Vol. 5, Issue 1, January 2017
Your community. Your magazine.™ The Premier “Shop Local” Community Magazine Directly Mailed To 15,000 Homes In Carrollwood, Lake Magdalene & Avila
Medical Weight Loss LLC For many people, losing weight is at the top of their bucket list. For others, it is the only way to become, and feel healthy again. Many of us have tried yo-yo diets, or buy the expensive celebrity promoted trends, that pop up in social media and TV and radio commercial hype. The failed weight loss remains, and people continue to be discouraged. However, Medical Weight Loss, LLC at (813) 269-SLIM has been proving since 2007, that weight loss, whether 10 pounds or 120 pounds, can be done safely, affordably and successfully! Many different diseases, such as diabetes, auto-immune and thyroid problems and heart disease,
are linked to being overweight. We know about these things. Weight loss is not just a matter of looking good, but, is a medical program of improving your health and reducing your risks. Feeling better, is also a great by-product of slimming down. Medical Weight Loss, LLC (269SLIM), opened in 2007, and is headed by Dr. Gail Jachimek. The main clinic is located at 5111 Ehrlich Road. Their other weight loss clinics are in Wesley Chapel, FL., Lake Geneva, and Waukesha, Wisconsin. Their prices have not increased since they began the medical weight loss practice. Dr. See “Weight Loss” on page 32.
Simply Pho is Simply for Everyone By Michelle Naktin It was a cool Florida day and as the doors opened to Carrollwood’s Simply Pho, the scent of Pho wrapped around me like a warm blanket. In the corner of the dimly lit restaurant sat two ladies dressed in business attire engaged in deep conversation. To the right sat a Mom with two little boys and just behind her, a Police Officer seated alone spicing things up with some Sriracha.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID TAMPA FL PERMIT 1185
Thank You to WTSP’s Great Day Tampa Bay!.......3 Community Calendar & News Briefs.................6-7 Koenig Martial Arts..........................................8-9 Tampa Bay Plumbers....................................10-11 Rapid Refill...................................................12-13 Ken Coralles, CPA........................................14-15 LaVida Massage............................................18-19 FASTSIGNS Carrollwood.............................22-23 A Family Affair at Hair Loft.........................24-25 Thrivent Financial.........................................28-29
It seemed everyone had one thing in common. Each person sat behind the same steaming porcelain white bowl. Although the menu options seem endless, Vietnam’s iconic soup captures most diners’ attention. Born in Vietnam, brothers Anthony Pham and Thai Boa Pham shared the same love for Vietnamese food. The brothers dreamed of one day being able to share their culture where there was little of it. In See “Simply Pho” on page 26.
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Thank You to WTSP’s Great Day Tampa Bay!
Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles Directly mailed once a month to 15,000 households in zip codes 33618, 33624 & 33613 220 S. Safford Ave. Tarpon Springs, FL 34689 Phone: (813) 928-6124; Fax: (727) 942-2432 Advertising E-mail: info@nnlflorida.com Editorial E-mail: editorial@nnlflorida.com © 2017 Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles
By Matt Selby I want to take this opportunity to tell everyone at WTSP’s Great Day Tampa Bay THANK YOU! It really meant a lot to us to have the opportunity to share news about our Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles publications with the show’s viewers. We really appreciate it! Great Day Tampa Bay, featured on CBS’s Channel 10 at 9 a.m. is quickly becoming Tampa Bay’s favorite program to start the day. Co-Host Michael Clayton and I met at a charity event earlier this year and once Michael found out a little more about our local
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magazines he invited me on the show for a quick segment. I was very nervous, in fact I was so worried about being late that I arrived two hours early for our live broadcast. It aired Monday, December 19th at 9 a.m. and was my first time on a morning show but Michael and Co-Host Stephanie Webb, along with the rest of the crew, made me feel right at home. I had the opportunity to quickly describe a little bit about what our magazine does in the community and talked about one of our favorite local charities we cover, ToyMakers of East Lake! It was a perfect charity to highlight because
they put a smile on the faces of so many children and their families year round and especially during the holidays by giving children in need hand-made wooden toys that they personally make themselves! Make sure you like Great Day Tampa Bay on Facebook just log on to www.facebook.com/GreatDayTampa BayLive to make sure you like the correct page! As always, if you haven’t already, please like us on Facebook as well you’ll find us at facebook.com/ TampaBayNewsandLifestyles! Thanks again Great Day Tampa Bay!
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Publisher Matt Selby
Art Director Tony Sica
Advertising Sales Jared Nager (Manager) Jim O’Reilly Mike Bird
Correspondents Julie Kanehl Marcy Sanford Katie Thomas Kim Thomas Dara Tucker Deborah Bostock-Kelley
Nothing that appears in Carrollwood Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by Carrollwood Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles writers are their own and do not reflect the publisher’s opinion. The management of Carrollwood Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles is always happy to accept outside editorial submissions to the paper. Please call for outside editorial submission and advertisement deadlines. Carrollwood Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles will consider previously non-published outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. Carrollwood Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates. Carrollwood Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles will not return unsolicited editorial materials. Carrollwood Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles reserves the right to edit and/or reject any advertising. Carrollwood Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles 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.
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Community Calendar & News Briefs The growth of a locally-owned business in the Tampa Bay area is a cause for celebration in our current economy. It’s especially so for women in the Carrollwood area who now have a clean, friendly fitness alternative that offers 30-minute sessions in both the personal training and group boot camp programs, as well as, health and nutrition plans to maximize weight loss and body toning. Samantha Taylor will expand the Samantha Taylor Fitness Studios in December with the opening of a 3rd location located at 5020 Gunn Highway in Carrollwood. Specializing in the baby boomer generation with the personal training program, and offering beginner boot camp sessions to accommodate women of all exercise levels, Samantha Taylor Fitness Studios in Carrollwood will replicate the success of the Land o’ Lakes and Wesley Chapel locations with a combination of fitness challenges, health and nutrition seminars, cooking demon-
strations and more to help members maximize results and attain a healthy lifestyle. Local media women are invited to take the 30-Minute Challenge and view or participate in a mini-workout with Samantha Taylor’s team firsthand in order to experience the highenergy workouts prior to the ribbon cutting slated for January 20, 2017. Join us during the ribbon cutting, snack on gourmet coffee and delicious snacks while you get a preview of all the studio will offer its members.
ing personal training, the company grew to include Fit Body Boot Camp in 2008 and became Samantha Taylor Fitness. Over 5,000 women have been trained and learned to adopt a healthy lifestyle with exercise and nutrition with a proven formula for success. Samantha Taylor Fitness is a locallyowned and woman-owned fitness center for women located in Land o’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel and Carrollwood, Florida. Samantha Taylor Fitness was awarded Wesley Chapel Small Business of the Year in 2015.
MEDIA EVENT WHAT: MEDIA-EVENT (& RIBBON CUTTING) WHEN: January 20, 2017 TIME: Friday, 3pm-5pm WHERE: SAMANTHA TAYLOR FITNESS 5020 GUNN HIGHWAY #250 CARROLLWOOD, FL WHY: TO CELEBRATE THE GROWTH OF A LOCALLYOWNED BUSINESS AND GET MOTIVATED! About Samantha Taylor Fitness: Founded in 2001 and limited to offer-
Forbidden Broadway
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Locally-Owned Women’s Fitness Center Expands to Carrollwood
JANUARY 2017
Forbidden Broadway is the longest-running musical revue in the world and “the funniest show in New York” (New Yorker Magazine). A favorite of all Broadway lovers, this cabaret revue sharply spoofs show tunes, characters and plots of contemporary and classic Broadway musicals, and it will have audiences rolling in the aisles. The original version of the revue opened in New York in 1982 and ran for more than 2,300 performances. Presented in the intimate Jaeb
Theater and unlike anything seen at The Straz before, this version of Forbidden Broadway has been reincarnated and modernized to include parodies of newer shows. More Information Date(s): January 10, 2017 - January 12, 2017 Hours: 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM Location: 1010 N W.C. MacInnes Pl. Jaeb Theater Tampa, FL 33602 http://tampa.eventful.com/events /forbidden-broadway-/E0-001094876016-0@2017011019
Frida Kahlo at The Dali Frida Kahlo at The Dali showcases the extraordinary career and life of the acclaimed 20th century artist, whose dreamlike work suggests that love and suffering create a new sense of beauty. More than 60 Kahlo pieces are on display, including 15 paintings, seven drawings and numerous personal photographs from the celebrated female artist and influential icon. The exhibition extends outdoors, where a special collection of flowers and plants
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representative of those in Kahlo’s own garden at Casa Azul, her home in Mexico, graces the grounds of our Avant-Garden. The exhibit is an intriguing exploration of the life of Kahlo, her striking artwork and her fascinating psyche. Together with the exclusive photographs of family, friends and lovers, the exhibition gives a complete view of Kahlo’s world, along with the joys, passions and obsessions of this remarkable artist. Kahlo and Dali each created artistic autobiographies and their personalities loom behind their paintings, generating a presence that both shapes and overshadows their works of art. While Kahlo largely rejected the term ‘Surrealism’ and felt that her works were as real as her life, Andre Breton, known as the founder of Surrealism, took great interest in her work and described her painting as a bomb wrapped in a ribbon. This exhibition has been co-organized by The Salvador Dalí Museum, St. Petersburg, FL and the Museo Dolores Olmedo, Mexico City. Frida Kahlo. Guillermo Kahlo, Portrait of Frida Kahlo, 1932, Collection of Vicente Wolf. More Information Date(s): December 17, 2016 - April 17, 2017 Hours: 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM Location: The Dali Museum 1 Dali Blvd St. Petersburg, FL 33701 http://thedali.org/exhibit/fridakahlo-dali/
Raymond James Pops: Bravo Broadway Stuart Malina, conductor Elizabeth Southard, vocalist Gary Mauer, vocalist It’s the best of Broadway’s big shows, with enduring music from Phantom of the Opera, West Side Story, My Fair Lady and more, brought to you by Broadway stars and husband and wife team Gary Mauer and Elizabeth Southard. More Information Date(s): January 13, 2017 Hours: 8:00 PM - 9:30 PM Location: Ferguson Hall 1010 N W.C. MacInnes Place Tampa, FL 33602 http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/ TicketPurchase?orgid=1526&pid=8 298751
Tampa Bay Soulfest GET READY FOR BRIAN MCKNIGHT, JOHNNY GILL & AL B. SURE Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles
The Tampa Bay SoulFest is an annual event held in Tampa, FL. The event is being presented by the Ybor City Jazz House entertainment venue which is located in the heart of Tampa’s Ybor City District. The venue’s owner Eric Fleming who “grew up on old school and classical jazz music” is committed to being on the forefront of live music consistently coming to Tampa Bay. The goal is for this event to be recognized as a multicutural event in which all people with an appreciation for good music come together and have old fashioned fun. More Information Date(s): January 15, 2017 Hours: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Location: SUN 130 4202 E Fowler Ave Tampa, FL 33620 http://www.tampabaysoulfest.com/
Band Aids for Bridge Benefit You are invited to attend the Annual Band Aids for Bridge Benefit, hosted by the students at the Morsani College of Medicine, to benefit the Bridge Clinic. The Bridge Clinic is a student run clinic that provides medical care for those in our community living below the poverty line. This year our show will take place on Thursday, January 19th and will be hosted by Dr. Charles Lockwood, Dean of USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. This year's judges include: Dr. Alan List, President and CEO of Moffitt Cancer Center and Dr. Dean Bognar, Vice Dean of Educational Affairs at Morsani College of Medicine. We hope you can join us for an evening of delicious cuisine, silent auction, talented performers, and dancing to support the Bridge Clinic here in Tampa! Evening events are as follows: 7-8 Open Bar Cocktail Hour/Silent Auction 8-10 Talent Performances 10-11 Dancing Please see the event website for further information and ticket purchases: bit.ly/bandaids2017 More Information Date(s): January 19, 2017 Hours: 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM Location: 4121 N 50th St Tampa, FL 33610 http://bit.ly/bandaids2017
West Meadows Food Truck Rally Join us for this recurring food truck rally on the third Thursday of the month! Joining us in January 19th will be:
Around the World Burgers Kaixo Gourmet Las Nortenas Taste Buddz Tampa Bay YoYo Juice Inc. Dochos Latin Bistro More Information Date(s): January 19, 2017 Hours: 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM Location: 8401 New Tampa Blvd. Tampa, FL 33647 https://www.tampabayfoodtruckrally.com/eventdetails.aspx?id=6106&title=West+ Meadows+Food+Truck+Rally
The Comedy Get Down Cedric the Entertainer, D.L. Hughley, George Lopez, Eddie Griffin, Charlie Murphy Biggest Comedy Tour of the Year It's not too often that line-up like this comes along! Outback Concerts present the Comedy Get Down Tour, a stand-up show starring five of the biggest names in the business. Performing on this blockbuster tour are George Lopez, Cedric the Entertainer, Eddie Griffin, D.L. Hughley and Charlie Murphy. Between them these guys have been performing live comedy for decades, not too mention their countless television specials, chat shows, movie appearances, books and radio shows. Guaranteed to give you one blisteringly funny set after another, The Comedy Get Down tour is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity. More Information Date(s): January 20, 2017 Hours: 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM Admission: $79 & up Location: 401 Channelside Dr Tampa, FL 33602 http://www.amaliearena.com
Amy Morgan - Live & Local Amy Morgan is a jazz vocalist who has been performing professionally in the Tampa Bay area for over eight years. She has sang venues large and small; from 17 piece big-band benefit shows to many intimate restaurant settings. She performed at Ruth Eckerd Hall before several concerts including Natalie Cole, Chris Botti, and Harry Connick Jr. Amy is a classically trained vocalist that began by singing opera in high school and college but later found her niche in jazz. Her sound is influenced by classic jazz divas like Ella Fitzgerald and Julie London but her unique styling of these vintage songs is what makes nostalgic audiences return to hear her. More Information Date(s): January 22, 2017
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Hours: 11:45 PM - 1:45 PM Admission: FREE Location: Jaeb Courtyard 1010 N W.C. MacInnes Place Tampa, FL 33602 http://www.strazcenter.org/Event s/Straz/Shows/1516_LiveandLocal/Amy-Morgan-Live-Local
Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus Celebrating 146 years, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® is exhilarating family fun for Children Of All Ages! Experience the heart-pounding thrill that comes from watching deathdefying feats, majestic animals, and amazing performers in a spectacular live event that will mesmerize the senses and create memories to be shared for generations to come. Explore a world of culture and tradition infused with contemporary surprises with America’s Living National Treasure® that can only be found at The Greatest Show On Earth®. Ringling Bros.® brings the world together to bring your family together! More Information Date(s): January 25, 2017 - January 29, 2017 Hours: 10:30 AM - 9:30 PM Admission: $18-$85 Location: 401 Channelside Dr Tampa, FL 33602 https://www.ringling.com/
Plant City Food Truck Rally Join us for this monthly rally held on the last Friday of the month! The following food trucks will be on site in January: Yo Yo Juice Bobbydaddys Empanada Mama Dochos Latin Bistro I Wanna Wok Kaixo Churroland Willy T's Crab Shack The Rolling Gourmet The Cheesesteak Truck Mac Shack Mr. C's Grilled Cheese Hosted in conjunction with Plant City Main Street More Information Date(s): January 27, 2017 Hours: 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM Location: Drane Street and N Palmer Street Plant City, FL https://www.tampabayfoodtruckrally.com/eventdetails.aspx?id=6158&title=Plant+Ci ty+Main+Street+Food+Truck+Rally JANUARY 2017
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Koenig Martial Arts Koenig Martial Arts, centrally located in Carrollwood, offers exceptional Karate instruction for you and your whole family, keeping in mind everyone’s hectic lifestyle. Whether you are looking for a convenient after-school class for your children, training in a group setting or honing your own personal skills with private instruction, Koenig Martial Arts has a program for you! From ages 5 and up, beginners to experts can benefit from the expertise that Sensai Koenig has to offer. At Koenig they teach Shotokan Karate from a Christian perspective, helping students achieve their best, both in and out of the Dojo. Classes are fun and exciting, providing all attendees with the physical exercise their bodies need while shaping the Character, Respect, Discipline, and Self-Control that helps them in all areas of their life. For children who may experience bullying, participating in martial arts is a positive way to build both coping methods and ways to deal with bullies on the spot. The effects of learning
martial arts such as karate, kickboxing, or jiu-jitsu, are long-term, and changes can take effect immediately in some children. The martial arts improve both physical and mental health. The obvious benefit of physical health improvement through exercise can give children and adults alike a feeling of well-being. But Martial arts also allow children to build confidence and selfesteem through goal setting, learning self-defense tactics, and making likeminded friends. For instance, if a child’s quest is to earn a black belt, he or she must take steps along the way and set individual, smaller goals to reach the final result. With each achievement, that child will feel more powerful and resilient. Martial arts can provide skills for not only combating bullies, but for helping children not to be bullies. They can help stop the cycle of bullying by providing accountability and structure for children. If a child doesn’t experience discipline at home or at school, then he or she has the opportunity to do so through the martial arts. It takes a particular kind of rigor and focus to be successful, and
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By Mike Bird
JANUARY 2017
martial arts instructors do not allow for goofing off during class. All programs offered at Koenig Martial Arts allow the students the option to compete in tournaments and test for their next belt, as well as participate in a fun and safe karate environment. Classes are taught at several schools, daycares and churches located in the Tampa Bay area. Carrollwood classes are taught at The Tampa Covenant Church located at; 13320 Lake Magdalene Blvd, Tampa, FL 33618. Classes at this particular
location are held from 6pm to 7pm on Thursdays. Additionally, a new class has just started at the Village Square in the West Shore Shopping Mall. The Westshore Mall class is geared mainly for kids 3 and up and is primarily an afterschool program. A new location will be opening soon at the Hillsborough County North Dale Recreation Center just across from the Bob Sierra YMCA. Classes will be held Tuesday nights from 6pm to 7pm.
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Sensei Koenig practices the Shotokan style of karate: Gichin Funakoshi is the founder of Shotokan Karate, perhaps the most widely known style of karate, and is attributed as being the "father of modern karate". Following the teachings of Anko Itosu and Anko Asato, he was one of the Okinawan karate masters who introduced karate to the Japanese mainland in 1922. He taught karate at various Japanese universities and became honorary head of the Japan
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Karate Association upon its establishment in 1949. Shotokan is regarded as a dynamic martial art as it develops anaerobic, powerful techniques as well as developing speed. Initially strength and power are demonstrated instead of slower, more flowing motions. Shotokan training is usually divided into three parts: kihon (basics), kata (forms or patterns of moves), and kumite (sparring). Techniques in kihon and kata are characterized by deep, long stances that provide stability, en-
able powerful movements, and strengthen the legs. The principles of Shotokan allude to notions of humility, respect, compassion, patience, and both an inward and outward calmness. Funakoshi was an avid poet and philosopher who would reportedly go for long walks in the forest where he would meditate and write poetry. I learned from Sensai Koenig that Shotokan is a very linear style of karate. The mind set behind it is to generate the absolute maximum amount of force in one technique. As students progress in their belt levels, techniques from other karate disciplines like judo and taekwondo are incorporated into their training. Students have the opportunity to test and move up in various ranks. In Shotokan, belt colors start at white and move up to yellow, orange green purple blue, brown and finally black. Koenig Martial Arts is proud to provide community service by hosting a father son karate class free to the public. This is a great way to have families come out and do something out of the ordinary together. The last class was held on October 15th hosted by The Tampa Covenant Church, which happens to be located right next door to a community school with foster children. The great thing is, 15 of those foster students attended the father son karate class. Even though none of those kids had dads, 15 standin-dads from the community were available to work with them. The kids learned some self-defense techniques, punching and kicking pad exercises with the end result of breaking a board with a punch or a kick. By the end of the day every kid had learned how to break a board. By hosting these classes at the church, Sensei Koenig is able to accomplish a level of community outreach unmatched by other karate schools in the area. These classes are completely free to anyone who wants to attend. The next father son (free) karate class is scheduled to
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be held on February 11, 2017 at the Northdale recreation center. Please call or check www.koenigmartialarts.com for more detailed information.
Get To Know A Little More About Sensei Darin Koenig Sensei Koenig has been practicing Martial Arts for 30 years. He began training under his sensei, Mark Pinner, at an after-school karate class much like those he teaches today. He has been teaching karate programs in Tampa Bay area schools, churches and childcare centers for over 15 years. Sensei Koenig has trained in several styles of martial arts and holds the rank of San-Dan (third degree Black Belt) in Shotokan Karate through the Traditional Karate Organization headed by Sensei Joe Mirza. In addition to his karate training, Sensei Koenig has also trained in kobudo (weapons) for many years and holds the rank of black belt, the first ever awarded by his sensei. Sensei Koenig has competed in Kata, Kumite and Kobudo at local, National and International Tournaments. Representing the United States as a member of the AAU/USA national team, he has won bronze, silver and gold medals at tournaments around the world including tournaments in; Hawaii, Scotland, Hungry, Serbia, and most recently in Italy. Personally, Sensei Koenig is a loving husband, proud father and grateful servant of Jesus Christ. Worldwide is experience is brought back home to Carrollwood with great benefits to the Community. Koenig offers 2 weeks of free training to find out if Shotokan is right for you. To find out more please call or check out their web site for more information. Tel: 813-609-2299 www.koenigmartialarts.com
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Tampa Bay Plumbers By Matt Selby Looking for plumbing repairs in your surrounding area? No luck finding a dependable company yet? Look no further! As we have done all the extensive research and tedious work for you! Let’s be honest, we all know finding a good and reliable Plumbing Company at a reasonable price isn’t always the easiest task. You can spend hours browsing companies online and reading reviews. You may call everyone you know including family members, relatives and neighbors to ask them who they have used before. You can be brave and let someone in your household attempt to fix the problem (probably with not the best results), OR you can save yourself the time and trouble, take our honest word and give Tampa Bay Plumbers a call! Tampa Bay Plumbers are a trustworthy and licensed company, who will work hard to fix any of your plumbing and / or septic problems, so you and your family don’t have to spend any more time stressing, sweating and waiting on some average plumbing contractor who may end up
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overcharging you. As a home owner, you have the right to check out the credentials of any plumbing company that you choose. Not all plumbing repair and installation professionals are properly licensed and insured. You can rest assured that with Tampa Bay Plumbers you will be in good hands. Owner Ryan Pelky demands excellence from everyone on his team. “I take personal responsibility for every job no matter how big or small,” says Pelky. There is nothing worse than working with a plumbing company that does not guarantee your 100% satisfaction and back the quality of their work and expertise up. Pelky says, “This company obsesses over quality and our customer experience. I can promise you this…if you’re not happy with something we did for you, I will make it right.” Tampa Play Plumbers guarantees are the reason that so many customers refer them to their friends and family. Sounds too good to be true? Well, if you don’t take my word for it, you can trust the reviews of countless more people. Go ahead and look them up for yourself next time you’re online. You will find glowing reviews from
hundreds of satisfied local customers. When you google Tampa Bay Plumbers, you’ll find an Angie’s List Super Service Award, tons of 5 star reviews on their Facebook page, an A+ rating on the Better Business Bureau, and an almost 5-star rating on just about every review site on the net including google which they boast a 4.8 out of 5 rating! That’s no easy task, especially when you have competitors constantly hiring other people to fake reviews online. As for myself, I leave all my personal and business plumbing and septic needs in the hands of Tampa Bay Plumbers. So how did I find and came to trust Tampa Bay Plumbers? One of my best friends in the
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world, Ryan Penna, plays a paramount role within the company as their production manager. I trust Ryan wholeheartedly, and after hearing him talk so highly about the company he works for, I knew I wouldn’t regret hiring them. As a matter of fact, they will be working on a model home I’m personally building, right here in Tampa. As Mr. Pelky says himself, there’s no job too big or too small. Tampa Bay Plumbers takes care of all the “fun stuff”, like leaky toilets and clogged drains (because your little ones decided to take their toys swimming in things they shouldn’t). Have you ever wondered; “Could I just throw this in the garbage disposal and get away with it?” to then find
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Owner Ryan Pelky and Production Manager Ryan Penna out, you definitely shouldn’t have done that? Don’t panic! Tampa Bay Plumbers got you covered! They also repair superficial leaks and bursts all the way through Septic repair and maintenance and trenchless repairs. Ryan Penna and I, sat down to discuss what sets Tampa Bay Plumbers apart from others in the industry. He said, “First off all, we have over 25 years of experience operating locally in Tampa, dating back to before we were Tampa Bay Plumbers. Much of our crew has been a constant over the past decade and our guys have the knowledge and skills that a lot of our competitors simply don’t have. Many
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plumbing companies operate without the proper licensing, but at Tampa Bay Plumbers we keep all of our licensing and permits up to date. We do plenty of residential jobs, but we also perform services for large commercial establishments that other smaller plumbing companies would never tackle or shouldn’t be trusted with.”
treat every plumbing project like an emergency and never sacrifice quality,” Ryan says. Plumbing emergencies happen when you least expect it, luckily Tampa Bay Plumbers are available 24 hours a day 7 days a week to serve all your plumbing needs! “Our 24/7 availability is a huge selling point for us and we never charge an overage rate for Saturday or Sunday work, like many others in our industry under normal circumstances do. We are true ‘workholics’, from our owners all the way down to our entry level positions,” Ryan added.
Backing up what they sell Tampa Bay Plumbers offer a minimum 1-year warranty on all work and they even have a 10-year warranty for some jobs! They also offer a FREE consultation and water quality test to check for hard water, odor or other
potentially dangerous toxins. So regardless of your plumbing or septic needs at the moment, make sure you take them up on that! “Our prices match, or in most cases, are lower than any other reputable company in the area and we serve the entire Tampa Bay Area. We don’t lose a customer over price very often and if we do, it’s because the customer goes with an unlicensed contractor,” says Ryan. If Tampa Bay Plumbers can help you, please give them a call at 813-Plumber. Make sure you tell them Matt from Tampa Bay News and Lifestyles sent you and receive $50 off your project, repair or maintenance. Customers such as myself love these guys for a reason! So rest assured you will be in great hands with Tampa Bay Plumbers!
Tampa Bay Plumbers have the man power and the technology to get any job done! “We have the most technologically advanced plumbing tools and equipment available. We
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From Page to Print By Katherine McDermott There’s millions of computers and smartphones that are used by people every day. People check their email, send messages, browse the web and sometimes they even find it necessary to print. There are millions of printers being used to accommodate printing needs. They can print, copy and scan, and sometimes fax to meet our demand. Printers can also manage to be a problem. Most people buy with these features in mind and forget a major part of what makes a printer print; the ink and toner. That’s where Rapid Refill comes in! They can help you with your printer ink needs for lower than normal prices and provide you with expert knowledge and world class customer service. Rapid Refill started as a franchise native to Oregon in the 1990s. A franchise is part of a larger company, and owners pay into the company to
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buy a store, have it built and to run it as they choose within the company parameters. Rapid Refill has around 100 stores in a variety of locations around the country. The Carrollwood area Rapid Refill has been open since 2007 and was still attached to the franchise until approximately two years ago. The Carrollwood location has been locally owned for almost ten years by Bob Geist, and now that the store is independent, Bob plans on continuing his combination approach of eco-friendly and cost savings. When customers enter the location, the first thing they will see is wall to wall cartridges for almost every brand of printer that can be imagined. To the left there is a table set up with a few suggested printers and information describing different services and deals that are happening at the moment. There is always someone cheerful at the counter and consumers are greeted very soon after entering.
The ink and toner is their predominant seller. You’ll notice right away, just from looking at the difference in prices their refurbished cartridges are much less expensive. You don’t need to sacrifice quality for a price break at Rapid Refill either which is a very nice incentive. “On average we are going to be about 30% to 40% less than the brand name,” says Bob. This is an exceptional value considering that ink costs $21.09 an ounce. That means ink is $2,700 dollars per gallon! Imagine paying that for a gallon of gas or milk! Rapid Refill strives to save you money in any way they can. Bob and his crew will refurbish the cartridges right in store to provide as much ink as possible within the cartridge itself and ultimately save money for the buyer. How do they do it? When customers bring in ink cartridges and purchase a less expensive one, Rapid Refill gives you a cartridge that has already been filled and customers can be on their way. The process does not stop there. They refurbish the empty cartridge and recycle it to keep prices low and maintain their eco-friendly practices. They open up the cartridge, clean it out, check for problems, sometimes
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rebuild it and then fill it with ink. Once it’s placed back together, they test the cartridge to make sure there are no problems and package it to be resold at a lower price. The local ecofriendliness of the process is of high importance to Mr. Geist. “We are a green company; that’s what we do, recycle and reuse existing products, helping the consumer get more for their money.” Rapid Refill will happily demonstrate the value of higher capacity cartridges. The example that Bob demonstrates is two cartridges opened to view the inside. One has a bar across the interior chamber which restricts the amount of ink that may be able to fit. This cartridge is the standard cartridge. The other cartridge has no bar, and the entire chamber is open to fit as much ink as possible. These cartridges get between 30% to 40% more ink than standard. At the price reduction offered by Rapid Refill of 30% to 40%, it could potentially provide you with paying standard price for an extralarge cartridge but much more ink. The savings and service are not limited to just printer cartridges. Rapid Refill offers services directly related to printers themselves. They offered printers that can be sold at a
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The Carrollwood location has been locally owned for almost ten years by Bob Geist, and now that the store is independent, Bob plans on continuing his combination approach of eco-friendly and cost savings. value. They suggest printers for your exact situation. For example, are you a business or are you a personal needs
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printer consumer? Businesses struggle particularly with this situation as they may not consider which printer will be
the most cost effective to the yields they will be producing and the cost of the ink. Rapid Refill also helps educate
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customers. “ We will show them how to print more cost effectively: For example, most printers have an ecofriendly setting that uses less ink.” Secure document shredding is also available for a nominal fee. Rapid Refill also engages in a number of community activities to ensure that Carrollwood takes care of itself and the environment. “We do electronic recycling,” mentions Mr. Geist while explaining how to give back. They are currently in a recycling drive now. All of their profits from the recycling goes to a program called the Diversity Initiative: A program that helps train and find jobs for disabled individuals. Rapid Refill's electronic recycling efforts have also helped Meals on Wheels, Operation Helping Hand, and other local non-profit groups. These drives are only twice a year, but they provide impact on the local community's well-being. Electronics can be recycled throughout the year with local nonprofits still being the beneficiaries Visit Rapid Refill, they are just down Dale Mabry at 10416 N. Dale Mabry Highway Tampa, FL 33618 or can be reached at 813540-0213. They also will deliver on orders of a minimum of $50, within five miles.
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Ken Corrales, CPA - Your Carrollwood CPA By Katherine McDermott Every year, for so many of us, taxes become a last-minute struggle for both individuals and small businesses. Individuals are not always sure about what deductions they can take or how their year’s efforts, from a tax standpoint will play out, small businesses must take the time at year end to shore up their accounting transactions and make sense of the year’s activities, and medium sized businesses must deal with numerous ongoing issues to include payroll, bookkeeping, budgeting, expense analysis and many other issues and perhaps inadequate processes and procedures that, if corrected, could have allowed proper tax planning and would have allowed them to have taken advantage of available efficiencies. These issues can be overwhelming to those with very little understanding of the tax code or maintaining a company and maximizing profit. So, what is a business owner or individual to do? The answer is simple for Ken Corrales, a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) that assists and advises individuals as
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well as small and medium size business on many issues and financial struggles important to running and managing a business successfully. Ken Corrales has a wealth of experience working with a variety of businesses at planning and minimizing the tax bite and many other issues relevant to small and medium sized businesses and their accounting needs and can also assist individuals with their personal returns and associated strategies. Once Mr. Corrales finished his schooling at U.S.F., he obtained his CPA license. The CPA license at that time required two and a half days of rigorous testing. “It used to be done in person and you had to go to a facility and they only offered it twice a year. The testing lasted two and a half days. You went in during the morning, had a lunch break, you went back after lunch the test days and continued testing.” Ken said, while reminiscing about his CPA testing. From there he began working as a public accountant locally around the Tampa Bay area for a few different C.P.A. Firms, and maintained that position for several years. Afterward he
moved to an industry position outside of public accounting by becoming the Controller of a client of the firm he worked for. A title that bares an executive tagline and is the head of all accounting that allowed him to gain 17 years total of contractor related experience as well as several years in other varied industries. Even though he had that high ranked position, Ken still maintained his private practice, although to a smaller degree then now. He always found himself looking for other ways to provide his accounting services. He shared with me that “by having my own CPA firm, I could have many different clients and help them to achieve their goals.” He aims to help people and businesses achieve their financial goals by offering his expertise and accounting assistance. He strives to locate the client’s pains related to financial, business relations, taxes, business processes and bookkeeping, and then work toward correcting them. Mr. Corrales performs an impressive assortment of services to help those in small and medium sized businesses with different requirements “…They may not want to hire a full-
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CPA Ken Corrales is a Carrollwood resident and has been serving Carrollwood since 1993 time CFO (Chief Financial Officer) or Controller at the salary that it commands…” he said, but Mr. Corrales can gladly work with them to make sure their financial and accounting needs are covered, by
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outsourcing the position to his firm to satisfy certain requirements and duties needed by the organization. The “Outsource CFO and Controller” functions are one of the most popular offerings the firm offers for businesses. Mr. Corrales also handles tax preparation and planning, business analysis, IRS representation, bookkeeping and small business accounting, tax readiness strategies as well as creative solutions to tax problems and ongoing tax and business strategies. In addition, he can assist shareholders in S corporations that may need estimated tax payments or more withholding on their W-2 wage and tax statement to ensure clients don’t pay additional penalties and can better plan for the tax liability. Besides this, he can also work with those estimating their income for the Affordable Care Act and determines if ACA will even be available based on projections of income for the coming year. He always suggests starting with a consultation. Furthermore, Mr. Corrales provides many services to new businesses: business formation, financial statements and accounting, software instruction, payroll and bookkeeping, strategic planning, KPI
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(Key Performance Indicators) based on metrics and industry averages to name a few. Through consultation and listening to the client he determines the services that the client needs, and formulates a plan and establishes a reasonable rate for the services needed. One very convenient aspect of working with Mr. Corrales is that he delivers a lot of his services without the clients ever needing to walk into his office although he is always available via e mail, phone or even text. He can work with you through phone consultations, remote access to computers, a secure portal for submitting and receiving important paperwork, and other technical and modern ways to make sure your business runs smoothly without the time-consuming and sometimes inconvenient part of face to face consultations.
how to do it adequately or it intimidates them, but I do, I can help with all the tedious, confusing and overwhelming information. Leave it up to me, you’ll be in good hands with my years in public accounting and in industry where I gained firsthand experience with running companies of various sizes and the myriad of issues involved” said Ken. He is there to pin-point the troubles and assist you with your financial difficulties. He will work with you and around your schedule to meet all your needs at reasonable rates. Ken’s firm works well with technology to be able to get you any forms or information you need and function somewhat like a ‘back office’ for businesses that don’t have regular 9-5 hours or a brick and mortar office location. He is organized and efficient, as can be seen in his multiple positive testimonials. He will also teach businesses how to use software so they
can do it themselves and oversee the client’s work to insure accuracy. His firm teaches clients how to use QuickBooks for example and manage their accounting software to their benefit by means of scheduled phone calls at a convenient time and remote access to fit people’s hectic schedules. He is also local and knows the pulse of Tampa & Carrollwood and has indeed served the community since 1993. To learn more about the services that Ken and his firm provides, please visit www.kencorralescpa.com or email him at Ken@Kencorralescpa.com. He can also be reached at 813-9682019 or at 14502 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Suite 200 Tampa, FL 33618. Ken is a member of the Florida Institute of CPA’s (F.I.C.P.A.) as well as the A.I. C.P.A. (American Institute of CPA’s) and CGMA (Chartered Global Management Accountants)
So why use Ken Corrales as your CPA? Convenience, years of experience, trust, reliability, knowledge and adaptability. “The financial and tax side of things (may) throw some people off…and they simply do not want to deal with it, and for a good reason, because they may not know
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Long before he became Chief Operating Officer of Michigan-based LaVida Massage, Evan Kaltschmidt
says he was like so many other people who relied on massage as part of his routine wellness regimen. “It helped me function better and feel better, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally,” says Kaltschmidt, adding that he quickly came to realize that massage wasn’t something of a luxury, but fundamental to his overall sense of wellness. The popular recognition of massage therapy and its incredible health benefits and increased consumer demand created an equally healthy business model, not to mention viable investment opportunities – that’s where LaVida Massage comes in. As Kaltschmidt explains, he and principals of the enterprise known as “LaVida” (which translates to “The Life”) had already incorporated massage into their regular lives when they saw an opportunity to develop a business model that would combine all the science-backed benefits of massage with two important additional ingredients: unparalleled customer service and affordability. The first LaVida Massage opened in Brighton, Michigan, in 2007. It employed highly professional, but personable staff that saw their position, not so much as a job, but something of a supporting role as health practitioners. They created a clean, clutter free, gender-neutral, but aesthetically alluring environment, affordable service options and a flexible scheduling system that allowed for half-hour, hour, or 90-minute long
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By Mike Bird LaVida Massage is a very unique Wellness Center dedicated to providing affordable, convenient and highly customized therapeutic massage and skincare services for you and your entire family. At LaVida they understand that life, with its demands and responsibilities, can get hectic. However, scheduling that muchneeded massage should not be. At LaVida they work around your schedule, your needs and most importantly, your budget! All LaVida Massage Centers are conveniently located, open 7 days a week and offer extended hours, including nights and weekends. The newly renovated Carrollwood area LaVida Massage Center, is now located at 15712 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, just two doors down from the old location. With a whole new luxurious décor, but the same amazing services and extraordinary customer service, the new location is as welcoming and inviting as ever before. The atmosphere is comfortable and elegant, boasting lavender scents the moment you walk through the doors. Individuals or couples, male or female, family or friends can all enjoy LaVida massage services.
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sessions. Since then, LaVida Massage has evolved to garner distinction among the faster growing franchises in its industry. As locations have spread throughout America, and more recently in Canada, the company has also evolved to offer more than just massage services. LaVida Massage now offers a wide range of skin care treatments, body treatments and other modes of mood-enhancing miracles in aromatherapy, reflexology and more. The Carrollwood location has been in operation for over 6 years, and it was the first LaVida Massage center to open its doors in our sunshine state.
What Makes LaVida Massage So Unique? The focus on full massage customization and affordability has allowed LaVida to experience greater profitability through popularity and volume as opposed to pricing, in fact, LaVida prices are typically HALF of what traditional spas would charge you for the same services. When you book your massage at LaVida, you’re not just booking a
“Deep Tissue” or a “Swedish” massage or any other kind of “onesize-fits-all” type of massage. You are booking a fully customized massage experience. At LaVida you get to personally sit down with your massage therapist to discuss any injuries or troubled areas and your overall health goals. You may request a deep tissue massage for your shoulder due to a sports injury, and choose a relaxation massage approach for the rest of your body. The experienced and professional therapists at LaVida will work with you to create the perfect customized plan that fits your specific health needs and your budget! What is also great about LaVida is that at any point during your massage you’re allowed to request any changes in type, technique and intensity. A therapeutic massage from LaVida Massage means you are taking an active role in your continued wellness - a 'maintenance plan' that benefits you in the long and short term! While therapeutic massage improves overall well-being, it has many other healthy benefits as well.
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Some of their specialties include aromatherapy and hot stones The use of essential oils / aromatherapy can be added as an accompaniment to any therapeutic massage, providing the guest with a highly enjoyable and beneficial enhancement to any session from a LaVida Massage Center. A common complaint among customers is headaches and migraines and LaVida offers a particular oil especially formulated for headache relief. If you're one of the millions of people who suffer from chronic migraines, massage can help reduce the frequency and duration of those worse than worst headaches. Although the word “aroma” makes it sound as if the oils are only inhaled, they can also be massaged into the skin. Whether inhaled or applied on the skin, essential oils are gaining new attention as an alternative treatment for infections, stress, and other health problems. The Hot Stone Massage is a traditional, age-old technique developed by the Native Americans and has also been widely accepted as a
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therapeutic practice for many centuries in Asia. Smooth stones are heated in a controlled temperature bath and placed directly on the body. Aches and pains are soothed as muscles and joints receive direct, transferred heat of the warm stones. The temperature of the stones remains constant between 122127 degrees Fahrenheit, which allowing for just enough heat to relax the entire body while warming tight muscles. As the muscles warm up, they can be more easily manipulated and massaged by a trained, certified therapist. At LaVida Massage, their trained and licensed professionals have the knowledge to ensure that all guests receive proper, safe care when receiving a Hot Stone Massage. Whether you are looking for a 30, 60 or 90 minute massage, LaVida has you covered. They offer a wide range of massages including; The chair massage technique, Prenatal, Relaxation / Swedish, Sports / Deep Tissue and Couples Massage. A couples massage is a special, wonderfully relaxing, personal experience. During the session, two people receive massages at the same time and in the same room from two
different therapists. Unlike traditional massages that are done solo couples treatments allow clients to experience massage with someone they know, whether it is your significant other, a close relative or even a friend, this is a great bonding experience and a relaxing way to spend some quality time with a loved one. Enhanced therapies include; Aromatherapy, Cranial Sacral, Migraine Therapy Massage, Reflexology, TMJ Therapy Massage, and Trigger Point Therapy. While talking to Jade, the Manager of the Carrollwood location, I found out that both male and female licensed therapists are on staff, and all of them have extensive experience. Most of the personnel either work or study at medical facilities, including colleges of nursing and chiropractic practices. Lindsey, the lead therapist, has been with La Vida for about 6 years now and she also works for a chiropractic practice. She guides and assists other therapists when questions arise, especially regarding anatomy and physiology. At LaVida you get that hometown feel and comfortability, but
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each center gets guidance and support from the main corporate office. At LaVida Corporate they provide indepth technological and operational guidance, as well insight on the latest trends in Massage Therapy. Speaking with the Area Manager “Makenzie” I found out that LaVida’s parent company Glill Inc. owns and operates “Cabana Spas” in Wesley Chapel and South Beach Tanning Salons in Wesley Chapel, St. Pete and Brandon. The great thing about all of the businesses owned and operated by Glill Inc. is that they have bright friendly smiling faces on staff to meet all of your needs at every location. Who doesn’t want to improve their appearance, live a healthier lifestyle, or just enjoy a relaxing massage? LaVida Massage Wellness Centers offer a range of proven modalities and techniques that can enhance, improve, relieve and relax your whole body and mind! So what are you waiting for? Contact your local LaVida Massage Center for more details or Book Your Session Online right now at www.lavidamassage.com/bookonline
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FASTSIGNS Carrollwood FASTSIGNS Carrollwood located at 14618 N. Dale Mabry Highway is the newest location of the leading signage franchise, FASTSIGNS International Inc. With currently over 650 locations worldwide in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Australia, and the U.K. amongst other countries, FASTSIGNS is a visual communications giant! If you haven’t used FASTSIGNS Carrollwood in the past or ever wondered what they offered, you will be amazed that they truly live up to their slogan – “More Than Fast, More Than Signs”. Their highly skilled team of marketing and graphic design experts has the experience, vision and insight needed to create, manage and implement your desired graphic results. What differentiates FASTSIGNS Carrollwood from other signage companies is that their staff is consultative – they provide complimentary onsite visits to discuss your objectives and tailor solutions just for you. FASTSIGNS
Carrollwood owner, Stacey Alexander shared with me that “in addition to our “white-glove” customer service from all levels of staff – from sales to design and installation – we genuinely are interested in our client’s projects. We have established such good relationships with our customers that they often call or stop by to update us on the results of our efforts or the success of their events and that is the BEST feeling in the world.” FASTSIGNS Carrollwood, an independently owned and operated franchise, creates traditional signage such as custom banners, large format signs, vehicle graphics, decals, printing, and tradeshow exhibits and displays. But, they also provide other types of marketing and advertising products such as architectural signs, ADA signs, channel letters, lightboxes, QR codes, mobile websites, text message marketing and digital signs, to name a few. They also provide inhouse custom design services, delivery, and installation at a reasonable price. So, if you ever find yourself needing any type of sign, printing or graphic work, you know where to go!
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By Mike Bird
JANUARY 2017
No job is too big or too small for FASTSIGNS Carrollwood! In fact they are very excited about an upcoming vehicle wrap for a 24 ft. trailer for a customer in Texas. They also recently completed a great looking channel letter sign for Nestle Toll House cookie store at Westfield Shopping Center - Citrus Park. FASTSIGNS has skilled installers for both channel letters and lightbox signs. These types of signs can be used to create vibrant, colorful displays to attract attention to any building. Neon signs are great for restaurants, bars, and
retail stores. From illuminated signs to digital signs, FASTSIGNS Carrollwood has everything you need to increase your visibility and attract customers, day or night. Their website was recently updated and besides assisting with estimates for specific jobs, the site now offers an extensive gallery where you can view and create “look books” so you can get amazing ideas on designs for your brand, even before your initial consultation. From custom signage and banners, interior and exterior signs, tradeshow exhibits and car graphics, they will help you craft the
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protected e-commerce site for a nationwide retailer to allow independent contractors to purchase branded sales material.
Financing is now available for signage and graphic projects!
right message and put it in the places it needs to be to tell people who you are, where you are, what you do and why you should do it for them.
One of the many things that sets FASTSIGNS Carrollwood apart is the customized solutions for their clients! Some of the top industries they service include healthcare, education, retail, and construction and real estate. They help manufacturing companies install programmable digital signage to ensure that OSHA compliance requirements, incident statistics and
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human resources messages are disseminated to employees. They also offer video brochures for a national luxury car dealer who often sends prospective clients a creative branding video with the company’s messaging. If you thought they stopped at signs and visual needs, think again! FASTSIGNS Carrollwood go as far as assisting doctor’s offices with appointment confirmations by using an automated texting response system for patients’ upcoming visits. This saves time and money, and doesn’t burden the office staff with unnecessary outbound calls. Likewise, they have created a custom password
Signage is undeniably needed to open and close a business, attract customers, increase profits, promote events and to communicate messages. FASTSIGNS Carrollwood has introduced a financing program that provides from$1,000 to $150,000 to help qualified buyers finance their sign and visual graphic projects. “We’re now able to offer FASTSIGNS Credit as a financing solution that provides businesses with money to purchase the signs and visual graphics they need, when they need them, and to pay for them over 12, 24, 48 or 60 months,” said Stacey Alexander. “Whether a company needs vehicle wraps, digital signs, or a complete facility rebranding, this unique program helps companies manage cash flow or cash reserves.” Funded through Direct Capital, this program offers reasonable interest rates with monthly payments to approved businesses. Customers of FASTSIGNS Carrollwood can apply for the program through an online
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portal located here: 2012fastsigns.directcapital.com. Before opening FASTSIGNS, the owner and onsite general manager of the Carrollwood location, Stacey Alexander worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers and J.P. Morgan Chase. With her previous corporate experience and a masters degree in Computer Science, Stacey brings expertise, knowledge and experience typically reserved for fortune 500 companies right here to Carrollwood area businesses, where any size company can benefit from all she has to offer. Business has nearly doubled since they opened their location in Carrollwood almost two and a half years ago. They were lucky enough to have been embraced by the community since the start, which says a lot about the quality of their products and services. FASTSIGNS Carrollwood hopes to be a staple in the community for years to come. FASTSIGNS Carrollwood is located at 14618 N Dale Mabry Hwy in Tampa. For more information, call them at 813-9994981 or visit their website at www.fastsigns.com/2012.
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A Family Affair at Hair Loft
“The young girls look cute with the short hair,” said Kristin. It’s unmistakably a family affair at Hair Loft. It doesn’t matter whether by blood or by friendship, when you walk through the doors of Hair Loft, there are no airs and you become part of a friendly, vivacious surrogate Cuban family. “We love our customers. They really aren’t customers; they’re friends,” explained Martiza. “I love learning about their lives.” “It’s like a party every day,” added Kristin. Rounding out the Hair Loft team is Shannon Rojo, who owned Shear Delight for 18 years and Roz Echevarria, the salon’s up-do expert. Maritza and Shannon met 4 years ago and became fast friends. When the opportunity arose for Shannon to become part of the Hair Loft team, she did not hesitate to join. “We are making Tampa more beautiful,” said Shannon, as she clipped her customer’s snowy white hair.
At age 9, a friend of the family told Maritza Perdomo that she couldn’t do hair. Rather than dampening her spirits or directing her towards a different career path, with the words permanently etched in her memory, it planted a seed. The seed grew and flourished in Carrollwood into two beloved salons, Puttin on the Ritz and The Hair Loft and Company, and a following of loyal customers. “You don’t tell a Cuban woman she can’t do something,” teased daughter Kristin Perdomo. After 26 years in the Tampa and Northdale Carrollwood area, Maritza opened her second Hair Loft and Company at 4563 Gunn Hwy in 2014 with Kristin who became a licensed barber two years prior. She chose the location because the shopping complex was growing, it was close enough to Northdale for her customers to transition to the new location, and it gave her the opportunity to work with daughter and showcase her skillset. While her mother’s passion is hair
coloring, Kristin specializes in men’s barbering – haircuts and styles, hot towel shaves, beard trims, and massage. This biggest trend she saw in 2016 was part and comb – where her male client gets a hard part and they comb the part over – and longer “urban” beards on both young and older men. “We believe that men deserve a complete salon experience, which is why we run our barber shop based on hospitality and comfort,” said Kristin. “Add to the mix our seasoned, affable stylists, who are constantly challenged to stay on top of their game with regular training on the latest and greatest techniques, and you’re in for a top-notch experience.” Women’s services include cut, color, highlights, balayage, textured waves, facial waxing, and deep conditioning treatments. In January, Hair Loft features $20 beard and haircuts for men and $15 haircuts for women. Not only do men visit Kristin for her barbering skills, ladies are employing her talents for tailored, tapered, shorter cuts.
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By Deborah Bostock-Kelley
JANUARY 2017
Roz, a very recent graduate of Summit Salon Academy, was actually encouraged by Maritza and Kristin to pursue her talent in hair design. After showing a proclivity to creating beautiful updos, the family suggested she use her natural skills as a career. She graduated in August and received
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her license in October. “Roz is like an adopted daughter,” said Maritza. “She does gorgeous updos for the holidays and special events. We knew we had to have her here, so we encouraged her to go to school.” With 40 years in the industry, Maritza has seen every possible haircut - from the Dorothy Hamill wedge and the Jennifer Anniston to the mullet for
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men and women. Both she and her daughter are in agreement that mullet is possibly the worst trend ever. Today’s hairstyles are softer – with grey hair – perfectly dyed, even on younger women. “Grey is very prominent now. If it’s done right, it’s beautiful and doesn’t make you look older,” said Maritza. Added Kristin, “Women are moving away from the mall colors and doing more pastels, and yes, much softer.” The team is also seeing perms come back, but unlike the perms of your parent’s generation, these are
loose textured waves – not your mother’s tight curls or frizzy hair. “The classic wave, that’s come back for sure,” said Kristin. Balayage, the technique of painting the hair to create a graduated natural effect, is also being requested more frequently in the salon. While a lot of the younger generation of women were moving to the more barbered look with shaved sides, for 2016 the long bob is what defined the year at the salon. What the team feels separates them from other salons is customer appreciation. “We put our customers first and
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really try to listen to what they want, not what we want them to have, even though we do make suggestions,” said Kristin. “When they come here, they don’t feel like they’re an uppity salon; we make them comfortable. Overall, when they go home, they have to be happy with their hair. We make sure that we get it right. They go home, they’re happy and they come back.” Maritza summarized how the entire team feels about their customers: “It’s simple. They’re family. That’s how we feel.” In addition to haircut specials, in January Hair Loft and Company is featuring $150 Keratin Treatment and $45 cut and color for new customers and 15% off any service for returning customers. Hair Loft and Company is always looking for new stylists to join their team – booth rental or commission. To learn more about Hair Loft, visit www.hairloftandco.com or for an appointment, call 813.969.4247. Hair Loft is located in Carrollwood at 4563 Gunn Highway. The salon is open Tuesday, 10-6, Wednesday, 10-5, Thursday, 9-7, Friday and Saturday, 9-5.
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“Simply Pho” Continued from page 1 February of 2015 their dream came true. Simply Pho opened their doors to the Carrollwood community offering flavorful and affordable Vietnamese cuisine in a casual and comfortable environment. A place to get healthy options using the freshest herbs and spices alongside all-natural ingredients. The name says it all. The heart and soul of this Vietnamese restaurant is of course their Pho. Pho being a staple dish in Vietnam and sometimes had for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It is as healthy as it is delicious. Their signature rice-noodle soup comes in several delectable variations: savory Kobe beef, filet mignon, chicken and many others. A secret recipe made of beef broth (pho bo) infused with their famous combination of spices and herbs then simmered for several hours. The broth is loaded with proteins, minerals and nutrients offering health benefits for your entire body improving your digestive and immune systems as well as bones and joints. Once the broth is finished, added to each bowl is thin linguine -shaped rice noodles garnished with yellow onions,
scallions and cilantro served with a side of basil, bean sprouts, lime wedge, and jalapeno peppers. Simply Pho also offers a vegetarian option using a vegetable based broth. Every Vietnamese restaurant has a unique Pho recipe. If you want it sweeter, add Hoisin sauce; if you want it spicier add Sriracha. You may decide the soup is wonderful as it comes, no way is right or wrong. On my visit to Simply Pho I ordered the steak Pho and I didn’t have to add a thing. This dish was a kaleidoscope of ingredients. Great
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sight appeal, sure, but better still was the flavor. Portions here come big and even bigger. I was happy to have plenty left over for later. Seeing as how this is their specialty, there is no way you can leave without giving it a try! Simply Pho’s menu features a traditional noodle soup popular in the Southern region of Vietnam, HỦ TIẾU or MÌ. Very similar to Pho, It consists of your choice of rice or egg noodles in a rich pork, chicken, dried shrimp, and dried calamari broth. Each bowl consists of fried shallots,
yellow onions, scallions, cilantro and green lettuce leaf; served with a side of cilantro, basil, bean sprouts, lime wedge, and jalapeno peppers. Just like Pho, eating HỦ TIẾU offers many health benefits. If you’re feeling under the weather, these soups are definitely the way to go. Maybe you’ve tried Pho and HỦ TIẾU and are ready for something new. Not to worry, there are many more options that are sure to make your taste buds happy. What about noodles? Simply Pho has devoted much of their menu to a variety of noodle preparations. Bún /Bánh Hỏi which is VERMICELLI or Vietnamese ANGEL HAIR noodles topped with marinated grilled meats then served with lettuce, bean sprouts, sliced cucumber, green onions, and crushed peanuts accompanied by house special fish sauce. This is sure to satisfy ones appitite.What about a stir fried noodle dish? Be prepared to be blown away by both its variety of produce and amazing flavor. Each stir fried dish is served with your choice of tender mouthwatering beef, chicken, pork or seafood, Egg or Rice Noodles, bok choy, napa, bell pepper, snow peas, onions, and broccoli. This too is vegetarian friendly. Not a noodle kind of day? That’s ok! Simply Pho also has
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many rice platters. Vietnam is the second-largest rice exporter in the world (after Thailand). Rice appears in all meals. There's regular ol' rice of course as well as rice noodles, rice paper wrappers, rice porridge, sticky rice, fried rice, puffed rice snacks, and rice wine. It is said that in Vietnam instead of saying gesundheit in response to a sneeze, you can say cơm muối, meaning "rice and salt." So, rather than blessing someone or wishing them good health, just say
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rice and salt, and that should cure whatever's ailin' them. Simply Pho’s broken Jasmine rice dishes are served with lettuce, radish cabbage, cucumbers, carrots as well as their house special fish sauce topped with your choice of tender marinated meat. If you are still not decided, the menu has a section dedicated to the chef’s specialties. Beef stew served with egg or rice noodles. Braised Duck with egg noodle soup and grilled Salmon topped with Teriyaki or Sweet and
Sour Sauce, served with steamed broccoli and white rice. There are so many healthy options to pick from without having to sacrifice taste. Simply Pho serves a variety of beverages. Are you in the mood for a beer or wine? Maybe sake? Choose from an assortment of fruit juices and soft drinks as well as Boba Smoothies and Vietnamese Expresso. Simply Pho is sure to have something to perfectly accompany your meal. The Pham family’s focus is to provide superior excellence in Vietnamese food and hospitality to all their guests. It’s about the full Vietnamese experience. At Simply Pho you are always greeted by a smiling face, exceptional service and a warm
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welcoming atmosphere. Jen Hedge of Tampa said “Wow, they have the best Pho around and great service!” Elaine M of Land O Lakes called Simply Pho a “Hidden Charm” They have continued to receive overwhelming support from the community. Customers absolutely love the flavorful dishes and unique options making Simply Pho a Carrollwood favorite. See for yourself! Stop in and help Anthony and his family celebrate their two year anniversary! Make Simply Phở your favorite Vietnamese restaurant in Tampa Bay dining! Simply Pho is located at 13149 N Dale Mabry Hwy F, Tampa, FL 33618. They can be reached at Simplyphotampa.com or (813) 960-5678. Hours are 11am-9:30pm Monday-Thursday and open an extra half our on Friday and Saturday Closed Sunday
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Thrivent Financial - Connecting Faith & Finances For Good! When it comes to financial service providers, you have plenty of choices. But while others see money as a goal, Thrivent Financial sees it as a tool – for serving God, your family and your community. Thrivent Financial is a Fortune 500 not-for-profit financial services organization headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Appleton, Wisconsin. As a memberowned fraternal benefit society, it operates under a chapter system, serving nearly 2.3 million members Thrivent Financial operates almost exclusively by word of mouth, so if you haven’t heard of them yet, this article will provide you with enough information to get to know who they are, what they stand for and what they have to offer. Thrivent Financial approach blends faith, finances and generosity. No matter how much money you have, they offer products, tools and personalized financial guidance to help you feel comfortable and
confident with your finances. Operating through its local chapters nationwide, Thrivent Financial and its subsidiaries offer financial products and services including life insurance, annuities, mutual funds, disability income insurance, credit union products, money management, brokerage services, retirement planning and more. Thrivent Financial was officially formed on January 1, 2002, with the merger of Aid Association for Lutherans (AAL) and Lutheran Brotherhood (LB), which had been established in 1902 and 1917 respectively. The merger formed the largest fraternal benefit society in the United States. In June 2013, members voted to allow all Christians to join and in March 2014 the marketing name was shortened to Thrivent Financial. Not Christian? Worry not. They will still gladly work with you and offer many different solutions to meet your financial needs, but you will not be able to access some of their premium services.
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By Katherine McDermott
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Serving The Community & Living Generously Put money where your heart is. At Thrivent they make it easy to be good stewards of the gifts you've been given. As a Thrivent member, you can provide one-time or ongoing financial support to the causes that matter to you. In 2015, Thrivent directed $100.3 million to people in need, churches and other nonprofits, and Thrivent members helped raise $103.6 million more. That's $203.9 million in total outreach. Thrivent members don’t just raise money. They raise people up by building homes, serving food, painting walls and more. And because Thrivent is a membership organization, members often get together just to have fun.
Your Goals. Your Values. Their Guidance. No matter what your financial goals are or how much money you earn, you could be creating your own barriers to financial success. Let the experienced team of Thriven Financial
work with you to create a wise financial strategy that reflects your values and changes as your life does. At Thrivent Financial they will guide you in making smart choices when choosing insurance and other services, while promoting living generously and giving back to the community. Different insurance options can help you take care of loved ones through every season of life, from protecting your assets and providing for the people you care about, to planning for retirement and leaving a lasting gift.
Thinking about retirement? If you are ready to start saving, or you want to supplement what you’ve already saved, IRAs are the best way to achieve your retirement goals. Whether you choose a traditional IRA or a Roth IRA, your earnings have tax-deferred growth potential. Let the experts at Thrivent Financial prepare you for retirement with annuity options such as fixed or variable immediate and deferred annuities that are designed to help
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The Thrivent Financial Team create an income stream in retirement – when and how you need it. Thrivent is different than other financial services company. They take a very personal approach to working with people on their financial goals. They start by meeting personally with the potential member to get to know them better and understand their current financial position. “We have to take a very unique approach at determining who you are with great specificity, and then assigning solutions to your unique situation,” said Pam Hansen, Financial Associate with Thrivent Financial. Pam works side by side with Financial Associate Michael Joeckel, at the Thrivent Financial office located on 1202 W Linebaugh Ave Suite C. Both have been financial representatives serving
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clients for 25 years. Pam shared with me that they like to ask questions when getting to know their potential members. “What are your goals and values? What worries keep you up at night? What dreams keep you going? Working together, we’ll build a financial strategy around what’s important to you. Because life isn’t just about making more, it’s about doing more with what you have. Our goal is to help you reach a place where you feel like you have enough for yourself – and to share” said Pam. They conduct regular reviews to ensure that you are on track to reach your needs. The problems they encounter are pretty far spread and they vary a lot depending on the candidate and their unique financial situation. For Michael Joeckel, the biggest problem
is the lack of knowledge associated with personal finances. Potential members and current members spend little to no time looking at their income and expenditures. That results in members reporting their finances are “fine” without addressing the problems that may scare them. For Hansen, one of the main issues is spending. Many people will spend wantonly without considering unforeseen circumstances, or spend money inappropriately.
So what unique services do they offer to their members? Suddenly single: At Thrivent they like to start early with couples in order to teach them important financial skills, and provide a fall back plan in case they find themselves in the midst of a death or separation. This is
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a workshop to prepare couples for that one day that they are ‘Suddenly Single’. This is not an “if it happens”, but a “when it happens”. Losing a life partner will bring many changes. Some are emotional, financial, environmental and or spiritual. Many decisions are made during a heightened emotional period. The best decisions are the ones most prepared for and thought out. They take a look at some things that will impact the future going forward, with eyes wide open. At this difficult time, the spouse wants to be able to send time with family, not in a panic mode going through shoe boxes. Choice dollars: This is a program that allows individuals to give back to their communities on a personal financial level. With Thrivent Choice®, you can recommend where some of Thrivent Financial's charitable outreach funds go. Since 2010, more than $325 million has been distributed to churches and nonprofits nationwide. Members become eligible for Thrivent Choice based on insurance premiums, contract values and Thrivent volunteer leadership. Eligible members are designated Choice Dollars that they can direct to enrolled charities. There are thousands of participating organizations. You can direct Choice Dollars to as many participating organizations as you'd like, but you may not direct less than five Choice Dollars to an organization. One of the Larger recipients is Shriners hospital. Whatever your financial goals, you can rest assure that Thrivent Financial will have all the options that can help put you on track toward reaching them. Thrivent Financial is located at 1202 W Linebaugh Ave, Tampa, FL 33612 Phone:(813) 443-5088
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“Weight Loss” Continued from page 1
to weight gain - not just your diet. Some of the major contributing factors included hormonal imbalances, thyroid issues, environmental toxins, autoimmune disease, type 2 diabetes, etc. It was then that she opened the main clinic in Tampa to help people dealing with the same frustrating weight gain frustration she had faced. They have since opened 3 more clinics in Florida and Wisconsin. “At Medical Weight Loss, LLC, we have medical doctors, as well as nurse practitioners, that have been treating our patients successfully for years, so that the root cause of these problems can be addressed. Our registered nurses and supportive staff are there for you to help you every step of the way.” Medical weight loss plans are not new, and many are similar, but those programs usually involve significant upcharges and hidden fees. Dr. Jachimek’s 269-SLIM program is different. Her program is focused on the long-term results, meaning, not only will the process safely take off your weight during the active phase of the program, but also prevent the pounds from returning during the “maintenance phase”...(which is free)! This is no diet trend – This is looking at your medical history,
Jachimek and her husband are both Chiropractic physicians, and have those clinics here and in Spring Hill. So, they also treat patients that are in pain from accident injuries, and have every day neck or back pain! Their medical weight loss program combines pharmaceutical appetite suppressant medication, fat burning injections and pills, and a clinically proven diet with medical doctor and nursing support and counseling to help their patients reach their “target” weight goals. This physician supervised program helps those who have before tried and failed to lose unwanted pounds. Dr. Gail says, “We opened the clinic because I was entering menopause and gaining weight. When I asked my primary physician, as well as my doctor friends, for help, I got extremely rude responses. I was told to “push away from the table”. Dr. Gail does not want her patients to go through the same degrading experience. At the time, Dr. Gail was living on chicken and salad, and practicing level 3 kickboxing. She says, “I had been thin as a young woman, so I
also assumed that anyone over weight deserved to be overweight because they were ‘eating chips in front of the television,’ etc.” When the unexplained weight gain happened to her, she was then convinced that other factors were involved. She wanted an answer. Determined to learn more, Dr. Jachimek joined the ASBP (American Society of Bariatric Physicians) and went to their symposiums for further education and tools. She discovered that there are many contributing factors
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Dr. Gail Jachimek
evaluating your EKG, bloodwork and lifestyle. Then, their doctors propose a plan for you, and prescribe appropriate pharmaceutical appetite suppressant medication, fat burning injections, vitamin therapy and fat burning supplements. “The program is simple, inexpensive and easy to follow. We give you a large list of foods to buy/choose from,” says Dr. Jachimek. “The program is easy, because it is food bought in the grocery store, (no special foods to order) just regular meats, fruits and vegetables on our list. This factor also makes it more affordable, because you don’t have to buy special foods, or cook separate dinners if you have a family.” Under the supervision of their medical doctors, patients can drop 20 to 30 pounds in the first month. Dr. Jachimek said that it is common to see 5-10 pounds dropped in the first week. “We have had patients that have lost 17 pounds in their first week, as well as patients that have lost over a hundred pounds on our program”, says Dr. Jachimek. Accountability is also a major part of the program. Keeping the patients safe and on track, their nurses evaluate, and treat patients weekly to provide support and give suggestions
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Medical Weight Loss LLC is located at 5111 Ehrlich Rd, Ste 128 in Tampa on how to reach and maintain their target weight. Dr. Jachimek stresses that there are no price surprises at Medical Weight Loss, 269-SLIM. The initial visit is $195 and weekly visits are just $55. That’s it! This is what you have been waiting for!, an inexpensive, easy and successful way to lose the unwanted pounds that have made you miserable for years. As their slogans say, “With 269- SLIM (MEDICALWEIGHTLOSSLLC.COM) there are no hidden fees…just pounds
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gone”…or “Weigh less for WAY less”…or “When you’re done fooling around, call us!”. Medical Weight Loss LLC is located at 5111 Ehrlich Road, Suite 128 in Tampa, 33624. For more information or to make an appointment, call (813) 269-SLIM (7546). Or visit their website at www.medicalweightlossllc.com. Their staff and nurses will be glad to answer your questions! Don’t forget to ask about getting a Free Week! We’ll see you at the beach…!
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