April 2009 by Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine

april 09 8

features

VOLUME 2 ISSUE 12

every month

8 SPRING BREAK SURVIVAL GUIDE Five days of fun and inexpensive things to do with your kids.

28 5 CAR SEAT MISTAKES Common mistakes parents make and how to avoid them.

9 SUMMER CAMP GUIDE The best Tampa Bay has to offer.

40 RECESSION PROOF RESILIENCE What mothers can do to help their kids and themselves during tough times.

22 EDUCATION GUIDE

42 EXTRAORDINARY WOMAN Dr. Madelyn E. Butler

32 NORTH HILLSBOROUGH NEWS

16 LET THE SUN SHINE IN NATURALLY New natural products to help protect and moisturize in the summer sun. 24 CAR CULTURE CLUB The car as a valuable teaching tool.

6 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR 9 AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS

28 HEALTH AND WELLNESS

35 SOUTH HILLSBOROUGH NEWS 38 NORTH PINELLAS NEWS

contents

44 SOUTH PINELLAS NEWS 48 PASCO NEWS 50 AROUND TOWN 52 PARTY PAGES 57 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

On the cover: Tajai Walker, who is 1 Â½ years old and lives in Lutz.

Photograph by: Jeanine McLeod, www.photosoncloud9.com

TBPARENTING.COM Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine

April 2009

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Angela L. Ardolino Editor-In-Chief Diana Miklowski Copy Editor Contributing Writers Lisa Black Tim Fath Amy Gall PJ Goetz Mark Heller Joezette Hite Lauren Hoyt-Williams Sandra Parrish Patricia Wise Guarch Elizabeth A. Leib Neighborhood Stories & Calendar Editor Elyse Cohen Graphic Artist Susan Margolis Marketing Director Todd A. Varde Account Executive Candace Street Account Executive Linda Whitmer Sales Assistant Maryann Montgomery Administrative Assistant

Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine P.O. Box 82255 Tampa, Florida 33682 Telephone: 813-949-4400 Fax: 813-315-6688 info@tbparenting.com calendar@tbparenting.com ads@tbparenting.com Letters to the Editor: editor@tbparenting.com www.tbparenting.com

Letter from the Editor First I wanted to thank all the moms who took the time to tell us what you like about the magazine on MomsLikeMe.com. It was great to read the positive comments about our content and calendar of events. I also learned how thirsty moms are for information so look for even more important content in the coming months. A question that I often get is: How young can a child start summer camp? Some programs start at age 3, but most start at age 5. I would recommend a half-day program for a 3 year old (and many offer this). Age 3-5 are great times for children to participate in programs that offer coordination, physical activity and creativity. Ballet, gymnastics, and/or music programs will engage, exercise, and grow their mind and bodies. Our summer camp guide offers so many choices of high quality programs across Tampa Bay and a simple call can answer any questions or concerns you may have about sending your child to camp for the first time. Ask them how many kids are in their age group, how are activities specifically catered to a young child, how many teachers/counselors are there per child. This is all information they will happily provide. If you still aren’t sure, make a visit with your child so that you can see where and what they will be doing each day. Trying a spring break camp is a great way to see what the organizations summer camp will be like. I am excited about Mark Heller’s article Car Culture Club! It’s so important to realize that teachable moments happen all the time, everyday, and being trapped in the car with your kids is a great time to talk about anything and everything. Often I will pull up to a car and see the mother on a cellphone and the kids sitting in the back with their i-pods staring out the window and I see a missed opportunity. The car can become a place where conversations get started about important topics like friends, peer pressure, and school. Even singing together in car or playing an eye spy type game, keeps the dialogue open and provides even more teachable moments. Please continue to share your thoughts with me, as I will continue to make this the best resource for moms possible! Happy Spring!

Me pictured with Jackie Toledo, at the St. John Greek Orthodox Day School Annual Fundraiser

Tampa Bay Parenting is published twelve times per year by Lucy Loo Inc. It is distributed free of charge to more than 700 supermarkets, community centers, libraries, doctor offices and businesses with products and services for families. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written permission. TBPM is not responsible for statements made by advertisers or writers. We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of information we print, but cannot be held responsible for any consequences arising from omissions or errors. All photography and letters sent to TBPM will be treated unconditionally, assigned for publication and copyright purposes and are subject to unrestricted right to edit and comment editorially. For information on where to find TBPM or how to become a distributor, call 813-949-4400 or email info@tbparenting.com. Copyright 2007-2009 by Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine. All rights reserved. Comments and suggestions are always welcome.

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spring break survival guide Five days of fun & inexpensive things to do with your kids BY PJ GOETZ

Monday: Picnic in the Park

One of the most enjoyable and least expensive ways to spend quality time with your kids is to have a picnic. A picnic can offer the perfect opportunity to relax, play games, and just hang out. Make it super simple and pick up a bucket of chicken or sandwiches on the way to the park. If you have a little more time to plan your picnic, you can pick a theme. Some great ideas: Teddy bear picnic for small children, a piñata is a fun picnic game idea for kids of all ages, a scavenger hunt or a cartwheel contest. Don’t forget to pack blankets, gloves, bats, balls, bubbles and the watermelon. Great Picnic Spots: RE Olds Park – Oldsmar John Chesnut Park – Palm Harbor DeSoto National Memorial Park – Bradenton

Tuesday: Fishing

We are surrounded by water in Tampa Bay and that means you are never far from a great fishing spot. Spend a day on the banks of a lake, a river or on shore of the Gulf of Mexico fishing with the kids. Konrad Kaletsch has some great tips for fishing with your kids: • Match the equipment to their skill and size - adult equipment is physically overwhelming and discouraging to a child. • Bring their favorite snacks, even if it’s a bit more junk food than usual; this adds to the occasion being special.

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• When they are done, call it quits. Adult stamina for fishing is much different than a child. I’ve seen countless parents kill the enjoyment of fishing for a child by pushing them to keep fishing longer than they feel like it. • Bring other kids - even better if they like to fish. • Bring your camera - nothing like a picture on the wall of your two year old with a trout that’s half his size. Great Fishing Spots: Skyway Fishing Piers – Tampa Bay gives you the opportunity to catch a large variety of fish, a few examples: grouper, mackerel, snook, tarpon, jacks, cobia, sharks of many species. www. pierfishingguide.com Lake Manatee State Park, offers excellent fishing. A variety of species are frequently caught, such as largemouth and sunshine bass, speckled perch, bluegill, shellcracker and catfish. www. floridastateparks.org

Wednesday: Fossil Hunting

Florida is loaded with fossils. One of the top sites in the country as a matter of fact. Please be warned that once you start it is very hard to stop. Shark teeth, horse teeth, whale bone fragments, armadillo plates, and many more signs of life that was here long before us can be found on any area beach. Every collector has their own way of finding sharks teeth. Some of my best tips are: To find the best selection of teeth on the beach start your hunt as the high tide recedes and the lowering tide uncovers teeth that

summer program guide were washed ashore. Check areas that the tide has piled up shells, which can hold sharks teeth and fossilized bone. The Tampa Bay Fossil Club is a great place to go to get started. www.tampabayfossilclub.com

Thursday: Sand Castle Building

What is better than a day at the beach building castles in the sand? You can spend the whole day next to the sea creating family masterpieces. To involve kids of all ages assign tasks: Preschoolers can collect broken bits of shells for roofing material, sticks for walls and flag poles, school-aged kids love to dig motes and help with getting sand for the mounds, older kids can help with the finishing touches adding doors, windows and bridges. Keep in mind that it is not how perfect your castle looks in the end but how perfect the day was spent at the beach with your kids. Best place to build sand castles in Tampa Bay: Caladesi Island State Park, www.floridastateparks.org/caladesilsland Honeymoon Island State Park, www.floridastateparks.org/honeymoonisland

Friday: Go to Sarasota

Two bridges, and about an hour and a half south and you are in beautiful Sarasota. The city offers fun places to explore like: Mote Aquarium, (ww.w.mote.org), Sarasota Jungle Gardens (sarasotajunglegardens.com), G.WIZ - The Science Museum (www.gwiz.org), and The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art (www.ringling.org)

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April 2009

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summer program guide

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April 2009

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April 2009

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summer program guide

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April 2009

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April 2009

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Let the Sun shine in

naturally

Pevonia Botanica SpaTeen Line: Cleanser, Moisturizer, Blemish B-Gone Spot Treatment, Skin Mask and alcohol-free toner. $20-$28, www.pevonia.com

Aveda Sun Care 16-hour UV-Defense and Recovery System Hair and Body Cleanser, Protective Hair Veil and Arger Sun Hair Masque. Asponispe Spa and Salon in Riverview, Level Salon in Hyde Park or aveda.com

Avalon Baby Natural Mineral Sunscreen These baby safe formulas are made with a blend of soothing, organic aloe and chamomile. Enriched with antioxidants from organic green tea extract. $9.95, avalonorganics.com

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JASON Kids Only! Daily Detangling Conditioner hydrates hair and eases combing with Panthenol (Vit. B5), Soy Protein and Jojoba Oil. Helps unlock knots and soften hair while taming frizz and fly-aways. Tear free. www.jason-natural.com JASON Kids Only! Extra Gentle Shampoo combines botanical surfactants with Aloe Vera, Calendula and Chamomile to soothe the scalp while cleansing. This tear free formula lathers thick and rinses easy. For best results, use with JASON Kids Only! Extra Gentle Conditioner. www.jason-natural.com

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Badger Balm SPF 30 For Face & Body Badger proudly presents the most extraordinary sunscreens we’ve ever seen. This SPF formulas are water resistant, safe for children of all ages, block both UVA and UVB rays, and thoroughly moisturize while they protect your child’s skin. www.badgerbalm.com

Green Elly Sweet Dream Cream Moisturizes baby’s sweet soft skin and protects with important antioxidants. Promotes intensive healing and cell regeneration for baby’s delicate skin while soothing and calming baby through its wonderful but subtle scent created naturally with essential oils (combination of orangewith a slight hint of vanilla). Ideal for mommy and daddy as well. $12.00, greenelly.com

summer program guide

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summer program guide

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April 2009

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summer program guide

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car culture club The car as an important tool in your child’s life

BY MARK HELLER

merica and Americans have always had a love affair with the car. Ever since Henry Ford’s assembly line sent millions of automobiles onto the roads and into the garages of early 20th century America, cars have captured the American imagination. They’ve symbolized the freedom, mobility, and individualism that set us apart as a people. The car is deeply imbedded in American life, myth, and aspiration.

So much of family life today involves the car: ferrying children to school and activities; family trips both long and short; and then, the rite of passage we both welcome and fear, teenagers behind the wheel. With very little effort, families can learn to take advantage of car time for many purposes. Why not use its power to your children’s and your family’s best advantage? The Car as a Motivational Tool Ask your pre-middle school child what kind of car he wants. Chances are, he may be able to tell you with a startling degree of detail about models you scarcely knew existed. Cars have always been cool to Americans of all ages and stations. Many kids today believe that they will be presented with a car upon receiving their driver’s license, usually immediately upon their 16th birthday. Whether that’s an appropriate expectation or not, use it to your advantage. Teach your child from early on that the surest route to a driver’s license is repeated demonstration of responsible choices. The mere fact of a 16th birthday should have very little

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impact on whether your child is allowed to apply for her driver’s license. The sooner your child knows this and the more resolve you show in sticking to your guns, the more likely it will be that your child will respond positively. The desire for the freedom that the driver’s license conveys is so strong that it can be coupled with the teaching of responsibility quite effectively. The Car as a Communication Tool The car is a setting that offers unique opportunities to connect with your child. While in the car, you are close and confined for a definite period of time. With older children you’re also sitting sideby-side, which definitely helps aid communication. Eye contact is necessarily limited, but is still possible. All of these formal elements help children to open up and say things that might not come in another setting. Being behind the wheel during any type of carpooling can provide a great window into your child’s life. It’s a time when you can hear many details: “Could you believe that Jen was talking to Scott?” “David is asking Maria to the dance.” Kids know you can hear, and as long as you stay quiet, you’re likely to learn a lot. Kids often give up these details so you will have some context, some understanding that will give you the ability to support them should things not go quite right later on. The key to using this setting to help ease communication is to restrain yourself! Avoid jumping in the conversations. Don’t ask a lot of follow-up questions. Avoid the “interrogation” that teenagers find so maddening. If you can stay quiet, chances are you’ll learn a

education guide

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education guide

Let us grow and nurture your child.

Garden Montessori School Now Enrolling Ages Infant thru Kindergarten 6845 Boyette Rd Wesley Chapel, FL 33545

813-991-6335 www.gardenmontessorischool.org

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great deal! Make the most of your car time by volunteering to drive when you can. It may be your best source for staying on top of the details of your adolescent’s life. The Car as an Educational Tool Car time can be used productively in many ways. On long car trips, videos, books on tape, and even podcasts offer many opportunities for customized, shared experiences that were not as readily available even a few short years ago. On the more old-fashioned side, mental math games, including times tables and rate, time, and distance problems can work well in some families. The radio can also be a great teaching tool. News and talk stations appeal to many, but your children can also learn a great deal from other programming, especially in how you respond to what you hear. This is especially true on the ride to school every morning. Many of today’s morning radio programs provide a stream of off-color and least-common-denominator comments. Having a rule that requires the station to be turned whenever you hear something objectionable could teach your children that you do not have to accept such language as OK. Act! What you model in this setting is how to be a discriminating consumer and that you do not approve of some things that are part of the culture. Just because those lyrics or that kind of talk is acceptable to others does not mean it is acceptable for your family. Consistent response to over-the-line comments in the music or the talk will help your child see the difference. Some Important Rules for Car Safety The car is the most dangerous place teens spend time in. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, accounting for more than one in three deaths in this age group.” Further, drivers age 16 -19 are four times more likely than older drivers to get into an accident (per mile driven). The combination of judgment that is still developing and the necessarily limited experience of our youngest drivers is a dangerous mix. This is made worse by the presence of distractions in the car. Cell phones, food, the radio, and especially friends, are all very dangerous things for teenagers to have in the car. The presence of passengers has an enormous impact in drawing the young driver’s attention and focus away from the road. I advise you to set rules limiting the number of passengers your teen can have in the car. Start with one, and only increase the number if you feel your teen has shown sufficient responsibility to warrant an expansion of the privilege. Remember, driving is a privilege; it is not a right. Be strong enough to fight through the indignant reaction you will likely get from your teen. Don’t be afraid to cite statistics like the ones in this article to help impress upon your teen the awesome power of the car to both give and to take away. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) [Online]. (2008). National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (producer). www.cdc.gov/ncipc/wisqars. Driving:Through the Eyes of Teens, A Research Report of CHOP and State Farm, F.K. Winston, M.D., Ph.D., et al., 2007.

Mark Heller is Head of School at Academy at the Lakes, a Junior K4 – 12th grade independent school in the North Tampa community of Land O’Lakes.

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health & wellness

s Car Seat take s i M

One question child passenger safety experts at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital hear most is “Which car seat is the best?” According to St. Joseph’s Children’s Advocate Tamyne Maxson, the answer isn’t a specific brand or model, but rather the one that fits the child, fits the vehicle and is used correctly every time. “Child safety seats, when correctly installed and used, are extremely effective in saving children’s lives, reducing the risk of death by as much as 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers,” said Maxson. Despite numerous campaigns to promote the use of child safety seats, and despite child occupant protection laws in every state, motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for children age 2 to 14. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 1,300 children age 14 years and younger died as occupants in motor vehicle crashes in 2005, and an additional 184,000 were injured. That’s an average of 4 deaths and 504 injuries each day. Safe Kids Worldwide estimates that 80 percent of child safety seats are used incorrectly, and previous studies have shown that figure to be as high as 93 percent in Hillsborough County. Don’t join the crowd — avoid these common mistakes:

Using a defective or expired child safety seat. Don’t buy one used; you don’t know its history. Avoid old ones (most expire after six years), especially with missing parts or cracks. And never use a seat that is missing a label and instruction manual, has been recalled, or was in a previous crash. Not reading the instruction manual. You should always read and follow the child safety seat’s

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BY AMY GALL

instruction manual and your vehicle owner’s manual.

Using a forward-facing child safety seat too soon For the best possible protection keep children in rearfacing child safety seats as long as possible, and use up to the maximum recommended height or weight limit for that particular seat. At a minimum, keep babies rearfacing until age 1 and at least 20 pounds. Never put a rear-facing child safety seat in the path of an airbag. Installing the child safety seat incorrectly. “Not securing it tightly enough is the number one error parents make,” says Maxson. “It should have less than 1 inch of movement.” Never install a child safety seat using both a seatbelt and the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system; only use one or the other.

Securing the harness straps incorrectly. They should always be snug and straight. For rear-facing seats, the harness should be at or below the shoulders. For forward-facing, the harness should be at or above the shoulders. The harness retainer clip should always be level with the child’s armpits.

Not using a Booster Seat. Once children outgrow their forward-facing seat (usually around age 4 and 40 pounds), they should be in a belt positioning booster seat. Many parents skip this important step and secure children with just a seatbelt too soon. Until age 12, all children should site in the backseat. Each year, Child Advocates at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital inspect more than 1,200 child safety seats at various locations throughout Hillsborough County. To find out more about child passenger safety seats or to schedule an appointment to have your seat inspected, please visit www.stjosephschildrens.com or call (813) 870-4747.

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The Kids Corner at Palma Ceia

Personalized dental care for your child, with the utmost attention to making it an enjoyable experience g are welcome Children of all ages

Millie liie e Cortes, Corttes, Cor es, DM DMD D Pediatric Dentist American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Member

1008 So. Clearview Phone: 813-253-3679

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north

Hillsborough

Carrollwood, Citrus Park, Lutz, New Tampa, Odessa, Temple Terrace, Westchase

Goddard Schools joins Earth Hour Goddard Schools, named the number one child care franchise company for the eighth year in a row by Entrepreneur magazine, announced it’s participation in World Wildlife Fund’s 2009 Earth Hour. A global call to action on climate change, during Earth Hour on Saturday, March 28th at 8:30 p.m. hundreds of millions of people around the world were expected to turn off their lights for one hour in a vote for action on the climate crisis. Across 320 Goddard Schools nationwide, more than 40,000 children helped spread the message that by working together, each one of them can make a positive impact in working towards a sustainable future. The Goddard Schools launched an entire week of activities and lesson plans that began March 23rd and led up to a big celebration for the Stepping Up for the Environment event that took place on March 27th at 10 a.m., a day before the global event. “This was an exciting opportunity for Goddard Schools’ teachers and children to get creative in ‘stepping up’ awareness about saving energy and the environment,” says Joseph Schumacher, Chief Operating Officer at Goddard Systems, Inc. “Joining Earth Hour enabled our students to get the message out to their families, at their school and in their communities.” Throughout the week, children and teachers participated in a variety of fun activities, games and lessons designed to increase their awareness of how energy use and daily activities can affect the future of the planet and how they can conserve energy in their daily lives. To help provide content to schools and children, World Wildlife Fund created a website, www. EarthHourKids.org which featured lesson-plans, games and songs for children to download. There is also a section for parents to email their state and federal representatives. In preparation for Earth Hour, Goddard Schools integrated the environment into a number of engaging learning activities including art projects, science lessons and even during snack time! Classes nominated an official “Lightning Bug,” who was responsible for always turning off the classroom lights when the children exit the room. Students also created invitations asking parents and neighboring buildings to join them in Earth Hour. Participation in Earth Hour supports Goddard Schools ongoing efforts and commitment to the environment. Recently, Goddard has become involved with Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) which give schools the option of purchasing wind energy credits, offsetting 100% of a schools electricity usage with clean, renewable wind power.

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dates: April 4. 10 am - 3 pm Painting Nature with Taylor Ikin Tampa Museum of Art presents a watercolor workshop at the Environmental Studies Center at Nature’s Classroom. 813-259-1721; www. taylorikin.com. April 6, 13, 20, 27 USF Jazz Quartet at Café Kili Enjoy an evening of jazz in this cozy, popular North Tampa African coffee shop. Located behind Applebees on Fowler Ave.; cafekili.com. April 7, 7 pm Musicians Off-Stage Presented by the quartet, Wind That Shakes The Barley. Featuring Kathie Aagaard, assistant principal violist from the Florida Orchestra. Carrollwood Cultural Center, 4537 Lowell Road, 813-269-1310, carrollwoodcenter.com April 9, 9 am - 5 pm Safe Sitter Course Teaches 11 – 13 year olds the skills needed to care for children – infants through school age. Brandon Family Support & Resource Center, 1277 Kingsway Rd.,Brandon. 813-740-4634; www.familysupporthc.org April 9, 12 pm Egg Hunt at Kidz Club Open Play rates apply. www.kidz-clubonline. com. April 18, 9 am - Noon River and Trails Cleanup in Riverhills Park Remove litter, debris and invasive plants from the Hillsborough River. For more details, call Parks Planner Dana Carver at 813-506-6620. April 18, 10 am -5 pm, April 19, 11 am - 5 pm Wesley Chapel Celebration of the Arts Enjoy jazz and blues with art on display; a student’s art display and children’s activity area. The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Dr., Wesley Chapel. wesleychapelwow.com April 19, 3 pm Rumplestilskin Carrollwood Cultural Center, 4537 Lowell Road, 813-269-1310, carrollwoodcenter.com

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south Hillsborough Apollo Beach, Brandon, Lithia, Riverview, Ruskin, South Tampa, Tampa, Valrico, Fishhawk

IKEA announces its Tampa Bay store opening May 6 IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishings retailer, today announced that its future Tampa store will open at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, May 6, 2009. It will be the Swedish company’s 3rd store and restaurant destination in Florida, 6th in the Southeast, and 37th in the United States. Until the 353,000 square-foot IKEA Tampa opens, customers can shop at stores in Orlando, FL and Sunrise, FL or at www.IKEA-USA.com. Other stores in the Southeast are located in Atlanta, GA; Charlotte, NC and Woodbridge, VA. “We are thrilled at the excellent construction progress made in the summer and fall, and believe the remaining construction milestones and interior build-up process will be complete by May – much earlier than originally envisioned,” noted Monica Varela, store manager of the future IKEA Tampa. “Now our primary goal is hiring and training the 400 local hires who will be joining the IKEA coworker family before we open.” IKEA Tampa will present 10,000 exclusively-designed items, 49 room settings, 3 model home interiors, a supervised children’s play area, and a 350-seat restaurant serving Swedish specialties such as meatballs with lingonberries or salmon plates, as well as American dishes. Familyfriendly features include a ‘Children’s IKEA’ area in the showroom, baby care rooms, preferred parking and play areas in the store. The 353,000-square-foot future IKEA Tampa, with 1,700 parking spaces, is being built on 29 acres along Adamo Drive at 22nd Street and the Crosstown Expressway, and will reflect the same unique architectural design for which IKEA stores are known worldwide. This new IKEA store created 500 construction jobs and, on May 6, it will welcome 400 new coworkers into the IKEA family of more than 11,000 coworkers across the U.S. and 120,000 globally. Although IKEA Tampa is progressing through outfitting phases, prospective coworkers still can apply for diverse positions available in home furnishings sales, customer service, cashiers, receiving, warehouse and stock replenishment. IKEA Tampa also offers food service opportunities in its Restaurant, Swedish Foodmarket, Bistro and staff cafeteria. There currently are more than 290 IKEA stores in 36 countries, including 36 in the U.S., where other new stores will open in: Centennial, CO and Somerville, MA. Since its 1943 founding in Sweden, IKEA has offered a wide range of home furnishings and accessories of good design and function, at low prices so the majority of the people can afford them. IKEA has been ranked in FORTUNE’s annual “100 Best Companies to Work For” list (three years in a row), Working Mother magazine’s annual list of “100 Best Companies for Working Mothers” (four years in a row) and Training magazine’s annual “Top 100” ranking of companies that excel at human capital development (five years in a row). IKEA incorporates environmentally friendly and socially responsible efforts into day-to-day business, and continually supports initiatives that benefit causes such as children and the environment. For more information about IKEA, and about working at IKEA, please go to www.IKEA-USA.com.

dates: Now through May Dresses for Humanity II An exhibition of The Dresses of Diana Hyde Park Village, 1509 Swann Ave., hydeparkvillage.net April 4, 18, 25, 10 am - 2 pm The Art Spot This Saturday morning free drop-in program offers children the opportunity to explore their own creativity by visiting the galleries and creating art projects in the museum’s classroom. 813-274-8130, tampamuseum.com April 4, 10 am - 6 pm Spring Fairy Flower Festival Join Silly Dilly Tot Spot and the Bloom Garden Center for a variety of events including an Easter Egg hunt, Spring Fairy Fashion Shows, live bunny/child photos, face painting, music, surprise appearances by guest animals throughout the day. Bloom Garden Shop, 3005 South MacDill Avenue, 813-805-2151, sillydillytotspot.com April 4-5, 10am-5pm Hyde Park Village Art Festival The 20th Anniversary Hyde Park Village Art Fair. Life-size sculptures, spectacular paintings, oneof-a-kind jewels, photography, ceramics, and kids area. 1509 W Swann Ave, artfestival.com April 17-20 Bern’s 12th Annual Winefest A four day food and wine experience with local culinary teams. bernswinefest.com April 25, 8 am Sweetwater Paddle for the Cure 5 mile kayak and paddle craft race will launch from Riverfront Park on the Hillsborough River and will have a staggered start with 3 classes of boats. The 2 mile family fun paddle will launch from Riverfront Park to the Convention Center and back. Downtown Tampa Riverfront Park, 1001 North Blvd., beatcancerwithapaddle.org

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CGC1513647 Prices, specifications, incentives and availability subject to change without notice. *$1024 Payment is based on $164,990 sales price for a Sycamore model within Hidden River Subdivision; $1055 Payment is based on $169,990 sales price for a Santa Barbara model within Schooner Cove Subdivision; $1055 Payment is based on $169,990 sales price for an Azalea model within Magnolia Green Subdivision; $1086 Payment is based on $174,990 sales price for a Marigold model within Whispering Woods Subdivision;$683 Payment is based on $109,990 sales price for a Concord model within Eagle Palms Subdivision; $745 Payment is based on $119,990 sales price for a Santa Barbara model within Little Ridge Subdivision; $776 Payment is based on $124,990 sales price for a Santa Barbara model within Walden Woods Subdivision; $807 Payment is based on $129,990 sales price for a Santa Barbara model within Kinglet Ridge Subdivision. FHA requires 3.5% down payment. Borrowers applying and qualifying under Florida State Bond program may receive down payment assistance; 6.50% Interest Rate; 7.087% APR and 360 month term. Other payments are based on specific prices for specific units within the community and are not available on all units. Payment amount is for principal and interest only and does not include taxes, PMI or homeowners insurance. Mortgage Insurance (PMI) is required for loans with less than 20% down. Interest rates may vary. Customer must qualify and all terms are subject to change. This offer is valid on all new home purchases between 3/15/09 and 6/30/09 and must close by 6/30/09. DHI Mortgage Ltd. Fl. Correspondent Mortgage Lender License CLB0700623. Please see your New Home Consultant for details. (c) 2009 DR Horton, Inc. All rights reserved. DHI Mortgage is an Equal Housing Lender. 3/09

Entertainment Revue All Star Cast

AUDITIONS Girls ages 5 - 14

April 25 & 26 Tampa Bay's only professional children's song and dance ensemble Eight major recording contracts signed, three American Idol Finalists Open House and Information Meeting April 20, 6:00 PM

813-805-0854

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April 2009

Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine

north

Pinellas

Clearwater, Dunedin, East Lake, Oldsmar, Palm Harbor, Safety Harbor, Tarpon Springs

Palm Harbor Citrus Festival Celebrates Heritage In its first year, the Palm Harbor Citrus Festival is an exciting, new event that will celebrate the heritage of Palm Harbor. The event is planned to be family oriented and to involve the community with the purpose of highlighting Palm Harbor’s history since 1864. Two of Palm Harbor’s non-profit organizations, the Greater Palm Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce and Old Palm Harbor Main Street, Inc. have partnered to create the Citrus Festival as a means to raise funds to support and promote Palm Harbor at large. As part of area promotion, community partners have been encouraged to participate by finding ways to inform and entertain families centered on the areas long history with citrus, farming, fishing and livestock. Festival goers will enjoy activities such as juice squeezing contests, bake offs (using citrus), historical skits and vignettes, horseshoe pit, equestrian exhibits, fish tosses, and more. There will be bluegrass, folk and gospel music performances on Saturday April 28 late afternoon and evening and Sunday late afternoon. The carnival will open on Thursday, April 26, and remain open daily throughout the event. There will be a pageant, and a very first “Miss Palm Harbor Citrus Festival Queen” will be crowned.

Island Earth Days at Honeymoon State Park Friends of the Island Parks, Honeymoon Island State Park, & Caladesi Island State Park invite everyone to come out and celebrate earth day Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19. There are activities planned for all ages starting with great live outdoor music and entertainment on the big stage, Hawaiian Outrigger Race on Saturday at noon and a Kayak competition on Sunday. Highlights include fresh seafood, beer and wine, fine artists, quality craft and environmental vendors with an expanded environmental area called Osprey Village! There will also be guided walks in the woods and on the beach, nature talks, presentations, and lots of activities and crafts for kids! Activities will take place in the shady picnic area next to the beach and the wooded hiking trails at Honeymoon Island State Park, 1 Causeway Blvd., Dunedin, FL 34698. A single donation of $5 per vehicle at the gate includes free parking. Pets are permitted if on a 6 foot hand-held leash.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium to Host Easter Egg-Stravaganza Come Look for Eggs with Winter the Dolphin!

Grab your Easter baskets for an Easter egg hunt, pictures with our Winter the dolphin mascot, a special Easter-themed dolphin show and more! You can also watch our river otters have their own special Easter egg hunt. Admission for kids will be free that morning—from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m. with a paying adult. Candy and special CMA prizes (such as dolphin photo opportunities, free tickets to the Aquarium, a dolphin encounter and more) will be placed in the eggs. The cost for admission for adults is $11. All adults who pay for admission and bring a child for the Easter egg hunt will receive a raffle ticket for prizes, which will be given away throughout the morning. Saturday, April 11 at 9:30 a.m. (There will be two egg hunts for various age groups. Kids will be grouped as follows: ages 0-5 and 6 and above). The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is located at 249 Windward Passage in Clearwater Beach. Visit www.SeeWinter.com for more information.

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dates: April 5, 5 pm - 8 pm Garden of Earthly Delights, 29th Annual Garden Party at the Dunedin Fine Arts Ctr. Auction, live music, food, 1143 Michigan Blvd.Dunedin, FL 34698, 727.298.DFAC; www.dfac.org April 11, 3:15 pm - 4:15 pm FREE Ice Hockey Clinic Open to all ages, youth-adult. Basic skating skills are required. Learn the rules of the game and how to shoot and pass. Tampa Bay Skating Academy, 255 Forest Lakes Blvd N, Oldsmar FL 34677 www.tbsa.com; preregister by calling John Soderman, Hockey Director at 813-854-4010 x110 April 18, 10 am Festival of States Family Fest City of St. Petersburg’s largest family event. Familyfest will be located in North Straub Park, downtown St. Petersburg and will include two areas of live entertainment. www. festivalofstates.com. April 18, 11 am - 2 pm Safety Harbor FUR-FEST! We’ll have a day of doggy fun with obstacle courses, plenty of dog mingling and a puppy parade. Don’t forget to sign your dog up for the fashion show. Free at the Safety Harbor Dog Park, 727-724-1545 April 18 & 19, 10 am - 5 pm Island Earth Days at Honeymoon State Park 727-738-2903/info@islandparks.org celebratewithfriends.com April 23 – 26 Palm Harbor Citrus Festival Carnival opens Thursday, remains open. palmharborcitrusfestival.com Apr. 25, 10 am; Apr. 26, 2 pm Eighth Annual Touch a Truck Dunedin Community Center 1920 Pinehurst Rd.Dunedin, FL 34698 dunedingov.com

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April 2009

Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine

recession-proof resilience

What mothers can do to help their kids and themselves during tough times BY JAMIE WOOLF

otherhood is tough. It’s tough even in the best of times, when the school-jobhomework-dinner-bath-bedtime juggle is at its absolute smoothest (which, face it, is rarely all that smooth). But throw in a financial setback—you or your partner lose a job or your house gets foreclosed on or a salary cut forces you to cancel a much-needed family vacation—and the whole house of cards threatens to collapse.

beach. Deprogramming your kids from addictive consumerism is a gift that will last a lifetime.

Yes, our tanking economy yields plenty of opportunities for mothers to break down, says leadership expert Jamie Woolf. Not a lot can be done about that. But what is important is that we have the resilience to snap back.

Create motivating conditions: Express your faith that things will get better and help your kids shift from discouragement to optimism. When you cancel a planned family ski trip or vacation, assure them that they’ll be able to go next year, when the economy is in better shape.

“The most successful leaders and family members can help people not only survive crises but also turn them into opportunities to grow,” says Woolf. Woolf teaches mothers how to use “best practices” from the workplace to make family life run more smoothly. Here, adapted from the principles in her book, are her business-inspired strategies for what you can do for yourself and your kids to boost resilience during the economic downturn:

What Moms Can Do for Their Kids

Develop caring connections: Display kindness, empathy, and compassion for your kids. If you’re feeling extra vulnerable these days, your kids may be, too. So make an effort to make them feel loved and secure at home. Be careful not to take your frustrations out on them—it’s a trap that even the most loving mother can fall into, especially in tough times.

Set an example: Model resilience when you confront challenges. If you get laid off and don’t fall apart, or if you have to start taking on extra work but still manage to get dinner on the table at the same time every night, this tells kids that no matter what happens, Mom can get through it, which will give them confidence that they can, too.

What Moms Can Do for Themselves

Focus on the big picture: If your goal is to provide a happy, healthy home for your children, don’t feel bad that you can’t buy them an iPhone—or go further into debt to get one! The importance of the basics has never been clearer. When the Sharper Image went out of business this year, it showed that maybe people realized they didn’t need an endless supply of high-tech gadgets to be happy. The most precious commodity is time. Figure out a way to give that to your kids and it will pay big dividends.

Convene your support team: Don’t suffer in silence. Talk to your friends, extended family, therapist, minister, or rabbi to express your feelings and worries. But be selective: Don’t call up doom-and-gloom downers and glasshalf-empty cynics. Whom do you know who maintains a healthy attitude in the face of misfortune? These are the people to reach out to in challenging times.

The most important lesson to keep firmly in mind—and to share with your kids—is that the hard times won’t last forever. They never do, because change is life’s only constant. And it’s that knowledge that lies at the heart of resilience itself.

Clarify your big picture goal or purpose: With their desired result clearly in sight, leaders focus on what they can control to move them closer to their goals. Decide what your goal is—staying out of the poorhouse? Reducing stress at home while you experience extra stress at work due to staff cutbacks? Making your kids feel emotionally secure while you’re financially insecure? Identifying your goal will help you stay on course to achieve it.

Prioritize the challenge into small and manageable steps: Focus on what you have control over and leave the forces outside your control alone. Figure out what you can cut back on. Create a budget and stick to it. If your goal is reducing your debt, commit to paying $10 more per month on each credit card, stop using credit cards for anything but absolute necessities, or, if you want to really remove temptation, cut them up. Find actions that yield quick, high-impact results. Transform crisis into opportunity: Getting your family to work as a team to get through the downturn can help take the load off you and can bring everyone closer together. The silver lining of having less disposable income to spend on going out is that you spend more time at home. Maximize that newfound family time by getting entertained the old-fashioned way: by playing board games, reading books, and watching TV together. Come up with creative ideas for outings that cost very little: hikes, picnics, walks on the

Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine

April 2009

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“Resilience is grounded in optimism, in hope for a better tomorrow,” says Woolf. “You will find a new job or settle into a new home or, worst case scenario, adjust to living a simpler, less materialistic life. Remind yourself of that. Remind your kids of that. Believing that your circumstances will improve is the first and probably the most important step in making them improve. “The truth is, resilience breeds more resilience,” she adds. “It makes you stronger. And when you look at it that way, you can see that the hardships that help you hone it are more a gift than a curse.” Jamie Woolf is a regular contributor to Working Mother magazine and founder of The Parent Leader and Pinehurst Consulting, an organization development consulting firm. In her book, Mom-in-Chief: How Wisdom from the Workplace Can Save Your Family from Chaos, Woolf addresses real-life quandaries and covers everything that career-oriented women need to know to unleash their parenting potential and navigate challenges with skill and grace. Mom-in-Chief: is available at bookstores nationwide and from major online booksellers.

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April 2009

Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine

Dr. Madelyn E. Butler outside of The Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Group. Photo by: Jeanine McLeod

Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine

April 2009

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Extraordinary Woman

BY ANGELA ARDOLINO

r. Madelyn E. Butler came to the United States at the age of four, after the communist revolution in Cuba. Her father left everything behind and she remembers him studying hard to pass his board exams so he could practice Veterinary Medicine in the U.S. They moved to Sylvester, Georgia and when she was 11, they then moved to Bartow, FL. At the age of 15 she met her husband and they dated for nine years before marrying. Even at the age of 15 she knew she wanted to be a doctor and having a father who taught her that anything was possible, helped her realize her destiny. She has been married for 23 years and feels grateful to have met the perfect man at such a young age. She started medical school at the University of Florida two months before she got married and she had her first child, Olivia, now 16, when she was in her third year residency at the University of South Florida. Son Christian, 14, came when she started her first job in private practice and Donovan, 9, was born the second year she started the Woman’s Group. She is also a Board Member of the Help Bring Hope for Hati, where she’s served as a Medical Team Leader since 1999. Just this past year she brought her daughter to Haiti with her where she helped with the birth of a child.

mistakes.

Balancing motherhood, charity work, a successful marriage and medical career has made Dr. Madelyn Butler my Extraordinary Woman for April.

ANGELA: Favorite thing to do with your kids in Tampa Bay? MADELYN: I love to do anything educational with my kids; plays, musicals, museums, art exhibits.

ANGELA: What do you think your secret to success is? MADELYN: Nothing more than perseverance and hard work. I was told by many that medicine was too hard a life, that the training was too hard to get through, but I wanted to do it, I was determined, and I knew it was what I was called to do. ANGELA: What advice would you give to other women? MADELYN: To hold fast to your aspirations and goals whatever they may be, constantly do things that make you grow personally and professionally, and surround yourself with people that inspire you. ANGELA: What is your proudest moment? MADELYN: My proudest moments were graduating from Medical School because it represented the culmination of many years of very hard work, and the birth of each of my three children because they gave it even more purpose. ANGELA: What is your biggest achievement MADELYN: Being able to practice medicine, enjoy a fulfilling family life, and still pursue my activities in the community and in the Florida Medical Association. ANGELA: What do you love and hate about being a mom? MADELYN: I love watching my children grow emotionally and intellectually. I love seeing things through younger eyes. The thing I most dislike about motherhood is that your children don’t listen when you try to give them the benefit of your experience and then you watch them make avoidable

ANGELA: How do you balance motherhood and work? MADELYN: I try to be very organized but I have a husband who helps a lot and realizes when we’re a team the whole family wins. I hire help for housekeeping once a week, but we all chip in to keep things neat during the week. I still enjoy cooking during the week, but I prepare some things in advance on the weekends. We involve the kids in most of what we do and this has provided great educational experiences for them. ANGELA: What goals do you have for your future? MADELYN: To continue to develop myself professionally; to always provide cutting edge women’s health care, to raise children that are happy, self-fulfilled and good citizens, and to have made a positive mark on the world both professionally and in my community. ANGELA: Favorite restaurant to take your kids to? MADELYN: My kids love House of Wah, Shells, and Outback.

ANGELA: Biggest inspiration or role model? MADELYN: I’ve had a lot of role models- my dad who left behind everything he had to start a better life for his family, my aunts who had professional careers before most women were even going to college, Dr. Gerry Schreiber, who showed me the responsibility physicians have to shape the political process so that the medical profession can best serve patients. ANGELA: How do you relax/take time for you? MADELYN: I try to have at least one day a week, usually Sundays when I don’t plan anything. When I have to travel for business, I like to read. ANGELA: What is something people don’t know about you? MADELYN: I love being outdoors- hiking, camping. My mother was oldfashioned and thought girls shouldn’t get dirty, so I didn’t get to do this much as a kid. ANGELA: What would you like to see in Tampa Bay’s future? MADELYN: I would like to see continued economic growth in the area so that my children and their families will make Tampa Bay their home too. ANGELA: What message would you like to give to women? MADELYN: As women we need to encourage each other. There are very high expectations placed on us. The truth is, the price of “having it all” is high- but well worth it. We all have different goals and energy levels and we each have to choose the path that makes us happy. Don’t discourage someone from doing something just because it will be difficult. It may be the most rewarding thing they ever do. tbparenting.com

April 2009

Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine

south

Pinellas

Largo, Pinellas Park, Seminole, St. Pete Beach, St. Petersburg, Treasure Island

Shorecrest Preparatory Student is Finalist in the Intel Science Talent Search Max Rabinovich, a senior at Shorecrest Preparatory School, is the only finalist from the state of Florida in the Intel Science Talent Search - America’s oldest and most prestigious science research competition for high school seniors. Rabinovich is named a finalist in the competition because of his research, The Scaling Limit of a Generalized Divisible Sandpile Model, completed this summer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. During his summer at MIT prior to his senior year, Rabinovich participated in a six-week rigorous academic program free of charge, taking college level classes taught by distinguished professors and completing hands-on research with top mentors at corporations and universities. The classes emphasize advanced theory and research in mathematics, the sciences, and engineering. Only 75 students internationally are selected for the program. Rabinovich’s project determines the scaling limits of generalized anisotropic models by addressing a random process of diffusion in which a finite set of particles start out on points on a grid, and those particles which share a site move randomly to unoccupied points until no site has more than one particle. Although previously proven that the shape would be rectangular, Rabinovich proved that under a more general assumption concerning the probabilities of motion, the shape would be ellipsoid. Since 1942 the competition has provided a national stage for America’s best and brightest young scientists to present Max Rabinovich the only finalist from the state of Florida original research to nationally recognized in the Intel Science Talent Search professional scientists. Each spring, only 40 finalists are selected from a nationwide pool of thousands to attend the week-long Science Talent Institute in Washington, D.C. There, students have the opportunity to present their research projects to the general public and members of the scientific community at the National Academy of Sciences, meet with distinguished government leaders and participate in a rigorous judging process. Robinovich has many talents and has been recognized for his playwriting skills. His short play “Hativah” has been selected to be performed by the Carrollwood Players in August. In addition to his many achievements, he gives back to his community by volunteering at the Bay Point Nursing Pavilion to help organize and run activities for the residents.

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dates:

April 4, 11, 18, 25 – 10 am - 4 pm Ride the train in Largo Central Park Florida Live Steamers ALL ABOARD! Enjoy a free ride on the Largo Central Park Railroad! Trains run the first full weekend of every month. Largo.com April 11, 10 am - 1 pm Jelly Bean Fling at the Helen Holland Rose Garden. Bring your baskets for our Egg Hunt and Pictures with the Easter Bunny! Visit the Kids Create! tent for free creative crafts and our 1st Annual PEEPS Diorama Contest! (Kids up to age 13 may enter). Great food, music and more. This is the Junior League of St. Petersburg’s annual fundraising event. Cost is $5, includes all activities. www.jlstpete.com. April 11, 10 am Underwater Easter Egg Hunt FREE Easter Egg Hunt in the Pool St. Pete Beach Community Center 7701 Boca Ciega Dr 727-363-9245, www.stpetebeach.org April 16-18, 7:30 pm Grease at Shorecrest Preparatory School The spring musical is playing Thursday, April 16; Friday, April 17; and Saturday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m. at the Janet Root Theatre on campus. Tickets are available by calling (727)522-2111, ext. 141 Through April 19 Word & Image Elementary School, Part II Work by Pinellas County elementary school students is displayed in this exhibit. Risser Children’s Gallery. The Arts Center, 719 Central Ave, St.Petersburg, 727-822-7872 April 22, 6 pm Trashy Fashion Recycle Fashion Show Doors open at 6 p.m. runway show starts 7pm Largo Cultural Center, 105 Central Park Drive, Largo, Florida 33771. For more info call 727586-7424

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April 2009

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April 2009

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April 2009

Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine

Pasco

Dade City, Land O’ Lakes, New Port Richey, Port Richey, Trinity, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills

Kids Club every Wednesday

Where can your child learn about and touch real animals, be on stage and take part in a live musical performance or spend their energy leaping inside an inflatable bounce house all in one hour? If you peer into center court of The Shops at Wiregrass, you’ll see just that every Wednesday at ten o’clock taking place in center court at The Shops at Wiregrass. Wiregrass Wednesdays is a weekly children’s entertainment program taking place every Wednesday at 10:00am. The event is presented by Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine and includes fun, educational games and activities for kids! Musical programs, story telling, and arts & crafts are just a few examples. Of course, all of the programs are formulated to enrich one of the most important qualities of any child – their imagination. Wiregrass Wednesdays brings in some of the area’s finest children’s entertainers to The Shops at Wiregrass for music, fun and great giveaways. On any given Wednesday morning you may see a balloon artist, or you may bump into a face painter, caricature artist or juggler. Throughout the hour kids can even move to the groove of their very own song!

There’s a new Hot Spot in Town

Every Thursday evening, from 6-9pm, March through May, the streets within the Shops at Wiregrass are transformed into an old fashioned main street USA style street festival to hold the ‘Gatherings at Wiregrass’ - a FREE event featuring a variety of live musical performances on three separate stages throughout the center, as well as food, drinks, a special children’s area presented by Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine, and of course event night only shopping deals. With such a great line-up of musical acts each Thursday, along with great shopping deals, and now an incredible kids area, the Gatherings truly have something for everyone! If you’re looking for a fun and comfortable place to go hang-out after work, loosen up your tie or let your hair down, shop for great deals, dance, have a drink, meet new people, dine out, and simply have a BLAST, then The Shops at Wiregrass is your place to be on Thursday nights! Appearing in April: Late Night Brass, Deleied Parrots, Gumbo Boogie, Wholly Cats, and many, many, more!

East Pasco Habitat for Humanity-Charity Bike Ride

On April 4 bike riders are invited to ride to benefit the East Pasco Habitat for Humanity to provide affordable housing opportunities to deserving families in need. Since its formation in 1994, the organization has built 60 homes in East Pasco County. Habitat challenges individuals, churches, foundations and other groups to join in a partnership with low-income families to change the conditions in which they live. This charity bike ride is the feature event at the “Orange Blossom Special BBQ & Bike Festival” This is not just another housing program. Instead, those who need the homes, work together with many volunteers to build simple, decent houses that cost less because they are sold with a no-interest, no-profit mortgage. Habitat gives a “hand up-not a hand out”. To register to ride visit rideforhumanity2009.kintera.org.

Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine

April 2009

April 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29, 10 am Kids Club Days Free activities and entertainment for children Shops at Wiregrass, 2811 Paseo Drive TheShopsAtWiregrass.com April 4-12 Annual Easter Boogie Events take place at Skydive City. Night Jumps in the dark! (Saturday Night, B license required.) High Altitude Load, B license req’d, 22,000’ 8am SHARP briefing and take-off. 4241 Sky Dive Lane, Zephyrhills, FL 33542, Skydivecity.com

The Shops at Wiregrass & Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine are committed to bringing quality entertainment to Wesley Chapel and New Tampa area families by continuing interactive programming such as Wiregrass Wednesdays at ten o’clock. Each Wednesday brings a new exciting activity to the children’s play area so log on to www.TheShopsatWiregrass.com for more information on special events, Kids Club events, and store sales!

dates:

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April 8 Spring Break Carnival Free activities, giveaways and entertainment by Karl & DiMarco and America’s Ballet School. Shops at Wiregrass, 2811 Paseo Drive TheShopsAtWiregrass.com April 18, 6:30 pm - 11:30 pm Black Tie & Blue Jeans Country Ball Advance tickets only, Steelwater Band, dinner by Kafe Kokopeli, live & silent auction, dancing. 352-567-0262; pioneerfloridamuseum.org April 18, 9 am - 4 pm “Trash 2 Treasures” Community Garage Sale, Junior Service League Fundraiser North Trinity Self Storage, 4124 Little Rd, Trinity 34655 westpasco.com April 24-26, 2:30 pm & 8 pm Shakespeare by the River Festival The Richey Suncoast Theatre puts on an abridged version of the play, Much Ado About Nothing, for this annual festival. Sims Park, 6237 Grand Boulevard, New Port Richey 727-842-6777, Richeysuncoasttheatre.com April 24 & 25, 2 pm & 7 pm Huck Finn’s High Tailin’ Adventures and The Jungle Book by Arts in Motion Shows take place at Pasco Middle School. artsinmotionpasco.org

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around town St. John Greek Annual Fundraiser

James Dean, Angela Ardolino, Randy Feldman, Marilyn Monroe and Todd Varde

Jennifer Ramirez, new owner of Smarty Pants Kids’ Boutique, with Auction Chair Jackie Toledo.

PHOTOS BY BILLY WALLER

Alan and Dana Ruiz enjoyed the evening

Glazer Children’s Museum Groundbreaking

The Glazer Children’s Museum officially broke ground Monday, March 9th on the new facility, located in the Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. As museum officials and project supporters gathered on the dirt surface to commemorate the future museum that would stand in its place, the sounds of children laughing and playing resonated throughout the crowd. Dozens of kids enjoyed snacks, balloon animals and arts and crafts, complementing the ceremony with a background percussion that was all too perfect for the gathering at hand. The Glazer Children’s Museum is expected to open in 2010. For more information visit www.glazermuseum.org

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PHOTOS BY JEANINE MCLEOD

Arts in the Park at the Carrollwood Cultural Center

The Carrollwood Cultural Center celebrated itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one year anniversary, March 14th, with live music, theater and dance.

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party pages

Wags the Clown We always give smiles! Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Party Entertainment face painting, balloon art, magic and more!

727-687-4686 www.wagstheclown.com

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april calendar of events EVENTS/FESTIVALS Honda Grand Prix of St.Petersburg April 4 The race is run on a waterfront circuit that includes a combination of adjacent downtown streets circling Pioneer Park, the Bayfront Center and extending onto runways at Albert Whitted Airport, 25 Second Street North, Saint Petersburg. www.gpstpete.com Taste the Best of Tampa Bay 2009 April 4, 7 pm Bay area’s premier food event, Best of Tampa Bay. Enjoy live entertainment and sample food and drinks from the Tampa Bay area’s best restaurants and caterers, while strolling along the Hillsborough River. TBPAC Riverwalk, www.tbpac.org

Eggstravaganza (see ad on pg 34) April 11, 9 am - 11 am Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center 813-229-7827, tbpac.org USF Botanical Gardens Annual Spring Plant Festival April 11, 10 am - 4 pm Features over 70 vendors selling plants and plant-related items. Vendors include local plant clubs and societies, as well as commercial growers from throughout the state. Workshops will be held April 12 from 11am to 2pm. The festival will feature a free children’s activity area with fun for kids of all ages. Parking is free. Admission to this fund raiser is $5 for the general public and free for USFBG members and children under 12. Call 813-974-2329 cas. usf.edu/garden Frontline’s David Fanning April 15, 7 pm Exeuctive Producer of Frontline, David Fanning shares personal experiences and insight into the world of broadcast journalism. Fanning began his journalistic career in South Africa as a reporter for a local newspaper and

national magazine. Palladium Theater 253 Fifth Avenue North, St. Petersburg 33701 Healthy Kids Day April 18, 10 am - 3 pm MOSI, www.tampaymca.org Festival of States Parade & Familyfest April 18, 10 am – 4:30 pm City of St. Petersburg’s largest family event located in North Straub Park, downtown St. Petersburg with two areas of live entertainment. There are also games, inflatables, rock climbing wall, bungee jump, batting booth, Radio Disney, free make and take booths and tasty foods and drink. Entry is FREE. festivalofstates.com Field of Dreams April 18, 8 pm Free, family night at the movies presented by the Tampa Theatre at Macfarlane Park in Tampa. Against all odds, Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner), a simple Iowa farmer finds the courage to believe in his dreams. MacFarland Park, 2000 West Jamaica Street 813-274-8981, www.tampatheatre.org Karamu XXI April 18, 6:30 pm This year’s exciting event brings the extravagance and embellishments of Brazil’s street festival, “Carnival,” to the Zoo. Karamu is by invitation only with ticket prices ranging from $250 - $500. To join the list, e-mail Karamu@LowryParkZoo.com Earth Day at Nature’s Classroom April 18 & 19, 10 am - 4 pm This free weekend festival celebrates nature and Hillsborough County’s environment. Nature’s Classroom is a 356-acre environmental studies program and learning laboratory set in Florida’s natural environment. Tampa Museum of Art provides hands-on activities. naturesclassroom.net. Earth Day Tampa Bay April 19, 11 am - 4 pm The family-friendly event will offer a large children’s activity area, with arts and crafts projects and educational games

aimed at learning the a-b-c’s of recycling and nature appreciation. The festival will feature more than 60 exhibitors offering products, information and demonstrations on ways to help you create a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. Lowry Park Zoo. 813-926-5659, www.florida.sierraclub.org/tampabay Tampa-Hillsborough County Storytelling Festival April 19, 9 am - 4 pm Families will enjoy hundreds of storytellers of all ages telling in the traditional style of storytelling and a host of other art forms used in storytelling. Balladeers, dancers, puppeteers, mimes, actors and costumed storybook characters are just a few of the diverse local artists who combine their art with storytelling at the Festival. FREE. Hillsborough High, 5000 N Central Ave. tampastory.org. Enrichment Day at Lowry Park Zoo April 25, 9:30 am-5 pm Celebrate the living Earth at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo with a day of family fun and discovery. Enjoy a wide variety of animal enrichment activities, educational displays and exhibits throughout the Zoo. Enrichment Day activities are included with Zoo admission. LowryParkZoo.com, 813-935-8552

THEATER Galumpha for Kids April 11, Ferguson Hall, 2 pm & 4 pm Combining stunning acrobatics, striking visual effects, physical comedy and inventive choreography, Galumpha for Kids brings to life a world of imagination, beauty, muscle and merriment. Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, tbpac.org, 813-229-7827 Bob the Builder Live! April 18, 1 pm & 4 pm Spud’s Big Mess features your favorite characters in a fun-packed show set in the heart of Sunflower Valley. Ruth Eckerd Hall, 727-791-7400, rutheckerdhall.com

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April 2009

Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine

Goodnight Moon/ Runaway Bunny April 26, Ferguson Hall, 1 pm Goodnight Moon celebrates familiar nighttime rituals, while The Runaway Bunny’s pretend tale of leaving home evokes reassuring responses from his mum, infusing kids with a sense of security and peace. Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center 813-229-7827, tbpac.org Fiddler on the Roof April 28-May 3 The Tony® Award-winning musical that has captured the hearts of people all over the world with its universal appeal, embarks on its national tour. In what is a huge theatrical feat, audiences will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the original Tevye from the acclaimed film, Chaim Topol, perform the role that made him legendary with his award-winning portrayal in Fiddler on the Roof. Relive a glorious tradition of the musical theater with Topol in Fiddler on the Roof. Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, tbpac.org, 813-229-7827

MUSIC/DANCE Children’s Opera Workshops April 4, 11 am - Noon Opera Tampa Apprentice Program singers will conduct opera workshops for students in grades two through 12. These workshops are especially geared to inspire and educate children about opera, as they dance, sing and play, using operatic themes. Patel Conservatory, Pre-registration is required by calling 813-222-1002. Ribbon of Highway, Endless Skyway: A Tribute to Woody Guthrie April 5, 7:30 pm Tribute to Guthrie, who picked up a guitar and used his voice, personality and wit to speak for the poverty stricken, working class folk of his era, and speak for the people that time tends to forget. Tampa Theatre, 711 North Franklin Street. 813-274-8981 Flight of the Concords April 6, 7:30 pm The HBO show follows the trials and tribulations of a two man, digi-folk band from

Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine

April 2009

New Zealand as they try to make a name for themselves in their adopted home of New York City. The band is made up of Bret McKenzie on guitar and vocals, and Jemaine Clement on guitar and vocals. Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center 813-229-7827, tbpac.org Nrityagram Dance Ensemble Master Class April 7, 7 pm FREE. The Nrityagram Dance Ensemble will conduct a master class introduction to Odissi, Indian classical dance, which includes a demonstration of the language of the dance and of dance pieces. The master class is an opportunity to learn very basic phrases of pure Odissi movement and the isolated body training specific to Odissi. Some dance experience is required. Patel Conservatory, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center 813-229-7827, tbpac.org Nrityagram Dance Ensemble of India presents Pratima: Reflection, April 8, Ferguson Hall, 8 pm The Nrityagram Dance Ensemble brings to TBPAC Indian classical dance that represents the culture and history of India and incorporates theater, music, mythology, sculpture and poetry. The New York Times calls it “one of the most luminous dance events of the year!” Visit nrityagram.org. Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center 813-229-7827, tbpac.org Charles Gounod’s Faust, April 17, 19 What would you trade to make your wildest dreams come true? In the opera, aged alchemist and necromancer, Doctor Heinrich Faust makes a deal with Satan to restore his youthful virility that allows him to pursue the love of the virgin Marguerite. A staple of the international operatic repertory, Faust will be sung in French with English translations projected above the stage. Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center 813-229-7827, tbpac.org Fleetwood Mac April 22, 7 pm Ford Ampitheatre at Florida State Fairgrounds. 4802 North US Highway 301, Tampa 33610. Buy tickets by calling the St. Pete Times Forum, 813-301-2500.

ART Hyde Park Village Arts Festival April 4-5, 10 am - 5 pm 20th Anniversary Hyde Park Village Art Fair. tbparenting.com

Life-size sculptures, spectacular paintings, oneof-a-kind jewels, photography, ceramics, and kids area. www.artfestival.com Bit, Byte, Dot, Spot: postdigital art April 17, 7 - 9 pm The Tampa Museum of Art (TMA) will present a special exhibition that showcases digital art and explores how changing technology is encouraging new artmaking techniques. Students and professors from five Florida colleges and universities have created unique works of art for the interactive exhibition. The cost is $10 per person and is free to museum members. 813274-7328/tampamuseum.com. VAN GOGH: Brush with Genius Through April A 40-minute IMAX Dome Theatre film at MOSI about the life and paintings of Vincent van Gogh. Leads viewers on a journey through the surprisingly short 10-year period of the artist’s career during which he painted more than 900 paintings. Museum of Science & Industry, 4801, E. Fowler Ave, Tampa. Mosi.org Buckler’s Craft & Scrapbooking Fair April 25 & 26 Professional, Award Winning craftspeople from across the country exhibiting and selling items such as country, Victorian, folk art, primitive, southwestern, furniture, wood items, toys, dolls, bears, clothing and accessories, jewelry, gourmet delights, homemade fudge, Christmas items and much more. Ford Amphitheatre at Florida State Fairgrounds, 4802 North US Highway 301, Tampa, FL 33610, bpcraftfairs.com

FILM LunaFest April 16, 6 pm - 7:30 pm Short Films by, for and about women. Home Theater Gallery 3300 Dale Mabry Hwy., divinetampa.com

For more event listings visit tbparenting.com

Camp. Only Cooler.

Summer camp at Busch Gardens and Adventure Island is a time to make new friends of the four-legged and two-legged variety, come face-to-face with a giraffe, plunge down water slides, ride a dive coaster, and create lasting memories. Busch Gardens and Adventure Island offer Summer Camps for those in preschool through eighth grade, including eight NEW camps this year! Camps are offered weekly June-August. Look online for the camp that's right for your child. Sign up today.