Vol. 8, Issue 5, May 2017
®
Your community. Your magazine.
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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
Summer Slide may sound like fun but for many kids it is a frustrating reality. Between the end of one school year and the start of the next, every student is at risk for summer learning loss. On average, students lose 2 months of reading skills and 2.6 months of math skills over the summer. It can take up to 2 months from the first day of school for a student’s brain development to get back on track. This type of learning loss can be especially frustrating for students who were struggling at the end of the year or had, “just begun to get it.” However with as little as 2 – 3 hours a week, you can help your child retain and build upon what they learned during the school year and set them up for success in the fall. KnowledgePoints Tutoring in Trinity and in Land O’ Lakes offers affordable, fun tutoring with proven results. Their expert educators can help your child get better grades in See “KnowledgePoints” on page 22.
Rocky Contreras, owner of KnowledgePoints Tutoring Centers in Trinity and in Land O’ Lakes
TPC Tampa Bay Golf Tournament Benefits Birdies for the Brave.....3 Calendar & News Briefs...............4 LaserSpa of Tampa Bay.............6-7 ALLPRO Tree & Landscaping...................10-11 SCORE..................................12-13 1-800-GOT-JUNK?.............14-15 Riders Group Supports Veterans at Baldomero-Lopez................16 Patio Pools............................18-19 Racing for a Cure..................24-25 SAT/ACT Tutoring...................28
ECRWSS
By Marcy Sanford
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Postal Customer
KnowledgePoints Tutoring that Prevents Summer Slide!
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID TAMPA FL PERMIT 1185
Gentle OB/GYN Care for Women by Women
“Gentle OB/GYN Care for Women by Women,” is a promise at Suncoast Women’s Care and the philosophy that Dr. Wanda Torres has built her practice on since she first opened her doors in New Port Richey. Dr. Torres strongly feels that it is important for her patients to know their care providers understand what it’s like to be a female patient. The April issue of Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles featured a write-up about the 15Year Anniversary of Suncoast Women’s Care that gave readers a glimpse of what it was like for Dr. Torres; building a practice on her own, freshly graduated from medical school and energetically meeting the public through volunteer work at local hospitals. If you read it, then you know she has an adorable relationship with her husband Javier, a happy and
uplifting office with a friendly and competent team comprised of an all-female medical staff, and mostly female office staff with the exception of two gentlemen including Javier who is the business manager. Suncoast Women’s Care has seen tremendous growth over the years, and though Dr. Torres started her practice in a tiny office, she now has an inviting and beautifully decorated spacious office on the second floor of the BayCare Medical Arts Building on Trinity Oaks Boulevard in Trinity. The lobby is happy and filled with lovely photos of mothers and newborns, and there is room for even more growth. In 2015, Dr. Torres welcomed Malieri Colon-Rivera, MD, and Suncoast Women’s Care also has two nurse practitioner midwives, Michelle Williams, ARNP-CNM and Karen Vaughn-Kerns, ARNP-CNM. See “Women’s Care” on page 26.
Dated Material Please Rush!
By Kim Thomas
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From The Editor Kim Thomas
Golf Tournament Benefiting Birdies for the Brave Heritage Golf Group, a leading owner and operator of premier golf properties across the country, is proud to announce the upcoming TPC Tampa Bay Golf Tournament benefitting Birdies for the Brave®. The golf tournament is scheduled for Monday, May 22, 2017 at TPC Tampa Bay, 5300 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road in Lutz. This year’s event marks the 12th anniversary of TPC Tampa Bay’s Golf Tournament benefiting Birdies for the Brave. The charity provides much-needed support to members of the United States Armed Forces and their families, and is a primary element of Heritage Golf Group’s philanthropic endeavors. Since 2008, Heritage Golf Group has raised over $3.2 million for Birdies for the Brave Homefront charities. Details: Registration, 9 a.m.; Range Open, 9–10:25 a.m.; Announcements, 10:30 a.m.; Shotgun Start, 11:15 a.m.; Awards Ceremony, 4 p.m. TPC Tampa Bay will host a 4person scramble tournament which will include celebrities and PGA
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Champions Tour Professionals, Car Give-a-way to a veteran and family, a silent auction and raffle. There will be an official sendoff of the players starting with a Parachute Jump-in, Shriners Pipe & Drum, and the National Anthem sung by a veteran.
TPC Tampa Bay is accepting donations for auction raffle items and direct donations to the charities. The local charity this year will be the Athena House in Tampa, which is the first housing program for homeless female veterans in the nation! TPC Tampa Bay is committed to the local and national needs of our Service men
and women and hope that you will stand with us in this endeavor. Your support is appreciated and needed for these great causes, because freedom isn’t free! Proceeds benefit 11 non-profit vetted military charities supported by PGA TOUR players, including: Special Operations Warrior Foundation (www.specialops.org), Homes for Our Troops (www.hfotusa.org), Navy SEAL Foundation (www.navysealfoundation.org), Operation Homefront (www.operationhomefront.net), Military Warriors Support Foundation (www.militarywarriors.org), Green Beret Foundation (www.greenberetfoundation.org), United Through Reading (www.unitedthroughreading.org), K9s For Warriors (www.k9sforwarriors.org), Feherty’s Troops First Foundation (www.troopsfirstfoundation.org), Operation Shower (www.operationshower.org), and Disabled Sports USA (www.disabledsportsusa.org). Log on to birdiesforthebrave.org and tpctampabay.com for information.
Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles Directly mailed once a month to over 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 © 2017 Tampa BayNews & Lifestyles is published by ADS 2 Publications, Inc. Publisher Tim Selby General Manager Jim O’Reilly
Correspondents Julie Kanehl Marcy Sanford Katie Thomas
Editor Kim Thomas
Art Director Dat X. Do
Advertising Sales Manager Matt Selby
Graphic Artists Dat X. Do Tony Sica Accounting Manager Doreen Selby
Advertising Sales Jim O’Reilly Jared Nager
Billing Assistant Tina O’Reilly
Nothing that appears in Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles writers are their own and do not reflect the publisher’s opinion. The management of Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles is always happy to accept outside editorial submissions to the paper. Please call for outside editorial submission and advertise-
ment deadlines. Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles will consider previously non-published outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates. Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles will not return unsolicited editorial materials. Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles reserves the right to edit and/or reject any advertising. Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the actual cost of the advertising space itself, not for the validity of any claims made by its advertisers. Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles is published by ADS 2 Publications, Inc.
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Odessa, Lutz, Land O’ Lakes Area
Community Calendar & News Briefs Inaugural Pasco County All-Star Baseball Game May 20, 2017, 7 PM––at Bishop McLaughlin High School – For the first time ever, the best high school baseball players in Pasco County will compete in an East vs. West AllStar game. Every public school in the County, plus Bishop McLaughlin and Zephyrhills Christian Academy, will play in this game. Coaches had “draft day” in April to select the best few players from each team to make up the 22-man roster for each side. All-Star day begins with concessions at noon, then a home run derby, 60-yard races, coaching clinics and other all-star activities. We’re helping to get Pasco baseball on the map! Come join us, at Bishop McLaughlin High School, 13651 Hays Road, Spring Hill FL. Tickets $10 at the gate. Sponsorships are available, call (813) 784-4410, Bob Durham, Area Director, FCA. See more information at www.pascoallstarbaseball.com
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GFWC Lutz–Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club Honored GFWC Lutz–Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club members were recently honored at the Baldomero Lopez VA Nursing Home in Land O’ Lakes with a Volunteer Appreciation Tea.
(L-R): Co-Chair Marguerite Humet, Chair Donna Losch & Lonna Vizzari
The club member volunteers were presented with a Certificate of Appreciation for their many volunteer hours of providing monthly bingo games and bake sales in order to provide extra spending money for the Veteran residents’ personal items and treats. The Woman’s Club has gener-
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ously supported this Veterans’ facility for many years. For more information on this community service organization, please visit: www.gfwclutzlandolakeswomansclub.org NAMI Pasco 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 those living with mental illness and **and another for family and friends of those with mental illness. This covers all brain disorders, including, but not limited to OCD, depression, bipolar, schizophrenia, multiple personalities, etc. Information: 727-992-9653 or www.namipasco.org. *NAMI CONNECTION Recovery Support Group A structured closed group, open only to those with a mental illness diagnosis. This group for individuals 18 and older, interested in the recovery process, sharing coping skills and being with others who understand the daily challenges of living with a mental illness and is facilitated by trained peers. Additional Information: NAMI
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727-992-9653 or www.namipasco.org Every Wednesday & Thursday, 78:30pm––WellCare Office, Southgate Shopping Center, 5113 US Hwy 19, New Port Richey 2nd & 4th Friday, monthly, from 2–3:30 PM––Atonement Lutheran Church, 29617 State Road 54, Wesley Chapel 2nd & 4th Thursday, monthly, 7–8:30 PM––Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, Shoreline Café Meeting Room,14000 Fivay Rd, Hudson **NAMI FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP – For family members and caregivers of someone with a mental illness diagnosis. 2nd & 4th Mondays, 6:30–8 PM––Medical Center of Trinity “West Campus,” 5637 Marine Parkway, New Port Richey 1st and 3rd Thursday, monthly, 6:30-8 PM––Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, Shoreline Café Meeting Room, 14000 Fivay Rd, Hudson 1st and 3rd Tuesday, monthly, 7-8:30 PM––Atonement Lutheran Church, 29617 State Road 54, Wesley Chapel Additional Information: NAMI 727-992-9653 or www.namipasco.org
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MAY 2017
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LaserSpa of Tampa Bay A Premier Location for Advanced Skin Care By Amy Oliveira Beach season is upon us! Are you ready for sundresses, swimwear, and shorts? If you are feeling a little hesitant about donning your summer wardrobe, visit our friends at LaserSpa of Tampa Bay, conveniently located just east of US 19 at 1219 E. Tarpon Avenue in Tarpon Springs. Established in 2001 by Dr. Barbara Frangos, LaserSpa of Tampa Bay is a full service medical spa specializing in laser hair removal, laser tattoo removal, skin rejuvenation, Botox, fillers, and Cool Body Sculpting. The skilled professionals at LaserSpa of Tampa Bay use state-of-the-art equipment, while treating you to spa services in a beautiful, serene setting. LaserSpa’s clients experience the best in laser care, non-surgical cosmetic enhancements, and complete
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aesthetic skin care for healthy, glowing skin. Meet the Team Dr. Frangos administers all of the laser treatments that are offered at LaserSpa of Tampa Bay, and has built her business by investing in the very best medical laser equipment on the market, which in turn, gets the unparalleled results that her clients have come to expect. LaserSpa’s Medical Aesthetician Jill Campbell formulates individualized treatments for each of her clients depending on their specific needs. A new service that Jill is providing is the DermalPen treatment, which is a highly advanced micro-needling technique that visibly reduces the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, pore size reduction and acne scarring. Jenna Harris, a certified Nurse
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Practitioner, administers Botox and dermal fillers. Jenna is very meticulous when it comes to her trade and brings more than fifteen years of experience to LaserSpa. She uses only the best products, and takes very good care to keep her clients looking young and fresh. Full body waxing and electrolysis by Linda Weininger is available for clients whose needs don’t meet the criteria for laser hair removal. Linda has been a licensed electrologist for over twenty years, and is skilled at removing unwanted hair from face and body. She offers full body waxing in addition to electrolysis. Maggie Wdowiak is the operations manager at LaserSpa of Tampa Bay, but what her clients truly love is
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that she is a Cool Body Sculpting Specialist with the expertise to attack those trouble spots! Cool Body Sculpting is a nonsurgical, fat-freezing, fat-reduction treatment that uses controlled cooling to eliminate stubborn fat that persists after efforts of diet and exercise have failed. The results are proven, noticeable, and lasting—so you’ll look great from every angle. Just in Time For Swimsuit Season! Cool Body Sculpting technology safely delivers controlled cooling to gently and effectively target the fat cells underneath the skin while leaving the skin itself unaffected. For many, Cool Body Sculpting is the perfect way to tighten up and slim down
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those problem areas just in time for swimsuit season! Cool Body Sculpting is for those individuals who have stubborn areas of fat that do not go away with diet or exercise. It’s typically recommended for people who are within 20-30 pounds of their ideal weight. It is not a weight loss solution and it’s not for the clinically obese. Once your ideal goal is achieved, a healthy regimen of diet and exercise is encouraged to maintain lasting results. Each session typically lasts 1-2 hours, depending on the area of the body being treated and the type of applicator used. After the treatment is complete and the device is removed, the area will be massaged to maximize results. This will feel similar to a deep tissue massage. Recovery time is minimal, and you should be able to return to your normal, daily routine immediately after your session. Most patients begin to notice results 4-6 weeks after the initial treatment, with full results after 12 weeks. More than one treatment may be necessary to achieve your desired results. Laser Me Beautiful! Dr. Frangos specializes in laser
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care for anti-aging, resurfacing, vein treatments, tattoo removal and hair removal. By using leading edge laser equipment, she is able to get remarkable results in a short amount of time. Anti-Aging: Lasers have come to the forefront in anti-aging beauty treatments. Technology has made it possible to get fresh, younger-looking skin easily and with little discomfort. Laser care can undeniably correct many issues that we face with our aging skin. Laser works for dark spots, fine lines and wrinkles, scarring, spider veins, uneven skin tone and texture, and facial redness. The type of laser treatment you receive will depend on what needs you are addressing. Tattoo Removal: Getting a tattoo is meaningful, and sometimes proves to be a great decision. At the time, you are inspired to have art become a permanent image on your skin. For some this is a happy decision that they will cherish forever. For others, it’s a reminder of a time they’ve moved beyond. Maybe it’s that tribal armband that peeks out of every t-shirt you own, or the name of your previous lover emblazoned on your skin (no you didn’t!); whatever
the case may be, tattoo regret is all too common for many people. What if there was a way to make that mistake disappear from your skin altogether? LaserSpa of Tampa Bay can help erase unwanted tattoos and pigment with PicoSure, the most advanced laser treatment available for safe and effective tattoo removal. PicoSure targets unwanted ink more effectively than ever before, successfully removing difficult ink colors such as blue and green, as well as previously treated tattoos. Fewer treatments, improved recovery time, and faster results are achievable with PicoSure’s groundbreaking picosecond technology. The number of treatments you’ll need will depend on the age, size, and color(s) of your tattoo. The color of your skin, as well as how deep the tattoo pigment goes, will also affect the removal technique. Smaller tattoos will require fewer pulses while larger ones will need more to remove them. In either case, to completely get rid of a tattoo, it will take several treatments. After each visit, your tattoo should become progressively lighter.
Laser Hair Removal: LaserSpa of Tampa Bay uses only the finest lasers available to get the most safe, efficient and effective results for all of its treatments including hair removal. I can personally attest to the success of laser hair removal with Dr. Frangos. So far, I have had three treatments of laser hair removal from LaserSpa, and the results are definitely evident. Facial hair is something that I have hidden for years. It got to the point where I had to shave every day. Dr. Frangos made me feel at ease during each of my visits. After only three sessions, I see an amazing difference! LaserSpa of Tampa Bay uses toprated lasers for hair removal including the Lumenis® Lightsheer Diode Laser, Cutera™ XEO Yag Laser, and an option of Palomar’s Starlux™ 500 IPL for combination of hair removal and anti aging in one (for face only). The ability to select between three lasers for hair removal allows treatment all skin types, including dark and tanned skin. (Laser treatments may be ineffective on hair that is blond, red, white or grey. In these cases, electrolysis may be recommended.) Get yourself ready to rule the beach! LaserSpa of Tampa Bay has so many great options for beauty, and the woodsy backdrop and beautiful spa furnishings let you forget your busy life, so make that appointment and treat yourself to something you deserve. LaserSpa of Tampa Bay welcomes you to visit their website at www.mylaserspa.com for more details about services offered. Call and schedule your free consultation at 727-934-4477. LaserSpa of Tampa Bay is located at 1219 E. Tarpon Avenue in Tarpon Springs.
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TRINITY DENTAL CARE (727) 372-2001 ING EPT
ACC TIENTS W O N W PA NE
Toll Free: 1-888-tooth AK www.trinitydentalcare.com
We perform the following procedures: - Preventive Dentistry Dr. S. Shayes - Dr. A. Eskandari - Crowns, Bridges - Dentures, Partials, Repairs - Tooth Colored Fillings - Gum Treatment #DN15492 #DN15013 - Nitrous Gas (Happy Gas)
- Root Canals - Teeth Whitening - Dentistry for Children and Adolescence - etc.
Saturday Appointments Available TWO Locations! • 1843 Health Care Drive, Building #1 Trinity, FL 34655 (at the corner of Mitchell Blv & Little Rd, behind Walgreens)
• 20729 Center Oak Drive, Tampa,FL 33647
HEALTHY GUM CLEANING
$69.99
(D1110)
EXP. 6/30/2017. Monday-Friday. New patients only. Cannot be used with insurance or any other offer. Present coupon at time of service.
NEW PATIENT SPECIAL Exam (D0140) and X-Ray (D0272 or D0220)
$39.99 EXP. 6/30/2017. WEEKDAYS ONLY. New patients only. Cannot be used with insurance. Coupon needs to be presented at time of service.
The patient and any other person responsible for payment has a right to refuse to pay, cancel payment or be reimbursed for payment for another service, examination or treatment which is performed as a result of and within 72 hours of responding to the advertisement for the free, discounted or reduced fee, service, examination or treatment.
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ALLPRO Tree & Landscaping – The Elite Service You Deserve By Katie Thomas ALLPRO Tree & Landscaping serves residential and commercial properties throughout the Pinellas, Pasco, Hillsborough areas. Providing customers with professional, skilled services that include landscape design, installation, tree health checks, treetrimming and removal, stump-grinding, rock beds, mulch, sod installation and more––ALLPRO Tree & Landscaping whips your property into shape. In addition to servicing tree and landscaping needs, ALLPRO specializes in proactive services that keep your trees healthy, trimmed and ready for any upcoming spring or summer storms so you don’t have to worry about overhanging limbs when a Florida storm rolls through. Owner Pete Spiridis strives to exceed your expectations in all matters of customer service. From impeccable landscape design with CAD program images that show off what your property will look like after installations to the extensive training of all employees, ALLPRO is intent on providing the best-of-the-best for their customers. Pete Spiridis opened ALLPRO in
AFTER
BEFORE
2007 and has gained satisfied, repeat customers through his hard work and impeccable service. With most of his clients finding him through word of mouth, Pete has been able to grow his company over the past ten years into a well-oiled working machine that gets the job done. Pete is a certified arborist and requires his team members to get training from the acclaimed International Society of Arboriculture in order to enhance their skills, knowledge and expertise. Always mannerly, the ALL PRO team always
cleans up after each job, never leaving you to deal with an unkempt property. Customer Susan Y. says, “We’re extremely pleased with ALLPRO. Pete immediately responded to our call for an estimate and gave us a prompt, thorough written bid. Our tree removal project began and was completed exactly on time and they left our property looking pristine. Work was excellent and the crew was experienced and friendly. I would highly recommend ALLPRO Tree & Landscaping.”
ALLPRO Has Knowledge & Skill! The ALLPRO team is quick, thorough, and provides expert knowledge when it comes to the diverse number of trees in Florida. They are knowledgeable about the health and growth of palms, citrus trees, live oaks, magnolias and any other type of tree you may have questions about on your property. They are able to nurture trees into the stunning beauties they are meant to be. The ALLPRO team can match your landscape to the design style you have in mind and no matter what job
BEFORE they are doing, they always go aboveand-beyond for customers. “Not only did ALLPRO cut the tree down, but they cleaned my gutters, cleaned my roof, yard and planted down sod where he grinded the stump,” says Julie K. “They were here for a good six hours with three men and Pete. Did a very professional job, pulled a permit and had to remove a panel off our wood fence. They replaced it better than it was on before. Would I use them again? Definitely! In fact next spring, we will need some landscaping. This is the company I will call to do the job. ALLPRO is honest, reasonable and very willing to go the extra mile!”
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AFTER ALLPRO takes pride in their knowledge of landscaping and in helping you prevent mishaps during windy storms that greet us here in Florida during spring and summer. Pete and his team will analyze your property to help you better understand the health and safety of your trees in order to help you design a plan that is good for your property and your home. Proactive in every way, the ALLPRO Tree and Landscaping team has the knowledge to check your trees for health and give you information about their location in reference to your home – giving you a little more peace and less worry about a limb or unstable tree falling on your home during hurricane season.
Another happy customer, Charles, has this to say, “Things could not have gone better. Pete made an excellent recommendation for replacing a large tree that was giving us problems (which he pointed out would only get worse) with something entirely different that will be much more attractive and much easier to maintain. His crew arrived on time and they were very professional throughout. They even took extra time to show me a few tricks for maintaining the new trees. Frankly, for the price we paid, I was surprised at the size of the crew and the amount of equipment they brought, but the made short work of the entire project. Plus, they had to remove some curbing and plants to access the tree. When they were done, they replaced everything and you cannot tell they even disturbed those items. This is our third time using this company and we will definitely use them again. Pete did not know it was my
birthday when they were here, but I could not have asked for a better present than to see how nice the project turned out!” Maintenance, trimming, repair, design, preventative care and professional skills - ALLPRO has it all! A great company that truly enjoys serving their community with their professional knowledge, ALLPRO takes pride in beautifying our counties with the best tree and landscaping services around! From tree trimming and removal to yard clean up, stump grinding and landscape design, the ALLPRO team is professional in every sense of the word – professional perfectionists that provide the elite service you deserve! Contact ALLPRO Tree and Landscaping for an estimate at (813) 244-9234 or (727) 4093315. Log on to myALLPRO.com for photographs. Check out ALLPRO’s great reviews on Angie’s List!
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MAY 2017
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SCORE Pasco/Hernando Chapter––“For The Life of Your Business.” By Katie Thomas Small businesses and local support of those businesses is the strength and backbone of every community. The ultimate American dream is to own, run and make a profit with a business that you are passionate about and can grow into something to be proud of. Entrepreneurs looking to start their own businesses or small business owners who want advice on growing their business can gain much needed insight from members of SCORE, a nonprofit organization that provides free business mentoring, seminars and workshops on successfully starting and running your business. The PascoHernando Chapter of SCORE is very active, conducting 75 free seminars last year and actively recruiting more volunteers to meet the needs of a fast growing business community. Historically known as the Service Corps of Retired Executives, SCORE was formed in 1964 and throughout the 70s, Chapters were formed across the nation to accommodate, guide and assist business start-ups with priceless resources – for free. To date, SCORE has grown exponentially with over 350 Chapters and has served over 8.5 million clients. SCORE is run completely by volunteers with realworld, relevant experience – successfully retired business owners and CEOs (and some who are actively working) who have tackled many of the problems that come with growing a profitable business, mentors who’ve had leading roles in growing business through marketing, strategy and financial finesse. The Pasco Hernando Chapter of SCORE, Chapter 439, was founded fifteen years ago has approximately 32 volunteers.
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Pasco Hernando SCORE An Invaluable Local Resource This SCORE Chapter serves Pasco, Hernando and some of North Pinellas with business mentoring services for free, along with other helpful resources that assist small business growth in our community. Sponsored by the United States Small Business Association and funded by the Pasco County Development Council, SCORE has helped new local businesses start with the right plan in place, and have helped established businesses grow their customer base. SCORE offers free face-to-face business mentoring, as well as email mentoring for existing businesses and people looking for advice in starting their own business. Sign-up is convenient – just log on to pascohernando.score.org to sign up, and SCORE will pair you with a mentor that fits your specific business needs. Whether you need financial advice, marketing advice, social media knowledge or an entire business plan, the volunteers at SCORE want to help you find your way in the world of small business ownership, growth and success. SCORE conducts workshops and seminars every year that serve as a mechanism to mentor groups of people face-to-face in a setting that is exciting, inspiring, and helpful. Mike Lewis, chairman of Pasco Hernando SCORE, says, “Last year we conducted 75 seminars within Pasco/Hernando attracting 750 attendees. We utilize the seminars for people who want to start a business or who already own a business. Our seminars have been very successful throughout our community and have resulted in 1200 follow on
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mentorships.” SCORE mentoring is truly priceless and all the help offered is free. There are SCORE mentors with knowledge in marketing in social media and print, finance for business, becoming a legal entity, taxes, and finding money for your business. SCORE mentors teach selling techniques, both online and face-to-face.
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They have recently added a new course on personality selling and how to be your own brand. Mike says, “Some of the courses we give include QuickBooks basic and advanced, how to market business, selling skills, how to apply for a business loan, how to develop business plans, and numerous other courses throughout the month that are con-
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ducted within various libraries within the two counties.” Most seminars and courses are hosted at public libraries, Pasco County Smart Start Incubator and Rasmussen College. You can also find tools, templates and past courses online at www.pascohernando.score.org, where you can copy business plans, listen to podcasts and webinars, all for free! Our local SCORE has recently developed a new program called the Academy for Business Development, which launches this June. This course is tailored for existing businesses that want to develop new strategies to overcome their struggles. The Academy for Business course if presented by seasoned and skilled executives who have managed businesses in the past or currently manage successful businesses – real world experts that help entrepreneurs understand the work it takes to make it. This course is not free, but the information you can gain from the four-week classes offered on Saturday mornings is invaluable. Registration for this course is available on Pasco Hernando SCORE’s website at www.pascohernando.score.org .
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“The course structure will be how to use financial statements to manage and grow your business. Another topic will focus on marketing your business, both in print and social media,” says Mike. “We will also discuss how to increase revenues and profits through the use of selling skills and how to be more effective using personality selling, which essentially is how to identify with your customers. We will go over cost-effective health benefits for employees, how to lower medical insurance premium and the utilization of insurance.” Local Business Success Stories! Pasco Hernando SCORE has assisted many local business grow and reach success. A few of these businesses include: Dunkin’ Donuts of Crystal Beach, Oasis Coffee Spot in Pasco, Premier Hospitality Sourcing, Byblos Cafe, UAS (United Agricultural Services of America), Monica’s Gourmet Cookies and numerous more. Oasis Coffee Spot owner Gerald says, “SCORE was involved from the early planning through its opening and operations. So far, over fifty mentoring sessions have been conducted involving business plan development, cost
case development, task identification and prioritization, and project management. SCORE is viewed as an integral member of the Oasis team.” Our local Chapter of SCORE is a Platinum Chapter and last year alone they mentored 1200 people, many of whom have opened and gained success in their start-ups or existing businesses––impressive for a small group of volunteers! Get a Mentor or Become a Mentor! Having a team of experts who have become leaders in their industries is exactly what you get when you sign up for mentoring with SCORE. From the basics of business to the complete breakdown of making it through the first year of a fledgling business, SCORE mentors offer invaluable help for free. SCORE continually seeks volunteers and new members to mentor local business owners. Mike says, “We are always looking for volunteers whether you’re still in business and/or retired. We need your expertise in various aspects of business: financial, banking, selling, marketing. We have opportunities for volunteers that cover all aspects of business. Volunteers help
lead workshops and seminars, provide online coaching from home or office, and help existing businesses become more effective.” Volunteers enjoy flexibility, choosing how much time they want to devote to giving back to the business community. Realizing that they all started somewhere and along the journey there was help, SCORE volunteers feel great about sharing their knowledge and supporting the local business community. SCORE’s mission is to help small businesses get started, grow revenue and profit, hire more employees, and build our economy. The stronger our small businesses are here in America, the stronger our economy is...simply put, SCORE is here to help us grow together as a community. For more information about Pasco Hernando SCORE or to sign up for a mentor, log on to www.pascohernando.score.org. Register for the Academy of Business Development, June 3, 10, 17 & 24, 2017 from 9 a.m. until 12:15 a.m. at Rasmussen College in Land O’ Lakes (a fee applies to this course). Seating is limited. Register today.
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1-800-GOT-JUNK? “Goodbye Junk! Hello Relief!” By Katie Thomas 1-800-GOT-JUNK? is the world’s largest junk removal service. Our local branch serves the Tampa Bay Area with full-service junk removal for residential, commercial and construction site locations. On time service, upfront pricing, outstanding customer service, and responsible disposal make 1-800-GOT-JUNK? the company in your area to call for the hectic job of spring-cleaning, or any other major cleanout project. If you have old furniture, appliances, electronics, construction debris, yard waste, tires, or other items that you want out of your life and out of your way––1-800-GOT-JUNK?’s excellent team can handle any job. They can handle the tough stuff like all the leftover debris from your new renovation project, shed and swing set tear downs, hot tub removal as well as the smaller stuff like old furniture, appliances and household items.
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Local 1-800- GOT-JUNK? franchise owners Troy and Rachelle invested in GOT-JUNK? more than a decade ago and have been finding happiness and satisfaction in their work ever since! Rachelle and Troy service Hillsborough, Pasco and Northern Pinellas Counties with complete full-service junk removal, professional call services, and free estimates based on volume of the junk being removed. THE BEST PART! ALL YOU DO IS POINT! When your friendly, professional junk removal team arrives in their hefty trucks, point out what you want gone – that’s it! They do all the rest. Simple, efficient and effortless! You don’t have to lift a finger and can feel good knowing your junk is disposed of in the most eco-friendly way possible! 1-800-GOT-JUNK? ensures that your junk is recycled, donated, or otherwise disposed of
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responsibly. Junk removal is easy with 1-800GOT-JUNK?. Call to schedule a convenient pickup time and receive a twohour time window for the arrival of the trucks, and a phone call 15-30 minutes before the truck arrives. Once on-site, they’ll give you an estimate, load up your unwanted goods into the truck and leave you with a less cluttered, more organized space – junk free! Troy says, “Our service is the least expensive way for you to gain space in
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your home or business. Most of us have 100, 200 or even 500 square feet of space being taken up by unneeded junk.” You can also can book online at 1800gotjunk.com; just select the preferred pickup location, time and address, confirm the appointment, and the junk is hauled away in no time! Lynne says, “1-800-GOT-JUNK? was fast and very efficient. The men were courteous, called to give us their ETA and arrived on time. Their website was also easy to navigate to setup
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the appointment. I would use them again should the need arise.” WHY 1-800-GOT-JUNK? 1-800-GOT-JUNK? is the largest junk removal franchise in the world. You may even have seen them at work on the popular A&E Reality TV show Hoarders, or maybe on Dr. Phil, Rachel Ray, or the Oprah Winfrey Show, all of which have featured 1-800-GOTJUNK? on episodes. The company garners fame due to the simplicity offered and the award winning customer service, and perhaps more – 1-800-GOT-JUNK? hauls away unwanted items in a manner good for the earth and the community, and helps lighten the load on our landfills. The average American throws away around five pounds of trash every day; most ends up in a landfill. The most recent data released from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was in 2006; in that year, Americans generated 251 million tons of trash (4.6 pounds per person, per day). According to National Geographic, “If your trash goes to a landfill it will end up sealed in the ground. It won’t decompose much, if at all,
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because air and water can’t get in. Landfills have some adverse environmental impacts. Despite careful engineering, they can leak liquids into the groundwater. Landfills also release one-fourth of all methane; landfill and wastewater treatment gases made up 2.3 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2005.” Since its founding, 1800-GOT-JUNK? has saved over 2.4 billion pounds of junk from landfills. Environmentally conscious, 1800-GOT-JUNK? recycles or donates everything possible. Rachelle says, “We operate out of a 4500-squarefoot warehouse where we sort and store items for recycling, donating and repurposing. “We recycle as much as we can. Sixty percent of the materials we remove are recycled or donated to Lighthouse Ministries, Sheriff’s Youth Ranch, and other charities and thrift stores.” 1-800-GOT-JUNK? disposes of any non-hazardous materials and specializes in the removal of household
junk items including appliances, mattresses, furniture, carpet, television sets, and tires. The company will remove office junk, offering computer, printer and monitor recycling. Not only does 1-800-GOT-JUNK? remove unwanted home and office extras, the company disposes of construction debris, yard debris, and will remove disaster preparation materials. 1-800-GOT-JUNK? works with home and business owners, building contractors, property managers and real estate agents. They handle any size job. They pick up single items to multiple truckloads – they recently did
a commercial job for large company moving out of a 100,000-square-foot building. Troy says, “We removed 178 truckloads of debris from the building in 9 days! That is 2,670 cubic yards of junk and weighing over 200 tons.” Book an appointment to move clutter and old junk out of your life. Call 1-800-GOT-JUNK?’s 24/7 customer service line at 1-800-468-5865 to schedule a free estimate and pick-up (no credit card required), or log on to 1800gotjunk.com for additional information.
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Riders Group Supports Baldomero-Lopez State Veterans Home On Friday, April 21st, The Riders Group from Post #4412 visited the Baldomero-Lopez State Veterans Home located in Land O’ Lakes. The Riders Group is formed and based out of the VFW #4412 in Hudson and is a yearly supporter of the Baldomero Lopez Home. Over the past several years the Riders Group hosts a Valentines Day Poker Run, which is open to the public and local motorcycle groups, to come together and enjoy a safe ride, food and entertainment and raffles. All proceeds go to these veterans who served this country and the Riders Group enjoys gathering to honor them for their service. Each year, the VFW #4412 also transports these veterans from the Baldomero-Lopez Home into their post and hosts a luncheon for them. “This year we contacted the Administrator, Marlies Sarrett and requested this donated check to be split equally to all 120 veterans in the home at this time so each veteran can use it how they choose,” said Riders Group #4412 Director Ron Gardner. “A
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magazine, candy, deck of cards or whatever they choose. It was agreed on and we were again welcomed with open arms from the Administration and staff. These veterans just love the meet-and-greet along with checking out the motorcycles. The interaction is amazing and brings smiles, laughter, stories and some tears. Although it’s a small gesture, the joy is bigger and
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The VFW #4412 Riders Group gives yearly to help support veterans residing at Baldomero-Lopez State Veteran’s Home emotional. “Our veterans were acknowledged, respected and honored on this day and every day. “Thank you to the administration and staff for welcoming us and thank
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you to our veterans who served our country to ensure the freedom we have today. Just look at the veteran sitting in his wheelchair like he’s riding a bike; that says it all.”
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MAY 2017
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Escape to Island Time℠ in Your Own Backyard By Marcy Sanford This year Patio Pools is celebrating its 38th year in business. Since 1979 Patio Pools has been transforming bland, boring backyards all across the Tampa Bay Area into beautiful, relaxing, island-like oases. Located at 4118 Gunn Highway, the swimming pool experts at Patio Pools can build a new swimming pool or remodel or repair an existing one in a timely, efficient manner. They pride themselves on working with their clients to make sure they
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know what is happening every step of the way and that the process of getting a new pool is (almost) as exciting as the pool itself. Once you have your new pool, their retail store has every accessory imaginable to make your days in the sun extra fun. “Patio Pools has been in my family for two generations,” said Patio Pools owner Gina Schrader. “We have staff members who have more than 45 years of experience in designing, building, remodeling or repairing pools. Because of our expertise we can typically complete a
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pool project in 21 days.” Just think in only 21 working days or so, with help from Patio Pools, your backyard can be made over into your own private island escape. Gina says the process starts with a free consultation with one of Patio Pools design experts who will visit your home, take a look at your backyard, talk to you about the features you want, and then create a 3-D CAD design for you to review. One of the most popular trends Gina has seen in pool design is the addition of water features, “People
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like to hear the water sound because it is very relaxing and can block out sound from your neighbors. We can do any type of water feature. Bubblers and deck jets are a nice addition. People also like sun decks, an area in the pool that is only about six inches deep but big enough for a lounge chair. It is a good place to lay out in the sun and can also be a fun place for younger children to play.” Patio Pools can also customize lighting for you and add automation so you can run your pool from your smart phone. “We can set it up so
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that you can tell Alexa to turn your pool lights on,” said Gina. In addition to features to make your pool special, Patio Pools can build spas, decks, and enclosures to complete your recreational retreat. After your Patio Pools project is complete, your backyard will be the place you’ll want to spend the rest of your summer having fun and enjoying life with family and friends. “We really enjoy our customers,” said Gina. “We love to see how happy they are at the end of their project. The kids are always so
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happy to swim and can’t wait to get in the pool. People get excited about the project in the beginning but then they are so happy in the end.” “Thank you for an excellent job building our swimming pool,” said Patio Pools client Lynne J. “We had interviewed three different companies but because of (our design consultant’s) enthusiasm for his product and expertise in pool design, we choose Patio Pools. He explained the construction process and what to expect in detail and in approximately three weeks our pool
was complete.” “This is a very competitive business but thanks to our excellent customer service and pool experts we’ve been in business for 38 years,” said Gina “We are very proud that Tampa Bay families have been trusting us to transform their backyards since 1979.” If you’re ready to have your own private island oasis, schedule a free consultation with Patio Pools today. Patio Pools can also remodel or repair your existing pool and is the area’s best supplier of pool supplies
and accessories. Patio Pools showroom and retail store is located at 4118 Gunn Highway. Store hours are: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. For more information or to schedule a design consultation, call (813) 452-5917 or visit them on the web at www.patiopools.com. License: CPC013686
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“KnowledgePoints” Continued from page 1 reading, writing, and math or help prepare them to take the SAT or ACT and, more importantly, will ignite their love of learning. “Many parents are surprised at how much their kids enjoy coming here,” said Rocky Contreras, who along with this wife, Monica, opened their first KnowledgePoints tutoring center nine years ago in Land O’Lakes. “When parents express concern about getting their child to come to tutoring, I tell them, ‘bring them one time, you’ll see how much they enjoy it.’” “If a student is struggling in a subject, it is often because they have missed some early fundamentals. We typically start every student with a diagnostic skills assessment. Then we build a program specifically for them to address their needs. All of our programs are individualized, so we are able to move at the student’s pace and give each of them the attention they need.” In addition to making lessons fun and rewarding, KnowledgePoints rewards students with prizes and gifts
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cards for coming to tutoring sessions and trying their best. “We work hard to make learning fun,” said Rocky. “Typically students raise their skill level in the program they are in (reading, math, etc.) by 1 to 1.5 grade levels every 40 hours they are in one of our programs.” “My son was reading at below level when he entered 1st grade,” said mom Hannah M. “I tried to help him at home which demonstrated little improvement and our son was quickly becoming frustrated. My husband and I decided to try KnowledgePoints Tutoring. We saw positive results almost immediately. Within 2 months there was a huge improvement in our son’s
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reading skills. By the second semester of school, he was reading on level. He is now in 3rd grade and is reading at a 4th grader’s level.” At KnowledgePoints Tutoring Centers your child will see results in their academic skills and you’ll see their confidence and self esteem bloom. When a child is behind in skills at school, they become frustrated and
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angry – sometimes just getting them out the door in the morning to go to school can become a battle. As parents we want to help but as we all know, it can be hard, if not impossible to tutor your own child – especially if it’s been a while since you used the math, reading, or writing skills they are being taught. At KnowledgePoints all the tutors and staff members are current
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or former educators. They stay on top of current academic trends and know what works when it comes to teaching, motivating, and inspiring children. In addition to tutoring and skill retention in all subjects for K–12 grade students, KnowledgePoints Tutoring Centers offer ACT and SAT prep for high school students. With the expert attention from KnowledgePoints’ tutors, your child will feel more confident facing these college entrance exams and will have a better chance of getting a score that will help them achieve their next goal in life –
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attending the college of their dreams. “KnowledgePoints is a fantastic organization that values the education of its students greatly,” said college freshman Dylan D. “My high school GPA was not great and I was afraid that I would not get accepted to any of the universities that I applied to. My last hope was to perform well on the ACT. My previous composite score on the ACT was a 24, but with the help of the amazing teachers at KnowledgePoints, I was able to achieve a composite score of 29. With this high score, I was accepted into both the University of South Florida and Florida State University. The [staff] and all the teachers who helped me were wonderful and kind people who made me feel comfortable there. This organization helped save my future and I am very thankful for that. I rec-
ommend KnowledgePoints to anyone who wants to ensure a successful education.” It will only take a few hours each week at KnowledgePoints to give your kids the skills and confidence they need to succeed at school this fall. KnowledgePoints offers enrollment all year long and is signing students up for summer programs right now. “We have some families that only come during the summer because they don’t want their children to lose what they’ve worked so hard to gain all year. We also see students who need to
catch up over the summer. Without the time constraints and grade pressure of the school year, the summer can be a great time to work on the areas(s) that a student reallly wants to improve.” For more information about KnowledgePoints in Trinity, call (727) 484-6178 or visit, trinity.knowledgepoints.com. For information about KnowledgePoints in Land O’ Lakes, please call (813) 909-0781 or visit landolakes.knowledgepoints.com.
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Racing for a Cure By Carla Dubis Meet award winning racecar driver Robin Bonanno, a true inspiration and exemplar woman that will make you feel you can do anything you set your mind to! Robin is currently the proud owner of the UPS Store at 54 at Collier Parkway. Bonanno is also a racecar instructor for SCCA and was a professional instructor for Richard Petty Enterprises, as well as an accomplished business owner and manager, a snow ski instructor, a devoted wife and a breast cancer survivor and warrior amongst many other things. ”Racing is an endurance sport,” Bonanno said. “I have raced with a broken leg. A little more than a year ago, I raced in the middle of radiation for breast cancer.” If you ever have the pleasure of meeting Robin and engaging in conversation with her, you will quickly realize you are talking to the face of determination. There’s nothing stop-
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ping her… not even cancer. She is as strong-willed as she is courageous and her energy is both contagious and intoxicating. Bonanno fought back from her diagnosis and now cherishes the relationships she made along the process, including the one she developed with her treating physician and surgeon, Dr. Charles Cox. Dr. Cox is a world renowned research and education doctor. The Comprehensive Breast Cancer Program at the University of Florida was initiated in 1984 under his direction. In 1986, Dr. Cox moved the program to the Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute at the University of South Florida. He and his colleagues spearheaded the research and training in the technique for Lymphatic Mapping and Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in breast cancer patients. Along with the pathology colleagues, they developed the Intra-Operative Touch Preparation Cytology for the evaluation of surgical margins. With these
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Now cancer-free, Robin’s goal is to help gain recognition for Dr. Cox’s Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
techniques, they have experienced high success rates in breast conservation and lymph node sparing. Since Robin is now cancer-free for over two years her team’s goal for 2017, 2018 is to gain recognition for Robin’s favorite charity “Dr. Cox’s Breast Cancer Research Charity.” This foundation is administered under the vast umbrella of USF’s (University of South Florida) foundation. Bonanno and her husband, Carl
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Lunderstadt Sr., who is also her crew chief, need YOUR help raising exposure and awareness for Dr. Cox’s Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Racing is one of Robin’s biggest passions, but so is supporting this particular charity, si nce Dr. Cox was the one who treated her and helped her defeat this life-threatening disease. Robin and Carl’s most fervent desire is to acquire a major sponsor to race a new custom-built corvette race
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Racecar driver Robin Bonanno car in the 2017 TRANS-AM International series to bring awareness to this Breast Cancer Research Charity. Robin and Carl will donate their race time, energy and efforts to support Dr. Cox’s Breast Cancer Research, and literally race for a cure! The sponsor will benefit by having Robin Bonanno, a remarkable award-winning celebrity and breast cancer survivor, spotlighting their brand, product or services in their normal advertising and marketing efforts, and in return these efforts will also bring the much needed attention and
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awareness to Dr. Cox’s charity and its cause. YOUR SPONSORSHIP COULD HELP SAVE LIVES. Major advances in research are giving people with breast cancer hope that one day, sooner than later, there will be a cure. Dr. Cox’s research foundation’s main goal is to help find a cure for breast cancer, which is a disease that attacks 1 out of 8 women. Sponsorship for this team will be incredibly beneficial for creating awareness for this foundation and gen-
erating donations for important lifechanging research work for women all over the world. By utilizing a female race car driver and the funding of research for finding a cure to the National epidemic of breast cancer, a sponsor that uses Robin in their marketing and advertising should not only get a decent ROI, but should be able to embellish their company name from their marketing efforts. As we all know, for any charity to raise money, they have to make the public aware of what they are doing
and become known to the philanthropic community. It takes money to do this and this charity does not spend any money on advertising or promoting of the Charity as USF insists that all the money received by the foundation goes to their research and education. Robin and Carl will work with the Foundation and the sponsor to help establish promotional events that are appropriate for the selected sponsor and their advertising agency as desired.
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“Women’s Care” Continued from page 1 Everything at Dr. Torres’ practice is done with care and love, with great attention given to the comfort and quality of care provided to patients. Clearly, Dr. Torres is doing what she was meant to do. She loves working with women of all ages, from those just beginning to come into womanhood to those far past menopause. Suncoast Women’s Care has patients from age 10 to 98! “I love to see women through all the stages,” says Dr. Torres. “And women feel so much more comfortable talking to a woman gynecologist about sexual problems and personal female problems.” Of course, Dr. Torres and Dr. Colon-Rivera LOVE bringing babies into the world and seeing them in the warm bosoms of their mothers. Even the Suncoast Women’s Care logo represents the loving bond between mother and child, featuring a mother’s face looking down at her newborn. Suncoast Women’s Care offers the full scope of OB/GYN medical
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care including in-office ultrasound, and can perform many procedures in-office such as leep cone biopsy, endometrial ablation, and hysteroscopy to check for polyps. One of Dr. Torres’ hallmarks is minimally invasive surgery, including laparoscopic and robotic assisted surgeries for hysterectomies and fibroid tumors. “I was the first doctor in the area to perform single site robotic assisted hysterectomies,” says Dr. Torres, who does these types of surgeries at Mease Countryside Hospital. “We have a strong relationship with BayCare and Mease Countryside, which is where we do our deliveries and most of our procedures, and Dr. Colon-Rivera also uses Morton Plant North Bay hospital for procedures.” One patient recently shared on Suncoast Women’s Care’s Facebook page, stating, “Not since grouping up in a small town and having the same doctor from birth until I left for college have I ever felt more at home and taken care of as I did at the office of Dr. Torres and Dr. Colon. I tried out many doctors when my husband and I found out we were pregnant with our first child
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Malieri Colon-Rivera, MD
Wanda Torres, MD
and honestly wasn’t happy with any office I went to. I am a very anxious person and I knew it would take a special and talented team to be able to handle me… as I know I am not an easy person. Then I found Suncoast Women’s Care. The whole staff was with me every step of the way, for every question I had (and there were times I was calling them at least two times a day). Kat and the rest of the nursing staff were amazing at re-
turning phone calls and calming my nerves. I have to give a very special thank you to Dr. Torres who got this terrified girl through delivery and a very special thank you to Dr. Colon who dealt with me at almost every appointment and answered all of my questions. I was never let down or disappointed and always felt the entire staff was beyond capable of handling any situation and completely knowledgeable of everything you
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would want from your OB/GYN office. I would recommend this office to anyone!” If you are looking for an OB/GYN practice that will embrace you and care about you and your personal choices as an individual, call Suncoast Women’s Care. Dr. Torres has equipped her practice with everything she and Dr. Colon-Rivera, and the staff need to provide the best quality care possible. Technology makes it easier to keep up with appointments for some, and Suncoast Women’s Care is up-to-the-minute with a website where you can register as a new patient and where established patients can go to their portal (each patient gets their own) and set an appointment online, as well as view their appointment history. Or, just call the office the good old-fashioned way and a friendly (real-life) person will greet you! Asked what she loves most about her role as a doctor and business owner in the area, Dr. Torres replies, “I like all of it! I try to be a part of the community as much as possible. I’m medical director of the West Pasco Pregnancy Center, which I’m
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really proud to part of. Over the past fifteen years there have been so many changes, but I have to say one of my favorite things is to go to Publix or Target and run in to some of the moms and the babies I’ve delivered. It’s so exciting when they see me and want to show me how their babies have grown, or that they are starting school.” Suncoast Women’s Care accepts all major insurances and offers a cash discount for self-pay patients. “Over the last five years the out-of-pocket expense for patients has gone up 2030%,” says Javier. “We really try to work with our patients when they communicate their needs to us.” Suncoast Women’s Care is located at 2044 Trinity Oaks Blvd. in Trinity, on the 2nd floor of the BayCare Medical Arts Building, Suite 215. They are open Monday –Thursday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and 9 a.m.–3 p.m. on Friday, and closed during lunch from 12:30-1:30 p.m. To make an appointment, please call 727-376-0060 or log on to www.SuncoastWomensCare.com.
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SAT AND ACT IMPROVEMENT: NEW SAT EXAM ON AUGUST 26TH, 2017 This means exam results will be back in time for UF admissions the first of November and applications for early admission to other colleges and universities, which has been a major problem with the SAT in prior years. The first ACT Exam of the fall is scheduled for Saturday, September 10th. As mentioned in my last article, many students and parents prefer to prepare for the SAT and the ACT over the summer so I have many options. My prep classes can be taken individually, or the SAT and ACT can be combined which saves 15 class hours from taking them separately because of their overlapping material. Rising seniors like having the time to really focus and study with results known early in the fall. If strong, then no further prep or tests are needed; if not quite what desired, there is time to take it again. Rising juniors like to see how well they can do, plus this is a perfect time to prep for the PSAT in Octo-
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ber and have the best shot at a national merit scholarship. Rising sophomores like the preparation, especially those aiming for “Top 25” or “Top 10” colleges and universities and possibly major scholarships. My classes can start in early June after the last ACT exam on June 10th, or in July or early August, depending upon whether a student wants to take one or two classes a week, and how we need to schedule around family vacations, jobs, or other time requirements. Make sure and check when your high school begins classes in early August because they keep starting earlier and earlier each year. Classes can be private or semiprivate, and my maximum class is three students. Often, students have friends or “study buddies” they would like to prepare with. I do like to schedule our Dress Rehearsal Exam and follow-up Review shortly before the actual exam. If you would like to talk with me further about your student and
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my classes, please contact me at 727-253-0639 or at wwa0811@mykolab.com. Dr. Wayne Adams is one of the leading SAT and ACT tutors in the country. His students normally improve 200 – 350 points on the Writing, Reading, and Math, and 4 – 7 points on the ACT composite. They have been admitted to eight of the top ten universities in the country, seventeen of the top twentyfive, and many schools in Florida. These schools include Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Stanford, U Chicago, Duke, U Penn, Johns Hopkins, Cornell, Notre Dame, Emory, UC Berkley, UCLA, USC, UNC (Chapel Hill), NYU, Northeastern (Boston), Boston College, Georgia Tech, Air Force and Merchant Marine Service Academies, Penn State, LSU, Auburn, UF, U Miami, FSU, USF, UCF, Florida Atlantic, Florida Gulf Coast, FIU, New College of Florida, Stetson, and Jul-
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liard – Manhattan - New England and Berkley Conservatories of Music. Many have received academic, athletic, or music scholarships. This year, he also tutored three juniors who scored at the national merit finalist/semi-finalist levels on the most recent PSAT. He is a former Dean of a Graduate School of Business and Full Professor, and began college teaching at the University of Maryland in 1968. He has degrees and advanced studies at Harvard, Yale, Vanderbilt, Columbia International, and Luther Rice.
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