Vol. 7, Issue 3, March 2016
Your neighborhood. Your magazine. The Premier “Shop Local” Community Magazine Directly Mailed To 20,000 Homes In Odessa, Lutz & Land O’ Lakes Areas This Independent Community News, Business & Dining Guide Is Directly Mailed Once Each Month To: Ashley Lakes, Ballantrae, Belle Meade, Calusa Trace, Canterbury, Cheval, Citrus Greens, Concord Station, Devonwood, Dolce Vita on Lake Keystone, Echo Lake, Farmington Village, Fern Glenn, Grey Hawk at Lake Polo, Heritage Harbor, Ivy Lake Estates, Keystone Groves, Keystone Manors, Keystone Reserve, Keystone Shores, Lake Charles, Lake Church, Lake Parker Estates, Lakeside Grove Estates, Northlake Village, Northbridge at Lake Pretty, Northton Groves, Oakstead, Orange Blossom Creek, Reflections, Steeple Chase, Stillwater, Stonegate, Suncoast Crossings, Suncoast Meadows, Swan Cove, Van Dyke Estates, Van Dyke Farms, Villa Rosa, Wyndham Lakes
Pose by Pose Yoga Building a Community, One Class at a Time!
Late February, I had the opportunity to tour Primrose School of Lutz and if you have an infant, toddler or preschool-aged child and want to give your child the best possible learning experience, then you should make an appointment to take a tour and find out why Primrose parents and Primrose students are so happy, and see if this school is a good fit for your family. Primrose School of Lutz has a charming campus that is spacious and secure. Inside those locked and secure front doors, there is a bright, cheerful learning center that focuses on providing
Balanced Learning® curriculum designed to build the right foundation for an active mind, a healthy body and a happy heart. Primrose School of Lutz is a private preschool that is SACS-accredited, and while the school is focused on providing a stellar early education
that will have your child more than ready for primary school, the children here are learning so much more than basic preschool and pre-kindergarten academics. Primrose Schools focus on providing children with balance – See “Primrose School” on page 22
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Win Buccaneers Tickets..............3 Calendar & News Briefs......4-5 Mission I Do Wedding Giveaway Winners...........6-7 Jones & Company CPAs..10-11 Tobacco Free Florida......14-15 Florida Orthopaedic Institute’s Sports Medicine Team..16-17 JK Cancer Fund Golf Outing at Seven Springs Golf.........18-19 People for Haiti................24-25 Wheelchairs 4 Kids Jail N Bail.............................28-29
ECRWSS
By Kim Thomas
See “Pose by Pose” on page 26.
Postal Customer
Primrose School of Lutz, Where Balanced Learning® Makes Happy Students and Happy Parents
yoga training for over 15 years. A certified Yoga Alliance instructor, Jennifer has a wealth of knowledge in all facets and applications and is able to expertly guide her yogis and help them to get the most out of their practice, whatever it is they wish to accomplish. From the physical benefits to the emotional benefits to the mental benefits, there are many different reasons why people choose to take up yoga. Whether you are looking for a stress relief from your daily life, to recover from an injury,
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Creating a true sense of community in the Tampa Bay area, Pose by Pose Yoga is helping people to grow emotionally, physically and mentally in a supportive, encouraging atmosphere where they can unwind and let loose from the outside world. Building this location from the ground up, owner Jennifer Leavy specially designed her studio with yoga in mind, creating a place where members could feel welcome, and relaxed, as if they were
walking into their own home. She says, “The difference in our studio is that we are not a place that was modified for yoga, we are a studio that was specifically designed around what would work best for our goals. We built a library for our instructors to continue to educate themselves and relax; a 500 square foot lobby and made room for a couch so our guests could sit; a place for a break room where instructors and members could enjoy tea and snacks.” Although this is her first yoga studio, Jennifer has been teaching
Dated Material Please Rush!
By Alexis Selby
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MARCH 2016
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Here is Your Chance to Win Tampa Bay Buccaneers Season Tickets! Sertoma Foundation Holds Drawing to Benefit Children’s Fund The Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foundation of Florida is holding a chance drawing that will be held during Chasco Fiesta this Spring. The tickets offer a chance to win two NFL Buccaneers Club Level season tickets. This offer of club level season tickets is valued at $4,100 and includes two pregame and eight home games. Package also includes reserved stadium parking. Tickets are $75 each and only 150 will be sold for this drawing. Amenities will include access to several training camp practices, comfortable seating, best stadium views, preferred parking, children’s activities, concierge service, premium concessions and access to pregame Atrium Buffet. The winner also has the opportunity to meet players, coaches and the general manager...and that’s just a few of the benefits of winning Club Level season tickets. The drawing will be held at Chasco Fiesta on Saturday, April 9 at 8
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p.m. Ticket holders do not need to be present to win. All proceeds will benefit the Children’s Hearing Help Fund (CHHF) that is supported by the Sertoma Foundation. CHHF encourages drivers who are renewing their license or motor vehicle registration to “check the box” for CHHF and add a dollar or more to their fee. That amount, then, is donated to Sertoma Foundation through the Department of Motor Vehicles. Debra Golinski, Executive Director of Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foundation, is personally asking the community to step forward. “Help us assist hard of hearing babies, children, and adults to hear the world around them so they can succeed personally, academically, and socially. Let your friends and family know about this great opportunity to win Buccaneer season tickets so we can help others.” To purchase tickets now, call the
Foundation office at (727) 834-5479. For credit card orders call 1-866-9992443. Hearing Loss is the most common birth defect nationally. Early detection and intervention is vital for an infant to have the opportunity to access speech and other sounds for learning and brain development. The mission of the Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foundation of Florida is to provide quality developmental and rehabilitative services, products and education––primarily to children––throughout Florida, in a caring and compassionate environment, never limited by the ability to pay. Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foundation of Florida, Inc. is a 501(c )3 charitable organization that provides quality developmental and rehabilitative services, products and education to the hard of hearing throughout Florida. West Pasco Sertoma Club is a local supporter of Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foundation of Florida, Inc. by raising funds from community events on behalf of the Foundation. For more information about Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foundation of Florida, Inc., call 1 (866) 999-2443 toll free or log on to www.familyhearinghelp.org.
Neighborhood News & Lifestyles Directly mailed once a month to 20,000 households in zip codes 33556, 33558 & 34638
220 Safford Ave. S. Tarpon Springs, FL 34689 Phone: (813) 928-6124; Fax: (727) 942-2432 Advertising E-mail: info@nnlflorida.com Editorial E-mail: editorial@nnlflorida.com © 2016 NeighborhoodNews & Lifestyles is published by ADS 2 Publications, Inc. Publisher Tim Selby General Manager Jim O’Reilly Editor Kim Thomas Advertising Sales Manager Matt Selby Advertising Sales Jim O’Reilly Linda Veiga Alexis Selby Jared Nager
Correspondents Julie Kanehl Marcy Sanford Katie Thomas
Dara Tucker
Art Director Dat X. Do Graphic Artists Dat X. Do Tony Sica Accounting Manager Doreen Selby Billing Assistant Tina O’Reilly
Nothing that appears in Neighborhood News & Lifestyles may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by Neighborhood News & Lifestyles writers are their own and do not reflect the publisher’s opinion. The management of Neighborhood News & Lifestyles is always happy to accept outside editorial submissions to the paper. Please call for outside editorial submission and adver-
tisement deadlines. Neighborhood News & Lifestyles will consider previously non-published outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. Neighborhood News & Lifestyles reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates. Neighborhood News & Lifestyles will not return unsolicited editorial materials. Neighborhood News & Lifestyles reserves the right to edit and/or reject any advertising. Neighborhood 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. Neighborhood News & Lifestyles is published by ADS 2 Publications, Inc.
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Odessa, Lutz, Land O’ Lakes Area
Community Calendar & News Briefs Whiskey Bent BBQ Supply GRAND OPENING!
Mar. 26, 10 AM–5 PM––Whiskey Bent BBQ Supply is Odessa’s newest stop for grills, smokers, pellets, charcoal, rubs, spices, grilling tools and grilling classes. Whiskey Bent BBQ Supply invites the public to its GRAND OPENING Celebration on March 26th, with samples, giveaways, and Grand Opening promotions. Questions? Call the store at 727-375-1901. Whiskey Bent BBQ Supply is located at 2401 Merchant Ave. in Odessa. Hours are: Tues. – Fri., 11 AM–6 PM; Sat., 10 AM – 5 PM; and 1 PM – 4 PM on Sun. FREE Easter Egg Hunt at Suncoast Stables Sat., Mar. 19, 7:30 AM––All ages welcome! Drawing for FREE Easter
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Basket with lots of treats along with 2 free lessons! Suncoast Stables is located at 1108 Altamont Lane in Odessa. Wheelchairs 4 Kids Jail & Bail April 29––Help a Felon! Become an Accomplice! All for a great cause! Wheelchairs 4 Kids, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is holding it’s Jail & Bail event to raise funds to provide wheelchairs to kids in need. Choose your favorite “felon” and share their page on your facebook page. Get your friends involved and challenge yourself to raise $100 with the help of friends. Find more information about the “felons” at www.wheelchairs4kids.org/meetfelons and if you’d like to get involved - perhaps you want to be a felon for a good cause, please contact Wheelchairs 4 Kids at (727) 946-0963. (See Wheelchairs 4 Kids story on page 28.) Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel Opens Brand New, State-of-the-Art Cardiac Catheterization Lab On Sunday, March 13th, Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel welcomed the public for tours at the Ribbon Cutting
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and Open House, which also included the MEGA Heart Exhibit. As part of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel’s $78 million expansion, the hospital is opening a brand-new, stateof-the-art Cardiac Catheterization Lab. The new Cath lab will be one of the first areas complete. The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce, Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce and TrinityOdessa Chamber of Commerce was on hand to cut the ribbon at 1:00 p.m. Visitors were given the rare opportunity to tour the new Cath lab, which is outfitted with the latest technology. And, the MEGA Heart Exhibit was onsite, which is the world’s only portable walkthrough heart exhibit. Visitors step inside the human heart, learn about cardiovascular functions, observe examples of various types of heart disease, and see information about some of the latest medical treatments for heart problems. In addition to the Cath lab, the expansion will add three additional floors to the hospital’s center wing and add an additional three-story wing that will connect the south and center wings. It involves 111,993 square feet of new construction and 10,834 square feet of renovation. In addition to the second heart catheterization lab,
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Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel will add additional emergency rooms, inpatient rooms, surgical suites, recovery/observation rooms and shelled space for future growth. The expansion is expected to be complete in December 2016. Community Yard Sale at East Lake United Methodist Church/ RENT A SPACE Apr. 16 , 8AM–1PM––The Missions & Outreach Ministry of ELUMC is offering a venue to RENT A SPACE for their annual community wide yard sale. Reserve a space of 9' x 6' for $25. Reserve a table for $10 more. Register online at eastlakeumc.org, OR pick up registration form at ELUMC Office: 2801 East Lake Road, Palm Harbor, FL 34685. Call 727 784 9250. Registration deadline: April 9th. Native Plant Sale Sat., Mar. 26, 10 AM–2 PM––Native Plant Sale at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. There will be: A variety of quality nursery-grown native trees, shrubs, wildflowers, vines, grasses and groundcovers suitable for your Florida landscape. A plant profile for each plant purchased to help buyers put the plants in the right place. Free literature
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and nursery information. Native plant books for sale. Carts available for plant transportation. A Master Gardener information table to help with your gardening questions. Log on to www.pasconativeplants.org for more information. 11th Annual Keystone UMC Golf Classic Tournament Apr. 16, 8 AM––Keystone UMC Golf Tournament will be held at Northdale Golf. This is a 4-person, best-ball scramble. Entry fee of $75 per golfer includes greens fees, goodie bag, contests, door prizes, a replay round at Northdale, and lunch following the tournament. Registration deadline is April 11th. Forms may be picked up at Northdale Golf Club or you may contact KUMC at (813) 920-5153 or Gary Ashbaugh at (813) 960-4305. Morton Plant North Bay Offers Community Health Seminars Morton Plant North Bay Hospital invites the community to attend free health seminars in April focusing on making your medical care wishes known, weight loss surgery and advances in spine surgery.
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Weight Loss Surgery Mon., Apr. 11, Noon––Morton Plant North Bay Hospital, Boardroom, 6600 Madison St., New Port Richey. Take the first step to weight loss surgery. Attend information session. Surgeon explains various options. Your Wishes Matter Wed., Apr. 13, 10 AM––Morton Plant North Bay Hospital, Bekesh Education and Conference Center, 6600 Madison St., New Port Richey. Ethics Coordinator Jacqueline Weller, RN, will explain how to plan for your health care future with advance directives such as living wills, surrogate selection, proxy laws and more. This is part of the SHARE series. Weight Loss Surgery Wed., Apr. 13, 5:30 PM––Morton Plant North Bay Hospital, Boardroom, 6600 Madison St., New Port Richey. Advances in Spine Surgery Tues., Apr. 26, Noon––Morton Plant North Bay Hospital, 6600 Madison St., New Port Richey. Orthopedic Surgeon Juan Raposo, MD, will explain the many conditions that affect the aging lumbar spine and the latest minimally invasive treatment options available. To pre-register, call (727) 9536877, or log on: BayCareEvents.org.
New Tampa Players Present Something’s Afoot Apr. 7, 8, 9, 10, 16, 17––“A raging thunderstorm, ten thousand strangers are stranded in an old English Mansion. Murder, mystery, music and comedy abound when guests disappear one by one.” Something’s Afoot, The Musical Whodunit, the zany Agatha Christie whodunit with music, is directed by James Cass with musical direction by Jared Porter, will play at University Area Community Center, 14013 N. 22nd Street in Tampa. Ticket prices: Adult, $20; Students (14 and under) and seniors, $17; Groups of 10 or more, $15. Times: Thurs. & Fri., 4/7 & 4/8, 8 PM; Sat., 4/9, 2 & 8 PM; Sun., 4/10, 2 PM; Sat., 4/16, 2 & 8 PM; Sun., 4/17, 2 PM. For additional information, call (813) 386-6687 or log on to www.newtampaplayers.org.
Habitat for Humanity ReStore Volunteer Orientation – Building Houses. Changing Lives. Fri., Apr. 15, 10 AM––Habitat for Humanity ReStore Volunteer Orientation will be held at the ReStore location in Dade City at 15017 US Hwy 301. Habitat for Humanity has a simple yet extraordinary mission: To eliminate substandard housing from the world. This is done by partnering with families in need to offer them a hand up, not a hand out. Habitat for Humanity isn’t just building houses. They are building homes, communities, and hope. Volunteers are needed. High school students who need volunteer hours to earn Bright Futures Scholarships are welcome! For information on volunteer opportunities, please contact: Jere Ferguson, Volunteer Director by email at jferguson@habitatpasco.org or call (352) 567-1444 ext. 1306. Find more information: www.habitatpasco.org
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Old McMicky’s Farm $30,000 ‘Mission I Do’ Military Dream Wedding Winners Sam and Chris Married in February Brides amputee brother who was saved by the groom acted as best man Submitted Over 100 guests gathered at Old McMicky's Farm to witness the wedding of a loving and deserving couple, Samantha Dilberian & Christopher St Onge. Sam and Chris are the winners of the 3rd "Mission I Do" $30k Dream Wedding Giveaway. The Farm received dozens of entries from local deserving military couples and narrowed the entries to 4 worthy couples. In November, voting was opened to the public and over 65,000 votes were received. Samantha Dilberian & Christopher St Onge have a story strait out of a Hollywood movie. In 2010, Samantha’s brother Bryan graduated basic training and was stationed in Fort Drum, NY. He showed Samantha’s picture to Sgt. Christopher St. Onge in an effort to get himself out of doing pushups. It must have
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worked because Samantha soon got a friend request on Facebook. Bryan and Chris deployed together to Afghanistan in March 2011. Just a few months later, on July 1, 2011 their squad was hit by an I.E.D. killing SPC Waters, and wounding Samantha’s brother, Bryan. Samantha’s family was told Bryan had lost both legs and left arm and a lot of blood, but was stable. Samantha received message after message filled with support, love prayers, shoulders to lean on, but then a familiar name came through her inbox. It was Chris, checking in on Bryan’s progress. How good it was to see his name. Someone that was there with Bryan, someone who helped save his life. Chris and Samantha often spoke. He checked in on Bryan, she asked how the rest of their deployment was going. Little conversations that brought Samantha the most comfort
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she had felt in months. After Bryan healed, he could not wait to get back to his unit in Fort Drum. Samantha made the trip with him, and of course got to spend some time with Chris. Chris and Samantha started dating, but could only see each other on
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weekends due to their work schedules and the long distance. It was a 6-hour drive from Brooklyn to Fort Drum, but they made the trip almost every weekend. In December 2012, Chris got recruiting orders to Tampa and asked
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Samantha to join him. She had to leave her family and her life, but there was no hesitation. She knew Chris was the one for her, and she knew it was time for them to start our lives together. This past August, on their 3year anniversary, Chris proposed. A few weeks later, Chris received an email announcing a dream wedding giveaway from Old McMicky’s farm in Odessa, FL. It couldn’t have been more perfect timing. Chris is a true hero, a bronze star recipient. There is no one more deserving. “This wedding gift is in appreciation of the service and sacrifice of those who currently serve or have served in our military. It is my firm belief that everyone who serves in our military is helping to keep our families safe, so we thought one way to show our appreciation is to help them to start families of their own.” said Ralph Zuckerman. Old McMicky’s Farm is thankful for the generosity of all of our vendor partners and media partners who help make ‘Mission I Do’ a reality. For a fill list of all partners - go to https://www.oldmcmickys.com/com munity-giving/mission-i-do/. The Farm also thanks Brigadier General
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Gary Brown, USMC retired and Vincent Jackson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for making the PSA video announcing “Mission I Do’, and a special thanks to Blue Skies Events for donating wedding coordination at the Farm for all four couples. About Old McMicky’s Farm: Old McMicky’s Farm, located on the Historic grounds of Camp Keystone (Established in 1946), is part of a cherished 70 year-old Tampa Bay tradition. The Children’s Educational Farm is dedicated to providing fun, educational and hands-on guided tours to groups, the general public and kids birthday parties. This unique farm is nestled on a beautiful 40-acre lake and is both rustic and elegant. The Farm also hosts special events such as Barn Weddings, Company Picnics, Corporate Events, Charity Events, and Private Parties to support their educational programming and community giving. Everyone at the Farm is dedicated to continuing this wonderful tradition for kids and families in our Tampa Bay community. OMF is dedicated to giving back to the community in many ways. The Farm’s “1000 Kids” Program’s goal is to host 1000 kids a year in the
Tampa Bay area who are facing serious challenges for an awesome, educational and fun day at the Farm, at No Charge. The Farm was honored to host 1276 kids in 2014 under the “1000 Kids” program in its introductory year, and in 2015 the farm welcomed and additional 1036 kids facing challenges for a great day under the program. The Farm’s “Mission I Do” program provides Free, All-Inclusive Dream Weddings to Veteran’s and is now open to all active military in the Tampa Bay area. The third free “Mission I Do” wedding is coming up in February 2016. The Old McMicky’s Farm Child Adoption Education Day brings more prospective adoptive parents in to the process to find more families for our local children in foster care. Over 450 people came out to the event to learn
more about adoption, making it one of the largest child adoption education events in the nation. For more information about the Children Adoption Education Day go to: www.oldmcmickys.com/child-adoption-education-day/ More information about the farms community giving programs can be found at www.oldmcmickys.com/community-giving/. To learn more about Old McMicky’s Farm please visit www.OldMcMickys.com or call 813-920-1948. Follow us on FB at www.facebook.com/OldMcMickysFarm. Editor’s Note: People Magazine contacted the farm and will be doing a story about Chris and Samantha and “Mission I Do” in their online version of the magazine.
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Jones & Company CPAs Trusted Partner for Businesses for 30 Years By Marcy Sanford Jones & Company CPAs P.A. has been a trusted resource and partner for businesses and individuals for 30 years. And while they are well known for their expert advice, accounting services, and training programs, you might not realize that Jones & Company CPAs P.A. can help you with more than bookkeeping and tax planning. Both managing partners, Patricia Jones and Traci Malik, are certified fraud examiners who can track down embezzled or missing funds – and, best of all, set up measures to prevent money from being stolen in the future. “We helped one non-profit organization where the bookkeeper was paying personal bills out of the organization’s account and an association where an employee was paying med-
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ical bills out of the association’s fund. In both cases, it went on for more than a year,” said Pat. “Embezzling typically goes on for 18 months before someone is caught. The average business loses $50,000.” Traci says that if you notice changes in an employee’s lifestyle that don’t match up with their salary, there could be reason for concern. “Usually if the clothes someone wears or the car they drive changes and does not match up with the salary they are making, you should begin to ask questions.” Jones & Company CPAs recommends that employers always do a background check if they are hiring someone who handles money. “A business may be able to recover some of the money they have lost through insurance,” says Pat. “But usually the person that is caught does not have
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Cyndel Villanueva, Mellisa Culver, Patricia Jones, Traci Malik, Cintia Nguyen & Charlin Ramirez welcome you to Jones & Company CPAs the money to pay back what they have stolen.” Traci says that forensic accounting can also be helpful when there are questions about assets during a divorce. “Many times we are looking for hidden assets that one partner is trying to keep from another, but we had one case where the husband thought he should get part of his wife’s stocks because he had been the one doing the
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trading. However, through forensic accounting we discovered that he had actually lost money through his trades.” Both Patricia and Traci caution businesses that they should have a series of checks and balances in place to help prevent employees from stealing money. “We can set up internal controls for small businesses. It is important that you are proactive so you can
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protect your business.” In addition to forensic accounting, Jones & Company CPAs P.A. offers a wide array of business services. They can help you hire a bookkeeper and even train your employees. “We have helped many clients hire bookkeepers,” says Patricia. “We can interview your candidates, test their skills, and perform a background check to make sure you are getting the best employee. We will also come to your business to set up QuickBooks and train your employees so they can use it properly.” No matter what you need as a small business owner, Jones & Company CPAs P.A. can help – tax services, accounting, consulting, business valuations, litigation support, new entity formation audit, review, and compilations. Jones & Company CPAs P. A. shows the same respect and attention to details to their individual clients as they do their business ones. “People may miss out on a lot of deductions and savings by doing their own taxes,” says Traci. “Even an online service may have errors. We want to make sure our clients avoid audit or any issues that may occur from an incorrect tax return and get them all the savings
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they have coming to them.” Both Patricia and Traci are accredited with the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners for fraud examinations. CFEs have expert knowledge in the areas of fraud prevention and deterrence, fraudulent financial transactions, legal elements of fraud and fraud investigation methods. CFEs are trained to identify the warning signs that indicate evidence of fraud and fraud risk. Patricia was a member of the Florida Institute of CPAs Common Interest Realty Association (CIRA)Committee from 1998-2008. She has an extensive background in Condominium/Homeowner Association accounting and issues. The firm provides Auditing, Review and Compilation services to associations. The firm is a member of Community Association Institute (CAI). Patricia is accredited with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and holds the ABV designation. Both Patricia and Traci are accredited with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ CFF designation, Certified in Financial Forensics. The CFF credential is granted exclusively to CPAs who
demonstrate considerable expertise in forensic accounting through their knowledge, skills, and experience. The CFF encompasses fundamental and specialized forensic accounting skills that CPA practitioners apply in a variety of service areas, including: Bankruptcy; electronic data analysis; family law; valuations; fraud prevention, detection, and response; financial statement misrepresentation; and damages calculations. Both have also completed specialized training for Collaborative Divorce protocols. With Collaborative Divorce a couple engages a team of profession-
als to guide and help them through the transition of divorce. The team works to resolve the issues in a healthy and streamlined process. Jones & Company CPAs has two convenient locations. Their Trinity office is located at 2513 Seven Springs Boulevard. Their Land O’ Lakes office is located at 20635 Amberfield Drive, Suite 101. To schedule a free consultation, call 727-845-4166. You can also find more information about them at www.jonescpas.com or on their facebook page.
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By Marcy Sanford Tobacco Free Florida has been helping people quit smoking since 2006. But they don’t just help individuals quit; Tobacco Free Florida has a wide variety of resources to help businesses help their employees quit smoking. Their free “Benefits to Quit Worksite Toolkit” guides business owners through the steps to help create a tobacco free workplace. When employers help their employees quit smoking it creates a healthier workplace and also has a positive effect on the business’ profitability. Each employee that becomes tobacco free reduces the health care costs for a business and increases overall productivity. When Employees Use Tobacco,
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Your Profits Go Up in Smoke: According to Tobacco Free Florida, recent studies of the private-sector in the United States have suggested that employees who smoke cost businesses, on average, more than $6,000 per year when compared to non-smoking employees. This cost to Florida businesses comes primarily in the form of increased health care costs and productivity losses. On average, health care costs for your employees who smoke are up to 34 percent higher than the cost for those who do not use tobacco. Every employee who smokes can cost your business an extra $2,056 a year in medical expenses. Additionally, under the Affordable Care Act, insurers could be able to charge up to 50 percent higher premiums for tobacco
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users, which may further impact your bottom line. Tobacco use is also the leading contributor to lost productive work time. Florida businesses lose an average of $4,056 per smoker every year in lost productivity. Workers who smoke at least one pack of cigarettes a day have 75 percent more lost productive time than nonsmoking workers. Just three 15-minute smoke breaks a day add up to more than a week of lost time in just one year. Employees Will Appreciate Your Support: Most people want to quit smoking, but it is incredibly hard to do so. The average person tries to quit 8 to 11 times before they are successful. Many people feel like smoking is an addiction they cannot get rid of. But with the right help, resources, and
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support, smokers and tobacco uses can quit successfully. As a business owner you have the chance to help make a positive impact on your employees. Tobacco Free Florida can provide you with successful programs to create a supportive work environment and introduce your employees to proven successful ways to quit. Throughout the program, Tobacco Free Florida will help you evaluate your employees’ progress and adapt when needed. Pasco County Schools Are Tobacco Free, Your Business Can Be To: One of the largest employers in Pasco County is going tobacco free with help from Tobacco Free Florida. As of July 1, 2016, all Pasco County Schools’ campuses including all owned or leased school buildings, grounds, campuses, housing, and property (in-
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cluding vehicles and buses) will be 100 percent tobacco-free. This change was a collaborative effort between Pasco County Schools, the School Health Advisory Committee, the Tobacco Free Partnership of Pasco County, and Students Working Against Tobacco. The new policy created with the help of Tobacco Free
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Florida creates a supportive workplace culture for Pasco County School employees and offers them proven tobacco cessation resources to motivate them to succeed in quitting. Local Tobacco Free Florida Representative Georgia Brieck has been working with the school system for the past year, “I have served as a member of Pasco County Schools’ Employee Health and Wellness Committee. The committee has partnered with Tobacco Free Florida and the Florida Department of Health to offer resources to help employees ease into the process of becoming tobacco-free by July 2016. We know it can take multiple quit attempts before a tobacco user can successfully quit. As a committee we focus on creating a supportive environment and effective communication techniques and proving a range of cessation options and a variety of other strategies to help employees quit tobacco for good.”
This past fall Pasco County Schools was awarded a Worksite Wellness Silver Award from the Florida Tobacco Cessation Alliance for their commitment and dedication to providing programs to help their employees quit tobacco. Tobacco Free Florida’s Programs Are Free To Your Business: It may be difficult to know where to start, so don’t hesitate to reach out to a local Tobacco Free Florida representative. They can assist you in identifying appropriate tobacco cessation treatment services for
your business and guide you through the steps to creating a supportive workplace for employees trying to quit tobacco. Best of all their help to you is free and it can have a big impact on your business’ profits and your employees’ lives. To find out more about Tobacco Free Florida and how they can help you, visit www.tobaccofreeflorida.com/ or call or email local representative Georgia Brieck at 727-619-0161 or Georgia.Brieck@flhealth.gov.
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Florida Orthopaedic Institute’s Sports Medicine Team
Submitted Will Smith’s latest film “Concussions” brought a serious problem to light for professional athletes, but what happens when your son or daughter experiences a head injury? For Austin Hubbard “Concussions” was a real-life experience. During a Plant High School baseball game, the 17-year-old collided with another player in the outfield and was seriously injured. As the other player raced to catch the ball, his mouth hit Austin’s jaw and Austin’s face was badly torn up. Not only did Austin need surgery and stitches to repair his jaw, but he also sustained a severe concussion. A neurologist recommended that Austin and his family see Dr. Westerfield, a concussion expert and sports medicine physician from Florida Orthopaedic Institute. Austin was seen immediately and began his evaluation and treatment for his concussion symptoms. Using new computer software, ImPACT, Dr. Westerfield tested
Austin’s memory, attention span, brain processing speed and reaction time to measure his post-injury symptoms and diagnose him properly. “Unlike most orthopedic injuries, you cannot always see the damage that has been done to the brain using an X-ray or CT scan,” says Dr. Westerfield. “Doctors who are certified in ImPACT can evaluate the extent of the injury and we also can create a customized treatment plan for the individual.” ImPACT can help answer difficult questions about an athlete's readiness to return to play, protecting them from the serious consequences of returning too soon, which helped Austin’s mother feel better about his return to baseball. While traditional neurological and radiologic procedures such as CT, MRI and EEG are helpful in identifying many serious concerns such as skull fractures, hematoma and contusions, they are not as useful in identifying the effects of concussion. “The ImPACT testing made
Dr. Westerfield with his son.
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me more comfortable and open to sending Austin back into the game only when I knew for sure that he was ready,” says Mrs. Hubbard. “I also appreciated Dr. Westerfield’s concern and patience with Austin. He answered all my questions and made sure that Austin did not get back onto the field before he was ready.” Submitted in 17 local schools, and they provide a physician on the sidelines at all high school games. This way, student athletes receive the same quality of care as the professional athletes that they aspire to be. Common signs and symptoms of concussions include: headache, temporary loss of consciousness, confusion, dizziness, nausea, fatigue and sensitivity to light and noise. Dr. Westerfield notes, “If you or someone you know experiences these symptoms after head trauma, the best chance for a safe recovery is to take them to a concussion specialist, and if available in your area, an orthopedic urgent care facility is best.”
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Florida Orthopaedic Institute’s urgent care centers (located in Citrus Park and South Tampa) provide the community with highly trained orthopedic physicians for emergency care. This way, if injury occurs, patients can avoid long lines at emergency rooms and see a doctor with expertise in orthopedics, sports medicine and concussions. “I feel better knowing more about concussions because of this experience. I know more now so I can better protect myself and recognize the symptoms in myself and my teammates, and now I know where to go for help too,” said Austin. You can visit Florida Orthopaedic Institute’s Citrus Park location at 6117 Gunn Highway or visit the website floridaortho.com for more information. Florida Orthopaedic Institute’s offices are open MondayFriday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday mornings for MRIs. Call 1 (800) FL-ORTHO to make an appointment or talk to a staff member.
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MARCH 2016
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Drive Away Cancer! Join the 6th Annual Golf Outing at Seven Springs Golf and Country Club on March 20th By Kim Thomas Cancer is a disease that knows no mercy, it doesn’t discriminate; rather, it rages against the very young to the very old of every race and color and every economic level. Every year more and more people are in need of support provided by organizations that focus on those dealing with and recovering from cancer. And sometimes, cancer seems to attack a family. When cancer hit the Millian family, a local family with a strong connection to the community and a habit of giving back, young Cody Millian didn’t just grieve – he took action. Cody, whose family owns local airconditioning and heating company Millian-Aire, started the JK Cancer Fund in memory of his beloved grandfather John Kubek, who passed away from cancer in January 2010. The very first Drive Away Cancer was held to benefit the JK Cancer Fund. What started out as the heartfelt senior project of then 17-year-old Cody Millian has steamrolled into an annual golf outing that, as of February 2016, has raised more than $180,000 to support
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organizations such as American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, James P. Gills YMCA’s Livestrong program, and the Pediatric Cancer Foundation, all of which will benefit from this year’s event. In its first year, Drive Away Cancer raised $10,000, far exceeding the Millian family’s expectations. Unfairly, cancer struck again and Sue Millian - Cody’s mom, John’s daughter, and the biggest supporter of Cody’s efforts - was diagnosed with breast cancer. Sue attended the 2nd Annual Drive Away Cancer Golf Outing with no hair due to her personal battle against cancer. This family is not to be stopped, though. Three years ago, Sue joined other cancer survivors in the celebratory balloon release and will walk as a survivor again this year. Sue says that Cody’s passion is even stronger now after losing his other grandfather, Michael Millian, to cancer. With your support, Drive Away Cancer’s 6th Annual Golf Outing can be bigger than ever. Set for March 20th at the beautiful Seven Springs Golf and Country Club (SSGCC) in New Port Richey (3535 Trophy Blvd.), golfers can
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start registering at 11 a.m. for the 1 p.m. Shotgun Start. Every year the JK Cancer Fund Golf Outing is held at SSGCC, where every year it is supported by golf pros. Sue say this year she is very grateful for the SSGCC staff’s support with special thanks to Wendy McCann and Mark Haluska. It is fitting that the golf outing
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is held at SSGCC. Sue Millian says, “Mom and dad lived there and dad [the late John Kubek] was huge into golfing.” One of the great programs that the 6th Annual Drive Away Cancer golf outing will support is the Livestrong program at the James P. Gills YMCA in Trinity, which is a 12-week program designed to support not only adult cancer
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survivors, but their families too. Julio Vega, District Vice President of YMCA West Pasco County, says, “This is a free program and no connection to the YMCA is necessary. These families are usually at the end of their wits, exhausted and with no money. This program helps them get strong and connected to others. It is through partnerships like the JK Cancer Fund that we can help strengthen the community. It takes strong community leaders like Sue Millian to help us. I’ve been involved in fundraising tournaments for [over] 20 years and I’ve never seen anything like the JK Cancer Fund’s Drive Away Cancer. People come away knowing exactly what they are there for – to help.” James P. Gills YMCA Adult Member & Wellness Services Director Denise Ferrara says, “When these kids come in here and see the pool and the kids’ gym, they are in awe! This program is great for survivors, but it is also good to see their kids making connections after going through so much.” Denise has a strong connection to Sue that began long before she supported her in her efforts fundraising. The two ladies became friends 18 years ago and bonded on the bleachers watching their kids play baseball, as spending late nights at the field in their roles as team moms. Denise jerked her thumb toward Sue, “This one will yell at
you about staying up with your mammograms.” Sue adds, “Moms always put themselves last, but keeping up with mammograms is important.” Every year, members of the community show up to support Drive Away Cancer and this year you can too. There are many opportunities to support the charity through donations, hole sponsorships, volunteering, and participating as a golfer. This is an outing where everyone has fun! There are great raffles, prizes, games set up at holes and more. Raffle tickets can win you big! How about Ruth Eckerd Hall performances, and tickets to big-name hockey and baseball games, plus restaurants gift certificates, gift baskets and much more! Sue and Cody are diligently gathering goodies. Sue says, “We always have so much great stuff. I want everyone who buys a raffle ticket to win something!” JK Cancer Fund raises funds throughout the year on the website, www.jkcancerfundinc.org, where you also can download forms for both sponsorships and registration. For more information, to register, donate for the raffles, volunteer or inquire about sponsorships, please contact Sue Millian at (727) 862-2100 or (727) 809-1695, sue@millianaire.com or jkcancerfund@gmail.com.
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“Primrose School” Continued from page 1 young minds are ready to explore their world and at Primrose School of Lutz, children are taught Sign Language and Spanish, they are introduced to science and technology and even grow their own garden, but they also are taught to love learning, to love themselves and others, to protect our world and to be altruistic. During February the school’s Character Development program was focused on “Caring” and throughout the school – from the infants to the private preschool program, the teachers use teaching opportunities to help students understand the concept of caring for others. The theme of “Caring” echoed throughout the school, and the children had even decorated boxes and labeled them “Og’s Bountiful Books” (Og is the school’s mascot bookworm), which were used all month to collect books for a children’s charity. I arrived near the end of the school day to meet with Anna Hurst, who, along with her husband Randy Hurst, owns Primrose Schools in Lutz and Westchase. Mrs. Hurst, a Primrose-parent-turned-Primrose-owner,
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took her time to say goodbye to the kids and parents, which gave me a chance to chat with some little ones and some of their parents, and what most impressed me was how happy Primrose students are and how happy Primrose parents are with this school. One student, Wyatt, was really excited about “Cookie Friday,” but his dad was happy to have found another great Primrose School after moving here from Texas. Mrs. Hurst said that most times when Primrose parents have to relocate, they look for a town with a Primrose School. “Like many Primrose School owners, I was a Primrose parent first and I really understand the parent’s point of view.” You’d think that young children and toddlers would be cranky and tired after a day at preschool, but the faces I saw were all smiles! Even the toddlers seemed well-rested and genuinely relaxed and happy; while they were excited to see their parents at the end of their day, they weren’t clingy or showing any signs of stress. It was as if they were going home from nana’s house. Primrose parents are diverse – from blueberry farmers to doctors and lawyers – but they have one thing in common; they have all researched to
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Primrose School of Lutz offers students a diverse and enriched learning environment that keeps children’s interest peaked through hands-on projects find the best fit for their family to provide their children with a wellrounded, balanced education that nurtures health and happiness. One parent I spoke with, a USF professor who teaches at The Zimmerman School of Advertising & Mass Communications at University of South Florida, said he is most impressed with the way the teachers interact with him as a parent and with
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his children, ages 3 and 4. “My daughter feels comfortable with her teacher and I feel comfortable walking in and asking about her day.” Parents have a code to enter the building and the school is proud of its open door policy to parents and guardians. Mrs. Hurst said, “I am proud of our open door policy to parents. They come in and they see their child happy. That same child may have
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cried a little this morning but they are feeling good soon – happy and content! Even late in the day the children feel comfortable here because they are nurtured and valued here.” Open communication and daily updates are important at Primrose. The school uses Tadpoles to send secure messages to parents about their child’s day. Mrs. Hurst says that she and the teachers at Primrose realize that parents are very busy and may not have time to come to the school during the day for special activities, so the school sends home fun “projects” that aren’t required but that provide parents an easy way to be a part of their child’s day. One dad, Billy, who relocated to the area from another area of Tampa Bay, said, “This is hands-down, out of all the daycares she has gone to, the BEST one! She comes home asking questions and talking about the things she is learning. She is learning Sign Language. There is a lot of outside activities – this is just a great, great program!” Billy’s daughter Sophia, though only three, had learned a little about “Caring” and even wanted to give me her chocolate chip cookie from “Cookie Friday.”
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Brian said his experience with the school started when it first opened with his older son Anderson, now a well-adjusted 12-year-old making straight A’s. Years later, Brian is picking up 3-year-old Andrew from Primrose School of Lutz. Rachitha, who was picking up her young daughter exclaimed, “It’s awesome here! I am so happy. When she was at the other school, she was so tired. She is so different now at school. She’s happy!” Learning is a 3-D, Tactile Experience at Primrose! The walls at Primrose School of Lutz are adorned with giant three-dimensional bulletin boards created by the students that showcase what they are learning. Mrs. Hurst requires the bulletin boards be 3-D and that the children are allowed to do the project themselves, leaving whatever “imperfections” perceived by stay-in-the-lines adults, turning each creation into a diverse learning experience. Attached to each bulletin board is a list featuring, “What We Can Do” that helps parents to see that their child used many skills such as fine motor skills, sensory skills, recognition skills, social skills and so
much more. A cultural parade is held every year to encourage students to learn about other cultures and to have a mutual respect for one another. November is a month of caring and giving. Not only do the children help gather canned goods, they earn money at home – small change for tiny little chores – and then donate that to be put with the other moneys raised. The older children count the money, and then go on a field trip to learn purchase items to be donated. They learn about the value of items, they learn to work, to save, to give – in this one project, Primrose Schools
gives students a sense of goodwill and purpose. There is so much more to learn about the curriculum offered and the history behind this private preschool that sets it apart from the rest. Mrs. Hurst would be happy to meet with you and show you why Primrose parents are happy parents. Primrose School of Lutz is located at 5001 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road in Lutz, FL. School hours are Monday – Friday, 6:30 am. to 6:30 p.m. Please call (813) 920-9384 to schedule a tour. Find more information about Primrose Schools at primroseschools.com.
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People for Haiti – The Work Continues Six Years After Disaster
People for Haiti is a non-profit organization founded six years age by two local doctors January 12, 2010 marked the date that Haiti was devastated by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake, leaving 220,000 people dead and 300,000 injured with little hope for medical aid. The world watched and grieved with Haiti, and one group in Tampa Bay joined in the efforts to bring aid to Haiti. Six years later, People For Haiti (PFH), a Tampa Bay Area based
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non-profit medical mission is still making a difference in Haiti. On January 12th, 2016, in honor of the earthquake anniversary, People For Haiti launched a fundraiser to help continue mission trips. The average cost of patient care is just $5 per person. PFH is asking that people visit the website (www.peopleforhaiti.com) or the People For Haiti Facebook
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page to help the organization to continue to bring aid to the Haiti. Created on January 28, 2010 by two local doctors from the Tampa Bay area, PFH has completed 31 mission trips with volunteers from the medical profession, as well as ordinary citizens with the common goal to help the Haitian people. During these mission trips, the doctors and nurses volun-
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teering with PFH has administered free medical care to over 33,000 Haitian citizens, and have performed hundreds of free surgeries and saved countless lives. PFH receives donated goods and medicine on a regular basis that they hand carry to Haiti. In April of this 2015, PFH treated a baby named Myson, who was in critical condition due to a congenital heart
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condition. Our President of Clinic Operations, Christine Hashim, took the baby to four different hospitals in Port Au Prince. He was finally sent to have surgery in Grand Cayman. We are pleased to report that he made it through the surgery and is thriving and getting stronger every day! This year, EKO Devices donated a state of the art digital stethoscope to use on their patients. This allows doctors to virtually diagnose patients. They can take vital signs, upload them, and send them over to specialists in the United States for a consultation. A goal of People For Haiti is to set up virtual kiosks so that PFH staff can communicate with Haitian medical personnel when they are not in Haiti. This is a first step toward that goal and is a wonderful tool for them. About People For Haiti: People For Haiti is a Tampa based non-profit organization that administers free health care to the Haitian people on a regular basis. Its founders, Dr. Leo Vieira and his wife Guiga Vieira, and Dr. Robert Ferreira felt helpless when they heard the unfathomable news that January day in 2010. Despite many obstacles, the two doctors
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found their way to Haiti, while Guiga initiated grassroots support from home. Their hearts were united and within them arose a dream. Today, People for Haiti travels to Haiti 4-5 times a year on medical and surgical mission trips. The organization is now led by Tammy Denbo, Christine Hashim and Dr. Lonnie Klein. Tammy Denbo is former Tampa Bay Buccaneers cheerleader and an attorney at law. Tammy was so inspired by her mission trips with PFH, that she went back to school to get a medical education and she recently graduated as a paramedic. Now, she feels she can be of more assistance on her trips to Haiti. She loves that former Buccaneers cheerleaders continue to join her in Haiti. Christine Hashim, a nurse anesthetist and nurse practitioner from New Port Richey, presides over all of the clinical operations for the group including providing 24-hour call access for medical problems. Lonnie Klein, MD serves as the board’s Medical Director. Lonnie is a Tampa Bay urologist who has been on several mission trips. PFH volunteers come from all walks of life. Doctors, nurses, lawyers, news reporters, housewives, students,
teachers, professional cheerleaders and more join PFH on mission trips. The volunteers pay for their own travel and board. There are no paid employees and 100% of donations to People For Haiti go towards medicine and medical supplies for mission trips. Though the earthquake happened six years ago, PFH missionaries are continually given vivid reminders of this tragedy. Its ghosts lurk in every corner, the thousands of gravestones a stark reminder. In six years time, roads have been rebuilt, buildings are slowly being resurrected, and
life continues to go on. But, there is still a long way to go, and people are still suffering immensely and unnecessarily. PFH’s hope is that the Haitian people will one day be able to offer quality healthcare to their people on their own. Until that time, the organization is going there to offer aid, teach and support in any way possible. PFH’s goal is to train and equip the people of Haiti to one day, stand on their own feet again. Until then, People For Haiti hopes to offer them strength through renewed health. More info at peopleforhaiti.com.
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Pose by Pose”
“
Continued from page 1 help with depression or anxiety, add a boost to your normal workout routine, or simply want to take up a new hobby and meet new people, practicing yoga is a great foundation that can help you in nearly every aspect of your life. Jennifer knows first hand the benefits of yoga. She says, “Yoga completely changed my life. I was suffering from a major stomach issue. I went to the doctor and she said they only way to fix the problem would be to get on medication… for the rest of my life! I asked if there was another alternative and she said, ‘well there is one other thing - it’s called yoga’. So I tried yoga, and within three classes my problems were gone! The combination of lowimpact exercise and stress relief was the key for me. Yoga truly helped me, and I realized that what I did, other people could do too!” Pose by Pose yoga offers a wide variety of classes throughout the week, including Fit Club- Stretch and Tone; Meditative Flow - Amrit Yoga; Yoga 101; Mindful Yoga and Meditation; Align and Refine; Release and Relax; Energy Flow; and Flow and Let Go. Partnering with USF, Pose by Pose also
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offers an Adults over 50 class. Recently adding kids yoga to their list of offerings, with the help of her Jennifer’s eight year old daughter Megan, this class has really began to flourish. A born natural, Megan quite often assists her mother in teaching the classes and is able to bring a youthful perspective to yoga. Jennifer says, “Our program is based on the premise that ‘yoga is therapy’. We understand that every body is different and that the ‘one size fits all’ mentality has no place in yoga. We cultivate and adapt our yoga classes for the people in the room. Each class is specially designed to meet the needs of our members.” Cathy says, “It’s just nice and homey and warm and friendly. This is my fourth class, I’m just trying them all to see where I can fit in. I recently took a class with Emi - it’s like she read my mind. My shoulder and hips felt so relaxed and I felt 4 inches taller when I left here. After my class I feel myself smiling all day long, that’s what yoga does.” Pose by Pose Yoga is much more than just a studio.They are also a full yoga training facility, and teach those who wish to become yoga certified. They are a Yoga Alliance Registered studio and on the International Associ-
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ation of Yoga Therapists. Offering 200, 300, Prenatal , as well as CEU renewal classes for those who wish to maintain their certification, Pose by Pose provides you with everything you need to help you pursue your dreams of becoming a yoga instructor. Pose by Pose also offers the following advanced specialty training classes:
Prenatal Program
Starting in late February Pose by Pose will begin offering a prenatal
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Pose by Pose Yoga’s Jennifer Leavy and her daughter Megan training program for 200 hour certified yoga instructors. This will be an intentionally small group of individuals, so contact Jennifer at (813) 501-4987 for more information or to reserve your spot today. You can also stay tuned by visiting their website, www.poseby-
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poseyoga.com, or Facebook page.
Teaching Seniors The population of seniors looking to do yoga has grown significantly over the past few years. There are senior’s classes in most studios as well as assisted living homes. The challenge to a yoga teacher is that seniors come in all shapes, sizes and abilities. The Teaching Seniors classes will focus on a few stages of life, remembering that these stages can happen at all different ages. This class is offered in conjunction with an opportunity to intern in the USF OLLI Program, a yoga program
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for Adults over 50. Each class will focus on teaching you the best way to deliver the benefits of yoga (asana and pranayama) appropriate to the student’s ability and comfort level. The actual structure of the classes may vary based on the student base, but a gentle class focused on increasing mobility, functionality as well as becoming comfortable in a yoga class is the main focus. Pose by Pose also offers monthly workshops, including workshops in meditation, chakra, heart opening, and various styles of yoga. Former information or a list of upcoming workshops
please visit www.PoseByPoseYoga.com. This month, Pose by Pose will be opening up a small shop within their studio, where guests can buy yoga-related items such as blocks and other props, mats, apparel, bracelets and accessories. Jennifer says, “We are a family and a community. We want you to feel welcome, which is why we offer you a place to sit, allowing you to relax before and after class. We have a break area where you can enjoy some hot tea before or after your yoga session. We don’t stack classes on top of each other because we want you to be able to take your time. Our teachers come early and stay late to make you feel comfortable.” “We come early and leave late not because we have to but because we want to,” adds instructor Emilianna. “This is our house as well. I want people to come in and feel the warmth, so our students can have the experience
that this is what yoga really is. It’s about having support and forming a community.” Giving back to the community is very important to Jennifer, and when she is not busy at the studio, she and Megan volunteer at local preschool and elementary schools teaching the fundamentals of yoga to the students. Together they have taught at St Thomas Aquinas, Genesis, and several other local schools. They have also volunteered at the Joshua House and The Spring. “It’s about being part of the community,” says Jennifer. “It’s about supporting the community that supports us.” Pose by Pose Yoga is located at 17761 Hunting Bow Circle in Lutz. For more information please call (813) 501-4987, email info@PoseByPoseYoga.com, or visit their website at www.PoseByPoseYoga.com or follow them on Facebook.
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Wheelchairs 4 Kids Jail-N-Bail A Fun Way to Help Tampa Bay Area Kids Gain Mobility! By Amy Paterson Wheelchairs 4 Kids, a local 501 (C) 3 organization, is dedicated to improving the lives of children with physical disabilities by providing wheelchairs, home and vehicle modifications as well as assistive and therapeutic equipment at no charge to the families. Many children in the United States faced with living with physical disabilities are in wheelchairs that are too small, in disrepair, or do not fit the needs of the child. Children outgrow their wheelchairs before government or insurance programs will allow for a replacement. Not only is it unsafe for a child to be in a chair that is inadequate for their needs; it can impact their health in numerous ways including scoliosis, respiratory problems and pressure sores. In addition, families are faced with trying to care for their special needs children in homes
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that have not been modified to meet their specific circumstances. Wheelchairs 4 Kids is working hard to address this neglected need. We hope that you will take a moment to visit our website at www.wheelchairs4kids.org and become a fan of our Facebook page. You’ll be able to follow what we are up to! You can also see a several
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videos of our work on our YouTube channel. Do a Little Time! Wheelchairs 4 Kids is holding its 5th Annual Jail-N-Bail, and we are looking for community leaders to “do a little time” for a GREAT cause for our annual Jail-N-Bail fundraiser! Jail-
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N-Bail will be held at Charley’s Steak House on April 29, 2016. “Felons” will be asked to raise $3,000 - $5,000 in bail! It is a great way to help us give these kids the independence they so deserve! Wheelchairs 4 Kids will be “arresting” prominent citizens in the Tampa Bay Area for various charges
Neighborhood News & Lifestyles
such as insider trading (retired NFL players using connections to get ahead in Fantasy Football), to impersonating an actor (local business owners/lawyers appearing in commercials). The sillier the crime, the better! Of course, your charges and bail are negotiable. You can even split the bail with a co-conspirator! On April 29th, Jail-N-Bail “Inmates” will turn themselves in at Charley’s Steak House (AKA The Big House) where they will be photographed, issued prison garb, handcuffed and held in a holding cell with all of the other “felons.” I understand that the prison guards are notorious for sneaking in food and beverages! Those arrested will be ordered to appear before Judge Julie and Judge Steve Weintraub (owners of Gold & Diamond Source) to answer to charges. Raise bail or be locked up in the Wheelchairs 4 Kids “jail” for one hour, and once bail is met, the guilty will be released with great fanfare. Wheelchairs 4 Kids’ Jail-N-Bail is not only a way to help local children who need wheelchairs and handicap modifications, but it also is fun and
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great exposure for your business. “Jailbirds” will receive several copies of their “Wanted” poster, and will have a page on Wheelchairs 4 Kids’ website with a personal wanted poster and charges. Bail can be met on each inmate’s personal webpage, where supporters can make a secure, online donation toward bail in advance. Wheelchairs 4 Kids will design custom e-mail blasts that “inmates” may send to friends and post on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Collect bail in advance – you never know what will happen in the jail. A riot may break out and you don’t want to miss the fun! If you are able, please help Wheelchairs 4 Kids in its effort to help local children in need. If you have questions, suggestions, comments, or would like to find out how you can help, please contact Wheelchairs 4 Kids at 727-946-0963. Wheelchairs 4 Kids, 501 (C) 3 organization, is located at 1976 S. Pinellas Avenue, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689. Log on to www.wheelchairs4kids.org for more information.
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