Page 10 - Florida Sentinel 12-4-18

Features
Local Branch Of Prime Time Sister Circle Celebrates 15th Anniversary
Too Smooth Presents 1st Annual Gift Of Giving Fundraiser, Toy Drive
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
Eight years ago, Ver- shonn McIntosh was look- ing to meet new people after moving from London to Apollo Beach.
She learned about a meet- ing of the Prime Time Sister Circle in Tampa and decided to attend.
It was a decision that would prove to be a boost to more than just her social life.
“Not only did it satisfy the camaraderie part, but it caused me to pay attention to my health,” McIntosh said.
On Saturday, McIntosh and dozens of other women gathered at the Sheraton Hotel in Brandon to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the founding of Tampa’s Prime Time Sister Circle.
The local circle is part of the larger Prime Time Sister Circle, a free initiative that en- courages healthy lifestyles among Black women ages 40 to 75. The group provides free classes where attendees learn how to manage stress and chronic illnesses like hyper- tension and diabetes.
Founded in 2003 in Wash- ington, D.C. by Drs. Gayle Porter and Marilyn Gas- ton, more than 3,000 women have participated in Prime Time Sister Circle meetings
held all over the country, in- cluding Baltimore, Chicago, and Orlando.
For about 12 weeks, the women are given the tools to adopt healthier habits into their lives, including how to handle stress, improve nutri- tion, and incorporate more ex- ercise into their daily routines.
Mae Allen, a member of the Tampa Sister Circle, said the circles are effective be- cause the meetings are safe spaces where the women can express their frustrations, joys, and offer each other sup- port.
“These ladies learn a lot of information in that time to help them have healthy lives,” she said. “You wouldn’t imag- ine the breakthroughs that happened just sharing their stories.”
Gaston, a former assis- tant surgeon general, said Black women are groomed to be caregivers to everyone but themselves.
“That can change,” she said. “The circles have demon- strated that can change.”
Sister Circles give them permission to learn the impor- tance of making their own health a priority, she said.
It also give them the forti- tude to voice their needs rather than wallow in their pain, said Porter, a clinical psychologist.
“While I’m sad that Black women are so stressed...we’re at a point where we are no longer trying to hide it,” she said. “We are seeing more women more proactive about their health.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control, heart dis- ease, cancer, and stroke are the leading causes of death for Black women. About 44 per- cent of Black women age 20 and over suffer from hyper- tension and about 56 percent of Black women age 20 and over are obese.
While the statistics look grim, Prime Time Sister Cir- cles makes it possible for Black women to receive health education in a secure setting where they can confide in each other and hold each other ac- countable, Gaston said.
“We wish Black women didn’t have the highest num- bers, but we also know their awareness has increased,” she said. “That’s going to make a difference.”
FYI
Too Smooth, in associa- tion with Dreamers of Tomor- row Foundation, decided to provide happiness and hope to disadvantaged children who might otherwise be over- looked during the Christmas holiday season.
The 1st Annual Gift of Giv- ing offers a child some confi- dence and a positive memory that will last a lifetime. Too Smooth’s goal is to provide some motivation and allow the Bay Area to become re- sponsible caring members of the community.
The Christmas Toy Drive and Fundraiser Comedy Shows will be held on Satur- day, December 8th in Tampa at the American Legion Post 111, 6918 North Florida Av- enue, and on Sunday, Decem- ber 9th at the St. Petersburg Masonic Lodge 109, 3130 18th Ave. Each event will be hosted by Comedian Marcus Combs of BET with comedi- ans Caesar, Gino and Songstress Donna Douglas in Tampa.
Comedian Batman and the Poet Cecilia will appear in St. Petersburg with many more artists. At each event a
TOO SMOOTH
family in need will be repre- sented and provided with a holiday meal basket, gifts, etc.
Everyone has the opportu- nity to experience the Gift of Giving through monetary do- nations and unwrapped gifts for children ages 3 – 17. There is an admission price of $20 with a gift and $30 with- out in Tampa and St. Peters- burg.
Too Smooth says, “No contribution is too small to impact the life of another and we are thankful for any level of support.”
For more information, please call Too Smooth at 813.244.7474.
Health Department Offering Free Flu Shots
The first week of December is National Influenza Vaccina- tion Week. Beginning on Monday, December 3rd, through Friday, December 7th, the Hillsborough County Health Department will pro- vide the free flu shots to mem- bers of the community. The vaccinations will take place at the Sulphur Springs Health Center, 8605 Mitchell Avenue, Tampa, 33604. They will be given between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Individuals from 6 months of age and up are advised to get the free flu shot. Health of- ficials said flu can be a serious disease, even for healthy peo- ple. Flu shots are especially important for protecting peo- ple who are at high risk of se- rious flu complications including: young children, pregnant women, adults 65 and older, and anyone with chronic health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease.
Strawberry Festival Releases Line-Up Of Entertainment
The Florida Strawberry Festival released its line-up on en- tertainers for the 2019 Festival. Starting on Thursday, February 28 and continuing through March 10, 2019, the entertainers
are:Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra, The Oak Ridge Boys, AL- ABAMA, Willie Nelson, Brothers Osborne, Home Free, Kool & the Gang, Chicks with Hits featuring Terri Clark, Pam Tillis and Suzy Bogguss; An Evening with Steven Tyler and The Loving Mary Band; Pat Boone, Mar- tina McBride, The Drifters, Platters & Cornell Gunter's Coasters; NEEDTOBREATHE, Gene Watson, STYX, The Kingston Trio, The Letterman, King & Country, Tanya Tucker, Chris Janson, Florida Straw- berry Festival's Battle of the Bands Finale; Keith Sweat, Bill Anderson & Bobby Bare, and Old Dominion's Make It Sweet Tour.
The Florida Strawberry Festival is an 11-day community event celebrating the strawberry harvest of Eastern Hillsbor- ough County. Each year, over 500,000 visitors enjoy the festi- val's headline entertainment, youth livestock shows, exhibits of commerce and, of course, its strawberry shortcake. The 2019 Florida Strawberry Festival where "It's A Hit!" will take place February 28 - March 10 in Plant City, Fla.
For more information, visit www.flstrawberryfestival.com, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (#berryfest19).
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