Tampa Bay News and Lifestyles. East Lake Magazine. Vol. 15, Issue 1, January 2022 by Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles Magazine

Vol. 15, Issue 1, January 2022

Your community. Your magazine.

The Premier “Shop Local” Community Magazine Directly Mailed To 18,000 Homes In East Lake & 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, CRYSTAL LAKE CONDOS, 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, WINDMILL POINT, Woodfield

The “Amazon” of Financial Services: East Lake Insurance and Tax LLC, East Lake Mortgage - Your “One-Stop” Financial Shop By Tom Bostock Have costs increased in the last few years for medical expenses or your house, car, or just general living expenses? Are you at risk if something happened? Did your current insurance broker offer you an umbrella policy that provides a million dollars in additional liability coverage for just a few hundred more dollars a year?

Get a Healthy Start To The New Year Witha Customized Wellness Plan at Stretch Rx! By Carla M. Dubis Tedeschi Stretch Rx Founder Ronda Musca and her incredible team welcome you to stretch your way to wellness in 2022! With a degree in Physical Science and Health Management and over 25 years of wellness expertise, Ronda opened her third fitness company, Stretch Rx, to provide alternative solutions to chronic pain, muscle tightness, See Stretch RX on page 12

Did you know it gives you a very inexpensive policy with “a lawyer on retainer,” if you need one? Was it intertwined with the same company that provides your regular car insurance to save you money, so you didn’t have to pay for duplicated insurance coverages multiple times? See ELIT on page 20

INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Editor........................5 2022 Drive for a Cure..............8-9 Tech Talk with Bob..................12 SAT/ACT.............................14-15 Swag Party Rental..............18-19

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Happy New Year 2022! The checklist of New Year resolutions seems well within reach when we’re looking to start ahead in January. Almost everything seems possible. 12 new months to start over and leave everything that was hurting you in the past? Amazing! A six-pack by summer? Done! Read a book per month? Make it two. Finally, conquering that debt you accumulated for years? Say no more. We’re creatures of habit, and even if we don’t want to recognize it, we follow this pattern of setting goals for each new year that starts. And that’s a good thing depending on how you approach it. I bet you all have goals and resolutions for 2022. I certainly do. Except, if these past two years and the new OMICRON variant has taught us anything, is that even though we may have a solid plan and all these great expectations of what this new year will be like, well, life is extremely unpredictable. Life is hard, but it is beautiful! So what if you’re still working on 2020 goals that got postponed due to the pandemic? You’re still here! You can continue working towards achieving everything you’ve set your mind to. The secret is not giving up. But first, SLOW DOWN. Most resolutions fail because we want to do too much too fast to overcompensate for lost time. But that causes us to burn out and quit faster. Try moving at your own pace, but consistently. That’s the key.

Life rarely goes according to plan, and we cannot let ourselves get discouraged or feel hopeless because things didn’t go exactly as we were expecting them to. There are lots of twists and turns and unexpected events. But keep pushing forward and never give up! We need to act like arrows in 2022. Even though we get pulled back, it’s only to gain impulse and be released forward with more strength and better aim. Whenever you feel you’re stuck in a tough situation and moving backward, don’t sweat it; take advantage of the impulse that will propel you ahead. = Before you start your day, just think about how far you’ve gotten. Wake up with a smile and a sense of purpose. Remind yourself of all the great achievements you’ve already accomplished. Count your blessings. Figure out how you can add a sprinkle of positivity to your day or and others’. A simple sentiment can go a long way in boosting the recipient’s mood, and yours as well. Share the love with those closest to you, too. It may be a while since you told your significant other how pretty their eyes are or your kid that you noticed them practicing good manners. Despite what the phrase says, a new year won’t necessarily foster a whole new you, but it should always motivate you to be better and resolutions help with that.

I wish you nothing but the best in I have had to remind myself this new year. regularly that I am just a human being, experiencing tough human experiences, Until next time, which are outside of my control. We may have the same plans for 2022 as we had for previous years, and that’s not For JANUARY 2022 5 For Advertising Advertising Info Info 727-943-0551 727-943-0551 II info@nnlflorida.com info@nnl- bad at all.or visit tbnewsandlifestyles.com

Carla Dubis Tedeschi

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East Lake Woodlands 2022 Drive for a Cure

We are getting ready for you! Golfers, sponsors and donors are gearing up for the 2022 Drive for a Cure. We will be ready, and we hope you are ready too! The Four Person Team Scramble will take place on Friday, February 25, 2022, at the East Lake Woodlands Country Club. Arrival, checkin and pre-round snacks begin at 10:00 AM with the Opening Ceremony at 11:00 AM and an 11:30 AM shotgun start. There will be flights for women, men and mixed foursomes. You may form your own foursome, or be paired by the Pro Shop and Tournament Committee. The cost is $100.00 (if paid before February 18, 2022; or $115.00 if paid after February 18, 2022) and it covers golf, cart, range, a variety of snacks and food available during the day. All costs

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include a contribution to our charities. Last year, in the U.S., there were an estimated 281,550 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 49,290 new cases of in situ breast cancer among women resulting in 43,600 breast cancer deaths (1:8). Although breast cancer in men

is rare, it does happen. In 2021, there were an estimated 2650 new cases among men in the U.S. resulting in 530 deaths (1:883). East Lake Woodlands Drive for a Cure supports local efforts to spread awareness about breast health, assist

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with breast cancer screening, provide diagnostic services and treatment, and provide short-term financial assistance to patients undergoing cancer treatment. The event supports Love Thy Neighbor (L.Y.N.) Fund, which provides financial assistance to breast cancer patients in active treatment and recovery in Pinellas and Pasco Counties. Our event supports the Morton Plant Mease Mammography Voucher Program (MVP) which provides screening, diagnostic and treatment for uninsured or underinsured patients in Pinellas County. Since 2007 the Drive has raised over $430,000. This year we have set our sights on the $500,000 mark for the organizations we support. Participation and sponsorship is very important to this effort, and there are many opportunities available to help us meet our goals. Come play with us on our beautiful, topquality golf courses; you’ll have a wonderful time and you will be instrumental in supporting this very worthwhile cause. For more complete information about the event, registration, sponsorship and donations, please visit our web site at: www.elwdriveforacure.com www.facebook.com/elwdriveforacure.com

We’ll see you on February 25th!

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Stretch RX - story continued from page 1 and poor balance. After noticing that people were experiencing limited options with more traditional pain relief methods, Ronda opened Stretch Rx to fill a void and offer an alternative approach to feeling and looking better without a prescription. “Our mission is to motivate, educate and assist people in making better choices to increase their overall fitness and wellbeing,” says Ronda. “We incorporate a wide variety of tools into each program. Therapeutic stretching, BioMat sessions, Personal Training, and resistance exercises are at the core of our programs. The results people experience even after the first session usually include decreased joint pain, improved flexibility, and better balance.” On the contrary to newer “one-size-fits-all” stretching and wellness facilities recently popping up, Stretch Rx has been serving the Tampa Bay community with a complete personalized wellness approach since 1994! Moreover, all Stretch Rx practitioners have earned a proper degree, or obtained the required licenses and credentials to practice in their field, so you can rest assured you’ll always be in the hands of caring, welltrained professionals. Using a far-infrared heated ionic BioMat helps release serotonin, practitioners stretch the client’s body to improve range of motion and flexibility. When

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done correctly, therapeutic stretching and exercise can improve circulation, reduce muscle tension, decrease pain, help with menstrual cramps and eliminate toxins, among others. “Negative ion therapy is perfect for cell regeneration. People with fibromyalgia, arthritis, and generalized pain feel amazing when they get off of this mat,” says Ronda. As a complement to these stretching and exercise services, Stretch Rx offers reflexology, reiki, massage therapy, food intolerance testing, and ionic foot baths by professionals with over two decades of experience. Reiki is a form of alternative therapy commonly referred to as energy healing. It emerged in Japan in the late 1800’s and involves the transfer of universal energy from the practitioner’s palms to their patient. During a Reiki session, the practitioner places their hands just above you to bring about healing. Reiki is non-invasive, and people receiving the service have reported relief from symptoms commonly associated with depression and anxiety. During a reflexology session, the practitioner stimulates pressure points on the clients’ feet that target various body organs to promote blood circulation and detoxification. While clients relax in a massage chair, ionic foot baths pull out toxins from the body during a twenty-minute soak, and at the close of the session, the

color of the water indicates what toxins were removed from within the body. If the client wants a massage, Ronda and her team advise the massage therapists where the most work is needed. In November 2019, Ronda further advanced her services, working with a manufacturer to perfect a small-batch CBD full-spectrum (.3% or under THC) topical salve that combined the benefits of essential oils, cooling menthol, and Arnica with the pain and inflammation relief of CBD that can be incorporated into a therapeutic stretching, reflexology, and massage session instead of lotion. Available CBD products are the Joint Jam® topical salve, Salt Buzz® bath salt, and Bubble Buzz® bubble bath available for purchase on JointJamCBD.com or at

Stretch Rx offices in Palm Harbor and Westchase. “We use organic essential oils, CBD made in the U.S. grown in small batches, third-party tested, and natural, without synthetic fillers. Our CBD products are genuine, without synthetic fillers.” Skin relief is an added benefit of the products’ use for pain and inflammation. Ronda’s clients have seen dramatic reductions in psoriasis, splotched skin, and crepe skin. Testimonial client photos are showcased on Joint Jam and Stretch Rx’s Facebook pages. Stretch Rx is open Monday - Saturday by appointment with locations in Palm Harbor, Westchase, Naples, and coming in January 2022, a fourth location in West Palm Beach.

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Ronda Musca, founder of Stretch RX

To schedule an appointment, clients call and briefly explain any issues they are experiencing. When they come to their first appointment, the practitioner reviews their health history, pain, accidents, and zeroes on the clients’ specific issues to create a wellness plan customized to their indi-

vidual needs. Special packages are also available at a discounted rate. Though Stretch RX does not take insurance, its affordable rates are structured much like an insurance copay. Looking to lose some weight in 2022? Starting in January 2022 through February, Stretch Rx will offer

the first-round package for $99, including four sessions; two in-person and two on the phone. “We’ll cover everything from exercise and eating habits, stress relief and management, sleeping patterns, and come up with a personalized health and nutrition plan for you,” says Ronda. To order CBD products or make an appointment, please email StretchRX@ gmail.com or call 727-7244314 Monday through

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Friday between 9 am and 5 pm. Need a great gift idea? Stretch Rx gift certificates are available in-person or by phone. They make excellent Valentine’s Day and Birthday gifts. Joint Jam products make excellent party favors and unique gifts for every occasion. For more information, visit https://stretchrxflorida.com. Mention this ad to receive $5 off your first session (New clients only).

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SAT AND ACT IMPROVEMENT: JANUARY IS HERE!

By Dr. Wayne Adams Spring Exam Dates: SAT … March 7th, May 12th, June 4th; ACT … February 12th, April 2nd, and June 11th. The New Year is upon us, and I think everyone is looking forward to a great 2022. BRIGHT FUTURES will accept qualifying scores for exams taken as late as in June this year. The legislature continued full tuition amounts for the coming year but did cut out the additional $600 stipend. They also will continue to “cherry pick” the best scores from multiple exams as before. MOST SENIORS have completed and submitted college applications for early or regular admission. Many schools are on “rolling admissions” and will accept applications after January 1st. If you have questions about additional ways to go to your dream college if you missed the admission deadline, are waitlisted, or are denied admission, just give me a call because you have other options available. Also, you may want to do “skill strengthening” in one or two areas to bring up your total scores.

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MOST JUNIORS are just happy another semester is completed in moving closer to graduation. A majority of my students this time of year are preparing early for the SAT and/or ACT, targeting a Spring exam or the ACT Exam in midJuly. SOME SOPHOMORES are also starting to prepare for the exams. Usually, these are very high-performing students aiming for “Top 25” colleges, or students struggling a bit with them and wanting to get a head-start on improving. SOME PARENTS are asking if they should transfer their student(s) to a private school because they are not happy with what they are hearing from their student(s) about philosophies taught by some public high school teachers. This is a highly personal decision, of course. But if you are considering this move, then most private high schools require the SSAT or ISEE exam as part of the application process. I have very successfully helped students with both, and would be happy to talk with you about them. PLEASANT SURPRISES this last tutoring cycle included seeing excellent “jumps” in

scores” and how much my guide “Achieve And Maintain Your Peak Mental Performance Zone on the SAT and ACT including how to win over test anxiety” has helped so many students now. At our final review class, one student was concerned about taking the exam that Saturday because she could score very well (ACT composite 30) taking a timed exam in our classes or at home … but was averaging far lower on the actual exam. So we reviewed the 14 techniques, and she felt much more confident. Also, she was having difficulties with the Reading section of the ACT and scoring 25’s. So we reviewed our “Read for what you need” approach and speed reading up to 1200 words a minute, and she took another Reading test and scored a 33. I find when students learn my techniques, practice them, and received continued coaching, great results occur. RECEIVED FROM PARENTS this past tutoring cycle: “Thank you Dr. Adams for all the help you have been for our daughter. We moved back into the country last year after three years abroad, just in time for COVID lockdowns in high schools which did not help her learning. With the ACT and SAT score improvements from your class, she now has an excellent chance for admission to a top Florida school.” “We have noticed a clear change in attitude in our son from your classes about these exams and going to college. He did not want to come, … then got interested … then looked forward to your classes

because he found that he could do this, and do it well. Now he is much more positive about going to college.” If You Would Like To Talk More About Your Student … Please contact me at 727-253-0639 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+ points on the Writing, Reading, Writing and Essay, and Math, and 4 – 7 points on the ACT composite. They have been admitted to 8 of the top 10 universities in the country, 18 of the top 25, 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), NYU, Northeastern (Boston), Boston College, Georgia Tech, Naval - Air Force - Merchant Marine Service Academies, Penn State, LSU, Auburn, UF, U Miami, FSU, USF, UCF, U Tampa, Florida Atlantic, Florida Gulf Coast, FIU, New College of Florida, Stetson, and Julliard – Manhattan New England - and Berkley Conservatories of Music. Many have received academic, athletic, or music scholarships. This year, he also tutored three juniors who scored at the national merit finalist/ semi-finalist levels on the most recent PSAT. He is a former Dean of a Graduate School of Business and Full Professor, and began college teaching at the University of Maryland in 1968. He has degrees and advanced studies at Harvard, Yale, Vanderbilt, Columbia International, and Luther Rice.

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Who Doesn’t Love a Party? The Swag Party Rental Story! By Tom Bostock When the popular singing group, Rare Earth, recorded the lyrics, “I just want to celebrate another day of living,” it could have been an anthem for the times we live in. With the specter of the post Covid–19 pandemic scare finally receding in our lives, people all over the Tampa Bay area are tossing away the anonymity of their face masks and once again getting together to celebrate and relax in each other’s company. It is finally time to enjoy our return to normalcy. Let’s party! Preparing for a party gives you two options: wasting gallons of ever more expensive gasoline, visiting the local big box stores, wandering up and down countless aisles trying

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to find that last item you need to make your party a success. Most times, that frustration only increases when you learn they either don’t stock the item, or it isn’t available for rental. The second and a much better, less tension filled alternative is Swag Party Rentals. When the owner, Lindsay Williams, wanted to throw a party this Summer in August, it surprised her that most everything she needed wasn’t locally available for rental. As a logical extension of her already successful Internet presence with Swag Marketing, a family run company, Swag Party Rentals, was born to meet that need for the entire community. “We save you time and make your life easier,”

Lindsay said enthusiastically. “We are local, reliable, and affordable,” she said, “firmly rooted in our community. Now that it is becoming safer and safer to have parties,” Lindsay noted, “people are starting to have parties again.” Swag Party Rentals caters

to small to midsize groups, and family gatherings, offering a variety of products, services, and entertainment options, suitable for every age group. With the corn hole craze sweeping the country, Lindsay offers the game and a popular version of step golf

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as just a few of their many backyard enjoyment choices to make your party a success. There is always something for everyone. Need a dance floor, or tables and chairs for several dozen people? No problem. Swag Party Rentals can do it all. Leave it up to Swag Party Rentals, your one stop party shop. One of their more popular attractions is the photo booth. JB, Lindsay’s son, is the techie photo booth

expert. He helps you capture memories to last a lifetime. The background of the customizable strips of colored photos can be designed to cater to any theme. “It is a lot of fun,” she says. “Customers really enjoy it.” A QR code is also available. Taking a picture of it digitally captures the photograph strips on your cell phone. If you don’t have the time to decorate or set up your tables and chairs for the party,

again, that isn’t a problem. Let Swag Party Rentals be your party planning professional. Shouldn’t you just be enjoying your party instead of worrying about the details? They can do it all! Lindsay noted sometimes a customer isn’t certain exactly what they want for their party. As a party planning professional, she shares her expertise with her clients, ensuring the perfect party with minimal delay. She noted if someone needs something for their party and she doesn’t have it, if practical, she will investigate and invest in it in time for your party. There are several ways to reach Swag Party Rentals for all your party rental needs. They are as close as your telephone. Call Lindsay at 813 240 5474 today for a memorable party tomorrow.

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A helpful staff member is always ready to help you. As Lindsay promises on her Facebook site, “At SWAG Party Rentals, we will create an experience to remember at your celebration.” Visit their website, www. swagpartyrentals.com or their Facebook website for ideas to make your party the hit of the season. The pictures walk you through a few of their many ‘can’t miss’ party rental items. Do you have any of these party questions? “Can you recommend something for me?” “How much do your products cost?” “What’s popular right now?” Relax. SWAG Party Rentals has all the answers! Now, get out there, and enjoy your party!

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ELIT - story continued from page 1 With mortgage rates at an all-time low, did you try to refinance and take some equity out of your home’s value from your current mortgage provider, only to learn you did not qualify or you couldn’t afford the current closing costs and your credit score was less than stellar? Did he want to charge you a full four points for the new mortgage? If you answered “no” about your insurance and “yes” about your mortgage, the experts at East Lake Insurance and Taxes LLC., and East Lake Mortgage are your one-stop-financial shop! If you’ve tried the

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rest, now try the best. It doesn’t matter what your needs are, insurance, taxes, or mortgage services, with their years of experience, the folks at East Lake Insurance and Tax LLC and East Lake Mortgage have the solution for you at a cost you can actually afford! As Baskal Korkis enthusiastically noted in a recent interview, “we get discount rates on everything! When you come to us, you are not trying to spend your time finding a better deal, We are spending our time trying to find you a better deal! We can offer a catered

experience,” he explained. Unlike insurance and mortgage companies who represent a single company, as an independent, they are free to get quotes from a variety of sources, ensuring you receive the best possible prices. What is even more important, they pass those savings directly to their clients! Wouldn’t you rather pay two points for your new mortgage and qualify even if your credit score is 620 instead of 720? East Lake Insurance and Tax LLC and East Lake Mortgage can do those things for you and so much more! What about your taxes? Would you like to, as Baskal said, “increase your refund

or decrease your liability?” Do you need someone who does more than just fill in the blanks on your tax forms, but can consult with you on new tax strategies to save you even more money, both this year and next? That is exactly what Baskal Korkis, his wife Besne Ceylan, and his sister, offer at their family-owned and operated company. East Lake Insurance and Tax LLC works with both businesses and private individuals to meet their individual financial needs. In response to a question about tax audits, Baskal shared his experience, noting that many taxpayers receive audit letters for

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ones, they continued to help their clients save money on their insurance needs. Their strategy is “focusing on their clients” and their needs. Baskal sounded a warning note to potential homeowners wishing to refinance. With forbearances, or the act of refraining from taking legal action, ending early next year, homeowner foreclosures will rise as the government ends the temporary safeguards. That will reinstate debts. Don’t wait to refinance if you’re looking to save money as part of your financial retirement and savings plans. Call them today.

forgetting to disclose their access to 1095A health insurance plans–“Obama Care,” during the year. He said that these letters are what we call soft audits, noting it would be “extremely rare” for a tax auditor to come to your front door. If you forgot, Baskal said, they help you file the required documents. “We look at every single aspect of your finances,” Baskal said, and have our company CPA’s available for questions. He added, “we can help anyone in

With the best mortgage costs, insurance rates, and full bookkeeping, payroll, and tax services available for you, it’s a simple decision! Let East Lake Insurance and Tax LLC and East Lake Mortgage be your one-stop financial shop! Call for an appointment or stop by today for a worry-free tomorrow. East Lake Insurance and Tax LLC., East Lake Mortgage 3033 Ridgeline Blvd B2 Tarpon Springs, FL. 34688 727 437 0725 Business Hours: (Monday-Thursday 8:30–5:30) (Friday 8:30–5:00) (Saturday–By Appointment Only)

any scenario.” Referring to refinancing mortgages with East Lake Mortgage, he offered good news to these potential clients. “There are no out-of-pocket closing costs. All costs can be rolled into the loan!” Like every other business, COVID-19 impacted theirs as well, but they turned it to their advantage by calling existing clients to help them with their financial issues. With access to ten automobile insurance providers and twenty home

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24 DECEMBER 2021

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Tampa Bay News and Lifestyles. East Lake Magazine. Vol. 15, Issue 1, January 2022

Articles inside

swag party rental

sAt/Act

from the editor

2022 drive for a cure

tech talk with Bob