Carrollwood- March, volume 6, Issue 3, Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles by Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles Magazine

Vol. 6, Issue 3, March 2018

Your community. Your magazine.

™

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

The Hen House: Shop, Celebrate, Create By Marcy Sanford

It would take a lot more room than I have in this article t o describe all the wonderful things you can find at The Hen House. In fact, everywhere I walked in the store, I found myself oohing and aweing over something else! Clothes, candles, jewelry, soaps and lotions, pillows, kids’ toys and baby lovies - an inventory that is constantly changing and being

updated, there is always something new to see. “The delivery man is my new best friend,” jokes coowner Molly Voth. She and friends and co-owners Shannon Ater and Anna Richardson met many years ago in church and always talked about opening a store together. In April of last year those long talks and discussed dreams became a reality when they opened The Hen See “Hen House” on page 14.

Infinite Edge class of 2018 includes dozens of students with full-ride scholarships As this year’s high school class of 2018 looks toward graduation and beyond, many students who have been studying at Infinite Edge Learning Center in Tampa Palms are poised to head off to their chosen university, tuition-free.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: From the Editor Carla Selby.................................3 Calendar and News Briefs.................................6-7 Maloney’s Irish Pub......................................10-11 “Tech Talk” with Bob........................................18

Epperson’s Lagoon Grand Opening Event.....24-25

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

Tampa’s Premier Show Ski Team..................20-21

“We have three students who got full scholarships to Duke University,” says owner and manager Ozra Jabbari. “We have another student who got an academic scholarship to Yale, and many other students – See “Infinite Edge” on page 28.

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From The Publisher Matt Selby

Thank you for 5 Years in Carrollwood! Thank-You so much for reading and supporting our FREE monthly publication for 5 full years now! This month marks the start of our 6th year publishing in the Carrollwood area! And we couldn’t be happier with the engagement we’ve received from our readers over the years. When I first moved to the Carrollwood area in 2013, I knew it would be the perfect community to expand my family publishing business, which has proudly served other areas of Tampa Bay for almost 25 years! I quickly understood why the residents of our great community never leave. The loyalty to Carrollwood is like nothing I’ve ever experienced. I don’t have exact figures on this, but the percentage of Carrollwood residents who have lived here for over 20 years has to be higher than anywhere else in Tampa Bay. It really is a special place we love to call home. We’ve went through some positive changes over the past several years; our biggest one being our REBRAND from Neighborhood News

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and Lifestyles to Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles, as we expanded our publishing reach to over 130,000 homes locally. With now 7 individually “hyper-localized” editions, including the Carrollwood edition you receive each month. The name really isn’t that important, in fact, many of you probably never even noticed the change. I guess more than anything, it sets us apart from smaller publications who only service a small amount of areas or single neighborhoods. We are, and always will be, a free service to the residents of our community. Since our only source of revenue is through advertisements that local businesses place with us, it’s important they know what makes us unique, and our large distribution throughout Tampa Bay is a nice selling point. We’ve also rolled out a number of changes to our Social Media. We now have around 15,000 followers on Facebook and another 12,000 or so on Instagram. We really appreciate all the love online, so Thank-You all so much for interacting with us on all our

digital channels. My family and I look forward to many more years in Carrollwood, and we couldn’t do it without your support of the many great local businesses our community has to offer. We appreciate your readership, friendship and your willingness to shop local! CORRECTION FROM LAST MONTHS HOLLYWOOD BODY WRAP STORY: We accidentally misquoted Dalia in the article that ran in February. Dalia still has Lupus. Unfortunately at this time there is no 100% cure. Her symptoms are gone which she attributes to the wraps but the Lupus is just in remission. We pray that Dalia and everyone else affected by Lupus will one day be blessed with a cure.

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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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Community Calendar & News Briefs Bay Area Renaissance Festival Take a time-travel adventure into the 16th century at the annual Bay Area Renaissance Festival at MOSI! Join our Queen in a jubilee! Journey back in time as more than 100 merchants contribute to the atmosphere of this charming 16th century village. Experience live armored jousting, 12 stages of entertainment, 7 theme weekends, and fun and food for the whole family! The Festival is open weekends, with a special day for schools and seniors on Festival Friday, March 23rd, 2018. The Festival is open from 10 am – 6 pm, Rain or Shine. Parking at the Bay Area Renaissance Festival is always free! Discount tickets are available at participating Circle K stores. More Information Date(s): February 10, 2018 March 25, 2018 Hours: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Location: 11315 N 46th St Tampa, FL 33617 http://www.bayarearenfest.com/

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Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival Weekends March 3 - April 29, a world of taste awaits at the fourth annual Food & Wine Festival. The festival brings back signature dishes along with exciting new cuisine as well as a large selection of wines, craft brews and cocktails. Eighteen of the biggest names in entertainment will take the stage every weekend on Gwazi Field. All concerts are included with any Annual Pass, Fun Card or daily admission to the park. Food and beverage is not included with park admission and is available for an extra fee. Guests must be 21 years of age or older to consume alcoholic beverages. Check back as we announce headlining artists! More Information Date(s): March 3, 2018 April 29, 2018 Hours: 10:00 AM Location: 10165 N McKinley Dr Tampa, FL 33612 https://buschgardens.com/tamp a/events/food-and-wine-festival/

HEALTH & FINANCIAL FITNESS SEMINAR: Ladies, Get Empowered to take Control of Your Fitness and Your Wallet. Saturday, March 10th at 12:30 p.m. at the Land O’ Lakes Studio at 2206 Knight Rd. Land O’ Lakes,Fl This month, Samantha Taylor will cover some points to help keep you motivated and focused on your fitness journey. She will be joined by Guest Speaker, Barbara Sekely, Financial Advisor for Waddell & Reed. From earning less, to living longer women have unique challenges when planning for retirement and financial success. Barbara Sekely will empower women to prioritize their financial goals in War for Your Wallet. Light snacks and gourmet coffee provided. Free for members and guests. Reserve your spot via email sent or visit www.SamanthaTaylorSeminars.com

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Florida Strawberry Festival The Florida Strawberry Festival is an 11-day community event celebrating the strawberry harvest of Eastern Hillsborough County. Each year, over 500,000 visitors enjoy the festival’s headline entertainment, youth livestock shows, rides, exhibits of commerce and, of course, its strawberry shortcake. More Information Date(s): March 1, 2018 March 11, 2018 Hours: 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM Location: 303 N. Lemon Street Plant City, FL 33563 http://flstrawberryfestival.com/

Jekyll & Hyde Musical Jekyll & Hyde Musical by Carrollwood Players at the Cuban Club/Ybor. Based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic thriller, Jekyll & Hyde is the gripping tale of a brilliant mind gone horrifically awry, set to a powerful pop-rock score by Frank Wildhorn with book and lyrics by

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Leslie Bricusse. In an attempt to cure his ailing father’s mental illness by separating “good” from “evil” in the human personality, talented physician Dr. Jekyll inadvertently creates an alternate personality of pure evil, dubbed Mr. Hyde, who wreaks murderous havoc on the city of London. As his fiancée Emma grows increasingly fearful for her betrothed, a prostitute, Lucy, finds herself dangerously involved with both the doctor and his alter ego. Struggling to control Hyde before he takes over for good, Jekyll must race to find a cure for the demon he has created in his own mind. More Information Date(s): February 23, 2018 March 17, 2018 Hours: 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM Location: 4333 Gunn Highway Tampa, FL 33618 http://carrollwoodplayers.org

The United States Army Field Band Concert Band and Soldiers' Chorus Concert Free concert at Straz Center by The United States Army Field Band and Soldiers' Chorus from Washington, D.C. Patriotic music, popular music, marches, and band classics will be performed. More Information Date(s): March 9, 2018 Hours: 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM Location: 1010 N WC MacInnes Place Tampa, FL http://www.armyfieldband.com /schedule/concertsoldiers?&group_id=1&p=2

GASPARILLA MUSIC FESTIVAL Like No Music Festival You’ve

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Seen Before - Curtis Hixon Park The Gasparilla Music Festival celebrates the best of Tampa Bay's diverse music scene, highlighting local emerging acts and nationally recognized headliners. The 6th annual festival will host over 40 fun and eclectic acts to be announced. With two full days of music across four stages, the 2017 festival will be the biggest yet. The lineup also features many of Tampa's best eateries including The Refinery, Malio’s Steakhouse, Ella’s Folk Art Cafe (the chicken and waffle cone, it really happened) and more. The festival is kid-friendly with children's activities offered early each day. Voted as "Best Festival in Tampa Bay" in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016, GMF is a non-profit organization benefiting local youth music programs and art education. $30 and up, children 12 and under free. Online at https://gasparillamusic.com/tickets-3/. More Information Date(s): March 10, 2018 March 11, 2018 Hours: 11:30 AM - 11:00 PM Location: 600 N Ashley Dr Tampa, FL 33602 https://www.visittampabay.com/ tampa-events/gasparillaseason/gasparilla-music-festival/

Race To End Homelessness You are invited to join Tampa Housing Authority’s Race to End Homelessness with our 4th Annual 5k Bootcamp run, 5k run or 1 mile walk Please visit eventbrite.com/e/ and click on our event: 4th annual race to end homelessness to register SATURDAY, March 10, 2018 8am - 12pm AL LOPEZ PARK 4810 N. Himes Avenue

www.tampabirthandbabyexpo.com

Tampa, FL 33614

Tampa Birth & Baby Expo Come spend a day at the Expo at Corbett Preparatory School of IDS getting to know your local birth community & learning about great birth and family resources Enjoy face painting, balloon animals, spend time on the playground, learn something new, and make friends! This is a family event with something for everyone. Bring your family and friends to

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this wonderful day of education, shopping, celebration, and raising awareness about all things birth and parenting! Come on out and be a part of the birth community and find your village. This one of a kind event in our area is specific to the needs of growing families in Tampa Bay! More Information Date(s): March 10, 2018 Hours: 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM Location: 12015 Orange Grove Dr Tampa, FL 33618

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Locals are Saying “Cheers” to Maloney’s Irish Pub “Why go far when you can stay local?” That’s the burning question the neighborly crew at Maloney’s Irish Pub is asking patrons. They want you along with your friends and family to feel right at home at their Carrollwood location off of North Dale Mabry Highway; and with a great beer selection, mouthwatering menu and cozy atmosphere, how could you not? Owners Todd Wingard and Brian Pfeiffer opened Maloney’s Carrollwood location in January of 2016, establishing it as the third in the Tampa Bay Area. Maloney’s Irish Pub, which also serves customers in Westchase and Downtown Tampa, is notorious for creating a both jovial and festive atmosphere year round. Locals have made the pub their stomping ground, reveling in its savory food and excellent company on a regular basis. Maloney’s tends to anyone and everyone, calling upon customers of all ages with infinite appetites for food and fun. The pub is family friendly, encouraging a variety of customers to join in on the experience. Maloney’s stays open later than most restaurants, giving customers the opportunity to stop by for a drink or a bite to eat after hours. The kitchen takes orders until 12 am on weeknights and 1 am on weekends. Patrons are welcome from 11 am to 3 am all week long. The fun doesn’t stop there though, as Happy Hour lasts from 3 pm to 7 pm Monday through Friday. As you can imagine, Maloney’s is ordinarily brimming with hungry customers on Friday nights. Extra parking is available in the nearby church lot for these occasions. The staff at Maloney’s Irish Pub gives the word local a new meaning. Many of the employees, including owners Wingard and

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The fine people at Maloney’s Irish Pub want you along with your friends and family to feel right at home at their Carrollwood location off of North Dale Mabry Highway

Pfeiffer, are Tampa natives. Tony, the chef at Maloney’s, has resided in Carrollwood for over twenty years. “We are happy to be in the area,” he says. When it comes to attentive service, Maloney’s is second to none. Their employees are courteous, sociable people who go above and beyond to ensure your party returns a second and third time. The bartenders at Maloney’s are entertaining and highly efficient in their positions, leaving you with no reason to lose faith in their mixology skills. Maloney’s has had the same service staff since it opened at the beginning of this year. Maloney’s has everything on the menu from traditional Irish fare to gourmet pub dishes. Among their most loved entrees are the Shepard’s pie, burgers,

Shepard’s pie

wings and fish n’ chips. Matt Selby, owner of Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles, had nothing but good things to say about the entrees he sampled when he accompanied me. He described Maloney’s staple Shepard’s pie as

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“just like the one his grandma makes.” After tasting The Stank Burger, Selby added “I’m not a big burger eater, but this one is very well-prepared. It has a ton of flavor, the perfect combination of spices and just the right amount Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles

of juices.” The jumbo wings come in a variety of unique flavors including Asian Sweet Ginger, Mango Habanero and Chipotle Jalapeno. Customers can scarf down a burger of the month, which changes every thirty days. The pub boasts homemade sauces, Shepard’s pie, burgers, onion petals and salads as well as fresh fish. Vegans and vegetarians are not excluded as Maloney’s Irish Pub has hummus, a veggie burger and many delicious salads on the menu. Guests can stick to their goto drink order or venture out and try a new one with liquors from Maloney’s fully stocked bar. Choose from specialty beverages including but not limited to the Irish Manhattan, Moscow Mule, Celtic Cosmo, Old Fashioned and The Maloney. Shots and drafts are also listed on the menu. Inside the pub sits a lengthy, spacious bar top. Whether you have a party of two or a party of ten, Maloney’s is happy and prepared to accommodate. Customers can also dine on one of the many tables available for seating indoors or outside on the patio. Maloney’s Irish Pub is a great place for sports fanatics to cheer on their favorite team. No matter who you root for, you are guaranteed to find them playing on one of the pub’s many flat screen TV’s, especially during football season! It’s commonly said that the best things in life are free, but you can’t put a price on good food and great company. Maloney’s Irish Pub has got you covered with everything from food and drinks to sports games and live music. Not to mention they’re located right here in Carrollwood, making your choice a clear one! For local food, fun and festivities, call (813)-252-5526 or stop by 12904 N Dale Mabry Hwy in Tampa. Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles

After tasting The Stank Burger, publisher Matt Selby said, “I’m not a big burger eater, but this one is very well-prepared. It has a ton of flavor, the perfect combination of spices and just the right amount of juices.”

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“Hen House” Continued from page 1 House located in Carrollwood in the Main Street Plaza on North Dale Mabry. Over the past year they have quickly become a favorite stopping and gathering place for shoppers, crafters and gift givers. The Perfect Gift to Give – Or Keep for Yourself - No matter what you need –the perfect hostess or wedding gift, something special for mom for Mother’s Day, a bauble for your best friend’s birthday, an end of the year thank you gift for your favorite teacher, a happy for yourself - The Hen House has you covered. They carry candles, lotions and soaps, accessories,

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clothes and home decor, many of which you won’t find anywhere else in Tampa. They offer popular brands like Mud Pie, Demdaco, MilkHouse, Corkcicle and Bunnies by the Bay as well as items from up and coming artisans and designers. Molly says they try to carry items that are made in the U.S.A. and even have items by local artists and companies like Dixie Belle. The trio visits market several times a year and even posts videos and pictures on Facebook so their customers can vote for items they’d like to see carried in the store. The owners love for their customers to feel as much a part of The Hen House as they are! Flowers for Special and

Everyday Occasions – If you are looking for flower arrangements to make your wedding truly special or a beautiful bouquet to accent your table at Easter brunch, look no further than The Hen House. They will handcraft delightful floral displays that will set the perfect mood for your event. If you have specific flowers you’d like in the arrangement, just give The Hen House a week’s notice and they can get most any flowers you desire. Need a bouquet now? No worries, The Hen House always carries an array of fresh seasonal flowers and can create a floral masterpiece you can take with you. They even deliver in the Carrollwood area. Calling All Crafters - The

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Hen House offers workshops every month in a wide variety of fun and creative projects. In March you can learn how to create an Easter Centerpiece or Spring Wreath. You can also learn jewelry design, painting techniques and how to make your own personalized wooden signs. If you have furniture you’ve been meaning to re-do, The Hen House’s BYOF furniture painting class would be perfect for you. Bring the side table, chair or other piece you’ve been hoping to refresh and they can teach you how to refurbish it using the latest techniques and paints from Fusion and Dixie Belle paints. The Hen House is also the perfect gathering place for your

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group of friends. They can help you customize an event that everyone will love and where everyone will be able to go home with a creation they’ll adore. It’s a wonderful place to host a birthday party, bridal shower, bachelorette party, lunch and learn or your next girls day (or night) out. There is always something fun happening at The Hen House! Did I mention the fabulous leggings, lovely shirts and dresses? What about the vintage Lip Smackers lip-gloss or organic, vegan bath products? The Hen House even has awesome gifts for pet lovers and pets. The list of fabulous products could go on and on but you need to see it for yourself – you’re sure to find

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something you’ll love. The Hen House will be celebrating their one-year anniversary at the end of April. To stay up-to-date about all the festivities as well as special events and workshops, visit their website www.TheHH.com and sign up to be on their email list or like them on Facebook. The Hen House is located at 11730 North Dale Mabry in the Main Street Plaza (same shopping center as Villagio Cinema, Black Rock Restaurant and Michael’s Grille). They are open Tuesday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. For more information visit www.TheHH.com or call 813264-HENS (4367).

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“Tech Talk” with Bob - This month’s topic: Wi-Fi By Bob Dalles

Greetings! People frequently ask me about “Wi-Fi”. Can you explain Wi-Fi? There is a high probability that you use it every day. Wi-Fi stands for Wireless Fidelity. Kind of like the days of “Hi-Fi” for home stereo systems, but now I’m showing my age. If you don’t remember Hi-Fi, then consider yourself lucky. The internet connection in your home or office in the past have been “hard wired;” meaning physically connected with a network cable between your computer and your internet service provider’s modem. The modem is that box your phone or cable company sets up in your home or office. That modem is your computer’s connection to the internet, which allows you to connect to web sites all over the world. When computers became smaller and more portable, carrying around a laptop computer tethered with a network wire was not feasible.

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Engineers developed a way to carry the internet signals through the air. This would eliminate the network cable and provide more mobility for the user. So, where does the wireless fidelity come in? Engineers had to make certain that the wireless signals that “flew through the air” were as reliable as the signals that traveled

across the network cable. The fidelity of the wireless architecture had to be as reliable as the wired architecture. Therefore, wireless network connections became known as Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi has evolved over the past decades and will continue to develop into the future. Wi-Fi network

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cards used to be an expensive addon to computers. If you wanted the luxury of Wi-Fi networking, you had to pay $$$. However, over time prices went down. Today, most computers you buy have the Wi-Fi capability built-in. The laptop or desktop computer you now buy for your home or office has Wi-Fi but there are considerations to Wi-Fi that most people are not aware of. These are items such as: speed, distance, and most importantly security. We’ll go into more detail about that next time. Have a tech question? Email it to TechTalkTBNL@BobTheComputerGuy.N ET. 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 727-5344000. Until next time, stay safe on the internet!

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Prepare to be Wowed by Tampa’s Premier Show Ski Team By Marcy Sanford Looking for something fun and different to do with friends and family? Check out the Tampa Bay Water Ski Show Team. Every Saturday from March 17 through the end of October they’ll be delighting audiences with their impressive ski shows reminiscent of ones you would have seen at Cypress Gardens. The Tampa Bay Water Ski Show Team (TBWSST) has some of the best show skiers in the world on the team, with members having won

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awards at the Regional and National levels. They have even set world records, including the seven-man front flip over a regulation 14-foot wide jump and the World’s Largest Human Pyramid. In fact many of their skiers have gone on to ski professionally at places like Cypress Gardens, Sea World, LegoLand and the Wisconsin Dells. “We are a competitive show ski team,” said TBWSST member Lisa Stephens. “We compete in the Southern Regional Show Ski Championships and at one time, won the top title for 13 years in a row.”

Having placed second for the past two years, the team is back on the water this season with some pretty amazing acts they hope will put them back in first place when they compete in June. Each week this talented group of skiers presents a new themed show for audiences to enjoy which also serves as a chance for them to show off their skills and hone their performances for championship time. In addition to incredible skiing, the team is decked out in costumes and make-up and performs to music to suit the theme. Kids and adults of all

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ages will be wowed by the weekly performances. It takes more than 100 volunteers to pull off the professional shows each week and Lisa says this is one of the reasons that so many families become involved with the group and continue to come back year after year. “It is a great family activity. There is something for everyone to do whether you ski or not. We have volunteers who run concessions, make costumes, work the sound board and help in all different ways.” Lisa says there are young adults who started with the

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team when they were elementary age as well as families with members from several different generations. Several support members who were once skiers in the show now have duties off the water that help things run smoothly. Lisa offers another example of how skiing is truly a family affair, “Twelve-year-old CJ Welch learned to barefoot last season. Younger brother, Gavin, is a member as well. Their mom, Shannon, grew up on the team and she and her husband, Ryan, were both skiers at Cypress Gardens. Ryan’s parents skied with Cypress Gardens as well and Shannon’s parents are both active support members of our Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles

Tampa team.” Amazingly all shows are free to the public. TBWSST is a non-profit organization dedicated to the sport of show skiing and they do accept donations – all of which go towards costumes, boat maintenance and gas and other items necessary to put on the weekly performances. The atmosphere at the family friendly shows is festive and yet laidback. There are bleachers to sit on or you can bring your own chair or blanket. Concessions are for sell but you are welcome to bring a picnic basket or cooler. If you are interested in learning how to ski or improving your skills,

TBWSST offers clinics by appointment for beginners to advanced skiers. Lisa also encourages anyone who already knows how to ski and is interested in competitive show skiing to think about joining the team. “It has been a wonderful experience for my family,” she said. “Our kids have worked on a team with people of all ages from preschoolers to seniors. They have learned leadership responsibilities and the importance of preparations behind the scenes. It has taught them sportsmanship and it is something the whole family can participate in. There are lots of opportunities off the water as well as on.”

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The Tampa Bay Water Ski Show Team performs at Tower Lake in Oldsmar at 130 Burbank Road. Shows are every Saturday at 6 p.m. (weather permitting) with a pre-show featuring beginner skiers starting at 5:30. Shows are free and open to the public. The first show of the 2018 season will be a St. Patrick Day Show on March 17. Be sure to wear your green. For more information on shows or becoming a member of the team, visit www.tampawaterski.com or call Vickie at 813-917-8354 or Lisa at 727-480-9365. MARCH 2018

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Join the Festivities at Epperson’s Lagoon Grand Opening Event Saturday, April 28 By Marcy Sanford In January on one of the coldest days of the year, Metro Development Group celebrated the completion of their 7-acre Crystal Lagoon in Wesley Chapel’s Epperson neighborhood and people have been stopping to admire it every since. “In most communities you can not see the amenities residents have,” said Greg Singleton, President of Metro Development Group. “But in Epperson the east – west connector road, Overpass Road, is open to the public. You can see the lagoon from the road. We have a scenic overlook there and people will park and admire the lagoon and take pictures of it.” If you’ve been admiring the Crystal Lagoon from afar, you’ll have your chance to see it up-close at a Grand Opening event Saturday, April 28, featuring Olympic Champion swimmer Michael Phelps. The all day event will be open to the public and

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feature plenty of fun family activities. While there are numerous Crystal Lagoons around the world in places like Chile, Panama, Paraguay, Mexico Saudi Arabia, and other countries, this is the first Crystal Lagoon to be built in the U.S. Metro Places has plans to build 5 lagoons in West Central Florida – another in Pasco County, one in Southern Hillsborough County, one in Lee County (North Ft. Myers) and another in Polk County. The massive lagoon is the same size as 6 football fields connected to each other and it is a ¾ of a mile walk around its perimeter. Sandy white beaches surround the lagoon and there are different areas for families and friends of all ages to hang out and play. Residents will be able to enjoy a variety of aquatic recreational activities, such as swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding and even using small (non-motorized) sailboats. The lagoon at Epperson will also have

exciting features, including a waterslide, private cabanas, in-water obstacle platform, swim-up bar, tidal pool, restaurant, family beach, yoga lawn, an entertainment plaza, an area for special events and much more. “We have something for everyone,” said Greg. “This amenity touches every generation. Kids see fun, teenagers see a great hangout place, parents and grandparents see a place to exercise and spend time with kids and grandkids.” According to Metro Places, the developer of Epperson, Crystal Lagoons are eco-friendly once filled. They use sustainable technology that helps limit water and chemical usage. Upon completion, each lagoon uses 50 times less water compared to a park of the same size and 30 times less water than an 18-hole golf course. The lagoon is maintained by Crystal Lagoons’ ultra-sonic technology that uses sensors to monitor the quality of

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the crystal-clear water. This sustainable technology also uses 100 times less chemicals than a traditional swimming pool and uses up to 50 times less energy than conventional pool filtration systems. The Crystal Lagoon isn’t the only amenity you’ll find at Epperson. The neighborhood is also part of the first ever Connected City, which has been designated the first “Smart Gigabit Community” in the country to be built from the ground up. Metro Places exclusive technology, ULTRAFi, provides the fastest internet and WiFi speeds in the nation throughout the homes, the community and the lagoon. Greg says that when they planned the community, they tried to consider future needs of residents. “We wanted to create a connected city, an autonomous city. When we planned this community, we thought about self-driving vehicles. We envision a day

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when you could order a driverless, electric car to come to your house to take you to the lagoon or parks in the neighborhood.â&#x20AC;? A Tampa-based company founded in 2003, Metro

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Development Group is committed to brining some of the most innovative technologies and amenities to homebuilders and homebuyers. With the introduction of Metro Places, Connected City, ULTRAFI and

Metro Lagoons by Crystal Lagoons, Metro Development Group continues to be the gold standard in the development of master planned communities. For more information visit MetroDevelopmentGroup.com.

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Epperson is located at 7851 Curley Road in Wesley Chapel. For more information, visit epperson.metroplaces.com or come to the Crystal Lagoon Grand Opening Saturday, April 28.

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“Infinite Edge” Continued from page 1 maybe 50 – who got full scholarships to the University of South Florida, University of Florida, and other schools.”

How did they do it? They turned to Ozra and her staff at Infinite Edge, which has a track record of preparing students to reach their highest potential, including perfect scores on the SAT or ACT. Many of them have been studying at Infinite Edge for years. If your child – in elementary school or older – needs a challenge or is looking to improve in any educational area, Infinite Edge can help. “Each lesson is a private, one-

MARCH 2018

on-one session with a teacher, which lasts a full 60 minutes,” says Ozra. “We focus on any specific area of need, and also continuously assess the student’s progress to maximize achievement, as well as retention and comprehension of academic knowledge.” A professional staff of about 18 educators work one-on-one with kids and teens to be sure they get individual attention. “We help students in every class and every subject,” says Ozra. “All of our tutors work here part-time, because the majority are professional teachers or college professors. Our staff is matched with specific students who need help catching up or want to push ahead in any and all subjects.”

WHAT YOU GET AT INFINITE EDGE: • • • • • •

One-on-one instruction Individual, customized curriculum Continuous assessment Competitive pricing Flexible scheduling No contracts

Renee Ware shares how the approach worked for her daughter, who is now a sophomore at Duke University, with a full academic scholarship. “Kennedy made so much progress in math because Infinite Edge dedicated her time and preparation to where she needed the most help,” she explains.

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“The encouragement she received from her tutors developed her confidence in an area that was okay, but became a lot better.” Renee’s younger son, Anthony, now goes to Infinite Edge. “Ozra has worked around our schedule, because it’s so crazy,” Renee says. “It’s been a great help to us, because

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basketball never stops.”

Test Prep This time of year, many students are taking SAT and ACT tests. If your child is a high school freshman or sophomore – or a junior who didn’t get the results they hoped for – now is the time to start preparing for the SAT and ACT that will be offered this fall. Ozra says Infinite Edge has earned a reputation as the “home of the perfect SAT,” thanks to a tradition of coaching students into remarkable – even perfect – test scores. “My oldest son, who is 18, got a perfect score on the ACT,” says one mom. “I definitely attribute it to Infinite Edge. He got a full ride scholarship to Duke, and was accepted into several colleges, even Ivy Leagues.” He will attend Duke this fall. A full test preparation program at Infinite Edge Learning Center can take several months. Cramming all that information in a few weeks won’t yield the same results. “A student needs to have a good foundation, and start preparing sooner rather than later,” says Ozra. Sahana Gowda planned ahead so that her daughter, Maya, would start preparing in the fall to take the SAT the following spring. Maya did so well on that first

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test, Sahana says, that she didn’t want to take it again. “She took one SAT and got a 1530 out of 1600,” Sahana explains. “Maya probably would have done okay without the test preparation, but Infinite Edge helped her to get an exceptionally high score.” SAT and ACT test preparation is offered in one-onone sessions, and also group sessions, which always have six students or less. SAT and ACT aren’t the only tests students are preparing for at Infinite Edge. “FSA is coming in March and April,” Ozra says, referring to the Florida Standards Assessments, taken by all students in third through tenth grade. She emphasizes that some tests must be passed to move to the next grade level or for graduation. “We tutor students to be sure they are fully prepared.”

Now offering afterschool care Infinite Edge now offers an after-school program for elementary school students, helping them to complete and understand their homework, while being cared for in a safe environment. “It’s great for families,” says Ozra. “We help the students get their homework done while Mom and Dad are still at work.” A mom whose daughter attends the after-school program agrees. “My daughter is nine and

LOOK TO INFINITE EDGE FOR: • • • • •

SAT/ACT prep FSA prep After-school care with homework help Tutoring in individual classes Homeschool support

goes to Chiles,” she explains. “At Infinite Edge, she gets more of a personalized touch than she would at other after school programs. It’s nice that her homework is done early, before she gets tired, and we have the opportunity to have some quality time together in the evening.”

Homeschool help, too Infinite Edge offers flexible scheduling for homeschool students, athletes, musicians, and other students who need it. “We are here as a resource for homeschooling students who would benefit from additional support,” Ozra explains. “For an additional challenge, or to get help beyond your typical daily routine, contact us to design a completely customized study

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program for your homeschooled student.”

About Infinite Edge Infinite Edge Learning Center was established by Ozra and her late husband, Sobi, in 2007. It continues to be a premier provider of customized tutoring, serving New Tampa. Ozra, her staff, and her students continue to achieve superior results, making Sobi’s legacy a proud one. Infinite Edge is located at 17419 Bridge Hill Ct., in the Tampa Palms Professional Center near Freedom High School. To learn more about how Infinite Edge can help your child, call 813-971-6500 or visit infiniteedgelearningcenter.com.

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