Vol. 6, Issue 04, April 2015
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
By Marcy Sanford When you dine at Vallarta’s Restaurante Mexicano in Lutz, take a tip from me – do not wear a white shirt. Why? Well if you’re like me, you can’t resist a great salsa. And the salsa at the Lutz Vallarta’s is so fresh and delicious and their chips are so perfectly crisp and salty that you’ll be tempted to take one more bite of chips and salsa over and over and over. And if you’re like me, you’ll invariably end up dropping some salsa on yourself, but it’s so delicious, you won’t even care if you make a mess! If you’re worried, wear dark clothes or patterns and enjoy all the scrumptious chips and salsa you want. You may even want to add some freshly made guacamole or lip-smacking queso to the mix. Vallarta’s Restaurante Mexicano located on State Road 54 in the Northpointe Village is a festive restaurant with great food and drinks at great prices. One taste of their fresh, delectable food and it’s easy to See “Vallarta’s” on page 30
The Community Dining & Business Guide that your neighbors READ!
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Quantum Leap Farm’s Stirrup Hope......................3 Calendar & News Briefs......4-5 SCORE Business Mentors..6-7 Law Office of Charles S. Philips............10-11 Tobacco Free Pasco.........14-15 Budget Blinds of Greater Tampa............................18-19 Kids R Kids Academy........22-23 Brain Balance.................26-27 Today’s Foster Parents...28-29 Deputy and K-9 of Year..36-37
ECRWSS
Vallarta’s Restaurante Mexicano Authentic and SO Delicious!
See “Great Clips” on page 34
Postal Customer
You don’t need to ask the employees of Great Clips if they like what they do for a living; the proof is found on the faces of their satisfied customers. “It’s quick. They do a great job and it’s not that expensive. They make me look good,” quipped customer Alan Bell. “And I’m really not giving them much to work with.” It’s this type of friendly banter and customer relationship that separates Great Clips from the rest of the walletfriendly hair cutting shops. Ally Phlipot and Sarah Kahn, stylists at the Palms of Carrollwood location, located on the corner of Fletcher and North Dale Mabry, agreed that ‘meeting and talking to
new people’ was what they enjoyed best about their job. “It’s never the same – you’re always meeting someone new,” added stylist Lindsey Willis. A longtime resident of Tampa, owner Lea Orchard got in on the ground floor in Tampa Bay of a now nationwide franchise and opened her first Great Clips location in 2001. She was the first to bring the Great Clips franchise to her community. It wasn’t always easy. Over a decade ago, Great Clips didn’t yet have any locally renowned name recognition, or the 60 Tampa Bay locations and the 3,700 nationwide locations in the U.S and Canada that it does today.
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID TAMPA FL PERMIT 1185
By Deborah Bostock-Kelley
Dated Material Please Rush!
Great Clips is Cut Above Rest
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Quantum Leap Farm’s Stirrup Hope Big Success! Quantum Leap Farm’s inaugural Stirrup Hope, held March 21 at the farm in Odessa, raised over $300,000 for the equine-assisted therapy facility. The first-time event raised 38% of the organization’s total budget and promises to be a staple of the fundraising efforts for the farm moving forward. Fifteen sponsors underwrote the total expenses for Stirrup Hope leaving the total income from the night to benefit Quantum programs. Kevin Holmberg, a participant in Quantum’s therapeutic riding program spoke at the event, sharing how his relationship with a horse named Johnny brought him healing after experiencing a traumatic brain injury in a car accident several years ago. Kevin has been riding at Quantum for four years, and in addition to other types of therapy has regained his ability to walk and speak. Joe Wilcher, an active army soldier also shared his story with the audience, bringing many to tears. After being deployed during his son’s first four years of life, Joe came home to find out his son was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy, a fatal disease that has significantly shortened his son’s life span. Joe
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shared how the staff at Quantum has helped his son and brought hope to their family. “A huge ‘thank you’ to Edie, for chasing her dreams because we all now get to be a part of those dreams and share something very special: Quantum Leap Farm,” says Patty Bates, a Stirrup Hope guest and the wife of a participant in the program. Sue Levitt, Quantum’s Director of Development, says, “Quantum is such a special place and that begins with not only the setting but the people. It was really a team effort between the board, volunteers, staff and the donors who so generously support us.” Quantum Leap Farm has been serving the Tampa Bay area since 2000 and is home for people of all ages and abilities including wounded veterans, military families, children with cancer, and people with disabling diseases. The farm offers comprehensive equine-assisted therapy programs including therapeutic riding, Hippotherapy, At EASE group therapy and Family Fun Days. Quantum’s focus is on bringing healing to the entire family and using horses to help participants regain strength, confidence and connectedness.
“Our participants are the most amazing individuals – they demonstrate daily the human capacity for emotional and physical strength, resiliency, integrity and adaptability, and they constantly remind us how interdependent and beautiful we all are,” says Founder and Executive Director, Edie Dopking, Ph.D. Dopking founded the farm 15 years ago after her longtime love for horses converged with her academic endeavors in Aging Studies Research to reveal the developmental benefits of equine therapy for adults. Seeing that few other riding centers in the area offered programs for adults, Dopking created Quantum Leap Farm, a place where children and adults could seek the benefits of the horse-human bond and have some fun at the same time. Quantum plans to host Stirrup Hope again in 2016. After this year’s event, the staff and participants are feeling grateful and re-energized by the generosity of the guests and supporters of the farm. More information at www.QuantumLeapFarm.org. Want to help? Donations can be mailed to: Quantum Leap Farm, 10401 Woodstock Road, Odessa, FL 33556.
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 © 2015 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
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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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Calendar & News Briefs Villa Rosa Community-Wide Yard Sale April 18, 8 AM–12 PM––The community is located north of Lutz Lake Fern Road and just east of the Veterans Expressway. SHRED 2014 GOODBYE!!! Sat., May 2, 9:30–11:30 AM––Thrivent Members, guests and the public are invited to shred your old documents. 2014 is over and it is time to clean those files. Shred any documents that you no longer need and free up space. We are providing a site secured shredder truck for you to use to dispose of those unnecessary documents. Come, shred, and enjoy refreshments compliments of the Tampa Bay Group of Thrivent Financial and Financial Representatives Keith Harvey and Jason Carrier. Where: 1342 W. Fletcher Ave, Tampa. Cost is FREE, but donations to the SPCA of Tampa Bay welcome. Light refreshments will be served and Thrivent will be collecting pet
(dog & cat) items such as food, toys and blankets to benefit the SPCA of Tampa Bay. For more information, contact their office at 813-269-1116. Florida Manufacturing Career Fair Wed., Apr. 22, 1–4 PM––Location: Pasco-Hernando State College, Spring Hill Campus, 450 Beverly Court, Spring Hill, room B105. For more information contact: Ana Segovia 352-293-1335 or e-mail asegovia@careersourcepascohernando.c om NAMI Pasco Family & Friends Support Group Meetings The Pasco County Chapter of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) offers two types of support group meetings each month, one for *family and friends of those with mental illness, and one for ** those living with mental illness. This includes all brain disorders, including, but not limited to OCD, depression, bi-polar, schizophrenia, multiple personalities,
etc. Information: 727-992-9653 or www.namipasco.org. *NAMI Family & Friends Support Meetings 2nd & 4th Monday, Monthly, 7:30–9 PM––Medical Center of Trinity West Campus, Second and Fourth Monday of each month in Conference Room C, 5637 Marine Parkway, New Port Richey 1st & 3rd Thursday, 6:30–8PM–– Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, Shoreline Café Meeting Room, 14000 Fivay Rd, Hudson, FL 1st & 3rd Tuesday, Monthly, 7– 8:30 PM––Atonement Lutheran Church, 29617 State Road 54, Wesley Chapel **NAMI CONNECTIONS (Recovery support group for those living with mental illness.) Group meets 90 minutes and is facilitated by trained peers, at two locations. Every Wednesday, 7–8:30 PM–– Medical Center of Trinity West Pasco Campus, 5637 Marine Parkway, New Port Richey, Conference Room C 1st & 3rd Saturday, 11:30 AM–1 PM––Hugh Embry Library, 14215
4th Street, Dade City 16th Annual Broadway Comes to Tampa Sat., May 9––New Tampa Players requests the honor of your presence at their Fundraising Gala to benefit Community Theater: Hors D’oeuvres/Cash Bar/Silent Auction at six o’clock, Dinner at seven o’clock Show at eight o’clock. Broadway Comes to Tampa will be held at the Hilton Downtown Tampa. The event is black tie optional and is $200 per Person or $2,000 for table of ten. Broadway stars in attendance are: Richard Todd Adams, star of Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables; Jeannette Bayardelle, star of The Color Purple; Rita Harvey, star of Phantom of the Opera and Fiddler on the Roof; Mandy Gonzalez, star of In the Heights and Wicked; Danny Zolli, star of Jesus Christ Super Star and Evita (Talent subject to change.) The favor of a reply by May 2nd. please feel free to share this invitation with friends and employees. Seating is limited. Priority given on a first come, first served basis. For more information please call 813-386-9333 or log on to
www.Broadwaycomestotampa.com. New Tampa Players, Inc. is a Florida not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Your donations are tax deductible in the amount that they exceed the value of the event. Medical Center of Trinity and CARES Health & Wellness Collaborate to Present Active Living Every Day Program Mondays 9 AM, April 13 – July 1––Medical Center of Trinity and CARES Health & Wellness announce they are presenting “Active Living Every Day (ALED).” The free program consists of a one-hour class once a week for 12 weeks. The classes will be conducted by CARES (Community Aging & Retirement Services) and held at the Medical Center of Trinity Conference Room C at 9 a.m. every Monday beginning April 13 through July 1, 2015. For more information and to register call 727-834-5630. Active Living Every Day is a stepby-step behavior change program that helps individuals overcome the barriers to physical activity. ALED offers alternatives to more traditional, structured exercise programs. Participants choose their own activities and create their
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own plans based on their lifestyle and personal preferences; focusing on moderate-intensity activities that can be easily added to their daily routines. As participants progress through the course, they learn lifestyle management skills and build on small successes, methods that have proven effective in producing lasting positive change. Seating is limited and reservations are required. Please call 727-834-5630 to RSVP. 2nd Annual PADDLEPALOOZA! April 17–19––The Bayou Business Association and Visit Pasco are thrilled to announce the 2nd Annual 2015 Paddlepalooza, hosted at Gil Dawg Marina, 5416 Treadway Drive in Port Richey. This event is to exhibit local business and the unlimited outdoor activities West Pasco County has to offer. Paddlepalooza kicks off Friday, at 5 p.m., with a Poker Run Pub Crawl. While Crawlers visit participating business they will be collecting playing cards, hoping to turn in the winning hand at Rum River at 8 p.m. The water competition goes underway Saturday with the Battle in the Bayou Dragon Boat Racing, pro-
duced by High Five Dragon Boat out of Tampa, FL. Community and corporate teams are encouraged to sign up. There will be a Battle in the Bayou Corporate/Community Champion as well as the Best in the Bayou Club Team. Participants may sign up individually; they will be placed on a participating team’s roster. Following the Dragon boat races, is the Nature Coast’s premier kayak/SUP competition, The Salt Springs Classic. This event features both a river and open water course. Celebrate the day’s races Saturday with the Bearded Brothers Band performing on the Magical Butter Stage in Wayne’s World Entertainment Stage. Sunday’s first event begins at 8:30 a.m., the Cotee River Park to Park Challenge. This event is an open paddle sport race from Francis Avenue Park, in downtown New Port Richey, to Waterfront Park along Port Richey’s Bayou Business District. The final race of the weekend is the Student Survival Sprint Race, a standup paddleboard and kayaks sprint style held in Channel #18 between Port Richey Waterfront Park and Gill Dawg Marina. Proceeds from the weekend’s
events will support theBayou Business Association’s objective to achieve success, sustainability and distinction to preserve an everlasting presence in our city. Additionally, the Bayou Business Association will use proceeds to send youth from the area to New Port Richey Summer Camp. Find more information about the Paddlepalooza races, events and volunteer opportunities online at www.pascopaddlepalooza.com, or you may email info@paddlepalooza.com, or call Walter Loos at (727) 277-0519. Senior Sports: Softball, Golf, Tennis & More Senior Sports offers a variety of fun-filled sports to play and meet new friends, including: a Senior Over 60 Co-ed Slo Pitch Softball League (fall and winter); Golf at a variety of courses every Wednesday year-round; Bowling every Thursday year-round; Tennis League; Indoor Volleyball League; Basketball and Ping Pong play. If you would like to enjoy laughter and fun through fitness while meeting new friends, or if you would like more information on Senior Sports activities, please call Walt Bockmiller at 813-527-8211.
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The Pasco-Hernando Chapter of SCORE A Great Resource for Small Business Owners By Marcy Sanford Pasco County residents Jeremy and Lindsay Graham thought they had a good business idea. The couple sketched out the plans for their business on the back of a napkin and then decided to seek guidance and advice. They came across SCORE while looking for business consultants. The notfor-profit association is dedicated to entrepreneur education and the success of small businesses nationwide. The Grahams were matched up with SCORE mentor Richard Bonnett, an entrepreneur with 23 years of experience in corporate and mortgage banking. After talking to Richard, Jeremy and Lindsay decided to quit their high paying jobs and run their own business. One year later, Premier Hospitality Sourcing specializes in selling and marketing manufacturers’ product lines to distributors serving the hospitality, food service, healthcare, facility
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maintenance, educational, and theme park industries throughout the southeast. Their product lines represent manufacturers in chemical, industrial paper, linens, and disposable can liners. They also are in the process of expanding to other states and are hiring representatives to assist them. The Pasco-Hernando Chapter of SCORE has been helping small business owners locally since 1979. Each year they conduct more than 1,000 free and confidential individual mentoring sessions. They also provide more than 60 free training and educational seminars for small business owners. SCORE’s certified volunteer mentors offer a wide range of expertise by virtue of their education and many years of hands-on business experience. SCORE is also a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration. This year, the Pasco-Hernando Chapter of SCORE has celebrated several successes of its own. The chapter
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increased their total client services by 28 percent over the previous year and increased counseling services by 38 percent. All 25 volunteers have their mentoring certification from SCORE National. At a recent ceremony The South West Florida SCORE District presented the Pasco-Hernando Greg Kullman, Pasco-Hernando Chapter of SCORE Chapter with the chairman, receiving District Chapter of the Year Award District Chapter of from Juan Fret, SW Florida SCORE District Director the Year Award for 2014. taining chapter standards of operation. The Pasco-Hernando Chapter of The Platinum Award is the highest SCORE was also awarded the 2014 level awarded. The award was given to Chapter Platinum Leadership Award the chapter for serving clients in a for outstanding leadership, committimely manner and achieving growth in ment and exemplary services in maintotal services from the previous year.
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The Pasco-Hernando Chapter of SCORE has seminars for every small business owner no mater what their needs or interests. You can learn the basics of Excel or QuickBooks, how to apply for a small business loan, or how to market your business. Score also offers hundreds of webinars in topics covering finance and money, management, technology, and more. Visit Pasco-Hernando SCORE at www.pascohernando.score.org for a complete listing of the upcoming seminars and webinars SCORE offers, or to request a mentor. There are seminars ongoing monthly, and the following are still available in April: E-Marketing Concepts: Tuesday, April 21, 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM at Centennial Park Branch Library–– Attendees will obtain an understanding of the E-Marketing technologies, e.g., local search directories, email newsletters, social media, blogs, and search engine advertising, and how they may help to enhance the ability of a small business to reach customers and communicate their brand, products and services.
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Risk Management: Wednesday, April 22, 5:30–7:30 PM at South Holiday Branch Library––Numerous corporations have established a risk management process. Learn what that process entails and how to anticipate and manage threats to business success. Advanced Quickbooks: Thursday, April 23, 5:30–7:30 PM at New River Branch Library––This two-hour seminar is designed for persons that have some reasonable experience using the basics of QuickBooks, but who would now like to benefit from its many more advanced features. Our other “Introduction to QuickBooks” seminar, or familiarity with its content, is assumed as a prerequisite to this seminar. Marketing to Grow Your Business: Thursday, April 23, 5:35–7:30 PM at the Regency Park Branch Library––Learn how and where to find some of the answers about what works and doesn’t work, what information is required to write a sales & marketing plan, how to profile your customers, determine the best type of advertising and/or promotions, what you can learn from your competitors, and how to analyze your program’s effectiveness.
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The Law Office of Charles S. Philips Helps You Understand How to Protect Yourself Under Florida’s No-Fault Law By Kim Thomas None of us want to ponder the possibility of being personally injured, or having a loved one injured, due to another person’s negligence. Unfortunately, it happens to families every day so it’s important to know your rights under Florida’s No-Fault law. I remember feeling terrified upon learning that our daughter’s car was struck by a vehicle running a red light at a Pasco County intersection. Seeing the crash, it was obvious her car was a total loss. My husband and I were anxious to lay eyes on our girl, who thankfully seemed okay, though bruised and shaken. Not sure of what to do, but knowing that I wanted my daughter’s rights protected in case she showed symptoms in the hours and days following the crash, I contacted The Law Office of Charles S. Philips, located in New Port Richey. Attorney Chuck Philips took time with us, explained the law to us, and thankfully, we ended up not needing legal representation. That was years ago, but then and now, Chuck Philips is respected and trusted by me, my work associates, and by many in the community. His innate kindness juxtaposed with his ability to turn up the heat in your case, either through legal argument or by filing a lawsuit, makes him unique and a good man to have in your corner if you need legal representation. He thoroughly evaluates individual cases and gives clients a realistic view of the possible outcome and their ability to recover financial compensation for injury, including lost work time, pain and suffering, and medical bills. With more than two decades of
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professional experience in Pasco and Pinellas Counties, Chuck Philips understands the ins and outs of Florida traffic laws and insurance claims. He served as a former Assistant State Attorney in Pinellas County for a total of approximately five years both in Traffic and Misdemeanor Divisions as Lead Trial Attorney, and also served as Felony Division Assistant for 2-1/2 of those years. Plus, his past experience as an Insurance Defense Attorney gives him an insider’s knowledge of the insurance companies, and how they handle claims. Additionally, for the last 20 years he has represented those who have been injured in an accident. In short, Attorney Philips has a unique perspective that he uses to his clients’ advantage in his practice. Through his experience in helping victims of auto accidents, Attorney Philips finds that many people are unaware of their rights under Florida’s No-Fault Law, which underwent important changes in 2013. The Law Office of Charles S. Philips kindly shared the following information about the Florida No-Fault Law with Neighborhood News & Lifestyles’ readers. Understanding Florida No-Fault Florida No-Fault requires each individual to self-insure for auto accident-related injuries, lost wages and medical bills. Florida drivers do this through purchasing Personal Injury Protection (PIP) as part of their auto insurance coverage. Florida insurance law only requires two types of coverage, each in the amount of $10,000. They are: Property Damage Liability Coverage (to repair someone’s property when we are at fault) and PIP (to pay our own accident-related medical expenses at 80%) up to $10,000. In
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general, Florida does not require the purchase of Bodily Injury Liability coverage, which is coverage that would pay for bodily injury to the other party when we are at fault. Therefore, when someone says they are “fully insured” in Florida, it does not necessarily mean they have anywhere near adequate coverage for themselves, or others. Attorney Philips says, “We are constantly asked by clients why their insurance company has to pay for their medical expenses, when the other party was clearly at fault. The answer is simple. Florida law requires it to be done that way.” Additionally, even though the minimum PIP required in Florida is $10,000, a PIP deductible can be purchased up to $1,000, under the current law. What You Need to Know About PIP Following an auto accident, you must seek medical treatment within 14 days. Generally, for the first visit following an accident, PIP allows you to see any doctor of your choosing, unlike an HMO or managed care plan, which may limit or dictate your choice. When you visit your treating doctor, advise them that you are there because of an auto accident and provide them the information from your auto policy. Your PIP coverage will pay for 80% of the “reasonable and customary” expenses related to your treatment, and you will begin to accrue an unpaid balance of the 20% not covered by PIP. After the initial visit (must be within 14 days of the accident), a medical opinion must be rendered by a medical doctor, doctor of osteopathic medicine, dentist, physician’s assistant,
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or registered nurse practitioner that the accidentrelated injuries constitute a need for immediate medical attention because of an Attorney Chuck Philips “emergency medical condition” which is defined as a medical condition that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity, which may include severe pain, such that the absence of immediate medical attention could reasonably result in any of the following: 1) serious jeopardy to patient health; 2) serious impairment to bodily functions; 3) serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part. The determination of an “emergency medical condition” cannot be made by a chiropractic physician as per the statutory requirements. If this medical opinion is not rendered, then the insured will be limited to $2,500 in PIP benefits. However, if the requirement is properly met, then the insured will be entitled to the maximum of $10,000 in PIP coverage benefits. If treatment is not sought within the initial 14 days after the accident, then the insured will be precluded from obtaining any PIP benefits. Another change: Massage therapy and acupuncture treatments have been excluded from the PIP statute and will not be covered treatment under the PIP coverage. If you have Medical Payments (MP) coverage on your auto policy, it
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will pay the 20% (that PIP won’t cover) as it is incurred. If you have no MP coverage, the 20% becomes part of your claim against the at-fault party’s Bodily Injury Liability coverage and will be included in any final settlement with the insurance company. While waiting for your case to settle, your doctor may request that you sign a Letter of Protection (LOP). This is an assurance by you and your attorney that the unpaid expenses will be paid out of the settlement of your claim. Any request for a LOP by your doctor should be discussed with your attorney before you sign. You may receive treatment under PIP until your benefits are exhausted or are terminated by your insurance company following an independent medical examination (IME). The settlement of your Bodily Injury Liability claim at the conclusion of your case does not affect your ability to receive treatment using your PIP. They are completely unrelated. In the event that an individual’s IME recommends no further treatment, yet there are ongoing medical issues, it’s imperative to have a knowledgeable and experienced attorney like Chuck Philips on your side to offer sincere and straightforward legal advice regarding whether you should
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sue your PIP carrier to continue your benefits. Lost Wages Under PIP Should your treating physician write an order or prescription taking you off work for any period of time after an auto accident, your PIP will pay you 60% of your average weekly wage. Your employer will be asked to prepare a Wage and Salary Verification form showing your gross wages for the 13 weeks preceding the accident. This completed wage verification form must be submitted to your PIP carrier, and the PIP carrier must begin providing the PIP wages within 30 days of submission of the completed wage loss application, Wage and Salary Verification and physician off-work slips. The 40% of your wages not covered by PIP becomes part of your damages claim against the at-fault party’s insurance company. The at-fault party’s insurance carrier will make a one-time, lump sum settlement payment to you, which will include all of your damages. PIP Limits People typically select $10,000 for their PIP Limits on their auto insurance, although higher limits are available. It’s important to remember that every bill you incur will reduce your
benefits. Be proactive and aware of what you are being charged for, the necessity of your treatment and its frequency. You have a limited amount of PIP benefits to pay for your medical bills and lost wages and once your limit is reached, your insurance company’s obligation to you is exhausted. Following an accident, your treating doctor may order you not to work because of your injuries, and this could be for an extended period. It may be in your best interest to request that your PIP insurer reserve your PIP benefits to pay your wage loss before paying medical bills. Otherwise, medical expenses submitted by providers could be paid first and diminish or eliminate the PIP funds that could be used to pay for your lost wages resulting in greater financial hardship for you. You may continue to obtain treatment under your PIP, health insurance plan or Medicare after your case is settled. Settlement with the at-fault party or under your own un-insured/underinsured motorist coverage does not terminate your right to continued treatment. However, your right to continued treatment under PIP is limited by the amount of benefits you chose (generally $10,000), and could be terminated following an Independent Medical Examination (IME).
However, barring an IME termination, you may treat under your PIP for 3 years, so long as you need treatment or until benefits are exhausted. That is why monitoring your expenses is important so that your benefits are not used unwisely and prematurely. Motorcyclists are not covered under Florida No-Fault, so they are excluded from the requirement of carrying PIP; however, Attorney Philips suggests that all motorcyclists purchase motorcycle insurance coverage in order to protect themselves in an auto accident claim because they cannot count on the at-fault party having sufficient Bodily Injury Liability as part of their insurance. If you ever need solid legal counsel following a personal injury incident, call The Law Office of Charles S. Philips, which has been assisting victims injured due to the negligence or recklessness of others since 2002. The Law Office of Charles S. Philips is located at 9400 River Crossing Blvd., Suite 103, in New Port Richey. Satellite offices are located in Citrus, Hernando, Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties. For more information, please call toll free (800) 844-8652 or (727) 4942008. Visit www.chuckphilips.com for full list of services.
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The Tobacco Free Partnership of Pasco County “Join the Mission for a Tobacco Free Pasco” By Georgia Brieck Since Tobacco Free Florida launched in 2007, adult smoking rates have been steadily declining; however, there is still a lot of work ahead. Currently, Pasco County’s adult smoking rate is 26%, compared to the states average of 18%. The Tobacco Free Partnership of Pasco County is working to decrease that number even further by educating the local community and decision makers on the importance of tobacco prevention. With their diverse membership consisting of local students, non-profit organizations, and community service agencies, they are looking to the community for support to promote tobacco-free living. The Partnership The Tobacco Free Partnership of Pasco County is a collaboration of youth and adults who share an interest or passion for tobacco prevention and control. This coalition partners with Pasco County Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) and the
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Florida Department of Health in Pasco County to execute Tobacco Free Florida grant initiatives in the county. Overall, the coalition strives to: • Eliminate flavored tobacco and secondhand smoke from Pasco County through voluntary policy change • Promote tobacco cessation through health education This diverse and dedicated group of partners collaborates with many local organizations in the community to build awareness of tobacco issues, build relationship with local and state policy makers, expand community support, and keep the conversation about tobacco issues alive! Community Outreach Some of the ways in which the Partnership mobilizes the community is through collaboration with local organizations and entities. This year the partnership is sponsoring the 2nd Annual Safe Kids Day at the Shops at
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Pasco County Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT)
Wiregrass on April 11th. Secondhand smoke is one of asthma’s great triggers and can further irritate the lungs. In addition to the onset of asthmas attacks, secondhand smoke can cause middle ear infections, eye irritations,
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headaches, and other complications. The Safe Kids Day event will allow the Partnership to educate the parents and caregivers on secondhand smoke/third hand smoke exposure and the negative health consequences,
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the Partnership, Mykenzie Robertson, and SWAT presented to the Dade City Council on this issue. As a result, the council passed a flavored tobacco resolution that urges local retailers to cease the sale and marketing of flavored tobacco products to youth. Youth Involvement Nearly 90% of smokers began at or before the age of 18, a time when they are highly targeted by tobacco companies. Big Tobacco tarThe Tobacco Free Partnership of Pasco County gets youth by marketing partners with Pasco SWAT and the Florida their products to make them Department of Health in Pasco County more appealing to the youth especially on children. by adding flavoring, using candy-like Over the recent months, both packaging and advertising in youth SWAT and the Partnership have edumarkets. In Pasco County alone, 1 in cated local and state decision makers 5 kids between the ages of 11-17 have on the dangers of flavored tobacco to tried candy-flavored tobacco. youth. Flavored tobacco products Youth smoking rates have decontain flavors like vanilla, orange, clined significantly over the years; chocolate, cherry and coffee, are espe- however, products like smokeless tocially attractive to youth. They are bacco and hookah are still popular widely considered to be “starter” among young adults. Youth work colproducts, establishing tobacco habits laboratively with the Partnership to that can lead to a lifetime of addiction. educate their peers on the dangers of On February 2nd 2015, Co-Chair of
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these products. Currently 25% of the Partnership is comprised of youth and young adults. Most of the youth serve on Pasco’s Student’s Working Against Tobacco Chapter. SWAT works to achieve a tobacco-free Pasco by educating their peers about the harmful effects of tobacco use, aiding current tobacco users in their efforts to quit, and influencing local events and policy. As a result of youth participation, the Partnership gains insight into the youth perspective on tobacco issues and encourages youth leadership. For more information about SWAT and how to join, contact Naomi Docilait at Naomi.Docilait@flhealth.gov or visit www.swatflorida.com. Partnership Committees The Partnership provides several opportunities for members to address their specific interests as it relates to tobacco prevention and cessation through the following committees: • Cessation Committee Encourages cessation and promotes local resources • Events Committee Organizes community outreach events, tobacco observances, and
trainings • Secondhand Smoke Committee Works with multi-unit housing to create smoke-free housing and assists other entities to create clean air policies • Youth Prevention Committee Collaborates with Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) to create tobacco free schools, restrict the sale of candy-flavored tobacco, and limit Big Tobacco’s marketing. Whether attending regular meetings, serving on a committee, or distributing information to the community, any amount of time donated to the partnership will help promote tobacco-free living in Pasco. Partnership meetings are held bimonthly on the Second Thursday of the month from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Rasmussen College in Land O’ Lakes. The general public, especially youth, who have a personal or professional stake in tobacco control are welcome to attend. For more information about joining the partnership, contact your Tobacco Free Florida county representative, Georgia Brieck at Georgia.Brieck@flhealth.gov or visit www.tobaccofreeflorida.com/ county/pasco.
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Budget Blinds of Greater Tampa – Satisfying All Your Window Covering Needs By Pam Sica What a pleasure it was to meet Elaine and Jim Trotter, owners of the Budget Blinds franchise conveniently located at 1208 W. Fletcher Avenue between Rome Avenue and North Boulevard. Their showroom is easy to spot, as they are set just behind newlyopened Marco’s Pizza, which recently
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leased their building on the street side of Trotter Terrace. Elaine explained that in 2008, their Budget Blinds showroom was originally situated in Land O’ Lakes, where the two of them started to live their dream of escaping corporate America by owning their own business and giving back to the community. After a few years of honing their craft, they developed a thriving business and finally outgrew their facilities. Having found the North Tampa location to be much more capable of serving their growing clientele within Pasco County, Springhill and Brooksville et al and a large part of Hillsborough County, they moved to their
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new location on W. Fletcher Avenue in 2012. What a boon for our area, as they have expanded from three to fourteen employees since then! And now, I understand, they are in the process of opening a second location in the Riverview area within the next few months to optimize their presence in the southern portions of Hillsborough County as well. By the way, there’s still 3500 square feet available in the center of the Trotter Terrace complex should you want to pursue your own entrepreneurial dreams and are looking to start a small business in the area! Talk to Jim and Elaine– they are pros! There are four consultants on staff who can help you to envision the possibilities for your home. First, they can address your specific needs in the well-appointed showroom and/or secondly, they are poised to assess your space on site, taking into account the following criteria: Fashion and style, Heat, Solar, Privacy and Glare control. Elaine quickly noted, “We have a solu-
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Jim & Elaine Trotter tion for every window and a style for every budget, as well.” Once a novelty, it seems that motorization has become a lifestyle here in Florida, ergo, programmable window coverings are also available to address any proximity or security issues that you may have. So if you have a window treatment dilemma, you will certainly want to give Budget Blinds of Greater Tampa a call at (813)968-5050. Remember, window coverings are often considered an investment in your home. For instance, did you know that shutters will actually add to the appraisal value of your property? Being under the Budget Blinds umbrella, the franchise owners have substantial buying power with forty
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different vendors. As a result, they are able to offer you great options, prices and warranties not seen anywhere else in the industry! Just ask them about their 5-year “No Questions Asked” Warranty Program for their PureVu® and Norman® shutters. You’ll see that it’s quite impressive. Here’s the amazing thing, though… The second part of the Trotters’ dream has been undertaken in a big way. They lend their support to our local Habitat for Humanity by donating blinds, as well as to Metropolitan Ministries by being a drop off site for food and toys. Elaine saw my eyes grow bigger while I was taking copious notes. She then summed things up rather well by saying, “We’ve been embraced by our local neighborhood and feel it is important to give back to our community.” But that’s just the beginning… Under the larger umbrella of Budget Blinds, a division of Home Franchise Concepts (HFC), they are helping our returning veterans by partnering with Homes for Our Troops. They (and other franchisees) are donating $1 for every window covered, which over a 3-year period, will provide window coverings across the country in every HFOT home. Homes for Our
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Troops is a privately funded nonprofit organization that builds specially adapted, mortgage-free homes for the most severely injured Veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan post 9/11. Most of these Veterans are multiple amputees, paraplegic, quadriplegic or have suffered severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). The homes built for these Veterans will help to restore the freedom and independence that they sacrificed while serving our nation, thus enabling them to focus on family, recovery and rebuilding their lives. Wow! There even ways you can personally help, if you are so inclined… just ask and Elaine, Jim or any of their staff to fill you in on the details. This initiative follows Corporate Budget Blinds’ existing commitment to offer veteran-friendly franchise op-
portunities, as well. “Everyone needs a safe haven to feel comfortable,” Elaine noted. Budget Blinds of Greater Tampa has the express desire and the expertise to help make that a reality for your home or business. It’s no wonder that they have a steady stream of returning customers and referrals to delight anew. There are even commercial applications like Burger King, Tijuana Flats and apartment complexes like Citrus Run, near Sheldon Road) in the mix.
Suffice it to say that the Trotters and their staff are equipped to handle all your window covering needs. Let them assist you the next time you want to maximize the possibilities within your home or business, “whatever the dilemma.” Hope to see you there soon! Budget Blinds of Greater Tampa is located 1208 W. Fletcher Ave. in Tampa. For more info please call (813) 968 – 5050 or visit BudgetBlinds.com/NorthTampa.
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Kids R Kids Academy of Trinity Opening in April By Dara Tucker Trinity will soon be the next home to the national franchise, Kids R Kids Academy. Anitha Thomas is the owner of Kids R Kids Academy in Wesley Chapel and is excited to open Trinity’s brand new state-of-the-art facility. Anitha says that she looked for two years to find the perfect property in Trinity that would allow students to enjoy the natural beauty of the area. The 17,000-square-foot facility sits on two acres of property at 11081 Trinity Boulevard in Trinity. From infants as young as six weeks old to school-aged children who need before and after school care and summer camps, Kids R Kids of Trinity has a program to fit your family’s childcare needs. Owner Anitha Thomas comes from a family of educators, and taught Engineering Physics at the collegiate level before she opened Kids R Kids in Wesley Chapel ten years ago. When you first come to Kids R Kids you’ll notice Anitha takes safety seriously. Each parent is supplied with a small fob that allows him or her secure access to the building, similar to a keyless hotel card. After a fob is used to
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enter the building the parent uses a touch screen at the counter to sign their child in and out of Kids R Kids. There is always a director at the front desk, and there also is a security camera in the lobby. The glass walls in the preschool allow the classrooms to be visible to each other and help the children transition to their next developmentally appropriate learning area easier. Each classroom has two cameras that online stream through a secure website that parents can sign up on to view their child during the day. The school is designed to hold 290 children and Anitha keeps each age group at a lower teacher/student ratio than the state requires, which allows for better teacher interaction with the children. Each class has one lead teacher (who has a CDA, A.A. degree, or bachelors degree, and five or more years experience) and one or more assistants (who have completed DCF training and have a minimum of one year childcare experience). The Trinity location will have at least thirty-six employees to meet the children’s needs. Kids R Kids has its own SACS approved 42-week progressive curriculum, along with a 10-week Summer
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Kids R Kids Academy is a newly built children’s academy that offers care for children from infancy and beyond with before and after school programs. Camp curriculum for all age groups. Curriculum has teacher-directed and child-directed activities throughout the day. Program also includes music, Spanish, sign language, manners and character development. The classrooms have between four to eight learning stations for student choice that includes library centers, dramatic play, hands-on exploration and math, depending on the age of the child. If you have a school-aged child, Kids R Kids Academy drops off and picks up children at Odessa, Trinity,
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Trinity Oaks and Longleaf Elementary schools. Children ride in a school bus with seatbelts between their school and Kids R Kids Academy, where they too can enjoy the new facility. Anitha’s love of technology and the natural setting of the Trinity location can be seen in the design of the new preschool with the unique STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, math) lab, media center and outdoor nature area. The STEAM lab will be run by a full-time, qualified teacher who will provide chil-
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Anitha is excited to be offering Trinity a state-of-the-art facility for the families in the area. The location allows students to have authentic learning experiences both inside and outside with a nurturing staff. If you’re interested in registering your child for Kids R Kids Academy at 11081 Trinity Blvd. in New Port Richey, including before and after school care and summer camp, contact Anitha Thomas at 727-376-5437. Visit online at www.krktrinity.com to learn more about Kids R Kids Academy, including informational videos.
This summer, Kids R Kids will have its splash park! dren an opportunity to explore science, technology, engineering, arts and math outside of their classroom setting. The media center will focus on technology; allowing students to have interactive learning opportunities such as creating videos the staff will share with parents. The outdoor nature area includes an outdoor classroom, a garden area for seasonal plants, garden boxes and raised water and sand areas. In addition to the outdoor nature area, there is a fully shaded play area for infants, two- and three-year-olds, three- and four-yearolds, and a play area for children four and older. Having different play areas for different ages ensures children are playing on age-appropriate, safe equipment. Daily children visit both the outdoor nature area and the play area, allowing them to really enjoy the natural beauty of Trinity’s Kids R Kids’ location. The outdoor water park area will be completed by summer, and is sure to be a favorite spot for the kids!
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Another unique aspect of Kids R Kids Academy is the full size cafeteria that holds nearly fifty students at a time. They have a full sized kitchen that is run by a certified chef who creates well-balanced, nutritional meals for the children. A hot breakfast, hot lunch and snack are all included in the price of your child’s tuition. This is a great convenience for parents, and helps make the transition to an elementary cafeteria easier for children. Anitha says that communication is an important aspect of Kids R Kids Academy. “Teachers assess students and the results are provided to parents. In the fall the reports will be available on line, so if parents are too busy at pick up or drop off to communicate with teachers about their child’s growth they can look on line when it’s convenient for them. There are eight to nine different aspects, or categories, on the report, depending on the child’s age.” With a successful Kids R Kids Academy branch in Wesley Chapel,
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Brain Balance Achievement Centers Offers Summer Programs For Children Who Need It! By Julie Kanehl If you’re the parent of a child who is struggling, it can feel frustrating and overwhelming trying to find answers. In a world where children don’t always fit into the parameters set by lawmakers, it can be confusing when your child doesn’t meet the “norm.” Brain Balance Achievement Centers can help. The Brain Balance program is completely unique in that it individually assesses your child and combines years of research and scientific facts with professionals who are educated, experienced and ready to help. Their holistic, one-on-one approach has helped children succeed beyond their parents’ wildest dreams. The Brain Balance Achievement Center of Oldsmar is located at 4022 Tampa Road, just a few minutes from East Lake, Palm Harbor, Trinity, Carrollwood and Tampa. If you have a child who has trouble making friends, throws temper tantrums on a regular basis, or has a learning disability, be it dyslexia, ADD, ADHD, processing disorders, Asperger’s, OCD, or even Autism, the Brain Balance program has been proven to help. This program brings hope to parents and families of children who have any kind of learning, social, or developmental disability. Even if you don’t have a diagnosis, Brain Balance is willing to help.
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Brain Balance doesn’t believe in simply trying to “catch kids up.” Their goal is to get to the root of the problem, and the problem usually can be found in a “disconnect” between the two hemispheres of the brain. Scientifically, if the two halves of the brain are not working together properly, there can be issues with communication including: speech and cognitive understanding; the inability to pick up on social cues and contexts; visual-spatial concerns; body and motor-skill issues; and problems focusing. After entering the program and being assessed, Brain Balance provides a wide range of tools that can help your individual child learn to succeed. The program includes Nutritional Counseling Sessions, weekly sensory motor and cognitive exercises, daily core exercises at home, and school/teacher meetings. It’s a commitment that many families travel all over the country to make, and we are blessed to have one of the top Brain Balance Achievement Centers right here in our back yard. You don’t have to feel like your child is slipping through the cracks. The Brain Balance Achievement Center of Oldsmar can help. While the Brain Balance program
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sees K-12 kids year-round, there is a three-month summer program beginning shortly that is a great chance for parents to experience what Brain Balance has to offer. It is a great opportunity for your child to take part in an individual comprehensive program to get your child back on track and ready for the new school year. Be sure to enroll early for the Brain Balance Summer Program. You can receive six extra sessions at no additional cost, which is a savings of $1,000 if you enroll on or before May 8, 2015. This three-month, 36-session program should be completed in time for your child’s regular fall school schedule. One parent said, “Brain Balance has improved our lives immensely! My son is happier; he is excelling in school and the family is benefiting from the reduced stress and increased peace.” The Brain Balance Achievement Center of Oldsmar is located at 4022 Tampa Rd., Suite 6. For more information or to schedule a tour, please call 813-475-6977. You can also email them directly at oldsmar@brainbalancecenters.com, or visit online at www.brainbalancecenters.com.
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Today’s Foster Parents Today’s foster families are skilled, valued partners who parent, nurture and advocate for children in their care, and who mentor and support the child’s birth parents. They leave lifelong impressions on children in their care and are privileged to positively impact the futures of children and families who live in our community. Today’s foster parents are business owners, soccer moms and retirees. By day, they teach school, sell real estate and work construction. By night, they read bedtime stories, help with homework and give hugs. They work as partners with birth parents, case managers, guardian ad litems, schools and judges to nurture, love and advocate for children in their care. Being a champion for a child in foster care means, as their foster parent, you help bring stability to their life during a time of trauma and help shape their future. Foster parents leave lifelong impressions on children in their care and are privileged to positively impact the futures of children and families in our community. Foster Parents Must: • Be at least 21 years old
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• Have adequate sleeping space (a bed for each child placed in the home) • Demonstrate stable housing and income • Be financially stable Foster Parents Can: • Be married or single • Own their home or rent • Have both parents employed outside the home • Be first-time parents, have their own children or be empty-nesters Steps to Foster Get started by calling 866-2330790 to sign up for a free orientation. Get information at an orientation that will explain what is needed to become a foster parent and answer your questions. Once you return a few forms, the next step is training. Get trained at no cost to you with classes called Professional Parenting. You’ll learn about children in foster care, start to understand their grief and loss issues, and much more. At the end, you will have completed 24 hours of training and be PPT certified. Get licensed to ensure that you, your family and your home are pre-
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pared and safe. This will include a home study and background screening of all household members at no cost to you. If favorable, your home will be licensed to accept children into your care. Am I Ready? How Much Room Do I Need in My Home? You must have enough bedroom space for each foster child
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placed in your home. They may share a bedroom with your child or another foster child of the same gender. They must have a bed of their own and cannot share a bed nor sleep on a cot or trundle bed. A foster child may not share a bedroom with any adult nor can the adult move out of their bedroom and sleep on the couch to make room. Does My Home Need to Pass Inspection? It is important that children
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live in a safe and clean environment. During the home study process, you will be asked to have a health inspection done in your home. Your home must be free of potential dangers and risks. You must have working smoke detectors and fire extinguishers and, if you have pets, they must be current with vaccinations and not present a danger to children in your home. What Are The Physical and Emo-
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tional Requirements to Foster? Being a foster parent can be demanding, therefore you must be healthy and emotionally stable. You may be asked to complete a physical exam or provide medical clearance to help establish the state of your physical and emotional health. What Are the Screening Requirements? Thorough background screenings are conducted on all prospective foster families, including Abuse Registry, local criminal and federal criminal clearances (fingerprinting). Background screenings and child abuse clearances are required for all household members. What Are the Financial Requirements? While you don’t have to be rich to be a foster parent, you must have adequate income to meet you own family’s needs. You can either own your home or rent. Foster parents are given stipends called “board rates” for the substitute care they provide; the amount of this varies by the age of the child. However, the monthly board rate you will receive is not income. During the home study process, you
will be asked to show proof of income and financial stability. What About My Marital Status? Foster parents can be single, married, divorced or in a domestic partnership. How Do I Know When I’m Ready? You will know you are ready when your life and home are stable. “Stable” means that you are not about to move and you are not having financial, marital, physical or emotional difficulties. Your home must be in good condition and you must be ready to commit to 36 hours of pre-service training (if you’re married, both parents must attend). Foster parenting impacts the entire family; therefore, everyone in your home should be supportive of your decision. You will know you are ready when your life and home are stable. “Stable” means that you are not about to move and you are not having financial, marital, physical or emotional difficulties. Your home must be in good condition and you must be ready to commit to 36 hours of pre-service training (if you’re married, both parents must attend). Foster parenting impacts the entire family; therefore, everyone in your home should be supportive of your decision. You will know you are ready when your life and home are stable. “Stable”
means that you are not about to move and you are not having financial, marital, physical or emotional difficulties. Your home must be in good condition and you must be ready to commit to 36 hours of pre-service training (if you’re married, both parents must attend). Foster parenting impacts the entire family; therefore, everyone in your home should be supportive of your decision. For information on how you can help foster children in Pasco and Pinellas Counties, call the Eckerd Recruitment Line at 1-866-2330790.
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“Vallarta’s” Continued from page 1 see why they are a neighborhood favorite and have been voted “Best of Pasco” in a restaurant poll. Vallarta’s has a great selection of Mexican specialties and classics. In addition to specialty dinners, Vallarta’s has all of your traditional favorites including quesadillas, burritos, enchiladas, tamales, tostadas, tacos, and more. And the best part is, all the delicious dishes are available in a wide variety of combinations. There is truly something for everyone in your party with plenty of pork, steak, chicken, seafood, and vegetarian dishes to choose from. The expert cooks in the Vallarta’s kitchen use only the freshest ingredients to create their Mexican masterpieces like the Burrito Vallarta stuffed with shrimp and covered in a delicious green sauce or the Parrillada, a mixed grill of beef, chicken, pork, chorizo, and shrimp with tomatoes, peppers, and onions. If you’re a regular at Vallarta’s, you probably have your favorite – mine is the mushroom quesadilla
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with a side of guacamole, my daughter always goes for the cheese enchiladas. Some recent additions to the menu might convince you to try something new. The Tilapia Vallarta is a delightful dish of grilled tilapia served with a savory guacamole salad, rice, and tortillas. The new Coctel de Camarones appetizer is sure to get your meal off to the right start with plump, succulent shrimp marinated in a spicy, hot sauce with
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fresh avocados, tomatoes, onion, cilantro, and lime. Or if you’re in the mood to try something new, order the new Tacos al Pastor with seasoned pork, pico de gallo, salsa verde, and refried beans or the Enchiladas Vallarta stuffed with shrimp and covered with a ranchero and cheese sauce. When you go to Vallarta’s, be sure to try one of their famous margaritas. Served frozen or on-the-
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rocks, their margaritas are the perfect refreshing beverage to go with your tasty Mexican lunch or dinner. Vallarta’s also has a great selection of Mexican and domestic beers, wines, and sangria. Vallarta’s serves flavorful food that is sure to satisfy your cravings without hurting your wallet. They have twenty-four lunch combo specials Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., and thirty $10
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combo specials available every day. Tuesdays and Wednesdays feature $1 tacos. And happy hour is every day from 2 to 7 p.m. If you haven’t been to the Lutz Vallarta’s, you’re definitely missing out. Stop by today and enjoy a relaxing evening on their comfortable patio or grab a group of friends and catch up over drinks and dinner. You’ll be glad you did. Vallarta’s Restaurante Mexi-
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cano is located in the Northpointe Village at 16540 Point Village Dr. in Lutz. The restaurant is open: Sunday from 12 p.m. – 9 p.m.; Monday – Thursday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.; and 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Find more info online about Vallarta’s at www.MyVallartas.com. No reservations are required. Takeout is available; call (813) 920-8833 to place your to-go order.
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“Great Clips” Continued from page 1 “At first, people thought we sold hair clips,” said Lea. Orchard recently opened her fourth and newest location on the corner of State Road 54 and Livingston Road next to Panera Bread in Central Pasco. “What is great about this business is it is a small business; I have the Great Clips name, but it’s my business and I have to build it up,” added Lea. Despite county signage regulations making it difficult to advertise the location of this Great Clips shop, in its eight months since opening, this State Road 54 and Livingston Road location has almost as much volume as her flagship store in Carrollwood. Lea is proud that she is one hundred percent hands-on with her business. Whether it’s frequent visits to each of her four Great Clips locations, hiring her staff, or mastering the art of guerilla marketing, this single mother of four balances business and family with determination and grace. “I won’t keep anybody that I wouldn’t let cut my hair,” she said, as she explained the process for selecting
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Great Clips owner Lea Orchard the talented stylists that have become her second family in her four shops. The stylists stay up to date on the newest trends in hair, including the “pompadour” and prohibition under cut for men, and inverted and textured bobs, tousled beach waves, and bangs for the ladies. “We keep notes in the computer of every person’s haircut every time they come in,” said Lea. “We check the notes. Consultation is huge. We ask them if ‘this is what we did last time.
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SmartPhone technology is welcomed at Great Clips - whether you want to pull up a picture of your desired haircut to show your stylist or would like to save time and check in before your arrival. What do you want to do today?’” If a haircut request is out of the ordinary or is something that has everyone scratching their heads, Lea is happy to allow technology to come to the rescue. The stylists can pull out their SmartPhones, find the perfect photo online to confirm with the customer the style they are seeking before putting a scissor or electric razor to
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their head. Technology has also helped reduce any wait time at the shop. Guests can check-in on their computers or SmartPhones and add their name to the wait list, ensuring little to no wait when they arrive. “Our online check-in is amazing,” said Lea. “You can look online and see what the wait is at a particular
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store. If there’s a 20-minute wait, you sign in right then and 20 minutes later you come in. No matter who came in here after you signed in online, you are in front of them. You get called first before the people who didn’t check in online.” Being a member of several networking groups like CABA, where she was 2012 president, Lea said one of the best things about being involved in the day-to-day operations is that people talk to her about their experiences in her shops. She said, “I have a lot of – basically secret shoppers – but I don’t send them; they just come.” She says that her shops are familyoriented. Seventy percent of her customers are men and families. The women tend to come after their husband or child has had a haircut. While they can spend hundreds of dollars on coloring, the women have discovered the benefit of saving money by coming to Great Clips for an outstanding $14 haircut. Lea’s Great Clips stores also provide a $2 discount to military, firefighters and police. “We do what we do best – haircuts,” said Lea. “Everybody needs a
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haircut and we offer affordable quality haircuts that can fit into your schedule. Great Clips is near and dear to my heart and I’m trying to build it to be a family business. I’d like my kids to take them over some day. I want to build the business and then have it be a legacy.” Lea Orchard offers four convenient Great Clips locations: Carrollwood – located on the corner of Fletcher Ave. and Dale Mabry Hwy. in the Palms of Carrollwood at 13129 B N Dale Mabry Hwy; (813) 969-2960 Lutz – located on the corner of Lutz Lake Fern Rd. and Dale Mabry Hwy. in Lutz Lake Crossing at 19231 N Dale Mabry Hwy; (813) 909-4125 Citrus Park- located on the corner of Sheldon Rd. and Gunn Hwy. in the Shoppes of Citrus Park at 7851 Gunn Hwy; (813) 920-1100 Pasco County – located on the corner of State Rd. 54 and Livingston Rd. in the Shoppes at Grand Cypress at 23388 State Rd. 54, Unit 106; (813) 949-5999. Opening soon, is a 5th location in Riverview. Hours for all locations are: Mon. – Fri., 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sat., 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sun.
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Law Enforcement Deputy of the Year Joe Liddick & K-9 Ace Have Tracked and Located 275 People, and Still Counting! By Marcy Sanford In March, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Department named its six 2015 Employees of the Year, who were recognized in different categories for their exemplary work performance during the previous year. Among the six and recipient of the 2015 Law Enforcement Deputy of the Year is Deputy Joe Liddick and K-9 Ace from the K-9 Unit. Liddick and his K-9 partner Ace have successfully tracked and located 275 people since they’ve been working together. Most of those were the bad guys, but sometimes they are called to help locate a missing and endangered innocent person. The pair consistently leads the unit in catches and people located, and holds the record for the most catches in a single year. Liddick and Ace are certified as an Explosive Ordnance Detection Team and are part of the Tampa Bay Regional Bomb Squad. “Ace is a great dog to have as a partner,” says Deputy Liddick. “We have been working together since he was eight months old. At home, he is a regular dog who likes to play with kids and other animals but when I put on my uniform, he is ready to go to work with me. He is a tracking machine and can catch a scent from up to a mile away. Once he has caught the scent, nothing can stop him.”
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Just this past year Deputy Liddick and Ace located 52 people. Deputy Liddick started out the year assisting District 2 STAR units in the apprehension of a suspect wanted in more than 30 burglaries in the Lake Bernadette area of Zephyrhills. The suspect fled from deputies but Liddick and Ace were able to track and locate the suspect hiding in a garage. In another case, the team tracked a couple of prolific offenders from District 1 who had fled from a stolen vehicle. “When someone has committed a crime or is on the run, they emit an adrenaline scent that Ace and other K-9 dogs can key on to. He is an amazing dog. No machine could ever replicate what he does.” “The job is very dangerous but it is also very exciting and very rewarding. You never know who you are chasing or where you will end up. We’ve gone all through the woods in this county and into swamps in the middle of the night. It is a little unsettling to see gator eyes glowing in the swamps when you are wading through them. But any where that a criminal can hide, that is where we have to go.” Bad guys are not the only ones the team has located. Deputy Liddick and Ace were called out to search for a missing 80-year-old man who had gone into the woods to look for a lost remote controlled plane. The missing man was diabetic and had been missing for 2 hours when the K-9 team began their
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search. Deputy Liddick and Ace found the man several hundred yards into the woods, cut up from briars, and having a diabetic episode. Deputy Liddick called for emergency medical personnel and the man was soon given life-saving medical attention. “It’s great to get to work with Ace. Every day at work for him is like play. He thinks it is one big game. He
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is great at tracking people and loves what he does,” says Deputy Liddick. “He makes me look good.” Editor’s Note: Neighborhood News & Lifestyles would like to extend congratulations to all six of the 2015 Pasco County Sheriff’s Department Employees of the Year: Civilian of the Year – Steve Hiebert from the
Intelligence-Led Policing Unit; Law Enforcement Deputy of the Year – Deputy Joe Liddick and K-9 Ace from the K-9 Unit; Court Services Deputy of the Year – Detention Cpl. Mark Bleser; Detective of the Year – Property Crimes Detective William “Jody” Smallwood; Law Enforcement Field Training Officer of the Year – FTO Stephanie Regan;
and Court Services Field Training Officer of the Year – Deputy William Valentine. Thank you to to all of the law enforcement officers and Sheriff’s Department employees for your hard work and dedication. Your community appreciates you!
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