LAND O’ LAKES . LUTZ . ODESSA
Vol. 3, Issue 6, June 2012
Neighborhood News & Lifestyles
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The Business & Dining 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, The Eagles, Van Dyke Estates, Van Dyke Farms, Villa Rosa, Wyndham Lakes
Albert Family Orthodontics Kicks off its “Summer of Music and Smiles”
By Kim Thomas When a new puppy or kitten finds its home in a family, everyone wants to hold it their lap, cuddling and falling in love with the newest family member. Pets are comforting to their humans and they always seem to know exactly who needs their attention most and no matter what size your dog is, chances are he still wants to climb into your lap. It is
The Community Dining & Business Guide that your neighbors READ!
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Editorial................................3 Calendar................................4 News Briefs........................6-7 Swiss Pastries.................10-11 Bella Nails & Spa............14-15 Trinity Memorial Gardens..18-19 Wheel of Success.............22-23 Sun Toyota Helps Marine..24-25
ECRWSS
Love and Dignity It’s What All Pets Deserve
our job, as their keepers, to repay this unconditional love and devotion by giving them the best life possible. And when their life is coming to an end, there is no better place for them than at home with their human family. Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice & In-Home Euthanasia was founded in 2009 by Dr. Dani McVety. Later, Dr. Mary Gardner joined Lap of Love and both of these compassionate Dani McVety, DVM doctors have had to make the Founder of Lap of Love very difficult decision to euthanize a family pet. Firmly believing in the human-animal bond, Dr. McVety started Lap of Love so that people can privately help their pet ease out of this life calmly and surrounded with love, perhaps even snuggled in the lap of their owner. Dani McVety is a local Odessa girl who grew up around horses, graduated from Clearwater Central Catholic See “Lap of Love” on page 26.
See “Orthodontics” on page 30.
Postal Customer
Dr. Jeremy Albert
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID TAMPA FL PERMIT 1185
Jeremy Albert, DMD, MS, is a very experienced Invisalign provider and Albert Family Orthodontics is a Premier Preferred Elite Provider (one of a select few in the Tampa Bay area based on number of cases treated).
Albert Family Orthodontics, located at the corner of Trinity Blvd. and Duck Slough Blvd. in the Trinity Professional Place plaza, has been making patients and parents smile for years, coupling the latest in orthodontic technology with experience and personal attention. When it’s time to choose an orthodontist, it’s important to choose someone who is experienced, compassionate, and well-educated in the latest technology and procedures. Jeremy Albert, D.M.D., M.S., is a University
of Florida alumnus who is all of those things and more. Dr. Albert chose orthodontics because he enjoys making people smile, and because he knows the difference that a smile can make in a person’s life. Dr. Albert is a specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. A graduate (with honors) of The University of Florida’s College of Dentistry, he also completed his Orthodontic Residency, received his Orthodontics Certificate, and earned his Master’s of Science Degree from
Dated Material Please Rush!
By Julie Kanehl
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Hurricane Season Rolls In – Will This be the Year? From the Editor Kim Thomas Every year as hurricane season rolls in, we wonder if Tampa Bay will get slammed by Mother Nature? It is always a possibility and those who prepare in advance fare better in bad weather. National Hurricane Preparedness Week ran from May 27–June 2. You can download a Tropical Cyclone Preparedness Guide (PDF) at www.nhc.noaa.gov/prepare or visit www.ready.gov for tips on how to protect your family and property. These guides are helpful, but the most important thing when facing a hurricane threat is to use common sense. As someone who has run from several hurricanes, I can tell you this – don’t wait until one is bearing down on you to leave! The problem with hurricanes is that you just can’t trust their number – a Cat. 1 storm can morph into a Cat. 2 in minutes, or a Cat. 2 into a Cat. 3, and so on. Many times, the storm will strengthen right before it slams into land. My personal advice is to put your family photos in a box or on a flash drive that you can carry with you. It is a good idea to keep your in-
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surance information and other important papers in a portable file (or at least know where everything is if you need to go). A hurricane is no force to be reckoned with! Prior to moving to this part of the state, my husband and I started our family in the Panhandle, building a house on St. George Island. I still miss that view! During our 10 years there, we experienced quite a few storms. Living on a barrier island, even during a tropical storm, we left and would stay at my sister’s house in Apalachicola because at that time no one could trust the aging bridge not to be washed out. During one such tropical storm that did develop into a Cat. 1 hurricane just before hitting land, I lay on the floor at my sister’s unable to sleep as I listened to the wind howling and the weather radio, hearing the report of three tornadoes hitting St. George Island and destroying homes there. When we returned, I saw the path that one of them took – winding around our home and our two closest neighbors, snapping off trees on the vacant lots around us. We were all so fortunate to only lose a few
shingles. The biggest scare of my life was in September 1995, when hurricane Opal destroyed a good part of the Panhandle east of Panama City Beach. At that time we were building our home and renting a tiny house at Indian Pass Beach. My husband Jack was out of the state and my sister’s husband decided to stay and help the National Guard. So the two of us girls, with three little children and two big dogs in tow, decided to wait for other family members to leave and travel together. Never again! Waves crashed over my SUV on the land-bridge as we left Apalachicola heading to Perry, and while we were on the bridge the local radio station announced that it was closed. My sister and I just started praying. We had to drive around a tree that had fallen across the highway and parts of Hwy. 98 – usually a scenic drive along the Gulf Coast – were already washing away. It was truly terrifying. Due to the population, evacuating from here will be much more difficult if you wait. Hopefully, we have another mild season, but you just never know.
Neighborhood News & Lifestyles Directly mailed once a month to 18,000 households in zip codes 33556, 33558 & 34638 118 Tarpon Ave. East, Suite #8 Tarpon Springs, FL 34689 Phone: (813) 928-6124; Fax: (727) 943-0556 Advertising E-mail: neighborhoodlifestyles@yahoo.com Editorial E-mail: neighborhoodlifestylesedit@yahoo.com © 2012 NeighborhoodNews & Lifestyles is published by ADS 2 Publications, Inc. Publisher Tim Selby General Manager Jim O’Reilly Editor Kim Thomas Advertising Sales Manager Matt Selby Advertising Sales Jim O’Reilly Ken Burke Alexis Selby
Correspondents Alexis Selby Julie Kanehl Amy Paterson Katie Thomas Art Director Dat X. Do Graphic Artists Dat X. Do Tony Sica Accounting Manager Doreen Selby Billing Assistant Tina O’Reilly
Nothing that appears in Neighborhood News & Lifestyles may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by Neighborhood News & Lifestyles writers are their own and do not reflect the publisher’s opinion. The management of Neighborhood News & Lifestyles is always happy to accept outside editorial submissions to the paper. Please call for outside editorial submission and adver-
tisement deadlines. Neighborhood News & Lifestyles will consider previously non-published outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. Neighborhood News & Lifestyles reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates. Neighborhood News & Lifestyles will not return unsolicited editorial materials. Neighborhood News & Lifestyles reserves the right to edit and/or reject any advertising. Neighborhood News & Lifestyles is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the actual cost of the advertising space itself, not for the validity of any claims made by its advertisers. Neighborhood News & Lifestyles is published by ADS 2 Publications, Inc.
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Community Calendar Medical Center of Trinity Obstetric Program Classes *Prepared Childbirth Course Weekly, starts June 20, 7-9 PM— The Obstetrics program at Medical Center of Trinity is offering a six-week prepared childbirth class. Classes meet one night per week. The fee is $70. *Infant Care Program Tues., June 19, 6 PM—The infant care class, a 6-hour course held on two Tuesdays beginning June 19, provides parents with the knowledge and skills to make their transition into parenting smooth and comfortable. *Pediatric CPR Course Sat., June 16, 9-11 AM—Medical Center of Trinity is offering Pediatric CPR monthly. Pediatric CPR teaches you how to save the life of your child! Participants will learn the skills of the American Heart Association course, “CPR for family and friends.” The fee for the 2-hour course is $15 for one person and $25 for two people. For more information and/or to register for any of these Obstetrics Program classes, please call 727-8345630. Classes are held in the Obstet-
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rics Unit of Medical Center of Trinity, located at 9330 S.R. 54 in Trinity. . Medical Center of Trinity Offers Weight Management Class Every 4th Thurs, starts June 28, 10 AM—Weight Management: Striving for a Healthy Weight classes are conducted by a Registered Dietitian. The class will explore basic tips for living a healthy lifestyle including food choices and balancing these choices with exercise. Participants will learn: Determining a Healthy Weight; Calorie Control through Balancing Calories In With Calories Out; Boosting Metabolism; Getting More Active. Seating is limited and reservations are required. For more information and for reservations call 727-8345630. Medical Center of Trinity Hosts Monthly Support Group for Fam-
ily Members/Friends Impacted by Autism Every 2nd Wed., 7 PM, Next Meeting June 13—Medical Center of Trinity has the pleasure of hosting a
community support group for parents, family members, and friends impacted by autism and related neurological disorders such as, Tourette’s, Sensory Processing Disorder, ADHD, Aspergers, or other Autism Spectrum disorders. Relatives and family members impacted by these disorders will meet other parents with similar issues! The primary goal is to provide education and pool our resources to effectively help these children. There will be scheduled speakers on a regular basis to inform the group about new research, therapy, treatments, alternatives, and local resources. The group meets at Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 S.R. 54 in Trinity in Conference Room C in the main building off the lobby. The June 13 presenter will be Kelley Prince, M.A., BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst), who will discuss the benefits of Applied Behavior Analysis therapy and improving your Individualized Education Plan. For more information, contact Jonica Chittum, mother of an 8-yearold with Autism. Email jonica.chittum@HCAHealthcare.com, or call 727-793-6006 (phone) or 727-5348230 (cell).
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First Annual Tampa Bay Grief Education/Grief Care Conference Thurs., June 28, 8 AM – 4:30 PM—Grief Education Conference to be held at Wyndham Hotel Ballroom, 700 N. Westshore Blvd. in Tampa. Seating is limited; pre-register at http://griefedconference2012.eventb rite.com. “New Language, New Interventions for Grief” will be presented by Darcie D. Sims, Ph.D., CHT, CT, GMS. She is a bereaved parent and child, a grief management specialist, a nationally certified thanatologist, a certified pastoral bereavement specialist, and a licensed psychotherapist and hypnotherapist who has authored and co-authored numerous books. She is featured in the award-winning video series “Good Grief” produced by Iowa Public Television. Registration fee if pre-registered by 6/27 is $22.50, or $35 at the door (space permitting). Includes CEU’S for social workers, LMHP, LMFT, and nurses. Lunch is on your own (lunch specials will be available in hotel restaurant). A limited number of partial “work-study scholarships” are available. For complete information, contact graceterry727@aol.com.
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Community News Briefs Painting With A Twist Supports “Wives Behind the Badge” On Saturday, June 9, 2 – 5 p.m., Painting with a Twist (on State Road 54 in Trinity) offers a special event to support Wives Behind the Badge, a non-profit organization that aids the families of police officers. Participants in the June Painting with a Purpose event will get step-by-step instruction to paint a skyline entitled, “Tampa Bay at Night,” with half of the class fee going to Wives Behind the Badge. Every year, hundreds of police officers are killed or wounded in the line of duty. Florida is one of the deadliest states in the country for law enforcement professionals. While these officers go to work to serve and protect, their spouses are at work trying to provide support to the families. Wives Behind the Badge was founded in 2006 and now has 500 members. The non-profit organization raises awareness and provides emotional and financial support to the families of police officers, including scholarships for the children and spouses and the support program, HALOS (Helping Aid
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Lost Officers’ Survivors). In addition to raising money to help the families, Wives Behind the Badge also raises awareness, providing a positive voice for law enforcement in the community. Every month, Painting with a Twist in Trinity hosts Painting with a Purpose, a three-hour class where participants are guided step-by-step to complete the acrylic painting du jour. For the WBTB event, guests will paint a nighttime skyline of Tampa Bay. Even people who have never painted before will walk away with their original artwork. The stroke-by-stroke classroom approach always surprises even the most unsure participants. “It’s so much fun to see people unleash their inner artist. Most of our students are amazed at what they can do with a little instruction and a palette of paint,” says Sharon Reis, coowner of the Trinity studio, which opened in October 2011. Since then, they have already introduced painting to 1,350 people—ranging from children to adults, including groups like birthday parties, showers, girls’ night
out, and date nights. “When we can bring this joy to people and help a worthy cause at the same time, it’s a fantastic experience.” For $45, anyone can take part in Painting with a Purpose. All materials and instruction is included. Half of every fee at these events is donated to the charity of choice, with Wives Behind the Badge being the latest beneficiary at the June 9 event. Reis’ business partner, Michelle Beres, says Painting with a Purpose is an opportunity for them to give back to the community, something that is important to every member of the Painting with a Twist franchise. “We host a fundraiser every month because we are committed to supporting the community that supports our business—and not just in the financial contribution, but in helping them to gain awareness of their cause. And what better way to create connections than through art?” Painting with a Twist is a concept born of two spirited women in New Orleans following the dark days of Hurricane Katrina. The motto of Painting with a Twist is, “A little bit of paint, a little bit of wine, and a whole lot of fun.” The idea quickly caught on and the business is enjoying a
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growth spurt that has yielded more than 60 units in two short years of franchising. Offering a unique getaway that includes friends, paint and the option to bring a favorite bottle of wine and snacks, Painting with a Twist has become a pioneer in the art entertainment industry, making art accessible to anyone. With local art instructors as guides, friends can come together for an evening of creativity and camaraderie as they create one-of-a-kind pieces of art and, often, discover a new-found talent. Over 100 artists work for the Painting with a Twist studios, which presents individual sessions from a gallery of over 2,000 copyrighted paintings. The monthly calendar features specific paintings. Guests then choose a painting, reserve a spot online or by phone, come in for a great evening, and leave with a masterpiece. Classes and camps for children are also scheduled, and provide a wonderful way for the kids to spend quality time socializing and discovering their creative abilities. For more information or to register for Painting with a Purpose, contact Jennifer Houston, Event Coordinator for Painting with a Twist in Trinity, (352) 584-1396, or visit
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www.paintingwithatwist.com/trinity. Painting with a Twist is located at 8351 State Road 54, Suite 112, in Trinity. Vendors Sought for Oct. 13 Holiday Craft Fair in Odessa Keystone United Methodist Church (KUMC) is seeking vendors for its Annual Holiday Craft Fair to be held on Saturday, October 13. Outdoor booth space, which measures 10’ x 12’, is available for a fee of $30. To request an application form or obtain more information, please e-mail keystoneumc@tampabay.rr.com, or call the church office at (813) 920-5153. Open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the fair offers a variety of crafts and other items, plants, home-baked goods, and gift baskets. Breakfast and lunch will be offered as well. KUMC is located at 16301 Race Track Road in Odessa. The Rev. Tim Haas is pastor. Residents Can Join Cancer Prevention Study at Medical Center of Trinity There are nearly 12 million people in America who have survived cancer, and countless more who have
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avoided it. You can join a movement to fight back against cancer by enrolling in a new research study called the Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS3). The American Cancer Society's Cancer Prevention Study-3 will collect data from a diverse population of up to a half-million people across the United States and Puerto Rico, in order to better understand the lifestyle, environmental and genetic factors that cause or prevent cancer. Locally, residents between the ages of 30 and 65, who have never been diagnosed with cancer, can enroll in the CPS-3 from 4 to 8 p.m. on June 20 at the Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, east of Little Road. As part of the in-person enrollment, you will be asked to read and sign an informed consent, complete a brief written survey, provide a waist circumference measurement and give a small blood sample (similar to a doctor's visit) drawn by trained, certified phlebotomists. Your in-person enrollment will take approximately 20-30 minutes. At home you will complete a more comprehensive baseline survey that asks for information on lifestyle, behavior, and other factors related to your health.
This survey will take approximately 45-60 minutes to complete. Following enrollment, you will receive mailed surveys at home every few years to update your information. You will also receive annual study newsletters to update you on research results. The ultimate goal is to enroll at least 300,000 adults across the U.S. from various racial/ethnic backgrounds. By joining CPS-3, you can help researchers understand how to prevent cancer, which will save lives and give people more of their most precious resource – time. CPS-3 is a grassroots effort where
local communities from across the country can support cancer research not just through fundraising efforts, but also by participating actively in this historic research study. Study enrollment opportunities will take place at various venues in select communities across the United States and Puerto Rico. Many individuals diagnosed with cancer struggle to answer the question, 'What caused my cancer?' In many cases, we don't know the answer," says Alpa V. Patel, the strategic director of Cancer Prevention Study-3. See “News Briefs” on page 32.
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What a Sweet Treat! By Marcy Sanford A fabulous dessert can make a good day great and put a smile on your face. At Swiss Pastries their homemade delicious desserts come in every variety and flavor imaginable so you are sure to find something to satisfy your sweet tooth. Each morning owner Israel Rivera creates light and flakey puff pastries, scrumptious tarts, melt-in-your mouth cheesecakes and so many other mouth-watering treats; so many that you’ll find it hard to pick just one. And that’s okay because after
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one visit, you’ll want to come back. Co-owners Israel Rivera and Ruben Gomez met and became friends three years ago. This past summer, the two began talking about opening a family-and-friend-owned business. Israel, who worked at a Swiss Bakery in Puerto Rico for 10 years before moving here, saw a need for a specialty bakery in the area. In January while they were having lunch at a restaurant in the Northpointe Village, the two along with their families discovered the perfect place to open their Swiss bakery. Swiss Pastries is a dream
come true for Israel and Ruben, and for dessert lovers! Every pastry, treat and cake is made in-house. These aren’t your average, cookie-cutter, processed desserts but are individually made fresh daily from the finest quality ingredients available. Switzerland’s chocolates have earned an international reputation for high quality. And all the chocolates used in the desserts at Swiss Pastries are imported from Switzerland. Israel uses the skills and recipes he learned while working at the famous Puerto Rican bakery Swiss Cake with Swiss baker Wilhem Rey to make delectable pastries, rolls, tarts and cakes.
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Custom Cakes and Cupcakes You can get any type of custom cake or cupcake you would like from Swiss Pastries and you can be assured that it is going to be fresh and delicious. Israel can make cupcakes, sheet cakes or multi-layer cakes that can be decorated any way you like. They have pictures of previous designs to help get your creative juices flowing or you can bring in photos of what you want and they will work with you to get the perfect design for any occasion including birthdays, weddings, baby showers or graduations. “We can make any flavor of cake our customer would like including black forest, strawberry, carrot, tres leches, chocolate, marbled or
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(L)Israel, Yesenia, Iyearim, Misrael, Israfel and Jaziel Rivera and Ruben & Brenda Gomez Cakes are a specialty of Swiss Pastries - check out the Angry Birds & Hello Kitty cakes above!
vanilla,” says co-owner Ruben Gomez. “We work with each customer to make sure they get the perfect cake for their occasion – one that they and their guests will love. All of our cakes are made with the freshest, highest-quality ingredients available.”
Desserts & Treats Early each morning Israel arrives at Swiss Pastries to make all sorts of sweet treats like tarts, brownies, puff pastries, rolls, danishes and squares. You can buy them individually or get a dozen or more to treat your family or co-workers. I never knew there could
be so many flavors of rolls but they have a flavor for every palate at Swiss Pastries with some very interesting choices like guava, lemon, pineapple, and raspberry. The raspberry one I tried was delicious. The raspberry filling was fresh and tart and the chocolate complimented it perfectly. Puff pastries and tarts are another specialty at Swiss Pastries where they make the dough fresh each day. Again, the variety of flavors is amazing and includes pineapple, apple, guava and cherry. If you are a chocolate lover like me, you definitely need to try the choco-button or the Swiss brownie
both of which melt in your mouth. The chocolate covered strawberries were beautiful and delicious. In fact all of the desserts at Swiss Pastries are edible hand crafted works of art. Another of my favorites is cheesecake and the heavenly ones at Swiss Pastries are sure to please any cheesecake lover. In addition to your basic cheesecake, they also have strawberry, Oreo, guava or cherry and you can order them by the slice or buy a whole one to take home with you. Not Just Sweets, Lunch & Dinner Too! For lunch and dinner Swiss Pastries has scrumptious sandwiches served on bread that is made fresh daily. They plan to offer breakfast
sandwiches in the morning. They can also work with you if you need catering and will create a dessert or appetizer tray for you for any special event. If you need a place to hold a special event or meeting, you can do so at Swiss Pastries where they can accommodate up to 30 people. They can also host children’s birthday parties where the children get to decorate their own cake. Swiss Pastries plans to have a line of gluten-free and sugar-free desserts. Right now, they can accommodate any special dietary request with advance notice. Whether you are looking for a special treat for yourself, need dessert for a gathering or need a beautiful custom cake or catering for a special occasion, the friendly and talented bakers at Swiss Pastries can help you. Swiss Pastries is located at 16540 Pointe Village Drive, Suite 108, at Northpointe Village (just off of SR 54 near the Suncoast Pkwy.). Swiss Pastries is open Mon. – Wed., 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Thurs. – Sat., 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. To set up an appointment to discuss custom cakes, specialty desserts or catering call (813) 920-1928. You can also find information on the web at www.swiss-pastries.com.
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Bella Nails & Spa This is Not Your Average Nail Salon! By Marcy Sanford Florida’s warm and sunny weather has many benefits including little need for close-toed shoes. If you’re like me, you wear flip-flops and sandals year-round. When you’ve got your toes and feet exposed, you
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want to make sure you are putting your best foot forward and the professionals at Bella Nails & Spa located in the Shoppes at Sunlake Center are there to help you do just that. Before opening Bella Nails & Spa, owner Andy Nguyen had worked in several nail spas and had
seen what worked and what did not. He took his time while designing Bella Nails & Spa to make it a beautiful, relaxing place that people would want to come back to again and again. Andy’s careful planning and attention to detail and customer service have paid off. Bella Nails & Spa opened in April and business has been growing steadily since. Andy estimates that 85 percent of their business is repeat customers. He loves getting feedback from his customers and wants to make sure that they are offering the services their customers want. When you first walk in to Bella Nails & Spa, you can tell that it is a step above your average nail spa. In addition to calming colors and relaxing music, the manicure and pedicure areas are separated which allows the pedicure area to be a quieter, lower lit area where you can relax. The state of the art AC and fan system Andy had installed removes stale air and blows clean air into the salon to keep it fresh and unpolluted. There are 10 pedicure chairs so you and several of your best friends can walk-in to get pedicures or you
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can hold a special event like a bridal shower or birthday party at Bella Nails & Spa. Another top priority for Andy was to offer clients organic, top-ofthe-line products. The CND lotions and scrubs used at Bella Nails & Spa for all pedicures and manicures are infused with great smelling essential organic oils and natural extracts that gently exfoliate and moisturize skin. You may enjoy them so much, you’ll want to take some home with you and you can buy the CND line of products at Bella Nails & Spa as well as Spa Organics, Petal Fresh and OPI products. Andy’s girlfriend, Jenny Phan, has 10 years of nail salon experience and she works with the nail technicians to make sure they offer topnotch service to clients and has developed a wide range of manicure, pedicure and waxing services for you to choose from.
Manicures You can get a basic mini manicure or add an aloe vera gel scrub or really treat yourself with one of their deluxe or signature manicures which
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quick polish change, they can do that and also are experts at designs and specialty manicures.
Pedicures A pedicure at Bella Nails & Spa is a truly relaxing experience. You can sink back into the cushy massage chairs as your feet soak in warm water infused with sea salts. Like the Bella Nails & Spa Owner Andy Nguyen & Jenny Phan manicures, there welcome you to come and enjoy the relaxing spa atmosphere are a range of include exfoliating scrubs, deep conpedicures from a mini one to the ditioning masques, hot towels and deluxe and signature ones which insoothing lotions rich in vitamins and clude exfoliating scrubs, deep condiminerals. The popular gel manicures tioning masques, hot towels, at Bella Nails & Spa usually lasts for moisturizing oils and lotions and my two weeks but if you are careful, they favorite part a leg and foot massage. can stay in shape for as long as four Jenny says the most popular weeks. Bella Nails & Spa has over color for pedicures this spring has 100 colors to choose from for the gel been coral and they have many differmanicure and has even developed ent shades of coral and hundreds of custom colors. If you just need a other colors for you to choose from.
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Another special service they offer at Bella Nails & Spa is the option to buy your own nail kit box that you can take home with you or leave at the spa where they will sanitize and store it for you. Each personal nail kit includes all of the tools needed for your manicure or pedicure.
Waxing Bella Nails & Spa also offers a full array of waxing services. Whether it’s your brows or bikini line, underarms or back, they will help you get rid of unwanted hair to look your best.
Bella Nails & Spa is open seven days a week, Mon. - Fri., 9:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.; Sat., 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.; and Sun., 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Bella Nails & Spa is located at 18857 SR 54 in Lutz at the Shoppes at Sunlake Center (next to Publix). Walk-ins are welcome or you can make an appointment by calling (813) 909-1234. To find out about promotions and special events, “like” Bella Nails & Spa on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thebellanails.
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Trinity Memorial Gardens A Place of Peace, Hope and Healing By Katie Thomas Trinity Memorial Gardens is beautifully landscaped, peaceful and compassionately managed. Part of the Trinity community and located off of State Road 54, Trinity Memorial Gardens serves the needs of residents with comfort, peace, and tranquility; its services are outstanding and wellplanned functions that celebrate the life of those who have passed on. Trinity Memorial Gardens is unique in numerous ways and serves everyone, regardless of race or faith. Privately owned by the Gills Family and managed by David Czech. Mr. Czech has come to Trinity with many years of business experience. Trinity Memorial Gardens has been a stronghold in the community since 1995. Since it’s independently operated, Trinity Memorial Gardens is able to run more freely than a corporate facility, and has much more free range when it comes to helping families.
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Trinity Memorial Gardens serves as a cemetery, mausoleum, chapel and funeral home, offering families warm and sincere services. Trinity Memorial Gardens’ mission is to help families take care of every detail of cemetery and funeral arrangements, and to be a trusted place to insure the safe and dignified rest of your loved ones in a magnificent, well-maintained landscape. The caring staff at Trinity Memorial Gardens makes it their personal goal to make the gardens a pleasant, peaceful haven where visitors may reflect on memories of loved ones and find tranquility. The staff feels as if they are more of a family than coworkers and they all believe that it is truly a special profession to be able to help the family members of someone who has passed on and to celebrate the beautiful life that had been lived. Pre-Planning and Memory Services Death can be a very confusing and
upsetting time, even when it is expected. Trinity Memorial Gardens has a goal to help each individual family member deal with a difficult time with as much grace and ease as possible. The expanse of services offered at Trinity Memorial Gardens paired with the help of compassionate service agents allows for an easier transition that allows a family to grieve without all the excess stresses that sometimes comes along with a loved one’s passing.
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Pre-planning your funeral arrangements may be something you have never thought of – it’s definitely not at the beginning of most people’s to-do list. We plan for every big event in our lifetime, usually down to the last detail, so why is it that our funerals are many times left as an untended, unplanned event? Pre-planning funeral and cemetery arrangements is one of the most thoughtful and loving gifts you can give to your family because
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Trinity Memorial Gardens is a place of peace and tranquility with lush, well-maintained gardens when the time comes for you to move forward into a new state of being, your family is left behind to make personal and financial decisions at a very emotional time. Pre-planning your arrangements allows your family to spend the time honoring you and comforting one another, rather than worrying over open-ended arrangements. Whether you plan ahead with your spouse, in the privacy of your own home or at Trinity Memorial Gardens comfortable arrangement rooms; you will be more at ease knowing that when the celebration of your life comes, your family will have the comfort of knowing everything planned is the way that you chose. The most beautiful thing about one planning their funeral and burial arrangements ahead of time is that their family can relax, knowing that everything is taken care of, enabling them to spend this time to appreciate, honor and remember the life that their loved one had led. Trinity Memorial Gardens offers complete services to those interested in burial or entombment within the Mausoleum. The premises are pristine with well-maintained, lush gardens, offering a wonderful place for visitors
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looking to memorialize a loved one’s life. There is a special place for everyone at Trinity Memorial Gardens, whether it be in the Garden of Honor (for military), the Garden of Prayer, or near the beautiful Bell Tower or within the Rose Garden; the green grass, beautiful markers and sound of wind blowing the chimes make for a beautiful place of rest and reflection. Trinity Memorial Gardens is comprised of many different garden areas including: Rose and Scatter Garden, Garden of Honor, Garden of the Sacred Heart for Catholic burial, Garden of the Immaculate Conception, Garden of Innocence for children, Garden of Prayer, Bell Tower Garden where bells chime every hour, and the Beit Olam Cemetery – House of Eternity for Jewish burial services. The Mausoleum at Trinity Memorial Gardens is spectacular and considered one of the most beautiful in the Southeast. Within the lovely interior, you will find crypts and niches of all types that allow the memorializing of family members. The beautiful granite, marble and stained glass interior make Trinity Memorial Garden’s Mausoleum unique and brilliant in every way. Tasteful inscriptions in
memory of deceased relatives and glass-front memory boxes are a wonderful way to remember what you loved best about a beloved family member or friend. Trinity Memorial Gardens has onsite funeral services, traditional preparation and a crematory. Those who choose to be cremated can choose to have a viewing or visitation service within the beautiful chapel prior to the cremation process. At Trinity Memorial Gardens, the knowledgeable staff is dedicated to helping you choose the service that is best. Be assured that any questions you have concerning service options will be answered with the utmost professionalism and care. Full service options include visitations, graveside services, memorial services, burial, cremation and cremation with burial. You will be helped with any concerns regarding memorialization, markers, and monuments. Family Values Trinity Memorial Gardens is dedicated to treating your family in a way that they would treat their own – with compassion, understanding and love. It takes a special group of people to help families deal with the last event of
a loved one’s life and the staff at Trinity Memorial Gardens has been entrusted by many to accompany their families along the final journey. In order to keep to their motto in celebrating each individual’s life, Trinity Memorial Gardens holds an Annual Celebration of Life. Families and friends are invited to partake in activities that include open readings, speaking of passed loved ones, a candlelight vigil and decorating a tree with ornaments that memorialize those who rest in Trinity Memorial Gardens. Families come together to remember the lives of loved ones who’ve passed and enjoy music, catered food, singing and the happiness of being together in a place where remembrance is a joyous celebration. Assisting families in remembering a person’s life through a beautiful service, burial or monument is something the staff at Trinity Memorial Gardens feels fortunate to take part in; they feel blessed to be a part of a time in life that involves seeing the love people feel for one another. A recent change in professional leadership and management has already proven to be extremely successful. Many new changes in philosophy have made a positive impact at Trinity Memorial Gardens; complemented by a unified commitment to excellence concerning it service level. Trinity Memorial Gardens is located at 12609 Memorial Dr. in Trinity (right off S.R. 54). Office hours: Mon. - Fri., 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. and 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Sat. The funeral director is available 24/7. Cemetery and Mausoleum hours are: OCT. - MAR., 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. and APR. -SEPT., 7:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. Call (727) 376- 7824 or visit www.TrinityMemorial.com for additional information.
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TRINITY DENTAL CARE IES C N GE E! R E EM ELCOM W
(727) 372-2001 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
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- Root Canals - Teeth Whitening - Dentistry for Children and Adolescence - Invisalign (the clear braces) - etc.
1843 Health Care Drive, Building #1 Trinity, FL 34655 (at the corner of Mitchell Blv &Little Rd, behind Walgreens)
Complimentary Second Opinion (D9310) Exp. 7/15/2012. New patient only. Valid weekdays only. Coupon needs to be presented at time of service.
• Nitrous Gas (Happy Gas) • Warm blankets, neck rolls and head phones in everyroom • 12 Month Interest Free Financing Available • Most Insurances Accepted • Evening & Sat. Appts. Available • Now Accepting Care Credit ®
NEW PATIENT SPECIAL Exam (D0140) and X-Ray (D0272 or D0220)
$39.99 EXP. 7/30/2012. WEEKDAYS ONLY. New patient 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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Wheels of Success: “Working Wheels Keep Families Working” By Katie Thomas Wheels of Success, a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization serving Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties, was created in June 2003 in order to help families obtain or continue work by providing them with reliable transportation. Their program of car repairs, vehicle replacement, related licensing services, car payments, down payments and car-care classes in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties has helped tons of families make better lives for themselves. In October 2003, National Car Care Month, Wheels of Success was able to award their first car to a Pinellas County individual in need. Wheels of Success is backed by many outstanding community sponsors and affiliates; all of whom deserve a round of applause for their gracious services.
Wheels of Success Provides to Local Community The organization obtains vehicles through donation or pur-
chase and works with local community partners in the automotive industry to get the vehicles in safe, running condition. Once the vehicles have been thoroughly checked to meet safety requirements, Wheels of Success then presents them to eligible families who are in need of safe, reliable transportation.
Wheels of Success Gets Involved Wheels of Success is comprised of caring, compassionate people within our communities and have specific programs within the overall program that address specific needs. These programs serve and include: Vehicles for Veterans (serving veterans returning to the workforce), Road to Independence (for domestic violence survivors), Cars for Caregivers (serving the 24/7 transportation needs of patient caregivers), and Wheels to the Future (for youths aging out of the foster care system, as well as other unaccompanied youths).
With the help of local donors and volunteers, in the past nine years Wheels of Success has made it possible to provide 463 vehicles and an additional 469 car-related services to Tampa Bay area families, enabling them to get to work or school so that they are able to support themselves and their families. Wheels of Success gets the wheels rolling for participants who are working towards paving a better road for themselves and their children.
How Wheels of Success Works Clients receiving a vehicle “buy” it from the program by making monthly payments based on their ability to pay, as well as donating five service hours per month to the organization. These payments enable Wheels of Success clients to make a difference and help Wheels of Success to keep rolling and serving others. Clients who receive a vehicle from Wheels are Success are soon able to arrive at work dependably, take their
children to school, shop for groceries, participate in community activities and provide resources that allow families to keep their lives from becoming overwhelming. Wheels of Success is an amazing organization that provides in-need families with dependable transportation in the form of a car, truck, or van, in addition to providing assistance with automotive repairs, preventative maintenance, and car-care classes for families who have transportation but cannot afford repairs and maintenance. Through the support of part-
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ners in the automotive industry and caring contributors and volunteers within the community, Wheels of Success continues to help families pave the road to a better future. Wheels of Success accepts donations of vehicles in any condition— running or not. Free towing is provided, and donors receive the highest IRS tax deduction. For more information or to donate a vehicle, please contact Wheels of Success at (813) 610-0300 or www.wheelsofsuccess.org.
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“Lap of Love” Continued from page 1 High School and the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. Prior to veterinary school, Dani had experience in human hospice care and she wanted to use that knowledge to help pets. Dr. Gardner also graduated from University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, where she and Dani McVety had became good friends. It was her personal experience with providing hospice care to her terminally ill dog that had cancer, and finally having to say goodbye to him at home, that prompted her to join Dr. McVety in this much-needed field of veterinary medicine. Rarely have I met a business owner that brings me to tears, but in meeting with Dr. McVety, who lost her own little dog recently, and talking about my experience of losing our 14-year-old dog, we both ended up a bit teary-eyed. I could feel her empathy and that she truly, deeply cares for the pets and their owners who call on her. Just out of veterinary school, Dr.
Dr. Dani McVety understands how difficult it is to lose a beloved pet and makes every effort to treat pets and their owners with extra tender love and care during a very difficult time. A paw print is taken for the pet’s family to keep. McVety had an experience that impacted her. “I knew I wanted love in the name of my practice,” she explains. “There was this lady who brought her dog in to be euthanized. She was holding and hugging him. He was on her lap and I thought this is how euthanasia should be. Euthanasia literally means good death. Most people just want their animal to die of old age in their sleep – we want that for all of our loved ones but it’s not usually the case. In-
home euthanasia is the best we can do for our pets.” Lap of Love Makes News Lap of Love continues to grow with more than 30 veterinarians in five different states; all with the common goal to empower every owner to care for their geriatric pets. Drs. McVety and Gardner have spoken at the world's largest veterinary conferences as well as to local veterinarians and universities about
veterinary hospice, palliative care, and euthanasia. Lap of Love has been featured in numerous newspapers, magazines, television news stations, radio shows, and veterinary related publications. You can find links to the many articles, press releases, interviews, and a newsclip video about Lap of Love at www.LapofLove.com under the ‘In the News’ tab. The informative website has important information regarding pet
loss and pet euthanasia resources. You’ll find links to pet loss groups and counselors. There is a section dedicated to ‘Quality of Life’ that details what signs to look for when your pets’ health has deteriorated to the point that they are suffering. At the end of a pet’s life they are often in a lot of pain, may have no appetite, and may have problems with incontinence and mobility. Most times, pet owners innately know when their pet is no longer happy. Lap of Love is Here to Help Losing pet is never easy and it is even more traumatic for the pet and the owner when you have to transport them to the veterinary office – a place they most likely would rather avoid altogether. That is why many vets in the area recommend Lap of Love; they know that their clients are in good hands. “The vast majority of calls require me to be flexible and most vets can’t afford the time away from the clinic,” explains Dr. McVety. You’ll know that you’ve done the very best you can for your pet when you call Lap of Love. When hospice care is needed, medication is provided
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to keep the pet comfortable. “To be able to see the pet in their own surroundings is huge in end-of-life veterinary care,” says Dr. McVety. “The whole point of what I do is about the comfort of the animal.” There is no good way to lose a pet, but Lap of Love is the best alternative to a bad situation. Dr. McVety and her colleagues will ensure that your pet is heavily sedated and will feel as if they are just going to sleep, basking in the loving attention of their humans. When a pet dies it affects everyone in the family, including other pets. Lap of Love offers loving compassion and tips on how to help your family and your pets during this grieving period. Lap of Love does everything possible to make this time special. “I always provide a paw print, hair clippings and a pet loss booklet,” says Dr. McVety. Eternal Pawprints is the memorial booklet given out to her clients, and provides a place to record the name of your pet and the date of passing. Eternal Pawprints was carefully constructed to honor the life of special pets with poetry, special letters and tips on how to
honor the memory of your lost friend. It also includes special letters from Dr. McVety dealing with the subject of canine grief and feline grief. Lap of Love also provides aftercare services. The care of the pet’s remains is a very personal decision and is the pet owner’s alone to make. Owners may want to bury their own pet, choose cremation (private or communal), or opt to bury their pet in a pet cemetery. No matter what the decision, Lap of Love providers are equipped
to transport a pet and will take care of cremation arrangements. You can also purchase headstones and urns designed for pets from Lap of Love, as well as items for pet senior care. It’s never easy to lose a pet, but it can be a much easier transition for your pet and your family with the help of Lap of Love. Lap of Love is available to clients seven days a week, including evenings. For more information, please call (813) 407-9441 or visit www.LapofLove.com for testimonials and news articles.
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“Orthodontics” Continued from page 1 UF. A true Gator-fan, his office is festively decorated to display the love of his favorite team. You’ll also find pictures of his beautiful family, his wife Jacque and their three daughters. Get Wired In! Whether you are just gathering information for someone in your family, actually getting braces or just taking your child in for their appointment, it’s easy to get “wired in” at Albert Family Orthodontics! It is clear that Dr. Albert values the time that many parents spend at his office waiting for their children, which is why he provides conveniences that many other offices don’t have, from self-check-in options and free Wi-Fi, to freshly brewed Keurig Coffee and freshly baked Otis Spunkmeyer chocolate chip cookies. The entire crew will enjoy the waiting area which is bright and roomy. It’s actually the perfect getaway for parents who may enjoy watching a movie or the news on one of the large flat-screen televisions while relaxing in one of the comfortable
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seating areas. If relaxing with coffee and cookies isn’t your thing, you and the kids can play XBOX with Kinect! Dr. Albert said, “It’s great how often we see parents and the kids jumping around and playing XBOX Kinect. It’s cool.” However cool the waiting area is, you won’t wait there too long because Dr. Albert has recently streamlined the check-in process with touch screen patient self-check-in pads and has added additional state-of-the-art dental chairs to shorten the wait time. Speaking of dental chairs, these aren’t just your run-of-the-mill dental chairs. Dr. Albert’s patients get to lie down in Tempur-Pedic dental chairs and watch a flat screen television while they receive their treatment. Sign me up! In order to make everything in his practice run smoothly, he uses a computerized program called a “Chart List” that tracks the progress of each patient and makes everything easily accessible for the doctor and his staff. He also has a program called “Dolphin Aquarium” which is an amazing virtual educating program that shows patients how to take care of their braces, use and change their rubber bands and even explains how to correct an overbite. In fact, nearly all of
(L-R) Tara Franz & Becky Amerson greet Dr. Albert’s patients with a smile
the things that can be done via technology are done so, which gives Dr. Albert and his staff the chance to really spend more time with their patients, and their patients’ families. Albert Family Orthodontics is committed to educating patients and their families, so they have developed an interactive website at www.albertfamilyortho, which is a great way to gather information, learn about the practice, and to find out about its affordable payment options. There’s
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Certified Orthodontic Assistants: Vanessa Laurance, Ashley Georgantas, Brittany Sindelar, Sheila Constantinople
even a way for parents or patients to log in to their own account, view their chart, see pictures of their progression, and to even make an appointment or make a payment. One parent said, "Our family absolutely loves Jeremy Albert and his staff! He has such a wonderful and friendly demeanor with us and our children. His office is beautiful and super clean with cool video games for the kids to play on while they wait.
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The actual patient rarely has to wait over five minutes before they're seen, but the video games are great for the siblings who have to come along to the appointments. There's also Wi-Fi access and great coffee for the parents to access. [The] staff up front always greet you with a smile and are so pleasant to work with.” Dr. Albert likes to see his future patients for a free consultation around the age of seven or eight, so that he can better educate the parents on what to expect when they are teenagers and their permanent teeth come in. When Dr. Albert works with families in this way, everyone is prepared and ready to go when treatment begins. Like technology, orthodontics has evolved a great deal. Braces have more options, are more comfortable, smaller than in years past, and are affordable for more people. Also, braces can get the job done faster now than in years past. Where it might have taken a patient five years to reach their desired smile a decade ago, the average length for braces is now about two years. Also, Dr. Albert has a digital x-ray machine that reduces radiation and provides phenomenal images for diagnosis.
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The regular silver smile is always available and effective, but they also offer “clear” or tooth-colored braces that really seem to make the braces disappear. Also, there is an alternative to braces called Invisalign, which is a clear retainer-like plate or “aligner” that patients wear over their teeth, and using computer imaging and molds of the patient’s teeth, a series of these clear aligners are worn until the desired outcome is reached. Dr. Albert says, “We have recently added digital scanning technology for our patients seeking Invisalign treatment. Patients can now avoid the mess or awkward feelings of dental impressions with our iTero digital orthodontic scanner - a technology which uses an intraoral camera wand that takes thousands of pictures which are digitally assimilated into 3D models of the patient's teeth. The 3D models provide highly accurate fit of the Invisalign aligners and the ability to digitally submit records to Invisalign will shorten time for the turnaround time for aligners to be received.”
of their patient’s lives while they are receiving treatment, which is why Dr. Albert and his staff hold so many family activities. Each year they do a variety of things to bring their families together, and it’s usually for a good cause! This summer Dr. Albert is having a “Summer of Music and Smiles” event. He says, “We will be kicking it off with a contest through May and June where we will give away four tickets to the hot new boy-band One Direction, live in concert in Tampa on June 29. Then from July to August,
we will be giving away a number of iPod Nanos as well!” What a great time to come in and learn about how Albert Family Orthodontics can make your entire family smile. Albert Family Orthodontics is located at 1806 Short Branch Drive #102, at Trinity Professional Place (corner of Trinity Blvd. and Duck Slough Blvd). Office hours are Tues. - Fri., 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. or by appointment. For more information, please call (727) 376-2770 or visit www.AlbertFamilyOrtho.com.
In it to Win it! Albert Family Orthodontics is really committed to being a part of each
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“News Briefs” Continued from page 7 "CPS-3 will help us better understand what factors cause cancer, and once we know that, we will be better equipped to prevent cancer." This study is the latest in a series of American Cancer Society (ACS) studies that began in the 1950s and collectively have involved millions of volunteer participants. Those studies confirmed the link between cigarette smoking and lung cancer, demonstrated the link between larger waist size and increased death rates from cancer and other causes, and showed the considerable impact of air pollution on heart and lung conditions. The current study, CPS-2, began in 1982. The new study takes into account changes in the average lifestyle and progress in the understanding of cancer. "Taking an hour or so every few years to fill out a survey, and potentially saving someone from being diagnosed with cancer in the future, is a commitment that thousands of volunteer participants have already made. We're looking for more like-minded individuals to join this effort that we
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know will save lives and improve the outlook for future generations," Patel said. According to Ashley Jones, program specialist for the ACS, "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be a part of the research that may change the course of cancer forever. Together, we have the power to save countless lives and create a world with less cancer and more birthdays! Whether you choose to enroll or not, please encourage friends, coworkers, and family members to fight back against cancer by enrolling in CPS-3." For more information about CPS3 and the selected enrollment locations please email cps3@cancer.org or call toll-free at 1-888-604-5888 Local Professional To Speak at Aging Conference The Program Committee of the Florida Conference on Aging 2012 "Aging: New Game - New Rules" has announced its selections for program presenters at this year's conference. The conference is Florida's most comprehensive aging training program and will be held August 20 22, 2012, in Orlando. "The committee had a really
hard time making the selections there were over 70 proposals submitted," stated Colette Vallee, Director of Programs & Advocacy, Florida Council on Aging. Tampa social worker Grace Terry, MSW, has been selected to present both a three-hour pre-conference intensive session titled "Senior Sexuality and Spirituality" in addition to a general workshop session titled "Grief and Grieving: Implications for the Aging Network," which will be featured as part of the conference mental health track. About Grace Terry—Grace Terry, MSW, has been a professional social worker for over thirty years and is now an interfaith advocate and activist specializing in grief education and bereavement care. Terry is the co-founder and chair of the Bereavement Coalition of Tampa Bay, the co-founder of the Pinellas Grief Education Network, and an active member of the Grief, Loss and End-of-life Coalition in Sarasota. She is also on the professional advisory board and on the training team for Project Corregidor, which provides grief man-
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agement training for combat veterans, soldiers, and their families. Terry is also an inspirational and motivational speaker. "It's an honor to serve on the faculty of the FCOA Conference," Terry stated. "I am always grateful for the opportunity to share knowledge and ideas that can improve the quality of life for Florida's seniors." The Florida Council on Aging is committed to serving Florida's diverse aging interests through education, information-sharing and advocacy. Founded in 1955, FCOA is Florida's only statewide association representing virtually all aging interests and many different disciplines. More information about FCOA and the annual conference is available at www.fcoa.org. Grace Terry, MSW, Grief Educator / Grief Support Specialist, can be contacted at (727) 487-3207 or by email: graceterry727@aol.com.
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Wounded Trinity Marine Accepts Customized Vehicle from Sun Toyota By Diane Galemmo You may recall the story we did last year about U.S. Marine Corps Corporal Justin Gaertner, the Trinity marine who suffered the loss of both of his legs, and a severe injury to his left arm, when an improvised bomb exploded beneath his feet in Afghanistan in November 2010. Gaertner, now 23, and a 2007 graduate of Mitchell High School in Trinity, went through intensive therapy with passionate determination and motivation. While it normally takes a person about six to nine months to learn how to walk on artificial legs, Justin Gaertner did it in three. Justin now has eight pairs of prosthetic legs. He can walk, surf and snowboard and recently won silver medals in the 2012 Warrior Games. On Memorial Day, a day on which we honor those who served our country, Justin was picked up at 10 a.m. by The Florida Patriot Guard Riders, who escorted him in POWMIA formation from his home in
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Trinity to the Sun Toyota dealership in Holiday. He was greeted by a carnival atmosphere; the whole dealership was transformed into a display of military men and women, along with the public, all of whom saluted Justin. The community event took place during the weekend of May 25 through Memorial Day on May 28. Then came the pièce de résistance—Joe Reth, general manager of Sun Toyota, presented Justin with the keys to a new Toyota Tundra Platinum Crewmax, especially fitted with hand controls, step bars and other conveniences by Sun Toyota. The total cost for the vehicle with its modifications is $60,000. This new truck will be lower to the ground and easier to get into from a wheelchair. It will have hand controls, dual climate control and backup camera. The dealership is picking up a good portion of the cost. The truck was missing parts on Memorial
Joe Reth, General Manager of Sun Toyota, hands over the keys to a 2012 Toyota Tundra Platinum Crewmax to local hero Corporal Justin Gaertner Day, but the hope was to have it ready pressed with Justin’s attitude and determination, so when Toyota apby the following Thursday for pickup. proached Amira saying they wanted to President and co-founder of the do something special for a veteran on Wounded Vets Association (WVA), Memorial Day, he immediately knew Greg Amira, met Justin last year in Justin would be the perfect choice. New York during the 9/11 tenth anniversary observance. He was very im- (The WVA advocate for, and assist, wounded veterans dealing with physical and psychological injuries suffered on the battlefield). Gaertner says he is planning to attend school at Florida State College in Jacksonville, concentrating on homeland security and business. He had words of wisdom to recently injured veterans. “There’s always going to be someone there to help you.” Sun Toyota has opened a page on its website, www.suntoyota.com/soldier.html where Justin’s story can be read and donations can be made towards the cost of his customized vehicle.
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