Vol. 4, Issue 11, November 2015
Your neighborhood. Your magazine. ® The Premier “Shop Local” Community Magazine Directly Mailed To Over 15,000 Homes In Citrus Park, Westchase & Surrounding Areas
This Independent Community News, Business & Dining Guide Is Directly Mailed Once Each Month To: Arlington Park • Aston Villas • Bay Arbor • Berkeley Square • Calf Path Estates • Enclave At Citrus Park • Fawn Ridge Fawn Lake • Forest Lakes • Hampton Lakes • Highland Park • Lake Chase • Mandolin • The Eagles • Tree Tops Twin Branch Acres • Waterchase • West Hampton • Westchase • Westchester • Westwood Lakes • Windsor Place
Hot Tuna Brings Edible Art to Oldsmar
See “Hot Tuna” on page 20.
From the first moment that people talk on the phone to Office Manager Maria at Donna’s Cleaning Angels, they realize this is no ordinary cleaning service. Professional, knowledgeable and personable, Maria is ready to answer any questions you may have about Donna’s Cleaning Angels and the stellar cleaning services that have built the company into the success that it is today. Maria is the “right hand” of owner Donna Ferrante’s, whose commitment to excellence in every aspect of her business has brought her company to a See “Cleaning Angels” on page 14
Community Calendar & News Briefs.............................4 TPC Tampa Bay..................8-9 Grout Tech.....................10-11 Lake Shore Camera Exchange........................16-17 Your Social Security Record at Your Fingertips....................18
ECRWSS
By Julie Kanehl
Local Teacher Publishes Books....3
Postal Customer
Donna’s Cleaning Angels Celebrates 25 Years of Brilliant Success
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID TAMPA FL PERMIT 1185
Celebrating a little over two years in the growing community of Oldsmar is Hot Tuna Sushi Bar & Grille. Self-described on the website as “your new favorite sushi bar in Tampa, Oldsmar, Clearwater, Palm Harbor, and all of Tampa Bay,” it doesn’t take a genius to understand why new customers become regulars who keep returning to Hot Tuna, located at 3689 Tampa Road. Customer Larry Begood visits twice a week with his wife, Gwen who described Hot Tuna as “our neighborhood restaurant.” The Begoods dis-
covered the restaurant last year and Larry summarized the reason in four simple words. “The food is good.” Opened in May 2013 and patterned after the successful Sushi Alive, owned by a cousin in Carrollwood, Hot Tuna is a twist on a classic sushi bar. Conveniently located in the heart of Oldsmar, Hot Tuna offers an inviting, elegant atmosphere coupled with great customer service. As you become a regular and you get to know owner Hanh Ho, Hanh will slowly pull you away from the classic everyday California roll and suggest some different epicurean sushi
Dated Material Please Rush!
By Deborah Bostock-Kelley
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Local Teacher Publishes First Books! Corbett Prep PreK3 teacher Aimee Popalis is now a published author! Aimee’s first two books, Everyone Plays Games and Everyone Plays Sports, were published this month. Part of Rourke Educational Media’s Little World Everyone Everywhere series, the children’s books explore commonalities and differences among kids across the globe as they play games and sports by themselves, on teams or with friends and family. The books are perfect for parents and teachers to read to preschool and kindergarten students or for older children to read on their own. A glossary in the back breaks down terminology that may be unfamiliar, and questions prompt discussions about sportsmanship, family or cultural traditions and personal interests. Everyone Plays Games and Everyone Plays Sports are available through Amazon.com, RourkeEducationalMedia.com, and other online book retailers. Aimee has always enjoyed writing and welcomed the challenge of nonfiction. “As a teacher, I like to take
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complex topics and make them bitesized for little guys,” she says. The topics of play also appealed to her. She’s an athlete, coach and sports fan. Ever since she was little, she made up games to play with her brother and friends. Now she loves creating games for her PreK3 class!
Neighborhood News & Lifestyles Directly mailed once a month to 15,000 households in zip codes 33626 & 34677 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 Westchase Neighborhood News & Lifestyles is published by ADS 2 Publications, Inc. Publisher Tim Selby General Manager Matt Selby Advertising Sales Jim O’Reilly Linda Viega Mike Bird Jared Nager Accounting Manager Doreen Selby Billing Assistant Tina O’Reilly
Editor Alexis Selby Correspondents Kim Thomas Julie Kanehl Katie Thomas
Marcy Sanford Dara Tucker
Art Director Tony Sica Graphic Artist Dat X. Do Marketing & Development Ashley Knoblach
Nothing that appears in Westchase Neighborhood News & Lifestyles may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by Westchase Neighborhood News & Lifestyles writers are their own and do not reflect the publisher’s opinion. The management of Westchase Neighborhood News & Lifestyles is always happy to accept outside editorial submissions to the paper. Please call for outside editorial submission and advertisement deadlines. Westchase Neighborhood News & Lifestyles will consider previously non-published outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. Westchase Neighborhood News & Lifestyles reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates. Westchase Neighborhood News & Lifestyles will not return unsolicited editorial materials. Westchase Neighborhood News & Lifestyles reserves the right to edit and/or reject any advertising. Westchase 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. Westchase Neighborhood News & Lifestyles is published by ADS 2 Publications, Inc.
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Community Calendar & News Briefs Fall into Art at Temple Terrace Arts & Crafts Festival Nov. 7 & 8, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. daily at Greco Event Field, 6925 E. Fowler, Temple Terrace FALL is the perfect time to sashay on over to the 42nd Temple Terrace Arts & Crafts Festival, November 7 & 8, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. daily. Kick-start your holiday shopping and feast your eyes on a fantastic array of unique fine art and craft items. This is one of the largest outdoor events in Temple Terrace! To sweeten the pot, attend the festival and register for an opportunity to win a FESTIVAL SHOPPING SPREE worth $500 to spend on arts and crafts at the festival! Amazing! Daily drawings are at 1:00 p.m., $250 on Saturday, $500 on Sunday for participants 18 and over. 17 and under may win a FREE ART KIT ($75 value); drawings at 2 p.m. daily. Must be present to win. Enjoy a captivating lineup of live entertainment, delicious offerings to satisfy your foodie cravings, Fresh Views children’s art exhibit and activ-
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Kick-start your holiday shopping and feast your eyes on a fantastic array of unique fine art and craft items. ity area to spark creativity, and visual treats galore furnished by award-winning artists and crafters from all over the country. New additions to the fun include:
– partnering with Community Garden experts who will be offering culinary youth art activities – demonstrations by en plein air artist Terry Klaaren in the city tent
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– intriguing melodies of the Celtic band Juniper. This event will take place at the expansive new location, Greco Event Field, located at 6925 E. Fowler (enter at Gillette), Temple Terrace, FL, 33617, and offers ample parking. FREE ADMISSION! For more info email ttartscouncil@gmail.com, call 813.988.ARTS (2787) or follow them on Facebook by searching Temple Terrace Arts Council. See “Calendar/Briefs” on page 6.
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“Calendar/Briefs” Continued from page 4
at 17512 Lakeshore Rd., Lutz. For more information please contact Lisa Pennimpede or Juanita Wirth at rwirth2@verizon.net.
St. Timothy Women's Club 27th Annual Holiday Boutique and Craft Fair
Local Completes Basic Training at West Point
Saturday, Nov. 14th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Timothy Catholic Church, 17512 Lakeshore Rd., Lutz St. Timothy Catholic Church will be hosting its 27th annual fair on Saturday, Nov. 14th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. With 125 vendors/crafters attending, their Boutique offers a wide variety of hand-crafted and specialty items. Along with a great variety of plants, they also offer delicious homebaked goods for sale. Their kitchen is open all day long with a great selection of food and drinks available for purchase . Along with their special vendor raffles, a 50-50 split raffle and music, you are sure to have an enjoyable day of shopping. (FREE admission and FREE parking) Proceeds from this event enable them to continue their outreach work in helping the underprivileged both in our Community and our Church. The event will take place at St. Timothy Catholic Church, located
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Cadet Brandon Gauthier Shively, son of Mr. and Mrs. David Shively of Tampa, FL, completed Cadet Basic Training at the U.S. Military Academy. Shively entered West Point on June 29 and has successfully completed six weeks of CBT. CBT is one of the most challenging events a cadet will encounter over the course of their four years at the academy. The initial military training program provides cadets with basic skills to instill discipline, pride, cohesion, confidence and a high sense of duty to prepare them for entry into the Corps of Cadets. Areas of summer instruction included first aid, mountaineering, hand grenades, rifle marksmanship and nuclear, biological, and chemical training. Shively began classes Aug. 17. The West Point curriculum offers 37 majors balancing physical sciences and engineering with humanities and social sciences leading to a Bachelor of Sci-
ence degree. Shively graduated from Tampa Catholic High School. He plans to graduate from West Point in 2019 and be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. About West Point The U. S. Military Academy at West Point is a fouryear, co-educational, federal, liberal arts college located 50 miles north of New York City. It was founded in 1802 as America's first college of engineering and continues today as one of our nation's premier leader-development institutions, consistently ranked among top colleges in the country. Its mission remains constant--to educate,
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train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the nation as an officer in the U.S. Army. For more information, go to www.westpoint.edu.
Fall Festival Coming to Vista Gardens – Hillsborough County’s First Garden Park! VISTA Gardens, a thriving garden with more than 41 raised beds under cultivation located in Carrollwood Village, will host a family fall festival and open house on Saturday, November 7 from 2 until 6 p.m. The fall festival is the first for the community garden, which is maintained by volunteers with a goal of bringing residents together through sustainable agriculture. The festival, organized by the Carrollwood Cultural Center and sponsored by the Carrollwood Village Home Owners’ Associations, will include live music, face painting, sustainable living educational opportunities, and a tour of the grounds. Artists from the Plein Air Painters of America will also be at the
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event, creating works of art on-site. The event is free to the public. VISTA Gardens, located at 13572 South Village Drive in Tampa, is Hillsborough County's first garden park. VISTA Gardens was founded in 2008 with support from USF's Office of Community Engagement and Partnerships and the Carrollwood Village Home Owners' Associations in partnership with the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department. Membership is open to anyone in the community. For more information about the gardens, visit www.vistagardentampa.org. For more information about the fall festival, email Aaron Washington at aaron@carrollwoodcenter.org, or call (813) 922-8167. The Carrollwood Cultural Center is a partnership between Hillsborough County and the Friends of the Carrollwood Cultural Center. The mission of the Friends of the Center is to create culture through community and community through culture. The Friends of the Carrollwood Cultural Center, a 501(c)3 organization. For more information visit the Center website at www.carrollwoodcenter.org.
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Experience Extraordinary Golf & Dining at TPC Tampa Bay, the Choice of Champions! TPC Tampa Bay in Lutz is well known to golfers who cherish the tranquility and beauty of the award-winning golf course. Part of the Heritage Golf Group, TPC Tampa Bay is open to the public, offers a premier golfing experience, and hosted the Champions’ Tour for 21 consecutive years. Professional golfers from around the globe choose to play here, and keeping them coming back requires more than impeccably kept greens, beautiful weather and a challenging golf course. It takes delicious, chef-prepared fare served from early morning until the well past the sinking sun declares lights-out on the greens.
Dine at TPC Tampa Bay’s ¡CUATRO Whether you are a golfer or have never even held a golf club, ¡CUATRO Restaurant & Bar at TPC Tampa Bay is the perfect place to meet your friends and business associates for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Modern restaurant, friendly neighborhood hub, and golfer’s retreat – ¡CUATRO is designed to bring people together. It is open seven days a week and serves breakfast as early as 7 a.m. and dinner until 9 p.m. except on Sunday, when it serves until 8 p.m. Happy Hour is 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday through Friday. Like TPC Tampa Bay, ¡CUATRO is open to the public so there is no need to pay membership dues to enjoy an extraordinary dining experience in a private club atmosphere that is suited for all kinds of champions in life, not just the ones playing the Champion’s Tour! The inspiration for ¡CUATRO not only came from the word “Fore!” shouted across the TPC Tampa Bay
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With modern, classy appeal, ¡CUATRO Restaurant & Bar at TPC Tampa Bay is the perfect place to meet your friends and business associates for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. golf course, but also from four culinary influences that Chefs Michael Toscano and Wes Morton bring from their own family tables: Mexican, Italian, Cajun and American home cooking. ¡CUATRO’s menu celebrates Florida’s local ingredients adding curiosity and passion to each dish. ¡CUATRO is a spectacular venue for parties and celebrations of all types, and features a large banquet room that is perfect for hosting business functions, yet can be elegantly transformed into a beautiful venue for graduation parties, showers or wedding receptions. Recently, I attended a VIP event at ¡CUATRO and the food was fabulous! Everything at ¡CUATRO is first-class – from the perfectly pre-
pared and beautifully presented appetizers and entrée samplings to the professionally attired and attentive servers. ¡CUATRO’s Chef consultant, Chef Michael Toscano was there throughout the evening. Prior to partnering with Heritage Springs Golf Group, Chef Toscano built an impressive resume including opening Perla in Greenwich Village in 2011, serving as Executive Chef and Partner. With Toscano at the helm, Perla was named to Esquire's list of “Best New Restaurants of the Year,” and earned two stars from the New York Times. In 2013 Chef Toscano was a James Beard “Rising Star Chef” Semi-Finalist and winner of the StarChefs.com “New York Rising Stars Award.” The offerings of the evening
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were delicious and the staff kept bringing out new creations to try. Jerk chicken wings with mango ketchup brought wings to gourmet level! The spicy Chorizo Meatball Jambalaya was a celebration for the palette and the spring pea guacamole with sunflower seeds and tortilla chips was the best avocado creation I’ve ever tasted! How about Reuben egg rolls? These amazing little treats were differently delicious! Everything we sampled was prepared to perfection. If you are looking for a new restaurant to try, put ¡CUATRO at the top of your list for breakfast, lunch, dinner or anytime! Whether you stop in solo to enjoy a beautiful view and gourmet meal while you catch up on email, or you are meeting a group of friends, ¡CUATRO will impress you with its gourmet chef-created menu, the fully stocked bar and specialty cocktails, and its splendid view.
Play at Award-Winning TPC Tampa Bay You’ll love playing golf on this course! Part of the PGA TOUR, the TPC Network of Clubs, including TPC Tampa Bay (a Public golf facility), was established to provide the ultimate host venues for TOUR events – with services and amenities that met the highest standards of professional golf. At TPC Tampa Bay, golfers can walk the same fairways as heroes have done, and tee off from the very spots
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Well known to golfers who cherish its tranquility and beauty, TPC Tampa Bay in Lutz is an award-winning golf course. where history has been made. You’ll also enjoy every club detail exactly as the pros do. The 18-hole, par 71 TPC Tampa Bay course was designed by Bobby Weed with Chi Chi Rodriguez as player consultant. Designed to challenge the top golfers of the world, TPC Tampa Bay also provides a challenging and fun experience for players of all abilities. A
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variety of teeing areas allow the course to be played from 5,036 yards from the forward tees to 4,990 yards from the championship tees. TPC Tampa Bay is the recipient is numerous awards and continues to gain accolades. Some highlights include: Winner of the AGM Platinum Award “Top 100 Public Golf Shops in the U.S.” by Golf World in 2002,
2006, and continually from 2011– 2015; Rated “Top 50 Public Ranges by Golf Range Magazine for three consecutive years; Voted “#13 Best Public Golf Facility” by Golf World Magazine’s Reader’s Choice Poll – 2010; Rated “#18 Best Public Golf Facility” by Golf World Magazine’s Best Places to Stay – 2009; Winner of the “Reader’s Choice for Top Golf Course” by the Tampa Tribune; Rated in the “Top 5 Courses in Florida” by Golf World Magazine; and 4-1/2 Stars on Golf Digest’s “Best Places to Play.” TPC Tampa Bay is astounding in its natural beauty. Routed around natural wetlands, cypress heads and numerous ponds and lagoons, TPC Tampa Bay is home to an abundance of wildlife including deer, foxes, otters, armadillos, alligators, egrets, storks, cranes, blue heron, and eagles. This natural setting and wildlife variety is the reason why TPC Tampa Bay is one of the only two courses in the Tampa Bay area to be designated as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary.
TPC Members Enjoy Benefits While open to the public, TPC Tampa Bay features a select number of annual memberships. Membership at TPC Tampa Bay is about providing an opportunity to enjoy this exceptional
golf experience daily. There are several membership options for individuals or businesses. Select members enjoy access to seven championship Heritage Golf Group properties and more than 45 TPC properties nationwide for golf, entertainment and meetings. ¡CUATRO is like a second home for members who frequently dine at the club, and members cherish the relaxed, welcoming atmosphere of TPC Tampa Bay’s clubhouse and lounge. As for golf, membership ensures tourcaliber conditions, world-class course design, frequent tournaments and outings, superior practice grounds and renowned teaching pros. Speaking of teaching pros, if you love the idea of golf, but haven’t mastered the game, don’t fret. TPC Tampa Bay has hired some of the most reputable pros around to offer lessons and help you improve your technique. TPC Tampa Bay and ¡CUATRO Restaurant & Bar are located at 5300 West Lutz Lake Fern Road in Lutz. Call ¡CUATRO at 813949-1486 for reservations or to inquire about banquet and catering events (cuatrotampa.com). For additional info, please call 813-9490090 or log on to tpctampabay.com where you can also conveniently book your tee time.
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Save Time and Money with Grout Tech By Kim Thomas Before you spend thousands of dollars remodeling and re-tiling your bathroom or kitchen be sure to call Grout Tech for a FREE estimate on cleaning or repairing old dingy tile and grout. Grout Tech can breathe new life into your existing tile work, making everything shine like new at a fraction of the cost. Grout Tech is a family owned business serving Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco Counties. With over ten years of experience in the industry, Grout Tech specializes in cleaning and sealing tile and grout, recoloring grout, re-caulking showers and tubs, and repairing grout and broken tiles. Grout Tech will renew existing grout and tile to its original beauty by cleaning and maintaining the tile and grout lines. John Cole and his wife were ready to re-tile their entire bathroom before calling BJ at Grout Tech. “Our bathroom tile was over 40 years old it was looking grungy and very dull. We called Grout Tech and we are extremely pleased with our results! We saved so much money by having
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After
Before
With the help of Grout Tech, even the dirtiest and oldest of floors can be restored and renewed to their original beauty and splendor. the grout in our shower resurfaced and the tile cleaned and it looks brand new,” John shares. BJ is happy to set your appointment, come out and give you a free estimate. She stresses, “It is important for me to be respectful of our customers’ time so I will always arrive at the time we set.” In addition to always arriving in a timely manner, BJ says that they can keep their prices low because they are a family owned business
and not a franchise. She explains, “What many people don’t understand is that franchises are often forced to charge more for their services because they have to maintain their franchise fees, but not with Grout Tech.” Not only does Grout Tech keep its rates competitive, but the company will also honor any other quote as long as it is in writing. Because grout is a porous material, trying to remove stains is seem-
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ingly impossible. BJ explains, “Color sealing grout lines is one of the many services we offer and it is definitely the most effective way to create a perfect, new look.” Using a step-by-step process, Grout Tech begins by using a cleansing product to remove all bacteria and surface dirt with special machinery. They will then apply a color seal (of your choice). Once the sealer is applied the grout lines will be permanently pro-
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Before tected from any stains. The color seal also guarantees against cracking, chipping and peeling. Additionally, they will also cosmetically fix or replace chipped or cracked tiles, making your bathroom or kitchen tile like new again. Carla Bartow, a satisfied customer, shares her experience, “When BJ came out to give us a quote, she looked at the job and I could tell immediately that she knew what she was talking about. We had our family room, kitchen and dining room re-grouted. They also re-grouted the tub, shower and base of our toilet in our bathroom. They were fantastic! Not only were they professional and reliable but they also completed the job much faster than we had anticipated.”
Excellent Service Leads to Referrals Throughout the years, Grout Tech has grown through its many referrals from happy customers. People
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After really appreciate that Grout Tech saves them time and money, but it is the excellent service provided that has really helped this business grow. Doris Strathearn, another Grout Tech success story, said that before calling Grout Tech her bathroom and guest bathroom shower and floor grout had deteriorated over time and the tiles were dull and stained. “The tile was in good condition but it was stained so we had Grout Tech come out and clean them and they turned out very well.” They were so pleased that they have already referred Grout Tech to neighbors in their community. Grout Tech can also remove and re-caulk around sinks, baseboards, tubs and showers serving to clean up old moldy areas and keep your dry wall free from water damage. From old to new in just one day! To find out more about Grout Tech’s services or for a free estimate call BJ at 727-768-6828.
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“Cleaning Angels” Continued from page 1 new pinnacle of success: To celebrate the 25th Anniversary, the company is launching a fleet of Donna’s Cleaning Angels vehicles. Wow! 25 Years Strong! “I can’t believe 25 years have gone by,” says Donna. “This took a lot of dedication…tremendous dedication.” She adds, “I’ve seen a lot of cleaning services come and go, but we are here for the long term. Now we are bigger and better than ever. Twenty-five years later, we have 25 employees and are the number one cleaning service in Tampa Bay. I am so excited I still have a lot of the same customers for over 20 years!” One long time client called to congratulate Donna and said, “You and your business are not getting older, you’re only getting better.” Donna Ferrante is a woman so dedicated to her clients, her employees, and her company that she never stops trying to improve. Even though the stellar residential cleaning services provided by Donna’s Cleaning Angels is what has built the company, Donna continues to bring more to the table
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for her customers, such as expanded services including carpet, tile and grout cleaning. “In 25 years, there has been a lot of growth. We are extremely well known, and receive a tremendous amount of referrals. In order to give the customer an accurate time and pricing on their home we offer a free estimate.” When Donna meets a potential new client for the estimate, she explains the detailed cleaning that her service provides. “Every house is different,” says Donna. Maria adds, “Customers love how much time Donna takes to meet, greet and explain everything we have to offer them in person. We are branching out more into commercial cleaning. Such as, doctors’ and real estate offices, insurances agencies and other small businesses.” Always a hard worker, a strong work ethic runs in her blood from her Italian and French Canadian background, as her family in New Hampshire has owned an Italian restaurant in the mountains for almost 70 years now. Carrying on a family legacy of work and success has always been important to Donna and when she first started her business, her son, then 11, and her 8-year-old daughter followed her example and helped their mom by put-
Donna’s Cleaning Angels provides reliable, detailed cleaning for homes and offices - call today to schedule a free estimate ting fliers on cars at Sunday services. Reflecting on her company’s growth, 25 years of hard work and success and the addition of a fleet of Donna’s Cleaning Angels vehicles, Donna shares, “The dedication and success in my cleaning business is due to the closeness of my wonderful family. I am proud and honored to say that I am following in the footsteps of my parents and grandparents. We
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know how to cook, clean and we give 100 percent to the business. My only regret is that my mother, father and grandmother aren’t here alive to see all of this, but I know in my heart that they are seeing it even though they can’t be here with me.” Licensed – Bonded – Insured Plus Workman’s Comp on All Employees What sets Donna’s Cleaning An-
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gels apart is the fact that Donna has created a company that is fully licensed, bonded and insured, and each client can expect to have a team of Donna’s Cleaning Angels at their door each time that they have service. Donna says, “Next to your doctor, there’s nothing more personal
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than your cleaning service, which is why we take so many steps to protect you and make you feel at ease with our service. My clients don’t have to worry because I’ve done the homework and I carry the liability.” Donna’s Cleaning Angels always work as a team; the work gets done faster with two and it provides a level of safety and security for everyone. The teams are always presentable and friendly, wear uniforms with non-slip shoes, and come in with a large canvas kit containing all of their high quality cleaning supplies. What’s more, every employee that Donna hires is background checked, drug free and covered by workman’s compensation. This is part of the reason why Donna’s Cleaning Angels is the first choice of so many people in our area. “It’s important to me to hire people who have a clean background, and who are polite, trustworthy and dependable,” says Donna. “As a result, I can be very picky about who I hire.” She adds, “Some employees have come here that previously worked for other cleaning services, and they are amazed at the way our training procedures are. They stated
that their previous employers made them watch a video and then sent them off the very next day to clean, unsupervised. Our Angels have onthe-job training for over a month, with a field manager, before they are considered a ‘true cleaning angel.’ It takes time and effort to make sure an employee is 100 percent up to our cleaning standards. Detailed cleaning is what we are known for. Not just a run-through, wipe-down.” To ensure that every client is happy after each cleaning, Donna offers comment cards, regularly checks in with her clients, and has regular meetings with her staff. Donna is very involved in our community, and after doing this for 25 years she has met a lot of people and is proud to support other local businesses and restaurants. Together with her partner, Steve, she frequently dines
at places like Central Park Restaurant in New Port Richey and Christo’s Restaurant at Mitchell Ranch Plaza in Trinity. She says, “We’ve found that we have some of the same customers,” adding, “We agree that we are fortunate to advertise in Neighborhood News & Lifestyles and we absolutely love the staff there. In fact, people have been reading my articles in the Neighborhood News for so many years that new clients will greet me like they’ve known me for years.” Reflecting, Donna says, “At the end of the day I thank God for my blessings – the great people who work for me, a great business, my health, my home, my loved ones and my family. God bless you all.” Schedule a free consultation with Donna’s Cleaning Angels at 727-942-8289.
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Lake Shore Camera Exchange, “Preserving Your Family Memories” By Kathryn Samaltanos As time passes, families grow and change and too often family history can become lost. When you look at an old photo you may not remember its significance. If your grandparents are no longer around to tell the story behind the photograph the memory may be lost forever. Bob McCoy of Custom Video at Lake Shore Camera Exchange has over 20 years of experience in audiovisual production and he understands the importance of preserving your family’s precious memories for future generations. Located on US 19 in Palm Harbor, Lake Shore Camera Exchange has been a trusted source since 1984 for camera purchases (both new and used), camera repairs, photography supplies and classes, and its full-service lab meets all of your developing needs. And now, with Custom Video at Lake Shore, customers are enjoying finally being able to view those boxed-up memories with ease and convenience. Unlike many corporate drugstore chains, all of Bob’s video transfers are
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Bob McCoy of Custom Video at Lake Shore Camera Exchange done in-house. “Many people don’t know that when they go to the local drugstore to have a video transfer made, most of the time, their old photos, films or negatives are sent out-ofstate and sometimes even out of the country, so they run a greater of risk of losing those irreplaceable memories,” Bob explains.
Preserving the Past “So many people have that big box of slides in the back of their closet – photos that are close to 100 years old or old family movies on old family movie film – what they don’t realize is that they can easily lose them to decay if they don’t transfer them to a digital format,” says Bob. Environmental factors such as temperature, humidity and sunlight affect photographs more than any other factor. High heat and humidity followed by cold, dry weather such as you would find in an attic or basement, are especially bad for photos and may cause cracking and separation of the emulsion/image from the support; for example, the image peeling away from the paper base of the photo. Dirt, dust and oil are also big culprits of photographic deterioration. Old movies, negatives and slides can also become brittle and fade over time. Not long ago, there was no way for an individual to indefinitely safeguard those films, but now, with advances in digital technology, those precious mo-
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ments of personal history can be preserved for generations to come. Video Transfer Video transfer is the solution. Bob offers a variety of video formats to meet your budget and quality needs. They use digital video technology and DVD media that will play on most modern DVD players. He also offers Hi-Definition video on formats like AVCHD; this plays on Blu Ray players and can be used with HD video editing software. Using state-of-the-art equipment, Bob is able to transfer old photos, negatives, slides, Regular 8, Super 8, and 16mm film and videos. Bob shares, “The transfers I do can be simple or a full blown video production with music, titles, and a DVD navigation menu.” Once transferred to digital form, you can enjoy them over and over again using your current equipment, with no fear of damaging the originals. You can even commission multiple copies so everyone who treasures these cameos from the past can share in the enjoyment.
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DVD Ideas DVD’s make wonderful keepsakes capturing milestones for many different events including weddings, anniversaries, memorial services, family reunions, graduations, religious ceremonies, retirement and more. Bob’s customers can organize their family history/events in chronological order and re-tell their story with titles and music that they have selected creating a powerful and emotional presentation for their family to enjoy. He also has a library of music to select from if you prefer to give him creative control. Bob shares, “When making a DVD for a special occasion whether it’s a memorial service honoring the life of a loved one who has passed or a graduation celebration, the end result usually doesn’t leave a dry eye in the room.” J. Rogers, a happy customer shares, “When my sister and I viewed the DVD that Bob made for us we were so pleased! I was so surprised at the quality of the entire project. I think it’s a priceless gift and my mom loved it!” With a video transfer, sharing the past with family and friends has never been easier. You can watch your memories unfold with the convenience of
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watching TV, or viewing them on your multi-media computer. Lake Shore Camera Exchange is located at 36637 US Hwy. 19 North in Palm Harbor. The employees are knowledgeable and ready to answer all of your questions, just call (727) 938-6594 or visit them at www.LakeShoreCamera.com.
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Your Social Security Record at Your Fingertips By Daryl Rosenthal, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist
With today’s technology, you may never have to go to an office or even make a phone call to do your business with Social Security. Current workers and people who receive benefits can join the millions who already interact with the agency by computer or tablet by opening a free My Social Security account. It’s easy, safe, and, most of all, secure. You’ll only need a few minutes at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount to sign up. You are never too young to start thinking about your financial future. My Social Security account is very valuable for younger people who don’t receive benefits yet. Young workers can use the best free retirement and financial planning tool available. Once you open a My Social Security account, you can have access to and — at the same time — download your Social Security Statement. With your Statement you can review • Estimates of your potential future retirement and disability benefits; • Estimates of survivors benefits for your spouse and children, if you
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should die; • Your earnings record to confirm the accuracy; and • The estimated Social Security and Medicare taxes you’ve paid. If you already receive Social Security benefits, with a My Social Security account you can • Get a benefit verification letter; • Change your address and phone number; • Start or change direct deposit
of your benefits payment; • Get a replacement SSA-1099 or SSA-1042S for tax season; and • If you’re signed up for Medicare, order a Medicare replacement card. To open your free My Social Security account, you must be at least age 18 and have a • valid email address; • Social Security number; and • U.S. mailing address.
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It only takes a few minutes to sign up, and it’s easy to do. There’s an informative video and frequently asked questions on our website to help you. So, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount and open your own, secure My Social Security account today. Then you can join the millions who can plan, invest, and save for a secure retirement with confidence.
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“Hot Tuna” Continued from page 1 options. You don’t have to take her suggestions, but I highly recommend you do! With the rotating talent of eight gifted sushi chefs, Hot Tuna creates more than food – rather edible works of art in overly satisfying portions. A delectable selection of only the highest quality sushi, sashimi, and other delicacies arrive at your table almost too pretty to eat. Almost. “Sushi is an easy food to make beautiful, with its many colors and varieties,” said Hanh. “It’s an exciting type of food.” Even the presentations of their soup dishes are beautiful. The Spicy Seafood Soup, a light clear broth filled with shrimp, egg, fish, crab and spinach with chili-sesame oil floating on top arrived in a large white bowl, steaming hot and beckoning the accompanying spoon to bring soup to mouth. Hanh has designated this soup as the perfect comfort food as cooler fall days attempt to approach in the holiday-laden October, November and December. A great recommendation – the
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From homemade soups to handcrafted sushi, Hot Tuna offers a variety of deliciously unique menu items that are sure to satisfy! appetizer T-N-T Mussels featured six tasty mussels nestled in a bed of seaweed, carrot ribbons, and greens, dressed with robust wasabi and colormatching green and orange roe. On its writable order form, Hot Tuna divides its rolls into cooked and raw – making the color-coding easy for a patron to pick his meal – white is raw; grey is cooked.
The raw Rock n’ Rolla roll came with enough food to share. Eight delicious pieces of sushi were delivered to the table plump with spicy tuna, krab delight, and cucumber, topped with tempura whitefish, scallion, eel sauce and colorful orange roe served on a rectangular plate dressed with more of the luscious eel sauce. Be prepared for a completely
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unique experience enjoying an unusual combination of ingredients. You would not expect mango and asparagus to be a match made in heaven, but when added to tempura shrimp, cream cheese, sweet potato fries, avocado, dusted with tempura chips and glazed in a coconut marmalade, for whatever magic the sushi masters do behind the counter, it
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simply works. Order the Hawaii FiveO and expect to be wowed. Another great option is the cooked Neptune roll, which paired tempura shrimp and krab delight with asparagus. Topped with more shrimp, avocado, crispy onion, eel sauce and a flavorful butter sauce called Dynamite Butter, this roll is an exquisite dish offering eight pieces for you to savor. And Hanh does not discourage sharing. She welcomes you to share to sample the variety of options Hot Tuna offers. If you want to try a variation of a roll, she has no problem substituting one item for another or even removing an item altogether.
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The affordable, family-owned, upscale Sushi bar and grille caters not only to sushi connoisseurs, but to novices, vegetarians, those with gluten intolerance and even those who don’t eat sushi. “Our menu has a lot of variety,” explained Hanh. “We can customize to our customer’s tastes.” Freshness is always a guarantee at Hot Tuna – they use only the best, ingredients and Fish is delivered twice a week to ensure the highest quality taste and customer satisfaction. Hanh prides herself on quality product and product consistency day in and day out. From sushi and sashimi to lobster, filet mignon, pork chops and
Korean Style Short Ribs, the menu offers something for every palette. It even offers exotic options like raw quail egg or uni; yet the most unconventional sushi selection has to be its dessert sushi. Hot Tuna also offers incredible specials throughout the week and an evening Happy Hour. Select classic rolls are available Monday through Friday from 5pm to 7pm for just $4.00 and Nigiri is $1.00 for a single piece, while Sashimi is just $2.00 for two pieces. At 8pm through close Monday through Friday, appetizers are available at 50% off, with 2 for 1 Saketinis, Sake Sangria, and House Wines just $2, $2 for domestic and
$3 for Import Beers. As the packed restaurant attests, Hot Tuna is a gem in Oldsmar and definitely worth the trip, no matter which direction you are traveling from. Hot Tuna Sushi Bar & Grille is located at 3689 Tampa Road in Oldsmar. Hours are Mon – Thurs 11 a.m.– 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. –10 p.m.; from 11 a.m.– 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. –10:30 p.m. on Fri.; from 12 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. on Sat.; and 12 p.m. – 9 p.m. on Sun. For more information, call (813) 818TUNA (8862) or to view a full menu, visit www.HotTunaSushi.com.
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