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Sarasota News Leader November 9, 2012 The Tobacco Free Partnership of Sarasota County, in collaboration with Tobacco Free Florida, will host two local events in conjunc- tion with the 37th annual Great American Smokeout on Thursday, Nov. 15, to encour- age people of all ages to be tobacco-free for 24 hours. The scheduled events are as follows: • A Tools to Quit Smoking class for adults from 10 a.m. to noon at the Sarasota Coun- ty Health Department, 2200 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota. • A "Turn in Your Cigs" event from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at New College of Florida, 5800 Bayshore Road, Sarasota. This event will be held in Hamilton Center. Smokers may turn in their cigarettes to receive a free "quit kit" with giveaways, tips to quit smoking and in- formation on smoking cessation resources. Sponsored by the American Cancer Society, the nationwide Great American Smokeout is a public health event that challenges people to plan in advance and quit smoking that day, or to use the day to make a plan to quit the habit, a county news release says. The Sarasota County Library System has part- nered with the Venice branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) to present "Girls, Gadgetry and Galvanizing Ge- nius," a free program designed to encourage girls ages 9-12 to explore careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. The program will be held 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 17, at Jacaranda Library, 4143 Woodmere Park Blvd., Venice. Page 57 EVENTS PLANNED FOR 37TH ANNUAL GREAT AMERICAN SMOKEOUT "The Great American Smokeout provides an opportunity to educate people about the many resources available to help them successfully quit, while encouraging them to make a long- term plan to quit for good," said Sarasota County Health Department Tobacco Preven- tion Specialist Hilary Woodcum in the news release. The city of North Port will recognize Thurs- day, Nov. 15, as Great American Smokeout Day through a proclamation to be presented during the North Port City Commission meet- ing on Tuesday, Nov. 13, the release adds. The city also will participate in the 37th annual Great American Smokeout by offering cessa- tion information to employees at North Port City Hall, 4970 City Hall Blvd., North Port. The Sarasota County Health Department of- fers support to local businesses interested in tobacco-free policy implementation. Informa- tion regarding tobacco cessation programs for employees also is available, the release adds. For more information about these services, contact Ro Mohamed of the Sarasota County Health Department at 861-2998. PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE GIRLS TO PURSUE CAREERS IN SCIENCE "This event is an exciting way for the Sarasota County Library System and the area schools to work together, partnering with the AAUW on a special Books-to-Action project just for tween girls," said Sheila Kaufer, Youth Ser- vices librarian, in the news release. U.S. Department of Labor workforce projec- tions for 2018 show that nine of the 10 fast- est-growing occupations that require at least a bachelor's degree will also require significant