Vol. 11, Issue 3, March 2018
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Your community. Your magazine.
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The Premier “Shop Local” Community Magazine Directly Mailed To 15,000 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, Cypress Cove, Cypress Lakes Estates, Cypress Run, Cypress Trails, Deer Hollow, Grey Oak, Eagle Cove, Eagle’s Cove at Lake Tarpon, Eagle Ridge, Eagle Trace, Eagle Watch, East Lake Oaks, East Lake Woodlands, Hunters Wood, Keystone Bluffs, Keystone Palms, Keystone Ranchettes, Lansbrook, Lansbrook Village, Meadow Ridge, Nature’s Watch, Oak Hill Acres, Pine Ridge, Regina Estates, Ridgemoor, Tarpon Woods, Wentworth, Whispering Lakes, Woodfield
Trinity Family Physicians So Much More than your Neighborhood Family Practice! the Hike for Hospice event to help less fortunate people have access to hospice care to their work with the Pasco County Special Olympics, Dr. Eldridge and Dr. Shirmo love helping those in need and are humbled that they are in a position to do so.
By Marcy Sanford
Learning through Life Experiences “As we’ve grown older, we’ve started to have many of the same life events as our patients. Having a parent who is ill or having a newborn baby makes you appreciate the point of view of your patients even more,” said Dr. See “Trinity Family Physicians” on page 28.
By Lisa Stephens Independent fashion retailer Candice Bakke makes shopping a breeze for those in search of fashionable clothing. With comfort and quality a top priority, her LuLaRoe virtual boutique offers affordable clothing for the entire family. Prior to becoming part of the LuLaRoe organization, Candice was a frequent shopper of the clothing line herself. “I loved the clothing and how each piece made me feel when I wore them,” she explained. Out of curiosity, she began to research the company. She admired the emphasis
the company placed on family principles and values. Their business motto includes “where through fashion we create freedom, serve others and strengthen families. A place where lives are being improved and dreams achieved through love, purpose, confidence, trust and growth.” Late last year, Candice decided to become part of the organization and opened her own LuLaRoe virtual boutique on Facebook. “This is a business that I can see growing with my daughter, Abby,” she said. “I believe strongly in the LuLaRoe products, the company motto and their dedication to giving See “LuLaRoe” on page 24.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: From The Editor Carla Selby.......3 Lagoon Grand Opening...............4-5 Tampa’s Premier Show Ski Team....6-7
Dance Excellence..................12-13 SAT/ACT & Top 25 Program..14-15 Tech Talk with Bob................18 Tarpon Woods Veterinary.....22-23 Pinnacle Travel.....................26-27
ECRWSS
LuLaRoe Brings Affordable Fashion and Incredible Comfort!
The Community Dining & Business Guide that your neighbors READ!
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given hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations and time to local charities. From the time they chaired
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID TAMPA FL PERMIT 1185
Being Able to Give Back to the Community Trinity Family Physicians has
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Trinity Family Physicians opened its door at its current location in April of 2008, but husband and wife team Dr. Stephanie Eldridge and Dr. Amir Shirmohammad began seeing patients in Trinity the year before in September. “We started in a temporary location,” says Dr. Shirmo, as his patients like to call him, “and our new offices opened the day after our second daughter was born.” As Dr. Eldridge and Dr. Shirmo look forward to the next 10 years of serving people in the Trinity community, they took some time to look back on the top 10 highlights from their first 10 years.
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From The Editor Carla Selby March is one of my favorite Months of the year for many reasons! One being that we get to celebrate St. Patrick’s day on March 17, and immediately after, us Christians / Catholics, get to observe Easter. While the dates for Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Halloween are fixed, Easter can fall any time between March 22 and April 25. When is Easter 2018 and how is the date decided? This year’s Easter takes place from Good Friday on March 30 until Easter Monday on April 2 - making Easter Sunday on April 1, which is also… April Fool’s Day! Funny coincidence isn’t it? I can just imagine the jokes and pranks this year. So how is the Easter date decided? The death of Jesus occurred around the Jewish Passover, which is traditionally held on first full moon following the vernal equinox. As the full moon varies in each time zone, the Church said that they would use the 14th day of the lunar month instead - The Paschal Full Moon - and decided to host Easter Day on the following Sunday. So once that date is fully determined, then Easter Day and the Easter Holidays can be determined. Us Christians celebrate Easter on a Sunday as it was the day Jesus Christ, our savior, rose from the dead, following his crucifixion on a Friday two days before. Many, many centuries ago in 325, it was determined by a council of Christian Bishops that Easter Day should always be on a Sunday to commemorate the happy occasion. So what is the meaning behind it and why do we celebrate with chocolate easter eggs and bunnies? Seems a little odd doesn’t it? Let
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me elaborate a little… During this time of the year we see many stores being decorated with Easter eggs, chocolate bunnies and baby chicks. But Why? While many will be at least vaguely familiar with the story of Easter, its relation to eating mountains of chocolate eggs is less clear. Like I mentioned earlier, Easter celebrates the resurrection of our Lord. Even before the birth of Christianity, the egg was seen as a symbol of Spring, a celebration of rebirth and reinvigoration after the harshness of winter. That’s why the Mesopotamians - an ancient Christian community living in an area roughly covered today by Iraq, Syria and Kuwait - used to stain eggs red to symbolize the blood of Christ. Eggs would then be cracked against one another, leaving just the empty shells - a symbol of the empty tomb Jesus left behind. Interesting huh? The tradition survives today in the shape of egg rolling, representing the rolling away of the rock from Jesus’ tomb. Over time, Easter eggs became more and more elaborately decorated, perhaps most famously by Russian jeweler Peter Carl Faberge, creator of the priceless Faberge eggs as Easter gifts for Tsars Alexander III and Nicholas II. The introduction of chocolate eggs is a relatively new phenomenon, which originated in France and Germany in the 19th century. And as everyone loves chocolate, the chocolate production of Easter eggs exploded and became more popular all over the world, making Easter another “marketable” Holiday. Nowadays Easter is a big deal
commercially - retailers and manufacturers love to get in on the Holiday and persuade us to buy easter baskets, easter eggs, cards, and anything depicting bunnies. So we now understand the eggs, but why Bunnies? We can thank the Germans for the Easter Bunny! Originally an ‘Easter hare,’ a bucktoothed bringer of chocolate to the kids that behaved well was first mentioned in German literature in 1682. The tradition stuck, and left to the Easter bunnies you see on the shelves today as well as the exception for a delivery of Easter eggs on the day. I hope this little Easter editorial helped shed some light on the chocolate eggs and Easter Bunny mystery. I personally love creating easter baskets with all kinds of goodies and giving them away to my little nephews, nieces and cousins. I also enjoy painting and decorating Easter eggs. This is an awesome activity to do with the little ones and something adults can also have fun doing. By the way, painting eggs with food coloring can be fun, but this year, you may want to try something new. I suggest using watercolors, as your little Easter eggs will definitely look like true works of art. (Some watercolors and dyes may contain lead, so please do not eat them, just enjoy their beauty and then discard them.) Whether you are Christian or not, celebrating Easter is a wonderful family tradition. I hope you and your loved ones have a wonderful one! As always, thank you for your support and readership. Carla.
East Lake Area Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles Directly mailed once a month to nearly 15,000 households in zip code 34685, 34688 & 34677 220 Safford Ave. S. Tarpon Springs, FL 34689 Phone: (727) 943-2946; Fax: (727) 942-2432 Advertising E-mail: info@nnlflorida.com Editorial E-mail: editorial@nnlflorida.com © 2018 East Lake Area Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles is published by Ads 2 Publications, Inc. Publisher Tim Selby General Manager Jim O’Reilly Editor Carla Selby Advertising Sales Matt Selby Tim Selby Jim O’Reilly Mike Bird
Correspondents Katie Thomas Marcy Sanford
Art Director Tony Sica
Accounting Manager Doreen Selby
Nothing that appears in the East Lake Area Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by East Lake Area Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles writers are their own and do not reflect the publisher’s opinion. The management of East Lake Area Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles is always happy to accept outside editorial submissions to the paper. Please call for outside editorial submission and advertisement deadlines. East Lake Area Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles will consider previously non-published outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. East Lake Area Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates. East Lake Area Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles will not return unsolicited editorial materials. East Lake Area Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles reserves the right to edit and/or reject any advertising. East LakeArea Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the actual cost of the advertising space itself, not for the validity of any claims made by its advertisers. East Lake Area Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles is published by Ads 2 Publications, Inc.
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Join the Festivities at Epperson’s Lagoon Grand Opening Event Saturday, April 28 By Marcy Sanford In January on one of the coldest days of the year, Metro Development Group celebrated the completion of their 7-acre Crystal Lagoon in Wesley Chapel’s Epperson neighborhood and people have been stopping to admire it every since. “In most communities you can not see the amenities residents have,” said Greg Singleton, President of Metro Development Group. “But in Epperson the east – west connector road, Overpass Road, is open to the public. You can see the lagoon from the road. We have a scenic overlook there and people will park and admire the lagoon and take pictures of it.” If you’ve been admiring the Crystal Lagoon from afar, you’ll have your chance to see it up-close at a Grand Opening event Saturday, April 28, featuring Olympic Champion swimmer Michael Phelps. The all day event will be open to the public and
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feature plenty of fun family activities. While there are numerous Crystal Lagoons around the world in places like Chile, Panama, Paraguay, Mexico Saudi Arabia, and other countries, this is the first Crystal Lagoon to be built in the U.S. Metro Places has plans to build 5 lagoons in West Central Florida – another in Pasco County, one in Southern Hillsborough County, one in Lee County (North Ft. Myers) and another in Polk County. The massive lagoon is the same size as 6 football fields connected to each other and it is a ¾ of a mile walk around its perimeter. Sandy white beaches surround the lagoon and there are different areas for families and friends of all ages to hang out and play. Residents will be able to enjoy a variety of aquatic recreational activities, such as swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding and even using small (non-motorized) sailboats. The lagoon at Epperson will also have
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exciting features, including a waterslide, private cabanas, in-water obstacle platform, swim-up bar, tidal pool, restaurant, family beach, yoga lawn, an entertainment plaza, an area for special events and much more. “We have something for everyone,” said Greg. “This amenity touches every generation. Kids see fun, teenagers see a great hangout place, parents and grandparents see a place to exercise and spend time with kids and grandkids.” According to Metro Places, the developer of Epperson, Crystal Lagoons are eco-friendly once filled. They use sustainable technology that helps limit water and chemical usage. Upon completion, each lagoon uses 50 times less water compared to a park of the same size and 30 times less water than an 18-hole golf course. The lagoon is maintained by Crystal Lagoons’ ultra-sonic technology that uses sensors to monitor the quality of
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the crystal-clear water. This sustainable technology also uses 100 times less chemicals than a traditional swimming pool and uses up to 50 times less energy than conventional pool filtration systems. The Crystal Lagoon isn’t the only amenity you’ll find at Epperson. The neighborhood is also part of the first ever Connected City, which has been designated the first “Smart Gigabit Community” in the country to be built from the ground up. Metro Places exclusive technology, ULTRAFi, provides the fastest internet and WiFi speeds in the nation throughout the homes, the community and the lagoon. Greg says that when they planned the community, they tried to consider future needs of residents. “We wanted to create a connected city, an autonomous city. When we planned this community, we thought about self-driving vehicles. We envision a day
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when you could order a driverless, electric car to come to your house to take you to the lagoon or parks in the neighborhood.� A Tampa-based company founded in 2003, Metro
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Development Group is committed to brining some of the most innovative technologies and amenities to homebuilders and homebuyers. With the introduction of Metro Places, Connected City, ULTRAFI and
Metro Lagoons by Crystal Lagoons, Metro Development Group continues to be the gold standard in the development of master planned communities. For more information visit MetroDevelopmentGroup.com.
Epperson is located at 7851 Curley Road in Wesley Chapel. For more information, visit epperson.metroplaces.com or come to the Crystal Lagoon Grand Opening Saturday, April 28.
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Prepare to be Wowed by Tampa’s Premier Show Ski Team By Marcy Sanford Looking for something fun and different to do with friends and family? Check out the Tampa Bay Water Ski Show Team. Every Saturday from March 17 through the end of October they’ll be delighting audiences with their impressive ski shows reminiscent of ones you would have seen at Cypress Gardens. The Tampa Bay Water Ski Show Team (TBWSST) has some of the best show skiers in the world on the team, with members having won awards at the Regional and National levels. They have even set world records, including the seven-man front flip over a regulation 14-foot wide jump and the World’s Largest Human Pyramid. In fact many of their skiers have gone on to ski professionally at places like Cypress Gardens, Sea World, LegoLand and the Wisconsin Dells. “We are a competitive show ski team,” said TBWSST member Lisa Stephens. “We compete in the Southern Regional Show Ski Championships and at one time, won the top title for 13 years in a row.” Having placed second for the past two years, the team is back on the water this season with some pretty amazing acts they hope will put them back in first place when they compete in June. Each week this talented group of skiers presents a new themed show for audiences to enjoy which also serves as a chance for them to show off their skills and hone their performances for championship time. In addition to incredible skiing, the team is decked out in costumes and make-up and performs to music to suit the theme. Kids and adults of all ages will be wowed by the weekly performances. It takes more than 100 volunteers to pull off the professional shows each week and Lisa says this is one of the reasons that so many families become involved with the group and continue to come back year after year. “It is a great family activity. There is something for everyone to do whether you ski or not. We have volunteers who run concessions, make costumes, work the sound board and help in all different ways.” Lisa says there are young adults who started with the team
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when they were elementary age as well as families with members from several different generations. Several support members who were once skiers in the show now have duties off the water that help things run smoothly. Lisa offers another example of how skiing is truly a family affair, “Twelve-yearold CJ Welch learned to barefoot last season. Younger brother, Gavin, is a member as well. Their mom, Shannon, grew up on the team and she and her husband, Ryan, were both skiers at Cypress Gardens. Ryan’s parents skied with Cypress Gardens as well and Shannon’s parents are both active support members of our Tampa team.” Amazingly all shows are free to
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the public. TBWSST is a non-profit organization dedicated to the sport of show skiing and they do accept donations – all of which go towards costumes, boat maintenance and gas and other items necessary to put on the weekly performances. The atmosphere at the family friendly shows is festive and yet laidback. There are bleachers to sit on or you can bring your own chair or blanket. Concessions are for sell but you are welcome to bring a picnic basket or cooler. If you are interested in learning how to ski or improving your skills, TBWSST offers clinics by appointment for beginners to advanced skiers. Lisa also encourages
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anyone who already knows how to ski and is interested in competitive show skiing to think about joining the team. “It has been a wonderful experience
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for my family,” she said. “Our kids have worked on a team with people of all ages from preschoolers to seniors. They have learned leadership responsibilities and the importance of preparations behind the scenes. It has taught them sportsmanship and it is
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something the whole family can participate in. There are lots of opportunities off the water as well as on.” The Tampa Bay Water Ski Show Team performs at Tower Lake in Oldsmar at 130 Burbank Road. Shows
are every Saturday at 6 p.m. (weather permitting) with a pre-show featuring beginner skiers starting at 5:30. Shows are free and open to the public. The first show of the 2018 season will be a St. Patrick Day Show on March 17. Be sure to wear your green.
For more information on shows or becoming a member of the team, visit www.tampawaterski.com or call Vickie at 813-917-8354 or Lisa at 727-480-9365.
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HERITAGE SPRINGS
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2/2/2 1563 htd sq ft. This villa has formal living and dining rooms w/vaulted ceiling. the kitchen overlooks the family room w/vaulted ceiling too. The master bedroom has plenty of room for all your pieces and two closets. The master bath has a walk in shower. The guest bedroom has ceiling fan and the guest bathroom has tub w/shower. The lanai has a park like setting to enjoy. $209,900
3/2/2 2018 htd sq ft This home offers living & dining rooms plus a familyroom! The kitchen has wood cabinets, pantry closet, tile flooring & breakfast bar. The master bedroom has plenty of room for all your pieces, two walk in closets. This is in a maintain village so you don’t have to worry about the ground maintenance! $240,000
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Move with Style and Grace, courtesy of Dance Excellence! By: Lisa Stephens Since 2005, folks have tuned in to the popular television show, Dancing with the Stars, to see their favorite celebrity paired with a professional ballroom dance instructor. From football players to actors, many of the celebrities, who have never danced before, are transformed into graceful dancers with fluid moves and amazing talent. Such a transformation could happen for you as well with the help of the dedicated staff at Dance Excellence located at 3730 Tampa Road in Oldsmar. According to owners, Stefan Dobrev and wife Traci, people try ballroom dancing for many different reasons. Together, they staffed the studio to meet the different needs and desires of every type student. New students are given a questionnaire upon arrival. This includes twenty-five reasons someone might want to take ballroom dance lessons. “People come for many different reasons, not just for
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competition,” Stefan explained. An executive might come to improve his skills on the dance floor at social events held throughout the year or to just relieve stress he or she faces on the job. Others come for the health benefits they get from staying active and using their entire bodies as they dance. Some use dance as a means of expression or a way to boost their confidence in themselves. Many just want to have fun! Students are asked to rank their top five reasons to take ballroom dance lessons in order of importance. This is important to Stefan because he wants to know exactly what each student expects to achieve from the lessons. Based on their answers, the new students are then paired with instructors best suited for the student. Born in Bulgaria, Stefan began dancing at the age of seven. By nine, he was already a competitive ballroom dancer! He continued to follow his passion and worked hard to become the best. Hard work and perseverance eventually paid off as he
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was named Bulgarian National Champion three times. Stefan decided to come to the United States in 1997 to continue his passion for ballroom dance. Traci started ballet at age five and moved to competitive gymnastics by middle school age. The two met while they worked together at a ballroom dance studio in St. Petersburg. Stefan had just moved to the area from Bulgaria. “He didn’t speak any English and I didn’t have a ballroom background,” Traci explained. They worked out a deal. She offered to teach him English if he would instruct her in ballroom dance. The two became partners on the dance floor and in life as well. After fifteen years at the
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(above) Students and teachers gather for the “Trophy Ball” (left) Stefan and Traci Dobrev, owners and instructors at Dance Excellence studio in St. Petersburg, they decided to strike out on their own with the opening of Dance Excellence in 2014. Ballroom dancing truly is for everyone. At Dance Excellence, students range in age from four to eighty-two! With nine full time dance instructors on staff, Stefan and Traci have been able to create the studio environment he had always dreamed about. “I wanted to create
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something for other people. Something that would be bigger than just me,” he said. With Dance Excellence, Stefan wanted to create a community where everyone feels welcome and friendships for life would form; a place where everyone loves to be. “We feel about our teachers and students like they are part of our extended family,” he explained. “Ballroom dancing is amazing because it forces you to
connect and communicate with people directly, without a cell phone or internet,” he said. When asked what he and Traci looked for in a person when interviewing potential instructors, the answer was simple. “Attitude, Attitude, Attitude,” he said. “Our teachers are incredible,” Traci added. “The best compliment we receive from students is how friendly the studio feels when they walk through the door.” Dance Excellence offers something for everyone. Private lessons, group lessons, dance parties, guest parties, wedding dance, social dance and competitive dance instruction are all offered. Couples parties, newcomer parties and social dance parties are held throughout the month. Attending these events is great ways to get in extra practice and have a great time as well. Their Beginner Program provides instruction of the basics of four or five popular social dances. The Foundation Program expands those basics to variations of popular social dances and enables the student to gain confidence on the dance floor. From there, students move into the
Bronze Program, which is their most popular program. After completing this program, students will be able to go to any social event and dance all the popular social dances with confidence and with any partner, to any type music. The highest program of social dancing instruction they offer is the Silver Program. This instruction level includes a more sophisticated and elegant level of dancing. On May 18 at Eastlake High School, Dance Excellence will perform a special show, “Night in Sin City”. This event will be open to the public. While most dance studios have dance recitals, they like to create Broadway Musical type shows that have a story line. Tickets are $25.00 each and you can contact the studio for more information at 813-814-0099. If you’re considering ballroom dance for any reason, Dance Excellence offers just what you’re looking for! Dance Excellence is located at 3730 Tampa Road, Oldsmar, 34677. Visit their website for more information at www.danceexcellence.com.
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SAT, ACT, AND NEW “TOP 25” PROGRAM By: Dr. Wayne Adams As parents of all my students know, my overall goal is for each student is for to have the best possible future that includes scoring their best on the SAT and/or ACT Exams. Each of my students is special. I am as proud of a student who works hard and improves a score such as the ACT from 14 to 21 as I am of a student who works hard and improves the ACT composite score from a 26 to a 33. More and more parents have been asking about how to get admitted to at Top 25 school, where I have been fortunate to have students admitted to 17 of the Top 25 … and 8 of the Top 10 … plus the very picky “Honors Program” at UF, in addition to many, many other schools inside and outside of Florida. I thought you would like to see the following about Colleges in Florida, and some well known colleges in the Top 25. The sources are 1College Rankings from US News and World Report 2018, and 2College Scorecard. More is available at these sites on-line. Here are the key categories:
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National Rank1, SAT Range2, ACT Range2, 4-Yr Grad Rate2, Median Earnings 10 Years After Attending for students who received federal aid2, and Average Net Annual Cost2. The average net cost is after all school, state, and/or federal aid. In Florida, it includes the impact of Bright Futures. Get ready for some surprises, especially in annual costs and earnings 10-years after graduation. For example, many students can go to Princeton (#1) for less than the cost of going to the University of Florida … with almost twice the earnings median 10 years after graduation. For about $6,000 a year more, that student can go to Harvard (#2), Yale (#3), Vanderbilt (#14), or the University of Virginia (#25) with significantly higher earnings possibilities upon graduation and later in life. The key is getting admitted. The cost of attending can be far less than many realize, depending upon the situations, and sometimes actually less than going to a Florida school when everything is realistically considered! HERE’S THE DATA: Florida Schools:
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UF Natl Rank #42, SAT 1250 – 1420, ACT 27 – 31, 4-Yr Grad Rate 67%, Avg Annl Cost $14,000, 10 Yr Earnings $53,100, Avg Net Annl Cost $12,022. U Miami Natl Rank #46, SAT 1200 – 1390, ACT 28 – 32, 4-Yr Grad Rate 81%, 10 Yr Earnings $57,800, Avg Net Annl Cost $32,746. FSU Natl Rank #81, SAT 1120 – 1280, ACT 25 – 29, 4-Yr Grad Rate 79% , 10 Yr Earnings $44,900, Avg Net Cost $15,664 USF Natl Rank #140, SAT 1070 – 1270 , ACT Range 24 – 28 , 4-Yr Grad Rate 68%, 10 Yr Earnings $41,800, 10 Yr Earnings $41,800, Avg Net Cost $11,232 UCF Natl Rank #171, SAT 1080 – 1270, ACT 24 – 28, 4-Yr Grad Rate 70%, 10 Yr Earnings $43,300, Avg Net Annl Cost $14,221 Selected Top 25 Schools: Princeton Natl Rank #1, SAT 1390 – 1590, ACT 32 – 35, 4-Yr Grad Rate 97%, 10 Yr Earnings $80,500, Avg Net Annl Cost $8,848 Harvard Natl Rank #2, SAT 1400 – 1600, ACT 32 – 35, 4-Yr Grad Rate 98%, 10 Yr Earnings $90,900, Avg Net Annl Cost $17,882
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Yale Natl Rank #3, SAT 1400 – 1600, ACT 32 – 35, 4-Yr Grad Rate 96%, 10 Yr Earnings $83,200, Avg Net Annl Cost $20,910 Vanderbilt Natl Rank #14, SAT 1430 – 1590, ACT 32 – 35, 4-Yr Grad Rate 92%, 10 Yr Earnings $64,500, Avg Net Annl Cost $18,144 University of Virginia Natl Rank #25, SAT 1250 – 1460, ACT 29 – 33, 4-Yr Grad Rate 98%, 10 Yr Earnings $60,700, Avg Net Annl Cost $19,430 So I have started a new program that helps parents and students develop a comprehensive plan and specific steps to help maximize the possibilities of being accepted to a Top 25 (which almost never happens in a few weeks during the fall of the senior year). As some examples (there are more, but this will give you an idea), the Common Application is different than applications for major Florida schools, the application Essay(s) must be far superior and sometimes two are required, the Free Application For Student Aid (FASFA - which is required) is critical including how to legitimately minimize assets and income that count against you for
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determining the costs a family can afford and therefore your negotiating position, pushing the SAT and ACT scores to the very top is a “must”, maximizing college campus visits including talking with admissions and other key experiences, developing special strengths instead of the standard Florida community activities that do not count and being a “well rounded student” is a myth, understanding scholarship requirements that can vary widely, building negotiating skills to go after the best value packages that can save $10,000 - $40,000 in costs, preparation and practice for the allimportant “personal interview” - so vital because often this “makes or breaks” an otherwise highly qualified student, and plugging-in to a local alumni group in advance to build relationships. So if you would like to talk more about my SAT and ACT classes and/or my new Top 25 Program … 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 – 350 points on the Writing, Reading, Writing and
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Essay, and Math, and 4 – 7 points on the ACT composite. They have been admitted to eight of the top ten universities in the country, seventeen of the top twenty-five, and many schools in Florida. These schools include Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Stanford, U Chicago, Duke, U Penn, Johns Hopkins, Cornell, Notre Dame, Emory, UC Berkley, UCLA, USC, UNC (Chapel Hill), NYU, Northeastern (Boston), Boston College, Georgia Tech, Air Force and 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 - “WiFi Part 2” By Bob Dalles Greetings and I hope this columns finds you well! Last time we started to discuss Wireless Fidelity commonly referred to as Wi-Fi. Before I move on I do want to make it clear that Wi-Fi is not solely used for computer communications. Wi-Fi pretty much covers any type of communication between two or more points that does not require the physical connection of some type of wire. For example, speaking to someone across a room is Wi-Fi. As long as your message is sent, received and understood, you have Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi). Yelling “fore!” on a golf course is a form of Wi-Fi, at least we hope it is. Yelling “fore!” is a type of Wi-Fi that some say dates back to around 1881. Long before computers used Wi-Fi. There is another type of Wi-Fi technology that I bet you use every day other than talking and yelling. You have probably been using this long before you started using computers. Any idea? Ever hear of
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Bob Dalles, owner of Bob the Computer Guy “infrared?” Infrared uses light signals to communicate with your TV. Yep, your TV set, cable box, stereo system, DVD player, even some air conditioners and ceiling fans use infrared. Your TV remote emits an infrared light signal to your TV to instruct it to turn on or off, change channel, etc. For infrared Wi-Fi to function properly, there must be a transmitter device (like your TV remote) and a receiving device (an optical port built into your TV). Two things about infrared. First, the
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transmitting device and receiving device must be relatively close to each other. The exact distance will vary. Second, infrared requires “line-ofsight” meaning that nothing can stand between the transmitter and receiver. Infrared will not penetrate walls, people or anything else that will obstruct a light beam. Computers used to use infrared. Some still do, but only under special circumstances. Wi-Fi on your computer these days uses radio waves. Radio waves can travel further distances than infrared and penetrate most obstructions. For this to work your computer must have a way to receive a Wi-Fi signal. That is usually an antenna. Some antenna are mounted on the outside of the computer and are in plain view, usually
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seen on desktop computers. Some antenna are mounted on the inside of the computer and can’t be seen, usually on laptop computers. In addition, there must be at least one other device to send and receive those radio waves to your computer. We’ll discuss that later. Have a tech question? Email it to TechTalkTBNL@BobTheComputerGuy.NET. Questions will be selected by the popularity of a topic and answered in this column. If you have a more urgent need or have a unique situation you may schedule an appointment with one of my Professionally Certified Technicians by calling 727-534-4000. Until next time, stay safe on the internet!
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Tarpon Woods Veterinary Medical Center Provides Loving Care for Your Four-Legged Babies By Deborah Bostock-Kelley
If you’re a pet mommy or daddy, you don’t want just anyone taking care of this four-legged extension of your family. You want someone who loves your fur-baby as much as you do. At the family-owned Tarpon Woods Veterinary Medical Center, located at the corner of Tarpon Woods Boulevard and East Lake Road, just across Walgreens, Dr. Sarah and Dr. Pablo Schacht and their dedicated team are true animal lovers who will care for your pet the same way they would their own. Dr. Sarah’s father was an OBGYN and she always wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps into medicine. She combined her passion for medicine with her love of animals to open Tarpon Woods Veterinary Medical Center with her husband in 2010. The doctors opened Tarpon Woods with the hopes of helping a thriving residential community take
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care of their pets. “I’m very passionate about animals and think this was my calling,” she explained. “We’re very family-oriented and we treat your pet like it’s our family.” Whether seeking wellness exams, vaccinations, treating medical
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conditions (such as diabetes, kidney disease, gastrointestinal problems, skin problems, ear and eye conditions, arthritis, thyroid problems…), parasite prevention (flea, ticks, etc.), or micro-chipping, the doctors provide compassionate and exceptional care to your pets in
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an office furnished with state-of-theart medical equipment. These include digital dental radiographs along with traditional X-ray equipment, a surgical room that includes critical care monitoring (including EKG, pulse oxymetry and blood pressure monitoring) and ICU equipment (IV fluids pump, circulating water blankets, Oxygen therapy). An isolation suite is available for pets that might have contagious diseases. Surgical procedures include reproductive surgery, spaying, neutering, advanced dentistry, lacerations and abscess treatment, abdominal surgery (intestinal, bladder surgeries, abdominal exploratories), tumor/growth removals, and more. They also offer bathing for cats and dogs. While Dr. Sarah treats domestic cats and dogs, Dr. Pablo also treats exotic pets - reptiles, birds and small mammals like ferrets, rabbits, and guinea pigs.
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Dr. Sarah Schacht, better known as “Dr. Sarah” doing what she loves best!
Dr. Pablo, Dr. Sarah’s husband, has a special interest in Veterinary Dentistry and provides advanced dental services including oral exams, cleaning and polishing, digital dental x-rays, advanced extractions and oral surgeries. “We are proud to offer advanced dentistry and preventive care. We educate clients as to the importance of dentistry since many
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dental issues that pets get could be prevented. We recommend bringing the pets at least once a year for an oral exam and a dental cleaning if needed. By doing this, we can help prevent gingivitis, periodontal disease and tooth loss. Dogs and cats usually cannot tell us when they’re in pain. It is not uncommon after a treatment, for the owner to tells us ‘oh wow, he’s playing again. He was sleeping all the time and I thought that was just because he was old’. No, it was because he was unfortunately in pain for the last two years and no one noticed.” In addition to causing your pets pain, long-term untreated dental issues can lead to heart, kidney and other serious problems. “Catching things early to help your pet is a very rewarding part of what I do,” he said. “After a treatment, when they come back for a follow-up, you can see the dog’s personality is completely changed and the client is happy. It’s rewarding to make sure that pets have the highest quality of life possible.” If a pet is too nervous to go to the vet’s office or transportation is
In addition to K-9s and Felines, Tarpon Woods Veterinary Medical Center also treats exotic animals as well! an issue, if you live in the communities of Tarpon Springs, East Lake, Clearwater or Oldsmar, Dr. Sarah, Dr. Pablo and their staff make convenient house calls. They offer home-based vaccinations, routine well pet checkups, preventive care, blood work, non-emergency pet health issue care from the comfort of your own home. “If your animal is sick, it’s probably better to come into the office,” said Dr. Sarah. “We always screen your pet, so if something is
starting, we can address it right away.” Tarpon Woods Veterinary Medical Center is located at 800 Tarpon Woods Blvd., Suite F 3, in Palm Harbor (across the street from Walgreens). Hours of operation are Monday through Friday 8am-530pm, and Saturday 9am-1pm. For more information, please call (727) 771-0400 or visit TarponWoodsVet.com. In emergency, clients can call (727) 742-4284, 24 hours a day.
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“LuLaRoe” Continued from page 1 back to the community. According to LuLaRoe founder, DeAnne Stidham, she started the company to provide for her own children when she was a single mom trying to make ends meet. Her first design was created when she made a maxi skirt for her daughter. That single skirt led to forty orders from her daughter’s friends which led to home parties. In three days, she sold nearly 300 skirts! DeAnne saw an opportunity to create a way for women to be able to provide for their families while still raising small children. The flexibility of the opportunity meant they could do both. She decided to bring family and friends on board to create a business to provide that opportunity for others. With the help of her husband, LuLaRoe was off and running. In September, 2017 Candice made an investment in her initial inventory package. She learned how
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Candice Bakke and daughter Abby wearing LuLaRoe fashions to run a business via Facebook and her dream of running her own business was coming true. She takes pride in the customer service she offers to each customer with assistance in outfit development, online live sales and direct mail. To grow her business and
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broaden the platform by which people can shop, Candice says there are many outlets she uses such as YouTube, Periscope and Instagram. For those in need of a fun ladies night out, she also offers home parties where she brings the collection to you for personal up
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close selection of the inventory. Her entire inventory usually includes anywhere from 1200 to 1500 pieces, depending on the time of year. The selection changes weekly so there is always something new to see! If you see a print or pattern you really like, it is recommended you buy it quickly. Candice explained that there are only 2500 cuts of each individual pattern and then it is “retired.” She offers a wide selection of styles for the entire family. LuLaRoe offers clothes for ladies, men and children. Sizes range from kids’ size 2 to men and women up to 3XL. One of the best selling items from the LuLaRoe line is the legging. Incredibly soft fabrics and numerous patterns from which to choose make this item a customer favorite. Candice has her personal favorite piece as well. “The new Maria Dress because it’s comfortable and be worn dressy or casual. Versatility is certainly a common trait across the entire line. “I love working with my customers to find their 'unicorn' If you are using
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double quotation marks for the “outside quote,” use single quotation marks for the “inside quote”; if you're using single quotes on the outside, use doubles on the inside.) and seeing pictures of them in their new clothes and hearing about how great they feel in them,” Candice shared. She also shared what she hears most from her customers. “They love the quality of the products, the consistent release of new styles and how they feel in the clothes.” To ensure that each customer is completely satisfied with their purchase, Candice offers a return policy as well. She offers a refund of the purchase price within 14 days of receipt of purchase on most new unworn merchandise. Customer satisfaction is very important to Candice. She adds, “If for any reason your purchase does not meet your expectations, we are committed to finding a solution that will bring you happiness and restore the confidence and value you hold in LuLaRoe.” A warranty is also included with each purchase. It covers defects in materials and
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workmanship for six months from date of purchase. According to Candice, it is her hope that each customer experiences the care that goes into the creation of each LuLaRoe piece and that customers will experience both confidence and comfort as they wear them. The LuLaRoe line cannot be found in stores. Find your favorite styles and patterns today at www.facebook.com/ LuLaRoeCandiceBakke. Get it before it’s gone!
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In Search of the Northern Lights! A Destination Highlight by Pinnacle Travel If you are one of the lucky people who has had the opportunity to see the Northern Lights (also known as the Aurora Borealis), you know how breathtakingly beautiful they can be! What are the Northern Lights? The Northern Lights are actually the result of collisions between gaseous particles in the Earth's atmosphere with charged particles released from the sun's atmosphere. Blown towards the earth by the solar wind, the charged particles are largely deflected by the earth's magnetic field. These collisions emit light that we perceive as the dancing lights of the north (and the south). the best places to watch the lights (in North America) are in the northwestern parts of Canada and Alaska. Auroral displays can also be seen over the southern tip of Greenland and Iceland, the
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The Northern Lights are one of the most breath taking sights one can ever see. Let Pinnicle Travel schedule YOUR trip of a lifetime today!
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northern coast of Norway and over the coastal waters north of Siberia. (source: Northern Lights Center) What are some of the best trips you can take to have the opportunity to see the Northern Lights? First off, you need to understand that seeing the Northern Lights is like seeing Mt. Denali in Alaska. Only 30% of the visitors to Denali get to see the mountain because it often is obscured by clouds. The visibility of the Northern Lights is affected by weather, frequency of solar flares, and other unexplained solar phenomenon still being researched by scientists. Bottom line is even if you go to one of the best locations for Northern Light viewing, there is a chance they won’t be visible. Many hotels even offer calls to their guests in the middle of the night when they decide to show their glory because they can be visible for a ½ hour or many hours depending on the night. But the good news is there are places you can go and times of the year you can visit that will drastically
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increase your chance of seeing them! If you want to see them from Alaska the best way to increase your chances is by taking a land trip anytime from September to April. Globus offers an Alaskan Iditarod tour that includes a Fairbanks excursion with a local guide in search of a Northern Light Viewing. Pinnacle Travel guests who have taken cruises late in the season (early September) and added a land tour that includes Fairbanks have also been lucky enough to see the Northern Lights. Finland and Iceland are other great destinations from which to see then Northern Lights. Collette offers wonderful tours of these countries. One of them actually includes a 3 night stay at the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort with one of those nights (or more) being in a glass igloo where you might be able to see the lights from the comfort of your own bed! Visit Iceland and walk on a glacier, soak in a geothermal bath in the middle of a lava field, or take
a zodiac to view humpbacks, minkes and orcas up close and personal. While seeing the Northern Lights can be your goal for an amazing trip, you need to plan a trip for other activities and sights that you will enjoy even if the Northern Lights don’t grace you with their appearance. Let Pinnacle Travel help you choose a trip with excursions that will amaze you! Lead a dog mushing team, ride a reindeer, watch the start of the Iditarod, or travel Iceland’s
Golden Circle! We are here to help you plan an amazing vacation! Pinnacle Travel is hosting a free destination showcase on April 10th from 6p-9p at the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection on the corner of Windmill Point and East Lake Rd. We will be presenting information on Northern Light trips, Africa, and the US National Parks. Please call 727330-2040 to RSVP for this event.
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“Trinity Family Physicians” Continued from page 1 Shirmo. “We’ve been through our own family hardships and it reminds us of what it is like to be on the other side as a family member of a patient.” Staying up-to-date on Technology “We like to comabine old fashion medicine with the technology of today,” said Dr. Eldridge. “Advances in technology have allowed us to continue to improve our patient care and give patients more accessibility and different ways to communicate with us. We always strive to use technology in a way that improves care but does not replace personal interactions.” Getting to Know Patients Dr. Eldridge and Dr.
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Shirmo say one of the best parts of being a doctor is getting to know their patients and their families. They really take the time to listen and pride themselves on knowing about what is going on not just with their patients’ health but also in their lives. Expanding their Practice Beyond their Office Walls Dr. Eldridge and Dr. Shirmo know that sometimes it can be difficult, maybe even impossible, for elderly patients to come into the office and so they have begun visiting patients at assisted living and rehab facilities as well as nursing homes. “It allows our patients to continue to be part of our practice and stay where they are most comfortable,” says Dr. Shirmo.
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Teaching the Next Generation of Doctors Both doctors say they enjoy sharing their passion for medicine with the medical students at Florida State and University of South Florida Medical Schools, where they hold faculty positions. They believe one of the most important things they can teach students in addition to the science and skills needed to be a good doctor is the importance of listening. “We tell them that it is not just about listening to the heart and lungs,” says Dr. Eldridge, “you have to really listen to what your patient has to say.” Meeting and Exceeding Goals “We broke every goal we had set for our practice in our first year,” said Dr. Shirmo. “At first we were not sure how but then we realized it was because we were giving old fashioned
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care and doing the right things for our patients. We have many specialists who refer their patients to us and we have patients who could go to any doctor they want to go to, but choose us. It is a huge compliment and very humbling.” Starting A Charity “We always thought there were so many great causes and so many people in the community doing good for others that we wanted to create an avenue for people to nominate those who were doing good,” said Dr. Eldridge. And thus the Trinity Family Physicians Tampa Bay Making A Difference Award was born. With the award, the doctors have honored teenagers and adults in the community who are making a difference by providing activity bags to children in the hospital, helping
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unemployed people better market themselves and find new jobs and collecting and donating items to people in need. Being Chosen as the Team Doctor for Jesuit High School “It was wonderful, a big honor to be trusted as the team doctor for my alma mater,” said Dr. Shirmo. “To know you are on the sideline making a difference is very touching.” Having A Wonderful Staff “It was a hard decision to bring on a nurse practitioner because we are very protective of our patients and wanted to make sure we found someone who cares as much as we do. We absolutely have that with Kyle. The patients love her and she has been an excellent addition to our practice. Angie has been with us for 6 and a half years and thanks to her skills and attention to details has saved
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lives just like us.” Celebrating 26 Years Together and 3 Amazing Daughters It’s hard to stop at a Top 10 when you’ve got so much to celebrate. High school sweethearts, the doctors’ affection for each other is apparent and spills over to their patients – making each and everyone feel like part of the family. Trinity Family Physicians accepts patients age 8 and up (their oldest patient is more than 108). They are located at the corner of Trinity Blvd. and Duck Slough Blvd. at 1817 Cypress Brook Dr., Suite 101 in Trinity. Hours are Mon. – Fri., 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. For more information, call (727) 834-8377 or visit their Facebook page or website at trinityfamilyphysicians.com.
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