Whether by land or by sea, small group vacations offer exclusive benefits

By Land

Brendan Vacations introduces Boutique Escorted Tours in Ireland.  Traveling with no more than 24 guests, these upscale vacations offer a more intimate experience in the Emerald Isle. Enjoy exclusive sights and activities not available to larger groups, travel in comfort and style, and delight in the authentic flavors of the region.

Brendan Vacations’ Boutique Escorted Tours offer a number of advantages– the primary advantage being these smaller tours are able to stay in authentically Irish castles and manor houses that cannot accommodate large groups.  While travelling on the “Castles and Manors” tour, you will stay in locations such as Ballynahinch Castle, a boutique castle with acres of nature. Wake up in your luxurious room listening to the sounds of nature, then join your group for free fly-fishing lessons or ride a bicycle through the countryside, before enjoying your lunch in a beautiful tea room.
With these unique itineraries you not only see Ireland but you live it.  “Tastes and Tales of Ireland” focuses on the culinary tradition of this magical destination.  With some of the world’s best dairy and beef products, not to mention the amazing salmon, a feast is awaiting you in every city.

If you are looking for more of a family vacation, “Castles, Lighthouses and Pots of Gold,” provides plenty of space for the whole gang, while taking in some of the lighter sights of Ireland.  During this fun-filled trip you will visit Hook Peninsula, home to one of the world’s oldest working lighthouses and the “Leprechaun Crossing.”

Brendan still includes the major “must sees” in the cities and towns you’ll visit. Plus there is plenty of time at leisure for shopping, taking advantage of the amenities of your accommodations or relaxing in a pub or café. These tours are completely escorted, and an experienced Irish driver/guide will accompany you every step of the way. In addition to handling all of the travel details, your guide will enrich your vacation with a wealth of expert knowledge and a great sense of fun.

“Castles, Lighthouses and Pots of Gold” from $1,799 per person.  Based on October 1 departure.

By Sea

Traveling on one of Oceania Cruises’ luxurious mid-size ships has many distinct advantages. Offering all of the amenities and comforts one expects of larger ships with the unique charm and intimacy found in boutique hotels, you will be one of only several hundred guests instead of several thousand. Guests enjoy unlimited complimentary soft drinks and bottled water as well as the flexibility of open-seating in a wide variety of gourmet restaurants — all at no additional charge — so they can dine where, when and with whom they please. Oceania Cruises’ ships also feature the acclaimed Canyon Ranch SpaClub^®, offering not only massages and spa treatments, but also fitness training, wellness lectures and Canyon Ranch cuisine options in the onboard restaurants.

Oceania Cruises’ Marina debuted earlier this year to wide acclaim. Her sister, Riviera, will be unveiled in April 2012. A number of firsts are among her luxurious amenities, including the first suites at sea furnished exclusively by Ralph Lauren Home. The inimitable touches of world-renowned designers are evident throughout the ships, from the magnificent Lalique Grand Staircase to the Vista and Oceania Suites conceived by Dakota Jackson.

Oceania Cruises has been recognized industry-wide for fine cuisine, and Marina features an unprecedented ten dining venues, six of which are open-seating gourmet restaurants with no surcharges. Two are new concepts: Jacques, a Parisian-style bistro conceived by Master Chef Jacques Pépin, and Red Ginger, offering Asian fusion cuisine in a strikingly contemporary setting. Also new to Marina is La Reserve, an intimate venue for wine tasting and food pairings. For those desiring the ultimate in exclusivity, a private dinner for up to eight privileged guests can be hosted in Privée with a custom-designed menu.

While one could obviously enjoy a fabulous cruise without ever disembarking, all of Oceania Cruises itineraries visit intriguing ports of call and include many overnight stays and late evening departures to allow guests ample time ashore.

Gadabout Travel (Logo)

www.cruisetraveltours.com

(321) 253-3674

Since 1981, Gadabout Travel is the leading travel agency serving the communities in the Space and Treasure Coast. Professional and certified travel consultants offer “full service” expertise and support.

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Space Coast Cancer Center
With a dedicated team of hematologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, nurses and support staff, Space Coast Cancer Center (SCCC) offers state-of-the-art evidence-based medical care, providing patients the best opportunity to defeat cancer. The practice is nationally recognized as being the first and only oncology practice in the state of Florida to be nationally certified for quality by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

The Varian Linear Accelerator (Linac) Trilogy and TrueBeam machines are the most advanced radiation therapy machines in the country and are currently in use at SCCC’s Titusville and Viera locations. What makes the Trilogy and TrueBeam so effective is that they have the ability to deliver precise radiation using RapidArc technology. This allows a 10-minute treatment to be completed in two minutes, delivering higher doses to the tumor while sparing more healthy tissue.

The physicians and staff of SCCC offer more than just medical care. There are a multitude of patient and caregiver support services available through the Space Coast Cancer Foundation (SCCF) including support groups, seminars, Celebration of Life events and a Survivorship Summit on October 14 co-sponsored with Moffitt Cancer Center.

To help patients who need financial assistance, SCCC offers monetary support for patients needing medical transportation, pain medication, anti-nausea medication and help with living expenses. There is also a patient-assistance program for patients who are uninsured or under-insured. The foundation will work with pharmaceutical companies and cancer foundations, obtaining funds to treat patients.

Cancer Care Centers of Brevard
For more than 20 years, Cancer Care Centers of Brevard (CCCB) has dedicated itself to providing Brevard County patients innovative medical oncology and radiation oncology treatments and diagnostic imaging services that rival even the finest academic-based cancer centers in Florida.

CCCB is the first and only cancer treatment facility in Brevard County to provide patients access to the CyberKnife Radiosurgery and Radiotherapy system. CyberKnife® is used to treat tumors of the body and brain with sub-millimeter accuracy using state-of-the-art robotics and real-time tumor tracking. Consisting of a robotic arm system that continuously tracks, detects and corrects for tumor and patient movement throughout the treatment, CyberKnife® delivers hundreds of beams of focused radiation from up to 200 different angles. Its radiation oncology services also include Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT), three-dimensional brachytherapy and radionuclide treatments for both curative intent and palliation.

Founded in 1993 by Dr. Silas Charles, Cancer Care Centers Foundation (CCCF) was established to assist those who have been touched by cancer. As a non-profit organization that strives to provide comprehensive patient and family support services, community outreach and education, CCCF is widely recognized for its outstanding efforts in assisting patients and their loved ones to more effectively cope with cancer. The foundation seeks to ease the burden of cancer through financial assistance programs that helps patients with basic living expenses, and transportation. CCCF also assists by coordinating with various insurance groups such as Medicare.

TEPAS Breast Cancer
TEPAS Breast Center, a comprehensive breast screening and diagnostic center, offers compassionate care coupled with top-quality medical expertise and cutting-edge technology. The center offers the most up-to-date techniques and technology including digital mammography, which produces detailed images of the breast through low dose X-rays; as well as positron emission mammography (PEM), a high-resolution breast imaging technology that shows not only location, but also the metabolic phase of masses within the breast. An alternative to the operating room, TEPAS also performs biopsies in-house with Mammotome®, a newer, gentler breast biopsy. It uses ultrasound to accurately pinpoint suspicious tissue and gently removes it for further examination.

Women with early stage breast cancer may choose SAVI™ brachytherapy/partial breast irradiation which conveniently provides radiation to the lumpectomy site. There are no chest wall or spacing restraints. SAVI™ treats only the tumor bed so the patient is exposed to less radiation. This minimizes radiation exposure to healthy tissue, which reduces damage to critical structures such as the skin, heart, lungs and ribs.

TEPAS is committed to increasing breast cancer awareness in the community by supporting non-profit organizations and facilitating health fairs, which encourage women to perform monthly self-examinations, undergo routine annual mammograms and see their physician annually for a breast examination. The center also offers an on-site clinical psychologist and monthly support groups.

One of Brevard County’s only American Cancer Society (ACS) resource centers, TEPAS donates office space to the ACS to offer wigs, turbans, scarves, prosthetics and bras, as well as helpful information to those battling cancer. Patients also have the option to purchase retail items including custom breast forms and lingerie.

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How others and I managed our fight against cancer and why I now like the color purple

Face it with a smile

I never really felt sick until New Year’s Eve, and even then I thought I had the stomach flu. Two weeks later I was in the hospital being operated on for colon cancer. My surgeon estimated I’d had it for about a year, and I never knew anything was wrong.

Six weeks after surgery I started chemotherapy. While I had some bad days, at the beginning the good outweighed the bad. The further along in my treatment, the worse the side effects got, but I was getting very positive results and that made the bad days a lot easier to deal with

The best advice I can give to anyone going through this is that I believe attitude is everything. Of course good medical care comes into play, but if you don’t have a positive attitude about your outcome, your recovery isn’t going to go as well as it should. Laugh a lot and don’t sweat the small stuff.

Although it sounds strange, I feel very lucky in many ways. I’ve had the support and care of excellent doctors, friends and family. There’s nothing like a life threatening

illness to put things into perspective. You realize very quickly who and what are important, and focus on those things that bring you happiness and joy. Our Lhasa Apso Patches never fails to bring a smile to my face; believe it or not he’s been instrumental in my recovery. Long walks with him after my surgery helped me heal faster, and quiet days with him by my side have soothed my soul.

I’m full of advice these days, some of which I’d like to share.

-I understand persons need to share their stories, but if your story doesn’t have a happy ending, please try and refrain. I can listen all day to stories about people beating colon cancer and living to the ripe old age of 100, but if you’re story ends with someone not making it, please keep it to yourself.

-If you’ve been through chemotherapy and had a miserable time, please don’t tell me about it days before I’m going to start. The day before I started chemotherapy 8 year old Isabella French gave me her best advice for getting through chemo-drink lots of water-what an angel, and wiser than many adults.

-If you learn something while undergoing chemo that can help others-share your knowledge with your fellow chemo patients-every little bit of advice on how to make it through helps

-Nowadays I’m preaching the gospel of colonoscopies. As unpleasant as you may think one is-it’s way better than the alternative, trust me on this one. A colonoscopy is a day and half out of your life; colon cancer may take your life away. If you have a family history you probably shouldn’t wait until 50 for your first one- ask your doctor.

Oh, and why I like the color purple? Because it’s the color of survivorship. In the cancer color rainbow, each cancer has a color associated with it, The color for colon cancer is-you guessed it-brown (someone’s idea of a sick joke I think), so I’m sticking with purple these days-because surviving is my number one priority.

According to the American Cancer Society:

• Excluding skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States.
• In 2011,101,700 new cases of colon cancer and 39,510 new cases of rectal cancer are expected to be diagnosed in the United States
• The lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer is about 1 in 20 (5.1%). This risk is slightly lower in women than in men.
• Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States when men and women are considered separately, and the second leading cause when both sexes are combined.
• The death rate from colorectal cancer has been dropping in both men and women for more than 20 years. Among the likely reasons: polyps are being found by screening and removed before they can develop into cancers. Screening is also allowing more colorectal cancers to be found earlier when the disease is easier to cure. In addition, treatment for colorectal cancer has improved over the last several years. As a result, there are now more than 1 million survivors of colorectal cancer in the United States.
• More than 90% of all colorectal cancers are found in people who are 50 and older. African-American men and women are diagnosed with and die from colorectal cancer at higher rates than men and women of any other US racial or ethnic group.
• To help lower your chances of getting colorectal cancer:
• Get to and stay at a healthy weight.
• Be physically active.
• Eat a diet with a lot of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and less red or processed meat.
• Limit the amount of alcohol you drink.
• Don’t use tobacco in any form.

Harry Brandon

Prostate Cancer

Beating the Odds

“All I can tell you is go home and make peace with your maker, you have about three years to live.”

That’s what doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore told Harry Brandon after discovering his PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) reading was 94 (2 is normal).

The year was 1988 and Harry, then 55, was told the doctor didn’t want to operate because of the risk of spreading the cancer. Coming home to wife Wendy and their two young children (Beth, 8 and Steven, 6) following the devastating prognosis Harry “started thinking about all the things I wouldn’t get to see, my kids grow up, graduate from college, have children of their own. I really didn’t know what I was facing, I was very sad about all of the things I would never do with all of the people I loved.”

That same weekend the Brandon’s neighbor and Harry’s urologist Dr. Hank Nelson talked to the couple about a new experimental treatment that might be an option being studied by doctors at the University of Florida.

“Hank told us there was a 20 percent chance it might work,” says Wendy. “I said 20 percent-we’d go with that. We thought that sounded pretty good. Never for a moment did we think about the 80 percent chance it wouldn’t work-that 20 percent gave us hope where we’d had none before.”

When it became apparent the experimental protocol was to reducing the size of the tumor, surgeons were able to operate. Fortunately there was no presence of cancer in the Harry’s lymph nodes, and he underwent focused laser radiation treatments for several months following his surgery.

“I was very lucky,” says Harry, who credits Wendy with having a great deal to do with his successful outcome. “She did a wonderful job researching my treatment.”

“You have to do your homework,” says Wendy. You need to be prepared to ask the right questions. I’ve often thought about what would have happened if Hank weren’t our doctor. He cared so much about us and went out of his way to find the treatment that worked for Harry.”

Harry will celebrate his 79^th birthday this December and says “I know one of the reasons I’m here today if because of the tremendous amount of strength and support I received from my wife, my friends and my doctor. No matter what they tell you, what statistics they throw at you, you’re the one who makes the decision about what’s best for you.”

According to the American Cancer Society:

• More than 2 million men in the U.S .are prostate cancer survivors.
• Some prostate cancers can grow and spread quickly, but most of them grow slowly.
• Prostate cancer can often be found early by testing the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood. Another way to find prostate cancer is the digital rectal exam (DRE), If prostate cancer is found during screening with the PSA test or DRE, the cancer will likely be at an early, more treatable stage than if no screening were done.
• Since the use of early detection tests for prostate cancer became common around 1990, the prostate cancer death rate has dropped, however it remains the second leading cause of cancer death in American men (lung cancer is #1).
• Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men. The American Cancer Society estimates About 240,890 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in 2011.
• 1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. More than 2 million men in the U.S. who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer are still alive.

Isabella French

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Amazing Grace

This Halloween 8 year old Isabella French wants to have a party. Not just any party mind you-a celebration of huge proportions. Because that’s when Isabella will finally be done with two and a half years of chemotherapy to treat Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). The most common malignancy diagnosed in children, ALL represents nearly one third of all pediatric cancers, primarily affecting children between two and five years of age.

Isabella was 6 when she was diagnosed with ALL. For several months she had complained of soreness in her shin. Doctors in Jacksonville thought it was a slow to heal sprain. When the French family moved to West Melbourne from Jacksonville, local pediatricians originally believed Isabella had a bone infection. A biopsy turned out negative for infection and it was discovered Isabella’s condition was much more serious.

“All I can remember are the words malignancy and small round blue cells”, Isabella’s mother Natalie recalls. She and husband Danny took Isabella to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando and “we didn’t leave until Isabella’s treatment began.” Enrolled in a study of ALL, after 8 days of treatment “the doctors told us she was in remission.” As part of the study protocol Isabella underwent chemotherapy twice a week for six months and for two years has undergone monthly IV chemo treatments and daily oral chemotherapy.

Home schooled for the majority of her treatment due to increased risk of infection, Isabella went back to school at Meadowlane in March. “Her teacher Mrs. Majoy was amazing, she came to out house every night after school to make sure Isabella kept up.”

Isabella credits “all the support of my family and fiends has made this easier. And I was able to help other people going through this. When I first started chemo I lost my hair and I really hated that. So I wanted to do something for other kids who were losing their hair. My mom and I started ‘Isabella’s Happy Hats’.  I would get these huge boxes of donated hats and we took them to cancer centers and dropped them off. We collected more than 1,000 hats and scarves. I just wanted other kids to be happy about someone not having to see their bald heads.”

Natalie, Danny, Isabella, twin sister Elena and little sister Ava moved back to the area just before Isabella’s diagnosis. ‘We grew up here,” Says Natalie, “we have this amazing network of people, some of whom we’ve known all of our lives and some complete strangers who have reached out to us because of Isabella. It’s wonderful to be in such an loving community that’s been so caring and so generous.”

Having a child with Isabella’s spirit has made this easier for the whole family say’s Natalie. “She’s so brave, strong and smart beyond her years. We told her that everybody gets sick at some point in their lives, her time just came earlier. She’s never been afraid and understands everything that’s happened. We’ve managed, for the most part, to push all the bad stuff out of our brains and focus on positive things.”

According to Medscape MD:

• ALL is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood that progresses rapidly without treatment. That’s why it’s important to start treatment soon after diagnosis.
• ALL is the most common malignancy diagnosed in children, representing nearly one third of all pediatric cancers.
• The annual incidence of acute lymphoblastic leukemia is approximately 9-10 cases per 100,000 population in childhood.
• The peak incidence occurs in children aged 2-5 years.
• According to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society:
• ALL is the most common type of leukemia in children from infancy up to age 19.
• Overall survival statistics for people with ALL are 66.4 percent (all ages) and 90.8 percent for children under 5 years old, according to the National Cancer Institute.

According to the American Cancer Society

• With regard to acute leukemias, children who are free of disease after 5 years are very likely to have been cured, it is very rare for these cancers to return after such a period of time.

Julie Song

Ovarian Cancer

Accentuate the Positive

Julie Song was no stranger to cancer when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2003. Her sister was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1998. Three years later her mother was diagnosed with the most aggressive type of breast cancer and died seven months later. A year to the day following her mother’s death, Julie received the devastating news about her own health.

“I had started feeling poorly, experiencing cramps and just not feeling right, so I went in for some tests.”  The day the results came in my husband Si came with me, more because it was the anniversary of my mother’s death than because we were worried. But I knew as soon as they put me in the doctor’s office rather than an examining room that something was wrong.”

Even after the diagnosis the Songs were told the results could be am indication of endometriosis rather than cancer, but Julie knew, waking up in the recovery room following surgery at Florida hospital, that the news wasn’t good.  Despite grogginess from the anesthesia “I heard one of the nurses calling up to the 4^th floor, 43 year old female Caucasian-cancer positive and I knew they were talking about me. When I got up to the room my family thought everything was okay, because the doctor hadn’t come in to see them yet. But I knew the 4^th floor was the cancer ward, and I knew what I heard.” When her doctor confirmed it was stage three ovarian cancer Julie knew her fight was just beginning.

“I started chemo the week after surgery and continued for six months, 6-hour sessions every 21 days. When I started losing my hair my stepson Conner was all excited about shaving my head, and although in the end he couldn’t do it, I found out I was lucky enough to have a good shaped head. It turned out to be one of the best summer’s of my life-I never had a bad hair day. My sister Sandy says I went through the whole thing in denial, I look at it as that I chose to not act like a victim.”

Today Julie serves as a project manager for Florida MEP (Manufacturing Extension Partnership), working with local businesses to help them sustain improvements. Cancer free for 8 years, she undergoes blood tests every 6 months. Her sister’s breast cancer recently reappeared, prompting Julie to be even more diligent about her own health. “As soon as my sister and mother were diagnosed I began having mammograms every six months. There’s still so much emphasis on breast cancer, but ovarian cancer kills more women. Women need to take charge of their own health and be aware of changes in their body. The problem is there’s no easy way to detect ovarian cancer. Endometriosis can give a false positive, usually by the time you find out you have it it’s too late because it’s spread too much.”

In the long run you have to ask yourself “are you going to live to live or live to die. You have to stop looking at the glass as being half empty. This was hard, but I was okay. I continued to live my life, I never said ‘why me?’ and tried not to feel sorry for myself.”

According to the American Cancer Society:

• This year 15,460 women will die from ovarian cancer.
• It ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women, accounting for more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system.
• The rate at which women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer has been slowly falling over the past 20 years.
• Almost half (46%) of women with ovarian cancer are still alive at least 5 years after diagnosis.
• There has been a lot of research to develop a screening test for ovarian cancer, but there hasn’t been much success so far. There are 2 tests that are used most commonly to screen for ovarian cancer. These tests, transvaginal sonography and CA-125, are often offered to women who are at high risk of developing epithelial ovarian cancer, such as those with a very strong family history or with certain inherited genetic syndromes.

Dr. Richard Levine

Thyroid Cancer

Trading Places

At the age of 19 Dr. Richard Levine decided to become an oncologist. “I wanted to spend my time helping care for people who had a serious, potentially life threatening illness. Oncology focuses on all the things I enjoy about medicine: research, teaching and total patient care.”

Dr. Levine launched his Titusville practice in 1983, a practice that evolved into Space Coast Cancer Center by 2008. “We strive very hard to be as good as we can, as good as anyone in the country at doing what we do. Everything we do is about our patients. We’ve invested millions of dollars in the latest equipment to ensure our patients have the highest quality of service.”  Another quality vital to superior patient care is empathy.

11 years ago, Dr. Levine faced a situation that led to his becoming more understanding of his patient’s needs.

In 2000, a case of swollen lymph nodes led to a diagnosis of thyroid cancer. “I remember for 24 hours I was immobilized-in shock. Then I started researching my options”. Following a total thyroidecotomy, Dr. Levine opted to receive the maximum dose of radiation as part of his treatment.

“I have been there, waiting for the phone call from my doctor to be returned. Since being in their shoes I have more insight and empathy for my patients, Subconsciously and consciously it has changed my approach. In the past when it was at the end of a long day and I had twenty phone calls to return, before my diagnosis of cancer I would prefer to go home and catch up in the morning. Today I make every effort to call that evening. I have a much greater appreciation of my patient’s needs.”

Dr. Levine says having cancer “changed my whole philosophy to work harder and be more available and responsive to our patients and their families. As a patient I recognize how dependent you are on having ready access to quality care provided by a knowledgeable, skilled and ethical health care team.”

According to the American Cancer Society:

• Only about 1-in-20 thyroid nodules are cancerous and this is generally one of the least deadly cancers. The 5-year survival rate for all cases is about 97 percent.
• Nearly two of three cases of thyroid cancer are found in people between the ages of 20 and 55.
• The chance of being diagnosed with thyroid cancer is more than twice what it was in 1990. Some of this increase may be the result of the increased use of thyroid ultrasound, which detects small thyroid nodules that might not otherwise have been found. At least part of the increase is from finding more large tumors
• Survival rates from thyroid cancer have remained stable for the past several years.
• About 44,670 new cases of thyroid cancer will occur
• (33,930 in women, and 10,740 in men)*

*2010 predictions

Rita Moreno

Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Family Ties

25 years ago Rita Moreno found out she had cancer.

“I was holding my son Anthony and feeling constriction in my chest and I would hear a clicking sound when I took a breath.” This prompted Rita to visit her doctor, whose initial diagnosis was walking pneumonia. It wasn’t until four months later that she found exactly what was wrong when doctors at Sloan Kettering in New York City diagnosed her with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

“I’ll never forget Ruben (husband Dr. Ruben Moreno) telling me they’d found a tumor on my chest. It was like someone dropped this incredible load on me, I was dumbfounded. This was supposed to be wonderful time in my life, I was 32 years old, I had this beautiful new baby and this wonderful husband and then this happened.”

Chemotherapy and radiation for a year and half took care of the grapefruit sized tumor. “I was lucky, I was put in a study and was given drugs that worked,”

Rita believes divine intervention certainly played a role throughout her experience. “Before Anthony was born we contemplated buying a house and staying in Pittsburgh, but something pushed me to go home to New Jersey where my family was.”

Following her treatment Rita and Ruben decided to move to Florida. “I knew I had no guarantees the cancer wouldn’t come back, but we thought the quality of our lives would be better here. I decided if it did come back I wanted to be with Ruben and our son and live the best life I could.” Although it was difficult to leave her family she decided, “I had the baby and Ruben, the most amazing man I’ve ever met. He took such good care of us when I was sick. I rooted myself here and this became home.”

Following her treatment doctors told Rita the chance of her having more children was slim, but two years after moving to Florida son Adrian was born. “Anthony was my miracle because without him I don’t know that I would have discovered the cancer early enough, Adrian was my miracle because we weren’t sure we could have more children.”

A quarter of a century later, still cancer free, Rita served as honorary chairman of this year’s survivor luncheon at the Satellite Beach Relay For Life. When asked whether or not she would change her experience with cancer, her answer was an unequivocal no. “Having cancer helped make me who I am today. It molded me. It made me see things differently and I would never change that.”

According to the American Cancer Society

• Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is a type of cancer that starts in cells called lymphocytes (part of the body’s immune system). Because lymphoid tissue is found in many parts of the body, Hodgkin’s disease can start almost anywhere, but most often in the upper part of the body.  The most common sites are in the chest, in the neck, or under the arms.
• In 2011 about 8,830 new cases will occur
• (4,010 in females and 4,820 in males).
• Over the past five years those numbers haven’t changed much.
• Hodgkin disease is most common in early adulthood (ages 15 to 40, especially in a person’s 20s) and in late adulthood (after age 55).
• Hodgkin disease is rare in children younger than 5 years of age. About 10 to 15 percent of cases are diagnosed in children and teenagers.
• The 1-year relative survival rate for all patients diagnosed with Hodgkin disease is about 92 percent; 5 year rates are about 85 percent and 10 year survival rates are 81 percent

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The American Alligator is an unusual success story of a species that came back from the brink of extinction to a species that now is thriving in the Southeastern United States. Even more amazing, scientists claim this is the second time alligators have escaped extinction, the first over 65 million years ago when the dinosaurs met their fate. Today, over one million American Alligators inhabit Florida and with so many in our backyards, there are some myths that need to be deemed fact or fiction.

Myth 1: Alligators will eat humans.

FACT: Although rare, alligators are opportunists when it comes to eating, so even though their main meals consist of fish, turtles, snakes and small mammals, if something big is in their path and they are hunting they will take the chance to attack. Lesson to learn, do not feed alligators as they will become used to eating in areas where humans frequent, and if you see an alligator keep a safe distance, you are in their natural habitat and should respect their boundaries.

Myth 2: Alligators will grow to over 20 feet in length.

FICTION: The largest alligator ever claimed to be in existence was 19.8 feet, however this was never proven. Male gators grow to an average of 10 to 15 feet and females grow to an average of 9.8 feet.

Myth 3: Alligators will eat anything in their path.

FICTION: Alligators, especially healthy ones can go months between meals since they are cold blooded reptiles, requiring less food to maintain their body temperature.

Myth 4: Alligators cannot run from side to side.

FACT: Gators can only run in a straight line, so if one starts chasing you, start running in a zigzag pattern. Although gators can reach a speed of 30 MPH, they have little endurance and can only run a short distance.

Myth 5: Gators are only found in freshwater.

FICTION: Gators are mostly found in freshwater, however they can tolerate some brackish water, including waterways in Brevard County such as Turkey Creek, St. Johns River and Melbourne Harbor.

Myth 6: Alligators will not stay submerged underwater for long periods of time.

FICTION: Alligators can stay submerged for several hours, only if they are not actively swimming or hunting. They can do this by rerouting blood to reduce circulation and the need for oxygen.

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It’s that time again. Back-to-school shopping is just around the bend, and in today’s wired world, certain tech gadgets can greatly relieve the stress of being a student. Gear up for the start of the school year with these tech tools that can give your favorite student a leg up in the classroom, and show off their scholarly style.

1. Lexar 8GB USB Flash Drive
With eight gigabytes of storage, this pocket-sized flash drives allows students to effortlessly transfer and transport photos, documents and other important files.
Available at Target. $25

2. Soundfreaq Sound Platform
Sound Platform is the perfect size for typical college-sized spaces. With four ways to play— Bluetooth, iPod dock, Aux In and FM Radio— this compact speaker system is designed to fit in any room and fill it with exceptional acoustics.
Available at Target. $200

3. Logitech M305 Cordless Nano Mouse
Add a pop of color to student workspaces with this stylish blue mouse from Logitech. Suitable for right-handed or left-handed users, this mouse offers an ergonomic design, scrolling wheel and optical performance sensor.
Available at Target. $24.89

4. Acer Aspire One 11.6” Netbook
Weighing less than three pounds, this small but powerful netbook includes a 250GB storage capacity and up to seven hours battery life — great for busy students on the go.
Available at Target. $330

5. Beats by Dr. Dre Headphones
Students can to stroll through campus in style with these comfortable over-ear headphones that include a 3.5mm plug, adjustable volume control, active noise canceling, foldable design and enhanced bass.
Available at Target. $180

6. Sony Digital Voice Recorder
With the help of this digital voice recorder that allows up to 536 hours of recording time, frantically jotting down lecture notes is a thing of the past.
Available at Best Buy. $63

7. Barnes & Noble NOOK Color E-reader
Got some time to kill between classes? Barnes & Noble’s NOOK color offers a high-resolution backlit color touchscreen, games and apps, built-in Wi-Fi to check e-mail and browse online, and, of course, the ability to download and read books, magazines and newspapers in full color.
Available at Best Buy. $250

8. Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse
Fun and functional, this wireless mouse offers BlueTrack technology that allows it to be used on almost any surface area. Available in an array of colors and designs, this digital accessory can suite any student’s style.
Available at Best Buy. $18

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Is it true you’ve been with Rockledge since it opening

I started teaching in 1968 when it was Cocoa High. I met my wife while she was a student there and she was the last class to graduate from the “old” Cocoa High in 1970. I married her after she graduated from BCC.

What is your biggest challenge?

There are many challenges to teaching, but for me the biggest challenge is for students to see how what they are doing in class has have real meaning in their life. I will always change my plans if a student asks a genuine question and I can use that question to teach some important concept.

What do you love about your job?

I love the interaction with the students. I enjoy talking with them, trying to teach them about science and about being successful.

What would most students  be surprised to know about you?

I was at Woodstock in 1969. My surf shop friend and I silk screened and sold Woodstock t-shirts. We made half of my first year’s teaching salary in 2 days of selling t-shirts at the festival.

What advice do you most often give to students?

Don’t be afraid – to try out for a sport or a play or to take a hard class or to try a hard problem or to challenge yourself.

What do you remember most about your educational experience as a student?

All I ever saw was the little bits of knowledge, not the big picture of how it all ties together. Now I see students so busy studying each test, that they don’t see how it is all connected.

How did you get started in the education industry?

After graduation, I and 2 college friends opened a surf shop in New Jersey. I was getting drafted to go to Viet Nam and got this teaching position and a deferment for teaching science in a critical area.

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Golfview Elementary Magnet School, Rockledge
Seeing the value a garden could be to the school, Principal Jacqueline Feagin and others began working to find funding for the program about two years ago. Since then the gardens and enrichment of the students has grown beyond the classroom. Students learn about seeding, planting and harvesting vegetables that are then taken to the local sharing center and food kitchens for needy families.

Last year pre-kindergarten students picked collards to take to the Sharing Center. This interaction allowed for an improvement of interpersonal social skills and assisted in teaching students kindness and compassion.

“They are the next stewards of the earth. The garden is a natural progression of Character Counts,” says Jamie Hooper. Character Counts is a national character education program that is designed to instill in children the basic values called the Six Pillars of Character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship.

All the teachers involved in the garden hope the wonder of fresh food will encourage kids to try vegetables and fruit. Principal Feagin hopes to one day incorporate foods in lunches. “The obstacle is having the time, but it is certainly a learning experience for children,” she says.

The gardens at Golfview have been more than a school project, the community has contributed to the gardens too. At the beginning of this year the Viera Women’s Club donated time and money for an additional garden. Fourth grade students weeded, plotted and measured rows working with the Women’s Club. Children added flowers and herbs around the perimeter.

Endeavour Elementary Magnet School, Cocoa
Endeavour’s gardens began over 6 years ago and have since evolved to include more than 5 different gardens- including a butterfly, hydroponics strawberry and a new edible forest garden.

For the past four years third grade students have mentored the kindergarten students in the different parts of the process, beginning with planting seeds. The kindergarteners rotate between classrooms and in each classroom the third grade students teach the kindergarten students a concept tied to the garden or plants. Kindergarteners are then in charge of watering and maintaining seed pots and replanting them into the raised bed gardens when plants are big enough. Every March kindergarten students invite pre-kindergarten to a “Welcome to the Garden” day, where they become the mentors and PreK are the learners teaching the younger students what the third grade taught kindergarteners.

Third grade teacher Katherine Nelson explains, “Research tells us that if a child teaches a concept to someone else, they will retain the most information- certainly a goal we have for our students. Besides, it is fun to take the students outside the classroom walls for learning. Nothing like getting some dirt under our nails- using all our senses!”

In addition to learning through doing, the ultimate goal is to teach students about being responsible to the earth and each other.

“We want to empower them to make a difference in the world, in our school, in their community and in their lives. Endeavour is Florida’s only (at this time) ELEMENTARY Service Learning Leader school. Our big garden project provides mentoring opportunities to intermediate students as well as provide an outdoor classroom for the school, opportunities to interact with nature and beautify our campus.”

Discovery Elementary School, Palm Bay
The students of Discovery Elementary School have designed and planted the school’s gardens over ten years including flower gardens, an herb garden, and many trees and shrubs. The environmental science club purchased a fountain, benches, and statuary to add interest to the gardens.

Students use rain barrels to aid with irrigation in dry areas- using the barrels to capture the run-off from roof air conditioning units.

Each year they participate in a spring plant-a-thon, partially funded through their own efforts, and partially by generous neighborhood businesses. They host guest speakers and use recycled and reusable materials to present puppet plays.

“We hope that the children will develop a lifelong love for gardening and a strong sense of responsible citizenship,” says Sheila Levine.

Discovery Elementary has also been awarded a grant for a “healthy foods” vegetable garden that also ties in to the curriculum. Space Coast Credit Union funded the grant in conjunction with the Brevard Schools Foundation.

The schools focus is not just on the gardens, but also on learning through doing. The structured time outside of the classroom gets students excited about learning and teaches skills that children take with them forever. It provides an opportunity to bring science, math, social studies, and language and visual arts to life through hands-on learning.

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Features:

• Practice Makes Perfect – Florida Tech Athletes Are On The “Prowl”
• Stop and Smell the Roses – Local Schools Are Growing Future Gardeners
• Making the Grade – Superintendent Brian Binggalei’s Progress Report

Departments:

• Upfront – National Kidney Foundation’s Surf Festival
• Around Town – Local Happenings
• Parenting – College Prep
• Fashion – Uniform Standouts
• Neighbors – Rockledge High School’s Skip Arrich
• Splurge – Tech Tools
• Featured Home – Artfully Appointed
• Arts & Entertainment – Young Composer Megan Hazlett
• Health & Fitness – Avoiding the Freshman 15
• Nature – Dispelling Myths of the Gator
• Reservations – Fresh with Flair at Merritt’s Table
• Food & Wine – Chimichurri Flank Steak
• Taste Test – Wake Up Call
• And In Closing – Guess Who

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Bruce Cadle, and wife Valerie.

This is the recipe I fixed in my video that was a finalist in the 2010 Food Network/Youtube competition. It is a light, refreshing entrée that goes perfectly with Gorgonzola Bruschetta.

• 8 ounce salmon filet
• ½ cup diced cucumber (peel and remove seeds)
• ½ cup diced red pepper
• ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 sliced scallion
• 1 jalapeno pepper (wear gloves when removing the seeds and veins)
• ¼ cup fresh-squeezed lime juice
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 14 grape tomatoes (cut 12 of them in half; reserve two for the garnish)
• 2 cooked & peeled shrimp (for garnish)
• smoked paprika
• kosher salt
• fresh cracked pepper

Prepare the salmon by seasoning both sides of the filet with smoked paprika, salt and pepper. Put your favorite wood chips directly into the flames of your grill. Do not soak them in water or wrap them in foil because you want them to smoke instantly to infuse the salmon with rich, smoky flavor. Grill the salmon for 2 or 3 minutes per side.

You can cook the salmon the night before because it’s going to be served cold. Chop the salmon into ½ inch pieces.

In a mixing bowl add salmon, cucumber, red pepper, cilantro, the jalapeno and 12 of the grape tomatoes. In a separate bowl, mix lime juice, olive oil and honey, then pour into the first bowl.

Gently mix all ingredients and add salt and pepper to taste. Spoon into two martini glasses. Garnish with a whole grape tomato wrapped with a shrimp on a cocktail skewer.

Gorgonzola Bruschetta

This is our absolute favorite bruschetta. The Gorgonzola is super flavorful; the red pepper garnish is beautiful and nicely balances the cheese. This makes an awesome appetizer course.

• ¼ day old baguette
• Roasted red pepper (Jarred is fine), cut into thin strips
• 2 ounces Gorgonzola (you can substitute blue cheese or your favorite strong, soft cheese)
• Olive oil

Slice the baguette diagonally to create a larger surface area than you would get from a crosscut. Bake for 5 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove from oven and spread the Gorgonzola as evenly as possible over one side of each slice. Top each slice of baguette with two slices of red pepper. Bake for an additional five minutes or until the cheese melts and starts bubbling.

Remove from oven and drizzle lightly with olive oil.

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• Upfront – Cover Girl
• Around Town – Local Happenings
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• Gardening – Plants That Can Survive the Dry Summer
• Leisure – Find Garden Supplies and Unique Gifts at Elbow Creek
• Arts & Entertainment – Artist Ellen Chaput
• Health & Fitness – Stand Up Paddle Boarding
• Destinations – Port Canaveral’s Newest Additions
• Pay It Forward – Brevard ASAP
• Reservations – KIBO Japanese Restaurant
• Food & Wine – Smoked Salmon Martini with Gorgonzola Bruschetta
• Taste Test – Would You Like Fries With That?

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Ride the wave of surf style with fashions that go beyond the beach. Ron Jon Surf Shop’s relaxed vibe appeals to wannabes and true boarders alike.

Ami Berg, Ron Jon Surf School Instructor wearing Ron Jon “Smock it to Ya” triangle top, $19.99 and Ron Jon sunset heart beach shorts, $15 with Ron Jon 6’ 8” Slug Fish Surfboard, $299

Ron Jon Team Surfer Emily Ruppert is wearing Fox Smash triangle top, $32 and Fox “Rimble” tie side bottom, $36 with Ron Jon 5’10” Fish Fast Badge Surfboard, $299

Ron Jon Surfer Savannah Bradley is wearing Roxy 70s lowrider tie side bottoms, $38 and Roxy Daisy bra top, $36

Jamie Caceres Promotions Coordinator, Ron Jon Surf Shop

Ami is wearing Ron Jon Rugby stripe halter, $19.99 and Ron Jon Rugby stripe hipster, $19.99

Ami is wearing Ron Jon’s Santa Monica purple tank, $18 and Ron Jon Cocoa Beach volleyball board shorts, $24

Jamie is in Ron Jon Ocean Drive romper, $24.99

Emily is in Fox shelter dress, $39.50

Savannah in Roxy new twist dress, $39.50

Jamie Caceres, Promotions Coordinator for Ron Jon Surf Shop in Ron Jon Color Me In triangle top, $19.99 and Ron Jon Color Me In hipster, $19.99 with Ron Jon 5’10” Quad Fish Fast Badge Surfboard, $299

Emily in Fox Sun Splashed halter top, $36 and Fox Sun Splashed adjustable tie bottom, $32 with Ron Jon 6’ 8” Slug Fish, $299; 7’ Veneer Fun Ron Jon Fast Logo, $379; 5’10” Fish Fast Badge, $299; 5’10” Quad Fish Fast Badge, $299

Ami in Ron Jon Cocoa Beach Aqua Volleyball shirt, $24 and Ron Jon Burnout gray shorts, $20

Savannah in Roxy Bow Line Tank, $29.50 and Roxy Sun Day Shorts, $34.50

Jamie- Red Ron Jon Shaka Hibiscus Tee, $22 and Ron Jon sunset heart beach Shorts, $15

Emily in Fox Su Much Finer Cami, $29.50 and Dylan Denim Shorts, $42

Savannah Bradley in Roxy Moonshadow Triangle Top, $34 and Roxy Do It Right Rash Guard, $28 and Roxy Shoreline board shorts, $39.50 with 7’ Veneer Fun Ron Jon Fast Logo, $379

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Recent Advances in the Treatment of Leukemia and Lymphoma by Richard M. Levine, MD

Richard Levine, MD, a Medical Oncologist with Space Coast Cancer Center, will be the speaker for a free lecture, “Recent Advances in the Treatment of Leukemia and Lymphoma”.  The presentation will be on Thursday, June 23 from 10:30 am to noon at One Senior Place, 8085 Spyglass Hill Road, Viera, FL 32940.  A complimentary lunch will be provided following the event. The event is open to the public.  Attendees must RSVP by calling Shannon Simmons, 855.894.HOPE(4673), x3500.

Dr. Levine is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate from Indiana University and graduated with a combined degree from Indiana University School of Medicine (MS Pharmacology, MD).  He completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, and completed his medical oncology training at the National Cancer Institute (NIH), where he was Chief Fellow.  Dr. Levine is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology.  Dr. Levine is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Brevard County Medical Society, Florida Medical Association, and the Florida Society of Clinical Oncology (Past-President).  He is the Medical Director of the Cancer Program at Viera Hospital and Cape Canaveral Hospital, as well as being on the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) National Quality of Care Committee.

Serving the residents of Brevard County since 1983, Space Coast Cancer Center, an affiliate of Moffitt Cancer Center, is one of the premier Hematology/Oncology practices in the area with locations in Titusville, Merritt Island, Cocoa Beach and Viera. For more information, visit us at www.spacecoastcancer.com.

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We are proud to recognize the top three artists in this years Relay for Life Elementary Art Contest. Each artist will receive a prize and have their work displayed for the month of May in the “Kid’s Gallery” at Pizza Gallery & Grill at the Avenue Viera.

Opening night and award presentation will take place Wednesday April 27^th
from 5pm-6pm.

The following is a quote from Rick Morton from the Brevard Public Schools-

“In January, I approached Ms. Karen Monahan, Art Instructor at Quest Elementary, about once again allowing her students to design cover art for the Relay For Life of Viera/Suntree.  Ms. Monahan was excited to embrace this opportunity again and quickly involved her students in the process.  The students were given this years’ Relay theme – “Cirque du Relay” – and asked to use their creativity and imagination in designing our program cover.   Within a month, we had many submissions from which we had to select just one!  There were three artists whose depiction of the Relay For Life theme seemed to be best represented:

3.  Taylor Willoughby – whose picture including elephants brings about a circus feeling

2.  Anahita Golchin – her picture with the seals playing circus games is fun and cheery

1.  Maria Torres – our first place winner who depicted the track that our Relayers will be walking upon with various whimsical accompaniments around the track.

We are proud of the involvement from Quest Elementary – Administration and Staff –  and want to once again thank art instructor Karen Monahan for her had work, dedication to enriching children’s lives through art, and for her support of Relay For Life.“

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For many travelers Europe is a dream destination, and for some a once in a lifetime trip.  Even in Europe, cruises are still a great value for your money. You won’t have to worry about the varying exchange rate, because cruises are priced in U.S. dollars. Plus most cruises offer an all-inclusive vacation including entertainment and meals.

For traditional cruise lovers, Carnival Magic offering 7, 9 and 12 day Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona, Spain

Carnival’s newest “Fun Ship,” the 3,690-passenger Carnival Magic is set to debut May 1, with a series of seven-, nine- and 12-day Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona – the line’s first departures from this port.  The second in the line’s popular Dream class, Carnival Magic will offer a host of exciting amenities, including a spectacular water park, an exclusive adults-only retreat, a wrap-around promenade with whirlpools that extend out over the ship’s sides, expansive spa and children’s facilities, and a wide variety of accommodation choices.

Carnival Magic’s expansive SportSquare open-air recreation complex offers mini golf and other features within this active cruiser’s paradise include the first ropes course at sea, cruising’s first-ever outdoor fitness area, an 800-foot-long jogging path encircling the entire area, a lighted multi-purpose space for basketball, volleyball and soccer, a six-station Vita exercise course, ping pong and foosball tables, and a full bar with a large flat-screen TV.

-Seven day itineraries include stops in Monaco; Rome, Italy; Naples, Italy; Messina, Sicily

-Nine day itineraries include Monaco; Rome, Italy; Naples, Italy; Messina, Sicily; Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Marseilles, France

-Twelve day itineraries include Monaco; Rome, Italy; Naples, Italy; Messina, Sicily; Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Marseilles, France; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Savona, Italy; Venice, Italy

For something unique, cruise Compagnie du Ponant’s Yacht Cruises.

These small capacity ships travel to smaller ports and offer French-inspired cuisine in an intimate environment.

The newest mega yacht, the 264-guest L’Austral will debut in April and cruise through the western and eastern Mediterranean exploring the Dalmatian Coast, the Greek Islands and Turkey in-depth.  Through October, L’Austral will sail to unusual ports and out-of-the way islands in France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Greece and Turkey.

In the dining areas, gourmet cuisine is worthy of top fine dining restaurants: exquisite wines are available, and menus are created with expertise by skilled chefs with a French-inspired menu enhanced by specialties from the various ports of call. Public spaces include a theater; the main lounge with a dance floor and live music; the panoramic lounge; a library and an area for Internet access; three bars; and two restaurants plus a spa and fitness center.

All but eight of its 132 suites and staterooms will have verandas, and all will have flat-screen satellite TV, satellite direct-dial phone and WiFi. Cruise fares for seven-night trips begin at $3,430 per person, double.

Eight day itineraries include round-trip from Venice stopping at 11 ports and islands in Croatia and Montenegro.

Ready to book your European dream vacation?

Gadabout Travel

www.cruisetraveltours.com

(321) 253-3674

Why Book with a Travel Agent?

The expertise of the travel consultant can help a customer with choosing the right cruise itinerary, the best value (not always the cheapest), and help make decisions on the correct air itinerary that will best fit their needs.  For instance, knowing that the location of the customers cruise stateroom is important –they may not have thought about how it might affect the total experience is one area that we are well versed at since we are doing this day in and day out.

‘When should you use a travel agent?’  Basic Rule….anytime you are traveling outside of the country or have anything but a simple roundtrip you should consult a qualified air ticketing agency (there are travel agents that only sell cruises and tours). Not to mention the face to face contact with an experienced person where you can have a conversation about your wishes and what your options are.

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When Belinda and Scott DeMasso moved into their new home on S. Tropical Trail in Merritt Island four years ago, Belinda intended to meet with real estate clients in her spacious office overlooking the Indian River.  But slowly, the office, located just inside the garage door, became cluttered not only with real estate files, office supplies, kids’ school work, mementos and photos, but also her kids’ sports equipment and her husband’s golf clubs. While the public areas of the 8,000 square-foot home are immaculately kept and luxuriously appointed, Belinda’s office had turned into the family dumping ground.

Enter Marcie Katz, a Certified Professional Organizer in Chronic Disorganization (CPO-CD^®), president of Expertly Organized, Inc. With an MBA and a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, Marcie may be the last person one would expect to find sifting through other people’s belongings with a dust mask and gloves. Yet having grown up in a cluttered household, Marcie believes, “this is the work I was destined to do. The thrill of creating order out of chaos just never gets old for me. I know from personal experience how it feels to be overwhelmed by clutter, so seeing the joy and relief in a client’s face as the space starts to clear up is deeply, deeply satisfying.”

While creating functional, peaceful spaces is certainly an end result of her work with clients, Marcie’s main goal is “to help people redefine their relationship with possessions so that their belongings are supporting their life rather than undermining it.”

Making the Commitment

Marcie’s first step in working with a client is to create an “Assessment & Action Plan,” in which she tours the space and asks questions to understand the client’s goals as well as their “struggles with respect to organization.” More importantly, she said, the initial meeting provides an opportunity to build rapport and trust with each client so that together, they can tackle the tasks ahead.

During her initial assessment, Marcie is careful to ask, “’What’s motivating you to get organized now?’ If I know what triggered the phone call, then I can tap into that source of motivation to keep the client on track throughout the organizing process.”

Sort and Eliminate

Once the client is committed to make a change, the hard part begins — the sorting. “You have to do the elimination first or you are just organizing clutter,” cautions Marcie. To make the elimination process a little easier, “I encourage my clients to focus on the things they want to keep and the end result they want to achieve, rather than on the things they are letting go. I don’t force anyone to get rid of anything, that’s ultimately up to the individual.”

The professional organizer equates purging belongings to making an apple pie. ”Before you put the apples in the crust (i.e. the container) you must first remove the cores and trim off any bad spots. When the pie is baking, you’re focused on how good it will taste, not on the parts of the apples that ended up in the trash.”

With two “must have” organizational items in place, trash bags and a box labeled “donations,” Marcie and Belinda quickly identified the need for several other empty bankers’ boxes to be labeled “photos,” “collectibles,” “office supplies,” “files to archive or shred” and “exercise equipment.” Although uniformly sized bankers boxes look nice and stack neatly, any empty boxes or bins can be used during the sorting stage.

While even organizationally challenged people may experience a rush of enthusiasm while labeling their boxes and getting started —the sorting process can quickly kill that enthusiasm.

“Sorting through belongings involves a lot of decisions. And decision making can create stress, anxiety and fatigue,” she says. “So a lot of people put off organizational tasks to avoid these uncomfortable feelings.”

Unfortunately, it’s the discomfort of letting go of belongings that changes clients’ relationships with them, and ultimately sets them on the path to organization. “I could have sent Belinda to the spa for a half day and organized her office myself,” jokes Marcie, “But that’s not the point.”

Belinda found it the most challenging to sort through her children’s artwork, cards and gifts. “I have separation anxiety,” she laughed. Afraid of hurting her sons’ feelings, Belinda had kept virtually everything they had given her. With her sons now 14 and 19, she soon realized these were her own issues, not theirs. “At the time we’re putting it away, it seems so important, but now, how many years later, (I realize), ‘He’s not even going to know he gave this to me!’”

As the hours went by and the pile grew noticeably smaller, Belinda began to gain back her sense of humor. “It does get easier. Now I just want to keep going and get it over with!” Much easier to deal with were items that simply didn’t belong in the space at all. “I pulled out everything that didn’t belong in here — the roller blades, the baseball caps, my husband’s work, I moved everything out that wasn’t mine.”

Marcie reiterated, “With each item that goes in the trash or to the donation box, you feel less of a twinge and you realize, ‘Hey! Nothing bad happened.’”

Develop a Permanent Storage and Filing System

Once items have been eliminated and sorted, only then does Marcie suggest that clients think about permanent storage solutions such as decorative bins or baskets.

“I always encourage my clients to go through the sorting and editing process before purchasing additional furnishings or decorations. This way you will have a better idea of what you really need so you can avoid unnecessary expenditures and inadvertently add to your clutter.”

As Marcie recommended, Belinda saved the boxes of paper to sort last. “Papers take longer because each paper requires a separate decision,” said the organizer. “Sometimes it’s easier to store them and simply let them age out. It’s most important to work forward.”

Although Belinda still has some work to do, she is already excited about her newly reclaimed space.

“Now it’s not so crazy,” she realized. “I feel like there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. You can actually see where everything is!”

Both Marcie and Belinda are confident that the newfound order will be a lasting change. “In order to maintain the space, Belinda will need to persistently practice her new organizing skills,” says Marcie. “Putting things away in their designated homes will take some extra effort at first but will eventually become automatic.”

As for her office serving as the family dumping ground, Belinda isn’t concerned. “It’s going to come naturally to them now. They’re going to come in and say, “Don’t mess up mom’s area!”

Give it to a Good Home

Several local charities, thrift and resale stores accept used clothing, furnishings, toys, games and other unwanted items. Some offer free pick-up service with a phone call or online request.

• Good Will Industries of Central Florida, Inc. With locations in Melbourne, North Melbourne, Merritt Island, Palm Bay and Rockledge. Visit goodwillcfl.org or call (407) 235-1547 for locations and more information.
• Brevard County Sharing Centers. With locations in Cocoa (sharingcenter.org, (321) 631-0306); Titusville (nbcsharingcenter.org, (321) 269-3272 and Melbourne/Palm Bay mysbsc.org, (321) 727-8581/722-1241

Libraries often accept donations of books in good condition while most hospitals accept recent issues of magazines.

Photos, Photos and More Photos

Whether digital photos are clogging up your hard drive or piles of snap shots, children’s school pictures and old picture frames are collecting dust around the house, professional organizer Marcie Katz suggests asking yourself the following questions:

• If these particular photos were not already framed, would you want to frame them now?
• Do you want look at these images every day?
• Would you prefer to see any of these photos in different frames?
• Is it time to update the photo in a favorite frame?
• Is there another way to enjoy this collection now, such as in an album or digital photo frame?

Several companies offer digital photo management and cataloging systems including Creative Memories’ Memory Manager (creativememories.com), Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 (adobe.com) and Apple iPhoto (apple.com).

About Marcie Katz

Marcie Katz, CPO-CD^® is a leader in the organizing industry. She is a Golden Circle member of the National Association of Professional Organizers, a Certified Professional Organizer in Chronic Disorganization, and once of the first in the country to receive the advanced Hoarding Specialist Certificate from the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD). Marcie is a past Research Project Coordinator for the NSGCD and currently serves on their Board of Directors as Conference Program Director. She is also president of Expertly Organized Inc., a licensed and insured residential organizing business that specializes in helping midlife adults and seniors organize and simplify their lives. Contact her at marciekatz@bellsouth.net.or visit expertlyorganized.com

Conquering Paper Overload

The U.S. Postal Services estimates that the average household receives almost 28 pieces of mail a week, or more than 1,450 pieces each year.  And that’s just mail!  To conquer the overload of newspapers, gym schedules, take out menus, business cards, flyers and more, follow this three-step process developed by professional organizer, Marcie Katz, CPO-CD, president of Expertly Organized, Inc.

1)      Reduce the flow of incoming paper.

• Give your mailbox a makeover! Visit the Direct Marketing Association website, dmachoice.org to help reduce unwanted advertising mail. You may also opt out of receiving mail order catalogs at catalogchoice.org.
• Save your shredder! Cut down on pre-approved credit card offers by visiting optoutprescreen.com or call (888) 5OPTOUT (888-567-8688).
• Cancel magazine subscriptions. If you can’t keep up with the reading, eliminate the guilt and expense!
• Before bringing any sort of paper into your home, consider why you need it and where you’ll keep it. More importantly, will you remember where it is when you need it?
• Before filing those recipes, newspaper or magazine articles, consider than 80 percent of papers we file are never looked at again! If you can reference it online, toss it!
• Take advantage of online banking and bill paying. You’ll receive less mail and have less paper lying around.

2)      Set up a paper processing system.

• Designate an official collection spot for all incoming mail and papers —

but not on your kitchen table or counter!

• Establish a processing and filing system such as the Freedom Filer™ system, which comes with color-coded labels and an instruction booklet to guide you. Visit freedomfiler.com and use reference number MK889 to receive a special discount on online purchases.
• Get into a routine. Set aside a certain time each day to process your paperwork. Sort papers over your trash can and put any remaining papers into two categories “action” or “reference.” If the action can be completed in two minutes or less, do it right away, such as putting an appointment into your calendar. If not, schedule an appointment with yourself to do it later. File any reference papers such as bank statements.
• Stay focused and handle papers only once if possible! Doing a little each day will help you stay on top of paperwork. If you’re dealing with a backlog, process your incoming papers first, then add on a little time each day to catch up.

3)      Keep papers flowing out of your life.

• Recycle newspapers, magazines and catalogs. When a new one comes in, an old one goes out. If you didn’t have time to read a publication when it was fresh, will you have time to read it when the information is stale?
• Destroy expired documents. For large volumes of shredding, look up “document destruction” online or in the phone book.
• Throw it away. If it can’t be recycled or donated and you don’t need it, don’t feel bad about throwing it in the trash.

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Who says outdoor games are just child’s play? If you’re looking for an alternative to golf or croquet, check out ladder golf, a new addictive outdoor game that will be a hit at your next BBQ.

Playing the game

-Ladder golf is played with 2 or more players. The game consists of as many rounds as it takes one team to reach 21 points exactly. If teams have more than 1 player, players will alternate rounds.

-Each team has 3 bolas (or balls) to use per round. A bola is 2 golf balls attached by a nylon rope. Your object: to get the bolas wrapped around the ladder, which consists of three steps, a top, middle and bottom step.

1. Set the “ladder” on a flat surface, then flip a coin to see who goes first.

2. Ladder golf is played in rounds and in each round the player is to take 5 paces away from the ladder, and then take 3 bolas and try to successfully toss each bola onto a step of the ladder (see points system below). Bolas can be thrown in anyway; even bouncing them off the ground is legal. The winner of each round starts the next.

3. The object of the game is to be the first team to score 21 points without going over (so if you have 20 points you can only get 1 point) and in case of a tie, players will play as many complete 21 point rounds as it takes for one player to be 2 points ahead of the other (so ending winner 21 loser 19).

Scoring

After all players have tossed their bolas, the number of bolas still remaining on the steps after a round determines scoring. Players can knock off other players’ bolas in order to get ahead. Each step has a different point value:

The top step:   3 points

Middle Step:    2 points

Bottom Step:   1 point

Bonus Point:    Receive 1 bonus point if all three bolas are hanging off 1 step, or if you get one bola on each level.

Note: The highest points that can be awarded in a single round is 10, for a player who got all three bolas on the top step.

Ready to Play?

Check out www.spacecoastliving.com for instructions on how to build your own ladder-toss game!

Check out a great selection of pre-made Ladder Golf sets available at:

www.hayneedle.com

$34.98-$109.98

Build Your Own Ladder Golf Set

Materials

• 44 feet of 3/4″ PVC pipe (or 1″ PVC)
• 12 L connectors – 3/4″ elbows
• 12 T connectors – 3/4″ tees
• Saw or pipe cutter

1 Cutting the PVC pieces

• Cut 14, 2ft pieces of PVC pipe
• Cut 16, 1ft pieces of PVC pipe

2 Assembling the PVC Pieces

• Connect the cut pieces with the T and L (elbow) connectors
• The 2-ft pipes will be used for the back footprint as well as the ladder rungs.
  The front footprint doesn’t need to be as long as the back because all the force is coming from the front. (A footprint is what is holding the game up)

How to make the Bolos

Making the bolos

• You will need 12 golf balls. Paint 6 one color and 6 another color.
• Drill a hole going through the center of each golf ball.
• You will need 6 – 18inch pieces of nylon rope.
• Thread the rope through the holes that you previously drilled.
• Place a golf ball at each end of the rope.
• Tie a knot right in front of and behind the ball to hold it secure.
  • ** Try and keep the space about 13 inches between each ball
• Use a match or a lighter to slightly melt the knot. This will help the knot stay tied.

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The warm (but not too hot) spring weather is the perfect time to take your family on a fun weekend getaway. So pack up the kids, get on the road and enjoy these family friendly destinations.

Sanibel Island

Shelling

Wandering the beautiful beaches filled with sea shells is a popular activity for visitors of all ages. Families can take a shelling cruise or charter with a captain who knows where to find the best shells. The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum on Sanibel Island is a must see for shell enthusiasts. Kids will enjoy the undersea-inspired interactive children’s section. www.shellmuseum.org

Sanibel Sea School

Looking to fit in a little education, plan a visit to the Sanibel Sea School. Located on Sanibel Island, children and adults can learn about marine ecosystems using the barrier island habitats of Sanibel and Captiva. Students can touch feel and understand the ocean and its inhabitants. www.sanibelseaschool.org

Paddle On

The Great Calusa Blueway has nearly 190 miles of clearly marked waterways and trails to explore the area’s bays and estuaries. Guided tours are available or explore on your own. The trail utilizes GPS coordinates. Key points are marked along the trail to aid paddlers in navigation and detailed maps are available. www.greatcalusablueway.com

Go Wild!

Babcock Wilderness Adventures offers a 90 minute tour of Telegraph Cypress Swamp and scenic woods on a swamp buggy. View native wildlife like panthers, alligators, deer, wild turkey cattle and boars. Daily tours are available by reservation only. www.babcockwilderness.com

Where to Stay:

Casa Ybel Resort, Sanibel Island

For more information

www.FortMyersSanibel.com

Fort Myers

Step Back in Time

The Edison and Ford Winter Estates covers 20-acres of riverfront land with a laboratory, experimental gardens, rare antique automobiles and other memorabilia from the inventor. Next door, Henry Ford’s winter estate features several antique vehicles on display. www.efwefla.org

Imagine That!

The Imaginarium- This museum boasts more than 60 interactive exhibits that are at fun and educational. The Imaginarium is the type of place where you can touch a cloud, become a weatherman, brave a Florida thunderstorm, or even help excavate dinosaur remains. No visit is complete without taking part in the “Hurricane Experience.” www.imaginariumfortmyers.com

Butterfly Kisses

The Butterfly Estates- Surround yourself with thousands of butterflies in the Downtown Fort Myers River District at the new Eco-Attraction named The Butterfly Estates. With southern style veranda wrapped restaurant, Mother Natures Gift Shop, featuring our exquisite nature oriented gifts and Caterpillars Ice Cream Shop & Fudge Factory, where guests are lured in by the sweet aromas of homemade fudge and fresh ice cream. Our 3,614 sq. foot Glazed Glass Butterfly Conservatory is home to cascading waterfalls with lush tropical nectar plants and butterflies that delight guests with their astounding beauty.

http://thebutterflyestates.com

Where to Stay:

Sanibel Harbour Resort and Spa, Fort Myers

Pink Shell Beach Resort and Spa, Fort Myers Beach

Tampa

“Escape” to Africa

Busch Gardens – experience the tallest roller coaster in the State of Florida and also one of only three inverted roller coasters in the world. SheiKra takes guests on a 3-minute wild ride 200 feet in the air and then plummets’ them straight down to the ground and ends with a “splashy” finale. Don’t miss “KaTonga,” a Broadway-style, theatrical event that takes visitors into the heart of the African jungle. The Serengeti Safari wild expedition puts you in the center of the action! Unlock the mystery to the eland antelope’s mysterious clicking, discover the naturalistic beauty of the Serengeti Plain, and experience the thrill of feeding antelopes and giraffes.

www.buschgardens.com

Close Encounter

Lowry Park Zoo- Guests can swim with the fishes in the aquarium’s largest exhibit, The Coral Reef. This 500,000-gallon tank features more than 2,300 fish including grouper, tarpon, Angel fish and the star of the exhibit, a mature green sea turtle named Flip.

While there are several other extreme options, including “Shark Feeding: Behind the Scenes” one of the most popular is the “Penguin: Backstage Pass.” Guests can have a close-up encounter with several of the African Black-footed penguins found at the aquarium in the Penguin Suite behind the scenes.

www.lowryparkzoo.com

Down to a Science

The Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) – Guests can feel the rumble of a rocket launch, touch butterflies of every kind and watch one of many IMAX productions in Florida’ first IMAX theatre. The educational Kids In Charge! Makes MOSI the largest children’s science center in the country and provides interactive games and experiences for “kids” of all ages.

www.mosi.org

Where to Stay:

Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina

Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay

The Westin Tampa Bay

For more information

www.visittampabay.com

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