Tampa Bay News and Lifestyles. East Lake. Vol. 12, Issue 06, June 2019. by Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles Magazine

Vol. 12, Issue 06, June 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

Cornerstone Pros Has You Covered for Air Conditioning, Plumbing and Electrical By Deborah Bostock-Kelley Imagine July in Florida, a humid 98 degrees at the heart of summer. You insert your key in the front door and enter your home, expecting a cool reprieve from the sweltering heat. Instead you are greeted by a temperature equal to the outside. What happened to your airconditioning? As perspiration drips down your

face and your shirt sticks to your back, you grab a bottled water from your refrigerator and you Google on your cell phone a reliable repair company to call. While removing a glass from your cupboard, you happen to notice a clog in your kitchen sink – which is difficult to see because the kitchen light struggles to come fully on.

See “Cornerstone” on page 14

Call Dr. Paula and create the life that you want! Do you ever feel worthless even though you know you are a worthwhile person? Do you feel like you’re not good enough even though you might have awards, promotions, and degrees that prove that you are good enough? These are the types of questions and concerns

Dr. Paula Nelson addresses in her private counseling practice. One of the therapies Dr. Paula utilizes to help her clients to heal old wounds that continue to interfere with their happiness today is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. See “Dr. Paula” on page 12

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: From the Editor..............................5 A Kid’s Place of Tampa Bay.............6-7 Tech Talk with Bob......................8-9 Princess Cruises........................10-11 The Man and the Message......18-19 SAT and ACT Improvement....22-23 JC Audiology..........................24-25 Photo Retouching & Editing....28-29

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It’s Summer Time! Summer is almost here, and so is the 90+ degree weather! Summer begins on Friday, June 21st and gives us 94 days in the season, ending Monday, September 23rd. In spite of the heat, the humidity, and those afternoon showers, Tampa Bay is full of amazing activities you can enjoy throughout the hot days of Summer. Here’s a list of activities you and your family, friends, and loved ones can enjoy during the Summer. 1.) Go to the beach - What better way to spend a weekend than soaking up the sun, drinking some Pina Coladas (If you’re over 21) and enjoying the beautiful beaches that Tampa Bay has to offer! The options are endless; you can visit Clearwater Beach, Belleair Beach, Indian Rocks Beach, North Redington Beach, Madeira Beach, Treasure Island, St. Pete Beach, Pass-A-Grille Brach, South Pasadena, or Tierra Verde amongst others. 2.) Go biking - a bike ride around your neighborhood, local park or a biking trail - Biking is a fun activity you can do with your whole family. Choose between the Upper Tampa Bay Trail in the northwest end of Hillsborough County near Memorial Highway in Westchase. Visit Flatwoods Park, located on Morris Bridge Road in Tampa. Test your endurance and bike across the Courtney Campbell Causeway trail. You can park for free at Cypress Point Park or Skyway Park, and ride your bike one way and then back again, taking in the beautiful water views and the city skyline all around you. 3.) Go kayaking or paddle boarding - Some of the best spots are; The Hillsborough River, Little Manatee River, Myakka River, Withlacoochee, and Rainbow Rivers, Suwannee River, Chassahowitzka River, Silver Springs, Caladesi Island, and Weedon Island Preserve. I personally recommend the Rainbow River because the water is crystal clear and at a constant low to mid 70s temperature, it’s a great way to cool off during the hot and humid Tampa Summer days. You can see turtles, fish and a variety of birds. It’s definitely a unique experience. If possible, try to visit during a weekday since it gets really crowded over the weekends. There are also several campground options available if you’re into sleeping under the stars. 4.) Visit a unique restaurant in the Tampa Bay area you have never tried before. Explore new

neighborhoods where you don’t normally eat at. Become inspired and get ideas from our hundreds of local advertisers; take advantage of their Summer Specials, offers, and coupons advertised on all editions of Tampa Bay News and Lifestyles. 5.) Visit Hyde Park Village - Set in Hyde Park’s stunning historic district with tree-lined streets and charming brick walkways, Hyde Park Village is an amazing place for on-street retail, local businesses (including a movie theatre) and awardwinning restaurants. Whether you visit during the day, or at night, there’s plenty to keep you occupied and happy. They also host local farmer’s markets on select dates, so visit www.hydeparkvillage.com for more information. 6.) Check out Busch Garden’s Summer Nights - As the sun goes down, the party heats up at Busch Gardens during Summer Nights from May 31 - August 11. Experience fireworks and thrilling rides like the all-new Tigris and dance the night away with live music and entertainment at different party zones throughout the park. 7.) Catch a famous Broadway play, opera, comedy show, concert or a variety of other fantastic events at the Straz Center in downtown Tampa. Visit www.strazcenter.org for more information and a list of upcoming events. 8.) Show your support for our local sports teams! Attend a Tampa Bay Rays, Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Tampa Tarpons game, amongst others. 9.) Attend a concert at the Amalie Arena or the MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre. Visit ticketmaster.com or amphitheatretampa.com for an updated list of upcoming shows and concerts. 10.) Visit a Museum -Recently Tampa Bay was awarded the honor of being one of the “Top Arts Destination” by American Style Magazine. Discover an eclectic collage of museums featuring the surreal masterworks of Salvador Dali to traveling Smithsonian Exhibitions. Get a group together and visit MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry), the Tampa Bay History Center, the Henry B. Plant Museum, the Dali Museum, or the USF Contemporary Art Museum amongst many others. I hope that gives you enough options to choose from when you find yourself wondering what to do this Summer. Until next time,

Carla Selby.

A Kid’s Place of Tampa Bay….. A Bridge to Safety For Children By Lisa Stephens Sometimes being a kid isn’t as simplistic as many of us recall. Unfortunately, some children experience life situations that conclude with them being placed in an environment away from their initial home. Fortunately, there are places like A Kid’s Place that will take in these children who desperately need a loving environment in which they can be understood and well taken of. A Kid’s Place is

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a non-profit organization that provides refuge for abused, neglected and abandoned children. A Loving Place For Kids in Need The mission of A Kid’s Place is to provide a safe, loving and nurturing home for foster children or children who have been removed from their home due to neglect, abuse or abandonment. They certainly do that and more! Development Director Samantha Mellen explained the average length of stay

for children at A Kid’s Place is approximately six months. “I love working with the children and seeing them have

the opportunity to be a child,” she said. “It’s inspiring to see our community come together and help those

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in need.” This unique 60-bed facility houses children ranging in age from newborns to those about to “age out” of the foster care program once they reach 18 years of age. Nestled upon 5 acres of land in Brandon, this facility offers children a home-like environment in a neighborhood setting. Their in-house parent model provides children with consistent caregivers. When possible, residents are housed with their siblings. Brothers and sisters are allowed to be placed together to encounter the healing process in the presence of one another. Therapy, dental and educational services are provided on site. Pre-kindergarten and toddler programs are also offered as well. At A Kid’s Place, children don’t have to be transported offsite to receive these crucial services. They’re all available to them in the familiar space of A Kid’s Place. The goal of A Kid’s Place is to be the supportive bridge to children between where they’ve come from and where their next best home can be. That next best home might be with relatives, a foster home or reunification with family when the timing is right for that. Or possibly adoption.

Whatever the case, children placed at A Kid’s Place will enjoy a safe and loving environment until their next home is determined. Helping One Child at A Time The services provided to children residing at A Kid’s Place are second to none! They aim to meet the social, educational, medical and psychological needs of each child there. Well-child exams, immunizations and minor illness treatments are provided to residents of A Kid’s Place. Dental cleanings and evaluations are provided by Suncoast Dental. Bay Area Behavioral Services provides counseling services to children in need of healing from past trauma. Educational services are also provided to those children in need of help to catch up with grade level classmates. To gain skills for future independent living, a program is also offered

for residents 13 years and older. Combined with their Youth in Action program, teens are prepared to learn and grow in a safe environment. How You Can Help……. How is all this made possible? Fundraising is key to the success of A Kid’s Place. There are several annual events held that have become community favorite events. Their Annual Golf Classic is held every October. Get your group together now to enjoy this fun event! This is held each year at the prestigious Avila Golf and Country Club and features hole contests, prizes and auctions! Their Home is Where the Heart Is Holiday Stroll takes place each December. This event features South Tampa residents welcoming guests into their homes for an enchanting evening of holiday merriment, music, food and festivities! This is an

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even you surely want to watch for to put on your calendar for holiday fun! Another annual event that has become a community favorite is their Fostering Hope Black Tie Gala. Held in February, this black tie affair features a VIP reception, live entertainment, dinner and silent and live auctions featuring spectacular prizes! Want to hold your own fundraiser for A Kid’s Place? You can do it! Contact Samantha at smellen@akidsplacetb. org or call her at 813381-3839. If you’d rather give your time instead of attending a fundraising event, you can do that as well! Samantha said, “You can volunteer on campus in our donation room, kitchen or at the front desk.” Volunteers help plan and execute their signature events and also participate during their holiday gift drive which takes place throughout the year. If you have a little time on your hands, call them today to see how you can help! A Kids Place of Tampa Bay is located at 1715 Lithia Pinecrest Road, Brandon. Call 813-381-3839 today to find out how you can help or find out about upcoming volunteer opportunities. Visit their website at www. akidsplace.com. JUNE 2019 7

Tech Talk with Bob - STOP: Before Repairing Your PC By Bob Dalles Imagine this. The computer you bought from that big box store seven months ago no longer works. No problem, it’s still under warranty. You call the manufacturer and get a return authorization from them. You pack and ship your computer to them. Today, two months later, you are finally getting it back from the manufacturer and cannot wait to turn it on. You turn it on and it boots right up into the desktop. You notice that your desktop doesn’t look the same way you had it before you sent it for repair. Upon further investigation you realize that some programs are missing, you cannot access your printer, and most importantly, all your pictures, videos, music and

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other data is nowhere to be found. Your computer works, but your personal stuff is gone. You call the manufacturer to ask about your data. Suddenly you find out that the only obligation they had to you under the warranty is that they would repair or replace your computer to the way it was the day you brought it home from the store and took it out of the box. The manufacturer has no liability when it comes to your data. You learn the hard way that your missing programs, data, etc. are your problem. Many people find themselves in this predicament every day. Fortunately, you won’t. Computers are viewed by many as being no different as they see coffee makers or any other electronic appliance. Electronic coffee makers use hardware and some type

of software to make them function. However, the software that runs your coffee maker is not as sophisticated as the software that runs your computer. People typically do not differentiate between the hardware and software aspects of a computer system. The truth is, where the software in your coffee maker never changes, the software in your computer is constantly changing. Especially your data files as you add and delete your music, pictures and other personal documents. All this information is stored on your computer’s hard disk drive (HDD). Your HDD stores all computer software information including your personal and unique computer information. This unique information is created over time as you use your

computer system by adding programs, printers, data, etc. All these changes alter the contents of your HDD. When you send your computer to the manufacturer for repair,

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your HDD may be physically replaced by having a new HDD installed into your computer or logically replaced by having all the information on the HDD erased and then rewritten with the information the HDD had on it when your computer was new out of the box. Think of it this way. If you ever had the battery in your car replaced, the first thing you probably learned when you got back into your car is that all your radio preset stations have been wiped out due to the battery being disconnected. The auto repair shop’s responsibility is not to restore your radio presets but to replace your car’s battery with a working one. You’ll just have to reprogram those preset stations all over again. The same is true of your computer. Important information can be lost during the repair. If it is your personal data, like rare photos, it may

be impossible to replace. It is always your responsibility to make sure you have what you need to restore the programs and data you have added to your computer since you bought it. But no one ever tells you this until it is too late. So how do you minimize your data loss when you need your computer system repaired? The first thing you do is make certain that all your personal data is backed up. This can be difficult if your computer will not turn on. Even if your computer will not turn on, it may still be possible that your data can be extracted from the HDD before you send your computer off for repair. If you are not familiar with how to get your data backed up, contact a professional computer technician for help. The next thing you will need are the installation disk and/ or files for any software you

added to the computer after you bought it. Make sure you have all your installation media and product keys so these items can be reinstalled with as little trouble as possible. A list of your email and website user names and passwords are also going to need to be reentered the first time you try to access any of the secured websites you visit. If you are not sure if you have everything you need to recover all of the additions you made to your computer since you bought it, contact a professional computer technician to help you get all your ducks in a row. A small investment in prevention will save you a lot of money, and grief, when your time comes to get your computer repaired. Especially if you rely on your computer for managing your business or investments.

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

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Princess Cruises Are a Window to the World, and a Window to Yourself

Princess Cruises invites passengers to “come back new,” and the diverse range of onboard programs and activities are designed to do just that. As guests sail the Seven Seas, they can learn a new skill or try a new experience, whether it’s tasting a flight of new wines in the Vine’s wine bar, hearing about Eastern philosophies in one of the enrichment lectures, or just purely enjoying a pampered and relaxing voyage to new destinations. On every Princess

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ship you’ll find so many ways to play, both day and night, as the array of onboard activities will keep you engaged every moment of your cruise vacation. You can enjoy original musicals, dazzling magic shows, feature films, top comedic performances, and nightclubs that get your feet movin’ and groovin’. You can also explore The Shops of Princess, or learn a new talent. Princess has joined forces with DiscoveryTM to

bring enriching new experiences on board and ashore with Discovery at SEA. Experience stargazing on the top deck, and participate in activities inspired by hit shows such as Shark Week, Finding

Bigfoot, Deadliest Catch, and more. You can also experience grand traditions and celebrate colorful cultures at Princess Cruises Festivals of the World celebrations! Depending on where you sail, you

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you visit. Depending on your itinerary, cruise activity options may • Rio’s Carnival include: • Carnaval de • Meeting Alaskan Panama lumberjacks • Oktoberfest • Hula dancing and • Mardi Gras ukulele lessons in Hawaii • Klondike Festival • Street pan drum • Mexican Fiesta lessons in the Caribbean • Carnevale Di • Mariachis on deck Venezia • King Kamehameha in Mexico • Traditional Maori Festival performance in New • Matariki Festival Zealand • Midsommarfest • Brazilian samba • Celtic Festival dancers in South America • Local dishes served Princess also offers in their main dining destination-themed activities that incorporate rooms live performances, music, The Sky Princess is a and dance lessons, which give you a deeper 143,700-ton ship that will connection to the places be a sister to Princess’s might experience:

other Royal Class ships, Royal Princess, Regal Princess and Majestic Princess. The three ships have debuted over the past four years and feature an incredible open space atrium called The Piazza, the undisputed star of the show on these Royal Class Ships. The atrium expanded in size and use from previous ships, and has become a signature feature. The Piazza is an elegant three-deck space designed in marble, with sparkling floor-to-ceiling light fixtures, grand undulating staircases, theatrical balconies, live

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entertainment, water fountains and new places to enjoy a cocktail. Choose a Piazza-view table to people-watch, as you might do in the piazza of a small Italian town. But remember, you cannot leave The Piazza until you experience the Royal Bellini Cocktail! By increasing the size and adding a bit of dazzle to this space, Princess has turned a ship’s atrium into a stunning hub of activities, music and relaxation -- with a bit of sophistication and fun -Princess Style!

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“Dr. Paula”

Continued from page 1 EMDR was initially developed and used to treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) but is now also successfully used to treat anxiety, phobias, grief, addictions, and other types of traumas. Adverse life experiences are referred to as “small t’s.” You may not have been blown up in a minefield or molested, but a memory of something that was said or what happened to you becomes locked in the brain and seems to have a similar effect to that of a traumatic experience. Dr. Paula shares her own story of being forgotten to be picked up by her mother when she was in kindergarten. Her message to herself became “I am abandoned,” and throughout her life, when a boyfriend or a girlfriend or anyone, for that matter, seemed to be dismissive of her, this old memory was triggered and caused her to feel emotional pain. After being treated with EMDR, this no longer had that impact on her. “Disturbing events are stored in an isolated memory network. This prevents new learning from taking place. The old material keeps getting triggered over and over

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again. In another part of your brain is all of the information needed to resolve this. It’s just prevented from linking up to the old stuff. Once we start processing with EMDR, the two networks can link up. New information can come to mind and resolve the old problems.” Dr. Paula has over 25 years of experience as a psychotherapist and is certified in EMDR. She is also a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Master Certiﬁed Addiction Professional, and a Certiﬁed Clinical Trauma Professional. It is this combination of education and experience that enables Dr. Paula to address a variety of problems with EMDR.

Why use EMDR? “It is super fast,” says Dr. Paula. “What would normally take a couple of years to accomplish with traditional talk therapy, I can achieve in months. I like seeing my clients make progress. My job isn’t to keep my clients in treatment with me. My job and my joy come from seeing my clients achieve their goals, experience fewer symptoms that interfere with their life, let go of the past, and create new and healthy lives and relationships.” What does an EMDR session look like? Dr. Paula says “I start by taking a client’s history. We’ll talk about the process

of EMDR and what to expect. Together we’ll develop a treatment plan aimed at achieving the client’s goals. We’ll identify possible targets for EMDR processing. An objective is a distressing memory and includes current situations that cause emotional distress. We’ll also develop stress reduction techniques that the client can use during and in-between sessions.” Dr. Paula relates, “We will start by asking you to focus on a target. Then I will ask you to follow my fingers with your eyes. After we do that for a while, we will stop and talk about anything that comes up. You won’t be able to hold the picture steady while eye

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movements are going on, so there’s no need to try. When we talk, you need to give me feedback on what is happening. Sometimes things will change and sometimes they won’t. There are no “supposed to’s” in this process, that’s the beauty of EMDR; Your brain does the work, you can’t do this wrong! We will do repetitions of the eye movements and the checking in. The emotional pain associated with the target will reduce and eventually will no longer be triggered by current day situations.” Dr. Paula notes that if a client is unable to use eye movements, tones or taps can be substituted. She has worked with clients who have seizure disorders by utilizing tones and hand buzzers. All of these techniques induce the bilateral brain stimulation necessary to link up the old and new memory networks and reduce distress. Couple’s Counseling Dr. Paula uses the

Gottman approach in her couple’s counseling. Drs. John and Julie Gottman have spent 40 years researching what makes a relationship work. Because all of the Gottmans’ exercises and principles are based on research, they offer real support and help for couples who want to build stronger, happier healthier relationships. “They have developed principles and activities that help couples to become best friends again. The Gottmans have quite a several YouTubes available so you can learn about their philosophy on what makes a relationship work and see if it seems like a fit for you.” Couples who come to Dr. Paula complete the Gottman Relationship Checkup. This is an online questionnaire developed by Dr. John Gottman. The report from the assessment is like having the results of your lab work completed prior to seeing your PCP. “It helps us to focus on where we need to do our work together,” says Dr. Paula. She goes on to explain that this type of research-driven

counseling is beneﬁcial in the long-run to patients not only because it shows them where their relationship challenges are, but because it also saves them time in counseling and helps them work toward the relationship they want to create in a shorter amount of time. Individual Counseling Dr. Paula has years of experience helping people who suffer from anxiety and depression. If you prefer “talk therapy,” Dr. Paula has created a safe, nonjudgmental environment in which you can tell your story. Parenting Workshops Dr. Paula also helps couples who have made the painful decision to get a divorce. Dr. Paula offers the mandatory Florida Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course in her Dunedin office. With her help, you’ll learn how to work with your co-parent in a healthier way and reduce stress for both you and your child(ren). Online Counseling If you are stressed or depressed, just the thought of visiting a doctor’s

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ofﬁce might be enough to prevent you from making an appointment. Dr. Paula Nelson says that shouldn’t be a concern, because she also offers online counseling. Dr. Paula says that she’s seen many patients beneﬁt from online therapy, “Online therapy sessions allow patients to see me at their convenience. The site is HIPAA secure and very user-friendly.” In addition to the safe, secure web connection that allows Dr. Paula to talk face-to-face with her patients, there are additional therapy tools available such as an encrypted journal, email, and appointment scheduling. If you are looking for a caring and nonjudgmental professional to support you through challenging times, contact Dr. Paula Nelson and learn how to create the life that you want. Dr. Paula Nelson’s office is located at 1968 Bayshore Blvd. Suite #109 in Dunedin. For more information or to make an appointment, call 813951-8889, email paula@ drpaulanelson.com or visit www.drpaulanelson.com

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“Cornerstone”

continued from page 1 Before collapsing into a moment of deep despair, envision a telephone number you can contact where each issue – airconditioning, plumbing, and electrical – are conveniently remedied by a single phone call. Though the scenario was extremely fabricated, the resolution is not. Founded on faith and family in Land O’Lakes, Cornerstone Pros, a woman-owned business, is proud to offer the Tampa Bay community licensed air conditioning, heating, plumbing and electrical service providers 24/7. “We developed our company on our values and integrity. We try to be a good example in the community and serving the Lord in that process,” said owner Dana Spears. First opened in 2006 to service customer air-conditioning needs, in 2011 Dana got her plumbing license and a plumbing division

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was added. Finally to compliment these two services, in 2014, the electrical division was formed. “We felt there was great demand from our customers to have one company to provide all of their home services,” said owner Dana Spears. Cornerstone Pros is a family business with 10 family members working together with other employees, totaling over 66. “We try to keep our ‘familyowned and operated’ reputation strong,” she said. “Customer service is what our company was built on and we are very proud of our online ratings. We understand that there are many tradespeople out there that know the mechanical side of our industry, but we felt that there wasn’t a very strong presence for customer service and meeting customer needs.” Coming from a customer support background, Dana made it her goal to combine exemplary customer support with qualified technicians. “We’ve built our business on

meeting our customers’ needs, providing them with a service that they deserve and I think it has worked very well for us.” Such services include maintenance, repair and replacement to your airconditioning unit. To ensure your a/c is in tip-top shape for the upcoming scorching summer months, Dana recommends checkups and tune ups before the heatwave hits. “Having us come out every 6 to 12 months to clean and check your drain lines and a/c system will extend the life of your system. It gives you that forewarning like ‘we’ve had to replace a few parts this year, your warranty is almost up and would you be interested in looking at replacement or do you want to wait until it dies’”? For this service, Cornerstone Pros provides maintenance tech, not service techs troubleshooting, but techs specifically trained to performed maintenance. A recommendation sheet allows the customer to know of any findings.

To save on your electric bills, Cornerstone Pros specializing in electric and gas tankless water heaters to replace outdated and energy deficient water heaters. Not only do the old-fashioned 40-50-gallon standard water heaters take up space, they add cost to your monthly electric bill. Cornerstone Pro’s certified experts can tackle any electrical need in your home including adding or replacing lighting and fixtures, replacing or installing ceiling fans, installing LED, cables for cameras, media equipment and panel upgrades. Cornerstone Pros offers a maintenance program for all three of their trades – Air-Conditioning, Plumbing and Electrical. “We come out every 6 months for a/c. We do a home inspection on your plumbing and electrical once a year. We’ve really found that it gives our customers peace of mind.” She explained that if a customer is on the maintenance program and does have an

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emergency, not only will you take priority, you get additional savings on services needed. Cornerstone Pros services all brands and will provide you with a free estimate on installations or a second opinion on repairs. They make it a point to get to emergency calls within the same day. A flat-fee company, Cornerstone Pros offers upfront pricing so there are no surprises. With hurricane season beginning in June, to protect your home from electricity loss, Cornerstone Pros offers free estimates for full-home generators. During the hurricane that left entire cities without power, Dana said the generator allowed them to run their business. Cornerstone Pros installs Generac Home Standby Generators and if the electricity does go out at your home, your power will transfer smoothly to the generator. “We were without power at our office for 7 days, but we installed the standby generator and were

able to get our office running 2 days after the storm,” she said. From a clogged sink to a whole home re-pipe, customers have trusted Cornerstone Pros to fix their plumbing issues quickly, reliably and with integrity. In addition to expert plumbing services, Cornerstone can install personalized well water treatment and water purification systems. These systems will both remove impurities from your water and improve its taste. The removal of hard water can prevent fixtures in your home from discoloring and rusting, increasing the life of your appliances. As most people don’t plan for their a/c to die, home to need re-piping, or water heater to need replacing, Cornerstone Pros offers convenient financing options for every budget. Financing is also available for generators and water purification systems. What’s most important to Dana is ensuring her customers receive the best service possible, no matter what trade service is being

provided. “We want to build enduring long-term relationships with our clients,” she said. “(Potential customers) just need to look at our combined 3800 five-star reviews online. We’re very proud of that as a company. We work really hard to make a positive experience.”

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To schedule an appointment with Cornerstone Pros for air conditioning, heating, plumbing & electrical, call (813) 9494445. Learn more information about the specials and services they provide at www. cornerstonepros.com or on Facebook.

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The Man and the Message, Rhythm and Blues Artist, Alex Harris By Tom Bostock Another velvet-soft, soulful rhythm and blues single offering by locallybased talent, national recording star, (recently signed with the Orchard/ Cross the Line Music, a division of SONY Music Entertainment congratulations), actor, blues music icon, and song writer, Alex Harris, continues caressing the airways and his YouTube channel to the obvious delight of his many adoring fans, both local and world-wide, as it climbs to the top of the music charts. His latest song, another in a long series of chart-topping hits, is a plaintive, original, soul-searching ballad, “Make It Better,” written by Alex and a few of his talented fellow songwriter friends. Like his many other hits, “Make It Better” is as easy to relate to, as is to the man, Alex

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Harris and his message of hope. Not an overnight, instant sensation, Alex paid his dues on his way to stardom. In his early years, his family gospel chorus, A7, first traveled the country sharing their gospel message before crossing over into rhythm and blues. He credits his mother for stimulating his patience and compassion and his preacher father for his leadership; elements easily identifiable in the tapestry of his current work, “Make It Better.” In addition to his own gospel church background, and the encouragement of his family, Alex credits several other strong influences, mentors from his early years, singer/songwriters Michel Mathis, and Chris Willis with their influential assistance along his career path. He gives special recognition to Dr. Bobby Jones, whose long-running

radio and television shows, The Bobby Jones Gospel Radio Show and The Bobby Jones Gospel Countdown are the yardstick by which all other gospel shows are measured today. Asked about the style of his songs, Alex noted, in our recent interview, that, “I want to write something that raises the awareness of how much we need each other;” It is clearly present in the lyrics of his latest song. Each powerful line is an effort, as Alex says of the reason for not just this one but all of his songs, to answer one of the motivating questions in his life, how can he “lift humanity and bring out the positive energy that he sees in all of us, but has to be stimulated?” Very well, I think we would all agree. In response to a question about the best advice that he ever received when he was

first starting out, Alex related an incident that happened after he had been responsible for an on-campus extravaganza at the college he was attending, La Grange College in Georgia. It was the college chaplain that offered some sage, unsolicited advice that struck Alex with its simplicity and guides his career even today. “Don’t use the gift,” the chaplain offered, “let the gift use you.” Alex willingly offers the gift of his experience to the next generation of singer/songwriters; it is elegant in its simplicity. “Don’t really think that hard. Be who you are and be true to who you are. There is someone, somewhere waiting to hear your music. Stimulate the positive energy that we all have inside us.” Appalled by the conditions of under-served and overlooked children

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in a lower income area in St. Petersburg, Alex proved that what he sang about was more than just words. The same words of, as Alex said, “love, hope, healing and humanity” were realized as motivating forces, when, in 2012, with the help of his partner, Herbert Murphy, he did more than just stand idly by, as these “disadvantaged, underserved youth and teens” were lost to a life of futility and despair. Alex said that “you can’t love anyone else, if you can’t love yourself….” And love these kids, he did. The result of which Alex is both CEO and co-founder, ACT (Arts Conservatory for Teens),

in conjunction with the Pinellas School System, offers both before and after-school programs to disadvantaged youths (11 -18 years old). Its success is reflected in some outstanding statistics; 100% high school graduation where drop outs were rampant. Many of the children also went go on to attend college. To date, the organization has served over 2500 students! Alex the man, and Alex the performer are timely individuals who impact the world they live in every day. Through his selfless caring for his fellow man, expressed in both his world a better place. After actions and his music, he is all, Alex notes, “we are doing his part to make our all part of a universal eco

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system.” “Make It Better” is just another expression of that grand design.

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JUNE 2019 21

SAT AND ACT IMPROVEMENT: SUMMER PREP CLASSES By Dr. Wayne Adams

prepare over the summer for the first Wow? Summer break SAT and ACT exams of has already started. the fall. Rising seniors Before we know it, want to see if their high schools will be scores are high enough back in session in early for desired colleges August. How time flies, and universities (and especially over the for Bright Futures), summer. rising juniors want to The first and second see how they would Saturday of June each score plus preparing year, the SAT and the for the PSAT in midACT give “back to October, and many back” exams. This is rising sophomores the only time these incorporate preparing exams do not come for these exams as in successive months. part of their longer Starting two years term strategy to be ago, the SAT added admitted to the best an exam the last university possible Saturday in August, and seek to maximize about two weeks after scholarships. school starts. Not to be One of the great outdone, last year the rewards of my helping ACT added an exam my students have their the second Saturday in best possible futures, July. including doing their The result has been best on the SAT and/ more and more or the ACT Exams, is students prefer to seeing them achieve

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our definition of success. At our first class in the first fifteen minutes, usually with one or both parents as well, they hear my definition of success. Rather than a number attained on an exam, my definition of success is very simple, and takes a lot of pressure off (up to half of doing their best is mental). “When you walk out of taking the exam on that Saturday, I want you to look back at all we have done during our time together and simply say, ‘I have done my very best with the time and the priorities that I had.’ No one can ask any more of you in life, and each of us should require no less of ourself.” When I ask a student

how well they want to do on the exam(s), many times they give me a number such as in the 1300’s to the 1400’s- or higher - on the SAT, or high 20’s to 30’s on the ACT. When this occurs, and it does often, I always say that a better answer is to simply do their best, and let the numbers take care of themselves. If we set a number as a goal, then we are all human and as we approach it we tend to “slack off.” At the same time, if a student aim for a 1400 and only score a 1380 on the SAT (or a 32 and only score a 30 on the ACT), is that student a failure? No! One of the reasons for this definition is that I have seen that “life” is “what happens when we are planning to

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something else!” So many “surprises” happen during our prep classes, such as surprise exams or essays at school, getting sick, family emergencies, and even one student learning she would have to have her wisdom teeth taken out the day before the SAT Exam (naturally, we rescheduled for the exam, adjusted our classes, and she achieved a 1530!). And as you know from prior articles, I am as proud of a student who climbs from a 14 to a 20 on the ACT as I am a student that goes from a 1350 to a 1530 on the SAT … so long as each student can walk out of that exam and say to themselves that they have done their very best with the time and the priorities they had. This is one reason I don’t give homework

… I give “suggestions” … because life happens and I never want to have a student not want to come to the next class because they haven’t been able to do their homework. Most of my students are so motivated by quickly seeing that they can dramatically improve and then a continuing climb in their scores that they find the time and the priority to do work out of class. If this is the type of super-coaching, mentoring, and performance improvement you would like for your student(s), then please give me a call at 727253-0639 or send an e mail at wwa0811@ mykolab.com. Would be great to talk with you further. 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, UC Berkley, UCLA, USC, UNC (Chapel 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,

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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/semifinalist 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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AUDIOLOGIST GAINS GREATER INSIGHTS INTO NEEDS OF HEARING-IMPAIRED CONSUMERS (LUTZ, FL)—Dr. Judith L. Reese recently attended a conference in St. Joseph, Michigan for hearing professionals from around the country and Canada, with presentations focused on improving hearing aid patients’ experience with the everimproving technological developments in hearing devices. “Every day, millions of people rely on their hearing devices to keep them connected with their families, their friends and their co-

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workers.” Dr. Reese explained on her return. “Knowing how the best hearing professionals focus on their patient’s needs help us raise the level of excellence in hearing care in the Tampa Bay region.” Dr. Reese joined peers from throughout North America to hear Dr. Gyl Kasewurm of Professional Hearing Services share industry developments and best practices related to new technology as well as quality consumer education that made Dr.

Dr. Judith L. Reese with Dr. Gyl Kasewurm. Kasewurm’s practice a leader and innovative

clinic respected by manufacturers and

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consumers. “Hearing devices nowadays are the most complicated and sophisticated consumer electronics item that a person can buy,” Dr. Reese explains. “The best way to ensure that devices are working optimally for the consumer is to make the ideal match of individual need, specific hearing impairments, with the right technology and ongoing professional adjustments.” Dr. Reese’s own clinic, JC Audiology in Lutz, Fl, is an innovative practice as well. Dr. Reese opened the practice in 2005, and it was the first

female-owned private practice audiology company in the greater Tampa area. Since then she has treated about 2,500 patients, and opened her Tampa Bay Hearing Aid Hospital, which services on average more than 125 hearing devices every month. During the Month of June, Dr. Reese and her colleague, Dr. Jennifer Steed, are conducting free hearing screenings for adults on Fridays. Those interested in a hearing check can call (813) 9491331 to schedule an appointment.

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