LT Magazine 3rd Qtr 2008 by Latin Times Media, Inc.

Jolie R. Gonzalez

Publisher / Editor In Chief

Imilsis Wong(Misha) Creative Director

Zanibel Melo

Publishing Assistant

Sergio Sodre

Hispanic Market Liaison

Anthony J. Gonzalez, Jr., Esq.

Staff Writer – Ask El Abogado

Robert Casañas, M.D.

Staff Writer – Ask El Doctor

Sales Staff

Julio Aviles

Account Executive / Special Reporter

Conchita Burpee

Intermixx Marketing

Zanibel Melo

Director of Business Development

Carmen Santiago

Account Executive/Special Reporter

Rafael Santiago

Business Development Manager

Photography / Video Juan Ruiz, of Ziur Photography

Special Events Reporter/Photographer

1st Quarter 2008 Cover: Imilsis Wong(Misha) Jolie Gonzalez, Publisher & Editor of Latin Times Magazine Executive Producer of LatinTimes-TV, and Director of Latin ConneXions Business Networking Events. Awards & Recognition 2008 - Winner- Business Woman of the Year Award - Tampa Bay Business Journal 2008 - Exito Award - Women Entrepreneur Award - By Hispanic Business Initiative Fund 2007 - Idiolo Award - For Best Spanish Owned Magazine - By Centro Asturiano 2007 – Minority Business Person of the Year Award - For Professional Services - Tampa Bay Business Journal 2006 - Hispanic Business Woman of the year - PRCP 2006 - Chairwoman’s Award of Excellence - Tampa Bay Hispanic Chamber of Commerce For a one (1) year subscription (4 issues), please send a check or money order in the amount of $15.00 to: P.O. Box 262574, Tampa, FL 33685-2574

Special ThanX to God. Thank you to: GOD! Thank you to Alfred Frederick for Business Photography, Carmen Santiago for being a great mom, Nikko Gonzalez for being the best son in the world, and to my wonderful friends, who always seem to be there when I need them the most! Main Office: (813) 901-5292 | Websites: www.Latin-Times.com | For events: www.Latin-Connections.com. Picture by: Buccaneers.com

No part of this publication may be copied or reproduced without the expressed written consent from Latin Times, LLC., 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008.

CHAVEZ LE DIO 72 HORAS AL EMBAJADOR DE ESTADOS UNIDOS PARA QUE SE VAYA A LA MIERDA

lease join Mayor Pam Iorio and Tampa Bay students on Friday, October 10 as they welcome the 2008 National Hispanic Scientist of the Year, internationally recognized molecular biologist and CEO of Cytonome, Inc. (Boston, MA), *Dr. Lydia Villa-Komaroff, during “Meet the Hispanic Scientist Day” at MOSI. “Meet the Hispanic Scientist Day” provides nearly 1,000 Latin youth, many from underserved communities, an exciting day of mentoring and access to over 450 MOSI hands-on exhibits—which for many is their first-ever visit to a science center. On this special day, students will enjoy a motivational presentation by Dr. Lydia Villa-Komaroff, founding chair of SACNAS (Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science) and CEO of Cytonome, Inc—a company building the first optical cell sorter of human cells for therapeutic use. “Meet the Hispanic Scientist Day” is held annually in conjunction with the National Hispanic Scientist of the Year Award event. Past honorees have presented inspiring lectures that not only encourage students to stay in school but assure them that despite their circumstances they can realize their dreams! Proceeds from the National Hispanic Scientist of the Year Award event support MOSI’s “YES! Team,” a career and educational enrichment program designed to mentor at-risk youth and help students develop self-confidence, improve communication skills, build self-esteem and exhibit leadership skills. Ninety percent of the YES! Team members have furthered their education by attending college. Friday, October 10, 2008 Mayor Pam Iorio will address students at 10 a.m. @ MOSI, Museum of Science & Industry, 4801 East Fowler Avenue, Tampa, Florida On Saturday, October 11, 2008, at 7 p.m., MOSI will host a Gala ceremony to honor a renowned molecular biologist and founding member of the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), Dr. Lydia Villa-Komaroff, as National Hispanic Scientist of the Year. If you would like more information about the YES! Team or the National Hispanic Scientist of the Year Award, please call (813) 987-6077.

enezuela esta al borde de una guerra civil. El presidente Chavez expulso al Embajador de Estados Unidos y le dio 72 horas para que salga del pais o lo sacaran a patadas. las palabras textuales de Chavez en su alocucion frente al pueblo y en la tv fueron “Yankees del carajo, vayanse a la mierda”. Tambien prometio no venderle más petroleo a USA. Chavez esta asustado con el caso del maletin y los $800.000 que le incautaron en Argentina a unos enviados por su gobierno para la campana de la Kirchner. Se destapo la olla en el juicio del maletin en Miami y Chavez se siente como animal acorralado, y como tal, es muy peligroso porque puede hacer cualquier cosa. Pobre Venezuela mia en manos de un loco con ansias de poder y con unos seguidores como Cuba, Bolivia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Honuras y otros que estan desangrando al pueblo de Venezuela llevandose nuestra produccion petrolera y sumiendo a nuestro pueblo en la miseria. Que saldra de todo esto? que haran lo venezolanos? porque sabemos que Estados Unidos se quedara callado ante los insultos y las organizaciones internacionales tambien callaran. Pareciera que todo el mundo le teme a la lengua de Chavez y necesitan su petroleo. Pareciera que el excremento del diablo le da un poder omnipotente al anticristo. Cierran la embajada de Estados Unidos y lo que viene despues sera la salida de American Airlines, el cierre de Globovision, la detencion de los duenos de los periodicos y cadenas de television no chavistas que ya los estan involucrando “y que en un posible golpe de estado” que nadie se lo cree, ni el mismo. Habrá elecciones en Venezuela? o se dictará un estado de sitio y se suspenderan las garantias para que no haya elecciones? cualquier cosa puede pasar en Venezuela en este momento, por eso lo mas importante es la unidad para poder enfrentar al anticristo que arremetera con todo su odio y locura. Que Dios ayude al pueblo de Venezuela porque lo que le viene es candela. Norma Camero Reno

The Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce of the Gulf Coast Guayabera Night @ Mirage Restaurant and Lounge

ost people came out in full Guayabera mode for Guayabera Night and it was another successful event for the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce of the Gulf Coast which that celebrated its annual Guayabera Night @ Mirage Restaurant and Lounge with a great line-up of entertainment and a delicious buffet. For more information on the Puerto Rico Chamber visit: PuertoRicanChamber.net

suarios de Verizon FiOS TV en el área de la bahía de Tampa podrán disfrutar de TV Vision Network en el canal 23. TV Vision Network es la única cadena televisiva bilingüe local en Tampa dirigida a los hispanos y específicamente a los latinos nacidos en Estados Unidos. Francisco Ríos, CEO y fundador de TV Vision, dijo, “Esta alianza permite que TV Vision Network continúe expandiendo su audiencia en el área de la Bahía de Tampa y ofrezca a la comunidad hispana una alternativa”. TV Vision Network, LLC ofrece transmisión de programación a través de WTAM, una estación televisiva bilingüe dedicada a servir al área de la Bahía de Tampa con un área de cobertura de nueve condados que incluye los condados de Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Sarasota, Manatee, Citrus, Hardee, Hernando y Polk.

targeting Hispanics and, specifically, U.S.-born Latinos. Verizon FiOS TV is delivered over the nation’s most advanced fiber-optic network, straight to customers’ homes. TV Vision will join FiOS TV’s extensive lineup, which offers more than 400 all-digital channels, including 31 high-definition channels in the Florida market, and access to more than 10,000 on-demand titles, 70 percent of which are free.

.S. Hispanic Channel from TV Vision Network Launches on Verizon FiOS TV in Tampa Bay Area New bilingual channel with a variety of original productions

TV Vision Network, LLC provides programming broadcast over WTAM, a Bilingual language television station serving the Tampa Bay area with a nine-county coverage area that includes: Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Sarasota, Manatee, Citrus, Hardee, Hernando and Polk counties. WTAM can also be viewed on broadcast Channel 30.

TV Vision Network can now entertain Verizon FiOS TV customers in the Tampa Bay area on Channel 23. TV Vision Network is Tampa’s only local bilingual network

Francisco Rios, CEO and founder of TV Vision, said, “We are very excited to have joined with Verizon FiOS TV to be part of their all-digital channel lineup. Anita Gonzalez, Verizon’s sales and marketing director for the Florida region, said, “Regional content like TV Vision remains incredibly popular and important to today’s consumers, and Verizon’s FiOS TV subscribers are looking for the very best channel offerings.

leine Felix de diecinueve años, herencia dominicana y residente de Orlando, y Saydelis Rodriguez de dieciséis años, herencia cubana y residente de Tampa son las nuevas reinas del certamen Miss Florida Latina y de Miss Teen Florida Latina respectivamente. Los certámenes de Miss Florida Latina y Teen Florida Latina son las preliminares oficiales a los certámenes nacionalmente reconocidos como Miss Latina US y Miss Teen Latina US - los certámenes más famosos y más prestigiosos para Latinas en los E.E.U.U.

de ‘color guard’ y estudiar Francés y lenguaje de señas.

La Srta. Felix estudia biología molecular y microbiología en UCF y es parte de American Medical Student Association, International Medical Outreach and Pre-Professional Medical Society. Además de estas actividades escolares, Felix es un miembro de la iglesia Orlando del sur del Calvary. Mientras que la Srta. Rodriguez estudia justicia criminal y Derecho en Leto High School y sus pasatiempos incluyen bailar flamenco, baile

Miss Florida Latina y Teen Florida Latina representaran el estado de la Florida en las competiciones nacionales, en donde tendrán oportunidades únicas y recibirán la exposición nacional ante los medios. El Miss Latina US y Teen Latina US se llevaran acabo en septiembre de 2009.

El certamen de Miss Florida Latina y Teen la Florida Latina es una olimpiada de belleza dedicada a mostrar la belleza y los talentos de mujeres jóvenes de la ascendencia hispana entre las edades de 14 a 17 para la división TEEN y 18 a 27 para la división Miss, que vivan en el estado de la Florida. Nuestro objetivo es inculcar orgullo hacia sus raíces hispanas, auto-estima y liderazgo entre estas jóvenes.

a asociacion Dominicana tiene 13 años de fundada damos una beca anual, es una organizacion sin fines de lucro. Clara Ureña Presidenta entrante, Trudy Herrea, Tesorera, Damaris Soto De Francicca Secretaria y pasada presidenta. Nidia Smith, Nelly Martinez, Enrique Cabrera, Luis Cordero,, Lucy Garcia, Luis Ureña, Manuela Ureña todos directores.

Preventing, Surviving, and Overcoming Foreclosure.

The American Nightmare is a new book by veteran housing counselors Sylvia Alvarez and Walter Walker Jr. that offers distressed homeowners tips and strategies that can help them avoid, survive and overcome foreclosure. The book offers a step-by-step analysis of the reasons people wind up in foreclosure, the obstacles they must overcome and the practical solutions available to them. Published in partnership with the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP), FREE downloadable excerpts from The American Nightmare are available in English and Spanish and include important information about your options if you are in default on your mortgage. There are many books written that show people how to profit from buying foreclosed properties, but until now there has not been any book written for those facing the prospect of foreclosure. For more information, contact: 813-261-5151

n a gorgeous Friday night in Tampa Bay, in a black tie, Oscar style award gala, which was put on by the Tampa Bay Business Journal, Tampa Bay’s top business women were honored for their hard work and dedication within their prospective professional categories. Among those honored that evening was Jolie Gonzalez, Publisher and Editor of Tampa Bay’s Latin Times Magazine, and director of the popular Latin ConneXions Business Networking series of events. In a sold out event, that was hosted by Tampa’s Mayor Pam Iorio and TBBJ’s publisher Bridgette Mill, the Tampa Bay Business Journal put on a wonderful show at the Hard Rock Seminole Hotel and Casino – where the main ballroom was transformed for one exciting night into the glitz and glamour of Hollywood.

Jolie was awarded the 2008 Business Woman of the year award in Media by the Tampa Bay Business Journal. “I felt very blessed and honored that evening; I was being honored as a top Business woman in all of Tampa Bay!” As it came down to that moment of truth, I couldn’t seem to breath- and I swear my heart stopped beating, and would have exploded if I would have had to wait one more moment! There was a

loud drum roll, and silence, and then I heard the words…and the winner is, Jolie Gonzalez – Latin Times. I felt my heart start to beat again – and tears filled my eyes, I felt so grateful for my many blessings, in that single moment, before I shot up to my feet, I thanked God –hugged my friends and headed toward the stage – What an incredible moment!” “I would like to thank my wonderful friends who sat with me that evening, sharing in this special moment with me was Mr. Brad Swarts of Worldwide Merchant Services – who has always been there for me, Mr. Wayne Cass of ACM, my great friend- Mr. Hig Rodriguez Dillinger of Cirsco, Mr. Patricio Navarro of Fifth Third Bank, Mr. Jaime Yepes of Regions Bank, Mrs. Yenny Yepes of Yenny’s Place Beauty Salon, Mrs. Miriam Velez, candidate for Hillsborough County Circuit Court Judge, Group 2, Mr. Jason Valkenburg of Valkenburg & Velez, Ms. Damaris Rivera of the law offices of Byrd and Gonzalez, and my BFF Ms. Elizabeth Saldaña Kobel, President of the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce of the Gulf Coast!” “I am tremendously happy and proud –excited, and ready to live up to this huge honor, I would like to thank my wonderful son, Nikko, my beautiful mother Carmen, my family and my friends, my valued clients, and of course all of Tampa Bay for their support and belief in me.”

A Message to my fellow Dreamers

have had many wonderful, strong and intelligent people come into my life since I began my career, to teach me, and to give support and advice, but the one belief that stays with me faithfully day in and day out is the advice of my mother and father gave me as they told me to never to give up. What I like to share with my readers, is that my career has been a rocky, winding road, that I have walked on despite the obstacles, and yes, I have never given up on my dreams, nor will I, because I truly love what I do, and I think that is the most important thing in life, doing and pursuing not a job –but living a dream! I encourage people, to not be afraid of failing, of succeeding –of falling, or of taking off, and to embrace competition because it gives us the opportunity to strive a little harder and to do better. My career has been an adventure, and there have been times when I didn’t know how I was going to finish a project, but I continued to work and to pursue my dream, walking in faith and believing in myself and in my dreams.

deductible. Check your policy to see if you have rental car coverage.

By: Anthony J. Gonzalez, Jr., Esq. Byrd & Gonzalez, P.A.

2.Bodily Injury – Your insurance policy provides you with bodily injury protection benefits, commonly referred to as “PIP”. “PIP” covers 80% of your medical bills and 60% of your loss wages up to $10,000.00. If you purchased uninsured motorist coverage you may be entitled to additional benefits.

If you or someone in your car sustained bodily injury the Bureau of Financial Responsibility has the authority to suspend a license of an uninsured driver for 3 years, in the case a judgment has been obtained against an uninsured driver, the Bureau has the authority to suspend licenses, tags and registrations for a period of 20 years or until the judgment is satisfied. However, if the at-fault party does not have assets to pay for your damages, or is otherwise judgment proof then this will be of little help to you.

fLoRIDA’S AUtoMoBILE fINANCIAL RESPoNSIBILIty LAW

ave you been involved in an automobile accident only to find out the at-fault party does not have insurance? Have you wondered who can you turn to for help in recovering damages caused by the at-fault driver? The Florida Automobile Financial Responsibility Law requires that an owner and/or operator of an automobile involved in an accident resulting in bodily injury and property damage to others must have in effect at the time of the accident liability insurance coverage. This coverage includes minimum limits of bodily injury liability of $10,000 per person $20,000 per accident, $10,000 property damage liability per accident, and personal injury protection limits of $10,000 per person. Failure to carry the required minimum levels of financial responsibility at the time of an accident can result in suspension of the driver’s license. The requirement to demonstrate financial responsibility is not based on fault. All parties involved in an accident must show the necessary proof or face the penalties imposed by the law. Maintaining an automobile insurance policy is the most common way to comply with the financial responsibility law. While the Florida “No Fault” law does not apply to motorcycles, the Florida Automobile Financial Responsibility Law does. Therefore, owner and/or operators of motorcycles must comply with the law. If you are involved in an accident always insist that the accident be reported to the police, so an accident report can be prepared. Make sure the investing officer obtains the insurance information from the at-fault driver. If you do not obtain an accident report the Bureau of Financial Responsibility will be unable to assist you or your attorney in obtaining insurance information regarding the at fault driver. The Florida Bureau of Financial Responsibility is charged with compiling data regarding accident reports and insurance information. If you have been involved in an accident and desire the insurance coverage for the other party, you may obtain that information by mailing your request to: Bureau of financial Responsibility 2900 Apalachee Parkway, Rm. A212, MS-98 tallahassee, fL 32399-0585. You must include a copy of the accident report or the driver exchange form. These forms will provide the Bureau with the necessary information needed to complete your request. After calling law enforcement, call your insurance company and report the accident. Failure to report the accident to your insurance company can result in your insurance company denying you valuable benefits under your policy. Give your insurance company any insurance information you obtain regarding the at-fault driver. Before giving a recorded statement to any insurance company, consult an attorney to discuss your legal rights. So what happens if you are involved in an accident and you or someone in your car sustains damage (property or personal injury), and the at-fault party does not have insurance:

1.Property Damage – if your car was damaged and you purchased collision coverage, your own insurance company will repair or replace your vehicle subject to a

In order to protect yourself against uninsured drivers, you must make sure you are adequately insured. While no one wants to pay more for insurance, not having uninsured motorist, collision and rental car coverage can be financially diasterous. Ask yourself, if I suffer serious bodily injury and incur significant medical bills and/or suffer wage loss, can I afford to be without uninsured motorist coverage? Also, can I afford to fix my car if the at-fault party does not have insurance? If not, then you need to purchase collision coverage. Should you or a family member or friend be involved in an auto, truck or motorcycle accident you may need legal help. Delays in obtaining legal representation can affect your legal rights, and your attorney’s ability to recover damages for you. Please feel free to contact us at 813281-8801 for a free consultation.

r. Gonzalez is a Board Certified and AV-rated. Of the thousands of attorneys licensed to practice law in the State of Florida, less than 2% of all Florida lawyers are Board Certified. To become Board Certified in civil trial, attorneys must pass an extensive and rigorous written examination to test their knowledge in the area of civil trial practice. They must also complete a specially approved regime of continuing education courses and must also have their ability and experience in the specialty favorably evaluated by judges and other lawyers who are familiar with their work. AV-rated is Martindale-Hubbell’s highest possible rating, based upon confidential opinions of bar members and the judiciary. The “A” attests to the individual’s legal ability, expertise and qualifications. The “V” addresses the individual’s adherence to professional standards of conduct, ethics, reliability, and diligence. At Byrd & Gonzalez, P.A, we are experienced in handling personal injury and property damage claims resulting from an accident. If you are injured in an accident, call and speak with us for a free consultation, before speaking with an insurance company. Anthony J. Gonzalez, Jr., Esq. Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer Byrd & Gonzalez, P.A. 217 N Lois Ave. Tampa, FL 33609 Phone 813-281-8801 AskElAbogado@thelatinvillage.com www.byrdandgonzalezlaw.com The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask us to send you written information about our qualifications and experience.

By: Robert J. Casañas, M.D.

Dear Doctor, For bumps on head, a lump of skin grew into a bump on top of my friend’s head on top of the skull. To remove that, what will happen and what would be the approximate cost and down time?

D Q Buenos dias Dr.,

Se está hablando mucho de la ADN. Tengo una amiga que me dice que cierto lab me hace el estudio de mi ADN para personalizar mis vitaminas y tambien cremas para la piel. Que usted me puede decir sobre esto? -Sara Morell :: Houston, Texas

Querida Sara:

xisten pruebas geneticas basadas en ciertos grupos de enzimas que pueden ser de utilidad para reconocer las peculiaridades fisiologicas de cada individuo. (las llamadas citocromo P450, por ejemplo. o CHIPS, o SNPM’s).

Teniendo en cuenta la eficacia de ciertas enzimas, se pudiera dirigir cualquier efecto teraputico sofisticado con mas facilidad. Aun asi, no se puede sustituir un buen historial medico y un examen fisico, conjunto con quizas ciertas pruebas de laboratorio que van mas alla de lo que usan los medicuchos de cada dia, PERO QUE NO TIENEN QUE NECESARIAMANTE INCLUIR SU ADN COMPLETO. ADEMÁS, si se hacen esas pruebas cromosomicas, hay que tener cuidado que estas compañias de seguro de vida o medico no les pongan sus garras encima, o puede ser usted estigmatizada con alto riesgo el resto de sus dias. No estaria de mas decir, que estos mismos negocitos que ofrece cada dia todas esta pruebas y productos extravagantes (o “cutting edge”), puede que tengan vinculos con estas maquinas de dinero, las compañias de seguro (o el el gobierno). La piel es una entidad bastante compleja y no se puede facilmente reducir a una prueba unica (no importa lo avanzado) y lo mismo con suplementos. En mi practica yo recomiendo cierta sustancias, basadas en el historial de familia y del paciente y un buen examen. Al cabo de varias semanas, yo obtengo niveles sanguineos de estos compuestos para saber si se han absorbido adecuadamente, etc. Acuerdese también que una prueba genetica es una prueba estatica y hay que definir bien el ambiente donde ese ADN se encuentra, es decir; lo que vendrian a ser su misma entidad emocional y espiritual , lo que come, y donde se desarrolla. Los cuales determinan como se manifiestan esos genes. En sumario: Hay que saber usar la tecnologia de manera objetiva y no con fines comerciales y hay que encontrar medicos que hagan medicina avanzada (llamada Funcional o Wellness o Integrativa) y no quedar en manos de medicuchos de HMO o marginalmente al dia de todos estos avances. No se puede fiar ya en ninguna agencia federal que pretende proteger al publico, ni el FDA, Medical State Boards. EPA. SEC, FTC, FEMA. etc etc. Aprenda a discriminar entre toda esa propaganda y exceso de informacion de Internet y busquese un medico activista que represente su individualidad y respete su dignidad y que sirva mas bien de asesor o “coach” medico personal.

-Jerry :: Orlando, Fl

Dear “bumps on head”: hat it would entail would depend on the presumptive (preliminary) diagnosis. If it is firm and well rooted and is part of the bony structure, it may entail an operating room removal and may be extensive. In such cases, it is a good idea to ultrasound it or CT scan it prior to removal to see how deep in the bone it goes. And then of course, send the tissue off for microscopic analysis (a biopsy) to see whether it is malignant or not. Having said that, bumps such as you describe are rarely malignant and most probably it is a sebaceous cyst (a pocket of skin oil) or scar tissue or fibrosed skin tag. Feeling it, knowing the size, how deep it is rooted, whether it is soft and pliable, and the age of the patient would all be important to detail exactly what approach one might take and therefore what “downtime” is involved. Family history is important as well. One would need to know other seemingly unassociated symptoms elsewhere (such as an immune system problem or a fungal infection), of which the bump is really a harbinger or a causal association. One would want to make sure that your clotting system works adequately as well. A simple removal would consist of applying a numbing cream an hour before a small needle injection of a numbing solution is injected superficially into the scalp and a deft and precise cut is made five minutes later with a small scalpel. Burning it off would not be recommended due to the size and the fact that you want a definitive diagnosis under the microscope and need to protect the specimen. You would need to keep in mind that we need to protect the hair structures so the hair grows back later. It may also involve shaving the surface. Time involved would be about thirty minutes altogether; the incision process itself however would be five or six minutes. I would be willing to extend you a courtesy visit for consultation and “eyeball” and tactile diagnosis if you’d like. I could tell you then what would be involved and set it up for you. I wouldn’t fret but I would pursue something definitive (say in the next three or four weeks) if it seems to have grown in a matter of only a few weeks. A simple removal and follow up would not cost over $300. Biopsy expense (the pathologist physician specialist looking at the tissue under a microscope) may be $40 to $50. Call me if you would like to see me; otherwise, best of luck to you. Hope the preceding is of some help. Dr. Robert Casañas Dr. Casañas is a Board Certified Internist and Board Certified Pain Management specialist. Dr. Casañas practices out of two offices, Unicorn Medical Office in West Tampa and Lunasol Institute in Westchase. Submit your question for Dr. Casañas by emailing him at AskElDoctor@thelatinvillage.com or contact him directly at (813) 855-6530

Latin Times Magazine would like to congratulate CIRSCO!!!!!!!!

IRSCO has been named a finalist for Small Business by The Year of The Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce. The annual recognition gala will be held on Thursday, October 23, 2008, at The Palmetto Club at Fish Hawk Ranch at which time the winner will be announced. Nominations were received from the 1800 plus members of the Chamber and divided into categories based on the number of employees or type of business. Judges reviewed the applications to narrow the group down to the different categories. CIRSCO is a Florida State Certified Roofing Contractor and Roof Consultant based in Tampa, Florida, providing a full range of commercial and industrial roof services including roof management programs, roof inspections and analysis, repairs and restoration and is certified with all major roofing brands. The company is family-owned, Hispanic owned and service-disabled veteran owned by Hig Rodriguez Dillinger and is highly involved in many community and trade associations. The management and key staff of CIRSCO has over 120 years of industry related experience and they invite readers to visit their website at www.cirsco.com in order to gain further knowledge about its capabilities. “We continue to be excited that major building owners throughout Florida have selected us as their roofing contractor but we are especially honored that the Brandon Chamber has scrutinized our success so thoroughly and selected CIRSCO as a finalist.” said Rodriguez Dillinger. CIRSCO has also received several other awards including the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s Diversity & Inclusion Awards at Top 25 Minority-Owned Companies in Tampa Bay, and Diversity Business.com’s National Top Disabled Veteran Owned Business List and National Top 500 Emerging Business List. The company recently moved into 8,000 square foot facilities in the Sabal Industrial Park area.

Congrats to my good friends at Cirsco!!!

he first show of LatinTimes-TV will be premiering this fall on several online viewing channels such as blip.tv, YouTube, MySpace, Facebook and select cable channels. Latin Times TV will be an online/TV version of our print publication with live coverage of local events, and interviews of local business and community leaders. This exciting show will be hosted by Jolie Gonzalez and a local guest co-host. It will feature several segments of the show which will be filmed on location at one of our Latin ConneXions Business Networking events, with a LIVE audience! We will be offering various segments, including Business, Sports, Community, Health, Food, Arts & Culture, Entertainment, etc. “We decided to start this show because the Hispanic population of growing so rapidly” explained Jolie Gonzalez, publisher of local Hispanic publication Latin Times Magazine. “It’s an important method of communicating what is going on in our community, and will also offer local businesses another avenue by which to reach this thriving market”

Jolie Gonzalez is the editor and publisher of Latin Times Magazine. She has been publishing since 1999, and has dedicated her time and energy to building a collection of services aimed at the Hispanic community.

Gonzalez met Zanibel Melo at one of her Latin Connexions event on July 4th, 2008. Zanibel had just arrived to Tampa, FL from Boston, MA looking to expand Higher Dreams Productions, her video production business. In their interaction, Gonzalez mentioned that she was interested in producing a show that would fulfill the needs of the Latino community. Both women agreed that there was no better opportunity to make this happen than now. Zanibel’s artistic and interactive skills in communications have propelled her to success beyond her Bachelor of Arts degree from Boston College. In May 2001, Zanibel was selected as a member of the Mary J. Bermis chapter where membership was based on scholarship, leadership, service, and character. Melo’s dedication to her community inspired her to produce an international television show called Luz, Cámara, Acción in 2005. This production gave young teens the opportunity to explore and reveal their talents internationally. In October of 2007, Zanibel received a youth leadership award in Communications from the Boston Dominican Consulate. Currently, Zanibel is pursuing her Master’s degree in Marketing, and is the official producer of LatinTimes-TV. An online television show projected to be released to the public this fall. Show Sponsors Include: Latin Times, LLC., Higher Dreams Productions and Lunasol Institute – Dr. Robert Casañas.

The Hispanic Professional Women’s Association still going strong after 17 years! :: Jolie Gonzalez, W Jairek Robbins and Steven Klein :: Chris Krimitsos con Brenda Ayala Figueruelo

The Most Powerful Business Mastermind Ever Construced??

he Wealth Building Annex is a private institution of Business Leaders and CEO’s from across the country who attend a monthly event consisting of the greatest minds this world has to offer. Where does this event take place? Right here in Tampa, FL. Guests speakers and subject material at events range from Marketing, to sales, to acquiring Joint Venture Capital. In order to keep each and every event at its best we operate on the community based principle… What does that mean? All of our members are referred to us by other members. We believe in Networking UP not Down! In other words we are an event where important contacts are made for all concerned. Therefore we are selective in who we let into our Triangle of Trust. People that you ordinarily can’t reach by phone are in the audience enjoying the events. If you would like to join you may do so by being referred by one of our Board of Governors or Ambassadors. For location information and event times please visit TheWealthBuildingAnnex.com

PWA is a non-profit organization established 17 years ago in the Tampa area to enhance the image of professional Hispanic women and to promote educational activities for Hispanic women that will foster professional growth and promote the value of higher education. In keeping with this purpose, they provide scholarships and mentoring to young Hispanic women who demonstrate academic excellence, have financial need, and wish to pursue a college education.

HPWA is governed by a Board of Directors, the Elected Officers for 2008-2009: • President, Marcia Pita, Ph.D. • President-Elect, Maria Pierre • Vice-President, Paola Shaffee • Secretary, Cristina Abreu • Assistant Secretary, Lydisabel Ruiz Treasurer, Maria Steijlen • Assistant Treasurer, Maura Velasco Upcoming functions include the monthly luncheons which are held on the 3rd Friday of each month, between 12:00 – 1:00 PM @ the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City. Luncheon Dates: Friday, Oct 17th, 2008, November 21st, 2008 and January 16th, 2008. The Annual Fashion Show is scheduled for Saturday, December 6th, 2008 @ the Carollwood Cultural Center in Tampa. For more information on HPWA, please visit their website at: hpwatb.org

atinos are the nation’s largest and fastest growing minority group in the United States, and we make up about 15% of the total U.S. population. It is being estimated that at least 9 million Latinos are expected to cast ballots this November, but that number could realistically go as high as 11 million. I have heard it said that the Latino community in Florida is the “key” to this year’s presidential election. I have also heard it said that the I-4 corridor in specific which includes the areas of Tampa Bay, Lakeland and Metro Orlando are the actual key. If any of the above is true, then we must take every opportunity that presents itself to educate ourselves with the person behind the slick political ads. This is the biggest and most important presidential election of our time, and the issues for Hispanics are for the most part similar to that of the general population, but in addition, many Latinos are also concerned with immigration, the war, the housing crisis, unemployment, taxes, the economy, rising gas prices, health care and of course education. Latin Times is proud to feature two very passionate Latinas, Angelette Aviles and Ana Cruz. These women have dedicated their time to educating the community on their political party AND encouraging Latinos to VOTE! In addition to these one on one print interview’s, we will also be presenting a weekly video interview which you can view via our website or newsletter.

Ana Cruz

Principal Leaders Edge, LLC Who is Ana Cruz?

Tampa native, Ana Cruz, principal and founder of Leaders Edge, is no stranger to the demands of the fast-paced business and political worlds. For the past decade, Ms. Cruz has been extraordinarily successful in shaping the political landscape of the state and the nation. Her career began in Tampa politics where her hometown roots date back four generations. Her local ties led her to manage a campaign for a state representative, which her expertise led to an overwhelming victory against an incumbent - not an easy task. Shortly thereafter, Ms. Cruz accepted a senior staff position with U.S. Senator Bill Nelson managing West Central Florida. Her tenure with Senator Nelson helped nurture her vast knowledge of the Central Florida and the state, as well as nurture lasting relationships with many local leaders. She was handpicked in 2002 by Party Leaders to become the Executive Director of the Florida Democratic Party. Two years later, Ms. Cruz formed her own company, Leaders Edge, in her hometown of Tampa. As the Principal of Leaders Edge, Ms. Cruz has a wide array of clients, including Fortune 500 companies, telecommunications, pharmaceutical and professional sports corporations. Ms. Cruz also serves as a consultant to political and issue campaigns across the state and nation and focuses much of her efforts in the Tampa, Tallahassee and Orlando metropolitan regions. Ms. Cruz and her team of professionals apply the fast-paced momentum of political campaign management to the demands of your dynamic corporate needs.

November 4th is just around the corner – PLEASE VOTE!

Angellete C. Aviles Lead Genius Americas Marketing

Who is Angelette Aviles?

ngelette Aviles, of Puerto Rican descent, was raised in Washington D.C. by a father who served as an Army officer working in the Pentagon and a mother who was an Editor of a trade association. Aviles has provided much insight to what motivates Hispanics through her communications firm, Americas Marketing & Graphics, and through her various community and political affiliations. She is currently serving on the Hispanic Leadership Council of the Republican Party of Florida and County Chair for the McCain Hispanic Coalition. The Hispanic print and television media calls her upon as a respected source for commentary in regards to elections from a Republican perspective and has served the party or non-partisan efforts as a panelist. In 2007, Angelette was selected as one of six women and the first Hispanic to participate in a statewide yearlong leadership program called the Tillie Fowler Series (a part of the national Excellence in Public Service Series). She graduated from the scholarship-based program, once sponsored by the RNC, which encourages and prepares selected women leaders to seek new levels of involvement in government and politics. This program also provided a network source with access to political leaders responsible for candidate recruitment and appointments. Angelette is able to put her partisan hat aside and participates in several organizations such as the HPWA and HYPE as well as a selected Board Member of the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County. Her recent accomplishment is a bi-partisan joint effort, along with Evelyn Hale, called Hispanic Vision Forum, which provides encouragement and empowerment to the Hispanic community. continue next pages

atin Times: What are the democratic/republican plans to make the U.S. economy better? Ana Cruz / Democrat: The Democrats first and foremost want to bring about a responsible end to the war in Iraq and redirect the billions of dollars we are spending fighting a losing war back into our own country. Tax breaks for the middle class, increasing the American job industry, ending the mortgage crisis, and real leadership to build a new energy economy are all on the agenda. Unfortunately McCain seems to still be in denial about the real predicament that the economy is in right now. The candidates’ recent responses to the Wall street crash was very telling in terms of their policies. Obama reacted swiftly to the news by acknowledging our financial problems and laying out a plan. McCain appeared genuinely surprised, and once again maintained that the economy was holding “strong”. This isn’t surprising given the fact that he’s been subscribing to the Bush administration’s flawed economic policies for the past 8 years now. Latin Times: What is your party doing to prevent U.S. companies from moving to foreign countries in search of lower cost production, leaving millions of Americans without jobs? Ana Cruz / Democrat: The Democrats are really focused on the problem of outsourcing American labor this election. It’s critical that we create jobs and stimulate the economy in this country. That means ending tax breaks for companies that send jobs overseas. Why should companies get billions of dollars in tax deductions for moving their operations overseas while American workers suffer? Obama and Biden are proposing to encourage companies by awarding contracts to those who have shown themselves to be committed to American workers. For example, Obama introduced the Patriot Employer Act of 2007 to provide tax credit to companies that maintain or increase the number of full-time workers in America relative to those outside the US; maintain their corporate headquarters in America if it has ever been in America; pay decent wages; prepare workers for retirement; provide health insurance; and support employees who serve in the military. Latin Times: Would your candidate continue the search for Osama Bin Laden if he is chosen to be president? Ana Cruz / Democrat: One of the Bush administration’s greatest failures was its inability to orchestrate a successful counterterrorism plan, one that culminated in bringing Osama bin Laden to justice. Senator McCain, only offers a continuation of the Bush administration’s lamentable policy. Obama has said that he intends to continue searching for Bin Laden, and wants to work together with the Pakistani government to find Osama and have him tried for his terrorist crimes once and for all. Latin Times: What would your candidate do to have a better relationship with two of the most controversial Latin American leaders: 1. Castro & 2. Chavez? Ana Cruz / Democrat: Another one of the republican administration’s policy problems has been its inability to negotiate with foreign countries on any terms other than those dictated by their own leaders. Obama has stated emphatically that Latin American policy has been negligent toward our friends, ineffective with our adversaries, and incapable of advancing our interests in the region. As the Americas have changed, we have sat on the sideline, offering no compelling vision and creating a vacuum for demagogues to advance an anti-American agenda. It’s no surprise that dictators like Hugo Chavez have maintained their power bases in Latin America. His predictable anti-American rhetoric and authoritarianism government are not in line with most Americans’ traditional views on civil liberties. But the United States is so alienated from the rest of the Americas that no real diplomatic progress has been made for many years. Obama’s policy towards Chavez is a simple one: what’s good for the people of Venezuela is good for the United States, and this starts with mutual diplomatic relations.

Castro’s regime is one of oppression and Obama has made it clear that as long as there are political prisoners locked away in dark prison cells for the crime of speaking the truth he won’t stand for the injustice. George Bush’s strategy has done nothing to advance freedom for the Cuban people. That’s the political posture that John McCain has chosen to embrace as well, and the results so far have been dismal. Obama has said decisively that his policy toward Cuba will be guided by one word: Libertad. And the road to freedom for all Cubans must begin with justice for Cuba’s political prisoners, the rights of free speech, a free press and freedom of assembly; and it must lead to elections that are free and fair. Latin Times: Does your party agree with the search of petroleum in US to lower high gas prices and to limit their dependency in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries? Ana Cruz / Democrat: Obama is very much concerned about America’s dependence on oil and rising gas prices. He has recently advocated tapping the nation’s emergency oil supply in hopes of driving down prices at the pump. But make no mistake, he has a clear vision for America’s future as a green energy independent country. Yet he still understands that limited oil and natural gas drilling will be necessary in the short term, as we transition to renewable energy. The key here is that his plan isn’t a quick fix, to just keep drilling until all the oil resources evaporate, which experts agree eventually will happen. Oil is not a renewable resource and this isn’t a problem we can drill our way out of. Obama’s overall plan calls for a $150 billion investment in solar and wind power; $1,000 tax credits to consumers buying hybrids and $4 billion in incentives for auto industry hubs like Detroit to produce more energy-efficient cars. The ultimate goal is to wean America off foreign oil within 10 years time. Latin Times: What would the democrat/republican party do for the millions of undocumented immigrants in the US? Ana Cruz / Democrat: This is a candidate that understands America always will be a nation of immigrants. Obama spent parts of his childhood in Indonesia and his background is one of multi-racial as well multinational genealogy. He proposes that undocumented immigrants be brought out of the shadows once and for all. There are millions of immigrants who would like to fully embrace our values and become legal members of this country. For the millions living here illegally but otherwise playing by the rules, the Democratic party has shown initiative in supporting their transition from illegal workers to full fledged citizens. The immigration bureaucracy right now is fundamentally broken and overwhelmed, forcing legal immigrants to wait years for applications. Barack Obama supports a system that allows undocumented immigrants who are in good standing to pay a fine, learn English, and be given the opportunity to become citizens. Latin Times: Why should Latino/Hispanic citizens vote for your candidate? Ana Cruz / Democrat: I think it’s an issue of really taking a look at the candidates before us and their policies towards issues important to the Latino community. Three in 10 Hispanic registered voters say immigration is an extremely important issue to them and with good reason. In fact Obama has recently renewed his promise of moving towards passing an immigration bill during his first year in office. Hispanics are a critical swing vote and the majority of them say that Obama is the candidate that best represents their concerns. I think he is making strides with the Hispanic community, and it’s not just about courting votes either. He genuinely cares about creating a more inclusive America that represents all of its citizens equally… be they Hispanic, white, or African American.

atin Times: What are the democratic/republican plans to make the U.S. economy better? Angelette Aviles / Republican: Republicans have always supported the “trickle-down economics” argument also known as “Reaganomics.” During Ronald Reagan’s presidency the unemployment rate peaked at 10.8% and with his policy he left office with the rate at 5.3%. Therefore Republicans support measures that reduce income taxes and which in turn increases the GDP and thereby generates more revenue for the government. All in all, Republicans focus on the important role of supporting small businesses and that individuals, not the government, are economically responsible for their own actions. Latin Times: What is your party doing to prevent U.S. companies from moving to foreign countries in search for lower cost production, leaving millions of Americans without jobs? Angelette Aviles / Republican: Many Democrats support organized unions (labor unions) and increasing the minimum wage. Therefore, when employees demand for more or go on strike or if businesses are forced to increase payroll many of those businesses are forced to cut back, close shop or move elsewhere where they can afford the labor. Another factor is the rising cost of insurance premiums that companies pay for, as a result of employees who take advantage of short or long term disability benefits and so on. I can provide many examples and stories of employees taking advantage of benefits, I witnessed when working for a major credit card company soon after college…who by the way is no longer in Tampa Bay. Hmmm, I wonder why?? Latin Times: Would your candidate continue the search for Osama Bin Laden if he is chosen to be president? Angelette Aviles / Republican: McCain notably stated that he’d follow the al Qaeda leader to the “Gates of Hell” and favors a boost in U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

Latin Times: What would your candidate do to have a better relationship with two of the most controversial Latin American leaders: 1. Castro & 2. Chavez? Angelette Aviles / Republican: One thing that McCain supports is trade agreements among countries in Latin America, which strengthens capitalism within those countries and stabilizes democracy. If we can’t work with people who dislike us then we have to continue to strengthen relationships with their neighboring countries while avoiding them to fall into similar dictatorship rule. McCain also would like to ease restriction on Cuba, once the U.S. is confident that the transition to a free and open democracy is being made. Latin Times: In what order of importance would your party classify the following issues: the economy, terrorism, abortion, homosexual marriage, discrimination of U.S. Hispanic Citizens and illegal’s, immigration? Angelette Aviles / Republican: Strengthening families and individuals through sound economic plans and education are a top priority. Without a solid foundation of education you cannot resolve many other issues. National Security and preventing terrorism to protect the lives of Americans on our home-front and on that of our allies I would have to list as third in line. Social issues seem to be have been put aside to the bottom of the list realizing that the majority of Americans are more concern about their pocketbooks. Latin Times: What would the democrat/republican party do for the millions of undocumented immigrants in the US?

Angelette Aviles / Republican: The party has been split on this issue with pro-growth advocates supporting more immigration like Senators John McCain and Mel Martinez who were behind the Comprehensive Reform Bill allowing long-term illegal immigrants to gain citizenship, increase security along the borders, and to increase the number of guest workers. Personally, I do not believe this is an issue that will be brought about again in the near future since the economy and energy are current concerns in America. The overhaul on coming up with a solution on immigration was brought about due to National Security after 9/11. When an immigration bill gets introduced again, it will deal with one issue at a time, security first rather than a comprehensive complicated bill. Latin Times: Why should Latino/Hispanic citizens vote for your candidate? Angelette Aviles / Republican: John McCain has been a long champion for Hispanic issues receiving 65% of their vote in Arizona in 1998 and 70% in 2004. McCain recognizes the importance of building strong allies in Mexico and Latin America. Recently, Democrats have stated that they will force Central America to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement. They have also refused to consider a free trade agreement with Colombia, this country’s best ally in the Western Hemisphere. John McCain believes parents should be empowered with school choice to send their children to the school that can best educate them and that if a school will not change, the students and parents should be able to change schools. He wants to put more money in the pocketbooks of families in the form of a refundable tax credit ($2,500-individuals and $5,000-families), to offset the cost of health insurance and lower the cost of prescription drugs by bringing competition through importation and faster introduction of generic drugs. McCain proposes to raise the tax exemption for each dependent from $3,500 to $7,000. Again, more money for families and single parents. Hispanics that come to this country are here to work and create jobs. They are not here for handouts. Hispanic owned-businesses represent over 16% of Florida’s businesses compared to 7% nationally and McCain understands that entrepreneurs, like those in Florida, are at the heart of American innovation, growth and prosperity. To support these businesses, the driving force of the economy, he plans to reduce the corporate tax rate and improve business investment savings among additional incentives.

pecial Thank you to: Nelson Rivera, Rafael Montan and Zanibel Melo assisting with the development of questions and translation. For more on this Caliente interview, please check out our website and remember we will also be presenting a weekly video interview which you can view via our website or newsletter!

The first show of LatinTimes-TV will be premiering this fall on several online viewing channels such as blip.tv, YouTube, MySpace, Facebook and select cable channels. Latin Times TV will be an online/TV version of our print publication with live coverage of local events, and interviews of local business and community leaders. This exciting show will be hosted by Jolie Gonzalez and a local guest co-host. The show will feature several segments of the show which will be filmed on location at one of our Latin ConneXions Business Networking events, with a LIVE audience! Segments Include: Business • Sports • Community • Health • Food • Arts & Culture • Entertainment and more! “We decided to start this show because the Hispanic population of Tampa Bay is growing so rapidly” explained Jolie Gonzalez, publisher of local Hispanic publication Latin Times Magazine. “It’s an important method of communicating what is going on in our community, and will also offer local businesses another avenue by which to reach this thriving market by placing a commercial or sponsoring one of our exciting segments” We will be looking to cover a host of local stories, and we encourage our readers to submit stories for consideration. Businesses are encouraged to take advantage of this unique opportunity to reach a larger audience in Tampa Bay and beyond! To find out how your business can sponsor a segment, or advertise, please contact: (813) 901-5292 or email: JGonzalez@thelatinvillage.com

Aries (March 21 – April 19)

This handsome Latino, Benjamin Bratt was born on December 16th, 1963, in San Francisco, where he was raised. He comes from a very diverse family background. His mother Eldy, is a nurse and a Quechua Native American activist that was born in Lima, Peru. Benjamin’s father was a sheet-metal worker, an American of German and English descent. Bratt has tres hermanas and one brother, Peter Bratt, who is a director. Bratt also has three half brothers from his father’s previous marriage. Benjamin’s grandfather, George Bratt, was also an actor on Broadway, so its easy to see that Benjamin’s passion and talent for acting was passed down through the generations. Bratt obtained his B.F.A. in 1986, with honores from the University of California at Santa Barbara. In addition, he entered the Master’s program at the American Conservatory Theater of San Francisco. In addition to his passion for acting, Benjamin disfruta many pastimes, including outdoor sports such as surfing, mountain biking and rock climbing. He also enjoys bodybuilding, swimming, plays tennis, and in-line skates as often as he gets the chance to. When he is not keeping himself active and fit, he likes to relax and go to el cine. His rise to stardom came from his role as Detective Reynaldo “Rey” Curtis on NBC’s Law & Order, from 1995 to 1999. He has also appeared in many peliculas including: The Next Best Thing (2000), Exiled: A Law and Order Movie (1998), Woman Undone (1995), Kill or Be Killed (1993), Blood In Blood Out (1993), Demolition Man (1993), Bound by Honor (1993), Shadow Hunter (1992), and Chains of Gold (1991) and Miss Congeniality. Bratt dated Julia Roberts for three years. On April 13, 2002, in San Francisco, he married actress Talisa Soto, whom he met while filming Piñero. Their first child, daughter Sophia Rosalinda Bratt, was born on December 6, 2002, and their second child, son Mateo Bravery Bratt was born on October 3, 2005, in Los Angeles. As a child, Bratt’s mother took Bratt along with his hermanos to participate in the 1969 Native American occupation of Alcatraz. Today Bratt is an active supporter of Native American causes such as the American Indian College Fund. His brother, Peter wrote and directed Follow Me Home, casting Benjamin as Abel. Brat has been a strong supporter and board member of San Francisco Bay Area’s Friendship House Association of American Indians and Native American Health Center for years Little Known Fact: A little known fact about Bratt is that at age 5, he took part in a demonstration with his mother and other Native American activists in the takeover of Alcatraz Island.

Hola Aries! The first part of 2008 was a little tough, bienvenido to the later part of the year! You are renewed and when it comes to ideas and thinking you are second to none. Just be sure to be thorough and finish things--take care of all the loose ends. You will reach beyond limitations that you may have felt before. Recuerdate, making your presence felt is the easy part--maintaining or capitalizing on your newfound status es el challenge.

Taurus (April 20 – May 20)

Hola Taurus! A new business idea or career opportunity could open up and you’ll be on the right frame of mind to exploit them to the fullest. Your high energy will make it possible for you to move las montañas and reach new heights. Put off any commitments until you have had a chance to fully understand what you are getting yourself into.

Gemini (May 21 – June 21)

Hola Gemini! This is a perfect time to move forward in your career. Those around you will be very supportive y encouraging. You may find yourself in a leadership position as you take on a new project you may find that co-workers offer support. But you may prefer to keep a low profile and let your work speak for itself. The final part of 2008 provides a welcome change of fortuna for the better. You will receive credit for your efforts and will be rewarded with some overdue recognition.

Cancer (June 22 – July 22)

Hola Cancer! This time calls for some major self-discipline, not only in your professional life, pero also in keeping the focus on your goals. Pay attention to the minor criticisms of your peer group, they can offer a different point of view that you missed all along. You will be able to cope well under pressure, and you will deal with retos head on. Make an extra effort to be pleasant to someone who’s given you a hard time recently; you could be amazed at the effect it has.

Leo (July 23 – Aug. 22)

Hola Leo! What a dynamic time in your life. This is the right time to impress people at work who can positively affect your vida. Group activities with co-workers may lead to unexpected results. Maintain your focus and resist, even in the face of distractions. The problems that you were experiencing in one-to-one relationships are likely to evaporate into thin air.

Virgo (Aug. 23 – Sept. 22)

Hola Virgo! You should have no problems proving yourself and making sure projects and resources align themselves. Your workload may increase, and there could be extra responsibilities to take on. Expect to enjoy more time to plan for new arrangements and projects. It is likely that an emergency situation of some kind can pop up, giving you more to do. But despite the challenges you should be able to stay on top of the juego!

Libra (Sept. 23 – Oct. 23)

Hola Libra! You find yourself with a little bit more freedom in doing what

you really like, give your creativity free reign. You may be feeling like someone is trying to evaluate you. On the bright side, this could be a sign of a better position and rise in your status. New knowledge can help fix any problems or misunderstandings of the recent past. You’re on a roll as 2008 reaches its end, changes and transformations are the general theme. Relationships can be affected as you try to move too quickly for partners to keep up with you.

Scorpio (Oct. 24 – Nov. 21)

Hola Scorpio! You might be feeling a strong compulsion to put your ideas into motion, before the New Year? Why not! Focus on what’s most important to you. Plans to experiment with established norms may lead you to take some risks. You should be pleased with the results of your efforts. A chance meeting with a veteran in your field might offer a fresh new perspective and help broaden your vision. Overall, there’s promise of professional satisfacción y travel to greener pastures.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Hola Sagittarius! You will want to break new ground y explore new avenues, which should eventually be successful. Proposals sitting on the back bench can be expected to be revived before the New Year. You are feeling aggressive and ready to jump on anyone who gets in the way of your progress. Someone may be out to slow down your career progress or try to throw a wrench into your plans. Try to deal with this head on, pero without losing control of the situación. .

Capricorn (Dec. 22 – Jan. 19)

Hola Capricorn! Your enterprising spirit shifts to a higher gear and this should be a productive time for most Capris. Your cheerful disposition can win you new amigos/amigas. Expect some conflict between your conscience and your heart. The urge to impress certain people could cloud your thinking and prevent you from making practical and realistic moves.

Aquarius (Jan. 20 – Feb. 18)

Hola Aquarius! You are in a confusing period of your life, experiencing constant changes of mind and feeling extra energy, make it work for you! While it’s exciting, others may not be able to keep up with you. You will find that you are especially indecisive, constantly changing your mind half way through and switching work modes quickly. That means you may end up with some things only half-done. It’s possible that larger issues are contributing to the inseguridad of your situation.

Pisces (Feb. 19 – March 20)

Hola Pisces! Your sense of responsibility and purpose should encourage others to be at their best with you. You may find that you are making major changes in your professional arrangements, and possibly even considering a move overseas. A surge of energia sweeps you right before the end of the year. Encouraging news regarding your career growth helps regain your sense of humor and positive outlook. While you enjoy the excitement, be careful about overextending yourself.

Jeff Garcia

Tampa Bay Buccaneer Quarterback By: Jolie R. Gonzalez Reference: Buccaneers.com

ampa Bay Buccaneer Jeff Garcia was born on February 24, 1970 in Gilroy, California. Garcia’s father was born to Mexican immigrants, and his mother was of Irish heritage. Jeff grew up in the largely Hispanic town of Gilroy, just 80 minutes outside of San Francisco. He was injured in his senior year of high school and wound up playing football for his father, Bob, at Gavilan College before transferring to San Jose State. Jeff was un-drafted by the NFL and wound up playing five years in the Canadian Football League for the Calgary Stampeders, leading them to a Grey Cup victory in 1998. The 49ers’ Bill Walsh invited him for a tryout and signed him to a deal that eventually led to three trips to the Pro Bowl, overcoming comparisons to quarterback icons such as Joe Montana and Steve Young. Much of what shaped Garcia’s survival instincts occurred when he was very young and from having survived the many tragedies his family endured. Before he was born, Garcia’s mother, Linda, had twin girls that died after being born two months premature and his younger brother, Jason, drowned on a family camping trip in 1977. Fourteen months later, his younger sister, Kimberly, died after falling out of a truck. Jeff is married to Carmella, who is of Puerto Rican and Italian heritage, the couple has one daughter, Presley that was born on April 28, 2008. In addition to a long, successful career in football, this extremely generous NFL star and his beautiful wife have huge hearts, establishing the Garcia Pass It On Foundation with a mission to share resources with people in less fortunate circumstances. The Foundation’s Web Site is www.GarciaPassItOn.com. Jeff also provides charitable groups with tickets to all Buccaneers’ home games through Amigos de Garcia, a game-day ticket program, and accompanied 20 middle school students from the Florida Institute of Community Studies’ Multicultural Family Center to MOSI’s “SHIPWRECK! Pirates & Treasure” exhibit in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month in September 2007.

Jeff serves as spokesman and leader for the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, and is an active participant with the NFL International, promoting the game of football in Mexico and overseas. Known as an extremely accurate quarterback with the athletic ability to make plays on the run, he is an experienced signal caller in the West Coast Offense. Selected to his fourth Pro Bowl in 2007, Jeff demonstrates poise and tremendous leadership ability in the huddle, rallying his team to victory on 11 occasions when his team was tied or trailed at the end of the third quarter. Entering his second season with the Buccaneers after joining the team as a free agent on March 3, 2007, in his first season as a Buccaneer, Jeff set team records for lowest interception percentage (1.2), most consecutive completions in a single game (18, at Detroit, 10/21/07) and most consecutive attempts without an interception (197). Jeff was also the recipient of the team’s 2007 Ed Block Courage Award, guiding the Buccaneers to the NFC South title in 2007. 2008 Season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers: So far, Jeff has played in only one game with one start (at New Orleans) and has completed 24-of-41 pass attempts for 221 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Starting as quarterback at New Orleans (9/7), Jeff completed 24-of-41 pass attempts for 221 yards, one touchdown and one interception, and completed passes to seven different receivers. Jeff is currently inactive because of injuries, as the third quarterback at Chicago (9/21), but his fans are hoping that he will soon be our starting quarterback again!

2008 Tampa Bay Buccaneer Home Schedule Sun, 10/12/2008 @ 1:00 PM Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Carolina Panthers Raymond James Stadium Sun, 10/19/2008 @ 8:15 PM Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Seattle Seahawks Raymond James Stadium Sun, 11/16/2008 @ 1:00 PM Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ vs Minnesota Vikings Raymond James Stadium Sun, 11/30/2008 @ 1:00 PM Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs New Orleans Saints Raymond James Stadium Sun, 12/21/2008 @ 8:15 PM Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs San Diego Chargers Raymond James Stadium

Sun, 12/28/2008 @ 1:00 PM Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Oakland Raiders Raymond James Stadium

1. Body Solutions 2. Nancy MorĂĄn of Raymond James Financial 3. Ray Carrion 4. Triago Rumba 5. V&V Associates 6. WLG

Exhibitors 1. Tampa Tango 2. Exciting Salsa Performance 3. Belly Dancers

Performers 1. Another Lucky Prize Winners 2. Big Award Winner Compliments of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Byrd and Gonzalez

Prizes Winners

1. Tampa Bay Latino Movers N Shakers con Jolie Gonzalez 2. Bay New’s 9 Roy De Jesus with Jolie Gonzalez

Special Guest

Don’t miss this exciting these exciting upcoming Latin ConneXions events!

Friday, November 7th, 2008 – 1st. Friday, Latin ConneXions Business Networking Social 4th Annual Food Drive (As Part of the Holiday Series of Events) @ Mirage Restaurant and Lounge – 3605 W. Hillsborough Ave in Tampa. Held on the 1st. Friday of every month, this is the biggest most exciting business networking social in Tampa Bay! In an annual Holiday effort to help raise food for are under-privileged families, guest are asked to bring in a 5 cans of non-perishable food. Bring plenty of business cards and your dancing shoes. Free Parking & complimentary Latin Buffet, giveaways and much more! Presented by: Latin Times Magazine. Price: Free, Time: 5:45pm – 10:00pm. Friday, December 5th, 2008 – 1st. Friday, Latin ConneXions Business Networking Social 4th Annual Christmas Parranda & Children’s Toy Drive @ Mirage Restaurant and Lounge @ 3605 W. Hillsborough Ave in Tampa, FL. • Held on the 1st. Friday of every month, this is the biggest most exciting business networking social in Tampa Bay! This is one of our biggest and most successful annual events, which features over 30 local exhibitors, including the Christmas shopping “Mercado”. Featuring traditional “music navideña”, this event has been coined “La Parranda del Año” and features live entertainment cultural entertainment. Guests are encouraged to bring in typical holiday musical instruments. In an annual Holiday effort to raise toys for area underprivileged children, guests are asked to bring in unwrapped toys for boys and girls. Toys are donated to local Hospitals and to the Hillsborough Kids Organization. Bring plenty of business cards and your dancing shoes. Free Parking & complimentary Latin Buffet, giveaways and much more! Presented by: Latin Times Magazine. Price: Free, Time: 5:45pm – 10:00pm. Friday, January 2nd, 2009 – 1st. Friday, Latin ConneXions Business Networking Social Casino Latino / Casino Night @ Mirage Restaurant and Lounge @ 3605 W. Hillsborough Ave in Tampa, FL. • Held on the 1st. Friday of every month, this is the biggest most exciting business networking social in Tampa Bay! An evening filled with Vegas style excitement, featuring: Texas Holdem’, Blackjack, Roulette, Craps and even Slot Machines! Each guest will receive $1,000 in PHONEY MONEY to play at the tables! The night’s BIG Winner will receive a $100 Gift Certificate from Latin Times. Bring plenty of business cards and your dancing shoes. Free Parking & complimentary Latin Buffet, giveaways and much more! Presented by: Latin Times Magazine. Price: Free, Time: 5:45pm – 10:00pm. Ladies Tea Party – By Invitation Only Just for ladies tea party/meeting. Held in West Tampa, on the top floor of a charming and unique business that will delight as your explore it! Join us at this elegant and exact replication of Victorian Ladies Tea Cottage. Complete with elegant chaise lounges, parlor room, and a mini-museum room filled with great feminine treasures. On the menu: An array of hand selected Teas from all around the world. Spoil yourself with such delicious delights such as petite sandwiches, Savannah honey & cheese board, chocolate fountain, fruit compote, an incredible assortment of chocolates, cookies, petit fours and more! Enjoy the roof-top Spa we create, while relaxing under the firm hands of your own personal massage therapist, get a pedicure, a manicure, facial and more! Shop at the little rooftop shopping village we have created with perfect ladies treasures and gifts. This invite is for the elite, of the elite and is limited to just 40 ladies, by invitation only. Exhibitors: JGonzalez@thelatinvillage.com or call (813) 901-5292. Tickets: $50.00 in advance, $55.00 day of event. Sponsorship opportunities are available.

PLUS Our New Quarterly Events in Orlando, FL!