SRSO Specialist Receives Award

Sheriff's Office Specialists Cindy Sarver was selected as the Person/Volunteer of the Year for the Tobacco-Free Coalition work she has done during the past year. The award was presented by Julie Klein, Tobacco Specialist with the Dept. of Health. The coalition was founded in 2008 with members are from the Santa Rosa Sheriffs Office, Department of Health, Healthy Start, CDAC, local physicians, and students from SWAT (Students Working Against Tobacco).This coalition works towards decreasing the number of tobacco users in Santa Rosa County and teaching young people about the pitfalls of using any tobacco products. They were also responsible for setting up the breathe easy zones at the DeLuna Fest. They encourage smoke-free multiple-unit housing for the county in terms of pointing out the problems with tobacco users and rental properties. They heavily target the wide range of candy flavored tobacco being offered to the youth in the county. They work with the SRC schools in terms of tobacco citations issued and special school programs to teach kids about the problems with direct smoke as well as second hand smoke. They are instrumental in bringing in renowned speakers, such as Rick Stoddard, to talk to local school kids about tobacco usage. The coalition encourages all current tobacco users to take advantage of the free resources available to anyone interested in quitting smoking or spit tobacco. There is also a program that offers free cessation classes, called Quit Smoking Now. For more information call the Department of Health at 983-5200, ext. 142. People may also use the Florida Quitline to procure free nicotine replacement therapy to those who qualify at www.floridaquitline.com.