Summer Camps in Golfing to Make a Change:Polywogs and First Tee St

Gabber July 5 - July 11, 2012 41

Golfing to Make a Change: Polywogs and First TeeBy Cathy Salustri

If you’re a kid with two working parents living in a not-so-hot neighborhood, what do you do to stay out of trouble? You golf. It sounds counter-intuitive – after all, golf isn’t a cheap pasttime, and in the current economic climate, not a lot of families have a bunch of extra cash. Those balls, clubs and greens fees can add up pretty quick, but First Tee, courtesy of a group called the Polywogs, has a mission: to teach all children the game of golf. That’s not all the Polywogs do – this group of professionals also donates money to All Children’s Hospital, R Club, and the Children’s Dream Fund – but golf remains at the core of the group. “Poly is the Greek word for ‘many’,” one of the group’s founders, Del Goforth, explains. “WOG stands for Women’s Open Golf.” Years ago, the group took over an LPG tournament group and moved it to South Pasadena. The tournament, as do most golf tournaments, benefitted a charity. The Polywogs chose children. At first, the Polywogs did all the work at the tournaments, from organizing the tournament to parking cars. As the tournament grew, they found it easier to get volunteers. Their focus remains on kids, and, as Goforth explains, golf helps kids grow. “Golf is an honorable sport,” he says from his South Pasadena real estate office. “If you play bad, you can’t blame it on the pitcher or the batter. It requires patience and following rules. All that translates into life lessons.” Since its inception, Polywogs has donated $1.6 million to First Tee, which operates out of the Twin Brooks golf course in St. Petersburg. “We depend a whole lot on our corporate sponsors,” Goforth says, praising one benefactor, Richard Sanchez. When one major corporate sponsor “bailed on us, he stepped up with his family foundation” and donated $15,000 a year. What do they do with that money? “We’re able to make golf affordable,” he says. Over at Twin Brooks, it’s easy to see the money in action. A group of kids step up to their golf balls and, listening somewhat patiently to instructor Gillian Barnes. They each take a swing; some do better than others. They try again, and then again. In time, they’ll learn the game. A few may go on to play professionally, but that’s not what First Tee is about. Instead, they want to “make the game of golf and its inherent life lessons accessible to all kids, regardless of their background,” Gillian Barnes, First Tee’s Community Relations Director. “Our primary goal is to develop their character and help each child in our program develop to their fullest potential,” she adds. First Tee accepts kids starting at age six. They offer afterschool and Saturday programs as well as weekly summer camps (half and full days). If a child receives a free or reduced lunch, they likely qualify for a scholarship. In addition, people experiencing financial hardships may also ask for assistance. For more information, call 551-3300 or visit TheFirstTeeStPetersburg.org,

Gillian Barnes helps Lyric Henry, 5, practice her swing.

Summer Camps in St. Pete BeachST. PETE BEACH- The St. Pete Beach Recreation Division is offering awesome summer camp programs, inviting residents and non-residents alike to fill their “Passport to Summer Fun” with us. The W.A.V.E. Camp is for those who have completed Kindergarten through 5th grades; the T.W.E.E.N.S. camp is for older kids who have completed 6th through 8th grades; and brand-new this summer is our Junior Counselor program for those finishing 9th or 10th grades. Junior Counselors assist with camp operations and can get valuable work experience and volunteer hours. All summer long campers will collect stamps on their keep-sake passport as they participate in activities such as games, crafts, swimming, weekly field trips, and signature special events such as All Camps Day, Beach Olympics, Kid’s Triathlon, Fishing Derby and much more. The full 8-week camp program runs from June 18th to August 10th. Pre- and Post-camps are also available the weeks before and after for an additional charge. All camp information and paperwork can be found online at www.spbrec.com. Registration begins April 2nd in the Recreation Office, 7701 Boca Ciega Drive. Several specialty camps and programs will also be available this summer and can be taken alone or in conjunction with our regular camp program. “Archery for Kidz” will be offered the weeks of June 11th and July 9th, contact Coach Dan McKaeg at 727-536-6207. Summer Painting Classes will be offered every Thursday, contact Caroline Duvoe at 727-647-8294. Swim Lessons for kids of all ages are offered all summer long at the Aquatic Center; registered campers in the W.A.V.E. or T.W.E.E.N.S. programs receive a discounted rate. Information on all specialty camps and lessons can be found online at www.spbrec.com or call for more information at 727- 363-9245.

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42 Gabber July 5 - July 11, 2012

Annual Pool Passes at Half PriceST. PETE BEACH- For the months of June and July, the St. Pete Beach Aquatic Center is selling all yearly pool passes for 50% off! St. Pete Beach residents and non-residents are both eligible to purchase child, adult, senior or family year pool passes at the discounted rate. A family of four could save over $250. Each pass provides year-round access to the pool with lap swimming, sun bathing, picnic areas, water slides, a children’s splash zone and much more! Each year membership purchased comes

with two free passes to a Dive-In Movie at the pool this summer. This sizzling summer promotion won’t last long so get yours before this deal is gone. Stop by the St. Pete Beach Aquatic Center, 7701 Boca Ciega Drive, any day in June or July to purchase your passes. Call the pool at 363-9264 for more details.

•••

Become a Guardian ad Litem Over 1000 children in Pinellas County do not have a volunteer Guardian ad Litem. As a Guardian

ad Litem, you advocate in court and in the child welfare system for abused, abandoned, or neglected children. The Guardian ad Litem visits the child every month, becomes familiar with the child’s case, and makes recommendations to the court to help ensure the child has a safe, caring, and stable home. No prior experience is necessary; you will be well trained and supported by an experienced supervisory and legal staff. Once trained, volunteers spend an average of ten hours a month. To attend an informational meeting, call Maria at 727-464-6528, or go to www.guardianadlitem6.org for more information.

•••

Cancer Patients Need Drivers to Assist There is an urgent need for volunteers to drive cancer patients to their cancer treatment appointments throughout all of Pinellas County.The amount of time that you drive and the geographic area you drive are based on your own personal preferences. Please call 1-800-227-2345.

•••


CTK needs Boys’ Shorts Clothes to Kids needs school clothing for elementary, middle and high school students. If your child has outgrown their clothes, please think about donating to Clothes To Kids. They are especially in need of boys clothing in all sizes. Uniforms and school shoes are also needed. Clothes To Kids (CTK) provides free clothing to Pinellas School children grades K through 12 that are on the free or reduced lunch program. Over 56,000 children in Pinellas County are on the lunch program. You can help by donating your quality used clothing to a Clothes To Kids store near you. New or gently used clothes and shoes can be dropped off between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday-Friday in St. Pete at 3251 3rd Ave. N., Suite 145. Cash donations are also needed for purchasing clothing in short supply and new underwear. Volunteers welcomed. For more information, please call 441-5050 or visit www.ClothesToKids.org.

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National Key Deer Refuge: Miniature FloridaBy Cathy Salustri

No matter how many times you see the poodle–sized deer, their size still delights. Nibbling at the weeds on the roadside or silently staring at you through mangroves, Key Deer alternately amaze and charm. They’re tiny evolutionary wonders.

WHAT: When the glaciers melted at the end of the last ice

age (about 10,000 years ago), some white-tailed deer were trapped on the

newly-created Big Pine and

No

Name keys. These deer learned to survive on red mangrove leaves and other local vegetation. In time the deer evolved into a subspecies of its own, much smaller than its northern cousins. The largest Key deer –an adult male –weighs no more than 75 pounds. Females weigh about 55 pounds. Fawns are about the size of a housecat.

WHO: With only 27 Key deer remaining, the United States Fish

and Wildlife Service created the National Key Deer Refuge in 1957. The Refuge protected Key deer from hunters and development.

WHY: Although still endangered, 750 Key deer live in the Keys.

Today, cars pose the biggest threat. The Refuge provides safe haven for the deer and a wilderness retreat for people.

WHEN: You have the best chance to see these diminutive creatures just after sunrise

and just before sunset.

WHERE: Key deer live on about 30 of the Florida keys, but Big Pine

offers the best viewing. If you’re passing through and won’t be around at dawn or dusk, head to the National Key Deer Refuge Visitor Center in Big Pine Key Shopping Plaza to get a trail map and more information.

BEST How many synonyms for adorable do you know?

WORST Many deer have

no fear of people. Petting a deer is tempting, but wildly illegal.

MAGIC Free.

Contact Cathy Salustri at [email protected]. Key deer shown not actual size.


More Risk Than Benefit to Replacing Hormones For many years, the use of hormone replacement therapy after menopause in women was felt to be invaluable in preventing disease and slowing the aging process -- allowing women to remain forever young. In those days, virtually every one received hormone replacement. In the field of geriatrics, it was not uncommon to initiate hormone replacement therapy in women beyond the age of 70, based on the common belief that heart disease would be prevented and memory loss slowed. Then came a landmark study from the Women’s Health Initiative comparing hormone replacement therapy to a placebo (sugar pills). Women who had undergone a hysterectomy received estrogen alone. Those with a uterus received estrogen plus progesterone. The trial was abruptly discontinued because of the high risk of breast cancer, strokes, heart disease and venous blood clots. Since this report, published more than a decade ago, there has been a decline in the incidence and deaths from breast cancer, ascribed to fewer women receiving hormone replacement. And today hormone replacement is virtually never prescribed initially in late life. Despite this information, many experts believe that hormone replacement therapy is valuable. They belong to a group of “anti-aging” experts who maintain that to be effective, hormone replacement must be individualized and tailored to the unique physiology of the individual woman. They are convinced that continued use of hormone replacement truly retards the aging process, promotes more vibrant skin, reduces wrinkles and assures a better sex life. However, the vast majority of the health care community does not share this point of view. Nevertheless, their position has been bolstered somewhat by the fact that hormone replacement is effective in

treating osteoporosis, while other commonly used medications to build bone and prevent fractures -- bisphosphonates -- are not without significant side effects. Some evidence suggests that most of the adverse effects of hormone replacement therapy are due to progesterone. For women who are able to take estrogen treatment alone, the risks of breast cancer and heart disease are much lower. While there is no question that hormone replacement therapy should be used for post-menopausal women who have symptoms such as hot flashes, mood disorders and headaches, their use to treat chronic conditions such as osteoporosis still remains questionable. To address this problem, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has just issued a recommendation, published in Annals of Internal Medicine, that hormone replacement therapy should not be used to treat any chronic condition, including osteoporosis. In this report, the task force notes that combined estrogen-progesterone therapy does reduce the risk of fractures in post-menopausal women and may lower the risk of diabetes. They also note that estrogen treatment alone reduces fracture risk, decreases the risk of the more dangerous invasive breast cancer and even reduces the risk of breast-cancer death.

Despite these benefits, the task force strongly recommends against the use of hormone replacement therapy. They note that women taking estrogen and progesterone therapy have a higher risk of invasive breast cancer and deaths from breast cancer. These women are more prone to have strokes, blood clots in the legs and lungs, gall bladder disease, memory loss, urinary incontinence and deaths from lung cancer. Migraines and heart attacks also are more prevalent. And estrogen therapy alone is not safe. Strokes, blood clots in the legs and lung, gall bladder disease and urinary incontinence are frequent side effects. Based on all these facts, most experts believe that hormone replacement therapy should be limited exclusively to women who have symptoms after menopause. The lowest dose of hormones needed to relieve symptoms should be prescribed and treatment should be continued for as short a period of time as possible. After menopause, women are more likely to develop chronic disease such as osteoporosis, diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. Every woman should be appropriately screened for these disorders. When needed, highly effective and relatively safe medications are available. Sadly, there is no “fountain of youth,” and aging is inevitable and normal. To date, neither hormone replacement therapy nor any other medication can make us either feel or be younger. •••

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By Robert J. Myers, Esq.

How to Make Sure that Decisions will be Made

in your Best Interest In making decisions about poten-tial sources of funding for health care, you should consider certain "protective services." These become important if you ever become unable to handle your own affairs, due to physical or mental incapacity. Un-less proper legal action is taken in advance, your family may be unable to act on your behalf should the need arise.Problems with Joint Ownership Joint ownership is often used to give legal authority to another per-son. For example, you might simply add your daughter's name to your account, thinking you've solved var-

ious estate and financial planning problems, such as avoiding probate or ensuring you will be taken care of. But joint ownership may not solve some problems, and could even cre-ate others. First, the joint owner may be able to withdraw 100% of the assets held in joint name. Sec-ond, both joint owners' signatures are usually required anyway to sell or liquidate assets. In addition, your assets may become subject to claims by your children's creditors.

Revocable Living Trusts One strategy you should consider is establishing a revocable living trust, which would hold title to your assets. Such a trust not only offers estate planning advantages, such as avoiding probate, but also ensures that a trustee would handle your fi-nancial affairs in the event of your incapacity. But your financial situation is not the only thing to consider in the event of incapacity. You may need someone else to step in and make personal decisions regarding your health care or the maintenance of

property you own. In addition, a trust may not be appropriate, de-pending on the amount of assets you own. Since joint ownership is obviously not the ideal solution and trust may not be for everyone, are there other ways to plan for the possibility of you incapacity? Generally, there are three other ways you can give legal authority to another person: Guardianship Conservatorship Durable power of attorney Of these three, the most effective is a durable power of attorney. In our next article, we will take a look at how these legal transfers of con-trol and decision-making work and which method would be best for your situation. Mr. Myers is the owner of Akerson Law Offices which is located at 1135 Pasadena Avenue South, Suite 140, St. Petersburg, Florida. The tele-phone number is 727-347-5131. Mr. Myers welcomes calls regarding this article and other related legal topics. This column outlines general legal principles and is not intended to give you legal advice. If you have a spe-cific question about the law, please consult an attorney.

•••


Invest in Gulfport Even with the impending monsoon, Gulfport’s Aquamania rocked. I say despite a – let’s call it “active” – stint in the dunk tank. Let’s face it, many of our festivals are deja vu – all over again. And again. No disrespect intended towards Geckofest, Art Walk, Get Rescued, and the myriad of other street parties Gulfport dishes up weekly, but sometimes they all start to look alike. Aquamania took a different road, celebrating our waterfront with Coney Island-style midway, weird and wacky water games, kayak races and a recycle regatta. It reminded us that we live on the water, and whether or not we think Boca Ciega Bay could use a little help with certain stormwater issues, we should always remember that to that guy from Idaho, even a bay beach is pretty sweet. So it rained. So what? I hope to see, with no rain, a repeat of the festival next year. Of course, next year the Chamber will probably have to pay $500 for city staff’s time during the event. Gulfport’s unique in that it historically donated city staff and trolley services for most events. Like other cities, Gulfport’s budget cup doesn’t exactly runneth over. This year’s budget seems slightly more

under control, and $500 per event certainly won’t stuff the city coffers to overflowing, but the city has to reign in the freebies. It’s a shame, too, but saving has to start somewhere. I support that. In fact, I think groups like the Chamber should pay more. Before Lori’s head explodes, allow me to explain. Gail Biron. If you don’t know Gail, she’s the machine behind the city’s marketing department. Of course, the city doesn’t officially have a marketing department. Gail markets the city – within her limited power and budget – above and beyond her other duties. If you receive an e-mail, watch a city video, or view the council remotely, thank Gail. If you wonder how 200 people found out about the Lion’s Club fish fry, well, thank Gail for that, too. She lives in Gulfport, she works in Gulfport, and she gives her heart and soul to Gulfport. I am in total awe of how much she does for the city, and how little the city pays her to do it. Marketing, as I am certain the Chamber, Merchant’s Association, and So49 will tell you, is expensive. That’s why the city needs to take the helm. It’s time for Gulfport to hire a public relations and marketing director. Gail needs a raise, a title, and an assistant. She already markets the city with almost no budget. Imagine – just think – what Gail could do if she could devote her 40-plus hours to marketing the city – with a budget to do so. If the city’s business groups could work together with an impartial third party (that would be the city), they could pool their resources, add it to city and grant funding, and save money when buying advertising. It’s not just about that, though: it’s about a marketing director doing all the things these business groups do now instead of running their businesses. It’s about sharing the workload and still having input and reaping the benefits of someone’s dedication to bringing people and dollars into this city. For the Chamber and groups like

them, a full-time marketing person who works in conjunction with them means they could focus on helping businesses grow. But how does this help the residents? Residents already love Gulfport. They know how great Gulfport is, so why the effort? Because the more people who come to town, the more people discover Gulfport, and that could mean more people moving here. Fewer vacant homes might help increase property values and, perhaps, lower taxes. It could mean more people opening businesses here, and hiring local people. It could be the final piece of the pie for an incredible city by the sea. Let’s just say that the city hires someone for $45,000. Factor in benefits and the cost to the city comes in at around $60,000. Divide that between the weekly market, the twice-monthly ArtWalks, Get Rescued, Geckofest, Blues Fest, SoStudio, Pet Pride, EarthFest, Fourth of July, SpringFest, Family Fun Day, SO Classic Car Show, Bark for Life, Relay for Life... the list, as you can see, goes on. And on. That doesn’t include the fish fries and yacht and sailing events the city already publicizes. Marketing budget? Each group shares that, based on what they’re spending now. It’s a no-brainer. I’m not talking about the city taking control; I’m talking about the city leading a cooperative of artists, businesses, and government. I’m also not talking about a million–dollar marketing budget, but why not give Gail the latitude to boost Gulfport? She’s helped every business who has ever asked the city for a plug. Not because she gets paid to help; because she loves Gulfport. Why does city management allow her to do that? I don’t know; I’m assuming because management loves Gulfport just as much as the rest of us. Right now, we’re a good city. It would take so very little to make us great. The time has come to market the city on the bay. It’s the next logical step. But it takes money. Consider it an investment in Gulfport.

••Contact Cathy Salustri at

[email protected].•••


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Summer Camps in Golfing to Make a Change:Polywogs and First Tee St

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