Vol. 13, Issue 04, April 2020
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
Expressions Family and Cosmetic Dentistry Combines Dental Expertise with Sleep Apnea Solutions By Deborah Bostock-Kelley
Dr. Lyndsay McCaslin loves helping people. When she was a college undergrad in 1998, she came to New Port Richey, Florida, to work during the summer at her uncle’s dental practice. Under the tutelage of her uncle Dr. Shelton, Dr. Thompson, and Dr. VonSick, she knew she had found her calling and decided to go to dental school. A cum laude graduate of the University See “Expressions” on page 24
Mother’s Restaurant — Food, Family, and Friends By Carla M. Dubis-Tedeschi Three and half years ago, owners and business partners Joel Olinski and Brad Spoor joined forces and blessed the Tampa Bay community with the opening of an amazing new restaurant, Mother’s. Located in the heart of Westchase, Mother’s Restaurant features a scratch kitchen concept with a fun twist on all “mom’s classic recipes.” “Mother’s honors all mothers. We’re an elevated Southern comfort,” explained Joel. “We like to rotate the menu yearly. From Chicken Pot Pies to Sloppy Joes—everything that brings you back to your childhood and what your mother would make at home. I wanted to bring something to Westchase that was a onestop-shop. Good for families with children, and good for adults.” Don’t let the words “Southern Comfort”
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: From the Editor..............................5 COVID-19 Announcement..........6-7 Tech Talk with Bob......................8-9 AdventHealth Coronavirus.............10-11 Students Writing & Thinking...14-15 Grout Tech...............................16-17 SAT/ACT Improvement...........18-19 True Storytelling Goes Virtual at Powerstories Theatre...................20
See “Mothers” on page 22
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First of all, I hope you and your loved ones are staying safe. Before I get sidetracked and start rambling about the beaches not closing sooner and the toilet paper hoarding situation, I will go straight to the point. The Tampa Bay community needs you; it needs all of us. In my previous Editorial, I coincidentally talked about supporting local businesses and what an incredible role they played in fostering our local economy, keeping money close to home, and supporting neighborhoods and communities. Small businesses employ about 47 percent of private-sector workers in the U.S., meaning nearly 60 million individuals depend on them to support themselves and their families. These businesses range from your local, independent restaurant to the self-employed accountant. The global pandemic caused by the Coronavirus has negatively impacted hundreds of thousands of independent local businesses all over the state of Florida, and Tampa Bay has been particularly affected. The rapid spread of CoronavirusCoronavirus (COVID-19) has led to specific critical social-distancing measures that are keeping people homebound and avoiding unnecessary shopping trips and social gatherings in order to “flatten the curve.” While those efforts are incredibly important for the greater good, these sudden changes in consumer behavior have had a devastating impact on local businesses, particularly restaurants and bars. Local Tampa Bay Yelp data shows in a recent “impact report” that over the past week, U.S. consumer interest for
restaurants has fallen by 54%, and for nightlife businesses including local bars by 70%. Many of these local bars and restaurant owners, staff and workers, are our friends, our relatives, our very own neighbors. And they are all struggling. We must support them now more than ever. How You Can Help Continue to shop local! Follow your favorite local businesses, bars, and restaurants on social media. A lot of them have been busy adapting to this unprecedented crisis. Some of your favorite local eateries have launched new take out menus and even FREE delivery options. Many of them use apps like UberEats, DoorDash, and GrubHub. Many of these apps are even waving delivery fees to support local restaurants. Enjoy some of your favorite foods in the comfort of your own safe home. To get through this challenging and uncertain time, we all must come together as a stable and supportive community. Let’s all do our part to help lift those local businesses that were hit the hardest by the impact of this pandemic. The Tampa Bay News and Lifestyles team has always been committed to supporting small local businesses and will continue to its part while respecting the social-distancing regulations. “Give, and it will be given to you.” Luke 6:38. Stay safe, everyone, until next month!
Carla
COVID-19 Announcement from Trinity Family Physicians To Our Beloved Patients, The health and safety of our patients, the community and staff is our utmost priority. As you know, the Coronavirus (COVID19) pandemic is a constantly evolving situation. We want to assure you we are following situation closely to stay informed and keep you safe. Here are some things we are doing to keep everyone safe: 1. We are screening patients over the phone prior to every visit by asking patients if the have any upper or lower respiratory symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, etc). If they have any of these symptoms or have been exposed to anyone with these symptoms, we are asking them to avoid coming into the office at this time. These patients are being scheduled for Televisits to avoid getting others sick. 2. In addition to our routine cleaning procedures, we have increased the frequency of our cleaning schedule to ensure everything patients come into contact with is disinfected. 3. We have expanded our waiting room and removed chairs to comply with social distancing recommendations given by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). 4. We are asking all patients to schedule Televisits unless it is
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medically necessary (as determined by our providers) for them to come into the office for evaluation. These patients are also being asked to come alone to the appointments unless it is absolutely medically necessary for the patient to be accompanied and assisted. 5. If you must come into the office for an appointment please bring your own pen and magazine to avoid potential transmission of the Coronavirus.
We offer two options for Televisits: A subscription basis which starts at $10 per person per month and on an as needed basis. Please call the office for details on each option. You can rest assured that we are doing everything we can for our patients and the community, online and in person. In the office or online we are here for you! Precautions YOU should take: • Stay at home if you are sick or have been exposed to someone who
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is sick and restrict contact with other people. • Even at home, remain at least six feet away from other people while you are sick. • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands. • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth especially with unwashed hands. • Avoid close contact with people who are sick. • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. • The CDC continues to recommend against the use of face masks for people who do not have
symptoms. To stay updated on current information about Coronavirus refer to the following websites: • World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/emergencies/ diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019 • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): https://www. cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index. html • Florida Department of Health: http://www.floridahealth.gov/ diseases-and-conditions/COVID-19/ We feel confident that our state and local communities will eventually be back to normal, as will our country. We intend to be open, clean and safe for you every step of the way and if anything changes with your health we want you to know we are a better option over the packed Urgent Cares, Emergency Rooms, and Hospitals. More importantly, we know you and your medical history. At times like this
the subscription Telehealth service can be astronomically expensive but we are announcing and debuting our subscription service for only $10 per month for existing patients. If you are not a patient there is more reason than ever to join! If the subscription service is not an option for you please feel free to use the Televisit service on an as needed basis. Check out our Facebook page and our website for Televisit instructions. Please pass this message on to everyone you know in the Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties and the entire Tampa Bay Area! Dr. Eldridge and Dr. Shirmohammad are from the Tampa Bay area and are committed to their hometown. Thank you for Letting Our Family Care for Yours! God Bless you, your families and our resilient country!
Tech Talk with Bob: Corona Virus Attacks Computers By Bob Dalles Yes, it’s true. COVID-19, the Coronavirus Outbreak, can attack computers. But not in a way you might be thinking. Leave it to society’s lowest form of dirtbags to take advantage of people when they are at their most vulnerable. The Coronavirus Pandemic has given cyber criminals yet another platform in which they can snatch your money and contaminate your computer with dangerous malware leaving it in a precarious state. My friends, I urge you to be on the lookout for these cyber scams. It is not my intent to frighten you but rather to make you more vigilant and aware of steps you can take to protect yourself and the people you care about. The COVID-19 outbreak will certainly increase cyber criminals’ email phishing campaigns in the coming months. As you spend more time at home you will probably be spending more time online. While online, please, please, please, be wary of any links you click. There may be coronavirus computer attacks poised for attack in your email’s inbox
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right now. It’s just a matter of whether you will click the link or delete the email. I’ll bet you are getting emails from many of the companies you deal with in regard to how they are reacting to this pandemic. Especially watch out for the emails you may receive from companies you DO NOT do business with. If you get an email from a bank you have never done business with, beware. Why would they send you an email? You may also be getting emails from helpful friends and family that may include links to news stories, medical information and so forth.
Emails made to look like they come from credible companies, organizations, and other familiar entities can be spoofed (faked) to look like they came from a trusted source. Embedded in these phishing emails might be links offering to connect you to another website with more information. Please think twice before you click that link. If for any reason you are not sure you can trust the link, then do not click it. You should always type in the website address yourself instead of using a convenient link that looks legit but may be programmed to attack you. Don’t believe
any unsolicited emails you receive from the IRS or the U.S. Treasury. At the time I am writing this, congress is trying to figure out how to get money to people. This makes a perfect opportunity for cyber criminals. Do not engage in any activity online or on the phone until you are completely confident you are dealing with a legitimate source. Here are some sources you might find helpful: Coronavirus.gov ---- www.CDC.gov ----- www. HHS.gov ----- www.flhealth. gov ----- www.Tgh.org/ virtual-care The Florida Department of Health has a COVID-19 Hotline at 1-866-779-6121. If you are having health issues or symptoms regarding the coronavirus, please call your doctor. If your computer is having symptoms or you are unsure of its security, safety, or health, please call me at 727534-4000. We are still open for business. We have the ability to provide support without needing to send an IT Specialist out to your home or office. We can remotely access your computer to perform most repairs. We can also remotely perform
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complete scans for viruses and other malware issues. So if you think you have malware, we can scan for it remotely from our location to yours. So, during a selfquarantine, we can still provide technical support to you over your phone and internet connection. Cyber criminals will exploit the easy victims and unprotected systems. Protecting yourself online
is your responsibility. Don’t go it alone. We’re here to help. If you are not sure your system is safe, please have it looked over by a Professionally Certified IT Specialist. Call us now at 727-534-4000. We’ve been helping folks restore their peace of mind, and sanity, with their technology for decades. Be Safer In Your Digital World!
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AdventHealth Announces Coronavirus Visitor Policy and Elective Surgical Procedure Updates As of March 20, 2020, subject to change AdventHealth has a responsibility to protect the greater community from the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19). As a trusted community partner, it’s vital we take measures to minimize the risk of infection for our patients while protecting our physicians and team members who are on the frontlines every day. Under the governor’s executive order on elective surgery, AdventHealth will immediately: • Postpone all inpatient surgeries that are not time sensitive. • Postpone all outpatient surgeries that are not time sensitive. • Postpone all outpatient procedures in diagnostic centers that are not time sensitive. AdventHealth will provide surgery only to patients whose needs are imminently life threatening, with malignancy that could progress, or with active symptoms that require urgent and immediate care. This decision allows us to further plan for
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the increased need for hospital beds, resources, and advocate for patient and team member safety. Visitor Policy Changes Additionally, we are announcing modifications to our visitor policy effective Monday, March 23rd. After much discussion with clinical leaders and physicians, AdventHealth will update its visitation policy. Effective Monday, March 23, no visitors will be allowed inside AdventHealth hospitals in the West Florida Division, except for special circumstances, which includes:
end-of-life situations. Visitation will also be permitted if the visitor is the power-of-attorney or medical decision-maker. Other exceptions include: • Patients under the age of 18 may be accompanied by one adult visitor (parent, legally authorized person or caregiver). No additional visitors or siblings allowed. • Obstetric patients can have one adult visitor. • Exceptions will be made for extenuating
circumstances such as imminent end-of-life or unique patient needs for support. In all circumstances, visitors who are sick will not be permitted to enter the hospital, unless they are seeking personal medical care. We realize this will impact patients and their families, and we will constantly evaluate the need for this policy and will modify it when we believe it is safe for visitors to return. “This is an unprecedented time
• AdventHealth Carrollwood • AdventHealth Dade City • AdventHealth Lake Placid • AdventHealth North Pinellas • AdventHealth Ocala • AdventHealth Sebring • AdventHealth Tampa • AdventHealth Wauchula • AdventHealth Wesley Chapel • AdventHealth Zephyrhills Visitation will be continued for special circumstances, including For Advertising Info 727-943-0551 I info@nnlflorida.com or visit tbnewsandlifestyles.com
in health care and our priority is to keep our patients, team members and ultimately our greater community safe while we continue to treat those who need our care,” said Mike Schultz, President and CEO, AdventHealth West Florida Division. “We believe this decision to further limit visitors at our hospitals is crucial to upholding our promise to keeping our community, patients, and employees safe. We thank our community in advance for their understanding and patience as we address COVID-19 together.” We know how important is for families and friend to stay
connected to their loved ones, so we strongly encourage them to remain closely connected through virtual tools, including Skype, FaceTime, text messaging, and phone. Patient safety, safety of the entire health care team, and the ability to care for our community are at the core of all decisions that we make. We will continuously evaluate these decisions to ensure safety for everyone. For more information visit the website (type into your address bar): coronavirusresourcehub. com or call 1-877-VIRUSHQ
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HOW WELL DOES YOUR STUDENT WRITE AND THINK? By Dr. Wayne Adams I have continually seen over the years that my SAT/ACT prepclass students really do not write essays well, which indicates they do not critically think well, their vocabularies are usually limited and their grammar is often subterranean. Most parents assume their students are doing well in these areas because they have good grades in school. If you could see the initial essays that about 90% of my students write for the SAT and ACT, you would quickly realize that nothing could be further from the truth for most students today. You would be shocked at the grammar errors, misspellings, poor structure, lack of insight, and general inability to develop a coherent argument using supporting evidence expressed persuasively with a flair. If you would like to check this out for your student, just send me an email and I will be happy to send you an actual SAT essay assignment that takes about an hour to do, and a vocabulary test with 25 words (takes about fifteen minutes) that I have used for years to get a quick idea of each student’s level as we begin our prep classes. Have your student hand-write their essay (no grammar or spelling checks allowed), and match the word with its definition on the vocabulary test. Then scan them and email to me at wwa0811@mykolab. com. I will be happy to review them. Then I will send you an essay written really well. In addition, you will receive a sideby-side analysis of the assigned essay showing the critical thinking that should have been involved … and a side-by-side analysis of the “well” essay showing why it is so good, the critical thinking involved, and different techniques to produce excellent, memorable writing. In addition, I will score your student’s vocabulary test and send you back the score and the correct answers.
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This way, you can see for yourself how your student is doing. If you are not happy with what you see, consider the following: Not having three to four years to teach a student how to write and to think well, I have had to develop ways to dramatically improve their skills in a few hours. Here is part of the process, built around the simple premise that “How can a student write ‘well’, if they don’t know what ‘well’ is or why?” Then I developed ways to quickly help my students analyze essay assignments, structure their thinking, use far higher-level vocab-ulary, and produce an excellent essay quickly that has proven extremely effective over the years. As one example, several years ago I helped a student for the SAT who wanted to go to Notre Dame. He learned the essay approach, then unknown to me he wrote an essay when bored in one of his high school classes and sent it into an SAT grader. Two days later, she emailed him with the result. He received a perfect score, almost double his prior essay score on his last SAT Exam, and the grader said this essay looked like it had been written by a college senior. I have developed a similar approach and classes to help students learn to write 5 major types of essays, quickly do research for any essay, write in both academic and novelistic styles, and creatively think and analyze. This is done in a unique format using five classics, many of which are on required freshman reading at leading universities. My students view a movie of each novel before class, do not have to read the novels, follow writing guides, and receive all study notes and materials. When students finish my course, they dramatically improve in their being able to … Think at a far higher level about essays, and apply this skill in writing the five most common types of essay assignments using
reasonable grammar. Research in preparation for an essay, do a “thought outline”, write a rough draft of 500+ words, proof it, and finalize the essay. Use interesting facts about famous authors to entertain, to support thoughts, and to show that they have some familiarity with world-class writers. Quickly recognize types of plots, motifs, and other literary basics, and then apply this knowledge to their essays using logical and intuitive thinking, supporting evidence, persuasive elements, and memorable style. Go beyond the written word so they can “bring to life” these classics, place them into situations they face every day, recognize how their “truths and lessons” apply, and broaden their foundation for handling their “tomorrows”. Incorporate into their writing the “critical missing element” in most essays of “applicational truth to life,” especially to their lives now and in the future. More effectively write in both “academic” and “novel” styles. Having taught this class before, I thought you might be
interested in some comments from parents. “Before your class, we had to decide if our student took regular or AP English her senior year. Because of her past grades, we chose the regular class. She took your class, and now in November is bored to death. Recently, the 140 students in that level class were assigned to write a comparison and contrast essay. Hers was the only one that passed, and she got an A.” “My ninth grader wanted to take your class. When we talked, I mentioned she loved to write. You saw her work, and suggested we seek a publisher. We did, and by the end of your class we had a contract for her proposed novel, Dragon Tales. Thanks for recognizing her talent and helping her move ahead in life.” So if you are not happy with your student’s ability to critically think and write well and want to improve for the rest of high school, college, and graduate school … Please contact me at 727253-0639 or send me an e mail at wwa0811@mykolab.com. You can see my qualifications in my other article in this issue of Tampa Bay News.
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Grout Tech - Your Tile and Grout Specialist!
Before
Before you spend thousands of dollars remodeling and retiling your bathroom or kitchen be sure to call Grout Tech for a FREE estimate on cleaning or repairing old dingy tile and grout. Grout Tech can breathe new life into your existing tile work, making everything shine like new at a fraction of the cost. Grout Tech is a family owned business serving Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco Counties. With over 17 years of experience in the industry, Grout Tech specializes in cleaning and sealing tile and grout, re-coloring grout, re-caulking showers and tubs, and repairing grout and broken tiles.
Grout Tech will renew existing grout and tile to its original beauty by
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After
cleaning and maintaining the tile and grout lines. Jeremy G. and his wife were ready to re-tile their entire bathroom before calling BJ at Grout Tech. “Our bathroom tile was over 40 years old it was looking grungy and very dull. We called Grout Tech and we are extremely pleased with our results! We saved so much money by having the grout in our shower resurfaced and the tile cleaned and it looks brand new.”
can keep their prices low because they are a family owned business and not a franchise. She explains, “What many people don’t understand is that franchises are often forced to charge more for their services because they have to maintain their franchise fees, but not with Grout Tech.” Not only does Grout Tech keep its rates competitive, but the company will also honor any other quote as long as it is in writing.
BJ is happy to set your appointment, come out and give you a free estimate. She stresses, “It is important for me to be respectful of our customers’ time so I will always arrive at the time we set.” In addition to always arriving in a timely manner, BJ says that they
Because grout is a porous material, trying to remove stains is seemingly impossible. BJ explains, “Color sealing grout lines is one of the many services we offer and it is definitely the most effective way to create a perfect, new look.”
Using a step-bystep process, Grout Tech begins by using a cleansing product to remove all bacteria and surface dirt with special machinery. They will then apply a color seal (of your choice). Once the sealer is applied the grout lines will be permanently protected from any stains. The color seal also guarantees against cracking, chipping and peeling. Additionally, they will also cosmetically fix or replace chipped or cracked tiles, making your bathroom or kitchen tile like new again. Kathy G., a satisfied customer, shares her experience, “When BJ
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Before
came out to give us a quote, she looked at the job and I could tell immediately that she knew what she was talking about. We had our family room, kitchen and dining room regrouted. They also regrouted the tub, shower and base of our toilet in our bathroom. They were fantastic! Not only were they professional and reliable but they also completed the job much faster than we had anticipated.”
Excellent Service Leads to Referrals Throughout the years, Grout Tech has grown through its many referrals from happy customers. People really appreciate that Grout Tech saves them time and money, but it is the excellent service provided that has really helped this business grow. Grout Tech’s success stories say that before
After
calling Grout Tech, their bathrooms, guest bathroom showers and floor grout, had deteriorated over time and the tiles were dull and stained. “The tile was in good condition but it was stained so we had Grout Tech come out and clean them and they turned out very well.” They were so pleased that they have already referred Grout Tech to neighbors in their community.
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Grout Tech can also remove and re-caulk around sinks, baseboards, tubs and showers serving to clean up old moldy areas and keep your dry wall free from water damage. From old to new in just one day! To find out more about Grout Tech’s services or for a free estimate call BJ at 727768-6828.
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SAT AND ACT IMPROVEMENT: PLANNING AND “BREAKTHROUGHS” By Dr. Wayne Adams CORONAVIRUS PLANNING. With the coronavirus situation, our prep classes will be on-line until things return to normal. For years I have helped students in California, Michigan, Texas, and many other states prepare for the SAT and ACT Exams using different on-line platforms and this has been a very effective way to help them improve their scores. Their improvements have been the same as with my on-site classes. If we have a target test date pushed back, then I will add one or two additional review classes as “refreshers” the week or so before the new test date. These classes are included in my regular program and available if needed. As of this writing, the SAT on May 2 has been canceled, and the ACT on April 4 will be postponed until June 13. Scheduled test dates for the spring and summer are … SAT on June 6 and August 29; and ACT on June 13 and July 18. CONTINUING SCORE IMPROVEMENT “BREAKTHROUGHS”. Just recently, I found a major breakthrough to improve scoring on the SAT Reading Section … often jumping scores from prior high-scores in my classes by another 30-50 points. You may know that when the SAT Exam was redesigned several years ago, it was modeled after the knowledge and concepts taught in the AP Language and Composition course. The analytical skills needed to interpret and “read
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between the lines” increased dramatically. Called “Guided Analysis” the foundation is developing a specific guide to answer the major types of SAT Reading Questions. Once done, I put the answering guides into a simple “follow the yellow brick road” strategy with supporting specific steps. The key is for a student to determine which yellow brick road they are on. Once on the right road, the following steps are easy to learn and to apply. Every one of my students tells me this approach is really helpful, and scores have jumped accordingly. Over the years, I have been fortunate to develop many “breakthroughs” in every major test section of the SAT and ACT. We do use excellent Reference Books in our classes, but mostly for their practice tests. The “breakthroughs” are far superior to any prep sections in any prep book today. Here are some more examples of my breakthroughs incorporated into our classes: Reverse Engineering for grammar and sequential thinking on both exams that helps my students quickly learn types of questions to expect, answers, and especially how the test “thinks”. This alone usually sees students improve 30+ points on the SAT and 3+ points on the ACT. Quick Solve for both math exams that puts a student into my head to see how to solve each type of problem that incorporates almost all of the techniques to boost their scores. Curve Ball Practice for both math exams with
super-difficult problems that only require one or two more simple steps. This quickly turns an “ultra-hard” problem into an “easy” problem to solve. My definition of “hard” is when you don’t know how to do it, “easy” is simply when you do. Super-Notes for both math exams that condenses whole math prep sections in the SAT and ACT Review Books into a few pages for accelerated study and review. In other words, I have selected the key information and done their study notes. Read for What You Need in ACT Reading that alone usually boosts a student’s score by 3+ points. Reverse Reading for ACT Science that makes is much easier and faster to find
the key concepts and ideas needed to answer a question. Clustering for ACT Science that makes it much easier to maintain focus and increase speed in each of the three types of subtests (Charts and Graphs, Experiments, and Opposing Opinions). I strongly believe that these “breakthroughs” are part of the reason my students continue to improve so well. Coupled with focusing on both what we need to improve on the exams, having the best mental attitude to score well, and how to “have fun taking the exams”, they become a powerful combination for doing their best on these exams, and for later in life. About this time of year, I see many seniors who are
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heading towards the finish line in school and needing to improve to qualify for the desired level of Bright Futures. Qualification can include the
results of the last SAT and ACT exams in June. And I see many juniors and sophomores who want to start preparing during the last part of the school year.
One of my new students is in the sixth grade, and he wants to qualify for the Duke TIP Program in 7th grade so he is starting early. If You Would Like To Talk More About Your Student … Please contact me at 727-2530639 or send me an e mail at wwa0811@mykolab.com. 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 eight 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,
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UC Berkley, UCLA, USC, UNC (Chapel Hill), Wake Forest, NYU, Northeastern (Boston), Boston College, Georgia Tech, Service Academies: Navy - Air Force - and Merchant Marine - Penn 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 Berklee 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 a 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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True Storytelling Goes Virtual at Powerstories Theatre By Deborah Bostock-Kelley February 2020, at Powerstories Theatre, everything was normal. Life as they knew it, in the local professional theatre community, went like clockwork, predictable. A show began rehearsals, another opened, and another closed. And then the pandemic swept across the globe. The box office closed, and the theatre doors shut for the safety of cast, crew, and patrons. As a matter of life and death from the Coronavirus, people socially isolated. For many, Powerstories Theatre was what brought joy to busy lives, represented a welcome reprieve from the 9-to-5 grind, and was the social connection in which many looked forward. Now, three short weeks later, on social media, performers are looking for a creative outlet, singing over soapy hands; playwrights are writing short stories and plays revolving around the virus; musicians are giving virtual concerts from their living rooms. During this time, Powerstories Theatres has created a brilliant way to connect with a global audience while the stage is dark. Founder Fran Powers and her team have discovered an innovative way to be true to their mission statement of “staging true stories to open minds and hearts and
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inspire action worldwide” while adapting to entertain their audience in this new virtual reality. In 2000, when Fran returned from her crosscountry bike journey, she founded Powerstories Theatre with a simple question, “do you have a story to tell?” Twenty years and hundreds of true story productions later, the theatre is celebrating its unexpected dark time and its 20th anniversary by asking the same question. “Do you have a story to tell?” The theatre is going back to its roots to ask everyone – young and old – “during this unprecedented time in our history, what brings you joy? What is your story?” Participants can share their true stories that bring them joy, create a short maximum three-minute YouTube or Vimeo video hashtag #positivelypowerstories and post the link, or email an MP4. Storytellers can also
make an audio file MP3, or email their personal artwork, their photograph, their sketch, their painting, etc. and email as JPG, GIF, or PNG. During everyone’s time sequestered, Powerstories is trying to put the social back in isolation safely. “We know people are hurting during this time, so we will also do periodic random drawings for cash and other prizes for our storytellers. Our goal is to help during this trying time.” Using the tagline spreading joy, not germs, celebrating its 20th anniversary during the
pandemic, the intimate, professional theatre will be sharing the true stories of storytellers around the globe on a weekly episodic basis beginning on April 1. “We are building something beautiful,” Fran said, “We cannot be very physically connected at this time, but we can be spiritually connected.” Submit your story at https://bit.ly/3dejPhU and follow www.facebook. com/Powerstories for access to the website that will showcase all selected stories in their many platforms.
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Terry Kelley named Market President in BHHS/FPG Oldsmar office.
Terry Kelley has been named the Market President of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services/Florida Properties Group/East Lake Woodlands Real Estate office in Oldsmar, Florida. Terry brings an extensive real estate background in residential sales and sales management with experience in both Florida and Alabama markets. Terry says he looks forward to working with all of the real estate professionals in the East Lake Woodlands office. Welcome Terry.
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“Mothers”story
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fool you into thinking there are only high-carb dishes at this neighborhood gem. Mother’s Restaurant offers an incredible selection of homemade healthy dishes, fresh salads, soups, flatbreads, sandwiches, and low-calorie entrees for those of us who are “always on a diet,” as well as a wide selection of Glutenfree dishes for people with dietary restrictions. Chef Alex and Joel explained that up to 70% of the menu can be customized and can be made gluten-free, including their incredible pasta dishes. “We cater to every diet,” says Joel. “We can cook something for everyone, once you’re here, you will not leave hungry.” Joel is not above bussing a table, cleaning the kitchen, or working his celebrated magic behind the bar. With a lifelong hospitality background, originally a master mixologist that placed third in the world for competition, Joel ran the Blue Martini at the International Plaza for nearly 17 years. His dream had always been to create a restaurant where the locallysourced ingredients were familiar but done in a way that raised the bar of how food could be served. Presentation is key to Joel and head chef Alex Rosenblum. “We use a team of people to come up with our food. Plating is a big deal for me,” says Joel. “I want to make sure everything that comes out not only tastes amazing but also looks like art.” And trust me, it does. I am a regular at Mother’s myself, and I can honestly say that everything I’ve ever tried not only looks amazing but also tastes delicious! Some of Mother’s favorite “Conversation Pieces” include; Mac & Cheese bites, Calamari, Mama’s Chicken Wings, Mother’s Meatloaf Sliders and one of my personal favorites
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the Tuna Tartare and the Smoked Fish Deviled Eggs. Amongst the most popular main entrees, we have the Sam Adams Beer Battered Fish and Chips, Seared Ahi Tuna Steak, Salmon Piccata, Braised Pork Shank, Mother’s Meatloaf, Shrimp and Grits, and their famous and one of my all-time favorite dishes in Tampa; the Braised Skirt Steak Risotto. Unique Cocktails and Drinks When you are a jet-set world-renowned mixologist, it only makes sense that Joel’s bar boasts some of the most unique and exquisite cocktails and drinks — from wine and craft beer to house wine on tap and creative poptinis, my personal favorite is the “Mother Fudger,” give it a try, you’ll not be disappointed. Mother’s drink menu is handcrafted, and it includes cocktails with the finest of ingredients combined in the most innovative ways. Some exceptional curious combinations with fun names include the Drunk Piggy and the Toasted Monkey. What’s New at Mother’s? From new team members to new spectacular menu items rolling out mid-April, as well as new cocktails, new desserts, new brunch items, an updated wine list, and a possible brand new location coming soon to a place near you! When asked about all these “new changes” Joel says, “We’re never ‘replacing’ just rotating. Like any Mother’s kitchen, we’re always coming up with something new to please our loved ones! We like to make seasonal menu changes, depending on what specialty products are fresh and available, as well as new ideas and suggestions by our Chefs, staff and guests alike.” Joel is proud to welcome manager Andre Zamudio, and operations manager Suzanne Do to the Mother’s Team. Andre Zamudio amasses
an outstanding 27 years of corporate management and restaurant experience. He recently culminated a backof-the-house and front-ofthe-house operations training at Mother’s, and he couldn’t be more excited to be part of the Mother’s team. “I am extremely happy to be here. I look forward to sharing my own culinary ideas with the team, as well as participating in Mother’s future plans of expansion and growth,” says Zamudio, who seemed captivated by Mother’s Culture, its innovative concept, and of course, the Mother’s
unique motto; “Food, Family, and Friends.” Zamudio’s background experience includes business management at the famous waterfront restaurant Ulele, Executive Chef experience at Brio’s Tuscan Grille, as well as several years of experience as a Revenue Operations manager for City walk. Zamudio opened and operated 4 of the largest venues on a city walk at Universal Studios. When referring to Andre and Suzanne, Joel says, “Andre and Suzanne are powerhouses. They are both
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extremely experienced and incredibly talented.” “Suzanne Do has quickly absorbed the Mother’s Culture… she’s the ‘Mother’s Mother’,” says Joel in between laughs. He literally called her “The Queen B,” and said Suzanne did an amazing job at making everyone’s jobs easier, including his. Joel couldn’t be more proud of the entire Mother’s team. “We all work very hard, and it’s paying off. We’re beginning to be known as a staple in the community, And now we not only grow from within but we also have experienced people like Andre and Suzanne coming from
other restaurants and the hospitality business, looking to work and grow with us, which is huge,” says Joel. “That means we must be doing something right. That is definitely an indication that the business is progressing well, and catching people’s attention.” Joel would like to thank the community for their continuous support. “We wouldn’t be here without you.” Mark Your Calendars Mother’s Events are where you wanna be! Wednesdays - Get over the hump and visit Mother’s on a
Wednesday for their $15.99 all you can eat seasoned wings, a $5 glass of wine and live music. Saturday & Sunday Brunch - Mother’s homemade brunch is served from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. They serve ultimate Bloody Marys, Mimosas or their signature Red or White Sangria for only $13.99. Mother’s Day - May 10th - One Of Mother’s Biggest Celebrations of course! Complimentary champagne provided for all Mothers. A special Brunch with extended hours from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm. As well as a special dinner, featuring unique Mother’s creations and
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special dishes. Live music and entertainment of course. Mother’s Restaurant is located at 12227 W Linebaugh Ave, Tampa, FL 33626. Reservations are not mandatory but encouraged. Visit mothers fl.com for more information or call 813-814-1533. Make sure you like them on Facebook at https://www.facebook. com/MothersFL/ and follow them on Instagram @ motherswestchase. Delivery is available for a limited time, Carry-Out and Curb-side pick up options also available. Call for more details!
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“Expressions”
story continued from page 1. of Kentucky, Dr. McCaslin started her first practice within Dr. Shelton’s practice. In 2011, she moved to her own location and founded Expressions Family and Cosmetic Dentistry with two employees. She had no idea that six short years later, she would outgrow the property and move because of her practice’s popularity. “The community of this area blessed us. We outgrew our first practice, so we had to look for a bigger building right by Eastlake High School. The Eastlake area is a hometown atmosphere, which is why I love practicing here.” Now, three years later, her dental office on Ridgeline Boulevard has expanded to thirteen employees, and the addition of Dr. Laura Goodwin, an associate dentist. Expressions Family and Cosmetic Dentistry is recognized for exceptional care in her tight-knit community. “Dentistry is a very artistic and very social profession. Being able to help people, change smiles, change lives, is a big reason why I got into dentistry.” Not only does Expressions Family and Cosmetic Dentistry provide comprehensive cosmetic dental offerings of teeth cleaning, bridges, fillings, dentures, gum therapy, teeth whitening, and Invisalign invisible braces, Dr. McCaslin and her team go a step beyond. Being a primarily digital office, they don’t provide temporary crowns but can make new crowns within two hours. They also offer state-of-the-art, non-invasive technology for oral cancer screenings to every patient. Having lost her mother and having a brother a survivor of oral cancer, Dr. McCaslin uses an advanced screening technology for her patients. Sometimes oral cancer can be asymptomatic.
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“We have invested in the VELscope® fluorescent light for oral cancer screenings to illuminate abnormalities not visible to the naked eye. We give our patients an extra screening tool, especially those at a high-risk population. We recommend all of our patients have a VELscope® exam at least once a year. The cost is $19. We keep it a low price so that we’re able to provide that service to our patients.” Dr. Laura Goodwin joined the practice in 2018, enabling the office to be more readily available and allowing for convenient Saturday hours twice a month. “Dr. Goodwin is an asset to our office. She does the same dentistry I do, but I work Monday through Thursday, and Dr. Goodwin works Tuesdays through Fridays. She’s been a blessing. We can keep our office open longer for our patients by having an associate dentist.” While Dr. Goodwin has a focus on dental implants, in 2020, Dr. McCaslin’s concentration is on sleep apnea, airway obstruction dentistry. She became interested initially in sleep apnea when still training at her uncle’s practice. Sleep apnea is a
severe sleep disorder that happens when your regular breathing is interrupted during sleep. In children as young as three, Dr. McCaslin looks at tonsils and adenoids and monitors any airway obstruction issues that can lead to adult sleep apnea. “Dr. VonSick was at the forefront of bringing dental and sleep apnea medicine together. As a mentor, he talked to me about it,” she said. “Last year, I was able to go through all of the hours of continuing education and learn how to help our patients by not just concentrating on their teeth, but helping them breathe better, which allows them to live healthier lives. Dr. VonSick was the one who originally got me interested in this. I wanted to be able to help my patients in a different way, especially those who don’t want to wear a CPAP. It is another benefit we can give our patients.” Dr. McCaslin asks her patients about symptoms like high blood pressure, headaches, shortness of breath, diabetes, depression, daytime sleepiness, acid reflux, snoring, lack of ability to lose weight, among others. “There’s a lot of things in our body that can be affected if we don’t get
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enough rejuvenation sleep that we need. For mild to moderate sleep apnea, a dental device is the gold standard. For severe sleep apnea, a CPAP is recommended. The problem is there is only a 45% compliance with the CPAP machine, so something is better than nothing for the people who don’t want a CPAP or aren’t going to wear a CPAP. The device we use gives them an alternative.” Instead of a CPAP, Dr. McCaslin opens up the airway with a bite guard. “It is an upper and lower device that brings the lower jaw a little bit forward to open up the back of the throat, the airway, so people can breathe better as they’re sleeping. As dentists, when we look at the airway on every patient. There are certain things that we examine and evaluate for airway obstruction whenever we are doing our initial exams or recare exams.” Some medical insurance carriers and Medicare cover oral appliances or have a benefit for the treatment of sleep apnea. The device is customfabricated and fitted for each patient. “Basically, in our daily practice, I put my dentistry hat on when I am
talking about teeth, and I put my medical hat on when I am talking about the airway.” While the American Dental Association recommends a bi-annual visit to the dentist, Expressions Family and Cosmetic Dentistry offer individualized plans of treatment, completely customized to the patient. “There’s no set answer for that. Some people need to be seen for recare visits four times a year. It all depends on people’s genetics and bacteria in the mouth. That’s how we set up our patients depending on their individual oral health plan.” In her practice, what Dr. McCaslin said that sets Expressions Family and Cosmetic Dentistry apart from those in the same field is her team and the way they treat their patients. Whether a three-year-old toddler to a teen in need of Invisalign, or a busy working entrepreneur to their oldest patient of 97 years, premium care and generations of patients is the ultimate
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goal of the family practice. “We treat our patients like family. We are not high-pressure salespeople. The fact is that we educate and explain procedures to our patients, building value in what dentistry will provide for them. I think our patients appreciate that more than anything else. Our goal is to make all of our patients feel comfortable. Nobody loves going to the dentist, but we try to make a pleasant experience out of what the majority of people think is unpleasant.” Expressions Family and Cosmetic Dentistry is located at 3007 Ridgeline Blvd., Suite A, in Tarpon Springs. Hours of operation are Monday 9:00 – 2:00, Tuesday 8:00 – 6:00, Wednesday 9:00 – 7:00, Thursday 9:00 -5:30, Friday 8:00 – 1:00, and two Saturdays a month 8:00 -1:00. To schedule an appointment or learn more, visit mypalmharbordentist.com or call 727-787-6453. APRIL 2020 25
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