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Fall in Love
With the Kemps
2 Fall Issue 2016
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4 Fall Issue 2016
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Table OF CONTENTS
11
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ON THE COVER
Fall in Love
Fall in Love With the Kemps
Hometown Hero | Becky Bennett, Pasco Kids First
29 | 35 |
Students Score Higher with Tutoring
34 |
KnowledgePoints
45 |
Dear Yappy
Entertain with Ease
47 |
What to Do When an Off-Leash Dog Approaches
YOUR Community
36 |
24 |
“THE SUPER BOWL CHAMPION” Local Minister & Inspirational Speaker
The Perfect Potluck
25 |
YOUR Life
Local Star | Earl Christy
42 |
07 |
Call to check availability and reserve an upcoming cover of It’s Your Home Magazine for maximum visibility and exposure of your business.
CONTENTS
Dedicated to Healing the Hearts of Others
YOUR Family
Kemp, Ruge & Green Law Group
We Help People!
Fall in Love with Your New Home
Debbie Dawson, Your Hometown Realtor
First Three Quarters of 2016 Prove to be Exciting!
Showcase Your Home’s Value
6 Tips to make your home a buyer’s dream
How You Can Achieve Success Starting a Small Business Money Matters
8th Annual Barktoberfest 2016
Kim Crane & Paw Wash Plus Invites the Community to Join Them
YOUR Home
15
24 |
Hometown Story | Dr. Xhoana 28 | Gjelaj & Piro Varfi, Trinity Dental Arts 33 | Exceptional Dentistry, Exceptional Love
West Pasco Chamber of Commerce
CONTESTS & Puzzle 10 |
Find the home
23 |
Crossword Puzzle Challenge
6 Fall Issue 2016
With the Kemp’s
Mortgage News
Are You Ready to Be a First-Time Home Buyer?
5 Home Hacks
Easy Maintenance Tips
Should You Try ad Pay Off Your Mortgage Early? Saving Account vs. Early Payoff
BACK COVER 48 |
Seven Springs Golf & Country Club Are You a Member of The Players Club?
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Cover STORY
Kemp, Ruge & Green Law Group,
We help people!
Both Martindale-Hubbard and Avvo, two of the leading lawyer directory services have recognized our firm for excellent client satisfaction. These awards are based solely on the testimonials of previous clients. These clients, much like you, were looking for excellent representation to get them through a rough time. Not only did we provide that for them, we did so in such a way, that they wanted others to hear about our great work and how happy they were to have hired us. We are attorneys that take care of our clients.
H
ow are you handling your current situation, and what can we do to help? Your answers are where we begin. Our client focused law firm puts you at the forefront. We keep you informed every step of the way, so you can concentrate on getting yourself back together. Whether you are dealing with an auto accident, personal injury, family law, or criminal matter, our top notch legal professionals are ready to assist you.
Additionally, our firm has attorneys who have been inducted into both the Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. This elite group consists of less than 1% of all attorneys nationwide. To be selected to this forum, an attorney must have served as Principal Counsel in one or more cases which resulted in a final judgment, award or settlement in favor of his or her client in the amount of one million dollars or more for the Million Dollar Advocates Forum or two million dollars or more for the MultiMillion Dollar Advocates Forum. We have the legal knowledge to ensure you get the best possible outcome for your case. Lastly, our firm is committed to this community. We have donated to more than 60 different non-profits, schools, sports’ teams and other local charities. When you choose us, you choose a firm making a difference in your community.
Our mission statement is to “relentlessly pursue protecting our clients and improving our community through respect, communication and service.” When you hire our firm, every aspect of your case will be handled according to those words.
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7
Directory of HOMETOWN PROFESSIONALS Shop Local. Buy Local. Eat Local.
| 2016
ACCOUNTING SERVICES Unbehagen Advisors……….…………....34
DENTISTRY Trinity Dental Arts..............................14,15
MOVING SERVICES Two Men and A Truck.............................24
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES Anything Office.......................................36
EDUCATION KnowledgePoints Tutoring of Trinity.......35
MORTGAGES Innovative Mortgage Services..….….…..24
ADVERTISING & MARKETING Head of Lettuce......................................32 IT’S YOUR HOME Magazine...............9,10
EVENT & WEDDING VENUES Seven Springs Golf & CC..................41,48 Verizon Event Center.............................38
NAIL SALON Amber Nails............................................10
AIR CONDITIONING CONTRACTORS A-Plus A/C & Heating.............................32 Best Services A/C & Heating..................23 Cornerstone A/C, Plumbing & Elec.........26 McWilliams & Son A/C, Heating & Elec....21
FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT Seven Springs Golf & CC.......................48 Congo River Golf....................................44 Island Paradise Charters........................40 Barktoberfest 2016.……..……………39,47 Homefest 2016………………..…….……21
ATTORNEYS Charles S. Phillips, PLLC........................33 Kemp, Ruge & Green Law Group..........1,7 Law Offices of Debora A. Diaz….......32,34 AUTOMOTIVE Tim’s Performance Service Center.........20 RTG Auto Sales......................................20
PHYSICIANS – PODIATRY Foot & Leg Specialty Center...................16
GOLF COURSES Seven Springs Golf & CC.......................48
REAL ESTATE AGENTS Debbie Dawson, RE/MAX Champions....................4,5,24,25 Jackie Borree, RE/MAX Advantage........32
BALLOON DECORATIONS Wonderful Balloons.................................30 BODY ART Katmandew……………………………….12
HARDSCAPE & MASONRY Trinity Brick Company…………..……….18
BUSINESS GROUPS & ORGANIZATIONS Keep It Local…………………….......…...32 Pasco County Tourism............................44 Rooters Networking Club........................30 Trinity Positive Business Network...........30 West Pasco Chamber of Commerce......36 Welcome Bowl….………………….……..36
HEALTH INSURANCE F.W.H & Assoc.-Florida Blue...................30 Modglin & Assoc.-Margie Pagano….…..32 Trinity Insurance Consultants......………35
CARPET CLEANING Complete Care Systems....................23,32 COMPUTERS A-M-S Computers...................................35 Cudixs.....................................................30 COOKWARE & COOKING CLASSES BergHOFF International, Inc...................23 CLEANING SERVICES Donna’s Cleaning Angels..................22,37 Ms. Twister.............................................27
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8 Fall Issue 2016
PET SERVICES Joyce Moore Dog Training.....................45 Paw Wash Plus.................................46,47 Stay at Home Pet Sitters...................30,45
FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY Trinity Memorial Gardens.......................34
HAIR SALON & NAILS Aquaterra Salon & Spa.............................9 Cabelo Salon..........................................13 Style Makers Salon................................10
BUSINESS PRODUCTS Able Business Systems..........................28
PEST CONTROL Green Tech Termite & Pest Control........26
HEALTH FOOD STORE The Health Hut.......................................30 HEARING AIDS Hear Again…..………………………….…17 INSURANCE SERVICES Holladay Insurance.................................30
RESTAURANTS The Brass Tap........................................42 Central Park Family Restaurant.............40 Ichiban Sushi..........................................42 Seven Springs Golf & Country Club........41 Zen Forrest.............................................41 ROOF & EXTERIOR CLEANING Hammerhead Soft Wash.......................2,3 TITLE SERVICES Champions Title Services.......................22 UPHOLSTERER Sunshine Upholstery...............................22 VETERINARIANS Animal Care Center of Pasco.................46 Best Care Animal Hospital......................46 Country Oaks Animal Hospital................46
JEWELER DeLuca’s Fine Jewelry..............................9 LANDSCAPE & MAINTENANCE Jesse Homes..........................................19 MASSAGE THERAPY Aquaterra Salon & Spa.............................9 Cabelo Salon..........................................13 Massage Therapy Center.......................16
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Heath & BEAUTY
This Holiday As we watch our small neighborhoods grow into a prosperous community, it is more important than ever to shop local so small businesses can thrive. The person care and attention they provide is just one reason to seek out local goods and services. When you spend local, the money stays in our community and everyone benefits. So shut your laptop, close the shopping app on your smart phone and make your way to one or our many shops, restaurants and home services that make TrinityOdessa a great place to live, work & play!
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9
Heath & BEAUTY TRINITY’S #1 LOCAL RESOURCE FOR COMMUNITY INFORMATION In Print, Online & Socially Interactive! FALL ISSUE 2016 / VOLUME 41 PUBLISHER/EDITOR Debbie Dawson CREATIVE DIRECTOR Susan Gulash MARKETING DIRECTOR Kelly Steen EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Debra Taylor Tee PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Doreen Damm
Enter to Win
IT’S YOUR HOME Magazine has a new
Contest
Find the Home!
We have hidden the image of the “Home” in this issue. If you find it, enter the page number online at:
ItsYourHomeMagazine.com/contests We will draw 5 winners from the correct entries each issue to win a gift certificate to a local restaurant. 10 Fall Issue 2016
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS MONEY MATTERS Todd Unbehagen TAYLOR MADE TO A TEE Debra Taylor Tee YOUR REALTOR Debbie Dawson LIVING THE WILD LIFE Doreen Damm PASCO COUNTY TOURISM Ed Caum WEST PASCO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Paul Friedlander YOUR TEAM AT Champions Title Services DEAR YAPPY Joyce Moore MORTGAGE NEWS Mike Chissell DISHING OUT HEALTH Jamie Vespa FISHING REPORT Bob Hubbard DEFYING AGE Barbara Marville PHOTOGRAPHERS DSDamm Photography, J. David Wright INTERNS Kenzie Clarke, Matthew Dawson SOCIAL MEDIA Topaz Digital Ink, LLC ADVERTISING To request a Media Kit Call (727)709-9541 or Email: Advertising@ItsYourHomeMagazine.com SUBMIT CONTEST ENTRIES TO Contests@ItsYourHomeMagazine.com SUBMIT STORIES, PRESS RELEASES OR EVENTS Editor@ItsYourHomeMagazine.com Visit our Digital Online Version www.ItsYourHomeMagazine.com Phone (727) 709-9541 Published by TOPAZ DIGITAL INK, LLC. 3805 RIVER OAKS CT. TRINITY, FL 34655 IT’S YOUR HOME Magazine is published in print and online eight times per year with news and advertising designed exclusively for the residents of our community. Copies are distributed via direct mail, and distributed throughout the community of Tampa Bay, Florida. No reproduction or transmission of ads, editorials, pictorials, digital or print advertising and/or design content in any form of this publication are allowed without publisher consent. All rights reserved © 2016.
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Hometown HERO
Dedicated to Healing the Hearts of Others
Becky Bennett, Pasco Kids First By Debra Taylor Tee
Pasco Kids First Children’s Advocacy Center is fully accredited by the National Children’s Alliance, one of only 17 in the state of Florida. Their success is attributed to the strong partnerships with businesses and organizations, local legislators, and the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, due, in large part, to Becky’s diligence.
“Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.” - Theodore Roosevelt This is one of her favorite quotes…and for good reason. Nobody cares more than Becky Bennett, regardless of what it is you’re talking about: kids, colleagues, causes, family, friends, football... You name it, she probably cares about it and applies 110% of herself to doing whatever it takes to make a difference for it! A self-proclaimed Florida girl (and Gator), native of small town, Boscobel, WI, Becky has maintained the Midwestern values instilled in her by her Father and family. “I am very close with my Dad and family up there and believe this is where I got my work ethic, my belief in the importance of family, and my desire to give back to others. My dad would give the shirt off his back if he knew someone needed it – and I inherited this, along with the “Bennett Stubbornness” trait from him,” she admitted. Be it “Bennett Stubbornness” or sheer determination, Becky is a Hometown Hero because of her drive and dedication to do the right thing for causes close to her heart, but more importantly, those that help heal the hearts of others. Since 2007, Becky has tirelessly served in various capacities with Pasco Kids First, a non-profit organization that has addressed child abuse and neglect cases in Pasco County for 26 years, and Hernando County for nine. The goal of the organization is to keep kids safe and strengthen families. Pasco Kids First includes the Healthy Families prevention program; the Child Protection Team that provides assessment services; a Trauma Treatment Team that provides therapy for children who have experienced any type of trauma; and a new program to Pasco Kids First known as “SAVE”, or Sexual Assault Victims Exams.
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“I started with Pasco Kids First in 2007, as the Healthy Families Pasco Program Manager, after learning about it through my Leadership Pasco Class (Oh, Thank Heaven for the Class of ’07)! Our class renovated the Healthy Families Hudson Office as our class project. The more I learned about the child abuse prevention program, the tremendous outcomes, and the impact they were having on, not only the child and their parents, but for generations to come, I knew I wanted to be a part of it! The mission of Healthy Families is also personal to me, as I have family members who, I believe, could have greatly benefited from the program,” Becky recanted. Now, Becky serves as Director of Development on behalf of Pasco Kids First, and her responsibilities go above and beyond marketing, communications, fundraising, business development, website and social media. She is also heavily involved with grant management and program development. But that is not all Becky juggles regularly. She is a loving, devoted daughter, granddaughter, sister and aunt. She feels “really blessed to have a wonderful group of Trinity Rotarian brothers, sisters and friends” who she considers family. She is so involved with the Rotary, Becky has served at the district level since 2012, in various capacities, including as the District Conference Chair for conferences in Orlando and the Bahamas. She is her Rotary Club’s Community and Youth Services Chair; Association of Fundraising Professionals President Elect; Young Professional Group Board member; and she’s involved with the Community Service Council Outreach Committee. If all this weren’t enough, she is also Executive Committee Secretary for the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce, and she is a Charter Executive Committee member of the Service Provider Advisory Network of Pasco. If there is no other reason to recognize Becky Bennett as our Hometown Hero, there is her motto: “Carpe Diem”, or “Seize the Day”. She certainly does…everyday…and always for the betterment of her family, friends and community!
11
Publisher’s NOTE
Fall IS IN THE Air A
s I savor the seasonal aromatics of Autumn – pumpkin, apples and cinnamon spice – my senses are crystal clear…Fall is in the air… my favorite time of the year! Although summer has officially come to an end, you wouldn’t really know it, thanks to our climate here in Florida. Not to worry! Autumn is the season of harvests, festivals, apple pie, and lots of pumpkins. Oh, how I love pumpkin!
They adorn doorsteps and landscapes with a bright orange flair. They are carved into jack-o-lanterns for Halloween, and they are quickly becoming more than a seasonal gourd, flavoring everything from coffee to ice cream. They’re not just for pies anymore! There are plenty of Fall celebrations throughout our community, and many fun family festivities in which to participate. Please check out our calendar on page 38 to find out more. If those things weren’t enough for me to love this time of year, real estate is a “Seller’s Market” these days, and homes are selling quickly! The market is RED HOT, and sale prices are rising. If you have been wrestling with the idea of putting your home on the market, NOW is the time to sell, while interest rates are still low. As Your Hometown Realtor, I am truly committed to providing you with the highest level of quality, personalized service available. It is my pleasure to furnish you with the latest market information, including a complimentary market analysis. In fact, it would be my honor to help guide you through the sale and/or purchase of your dream home! The Holidays are quickly approaching. When preparing your list, please consider doing your holiday shopping at the many local businesses found within these pages. These local businesses are committed to offering great products and services at competitive prices, and they are always grateful for your loyalty and patronage. IT’s YOUR HOME Magazine continues to connect our readers to our local businesses in an effort to promote a thriving, economicallyviable and close-knit community. Your Family. Your Community. Your Life… IT’s YOUR HOME!
Enjoy the Fall Air
Debbie Dawson
Publisher, Realtor® Debbie@ItsYourHomeMagazine.com | 727-709-9541 For a Current List of New Homes for Sale, call 727-710-0286 or click here www.YourHomeTampaBay.com 12 Fall Issue 2016
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Health & BEAUTY
GOURD-eous DĂŠcor G
lam up your fall display with this easy holiday craft. All you need is a gourd, spray paint and accessories that match your style. If you want to keep your master piece to reuse next year, purchase craft pumpkins and gourds from your local hobby store. If gold leaf is not for you, substitute gold spray paint.
Easy HOLIDAY CRAFT
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Material: Pumpkin or gourd, spray primer, gold leaf kit, straight pins of craft glue, corded twine or beads, matte finish spray polyurethane, floral wire, sprays of fall berries & leaves. Work Flow: 1. Spray your gourd with primer, let dry. 2. Follow the instructions that come with your gold leaf kit. 3. Pin or glue the twine and beads into the grooves of the pumpkin or in a spiral pattern around the gourd. 4. Seal with matte polyurethane spray. 5. Using the floral wire, attach sprays of berries & leaves to the stem.
13
Health & BEAUTY
14 Fall Issue 2016
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Hometown STORY Dr Xhoana Gjelaj & Piro Varfi, Trinity Dental Arts
Exceptional Dentistry, Exceptional Love By Debra Taylor Tee
breadth of knowledge and experience, along with that of their knowledgeable staff, to help patients in Trinity, West Pasco, and North Pinellas Counties. When it comes to creating balance between their personal and professional lives, which can be exceptionally challenging when spouses live and work together 24/7, Piro explained, “It is very difficult, but we manage to make time for each other, family and social obligations. It is very important to know and focus on your values and let them guide your decisions and schedules. It helps that we both love our jobs. “Most doctors’ offices are high-volume, high-turnover, with long wait times. We strive to keep waiting to a minimum, adhering to our primary goal of providing exceptional dentistry to each person, individually,” he continued.
M
ost children do not look forward to doctor’s appointments, much less trips to the dentist. However, Xhoana Gjelaj, whose parents were both dental technicians in Albania, located in southeastern Europe, loved dentistry beginning at a very early age. With a passion for the profession, that impressionable young girl knew exactly what she wanted to be when she grew up…an amazing, highly-skilled, highly-acclaimed dentist! Dr. Xhoana Gjelaj, (pronounced “July”), met her husband, Piro, on Christmas Day 2008, at a holiday party. They quickly learned they had a lot in common and truly enjoyed each other’s company. Both loved to read and to learn new things, and they both loved traveling and sampling regional cuisine. What an incredible gift to have found each other on Christmas! It did not take long before the two fell madly in love and were married the following July.
Piro shared, “Learning is a life-long hobby for both of us. We both like to relax, read, and watch our favorite shows on television. We both like to travel to new places and explore the food scene, at home or away. ” “Home” is now Palm Harbor, but their home-away-from-home remains their technologically-advanced dental practice in Trinity, which they successfully operate together, with their talented, highly-educated staff members. Dr. Gjelaj and her husband jumpstarted her professional career in 2009, when they opened Tarpon Springs Dental. They chose to expand after seven years in Tarpon Springs, by building a state-of-the-art dental practice launched as Trinity Dental Arts in January 2016, and now this dynamic dentist brings her
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Exceptional Dentistry with Lasting Results are the words this couple live by every day, and their exceptional love for each other, coupled with the profession they adore, propels them to always do their very best for each other and for each patient they serve. “(Our profession) gives us an opportunity to help people change their lives. Dental health has an impact on overall health, not to mention quality of life. We see the difference that a healthy smile makes first hand in our patients and how their lives improve. That is very rewarding and inspires us to do better,” Piro added. If they had more spare time, Piro would definitely do more fishing, and Dr. Gjelaj would get a dog as a canine companion to their two felines. In the meantime, with Piro’s unwavering support, Dr Gjelaj continues her quest to expand her professional knowledge and her comprehensive, individualized approach to expertly change each patient’s smile, overall health and quality of life, using the very latest technology at Trinity Dental Arts. Furthermore, she was recently awarded the Mastership of Academy of General Dentistry, placing her in the top 2% of dentists in North America to have this professional achievement. Wow… top 2%! Piro & Dr. Gjelaj want to help you, too, no matter how long it has been since you visited a dentist. For more information about the practice, staff, and technology, or to schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Gjelaj, call 727-228-6846, visit www. trinitydentalarts.com, or stop by their beautiful new office at 11105 Trinity Blvd, Trinity. A healthier, brighter smile awaits!
15
Health & BEAUTY
Pour Me a
Drink
With the cooler months on the way, it is easy to forget to drink your daily allowance of water to stay properly hydrated. Water makes up about 60 percent of your body weight. Every system in your body depends on water. Water flushes toxins out of vital organs, carries nutrients to your cells, and provides moisture for ear, nose and throat tissues. A lack of water can lead to dehydration which can drain your energy and make you tired, cause headaches and constipation among other more serious affects. To ward off dehydration and make sure your body has the fluids it needs, make water your beverage of choice. It’s a good idea to drink a glass of water or other water based calorie-free or lowcalorie beverage with each meal and between each meal. Make a practice of drinking water before, during and after physical exertion. If you are thirsty, you may already be on your way to being dehydrated so listen to your body and take a drink.
Taylor Made to a Tee
Embrace Change with the Seasons For some reason, whenever I think of the Autumn season, I think about change. In Kentucky and surrounding states, Fall escorts in cooler temperatures and cloudier weather patterns; leaves begin to change colors from luscious greens to vibrant reds, oranges and yellows, only to be released from their trees by nature and gravity; and farmers change their Summer routines in preparation for shorter days, longer nights, upcoming harvests and the onset of a very cold Winter. (Wooly worms are solid black and super fuzzy this year in the Bluegrass State!) Here in Florida, our change in seasons is not as dramatic as up north. However, most of us anxiously anticipate the possibility of less-than-extremely-hot temperatures in our beautiful, tropical paradise. Some of us change our fashion statements as we don our favorite sweaters and boots for those chilly nights and crisp mornings that eventually come with the season! Change. People resist it, but it is inevitable if we are to grow and evolve as a people, as a community, as a nation, and as a world. Furthermore, there are many changes, like seasons, that we have no control over whatsoever. “When you’re finished changing, you’re finished.” –Ben Franklin, American Founding Father, Journalist, Inventor Ben was right. In as much as it can be a dreadfully painful, or an exceedingly joyful, experience, change is what we all require throughout every season of our lives. Choose to embrace change, even when it is not easy, and you will experience life like never before! “If we don’t change, we don’t grow. If we don’t grow, we aren’t really living.” -Gail Sheehy, American Author, Journalist, Lecturer Gail understands. As the seasons transition and our daylight hours dwindle, rather than complain about this annual occurrence that complicates your life, look for the positive effects that accompany this change. For me, I absolutely love gaining one hour back each Fall! I don’t have enough time in a day as it is, so one extra hour we regain from our Spring sacrifice, is more than welcome! In this, America’s most important season of political change, we registered voters have gone, or will be going, to the polls to cast our ballots to elect a new POTUS. No matter who is elected to serve in the most powerful position in the world, it means there will be change. Our President-Elect will either be a wealthy businessman with no outward political experience, or the first woman President in our nation’s history. We do have control over this change. Please be thoughtful about your decision, and carefully discern each candidate’s platform as compared to your own rights, wants, needs and passions. Get to your polling place any way you can and vote your conscience. Each and every one counts! “I cannot say whether things will get better if we change; what I can say is they must change if they are to get better.” -Georg C. Lichtenberg, German Scientist, Satirist
Debra Taylor Tee Editorial Director Columnist, Writer
Life is short. Live, Laugh & Love... A Lot!
16 Fall Issue 2016
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17
Home LIVING
Light Your Fire Fire pits provide endless opportunities to enjoy the outdoors with friends and family. Imagine spending your nights toasting marshmallows or enjoying a glass of wine as an open fire crackles and pops before your eyes. Weather wood burning or propane gas, you can enjoy your nights around a dancing flame that offers both beauty and elegance. Weather you build it yourself, purchase one or hire a contractor, you can’t go wrong with this addition to your backyard.
Landscaping, mailboxes and fences are often near buried utility lines. Digging can damage them and leave you without lights, internet or cable service. Always notify Sunshine 811 BEFORE you dig to have utility lines marked. Start the process today! • •
Know what’s
below. Call 811
Call 811, or Use Single Address Ticket at sunshine811.com
This is a free service. BROUGHT TO YOU BY
before you dig.
18 Fall Issue 2016
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Home LIVING
Fall Colors for
By Doreen Damm
Your Florida Landscape
we, the first cool fronts are making their way to the sunshine state but our tropical location tends to stay pretty green most of the year. So how can you bring the colors of the season to your landscape? Choose shrubby and container plants that have hues of yellows, oranges, reds and purples.
A
Duranta Planted as a boarder in the landscape, Cuban Gold Duranta will offer bright yellow contrast to your green lawn. Can be tightly pruned or allowed to grow tall to provide dense screening. Used in a container, it acts as a filler plant that can last for many years. Crossandra A perennial with glossy green leaves can take full sun or part shade and will bring that pop of orange we miss in the fall months. Also known as Firecracker Flower, it blooms in tiered clusters of long lasting petals. It can bloom in all seasons and works well both in the garden and in container plantings.
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Red Aglaonema This care free perennial shows its best color in medium or diffused sunlight and can burn in the strong rays of our Florida sun. It’s bright, bold colors in tones of green, red and pink make the stylish leaves the perfect accent plant for shade gardens, container plantings and can be grown indoors.
Loropetalum You can’t go wrong with this plant that colors from rich purples to dark greens and blooms both spring and fall with fringy pink flowers. There are several cultivars you can choose, from low growing ground covers to tall trees but the most commonly used is the medium variety Daruma, that can be pruned as an evergreen shrub.
19
Home LIVING Cool Weather Car Care
Here is a simple checklist you can do to be sure your car is ready for the fall and winter months ahead.
Defying Age
“Boomers” Keep on Rockin’
Battery Cables and Terminals – Check that battery cables are making a good connection. Clean any corrosion from the terminals and posts. It is a good Idea to take your battery in to be tested. You don’t want to start the season with a weak battery. Tire Tread and Pressure – Check your tread depth, if any tire has less than 3/32-inches of tread, it should be replaced. Uneven wear on the tires can indicate alignment, suspension or wheel balance problems that should be addressed to prevent further damage to the tires. Check tire pressure more frequently during winter months. As the temperature drops, so will the pressures in the tires—typically 1 PSI for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Air Filter – Check the engine’s air filter by holding it up to a 60-watt light bulb. If light can be seen through most of the filter, it is still clean enough to work effectively and does not need to be replaced just yet. Coolant Levels – Check the coolant level when the engine is cold. If the coolant level is low, add a 50/50 solution of coolant and water to maintain the necessary antifreeze capability. The level of antifreeze protection can be checked with an inexpensive tester available at any auto parts store. Wiper Blades and Washer Fluid – Blades should completely clear the glass with each swipe. Replace blades that leave streaks or miss spots. Fill the windshield washer fluid reservoir with a cleaning solution that has antifreeze components for cold weather use. For a more thorough checkup have your car inspected by a certified technician
Boomers! An amazing generation! We just keep on a rockin! No Matter what! No matter where! WE are there! “Age is just a number “for millions of Boomers today. Starting over in many cases with a new career, a new relationship, a new life in their path, in spite of the age factor. It is all possible! Call us brave, downright courageous touting a “never give up attitude” continually setting an example for our youth of today’s generation. Boomers still have that “Rock & Roll” right down to their soul, and KNOWS that “The Beat DOES Go On” It’s just a matter of how you “Rock it!” Taking that stroll down the “Boomer Memory Lane” is always fun reliving the nostalgia, but still applying it in today’s life style. Getting out with friends, for fun, laughter, love and appreciation for life itself. Diggin’ the dances we did then, and adding the new ones. Boomers relish the importance of family, friendship, FREEDOM, patriotism, prayer and good old fashion values. While many do have their challenges with the digital age, we still jump right in there and have our 3-year-old grandkids teach us! HAHA! We are part of an era that never gives up on anything. We go after a long lost passion from yesteryear! Perhaps putting a garage band or vocal group back together after many years of being apart. Building a street rod. Learn the ballroom dances! Write a book, start a social club. Create your own TV show! Eh hem! Volunteer! There is nothing like a hometown community, where Boomers are the glue, close knit and supportive in times of challenge and times of celebration. It is never too late to renew that dream, and step back into an amazing era, sharing a “Kumbaya” spirit, paying forward. Living an unscripted life, while we still have it. Stretch a little more, give a little more! Make a difference! Life is such a gift and it is all of what we choose to make of it! Remember “Age is just a number!” Follow that passion you have always had, there is no time like the present time. Need some motivation? Inspiration? Tune in to our “Special Edition” TV show, “Women Unscripted” Episode August 29, on Prime Time TV, at www.webeamtv.com, where we took that stroll down the “Boomer, Hippie & 60’s ” Memory Lane.
Barbara Marville-Kelly Author, Speaker, Life Coach TV Host | We Beam TV www.mychambertv.com “My Passion is LIFE, making a difference, family, friends, good health and DANCE!!”
20 Fall Issue 2016
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Home LIVING
Should You Clean
Your Air Ducts? I
n order for your forced-air furnace or HVAC to deliver warm and cool air into your rooms, that air has to go through a system of ducts. This means you could be breathing in any dust, cobwebs, pet hair, and dander that line those ducts. While there are no conclusive studies to support that duct cleaning will improve your home’s indoor air quality, there are a few reasons that you may want to have this done. Unless your ducts are airtight, leaky ducts can pull in dirty air and allergens from crawlspaces, garages, and attics — and blow it all around your house. If you have special needs, like a compromised immune system or severe allergies, you may want to consider calling a professional to clean your duct system. Other circumstances would be mold growth, excessive dirt and debris from a recent remodel and lastly, if you have vermin get into your duct system by all means, clean those ducts.
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Home LIVING
Real Estate Closing Overview A closing is defined as “a meeting of all parties involved in a property transaction during which pertinent documents are signed and transferred, and funds are distributed.” Typically, it is handled by a closing agent, either a title insurance company or an attorney, and will last approximately 45 to 60 minutes. The closing agent will begin preparation for your closing shortly after you sign your contract. A request for payoff information is sent for existing mortgages, as well as a request for any information regarding homeowners or condominium association dues and/or transfer fees. If a new mortgage is being obtained, the closing agent will work closely with the new lender to make sure that all of the lender’s closing requirements are met. A title exam is ordered to verify the seller’s right to transfer ownership, and to discover any outstanding mortgages, liens, restrictions, easements, etc., which may affect the property. The closing agent will also work closely with the lender and Realtors to coordinate the ordering of the termite inspection, survey, homeowner’s insurance and flood insurance, if applicable. When the lender has received all required documents from the buyer and the loan has been approved, the closing agent will schedule the date and time for the closing with all parties. The lender will prepare a closing package consisting of the loan closing instructions, fees charged in connection with the new loan, and any loan documents to be delivered to the closing agent. After the closing, the closing agent sends the original deed and mortgage to the courthouse for recording. The completed loan package is sent to the lender. All remaining funds are disbursed according to the settlement statement, including mortgage payoffs. The owner’s and lender’s title policies are issued when the deed and mortgage are returned to the closing agent after recording. For more information, visit our website: championstitleservices. com or call a member of our team, 727-264-2394.
Your Team at CHAMPIONS TITLE SERVICES 2049 Welbilt Blvd Trinity, Fl 34655 727-264-2394 www.ChampionsTitleServices.com
22 Fall Issue 2016
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Home LIVING ACROSS
ers on w s n a e Se 4 Page 4
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1 5 8 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 21 22 23 25 29 32 33 35 36 38 40 42 43 45 47 50 52 54 55 56 57 58 59
Bath (Fr.) Explode Of the kind of (suf.) She (Fr.) Jap. apricot Paraaminobenzoic acid Differ Arabian Chieftain Greek letter Tree Asbestos (abbr.) Burmese knife Incessantly It. marble Tilled land Common man Siesta Adjective forming (suf.) Agave fiber Daw Soft mineral Guido’s note (2 words) Noun-froming (suf.) Yarn Hawaiian frigate bird House (Sp.) Em (2 words) Monad Feline South African Senior (Fr.) Donkey (Fr.) Salver
DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 16 20 22 24 25 26 27 28 30 31 34 37 39 41 43 44 46 47 48 49 51 53
“Venerable” monk Settled “Casablanca” characters Nat’l Endowment for the Arts (abbr.) Steal Buddhist sacred mountain Pique Amazon tributary N.A. tree Wading Bird Carbon (pref.) Objective Stowe character Old Sp. gold coin Health evergreen Consumer price index (abbr.) They (Fr.) Peccadillo (2 words) Horse Arabic letter Cheer Bishop Sprite Away from the wind Slayer of Caesar Ecuador (abbr.) Hindu queen Hit on the head Frankenstein’s assistant Olive genus Eagle’s nest Daughter of Zeus Amer. Ballet Theatre (abbr.)
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Home LIVING
Are You Ready To Be A
First-Time Home Buyer?
In general, if for the last six months, you’ve kept credit card balances away from their limits; and made payments to your creditors on-time, you’re managing your credit well and the credit bureaus will agree. It’s your credit behavior over the most recent 6 months which affect your credit score the most. Good behavior pushes your score higher, poor behavior moves your score lower. “Do I Have Money Saved Up For More Than Just My Down Payment?”
By Mike Chissell Innovative Mortgage Services NMLS#327290
For many people, it’s part of the American Dream to own a home. Here’s a short list of the questions you should be asking yourself at the start of your home search endeavor. “Do I Have A Steady Job And Reliable Income?” Before you choose to buy a home, you’ll want to be reasonably certain that you can make its monthly payment. You can’t know for sure that your job or income won’t change -- life happens, after all -- but an objective analysis will go a long way.
When you’re thinking of buying a home, it’s important to think about your down payment -- even if your plan is to use 100% financing.This is because thinking about a down payment forces you to think about your savings and, as a homeowner, you’re going to need your savings. It’s often overlooked that the cost of homeownership ranges higher than just your monthly payment. There are real estate taxes to pay, homeowners insurance bills to cover and, like with the homes you’ve rented in your life, things break. Homes can be expensive to maintain -- even the new ones. As a homeowner, you should plan to set aside 1.5% of your home’s value each year to cover the costs of maintenance and repairs. Some years, you will just a portion of what you’ve earmarked. Other years, you’ll use all of it. You should also make sure that your household savings accounts hold at least six months’ worth of living expenses, and preferably, twelve. Job loss and illness can affect your household income, which can affect your ability to make payments on your home. It’s important that you’ve set aside savings.
“Is My Credit History Reasonable?”
Debbie Dawson,
You don’t need perfect credit to purchase a home. Heck, you don’t even need great credit. Despite a history of bankruptcy, foreclosure, or short sale, you can get approved for a mortgage with a lender. However, your credit history has to be reasonable. When considering your credit history, ignore the blemishes of your long-ago past. What happened five or ten years ago is ancient history. What matters is how you’re managing your credit today.
1.
2.
RE/MAX Champions
727-710-0286
YourHomeTampaBay.com
Showcase Your Home’s Value 6 Tips to make your home a buyer’s dream By Doreen Damm
Size matters. You can make your rooms feel larger than they are by editing non-essential furniture pieces and making sure the remaining pieces are scaled to the room. Place your furniture in a manner that allows you to easily navigate through the space. Maine Video Tours
Move in ready kitchens sell homes. If you are planning to spend any money upgrading your home in preparation to sell, the kitchen is the highest return for your investment. Chose quality finishes but avoid getting too customized. Remember, you are not renovating for you but for the average home buyer.
3.
There is no such thing as too much storage. Highlight your homes storage by using organizers such as totes, baskets and bins for neat closet presentation. This is a good time to purge, crowded closets will give buyers the impression there is not room for their things.
4
. Freshen up your walls. Paint is one of the best cost effective ways to make a home look it’s best to potential buyers. Neutral colors that work well with most décor is a smart Idea but if you can’t resist a bit of color, try nearly neutrals such as sky blue.
5.
Bright, clean bathrooms. This is your second biggest return on investment and the smallest room in most homes. If you don’t plan a full renovation, replacing the toilet, shower fixtures and upgrading the vanity will go a long way.
6.
Don’t forget the curb appeal. You want buyers to fall in love as they drive up to your home. Replace all dead or struggling plants with low maintenance options, keep your lawn green and planters in tip top shape. Check exterior walls, windows and doors for any repairs that would give buyers the impression the home is not cared for. You don’t want to lose their interest before they even step in the door.
24 Fall Issue 2016
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Your Hometown REALTOR
Fall in Love
With Your New Home Buying or Selling,
Debbie Dawson is Your Hometown Realtor My passion is helping my family, friends, neighbors, and community, successfully achieve their goals of buying and selling their homes since 1997. As your RealtorŽ, I will expertly match you with your dream home, or provide you exceptional service and exposure, when it’s time to put your home on the market. I will always strive to build a long-term relationship based on trust, for honest, consistent real estate service for life.
You only get one chance to make a first impression, and the best first impression you can make is having the prestigious RE/MAX Realty sign in your yard, backed by my decades of real estate negotiation experience. I have a sincere, deeply-rooted love for our community, and you can rest assured, I am your Hometown Realtor!
Debbie Dawson, RE/MAX Champions
727-710-0286
YourHomeTampaBay.com
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25
Home LIVING
Are You Growing Your Own
Mosquitoes? While there is no way to eliminate mosquitoes from our tropical oasis, we can do our part by removing breeding opportunities around our home. Some mosquitoes can breed in as little as 1 ½ inch of standing water and can develop from egg to adult in as little as 7 days. Check around your home after each time you water your lawn or we have any amount of rainfall for these common water collectors. Roof Gutters – Keep them free of debris so water drains properly. Trash Cans – Keep lids on, if lids are not available, turn the cans upside down or drill holes in the bottom. Ornamental Ponds – Stock ponds with fish that will eat the mosquito larvae. Bird Baths – Completely empty and refill your bird bath twice a week, the birds with thank you too. Kids toys, gardening items and even some plants all collect enough water to be appealing to a breeding mosquito. The more items you remove from your outdoor environment, the less things you will have to check for standing water.
26 Fall Issue 2016
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Home LIVING
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Home LIVING
5 Home Hacks for Easy Maintenance
1. Tuck Chalk in Your Toolbox to Stop Rust
You can keep the metal tools and hardware in your toolbox rustfree with blackboard chalk. How so? Chalk is a moisture-sucking material that traps dampness. When you place several pieces throughout your toolbox, its porous nature will protect items prone to rusting. Bonus tip: Got a musty closet? Fill up a small muslin or cheesecloth bag with chalk and then hang it inside. It will absorb the dampness and stinky odor.
2. Spray Your Mower’s Blades to Keep Clippings from Sticking If you have a lawn, mowing is one of those must-do drudgeries. Fortunately, cooking spray can make the chore problem-free. When applied to a mower’s undercarriage and blades, it can help prevent grass clippings from sticking. Bonus tip: You can prevent ice from building up in your freezer with cooking spray. Just spray a thick layer over spots prone to icing, and let it sit for five minutes. Afterward, use a towel to wipe up the oil.
3. Toss in a Tennis Ball to Clean Your Pool Water Suntan lotions, moisturizers, and body oils will leave a greasy slick on pool water. To clean, toss in a fresh tennis ball. Its fuzzy surface will soak up the oils your guests left behind. Bonus tip: A tennis ball will buff scuff marks off floors. To avoid stooping while cleaning, cut an X into the ball and place on the end of a mop or broom handle.
4. Use Painter’s Tape for a Perfect Caulk Job To many DIYers (myself included), applying caulk in clean, straight lines seems like an impossible task. But it’s actually very easy if you use painter’s tape. You’ll need to thoroughly clean the area you’re caulking first. When it’s dry, apply medium adhesion painter’s tape, such as Frog Tape, above and below the area you’ll be caulking and then caulk. Be sure to peel off the tape while the caulk is still wet.
5. Grab a Makeup Sponge to Repair Drywall Holes
Typically mesh or paper tape is used to fill small holes in drywall. But a cosmetic sponge will get the job done, too. Just stuff it into the hole (you may need to cut it down to size) and spackle. Bonus tip: A little baking soda added to a dollop of strong, fast-acting glue, such as Krazy Glue, will fix a small wall crack. When the mixture is dry, it forms a hard plastic that can easily be sanded down to a smooth surface. Source www.houselogic.com
28 Fall Issue 2016
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Local
STAR
EARL CHRISTY, “THE SUPER BOWL CHAMPION”
Local Minister & Inspirational Speaker I f you are a “baby boomer” who followed football in the 1960’s, or have grown up a fan of the game, you will probably recognize this gentleman’s name as a former Defensive Back for the New York Jets.
Earl “The Twirl” Christy has made football history, and you probably didn’t even realize that he walks among us! ”The Super Bowl Champion,” as he is affectionately known, enjoys strolling the Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks with his lovely wife, Belinda Womack Christy, sporting a million dollar smile and sharing a million memories of his life’s journey.
Springs in 2000, where he became a school teacher and set down roots. Earl has an extensive list of honors, programs, and institutions about which to be proud: • • • • • • • • • • •
Earl can certainly recant his days at Havre De Grace Consolidated School, his all-black high school alma mater, in Havre De Grace, Maryland. He has plenty of remembrances of his college days at Maryland State College East Shore, Perryman, and the intensely hard work and dedication required of him to make it possible to become a professional football player in the 60’s. The stories everyone wants to hear involve his playing with the Jets in one of the first Super Bowls EVER, and his role in the first AFL/NFL Super Bowl, that forever changed the sport and its most popular championship. “Our team brought the AFL & NFL together (in the Super Bowl), and I had the honor of receiving the kick-off of that game. It was a joyful time in my life, especially playing against my hometown team,” Earl explained. The burning question everyone asks first? Does he really know Joe Namath? Why, yes. Yes, he does. In fact, one of his favorite memories involves a trip to the west coast and Tijuana, Mexico, with Joe and a few other team members. They are still very good friends, they still stay in contact with each other, and Earl is an active participant in the Joe Namath Football Camp every summer.
Pastor of Obedient People of God Ministries Member of the Maryland East Shore Hall of Fame Member of Havre De Grace High School Hall of Fame Member of National Football League Players Association Member of National Football League Alumni Sports Director for WTIS Radio, 1110 AM Two-time “Teacher of the Year” at McClellan Elementary School in Chicago, IL Former Assistant Football Coach Cheyney State University Inventor of Sports-A-Cize Physical Fitness and Academic Game Owner of Pro-Show Basketball team, the Harlem Wizards Director of Elite Neuro Performance
All of the accolades, awards, honors, ventures, stories and memories are truly amazing, as well as entertaining, and it is incredibly special that Earl and Belinda Christy are our neighbors. Yet, his “Glory Days” in football pale in comparison to his spiritual mission to make a difference in peoples’ lives with his sermons, his testimonials and his “Glory Days” as an ordained minister. Earl inspires people spiritually by teaching them how to win in life and by emphasizing the importance of loving one another. His most important message above all: “Love God first, and love your neighbor as yourself.” Earl Christy may be one of our areas most beloved local stars, but his current claim to fame is his ability to be an inspiration to others each and every day. His special way of reaching people, coupled with his celebrity, only accentuates his noble efforts. Without a doubt, Earl Christy consistently embraces the Biblical passage, “To whom much is given, much is required.” Luke 12:48
Following his successful football career, Earl spent 45 years as a sportscaster. He and his family moved to Tarpon
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Business & FINANCE
30 Fall Issue 2016
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Trinity’s Taste of Tequila “Margarita
Wars”
Business & FINANCE Was a HUGE Success!
Jimmy Buffett would’ve been proud! There were no missing shakers of salt Friday evening, September 16th, as Seven Springs Golf and Country Club was transformed into “Margaritaville,” for The Margarita Wars, a fundraiser for the Daughters of Penelope “Pack-A-Sack 4 Kids” program, benefiting their adopted school, Cypress Elementary. The “Pack-A-Sack 4 Kids” program provides “food insecure” children, who consume free and reduced lunches during regular school weeks at the Pasco campus, with a backpack full of healthy food for nourishment on weekends and over extended breaks. Being “food insecure” means these children are at risk of being hungry over weekends, or during extended breaks, for any number of reasons. The participants were judged and the winners announced: The Margarita Wars, sponsored by Seven Springs Golf & Country Club and IT’s YOUR HOME Magazine, with the support of 16 community businesses battling for the title of “Best Margarita”, provided more than 300 attendees’ flavorful samples of various tequila-based margarita concoctions, raising nearly $4,200 for the program, which was enough money to feed an entire school for one year.
• • • •
Best Margarita - “Spartarita”- Spartan Manor/ Olympus Limo Tampa Bay Best Guacamole- Style Makers Salon/ DeLuca’s Fine Jewelry Best Salsa- Tom Kinsella Best Table Theme- Seven Springs Golf and Country Club
Trophy and ribbons by A-OK Trophies LLC. Debbie Dawson, Publisher of IYH Magazine commented, “The Margarita Wars event was a huge success! Everyone said they had such a great time, and SSGCC was packed! Attendees enjoyed the colorful atmosphere, the great music, and of course, the margaritas of every flavor, all while helping a great cause.”
DIVA’S WANTED: Need
Congratulations to all of the winners, but most especially the “food insecure” students at Cypress Elementary School, who will not be hungry this year. A special thank you to all of the volunteers and sponsors that made this community event such a great success!
BE A PART OF THE NEXT MOB!
an outlet for your singing talent?
Looking for a night out just for you? Discover how fun it is to sing with Suncoast Harmony Chorus.The ability to read music or prior vocal training is not a prerequisite for singing with us. No matter what your voice range, we will find just the right part for you. Singing and performing a cappella, four-part harmony music, barbershop style, is a pleasure you deserve! SINGING IS GOOD FOR YOU. It has been proven “people who sing are healthier than people who don’t. Singing gives the lungs a workout, tones up abdominal and intercostal muscles and the diaphragm. It makes us breathe more deeply than even many forms of strenuous exercise, so we take in more oxygen, improve aerobic capacity and experience a release of muscle tension as well”, cited from Professor Graham Welch, Director of Educational Research, University of Surrey, Roehampton, UK. Surround yourself with REAL WOMEN, SINGING REAL HARMONY, HAVING REAL FUN. We meet every Tuesday evening, 7 PM, at Salishan Gracious Retirement Living, 14191 Astaire Ln., Spring Hill 34609. Car pools are available. For more information call Cindy at 352-597-4376, Betty 352-688-8617 or visit www.suncoast-harmony.com
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DO YOU KNOW OF A LOCAL BUSINESS IN WEST PASCO THAT COULD USE A BOOST IN REVENUE? Sponsored by IT’S YOUR HOME - “Your Local Community Magazine”, local Realtors Debbie Dawson & Valerie Wilson and a passion for helping the small businesses in our community. They will announce the business to be “HIT” at 10am each month in a parking lot located in West Pasco. Within minutes, dozens of friends and neighbors from our community crash a local Mom & Pop business where everyone shops! This amazing group has increased sales from $450 to over $2,000 in 30 minutes. Business owners are shocked as the Cash Mob West Pasco group enters their store each armed with a $10 bill. The “MOB” then retreats to a nearby restaurant to enjoy networking and a tasty lunch. Votes are taken for the next Mom & Pop business to “HIT” in the West Pasco County. Come armed with a $10 bill, support a small local business, have fun, network, make new friends and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. You’ll be hooked, we all have a great time. Then, you vote for your favorite local business to be “MOBBED” next month. Please share. We would love to make this the largest “MOB” to date to support our local businesses. Find out where the next cash mob will meet on our Facebook page and invite your friends. facebook.com/groups/cashmobofwestpasco
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Keep IT LOCAL
32 Fall Issue 2016
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Business & FINANCE
Should You Try and Pay Off Your Mortgage Early? pay $61,657 in interest if you make the minimum payment of about $449 (note this doesn’t include taxes, insurance or other related costs). But increase your payments by $200 each month, and you can save almost$29,000 in interest over the life of the mortgage. Not too shabby. However, if you invest that extra $200 and get a reasonable 7-percent average return, and you can have $246,000 after 30 years—or more than eight times the mortgage interest you saved. But what’s the most effective way to go about it?
The short answer? It depends. Because homes aren’t a liquid asset that you can easily tap in times of need, if you realize your emergency savings is lacking, allocate any extra dollars you have at the end of the month there instead. “You want to put your cash to work in other, more efficient ways, and retain your flexibility,” Greg McBride, Bankrate’s Chief Financial Analyst says. “Tying up money in a home isn’t flexible.” If you’re already on your way to a healthy emergency fund, there’s another consideration: Invest the dollars you’d put toward wiping out your mortgage early, and the payoff could be exponential. Let’s say you have a $100,000 mortgage and an annual interest rate of 3.5 percent. Assuming a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, you’ll
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Fleming’s advice for accelerating your payment schedule is to apply windfalls to the principal balance. Whether it’s a raise or bonus, or inheritance, any extra payment you make toward your mortgage helps. And it’s best to start early. Mortgages are structured to pay interest first, which means you’ll barely put a dent in the balance for the first couple years. Adding a little extra to pay down principal can reap big benefits, especially with a new mortgage. Going back to our $100,000 example, adding $10 every month to the $449 base payment knocks out the loan 13 months early and saves about $2,600 in total interest. If you wait until the mortgage’s final three years to apply that extra $10 a month, you’ll only save $20 in interest, and it won’t wipe out the loan any quicker. But pay an extra $10 for the first three years, and you’ll cut two months off the life of your loan, and be $612 richer. Source: Joe D’Allegro
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Business & FINANCE
West Pasco Chamber Continues to Grow
& Welcomes Debora A. Diaz Members of the community and distinguished guest, Representative Amanda Murphy, District 36 all attended the ribbon cutting for Debora A. Diaz, Divorce & Family Law Attorney. Ms. Diaz aims to provide legal representation in an client-focused, efficient and cost effective manner. Her dedication and expertise is a welcomed addition to the WPCC family.
34 Fall Issue 2016
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Business & FINANCE Students Score Higher with
KnowledgePoints Tutoring Does helping your child with core math have your head spinning? Is test-taking a panic-inducing event for your child? KnowledgePoints has been delivering consistent results for more than eight years, successfully increasing students’ skills, confidence and grades in math, reading and writing, as well as producing higher ACT/SAT scores. “We can provide direct support for a tough class. For example, we have consistently helped students improve multiple letter grades in difficult high school math classes. However, most students benefit more from a skills-based approach. We’ll use a diagnostic assessment to pinpoint the missing fundamentals that are likely the cause of the student’s struggles, then create an instruction plan to target those areas. So much of learning is about building on the concepts previously taught, so this approach typically leads to better long-term results for the student, and minimizes the time they need tutoring,” explained owner Rocky Contreras. KnowledgePoints is conveniently located at 10720 SR 54, Suite 110, in Trinity (near Bonefish Grill). For client reviews and more details, visit their website, trinity.knowledgepoints.com, or call 727.484.6178.
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Business
& FINANCE West Pasco Chamber of Commerce
First Three Quarters of 2016 Prove to be Exciting! Is it really October? Hard to believe isn’t it! I wish you a great start to the fourth quarter had a great first three quarters of your year. I am quite impressed with what our Chamber of Commerce has accomplished through the first 9 months of the year! In part because of our awesome long standing members and all our new members (120 since January 1st). On September 13th, a good number of you attended the 14th Annual Ambassador “Catch the Buzz” Spelling Bee. Funds from this event will go to Youth and Family Alternatives (YFA) and programs of the WPCC. This was sponsored and facilitated by the WPCC Ambassadors Club more than 150 of you were in attendance. A truly great event continues to build each year. Our August Membership Month, sponsored by Ford of Port Richey, was extremely successful with fun events including mixers hosted by Trinity Varsity Club, Ford of Port Richey and The Karl Reef, WPCC Night at the Ballpark (Bright House Field) and WPCC Membership Games at Gill Dawg Marina. We wrapped up the month with a General Membership Lunch at Dulcet with Pasco Rebuilds Together presentation. The Results: 19 new members. Our 72nd Annual Awards Banquet took place on June 17th at Spartan Manor with over 350 of our members in attendance. We are excited about the WPCC Cotee River Bike Fest 2016 and the 30 – 40k bikers that will be coming to NPR on October 7th – 9th. A national band, Jack Russell’s Great White, will be performing on Saturday night on the main stage. Before you know it, we will be time to light up Holiday Card Lane on December 2nd followed by the Holiday Street Parade & Pictures with Santa on December 10th. Oh, and did I mention we are on already on pace for a phenomenal Business Development Week in January 2017 with tremendous programs and guest speakers. We are also adding Roundtable Events in coordination with SCORE which will be starting this quarter. Did I forget anything? Hmmm.... That’s right we did a make-over of the outside of Chamber building this year. So I suppose I should rally for a longer summer to keep up the great work that has been accomplished so far this year. The good news is, no matter what season or year we may be in, I can guarantee you the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce will continue to offer excellent programming to our members! I thank you all: my coworkers, President, Chip Wichmanowski, Office Manager, Michelle Anderson, Front Office Coordinator, Kym Liberty and Event Coordinator, Liz Misemer, the Board of Directors, Ambassadors, YPG, Volunteers, Sponsors, and most importantly our Members. Good things are always happening with the West Pasco Chamber!
Paul Friedlander Membership Director West Pasco Chamber of Commerce www.westpasco.com The raod to success is paved with failure. Do not be afraid to fail. “Try, Fail, Adjust!”
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Community EVENTS VISIT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE FOR MORE COMMUNITY EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS www.facebook.com/ItsYourHomeMagazines October Oct 18th, Tues 8th Dancing with the Local Stars Doors open 6 PM Competition Begins 7 PM To benefit the JSL Scholarship Program & JSL Supported Charities. Heavy Appetizers provided, Cash Bar Tickets $40 Spartan Manor 6121 Massachusettes Ave, NPR https://www.facebook.com/ events/237667516630796/ Oct 23rd, Sun 8 Annual Barktoberfest Super Adopt-aThon Event & 5K Run!! 11 AM – 3 PM Food, music, vendors & the largest pet costume contest in Pasco County. Barktoberfest 5K Run with a portion of the proceeds going to 4 local rescue groups. Music by Denim Quiche Photography by Acotto Images FREE Admission Sims Park Call for details 727-375-7070 Grand Blvd & Bank St, NPR Oct 26th, Wed TPBN Community Harvest Expo 5 PM – 7 PM Family friendly time of Trick or Treating. Shop with our local business vendors. Prizes and drawings. Trinity Positive Business Network Oasis Coffee Spot 9213 Little Rd, NPR https://www.facebook.com/ events/293669487680605/
Oct 27th – 30th, Thurs thru Sun Trinity Fest Full Midway Carnival, Generations on the GO 5K & Kids Fun Run, Food Trucks. Family Fun Zone includes free games, activities, face painting. Visit website for exact times and fees Generations Christian Church 1540 Little Rd, Trinity https://www.facebook.com/ events/502444283294597/ Oct 28th, Fri 2nd Annual Halloween Costume Bash 7 PM Come in your best Halloween costume & dance the night away with our house DJ. Enjoy great drinks, a variety of beer, and fantastic food. A portion of the sales will go back to The Trinity Woman’s League’s selected charity Kids Against Hunger. The Brass Tap - Trinity 10700 State Road 54, NPR https://www.facebook.com/ events/1782446295304657/ Oct 29th, Sat 4th Annual Home Fest 2016 10 AM – 2 PM Costume Contest & Candy for the little ones, Truck & 4x4 Show, Business Expo, Food, and More! Door Prizes every 15 minutes. Verizon Event Center 8718 Trouble Creek Road, NPR https://www.facebook.com/ events/1186019844776089/
There is so much to do in our community as Fall begins. Check out all of the Events at IT’S YOUR HOME MAGAZINE, www.facebook.com/itsyourhometampabay/events.
38 Fall Issue 2016
November Nov 5th, Sat 9th Pasco Kids First Family Fun Day 10 AM – 3 PM Enjoy activities for the entire family while promoting health and wellness. Family Fitness Walk, K-9 Demonstration, NPR Fire Department truck, Tampa Bay Lightning Rolling Thunder and Thunderbug. DJ, Games and Arts and Crafts (free), Vendors, Inflatable Activities ($2.00) Sims Park and Orange Lake Grand Blvd & Bank St, NPR http://www.pascokidsfirst.org/9th-annualpasco-kids-first-family-fun-day/ Nov 11th, Fri 2nd Veterans Day Boxing ThrowDown 6 PM – 10 PM Join us for food, drinks & boxing. All proceeds will benefit Veterans Alternative Admission: $25 Veterans $30 Civilians Verizon Event Center 8718 Trouble Creek Rd, NPR https://www.facebook.com/ events/1152651208113694/ Nov 12th, Sat Pasco Geofest 2016 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM Put your geocaching and trekking abilities to the test by competing in “Starkey WilderQuest” challenge. Strike out on your own to find some of the hundreds of geocaches in the park. Participate in our “Design-A-Cache” Challenge, “Closestto-the-Pin” contest, or “Jigsaw Puzzle Challenge”. If you have little ones, they will enjoy our “Kid’s Treasure Trail. Dinner catered by Pit Boss Bar-B-Q. Swag packages & meal tickets available. Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park 10500 Wilderness Park Boulevard, NPR http://pascogeofest.org/ Nov 15th, Tues 6th National Philanthropy Day 11:30 AM – 1 PM Awards luncheon to recognize Tampa Bay Philanthropists for their dedication to community service and giving. Tickets $30 - Tables of 8 start at $300 Spartan Manor 6121 Massachusetts Ave, NPR https://www.facebook.com/ events/1071307282989977/
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Fall Festivals & HAUNTS October Thru - Oct 31, Weekends Haunted Angelus House 7:30 PM –11 PM Thursday Sunday & Halloween Night 7:30 PM– 12 AM Friday & Saturday Choose from the Night Terrors Haunted House & Crawling Dead Adults $15-Childern 5-10 $8 or Dead Butler’s Haunted Hayride & Andersonville Prison Adults $12-Childern 5-10 $6 better yet get the Unlimited single night access to both Adults $35-Children 5-10 $20. Children 4 and under FREE. 727 364 2868 12413 Hudson Ave, Hudson http://www.hauntedangelus.com/ Oct 1st Thru Nov 6th Sweetfields Farm Corn Maze Select Dates & Times The Hay Ride, Hay Maze, Fall Maze, Hay Play area, Picnic Area, Duck Race, Spider Web Maze, Pumpkin Patch, Treehouse Story teller, Free Craft of the Season, Visit the Animals and More… 12 years and older $9.50 each + tax 3 years-11 years $5.00 each + tax 2 years and under are Free 17250 Benes Roush Rd. Masaryktown http://sweetfieldsfarm.com/index.php/ events/fall-maze/
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Oct 1st Thru Nov 6th, Sat & Sun Harvestmoon Corn Maze 10 AM – 5 PM 50th Anniversary of The Great Pumpkin Peanuts themed 5 acre Corn Maze, Pumpkin Patch, 70ft Jumping Pillow, Petting Farm, Corn Ball, Hill Slide, Pony Rides & more!! Adults & Children (ages 3+) $11.95+tax, some attractions may require additional cost. 15990 Stur Street Masaryktown, FL 34604 http://www.harvestmoonfl.com/ Oct 14 Thru 29, Fri & Sat Halloween Train Ride 6 PM – 10 PM Central Pasco & Gulf Railroad takes visitors through more than two miles of dark woods where they’ll meet goblins, spooks and all sorts of Halloween tricks. NEW “Not So Spooky” Matinee Train Ride for more sensitive family members. Food Vendors on hand 7 PM-10 PM $5 per person Pasco County $2 park parking fee Crews Lake Wilderness Park 16739 Crews Lake Dr., Shady Hills http://www.cpgrr.org/
Oct 15th Zombie Fun Run 8:45 AM – 11 AM Zombies will be staged throughout the course. Participants are entered in a raffle to win bicycle Elementary & Middle School children Advanced registration $7 per child Day of registration 8 AM $10 per child James E Grey Preserve 6938 Plathe Rd, NPR https://www.facebook.com/ events/1174753162584200/ Oct 21st & 22nd Scream Acres 7 PM -10PM Walk thru the parks trails and cabins filled with Zombies out for your blood. Recommended for ages 16 -up $1.00 per person Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park 10500 Wilderness Park Boulevard, NPR https://www.facebook.com/ events/152853638492182/ Oct 22nd Trunk or Treat 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM FREE Movie Night featuring Disney’s Classic Hocus Pocus starts at 7 PM Sims Park & Orange Lake Grand Blvd & Bank St, NPR https://www.facebook.com/even ts/241815229550094/
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Dining & ENTERTAINMENT
40 Fall Issue 2016
For Ad Info Call 727-709-9541
Dining & ENTERTAINMENT 5 Ways to Enjoy Pumpkin Puree Smoothies Add pumpkin purée to a breakfast smoothie. Combine purée in the blender with ice, spices, and milk (dairy- or nut-based.) Sweeten with a little honey, agave or maple syrup. Pumpkin Hummus A cup of pumpkin puree blended into your favorite hummus recipe is the perfect easy fall appetizer - we used can cannellini beans - light yet filling, super creamy, and filled with pumpkin flavor! Spiced Pumpkin Parfait Mix your favorite fall spices and a tsp of agave nectar into your pumpkin puree. Alternating layers of puree, Greek yogurt and granola in a small glass for a tasty treat.
Pumpkin Pie You Can Drink
Spice up your next get together by serving this fall inspired cocktail. Make it festive by dipping the rim of the glass in vodka, and then in cinnamon sugar.
PUMPKIN PIE MARTINI 2 parts RumChata Cream Liqueur 1 part Vanilla Vodka 3 tbsp Pumpkin Pie Filling (or 1 part Pumpkin Syrup) Cinnamon If you prefer a more hearty flavor, season you pumpkin pie filling with your favor spices. Pour into a shaker filled with ice, strain into a martini glass and let the fun begin!
Creamy Pumpkin Alfredo Enjoy a comfort meal with a healthy twist. Heat pumpkin puree in a sauce pan over medium heat and add 1 ½ of coconut milk stirring till smooth. Add equal parts ½ cup white wine and shredded mozzarella cheese, blend together, cook 5 minutes and toss in your favorite pasta. Spread It On Pumpkin Puree and maple syrup on your bagel will make you forget about cream cheese. And if fancy a slice of toast, mix a little into softened butter with a pinch of brown sugar and warm spice.
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Dining & ENTERTAINMENT
The Perfect Potluck:
Entertain with Ease By Doreen Damm
The host/hostess should build a theme around the event or the main dish they plan to serve. When sending out the invitation, note what type of side dishes would be appreciated, note how many guest you are expecting to attend so the amount of food will be proportionate and whether drinks are provided or if it is BYOB. You may ask that the guest RSVP includes what contribution is being considered to avoid having three mash potato dishes and no vegetables. Also, if anyone attending has a food allergy so you know if the dishes need to be labeled. If your dinner party is for close friends or family, it is acceptable to ask that each person bring a specific dish. Like Sally makes an awesome broccoli salad while Janet’s gooey butter cake can’t be beat. Always be flexible if they prefer to bring something different. After all, potlucks are about eating something new and asking for the recipe later.
ith party season in full swing, you may find yourself attending or hosting a gathering in the next few months. Potluck by definition, is a meal or party to which each of the guests contributes a dish. With an occasion such as Thanksgiving, planning the theme is usually pretty standard and the dishes contributed fall within very tight parameters. The host/ hostess provides the Turkey and the guest supply the stuffing, potatoes, winter vegetable and pie. But what do you do to have a successful potluck the rest of the year?
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42 Fall Issue 2016
When the gathering is not a sit down meal the potluck takes on a less formal plan and can be as simple as asking guest to bring their favorite dish to share. Just remember that not everyone loves to cook. The guest contribution could be anything from a store bought fruit and cheese platter to helping do the dishes at the end of the evening. So let’s get together and have a good time.
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Dining & ENTERTAINMENT
ROASTED BUTTERNUT
SQUASH WITH CRANBERRIES & GLAZED PECANS
Directions 1. 2.
3.
4. Looking to showcase a new side dish on your Thanksgiving table this year? This dish is filled with all the wonderful flavors of fall. Sweet roasted butternut squash with cinnamon and nutmeg combined with savory sautéed onions and perfectly tart cranberries. Every bite just screams Thanksgiving.
5.
6.
I recently sampled a salad like this at Whole Foods and fell in love. I thought about being bold and asking the sales associate for the recipe, but then I thought what’s the fun in that? I’ll just take a leap of faith and attempt a similar version of my own. Mission accomplished!
7.
I tried using as LITTLE added sugar as possible. I’ve tried some sweet potato & squash casserole dishes that are just so overwhelming sweet. To the point where I feel like I might as well be eating a slice of pie with my turkey (which wouldn’t be the worst idea I’ve ever had…;). So I’m happy to say that the pecans in this recipe were only “glazed” with 1 tbsp of brown sugar. No need to worry about damage to the waistline with this dish, folks!
8.
Ingredients • • • • • • • • • • •
One 2-3 lb butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 1-inch cubes 1 cup fresh cranberries 1 cup halved pecans 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp nutmeg 1 tsp Stevia (or granulated sweetener of choice) 1 tbsp brown sugar 2 tbsp fresh Italian parsley, finely chopped 1/2 large white onion, finely sliced 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, divided Dash of kosher salt and pepper
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Preheat oven to 425 degrees F To attack the butternut squash: Cut off the stem and bottom ends of the squash so both ends are flat. Slice the squash in half. Use vegetable peeler or Chef’s knife to peel away the skin. Cut the larger end in half and spoon out the seeds (seeds are great roasted, just like pumpkin seeds). Cut each piece into 1-inch-thick sticks then slice into 1-inch cubes. Toss squash with 1-2 tbsp olive oil until well coated. Sprinkle with a dash of salt and pepper. Transfer squash to a foil-lined baking sheet. You may need two baking sheets depending on the size of your squash. You want the squash cubes to lay in a single layer; these guys are very particular about their “personal space”. If they are too crowded, they won’t properly brown. Pop them in the oven and roast for ~35-40 minutes, or until tender and slightly browned. In the meantime, in a large skillet, heat 1 tbsp olive oil and add chopped onions. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally for 5-7 minutes, until soft and golden. Transfer onions to a large bowl. In the same skillet, add 2 tbsp water, cinnamon, nutmeg and brown sugar. Stir until well combined. Add pecans and allow to simmer for ~5 minutes over medium heat, stirring frequently. This is your lightened up “glazing” process. Once the spice mixture is well absorbed into the pecans, transfer to the bowl your onions are patiently waiting in. Using the same skillet (don’t you love this? Less dishes to clean is always a win!), add another 2 tbsp of water, 1 cup of cranberries and one tsp of Stevia (or granulated sweetener of choice). Simmer over medium-low heat for ~5 minutes. You’ll start to hear the cranberries “snap, crackle & pop” but that’s what you want. Let them slightly burst so the sweetened water gets absorbed into their flesh. Transfer into bowl with your onions and pecans. Combine ALL of these glorious ingredients with your roasted butternut squash and give it a couple good tosses. Add finely chopped parsley and give it a final toss. Those specks of green from the parsley really add a beautiful finishing touch.
Nutrition facts per serving (~1/2 cup) Calories: 190; Total Fat: 15 gms; Saturated Fat: 1.5 gms; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 50 mg; Carbohydrates: 16 gms; Sugar: 4.5 gms; Protein 2.5 gms
Jamie Vespa MS, RD, LD/N dishingouthealth.com
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Dining & ENTERTAINMENT
s from Answer 23 Page
44 Fall Issue 2016
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Fall in Love
Pet
CORNER
with Goldendoodles
By Doreen Damm
Looking for a loyal friend, playful companion, a problem solver? Look no farther than the Goldendoodle. Also known as the Groodle, the Goldendoodle ranges in size from small to large, depending on the variant of Poodle that the Golden Retriever is crossed with. Originally bred as a larger alternative to the already popular designer breed known as the Cockapoo, the Goldendoodle has proven to be an excellent family dog. They’re also versatile working dogs. Goldendoodles have achieved success as guide dogs, service dogs, therapy dogs, and sniffer dogs (one study tested their success at sniffing out peanuts in foods for owners with nut allergies). Goldendoodles have also done well in agility. The Goldendoodle is an affectionate and gentle dog that has gained popularity since he was first developed in 1990s. He’s still a young cross compared to other designer breeds, and many of today’s litters are the results of first-generation breeding between Poodles and Golden Retrievers. Goldendoodles are usually highly social and get along well with everyone. They don’t do well in any type of guarding or watchdog role and should not be used in that capacity. They can thrive in both city and country settings, but they’re not well suited to apartment living, since they do better with the space provided by a fenced yard. Goldendoodles should not live outside or in a kennel, however, since they thrive when they are in contact with the people they love. Goldendoodles can be very easy to train and are a good match for first-time or timid owners. They’re not known to have any aggressive traits, but they do need proper socialization to avoid any shyness or fearfulness. Goldendoodles also need daily contact with their owners; they’ll suffer from separation anxiety if they’re left for too long. The best way to avoid any destructive behavior is to crate them and to provide toys and treats to keep them busy throughout the day. Keeping the radio on when you’re out is another great way to keep them happy. Goldendoodles are considered to be non- to light shedders and may be a good match for people with allergies. They do require weekly or biweekly brushing, and many owners opt to have them clipped. Read more at http://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/ goldendoodle#GriaOLwG6OfD4KDv.99
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Pet CORNER
46 Fall Issue 2016
For Ad Info Call 727-709-9541
Pet CORNER
Paw Wash Plus Invites the Community to the 8th Annual Barktoberfest 2016 Event &
Barking Bash 5k and Fun Run!
E
ach October Paw Wash Plus presents Barktoberfest, a charity event benefiting local rescue groups. The event will be held again this year in Sim’s Park on October 23rd from 11am – 3pm.
Barktoberfest is New Port Richey’s largest pet adoption event and fundraiser for local animal shelters. All dogs and their owners are invited to participate in the fun. This year we have partnered with NPR Running & Brews to add a Barking Bash 5K & Fun Run which will begin at 7:30 am prior to the Barktoberfest event. This is a non-chip timed event with entertainment along the route - we encourage participants to run-walk-and enjoy the event. Prizes for age group winner (1st) based upon the order of finishing and self-timing. All 5K Participants receive Shirt & Unique Finisher medal to commemorate 2016 Barktoberfest! Prizes for Most Festive, Age Group Awards, & the Fastest Dog (must run with human)! Contact for details: info@mayorandprincess.com 1-844-344-4490 www.mayorandprincess.com Run and stay for Barktoberfest 11 am - 3 pm There will be plentiful vendors, raffles, live music, food and games for you and your family to enjoy! Enter your dog into Pasco County’s largest pet costume contest for the chance for your pet to win a trophy. It’s Your Home Magazine, is a proud sponsor of Barktobertest and the “Cutest Costume” trophy. The costume contest is hilarious and a really fun event to participate in. Participants compete for best biker dog, most original, cutest costume, spookiest costume, best overall, best diva dog and owner/pet lookalike. Even if your pooch doesn’t win, it is a howl to see all the dogs dressed up in their fun outfits! The Costume Contest will start at approximately 1p.m. and you must enter your dog at the registration table prior to the event. Come out to Sim’s Park on October 23rd and enjoy the festivities. Live music performed by Denim Quiche, pet related and non-pet related vendors, food trucks, rescue groups and more! The rescue groups that will benefit from Barktoberfest 2016 proceeds include: Labrador Retriever Rescue of Florida, Cindy’s Pets, Hands & Paws for Pasco and Tampa Bay Cat Alliance.
owner Kim Crane decided to purchase an out of business self-service pet wash on Seven Springs Boulevard. With a little rebranding and a lot of hard work this unique self-service pet wash has become a complete pet spaw offering professional in-store and mobile grooming along with pet sitting services and retail products. Over the last 8 years Paw Wash Plus has expanded with four mobile grooming vehicles and the franchising of their second location in 2016. If you really love to pamper your pooch, Paw Wash Plus offers the best in spa services for dogs such as their Blueberry Facials, “paw”dicures, teeth brushing, scented shampoos and holistic natural shampoos that help your dog’s skin. Spa services are available in-store and on the mobile unit. Commitment to community has always been an important part of Paw Wash Plus. Over the years Paw Wash has organized many pet charity events including Yappy Hours, Love A Lab Day and Barktoberfest to benefit local area rescue groups. “Please come out to this fun-filled event and help us raise money for these groups,” says Kim Crane. “We are still accepting vendors and sponsors for this event as well as donations for the raffle table. If you would like to volunteer at the 2016 Barktoberfest, please email pawwashplus@yahoo.com or call 727-375-7070. Admission is free, so don’t miss out on this family-friendly, petfriendly (leashed please) event! Paw Wash Plus of Trinity, located at 2319 Seven Springs Blvd. in New Port Richey can be reached at (727) 375- 7070. Paw Wash Plus of New Port Richey is located at 6343 Massachusetts Ave and can be reached at (727) 847-3030. Visit online at www.pawwashplus.com to check out all that Paw Wash Plus has to offer you and your pets.
Paw Wash Plus has continuously thrived, becoming Pasco County’s premier destination to pamper your pets. It all started in 2008 when
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