Give Your Heart Some Love
The most important thing you have is your health, and healthy living starts with good heart health. BayCare is offering these free screenings at our heart-healthy events: ■ Blood pressure
Choose from Convenient Dates and Locations All Events Are 8am–2pm Wednesday, February 3
Morton Plant North Bay Hospital (New Port Richey)
Thursday, February 4
South Florida Baptist Hospital (Plant City)
Saturday, February 6
BayCare Health Center (Largo)
Wednesday, February 10
St. Anthony’s Hospital (St. Petersburg)
Saturday, February 13
Winter Haven Hospital (Winter Haven)
Tuesday, February 16
Morton Plant Hospital (Clearwater)
■ Body mass index (BMI)
Thursday, February 18
St. Joseph’s Hospital-South (Riverview)
■ Cholesterol
Wednesday, February 24
St. Joseph’s Hospital-North (Lutz)
■ Screening to assess risk for diabetes*
Friday, February 26
Bartow Regional Medical Center (Bartow)
Wednesday, March 2
BayCare Outpatient Center (Carillon)
Friday, March 4
Mease Countryside Hospital (Safety Harbor)
Monday, March 7
St. Joseph’s Hospital (Tampa)
Saturday, March 12
BayCare Health Center (Trinity)
Plus, there will be a nutrition specialist on hand to answer your questions. *If the assessment suggests your risk is high, an A1c test will be offered.
Registration required: (855) 546-6304 BayCareHeartHealth.org
BC1600012-0116
Join Us at a Free Heart-Healthy Screening
Contents
14
20
22
32
features 22|Keep it clean
10|la cucaracha Keep these pests away for good-- safely!
Four ways to organize your life post-kids
24|losing side
14|body talk What is your body trying to tell you?
Obsessed families can affect young athletes
30|love home
18|winterize baby's skin
The best products for your home
5 tips to boost baby’s skin health
32|extraordinary woman
20|peaceful divorce Collaboration is the best option for families
Trimeka Benjamin
every month
Kid Winner Ben S. joined us at
Pg. 30
10|health and wellness
Love Home. Find the best
20|education
the ones you love here.
products for your home and
34|south Hillsborough News
the historic downtown Tampa Theatre. Ben spent the day checking out some of beautiful spots that make downtown Tampa such a great place to be.
36|north Hillsborough News
For
more
38|south pinellas News
the
Tampa
40|north pinellas News
TampaTheatre.org.
42|pasco News
Theatre,
on visit
Check
out our calendar of events on downtown and at the theatre.
46|calendar of events 50|directory
TAMPA BAY PARENTING
information
page 46 to find family events
44|around town
4
Photograph by Amy Pezzicara of Pezz Photo For this month’s cover, Cover
06|Letter From The Editor
28|what's happening
on the cover
• FEB. 2016 • TBParenting.com
I have to lead by example now.
Seven pounds and growing.
It hasn’t hit me yet. I’m a mom.
Health care is about the human spirit. Which is why Florida Hospital goes beyond symptoms and treatments, helping people live healthier, happier lives. Because you’re not just having a baby, you’re delivering a little miracle to the world and your family. This is more than quality, expertise and compassion.
Discover the Florida Hospital difference at InspiredTampaBay.com
Florida Hospital
|
Centra Care Urgent Care
|
Locations Throughout Tampa Bay Florida Hospital Physician Group
Founder & Editorial Director
Angela L. Ardolino Editorial Assistant
Krista Byrd Associate Editor
Anu Panchal Contributing Writers
Gayla Grace Lisa L. Thompson Jill Hechtman, MD Lindsay Perez Jill Assalti Dr. William Sears Rachel Moskowitz, LMHC Ashley Abene Susan Malone Calendar & Neighborhood Stories
Karla Hartley of Stageworks Theater and I at the Stageworks annual gala.
Chris Kuhn Director of Sales & events
David E. Estevez account executive
Ralf Gonzalez Melissa McClung
love is in the air! 2016 is already shaping up to be an exciting year, and it has only just begun!
sales assistant
I’m so excited to share with you all that this year’s Summer Splash Summer Camp Fair will be on April 9 at MOSI! As one of the most innovative and exciting museums in the area, MOSI is a great fit for us to work together to bring you and your family the most comprehensive Summer Splash yet. For $5, your family can not only meet face-to-face with camp counselors from all the exciting summer camps, but will also have access to the rest of MOSI for the day. Visit www.summersplashtampabay.com for more information.
Johnny Garde public relations
Theresa Stanton Maria Dones Contributing photographers
Jeanine McLeod Amy Pezzicara
This month, as love fills the air and pink hearts fill your mailbox, it is a good time to think about what else is around your family: specifically, in your home. As part of our annual home issue, we have delved into how to deal with cockroaches without using harmful chemicals and pesticides. Find out more on page 10. We all want to be organized, but no matter how hard we try, our kids can turn our homes into a wreck. Don’t stress over your messy home; instead, go to page 22 to read writer Ashley Abene’s tips on how to organize effectively.
Social Moms
Lisa-Marie Leihy Rachel Long Peggy Stines-Munnings Ana Peralta Laurie Winkles
It would seem that with our fickle winter, we are constantly caught unprepared when cold weather hits. Your baby’s skin can be especially sensitive to the weather, but don’t worry: We have tips to help you winterize your family’s skin on page 18. Strong women are the pillars of our community, and this month we had the pleasure of meeting Trimeka Benjamin. This Extraordinary Woman is a mother of two young boys and runs a successful marketing company, and somehow still finds time to volunteer in the community with organizations like the Junior League of Tampa. Read more about how Trimeka balances it all on page 32.
Tampa Bay parenting Magazine
320 W. Kennedy Blvd Ste. 220 Tampa, Florida 33606 Phone: 813-949-4400 Fax: 813-315-6688
As we plunge into the beauty of spring, I hope you all have a wonderful February.
info@tbparenting.com editor@tbparenting.com Become A Fan at:
Facebook.com/ tampabayparentingmagazine
6
TAMPA BAY PARENTING
Tampa Bay Parenting is published twelve times per year and distributed throughout the Tampa Bay community. Tampa Bay Parenting is not responsible for any errors, inaccuracies, omissions or incorrect information (or the consequences related thereto) contained within the magazine or online; readers should not rely on any information contained in the magazine and they should always consult with an appropriate professional for guidance. Tampa Bay Parenting accepts no responsibility for the consequences of error or for any loss or damage suffered by users of any of the information or materials provided by Tampa Bay Parenting. Some content published by Tampa Bay Parenting is sponsored or paid for advertising content, and some individuals quoted or cited in articles have paid for advertising or sponsorships; this content or opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Tampa Bay Parenting.
• JUNE 2015 • TBParenting.com
©Disney
JAN 20 – FEB 14 MORSANI HALL
PATEL CONSERVATORY PRESENTS
PATEL CONSERVATORY
@STRAZ CENTER
Katie Adams -
PRESENTED BY
FEB 18-21 TECO THEATER
PATEL CONSERVATORY
@STRAZ CENTER
813.222.1002 • patelconservatory.org
The Enchanted Kingdom Fairytales es es
FREE FUN • SNACKS • PERFORMANCES • CLASSES
SAT • FEB 27 • 10AM-2PM RRegister egiis eg iste ist ter for ter for SU SUMMER SUMM UMM MMER ER CAMPS CAM AMPS PS inin DANCE, DANC DA NCE NC CE, THEATER THEA TH EATE EA TERR and TE andd MUSIC! MUSI MU SICC! SI
813.222.1002 • patelconservatory.org
SAT • FEB 20 • 11AM
STRAZ CENTER IT’S MORE THAN JUST A SHOW. 813.229.STAR (7827) • STRAZCENTER.ORG • Group Sales: 813.222.1018 or 1047 Events, days, dates, times, performers and prices are subject to change without notice. Handling fees will apply.
ANIMATE A T-REX, FLY A PTERODACTYL. CONTROL MILLIONS OF YEARS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC JANUARY 30 th . LIMITED ENGAGEMENT.
RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOW FOR SPRING BREAK CAMP 3/14-3/25. MOSI MEMBERS GET 25% OFF.
la cucaracha! How to keep these household pests away for good—safely! By Angela Ardolino
i
t’s the middle of the night, and you’re in the mood for a snack. You flip on the lights to see a cockroach scurrying along the countertop and, like a magic trick, virtually disappearing into unseen cracks or holes in your kitchen.
Cockroaches, palmetto bugs, waterbugs, Croton bugs, or similar insects by any name seem to strike fear in us the moment we realize that our homes have been invaded by these pests. Not only are they revolting, but they also present a health hazard by carrying diseasecausing germs, and cockroach debris may trigger asthma attacks in those who are sensitive to certain proteins found in the debris. Regardless of the nature of your unwelcome visitor, for many of us the first inclination is to dig out that ever-present can of insecticide and start liberally spraying it on the offensive bug, and around your floors, counters or anywhere you imagine these disgusting creatures might travel. But before you give in to that impulse, consider this: most insecticides contain toxins. The cockroaches may track these toxins across food preparation surfaces and into food storage areas (even onto food or into food containers that are not sealed); kids or animals may come into contact or even ingest them; and ultimately you may be driving the cockroaches even further into your walls, making the problem worse. Using store-bought adhesive traps, water jars or soda bottles may provide temporary reprieve from sightings, but it won’t do anything to affect the nest and eggs, which may be hidden in your walls or cupboards. But don’t despair! There are safer ways to eliminate the problem, and decrease the likelihood of future infestations.
Eliminate their food and water source
There is a reason that cockroaches have chosen to call your home their home. You’ve got to get rid of the conditions that allow them to thrive, including food and water. While cockroaches may be able to survive for several weeks without food, they won’t last more than a week without water. So look for and fix any obvious water leaks. Of course, you’ll need to clean your living space thoroughly, but particularly the kitchen counters, cabinets and floors. You should also inspect boxed and bagged dry food items to ensure that the contents haven’t spilled out, and that roaches haven’t gained access through rips or tears in the packaging. If in doubt, toss it out.
Keep it clean
While you may have eliminated the immediate threat, you’ll want to make sure to avoid inviting any future infestations. These precautions will also assist in keeping other insects (like ants) and rodents from
10
TAMPA BAY PARENTING
• FEB. 2016 • TBParenting.com
invading your living space: • Don’t leave food out for extended periods of time (this includes dirty dishes); and keep food in sealed containers, including pet food. • Clean and disinfect your counters, sink and floors regularly to pick up crumbs and spills. Be sure to clean grease from under and behind your oven and small appliances (cockroaches LOVE grease). • Run very hot water down your drains a couple of times per week to flush out cockroaches that may be hiding out in the overflow drain part. You can also use borax and hot water less frequently. • Turn your oven on high heat weekly to kill any cockroaches that may be living inside. • Take out the trash regularly; keep trash away from your house, preferably in containers with lids (let’s not invite other foragers!). • Be sure to keep yard waste and wood piles away from your house, as these provide convenient hiding places for cockroaches. • Seal any cracks, both inside and outside your home, that would allow their entry. Include insides of cabinets, cracks along the floor, doors and windows, and around pipes in kitchens and bathrooms. There are several other methods of cockroach control that may be safely utilized (but have mixed results), including traps that contains a natural fungus, traps with sex attractants, non-toxic sprays and even lizards— the Tokay gecko—that love to eat cockroaches. But no matter your approach to getting rid of these pests, you’ll want to take precautions to ensure that they don’t return.
Safe bait
An easy way to kill adult cockroaches that you see is to spray them with a simple solution of liquid soap and water. The solution clogs their breathing pores, killing them almost instantly. And it’s safe for humans and animals. Most store-bought cockroach baits are designed for the cockroach to eat the bait (which contains toxins), then excrete it back at their nest, where others will come into contact with it and die. Baits tend to minimize the need to touch or spread around chemicals. And while the active ingredients in most commercially sold baits are in small amounts, they are toxins. Skin contact with some can cause skin irritation, while ingestion can result in sweating, nausea, vomiting, headache, stomach pain, dizziness, weakness, and even seizures. In order to protect your family, you may want to consider using a homemade bait made with safer ingredients, and placing it in locations that are out of the reach of small hands or pets. Try mixing equal parts of white flour, powdered sugar and powdered (not granular) boric acid, and sprinkling the mixture under your refrigerator and stove and in the backs of drawers and cabinets. You can also add water to create a paste for use in cracks or holes and areas where you don’t want to
with a Pediatrician Close to Home
Your physician connection in Tampa Bay With more than 200 pediatricians, pediatric specialists and family medicine physicians in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk counties, care for your family is always nearby. With the area’s premier pediatric providers, we will continue to help your children stay healthy, with a wide range of services, including: n Well child care
n Pediatric sick visits
n Immunizations
n Hospital newborn care
n New baby care and separate well baby waiting room
n Asthma management
n Now accepting new patients. n Most major insurance plans are accepted.
For assistance in scheduling an appointment:
(855) 466-6686
Thank you for allowing us to care for your family. BayCareMedicalGroup.org BC1508806_1215
sprinkle a powder. Although kids or pets may inadvertently come into contact with or ingest this mixture, boric acid is not highly toxic to humans and pets (but it is for external use only). You may wish to substitute baking soda or food-grade Diatomaceous Earth, for boric acid, but it may take longer to kill the cockroaches where they nest and breed. Since humidity can cause this concoction to clump or cake, you may wish to use foil or paper to protect floors and cabinets. It may take a couple of weeks of use, including some diminishing recurrences of cockroach sightings, for all of them to be gone.
Safe products Diatomaceous Earth - While roaches build up resistance to chemical treatments and fumigation costs remain high, diatomaceous earth is an organic, low cost, roach control that is safe to use around your children and pets. Not only will it rid your home of cockroaches, but it continues to work long after chemical solutions have worn away and roaches won’t build up a resistance to the effects of Diatomaceous Earth $10.99, www.diatomaceousearth.com
Insect Magnet - These poison-free traps have a patented pheromone that lures and traps roaches, spiders, ants, scorpions, centipedes, silverfish, crickets and palmetto bugs. They not only attract adult roaches, but also trap the nymphs and eggs of roaches, preventing future infestations. The unique patented box design fits into small, tight corners and has multiple entry points for easy access. $6.99, www.amazon.com
It could be more than what meets the eye 'IFTED n -EMtY v !$$ !$($ n !NXIETY $YSL”IA n ,EfNING $ISABILITY
Get to the root of the problem Schedule a consultation today www.TestingYourKids.com or call (813) 969-3878 /FFICES IN .tTH 3‹TH 4AMPA
12
TAMPA BAY PARENTING
• FEB. 2016 • TBParenting.com
Boric Acid Formula with lure kills roaches, palmetto bugs, waterbugs and silverfish. Puffer bottle with included straw reaches into cracks and crevices where insects hide. The powder is great for getting to roaches in hard-to-reach areas. Using the easy applicator, create a barrier through which cockroaches and other insects must crawl. Apply liberally under and behind refrigerator, stove, sink, dishwasher, washing machine, dryer and tubs in kitchen and utility rooms. Apply in cracks and crevices along baseboards and corners of cabinets, cupboards and closets. $9.99, www.amazon.com
EcoSmart - Kills ants, carpenter ants, cockroaches, crickets, pill bugs, silverfish, spiders and other crawling insects on contact. Unlike other insecticides, it is made from organic plant oils and kills bugs naturally to better protect your family. Plus, there’s no pesticide residue. It’s safe. It’s effective. It’s smart. Naturally. $8, www.ecosmart.com
13
body talk What is your body trying to tell you By Anu Varma Panchal
w
omen have a lot going on: family commitments, work engagements, plans with friends. Divided between the myriad chores and to-do lists that may make up our lives, it’s easy to ignore the small things and dive into the chaos and cacophony that is modern life. However, it’s important to sometimes still the noise and listen carefully to our bodies. Usually— hopefully—everything is fine. But sometimes, that little sign from your body can be the tip of the iceberg signaling a larger problem, one that needs immediate attention. Dr. Helena Reichman, MD, obstetrician/gynecologist and department chair at St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital, has seven warning signs that she wishes women paid attention to more often. Some of them are indicators of fairly routine, fixable conditions, but others need more and rapid attention. Read on to see how you should listen more carefully to your body and what it might be trying to tell you.
1
Irregular or missed menstrual cycles. Reichman warns that if you soak through a pad or a tampon within two or three hours during a seven-to-10 day period, you should call your doctor. Unusually heavy periods are a potential symptom for quite a few conditions, including thyroid issues, uterine fibroids or a hormonal imbalance called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (Women suffering from PCOS do not ovulate correctly and can also show oily skin, acne, abnormal hair growth and inability to lose weight, and infertility, obesity, pre-diabetes and elevated cholesterol. If you miss your period—even if you are using contraception—see your doctor, urges Reichman, particularly if you’re sexually active. Pregnancy is always a possibility. Also a red flag to alert you to call your doctor: If a young girl has reached the age of 16 and has not yet had a menstrual period, she should see her gynecologist. The cause could be either hormonal or genetic, and additional evaluation or bloodwork would need to be done to determine treatment.
2
Any pelvic/abdominal pain or discomfort. Unusual pelvic pain or discomfort can be a sign of a few different problems, such as endometriosis, which is a condition where the uterine lining grows over other organs in the pelvic cavity also, causing severe pelvic pain, abnormal bleeding, painful intercourse and possibly, infertility. Unusual pelvic pain can also alert your Ob/GYN to the presence of a pelvic infection or even an undiagnosed pregnancy such as an ectopic or tubal pregnancy, where the fertilized egg implants itself somewhere other than the uterine lining. Reichman points out that several non-gynecological conditions could also be signaled by severe pain, including a Urinary Tract Infection or appendicitis—both conditions that need the diagnosing and care of a physician.
3
Breast lumps. “A lot of times if a lady is menstruating, breasts undergo changes,” explains Reichman. “It may not be lumps; it may be tissue responding to hormones. But if it persists after a cycle, it needs to be evaluated.”
For post-menopausal women who are not menstruating, any lumps should result in an immediate doctor visit. Reichman also says to look out for the following symptoms as possible indications that the lump could be something more serious: redness
14
TAMPA BAY PARENTING
• FEB. 2016 • TBParenting.com
An Extraordinary Education with Excellence and Excitement!
Admissions Open House Tuesday, February 23 at 8:30 a.m. or call today to schedule a personal tour! Highly trained & skilled teachers Academics with joy & challenge Brain-based teaching strategies Focus on team sports Visual & performing arts that build confidence & creativity
15
of skin over the lump; brown, green or bloody discharge from the nipples; or retracted or dimpled skin over the lump. Watch also for pain, she says. “It’s a myth that breast cancer is not painful. It could be painful.”
4
Unusual vaginal discharge. “Every woman has discharge, and it changes based on the cycle,” says Reichman. For example, during ovulation, most women will have increased discharge that is thick and mucus-like. However, if they experience itching or burning, or if the discharge has a foul odor or abnormal color, it’s time to call the doctor. Many women make the common mistake of self-diagnosing a yeast infection and obtaining over-the-counter treatment. However, the discharge can point to a more serious culprit that does need immediate attention, such as the very common bacterial vaginosis. Another is trichomonas, which (unlike bacterial vaginosis) is a sexually transmitted infection. A main reason that someone needs to be seen if they have “Trich” is that it could be an indication of the presence of other STDs associated with the vagina, such as gonorrhea and chlamydia. It could also indicate the presence of other non-vaginal STDs such as syphilis, Hepatitis B and C and HIV.
“If you test positive for a sexually transmitted vaginal infection, consider getting tested for other sexually transmitted infections,” says Reichman.
5 HERE ARE 3 WAYS TO SHOP AVOIDING GMOS: GO ORGANIC!
The USDA National Organic Standards prohibit the use of GMOs.
LOOK FOR THE NON-GMO PROJECT VERIFIED SEAL Third-party verif ication means the product was made without the intentional use of GMOs. ®
CHOOSE 365 EVERYDAY VALUE BRAND FOOD PRODUCTS
All plant ingredients in food products are sourced to avoid GMOs. (Note: if a product has meat, eggs or dairy in ingredients, they could be from animals that were given GMO feed — unless the product is organic or Non-GMO Project Verified.)
WHOLE FOODS MARKET ® Carrollwood 3802 NORTHDALE BLVD. • TAMPA, FL 33624 813.264.3600 • OPEN DAILY 8 AM - 9 PM
WHOLE FOODS MARKET ® Clearwater 27001 US 19 NORTH, WESTFIELD COUNTRYSIDE MALL 727.724.7100 • OPEN DAILY 8 AM - 10 PM
WHOLE FOODS MARKET Tampa ®
1548 N DALE MABRY HWY. • TAMPA, FL 33607 813.348.1200 • OPEN DAILY 8 AM - 10 PM
16
TAMPA BAY PARENTING
• FEB. 2016 • TBParenting.com
Bleeding after menopause. “Any time a woman has not had a period in two years or more, or has bleeding after menopause, it needs to be evaluated,” says Reichman. Sometimes, this is just a matter of a fragile uterine lining, but other times, this can be indicative of uterine polyps, or even precancerous or cancerous lesions in the uterine cavity. Reichman points out that it’s unusual for women to get uterine cancer prior to menopause, but not impossible. Also, women who have suffered from long-standing, untreated PCOS are more likely to get uterine cancer before menopause.
6
Painful sex or bleeding after intercourse. “Painful sex can be a sign of an ovarian cyst, endometriosis, and, if associated with bleeding after intercourse, could be due to a lesion on the cervix, benign or malignant,” says Reichman. Diagnosis will depend on evaluating the type of pain and its location— for instance, does it occur upon entry? Is it inside the vagina? Or does it feel like something is being hit deep inside? However, this is one condition that women often suffer through in silence, whether through embarrassment, reluctance or fear to bring up the topic, or even the thought that “maybe it’s supposed to be like that.” It isn’t, says Reichman. See a doctor and see what can be done.
7
Problem with urination or bowel movements. Painful, frequent and/or bloody urination or trouble urinating can point to a bladder infection. However, whether women suffer discomfort urinating or are having problems with urine leakage, they should seek further evaluation. “Women shouldn’t suffer in silence,” says Reichman, who explains that there are medical and non-medical ways to treat the issue. “Urinary leakage is not a normal thing that should happen as we get older. No woman should be incontinent.”
Pain with bowel movements can signal a few problems also, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS, which can torment sufferers with alternating bouts of constipation and diarrhea. Blood or pain can also signal hemorrhoids or a fissure or crack in the rectal area, or even rectal or colon cancer.
17
winterize baby's skin Five tips to boost baby’s skin health By Dr. William Sears
the skin. You will also want a wipe that is paraben-free, and free from potential irritating preservatives such as Methylisothiazolinone, otherwise known as MI. Look for brands that are dermatologically tested and hypoallergenic. As a plus, choose a pack that comes in environment-friendly portable, refillable clutches. Boost omega-3 intake. Omega-3s act like anti-inflammatory elements to help heal and repair the skin. If you don’t want your skin to feel like a fish, eat more fish. Seafood is a super food for the skin because it contains Omega-3s as well as vitamin A and vitamin D. Choose cotton. In the winter it is vital you avoid skin irritants as baby’s skin is already more susceptible. Often in an attempt to ensure baby stays warm as temperatures drop, we are inclined to dress them in wool or synthetic materials, not realizing these fabrics can be more abrasive and cause irritation to the skin. This winter, reach for cotton. Cotton clothing, bed sheets and blankets will keep baby warm and their skin comfortable in chilly weather. Baby’s skin is extra sensitive and tends to get even more susceptible in the winter, so take these necessary steps to winterize your child’s skin and keep them happy and healthy.
Some of our favorites: ABC Arbonne Baby Care Body Lotion Formulated for delicate skin, this soothing blend with natural emollients shea butter, aloe and chamomile gently nourishes baby’s dry skin. Safe for sensitive skin, it’s designed to deliver gentle moisture so everything else can be smooth as a baby’s bottom too. $20 www.arbonne.com Jackson Reece Baby Wipes
w
inter weather can wreak havoc on baby’s delicate skin, and February in Tampa is one of our sunny state’s coldest times. To help your babies stay comfortable through the chilly month ahead, check out these top five tips:
Apply a moisturizer. In the midst of winter, it’s important to keep baby’s skin moisturized. Using a preventative ointment is a great way to boost skin health and keep baby happy as the air starts to dry out. Be sure to apply ointment prior to going outside in the winter, and after bathing when your baby’s skin is particularly accepting of moisture. Look for one that is free of dyes and preservatives, contains minimal ingredients and is fragrance free. Vaporize the air. Winter air is extremely dry and can leave baby’s skin cracked and irritated. Combat the dryness by vaporizing the air in your home, particularly in baby’s main spaces. Vaporizers will increase the humidity in the bedroom and help prevent winter skin from drying out. As an added bonus, the steam also acts like a heat source and can help keep baby warmer as it begins to cool off. Find the right baby wipe. Wipes are one of the best tools for combating and preventing skin irritation. When choosing a wipe, make sure you look for a brand that is alcohol-free so it doesn’t dry or sting
18
TAMPA BAY PARENTING
• FEB. 2016 • TBParenting.com
These baby wipes are made from ingredients that are derived from renewable vegetable or plant extracts. These wipes do not contain parabens, alcohol, phthalates, DMDM hydantoin, sodium benzoate or phenoxyethanol. They are PH balanced and hypoallergenic. These wipes use 100 percent biodegradable, compostable and chlorine-free cloth made from wood pulp.Case of 10 $40 www.Jacksonreece.com
Nordic Naturals Baby’s DHA with Vitamin D3 Drops
As the official baby’s omega-3 of the American Pregnancy Association, Nordic Naturals Baby’s DHA is a safe and effective way to ensure that growing babies get the DHA they need for healthy brain and visual development. The anti-inflammatory agents also help heal and repair the skin and keeps baby’s skin feeling soft and summery even in the winter. $13 www.nordicnaturals.com
Crane Warm Mist Vaporizer
This vaporizer gives relief from symptoms of coughs, colds and flu. This colorful 1-gallon tank vaporizer capacity provides pure, bacteriafree steam vapor in small to medium rooms. The vaporizer provides moisture relief from coughs, colds and flu symptoms as well as other irritating effects of dry air, such as sinus irritation, nosebleeds, nasal congestion and dry skin.$18 www.crane-usa.com
It starts with inspiration... and The Learning Never Ends. Visit MontessoriHouseDaySchool.com to:
Give your child the gifts of a lifelong love of learning and an individualized curriculum at one of the leading schools in Tampa for 1½ to 12 year olds.
1
Find articles and videos explaining why an authentic Montessori education is better for children in today’s world.
2
Discover why accreditation is so important (American Montessori Society, Florida Council of Independent Schools, & Florida Kindergarten Council).
3
Understand that any school can call itself Montessori and why only one school in Tampa is actually accredited by the American Montessori Society.
4
Learn how The Montessori House began 45 years ago and why its rich history of quality education is prompting alumni to enroll their own children now.
5
Locate the two Tampa campuses. Call the Carrollwood campus at (813) 961-9295 or the Westchase area campus at (813) 884-7220 to schedule a personal tour.
Children are inspired to think at The Montessori House Day School. Visit today.
Toddler, Pre-K (including VPK), Kindergarten, Elementary Grades 1-6, and Summer Camps are open for enrollment. Non-Discriminatory Admissions Policy.
19
peaceful Divorce Collaboration is the best option for families By Rachel Moskowitz, LMHC
o
I am confident that the collaborative process is going to become the norm and litigated divorce will be a thing of the past for families. It doesn’t make sense to fight at the expense of your children. Divorce doesn’t have to mean devastation. It can be a healthy experience that can benefit you and your family.
It doesn’t need to be this way, however, with an option called Collaborative Divorce.
Rachel Moscowitz is a collaborative divorce facilitator and Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator. She is a member of Next Generation Divorce and the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. Visit NextGenerationDivorce.com or Collaborativepractice.com for more information.
ften when people decide to get divorced, their emotions are heightened and their ability to think rationally is not always at the forefront. As a therapist, I often encounter adults still struggling with their parents’ divorce. Some have experienced unhealthy and damaging conflict as children that negatively affect their present relationships.
Collaborative divorce is a healthier way to get divorced, without the damage litigation often brings. It is a way to get divorced outside of court that keeps parents focused on their shared goals and allows them to make their own decisions regarding their divorce. The collaborative divorce process allows couples to maintain control over their divorce and work through issues with their collaborative team.
Here’s how it works: Spouses each hire their own collaboratively trained attorney, a neutral collaborative facilitator (licensed mental health professional), and a neutral financial professional. The couple first meets individually and jointly with the licensed mental health professional, who helps them identify the specific issues of their divorce to be addressed. The licensed mental health professional talks about how the collaborative process works, and each team member’s role. The facilitator helps each spouse work through their feelings regarding the divorce and teaches them how to communicate and co-parent effectively during and after the divorce. The spouses each meet with their collaborative attorney to talk about what needs to be divided. The attorney helps them to brainstorm options relating to settlement and timesharing. The spouses each meet with the financial neutral who begins gathering all the information and paperwork regarding the couple’s income, assets, debt and expenses. After spouses meet with the neutral licensed mental health professional, their own collaborative attorney, and neutral financial professional, the collaborative team develops an agenda for the first meeting and sets a date for the initial meeting. After working through all of the items on the agenda each meeting, a marital settlement agreement is drafted and then submitted to the judge to finalize the divorce process. Then it’s done. The entire collaborative process typically takes much less time than litigation, is less expensive, less contentious, allows couples to make their own decisions regarding their divorce, and much more beneficial for the couple and their children. The collaborative divorce process allows for couples to communicate and coparent after their divorce.
20
TAMPA BAY PARENTING
• FEB. 2016 • TBParenting.com
Helpful Reads: In Collaborative Divorce, Pauline Tesler and Peggy Thompson, two pioneers in the field who train collaborative professionals around the world, present the first complete, step-by-step explanation of the groundbreaking method that is revolutionizing the way couples end their marriages. Working with a team of caring specialists that includes two lawyers, two coaches, a financial consultant, and a child specialist (if necessary), you and your spouse focus on building a consensus that addresses the needs of everyone who will be directly affected by the divorce. www.amazon.com Having already written two books describing and illustrating the differences between the traditional courtroom divorce and the collaborative approach to dissolving a marriage, in A Free Divorce Handbook, Joryn Jenkins, a 35-year veteran attorney, has now turned her hand to exploring the issues raised and the problems addressed when a busy professional launches a collaborative divorce pro bono project. www.tbparenting.com/afreedivorce
21
Keep it Clean Four ways to organize your life post-kids By Ashley Abene
i
like to have things organized. Obviously that tendency had to change when I had a child, because nothing stays clean or organized in a house with children. For someone like me though, who feels better when things are organized, I have found that even with a child in the house I can maintain some sort of order by following a few steps.
Make Lists
Making lists helps me remember what I need to do that day. But the crucial point to remember is that the list can’t be some kind of rigid mandate; rather, view it as a flexible guideline, otherwise you will beat yourself up if you don’t complete everything on that list (which you won’t). I have lists for: • • •
Grocery shopping: We have a marker board on our fridge where I write down what we need for the week. Daily To-do’s: I use my email calendar feature to keep a list of daily To-dos. I can add reminders with an alarm also, and I won’t miss them because they show up on my phone. Need-based lists: If there is a big event we are planning, I need several lists (a “what to buy” list, “what needs to be cleaned” list, and a “what needs to be made” list, for example). If we are traveling I also need several lists (a “what to pack in the toddler’s suitcase” list, “my suitcase” list, “hubby’s suitcase” list, “what has been already packed” list and “what to buy” list).
Don't Get overwhelmed
This is a key to being organized. If you get overwhelmed with all that needs to get done or organized, it can incapacitate you. If you look all around and see all that needs to get done, often the thought of doing anything becomes overwhelming and you convince yourself to get nothing done instead. However, if you are happy with each task you get done, no matter how small, then you will gain a sense of accomplishment. Cheer yourself on! You got something done. Maybe it was that you managed to get the colors washed (but not folded). It still counts as having got something on your list done today! Good job!
Focus on one Area at a Time
Focus on only one area of your home at a time, or one task at a time. When you have children, getting something done can take days because your attention is constantly divided. If you are constantly thinking of what you need to do next, you won’t effectively get anything done. So instead of organizing a room, focus on one cabinet or closet at a time, not the whole room. Breaking a project into pieces is the easiest way to get something done (especially when you have a child).
Get to Work
You’ve made a list and prioritized a task. Now comes the actual work. Here are some steps to help get your home organized • • • •
Empty out the area of the room you plan to organize. Sort through the items from that space. Determine what should be kept, tossed, or given away. Buy whatever items you need to organize that space. Do you need baskets? Do you need bins? Organize with your newly purchased baskets or bins and put back together the section you worked on.
22
TAMPA BAY PARENTING
• FEB. 2016 • TBParenting.com
organizing Favorites: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo takes tidying to a whole new level, promising that if you properly simplify and organize your home once, you’ll never have to do it again. Most methods advocate a room-by-room or little-by-little approach, which dooms you to pick away at your piles of stuff forever. The KonMari Method, with its revolutionary category-bycategory system, leads to lasting results. $10, www.crownpublishing.com/imprint/ten-speed-press/ Real Simple: The Organized Home “The Organized Home,” the new book from Real Simple magazine, is a practical, inspirational guide to streamlining your home and creating a more peaceful and productive life in the process. $22, www.realsimple.com The Busy Mom’s Guide to a Happy, Organized Home Containing a comprehensive index, helpful checklists and charts, and an extensive list of online resources, moms will turn to “The Busy Mom’s Guide to a Happy, Organized Home” to guide them from bewilderment and confusion to confidence and maturity. $13, www.jet.com Clutterfree With Kids As parents, balancing life and managing clutter may appear impossible—or at the very least, never-ending. But what if there was a better way to live? “Clutterfree with Kids” offers a new perspective and fresh approach to overcoming clutter. With helpful insights, the book serves as a valuable resource for parents. $12, www.amazon.com
A National Blue Ribbon School
Excellence
CHRISTIAN
SCHOOL
Tours available at 10 a.m. on Thursdays or by appointment.
A Ministry of Palm Harbor United Methodist Church
Excellence in Academic Achievement & Spiritual Formation Teaching the Mind
Reaching the Heart
www.westlakechristianschool.org
|
727.781.3808
Accreditation - Florida Council of Independent Schools, Florida Kindergarten Council, & Southern Association of Colleges and Schools/AdvancED
23
losing side Obsessed families can affect young athletes By Susan Malone
T
hey’re called student-athletes, but many youth advocates---including psychiatrist Gary Malone—are concerned that the emphasis is on “athlete.”
“Anyone who follows sports knows that college-level and professional recruiters are looking at recruits – children – at increasingly younger ages, and it’s not because they want to ensure these athletic students get a well-rounded education,” says Malone, a distinguished fellow in the American Psychiatric Association, and coauthor of “What’s Wrong with My Family?” “In my home state, Texas, a new high school football stadium is opening that cost $60 million dollars and seats 18,000,” says Malone, associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Texas Southwestern and a teaching analyst at the Dallas Psychoanalytic Institute. “That’s all funded at public expense. We constantly read of districts across the country cutting academic and arts programs and teachers’ salaries due to budget shortfalls. How can this make sense?” As a high-performing student-athlete throughout his own high school and college years, Malone says he appreciates the benefits of extracurricular programs. However, he is concerned with how the imbalance favoring athletic pursuits can damage student-athletes and the family unit. “The NCAA’s own 2011 survey found that, by a wide margin, men’s basketball and football players are much more concerned about their performance on the field than in the classroom,” he says. Here’s how stressing the athlete over the student hurts the child: • Life beyond sports: Only 3 percent of high school athletes will go on to compete in college; less than 1 percent of college athletes turn pro, where the average career is three years with risk of permanent injury, including brain damage, for football players. Even if they’re among the successful elite, wealth management is likely to be a major problem. Some studies show that up to 78 percent of NFL players go broke after three years of retirement. For the vast number who don’t get scholarships or go pro, this intense focus on high-school sports leaves their studies behind. How are we preparing these kids for their futures? College will now be a challenge, if indeed, even doable. And psychologically, the wounds of failure will follow them as well.
24
TAMPA BAY PARENTING
• FEB. 2016 • TBParenting.com
25
Purchase a Valentine Cookie
February 1st-14th 100% of the proceeds will be donated to St. Joseph's Children's Hospital Heart Center
• Misplaced parental priorities: A parent’s obsession with a child’s success in sports can be extremely damaging to a child, to the extent of bordering on abuse. Parents who look to their children to provide them with validation, status or other unfulfilled needs don’t have their child’s best interests at heart. Parents who tend to be domineering can be especially dangerous in the face of an athletic success obsession. The parents’ main job is to prepare their children to leave the nest, to be autonomous and succeed out in the big water of life—not to fulfill the parents’ dreams. Parenting is tricky and difficult, and with one or both parents’ unfulfilled dreams hefted onto the back of a child, (athletically gifted or not) that child is set up for a big fall. • Siblings left behind: When the family values one child’s athletic prowess over the talents and gifts displayed by his or her siblings, the latter children risk growing up without a sense of personal identity, which leads to co-dependency problems in adulthood. Sibling rivalry is a real malaise. Parents should ensure that every child is attended to equally in the manner he or she needs it. When some kids get pushed aside for the needs of one, other kids have displayed substance abuse, falling grades, running with the wrong crowd, and similar issues. These are very real problems, and often the parents are so focused on the athlete that they aren’t even aware of the other children’s problems until something terrible occurs.
www.give2stjoeskids.org
A Sweet Way to Show You Care!
• Pressured to play: Especially in the South, but throughout the entire United States, football is huge. Basketball dominates inner cities and regions like Indiana. Wrestling is big in the Midwest and parts of the Northeast, and hockey might be the focus for children throughout Northeast and upper Midwest. Children, especially boys, may feel obliged or pressured to play a particular sport even if they have no talent or interest in it to the detriment of other talents that might have been developed. Football may be seen as “cool” while playing the trumpet or winning the science fair is discounted. Often, athletes are given what amounts to a pass in classes, even to the point of grades being changed to show that they did the work when they did not. So the pressure is coming from not only peers, not only parents, but teachers as well. “Athletics can be extremely beneficial to a young person’s life. It was huge in my own, and helped me to develop the discipline that I used to succeed in academics, from high school through medical school,” says Malone. “This is the true point of athletics. It also fosters a sense of camaraderie and teamwork (when the coaches and parents involved have their priorities straight). We always work better together, whether in team sports or effective corporate relationships. But we have our priorities backwards. Imagine how much better off our country might be if, instead of football, we were obsessed with our children’s performance in science and math.” Award-winning writer and editor Susan Mary Malone is the author of the novel, “By the Book,” and three nonfiction books, including “Five Keys for Understanding Men: A Women’s Guide.”
26
TAMPA BAY PARENTING
• FEB. 2016 • TBParenting.com
27
What's Happening lightning games Be the thunder as the Tampa Bay Lightning take on the Red Wings, Penguins, Predators, Blues, Sharks, Jets and Coyotes this month at the Amalie Arena. Tickets are on sale for home games online or at the gate. Kids can also join the Thunderbug Kids Club for special perks including ticket deals, activities and more. Register for the Thunderbug Kids Club online and see a full list of membership levels and benefits. www.lightning.nhl.com
Clearwater Beach uncorked Uncork and unwind at the fifth annual Clearwater Beach Uncorked from 1-5 p.m. on Feb. 6 and 7 at the Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort and Spa. The event features tastings from the area’s most renowned restaurants along with wines, craft beers and microbrews from more than 100 wineries. A portion of proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the University of South Florida College of Hospitality and Technology Leadership (CHTL). Tickets are available online. www.clearwaterbeachuncorked.com
real music series at busch gardens Relive the classics onstage as Busch Gardens continues Tampa’s longest running concert series with live music spanning the 1950s to today. Running all month long, concerts will play on Monday through Saturday and are held at various times including 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. This month’s concerts include Chubby Checker and the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Concerts are free with park admission. www.buschgardentstampa.com
the lion king More than 80 million people around the world have experienced the phenomenon of Disney’s “The Lion King,” and now you can too, when Tampa’s best-loved musical returns to the Straz Center until Feb. 14. Winner of six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, this landmark musical event brings together one of the most imaginative creative teams on Broadway. “The Lion King” also features some of Broadway’s most recognizable music, crafted by Tony Award-winning artists Elton John and Tim Rice. Tickets are available online. www.strazcenter.org
florida state fair Come out to the Florida State Fairground on Feb. 4-15 for rides, concerts and fun. This year features new free exhibits and concerts from The Robert Cray Band, Gary Puckett with the Union Gap, Colt Ford and others. Special events include an India Celebration, Student Chef Cook-Off and Taste of the Fair. You can also enjoy all off your favorite fair food, paddleboating, and parades. www.floridastatefair.com
28
TAMPA BAY PARENTING
• FEB. 2016 • TBParenting.com
29
Tbp product guide
our favorite kodak vmv10 The Kodak Video Monitor CFH-V10 lets you keep an eye on your home and valuables when you’re not there with instant HD color streaming video and two-way audio to any smart phone or device. Whether you’re at a friend’s place, at work or on vacation, you can check in on your pet or loved ones within seconds. $80 www.connectedfamilyhome.com
water garden
love home
Bring the garden inside with a self-cleaning fish tank that grows food! The Water Garden (formerly the Aqua Farm) creates a closed-loop ecosystem—the fish feed the plants and plants clean the water. USDA Certified organic, non-GMO, and 100% American seeds. $60 www.backtotheroots.com!
dino essential oil diffuser The exclusive Dino Land Diffuser Cover is designed to be used with Young Living’s proprietary, interchangeable diffuser motor (sold separately) and features color-illuminated vapor “erupting” from a prehistoric volcano, surrounded by menacing T. rex, triceratops, and pterodactyl figures. $55 www.youngliving.com
Abiie's Beyond Junior Y Highchair This ultra-modern high chair is designed to grow with your child all the way to adulthood. Its revolutionary EZ-Seat technology not only makes the sitting area easy
docatot
for cleaning, it enables quick adjustment of the seat in
The Deluxe dock is the ultimate docking station for
less than 20 seconds. Made from top-quality European
babies aged 0-8 months old. Multifunctional and
cultivated beech wood, this eco-friendly high chair is a
multitasking, it offers a safe and comfy spot that lets
perfect choice for your family that will last for years to
baby rest, lounge, play, cuddle, do tummy time and get
come. $230 www.abiie.com
diaper changes. $185 www.dockatot.com
dress-up bib The Dress-Up Waterproof Absorbent Bib is a fun way to make feeding time fancy! If your Valentine’s date is a little one, this gives you the chance to dress up for a nice dinner. The absorbent terry material and waterproof inner layer help absorb drips and drools and protect your baby’s
30
clothing. $12 www.iplaybaby.com TAMPA BAY PARENTING
• FEB. 2016 • TBParenting.com
yirego little drummi Discover a new way to wash your personal delicates. This design solves the common complications of hand-washing delicate garments. The Drumi creates a sustainable solution with low environmental impact, saving you time, energy and money. $199 www.yirego.com
Something cool
haba mimi rattle Fall in love with the HABA Mimi Clutching Toy. It’s made up
Kids Kitchen Helper Safety Tower
of three bright hearts of pink and red along with three natural
Let the kids help in the kitchen without having
all decorated in bright pinks and reds and each piece can spin
them stand on a dangerous chair. We love safety
freely. $13 www.habausa.com
colored wooden pegs in between. The hearts and pegs are
towers because they help kids learn life skills and enhance family time, without the dangers of step stools. This folding stool can support up to 125 lbs. $200 www.onestepahead.com
crayon necklace A retro replica of the same candy necklaces you
lovely hearts tights
wore as a kid, these are a great addition for the
Multi colored hearts warm up any outfit. Little
fashionably young at heart and make a great
girls will love the rainbow of colors, and these
Valentine’s gift for the little ones in your life. $11
cotton blend leggings are perfect to celebrate
www.kikkerland.com/products/crayon-necklace/
Valentine’s Day in style. $3 www.realsimple.com
love from the very hungry caterpillar Celebrate Valentine’s Day—and love—with a brand new title featuring “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.” Starring your favorite hungry caterpillar, this book is all about expressing love with beautiful images. $9 www.penguinrandomhouse.com
earth's best snacks Earth’s Best Organic Simply Freeze Dried Snacks provide toddlers with wholesome, no-mess fruits and veggies on the go! Made with real fruits and vegetables, these better-for-you single-serve snack packs are perfect for tiny fingers! $5 www.earthsbest.com
31
Extraordinary
Woman
By Angela Ardolino
Mastering the art of motherhood, work and community. Trimeka Benjamin started as a marketing executive in healthcare, but her first client was more glamorous: NASCAR. “I originally wanted to get into mass communication as a freshman in college, but one day my car broke down and my mom and dad had to pick me up from class,” says Benjamin, the owner of Swim Digital Group, a digital agency she started in 2009, and the mother of two young boys. “My dad pulled off a slip from a flyer that was on the job bulletin board at school for a marketing internship at NASCAR’s New York office, and the rest is history.” Not too long into her career, Benjamin knew she wanted to have her own firm. “Being on the client side for so long, I know how hard it is to have an agency that understands how to quantify value of marketing dollars in ways that a “boss” could understand. So I spent years working in the industry, learning my trade, and grasping this concept of how digital strategy ties to overall growth – and then there was Swim,” she says. “It was an amazing ride that taught me so much about marketing and the future of content ownership and digital media.” what do you think is the secret to your family's success? Well, if you know Anthony and I, you know that there is really no secret to why we are successful as a family. We love each other to pieces, and we are an amazing team. We have and continue to work really hard at making sure that we are each other’s biggest cheerleaders, pinch hitters and best friends. I just couldn’t image anything that I do being possible without the support I receive from Anthony. When we made the commitment to being entrepreneurs, we also committed that we would be 100 percent steadfast to the “home team.” We both understand that nothing can happen outside of our family that can fill our hearts as much as a happy and balanced marriage. Because of this, it makes all the “crazy” much more manageable and exciting. what is your biggest fear? Time. Until I was married and had my children, I would have to say I was pretty fearless. But as a mother, wife, and career woman, I have come to learn that you can never be in two places. Because of this, I fear that I will
32
TAMPA BAY PARENTING
miss precious moments – moments that I can never get back. I find myself holding my babies so tight and taking pride in spoiling them, kissing my husband and holding his hand – even if we are just home watching the news. Time is so precious and it is one thing that I can’t figure out how to get more of – and losing it is a little scary. what advice would you give to other women? My advice would be this: Don’t take yourself so seriously. Don’t have so much pride, that you miss those women around you that want to help you succeed. I would not be where I am today without the support from amazing women like Mindy Murphy, Lisa Brock, Jessica Rivelli and Renee Dabbs (to name a few). Recognizing this, and knowing you have a support system of amazing women – opens you up for opportunities to be bigger and better than you could imagine. what is your proudest moment? I have to say that I have three moments that I am blessed to celebrate every day for the rest of my life. April 4th is the day that Anthony and I promised to love and support each other for as long as we live. May 21st is the day that I gave birth to my first son A.J.; and October 29th is the day that my baby Christian was born. All three days helped shape me and my life in ways that I would have never imagined. what is your biggest achievement? My biggest achievement was taking the leap into entrepreneurship. Owning your own business is not for the faint hearted. And doing what it takes to grow a business is for wackos (myself included). And I love it more and more every single day. Knowing that my sons will grow up knowing that they can follow their dreams and love and support a wife who is following hers as well means so much to me. I just hope their future wives thank me. what makes you happy? There are so many things! My parents, my friends, my clients; they really all make me happy. But what makes my heart smile is the look in my two boys’ eyes when they first wake up in the morning and see “mommy.” There’s nothing like it. how do you relax and take time for yourself? Well, I’m an extrovert. So I actually need
• FEB. 2016 • TBParenting.com
people to relax… something along the lines of sitting by a fire pit, with a glass of wine, with my husband and closest of friends while the kids are playing—and some great music. what kind of message would you like to give women in the community? Opportunities to connect and meet people in Tampa Bay are plentiful. From The Junior League of Tampa Bay to professional organizations like Working Women of Tampa Bay – there are cool ways to find other women who are where you are in life and in your career. Joining these types of organizations gives you more exposure to advice, mentors, and support than you could imagine. what else would you like to share? Having balance is hard. Choosing what (or who) gets your attention at any moment isn’t easy, but knowing that life and the pathway to success are full of these choices and they will present themselves daily makes it easier to face when they arrive. Between my business, my family and my community involvement – I am at full throttle for 18 of the 24 hours in a day. But this also means that I had to become friends with a very special word: “No.” I try not to use it often, but when I do; it is because when faced with choices, I am getting better at choosing what (or who) needs my attention at the moment what is your favorite thing to do with your family in Tampa? I have to say, we just love Tampa. We love everything about raising our children here. One of our favorite places is the Glazer Children’s Museum. I took our oldest son, A.J. to Glazer in 2012 and he was addicted. We also can’t get enough of the Florida Aquarium. And our “not so hidden” hidden treasure is SPC’s Leepa Rattner Museum of Art, just a quaint but cool place to see modern and contemporary art. what is your biggest inspiration? My mother has inspired me in so many ways. Prior to her retirement, she paved the way for so many women and African Americans in cities that one would only dare to visit as a professional young black woman. Because of her, I can’t know fear and I can never stop pursuing my best me. She is watching me, she is cheering me on every step of the way, but she will never let me forget where I am and where I came from, and to give more than I receive.
Trimeka Benjamin Trimeka at her office in downtown Tampa
33
Photo by Amy Pezzicara, Pezz Photo
South hillsborough apollo beach | lithia | riverview ruskin | south tampa | valrico | fishhawk
Big Brothers, Big Sisters Join rays in Knight parade The Krewe of Sant’ Yago have announced that its 2016 Knight Parade will feature the Tampa Bay Rays as grand marshals who will be joined by Big Brothers, Big Sisters to join Rays players, coaches, mascots and street team members as special guests. The nonprofit has been a community partner with the sports organization for more than 10 years. A Tampa tradition since the 1970s, the illuminated parade to be presented by MOR-TV will start at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13 in historic Ybor City. “The Knights of Sant’ Yago are big fans of the Tampa Bay Rays’ work on and off the field,” says Louis Campanello, Krewe of the Knights of Sant’ Yago member and parade chairman. “The Rays have a tremendous impact on our community and we look forward to highlighting their great work.” The Knight Parade is part of an entire weekend of festivities hosted by the Krewe of Sant’ Yago, kicking off with a pub crawl Friday, Feb. 12 in Ybor City and pre-parade activities with the Rays and other guests in Centro Ybor Saturday, Feb. 13 afternoon. On Saturday evening, the Knight Parade begins at7 p.m. as illuminated floats, led by the Tampa Bay Rays and Big Brothers Big Sisters, roll down Seventh Avenue in historic Ybor City. Floats will be accompanied by dozens of marching bands, local dignitaries, thousands of participants and scores of beads. The Knight Parade Crash Party will begin immediately after the parade at The Cuban Club and run until midnight. Proceeds from the Knight Parade benefit the Krewe of the Knights of Sant’ Yago Education Foundation, which has provided more than $2 million in higher education scholarships for deserving local students. For more information, go to knightparade.com.
Colson Elementary Carves out Cardboard and Fun Third grade students in Colson Elementary School’s Imagination Foundation chapter recently hosted their first Cardboard Challenge by designing and building various games, play spaces, and structures out of cardboard, recycled materials, and imagination, and then playing with them. Nationally, over 100,000 children take part every year in the Challenge, inspired by the short film “Caine’s Arcade” and sponsored by the Imagination Foundation, a worldwide movement that encourages creative play through learning. Students at the Seffner elementary school created a variety of games, including a football toss, mini-golf, fishing, board games and beanbag animal toss, and built a number of objects out of cardboard such as a guitar, treehouse, drawing station and castle. Colson Imagination Foundation sponsor Jessica Walrath says her chapter comprised of 16 students met every Monday to work on creating the cardboard games and objects. “A letter was sent home about a month before the challenge letting families decide if they would like to make something out of cardboard,” she notes. “I asked staff to save boxes for me. Our cafeteria staff had also saved boxes after deliveries and some of the students in my group also brought in boxes.” Using STEM techniques and combining academics with creativity, the Colson event brought focus on designing for fun. Although designers were all from the third grade, the entire school was invited to join in the Cardboard Challenge play date. “These students work hard daily and have strong leadership skills,” says Walrath. “I truly love working with these students and learning along with them!”
34
TAMPA BAY PARENTING
• FEB. 2016 • TBParenting.com
dates: Feb. 5, 6-10 p.m. Santaella Studios Art Show and Fundraiser Come out to support local art and Tampa Bay area children at the same time at this special fundraiser at Santaella Studios for the Arts in Tampa. Proceeds benefit the Children’s Home Society of Florida. chsfl.org
Feb. 7, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Fresh Market at Hyde Park Village Browse locally produced goods and handcrafted items at this monthly event in South Tampa. Enjoy a morning of live music and shopping, and stop by one of the area’s many restaurants within walking distance for lunch. hydeparkvillage.com
Feb. 8 and 16 Musical Theatre for Young Children Enroll the kids in a theater class and performance opportunity through The Florida Academy of the Performing Arts at Music Showcase in Valrico. Acting Up! is open to kids ages 5-9 and runs 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Mondays Feb. 8 through Apr. 11. JR. Showcase Players for ages 9 and older runs 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays Feb. 16 through Apr. 19. Each finishes with a production, “A Year with Frog and Toad” and “Disney’s High School Musical JR,” respectively. Cost is $200. faopa.org
Feb. 9 and 23, 6-7 p.m. MAPS Women’s Support Group Attend an event designed to encourage women to engage in meaningful and purposeful sharing offered through The Centre for Women at its Hyde Park office. Group meets second and fourth Tuesdays monthly. Free but donations accepted. Pre-registration is not required. For more information, call 813-251-8437.
Feb. 20, 7:30 a.m. - noon Parent University Take part in this free series of informational sessions that help parents support the academic life of their children grades K-12 hosted by Bloomingdale High School in Valrico. Sessions are offered through Hillsborough County Public Schools and include free childcare with advanced registration as well as lunch afterward. Register at all4schools.org/hillsborough.
Feb. 23, 6-8 p.m. Ladies Night Out: Heart Health Invite sisters, moms and friends for this special Ladies Night Out series hosted by South Florida Baptist Hospital in Plant City. This month, guest speakers focus on leading a heart-healthy lifestyle. Event is free and open to women and men. baycare.org/events
Does your child have trouble focusing or learning?
Our mission is to always evaluate and apply the latest yet safest, most effective and cutting-edge techniques for normalizing brain function. • Licensed Neuropsychological and Mental Health Providers • Neurotherapy using EEG Biofeedback & Cranial Stimulation • Safe, Non-invasive and Natural
• • • • •
Difficulty paying attention Easily distracted Frequently interrupting Lack of concentration/focus Difficulty finishing schoolwork
• IQ Enchancement
• • • •
Procrastination Disorganized work habits Forgetfulness in daily activities Frequent shifts from one activity to another
ABF Can Help!
• No Medications, No Side-effects • Insurance Reimbursement Forms Available
CONTACT US TODAY (877) 332-4698 or visit www.abfbehavioralhealth.com
• Unmatched Success Rates
OFFICES - TAMPA • BRANDON/RIVERVIEW
Your Family’s Destination for Comprehensive Skin Care Your family members may have different priorities when it comes to skin care.
Dana Hess PA-C
Dr. Linda Flynn, M.D. Board Certified Dermatologist
Abigail Ray ARNP-BC
Whether you are trying to control acne before it becomes scarring; are concerned about a suspicious mole; or just want to minimize wrinkles and look more youthful and refreshed, you want to see dermatology experts who have the knowledge, experience and resources to address your concerns. You want Comprehensive Skin Care.
2605 W. Swann Ave., Suite 300, Tampa, FL 33609 813-872-9551 www.stderm.com BOTOX
JUVEDERM
LASER HAIR REMOVAL
IPL
FRACTORA
FACIAL PEELS
FRACTORA FIRM ZO SKIN HEALTH
Our practice is proud to be certified by:
35
north hillsborough carrollwood | citrus park | lutz | new tampa odessa | temple terrace | westchase
Carrollwood Cultural Center Introduces new programs Carrollwood Cultural Center recently unveiled its lineup of arts programs scheduled for 2016. As in past years, the Center will offer a variety of live music events, comedy shows, children’s events, community theatre, art exhibits and classes. This year the Center has made an effort to enhance its schedule with free and affordable entertainment. “We are going to continue doing what we’ve always done, which is offer quality entertainment and arts-based educational opportunities to the community, but we are going to introduce a series of free community events in the new year,” says Executive Director Paul Berg. In January, the Center, which is located at 4537 Lowell Road in Tampa, demonstrated some of this new free programming. Attendees enjoyed a free workshop for adults, Ballet for Joy & Vitality, on Jan. 5 and best-selling author Tim Dorsey launched a new free lecture series on Jan. 8. Later this year, the Center hosts CARROLLWOODSTOCK, an outdoor arts and music festival on Mar. 19; SpringFest YouthFest, an Apr. 30 event for families and children; and the North Tampa Market, an outdoor farmers market held 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. the second Saturday of every month. The Center’s 2016 schedule also includes a wide variety of affordable artsbased workshops from Theatre Dance and Swing Dance to the ABC’s of Auditioning and DoRe-Mi of Musical Theatre. For more information, including a complete schedule of events and classes, visit carrollwoodcenter.org or call 813-922-8167.
Hillsborough Hosts Info Sessions for potential ESE Teachers Hillsborough County Schools continues its campaign to recruit excellence in staffing through a series of information sessions. The Program to Attract and Train High Quality Exceptional Teachers for Students with Disabilities (PATH) is a grant-funded program awarded to the County three years ago and designed to recruit, train and retain potential teacher candidates who have completed non-education college degrees (bachelor’s or master’s) and possess a desire to teach students with disabilities in Hillsborough County Public Schools as an Exceptional Student Education (ESE) teacher. Hillsborough Schools held its first PATH information session Tuesday, Jan. 12 at CareerSource Tampa Bay and additional sessions about the program are scheduled at the Tampa office, located at 9215 N. Florida Ave., Suite 101. Interested candidates can learn more about the steps involved in the PATH process at any of these remaining sessions: Monday, Feb. 1; Wednesday, Feb. 17; and Thursday, Mar. 3. Registration starts onsite at 5:45 p.m. with the session to begin at 6:15 p.m. Fredi Beck, assistant department manager for strategic marketing at Hillsborough County Public Schools, notes that the grant program will allow you to become certified and able to teach in any Florida public school. “Hillsborough County Public Schools are currently short the number of trained, certified Exceptional Education teachers,” she says. “Many of the potential teachers are considering career changes, or are not fulfilled or being challenged in their current employment, and some always wanted to teach but life happened.“ Potential participants begin by attending one of the scheduled information sessions, including processes for pre-service coursework and completion of certification exams. Once hired as an ESE teacher, PATH participants will complete their Florida certification requirements in one year while receiving mentoring and support for two years. To read more about the program prior to attending a session, visit sdhc.k12.fl.us/departments/about/187/path/.
36
TAMPA BAY PARENTING
• FEB. 2016 • TBParenting.com
dates: Feb. 3, 6, 17, 20 and 27, various times Tour of the Women’s Health Pavilion Get an up-close look at the features and resources available through the Women’s Health Pavilion at Florida Hospital Tampa. Take a tour and get questions answered about the process of having a baby at the hospital. Free. Register at floridahospital.com/tampa.
Feb. 12, 7-9 p.m. Westchase Movies in the Park Bring the whole family and a few blankets for this fun event hosted by the Westchase Community Association at West Park Village Park. This month’s flick is “Strange Magic.” westchasewca.com
Feb. 13, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Pirate Party Guests 12 and under are invited to join in the pirate fun at Temple Terrace Public Library. Party will feature games, stories, crafts and puppets. For more information, call 813-506-6770.
Feb. 14, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Seminole Heights Sunday Morning Market Stop by this monthly market held the second Sunday through April on the lawn of historic Hillsborough High School. Free entry. tampabaymarkets.com
Feb. 17-18, various times Florida Treasures with A.C.T. for Youth Laugh and learn about Ponce De Leon, the settlement of Pensacola, the founding of St. Augustine and more in this original production at Carrollwood Cultural Center in Tampa. Tickets are $7 members and $8 general admission and $28 for a family 4-pack. carrollwoodcenter.org
Feb. 27, 7:30 a.m. Annual Hunger Run 5K Lace up the sneakers for this charity run/walk at Al Lopez Park. Race benefits the Kaye Prox Food Bank serving families in Town ‘n’ Country, Citrus Park, Northdale and Westchase. Take part in a 7:30 a.m. 5K or 7:35 a.m. fun walk. kayeproxfoodbank.org
Feb. 29, 2-3 p.m. Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss! Celebrate all things Dr. Seuss at this party held at Lutz Branch Library for kids in grades K-5. Festivities include stories, games and crafts. For more information, call 813-273-3652.
Dance . Act . Sing . Music
REGISTER NOW! Check out the new classes... It’s SO Much More than Dance!
Studies show kids who swim early test better, have more confidence and cognitive skills. Visit our website to sign your child up today.
DISCOVER THE DIFFERENCE 15906 Mapledale Blvd. Tampa, FL 33624 813.969.0240 - MJPAA.COM
TA M PA ' S S TO R I E S L I S T E N I N G B O OT H O P E N A L L F E B R U A RY R E C O R D YO U R S T O R I E S O N F R I D AY S : F E B 5 , 1 2 , 1 9 , 2 6 • N O O N & 2 P M
ALL FEB The Museum is proud to partner with the Tampa-Hillsborough County Library Cooperative to bring real stories from our city's history. Join us this February for the Tampa's Stories Listening Booth and share your story for the library's digital oral history collection every Friday. Become a part of history!
L E A R N M O R E AT G L A Z E R M U S E U M .O R G
37
South pinellas pinellas park | seminole | st. pete beach largo | st. petersburg | treasure island
All Children's Welcomes Director of New Institute
dates:
All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg has announced the addition of neonatologist Prabhu Parimi, M.D. as the new director of its recently established Johns Hopkins All Children’s Maternal, Fetal and Neonatal Institute. The new Institute serves as a center dedicated to the comprehensive health of mothers and infants and teams up neonatologists, maternalfetal medicine specialists, pediatric subspecialists and interprofessional team members to provide advanced care for pregnant women and their babies. The institute also includes All Children’s Hospital’s 97 bed, Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), offering the highest level of neonatal care to newborns.
Feb. 3, 10, 17 and 24, 4:30 - 6 p.m.
Dr. Parimi, who will also serve as chief of the Division of Neonatology, served previously as director of the division of neonatology, medical director of the neonatal intensive care unit and neonatal medical home, and professor of pediatrics at the University of Kansas Medical Center. “The development of the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Maternal, Fetal & Neonatal Institute allows us to look at all aspects of care and improve outcomes for our smallest patients, beginning with high-risk expectant mothers, continuing through delivery and NICU admission, and extending beyond discharge through neonatal follow-up,” says Parimi. “There is great opportunity to build upon the already exceptional and compassionate care provided by our teams and unite clinical care, research, education and advocacy in order to improve the health of children here in our state and across the globe.”
Feb. 6, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
From providing care for women with high-risk pregnancies to evaluation, monitoring and treatment throughout pregnancy, labor and delivery, All Children’s Hospital’s maternal-fetal team specializes in a wide variety of complex maternal-fetal conditions and works to keep both mother and infant healthy to provide the best health outcomes.
Free Clothing Swap Bring in up to five garments to exchange for free with other swap participants or purchase vouchers for $3 each to select clothing at this monthly event on the patio of Peninsula Inn in Gulfport. Extra clothing donations are encouraged with all proceeds and remaining clothing to benefit CASA. For more information, call 727-453-9093 or 727-902-2326.
Whale of a Sale offers Shopping for a Great Cause The Junior League of St. Petersburg invites the Bay area to come out for its annual Whale of a Sale market, the group’s largest fundraiser, to be held Saturday, Feb. 20. The event will feature gently used merchandise, including furniture, appliances, housewares, clothing, toys and more. For the latest event details including sale location and hours, visit jlstpete.org. The League also encourages area families to drop off any items they would like to donate for the sale at Budget Storage, located at 1159 94th Ave. N. in St. Pete, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 30. Additional drop-off collection dates and times will be made available Feb. 14-17. Admission to the Saturday sales event is free with proceeds to benefit the Junior League of St. Petersburg’s various charities supported during the year through its community projects and initiatives. The Junior League of St. Petersburg, Inc. celebrates 85 years of service to the St. Petersburg community, focusing its efforts on community project and financial support to benefit local students’ school readiness to include healthcare, nutrition and literacy. A Preview Shopping Party reception will be held Friday, Feb. 19 that offers guests priority shopping, signature cocktails, light hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. Tickets are $50. For up-to-date details about February donation drop-offs, the Friday night Preview Party or other questions about the organization, visit its website or contact the Junior League directly at woas@jlstpete.org.
38
TAMPA BAY PARENTING
• FEB. 2016 • TBParenting.com
Adaptive Art for Youth Sign up the kids ages 6-12 for weekly art classes at Largo Community Center. Each lesson teaches fundamental art concepts and builds to expand the participant’s skill level with each completed session. Cost is $44 members and $88 non-members. For more information, call 727-5183131.
3rd Annual Localtopia Show your support for local businesses at this yearly community celebration in Williams Park in downtown St. Pete. Listen to live music and visit nearly 200 vendors. Stop by Family Village with special arts and crafts activities and bounce houses for the kids and Skate Village with a skate ramp to watch a tricks contest and demos. keepsaintpetersburglocal.org/localtopia
Feb. 9, 9 a.m. - noon
Feb. 10, 6-7:30 p.m. Valentine Tea Party 2016 Don red and invite your valentine ages 7 and younger to the fun at Southwest Recreation Complex in Largo. Evening includes themed crafts, snacks and games. Register by Feb. 1 for $5; after Feb. 1, $8 per person. For more information, call 727-518-3125.
Feb. 11 and 25, 10:30-11:15 a.m. Wee-Time at Weedon Share the wonders of the natural and cultural world as part of this monthly program for children ages 3-5 at Weedon Island Preserve in St. Petersburg. Kids can enjoy storytelling and hands-on activities connecting them to their environment. Free but advance registration required. Register at weedonislandpreserve.org.
Feb. 25, 7 p.m. Largo’s Got Talent Show Come out to root for talented local singers, dancers and bands taking part in this year’s annual competition at Largo Community Center. Tickets are $5 advance and $7 at the door. largo.com
Tampa Bay Parenting CA ad January 2015
Happy. Secure. Inspired. Since 1968
• Grades 4-12 • ADHD & LD • Fully Accredited • College Prep • Scholarships Pinellas Park Palm Harbor Lutz Riverview
727 541-5716 727 781-2986 813 909-9442 813 677-7777
www.CenterAcademy.com “You are all miracle workers and I am so grateful!” Laura R., Parent
39
north pinellas oldsmar | clearwater | dunedin palm harbor | safety harbor East Lake | tarpon springs
Clearwater for Youth to Give $40,000 in Scholarships Clearwater For Youth (CFY) is gearing up to award college scholarships to applicants among Pinellas County high school students who have participated in youth sports programs and/ or high school sports. A total of eight scholarships, each in the amount of $5,000, will be announced and distributed to local graduating high school seniors in upper Pinellas County during the 43rd Annual Clearwater for Youth Celebrity Banquet on Saturday, Feb. 27, at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort on Clearwater Beach. Applicants had until Jan. 15 to apply for this year’s scholarship funding. New for this year, Clearwater For Youth will award one Pinellas County high school student the Michele Smith Gold Medal Scholarship of $5,000. Smith is considered one of the greatest softball players of all time and is a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist in Women’s Softball, representing the sport internationally. Clearwater For Youth began in 1966 with a mission to help ensure no child is turned away due to financial concerns and to elevate youth sports in the local community and beyond. CFY offers support through scholarships and grants to constructive sports programs so that children from all levels of society can play and learn together. For additional information about the scholarship program visit clearwaterforyouth.com.
oldsmar Elementary Learns Joy of Giving Firsthand Jamson Laboratories Inc./Power Kleen Corp., a member of the Oldsmar business community since 1980, recently imparted an important lesson about kindness and the joy of giving to fifthgraders at Oldsmar Elementary School. On Dec. 1, the company’s founders John Sanders and wife Joyce donated two debit cards to every fifth-grader at the school. The first card was funded in the amount of $50, and students could only spend it on themselves. The second debit card was worth $100, and students were encouraged to donate it to a local charity to give back to the community or buy something special for family members. The total amount donated to students by the Sanders for this special holiday initiative was nearly $13,000. With their second card, students gave to a number of local charities including Oldsmar Cares, the Angel Tree, the local Humane Society and YMCA Giving Tree. Other students purchased gifts for their family. “The lesson you wanted them to learn has been multiplied 100 times over this period of giving,” says Michael Feeney, principal at Oldsmar Elementary School. “One family said that because of this giving, they were able to have a Christmas tree.” Later in the month, fifth-graders shared with the Sanders the many ways they used the funds to brighten others’ holiday spirit and showed a short video that spotlighted the various charities that were supported with their gifts. Students also presented the Sanders with a book including pictures and handwritten stories of how the funds were used. “This has been an amazing experience and we didn’t expect this presentation,” says John Sanders. “We wanted students to understand the importance of giving. This has been amazing.”
40
TAMPA BAY PARENTING
• FEB. 2016 • TBParenting.com
dates: Feb. 2 and 25, various times Managing Motherhood Take part in this monthly event designed for new mothers held at Mease Countryside Hospital in Safety Harbor and Morton Plant Hospital’s Powell Pavilion in Clearwater. Interact with other moms and discuss the challenges of motherhood and changing roles. Free. For times and registration, go to baycare.org/events.
Feb. 2, 9, 16 and 23, 3:30-5:30 p.m.. Fishing After School Sign up the kids to grab a rod and reel or bring their own for a fun afternoon of fishing at Mobbly Bayou Environmental Education Center in Oldsmar. Bait and basic tackle will be provided along with instruction. Cost is $20 a month with recreation card ($30 without card). For more information, call 813-749-1273.
Feb. 3, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Bingo Night for BBBS of Tampa Bay Moms and Dads are invited to come out for a unique adults-only bingo night fundraiser at Hamburger Mary’s Bar and Grille in Clearwater. Proceeds benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay and its mentoring programs. Cost is $10 for 10 games. bbbstampabay.org
Feb. 5-6, 12-13, 19-20, 26-27, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Dunedin Downtown Market Shop for fresh, local, homemade and eco-friendly products at this weekly outdoor market held Fridays and Saturdays in Pioneer Park in downtown Dunedin. Browse fruits, vegetables, coffee, tea, honey, breads, desserts, plants, beauty products and more. Free entry. tampabaymarkets.com
Feb. 20, 11 a.m. Saturday Stories Join in a fun morning of storytelling as part of this Youth Services Storytime Series offered through the Dunedin Public Library. Each weekend, kids can enjoy thematic stories, songs, finger theater productions, literature-based videos and crafts. Free with no registration required. For more information, call 727-298-3080, ext. 1732.
Feb. 26, 10 a.m. - noon Family Fun Friday Mornings: Alien Invaders Engage the whole family in a fun activity at Tarpon Springs’ Brooker Creek Preserve in celebration of National Invasive Species Awareness Week. Activities are designed to build kids’ interest in the natural world. Closed-toe shoes are required. Free but guests must register in advance at brookercreekpreserve.eventbrite.com.
Learn | Explore | Inspire
Successful students start at Espiritu Santo Catholic School!
NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS for the 2016-17 school year!
Apply online or call 727.812.4650 for more information. Academic Excellence for PK3 through 8th Grade Centrally Located in Safety Harbor | Ask Us About Tuition Assistance!
www.ESCSchool.org Ticke
ts jus
t $5!
THE F LO R I DA ORCHESTRA Family Concerts
Peter and the Wolf
Join Peter and his animal friends for an adventure through the woods and the meadow with Prokofiev’s classic tale, performed by a TFO woodwind quintet. Come early for activities and the Instrument Petting Zoo. Sat, Feb 13, 10 am & 11:30 am HCC-Ybor Performing Arts Building Sat, Feb 20, 10 am & 11:30 am Dunedin Fine Art Center Sat, Feb 27, 10 am & 11:30 am Mahaffey Theater Atrium
Ask about free Classical Kids tickets for Masterworks concerts 727.892.3337 or 1.800.662.7286 www.FloridaOrchestra.org
mpaBayParenting-Feb.indd 1
1/4/2016 12:17:44 PM
41
pasco dade city | land o' lakes | new port richey trinity | wesley chapel | zephyrhills
Photo by Nicole Geller Photography
pasco to open Two More Magnet Schools
dates:
Pasco County Schools announced recently that it will convert Bayonet Point and Centennial middle schools into magnet schools next school year. Each school will focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education. The decision to add the STEM theme is based on results from a parent survey conducted last fall.
Popcorn and a Movie Catch a G or PG rated flick with the kids grades K-5 the first Saturday of the month at Land O Lakes Public Library. Afternoon includes free popcorn and juice. For more information, call 813-929-1214.
Bayonet Point Middle School (BPMS) has been undergoing renovation and the school currently is located at Fivay High School, with some students housed at Chasco Middle School. Bayonet principal Shelley Carrino says she is committed to the initiative. The school had been under capacity for years and its re-opening as a STEM magnet school will likely attract more students by offering challenging programs. The district has established a magnet school philosophy to implement magnet school themes on both sides of the county simultaneously. For that reason, and because Centennial Middle School (CENMS) Principal Rick Saylor had been seeking new, rigorous, programs to engage his students, his school will also convert into a STEM magnet school. Students who presently attend the schools will continue to be assigned there. BPMS will have seats available for magnet students. Additional seats will be added at CENMS for students who would like to attend through magnet choice. Transportation will be provided to students selecting the magnet schools on both sides of the county through a transportation hub system similar to that used for Sanders Memorial Elementary STEAM Magnet School. In addition to the two new programs, the International Baccalaureate programs and Cambridge Education programs, which have operated like magnet schools for years, will officially become part of the district’s magnet schools program. The IB program is currently being offered at Gulf and Land O’ Lakes high schools, and the Cambridge program is available at Pasco Middle and Pasco High schools. Additional information will be posted on the Magnet Schools website as it becomes available at pasco.k12.fl.us/ed_choice/magnet/.
Celtic Jamboree Welcomes Area Families Sertoma Youth Ranch in Brooksville invites families to visit its expansive grounds for the upcoming 4th Annual Celtic Family Jamboree to be held Friday, Feb. 5 through Saturday, Feb. 6. Each year, the event draws families from all over the state to gather for onsite camping and a celebration of Celtic heritage, including music, dance, food and culture. Sertoma Youth Ranch is located at 85 Myers Road in Brooksville and can be reached via I-75, exit 293. This year’s event will feature a Friday night potluck, free Saturday morning workshops, Highlands athletic demonstrations and plenty of vendors selling authentic Celtic food, jewelry, and other goods. Live music will be provided throughout the weekend by a full lineup of performers including Brendan Nolan, Albannach, Rathkeltair and others. Two-day admission to the event is $30 in advance and $35 at the gate for those 18 and older (kids 17 and younger are free with a paid adult). Camping per night is $30 advance and $35 at the gate. Guests may bring their own food, drinks and alcohol. The event is family-friendly and leashed dogs are permitted. Festival goers may opt to stay at the event’s host hotel, the newly renovated Days Inn of Brooksville offering a special rate of $64 to attendees who mention the event when booking. To purchase tickets or make camping reservations, visit celticheritageproductions.com/fj.htm.
42
TAMPA BAY PARENTING
• FEB. 2016 • TBParenting.com
Feb. 6, 2-3:30 p.m.
Feb. 6 and 20, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Fresh Market at Wiregrass Browse booths for more than 50 vendors of locally grown produce, plants, herbs, flowers and more at this free event held the first Saturday monthly at Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel. Check out work from local artists and eco-friendly products. shopsatwiregrass.com
Feb. 6-7, various times Farm Fest and Quilt Show Head over to Pioneer Florida Museum and Village in Dade City for this annual celebration of Florida history. Check out beautiful designs of homemade quilts on display and get a taste of old-fashioned farm living. Event hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. pioneerfloridamuseum.org
Feb. 9, 10-11 a.m. Heart Healthy Nutrition Class Get tips for heart healthy eating at this class hosted by Medical Center of Trinity. Participants will learn how they can control blood pressure and weight as they get valuable information about fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and low-fat dairy. Free. medicalcentertrinity. com
Feb. 19-21, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Humane Society of Pasco’s Huge Yard Sale Donate old toys, clothing, handbags, jewelry, books, electronics, tools, furniture and more or stop by to shop others’ new and gently used donations as part of this fundraiser at the Humane Society of Pasco in Shady Hills. Donations can be dropped off at the shelter noon to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. humanesocietyofpasco.org
Feb. 20, 2-3:30 p.m. Life-Sized Candy Land Kids and parents are invited to take part in a life-sized version of the beloved board game at Hudson Regional Library. From Gum Drop Mountains to Molasses Swamp, participants will take a fun trek during this uniquely interactive afternoon. For more information, call 727-861-3040.
Fun Fair Food 115 Midway Rides Robotics Championships High Dive Act Exotic Petting Zoo Circus Hollywood SwashChucklers Comedy Pirate Show White House Exhibit Butterfly Experience
Over 112 Free Things to Do!
Buy now and save at www.FloridaStateFair.com or through Feb. 3
FREE PARKING
43
polk auburndale | bartow | haines city lakeland | lake wales | winter haven
Kathleen High Wins Grant through Safe Driving program Kathleen High School recently received news that its teen driver safety video and proposal in the State Farm program Celebrate My Drive had earned the school a $100,000 grant. The school was lauded for its creative video submission designed to address teen driver safety issues, including how to encourage 2N2: two eyes on the road, two hands on the wheel. Members of the school leadership team were part of an official check presentation in December at the Lakeland high school located at 1100 Red Devil Way. State Farm created the Celebrate My Drive program as a way to recognize that learning to drive is an important and joyous occasion in the life of teens, and that it should be done safely and responsibly. The program received 681 high school submissions which were narrowed down to 100 finalists. Winners were determined by public voting held in November, which generated nearly 440,000 total votes in support of their submissions. Kathleen High was one of 22 top vote-earners selected to receive a $100,000 grant. Twenty-two percent of the grant must support or initiate a teen driver safety effort. “This funding will help us to use more technology within our curriculum and instruction as well as stress the importance of traffic safety with our students and within our community,” says Donna Drisdom, principal at Kathleen High. Kathleen High was the only public high school in Florida to win the grant and one of only 11 “large” high schools in the nation to receive it. A large high school is any public, private or charter school that has more than 750 students. To view Kathleen High’s video, go to celebratemydrive.com/?state=FL#section-gallery.
Art Tradition returns to Lake Wales in February The Citizens Bank & Trust Lake Wales Arts Festival returns to the community bringing a 45-year-old tradition of celebrating and exhibiting quality works of art by fine artists and artisans to the shores of Lake Wales. As many as 100 artists are competing for more than $30,000 in awards. Presented by the Lake Wales Art Council, the 2-day Festival, which runs Saturday, Feb. 27 and Sunday, Feb. 28, attracts thousands of art lovers each year who can browse and purchase original, one-of-a-kind works. Winners from this year’s Student Art Show also will be on display at the festival. Students from across Lake Wales area schools have taken part in a city-wide show for the past 47 years. This year’s award-winning art will be on display from Feb. 25 through Mar. 10 inside the Michael Crews Gallery at the Polk State Lake Wales Art Center. In addition to a variety of art, this year’s event features food trucks and live entertainment as well as fun activities for the kids from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. A special kickoff party Art-BQue launches the festival 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 26 on the shores of Lakes Wales. For tickets, call 863-676-8426 or visit the Lake Wales Chamber of Commerce office.
14
Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with live entertainment onstage 10 a.m. to noon and 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. An Artist Award Ribbons Distribution Parade is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Saturday. For more information about this and other Lake Wales Art Council events, visit lakewalesartscouncil.org.
dates: Feb. 5, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. 2016 Women’s Leadership Symposium Moms can sign up for a valuable event from the Lakeland Downtown Chapter of the American Business Association developed for women across all roles to gather and learn from each other at The Lakeland Center. Hear from a variety of presenters including design expert Wendi Braswell, motivational speaker Linda Larsen and etiquette and leadership coach Patricia Rossi. lakelandabwa.com
Feb. 9, 7:15-8:15 p.m. Happiest Baby Learn how to help your baby sleep longer and soothe fussiness at this class hosted by Winter Haven Women’s Hospital. Topics include the Calming Reflex, Missing Fourth Trimester, the Five S’s, Cuddle Cure and more. Cost is $20. To register, go to baycare.org/events.
Feb. 13, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. Flipping for Charities Pancake Festival Support a good cause at this annual breakfast tradition hosted by the Citrus Center Kiwanis at Tiger Town Hangar #2 in Lakeland. Proceeds benefit a variety of area charities. Family packs available (2 adults and 2 kids) for $20. Individual tickets are $8 adults and $4 children ages 2-12. citruscenterkiwanis.org
Feb. 18-21, 25-28, various times 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee See the award-winning musical when it visits Florida Southern College’s Buckner Theatre in Lakeland. Follow six tweens as they vie for the spelling bee championship of a lifetime in a hilarious show featuring audience participation. Tickets are $18 adults and $9 students. Call the box office at 863-680-3089.
Feb. 20, various times CommunityFest 2016 / Taste of Winter Haven Bring the family for food, drinks and live music and browse craft and business vendors 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Virginia Miller and Central Park in downtown Winter Haven. Return 6-9 p.m. for an adults only Taste event featuring craft beers and wines with live music. Tickets are $35 for unlimited tastes. Guests must be 21 and over for Taste. communityfestwh.com
Feb. 26-27, various times Ribs on the Ridge Sample this year’s entries as part of the annual sanctioned BBQ competition at Lake Eva Park in Haines City. Admission is free and includes delicious barbecue, live entertainment and vendors. For schedule details, visit hainescity.com/RibsOnTheRidge.
BEGINS JANUARY 20 Jan. 20 – Feb.14 | Morsani Hall STRAZCENTER.ORG
| 813-229-7827
©Disney
Groups (10+): 813-222-1016 or 1047
2
1 3
4
3 3
6 5
5
44
TAMPA BAY PARENTING
• FEB. 2016 • TBParenting.com
6
Around Town
To see more photos, visit: TBParenting.com/Facebook
57
Rob Zimprich(UACDC CFO), and UACDC Board Members Tim Parker, Davin Joseph and TJ Couch, Jr. at I Am Prodigy Music Festival.
1
Robin Moch, senior vice president of M.E. Wilson and Clara Reynolds, president & CEO of Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, receiving the Westfield Insurance Grant for the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay.
2
3
Sarah Combs (UACDC ED & CEO), Jessica Muroff (CEO of Girl Scouts) and Wendy Leigh (UACDC Chief Development and Marketing Officer) at I Am Prodigy Music Festival.
4
UACDC staff Bree Fulcher, Ronnie Oliver, Martine Dorvil and Wendy Leigh at I Am Prodigy Music Fesival.
5
Corbett Preparatory middle school students on their way to a two week study trip in Spain.
8
6
Students and teachers from Tampa Bay Boulevard Elementary School stopped by St Joseph’s Children’s Hospital to donate toys and games to patients.
7
Glazer Children’s Museum staff at their annual Nutcracker Tea in partnership with the Straz Center.
8
UConn athletes along with Mike and Nicole Alstott visited All Childrens Hospital.
9
9
St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital had a pirate invasion as patients celebrated Gasparilla with a parade.
10
45
February Events
Masters of Illusion
Feb. 5, 8 p.m. Witness this fast-moving, family-friendly spectacular onstage at The Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg. Show features grand illusions, amazing escapes, mesmerizing levitations, comedic magic and a mindboggling, all-audience illusion. Tickets are $25-$55. themahaffey.com 10 & Older
parents Night out at Lowry park Zoo
e v e n t s & f e s t i va l s Children's Board Free Tuesday
Feb. 2, 2-7 p.m. Stop by the Glazer Museum with the kids and take advantage of free admission courtesy of The Children’s Board of Hillsborough County. Check out the museum’s current exhibits during designated hours and meet up with special guests. Adults must be accompanied by a child and vice versa. glazermuseum.org Everyone
Military Moms resource Group Feb. 4, 11, 18 and 25, 11 a.m. - noon Military moms are invited by Hammond Psychology to meet with other military moms (active duty moms, retired military moms, military reserve moms and spouses/partners of military members, active or retired). Participants have an opportunity to connect in this free weekly group. Sign up at 813-654-0503. hammondpsychology.com Moms
Florida State Fair
Feb. 4-15, various times Bring the family for rides, live entertainment and more at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. This year features new free exhibits and concerts from The Robert Cray Band, Gary Puckett with the Union Gap, Colt Ford and others. Special events include an India Celebration, Student Chef Cook-Off and Taste of the Fair. floridastatefair.com Everyone
free swingdance workshop
Feb. 4 & 11, 6:45-8 p.m. The Carrollwood Cultural Center will host two free Swing Dancing workshops. The workshops are for beginners and the goal of the workshops is to have fun while learning a few new steps. Participants will have the opportunity to purchase BOGO tickets to the Sounds of Swing event on February 13, where they can put their new dance skills to use with live music by Jim Burge and his band. This workshop will be taught by Beth LaBaren-Root and is for adults. FREE. carrollwoodcenter.org/ Moms, Dads
childbirth refresher
Feb. 4, 6-9 p.m. Come out to St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital for this class for moms, dads, and those involved in the birthing process. This class empowers expectant mothers to become informed, active participants in the childbirth process. Fee: $30. baycareevents.org Moms, Dads
46
TAMPA BAY PARENTING
Feb. 5, 12 and 13, 5:30-11 p.m. Trust your children to the professional Education Department staff at the Zoo and enjoy an evening alone. Evening offers young guests entertainment, a pizza snack and drinks. Cost is $30 for one child and $10 per additional child. Participants must be fully potty trained. lowryparkzoo.com 3-10
pediatric first aid and child cpr
Feb. 6, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Learn to handle emergencies and prevent injuries in this seven-hour American Heart Association Pediatric First Aid and all ages CPR course. This course takes place at St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital. Cost: $75. baycareevents.org Moms, Dads
My Doll and Me: Mary Ellen
Feb. 6, 10 a.m. - noon Children can travel through time with their favorite dolls as part of this special monthly event based on the American Girl© book series at Tampa Bay History Center. Guests can explore the past with crafts, games, snacks and gallery experiences based on the doll series’ historic characters and themes. This month’s focus is the doll Mary Ellen. Pre-registration is required. Fee is $20 and includes child’s admission to the galleries. tampabayhistorycenter.org 6-12
Annual Bay Area renaissance Festival
Feb. 6 - March 20, various times Journey back to a charming 16th century village and its food, music and fun at this festival held outside Tampa’s MOSI. See live armored jousting, browse more than 100 merchants, and watch entertainment on 12 stages. Admission at the gate is $29.95 adults and $12.95 children ages 5-12. Free parking. bayarearenfest.com Everyone
Member Mornings
Feb. 7, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Take advantage of members-only access to the Glazer Children’s Museum in Tampa. Bring other family members to join in the fun (up to five guests admitted at no charge; must include an adult). Guests may also buy a membership for 20 percent off regular cost. glazermuseum.org Everyone
teen talk for girls
Feb. 7, 1-5 p.m. This course at St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital addresses puberty’s physical and emotional changes for 10-14 year olds, and conception, sexuality and abstinence for older teens. Cost: $35. baycareevents.org Teens
• FEB. 2016 • TBParenting.com
Hooray for Hearts
Feb. 8-12, 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. daily Kids can take part in art, science and physical activity at Great Explorations Museum in St. Pete to celebrate the human heart. Participants can join in for hearts and crafts, a heartbeat drum circle and more. Activities are included with admission. greatex.org 4-10
Developmental Check-ups
Feb. 9, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Bring your child to take part in a special event offered through Glazer Children’s Museum in partnership with Champions for Children and Baby Bungalow. Professionals will review and discuss child’s development. Caregiver must accompany child. Preregistration is required and checkups are included with general admission or membership. For more information, call 813443-3810 or email ddeleon@glazermuseum.org. 1-3
in touch with social media workshop Feb. 10, 1-2:30 p.m. Don’t let your computer and new technology scare you. You can be in charge. Come and see how you can overcome some of the fears of the new age. Bring your laptop, phone and camera to class and get comfortable with these technological tools. This workshop will be taught by Ruth Levy and is for adults. Admission: Free carrollwoodcentrer.org Moms, Dads
Little Sweetheart's Dance
Feb. 12, 6-8 p.m. Dance away with your little ones at this annual Valentine’s Day event hosted by the Glazer Children’s Museum. Enjoy light refreshments and music from Tampa’s own DJ Jake Delacruz and enter for a chance to win giveaways. Tickets are $15 members and $20 general admission. glazermuseum.org Everyone
parents' Night out at Great Explorations
Feb. 12, 6-10 p.m. Drop off the kids for a night of fun at the museum while you take time for yourself at Great Explorations in St. Petersburg. Children can play in the museum, explore the Touch Tunnel, and watch science shows or a G-rated movie. Pizza, snacks and juice are included. Price is $25 members and $35 non-members with a sibling discount also available. Pre-registration is required. greatex.org/ programs/parents-night-out 4-10
Hearts & Crafts at Great Explorations
Feb. 13, 10 a.m. Guests can make valentines for all of the special people in their life at Great Explorations Museum. Make a heart pillow or create heart animals. All activities are included with admission. greatex.org 3-10
Baby Massage
Feb. 13, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Learn how to use massage and nurturing touch with Debbi Courtney of Touch of Sunshine Infant Massage, LLC as part of this special monthly event held at Great Explorations in St. Petersburg. For more information and pricing, contact Debbi at 727-744-9411 or debbicourtney@ gmail.com. greatex.org Moms, Dads
While great care was taken in compiling the calendar, it’s always best to phone ahead to confirm information.
Krewe of Sant' Yago Knight parade
Feb. 13, 7 p.m. Pick your spot along the sidelines and collect beads at this popular night parade down Seventh Avenue in historic Ybor City. Catch this year’s grand marshals, members of The Tampa Bay Rays, as you watch illuminated floats and hear from marching bands across the city at this event to benefit the Krewe of the Knights of Sant’ Yago Education Foundation. knightparade.com
Everyone
Total Eclipse of the Heart/My Little valentine
Feb. 13-14, various times Celebrate Valentine’s Day in MOSI’s Saunders Planetarium with two uniquely romantic experiences under the stars. Couples can get a glimpse of international skies while enjoying a light meal in Total Eclipse of the Heart. For families looking for a kidfriendly experience, the My Little Valentine Luncheon will be held in the Saunders Planetarium with an Italianthemed lunch. For time and cost details, visit mosi.org.
Everyone
School's out Camp
Feb. 15, 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Sign up the kids for this special camp for when Pinellas County schools are out at St. Pete’s Great Explorations. During camp, children get to explore the wonders of Japan as part of the Passport to Japan camp. Aftercare available until 5:30 p.m. Cost is $35 members and $40 general admission. greatex.org 4-8
Wild Kratts Live
Feb. 19, 7 p.m. Get ready for a fun, interactive experience for the whole family when brothers Chris and Martin Kratt of the animated PBS series “come to life” with stories of their adventures told on The Mahaffey Theater stage in St. Pete. Adventures focus on a science concept central to an animal’s life and feature engaging stories and comedy to engage kids. Tickets start at $27.50. themahaffey.com 3-12
Electricity, Merit Badge Workshop and Camp-in
Feb. 20, 7 p.m. - Feb. 21, 11 a.m. Scout troop members can spark their imagination as they build everything from electromagnets to circuits that operate lights and motors as part of this overnight experience at Tampa’s MOSI. Event includes electricity workshop, light snacks, sleeping at MOSI, breakfast, an IMAX film, parking and admission. Cost is $37 per scout and $20 per adult (one adult free per 10 scouts). Register by Feb. 4 at 813-987-6000. mosi.org 7-12
Children's Home Luau and Auction
Feb. 21, 5-8:30 p.m. Enjoy an evening of live entertainment, tropical food, complimentary cocktails and silent and live auctions at this benefit at Carrollwood Country Club in Tampa. Cost is $45 per person. Proceeds benefit The Children’s Home. childrenshome.org Moms, Dads
National Engineers Week at MoSI
Feb. 21-27, various times Learn how engineers impact our lives as part of this special weeklong celebration at MOSI in Tampa. Guests can do hands-on activities, take part in daily building challenges inside the Idea Zone and enjoy test-driving a variety of engineering fields. mosi.org Everyone
Hollywood Awards Night
Feb. 28, 7 p.m. Join Tampa Theatre as it celebrates Hollywood’s biggest night with a VIP watch party for the live telecast of the 68th Annual Academy Awards on the big screen. . Come dressed in movie-themed costume or let your Hollywood glam shine. Tickets are $15 members and $20 general admission. tampatheatre.org Everyone
Evening Tide Talks at Florida Aquarium
Feb. 24, 5:45 p.m. Take part in this free lecture series offered through The Florida Aquarium in Tampa. Series features some of the world’s most renowned scientists, photographers and researchers. Mix with others during a complimentary 5:45 p.m. reception in the Vinik Room. Stay for the 6:15 p.m. featured speaker. For questions and additional information, call Reservations at 813-273-4015. flaquarium.org 12 & Older
Easter Seals' A pair to remember Feb. 26, 10:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. Get ready to sip champagne, celebrate spring and socialize with friends at this seventh annual benefit luncheon and shoe auction hosted by Straz Center in Tampa. Tickets: $125. Proceeds benefit Easter Seals Florida. easterseals.com/florida Moms
peace of woodstock
Feb. 26, 8 p.m. Peace of Woodstock is a show paying tribute to Woodstock, the famous three day festival of Peace, Music, Love and Fun, in upstate New York that defined an entire generation. This show will take you on a musical journey from the acoustic opening act of the Woodstock experience, Richie Havens, through the closing moments of the festival with the explosive, electric sounds of Jimi Hendrix. Also featured are songs from Crosby, Stills, and Nash, The Who, Janis Joplin, Sly and the Family Stone, Joe Cocker, Arlo Guthrie, Country Joe McDonald, Santana, the Jefferson Airplane, and others. Admission: $20-$26 carrollwoodcenter.org
Moms, Dads
Annual Empath Health Ball
Feb. 27, 6:30 p.m. Don your mask for the “Moon Dance Masquerade” at the Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort and Golf Club in St. Pete. Proceeds benefit Empath Health (formerly Suncoast Hospice). Guests are asked to come in white tie or themed attire. Evening is filled with enchantment, mystery, fabulous food and music. For ticket information, visit thehospice.org. Moms and
Dads.
Disney Live! Mickey and Minnie's Doorway to Magic
Feb. 27 and 28, various times Open the door to unforgettable Disney moments and grand illusions as part of this live show featuring Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and 25 favorite characters onstage for three shows across two Bay Area venues. Families can come out to Tampa’s Amalie Arena at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 27 and to The Mahaffey Theater in St. Pete at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 28. For tickets, go to amaliearena.com and themahaffey.com. Everyone
spECIAL NEEDS Family Support Group
Feb. 2, 6:30-7:30 a.m. Connect with other parents of special needs kids as part of this monthly parent-to-parent support group hosted by All Children’s Hospital Child Development and Rehabilitation Center in St. Petersburg. To RSVP, call 727-767-2885. allkids.org Moms, Dads
online Training: Addressing Sensory Issues
Feb. 2, 6-7 p.m. Learn strategies to help with addressing sensory processing difficulties through this online seminar offered through the USF Center for Autism and Related Disabilities in Tampa. Participants can join online starting at 5:45 a.m. at this link: usf.adobeconnect. com/_a825389370/card_ect. Moms, Dads
Free Homeschool Social Skills Group
Feb. 4 and 18, 11 a.m. - noon Sign up the kids grades 2-5 for a free, interactive weekly social skills group with Hammond Psychology. Register online or call 813-567-3253. hammondpsychology.com
7-10
Special Needs Screening - Kung Fu panda 3
Feb. 6, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Catch a special showing of Kung Fu Panda 3 in a sensory-friendly environment at Studio Movie Grill inside University Mall in Tampa. Screenings will feature low sound and lights. Adults are $6, and kids and siblings are free. Rated PG. studiomoviegrill.com 12 &
Older
Autism Support Group
Feb. 10, 7-8 p.m. Class is designed for parents and caregivers of loved ones with autism and meets the second Wednesday of each month at Medical Center of Trinity. Register online at medicalcentertrinity.com or call 727-824-5630. Walkins are also welcome. Moms, Dads
47
february Events
pizza with professionals - It's All about Therapy
Feb. 11, 6:30-8 p.m. Chat with a pediatrician, parents of children with autism and others for an evening of discussion about life with autism and caring for those with autism. Event takes place at All Children’s Education & Conference Center in St. Petersburg. To RSVP, call 727-767-7653. Moms, Dads
Great Connections
Feb. 14, 10 a.m. - noon Explore the exhibits of Great Explorations Children’s Museum with other special needs families as part of this sensory-friendly event providing exclusive access to the museum while closed to the general public. Museum modifies lights and sound, offers discounted admission and provides a cool-down room. February’s featured community partner is Special Olympics of Pinellas. Cost is $5 each (free for members). greatex. org 6 & Older
rockin' on the river Autism Awareness Fundraiser
Feb. 26-28, various times Show your support for families facing autism by attending this fun fundraiser at Camp Mack River Resort in Lake Wales. Listen to live music and enjoy the river resort with proceeds to benefit Central Florida Autism Institute and Our Children’s Academy. campmack.com
Everyone
Downtown Dunedin Craft Festival
Feb. 13-14, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Browse handmade crafts and functional art at this annual event in downtown Dunedin along Main Street. Shop for unique gift items in time for Valentine’s Day, stop by the green market for quality plants and gourmet items and listen to live music. Admission is free and open to the public. artfestival.com Everyone
Art from the heart /Art2Change Events
Feb. 5 and 18, 5-8 p.m. Show your support for a variety of good causes by attending these art receptions hosted by Carrollwood Cultural Center in Tampa. A collection of artwork donated by Tampa artist Mark Gonzalez will be unveiled at a gallery opening reception Friday, Feb. 5. Celebrate the artists and learn about the benefiting charities at a Thursday, Feb. 18 reception featuring vocal group Primary Colors. carrollwoodcenter.org Moms, Dads
Florida Heat: Surface Design 2016 pottery Workshop
Feb. 18-21, various times Gather friends and sign up for pottery instruction as part of this Morean Center for Clay weekend-long workshop event in St. Petersburg. Eight of the country’s leading ceramic artists demonstrate their talents and approaches to the art medium. Workshop will cover all firing ranges and surfaces. Cost is $150 per day; full workshop,$550. moreanartscenter.org Moms, Dads
this sequel to the cult comedy starring Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson, and also featuring Macaulay Culkin, Will Ferrell and Benedict Cumberbatch. Running time, 100 minutes. Check local listings for movie schedule. Date
Night
How To Be Single
Opens Feb. 12 Gather friends for this comedy-romance featuring a group of lonely New Yorkers learning how to return to the single life in a world defined by coupling. Film stars Dakota Johnson, Leslie Mann and Rebel Wilson. Check with area theaters for showtimes. Rated R. Girls Night
Out
Care Bears: Bearied Treasure
Available Feb. 9 Go on a fun-filled high seas adventure with the Care Bears when this DVD (plus Digital) arrives in stores from Lionsgate Home Entertainment. Follow Friend Bear, Good Luck Bear and chums as they hunt for gold. Running time, 66 minutes. Suggested retail price is $14.98. 3-8
Hatched
Available Feb. 16 Crack open an exciting adventure for the entire family whenthe action-packed, animated comedy arrives on DVD and Digital HD from Cinedigm this month. The film features the voices of Jeff Foxworthy and Sean Astin. Follow buddies Cluck and Charlie Horse and their barnyard friends as they set out for adventure after a spaceship crashes into the farmhouse. Running time, 71 minutes. Suggested retail price is $14.93. 5 & Older
Art Forever Young: A retrospective
Through Mar. 27, various times Check out Russell Young’s artistic exploration of American counter culture as part of this current exhibit at the Polk Museum of Art in Lakeland. Works showcase a journey bearing the excess and ambition that shape the ‘American Dream’ and challenge viewers’ perception and understanding of what it is to be an American in the 21st century. polkmuseumofart. org Everyone
Disney and Dali: Architects of the Imagination Through Jun. 12, various times Experience an unlikely friendship and interaction of two visionaries in this latest multi-media exhibition at The Dali in St. Petersburg focused on Walt Disney and Dali. Learn about this unique relationship through original paintings, story sketches, correspondence, photos, film, audio and more. thedali.org 8 & Older
48
TAMPA BAY PARENTING
film Best picture Classics Series at Tampa Theatre
Jan. 31, Feb. 7, 14, 21, 3 p.m. Celebrate past Best Picture Oscar winners for this film classic series hosted by Tampa Theatre and leading up to the venue’s glamorous Hollywood Awards Night. Series includes The Artist (Jan. 31); Amadeus (Feb. 7); Shakespeare in Love (Feb. 14); and Wings (Feb. 21). Tickets are $8 members and $10 general admission. For Wings, tickets are $10 and $12 as it includes live music accompaniment. tampatheatre.org Everyone
Zoolander 2
Opens Feb. 12 Derek and Hansel are back and modeling once again in
• FEB. 2016 • TBParenting.com
t h e at e r & d a n c e Disney's The Lion King
Through Feb. 14, various times Get lost in the joyful dance, soaring score and poignant vocals as the Tony Award-winning musical returns to Tampa’s Straz Center. Tickets start at $35. strazcenter. org 6 & Older
our Town
Through Feb. 14, various times Explore the settings and backgrounds of a quiet community in this Thornton Wilder classic brought to the stage by Freefall Theatre in St. Pete. Experience lives unfolding in this haunting play that celebrates the human experience. Tickets are $20-$48. freefalltheatre.
12 & Older
Jitney
Through Feb. 21, various times Catch this production of this New York Drama Critics Award winner for Best New Play presented by St. Pete’s American Stage. Set in 1970 in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, this August Wilson work continues the author’s cycle of plays about the black American experience of the 20th century. americanstage.org 12
vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Feb. 26 - Mar. 20, various times Witness a parody of esteemed playwright Anton Chekov as you’ve never seen it with this send-up of his works written by Christopher Durang and performed by Jobsite Theater in Straz Center’s Shimberg Playhouse. Tickets are $28. jobsitetheater.org Moms, Dads
& Older
In The Blood
Feb 4-21, various times In this modern day riff on The Scarlet Letter, Hester La Negrita, a homeless mother of five, lives with her kids on the tough streets of the inner city. Her eldest child is teaching her how to read and write, but the letter “A” is, so far, the only letter she knows. While Hester’s kids fill her life with joy—lovingly comical moments amid the harsh world of poverty—the adults with whom she comes into contact only hold her back. Nothing can stop the play’s tragic end. Tickets $30 stageworkstheatre.org
Feb. 5, 7:30 p.m. Experience the beloved opera from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart performed by the St. Petersburg Opera at Hough Hall inside The Palladium in St. Pete. Tickets are $21.50$64.50 and can be purchased by phone at 727-823-2040. mypalladium.org Moms, Dads
Annie
Feb. 6, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Sing along to Broadway musical favorites in this brand new incarnation of the iconic original at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater. The show features unforgettable tunes from “It’s the Hard Knock Life” to “Tomorrow.” Tickets start at $35. rutheckerdhall.com 8 & Older
The Book of Mormon
Feb. 16-21, various times See the irreverent musical from the creators of South Park that took Broadway by storm and scored nine Tony Awards including Best Musical at Ruth Eckerd Hall. Please note: show contains explicit language. Tickets are $38-$98. rutheckerdhall.com Moms, Dads
patel Conservatory presents Disney's 101 Dalmation KIDS
Feb. 18-21, various times Watch the animated Disney tale of kidnapping villains and courageous puppies come to life as this new adapted version presented by student performers in grades 2-4 inside TECO Theater at Tampa’s Straz Center. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at strazcenter. org. Everyone
Matilda The Musical
Feb. 23-28, various times See the beloved Roald Dahl novel transformed into an amusing and heartfelt musical celebrating an extraordinary girl armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind arriving this month at Straz Center in downtown Tampa. Tickets start at $45. strazcenter.org
6 & Older
pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo
Feb. 15, 8 p.m. See these rock legends when they bring their We Live for Love Tour to Clearwater’s Capitol Theatre. The powerhouse duo brings with them an arsenal of rock hits, including “Heartbreaker,” “Hit Me with Your Best Shot,” and “Love Is a Battlefield.” Tickets are $77 and $97, and available online at rutheckerdhall.com. 8 &
Older
Clearwater Seafood and Blues Festival
Moms, Dads
Mozart's Abduction from the Seraglio
BBQ event, returning to SeaWorld for four weekends this spring. For performers taking part in this year’s concert series, go to seaworldorlando.com. 10 & Older
music & comedy real Music Series at Busch Gardens Tampa
Through Mar. 5, various times Relive the classics onstage as Busch Gardens continues Tampa’s longest running concert series with live music spanning the 1950s to today. This month’s concerts include Chubby Checker and the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Concerts are free with park admission. buschgardenstampa.com Everyone
Diana ross
Feb. 10, 8 p.m. Experience the Motown legend whose remarkable career has spanned almost five decades when she graces the stage of Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater. Ross will perform her hits from a diverse songbook that includes both solo hits and her work as one of the Supremes. Tickets start at $58.75. rutheckerdhall.com
Feb. 20-21, various times Enjoy an eclectic lineup of internationally and locallyknown blues artists at this annual music festival at Coachman Park. Headlining Saturday’s concert is Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, an American funk and soul band. Sunday’s lineup brings five more artists including Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Beth Hart. Admission is free; reserved seating is $23.26 with two-day passes available. clearwaterseablues.com 12
& Older
patti LaBelle
Feb. 21, 7:30 p.m. The inimitable soul songstress Patti LaBelle takes to the stage at Tampa’s Straz Center. Hear from a talented performer who defined the diva generation with a string of radio hits including “Lady Marmalade,” “New Attitude,” and “Stir It Up.” Tickets start at $45. strazcenter.org 8 & Older
Travis Tritt
Everyone
Feb. 24, 7:30 p.m. Spend a special evening with the CMA and Grammy award-winning country crooner at The Mahaffey in St. Petersburg. This rare opportunity offers fan an intimate solo, acoustic setting for Tritt to perform some of his biggest hits including “It’s a Great Day to Be Alive” and “T-R-O-U-B-L-E.” Tickets are $35.50, $45.50 and $55.50. themahaffey.com 10 & Older
Andrea Bocelli
Benise: Strings of passion Tour
Feb. 11 7:30 p.m. See the legendary tenor when he returns to Florida for a sixth consecutive year onstage at Amalie Arena. Bocelli celebrates the romance and magic of Valentine’s Day to tie in with his latest album Cinema and will be joined in Tampa by conductor Eugene Kohn, soprano Maria Aleida and the Bella Musica Orchestra. Tickets are $75. amaliearena.com Date Night, Girls Night Out
r5
Feb. 13, 7 p.m. Check out this rising pop-rock quintet when it comes to Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall. The group brings its Sometime Last Night tour as well as special guests Ryland, Max and Parade of Lights. Reserved tickets are priced at $53.25, $38.75 and $33.25. rutheckerdhall.com
8 & Older
Bands, Brews & BBq
Feb. 25, 7:30 p.m. Join the guitar virtuoso on a musical journey from salsa, flamenco and tango to waltz, samba and more onstage at Tampa Theatre. Benise’s latest tour showcases his renderings of classic songs from such artists as Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, AC/DC and The Eagles, blending fierce classic rock with the passion and intensity of Spanish guitar and dance. Tickets start at $29.50. tampatheatre.org 8 & Older
Blast Friday: David Cook
Feb. 26, 5:30 p.m. Celebrate the end of the week on the last Friday of each month in downtown Clearwater with an outdoor concert, this time from the former American Idol winner and singer-songwriter. Cook’s tour is in support of his latest album Digital View to the Cleveland Street District. Free. blastfridayclearwater.com 8 & Older
Feb. 13 - Mar. 6, various times Indulge in an eclectic mix of live music at this popular
49
Directory
Create. Sell. Learn. A Market for Kidpreneurs! The Tampa Kids Market is a place where kids (ages 6-17) get to practice their entrepreneurial skills in a real life market setting!
KID VENDORS SETUP FREE Find us at the following locations:
Local Food • Live Music • Hand Crafts Kid Activities • Fresh-Air • Local Support
www.tampakidsmarket.com
50
TAMPA BAY PARENTING
• FEB. 2016 • TBParenting.com
51
It’s never too early
to PLAN for the future.
Open an account today! Kids Make Cents I Teen Life I Specialty Accounts
VISIT your local Achieva Credit Union CALL 727.431.7680 I 800.593.2274 ONLINE achievacu.com
52 Federally Insured by NCUA. Equal Housing Lender. TAMPA BAY PARENTING
• FEB. 2016 • TBParenting.com