Carrollwood - Vol. 3, Issue 6, June 2015

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Vol. 3, Issue 6, June 2015

Your neighborhood. Your magazine.

®

The Premier “Shop Local” Community Magazine Directly Mailed To 15,000 Homes In Carrollwood, Lake Magdalene & Avila

Brunchies of Tampa – a Carrollwood Favorite for Over 10 Years! By Pam Sica Their name says it all… Brunchies. When you have a hankering for a well-prepared breakfast, brunch or lunch, let owner Bill Kranich and his wife Janet serve you up some of their delicious fare in this bright, open and cheery establishment

nestled between Abbey’s and YouFit at 14366 North Dale Mabry Highway. The regulars surely know what good is… one noting that, “It’s a great place that feels local… the food and service are both excellent. Everything about it keeps you coming back.” When I first walked in, I was See “Brunchies” on page 20.

J & C Consign and Design Fine Furnishings & Gift Boutique 100s of New Items Weekly, Discounts Daily! By Kim Thomas If you love a personable shopping experience where there is friendly and knowledgeable help when you need it, but where you also are welcome to take your sweet time to browse every knickknack on every shelf, then you must stop by J & C Consign and Design, which will celebrate its One Year Anniversary in July. Located at 8809

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: From an Advertising Perspective...........................3 Community Calendar/ News Briefs..................4-5 Northwest Family Medical Center.....................8-9 Stewardship Financial Group........................12-13 Arbor Terrace of Citrus Park........................16-17 The Red Cross Needs YOU...........................30-31 The Fresh Market at Wiregrass......................32-33

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID TAMPA FL PERMIT 1185

Child Adoption Education Day.....................18-19

Gunn Highway in Odessa, J & C Consign and Design has a fast rotating inventory of new and like-new furniture, plus home décor items for every room in your house! Some items are brand new, some are consigned – but everything is quality. On the outside, J & C Consign and Design looks kind of like a warehouse, but inside is a See “J & C Consign” on page 28.


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From an Advertising Perspective By Matt Selby In truth, this editorial is directed towards local Business owners and serves to prove why reaching their target market of local customers with our magazine is so effective. With that being said, if you don’t own a local business and are strictly a consumer, I still would like you to read this, so stay with me. When you flip through our pages month in and month out you’ll see the same simple concept- the notion of fueling a “shop local” mentality. Our readers know this about us and they understand we aren’t trying to provide them with anything other than what we are, and that’s a quality local publication that prides itself on covering what’s going on in Carrollwood and surrounding areas and the intricate web of entrepreneurial innovations our local business owners possess. If you read my “shop local” feature a while back, I briefly touched on how impressed I am and continue to be with the business owners in our community and their story. Every single one of you have a story to tell and most of you probably have already come to the conclusion that if you could just tell

everyone that special story of yours, you’d have a lot more customers; customers that understand not only your business but also YOUR unique and inspiringly powerful journey. Our readers want to know what sets your business apart from competitors in the area. They want to know why they should spend their hard earned dollars with you and not your competitor down the street. The pages of this magazine offer you a chance to tell that story! Here’s something we aren’t: we aren’t “that publication” that allows advertisers to pay to write their own “advertorial” all about how great they are and how everyone else is left in the dust. We take the confidence our readers place in our words extremely serious, so we have a very straight forward way of doing things. Yes, we do business features on our advertisers, because they are loyal to us and spend good money to place an ad within the pages of our publication. It’s not to say however, we don’t provide feature articles on non advertisers as well. For example, Ciccio Cali received a great dining feature in our very first issue of our New Tampa edition just because we love their food and enjoy the experi-

Carrollwood Area Neighborhood News & Lifestyles

ence my wife and I receive every time we visit. We write these stories as a thank you to the fantastic local businesses in our area. Ad campaigns with us are simple, effective and cheaper than anything comparable! If you find something comparable with our quality and distribution we’ll beat their price, and that’s a guarantee! In most cases we can even beat the price of a media outlet with lesser quality and circulation! Our readers know we focus on the local businesses heavily so they use us as a resourceful tool to find goods, services, dining and entertainment. Readers go through our magazines cover to cover, taking the time to not only read over the articles but to also take a second and see what kind of deals our advertisers are running. Building a business is all about building credibility and developing a relationship with each customer. We create your ad, help you with a marketing strategy and tell your story, all at no extra charge! My family has been in this business here in the Bay area since 1994. You can trust us to give you the very best exposure in your market, bar none! If you’re contemplating advertising with us I can personally guarantee nobody will work harder for you than my team!

Neighborhood News & Lifestyles Directly mailed once a month to 15,000 households in zip codes 33618, 33624 & 33613 220 S. Safford Ave. Tarpon Springs, FL 34689 Phone: (813) 928-6124; Fax: (727) 942-2432 Advertising E-mail: info@nnlflorida.com Editorial E-mail: alexis@nnlflorida.com © 2015 Carrollwood Neighborhood News & Lifestyles is published by M Selby Publications, INC. Publisher Matt Selby Advertising Sales Jared Nager (Manager) Linda Viega Mike Bird Accounting Manager Alexis Selby Marketing & Development Ashley Knoblach Art Director Tony Sica

Editor Alexis Selby Correspondents Julie Kanehl Marcy Sanford Pamela Sica Katie Thomas Kim Thomas Dara Tucker Deborah Bostock-Kelley

Nothing that appears in Carrollwood Neighborhood News & Lifestyles may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by Carrollwood Neighborhood News & Lifestyles writers are their own and do not reflect the publisher’s opinion. The management of Carrollwood Neighborhood News & Lifestyles is always happy to accept outside editorial submissions to the paper. Please call for outside editorial submission and advertisement deadlines. Carrollwood Neighborhood News & Lifestyles will consider previously non-published outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. Carrollwood Neighborhood News & Lifestyles reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates. Carrollwood Neighborhood News & Lifestyles will not return unsolicited editorial materials. Carrollwood Neighborhood News & Lifestyles reserves the right to edit and/or reject any advertising. Carrollwood 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. Carrollwood Neighborhood News & Lifestyles is published by M Selby Publications, INC.

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Community Calendar & News Briefs First Annual Golf Tournament of Believing Tampa Foundation Believing Tampa Foundation proudly welcomes you to join in their first annual charity golf tournament, which will be held at the Westchase Golf Club, located at 11602 Westchase Golf Drive in Tampa, on Saturday, June 6th. Registration begins at 7 a.m. with a shotgun scramble starting promptly at 8 a.m. The registration fee of $100 for individuals or $380 for a foursome includes the greens fee on the beautiful Westchase Golf Club, a cart and a prime lunch served when players finish their rounds of play. You can register online by credit card at www.westchasegc.com/believing or mail entry with check payable to “Believing Tampa Foundation” 7008 N Himes Ave, Tampa, FL 33614. For more information, please contact: aline@believingtampa.com Believing Tampa Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to helping people who suffer with spinal cord injury, stroke, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis and other neurological

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impairments to have access to advanced rehabilitation therapy. Since insurance companies do not cover the specialized long term therapy that activity based exercise centers offer, potential clients who are not able to afford rehabilitative therapy costs do not have the opportunity to seek recovery options that are beneficial to their well being and quality of life. This event will help to fund a therapy assistance program that would enable the individual to participate in a therapy program geared towards recovery. The Westchase Golf Club is located at 11602 Westchase Golf Drive in Tampa. For more information on the golf tournament please email aline@believingtampa.com or visit www.believingtampa.org/events or www.westchasegc.com/believing.

sport administrators in effective youth development through sports. This one-day event gives young athletes the opportunity to sharpen their skills, while learning invaluable information that is applicable in both sport and life. Join us for everything youth sports related – all under one roof. Interactive Skills Zones The Interactive Skills Zones are a series of scheduled skills development sport clinics for girls and boys ages 615 presented in 30 minute sessions

throughout the day starting at 10:00am-2:00pm. Clinics will be offered in basketball, baseball, football, hockey, tennis, volleyball, cheer & dance, golf and soccer by professional teams and local professional trainers. Each skill zone gives participants the opportunity to engage in sports training and activities. The zones are designed for youth to learn and practice their favorite sport while being introduced to new ones. There will also be a Kids Fun Zone for children between the ages of 3-5. Specialty Clinics Join Pro Players representing

Tampa Bay Youth Expo – Educate. Train. Empower. Saturday, July 18 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. The Tampa Bay Youth Sports Expo (TBYSE) is the region’s premiere forum to educate, train and empower youth, parents, coaches, and

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Carrollwood Area Neighborhood News & Lifestyles


football, basketball, baseball, and hockey as they provide tips and instruction on how to improve your game at the Expo Specialty Clinics! The clinics provide various specialized fundamental skill stations tailored to provide the competitive edge needed for high performance. A liability waiver is required for all players participating in the Interactive Skills Zone and Specialty Clinic. *Group rates are available for schools, teams and leagues. Please contact Ken at info@tbyse.com for more information. Workshop Zone Building the Student Athlete Live workshops and demonstrations will cover nutrition, training, injury prevention, and college recruitment & NCAA guidelines. Workshops & Demonstrations are presented in 30 minute sessions throughout the day in the main stage area starting at 10:30 am-2:00 pm by local organizations and leading sport experts. Exhibit Zone Stop by the Exhibit Zone to pick up products and services related to youth sports, kids and families. Tampa Bay Convention Center

This year’s activities include: • 9 Interactive Skills Zones • 4 Specialty Clinics* • LIVE Workshops & Demonstrations – Building the Student-Athlete • Exhibit Zone • Character Awards • Tyler’s 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament and more! About The Skills Center, Inc We believe sports offer young people the skills and knowledge they need to function effectively in life, thus The Skills Center, Inc. was created as a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit sport based youth development organization, “Creating CHANGE through Sports” Using sports as a powerful learning tool, we teach youth how to transfer the skills learned naturally through sports to other environments in their lives such as school, work and community. We offer school day, afterschool, and summer programs as well as leagues, skills development trainings and travel teams. Mission: 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. Vision: Our participants are wellrounded individuals who achieve their

Carrollwood Area Neighborhood News & Lifestyles

life goals through academic achievement and sound character based on integrity, responsibility, respect, sportsmanship and teamwork. 100% of the proceeds will benefit The Skills Center’s afterschool and summer programs for at risk, delinquent and low-income children and teens. To learn more about The Skills Center go to www.theskillscenter.org

June Event Calendar for the Carrollwood Cultural Center The Carrollwood Cultural Center, located at 4537 Lowell Road in Tampa, will host several events and activities in June, including: ART RECEPTION: VSA’s Visions – My Home, Our World When: Sat, June 6 at 2 – 4 p.m. Where: Carrollwood Cultural Center, 4537 Lowell Road in Tampa More Info: “My Home, Our World: will celebrate the 40th anniversary of VSA as well as the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The exhibit showcases the wonderful work that is being done with children and adults with disabilities in Florida and Nigeria. Admission: Free

SOUNDS OF SWING When: Saturday, June 6 at 8 p.m. Where: Carrollwood Cultural Center, 4537 Lowell Road in Tampa More Info: Dance shoes aren’t required to attend this concert…but we guarantee your toes will be tappin’! The Sounds of Swing will perform big band and swing music. Swing Time will give a free dance lesson at 6:30 p.m. The lesson is free for all ticket holders, and no partner is needed.) Admission: $12-$18 A RED CARPET EVENT: Always the chorus…Never the star When: Friday, June 12 at 7 p.m. Where: Carrollwood Cultural Center, 4537 Lowell Road in Tampa More Info: Every show has its stars, but a good chorus can make an ordinary show extraordinary! Join chorus director Mary Jo Hahn and the Carrollwood Cultural Center Community Chorus as they perform show stopping chorus numbers from awardwinning musicals like Hairspray, Rent, The Music Man, Chorus Line, and more! Admission: $10-$16 See “Calendar/Briefs” on page 24.

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Getting to Know Dr. Heidi Nagel of Northwest Family Medical Center Heidi Nagel joined Dr. Cromer at Northwest Family Medical Center in July of 2014. Dr. Nagel started college at University of Florida in 1991 and was awarded a music degree with violin performance. She subsequently joined the Asheville Symphony, taught lessons and performed at weddings while working as a computer programmer. She became a self-taught computer programmer and made a career out of it working for a telecommunications company, medical laboratory and then Nintendo of America in Seattle. Dr. Nagel, while working as a programmer, also worked side jobs at bookstores and restaurants to be among a more sociable environment, read her biology and psychology textbooks for fun, and was active in outdoor activities and traveling. She began to realize that she wanted to change her career to involve helping people through the practice of medicine. She returned to school at University of South Florida to achieve her medical school prerequisites as well as another bachelor’s degree in biomedical science. There she was awarded

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with the USF General Chemistry Award and explored research in organic chemistry. She completed medical school at the University of Florida in 2009 and pursued residency training in Pediatrics. After missing the care of the adults, she changed to Family Medicine where she trained in Charleston, SC and Latrobe, PA. Upon completing her training in June of 2014 she interviewed with Dr. Cromer and knew she wanted to be a member of his team. Dr. Cromer was actually Dr. Nagel's doctor during her high school years when he first starting his practice 25 years ago. He has been the medical provider for her parents for the past 25 years. Dr. Cromer was one of Dr. Nagel’s preceptors during residency, exposing her to the Northwest Family Medical Center family. He has been an inspiration to her, the local community, and a great influence among his church family since starting his practice. He leads by compassion and serves as a role model for the staff and practitioners with his extensive medical knowledge and experience. Dr. Nagel was de-

Dr. Heidi Nagel (second from left) joined Northwest Family Medical Center in July of 2014. lighted to be seeking a job at the same time Dr. Cromer was seeking another physician for his practice. Northwest Family Medical Center has given Dr. Nagel the opportunity to thrive in her joy of caring for patients and using her medical knowledge to help them improve their

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health. There have been several memorable experiences since starting her position. Most notably, Dr. Nagel saw a new patient in his early twenties that had been active until he suddenly developed spastic tremors of half of his body. Previous workup had been negative, but Dr. Nagel was able to find

Carrollwood Area Neighborhood News & Lifestyles


Dr. Nagel is grateful for the opportunity to thrive in her career and enjoys caring for patients and using her medical knowledge to help them improve their health. the appropriate treatment to control his symptoms and greatly improve his quality of life. Another prominent patient had presented to the office with debilitating nausea, vomiting, panic attacks and depression and after Dr. Nagel worked closely with him and his wife, the patient has achieved stability and control of his symptoms and the ability to regain his previously high level of functioning and position as a leader in society. Dr. Nagel’s passion for music has not ceased despite her career change.

She enjoys spending her free time at music festivals. She especially likes Irish and Bluegrass music. When she’s not listening to music, she likes to take time appreciating the Sunshine State by visiting with local family and friends as well as scuba diving. Northwest Family Medical Center is located at 4278 W. Linebaugh Ave in Tampa. For more information please call (813) 9603321 or visit NorthwestFamilyMedicalCenter.com.

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Take Control of Your Financial Future with Stewardship Financial Group By Alexis Selby Whether you have a young family or are already retired, now is the right time to have a professional review your financial plan. But, as is the case for many, the hardest part is knowing where to start. With so many investment options to choose from, knowing the right places to put your money is a tricky situation and can leave you feeling overwhelmed and frustrated. So, why not leave it to the professionals at Stewardship Financial Group! With over a decade of experience, financial advisor Mathew Steward helps his clients to take control of their financial future and puts them on the right track to building the foundation for financial freedom! Following in the footsteps of his predecessors Bobby Owens and Kent Moss, Mathew took over the investment management of their practice in 2012. Together, they have a combined experience of over 125 years in the financial services industry, and working as a team, are dedicated to providing their clients

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With over 125 years of combined experience in the financial services industry, Stewardship Financial Group is dedicated to providing their clients with the highest level of expertise and knowledge. with the highest level of expertise and knowledge. As owner of Stewardship Financial Group, Mathew currently operates two offices in the Tampa Bay area to better serve his clients, including one right here in Carrollwood. Mathew says, “It’s all about establishing good habits. My goal is to establish a plan for my client and pro-

vide them with a blueprint to help them reach their short term and longterm financial goals. I offer non-commission, fee-based planning and am not required to sell anything. I only do what is right for my client. My objective is to build a customized plan for individuals, professionals and business owners.”

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"Another huge factor that really sets Stewardship Financial apart, is our macro asset perspective to financial planning,” explains Mathew. “We consider every asset you own as part of your financial plan and organize the risks of those assets and structure them so that, in turn, we minimize risk, minimize taxes, maximize returns, and maximize savings.” Tax Diversification is a huge part of this. Through their macro asset approach, Mathew is able to analyze your portfolio and diversify your assets and investments to help produce retirement income that is exempt from taxes. “If done exactly how we say, when you invest your money a certain way and withdrawal it another way, you are able to cut your taxable income by up to 50%. Most people invest where their retirement income is 100% susceptible to taxes, essentially creating a tax time bomb! Do you think taxes are going down in the future? My guess is no! So wouldn’t it be a good idea to consider taxes when withdrawing money from your accounts? I can help you get more from your money and avoid the dreaded tax time bomb!” Licensed through New York Life, at Stewardship Financial you get the best of both worlds – the advantage of

Carrollwood Area Neighborhood News & Lifestyles


Financial Advisor Mathew Steward absolutely loves the Carrollwood area and looks forward to raising his family in such a wonderful community! having the safety and security of a large corporation, while maintaining the personal, trusting experience and flexibility of a privately owned company. “I have all the products, backing

and resources of New York Life, including all the credentials and professional expertise you could ask for, but by having my own privately owned company I have the opportunity to

Carrollwood Area Neighborhood News & Lifestyles

help my clients to the very best of my ability,” says Mathew. "No one entity has all the best products and options, so having my own company gives me the flexibility to build a plan that is specific and customized to the client’s needs, wants and desires.” Mathew prides himself in building strong, long-lasting relationships with his clients, and to him, being a financial advisor means more than just handling their money. "I’m in the relationship business,” says Mathew. “I love working with people and I’m passionate about what I do. I enjoy helping my clients to understand the financial market and enjoy showing them how they can attain their financial goals - it’s usually far easier than they ever thought possible. I am their coach and their consultant, and am grateful for the opportunity to empower them. Money ties into so many different things, it can be so personal and emotional. I help to break it down so that their goals become attainable and I give them a defined direction of what it takes to meet those goals.” Stewardship Financial Group works with people in many stages of life. Whether your goal is to prepare for retirement, pay for education, prepare for the unexpected, create a business succession plan, prepare your

estate transfer, prepare for an expected inheritance, it all starts with taking the first step - talking with a financial planner! Taking into account your individual needs and concerns, Mathew will specially tailor a plan that is perfect for you; one that addresses all that you hope to accomplish in the future. You never know what the future may hold and what the economy will be like in 20 years, so it’s better to prepare now and have a plan for success, as opposed to waiting, at which point it might be too late. So, what are you waiting for? Mathew would love the opportunity to personally introduce himself. Feel free to reach him directly on his cell or by email. Whatever your goal, Stewardship Financial can help you build the foundation for financial freedom! Stewardship Financial Group has two locations to better serve you. Their Carrollwood office is located at 8910 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Suite 8 in Tampa. Their second office is across the street from One Buc Place at 3109 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Suite 300 in Tampa. Fore more information please contact Matthew directly at (813) 244-7177, email him at Mat@Stewardshipfg.com or visit www.Stewardshipfg.com.

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Arbor Terrace of Citrus Park Provides Home-Like High-Quality Senior Living By Deborah Bostock-Kelley There are some people who are perfectly suited to their profession. Michelle Lauletta, the Engagement Director at Arbor Terrace at Citrus Park, is one such person. This gregarious woman with a contagious big laugh and even bigger heart is doing her “dream job” with her “dream team.” Her face lights up when she talks about the people she works with and preparing activities for the senior citizens who call this newly opened assisted living and memory care facility home. Conveniently located in the heart of the Citrus Park and Westchase areas, Arbor Terrace at Citrus Park opened just a month ago at 13810 Sheldon Road, and unlike a sterile hospital environment, this fabulous state-of-the-art community evokes the feel of a luxury hotel or resort. “We are not at all clinical,” said Michelle. “We try very hard to be as home-like as possible with the normal activities of daily living.” Three types of apartments are available for rent – studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom companion suites with a shared bathroom and kitchenette. Small pets are welcome, but the resident has to be able to care for the animal. The benefits of an assisted living facility are plentiful. “Right away, they have the social interaction they wouldn’t have if they were just sitting at home watching TV. They have friends who are going through the same things they are,” said Lauletta. “We keep them physically and mentally active. We do exercises every morning. Their health is moni-

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tored. We have nurses on site working here 24 hours a day. Families have that piece of mind that their loved ones are safe. We try to keep their lives as normal as possible.” Arbor Terrace at Citrus Park provides different levels of assistance, based up on the individual needs of each resident. The first floor offers a secured memory care for residents that require round-the-clock specialized care. The second floor offers the Bridges program and includes a higher acuity level of care provided by their ECC license (Extended Congregate Care) which also allows the residents to age in place. The third floor is for Senior Assisted Living. “Bridges is for early onset dementia and Alzheimer’s. It’s where the same question is repeated throughout the day. They’re not needing a secure community, but needing a little more attention,” explained Lauletta. “Part of our training is how to deal with this. Some people need redirection, some people

need distraction, some people just need you to sit and listen to them and that’s what Bridges is all about.” Lauletta said that so often the Bridges group of residents gets lost in assisted living communities because they are not yet in memory care where that is addressed one-onone, but not able to live anymore in assisted living. “We try to reach out to them and to gear our activities for their needs,” she said. “We set them for success and want them to feel good about themselves.” When visiting the nurses’ station, several students from Rasmussen College were beginning their first day interning at the facility. When asked about their first impression, they responded, “It’s a great facility with a great staff. The residents are very pleasant. We love it!” Arbor Terrace at Citrus Park showcases rooms themed to the Tampa Bay area. The “Tampa Theatre” features a media room with comfortable seating and a big screen

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TV. “We will do popcorn and a movie,” Lauletta said. The “Siesta Key Salon & Spa” provides a place where the residents can get pampered in the salon every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. The Multi Purpose Room offers a kitchen, couches, TV and tables for the residents to play games with staff and a state-of-the-art com-

Carrollwood Area Neighborhood News & Lifestyles


Engagement Director Michelle Lauletta puter lab connects seniors to the Internet. At Arbor Terrace’s Ybor City Bistro and Café guests can enjoy a Friday afternoon happy hour and a cappuccino machine. The Longboat Key dining area is reminiscent of dining in a five-star restaurant. Cream fabric tablecloths cover each table, napkins are balanced in a perfect erect column on the center of each placemat, and a single beautiful rose and baby’s breath sit in the center of the table. The dining room also boasts a private dining area with a wide-screen TV for guests to bring

family to share a private meal. Arbor Terrace at Citrus Park also offers a special dining program called Dining with Dignity that enables those that have lost their ability to handle utensils or chew food to enjoy the same five-star meal other residents enjoy. “It’s gourmet dining made in a way that guests can eat with dignity,” said Lauletta. In 2014, Arbor Terrace’s Dining With Dignity dining program received National recognition, becoming the newest winner of the Best of the Best Awards at the annual Assisted Living

Carrollwood Area Neighborhood News & Lifestyles

Federation of America conference. Besides many planned activities within the facility, like indoor bowling, baking and cooking, residents can participate in many diverse types of outings, from luncheons called the Lunch Bunch to Mystery Rides. “We have mystery rides where it’s not a planned excursion,” said Lauletta. “We’ll go to the Causeway and watch the dolphins. We try to keep our residents busy – physically and mentally. “The emphasis here is on the resident, not on the marketing aspect of filling the community. Other commu-

nities will spend hundreds of dollars to get someone in and then ten dollars to keep them in,” explained Lauletta. “Our philosophy is let’s take care of the residents that are here. This is their home. They don’t live where we work, we work where they live.” Arbor Terrace of Citrus Park is located south of Sickles High School at 13810 Sheldon Road in Tampa. For more information or to reserve a suite please call (813) 333-9996 or visit www.at-citruspark.com.

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Old McMicky’s Farm and 13 Tampa Bay Area Family Services Organizations Announce 1st Annual Child Adoption Education Day The 1st Annual Child Adoption Education Day will be held on June 13th from 2–5 p.m. at Old McMicky’s Farm, located at 9612 Crescent Lake Drive in Odessa. This FREE, casual event allows attendees to learn about the adoption process. At any given time, an average of over 200 local Tampa Bay area children are in need of a forever family. Old McMicky’s Farm, in partnership with 13 Tampa Bay Area Family Services agencies, will be hosting the First Annual Tampa Bay Child Adoption Education Day to educate the public about adoption. This first of its kind, cross-agency and cross-county effort, aims to educate potential parents in order to help find more Forever Families for local children. The goal of the event is to invite anyone who has ever had interest in starting or growing their family to come and learn in one easy afternoon how the adoption process works, all of the support and services available both pre and post adoption, and most importantly, all of

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the personal and emotional rewards for their family and the children. Over 100 people have already registered to attend. This event is being organized and hosted by the beautiful Old McMicky’s Farm in Odessa, Florida. Representatives from each organization will have the opportunity to explain the role they play in the adoption process. Plus, adoptive parents and their adopted children will speak to let everyone know what adoption has meant in their lives. It is FREE to all attendees and is a casual, no-pressure

learning atmosphere where everyone can have open conversation and get all of their questions answered. Every major organization that is involved in the adoption process in the Tampa Bay area is partnering to make this great day happen. About Old McMicky’s Farm: Old McMicky’s Farm, located on the Historic grounds of Camp Keystone (Established in 1946), is part of a cherished 68-year-old Tampa Bay tradition. The Children’s Educational Farm is dedicated to providing fun,

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educational and hands-on guided tours to groups, the general public and kids birthday parties. This unique farm is nestled on a beautiful 40-acre lake and is both rustic and elegant. The Farm also hosts special events such as Barn Weddings, Company Picnics, Corporate Events, Charity Events, Private Parties, to support their educational programming and community giving. Everyone at the Farm is dedicated to continuing this wonderful tradition for kids and families in our Tampa Bay community.

Carrollwood Area Neighborhood News & Lifestyles


OMF is dedicated to giving back to the community in many ways. The Farm’s “1000 Kids” Program’s goal is to host 1,000 kids a year in the Tampa Bay area who are facing challenges for an awesome, educational and fun day at the Farm, at No Charge. The Farm hosted was honored to host 1276 kids in 2014 under the “1000 Kids” program in its introductory year. As of April 2015, the farm already has 505 kids reserved to come out for free under the program. The Farm’s “Mission I Do” program provides Free, All-Inclusive Dream Weddings to Wounded Veteran’s. The second “Mission I Do” wedding just occurred in February 2015. The 1st Annual Child Adoption

Education Day is presented by: Old McMicky’s Farm, Eckerd Community Alternatives (Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco), Camelot Community Care (Hillsborough), Youth & Family Alternatives (Pinellas), Directions for Living, County Foster & Adoptive Parents (Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco), Family Tyes, Hope Builders, Adoptive Related Services, Guardian Ad Litem (Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco), Heart Gallery (Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco), The Children’s Home. The Old McMicky’s Farm Child Adoption Education Day brings more prospective adoptive parents in to the process to find more families for children. For more information about the Children’s Adoption Education Day on the Internet, please go to: www.OldMcMickys.com/childrens-adoption-education-day and to learn more about Old McMicky’s Farm please visit www.OldMcMickys.com or call 813-920-1948. Follow Old McMicky’s on facebook at www.facebook.com/ OldMcMickysFarm.

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“Brunchies” Continued from page 1 immediately struck by just how accommodating Bill was to his guests, as he quickly and effortlessly made a comfortable space for a wheelchairbound patron at the breakfast bar. Fortuitously, it gave me a chance to take in the bevy of multimedia art and paintings decorating the restaurant walls. The one that especially caught my eye was Romero Britto’s “The Hug” that hangs on the far back wall in front of the kitchen. It most definitely makes you feel welcome back into the fold! Bill then escorted me to what he euphemistically calls “The Board Room,” a private dining area just off to back, right-hand side that can accommodate up to 18 guests. He noted that the “CABA Room” next door was currently occupied by members of the Military Officers Association of America, as it can easily hold as many as 60 guests. Having these two enclosed rooms affords Brunchies of Tampa the opportunity to welcome and host networking groups, bridge parties, baby and bridal showers and well, you name it!

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Even though typical hours are from 7:00AM-2:00PM seven days a week, Bill offers these two private rooms after hours as well, and will even cater the event for you… Just ask for details when planning your next party, meeting or event. Don’t forget that Brunchies also caters off-site events like Teacher Appreciation Days for schools in the area, Operation Helping Hands and the like. They will most certainly do right by you. A long-time Bay area resident and originally from the Philly area, Bill graduated from USF and entered into the restaurant business up in Atlanta.

Lucky for us, he then decided to bring his family, knowledge and skills back home to set up shop right here in the heart of Carrollwood. The Kranichs love to travel, especially in South America, so you can understand how the inspiration for some of this month’s specials came to be. If you look closely at the menu, you’ll even note that the specials are actually named after family members and staff. There’s a back story for each one, so you might want to ask your waitperson for the scoop or even grab Bill for a quick minute while he walks through the restaurant engaging in conversa-

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tion with his guests. Have you signed up for The Brunchies Breakfast Club yet? Doing so will put you in a position to rack up points each time you dine with them (double points are offered on Tuesdays). Once you’ve earned 200 points, you will be given a $10 Brunchies Gift Certificate to enjoy on your next visit. Give yourself a treat, join up and celebrate in style with a free Brunchies birthday entrée for members. Now, let’s talk about the food… You simply must try some of their Duck Bacon, an offering that has been on the menu for about a year, now. It has 61% less fat than regular bacon and tastes absolutely “mahvelous.” With specials changing seasonally, check their website for your favorites at www.BrunchiesTampa.com. Don’t forget to order a delicious smoothie, new to their menu, featuring Mango Sorbet (my personal favorite), Strawberry Banana Yogurt and Expresso Mocha Frappe. They are all made with real and wholesome ingredients (no sugar added). Yummmm! You might want to try one of their skillets, Build Your Own Omelettes or any one of their Late Riser sandwiches, wraps and salads, too – they’re all amazing.

Carrollwood Area Neighborhood News & Lifestyles


My server Lyndsey and her side-kick Margarita (hailing from Peru) helped me to decide on a Chipotle Turkey BLT Panini to go with my Mango Sorbet smoothie. What a meal folks… the sandwich was as tasty as it was impressive looking, with just a hint of a kick provided by the Chipotle mayo. Not to worry, the smoothie was the perfect accompaniment to the sandwich for light-weight taste buds like mine and the amazing homemade potato chips served on the side complemented the plate. Get your taste buds revved up and try some of Brunchie’s fabulous offerings. Come on now,

you know you deserve it! Bill and I finished up our discussion and as we were walking out of “The Board Room,” he asked me if I had seen the charming painting hanging just outside, named “Fruit of the Womb.” As the story goes, it was lovingly created by his mother back in 1960 when she was pregnant with baby Bill. I guess that would explain the price tag noted on the adjacent placard… a whopping $75,000,000.23!!! It’s my guess that he’s wanting to keep that in the family, no? What a tribute. Come on in and enjoy the casual

Brunchies offers a variety of delicious options for Breakfast, Brunch and Lunch!

Named “Fruit of the Womb” this lovely painting was created by Bill’s mother back in 1960 when she was pregnant with him. and relaxed atmosphere that Brunchies of Tampa has created for you right here in your neighborhood. Join the other 2500+ folks in the Brunchies Breakfast Club and those “in the know” for Breakfast, Brunch or Lunch all week long. I am sure that my friends and I will be gathering there soon. Hope to see you there!

Carrollwood Area Neighborhood News & Lifestyles

Brunchies is located at 14366 N Dale Mabry Hwy. in Tampa adjacent to Starbucks, YouFit & Abby’s. They are open seven days a week from 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. For more info or upcoming specials please call (813) 908-7023 or visit their website at www.BrunchiesTampa.com.

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“Calendar/Briefs” Continued from page 5 NORTH TAMPA MARKET When: Saturday, June 13 at 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Where: Carrollwood Cultural Center, 4537 Lowell Road in Tampa More Info: The outdoor market will include fresh food, hand crafts and live music. For more information, visit www.tampabaymarkets.com. Admission: Free

SHANA BANANA’S PAJAMA PIZZA PARTY When: Sat, June 13 at 5:30 p.m. Where: Carrollwood Cultural Center, 4537 Lowell Road in Tampa More Info: Join children’s entertainer Shana Banana for a musical pajama party to remember --- one that teaches kids important healthy bedtime routines and uses creativity and story-making to make the whole process fun! A slice of pizza is included with the ticket price. Admission: $7 member / $8 general admission / $28 Family 4-Pack

ART MAKERS & COCKTAIL SHAKERS

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When: Thursday, June 18, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Where: Carrollwood Cultural Center, 4537 Lowell Road in Tampa More Info: Students will learn basic painting techniques as they work in a classroom setting to complete a work of art following the step-by-step direction of an art instructor. As they paint, they will be able to purchase cocktails and socialize with one another. At the end of your two hour session, participants will be able to take home their completed work. Admission: $38-$42 (Admission includes all of the materials for the evening’s project as well as one beverage. A cash bar will be available and participates are invited to bring non-alcoholic beverages and snacks to class.)

teers, which help complete the intimate ambiance. Admission: $12-$18

JAZZ WITH JIM

Medical Center of Trinity Plans for Citrus Park ER, A Free Standing Emergency Center

When: Fri, June 19 at 7:30 p.m. Where: Carrollwood Cultural Center, 4537 Lowell Road in Tampa More Info: Jazz with Jim is a monthly concert hosted by Jim Burge and The Jazz Directions. The concert is best known for fusing personal stories by the musicians with popular jazz tunes suited for that month’s theme. Patrons can purchase home baked goods donated by the Center’s volun-

MOTOWN HEAT with the Sounds of Soul When: Friday, June 26 at 8 p.m. Where: Carrollwood Cultural Center, 4537 Lowell Road in Tampa More Info: Join us for one of the hottest shows in town. The Sounds of Soul return to the Carrollwood Cultural Center for an encore presentation of last year's sold out performance: Motown Heat. Admission: $29-$35 All performance tickets can be purchased at the box office, online at www.CarrollwoodCenter.org, or by calling (813) 922-8167.

Medical Center of Trinity announces its plans to open the Citrus Park ER, a free standing emergency department of Medical Center of Trinity. Citrus Park ER is a 24 hour, seven day a week emergency room for adults and kids. Planned opening is for June 2015.

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The Citrus Park ER will offer easy, convenient access to emergency care 24 hours a day with all the resources needed for acute care of a serious illness or injury. The free standing ER will provide even more advanced emergency services than an urgent care center. This full service ER will also accept patients via ambulance and have on site CT scan, ultrasound, xray and laboratory services. The Citrus Park ER will be staffed by physicians Board Certified in Emergency Care and nurses with emergency care experience and certifications. The new free standing emergency room will offer residents of Citrus Park and surrounding areas: · Convenient access from home, school and work · Shorter wait times · The same services and level of care consistent with a traditional hospital emergency department · Warm and inviting clinical environment · Telemedicine capabilities · Enables first responders to return much more quickly to the field · National certification through Medical Center of Trinity

New Volunteer Opportunities

Carrollwood Area Neighborhood News & Lifestyles


are Now Available With Medical Center of Trinity’s New Citrus Park ER Volunteer opportunities are now available at the new Citrus Park ER, a department of Medical Center of Trinity. Volunteers of the new Citrus Park ER will be members of Medical Center of Trinity’s highly respected Volunteer team. Volunteer Ambassadors provide hospitality and non-clinical support to patients and their families. The free standing emergency department will be located at 12922 Sheldon Road (at Citrus Park Drive and Sheldon Road), Tampa, Florida 33626. For more information about the new Citrus Park ER, call (813) 282-2850.

Corbett Prep Fifth Grade Leadership Council opens two Little Free Libraries on campus The Corbett Prep Fifth Grade Leadership Council opened two Little Free Libraries on campus this school year as part of a community service project to benefit the school. Students are encouraged to recycle their old books by bringing in books they have enjoyed and leaving them on the

shelves for someone else. Anyone can stop by the Little Free Library to browse the collection and take a book that interests them. Fifth graders worked on the library boxes, which are modeled after birdhouses, with family and friends. Fifth grader Patrick Smith, an avid reader, shared the Little Free Library idea with the Leadership Council this school year after spotting several boxes in Dunedin, where his grandparents live. He loved the idea and the way the boxes looked. More than 20,000 Little Free Libraries have been established worldwide. The newest library box opened this month. Corbett Preparatory School of IDS is located at 12015 Orange Grove Dr., Tampa, Fla. 33618. For more information please call (813) 961-3087.

suffer from multiple levels of PTSD and have difficulty returning to a civilian lifestyle. Homebound Heroes was

created to help relieve the pressure of making one of the biggest investments of their lives. By providing a house for these brave veterans Homebound Heroes can help them adapt to their next mission of succeeding in America and turning their new house into a home. Homebound Heroes is committed to ensuring that over 90% of all received donations goes directly towards providing mortgage free housing for our veterans. For more information or to donate please call (727) 638-4418, email info@homeboundheroes.com or visit www.homeboundheroes.com.

Homebound Heroes Provides Homes to Heroes in our Local Community! Homebound Heroes is a privately funded, locally run, non-profit organization dedicated to providing mortgage free homes to returning war veterans who have served our country. The majorities of our returning heroes

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“J&C Consign” Continued from page 1 beautifully arranged and organized boutique-like store that offers a one-of-kind shopping experience and earns many repeat customers! In addition to furniture and décor for your home, there are many lovely and unique choices for gifts. Who wouldn’t love a sweet gift of Hen House linens, Tyler Candle Company® candles, or handmade soaps and lotions? I love the adorable Glory Haus photo frames with sayings painted on them. And I’d like to purchase all of the beautiful handmade and painted wooden crosses that are made by a local artist – they would look so awesome massed together on a wall! Fun and inexpensive items are abundant, such as hand-painted wine glasses and photo frames (worth checking out if you need a gift for a graduate going to UF or FSU), insulated cups and so much more! Since my last visit, owner Christine Jackson has added even more artisan crafted merchandise. I love the beautiful horsehair pottery they now have available. Each piece is a one-ofa-kind and the colors are simply beau-

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Find giftware and house decor handmade by local artisans - from wallhangings, to frames, horse hair pottery & more! tiful. J & C Consign and Design even has handcrafted gift bags and cards.

Let’s Talk Furniture! J & C Consign and Design specializes in new and “like new” high end furniture and home décor. Some of the brands you’ll find are Lane, Thomasville, Bernhardt, Vanguard, Ethan Allen, West Elm, Stanford and

Stanley. Literally every time I go to this store, I find something to add beauty and function to my home. So far I’ve lucked out in finding pen and pencil framed artwork, an antique rosewood table, a fireplace screen, a wrought iron bed, and on my last visit I purchased a duo of timeless side chairs that are in near perfect condition! I

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saw those chairs and knew that it was an “act now and act fast” situation if I wanted them because they are excellent quality and I know the price I paid is a fraction of what the original owner paid for them. I knew if I didn’t act fast, someone else would. That is the thing about J & C Consign and Design; there is a fast turnover of furniture pieces. With such

Carrollwood Area Neighborhood News & Lifestyles


Furniture is arranged with complementary accessories - sometimes you can pick out an entire new room to take home! high quality furniture at greatly discounted prices, people are finding out about this gem of a store and most customers are like me – they keep going back because you never know what J & C will have gotten in. I spied some great pieces on my last visit – a brand new farm-style dining table, a brand new tall back loveseat that makes a statement all on its own, and a gorgeous wooden and leather upholstered

bench (also new). There are some great desks – both feminine and masculine. From side tables and chairs, to bedroom sets, chests, and living room sets, J & C Consign and Design is a great place to shop for furniture.

100s of Items Weekly, Discounts Daily J & C Consign and Design receives hundreds of new items in the

Carrollwood Area Neighborhood News & Lifestyles

store every week. Every item is tagged and dated and if it doesn’t sell within an allotted time period, that item is discounted so there are literally new discounts daily. If you are looking for some new art for your walls, J & C Consign and Design has a great collection featuring a variety that ranges from the elegant and timeless to the artsy and folksy. My favorite wall hanging last visit was a big needlepoint featuring a couple of Bahamian women – so fun! The consigned items include topquality furniture and home accents including lighting. There are light fixtures and chandeliers available at greatly discounted prices. I saw a threesome of new pendant droplights which looked antique yet modern and made me wish I had a bar to hang them over – trust me, they won’t last long! If you are interested in consigning, J & C Consign and Design takes very gently used high end furniture and home décor in “like new” condition. Christine and store manager Candy are very particular about what items they will carry, but that is what makes the store so awesome – everything is in excellent, saleable condition! Consignments are taken by appointment only, and they prefer that

you email a photo first if possible. J & C Consign and Design is located at 8809-B Gunn Highway in Odessa, and is open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Tues. – Sat. and from 12 – 5 p.m. on Sun.; closed Mon. Please call (813) 9200800 for information or log on to www.jcconsign.com, where you can find information about how to submit photos of items you’d like to consign and sign up for email updates. “Like” J & C Consign and Design on facebook for updates on the latest merchandise they receive.

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The Red Cross Needs YOU Do you know what your American Red Cross does? I'll bet you are nodding your head – you think you do. Everyone thinks of the Red Cross as the big disaster people – hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes – especially here in Florida where we get all three. It is what you see on television, whenever there is a big crisis. They are at every major disaster before the TV cameras arrive, and long after they are gone to help feed and shelter those who have lost everything. They give hugs. They give hope. They help communities endure. But the biggest disaster they respond to is not a tornado, flood or hurricane. It's not a man-made disaster like a train derailment or a plane crash. More than 90% of the disasters they respond to are local home fires right here in our community every day. On average here in Tampa Bay there is a home fire nearly every single night – about 350 per year. To the family that loses everything that night it's a big disaster – one of the worst days of their lives – and the

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Red Cross is there. When a family loses their home and has no place to go, the fire department calls the Red Cross, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Volunteers from the Red Cross respond immediately, having a continuous commitment to be on scene within 2 hours. They verify the situation and take care of the family's needs, making sure they have a roof over their heads that night, that they have food and clothing, that the kids are ready to go to school the next day. Nurses are on call that can help replace medications and eyeglasses, and the Red Cross gives a small toy to the child who lost all of their cherished belongings and needs something soft to cuddle; but that's just the beginning. In the days and weeks that follow, trained Red Cross volunteer caseworkers help that family on their road to recovery; making sure they aren't alone; making sure they have access to every community resource available. Unless you've been in the unfortunate circumstance to suffer a house fire you probably don't know

More than 90% of the disasters they respond to are local home fires right here in our community every day. On average here in Tampa Bay there is a home fire nearly every single night and the Red Cross is there to help every time! that's what keeps our local Red Cross volunteers busy every day. Over 90% of the work done by the Red Cross is done by volunteers. These special people make a difference in someone’s life every day. Volunteers like Lisa, who tells the story of one of the fires she responded to: “ I was called to the scene of a burn-

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ing house at 8:30 one night. The elderly lady who lived there had left a space heater too close to a curtain and it sent her wood frame home up in flames very quickly. She called 911 and ran out with nothing in her hands but her cat and car keys. She was left with nothing. Nothing. When my team arrived she was sit-

Carrollwood Area Neighborhood News & Lifestyles


ting in the back of a police car shivering. We wrapped her in a Red Cross blanket and hugged her tight. Crying, she was able to give us her daughter’s phone number to call for her – but her daughter was in Ohio. It would take some time for her to get to Tampa. The Red Cross is a support system, a safety net. We were able to put her in a hotel for 3 nights, and help her with other immediate needs until her daughter was able to come down. It was important

to stay in constant touch with her – she needed our support system. She could have been my mother, my grandmother. I could only imagine how grateful I would have been for Red Cross volunteers. Her relief at seeing us and knowing she would be safe was palpable. And her hugs and thanks gave more back to us as volunteers than we ever imagined. I love my work with the Red Cross.” This amazing organization has hundreds of wonderful volunteers

Carrollwood Area Neighborhood News & Lifestyles

just like Lisa who want to give back to their community. But, the Red Cross desperately needs more. In addition to responding to house fires they're helping their community get prepared- installing smoke alarms and teaching kids how to be ready for disasters. They are deep in planning for the upcoming hurricane season that begins in just a few weeks and are training volunteers in logistics and sheltering, etc. Many of their volunteer jobs are yet to be filled this season and they need your passion for helping others to help make a difference. Whether you have 20 hours a week to give, or just 2, won't you consider joining this group of caring and compassionate people?

To learn more about Red Cross volunteer opportunities in your local community please visit them for an open house on Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at their Tampa office, located at 3310 W. Main St, or contact (813)-348-4820 or Margaret.brown@redcross.org for more information.

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The Fresh Market at Wiregrass Offers Fun and Goods for Everyone! By Kim Thomas The Fresh Market that comes to Wiregrass Mall every first and third Saturday is a great way to spend your morning! I recently visited and can’t wait to go back, but I have a few tips. Take some kind of tote bag, or even better a rolling cooler! I found so many great items at the Fresh Market that I found myself envious of the young moms with strollers where they could stash their goods under the baby. Next time, I’m leaving the notepad and camera at home, and I’m stocking up on the goods! The beautiful weather, fresh air and fun shopping are reason enough to go to the Fresh Market at Wiregrass Mall, but you’ll also love meeting the hundreds of vendors. There are so many offerings and I truly enjoyed getting to meet so many different people with their own stories to tell. From farmers who are carrying on a family legacy and entrepreneurs who are marketing new products on the weekends while they work their other jobs during the weekdays, to

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artists, bakers and pet-lovers, you’ll meet wonderful people. There is stand after stand of beautiful locally grown vegetables and fruits. They will give you plastic bags if you don’t have a tote, but if you’re like me, you’ll want to buy more than you‘ll want to carry. I couldn’t resist the heirloom veggies offered from Small Town Farms – beautiful black and chocolate red bell peppers, rainbow carrots, gorgeous vine-ripened Pita Boy tomatoes, and white zucchini – that were to make up a few

fabulous meals at the Thomas house! I passed by the Live Oak Organics stand and bought the last bag of baby spinach, plus some turnips and one of my favorite snacks, sugar snap peas, which were so tender, juicy and sweet – the best I’ve ever tasted! The freshpicked strawberries were abundant, with more than one place to get them, but I picked mine up at the Parke Family Hydro Farms’ stand – they were delicious in my homemade strawberry lemonade! It smells so good at the Fresh

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Market, you will want to bring your appetite because there are fantastic offerings from chocolates to artisan sausages on fresh rolls at The Sausage Factory. Nothing hits the spot on a hot day better than a handcrafted popsicle at Whatever Pops (mine was Earl Grey Tea, Lavender and Lemon – so refreshing!), and the pulled pork sandwiches at The Hogfather BBQ stand looked delicious and worth a trip back. For one dollar only, my taste buds took a trip to Paris with a deca-

Carrollwood Area Neighborhood News & Lifestyles


dent chocolate truffle made by Richard at Cow Paddy Irish Fudge. Richard says he has customers who say they truly haven’t tasted better, not even in Paris. My family has become spoiled by my love of handmade soaps and I was happy to find a great source at the Swanson Soapworks stand. If you like pickles, you’ve got to stop by the Chill Dill booth for some of their perfectly crispy dills. My fa-

vorite was the spicy pickled carrots! Pet-lovers will love the Fresh Market’s pet-friendly atmosphere – friendly, leashed dogs are welcome – and there are great products for healthy pets. Watch out though, the Doggone Good Goodies are so healthy and doggone good that they turn mild-mannered dogs into cookies monsters! There is so much more, from homemade whoopie pies, fresh baked goods, free range eggs and roasting chickens, seafood, even plants, orchids and cut flowers. There truly is too much to name, so just hop in your car on the first and/or third Saturday of the month and check it out. Bring the whole family. Little ones can ride on the train and teens can hit the stores. It’s what I call a win-win!

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