Vol. 5, Issue 11, November 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
Pizza Villa – A Neighborhood Favorite for All the Right Reasons!
If you have a kitchen, then BergHOFF has something you need and a lot of things you will want! BergHOFF in Odessa is a must-stop this holiday season. For one thing, it is convenient to drive to – from East Lake, you can take East Lake Road to Trinity Boulevard up to State Road 54, where you will turn left, and look for the big BergHOFF building on the right with plenty of parking. It is brilliantly laid out and a wonderland of kitchen products, so it is fun! BergHOFF truly is for everyone, from the chef, to the newlywed couple just setting up their kitchen, to those who want to update and upgrade their cookware.
The industrial-sized showroom is a chef’s dream, but everyday cooks fall in love with the store too. BergHOFF offers a complete spectrum of products in cookware, cutlery, flatware, dinnerware and cook’s tools with more than 3,000 products available. With BergHOFF in the area we have a unique shopping opportunity! Founded in 1964, BergHOFF operates in 65 countries, has its own inhouse designers, and is known worldwide for its award-winning European designed cookware. The only BergHOFF location in North America – and it’s open to the public – is in Odessa and people travel from all over Florida and from throughout the United States just to visit this store. See “BergHOFF” on page 30
The Community Dining & Business Guide that your neighbors READ!
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Editorial................................3 Community Calendar..........4-5 Community News Briefs.........6 Douglas Dentistry...........10-11 St. Luke’s Cataract & Laser Institute........................14-15 Improving SAT & ACT Scores..........................16-17 Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point...............18-19 Area Rugs Direct.................22
ECRWSS
By Kim Thomas
See “Pizza Villa” on page 26
Postal Customer
BergHOFF is for the Chef, the Novice & the Family Cook!
Head chef Evangelia Kalogeropoulos makes sure that everything that comes out of the Pizza Villa kitchen is top quality. “Evangelia makes sure that everything we serve is delicious,” says Cheryl. “She has a wonderful talent for cooking.” One taste of their food and you’ll agree – Evangelia definitely has a talent for cooking. When I visited Pizza Villa, my husband and I agreed, it was the best pizza we’d ever eaten. Owner Vasilios Fotopoulos says the secret ingredient is the Greek extra virgin olive oil, “We make our pizza dough fresh
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID TAMPA FL PERMIT 1185
Almost 28 years ago, Vasilios Fotopoulos, Cheryl Will, and Evangelia Kalogeropoulos opened Pizza Villa, a family style restaurant located in the Village Lakes Center near the corner of Land O’ Lakes Boulevard and State Road 54. Over the years, the area has grown around them and the Land O’ Lakes community has grown with it. At Pizza Villa though, a few things have always stayed the same – their food is always fresh and delicious, their service is always friendly and welcoming, and they al-
ways hold true to their motto, “Through our doors pass the finest people, our customers, our friends.” There are a lot of reasons that Pizza Villa has been a popular restaurant for more than a quarter century. “We have customers who have been regulars for years and years, some that first ate here when they were children. Even our customers who move out of the area make a beeline for Pizza Villa whenever they are back in town,” says Cheryl. From pizza to pasta, sandwiches to soups, salads to appetizers, everything at Pizza Villa is made fresh daily.
Dated Material Please Rush!
By Marcy Sanford
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Neighborhood News & Lifestyles
From The Editor Kim Thomas
Happy Thanksgiving! Happy Thanksgiving from all of us here at Neighborhood News & Lifestyles! We have a lot to be thankful for this year, and if you are reading this, you are included on that long list! The continued success and growth of Neighborhood News & Lifestyles is due in great part to the continued support of our readers and dedicated advertisers, and we thank all of you! We are truly grateful that the communities of East Lake, Trinity, Odessa, Lutz, Land O’ Lakes, Westchase and Carrollwood choose Neighborhood News & Lifestyles to help share community news and events, which helps us to keep the publications focused on local happenings and all of the great things about your community. Personally, when I think of the support we have received, I am humbled and feel truly blessed. It’s been a decade since I first started working for Tim and Doreen Selby as a freelance writer for the Trinity Area
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Neighborhood News, and I had no clue then that eventually I would be editing three publications for this family-owned business. I think what makes this job so rewarding is that it has given me the opportunity to meet so many people who give their all, from the small business owners who work hard to earn and keep your business, to the many volunteers who give their time and money to support non-profit organizations focused on local support. May we all remember to say thank you every day. Acknowledging the kindness of others is powerful, as is recognizing our own blessings. In the words of the late Johannes A.
Gaertner, “To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven.” Though we should show gratitude on a daily basis, Thanksgiving is great reminder to count our blessings. We hope that you and your families have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving, and that when you start counting, you find that your blessings are too many to count!
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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@nnlflorida.com Editorial E-mail: editorial@nnlflorida.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. Neighborhood News & Lifestyles reserves the right to edit and/or reject any advertising. Neighborhood News & Lifestyles is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the actual cost of the advertising space itself, not for the validity of any claims made by its advertisers. Neighborhood News & Lifestyles is published by ADS 2 Publications, Inc.
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Community Calendar Play in the 6th Annual Golfers Vs. Brain Cancer Tournament Our Story, Our Inspiration, Our Honorary Chairlady Have you ever thought about what the words “a grassroots organization” really mean? Golfers vs. Brain Cancer is the epitome of that expression. Melissa Pittman wasn’t even thinking about cancer in 2008 when, at age 40, she was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. Originally she was given just three years to live. To her, that was not an option. Chemo and radiation kept her tumor from growing. Recently though, her tumor has shown signs of growth and she is in treatment again. Melissa’s spirit and determination have been an inspiration to her family, friends and golfers throughout the North Pinellas community. When asked how we could help, Melissa said, “Find a cure.” Many have rallied to help Melissa and so many others with brain cancer through Golfers vs. Brain Cancer. For Melissa, “each day is a present – that is why it’s called the present; yesterday is the past and tomorrow is
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Cancer Center, The Morton Plant Mease Foundation, and the Pediatric Cancer Center of Florida, as well as individual patients who need assistance. This year, we are very pleased to add All Children’s Hospital to our growing list of recipients. Six-year old Lilly Rajala, our ambassador AND a brain cancer survivor, continues her treatment All Children’s. Our Grassroots Organization Golfers vs. Brain Cancer is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation which is made up entirely of volun-
Golfers vs. Brain Cancer’s inspiration and honorary chairlady, Melissa Pittman, with her husband, Jay. unknown…but today is my present!” According to national statistics, 23,380 men, women and children will be diagnosed with brain cancer in 2014 and sadly, 14,320 will die. Our Charity Partners Now in its 6th year, Golfers vs. Brain Cancer has raised over $250,000 in support of brain cancer research and treatment at Moffitt
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Six-year old Lilly Rajala, Golfers vs. Brain Cancer Tounament’s ambassador AND a brain cancer survivor, continues her treatment at All Children’s Hospital.
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teers. No one draws a salary. We will continue to support research initiatives and other avenues to fight this disease. Over 90% of the funds raised through Golfers vs. Brain Cancer is donated to our causes. Our Event Fri., Nov. 21––The 6th annual Golfers vs. Brain Cancer tournament will be held at the East Lake Woodlands Country Club on Friday, November 21. Registration for those who have not pre-registered will open at 10:30 AM. Opening ceremonies will begin at 12:30 PM, with a shotgun start at 1 PM. Dinner, silent and live auctions immediately following the tournament. Entry fee, including dinner, is $125. Please consider a sponsor-level donation, a contribution to our silent and/or live auctions, and plan to bring a foursome to enjoy a great day of golf for a great cause. For more detailed information, visit www.GolfersvsBrainCancer.com online. Donations may be made through the website or by calling 727/441-6442 or by checks made payable to Golfers vs. Brain Cancer Foundation and mailed to 334 East Lake Road, #309, Palm Harbor, FL
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34685-2427. NO DONATION IS TOO SMALL. MUSIC FOR MUTTS Nov. 30, 2–10 PM––Music For Mutts is concert to benefit Canine Estates that will be held at Jannus Live, 200 1st Ave. N in St. Petersburg. In addition to live music, there will be festivities, games and a 50/50 drawing. The bands start at 5:30. This fun evening will feature three amazing bands: The Black Honkeys, Stormbringer and Pat Dalton Gang. Be a Sponsor: $500 sponsorship includes: • Company Banner at Event • Company Logo on all Advertising Materials • 10 Event Tickets • Access to VIP Suite For more information on sponsorship, please call 727-412-0558 or 239-851-1468, or email: director@canineestates.com Join the Fun: Advance tickets are $10 for general admission (www.ticketfly.com). General admission tickets at the door are $15. VIP Suites are $200 and can be reserved by emailing: Director@CanineEstates.com. Proceeds benefit Canine Estates, Inc., a tax-exempt, non-profit
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501(c)(3) adoption and sanctuary facility for small dogs.See ad on page 21 of this publication. Hope UMC Fall Festival Sat., Nov. 22, 3–6 PM––Hope Church, 5107 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road, is celebrating the season with its Fall Festival on Saturday, Nov. 22, from 3 to 6 p.m. Children and adults are welcome to join in the fun. There will be food, hay rides, face painting, family pictures, games, a chili cooking contest and more. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, email churchlady@hope4tampa.com. Land O’ Lakes Garden Club Tues., Nov. 18, 10:30 AM––“We invite you to the Land O’ Lakes Garden Club. The meeting for November has been moved to Nov. 18th at 10:30 AM. The meeting will be held at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center, located at 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. in Land O’ Lakes. Call Marie for Info and RSVP at 813961-2697. Ms Jonnie Spitler, Pasco County Master Gardener, will give a presentation on "Back Yard Bird Habitat, Gardening for Birds".
Metropolitan Ministries Central Pasco Donation Tent Now is the time to provide help for neighbors in need! Metropolitan Ministries serves the poor and homeless families in Pasco and neighboring counties. Keystone Community Church makes giving easier by providing a donation tent open throughout the season at a convenient location (corner of SR 54 and Hwy 41). Spark your giving spirit this season with donations of nonperishable food, new toys, and monetary gifts. Tent Collection Dates: Monday through Friday on November 17 – 26, from 8 a.m.–2 p.m.; Saturday, November 22, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; & Sunday, November 23, from noon–3 p.m.; Monday, November 24 through Wednesday, November 26, from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. From December 15-23, hours are 8 a.m.–2 p.m.on Mon.– Fri, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. on Saturday, and noon–3 p.m. on Sun; on Monday, Nov. 22 – Tuesday, Nov. 23, hours are 8 a.m.–5 p.m. For information, please call (813) 9484522. A tent blessing is scheduled for Nov 16, at 5 p.m.. All are welcome to attend at the same location,
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21010 SR 54 in Lutz. Contact Pastor Gary Edwards for additional infomation at pastor@keystonecommunity.org. Al-Anon Family Groups Meetings Every Monday, 7:30 PM––AlAnon Family Groups provide support to families and friends of problem drinkers. There is a meeting every Monday at 7:30 pm at Keystone Presbyterian Church on Van Dyke Rd. For more information, call 813-881-9372 or go to www.tampabayalanon.org.
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Community News Briefs NAMI Pasco Awards Each year during the first week of October, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Pasco County Affiliate, recognizes and awards those in the community who have gone above and beyond to help those with mental illness and their families. This year’s award recipients (left to right); Crisis Intervention Team Officer of the year, Deputy Curtis Adams, Pasco Sheriff Department; Provider of the Year, Kim Treanor, BayCare; Advocate of the Year Rick Barrett NAMI member; Media Award for East Pasco Heather Grzelka, Madeira Public Relations; Humanitarian of the Year Nancy
Chancey, former head of ER Nursing at Tampa General Hospital; (not pictured) Media Award for West Pasco Rose Marie Seiber, Seiber Graphics and Legislator of the Year Public Defender, Bob Dillinger. Awards were presented at the 8th Annual Mental Illness Awareness Banquet on October 9th.
Pediatric Associates Tampa Bay’ Celebrates Grand Opening of Trinity location with Halloween Party! Pediatric Associates Tampa Bay’s Trinity office celebrated their new location with a Grand Opening Halloween Party on Saturday, October 25th. Their new Trinity location is on SR 54 in the same shopping plaza as Bonefish Grill, Trinity Village Center. The Chamber of Commerce came out and held a ribbon cutting and there was lunch, face painting and giveaways for attendees. Drs. Alex Gomez, R. Enid Gaud, Fernando Arroyo, Alisha Pineiro and Lisa Hayes had a great time celebrating with patients and employees. Pediatric Associates Tampa Bay
currently has three Tampa Bay locations that are all open at least 6 days a week. Other locations are in Brandon/Riverview, Palm Harbor, and Coming Soon to St. Petersburg. To learn more about Pediatric Associates Tampa Bay, you can visit their website atwww.patampabay.com or call the Trinity location at 727-376-4040.
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Douglas Dentistry – A Family-Friendly General Dentistry Practice with Strong Family Values By Marcy Sanford Since 2006, Shawn Douglas, DDS and his team have been helping people keep their smiles beautiful! Douglas Dentistry is a family-friendly dental practice where patients can have all of their dental needs met, from general dentistry, to surgical procedures, implants and cosmetic dentistry. Dr. Douglas can even help patients who have sleep apnea, offering the latest dental appliances that are far more comfortable than past options have been. Douglas Dentistry is conveniently located at 5306 Van Dyke Road, and Dr. Shawn Douglas and his professional staff make your comfort and care their top priority. “Our hygienist and professional staff make it easy for people to get the care they need. We are a very customer service oriented office,” says Dr. Shawn Douglas. “We always educate our patients about their different treatment options and help them make the best decision for
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their health.” Patients love the care they receive at Douglas Dentistry, where family values are important, and the dental care provided is top-notch. Douglas Dentistry patient Sherri Z. states, “All the staff are very professional and competent. Kathy, the hygienist is very gentle but does a great job cleaning my teeth. Paula at the front desk is very helpful and knowledgeable. Dr. Douglas is an excellent clinician and does not try to over treat me for dental needs. I am always treated with respect and receive excellent care here.” Another Douglas Dentistry patient, Kimberly M., says, “The staff at Douglas Dentistry was unbelievable, they were personable and very polite. Their efficiency was next to none. After my teeth cleaning I felt like I had a new set of teeth. I would definitely recommend Douglas Dentistry to anyone I know. They were exceptional.”
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Dr. Douglas and his caring staff welcome new patients to Douglas Dentistry The Latest Dental Technology & Comfort Combined Douglas Dentistry’s comfortable office is equipped with the latest in dental technology and extra comforts for their patients like chairs with builtin massage options. “We want our pa-
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tients to be comfortable and relaxed whether they are getting their teeth cleaned or having a more extensive procedure. All our patients seem to enjoy the massage chairs. We also have advanced technology like digital x-rays and an intraoral camera that makes it
Neighborhood News & Lifestyles
easier for our patients to see any issues they may be having.” Dr. Douglas also says that digital x-rays are fast, comfortable, and emit up to 90 percent less radiation than traditional x-rays. In addition to offering full-service cosmetic, general, and implant dentistry, Douglas Dentistry recently began helping patients with sleep apnea. “Sleep apnea is a very serious condition that almost 20 percent of the adult population suffers from,” says Dr. Douglas. “Many people find the traditional CPAP machine to be very bulky and uncomfortable. We can help sleep apnea sufferers with a dental appliance that is very effective and comfortable. If sleep apnea is not treated, it can lead to very serious illnesses like high blood pressure and
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heart failure. If you snore heavily or wake up gasping for air, you might be suffering from sleep apnea. We can help you get evaluated and then treat the condition for you so you can get a better night’s sleep and better overall health.” If you have implants or have teeth that need to be replaced you can be assured that Douglas Dentistry will provide you with expert care. During his residency at the University of South Florida, Dr. Douglas focused on dental implants and full mouth makeovers. Dr. Douglas is an expert in the placing and restoring of implants. He continues to train, staying at the forefront of the latest advances in multiple implant systems and can restore your existing implants with crowns, bridges or snap-in dentures.
Dr. Douglas is a resident of Lutz and is very involved with the community. He and his wife Jamie are active members of Idlewild Baptist Church. They have been on missions locally and internationally to provide dental and medical services to children and adults in underprivileged areas. When he is not helping people
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maintain their beautiful smiles, Dr. Douglas enjoys being outdoors and enjoying all the wonderful outdoor opportunities Florida offers. Douglas Dentistry is located at 5306 Van Dyke Road, and is open Tuesday through Friday with late hours on Tuesday to accommodate their patients. For additional information or to schedule an appointment, visit their webpage at www.douglasdentistryfl.com or call (813) 960-3300.
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Dr. Jeffrey Wipfli is Changing Lives at St. Luke’s Cataract & Laser Institute By Kim Thomas Early morning at St. Luke’s Cataract & Laser Institute is definitely not sleepy – the air is buzzing with positive energy as patients come in, many knowing that their lives are about to change for the better. Restoring someone’s sight is a great way to start the day, just ask Dr. Jeffrey Wipfli, who spends his days performing life-changing eye surgeries on patients both young and old at St. Luke’s Cataract & Laser Institute. “It’s neat when you can very rapidly help to change people’s lives,” shares Dr. Wipfli. “Some people haven’t even been able to see their own children and grandchildren, and the next day after surgery, they are seeing. It’s fantastic! We truly have the most experienced staff, the best technology and equipment, and the best outcomes.” If you are considering LASIK or cataract surgery, there is no better
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place than 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. Founded in 1974 by James Gils, MD, St. Luke’s has grown to include seven state-of-the-art facilities in Florida and for an eye surgeon who is at the top of their field, like Dr. Wipfli, there is no better place to practice. Board Certified Ophthalmologist Jeffrey Wipfli, MD, specializes in advanced cataract surgery, LASIK and other refractive surgeries and sees pa-
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tients at three of St. Luke’s Cataract & Laser Institute’s facilities, in Tarpon Springs, Tampa and St. Petersburg. Dr. Wipfli has been with St. Luke’s Cataract & Laser Institute for five years and even though he was happy practicing in his home state of Oklahoma, he was excited to move to Florida when the opportunity arose to join the doctors and staff at St. Luke’s Cataract & Laser Institute. Dr. Wipfli says, “I thought of it as the major leagues calling and there was no way I could turn it down.” His wife Allison and their two daughters, Aubrey and Grace, were game for the move, and
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now the family happily calls Tampa Bay home and they are big Tampa Bay Lightning fans. As one of the most experienced eye surgeons in his field, Dr. Wipfli has performed more than 40,000 ophthalmic surgeries, including more than 30,000 advanced cataract surgeries. He earned his medical degree at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and was a Graduate with Honors and Special Distinction as well as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. Dr.
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Wipfli completed his residency training at the St. Louis University Eye Institute in St. Louis, Missouri, where he received the Rabani Award for Excellence in Patient Care. “St. Luke’s is very patient-centered and I wouldn’t be here if that weren’t the case,” says Dr. Wipfli. “My focus is on the patient and what is safe and right for them.” While not everyone is a candidate, most people are and LASIK and cataract surgeries truly are life changing. Dr. Wipfli adds, “People who have felt handcuffed and shackled to their glasses and contacts will be free of them!” His patient Kayla W. is certainly happy, stating, “LASIK was the best choice I’ve ever made. Every morning I wake up and I can see clearly. I can go to the gym without worrying about losing a contact or watch TV at
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night in bed without falling asleep in my glasses. It’s great to travel without all the extra eye ‘stuff’ too. The staff was great and made me feel comfortable. Dr. Wipfli is truly amazing! I am so blessed to have vision clarity and be able to enjoy it fully thanks to LASIK at St. Luke’s.” Jeffrey Wipfli, MD is accepting new patients and sees patients at three of St. Luke’s Cataract & Laser Institute locations: the main office in Tarpon Springs at 43309 US Hwy. 19 N, (727) 938-2020; in St. Petersburg at 9400 9th St. N, (727) 328-7700; and in Tampa at 13303 N Dale Mabry Hwy, call (813) 384-3838. Find more information about St. Luke’s Cataract & Laser Institute online at stlukeseye.com.
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IMPROVING SAT AND ACT SCORES By Dr. Wayne Adams For the SAT and ACT Exams in 2014 -2015, there are three major trends every parent should know: (1) The dramatic increases in the minimum qualifying scores for Bright Futures’ scholarships eliminated 50% 75% of students for students graduating in 2014 who would have been eligible in 2013, with an even worse impact on students graduating in 2015 compared to 2013. (2) It is becoming harder for students to score well enough to be strong candidates for admission to their “dream colleges”in Florida and across the nation. (3) Based on my observations during five years, the negative gap between average GPA’s and average SAT/ACT Exam scores has been widening. In other words, GPA’s have maintained or increased, while SAT/ACT Exam scores have decreased.
The Damage Most of the damage in Florida has been done for Florida Medallion Scholarships, where minimum eligibil-
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ity has been increased on the SAT to 1180, and on the ACT to 26. The requirements for the Florida Academic Scholarships on the SAT is 1290 (combined Reading and Math scores only), and on the ACT is 29 (composite without essay).
Nationally Low Rankings At the same time, many students’ scores on these exams are too low for the “dream”, or even their “main choice” schools in Florida or nationally. For the past three years, Florida students have continually ranked around 45th in the key category of student performance on the SAT and ACT compared to other states. Whether inside or outside of Florida, strong exam scores are becoming more critical to admissions and scholarships.
The Reason Based on thousands and thousands of hours tutoring students in five states, I have clearly seen that most students are poorly prepared for these examinations. The major weaknesses are in essays, grammar, critical thinking, vocabulary, effective reading,
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advanced techniques for math, and overall test strategy. For example, when I evaluate vocabulary with a twenty-five word matching test of definitions every student should know for the SAT and Exams, the average number answered correctly is 5 out of 25 … an “F” of 25%. My highest score in five years of using this evaluation is 14 out of 25 correct, an “F” of 56%. You may be surprised to know that ninth and tenth graders score as well as juniors and seniors in initial vocabulary. On occasion with my students, I see a score of 0 out of 25 correct. Another indicator of our students’ poor preparation for these types of national, standardized exams is that about 55% of Florida students fail their AP Exams. (Based on all AP exams taken by students, not the “politically correct” statements that use how many students passed at least one AP exam) This makes absolutely no sense when parents accept that over half their students fail a nationalized exam and fail to receive the college credit they have worked so hard for during a whole year? What happened to the idea of continuously striving for excel-
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lence instead of passively accepting majority failure?
Improvement My students normally improve their SAT and/or ACT scores in a relatively short time. For example, 200 – 300 points on combined SAT scores and 4 – 7 points on ACT composite scores. Plus, for Bright Futures, the highest scores in each section of the exams can be “cherry picked” so only the highest are added together to determine eligibility. For college admission, only the SAT can be “cherry picked”. Students who really want to improve at any grade level can do so. For example, recently I tutored a seventh grader, who wanted to qualify for the Duke Talent Identification, improved his score 500 points and qualified with a superscore of almost 1800. This is about 300 points higher than the average for graduating high school seniors in Florida.
Key Teaching Philosophies In class, there are many revolutionary teaching philosophies we discuss and use such as the answers to these questions: What is good teaching? Who is the teacher? What is good learning? What is competition?
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Chicago, Notre Dame, NYU, Boston College, Northeastern, USC, UCLA, LSU, UF, USF, UCF, Stetson, U Miami, New College of Florida, Julliard, Mannhattan and New England Conservatories of Music, Berkley School of Music, service academies, and many other outstanding colleges and universities. Many have received academic, athletic, and music scholarships. He began college teaching in 1968 at the University of Maryland. He completed his academic career as Dean of a Graduate School of Business and a Full Professor.
and What is the real significance of scores in class? Once my students understand and use the answers, their ability to learn dramatically improves. These are incorporated into my learning strategies, specific test taking techniques, and working with my proprietary study guides to consistently help students score their best. My motto is, “How much you know does not matter. What matters is how well your score!” If you would like to talk more about how I can help your student,
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please contact me at 727-253-0639 or wwa0811@gmail.com. Dr. Wayne Adams is one of the top tutors in the country, with many thousands of hours of face-toface tutoring with students in Florida, California, Texas, Michigan, and other states. Normally, his students improve 200 – 350 points on the SAT superscore, and 4 – 7 points on the ACT composite. His tutored students have been admitted to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Cornell, University of
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Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point’s New Graduate Medical Education Center is Where Residents Learn to Practice Medicine from the Heart By Kim Thomas It is fitting that Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point hospital’s logo incorporates the symbol of a heart. For one, RMCBP is well known by physicians throughout Florida and beyond for its stellar programs, including the nationally acclaimed Heart Institute and the Arrhythmia Center of Florida. In fact, RMCBP was recognized in US News and World Report as one of the “Top 50 Hospitals in the Nation” for heart and heart surgery. A recent visit to RMCBP’s new Graduate Medical Education Center to learn more about the hospital’s new Osteopathic Internal Medicine Residency Program made me think of another reason the simply sketched heart, familiar to us since childhood, fits – it symbolizes love. When you put your heart into something, your motivation is love, and the doctors who are working alongside the first round of residents in RMCBP’s Osteopathic Internal Medicine Residency Program are not only teaching the residents the technical aspects of medicine, but they also are mentoring these young doctors to really care for their patients and to provide medical care from the heart. Dr. Michael Strobbe, Program Director, is very excited about the Graduate Medical Education Program, which is the first of its kind in Pasco County. He and his colleagues worked for a year preparing for the Graduate Medical Education program at RMCBP.
Dr. Strobbe, says, “It is really nice to give back and it just feels great to know that we get to help train these doctors, and many will stay in the community. Sixty-seven percent of residents stay within 100 miles of their graduating program.” He adds, “We have a fantastic group of residents. They get along well with each other, the staff and the ancillary staff. I feel blessed to be program director.” In addition to Program Director Michael Strobbe, DO the Osteopathic
Internal Medicine Residency Program includes Director of Osteopathic Medical Education Steve Strobbe, DO and Chief Medical Officer Joseph Pino, MD, MBA, as well as Administrative Director Mindy Trawle. The inaugural class of resident physicians includes second year resident Katie Groff, DO, from Lake Erie College of Medicine. First year residents are: Camille Alfonso, DO, Lake Erie College of Medicine; Jonathan Lind, DO, Rocky Vista University
College of Medicine; David Otis, DO, Western University College of Medicine; Giles Roberts, DO, Edward Via VA College of Medicine; James Shepard, DO, Philadelphia College of Medicine; Woody Taves, DO, Lake Erie College of Medicine. The program accepts six new residents each year, with a maximum capacity of eighteen residents, which will be achieved by year three of the program. The internal medicine residency program was approved by the AOA in
Left: Dr. Taves and Dr. Strobbe at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point’s Medical Education Center Right: Residents from Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point’s Osteopathic Internal Medicine Residency Program August 2013. This is the hospital’s first step in developing graduate medical education residency programs in a logical progression as Bayonet Point continues to expand its tertiary and specialty programs. The residents will benefit from learning at a Level II Trauma Center, where they will experience hands-on learning. Residents will also see patients at Gulf Coast Medical Center in Port Richey, which has been a trusted place for families seeking quality medical care for more than 32 years. Interestingly, Dr. Michael Strobbe, his wife Dr. Amy Strobbe, and Dr. Nick
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Strobbe are providers at the Gulf Coast Medical Center, which was founded by their father, Steven Strobbe, DO. Learning that Dr. Strobbe is from a family of physicians who have been long-time providers in the area explains why he is so passionate about this new program, stating, “It is an honor to be moving forward and training the next generation of healthcare providers.” Mindy Trawles explains the benefits of the residents to having the broad range of experience that the Graduate Medical Education Program provides. She says, “The purpose of the continu-
ity of care that the residents get to experience at Gulf Coast Medical Clinic is that it lets them develop relationships with their own panel of patients. So they not only learn in acute hospital setting, but also in the outpatient setting.” Dr. Strobbe adds, “One of the most satisfying things is to care for an entire family’s medical needs. It’s very rewarding.” First-year resident Woody Taves, DO, is finding the program rewarding, and though residents must put in a superhero’s quota of hours – up to 80 a week – they are provided with what they need to be successful. Dr.
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Taves says, “Everyone takes very good care of us here and we have great exposure. Florida really is a melting pot and we have a very diverse patient population. I’ve seen patients from their teens into their nineties.” Dr. Taves is a native Floridian who grew up in nearby Lakeland, so having this program at RMCBP means he can stay here in Florida. He plans on practicing “mother medicine,” his term for good, old-fashioned medical care based on internal medicine. Satisfying my curiosity about the term, Dr. Taves explains that while serving in the United States Air Force, he was stationed at a Navy base in San Diego where one of the doctors teaching told them, “Everything comes back to ‘mother medicine.’” Dr. Taves has a four-year commitment to the Air Force following his residency and then he plans to return to Florida to practice. His term “mother medicine” seems like a good way to describe medical care that is provided from the heart. Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point is located at 14000 Fivay Road in Hudson. For additional information on Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point visit www.rmchealth.com.
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Call Area Rugs Direct & Give Yourself the Gift of a Finished Home! By Katie Thomas Area Rugs Direct takes the hassle out of buying area rugs. No more worrying whether the rug will match! No more wrestling a large rug into your car, if it is even possible. Area Rugs Direct brings the selection to you! Area Rugs Direct services the entire Tampa Bay Area, Sarasota, Orlando and the surrounding areas with the best area rug inventory and delivery services for home or office. Founded in 2005, owner Tony Mogavero’s shop-fromhome service is unique and sets Area Rugs Direct apart from other companies. “Our personalized, shop-at-home service makes us unique,” says Tony. Area Rugs Direct is one-of-a-kind, offering the best personalized shopping service that comes right to your door, helps you make an informed decision, then delivers and installs your new rug! Plus, customers love Tony! He has impeccable taste and loves helping his customers find the rugs that will
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complement the existing décor rather than competing with it. And if you call right now, you can have new area rugs ready to be the foundation of your holiday décor. With Area Rugs Direct, you get to skip the hassle of searching online for something you aren’t sure about, skip cramming the rug into your sedan, bypass shipping fees and see exactly what you are getting with the help of Area Rugs Direct. Area Rugs Direct assists you in selection, layout, installation and design techniques. Angie’s List Reviews As a member of Angie’s List, Area Rugs Direct has great customer reviews and has been awarded the Super Service Award many times. One Angie’s List review says, “I don’t know if I can say enough about Tony Mogavero. I love this man! He has the ability to walk into a room and completely envision and transform it right before your eyes (even rearranges your existing furniture), and on your
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budget. He is everything and much more than what we were expecting for the price we paid for his services. He is a genius in his line of work. Do yourself a favor and take advantage of Area Rugs offer on Angie’s List. You’ll be glad and thankful you did!” Another Angie’s list member, Jason, says, “Tony listened to what we were looking for and brought several area rugs into our home and laid them on the floor to see how it would look with our furniture, walls, flooring, etc. Although we did not buy an area rug from him at the time, we would certainly do business with him again. He has a great decorating eye and is just a
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really, really nice person to work with. It was an enjoyable experience and I would recommend him to anyone.” Area Rugs Direct is A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau and an A rated Super Service Award Provider on Angie’s List . Call Area Rugs Direct at (813) 505-3174 or (727) 210-0900 for a FREE in-home consultation. Find more information, testimonials and photos at www.arugdirect.com. Area Rugs Direct, LLC is appointmentbased and is available 7 days a week for customer convenience. “Like”Area Rugs Direct - Shop at Home on facebook.com.
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“Pizza Villa” Continued from page 1 daily, using extra virgin olive oil and we let the dough rise three times.” Pizza Villa also has gluten-free dough, so everyone in the family can enjoy pizza. Pizza Villa has many gourmet pizzas or you can create your own with their wide variety of toppings. All pizzas are available with thick or thin, traditional or gluten free crust. As an added bonus Pizza Villa offers many specials on pizzas throughout the week. If not in the mood for pizza, you’re still sure to find something to tantalize your taste buds at Pizza Villa. In addition to pizza, they have Greek and Italian appetizers, soups, salads, pastas, dinners, sandwiches, and desserts all available at lunch and dinner. Pizza Villa’s selection of tasty appetizers is sure to please everyone at your table. I highly recommend the eggplant fries (even the kids at our table enjoyed these – what a great way to get them to eat their veggies!) When I found out that the eggplant fries were actually baked and not fried, it just made me enjoy them even
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more. We also had scrumptious grape leaves stuffed with a tantalizing mixture of rice, fresh dill, mint, and lemon. Pizza Villa recently added a flavorful hummus appetizer that is destined to become a customer favorite. Soups are freshly made and flavorful, and include house favorites Greek bean, chicken orzo, and chicken and rice. Jack and Wanda Cannon have been regulars at Pizza Villa for 14 years (sometimes coming in twice a day) and they say the chicken and rice soup and the Greek chicken (chicken orzo) are their favorites, adding, “In addition to the great food, Pizza Villa has the best service of any restaurant we’ve been to. Everyone here is always Pizza Villa has stayed popular for nearly 28 years with consistently delicious food! friendly and always goes above and beyond to make sure everyspaghetti, ziti, and lasagna. You can Grecian delights like Briam (baked thing is right.” choose from traditional Greek faeggplant, zucchini, potato, tomato, Pizza Villa has fresh salads that vorites such as gyros and souvlaki or and onion), Mousaka (fresh eggplant are sure to delight your taste buds. and ground beef with a rich béchamel try one of their 14 different grinders. The Greek house dressing was perAs the perfect ending to your sauce) and the baked Greek chicken fectly tangy. The salad was fresh, meal, Pizza Villa has divine homemade are served with a Greek dinner salad tomatoes ripe, and the black olives desserts like baklava, cannoli, almond and garlic rolls. were sublime. cookies, and tiramisu. Pizza Villa Pizza Villa also serves a wide variIf you’re in the mood for a filling serves beer and wine, including sangria ety of pasta dishes to tempt your taste and mouthwatering dinner, Pizza and Greek wine to compliment your buds like chicken parmesan, manicotti, Villa is the place for you. All of the
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dinner. And if you want to try your own Greek cooking at home, they sell their own private label Greek extra virgin olive oil, Greek kalamata olives, and Greek pepperoncinis. Pizza Villa offers daily lunch and dinner specials and happy hour is all day, every day. If you want to pick food up to take home, Pizza Villa has a convenient drive thru. Just call ahead and place your order and you can drive right up to the pick-up window. Gift cards to Pizza Villa make a perfect gift for any occasion and are
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available in any denomination of your choosing. You can keep holiday shopping easy this year; stock up on Pizza Villa gift cards and give the gift of deliciousness! Pizza Villa is located in the Village Lakes Center near the corner of SR 54 and Land O’ Lakes Boulevard in Land O’ Lakes. Pizza Villa is now open 7 days a week, Mon. – Sun. from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. For coupons and information about daily specials, please visit www.pizzavillalol.com or to place an order, call 813-949-7484.
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“BergHOFF” Continued from page 1 BergHOFF ships everywhere in the United States, but for those of us who live nearby, visiting the showroom is the best way to experience the form and function of BergHOFF’s superior products. Your cookware and utensils are your tools in the kitchen and the best way to try out a tool is to pick it up and hold it in your hand. When you visit the BergHOFF showroom, you can pick up a pan and feel its heft and test how the handle feels in your hand. “Cutlery is all about how it feels in your hand,” explains Candace, one of BergHOFF’s friendly employees. “It’s an individual choice and we have over 25 blocks to choose from.” Forged, balanced, good quality steel improves performance; plus, the store offers complimentary sharpening on all BergHOFF knives. Customers sincerely appreciate the friendly, helpful service at BergHOFF. Employees Candace, Terry and Sylke aren’t just nice; they really know the BergHOFF products and will help you find the most versatile and useful products for your personal cooking style
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and you won’t have to worry that you’ve purchased something you won’t use or need. They will ask you about what type of stove you have and what types of foods you like to cook so that they can help you streamline your kitchen and stick to your budget. You update your appliances, you update your furniture, you update your vehicle – why not update you cookware? BergHOFF offers cookware that actually helps you prepare more nourishing meals for your family. Candace explains how your cookware can make a difference. “We offer waterless cookware sets to cook your meat and vegetables with no fat or oil.
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You have better color, better flavor, and the vitamins are left in your food.” She adds, “Pressure cookers allow you to create a healthy meal, plus saving you time and energy in the kitchen. You can cook ribs that fall off the bone in 20 minutes!” BergHOFF’s Eclipse Pressure Cooker has a re-engineered lid for easy closing. Like all BergHOFF products, the design is stylish and functional. Many people are updating their kitchens and putting in new induction stoves, which require induction ready pots. All of the cookware at BergHOFF is induction ready – all of it, from the ceramic non-stick to the
stainless steel. BergHOFF also sells portable, single induction stovetops, which are great for boats, RVs or cooking out on the lanai. The portable induction units also are perfect for college students.
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Come to Cooking Class! This community-friendly store offers cooking classes that are fun, yet serious! You can sign up for a cooking class and expect to really learn something. The hands-on cooking classes last two hours and are led by Chef Toni Haynes or Chef Cathleen Ryan. You can join a class (find a list of classes at icookALOT.com), or Private
classes are offered for showers, company meetings and outings, team building, Christmas get-togethers and more. Customers love the cooking classes! Allan Grimm wrote to BergHOFF, “My husband and I just completed our fourth cooking class at your location, and just as with our previous experiences, we thoroughly enjoyed our latest one. We have also purchased numerous items of cookware and an induction cook top within the last year. We have been very satisfied with all of the items we have purchased, and we use our induction cook top nearly every day, which we much prefer over our conventional electric cook surface. The staff at your store is always friendly and helpful.” Bob Ross, a BergHOFF customer since 2008, was introduced to the store via a Saturday cooking class and has been regularly taking classes with Chef Toni Haynes since she started six years ago. Bob says, “A cooking class at the store is not only a learning experience, but a fun time and a social event. I sort of look at it as the place where “everyone knows your name.” Chef Toni Haynes says, “I have been fortunate to work with BergHOFF teaching their cooking
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BergHOFF’s Chef-instructed Cooking Classes, held on most Saturdays, are fun and informative. classes for six years. Their products are exceptional – very high-end cookware, knives, tableware, and serving pieces. The knives are perfectly balanced and come with a lifetime offer of re-sharpening, should that be necessary. The cookware is meticulously fashioned and finished – heavy and ready for a lifetime of use. The flatware and serving pieces are elegant and make your table setting beautiful. I own many, many of their goods, and each time I think I have bought everything I can want, BergHOFF comes out with something new!” If you love to cook, or want to do
something special for the cook in your life, BergHOFF is the place to shop. Looking for a wedding, shower or housewarming gift? BergHOFF’s selection is fantastic! The store has a nice selection of BBQ sets and bar sets, which are kept replenished because Realtors love these as gifts for clients. And if you aren’t certain what to choose, give a gift card. I recently gave a gift card from BergHOFF as a wedding gift because I know the bride is going to want to browse the amazing selection and choose for herself. With BergHOFF in the neighborhood, shopping is easy!
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BergHOFF is located at 11063 State Road 54 in Odessa (between Little Rd. and Gunn Hwy.). Visit online at icookALOT.com for more information about BergHOFF products and cooking classes. The showroom is open on Mon.–Fri. from 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m., and from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. on Sat. (Holiday Hours: Christmas Eve from 10 a.m.–1 p.m.; closed Christmas Day; New Year’s Eve, 10 a.m –1 p.m.; closed New Year’s Day). Call BergHOFF at (727) 853-3373.
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