Vol. 14, Issue 7, July 2021
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
Albert Family Orthodontics: Where Beautiful Smiles are Always in Style! By Deborah Bostock-Kelley When you make an appointment with Albert Family Orthodontics, patients will always see the orthodontist and practice founder, Dr. Jeremy Albert, DMD, MS. A specialist in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics, he divides his time between his Trinity and Palm Harbor practices. See “Albert Ortho” on page 18
INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Editor..............................5 Grout Tech.....................................8 SAT/ACT Improvement................10 Welcome to the family!................12 Tech Talk with Bob.......................14 Decorating Den.......................20-21
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Blessed & Free On July 4th, 1776, the United States of America proclaimed its independence from England by signing the Declaration of Independence. This federal holiday is the most patriotic and enthusiastically celebrated of all America’s holidays. It is associated with Presidential speeches, parades, BBQs, concerts, community events, and lots and lots of fireworks throughout the country. Many people also display the American flag outside their homes or buildings. Tampa Bay never disappoints when it comes to family-friendly events and fun things to do with your loved ones, especially during special Holidays, so I hope you’ve been enjoying everything our beautiful city has to offer. Whichever way you decided to celebrate our country’s Independence Day, I genuinely hope you had a fantastic and safe time! I want to mention that I’ve received many emails from our readers wanting to see more “community events” and local stories in our magazines. We try our best to incorporate as many of these stories as possible, but our printed space is very limited, and we prioritize local small business features. I want to take this opportunity to remind everyone that you are always welcome and encouraged to share your local community news with us! If you email me directly at carla@nnlflorida. com with a local “feel good” story or any upcoming events you’d like to see featured on any of our issues (Westchase, Carrollwood, East Lake, Odessa/Lutz/Land O’ Lakes, or Trinity), we will do our best to include them, if space permits. Our deadlines are pretty strict, and sometimes we get submissions that don’t make it on time for the press, but we could always share your story on our website, tbnewsandlifestyles.com, and our social media platforms.
We are your community magazine, and we want you to read content that you care about. I appreciate the suggestions, and we will try our best to incorporate more local stories. Here are some Family Friendly July 2021 local events; Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood; A Grr-ific Exhibit, will be at the Glazer’s Children Museum all summer! This exhibit brings to life the themes presented in the award-winning PBS Kids Television series created by The Fred Rogers Company that follows the adventures of 4-year-old Daniel Tiger and his friends. The Heights Night Market is a monthly, outdoor, evening market taking place on 7th ave in front of Armature Works every 2nd Wednesday of the month from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm all year long! They feature a rotating cast of artisanal artists and makers selling handmade goods, jewelry, art, woodwork, gifts, and so much more! Seussical at Carrollwood Cultural Center - Located at 4537 Lowell Road, Tampa, FL 33618. Seussical is presented through special arrangements with Music Theatre International (MTI). Visit https:// carrollwoodcenter.org/event/seussical/ for more information. Summer Movie Classics at the Tampa Theatre; Although not every movie is PG13, check out the new Summer Classic series presented by the Tampa Theatre at 711 N Franklin St. This year, as people start to return to their favorite leisure activities again, Tampa Theatre hopes that you’d come to visit for some of your favorite movies of all time. Check out https://tampatheatre. org/ for more information. Remember, if you have anything to share, we’re here for you! Until next time,
Carla M. Dubis Tedeschi.
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Grout Tech - Your Tile and Grout Specialist! Before you spend thousands of dollars remodeling and re-tiling 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, recoloring 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 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.” 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 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. 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-by-step 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
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Before
After
Before
After
bathroom or kitchen tile like new again. Kathy G., a satisfied customer, shares her experience, “When BJ 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 re-grouted. They also re-grouted 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.”
Grout Tech’s success stories say that before 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. 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!
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.
To find out more about Grout Tech’s services or for a free estimate call BJ at 727-768-6828.
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SAT AND ACT IMPROVEMENT: BRIGHT FUTURES JUST GOT BRIGHTER By Dr. Wayne Adams Upcoming Test Dates in 2021: SAT on Aug 28, Oct 2, Nov 6, 2021, and Dec 4; ACT on Sept 11, Oct 23, and Dec 11. Really good news for seniors who have just graduated: The Bright Futures Scholarship testing deadline for SAT and ACT 2020-21 high school graduates has been extended to December 1, 2021. I am helping new grads improve their overall scores strengthen performance on specific sections of the exams. Qualifying can mean scholarships of $18,000 to $25,000 over four years. And these scholarships “superscore”, so they will average your highest individual test section results to see if you qualify. Rising seniors are getting ready for these exams in the fall as part of their college application packages. Most applications are due by Jan 1, except for UF which has a “stone cold” early Nov deadline. The first place an application can “standout” from the rest is with the College Application Essay, and the second place is when a student is “lopsided” rather than “well rounded”. Advice and help on these two, critical areas are already included in my classes. For a much higher chance of acceptance, I advise seniors to go for “early decision” or “early
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acceptance” because the probability of acceptance is usually 2 - 3 times higher than for regular admissions. Rising juniors often want to have an idea of their scoring levels, and to be prepared for the PSAT in mid-October … which is the only qualifying exam for the National Merit Scholarships. I have many rising sophomores who are already preparing for these exams to hit their maximum scores for their “dream schools” in the future. Also, many public and private high schools periodically give the SAT to “track” students, meaning to see at what level they are capable of scoring academically which means what level of classes they can take. After the June 5 exam, the SAT stopped offering the Essay in its main exam, and all Advanced Subject tests. Most colleges and universities had already stopped looking at the SAT Essay results. In my opinion, this is because most students do not write very well and it costs more to grade an essay than machine grade the “fill ins”. Parents, if you would like to find out how well your student “critically thinks and writes”, just send me an email and I am happy to send you an essay assignment that takes about one hour, and your evaluation for a comparison. You decide how well your student writes. I do advise that you check this out for yourself, rather than just assuming your student can
critically think and write at a high level. If you are concerned, let’s talk further. If You Would Like To Talk More About Your Student … Please contact me at 727-253-0639 or send me an email at wwa0811@ mykolab.com. Dr. Wayne Adams is one of the leading SAT and ACT tutors in the country. His students normally improve around 200 points on the Writing, Reading, and Math superscore on the SAT, and 4 – 7 points on the ACT composite. They have been admitted to all 5 of the “Top 5”, 9 of the “Top 10”, and 18 of the “Top 25” universities in the country, , and many top universities 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), 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. He has also tutored three juniors who scored at the national merit finalist/semi-finalist levels on the 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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Welcome to the family, little ones! All of us at Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the publishers Tim and Doreen Selby on becoming new Grandparents! Congratulations to Matt and Lauran on their beautiful baby girl Sienna and Morgan and Willy on their gorgeous little boy Charles!
Sienna Nichole
Charles Xavier
“All you need is love” - Tim and Doreen loving every second of having two brand new grandbabies! It doesn’t get much better than this.
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Tech Talk: STOP: Before Repairing Your PC
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 get it up and running. You hit the switch and it boots right up. Seems to be running as fast as it did when you bought it. Wow! This booting speed reminds you of why you bought the computer in the first place. In almost no time your system is up and ready to go, however you notice that your desktop doesn’t quite look the same way you had it before you sent it for repair. Upon further investigation you realize that some of your newest programs are missing, you cannot access your printer, and most importantly, all your pictures, videos, music, and other data is nowhere to be found. Your computer works great, but all your personal stuff is gone. You call the manufacturer to ask about your missing pictures and documents and other data. Suddenly you find out that the only obligation the manufacturer had to you under the warranty was to 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. You learn the hard way that your missing programs, data, etc. are your problem. You were supposed to back all that stuff up before you sent your computer in for repair; but nobody tells you that. Many people find themselves in this predicament every day. Well, I’m telling you now, so after reading this, you’ll know what to do. Computers are viewed by
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some people as being no different than any other electronic appliance, like an electronic coffee maker. Electronic coffee makers use a combination of hardware and 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, 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 your computer’s repair. Important personal data, like rare family photos, or that business proposal you’ve been working on all week, 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 For Advertising Info 727-
computer since you bought it. But most people do not figure this out until it’s 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, give us a call. We do stuff like this every day and can painlessly manage all of this for you. 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 reen-
tered 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 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. Cyber criminals will exploit the easy victims and unprotected systems. Protecting yourself online is your responsibility. Don’t go it alone. We have the best solutions already in place and we’re here to help. Are you certain your computer is safe? Have it looked over by our Professionally Certified IT Specialists by calling us now at 727-534-4000. We’ve been helping folks restore their peace of mind, and sanity, with their technology for decades. We Keep You Safer In Your Digital World!
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“Albert Ortho”
continued from page 1
He wants you to have the assurance and guarantee that you are always treated by someone with a passion for dentistry and is personally involved in your treatment. Growing up in Tarpon Springs, an East Lake High School alum, Dr. Albert earned his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from The University of Florida and has been honored with numerous awards and leadership positions with multiple dental associations since starting his career. Dr. Albert fell in love with dentistry at an early age. His exceptional experience as a teenage braces patient led him to his lifelong career. In practice since 2003, he uses his 18 years of experience to care for his orthodontic patients conveniently where they live, work and go to school. He makes them feel comfortable, knowing they are in the most capable, experienced hands possible for braces, expanders, and Invisalign. Though government regulations briefly closed all dental practices’ doors in April 2020, Dr. Albert’s practice has been back to fully operational since last May and he was proud to see his patients treatment results be unaffected by the year full of restrictions and additional precautions required because of Covid-19. In fact, Dr. Albert said last
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year was his most successful and productive year ever, and is seeing an influx of new patients seeking Invisalign and braces. “Last year, the joke we used with our patients was ‘hey, if you need to wear a mask, you might as well be straightening your teeth with some braces or Invisalign under there. No one is going to see them!”, Dr. Albert said. “And now this year, with less masks out there, we can still help you get that smile you always wanted so you can show off that smile freely again!” The practice follows the highest infection control protocols. “There was some change for us, but universal precautions, surface sterilization, and use of personal protective equipment and barriers have been the norm in dentistry for decades,” said Dr. Albert. “We have implemented additional gear and protocols to ensure the safety of our patients and staff during their treatment and are happy to report that we have had no reported Covid-issues with our staff or patients due to our diligence.” While teens like the fun-colored bands that can accompany the classic silver and clear braces, adults tend to gravitate to Invisalign because of the convenience and minimal intrusiveness in their lifestyle. Dr. Albert notes that some young people do choose Invisalign for their
comfort and versatility for their active lifestyles. While there are some do-it-yourself products available online, Dr. Albert has actually seen a big increase in demand for consumers wanting professionally controlled and monitored treatment through Invisalign in his practice. “I think most people
know in their heart of hearts, that the best treatment they can give themselves involves seeing a doctor with experience personally and being monitored and helped throughout their treatment,” he said. “Invisalign has become very popular and is what most of our adult patients are treated with
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nowadays, with more and more teens decided to do it as well over braces. For those unfamiliar, Invisalign is a series of clear trays that the patient wears for one week at a time, and we typically give them 12-16 trays each time they come in. They then progress through the trays in between the visits. We continually check them and ensure that they fit properly. Minimal movements with each aligner, but over the treatment time, it moves the teeth to where we want.” The addition of the Propel appliance to Invisalign treatment can reduce the length of treatment time by 30%. Propel applies a gentle vibration 5 minutes daily that helps increase the bone and tooth remodeling process, which speeds the rate at which teeth can be safely moved. Albert Family Orthodontics treats children and adults, and new patient evaluations are always free of charge. Based on the recommendation by the American Association of Orthodontists, Dr. Albert
suggests initial orthodontic evaluation should occur at the first sign of orthodontic problems or no later than age 7. Orthodontic treatment may not always be necessary at this early of an age but helps determine the best time to begin treatment and is complimentary. The first consultation visit includes a thorough exam, a complimentary panoramic x-ray, and a discussion of potential treatment options and costs. Along with a low initial down payment, Albert Family Orthodontics offers no-interest, in-house financing, Care Credit, and accepts most insurance that includes orthodontics. Dr. Albert is proud to offer the most advanced technology at Albert Family Orthodontics to help his patients see in three-dimensional view a replica of their teeth. Digital scanning replaces antiquated tray impressions or molds of teeth. Instead of the traditional physical dental
impressions, which can be a potential contaminant and uncomfortable for patients, the iTero intraoral digital scanner scans a patient’s mouth to create a 3D digital model for braces, Invisalign, expanders, and diagnostic study models. Not only does the 3-D scan show the current structure of the teeth, but it can also produce a simulated outcome of what their teeth will look like after the completion of the expected treatment plan. Dr. Albert has treated many orthodontic cases that initially present similar, but he knows no two patients’ treatment is precisely the same. Treatment time varies per each patient’s specific orthodontic problem, but in general, it ranges from 6 to 24 months. The average timeframe a person is in braces or Invisalign is approximately 15 months. After an unprecedented but still successful 2020, he
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is happy to see normalcy returning in 2021. “We went through the pandemic and were able to get great results for our patients despite the temporary shutdown, extra barriers, and restrictions, and we continue to treat patients following the recommended CDC guidelines mandated by the state. We look forward to helping anyone else looking to improve their smile and know they will be thrilled with their results as well!” Albert Family Orthodontics’ Trinity location is at Trinity Professional Place, 1806 Short Branch Drive, Suite #102 in Trinity (at the corner of Duck Slough and Trinity Blvds.) The Palm Harbor office is at 2445 Tampa Road, Suite A. For more information, please call 727-376-2770 (Trinity) and 727-781-7475 (Palm Harbor), Mon. – Fri., 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., or log on to www. albertfamilyortho.com.
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Accessories that Bring a Room Together By Sally Giar Decorating Den Interiors
space together. Proper lighting is a must for helping guests feel comfortable. Embrace natural For some people, lighting with sheer decorating can window treatments and come across as a big invest in fixtures. challenge. Even with Take a look at the perfect furniture your walls: Are they arrangement and completely bare or color scheme, the cluttered? It’s time to atmosphere can fall find a happy medium. flat. If you need help Choose a few pieces of completing a room in statement artwork to your home, have no give your room some fear. Just add these accessories to bring the personality.
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A blend of textures throughout the space can tantalize all your senses. Decorate your side tables with sleek vases next to the cozy wool blanket that sits atop your leather couch for the perfect textural mixture. A good rug can really tie the room together! Talk to your personal decorator about finding an area rug that can fit the size and style of your room.
Lamps aren’t just functional – they’re stylish too. Not only do they provide you with an opportunity to show your style and add character to your room, having multiple lamps gives you the flexibility to light the room as you please. If you want to maximize a smaller space, a large mirror is a classic accessory choice. Mirrors add depth to a room, and
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can even maximize the amount of sun that streams in through the window.
For more information, feel free to contact Sally at 727-789-4886.
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