Vol. 14, Issue 3, March 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
Authentic Concepts Kitchen and Bath Design “Brings Your Dreams to Life” “I HATE this kitchen! There isn’t enough storage or counter space to prepare a meal!” “Yeah, this bathroom was modern … in the 1970s!” Does this sound like you? Is your tired kitchen or bathroom still stuck in the ‘70s, with outmoded plumbing fixtures and appliances, in need of a facelift or even a complete remodel? If you are unsure how or where to begin, why not see the experts at Authentic Concepts Kitchen and Bath Design? As their website promises, “We’re bringing your dreams to life!” Owner and founder of Authentic Concepts Kitchen and Bath Design, seven years ago in February, Glenn Rumer worked for a competitor for several years until customer service was not first. Glenn decided that he
See “Authentic Kitchens” on page 20
“Don’t Fear the Rear!” Dr. Frattini Stresses By Tom Bostock Surgery has transformed over the years with the advent and invention of lifesaving robotic techniques that improve outcomes and patient recovery times. According to uc.health.com, “Roboticassisted surgery with the da Vinci® Surgical System allows surgeons to perform complex minimally invasive surgical procedures with precision and accuracy.” “The system is an advanced robotic platform designed to expand the surgeon’s capabilities and
See “Dr. Frattini” on page 8
INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Editor..............................5 Realtor Michele Burns..............10-11 Author Dr. Venkit S. Iyer MD........12 SAT/ACT Improvement................16 Tech Talk with Bob..................18-19
2 MARCH 2021
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4 MARCH 2021
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Spring Kitten Season Has Arrived, and Shelters need Your Help! In some of my previous editorials, I’ve talked a little about how COVID19 had negatively impacted many of our local businesses, particularly in the entertainment and restaurant industries. I wanted to take this opportunity to bring to your attention an organization that is very close to my heart, and that is in desperate need of your help; St. Francis Society Animal Rescue. A little over a year ago, I fostered several adult cats and kittens through St. Francis, and it was one of the most beautiful and most meaningful experiences of my entire life. In the process, I not only learned a lot about myself, but I also fell in love with two amazing cats that are now part of my furever family of four, and I couldn’t imagine my life without them. I have officially accepted the title of “Crazy Cat Lady For Life,” and it’s not a bad one when you consider the incredible amount of kitty kisses, head bumps, and unconditional love you’ll get from them! And don’t worry about the shedding; cat hair is happy people’s glitter. Recently I received the following email from St. Francis Society Animal Rescue; “It happens each Spring. Thousands of homeless and abandoned kittens are born in the Tampa community. Helpless, hungry, and often sick, they depend upon strangers’ kindness to help take them in and save their lives. This year’s kitten season arrived just a few weeks ago and has already begun filling up St. Francis Society foster homes. Sadly, due to the struggling economy, this spring, we have also received many calls from owners facing eviction and are desperate for placement of their pets. We want to help them, but we can’t do it alone.
How YOU can Help Save A Life! SEND FOOD - Our cupboards are bare! Our last food drive was in October, and not surprisingly, it has all been used. We are desperate for kitten food, formula, and other supplies and would be so grateful if you could help send us some items from our Wish List on Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ genericItemsPage/1TFI4A04OIAJ3 FOSTER AN ADULT CAT - Sadly, we currently have very few volunteers who can foster adult cats. If you have a spare bedroom or bathroom, please consider fostering an adult cat in need. As mentioned above, there are so many cats looking for homes due to evictions and economic hard times. For more information, please visit https://stfrancisrescue.org/#/rescue-ui/ volunteer.” As I sat there with my three adopted cats in my bed, I told myself I wanted to help spread their message. And what better way to do that than to dedicate my editorial to bringing awareness into their selfless, caring cause. You don’t have to leave your house to be a hero for an animal in need! P; please visit https://stfrancisrescue.org/ for more information. If you’re active on social media, please follow them on Facebook at: at https://www.facebook.com/ StFrancisSocietyAnimalRescue You can also email me directly if you’d want more information about my personal experience volunteering with adult cats and kittens! I’d be happy to answer any questions. If you are concerned about a loose animal, unleashed dog, abuse, or neglect of an animal, please contact the Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center (813) 744-5660. Till next time,
Carla Dubis Tedeschi
6 MARCH 2021
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MARCH 2021 7
“Dr. Frattini”
continued from page 1
offer an option to open surgery. The da Vinci System has been successfully used in tens of thousands of procedures. Its safety and efficacy are documented in clinical publications and the literature supporting its use is extensive.” With March being National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, it is only fitting to introduce and highlight one leader in his field of colorectal and general surgery, and a vigorous proponent of the Da Vinci robotic surgery, Dr. Jared Frattini. After graduating with honors from Providence College in Rhode Island, Dr. Frattini got his medical degree from the Georgetown University School
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of Medicine. His general surgery training was at the Yale New Haven Hospital and his fellowship in Colon and Rectal Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic in Weston, Florida. Before joining his practice, Dr. Frattini was the Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of South Florida. Indicative of his expertise, he has authored 18 peerreviewed articles, four book chapters and presented at National Surgical Meetings. Currently part of the Gulf Coast Surgical Group, Dr. Frattini is board certified in both General Surgery and Colon and Rectal Surgery. On his website, Dr. Frattini explains why his board certification matters to his patients. “Board certification should be one of your top consider-
ations when choosing a doctor. Board certification is an official recognition given to doctors who have met specific requirements set by national medical specialty boards in the United States.” “Board certification indicates that a doctor is highly qualified in the medical field in which he or she practices. A board-certified doctor is more likely than a non-board-certified doctor to have the most current skills and knowledge about how to treat your medical condition.” In response to the question if he always wanted to be a colorectal surgeon, Dr. Frattini responded the human anatomy intrigued him “and the ability to correct the underlying condition and see immediate improvement.”
During our interview, Dr. Frattini spoke passionately about what we can do to avoid colon and rectal cancers. The title of his article came from his telling people not to diagnose themselves but to see a specialist as soon as possible. He warned not to dismiss occult blood in the stool as simply hemorrhoids. Early detection and treatment are the keys. It shocked me to learn that colorectal cancer is the #3 killer in the United States today. Yet, in 2021, a simple Cologuard stool sample test, easily performed in the convenience of your home bathroom for a DNA sample and a follow up colonoscopy can identify polyps before they become cancerous. Dr. Frattini specializes in the minimally invasive,
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choose Dr. Frattini’s practice over another general surgeon, he likened it to an auto mechanic. “Would you take your Porsche to a regular mechanic?” He deals with colon and rectal cancer daily. Board certified, he has proven his expertise to decrease patient risk with his minimally invasive robotic surgery and improve patient recovery times. Patients visiting Dr. Frattini for the first time can take comfort from their patient care philosophy:
robotic surgery procedures employing the Da Vinci Surgical System that reduces recovery times and can have a patient back on his feet in as little as two days. Time is cancer’s friend and the patient’s enemy. Survival rates with colorectal cancer transform according to Dr. Frattini. Survival with early detection can be as high as 90-95%. By the time the cancer reaches stage 4, there is only about a 15% survival rate, a deadly difference. Dr. Frattini noted that the age for patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer has also changed over the years. Not too many years ago, patients in their 60s were the typical profile for a colorectal cancer patient; today he is finding them as early as in their 30s and 40s. These are statistics everyone should pay attention to. Dr. Frattini suggested that poor dietary habits, high fats, low-fiber, and processed foods in Western society may be a large part of the root cause. He strongly recommends that everyone 45 years and older should have a colonoscopy at least once every ten years. If the colonoscopy identifies any polyps, Dr. Frattini advises one-to-five-year colonoscopies after the initial one. They might be a little uncomfortable, and inconvenient, but they could save your life. He could not stress strongly enough the need for early detection.
He noted there are many symptoms of colon cancer everyone should know. Persistent abdominal pain may indicate colon cancer, and a change in bowels or blood in the stool. Dr. Frattini noted he sees many patients who thought the blood was nothing more than simple hemorrhoids. Of immediate concern should be the significant loss of weight over a short period, 10–15 pounds over a month or less. If you have any of these symptoms, he urges you to contact your doctor immediately. Have you ever heard the saying that “you are what you eat?” Dr. Frattini recommends eating a high-fiber diet of at least 30 grams of fiber a day. He noted high-fiber cereals are an excellent source. He added that a high-fiber supplement like Metamucil should also be part of that high-fiber diet. He advised everyone to avoid self-diagnosis and see a doctor as soon as possible. “Get a full evaluation as soon as possible.” He continuously stressed early diagnosis. “The fiber,” Dr. Frattini noted, “acts like a fuel to the colon to keep it healthy and in tune.” He continued. “It acts like the high-test gas for your engine. The key is you can eat what you want in moderation as long as you eat it with a high-fiber diet.” When I asked why a patient should
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From our Surgeons & Office Staff: “We strive to do our best to make all our patients as comfortable as possible. We understand patients are naturally apprehensive, especially if there is a surgical procedure necessary. We take pride in spending time with our patients discussing various options and alternatives so that our informed decision regarding any procedures can be made.” “I am Board Certified in Colon & Rectal Surgery and General Surgery. I specialize in Minimally Invasive Surgery/Laparoscopic/Robotic Surgery to treat a variety of issues. Our Patient’s length of stay in the hospital and complication rate following surgery is quite low when compared to the national average. I have added enhanced recovery protocols to my surgical care, which significantly improves patient outcomes and satisfaction.” In 2021, Cancer does not have to be a death sentence. With early detection and treatment, positive outcomes are a real possibility. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms noted in the article, a simple evaluation and treatment can have you on the way to recovery and a long and productive future. Call Dr. Frattini and put your mind to rest. Conveniently located from anywhere in the Tampa Bay area. Gulf Coast Surgical Group, 2439 Country Place Blvd Ste 102, Trinity, FL 34655. Satellite location at 1501 S. Pinellas Ave. Ste G, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689 (727) 845-1662 - Note: Hours or services may vary because of COVID-19.
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Michele Burns–A Realtor Above and Beyond By Tom Bostock Of all the big events in life, buying or selling a home can rank among the most stressful. For sellers, this can mean strangers traipsing through you house while you are not there, wondering if the house is priced correctly for the market conditions, not knowing if potential buyers are serious or well qualified. For buyers, particularly in the current market environment, the stress can come from bidding wars, missed opportunities, and of course the fear of overpaying. Having an experienced, professional
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realtor like Michele Burns in your corner can take the S-word out of the process. In North Pinellas county and the East Lake area particularly, Michele has seen it all. Here are what some of her past clients had to say: “Michele Burns was our selling agent, and we could not have been happier with her personally or professionally. From our initial interview with Michele, through the final closing, she continually impressed both my husband and I with her willingness to go above and beyond our expectations.” - Stephanie Hall.
“I would recommend Michele Burns to anyone selling or buying a piece of property in FL. She was more professional and given my background in this
field, I rate her at the top of her profession.” -David Williamson “Michele Burns was very professional and knowledgeable. We were
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totally comfortable that she had our best interest at heart and expertly guided us through the whole process.” - John Strandquist. All these testimonials refer to an outstanding local realtor, specializing in residential real estate in the East Lake area. A wife, mother and realtor, Michele Burns has raised her children in the local community and knows her market inside and out. If you visit her website, www. micheleburns.com, you can read these and other glowing recommendations from many of her satisfied clientele. Michele’s previous fifteen-year banking finance and data tracking background have proved invaluable to both herself and her clients. It allows her to spot and identify market trends that can mean more dollars in her clients’ pockets at the closing table. Backed by Coldwell Banker, with approximately 3,000 offices in 49 countries, Michele has a marked advantage over many other realtors with fewer
resources. Over the years, Michele has earned numerous awards and designations in her field: Membership in the prestigious International President’s Circle, in the Top 10% of Coldwell Banker Agents worldwide, over $100 Million sold, CNS is a Certified Negotiation Specialist and CIPS is a Certified International Property Specialist, an exclusive global designation of the National Association of Realtors demonstrating knowledge and familiarity with global clients. While other agents promise, Michele delivers! Since 2004, she has been a positive force, helping clients buy and sell real estate for her clients in the competitive East Lake real estate market. In our interview, I asked Michele how I would get my home ready to sell. These were some tips she offered. “Declutter. Since you are going to be moving, start packing!” she suggests, “FYI, that stuffed moose hanging over the fireplace might scare buyers away.” “Neutralize your environment. Remove personal items. You want
your buyer to visit your home and imagine it as their own. Take the time to do the same thing with the outside of your house. Repair obvious things like wood rot. A well-tended landscape can also make a positive impression. Rule #1 is clean it! Nothing turns off a buyer quicker than a dirty house! Sometimes the list can be overwhelming. I can help narrow it down by what is most impactful and cost effective.” As Michele’s website, www.micheleburns.com, advises, “Buyers don’t always visualize living in your home the way you do. I can make your home attractive to its ideal audience which can help you get top dollar and sell faster.” One way she does this is with in-house professional photography. Sellers never have to wait for the photos to be scheduled. Where appropriate, it may include interactive 3D tours, drone aerials and virtual staging. “The 3D tour has revolutionized how people shop for real estate. They can be expensive which is why so many realtors do not typically offer them. With COVID concerns, I can put potential buyers in your house without them physically being there. Presentation can be the difference between a home resting on the market and one that’s sells quickly.” Working with buyers, Michele has sold all over the Tampa Bay region. Her goal is helping clients
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find the perfect house for their lifestyle. For some, the schools may be the most important factor. For others, it could be proximity to work, maintenance free living, golf course, waterfront boating lifestyle, or finding a quaint walkable neighborhood. New construction or old, Single Family, Condo or Townhouse, she has experience with them all. She is persistent and thorough until she gets her clients the keys at closing. Michele has always been involved in her community, having raised her children from Elementary through High School in East Lake. She was one of those moms who attended every game and took part in all her children’s community life. Through her Coldwell Banker office, she currently supports a charity called CARES, that raises money to build and donate homes to worthy veterans. There are lots of real estate agents in the East Lake market, but Michele Burns rises above and beyond the pack. From contract signing through inspections, appraisal, and financing to the closing table, you owe it to yourself to have her in your corner. Remember, you are worth it! The Stress is not. Call Michele Burns at Coldwell Banker 727-7411044 (mobile and office) today, 3474 Tampa Rd, Palm Harbor, FL 34684, and be ready to move tomorrow! She is waiting for your call. MARCH 2021 11
Well known local retired vascular surgeon, Dr. Venkit S. Iyer MD, promotes new book “Aging Well and Reaching Beyond” Dr. Venkit S. Iyer MD, FACS who is a long time resident of Palm Harbor, Florida, and a retired general and vascular surgeon has recently published a book with title as “Aging Well and Reaching Beyond”. This book is meant for general reading by all readers. It contains very useful information on preventive health care, wellness measures, elder care and end of life issues. It is written in easy reading language. Those who reviewed the book felt it was very well written and recommended it as “must read book” for all, especially senior citizens. It describes topics such as how to live well, how to age gracefully, how to maintain good health, how to prepare oneself for
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Dr. Venkit S. Iyer MD the eventuality, and how to pass gracefully. All measures described are scientific methods, on how to undertake the journey of life well and end it nicely. Both birth and death are miracles and death is inevitable for all. All living beings want to live as long as possible and live well. Some of our life span is predetermined through the genetic code,
which is “Nature”. However some of our life span is decided by our behaviour, life style, habits, and conduct, which is “Nurture”. While we cannot change nature, we certainly can improve our wellbeing and longevity through our “nurture”. The book is available
through the web sites of Amazon as well as Barnes and Noble. Link to those sites are attached. It is inexpensive and Dr. Iyer has pledged all the book sale proceeds to go charity. Dr. Venkit Iyer was a member of the medical staff at Advent Hospital in Tarpon Springs and Morton Plant Mease hospitals in Countryside and Dunedin for over 30 years. His experience in medical profession spans over 50 years.He had published a previous book with title as “Decision Making in Clinical Surgery”, meant for medical students and junior surgeons. We recommend your support in promoting the new book.
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MARCH 2021 15
SAT AND ACT IMPROVEMENT: BRIGHT FUTURES By Dr. Wayne Adams We are all most fortunate to be living in Florida with our great winter weather and our even greater Bright Futures program for college scholarships. There appear to be no changes to the current scholarship requirements for Bright Futures: 100% is SAT super-score of 1330 OR ACT composite of 29, 75% is SAT super-score of 1210 OR ACT composite of 25. With Covid 19 starting to phase down, it appears most colleges will end their “test optional” or “postponements” and return to their normal admissions process using these exams (except maybe Crazy California!). Bright Futures shows no sign of any change. The SAT has made some significant changes in their testing programs. Effective as of the end of this spring, the SAT will no longer offer the Essay or any Subject Tests. I am aware of no changes in future ACT Exams at this time, but the Essay may also be discontinued. I have talked with many parents who are increasing concerned about the effect of “totally on-line” or “hybrid” learning on their students’ educational progress. In my classes, my students continue to improve normally on these exams because my program is totally focused on the SAT or ACT and is one-on-one with each student.
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In fact, it is not unusual for parents to say that the result of our study approaches and techniques help their students in their high school courses. And the section on Achieve and Maintain Your Peak Mental Performance Zone is proving quite helpful. The spring and summer test exam dates are as follows: SAT on May 8th, June 5th, and August 28th; ACT on April 17th, June 12th, and July 17th. My seniors are focusing in increasing their scores to qualify for higher Bright Futures’ scholarships. They all understand that this is like having a job that pays them $50 to $100 an hour (tax free) to study and perform. The last exams they can take to qualify are the SAT on June 5th, and the ACT on June 12th. My juniors are seeing if they can score at the level where they will not need to take time from their senior year to study for these exams. It is not unusual for them to want to take an exam in early June, or the ACT in mid-July. Studying over the summer is also attractive because they do not have the pressure of regular schoolwork and can focus more on getting their best exam scores. My sophomores are preparing early for these exams, plus getting ready for their PSAT next October which is the only qualifying exam for National Merit Scholarships. To date, I have had three stu-
dents qualify as National Merit Finalists. If You Would Like To Talk More About Your Student … Please contact me at 727-2530639 or send me an e mail at wwa0811@mykolab.com. Dr. Wayne Adams is one of the leading SAT and ACT tutors in the country. His students normally improve 200 – 350 points on the Writing, Reading, Writing and Essay, and Math, and 4 – 7 points on the ACT composite. They have been admitted to 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, 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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Tech Talk with Bob: A GIFT CARD SCAM My friend Bea had an experience that really rattled her nerves. She received an email from “Amazon” telling her that her account was charged $3,000.00 for a television. After confirming with Tony, her husband, that he didn’t buy it, they concluded it must be a mistake. Tony immediately called the customer service phone number that was included in the email. Once he finally got through to “customer service” he received yet more discouraging news. Bea and Tony’s Amazon account had been hacked according to the “representative.” Needless to say, they were both astounded. Fortu-
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nately the “representative” was able to offer them a quick solution. For $500.00 the “rep” could repair the “hacked account” and expunge the charges for the $3,000.00 television. Tony wasn’t thrilled with the solution but reluctantly agreed to the “rep’s” terms. Tony reached for his American Express card to pay. As Tony read off his Amex number the “rep” immediately stopped the transaction and told Tony that their credit card processing system had just gone down, again. The “rep” explained to Tony that they were having problems with the system all day. Tony asked if the “rep” would call him
when the system came back up. The “rep” agreed but warned that if Tony delayed, that $3,000.00 TV might ship before the order could be cancelled; and then Tony would also have to pay the shipping to return the TV. In order to expedite the cancellation the “rep” suggested Tony pay with a $500.00 gift card. The “rep” explained that they process gift cards on a different system than credit cards, so that even though their credit card system was currently down, they could still process the payment by having Tony read off the numbers on a gift card. Tony sent Bea out to pick up a $500.00 gift card.
While waiting for Bea to return, Tony asked the “rep” how something like this could happen and why he had to pay so much? The “rep” explained that it was not Amazon who was hacked, but it was Tony’s IP address that had been hacked which led to Tony’s Amazon account being hacked. Therefore the financial responsibility fell on Tony, according to the
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“rep.” Tony was determined to get to the bottom of this nightmarish mess. Finally, Tony called me and filled me in on what was going on. I cringed as he revealed the events that transpired. I immediately explained to Tony that he was in the process of being scammed. Tony and Bea came within inches of giving away a sizeable pile of money to cyber criminals. Fortunately, they did not give the gift card code to the scammers. Can you tell me what Tony should have done differently? He assumed that the Amazon customer service phone number that was listed in the email was legit. The cyber criminals were so good that Tony believed he was actually speaking with
Amazon when he called. But he wasn’t. What Tony needed to do was look up Amazon’s phone number instead of relying on the contents of this bogus email. Had he actually called Amazon Tony would have found out that Amazon had nothing to do with this and that Tony, Bea and Amazon were all unsuspecting players in this deception. I cannot tell you how happy I am that Tony contacted me before he and Bea handed over the 500 bucks to these criminals. There are a lot of scams like this circulating. If you ever receive a suspicious email like this, call the company directly. Be sure to look up the phone number on your own and not rely on any phone numbers given in
the email. Companies like Amazon want to know about these scams. So report any emails claiming you owe money. By the way, Bea and Tony were just one of many folks caught up in a cyber scam claiming to be Amazon. If you get any emails from Amazon and want to verify them, Amazon’s “real” customer service number is 1-888-280-4331. Please stay on guard, and stay safe. We have the ability to provide support without needing to send an IT Specialist out to your home or office. We can safely remote access your computer to perform most repairs. We can also remotely perform complete scans for viruses and other malware issues. So if you think you have malware, we can scan
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for it remotely from our location to yours. So, during this pandemic, we can still provide technical support to you over your phone and internet connection. Cyber criminals will exploit the easy victims and unprotected systems. Protecting yourself online is your responsibility, but you do not have to do it all yourself. We’re here to help. If you are not sure your system is safe, please have it looked over by a Professionally Certified IT Specialist. Call us now at 727-5344000. 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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“Authentic Kitchens”continued from page 1 didn’t want to work for a company where the customer came second. Together with his talented design team, his present company stresses “customer first” in every aspect of their projects, from start to finish. No job is too large or too small for Glenn’s creative staff, who, he said, were attracted to work for him by the “freedom to design.” The result is anything from a breathtaking, functional kitchen or distinctive bathroom to a fully equipped, gourmet chef’s kitchen, the likes of which can only be found gracing the pages of the latest interior design magazines. Glenn smiled when he
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mentioned his design staff of Ken, Natalie, Yvonne, Michael, Ashley, Kari, Jessica, and Project Manager Ray. He said that he and his staff represent almost 40 years of successful design experience. Unlike some of his competitors, his design staff are all degreed interior designers, ensuring the finest quality service when recreating your remodeling dreams. Glenn said that all of their projects represent “the personal touch.” He added that “we aren’t the lowest or the most expensive. We are extremely competitive for similar products. We are not just a salesman trying to sell you some cabinets. We come in and look for your space’s potential, then brainstorm with you and create that dream for
you. We represent the finest products in the industry.” He stressed the quality of his products and staff, promising the “wow factor” for all of their installations. Able to do floor-to-ceiling remodeling or just minor updating, Glenn said that the process should “be an enjoyable experience,” but at
the same time, it will disturb your life,” especially if it is a kitchen or master bath.” Since we are taking out the heart of your home and we know it will not be easy. So, we do our due diligence to make the process as timeless as possible. We make sure we have all the products before we start. That way, when we start, there is no
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slowing down due to products not being there. Thus, allowing us to get the job done as quickly and professionally as possible, allowing you to move back into your newly renovated dream space. “Doing this for 22 years, customer service is most important to me,” Glenn said. They have products that they are comfortable working with and recommending to their customers. “We say what we mean, and we stand behind it, something that is lost in most businesses today,” something missing in today’s self-service world. Using state-of-the-art computer programs, Glenn’s designers go the extra mile for their customers. After asking the questions necessary to make their clients’ dreams a reality, the designer conducts an in-house consultation, reviewing the customers’ needs and offering pertinent suggestions to improve the final product. The interior designer visits the site on a regular basis, as well as Project Manager Ray or Glenn to follow up during the course of every project. Making sure your dreams are met by the
design you and the design team have created. The devil is in the details, and Glenn’s staff employ unique project books, which, as he says, “show what is being done on the job. We try to be very detailed on the front half. We pre-act instead of react,” he said. Upon completion, the customer is given the Project Book. It contains pictures of everything that went into their project, all color and brand selections, making it easier if the customer needed to repaint or replace something in the future. Glenn said that they continuously maintain those records on the computer in case a customer loses theirs. With an “A+” superior rating from the Better Business Bureau, let’s see what some of their customers had to say about their experiences with Authentic Concepts Kitchen and Bath Designs on Facebook: “I would definitely recommend Authentic Concepts! Natalie designed my kitchen remodel. She did an awesome job designing. Glenn and Ray were awesome too. My project was beautiful,
NO issues, on time and on budget. I will definitely hire for my bathroom remodel!” “We are having so much fun working with Glen, picking out the right granite for counters & flooring. He is so friendly, professional and has been so helpful. He is overseeing every part of the job, is quick to respond to any questions, and gives us advice.” “Glenn did a bar room for my stepdaughter. I was in the business for 47 years and haven’t seen anything better. Thanks, Glenn. You and your staff are a class act.” “When we decided to remodel our kitchen, we interviewed and had four designers visit and provide us with various designs. Not yet convinced, although the designs were within budget, shortly after, we contacted Authentic Concepts Kitchen and Bath Designs and spoke to owner/designer Glenn Rumer. Mr. Rumer visited, and we had not yet mentioned
For Advertising Info 727-943-0551 I info@nnlflorida.com or visit tbnewsandlifestyles.com
what we wanted. He had the vision as a designer and explained to us how he would design and remodel our kitchen, which included tearing down walls, partial ceilings, relocating electrical wiring, plumbing, and appliances. And it was exactly what we desired with some additions and changes that we made. As a professional, experienced designer, Glenn guided us through the design process, yet he listened to and was very respectful of our personal taste. We found his prices to be competitive with the industry, and he executed his design exactly as he presented it to us on paper and completed it within the time frame he quoted us. His work crew was professional, knowledgeable, and respectful. They were well organized, clean, and on time when they were scheduled to be in. Thanks to Glenn Rumer, we have the kitchen of our dreams. We have a bathroom to remodel, and we will be contacting Authentic Concepts Kitchen and Bath Design in the near future to do it.” If your kitchen or bathrooms aren’t working for you, let the talented designers at Authentic Concepts Kitchen and Bath Design work for you! They bring your dreams to life. Call today for a nocost consultation. 727 785 3097, 3265 Tampa Rd. Palm Harbor. Open Mon-Friday 9:30 to 4:30 and Saturday 10 to 2 After-hour appointments are available.
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For Advertising Info 727-943-0551 I info@nnlflorida.com or visit tbnewsandlifestyles.com
For Advertising Info 727-943-0551 I info@nnlflorida.com or visit tbnewsandlifestyles.com
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