Gulf Coast Family - June 2018

Summer Camp Directory page 14

June 2018

Photos of the Month

Vol. 11 Issue 6

page 8

Family Night Out page 20

S pl a s h Into Summer!

Bridge the Gap: Summer Camp p. 12

Sea Turtle Nesting Season p. 32

10 Ways To Make Dad’s Day p. 9

Publisher: Editor: Contributing Editor: Designer: Web Developer:

Rodney Beck Jennifer Beck Linda Crumley Michael Crumley Matthew Crumley

For advertising opportunities: sales@gulfcoastfamily.org © Gulf Coast Family Publications 2018

Gulf Coast Family Publications P.O. Box 3803, Seminole, FL 33775 Phone: (727) 612-0783 Fax: (727) 865-5135

“A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty.”

Gulf Coast Family Newspaper is printed monthly, and is distributed throughout Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties. Gulf Coast Family is available in distribution racks in many local Chick-fil-a restaurants, McDonald’s, CVS Stores, R-Clubs, Walgreens, Joto’s Pizzerias, Carmelita’s, After Hours Pediatrics, Cornerstone Banks, LA Fitness, Shapes, and Regions Banks in these counties, along with many other restaurants, shopping centers, churches, libraries, government offices, and over 200 day care centers and schools. For questions or comments, call (727) 612-0783 or email rbeck@gulfcoastfamily.org.

Gulf Coast Family Publications encourages your input. To comment on one of our articles or to submit photos and articles for possible publication, simply email articles@gulfcoastfamily.org. Submission of your photos and letters constitutes permission to Gulf Coast Family Publications, publisher of the Gulf Coast Family Newspaper, to use them in all media. All submissions become the property of Gulf Coast Family Publications and will not be returned. We reserve the right to edit as necessary, and all submissions will be used at our discretion.

No portion of the Gulf Coast Family Newspaper may be reproduced without the express written consent of the publishers. The opinions of contributing writers are not necessarily those of the publishers. Gulf Coast Family Publications assumes no liability for products, services, or statements made by advertisers. Neither Gulf Coast Family Publications nor the advertisers can be held liable for typographical errors, misprints, or misinformation contained herein. The publishers reserve the right to edit and refuse editorial and/or advertising which does not meet the publication’s standards. All rights are reserved.

Look for Gulf Coast Family in these locations:

2 • June 2018

Say you saw it in the Gulf Coast Family Newspaper

www.gulfcoastfamily.org

Relax, Leave The Driving To Us! For over a century, Martz has been providing safe, reliable and courteous transportation.

Martz Group offers private group transportation throughout Florida and the continental U.S. We will take your group to any place you desire; the airport, sporting events, on field trips and much more! Call or email one of our representatives at martzsales@martzgroup.com to inquire.

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To advertise, call 727-612-0783

June 2018 • 3

June 2018

32

46

All You Need to Know About Sea Turtle Nesting Season!

to Parent 6 Parent

by Jennifer Beck June We Recommend 7 This That You…

8 Reader Photos of the Month Ways to Make Dad’s Day 9 10 by iMom.com

10 June Fun Facts My Kids How to 11 Teaching Overcome Fear

by Tony Dungy, AllProDad.com

the Gap: Summer 12 Bridge Camp

by Justin and Heidi Bushko, Snapology of Clearwater

14 Summer Camp Directory Children from 18 Protecting Heat Illness

by Keith L. Hassan, MD

Make Learning Part of Your Summer Fun

29 It’s Great to Create!

Grown-Ups 30 Celebrating

by Sarah Cole, Glazer

on the Family 38 Focus

by Jim Daly

Children’s Museum

31 Movie Night 20 Family Night Out Coupons You Need to Know About 32 All 22 Kids in the Kitchen Sea Turtle Nesting Season Infant Safety During

by Clearwater Marine Aquarium 24 Consider National Safety Month Spotlight 34 Species

by Zoo Tampa at Lowry Park Healthy Smile 26 The

by Dr. Nick Reynolds Tropical Garden 35 The

by Jené VanButsel 27 Heart Gallery New Rental Car Laws 37 Eye of the Storm Quiz 28 Florida’s

by Chris Reynolds

41 Summer Reading 42 June 2018 Events 44 Weekender Made Sweet: 45 Savings Summer Vacation Savings

by Heather Brickell

Learning Part of Your 46 Make Summer fun

by Judy Adorno, Sylvan Learning

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Reader Photos of the Month

4 • June 2018

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About Christ. About Teaching. About Our Students.

Keswick is a school where children can grow, develop, and excel.

Keswick Christian School students are prepared with the faith and strength of character that inspires them to lead and impact the world for Christ.

From the basics, all the way to advanced college preparatory courses, a Keswick education puts your child on a solid academic footing.

In the Upper school, a broad college preparatory curriculum assures academic excellence with AP classes and the KCS Scholars program that enriches their regular classwork.

Compass is an intensive learning program in the Lower school for gifted students. The focus is on STEM subjects to help students use their unique talents in real world settings. This truly is an education with a higher purpose, where students will be enabled to meet the academic and spiritual challenges of a diverse global society.

Learn more: www.KeswickChristian.org or call 727.393.9100

Infants – 12th grade 10101 54th Avenue North St. Petersburg, Florida 33708

A Home for Christian families since 1953 www.gulfcoastfamily.org

To advertise, call 727-612-0783

June 2018 • 5

Parent to Parent Several summers ago, I went through a lot of trouble to set up a reward system to get my three kids with summer homework to complete it “as intended” throughout the summer. I got them each a little jar, which they decorated, went to the bank and withdrew $150 in dollar coins, and gave them each weekly goals that would result in reading and math summer homework being complete in a timely manner. If they met all of those weekly goals, they would get a total of $50 each throughout the summer.

Well only one of those three kids earned more than a few of those coins, and I resigned myself in future summers to just setting aside the last weekend before school starts to push people to get their summer homework done.

I gave a non-committal answer, but a few days later, when we were at Target, she brought it up again — “We need to get a jar for my summer homework!” So I bought the child a jar. It’s bigger than the last time around, so dollar coins aren’t going to be the best choice. That will at least save me a trip to the bank, because we’ll use quarters and dollar bills instead of dollar coins.

Now, two of those three will be in high school next year, and they no longer have summer homework (thank goodness!). So Haylee is the only one this year, and she also happens to be the one who actually earned a substantial amount a few years ago - not the full $50, but over half of it.

That’s because Haylee has always been good about doing the reading portion of her summer homework — not the writing that goes along with the reading, whether it’s a book report, chapter summaries, etc. — and definitely not the math portion. But she loves to read, so she does complete that pretty quickly.

And as expected, after the first weekend, Haylee is almost a quarter of the way through her book. But not “as expected”, she has also been keeping up with her online math assignments every day! Let’s hope a few dollars a week can motivate her to keep that up!

Well, as this school year was coming to a close, something triggered Haylee’s memory about that experiment a few years ago. She came to me and said, “I’ve decided not to wait until the last week to finish my summer homework this year, even my math. So can we please do that jar thing again?”

Until next time,

Jennifer

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6 • June 2018

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This June we recommend that you…

READ IT

The Language of Love: The Secret to Being Instantly Understood by Gary Smalley and John Trent Struggling to Be Understood? Words have incredible power, especially when they say what you mean (and mean what you say).

But that same power can be self-defeating, even destructive, when the message heard doesn’t match the message intended. Make the most of your communications by learning The Language of Love. Written by best-selling authors Gary Smalley and John Trent, it builds on communication basics introduced in The Two Sides of Love and shows how “emotional word pictures” can infuse understanding and intimacy into all of your relationships.

SEE IT

HEAR IT

Frozen - The Broadway Musical

by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez Disney’s stage adaptation of Frozen will release its Original Broadway Cast Recording this month. The recording will expand the Broadway production’s 21-member orchestra to 44, including a 22-person string section. Based on the 2013 film written by a trio of Oscar® winners, Frozen features music and lyrics by the creators of the film score Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez and won the 2014 Oscars for Best Song and Best Animated Feature.

EXPERIENCE IT

Toy Story Land Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Opens June 30 Toy Story Land, the highly-anticipated toy-filled land inspired by the beloved “Toy Story” films, will open to guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios June 30th. The area will feature a family-friendly roller coaster called Slinky Dog Dash and a spinning ride called Alien Swirling Saucers. Toy Story Land also will include the existing Toy Story Mania ride with new entrance facing the other attractions. The theming of the land has visitors being shrunk down to the size of a toy and exploring the yard behind Andy’s house.

SURF IT trekaroo.com

Summer Nights at Busch Gardens

Trekaroo.com aims to answer the parental cry for a more familyoriented, review-centric travel site.

When it comes to traveling with kids, sometimes the only people moms can trust for advice are other moms. Trekaroo is focused solely on family travel and offers tips, hotel reviews and destination information for children of all ages.

It’s well on its way to becoming the Yelp.com of family travel.

May 25 – August 5

The thrills come out at night at Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay from June 1 to August 5 during Summer Nights. Thrill seekers can challenge world-class thrill rides like the park’s newest spin coaster, Cobra’s Curse, and North America’s tallest freestanding drop tower Falcon’s Fury® in the DARK. And celebrate with an amazing fireworks show as Busch Gardens lights up the sky every night of the event with an incredible aerial display set to popular music.

Pinellas Preparatory Academy, Inc Award Winning Art Departments Music / Spanish / Athletics Challenging Curriculum Afterschool Clubs Technology Integration

2300 S. Belcher Road, Largo, FL 33771

Call 727-536-3600 to schedule a school tour.

www.gulfcoastfamily.org

PPA is a high performing, tuition free, public charter school for highly motivated students in grades K-8.

Our highly trained, award winning teachers offer a private school education in a family atmosphere.

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Application deadline for lottery is April 1, 2018 at 4:00 pm.

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PALM HARBOR (DUNEDIN) 2375 Curlew Road Dunedin, FL 34698 727-789-3085 June 2018 • 7

Reader

PH TOs

Send us Your Best Photos

YOUR KIDS COULD BE IN GULF COAST FAMILY!

Send your funny parenting stories to articles@gulfcoastfamily.org.

Or email photos of your kiddos having fun at home, school, or anywhere in-between to myphotos@gulfcoastfamily.org. * Please send high resolution photos if possible.

{of the month}

Kate “A smile from a child is packaged sunshine and rainbows”

Harper & Mckynlie

nosaur!

Roar means “I love You” in Di

Taylor and Emma “Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirates Life for Me.

Poppy “Deep summer is when laziness finds “May your heart soar and your dreams take respectability.” flight reaching far beyond the highest height!

• Learn to Ice Skate • Daily Public Skating • Learn to Play Hockey • Birthday Parties • Group Events

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8 • June 2018

SKATE TO BE COOL. CLEARWATER 13940 ICOT Blvd 727-536-5843

COUNTRYSIDE Westfield Countryside Mall 727-723-7785

Say you saw it in the Gulf Coast Family Newspaper

Buy one admission get one admission free with this coupon – Save $11 Expires 7/31/2018. Skate rental not included.

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www.gulfcoastfamily.org

10 Ways To Make Dad’s Day

Celebrate your own father as well as the father of your children this June, and make Dad the center of attention for a change. Here are some ways that you and your kids can make Dad’s day!

1. Before Father’s Day, sit down and write a note to your husband, telling

him what a great dad he is and how important he is to your family. Have each of your kids write a note or draw a picture; then, on Fathers’ Day, leave them in places where Dad is sure to find them.

2. Make Dad’s favorite meals all day, starting with breakfast and ending the day with a spectacular dessert.

3. Have your kids make Dad’s Day coupons to give as a gift. They can

make coupons for hugs, kisses, shining Dad’s shoes, washing Dad’s car, total access to the TV remote… you get the idea. Use your imagination!

4. Take a walk with Dad. It’s a simple thing, but a half-hour walk away from the telephone, the TV, and the distractions of the day can be a real bonding experience.

5. Commit to complimenting Dad often. But don’t just make it a once-ayear event. Dads deserve compliments every day.

6. Make up a song about Dad and sing it to him.

8. Hand over your camera or camcorder and let your kids take pictures of their dad or make their own home movie— starring Dad of course. You’ll enjoy seeing him through their eyes.

9. Indulge Dad in his favorite pastime.

On Dad’s Day, take him bowling, fishing, or browsing through the home improvement warehouse... Do whatever he enjoys doing, and do it with joy!

10. Take a few minutes at the end of the day to be thankful for the man who loves you, protects you, and provides for you.

7. Remember all the Dads in your family: your husband, your own father and your father-in-law, and all of your grandfathers.

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To advertise, call 727-612-0783

June 2018 • 9

June 1st

Ju n e FU N FACTS

2,400,000

boys and girls participated in little league last year, according to Little League International. In recognition of Little League’s encouragement of young people, Congress has set aside the second week in June as National Little League Baseball Week. So this June, grab your glove, take in a game, and lend your support to our local young players.

June 14 is Flag Day, a day for all Americans to celebrate and show respect for our flag. Our nation’s flag is representative of our independence and our unity as a nation… one nation, under God, indivisible. As Americans, we have every right to be proud of our culture, our nation, and our flag.

This June take time to celebrate our freedoms and raise the American flag with pride

June 14

is National Doughnut Day, and Krispy Kreme is celebrating! You can join them — with a free tasty treat — by stopping in for your free doughnut at any of Krispy Kreme’s participating locations! This sweet national holiday was established by the Salvation Army in 1938 to raise money to help people in need. With several delicious, one-of-a-kind doughnuts to select from, including the signature Krispy Kreme Original Glazed, you can pick your favorite or discover a new preferred sweet treat for FREE. No purchase is necessary to redeem the offer. For more information visit www.krispykreme.com.

13 hrs. 54 min.

193,500 miles is the estimated total length of hiking trails throughout the United States. Saturday June 2 is National Trails Day, a longstanding celebration of the great outdoors that inspires families and trail enthusiasts to seek out their favorite trails.

To choose a local path near you or a fun path out of state, search the Trail Finder database at www.americanhiking.org.

10 • June 2018

Say you saw it in the Gulf Coast Family Newspaper

Early dawn. Late sunset. Long day. Short night. For us in the Northern Hemisphere, the summer solstice officially begins at 6:07 a.m. EDT on the 21st of June. Not only is it the longest day of the year but it’s also our signal to celebrate the first day of summer.

www.gulfcoastfamily.org

Call Today to Schedule Your Private Tour

DUNGY DIARIES

We all deal with fear. Whether it is fear of speaking in public, fear of flying, fear of failure, or many other kinds, fear can paralyze us. Many young people today will look at their parents and think they don’t experience fear. But you and I both know that we do. I have had many fears in my life. Life is about overcoming our fears. That is what I try to teach my children. This is what I tell them about how to overcome fear.

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1) Fear can be a good thing. If I fear the right things it will keep me in line. You need to discern the things that are good to fear.

2) Don’t let fear keep you from trying things. Some fear is healthy, but the wrong fears will keep you from experiencing some fun activities. Never let it hold you back from doing things you enjoy. Be courageous enough to step out where it’s uncomfortable.

3) Don’t fear being different. This is a big one our kids need to overcome. I encourage my kids to be the person God created them to be and not someone the culture tells them they should be.

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4) Overcoming fear will make you stronger. It’s human nature to be afraid. However, when we overcome fears we grow stronger in the long run. Every time we move forward in the face of fear we get a little braver and a little more likely to overcome our AllProDad.com challenges.

June 2018 • 11

Bridge the Gap Summer Camp

By Justin and Heidi Bushko, Snapology of Clearwater Children love the break over the summer, and they enjoy spending time with friends and family as they decompress from the rigor in everyday school activities. Often times, families still need to find some form of child care or summer camp for their children during this time. You will find that there are many options, but it is difficult to find activities that truly engage our precious little ones while still letting them enjoy themselves. STEM or STEAM programs are becoming more readily available as education-based activities that offer significant learning opportunities.

STEM or STEAM programs educate while using the various disciplines science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics through application instead of lecture. Rather than teach the disciplines separately, STEM/STEAM integrates them into a cohesive learning paradigm based on real-world applications,

such as use of building blocks, or other tangible experimentation platforms. Many STEM programs are becoming available for use within the classroom, but few are presented as summer camps.

When looking for a camp consider the following:

When looking to bridge the summer gap and still provide an educational outlet, look for STEAM related summer camps. Opportunities to allow your children to learn while also playing offer the best of both worlds.

Camps that are structured can offer plenty of free time for creative play while also allowing the children to learn specific concepts in science, technology, engineering, art, and math. With the right camp, you children can have fun while learning. Often times, you may even be able to find a fun theme based camp with STEAM activities to keep your child engaged through the theme as well.

Unique Learning Opportunities

Camps should teach new topics and provide opportunities for success to continue to build confidence. Camps can help build self-confidence and self-esteem by providing a more relaxed atmosphere.

Be sure that there is more than one project to keep your child engaged. A simple theme without variety may not keep your child engaged, and the result is child care as opposed to a unique educational experience.

Play! Learn! Grow!

Pinellas County Schools Pre-K 3 and VPK

Nurturing programs where children: • Develop social and emotional skills • Build language and communication skills • Explore math and science • Discover the joy of learning

New Online Application Process Learn about Pre-K for 3 Year Olds and VPK at www.pcsb.org/early Questions? Call 727-588-6513

12 • June 2018

Say you saw it in the Gulf Coast Family Newspaper

www.gulfcoastfamily.org

Clearwater Teaming & Social Growth Camps should offer teaming opportunities. Children do not always get the opportunity to work together, and structured play can provide teamwork and provide more comradery to aid in building true friendships and develop social skills. Having the option to discuss their project and decisions aids in strengthening these traits.

Life Skills & Independence Camps should allow for a variety of instruction and can help them learn life-long skills. The variety of activities offered at camp makes it easy for kids to discover and develop what they enjoy. Camps that feature STEAM offer more room for growth and decision-making opportunities to allow children to grow more independent. These opportunities can help your children find a new passion, strengthen their confidence, and build their independence.

As your child ages, the camps will need to continue to change and provide new opportunities. Make sure you stay current with the various options available to provide the best educational bridge over the summer.

Classes Camps Creative Play Play Dates Birthday Parties Scouting Events Field Trips

Summer Camps

Weekly, June 11 – July 30 Morning & Afternoon programs

Programs held at: Dance and Circus Arts of Tampa Bay 1490 N. Belcher Rd, Suite H Clearwater, FL 33764

ROBOTICS TECHNOLOGY STEAM / STEM Snapology offers summer camps that are hands-on, interactive, educational and fun.

We use Lego® bricks, K’nex, laptops, etc. in our classes.

clearwater.snapology.com 727-314-3229 heidib@snapology.com

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Summer Camp

As parents of a young daughter and small business owners in Clearwater, Heidi and Justin Bushko opened Snapology of Clearwater in January 2018. With a shortage of college graduates with degrees in the STEAM (science, technology, education. art, math) fields, they realized how important it is to get children excited about STEAM at a young age. The ability to provide fun and educational classes to children ages 2-14 as a way to give back to the community was very important to them when they decided to open a Snapology franchise location. And who doesn’t like to play with Lego® bricks, laptops, drones, K’nex, etc.? www.gulfcoastfamily.org

LEGO® is a registered trademark of The LEGO Company which is not affiliated with these programs.

To advertise, call 727-612-0783

June 2018 • 13

Summer Camp Directory

Circle F Dude Ranch Lake Wales 863-676-4113 circlefduderanchcamp.com City of Largo Summer Camps 727-518-3016 – Highland Recreation largocamps.com City of Tampa Summer Camps 813-274-3345 tampagov.net/SummerCamp Clearwater Community Sailing Center Youth Summer Camps 1001 Gulf Blvd, Clearwater 727-517-7776 clearwatercommunitysailing.org

Here is a listing of some fantastic summer preschool camps and many more. All of these camps for children here in the Tampa Bay area. camps are open to the public on a first-come, Included in our summer camp directory are arts first-served basis. So reserve your spot soon. and drama camps, theme camps, sports camps,

Clearwater Marine Aquarium Clearwater 727-441-1790 x252 seewinter.com

Adventure Club at Countryside CC 1850 North McMullen Booth Road, Clearwater 727-799-1618 ext. 1012 adventureclub.cc

Camp Gilead 1444 Camp Gilead Drive, Polk City 863-984-1353 campgilead.com

Anona Christian Center Summer Camp 13233 Indian Rocks Rd, Largo 727-595-2581 ext. 292 anona.com

Camp Invention 800-968-4332 x6920 campinvention.org

Dance Central Summer Camps 12527 Ulmerton Rd, Largo 727-386-0586 thedance-central.com

Busch Gardens Summer Camp for Wild Things 877-BGT-CAMP buschgardens.org

Camp Seal 19501 Holly Lane, Lutz 813-229-7946 www.sealswimschool.com

Dunedin Parks and Recreation Day Camps Dunedin Community Center & MLK Jr. Rec. Center 727-738-2920 dunedinGov.com/camps

Calvary Chapel Kids Camp 8900 US-19, Pinellas Park 727-577-7705 www.calvarystp.org/kids

Champion Tae Kwon Do Summer Camp 7590 Starkey Road, Seminole (727) 399-2999 championtaekwondo.net

Eckerd College Summer Watersports Camp 4200 54th Ave S, St. Petersburg 727-864-8288 eckerd.edu/waterfront/

Skycrest Specializes in

Happy Campers

Discover a summer of fun at Skycrest Christian School. Choose from our

half-day specialty camps; Band, Drama, Robotics, Soccer, Lacrosse, Basketball and Volleyball. Or select one of our full-day options from Soul Adventures. Your 10-14 year old can choose from 10 weeks of outdoor adventure camps, including kayaking, paddle boarding, sailing, fishing and much more. Your 5-9 year old can join in the fun at our Jr. Adventure Camp, with 2-3 off-campus activities each week. Be inspired by Christian leaders, grow in self confidence and have tons of fun along the way. Visit www.skycrest.us for more information!

A ministry of Skycrest Community Church

@skycrest @souladventures1

14 • June 2018

@skycrest_christian @soul_adventures1

@SCS_Skyhawks

Say you saw it in the Gulf Coast Family Newspaper

129 N. Belcher Road, Clearwater, FL 33765 727-797-1186

www.skycrest.us

www.gulfcoastfamily.org

First Lutheran Summer Camp 1644 Nursery Rd, Clearwater 727-462-8000 www.flcclearwater.org

Independent Day School Camp IDS 12015 Orange Grove Dr, Tampa 813-961-3087 idsyes.com

LCC Day School Summer Camp 4400 Chancellor St NE, St. Petersburg 727-522-8331 lccdayschool.com

Florida Aquarium AquaCamps 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa (813) 273-4015 www.flaquarium.org

IRCS Summer Sports Camp 12685 Ulmerton Road, Largo (727) 596-7192 www.ircs.org

Liberty Bowling Summer Camp 11401 Starkey Rd, Largo 727-397-3947 libertylanesbowling.com

Glazer Children’s Museum Camp Connect Tampa 813-443-FUN1 (3861) glazermuseum.org

JMAC Kids Summer Camp 2177 NE Coachman Rd, Clearwater 727-430-3902 jmackids.com

Lowry Park Zoo Summer Camps Tampa 813-935-8552 lowryparkzoo.com

Great Explorations Children’s Museum Summer Camp 1925 4th St N, St. Petersburg 727-821-8992 greatex.org

Keswick Summer Sports Camp 10101 54th Ave N, St. Petersburg (727) 393-9100 www.keswickchristian.org

Mathnasium Summer Camp 3451 4th Street North, St. Petersburg 727-823-6284 mathnasium.com/stpetersburg

Hillsborough Community College Kids College 39 Columbia Drive, Tampa tampatraining.com/kids-college

Largo Cultural Center Summer Theatre Camps Largo Cultural Center 727-587-6751 largoarts.com

Mary Jo’s Performing Arts Academy 15906 Mapledale Blvd, Tampa 813-969-0210 mjpaa.com

ECKERD COLLEGE

Summer Watersports Camp

American Top Team St. Petersburg

Martial Arts for the

Whole Family

Weekly Classes, Half & Full Day June 4 - August 3, Ages 5 & Above Open Enrollment

727-864-8288

eckerd.edu/waterfront/ www.gulfcoastfamily.org

Sign up now and get a FREE UNIFORM with this ad ($100 Value)

954-638-0860

www.attstpete.com To advertise, call 727-612-0783

Park St.

Sailing, Windsurfing, Kayaking, Exploring watersports, Fishing, EXPLORING Marine LifE, WAKEBOARDING / Water Skiing and More!

Tyr o

ne

3951 Tyrone Blvd.

St. Petersburg, FL 33707 Blv

d

June 2018 • 15

MOSI Summer Science Camps 4801 E Fowler Ave, Tampa 813-987-6000 mosi.org

Saddle Up Riding Club 9301 62nd Street, Pinellas Park 727-520-3132 saddleupridingclub.org

Shorecrest Summer Camps 5101 1st St N, St. Petersburg 727-522-2111 x173 shorecrest.org

Northside Christian School Paradise Summer Camp 7777 62nd Ave N, St. Petersburg 727-647-0349 nck12.com

Saint Paul’s School Summer Camps 1600 St. Paul’s Dr, Clearwater 727-536-2756 st.pauls.edu

Soul Adventures Camps at Skycrest 129 North Belcher Rd, Clearwater 727-797-1186 souladventures.us

Oakhurst Learning Center Summer Camp 13233 102 Ave N, Largo 727-596-3411 oakhurstlearningcenter.com

Science Center of Pinellas Camp 7701 22nd Avenue North, St. Petersburg (727) 384-0027 sciencecenterofpinellas.com

SPCA Tampa Bay Summer Camp 9099 130th Ave. N., Largo 727-586-3591 spcatampabay.org

Ovations School for the Arts Camps 2100 4th St S, St. Petersburg 727-470-2787 ovationsarts.org

Seminole Assembly Adventure Kids 10600 113th St N, Seminole 727-391-9788 seminoleag.org

St. Jerome ECC Summer Camp 10895 Hamlin Blvd, Largo 727-596-9491 stjeromeearlychildhoodcenter.org

Patel Conservatory Dance, Theater, and Music Summer Camps 813-222-1002 patelconservatory.org Pinellas County Summer Camps 333 Chestnut Street, Clearwater 727-464-4600 pinellascounty.org/summercamps Pinellas Preparatory Academy Summer Camp 2300 S. Belcher Road, Largo 727-536-3600 pinellasprep.org

Private, Member-Owned Club, Established in 1924

Plato Academy Summer Camp 2045 Palmetto Street, Clearwater 727-301-1590 platoacademy.net PLAY Performing Arts 1920 1st Ave S, St. Petersburg 727-393-7625 playstpete.com/summer R’Club Summer Camps 727-578-5437 rclub.net Robotics Summer Camp Tampa • Brandon • Trinity 813-249-5522 funwithbots.com

LET THE IMAGINATION GROW 6 WEEKS OF CAMP, JUNE 4 - JULY 29, AGES 6-14 Castles & Dragons, Comics & Clay-Mation, Mosaics, Pottery, Printmaking & Journaling, Digital Photography and more!

Competitive Swim Team All Day Fun Camp 7am-6pm w/Lunch & Snacks Included!

Tennis & Golf Camps

FOR DETAILS, REGISTRATION, & BRIGHT FUTURES VOLUNTEER INFO

VISIT www.BeachAr tCente r.org Scholarships Available, Sponsored by

The Rotary Club of Indian Rocks Beach

Join Today and Begin Making Your Family’s Summer Memories www.stpetecountryclub.com 1515 BAY PALM BLVD, INDIAN ROCKS BEACH

16 • June 2018

727-596-4331

Say you saw it in the Gulf Coast Family Newspaper

www.gulfcoastfamily.org

St. Petersburg Christian School Sonny Days Camp 2021 62nd Ave N, St. Petersburg 727-522-3000 stpetechristian.com St. Petersburg Country Club Summer Camp 2000 Country Club Way, St. Petersburg 727-867-2111 stpetecountryclub.com St. Petersburg Sailing Center Summer Sailing Camp 11 Central Ave, St. Petersburg 727-822-3873 spyc.org/sailingcamp Starkey Road Baptist Church Sports Camp 8800 Starkey Rd, Seminole 727-397-1654 srbc.org

Tampa Bay Ice Summer Camp 255 Forest Lakes Blvd, Oldsmar 13940 ICOT Blvd, Clearwater Westfield Countryside Mall tampabayice.com

813-854-4010 727-536-5843 727-723-7785

The Florida Aquarium AquaCamps 813-273-4015 flaquarium.org Tutterow Dancers 452 5th Ave SE, Largo 727-585-1232 tutterowdancers.com

ROBOTICS • CODING MATH EDGE

GET AN EDGE!

Word of Life Florida Youth 877-412-8687 wolflorida.org

Sylvan Robotics and Coding Camps 3951 Tyrone Blvd. St. Petersburg 727-347-6284 sylvanlearning.com/stpetersburg

Xtreme Fun Center Summer Sports Camp 13211 93rd St N, Largo 727-584-9876 xtremefuncenter.com

Tampa Bay History Center Adventure Camp 801 Old Water Street, Tampa 813-228-0097 tampabayhistorycenter.org

YMCA Summer Camps ymcatampabay.org

www.gulfcoastfamily.org

NEW from Sylvan:

EDGE E ED G GE

To have your camp listed in Gulf Coast Family’s printed summer camp guide, call 727-612-0783 or visit gulfcoastfamily.org.

To advertise, call 727-612-0783

ES

GRADES

1-6

727-347-6284

June 2018 • 17

Protecting Children From Heat Illness

by Keith L. Hassan, MD, MHA, FAAP Medical Director, After Hours Pediatrics Urgent Care

Florida is known for its sunshine and warm days. Some say it creates the paradise we live in; however, it is important that we not let heat spoil the day. Parents should be aware that young children are most susceptible to heat related illnesses.

Perspiration is the body’s natural way of cooling itself, but if the environment does not allow perspiration to keep the body cool, it suffers a heat related illness. Especially in times of high heat, it is important to take these steps to prevent a child from becoming overheated:

Heat related illnesses occur in stages. The first stage involves cramping of the muscles that are sometimes very painful. Signs of more serious stages of heat illness, also known

Day Cam

p

Dress for heat: Dress your child in light colored and lightweight clothing, a hat, and consider using an umbrella.

Drink liquids: Make sure your child is drinking plenty of water or sports drinks. Don’t wait until your child is thirsty; instead, provide liquids regularly throughout the day.

Slow Down: Avoid strenuous activity, especially in the hotter part of the day.

Take regular breaks from the heat: Rest periodically in a cool area and stop activity if your child feels overheated.

Stay indoors if necessary.

Don’t use salt tablets.

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May 29 – August 3 7 AM – 6 PM

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Seminole Blvd

Exciting Field Trips Crafts Dramas Seminole Assembly Ministries 10600 113th Street N Seminole, FL 33778 Activities & More!

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727-391-9788 www.seminoleag.org

18 • June 2018

Say you saw it in the Gulf Coast Family Newspaper

www.gulfcoastfamily.org

as heat exhaustion, include cool, moist, pale skin, headache, dizziness and nausea. Late and serious signs of heat illness, known as heat stroke, are vomiting, changes in level of consciousness, elevated body temperatures, rapid and weak pulse, and rapid breathing.

Proper treatment of a heat illness depends on the severity. For heat cramps, your child should stop activity and rest in a cool place. Have your child sip on water or a sports drink. Discomfort may be relieved by stretching the muscle and holding the stretch for about 20 seconds followed by a gentle massage.

For children with more serious symptoms suggesting heat exhaus-

tion, give them water or a sports drink, and avoid caffeinated liquids.

Remove or loosen clothing and apply cool, wet clothes. Seek medical care for your child if they vomit or refuse to take liquids.

Heat stroke is a medical emergency and requires quick intervention to lower the body temperature. For children with serious heat illness, call 911 for emergency care.

Florida presents an ideal environment for many outdoor activities.

Heat related illnesses are preventable with a little thought and preparation before and during outdoor activities. Remember -- the younger the child, the more susceptible they are to heat, so think, prepare and then let your child enjoy the outdoors while being safe!

(727) 398-5236 10820 Park Blvd. @ Seminole Blvd.

Seminole DQ and the ellipse shaped logo are trademarks of Am. D.Q. Corp., Mpls, MN ©2010.

SUPERMAN: TM & © DC Comics. (s10)

www.gulfcoastfamily.org

dq.com To advertise, call 727-612-0783

June 2018 • 19

We all know that eating out often can add up! So, it’s important to know where the best deals are for the family. Here are some great places in the Tampa Bay area that are family friendly and are offering some great specials.

20 • June 2018

Say you saw it in the Gulf Coast Family Newspaper

www.gulfcoastfamily.org

It’s time for All Day Breakfast

2909 Highway 19 Holiday, FL 34691 (727) 934-7035

33817 Highway 19 Palm Harbor, FL 34684 (727) 781-7303

7901 Ulmerton Rd Largo, FL 33771 (727) 531-4841

©2016 McDonald’s

Free Drink With Purchase

THAI & SUSHI

Limit 1 coupon per person.

Cannot be combined with any other offer. Expires 7/31/18.

Buy 1 get 1 ½ off Valid from 4–6pm

½ off second entreé of equal or lesser value. Limit 1 coupon per person.Cannot be combined with any other offer. Expires 7/31/18.

FRESH FOOD FAST Dine-In or Drive-Thru Catering

eatPDQ.com

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727-545-3057 Catering and Take Out available

US

49th St. N.

4871 Park Street N. St. Petersburg FL

Park Blvd.

4601 Park Blvd.

Pinellas Park, FL 33781 Catering: 727-362-1007

Catering Available for Tenders, Sandwiches, Salads Spend over $100 in catering With this ad. Valid at Pinellas Park and St. Petersburg PDQ only. Expires 7/31/2018.

BUY ONE TENDERS, SALAD OR SANDWICH COMBO MEAL

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Valid at Pinellas Park and St. Petersburg PDQ only. Expires 7/31/2018.

To advertise, call 727-612-0783

BUY ONE TENDERS, SALAD OR SANDWICH COMBO MEAL

Valid at Pinellas Park and St. Petersburg PDQ only. Expires 7/31/2018.

June 2018 • 21

in the kitchen

When camping, the rule of thumb for great recipes is to maximize taste and nutrition while minimizing preparation time and cleanup. Here is a great foil dinner recipe that is extremely easy to make, tastes great and can be made over an open campfire or grill.

Southwestern Campfire Chicken • ½ cup chunky salsa • 2 cups frozen corn • 1 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained

• 6 to 8 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves • 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar or Colby-jack cheese

1. Combine salsa, corn, and black beans in a medium bowl.

2. Place chicken breast halves onto 12 x 18 inch sheets of aluminum foil.

3. Spoon salsa mixture over chicken and fold foil to make packets.

4. Cook on a preheated grill or over a campfire for 20 to 25 minutes until cooked through.

5. Unfold packets carefully, and spoon cheese over chicken; refold foil and let sit for about 5 minutes until cheese is melted.

Cool Kids Cook

Coupon not valid with any other offer, one per visit. Expires 7/31/18. Good at St Petersburg loca�on only.

22 • June 2018

Coupon not valid with any other offer, one per visit. Expires 7/31/18. Good at St Petersburg loca�on only.

Coupon not valid with any other offer, one per visit. Expires 7/31/18. Good at St Petersburg loca�on only.

Say you saw it in the Gulf Coast Family Newspaper

www.gulfcoastfamily.org

{ SMOKIN’ OFFER} HERE’S ONE

This American classic is everyone’s favorite childhood treat! Smores are deliciously sweet and gooey and this recipe is particularly delicious and is sure to have guests saying “Gimme some more!”

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$5.00 OFF S’more Cups • 1 cup graham cracker crumbs • 1/3 cup melted butter • ¼ cup confectioners’ sugar • 4 full size milk chocolate Hershey bars • 12 large marshmallows 1. Combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and butter, and press into the bottoms and partially up the sides of 24 greased miniature muffin cups; bake at 350 degrees for 5 minutes.

2. Break 2 of the Hershey bars into rectangles and place one rectangle in each muffin cup.

any purchase of $25 or more!

with any other special, Please present coupon when ordering. Not valid 7-31-18. Limited to one ugh thro Discount, promotion or coupon. Enjoy locations in Pinellas y’s Sonn ting icipa Coupon per household. Good at part GCF and Hillsborough Counties Only.

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3. Cut marshmallows in half (dip scissors into cold water to keep from sticking) and place one half in each muffin cup.

4. Bake for 2–3 minutes until marshmallows are soft, then let cool for 15 minutes.

5. Break up remaining chocolate bars and melt in a microwave safe bowl for 30 to 45 seconds; dip s’more cups in melted chocolate and let sit for about 10 minutes until chocolate is set.

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Family Owned and Operated for over 40 Years!!! www.gulfcoastfamily.org

To advertise, call 727-612-0783

June 2018 • 23

Consider Infant Safety During National Safety Month June is National Safety Month. The month-long observance provides an opportunity to raise awareness around preventable causes of child death, such as drowning, suffocation from unsafe sleep and abusive head trauma. In the Tampa Bay area alone, more than 200 infants and young children have died from one of these three causes over the last five years.

Every caregiver of a young child — not just parents — bears the responsibility to educate themselves on these causes of children’s deaths that are 100 percent preventable. It is essential to educate anyone who may be caring for your child.

Share the information below with family members, babysitters and other caregivers, not only during the month of June, but all year long.

SAFE SLEEP TIPS FOR INFANTS In the Tampa Bay area, unsafe sleep practices, including co-sleeping, continue to be the leading cause of preventable infant deaths in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. To decrease the likelihood of infant suffocation from an unsafe sleep environment, follow these steps.

;;Bring the crib into the parent or caregiver’s room.

Sharing a room with a child offers almost all of the same benefits of sharing a bed, but without the risks. It’s recommended to bring the baby’s crib, or a smaller bassinet, into the parents’ room for the first year of the baby’s life.

;;Be prepared for naptime and bedtime away from home.

pillows, bumper pads, stuffed animals, sleep positioners and toys.

;;Learn from the past.

As more information becomes available, parents and caregivers must let go of some outdated practices in order to provide children with the safest environment possible for sleeping. Habits about car seats and lead paint changed; it’s now time to change cosleeping habits.

If a child sleeps at someone else’s home, such REDUCE THE as with grandparents or other caregivers, make sure they have the proper sleeping LIKELIHOOD OF ABUSIVE arrangements like a crib or pack-n-play with HEAD TRAUMA a fitted sheet. You should never use a blowup mattress, which also poses a significant Head trauma, also known as shaken baby syndrome, danger to infants. most often occurs in children under five years old.

In most cases, the parent or caregiver does not Follow crib setup recommendations. mean to harm the child but lacks the knowledge A crib’s mattress should be firm and fit snugly or skills to cope with a stressful situation. inside the crib’s frame. Crib sheets should fit tightly around the mattress. A baby’s Education is key to preventing head traumasleeping area should be free of blankets, related child deaths. Before leaving your infant or toddler in the care of a family member, friend or babysitter, talk to them about how to handle stressful situations when your baby is crying.

;;

;;Help your caregiver understand

;;Practice the ABCs of

that crying is normal.

safe sleep.

Crying is how babies communicate. Babies may cry because they are hungry, need a diaper change, are teething, are too hot or too cold, or are simply over-tired. Only you know your child’s habits, so let your caregiver know what to check first. Help caregivers prepare for and prevent situations where your child might cry.

The safest way for infants to sleep is Alone on their Backs in a Crib. This minimizes the risk of the infant suffocating, especially if they have not yet developed neck muscle control.

;;Recommend steps to soothe the child.

24 • June 2018

Say you saw it in the Gulf Coast Family Newspaper

www.gulfcoastfamily.org

leading to a dangerous situation. If a break is necessary, have the caregiver check on the child frequently to ensure the child is still safe.

CONSIDER WATER SAFETY IN ALL AREAS Over the last five years, more than 40 children under the age of 6 have died from drowning in our area. Six of those deaths occurred in 2017.

Drowning can happen to any child, anywhere, at any time. It’s not limited to pools and beaches — there are potential hazards in and around the home that can put children at risk. Consider these drowning prevention tips the next time you or a caregiver are responsible for young children.

;;Designate a “water watcher.”

Sometimes a baby will continue to cry even after he or she has been fed, is wearing a clean diaper or recently woke up. If the first steps to calm the child don’t not seem to be working, a soothing action such as swaddling in a blanket, slowly rocking in a chair, humming or going for a walk might be needed. Provide your child’s caregiver with recommendations of soothing actions that typically work for you.

Lack of adult supervision in and around the water is the main reason children die from drowning. An adult should be assigned to keep their eyes on the child at all times when

they are in or near water, and must avoid distractions such as texting. Infants and toddlers should always be accompanied in the water and adults should stay within arm’s reach of the child.

;;Never rely on floatation devices.

Flotation devices, such as water wings, inner tubes or even life vests should be used only in conjunction with close adult supervision.

;;Be aware of hidden hazards.

A child can drown in as little as 1 inch of water. Everything from your toilet to your pet’s water bowl can pose a drowning risk.

Empty bathtubs when they are no longer in use and keep bathroom doors closed.

Even one preventable child death is too many. Learn more about how you can help keep children in our community safe at www.preventneedlessdeaths.com.

;;Let them know it’s okay to take a time out.

Let the caregiver know that if a situation becomes frustrating, it’s okay to leave the child safely on their back in the crib — even if they are still crying — and step out of the room to regroup. Stepping away from the situation reduces the chance of stress www.gulfcoastfamily.org

To advertise, call 727-612-0783

June 2018 • 25

Natural Ways to Make Your Teeth Strong

by Dr. Nick Reynolds, Northeast Orthodontics It’s simple: we are what we eat. Many studies show that overall health is directly linked with oral health and it all boils down to your diet. Yes, having healthy teeth involves maintaining healthy oral care habits but it also has to do with what you eat daily. As your local Orthodontist, it is our job to help you maintain your teeth but it is also our job to educate our patients on what they can do at home and in their everyday life.

Natural ways to help you keep your teeth strong include: Stay away from sugar:

Sugar causes decay and can slowly eat away at your tooth enamel, which will eventually cause serious problems.

Limit sugar intake to a bare minimum.

Reduce consumption of acidic food:

this means coffee, chocolate, and even meat. These items will increase the PH level in your body and will create the perfect environment for bacteria growth.

Increase minerals and vitamins: Take

a daily multivitamin. This will improve your overall health and energy levels.

Drink lots of water: The

recommended amount of water in ounces for your body is your weight divided by two. Drink up!

Remember, it is recommended that you visit your dentist every 6 months for a professional cleaning and check-up. Our greatest accomplishment is to help you achieve a smile that makes you feel comfortable,

confident, and happy! Please feel free to contact our St. Petersburg orthodontic office at (727) 954-3440 or visit us online at www.northeastorthodontics.com and schedule a complimentary consultation today!

Dental Fun Fact People who drink 3 or more glasses of soda each day have 62% more tooth decay, fillings and tooth loss than others. Put down the pop and sports drinks and pick up some nice fresh water instead.

Dr. Nick Reynolds

“Since as long as I can remember, it’s been my goal to pursue a career in which I can work with my hands, help someone everyday, be artistic, strive for perfection, and provide for my community. Orthodontics is the perfect marriage of all those things. I couldn’t see myself doing anything else!

My goal at Northeast Orthodontics is to provide the children and adults of St. Petersburg with handsome and beautiful smiles while providing first class service, state of the art care, and a friendly atmosphere.”

Please give me a call for a no obligation

I’m your REALTOR.

Be incredible!

assessment of your needs!

Welcome Home.

Mark Sanchez REALTOR® Mobile: 727-488-1419 Email: MarkSanchez@kw.com

For over 20 years Classical Conversations has been equipping parents to be great educators at home.

Get access now to the tools that over 40,000 families use to home educate.

classicalconversations.com/incredible 26 • June 2018

Proudly serving the Real Estate needs of Pinellas County.

Say you saw it in the Gulf Coast Family Newspaper

www.gulfcoastfamily.org

Do you have room in your heart and home for a waiting child?

Photo courtesy of Bryan Kasm

Janay & Jontae Ages 11 & 13

Bubbly and bright, Janay sees herself as a lawyer someday. If Janay could change the world, she’d stop people being hurt.

She loves her math and science classes as well as singing along with Beyonce and the Frozen soundtrack. She enjoys watching Girl Meets World in particular, but likes to watch shows Disney XD and Nickelodeon in her spare time. Her favorite animal is a zebra, but she likes dogs and cats too.

Jontae loves watching Bay News 9 and the Cartoon Network.

He loves math and wants to become a mathematician when he grows up. When he’s not watching TV or doing homework, Jontae is outside playing football with his sister or playing video games. Friendly and athletic, Jontae enjoys being part of a team.

Janay and Jontae are looking for a parent who are able to roll with the punches and guide them in life as they work to achieve their goals.

Photo courtesy of Remember This Studio

Monte Age 14

Energetic, smart and creative, Monte knows what he wants – whether it’s another plate of goulash or to spend more time in his science and math classes.

He likes listening to Bob Marley, riding his BMX bike, and watching Criminal Minds.

He is proud of his drawing ability, and is happiest when he is eating or playing video games.

He wants a snake someday, but wants a family more. Monte will do best in a home that can keep up with his energy and his abilities.

For more information about the Heart Gallery visit www.heartgallerykids.org or call 727-258-4806. www.gulfcoastfamily.org

To advertise, call 727-612-0783

June 2018 • 27

Florida’s New Rental Car Laws

by Chris Reynolds

Riding in a recalled rental car that the owner has not been repaired does not sound appealing.

It would not be unreasonable to assume that Florida law would not allow this to be legal. However, only as of June 1, 2016, did Florida law finally prohibit renting cars that had an unrepaired recall. So, up until recently, rental car companies have been able to legally rent vehicles that were deemed unsafe by the manufacturer itself. Further, there was no requirement for a rental car company to even inform the renter that they were getting a recalled vehicle.

In 2004, two sisters in their 20s drove in a rental car they assumed was safe to drive. What they did not know was that the vehicle had been recalled due to a steering fluid leak issue. The car they picked up had not been repaired regarding the steering fluid leak issue.

In fact, they were the fourth renter of the vehicle after the recall was announced.

Sadly, the steering fluid did begin to leak as they were driving the vehicle, and they lost control of the vehicle.

They collided with a large truck and the rental car caught on fire, killing both.

They were sisters.

28 • June 2018

The mother of the two sisters began a crusade to stop this from happening to anyone else, but it proved to be a much bigger challenge that one would have imagined. The rental car industry fought back and it has taken over a decade to enact national and Florida Laws to protect renters.

In 2014 alone, there were nearly 900 vehicle recalls in the United States involving approximately 51 million vehicles in the United States. It is reasonably believed that car companies wait before issuing a recall, so most experts believe that they number of cars that have defects is much higher than the number of recalls. The accidents that occur from defective cars endanger not only the occupants of the rental, but all vehicles on the roadway.

In 2015, congress passed the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, which was finally signed into law in December of 2015. U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said recently, “When a family picks up a rental car on vacation, they should be able to expect it is free of any known safety defect.”

recalled vehicle without first repairing the vehicle. Florida has now enacted its own laws consistent with the FAST Act that will require Florida rental car companies to repair recalled vehicles timely and not rent recalled vehicles that have yet to be repaired.

The FAST Act prevents any rental car company or dealership from renting any

Say you saw it in the Gulf Coast Family Newspaper

If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident involving a rental car, please contact a personal injury trial attorney at for a free consultation to discuss your options.

Mr. Reynolds hails from St. Petersburg, graduated from Northside Christian High School, Eckerd College, and Stetson University College of Law. He lives in Pinellas with his wife and three boys, all of whom attend Keswick Christian School. Mr. Reynolds also has parents living in Pinellas County and a sister who recently returned from overseas as a Christian missionary.

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It’s Great to Create!

Personalized Pillow for Pa This simple and adorable Handprint Pillowcase craft project is a ton of fun for preschoolers and kindergarten children to make, and just perfect for a Mother’s Day theme unit.

• White Pillowcase • Fabric paint • Fabric marker • Paint brush • Paper plates Directions: 1. Pour a small amount of paint onto the plastic plates.

Bright paints work the best.

2. Have the children paint one of their hands and then press their hand print on the front of the pillowcase.

3. Repeat the process till the pillowcase is full of hand prints.

4. Once the pain has dried, using the fabric signature marker add the names to each hand print and any additional message you would like to ad.

5. Give to dad and let him kick back and relax!

Father’s Day: Ginormous Tie

Put a smile on Dad’s face by making him a special Father’s Day door hanger.

• Large sheet of brown or white packing paper • Acrylic Paint and paint brush • Stencil • Black Magic Marker • Stapler or scotch tape • String • Left over grocery bags or scrap paper for stuffing Directions: 1. Take the large sheet of packing paper and fold it in half.

2. Draw out the shape of a tie with the top of the tie located at the fold of the paper.

3. Paint the tie your base color and then allow time for the paint to dry.

4. Paint a design on your tie. The easiest designs to go with are stripes or polka dots, but you can be as creative as you want.

5. Outline the tie either using black paint or your black permanent marker.

6. Write your message on your tie. We used black marker and stencil; however you may want to use vinyl letters or letter stickers.

7. Cut out the tie, making sure to cut both layers of the paper at the same time.

8. Beginning at the top, begin stapling the sides together. Leave the bottom side unstapled.

9. Stuff the tie using extra grocery sacks, paper, or other filler.

10. When finished stuffing the tie, finish stapling the bottom.

11. Attach string loop to the back of the tie so you can hang it on your door and walla, you are done!

June 2018 • 29

Celebrating Grown-Ups

by Sarah Cole, Director of Education, Glazer Children’s Museum Last month, we celebrated moms, and talked about using the holiday as an opportunity to teach your kids how to think about someone else’s needs and wishes. This month brings us a celebration of dads and the men in our lives. This is another great chance to celebrate the adults in your child’s life!

Who can you celebrate? Dad is the obvious choice, along with grandpa, uncles, godfathers, and big brothers. Coaches, scout leaders and teachers are also on the list! Even if someone doesn’t have children, they can still celebrate!

We celebrate at home, and our kids have 4 legs and fur!

And while there are many dads out there who would love another tie, remind your kids that this is about what DAD wants. Maybe your dad would rather spend a day at the beach, or maybe a theme park? Sit down with your child and make a list of what makes this guy so special and the things he likes. Helping your children learn that adults have unique interests is a great learning moment!

In all the celebration, we should remember that for many children, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are stressful holidays. Many children today come from homes with only one parent. Some children live with grandparents or other caring adults. Children who are in foster homes may worry about who the card they make in class is for – their birth parent or their foster parent. Children with step-parents may want to make gifts for everyone. And for children raised by two moms or two dads it can be hard to divvy up the holidays.

If your family is one of the 80% of families that falls outside of the traditional model of mom + dad + kids, first of all recognize that you’re clearly not alone. Take a moment with your children to talk about what makes your family special. Be sensitive to any stress they might be feeling about the holiday.

Remind your kids that family is what you make it, and that they are

loved. Don’t be afraid to address this topic with your child’s teacher or care provider if you are worried.

Use these holidays as a chance to discuss honoring and appreciating grown-ups in your child’s life. Discuss all the adults who raise children and how many adults are responsible for turning your child into the adult he or she will become. Remind your child that regardless of your own family structure, these holidays are meant to celebrate the idea of family!

So, to all the dads, grandpas, uncles, brothers, friends, teachers, mentors and other men who make a difference to a child — Happy Father’s Day! And to all of you, remember, your family is special, so embrace it!

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Scott Lang is grappling with the consequences of his choices as both a superhero and a father. Approached by Hope van Dyne and Dr. Hank Pym, Lang must once again don the AntMan suit and fight alongside the Wasp.

June 2018 • 31

All You Need to Know About Sea Turtle Nesting Season!

by Clearwater Marine Aquarium

Sea turtle nesting season extends from May 1st through Oct. 31st. Beginning each April, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium patrols a 26 mile stretch of beach throughout Pinellas County.

Their morning patrols reach the beach just before sunrise 7 days a week. Initially, the teams of nearly 175 volunteers, staff and interns search along the high tide line for evidence of sea turtle nesting activity namely, marks in the sand left by crawling females. Once tracks are located, the teams determine whether there is a nest present or if it

was a non-nesting emergence, AKA false crawl. The nests are marked and data is collected from each site such as distance from high tide line, distance from beach vegetation, GPS coordinates and other measurements used to help locate the egg chamber.

As incubation times range between 50 and 60 days, the CMA team begin to look for hatching activity 45 days after the first nest discovery. Hatching activity is identified by tracks emerging from the nest sites. They also extend

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their beach patrol coverage throughout the night to monitor nests and release hatchling as soon as they emerge. Due to the dense population of Pinellas County, there are significant issues with artificial lighting causing hatchling disorientation events. To help hatchlings in areas with problem lighting, the workers use restraining cages to keep the hatchlings from wandering off in the wrong direction. After a nest has hatched the team will wait at least 72 hours then excavate the nest and do an inventory of its contents to determine hatching success.

life Conservation Commission (FWC) and Pinellas County. This includes information on false crawls, disorientation events, obstruction events, predation and vandalism. Also included are weekly escarpment surveys, lighting surveys and weather data.

• Loggerhead sea turtles were the only species to emerge onto the beaches patrolled last season.

• There were a total of 201 nests.

• 6,034 hatchlings were successfully released.

Generally the first nest of the season is found in early to mid May and the females will continue nesting until the middle of August. Primarily, the CMA teems encounter loggerheads nesting on our beaches but on rare occasions have encountered Kemp’s ridleys or green sea turtles.

• 75 nests were negatively affected by severe storm events last year.

• 5 nests were moved because eggs within the nests were washing out to sea. 3 of those 5 nests hatched (which is pretty incredible, because these moved eggs do not normally hatch)!

• 16 hatchlings were released at the Sargassum weed line, 94 miles out in the Gulf of Mexico after rehabilitation at CMA.

How You Can Help Turn Lights Out

Turn out unnecessary beach lights to help prevent disorientation of female sea turtles and hatchlings. Close your curtains and be mindful of bright lights shining on the beach. Keep it dark!

Remove Obstacles

The CMA annual nesting data is reported to the Florida Fish and Wild-

Knock down sand castles and fill in sand pits. This helps to eliminate the

challenges the baby hatchlings must cross on their way to the shoreline.

Sand pits can be like the Grand Canyon and sand castles like Mount Everest to tiny baby sea turtles. Clear the way!

Keep the Beach Clean

Picking up trash eliminates items that both hatchlings and adults may become entangled in. Something as small as a bottle top or as large as unwanted beach furniture can pose potential problems, leading to both false crawls and disorientation. Keep it clean!

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June 2018 • 33

Four Extremely Rare Red Wolf Pups Born at ZooTampa at Lowry Park

By Jennifer Galbraith, Animal Care Professional – Florida Mammals Red wolves are a species that once inhabited the entire Southeast region including Florida. Red wolf populations were decimated in the early part of the 20th century due to habitat loss and predator control programs. Today, they are critically endangered, with only around 200 red wolves remaining in zoos and reintroduction areas.

ZooTampa at Lowry Park recently debuted a new red wolf habitat designed to give guests an up-close view of these incredible animals. Red wolves are known for being reclusive and shy with varied colorations, making them

almost invisible in their natural environment. However, with the habitat’s new floor-to-ceiling windows guests have a great opportunity to catch a glimpse of these incredible animals.

The Zoo recently introduced a young pair of wolves with the hope that a new generation would soon follow.

Our female wolf, “Yona” which means “Bear” and our male, Apollo named after the mythological Greek God who was said to derive from a wolf are both three years old. The introduction took place in early December and the

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pair quickly became comfortable with each other in their new habitat. Red Wolves form small family packs with just a male, female and their pups.

Valentine’s Day is extra special for red wolves because it falls right in the heart of Red Wolf breeding season.

Breeding season starts in January and goes through the end of February with pups being born in March through May. Near the end of February 2018,

Yona and Apollo were observed to be breeding. Over the next 60 days, Yona dug a den under the cypress logs in the center of the habitat, and on April 28th the first faint cries of newborn pups could be heard! Two days later it was possible to visually confirm 4-5 pups curled up around mom. The pups are slowly emerging from their den and guests can see them starting to explore their habitat. It appears Cupid’s arrow has hit the mark, increasing the size of our red wolf family as well as the chances of this beautiful animal reclaiming its role in the wild.

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Eye of the Storm Hurricanes can unleash winds up to 200 miles per hour and trigger flash floods. They are among the world’s deadliest natural disasters. While we haven’t seen many hurricanes this season, we need to be ready and alert.

Here is a fun quiz to remind us that the 2018 Hurricane season is here.

6. This hurricane, which destroyed tens of thousands of homes and businesses, was the most financially destructive hurricane (to date) in the history of the United States.

A. Camille B. Andrew C. Katrina D. Charlie 1. Earthquakes are rated using the Richter Scale. What scale is used to rank hurricanes?

7. Etymologists believe the word hurricane may have been derived A. The Fujita Scale B. The VEI Scale from which of the following?

C. The Saffir-Simpson Scale D. Beaufort Scale

2. A tropical storm with wind speeds over 74 miles an hour is called a hurricane when it occurs over the north Atlantic or eastern Pacific. What is its name if it’s over the western Pacific?

A. Typhoon B. Cyclone C. Tsunami D. None of the above

A. “Hurry cane,” a phrase used in the West Indies to describe the frenzied movement of sugarcane in the high winds of an advancing tropical storm.

B. The Taí­no god of storms, Jurakán.

C. Hurly-burly, a noisy and bustling activity.

D. Samuel Hurricane, an adventurous explorer whose whole fleet perished in a great storm in 1473.

3. Which storm pounded Central America in 1998, killing more than 8. On average, what are the peak months of the hurricane season?

11,000 people in Honduras, Nicaragua, and Guatemala?

A. June & July B. July & August C. August & September D. September & October

A. Georges B. Mitch C. Andrew D. Ivan

4. In 1900 the deadliest hurricane in U.S. history took approximately 9. Where is a tropical storm or hurricane the strongest?

8,000 lives in which coastal city?

A. Charleston, South Carolina B. New Orleans, Louisiana C. Tampa, Florida D. Galveston, Texas

5. In which year did the National Weather Service first use male names as well as female names to identify hurricanes?

A. 1992 B. 1984 C. 1979 D. 1950

A. Front left B. Front right C. Back left D. Back right

10. How many Category 5 hurricanes have hit the US since 1899?

A. 1 B. 3 C. 5 D. 7

Bonus: You should leave one window open during a hurricane to prevent your house from exploding. True of false?

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storms Jurakán. Spanish explorers in the 10. B – In 1935, a Category 5 hurricane hit Americas eventually borrowed the name the Florida Keys, Hurricane Camille 4. D – Waves 15 feet high crashed into the to form huracán, which they used to devastated the coast of Louisiana and “Jewel of Texas” on September 8, 1900, 6. C – On the morning of August 29, 2005, describe the storm itself.

Alabama in 1969, and Hurricane Andrew completely destroying most of the city.

Katrina slammed into the U.S. coast hit South Florida in 1992.

8. C – Ocean temperatures are highest on the Gulf of Mexico. Estimates of 5. C – U.S. meteorologists serving in during late August and into September, Bonus: False! This is a myth. Pressure differ2. A – A typhoon is the Western Pacific property damage from Katrina exceed World War II informally named tropical equivalent of a hurricane. $100 billion. helping to fuel storm generation. ences will not cause your house to explode. storms and hurricanes after their wives or All windows and doors should be shuttered to 3. B – Mitch stormed Central America from girlfriends. In 1979 the National Weather 7. B – The indigenous Taí­no people of the 9. B – The front-right quadrant typically October 26 to November 4, 1998. It was Service began to use lists of alternating West Indies named their god of violent brings the highest winds and storm surge. protect against wind and flying debris.

“Eye of the Storm” Quiz Answers: 1. C – Hurricanes are ranked using the Saffir-Simpson Scale, as categories 1–5, based on wind speed, barometric pressure, and destructive potential.

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with Jim Daly Q: My wife and I are expecting our first child. I’m excited to be a dad, but also intimidated. My father wasn’t a good role model, so I feel pretty clueless about this whole parenting thing. Can you help?

Jim: Author Kent Nerburn once said, “It is much easier to become a father than to be one.” Maybe that’s one of the reasons why so many dads feel overwhelmed.

It’s easy for dads to feel like they’re in over their heads.

When your 6-month-old baby starts wailing, you can’t make him stop. When your son is failing algebra, you can’t make him pass. If your daughter gets bullied, you can’t just make all of her hurt feelings disappear. It’s much slower, subtle work.

All of which, of course, can make fatherhood so frustrating. In our professional lives, dads frequently hold the reins and make things happen. But parenting often strips fathers of that control. Fatherhood isn’t like being a mechanic, as much as we might want it to be. We can’t fix things with the simple turn of a socket wrench. Even worse, sometimes we don’t know if what we’re doing is even working.

SOON-TO-BE FATHER FEELING ANXIOUS ABOUT BABY’S ARRIVAL

Being a successful dad starts by learning your role. Don’t try to force your kids down a certain path in life. You have to walk alongside and encourage them in their journey. It’s a process that takes a lot more patience, time and commitment than many men are used to.

But at its heart, fatherhood is a relationship. So, remember, gently coaching your kids is the essence of what you’re aiming for. Be a coach, cheerleader and champion of your child. For plenty of parenting tips and advice, go to FocusOnTheFamily.com.

PARENT WORRIES ABOUT LETTING YOUNG KIDS VISIT DYING RELATIVE Q: My grandmother is in the final stages of cancer and her illness has dramatically altered her physical appearance. She has expressed a desire to see my two young children. Should I allow the kids to visit her?

Would they find the experience too upsetting?

Jim: This is a difficult decision. You’re anxious to protect your children from fear and pain. At the same time, you want to honor your grandmother’s wishes.

On the whole, we take the view that death is a part of life.

With appropriate preparation, it would probably be a good idea to allow your children to say goodbye to their greatgrandmother. This is especially true if they’ve enjoyed a relationship with her in the past.

Cornerstone

Be honest with the kids about what’s happening. Use ageappropriate language to let them know that great-grandma is very, very sick. Tell them that people sometimes get so sick that their bodies don’t work right anymore. Explain that this may make them look very different than they used to. If your grandmother’s sickness has caused her to lose her hair or a lot of weight, you may want to talk about this beforehand. Be sure to lay it all out in a calm, nonthreatening way. If you appear to be anxious or fearful, your children will pick up on this and it will cause them to feel afraid.

Of course, there’s a faith-based aspect, as well. While most young children don’t have the capacity to grasp abstract concepts like death and eternity, this is an opportunity to lay the groundwork for further discussion of these topics as they mature. For now, keep the conversation simple and geared to your children’s needs and their level of insight. We have numerous resources to help at FocusOnTheFamily.com.

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OUR CHILD IS DEFIANT – WHAT SHOULD WE DO? Q: Our young son is defiant and talks back. He won’t do his homework and refuses to clean his room. When we try to discuss these issues with him in a calm, mature way, we usually end up getting angry and yelling at him. What are we doing wrong?

work on developing connection, respect, understanding and communication. If it’s a skill deficit, help him learn what he needs to accomplish tasks. If it really is a defiance issue, then it’s best to have consequences that are age-appropriate, consistent and well understood.

Danny Huerta, Vice President, Parenting and Youth: First, I might suggest that you invest about 10 minutes into taking the “7 Traits of Effective Parenting” assessment; see focusonthefamily.com/parenting.

Consequences can be both positive and negative. Your child may have learned that you eventually get angry, yell and then give up -- so you need to follow through. You can use positive consequences to increase a positive behavior, and negative consequences to decrease a negative behavior. Set goals with celebrations, and set consequences with meaningful losses.

Second, you need to determine if this is a skill deficit (e.g., poor organization), or a true case of defiance. Either way, you want to

For example, you might tell your son, “If you finish your homework by 5:00, you get an extra half-hour of TV time tonight.” That’s a simple positive consequence that doesn’t cost you anything. But if 6:00 rolls around and he hasn’t even looked at his homework, as a negative consequence he loses the privilege of any TV time that night altogether.

Again, spell this out clearly in advance.

PORNOGRAPHY AND THE IMPACT THAT ITS HAVING ON OUR TEENS Q: Hey, Bob, I’m curious: When you compare today’s media environment to what you experienced as a teenager/young adult, what’s been the most impactful change?

You’ll need to come up with appropriate consequences (both positive and negative) that really touch him where he lives. It could be skateboarding privileges, or a weekend outing with Dad. The motivating power of specific consequences will change as a child grows older.

Bob Waliszewski, Director, Plugged In: Without question, the most impactful change has been how easily young boys (and girls) can access pornography. When I was a teen, porn was available primarily in magazines and XXX bookstores.

Nowadays, of course, pornography is just a click away.

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DEALING WITH A CHILD WHO IS ADDICTED TO COMPUTER GAMES

A Tru Research study of over 2,000 teens, ages 13 to 17, found that a third admit to intentionally accessing nude or pornographic content online; 71 percent of them said they had done something to hide what they do online from their parents (this includes clearing browser history, deleting inappropriate videos and lying about behavior).

Another comprehensive survey by Josh McDowell Ministry found that more than one quarter (27 percent) of young adults ages 25 to 30 first viewed pornography before puberty (josh.org). Plus, we’ve all heard the stories of middle and high school students sexting risque/ nude photos of themselves or others -- becoming not just consumers, but providers.

Is all this simply an innocent rite of passage? Not hardly!

The research is pretty clear that porn use is wreaking havoc in the bedroom (not spicing it up), increasing depression as well as anxiety, stress and social problems.

So, what is the answer? Short of writing a thesis on the subject, let me just say that the first step, as difficult as it may seem, is for parents to pre-emptively sit their young person down for a chat on the subject.

Ask if they’ve accessed porn intentionally. Accidently?

What about their friends? Discuss what it means to live a porn-free life (including saying no to inappropriate movies/TV). Be sure your young person knows he/she can be honest without fear of reprisal, and that you’ll be there to help no matter what.

If you need help along this line, you can talk to one of Focus on the Family’s licensed counselors at 800-232-6459.

• Ignoring personal hygiene.

• Changes or disturbances in sleep patterns.

If you notice such signs, get tougher about time limits and actively monitor screen time. It’s easier to enforce boundaries if the gaming console or computer is centrally located in your home -- keep it out of the bedroom. If your son is losing sleep, or his grades are slipping, you may need to get rid of the equipment entirely.

Q: How can I tell whether or not my child is actually addicted to video and computer games? He spends a lot of time gaming, but it’s hard to know whether it’s really that serious of a problem.

Danny Huerta, Vice President, Parenting and Youth: When it comes to addictive behavior of any kind, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Researchers at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts, studied hundreds of video-gameaddiction cases. They found that addicted gamers’ lives are always significantly disrupted by the games.

That’s what you want to watch out for: disruption. Several symptoms of addiction can help indicate if your son’s gaming has become something more than just a hobby.

These include: • A lack of balance, and inability to stop the activity.

• Isolation, neglecting or lying to family and friends.

• Problems with school or a job.

• Weight gain, back issues, carpal tunnel syndrome.

• Irritability, defending the use of video games at all costs.

Admittedly, these conversations are not easy. If your son is clearly obsessed with the game and acts out with severe hostility when unable to play, you may need to seek professional assistance. Our staff counselors can help with a brief consultation and a referral to a local therapist; call 1-800-232-6459 for more information.

Counseling can uncover underlying problems that may be contributing to an addiction. However, in most cases, gaming can be controlled with consistent enforcement of limits. The goal is teaching your son decision-making and balance in life, not making him happy. Setting limits is loving, even when there’s some conflict involved.

Jim Daly is president of Focus on the Family, host of the Focus on the Family radio program, and a husband and father of two.

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HELPING PEOPLE BUY AND SELL HOMES SINCE 1996 FREE CONSULTATION • REFERENCES AVAILABLE 40 • June 2018

Say you saw it in the Gulf Coast Family Newspaper

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Summer Reading

Changing Lives Reaching the World

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temptation to be outside, it is important to schedule time for reading. Having kids keep a reading journal is a great way to establish a reading routine and keep track of their progress.

Combine reading with summer activities.

• Whether you are planning a vacation, a day at the beach,

or a trip to watch the Rays play, combining reading with an activity can greatly increase your child’s interest in reading.

So the next time you are heading out to a game, suggest to your child that he or she read a book about a favorite team or player beforehand.

of our amazing libraries.

• HereVisitin theoneTampa Bay Area, we have some of the most

amazing libraries you will find anywhere in the state. If your child does not already have a library card, this summer is a great time for him or her to get one. The Pinellas libraries not only have a wide selection of books, videos and tapes to check out, but they also have many family-friendly activities scheduled every week.

just read for fun. During the school year most children have daily required reading assigned by their teachers. So try to make your child’s summer reading fun and relaxing. Instead of picking out the books for them, help find ways for them to choose books to read on their own.

Read stories aloud with your children.

• Make reading come alive to your children by taking time

out to read stories aloud to them. Children love being read to enthusiastically, so don’t forget to use different voices to make the story more interesting. Also, you may want to dress up or have a puppet show to go with the story to spice things up a bit. But no matter what you do, take time to read with your kids, they will love it.

June 2018 • 41

June 2018 Events June 1-30 SUMMER NIGHTS RETURNS TO BUSCH GARDENS As the sun goes down, the party heats up at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay during Summer Nights. Explore the park after dark with extended park hours to 10 p.m. Dance the night away at themed party zones throughout the park and take on Florida’s top thrill rides in the dark.

Plus, indulge in delicious food like steak chimichurri, chicken waffle sandwich, mini donuts, funnel cakes and more, with Busch Garden’s special summer menus. www.buschgardens.com June 1-30 SEAWORLD’S ELECTRIC OCEAN Charge up your summer nights at SeaWorld’s Electric Ocean spectacular.

Explore exotic worlds of light and music filled with glowing sea creatures, DJ entertainment, and a spectacular display of fireworks. Electric Ocean takes place on select dates throughout the summer. www.seaworld.com

June 1 FIRST FRIDAY AT THE HENRY B. PLANT MUSEUM The Museum will be open with free admission from 5 – 7 PM. Visitors are encouraged to explore the nation’s only Victorian railroad resort hotel museum, enjoy live music on the veranda, and share a treat with friends at our tastings table. www.plantmuseum.com June 2, 9 & 22 TAMPA BAY ROWDIES HOME GAMES Come cheer on the Rowdies as they get into the heart of their season. Get ‘Rowdie’ at Al Lang Stadium as the Rowdies take on Atlanta United FC, Nashville SC, and the Penn FC this June! www.rowdiesoccer.com June 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 DILLYDALLY WITH DALI Children can discover the creative world of Dali through games, puzzles and arts + crafts activities which educate and encourage family interaction. Dillydally with Dali takes place under the direction of the museum’s Family Programs Coordinator in the 1st floor Education Classroom. www.thedali.org June 2-3 GUY HARVEY WEEKEND - BUSCH GARDENS Join Guy Harvey, renowned artist and conservationist, in person for a weekend

$5 OFF

Your next KidsCut

of meet-and-greets, autographs and more.

For those looking for the ultimate Guy Harvey experience, Busch Gardens is also offering a one-day-only session of Painting on the Wild Side featuring Guy Harvey at the Gwazi Pavilion. www.buschgardens.com June 2 & 16 MFA MAKE & TAKE SATURDAYS Create your own masterpiece inspired by works in the collection and special exhibitions.

Supplies are included. FREE with Museum admission. No registration necessary.

Recommended for ages five and older, but entire families are encouraged to participate. www.mfastpete.org June 2 TAMPA THEATRE’S RESTORATION CELEBRATION WITH THE FLORIDA ORCHESTRA The Tampa Theatre and Members of The Florida Orchestra will present Buster Keaton’s The General – a witty comedy based on the true story of a Civil War raid in which a train ran roughshod behind Confederate lines – in its original silent format with live musical accompaniment.

Keaton’s willingness to put himself in danger for a perfect stunt, and his passion for the art of cinema, is never illustrated better than it is here, and this film originated some of the most iconic scenes and single images in movie history. And given that it was released in 1926 – the same year Tampa Theatre opened in downtown Tampa – it is the perfect film to celebrate the completion of Tampa Theatre’s recent restoration work. www.floridaorchestra.org

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42 • June 2018

Say you saw it in the Gulf Coast Family Newspaper

June 3 MARLY MUSIC: TRIO SOLISTI AT THE MFA Labeled “the most exciting piano trio in America” by The New Yorker, Trio Solisti returns to the MFA to present a dynamic performance. Highlights of the 2017-2018 season include a performance of Beethoven’s Triple Concerto with the Wisconsin Philharmonic and conductor Alexander Platt, and appearances at Lincoln Center’s Mostly Mozart Festival. www.mfastpete.org June 4-7 MEET THE DOLPHIN TALE STARS Meet the actors who played Sawyer (Nathan Gamble), Hazel (Cozi Zuehlsdorff) and Phoebe (Austin Highsmith) in the Dolphin Tale movies, the major motion pictures that were filmed right here at Clearwater Marine Aquarium and throughout the beautiful St. Pete/ Clearwater area of Florida. Take a photo and get an autograph during their special appearances – included with your general admission ticket purchase. www.seewinter.com

June 5 CHILDREN’S BOARD OF HILLSBOROUGH FREE TUESDAY AT THE GLAZER CHILDREN’S MUSEUM The Children’s Board of Hillsborough proudly presents a Free Admission Tuesday program held on the first Tuesday of every month, between 12-7pm. Join us for free, family fun at the GCM. www.glazermuseum.org www.gulfcoastfamily.org

June 5-10 THE SOUND OF MUSIC AT THE STRAZ The hills are alive! The brand new production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC is returning to Tampa. The beloved musical story of Maria and the von Trapp Family will once again thrill audiences with its Tony, Grammy and Academy Awardwinning Best Score, including “My Favorite Things,” “Edelweiss” and the title song. 2015 marked the 50TH anniversary of the film version, which continues to be the most successful movie musical in history. www.strazcenter.org June 5, 12, 19 & 26 TERRIFIC TOTS AT GREAT EX Every Tuesday, join the Great Ex S.T.E.A.M. Team at 9:30am at Sundial in downtown St. Petersburg to participate in this iconic Great Ex program. Terrific Tots is a FREE members-only program that offers a unique bonding experience for children aged 1-3 and their caregivers!

Explore art, music and language with your little one in this fun and safe environment.

In the beginning of each class we’ll join in sing-a-longs that encourage movement and parent involvement. www.greatex.org June 7-10, 11-13, 22-24, 25-26 & 28-30 RAYS GAMES AT THE TROP Baseball season is in full swing and here is your chance to cheer on your hometown Tampa Bay Rays! Dig out your baseball gloves and those cowbells and come out to the Trop this May and come cheer your new and exciting Rays as they take on the Mariners, the Blue Jays, the Yankees, the Nationals and the Astros. www.mlb.com/rays June 9 WALK TAMPA - THE YBOR CITY STORY Join the History Center for a guided tour of

historic Ybor City. This 90-minute outdoor walking tour is led by a History Centertrained docent and focuses on the founding and development of Ybor City in the late 19th century early 20th century. Tour the streets of Tampa’s only National Historic Landmark District and learn about the people, social life and work culture of early Ybor. www.tampabayhistorycenter.org

Center. This mind blowing spectacular showcases the jaw dropping talents of five of the most incredible Illusionists on earth. www.strazcenter.org June 16 CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER’S 6TH ANNUAL GELATIN PLUNGE

June 14 FLAG DAY AT THE HISTORY CENTER Celebrate Flag Day at the History Center!

Enjoy special guided tours of “American Flags: The Stars and Stripes in American History and Culture,” and demonstrations on flag folding and flag protocol. Included with regular gallery admission.

www.tampabayhistorycenter.org June 14-17 PATEL CONSERVATORY PRESENTS THE WIZARD OF OZ Performed by students in grades 3-8, Dorothy, a Kansas farm girl, along with her friends, the Scarecrow, the Tinman, the Cowardly Lion and Toto, journey through the land of OZ and discover there is truly no place like home. www.strazcenter.org

The 6th Annual Gelatin Plunge, presented

by Caspers Company, is your chance to make a difference in the lives of the children and families supported by the Children’s Cancer Center (CCC). Plummet down a slide on a warm summer night into a pool filled with 2,000+ gallons of orange gelatin and enjoy live music, food trucks, a beer garden, and family-fun activities. Spectators are welcome to join in the fun as well! www.gelatinplunge.com

June 30 TOY STORY LAND AT DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS - GRAND OPENING When it opens, guests visiting Toy Story Land will “shrink” to the size of a toy and join in on the fun Woody, Jessie, Buzz, and Andy’s other beloved toys are having in Andy’s backyard. Here, guests can take a ride on Slinky Dog Dash, a roller coaster Andy has assembled from his Mega Coaster Play Kit and topped off with Slinky and Jessie. Families will also be able to take a spin on Alien Swirling Saucers, a galactic play set that Andy won from Pizza Planet and guests can also walk through a new carnival game box to experience Toy Story Mania!, which has been a guestfavorite attraction at the park. www.disneyworld.disney.go.com

Have an Event?

Email submissions to events@gulfcoastfamily.org for consideration or visit our online calendar at gulfcoastfamily.org.

June 15-17 THE ILLUSIONISTS - LIVE FROM BROADWAY Direct from Broadway, the world’s best selling magic show is coming to the Straz

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June 2018 • 43

The Gulf Coast Family Weekender

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

2

1

Tampa Bay Rowdies vs Atlanta United FC 2 Al Lang Stadium rowdiessoccer.com

Cheer on the Rowdies at Al Lang Stadium in downtown St. Pete.

Tropicana Field, June 1–3 www.tampabayhomeshows.com The Home Show at Tropicana Field will feature hundreds of area home specialists - all in one location. Everything from furniture to decorating ideas to landscaping to remodeling to interior design, and the list goes on.

9

8

World Oceans Day Florida Aquarium www.flaquarium.org Discover and learn about amazing habitats and why they’re important to us and the ocean with special themed activities, crafts and programs throughout the Aquarium.

Straz Center June 5–10 www.strazcenter.org

16

15 Summer Circus – Opening Night Historic Asolo Theater www.ringling.org Tampa Bay Boat Show Florida State Fairgrounds www.tampabayboatshows.com

22

Ahoy Mates! This is the boating sales event of the season. Chart your course to the Tampa Bay Boat Show.

23

The Illusionists: Live from Broadway Straz Center, June 15–17 www.strazcenter.org This fast-paced, wildly entertaining show broke box office records as families flocked to see mind-blowing magic and deathdefying stunts.

Tampa Bay Rays vs. New York Yankees Tropicana Field www.tampabay.rays.mlb.com

The Tampa Bay Rays host the New York Yankees at Tropicana Field.

GO RAYS!

Jurassic Quest brings you a Dinosaur Adventure for the whole family. This All New Event features more than 80 lifesize, animatronic Dinosaurs!

29

44 • June 2018

Jurassic Quest – Bigger and Better Florida State Fairgrounds www.jurassicquest.com

30

Fans get a Free Rays & Devil Rays Reversible Jersey

At Bush Gardens Summer Nights, the rides are even wilder with music, lights and fireworks every weekend.

Say you saw it in the Gulf Coast Family Newspaper

SUNDAY

3

Guy Harvey Weekend Busch Gardens www.buschgardens.com

Meet Guy Harvey, renowned artist and conservationist.

10

Happy Together Tour Ruth Eckerd Hall www.rutheckerdhall.org

Starring: The Turtles, Chuck Negron, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, Mark Lindsay, The Association, The Cowsills

17 Free entry into the following parks and museums

24

Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo Tampa Bay History Center Glazer Children’s Museum The Florida Aquarium MOSI

Amalie Arena tampabaybridalexpos.com Make it easy on yourself!

Come to the Tampa Bay Bridal Show and spend the afternoon with the area’s bridal experts!

JULY 4 Fireworks - July 4, 9 pm

Largo - Largo Central Park - www.largoevents.com St. Pete - Vinoy Park - www.stpete.org Clearwater - Coachman Park - www.myclearwater.com Tampa - Channelside Bay Plaza - channelsidebayplaza.com Tampa - Busch Gardens - www.buschgardens.com www.gulfcoastfamily.org

$avings Made

$weet

By Heather Brickell

Happy Birthday, America

mysweetsavings.com

Summer Vacation Savings

I can hardly believe it, but Summer vacation is right around the corner! For most of us, we will be searching for FREE & Frugal ways to entertain the kiddos during their break from school. Here is a list of just a few ways to entertain the kiddos for FREE or on the cheap this Summer!

• Kids Bowl Free: Select bowling centers and schools around the country are participating in the Kids Bowl Free program. This program is designed by bowling centers to give back to the community and provide a safe, secure, and fun way for kids to spend time this summer. Registered kids receive 2 free games of bowling each day, all summer long, courtesy of the participating bowling centers along with the schools and organizations. You can check out all the info at: www.kidsbowlfree.com.

• Regal Cinemas $1 Movies: Select Regal Cinemas nationwide will be offering $1 movies every Tuesday & Wednesday at 10am for 11 weeks. You can check out all the info for this at: www.regmovies.com/Movies/ Summer-Movie-Express.

• Cobb Theaters FREE Summer Movie Fun: This Summer, Cobb Theaters continues its annual tradition with its Free Summer Kids Shows series.

Cobb Theaters has summer movie fun for kids of all ages with new (and its all FREE!) movies each week beginning Tuesday, June 12. Free movies will be shown Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays; doors open at 9:30 a.m. and movies are shown at 10 a.m. Only same-day ticketing will be available. Check out the complete schedule at www.cobbtheatres.com.

Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Triathlon: If your children read 8 books between June 1 – September 3 and track them on the Barnes & Noble reading log, they can turn in their reading log for a FREE book. You can find out the full details of this wonderful program at: www.bn.com/summerreading. www.gulfcoastfamily.org

Next Issue

in the

July 2018 of Gulf Coast Family

Cover story ▲ • Minor-League Baseball: During the MLB Baseball Season, the minor-league teams tickets are extremely cheap. The Clearwater Threshers have dollar Tuesdays where the tickets and all the food sell for a dollar each! At the Tampa Yankees games on Wednesday’s they have Kids Night. Kids 14 and under can chow down on a free hot dog, a bag of cracker jacks and soda with the purchase of a reserved $5 ticket. And for the Dunedin Blue Jays and the Lakeland Flying Tigers, all kids 12 and under receive free admission to the Sunday home games.

Kids can also play catch on the field before the game and run the bases following the game.

• Chuck E. Cheese: When your child reads 2 weeks in a row they can earn 10 FREE tokens! Offer is valid through 12/31/18. You can see all the details and print your form at: www.chuckecheese.com/deals-offers/ rewards-calendars.

• Library Story Time: Why not check out your local library for story time and other fun activities that are available? Most libraries offer story time each week and this is a great opportunity for your children to learn a life-time love for books!

• Your local Pool or YMCA: Check your local YMCA to see if they offer inexpensive swimming lessons or activities for children.

• Craft & Home Improvement Stores offer Hands on Crafts: Places like Michael’s Crafts, Lowes, and Home Depot usually offer some type of FREE workshop every weekend. Your child will be able to make a craft and take it home.

Celebrate America’s freedoms with a collection of short stories about some of America’s most beloved customs and symbols and be amazed as we compare our rights to the rights of others around the globe.

◀ Trips on a Tank

Need to get away for a day? Come with us next month as we explore some of Tampa Bay’s great local attractions which are only a short drive away. Our close-to-home family adventures will include some of the best things to do and places to visit here in the Tampa Bay area.

If you have a favorite Tampa adventure that you would like for us to highlight, simply email us at articles@gulfcoastfamily.org.

Family Health ▶

As families prepare for “Back to School” it provides a perfect opportunity for us to talk to our children about what they can do to stay safe and healthy, both at school and at home. Come with us next month as we continue our new family health section.

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June 2018 • 45

Make Learning Part of Your

Summer Fun

by Judy Adorno, Sylvan Learning

There’s no question that kids lose some of what they’ve learned in school during the summer months. By incorporating learning activities during the summer, parents can provide their children with valuable opportunities to retain what they’ve learned, and practice the skills they need to be successful in the upcoming school year.

To help you get started, the experts at Sylvan have developed a variety of grade-specific ideas and activities.

Check-out these suggestions to see which are most appropriate for your children.

Remember, the best learning often occurs when children don’t even realize they’re learning! Whether taking a nature walk, planting a mystery garden, or planning the family vacation, summer is the perfect time to discover that learning is fun—and can happen anywhere.

Take a nature walk and as you and your child walk, stop to record your observations—a drawing, a snapshot with your phone, gathering items you may want to examine more closely—or research on the internet when you get home. This can be a one-time adventure or an exploration that lasts all summer!

Grades K-3 Take a Walk on the Nature Side!

Ready, Set, Read!

Reading can be so much fun—especially when the whole family joins in. Set a reading goal for your child and challenge family and friends to participate too. Make a chart to track time spent reading, or pages read, or books read.

Gather weekly to tell about the reading adventures and to see who is improving their score by reading more pages or books. At the end of the summer, cele-

brate with a pizza party—and look back to see that your child is a better reader!

Grades 3-6 Plant a Mystery Garden.

Visit a garden supply store with your child and together pick out a variety of flower seeds or seedlings. Now, here’s the trick: remove the labels so you won’t know which is which. It’s up to your child to grow the plants and figure out what they are! Have your child keep a garden journal which can include the plant’s growth, changes in stem or leaf color, buds that appear, etc. To learn more about each plant, visit the library or search the internet. At the end of the summer, press flowers in clear contact paper and place in the garden journal.

What’s Cooking?

Developing a cookbook is a great way for your child to share favorite foods and snacks with friends and family. Decide together how elaborate you want this project to be: how many recipes, when will your child try out a recipe, where will he find the recipes. Make a

timeline that will fit into the family schedule. At the end of the summer she can draw/design a cover for the cookbook and you can help create a table of contents so recipes can be easily found.

Make copies, staple together and share with family and friends. Bon Appetit!

Grades 6-9 Let’s Plan a Vacation!

Half the fun of a trip happens before you even go—so why not have your teen help plan your next vacation? Start by having her research your destination for fun, interesting things to do and sites to see. Talk about the route you will take, how you will travel, places to visit along the way, what the costs will be. As you travel, he can keep a journal with details about the trip, pictures and notes about favorite places and any unplanned adventures. The journal will be a remembrance of the best family trip, ever!

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www.feathersoundsmiles.com 46 • June 2018

Say you saw it in the Gulf Coast Family Newspaper

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June 2018 • 47

“A” Schools

TAMPA’S NEWEST CHARTER SCHOOL 4903 Ehrlich Rd, Tampa, FL 33624

K-2 Grade

Superior Technology

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Music & Arts

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Organized Sports

Caring Teachers

The school will add a grade a year in subsequent years