The Blue & White is published weekly for St. Petersburg College employees and interested visitors. It is designed for you to be able to scan the headlines quickly. If you are interested in an article listed below, click on the link and you will be directed to that article. You also can view the paper version locations or the printable pdf. Calendar items with a specific deadline are marked with an *.
No increase in medical/dental rates recommended
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 Bill Hemme prepares for his cross-country trek. |
As a kid, Bill Hemme dreamed of some kind of great adventure – sailing solo across the Atlantic, maybe, or hiking the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine.
Approaching his 50th birthday last month, Hemme realized that time was passing quickly and the great adventure of his childhood dreams remained undone.
That will all change on May 12, when Hemme leaves for Sausalito, Calif. and then points his bicycle toward St. Augustine, a solo cross-country trip that should take him about 10 weeks if all goes well.
Hemme, who is returning to a teaching position after five years as Director of the Mathematics and Natural Science program on the Clearwater Campus, is going to need to pedal about 70 miles every day if he is going to stay on his schedule. He feels he’s prepared to make that happen.
“I have been doing a lot of riding in preparation,” he said. “I purchased a new touring bike back in February of 2008, and I now have almost 6,700 miles on it. I’m not a competitive rider but I do get out on weekends and early in the morning. Since Spring Break I’ve been averaging about 200 miles per week.”
The idea for a cross-country bike trip actually crossed Hemme’s mind several years ago. At that point, he thought it might make a good project for him and his son to do together. But that first idea has evolved into a solo ride.
“It actually was something I first thought of as a kid, when I envisioned sailing solo across the ocean or hiking the Appalachian Trail,” he said. “Then, about six or seven years ago, I was traveling with my wife and son and I happened to mention the thought of a cross-country bike trip, and my son thought it would be very cool. Then, when I turned 50, I realized I was still in pretty good shape, and that’s when the idea really took hold.”
Hemme had hoped that the ride would include both him and his son, but it turned out that his son Daniel, now a sophomore at the University of Florida, wouldn’t be able to make the trip after all. Undaunted, Hemme decided to make it a solo adventure.
The first day of the trip may be one of the most interesting – it involves a ride across San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge and dipping the rear wheel of the bike in the Pacific. In the days afterwards, though, the ride gets challenging – he will get into the Sierra Nevada Mountains and will have to climb to about 9,000 feet, a height where he expects to travel (and camp) in some deep snow.
“I’m going to be tested on some of my first days out,” he said. “Kirkwood, Calif. had 86 inches of snow this past winter and much of it will probably still be there when I ride through. There are no motels in the Eldorado National Forest, and the campgrounds don’t officially open until Memorial Day, so I’ll have to set up my tent somewhere in the middle of the woods.”
Hemme’s first week in California will take him through urban areas such as Sacramento and Lake Tahoe, but once he gets to Nevada he will ride through areas that are essentially unpopulated. While he will be traveling alone, he expects to run into other bicyclists who will be pedaling both east and west on similar cross-country treks.
“This is considered a solo ride because I’m doing it without a partner,” he said. “But there are usually 200 or 300 people who make this trip by bicycle each year, so it is not unusual to encounter people who are making similar cross-country trips. Some of them may match up with me, or I them, so I think I may ride a few days at a time with others.”
Hemme plans to camp some nights, spend other nights in motels, and rest on other evenings in the homes of “Warmshowers” hosts – people who provide a bed, food and hot showers to long-distance bicyclists.
He expects to reach St. Augustine and dip his front tire in the Atlantic on July 21, in plenty of time for the start of fall classes. He plans to keep an online journal as he rides, filing his reports and pictures at www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/bills2009ride
“This has not just been a personal challenge to keep me motivated to continue exercising, although it has had that effect,” he said, “I have no idea if I will be able to finish this ride. I hope so – I don’t want to injure a leg and have to fly back.”
“It is simply a solo ride to see if I can do it, and to experience and enjoy the many sights, communities and people of the country along the way.”
College offers summer programs for kids
SPC employees don’t have to look far to find a quality day camp for their children this summer. A variety of entertaining and educational camps for students in elementary, middle and high school are available.
For more than 30 years, SPC has offered College for Kids, a program for students completing kindergarten through fifth grade. The program, offered at sites around Pinellas County, expanded this year to offer programming for middle school students at the same locations the elementary programs are offered.
While elementary students can attend College for Kids for one week, eight weeks or any number in between, the middle school camps only are offered in monthly increments.
The college also offers a variety of specialty camps, including:
- Admiral Farragut Academy (for students in grades 4-9) – activities include oceanography, sports, math, Spanish immersion, art and computer classes. There’s also a one-week sailing camp.
- Musical Theater Camp (for students in grades 6-12) – participants will produce “Seussical Jr., The Musical” and learn set direction, costuming, singing and dancing.
- Spanish Immersion Camp (for students in grades 2-8) – children will learn vocabulary words, rhymes, culture, conversation, cooking, games and more.
- Captain Mack’s Space and Rocketry Camp (for students in grades 2-8) – students will have a chance to build a rocket, and take trips to the Kennedy Space Center and the SPC Planetarium – all while learning about outer space.
- Camp of Public Safety – Who Done It (for middle school students) – students learn how to collect and process “evidence” to solve a crime, which gives them hands-on experience in fingerprinting, investigation of a crime scene and working in a crime lab.
In addition, the college offers music camps at the St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus for middle and high school students. Students can participate in Summer Chorus, Summer Jazz Band for beginners or Summer Jazz for advanced musicians.
Although there are no employee discounts or scholarships for SPC’s summer programs, the camps are reasonably priced compared to other programs in the area.
“SPC camps are great because of our staff of credentialed Pinellas County teachers and assistants, the attention to detail in planning the camps, and the promotion of SPC in the community,” Lifelong Learning Program Director Jackie Addis said. “Kids return year after year because it’s fun and educational.”
For more information on dates, locations and prices for the College for Kids and specialty camps, visit the College for Kids Web site. For information on SPC’s Music camps, visit the Lifelong Learning Web site.
Graduation reminder
Spring graduation is Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. at Tropicana Field. All full-time faculty and administrative and professional staff are expected to participate. Commencement is an opportunity to exhibit to students and their families our respect for the work they have done and the sacrifices they have made to earn their degrees.According to college policy, May graduation day is considered an official duty day with pay for faculty, and participation in the ceremony satisfies the duty requirements for that day. (For more information, contact your program director or campus provost.)
“As valued members of the college family and as mentors to our students, please mark your calendar for this important event,” Kuttler said. “And keep in mind the appreciation felt by many students and parents for your presence there.”
Apply for Educators in Industry by May 15
The summer session of Educators In Industry (EII) runs June 8 - 11. Participants will meet on Monday from 1 – 4 p.m. at Pinellas County Schools Administration building, and Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. until 4 pm at various businesses. Six visits (two a day) will be made to business and industrial sites to acquire knowledge regarding career opportunities in Pinellas County. Visits will include such sites as WorkNet Pinellas, L-3 Communications, Tech Data, Pinellas Waste Water Plant and PSCU Financial Services.
In addition to the business and industry site visits, the EII board members expect participants to attend a banquet to be held in November.
Registration form (pdf)
As in all workshops that require you to be away from your work site, please be sure to get your supervisor’s permission to attend.
Cultural Corner
This weekly column features some of the arts and entertainment events presented by St. Petersburg College and its partners. NEW items are noted for your convenience.
Discounts Palladium: Faculty, staff and students receive a 10 percent discount to all shows produced by the Palladium or its partners at the Palladium. |
Continuing through Sunday
American Stage in the Park: Altar Boyz, 8 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday, Demens Landing, St. Petersburg. $11-$14.
Continuing through Saturday
The 28th Annual congressional High School Art Competition and Exhibition. Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art Auditorium. Free.
Continuing through July 19
Florida Artist Group: 58th Annual Exhibition. Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art Auditorium. Free.
May 15-17
Florida Orchestra Masterworks Concert: Mahler Symphony No. 2, Resurrection, Stefan Sanderling, Conductor. Featuring the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, Richard Zielinski, artistic and music director. 8 p.m. Friday, May 15, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center; 8 p.m. Saturday, May 16, Mahaffey Theater; and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, May 17, Ruth Eckerd Hall. $19-$65.
Check out the upcoming events at the Florida Orchestra in their online calendar:
May
This article and other health information are available on our Wellness blog.
Lifestyle change to lower blood pressure risks
If your health care provider discovers that you have moderately high blood pressure, you may be put on a medication to lower it. In some instances, this is because it takes more time to educate the patient on healthy lifestyle changes than the duration of the visit, which usually last about 15 minutes.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in a study of about 25,000 Americans with high blood pressure, 73% were on blood pressure medication.
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), a continued blood pressure reading of 120 over 80 is considered to be prehypertensive and most health experts recommend lifestyle changes.
Recommendations to eat well, get to a healthy weight, stop smoking and manage stress seem overwhelming to most people who suffer from high blood pressure (also called hypertension), but these positive changes may result in improved blood pressure readings, sometimes without medications.
Untreated high blood pressure is a major risk factor for stroke and heart disease.
The DASH eating plan (Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension) is one of the first lifestyle recommendations made by most doctors. The plan is endorsed by the AHA and The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and is easy to follow, safe, and effective and one that the whole family can enjoy. Research supports that this eating plan can lower blood pressure.
Here is an overview of the DASH eating plan:
- Specific amounts and daily servings of whole grains, fruits and vegetables are the bulk of the eating plan.
- Limited to 2,000 calories a day.
- Includes 2-3 daily servings of low-fat or non fat dairy
- Protein from limited amounts of lean meats, poultry and fish, nuts, seeds and legumes.
To see specific food recommendations and serving sizes, go to hdashdiet.org.
To contact SPC’s Wellness Coordinator, contact Cathleen at shears.cathleen@spcollege.edu
To explore additional wellness updates, visit the SPC Wellness blog.
Locker Room: Baseball team begins state tournament play Friday
The baseball team opens play in the state tournament Friday at 10 a.m. against Santa Fe Community College of Gainesville.
It is the 12th consecutive year SPC Coach Dave Pano has guided the team to the tournament, which is being held at Chain O’Lakes Park in Winter Haven.
SPC and Santa Fe met twice during the regular season and split the games. SPC lost 8-4 and won 16-14. Santa Fe won the Mid-Florida Conference with a 17-8 record and was 28-19 overall. SPC was second in the Suncoast Conference at 14-11. Manatee CC ran away with the title.
The eight-team, double-elimination tournament concludes Tuesday.
The softball team lost two games on the first day and was eliminated from the state tournament in Auburndale. Of the three teams from the Suncoast Conference that qualified, only one, Manatee CC, won a game. Polk CC was also two and out. SPC lost its second game 7-5 to South Florida CC after leading 5-1. SPC pitcher Mary Huff was selected second team all state before the tournament.
The tennis team was at the national tournament in Tucson, Ariz. this week and made an excellent showing, Coach Phil Girardi said. “The girls have played very well and we have a good chance of finishing in the top 10,” he said as the tournament headed to the quarterfinal round.
For results please visit www.spcollege.edu/athletics.
The facts about parabens
The issues
- Parabens are synthetic preservatives found in shampoos, make-up foundations, shaving gels and even food. These chemicals act as preservatives and extend a product’s shelf life by inhibiting bacterial growth.
- Parabens are similar to estrogen and interfere with natural hormone production. This may lead to weight gain, and more importantly, may contain potential links to cancer.
- When washed off in the shower or at the beach, parabens can accumulate in waterways or soil and disrupt the hormones in animals. Scientists say certain animal genetic defects may be the result of paraben pollution.
- Up to 60% of products we place on our skin seeps into our blood stream.
Be part of the solution
How can I stay away from parabens?
- Stay away from products containing these chemicals: methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, benzyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid, methyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid, ethyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid, propyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid, butyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid, parahydroxybenzoic acid and parahydroxybenzoate.
- Words like "natural" and "organic" do not mean paraben-free. Don't be fooled by the front label. You likely will find any parabens printed in small letters at the bottom of the back label.
- Buy organic moisturizing body oils made from organic cocoa butter, sunflower oils, peppermint oil, coconut oil and organic spearmint oil.
- Visit Cosmetics Database (www.cosmeticsdatabase.com), an online safety guide to cosmetics and personal care products. While there, sign the petition.
Want to become involved with SPC’s exciting sustainability initiatives?
To participate in the sustainable | SPC initiative, visit www.spcollege.edu/sustainability or call Jason Green at 341-3283.
HR Notes: Health benefits during vacation travel
What happens if I’m out of the area, state, or the U.S. and have a medical emergency? How will I be taken care of? You always are covered in case of an emergency, day or night, no matter where you are in the world. Preauthorization is not required for an emergency. Please refer to page 6 of the Open Access Select Pamphlet for details. It is located on the Human Resources Benefits page.
Onward and upward
Jason Green, Sustainability Coordinator at St. Petersburg College, has been elected to the “Green 100,” a list of individuals, businesses and others who lead the way toward a sustainable future in Tampa Bay.
The list was created by Creative Loafing, a Tampa Bay-based alternative newspaper. The paper selected the first 95 members of the list; the remaining five members were elected by readers, who cast their ballots on the Creative Loafing Web site.
“I’m honored to be selected as a member of this group, but it is more a recognition of the progress that St. Petersburg College has made in a relatively short time to become a more sustainability-conscious institution,” Green said.
Besides Green, the final five members of the list include a local architect and activist, a natural pest management company, an earth-friendly car care company and a kayak adventure company.
On SPC-TV
Here is the broadcast schedule for the original cultural programs recorded by SPC for broadcast on the college station. SPC-TV can be seen on Bright House 620, Knology 19 and Verizon 47 in Pinellas County.
» CoMotion Dance Theatre - Spring 2009 Dance Concert - Watch the video.
Sundays at 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.; Tuesday at 9 p.m. and Thursday at 8 p.m.
For details, visit the CoMotion Web site.
» Frontline: Behind the Lines
Wednesday at noon and 9 p.m. and Saturday at noon and 9 p.m.
» The Music Center Presents: St. Petersburg College Band
Sunday noon and 9 p.m.; Friday 8 p.m.
» A Night at the Palladium: Harambee; African Culture Showcase
Monday 9 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.
» The Music Center Presents: Percussion Ensemble
Sunday 11:30 a.m. and 8 p.m.; Monday, Tuesday and Friday at 9:30 p.m.; Thursday and Saturday at 8:30 p.m.
» A Night at the Palladium: Nathan Laube
Monday 8 p.m.