January 2010

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TBPARENTING.COM VOLUME 3 ISSUE 9

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features

8 WORTH THE INVESTMENT The Private School Experience

28 TEMPERMANT That which makes us unique

9 EDUCATION GUIDE Tampa Bay’s Private School Guide

32 GASPARILLA FUN Pirate themed items for everyone

22 THE BEST YEAR EVER New Year Resolutions for the Busy Mom

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every month

6 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR 8 EDUCATION 20 AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS

34 EXTRAORDINARY WOMAN Judith Lisi, President and CEO of the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts.

contents

22 HEALTH AND WELLNESS 36 NORTH HILLSBOROUGH NEWS 38 SOUTH HILLSBOROUGH NEWS 40 NORTH PINELLAS NEWS 42 SOUTH PINELLAS NEWS 44 PASCO NEWS 46 AROUND TOWN 48 CALENDAR OF EVENTS 52 PARTY PAGES

On the cover: Cover Kid Winner Stella Strom of Dade City, wearing adorable princess pirate wear from Kerri’s Kreations. She is pictured with George Miller who is wearing his favorite Buccaneers Dog Jersey. Photo taken on the Buccaneers’ Pirate Ship at Raymond James Stadium.

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Photograph by: Nicole Geller Photography, www.NicoleGellerPhotography.com

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Angela L. Ardolino Editor-In-Chief David E. Estevez Executive Assistant Contributing Writers Amy Gall Lindsay Perez Mark Heller Joezette Hite Lauren Hoyt-Williams Sandra Parrish Patricia Wise Guarch Peter Gorski, MD, MPA Chris Kuhn Calendar and Neighborhood Stories Elyse Cohen Graphic Artist Susan Margolis Marketing Director

Letter from the Editor I hope that you all had a wonderful holiday season and that your New Year’s festivities went well. I had the pleasure of spending New Year’s Eve at The Florida Aquarium with my dear friend who came into town to celebrate New Year’s with us at the magazine. But, now that the parties are over and the holiday lights are coming down, it’s time to think about 2010!

This is the most popular time of year for people to reflect on their lives and make decisions on what needs to be changed or eliminated. One category of people who tend to overlook their own needs are moms. I made a fun list of some resolutions (Best Year Ever, pg. 22) that will keep you active and happy.

This year is going to bring great things to Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine and its wonderful readers. We will have new columns, articles, coupons, giveaways, and are growing our Facebook fan page to make it more interactive and easier to use. There are also great events that we are looking forward to this year like the grand opening of the new Glazer Children’s Museum and the Tampa Museum of Art. I am so excited to share this great year with you and your family!

Have a great 2010!

Todd A. Varde Sales Director Nicole Puglisi Sales & Special Events Linda Whitmer Sales Assistant Maryann Montgomery Administrative Assistant Jeanine McLeod Photography

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

www.TBParenting.com BECOME A FAN AT FACEBOOK.COM/ TAMPABAYPARENTINGMAGAZINE

Great friends of 2009! Jennifer Ramirez, Christina, Erica Gigante, Nancy Vaughn, Barbara Keskiner, Sandy Parrish, Kelly Feldman, Lindsey Stewart, me, and Jackie Toledo at Ceviche in South Tampa for my birthday celebration.

PICK-UP YOUR COPY EVERY MONTH AT PUBLIX AND SWEETBAY SUPERMARKETS. Tampa Bay Parenting is published twelve times per year by Lucy Loo Inc. It is distributed free of charge at area supermarkets, community centers, libraries, doctor offices and other businesses with products and services for families. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written permission. TBPM is not responsible for statements made by advertisers or writers.

We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of information we print, but cannot be held responsible for any consequences arising from omissions or errors. All photography and letters sent to TBPM will be treated unconditionally, assigned for publication and copyright purposes and are subject to unrestricted right to edit and comment editorially. For information on where to find TBPM or how to become a distributor, call 813-949-4400 or email info@tbparenting.com. Copyright 2007-2010 by Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine. All rights reserved. Comments and suggestions are always welcome.

education guide

A

worth the investment

How Nurture, Structure, and Latitude Add Value to the Private School Experience

BY MARK HELLER

American parents want their children to be both happy and productive into adulthood. We want our children to be able to form and sustain meaningful relationships and to successfully hold down jobs that allow them to be not only self-sufficient, but also able and willing to contribute to their communities and the world. Both Tolstoy and Freud put it more succinctly: we want our children to be able to love and work. A basic formula to guide us in helping them to grow to their potential does exist: it requires that we provide appropriate levels of nurture, structure, and latitude.

An Important Sidebar: I believe in the worth of public schooling. I attended only public schools through high school graduation, received a very strong education, and very much believe that great schools come in many different packages. See “Choosing a School” in the January 2009 edition of Tampa Bay Parenting. I believe that public schools have a more difficult job to do than private schools do, for public schools in many ways have to be all things to all people. Private schools can (and need to) choose what they want to be; they also have the added benefit of being able to choose whom they invite to join in the experience. Though many private schools (including the one I lead) have healthy budgets for financial aid to make the experience available to more great students and community members than simply those who can pay, the unfortunate fact exists that not all families can afford the price tag. I wish that were not the case. Nonetheless, in this “Private School Edition” of Tampa Bay Parenting, I hope my words can be seen as a means toward exploring a few of the ways all schools contribute toward raising our children, and, perhaps, encouraging in all schools a more developmental and mindful approach regarding how we deliver the essential triad of nurture, structure, and latitude.

Nurture Nurture in this context means unconditional love and acceptance. Parents provide it not because a child has met expectations or achieved particular goals, but simply because we belong to each other. Nurture requires investments of parental engagement and attention in order to be the truly positive force from which social growth and social ability are generated. Nurture needs time, not just “quality time.”

This is true for children of all ages (even adolescents). In schools, an enormously significant piece of the value added lies in how much attention the adults can give each student. And it need not be academic attention in order to be transformative. This is one reason why I am biased in favor of small schools, for in the small school, each child is more important to the life and pulse of the community. In the small school, students cannot be anonymous. In the small school, the frequent contact with adults socializes and acts as a counter-weight to the negative influences of peers, media, and our challenging culture. There is power in the small school.

Structure I am far from the first writer to say that every culture is like a box. Each box is shaped and sized differently, but two things are always true: what’s inside the box is permissible and what’s outside generally is not. Each family (and each school) has its own particular box, and the structure put in place by the walls of the box does much to help children learn how to be productive, socially appropriate

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education guide adults. Great clarity, comfort, and confidence come from knowing the limits of the box.

Private schools have an easier time defining and enforcing the limits of their respective boxes.

If students choose to behave in ways that are not permissible inside the school’s culture, they may be asked to leave.

Private schools also strive to teach students about the boxes that exist in the game of life.

We work with students of all ages (and especially with our oldest students) on teaching appropriate social interactions in the adult world and the business world. Standards of dress, politeness, assertiveness, approach, communication, and attention to detail are part of the culture and experience inside the private school box. Again, we may be swimming against the powerful tide of our nation’s media-saturated culture, but private schools work hard to give students advantages for their future by teaching them how to play the game ethically, morally, and well.

On the flip side, some public school teachers feel handcuffed by the limits of today’s public school box. Whether it’s high-stakes testing or district-imposed constraints on curriculum or time allocations, teacher flexibility is generally more limited in the public sector. A major factor that attracts teachers to private schools is the generally higher level of autonomy that exists in the private setting. Of course, there is room for teacher autonomy in the public sector and there is structure in the private sector, but the balance between those two poles is struck a bit differently in the respective arenas.

Latitude Latitude involves granting children the freedom to learn from experience. Problem-solving skills arise from confronting and dealing with problems, not from shielding children from problems. This is often a difficult area to navigate, as too much latitude can lead to too much unsupervised time (teenagers home alone for the weekend), and too little latitude (parents jumping in to solve every problem or continually smoothing the way for the child) can rob the child of the valuable lessons they will learn from adversity. A huge part of the value of sports is that children can experience both success and lack of success in real, close, and immediate ways. The learning that comes from those experiences can be very meaningful.

Opportunities to play sports are more common in private schools, many of which have “nocut” policies.

Latitude in the school setting need not be overly permissive (and is not when structure is clearly and consistently communicated). Instead, latitude takes the form of allowing appropriate trust and risk, taking the challenging course, attempting to put on an event, designing and producing the yearbook, or starting a club.

Latitude is very successfully negotiated when it is accompanied by the watchful eyes of many caring adults. Again, the generally smaller size of private schools allows for this watchfulness to happen in very successful ways for a high percentage of students.

Both parents and schools need to provide our young people with nurture, structure, and latitude. Though each family and each school provides a different mix, private school parents often take great comfort that the partnerships they form with their child’s school reinforce and support the structures the family aims to provide. Both mission and scale contribute to this value added in the private school experience. Recognizing the power of scale, Bill and Melinda Gates (both private school grads) are pursuing significant school reform through their foundation’s small schools initiative. Efforts like the Gates’ see private schools as a laboratory to help us understand how to improve education for all of our nation’s students.

Our children deserve no less.

Mark Heller is Head of School at Academy at the Lakes, a PK3 - 12th grade independent school in the North Tampa Area. academyatthelakes.org

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education guide

TAMPA BAY’S PRIVATE SCHOOLS Academy at the Lakes, (813) 948-7919, www.academyatthelakes.org 2331 Collier Parkway, Land O’ Lakes, FL 34639 Academy at the Lakes is an independent college preparatory school for junior K3 through 12th grade in North Tampa. The Academy Experience is as rich and diverse as school ought to be. Through its many facets, it helps students build the confidence, poise, and vision that will be their ticket to a life well-lived. The Academy Experience is phenomenal preparation for college and beyond.

Academy of the Holy Names, (813) 839-5371, www.holynamestpa.org 3319 Bayshore Blvd., Tampa, FL 33629 The Academy of the Holy Names is a Catholic, independent, coeducational elementary school and a college preparatory high school for young women.

Admiral Farragut Academy, (727) 384-5500 x220, www.farragut.org 501 Park Street North, St. Petersburg, FL 33710 A Co-ed Private Boarding and Day College Preparatory School Serving Pre K Grade 12. Admiral Farragut Academy provides a college preparatory environment that promotes academic excellence, leadership skills, and social development within a diverse community of young men and women.

Bayshore Christian School, (813) 839-4297, www.bayshorechristianschool.org 3909 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa, FL 33611 Located in the heart of South Tampa, providing a Christ-centered environment for students in Grades K-12, where they will be encouraged, nurtured and challenged.

Berkeley Preparatory School, (813) 885-1673, www.berkeleyprep.org 4811 Kelly Rd, Tampa, FL 33615 Founded in 1960, Berkeley Prep is a PreK - Grade 12 co-educational independent day school. With a dedication to academics, the arts and athletics, Berkeley strives to support the talent and ambition of every student who walks through our halls. At Berkeley, everything we do is aimed at three enduring measures of success -- the well-developed mind, the well-nourished spirit and a series of well-cultivated talents.

Bishop Larkin Catholic School, (727) 862-6981, www.bishoplarkin.org 8408 Monarch Drive, Port Richey, FL 34668 Serving students in West Pasco from Grades Pre-K to Eight for over 20 years. BLCS offers a unique educational experience that is rooted in spiritual development, academic excellence, physical development and leadership development.

Calvary Christian High School, (727) 449-CCHS, www.cchs.us 110 A N. McMullen Booth Rd, Clearwater, FL 33759 Carrollwood Day School, (813) 920-2288, www.carrollwooddayschool.org 12606 Casey Road, Tampa, FL 33618 and Upper School at 1515 W. Bearss Ave., Tampa, FL 33613 Carrollwood Day School is the only school in Florida, and the sixth in the US, authorized to offer the complete continuum of the International Baccalaureate programming: Primary Years Program (preschool - grade 5), Middle Years Programme (grades 6 - 10), and Diploma Programme (grades 11 - 12). (continued, page 16)

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Challenging the Mind...Inspiring the Spirit * Parent Web * Fully Accredited * International Travel * Motivating Teachers * Lord Led & Christ Centered

* Developing Fine Arts Program * Commitment to Student Athletes * Rigorous Academics/ Six Honor Societies * Grades K2 through 12

Open Campus & Dinner, Friday, January 22, 6-8 p.m.

Open Registration Begins February 8th

3909 S. MacDill Avenue • Tampa, Florida

For more information go to www.bayshorechristianschool.org

or call

813.839.4297 ext. 350

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education guide Center Academy 4 Locations serving Tampa Bay (Lutz, Palm Harbor, Pinellas Park, Riverview) (727) 541-5716, www.centeracademy.com Center Academy provides a small, safe, accredited college prep environment for students who have fallen behind or who want to get ahead.

Christ the King Catholic School 3809 West Morrison Ave., Tampa, FL 33629 (813) 876-8770, www.cks-school.org A vibrant parochial school community where your children are nurtured and encouraged to reach their full potential.

Early Childhood 4 through eighth grade.

Delphi Academy of Florida 1831 Drew Street, Clearwater, FL 33765 (727) 447-6385, www.delphifl.org An independent, coeducational, nonsectarian day school offering a preschool through ninth grade program. Academics focus on providing students with a solid grounding in the basics, a rich and challenging hands-on curriculum, and the ability to study purposefully and independently.

Family of Christ School 16190 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33647 813-558-9343, www.foc-knights.com Family of Christ is a place where children discover themselves as learners in a community where they feel known and valued as a child of Christ. Grades K-8.

Independent Day School 2015 Orange Grove Drive, Tampa, FL 33618 (813) 961-3087, www.idsyes.com Founded in 1968, Independent Day School-Corbett Campus (IDS-CC) is a fully accredited, independent school located in northwest Hillsborough. The school serves over 500 students in PreK3 through 8th grade and offers the International Baccalaureate program of study for all middle school students.

Saint Cecelia Catholic School 1350 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756 (727) 461-1200, www.st-cecelia.org A fully accredited Catholic School serving Pre-K through 8th grades. It is spiritually and financially supported by four Clearwater area parishes. (continued, page 18)

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education guide Shorecrest Preparatory 5101 First Street Northeast, St. Petersburg, FL 33703 (727) 522-2111, www.shorecrest.org As Florida’s oldest independent day school, Shorecrest has provided the consummate college preparatory experience to students since 1923. We have created a close-knit and welcoming community on our 28-acre campus, where approximately 950 students in preschool through 12th grade enroll each year.

St. John Greek Orthodox Day School 2418 Swann Ave., Tampa, FL 33609 (813) 876-4569, www.stjohngreekorthodox. com Founded in 1967, over forty years offering an enriched and challenging academic curriculum that fully prepares students for the finest high schools. Preschool – 8th grade.

St. John’s Episcopal Day School 1002 S. Rome Ave., Tampa, FL 33606, Elementary: 906 S. Orleans Ave., Tampa, FL 33606, Middle School: 240 Plant Ave., Tampa, FL 33606 (813) 600-4348, www.stjohnseagles.org Three age appropriate settings, one unrivaled ten-year experience! St. John’s is committed to a superior academic preparation (K (4) -8th Grade) for the finest secondary schools in the area, with an emphasis on the development of Christian values and strong character.

St. Mary’s Episcopal Day School 2101 S. Hubert Ave., Tampa, FL 33629 (813) 258-5508, www.smeds.org St. Mary’s is an independent, coeducational parish day school, providing a Christian environment for the intellectual and personal growth of students in prekindergarten through eighth grade.

Tampa Day School 12606 Henderson Rd., Tampa, FL 33625 (813) 269-2100, www.tampadayschool.com Wellington School Seminole Campus: 8000 Starkey Road St. Petersburg: 5175 45th Street North (727) 397-4565, www.wellingtonschool.com

For open house info, updates, and additional listings, visit TBParenting.com

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education guide

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Get Fit Personal training, aquatics, martial arts, group programs and state of the art wellness center- the YMCA is a great place to get active and find your inner strength. In January you can join for the cost of the day you come in. www.tampaymca.com Dance it off. You will feel your energy soar on the dance floor. Ballroom dancing is an excellent, low impact way to keep fit and relieve stress. Leave your troubles at the edge of the dance floor and step into a world of class and elegance. www.fredastairetampabay.com

The Best Year Ever

Some will say the only resolution they have ever made and kept is to not make any more New Year’s resolutions, while others will eagerly spout a long list of things they resolve to work on this year. Mothers tend to overlook their own needs all year. Moms are notorious for putting everyone else first; children, spouse, work, and friends. Therefore, I have compiled a list of the top ten New Year’s Resolutions for moms. Overall, the main category of resolutions for moms is to take better care of yourself. Being selfish isn’t a bad thing and we all know that the happier and healthier you are, the better off your family will be.

Lose weight

Expand your limits Get creative.

Take acting or tap lessons, www. patelconservatory.com.

Learn to play the piano, paint, sew, arrange flowers, stained glass or decorate. www.carrollwoodcenter.org, www.dfac.org or www. tampabaylearns.com Learn a language. Imagine how much time you spend in the car listening to nothing but the same 10 songs being played over and over again, and then replacing that with a foreign language tape. Even your kids could join you and you could practice phrases together at home, cook meals from different cultures, watch a movie again or a new one in the foreign language and see if you can follow the story without reading the subtitles. RosettaStone.com offers an audio campaign and the computer software is actually fun. 55 hours of Rosetta Stone software is like one semester of college language studies. Imagine what you could learn with 100 hours. They offer a 6 month money back guarantee.

The Carrollwood Cultural Center offers Beginning and Intermediate French. University of South Florida Continuing Education offers classes in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Portuguese, Russian and Italian. Visit www.outreach.usf.edu Make a difference. Adopt a pet who needs a home.

Volunteer at a non-profit organization. Join the Jr. League, www.jltampa.org. Raise money for a cause you believe in. Work at your child’s school.

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Dr. Lara’s 3-phase medically supervised program focuses on the education of nutrition and exercise, guidance to a better lifestyle based on each patient’s unique needs, and FDA approved appetite suppressants that have been proven to be safe and effective. The program combines low calorie, high protein, and low glycemic diets, and is truly your Best Medicine for Weight Loss! www.bestmedicineforweighloss.com For those stubborn areas that just won’t go away; the roll around the waist, the bulges at the hips or the bra line, the loose skin of the inner thighs or upper arms, even the jaw line and neck can be sculpted using SmartLipo™ LaserBodySculpting. At REDBAMBOO Medi • Spa, the Board Certified Physicians use tiny incisions to infuse a local anesthetic that makes the procedure completely painless. www.redbamboomedispa.com

Find out if you are at risk for heart disease or stroke.

Heart disease, including stroke, claims the lives of more women than the next seven causes of deaths combined, yet many women do not know their risks. The Women’s Healthy Heart Center is a combined effort of St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital and St. Joseph’s Hospital Heart Institute. This is the first local program designed specifically to assess a woman’s risk for heart disease.

Choose one of their Personalized Healthy Heart Screenings to determine if you are at risk for heart disease or stroke. Screenings are offered for both men and women and include customized educational materials in a convenient, comfortable and private environment. For more information about the program and other screening services offered, please call (813) 872-3780 or visit www.womenshealthyheart.com. You do not need a prescription or a physician referral for the screening services.

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Eat Better

Treat Yourself on a regular basis

America’s industralized food system has a major effect on our enviroment, health, ecomony, and animal welfare. Here are some simple things you can do to change our food system:

Anti-Age. Botox the magic elixir! Be prepared for some unanticipated benefits like radical wrinkle reduction. In one 10-minute treatment, and a few tiny injections, within days you’ll see a noticeable improvement in moderate to severe facial lines. www.skinnvtampa.com

Stop drinking sodas and other sweetened beverages. You can lose 25 lbs in a year by replacing one 20 oz soda a day with a no calorie beverage (preferably water).

Eat at home instead of eating out. Children consume almost twice (1.8 times) as many calories when eating food prepared outside the home.

Give up BAD fast food. EVOS is an alternative fast food place that serves burgers, fries, and shakes that are 50-70% less fat.

100% full of flavor. They use minimally processed ingredients and food products and cook with 100% pure air vs. oils.

Support the passage of laws requiring chain restaurants to post calorie information on menus and menu boards. Half of the leading chain restaurants provide no nutritional information to their customers.

Tell schools to stop selling sodas, junk food, and sports drinks.

Over the last two decades, rates of obesity have tripled in children and adolescents aged 6 to 19 years.

Meatless Mondays—Go without meat one day a week, a month, forever! An estimated 70% of all antibiotics used in the United States are given to farm animals.

Buy organic or sustainable food with little or no pesticides.

According to the EPA, over 1 billion pounds of pesticides are used each year in the U.S. Protect family farms; visit your local farmer’s market.

Farmer’s markets allow farmers to keep 80 to 90 cents of each dollar spent by the consumer.

Make a point to know where your food comes from—READ LABELS. Tell Congress that food safety is important to you.

Each year, contaminated food causes millions of illnesses and thousands of deaths in the U.S. Find out more, visit www.foodincmovie.com

Do Acupunture. Acupuncture excels at integrating the body, mind and spirit to promote health and balance. The focus of Acupuncture has always been the prevention of disease by establishing and maintaining the balance and harmony of all aspects of the individual’s health. Acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment for all forms of disease and trauma, addressing physical as well as emotional and spiritual imbalances. www.gardenstampa.com Get a makeover. The team at Level2 Salon in Hyde Park and Asonipse in Riverview; both certified Aveda salons offer an experience which begins with a personalized consultation, balancing face shape, features and skin tone for the perfect haircut and color. The best part is that Aveda’s Full Spectrum Haircolor is NON TOXIC and is the only 97% naturally derived coloring system infused with a blend of plant oils including sunflower, castor and jojoba to protect. It delivers incredible shine, condition and excellent coverage. With your service, you’ll experience a complimentary Aveda Relaxing Ritual and styling lesson for at-home care. For more information visit www. levelsalon.com or call 813-662-3848 for Asonipse in Riverview.

Get a massage. Massage therapy relaxes muscles, easing and soothing your aches and pains. It rejuvenates-- restoring balance to our body and being, making us better for all the things life throws our way. Massage Envy believes every body deserves a great customized massage, so they’ve made relaxation convenient for busy schedules. www.massageenvy.com Get annual memberships. It’s no wonder that Tampa Bay was recently awarded the distinction “Top Arts Destination”. With independent and foreign film, critically acclaimed opera and orchestra, stellar Broadway shows and an eclectic collage of museums featuring everything from the surreal masterworks of Salvador Dali to traveling exhibitions from the Smithsonian - the Tampa Bay area is fast becoming the cultural core of Florida’s Gulf Coast. For a complete list of attractions, museums and fine and performing arts visit www.TBParenting.com

Find your sexy legs About 55% of American women suffer from some form of vein problem. Varicose veins affect 1 out of 2 people age 50 and older. The Vein Center of Tampa Bay specializes in sclerotherapy and Endolaser vein removal – the two most advanced options for treating varicose veins and spider veins. Dr. Jeffrey Hunt and his team have been providing the highest standard of care for nearly two decades. Combined with their commitment to cutting-edge technology, this experience gives their patients peace of mind and confidence in the outcome of their treatment. To find out more visit www.veincentertampa.com

Fulfill a Goal Get family pictures done every year. The WHOLE family not just the kids. You would be amazed how fast kids change. When my mom had cancer I made my family get together, get dressed up and take a group photo. It is now one of the most treasured photos me and my siblings own, even though no one felt like taking the time to dress up and take a picture. Many photographers specialize in family photos and help with planning, what to wear, where to take it and how to make everyone look great! Visit some of our favorites at www.nicolegellerphotography.com, www.nikowilliamsphotography.com, www.photosoncloud9.com and www.jillography.com Continue your Education. To increase your knowledge and career potential consider getting a graduate certificate. USF offers specialized programs that meet licensure requirements and continuing education goals and most of the credits are transferrable to a graduate degree. Convenient class hours at night, weekends and online. Some certificates earned in only three classes. www.frad.certs.usf.edu. Advance your career or learn a new subject just for fun!

HCC Continuing Ed offers dozens of Lifelong Learning courses at convenient locations in Hillsborough County, Florida. HCC Continuing Ed finds world-class faculty and other experts to lead high-quality courses for local adults. Visit www.hcccontinuinged.com Get Organized. According to an article in the Wall St. Journal, the average person loses six weeks per year looking for things. Additionally, buying something you already own because you don’t have time to look for it, can’t find it, or forgot you had it, is a billion dollar industry. Being organized, thus, simultaneously saves you time and money. Beyond the time and money savings, getting organized is the gateway to living a calmer, more in-control dayto-day existence, which is invaluable to busy moms. Call Heather at Your Home Editor, www.yourhomeeditor.com, 727-239-3511

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health & wellness

Fix your teeth Regular visits to the dentist can prevent and catch

many health problems like diabetes and stroke.

And while you are there, have them whitened. www.SmilesByDesign.com Many adults opt for braces to treat orthodontic problems that were not corrected in childhood.

Straight teeth are also much easier to maintain and clean than crowded or crooked teeth. Having straight teeth will help you avoid tooth decay, eventual gum disease and potential tooth loss.

Some adults are advised to get braces to correct their bite or misalignment of their jaw. Correcting these problems can improve speech, chewing, reduce wear on your teeth, and stress on the supporting bone and jaw joints. And now you can get Invisalign, which is a clear, virtually undetectable aligner. Dr. Feldman is Tampa Bay’s ONLY Invisalign Premier Provider ELITE www.feldmanorthodontics. com.

Be Spontaneous Get annual passes. Florida has some of the best attractions in the world. Get an annual pass and get the freedom to pack the kids in the car and escape for a day.

Be an adult. Grab your husband and re-live your first date. Grab your girlfriends and have dinner and go dancing.

Charter a boat. fishing on the west coast of Florida is awesome, we have some of the best fishing and weather for sport fishing anywhere in the country.

Captain Tom Sprague and First Mate Scotty Geiger will make you feel right at home with their warm hospitality. The Dos Amigos Clearwater fishing boat offers a variety of fish to target. In the Spring, Summer and Fall they catch king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, barracuda, bonito, tuna, dolphin, wahoo, sailfish, grouper, snapper and more. In the Winter they catch grouper, snapper, amberjack and many other reef fish. To go fishing visit www.clearwatersportfishing. com. Go where the wind takes you on a sail boat charter. Snorkel, lunch on Anclote key, swim and see dolphins. Visit www.windsongcharters.com.

Cheer on the home team. Shoot some hoops or have a ball watching spring training, golf tournaments, tennis matches, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Tampa Bay Rays, Tampa Bay Storm or New York Yankees spring training.

Go on an adventure. Go bowling, ice skating, see a show, go to a museum. See an old movie at the Tampa Theater. Go on a picnic by yourself, with the kids, dogs, or make it romantic and go with just your significant other.

Write love notes. On the mirror, in their lunch, on FaceBook, in a card. Write one a week to someone you love and appreciate.

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Temperament

Ever watch two children working at their school desks, each responsibly attempting the assigned project? Both may complete the task.

How they do it, however, may differ like night and day. One child sits absolutely still, his body locked into the chair. Once every few minutes he moves a hand to turn a page or write a note. He rarely smiles, maintaining a serious, attentive focus on the material in front of him.

He doesn’t seem to notice the chatter of others around him or even the occasional boom from the construction project across the street. Even when several of his naughty peers prod him with questions and occasional paper airplanes, he remains totally mindful of his work. Yet, when suddenly, his teacher announces a change in the class schedule, he gets visibly flustered by this change in his normal routine. He loses his concentration, fidgets, and cowers into his seat.

Our other student, who has the same developmental disability, appears to somehow complete the assignment despite constant body motion. He shakes his head, rearranges everything on his desk every three minutes, hums and taps a tune and yet, in fits and starts, manages to turn pages and compose answers.

This child notices every distraction, looking out the window after each loud noise, waving to friends, pausing to assist the many peers who ask his help. Laughter punctuates his frequent smiles. When the teacher announces the schedule change, he promptly collects his

material, bounces out of his seat and cheerfully joins the line of other students.

The two children I have portrayed are equally competent, equally content and equally successful, though each thrives best at selective activities, locations, and friendships. Both are very loved by their families. Fortunately, both are having a great year in this particular class.

Given the striking contrast in their styles of behavior, however, we might have expected otherwise. Thanks to their very understanding, adaptable and generous teacher, each boy feels respected and encouraged.

How are we individualistic by nature? What distinguishes each of us as personalities?

When do such personal characteristics first emerge? How stable are they throughout life?

And, most importantly, how does it matter to us? In introducing the subject of childhood temperament, I will suggest ways to use this fascinating construct to predict and facilitate every child’s opportunity for proud success.

Before the middle of this century, most people thought that children grew into adults according to a genetically programmed biological plan.

Neither parents, nor teachers, nor experiences along the way could alter the inevitable course of physical, mental, communicative, social or emotional development. Then, for about three or four decades in the middle of the twentieth century, scientists swung over to believing that

BY PETER GORSKI, MD, MPA

the caregiving environment was the primary shaper of our human development. Knowing where, by whom and how you were reared as a child could predict your ultimate direction in life. In recent years, the collective wisdom among child development experts embraces a third orientation, one that recognizes the dynamic relationship between the child’s inborn nature and the characteristics of the child’s caregiving environment. In fact, the “goodness of fit” between a child’s temperament and the supports and challenges of her physical, social and learning environments most surely enable a child to experience success or frustrate a child to lose hope and effort. I will first define temperament and then give examples of caregiving approaches or environments that might either support or deter the adaptive development of children with particular behavioral styles.

Temperament is one component of personality, but not all of it. Attitudes, values, motivations and defense mechanisms are other ingredients that form the mix that creates personality. Nor is temperament determined by intelligence.

Two people can be equally able yet have remarkably different ways of expressing their competence.

Conversely, many different kinds of people share the same IQ. Instead, temperament describes each child’s unique, biologically based, consistent pattern of behavioral responses to people, events and conditions. Much exciting scientific study has

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informed us about the nature, origin, stability and consequence of temperament on children’s health and development over the past thirty years. None has held more enduring interest nor been as helpful in advising individual families than the longitudinal study of Chess, Thomas and Birch in New York City. Since 1953, they have continued to study individual differences in behavior, beginning in the first months of life and continuing now into the fourth decade of the original group of over a hundred infants. Over this time span, they have observed the early developmental trajectories of the children studied as well as their later choices of school, spouse and career.

All of us, at every age and in every physical condition, can be described as characteristically high, moderate or low (or positive, neutral, negative) with respect to nine behavioral categories that together encompass temperament. These include: 1. Activity Level - movement patterns and speed.

2. Predominant Mood - some people are born optimists or pessimists 3. Intensity of Reactions - whether positive or negative, people express their feelings more or less dramatically.

4. Rhythmicity - regularity or predictability of body functions and personal habits 5. Approach-Withdrawal - initial response to changes 6. Adaptability - long-term adjustment to new circumstances 7. Sensory Threshold - the amount of stimulation needed to cause a reaction - also, level of frustration 8. Attention Span or Persistence - sustained effort to complete tasks 9. Distractibility - likelihood of attention being diverted by extraneous phenomena Roughly 40% of the total population are individuals who are moderately active, of positive mood, fairly rhythmic and adapt positively to new circumstances. Such children feel comfortable in a variety of social settings and classrooms. At the same time, they are more prone to be ignored by caregivers or teachers who are forever responding to the needs of more demanding peers. And they are vulnerable to manipulation as trusting scapegoats.

10% of us tend to be quite intense, skeptical or pessimistic, very active and only slowly accommodating to new circumstances. Such children tend to clash more frequently with their social and learning environments, particularly when there is reciprocally little flexibility to respond to the individual needs or interests of the child.

On the other hand, most leaders have the courage to pursue their own will rather than conform to the general mode. A very interesting 15% or so, appear to combine traits of the so-called “easy” and “difficult” child. Their moderate activity and intensity, positive mood and rhythmicity are coupled with initial withdrawal responses, but ultimate adaptation to the demands of transitions. These “slow-to-warm up” children reward patient caregivers and partners with enduring loyalty, but are vulnerable to being mislabeled as dull or disinterested by teachers or peers who don’t take time to appreciate their prolonged effort to grow comfortable with new expectations. Contrary to popular stereotypes, studies inform us that children with a variety of physical and mental disabilities express a range of temperament similar to their same aged peers.

Certainly, all children have the greatest opportunity to achieve personal happiness, selfesteem and productivity when they are fortunate to consistently live, learn and work with people and challenges that inspire and support their emerging will, confidence and capacity to care. Likewise, children with particular handicaps possess and express their individual temperaments as well as (and in the service of) their unique abilities, interests and needs. We who love and advocate for children as family members and as professionals must be alert to the ways children communicate to us that their current environment interacts with them to either facilitate or frustrate their forward drive. For example, is your child clinging to you when you introduce him to a new playground, play group or program because he doesn’t have the necessary skills or because he hasn’t had the time he needs to adapt comfortably to the new circumstance? Each child will experience universal stages of development in uniquely individual and often predictable ways. If we are willing to appreciate and support the nature as well as the abilities of each child at every stage of development, our children will fulfill their greatest potential and we will raise the net worthiness of our civilization.

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GASPARI

Left: Pink Pirate Costume, sizes 2-12, available at Silly Dilly Tot Spot. Above: Adorable Pirate wear for kids and dogs available at www.kerriskreations.com and www.sillydillytotspot.com. Photos by Nicole Geller.

The Gasparilla Cookbook from the Junior League of Tampa, www.jltampa.org. Cartoon Networks Flapjack Season 1 & 2 now on DVD. Pirate Palooza from Random House Books. Sponge Bob Square Pants Greatest Hits now on CD.

Crotched Pirate rattlers, and pirate long sleeve shirt available at www.sillydillytotspot. Pirate Ship Bath Toys, www.seedlings.com. Pirate Basket in Stitched Felted Wool, sillydillytotspot.com

LLA FUN!

Join Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine January 23rd downtown for the Gasparilla Children’s Parade Extravaganza. Events begin at 11a and go until 7:30p! Stop by one of our fun kids areas to enjoy fun, free activities. GasparillaExtravaganza.com

Melissa & doug Pirate Ship puzzle available at Seedlings.com,

Custom-designed pirate tee from Ice It by Bebe Z, Embellished with high-end crystals, this tee is a true treasure for the Gasparilla fan. Available at Love That.

Doggie Buccaneers Jersey worn by our cover model George Miller. Get it at www.buccaneers.teamfanshop.com. Photo by Nicole Geller.

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Extraordinary Woman

Judy Lisi is a performing arts veteran with over 30 years experience as artist, producer, presenter and performer. She has served as CEO/President of two major performing arts centers in the U.S. - New Haven’s Shubert Performing Arts Center from 1984-1992 and from 1992, the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, the 5th largest performing arts center in the U.S. and the largest south of the Kennedy Center.

During her tenure in New Haven, she was responsible for building the infrastructure and programming of the newly restored and renovated performing arts venue which was the centerpiece and catalyst of New Haven’s urban redevelopment efforts. She presented a full slate of the performing arts, and arts education programs. Also, during her tenure, she founded the Shubert Opera Company in conjunction with the Yale School of Music, producing over 20 operas. She also restored the Shubert’s historical past, which from 1914 gained the reputation as the preferred Broadway tryout house, by re-introducing a successful Broadway series with over 12,000 subscribers.

She began her career as an actress/singer and studied at Sacred Heart University where she received her BA in English, at St. Louis University for an MFA in Theatre/Communications, doctoral studies at the University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theatre, and Opera Studies at Juilliard. Although her husband grew up 3 blocks from her, they didn’t meet until they were in college. They were married as soon as they graduated in 1969. She is grateful to her husband, Ernie, of 39 years, who fortunately loves the arts (although it’s sometimes a toss-up with sports) and her two children, who are also artists, Rachel, a published poet and Joel, a musician with a number of recording credits. “My children are truly wonderful, kind, caring and funny people which makes me very happy— neither are married and I am a grandmother waiting to happen” says Judy.

In 1992 she assumed the CEO position of the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center which is a state of the art performing arts complex with 5 venues, rehearsal studios, conservatory and home to the Florida Orchestra. Under her leadership, the Center has grown from a $7 million to a $45 million operation, annually hosting more than 800 events, with attendance in excess of 700,000. In 2005, a 40,000 sq. foot education center was opened with 22 studios, performing arts library and theatre, to house the Center’s growing education programs which serve over 50,000 students annually. In 1994 she founded Opera Tampa and has produced over 30 operas including the world premiere of Sacco and Vanzetti in 2001. The Company has also launched an opera apprentice program under the direction of Sherrill Milnes and Maria Zouves. An advocate of sound fiscal management, she is responsible for consistently balancing budgets as well as raising a $30 million endowment.

Judy has also directed more than 40 productions and written six plays, including last year’s Waistwatchers. Most recently, she is the Executive Producer of the new musical Wonderland: Alice’s New Musical Adventure, running through January 3rd, and is a part of the Broadway Genesis Project.

Wonderland is set in present-day Manhattan and a timeless Wonderland. The new musical tells the story of author Alice Cornwinkle (a descendent of

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BY ANGELA ARDOLINO

Lewis Carroll’s muse Alice Liddell), who is struggling with her career and her daughter, Chloe.

The Broadway Genesis Project is intended to help create new works of American theater to play the Tampa Bay market, and then possibly tour other performing arts centers or move to Broadway.

“I am so excited about the Broadway Genesis Project,” said Judy, “This is the next logical step in TBPAC’s artistic development. Our wonderful facility and dedicated staff will provide the ideal creative workplace for extraordinary works of theater for years to come.”

Wonderland, had its world premiere in Tampa on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009 in TBPAC’s Ferguson Hall. The music for Wonderland is by Frank Wildhorn, the composer of The Civil War and Jekyll & Hyde, with lyrics by Jack Murphy and directed by Gregory Boyd.

“We’ve assembled a top-notch team that is going to take this new musical in magnificent directions.” Judy said.

ANGELA: What do you think your secret to success is?

JUDY: First, I was fortunate to find a career that I love and which is very fulfilling. Second, I love people. Third, Ask questions and keep learning.

Fourth, Creative problem-solving.

ANGELA: What is your Biggest Fear?

JUDY: Always fear and worry about children.

ANGELA: What Goals do you have for your future- Tampa’s future?

JUDY: To continue to be productive and continue to develop the Performing Arts Center. I am very excited about Tampa’s future, especially the expanded cultural district, Riverwalk etc. Mayor Iorio had a great vision and I believe Tampa will be poised for tremendous development when the economy recovers.

ANGELA: What Advice would you give to other women?

JUDY: Family first and try to find something that you love that engages your creativity.

ANGELA: What is your proudest moment?

JUDY: Personally, family Sunday and holiday dinners; Publicly, the opening of the Patel Conservatory which houses our arts education programs for children and adults.

ANGELA: What is your biggest achievement?

JUDY: Developing the Center, the Patel Conservatory, raising an Endowment, building a great Board and Staff, and artistically the world premiere of the opera Sacco and Vanzetti and the world premiere of Wonderland.

ANGELA: How do you balance motherhood and work?

JUDY: That is so difficult. But learning when you must stop and listen, and be there when they need you and know they want your time. That really is what the main character, Alice, is struggling with in Wonderland.

Judith Lisi, President/CEO of the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts (formerly Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center) and Executive Producer of the new musical Wonderland.

Photo by: Jeanine McCleod

north

Hillsborough

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

High School Art Stars scholarship program accepting applications The Tampa Bay Businesses for culture and the Arts (TBBCA) encourages local students to continue to build upon their artistic skills after high school and fosters development of future arts audiences.

TBBCA offers Tampa Bay’s students the opportunity to compete for $15,000 in arts scholarships to help make their dreams in the arts become a reality. Six $2,500 scholarships will be awarded to bay area students in the areas of theater, dance, literature, visual arts, instrumental music and vocal music. The scholarships can be used at a college, university, or towards continuing education in the arts. Applications to apply for the scholarship are due on February 4th and the recipients will be announced in the spring of 2010.

In just two years, the TBBCA has awarded $32,500 in scholarship to local students that have been accepted into prestigious schools such as New York University, Rice University, Indiana University, American University, Savannah College of Art and Design, Florida State University, University of South Florida and Stetson University.

Scholarships are open to any junior or senior in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco public or private school, has a minimum of 2.5 grade point average and is actively pursuing an art form through school, community and/or private lessons. For more information call 813-221-2787 or visit TBBCA.org.

Environmental Non-Profit Starts New High School Program Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful, an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, has unveiled a new ecological program to offer Hillsborough County high schools – the Keep Our School Beautiful Chapter Program (KOSB). The new youth-driven program provides local students an opportunity to learn more about current environmental issues and take action in their communities.

Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful piloted the educational, anti-litter chapter program in two Bay area high schools during the last academic year-- Robinson, Riverview and one youth group from the University Area Community Center. Designed to fall under any existing environmentally focused club, the KOSB Kids program has already been involved with the Great American Cleanup, International Coastal Cleanup, Litter Index Survey and beautification projects. KHCB is now expanding this opportunity to all high schools in Hillsborough County this year.

The goal of the KOSB Kids chapter is to encourage high school students to take an active role in the environmental health of their community by participating in cleanup and beautification events, participating in recycling and waste reduction at school, attending a free environmental conference and mentoring other peers about ways they can become a community voice on the issue.

“Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful would like to assist in the ecological education of high school students in Hillsborough County and welcomes all high schools, public or private to become part of the program,” DePlasco says. “Through involvement in the KOSB Chapter program, students can become active stewards of our environment and learn to treasure Tampa Bay and Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful.” For more information about the KOSB Kids program, please feel to contact KHCB at (813) 960-5121.

Local KOSB students participate in Arbor Day activities last spring at MOSI.

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dates: January 7, 7-10pm Jazz on 56th St. Plan a girls’ night out around the soothing sounds of an evening of jazz hosted every Thursday night at Olde World Cheese Shop, 11001 N.56th St. at Sherwood Forest Shopping Center, Tampa. This Thursday, Jason Stander Quartet takes the stage. Free, with $1 drafts for ladies. www.oldworldcheeseshop.com.

January 8-10, 15-17, 22-24 Play On! A Comedy by Rick Abbot Watch this hilarious show-within-a-show unfold at Masque Community Theater, 8825 56th St., Temple Terrace. Story revolves around a theater group trying to get on with the show despite a hands-on author who continues revising her script until the curtain rises. $14. www. masquetheatre.net.

January 10, 3pm Jack and the Beanstalk Bring along the kids for a fun interpretation of the ageless tale as the Play’n Around Traveling Children’s Theatre stages a live musical theatre performance at the Carrollwood Cultural Center, 4537 Lowell Road in Tampa. Audience members can meet the cast and ask questions after the show. $7 members, $10 non-members (children under 4, free). www.carrollwoodcenter.org.

January 16, 10am-2pm Finding the Silver Lining in Life’s Transitions Attend this inspiring event designed to provide participants a personal plan of action, helpful tools to pursue goals and a fresh take on personal or professional transition. Held at Wellspring Methodist Church, 10710 Sheldon Rd., Tampa. Lunch and healthy cooking demo included. Register by Jan. 15, $70. www. findingsilverlining.com.

January 22, 6-9pm Hillsborough County Visual Arts Alliance Exhibit runs from Jan. 5-29. Come meet the artists at this one-night special reception at the Center.

Free. www.carrollwoodcenter.org.

January 23, 9am-1pm Black History and Culture Brain Bowl Cheer on 6-12th graders, as they compete in county and regional competition. USF main campus, Westside BC (MHA 126B).www.hccoe. org.

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

Little Chatterbox Expands Foreign Language Program The Little Chatterbox has announced that it is adding French and Italian classes to its foreign language instructional program for kids. The Spanish classes, designed for children ages six months to nine years, are currently offered four days a week at its South Tampa location at 3612 S. Dale Mabry Highway, Suite C. “The new year is the perfect time to expose your child to a new experience,” says co-founder Susan Peacock. “Educational play is an enjoyable and proven way to successfully introduce your child to a foreign language.” For current schedule or tuition information, visit www.thelittlechatterbox. com or call 813-944-2240.

St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Honors Young Local Heroes Tampa Bay Lightning Center Steven Samkos and St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital recognized more than 90 boys and girls during its 13th Annual Kids Are Heroes awards ceremony held December 8.

Earlier in the year, parents, teachers, guidance counselors and neighbors nominated local children ages 5 to 18 for their work throughout the community. Following a six-week nomination process, Samkos met with hospitalized kids at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital to formally select winners in three age categories. All nominees were invited to attend the dinner and receive trophies with winners receiving additional gifts. Winners for 2009 were: 5-8 Years Old - 1st Place - Nicholas Ketterer Instead of birthday gifts, this hero collected food, clothing and personal toiletries for the homeless at his party and gathered enough supplies to help 43 homeless people.

9-12 Years Old -1st Place - Michael Moody Recently diagnosed with diabetes, this hero quickly sprang into action to help out a school employee having a diabetic episode.

13-18 Years Old - 1st Place - Jordan Holzmacher Since being diagnosed with T-cell leukemia and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma at 10 years old, this hero has has spent the last eight years raising research funds and awareness for pediatric cancer.

Since 1996, the St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Kids Are Heroes program has recognized more than 1,000 children from Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk counties.

dates: All Month Guardian Ad Litem Training Classes Learn how you can support Voices for Children’s services for abused, abandoned and neglected children by enrolling in its volunteer training program held at Christ the King Catholic Church, 821 S. Dale Mabry Highway, South Tampa. For dates, class times and registration, visit www.vfcgal.org or call 813-272-5505.

January 2, 10:30am-Noon Scavenger Hunt & Children’s Photography Workshop Introduce your child to building narratives through photography in a new children’s workshop at the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts. Kids will go on a group hunt to locate a list of objects and photograph. $20 members; $30 non-members. www.fmopa.org.

January 4, 10am Romper Rhythms & Fun Join your kids for Music and Movement classes at the FishHawk Ranch Osprey Club in Lithia. Classes are designed to focus on each major area of child development including language, motor skills, cognition and socialization. $6 per family per class. www.romperrhythms.com.

January 7 19th Annual Night at the Circus benefitting the Tampa General Hospital Foundation Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® will roar into town with FUNundrum at the St. Pete Times Forum.

This event is a great opportunity for families to spend priceless time together and experience the thrills of the circus. For more info contact Lynn at 813-844-7273.

January 16, 10:30am Tots and Tunes Music Class A new music program for 2-3 yr olds focused on building a musical appreciation at an early age.

Saturdays at the Patel Conservatory. Classes are limited in size and will include such activities as finger plays, instrument exploration, creative movement and group singing. www.patelconservatory.org.

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January 23-30 “Try a Class for Free” Week at Patel Sit in on free classes at the Patel Conservatory such as Beginning Guitar, Acting or Hip Hop Dance to sample an area of interest before enrolling at the arts education center for adults and children. For schedule and pre-registration, visit www.patelconservatory.org.

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north

Pinellas

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

Pinellas Habitat for Humanity Seeks Volunteers for Birthday Build This year marks 25 years of building for Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County. Every year, the nonprofit organization holds a special birthday build event but this year’s celebration is extra special.

Pinellas Habitat is seeking volunteers to attend its 25th Birthday Blitz week-long festivities running January 16-23 at 4765 162nd Avenue in Clearwater and this year, resulting in the construction of two homes for two families in one week. One home will be a Women Build, an all-woman volunteer house and the other will be a collaborative effort by men and women volunteers. Both constructions teams will meet up mid-day for birthday cake all week.

“Habitat volunteers talk about the excitement of learning new skills. They talk about being touched by the experience of working side by side with the families to build homes. They talk about putting in a hard day of work but feeling really good about building something that is going to last and helping to change a family’s life. Birthday Blitz volunteers will get this experience, supercharged,” says Jamie Cataldo, Communications Director for Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County. “The following Saturday, all the week’s volunteers will come back to the site and watch as the families get the keys to two completely finished homes.”

The week-long event will require two shifts of volunteers, who can expect to work hard, learn new skills and experience the excitement of being part of a team effort that will eventually put two families into brand new homes. This year’s recipients are the Anderson and Barnhardt families, a single mom of three and a single dad of three. Each has been working hard to build others’ Habitat homes and earning their sweat equity. Now they are excited to begin building their own homes.

Cataldo says the Women Build program was established to encourage female volunteers to take part in the building process. “Although women come out to the Habitat worksites all the time, some women may find it less intimidating and more empowering to work with an all-woman team,” she says. “For any woman who has hesitation about becoming a Habitat volunteer, this will be a great way to learn new skills and have some fun.”

Volunteers must be 18 years or older or complete a Youth Volunteer Response Form signed by a parent or guardian. No experience is necessary or tools required, though registration is required. A fee of $35 includes lunch, t-shirt and cake.

Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County also is part of the new Give a Day, Get a Disney Day promotion, rewarding volunteerism with a free day at a Disney theme park. (Additional steps are required during application process.)

For additional information or to register, go to www.phfh.org or call 727-536-4755.

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dates: January 9, 12-3pm Discovering Nature Open Classroom Session Take part in archaeological activities through a hands-on nature discovery program that you and your child can experience together at Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Rd., Tarpon Springs.

January 9, 1-2pm Ballroom Blitz Children’s Workshop Enroll your child ages 6-15 in a fun 8-week workshop series introducing kids to a variety of ballroom dances at Arthur Murray Ballroom Dance Studio, 34930 US Hwy. 19 N., Palm Harbor. Series covers Waltz, Foxtrot, Quickstep, Tango, Argentine Tango, Viennese Waltz and Theater Arts/Dance Etiquette. $120. www. arthurmurraypalmharbor.com.

January 15, 7-9pm New Dunedin Art Exhibits Premiere Four new exhibitions open and offer a unique take on landscapes at Dunedin Fine Arts Center, 1143 Michigan Blvd. Exhibits include Seeing Is Believing by Abstract Expressionist Lois Dodd; The Road Less Traveled by environmentally sensitive artist Taylor Ikin; The Meditative Landscape; and Landfall, a DFAC faculty/ student exhibit. Runs through Feb. 28. Free to members; $5 to public. www.dfac.org.

January 16, 6-10pm 3rd Friday Music Series Wander through downtown Safety Harbor’s Main Street between Bayshore and 6th Avenue.

Enjoy live entertainment, browse arts and crafts vendors and step inside local shops and restaurants as they stay open later. Free. 727724-1572.

January 16-18 Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks Art & Craft Festival and Traditionally Tarpon Peruse fine art and handcrafted items while enjoying local food and music as two arts and crafts events take to the charming streets of downtown Tarpon Springs: the Sponge Docks Art & Craft Festival (www.tnteventsinc.com) along Dodecanese Blvd and .Traditionally Tarpon (www.craftsandartisans.com) in the Antique District at 161 E. Tarpon Ave. Free admission for both events. See websites for times.

south

Pinellas

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

A Month of Fun Family Events at Weedon Island Preserve January offers an affordable educational alternative for family fun at Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center, 1800 Weedon Drive NE in St. Petersburg. A number of outdoor events and exhibits are being offered this month including: • Saturday Guided Hikes (January 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30, 9-11am) Every Saturday, volunteers lead visitors (ages 6 and up) for guided two-hour hikes through the coastal mangroves and upland ecosystems. Guests are encouraged to pack water and a snack and wear a hat and closed-toe shoes.

• Passport to Weedon 2010 (January 2, 9am-3pm) Visitors can pick up their passport inside the Center’s lobby and hit the trails, using path signs to navigate them through the preserve for an exciting exploration, solving passport clues along the way.

• Artist Exhibit Opening Reception: “Wild Thing, I Think I Love You!” (January 9, 1-4pm) Check out work by local painters showcasing the area’s wildlife and landscape and meet the artists.

• Wee-Time at Weedon (January 14 & 28, 10:30-11:15am) Every second and fourth Thursday of each month, children ages 3 to 5 are treated to stories and hands-on activities that connect them to their environment.

• Project Archaeology: Investigating Shelter (January 21, 3:30-4:30pm) Visitors ages 8 and up can investigate historic shelters using skills of mapping, classifying, and identifying an archaeological site in this after-school program which runs every other Thursday through late May. For additional information about the Center or to pre-register for upcoming events, visit www. weedonislandpreserve.org or call 727-453-6500.

Pair of Events to Benefit All Children’s Hospital This month, All Children’s Hospital will be holding two popular annual fundraisers. The All Children’s Guild-St. Day Branch presents The Spanish Blue Eyes Fashion Show and Luncheon on January 18 at noon at Pepin’s, 4125 4th Street N. in St. Pete. Tickets are $35. For additional information, contact Rachael Russell at 727-501-4374 or by email at rachaelerussell@mac.com.

On January 30, the All Children’s Guild-Evening Branch hosts Razz-Ma-Tazz, the 79th Annual Charity Ball being held from 6pm until midnight at the Hilton at Carillon Park, 950 Lake Carillon Drive, St. Pete. The cost to attend is $200. To learn more or purchase tickets, call this year’s event chairperson Sherry Sexton at 727-458-3747 or email her at sherry@imaginecoaching.net.

For the latest on other fundraisers or event news, go to www.allkids.org.

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dates:

January 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 9am-1pm Market in the Park Spend the morning browsing fresh produce and organic products at the Pinellas Market in the Park held Saturdays at Heritage Village off 125th Street between Walsingham and Ulmerton in Largo.

Weekly event runs through April 17. Free admission. www.pinellascounty.org/heritage.

January 5, 12, 19, 26 7:30-9:30pm Boating Skills and Seamanship Course Ensure the safety of boaters in your family (even the youngest) at a Coast Guard Auxiliary Boating Skills and Seamanship course being held every Tuesday night at the USCG base, 1300 Beach Dr. SE, St. Petersburg. Completion satisfies state boater safety education requirements. $40 for 20-hour course and materials. 727-898-1324.

January 13 & 21 Shorecrest Preparatory School Open House Meet teachers and learn more about the educational programs available at the school located at 5101 First St. NE, St. Petersburg. Attend Shorecrest’s Middle School Open House (Grades 5 to 8) on Jan. 13 and a Preschool Open House (age 3 to Grade 4) on Jan. 21. www.shorecrest.org.

January 17, 4:30pm Wine, Women & Worth Sip fine wine and champagne and nibble on appetizers while getting a preview of 2010 fashion and shoe designs, fragrances and cosmetics from The Worth Collection, W, Saks and Chanel at this fundraiser event being held at a private St. Pete home with proceeds benefiting Bayfront Baby Place. $100. Email Laterika.Jelks@bayfront.org for details.

January 22, 8pm Anything Goes Take in classic Cole Porter as Spanish Lyric Theatre presents the musical at the St. Petersburg Little Theatre, 4025 31st Street S., St. Petersburg. $10-$22. www.splt.org.

January 30, 4-8pm For the Love of Clay II Pottery Exhibition Browse artwork by local ceramists for this second annual one-day pottery exhibition and sale being held at The Studio@620, 620 First Avenue S. in St. Petersburg. Light refreshments included. All art on display is available for purchase. Free admission. donations encouraged. www.studio620.org.

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Pasco

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

Wesley Chapel Gets First Certified Green Pre-School When Garden Montessori School formally opened its doors two months ago, it became not only Pasco’s first “Certified Green” pre-school/day care center but the first such facility in both the state of Florida and United States to earn this designation.

The school’s co-owners Stefani Ruskin and Patricia Gutierrez were notified by the Green Schools League, Inc., a Plainfield, Il.-based green technology and best practices firm, that their school had achieved Gold level certification in recognition for their efforts to institute a sustainability program, eco-friendly operations and periodic audits.

Garden Montessori School, located at 6845 Boyette Road in Wesley Chapel, has implemented eco-friendly processes to address energy efficiency, replace paper-based communications, switch to non-toxic cleaning practices and launch recycling and composting programs.

Natalie Calleja, a Certified Green Consultant and National Director of the Green Schools League, presented the certification to the school’s owners in early November. “This certification is an acknowledgement of the vision and commitment that Ms. Ruskin and Ms. Gutierrez have made to create and maintain a healthy school environment that the teachers, students and parents share on a day-to-day basis,” she says. “Our goal is to make the children more aware of living responsibly,” says co-owner Ruskin. “We want to teach our students to become responsible citizens through our example.”

For more information about the Garden Montessori School, visit www.gardenmontessorischool. org.

The Digital Bookmobile Rides in to Regency Park Last month, Pasco County readers got a real treat when the national tour of the Digital Bookmobile rolled into town for a one-day visit Thursday, December 17 at Regency Park Branch Library at 9701 Little Road. Young and old readers alike were introduced to the Pasco County Library System’s downloadable library through interactive demonstrations about sample audiobook titles available and what’s involved to download eBooks, audiobooks, music and videos.

Housed inside a 74-foot long, 18-wheel tractor trailer, the Digital Bookmobile is equipped with broadband Internet-connected PCs, high definition monitors, a premium sound system and a variety of portable media players. Pasco County’s digital media collection is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and can be accessed through the library’s main website, www. pascolibraries.org. All patrons with an active library card can use the free online service. The downloadable library features a large selection, from classic titles to new releases, that can be enjoyed via computer or transferred to a number of compatible mobile devices. When a lending period ends, there is nothing to return and best of all - no late fees.

Digital Bookmobile is a service of the Pasco County Library System and operated by OverDrive, Inc., a full-service digital distributor of eBooks, audiobooks, music and video files.

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dates: January 5, 6:45pm Free Zumba Class Try out a free Zumba fitness class being offered every Tuesday and Thursday this month at the Renewal Rehab & Fitness Center located at 2008 Ashley Oaks Circle in Wesley Chapel. www. zumbalover.com January 16, 5-8pm NorthPointe Village Classic Car Show Check out hot rods and custom classics at this monthly car show held the third Saturday of every month at NorthPointe Village plaza, located at 16506 Point Village Dr., near the southeast corner of Suncoast Parkway and S.R. 54 in Lutz. Free. 813-468-0277.

January 16, 7pm Miss Wesley Chapel Pageant Girls and women of all ages are invited to participate in this annual event being held at the Performing Arts Center of Wesley Chapel located on Wells Road next to Wesley Chapel High School. This year, a Mrs.Wesley Chapel will be crowned, too. For info or to apply, email connie. hicks@bcbsfl.com.

January 23-24 Suncoast Arts Fest Check out the work of more than 100 fine artists and craftsmen as well as up and coming artists from 10th grade through college at this annual two-day arts festival held at The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel. Live music, art activities for the kids and food booths, available.

Free admission. Sat., 10am-7pm; Sun., 11am4pm. www.suncoastartsfest.com.

January 30, 9am-5pm Kumquat Festival Attend this Dade City tradition, a full day of outdoor community fun in the heart of downtown near the historic Courthouse. Event includes live music, a farmer’s market, wagon rides, craft shows and plenty of local food and shopping. Free admission. www.kumquatfestival. org.

January 28-31 Little Everglades International Combined Driving Event Bring the family for a unique weekend of competition for teams of horses and their drivers. $10 per day (children 12 and under, free). www.littleevergladessteeplechase.org.

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around town

TO SEE MORE PHOTOS VISIT FACEBOOK.COM/TAMPABAYPARENTINGMAGAZINE

World Premiere of Wonderland at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center

Frank Wildhorn who wrote the music, Angela Ardolino, and Gregory Boyd one of the authors of the book and director of Wonderland, produced here in Tampa Bay.

Todd Varde, Angela Ardolino, Kelly Feldman and Randy Feldman on Opening Night of Wonderland.

Selah, 6 and Keira, 6 dress up in costumes at the Broadway Family Night for Wonderland.

Angela Ardolino and Judith Lisi, CEO of TBPAC and Executive Producer of Wonderland.

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Jane Farkas pictured with her three children Zoe, 10, Kendall, 8 and McKenzie, 8 whom enjoyed the Face Painting and all the fun pre-show activities for Wonderland.

Glazer Children’s Museum Awareness Event. Jackie Toledo, Al Najar and Jodi Jacalow who hosted the event at her beautiful South Tampa home.

Westfield Wednesday’s Kids Club Event at the Brandon Westfield Mall. Santa and Mrs. Claus entertain children with Mr. Bones the magician.

The Glazer Family Foundation Vision Mobile will provide the next step in vision services to not only detect, but correct students’ ability to see.

Darcie Glazer Kassewitz pictured with students from Tampa Blvd. Elementary.

Hyde Park Tree Lighting. David Suarez of Level2 Salon, Angela Ardolino, David Estevez, and Christina Sanders who sang songs from her new Christmas album.

Westfield Wednesday’s Kids Club Event at Citrus Park Mall. Kids enjoy fun free activities and parents win great prizes.

Jungle Boogie benefitting the Lowry Park Zoo at Saks 5th Avenue. Nicole Scanell, Kelly Feldman, Brooke Palmer, Brandi Kamenar and Lynn Austin.

St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital ‘s 21st Annual Georgette’s Holiday Fashion Show, St. Joseph’s Hospitals Foundation Board Member Geneva Damron, Senator Helen Gordon Davis, Renee’ Vaughn and Foundation Board Chair Elaine Shimberg.

Ian Beckles fundraiser benefitting Metropolitian Ministries at Raw Sushi. Left: Angela Ardolino, Dr. Harold Kirksey, Lindsay DeNooy, Brandi Kamenar. Right: Rachel Callman, Ian Beckels, Ana Maria Mendez and Katrina Kurtz of Metropolitian Ministries.

january calendar

WHILE GREAT CARE WAS TAKEN IN COMPILING THE CALENDAR, IT’S ALWAYS BEST TO PHONE AHEAD TO CONFIRM INFORMATION.

FOR MORE EVENTS VISIT TBPARENTING.COM

EVENTS/FESTIVALS Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Atlanta Falcons January 3, 1pm Bags of pet food will be accepted at all stadium entrance gates for donations to Humane Society of Tampa Bay food supply drive.

Raymond James Stadium. Everyone Free Wiregrass Wednesdays January 6, 13, 20, 27, 10am Live children’s entertainment, from music and storytelling to face painting, balloons and arts and crafts. The Shops at Wiregrass at Bruce B. Downs and S.R. 56, Wesley Chapel. 813-9944010, theshopsatwiregrass.com. Everyone Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend January 7-10 Participate in a full weekend of competitive races and fun runs, and attend Disney’s Health & Fitness Expo in the magical setting of Walt Disney World in Orlando. waltdisneyworld.com.

4-12, 12 & Up, Everyone ®

$5 Day at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo January 10, 9:30am-5pm Pack up the family for an affordable day at the Tampa zoo located at 1101 W. Sligh Avenue.

Visit your favorite animals and learn about endangered wildlife, with a portion of the $5 admission dedicated to the Zoo’s conservation worldwide initiatives. Everyone Wizard of Oz at Great Explorations Through January 13 Take the yellow brick road to a new 1,500 squarefoot interactive exhibition about the L. Frank Baum literary classic at Great Explorations Children’s Museum, 1925 4th Street N. in St. Petersburg. $9 adults; kids under 2, free. www. greatex.org. Everyone Let’s Dance at Busch Gardens January 13 - April 18 Watch a dozen dancers from around the world heat up the theme park’s Desert Grill for this fastpaced stage show at Busch Gardens in Tampa.

Catch international dance troupe Burn the Floor offer a new twist on the Foxtrot, Tango, Rumba, Swing and Mambo. Show runs through April 18 and is included with price of admission.

See BuschGardens.com for showtimes. Everyone

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WEDU Be More Awards™ January 14, 11am-1:30pm Attend this fifth annual celebration of west central Florida nonprofit organizations being held at A La Carte Event Pavilion in Tampa. $50. For more info or to buy tickets, call 813-254-9338, ext. 2240. www.wedu.org. Moms & Dads

kickoff party hosted aboard the American Victory located directly behind the Florida Aquarium in downtown Tampa. Ticket includes food, two drink tickets, live entertainment, a silent auction, ship tours, games and more. $25. www.americanvictory.org. Date Night

Complexions Contemporary Ballet January 14, 8pm Watch cutting-edge choreography and a range of human emotion as this unique ballet company seen on So You Think You Can Dance takes to the stage at Ferguson Hall in the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa. $29.50. www.strazcenter.org. 4-12, 12 & Up, Everyone

Tampa History Center Anniversary Gala January 22, 6:30-10pm Join in the black-tie celebration of the center’s one-year anniversary at its beautiful waterfront location in downtown Tampa. Enjoy live music, heavy hors d’ oeuvres and an open bar while checking out current exhibits. $250.

For tickets and info, 813-228-0097, www. tampabayhistorycenter.org. Date Night

Q105/WQYK Wing Fest January 16, 11am-7pm Sample chicken wings from over 15 local restaurants across the Tampa Bay area at this first annual event being held at Vinoy Park in downtown St. Petersburg. Listen to rock and roll bands, enjoy family fun in the Kid’s Zone and watch the brave enter a wing-eating contest. Free admission. www.wingandrockfest.com. 4-12, 12 & Up, Everyone

Children’s Gasparilla Extravaganza January 23, 11am-7:30pm Enjoy a full day of family-friendly activities including the Gasparilla Air Invasion, popular Children’s Gasparilla Parade and “Piratechnic” fireworks extravaganza in the evening along Bayshore Blvd. near Howard Ave. in Tampa. See website for schedule. FREE (reserved seating starts at $14.95). www.gasparillaextravaganza.com. Everyone

World Famous Lipizzaner Stallions January 17, 2pm & 6pm See dancing white stallions gallop with grace and majesty at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa.

This 425-year-old tradition showcases a unique equine ballet that’s fascinating viewing for the whole family. $22.50-$29.50. 813-301-2500. Everyone

Monster Jam January 23, 7:30pm Get ready for big trucks, big wheels and big fun in the pit at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium. $15$30. www.monsterjam.com. Dads, 10 & Up

Hillsborough Schools Magnet Expo & Gala January 22, 4:30 & 6pm Learn about the county’s magnet school program and talk with school personnel and current program students at the expo being held 4:305:45pm at Blake High School, 1701 N. Blvd. in Tampa. Following the expo, a gala celebrating the art work of local magnet students will be highlighted, including dance, visual arts and music.

Free. 813-272-4048. 12 & Up, Moms, Dads Battlefest 2010 at the AmVic January 22, 6:30pm Start off the pirate season with this official TBParenting.com

Bayfront on Vine Grape Gatsby January 23, 7-10pm Attend this tasty event celebrating the Golden Age of speakeasies, jazz music and flappers at this Bayfront Health Foundation fundraiser being held at the Bayfront Medical Plaza Building, 603 Seventh Street S. in St. Pete. Bid on silent auction items, enjoy premium food, wine and beer and come prepared to Charleston. $150, VIP; $100, general. www.bayfrontonvine.org. Date Night Alcalde Ybor Naval Invasion January 24, Noon Check out this Tampa tradition as American Victory welcomes the invasion complete with bread slinging and water cannons aboard the ship docked in Channelside District. Visitors should plan on getting wet. $10, adults; $5, youths 4-12.

For tickets, buy when boarding, call 866-468-7630 or log on to www.ticketweb.com. 4-12, 12 & Up, Everyone

ART Mathmatical Quilts at MOSI January 1-29 See the unique artwork of Elaine Krajenke Ellison as she combines mathematics and quilting to demonstrate a love for mathematical concepts and honors world-famous scientists and artists at MOSI’s 2nd Floor Connecting Hallway, 4801 E. Fowler Avenue in Tampa. Exhibit included with general admission. www.mosi.org. Everyone YBOR ARTWalk January 2, Noon-6pm Stroll through more than 18 art galleries and cultural venues in the heart of Ybor City. Free parking on the streets through 9pm and a new ARTWalk Guide details artists and can be picked up at the Ybor Art Colony and participating venues in the district. Free. 813-495-4649. 12 & Up Saturdays @ the Morean January 9, 1-4pm The whole family can join fiber artist Vicki Bennett as she demonstrates how to create a house out of wool. $10 per Family (up to five) $2 per each additional participant. www.moreanartscenter.org.

Ages 4-12

FILM The Young Victoria January 1-7 Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada) stars as 18-year-old Princess Victoria in this biopic currently showing at Tampa Theatre in downtown Tampa. The film follows the young royal as she ascends the English throne and its impact on a blossoming love affair with Prince Albert. See website for tickets and showtimes. Rated PG; running time, 104 minutes. www.tampatheatre.org.

Moms, Date Night Dali & Beyond Film Series: Walt Disney’s Alice in Wonderland January 7, 6pm Join Alice in the imaginative and surreal world of Wonderland in this Disney classic showing at the Dali Museum, 1000 Third Street S. in downtown St. Petersburg. Free with admission; $5 after 5pm every Thursday. Rated G; running time, 75 minutes. www.salvadordalimuseum.org. Everyone Free Movies on the Riverwalk: Godspell January 8, 8pm Enjoy the 1973 film adaptation of Stephen Schwarz’s successful passion play along the Riverwalk outside the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Tampa. Get a preview before a live production comes to Jaeb Theater early next month. Free. Rated PG. Everyone TBParenting.com

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The Metropolitan Opera: Carmen January 16, 1pm See a live performance of the acclaimed Bizet opera through a unique cinematic experience showing one-day only as part of the Metropolitan Opera’s Live HD movie theater transmission series at Cobb Theaters’ Cinebistro at Grove 16 in Wesley Chapel. $22. Running time, 3 hours, 30 minutes; one intermission. www.cobbcinebistro.com. Date Night

THEATER My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish, and I’m in Therapy January 5-9 Come prepared to laugh as Steve Solomon introduces audiences to dozens of eccentric friends and family members in a funny show filled with childhood memories, topical observations and musical interludes at Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 N. McMullen Booth Road in Clearwater. $38. www. rutheckerdhall.com. Date Night An Evening with Lucille Ball: Thank You for Asking January 5-17 See this funny, touching one-woman show celebrating a lifetime of personal memories by the beloved comedienne and directed by daughter Lucie Arnaz, appearing this month at Jaeb Theater at the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa. Tickets start at $36.50. www. strazcenter.org. 4-12, 12 & Up, Everyone Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific January 12-17 Get swept away by Rodgers & Hammerstein’s classic tale of love in the tropics during World War II as it comes to David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Tampa. Tickets start at $38.50. www.strazcenter.org. Everyone The Drunken City January 14-February 17, 7pm Described by one critic as “the best episodes of ‘Sex and the City,’” this hilarious tale introduces audiences to three brides-to-be who find their lives going topsy-turvy as they begin to question love, marriage and the future, presented by Gorilla Theatre, 4419 N. Hubert Ave. in Tampa. $15-$20. www.gorillatheatre.com. Moms, Date Night Mark Twain Tonight January 16, 8pm Hear observations from one of the most beloved American writers of all time as famed actor Hal Holbrook revives his acclaimed role as the humorist and writer at Progress Energy Center for the Arts: Mahaffey Theater in downtown St. Petersburg. $34-$54. www.mahaffeytheater.com. Everyone

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Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing January 24, 2pm & 4pm Bring the kids and their friends for a field trip to catch the Judy Blume classic brought to life onstage through production to capture all of the humor of sibling rivalry and elementary school angst as it runs for two performances at the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa.

Tickets start at $8.50. www.strazcenter.org. Ages 4-12 Are You My Mother?

January 31, 1pm David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa. Tickets start at $8.50. www.strazcenter. org. Ages 3-5

MUSIC Tony Bennett January 6, 8pm Take in the smooth sounds of the legendary crooner as sings such classics as I Wanna Be Around, The Good Life and I Left My Heart (in San Francisco) when he performs at Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 N. McMullen Booth Road in Clearwater. $68-$128. www.rutheckerdhall.com. Everyone Music of Led Zeppelin January 16, 8pm Catch the Florida Orchestra’s latest rock tribute concert following last season’s successful Pink Floyd performance as the symphony salutes Led Zeppelin’s fusion of rock, folk and blues when it performs at Ruth Eckerd Hall. Hear TFO’s take on such rock classics as “Whole Lotta Love,” “Kashmir” and more. $57-$97. www. rutheckerdhall.com. Everyone Rock for Autism 2010 January 23, 8pm Get ready to rock for a good cause at this benefit concert for autism at Skipper’s Smokehouse in Tampa. Proceeds raised will go toward The Children’s Hyperbaric Center of Tampa Bay, a resource for hyperbaric oxygen therapy which has been said to relieve the symptoms of autism.

Marty Balin of Jefferson Airplane/Starship takes the stage with other musicians. $15-$20. www. skippersmokehouse.com Date Night

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