Vol. 10, Issue 1, January 2017
Your community. Your magazine.
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The Premier “Shop Local” Community Magazine Directly Mailed To 15,000 Homes In East Lake & Surrounding Areas This Independent Community News, Business & Dining Guide Is Directly Mailed Once Each Month To: Anchorage, Bay Arbor, Boot Ranch, Brookers Landing, Crescent Oaks, Cypress Cove, Cypress Lakes Estates, Cypress Run, Cypress Trails, Deer Hollow, Grey Oak, Eagle Cove, Eagle’s Cove at Lake Tarpon, Eagle Ridge, Eagle Trace, Eagle Watch, East Lake Oaks, East Lake Woodlands, Hunters Wood, Keystone Bluffs, Keystone Palms, Keystone Ranchettes, Lansbrook, Lansbrook Village, Meadow Ridge, Nature’s Watch, Oak Hill Acres, Pine Ridge, Regina Estates, Ridgemoor, Tarpon Woods, Wentworth, Whispering Lakes, Woodfield
Westchester Gardens Rehabilitation & Care Center Takes a Whole-Body Approach to Healing the Mind, Body and Spirit!
Donna’s Cleaning Angels Celebrates 26 Years of Success!
Thank You to WTSP’s Great Day Tampa Bay.............3 Calendar & News Briefs........4-5 SAT/ACT Improvement.......6-7 More Space Place..............10-11 ToyMakers of East Lake....12-13 Dogism.............................14-15 Tampa Bay Making A Difference Award Winner Andre Kirwan & No Strings Attached...16-17 13th San Gennaro Festa....18-19 Luxury Auto Spa..............32-33
By Kim Thomas
Donna’s Cleaning Angels start their day early as the teams prepare for their day, taking with them everything needed to provide customers with an excellent, detailed cleaning that just makes life easier!
ECRWSS
See “Cleaning” on page 26.
The Community Dining & Business Guide that your neighbors READ!
Postal Customer
“Welcome to the world of Donna’s Cleaning Angels,” says owner Donna Ferrante. “If you are looking for more than just a cleaning service, we can provide you with the total package.” The best way to make sure that you receive the best all-around cleaning service – beyond sparkle and shine – is to hire a licensed, insured, and longstanding company that has earned the trust of hundreds of clients. Donna’s Cleaning Angels is that company, and the cleaning they provide is detailed and divine! Over the past decade, I’ve written many articles featuring Donna’s Cleaning Angels, and here at Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles, we’ve only heard great
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID TAMPA FL PERMIT 1185
With a purpose and unified goal to get patients back on their feet again, Westchester Gardens Rehabilitation & Care Center is a welcoming facility staffed with some of the best Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, and Certified Nursing Assistants in the Tampa Bay Area. Conveniently located next to Mease Countryside Hospital at 3301 N. McMullen Booth Road in Clearwater, Westchester Gardens specializes in rehabilitative care for patients recovering from stroke, orthopedic surgeries and more. Westchester Gardens provides the attentive medical care required following illness and injury to help
patients in an effective and comprehensive manner. Using a whole-body approach to health, healing and rehabilitation, Westchester Gardens creates a warm, welcoming environment that emulates resort-style living, all while receiving around-the-clock care that helps patients gain back mobility and get back to feeling themselves again. Committed to providing excellence in care and rehabilitation for over 25 years, Westchester Gardens opened its doors in 1989, which surprises many people because the facility is kept beautifully and looks brand new. In fact, Westchester Gardens is starting off the New Year with a completed renovation that enhances the beauty, aesthetic See “Rehabilitation” on page 22.
Dated Material Please Rush!
By Katie Thomas
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Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles
Thank You to WTSP’s Great Day Tampa Bay!
East Lake Area Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles Directly mailed once a month to nearly 15,000 households in zip code 34685, 34688 & 34677 220 Safford Ave. S. Tarpon Springs, FL 34689 Phone: (727) 943-2946; Fax: (727) 942-2432 Advertising E-mail: info@nnlflorida.com Editorial E-mail: editorial@nnlflorida.com
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
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more about our local 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 per-
fect 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/GreatDayTampaBayLive 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!
© 2017 East Lake Area Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles is published by Ads 2 Publications, Inc. Publisher Correspondents Tim Selby Julie Kanehl General Manager Katie Thomas Marcy Sanford Jim O’Reilly Art Director Editor Dat X. Do Kim Thomas Graphic Artists Advertising Sales Dat X. Do Matt Selby Tony Sica Tim Selby Accounting Manager Jim O’Reilly Doreen Selby Jared Nager Linda Veiga Nothing that appears in the East Lake Area Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by East Lake Area Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles writers are their own and do not reflect the publisher’s opinion. The management of East Lake Area Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles is always happy to accept outside editorial submissions to the paper. Please call for outside editorial submission and advertisement deadlines. East Lake Area Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles will consider previously non-published outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. East Lake Area Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates. East Lake Area Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles will not return unsolicited editorial materials. East Lake Area Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles reserves the right to edit and/or reject any advertising. East LakeArea 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. East Lake Area Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles is published by Ads 2 Publications, Inc.
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E AST L AKE A REA
Calendar & News Briefs
East Lake High School Presents The Curious Savage By Jacklyn Duffek Following the previous high school production of Aladdin Jr., East Lake High School recently performed their straight show The Curious Savage over the course of three days. A comedic piece in three acts, this play transcends the stage and touches people on an emotional level; it teaches lessons on society and compassion towards those who are treated unfairly based on their quirks. The main character, Ethel Savage (played by junior Ally Marconi), is committed into a sanatorium while in her old age by her three pretentious step kids vying for her millions. If their mother is locked away and deemed mentally unstable to balance finances, the stepchildren gain her $10 million fortune. In the sanatorium, Ms. Savage meets a group of eccentric and odd patients who, despite being mentally ill, have a heart of gold and would do
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Jacklyn Duffek & Ally Marconi anything for each other. In a way, they’re more of a family than Ms. Savage’s. I spoke backstage with sophomore Amy Soares who played Ms. Paddy – a spiteful woman so dedicated to negativity that she only speaks by reciting things she hates. Amy says that she “got to play around with her character” and “realized that people liked it,” adding, “I was surprised how impactful my character
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was.” She describes the overall tone as “family feeling” and wouldn’t change a thing about the play. “It just wouldn’t flow right.” Ms. Savage herself, Ally Marconi (junior), thanks the director, Mr. Brad Brady, for this opportunity to prove her dedication to the program. “This role means everything. I’ve learned so much as an actor and a person.” According to Ally’s interpretation, the message John Patrick wrote refers to “society marking insane people as the crazy ones, when they aren’t. The people we see glorified are crazy, but the ones locked out are the warmest. Gamble on kindness.” The Curious Savage may be over, but it surely was a show to remember. East Lake High also has multiple productions in progress such as our senior show The Dining Room (January 27th), Annie Jr. (February 16th– 18th), and our spring musical Guys & Dolls (April 2017). You can check out all the information on our program by visiting www.eastlakedrama.com or read the backstage content on my blog www.queenspreach.com We can’t wait to see what else East Lake High’s drama department has is store!
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Cypress Woods Elementary PTA to Host Annual PTA Eagle Gala Sat., Feb. 25, 7–11 PM––Funds raised will benefit PTA’s efforts to support Cypress Woods Elementary School Cypress Woods Elementary Parent Teacher Association (CWE PTA) will host its Annual PTA Eagle Gala on Saturday, February 25 from 7 to 11 p.m. at Cypress Run Golf Club, 2669 St. Andrews Blvd, Tarpon Springs, Fla. The theme for this year’s event is Cruise Into Education. One of CWE PTA’s largest annual fundraisers, the Eagle Gala generated more than $11,000 last year to support teachers and enrich the arts, music and physical education programs. This year, CWE PTA will focus a portion of the funds raised on continued enhancement to school enrichment and academic programs. “Our PTA values the academic benefits of a variety enrichment areas such as after school programs, music, visual arts, and physical education, as well as the important ways these courses enrich the social and emotional development of our students,” said Leona Wells, President of Cypress Woods Elementary PTA. “Too
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often, these are the education programs that lose funding. That’s why we are so thankful to generous parents, friends and community partners who help CWE PTA to support these programs through fundraisers like our Eagle Gala.” Sponsorships range from $800 Platinum Sponsor to $200 Bronze Sponsor. CWE PTA seeks sponsors or community partners willing to donate in-kind goods or services for the auction. Prior donations generated from community partners include gift certificates, entertainment or celebrity experiences, sporting tickets, travel destinations, and more. In gratitude, partners will gain significant visibility throughout CWE PTA’s event promotion and recognition at CWE PTA’s events. The event is chaired by CWE PTA volunteer, Lauri Abrams and will feature a DJ, dancing, numerous food stations, cash bar, live and silent auction, and a 50/50 raffle. Tickets start at $35 each and are sold in advance. All community members are welcome to attend. Purchase tickets or view sponsorship and donation opportunities at www.eaglegala.com.
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East Lake Woodlands 2017 Drive For a Cure… Fri, Feb. 24, 11:30 AM Shotgun Start––We’re barely into the new year, and planning is moving forward at “warp” speed for the East Lake Woodlands “Drive for a Cure” Golf outing. This annual event will take place on Friday, February 24, 2017 at the East Lake Woodlands Country Club. Arrival and registration begins at 10 AM with an 11:30 AM shotgun start. There will be flights for women, men and mixed foursomes. Dinner, along with the **Chinese, silent and live auctions will follow play. The cost is $100 (if paid before February 13th; $115 if paid after February 13th) and it covers golf, cart, range, snacks, dinner and a contribution to our charities. The cost for dinner only is $45, which includes a contribution to our charities. Last year, in the U.S., there were an estimated 246,600 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 61,000 new cases of in situ breast cancer among women resulting in 40,450 breast cancer deaths. Although breast cancer in men is rare, it does happen. In 2016, there were an estimated
2600 new cases among men in the U.S. resulting in 440 deaths. The East Lake Woodlands Drive For a Cure supports the Morton Plant Mease Mammography Program and the Florida Suncoast Affiliate of Susan G. Komen because of the organization’s dedicated effort to use the funds in the Tampa Bay Area. While the major portion of the funds raised focus on screening, diagnostic and treatment services for the uninsured and underinsured, a portion of the funds is also used to support research with the goal of eradicating breast cancer once and for all. Both recipients are designated as 501(c) 3 organizations. Since 2007 the Drive has raised over $200,000 for the organizations it supports. This year, the goal is to reach $250,000 to support those dealing with breast cancer. Participation and sponsorship is very impor-
tant to this effort, and there are many opportunities available to help us meet this goal. Come play with others on beautiful, top-quality golf courses; you’ll have a wonderful time and you will be instrumental in supporting this very worthwhile goal. **We encourage players to bring return address labels for the Chinese Auction tickets; this will make it faster for you and easier for us to distribute the items. For more complete information about the event, registration, sponsorship opportunities and donations, please visit the website at: www.elwdriveforacure.com or www.facebook.com/elwdriveforacure.com . Mark your calendar! We hope to see you on February 24th!
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SAT AND ACT IMPROVEMENT: THE KEY TO AN OUTSTANDING SCORE IS PREPARATION By Dr. Wayne Adams Not long ago, a parent asked me, “When should I start preparing my student for these exams?” The answer depends on the student and the educational goals. For example, one of my students started preparing in the 7th grade and just qualified as a National Merit Scholar Finalist as a junior and is vying for validectorian at a top IB program. A second student started in the 9th grade, just qualified as a Semi-Finalist as a junior, and also is vying for validectorian at another excellent high school. Usually, awareness of the importance of these exams hits after a student receives the results of their PSAT in December of their junior year. Often, scores are disappointing and brings home the point that it is important to properly prepare. The spring of junior year is an excellent time to prepare. Since the
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exams are graded on a curve and seniors seldom take them in the spring of their senior year, the competition is not as strong so higher scores are possible. We can see if a student is better at the SAT or the ACT (usually, my students do 15 percentiles better on one exam or the other … the only glitch is that we don’t know which one is stronger until they take them both. And there is plenty of time to keep working if needed over the summer to maximize scores the following fall. A common theme in what I call “PSAT phone calls” is that a student has a high GPA, is doing well in high school, but cannot score well on the exams. Here are three major reasons this happens from my experience. Reason #1: Most high school students lack key fundamentals such as having had phonics, grammar, “recall” vocabulary, critical thinking, and the mathematics needed to do well on
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these exams. Without the ability to pronounce words, students avoid them or forget the definitions quickly. Most students cannot write a topic sentence, support an argument logically with reasons other than personal experience, and often are not able to correctly use basic punctuation such as commas and semicolons. Reason #2: Educational directions in most high schools do not match what is required to do well on the SAT and ACT. Pre-calculus, most geometry, and most algebra courses poorly prepare for these exams. Recently, I tutored a 7th grader who had not had algebra or geometry. His baseline score as we started was 375. When he took the actual ACT exam, he scored very close to a 600 in math. Writing essays in high school are often an exercise in how long a sentence or a paragraph can be, thinking this shows academic achievement. In fact, it shows an inability to focus thoughts, to structure a clear argument, to use topic sentences supported by logical and memorable sentences, and to build a coherent conclusion that leaves a reader wanting “more”. Yet this is
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what is required for the SAT and ACT essays. Reason #3: Most Prep Classes in high school are woefully inadequate. Recently, I learned that a leading private high school used the worst SAT prep book on the market today and the students were bored to death. In other words, prep classes are seen as “fluff” breaks between the real “academic” work at school … yet the SAT and ACT results often have more impact on students’ future (admissions and scholarships) than most classes in high school. It is not unusual for my students who have taken a prep class at their high school to increase 200 – 300 points on their SAT, and 4 - 8 points on their ACT. The Good News: I consistently find that students respond incredibly well and improve when they become
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both teacher and student as in a college seminar at the junior or senior level where I am their coach. My role is to quickly help them determine where they need to work and to be a resource as they progress. Lecturing is no substitute for determining a student’s baseline level and then structuring their learning around their needs. It very satisfying to see their motivations soar when their perspective changes from “Can I do this?” to “I can do this well.” and then to “Let me show you how well I can do.” They discover that real competition is internal and - when they do their best - external results take care of themselves. Learning the strategies often result in comments like, “Cool” and “That makes it a lot easier”. More important, they learn how to “learn for a lifetime”. Dr. Wayne Adams is one of the top SAT and ACT Tutors in the coun-
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try and a former Dean of a Graduate School of Business and Full Professor. His students have been admitted to 8 of the top 10 colleges in the country, and 17 of the top 25. These schools include Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Stanford, Cornell, Duke, U Chicago, U Penn, Johns Hopkins, Georgia Tech, UCLA, USC, Boston College, Northeastern, Service Academies, UF, FSU, USF, UCF, Florida Gulf Coast, St. Leo’s, New College of Florida, U Miami, FIU, and many other colleges and universities; often with academic, athletic, or music scholarships. Normally, student scores increase 200 to 300 points on the SAT, and 4 – 8 points on the ACT. He has degrees and advanced studies from Harvard, Yale, Vanderbilt, Columbia International, and Luther Rice. You can contact him at 727-253-0639 or wwa0811@mykolab.com.
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More Space Place Can Help You Keep Your Resolutions to Get Organized! By Marcy Sanford Want to get better organized or find more space in 2017? More Space Place can help you do it. As America’s foremost space-saving and organizational retailer, they offer a huge selection of furniture and accessory options, including wall beds, customized closets, garage organization, pantry, laundry, entertainment centers and much, much more. These options can offer design solutions that can turn any room into a magnificent, multipurpose masterpiece that fully utilizes all of the space in the room. More Space Place has three stores in the Tampa Bay area and are part of a national chain with more than 40 stores that are locally owned and operated by members of the communities in which they service.
The Tampa Bay showrooms / Design Centers are conveniently located in Palm Harbor, Lutz, and St. Petersburg and are staffed with talented experienced designers who can help you solve even the most difficult organizational or storage need. A short visit to one of the showrooms will allow you to see the quality and the endless options for designs. Custom Design for Your Space: At More Space Place everything is custom designed for you, your home, and your needs. The design options include materials, colors and finishes as well as styling including traditional, transitional or contemporary options. With the help of their talented designers you can create the perfect solution that fits your taste and lifestyle. Custom Closets: Pull out racks, sliding mirrors,
handy hooks, decorative storage boxes, and baskets – these are just a few of the custom accessories More Space Place offers to add to your closet that will make your closet more accessible and more functional. The closet systems from More Space Place are designed specifically to custom fit
the needs of the user through both creative design and the highly useful accessories. “We are very pleased with the closet design and installation from More Space Place. The design is perfect for us and we were very impressed by the installer and designer who
worked with us,” said Kelly and Jill M. “They delivered on time, on budget, and exceeded our expectations. We look forward to working with them in the future with a garage design and some other closet and pantry work.” At More Space Place, they offer both wall-hung and floor-based systems in composite, all wood or a combination of materials and you can easily adjust all of the shelves and hanging rods in your custom closet, so when your needs change, you can adapt easily. Custom Closets aren’t just for clothes either – think about how much smoother your life would be with a well-organized pantry, craft closet, or laundry area. Murphy Beds: More Space Place is America’s #1 Murphy bed retailer and for good reason – they offer America’s largest selection of comfortable wall beds. These are available in a wide variety of design options that can fit perfectly with your home and lifestyle. When the bed is up it offers additional space in a room offering the opportunity for a duel purpose room, which can mean extra play space. Murphy Beds make home offices or hobby rooms highly functional spaces. The beds available at More Space
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Place are offered in a variety of colors, finishes and styling options, and there is a large selection of accompanying cabinetry. Check out the video of the many Murphy Bed options and how easily they blend in and work at www.MoreSpacePlace.com. “I had a wall bed installed in my home and I absolutely love it,” said Linda I. “The contemporary style is a perfect match for my home. Not only is the bed a beautiful piece of furniture, the mattress is extremely comfortable as well.” More Space Place offers a full range of Serta mattresses that are designed specifically for wall bed use. These mattresses offer the famous comfort of Serta mattresses but also provide the durability of standing on its side while it is stored. Numerous comfort options from extra firm to luxury plush as well as Memory foam options are available. Garage Systems: With a little help and redesign from the professionals at More Space Place, your garage can become an area you’ll be proud to show off and one where you’ll be able to find the tools, decorations, or outdoor gear you’re looking for quickly, instead of spending precious free time
searching through boxes and stacks of household items. More Space Place offers an extensive selection of customized garage organization systems, including garage storage racks and specialized hanging garage wall cabinets. The floormounted systems are available in many standard depths and heights and the wall-hung systems can be adjusted to fit any height. More Space Place uses top-of-the-line materials that will not warp or sag so your garage will stay organized and attractive for many years to come. Kitchen, Home Office, Entertainment Centers: More Space Place can custom design storage solutions for any room in your home. Using their expertise in design and organization, they can help you create a gourmet kitchen, a home office that can work as hard as you do, or an entertainment center that can be adjusted to accommodate TVs as they continue to become larger. And, if you have open living areas, More Space Place can help you seamlessly blend cabinetry from area to area. “We are very pleased with our home office installation,” said Andrew and Connie. “From your customized
design, the quality of the cabinetry, and the workmanship of your installer, who turned our room into a multifunctional room that I am sure we will enjoy for many years.” Whether your budget is large or small, More Space Place has plenty of furniture and space-saving solutions. They will work with you every step of the way to create your one-of-a-kind solution that will do what you need it to do. Their CAD-based, 3D software programs allow you to see your new space design before you make a final decision. Give them a call or schedule an appointment today to find out how they can design a custom space for you. More Space Place Design has 3 conveniently located showrooms: in Palm Harbor at 33136 U.S. 19, phone (727) 773-9888, in St Petersburg at 10722 Gandy Blvd. North, phone (727) 507-9799 and in Lutz at 23114 State Road 54, phone (813) 935-8432. Hours for all locations are Mon. – Fri., 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sat. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., with additional hours available by appointment. They are closed on Sun. Visit www.MoreSpacePlace.com for more information or to see pictures and videos.
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ToyMakers Make Handmade Toys for Children Who Could Use A Smile! By Julie Kanehl What would you do to bring joy to a child? One who is scared, hurt, sick or lost? It may seem hard to believe, but right here in the Tampa Bay Area, there are children in hospitals, orphanages and situations where smiles don’t come very easily. In fact, the volunteers at ToyMakers of East Lake have given away more than 13,000 handcrafted wooden toys and cars in 2016 alone! Volunteers give many of the toys directly to children in Tampa Bay Area hospitals, while others are donated to organizations and first responders with the goal of giving a smile to the children who need one most. It may seem like a simple gesture, a handmade car to a child, but a toy like this is far more than a carved piece of wood, painted tires that spin, and a splash of paint. These cars remind children to hope, to dream, and to laugh. ToyMakers of East Lake is a non-
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profit organization made up of men and women like me and you who donate a few hours a week to create toys that are safe enough for little fingers, clean enough for hospital environments, and fast enough to make a child giggle with glee. Famous for their “Batmobiles” and “Daisy Racers” they make wooden toys of all kinds. Their reward? A simple smile. I’ll Trade You a Toy For a Smile! There’s just something special about these toys and cars. You can’t buy cars like these at the store. These cars are sturdy and well made, solid and fast. Frankly, they put the cars at the store to shame. Perhaps they don’t have the bells and whistles…They don’t link up to your phone via Bluetooth or take pictures at 30 feet up, but they have something that children crave: They’re handmade with love. They also make walking toys (a penguin and a duck). Little ones love to walk them around, and for kids in the hospital, these walking toys are a huge
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success, for if you ask a child to do their therapyforget it, but if you tell them they’re allowed to walk their penguin down the hall, they’re out of there and doing their therapy without realizing it. One volunteer said, “I recently had the opportunity to help distribute toys at Tampa General Hospital, and it was truly a humbling experience. To see kids of all ages, This little boy caught a ride on the antique fire backgrounds and situatruck at the Toymaker's of East Lake auction in tions smile when they reNovember ceived a car was amazing. In those moments sick filled with donated tools, saws and toddlers forgot about their illnesses supplies. Today, the ToyMakers workand their limitations, and teenagers shop is one that Santa’s elves might be put down their phones in grateful anproud of. Over the years, the workticipation. It was pretty darn cool.” shop has grown due to donations Located in Palm Harbor, Toyfrom the public, from their volunteers, Makers of East Lake has a workshop and through their annual ToyMakers that began as little more than a shed of East Lake Open House and Silent
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success, as the public came out to support a great cause and to do some shopping! The silent auction featured hundreds of items, including handmade toys, gift cards to local restaurants, tickets to local museums and theme parks, and one-of-a-kind works of art. There was a beautiful buffet, opportunities to tour the workshop, and for the children, a place to race their brand new cars, as the ToyMakers of East Lake were kind enough to give free cars to the children in attendance. Chris said, “We love going to visit the ToyMakers of East Lake every year!” Volunteers are enjoying the colorful new workroom at ToyMakers Auction, which is held each November. At the most recent ToyMakers of East Lake Open House and Silent Auction, the East Lake Fire Department was on hand to take children and families on a ride in their antique fire truck! The ToyMakers have helped to restore the benches on the antique fire truck, which is a good thing, as Santa himself brings toys and tidings of good cheer to little ones all over town! Inside, the auction was a huge
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Become a Volunteer and Bring Joy to a Child! It seems that everyone who sees the simplicity and the sincerity of this charity wants to be involved. A few days a week, volunteers of all ages and talents come together to make the toys that will eventually be delivered to children all over Tampa Bay and beyond. Their handmade toys have been delivered across the U.S. and as far as Haiti through mission trips, so it’s safe to say that this small charity, an Outreach Mission of East Lake United Methodist Church, is having an effect
on children all over the world. This holiday season, the CSX Corporation will be handing out more than 500 ToyMakers of East Lake toys from their famous Santa Train, which has run through the Appalachians for the past 70 years, giving supplies, food, clothing, and toys to the people who live there. Current ToyMakers of East Lake President and longtime volunteer, Bob Helms, stated, “We feel very honored that CSX would request our toys to be distributed on their Santa Train. Seeing as how they only distribute about 5000 toys, 10% of the toys they give out will be from our workshop. We’re pretty excited about that.” If you’d like to support this amazing charity, please consider donating your time! ToyMakers of East Lake is always looking for volunteers to cut out the patterns, sand the toys, paint the wheels, even to simply bag up the toys and count them for distribution. You certainly don’t have to be a carpenter to help build toys at ToyMakers of East Lake! Volunteers of all ages and talents are appreciated, and ToyMakers is happy to work with students who need volunteer hours through
Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program. You may find that when you join ToyMakers of East Lake, you’ll find yourself surrounded by new friends, and a renewed sense of wonder in the good workings of the world. That’s what happens when you work for a good cause, it renews your spirit and your faith. The ToyMakers of East Lake have a workshop is located at 2690 Tanglewood Trail in Palm Harbor, FL 34685, behind the East Lake United Methodist Church. If you would like to donate, sponsor or volunteer, visit the website, www.toymakersofeastlake.org or you may email them at toys@toymakersofeastlake.org.
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DOGISM - A Love for Dogs, A Life of Dogs! By Katie Thomas Located just off of Tampa Road at 110 Pine Avenue South in Oldsmar, Dogism is a place for dogs and their people. Offering guests an outstanding space of 9000 sq. ft. - Dogism is an indoor, air-conditioned space that caters to canines the moment their paws enter the building. From doggy retail items and treats to a huge space for daycare, training and agility fun, Dogism is where all dogs are in heaven and their people love it too! Dogism owners Renee and Jason Russell began working and training in the world of competitive dog sports with their first Vizsla. Renee says, “We loved the obedience and agility in competitions, it was a ton of fun, but very time consuming. Our idea for Dogism stemmed from our love of training without the strict time consuming schedule of competition. We knew we wanted a place that would offer all the fun with training that everyone could enjoy with their dogs!” Renee is a Certified Professional
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Dog Trainer and an AKC Evaluator, while Jason is a Psych graduate. The couple has been competing for more than six years and their Vizslas earned multiple AKC titles in Agility, Obedience and Field Work. Jason and Renee share the mission to provide fun and easy dog time at Dogism. They have built Dogism to be a multi-service facility where you
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can achieve balance and simplicity and enjoy life with your dog. Dogism offers training in obedience for puppies and adult dogs. And, they will even help train you to become a better dog owner! With a flexible schedule that includes evening and weekend classes, the Dogism team makes it easy to work on doggie behavioral issues, even for those with the
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busiest schedules. “We understand that life is busy and complicated enough,” says Renee. “Our mission here is to provide flexible courses that cater to you and your pups’ needs.” The Dogism training philosophy is to create a learning environment that caters to how you want to train your dog. Everyone has diverse ideas on the relationship they want with
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their pet and the Dogism trainers are here to help you hone in on the best ways to help you accomplish the goals you have for your best friend! Dogism will be starting new 6week training sessions January 2017. Dogism’s retail area is the perfect place to get stocking stuffers and presents for your furry friend this holiday season. Dogism’s retail store stocks collars, leashes, food, treats, toys and more. You will find training tools, ecofriendly toys, safe treats and dog-approved merchandise. If you want something special, Dogism will try to find it and order it in. All of the items
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in Dogism’s retail store are products that they would use on their own dogs – the best-of-the-best! A great gift for yourself and your dog is to sign up for training or agility sessions at Dogism. It is a fun way to interact and train with your dog and a well-trained dog is a happy dog with a happy owner! Dogism is located at 110 Pine Avenue South in Oldsmar. For a complete calendar of events, training classes, or more information, please visit www.dogism.com or call (813) 854-3647 (DOGS).
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Trinity Family Physicians Recognizes Tampa Bay Making A Difference Award Winner Andre Kirwan of No Strings Attached By Julie Kanehl Local physicians, Stephanie Eldridge, MD and Amir Shirmohammad, MD are a husband and wife team who started Trinity Family Physicians many years ago with the sole purpose of making a difference in the lives of the families they treated. Trinity Family Physicians is now a thriving and busy practice that hundreds of families turn to when they need medical care. Growing up here and now raising their own family here, the doctors at Trinity Family Physicians are heavily involved in the community, and they wanted to create a way to recognize local individuals who make a positive impact on the Tampa Bay Area, so they developed the Tampa Bay Making a Difference Award. Trinity Family Physicians proudly announces that the next Tampa Bay Making a Difference Award winner is Andre Kirwan of No Strings Attached, a charity in every sense of the word. No Strings Attached is a completely nonprofit organization that gives to those in need on Thanksgiving and Christmas mornings without receiving a single thing in return, hence the name,
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No Strings Attached. And The Winner Is: Andre Kirwan of No Strings Attached Andre Kirwan, MBA, and Vice President of The Bank of Tampa is considered a Superman by many, but he’d probably describe himself more as a Clark Kent, or even more likely, as just “Pastor Kirwan.” A Youth Pastor at MorningStar Church, Kirwan is humble, giving, inspiring and sincere. In his spare time, he coaches football at Berkeley Prep, is President of the Warrick Dunn Foundation, and of course, he is 100 percent devoted to No Strings Attached, which collects and donates thousands of items to homeless people on Thanksgiving Day and on Christmas Day. Every year, No Strings Attached donates things that people in our community truly need: Socks, coats, clothes, shoes, underpants, and prayer – a lot of prayer. Kirwan says, “Family is first for me. My brother, sister, mom and dad paved the way for me,” He adds, “God has wired me to realize that it’s not about me. Instead, I want to leave a legacy of the heart, and I try to leave everything I touch a little bit better.”
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Andre Kirwan helps to distribute clothing to those in need through No Strings Attached charity When interviewing Kirwan for this article, he deflected any praise toward God and to his parents, who worked hard and set an example for him. His father worked in the train and airline food service industry to put himself through medical school, and his mother worked as a nurse. Together
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they worked hard to provide for their family, and they were able to put Kirwan into private school at Academy of Holy Names in Tampa, then Jesuit High School, and eventually Stanford University. Originally intending to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a doctor, Kirwan found himself
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heavily recruited to play football, which he did professionally in the Canadian Football League for eight years. After he retired from football, he went into banking as a way of helping people. He recently earned his MBA from USF, and is deserving of this award for his true dedication and commitment to others. No Strings Attached Truly Makes a Difference in Tampa Bay No Strings Attached was born nearly a decade ago, when Kirwan woke up overcome by the realization that he had blessings in spades that many others didn’t have. That November morning, he received a calling to give to others what many took for granted, so he emptied his closets, called his friends and asked them to do the same. His vision didn’t involve money; it involved actually getting out there into the community and giving – pure and simple. “I realized that we were forgetting traditional values. We live among so much surplus,” says Kirwan. “So, I decided to put my time where my mouth is, and spend time with these people in their circumstances, roll up my sleeves and look these people in the eye, sit down and listen to them, then give them what I can.” Together with his network of friends and family through the many organizations that he worked with, No
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Strings Attached began to make a difference in the community. Kirwan talks of hugs he received from people who were down on their luck, people who hadn’t had a clean shirt, or even a clean pair of underwear for so long. These are the things that we take for granted; yet, there are people in our community who view these things as blessings and privileges. Kirwan says, “Last year we surpassed 40,000 items donated between Thanksgiving and Christmas and had over 70 volunteers that helped us serve a record 500 plus recipients on Christmas morning alone! We have come a long way from year one, 2007, when 1,448 items were distributed. Together, we have reached new heights, and every single item donated matters and will go to good use. No donation amount is too large or too small.” In 2012, Kirwan lost his good friend and right-hand-man in this ministry, Dr. Neal Sayers. Sayers collected donations all-year-round at his office, and his motto was “Go big or go home, baby.” When he brought his motto to No Strings Attached, more and more people benefited. His legacy now lives on through his children, who come out each year to support the homeless. For Kirwan, his loss cuts deep, but through his life and even his passing, more and more people have come out to answer the call of the needy and joined forces with No
Strings Attached. Partnering with other ministries in the area, such as Dressed for Success (which helps men and women find clothing suitable for job interviews), Trinity Café, Hyde Park United Methodist, Open Arms, True Holiness Church, Martha Shepley, and The Prince of Peace Ministry, no suitable donation goes to waste. Anything that is left over is donated or kept for the next giveaway. If you would like to support this great organization through your donation of items, resources or simply your time, visit www.nosacares.org and become part of the difference in the Tampa Bay area. Dr. Shirmo and Dr. Eldridge would like to take this opportunity to thank Andre for his hard work and dedication. Trinity Family Physicians hopes that this story inspires others in our community to pursue their passion and answer their own calling to help make our community better by Making a Difference in Tampa Bay! Trinity Family Physicians has become a dedicated site to drop off clothing and other items for Andre Kirwan and No Strings Attached. Dr. Shirmo says, “We will collect items for the entire month of November and December until we close for the Christmas Holidays. We will continue to do this annually and help Andre and his charity Make a
Difference in Tampa Bay!” Nominate Someone for the Next “Tampa Bay Making A Difference Award” Trinity Family Physicians’ Tampa Bay Making A Difference Award will continue to honor individuals who make a difference. If you know someone who makes a difference in the lives of others in Tampa Bay, Trinity Family Physicians and Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles want to hear from you! Please submit your nominees (and tell us why they qualify) for the next Tampa Bay Making A Difference Award by email at editorial@nnlflorida.com. Trinity Family Physicians and Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles ask that you please share your thoughts and comments with us on our facebook pages: facebook.com/trinityfamilyphysicians and facebook.com/neighborhoodnewslifestyles. Trinity Family Physicians is located at 1817 Cypress Brook Drive, Suite 101 in Trinity, FL. Log on to trinityfamilyphysicians.com for additional information about Dr. Eldridge and Dr. Shirmohammad.
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You Had Me at Cannoli! Come on out to LIADO’s 13th Annual San Gennaro Festa on February 18th & 19th! By Julie Kanehl Let’s be honest here, it’s all about the food. I’m not talking about just any food; I’m talking about Italian food. LIADO’s San Gennaro Festa is jam packed with all of the wonderful Italian delights that you know, love and long for. Want to enjoy all of those favorites in one place? Then it’s safe to say that you should probably mark your calendar for LIADO’s 13th Annual San Gennaro Festa. Your first stop will want to be at LIADO’s La Cucina, where you’ll enjoy olives, cheese, bread, antipasti, tortellini salad, bruschetta, cannoli, pizzelles and wine. There will also be meatballs, sausage and peppers, zeppoles, pizzelles, and other mouthwatering Italian creations! This delicious event, centered on Italian heritage, is part street fair, part culinary treat, and part dance party! Of course, they’ll let you in, even if you can’t dance the Tarantella! Guests can expect to enjoy live
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music and entertainment by amazing bands including The Black Honkeys, which has quite a local following, and Joey Dee and the Starliters of “ Peppermint Twist” fame. Dance, Sing & Eat Italian-Style! It’s Festa Time! Held on Saturday and Sunday, the 18th and 19th of February at the Safety Harbor Marina, LIADO’s San Gennaro Festa is a hearty nod to the Feast of San Gennaro, which brings
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over a million people to New York’s Little Italy each year. The entire Festa centers around San Gennaro, the patron saint of Naples, Italy who was martyred for his faith. Italians who first came to this country, gathered together to celebrate, pray, and party in his name. And that celebration continues every year in many corners of the world. Luckily for us, we can simply join the Italians and Italian-enthusiasts
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from all over the world who head on down to Safety Harbor, which is celebrating its 100th year, to take part in the festivities and support a few great causes at the same time. More than just food that is delicioso, if that’s even possible, LIADO’s San Gennaro Festa is a charitable event, with 100% of net proceeds benefiting local charities such as The Alzheimer’s Association of Florida
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(Gulf Coast Chapter), Children’s Cancer Center, Children’s Cancer Research Group at USF, Autism Speaks, The Safety Harbor Public Library, and many others. Additionally, through their scholarship program, LIADO has awarded more than $140,000 to deserving students who are dedicated to furthering their education. In addition to the delectable food and the upbeat entertainment, the San Gennaro Festa will offer a museum that features highlights from Italian heritage, information about supporting and joining LIADO, and the opportunity to meet some of the amazing ladies who have worked so hard to put this exciting event together.
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So, who is this amazing organization that organizes a street fair that would make a saint proud? LIADO, The Italian-American Women of Today (Le Italo-Americane di Oggi), is a local nonprofit 501(c) 3 group of women who have a simple but powerful goal to preserve the Italian heritage and to pass it down to the younger generations, while giving charitably to the community and to the world around them. Of course, they have a whole lot of fun in the meantime. When they aren’t planning a Festa and cooking for thousands, they share recipes, camaraderie, friendship, and a love of the cultural and family history that binds them all together.
Become a Part of the Excitement, the Tradition and the Community by Joining LIADO! LIADO, which began in 1993 with just a few members, is the only 100-percent Italian women’s organization of its kind in Florida. Offering two meeting places to accommodate its members, one in Safety Harbor and the other in New Port Richey, LIADO balances fun and friendship with a clear focus on education and cultural preservation. Meeting monthly to discuss a variety of topics that range from cooking demonstrations, to genealogy research, and the viewing of historical documentaries, when you join LIADO, you’ll be welcomed like fam-
ily. If you’re an Italian-American who would love to know more about your culture, and make a few dozen friends at the same time, join LIADO, for the women there do far more than create a Festa, they share their hearts of gold with the community. In the meantime, make your plans now to come to LIADO’S San Gennaro Festa on February 18th and 19th in Safety Harbor! Admission is only $6 per person, and children 12 and under are free! So, bring some cash for the cannoli, because it’s time to party Italian-style! The 13th Annual San Gennaro Festa will be held on Saturday, February 18th from 12-10 p.m., and Sunday February 19th from 11:30 a.m.–7 p.m. at the Safety Harbor Marina, at 110 Veteran’s Memorial Lane. Children 12 and under are free, and tickets for adults are just $6. All for a great cause, LIADO’s San Gennaro Festa will be held rain or shine! For more information about the event, visit www.liadosangennarofesta.com. If you’d like to know more about becoming a member of LIADO, visit www.liado.net.
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Yes! A Lawncare Company that’s Truly Unique! Landmark Services has been serving our area for going on 30 years. Landmark’s primary area of services is right here in East Lake. Pat Guy, the owner, has lived and worked right here since 1990. Pat says, “ I have seen just about every home in this area being built. I understand the challenges of having the best lawn possible. There are so many factors that go into caring for a lawn that you can be proud of. Factors that many companies with much less experience wouldn’t think of. I like where my company is today. This is exactly as I had envisioned it. Small, local, and very personal. I like the idea where I can walk in a place like Publix and run into a customer and just talk about anything: family, business, etc.” Most of Landmarks customers stay with Landmark. While Landmark is a small local company, it packs quite a punch in terms of technical experience. Pat’s experience spans nearly four decades. Not just locally. Pat started his first Lawn Care business in 1981 in Hartford Connecticut. That business quickly grew to locations spanning from Connecticut, west to the Mississippi River, and down to Florida. Pat also owned and operated a
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consulting firm in New York. That company flourished, landing companies such as Orkin. Pat felt something was missing in his professional life, so he sold his businesses to the likes of Orkin and Scott’s. Pat then joined Orkin as Vice President of Operations. “I loved working for Orkin”, says Pat. “That was one of my greatest experiences. I had the opportunity to learn from the best technical minds in our industry.” However, something was still missing. Pat decided to take a few years off and figure out what that missing element in his life was. After much soul searching he found the answer. He found that he was most happy when he was dealing directly with customers, just like in the old days. That’s where Landmark Services was born. Pat’s vision of his company and what he wanted it to be has worked perfectly. Pat says, “I threw away things that bother me like budgets. I don’t use one, nor will I ever again. I do not put financial quota’s of any sort on my business. I give the customer all the time and product needed to do the job right every time. The reason I can be laxed on expenses is that all the sales and services are done between myself
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and “Big Pat”, my associate. Low stress, no drama work environment. I will let you know what can be done to your lawn and what to expect. No overselling or up-charging. All of my services are custom to your lawn. I use 100% dry fertilizer. I then use a combination of dry and liquid fungus, insect and weed controls. Depending on what works best for YOUR lawn. Not your neighbor’s, not the guy who lives three doors down.” Why is Landmark Services so different? One factor to consider is that liquid nitrogen fertilizer is very volatile. A University of Florida study found that up to 70% of the liquid nitrogen applied to your lawn can evaporate and turn to gas before you have the time to water it in. Landmark Services only applies granular, slow release fertilizer that only releases when wet, then releases slowly over the course of time, so that it does not promote disease and fungus as one big burst of product does. Perfect example: Some large companies make their name selling dry fertilizer to homeowners. Why would they use liquid in there Lawn Care Company? The answer is very simple. Cost and quick to apply. Rest assured that a lawn care sales person will be knocking on your door,
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usually in a neighborhood that doesn’t allow door to door solicitation in the first place. That should be a red flag. Landmark does not go door to door, nor do we employ salesmen. Most of our sales are referrals. The reason Landmark carries numerous different products is that they can change the treatments on your lawn then and there. Remeber: Your lawn is different from everybody else's. It should be treated different then everyone else’s. For more information, or for a consultation, please call 727-4430103 or email us at landmark4you@yahoo.com. We promise, you wont be disappointed!
Pat Guy (left), owner & operator
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HERITAGE SPRINGS
2790 htd sq ft - 3/3/3 + Office/Den Wow! This home shows like a model! Wood cabinets w/granite counters & stainless steel appliances, crown molding, 18" tile flooring, plantation shutters, updated master bath & guest bath plus much more! Fabulous view from the extended lanai of the golf course too. $399,000
3/3/3 2550 htd sq. This 3 bedroom 3 full baths + office has formal living & dining rooms, kitchen w/wood cabinets & solid surface counters. Master bedroom w/pillars for that extra touch, 2 walk in closets master bath w/ dual sinks, toilet closet, Jacuzzi to relax in. Two guest bedrooms that have their own private bath. Extended lanai w/pavers and a tranquil view of the pond to enjoy! $360,000.
1954 htd sq ft - 2/2/2 + den/office Just move right into this home that has formal living & dining rooms that has plenty of room for all your pieces. Kitchen has white cabinets w/raised panel doors w/pullout shelves & a large breakfast nook area. The master bedroom has a large walk in closet and the master bath has dual sinks, linen closet and a walk in shower w/glass block for easy care. There are double pocket doors to the den/office w/newer carpet. A hallway leads you to the guest bedroom and guest bath w/tub w/shower. Just off the living room you have French door that leads you out to the extended screened lanai w/a serene view of the pond that you and your guest will enjoy! $260,000
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“Rehabilitation” Continued from page 1 appeal and functionality of their space even more than already present. Executive Director, J. David Fitts shares, “We have added a new Alter G AntiGravity treadmill. This is nearly a $50,000 piece of equipment that we purchased roughly a year ago to help cardiac, stroke, orthopedic, Parkinson’s and other patients in their recovery. It is the same equipment that marathon runners use in their training. We are one of the only Pinellas County skilled nursing facilities that have this state-of-the-art equipment.” The Alter G Anti-Gravity Treadmill helps patients recover more quickly by reducing gravity’s impact on the body. This new technology provides a safe way for patients with neurological conditions to rehabilitate and is a wonder for people rehabilitating lower extremity injuries. Alter G offers a way to train and rehab without stressing the joints and muscles. Award Winning Care Westchester Gardens is five-star rated by Centers for Medicare &
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Medicaid Services, is the recipient of the AHCA/NCAL 2014 BronzeCommitment to Quality Award and had most recently received the 2016 recognition from US News and World Report for their stellar performance and service. “We are focused on being a short term rehabilitation center that serves as a stepping stone between the hospital and independence,” says Fitts. “Most of our patients only stay here for two to three weeks while receiving care, and are back outside doing what they did before-playing golf and traveling.” Around 90 percent of patients that come into Westchester Gardens returning to their homes and getting back to their lives in a short time frame, exemplifying that Westchester Gardens is performing service that exceeds expectations in all areas of care. “We have our own therapy and nursing staff. Unlike many other skilled nursing facilities who use ‘contracted’ employees for those departments, we have our own physical and occupational therapists, nurses and nursing assistants and so on,” says David. “We have a thorough recruitment and interview process, the pur-
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pose of which is to identify talented, caring team members that buy into the Platinum Service philosophy and have a proven history of demonstrating Platinum Service in their professional and personal lives.” Westchester Gardens Rehabilitation & Care Center is a part of The Goodman Group, which is one of the most prominent names in senior living. The Goodman Group believes in full whole-body care that includes enhancing the wellbeing of body, mind and spirit. Westchester Gardens implements the Platinum Service approach into their care, which holds their 200
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employees, volunteers and personnel to the highest of standards. The Goodman Group website explains, “Our Platinum Service® program is the centerpiece of our promise to each of our residents, families and all those we serve to deliver the highest quality of service on a legendary scale. At The Goodman Group, this program transcends everything we do. It is intrinsic to our culture and woven into the fabric of who we are.” Fitts explains, “As part of the Platinum Service® program, we hold daily meetings across all three of our shifts to provide customer service
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training to our employees.” Patients Love Their Caregivers at Westchester Gardens! The therapists at Westchester Gardens focus on making rehabilitation enjoyable and actively seek ways to help promote independence for seniors once they leave. The physical therapy room gets patients moving by working on their daily exercises, pedaling bikes, walking and gaining strength. The occupational therapy room helps people focus on day-today activities, like cooking, cleaning, doing laundry and other household chores – things that help promote independence and that help patients return to their lives with confidence.
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Sharon L. Agner says, “Everyone I had contact with at Westchester Gardens was positive and seemed truly interested in my welfare. Overall, I enjoyed the meals, but also appreciated having the choice of a sandwich or salad, if I preferred, on a given day. I enjoyed my roommate, Lily, and meeting her precious little dog Romeo. Lily and her family continue to be in my thoughts and prayers. I am deeply appreciative of the excellent, personal care I received while a patient at Westchester Gardens.” Patients at Westchester Gardens have access to fun activities every day, and there is a cute bistro that serves four course meals and outside seating areas where patients and their guests can enjoy the healing benefits of Florida’s sunshine. Visitors and families of patients are welcomed and encouraged to spend time with their loved ones in the homey environment provided at Westchester Gardens.
Guest rooms are always clean, comfortable and give patients a feeling of “home” while they recover. “I recently stayed at Westchester Gardens for three months,” says Anne Spender. “It was such a pleasure working with Lisa Norris (P.T.) and Guy (O.T.). Everyday I was there I found myself laughing at Lisa’s great sense of humor. They actually made it enjoyable to go to exercise. Lisa and Guy were very professional and dedicated workers who pushed me hard. All that hard work is paying off. As happy as I am to be back home, I miss Lisa and
Guy everyday.” From activity-filled calendars to comfy rooms, a clean environment and a professional, experienced caring team, Westchester Gardens Rehabilitation & Care Center is a place to get back on your feet and lift your spirits! Westchester Gardens Rehabilitation & Care Center is located at 3301 North McMullen Booth Road in Clearwater, Florida. To schedule a tour, call 727-785-8335 or visit them online at westchestergardens.com. #SNF1596096.
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“Cleaning” Continued from page 1 things about Donna and her company. She is completely dedicated to making sure her clients’ needs are met and as her company has grown, Donna has put key people in place to make sure that every detail is attended to. Her right hand, Office Manager Maria Santilli, was “sent by God” according to Donna. Maria truly appreciates Donna as well, and considers her a mentor. Donna brought on Assistant Office Manager Jerry Brennan and says, “She fits right in with us!” And Steve Insolia, who is in charge of quality control, she says, “He has been a great asset to the company!” As her business continues to grow, she is able to support even more families through year-round, reliable employment, while meeting the needs of a still growing customer base. She says, “It is a great feeling to know that I provide a full time, secure job for 30 people.” Attentive to the details of her company, Donna gives kudos to other likeminded business owners. “We live in a country with a lot of small businesses and I salute all the other small businesses that are doing things
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the right way: Protecting themselves, their employees, and their customers by having the proper insurance.” Donna’s hard work has translated into a growing business that now employs nearly 30 people and has a fleet of cars to better service the clients of Donna’s Cleaning Angels. The company is licensed and insured, the employees screened and trained, and Donna’s Cleaning Angels’ teams are held accountable for the job they provide, because the office is in communication with the homeowners and business owners they service, making sure that every cleaning provided is beyond satisfactory. Dave Dixon, one of Donna's Cleaning Angels' happy customers
Professionalism, Start to Finish From the first moment that new customers talk on the phone to Maria, they realize this is a professional company. Knowledgeable and personable, Maria is ready to answer any questions about Donna’s Cleaning Angels, including availability and the complete list of services the company provides, which are extensive and basically cover any type of cleaning need you have, from weekly cleaning to upholstery and rug cleaning, and much more. Maria is at Donna’s Cleaning Angels’ office every weekday morning
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before the sun is up, making certain that the Cleaning Angels have everything they need to provide an excellent cleaning to every customer, every time. The teams are in uniforms with the Donna’s Cleaning Angels logo and wearing close-toed, non-slip shoes, which Donna says is a requirement to meet OSHA standards of safety and one that not all cleaning companies adhere to. Donna’s Cleaning Angels are provided with a large canvas kit containing the high quality cleaning products for every job. What’s more,
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every employee that Donna hires is background checked, drug free and covered by workman’s compensation. This is part of the reason why Donna’s Cleaning Angels is the first choice of so many people in our area. Every tool and cleaning product – from the professional grade vacuums to the lint-free cleaning rags) – are carefully chosen by Donna, who has provided only the best to her clients and her employees since she first started her business nearly 26 years ago. A businesswoman from a long line of hardworking entrepreneurs, Donna is
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very proud of her work ethic, which she credits to the way she was raised. Dedication, hard work, and accountability are second nature to Donna. She grew up in Gorham, New Hampshire, and shares, “I am extremely proud and emotional that this year is the 70th Anniversary of my family’s restaurant in Gorham.” True to her family’s hardworking legacy, Donna is steadfast in her dedication to her business, her employees, and her clients. “I can’t believe nearly 26 years have gone by,” says Donna. “This took a lot of dedication…tremendous dedication.” She adds, “I’ve seen a lot of cleaning services come and go, but we are here for the long term. Now we are bigger and better than ever and are the number one cleaning service in Tampa Bay. I am so excited I still have a lot of the same customers for over 20 years!” Maria says, “Customers love how much time Donna takes to meet, greet and explain everything we have to offer them in person. We are branching out more into commercial cleaning. Such as, doctors’ and real estate offices, insurances agencies and other small businesses.” Potential new customers are provided with a free, in-home estimate, and a folder that contains: Certificates of Liability Insurance for everyone affiliated with Donna’s
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Cleaning Angels, a copy of the Pasco County business license, written referrals from customers, and informational sheets about Donna’s Cleaning Angels, its history, ownership, and information about the Refer-AFriend program. Residential and commercial clients alike appreciate that Donna’s Cleaning Angels is completely professional about providing such a personal service. Donna says, “Next to your doctor, there’s nothing more personal than your cleaning service, which is why we take so many steps to protect you and make you feel at ease with our service. My customers don’t have to worry because I’ve done the homework and I carry the liability.” Donna values the relationships with her employees, adding, “I really appreciate my hardworking girls. They take care of our customers with much pride. Our customers love our back-tobasics, old-fashioned cleaning techniques, which often remind them of how their grandmothers used to clean.” The teams are trained to clean Donna’s way – the right way! “Some employees have come here that previously worked for other cleaning services, and they are amazed at our training procedures, stating that their previous employers made them watch a
video and then sent them off the very next day to clean, unsupervised. Our Angels have on-the-job training for over a month, with a field manager, before they are considered a ‘true cleaning angel.’ It takes time and effort to make sure an employee is 100 percent up to our cleaning standards. Detailed cleaning is what we are known for. Not just a run-through, wipe-down.” To ensure that every client is happy after each cleaning, Donna offers comment cards, regularly checks in with her clients, and has regular meetings with her staff. The Donna’s Cleaning Angels’ logo-wrapped cars and trucks can often be seen around the neighborhoods of West Pasco, Eastern Hillsborough and North Pinellas Counties, and this hasn’t missed the notice of two of the most important people in Donna’s life. “I’ve been told by family and friends that I don’t give myself enough credit,” shares Donna. “A few weeks ago when my young grandsons came to visit, one said, ‘Grammy you are famous! We see your cars and advertisements all over the place!’ At that moment, I realized how fortunate I am. I told them it takes hard work, determination and strength! I am not a franchise, nor did I have the backing of another company; I did this on my
own. It makes me happy to know that this is a legacy that I can now leave my grandchildren.” Donna adds, “At the end of the day I thank God for my blessings – the great people who work for me, a great business, my health, my home, my loved ones and my family. God bless you all and God bless America.” Schedule a free consultation with Donna’s Cleaning Angels at 727-942-8289, and be sure to ask about the Refer-A-Friend program that can earn you a free cleaning. Gift certificates are available and make a perfect gift this holiday season!
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Get Your Shine On at Luxury Auto Spa! By Matt Selby It’s January in Florida and we are finally enjoying days and sometimes even weeks without rain, but if your car or truck is like mine, it’s in need of some love after the rainy season! I know, I know, it’s been months since the rainy season, don’t judge me. I’m sure many of you have been putting off a true inside and outside detail of your vehicle as well but don’t wait another minute! I found some guys that will keep your car looking amazing for a truly affordable price, especially with the current 20% off deal they are running! The hands-on detailing provided by Luxury Auto Spa located on Tampa Road provides bumper-tobumper, carpet-to-headliner, sidewall-to-sidewall cleaning. Luxury Auto Spa’s family and friend operated business has quickly made a name for itself in Tampa Bay for being the premier auto detailer in the area!
“We like to say treat it as if it was your mother’s car,” owner Brian Lopez says. Treating not only the customers’ cars as if they belonged to a special family member, but the customers themselves like family – this is the culture of Luxury Auto Spa! Keeping Customers Satisfied Lopez identified four key areas the company emphasizes when conducting business: Quality, service, cleanliness, and friendliness.
Basically, they make it so that they are easy to do business with. Abiding by these high standards has earned the detailing company recognition by many of our readers over the past few months, and Luxury Auto Spa receives 5 star reviews on every rating platform online! There’s also praise from locals like Mark B., a long time Luxury Auto Spa customer whose entire family of drivers also use Luxury Auto Spa as their go-to detailer!
“We have been taking our cars there for a full detail every two months for the past three years,” says Mark, who lives in Waterchase. “The service is excellent and they treat the cars with respect. Brian and his staff are absolutely excellent!” Mike from Westchase said, “My 2004 Hyundai looks like a new car minus normal wear. Under the hood looks like it just came off the assembly line. Even made the front lights turn from a cloudy light bright to
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$69.99
(D1110)
EXP. 2/28/2017. Monday-Friday. New patients only. Cannot be used with insurance or any other offer. Present coupon at time of service.
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$39.99 EXP. 2/28/2017. WEEKDAYS ONLY. New patients only. Cannot be used with insurance. Coupon needs to be presented at time of service.
The patient and any other person responsible for payment has a right to refuse to pay, cancel payment or be reimbursed for payment for another service, examination or treatment which is performed as a result of and within 72 hours of responding to the advertisement for the free, discounted or reduced fee, service, examination or treatment.
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Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles
brand new clear. Their detail includes wash and wax, vacuuming, under hood engine cleaning and visual restoration of headlights. From the front to the back of your vehicle, Luxury Auto Spa provides a truly superb detail! Once you see these results you won’t go anywhere else. Excellent customer service, which is rare these days.” Most customers drop their cars off at the facility but mobile detailing is also available and much more affordable than you would think! If your car or truck is in need of a little TLC, do yourself a favor and have the guys at Luxury Auto Spa Take care of you! Call today and book your appointment to take advantage of
Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles
Luxury Auto Spa’s 20% off special! Luxury Auto Spa is located at 3166 Tampa Rd., Ste 9, in Oldsmar and can be reached at 727-560-3069.
For Ad Info 727-943-2946 • info@NNLFlorida.com JANUARY 2017
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For Ad Info 727-943-2946 • info@NNLFlorida.com
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Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles
Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles
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For Ad Info 727-943-2946 • info@NNLFlorida.com
JANUARY 2017
Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles