Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles, Carrollwood. Vol. 7, Issue 7, July 2019 by Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles Magazine

Vol. 7, Issue 7, July 2019

Your community. Your magazine. ™

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

The Only Surgical Based Multi-Specialty Dental Practice in the Greater Tampa Bay Area By Dr. Michael A. Pikos and Staff

Norman Cousins once said, “The human body experiences a powerful gravitational pull in the direction of hope. That is why the patient’s hopes are the physician’s secret weapon.

They are the hidden ingredients in any prescription.” This statement is true for the team of doctors at Coastal Jaw Surgery. Our Coastal Jaw Surgery teams offers members of the Greater Tampa Bay area a dynamic,

surgical based multispecialty dental practice that allows many procedures to be completed under one roof while creating a safe, welcoming environment to make all patients feel like family. See “Coastal Jaw” on page 18

From Left to Right: Dr. Michael A. Pikos, Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon Dr. José F. Lázaro, Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon Dr. Kenneth L. Anderson, Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon Dr. Jason B. Blundell, Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon Dr. Lindsey Pikos Rosati, Board Certified Periodontist Dr. Philip J. Hedger, Prosthodontist

The Gentler Side of Dentistry – Westchase Esthetic Family Dentistry By Tom Bostock

Ask any of their patients. They will be the first to tell you that Westchase Esthetic Family Dentistry, wholly womanowned, is not just another run-of-themill family dental practice. From the comfortable furnishings to the caring staff, this is an exceptional general dentistry and cosmetic practice, with special emphasis on family. See “Westchase Esthetic Dentistry” on page 14

INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Editor.................................................5 Hancock Injury Attorneys Scholarship.............6-7 Action Air Conditioning...............................10-11 Tech Talk with Bob..........................................20 The Mak Brothers Band..................................22 What a wonderful place for books............24-25

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CARROLLWOOD TAMPA BAY NEWS & LIFESTYLES VISIT US ONLINE AT: TBNEWSANDLIFESTYLES.COM

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Publisher Matthew Selby

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Editor Carla Dubis

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Photography by Mike Bird (c) 2019 Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles. All Rights Reserved. Carrollwood Tampa Bay News and Lifestyles is published monthly and distributed by the U.S. Postal Service to over 22,000 Homes in Carrollwood and surrounding areas. Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles is not responsible for errors in advertisements beyond the cost of advertising space. Nothing that appears in this publication may be reproduced in any way without consent of the publisher.

July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, which was established in 2008 to start the process of improving access to mental health treatment and services, and to promote public awareness of mental illness. Why care? Each year millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental health condition. And 2019 is no different, statistics show that 1 in 5 adults will experience mental illness this year. Mental health conditions do not discriminate based on race, color, gender or identity. Anyone can experience the challenges of mental illness regardless of their background. However, background and identity can make access to mental health treatment much more difficult. When trying to access treatment, many marginalized communities have to contend with such issues as: • Barriers to access to treatment • Language barriers • Lack of cultural competence • Racism, bias and discrimination in treatment settings • Lower likelihood of health insurance or adequate coverage • The high level of health stigma in minority populations • Belief that treatment will not help their condition Many cultures sometimes view mental health treatment as a luxury, considering their symptoms as a “phase” that will eventually go away. As a Hispanic woman, I was one of those hoping this “phase” of my life would eventually go away on its own, but it didn’t.

After I unexpectedly lost my father two years ago, my mental and physical health started to suffer. I was diagnosed with lyme disease, and more recently, graves disease (an auto immune disease that attacks your thyroid and affects pretty much EVERYTHING in your body, from your mood to your joints and everything in between!). These auto immune diseases combined with the sadness I was experiencing made me feel really anxious and extremely depressed. And even though I would remind myself daily I was blessed and had everything I needed to be happy, I couldn’t shake the sadness or anxiety. My smile faded, tears were rolling down my face on a daily basis without any particular reason, I stopped doing things I used to enjoy and I started isolating myself more and more from my loved ones. Eventually my family and friends started to notice and they were there for me, and happy to help in any way possible. I was/am lucky to have such caring relatives and friends who encouraged me to seek help and talk to someone about my symptoms. It is hard opening up to all of you and admit my own struggles, but here I am... an open book. I am currently seeing a therapist, and even though I was extremely reluctant at first, I am very happy I did. Having the chance to talk to a mental health professional about what you’re going through helps enormously, and helps fight the stigma of mental illness. Overcoming the stigma of mental illness False beliefs about mental illness can cause significant problems. Stigma can lead to discrimination. Discrimination

may be obvious and direct, such as someone judging you and making negative remarks about your mental illness or your treatment. Sometimes it could also be unintentional or subtle, such as people avoiding you because they wrongfully assume you could be unstable, violent or dangerous due to your condition. Do not let stigma create self-doubt and shame. Sometimes those negative thoughts don’t just come from others. You may mistakenly believe your condition is a sign of personal weakness or that you should be able to control it without help. Seeking counseling, education yourself about your condition and connecting with people going through the same can help you gain self-esteem and overcome destructive self-judgment. I am here, sharing my story with you, in hopes that I can give you the encouragement needed to seek help if you believe to be battling a mental illness. Knowing you’re not alone is one of the most helpful and comforting feelings, that’s why I encourage YOU to share YOUR story. It can be incredibly reassuring to know in this moment right now, someone else is going through similar struggles as you are— regardless of where they are, who they are, or how they identify. We can all help ignite change against these disparities and fight stigma this Minority Mental Health Awareness month. It simply starts with learning more about mental health and informing our community. Be kind, ALWAYS. You never know what others may be going through.

Carla Selby.

Hancock Injury Attorneys Offering Scholarship to Working Students Hancock Injury Attorneys is rewarding work-ethic by helping students with jobs pay for their education. Hancock Injury Attorneys hopes to promote safer and better communities through support of higher education. In an effort to extend the idea of making communities safer, Hancock Injury Attorneys is encouraging students who want to strive to improve themselves by going to college and educating themselves to

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figure out how they will make their communities, and beyond a better place. Hancock Injury Attorneys is awarding a $1,000 scholarship as part of their continued involvement in 1% for Good. Eligibility: • Applicants must be a student in good standing with a GPA of 3.0 or higher • Seeking either an undergraduate degree or advanced degree at an

accredited institution of higher education within the United States. • Worked at a parttime job at some point during high school and/ or college or anticipated need to work during

undergraduate or graduate education. • Be accepted to an institution of higher learning. • Graduated from high school or graduating

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within 9 months or in lieu, have received GED or are receiving GED within 9 months. • A two to four-year college student enrolled in a US-institution for undergraduate or graduate studies. • Employees and vendors of Hancock Injury Attorneys and immediate family members are not eligible for this essay contest. How to Apply: Please include below in submissions via email only to scholarships@ hancockinjuryattorneys. com in .pdf, .doc, or

.docx format only. • Cover letter including name, address, phone number, email address, intended institution to be enrolled in, intended area of study and contact information for Bursars Office & Financial Aid Office. Please include 1-2 sentences about yourself. (What school, college or university you attend or plan to attend and your plans for the future, and what school you are attending now.)

on one of the following topics: 1) How do you see the future of transportation in Florida?

• Winner contacted by: August 23, 2019

2) Distracted driving, specifically texting while driving is an increasing problem in Florida and around the country. What do you think will help curb this epidemic and why?

After years handling claims for the insurance industry, Mike Hancock founded Hancock Injury Attorneys in 1996 with a clear understanding of the insurance industry and how to obtain the best results for clients. The firm serves clients throughout Tampa and Florida, helping injury victims get back their lives after accidents involving wrongful death, auto accidents and slipand-fall injury cases.

Scholarship Award Information, Dates & Deadlines:

• Official Transcript

• One Scholarship in the amount of $1,000

• One to Two Page essay, 500-800 words

• Submissions close: August 4, 2019

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About Hancock Injury Attorneys

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Action Air Conditioning: “Keeping It Cool” for over 30 Years

By J Pancia

Summer’s here in the Sunshine State, when we rely on our air conditioning almost as much as the air we breathe. Unfortunately, AC breakdowns happen all too often during the summer, at the worst possible time. During these desperate moments, it’s advisable not to call the first business name printed on a flier or advertised on TV. Some companies hire middle men and subcontractors, which can lead to faulty repairs, miscommunication and substantially higher costs. It’s best, instead, to keep a list of trusted, experienced servicers who do business in a competent and straightforward manner. Action Air Conditioning of Tampa Bay is that established, customer-focused company found at the top of many business and property owners’ lists. The 31-year-strong heating, ventilation and air conditioning company does more than the average servicer or retailer inhouse. “We put our customers and staff first,” says Jackie Ramirez, Action Air’s chief financial officer. She and her brother, Chris Russell, the company’s vice president, enforce a “peoplefirst” policy in their familyowned-and-operated business. Their father, David Russell founded Action Air Conditioning of Tampa Bay in 1988. Initially the company was small and concentrated most of its resources in the residential replacement market.

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In 1990, he joined forces with Frank Lipp, who was trained by William Carrier, the inventor of air conditioning systems. “Action Air came within a couple of hours to check out our problem,” says customer Viola Luke. “They came before 9 a.m and worked all day to install the new a/c. The reps and techs were all professional, friendly and courteous. They worked hard to deliver the best product and service. We love our new Lennox unit.” Action Air service techs, who are trained in-house and certified by top-name manufacturers, do all the repairs -- the company hires no subcontractors. Action Air employees who visit and perform repairs clean up after themselves, are conscientious to property owners and are accountable for their work. “We treat our employees like

family and incentivize them to do a first-rate professional job from start to finish,” Chris says. Plus, Action Air offers affordable maintenance plans to help prevent a pricey repair later. Customers who purchase maintenance plans receive 20 percent off repairs and receive other various benefits. “Malfunctions are often caused by very simple things, such as dust buildup, improper refrigerant charge, worn belts, or issues with the blower or coils,” Chris says. “With prompt and knowledgeable service, correcting these faults is not only inexpensive but cost-effective.” Action Air’s huge warehouse stocks units and parts on the premises, so you don’t have to wait more than a day to get that much-needed repair when your unit shuts down.

Action Air features a recently remodeled showroom, which allows customers to browse units before making a purchase. Prospective customers can drop in any time to compare models manufactured by Lennox. “Action Air’s sales staff will be happy to review all the features and issues you need to consider before purchasing a system,” Chris says. “Our Comfort Consultants can go over the differences in all the systems and explain factors such as SEER, refrigerant, and all the parts of an indoor air system in terms you can understand to make an educated investment.” The showroom, Chris explains, displays full HVAC systems, set up and operating so you can see the components of the matched system including a heat pump, air handler, air cleaner, and thermostat.

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David Russell, President and Chris Russell, Vice President “You can look, feel, and listen to the most advanced cooling systems made today in our showroom,” Jackie adds. It’s a feature not widely available by other sellers and servicers. Most often customers go blindly into costly installations, something Action Air doesn’t recommend.

Jackie affirms, “and we’re working toward another great and growing 30-plus years.”

“Remember, you would not purchase a car without going to the dealership for a test drive, so Action Air makes it easy for you to testdrive a new indoor air system, as well”

Action Air Conditioning, Inc. is located on the corner of Busch Blvd and Armenia at 8926 N Armenia Ave in Tampa, Florida. They are open 7:00am - 7:00pm with 24-hour same day emergency service available.

Action Air offers other products to help with indoor air quality and humidity. Action Air cleans dryer vents as well.

For more information please call (813) 935-6644 or visit www.ACTIONAIRCONDITIONING.com

“I contacted Action Air to come out to my home to diagnose a unit that was cooling intermittently,” says customer Ryan Doherty. “They were able to have someone out to the house in about an hour, and the Technician they sent, Christian, was able to quickly diagnose the problem and solve it. He also inspected the unit completely, replaced an additional part that was failing, and offered suggestions on additional maintenance and when he thought future issues may need to be addressed. Overall, the experience was exceptional and I would highly recommend Action Air for future issues.” In addition to customer kudos, Action Air has won numerous awards and has received National recognition for outstanding performance. What’s the secret of Action Air’s success? It goes back to that people-first approach Jackie mentioned earlier. “We engage in the highest level of commitment as a team,”

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praise for a practice started by Dr. Bulnes-Newton in 2002 to serve families in see the difference in one the Westchase, Citrus Park Westchase Esthetic week. I have been using and Carrollwood areas. Invisalign for several An integral part of the Dentistry - Continued months and my teeth are Carrollwood community from page 1 almost completely straight. herself, as she noted in Dr. Bulnes’ expertise in Here’s a sampling of a previous Tampa Bay what several of their many, Invisalign is stellar and I News and Lifestyles article. would recommend her to many, satisfied, long-term “I love this community. patients have to say about everyone. I now can smile I’m part of it. I live in with confidence because them online: Carrollwood myself. My my teeth are perfect “Dr Bulnes and her children go to school in because of Dr. Bulnes and staff are warm, caring and the community, so it’s her wonderful staff.” very professional. They been very nice to serve the “My family & I have explained what would be community that I actually been patients at Westchase live in.” done how long it would... Esthetic Family Dentistry take, and what it would She specifically chose for over 10 years. They cost. I had no discomfort Westchase to establish consistently provide during my procedure Westchase Esthetic Family excellent professional, and was given detailed Dentistry, seeing the friendly, convenient & instructions to take home. potential of new, young prompt service at every I would recommend all families moving into visit. I would highly my family and friends to the area. As she again recommend them without this office. Thank you for a previously noted, “It was reservation for virtually great experience!” part of Tampa that had a every dental need. These “After having braces for high level of growth, so I people are fantastic. Every three years in my teens, thought it would be a good single person in the office I never thought that my area to start integrating my goes out of their way to teeth would again be practice and I can be here make us feel comfortable crooked. I met with Dr. until I retire.” I’m sure that and at ease! Best Bulnes and her staff to her many satisfied patients experiences I have ever see if I was a candidate are glad that she did. had at a dentist’s office is for Invisalign. I began When it was time to with these folks. I highly using the “aligners’ after expand her practice and recommend them!” the second appointment add another expert dentist This is well-deserved with Dr. Bulnes and could to her staff, Dr. Bulnes-

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Newton had very specific requirements and wouldn’t settle for less. The result, in 2016, was Dr. Laura Goodwin, the expert that she had been looking for with outstanding training, background and experience in implant, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry. A Fellow with the prestigious International Congress of Oral Implantologists, Dr. Goodwin, complimented Dr. Bulnes-Newton’s already extensive experience. Both Dr. Bulnes-Newton and Dr. Goodwin are impeccably credentialed in their fields of cosmetic and general dentistry. Dr. Bulnes-Newton attended Washington University in St. Louis for her undergraduate degree, Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine, and then the University of Florida for her Advanced Education in General Dentistry degree. Not only providing general and cosmetic dentistry services for her patients, she specializes in treating patients who

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suffer from snoring and sleep apnea disorders. According to her website, Westchasedentists.com. her “Designated Dentist” status with the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine will be replaced with an esteemed Board Certification Diplomate Status Summer of 2019. With almost a decade of experience treating over 1000 patients who suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Dr. Bulnes-Newton is surely the expert to see. No stranger to excellence herself, Dr. Goodwin, after obtaining her Bachelor of Science degree, also attended the University of Florida’s College of Dentistry,

graduating in the top 10% of her class. An Advanced Education at Bay Pines VA Hospital greatly increased her practical knowledge of her chosen field. Both doctors are strong proponents of continuing education and are constantly striving to learn the latest techniques in their fields. As their website notes, they offer not just good but exceptional cosmetic and family care; from veneers, bonding, Invisalign, to dental implants, crowns, bridges, and dentures to advanced techniques like obstructive sleep/apnea and snoring treatment. A powerful statement, noted in a previous article,

gives a glimpse into the essence of who and what Westchase Esthetic Family Dentistry is all about: “Although we have the latest technology available, state-of-art equipment, that’s not what separates us from the competition. We are an office of all women. We are very family oriented. We provide a level of compassion and empathy to offer dental work with the utmost dignity to our patents. We pride ourselves on providing the most up-todate, high-tech, top-quality dentistry in a very gentle, relaxing environment” … “and we love seeing children.”

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Conveniently located at 10131 Wilsky Blvd, Tampa, FL, Westchase Esthetic Family Dentistry is open Monday through Thursday 8 – 5 with special hours on Wednesday until 7pm to accommodate those who need evening hours. Call today for your appointment 813 792 8211. Westchase Esthetic Family Dentristry. You’ll be so glad that you did. When they say that “we believe that all patients deserve the best care regardless of age,” how can anyone do better than that?

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Dr. Michael A. Pikos, Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon

Coastal Jaw

Continued From Page 1 Coastal Jaw Surgery is

Dr. Jason B. Blundell, Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon

the patient will have a minimum of two surgical procedures. The Same Day Teeth® protocol involves one surgery and a team of Board Certified the prosthesis is placed at Oral and Maxillofacial the same time. Surgeons, Board Certified Coastal Jaw Surgery’s Periodontist, and a Board Certified Oral and Prosthodontist. Our team Maxillofacial Surgeons is at the forefront of specialize in Same Day patient care with many Teeth®, dental implants, of its services such as, and comprehensive Same Day Teeth®, dental oral surgical procedures implants, oral surgery, including wisdom teeth wisdom teeth removal, extractions, soft tissue soft tissue and bone and bone grafting, and grafting, reconstructive more. Meet the Board surgery, periodontal Certified Oral and therapy including Maxillofacial Surgical periodontal plastic team at Coastal Jaw surgery. Surgery/Same Day Same Day Teeth®, Teeth®: Dr. Michael A. founded by Dr. Michael Pikos, Dr. José F. Lázaro, A. Pikos, is a revolutionary Dr. Kenneth L. Anderson, protocol involving dental and Dr. Jason B. Blundell. implants. With this Dr. Michael A. Pikos procedure, we are able to founded Coastal Jaw immediately place your Surgery in 1983 and is the new teeth on the same senior member of the four day as your implants. man oral and maxillofacial Dental implants are the surgical team. He has best available restorative extensive experience option for missing in implant based natural teeth. With most surgical reconstruction dental implant surgeries

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Dr. José F. Lázaro, Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon

Dr. Kenneth L. Anderson, Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon

procedures. In addition to being an implant surgical based clinician, he is also an educator having established the Pikos Institute in 1990 where he has taught more than 4,300 clinicians from all 50 states and 43 countries at his institute. Dr. José F. Lázaro has been active in private practice and academia for over 23 years. He has assisted in caring for the patients of Coastal Jaw Surgery for over 12 years. Dr. Lázaro practices a full scope of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery with emphasis in implants and bone grafting. He stays active in the dental community by providing education and lectures to local and international peers. He is an active lecturer at Pinnacle Study Club, a local continuing education club that teaches clinicians organized and established by the doctors of Coastal Jaw Surgery.

Dr. Kenneth L. Anderson has been active in private practice for over six years and has been a part of our team for the past few years. Dr. Anderson practices full scope oral and maxillofacial surgery with emphasis on dental alveolar surgery (concentration on extractions, bone contouring, and minor soft tissue repairing), dental implants, general anesthesia, facial trauma, cleft palate, and orthognathic surgery (includes jaw cysts and tumors). Dr. Anderson focuses much of his time expanding his knowledge at continuing education events throughout the country. Dr. Anderson not only offers his extensive knowledge to the patients at Coastal Jaw Surgery, but is an active staff member at Bayfront Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida. He is an active lecturer at the Pinnacle Study Club at Pikos

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Dr. Lindsey Pikos Rosati, Board Certified Periodontist

Institute also. Dr. Jason B. Blundell served in the U.S. Navy for 10 years before joining the Coastal Jaw Surgery team. Dr. Blundell practices oral and maxillofacial surgery with emphasis on dentoalveolar surgery (concentration on extractions, bone contouring, and minor soft tissue repairing), dental implants, hard and soft tissue grafting, general anesthesia, facial trauma and orthognathic surgery. Dr. Blundell is continuously expanding his knowledge by attending several continuing education courses throughout the country. He is an active lecturer at Pinnacle Study Club at Pikos Institute also. Dr. Lindsey Pikos Rosati is a Board Certified Periodontist who specializes in a full scope of surgical treatment with an emphasis on periodontal plastic surgery, periodontal

Dr. Philip J. Hedger, Prosthodontist

therapy, dental implants, bone grafting and periodontal-orthodontic procedures. Dr. Rosati is an active member of the American Academy of Periodontology, Florida Association of Periodontists and Pinnacle Study Club of Tampa Bay. Dr. Rosati is a lecturer of the Hygiene Study Club that teaches local hygienists in the Tampa Bay and Nature Coast area. Dr. Philip J. Hedger is a Prosthodontist and is the restorative based team member at Coastal Jaw Surgery. “As a prosthodontist, it is my goal to provide patients with the highest level of compassion, empathy, and care. I am blessed with the opportunity to change lives on a daily basis by providing individuals with optimal esthetic, functional, and healthy smiles. This provides me with great personal satisfaction.” Dr. Hedger is a faculty member of the Pikos

Institute and a frequent lecturer at the Pinnacle and Hygiene Study Club. Our Coastal Jaw Surgery team of oral and maxillofacial surgeons, periodontist, and prosthodontist have more than 80 combined years of experience within the realm of implant dentistry, oral surgery, periodontics, and prosthodontics. There is no better place to go for your comprehensive implant, oral surgical and periodontal care. Coastal Jaw Surgery has five locations in the Tampa Bay area: Palm Harbor, Spring Hill, Trinity, and Tampa.

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Transform your smile and change your life with Coastal Jaw Surgery! Palm Harbor 2711 Tampa Rd., Palm Harbor, FL 34684 727-786-1631 Same Day Teeth® at Pikos Institute 8740 Mitchell Blvd., Trinity, FL 34655 1-800-NEW-LOOK (Outside Florida: 727877-0011) Trinity 8845 Hawbuck St, Trinity, FL 34655 727-375-0469 Spring Hill 4372 Commercial Way, Spring Hill, FL 34606 352-596-6804

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Tech Talk with Bob - Avoid The Phish Bait! By Bob Dalles

More than 60-million people have been affected by identity theft. Every day over 150-million phishing emails are sent globally. About 80,000 people fall victim to these scams daily. More than 90-percent of cyber attacks begin with email phishing. Did you know that you have a 1 in 3 chance of being in a cyber attack? Phishing (pronounced “fishing”) is just one of the many ways cyber criminals can attack you. It is the most popular strategy used by criminals to trick you into voluntarily handing them your sensitive data and information. Phishing is a social engineering technique that relies on your familiarity and trust of a specific web site along with the cyber criminal’s hope you will quickly take action before thinking things through. Imagine this. You just woke up. You’re still tired and trying to get your day started. One of your morning rituals is to check email. You turn on your computer and while it is booting up you go pour yourself a cup of coffee. You plop down in front of your computer and look through your emails. While sipping your coffee you notice an email from your bank. You open it and it reads something like this. “Due to numerous

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unsuccessful online login attempts, your bank account has been frozen. To reinstate your account privileges, please click the “link” provided and enter your username and password. You will not be able to access your funds until you complete this process.”

The criminal hopes you will panic and quickly click the link. The link loads what looks like the login page of your bank’s web site. The login page looks legit because the criminal made an exact duplicate of your bank’s login page. The criminal is hoping you will click the link and enter your username and password without thinking twice. Once you submit your information to the fake login page --BAM!!! --- the criminal now has what they need to access your bank account. You just took the “phish bait.” An even scarier part about this is you may not even realize you have turned over access to your bank account until days, weeks, or even months later. Most criminals will act immediately and empty your bank account. Some might just monitor your deposits and withdrawals for a while and then grab your money at a later time when they know your account is likely to have more money in it. Remember, once they get your username and password they can access and manipulate your account whenever they feel like it

without you even knowing.

So, what do you do if you get, what looks like, a legitimate email from your bank or other business you deal with online? Before clicking any link, call the bank or business and ask them directly if they sent you the email. Best practices to minimize your risk at phishing attempts is to never click the link. If you need to go to your bank’s web site, type the web address into your web browser yourself. Never trust a link you receive in an email, especially if you are going to input any of your confidential information. Avoid becoming another cyber attack statistic. Don’t get hooked by the phish bait! (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.) Never enter confidential information into any web site until you know the web site and your computer system is safe. If you are not sure your system is safe, please have it looked over by a Professionally Certified Computer Technician. If you need a certified professional, call us now at 727-534-

4000. We’ve been helping folks restore their peace of mind, and sanity, with their technology for decades. Have a tech question? Email it to TechTalk-TBNL@ BobTheComputerGuy. NET. Questions will be selected by the popularity of a topic and answered in this column. If you have a more urgent need or have a unique situation you may schedule an appointment with one of my Professionally Certified Technicians by calling 727534-4000. Until next time, stay safe on the internet!

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The Coming of Age of The Mak Brothers Band The Odessa-based rock band hasn’t graduated high school, but they’ve evolved into an act worthy of recognition. By J Pancia The Mak Brothers Band might just have what it takes to fill the iGen rock ‘n’ roll supergroup void. For now, the young Odessa-based trio can be found at Tampa Bay live music venues. All three members share the same surname, Makrianes — hence the band name — and attend Sickles High School in Northwest Tampa. Frontman/guitarist Ian is a senior; brother/bassist Aidan and cousin/ drummer Evan are freshmen. Don Makrianes — the band’s manager and dad of Ian and Aidan — says that he and his brother fostered a love of rock ‘n’ roll while raising their sons. The Makrianes boys grew up to the sounds of The Boss, Tom Petty and Cheap Trick. Don took them to their first concert, Bruce Springsteen, in 2010. They got together as a band officially in 2011 but started lessons at the Rockatar Music Academy in 2012. “That’s how we were able to get small shows early on,” Ian recalls. Evan still takes lessons there. “We also volunteer there over the summer and help teach young kids how to play instruments,” he adds. According to Don, who works a day job at Tech Data, the boys were focused from the beginning and were on track to do some serious professional work with music. He effuses pride as he tells me how much they’ve progressed since starting out as a band. Likewise, Ian owes a lot to his father. “My dad grew up in Cape Cod and moved to Florida in high school and went to Clearwater Central Catholic,” he shares. “A lot of the music he likes, I heard at a young age and a lot of it I still listen to and take influence from today. I also show him a lot of new bands I enjoy; we like to share music with each other. We’ve also been to tons of concerts together.” Which bands had the most impact on them? “I used to be very influenced by punk bands like Green Day, but as time has gone on, I’ve found myself influenced the most by Brian Fallon of The Gaslight Anthem,” Ian says. Aidan says his early influences were Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers along with Green Day. “But now I’ve grown to look up to people along the likes of Kevin Grimmet from Hunny and Rich Meyer from Highly

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Suspect.” Evan digs the drummer for the Chainsmokers, Matt McGuire, the bands Hunny and The 1975. “I also love Social Distortion,” he adds. All three seem to have cherry-picked what works for them musically and are forming their own style and approach. Ian plays shimmery, melodically complex solos on his Gibson. Evan beats the skins with power and precision, and Aidan plucks at his Rickenbacker bass with the nimble confidence of a true Macca Brother. As for songwriting, Ian writes the lyrics and the three collaborate on the arrangements. Sure, they started out like a lot of young bands by playing straight-ahead punk. While those roots are still there, they’ve injected their sound with stylistic touches that set them apart from generic three-chord rock bands. “A lot of the pedal-related things are from artists I listen to but the chords and solos are just things that I find sound — for lack of a better word — cool,” Ian says. “I don’t know much about music theory, so we all just kinda like to throw in different things that just sound cool to us and things that we think make songs sound fuller and more complete.” He mentions the bridge in one of their latest songs, “Tough” — “because it almost becomes a whole new song and smoothly transitions back into the original melody, and that took us a while — probably longer than it should’ve (laughs) — to write.” While they grew up part of the first generation raised with cellphones, the threesome gets the importance of promoting their music via social media but still find it challenging at times. “For us and many others, self-promo is a work in progress. I have no doubts that we’ve gotten much better at it, but it is definitely a skill you learn as time goes on because it’s hard to promote yourself without coming off as annoying, but I definitely think we have gotten much more comfortable with it and we’ll continue to grow.” Another challenge is those promo photos. Pics that are just a few months old can look outdated because they’re still growing — evident especially with Aidan and Evan., No matter, their sound comes out bigger than what you’d imagine looking at them. The last time I, personally, had a similar feeling of amazement, the Hat Trick Heroes rocked my world a decade ago with

their ’70s-influenced hard rock. Also formed by brothers, they haven’t been actively playing gigs since 2014. Hopefully, these two siblings and a cousin will stick around a while. A gig at a recent multi-band showcase at Crowbar garnered the Mak Brothers enthusiastic applause, and many of the young adults in attendance were seeing them for the first time. “Something we always find special at gigs is when we are playing with other bands and their fans stay and watch us and get into the music and dance around because they don’t have to do that,” says Ian. “It means they genuinely enjoy our music and that makes us happy.” Another special experience: They played onstage for Cheap Trick at one of their sound checks in 2015. “A friend of my dad’s, who is a friend of the lead singer Robin Zander’s family, was able to get us passes to watch Cheap Trick’s soundcheck at the Capitol Theater in Clearwater in 2015,” Ian reminisces. “So during the sound check, they had us come on stage and we played their hit “Surrender” for them! There’s actually a video of it on our Youtube Channel. “We’ve been able to talk to them a few other times and Robin Zander has given us some great advice.” What did Zander tell them three years ago? “He said that the most important thing we can do as a band is to constantly practice and to always stay together, and we’ve definitely lived by that for the past three years.” Given how far they’ve come, we look forward to where The Mak Brothers Band will be three years from now. Find out about the Mak Brothers Band’s upcoming shows at facebook.com/pg/mak. brothers.band.

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What a wonderful place for books!

Here is a best kept secret that we want everyone to know: libraries sell used books! The Friends of the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library operate a used bookstore called the Carousel Bookstore inside of the Jimmie B. Keel Library, with arguably the largest collection of used books for sale in Hillsborough County. Most are sold for only a dollar or two. Interested in contemporary fiction, the classics, poetry, or perhaps it is a cookbook that tickles your fancy? Would you like something about history, sports,

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children’s books, pets, travel, religion, philosophy or a variety of other subjects? We may have it! Come in and browse our collection; there is certain to be some gem just waiting for you. The Friends of the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library work with library personnel to promote and further an abundance of programs for the community. We have over thirty active volunteers, and because of their dedication we staff our bookstore seven days a week. Whenever the library is open the

bookstore is open, and you will find one of our volunteers ready to help you discover a book!

You may be wondering where we get our books. All the books we sell are donated to us by people like you. We offer a convenient donation slot in the library’s lobby, and many books are donated each day. Our volunteers organize and sort the books and get them ready to be shelved for sale. The selection of books is constantly changing as books are sold and replaced by new titles. Didn’t find what you were

looking for today? Try again tomorrow! What do we do with the money we earn? Our funds support the library! We provide funding for a wide selection of activities that take place at the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, Thonotosassa Branch Library, Egypt Lake Partnership Library, and the Norma and Joseph Robinson Partnership Library @ Sulphur Springs. We also funded the beautiful carousel animals you see inside the Children’s Library, as well as the circus-themed furniture, educational

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Teen Game Night, Hamiltunes, LibCon, and a variety of special summer programming. For adults there are yoga and Tai Chi classes, ukulele jams, cooking classes, crafting programs, knitting classes, gardening classes, and a large variety of other topics.

games, and interactive play table. Some of the programming we support

includes weekly baby sign language classes, weekly early literacy

and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) events,

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Stop by and see what the Carousel Bookstore, Friends of the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, and Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library are all about. When you buy a book from us youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re benefiting twice: you have a fine book to read and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re supporting the library. Two for one: we all benefit!

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For Advertising Info 813-928-6124 I info@nnlflorida.com or visit tbnewsandlifestyles.com

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