WESTCHASE AREA
Vol. 3, Issue 5, May 2014
Neighborhood News & Lifestyles
®
Your neighborhood. Your magazine.
The Premier “Shop Local” Community Magazine Directly Mailed To 16,000 Homes In Westchase & Surrounding Areas This Independent Community News, Business & Dining Guide Is Directly Mailed Once Each Month To: Arlington Park • Aston Villas • Bay Arbor • Berkeley Square • Calf Path Estates • Enclave At Citrus Park • Fawn Ridge Fawn Lake • Forest Lakes • Hampton Lakes • Highland Park • Lake Chase • Mandolin • The Eagles • Tree Tops Twin Branch Acres • Waterchase • West Hampton • Westchase • Westchester • Westwood Lakes • Windsor Place
Comprehensive Foot And Ankle Center Is A True Asset To The Community!
See “Foot and Ankle” on page 18.
Discount Real Estate Listing, Zillow’s Flawed “Zestimates” and the Flood Insurance Crisis
GO RAYS Contest.................3 Community Calendar............4 Community News Briefs........5 Allpro Tree & Landscaping...8-9
ported by a highly-trained team of listing administrators and customer support staff, social media experts and proprietary software including advanced showing and offer technology.” Their system is 100% electronic which saves customers time and the planet, trees. “Our model is rather complex and a lot of work to manage because
we are maintaining many listings, dealing with hundreds of agents a week, and we are busy.” ADDvantage lists homes in almost every MLS in Florida and sellers control 100% of the listing process. Unlike traditional agents, sellers choose how much commission to See “GetMoreOffers” on page 20
Brass Tap Oldsmar............10-11 Mrs. K’s Place................14-15
ECRWSS
Real estate broker Keith Gordon is the co-owner of Florida’s largest discount real estate brokerage firm, ADDvantage Real Estate Services. Their website is GetMoreOffers.com. Keith and his partner, Erin Knorr, started ADDvantage in 2005 with the intention of building a “customer first” discount real estate brokerage. ADDvantage has grown to over 500 listings statewide with sales over $140 million in the past 12 months alone. With 475 homes sold last year, like many industry leaders, ADDvantage Real Estate and broker, Keith Gordon, are mavericks. Keith says, “Our business has grown 400% in the last two years, sup-
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Postal Customer
As a long-distance runner, my feet tend to take a beating, and unfortunately, last year they suffered a de-habilitating injury which left me unable to run, and barely able to even walk. I was heartbroken – in an instant all my
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID TAMPA FL PERMIT 1185
Often over-looked and taken for granted, our feet are two of the most valuable components of our bodies. Yet, quite often enough they are something we tend to neglect – that is until, a problem arises.
hard work and training had gone down the drain. The only positive thing in all this, was that I knew exactly who to call – Comprehensive Foot and Ankle Center (CFAC), located in the Oakstead Professional Center on St. Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes. I first met Dr. George Tjamaloukas, DPM, FACFAS and his wife Dr. Kathy Tjamaloukas, DPM, FACCWS, the owners of CFAC, a few years back when I wrote an article about their practice for the Odessa Area Neighborhood News – I was
Dated Material Please Rush!
By Alexis Selby
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Westchase Area Neighborhood News
Win the Hottest Tickets in Town! Enter Neighborhood News & Lifestyles’ “GO RAYS” Contest
Directly mailed once a month to 16,000 households in zip codes 33626 & 34677 220 Safford Ave. S. Tarpon Springs, FL 34689 Phone: (813) 928-6124; Fax: (727) 942-2432 Advertising E-mail: info@neighborhoodnewsfl.com Editorial E-mail: editorialdept@neighborhoodnewsfl.com
Matt Selby We have BIG NEWS that we think many of our readers will have an interest in. Especially our baseball fans out there. We recently entered into a partnership with the Tampa Bay Rays and they offered us season tickets for 6 people. This includes hundreds of tickets for the season and although we are a family business with tons of family and friends here in the Bay area who are huge Rays fans, there is no possible way we can make it to every single game. Obviously we don’t want these prime, press level tickets going to waste and who better to share them with than you, so we came up with a contest to give our loyal readers AND advertisers a chance to win big with tickets to go see the Rays. Each month, starting in May and ending in September, we will give away multiple press level (sec.204) Rays’ tickets to 5 lucky winners. One Grand Prize winner per month will receive 6 tickets and 2 parking passes.
Neighborhood News & Lifestyles
© 2014 Westchase Neighborhood News is published by ADS 2 Publications, Inc. Publisher Tim Selby General Manager Matt Selby Advertising Sales Jim O’Reilly Linda Viega Mike Bird Jared Nager Accounting Manager Doreen Selby Billing Assistant Tina O’Reilly
Two 1st Runner Up winners will get 4 tickets and 1 parking pass, and two more 2nd Runner Up winners will have fun at the ball park with 2 tickets and a parking pass. This contest will be a lot of fun and we are really happy to give back to our readers. You make what we do possible, plain and simple. We wish we could make every entry a winner. Good luck!
Westchase Area Neighborhood News
Here’s How to Enter! Jump on your computer and go to www.NeighborhoodNewsFL.com/Rays, then just fill out the form with your name & contact information to enter and win!
It’s that easy! Good Luck and GO RAYS!
Editor Alexis Selby Correspondents Kim Thomas Julie Kanehl Katie Thomas
Marcy Sanford Dara Tucker
Art Director Tony Sica Graphic Artist Dat X. Do Marketing & Development Ashley Knoblach
Nothing that appears in Westchase Neighborhood News may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by Westchase Neighborhood News writers are their own and do not reflect the publisher’s opinion. The management of Westchase Neighborhood News is always happy to accept outside editorial submissions to the paper. Please call for outside editorial submission and advertisement deadlines. Westchase Neighborhood News will consider previously non-published outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. Westchase Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates. Westchase Neighborhood News will not return unsolicited editorial materials. Westchase Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit and/or reject any advertising. Westchase Neighborhood News 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. Westchase Neighborhood News & Lifestyles is published by ADS 2 Publications, Inc.
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Community Calendar Alzheimer’s Support Group at Belvedere Commons Assisted Living Belvedere Commons Assisted Living is holding an Alzheimer’s Support Group meeting the last Friday of every month starting April 25th. It will be from 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. and free day care will be provided. Please call in advance for reservations. The support group will be held at 1513 W. Fletcher Ave. in Tampa. For more information or to make a reservation please contact group facilitator Donna Cahn at (813) 265-0844.
Multiple Sclerosis Support Group The monthly Multiple Sclerosis Support Group will meet at Lake Magdalene United Methodist Church (2902 W. Fletcher Ave, Tampa), May 6th at 7 p.m. Drugs are not the only answer to handle the disease of MS. Hear Dr. Gene DeLucia speak on the subject. For more information please contact Rita Schallenberger at (813) 961-5510.
2nd Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament Saturday June 7, 8:00 a.m. – Hosted by Donnie Abraham, former
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NFL Buccaneer and NY Jets player, the 2nd Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament will be held at Bardmoor Golf and Tennis club, located at 8001 Cumberland Road in Seminole. Proceeds will benefit the Clearwater HS (501c3) Football program to provide them with much needed safety equipment, pads, helmets, uniforms, meals & hydration products. There will also be a $10,000 hole in one contest, best hand hole poker, closest to Pin, beat the pro and many more contests. They will also have some great prizes, including autographed sports memorabilia, a weekend in a new Cadillac from Dimmitt, jewelry, golf swing lessons, rounds of golf at several elite golf courses in Tampa Bay area, and lots of gift cards to various places, such as Sports Authority, restaurants, etc. Registration starts at 7 a.m. and the shotgun start will begin promptly at 8 a.m. All golfers receive a goodie bag, continental breakfast, range balls, 18 holes of golf with cart, full hot lunch, photos golfing and interacting with several local celebrates and so much more. There are great advertisement and sponsorship packages available. For more information or to register please call (727) 403-4516 or email Kyminda@hotmail.com.
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Westchase Area Neighborhood News
Community News Briefs Hillel Academy Head of School Honored and Marketing Director Hired Hillel Academy is proud to announce that Head of School Amy Wasser has been honored by Jewish National Fund (JNF) at its annual Tree of Life Award Dinner. The dinner was held on Tues., April 8, 2014 at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay. Ms. Wasser was presented with the Lawrence D. Wasser Humanitarian Award, which is awarded annually to a non-profit professional who has exhibited traits and attributes of leadership excellence. Ms. Wasser joined the staff of Hillel Academy in 1996 and became the head of school in 2004. The forefront of her work has been working with children and helping to instill in them a love of Judaism. Israel education is one of Ms. Wasser’s primary loves and she was inspired to introduce the annual Hillel Academy 8th grade trip to Israel more than 17 years ago. Ms. Wasser holds a B.A. from Columbia University and a M.A., B.A. from the Jewish Theological Seminary. She serves as an accreditation chair for
the Florida Council of Independent Schools and is on the editorial board for the Community Jewish Day School Network’s national publication, Hayidion. She was a past director of USY on Wheels and a staff member of Camp Ramah. She has been a member of Congregation Kol Ami in Tampa for more than 18 years. Ms. Wasser brings her unique mix of formal and informal educational skills to Hillel Academy, the premier community day school in Tampa Bay. New Hire Hillel Academy engaged HCP - a national research, strategy and marketing firm headquartered in Tampa to undertake an Enrollment Research Project to determine how the school could best enhance the recruitment process and boost enrollment. In order to develop more aggressive marketing campaigns and enhance word of mouth, Hillel was encouraged to hire a marketing professional. To that end, as of February 1, 2014, Head of School Amy Wasser brought Jody Sherman on board as the school’s first Director of Marketing.
Westchase Area Neighborhood News
Mrs. Sherman comes to the position with many years of non-profit marketing experience, including positions as Director of Marketing and Public Relations for the Florida Holocaust Museum, St. Petersburg, and Public Relations Manager for the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, Tarpon Springs. Mrs. Sherman is an active volunteer in the Jewish community and is the Cochair of the Florida Holocaust Museum’s Anne Frank Humanitarian Award Program. She is a member of Hadassah’s Celebrate the TaTas event committee and was on the board of the former JCC Suncoast. She holds a B.S. from the University of Maryland and an M.B.A. from the University of Connecticut. Mission Statement Hillel Academy’s mission is to provide a superior education that encourages a love of learning and a
strong Jewish identity. To that end, Hillel students are encouraged to attain the highest possible level of personal achievement. Hillel Academy offers morning bus service from North Pinellas county with bus stops at Temple Ahavat Shalom, Woodlands Square in Oldsmar, and Westchase. Bus service from South Tampa also will be offered for the 2014 - 15 school year. Hillel Academy is accredited by the Florida Council of Independent Schools (FCIS) and the Florida Kindergarten Council (FKC) and is a member of the Jewish Community Day School Network. The school is recognized by the U.S. Deptartment of Education as a Blue Ribbon School. The Hillel Academy is located at 2020 W Fletcher Ave. in Tampa. For more information please call (813) 963-2242 or visit their website at www.HillelAcademyTampa.com.
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Westchase Area Neighborhood News
Westchase Area Neighborhood News
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Allpro Tree and Landscaping Certified Arborist and Landscaping Professional By Katie Thomas Serving the Tampa Bay area with quality tree and landscaping services, Allpro Tree and Landscaping works to keep your commercial and residential sites looking fresh, trimmed and healthy. Whether you are in need of professional landscape design and installation, or safe tree service, Allpro has the skill, knowledge and experience to exceed your expectations and get your foliage looking fabulous! Allpro Tree and Landscaping services include landscape design and installation, tree-trimming and removal, rock beds and mulch, stump grinding, sod installation and removal and tractor work. Allpro uses a CAD program that actually shows you “after” pictures of your future landscape project. Pete Spiridis, owner and operator of Allpro Tree and Landscaping is a certified arborist. Pete believes that quality performance comes with working safe and smart, while utilizing the right tools for each individual job. In
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order to keep up with today’s industry standards, Pete sends all team members at Allpro to regular safety and technique courses at the International Society of Arboriculture. Pete’s expectations for himself and his team are set with high standards and he strives for excellence in his work. “I started my business as a young kid right out of high school in 1997. I took over my dad’s lawn service and ran that for a number of years,” says Pete. “I thought I would like to go in a different direction, so I gave massage therapy a shot, but as I would watch maintenance crews at work outside my air-conditioned unit, I realized that I was kidding myself and my true passion was in outside, hands-on work. I shut down my massage business and purchased equipment the next day. I started mowing lawns again but also added trees and landscaping to my service and was very successful, maintaining over 400 weekly clients.” As Pete’s business grew, he recognized early on that he wanted to do
more for himself and his clients. “I wasn’t happy because I stand for something and I wasn’t reaching my full potential. My quality of life wasn’t what it should be and I let my stress take over, which in turn affected my personal life as a husband and my faith,” says Pete. “I knew that change was in order because God had bigger plans for me. In 2007, I opened up Allpro Tree and Landscaping to provide better, quality assured services. My wife and I came up with this name, Allpro, because to us it means that at we are who we say we are – All professionals, no more day laborers. You must know your area of expertise. We only focus on trees and landscaping, which sets us apart from others. I hold myself accountable to give true and honest meaning behind the name Allpro.” Pete adds, “I believe that in order to be the best, you need to gain as much knowledge in your field as possible. So in 2011, I earned the title Certified Arborist and with that title I maintain CEUs and also take the advantage of sending my team members
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to classes so they can be the best at what they do. I am only as good as my team, so I make sure they are the best.” Team members at Allpro Tree and Landscaping are always in recognizable uniforms, so you can know exactly who is working on the job! Fully licensed and insured, Allpro Tree and Landscaping is dedicated to providing clients with the best service possible in a way that doesn’t harm you, your yard or the trees they are working with. Pete takes every step to ensure that he and his team are the professionals who do it all and do it the best when it comes to tree and landscaping services. When hiring a tree and landscaping service, working with a certified arborist is the smart way to go. Improperly pruned trees are at risk for disease, which can lead to them having to be removed. Trees and a beautifully landscaped yard add value to your home and business. We are all so lucky to live in tropical Florida, where we can enjoy plants and lush trees year round. From tropical palms and
Westchase Area Neighborhood News
Before citrus trees to the glorious southern live oak and towering pine trees, Certified Arborist Pete Spiridis of Allpro has the knowledge to keep your Florida landscape looking its best. Allpro was chosen as the Super Service Award Winner for Angie’s List customers in 2013. This award is highly prestigious and is only given to the top five percent of companies chosen by Angie’s List as earning the Super Service title. Ken H. of Tarpon Springs says, “Pete is very professional. We called several tree services and Allpro’s pricing was the best. Pete was also the most professional. He got all the permits needed for the work we needed done. Pete was on the job site the entire time, working right alongside his
team. His equipment is adequate to get any job done, small or large. The team cleaned up all debris and left our yard looking great!” Another satisfied client, Armand says, “Allpro owner Pete and his crew removed one large oak using a crane, removed three smaller trees and included stump grinding as part of their services. One of the oaks was overhanging over the garage roof and was raised and trimmed by the crew to open up space. My backyard oak was also trimmed. Pete prepped the yard for new sod and installed new St. Augustine sod after removing piles of block, brick and small trees. The sod provided was the best I have seen after two re-sodding projects. All the work was completed in two days and
Westchase Area Neighborhood News
After cleaned up, including a freshly pressure washed driveway. Overall the work was excellent and professional. I will be using Allpro again!” The Allpro team can help you before and after big storms by helping you in finding dangerous limbs that may harm your home or even coming by after a storm to help you clean up. Pete is all about safety and works to protect you and your family from instances that could possibly be harmful. He takes precautionary measures and with Hurricane season right around the corner, it’s best to be preventative rather than reactive! Allpro is rated as a top professional tree and landscaping service throughout the Tampa Bay area. Christine says, “The crew shows up on time, working
quickly and efficiently to finish a job. I am very pleased with Allpro’s professionalism and service!” Whether you are in need of a specialized arborist’s opinion, landscaping design, clean-up services or tree/debris removal – Allpro’s pro attitude and services are the best you can get! Pete says, “When you have a tree to be trimmed, make sure the tree service you are hiring loves that tree as much as you do! Hire a certified arborist, not some doorknocker claiming to give you a deal. You will get the best with Allpro!” To contact Allpro Tree and Landscaping for an estimate, please call Pete at (813) 244-9234 or (727) 409-3315. Visit www.myallpro.com for photographs and check out reviews on Angie’s List!
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Come Check out the Newest Brass Tap Location in Oldsmar! After eating here, I’ve come to realize that no matter what you order and no matter what your taste preference is, you are guaranteed to find something, or many different things, that you will really love!
By Alexis Selby Showcasing its debut with over 300 craft beers from breweries worldwide, including 250 different bottled beers and 70 unique drafts on tap, the newly opened Oldsmar Brass Tap, located at 4011 Tampa Road in Oldsmar, is a beer-lovers dream! But that’s not all! With a delicious food menu, and an upbeat, upscale atmosphere complete with a huge dining area to accommodate large groups, this Brass Tap has even more to offer customers.
Live Music & Entertainment
Drink Beer From Anywhere in The World! Specializing in craft beers, The Brass Tap is a unique bar that features beer from all regions around the world – from Belgium to Ireland, to our very own Tampa Bay! So whether you want a hefeweizen from Germany, a sweet stout from England or a cider from Tampa, there is something for every taste and palate! One of my personal favorites is Sea Dog Wild Blueberry, a fruit-flavored beer served with fresh blueberries – yum! At Brass Tap, the beer experts are constantly on the look out for the best beers, and rotate their taps daily to ensure that you can always expect to find a new favorite. With so many different beers to choose from, at first one might feel overwhelmed. But, there is no need to worry; the bartenders really know their brews and can easily guide you to your new favorite beer! The Brass Tap bar staff is very friendly and helpful and will happily recommend and educate you on new beers, and whether you are a seasoned brew connoisseur, or new to craft beer, you are sure to find something you’ll truly love. “The servers are very knowledgeable,” says Erin Sheerin, Marketing Manager at The Oldsmar Brass Tap. “They all really like beer and are passionate about the whole craft beer scene and how it is growing and becoming more and more successful.” Brass Tap also projects their beer menu on a big board and on their TVS and has a phone app, so you always know exactly what beers they have on tap. If you are having trouble making a decision about what beer you want, perhaps a flight of four beers might be the best route to go. Flights are always a great way to try a couple different styles.
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From Craft Beer to Delicious Food – Brass Tap Has it All! Looking for the perfect food to pair with your beer, or vice versa? Your bartender will happily guide you to the perfect match. On the menu you will also find suggestions as to what type of beer goes best with each item. From salty to tangy to sweet, you're sure to find a flavor to compliment your beer and appease your appetite on their new menu. Great to share, the Mexican Chicken Flatbread, made on their oneof-a-kind, crispy dough and topped with taco-spiced chicken, goat cheese, tomatoes and poblano sauce and garnished with cilantro, is fabulous. A fiesta of flavor, the tender chicken was brought to life with the perfect combination of spices and seasonings. A customer favorite, Brass Tap’s Angus Beef Sliders, featuring Angus beef seasoned with Kosher salt and pepper and topped with Cabot™ white cheddar cheese and balsamic ketchup and served on a lightly salted pretzel roll, are absolutely amazing and quite possibly one of my favorite things on the menu. Literally melting in my mouth, the premium prime rib sandwich featuring sliced prime rib topped with Brie cheese and served warm on a French baguette with horseradish sauce is every bit as heavenly as it sounds. Loaded with meat, this sandwich will definitely feed a hungry diner and is well worth every penny! Looking for something flavorful? The Fish Tacos are a must try! The taste basically jumps off the plate. Deliciously covered in a Yuengling ® beer batter coating and served in a soft-shell tortilla with angel hair cabbage, and peri-peri aioli before being topped with melted Mozzarella and
Peppadew peppers, the crunchy fish was perfectly complemented by the tangy sauce and made for a great combination of sweet and spicy. Some other great options on the menu include their Samuel Adams® Beer Cheese Dip served with fresh baked pretzel pieces, their Amsterdam Sweet Fries, served with balsamic ketchup and malt vinegar aioli and their amazingly tasty pretzel pizzas, with numerous different selections to choose from.
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In addition to their beer, live music and entertainment is a huge part of The Brass Tap experience. At The Brass Tap, they strive to create a unique and friendly atmosphere and their daily entertainment is carefully selected to fit this niche. Each month The Brass Tap will feature a different Brewery of the Month, where guests will enjoy limited exclusive tappings every Friday night, as well as fun giveaways and the chance to win a trip, with a drawing held every month! May’s Brewery of the Month is Southern Tier. They also have many other exciting events planned for the near future! To view the music and entertainment schedule at The Brass Tap Westchase go to www.TheBrassTap.com and click on the Westchase location or download their free App. Looking for a fun place to watch
Westchase Area Neighborhood News
The Brass Tap offers a nice variety of delicious menu options, including their crispy fish tacos (L), flavorful Mexican Chicken Flatbread (M) and their mouthwatering premium prime rib sandwich (R). your favorite sports team? With over 20 high definition TVS, you won’t miss a minute of action, and the side-by-side placement of the TVS allow you to watch more than one game at once!
Celebrate American Craft Beer Week at The Oldsmar Brass Tap If you don’t already know, May 12 – 18 is American Craft Beer Week, and no one knows how to celebrate better than The Brass Tap! Featuring the best American craft beers, enjoy a weeklong celebration, including a Sam Adams Tap Takeover on Tuesday May 13, where they will showcase 6 Sam Adams taps, as well as giveaways and raffles and other fun contests.
The Brass Tap Brew Crew – In appreciation of its loyal customers, The Brass Tap has a loyalty program that not only saves members money, but also encourages them to try new beers. For only $15, you can sign up for the Brew Crew and receive a t-shirt and an official Brew Crew membership card. Every time a Brew Crew member tries a new draft beer, they earn a point; points accumulate until you reach your Brew Crew milestones, which include free gifts and Brass Tap Rewards Cards. Brew Crew
members also have their own chalkboard dedicated to keeping up with points, and to make it even easier, members can now download the new Brass Tap App, so they can better track and keep records of which beers to try next. In addition, on Tuesdays and Sundays members enjoy 25% off all bottled beer.
Brass Tap App Download the new Brass Tap App (free to download on IPhone and Android) and keep up-to-date on the latest happenings at Brass Tap Westchase, including upcoming events, daily specials, a full list of beers and so much more. Brew Crew members can now use the App as a way to keep track of the beers they have tried and beers they have yet to try. This locally owned Brass Tap is very community driven and supports local business as much as possible. “We try to have taps from as many local breweries as possible, including taps from Cigar City, 7venth Sun and 3 Daughters.” says Erin. “In addition something really unique that we do is a monthly charity day.” Each month Brass Tap Westchase will pick a different local charity and on one day that month will feature different ways to help donate to that charity. For the Month of
Westchase Area Neighborhood News
May, the charity day will be held on May 21st and Brass Tap Westchase has chosen to donate to Casa – a wonderful organization that provides refuge, crisis intervention and advocacy to victims of domestic violence. The Oldsmar Brass Tap is located at 4011 Tampa Road in Olds-
mar. Hours are Sun. – Thurs. 12 p.m. – 1 a.m. and Fri and Sat 12 p.m. – 2 a.m. For more updated daily specials, events and upcoming live bands please call (813) 7497555, visit www.TheBrassTap.com or their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BTOldsmar.
Weekly Specials Happy Hour Mon. – Fri. 12 p.m. – 7 p.m. $1.50 off all drafts & $3 house wines. Mondays Hospitality Night – 9 p.m. – close. 50% off all pint drafts for anyone with proof of employment in the Hospitality or Service Industry. Cigar Night – 7 p.m. – close. Pair cigars with drafts for discounted combination pricing. Tuesdays 25 % off all bottles for Brew Crew members Wednesdays Trivia Night – 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Team Trivia Company will host the trivia night and the bar will have $4
select drafts from during this time. Prizes: 1st place: $30 - 2nd place: $20 - 3rd place: Beer Flight Thursdays Ladies Night – all day Thursday. $4 select drafts and house wines for all the ladies! Fridays and Saturdays Live Music 9 p.m. – close. Sponsored by Rock Brother’s Brewing, the Brass Tap offers the very best line-up of local bands to create a fun and friendly atmosphere and offers a unique and engaging experience to every guest. They will keep 2 Rock Brother’s Brewing beers on tap at all times and run $1.00 OFF specials during the live music events.
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Westchase Area Neighborhood News
Westchase Area Neighborhood News For Ad Info Call (813) 928-6124 or Visit NeighborhoodNewsFL.com
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Mrs. K’s Place – Creating Learning Success Stories, One Student at a Time! By Marcy Sanford When you sign your child up for an after school program at Mrs. K’s Place, you’ll be giving him or her the confidence to succeed in school. Owner Janet Kennedy has many years of experience in education as a teacher, tutor, and administrator and her extensive curriculum offers individualized after school programs in math, reading, writing, and test preparedness. With a beautiful new studio in the East Lake Professional Center in Palm Harbor, Mrs. K’s Place is conveniently located less than15 minutes from the Westchase area. “We’ve been open since January,” says Mrs. K, “and we’ve already seen great results with our students. Before opening I did a lot of research to find and develop a curriculum that addressed the higher standards students are expected to now know. The programs we have are tailored for stu-
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dents who need help in school and also students who are looking for an extra challenge.”
Comprehensive Learning Assessments and Individual Study Plans Before beginning a program, each new student takes a computerized assessment to find out his or her areas of strength and weaknesses. From there the experienced tutors develop an individualized program for every student based upon their individual needs, from pre-K to 8th grade. At Mrs. K’s Place there are never more than 3 students in a group so you can be assured your child will get the personal, individualized attention he or she needs. “Our curriculum includes both paper and pencil and computer based learning,” says Mrs. K. “Our students complete online homework each week, allowing me to monitor their
progress during the week. Since I can see what they have comprehended and what they need help with in between their sessions, I can develop individualized lessons for them each week. We also reassess our students periodically so that we can adjust their level and move them up as they gain more knowledge.” Years of teaching and working with children has taught Mrs. K how to connect with her students. She says, “When our students come in to Mrs. K’s Place, they run in the door excited to learn. At Mrs. K’s Place, the hands-on tutors teach an We develop a perexcellent curriculum that gives students the sonal relationship knowledge and confidence to succeed. with all of our stuconfidence at school has soared since dents and learn what motivates them so that we can keep them involved and they’ve been in her programs. “My children have been coming to Mrs. engaged in their lessons.” K’s Place since February,” says Awani. Awani Patel, whose daughter and “Mrs. K is a great teacher and she son go to Mrs. K’s Place, says their
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Westchase Area Neighborhood News
helps them with any troubles they may be having in school. She is working with my son in reading and my daughter in math. They both are doing better in school and have much more confidence when it comes to testing.”
Programs Designed for Florida Standards and Common Core Math Sometimes, looking at your child’s homework can leave you scratching your head trying to figure out how to help him or her. At Mrs. K’s Place, experienced tutors will help your child understand the how and why of math in addition to what the
answer is. Students learn how to explain their answers in writing so that they develop conceptual skills in addition to performance skills. Mrs. K’s Place programs cover numbers and operations, geometry, algebra and algebraic thinking, as well as measurements and data. Reading/Language Arts In today’s schools, children are expected to know not just how to read but to be able to really comprehend and discuss the text they have read. With the help of Mrs. K’s Place reading programs, your child will acquire the skills necessary for everyday reading, as well as additional skills needed to really comprehend materials.
Writing Writing has become an integral part of every subject and using her years of experience as an English teacher Mrs. K has developed an exceptional writing curriculum to help young writers master the skills needed to write engaging pieces that are clear and grammatically correct. Your child will learn narrative, expository, persuasive, and creative writing. This summer, Mrs. K will also be introducing a new writing program developed for children as young as 6 years old. Readiness Program Children entering kindergarten are expected to know much more than in years past, and with the help of Mrs. K’s Place your child can enter kindergarten confidently prepared to learn. The fun, hands-on lessons in the Readiness Program help children develop skills to get a head start for school and the engaging programs help children develop math, reading, fine motor, and self-help skills.
Standardized Test Preparation Mrs. K’s Place can ease your child’s test jitters by giving them the confidence to know that they can succeed at standardized tests. Mrs. K’s Place provides a structured study plan to help children perform to the best of their abilities on the state-mandated standardized tests. Their program includes specific instruction in Math and Reading for grades 3 – 8 and Writing for grades 4 and 8. No matter what your child’s needs may be, whether he or she is struggling with a homework assignment, needs help studying for an upcoming test or just wants that added edge in the classroom, the tutors at Mrs. K’s Place offer the necessary tools to succeed! Mrs. K’s Place is located in the Eastlake Professional Center at 3488 East Lake Road in Suite 102B. They offer individualized tutoring for students age 3 through 8th grade Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday beginning at 3 p.m., with the last appointment at 6 p.m. For more information or to schedule a learning assessment, call (727) 6149990 or email rich@mrsksplace.net. You can also find more information at www.MrsKsPlace.net.
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“Foot and Ankle” Continued from page 1 really impressed! Not only were they extremely knowledgeable and informative, but also really nice and down-toearth. Further to that, after their story ran, we received so much positive feedback from people in the community who absolutely loved the doctors and raved about how great they were. From the moment I called their office to set up an appointment, I knew I had made the right decision! The front desk was extremely accommodating and helpful – not to mention so positive and nice – and was able to get me an appointment for that same day! Upon arrival she greeted me with a warm welcome and I was instantly made to feel comfortable and relaxed. “Our staff is very important to us at Comprehensive Foot and Ankle Center, and patients can always expect a smile, as well as a warm hello and goodbye,” states Dr. Kathy. The quality care continues after you leave the waiting room, and certified x-ray technicians and medical assistants will treat you with the utmost care and compassion. After my vitals were taken, I was
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taken to one of the patient rooms, and at that point I saw Dr. George. Using an ultrasound and x-rays (which they do in-house) Dr. George was able to diagnose my condition instantly – and at that point I found out I had a major tear in my plantar fascia in my right foot and plantar fasciitis in the other (the plantar fascia is ligament that connects your heel bone to your toes, and plantar fasciitis is a series of small tears to that valuable ligament). He was very informative and helped me to better understand what could have caused this and how to prevent further injury in the future. I was so impressed with my experience – not only were they able to get me in right away, but I had a definite diagnosis within 10- minutes of arriving for my appointment! At Comprehensive Foot and Ankle Center the doctors go after the root cause of your problem, not just the symptoms, allowing them to fully understand what issues their patients may be having. “We spend quality time with our patients,” states Dr. Kathy. “We want them to leave feeling happy and satisfied, as well as educated, with the care they have received.” CFAC instantly gave me something to look forward to – my recovery. Before leaving Dr. George had the
medical assistant wrap my feet to offer support to my plantar fascia and gave me exercises to better stretch and strengthen those ligaments. Following my appointment I also came in once a week to get it re-wrapped as to continue the healing process. Gradually I recovered, and after a 4 months I was finally able to return to running. Thanks to the amazing staff and doctors at Comprehensive Foot and Ankle Center, I was able to resume my beloved past time! I don’t believe I would have been able to do it without them!
About the Doctors: George Tjamaloukas , DPM, FACFAS and Kathy Tjamaloukas, DPM, FACCWS, owners of Comprehensive Foot and Ankle Center, are extremely knowledgeable regarding the various facets of medicine within podiatry and have many years of experience working as Podiatrists in the Tampa Bay Area. Dr. George and Dr. Kathy are very well versed on the function and anatomy of the body as a whole, as they have spent many years studying the entire body before focusing on the specific field of podiatry; which specializes on all ailments below the knee. After completing her undergraduate studies at Loyola University in
Chicago, with a major in Biology, earning a Bachelor of Sciences with Honors, Dr. Kathy studied at the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in Chicago. She graduated in 2004 in the top 5% of her national graduating class with her Doctorate in Podiatric Medicine and went on to complete three years of foot and ankle surgical training at the Northwest Medical Center residency program in Margate, Florida. Dr. Kathy is very well educated in the care and treatment of chronic, non-healing wounds; using split thickness skin grafts, flaps, and synthetic grafts and is board certified as a Diplomate by the American Board of Wound Management and is a Fellow of the American College of Certified Wound Specialists. Dr. George graduated with honors from St. Francis University in Joliet, IL, majoring in Biology and he too went on to study Podiatric medicine at the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in Chicago. In 2003, he also graduated in the top 5% of his national graduating class with his Doctorate in Podiatric Medicine. After graduation Dr. George completed a three year surgical resi-
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field that Dr. George has extensive experience in: fractures of the ankle & foot, motor vehicle injuries & sports injuries, as well as limb salvage. Specializing in Sports Medicine, Dr. George treats a variety of patients in sports teams from Children, Adults and Professional Team Sports. He offers surgical and conservative treatment options for the injured athlete. Arthroscopy & condiDR. GEORGE DR. KATHY tions such as sports-related TJAMALOUKAS, TJAMALOUKAS, ankle/foot sprains and uses D.P.M., F.A.C.F.A.S. D.P.M., F.A.C.C.W.S. minimally invasive procedures using arthroscopy. In addition, the Doctors dency at JFK Medical Center in Atoffer State of the Art Laser Treatment lantis, Florida. He is also board certified for the sole treatment of toe nail fungus in Foot and Reconstructive Rear& discolored nails with the use of the, foot/Ankle Surgery by the American FDA approved, PinPointe Footlaser Board of Podiatric Surgery and is a Fel- machine. Currently Dr. George & Dr. low of the American College of Foot Kathy are the only doctors to offer Pinand Ankle Surgeons. Pointe Footlaser in the entire Tampa Dr. George offers Total Ankle Bay Area! Joint Replacement for patients with seWhether you are an athlete trying vere arthritis of the ankle, as a result of to mend a broken foot or a diabetic previous trauma or rheumatoid arthritis. looking for quality care, ComprehenTotal Ankle Replacement is an alternasive Foot and Ankle Center is the place tive to ankle fusion, to promote mobilto go. From routine checkups to treatity and range of motion & function. ments for surgery, they are equipped to Foot & Ankle Trauma is also a handle all your podiatric needs. They
offer many services including ankle and leg surgery including reconstructive surgery, Achilles tendon, ankle instability, ankle sprains, arthritic foot and ankle care, athletes’ foot, bunions, calluses, corns, crush injuries, diabetic foot care, flat feet, fungus toenails, geriatric foot care, hammertoes, heel spurs, infections, ingrown toenails, injuries, metatarsalgia, neuromas, plantar fasciitis, poor circulation, venous and diabetic ulcers, warts and wounds. Dr. Kathy and Dr. George, also specialize in providing quality diabetic care and their vast knowledge, extensive training and friendly demeanor, ensures that you receive the best treatment in a positive atmosphere. Many diabetics suffer from neuropathy, a collection of disorders that occur when nerves of the peripheral nervous system are damaged; causing pain and numbness in the hands and feet and often resulting in the loss of limbs. If you suffer from this terrible disease there is hope, as the doctors at CFAC will work with you and do all they can to salvage your limbs and prevent amputations. “Podiatry plays an integral part of the team approach towards diabetic limb salvage and diabetic care,” states Dr. George. CFAC sells Dr. Comfort shoes, the worldwide leading provider of diabetic footwear, and also fits and sells custom- molded orthotics, which are specifically designed for each individual patient’s foot. After giving you a biomechanical exam Comprehensive Foot and Ankle Center will make you your
own unique, custom-fit orthotics that will allow your joints and bones of the foot to be in a more stable position while standing and in motion, helping to stabilize the weight bearing joints of the legs (foot, ankle, knee, and hip), pelvis, and lower back. CFAC does a majority of their procedures in- office. For major procedures requiring additional extensive care the doctors do surgery in-hospital. For your convenience, Comprehensive Foot and Ankle Center works with four hospitals throughout the Tampa Bay Area, as to better serve you. These hospitals are Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, Trinity Medical Center, North Bay Hospital and New Tampa Surgery Center in Wesley Chapel. Client Anthony Nash says, “I have had surgery with both doctors and would thoroughly recommend them. They are highly professional and knowledgeable as well as kind and respectful. Comprehensive Foot and Ankle Center is truly an asset to the community.” Anthony is right – they really are an asset to the community, and without their specialized help and expert attentive care, I wouldn’t have been able to recover as quickly as I did! Comprehensive Foot and Ankle Center is located in the Oakstead Professional Center at 2650 Narnia Way in Land O' Lakes. Office Hours are Mon. – Fri. 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. For more information please call (813)-9090865 or visit www.cfacfootandankle.com.
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“GetMoreOffers” Continued from page 1 offer buyers’ agents ranging from 14%, as well as setting their own price. The uniqueness of the service is allowing the seller to control all aspects, while still giving them comprehensive marketing exposure. Sellers have an account dashboard that enables them to manage every aspect of their listing online, 24/7. ADDvantage prides itself on the high level of customer service they provide, including fast implementation of listing changes and capturing all buyer leads on behalf of sellers. “Our rave reviews from past customers are many and we have earned our solid reputation through years of dedication and service.” MLS flat fee listing plans start at $299 for a by-owner style listing called “limited service.” Here, the seller is self-represented. The seller saves at least 50% or maybe all the commission if they sell with no agent involved. “The best plan for sellers is ‘Professional ADDvantage’ (or what we call PRO),” says broker Keith Gordon. “This is the fastest growing segment of our company. Unlike the
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basic limited-service plan, with PRO, they are represented by me from start to finish just like a full-service 6% listing but the cost is 45% less.” Keith suggests offering 2.5% to the buyer’s agent and his fee is $499 up front and .75% at close for the listing side for a total commission of around 3.25%. If the seller finds their own buyer, the total commission is just 1%. Keith says PRO saves sellers time and stress and that his experience and skill at negotiations nets sellers considerably more than if they were handling the sale on their own. Why use the PRO plan and Keith to sell? “Keith might just be the best negotiator in Florida,” says Erin Knorr. “…Keith just sold a remodeled garden home in Bird Key Sarasota for $960,000 when his list price was $950,000—in 10 days, cash, with just one offer on the table.” How did Keith get $10,000 over the asking price without a multiple-offer situation? Keith said, “I read the situation, buyer’s motivation, attitude of the buyer’s agent and just asked for the price. Negotiations are an art. My goal when negotiating an offer is to change the buyer’s agents’ expectations of the business-as-usual thinking of ‘offercounter-counter-counter-meet-in-the-
middle-deal.’ This can shift outcome in your favor.” Keith explains that real estate always poses challenges, one being the notorious real estate site, Zillow. “God-Zillow, as I call it, is mentioned by almost every seller during the listing and Erin Knorr & Keith Gordon selling process. The “Here’s the truth,” adds Keith. ‘Zestimate’ is always on the mind of a “In the end, who cares about Zillow? seller; they are annoyed by the generic Yes, they have hijacked the US real esaspect of Zillow’s pricing algorithm tate market in a sense, by posting valwhich is often way off due to lack of ues and pictures without sellers’ consideration for lot premiums, $60,000 updated kitchens, new baths, permission and then selling ad space new a/c, roof or other upgrades. Buy- to real estate agents throughout the country for $2,000-$4,000 per month ers and lenders struggle as well with per zip code, so their ads can be listed the discrepancy between Zestimates, alongside consumers’ searches for inappraisals, comps and of course the formation that isn’t even real.” listing price.”
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Keith thinks Zillow’s hay day will come to an end and predicts it will happen soon. “They don’t have sellers’ permission to post their homes. It is as if facebook published 260,000,000 accounts for all US citizens with pics scraped from the Internet and a bio with erroneous facts. If FB couldn’t find the info, they would ‘FBestimate’ the person’s identity.” Keith continues, “Who gave Zillow that right? It might be a class action lawsuit in the works, the grounds being loss of value in the sale of one’s home.” According to an article published on March 17, 2013 in Inman News, Move Inc. and the National Association of Realtors have filed a lawsuit against Zillow and former Move chief strategy officer and realtor.com president Errol Samuelson for alleged breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and misappropriation of trade secrets. The most recent challenge to the real estate market is the flood insurance crisis. Pinellas County has 51,000 properties affected by the new flood rates. Keith explains, “In short, homes selling for $250,000 and less are most affected, homes less than $500,000 are in trouble too and the $500,000 plus are affected less so. Homes under
$150,000 are especially hard-hit because the increases in flood rates are disproportionate to the PI (principal and interest) payment. Buyers paying $1200/month for a mortgage and $300 for flood insurance is too much. Buyers can’t and won’t do it. Not at the current prices. Say for example a home was valued at $150,000 a year ago, now it worth $110,000. The $40,000 decrease in price drops the buyer’s PI payment down to a level equaling the extra flood costs. This same reasoning applies on all affected homes UNLESS the buyer is one that has enough money to offset this disproportionate cost. High-end homes are less affected.” What should sellers do? Keith says, “Drop the price now and get sold. Good time to buy though as well. If you want waterfront or a home in a flood zone, buy it as the flood insurance market will likely stabilize after a year or two and flood prices may come down as result of competition.” GetMoreOffers.com is open and online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To speak to an agent or to get more information, please call 1-877-232-9695.
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