘13

parenting Managing the Stress of the New School Year By JULI STEINOCHER, MA LMHC, LMT The long, lazy days of summer are oﬃcially over, and as parents we’ve been forced back into a faster pace with multiple places to be, homework assignments to manage, and deadlines to meet.

To manage the chaos of life, here are three tips you can use anytime. Share these with others (kids love them) so they too can help themselves in times of need:

TIP 1: Get Your Head Together When stressed, blood leaves the brain, making it hard to remember anything (including these helpful calming tips). The Neurovascular Hold is good to do ﬁrst to bring blood back to the brain so you can think again, remember other ways to calm yourself and be less likely to do/say things you’d later regret.

TIP 2: Calm Your Adrenals

When stressed, the adrenals get overworked and can get stuck We all find ourselves at some point in the school year (or daily!) dealing in the ON position. They need to relax so they can recover. The with morning madness, homework hassles and bedtime battles. Adrenal Rub quickly gets you out of the fight/flight/freeze mode. It quickly begins to feel chaotic. We become overwhelmed, TIP 3: Use Your Whole Brain forgetful, and tired. As a result, we fear another year of being When stressed, we get stuck in one hemisphere of the brain stuck in this same unhealthy pattern of life. (logical or emotional) losing access to the other side. The Tibetan Unfortunately, these patterns of stress are proven to be a major Prayer Pose calms the central nervous system, and creates a bridge (if not THE) culprit in ALL illnesses/diseases. Doctors are now between two hemispheres giving you FULL access to your brain saying 90-95% of all illnesses have a stress component. making it easier to learn, express yourself and be understood. And being a sick (and tired) parent is no way to go through While these quick exercises are easy to do, you may find that another school year. others are wondering what you’re doing with your body! Simply Finally, there’s good news from the mindbody lab for those ready let them know you’ve chosen to take care of yourself first. And while these mindbody exercises may seem new to you – try them, to take back their health and happiness while managing the and remember, it is a new school year – it’s ok to learn something over-demanding school year. new for yourself too!

Fight or Flight

Our mindbody system perceives the new school year as a sort of war zone – where a cascade of stress chemicals (adrenaline, cortisol and norepiniphrine) get called into action - sending our systems into protection mode to keep us safe. Unfortunately, normal repair of the mindbody slows down. The stress chemicals remain active in the brain for too long – injuring or possibly killing cells in the area of the brain (hippocampus) needed for memory and learning. It’s as if the power went out and a generator kicked in. We are functioning but not at full capacity. When we get triggered by something we perceive as stressful, like kids not doing homework or too many places to be, as much as 90-95% of the blood leaves the fore-brain (reasoning brain) and is directed to the reptilian (survival brain). Normal functions of digestion, absorption, and elimination slow down. Blood and energies head to the arms and legs for fight, flight, or freeze. So while we may LOOK as if we can juggle it all, if we don’t teach our mind and body to manage this stress differently, we quickly just run-out of steam and usually lose our cool. We need energy, a clear head and calm presence to take on whatever comes our way. We must put ourselves first and teach ourselves ways to manage our response on a regular basis enabling the mindbody a chance to express its own super-healing powers.

Back to School ‘13

For videos on the above tips as well as more back-to-school tips, go to mindbodylab.com.

Mindbodylab Exercises

Excercise Tip #1: The Neurovascular Hold Place one hand lightly across forehead and other hand across the back of head. Hold for 2-3+ minutes while thinking of stressor.

Excercise Tip #2: The Adrenal Rub Rub the body one inch up and one inch out from the naval for about 10 seconds (front and back of body).

Excercise Tip #3: The Tibetan Prayer Pose Cross ankles & cross wrists (place in lap) OR with palms facing each other, clasp hands and tuck to rest on chest. Sit or lay in this position for 3-5 minutes - also helps racing mind and sleep struggles.

Juli Steinocher is founder of mindbodylab.com, a counseling center dedicated to treating the whole self. Educated, licensed and certified in a rare blend of approaches and techniques, Juli created the mindbodylab as a unique place connecting traditional therapy with modern and ancient approaches.

parenting Guest Blogger Preparing for the Marathon of a New School Year By ELAINE TAYLOR-KLAUS There is something absolutely liberating about the beginning of a new school year and the possibility of a clean slate. For kids who are challenged with impulsivity, and struggle with paying attention or managing hyperactivity, a new school year can feel daunting. They want this year to be different. They want to be successful. But, often, secretly they worry that they won’t be. How a parent approaches the year can make all the difference in the world as to how smoothly things run at home and at school. I find that it helps to approach the new school year much like preparing for a marathon: we must remember that we’re in it for the long haul. Here are 5 Simple Steps to Prepare for the Marathon of a new School Year.

1. Logistics. Make sure all systems are in place. Is the teacher’s email address in your computer? Is the school’s phone number in your phone? Do you need to get any medical reports, IEPs or health forms to school? Handle the details now so nothing falls through the cracks. 2. Equipment. Does your child have the appropriate technology and supplies? When kids have what they need, they’ll feel more conﬁdent. Older kids can certainly be involved with helping to identify and acquire what they need.

3. Training Calendar and Times. Get and keep schedules in place for your child and for you. For your child, make sure all school dates and closings are on a family calendar for all to access. Make sure your child knows what times for waking up, leaving the house and sitting in the classroom. If it’s a diﬀerent classroom each day, make sure your child knows where to go. The same is true for after school. What time does everyone get home, do homework, eat dinner and go to bed? The clearer everyone is about the entire family’s schedule, the easier things will ﬂow. For yourself, consider your child’s needs during the times of day when you may feel pulled, and try to plan accordingly. Do you need to wake up a few minutes earlier in the mornings? Can you do the grocery shopping some time other than after school? When do you plan to handle the personal or work items you need to do for yourself? YOUR needs matter– but you might have to put a little thought into planning to get them met. Consider getting some support with a parents group or a coach to help you manage all the balls you have in the air.

4. Manage Nutrition. Chemistry is one of the most important subjects for managing a successful family. Proper nutrition is crucial to support the brain, in terms of attention, mood and energy regulation. Start off each day with protein for breakfast, and make sure the kids have good protein snacks after school. This will enhance their ability to learn significantly. You might consider vitamin supplements. For example, I like to call fish oil the “lubricant of the brain.” Just like an athlete needs to manage nutrition to make it through a long race, so too does a child need to keep the system “stoked” to keep concentrating all day.

5. Take Play Breaks. All work and no play is not much of a childhood, and not what our kids need. In fact, in order to concentrate, they need to give their brains a rest sometimes. Make sure kids get a break after school and on the weekends. Give them time to space out, ride bikes, read books, play games, and enjoy life. They will join the ranks of over-scheduled adults soon enough. For now, remember to let kids be kids. A little preparation can make a huge diﬀerence in setting the entire family up for success this year. This is all the more true for those of us who are parenting kids with attention and behavior challenges. Here’s the good news – it’s not rocket science. It just takes the decision to be prepared and ﬁnd the support you need. You can totally do this! And if you’d like more support, you might want to reach out to: ImpactADHD.com ParentPrograms.net CHADD.org EdgeFoundation.org ADHDMoments.com

Elaine Taylor-Klaus, CPCC, ACC is the co-founder of ImpactADHD.com, dedicated to helping parents all over the world raise confident, successful children with ADD/ADHD. ImpactADHD programs are offered online and on the phone so that all parents can access critical support. A writer, parenting coach and public speaker, Elaine is an advocate and trainer for parents of children with “complex” needs.

Back to School ‘13

a note from

Juvenile Welfare Board The Children’s Services Council of Pinellas County

All Kids Matter In the last issue of GoodLiving, I was introduced to readers as the Juvenile Welfare Board’s new executive director. As such, I’m blessed with the awesome responsibility of helping to ensure all Pinellas children are ready to learn, successful in school, and healthy and happy every step of the way. We value and care about the “whole child,” ensuring they have an even playing field and are equipped with everything they need to be successful growing up. In this edition, we’re kicking off a regular column called All Kids Matter. It’s aimed at arming parents with the information they need to help their children be successful. You’ll hear from many Juvenile Welfare Board staff who are subject matter experts, as well as top industy leaders, discussing a wide variety of educational, health and wellness topics for children and adolescents. You’ll also learn how you and your family can get involved to help others in the community who may be struggling, so you can make a difference. From time to time, you’ll also hear from me on topical matters affecting the children in our community- possibly your child or someone your child knows. The Juvenile Welfare Board is committed to strengthening all children and families in Pinellas County. From Tarpon Springs south to St. Petersburg – and every community in between. We hope that you follow us in GoodLiving as well as on our website and social media sites, and we hope to continue to be a resource to GoodLiving readers. Because all children matter!

Sincerely, Dr. Marcie Biddleman Executive Director, Juvenile Welfare Board

Is Your Child Ready for Kindergarten? Four Things to Know about School Readiness This year, nearly 4 million kindergarteners across the country, and 8,000+ in Pinellas County, are starting school for the first time. Children are born ready to learn. But have we, as a community, prepared them to succeed in school, and how can we best support their success? The Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County invests in early learning initiatives so children entering kindergarten are on a path for success. National experts from Child Trends share four things we should all know about school readiness: #1: Children are Only One Piece of the Puzzle For school readiness efforts to be successful, it takes more than the child. It takes the family, schools and community to work together to ensure the child has support, access to services, and high-quality early learning opportunities for a successfully transition into the K-12 environment. #2: School Readiness is More Than Knowing the ABC’s and 123’s There are five areas of skills and development that will help young children be ready to succeed in school: (1) health and physical development; (2) social and emotional development; (3) language and communication; (4) approaches to learning; and (5) cognitive development and general knowledge. #3: Children from Low-Income Families Tend to Start School Less “Ready” The “achievement gap” starts long before children begin kindergarten. Disparities in early learning and development, between children from at-risk backgrounds and their moreadvantaged peers, begin as early as infancy. It’s especially important to make high-quality early learning experiences available to children at risk of later difficulties in school. #4: School Readiness Starts at Birth School readiness is not just something to think about the summer or year before children start kindergarten. Children’s early experiences are critical to their brain development and lifelong health. Strong relationships with family, access to health care, and high-quality early care and education programs are critical components of school readiness. Cited in part from and with the permission of Child Trends (8/2013; Publication #2013-35; contributors Kelly Maxwell, Tamara Halle, and Nicole Forry).

Back to School ‘13

Full-service, family friendly salon with experienced stylists and a master barber with more than 30 years in Palm Harbor.

Our world class Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Oreal Color Salon offers:

Make your appointment today!

Hair styling Perms Straightening Extensions Keratin Treatments ...and more!

35857 US Hwy. 19 N. â&#x20AC;˘ Palm Harbor

(727) 784-3776

a note from

Pinellas County Schools Dear GoodLiving d Families, You might be reading this as your child is settling in to the 2013-2014 school year. Thank you for everything you did during the summer to make sure your child was ready for a new school year. Our administrators and teachers worked tirelessly during the summer months to prepare for an exciting and productive school year. Summer is one of the busiest times for educators. Teachers attend intensive trainings. Principals prepare their schools for a dynamic year. The Transportation Department schedules nearly 500 bus routes for students. Our plant operators and maintenance staﬀ meticulously prepare the school grounds. Technology is tested and updated. Every eﬀort at every level contributes to successfully moving the students of Pinellas County Schools to higher and higher achievement levels. Our unwavering belief in our district’s vision of 100 percent student success drives everything we do. As Superintendent, the start of a new school year is one of my favorite times of the year. We start the 2013-2014 school year with renewed energy and a number of exciting changes: • Schools will no longer dismiss early on Wednesdays. Please check with your school for your child’s school schedule. • Twelve elementary schools have new science labs this year, and new STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) clubs are starting at a number of elementary schools. • Counselor Connect, a new online academic planning system, will help students from 8th to 12th grade plan their path through high school and beyond. • One of the most exciting and biggest changes our district will see within the next year is our journey toward district-wide accreditation. Earning accreditation will help everyone throughout the district align and focus priorities, goals and actions to maximize performance. These are only a few examples of changes underway to advance Pinellas County Schools. Thank you for your commitment to your child’s education. I wish you and your child a fun, safe and enriching school year. Sincerely, Michael A. Grego Superintendent, Pinellas County Schools

Back to School ‘13

Pinellas County Schools Launches a New Interactive Academic Planner Pinellas County Schools has recognized a significant need to help guidance counselors work with students and track their progress, while offering parents more access to their children’s academic planning information. To fulfill these goals, the district will begin the 2013-2014 school year with a new online academic planning system that will help students plan their path through high school and beyond. Students will start using the program in 8th grade as they plan their high school academics. Counselor Connect, created by locally-based Lighthouse Guidance Systems, incorporates diploma designations for students following the academicallyfocused “scholar” pathway as well as the industry certification-focused “merit” pathway established recently by the Florida Legislature and helps students: Design and update their academic plans to align graduation, college and career goals Project their grade point averages based on future performance in classes Analyze their performance based on their actual grades to ensure they meet graduation, college admission and scholarship requirements. The interactive online planning system also helps guidance counselors monitor student progress and allows parents to use a messaging feature so they can communicate directly with their student’s counselor. Counselor Connect will help students work with their parents and guidance counselors to achieve their academic goals. This valuable online resource will empower students to play a much greater role in determining their educational and career paths. Parents will have online access to their children’s plans. Students will be able to update their academic plans to align with their goals at any time in their academic careers.

‘Engaged’ Teens More Likely to Stay in School With the start of school, kids will be getting invitations to join clubs and activities on school campuses. While these extracurricular activities can be fun and social, they can also go a long way to preventing risky behaviors, substance use and dropping out, according to a new study published in the journal Child Development, on July 29, 2013. The research validates what already makes sense: students who are engaged with their school and who participate in academic activities feel more connected to their school, and therefore value their education and are more motivated to learn. According to the researcher, “The study showed that youths who are engaged with school feel more academically competent, are more connected to the institution, and elicit more positive reactions from their teachers and parents. In contrast, disengaged youths have more academic diﬃculties, receive less positive support from teachers and are more likely to associate with disengaged peers.” Researchers say this disengagement is more likely to happen as a child moves through high school. However, it may be worth it to keep those teens actively engaged, as these activities can be a buﬀer to problem behavior. Schools and parents may also see success by using school engagement as an intervention to decrease drop-out rates and reduce substance use.

Another bonus for kids and parents is that this extracurricular engagement in school has also been found to promote skills and values that teens need to move successfully into adulthood. Youth in schools throughout Pinellas County, both public and private, have a wide variety of activities for participation. There are service clubs like Key Club and Interact as well as clubs for academics, hobbies, sports, student government, technology and more. Encourage your students by obtaining a list of clubs available at your school and talking openly about what might be of interest. Not only will it add a much needed element of fun and social interaction to your student’s school career, but it may keep that child on a path to a healthier and happier future. Individual Pinellas County High School websites list their clubs. Here are some to consider: Live Free! to prevent drug abuse Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) Student Government Association Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentors Robotics Club Fellowship of Christian Athletes Girlfriends Club Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)

Back to School ‘13

HAPPY TEENS

What Do Do Differently? When Risk, Challenge and Emotional Stimulation Lead to Positive Outcomes by MARILYN PRICE-MITCHELL, PH.D. Call me an optimist, but I believe happiness can emerge through discomfort and risk. In fact, research suggests risk-taking in the teenage years contributes to self-growth, learning and long-term happiness. Do happy teens approach risk and discomfort differently than their peers? It seems like one of the first things we associate with the teen years is risk-taking behavior. And most of the time, those associations are negative. Right? That’s because we are deluged with stories of troubled youth whose risk-taking actions got out of hand — sometimes with tragic results. But what if there was a flip-side to youth risk-taking — a side that would encourage us to gently push teens out of their comfort zones?

Teens Find Identity through Discomfort In 2010, I conducted a research study with college students showing that teens, like adults, find happiness when they experience risk-taking. At the peak of their discomfort, students made comments, including: “I crossed barriers in my mind.” “I felt scared.” “I felt liberated.” “What a powerful experience.” “I was way out of my comfort zone.” What risk-taking experiences caused them to make these comments? Were they high on drugs or alcohol? Quite the opposite. These students were describing the positive experience of pushing their psychological boundaries as they participated in a variety of community service activities. Some had come face-to-face with people living in situations very different from their own, like poverty or homelessness. Others were doing physical labor that stretched them to new levels of endurance. Several feared failure as they set their sights on unimaginable goals to benefit others. These students came from highly diverse backgrounds. But what they shared in common was a sense of accomplishment and selfesteem that came from learning to solve problems, working with others, and pushing their comfort zones. The bottom line? The students in this study discovered their identities through the process of risk-taking. Simultaneously, they found a path to happiness.

Back to School ‘13

The Teen Brain Craves Risk-Taking Before adolescence, children learn how to fit into society. With parents and teachers as guides, they absorb the norms and unspoken rules of how to behave at home and school. They are like little sponges, soaking up megabytes of information! As children enter their teen years, they begin to merge what they know about society with their psychological selves. They search for their own identities, separate from their parents. Changes to the limbic system of the brain cause teens to seek risk, challenge, and emotional stimulation. While some parents fear this phase of a child’s life, it’s really quite natural. And it’s a time to be embraced as a positive transition to adulthood. Of course, we mostly associate teen risk-taking with drinking, drugs, smoking, and sexual experimentation. But risk-taking is equally associated with positive activities, like mountain climbing, community service, politics, faith groups, and other experiences that can push young people out of their comfort zones and reward them handsomely. Like the teens that were part of my research study, risk-taking can seed happiness, life purpose, and well-being. When young people learn to overcome challenges and meet risk head on, they learn to be resilient. They learn that exploration beyond their comfort zones often leads to unexpected rewards and psychological peaks. They develop courage, curiosity, self-confidence, and persistence. Marilyn Price-Mitchell, PhD, a developmental psychologist and founder of Roots of Action. Shehas a passion for helping adults nurture young people who care about others, contribute to the social good and act to improve the planet. Roots of Action offers a blend of stories and insights, including child and adolescent development, education, positive psychology. The goal is to help young people develop an internal compass with eight core abilities: resilience, learning, social skills, caring, selfawareness, creativity, strategy and character. If you question today’s notions of success and wonder how adults really affect the growth and well-being of today’s digital generation, download her free eBook, Reframing Success: Helping Children and Teens Develop from the Inside Out. In it, Price-Mitchell makes an argument that measuring success by grades and test scores alone is not enough. In fact, she says, it is a practice that is hurting our children who need skills and abilities that cannot be measured by numbers, including effort, critical thinking, collaboration, respect, caring, honesty, open-mindedness, initiative and imagination. Find it at Rootsofaction.com/e-book.

Getting Kids Involved in Pinellas County by FREDA DRAKE

Read the article on page 20 and you’ll see the beneﬁts of raising children who stretch themselves psychologically by being an active part of serving others. Through this involvement they will have opportunities to work alongside and be mentored by some extremely dedicated adult volunteers. Fortunately for parents in Pinellas County, the area is rich with a wide variety of opportunities for kids and teens of all ages. GoodLiving® has put together a short list of community service organizations for children and youth, as well as volunteer opportunities with local charities. There are plenty of programs out there that will allow kids to gain recognition and life skills, as well as programs that will supplement what kids are learning in school. But most importantly, they will learn to spread their wings as they develop in the areas of critical thinking, collaboration, respect, caring, honesty, open-mindedness, initiative and imagination. Participation will go a long way to keeping kids out of trouble while building skills for a lifetime of good living.

Key Clubs Key Clubs are high school service clubs sponsored by the local adult Kiwanis Clubs. As an organization, Kiwanis is well-known for their community involvement and fundraisers throughout the U.S. and internationally. According to Kiwanis’ Lt. Governor Mark Lightsley, youth programs in Florida lead the nation in service leadership programs with more than 18,000 students enrolled across the state from elementary school through college. Individual clubs create and run their own service programs and youth can run for local, state or national oﬃces to gain real leadership experience. Recently, the Builders Club (middle school level) won $10,000 in a national food bank drive sponsored by USA Today for collecting over 2,000 cans of food for FEAST, a local food pantry in Palm Harbor. Other programs include BUGS (Bringing Up Grades) and K-Kids for elementary school, and Circle K for college level. Go to kiwanis.org for further information about their opportunities or check with your local school to see if clubs are active on campus. If not, ambitious kids can start their own chapter.

Interact Clubs Interact is Rotary International’s service club for young people ages 12 to 18. Interact clubs are sponsored by individual Rotary clubs, which provide support and guidance, but they are selfgoverning and self-supporting. Each year, Interact clubs complete at least two community service projects, one of which furthers international understanding and goodwill. Through these eﬀorts, Interactors develop a network of friendships with local and overseas clubs and learn the importance of developing leadership skills and personal integrity, demonstrating helpfulness and respect for others, understanding the value of individual responsibility and hard work, and advancing international understanding and goodwill. There are 19 Interact clubs in Pinellas County

Juniorettes The General Federation of Womens Clubs (GFWC) is a national service organization for women. They sponsor young women ages 12 to 18 to be junior members, called Juniorettes. They also award scholarships to Juniorette members who shine in academics and community service. Focus is on community service related to the arts, conservation, education, home life, international outreach and public issues. There are two clubs in Pinellas County. For the Clearwater club, contact Debbie Struk at Dstruk@verizon.net. For the St. Petersburg club, contact Joanne Walker at Jbwjbw1@verizon.net. For more information about the clubs in general, go to gfwcﬂorida.org.

(photos from left) Girl Scouting provides girls with endless opportunities for fun and friendship! Members of Girl Scout Troop 175 learned American flag etiquette at a troop encampment at Camp Wai Lani in Palm Harbor. Girl Scouts of West Central Florida offers a variety of program options at five beautiful camp properties throughout west central Florida. At Girl Scout camp, girls learn about nature, make new friends, and participate in activities including water sports and horseback riding!

Back to School ‘13

Girl Scouts

Almost everyone has heard of Girl Scouts, but you may not realize how much it has changed over the years. Now, in addition to the Brownies (grades 6-8) and Girl Scouts (grades 9-12), there are also the Daisies, who start as young as Kindergarten. If belonging to a troop doesn’t ﬁt a family’s schedule, they now have short-term programs that oﬀer girls other opportunities to be a part of Girls Scouts.

Raise your hand if you remember 4H. It may have been for the farm kids a generation or two ago, but those days are long gone. While the clubs still focus on earthy matters, their programs are modernized and appropriate for kids no matter where they live. Here in Pinellas County, local students learn how to garden. They get seeds, tools and expert instruction from a master gardener who ensures that their gardens are 99% organic. The programs are very structured and the fall gardens will include tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, bush beans and more. Spokesperson Jean Rogalsky says it’s a wonderful way to encourage healthy eating because “if they grow it, they’ll eat it.” 4H gardens are located in a couple locations throughout the county and they’re just starting to take registration for the fall gardens. They also have horse clubs for kids, even if they don’t own a horse. Instead, they earn the right to ride by performing certain chores to help take care of the horses. Currently, the 4H site is being rebuilt, but for further information you can go to pinellas.ifas.uﬂ.edu/4-H or call Jean at (727)582-2597.

The goal for the Girl Scouts, according to spokeswoman Jennifer Medeiros, is to teach girls that “they can make a lasting and positive diﬀerence in this world.” Sound cliché? Well, check out what just a few modern Girl Scouts are doing! Recently, a 15-year-old Girl Scout from a local troop received a Gold Award for developing an innovative program to teach swimming to mentally disabled adults. It was so highly eﬀective that these students are now doing qualifying trials for the Special Olympics. Another Girl Scout is an advocate for youth in war-torn Uganda and was recently selected as a national Young Woman of Distinction. And the list goes on! You can get involved in and learn more about the Girl Scout programs by going togswcf.org.

Boy Scouts For almost 100 years, Scouting programs have helped youth develop academic skills, self-confidence, ethics, leadership skills and citizenship skills that influence their adult lives. The Boy Scouts of America provide youth with programs and activities that allow them to learn new things, provide service to others and build self-confidence. There is a proud tradition of Boy Scouts in Pinellas County with dozens of troops throughout the area. Clubs start for boys in first grade with Cub Scouts. Go to wcfcbsa.org to read about local activities.

Explorers Part of Boys Scouts is the Explorer Program that focuses on education and career development for boys and girls, ages 14 to 21. As part of Explorer Post #900, members are attached to The Pinellas County Sheriff ’s Law Enforcement Program. Here, young people learn firsthand about the challenges and rewards of a career in public safety while gaining experience in patrol, corrections, investigations, forensics and training- all while under the watchful eye of real deputy sheriff ’s who serve as mentors and instructors. There are similar troops attached to the St. Petersburg and Gulfport Police Departments. For young people interested in fire and rescue, the Fire Explorer Program gets them into the real world of firefighters and first responders. Fire Explorer Post #941 is attached to the Largo Fire Department. Go to wcfcbsa.org/ districts/learning-for-life-exploring/261 to read more about the Fire Explorer and Sheriff ’s programs. Learn more about all the Boy Scout programs at beascout.org.

Back to School ‘13

Largo Medical Center Do you remember Candy Stripers? Volunteer coordinator Paige Brett of Largo Medical Center does. In fact, she was one, she will proudly tell you. Today, teens can’t do as much as the Candy Stripers used to do, but they can still do a great deal to ease a patient’s suﬀering or assist a busy medical team. If a teen is 16 years or older, (s)he can apply in October to become a volunteer at the hospital. Volunteers can work almost anywhere, from admissions to the ER. Brett says it’s a great way to be introduced to the medical ﬁeld. To learn more about becoming a volunteer, or to schedule an interview appointment, call Paige at (727) 588-5876.

Pinellas County Libraries The libraries in Pinellas County have volunteer programs. At the Largo Public Library, youth programs are overseen by 14 Teen Library Council members. The Teen Library Council works like a school’s Student Council, and they help with program ideas, purchasing decisions, book selections and more. This spring, the teens will host a fundraiser by creating a mini-golf course throughout the library. Hole sponsors are needed and vendor tables will be oﬀered. They are also currently looking for donations of wood, carpet and other materials to build this multi-dimensional golf course. If you can help, call Julie at (727) 587-6715. Additionally, volunteers can help with shelving books, administrative duties, story time for children, teaching crafts and hosting games for kids to play. Usually the teens are allowed to exercise their creativity by designing and building their own games. To volunteer, pick up an application at the library.

Humane Society of Pinellas For animal lovers of all ages! Spend volunteer time helping with animals, adoptions, fundraising and events. Many diﬀerent programs are available for families, youth and teenagers. They even teach small children how to make toys at home to donate. Contact Lucy Monette, Volunteer & Adoption Center Manager at Lucy@ HumanePinellas.org or (727) 797-7722 x238.

DIY Service Projects

Suncoast Hospice When you think of Suncoast Hospice, you probably don’t think of youth. And yet over 400 young people volunteer annually to help “brighten the day of patients” through visitation and other activities. Many of them are responsible for recording those who are at the end of their lives and want to leave behind a Family Legacy Video. Recently, Suncoast Hospice and TASCO (Teen Arts, Sports and Cultural Opportunities) embarked on a project together. In an eﬀort to immortalize the early years and experiences of those who helped start the Dali museum and knew Dali personally, teens helped co-produce a compilation of interviews with six of the museum docents. Kids ages 14 to 18 can learn more about the opportunities which Suncoast Hospice oﬀers by going to suncoasthospice.org/Teen-Volunteers.

TASCO Teen Arts, Sports and Cultural Opportunities (TASCO) is a youth program under the City of St. Petersburg’s Parks and Recreation Department. Their Sports and Recreation program is in place to encourage athletic activities for kids and they often work with church or civic groups to design their own programs. Their Special Events department creates kid-friendly events in the city and they host the Mayor’s Showcase of Achievement Awards Program for kids each year. TASCO’s Education Center, run by Robert Norton, teaches photography, graphic arts, video, audio and how to build a computer from the ground up. Norton says that they are now speciﬁcally reaching out to homeschool families and providing them with programs to supplement their curriculum. It was Norton’s group that worked hand-in-hand with the Suncoast Hospice teens to create professional videos. All TASCO classes are free. The next round of classes starts in the third week of September. To participate, kids need an ADVANTAGE card. St. Pete residents pay $15/year and non-residents can still participate for $12.50/month. To get the ADVANTAGE card, go to stpeteparksrec.org/advantage-program.html and to learn more about what TASCO has to oﬀer, go to stpeteparksrec.org/tasco.

No need to always have a club or organized activity to teach service and help kids spread their wings. Choose from this list, or make your own, and make DIY Service a priority in your family! Babysit for a single mom Bake cookies for your local fire department Pick up trash at local park or at the beach as a family field trip Create snack packs for residents at the Ronald McDonald Houses in St. Pete Welcome a new family to the neighborhood with a dessert and introduction Make an art project to be given to someone who needs a perk and a smile Make a baby care kit for a local pregnancy center Do yard work for an elderly neighbor Collect luggage or stuffed animals for children in Foster Care Save loose change in a jar and give to a needy family at Christmas Make small notes of gratitude to hand to grocery clerks and crossing guards Write thank you notes to people who serve you: postman, yard guy, doctor, etc Sponsor a child through an organization or animal at a zoo Make up some Hygiene Bags to pass out to local homeless people Take a meal to a new family Encourage your older children to be a Mother’s Helper to a mom with young kids Fill a backpack to give to a homeless person Make birthday cards and deliver them to a local nursing home monthly Collect food items for a local food pantry Deliver food for Meals on Wheels Compliment and thank the teachers in your life Fix up and donate bikes for the homeless Read to a special needs child Train your pet for pet therapy service to the elderly Decorate residents’ rooms at nursing homes with homemade art Volunteer at a local animal shelter Plant a garden and share the produce Write letters to servicemen Instead of a birthday gifts, ask for donations for a food pantry Make no-sew fleece blankets for Hospice Pay for someone’s drink in Starbuck’s drive-thru. Make sure your kids enjoy the act of kindness. Volunteer to plant flowers for your school/church flowerbeds Smile. At everyone. Back to School ‘13

eating Healthy Breakfasts Make Smart Kids

R esearch continues to show the value of a healthy breakfast that is full of nutrients and not sugars. Beneﬁts for school-aged children are improved attention spans, increased energy levels and feeling full longer. One of the original Superfoods, wheat germ can provide additional nutrients to foods kids already like, such as muﬃns, smoothies and pancakes. Kids can get 4 grams of protein from two tablespoons, plus vitamin E, an antioxidant, thiamin for energy and zinc for immunity.

Instructions To prepare crust, position rack in lower third of oven; preheat to 400°F. Stir flour, wheat germ and 1/4 teaspoon salt in medium bowl. Add butter and oil and stir to make a crumbly mixture. Using 1 tablespoon at a time, gradually stir in ice water just until the dough holds together on its own when pinched. Knead the dough in the bowl a few times to help it come together. Press the dough into a disk. Place dough between two sheets of parchment or wax paper and roll into a 10-inch circle. Remove the top sheet and invert dough into a 9-inch pie pan. Remove remaining paper and patch any tears in dough. Fold edges under at the rim and crimp with a fork or press to reduce shrinking. Loosely line dough with a piece of foil or parchment paper and fill evenly with pie weights or dried beans. Bake for 7 minutes. Remove the foil or paper and weights and continue baking just until lightly browned, 7 minutes more. (The crust will not be fully baked.) Let cool. Reduce oven temperature to 350° F.

Family nutrition expert and Meal Makeover Mom, Liz Weiss, MS, RD, has created breakfast recipes just for busy moms on the go who want kids to have a healthy breakfast. As part of the Kretschmer Health and Wellness Advisory Team, Weiss has used To prepare filling, add olive oil to large skillet. Heat over medium-high Kretschmer brand Wheat Germ in these recipes. heat, add leeks and cook for 2 minutes until softened. Add zucchini and

cook for an additional 7 minutes, stirring often so it doesn’t burn. Remove from heat, stir in 1 tablespoon wheat germ and thyme and let cool.

Zucchini, Gruyere and Wheat Germ Quiche Follow these easy directions and you’ll have a delicious brunch dish everyone can enjoy. The crust has a nutty flavor from the wheat germ. Fat-free evaporated milk instead of heavy cream makes the filling lighter. Serves 8 For Crust 1 cup all-purpose flour 1/3 cup Kretschmer Original Toasted Wheat Germ 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 tablespoons canola oil 3 to 4 tablespoons ice water

Meanwhile, whisk eggs well in a large bowl. Add milk, evaporated milk, salt and pepper and stir to combine. Once crust is cool, spread zucchini mixture over crust, pour egg mixture over the top and sprinkle with cheese and remaining 1 tablespoon wheat germ. Bake quiche until knife inserted in center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and cool for at least 15 minutes before serving.

For Filling 1 teaspoon olive oil 1/2 cup chopped leeks, white and light green parts only 1 large zucchini, sliced into half-moons, about 2 3/4 cups 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme 2 tablespoons Kretschmer Original Toasted Wheat Germ, divided 3 large eggs 3/4 cup 1% milk 3/4 cup fat-free evaporated milk 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper 3/4 cup shredded Gruyere cheese (2 1/4 ounces)

Back to School ‘13

eating continued...

Healthy Breakfasts Make Smart Kids Honey Crunch Energy Bars with Wheat Germ Homemade Granola with Wheat Germ A delicious energy bar that can be wrapped for families on the run. Delicious boost before mom’s workout or as a snack before soccer or karate practice. For breakfast, serve with some Greek yogurt and fruit. Make a batch and freeze bars in individual baggies so you can use them as you need them. Makes 16 2x2-inch bars Ingredients 2 cups rolled oats 1/3 cup unsweetened coconut flakes 1/2 cup chopped dates (about 12) 1/3 cup toasted almonds, chopped 2 tablespoons ground flaxseeds 1/2 cup Kretschmer Honey Crunch Wheat Germ 1 large egg 1/3 cup honey 3/4 cup smooth almond butter 3/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/8 teaspoon salt

Homemade granola that makes as good of a gift as it does a healthy breakfast. You may just get hooked on making your own. Eat with yogurt or grab a handful as a snack. Makes 9 servings Ingredients 2 cups old-fashioned oats 3/4 cup Kretschmer Original Toasted Wheat Germ 2 tablespoons raw pumpkin seeds 1/4 cup dry-roasted salted almonds, coarsely chopped 1 tablespoon orange zest 3 tablespoons canola oil 1/4 cup real maple syrup 1/2 cup chopped dried unsweetened mango 1/2 cup chopped dried cherries

Instructions Preheat oven to 350° F. Line 8x8-inch square pan with parchment paper.

Instructions Preheat oven to 300° F. Line large sheet pan (with sides) with parchment paper. In medium bowl, mix oats, wheat germ, pumpkin seeds, almonds and orange zest. Stir in canola oil and maple syrup.

In medium bowl mix oats, coconut, dates, almonds, flaxseeds and wheat germ together with a spatula. In another bowl, whisk egg, honey, almond butter, baking soda and salt until smooth and creamy.

Spread mixture evenly on sheet pan and bake for 30 minutes. Stir in mango and cherries and cook for an additional 10 minutes.

Pour honey almond butter mixture into dry ingredients and stir until well combined. Transfer mixture into prepared pan and bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown and slightly firm to touch. Move to wire rack and cool completely. Cut mixture into 16 bars.

Remove pan from oven and let granola cool and harden before serving. Store in an airtight container.

Frittata Breakfast Pizza

Back to School ‘13

By Fresh From Florida Chef Justin Timineri Ingredients Fresh pizza dough or 1 small pre-baked pizza crust 8 to 10 fresh eggs 1/4 cup fresh milk 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated 2 Florida zucchini, sliced thin 1 cup breakfast meat (bacon or sausage) cooked and chopped 2 Florida tomatoes, sliced thin Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste Directions Preheat oven to 375°. Place pizza dough in the bottom of a springform pan or cut a pre-baked crust to fit. In a medium sized mixing bowl, whisk eggs and milk. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Set aside. Layer zucchini on top of crust in bottom of the pan. Add half of the cheese to the top of the zucchini. Add the cooked and chopped breakfast meat to the pan. Place the springform pan on a cookie sheet. Pour the egg mixture on top of meat and zucchini. Top the egg mixture with sliced tomatoes and remaining cheese. Bake uncovered for 15 to 25 minutes until the center of the frittata if evenly cooked. Remove from oven and let cool. Unhinge the springform pan. Slice and serve warm.

eating The Non-Sandwich Lunch byy

he same old sandwich every day for an entire school year can get very old. Plus, not every child loves bread or can eat Cauliflower Crust Mini Pizzas gluten. Laura Fuentes, CEO and Chief MOM in the Kitchen at Gluten & Grain Free Momables, has made it her mission to help fellow moms conquer Crust Ingredients: the daily lunchbox blues. Her website Momables.com oﬀers lunch meal menus with creative, healthy and unusual lunch ideas that can often be made in 10 minutes. This time savings comes from having a shopping list for each week. The subscription costs $60 for the year and comes with a weekly e-mail with menus and lists.

Mini Pumpkin Pancakes Ingredients 1¼ cups all-purpose flour 2 tbsp. brown sugar 2 tsp. baking powder ¼ tsp. salt 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice 1 cup milk ½ cup pumpkin puree 1 large egg 2 tbsp. vegetable oil or melted butter Instructions In a bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, salt and pumpkin pie spice and stir to combine. In a separate bowl, mix together the milk, pumpkin puree, egg and oil or butter. Mix until there are few to no lumps left. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and whisk together just until combine. Over low-medium heat skillet, when skillet is hot, spoon batter into the skillet. When pancake starts to bubble slightly, carefully flip over. Serve with whipped cream and maple syrup.

Ham & Cheese Apple Wraps Ingredients Apple slices (brushed with lemon to stop browning) Deli ham (thinly sliced) Cheddar cheese, thickly sliced and cut into triangles Instructions Arrange a piece of cheddar cheese on one apple wedge. Wrap ham around the middle of the apple and cheese.

1 head of cauliflower, cleaned & chopped into florets 1 large beaten egg ½ teaspoon of garlic salt with parsley 2 teaspoon of Zatarain’s Big & Zesty Garlic & Herb seasoning ¾ cup of shredded mozzarella cheese Toppings: 3-4 Tablespoons of pizza sauce ½ cups of shredded mozzarella cheese Optional pepperoni, sausage, peppers, etc. Instructions Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside. Place raw cauliflower florets in a food processor and process to a “flour-like” texture. Place in a large microwavable bowl and microwave for on high for 5 minutes. Remove from microwave. Add beaten egg, seasonings, and shredded cheese to cauliflower. Mix well until it resembles a batter-like mixture. Divide batter into five equal parts. On parchment lined baking sheet, form mixture into pizza crusts. Lightly spray each crust with cooking spray and bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes. Remove from oven and top with pizza sauce, cheese, and toppings of choice. Return to the oven and broil until cheese is melted.

Spinach & Artichoke Cups Ingredients Nonstick cooking spray 1 package of wonton wrappers, at room temperature 1 6oz jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained and chopped 1 (10 oz) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese ¼ cup sour cream ¼ cup cream cheese, softened 1 garlic clove, minced Instructions Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray your mini cupcake pan with cooking spray. Gently push one wonton wrapper into each mini cupcake cup. Using a fork mix together artichoke hearts, spinach, cheeses, sour cream and garlic. Spoon 1 tablespoon of spinach artichoke mixture into each wonton wrapper. Bake spinach artichoke cups for about 10 minutes, until golden brown and crispy on the edges (bake longer if you want them to be extra crispy). Back to School ‘13

eating Food Bits Green Acre Aquaponics If you’ve been reading about the unclean fish commercially available at our grocery stores, then you probably think twice about buying that bag of frozen tilapia. Believe it or not, we can buy locally-farmed tilapia right here in Tampa Bay from Green Acre Aquaponics, located in Brooksville. They raise their fish in an all-natural and sustainable aquaponic ecosystem to be hormone and antibiotic free. They also are free from the contaminants found in our natural waterways. You buy the fish whole and packed on ice. Most are around 4 lbs and will yield about 1.5 lbs of filets. At $2.75 per pound, that fish will cost $11. Use the remains to make fish stock. Order fish through their website Greenacreaquaponics.com for pick up at multiple farmer’s markets in Hillsborough County.

Palm Harbor Green Market Infantino Squeeze Station If you love those convenient food pouches, but don’t love the price, here is a solution from Infantino. Their $24.99 Squeeze Station allows you to take your own fresh blended food and squeeze-it-yourself into disposable pouches (you can get a pack of 50 for $16.99). Use your imagination and make yogurt smoothies or fruit, grain or veggie mixes based on what you grow in your garden. You can also buy fresh at an organic stand to suit the taste and needs of your children. The pouches can be frozen and used at any time, anywhere. Watch the how-to video at their website Infantino.com.

Yogurt Snack with Fresh Raspberries, Kale and Yogurt Puree fresh raspberries and kale. Mix in your favorite type of yogurt (half the mixture should be yogurt, half should be the kale and raspberries).

Applesauce Snack with Organic Apples and Carrots Steam, chop and puree the apples and carrots. Add a dash of cinnamon (or ginger) for flavor.

Zaycon Foods Consumers are getting more savvy and ﬁnding ways to get the healthy food they desire for lower prices. Zaycon Foods is a fast-growing company that is responding to the demand for healthier, more aﬀordable, quality food. Coming October 11th to St. Petersburg, Seminole and Clearwater, Zaycon will hold a delivery day for its highly popular chicken breast event. Customers must register online to pre-order bulk quantities of boneless, skinless chicken breasts that are both hormone-free and antibiotic free for $1.84 per pound. The chicken comes fresh, not frozen, and is only days from the supplier. The product is sold in 40-pound cases and so buyers must be willing to do their own wrapping and freezing. Currently there are two events per year, but plans are in place to increase that soon. There is no cost to sign up and order, and events typically sell out before the delivery date. Zayconfoods.com

Back to School ‘13

The Palm Harbor Green Market that used to be at Curlew and Belcher has found a new home. It is now located two blocks west of Alt. U.S. 19 on Florida Avenue at Pop Stansell Park. The park has a playground for children, picnic shelters and rest room facilities.

OPINION

Lovers of aquariums know that people travel from all over to visit Chattanooga, New Orleans and Atlanta just to visit their Aquariums. And now, thanks to a sweet little girl named Winter, Clearwater has the opportunity to add its name to this list of popular destinations. Due to the worldwide success of the movie, Dolphin Tale, and the ongoing inspiration from Winter’s story, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium has a new lease on life and the ability to share that success with the City of Clearwater and all of Pinellas County. Can’t you imagine how nice it will be to have this spectacular new facility in downtown Clearwater? Kids, parents and grandparents will have a shiny new place to gather, to revel in the beauty of this location and to learn about our precious marine resources. It will be uniquely Clearwater. And uniquely ours to be proud of for generations to come.

What to Know: The Charter Amendment for the Lease of City Hall Property and Abutting City Property to Clearwater Marine Aquarium will be on the November 5, 2013 ballot for The City of Clearwater. Deadline to register to vote is October 7, 2013. A vote of “yes” allows the city and the aquarium to move forward with plans. The current aquarium facility at Island Estates will become the Clearwater Marine Hospital. The new downtown facility will house the primary tourism and education components of CMA’s mission, including resident animals such as Winter and Hope. Some benefits include a positive economic impact from additional visitors to the downtown area for local businesses, restaurants and hotels; the addition of new jobs; and expansion of the Coachman Park green space.

rwater and a resident of Clea As a long time pporter of the su g I am a stron CMA volunteer, earwater Marine location of the Cl new downtown of Clearwater ies or em ildhood m ce the 1970s, Aquarium. My ch sin ly But unfortunate a l. fu er nd wo e ar er become only town Clearwat l fu er I have seen down nd wo is once was. Th shell of what it to downtown ve CMA come ha to ity un rt a win-win oppo LY ON is rwater. It and further is a gift to Clea wn to come to down ll wi s se es sin bu situation. More nce. wntown experie enhance our do tion to change m an organiza fro on ssi pa ch su e the citizens en er and to mak I have never se town Clearwat wn do of k ar the hallm town. PROUD of down of Clearwater dum!!! S on the referen PLEASE vote YE -Linda Griffin I’ve had the pleasure volunteering for mo re than five years and have witnessed thousa nds of people become transfi xed when not only see ing our incredible dolph in Winter, but the wo rk that goes on behind the scenes at CMA to res cue and rehab so many differ ent animals. CMA has put Clearwater on the wo rldwide map, bring ing cultures together, all in support of protec ting the environment an d our marine life. Th ere is no place like this anyw here in the world. There is definitely som ething to the phrase “If Winter Can, Then I Can Too!” Families tell me their children learn more in one da at CMA than from y all the other Florida activities during the vacation. A vote in ir support of November ’s referendum will allow CMA’s work to continue on a much larger scale right here in Clearwater. -Karen Altieri

Back to School ‘13

It was my “Mr. Jones” encounter that changed everything. “Mr. Jones” was the typical patient whose life suffered at the hands of our current SICK care system. He had a small cancer cell on his nose. The doctors followed protocol. They cut it off, burned it off and poisoned it away, treating the symptoms and not the cause. I saw that patient again. It was the day my life changed. He tapped me on the shoulder to ask a simple question. I turned to meet his eyes. I saw his face, or what was left of it. He was missing most of his upper jaw and nose. In shock, I struggled to regain my composure. He spoke these words that I will never forget, “Please sir can I have more medications, painkillers, anything you have.” It was at that very moment I realized how badly we have failed those we have sworn to help. This man was missing his face and still wanted more drugs!

MY STORY by DR. CHRISTOPHER W. HOOD

“To truly lead, you must learn to serve.” This statement, based upon Christian principles, continues to play over and over again in my head. It was taught to me by my grandfather who also said to “learn something new every day.” He used head knowledge every day, but like many people I know, he never felt the same joy at work that he experienced as a volunteer at church. He understood that a life of service is one of fulfillment, and that is a value he passed along to me. However, I had to take a detour first. Like many, my first career choice was based upon gaining financial security. As a pharmacist, I could have a good career and help others at the same time- or so I thought. Working in a hospital pharmacy quickly became robotic to me. I learned to become detached, especially when treating patients in oncology. I saw patients never achieve “true health” and many of them died from the treatments. I became unhappy and depressed. Then it happened, that moment we are all waiting for, that transformational experience, a “God Wink” if you will. I wish I could say that it was my beloved grandfather’s stroke that shook me out of my state. Sadly, this was not the case. I was so “numb,” lost in my own world, that I actually overlooked that preventable disaster. I turned a blind eye as my grandfather rotted away, blind and paralyzed in the living room Lazy Boy.

Back to School ‘13

On that very day, I realized my calling and began a life of true service to others, just as my grandfather taught me. I sought out a different path for helping patients, one that looks to the root cause of the problem and treats the whole person. Taking the road less traveled, I decided to become a natural healthcare provider, a chiropractor that teaches people the truth about health and wellness. I began to study like a man on a mission, and soon realized that it is easier to stay well than to get well. Meeting my wife Danielle in chiropractic school was the next “God Wink” in my life. Having a similar experience in her first career and within her family, we were on the same mission! We traveled home to Florida, often staying with my grandparents. One morning, as we watched my grandmother drag herself into the kitchen, we could not believe what we were seeing. It was if she had aged ten years over night. Caring for my grandfather everyday was destroying her. Not only did my grandfather’s stroke affect his life, but it also affected hers. We asked ourselves, “How many other families are in this same situation?”The answer was to open our own practice, Hood Chiropractic, in 2004. Since then, we have created one of the nation’s largest health and wellness clinics, educating countless families about the glory God has for our lives through healthy living. We believe that we are wonderfully made by God to be happy, healthy and terrific, not sick and in pain, dying early from preventable disease. Through what we call our Original Health Blueprint, we are able to help families reset their health by combining function, fitness, nutrition, rest and spiritual health into a simple formula that creates energy, longevity and lifelong health. We continue to dedicate our lives to educating families about true health. It’s our effort to keep other families from suffering the way our families have. Grandpa would be proud. Dr. Christopher Hood is the author of three books. His most recent book, True Wellness is available at Amazon.com and on Kindle. He speaks locally and nationally to audiences on the subject of health, including pastors who are looking to create a wellness program for their congregations. Dr. Hood can also be heard on his weekly radio show “Original Health” every Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. on WTIS, AM 1110.