Vol. 12, Issue 10, October 2019
Your community. Your magazine.™
®
The Premier “Shop Local” Community Magazine Directly Mailed To 18,000 Homes In Trinity & Surrounding Areas This Independent Community News, Business & Dining Guide Is Directly Mailed Once Each Month To: Anchorage, Bay Arbor, Boot Ranch, Brookers Landing, Crescent Oaks, Cypress Cove, Cypress Lakes Estates, Cypress Run, Cypress Trails, Deer Hollow, Grey Oak, Eagle Cove, Eagle’s Cove at Lake Tarpon, Eagle Ridge, Eagle Trace, Eagle Watch, East Lake Oaks, East Lake
Woodlands, Hunters Wood, Keystone Bluffs, Keystone Palms, Keystone Ranchettes, Lansbrook, Lansbrook Village, Meadow Ridge, Nature’s Watch, Oak Hill Acres, Pine Ridge, Regina Estates, Ridgemoor, Tarpon Woods, Wentworth, Whispering Lakes, Woodfield
Magic Is Happening at Mystic Fish By Deborah Bostock-Kelley You’ve probably driven past Mystic Fish Seafood Grill and Bar in the strip shopping center on Tampa Road. When you finally take the opportunity to enjoy a meal there, be prepared for a feast not only for the palette but the senses. Open the heavy ornate wooden doors and you are greeted with a dropped ceiling, 1,200 hand-laid, iridescent Mexican abalone shells border, three saltwater aquariums, horned lit sculptures made from
reel-to-reel motion picture film and hand-blown wall scones from Chicago, and three-dimensional swimming cuddle fish carving on the left wall. Stained glass windows and unique light fixtures allow for softer light around the whole dining area and bar and Italian fossil lined booths, and teak wood tables draped in white linen tablecloths. Despite the luxury description, when owner and executive chef, Doug Bebell (and his part-
See “Mystic Fish” on page 20
Crystal Nails & Spa: Voted Eastlake Woodlands 2019 Neighborhood Favorite
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: From the Editor..............................5
By Kelly Stuart Williams, MA
TCBY...............................................6-7
Awarded as one of “Eastlake Woodlands 2019 Neighborhood Favorites,” by nextdoor.com, Crystal Nails & Spa at 3438 Eastlake Road is conveniently located near the Walmart Neighborhood Market in the Eastlake Woodlands Shopping Center in Palm Harbor. Upon entering Crystal Nails & Spa, customers remark that the nail spa is impeccably clean, and they feel instantly relaxed by the subtle fragrance
Trinity Family Physicians.............8-9 Spooky Empire........................10-11 Wheelchairs 4 Kids.................18-19 Pranique Yoga & Wellness...........22 Tech Talk with Bob..................26-27
of Ylang Ylang, mint, citrus, and lavender gently wafting from the lavish treatment areas. However, what is most striking is the warm welcome they
receive when they arrive and the friendly service provided throughout their manicure, pedicure, wax, or facial services. See “Crystal Nails” on page 14
SAT and ACT Improvement....28-29
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Boos, Breasts & Bolts October is all about Halloween, fall leaves, candy, hockey, and breast cancer awareness. This month we raise awareness by taking a stand against breast cancer by walking, donating, and simply repping pink. So every day of this month, we should show our stand against cancer by remembering a few important points: About 1 in every 8 women will develop breast cancer. That is a whole 12.4% of all women. Breast cancer is the third most diagnosed cancer among women. Breast cancer can be significantly reduced if spotted early on, usually in your early to mid-twenties. Awareness can save a life. Check your own boobies for lumps and irregularities. Not sure how or where to start? Visit www. nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-self-exam The color pink was officially adopted by the American Cancer Society as a color for Breast Cancer Awareness. The National Football League, or the NFL has also become a sponsor of the American Cancer Society by wearing pink socks, bands, and some teams have even donned pink shoes. Wear pink, for your grandmother, mother, daughter, future daughter, niece, friend, yourself. Remember this cancer can also affect men, so wear pink for everyone. Please check out the Making Strides of Tampa Race/Walking Event on Saturday, October 19th at the Raymond James Stadium. The event will be Presented by the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa. Every year, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer events unite communities with a shared determination to save lives from breast cancer - all while raising money to help the American Cancer Society fight breast cancer through
research and early detection. Every event is an inspiring opportunity to honor breast cancer survivors and to ensure that no one with this disease ever has to walk alone. Join or donate to Making Strides Against Breast Cancer today and help save more lives. For more information about this and other Breast Cancer Awareness events please visit www.eventbrite.com. With plenty of breast cancer awareness events, amazing fall festivals, Halloween parties, hockey games, and pre-holiday celebrations across the city, you’ll have plenty of fun choices for you and your loved ones this October. For us Lightning fans, it’s been a painful offseason as we’ve had plenty of time to relive the disastrous and heartbreaking first-round sweep in last year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs. But, hopefully, this year will be our year! The bolts will take on the Florida Panthers on Thursday, October 3 in Tampa to open up the regular season, and I am ready to support our team… are you? Obsessed with Halloween? Ditto. Have you purchased your Howl-O-Scream tickets yet? Time is ticking. Howl-O-Scream 2019 celebrates “20 years of fear” as it unearths longburied icons of the past and new nightmares with sinister surprises at every turn. Brave souls can venture though horrifying houses, terrifying scare zones, and thrilling rollercoaster rides in the dark for 22 select nights. Run for your life from September 20th until November 2 as gruesome ghouls emerge from their tombs to twist your daydreams into nightmares. If you’re looking for something you can enjoy with your little ones, consider Tampa Bay’s No. 1 Family Fright Fest events; “Creatures of the Night,” recording weekly on Friday and Saturday until 10/26 at the Lowry Park Zoo. Enjoy and be safe!
Carla Selby.
TCBY - The Healthier Treat For Any Occasion
Summers in Florida are long, very warm, and fairly humid; and, nothing is more refreshing than a delicious, and healthy cool treat. The TCBY (The Country’s Best Yogurt) commitment to customers is “to offer you nutritional value and variety” when it comes to their products. General Manager and coowner Jenifer Silar-Mills, stays true to that commitment and more at her TCBY location at the Mitchell Ranch Plaza in Trinity. It’s a family affair for Silar-Mills as her parents, Patti and Jay Silar are co-owners as well. All take pride in the quality of products and service they deliver to folks in the Trinity area seeking a refreshing treat without the guilt associated with most desserts. In 2010, Jay and Patti discovered a selfserve TCBY yogurt store and liked what they tasted! Though retired, they saw this as a great business opportunity. After doing their research on the company, they discovered TCBY is the oldest frozen yogurt company in the
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country, celebrating 38 years this year, since September 1981. They opened in August 2011 and celebrated eight years of success in August. In that same year, TCBY introduced their Super Fro-Yo. The standards required to meet this category of yogurt include four or more grams of protein, 3 grams of fiber, seven types of live or active cultures, low in fat and no more than 120 calories per serving. Super Fro-Yo is also a great source of calcium and vitamin D. No guessing is involved when trying to select one of the more nutritional options, as all the flavors meet the Super Fro-Yo standards. Variety of products = something for everyone! There truly is something at TCBY for everyone. Vegan, GMO, gluten and dairy-free products are offered as well. A no sugar added and Greek yogurts are also among the selection of flavors. Flavors are often changed so if you’ve been there recently, go again because chances are, the choice of flavors have changed
since you were there last. Want more than one flavor? You’re in luck! Each of the five self-serve yogurt machines features two compatible flavor options. If you want to combine both flavors of a particular machine, you can swirl the two flavors together for a double delight! For example, the traditional favorites, vanilla, and chocolate are always among the selection of one machine. Patrons can fill cups with one flavor or swirl them together. Seasonal flavors are also featured at different times of the year such as peach during the summer months and pumpkin during the fall and winter seasons. If Super Fro-Yo isn’t healthy enough for you, Patti explains they always have what she calls “the healthy machine.” It’s the machine which features the no sugar added and Greek flavors, which are both non-fat selections.The no sugar added flavors that are rotated every two weeks and include flavors like chocolate chip mint, cappuccino, butter pecan, blueberry delight, lemon custard, salted caramel,
and pistachio nut. The Greek yogurt is flavored with honey and vanilla and contains more protein, calcium, fiber, and probiotics than any other Froyo. “Our products really are a healthy treat no matter what you pick,” Patti said. “TCBY yogurt is patented and made only for us, so you will not find our superior quality anywhere else,” said Jay. “All the flavors are also kosher and Halal certified,” he added. There’s more to TCBY than meets the eye If you still want the nutritional value of yogurt for your ice-cold treat but crave the added crunch of an ice cream cone, TCBY offers that option, too! Their handdipped yogurt case features a variety of flavors that can be nestled into a waffle cone or bowl for your added enjoyment! The variety does not end at flavor selection. With more than fifty toppings to choose from, the fun is just beginning! Sprinkles, chunks of cookie dough, candies, chocolate chips, fresh fruits and
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more adorn the toppings bar. Squeezable toppings such as marshmallow, Hershey’s syrup, raspberry, coffee, and salted caramel are flavor options. If hot fudge or caramel is your preference, they’ve got you covered there as well as both are always on hand and available. After making your yogurt flavor selection, don’t forget to check out the options available in freezer display! Frozen yogurt Cakes and Pies are available, all made in house, reasonably priced with a multitude of choices in yogurt, cake, crusts, toppings, and icing colors. The new alternative “Party To Go” allows you to order yogurt and toppings ahead of time and simply stop by and pick it up, and it will be ready for your special occasion. Also available are Yogwiches which feature flavored frozen yogurt sandwiched between two outer layers of
Oreo cookie. The freezer selection also caters to those who want to take home the refreshing dessert. Fro-yo pints are ready to grab and go! A great place to be on both sides of the counter TCBY regulars, Dede Dickinson and Rae McMann are walking testimonies of quality of products and customer service they receive at TCBY. These ladies work at the nearby Medical Center of Trinity. “We have to be careful about what we have for lunch every day so we can have room for this. It’s our ritual,” chuckled Dede. Rae added, “We just love it. One of my favorites is cake batter with hot fudge!” For the owners, creating a great atmosphere for customer’s means creating happy employees as well. Everyone at the store enjoys working for the Silars. Patti
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explained for those seeking a first job, it’s important to them to provide a safe, supervised and fun opportunity. “This is a family store and emphasize customer service, greet each customer and serve samples, the same as you would welcome a guest in your home.” Many of the customers seen daily are familiar faces. At TCBY Trinity, they love to give back. “We try the best we can to help those in need and contribute to the common good,” said Patti. “We get involved through donations, fundraisers and spirit nights for schools, churches, and nonprofit organizations to earn money.” Stop in soon for your nutritious summer cool-down treat! Located at 3140 Little Road, Trinity, 34655. Store hours are noon to nine Sunday through Thursday and noon to ten Friday and Saturday.
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Patients Benefit From Married Doctors’ Calling to Create Practice By Deborah Bostock-Kelley Serving Trinity and its surrounding areas for twelve years, the husband and wife team of experienced boardcertified family physicians, Dr. Stephanie Eldridge and Dr. Amir Shirmohammad (Dr. Shirmo) opened Trinity Family Physicians to provide personalized care for their patients – from age 8 to 108. As private practice owners and not another corporateowned medical entity, Trinity Family Physicians treats their new and established patients like family. In fact, it’s in their motto “Let Our Family Care for Yours.” That difference is huge,
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especially for anyone who has struggled to have five minutes of a doctor’s time before he darts off to the next patient. These caring doctors have no problem spending quality time to listen to patients. “Our biggest advantage is our bedside manner and how we truly care about our patients. We are notorious for taking time with our patients. That’s one of the things that people love about us,” explained Dr. Shirmo. “When they come here, they know that they are going to get excellent care. If we can’t handle your situation, we’ll find the right person that can for you. Patients at our practice feel like they are heard and are not just
a number.” Not only are patients not a number at Trinity Family Physicians, but they will soon be expanding their service hours to accommodate often busy schedules. Patients will be able to see the doctors as early as 8:00 am and as late as 5:15 pm. Dr. Shirmo recommends calling early for the extended hour appointments, as those time slots tend to fill the fastest. For those unable to make the drive to the practice, Drs. Eldridge and Shirmo conveniently provide superior care to established patients via their new state-of-theart tele-visit service. Current patients can download an app and connect face-to-
face with the doctors via a computer or smart device. If insurance doesn’t cover televisits, the practice is offering a discounted rate of $39 for the next 60 days. “We try to understand the obstacles patients face and we try to address those,” said Dr. Shirmo. “As the owners of the practice, if things make sense and changes need to be made for the betterment of the community and our patients, we are motivated and excited to help. It doesn’t take an act of congress to get it done.” The doctors are proud that they handpick all of their staff – from the front desk receptionist that greets their patients coming and leaving,
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year requires an additional sports physical for completion of a sports participation form. Without insurance covering a second physical, the cost can often be more than a parent wants to pay. To help reduce the expense, parents can schedule their child’s sports physical with the practice for the reduced price of $25, now through September 31st. Please call the office for details. When not busy taking care of patients in their office, the doctors also support Dr. Amir Shirmohammad “Dr.Shirmo” and Dr. Stephanie Eldridge their community through participation with local of Trinity Family Physicians charities. to the nurse that takes them them with your patients’ family, “One thing that patients to the examination room, to kids, and grandparents.” want is to make sure that doctor the providers overseeing their Sometimes, even if caring for them has their best wellness and care. children have had their annual interests in mind. Whether it’s “If we wouldn’t trust them physical covered by insurance Dr. Eldridge, myself or our staff, with our own family – our kids, earlier in the year, sports we always genuinely have the we certainly wouldn’t trust participation in the new school patients’ best interest in mind.
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We want to do what’s right for them. That’s first and foremost. We’re committed to our patients and our community. When patients make the switch from their doctor to us, they come to understand that and wish they had changed a long time ago,” Dr. Shirmo paused. “We don’t just clock in and clock out. This isn’t a job for us. This is a calling.” Trinity Family Physicians is located at the corner of Trinity Blvd. and Duck Slough Blvd. at 1817 Cypress Brook Dr., Suite 101 in Trinity. Hours are Mon. – Fri., 8:30 a.m.– 5:00 p.m. Starting October 1, hours will be MonThurs 8:00-6:00 p.m., Friday 8:00-5:00 p.m. For more information, call (727) 8348377 or visit their Facebook page or website at www. trinityfamilyphysicians.com.
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SPOOKY EMPIRE TAKES OVER TAMPA WITH AN ADVANCED OPENING ON HALLOWEEN DAY
The nation’s largest thriller convention has extended to a four-day weekend starting on Halloween for children, families, and adults, in celebration of the spooky holiday Spooky Empire, the company that hosts one of the most coveted and recognizable thriller conventions in the nation,is set to have many firsts as they enter their 17th year. This year, the convention welcomes attendees in a new city its new host location, Tampa Convention Center. As a special treat, doors will open an
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extra day in advance in celebration of Halloween on Thursday, October 31 and continue through Sunday, November 3, 2019. The opening on Halloween day will feature tricks & treats for guests of all ages and a discounted price tag of $20 for adults and free for kids 12 and under. During Thursday’s festivities, convention goers can experience the ‘dark side of comic con’ with a day full of exhibitors, afterparties, vendors, kids costume contests with prizes, and trick-or-treating. Throughout the weekend, guests will be able to meet and mingle with their favorite stars, buy amazing collectibles from hundreds of vendors and artists, see new and emerging films as well as old favorites, and even get tattooed by some of the best artists in the world. “Needless to say, Halloween
is our favorite holiday and without a question, we needed to incorporate it as part of this year’s Spooky Empire,” remarked Gina Mongelli, co-owner of Spooky Empire. She added, “we want our new fans to know and our longtime fans to remember that the convention is not only for adults, but it’s also kid-friendly.” Celebrities and bold face
names joining the festivities this year include some of the biggest names in horror and pop culture, including: • Director Clive Barker, best known for his films Hellraiser, Hellraiser II, Candyman, Midnight Meat Train, and Night Breed. • Sam Raimi, director of Army of Darkness, Evil Dead, Ash vs Evil Dead, Spider-Man, Grudge,
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Crawl, Xena, and Hercules. • Plus, his brother actor Ted Raimi from Evil Dead, Army of Darkness, Xena: Warrior Princess, Ash vs Evil Dead, Twin Peaks, Midnight Meat Train, and SpiderMan. • The infamous actor Bruce Campbell of Army of Darkness, Evil Dead, Evil Dead 2, Xena: Warrior Princess, Burn Notice, Adventures of Brisco County Jr, and Bubba Ho-tep.
• Actor James Hong who has been featured in Big Trouble in Little China, The Golden Child, Kung Fu Panda, Blade Runner, Seinfeld, Tank Girl, Wayne’s World. • And Danielle Harris, known for her roles in Halloween 4, Halloween 5, Halloween (Rob Zombie), Holliston, and Hatchet 2. More celebrity guests will be announced in the upcoming weeks.
The Tampa Convention Center offers sparkling waterfront views of the Garrison Channel which connects to the Hillsborough River, 600,000 square feet of transformable spaces, and state of the art amenities. The facility has fourlevels of space comprised of an exhibition hall, ballroom, spacious pre-function areas and several breakout rooms. In addition to the facility’s features and amenities, the Tampa Convention Center’s central location gives visitors direct access to some of the city’s top hotels, restaurants, and attractions. All advance tickets, now on sale, are discounted. Prices increase after October 1st and at the door. In advance, fourday passes are $90, three-day passes are $80, one day passes on Thursday is $20, Friday and Sunday are $40, and on Saturday $50. Limited VIP Packages are available for $250 and include
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early entry to all three days, raffles, T-shirts, autograph line fastpass, exclusive VIP party access on Saturday night with guest celebrities in attendance. Tickets for children 12 years old and under are free. Rooms are available at Embassy Suites Tampa and all overflow hotels which can be found onSpooky Empire’s website. Spooky Empire attendees can reserve rooms online at discounted prices starting at $135 per night. Mention ‘Spooky Empire’ for the special rate. For more information regarding the schedule and to purchase tickets, visit www. spookyempire.com.Stay tuned as more activities, special guests, celebrities and more will be announced in the coming weeks. For more information about Spooky Empire, visit spookyempire.com.Follow them on Facebook,Twitter and Instagram (@SpookyEmpire).
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“Crystal Nails” story continued from page 1
To ensure that customers receive excellent customer service, the owner, Johnny, follows up after the service via text messaging. Customer Michale Fagen recently left a 5-star review on Google Business, “I Googled nail salons near me and read their reviews. I called to make an appointment for myself and my friend Christianna…I spoke to Diana who was very pleasant on the phone as well as in person…Tammy took exceptional care of me! The massage chair was lovely as well as the job Tammy did. The staff and management were great, funny and professional. The place was very clean and worth every dollar…I will be going back FOR SURE !! I just want to thank Diana and
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Tammy again for making me feel comfortable and taking excellent care of me.” Though they have been open for 12+ years, the spa looks new, as they remodel annually with new chairs and tables. Offering traditional, gel and acrylic manicures, Crystal Nails & Spa stays updated with the latest treatments and techniques, like Bio Seaweed Gel. “BSG is the healthier professional gel choice. Regardless of the frequency of wear, BSG does not damage the natural nails. In fact, BSG is formulated to promote natural nail growth and shine. With zero dehydration, staining or weakening, Bio Seaweed Gel will last 2+ weeks for healthier, high shine chip-free nails.” (www.bioseaweedgel.com) In addition to offering state of the art nail products and service, customers are struck by the choice of 1000+ nail
colors and the artistic ability of the nail technicians. With the holidays approaching, it’s not unusual for clients to request custom nail art and designs to make them “stand out” at holiday parties and family reunions, and any of the 20 staff members at Crystal Nails & Spa are pleased to accommodate. Deborah Nahon wrote on Google Reviews, “The staff was friendly and so helpful.
They helped me to find a seasonal color that looks so cute...Totally awesome place and great quality!!!” For those seeking a unique experience for an office party or holiday pre-party, they need look no further than Crystal Nails & Spa that can accommodate up to 20 guests who will leave the party feeling great and looking better. And what better gift to give or
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receive than the gift of a spa pedicure or facial? According to the owner, Johnny, “We have many customers who have been coming here since we opened. We appreciate all our customers and welcome new ones to come try us out.” From the first time a customer calls to ask a question or make an appointment, Johnny and his staff will invite them to come
visit. Upon arrival, they are greeted by name and introduced to the Crystal Nails & Spa team who ensures comfort and relaxation while providing reasonably priced services. The customer experience continues with an electronic survey text message that clients receive after they check out. “We ask if they achieved an excellent customer experience. If the customer is not happy, for
some reason, we will work with them until all their needs are met,” said Johnny. Magge Madison wrote on Google Reviews, “Love it here! It’s nice and inviting. They are always doing a great job. They offer sodas and bottled water. Lucy is the best! Quick and efficient and always in a wonderful mood!” It’s no wonder that Crystal Nails & Spa was voted as a
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“Neighborhood Favorite” in Eastlake Woodlands. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are advisable—especially during the holiday season. “If you try us one time, you’ll want to come back,” said Johnny. Crystal Nails & Spa is open Monday through Friday 9:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Saturday 9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. For more information or to make an appointment, call 727-773-0842.
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OCTOBER 2019 17
Wheelchairs 4 Kids
Wheelchairs 4 Kids is a Tarpon Springs 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children with physical disabilities. We provide wheelchairs, home and vehicle modifications as well as other assistive equipment at no charge to the families. Many children faced with living with physical disabilities are in wheelchairs that are too small, in disrepair, or do not fit the needs of the child. Children outgrow their wheelchairs before government or insurance programs will allow for a replacement – generally every 5 years. Not only is it unsafe for a child to be in a chair that is inadequate for their needs, but it can impact their health in numerous ways including scoliosis, respiratory problems and pressure sores. In addition, families are faced with trying to care for their
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special needs children in homes that have not been modified to meet their specific circumstances. Wheelchairs 4 Kids does home modifications such as ramps, door-widening, and roll-in showers which not only increase the comfort and safety of the child, but the caregiver’s as well. We have had several instances of parents “showering” their children in the back yard with garden hoses because they could no longer safely get the child in and out of the tub. No child should have to experience such a blow to their dignity. We have been able to remove the tubs and replace them with roll-in showers with shower chairs. Thankfully, we have been able to secure local contractors (thus stimulating the local economy) who will donate their services and all we need to do is purchase the materials (at discount!). We also do vehicle modifications such as lifts.
Some interesting facts that may be of interest: • Medicaid generally only replaces a chair every 5 years. Children grow! • Medicaid may provide a power chair, but no means for the family to transport it or even get it into the child’s home. They need ramps and door widening • The Muscular Dystrophy Association has terminated their $2,000.00 per family stipend for equipment/modifications due to reduced donations and an increased focus on research. • Easter Seals and UCP have cut back on their equipment programs. • There are several organizations that are shipping wheelchairs to third world countries but very few that help children in the states, due to the high cost of customizing chairs to fit the needs of the child and meeting regulatory standards.
The majority of our referrals come from physical therapists, social workers and other advocates for kids with physical disabilities such as UCP and the Spina Bifida Association, Shriners Hospitals and Children’s Medical Services. We are always looking for more children who need our mobility assistance. Wheelchairs 4 Kids was incorporated in April 2011. Having worked and volunteered with children’s charities for years, we saw a definite gap in services for kids with physical disabilities. It was quite common to see kids in chairs that were uncomfortable and unsafe. After researching the situation, it became apparent that the limited services that were available were disappearing as demonstrated above. The organization operated out of the Robinson household for 1 ½ years at which point it was necessary to find an office. We
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were fortunate to find a landlord who greatly discounted the lease. We now have a staff of 6. To date we have helped over 530 kids with a goal of serving a minimum of 180 kids in the coming fiscal year. We host 3 major annual fundraisers. On November 23rd we will host our 9th Annual Wheely Good Time live & charity auction at Ruth Eckerd Hall. Tickets are available now for $65
each. Our Wheely Good Time event has quickly become one of the most talked about events in Tampa Bay! We have gained a reputation of getting once in a lifetime experiences to auction such as a table for 4 on Gordon Ramsey’s Hell’s Kitchen show or a Meet and Greet with Sting, Sammy Hagar and the always fabulous Sir Paul McCartney! The evening will be hosted by Emmy Award winning Fox 13 News Anchor Mark Wilson and will consist of cocktails, premium hors d’oeuvres, music, family testimonials and presentations as well as the always popular live and silent auctions. We also are expecting some sports stars and local celebrities to attend. Once again, we will be using mobile bidding which allows people to bid using their Smart phones. It also allows for supporters nationwide to bid online allowing us to reach thousands of potential bidders. The auction site opens 1 week prior to the event allowing supporters to preview items and
even start bidding on them. On January 23rd we will host out 5th Annual Kimberly Knorr Memorial Celebrity Golf Tournament at Cypress Run Golf Club. Singles are $200 and Foursomes are $750. Each team is paired with a celebrity golfer. Our golf tournament is named in honor of our wonderful friend and board president, Kimberly Knorr who passed away suddenly on June 23rd of 2015. She was only 45. Kim was an amazing woman who gave so much to make Wheelchairs 4 Kids such a success. Her husband, Randy Knorr, two time World Series champ and current GM of the Washington Nationals, chairs this event. We have athletes from the world of baseball, football and basketball participate. Some of the stand-outs are Ryan Fitzpatrick, Steve DeBerg and Ian Desmond who was selected to play in the 2016 MLB All Star game. It was his second appearance at the big game! Due to the caliber of our celebrities and the quality of our
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tournament, we attract foursomes from some of the best known businesses in Tampa Bay! It is a great networking opportunity! Finally in April we host our “Jail & Bail” fundraiser at Charley’s Steak House where we “arrest” prominent business people, government officials and community leaders. They are issued prison garb, fed a “last-Meal” then thrown in the slammer to answer to Judges Julie & Steve Weintraub for their crimes. Once their bail is set they must contact all their business associates, friends and family to raise bail. Their crimes range from insider trading (retired NFL players using connections to get ahead in Fantasy Football) to impersonating an actor (local business owners/lawyers appearing in commercials). The sillier the crime, the better! All funds from sponsorships, auction item donations and bail are used to fulfill our mission of improving the lives of children with disabilities.
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“Mystic Fish”
Story continued from page 1 -ners opened Mystic Fish in 2001, he partnered with a Gulfport artist named Fishbone to create a casual restaurant for the gathering of family and friends, a romantic date night, or a relaxing night-cap. The talented artist sketched the fish logo and began the design of the beautiful interior. “Fishbone was like a wandering Bohemian. He drew up Mystic Fish,” he said. “In hindsight, we might have named it something different because we are about 60% local seafood and 40% other – lamb, duck, steak, bison and Buddha bowl for vegetarians – not just a seafood restaurant.” Doug stressed that Mystic Fish was never intended to be a posh restaurant, simply a friendly casual place where high-quality food was served in beautiful surroundings at a decent price. In 2001, nothing like his vision for
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serving an affordable high-end product existed in North Pinellas and today, eighteen years later, he still is the leader in delicious innovative meals. “We thought North Pinellas needed something special and this was it,” explained Doug. “There’s not else like this around here. You’d have to go to Tampa and then you’d be paying twice as much. We’re very fair priced. We don’t mark our wines or cocktails up. It’s not just about making money – we want our customer to have an experience. Take our bison, for example. It’s not about margins with us. We’ll serve a prime steak at a price everyone’s afraid to charge in Pinellas County. It’s about flavor, about giving the customer what no one will give him whether they don’t have that luxury or they don’t want to take the chance, and about giving the customer a great meal at a great price.” Doug is proud that his restaurant is environmentallyfriendly, doesn’t serve any fish that
is over-fished and stays in tune with trends. “We try to stay with our ahead of the trends. We are venturing into the meatless age and I think eventually in the next 10 years, at least 50% of the menu should be meatless because people want to eat healthier.” The full liquor bar at Mystic Fish offers high top table service and impeccably mixed drinks, all-
American craft beers and a stellar wine menu that won’t break the bank. “We’ve beefed up the bourbons. We have Blanton’s, Woodford Reserve. We’re doing some smoked cocktails now and we’ve been bringing in Mescal Tequila, which is a smoked tequila,” he said. Awarded a Certificate of Excellence for consistently earning
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excellent reviews from customers on Trip Advisor, Mystic Fish pairs a mouth-watering menu and rotating seasonal features with an extensive wine list, delicious cocktails, tasty desserts and excellent customer service that I and two guests got to experience first-hand. Each signature entree is served with salad, vegetable and a choice of potato or rice.
Dinner Favorites: The three diners in our party started the meal with a small plate that looked as amazing as it tasted. Crab stuffed artichoke bottoms were complemented by baked parmesan, cream cheese, and chive. Following that delicious appetizer, we enjoyed Calamari Frites served in a metal tin with a tasty side of roasted red & banana curry
pepper aioli. As I do not eat red meat and having never tried grouper, I decided to take the wait staff ’s suggestion and indulge in a special menu selection – a grouper filet in sweet Thai chili sauce, a tangy slaw, and a side of buttery potatoes and green beans and carrots. The
filling meal did not disappoint. If you are a meat lover, Mystic Fish has a wonderful choice of rib-eye steak that is distributed from Halperns, which is a leader in sustainable agricultural practices. Another diner in our party enjoyed a small plate menu item for a meal - a 4-ounce petite filet tantalizing with melted gorgonzola, lobster meat, and herb garlic butter. The final diner sampled the 6 ounce Maple Leaf Duck Breast with an apricot –curry sauce with sliced strawberries. It too came with a side of potatoes and vegetables. If the statement is true that you eat first with your eyes, Mystic Fish knows the secret how to make a truly beautiful presentation that rivals the taste. Though no room was left, we decided the Sweet Finish menu had too many temptations that we couldn’t resist. We ordered three desserts to share – rich flourless chocolate, a succulent white chocolate bread pudding, and a
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creamy French vanilla ice cream. They arrived at our table with a sweet oatmeal crisp atop the bread pudding and ice cream. Needless to say, our sweet tooth was satiated in the very best way. If guests are looking for an experience and not just a meal, whether trying the 16 ounce New Zealand Eight Bone Rack of Lamb in Dijon-Guinness demi-glace, the Poke Bowl with a spicy sesameginger ahi tuna paired with jasmine rice, edamame, avocado, spicy hijiki - togarashi aioli, and pumpkin seeds, the Bouillabaisse of lobster, shrimp, scallops, mussels, clams and fish in saffron broth to the famous customerfavorite hogfish and everything in between, the diverse menu will appeal to every taste preference and age - from millennial to senior citizen. “Though we are in a strip mall, once you walk in and the door shuts behind you, it’s not like you are in a strip mall anymore. People may assume we’re fancy because of the white table cloths, but we’d rather not be fancy. We’re your casual neighborhood restaurant. We pride ourselves on our service and our food. Our rating on all the sites we are on is top-notch. We know it’s all about our customers.” For the full menu, directions, and more information on Mystic Fish go to www.3bestchefs. com. As reservations are highly recommended, diners can call 727-771-1800. Mystic Fish opens daily at 4:30 p.m. The bar and high top tables offer drink and small plate specials all night long. Happy hour is daily from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Stone crab season begins October 15 through May 15. Mystic Fish is located at 3253 Tampa Road, Palm Harbor.
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Pranique Yoga & Wellness – A Haven Hidden in Plain Site in the Heart of Oldsmar Instructors and students watched the sun rise with instructor Tia Mukherjee during a free early morning yoga class celebrating the one year anniversary of Pranique Yoga and Wellness Center under the new ownership of Amy Olshankski. The special event on September 1 helped introduce the community to the Center on Racetrack Road. Guests walked the meditative labyrinth maze, the first of its kind in Oldsmar, and enjoyed yoga classes with Pranique instructors which included Hot Asana with Sarah Sclafani, Strengthen and Stretch with owner Amy, Focus and Flow with Erin Yakunich, Feel Good Flow with Felicia Rizza and finally ended the event with Yin & Reiki with Sarah Sclafani. Two ONEBLOOD bloodmobiles were onsite to collect donations from guests. In addition to sampling the six complimentary yoga classes, guests toured the locally owned
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and operated studio to discover its many health and wellness features including a Himalayan Salt Cave, Hot Box Detox, FarInfrared Cocoon, Far-Infrared Sauna, Far-Infrared Jade Massage Bed, and Aqua Massage Bed – each aiding in detoxifying the body, clearing the mind, and improving health. Dozens who had never heard
of Pranique Yoga and Wellness Center were impressed by the expansive services available and enrolled after the tour. “It was a wonderful day. I’m excited that not only were we able to share our anniversary with our clients, but that the rest of our community has discovered our little hidden oasis in the heart of Oldsmar,” said Amy. “People
drive by our place and never know the peace that exists inside our Dreamsicle-colored building. We’re happy that we are no longer Oldsmar’s best kept secret for health and well-being.” Pranique is located at 400 North Racetrack Road, Oldsmar. To learn more, call 813-510-4972 or visit praniqueyogawellness.com.
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24 OCTOBER 2019
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Tech Talk with Bob: SSD’s...The Gift of Speed! By Bob Dalles When computers first came out, we were all amazed by the cool things they could do. Over the years, computers could do more and more. Today we are not amazed as much as what tasks computers can do but how quickly they can do them. Typically, what has been done in the past is to speed the computer up by replacing its central processing unit (CPU) with a faster one and/or adding more random access memory (RAM). Those methods are still used today. But now we have another option to speed up our computers… the solid-state drive (SSD). Your programs and data are stored on the computer’s HDD which is comprised of mechani-
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cal parts and electronics. A SSD is comprised of only electronics so it is not subject to the physical constraints of having mechanical parts. The HDD has spinning platters that hold your data and a read/write head that transfers data back and forth to the platters (similar to a record player’s platter and tone arm). The HDD’s moving mechanical parts make the HDD’s response time slower than a SSD. Which in turn makes your waiting time for a program to boot up or a file to load considerably longer. A computer with a SSD will serve up those files and programs much faster. I always get asked, “how fast?” I hate to put myself on the spot because everyone will experience different results. I will tell you this.
My computer boots up four times faster with a SSD than it did with a HDD. Everyone that I know who upgraded from a HDD to a SSD were amazed with the performance increase and were happy they decided to upgrade. In addition to being fast, SSDs are lighter than HDDs because SSDs do not have the HDD’s mechanical parts. Instead, SSDs use microchips
similar to the well-known flash drive. No moving parts also means that SSDs do not generate any noise or vibrations that the HDD’s spinning platters are known to produce. SSDs also create less heat where HDDs can get very hot. Another benefit is SSDs are durable. The HDD is one of, if not, the most fragile component in your computer. HDDs are susceptible to damage caused by the computer being dropped or banged around when it is moved. SSDs can tolerate a greater impact; a real benefit to laptop users. SSDs also consume less energy. Another major benefit for laptop users because battery life will increase. How much? My battery life doubled on my laptop. Again, your results may vary.
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If you are looking to increase your loading speeds or want more battery time between charges, this is one of those rare times when you can have the best of both worlds. Be advised that SSDs cost more than HDDs but most people have found them to be a worth-while investment in their computing experience. Be Safer Out There! Never enter confidential information into any web site until you know the web site and your computer system is safe. If you are not sure your system is safe, please have it looked over by a Professionally Certified Computer Technician. If you need a certified professional, call us now at 727-534-4000. We’ve been helping folks restore their peace of mind, and sanity, with their technology for decades.
Have a tech question? Email it to TechTalk-TBNL@ BobTheComputerGuy.NET. Questions will be selected by the popularity of a topic and answered in this column. If you have a more urgent need or have a unique situation you may schedule an appointment with one of my Professionally Certified Technicians by calling 727-534-4000.
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OCTOBER 2019 27
SAT AND ACT IMPROVEMENT: FALL NEWS
By Dr. Wayne Adams
FALL EXAM DATES: SAT: November 2 and December 7; PSAT October 16; ACT: October 26 and December 14. The 2019 college and university rankings from US News and World Report show the following schools national rankings and respective median starting salaries: UF at #35 overall (and #7 for public universities), $52,800; University of Miami at #53, $53,400; FSU at #70, $46,400; USF at #124, $46,400; and UCF at #165, $46,500. As a comparison, Princeton is ranked #1 with a starting salary of $70,500, Duke is #10 with a starting salary of $68,500, Vanderbilt is #15 with a starting salary of $63,000,
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UCLA (the #1 public university) is #20 with a starting salary of $58,000, and Carnegie Mellon is #25 with a starting salary of $74,200. (Carnegie is very engineering and science oriented.) There are no statistics available from any source I can find about percent of undergraduates that year wanting jobs who were employed at graduation or six months later. As we move closer to college application deadlines, all parents should be aware that colleges with early decision and early admission options are accepting far more of their freshman student body early, which means the number of students accepted in regular applications has plummeted. One recent example is at
Vanderbilt, which only left 500 freshman slots for 25,000 applicants in its regular application decision cycle ‌ 2%. Most schools accept SAT and ACT scores through the first of January, but not all. Especially with the move to Early Decision acceptances, check the website for each
school you are interested in for the specifics so you are not late and therefore disqualified from further consideration. The five key criteria for admission are still class standing (especially from a highlyrated high school, whether public or private), GPA, SAT and/or ACT scores, quality
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of college application essay (or essays), and additional activities. This past year, class standing was not as important (valedictorian, salutatorian, etc.) and the importance of GPA, exam scores, application essays, and especially additional activities were elevated. If you are shooting for a “Top 25” school, these activities are special strengths and abilities proven by years of pursuit that already show how you have the potential to “change the world”. Top schools want “lopsided” students, not “well-rounded” students. The first difficulty for most Florida students being admitted to an “ultimate dream school” is their SAT and/or ACT scores. During my classes, I often help my students think about “special strengths” they can develop to show skill and persistence in
a field associated with interests and abilities they already have. These are also the greatest barriers to qualifying for Bright Futures’ scholarships in Florida. For seniors, the fall is the last major time to take the SAT and ACT exams to be considered for admission to most universities. For Juniors, the fall is the time to attain your best score on the PSAT, the only qualifying exam for National Merit Scholarships. Plus more and more juniors are preparing early for the SAT and ACT to see if they can achieve the scores they want for the colleges they are targeting. For Sophomores, more and more are preparing this early to get a good start and to understand these national exams so important for their college futures.
And if I can help you student with improving exam scores, strategic and sometimes detailed advice for applications, or life-lessons that will help in college and for life ... just let me know at wwa0811@ mykolab.com or call me at 727-253-0639. Dr. Wayne Adams is one of the leading SAT and ACT tutors in the country. His students normally improve 200 – 350 points on the Writing, Reading, Writing and Essay, and Math, and 4 – 7 points on the ACT composite. They have been admitted to nine of the top ten universities in the country, eighteen of the top twenty-five, and many schools in Florida. These schools include Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Stanford, U Chicago, Duke, U Penn, Johns Hopkins, Cornell, Notre Dame, Emory, UC Berkley, UCLA, USC, UNC (Chapel
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Hill), University of Virginia, NYU, Northeastern (Boston), Boston College, Georgia Tech, Air Force and Merchant Marine Service Academies, Penn State, Purdue, Ohio State, LSU, Auburn, UF, U Miami, FSU, USF, UCF, Florida Atlantic, Florida Gulf Coast, FIU, New College of Florida, Stetson, and Julliard – Manhattan - New England - and Berkley Conservatories of Music. Many have received academic, athletic, or music scholarships. This year, he also tutored three juniors who scored at the national merit finalist/ semi-finalist levels on the most recent PSAT. He is a former Dean of a Graduate School of Business and Full Professor, and began college teaching at the University of Maryland in 1968. He has degrees and advanced studies at Harvard, Yale, Vanderbilt, Columbia International, and Luther Rice.
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