Vol. 11, Issue 2, February 2018
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
Helping Seniors Experiencing Emotional, Cognitive & Behavioral Symptoms By: Kim Thomas “Many people assume that getting depressed is part of getting older, but depression in the elderly is not normal,” says Doug Webster, LCSW and director of Behavioral Health Services at Medical Center of Trinity. With a large population of seniors in our area, the longstanding Behavioral Health program in New Port Richey sees a great number of patients aged 60 and over who are experiencing emotional, cognitive and behavioral symptoms. Medical Center of Trinity is proud to announce the opening of its new Senior Behavioral Health Center, which will open its doors mid-March to serve the specific
mental health needs of patients aged 60 and older, and as Doug Webster puts it, “add a needed service to the already robust list of senior-oriented services available in Pasco County.” The Senior Behavioral Health Center will focus on crisis stabilization for seniors experiencing a number of
symptoms including: Mood disturbances, depression, anxiety and difficulty coping with losses and transitions, memory loss or behavioral conditions that interfere with care athome or in a long-term care setting. Treatment is usually short-term, seven to ten days, with the goal of helping
the patient progress to the next level of care, whether that is at home or in an assisted living facility. Amenities at the Center will include a Family and Caregiver Meeting Room that provides a quiet place to meet during the intake process, as well as a Quiet Activity Room and a Group Therapeutic and Activities Room. The design includes an Open Nurses Station where patients can approach the clinical team without the feeling of barriers, and it allows time for interaction with the staff. Patients are encouraged to wear their own clothes, so a laundry room is onsite and laundry assistance if needed. Semi-private rooms are equipped with handicap accessible See “Behavioral Health” on page 28.
Choose Urology Professionals in Trinity for Compassion, Experience, Academics & Excellence
The Community Dining & Business Guide that your neighbors READ!
Board Certified Urologists Juan N. Otheguy, MD, FACS and Richard I. Rabinowitz, MD, FACS have more than forty years of combined experience in Urological medicine. “We are different because we are more personally involved in the care of our patients,” says Dr. Rabinowitz. “We don’t use nurse practitioners or physician assistants to see patients in our place. We collaborate and work together regularly, and ninety-nine percent of the time, patients are seen by us at every visit. This is important because they need to be able to trust us and really tell us what is going on. Urology is a growing field, and not because the problems are new, but because the subject matter is less taboo than it was decades ago.” See “Urology” on page 24.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: From The Editor Carla Selby.......3 BHHS/Florida Properties Group......4 Rizzotto Tax Advisory Group......6-7
Luxury Auto Spa...................8-9 Florida Orthopaedic Institute....10 SAT/ACT Improvement.........14 Tech Talk with Bob................18 Tampa Bay Plumbers.........22-23
Postal Customer
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PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID TAMPA FL PERMIT 1185
When it’s time to make an appointment to see an urologist, it can be intimidating to make that call because many times, for both women and men, the reason for the call is something that isn’t easy to talk about, maybe even embarrassing. It’s important to find a doctor who not only has an excellent reputation for great results, but one who is trained on the latest advancements in treating urologic disease and dysfunction. Maybe just as important, you’ll want an urologist that you can confide in and one who will be personally invested in providing your care rather than passing you off to an assistant. You’ll find two such doctors at Urology Professionals in Trinity.
Dated Material Please Rush!
By Kim Thomas
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East Lake Area
From The Editor Carla Selby After this month's interviews, appointments and meetings with several business owners in the neighborhood, I started to think about the importance of really liking the community we live in. Richard Florida, one of the world's best-known urban theorists, believes that the place we live in is a fundamental contributor to our overall subjective well-being. It makes perfect sense considering the amount of time we spend in our homes and around our neighborhood. When the Gallup Organization looked at what gives you a high degree of emotional attachment to your neighborhood, the answers were pretty surprising. Obviously, having a low crime rate, great schools and good jobs are important, but there were two other factors that were really critical. The first was a community that treats all of its residents fairly—ethnic minorities, new immigrants, lowincome people, young people, old people, families, entrepreneurs, artists. And then the most important
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factor was what I call the quality of the neighborhood itself. Does it have trees? Does it have open space? Does it preserve its historic architecture? In other words, does it have some kind of physical beauty? This quality, the aesthetic character, was the number one factor. Which does not really surprise me. In today's world we worship beauty, so of course, if given the choice, we would prefer to live in a "beautiful" neighborhood… But let me tell you what I believe makes East Lake truly beautiful… its people. I have met so many wonderful, kind, supportive and overall positive people in this neighborhood and THAT, to me, is more important than being surrounded by perfectly landscaped waterfront mansions. The schools are magnificent, the area is very safe and there is a great sense of community in this neighborhood. I especially enjoy meeting longtime residents and business owners who operate local small businesses. We truly love the neighborhood so much, that my husband Matt and I,
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
are actually considering moving to the area. We've been looking at homes and we may be purchasing one soon! Stay tuned and I will let you know! There are many great community stories inside this issue, so make sure you read them all and get to know more about your beautiful East Lake neighborhood and its beautiful people. I hope you enjoy this issue of Tampa Bay News and Lifestyles, and as always, thank you for your support!
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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BHHS / Florida Properties Group Oldsmar Office Open House a Great Success!! After a successful weekend open house event in midDecember, Berkshire Hathaway Home Service/Florida Properties Group Oldsmar office, The McCaffery Team and Greene Builders are poised to sell and build several more custom new homes in the Sunset Lakes community off Trouble Creek Rd., west of Little Rd. in New Port Richey. Team Leader, Bob McCaffery, please with the turnout and response to the open house in December, is eagerly looking forward to this year. Potential buyers from as far as New York and as near as Pasco and Pinellas counties seemed genuinely interested and impressed with the first model home. Team members Joan Daly and Fonda Dillard led the sales effort, according to
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McCaffery. He stated that the team did a great job of preparing for the event and it was evident on both days of the open house. Builders David and Jerri Greene were also present at the open house and enjoyed answering questions and taking guests who were interested on a detailed tour. Since these homes can be customized, the Greenes made note of potential changes that can occur to the layout, including placement and treatment of interior elements such as ceilings, doors, windows, flooring choices and appliance options. With less than ten lots remaining, it appears that the Sunset Lakes community is on it’s way to a successful completion. For more information, please contact Bob McCaffery at 727-331-8257.
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(Above) L to R, David Greene, Joan Daly (Team McCaffery) and Jerri Greene (Below) Model home built by Greene Builders of Tarpon Springs, FL. Sales and Marketing handled by the McCaffery Team, BHHS/Florida Properties Group Oldsmar
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The Rizzotto Tax Advisory Group “Your Partners in Tax & Retirement Planning” With the 2017 tax return deadline looming, it is a perfect time for those age 60 or older to take advantage of a flat-rate $69 fee to have their income taxes prepared and filed with a company that is trusted for going the extra mile for its clients. Rizzotto Tax Advisory Group extends their $69 flat-rate fee for federal returns (state returns are included if applicable) to Active & Retired Military, First Responders, Government Employees, & Educators of ANY age. If you don’t fit into anyone of those categories, no worries they have special pricing for you. All tax returns are prepared by one of the firm’s experienced Tax Preparers or IRS Enrolled Agents. Rizzotto Tax Advisory Group has an experienced team of financial, tax, insurance, and legal professionals who help to educate their clients on important subjects including: reducing asset risk, unnecessary taxes, diversifying portfolios, the importance of wills/trusts and planning for income during
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retirement. The firm is committed to providing exemplary service while displaying the highest standards of ethics and professional knowledge. They are approved members of the National Ethics Association and the National Association of Tax Professionals. Edward G. Rizzotto, Owner and President, is an Insurance Agent and Financial Representative who holds both a state-regulated license to offer insurance products and a securities license to offer specific investment products. Meet the Rizzotto Team Ed Rizzotto, Owner/President, moved to Florida 46 years ago from New York, grew up in Pinellas County and has been a Trinity resident since 2000. A graduate of Clearwater Central Catholic High School, he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from National-Louis University in Evanston, IL. Ed also served both active and reserve duty for 13 years in the U.S. Coast Guard. He started his
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Insurance and Financial career over 20 years ago as an agent for Allstate Insurance. Then promoted to Agency Manager, he was responsible for overseeing 22 agencies in southwest Florida. In 1999, he joined a local retirement planning firm, where he helped hundreds of people with tax and retirement planning for over six years. Ed Rizzotto enjoyed the opportunity to benefit the community, and was determined to create a complete local business where he could help clients (both pre-retirees and current retirees) save money on their taxes, better manage their portfolios, plan for the future and focus more on enjoying their retirement years – and The Rizzotto Tax Advisory Group was established in 2006. Lorrie Rizzotto joined the firm in 2009 as Director of Marketing. Prior to joining Ed in running their family business, Lorrie specialized in corporate incentive and meeting planning, and worked at Allstate’s Regional Florida office for 11 years before becoming an
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Independent Meeting Planner with HelmsBriscoe, where she achieved “President’s Club” status being Top 50 in the country. Married 29 years this November, Lorrie and Ed have two daughters attending the University of South Florida. Ed and Lorrie have a great team at Rizzotto Tax Advisory Group. Dori Greeson, Administrative Assistant and Office Manager, gives everyone a warm reception, oversees the day to day office operations and the coordination of tax season. Nayda Stern, IRS Enrolled Agent, one of four tax preparers and enrolled agents within the firm oversees tax operations and brings more than 24 years of income tax preparation experience and as an IRS Enrolled Agent, is able to represent Rizzotto Tax Advisory Group clients before the IRS. Alton Scott, Insurance Consultant, with more than 18 years of experience in the Banking, Insurance and Financial Services industry, has extensive knowledge in the areas of health insurance,
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Ed Rizzotto, owner, Rizzotto Tax Advisory Group
Medicare supplements and Medicare. Scott holds a state-regulated Life and Health License and a Securities license to provide certain investment products, Nic Ranocchia, Licensed Life/Health/Annuity Agent, is a senior at the University of South Florida, majoring in Finance and has over 5 years of customer service and banking experience. Nic came on board last year to assist Ed and to gain the knowledge and experience to begin a career as an Insurance Professional & Financial Planner. Ed and Nic will work as a team to offer insurance products to fit clients’ needs. Reducing Tax Liability in Retirement The first thing Ed and his team will want to look at is your past tax returns, explaining, “We’ve had people who had other advisors and financial planners who convinced them to make changes, not aware of the tax impacts. To me, the tax return is the most important document the client owns, that’s why it is the first thing we look at when
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the client meets us for their initial appointment. If there is an investment or change that could cause a taxable event, we know that up front.” Ed and his team are very tuned in to their clients’ needs and concerns. “Saving on taxes, reducing or eliminating taxation on social security and protecting the financial wellbeing of a spouse after another’s death – those are things that my clients are concerned about,” explains Ed. “Today, people also want alternatives to the low interest rate environment provided by CDs and money market accounts.” He adds, “If clients are already collecting social security when they come to us, they want to know how they can reduce or eliminate taxes on not only social security income, but their overall taxes as well. A major concern today and what I believe will be a concern for years to come for pre-retirees and current retirees is how to obtain ‘Guaranteed Income for Life’ from your retirement and non-retirement plans. Unfortunately many employer sponsored plans and individual IRAs
do not offer this benefit when you retire. We will show you how to put some things in place now that will enable you to set up lifetime income down the road. This is income you will never outlive, similar to a pension. We spend many hours with our clients to put sound plans in place by sharing ‘real time’ tax, income and social security analysis through some of the most sophisticated software. We want our clients to leave our office with a better understanding on what their income needs will be in retirement, and how to control, reduce or possibly eliminate taxes.” Rizzotto Tax Advisory Group takes a team-oriented approach to tax, retirement and estate planning and Mr. Rizzotto welcomes discussions from clients’ estate planning attorneys. If you do not already have an attorney, Mr. Rizzotto often refers clients to estate planning attorneys Stephen E. Hitchcock and Martha V. Evans from Hitchcock Law Group, who frequently meet with clients in the office to review Wills and Trusts. “They can help you make sure your plan is up to date and our staff will make sure your accounts and beneficiary designations coordinate with your estate plan.” While taxes are a large part of The Rizzotto Tax Advisory Group, the majority of their clients also utilize the firm’s other services including investments, retirement planning, long term care, annuities, life insurance, wills and trusts and small business bookkeeping services.
Ed says, “Clients like the opportunity we provide to get everything taken care of in one place.” A word of advice, “You’re never too young to start saving for retirement,” says Rizzotto. “We have found that many people we meet who are still working have changed jobs about every five to seven years, and many of those people left their retirement plans at their old employers (i.e. 401k, 403b, 457 and TSP plans, etc). Many of these plans can be rolled over to individual IRAs or Roth IRAs, thus giving the client more control and the ability to have someone to advise them.” The Rizzotto Tax Advisory Group is located in the community of Long Leaf in the Florida Design Consultants Center at 3030 Starkey Boulevard in Trinity. A second location is in Pinellas County at 1034 Belcher Road South in Largo. Call (727) 6839119 or visit www.rizzottotax.com for more information or to schedule an appointment. Securities offered through Foresters Equity Services, Inc. Member FINRA / SIPC 3500 SE 30th Terrace Ocala, Florida 34471 P: (352) 369-1144 / www.forestersequity.com Rizzotto Tax Advisory Group & Foresters Equity Services, Inc. are not affiliated. 1034 Belcher Road South, Largo, Florida and 3030 Starkey Blvd. Suite 150 Trinity, Florida are not a branch office or an affiliate location of Foresters Equity Services, Inc.
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Get Your Shine On at Luxury Auto Spa! By Matt Selby It’s January in Florida and we are finally enjoying days and sometimes even weeks without rain, but if your car or truck is like mine, it’s in need of some love after the rainy season! I know, I know, it’s been months since the rainy season, don’t judge me. I’m sure many of you have been putting off a true inside and outside detail of your vehicle as well but don’t wait another minute! I found some guys that will keep your car looking amazing for a truly affordable price, especially with the current 20% off deal they are running! The hands-on detailing provided by Luxury Auto Spa located on Tampa Road provides bumper-tobumper, carpet-to-headliner, sidewall-to-sidewall cleaning. Luxury Auto Spa’s family and friend operated business has quickly made a name for itself in Tampa Bay for being the premier auto detailer in the area! “We like to say treat it as if it was
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your mother’s car,” owner Brian Lopez says. Treating not only the customers’ cars as if they belonged to a special family member, but the customers themselves like family – this is the culture of Luxury Auto Spa!
Keeping Customers Satisfied Lopez identified four key areas the company emphasizes when conducting business: Quality, service, cleanliness, and friendliness. Basically, they make it so that they are easy to do business with. Abiding by these high standards has earned the detailing company recognition by many of our readers over the past few months, and Luxury Auto Spa receives 5 star reviews on every rating platform online! There’s also praise from locals
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like Mark B., a long time Luxury Auto Spa customer whose entire family of drivers also use Luxury Auto Spa as their go-to detailer! “We have been taking our cars there for a full detail every two months for the past three years,” says Mark, who lives in Waterchase. “The service is excellent and they treat the cars with respect. Brian and his staff are absolutely excellent!” Mike from Westchase said, “My 2004 Hyundai looks like a new car
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minus normal wear. Under the hood looks like it just came off the assembly line. Even made the front lights turn from a cloudy light bright to brand new clear. Their detail includes wash and wax, vacuuming, under hood engine cleaning and visual restoration of headlights. From the front to the back of your vehicle, Luxury Auto Spa provides a truly superb detail! Once you see these results you won't go anywhere else. Excellent customer service, which is rare these days.” Most customers drop their cars
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off at the facility but mobile detailing is also available and much more affordable than you would think! If your car or truck is in need of a little TLC, do yourself a favor and have the guys at Luxury Auto Spa Take care of you! Call today and book your appointment to take advantage of Luxury Auto Spa’s 20% off special! Luxury Auto Spa is located at 3166 Tampa Rd., Ste 9, in Oldsmar and can be reached at 727-560-3069.
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Does an injury have you down? Let Florida Orthopaedic Institute get you back on your feet! By: Michelle Naktin Does injury or pain keep you from the activities you enjoy? Turn to the experienced team at Florida Otrhopaedic Institute where orthopedic care, sports medicine and therapy meet to support your every move. The focus at Florida Orthopaedic Institute is YOU, keeping YOU healthy and active. The staff prides themselves on continuing a long tradition of providing exceptional surgical and non-surgical orthopedic care to patients all over Florida. FOI was stablished in 1989 and today comprises a highly skilled staff of medical professionals to address all of your orthopedic needs. Florida Orthopaedic Institute opened their tenth location in December of 2016 offering the residents of Citrus Park and Westchase easy access to Orthopedic care as well as physical and occupational therapy. The Gunn Highway campus includes a rotation of specialists ready to concentrate on their area of expertise using the latest techniques and technology available. The physicians at FOI have been carefully selected for outstanding academic achievement, commitment to their patients, and quality of care. Their subspecialty expertise includes surgical and non–surgical care of sports injuries, hand and upper extremity issues, foot and ankle problems, and spine injuries. The individualized approach to your treatment options enables FOI to
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help you make the best decision for your particular situation. The staff will patiently discuss all of your treatment options and will not move forward without first explaining the details fully and answering all your questions. The approach at Florida Orthopaedic Institute is to first try all appropriate non-surgical methods of treatment first. This may include medication, bracing, injections, physical and/or occupational therapy, or chiropractic services, all of which FOI provides. Then, and only then, will they suggest surgery. Some of the areas of surgical expertise include Degenerative Joint Disease of the Hip, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, and Spinal Stenosis. To view a complete list of procedures and services visit their website at https://www.floridaortho.com/locat ions/citrus-park/ Florida Orthopaedic Institute, Gunn Highway features a state of the art surgery center, providing locals with quick and efficient care. Those who are in need of imaging can utilize in house diagnostic imaging technology and a wide range of imaging services such as MRI, CT scan, Ultrasound, X-Rays and many more. “If you are having an issue with your bones, muscles, or joints, we have an expert on staff at the Florida Orthopaedic Institute who can help,” says Donna Bossuyt, Director of Marketing. This FOI location has been a convenience that active locals feel has been very helpful in meeting their orthopedic
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needs... Whether your doctor recommends occupational or physical therapy to enhance your recovery or as a first line of treatment to ease pain and restore mobility, rely on the therapists at Florida Orthopaedic Institute to help speed your recovery and accelerate your return to everyday activities. Florida Orthopaedic Institute is also very proud of their relationship with USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. Together, everyone will benefit from their combined strengths and advance academic orthopedics. Florida Orthopaedic The staff at FOI is also experienced in children and your adult care. Orthopedic injuries are common among adolescents and those involved in sports or cheerleading are at risk of injuries on a regular basis. Because a child’s bones, muscles and general makeup are different than an adult, they respond much differently to injuries, stress and athletic training, requiring
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specialized treatment. Florida Orthopaedic Institute is trained and knowledgeable in evaluating, diagnosing and treating children and young adults with acute and chronic orthopedic injuries. As one of Florida’s largest orthopedic groups, Florida Orthopaedic Institute’s mission is simple: to provide excellence in clinical outcomes and an exceptional patient experience, while in an environment that fosters growth through teaching, education and research in all aspects of musculoskeletal medicine. Your comfort, positive outcome and superior satisfaction are priority at Florida Orthopaedic Institute. Contact them today and get back to doing what you love! Florida Orthopaedic Institute 6117 Gunn Hwy Tampa, FL 33625 (813) 387-9890
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SAT AND ACT IMPROVEMENT: BRIGHTER FUTURES By: Dr. Wayne Adams Things are looking even brighter in Tallahassee as Senate Bill 4 was just passed unanimously for the permanent expansion of the Bright Futures Academic (100%) and Medallion (75%) scholarships, and another bonus of requiring Public Universities to switch to block tuition rates starting in the Fall of 2017-2018. The Bill has now been sent to the House for consideration and vote. Passage of this Bill and signing by the Govenor means that Acacemic Scholars would receive 100% payment of tuition plus $300 for books. Medallion Scholars will receive 75% payment of tuition. In addition, Bright Futures will pay tuition for summer studies. Block tuition means that universities will no longer charge by credit hour, but by a block payment for a semester no matter how many hours are taken above the minimum for a full time student. So if a student takes more hours for credit, the charge per credit hour will drop. The other requirements to qualify for Bright Futures remain the same at this point. You can find the qualifications needed for both awards at multiple websites my searching under Florida Bright Futures Qualifications or
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just Bright Futures. Several key qualifications follow: Academic Scholars (100%): Weighted GPA 3.50+, Volunteer Hours 100, SAT 1290/ACT 29. Estimated 4 year value: $26,000+. Medallion Scholars (75%): Weighted GPA 3.00+, Volunteer Hours 75, SAT 1170/ACT 26. Estimated 4 year value: $18,000+. As of this writing, Bright Futures (BF) will “superscore” both the SAT and ACT scores for eligibility. This means that if a student akes an exam multiple times, BF will use the highest scores in each area. One of my students started preparing for the ACT last year as a junior, and her first score was 23. She has kept working, and now has her superscore up to 25.25. BF rounds up the score at 0.5 and above. It won’t be long, and she will hit 26! Great determination. Bravo!!! Students also have until the last spring exam for the SAT and ACT to take and submit a score for consideration. The last SAT this year is on Saturday, June 2nd, and the last ACT this year is on Saturday, June 9th. With the new Bill on the way to the House, double check this eligibility time to make sure it does not change. About this time of year, I see an influx of students in several categories.
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Seniors want to boost their scores as final qualifications for Bright Futures. They (and/or their parents) have realized that $18,000+ $26,000+ is probably more than they could save over a full summer working, so it is worth it to invest some hours now to get their SAT and/or ACT score up. We call this, “Dialing for Dollars!” A second category is juniors who want to see if they can score at a level needed for their dream and other colleges. If they can achieve this late in their junior year or over the summer, then they do not have to take any exams their senior year. The final category is sophomores who want to prepare for the PSAT next October and see if they can qualify for National Merit Scholarships. While these are not huge scholarships, colleges love to have national merit scholars and often reward them with large academic scholarships. Plus they are very helpful in being admitted to top level colleges and universities. If You Would Like To Talk More About Your Student, Please contact me at 727-253-0639 or send me an e mail at wwa0811@mykolab.com. Dr. Wayne Adams is one of the leading SAT and ACT tutors in the
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country. His students normally improve 200 – 350 points on the Writing, Reading, Writing and Essay, and Math, and 4 – 7 points on the ACT composite. They have been admitted to eight of the top ten universities in the country, 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/semifinalist levels on the most recent PSAT. He is a former Dean of a Graduate School of Business and Full Professor, and began college teaching at the University of Maryland in 1968. He has degrees and advanced studies at Harvard, Yale, Vanderbilt, Columbia International, and Luther Rice.
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HERITAGE SPRINGS
2/2/2 1566 htd sq. ft. This villa offers a formal living & dining rooms w/designer style laminate flooring and vaulted ceilings. The kitchen has granite counters, tile flooring and it overlooks the family room w/plantation shutters. You'll enjoy sitting out on the large extended lanai w/a view of the pond & golf course. $249,900
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
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“Tech Talk” with Bob - This month’s topic: Wi-Fi By Bob Dalles
Greetings! People frequently ask me about “Wi-Fi”. Can you explain Wi-Fi? There is a high probability that you use it every day. Wi-Fi stands for Wireless Fidelity. Kind of like the days of “Hi-Fi” for home stereo systems, but now I’m showing my age. If you don’t remember Hi-Fi, then consider yourself lucky. The internet connection in your home or office in the past have been “hard wired;” meaning physically connected with a network cable between your computer and your internet service provider’s modem. The modem is that box your phone or cable company sets up in your home or office. That modem is your computer’s connection to the internet, which allows you to connect to web sites all over the world. When computers became smaller and more portable, carrying around a laptop computer tethered with a network wire was not feasible.
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Engineers developed a way to carry the internet signals through the air. This would eliminate the network cable and provide more mobility for the user. So, where does the wireless fidelity come in? Engineers had to make certain that the wireless signals that “flew through the air” were as reliable as the signals that traveled
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across the network cable. The fidelity of the wireless architecture had to be as reliable as the wired architecture. Therefore, wireless network connections became known as Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi has evolved over the past decades and will continue to develop into the future. Wi-Fi network
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cards used to be an expensive addon to computers. If you wanted the luxury of Wi-Fi networking, you had to pay $$$. However, over time prices went down. Today, most computers you buy have the Wi-Fi capability built-in. The laptop or desktop computer you now buy for your home or office has Wi-Fi but there are considerations to Wi-Fi that most people are not aware of. These are items such as: speed, distance, and most importantly security. We’ll go into more detail about that next time. Have a tech question? Email it to TechTalkTBNL@BobTheComputerGuy.N ET. 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 727-5344000. Until next time, stay safe on the internet!
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By Matt Selby What if I told you the “good guys” from the “good ol’ days” still exist? We’re talking about the blue collar guys that treat you and your family as they would treat their own. At times, it seems like a thing of the past. If you spend five minutes online you’ll find negative reviews on many plumbing companies in the area. In today’s economy it’s tougher than ever to find honest, hard, fair work but we’ve found it. We found a company who will work hard for you and your family to fix any and all of your plumbing and/or septic problems. Most importantly, they’re a reputable and licensed company. I’m talking about Tampa Bay Plumbers! Owner Ryan Pelky demands
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excellence from everyone on his team. “I take personal responsibility for every job no matter how big or small,” says Pelky. “This company obsesses over quality and our customer experience. I can promise you this…if you’re not happy with something we did for you, I will make it right. Go ahead and look them up next time you’re online and you’ll find glowing reviews from tons of satisfied local customers. You’ll find an Angie’s List Super Service Award, an almost 5 star review on Facebook (you can’t please everyone), an A+ rating on the Better Business Bureau, and an almost 5-star rating on just about every review site on the net including google which they boast a 4.8 out of 5 rating! That’s no easy task especially when you have
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competitors constantly hiring other people to fake bad reviews online. It’s a sad world we live in but it’s a reality that not enough people know about. I guess what I’m saying is, even if you don’t take my word for it, you can trust the reviews of countless more people. I put my trust for all my personal and business plumbing and septic needs in the hands of Tampa Bay Plumbers; in fact, one of my best friends in the world, Ryan Penna, plays a paramount role within the company as their production manager. I trust
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Ryan and after hearing him talk so highly about the company he works for I knew I wouldn’t regret hiring them. Tampa Bay Plumbers will be working on a model home I’m building personally here in Tampa very soon. As Mr. Pelky says himself, there’s no job too big or too small. Sometimes the small stuff is the most inconvenient – leaky toilets, clogged drains (because your kids are brilliant and decided their toys wanted to go swimming in things they shouldn’t), garbage disposal repair, superficial
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treat every plumbing project like an emergency and never sacrifice quality. Our 24/7 availability definitely is a huge selling point for us and we never charge an overage rate for Saturday or Sunday work like many others in our industry under normal circumstances. We are true work-o-holics from our owners all the way down to our entry level positions.” Let’s talk about backing up what you sell. Owner Ryan Pelky and Production Manager Ryan Penna Tampa Bay Plumbers offers a minimum 1 year warranty on all work and leaks and bursts all the way through past decade and our guys have the even has a 10 year warranty for some septic repair and maintenance, and experience that others simply don’t jobs! They also offer a free trenchless repairs. have. Many others don’t even consultation and water quality test to Ryan Penna and I sat down and operate with the proper licensing. check for hard water, odor or other I asked Ryan Pelky what he thinks We do plenty of residential but also potentially dangerous toxins so sets Tampa Bay Plumbers apart from have very large commercial jobs that regardless of your plumbing or septic others in the industry. He said, “First other, smaller companies would needs at the moment make sure you off, we have over 25 years of never tackle or be trusted with so we take them up on that. experience locally here in Tampa have the man power to get the job “Our prices match or in most dating back to before we were done. We have the most cases are lower than any other Tampa Bay Plumbers. Much of our technologically advanced plumbing reputable company in the area and crew has been a constant over the tools and equipment available. We
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we serve the entire Tampa Bay Area. We don’t lose a customer over price very often and if we do it’s because the customer goes with an unlicensed contractor,” says Ryan. If Tampa Bay Plumbers can help you, please give them a call at 813-Plumber. Tell them Matt from Tampa Bay News and Lifestyles sent you and receive $50 off your project, repair or maintenance. Customers such as myself love these guys for a reason so rest assured you will be in great hands with Tampa Bay Plumbers!
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“Urology” Continued from page 1 Dr. Otheguy adds, “We cover a lot of sensitive subjects with our patients and it’s important that they know we are here all the time for them. We are always the doctors they see and we are the ones on call.” The doctors both spoke sincerely, clear in their commitment to mutual respect for the doctor-patient relationship. Dr. Rabinowitz shares, “Many our patients have come to us after seeing other physicians and they are telling us it’s because: They don’t get to see the doctor and when they are, they didn’t spend the time that they felt was necessary.” Sitting down with Dr. Otheguy and Dr. Rabinowitz, it’s easy to see that they are devoted to providing patients with the absolute best care and in the very best facility in which to receive that care. Built just last year, the beautiful, state-of-the-art facility that houses Urology Professionals (located at the Premier Medical Center at 2075 Little Road in Trinity) is complete with upto-the-minute technology that Dr. Otheguy and Dr. Rabinowitz insist on having for their patients. In addition, it is a very green office with solar roofing panels that make the office super
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energy-efficient and able to meet seventy percent of its own power requirements. “Patients love the new facility,” says Dr. Otheguy and we get compliments all the time on how clean, modern and private the new office is.” While Urology Professionals’ facility leads the way in energy efficiency, the doctors and their team lead the way in technology, experience, and patient care while addressing a wide range of urology problems professionally, discreetly and tactfully. In building the new facility, Drs. Rabinowitz and Otheguy achieved their goal to create a practice that would allow them to spend more time with their patients, while facilitating an environment that is both patient-friendly and also conducive to allowing the physicians to easily confer with each other to best manage each patient’s care. Offering in-office imaging, including ultrasound, a lab, and the ability to perform in-office procedures like cystoscopies, nerve stimulation for overactive bladders, and more, the Urology
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Dr. Richard Rabinowitz (far left), Dr. Juan Otheguy (far right) and the team at Urology Professionals in Trinity Professionals are ready to listen, diagnose and treat their patients; many times that can be done without surgery. However, when surgery is necessary, patients are reassured with the knowledge that Dr. Otheguy and Dr. Rabinowitz have been providing top urologic care to the community for more than 25 years and they are both board certified. They cover Morton Plant North Bay Hospital, where they
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provide 100% of the urologic coverage as well as having privileges at Medical Center of Trinity and New Port Richey Surgical Center. About Juan N. Otheguy, MD, FACS: Dr. Otheguy has practiced Urology in the state of Florida for more than 20 years. He is a Diplomat of the American Board of Urology since 1994 (with re-certifications in 2004 and 2013) and a Fellow of the
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American College of Surgeons. He earned his medical degree from Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine in Puerto Rico, and completed his general surgery residency at San Juan City Hospital and his Urology residency at University of Puerto Rico Medical Center – the primary trauma center for all of the Caribbean. This enabled him to acquire vast experience in general and urological surgery. Dr. Otheguy also spent two years in a research fellowship that led to one of the first medical therapies approved for prostatism. He specializes in all areas of adult male and female urology with an emphasis on the management and treatment of female incontinence
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using several modalities such as medical therapy, minimally invasive surgery and procedures of neuromodulation of nerves. Dr. Otheguy also specializes in erectile dysfunction treatment with medical therapy, injections or penile implants, urological cancers, kidney stones and laser surgery. During his career, Dr. Otheguy has been published numerous time in national and international peer-reviewed journals on prostate cancer treatment and erectile dysfunction, and he has co-authored chapter in textbooks for urologists. He has served as Vice-Chairman of the Department of Surgery for Morton Plant North Bay, and past Board Member in the Bay Renal Stone Center. A strong
advocate for early prostate cancer detection and awareness, Dr. Otheguy often participates in free screening clinics and educational seminars in the community. About Richard I. Rabinowitz, MD, FACS: Dr. Rabinowitz, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) and a Diplomat of the American Board of Urology, has been practicing in Pinellas and Pasco Counties since 1997. After earning his medical degree from Northwestern University School of Medicine in Chicago, he completed his general surgery internships and urology residency at Barnes Hospital, Washington University in St. Louis, MO, which is consistently recognized as one of the top Urology training programs in the United States. Dr. Rabinowitz has been published in multiple journal publications on the management of prostate cancer. During his career, he has served as both the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Department of Surgery for Morton Plan North Bay Hospital, as well as on the Medical Executive Committee.
Having trained at one of the world leading institutions for the treatment of prostate cancer, Dr. Rabinowitz has a special interest in the identification and management of the disease. He has performed or assisted in more than 700 radical prostatectomies and is involved in national prostate cancer awareness screenings, prostate cancer support groups, and he has conducted numerous seminars on prostate cancer and the treatment options. He has been involved in numerous pharmaceutical drug studies for the treatment of prostate cancer, BPH, erectile dysfunction and incontinence. Dr. Rabinowitz also has a special interest in kidney stone disease and had the opportunity to be trained by one of the field’s leading experts. He is proficient at performing advanced endoscopic management for difficult stones, and assessing the metabolic reasons why patients form stones. Urology Professionals Will Listen It’s not easy to talk about urology problems but thankfully, there’s no need to suffer in silence. Dr. Otheguy and Dr. Rabinowitz are easily accessible at their new office in Trinity and they are ready to listen. Make an appointment today and meet the Urology Professionals. They have a physician and staff that also are fluent in Spainish. Urology Professionals is located at 2075 Little Road in Trinity. For more information, log on to www.UrologyProfessionals.com or call 727-375-5520 to schedule an appointment.
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“Behavioral Health” Continued from page 1 bathrooms/showers, psychiatric safe medical beds, and are designed with tamper resistant light fixtures, plumbing fixtures and toilet accessories. As an added safety measure, Virtual Bed Monitoring activates virtual bed rails, which sends a visual and audible alarm to the staff if needed. The dining room encourages social interaction and offers a variety of snacks and meal options, and the large outdoor patio is handicap accessible with a walking path.
Senior-Focused Care The Senior Behavioral Health multidisciplinary team of board certified psychiatrists, social workers, nurses, and therapists have been carefully selected and specifically trained based on their experience and passion for working with seniors from diverse backgrounds. Anna Loth, RN and the Program Manager of Senior Behavioral Health adds, “We have a dedicated staff that is passionate about working with seniors and they are very excited to move into this program.”
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Heading the Behavioral Health Outreach program, Elizabeth Statzer shares, “This program lets us dedicate an entire program and staff to the needs of this older population. We are able to work with family members and caregivers to help them be adaptive to changes. Many times it is a spouse or adult children who are the caregiver, and we partner with them to make them part of the treatment plan.” For this team, there is great joy in working with seniors. Director Webster shares, “Our staff really enjoy working with the elderly and love to hear their stories. We realize the wealth of their knowledge and life experiences. There is a real wealth of connectedness that comes from helping the patient, while listening to their stories which can impart wisdom that arises from one’s life experiences.” Getting folks to share their memories and experiences – reminiscence therapy – is one of the group therapy methods used to help seniors get back to being themselves.
When Is Help Needed? Intervention may be necessary to help an older person to overcome a current state. Signs to look for include:
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Anna Loth, RN; Program Manager of Senior Behavioral Health
Elizabeth Statzer Head of the Behavioral Health Outreach Program
• Depression, hopelessness, loss of motivation to care for self • Suicidal thoughts and behaviors • Frequent crying for extended periods • Deterioration of sleep or sleeping excessively
• Worry/fears/anxiety or excessive preoccupation with physical complaints • Isolating, significant change/decrease in socialization • Loss of appetite sufficient to maintain ones health, severe decrease in eating
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from loss or life changes: Loss of a relationship (spouse, life partner, sibling, child or significant other), Loss of home or finances, Diagnosis of a terminal or life threatening illness, Loss of emotional or physical independence • Disruptions or disinterest in daily activities such as the inability to socialize, work or perform daily chores If a senior in your life – a parent, family member, friend, neighbor – needs help to cope with some of life’s problems, encourage them to seek the help of their primary care physician, or if it is an emergency, take them to a hospital emergency room for immediate help.
The Senior Behavioral Health program is covered by most insurance providers and is appropriate for those who could benefit from short-term inpatient care. Medical Center of Trinity’s newly opened Senior Behavioral Health Center will open midMarch at the hospital’s campus located at 5637 Marine Parkway in New Port Richey. Log on to MedicalCenterTrinity.com for more information.
How to Refer A Patient Doug Webster, LCSW and Director of Behavioral Health Services at Medical Center of Trinity • Delusional thought process, hearing voices, suspicious or unrealistic fears • Wishing one was dead or wish they could go to sleep and not wake up • Unable to adjust or recover
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Call 727-587-7667 to reach Medical Center of Trinity Behavioral Health’s Access Response Center (ARC), which is available 24/7 to community partners, physicians, psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists, assisted living facilities, skilled nursing facilities and hospitals to initiate the referral process by giving some basic information. This number will put callers in touch with an intake specialist who will begin the preadmission process.
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