2013 Holiday Issue

About the CoverEsther Edwards, featured in our cover story, with her daughter Lilly, at Clearwater Beach.

Photo by:Stacia Kelly Photography

Lifestyle, Children& Family Portraitsstaciakellyphoto.com727-366-6403

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8-9 Good Adventures

11-13 Good Products

Holiday Gift Guide

14-15 Good People

Gina Wilkins & Lewis Hill

33-34 Good Eating

The Good Stuff

Features 18 A Note from

Pinellas County Schools

Dr. Michael A. Grego

18News from the Children’s

Movement of Florida

Dave Lawrence

19 A Note from

Juvenile Welfare Board

All Kids Matter

Dr. Marcie Biddleman

20-21Celebrating the Holidays

On Board a Disney Cruise

Pamela Settle

22-23Strong is the New Beautiful

Thais Leon-Miller

24-27 Bringing the Soiree

Back to Life

Pam Settle

29 Sweet Truths

about Holiday Foods

Brenda Watson

30 Local Doctors Warn

of Holiday Health Hazards

31 Getting Through

the Holiday Season Without...

Barb Hennessey

36-37 The Edible Peace Patch

Kip Curtis, Phd.

38 My Story

Don Germaise

I can hardly believe we are nearing the end of 2013 already! Seems time is passing

faster and faster with every year. It’s been a busy year and we are deeply grateful for

everyone who read GoodLiving® magazine in 2013. We know how busy parents can

be! Quiet time to read a magazine is a luxury and so we do not take it for granted that

you give us your time.

GoodLiving® remains a free community magazine and that happens because companies

advertise. We seek out only good companies and good organizations because our

brand promise is to provide information about the best resources in Pinellas County.

Good companies we want to recognize are Achieva Credit Union and Florida

Hospital North Pinellas. Th ese major advertisers have supported this publication

for the long term because their corporate philosophy is in line with our mission.

Th ey too care deeply about the well being of families right here in Pinellas County

and it shows in how they do business. We hope that you will recognize this genuine

commitment and give them your patronage.

Th e same goes for the many small business and non-profi t organizations that reach

out to families through our magazine. Again, we only partner with the “good guys,” to

bring our readers the best our county has to off er.

Many of these good companies are linked to the non-profi ts we feature. We salute

them all for their hard work and caring hearts.

You’ll read about some caring hearts in this issue as we focus on hunger. Hard to fathom

that we have chronic hunger in a well-to-do county like ours. Sure, we know there are lower

income families and senior citizens, but do we really know about the ones who regularly go

to sleep hungry? We shouldn’t tolerate this for one minute. We are a population of nearly

one million. Surely we can give enough to feed those in dire need.

My son proved that one person can make a diff erence, even a young person. He

learned about students who needed extra food for the Th anksgiving break through a

food drive at his school and the news didn’t set well with him. His class was tasked

with bringing individual cereal boxes, so he ventured out to collect as much money

as he could to buy even more cereal. By asking adults and local business owners for

$5 each, he collected $150 in two weeks, enough to feed breakfast to 500 kids. Th at’s

a lot of impact for one second grader! But it illustrates a simple solution with simple

math. If we all seek to make a small contribution toward the feeding of 7,000 hungry

kids each day, we can do it.

We hope you’ll enjoy our end of year Holiday issue. But more than that we hope

you’ll be inspired by what you read.

Until next time,

Letter from the Editor

Pamela Settle

From our hearts to yours,

we wish you all the best in 2014.

Happy New Year!

®

PublisherLight Shine Media Group, LLC

Editor-in-ChiefPamela Settle

Design and LayoutMarcie Kelliher

Contribu ng WritersDr. Marcie Biddleman

Dr. Michael Grego

Dave Lawrence

Thais Leon-Miller

Brenda Watson

Barb Hennessey

Kip Curtis, Phd.

Don Germaise

Distribu on provided by ASAP Distribution

To submit good news ideas or events [email protected]

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Holiday Issue 2013

Holiday Issue 2013 Holiday Issue 2013 8

adventures

DisneyworldNobody does holiday magic like Disneyworld. Cinderella’s

castle is breathtaking as it lights up the festivities at Magic

Kingdom. Th e awesome and memorable Christmas Candlelight

Processional at Epcot Center is a moving choir performance of

Christmas hymns with a celebrity reading of the Christmas story.

Th e countries share their holiday traditions and foods as well.

And then each evening, someone hits the switch at Hollywood

Studios to turn on the Osborne Family light display, one of the

largest such displays in the country. Th e entire downtown area

covered in lights is something you just have to see to appreciate.

Disneyworld.com

First Night St. PetersburgRing in the New Year at First Night

in Downtown St. Petersburg. Th is is a

family friendly event starting with First Kids at 4 p.m. at

the Morean Arts Center where children will make crafts,

enjoy music and a petting zoo. In Williams Park, Th e

Warehouse Arts District Artists (WADA) will Light Up

the New Year with Luminous Flight illuminated sculp-

tural lanterns. Participate in hands-on demos including

glass etching, fl ight based clay creations, and a decorating

a Chinese style Dragon. Join the Dragon Procession to

the Waterfront at 10 pm. Also a TASCO Young Talent

Showcase and Pathfi nder Tree Climbing. Adults and kids

will take in arts and culture with fi reworks, stories, music,

food and more until midnight. fi rstnightstpete.com

Downtown Tampa on IceIt’s not quite Rockefeller Center,

but Downtown Tampa on Ice is

going to do it Florida style. Th e

outdoor ice skating rink at Curtis

Hixon Waterfront Park is a tempo-

rary fi xture from Th anksgiving week

to January 5th. Take the family ice

skating along the river or schedule a

private holiday party under the stars.

Sessions of 90 minutes cost $10 per

person including skate rental.

photo courtesy of Walt Disney World

Wild Wonderland Lowry Park Zoo is magical

during Wild Wonderland

where children of all ages can

see live reindeer, millions of

lights, elaborate holiday displays

and free unlimited zoo rides all

evening. Wild Wonderland runs

select evenings and requires a sepa-

rate ticket. lowryparkzoo.com

9 Holiday Issue 2013

Frosty the Snowman

at ICE! A perennial chilly favorite

at the Gaylord Palms in

Orlando is ICE! running

through January 5th. More

than two million pounds of

hand-carved ice sculptures

will tell this classic tale

of Frosty the Snowman

as only they than can do

at ICE! Th is year they

have four ice slides, a live ice carving zone and an ice nativity. Th e

hotel itself has holiday decorations, entertainment and shopping

that makes for a nice day trip. Florida resident rates available. For

tickets and information go to gaylordpalms.com/ice.

LegolandChristmas Bricktacular with holiday-themed festivities on Saturdays

and Sundays in December is included with park admission. Take

a family photo in front of the giant LEGO® Christmas Tree, scour

the park in the Santa Scavenger Hunt and enjoy decorations and

holiday entertainment throughout your visit.

Th e fun continues after Christmas as LEGOLAND Florida

celebrates their Countdown to Kids’ New Year’s Eve parties that

features nightly fi reworks over Lake Eloise Dec. 26-30, 2013.

Watch a spectacular fi reworks display with special 3D viewing

glasses that turn ordinary fi reworks into millions of exploding

LEGO bricks. Bring the kids for a very special Kids’ New Year’s

Eve Party on December 31st. Kids get to rock out in Miniland

USA with a live DJ Dance Party. Th e grand fi nale features an

impressive LEGO fi reworks display and a chance to watch the

BRICK Drop at just the right time for kids, midnight KST (Kid

Standard Time) - otherwise known as 7 p.m. EST.

adventures

Holiday Lights at the Florida Botanical GardensCelebrate the Season with Holiday Lights at the Florida

Botanical Gardens in Largo. You and your family can stroll

through the beautiful gardens amidst 425,000 twinkling lights

as the Gardens transform into a holiday wonderland. Th is event

is free to children 12 and under and a suggested donation of $2

per adult.

Global Winter WonderlandFor locals traveling to or through Atlanta, this very unique and

brand new lantern festival and multicultural theme park may

pique your attention. Th e Global Winter Wonderland features

giant illuminated lanterns depicting creatures and scenes that

include a Christmas holiday village, animals real and imagined,

and people and scenes from around the world. Highlights include

recreations of some of the world’s greatest architectural achieve-

ments, including the Taj Mahal, the Eiff el Tower, Chichen Itza,

and the Golden Gate Bridge. Th e eco-friendly lanterns, some

of which tower more than 50 feet high and span nearly 100 feet

wide, are illuminated with low voltage LEDs and fl uorescent

lights, and several structures are powered by solar panels. Th is

family-friendly event also features numerous carnival rides and

games, international cuisine, arts and crafts, live entertainment,

and celebrations of holiday traditions and various cultures from

around the world.

New this year and running through January 5th at Turner

Field. Tickets are on sale now and available for purchase at

globalwonderland.com or by calling (770)723-3862. Tickets

are $24.99 for adults, $18.99 for seniors, and $16.99 for children.

Prices are inclusive of all the rides and live entertainment.

Children 4 and under are admitted free. Global Winter

Wonderland is open daily from 5pm-11pm.

When it comes to the holiday-themed

events, it’s always exciting to take the family

to see something new. In its second year, Busch Gardens

has again outdone itself with Christmas Town®, a nighttime

wonderland of all things Christmas. Th is year they have three

times more snow and installed over one million twinkling lights

to shine over these festive activities:

Visit SnowWorld® and slide down eight new slides, make a

snowman, play in the soft white snow or pack the perfect snow

balls to test your aim in the target practice area.

Enjoy a trip back in time at Holiday Hills, a nostalgic town with

a live brass band playing seasonal favorites.

Journey into Jungala to see a nature-inspired Christmas,

including a larger-than-life Christmas tree that comes alive every

fi fteen minutes with spectacular dancing lights.

Stroll through Mistletoe Memories and take in the romantic topiaries,

fl owers and sparkling white twinkle lights that fi ll the trees overhead.

Join Elmo, Cookie Monster, Zoe and

everyone’s favorite Sesame Street friends in the

all-new show, Elmo’s Christmas Wish.

Join the Madagascar friends including Gloria, Alex, King Julien and

the penguins in Madagascar Live! Operation:Christmas Vacation.

Climb aboard the Christmas Town Express for a Christmas carol

sing-a-long while circling the Serengeti on a beautifully lit

vintage-style steam locomotive.

And fi nally, stop by the beautiful North Pole home at Welcome to Santa’s House. While the elves are busy preparing for Christmas,

Mrs. Claus is in the kitchen baking holiday treats, but even Santa

himself will take a break from his busy holiday schedule to meet

and take photos with families in his private study.

Christmas Town is open 18 select nights from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.

through December 23 and requires a separate ticket for admission.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit ChristmasTown.com.

family

ar Busch Gardens

Joi

everyo

all new show E


Holiday Gift Guide

Zeenie DollzTh e Zeenie Dollz are fashion-forward, environmentally friendly

toys created for young girls to develop their sense of power to

improve the Earth. Th e Zeenies are stylish yet vibrant eco-

warriors, and each of the six dolls possesses a unique eco-power

that protects the environment including Evee, Protector of the

Skies, Lina, Protector of the Rainforest and Yana, Protector of

the Oceans. $49.99 at zeeniedollz.com

GoldieBloxTh e book and construction set, stars Goldie, the girl inventor

who loves to build. In playing the game, young girls follow the

story while developing an understanding of basic engineering

skills. GoldieBlox demonstrates that engineering and science are

fun and accessible fi elds for females. GoldieBlox and the Spinning

Machine, $29.99. Available at Toys ‘R’ Us or Amazon.com

Romo Robotic PetRun by an app for iPhones and iPod Touch this robot can

be your child’s new best friend while he or she learns the

capacity of technology. Romo is a curious digital creature

who lives in your phone and explores your world on his

roving base Just download the app and dock your device.

Romo senses his environment and interacts with his

surroundings. $149 and found on Amazon.com

12Holiday Issue 2013

Holiday Gift Guide

littleBitsTh e Base Kit for the littleBits experience is a set of 10 color-coded

modules that snap together magnetically to create larger circuits.

Includes everything you need to start designing and prototyping

your own interactive creations, including a 9V battery, an attrac-

tive, re-usable case and the ever-popular DC Motor. Th ere’s

also a new, expanded activity booklet with great projects like the

Art Bot and Th ree Wheeler. Th is Kit is sure to kick-start your

creativity...from ages 8 to infi nity! List price is $99, but cheaper

at Amazon.com.

Nhócchi PuppetsDeveloped by a husband and wife team to bring their combined

engineering experience to their art. Nhócchi puppets inspire a

spirit of creativity for kids to use their imaginations to create plots

and adventures for the animal cast. Each one is handmade, using a

fabric woven in communities in the mountains of Asia.

$25 each at nhocci.com

Magic Path of Yoga GamePlayers roll the die, draw a card that matches the color they land on,

and perform the yoga pose on the card for 10 seconds to round the

board. Th e fi rst player to collect one card of each color wins! A great

introduction to yoga, this game strengthens and tones the muscles

and improves posture. Also includes a fully-illustrated, step-by-step

yoga instruction book. $29.99 at Amazon.com.

Flipzles®Created by an artist and stay at home mom, Flipzles® are double sided

puzzle play sets, encouraging problem solving and creative play. Each of

the interlocking wooden pieces is also a stand alone character or object

that goes with the theme of the puzzle. Children can use the the puzzle

frame as a backdrop to make up their own imaginative stories. Less than

$20 on Amazon.com.


Holiday Gift GuideGifts Ideas for Grown Ups1. DropcamDropcam is a cloud-based Wi-Fi video monitoring service with

free live streaming, two-way talk and remote viewing that makes

it easy to stay connected with places, people and pets, no matter

where you are. Prices vary by model. Dropcam.com

2. The Justin CaseTh e Justin Case by Innovative Technology is a portable 7 inch

tablet or iPad case with a built-in rechargeable battery.

Ithomeproducts.com

3. Picture KeeperPicture Keeper is a device that backs up your digital pictures

from computers and smart phones using embedded software.

No installations, wires or passwords. Very simple way to protect

photos. Prices vary by model. picturekeeper.com

4. The WatershotTh e Watershot is an underwater camera housing for the iPhones

or Galaxies. Housing has glass lens port and black rubberized

baffl e for optical image clarity. Mounts for other lenses, fi lters

and a tripod. Base model is depth rated to 40 M / 130 FT. Prices

vary by model. Watershot.com

5. The Slingshot from BlueFlameTh e Slingshot from BlueFlame is a water-resistant, portable

speaker system with Bluetooth ability. It’s perfect for the shower,

pool, beach or anyone you want to play music.

Bluefl amegear.com

1.

2.

3.4.

5.


peopleMaking Sure Kids EatTwo Local Heroes Fill Backpacks and BelliesBy THAIS LEON-MILLER & PAMELA SETTLE

Editor’s NoreMost of us take food for granted and waste more than we are willing

to admit. We also may not realize that right here in Pinellas County,

about 7,000 children go hungry everyday. Th ese are children who

have no control over their circumstances. Th ey are the innocents.

And they are our neighbors; real children who are part of our greater

Pinellas County family.

Th e holidays are a time we focus on giving food to charities

that provide holiday meals. Th e spirit of giving peaks and we are

moved to drop some cans into the food donation box. But what

about the rest of the year? What about the children who know

the pangs of hunger the remaining days of the year?

Pinellas County Schools feed free breakfast and lunch, and in some

schools dinner, to qualifying children. Th ese children, though, go

home for the weekends and the long holiday breaks from school and

may not eat until they go back to school. Th is is something that Gina

Wilkins and Lewis Hill couldn’t live with. Separately, and together,

they fi ght the good fi ght against childhood hunger. Th ey lead their

respective organizations and manage a small army of volunteers who

pack donated food items for children to carry home. Th is act of love

is the lifeline for children throughout our community. Did you realize

that a pack of peanut butter crackers and a box of raisins would mean

so much? We didn’t until we met these remarkable Good People.

Gina WilkinsFounder of The Kind Mouse Productions

It doesn’t take a long time speaking

with Gina before you hear the smile in her voice. Th ere is no

mistaking the enthusiasm when she is discussing her project of

feeding hungry kids across Pinellas County. Th e Kind Mouse

Productions is Gina’s brainchild, inspired by a 2011 CBS 60 Minute

Report “Hard Times Generation: Homeless Kids” ( June 26, 2011).

Gina was working as an architectural draftsman and had seen a lot

of her colleagues fall into a slump due to an ailing economy. She felt

that she needed to do “something” but wasn’t sure what until she saw

the news report. Th e segment put children’s homelessness under a

microscope and Gina immediately connected with it. Families

being forced to split up due to home foreclosure or a family of

four living in a cramped hotel room resonated strongly with her.

To learn how to set up a non-profi t organization, she sought help

from Lewis Hill, founder of Pack a Sack 4 Kids, and Bob Dillinger

of Nourish to Flourish, two organizations that focus on feeding

kids. She learns as she grows, including how to do fundraising and

volunteer recruitment. By this Christmas, Kind Mouse will be

feeding 100 kids in Pinellas County on a weekly basis.

“We work with the schools in St. Petersburg to fi nd out which

kids need the most help, the hungriest of the hungry. Th en

[without knowing the identity of the families] we off er our

services and make sure they aren’t going to bed hungry.”

Th e stories she tells are sobering. “Th ere was a boy who came in

with his mom and when he saw our logo on a Mouse Nibbles

bag, he exclaimed that he had been eating them all summer

long.” He went on to thank Gina for the granola bar that was

packed in one of the bags. She later learned that he, his fourteen

year-old sister and his mother had all shared it for dinner the

previous night. “Th ese are hard-working, educated families who

have fallen on hard times. Some of these people have Master’s

degrees. Th is could be any one of us.”

Gina is not only focused on making sure every child is fed, she

also wants to make sure that the entire family stays together,

including the pets. When Janette Rivera of Th e Vinoy received

an email from Gina requesting a donation, Janette, an avid

animal advocate, asked about the families’ pets. Realizing the

importance of the family pet, they started requesting dog and cat

food, leashes, and supplies to add to the donations.

Th e Kind Mouse hosts Th e Hotel Food Drive Competition, running

from November 25th to December 16th. Th is well-timed event

ups the amount of food stuff s sent to each family during the

holidays. Gift cards for local grocery stores are the coveted item

for this time of year, and she is praying for a big turnout to ease

some of holiday volume. Gina addresses this nonchalantly as she

does all the other sacrifi ces and hard work she has put into this

project. Working out of her two-bedroom home, she handles the

majority of the picking up, sorting, fundraising, and promotion

of Th e Kind Mouse. She shrugs this off even as she explains that

she is now committed to the project full time. “It’s 100% full-time

and 100% volunteers. Hungry children are more important.”

While she gives a great deal of credit to her volunteers, she

doesn’t have enough of them and needs the manpower, and gift

cards, desperately. Gina doesn’t stop though, and continues to

live up to the organization’s name. “Kind” representing the legacy

that she wants to leave behind and “Mouse” being her nickname

since birth, Gina Wilkins continues to do what she can for the

children of Pinellas County, one nibble at a time.


peopleLewis HillFounder of Pack a Sack 4 Kids

It seems simple enough. Garner donated food. Recruit volunteers.

Coordinate with individual schools. And every Friday get 1,400

small bags of food into the backpacks of children. Maybe it

seems simple because Lewis Hill makes it look easy. He works

every day in a small offi ce out of the First United Methodist

Church of Clearwater. Something that started in 2007 as a

small project to keep him busy in retirement is now his full time

mission. Pack a Sack operates with a letter of agreement with

Pinellas County Schools to be the provider of supplemental food

for needy students. Currently they serve students in about 40

diff erent schools, working closely with principals to make it all

run smoothly.

Th e program is successful because community organizations

have signed on for the long haul to be a part of the program.

Th e community organization commits to raising funds or obtaining

the donated food on an ongoing basis. Th ey also provide volunteers

each week to pack the sacks that will be delivered to the schools.

Many of the volunteer organizations are churches, but civic

groups, companies and families are chipping in, too. “I have

moms who call up and want to do food collection as part of their

child’s birthday party,” said Lewis. No matter who calls to help,

he will fi nd a way.

He believes that children should not go hungry. “I want to do

away with hunger. Th at’s my goal,” he says. But for now he knows

that there is a constant supply of hungry kids. “I don’t pay too

much attention to the numbers. We just feed hungry kids.” Lewis

also has his share of poignant stories. Th e ones that really

break his heart are the ones where he knows a child is in a

position to make a tough choice: to eat the food, or share it

with a hungry friend or sibling. No young child in modern

America should have to make that choice, but it happens

right under our noses.

Th is year resolve to be a part of feeding kids in Pinellas

County. Contact either Gina or Lewis and learn how you

can donate money or food.

Contact Informa onEmail Gina at [email protected] TheKindMouse on Twi er: @TheKindMouseand like them on Facebook.

Email Lewis at [email protected] call him at (727) 644-4795

Holiday Issue 2013 16

Hunger continues to be a problem in Pinellas

County. But the GOOD NEWS is that our

county is fi lled with loving, caring individuals

who work for and volunteer at charities

throughout our county all year long.

Th ese organizations step up their eff orts during

the holidays and make it easy for anyone and

everyone to help out.

Please be a part of the giving season. No matter

your individual situation, there is someone who

needs you and someone you can help. One

person can make a diff erence! Giving $5 will

provide a meal. Collecting food items from

friends and neighbors is an easy, meaningful way

to be fi lled with the spirit of giving. Committing

to volunteer once a month is a resolution that

will do more for you than you realize.

It is in this true spirit of caring and giving, that

GoodLiving magazine has issued a community

challenge called, “Fill our Food Banks!”

We are asking each and every person in the

county who is capable, to give at least one item

of food to a food bank or to a collection drive. If

you can’t make a donation of food, then please

fi nd a way to give a small fi nancial contribution

or volunteer your time.

Th e following is a short list of food banks that need your help. Th ere are many more that can be found at 211Connects.org. Contact them by phone fi rst before dropping off food as hours of collection vary by organization.

Abundant Life Ministries1550 Belcher Road South

Largo, FL 33771

(727) 210-LIFE x5433

abundantlifeministries.cc

Calvary Episcopal ChurchThe Beach Community Food Pantry1615 First St.

Indian Rocks Beach, FL 33785

calvaryirb.org/foodpantry.htm

Countryside Chris an CenterHelping Hands Ministry2565 Blackburn Street

Clearwater, FL 33763

(727) 724-1290

countrysidechristiancenter.org

F.E.A.S.T. Food Pantry2255 Nebraska Avenue

Palm Harbor, FL 34683

(727) 789-5275

feastfoodpantry.com

First United Methodist Church of Pinellas ParkCan Cupboard9025 49th Street North

Pinellas Park, FL 33782

(727) 546-5741

gbgm-umc.org/fi rstfl

Northwood Presbyterian Church Food Pantry2875 State Road 580

Clearwater, FL 33761-3231

(727) 797-8276

northwoodpc.org

Lealman United Methodist Church Food Pantry4090 58th Avenue North

Saint Petersburg, FL 33714-1133

(727) 526-6240

fl umc2.org

Ma e Williams Neighborhood Family Center1003 Dr. ML King Jr. Street North

Safety Harbor, FL 34695

(727) 791-8255

shnfc.org

Northside Bap st ChurchBenevolence Ministry Food Pantry6000 38th Avenue N.

Saint Petersburg, FL 33710

(727) 381-3642

nbcstpete.com/benevolence

Oldsmar Cares163 State Road 580 West

Oldsmar, FL 34677

(813) 415-7373

oldsmarcares.org

TM Community Challenge

During the month of December,every resident of Pinellas County is

asked to give a donation of food to at least one food pantry in the county.

Fill the Food Banks!

Holiday Issue 201317

R.C.S. (Religious Community Services)Food Bank700 Druid Road


(727) 443-4031

rcspinellas.org

Salva on Army Clearwater Social Services1521 E. Druid Rd.


(727) 446-4177

salvationarmyclearwater.com/more_about_

us.htm

Salva on Army St. Petersburg Food Assistance1400 4th Street South

St. Petersburg, FL 33701

(727) 821-9123

salvationarmysouth.org/FLA.htm

Salva on Army Tarpon Springs Social Services209 S. Pinellas Ave

Tarpon Springs, FL 34689

(727) 934-4476

salvationarmy.org

St. Patrick Roman Catholic ChurchMinistry of Helping Hands1507 Trotter Road

Largo, FL 33770-4366

(727) 584-2318 x330

stpatrick-largo.org

St. Paul United Methodist ChurchOpen Arms Ministry1199 Highland Avenue

Largo, FL 33770

(727) 584-8165

stpaulumc.org

St. Petersburg Dream Center Ministry1360 16th St. S.


(727) 520-1909

stpetedreamcenter.org

Tampa Bay Harvest13620 49th Street North


(727) 538-7777 x1

tampabayharvest.org

St. Petersburg Free Clinic863 3rd Avenue North


(727) 821-1200 x114

stpetersburgfreeclinic.org

Outreach Programs Reach Out for More Help.

Can you help them this season?

Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services: Th ey need soup,

peanut butter, jelly, cereal, canned fruit meat and veggies, spaghetti, spaghetti

sauce, rice, new and gently used toys. 14041 Icot Blvd. in Clearwater.

(727) 479-1800. gulfcoastjewishfamilyandcommunityservices.org

Calvary Chapel of St. Petersburg has a strong homeless outreach

program. Th ey like to give gift bags to the homeless for Christmas and could

use new XL tees, socks, candy, soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes (all in

small travel sizes).

Call Roger Ambrose at (727) 639-7823 to fi nd out how to help.

Abundant Life Ministries’ Pastor Anthony McDaniel says “We’ve

bitten off a big project this year.” Th ey’ve become the distribution branch for

Metropolitan Ministries and will be distributing meals to 7,200 people.

Th ey need food and toys. Toys don’t have to be new but should be in virtually

new condition. Th ey also are OK with people dropping off meats that need

to be refrigerated or frozen, and are OK with taking unusual meats like

venison. Th ey regularly give out groceries and allow people to come select

both food and toys in the holiday season. Th is is help for the truly needy.

People can drop off food between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through

Th ursday. 1550 Belcher Rd S. in Largo. (727) 210-5433.


Pinellas County Schoolsa note from

By DAVE LAWRENCEchair of The Children’s Movement

The Children’s Movement of Florida is a non-partisan statewide organi-

zation of Floridians insisting on increased investment in children’s early

learning years.

As 2013 comes to a close, The Children’s Movement -- a “voice” on behalf

of all Florida’s children – continues to spread the message of the impor-

tance of early childhood investment not only in Tallahassee, but across the

state. Here is just a glimpse of the year to come:

ParentsCaring, knowledgeable adults are central to children’s healthy develop-

ment. All parents have questions and concerns about their children,

but not everyone has trusted sources for the answers they need – and

all parents can benefi t from information and support. The Children’s

Movement – along with more than a dozen state agencies – is working

to provide and publicize a statewide platform (phone, web, and mobile)

in multiple languages focused on providing parents with the most-up-to-

date information about their children’s development.

Early LearningThe wisest path to public education reform in Florida (and America) is

to give children the best possible opportunity to enter school ready and

eager to learn. With this in mind, The Movement is pushing to support

adequate funding for School Readiness and for voluntary prekinder-

garten (VPK) to ensure children’s access to educational, enrichment

programs that support working families and the academic and social

skills needed for kindergarten and beyond.

Health CareWe need to make sure that all children are covered and as healthy as

they can be. Almost a half-million of Florida’s youngest, most vulnerable

citizens do not have health insurance. The Move-

ment is working to extend KidCare coverage to

include children of “lawfully residing” immigrants

as allowed by federal law

We are nowhere near the “promised land” for

children, but the progress made in 2013 gives

us more reason to hope… and to continue the

privilege of working on behalf of all children in

the year to come.

ChildrensMovementFlorida.org

Dear Parents,Pinellas County Schools is committed to increased achievement

for all students. In that spirit, one of the larger initiatives the

district has launched this year is our Beyond the Classroom

digital extended learning opportunity. Th is eff ort is extending

learning beyond the school day for all students by providing

free access to several online resources that will motivate them to

read more and help them improve their skills in many subjects,

including language arts, math, science and social studies. Th e

initiative includes several eff orts, including one specially aimed

at students in Title I schools that that will give them equal access

to the technology they need to be successful. Called “Connect

for Success,” this initiative has made it possible for third- and

fourth-graders at three-dozen Title I schools to check out Dell

laptop computers to use at home. Th ose students also will have

access to online educational resources. Families without Internet

service will be able to purchase discounted Internet service from

Bright House Networks.

Th e district has also launched another major initiative aimed at

increasing achievement for all students. Th e Bridging the Gap

initiative is specifi cally focused on closing the achievement gap

between black students and their peers. Th e plan involves fi ve

goals and action steps to boost achievement, increase graduation

rates and improve student engagement for African American

students throughout the district.

Th e district recognizes that community support is crucial to the

eff ort’s success. To solicit feedback and direction on the initia-

tive, Pinellas County Schools recently invited more than 100

educators, students, clergy, business leaders and other commu-

nity members to a special Bridging the Gap summit. Pinellas

County Schools also plans to hold additional events to give more

community members an opportunity to share their ideas about

the initiative.

Our objective is to provide the best possible

learning experience for all students. Th ank

you for your involvement in your child’s

education and for working with us to achieve

our vision of 100 percent student success.

Sincerely,

Michael A. Grego, Ed.D.

:: News from the Children’s Movement of Florida ::

Family Services Initiative – a partnership between JWB, 2-1-1

Tampa Bay Cares, Central Florida Behavioral Health Network

and PEMHS – provides real-time assistance to struggling

families. Families start by calling 2-1-1 where their imme-

diate needs are assessed and assistance is provided to help them

become self-suffi cient. Last year, the Family Services Initiative

helped over 1,600 families – a total of 4,400 individuals!

Th e Juvenile Welfare Board invites you and your family to get

involved. Whether you’re inspired to help during the holidays

or make a New Year’s resolution to volunteer, our community’s

children and families greatly need your time, talents and trea-

sures. To learn more, contact the Juvenile Welfare Board at (727)

453-5600 or [email protected]. Or, if you or a

family you know needs assistance, call 2-1-1.

Th e Juvenile Welfare Board wishes you a happy, healthy holiday season, as we all work together to strengthen Pinellas County’s children and families. Because all kids matter!

Dr. Marcie Biddleman

Executive Director, Juvenile Welfare Board

Juvenile Welfare Board“All Kids Matter”

a note from

With the holiday season upon us, we are reminded of what really

matters. Family, friends, good health and neighborly goodwill. With

so much to be thankful for, we must not forget that many families

in our community are struggling and need our help. In this issue,

I wanted to share a little perspective with you, along with what the

Juvenile Welfare Board and others are doing to help. Plus, off er ways

you and your family can get involved to make a diff erence.

Did you know that a quarter of all children are living in poverty

and over half of all students qualify for free or reduced lunch in

Pinellas County? Did you know about 7,000 children in our

county are considered “chronically hungry” and go to bed hungry

each night or don’t have adequate food on the weekends? And

when last year’s homeless point-in-time count was done, a third of

all people counted as “homeless” in Pinellas County were children.

Th e Juvenile Welfare Board believes all children and families

matter. Our Neighborhood Family Centers serve as “hubs” to

provide support services to our community’s most vulnerable and

are situated so services are easily accessible. Our weekend back-

pack food program provides “shelf stable”, pre-packaged, nour-

ishing meals so our county’s hungry children are fed. And our


Th e Most Magical Place on Earth takes its magic to the high

seas every time a Disney cruise ship sets sail. We couldn’t

imagine just how magical this cruise would be, but our family

was enchanted from the time we set foot in the terminal until

the time we left with our luggage to go home.

We sailed the Fantasy for a seven-day trip to the Western Carib-

bean with port stops that included Castaway Cay, Disney’s private

island in the Bahamas. But honestly, the ports on this cruise were

secondary, as the ship is the main reason to sail with Disney.

Like so many of the other families on board for the Th anks-

giving-week cruise, we traveled with extended family and had

adjoining cabins with verandas. Th is may be the most perfect way

to spend a week with family, as it had just the right amount of

togetherness and separateness.

As veterans to the Disney experience, my family had an idea of

what to expect, but it was fun to witness the magic through the

eyes of our relatives who don’t live in Disney’s back yard and

haven’t yet been to the parks with their children. It started in

the terminal where Mickey and Minnie were on hand to greet

guests. Each family is piped aboard to the ship’s Atrium which is

designed to have the glamour and style of the early cruise ships

but enough whimsy and color to give it the Disney signature feel.

Th e ship atrium and halls were already decked for Christmas,

adding a festive fl avor to the entire cruise.

Our fi rst day on the ship started with lunch in the buff et dining

hall, Cabanas. We were greeted by Aries, a most-friendly young lady

from the Philippines who swept the children away to help them get

lunch while the adults got settled. My sister-in-law was immediately

taken in by this level of customer service and was sure from that

moment that she wanted to take Aries home. We discovered that

this would be our experience for the entire cruise with most all of

the crew on board the Fantasy. Crew members on our ship hailed

from 60 diff erent countries, and each one of them was

well-trained and well-suited for providing this level of

personal care and comfort.

Th e ship events never disappointed either. Th e Sailing

Away dance party on deck with characters set the

happiness tone for the entire cruise. We would dance

under the sky again for the Christmas show and on

Pirate night. I’m not sure who had more fun, the

kids or the parents. Each day’s newsletter was fi lled

with activities that started with Sunrise Stretch on

deck at 7 a.m. and ended with dancing in their clubs

past midnight. Th e hours in between were fi lled with

classes, youth activities, shows, movies, crafts and

games, all suited for the variety of ages on board. Th e

versatile and talented entertainment staff skillfully

led men through a fantasy baseball draft in the O’Gill’s lounge and

then led the high-energy kid’s show on deck, and then karaoke and

Bingo in the activity rooms.

Th at entertainment staff also put on some fabulous shows in the

gorgeous Walt Disney Th eater, too. We saw three musical productions

that week that carried the same quality as the shows you see in the parks,

complete with singing, dancing, characters, puppetry, pyrotechnics and

special eff ects. Th ree generations of families were together in front of

live entertainment, something that probably doesn’t happen much at

home – making the experience all the more memorable.

When families weren’t together at shows, at meals or in port, kids

were in their camps. Th e targeted age group for their kid magic

is three through 12 with two clubs, Th e Oceaneer Lab and Th e

Oceaneer Club. Th ese adjoining areas are a kid’s dream come true

with video games, movies, animation lessons, crafts, contests and

an opportunity to play in Andy’s room from the movie Toy Story.

Younger children can spend time in the It’s a Small World Nursery

and teenagers hung out in Vibe or Edge to enjoy age-appropriate

activities like cooking classes, crafts, dances and games.

Celebrating the Holidays on Board a Disney Cruise

Editor’s Review by PAMELA SETTLE


Parents got to play and relax, too, especially when the children

were securely occupied at their camps. Th ey took in shows,

attended classes, watched movies and relaxed poolside. Th e

adult-only area is at the front of the ship with a private

pool, whirlpool, sun deck, bars, fi tness center and spa. Th e

Senses Spa and Salon off ers facials, massages, manicures

and hair services.

Th e food. Oh my goodness, the food is abundant and varied

and going hungry is never an issue. Th e highlight is that

you have three dining rooms for a sit-down dinner and you

rotate each night, carrying your same serving staff with you.

While Enchanted Garden and the Royal Court are beauti-

fully appointed, the Animator’s Palate is by far the most

creative way to dine. Screens throughout the dining room

bring Crush to life to converse with diners and drawings

on placemats are animated by staff behind the scenes. Th is

is the type of Disney magic that cannot be found on other

cruises and is pure delight. Overall the food quality was

above average. Th ere were some lighter, healthier options if

you looked hard, but most of it was rich and tasty. Th e chil-

dren’s menus could use a little work, though. Seven nights

of the same burgers, mac and cheese and pasta got old and

all of it could have used more fl avor. For older children, the

adult menu’s lighter fare items were a good compromise.

Th e entire week of family togetherness for Th anksgiving

week was a blessing and we all highly recommend this is

as a family holiday vacation. (Be sure to book the holiday

weeks early as those fi ll up very quickly.) Th e Th anks-

giving meal and Formal Night were occasions to dress up

and take pictures, but it was Pirate Night that will stand

out in our memories. Th ere is nothing like seeing thou-

sands of people, from infants to 80-year old grandparents

all dressed as pirates. From the dining rooms to the deck

Pirate show, “Aaargh” was in the air and junior swash-

bucklers waved their plastic swords with dreams of seeing

Jack Sparrow in person – and they did!

By day seven, I had another seven days in me. And so did

everyone else as the common feeling was wanting more.

Granted a Disney cruise will cost more than other lines, but if

you are looking for an experience that is family-friendly, posi-

tive, happy and full of magical moments, then this is the way

to cruise for you. On my cruise I ran into two other families

from Pinellas County and between the two of them they

had been on a total of 37 Disney cruises! Th ey have become

Castaway Club members to take advantage of discounts, but

they also recommend using a travel agent that has cash-back

bonuses and watching for the occasional Florida resident

specials that are posted on DisneyCruise.com on Mondays.

We have plenty of photos to remind us of the rare time we

had together as a family; grandkids with grandparents and

all of us at the dinner table. Our own special kind of family

magic was enhanced by the Disney experience, and the

week will live on in our hearts and in our memories forever.

We can’t wait until the time comes to sail together again.


Fab 50Women on the Runby THAIS LEON-MILLER

Pamela Paul is a runner. Like most runners, she works through

the issues plaguing her mind on her runs as if she were running

toward clarity. Right before her 49th birthday, she was training

for an upcoming race and fi ghting through a serious depression

that had taken hold. As she ran, she made a commitment to not

be in the same place next year for her 50th birthday. She got

home and started reaching out to friends, asking them if they

would be willing to run with her on her next birthday after a

training program of six months. Th ey responded and one year

later, Pamela and her friends were crossing the fi nish line of a

half marathon, a fi rst for most of them. After the race, many of

the women told Pamela what an amazing experience they had.

So much so, that Pamela decided to make it offi cial and Fab 50

Women on the Run was born.

Pamela created a Facebook page but found that most of her

clients were word of mouth referrals. “Th e testimonials from

these women were amazing. A lot of them were saying that this

experience had changed their lives.”

Running has always been a lifeline for Pamela. She has been

running since she was in 8th grade, although not anything

competitive. As she got older, she wanted to challenge herself

more, running for longer distances. By the time she thought up

Fab 50, Pamela was consistently running half marathons.

But what about those of us that aren’t in “marathon shape?”

Pamela assures us that’s not a problem. “We are women of all

shapes and sizes, of all diff erent fi tness levels. Anyone can do

this.” Plenty of women have; 250 women have gone through the

training program including the roughly 100 women who just

participated in a half marathon run November 24th.

One of those runners was Kellie Gilmore, a self-described “non-

runner” when she fi rst met Pamela. It started when Kellie wanted

to see what the running craze was about and signed up for the

Iron Girl 5k. She ran into Pamela, who was a co-worker at All

Children’s Hospital, at that race and joked with her, “I don’t

know what I am doing!” After the race, she ran into Pamela

again who off ered to send her an invitation to train for and run

a half-marathon for her fi ftieth birthday. Kellie laughed again,

sure that this was not for her.

By the time the invitation came, she had made a life-changing

decision. “I thought that maybe this would be a good time to

complete a challenge I didn’t think I could.” One of the deciding

factors was going to watch a half marathon race in person.

STRONGSTRONG is the New Beautiful is the New Beautiful

Pamela Paul

Kellie Gilmore and Bonnie Kay

She witnessed the joy on their faces of the runners when they

crossed the fi nish line. It was so contagious that she couldn’t

help from crying tears of joy herself. Kellie conquered her fear

in 2011 and has just completed running her fi fth half mara-

thon this November.

Not only did Kellie become a runner, she became a Squad

Leader for Fab 50. She works with the close to 40 members

who meet weekly in the Largo location, motivating and

training the next group of women for the next run. “Th e

camaraderie is amazing! Everyone is so supportive and

pushes one another throughout the week. Th ese groups

really help encourage each other.” To hear Kellie tell it, that

is one the strongest reasons to be a part of Fab 50. Th is

is clearly more than a group of women runners; this is a

community of women who stand by one another and cheer

each other across the fi nish line.

A particularly inspiring moment was a mother and daughter

who joined the group. Two weeks into training, the mother

was diagnosed with colon cancer. She didn’t let the news stop

her and she continued training while undergoing chemo.

She continued to train and made it to the 8 mile mark before

deciding to take a break and focus on treatments.

When the day of the race came, Kellie was standing at the

fi nish line, cheering on members as they crossed. She looked

up and saw a girl pushing a woman in a wheelchair toward

the fi nish line. It was the mother/daughter team! Th e mother

ran with the daughter as far as she could and the daughter

pushed her mother in the wheelchair when she needed to

take a break. Together, they crossed the fi nish line in a fl urry

of cheering, hugs, and tears.

Th e inspiration doesn’t stop there. Fab 50 is growing in

members and locations as well. Th ere are now training

programs in Largo, St. Petersburg and Tarpon Springs

with more planned to open in the future. Fab 50 also off ers

a Virtual Training Program for women who are unable

to make the weekly Saturday morning training sessions.

“Th e virtual program sends weekly emails and keeps you

connected with other members. Squad captains make sure

that even though they don’t see you face to face, you are still

being accountable with your workout.”

Training sessions last six months, meeting once a week, with

the goal of running a half marathon (13.1 miles.)

Fab 50 Women on the Run and Pamela Paul are always

looking for more women who want to experience the joys of

running. Go to fab50womenontherun.com for more information.

“The testimonials from these women were amazing. A lot of them were saying that this experience had changed their lives.”


Meet entrepreneur and entertaining

enthusiast Esther Edwards. Th is single

mother from Belleair is raising two

teenage daughters and launching a

business that seeks to revive the art

of the small soiree. What exactly is a

soiree you ask? It is a small gathering

meant for friendship, conversation and

fun. Her company, Soirée Everyday!

with Esther Edwards is a comprehensive

party planning resource for the home

cook or anyone who might be a little

intimidated by the idea of having small,

elegant and fun parties in their home.

In–home entertaining was more prevalent in times past, when

fewer women worked outside of the home and life was simply

more… simple. In today’s modern world of fast data, fast jobs,

fast kids and fast friends, people are missing out on the fulfi lling

experience of entertaining at home.

“It’s the joy of the invitation,” says Esther. “When you invite

someone into your home, you are giving them a gift of your time

and hospitality. Who doesn’t feel special when they receive an

invitation to intimate gathering?”

Th e key word is intimate. Large parties serve a very diff erent

purpose. Th e soiree is having three couples over for dinner,

conversation and maybe a board game. It’s a small dessert party

for a dozen of your neighbors. It’s an afternoon tea with six lady

friends where the conversation happens face to face. It’s whatever

creative spin you can put on a small gathering where the end

result is a quality time with old or new friends.

Th e soiree is something anyone can do and Esther has a solution

for every reason someone has for not entertaining. “If someone

feels their home is too small or too messy to entertain, then

borrow the home of a friend or a relative who has the right

space for entertaining. If kids are an issue, go together and share

a babysitter at someone else’s home. If money is an issue, ask

friends to each bring a dessert and have a dessert party. People

want to be involved. Th ey want to participate. Remember the end

result is having a good time and it doesn’t have to be perfect. It

just has to be.”

Th is passion for entertaining and helping others fi nd their inspiration

for entertaining drives Esther’s work. Th rough a series of web videos,

articles on her website and a book to be released in 2014, Soirée

Everyday! with Esther Edwards is a companion, encourager and

entertaining coach. She will walk you through the many ways

you can add a little Soirée to everyday life, even if you think that

you don’t have enough time, money or space.

by PAMELA SETTLE

Bringing � e Soiree Back to Life

photos by Stacia Kelly Photography

‘


An Introduction to Planning An Introduction to Planning � e Soiree, Es� er style...� e Soiree, Es� er style...“Relax! My best piece of advice is to be relaxed. Th en be

organized. If you are organized, you can be relaxed.”

To get organized, make a plan-of-attack for preparing food and

your home. A Soirée isn’t all about the food; it’s also about how

you present your dishes in the most comfortable setting with your

theme and decorations. Address how you want to decorate your

table and display the place settings. Determine the lighting and

music you will need to set the right mood and what platters and

utensils will be needed for your menu. Adding the details to your

setting usually can be done the evening before your party, making

the day-off checklist that much shorter. Go ahead and set the

table and set out your serving dishes and platters the night before.

In an eff ort to be as organized as possible, make a timeline. Go

through each recipe to see what you can do in advance. Make notes

on your recipes or other lists you’re using to keep organized. Check

your fridge, freezer, pantry, pots and pans – make sure to make a

thorough list based on your menu and how you will be preparing

your setting. Get the shopping done all at once and prep food over a

few days’ time. Pull out recipes for each item you are preparing, even

if you know them by heart. Th e night before, make a list and timeline

for what needs to be done before your guests arrive, right down to the

re-heating instructions and lighting of the candles.

If the idea of cooking everything from scratch is frightening,

there are plenty of ways to be creative. Every city has specialty

food stores and bakeries where you can fi nd decadent treats and

baked goods, as well as delicious cheese and fruit assortments

that will compliment any menu. Also, do not be afraid to ask

for help when you need it. If that means placing an order with

a bakery or asking your neighbor to help set up lighting for a

backyard party, then by all means, ask for help.

Choosing a LocationIndoor, outdoor, patio or pool – a location for your next Soiree

can easily be found around your home and near your kitchen.

Choose a location that goes equally well with both your theme

and the weather. It’s really just a matter of matching the location

with the right serving style and menu.

Serving StyleOnce you have decided on a theme and the area where you will be

hosting your Soiree, you need to decide on a serving style that works

best. You will need to consider how many guests there will be. Does

this number include children? Will this be a casual or formal aff air?

A sit-down meal is a formal style where you plate and serve

guests in courses like at a restaurant but with a lot more love.

It’s the most intimate and also makes the biggest statement that

shows your guests how much they mean to you.

A buff et is a very comfortable way for a group of friends to enjoy

dinner at their own pace. It’s also a lovely way to showcase your menu.

Th is style allows you to set out a beautiful presentation of your dishes.

The Se ingStart with a simple idea – a tropical-themed party, comfort-food

family dinner, a country barbecue, garden brunch. Let your ideas

guide the look of your Soiree. Make a basic diagram of the space

to know where to put the buff et or dining table, seating and

drink station. Take into account your natural surroundings and

furnishings to incorporate into your setting. Don’t be afraid to

move furniture to open up more space.

Add elements to your table, buff et or stations that compliment

your theme. Try using plates and bowls that complement the

color of the food. Use platters, cake stands, plates and bowls.

Attractive everyday dishes, glassware, and fl atware work well and

depending on your theme, add details consistently throughout.

Centerpieces of fresh, seasonal fl owers work beautifully in any

setting. Candles add ambiance and warmth as well. Whatever

elements you choose, create a sense of unity with repeating

patterns. A color theme with just 2 or 3 color variations is all you

need. Include plans for seating arrangements, lighting and music

to fi t with your style, setting, and theme.

It Reall y Is All In The DetailsEven the most informal party can have style and elegance. Pay

attention to the details. Th ink about what element you desire

to stand out, think about what you want your guest to notice

or what you believe they will love the most and amp it up. Th is

can be the way you set up the entrance to your home, how

you display your food and how you set and decorate the table.

Th e details you add are your loving touch. When you Soirée

Everyday! you open your heart and your home. Th e passion

naturally fl ows and every expression you want to convey comes

through the details.

“Relax! My best piece of advice is to be relaxed. Then be organized. If you are organized, you can be relaxed.”


Shrimp in Spicy Thai Coconut Sauceover Rice Serves 8

2 Tbs. canola oil

1 Tbs. fi nely chopped fresh ginger

1 Tbs. fi nely chopped fresh galangal root or powder*

1 Tbs. fi nely chopped lemongrass (use the tender interior only)

1 Tbs. fi nely chopped seeded Th ai bird chiles or serranos

1 Tbs. fi nely chopped garlic

2 lb. jumbo (21 to 25 per lb.) or extra-large (26 to 30 per lb.)

shrimp, peeled and deveined

3/4 cup well-shaken unsweetened coconut milk

1/4 cup fresh lime juice

2 Tbs. fi sh sauce

1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro

*Galangal is a cousin of ginger, prized in Th ai cuisine for its spicy heat and citrus-like fl avor. It’s available in many Asian grocery stores, but if you can’t fi nd it, you can omit it and double the amount of chopped fresh ginger.

Heat the oil in a 12- to 14-inch wok or 12-inch skillet over

medium-high heat until shimmering hot. Add the ginger,

galangal, lemongrass, chile, and garlic and cook, stirring

constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the shrimp and

cook, stirring, until opaque on the outside and partially cooked,

about 2 minutes. Stir in the coconut milk, lime juice, and fi sh

sauce and cook, stirring, until the shrimp are just opaque in the

center, about 1 minute more.

Spoon the shrimp onto 6 dinner plates, and top with any sauce

remaining in the wok. Garnish with cilantro and serve.

Serve over white jasmine or basmati rice.

Recipe adapted from Moveable Feast with Fine Cooking

Soirée Everyday!wi� Es� er EdwardsHoliday Menu Recipes

Sage and Sausage Stuffi ngServes 8

12 slices (1 1/2 packages) New York Brand® Texas Garlic Toast

1 pkg Johnsonville Italian Mild Sausage Links, casings removed

1/2 cup butter

2 medium onions, chopped

2 cups celery, chopped

1 cup green pepper, chopped

1 tsp. rubbed sage

2 eggs, lightly beaten

2 cups chicken broth

Salt & pepper

Bake Garlic Toast in a 425°F oven for 10 minutes; cool and

cut into 1 1/2” pieces. Transfer pieces to a bowl; lower oven

to 325°F. In a large skillet, brown and cook crumbled sausage

until no longer pink. Drain. Remove from skillet; set aside.

In the same skillet, melt butter and saute onion, celery and

green pepper until tender. In a large mixing bowl, combine

sausage, vegetable mixture, Garlic Toast and sage. Add eggs

and broth; toss gently. Salt and pepper to taste.

Spoon into a buttered 3 to 4 quart baking dish. Cover with foil

and bake at 325°F for 60 minutes. Uncover and bake 10 minutes

longer or until lightly browned. Check internal temperature with a

meat thermometer; it should read 165°F when done.

Cranberry SauceServings vary; approximately 8-10

1 lb. fresh cranberries, washed and dried

2 cups granulated sugar

1/3 cup water

1 cinnamon stick

1/2 tsp. ground allspice

1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

1 orange, zested and juiced

In a medium pot, combine the cranberries, sugar and water. Stir

to blend. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat. Reduce

to a simmer and add the cinnamon stick, allspice and nutmeg.

Stir to blend and simmer for an additional 5 to 7 minutes. Some

of the cranberries will burst and some will remain whole. Add

the orange juice and zest, stir and allow to cool before serving.

TIP: Use various martini, margarita or any other fancy glasses you have handy to serve this out of. Not only does it give elevation to the table by sitting up higher – it’s pretty so showcase this menu item in a way it will be noticed.


Bloody Mary Soup Shots with Seared Steak Skewers and Bleu Cheese Stuff ed OlivesMakes approximately 16 servings

8 oz of your favorite cut of steak

2 Tbs. fresh lemon juice

Bleu cheese stuff ed olives

1-28 oz. can San Marzano tomatoes in juice

2 green onions, chopped

1/2 cup (or more) low-salt chicken broth

2 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce

3 Tbs. vodka (optional)

1 Tbs. prepared horseradish

1/2 tsp. celery salt

Season steak with salt and pepper and cook to a medium temperature;

let it sit and come to room temperature without cutting. Cover and

refrigerate until ready to serve.

Place tomatoes with juice, green onions, 1/2 cup broth, Worcestershire

sauce, vodka, horseradish, celery salt, and lemon juice in blender.

Cover; blend until smooth. If mixture is too thick, thin with addi-

tional broth by tablespoonfuls. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Transfer to pitcher.

TIP: Skewers and soup can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.

Pour Bloody Mary mixture into shot glasses or small glasses.

Garnish each with a small cube of steak and olive on a toothpick or skewer.

Black Pepper Raspberry Sorbetwith Prosecco CocktailServes 8

1-750 mL bottle Prosecco, chilled

1 Tbs. freshly ground cracked pepper

1 pint raspberry sorbet, softened slightly

Fresh raspberries and/or mint leaf for garnish

In a large bowl, sprinkle the pepper all over the sorbet and fold

it in with a rubber spatula. Cover and freeze for about 3 hours,

until fi rm.

Chill 8 champagne glasses. Using a 1/2-ounce ice cream scoop,

place 2 scoops of sorbet in each glass. Pour about 1/3 cup of

Prosecco into each saucer.

Garnish with fresh raspberries or mint leaf.

TIP: Th e Black Pepper Raspberry Sorbets can be frozen for up to 3 days.

Esther is the host of Soirée Everyday! with Esther Edwards, an interac ve television show that takes you on a culinary experience through cooking and entertaining. She is also the author of Soirée Everyday! Cooking and Entertaining Guide. Her passion and inspira on come from growing up in the kitchen next to the ul mate party planner – her father. His legendary baked goods and crea ve theme par es sparked her desire to make these happy moments possible for the culinary-challenged, as well as those who simply believe they have no me. A er working several years as a Sous-Chef de Cuisine, Personal Chef and Event Planner, she has developed a system that teaches home cooks of every background and skill level simple, crea ve and uncomplicated ways to add a li le soirée to their everyday life. You can reach her at soireeeveryday.com as well as at facebook.com/soireeeverydaywithestheredwards.

To keep herself fi t, Esther is trained Mike Labua, owner of Elite Body Personal Training and Fitness in Palm Harbor. See their ad on page 23.

photos by Stacia Kelly Photography


Sweet Truths about Holiday FoodsBy BRENDA WATSON

Th e holidays are here and with them come the temptations

of candied sweet potatoes, fl akey rolls, cornbread stuffi ng

and sugary cookies! Remember, starchy carbohydrates found

in pastas, cereals, grains and pastries convert to sugar in the

digestive tract, putting a sugar load on our systems that can

cause weight gain, digestive upsets and even chronic disease.

You see, overall good health is dependent on good digestive

health, which is achieved when you cultivate an internal

community of “good” bacteria, or probiotics, in the gut. It’s

the food you choose that provides the environment for your

“good” gut bacteria to grow and crowd out the “bad” pathogenic

bacteria that are linked to chronic conditions associated with

obesity—beginning with silent infl ammation and leaky gut.

Indicators of silent infl ammation are high blood pressure,

high blood sugar, high cholesterol/triglycerides and more.

But silent infl ammation may also be present when gut

microbes are out of balance, which you may not even feel.

So you may ask, “What should I eat in order to cultivate a

healthy gut”? Here are 3 simple rules:

Track teaspoons of sugar Carbohydrates (minus) Fiber (divided by) 5 = the number of

teaspoons of sugar (in a serving of food)

Eat between 6-8 teaspoons of sugar daily if you have posi-

tive markers for silent infl ammation (less than 12 otherwise)

Eat lean protein throughout the dayAdditionally, be sure to eat plenty of non-starchy vegeta-

bles, low-sugar fruits and high fi ber foods. Th e Academy

of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends a healthy diet,

including 20-35 grams of fi ber per day. And remember, it’s

okay to enjoy healthy fats, which make foods taste delicious.

So this holiday season, watch out for starchy carbohydrates

and sugars, and also treat yourself to one of your favorite

holiday foods, but remember, if you eat it every day—it’s

not a treat!

Brenda Watson, C.N.C.For over 20 years, Brenda Watson has dedicated her career to helping people achieve vibrant, las ng health through improved diges ve func on. A dynamic health advocate, author, speaker and celebrated PBS-TV health educator, she is among the foremost authori es in America on op mum nutri on and diges on, natural detoxifi ca on methods, and herbal internal cleansing. Brenda recognized a growing need within the natural products industry for a line of safe and eff ec ve diges ve care products during her exten-sive clinical work, and in 1999 she accepted the challenge herself. The result is the ReNew Life line of superior-quality diges ve health supplements based in Palm Harbor, Florida.


Nothing can ruin a Merry Christmas like an unplanned injury,

so AFC Doctors Express has compiled these tips to keep

everyone healthy and happy throughout the holiday season.

Holiday Safety ChecklistAvoid Packaging ProblemsSometimes, people become so frustrated with hard plastic wrapping

around toys and electronics that they cut themselves on the sharp

edged packaging or with scissors, tools and knives when trying to

pry the packages open. An average 6,000 people a year go to the

emergency room due to packaging-related injuries (Consumer

Product Safety Commission, CPSC). Immediately discard plastic

wrappings or other packaging before they become dangerous

playthings.

Deck the Halls Without FallsSanta looks festive on your roof, but don’t hurt yourself

getting him up there. Th e CPSC estimates that during

November and December more than 13,000 people will need

medical help from decorating-related injuries, such as falls,

burns and lacerations. Stay safe by keeping ladders on level

ground, keep kids away, clear debris, extend ladder three feet

beyond the edge of the roof and do not stand on the top two

rungs of the ladder.

Button Batteries are a HAZARDA 2012 study by the Journal Pediatrics reports that every three

hours, a child under age 18 goes to an emergency room due to

button battery ingestion. Th ese small batteries are often used to

power toys, watches, remote controls and other electronic devices.

Batteries that become lodged in the throat or intestine can generate

and release hydroxide, resulting in dangerous chemical burns. To

protect your kids, install batteries in toys before wrapping them to

keep them out of the hands of curious kids.

Encourage Helmet HeadSome of the most hazardous holiday gifts have wheels –

including scooters, skateboards, inline skates, bikes and motor-

cycles. Broken bones, sprains, head and spinal injuries are

common around the holidays, especially when excited adults

and kids want to try out their new wheels. According to the

CPSC, non-motorized scooters was the toy category associ-

ated with the most injuries (15 and younger) in 2011.

To stay safe, all wheeled gifts should come with a helmet. For

scooters, skateboards and inline skates, the CPSC also recommends

wrist guards, elbow and knee pads. All safety gear should be

sized to fi t.

Make Sure Chestnuts - Not Christmas Trees -

Local Doctors Warn of Holiday Health Hazards

Roast on an Open Fire

Each holiday, around 230 home fi res start with Christmas

trees. Th ese fi res cause an average of four deaths, 21 injuries

and $17.3 million in direct property damage.

Make sure live trees are fresh (deep green, not brown);

trunk should be sticky and wet with resin; and make sure a

large number of needles don’t come loose when you tap the

tree trunk on the ground. Artifi cial trees should have a “fi re

resistant” label.

Also keep all trees away from heat sources like fi replaces and

candles, use lights tested for safety by nationally recognized

testing labs and do not burn wrapping paper in the fi replace. It

could cause a fl ash fi re.

Carve the Turkey, Not Your FingersCarving accidents are prevalent during the holidays

because hosts are often rushing, talking and drinking when

cutting up the turkey, ham or roast. Stay cut free by:

• Never cutting toward yourself. Your free hand should be

placed opposite the side you’re carving.

• Keep knives dry because a wet handle is slippery and

could cause your hand to slip on to the blade, resulting in a

nasty cut.

• Keep all utensils sharp so you don’t have to force the

cutting or carving.

• Make sure the carving station is a NO KID zone.

*Sources for informa on include Consumer Product Safety Commission, Centers for Disease Control and Preven on, Na onal Capital Poison Center and Na onal Highway Transporta on Safety Administra on.

AFC Doctors Express Urgent Care offi ces are located in Clearwater and St. Petersburg. doctorsexpress.com


Guest Columnist Barb Hennessey

Th is column is dedicated to my older brother, Steve, and to his wife, Susan. She died at age 65 on September 24, 2013, after years of struggling with brain cancer that recurred after being treated aggressively several times. Susan and Steve decided to stop treatment in May. Steve was able to keep her comfortable at home surrounded by pets, friends and family. Susan was a registered nurse and a US Air Force veteran. She retired as a Lieutenant Colonel after 23 years of service.

Th e spirit moved me to speak at Susan’s memorial service. Th e

following is the message that I gave to my family, friends, and

neighbors that day as a way to thank all them for their caring

support to Susan and Steve during her illness.

“First, honor your pain and the jumble of emotions

surrounding the loss. You are now beginning the second

phase of life after death. Grief is the INSIDE feelings and

emotions you experience from a trauma or loss. Mourning is

the OUTSIDE expression of what is inside.

Help each other to move through your grief. Be supportive of

each other’s need to listen, cry, laugh, and share the memories

of Susan. Th e playwright, Robert Anderson, wisely noted,

‘Death ends a life, it does not end a relationship.’

You are now on a journey with grief. Th e journey is diff erent

for everyone, and it is the same for everyone in that grief

always involves intense emotions. Th ere is no right or wrong

way to do this, but trying to avoid it altogether is useless and

can be self-defeating.

Louise Hay said, “Tears are the

river of life, shed in joy as well

as sadness and fear.”

Tears are a sign of healing…

let them fl ow whenever and

wherever they come.

Th e journey can include

a range of intense emotions

from denial, anxiety,

frustration, through

disorientation and

disorganization, to anger,

guilt, depression, relief, and

gratitude. Grief is unpredictable,

circular, messy and ongoing.

Continue to support each other as

you create the “new normal” in your

life without Susan…”

FAST FORWARD THREE MONTHS LATER: My family

and I are preparing for the fi rst holiday season since Susan’s death.

Th ese are my suggestions for getting through grief that can be triggered

any time there is a holiday, anniversary, or other special occasion.

First, remember that the only way to the other side is through

the grief. Th ere is no way around it.

Allow yourself to create new traditions for the season and experiment

with ways to cope with your sadness and stress. Be aware of those

words OUGHT and SHOULD. Only you can decide what you

are capable of doing during the holidays – or any other emotion-

ally charged occasion.

Open your heart to spiritual support. Communicate with your

family and friends about what you feel like doing. At the same

time, be sensitive to their needs. Remember everyone is on their

own grief journey.

Tears will come…public or private…all is well. What would it

say about your loved one if you did not cry freely? Know that you

can laugh and have fun too. You may well be laughing and crying

together over a special memory or story. Encourage the sharing

of stories and use your loved one’s name!

Include your deceased loved one in the celebration in any way

that feels right to you. Let others know your plans in advance so

that they can participate.

Decorate their gravesite. Cook their favorite food. Give gifts in

their name. Donate to their favorite charity or cause. Assemble a

group memory book with family members and friends contributing

pictures or mementos along with a written remembrance. What

a priceless legacy.

Take gentle care of yourself physically and emotionally. Eat nutritious

food, rest, exercise. Both sugar and alcohol are depressants, enjoy

in moderation. Grief is circular. It ebbs and fl ows at will.

Grief transforms you. Nature does not know extinction. It only

knows transformation.

Barb Hennessy, MS, CRC is a Certifi ed Grief Mentor and a Somatic

Intuitive Practitioner, skillfully assisting her clients in resolving grief

and trauma. Barb is the founder of The Joy Within, a unique method

for helping clients to release emotions buried in the body. She speaks

to groups, facilitates Grief CafesSM and provides staff trainings on stress

management and healthy grief.

Information for this article was derived from materials provided by Grace

Terry at Grief Resolution Resources and Carole McLeod of Grief Matters.

Visit her website at thejoywithin.us or contact her at (727)409-7428.

Getting Through the Holiday Season Without...


Kids love to dip just about everything they eat into ketchup,

Ranch dressing or some other type of condiment. In fact,

dipping makes eating vegetables way more fun, but unfortunately

many of the store-bought condiments contain high fructose corn

syrup, artifi cial fl avors, dyes and chemical preservatives. Reading

the ingredients on a bottle of Ranch dressing just about requires

a chemistry degree. Local mom Kellie Rae learned this the hard

way when she discovered her toddler’s face turning red every

time he ate Ranch. “He would wipe his mouth with the back of

his hand and the skin around his mouth would turn red for a

while. I went to Google and discovered that the chemicals in the

dressing were probably to blame.” She switched to a refrigerated

brand that advertised “no preservatives” and the redness went

away. But for Kellie and other moms, there are easy ways to make

dips that are free from the dangerous chemicals and dyes.

In her new cookbook, Homemade Condiments, Jessica Harlan

off ers 75 classic recipes and gourmet twists on your favorite

condiments using fresh, natural ingredients. Sauces and dips

can add fl avor, zing and variety to healthier dishes like grilled

chicken or steamed vegetables. Any level cook can follow her

step-by-step instructions to serve up healthier, tastier food.

Jessica has shared three of her recipes with GoodLiving® readers

that moms will love. Her beautiful hardcover book can be

purchased at Amazon.com.

Tomato-Based Barbecue SauceSweet and tangy, ketchup-based barbecue sauces that reign in Kansas

City, Memphis, and St. Louis are the quintessential barbecue sauce. This

version has a kick thanks to chipotle powder, but when it’s cooked with

meat, the spiciness tones down. If you don’t have chipotle powder, use 1

tablespoon smoked paprika plus 1 teaspoon ground chile in place of the

chipotle and regular paprika.

Makes about 12 ounces

Ingredients2 tablespoons butter

½ cup minced sweet onion (about 1 small)

1 cup ketchup

½ cup apple cider vinegar

¼ cup molasses

1 teaspoon chipotle powder

2 teaspoons paprika

½ teaspoon celery seeds

½ teaspoon kosher salt

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the

onion and sweat it until softened and translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Add

the ketchup, vinegar, molasses, chipotle powder, paprika, celery seeds,

and salt. Stir to combine. Simmer for about 20 minutes, uncovered, stir-

ring occasionally, until thickened and darkened.

Honey MustardA classic, spicy-sweet condiment, honey mustard is a favorite for kids

and adults that tastes better when homemade. The fl owery fl avor

of the honey really comes through, more so than with store-bought

versions, which merely taste sweet. You can experiment with diff erent

honeys including local varieties with a pronounced fl avor.

Makes about 6 ounces

Ingredients1/2 cup mustard powder

1/4 cup boiling water

6 tablespoons cider vinegar

1 teaspoon turmeric

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon paprika

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon honey

Place the mustard powder in a small bowl. Add the boiling water,

using a spoon or small spatula to stir the mustard and water into a

smooth paste. Stir in the vinegar. Switch to a small whisk and whisk

in the turmeric, salt, paprika, and garlic powder until the mixture is

smooth. Stir in the honey.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it sit at room temperature to

allow the heat of the mustard to temper. Let mustard sit for up to 1 week

to reach the desired level of heat, checking after the fi rst 3 days. Transfer it

to a sterilized jar and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

Dilly Ranch DressingButtermilk is the secret ingredient for creamy dressings — it is tangy,

thick, and relatively healthy. Use it either low-fat or full-fat. This is

an herby dressing with fresh herbs, but you can also make it with

dried if that’s what you have on hand. Since dried herbs have a more

concentrated fl avor than fresh, you’ll need about a teaspoon of each.

If you do use dried herbs, it’s a good idea to make the dressing an

hour or more before you plan to serve it and let it sit in the refrigerator

to allow the herby fl avor to permeate the mixture.

Makes 8 ounces

Ingredients¾ cup buttermilk

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

2 tablespoons sour cream (low-fat or full-fat)

2 teaspoons minced fresh dill

2 teaspoons minced fresh chives

1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

¼ teaspoon onion powder

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

In a small bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, mayonnaise, and sour

cream. Add the dill, chives, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, and

salt and whisk to combine. Serve immediately if using fresh herbs or

refrigerate for an hour or more if using dried herbs. The dressing will

keep, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Healthy Homemade Dipping

eating


eatingCookbook Finds

Classic Snacks

Made from Scratch

Eating healthier should be the goal.

So when it comes to kids wanting

popular snack treats, they are almost

always made from the over-processed

and artifi cial ingredients that we are

trying to avoid. Classic Snacks Made from Scratch is a new cookbook

featuring full-color photos and

70-plus recipes for homemade

versions of your favorite brand-name

treats like Goldfi sh, Twinkies,

Oreos, Fruit Roll-Ups and or Pop-

Tarts. Why? Because making these treats from scratch means you

can leave out the harmful chemical additives and preservatives, and

you can control the quality of the ingredients that you use in your

own kitchen. Th ese tasty delights far surpass the originals in terms

of fl avor and nutrition. “As a nostalgia addict and DIY fanatic, repli-

cating classic snacks from my childhood has become an obsession ever

since I made my fi rst batch of marshmallow fl uff ,” says author Casey

Barber. “It’s a kick to pull a batch of oatmeal crème pies out of the oven

or see my friends’ surprised and gleeful reactions to the fi rst bite of a

homemade Dorito.”

$17.95 from Ulysses Press and available at Amazon.com.

Dining Out at Home Cookbook 2

Love Starbucks’s Pumpkin Spice Latte or

Olive Garden’s Baked Pasta Romana? Now

home cooks can make the same treats and

meals in their own kitchen and control

the quality of the ingredients that go into

them. CopyKat.com’s Dining Out at Home Cookbook 2 is the long-awaited sequel

to the original. Serve the most widely

loved dishes from your favorite restau-

rants at home without the hefty cost of

dining out, the extra salt and unnecessary

calories. You’ll be shocked how spot-on

these recipes really are! Author Stephanie Manley was inspired by

her love of restaurant quality food, but knew it wasn’t realistic or

healthy to eat out every night. Follow Stephanie online at CopyKat.com or on Twitter @CopyKatRecipes.

$14.95 by Ulysses Press and available at Amazon.com

No-Cook, No-Bake CookbookTurn up the fl avor—not the heat!

Th e No-Cook, No-Bake Cookbook is a

full-color recipe collection that will

keep your stress level and kitchen

temperature lower during our long,

hot summer. Featuring 101 fast

and fun oven-free meals (and over

80 photos), Th e No-Cook, No-Bake Cookbook has recipes for easy break-

fasts, entrees, and desserts, including

Breakfast Prosciutto Pear Sandwiches,

Salmon Mango Ceviche, Tex-Mex Chipotle Beans, Very Berry

Parfait Pudding, and Raspberry Mint Frozen Yogurt. “When the

heat is on, you can give your oven a welcome reprieve and instead

force your grater, blender, and food processor to work overtime

to outsmart the dog-day heat,” explains author Matt Kadey. “Far

from carrot sticks, lifeless salads, and PB&J sandwiches, creative

no-cook meals can provide a balance of convenience, nutrition,

and gourmet taste—especially if you’re willing to step outside of

your normal culinary repertoire.” Go ahead and master the art of

chilling out by making these no-cook dishes the focal point of

your summer menu.

$15.95 by Ulysses Press and available at Amazon.com

The Edible Garden:

How to Have Your Garden and Eat it TooWhether you are a hardy homesteader or just getting started

with a few herb pots on your windowsill, Th e Edible Garden

off ers food for thought on creating your very own urban haven

that is as beautiful as it is delicious. Master gardener and BBC

personality Alys Fowler has devoted her life to teaching people

how to grow their own food and edible landscaping. Here,

Fowler shares her trademark wisdom and inventive tips to help

your garden grow abundantly—from saving and sowing your

own seeds, to mixing the world’s best compost, to brewing

your own herb teas and growing such a bounty of veggies

that you will have to learn how to pickle and preserve them!

Good for the pocket, good for the environment and hugely

rewarding for the soul, Th e Edible Garden provides a taste of

the good life to anyone willing to pick up a trowel.

Learn How To:

• Mix trees, edibles and fl owers in the same plot

• Sustainably forage for wild food

• Plant the prettiest vegetables for container gardening

• Cook deliciously hearty harvest dishes

• Make gifts from the garden: canned jams, chutneys and fruit

liqueurs


Digging Deeper to Change Eating Behaviors and Keep Boys in School By KIP CURTIS, PHDFounder and Executive Director of the Edible Peace Patch Project

One of the great of joys of running an organization like the

Edible Peace Patch Project is the opportunity to collaborate on

really cool projects that make a huge diff erence in kids’ lives.

Last month, for example, we launched our Wellness Kitchen

Program, a partnership with All Children’s Hospital’s Fit4All

Kids initiative. Th eir expert nutritionists developed a series of

recipes based on the food we grow in our school yard Peace Patch

Gardens. Th is new program takes it a step further. First we learn

to grow the food and then we learn how to prepare it to eat.

We started at Campbell Park Elementary School, home to a

garden installed by volunteers earlier this year on the Martin

Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. Students in eight diff erent

classes participated in the Wellness Kitchen Program. It was fun

to watch them fi le into their science lab, a little confused about

the new set up, and then listen intently as we talked to them

about food choices and trying new things.

Th e classrooms have mini-kitchen stations where college students

volunteer alongside staff . Together they help students fi gure out

the recipes in order to prepare the food items and plate their

dishes. On this day, we made a vegetable plate with chickpea dip.

Something happens when kids prepare their own food. Th eir pride

in a job well done is seen in their faces as the fi nal product was

served up for everyone to enjoy. And then they sat quietly consuming

healthy food they had just prepared, including the vegetables.

Of course, not every student liked everything that was served, but

everyone participated, and everyone at least tried all the food items.

After the cooking lesson, we took our vegetable scraps back to the

Peace Patch Garden. Th ese scraps became part of our compost pile

where they will they would decompose into dirt for next year.

Campbell Park Elementary is of special interest. We know that

in south St. Petersburg, a signifi cant number of boys do not

graduate from high school. Th e number is controversial because

calculating the number is diffi cult. Estimates from 2009 indicate

that around 70 percent of boys were not graduating.

After speaking with Principal Robert Ovalle, we identifi ed a

group of fourth and fi fth grade boys and created an intensive

program for students most at risk for dropping out.

It’s an unfair and structurally challenging set of circumstances.

Th ese are boys whose behavior has gotten them in trouble, set

them back academically, and in many cases set them up for series

of school-based failures. Th e problem is not their intelligence,

we work with these boys twice a week and they are some of the

The Edible Peace Patch Project

smartest kids any of us have every met. Th e problem is they have

been rejected by a system that has no other way of integrating

them, and they are slowly being driven away from school.

For their assignment, they were given an $80 investment to use

for plants and seeds to get the garden started. Th ey tend to the

garden twice a week by doing a variety of chores to keep the

garden healthy and robust.

As the garden grew, so did the students. During the fi rst few

weeks, focus was an issue and they often found ways to distract

each other and cause trouble instead of working. I can’t count

how many time I was “accidentally” sprayed with a hose.

As the weeks progressed, they came to us to ask what work has

to be done. Th ey started saying things like, “I wish we could

come out here every day,” or “Th is is the best part of my day.”

Th rough it all, friendships have grown and we could visibly see

the fruits of our labor take shape.

Our fi rst Wellness Kitchen class included many of our garden boys.

Th eir faces lit up during the discussion, but the best part was watching

them glow as they showed off their work to their classmates during

our visit to the garden. Th ey had clearly developed a proprietary

attachment to the landscape. We saw how powerfully it had

become theirs.

Th ey walked their peers through the garden, and told them

which plants were which. Th ey shared recent lessons about

bugs and explained the value of coff ee grounds as a fertilizer

and bragged about the irrigation system that had recently been

donated to them.

On the way back, some of the girls from the same class

wondered out loud why they weren’t being allowed to partici-

pate. “We want to do the garden, too,” one of them exclaimed.

She sidled up next to me and negotiated. “If they do Monday

and Th ursday, why don’t you talk to my teacher about letting the

girls do it Tuesday and Wednesday. How about that?” I told her I

would look into it. And I will.


My daughter Lexi was 14 years old and going through those

diffi cult teenage years when she knew everything and her parents

knew nothing. We could not connect at all. In Lexi’s mind, my

sole function in life was to provide a roof over her head and

$10 allowance a week. We had not gotten along well for years. I

fi gured that was life with a teenager.

It hadn’t always been that way. We had always been a family of

volunteers. We worked in the Metropolitan Ministries holiday

tent, picked up trash with Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful, and

helped out at church with any project they had. We started

giving to needy causes when Lexi was a toddler. It was our fun

family activity. However, as my daughter entered adolescence

and joined the “Me Generation,” she stopped volunteering. She

would rather hang out with her friends.

One day, Lexi wanted an $80 concert ticket and asked me for

the money. I told her she needed to save her allowance. She told

me she only had $50 and pleaded for my assistance. I off ered to

help. I agreed to give her fi fty cents for every can or box of food

she collected from neighbors for the Metropolitan Ministries

food drive. She got mad and stormed off , saying she could never

collect that much food. She needed the money to buy that ticket

the next week!

Th en a funny thing happened. Lexi collected her 60 cans of food

in just one day. As agreed, I gave her $30. She handed it back to

me. She also gave me the $50 she saved from her own allowance.

Lexi said, “Dad, poor people need to eat more than I need to go

to the concert.”

I cried tears of joy that day. I am crying now as I write these

words to you. My daughter remembered the lesson I taught her

while she was growing up. It really is better to give than to receive.

Lexi is now a sophomore at USF, where she volunteers on

campus with several organizations. Every holiday season, we still

make it a point to spend four or fi ve days volunteering to help

the needy. It puts us in the holiday spirit.

Th is year, there are more than 20,000 Tampa Bay families struggling to

make ends meet. Th ey can’t even think about buying Christmas gifts,

because they have to pay rent and buy food. Th ere are thousands of

elderly shut-ins and nursing home patients who have no one to

wish them a Merry Christmas. Th ere are families with children

in the hospital, whose only holiday wish is good health. Th ere

are military veterans, who served our country gallantly, who will

sleep beneath a cold highway overpass on Christmas Eve.

If you want your family to have the best holiday it has ever had,

I recommend spending a day helping people less fortunate than

we are. Hold a neighborhood food drive. Spend an afternoon

visiting a nursing home and hand out Christmas cards. Work a

shift at the Metropolitan

Ministries holiday tent.

Cook a meal for Ronald

McDonald House

guests who are spending

Christmas nursing a sick

child back to health. Help

your children learn what

my daughter learned: It

really is better to give

than receive.

My Storyby DON GERMAISE

Ronald McDonald House: rmhctampabay.com Metropolitan Ministries: metromin.orgSalva on Army: salva onarmytampabay.orgNeighborly Care Network: neighborly.orgThe Kind Mouse: TheKindMouse.org

Local CharitiesDon Germaise was an award-winning television reporter for ABC Ac on News, in Tampa, for 19 years before re ring in 2012 to devote his me to community service. He is most remembered for his hurricane

coverage, popularizing the phrase “hunker down” in 2004.

In re rement, Don volunteers at Metropolitan Ministries, Ronald McDonald House, The Crisis Center, Keep Tampa Bay Beau ful, People For Hai , Partners For Life, Hands Across The Bay, and Our Daily Bread. He also reads to kindergartners in Hillsborough County Schools one day a week.

Documents

2013 Holiday Issue