THE PREMIER COMMUNITY NEWS AND LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
Your neighborhood Your magazine
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NEIGHBORHOOD LIFESTYLES
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From The Publisher Matt Selby
Remembering our Friend Bruce Boore of Hattie’s Cafe and Beanery This isn’t an easy editorial piece. The community has lost a great man, and like so many of you whose lives Bruce has impacted, we’ve lost a friend. Not long after hearing about Hattie’s Cafe and Beanery closing its doors due to Bruce’s medical issues, Bruce Boore tragically passed away after a long, hard fight. Bruce had been battling Crohn’s disease, and over the years I’ve known him there were a few times flare ups sidelined him for a short time; but he would always be back to work not long after with a big smile on his face as if nothing was wrong. He never let anyone know how bad it really was because he wasn’t the type of guy that needed anyone to feel sorry for him. When we heard Hattie’s was shutting down due to Bruce’s health I knew it must be worse
than normal, but I am still in shock that he’s actually gone. I honestly
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thought he was going to surprise us all and beat any health issues plaguing him and re-open the cafe. He was, and always will be, a special man to so many people whose lives he became a part of. I first met Bruce in February 2013. I walked into Hattie’s Beanery looking for the owner so I could tell them all about my new publication I was starting in the Carrollwood area. He was gracious enough to listen to my pitch and give me feedback on what he thought. He wasn’t convinced that people from Carrollwood would drive past other cafes in the area to come visit him. I understood his concerns and simply asked him to think about it and give me a chance. About 5 pm the same day Bruce called me back and said he wouldn’t mind giving me a shot for one month
to see how it goes. Even though it wasn’t a long term contract, Bruce was the first business to believe in me by signing up to advertise, and it really meant a lot. Fast forward to December 2015 Bruce never missed an issue since he started! He loved our magazine, and was a major reason our publication grew over the past few years, because he was always telling other local businesses about his great experience with us. I’ll always be grateful for his kindness and regret never getting the chance to tell him how much it meant to me that he gave me a chance before anyone else did. We will never forget you Bruce. Thank you for providing this community with your wonderful soul and passion for some of the best coffee and delicious food this town has ever seen.
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Community Calendar & News Briefs 5th Annual National Cuban Sandwich Festival Weekend is set for March 18th, 19th & 20th Every food deserves its own day. The Cuban-style sandwich, or simply Cubano, is a ham and cheese sub that has won over the hearts of millions of Americans. Each year, the cities of Ybor City and Tampa put on a fabulous Cuban Sandwich Festival in its honor. The highlight of the festival is the Cuban Sandwich Making Contest, where several local restaurants and epicureans compete to make the tastiest sandwiches, which are judged by a group of celebrity chefs and of course, festivalgoers. It also hosts a variety of live music and dance performances and art exhibitions throughout the 2day event. At the Annual National Cuban Sandwich Festival, some of the biggest names in Florida and VIP’s from around the Nation re-unite and join efforts in celebration of the Cuban sandwiches' rich culinary and cultural history at this exciting FREE event to find THE BEST CUBAN SANDWICHES IN THE WORLD! Join in the fun at the BIG SMACKDOWN, where Restaurants from all over Florida, the United
States and NOW the World compete for the opportunity to win the 2016 title of “THE BEST CUBAN SANDWICH IN THE WORLD!” This year, there are entries from all over the United States AND as far as London, England to represent the U.K., at this FREE family friendly event, featuring delicious food, beautiful art and live cultural music, with exciting performances and over 100 exhibitors! The 5th Annual National Cuban Sandwich Festival is a weekend filled event! - VIP Opening Night Party: Friday, March 18th, 2016 - Saturday, March 19th, 2016: HCC Ybor Campus – The Biggest Cuban Sandwich in the World! - Sunday, March 20th, 2016: “The BIG DAY” City2City Smackdown @ Centennial Park in Historic Ybor City @ 1800 E. 8th Street in Tampa This year, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman will be joining in the festivities to make the Biggest Cuban Sandwich in the World – this year’s Cuban Sandwich has a goal of measuring 105 ft or more! This event also serves as a fundraiser:
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Causes: Emberlynn Padilla: a 5 year old baby miracle baby born with congenital diaphragmatic hernia. To Donate or learn more about Emberlynn visit gofundme.com/h3k5n8. New Beginnings of Tampa: Emergency Shelters and transitional living for homeless and vets. Florida Homeless Shelters: Every year, because of the help of their generous sponsors and competing restaurants they are able to feed over 400 homeless people. This year -their goal is to feed over 800 homeless people! The Biggest Cuban Sandwich in the world makes this possible. Those Sandwiches are scheduled to be made in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, February 20th, 2016 @ Valencia College, and in Ybor City, Florida on Saturday, March 19th, 2016 @ Hillsborough Community College – Ybor City Campus. Want to Participate in this exciting event? Opportunities available for: Contestants, Sandwich Makers, Vendors and Sponsors. Email CubanSandwichFestival@Latin-Times.com or call (813) 407-6866 / (813) 407-7191 or
register online at: www.iLOVECubanSandwiches.com For additional information please visit www.TheCubanSandwichFestival.com. MacDill Airfest 2016 Celebrating 75 years of excellence. March 19 and 20 at MacDIll Air Force Base, 6801 S Dale Mabry Hwy in Tampa Tampa Bay AirFest 2016 is here! This is a great time of the year, because we all have a chance to give back to a community that gives us so much. In 2014, AirFest was awarded "Best Military Site" by the USAF Thunderbirds, due to the incredible partnership between MacDill and Tampa Bay, and this year it is expected that this airshow will surpass those lofty expectations. The Tampa Bay AirFest 2016 is free and open to the public. Gates open at 8:00 a.m. with the aerial performances starting at 10 a.m. Free Admission and Parking!! They are continually adding new demonstrations and static displays, so check back often. For more info, visit facebook.com/macdillairforcebase, and don't forget to use their hashtag #AirFest2016.
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Drive for a Cure 2016…
Contributed We’re very excited to announce the 2016 East Lake Woodlands “Drive for a Cure” Golf outing. This annual event will take place on Friday, February 26, 2016 at the East Lake Woodlands Country Club. Arrival and registration begins at 11:00 AM with a 1:00 PM 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 $100.00 (if paid before February 12 or $115.00 if paid after February 12); cost covers golf, cart, range, snacks, dinner and a contribution to our charities. The cost for dinner only is $45.00.
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This year we are extremely pleased to welcome Linda Hurtado, a 20-year veteran of TV news here in Tampa Bay. She anchors FOX 13 News at Noon as well as the FOX 13 News at 5 PM with Cynthia Smoot. Linda takes pride in being very connected and involved in her community. In addition to her many hosting and speaking engagements, she has won 12 Emmys, an Edward R. Murrow award, Associated Press awards, Society of Professional Journalism awards, and a Florida Bar award for a variety of news and health stories. She has been very active with the American Cancer Society’s Reach to Recovery and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer events long before
her own diagnosis of breast cancer in 2011, because her mother was a breast cancer survivor until the disease finally took her life in 1995. Since her own diagnosis and recovery, she has become the local emcee for the Susan G. Komen events. Additionally Linda supports the Face of Courage non-profit as well as the My Hope Chest that funds reconstruction for women who do not have insurance. And every year she donates proceeds from A Shoot for a Cure to the Florida Hospital Foundation to fund mammograms for women without insurance. In the U.S. in 2015 there were an estimated 231,840 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 60,290 new cases of in situ breast cancer
Linda Hurtado among women resulting in 40,290 breast cancer deaths. Although breast cancer in men is rare, it does happen. In 2015, there were an estimated 2350 new cases among men in the
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Checks from 2015 proceeds were presented to the Suncoast Affiliate of Susan G. Komen and Morton Plant Mease Foundation U.S. resulting in 440 deaths. By supporting the Morton Plant Mease Mammography Program and the Florida Suncoast Affiliate of Susan G. Komen, a dedicated effort is made to keep the funds raised to benefit those 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 sent $153,000 to the organizations we
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support. This year our goal is to reach $200,000 to support those dealing with breast cancer. Participation and sponsorship is very important to this effort, and there are many opportunities available to help us meet this goal. Come play with us on our beautiful, top-quality golf courses; you’ll have a wonderful time
and you will be instrumental in supporting this very worthwhile goal. For more complete information about the event, registration, sponsorship and donations, log on to www.elwdriveforacure.com . We’ll see you on February 26th!
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Synergy HomeCare - Peace of Mind for Your Family
Mark Curtiss, Matthew Kolinski, Laura Mazur and Charles Curtiss
By Matt Selby
Synergy HomeCare (SHC), located in Tampa at 3401 W Cypress Street, Suite 202 A, may be a national franchise but it doesn’t get any more local than the local branch here in South Tampa. The business end is ran by Mark Curtiss and his son Charles who are South Tampa natives; in fact, the family has been in Tampa for at least four generations and in South Tampa for two generations. Physician Matthew Kolinski and registered nurse Laura Mazur are the heart and soul of Synergy HomeCare. Running operations and overseeing all the caregivers is no easy task but after speaking with Matthew and Laura, their passion for helping others is
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clearly what drives them to make SHC so great! The team is more of a family and Matthew says, “Let our family help your family. We are always here for you and your loved ones.” Synergy HomeCare understands the importance of returning to the comfort of your own home. The highly skilled group of caregivers help with a safe and comfortable transition home. By focusing on your treatment, healing and recovery, SHC is here to increase your or your loved ones’ quality of life! Their goal is to promote independence, decrease readmission rate, and to provide stability, comfort and safety through in-home care assuring your loved one that their dignity will remain intact so that you and
your family can live the life you deserve. The staff realizes that everyone has different needs so they customize a plan to fit you and your family. They offer care services from 2 to 24 hours 365 days a year to provide in-home care and companionship for your loved one wherever their home may be, whether they are in their own home, assisted living facility, nursing home, or rehab facility. They also offer discharge packages that range from 4 to 8 hours at a very affordable price which provides for prescription pick up, grocery shopping, transportation, meal preparation, homemaking services and home safety checks to make sure your loved one is in a safe living environment.
You can rest assured and feel confidant that your family is in the best of hands when you use SHC care providers. The C.A.R.E. (Coordinated And Responsive Engagement) Team members are screened with a National Level 2 background check, an extensive careful interviewing process with reference checking and each one goes through a C.A.R.E. training program and are CPR certified before they are placed to care for your loved one. SHC also likes to do “meet and greets” with their team of caregivers to introduce you to them personally. Each caregiver is extremely experienced, fully insured and bonded for added peace of mind. The C.A.R.E. Team is pas-
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sionate in their beliefs that everyone deserves personalized care without obligation and “No Contracts, just C.A.R.E.” When contacting SHC you will speak with a Client Care Manager who will be able to assist you and your family by providing you with a no obligation C.A.R.E. assessment. At some point in all of our lives we will be faced with needing assistance in one way or another, whether it be for us or a loved one due to an illness, in-
jury, or the simple but inevitable fact that we all are going to age. Most of us have everyday business or tasks that we have to take care of: picking up the kids from school, taking them to events, or even everyday chores like laundry or grocery shopping. We all need a little help, especially when we have an elderly loved one who needs companionship, groceries of their own, or someone to take them to their appointment and/or check up on them to
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make sure they are eating or taking their medication. The uniqueness and flexibility of Synergy HomeCare and the way that their staff can adapt to clients’ needs – such as 2-hour visits or 24-hour around-theclock care – and the fact that there are “no contracts, just C.A.R.E., makes SHC the most affordable way to get the help that you and your family need. Also, there’s comfort in knowing that your loved ones are getting
the best possible personalized care from a team of compassionate caregivers. With no obligation, there is no reason not to call Synergy HomeCare and let them design a program to help you and your family. Synergy HomeCare is located at 3401 W Cypress Street, STE 202 A, in Tampa, FL, 33607. For more information, call 813-879-2273
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With Plans to Open Late Summer of 2016, Florida Hospital Center Ice Marks a New Era for Ice Sports in Tampa Bay! By Alexis Selby Living in Florida, there aren’t as many opportunities for those who wish to take up hockey or figure skating, but Florida Hospital Center Ice, an immaculate 150,500 square foot facility, is looking to change that. This year-round skating rink and multisports complex will offer an infinite amount of opportunities for those who wish to develop their skills both on and off the ice. “With Olympic and NHL-size rinks, this is where the players will come to play,” says co-owner Gordie Zimmermann of Z Mitch, LLC. “It’s where youngsters will learn, and where all ages can stay active and have fun.” Hoping to bring an increased awareness of hockey and figure skating to the state of Florida, Z Mitch, LLC,'s, Gordie Zimmermann and George Mitchell decided this area would be the perfect location! Teaming up with Florida Hospital, this impressive new training facility will be focused on sports performance, with a goal of producing top athletes that can compete at an elite level Nationwide. Gordie says, “There were a number of reasons why we chose this area. After the past few years of Lightning success we knew we wanted to do something in Tampa and this area is one of the new hot spots as far as the demographics. This complex has great visibility from the highways, and is easily accessible from all over Tampa Bay. This is going to be the biggest ice sports complex in the entire South East. There is nothing else like this in the Southern United States!” Florida Hospital, which will also have an office within the facility, will have staff on hand, and, working alongside Center Ice staff, will offer unique sports performance programs for individuals and teams who want private training sessions and other specialized skill-training programs both on and off the ice. “Partnering with Florida Hospital, we have an increased focus on sports –related performance, injury prevention and wellness,” says Gordie. “This really changes the dynamics for athletic training. Our programs are going to be an enhancement in the world of sports
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and I think it is the key to making hockey players faster and figure skaters stronger. If you take a kid from three years old and give him or her the opportunity to become a top athlete, providing the right coaches, trainers and managers from a young age and all the way through to adulthood, the possibilities are endless.” As amazing as the sports complex will be, what it will do for the area is just as incredible – giving the quickly growing New Tampa/ Wesley Chapel area an unfathomable economic boost! From sports tournaments to top-notch athlete training, when this complex is completed, this will be the place where people from all across the country come to skate! “The community has just come together and rallied around this rink,” says Shari Trotter. “We have already had such great feedback. High-level competitive skaters are excited about the coaching and excited about what the rink has to offer. There really are very few complexes that have anything close to this; the size of this facility, along with the amenities, coaching and sports programs are going to be top in the nation.” From free-skating to free throws, Florida Hospital Center Ice will be a Mecca for everything sports-related! A place where people from all across Tampa Bay can come together over their shared love of sports!
Highlights on and off the ice include: – One Olympic-size rink – Three NHL-sized rinks – One kid-sized rink. – Public Skating – Hockey leagues and figure skating programs for all ages and levels – Rinks that convert to sport court for Shooting Stars basketball and vollyball, plus lacrosse, roller and street hockey, curling, speed skating and other sports – Camps, clinics and multisport training programs – Full summer camp programs – On-site sports medicine specialists
– Full restaurant – Corporate party rooms – Sports pro shop – Performance and off-ice training facilities So, no matter what your hobby or skill level is, there will be something for everyone. Florida Hospital Center Ice will be a great, family-friendly place where people of all ages can have fun and stay active! Florida Hospital Center Ice will be located at 3173 Cypress Ridge Blvd. in Wesley Chapel. For more information, and to stay informed of their progress, visit www.FloridaHospitalCenterIce.com.
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From free-skating to free throws, Florida Hospital Center Ice will be a Mecca for everything sports-related!
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Mini Doughnut Factory By Alexis Selby Bringing a little taste of Heaven to South Tampa, husband and wife duo Patrick and Zezura Ruddell have teamed up to open Mini Doughnut Factory, a fabulous new shop that serves gourmet mini-doughnuts, coffee, espresso, lattes, smoothies and doughnut shakes! Opening just over two months ago, Mini Doughnut Factory is taking Tampa by storm, quickly becoming a local hangout for people all across the bay area! And, after stopping by last week, I can easily see why they have acquired such a loyal following within such a short time of opening their doors. Serving up some of the freshest, tastiest doughnuts I have ever eaten, if you have not checked out Mini Doughnut Factory, I highly recommend you stop on by! The perfect cheat-sized sweet, these mini doughnuts won’t make you feel guilty, and provide the perfect amount of deliciousness to satisfy your craving. Made to order, you can taste the freshness from the moment you take your first bite. Patrick says, “We care more about our products
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than any other doughnut or coffee shop in town. We will not let a doughnut leave that isn’t Facebook or Instagram worthy.” As William Cowper once said, “Variety's the very spice of life, that gives it all it's flavor”, this saying definitely rings true at Mini Doughnut Factory. With thousands of topping combinations to choose from, the possibilities are practically endless. Patrick says, “We are the first to offer mini doughnuts made to order. What we are doing has never been done before with mini doughnuts, especially with all our topping options.” On our previous visit, Zezura and Patrick had us sample some of their signature selections, including the Camp Fire, a vanilla cake doughnut topped with chocolate icing, graham cracker crumbs and marshmallows, the Rice Krispy Treat, a vanilla cake doughnut topped with a glaze, Rice Krispies and marshmallow drizzle, and their French Toast, a vanilla cake doughnut with cinnamon and maple syrup. All I can say is that these are no ordinary doughnuts! As you bite into the warm dough, it literally melts in your mouth, and the combinations of
Photo by Weatherby Photography
flavors are out of this world amazing! The most popular of their doughnut creations – their Cotton Candy - is sure to spark your taste buds. An absolutely unique flavor experience, this doughnut is comprised of a vanilla cake doughnut topped with strawberry icing and cotton candy pop rocks; even after you have finished the pop rocks continue to elicit the divine flavor as they go off in your mouth. This was definitely one of my favorites, although their Sweet Pig - a vanilla cake doughnut topped with maple icing and bacon - was a close second.
"Sweet and savory, the Sweet Pig tastes like eating a pancake with bacon and syrup,” says Zezura. And, why not have both? That’s the best part about mini-doughnuts, you don’t have to feel guilty about eating more than one! “When you buy a big doughnut you are committed to that one flavor,” says Zezura. “The beauty of the mini doughnut is that it gives you the ability to try multiple different flavors. That’s what makes the concept pretty cool in itself.” Another customer favorite is the
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gethers, and since opening, catering has already comprised a huge portion of their business. The perfect bitesized treat, mini doughnuts are easy to eat and the presentation alone is enough to wow! Looking to make a statement in the office - surprise your co-workers or clients with a box of mini doughnuts! What’s most amazing is that clientele isn’t just limited to South Tampa locals. Since opening, Mini Doughnut Factory has had customers from all over Tampa Bay and beyond, including those who drive all the way from Orlando and Sarasota to snag this sweet treat!
Patrick says, “Come once and you will be addicted for life. Once you taste the difference you will never be able to go back to regular doughnuts again.” Mini Doughnut Factory is located at 2109 S Dale Mabry Hwy. They are open Mon.- Thurs. 6:30am - 6:30pm; Fri. 6:30am 9pm; Sat 7:30am - 9pm; Sun 7:30am - 3:30pm. To place an order for pick-up or catering please call (813) 254- 5374. Additional information can be found by visiting their Facebook page at Mini Doughnut Factory or by visiting them on Instagram or Twitter.
Bringing a little taste of Heaven to South Tampa, husband and wife duo Patrick and Zezura Ruddell have teamed up to open Mini Doughnut Factory Peanut Butter Crunch, a vanilla cake doughnut topped with peanut butter icing and crushed butterfingers. And to answer the question you probably have in your head - yes it is every bit as incredible as it sounds! In addition to their signature doughnuts, you also have the option of creating your own doughnut from their endless list of yummy toppings! Zezura says, “We love coming up with new ideas and collaborating to come
up with new flavors." But, as incredibly delicious as their mini-doughnuts are, they aren’t all they have become known for. “We have the freshest coffee,” says Patrick. “All of our coffee beans are ground fresh; we will never keep a bean longer than 7-10 days. We have quite a few regulars that come in just for our coffee – it’s that good!” Mini doughnuts are perfect for parties, special occasions and get to-
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Family Fun with Horses at Suncoast Stables Suncoast Stables, located at 1108 Altamont Lane in Odessa FL, has a fun, family-friendly event planned for Saturday, February 20th. Stable owner Krystle Lee invites the community to come out and meet the horses. The fun begins at 5 p.m. with a barn tour, but that is just the beginning of an evening of fun and horsing around! There will also be a horseback riding demonstration, a grooming station demonstration and a chance to win a 4-pack of free riding lessons. And what better way to wrap up an evening of horseplay than a free, kid-friendly horse movie watched on a blanket under the stars? This event is free but bring some cash because there will be food and drinks for purchase, as well as face painting for the kids. Proceeds will benefit Suncoast Stables’ Youth Club and Saving Grace for Equines, a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization focused on the rescue of American Saddlebred horses. Krystle grew up around horses and enjoyed competing as a juvenile and amateur in the American Saddlebred arena, so the rescue of
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this breed is one she is happy to help support. The driving force and passion behind Saving Grace for Equines is Joy Rodak. Kristen Pawlowski, who sent us the event information hoping to get help with publicity, says, “These girls love these horses…from mucking stalls to the show ring and it really teaches them respect for animals, discipline and responsibility. They all support each other and it is just a wonderful experience!”
Saving Grace for Equines Joy Rodak loves horses. She has shown American saddlebred horses for 20 years, and for the past few years, she has headed up a horse rescue in Ocala, Florida. In October 2013, Joy bought six American saddlebred horses from a meat broker to save them from being sent to a slaughterhouse in Canada. By December of that year, she’d started Saving Grace for Equines and was determined to save more horses that still have plenty of healthy years left. While it is illegal to slaughter
horses for meat in the United States, they are still shipped to Canada and Mexico and processed for human consumption. Joy knows that there is much more to be done but feels its important to do what she can to support a growing need, stating, “It’s not a lot, but we are doing our part along with the other saddlebred rescues in the country.” Saving Grace for Equines has rescued numerous horses experiencing inhumane treatment and conditions, including starvation, abuse, unsafe habitats, and some of those are bound for slaughter for human consumption. Many horses are abused and neglected before being sent to “kill brokers” where they are purchased by the highest bidder, and some of those are contracted by slaughterhouses. “These are very nice horses that can still serve a purpose,” says Joy. Many times the original seller often has no idea what can befall their horse and Joys says most of the owners are unknowing participants. The horses rescued usually have some physical issues. They are often
malnourished and need dental work. Saving Grace for Equines works on their nutrition for three or four months before they are ready for adoption. Saving Grace for Equines relies on donations and sponsorships to operate. Log on to savinggraceforequines.org for information and to donate. For more information about Suncoast Stables, log on to www.suncoaststable.com or call (813) 368-0666.
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