Memories
Photography by Scott Holstein
I love Springtime Tallahassee because it brings the whole community together to celebrate the beautiful things in life — Friends, Family and Springtime in Florida! — Alexa Von Staden
I marched in the parade while in high school band. My family and I continue the tradition of attending the parade with my nephew, now 12. Necklaces, crewes, costumes, bands; too many memories to list. — Laura Cogdill
I have been to the parade many times with so many wonderful memories; In 2004 we won the runner-up award for not-for-profit with our beautiful float and a huge Taipei 101 tower. In 2007 our 3o-foot-long dragon won the top prize. Then in 2009 … the Taiwanese Youth Folk Sport Troupe won the best not-for-profit award again. The parade serves as a bridge for friendship and fellowship between people from my country, Taiwan, and my chosen one, USA. — Carl Huang My favorite part of Springtime Tallahassee is watching the live performances and musical acts on the different stages. I get to see new bands in person. One year, a band let me help set up. And, there are so many different types of food to try. There are tons of people, lots to do . . . It is like a big celebration. — Mac Carey
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obacco Free Florida (TFF) is a statewide cessation and prevention campaign funded by Florida’s tobacco settlement fund. The program is managed by the Florida Department of Health, specifically the Bureau of Tobacco Prevention Program. TFF’s mission is to combat the pervasive problem of tobacco use in the Sunshine State, where each year, more than 28,000 Floridians die from smoking and tobacco-related diseases that cost the state an estimated $19.6 billion in healthcare and lost productivity. Since its inception in February 2008, TFF has reached millions of Floridians through advertising, grassroots initiatives, social media and public relations efforts as a means of providing information and offer resources to help tobacco users quit. Smokers and
Our friends own a business on North Monroe, located at the beginning of the parade route. Each year, a group of us (about seven families) go early before the roads are closed and “tailgate” in the store’s parking lot. We bring community snacks and drinks (crackers, gummies, granola bars, juice boxes) for all the kids, as well as our fellow moms and dads (Diet Cokes, waters, mimosas!). Each year, we’ve added more kids to the mix as we’ve had them, and it’s so much fun to watch the”magic” of the parade in their eyes. As the cool morning breaks to the warmth of parade time, we shed cardigans and get ready for bead catching! After the parade ends, we load up the strollers and head downtown to enjoy the rest of the events. All of us are from Tallahassee, and attended the festivities as kids, so it’s the “circle of life,” Springtime Tally style! Would love to have a picture taken of our “bed store krewe” and gaggle of kiddos! :) — Evie Crosby
smokeless tobacco users interested in quitting are encouraged to look into Tobacco Free Florida’s FREE quit-smoking resources to get help and make this quit attempt their last. Although permanently quitting tobacco is very difficult, it is not impossible. Sixty-one percent of adult Floridians who have ever smoked have quit, and there are more former smokers in Florida than current smokers. In 2009, about 58 percent of Floridian smokers tried to quit. The following tips will help smokers get started:
NOW to speak with a Quit Coach who will help assess the user’s addiction and create a personalized quit plan. Online: Enroll in online counseling with the Florida Quitline, where each user can create a personalized, web-based quit plan. Visit https://www.quitnow.net/ florida to enroll. In-person: Visit the Florida Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Network’s Web site, http:// ahectobacco.com, to locate a local AHEC and sign up for Quit Smoking Now group classes.
Step One: Set a Date
Step Three: Keep Trying
The first step one needs to take is to set a quit date. Once the quit date is set, cigarettes, ashtrays and lighters should be removed from the home, office and vehicle.
Step Two: Get Help In many cases, treating tobacco addiction requires a comprehensive approach, including counseling and medications. Tobacco Free Florida offers a number of free resources to help smokers quit. Phone: Call the Florida Quitline at 1-877-U-CAN-
“Quitting is only half the battle,” said Kim Berfield, Deputy Secretary of Policy and Advocacy for the Florida Department of Health. “Relapses happen, but it’s important that people keep trying and trying.” Most successful quitters make several attempts before finally quitting permanently. In fact, the average number of attempts varies anywhere from five to more than 10. You can follow the Tobacco Free Florida campaign on Facebook http://www.facebook. com/TobaccoFreeFlorida or Twitter at twitter.com/ tobaccofreefla. Springtime Springtime Tallahassee Tallahassee 2011 2011 13 13