Lutz/Land O' Lakes/Odessa - Vol. 6, Issue 6, June 2014

Vol. 5, Issue 6, June 2014

Your neighborhood. Your magazine.

The Premier “Shop Local” Community Magazine Directly Mailed To 20,000 Homes In Odessa, Lutz & Land O’ Lakes Areas This Independent Community News, Business & Dining Guide Is Directly Mailed Once Each Month To: Ashley Lakes, Ballantrae, Belle Meade, Calusa Trace, Canterbury, Cheval, Citrus Greens, Concord Station, Devonwood, Dolce Vita on Lake Keystone, Echo Lake, Farmington Village, Fern Glenn, Grey Hawk at Lake Polo, Heritage Harbor, Ivy Lake Estates, Keystone Groves, Keystone Manors, Keystone Reserve, Keystone Shores, Lake Charles, Lake Church, Lake Parker Estates, Lakeside Grove Estates, Northlake Village, Northbridge at Lake Pretty, Northton Groves, Oakstead, Orange Blossom Creek, Reflections, Steeple Chase, Stillwater, Stonegate, Suncoast Crossings, Suncoast Meadows, Swan Cove, The Eagles, Van Dyke Estates, Van Dyke Farms, Villa Rosa, Wyndham Lakes

Keep Cool This Summer With The Help of Jaime Central A/C and Heating Specialists

grown 400% in the last two years, supported by a highly-trained team of listing administrators and customer support staff, social media experts and proprietary software including advanced showing and offer technology.” Their system is 100% electronic which saves customers time and the planet, trees.

“Our model is rather complex and a lot of work to manage because we are maintaining many listings, dealing with hundreds of agents a week, and we are busy.” ADDvantage lists homes in almost every MLS in See “GetMoreOffers” on page 32

The Community Dining & Business Guide that your neighbors READ!

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Red Cross Hurricane Tips......3 Community News Briefs.....4-5 Community Calendar............6-7 TCBY....................................10-11 GCS Driving Academy...........14-15 HCSO Fishing Tournament......16 Penguin Pretzel Factory..18-19 Realtor Debra Huether...22-23 Dr. Rodriguez–St. Luke’s ..26-27 TB Youth Sports Expo....28-29

ECRWSS

Real estate broker Keith Gordon is the co-owner of Florida’s largest discount real estate brokerage firm, ADDvantage Real Estate Services. Their website is GetMoreOffers.com.

Keith and his partner, Erin Knorr, started ADDvantage in 2005 with the intention of building a “customer first” discount real estate brokerage.

ADDvantage has grown to over 500 listings statewide with sales over $140 million in the past 12 months alone.

With 475 homes sold last year, like many industry leaders, ADDvantage Real Estate and broker, Keith Gordon, are mavericks.

Keith says, “Our business has

See “Jaime A/C” on page 30

Postal Customer

Discount Real Estate Listing, Zillow’s Flawed “Zestimates” and the Flood Insurance Crisis

Tampa Bay area.

Customers of Jaime Air definitely have great things to say about Manny, Jaime, and the professional workers who have come to their rescue. “Jaime Air did a great installation,” says one happy Tampa Bay area family. “My wife was very happy with how clean they kept our home during the tricky renovation. The new system cools fast and it's very quiet due to the new ductwork they installed.

Now all our rooms are the same temperature. We got a new Trane

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When Manny Parad met Jaime Central Air Conditioning & Heating Specialist’s owner, Jaime Guerrera, he knew he had found a business partner that shared the same high standards for honesty and quality customer service, and after 47 years of working in the air conditioning and heating industry, Manny knows that being honest with your customers and performing high quality work is what keeps a company in business. “Much of our business is in the Westchase

area and many of our new customers come from referrals,” says Manny. “I live in Westchase and am proud that I can go places in the community without fear of running into an unhappy client. We stand behind our work and are proud of the loyalty our customers have to us. We want to make sure that we always treat our clients with utmost respect and that when we’ve finished the job, we’ve earned their trust and loyalty.” Jaime Central Air Conditioning and Heating is a bi-lingual company and has employees who speak both English and Spanish to better serve clients throughout the

Dated Material Please Rush!

By Alexis Selby

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Red Cross Offers Safety Tips for Hurricanes The American Red Cross urges residents throughout Florida and communities across the country be prepared for this year’s hurricane that runs from June 1 through November 30.

“Preparedness is critical when it comes to life-threatening disasters such as hurricanes,” said Linda Carbone, CEO of Florida’s West Coast Region and the Tampa Bay Chapter. “It’s important that families and individuals make time to build an emergency kit, create an evacuation plan, and download the Red Cross Hurricane App to help make it through the next storm safely.”

A 2013 survey by the American Red Cross and The Weather Channel found that few Americans living in coastal counties have taken necessary action to prepare for severe tropical storms and hurricanes. Only about half of those surveyed have an evacuation plan or a plan for communicating with family members if they are separated.

Nearly a third of people did not have an emergency kit with supplies.

Even communities far inland from the coast can experience hurricanes de-

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pending on the course of the storm, often with the threat of powerful winds and widespread flooding. In addition, strong rip currents even at large distances from the storm can threaten those at the beach many miles away.

Prepare Before The Storm Hurricanes are powerful and dangerous storms. They can bring heavy rains that cause major flooding, destructive winds that down power lines, uproot trees and damage homes, and storm surges that travel several miles inland destroying everything in its path.

As hurricane season approaches, it is important to know the difference between the threat levels.

• A Hurricane Watch is when conditions are a threat within 48 hours. It’s then time to review your hurricane plans. Get ready to act if a warning is issued, and stay informed.

• A Hurricane Warning is when conditions are expected within 36 hours. It’s then time to complete your storm preparations and leave the area if directed to do so by authorities.

Now is the time for families and

individual to build an emergency kit and create an evacuation plan.

Download the Hurricane App The free Red Cross Hurricane App puts real time information on hurricane safety at your fingertips. This app, which has more than 970,000 downloads, is a must have for anyone who lives in an area where a hurricane may strike or has loved ones who do.

Features of the Hurricane App include information on Red Cross shelters and a toolkit with a flashlight, strobe light and alarm. The onetouch “I’m Safe” button lets someone instantly tell family and friends they are okay. People who are traveling or have loved ones in hurricaneprone areas can also use the app to receive weather alerts.

The Hurricane App can be found in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for Android by searching for American Red Cross. Learn more about all of the Red Cross mobile apps at redcross.org/mobileapps.

Learn more about hurricane preparedness at redcross.org.

Neighborhood News & Lifestyles Directly mailed once a month to 20,000 households in zip codes 33556, 33558 & 34638

220 Safford Ave. S. Tarpon Springs, FL 34689 Phone: (813) 928-6124; Fax: (727) 942-2432 Advertising E-mail: info@neighborhoodnewsfl.com Editorial E-mail: editorialdept@neighborhoodnewsfl.com © 2014 NeighborhoodNews & Lifestyles is published by ADS 2 Publications, Inc. Publisher Tim Selby General Manager Jim O’Reilly Editor Kim Thomas Advertising Sales Manager Matt Selby Advertising Sales Jim O’Reilly Linda Veiga Alexis Selby Jared Nager

Correspondents Julie Kanehl Marcy Sanford Katie Thomas

Dara Tucker

Art Director Dat X. Do Graphic Artists Dat X. Do Tony Sica Accounting Manager Doreen Selby Billing Assistant Tina O’Reilly

Nothing that appears in Neighborhood News & Lifestyles may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by Neighborhood News & Lifestyles writers are their own and do not reflect the publisher’s opinion.

The management of Neighborhood News & Lifestyles is always happy to accept outside editorial submissions to the paper. Please call for outside editorial submission and adver-

tisement deadlines.

Neighborhood News & Lifestyles will consider previously non-published outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. Neighborhood News & Lifestyles reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates. Neighborhood News & Lifestyles will not return unsolicited editorial materials.

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Community News Briefs Local Church Embraces Hearing Impaired For people who are hard of hearing, some of the more difficult places to hear when someone is talking are the acoustically challenging environments of large indoor spaces like churches.

One local church is helping their parishioners hear better.

St. Timothy Catholic Church in Lutz is the worship home to thousands of local residents, a number of who have hearing impairment. Recently the church had two hearing loops installed—one in the day chapel and one in the main sanctuary—to help people who have telecoils (also known as Tcoils) in their hearing aids to be able to hear the spoken word much clearer, as the sound comes directly into the hearing devices. A hearing loop essentially consists of an antenna that is installed around the perimeter of the room and is connected to the sound system so that any amplified voices can ‘stream’ into hearing aids that have activated TCoils.

St. Timothy is the only Catholic Church in Hillsborough County with a

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hearing loop.

A local audiologist, Dr. Judith Reese of JC Audiology in Lutz, said many of her patients use their hearing aids in the T-coil mode to hear better in venues like churches.

“Large buildings, especially churches, can be acoustically challenging for people with normal hearing, but especially so for those who have hearing loss,” Dr. Reese says. “In many large venues the amplified sound reverberates throughout the space, bouncing off metal, glass and tile.”

Now at St. Timothy, when a person using hearing aids is inside a looped area (the main area of the sanctuary or the day chapel), amplified sound will be transmitted directly into their hearing aids. This allows them to hear clearly and better than ever, without the echoes and reverberation that occurs in normally amplified spaces.

“It is a wonderful way to accommodate people who might otherwise be at a disadvantage,” Fr. Kenneth Malley, pastor at St. Timothy, said about the hearing loop.

For more information on hearing

loops, or hearing aids with telecoils, contact Dr. Reese at JC Audiology at 813-949-1331 (jc-audiology.com). Or, you can watch a video of Dr. Reese explaining how the hearing loop works by typing in JC Audiology in the search line on youtube.com.

Tampa Conservative Synagogue Mekor Shalom Celebrates Move to New Space People of all ages gathered recently to celebrate the new space for Mekor Shalom in Carrollwood. Members of the Tampa Conservative synagogue as well as members of the local community attended the “Hanukkat Habavit,” Hebrew for dedication of sacred space.

“It is incredible to think that only about eight months ago we began our congregational path toward a shul premised on two things: connection with one another; and welcoming and valuing each person for who he or she is, rather than how much they pay in dues,” synagogue Board of Trustees president Chris Shulman said. “These values are felt at every Shabbat service or Holiday Observance, through the warm words and inclusive practices of our Founding Spiritual Leader, Hazzan

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Jodi Sered-Lever, through the onegs and Kiddush luncheons thoughtfully prepared and provided by congregants, through the warmth of friends gathered together to worship, and through the kind laughter we hear when the kids attend religious school.

“These values are also expressed in our adoption of a Voluntary Financial Commitment – the first shul to do so in Tampa Bay – where each person or family gives as they believe they are able to afford.”

At the event, Shulman introduced Hillsborough County District 2 Commissioner Victor Crist, who offered inspirational remarks and embraced Tampa’s newest Conservative Jewish congregation as part of the vibrant, growing area. Sered-Lever led a brief but meaningful service characteristic of the warm and inviting environment that has already drawn over 70 households to the shul in under a year.

Board vice president Susan Marlow offered the blessing and fulfilled the mitzvah of affixing the mezuzah to the entrance of the sanctuary. Afterward, congregants and guests enjoyed a delicious meal in the atrium while socializing.

“This type of environment is ex-

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actly why we joined. This is a place where people give what they can. People are here because they want to be; the sense of community is palpable,” said Mekor Shalom member Dr. Amanda Smith, who attended with her husband and two daughters.

Shulman added, “This congregation has answered the call. Through financial contributions and in-kind donations of religious items, office equipment and supplies, beautiful works of art, and, most of all, congregants’ time and services, Mekor Shalom is thriving.”

For more information please visit www.mekorshalom.org or call 813963-1818.

Call for Entries! Pasco Art Annual Exhibition 2014 Delivery of Art: Sept. 30–Oct. 4, Reception & Awards: Oct. 10 Pick up Art: Nov. 18 – Nov. 22 Eligibility Requirements Open to the first 60 artists ages 18 and up; one entry per artist. This is not a juried show; works will be judged by professional judges. Works accepted in six categories: Drawing, Fine Craft (Clay, Fiber, Glass, Metal, Wood, etc.,) Mixed Media, Painting (including pastel), Photography, and Sculpture. All

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entries must be new (completed within the past two years) and can’t have been exhibited previously at PAC. Work may be listed as “NFS” or priced (if sold, PAC will retain a 30% commission).

Entries cannot exceed 48” in any dimension inclusive of framing, bases, other. 2-D work must be framed or museum-wrapped and equipped with a secure hanging wire; no saw-tooth hangers will be accepted. 3-D work must be self-supporting.

All work must be original; that is, the concept, composition or design must be unique to the artist submitting the work, and the artist must have directly created the work in the designated medium. No reproductions are eligible for entry, nor are works copied from the art of others, including magazine illustrations, photography, etc.

Artists are solely responsible for any misrepresentation or copyright infringement issues.

Disclaimer: PAC reserves the right to remove from exhibition or judging, any entries deemed not to be in compliance with the above guidelines. No entry fees will be refunded under these circumstances. PAC, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to remove any works of art that may be deemed offensive or inappropriate for public exhibition. PAC, its em-

ployees, or volunteers, will not be held responsible for damage, breakage, loss, theft or other casualty to artwork while in possession at PAC. Entry Fee: $20 for current members; $30 for non-members ($40 for individual membership, $60 for family membership).

Awards will be presented at a Reception, Oct. 10, from 5—7 PM, at PAC. Light refreshments will be served. Cash awards will be presented for “Best of Show” and “Best of Category.” The judge may, at his discretion, elect not to designate an award in a particular category if there are insufficient entries in a category, resulting in a non-competitive field. The judge may also select up to six Honorable Mention awards. A People’s Choice Award will be announced at the conclusion of the exhibition in November, based on visitor balloting.

Pasco Arts Council is located at 5744 Moog Road in Holiday, FL, adjacent to the Centennial Park Library.

Office hours are currently Tues. – Thurs., 9 AM–4 PM and 9 AM until 1 PM on Fri. and Sat. (Hours are subject to change during summer months.)

For more information, please call 727845-7322, email pacart3@gmail.com, or visit www.pascoart.org.

Royal Caribbean Check to CARES A $1,000 check presentation was made to CARES to help support their mission to improve the quality of life and independence for area seniors. The donation was a result of fundraising incentives made by Royal Caribbean through www.cruisewithlou.com.

Louis Bruno helps groups such as CARES, a non-profit 501(c)3 charitable organization, plan cruises and receive fundraising incentives. To learn more, call 727-376-9007. CARES Travel Club plans day trips and travel excursions for older adults. The travel club has locations at CARES Rao Musunuru, M.D. Enrichment Center in Hudson and CARES Elfers Center in New Port Richey (www.caresfl.org).

Louis Bruno presents check to Bill Aycrigg & Tom Moran of CARES

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Community Calendar 2014 Warrior Basketball Camp at Steinbrenner High School June 16–19 & July 7–10, 9 AM – 3 PM––For Both Boys and Girls entering 1st – 8th grade! Warrior Basketball Camp is held at Steinbrenner High School, 5575 Lutz Lake Fern Road in Lutz.

Campers will receive instruction in the fundamentals of dribbling, passing, shooting and defending the basketball. Emphasis will also be placed on how to utilize their skills in a team concept.

Campers will be grouped by age and ability to offer the best instruction. They will also compete in a variety of basketball related competitions: free throw shooting, Hot Shot, Moneyball and other skill-building games.

Awards will be given to each group and gender winners throughout the week.

All campers should bring a bag lunch to camp – there will be an airconditioned area for them to store their lunches. A small concession area will be open during the day with items for sale at a nominal cost.

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Upon receipt of the registration form and payment we will email Emergency Contact/Medical Forms, and Consent Forms that will need to be mailed, faxed, or brought to first day of camp. There are no exceptions in regards to paperwork.

You may email warriorbasketballcamp@gmail.com with any questions.

Campers will receive a camp T-shirt and a basketball on the last day!

For more information contact: Coach JR Allen at Steinbrenner High School (813) 792-5131.

Cost: $90 per camper*; $160 for two siblings*; $240 for three siblings* Checks payable to: Steinbrenner High School Booster Club. *Registrations and payments must be received one week before start of each camp in order to receive the above rates.

All ‘first day of camp’ registrations are $100 – no discounts!

Cancer and the Treatment of It” Thurs., Jun. 19, 7 PM––Keystone Community Church in Land O’ Lakes, Florida has a Cancer Support Group, and are presenting top local

doctors and professionals from local hospitals/clinics to present topics on cancer to inform and strengthen the community’s knowledge on cancer.

The next topic is “Cancer and the Treatment of It” and will be presented

by Dr. Ghassan El Haddad, Section Head for Radionuclide Therapy at the Moffitt Cancer Center. Dr. El Haddad will speak on a variety of cancer treatments available. The program session is open to all and will allow for questions.

The presentation will be at the church located at 21010 State Road 54 in Lutz. For further information, please call Walt Bockmiller, Cancer Support Group Chairman, at 813527-8211 or call Keystone Community Church at 813-948-4522.

Nar-Anon Meetings Nar-Anon Family Groups are a worldwide fellowship for those affected by someone else’s addiction. Florida Website: Naranonfl.org; Help Line: 1888-947-8885 Thursdays, 7 PM––Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 2348 Collier Pkwy. (Immaculata Hall, room E) Mondays, 7 PM––Turning Point Mary Martha Bldg., 6227 Sheldon Rd., Tampa

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Thursdays, 7 PM––Christ the King Church, 821 S. Dale Mabry (2story building, room 203).

Tuesdays, 7 PM––Hope Church, 5107 Lutz Lake Fern Rd., Lutz. *Narateen (same day, location & time) Saturdays 10 AM––United Methodist Church, 207 Buckingham Ave., Oldsmar Wednesdays 8 PM––Asbury United Methodist Church, 4204 Thys Rd., New Port Richey Mondays, 7 PM––Asbury United Methodist Church, 4204 Thys Rd., New Port Richey Tuesdays 6:45 PM––All Saints Church, 1700 Keystone Rd., Tarpon Springs Senior Sports IncludingTennis, Golf and Bowling Senior Sports would like to gather players to play Tennis in the Land O’ Lakes/Wesley Chapel/Lutz areas of Pasco County. Senior Sports meets to play golf each Wednesday at a variety of rotating courses. Bowling is every Thursday at 12:30 p.m. in Lutz. Meet many new friends in fun and fitness!

We are also interested in Indoor Volleyball play…call now. Please call Walt Bockmiller to register your interest at 813-527-8211.

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Serves Up Delicious Fun!

By Dara Tucker There is no better time than now for a delicious, healthy frozen treat and there is no better place than TCBY in Trinity. TCBY is conveniently located near the Medical Center of Trinity and is nestled in with some great shopping destinations at Mitchell Ranch Plaza - just head a few short miles west on State Road 54 to Mitchell Ranch Plaza at the intersection of S.R. 54 and Little Road.

Owners Patti and Jay Silar opened the store with their daughter, Marketing Manager Jenifer Silar-Mills, on August 19, 2011, becoming the first TCBY Self-Serve on the West Coast of Florida. It has been a popular spot

ever since for good reason – it’s fun and delicious! With classic favorites like Golden Vanilla, Chocolate and White Chocolate Mousse and many rotating flavors – all at 96, 98, or 100 percent fat free – it’s understandable why TCBY Self-Serve in Trinity a favorite destination all on its own.

“The Country’s Best Yogurt,” or TCBY, originally opened in 1981 and is the oldest frozen yogurt company in the United States. The company has high health and quality standards that also appeal to Patti Silar who is a retired RN. Patti says, “TCBY purchases products that are of high quality. Fresh fruit is sanitized to meet TCBY requirements, and we don’t use frozen fruit because it turns to mush on our

Super Fro Yo is a new classification of frozen yogurt that sets a high standard for nutrition within the frozen yogurt industry. To qualify as a Super Fro-Yo, TCBY’s frozen yogurts meet or exceed (based on a 4 oz., 1/2-cup serving) having at least 3 grams of fiber, 7 types of live and active cultures, 4 grams of protein, and Owners Jay & Patti Silar, with daughters Krista 20% DV of Vitamin D and Jenifer, and granddaughter Hayley at their and Calcium. The fiber and probiotics in TCBY Grand Opening in September 2011. yogurt help you feel satisfied and aids your body topping bar. Our canned fruits are in in digestion, boosting your general their own juices instead of syrup.” health. It is a great source of Vitamin Jay Silar adds, “Our yogurts and D and Calcium, which are essential for most of our toppings are also Kosher your bone and muscle health. The and Halal certified. We want to meet protein in TCBY yogurt contains our customer’s needs.” amino acids that help proper muscle TCBY’s yogurt is delicious, maintenance. Eating healthy has never smooth and creamy. The possibilities tasted so good! of flavor combinations and toppings TCBY’s Silk® Chocolate Alseem endless, but you may not have mond, introduced last year, is the first known it has a great nutritional value, ever national dairy-free, almond milktoo. TCBY offers a number of yogurts based frozen yogurt option, and has that are considered Super Fro-Yos. A proven immensely popular. Fans

(Left) TCBY's friendly staff are always willing to offer you a sample, or suggest popular favorites.

(Right) Owner Patti Silar prepares fresh strawberries for TCBY's toppings bar. Fruits are always in their own natural juices, instead of syrups. helped make Silk® Chocolate Almond the company’s most successful product launch since TCBY was the first to bring Greek frozen yogurt to the market in 2012, continuing the brand’s commitment to innovation in the frozen yogurt industry.

Part of the popularity of Silk® Chocolate Almond can be attributed

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to the fact that for the first time in the company’s history and in the industry there is a non-dairy, plant-based option allowing guests with dietary restrictions the ability to enjoy TCBY’s famous product. People who were previously unable to enjoy TCBY due to milk allergies can now savor the delicious Silk® Chocolate Almond.

TCBY in Trinity is bright and colorful, including a light wall that changes colors with the music, adding to the fun of getting a treat. The warm greeting you get from the staff, along with an offering of a sample, lets you know that TCBY isn’t just in the yogurt business, but the people business, too.

Self-serve TCBY is fun and simple – just choose between a 16 oz. or 25 oz. serving cup, and then decide on one of their ten flavors, a swirl of flavors, or even a smaller portion of multiple flavors. Nine of their flavor choices are soft serve frozen yogurts (including the delicious new Honey Vanilla Greek yogurt, which has become a local favorite) and one is a refreshing sorbet. Their topping bar has over 50 different toppings to choose from, including fresh fruit, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and kid favorites such as gummy bears and chocolate rocks! You can top it off with hot chocolate fudge and hot caramel. Another option is to ask the staff to put your creation through the Shiver Machine, to blend your treat.

Cakes and pies make a great take home option with flavors such as Red Velvet Mousse cake with White

Chocolate Mousse yogurt on Red Velvet cake, topped with white frosting and red velvet cake crumbs. Pies include Turtle Ripple, Cookies and Crème, and Peanut Buttery Fudge, which swirls chocolate and vanilla yogurt with ribbons of peanut butter on a fudge covered chocolate cookie crust. This treat is too good to wait for a birthday as an excuse to eat it!

Many cakes and pies are available for immediate purchase.

TCBY provides a scrumptious and healthy yogurt shop that is perfect for taking the kids for a treat, birthday celebrations, or date night. When you go make sure to ask for a Rewards card that gives you 1 point for every dollar you spend, and after 30 points you earn a $3 coupon, or a stamp card that rewards you with a free yogurt (up to $5) after nine stamps.

TCBY of Trinity is located at 3140 Little Road in the Mitchell Ranch Plaza. They are open daily during the summer months from 12 – 10 PM. For information call (727) 375- 1177. Visit TCBY of Trinity’s Facebook page and/or visit their website at www.tcbytrinity.com for upcoming events and coupons.

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Teen Driving Coach George Csanadi Focuses on Safe Driving

By Marcy Sanford Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among 15- to 20-year-olds says the National Center for Health Statistics; remarkably, statistics show that 60 percent of teen drivers are involved in a car accident within the first 12 months of driving.

“Most teenage drivers are short on experience and long on confidence,” says Teen Driving Coach George Csanadi, “this makes for a potentially dangerous combination.”

As parents we spend thousands of dollars on music, dance, and gymnastic lessons for our children; thousands of dollars in fees for them to cheer, play soccer, football, and basketball; thousands of dollars to pay for extra

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coaching to improve their athletic skills in their sport of choice. However, while most children won’t go on to be a professional athlete or entertainer, they will hopefully be driving for the rest of their lives. Why then, do we think that we as parents can teach our children the valuable skills they need to stay safe on the road?

After many years of experience as a racecar driver, coach, and instructor, George Csanadi founded GCS Driving Academy. Up until a few years ago, most of his clients included people who wanted to learn how to race cars professionally, including a 14-year-old Danica Patrick, and those who were interested in pursuing it as a hobby. George started Teen Driver Training several

years ago and has already helped 200 teenagers become safer and more confident drivers.

“After each of her lessons, our daughter Catherine came home feeling more confident and more cautious about driving,” says Donna R. “She felt that you understood the potential disGeorge Csanadi, Teen Driving Coach at GCS tractions teenagers face and gave her good skills to overcome them. After don’t have to react and potentially meeting you and seeing your passion cause an accident.” for helping teenage drivers stay safe, “I really appreciated the time along with your background in car George spent with our 16-year-old racing and training, I knew you were son,” says Sherry. “He had had his the right person to start my daughter driver’s license for two months and driving with good habits and smart thought he was an expert. His time defensive skills.” on the road with George was very George has been called the “Teen valuable in showing him firsthand Whisperer” by many parents for his areas where he needs to focus and ability to talk to teenagers and help improve. He definitely respects them understand all the elements inGeorge’s expertise and was open to volved with driving. “Driving correctly his instruction, much more so than is a lifelong skill,” says George. his parents. We saw an improvement “Today’s cars are more dangerous beright from the beginning.” cause they are faster and quieter. I As their skill level improves, teach my students to anticipate what is George teaches his students how to going to happen around them so they drive in all different types of situations:

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on highways and congested streets; through downtown’s one way streets and around the area’s many roundabouts; he even offers a nighttime driving class. His goal is to ensure that your child will be able to drive safely and defensively no matter the location or situation.

“My wife and I really appreciated George’s quality instruction which benefited our 15-year-old daughter,” said Joel R. “As safe and experienced drivers ourselves, we struggled with the value of paying someone else to give Samantha lessons. After experiencing three sessions with George and observing the improvement in her driving, we believe that this instruction is one of the wisest investments we’ve ever made.

George’s experience in performance driving brings in so many technical aspects to safe driving. It never occurred to us that one could spend an hour only on turns. However, the difference in her driving after that one lesson was incredible.”

We want our children to succeed in everything they try. But driving is one skill where knowledge and ability can make the difference in a life or

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death situation. Having an experienced driving instructor like George Csanadi will ensure that your teen is prepared for anything that might come his or her way while on the road. George says his most successful students typically have 15 – 20 hours of instruction but that he is also available for shorter periods of time depending on your teen’s needs.

For more information about GCS Teen Driver Training, visit them on the web at www.gcsdrivingacademy.com. You can also to set up a time for George Csanadi to begin training your child to drive safely by calling 813-713-4233 or emailing him at George@gscdrivingacademy.com.

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Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Fishing Tournament

Love to fish? There’s a $25,000 fish out there and you could catch it!

So, if you think you’ve got what it takes to catch the winning fish, grab your fishing poles and head on down to the Westshore Yacht Club for their exciting annual Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Fishing Tournament!

Guaranteed to be a good time for all, the annual HCSO Charities inshore fishing tournament gives anglers the opportunity to fish for Snook, Redfish and Trout in our very own Tampa Bay, all while benefitting an excellent organization – the Judeo Christian Health Clinic. Spending a beautiful day on the water, anglers get to enjoy their beloved pastime in the hopes of landing the big one – a tagged fish worth $25,000!

This year’s fishing tournament will be held on Saturday, June 21,

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2014, at the Westshore Yacht Club, located at 6003 Beacon Shores St in Tampa. Fishing will start at 6:30 a.m. and will go until 3 p.m. After returning from fishing, anglers are invited to stay for dinner, judging and prizes from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., all of which is included with angler entry.

The Captain’s Meeting will be held the night before on June 20 at 7 p.m. at the Westshore Yacht Club.

Each fishing team must send at least one member to represent them.

With more than 40 boats entered, last year’s tournament was a huge success and the charity event raised more than $17,000 for the Judeo Christian Health Clinic. But I have bigger hopes for this year’s event, and I want to bring that number to over $20,000!

With your support we can make that happen! So, register your team today and join the other teams and ours, the Neighborhood News & Lifestyle’s Fishing Team, for a fun day on beautiful Tampa Bay. Who knows? That

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$25,000 fish could be yours!

If you would like to submit entry by mail, please make checks payable to HCSO Charities and mail registration and payment to: Attention Fishing Tournament Community Outreach Division Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office P.O. Box 3371 Tampa, FL 33601 Entry Fees are $125.00 per angler or $400.00 per boat (4 anglers max). In addition to regular registration, there are also many sponsorship options available. For more information please call Master Deputy Steve Ferreira or Deputy Diana Watson at (813) 247-8115 or visit www.HCSO.Tampa.fl.us.

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JUNE 2014

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Penguin Pretzel Factory - “What’s In Your Pretzel?”

By Katie Thomas Nothing quite compares to the comfort of a fresh, hand-twisted, baked-to-perfection, heaven-in-yourmouth pretzel, especially when stuffed with unique and delicious fillings! Penguin Pretzel Factory in Trinity is located on Old County Road 54 and serves up the best piping hot pretzels to hit the Tampa Bay area. Made with love; these pretzels are much more than a snack and the many varieties are sure to warm your heart, fill your belly and put a smile on your face!

Penguin Pretzel Factory opened its Trinity storefront last August to offer locals a place to satiate their soft pretzel cravings. Owners Nick and Suzi run the family business with their kids and welcome the community to come fall in love with the mouth-watering creations they bake fresh daily!

Suzi says. “We were working in the food business for a very long time before we started Penguin Pretzels. We moved to the Trinity area and realized that our family was not spending

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enough quality time together because Nick had to travel all the time for work.

Life happens and brings you in different directions; luckily we have all moved forward to share our lifelong love of food with the community.”

Penguin Pretzel Factory came to be after Nick and Suzi decided that they needed something new; a fresh start of sorts. One morning Suzi jumped out of bed craving a hot, doughy pretzel so she drew upon her culinary genius and whipped a few batches up in the kitchen. “Everyone loved them,” says Suzi. “It took me awhile to perfect our famously moist, yet not too greasy twist but once we found a product that we absolutely loved, we decided to go with it and Nick went out to promote our newest adventure.”

Nick set out to find places to allow Penguin Pretzel Factory to sell their baked goods out of their kiosks.

He got in with MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry) and Busch Gardens for special events. You may have already sampled one of Penguin Pretzel Factory’s fantastic creations at

MOSI or Busch gardens during one of their special exhibits.

The Penguin Pretzel Factory family was excited to get into MOSI and share their twisted delicacies with the world! Once these pretzels were introduced to the public, business began growing and the pretzel making crew found Penguin Pretzels are hand-twisted & baked fresh many of their cusdaily in this family-owned business. tomers begging to know where they could knew we could step it up and offer buy their favorite treats outside of more, so I decided to try stuffing our MOSI and Busch gardens. dough with different fillings. The result They knew they needed a storewas phenomenal and really put us on front and decided upon the New Port the map as uniquely different. The Richey location on Old CR 54. A coufunny thing is, I had never stuffed a ple of days prior to opening the doors pretzel before in my life; it just hapof Penguin Pretzel Factory in New pened to be a great idea that our cusPort Richey, Suzi had a brilliant idea. tomers loved!”

“We were planning on offering regular Nick adds, “We now have reguhand twisted pretzels,” says Suzi. “Our lars after only a few months of being twists are absolutely fantastic, but I

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Penguin Pretzel Factory has put a new twist on pretzels with amazing tasting stuffed pretzel specialties.

Classic pretzel twists with a side of gourmet mustard are always a delicious treat or try a sweet dessert pretzel! open and we serve up all sorts of unique items. We have Italian Ice, dessert pretzels, savory pretzels, classic twists and the best gourmet stuffed pretzels around. Our business aspirations are to expand throughout the entire Tampa Bay area as your local, go-to pretzel bakery!”

After sampling their fantastic, perfectly baked, not too greasy, soft and warm pretzels, I would say the Penguin Pretzel Factory family is well on their way to continued success!

Nothing Beats a Pretzel from Penguin!

Upon entering Penguin Pretzel Factory your senses are immediately greeted with a heavenly smell – a burst of simple, delicious, yummy fragrance that immediately leaves your mouth watering. Fresh dough is made every morning before sunrise by Nick himself in the Penguin Pretzel Factory kitchen. When the doors open, the family is diligently working together to twist, hand-roll, hand-stuff and create your favorite treat.

“Nothing here comes out of a box,” says Nick. “We mix our own dough, make our own dipping sauces

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and mix up all our own stuffing ingredients from scratch!” The restaurant itself is open, airy and bright, and customers can see right back into the kitchen where the magic happens! “We want our customers to see us making our pretzels,” says Nick. “They can come in and watch us beat the dough, shape it, stuff it and put it out for display. All the kids are involved in one way or another. Our family has really made this fun and exciting. We really just want to share the joy we are experiencing here with the community.”

Since everything is made in-house, fresh-to-order daily, you can trust that you are receiving the freshest twisted or stuffed doughy treat around. I was able to sample a few of Penguin Pretzel Factory’s customer favorites and let me tell you, these babies really do hit the spot.

The warmth of the soft dough makes you feel good all over and when filled with an original Penguin Pretzel Factory stuffing- you will be hooked!

I sampled an all-time favorite, the Feta and Spinach stuffed pretzel. The dough was buttered to perfection with the right amount of garlic and stuffed inside with a fresh feta cheese and spinach combination that kicks any old

regular spinach pie out of the competition! Served with a cucumber and dill dipping sauce, this savory feta and spinach stuffed pretzel had my taste buds doing the happy dance! Nick and Suzi sent me home with a classic, salted twist pretzel and a cinnamon sugar twist that were both served with different dips, including hot cheese and a splendidly sweet cream cheese sauce.

The creations made in the kitchen at Penguin Pretzel Factory are endless in flavor and fulfillment.

Unique stuffed creations include: Bacon and Cheddar, Pepperoni and Mozzarella, Philly Cheese, Chicken Parmesan, Chicken with Ranch and Bacon and many more. Penguin Pretzel Factory is always coming up with new creations, and love to hear customers’ suggestions.

If you’re having a delicious classic

salted twist, don’t skip the mustard bar stocked with gourmet mustards from around the world.

Penguin Pretzel Factory not only has the best pretzels around for a hearty snack or lunch, they also have a delicious breakfast pretzel. Stop by early and grab a piping hot everything pretzel and some cream cheese for a quick, delicious breakfast that will give you lasting energy.

The dessert pretzels are just the right amount of sweet with fillings like dark chocolate, strawberries and cream, blueberry and many more.

If you are looking for a hit to serve at your next party, pick a party platter from Penguin Pretzel Factory. These platters can be custom ordered or the Penguin team will put together a specialty surprise for your party.

Suzi says, “When you follow your heart and do the things you love, it all works out. We are having a fabulous experience working, living and creating homemade baked pretzels for our customers! Come join and meet our family and enjoy the unique experience of Penguin Pretzel Factory!”

Penguin Pretzel Factory, located at 8521 Old County Road 54 in New Port Richey, is open Monday – Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Give Penguin Pretzel Factory a “like” on facebook to see upcoming specials, events and new creations!

Call (727) 807-6963 for additional information.

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Realtor Debra Huether is Your Area Expert “I Live Here, I Work Here, I Sell Here” Realtor Debra Huether knows houses and knows how to help sell your existing home or find your new dream home, whether you are looking for a spacious house for a growing family or a low-maintenance home near shopping and restaurants. Growing up in the building industry and working for one of the top custom home builders in the Tampa Bay area, Hannah Bartoletta Homes, has provided Debra with a wealth of knowledge to assist her clients in making informed decisions and averting potential problems down the road.

While working with Hannah Bartoletta Homes Debra assisted with plan reviews, creating custom front elevations, built-ins, fireplaces, electrical, plumbing and pretty much everything else to customize the home to the buyers’ wants and needs.

Debra is able to use this experience as an invaluable tool for her clients, whether it be selling, looking for a new builder or purchasing a resale. She is an expert at helping her

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clients see the potential in their new home and realizing how to get the house they want on their budget.

Debra doesn’t just show you a house or list yours when you want to sell it, she’ll give you all the information and guidance you need to help you through the process. She prides herself on always being honest with her clients. She gives both buyers and sellers as much information about a property as she can so they can make an educated decision.

“Now is a great time to sell your home and or buy your dream home,” says Debra. “It’s important that potential sellers and buyers note that the price appreciation rate for homes has slowed and is expected to slow even further, making this a wonderful time to buy a new home. It has also been confirmed that home prices rose 11.3 % in 2013 but is predicted they will see less than a 6 % increase for 2014. All of this, combined with the fact that home loan rates are near some of the best levels of the year, makes this the perfect

time to find the home of your dreams.”

Debra has a long list of happy clients who love the new homes she has helped them find.

“I would like to extend my sincere appreciation for all the effort and patience Debra has! When I was starting to look for a new home, she was able to take my comments and find the perfect one,” says Roseann Sickinger.

“Debra worked with me through contract modifications, inspections, and answered all questions I had. Her focus on customer service and satisfaction is a significant strength.”

Debra’s fun personality makes buying or selling a home with her on your side a great experience. And because she is a full-time agent, she is committed and available to you anytime, day or evening, 7 days a week.

Debra Huether is a licensed Realtor with Keller Williams Tampa Properties. She Lives, Works, and Sells Homes in Pasco and Hillsborough Counties. If you are looking to buy a new home or want to sell

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Realtor Debra Huether of Keller Williams Tampa Properties your current one, put Debra Huether’s expert knowledge to work for you today. Find information online at isellhomespascocounty.com.

You can reach her by email at debra2009@live.com. Call Debra at 813-482-1197.

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JUNE 2014

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Award-Winning Ophthalmologist Dr. Brandon Rodriguez Loves His Career – Helping People See Their World!

By Kim Thomas Brandon Rodriguez, MD, truly loves his job! His grin is contagious when he recalls what it is like to help someone see clearly, saying, “They are ecstatic! My last patient was in his 60s and was essentially blind; 30 minutes after cataract surgery, he went from being legally blind to being able to legally drive. Can you imagine that?”

Dr. Rodriguez is an award winning, Board Certified Ophthalmologist specializing in the treatment of corneal and external diseases. He is skilled at performing cataract and refractive surgery, as well as LASIK and DSAEK surgeries and corneal transplants. “I get to do what I love!”

When Dr. Rodriguez talks about the journey that brought him to St. Luke’s Cataract & Laser Institute, you can tell that he truly feels he has found the place where he will stay.

Having been at St. Luke’s for a year now, Dr. Rodriguez is the newest

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doctor to join the St. Luke’s team and feels blessed. He explains, “Every doctor here is handpicked for their specialty. All of the providers have been here for many, many years and why wouldn’t they? This is a fantastic institution and Jim and Pit (the Drs. Gills) are great mentors.”

St. Luke’s Cataract & Laser Institute Living in the Tampa Bay area, you probably already know of St. Luke’s Cataract & Laser Institute, as it is world-renowned, drawing patients from around the globe who are willing to travel to receive care at one of the world’s largest and most advanced eye surgery centers. St. Luke’s was founded in 1974 by James Gills, MD, who is recognized as the world’s most experienced cataract and lens implant surgeon. Dr. Gills has been driven throughout his career to help as many patients as possible, which has resulted in St. Luke’s growing to include seven

state-of-the-art facilities in Florida.

Now, Dr. Gills enjoys working alongside his son Pit Gills, MD, who inherited his father’s stellar abilities and vision, and who has had the honor of authoring and coauthoring numerous published medical articles.

Dr. Gills has carefully chosen, yes handpicked, a “family” of caregivers at St. Luke’s, who live by the same philosophy as Dr. Gills – with a focus on being a servant. From a video on St. Luke’s website (stlukeseye.com) Dr. Gills shares, “We try to be servants and provide the best care to our patients. We try to give the patient the best quality of vision, we try to be affable, we try to be available, and we try to have ability.”

Getting to Know Dr. Rodriguez Perhaps it is that philosophy of servitude that prompted Dr. Gills to choose Brandon Rodriguez, MD as the newest eye surgeon to join the St. Luke’s family. After all, Dr. Rodriguez

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Brandon Rodriguez, MD followed in the footsteps of his father and all of the men in his family, for as far back as he remembers, and served in the United States military. He

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joined the US Navy prior to 9/11 because, first and foremost, he wanted to fulfill his duty in serving his country, and secondly, he wanted to become a doctor. He had earned an academic scholarship, but knew that wouldn’t carry him through without student loans. After 9/11, he volunteered as a Naval Officer to go into Marine Infantry. By making the personal sacrifice to serve his country, he also gained, and now as a doctor, his focus from has changed from service in the military to service for his patients, but the strengths he gained as a soldier have stayed with him. Dr. Rodriguez knows what it takes to give 100%, which he does every day.

Dr. Rodriguez’s training and experience in cataract surgery, LASIK, pterygium surgery and in cuttingedge treatments for dry eye syndrome and ocular surface diseases such as corneal dystrophies are important additions to the care available to patients at St. Luke’s. He is widely published in medical journals and is a frequent guest speaker at key medical meetings on cataract surgery and medical and surgical options for corneal diseases. His professional accomplishments include: Fellowship in Cornea & Refractive Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University; Chief Resident in Ophthalmology at State University of New York - Downstate Medical Center; Residency in Ophthalmology at State University of New York Downstate Medical Center; Doctor of Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine.

Dr. Rodriguez was the first surgeon in Hillsborough County to perform Femtosecond Laser Assisted Corneal Transplantation. His awards include: Who’s Who Among Healthcare Professionals & Execu-

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tives in America for Excellence in Patient Care; Hy Berman Memorial Award in Ophthalmology for Excellence in Patient Care and Research; and the Mellinger Medical Award for Excellence in Research.

Accomplishments and awards are important, but what patients really care about in an eye surgeon is whether the doctor can help them see clearly. And that is where Dr. Rodriguez really puts his focus, continually achieving corrected vision for his post-operative LASIK and PRK patients of 20/20 or better, consistently higher than the national average, according to studies conducted

by SurgiVision, LLC. If you want to receive the best eye care possible, visit St. Luke’s Cataract & Laser Institute. Several years ago, when I had a serious medical condition with my eye, I never even questioned where to go. When my youngest brother reached 18, he went to St. Luke’s for LASIK and with a perfect outlook, gladly ditched his glasses. As a patient myself and with family who are patients, I know St. Luke’s Cataract & Laser Institute.

It is serene, comfortable and uplifting. Here, the staff and providers adhere to Dr. Gill’s philosophy, and view themselves as servants, giving every patient the care they truly deserve. And after meeting Dr. Rodriguez, I can tell you that it may prove difficult to find a nicer doctor.

Dr. Rodriguez is a true family man, and no one was more excited about settling in Tampa Bay than his wife Virmary. For her, it truly was coming home as she grew up in Tampa, where her family has owned a bakery specializing in celebration cakes (cakesplustampa.com) for more than three decades. Along with their three children, Dr. Rodriguez and

Virmary are home in Tampa Bay. “Coming to St. Luke’s has been a blessing,” says Dr. Rodriguez. “I plan to be here until I retire.”

Dr. Rodriguez sees patients at two of St. Luke’s Cataract & Laser Institute locations: the main office in Tarpon Springs at 43309 US Hwy 19 N, (727) 938-2020; and at 14030 US Hwy 19 N in Bayonet Point, (727) 861-2020.

Dr. Rodriguez is accepting new patients. Find more information about St. Luke’s Cataract & Laser Institute online at stlukeseye.com.

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Kids Can Learn from the Pros at the Tampa Bay Youth Sports Expo Professional Athletes, Trainers and Sports Experts to Offer Interactive Experience; Derrick Brooks featured as Keynote Speaker On Saturday, July 19, 2014, kids of all ages with big league dreams will have the opportunity to learn from the pros at the annual Tampa Bay Youth Sports Expo presented by The Skills Center, a non-profit, sport-based youth development organization.

Held at the Tampa Convention Center, this one-day event will gather professional athletes, trainers and sports experts to offer an interactive experience where youth sport teams can learn new skills both on and off the field.

“We wanted to create an event that would demonstrate the importance of positive youth sports in the Tampa Bay area and provide a day of sports-focused educational workshops, trainings and resources that the community really needs,” said Ken Roberts, Director of Business Development for The Skills Center and Chair of the Tampa Bay Youth Sports Expo committee. “This is a great op-

portunity for kids, parents, coaches and athletic program administrators to learn from the best.”

The Expo will feature Interactive Skills Zones where professional sports teams, including the Tampa Bay Rays, Buccaneers, Lightning and Storm, will put on a series of scheduled sport clinics and demonstrations for girls and boys ages 6 to 15. In addition to baseball, football, baseball and hockey, other zones will feature top trainers and professional athletes from soccer, tennis, golf, cheer & dance, volleyball and more.

While the kids participate in the Interactive Skills Zones, parents, coaches, and youth program administrators will have the opportunity to attend a series of on-site educational workshops. Presented by local and national youth sports organizations and leading sport experts, the workshops will address topics including: positive coaching techniques, positive

sport based youth development, sports injury prevention, sports nutrition, preparing your student athlete for college, and much more.

At the Tampa Bay Youth Sports Expo, Derrick Brooks, legendary Tampa Bay Buccaneer linebacker and 2014 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, will serve as the keynote speaker and share the impact that academics and sports have played in his life.

This year, Tampa native and NBA-player John Henson, along with a team of coaches will conduct The John Henson Experience, a one day clinic at the Expo to bring awareness and resources to support qualified coaches in the Tampa Bay area. “Together, we are creating jobs for qualified coaches to be year-round role models for our youth. The basketball camp is just the beginning of the impact we hope to make,” said John Henson.

Current and retired professional athletes and coaches from local professional sport teams will also be on hand to meet and greet fans in the Expo’s Autograph Zone.

“Sports can benefit our kids and our communities in so many ways, teaching them life and leadership skills that will serve them well on the playing field, in the classroom and throughout their lives,” said Roberts

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This event is being sponsored by Bright House Networks, the Tampa Bay Rays, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Tampa Bay Storm, The Skills Center, Up2Us, The DeBartolo Family Foundation, C3 Media and The Children’s Board of Hillsborough County.

The Tampa Bay Youth Sports Expo will be held on Saturday, July 19, 2014, at the Tampa Convention Center. Doors open at 9 a.m. with Skills Zones, workshops and other events scheduled throughout the day.

Admission is just $7 for individual tickets and $100 for teams in advance.

Registration is now open at www.tbyse.com.

Sponsorship and vendor opportunities are available. To learn more about the Tampa Bay Youth Sports Expo and to see the full schedule of events, visit www.TBYSE.com or call 813-703-1324 ext. 105.

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About the Tampa Bay Sports Youth Expo TBYSE is a one day interactive, team oriented event to educate, train and empower athletes, parents, coaches and sports administrators on effective youth development through sports.

About The Skill Center Formed in 2007, The Skills Center’s mission is to intentionally utilize athletics as the mechanism to accelerate academic achievement, build character, and promote health & fitness for young people ages 3-18 in Tampa Bay. Using sports as a powerful learning tool, the organization teaches youth how to transfer the skills learned naturally through sports to other environments in their lives like school, home and community.

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“Jaime A/C” Continued from page 1 system for less than the price the other company quoted us.”

Manny and Jaime take pride in what they do and enjoy building relationships with their customers. “I go to my customers homes and get to know them and their families,” says Manny. “What makes me happy is that I sit down with them and explain everything they need to know about air conditioners and how it pertains to their home and their personal comfort. I sell them what they need and what they want, not what I need to sell them, and that makes me feel good because I know I’m doing the right thing.”

Air Conditioning Repairs Air Conditioning Units definitely take a beating in the hot Florida weather, where they are

rarely given a break. Should you have an issue, Jaime Air is able to repair all major brands of air conditioners. And, when you call, you’ll talk to a live person on the phone. In fact, Manny says many times he can help the customer resolve the issue over the phone.

However, if your unit does need repairs, Jaime is personally involved to make sure everything is done correctly and in a timely manner. And, since Jaime Air’s service techs aren’t paid on commission, you can rest assured that they won’t try to up-sell you on unnecessary parts or services.

Air Purification and Duct Sanitation There are several signs that could indicate you have mold growing in your ductwork, such as staining or water damage around ductwork, condensation inside, or a musty smell. If left untreated, mold can make you and your family sick. If you are concerned about

mold growth, Jaime Air can install UV-C lights to prevent mold growth in your system. They can also install electronic air cleaners to help remove pollen and dust.

However, in some cases you might want to have your ductwork replaced and the

professionals at Jaime Air are experts at doing this in a timely, cost effective, and unobtrusive way. In fact, dirty ductwork that is over 12 years old in Florida can be replaced for about the same cost as having it cleaned. As an extra bonus, you might find that the airflow throughout your house improves with new ductwork.

“There is no reason for one

room to be hotter than others in your house,” says Manny. “But some times the ductwork that was originally installed is too small for the room to get sufficient air or the purpose of the room has changed over the years and therefore new ductwork is needed to get more air into the room. We can fix your ductwork so that every room in your house will be as cool as you want it to be.”

New Air Conditioner Installation The average life span of an air conditioning unit in Florida is 7 to 10 years, although some higher end models can last as long as 17 years. If you find yourself in need of a new air conditioning unit, Jaime Air will help you find a system to fit your home and budget. They install many different brands of air conditioning units and are licensed dealers for three of the top brands – Trane, Carrier, and Bryant.

Whether you need your A/C repaired or replaced, or would like to find out how to cool a room better or lower your energy costs, Jaime Air can help you. They offer free estimates and second opinions and guarantee to

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have the lowest prices with the highest quality work. Manny says, “We have a very low overhead so our prices are less, therefore the cost of our services is less. Our bottom line prices for a/c units are usually $1,000 less than any other company for the exact same unit; sometimes even $2,000 less.”

“Jaime Air did a great job in our home in Westchase,” writes a happy customer. “We had 5 bids for the same Trane system. Manny Parad came to our home and explained which system was the best one for us to buy. He measured our home and the installers were able to finish the job the same day. They did a great job and left our house clean. We saved $1,000 on the same system quoted by others.”

Affordable Financing Programs In desperate need of a new A/C unit but don’t have the necessary funds? Not to worry. Jaime Air now makes it easier and more cost effective than ever to purchase a new ac unit with their affordable financing programs. There are many different financing programs available, and

programs are constantly changing so for the most up-to-date options for your individual needs and lifestyle contact Manny today at (813) 843 7890.

Another happy customer writes, “Jaime Air installed a new Bryant system for me. I got proposals from a few of my local dealers and Home Depot. The sales person Jaime Air sent did not try to up-sell me. He explained the brands available for my home, as well as the size and the model. He was the only one who measured my home to be sure I had the right size unit. All of this took less then an hour and he exposed a bunch of myths the other dealers had told me. The system I chose was a Bryant two-stage model that is now keeping every room in my home at the same temperature. The install took 7 hours and they double sealed all of the ducts and put a plaster- like seal on it. I needed a new duct box, plywood stand, and electrical breaker and Jaime Air did not charge me extra for it.”

Energy Savings for your Home Manny was a State of Florida Energy Rater for many years so he knows

how to help you save money on your cooling and heating costs. He says, “There is no charge for me to come look at a house-wide problem; whether it is high energy bills, too much humidity in the house, or a room or area that isn’t as cool as you would like it to be, I can determine what the problem is and give you solutions to fix it.”

Jaime Air currently has an A+ rating and has never had a single complaint – wow! When they aren’t helping people beat the heat, both Manny and Jaime are active in local charities including the USO, St. Joseph’s Hospital, and Oldsmar Cares.

“There is such satisfaction in seeing a well planned job work exactly the way you want it to,” says Manny.

“Its not all about the money, its about neighbors.”

Jaime Central Air Conditioning & Heating makes service calls on Mon. – Sat., with same-day service available. Call them whenever you have a problem at (813) 601-0764 or En Espanol at (813) 601-3147.

Visit online at www.JaimeAir.com for additional information.

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“GetMoreOffers” Continued from page 1 Florida and sellers control 100% of the listing process.

Unlike traditional agents, sellers choose how much commission to offer buyers’ agents ranging from 14%, as well as setting their own price.

The uniqueness of the service is allowing the seller to control all aspects, while still giving them comprehensive marketing exposure. Sellers have an account dashboard that enables them to manage every aspect of their listing online, 24/7. ADDvantage prides itself on the high level of customer service they provide, including fast implementation of listing changes and capturing all buyer leads on behalf of sellers. “Our rave reviews from past customers are many and we have earned our solid reputation through years of dedication and service.”

MLS flat fee listing plans start at $299 for a by-owner style listing called “limited service.” Here, the seller is self-represented. The seller saves at least 50% or maybe all the commission if they sell with no agent involved.

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“The best plan for sellers is ‘Professional ADDvantage’ (or what we call PRO),” says broker Keith Gordon. “This is the fastest growing segment of our company. Unlike the basic limited-service plan, with PRO, they are represented by me from start to finish just like a full-service 6% listing but the cost is 45% less.” Keith suggests offering 2.5% to the buyer’s agent and his fee is $499 up front and .75% at close for the listing side for a total commission of around 3.25%. If the seller finds their own buyer, the total commission is just 1%. Keith says PRO saves sellers time and stress and that his experience and skill at negotiations nets sellers considerably more than if they were handling the sale on their own.

Why use the PRO plan and Keith to sell? “Keith might just be the best negotiator in Florida,” says Erin Knorr. “…Keith just sold a remodeled garden home in Bird Key Sarasota for $960,000 when his list price was $950,000—in 10 days, cash, with just one offer on the table.” How did Keith get $10,000 over the asking price without a multiple-offer situation? Keith said, “I read the situation, buyer’s motivation, attitude of the

buyer’s agent and just asked for the price. Negotiations are an art. My goal when negotiating an offer is to change the buyer’s agents’ expectations of the business-asusual thinking of ‘offer-counter-countercounter-meet-in-themiddle-deal.’ This can shift outcome in your favor.”

Keith explains that real estate always poses challenges, one being the notorious real estate Erin Knorr & Keith Gordon site, Zillow. “God-Zillow, as I call it, is mentioned “Here’s the truth,” adds Keith. by almost every seller during the list“In the end, who cares about Zillow? ing and selling process. The ‘ZestiYes, they have hijacked the US real esmate’ is always on the mind of a seller; they are annoyed by the generic aspect tate market in a sense, by posting values and pictures without sellers’ of Zillow’s pricing algorithm which is often way off due to lack of considera- permission and then selling ad space to real estate agents throughout the tion for lot premiums, $60,000 upcountry for $2,000-$4,000 per month dated kitchens, new baths, new a/c, per zip code, so their ads can be listed roof or other upgrades. Buyers and alongside consumers’ searches for inlenders struggle as well with the disformation that isn’t even real.” crepancy between Zestimates, apKeith thinks Zillow’s hay day praisals, comps and of course the will come to an end and predicts it listing price.”

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will happen soon. “They don’t have sellers’ permission to post their homes. It is as if facebook published 260,000,000 accounts for all US citizens with pics scraped from the Internet and a bio with erroneous facts.

If FB couldn’t find the info, they would ‘FBestimate’ the person’s identity.” Keith continues, “Who gave Zillow that right? It might be a class action lawsuit in the works, the grounds being loss of value in the sale of one’s home.” According to an article published on March 17, 2013 in Inman News, Move Inc. and the National Association of Realtors have filed a lawsuit against Zillow and former Move chief strategy officer and realtor.com president Errol Samuelson for alleged breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and misappropriation of trade secrets.

The most recent challenge to the real estate market is the flood insurance crisis. Pinellas County has 51,000 properties affected by the new flood rates. Keith explains, “In short, homes selling for $250,000 and less are most affected, homes less than $500,000 are in trouble too and the $500,000 plus are affected less so. Homes under $150,000 are especially hard-hit be-

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cause the increases in flood rates are disproportionate to the PI (principal and interest) payment. Buyers paying $1200/month for a mortgage and $300 for flood insurance is too much.

Buyers can’t and won’t do it. Not at the current prices. Say for example a home was valued at $150,000 a year ago, now it worth $110,000. The $40,000 decrease in price drops the buyer’s PI payment down to a level equaling the extra flood costs. This same reasoning applies on all affected homes UNLESS the buyer is one that has enough money to offset this disproportionate cost. High-end homes are less affected.”

What should sellers do? Keith says, “Drop the price now and get sold. Good time to buy though as well. If you want waterfront or a home in a flood zone, buy it as the flood insurance market will likely stabilize after a year or two and flood prices may come down as result of competition.”

GetMoreOffers.com is open and online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To speak to an agent or to get more information, please call 1-877-232-9695.

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