CARROLLWOOD AREA
Vol. 2, Issue 1, January 2014
Neighborhood News & Lifestyles
®
Your neighborhood. Your magazine.
The Community & Local Business Magazine Directly Mailed To 14,000 Homes In Carrollwood, Lake Magdalene & Avila
Barr-Hameroff Insurance –
Small Enough to Know You, Large Enough to Serve You! By Alexis Selby One of life’s necessities, insurance plays a vital role in our security and the security of our family, yet quite often enough it is something we don’t think about until something bad happens. The purpose of insurance is to protect your assets, so that when tragedy strikes you have a course of action, a way to salvage what’s lost, replace what’s missing and protect those you love. Whether you are looking to insure your car, your home, or more importantly – your life – choosing the
right insurance is incredibly important. But, with so many different coverage’s out there, how do you know which ones are right for you? Instead of spending endless hours searching, trying to find the best coverage at the most affordable price, why not let the experts do all the work for you. When entrusting someone with something as significant as the security of your family it is imperative to have an insurance agent who truly looks out for your best interest; one who will go above and beyond to ensure you are receiving the best suited coverage See “Barr” on page 20.
Barr-Hammeroff Insurance is conveniently located at 13506 North Rome Avenue in Tampa.
Alvarez Audiology and Hearing – Take Control of Your Hearing Health! By Alexis Selby Directly affecting your personal relationships, quality of life, and even your ability to go about a normal day, hearing is an important part of life and is something people often take for granted – that is, until they experience hearing loss. At Alvarez Audiology and Hearing in Citrus Park they know how impor-
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID TAMPA FL PERMIT 1185
A New Year. A New Beginning.............................3 Community Calendar/News Briefs...................4-5 Carrollwood Scavenger Hunt............................6-7 Mary Clawson, CPA.........................................8-9 A Hundred Years & Still Rolling...................10-11 Our Community! Our Home! Our Businesses!............................................12-13 Whole Foods Market Carrollwood.....................14 Avoid Foreclosure! Free Help!............................19 A Taste of the Silk & Spice Roads......................26
tant it is to not only address hearing loss, but to be proactive about the health of your hearing in order to help prevent hearing loss, and their dedicated team of trained professionals go above and beyond to help you take full control of your hearing health! “At Alvarez Audiology we help people live better lives,” says Indira Alvarez, Au.D., CCC-A, owner of Alvarez Audiology.
James C. from Odessa writes, “I believe that my purchase of Hearing Aids from Alvarez Audiology has improved my quality of life tremendously. I am an investigator for the State. Hearing the little details can make or break a case. My new Hearing Aids have been a miracle. In addition to voice, I have been able to hear buzzers See “Alvarez” on page 24.
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From The Editor Alexis Selby
A New Year.
Directly mailed once a month to 14,000 households in zip codes 33618, 33624 & 33613
A Fresh Start. A New Beginning. For me, the beginning of the New Year signifies a time for hope, inspiring you to make changes or do things differently. It can be an exciting time, filled with enthusiasm and anticipation, as we think about our potential for the upcoming year. It is a time of reflection – honoring what has happened, what is currently happening, and what is yet to come. Celebrating milestones in our life such as the New Year allows us to contemplate our lives in a way we often don’t do. Constantly moving through life on autopilot, it is easy to get caught in the daily grind, dragging along week by week with our routines and schedules. The New Year is a break in this pattern. It is both an ending and a beginning. It is an opportunity to stop, reflect, and start again. As we move into this next chapter of life, it is important to think about what we accomplished in 2013. A lot can happen in the span of a year, and I'm sure for most of us 2013 was filled with many wonderful experiences, and
challenging ones as well. Take a moment to look back upon the beautiful memories you created this past year. I'm sure if you think about it, there were many. Too often, memories are forgotten and as we get caught up in our routines we lose sight of what is truly important to us and forget about just how lucky we are. Also – just as important – take some time to reflect on what didn't go so well, as it is only by acknowledging these hardships that we are able to let go of the past and move forward into the future. The challenges we have faced give us strength and courage, and in some way or another have helped shape us into who we are today. What is your favorite memory from 2013? I would love to hear about it! Please submit all entries, along with a picture of you and your family, by mail to the Neighborhood News, 220 S Safford Ave., Tarpon Springs, Fl 34689, email at Alexis@NeighborhoodNewsFl.com or by
Neighborhood News & Lifestyles 220 Safford Ave. S. Tarpon Springs, FL 34689 Phone: (813) 928-6124; Fax: (727) 942-2432 Advertising E-mail: info@neighborhoodnewsfl.com Editorial E-mail: alexis@neighborhoodnewsfl.com © 2014 Carrollwood Neighborhood News is published by M Selby Publications, LLC. Publisher Matt Selby Advertising Sales Jim O’Reilly Linda Viega Mike Bird Accounting Manager Alexis Selby Marketing & Development Ashley Knoblach Art Director Tony Sica Graphic Artists Dat X. Do
Matt and Alexis Selby fax at (727) 942-2432. We will randomly select a few entries to be featured in our next month’s publication. As we look towards the future, embrace it with an open heart. Honor your past, cherish the beautiful memories, and be willing to let the challenging times go. In the words of Brad Paisley, “Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one!”
Editor Alexis Selby Correspondents Erin Aldrich Julie Kanehl Lenay Ruhl Marcy Sanford Pamela Sica Katie Thomas Kim Thomas Dara Tucker
Nothing that appears in Carrollwood Neighborhood News may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by Carrollwood Neighborhood News writers are their own and do not reflect the publisher’s opinion. The management of Carrollwood Neighborhood News is always happy to accept outside editorial submissions to the paper. Please call for outside editorial submission and advertisement deadlines. Carrollwood Neighborhood News will consider previously non-published outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. Carrollwood Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates. Carrollwood Neighborhood News will not return unsolicited editorial materials. Carrollwood Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit and/or reject any advertising. Carrollwood Neighborhood News is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the actual cost of the advertising space itself, not for the validity of any claims made by its advertisers. Carrollwood Neighborhood News & Lifestyles is published by M Selby Publications, LLC.
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Community Calendar LMUMC Will Begin a New Griefshare Series Lake Magdalene United Methodist Church: GriefShare will begin a new series of their twice yearly seminar support groups on Tuesday Jan., 7 at 6:30 p.m. in Room 310 of the CEC Bldg. All members of the
community who have lost a loved one are invited to attend the meetings, which will continue on Tuesdays for 13 weeks until April 1. There is a cost of $15 with scholarships available. More information can be found on the church website, lmumc.org under Congregational Care.
Community News Briefs Tampa’s Kristen Anne Flores Chosen for Congress of Future Medical Leaders in Washington, DC Kristen Anne Flores, a Sophomore at Citrus Park Christian School of Tampa has been nominated to attend the Congress of Future Medical Leaders in Washington, DC on February 14-16, 2014. The Congress is an honors-only program for high school students who want to become physicians or go into medical research fields. The purpose of this event is to honor, inspire, motivate and direct the top students in the coun-
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try who aspire to be physicians or medical scientists, to stay true to their dream and, after the event, to provide a path, plan and resources to help Kristen Anne Flores them reach their goal. Kristen Anne Flores was nominated by Dr. Connie Mariano, the Medical Director of the National Acad-
emy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists to represent Florida based on her academic achievement, leadership potential and determination to serve humanity in the field of medicine. During the three-day Congress, Kristen Anne Flores will join students from across the country and hear Nobel Laureates and National Medal of Science Winners talk about leading medical research; be given advice from Ivy League and top medical school deans on what is to expect in medical school; witness stories told by patients who are living medical miracles; be inspired by fellow teen medical science prodigies; and learn about cutting-edge advances and the future in medicine and medical technology. “This is a crucial time in America when we need more doctors and medical scientists who are even better prepared for a future that is changing exponentially,” said Richard Rossi, Executive Director, National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists. “Focused, bright and determined students like Kristen Anne Flores are our future and she deserves all the mentoring and guidance we can give her.” The Academy offers free services and programs to students who want to be physicians or go into medical science. Some of the services and programs the
Academy plans to launch in 2013 and 2014 are online social networks through which future doctors and medical scientists can communicate; opportunities for students to be guided and mentored by physicians and medical students; and communications for parents and students on college acceptance and finances, skills acquisition, internships, career guidance and much more. The National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists was founded on the belief that we must identify prospective medical talent at the earliest possible age and help these students acquire the necessary experience and skills to take them to the doorstep of this vital career. Based in Washington, D.C., the Academy was chartered as a nonpartisan, taxpaying institution to help address this crisis by working to identify, encourage and mentor students who wish to devote their lives to the service of humanity as physicians, medical scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians.
Playtime Learning Academy Hosts “Around the World” From Antarctica to North America to Asia, on December 19, students at Playtime Learning Academy got the chance to travel the world. Hosting an
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and daily rates. For more information please visit their website at www.PlaytimeLearningAcademy.com or become a Facebook fan.
Corbett Prep Fifth Graders Preview Middle School
“Around the World” celebration of holiday culture, each classroom at the academy was transformed into one of the seven continents and were opened up for families to tour with their children. The atmosphere was festive, with a great selection of food, music and culture, accompanied by beautiful decorations and cultural displays, handmade by the students throughout the month
of December. Each of the children were given a passport that was stamped in each continent they visited to help document their wonderful journey. Playtime Learning Academy, located at 4701 Ehrlich Road in Carrollwood, has an accredited preschool program with full time and part time students. For younger children the Academy also offers both full time
Fifth graders recently had the chance to try out Middle School for the morning, crossing Orange Grove Drive to meet sixth-grade teachers, participate in hands-on lessons and learn about opportunities available to them next year. The Middle School is a familiar building to Corbett Preparatory School of IDS students, but incoming sixth graders often have several questions about what life is like for the “big kids.” What classes will they take? How do electives and clubs differ? What’s it like to change classes? What are teachers’ expectations? To help with the transition to sixth grade, Corbett Prep offers its current fifth graders an introduction to Middle School each fall. Students spend time in each of the core classes they will take as sixth graders, and their parents follow the next day for their own tour and open house. Teachers had mini-lessons planned for the student groups, packed with brain-based activities designed to appeal
to multiple learning styles. Fifth graders worked in teams to apply engineering concepts as they built straw vehicles using only nonverbal communication. In social studies, Chris Ochoa reviewed Egyptian architecture with the students and then passed out Play-Doh for them to sculpt replicas of famous monuments. English teacher Kat Quin encouraged students to tune in as she read a passage from Doug Wilhelm’s young adult novel The Revealers and guided them through a compelling conversation about it. Fifth graders also had time to hear advice directly from sixth graders who wrote letters packed with words of wisdom. The letters shared how many of the sixth graders had questions when they started and what they had discovered — electives they loved, the “kind, friendly and intelligent teachers” and the balance between more independence and responsibility. “I remember when I was a fifth grader reading this letter. It really helped me anticipate what I would do in middle school,” one boy wrote to the fifth graders. “Middle school will knock your socks off with all the responsibilities and choices they give you.” See “News Briefs” on page 18.
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1st Annual Greater Carrollwood Scavenger Hunt A few weeks before Thanksgiving, Jessica Kingsborough decided to host a fun event to help support local Carrollwood businesses. As an active member of the Carrollwood Area Business Association, she has gotten to know many small business owners. “A lot of local businesses were planning Small Business Saturday at the end of the month and I thought wouldn’t it be fun to have an event that rewarded people for shopping local this holiday season? Let’s make a game out of it!” says Kingsborough, a local realtor for Action 100 Realty who lives in Carrollwood. Thus the 1st Annual Greater Carrollwood Scavenger Hunt was born. She recruited 20 local businesses to be participating locations. Sips Coffee, Carrollwood Copy Center, Val’s Home Décor, Groovy Cats and Dogs, Gino’s Italian Restaurant, El’lay Boutique, Golfer’s Grail, Rapid Refill, Tate and Tilly, Carrollwood Bicycle Emporium, Ocean Blue, Mari Caron Chocolates, Book Swap of Carrollwood, Carrollwood Florist, Just Grillin, Lane Family Chiropractic, Chi Yoga, Crunch Fitness, Tanya and
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Matt’s Ice Cream were carefully chosen to provide a variety for holiday shopping. Also included was a book signing at the Carrollwood Cultural Center by Carrollwood author, Joshua McMarrow Hernandez who recently released a book on the area: “Images of America: Tampa’s Carrollwood.” A completed treasure map By sharing the cost across 20 busifollowing the clues at each location nesses, each business was able to parto complete the treasure map. The ticipate for around $75. “I was able to players had a week to complete secure over $1000 in gifts, including a their Scavenger Hunt, from No$500 grand prize for the winner,” says vember 29 thru December 6. Kingsborough. The outpouring of love and The rules of the game were simcreativity on the event’s Facebook Player, Sam Kaplan, gets creative at ple. Sign-up to play and fill out your page by the players was nothing Carrollwood Bicycle Emporium treasure map by visiting the participatshort of amazing. With only about ing businesses. Points would be 20 players, the page was able to winner Andrew Perez echoed the goal awarded for various tasks completed reach about 2000 people during the of the event. “I moved to the area two including posting pictures to the week of the hunt. One video testimoyears ago and this Scavenger Hunt event’s Facebook page, completing nial posted by player and grand prize gave me the opportunity to discover online reviews of the businesses and
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Jessica Kingsborough with the $500 grand prize winner Andrew Perez. hidden gems. Throughout this weeklong experience, I found some of the nicest and best businesses that I pass by every day but have never actually taken the time to find and appreciate.” Participant Diane Stoddart created, with the help of her husband, a theme
song, “Keeping it in Carrollwood.” “It was so much fun. I was able to complete all my Christmas shopping throughout the event by shopping at these great businesses,” Stoddart said fondly. The participating businesses were very happy with the results as well. “This is the type of exposure that is critical to small business and the type that you just can’t buy,” says Yvonne Guibert, owner of pet food and supply store, Groovy Cats and Dogs. One family has visited Golfer’s Grail several times since playing in the event. “They had never been in before and they were thrilled to find a great place the whole family could enjoy,” says Golfer’s Grail owner Brenda Sproat. Will she sponsor the event again? Absolutely, Kingsborough shares. “We are already planning another Greater Carrollwood Scavenger Hunt for late spring. I just couldn’t bear to wait an entire year to do it again so I decided a bi-annual event would be better!” For more information on the upcoming spring event, you can check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GCScavengerHunt or you can email Jessica Kingsborough at jessica@action100realty.com.
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You Can Trust Expert Accountant Mary Clawson To Help You Keep Your Hard Earned Money! By Matt Selby Let’s be honest, not many of us enjoy sharing our hard-earned money with the government. However, taxes are a fundamental part of this country, and although it might not being something that we like doing, paying them is very important. Money can be difficult to come by these days and whether you're a hardworking individual punching a clock or an admirable small business owner trying to provide for your family, chances are, you want to keep as much of your earnings as possible. That's where Mary Clawson, CPA comes in. Using her experience and knowledge in the industry, Mary will make sure no matter who you are, and no matter what your income is, you only pay your fair share and not a penny more. Originally from Ohio, Mary has traveled the country, spending time in New York and Alaska, before moving to Florida with her husband and children. Actively licensed to work as a
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CPA in both Ohio and Florida, Mary has over 30 years of experience in the field and has been serving the Tampa Bay area sine 1999. She began her career developing extensive accounting, payroll, and inventory software applications for small to medium sized manufacturers and retailers while attending college. After graduating with an Accounting degree from Excelsior College and passing the CPA exam on her first attempt, she began her career with Deloitte and Touche. Since then, Mary has gained experience as an IT auditor and Accountant through various businesses and organizations ranging from retail, banking, manufacturing, insurance, and nonprofits. As the owner of Clawson Accounting Services Plus, LLC, Mary’s overwhelming experience in the various facets of accounting gives her an incomparable perspective and in-depth understanding. This, coupled with her extensive knowledge and commitment to her customers, really puts her firm at the forefront of the industry.
Mary has an insatiable thirst for knowledge and is dedicated to providing her clients with outstanding service and to uphold the three underlying principles of professionalism, responsiveness, and quality. She is constantly achieving new certifications and takes further educational programs regularly. Perfectly complementing her career as a CPA, Mary is a Certified Fraud Examiner, a Certified Information Systems Auditor, a Chartered Global Management Accountant, a Quickbooks ProAdvisor, a CFF Candidate (she passed the test and is currently working on experience hours) and is Certified in Financial Forensics. She also completed the training for the Certified Audit Program in conjunction with the Department of Revenue and the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants (FICPA) regarding sales tax audits, and is awaiting the final test. With those kind of credentials it is easy to see why so many people here in our area Trust Mary Clawson with their financials. In
Mary Clawson, CPA
fact, I'm proud to say Mary Clawson is the CPA my wife and I trust when doing the accounting for the Carroll-
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our CPA (then) not following through as well. I was devastated when I found out, as this is my passion – helping women and men in our community who are afflicted with this illness. I was crying and did not know where to turn, nor could I afford to hire a CPA on this as those funds would come out of the non-profit and we were running low and needed those funds for the organization. Mary was referred to me through a member of CABA. I called her and we met, and the rest is history. She helped re-submit the 80+ page document needed and did not charge us wood Area Neighborhood News. Mary is fun-loving and friendly, immediately making you feel welcome and comfortable, and it is evident from the moment you meet her that she truly enjoys helping her clients. Mary refers to herself as a “problem solver”. She says, “I look at accounting as a puzzle that needs to be solved. I enjoy finding things, fixing things and solving problems.” Whether you are filing as an individual, a small business, a large corporation or a non-forprofit organization, when you trust Mary Clawson to do your accounting, you know you are in good hands! She
knowing our situation. Mary is not just a CPA; she is a phenomenal woman passionate about giving back and helping the community. She is professional, beyond efficient and truly a life-saver.” Clawson Accounting Solutions Plus, LLC is located at 13920-N Dale Mabry Hwy, Suite 3, in Tampa. For more information please call Mary Clawson, CPA at (813) 963-2270 or email Info@Clawsonasplus.com. You can also find out more about her services by visiting www.Clawsonasplus.com.
will work hard on your behalf and go in-depth, taking into account all the possible deductions you qualify for, to ensure the amount of taxes you are paying yearly is exactly what you owe. Client Darlene Gant writes, "I currently have breast cancer, stage 4 (long story short, I had to launch a YouTube video to get a drug for compassionate use that was a media frenzy last year as I was on Hospice dying) and I have a non-profit for women and men with cancer, H.O.P.E. Our 501c3 had been revoked due to our old treasurer not filing proper paperwork with the IRS (while I was ill) and
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A Hundred Years and Still Rolling “Rocks and shells and dead bugs” are my favorite things, says 100year-old Carrollwood resident Frances Noble, who spends her time sitting in her bedroom chair reviewing yellowed paper clippings, hand-written notes and gazing at faded photos collected over the years and stored in brown boxes. Residing in her home in Carrollwood, Frances looks through a picture window at a jungle of tropical shrubs or watches the ducks swimming in the pond in her backyard. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada and mother of seven children who are now gray-haired senior citizens, her family and friends gathered to celebrate her birthday of October 10, 1913 at the Grand Suites Hotel in Tampa. Frances lived in St. Martin, Canada, a small town where there was no electricity and the family used an outhouse. “When I came to this country I could speak only Polish, now I don’t remember a word of it.” The family migrated by train from Canada to Ruskin, Florida, where “Dad had bought some land.” They had orange
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trees and Dad had a grocery store. Eventually he had cattle and chickens, too. Frances was ten when the family moved into a house on the banks of the Little Manatee River. She walked to a school in the woods that had one room for all eight grades. Later, she attended school at the “saw mill.” One sunny day Frances packed her bag, boarded a bus in Ruskin and later arrived at the entrance of the high school, Academy of Holy Names, on Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa and announced to the nun that greeted her, “I want to go to your school”. She was accepted. Frances lived and worked at the school, serving tables, until the Thomas family asked her to live with their family, which included their daughter, Barbara, a pre-teen. While in high school, Frances met Bill Noble, who turned out to be her future husband. She and Bill double-dated with her Aunt Edith and her aunt's boyfriend, Herman. Actually, Bill had a car and Herman wanted to go out with Edith, so Mom was drafted to keep Bill company. “I
didn’t like him at first,” Frances admitted. After graduating, Frances moved to New Orleans to train as a nurse at Mercy Hospital. She was in nursing school for about a year when, in early 1935, Bill surprised Frances by moving to New Orleans. Bill’s first job was at Lane Cotton Mills where he worked for 15 cents an hour. By June he began working at Prudential Insurance Company, where he worked for the rest of his life. In October 1935, Bill married Frances. Frances traded nursing for married life and the couple made a home in New Orleans in a duplex on Memphis Street. On June 3, 1940 Frances was awarded her Naturalization papers. “Now I can vote”, she said. During the first ten years of their marriage, Mary, Helen, Jim, Frank, and Joan were born. Then Bill got a notice from "Uncle Sam", so he decided to move his family to Tampa to be near to his mother. The Service thought better about drafting him. Something was mentioned about having five children. The family remained
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Frances Noble in Florida. Eventually, Bobbie and Ed were born. Raising all those kids “was work,” Frances says. The government reclaimed the family home to build I-275, so Frances and Bill hired an architect to build their “special house” outside of Carrollwood. Frances continues to reside there. “When they (the children) grew up, I decided to go to college. Once I started I wondered why I waited so long. A doctor asked me, ‘Now that you have your degree, what are you to do with it?’ I told him, I’m going
Carrollwood Area Neighborhood News
to enjoy it.” Bill and Frances were married for 55 years. Bill has been deceased for 20 years. After he died, Frances traveled all over the world with different groups. When she settled down at home, she started attending afternoon dance teas sponsored by the Polish Club. There, she danced to a local band on Sunday afternoons. It was at a dance that she met Charles Zeeman. They have been a couple ever since and they profess their love for each other. On Saturday, October 5, 2013, the family gave Frances a catered
birthday party. Seventy-five of her friends and relatives attended. A scavenger hunt and a crossword puzzle were created for the event. Many pictures from her hundred years were gathered and featured in a video. Her favorite musical pieces played in the background. The guests and Frances spent three unforgettable hours celebrating her birthday. “It was a wonderful party. I had fun,” she tells her oldest daughter, Mary, as they stroll along Graham Lane. “Yes it was,” Mary replies, as she stops to hang the lingering ‘happy birthday’ balloons on the mail box.
Carrollwood Area Neighborhood News
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Our Community! Our Home! Our Businesses! By Matt Selby Our magazine has been promoting shopping local long before it was the cool thing to do; before "Small business Saturday" – which American Express promotes like crazy for one day per year. In fact, it's been everyday since 1994 when my Dad Tim Selby and his former brother in-law Gary purchased an 11-month old publication, consisting mostly of articles about national news, on white-woven paper and turned it into the original "New Tampa Neighborhood News." People learn enough about what is going on in the Nation by turning on the TV. But what is going on in our hometown? Where do we find out about that? Taking this into account, the theme of the magazine was changed. Immediately tossing the canned information out the window, Tim and Gary focused their attention on what was going on in the local community. Twenty years later, Gary still has the New Tampa Neighborhood News, as well as another in Wesley Chapel, and my Parents Tim and Doreen Selby, who have since parted ways with Gary, expanded into Trinity, East Lake,
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Jonathan (L) and Bruce (R) Boore of Hattie’s Cafe and Beanery are dedicated to providing the community with delicious food and unique coffee. Odessa/Lutz/Land O' Lakes and Westchase, reaching over 70,000 mailboxes monthly. In 2013, my wife Alexis and I expanded the Neighborhood News and Lifestyles into the Carrollwood area, extending the reach of the Neighborhood News name to another 14,000 homes and businesses. We hope you've enjoyed reading
about what is going on here in Carrollwood over the past year and have had a chance to frequent the local businesses we help promote. We really want to thank all of you who have supported small businesses in 2013 and we hope you will continue to support them in 2014. It makes all the difference in the world to this community. By shopping
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The Honey Walnut Shrimp is a favorite among guests at New Beijing. at small businesses it keeps almost 75% of the money right here in our own economy. If we want Carrollwood and surrounding Tampa Bay areas to thrive it's our responsibility to support our neighbors. The following are just a few things some local business owners had to say about their experience with us this past year. "We started running out of food at 10 in the morning,” says Bruce from Hattie's Cafe and Beanery. “We've never seen such a rush! We've been in the Tampa Tribune and that got us a little bump, we had a 2 and 1/2 minute spotlight on Fox News, that barely got us anything. In my 50 years plus of
Carrollwood Area Neighborhood News
Lea Orchard (center) alongside a few of her talented stylists at Great Clips Carrollwood. being in this industry I’ve never felt such a push from local advertising in my life! People come in here and tell me why they came in and they say they came in because they saw us in "their" Neighborhood News magazine. They know it's about their community and they love it!" "Everything about the magazine, I absolutely love! It actually brought me around 200 new customers after the article came out!" - Angel from New Beijing Lea from Great Clips says, "This publication is so great for our community businesses and has certainly been outstanding for mine. I have advertised
for the past several months in the magazine with great results. Alexis did a front-page article on my Great Clips salon at Fletcher and Dale Mabry in the November issue of the magazine. The feedback we received was amazing! Friends, neighbors and customers get this magazine and mentioned it to me and to our staff as well. I would highly recommend putting an ad in the Neighborhood News & Lifestyles magazine. These ads are reasonably priced and provide great exposure for your local business. And, Alexis and Matt are terrific to work with." Robert from Twinz Big City Hotdogs says, "Not only did we have our
Carrollwood Area Neighborhood News
The Snow Bird Rob n’ Rich wings (L), and the Mushroom Swiss Burger and hand-spun shakes (R) are a huge hit among customers at Twinz Big City Hotdogs. best Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday ever since being open, but we had our best days by at least 30%. I admit I was skeptical at first, but I am a true believer in what you guys can do now. By far the best thing we've ever done! We got to meet so many great people in this community that came in directly because of what you wrote about us and people were telling us they would be back before they even tried the food. They were so sure they were going to love it based off what you wrote about us. After tasting the food, people were telling us it's the best burger or the best hot dog or the best wings they have ever had and they didn't even know we were here! Thank you!
Hearing these kind of success stories gives me chills because I'm a small business owner too; we are not owned by some huge corporate media conglomerate. My wife and I are locals who know this area – who love this area – and we know how much work goes into making a business successful. You have to believe in what you are doing; you have to live it and you have to love it. People can tell which businesses operate simply to make a buck and which truly have a passion for what they offer. The business owner who understands that it's his or her name on the line and their reputation is all they have – that's who we strive to promote. The small business owner that just needs people to know his story to be successful!
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Radish, Set, Go for 2014! Here in Florida we don’t get a real winter. There’s no snow and no super cold weather. Fortunately for us that means we get an additional growing season with gives us delicious root veggies, like the radish. Radishes are a misunderstood and often unremembered vegetable that we get a lot of growth from here in the cooler weather. Radishes have the advantage of being low calorie, cholesterol and saturated fat free but have a multitude of healthy micronutrients including potassium, vitamin C, folate, fiber, manganese, copper, magnesium, calcium, vitamin B6, riboflavin and sodium. Being such a great source of much needed vitamins and minerals keeps these nutrient dense gems at the top of our Health Starts Here® list. The best part, though? They are super simple to prepare. Trust me. Try these simple methods to start adding some delicious, peppery radish flavor into your life. Eat them raw. Couldn’t be simpler, right? They are inexpensive, you
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can carry them in a small plastic container and they don’t require refrigeration. Grab a handful in the morning and crunch on them throughout the day to help keep cravings for less nutritious items to a minimum. Sliver them and add them to sandwiches, salads or even pasta dishes! They add a burst of flavor to anything you want to try them with. Braise them and use them as a side dish with your favorite entrees. From salmon or chicken to baked tofu these guys are a good and flavorful addition to any lunch or dinner. Find additional healthy eating recipes to jump start your new year at http://wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes Nicole Sampson is the Healthy Eating Specialist at Whole Foods Market Carrollwood. She is a great resource for free, easy tips on how to eat healthy on a budget. Keep an eye out for her free classes and store tours at wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/carrollwood or email her at nicole.sampson@wholefoods.com to set up a healthy eating education event for your school or workplace!
Cucumber, Radish and Seaweed Salad Noodle-like black seaweed strands make this strikingly colorful salad a healthful side dish for pairing with fish, grilled meals or Asian noodle dishes. The salad benefits from at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator to marinate in the vinaigrette. Ingredients: 1 cup (1/2 ounce) dried arame seaweed 2 large cucumbers, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced 1 bunch small red radishes, trimmed and quartered 2 tablespoons unseasoned rice
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vinegar 2 teaspoons reduced-sodium tamari 2 tablespoons black or white sesame seeds, toasted and cooled (optional) Method: Soak arame in cold water until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain and transfer to a large bowl. Add cucumbers, radishes, rice vinegar and tamari and toss to combine. Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes. Just before serving, toss vegetables again with dressing that has settled at the bottom of the bowl and sprinkle sesame seeds on top.
Carrollwood Area Neighborhood News
Carrollwood Area Neighborhood News
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Carrollwood Area Neighborhood News
Carrollwood Area Neighborhood News
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“News Briefs” Continued from page 5 Other letters advised the incoming class to always turn in homework promptly, to stay organized and to get to class on time. “Your agenda is your best friend in middle school,” one student wrote. “You should always have it with you when you go to class.”
At the parent open house, Headmaster Dr. Joyce Burick Swarzman and teachers gave parents an overview of the preparatory curriculum in all areas including the five major subjects — English, math, social studies, science and Spanish — and the wheel, which rotates art, music and drama classes. Want more? Students tap into specific interests with a plethora of graded electives that include Chinese, computer pro-
gramming, photography, forensics, math and CSI. Their schedule permits time for clubs related to the arts, sciences, math and more. They also attend physical education class and can participate in competitive intramurals. Parents sampled the academic side of Middle School as they toured classes as well as enjoyed the positive social interactions among current students. “Middle School will challenge the students,” Dr. Swarzman said, “to reach for the stars in extraordinary ways.” Students graduate from Corbett Prep’s middle school prepared for high school with compassion for others, a
strong work ethic and the independence to succeed. Founded in 1968, Corbett Preparatory School of IDS (formerly Independent Day School Corbett Campus) is a fully accredited, nonsectarian private school located in Tampa’s Carrollwood neighborhood. It has become recognized as an exemplary school with over 7,000 visitors observing and learning from Corbett Prep teachers. For more information, visit www.corbettprep.com or contact the Admissions Office at (813) 961-3087.
Students were given an overview of the preparatory curriculum in the five major subject areas.
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Carrollwood Area Neighborhood News
Avoid Foreclosure! Free Help! Are you having trouble paying your mortgage? Is your home worth considerably less than what you paid for it? Are you upside down in your payments and feel like you have nowhere else to turn? If you answered yes to any of these questions, a short sale may be the solution to your problems. For those unfamiliar with what a short sale is, it is the sale of a property where the proceeds of the sale are less than the balance owed on the mortgage(s) on the property; if the offered amount is accepted by the lending bank, this allows the homeowner to sell his/her house and in most cases, payoff the mortgage debt for less than is owed. Since the housing market crisis began, homeowners have been left in a huge dilemma after paying astronomically high prices for homes that are barely worth half that price in today’s market, and have struggled to find solutions to the imminent end – foreclosure. With the huge spike in home prices followed by an
abrupt decline in the housing market over the past decade, they are now left paying an over-inflated mortgage on an under-appraised home. With the average appreciation rate on home prices staying somewhere around 4-5% a year, it will take decades before these homeowners can even get back what they initially paid for their house, which at that point only allows them to break-even on their home and walk away with nothing. So, until then, they are stuck paying a mortgage that is significantly higher in relation to what their home is actually worth. Even worse, with the downturn of the economy, hundreds of thousands of people can no longer afford these payments even if they wanted to stay in their homes. Although refinancing may seem like a good option, it can be very expensive – potentially costing thousands of dollars to homeowners who already cannot afford to make their mortgage payments; not to mention the possibility of not
Carrollwood Area Neighborhood News
qualifying. In the past, short sales were extremely rare. Now, they are becoming increasingly common due to the drastic state of the economy, and as lenders and real-estate agents become more experienced at marketing and pricing the properties, short sales are considered a much more efficient and mutually-beneficial way, rather than foreclosure, to sell underwater properties. There are many advantages to contacting me before you list your home for sale, whether it is a short sale or a regular listing. Not only can I determine an appropriate selling price, but I can also start communicating with your lender and qualifying you for a short sale before the property is listed and under contract. If you are considering short selling your home, I can help! I work hand-in-hand with National RE/Group, Inc., a unique company specializing in property review and the buying of short sales. Together,
our mission is to assist homeowners whose properties are distressed after the decline of the market through connecting them with individuals and processes to allow them a brighter outlook and future. Not only does RE/Group provide access to investor’s with cash offers, they also provide access to processors who will diligently work through negotiations with the bank and can help settle your loan in a quick, efficient manner; allowing you to get on with your life and start rebuilding your future, all at no cost to you. A short sale may be the right choice for many people and there are many things to consider before short-selling your home. If you are interested in getting more information about the short sale process and would like to know if you are a good candidate please contact me, Alexis Selby at (727) 207-4104 or by emailing Alexis@SellingTB.com.
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“Barr” Continued from page 1 possible for the individual needs of you, your family, and or your business. That company is Barr-Hameroff Insurance. Well known in the area for their outstanding customer service and remarkable attention to detail, the agents at Barr-Hameroff Insurance have the experience, knowledge and training to ensure that your family will be protected when the unexpected happens “We are a locally owned family business,” says Carrollwood resident Bonnie Turner, as she talks about how she and her father founded BarrHameroff Insurance in 1980. For the past 33 years, this distinguished company has served the Tampa Bay area and beyond with the highest level of expertise and knowledge. Bonnie says, “I always admired my dad and when he asked me to get my license and work together with him I jumped at the opportunity.” Bonnie works alongside many experienced agents, including her husband Hill Turner, who joined the company in 1988 and their daughter Erica, who has helped out at the agency since she was 14
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Barr-Hameroff has a welcoming, comfortable atmosphere and the agents pride themselves on providing customers with individualized attention and personalized service. years old. After receiving her license in 2008, Erica officially joined the staff at Barr-Hameroff Insurance. In addition, they also have an agent who is Korean to better accommodate the diversity of the Carrollwood community. Offering both personal and business insurance to communities in the state of Florida, Bonnie and her agents shop around and do everything they can to get you the best possible rate without sacrificing quality coverage. “We write with only quality, financially sound companies,” says Bonnie as she
stresses the importance of only working with reputable insurance companies; as to better protect her clients. This is especially important when dealing with Homeowner’s insurance. When you place your insurance with an Ambest A rated, financially sound company the chance of the company going out of business is significantly reduced and the speed of the company paying your claim is increased. Individualized attention and personalized service are two key components at Barr-Hameroff Insurance,
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which is why when you call their office (during regular office hours) you will always get a live person on the other end of the line – that means no voicemail and no call center! Bonnie also has access to her email 24-7, so if you have a question or concern she is always there to help and responds to her emails in a timely manner. The staff prides themselves on taking care of their customers and providing exceptional service. Their goal is to not only help you choose the best individual insurance for you, your family,
Carrollwood Area Neighborhood News
and or your business, but to follow through and help you during times of need, whether you need to ask advice, add a car to your policy or file a claim. “Our customer service is top notch,” says Bonnie. “You won’t get better service anywhere else.” A true testament to this, referrals account for 9095 percent of their business, and Bonnie still has customers that have been with her since she founded BarrHameroff Insurance over 30 years ago. “Barr-Hameroff is the best insurance agency in the area, state, and perhaps even the country – Barr none,” says customer Linda. Once you sign-up for a policy with Barr-Hameroff Insurance, you can be assured that the communication doesn’t end there. The agents make it a point to keep in contact with their customers and follow-up with them to ensure they are happy with their policy.
Additionally, they also review each policy automatically upon renewal to see if there is a better, more affordable policy available. Bonnie says, “My favorite part about what I do is meeting new people and talking to them. A lot of our customers become our friends. We treat our employees and our customers like family.” Barr-Hameroff Insurance Agency is located at 13506 North Rome Avenue in Tampa. Office hours are Mon. – Thurs. 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Fri. 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. They are closed Sat. and Sun. but you can always get a hold of them by email 24-7. For more information or to get a free quote please call (813) 870-6284, email Hameroff@TampaBay.rr.com, visit their website at www.BarrHameroff.com, or their Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/BarrHameroff.
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Carrollwood Area Neighborhood News
Carrollwood Area Neighborhood News
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“Alvarez” Continued from page 1 on appliances, alert buzzers in my car and other things that I could not hear before. Last week I was at an awards ceremony and was sitting at a table in the back of a meeting room and actually heard my name called. Before Alvarez Audiology, I would not have heard my name. The only thing greater than the product I purchased is the quality of service that I receive from all the staff at Alvarez Hearing.” Dr. Alvarez is a leader in the field, graduating with honors from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and a clinical Doctorate in Audiology. During her training, Dr. Alvarez completed residencies with the Department of Veteran's Affairs, All Children's Hospital, and several private practice clinics. Dr. Alvarez is a board certified Audiologist, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology. Dr. Alvarez specializes in geriatric aural rehabilitation and provides services to children as young as five to adults a hundred years and older. As a highly trained audiologist she is able to expertly identify, diagnose and treat
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many different forms of hearing loss and focuses not only on hearing loss and prevention, but on how hearing loss affects you. Dr. Alvarez is joined by office manager Blair, and together they provide the Carrollwood Area with a welcoming experience for all. Dr. Alvarez spends quality time with each patient and goes to great lengths to ensure that every patient leaves 100% satisfied. Dr. Alvarez says, “I place a strong importance on follow-up and keep an open line of communication with my patients. I see my established patients about every three months for routine evaluations and ear check-ups and conduct follow-up tests at least once a year.” To Dr. Alvarez, listening to her patients is just as important as the tests she conducts and alongside Blair, goes above and beyond to establish long-lasting relationships with all of the patients at Alvarez Audiology. When it comes to hearing aids
Alvarez Audiology openly welcomes new customers and provides a bright, welcoming atmosphere to all patients and guests. there is no such thing as “one hearing aid fits all,” which is why Dr. Alvarez works with each individual patient with attentiveness and genuine care. She believes that fitting you successfully with a hearing aid is more than just fitting your hearing loss – it is listening to you and your personal needs and taking the time to get to know you and what is best for you!
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“Dr. Alvarez is not an ordinary hearing professional,” states happy patient Mercedes. “She goes above and beyond the call of duty in providing exceptional hearing health care. She has always been there for my hearing aids. I have called and she has provided help on the same day. She is very attentive of my needs and does an outstanding job. My
Carrollwood Area Neighborhood News
daughter is very pleased with how well I am now hearing and I owe it all to Dr. Alvarez!” People experience hearing loss for many different reasons, and regardless of the cause, loss of hearing – whether it be minor or substantial – should never be ignored. Presbycusis, the most common cause of hearing loss, is the gradual loss of hearing that occurs as people get older and many people believe that this is a normal result of aging – this is not at all true! “Hearing loss is never normal,” explains Dr. Alvarez. “It just happens to become more prevalent as people age.” Noise Exposure is the second most prevalent cause of hearing loss, and is something that can be easily avoided, which is why Dr. Alvarez stresses the importance of taking special precautions to help prevent hearing loss and preserve healthy hearing – such as the use of customized noise-protection ear plugs for those who are constantly exposed to loud noise and custom audio monitors, which carefully control levels of sound heard while maintaining pristine sound quality. From basic behavioral tests to sophisticated computerized otoneurological evaluations, Alvarez Audiology is well-equipped to fully test all aspects of
your hearing and using advanced technologies and procedures is able to properly administer the hearing aid that is perfect for you and your lifestyle. “Choosing the right hearing aid makes a huge difference,” says Dr. Alvarez. “Not all hearing aids are the same.” Before hearing aids are implemented Dr. Alvarez administers a thorough history check – including medical history, details regarding your lifestyle and any medications you are taking – and conducts a variety of hearing tests to gage the exact level of your hearing loss. These comprehensive hearing exams allow the doctor to determine the cause and extent of your hearing loss and enable her to isolate the problem and provide a solution. “The use of a hearing aid is the most effective treatment for hearing loss,” says Dr. Alvarez. “When you put on a hearing aid the only side effect is hearing better and the best part is if you don’t like it you can take it off.” Alvarez Audiology administers free hearing screenings for everyone, so if you suspect to have hearing loss or are over the age of 50 you should consider stopping in to get a complimentary evaluation. Dr. Alvarez is extremely passionate about her work and takes pride in delivering exceptional service and quality
Carrollwood Area Neighborhood News
patient care. “I really enjoy helping people,” says Dr. Alvarez. As a patient at Alvarez Audiology you can expect one-on-one personalized service by a professional audiologist who truly understands the limitations and capabilities of hearing aids. Whether you are experiencing hearing loss and need a diagnosis, or just want to get a routine hearing evaluation, you can trust the caring professionals at Alvarez Audiology. Don’t let hearing loss hold you back – come in to Alvarez Audiology and Hearing today! "In my 28 years of wearing hearing aids I've had several audiologists in
several states,” writes patient B.K. “Dr. Alvarez is the best I've ever had. As I live out the rest of my life I'll feel peace in knowing she will be there to help me hear what's going on in the world." Alvarez Audiology is located at 6615 Gunn Hwy. in Tampa, in the Gunn Executive Center. Office hours are Mon. and Thurs. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Tues. and Wed. 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Fri. 9:00 – 12 p.m. For more information or to schedule a consultation please call (813) 2652255, email info@alvarezaudiology.com or visit www.AlvarezAudiology.com.
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“A Taste of the Silk and Spice Roads” The Carrollwood Cultural Center and Tampa Bay Art Promotions are pleased to present two exhibits portraying Central Asia and India. The artworks can be viewed from January 7 through February 2, 2014. The Local Featured Artist, Michele Miley, has lived in the Tampa Bay area since 1983. Her eclectic photography exhibit “Altai-Himalaya: Asia through the Eye of an Artist's Lens” shares her journey through China, Tibet, Mongolia, India and Nepal. The Corridor Gallery will display three international Mongolian female artists’ oil paintings of their ancient culture, “The Daughters of Genghis Khaan: Winged Horses and Shamanic Skies”. The Carrollwood Cultural Center is located at 4537 Lowell Road in Tampa. Phone: (813) 269-
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1310. The Galleries are open MonFri, 9am-6pm and Sat, 10am-noon. TBAP is giving tours of the art on Sat, Jan. 11, 10-11:30am, and on Fri., Jan. 17, 5:30-7pm. Tampa Bay Art Promotions is pleased to share a portion of sales to benefit The Mongol Widows with Children Support Fund. For more information about the art or the Mongolian fund, please contact Michele Miley, Director of Tampa Bay Art Promotions at mgmiley001@yahoo.com.
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Carrollwood Area Neighborhood News
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Carrollwood Area Neighborhood News