Vol. 6, Issue 6, June 2018
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Summer Fun at Bob Sierra North Tampa Family YMCA By Tom Bostock Yippee! Schools out! It’s time to trade the school books and calculators for something so much more fun, a baseball glove and bat or a cool dip in the pool. If you follow that up with a cool glass of lemonade, you have the formula for a successful vacation. Summer is here again. I bet you didn’t think it would ever get here, did you?
So, what are you and the kids going to do for your Summer vacation? Have you considered visiting your local YMCA? Like the song says, “It’s fun to stay at the YMCA!” I don’t know about “stay” but it certainly is fun to play there. If you live in the Northdale area, the Bob Sierra North Tampa Family YMCA is just a short drive from almost See “YMCA” on page 26.
Great Clips Celebrates 16th Anniversary in Carrollwood By Deborah Bostock-Kelley
Manager Nelie Derobertis
Owner Lea Orchard
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Happy Father's Day from TBNL..........................3 Hancock Injury Attorneys....................................6 Women with Purpose.........................................10 Landon Plastic Surgery.................................14-15 The Life Amplified Story...............................18-19 Happy Birthday United States...........................22-23 Tech Talk with Bob..................................................24
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID TAMPA FL PERMIT 1185
Save Money with Tampa Bay Plumbers...............21
Just ask the busy mom with three kids, ages 3, 6, and 8, why she comes to Great Clips in the Fresh Market plaza in Carrollwood. Her answer mirrors the owner’s response about why she loves this family-owned salon. “We can get in and out quickly, and the staff is friendly,” said customer, Andrea Cotrell. “And the kids get lollipops.”
Andrea’s youngest puts a Dum Dum in his mouth before jumping up on a booster seat to get his haircut. Salon Owner Lea Orchard has heard this statement many times since opening this Great Clips location 16 years ago this month. It’s what separates Great Clips from the rest of the wallet-friendly hair cutting salons. In 2002, Great Clips didn’t have the nationwide name recognition it See “Great Clips” on page 28.
Happy Father's Day! I want to take this opportunity to wish all fathers, stepdads and paternal figures out there, a very Happy Father's Day, filled with joy, laughter and love. Father's Day is a celebration that takes places almost all over the world. This day is meant to honor fathers and celebrate fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society. Did you know? Father's Day was not celebrated in the U.S., outside Catholic traditions, until the 20th century. As a civic celebration in the U.S., it was inaugurated in the early 20th century to complement Mother's Day by celebrating fathers and male parenting. On June 19, 1910 a Father's Day celebration was held at the YMCA in Spokane, Washington by Sonora Smart Dodd. Her father, a civil war veteran, William Jackson Smart, was a single parent who raised 6 children alone. Sonora was a member of Old Centenary Presbyterian Church (now Knox Presbyterian Church), where she first proposed the idea. After hearing a sermon about Mother's DAy in 1909 at the Central Methodist Episcopal Church, Sonora told her pastor that fathers should have a similar holiday to honor them. Although she initially suggested June 5th, her father's birthday, the pastors did not have enough time to prepare their sermons and coordinate the celebration so they said "let's do it the third Sunday in June," pretty interesting,
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right? Several local clergymen accepted the idea, and on June 19, 1910, the first Father's Day, sermons honoring fathers were presented throughout the city. Much has changed since then. Today, many fathers raise children alone, and they do a fantastic job at it. Dad's all over the world are changing diapers, feeding crying babies at 3am and taking their kids to ballet or baseball practice. Their involvement has been crucial in today's society, where working mother's need all the help they can get. The Book of Proverbs says that parents are the glory of their children. A father is his son's first hero, and his daughter's first love. Dad is a provider, protector and fearless roach killer. He will screw, hammer and build things and tuck you in so tightly you won't be able to move. He is the one with the bad "dad jokes," you can never get enough of, and the one you run to when mom says "no." For this Father's Day make sure you make your dad feel extra special for all that he does. Instead of giving him another pair of socks or a colorful tie he may or may not end up wearing, make sure you hug and kiss him and tell him you love him. Offer to do those simple things he normally does, to ease the burden or those menial jobs we always expect him to do, like mow the lawn and take out the trash. Instead of taking him out for
dinner, try cooking his favorite meal, he would appreciate the effort much more. But if you do end up taking him out, make sure to pay for his share even if he refuses. I lost my father last year, and I will never stop celebrating him and being thankful for the man the he was and everything he did to provide for me, my sister and my mother. My father was selfless, honest, caring and hard-working. He was the life of the party, the one with the silly jokes and someone who everyone enjoyed having around. I miss him every day, but I thank God to have had such an incredible man in my life. Last but not least, I want to wish a very "Happy Father's Day" to Tim Selby, my father-in-law. Tim reminds me so much of my dad, it's actually scary. Tim is iincredibly selfless and giving, he is so much fun and a great dancer! Tim goes above and beyond for everyone he knows, and he works extremely hard to provide for his family, and he does it all with a big smile on his face. He took me in and made me feel like a member of the family from the day one. And even though I lost my dad, God granted me another father in Tim, and I couldn't be happier. I hope you all have a great day with your dads, stepdads, paternal figures and grandparents. Whatever you end up doing this Father's Day, promise me you will remind those special men in your life how much they mean to you. Just don't ever stop making your "dad" feel special for all that he does.
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Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles Directly mailed once a month to 15,000 households in zip codes 33618, 33624 & 33613 220 S. Safford Ave. Tarpon Springs, FL 34689 Phone: (813) 928-6124; Fax: (727) 942-2432 Advertising E-mail: info@nnlflorida.com Editorial E-mail: editorial@nnlflorida.com © 2018 Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles Publisher Matt Selby
Art Director Tony Sica
Editor/Creative Director Correspondents Carla Selby Advertising Sales Jim O’Reilly Mike Bird
Julie Kanehl Marcy Sanford Katie Thomas Kim Thomas Dara Tucker Deborah Bostock-Kelley Michelle Naktin
Nothing that appears in Carrollwood Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by Carrollwood Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles writers are their own and do not reflect the publisher’s opinion. The management of Carrollwood Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles is always happy to accept outside editorial submissions to the paper. Please call for outside editorial submission and advertisement deadlines. Carrollwood Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles will consider previously non-published outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. Carrollwood Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates. Carrollwood Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles will not return unsolicited editorial materials. Carrollwood Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles reserves the right to edit and/or reject any advertising. Carrollwood Tampa Bay 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.
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Hancock Injury Attorneys Pay It Forward in the Community By Deborah Bostock-Kelley When attorneys Mike and Claire Hancock and their dedicated staff aren’t working to bring your case to a satisfying conclusion, the familyowned practice is busy paying it forward. When their goal is to be recognized as “Carrollwood’s neighborhood attorney,” they understand the importance of giving back and extending a helping hand directly into their neighborhood. In 2018, the practice founded the campaign “Care”ollwood: 1% for giving, providing 1% of its revenue to local Carrollwood organizations. A percent may not sound significant, but when you consider the industry, the donation is substantial. “We plan to give back $10,000 to the community, with half going to the Community Food Pantry,” said Mike. The Community Food Pantry of Carrollwood/Northdale operated by the Village Presbyterian Church, helped feed over 37,000 residents in 2017. They anticipate even more need in 2018, with over a third of its clients being children. Monthly, the Pantry gives its clients the dignity of being able “shop” like in a normal grocery store with no predetermined bag of groceries. They also provide needed emotional support, blood pressure screenings, and information on social services. “We’re gold sponsors for the Food Pantry. They are right down the street and they feed those that are food insecure. There’s a lot of people who are food insecure in our community, and that’s why we support them. We recently were the event sponsors for their Denim & Diamonds sit-down dinner event that raised over twenty thousand dollars in conjunction with Give Day,” said Gabrielle Piloto, director of marketing. “It precursors Give Day, so it helps people get pumped up for Give Day. We were also one of their Give Day sponsors this year. We are doing a lot with the Food Pantry.” During May 1st Give Day Tampa Bay, where all of Tampa Bay is encouraged to donate to their favorite nonprofit charities – 423 participated for 24 hours, the firm sponsored Hancock Hat Trick. During three hours of the Give Day event, the firm matched donations from the community. Give Day donations provided over $20,000 to the community pantry. The firm is also proud to support
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Claire and Mike Hancock are proud sponsors of Community Food Pantry of Carrollwood/Northdale and their Denim & Diamonds sit-down dinner event that raised over twenty thousand dollars in conjunction with Give Day the Tampa Police Department and was a Silver Sponsor for their Hot Shots for Charity skeet shooting event, supporting Rise Tampa Bay which provides training and new technology for the Tampa Police Department, as well as, student scholarships. “This is the second year they did this and it’s kind of billed as City Hall versus the Tampa Police Department. You have the chief of police and his team and the mayor and his team competing against one another. There’s about 200 people out there. This year, it was funny – they tied,” said Mike. They helped Tactical Response Team (TRT) go to their SWAT Round Up event where they learn and perform SWAT skills. Hancock Injury Attorneys is featured in their annual calendar and agenda. By advertising, they are able to benefit the Tampa Police Benevolent Association. The daughter of a past client reached out and asked the firm to participate in the Walk to End Lupus campaign and the couple and their staff did not hesitate to support the worthy event. Mike and Claire also are great supporters of the arts in Carrollwood, featured as a season advertising sponsor of Tampa’s oldest community theatre, Carrollwood Players Theatre. If that isn’t enough to show how much they love and appreciate their
Carrollwood community, for this past St. Patrick’s Day and again for Independence Day 2018, the practice is sponsoring Stay Safe - free rides home in Tampa to prevent anyone intoxicated from getting behind the wheel after a day and/or night of celebrating. The firm will reimburse the riders the cost of Uber, Lyft, or taxi ride on July 4th. To qualify, the driver must be over 21, traveling within Tampa, limited to one reimbursement per household. Mike and Claire are very experienced helping clients deal with the repercussions of being injured by impaired drivers. This is the firm’s opportunity to lend a hand to prevent the accidents that cause them. “We want the community to take us up on this offer,” said Mike. “We want to get you home safe.” Whether walking to show support for finding a cure of a terrible disease, providing a helping hand to a food pantry that serves thousands in the Carrollwood community, helping the officers and TRT teams that protect it, or the community theatre that entertains it, Mike, Claire and their caring team are proud to be “Carrollwood’s neighborhood attorney,” going above and beyond, caring for and giving back to the community in which they work and live.
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The firm is also proud to support the Tampa Police Department and was a Silver Sponsor for their Hot Shots for Charity skeet shooting event To learn more about “Care”ollwood: 1% for Giving , visit www.lawhancock.com/about/1for-carrollwood/ or register for the 4th of July Stay Safe program, visit www.lawhancock.com/stay-safe/. Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles
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A Cancer Cancer Patient’s Patient’s Guardian G Angels – W Women o om omen with P Purpose urpose
The statistics from the American Cancer Society (cancer. org), are a staggering, eye-opening reality! It is estimated that, in 2018, there will be 1,735,350 new cancer cases diagnosed in the United States, 135,170 in Florida alone. It also predicts an additional 609,640 deaths, 45,030 of which will occur right here in our own backyard, Florida. Cancer is an equal opportunity nd fa amilies. The destroyer of lives and costs associated with its treatment continue to escalate, despite the FDA’s approval of both new and generic prescription drugs. The headline on the HealthDay website, (consumerhealthday. com), reported about one cancer drug, typical of the continuing increase in the cost of these liffe esaving, prescription medicines: “Soaring Prices Keep Leukemia Drugs from Patients, Experts Say $100,000-a-year meds seen as obstacle to treatment.” “Eleven of 12 cancer drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2012 were priced above $100,000 a year,” the report noted. “And average monthly cancer drug prices have nearly doubled over the past decade – from $5,000 a month to more than $10,000 a month.” In a recent speech, (Medscape. com viewarticle/89121#vp_1), FDA commissioner Gottlieb, M.D. decried cancer patients’ plight: “Rising copays and coinsurance are pushing fa ar too many patients into a financial no-man’s land where sometimes they must literally choose between exhausting their bank accounts or going without access to potentially effe ective treatments.” Award winning Los Angeles Times reporter Michael Hilzik questioned the FDA’s commitment to control costs with a quote from Dr. Greene of Johns Hopkins in the Journal of the American Medical Assn.: “Greene pegs his analysis to the run-up in prices of generic drugs whose manuffa acturers fa ace little or no competition, and therefo ore almost no disincentive to keep prices reasonable.” Who can afffo ord tthe $100,000-a-year or more in prohibitive cancer treatment costs and still pay every-day, non-medical expenses like mortgage, rent, gas, car and
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repairs, electricity, utilities and, ortantly, fo ood? This is most importantly, the quandary that many cancer patients fa ace daily, but fo or those living primarily in the Pinellas county area, there is hope. It is hope in the he fo orm of a wonderful, caring non-profit organization, Women with Purpose, started by founder, o JJane Morse-Swett and her friends Millie Diaz, Patricia Schachtel, Bonnie Scholz, Dawn Lane and Barbara Austin. Each caring lady is still an integral part of this six-year-old organization. When huge charities only receive a two-star out of a possible fo ourstar rating, (charitynavigator.org), in part, because of their huge overhead and fundraising costs, it is comffo ort orting to know that 95% of every donated dollar goes directly ients and their families a to the patients through Women with Purpose. This is an entirely volunteer organization. There is minimal overhead because everyone, including the fo ounder, Jane Morse-Swett, willingly volunteers their time and energy. Jane defines the role of Women with Purpose as: “providing g fo or the non-medical expenses fo or cancer patients.” These expenses can include a variety of products, from school supplies to toilet paper and many other needs not covered by fo ood stamps and other government programs. Their latest partnership with Beach Community Food Pantry in Indian Rocks Beach will now make fresh fruits, vegetables, and meat available to the clients that they are serving. If you are wondering if it works, read what several recipients have to say about Women with Purpose. On their Facebook page, (ffa acebook.com/WWPFL). (Names have been listed as initials to preserve client confidentiality). M.D. was especially grateful fo or their help: “Forget Mother Theresa, Jane Morse-Swett and her awesome members of Women o with Purpose are true saints helping those that the big $$$ $$ charities forget o about because the photo op won’t bring funds. These women give selflessly to support local cancer patients with financial ncial support for o nonmedical needs, rent, car payments utility bills, s, fo ood etc. …” “These wonderful women need a sponsor, a bank, a car dealer, a
Jane Morse-Sw Morse-Swett, ett,, Founder Fo o off W Women o omen With P Purpose urpose builder, a business with heart and purpose that can help them do their great work. To support JJane and WWP is what it means to truly give back.” Another recipient, G.G., lent her voice to their Facebook review when she wrote, “Thank you so much fo or helping my fa amily when we needed it the most. You are such an awesome asset to our community.” If you want your donation to help patients in need and not be diluted by excessive administrative and fund-raising costs, Women with Purpose should be the
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destination fo or your charity dollars. ormation, to For more inffo orm receive help, or to donate to this worthy community cause, visit their website (womenwithpurposefl.org) or Facebook page (Facebook.com/ with Purpose WWPFL). Wo omen w continues to prove every day that we are our “brother’s keeper.” M.M. said it best on their website: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
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A Cut Above – Landon Plastic Surgery, Your Premiere Destination By Carla Selby
Voted #1 Plastic Surgeon in Tampa Bay by Reader’s Choice 2018, Dr. Bruce Landon is dedicated to enabling his patients to have the best self-image that they choose to create for themselves. With superb surgical skills and an artist’s unique eye, Dr. Landon helps each of his patients get the face, breasts or body that they envision for themselves. So if you need anything tucked, lifted, removed, exchanged or corrected, rest assured that you are in competent, fully qualified hands with Dr. Landon, his associate, Dr. Benninger, and their caring staff at the premiere plastic surgery destination; Landon Plastic Surgery. “I could not possibly say enough positive things about LPS! (Landon Plastic Surgery.)
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The staff was welcoming, comforting and kind from start to finish,” says Lynette P. about her recent experience at Landon Plastic Surgery. “Dr. Landon is considerate of your requests/comments and aims to please. He truly listens, which I believe is one of the most important factors. The team at LPS is incredible! The front office, the OR team, the nurses... everyone! I was welcomed with smiles for all of my pre and postop visits, and everyone was very thorough answering my questions. Thank you all.” Dr. Landon is the medical director of Landon Plastic surgery. He has practiced Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in the Tampa Bay area for over 22 years. Not only did Dr. Landon receive his medical degree at UCLA (University of California at Los Angeles), he spent six additional years training in
general surgery and two more in his specialty, plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Landon is Board Certified in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and his practice is limited to plastic surgery in Tampa. If you are not familiar with the term ‘board certified’ it basically demonstrates a physician’s exceptional expertise in a specific specialty or subspecialty of medical practice. Dr. Landon’s board certification in Plastic and Reconstructive surgery assures rigid academic standards of excellence have been met or exceeded. Dr. Landon’s associate, also board-certified, Dr. Benninger, is Canadian trained and earned fellowships in the United States. With a total staff of twentyone, Dr. Landon’s practice covers the entire range of plastic surgery
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needs for both men and women. They also offer Hair Transplant and Restoration with the ARTAS® robotic system, which provides a completely reliable, natural, and most importantly, permanent solution to hair loss. During our interview, Dr. Landon explained that changes and technological advances in plastic surgery have made the process less invasive than ever before. Today, they strive to make plastic surgery procedures “minimally invasive surgery.” The goal is to shorten recovery times and allow for smaller, less noticeable scars. “I had a breast lift and implant exchange last year by Dr. Landon,” says former patient, Roxane H. “It has been one year and I am extremely pleased with the excellent care I received. I have no scars and my breasts are perfect. Dr. Landon is an excellent surgeon and I would
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Bruce Landon, M.D.; F.A.C.S of Landon Plastic Surgery
recommend him over anyone I know. I currently am employed in Surgery in one of the largest OR bed hospitals in Pinellas County. Having first hand nursing knowledge, I recognize excellent patient care. Dr.
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Landon and his staff do a great job!” “Dr. Landon honestly changed my life, literally,” says recent tummy tuck patient, Anna R. “I’ve never been so confident in my life! Dr. Landon performed
a tummy tuck on me and did an incredible job. Not only he’s a great doctor, but he’s a great listener as well. I walked in the office for my first consultation and by the way he described how he was going to perform the surgery, I was confident he would do an amazing job. He took the time to listen to all my concerns and made me feel really comfortable. The staff is awesome and the office is just beautiful! Overall, I am extremely happy I chose him as my plastic surgeon. I highly recommend him.” “Five stars aren’t enough to express how wonderful my experience was with Dr. Landon and his staff! I highly recommend LPS. The decision to have elective surgery is not something I took lightly,” says a patient who underwent surgery less than two weeks ago, but prefers her name to remain anonymous. She proceeds with her review by saying this; “I did a lot of research and choosing the best surgeon in the Tampa Bay area was my first priority. I knew from the initial consultation that I made the best decision in choosing LPS because not only is Dr Landon the most skilled surgeon in the area but he and his staff also treat you like family. They truly went above and beyond. They spent extra time with me during visits, called after hours and promptly answered all emails throughout my journey. They were kind, patient and thorough. My results exceeded my expectations! I’m pretty lean and wanted a natural look to refill my deflated breasts as after having 2 kids and living a fitnessoriented lifestyle I lost all of my volume. They just keep getting better and better as they settle into place. Best decision ever!” The 5-star reviews from people like Lynette, Ana, Roxane, and the above happy and satisfied anonymous patient, are just too many to list, but they will definitely help make your decision to contact Dr. Landon much easier. I encourage you to
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read some of them yourself by simply doing a quick Google search on Dr. Landon to see some of the wonderful things his patients have to say about him and LPS. Dr. Landon and the entire team at Landon Plastic Surgery are truly committed to providing excellence in all aspects of Cosmetic Surgery. The clinic, operating room and RN staff is all ACLS certified with a combined hospital experience of over 60 years. “Our #1 priority is our patients,” says Dr. Landon. “Every effort is made to ensure their comfort and a wonderful and satisfying surgical experience.” All of their procedures are currently performed in their AAAASF (American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities) certified operating suites located at their main state-of-the-art facility. The majestically soothing 4,000 sq. ft location has been specially designed with warm tones and a Tuscan theme to ensure a serene patient experience. Dr. Landon established the facility with every attention to detail to ensure a calming and relaxing environment for their new and continuing patients. The facility is conveniently divided into a clinical side, where consultations, all pre and postoperative care are provided, and the surgical suite for all surgical procedures. If you are not satisfied with your appearance, with Landon Plastic Surgery, change is as close as your telephone. Please visit landonplasticsurgery.com to obtain more information or to schedule your FREE consultation at one of their two convenient locations. Contact Landon Plastic Surgery, Trinity by calling 727-376-4155 or visit them at 1813 Wellness Lane or contact the Tampa office located at 403 S. Habana Ave by calling 813-377-2081. JUNE 2018
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Making a Difference, One Charity at a Time – The Life Amplified Story By Tom Bostock
Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines “life’ as “a principle or force that is considered to underlie the distinctive quality of animate beings” and ‘amplify,’ “to make larger or greater (as in amount, importance, or intensity).” Separately, they are two innocuous terms, but united on a theatrical stage with a local charity as the recipient of all proceeds earned, they are an unforgettable, delightfully entertaining experience. Picture this scene. You are sitting in raised seating in a community theater as the house lights dim and a spotlight focusses center stage. A local radio, television or community celebrity reads individually prepared biographies as you are treated to a variety show by some of the most talented performers in the Tampa Bay area. No sooner have the lilting strains of one professionallysounding, mellow-toned singer’s voice faded on the stage, then the next act, a young comedian, pokes fun at every day life and the foibles of being human; you laugh so hard that tears are running down your cheeks and your side hurts. A poet is next, who reflects on life and challenge. This is followed, in close succession, by a mind reader who astounds you and an equally baffling magician; the talent just keeps coming. Up to two entertaining hours pass in what feels like an instant. After the final
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act and the standing ovation, you join your fellow theatergoers and mingle with the performers in an intimate setting outside of the main theater. You have just enjoyed the Life Amplified experience! Life Amplified is a spoken word and variety showcase, one women’s answer to helping local, “Mom and Pop” charities, the grassroots ones that don’t receive the attention or have the resources of the other large national ones that are competing for your charity dollars. It is a wonderful way to spend a portion of your entertainment budget while helping others in need. Entrepreneur and founder, Deb Kelley, the architect of Life Amplified, a writer, reporter, playwright, theater critic, graphic and web designer, explains the reason why she started Life Amplified, more than five years ago, on her website (lifeamplifiedshocase.com). “Life Amplified is a talent showcase with a timely platform/message benefiting a selected local organization and is the philanthropic side of The WriteOne Creative Services.” Deb stresses that Life Amplified is not a charity, just one determined women’s attempt to help her community. of themed spoken word “Life Amplified is a 100% volunteer spoken word and talent variety showcase began in January 2013 to benefit worthy local organizations helping our community. With shows bi or tri-
annually each year, all proceeds raised go to the selected organization. Until there aren’t charities in need, Life Amplified will be there to help.” Deb had been a freelance writer for AOL Patch for years. After three years of interviewing founders of charities and “listening to their incredible stories,” she decided to do something about it. An interview with now defunct Tampa Pitcher Show secured her
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first venue; Life Amplified was born as a spoken-word-showcase. Originally, a one-time event, its successful debut in 2013 made it an annual event. Offers from local performers transformed it into the variety showcase that graces the stage today. Prior to Tampa Pitcher Show’s closing, Carrollwood Players, a local community theater that Deb sat on the board of, offered their theater for Deb’s shows.
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Many local charities have been the recipient of Life Amplified dollars. The first show, featuring two singers, nine poets, a comedian/impressionist and a mind reader was a huge success despite Deb’s lack of production experience. The proceeds have benefited K-9’s for Veterans, human trafficking awareness, bully prevention, the Crisis Center of Tampa, Military Sexual Trauma
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(MST) as well as EQUUSOLUTIONS who use equine therapy for survivors of PTSD and MST. When Animal’s Coalition of Tampa’s building was severely damaged by arson, it was Life Amplified’ s, Paws Up show that made them the recipient of the shows funds. The community has recognized Deb’s tireless efforts with many awards and accolades over the years. Deb Kelley,
through her Life Amplified “KIDZ HELPING KIDZ” show, emceed and performed entirely by children, was recognized by Fox TV as their ‘Hometown Hero.’ The ‘sold out’ event was performed to a standing-roomonly crowd. Bay News 9 also recognized Deb as Bay News 9 Every Day Hero in 2016. Life Amplified is one woman’s answer to not standing on the sidelines. How much can one
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person do? You’ll never know until you try. I’ve always heard that if you want something done, ask a busy person. Somehow, they find the time to get it done. I think Deb summed it up best when she said, “in the time it takes to make an excuse, you can make a difference!” Visit her website (lifemaplifiedshowcase.com) or Facebook page (facebook.com/lifeamplifiedvariety showcase) for more information.
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GET MORE HOT WATER, COOL YOUR GARAGE AND SAVE MONEY! What if I told you that you could have a brand new water heater, add a cooling source to your garage, reduce your energy bill significantly AND receive a government rebate all for as little as $50mo with no money out of pocket? It may sound too good to be true but, we at Tampa Bay Plumbers, are here to tell you it is not! As a trusted plumbing contractor with over 100 years of combined field experience, we have replaced thousands of water heaters, from gas to electric and even solar. There is one consensus among our plumbers as to what type of water heater they would put in their own home, and that is the Hybrid-Type water heater. This ultra energy efficient water heater is the wave of the future! Given its ability to produce hot water and at the same time cooling down your garage, all while saving you money! The Hybrid Water Heater uses an electric heat pump that transfers the room temperature to heat the tank maintaining the water temperature, which prevents the water heater from using valuable electrical energy to keep the water warm. Another great feature to this type of unit is that while it is pulling heat from the room, a refrigerant inside the unit pushes out cold air to the surrounding area. So not only are you
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going to save money on your energy bill, you are also going to be able to provide cool air in your garage on those hot summer days! Hybrid water heaters are 3.5 times more efficient than the standard electric water heater and will produce approximately 15% more hot water in the first hour of use. According to Energy Star, residents in the Tampa area are eligible for a rebate of $275-$400 when a Hybrid Water Heater is installed in a home. So let’s do the math, the average installed price of a hybrid water heater is $2,500. Assuming you get a rebate of $400 that brings your investment amount to $2,100. It is estimated that you will save over $4,000
over the life of the water heater in energy costs. Assuming you only save $33.33 per month on your energy bill with this installation the investment will have paid for itself in a little over 5 years. This means that you could be getting more hot water, saving on your energy bill, adding a cooling source to your garage, have your investment pay for itself in 5 years all with a 10 year manufacturer warranty! We have multiple financing options ranging from 18 months no
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interest, to minimum monthly payments of 1.25% of the purchase price which would mean no money out of pocket and an option that would put your monthly payment LESS than the projected energy savings! Contact us 813-PLUMBER (758-6237) or online at tampaplumber.net for your FREE Hybrid Water Heater Estimate
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Happy Birthday United States … and Pass Me Another Hotdog! By Tom Bostock
It’s seven o: clock! You can’t wait for the day to start. It’s the 4th of July and you and your family are going to the park to see the fireworks. You make enough noise to “accidently” wake up your parents and your older brother. After inhaling your breakfast cereal and watching your parents pack the picnic lunch, you pile into the SUV and drive to the park. Your reserved picnic pavilion is waiting for you. Dad puts the charcoal in the grille and fires it up. Your stomach rumbles just thinking about those juicy hot dogs, steaks and hamburgers to come. You play some catch with your brother, get bored and walk back to the picnic. You know the fireworks will be neat but, suddenly, you find yourself wondering why you celebrate the 4th of July in the first place and how did the Fourth of July holiday came about. Well, many people believe we celebrate the Fourth of July because it is the day we received our Independence from England. While those people are thinking along the right track, that is not the entire reason we celebrate the Fourth of July, nor is it the reason that the holiday came about. According to AJC.com, Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence June 1776. Even though the Continental Congress we elected, declared our independence from England on July 2nd, not July 4th, we continue
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to celebrate our independence on July 4th every year. During the course of the American Revolution a second Continental Congress was formed. It is this group that adopted the final draft of the Declaration of Independence. After the first draft was written it was revised by Ben Franklin, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson one last time, before it was sent to Congress for final approval. All thirteen colonies stood behind the Declaration of Independence and adopted it in full on July 4, 1776. That is also the date that appears on the handwritten copy of the Declaration, as well as the copies,
printed by Dunlap and Broadsides, that were circulated throughout
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the United States, (constitutionalfacts.com).
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This is where the Fourth of July holiday comes in. The Fourth of July is known as “Independence Day” because that is the day that the Second Continental Congress adopted the full and formal Declaration of Independence. Regardless of the ongoing war the following year, people in Philadelphia celebrated a muted Fourth of July. While celebrations on July 4th during the American Revolution were modest, after the war ended in 1783 the Fourth of July became a big holiday in many places. The celebrations included speeches, military events, parades, concerts, festivals, and fireworks. To this day the Fourth of July is the most patriotic holiday celebrated in the United States. Whether you decide to throw a BBQ in your local community park and stick around to watch the fireworks with your loved ones, or you plan on attending one of the multiple celebrations happening all over Tampa Bay, you may wonder… how do politicians celebrate the 4th of July? Well,
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Congress won’t be in session, so our best guess is that all the congressmen will be at home with their own families, sharing their holiday celebrations. How about the President of the United States? 4th of July celebrations can be hard for our presidents. Newsweek writer, Julia Glum, had the answers about what some of our presidents did or are going to do on the 4th. In short, “President Trump will be in New Jersey. Obama held concerts and Thomas Jefferson died.” I will take two out of three of those celebrations! According to India Times reporter, Chidanand Rajghatta, on demand and at the orders of President Trump, we will also have a new parade in Washington when “the US military will march down Pennsylvania Avenue in a parade expected to surpass France's famed Bastille Day.” President Trump is said to have been impressed by the French parade that he attended in July 2017, so he has ordered the Pentagon to roll out a huge parade this upcoming fourth of July to try
and top the French celebrations. There have been a lot of speculations all over social media that the Mayor of Washington DC could deny the Pentagon a parade permit. We will have to wait and see how our President decides to celebrate this special holiday. But one thing you can count on, no matter in which city or state you are in, and that is… fireworks, lots and lots of fireworks! A Boston Globe reporter, Evan Horowitz wrote, “if you gathered all the fireworks that Americans will set off this week” (4th of July), “they would weigh more than the Statue of Liberty, cost more than a Powerball jackpot and release more energy than 100,000 bolts of lightning.” Wow! Can you believe that? That would certainly give my next-door neighbors something ELSE to complain about! Channelside is one of the best places to watch fireworks in Tampa, with both their Red, White and Blue Festival from Cotanchobee Park, and major displays at Bay Plaza. Safety Harbor will also be
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sponsoring their yearly fireworks extravaganza. If you are in Pinellas, don’t miss the fun in the St. Petersburg area. Four of the many attractions will include Gulfport’s July 4th Party, St. Pete’s Spa Beach show, Largo’s celebration and Clearwater Celebrates America. Not to be outdone, Pasco county will be hosting their celebration from Waterfront Park and these are just a few of the many celebration sites. Tampabay.com reports that “There are plenty of options, including massive shows in Tampa, St. Pete and New Port Richey as well as smaller shows across Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Sarasota counties. Lots of fireworks for everyone! Check the Internet to see what events will be taking place in your neighborhood. As we watch the bombs bursting in air this 4th of July, stop for a moment and remember our brave fighting men and women, around the world, who are still protecting our freedom today. Then relax, enjoy … and pass me another hotdog.
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Tech Talk with Bob: Wi-Fi: Part 5 – SECURITY By Bob Dalles
Greetings, I hope this column finds you well! I am going to wrap up our discussion with the most important element regarding Wireless Fidelity or Wi-Fi. That is security. Wi-Fi speeds and distances are important considerations, but security is paramount. If you are able to connect your computer, tablet, phone or other device to the internet without using a wire, then you are connected to a wireless network. Guess what? If you can connect to that wireless network, so can anyone else who is in range of your Wi-Fi Router. Remember the box usually setup by your internet service provider? That is your Wi-Fi router which is your gateway to the internet. In my last column I gave you the specific distances of the Wi-Fi (802.11) standards. If you are not sure which 802.11 standard you
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are using, then to be safe, assume yours is the farthest reaching distance; approximately 1200 feet. Your next door neighbors, and perhaps even the neighbors beyond them, and neighbors behind you and even across the street, can be in range to connect to your Wi-Fi. Someone parked in front of your home or business can probably detect and potentially connect to your Wi-Fi and use your internet connection. You do not want that to happen. Every time someone connects
to your Wi-Fi, the speed for each device connected can slow down. You will not maintain the full speed for which you are paying. More importantly, your internet connection can be used to steal your identity and for other illegal purposes. You are not as anonymous as you may think you are on the internet. Data sent from your internet connection can be traced back to you. I am not trying to scare you, but those who do not secure their networks and computers become potential victims for opportunistic internet criminals. An unsecure Wi-Fi network is like leaving your car door unlocked. It makes it so much easier to break into. If an internet criminal comes up against a secured network they are likely to move on to an easier target. Good Wi-Fi routers use encryption methods known as WEP, WPA, and WPA2 which scramble your Wi-Fi signal to
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protect it from others trying to use your internet connection. These encryption methods must be available on not only the Wi-Fi router, but all the computers and devices connected to the Wi-Fi router. A strong password should always be required to connect to your Wi-Fi. Be proactive when it comes to security. For your peace of mind I highly urge you to have a professional evaluate your system to be certain it is properly configured. Have a tech question? Email it to TechTalkTBNL@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 727-534-4000. Until next time, stay safe on the internet!
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“YMCA” Continued from page 1 anywhere in the Greater Carrollwood area at 4029 Northdale Blvd (813 962 3220). If you visit the main facility, you’ll be greeted by friendly, courteous staff to assist your every need or you might even say “hi” to Bart Cape, the friendly, out-going Center Executive Director. He oversees all operations, employees and more than 80,000 square feet of combined facilities, spread across two locations, the main Y and the Bob Sierra Youth and Family Center. You can hear the pride in his voice as he explains the upgrades of the recently completed $2.2 million renovation. It was more than just a facelift! What does this mean to you? Gone are the drop ceilings that create an institution-like environment that makes you feel claustrophobic. Everything is open, colorful and has that “new car smell.” No matter where you look, there are things to see and do. The main Y has something for
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everyone. Do you want to get some real exercise? Try racquetball. There are four courts to choose from! If you enjoy working out, there are separate areas for working with anything from free weights to state-of-the-art exercise machines to target different areas of your body. It’s a good way to get that body looking good in your swimsuit … AGAIN! The Group Fitness Studio offers a
variety of exotic sounding courses like: Just Weights, Cardio Sculpt, and Zumba to Bodyflow to Bodypump and Bodycombat, to name a few. With names like that, I guarantee you a workout. I did … just by typing them! If that “Zen” moment is what appeals to you, visit the Mind/Body Studio. Pick your kind of yoga and enjoy. Choose from regular or Gentle Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga or Enhanced
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Fitness, senior fitness and arthritis management classes which began today. If you like to pedal on a bicycle and go nowhere, this is the place for you! Spin classes include Cycling and Power Cycle, to Interval Cycling and Silver Spin. They even have Pedaling for Parkinson’s courses to help alleviate symptoms. Every group course has a certified instructor to help
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you get the most out of your workout. Another perk to consider is their “Kid Zone” where children, from infants and toddlers to 12-year olds, are supervised by professional caregivers while you enjoy several blissful, stress-free hours at the Y. There are separate areas for older children to access the Internet with their laptops. Families are not overlooked by
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any means. Group activities, each month, give them a chance to grow together, with barbeques and other organized activities. Equally friendly Rick Sandman is the sports director for the Bob Sierra Youth and Family Center. It is located just a short distance from the main facility, at 4015 Ragg Rd. Along with Rick, aquatics director Katryna Morrall, Bart Cape’s staff also includes James
Dineen who oversees regional youth development. Want to have some fun? Why not try one of the two huge pools? The one at the Youth and Family Center boasts three huge interconnected water slides! How’s that for having fun? Why not also sign up for Y Summer Camp? Bob Sierra’s has several great ones. There is a traditional day camp for the younger
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ones but if you are too old for regular camp, try their Teen Camp. Their brochure notes: “You are never too old for camp. Teen Camp offers Summer enrichment experiences which allow campers to explore incredible activities and interact with new friends all while having fun.” That certainly beats sitting home and vegging out on the couch, doesn’t it? A Yelp review says it all. No matter where you live, the local YMCA is great!” Another online review agrees: “My happy place. I’ve been coming here for 10 years and love everything about it!” As Bart noted, “within the wellness industry, we are all inclusive … from the cradle to the grave.” Young, old, boys, girls, men and women, the Y is the place to be. Maybe I should point out, on the Y’s printed brochure, “For Youth Development, For Healthy Living, For Social Responsibility,” they overlooked the most important element … FOR HAVING FUN!!! Visit the Bob Sierra North Tampa Family YMCA at 4029 Northdale Blvd or call 813 962 3220 for more information.
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“Great Clips” Continued from page 1 has today. Lea was one of the very first franchise owners to open her flagship salon in Tampa in the Palms of Carrollwood location at Fletcher and Dale Mabry. She waited patiently for new customers to discover that she didn’t sell hair clips, and once they did, they were hooked on the friendly banter and welcoming environment to everyone in the family. “There are 4300 Great Clips in the U.S. now,” she explained. “I love Great Clips because I have their amazing brand, and it is still my own small business.” Salon manager, Nelie Derobertis, agreed, “I love the environment being part of the management team. Lea’s franchise managers are close and we all communicate with each other every day. Being here in the store with my own team is rewarding because we are really close. We see each other more than we see our own families!” Lea opened her seventh location in Wesley Chapel in December. She is proud that she is one hundred percent hands-on with her business. She makes frequent visits to each of her Great Clips locations. “Every store is important to me and I’m definitely looking for additional locations. I have an excellent group of managers and wonderful stylists that are talented, quick, and aware of the value of a customer’s time.” Stylists stay up to date on the newest trends in hair. These include the hard-part cut for men, textured cuts, layers with movement, and lobs (long bobs) for the ladies. Kids have been coming in requesting the haircuts of the World Cup players. Stylists keep detailed notes in the computer for every client. As soon as you sit in the chair and the cape is
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draped and snapped closed, the stylist can recap what was done before and ask what you’d like this time. Help from technology is welcomed at Great Clips - whether you want to pull up a picture of your desired haircut to show your stylist, or would like to save time and check in before your arrival. The Great Clips Online Check-In App allows guests to check-in on their cell phones and add their name to the wait list, ensuring a much shorter wait when they arrive. “About 40% of our customers use our online check-in because it is so convenient,” said Lea. “You can look online or on the app and see what the estimated wait is at our salon. Once you arrive, your wait time will be shorter than those who didn’t check in online.” Lea’s Great Clips salons offer $15 haircuts for adults and $13 haircuts for children and seniors. They also offer $5 beard trims, which are quite popular these days. To celebrate the start of summer, local Great Clips salons are having the annual Great Haircut Sale from June 6-10 with all haircuts at an even lower price of just $7.99! Whether it’s sponsoring little league, girls’ softball, USF Cuts for Cancer, or live theater tickets for the military, Lea is all about giving back to the community. She says that her shops will always be family-oriented. “We offer affordable quality haircuts that fit the busy schedule of the whole family,” said Lea. “I absolutely love being a family salon.” Lea Orchard offers seven convenient Great Clips locations: Carrollwood – located in the plaza with Fresh Market on the corner of Fletcher and Dale Mabry, in the Palms of Carrollwood at 13129 B N Dale Mabry Hwy; (813) 969-2960 Lutz – located on the corner of
Lutz Lake Fern and Dale Mabry, in Lutz Lake Crossing at 19231 N Dale Mabry Hwy; (813) 909-4125 Citrus Park- located across from Sickles High School on the corner of Sheldon and Gunn, in the Shoppes of Citrus Park at 7851 Gunn Hwy; (813) 920-1100 Pasco County – located on the corner of State Rd. 54 and Livingston, in the Shoppes at Grand Cypress at 23388 State Rd. 54; (813) 949-5999 Riverview - located on the corner of Boyette Rd and
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McMullen, in Goolsby Point at 11653 Boyette Rd; (813)-6776300 Apollo Beach – located on the corner of US 41 and 19th Ave, in Southshore Village Plaza at 5068 N US 41; (813)-296-1810 Wesley Chapel – located on the corner of SR 54 (Wesley Chapel Blvd) and Bruce B Downs, in Hollybrook Plaza; (813)-527-6040 Hours for all locations are Monday through Friday 9am to 9pm, Saturday 9am – 6pm, and Sunday 10am to 5pm.
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