Florida Creative Living Online Magazine

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September - October 2011 Florida Creative Living | For All Ages!


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For All Ages! | Florida Creative Living September - October 2011

CreativeLivingFloridaSeptember - October 2011 1th ISSUE

Front Cover Topics

Sections

In Every Issue

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12-13

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30

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Full PageGulash Graphics



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Kids & Teens

2014 15

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Adult Living

3735

51Coming Soon!

November/December 2011 Issue - Sports Section

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IA BRIEF WORD FROM THE PUBLISHER

Susan Gulash | [email protected]

want, to welcome you to

our first issue ofFloridaCreative Living. It hasbeen a journey of six

years from research, to designto concept for the birth of ourpublication.

Some people say, that adream is only a figment of animagination, but I say, that adream is a mere whisper from

God leading you in the path ofvictory. Take a look at page 33 to see how that dream is

becoming a reality for The Happy Baker.

Please join us in celebrating our first issue by liking us onour facebook page. Also visit page 27 to win an E-Giftcard to Toys R Us. Would you like to win a Circus Sarasotapendant and an autograph T-shirt from the LegendaryAerialist Dolly Jacobs? View page 47 for further details.

Florida Creative Living wants to wish you a Happy and SafeLabor Day, and please read our special section on page 13for a safe Halloween.

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Florida Creative LivingPO Box 2735, Lutz, FL 33548

O: 813.994.5110

C: 813.458.1098

F: [email protected]

Florida Creative Living is a full-size, full-color, bi-monthly, onlineinteractive magazine published six times a year by Gulash Graphics.It is distributed free of charge and no content is allowed to bereproduced in whole or part without written permission from FloridaCreative Living. This publication is not responsible for statementsmade by advertisers or writers and is not necessarily the opinion ofFlorida Creative Living. Typographical errors, and the accuracy ofinformation supplied by advertisers, or the action of the advertisersare not the publication and its publisher responsibility. Editorialsubmissions are welcome. Publisher reserves the right to reject oredit for length and clarity all submissions.

CreativeLivingFlorida

For Advertising Information Callor scan our image to the right.

A SPECIAL THANKS

Thank you God, for the vision you have givenme to help others thru Florida CreativeLiving publication.

To Brian, my best friend, and husband forsupporting and encouraging me to see thepublication become a REALITY!

To my daughters, Madison and Makayla forcheering me on to see, The Adventures ofFoxy The Fox and Croaky get finished.

I couldnt of done it without all my familyand friends saying, that I can do it! THANKYOU ALL!

A big thank you goes to our advertisers, whohelped contribute informative editorials toFlorida Creative Living.


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Kids& TeensKids

Section

& TeensSection


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1

Exchange phone numbers so in the event that you areabsent, you will have someone to call and get missednotes or assignments.

Do not be hesitant to ask questions, even on the first

day of class! There is a high chance that there are 2 or3 other students in the class with the same question.Take it from this teacher, we would rather clarifysomething the first day than find out a week later noone understood what we were explaining on the firstday. Be outgoing to your teachers. No, do not developa friendship, but do not be afraid to introduce yourselfand offer help where you see a need.

When you come home from school, do not wait tolong be between getting home and starting youhomework. Develop a homework system. Starwith something you enjoy, move on to somethinchallenging, and end with something easy for youLeave nothing blank on your homework. If you do nounderstand a question, do your best and give it youbest educated response. Teachers use that to gaughow they are doing as a teacher. Take 10 15 minut

breaks in between assignments. Even though you manot have a lot of homework the first week of schoomake these suggestions your daily habit so that whethe homework load increases, your body and minwill already be adjusted and ready for it.

While no one method can guarantee an academicallsuccessful year, using the above methods will certaingive you an edge on success.

Sarah Bartal is the Music Teacher/Choir

Director at Barnabas Christian Academy,

Port Saint Lucie, Florida.



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ouble Branch Elementary had an Odyssey of theMind team which won the Extreme StructureCompany for the state and competed for theworld title at the University of Maryland May 28,2011. This group of six children worked very hard.They competed against teams both regionally

and at the state level, placing 1st in both. Movingforward to the world competition they competed againstthe other states and twenty five other countries. The otherchallenge this group faced was funding; for this small teamand two coaches, the cost was about $8,000. In order toraise the funds quickly, the coaches and parents turned tothe community. They paired with Iernas Heating & Coolingto do a Facebook Campaign. For each like generated forthe companys webpage, they would donate. In a shorttwo weeks, $2400 was raised thru this campaign to sponsorthe trip! A check was presented May 27th and the kids andcoaches were on their way.

Odyssey of the Mind is an international academic programthat provides creative problem solving opportunities forstudents from kindergarten through college. There area variety of problems students can compete in. ExtremeStructure Company, (ESC), is competing in the UnhingedStructure category. It is an engineering problem that involvesbuilding a small structure of balsa wood than can weigh nomore than eighteen grams. During the competition thecompetitors must perform an eight minute skit while theypile weights onto their structure. The main goal is to havetheir structure hold the most weight, however they are

judged on every aspect of their performancAlthough coached by Murali Ventakappa anSharon Horwitz, the kids did everything for thskit, songs, and problems being solved. Theeven made their costumes and props. The statcompetition structure the group of 3rd, 4th an5th graders built held 630 pounds.

Nationally, the team came in 13th overall for thDivision I Unhinged Structure. To quote many othe kids, I wish this would never end. I am havin

such a great time. They loved meeting kids fromother countries, especially Togo in Africa, JapanChina, and Singapore. Lisa Couture, a parentspoke of how, It was an incredible experience foall around. We learned so much, parents includedThe atmosphere was energetic and so full of lifeIt didnt matter who won or who lost, everyonwas just thrilled to be there. Your company helpegive our kids an experience of a lifetime.

It was something, I, as a 38 year-old mother winever forget. They wore the IERNA shirts witpride during the Spontaneous competition anrocked it. So, with IERNAs literally on their backsthey hit the ball out of the park!

View page 39 for Iernas Heating &Coolings ad.

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Kids & Teens | NEWSKids & Teens | NEWS

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Kids & Teens | NEWS

am 14 and starting anew high school. I have

Asperger syndrome.Should I tell myclassmates? At my last

school I was bullied. I reallywant to fit in, and my parentshave helped with choosingcool clothes and social skillsclasses. I want people tounderstand that I am a good,smart person and that I may

act weird or immature but Ican be a good friend. This isa school where no one knowsme. What do you think Ishould do?- Tom*

It sounds like youve prepared yourself well for starting a new schooBrushing up on social skills and choosing clothes you feel good in wi

definitely help you make a positive first impression. And whats just aimportant is your inner confidence: knowing that you are a good, smarperson who can be a great friend! Feeling good about yourself helpattract new friends.

Use your social skills to meet people. Start by being friendly and just sayinhi to people in your homeroom or other classes. Use confident, relaxebody language. Think ahead about conversation starters. It can help maktalking to people easier.

Join an after-school activity that appeals to you. That way, youll meestudents who share your interests and who might make good friends. Talto an adult at school such as a teacher, advisor, or counselor. Ask if youcan talk over your situation, and explain your hopes for the new schooyear. See if that adult can introduce you to students who might make goofriends.

Its perfectly OK to let people know: Hey, I have Aspergers so some thingare difficult for me. If you own it, rather than try to hide it, theres less oa chance people will make fun of you for it. If you do get teased or bulliedbe sure to let an adult know right away. You deserve a positive high schooexperience one where your talents and strengths can shine, and othercan appreciate your friendship, good character, and intelligence.

I HaveAspergerSyndromeHow Do I MakeNewFriends?

Experts Answers

1995-2011. The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. Reprinted with permission.

Reviewed by: DArcy Lyness, PhD

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Kids & Teens | HEALTHY HABITS

ave you ever felt sick to yourstomach during a test? Haveyou had days when youwere so loaded down withhomework that you hadtrouble sleeping? Have you

ever been so worried about somethingthat you ended up with a terribleheadache?

If so, then you know what its like to feelstress. Youve probably heard peoplesay, Wow, Im really stressed out orThis is making me totally stressed.Maybe you hear adults say those kindsof things all the time. But kids have lotsof things going on in their lives that cancause stress, too.

What Is Stress?Stress is what you feel when you areworried or uncomfortable aboutsomething. This worry in your mindcan make your body feel bad. You mayfeel angry, frustrated, scared, or afraid which can give you a stomachacheor a headache.

When youre stressed you may not feellike sleeping or eating, or you mightsleep or eat too much. You also may

The Story

OnFinding a Balance

Reviewed by: Jennifer Shroff Pendley, PhD

Hfeel cranky or have trouble payingattention at school and rememberingthings at home.

What Causes Stress?Plenty of things can cause stress ina kids life. The trick is to rememberthat some types of stress are goodand others are bad. Good or normalstress might show up when yourecalled on in class or when you haveto give a report. Have you evergotten butterflies in your stomach orsweaty hands? Those can be signs ofgood stress the kind of stress thatcan help you to get things done. Forexample, you may do a better job onyour book report if the anxiety inspiresyou to prepare well before you get up

and read it to the class.

But bad stress can happen if thestressful feelings keep going over time.You may not feel well if your parentsare fighting, if a family member is sick,if youre having problems at school, orif youre going through anything elsethat makes you upset every day. Thatkind of stress isnt going to help you,and it can actually make you sick.Once you recognize that youre feeling

stressed, there are several things yocan do. You can try talking abouwhats bothering you with an aduyou trust, like a parent or teacheBring up whats been on your minand how it makes you feel. An adu

may have ideas about how to solvwhatever is worrying you or makinyou uncomfortable.

Are You Too Busy?If youre feeling tired and stressebecause you have too much going onlike lots of after-school activities, yomight feel better if you drop somethingeven if its just for a semester or soSometimes lots of activities even theyre all fun can make you feestressed by keeping you busy all th

time. On the other hand, if problemat home are bugging you, some (bunot too many!) after-school activitiemay actually help you relax and feebetter.

There are also relaxation exercisethat you can use to get rid of stresThe easiest one to do is to inhal(breathe in) slowly and deeply througyour nose, and then exhale (breathout) slowly through your mouth. D

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this two to four times, but dont takein too much air too quickly becauseit can make you feel lightheaded anddizzy.

Another exercise can help you ifyoure having trouble sleeping: tenseand relax your muscles slowly, startingat your toes and working your way upyour body. Tense and relax your toes.

Then do the same with your toes andyour ankles. Then, your toes, ankles,and calves. Then toes, ankles, calves,and thighs. Keep going up your bodyuntil you get to the top of your head!You can do exercises like theseanytime, without anyone noticing.

You can even do breathing exercises inclass if youre nervous before a test.

Finding a BalanceThe best way to keep stress away isto have a balanced life. That meansmaking good decisions about how tospend your time. If youre only dealingwith school stuff and have no time toplay, you can get stressed. Make sureyou keep your SELF in mind: Sleep,Exercise, Leisure (something fun), andFood.

If you take care of yourself and geenough sleep and food, and if yoexercise and leave time for fun stuffyoull probably be less stressed out!

ime to get ready forbed! someone callsfrom the other room.Oh, no! Youre reallyinto the great bookyoure reading or thatcomputer game that

youre winning.

Why do I have to go to bed? youask. Sleep is boring, and Im not eventired!

But sleep is more important than youmay think. Maybe you can think ofa time when you didnt get enoughsleep. That heavy, groggy feeling isawful and, when you feel that way,youre not at your best. So if youre nottoo tired, lets talk about sleep.

Why You Need SleepThe average kid has a busy day. Theresschool, taking care of your pets,running around with friends, going tosports practice or other activities, anddoing your homework. Phew! Its tiring

just writing it all down. By the end ofthe day, your body needs a break. Sleep

allows your body to rest for the nextday.

Everything thats alive needs sleep tosurvive. Even your dog or cat curls upfor naps. Animals sleep for the samereason you do to give your body atiny vacation.

Your Brain Needs ZzzzzsNot only is sleep necessary for yourbody, its important for your brain, too.Though no one is exactly sure what

work the brain does when yourasleep, some scientists think thathe brain sorts through and storeinformation, replaces chemicals, ansolves problems while you snooze.

Most kids between 5 and 12 get abou9.5 hours a night, but experts agre

that most need 10 or 11 hours eacnight. Sleep is an individual thing ansome kids need more than others.

When your body doesnt have enoughours to rest, you may feel tired ocranky, or you may be unable to thinclearly. You might have a hard timfollowing directions, or you mighhave an argument with a friend ovesomething really stupid. A schooassignment thats normally eas


"T

WhatSleepIs and Why AllKidsNeed ItBeing Good to Your Body

CONTINUE TO NEXT PAG

Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD

Kids & Teens | HEALTHLY HABITS

1 September - October 2011 Florida Creative Living | For All Ages!


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may feel impossible, or you may feelclumsy playing your favorite sport orinstrument.

One more reason to get enough sleep:If you dont, you may not grow as well.Thats right, researchers believe too

little sleep can affect growth and yourimmune system which keeps youfrom getting sick.

The Stages of SleepAs youre drifting off to sleep, it doesntseem like much is happening . . . theroom is getting fuzzy and your eyelidsfeel heavier and heavier. But whathappens next? A lot!

Your brain swings into action,telling your body how to sleep. As

you slowly fall asleep, you beginto enter the five different stagesof sleep:

Stage 1In this stage, your brain givesthe signal to your muscles torelax. It also tells your heart tobeat a little slower, and yourbody temperature drops a bit.

Stage 2After a little while, you enter stage2, which is a light sleep. You can stillbe woken up easily during this stage.For example, if your sister pokes youor you hear a car horn outside, youllprobably wake up.

Stage 3When youre in this stage, youre in adeeper sleep, also called slow-wavesleep. Your brain sends a message toyour blood pressure to get lower. Yourbody isnt sensitive to the temperatureof the air around you, which means thatyou wont notice if its a little hot or

cold in your room. Its much harder tobe awakened when youre in this stage,but some people may sleepwalk or talkin their sleep at this point.

Stage 4This is the deepest sleep yet and is alsoconsidered slow-wave sleep. Its veryhard to wake up from this stage of sleep,and if you do wake up, youre sure tobe out of it and confused for at leasta few minutes. Like they do in stage 3,some people may sleepwalk or talk in

their sleep when going from stage 4 toa lighter stage of sleep.

R.E.M.R.E.M. stands for rapid eye movement.Even though the muscles in the rest

of your body are totally relaxed, youreyes move back and forth very quicklybeneath your eyelids. The R.E.M. stageis when your heart beats faster andyour breathing is less regular. This isalso the stage when people dream!

While youre asleep, you repeatstages 2, 3, 4, and R.E.M. about every90 minutes until you wake up in themorning. For most kids, thats aboutfour or five times a night. Who saidsleep was boring?

Dream a Little DreamYoure walking down the street and youpass a monkey in a green hat eating adonut. Suddenly youre in school butwhy does your teacher have such bigteeth? And how come youre wearingpolka-dot pants?

No, this isnt a scene from ascary movie its a dream!

People dream during R.E.M. sleep,the period that follows the deepeststage of sleep. Everybody has dreams,

although some people have a tougtime remembering them. Wheyou wake up can affect whether yocan remember your dreams. If yowake up during R.E.M. sleep, yomight remember everything abouyour dream. If you wake up durinanother stage of sleep, you might noremember a thing.No one knows for sure why peopldream. Some scientists think thadreams are your brains way of makinsense of what happened during thday. Others think that dreams allowyour brain to sort through the eventof the day, storing the important stuand getting rid of the junk. Somscientists say that dreams are a clue twhat youre worried about or thinkinabout.

How to Catch Your ZZZsFor most kids, sleeping comes prettnaturally. Here are some tips to hel

you catch all the ZZZs you need:

Try to go to bed at the same timevery night; this helps your body geinto a routine.Follow a bedtime routine that calming, such as taking a warm bator reading.Limit foods and drinks that contai

caffeine. These include some sodaand other drinks, like ice tea.Dont have a TV in your roomResearch shows that kids who havone in their rooms sleep less. If yohave a TV, turn it off when its time tsleep.Dont watch scary TV shows omovies close to bedtime becausthese can sometimes make it hard tfall asleep.Dont exercise just before going tbed. Do exercise earlier in the day it helps a person sleep better.Use your bed just for sleeping nodoing homework, reading, playingames, or talking on the phone. Thaway, youll train your body to associat

your bed with sleep.If you have a hard time falling asleefor more than one or two nights ohave worries that are keeping yofrom sleeping, tell your mom or dadThey can help you solve your sleeproblems. In fact, just talking about with them could help you relax jusenough (yawn) that youll be readto sleep. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.


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Kids & Teens | SPORTS

f youve ever played competitivesports, you know starting anew season means a lot of hardwork and practice. (Its a good

thing sports are fun.) Its alsonormal to feel a little nervousabout starting, especially if this

is your first season.

Here are a few ways to put yourself atease and make sure youre ready forthe first day:

1.Get in shape. Start by writing anexercise plan if you dont already haveone. Schedule specific workout timesduring the week to help you stick with

it. Ask your coach, gym teacher, ortrainer for advice when writing yourplan. Also, keep an exercise log. Writedown how long you work out andwhat activity you did (cardio, lifting,etc.). That way you can keep track ofdifferent types of activities so you canmix things up (like running one day,strength training another).

2.Check your gear. Ask yourcoach if youre not sure what youneed. New equipment can be pricey,

so think about using some secondhandgear if its available. Brothers, sisters,friends, and siblings of friends can begreat sources of used equipment. Just

make sure its very clean and still safe touse. You could ask your coach to take alook at it before the first day of practice.If youre a returning player, take out allof your equipment, try it on, and makesure it still fits and works.

3.Consider a sports camp. Sportscamps can help new and experiencedplayers brush up on skills before theseason starts. College players, coaches,or other professionals usually teachthe camps. Most include drill sessions,

then scrimmages toward the end ofthe day. Drill work helps improve skillsand scrimmaging with other camperslets you apply those skills in real-gamesituations. Scrimmages also can helpyou get the feel of playing on a team ifits something youre not used to. Manyschools and colleges offer various sportscamps during the summer and on theweekends during the school year. Ifcamps arent your thing, organizing agroup of people to play a weekly gamecan be a great way to practice.

4.See your doctor. Your schooor team will probably require sports physical before allowing you tparticipate. Because everyone needto get checked at the beginning of thseason, doctors tend to be busy thostimes of year. So ask your mom or dato set up an appointment early onThat gives the doctor plenty of time tfill out your paperwork so you can stayour sport on time. If you wear glasseconsider visiting your eye doctor tcheck your prescription.

5.Set realistic goals. Before youseason starts, consider setting a fewgoals, such as improving a specific ski

like dribbling or passing the ball. Jusmaking the team or getting in shapare great goals as well. Be sure to writdown your goals and discuss themwith your parent or coach they casupport you. If you reach your goaset some new goals next season. Jushaving goals can be a great motivatorFor more on this topic, check out thbox below.

5 Ways to Prepare for Your Sports Season


be on top of your game

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Kids & Teens | TECHNO & SCIENCE

ol...Omg...Idk: Why am I sotired?

Raise your hand if youvesent an embarrassing textmessage the message

that neither you nor your friend canunderstand because it looks likegibberish, or the one thats accidentlysent to someone who shouldnt haveread it.

Did you ever think that your nighttimepings, rings, and vibrates could be thereason why?

Lack of sleep can cause you tosend embarrassing texts. But moreimportant, sending and receiving

messages late at night can disrupt yoursleep and leave you tired and unfocusedwhen its time for school. Studies showthat lack of sleep, or interrupted sleep,can affect everything from your moodto your sports performance.

Sure, you want to stay connected withyour friends, but how useful can yoube when youre exhausted? Give yourtech (texts, emails, calls) a rest frombedtime until your alarm clock rings soyou can rest.


Technology: 5 Ways to Reboot Yourself

OMGLOL

IDK

How can you ease out of beingaccessible but sluggish all thetime to unplugging at bedtime? Hereare some tips to follow at night thatwill help boost your energy and focusin the morning:

1.Log off your instant messenger,Facebook, and email. Pings in themiddle of the night can interrupt yoursleep even if you dont get up toanswer them. And, more than likely,if your friends see that youre loggedout, theyll log out too.

2.Turn off your cell phone (dontjust set it on vibrate) when its timefor bed. Buzzes can be just as loud asbeeps or rings, especially late at night

when everything else is quiet. Plus, ifyour friends have no one to talk to,maybe theyll be inspired to turn offtheir cell and catch some Zzzs, too.

3.Get in the habit of poweringoff your computer especially ifits in your room. Sometimes justlogging off your instant messengeror Facebook is not enough. Blinkinglights and glowing screens can make itharder to fall and stay asleep.

4.Get your cell phone out of youroom completely. Try charging youphone overnight in a separate roomWhile your cell battery is restoringyou can get the sleep you need trecharge your own battery. Havin

your cell in another room can reducthe chance that youll use it durinand after bedtime.

5.Make getting enough sleep youway to look and feel good.Gettinsleep is a great way to look and feerefreshed and focused in the morningTo get the sleep you need, tell youfriends you will receive your last texemail, or phone call an hour beforbedtime. This way, theyll know thebeeps or buzzes will have to wait.

It can be quite a challenge to gfrom being constantly accessible tpowering down at a certain time. Busticking to a cut-off curfew for yougadgets and gizmos will help yoease into bedtime and give your braisome tech-free downtime. And if yoneed an excuse, just say your parentare making you do it.

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St. Petersburg, FL A trio of Coral Catsharkshatched at The Pier Aquarium more than two yearsago marked a new phase in its history going beyondeducation and starting a sustainable aquaculturepractice.

Since then, more than two dozen egg cases, alsoknown as mermaids purses, have been laid, butonly a small percentage of baby sharks have beensuccessfully hatched. The aquarium has started anexhibit titled The Life of a Coral Catshark: FromEgg to Adult (Atelomycterus marmoratus) andannounced a Shark Conservation Fund to support

it and other aquaculture activities.

Visitors to the aquarium can purchase for $1 alight blue paper shark that says, I support SharkConservation! and can write their name on it.Each shark will be posted in the shark exhibit area.

Those who purchase multiple sharks as astocking stuffer gift will receive a fill-in certificateat the aquarium indicating how many sharks werepurchased and in whose name. Visitors to The PierAquariums Web site (www.pieraquarium.org).Multiple sharks purchased as a gift for one personwill be recognized with an e-mailed certificate.

The Coral Catshark exhibit illustrates the stages of development of the shar

a common but little-known nocturnal inshore species native to the Indo-WesPacific Ocean. It is considered near threatened, a conservation status assigneto a species that may be considered threatened with extinction in the near futuresaid Curator of Exhibits Butch Ringelspaugh.

The Pier Aquarium will serve as a laboratory to study the Coral Catshark captivity and collect new data for the body of science, he said.In their normal habitat, the sharks fall victim to blast fishing, are captured fofood or home aquariums or are processed for fishmeal or oil. Compoundinthose issues is the high doubling time of 4.5-14 years (the length of time to reacmaturity to reproduce), which makes this shark vulnerable to over harvesting.

By culturing these animals in captivity, we are lessening the need to harvesthem from the wild, said Ringelspaugh. Our goal is to provide other aquarium

with these aquacultured animals ensuring that all of us can participate in morsustainable practices.

About The Pier Aquarium

Established in 1988, The Pier Aquarium is a private, non-profit aquarium anmarine education center located in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida at The PieIt showcases 17 tanks of live fish and other marine life and educational exhibiton the first and second floors and an outdoor marine laboratory and teachinunit, the Roy G. Harrell, Jr. Education Station, located on the Pier approach.

Its mission is to enhance the publics understanding of the value and fragilitof the local and global marine environment through research, education anpersonal experiences. The PierAquarium serves as the publicface for the St. PetersburgOcean Teams research,innovation and technology. TheOcean Team is a consortiumof 14 marine science andoceanographic institutionsand environmental researchagencies in the Southeast andone of the top such industryclusters in the nation.

Kids & Teens | TECHNO & SCIENCE

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View page 10 for The Pier Aquarium ad.



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alloween is so much funbecause its not like othernights of the year. Have funand stay safe by followingthese tips:

See and Be SeenAfter dark, kids arent usually swarmingthe neighborhood. But on Halloweennight, they are. Thats why kids needto watch out for cars and other traffic.

Be sure that your mask or costumedoesnt cover your eyes or make ittough for you to see where youregoing. You might think about wearingmakeup instead of a mask. If you dowear a mask, make sure the eye holesare big enough that you can see.

Kids also need to beseenon Halloween,so its a good idea to wear or carrysomething that glows in the dark.You might choose a glowing necklace,

a glow-in-the-dark treat bag, or aflashlight. Your parents also can applyreflective tape to your costume.

Dont Trip!You want your costume to look cool,but theres nothing cool about trippingand stumbling all Halloween night.Make your costume trip-proof by:

making sure its not too longwearing shoes that fit

avoiding swords, canes, and otherprops that can get in your way

Dont Go It AloneIts best to trick-or-treat with familymembers or friends. And its also agood idea to have a grownup withyou. A cell phone can be anotherhandy item to have along. That way,you can check in with a parent orcall for help, if needed.

Talk it over with your mom or dadwhen youre deciding where totrick-or-treat. Sticking close to homeis great because then youll knowmany of the people and you wontget lost in unfamiliar neighborhoods.And people who already know you

just might throw an extra treat inyour bag!

When trick-or-treating, avoid going

inside a strangers home. Sometimesa person might invite you in for atreat, but you can just say that yourmom or dad asked you not to goinside anyones house. (Likewise,never go up to or into a strangerscar even if the person offers you aHalloween treat.)

And if youre wondering aboutwhether to go to a certain house,check if the porch light is on. If not,

thats usually a sign that thearent home or they dont wanany trick-or-treaters.

Lets Talk TreatsBefore you start eating thtreats in your bag, youll want tget a good look at them. Wheyou get home, dump everythinout and let your mom or dasee what you have. They cahelp you get rid of stuff yoshouldnt eat. For instanceyou dont want to eat anythinthats loose or not in a wrappeAnything unwrapped, includinfresh fruit, should be throwaway. Without a wrapper, ithard to tell if food is clean ansafe to eat.

Once youve looked over youtreats, youll probably wonde

just how much you can eaWell, its best not to overdo itIf you dont eat too much oHalloween, youll have leftoverto enjoy in the days and weekto come. In other words, you camake Halloween a little sweeteby making it last a little longer!

Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD

HalloweenTrick-or-Treating Safety Guide

Kids & Teens | STAYING SAFE

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Kids & Teens | STAYING SAF

ow could we live withoutthe Internet? Thatshow most of us keep intouch with friends, findhomework support,research a cool place to

visit, or find out the latest news.

But besides the millions of sites tovisit and things to do, the Internetoffers lots of ways to waste time and even get into trouble. And

just as in the non-cyber world,some people you encounter onlinemight try to take advantage of you financially or physically.

Youve probably heard stories

about people who get into troublein chat rooms. Because users caneasily remain anonymous, chatrooms often attract people whoare interested in more than justchatting. Theyll sometimes askvisitors for information aboutthemselves, their families, orwhere they live informationthat shouldnt be given away.

Usually, the people who request

personal information like homeaddresses, phone numbers, andemail addresses use this informationto fill mailboxes and answeringmachines with advertisements. Insome cases, though, predators may

use this information to begin illegalor indecent relationships or to harma persons or familys well-being.

Of course, the Internet is hometo millions of places you can andshould visit. Like an infinite library,the Web can take you to the endsof the earth with the information itcontains.

You can use it to do research for

school, find out what movie isplaying near you (and whetherpeople like it), check out a collegeyoure thinking about, or find a jobor volunteer opportunity. Almostanything you can think of has awebsite (or a thousand of them)about it. And its not just websites blogs, videos, and downloadablegames await to connect you withother user and players.

The key is to protect yourself whilonline.

Smart SurfingFirst rule of smart surfing? Remain aanonymous as possible. That mean

keeping all private informatioprivate. Here are some examples oprivate information that you shoulnever give out on the Internet:

full namehome addressphone numberSocial Security numberpasswordsnames of family memberscredit card numbers

Most credible people and companiewill never ask for this type oinformation online. So if someondoes, its a red flag that they may bup to no good.

Think carefully before you create aemail address or screen name. Weexperts recommend that you use combination of letters and numberin both and that you dont identif

H

SafeSurfing

Tips for Teens

2

Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD



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whether youre male or female.

In chat rooms, use a nickname thats different from your screenname. That way, if you ever find yourself in a conversation thatmakes you uncomfortable, you can exit without having to worrythat someone knows your screen name and can track you down

via email. Some people who hang out with their friends onlineset up private chat rooms where only they and the people theyinvite can enter to chat.

Experts recommend that people keep online friendships in thevirtual world. Meeting online friends face to face carries morerisks than other types of friendships because its so easy forpeople to pretend to be something theyre not when you cantsee them or talk in person.

If you ever get involved in a chat room conversation that makesyou feel uncomfortable or in danger for any reason, exit and tell a

parent or other adult right away so they can report the incident.You can also report itto the website of theNational Center forMissing and ExploitedChildren they have aform for reporting thistype of incident calledCyberTipline. They willthen see that the infois forwarded to lawenforcement officialsfor investigation.

CyberbullyingIts not just strangerswho can make you feeluncomfortable online. Cyberbullying refers to cruel or bullyingmessages sent to you online. These might be from formerfriends or other people you know. They can be irritating and, insome cases, even frightening.

If you get these bullying messages online, its often betterto ignore them rather than answer them. Cyberbullies, just

like other bullies, may be angry or disturbepeople and may be looking for attention oa reaction.

Fortunately, most people never experienccyberbullying. But if youre getting cyberbullieand ignoring it doesnt make it go awaygetting help from a parent, school counseloor another trusted adult may be a good ideaThats especially true if the cyberbullyincontains threats.

Online AnnoyancesAlthough email is relatively private, hackercan still access it or add you to their spamlists. Spam, like advertisements or harassinor offensive notes, is annoying. But spamblockers can keep your mailbox from gettinclogged. Many service providers will help yoblock out or screen inappropriate emails your parents agree to set up age-appropriatparental controls.

If you dont recognize the sender of a documenor file that needs to be downloaded, delete without opening it to avoid getting a virus oyour machine. Virus protection software is must for every computer.

You can also buy software that helps rid youcomputer of unwanted spyware programs thareport what your computer is doing. Somservice providers make software availablto protect you from these and other onlin

annoyances, such as blockers for those in-youface pop-up ads.

If you do invest iprotective softwareyoull need to keep updated to be sure continues to do its joas new technologieevolve.

With all the problemyou can face online,

it worth it? For mospeople, the answer definitely yes. You jusneed to know wher

the pitfalls are, use some common sense ancaution, and youll be in control.

Kids & Teens | STAYING SAFE

1995-2011. The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth.Reprinted with permission.

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Halloween Kids & Teens | DOODLE CORNERHalloweenConnect -The- Dots



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Kids & Teens | DOODLE CORNER

Back to SchoolCrossword Puzzle

1 2

3 4

6

7

8

10

9

ACROSS

1 When I am in the hallway, I

always_____________slowly.

6 My____________cares about mevery much.

7 I like__________because I get to

read a lot of books.

9 I make sure to show_______to

everyone in the class.

10 I raise my_______when I

have a question.

Down

2 We eat__________in the cafeteria.

3 I use a_________to write.

4 I want to keep my____________clean.

5 ___________helps me practice

when I am at home.

8 I like_____________because we work

with numbers and solve problems.

WORD BANK:Desk, hand, homework, lunch, math, pencil, reading, respect, teacher, walk.

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Kids & Teens | DOODLE CORNER

Doodle Pad

What was your favorite memory of Summer 2011? Would you like to have your Summer memory drawing featured in

our May/June 2012 issue? Florida Creative Living will pick one winner on April 1, 2012. Contest ends March 1, 2012.

Must be between the ages of 6-19. You can either email it to [email protected], or send it to 2735

PO Box, Lutz, FL 33458. Chosen winner will receive a $25 E-Gift card from Toys R Us.

Summer Fun Memory!



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The Adventures of

FoxThe

Kids & Teens | COMIC CORNERThe Adventures of Kids & Teens | COMIC CORNER

Foxy Croakyand

Foxy Fox Croaky

View our November/December issue to see

what adventures Foxy and Croaky go on next.


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Adult LivingSection


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Adult Living | NEWS

30

y mother and father met and married in KeyWest. They were young hitchhiking hippiesrecently converted to Christianity. They movedaway for some time, living in different places(including Italy and England) to learn moreabout their newfound faith and share

it with others. They had a daughter (my oldersister) and a son (my big brother). My fatherdecided to finish college in Chicago in orderto become a pastor, and thats where I wasborn. I was two years old when my familymoved back to the Keys, too young to

remember anything else.

After my parents moved home, myfather immediately began pastoringa church, as well as continuing theevangelism ministry which he hadbegun before they moved away.They also had the rest of my siblings,ending in a total of 9. All of us werehome-schooled, and creativity wasencouraged. We lived on Flagler Avenueat first; my earliest memories are of myyoung family walking down just a few blocksto the beach.

While I was attending Florida Keys CommunityCollege, my parents got into running and so did I. After

joining the Key West Southernmost Runners club, I met myhusband, Terence, at the annual Schooner Wharf Bar roadrace. He decided to ride his bike from California across thecountry till he found a place he liked. He ended up at theend of the road, so to speak. So, he moved to the Keys,escaping the cold winters of Boston and searching for abetter way of life.

After we were married and had our first son, Atticus, myhusband began coaching the Key West High School Cross

Country team, known as The Conchs. Im often asked t

create T-shirt and award designs for local races which benefmy husbands team, and so I got a lot of experience drawinconch shells. Obviously, this Conch mind set is demonstratein my Conch Town series! One of our mottos in the Keys is tnever leave home without your Conch pride.

About three years after our first son was born, ousecond son, Archie, came along. The four of u

moved into a beautiful purple Habitat foHumanity home at Bayside Landing on B

Coppitt Key, just a few miles outside of KeWest. The opportunity to own a home i

the Florida Keys doesnt happen ofteneven for those who have spent thewhole life here. Habitat for Humanitfound a way for us to stay here, alonwith many other Keys residents. Aa way of thanking them, I paintea portrait of all the Habitat homeon our new street, Opal Lane, angave it to them as a gift in Decembe2010.

About two weeks later, Jimmy Carteand his wife, Rosalynn were dow

spending some time in Keys. He agreeto meet with Habitat for Humanitys boar

members and a family who benefited froma habitat home. Habitat asked us if wed likto meet President Carter and, of course, we did

He even signed the back of the painting I did for HabitaBoth he and Mrs. Carter were so friendly, expressing genuininterest in our family and our new home. It was an unforgettabexperience!

God blesses my family in many wonderful ways. To grow uhere, meet my husband, and be able to raise our kids in the Keyare all blessings to me. It s a privilege living and painting in thcolorful, artistic community. I dont think you could find a betteplace to live or paint!

By Abigail White

M

Visit www.ColorsOfWhite.com

CallingAllArtist!Its A Conch Town In Key West


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TAMPA, FL. August 12, 2011 The beautiful cityof Tampa has been selected by the Department ofVeterans Affairs (VA) and Paralyzed Veterans of America(Paralyzed Veterans) to serve as host city for the 33rdNational Veterans Wheelchair Games. Taking place July13 18, 2013, more than 500 Veterans with disabilitieswill meet in Tampa to compete in the largest annualwheelchair sporting event in the world. The 2013 eventwill mark the 33rd year in the history of the Games, andonly the second time it will be held in Florida (Miami,1991).

The James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa andFlorida Gulf Coast and Central Florida Chapters ofParalyzed Veterans of America are partners in hostingthe 2013 event. Kathleen Fogarty, Director of the JamesA. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa said, What agreat honor to be chosen as a host site for the NationalVeterans Wheelchair Games in 2013. Tampa is a world-class center for attracting simply the best of the best inall competitive sporting events. I anticipate this eventwill be both unforgettable and inspiring for our athletes-

and our Tampa Bay Community, so lets get ready TampaBay for a wonderful event. Florida Gulf Coast ChapterVice-President, Davis Celestine, is certain this event willmake a positive mark locally. As the National VeteransWheelchair Games come to Tampa, it will be a sight tosee! The best part of the Games is when you have thecommunity involved and fired up for this great event.I would advise anyone to be a part of this electrifyingevent and show your gratitude towards the men andwomen who fought for our country. Celestine said.

The majority of the events and ceremonial activities forthe 33rd National Veterans Wheelchair Games will take

place at the convention center and St. Pete Times Forumdowntown; however, other local venues will also beutilized for off-site events such as bowling, swimming,track, field, motorized rally, trapshooting and archery.The event has historically provided a positive economicimpact for the host cities. This years Games are takingplace in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the 2012 eventwill be 2/2/2/ 33rd National Veterans WheelchairGames Coming to Tampa held in Richmond, Virginia.Wheelchair sports promote rehabilitation and wellnessthrough rigorous sports competition. For many newlyinjured Veterans, this event is their first exposure to

Adult Living | NEWS

wheelchair sports. The National Veterans WheelchaGames offer such Veterans an opportunity to meet anlearn from the more experienced wheelchair athletesincluding those currently competing at the elite level.

Many say that the camaraderie shared with fellowVeterans can be as valuable as the competition itselAt the Games, Veterans will compete in 17 competitivevents including air guns, archery, basketball, bowlingfield, handcycling, motorized wheelchair rally, ninebalpower soccer, quad rugby, softball, swimming, tabltennis, track, trapshooting, weightlifting, and wheelchaslalom.

For more information regarding the National VeteranWheelchair Games, visit the Games website at wwwwheelchairgames.va.gov.

TAMPA SELECTED TO HOST33RD NATIONAL VETERANS WHEELCHAIR GAMES

Support Your Local VeteransSupport Your Local Veterans



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ummer has quickly passed. Nowthat the temperatures havecooled somewhat, and studentsare returning to school, we havethose who are experiencingcold in the Northeast and have

started to travel south to attempt to ridmany of us of our money.

How could this occur you ask? We aremuch to smart to fall for the false

statements and tricks, which theseindividuals will use. Think again!

While many believe they are to smartto fall for such tricks, remember theseare experienced con artists who make aliving at separating you from your money,and they are very good at it. Lets takea look at a few of the con games, whichyou may be subject to this fall.

First, with Florida and hurricanes, asa combination you may experience astorm which may cause damage to your

home or property. A knock on the frontdoor and a person who usually has out ofstate plates will tell you they have someleft over material or can do the workat a cheap price.

They will then ask for a portion of thecost up front. Dont do it! There is a verygood chance that this person will leavewith your money, never return or notfinish the task.

Checking the credentials of the personis very important. If they are notlicensed that should be a red flag andmake you exercise caution. The State ofFlorida requires such repair companiesto be licensed for a reason.

Remember, once the person has yourmoney and has departed, the policewill be hard pressed to find them,without names, an address, licenseplate numbers etc. Do not be afraid toask to see the occupational license andcopy down the information.

And now to an area which really drivesa police department crazy. It is calledburglary to a conveyance. Simply putit means someone got into your vehicleand in most cases stole something.

This does not have to happen. Youwould be amazed at how many driversleave their cars unlocked. A wallet,purse, a weapon, extra cash etc. intheir vehicle, left in plain sight, is aninvitation to be robbed.

You are simply making it so easy for athief to help himself to your property.The solution? It is very simple, lockthe vehicle and never leave expensivedesirable property in plain view withinthe vehicle. That is an invitation toa broken window, and never leave afirearm in the vehicle. You would beamazed at how many teens wander thestreets at night trying to find out howmany of us left a vehicle unsecured.

And who would want to learnabout the weapon which was left ia vehicle and stolen was used in terrible crime. The simple method to lock it or lose it.

Last, remember that identificatiotheft is one of the leading crimes ithe United States today. Protecyour social security numbers, banaccounts, dates of birth etc. A credcheck at least one time a year recommended to insure someonis not buying something in anothepart of the country using your nameIf you start getting calls or manotices as to a specific purchase yohave no knowledge of, that shoulsend up the red flag and you neeto contact that company.

Remember, you do not have tmake it easy to become a victim oa crime.

Using some forethought and cautioyou will be able to sleep well a

night knowing that you have takethe measures necessary to prevensuch an occurrence.

Till next time, stay safe and remembesupport your local law enforcemenagency who work 24/7 to make suryou can live in a safe environment.

(Commander Johnson retired fromthe Port St Lucie Police Departmenafter 22 years of service)

By Chuck Johnson

DontBecome a Victim!

Adult Living | NEWS

S

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hen a certain husband broughthome a 40-lb box of bananasand said to his wife, Lets usethese! who knew it would yieldsuch a delicious and profitableharvest?

That wife was me, and use them I did. Aftereating as many as we could, giving some away,freezing some for shakes, and making LOTS ofbanana bread, there were still a whole lot ofbananas left in our kitchen. We even gave someover-ripe ones away with our banana breadrecipe. Its one Ive perfected over the years,and a big hit with friends and family.

Then I ran out of cinnamon. In swooped myneighbor to the rescue. And not just with the

couple of teaspoons I needed for that daysbounty of banana bread, but a whole bottle.Take it, she insisted. Ive got plenty. Idecided to thank her with one of the two loavesI was making. Another neighbor got wind of ourlittle deal and suddenly I was baking a loaf forher, too.

Returning the favor, she brought some to work

who supported his wife in a venture thashe wasnt so sure held promise.We currently sell our banana bread five yummy flavors every Saturday fro9-3 (9-1 from May to September) at th

Ybor City Saturday Market in Tampa at thcorner of 8th Avenue and 19th Street historic Ybor City. Our other sweet loaveinclude Pilgrim Pumpkin Bread and LOLemon Pound Cake. We also ship all ovethe United States, excluding Alaska anHawaii.

We recently celebrated our first year athe Market and our bread is now soat Duckweed Urban Market, downtowTampas newest spot for food lovers.

We bake some of our loaves on site ancustomers just cant resist the mouthwatering aroma of those sweet, yumm

loaves wafting over the Market.Come see (and smell) for yourself. Ta free sample of our Classic CoconuChocolate Chuckle Chip, Go BananasBlueberry Bliss, or Crazy for CranberrOr try all five! Youll go bananas for oubanana bread!!!

the next day. She came home that eveningwith quite a story.

You almost got me killed today! she saidin mock anger. Well, it turns out that her

colleagues LOVED the banana bread and wereclamoring for more.

Does she sell it? they eagerly inquired.Where can we get more?!

Remembering a prayer less than a week earlierfor a way to supplement our income fromhome, my husband and I decided , Yup, itturns out we do sell it, and The Happy Bakerwas born.

Orders started pouring in from our neighborscolleagues, and then we had a flash of brilliance:What if we sold our delicious banana bread at apopular open-air market here in Tampa? What

if we added chocolate chips?

From the beginning, my husband, Jonathan,said, You can do this. Ill help you. And he did.His business savvy, graphic arts genius and hissheer drive and work ethic are really the enginebehind our business. Our story is a testamentto Gods faithfulness, His providence, and Hissense of humor! And its a story of a husband

W

By Averil Massie

Bananas?

33

What WouldYouDoWith a 40-lb Box of



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Dreamland Ribs. Something tells me that if God doesnt have hitoo busy doing eternal things, Keith will be watching from the 5yard line this season! The point is that even before he found outhat he was dying, he was living in such a way that he could leavat any time with no regrets.

He was also comfortable with the idea of death. After we founout that he only had a few weeks to live, I asked him, Are yoscared? He said, No, I am not afraid of death. But I am a litt

nervous about the process of moving from her

to there. I wonder everyday what he seeing and what he is doing. Whateve

it is, I know that there is no way thamy earthly brain could comprehen

it, so Ill just waituntil its timfor that date to be etched on m

tombstone.

So, for today, dont live likyou are dying. Living likyou are dying implies thayou should be doing thingto satisfy selfish ambitionHeres the thingyou ar

dying. (I knowleave it tme to point out somethinreally cheery on a Mondamorning!) Death is nooptional. There are, howevelots of things to be don

during the dash time thtime between the birth an

death dates.

Your legacy will be in the peopand lives that you touch. Not in th

tombstone.

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you dobecause you are his dear children. Live a life filled with lovefollowing the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himseas a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

So be careful how you live. Dont live like fools, but like thoswho are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evdays. Ephesians 5:1-2; 15-16

Blessings, my friends!

kay, sofirst of allthis blog is not going to justbe about grief and death and dying. But, youhave to remember that less than 6 weeks ago Istood by the bed of the absolute love of my lifeas he entered eternity. Soits sort of coloringthe things I do. I guess in a non-morbid way

(if there is such), you could say I am looking at the world

through death-colored glasses!

Which leads me to todays post. Ill bet I did somethingon Friday that few of you out there have done. Ipurchased my own tombstone. Of course it wascalled something much more politically correct-bronze marker I think was the actual term.The definition of tombstone, though, is amarker placed at the head of a grave, so Imstaying with tombstone.

Anyway, of course I had to purchasethis for Keiths grave, and since I will beburied at the same place, the thing to

do was to go ahead and put my nameon it. This has been in the works forsome time, but on Friday I received theemail mock up of it. There it wasmy name with my birth date, a dash,and then a blank. Keiths was filled inwith the appropriate dates.

Ive thought about that a lot over the weekend.I understand that I am living in the dash now. Iwonder how it would be if I already knew the datethat will one day be etched on that marker. God inHis graciousness doesnt give us that info. What if itsaid next week? What would I do? Orwhat if it said

30 years from now? Would I then sit back comforted by theknowledge that I had lots of time, and do nothing?

Keith found out in March that more than likely his cancerwas terminal. However at the time we were told that heprobably had two years. During that time there were acouple of versions of songs that were popular entitled, LiveLike You Were Dying. Of course this called for a good bit ofintrospection and lively conversation between Keith and I.Heres the interesting thing. Keith didnt want to do anythingdifferently, even with the knowledge that he was dying. Andthe only thing on his bucket list that he didnt get to dowas to go to another Alabama football game with dinner at

Adult Living |NEWS

By Lee Ann Martin

O

photop

rovidedb

y

Celebrity

Equinox

Visit Lee Ann Martins Blogwww.hey-friends.com

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hile moving around their regions, VSAFlorida Regional Program Coordinatorshave heard the outcry for communityart classes for children with disabilities.In our ongoing effort to serve the state

with quality art programming for students of allabilities, the push has begun for that request! Thispast spring, Hillsborough and Pinellas countieshave spearheaded after-school and summerprogramming for students of all ages. The programis ready to expand throughout the state, so VSAFL regional coordinators are looking for free spacewithin their territories that can be used to proposethis much needed offering. School multipurposeor classrooms, churches, museums, communitycenters, university spaces are all options. Wemust have at least 5 students in each class for this

opportunity to take place. Each class will be $10per student, with registration being blocks of 4classes for $40. Visual, Dance, Music, Performing orLiterary arts are all possibilities for the classes. If youare aware of such space or an interested group toattend, please contact your coordinator as we areeager to get these classes started.

Jennifer Bonaventura, Region [email protected]

Pat York, Region [email protected]

Anna Preston, Region 3

[email protected]

Heather Spooner, Region [email protected]

Kathy Iwanowski, Region [email protected]

Adult Living |NEWS

MyArtMyWay

VSA Florida Brings Art Statewide toPeople of All Abilities

VSA Florida, the state organization on arts and disabilityis headquartered at the University of South Floridin the College of Education. We are a member of thinternational network of VSA, and a program of the JohF. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. VSA Floridprovides arts, education, and cultural opportunities foand by people with disabilities in all 67 counties of thstate. Programming is based on community needs thacould include artist residencies, exhibitions, festivalsworkshops and trainings. Professional development available on inclusion for artists and teachers who wor

directly with students and adults with disabilities awell as access training for cultural venues interested idisability awareness, compliance with ADA regulationand assisting patrons with disabilities. State and nationaCalls for Art are distributed for students and adults oall abilities throughout the year. Through a network oRegional Coordinators and Affiliates, VSA Florida is able tsuccessfully offer statewide services.

W

By Wendy Finklea

Education ProgramCoordinator

View page 43 for VSA Florida ad.



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Adult Living |HEALTH

rom popular television series todetailed information availableon the Internet, everyone haslikely seen a person having aseizure. While seizures areusually depicted as grand mal

for their obvious dramatic effect, themajority of the seizures occurring duringadulthood are not convulsive. The stigmathat has resulted for people with seizurescontinues to be vexed by the uninformedwith unsubstantiated fears evoked bythese paroxysmal, involuntary, episodesof unresponsiveness that produce missedconcepts of contagion and terminal illness.However, what many do not realize is thatthe many faces of a seizure disorder orepilepsy, represent the most commonserious chronic neurological disorder in theworld affecting nearly 1% of the generalpopulation with a world-wide diseaseburden akin to breast cancer.

Epilepsy affects approximately 50 millionpeople on the planet and reflects a groupof neurological conditions that causeabnormal sudden transitory electricaldischarges in the brain. Seizures are thesymptoms that occur with the specificphysical characteristics that reflect thesite of their onset in the brain. Whilethere are a number of anti-seizuremedications, approximately 1/4th to 1/3rdof patients continue to experience seizuresdespite treatment. For people withepilepsy who continue to have seizures

neurostimulation (a nerve pacemaker placed in the chest), a special highfat, low carbohydrate diet (primarily children), and brain surgery offer newstandards when drugs dont work. Due to the significant impact of epilepson ones quality of life, quality indicators have recently been recommendeto standardize and improve the overall treatment of epilepsy. The set oquality measures has been recently recommended by Fountain et al. Worldwide evidence that exists congruent with multiple expert opinions in thfield of epilepsy management lead to a framework that was developed ansubmitted for approval by the American Medical AssociationconvenePhysician Consortium for Performance Improvement (PCPI). These indicatowill become the standard for quality measures and to justify reimbursementhat neurologists will use to care for epilepsy patients. If you are a patient oknow someone that is a patient, you should ask yourself if you neurologishas addressed the following basic measures of quality care in epilepsy:

Measure 1: Symptoms: For epilepsy patients, the frequency of seizureshould be documented during each check-up. Given the high rate oepilepsy patients who are either not treated, or are only partially treated, is important that the impacts of various treatments are monitored in termof seizure reduction. Then the results of monitoring need to be evaluateto determine if complete seizure remission is not observed, and further tdetermine if alternate or additional treatments should be utilized.

Measure 2: Causes: Epilepsy has a number of different causations, whicrequire specification by doctors. Causes include early traumas (neonatafebrile seizures, meningitis, or encephalitis), brain tumors/malformation

and head injuries (frequently caused by motor vehicle accidents) or iapproximately 30% of epilepsy patients the cause of seizures is unknownSpecification of the cause of seizures is a significant measure, as it helps tidentify the most effective treatment pathway.

Measure 3: Tests and Diagnosis: Diagnosis of epilepsy should bevaluated and characterized by Electroencephalography (EEG). EEG displayamplified electrical brain signals as a series of rapidly alternating squigglylines. This display can be interpreted by doctors both to support the clinicadiagnosis of epilepsy which can often be confused with other non-seizurevents (such as faints, heart problems, or attacks due to psychologicacauses). In addition, actually recording the seizures during video and EEmonitoring may help determine the type of presence of epilepsy, the typ

Quality Indicatorsin the Treatment

of Epilepsy

By Emily K Acton and

William O. Tatum

F

36

Insight on Epilepsy


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that exists, and also determine by where in the brain theseizure begins by analyzing the initial onset of the abnormalelectrical signals on the EEG.

Measure 4: Tests: Epilepsy patients should undergoneuroimaging. Computed Tomography (CT) may beacceptable for some though Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI) is preferable due to the superior resolution. Thisallows doctors to check for abnormalities in the brain whichmay be the cause of epilepsy to help determine optimaltreatments for the seizures and for the cause.

Measure 5: Treatments and Drugs: For every epilepsypatient doctors should inquire about and document theside effects of Antiepileptic Drugs (AEDs) at every check-up. AEDs have a spectrum of different side effects whichwith variable frequency and severity can potentially occurin epilepsy patients when treated with medications. Whilean AED may be effective in preventing seizures severe sideeffects which can be extremely detrimental on a patientsquality of life may be cause for the discontinuation of adrug and for limiting their quality of life.

Measure 6: Surgical Treatment: Patients who have

drug-resistant epilepsy or epilepsy that is unresolved byongoing drug treatments should be evaluated as a potentialcandidate for epilepsy surgery. Epilepsy surgery requiresbrain surgery where dedicated neurosurgeons remove alesion or a small piece of the brain where seizures arise.It is very often effective in achieving seizure freedom orseizure reduction when AEDs are not successful. Thoughthere are concerns about side effects to surgery, there aretests (ie neuropyshometrics, Wada testing, functional MRI)that can be performed to gauge the likelihood that this mayoccur so that the decision as to whether a patient wouldbe a good candidate for epilepsy surgery may be evaluatedbefore surgery is performed. In addition techniques inepilepsy surgery are constantly improving and other forms(ie laser) surgery are starting to further underscorereassessing the potential candidacy that is best addressedin an epilepsy centers every few years.

Measure 7: Counsel Safe Lifestyle: Epilepsy patientsshould be counseled by doctors regarding safe behaviorwith epilepsy. General safety regulation when a patienthas the potential to have a seizure includes not driving amotorized vehicle, swimming alone, climbing at heights, orworking near high-voltage electrical outlets or operatingheavy electrical machinery. In addition, trying to maintaina consistent daily schedule including meal, sleep, andconsistent administration of ones AEDs is crucial to

maintain a conducive lifestyle for seizure control.

Measure 8: Additional Considerations: Femaleepilepsy patients who are of childbearing potential shouldbe counseled by doctors regarding the effects of AEDs oncontraception and pregnancy. Birth control efforts withany hormonally-based formulation may be inactivatedby use of some AEDs. Additionally, some AEDs can havedangerous side effects (ie Valproate) on the unborn babyduring pregnancy. Thus continued check of appropriatecontraception or AED usage is crucial in female epilepsypatients of childbearing potential.

Epilepsy is a serious medical condition but through thapplication of a range of approved treatment measurethe majority of people with this disorder can be effectivelcontrolled. Successful ongoing treatment requires carefuand precise care by doctors. These epilepsy treatmenmeasures have raised the bar for doctors caring for patientwith epilepsy and are enormously important for effecting thquality of care that patients experiencing seizure deserve.

References

1. Fountain NB, Van Ness PC, Bever CT Jr., et al, fothe American Academy of Neurology Epilepsy MeasurDevelopment Panel and the American Medical AssociationConvened Physician Consortium for PerformancImprovement Independent Measure Development ProcesQuality improvement in neurology: AAN epilepsy qualitmeasures. Report onf the Quality Measurement anReporting Subcommittee of the American Academy oNeurology. Neurology 2011:76:94-99.2. Tatum WO, Kaplan PW, and Jallon P. Epilepsy A to ZA Concise Encyclopedia. New York: Demos Medical, 2009:1377.

Emily K Acton is an undergraduate student at CorneUniversity working as a clinical research student with DTatum.

William O. Tatum is professor of Neurology in the MayCollege of Medicine and Director of the Epilepsy MonitorinUnit at the Mayo Clinic and Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida



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Adult Living | HEALTH

s we get older our needs change. From

strengthening the prescription of our

eyeglasses to asking a friend to drive us to the

grocery store, we adapt to these changes and

ask for the help we need. Creating a plan for long-

term care is an important step in this process.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and

Human Services, nine million Americans over the age

of 65 needed long-term care in 2005.i Their study also

state that people over this age have 70% chance of

eventually requiring a nursing home facility. i While

you may not need assistance today, now is the time to

start planning for future helpwhen you are healthy

and active. The first step in developing your plan is to

understand long-term care and know your options.

What is Long-Term Care?

Long-term care refers to the support neededto accomplish your daily activities when youre

physically unable to take on these challenges

yourself. It may include medical treatment, but

also refers to assistance with personal tasks such

driving, cooking, dressing, bathing or taking your

medications. Care options encompass a wide variety

of services and, based on the degree of assistance

required, are offered in settings ranging from your

own home to skilled nursing facilities.

What are Your Choices?The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS),

divides long-term care options into eight categories:

1. Community Services:Volunteer-basedcommunity programs to assist you with your daily

activities. Examples include adult day care, meal

services and community senior centers.

Preparing for Long-Term Care:Know Your Options and Create Your Plan

A

CONTINUE TO NEXT PAG

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Developing Your PlanCreating a long-term care plan is important decision

for you, your family and your doctor. Talk to your

family about the options that best suit your lifestyle.

Medicare coverage varies widely between categories,

so be sure to address financial planning and long-term

needs and options, so be sure to ask for your doctors

professional opinion. iii

The future is never certainby researching your

options and establishing a long-term care plan now,

you can continue to enjoy life, secure in the knowledg

that your personal and health-care needs with be

attended to for years to come.

i Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centersfor Medicare & Medicaid Services, What is Long-Term? (3/05)

ii Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centerfor Medicare & Medicaid Services, Types of Long-Term Care (3/05

iii Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Steps to ChoosingLong-Term Care (3/05)

View page 57 for Bankers Life and CasualtyCompany ad.

2. Home Care: Personal assistance in yourhome thats provided by a licensed health-care

professional, family member or friend.

3. In-Law Apartments: The creation of asecond living unit either within your existing single-

family home or on your property. This additional

residential unit enables another person to live close

by to assist with your daily activities, while youmaintain your independence.

4. Subsidized Senior Housing: If yourincome falls in the low to moderate range, you

may qualify to live in Federal or State government

assisted housing designed especially for seniors.

Programs vary by state and often require an

application to determine eligibility.

5. Board and Care Homes: Privateresidential living facilities that offer you sharedaccommodations, meal service and assistance

with personal tasks. Also called group home, these

facilities are for seniors who can no longer live alone,

but dont need the medical care of a nursing home.

6. Assisted Living: A building complex thatlets you to have your own room or apartment, but

share common meal service.

7. Continuing Care RetirementCommunities: A mixed-need community thatoffers you different housing options based on the

level of care you require. A single community can

include independent living homes, assisted living

facilities and nursing homes. Therefore, you have a

variety of housing choices as your needs change over

time.

8. Nursing Homes: A full-time care facilitythat provides you with both health care and personal

assistance services if youre unable to live alone orbe cared for at home.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Web

site, www.medicare.gov provides in-depth details on

each of these eight options as well as instructions

on how you can locate facilities in your area. If you

dont have a computer at home, bring this article to

your local public library. They can help you find and

print this information.



40/58


CanDrinkingCoffee

BeHealthy?

Adult Living | HEALTH

40

rgano Gold is allowing everyday people to take

control of their Financial future by providing

health & wealth in a cup of coffee. Coffee is

the Second largest traded commodity in the

world next to oil. This amazing delivery system

through great tasting coffee to bring healthy changewithout breaking any habits. With 100% Certified Organic

Ganoderma Lucidum thats infused in every cup of coffee,

some of the benefits are Supports the Immune system,

Oxygenates the Body, Boosts Stamina, and much more.

For a FREE sample of our 5 Gourmet Flavors pleas

call Marcus Williams at 813-785-8244 or go to

www.mandmcafe.organogold.com for morinformation. Remember Its Easy, Its Simple, It

Coffee!!OBy Marcus Williams


41/58

he utilization of chemicals in our home may becausing illness to your loved ones. This is obviouslynot new news to you, however many dont realizethe profound impact these chemicals have; not onlyon you but the environment as well. Most of usgrew up to believe that a clean home is healthy and

that even removing dirt, pollen, dust and dander will providea germ free environment that will prevent illness. Well I havenews for you, no ones home is germ free, you cant preventyour kids from touching a dirty door knob, and eating food offthe floor wont kill you ( well at least in my house, everyoneis still living). However there is a difference between a cleanhome and a home that hasnt been touched since your mother

in law stopped by and we all know how that goes.

Sowhat can we do about it?

The good news is with a cupboard stocked with essential oils,spray bottles and purified water you can get the same effectas the harsh chemicals found in store bought cleaners. Theyare safe for the environment, and unless you have an allergy toplants they are safe to inhale. Natural cleaners do not expose

you to potentially life threatening diseases, eye irritation, respiratorillness or most commonly, skin irritations. A few things you shoul

know about essential oils, essential oils are derived from the actuaflowers or leaves of the plant and are extracted by a couple of differenmethods.One way essential oils come from a plant is by steam distillation thother is by cold press. It takes a large abundance of the plants tactually extract the oils. Some oils are more expensive than otherFor example sweet orange essential oil is relatively inexpensive whiJasmine is very costly. It is very rare to find pure undiluted Jasminessential oil because of the cost, most of the time it is syntheticalmade or diluted with some sort of carrier oil. If you want to ensuryou are purchasing the pure form of the oil, always make sure thLatin name is attached to the label. Essential oils should always bstored out of direct sunlight and heat. They should also be stored iamber or dark colored glass bottles. When mixing your essential oi

together to make a home cleaning agent, remember you are using diluted form of the oil so its safe to be in a plastic container. Essentioils have many house hold uses from disinfectants to air freshenerto insect repellents. Using these oils instead of synthetic chemiccleaners will keep your family safe, your home clean and fresh, anyour mood uplifted.

For information on specific household uses and tips, visit our Faceboopage Simply Saltsational.

TBy Rachel Moore

4

Adult Living |HOME



42/58


Adult Living | CROSSWORD & SUDOKU FUN

Across1. Dairy product

6. Observe

9. Fruit

14. Long-handled scoop

15. Levy

16. Underneath

17. Pertaining to birds

18. Creative production

19. Without restraint

20. Change into stone

22. Go in again

24. Spoil

25. Auto

26. Mature

29. Scottish lake31. Ingenious

36. Troublesome child

38. Those people

40. Land measure

41. Method of attaining physical

and spiritual wellbeing

42. Organic component of soil

44. Type of average

45. Brood

46. Light fog

47. Top of the head

48. Lecture50. Scorch

52. Trap

53. Precedes for usually

55. Guided

57. Industrial plant

62. Conveyance

66. Crowbar

67. Expert

69. Collection of maps

70. Liquorice-flavored seeds

71. Was victorious

72. Postage

73. Heart rate

74. Word negation

75. Sweet substance

Down1. Applaud

2. Rant

3. Redact

4. Warning

5. Humble

6. Remain

7. Sense organ

8. Additional

9. Having the means

to do something

10. Drudge

11. Secret scheme

12. Misplace

13. Pitcher

21. Foam23. Epoch

25. Pharmacist

26. Chasm

27. Assemblage28. Bird of prey

30. Pal

32. Incline

33. Expanse of water

34. Angry

35. Dogma

37. Acquire

39. Ruminate

43. No longer new

49. Garden tool

51. Go over once again

54. Crustacean56. Repeat

57. Smack

58. Bill of fare

59. Malevolent60. Smaller in amount

61. Woody plant

62. Part of a volcano

63. Tribe

64. Feeble

65. Catch sight of

68. Pigeon sound

Crossword Puzzle

View our next issue for the correct answers to this Crossword puzzle.

42


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A sudoku puzzle is a logic puzzle which is solve

using logic and reasoning. Though the numbe

of squares in the grid may vary, a standar

Sudoku puzzle is a 9x9 grid divided into nin

3x3 blocks in which some of the numbers ar

given. The object of the puzzle is to fill in the resof the grid using only the numbers 1 through

so that no number repeats in any block, row

or column. The difficulty is determined by how

many and which numbers are given and wher

they are placed in the grid and can range from

very easy to extremely challenging.

Though sudoku puzzles generally use number

as symbols, no mathematical skills are require

to solve the puzzle.

View our next issue for the correct answers tthis Sudoku puzzle.

Sudoku

4

Adult Living | CROSSWORD & SUDOKU FUN



44/58


Adult Living |BAND DIRECTORY

Tampas Arlington Road Band

Phone: 813.948.6814

Location: Land O Lakes, FL

Manager: Chuck Johnson

Email: [email protected]

Classic Rock & Roll

Blues Country

Attention band members, are you

having a hard time finding gigs?

Would you like to be listed for

$40? Have a sound recording of

your music? Add an additional $10

for one of your songs to be listed.

Listings are grouped by genres. Let

Florida Creative Living give you that

exposure to have your phone ring!

Are you a Florida Artist that has

paintings, drawings, photography

pottery, etc to sell? Want to become

famous? Have your information listedand include your picture of your ar

work for a low fee of $40.

Abigail WhiteLocation: Key West, FL

Artwork Title:Habitats Bayside LandingLarge Giclee size 26x39Price: $500.00Small Giclee 12 x18Price: $149.00

View more sizes and prices atwww.ColorsOfWhite.com/prints


Artwork Title:Yellow Habitat HomeLarge Giclee size 26x39Price: $500.00Small Giclee 12 x18Price: $149.00



Artwork Title:Purple Habitat HomeLarge Giclee size 26x39Price: $500.00Small Giclee 12 x18Price: $149.00


All proceeds from these prints above, benefit Habitat for Humanity of Key West & Lower FL

Keys. Please contact [email protected] to order.

Adult Living | ARTIST CORNER


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Adult Living | BUSINESS DIRECTORY

4

Gulash GraphicsLutz, FL Design FirmO: 813.994.5110 C: 813.458.1098

www.gulashgraphics.com

MJ Real EstateLutz, FL Real Estate Agency

O: 813.948.6814 C: 813.376.8646

[email protected]

Sweet WhimsyLand O Lakes, FL Custom Pendants

O: 813.244.3582

www.oursweetwhimsy.com

South FloridaMuseumBradenton, FL Museum/Art GalleryO: 941.746.4131

www.southfloridamuseum.org

Kids Activity CenterBradenton, FL Activity Center

O: 941.355.7800

www.kidsactivitycenter.com

Bankers Life &Casualty CompanyBradenton, FL Insurance

O: 941.730.8243

Childrens Board ofHillsborough Co.Tampa, FL Government & Comm.

O: 813.229.2884

www.childrensboard.org

VSA arts of FloridaTampa, FL Non-Profit Organization

O: 813.974.0712

www.vsafl.org

James A. Haley VAHospitalTampa, FL Non-Profit Organization

O: 813.972.2000

www.tampa.va.gov

The Happy Baker, LLCTampa, FL Bakery

O: 813.732.3289

www.happybakernation.com

Sarasota MedievalFairSarasota, FL Attractions

O: 888.303.3247

www.sarasotamedievalfair.com

Circus SarasotaSarasota, FL Non-Profit Organization

O: 941.355.9335

www.circussarasota.org

The Pier AquariumSt. Pete., FL Non-Profit Organization

O: 727.803.9799 ext. 207

www.pieraquarium.org

Museum of FineArtsSt. Pete., FL Museum/Art Gallery

O: 727.896.2667

www.fine-arts.org

W4CY RadioWellington, FL Internet Radio

O: 561.506.4031

www.w4cy.com

Simply SaltsationalPort Saint Lucie, FL Spa/Beauty

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