8 GOOD EVENTS Fourth of July Celebrations by Jennifer Nebrich
9 GOOD NEWS from Pinellas County Schools
12-13 GOOD PRODUCTS Summer Must Haves
36-37 GOOD EATING Food Allergies, eating less gluten
34 GOOD ADVENTURES Amazing American Cities: Atlanta
16 EDITORIAL: ARTS FUNDING IN PINELLAS COUNTY by Pamela Settle
19 A NOTE FROM THE JUVENILE WELFARE BOARD by Dr. Marcie A. Biddleman
22 MAY IS NATIONAL BIKE MONTH. BE SAFE! by Charlene Cobb
24 A NOTE FROM PINELLAS COUNTY SHERIFF Sheriff Bob Gualtieri
28 A NOTE FROM PINELLAS COUNTY SCHOOLS Michael A. Grego
30-31 PADDLING THE BLUEWAYS OF PINELLAS About the Cover
Our cover photo this issue was provided by Shannon Seal, owner of Seal Swim School, North Pinellas. Located in Tarpon Springs, Seal Swim School offers private and group swimming lessons from infants to adults at all levels of ability. 1888 S Pinellas Ave, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689 (727) 943-8782
SealSwimSchoolnp.com
editor’s review by Pamela Settle
32-33 LOVE OUR FLORIDA STATE PARKS! 38 MY STORY Don’t Feel Sorry For Me. Just Get Tested. By Richard Gonzmart
Have a Safe, Happy
®
and memorable summer
SUMMER ISSUE 2015 Volume 6 • Issue 2
Publisher Light Shine Media Group, LLC
Editor-in-Chief Pamela Settle
Letter from Editor I just love the old commercial that has the parents school shopping to the Christmas song, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” However, I feel pretty sure that kids all over the county feel that the end of May to the middle of August is the most wonderful time of year.
Design and Layout Marcie Kelliher
S-U-M-M-E-R V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N!!!! Woo Hoo!
ContribuƟng Writers
While the prospects for fun are numerous, it’s also the time of year that students and parents prepare for changes. Perhaps it is getting ready for Kindergarten. Yikes, right? Or worse yet, moving into middle school or high school. And the major milestone transition, graduation from high school and into the next season of life.
Dr. Marcie Biddleman Charlene Cobb Richard Gonzmart Dr. Michael Grego Sheriff Bob Gualtieri Jennifer Nebrich
To submit good news ideas or events news@goodlivingmag.com
To adverƟse or purchase bulk copies of the magazine adverƟsing@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.
When I think about all these transition times, it seems that many Pinellas families will be preparing for changes this summer. And all that change reminds me that life is nothing but change when you become a parent. From changing diapers to changing grades to changing majors. The years fly by so much more quickly when they are measured with the school year calendar. Seems we just started school with a new backpack and here we are preparing to end the year. It went way too fast, but I admit that I too am ready for a break from homework and active school activities. We are also living in an era of cultural, economic, technological and educational change. The world is changing right under feet and that presents some really important issues for parents. The educational requirements for younger students are changing. The focus of education is shifting to meet the new needs of the workforce. The job market is making some careers and degrees obsolete while creating new ones nearly every year. Keeping up with it all can be overwhelming, however, to make sure our kids are adequately and appropriately prepared for whatever the future looks like when they turn 18 has never required as much diligence and future watching as it does today. To help parents manage the changing world of education, we have two new tutoring companies that have partnered with GoodLiving®. It may be that the school day isn’t enough anymore and that parents need to seriously look at augmenting their child’s development. Mathnasium is a unique center that focuses solely on math. Pay a monthly fee and your child can go five days a week for additional math assistance. There are multiple locations in Pinellas to help you. Also unique is the new Grade Power Learning Centers. Here students are coached on how to best learn according to their own strengths and weaknesses. It’s not just about passing the science test, it’s about learning how to problem solve independently and that requires educational coaching. They also offer SAT and ACT prep courses to help students put their best scores forward in a highly competitive college market. And finally, we certainly hope that this summer provides your family an opportunity to slow down a bit and enjoy some unscheduled life together. Whether it’s trying out a state park or getting in a kayak, or taking some art classes or sitting back and doing nothing together, we wish you only GOOD days! Until Next Time,
Pamela Settle
Good Events
4th of July Celebrations by JENNIFER NEBRICH
Kiwanis Morton Plant Mease Midnight Run Ring in the holiday with races that happen around midnight on July 3rd and into the morning of the 4th! 10K race course on Causeway Boulevard to Honeymoon Island State Park. Starts at 12:15 a.m. Enjoy a flat course lit by more than 700 luminaries. A 5K starts at 11:25 p.m. and the 1-mile run starts at 11 p.m. Event raises money for Kiwanis programs. KiwanisMidnightRun.com Clearwater Celebrates America: Fourth of July at Coachman Park The city’s annual Independence Day celebration will feature a patriotic concert, fireworks, children’s activities, games, vendors, and food and drink concessions. Gates open at 4 p.m. Safety Harbor Fourth of July Parade on Main Street Start celebrating the fourth at 10 a.m. with a patriotic parade down Main Street in Safety Harbor. Safety Harbor Fourth of July at Safety Harbor City Marina Head to Safety Harbor for an evening of family fun with children’s activities, live entertainment, and food vendors. Fireworks start at 9 p.m. and can be viewed from the marina or waterfront park. Largo Fourth of July Celebration at Largo Central Park Central Park will light up with fun and fireworks. A day of fun includes DJ music, activities, food vendors and fireworks. Limited $5 parking available.
4th of July Fest at Archibald Park in Madeira Beach An all day celebration, starting at 8 a.m. that is fun for the whole family. The event features music, food vendors, and numerous activities and contests for everyone. Fireworks show on the beach at 9 p.m. All day parking available for $10. Free shuttle. 4th of July on Treasure Island Enjoy a patriotic beach bash at 8:45 p.m. behind the Bilmar Beach Resort. Parking is available at the Treasure Island (TI) Park Community Center, and at Allied Bank. Gulfport’s Fourth of July Celebration A huge day in Gulfport is planned! Start early with a kids fishing derby 8 a.m. On the beach, a sand sculpting contest starts at 11:30 a.m. Children’s activities area, live music, and food vendors round out the day, followed by a parade on the beach at 6 p.m and fireworks at 9:15 p.m. 4th of July at St Pete Beach City officials say the 30-minute display set from a barge floating in the Gulf can be viewed from anywhere on the city’s coastline or by boat. All of County Park will be closed to the public prior to the display. Fireworks begin at dusk. Channelside Bay Plaza in Tampa Kids activities, live music and entertainment kick off at 1 p.m. Fireworks at 9 p.m. Parking available in garage across the street.
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Good News
from Pinellas County Schools PCS is Recognized as a Florida Healthy School District Pinellas County Schools has been recognized as a Florida Healthy School District at the Gold level for May ‘15 - April ‘17. The award recognizes school districts for their efforts to support the physical, mental and social health of students and staff. Pinellas was honored for preventing barriers to education and recognizing the role nutrition and wellness can have on academic achievement. Since 2009, the Florida Coordinated School Health Partnership along with the Florida Action for Healthy Kids, Florida Association of District School Superintendents and Florida Healthy Kids Corporation has recognized 37 districts for establishing a culture and climate that embraces the Coordinated School Health approach. The district was one of 10 statewide who were awarded Gold status. Two Pinellas Schools Win Top Honors in National Video Contest JiJi is a math-loving penguin who helps students learn in Pinellas County Schools. The penguin was the star of two videos produced by Northwest and Brooker Creek Elementary Schools for a national contest. Northwest won first place and Brooker Creek won third place in the JiJi Believer Season 2 Video Contest. Sponsored by ST Math, students created and submitted videos that were judged on creativity, teamwork, problem solving and ST Math concepts. As a result of their win, a celebration will be held at each school which will include a visit from JiJi! The celebration will be held at Northwest Elementary at noon, May 19 and at Brooker Creek Elementary at 11 a.m, May 20. PCS Choice Program Open Houses Scheduled In May Six Pinellas County Schools with newly introduced choice programs will hold open houses for families in May as part of the Late Application Period. • Thurs., May 14 at 6 p.m., Tarpon Springs Middle School, Leadership Conservatory for the Arts with Pre-Cambridge • Tues., May 19 at 6 p.m., Azalea Middle School, Engineering Gateway to Technology • Tues., May 19 at 6 p.m., Largo Middle School, International Studies • Tues., May 19 at 6 p.m., Pinellas Park Middle School, Pre-Cambridge • Tues., May 19 at 5:30 p.m., Mildred Helms Elementary, International Studies • Wed., May 20 at 6 p.m., John Hopkins Middle School, International Studies
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National Association Gives Two PCS Choice Programs High Honors Two Pinellas County Schools were honored for offering highquality theme-based programs. Magnet Schools of America (MSA), the national association for magnet and theme-based schools, announced Douglas L. Jamerson, Jr. Elementary School Center for Mathematics and Engineering and James Sanderlin PK-8 IB World School are the recipients of the association’s 2015 national merit awards. Schools chosen are considered models of success and represent the best in public education. Pinellas County Schools Bus Driver Honored A Pinellas County Schools bus driver who has helped students get to school safely for over 21 years was honored for her effort. Cheryl A. Thomas, a Pinellas County Schools bus driver and training assistant, was named Florida’s 2015 School-Related Employee of the Year. Each week, Cheryl visits different schools on a mobile safety bus to teach students about how to be a respectful and courteous bus rider. Pinellas Virtual School Part-Time and Full-Time Enrollment is in Full Swing Part-time and full-time enrollment is underway for Pinellas Virtual School, a local online K-12 Pinellas County School, for the 2015-16 school year. The courses, which align to district and state standards, are ideal for motivated learners looking to accelerate course credits or students who have fallen behind in credits. Enrollment into Pinellas Virtual School is one way students in Pinellas County can meet the state’s online credit requirement. Under Florida’s Digital Learning Act, students are required to complete an online course as part of the state’s 24-credit minimum needed to graduate. The class of 2015 is the first class of students required to adhere to the state’s digital learning statute. Part-time enrollment concludes on July 24. Visit virtualschool.pcsb.org for registration details. PCS Kindergarten and New Student Registration Continues Pinellas County Schools encourages families of new students, including soon-to-be kindergarteners to register their children for 2015-16 school year by June 2 at their zoned school. Students entering kindergarten must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2015, to attend school next school year. Students with Autism to Perform Play at Mcmullen-Booth Elementary McMullen-Booth Elementary School will feature “MB Comics presents: The Amazing Adventures of Super Friends” 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday, May 15. The show is an action-packed stage production featuring McMullen-Booth’s students with Autism. The students will perform exciting adventure-based concepts of DC Comics books. The students helped construct and design the sets and costumes. The community is invited to attend and support the students and their production.
FAITH EVENTS
Listen to Pete O’Shea 7 - 9 a.m. • 11 - noon AM 1110
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Here’s a partial list of the churches offering VBS this summer. Go out and make it a summer that changes the direction of your family. You’ll be so glad you did!
Vacation bible school Week of June 15th Attention Parents! If you are feeling disconnected, lost or lonely, let me personally invite you to seek friendship and support at any of our area churches. Don’t be intimidated, don’t be shy. I guarantee you that there are people just like you walking through the doors of our community churches every week, and that there are those already inside who will care about you and your circumstances. You have kids in the house now and you know you’ve been thinking it’s time to get them into church. Maybe you don’t know how to take the first step. Maybe you feel you won’t fit in. Let me offer you this. We have a tremendous variety of church homes to choose from. From small to large and from casual to formal - just take a peek around. Ask your friends. Listen to my show. Take the initiative to do the right thing for your family. It will be easier than you think. Summer tends to be a slower time for churches since so many families are traveling and kids are out of their routines. While many youth groups and classes may be on break, the churches are still active with sports camps, sleep away camps, summer mission trips, day camps and the favorite for generations -- Vacation Bible School or VBS. VBS is a weeklong, usually half day fun fest for kids that is run by volunteers. Most of them are free or charge a very small fee for the week. It is a tremendous way for you to get your feet in the door to meet a few of the families and get your kids introduced to some new friends. You can actually try out a few of them since they run throughout June and July at churches all over the area.
East Lake United Methodist Church First Baptist Church Indian Rocks Countryside Christian Center St. Raphael Catholic Church First United Methodist Church Clearwater North Dunedin Baptist Church First United Methodist Church St. Petersburg
Week of June 22nd Calvary Baptist Church, Clearwater Park Place Wesleyan Church Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church First Presbyterian Church St. Petersburg Clearwater Community Church Palm Harbor United Methodist Church
Week of July 6th Anona United Methodist Church
Week of July 13th Skycrest Community Church Heritage United Methodist Church
Week of July 20th Seminole First Baptist Church First Baptist Church St. Petersburg
Week of July 27th arborside Christian Church Calvary Chapel, St. Petersburg
Week of August 3rd St. Paul United Methodist Church, evening VBS
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Good Products
Summer Must Haves
Rescue Facts
Parking Pal
Outdoor activities are perks of summer, but all that travel, adventure and sporting is not without its risks. Precious and few are the seconds that first responders have to assess the victim’s condition and vital medical facts on the scene of any accident or emergency.
Teach young children how to be safe in dangerous parking lots when most of them want to jump out of the car and dart to their destination. The Parking Pal is a bright colorful magnet with a palm print in the center. When placed on the side of a vehicle, the child can be trained to stand by the car with his hand on the magnet. Loading or unloading a baby, rifling for keys or a ringing cell phone can distract parents. The Parking Pal is a simple solution that can save lives. Multiple designs for $8.99 at parkingpalmagnet.com.
Rescue Facts™ is a unique pouch that contains medical information. The pouch is able to attach to helmets, seatbelts, baby carriers, dog collars and backpacks, to name a few. Information contained are the victim’s identification, contact information, medical history (condition, prescriptions, allergies and blood type), primary care physician and preferred hospital. A consent-to-treat form is also included. The Rescue Facts™ Emergency Information Pack speaks volumes when a victim is unable to speak for him or herself. Rescuefacts.com
Ciao Baby Portable High Chair Traveling. Camping trips. Ballgames. A trip to Grandmas house. A day at the park. Wherever you are going with baby this summer, take along this portable high chair and optional clip on umbrella. Lightweight and all-in-one, the portable chair folds right up into a carrying bag offering super convenience to help your little ones enjoy the comforts of mealtime anywhere. For babies and toddlers up to 3 years old, this no-fuss chair has a flexible seat, tray and cup holder. Wipes clean, unfolds easily, locks into place and folds up in seconds. Tested and approved to meet ASTM high chair standards. Available at theportablehighchair.com in a variety of colors and with logos of NCAA college teams.
Board Blazers Light up those skateboards for safety! Board Blazers LED Underglow Skateboard, Longboard and Scooter Lights will instantly customize a ride with style and safety. The lights offer the ideal combo of safety and fun. They are valuable for keeping kids safe by making them visible to drivers while riding around their neighborhood, especially when out during the long summer evenings. While kids love the ‘cool factor’ they add, making them visible to traffic at night is also critical safety feature. Sadly, the majority of skateboarding accidents occur while riding on the street, not at skate parks. The lights come in 8 blazing colors, and sell for $24.99 for a set of 4 lights of the same color at boardblazers.com.
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Good Products
Summer Must Haves Babyganics Spray Sunshield Babyganics is one of our favorite lines of non-toxic children’s products. With a commitment to safety and health, they continue to develop new products including this Mineral Based Sunscreen Spray that is SPF 50+ and fragrance free. This convenient non-aerosol spray absorbs and dries quickly without leaving behind a greasy residue. Under $14 at Babyganics.com.
Floateez Budding engineers and kids who spend all summer in the pool will love this reinvented pool noodle that gives kids a chance to create floating masterpieces. FLOATEEZ Water Logz interconnect to make floating chairs, canoes, rafts, 3D forts and more. More durable than the standard noodle, these will last for years. Store easily in a reusable mesh storage bag. A wide variety of kits are available on their website at Floateez.com.
ez-Shade Umbrella and Sunshield The patented ezShade Umbrella and Sunshield combo is the first and only umbrella to be sold with an easy on/off sidewall called a “sunshield” which helps to block reflected UV rays and wind. Add multiple ezShade sunshields to create a portable privacy enclosure. It blocks over 99% UVA/ UVB rays and weighs under 3 lbs. Combo shown is $49.95. MyEZShade.com.
VW Camper Van Play Tent Bye Bye BUGZ™ No one wants kids playing with pesticides, so why would we want them covered in traditional bug sprays or lotions? This bug deterrent is a pure natural Shea Butter and Botanical oil lotion with a scent that bugs bugs! Uses oils from lemongrass, peppermint, lavender and more. Great for kids young and old. $14 at scrubzbodyscrub.com.
Go retro with this indoor/outdoor play tent for kids. The mini-me version of the iconic 1965 Split Screen VW Camper Van are sure to bring back memories while making new ones. Tents have UV protection and are fire retardant and waterproof. 21x65x30 inches tall. $59.99 at TheMonsterFactoryUSA.com.
READER GIVEAWAY
Famous OTO This clever, innovative pretend-play product is the brainchild and passion project for Swedish artist, Måns Swanberg. His playful creations of cardboard playhouse/ vehicles provide kids a chance to use their imaginations. Each truck is made in Brooklyn out of non-toxic, foodgrade materials that are both recyclable and biodegradable. Choose from an ice cream truck or a taco truck, with more designs coming soon. $59 at FamousOTO.com. Go to GoodLivingMagazine.com for details! Easy to enter for the giveaway. No purchase necessary. Deadline is July 30, 2015 at 5 p.m.
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EDITORIAL
ARTS FUNDING IN PINELLAS COUNTY by PAMELA SETTLE
If I have a mantra it’s probably this, “If we as parents don’t stand up and fight for the needs of children and families, then no one else will.” We live in a state that makes its money primarily in tourism and supporting retirees. It doesn’t take a political expert to realize that decisions about policies and budgets are going to be influenced by these priorities. This happens here in Pinellas County, too. And while our valued tourists and retirees and come and go, children and their families are our future, our stability and our incoming workforce. If we don’t create the best livable community possible, our children won’t stay once they finish with school. One element that creates a livable community is ART. This includes the ability of kids of all ages to personally participate in various forms of the visual and performing arts: drawing, clay, painting, sculpture, photography, singing, dancing, drama and more. In an era where kids are attached to electronics, they more than ever need the enrichment that art can bring to their senses, their minds and the souls. Expression of one’s self through art helps to develop well rounded people, and we need more opportunities in all areas of Pinellas County for families of all income levels.
that was set up to receive funds from the art license plates issued by the State of Florida, about $35,000 a year. These funds pay for a staff person and a website, a far cry from what used to be. Creative Pinellas Executive Director, Mitzi Gordon, set out on a journey late last year to find out what Pinellas citizens and arts organization would like to see happen in Pinellas County. The feedback she received over five input sessions has been compiled into a report submitted to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) along with a request to restore county funding of the arts in Pinellas. Should the commissioners be willing to allocate General Fund monies to support the arts, the amount will most likely be smaller than what is needed for a population of our size, but it will be a step in the right direction. On behalf of GoodLiving® Magazine and families in Pinellas County, I went to a public input session and urged Creative Pinellas to look at the needs of kids and families throughout the county, especially in the unincorporated areas where there is no city to contribute to the arts. My plea was for children to have increased access to arts participation and performances.
On May 12, the BOCC will hear from Mitzi regarding her request for funding at their 9:30 a.m. meeting. Any member of the public who supports her effort is invited to attend and show Additionally, families need affordable opportunities to be patrons support. Residents are also encouraged to send an email or a of the arts, together, as a family. The number of family-friendly letter to the commissioners about arts in Pinellas County. As a shows offered locally is less than it has been in the past. Is it taxpayer and a business owner, I fully support county tax funds a matter of time, money, interest or changing habits? Why is being used to enhance the arts in Pinellas in a way that benefits it that tickets aren’t selling at family-friendly theater? And the residents who live here. I don’t mean an ice show, either. I mean theater. The kind of Learn more about Creative Pinellas at their website theater that develops a child’s ability to focus on a story using CreativePinellas.org or contact Mitzi with questions at their peripheral vision, their sense of hearing and their working memory. I recently read that a Generation Z (under age 20) child director@creativepinellas.org. has an average attention span of eight seconds. Surely fast paced ---electronic stimulation has a lot to do with that. We need concerts Email Addresses for the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners and theater to give kids a break from their tablets and help them Janet Long JanetCLong@pinellascounty.org experience the richness of real life. So all of this is making a case for MORE ART in Pinellas County. Due to budget cuts, the Pinellas County Commission completely eliminated the Cultural Affairs Department. It was replaced with a non-profit organization called Creative Pinellas
Pat Gerard Charlie Justice Dave Eggers Karen Seel John Morroni Ken Welch
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pgerard@pinellascounty.org cjustice@pinellascounty.org deggers@pinellascounty.org kseel@pinellascounty.org jmorroni@pinellascounty.org kwelch@pinellascounty.org
a note from Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County Investing in Children. Strengthening our Community. Dear Parents, Summertime can be filled with fun family memories – trips to the beach, picnics in the park, family vacations. But, it is also a time to be extra vigilant when it comes to your children and water. Did you know that small children drown without making a sound and that they can drown in as little as one inch of water? Drowning is a silent catastrophe and the leading cause of death for children ages one to five in Florida. In fact, Florida loses more children under age five to accidental drowning than any other state in the nation. For children under age one, bathtubs, buckets, toilets, and even your pet’s water dish poses a threat. Once children learn to walk, all bodies of water – ponds, lakes, canals, spas and swimming pools – present dangers. In fact, about eight out of every 10 child drowning death occurs in home swimming pools – yours, your neighbor’s or your relative’s – and the majority of small children who drown in a pool were last seen in the house. The message is a simple one: any child can drown, any time, any place. So, every one of us needs to know these important facts and share them.
WATER SAFETY TIPS Supervise children at all times around bodies of water. Any body of water poses a potential threat, including bathtubs.
One of the most important things you can do as a parent or caregiver is to enroll your child in a swim safety program. Formal swimming lessons for children under age four cuts the risk of drowning by 88%!
Eliminate distractions for anyone watching children near water. NO texting, phone calls, gaming or reading.
That’s why the Juvenile Welfare Board has teamed up with the Tampa Bay Rays, United Way Suncoast and YMCAs throughout Pinellas County to proudly support Be Water Smart from the Start. This program offers water safety courses and swim lessons free of charge for Pinellas County children.
Never lose sight of small children near water. Small kids drown without making a sound – and drowning can begin in as little as 20 seconds.
As leaders in drowning prevention, the YMCA of the Suncoast and YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg urge parents and caregivers to take advantage of this program, and to make the YMCA your home base for swim safety this summer!
Create barriers between children and water. Make sure fences, gates, windows and doors between children and water are in place, locked and working properly.
For more information about the Be Water Smart from the Start program, please visit ymcatampabay.org.
Enroll your child in a swim safety program. Formal swimming lessons are a proven way to save young lives.
Because all kids matter!
Stay close by for quick rescue and learn CPR. It’s a proven life saver.
Dr. Marcie A. Biddleman, DM JWB Executive Director
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May is National Bike Month. Be Safe! by CHARLENE COBB
Strap on your helmet – May is National Bike Month! The League of American Bicyclists created National Bike Month in 1956 to encourage people to give biking a try. It’s working: bike commuting has grown by 62 percent since 2000. Riding a bike is not only fun, but it’s good for the environment and it addresses parents’ top health concern for children – physical activity. But bicycling can present hazards for all riders, from toddlers on a tricycle to an experienced cyclist using the roads. It is important for every rider to incorporate safety into every aspect of riding your bike.
The next bike rodeo with Safe Kids is June 20 at 4200 4th Ave. S. in St. Petersburg.
Parents are kids’ role model for safety. Set a good example by following the rules of the road. Wear a helmet to show kids that it’s important.
3. Ride in the designated area. Adults riding their bikes are encouraged to use bike lanes or “sharrows” whenever possible. Sharrows are traffic lanes designated for vehicles and bikes to share; they are marked by a bicycle symbol below two bent lines. When using a sharrow, cyclists should follow vehicle traffic rules. Use the sidewalks if bike lanes or sharrows are unavailable, or your child is still having trouble balancing on their bike. Only use designated crosswalks and yield to cars to cross the road while on the sidewalk. Trails in state or local parks provide fun routes for family bike rides and are located safely away from traffic. 4. Use hand signals. Bikes don’t come with turn signals, so riders should use hand signals to notify drivers when they are turning.
Follow These Four Rules of the Road to Bike Safely: 1. Always wear a helmet. A helmet can be the difference between life and death in a bicycle accident. But for the helmet to be effective, it needs to fit properly. There are three easy ways to see if your helmet fits: The helmet should sit directly on your head, not tilted back at an angle, and land on your forehead. You shouldn’t be able to fit more than two fingers between your eyebrows and the helmet. The “V” formed by the chin strap should sit slightly in front of the bottom of your ears. Once the strap is buckled, no more than two flat fingers should fit between it and your chin.
Indicate a right turn by extending your left arm straight out so your fingers point to the left. Signal a right turn by pointing your fingers to the sky with the left elbow bent. A fun way for kids to explore bike safety is a bike rodeo. Hosted by safety organizations, bike rodeos teach kids about bicycle safety through safety checks, obstacle courses and fun classes about how to follow traffic rules. Find upcoming bike rodeos by visiting Safe Routes to School’s Pinellas County website, AllKids.org/SRTS, or contacting community educator Tiffany Sabiel at (727) 767-4124 or Tiffany.Sabiel@jhmi.edu.
The helmet should have a snug fit. It shouldn’t shift out of place when you move your head up and down or left to right.
Charlene Cobb, Community Outreach Coordinator for Sunstar Paramedics, has been a Paramedic, Training Officer, Educa on 2. Adjust the bike to fit the Coordinator and Community Educa on Specialist in her career. rider. The rider should be able to sit on the bike with She is heavily involved with a new Sunstar ini a ve designed to hands on the handlebars while the balls of feet touch the ground. promote safety in Pinellas County called “Stay Alert, Stay Alive.” Bikes need to be adjusted specifically for each rider. Visit StayAlertPinellas.com for more informa on.
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a note from the
Pinellas County Sheriff Maybe it looked like a toy. Maybe he’d seen one on TV, and he wondered how it worked. Maybe he’d never seen one before, and he was curious what it did. Tragically, we will never know why in January of this year a 2 ½-year-old picked up his parents’ .38-caliber handgun from the family car’s glove box, pointed it at his chest, shot, and killed himself as his parents were in the house packing up boxes on moving day. As heartbreaking as this boy’s death is, it is not any one person’s fault, and sadly, similar situations are not altogether uncommon.
Real guns aren’t child’s play.
In the United States, 455 people under age 18 unintentionally died by firearms between 2009 and 2013, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Fatal Injury Reports. As Americans, it is our Constitutional right to possess a firearm to protect ourselves and our families from criminals and other harm. However, with that right comes the tremendous responsibility to learn how to use it properly and to keep it out of the wrong hands.
Consider having a conversation with your children to: Discuss why you have the gun and what it is designed and intended to do.
According to a National Criminal Justice Reference Service report, “those who use guns in violent crimes rarely purchase them directly from licensed dealers; most guns used in crimes have been stolen or transferred between individuals after the original purchase.”
Explain the difference between the consequences of shooting a real gun as opposed to the toy, paintball, or BB guns they may have or what they may see in cartoons or on television.
In 2014, 216 firearms were reported stolen to the Pinellas County Sheriff ’s Office. Of the 216 firearms, 68, or 31.5%, were stolen from a vehicle, and 50 of those 68 vehicles had been left unlocked.
Teach them to never touch the gun unless you are present, have given permission, and have checked to ensure it is unloaded.
No matter how strategically you store your firearm, there is always a chance that curious children will come across the weapon. Equally important to proper storage, you must educate children about the danger of the firearm and its severe potential consequences.
Teach them, when they are of the appropriate age, proper shooting safety, like how to check if the weapon is loaded and to never aim the gun – loaded or not – anywhere you don’t want to shoot. Allow them to hold and inspect the unloaded gun under your direct supervision. If you don’t make guns something to be overly curious about, and you teach and set an example for safety, they are less likely to try to explore it on their own or in secret.
Sincerely, Sheriff Bob Gualtieri
Take the matter into your own hands, and keep guns out of those of a curious child or a criminal!
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Each year the Pinellas Education Foundation recognizes professionals in our community for achievements in and for local education.
Congratulations to all those honored in 2015!
EVENING OF EXCELLENCE
CAREER EDUCATION AWARDS
During the Annual Evening of Excellence, teachers are honored for excellence shown in the classrooms and community organizations and individuals are recognized for the commitment to local education.
Next Generation Entrepreneur
The 2015 Outstanding Educator of the Year
Kimberly Lopez Melrose Elementary School Kimberly Lopez, a 5th grade teacher and educator for 36 years, has experience in Exceptional Student Education, Alternative Education and General Education. She has also provided curriculum training for first-year teachers, is a member of the Leading the Learning Cadre and is a student mentor. “Teaching is not just a job, it has been my passion for 36 years,” Lopez stated. “I enjoy the challenges it brings each day and strive to help all students reach their potential.” The 2015 Outstanding Educator Fan Favorite
Kathleen Earle Dunedin Highland Middle School The fan favorite an award category is voted on by students, parents and the community. Kathleen is a native of Pinellas County and has served as a volleyball coach, Battle of the Books sponsor, Writers’ Bloc Sponsor, Reading Club sponsor, Reading Department Chair and Literacy Leadership Team Facilitator among other roles. The 2015 Business Partners of the Year
Small Business -- Friendly Kia Large Business -- Dex Imaging District -- City of St. Petersburg
Daniel Terry A senior at East Lake High School, Terry won $5,000 and support from local business leaders to help develop his idea into a business. His Universal Retrieval System can save lives in an emergency. The 2015 Career Educator of the Year High School Category
Courtney Thompson Information Technology and Digital Media Instructor at Osceola Fundamental High. The 2015 Career Educator of the Year Middle School Category
Dee Chastain Technology Educator at Dunedin Highland Middle. 2015 Academies of Pinellas Outstanding Achievement Awards
Tarpon Springs High School Lakewood High School Dixie Hollins High School Clearwater High School The 2015 Frances Stavros Career Education Champion Award
John Schnepp John is the Service Director for Pinellas County at the Crown Automotive Group. A $2,000 scholarship to the Frances Stavros Career Education Program will be awarded to a deserving student in John’s honor. Learn more at PinellasEducation.org
2015 Hall of Honor Inductee
Dwayne Hawkins Crown Automotive Group Dwayne Hawkins, founder of Crown Automotive Group, was recognized for being a strong proponent of education and giving back to the community. He has instituted a culture of giving in his companies that includes education. He is currently an Emeritus Director of the Pinellas Education Foundation and led the way to a ten-year sponsorship at the Pinellas Education Foundation’s Finance Park in Largo.
This congratulatory content has been generously supported by Crown Automotive Group in support of local education and those who strive for excellence in education.
a note from
Pinellas County Schools Dear Families,
Algebra summer programs
When Pinellas County Schools recently earned accreditation from AdvancED, the parent organization of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, we joined the ranks of nearly 40 accredited school districts statewide. Reaching this organizational milestone was a process—taking nearly two years to achieve. The AdvancED team visited schools, examined district documents and interviewed 468 district, family and community stakeholders. Accreditors recognize that school districts are most effective when all of the parts of the education system work together to meet the needs of students.
STEM Camps
The new designation will help our district in numerous ways by aligning and focusing our priorities, goals and actions to further student achievement. Pinellas County Schools has seen a marked improvement this year in student achievement with the largest graduation rate increase in the Tampa Bay region. The district’s 4 percent increase places Pinellas with the third highest graduation rate among the nine largest districts in Florida. And there are even more improvements on the horizon. In fact, every school within our district has a School Improvement Plan as part of our accreditation. Principals use research-based strategies and receive regular trainings to update the plans each year.
Algebra summer programs provide both middle and high school students with extra assistance to meet math requirements. Students will earn school credit in an intensive and engaging mathematics program to prepare and set them up for success in future math courses. For more information, visit pcsb.org/summerbridge. STEM Camps offer elementary and middle school students an opportunity to explore STEM outside the classroom in a fun and engaging way at eight PCS schools throughout the county. For more information about PCS STEM activities, visit pcsb.org/STEM.
Beyond the Classroom Beyond the Classroom features a variety of free summer learning activities and programs for students of all grade levels. Check out our special PCS summer learning Web page at pcsb.org/summer.
School websites School websites are also a great resource for parents and students for summer learning activities. Check out websites for schools in your area for details. Pinellas County Schools wishes all families a safe and enjoyable summer.
In order to maintain accreditation, AdvancED requires a review every five years. This process strengthens our commitment to make student achievement a focus, even after the school year ends. During the summer months, our district offers students and families a wealth of opportunities to stay engaged in learning:
Sincerely, Michael A. Grego, Ed.D. Superintendent
Summer Bridge Summer Bridge is designed for students K-12 who are not performing on grade level or need additional help to stay on track. The program provides engaging activities and intensive instruction to ensure that students are prepared for maximum success when the school year begins. Most Summer Bridge programs are Monday through Thursday from June 16 to July 23. For more information about Summer Bridge, visit pcsb.org/summerbridge.
For more information about Pinellas County School’s district accreditation, visit pcsb.org.
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Healthy Happy Families
GoodLiving® Magazine is Looking for a Few Good Readers! Do you like to share Good News about your local community? Are you a student or PTA member excited about your school? Do you like to take pictures? Are you looking for some part time income?
If you are, send us an email and tell us a little about yourself. Contact us at afewgoodreaders@goodlivingmag.com
Editor’s Review by PAMELA SETTLE
In between the Intercoastal Waterway/Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay lies Pinellas County, the densest populated county in the state, covered pretty much with roads, concrete, buildings and houses for 38 miles from north to south. Fortunately we have some beautiful parks, the Pinellas Trail, some small lakes and a few rivers/creeks to break it all up. We are also surrounded with water and 588 miles of coastline just begging to be explored. One of the best ways to get away from the hustle and bustle of the crowded roadways is to get into a kayak and explore our Blueways. A blueway is a water trail that can be traversed by canoe or kayak and Pinellas County is home to some spectacular blueways. In 2006, the county created a 55-page Blueways Paddling Guide that is available free of charge as a PDF file on the county’s website. This guide gives details of every kayak launch point and maps with GPS coordinates. Additionally, the website has eight different maps for the different sections of the county to give good detail. It also has points of interest, a list of plants and animals to see and information about the Florida paddling trail map because it is actually possible to circumnavigate the state from the panhandle around the keys and back up the east coast in a kayak. Pinellascounty.org/blueways
Most of us are just looking for a nice weekend adventure and for that you don’t need to leave the county. And you don’t need your own equipment as there are many outfitters in the county that will rent kayaks plus all other gear by the hour or by the day. Many of those companies have escorted tours, lessons and longer excursions. It takes very little effort to find opportunities for kayaking in Pinellas County, so first let’s talk about why to give it a try.
It’s Actually Exercise Masquerading as Fun Paddling a kayak is aerobic exercise, but it is low impact so people like me with a bum knee can get out with the crew and paddle, paddle, paddle for a great cardiovascular workout. It’s effective for increased muscle strength, particularly in the back, arms, shoulders and chest. The motion of paddling with the need for balance activates the core and leg muscles as well, so the lower body gets to work, too.
It is a Peaceful, Relaxing Activity that Improves Mental Health First of the all the aerobic exercise helps to release brain chemicals that can quickly improve your mood, whether it’s from job stress or a more serious bout with depression. So exercise is good for our minds, yes, but so it being outdoors with nature and fresh air. The waters around us are mostly calm and so it’s easy to stop paddling and just be still. Take in the gentle, healing power of the water. Notice the birds, the clouds and the trees. If you’re in Mangrove tunnel, drift in the silence that surrounds you and forget that just yesterday you were stuck in traffic.
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First stop is to get into the Honeymoon Island State Park, which is $8 a car load. Park in the ferry parking lot and pay $14 per adult or $7 per child over five for the round trip ticket. It’s actually a nice boat ride over and the friendly drivers share a little local history on the way. Side note: The cafe on the island has very tasty burgers and so a trip to Caledesi just to ride the ferry, take a nice walk, look for shells and eat a burger would make a very nice day date.
It’s Surprisingly Easy to do With Kids Smaller children do quite well as passengers in the two-seater kayaks. They are so easy to maneuver that a parent can do all the paddling with a youngster riding up front. If old enough, he or she can actually contribute to the paddling to get them used to the motion so one day they can have their own kayak. Kids receive all the same benefits as adults, plus the added benefit of quality family time with mom and dad doing something active together at the same time. (Consult with locals to find the easiest or shortest trails if kayaking with younger children. There is little room for stuff, so plan your trip accordingly.) The cafe staff will rent you the kayaks, $15 an hour for a single and $30 an hour for a double with paddles, life vests and maps. Choose to paddle around the outskirts of the island, or take the trail through the Mangroves. There is a short trail and a long trail. We took the long trail that goes all the way to the south end of the island and then a leisurely paddle through the shallow waters on the east side back to the marina. As amateur paddlers, it took us just shy of three hours.
A Trip to Caledesi Island The Pinellas County coast begins at Anclote Key Preserve State Park on the Pasco/Pinellas County border and continues south past Fort DeSoto Park toward Egmont Key. The Trail generally follows the Intracoastal Waterway side of the local barrier islands. Heading back north on the bay side, the trail goes up by Clearwater, Safety Harbor and ends at Oldsmar at the top of the bay.
State park rangers and staff keep the trail through the Mangroves trimmed so there is plenty of clearance for heads. Still we had to dodge some roots and branches which actually gave us a little bit of a challenge. The roots twist and turn all around and the tree canopies overhead give total shade. The route is clearly marked with signage and markers so even the most navigationally challenged paddler can make it through with no confusion. As we wound our way through the trail we became more proficient at paddling through tight spaces and around bends. It takes work to keep from getting hung up in the roots, so there’s a real feeling of accomplishment when you emerge from the end of the tunnel. Then it’s free paddling through the peaceful waters toward the marina. I couldn’t help but look at the coast of Dunedin from the seat of my little kayak and feel a sense of awe and appreciation for the place we call home.
Kayaking is a unique way to enjoy the peaceful waters that surround our county. The activity offers a much-needed respite from our busy and crowded lives, and it’s exercise at the same time. Off the coast of Honeymoon Island in Dunedin is one of the most People travel from all over to enjoy our Blueways, so if you haven’t pristine beaches in America on an even smaller island called Caledesi, tried it yet, you really need to do it at least once and bring the kids. accessible only by boat. We chose Caledesi for our family kayak trip Who knows, you may start shopping for your own kayak, too. for several reasons. First, we’ve never taken the ferry out there before and we wanted to see it. It’s just too easy to get to Honeymoon Island and stay there, leaving Caledesi for the tourists.
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Love our Florida State Parks! Since 1935, Florida’s state park system has expanded to become one of the largest and most heavily used park systems in the country. We have over 161 parks, 10 state trails, nearly 800,000 acres, 100 miles of beaches and more than 1,500 miles of multi-use trails. The system started as a preservation effort but evolved into a department that manages our natural resources and provides recreational opportunities for residents and visitors. As taxpayers we need to be concerned about both, and as Floridians, we’d miss out on a lot of beautiful nature if we never spent time enjoying their splendors. The parks offer a plethora of activities.
Here are just a few: Tent camping Cabins Swimming Tubing Paddling
Horseback Riding Boating Fishing Hiking Shelling
Scuba Diving Picnicking Bicycling Birding Education Camping is one of the most popular activities at Florida State Parks, and some parks that offer camping maintain extremely high occupancy rates. Visitors to Florida State Parks can reserve campsites and cabins online at ReserveAmerica at floridastateparks. reserveamerica.com or by calling toll-free to (800) 326-3521, 1-866ICAMPFL or TDD (888) 433-0287. Reservations may be made from one day to 11 months in advance. Camping fees still range from $16 to $42, depending on the park. While visiting the parks, children can get involved by becoming a Junior Ranger. Parks have specific activities for children to earn their passport. Visit the website to see how children and their families can learn more about the outdoors either on their own or by attending a Junior Ranger activity with a park ranger. The list of events is found at floridastateparks.org/things-to-do/events. You can narrow the search to Junior Ranger events by clicking Event Theme and selecting Junior Ranger as the option. Discover parks within a few hours drive from Tampa Bay or venture to another part of the state for your adventure. Spend time at FloridaStateParks.org going through what each park has to offer. Plan a day visit or a week’s camping trip, but either way don’t let your kids grow up without taking them to enjoy the natural wonders of Florida. Among those wonders are the natural freshwater springs in the central and northern parts of the state. In all, there are 15 state parks that have a freshwater spring as their main attraction. Visitors swim, snorkel or dive the caves. To learn more about the springs and what kind of activities you can experience at the different parks, we recommend these two websites: FloridaHikes. com/springs and FloridaSprings.org.
Florida Department of Environmental ProtecƟon
Summer Events Patriotic Family Fun Day Dade Battlefield Historic State Park Friday, July 3, 2015 • 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Kick off your Fourth of July Weekend early with this fun, family oriented event. Enjoy a variety of lawn games and traditional contests such as the egg toss, skillet throwing, sack races, watermelon seed spitting and more. There will be live music, a food vendor and even a Pet Parade. So bring the kids and dress up your favorite pooch or parakeet for a traditional patriotic family frolic. Relays and game competitions start at 5:00 p.m. Participants in some games (egg toss, pudding eating contest) may want to bring a change of clothes. The Pet Parade will kick off promptly at 6:00 p.m. Please have paws on the starting line prior to that time. Also, please remember that dogs must be on a six-foot, hand-held leash at all times in Florida State Parks. Charcoal grills are available for cook-outs on a first-come, first-served basis. Florida Federation of Garden Clubs Summer Youth Camps Weeks during June and July at Wekiwa Springs State Park in Apopka Wekiva Youth Camp is a residential nature camp for 3rd through 8th graders, sponsored by the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs (FFGC) with the purpose of instilling a love and respect for the “Real” Florida in our youth, as well as a knowledge of nature, the importance of conservation and the protection of our environment. Registration and fee information is available wekivayouthcamp.org. Pioneer Day Camp Dade Battlefield Historic State Park in Bushnell June 8 - 10, 2015 • 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Day campers, ages 8 to 12, will step back into 1800’s Florida and experience a wide variety of educational, hands-on pioneer and Seminole activities, crafts and games. Pre-registration is required at least one week prior to the start of camp. Lunch and snacks will be provided daily. $75 per child. For more information: Park Ranger Kristin Wood, 352-793-4781, kristin.n.wood@dep.state.fl.us.
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Florida Department of Environmental ProtecƟon
The Mobile App Makes Getting Around Easier While On The Go Smartphone users can download the FREE Florida Pocket Ranger® State Park app for on-the-go information, providing advanced maps, photo waypoint feature, built in compass and social media connections.
-- Up-to-date news and information on park advisories and weather information.
The Pocket Ranger® app has been updated to include a globalpositioning feature that shows the exact proximity of the user to each public-beach access point in Florida, along with information and locations for the 171 state parks and trails.
-- A Calendar of Events, updated in real time, listing all State Park events with the ability to filter by desired park. Users can also create their own schedule that can include any event from any park.
Park goers can access rich GPS features, such as: -- Advanced GPS Maps, which allow users to access trail data, record tracks from hikes, runs, or bike rides, and view elapsed time and distance traveled. -- Easy-to-cache GPS Terrain Map tiles, which ensure that navigation remains possible in the event of lost mobile reception. -- Photo waypoint feature allowing users to snap a photo and mark and record the coordinates of plant life, animal species or landscape views. Post or share these remarkable finds with family and friends with the click of a button.
-- Sharing features that allow users to share current positions, waypoints and recorded tracks via Facebook, Twitter, or email.
-- Access to online reservations that make it easy to secure overnight visits. -- Plus so much more! Beach Access Information The app provides a comprehensive list of beach access points in each county, and the amenities each access point offers, including boardwalks, parking spaces, restrooms, picnic pavilions and boat ramps. Each section features an overview of each region’s coastal counties and includes a list of state parks, coastal cities, rivers, paddling trails and other points of interest. How to Download the Mobile App
-- Friend Finder feature that allows users to keep track of friends The Florida State Parks Pocket Ranger® app is available on iTunes and Android Market by searching “Official Florida State and family around the parks. Parks” and is identified under ParksByNature Network. It is also -- Built-in compass to help direct users through the parks. available on PocketRanger.com and is formatted as a Mobile Website: http://fl.pocketranger.com. -- Potentially life-saving Alert feature that supplies users’ GPS coordinates to designated contacts in case of an emergency. The Florida Park Service partnered with ParksByNature Pocket Ranger® technology also provides plenty of other standard features that make exploring the great outdoors a breeze, including: -- Thorough information on all State Parks including general policy, contact information, activities, trails, park maps and much more. -- Detailed, cacheable maps of park facilities, trails and campgrounds.
Network™ and PocketRanger.com to create this app free for the public. For a tutorial on how to use the app, please visit www. pocketranger.com. It is recommended to use Wi-Fi or a strong wireless connection when downloading the app.
Informa on and photos provided by the Florida Department of Environmental Protec on
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Good Adventures
Amazing American Cities Atlanta Highlights: The Georgia Aquarium is one of the leading aquariums in the country, featuring the largest single aquarium habitat in the world and more aquatic life than any other aquarium in North America. Peruse six distinct galleries and more than 60 exhibits, depicting different aquatic habitats, ranging from arctic to tropical waters. This alone is worth the trip for anyone who enjoys a good aquarium! The Atlanta History Center, founded in 1926, is an all-inclusive thirty-three acre destination featuring the Atlanta History Museum - one of the Southeast’s largest history museums; two historic houses: the 1928 Swan House and the Tullie Smith Farm; and the Centennial Olympic Games Museum. ©2013, Gene Phillips/AtlantaPhotos.com
One of the great perks of summer is the chance to travel and show the kids around this great country of ours. Our American cities are as diverse as they are interesting, and there is no better education than exploring a new city to see new sites and meet new people. Cities are ideal for a three- to five-day action packed long weekend for busy families. In the first of our stories on Amazing American Cities, we’ll visit Atlanta, an international city just a short plane ride north. For a taste of luxury, we stayed at the Ritz Carlton in Buckhead and enjoyed top notch customer service from the minute we got there until the minute we left. By shopping for deals, we were able to book this room for the same as lesser hotels in the area. The Ritz is not far from the MARTA station and so taking mass transit is an option for getting to some of the attractions. For destinations in Buckhead, the Ritz has complimentary cars to shuttle you to some of the best restaurants and shopping in the Atlanta area. Our dining highlight was being chauffeured in a Mercedes to dinner at the Buckhead Diner, where we dined on American fare in a retro looking 1920’s dining car on a train. The food was spectacular and affordable for the quality. There are too many restaurants and stores to cover here, but Buckhead is the place to go for an upscale Southern city experience - perfect for a family treat, a couple’s getaway or a girl’s weekend. The hotel itself is marvelously delicious and I could have spent the whole weekend there being pampered at the spa, sipping from a cup during High Tea in the fireplace room or swimming laps in the indoor pool. But since the whole family was together, we ventured out to see the sights.
At the Children’s Museum of Atlanta kids discover the power of play through four permanent hands-on interactive learning zones and feature exhibits throughout the year. The Atlanta Botanical Garden is renowned for plant collections and beautiful displays making it the loveliest place in town to visit, a true urban oasis. The Fernbrook Natural History Museum has the largest dinosaurs ever discovered. The world of adventure has immersive, hands-on exhibits to make science, culture and natural history come alive in a big way. Towering nearly 20 stories above Centennial Park, the SkyView Ferris Wheel features 42 climate-controlled gondolas providing guest with breathtaking panoramic views of downtown Atlanta and the surrounding metropolitan area.
Seasonal tips: The Fourth of July brings 60,000 runners to the city for the nation’s largest 10K run called the AJC Peachtree Road Race. A lottery is held in March for the spots. On July 2nd and 3rd the Atlanta Track Club holds the Peachtree Health and Fitness Expo at the convention center which has free attendance. Go to AtlantaTrackClub.org for more info. Stone Mountain Park holds a patriotic laser show and fireworks spectacular at their Fantastic Fourth Celebration from July 2 - 5 that will bring chills and create memories that kids and parents will never forget. If you’re a softy for a real tribute to America, then this is a side trip worth taking. StoneMountainPark.com.
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Good Eating
Food Allergies Good summer adventures often include traveling to see friends or family or having friends or family visiting your home. When going somewhere new or having guests in the home, food allergies or sensitivities could come into play. It seems that today more kids than ever have food allergies, and many more people are eliminating food items from diets, especially gluten. So how best to handle those situations? The Get Schooled in Anaphylaxis initiative and Chef Kelly Rudnicki encourage everyone to be cognizant of ingredients served at the table and to keep in mind these helpful cooking and entertaining tips:
Know your audience. Whether you’re baking brownies for a summer reunion or hosting a dinner for extended family, it’s important to be aware of those with life-threatening allergies. This can be as simple as sending a quick e-mail or including a note to guests in your invitation to let you know about any allergies.
Everyone Should Know the
Symptoms of Anaphylaxis:
Find and replace. With simple substitutions, many recipes can become allergyfriendly. Some substitutions that work well for Kelly include:
Central nervous system: Dizziness, headaches, confusion
For people with egg allergies, replace with applesauce or another fruit puree, like pear (one egg usually equals about a quarter-cup of fruit puree).
Cardiovascular System: Chest pain, weak pulse, dizziness, fainting
Believe it or not, water often works as a replacement for eggs or milk – but it’s best to test the recipe before serving it to guests. And for people with nut allergies … skip the nuts! Think about using extra chocolate chips for recipes that need extra crunch.
Airway: Trouble breathing, chest tightness, itchy throat Gastrointestinal system: Nausea, stomach pain
Dinner diplomacies.
Skin: Rash/hives, itching, swelling of the lips and/or tongue
If you’re hosting, place ingredient cards in front of each dish, include separate utensils to avoid cross-contamination and invite guests with food allergies to serve themselves first. If you’re attending a party, always contact the host ahead of time to let him/her know about your food allergies. If your family has the allergy, offer to bring a dish you know is safe.
*These are not all of the symptoms associated with a life-threatening allergic reaction. Call 911 in the case of any medical emergency.
Plan ahead. Even by taking precautions to avoid allergic triggers, it’s still important for everyone to know how to respond to a lifethreatening allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). People with food allergies and their friends and family should be ready to use an epinephrine auto-injector and seek immediate emergency medical care if anaphylaxis occurs.
Do you have healthy eating tips or recipes? If so, send them to us at info@goodlivingmag.com to be included in our Reader Recipes in Good Eating. Include the recipe, your tips and a photo.
To learn more about food allergies, visit Anaphylaxis101.com. This informa onal website has specific recipes by Chef Rudnicki, ps for dining out, food subs tu on cards, a p sheet for grocery shopping and label reading, a guide to allergy-free restaurants, resources for the classroom and school assemblies, plus much more. Chef Kelly Rudnicki is also the author of The Food Allergy Mama’s Easy, Fast Family Meals and The Food Allergy Mama’s Baking Book. As the caregiver of a child with food allergies, she offers first-hand experience as well as cooking exper se to others at her website FoodAllergyMama.com.
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Good Eating
Eating Less Gluten Reader Recipe for Homemade Bread
Mackenzie and Connor love homemade bread!
Gluten here, gluten there. It’s everywhere. In foods like breads and cookies, but also in foods that you wouldn’t expect because gluten is used as an additive in processing. Commercial breads also use a formula that uses more gluten to keep it springy and soft on the shelf, much longer than homemade. With the adaptation of a gluten-free diet, or even a mindset to reduce an overload of gluten in our daily menus, what we’re used to as simple pleasures like toast or PB&J are suddenly getting second thoughts. While larger grocery stores are beginning to stock gluten-free packaged breads, nothing replaces the comforting taste of home-baked bread hot from the oven, whether your goal is to make a totally gluten-free bread or a bread that is not made commercially to have less gluten. Author Ellen Brown has written a cookbook to provide comforting, delicious and healthier breads in her Gluten-Free Bread: More than 100 Artisan Loaves for a Healthier Life (Running Press; October 2013). In it are baking methods and recipes for brioche, sandwich bread, multi-grain varieties, quick breads, and more. Gluten-free baking can have a steep learning curve for anyone who is accustomed to baking with conventional wheat flours. Brown makes it easy with reliable combinations of protein-packed soy and bean flours with yeasts and all-natural baking aids to recreate the familiar flavors of conventional bread—but with a decidedly artisan flair. Try Sesame Scallion Bread, Spiced Raisin Bread, flatbreads like Naan and Lavash, and Sun-Dried Tomato and Olive Bread. These loaves will satisfy any craving for warm homebaked bread: you’d never know they’re gluten-free!
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Reader Emily Bush makes homemade bread for her family. With her busy work schedule, she says she still manages to find time to make things from scratch. “We don’t need to go gluten free, but I do prefer homemade bread to store bought for taste and for reducing the amount of chemicals and preservatives my children eat. They love bread and this eases my mind about them eating it.” Check out her favorite and “easy” bread recipe.
Step 1: Mix 3 cups warm water, two packages (or approx. 4.5 tsp) yeast, 1/3 cup honey, and 5 cups of flour together in a bowl. It’ll be very wet. Cover and let sit for about 30 minutes until doubled in size. Step 2: Combine 3 Tbsp melted butter, 1/3 cup honey, and 1 Tbsp salt and pour over bread mixture. Mix as well as you can. Add another 3 cups of flour and mix. Step 3: Dump onto a well-floured surface and knead and add flour as needed until well incorporated and not sticky.
Step 4: Lightly cover with a bit of oil and put into a covered bowl to raise for another hour or so. Step 5: Punch dough down and divide into three loves. Place into greased bread pans, cover, and let raise for a third time until the dough is approx. 1 inch above the top of the pans.
Step 6: Bake at 350 for 25 minutes. Remove from pans and cool completely. It freezes really well too, so you don’t have to worry about it going bad before you can eat it all.
MY STORY
Don’t Feel Sorry For Me. Just Get Tested. By RICHARD GONZMART On a beautiful day in November of 2013, the same day as my fundraising Richard’s Run for Life, I received a prostate cancer diagnosis. I thanked God. I thanked God because we caught it early. The screening for prostate cancer is a painless, early-warning system. Caught early, prostate cancer can be arrested. Caught late, it’s much more serious. I thanked God because my doctor said if I had to get prostate cancer, this is the best kind to get. My cancer is a non-aggressive form. I’m going to die of something, but prostate cancer isn’t it. I thanked God because I live in Tampa where the Moffitt Cancer Center is - one of the best cancer research and treatment facilities in the country. I do believe they will find a cure for cancer there in my lifetime. And I thanked God because I had been praying for a prostate cancer survivor to be my spokesperson for another walk I organize and support – the Father’s Day Walk and Jog in June. Now I could be that spokesperson.
Father’s Day Walk & Jog on June 21 To help build awareness for testing and raise money for prostate cancer research, we have another event coming up on Father’s Day, June 21. More than 800 runners and walkers will join us at 8 a.m. at Ulele in Tampa Heights on the Riverwalk. In 2014, we donated more than $80,000 to Moffitt. As always with our events, we cover all of the expenses so 100 percent of sponsorship and registration revenue goes to the charity. We hope to donate more than $80,000 this year. If you’d like to be part of our team, register at RichardsRunForLife.org. You can walk or jog 1-mile or a 5K (3.1 miles). Decide on the day of the event which distance you want to try. It’s kid-friendly (children under 12 are free) and families are welcome. Registration is $25 in advance and $30 the day of the event. For more information, contact jrobertson@ColumbiaRestaurant.com.
According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the second-most common cancer in American men, following skin cancer. One in six men will be diagnosed with it (the odds are worse for African-American and Hispanic men. For them, it’s one in three). One in 35 men will die from it. About 238,590 cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed in 2013. This is an important cause. Long before my own illness, we at the Columbia Restaurant Group and the Gonzmart Family Foundation donated millions of dollars to the Tampa-based Moffitt Cancer Center via a series of annual fundraisers. I have been involved with the Advanced Prostate Cancer Collaboration there for nearly 10 years. The APCC is working with Moffitt and other U.S. cancer centers to find new treatments that can help kill the cancer or help men avoid it altogether. What we know is: Screening = Life. I was lucky. My cancer was caught early and after treatment at Moffitt in 2014, I have been cancer-free. Unfortunately, many men do not get tested – they don’t even like to talk about it. They’re like children who close their eyes and think that they’re hiding. That has to change. Please get screened. It’s a matter of life and death.
Richard Gonzmart is the fourth genera on co-owner and President of the Columbia Restaurant Group. CRG includes seven Columbia Restaurants and Cafes in Florida, Cha Cha Coconuts, Ulele, Goody Goody Famous Burgers (opening in 2015) and a new concept – Casa Santo Sephano, scheduled to open in 2016.
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P.O. Box 1795 Oldsmar, Florida 34677