Vol. 10, Issue 05, May 2019
®
Your community. Your magazine. ™
The Premier “Shop Local” Community Magazine Directly Mailed To 20,000 Homes In Odessa, Lutz & Land O’ Lakes Areas
This Independent Community News, Business & Dining Guide Is Directly Mailed Once Each Month To: Ashley Lakes, Ballantrae, Belle Meade, Calusa Trace, Canterbury, Cheval, Citrus Greens, Concord Station, Devonwood, Dolce Vita on Lake Keystone, Echo Lake, Farmington Village, Fern Glenn, Grey Hawk at Lake Polo, Heritage Harbor, Ivy Lake Estates, Keystone Groves, Keystone Manors, Keystone Reserve, Keystone Shores, Lake Charles, Lake Church, Lake Parker Estates, Lakeside Grove Estates, Northlake Village, Northbridge at Lake Pretty, Northton Groves, Oakstead, Orange Blossom Creek, Reflections, Steeple Chase, Starkey Ranch, Stillwater, Stonegate, Suncoast Crossings, Suncoast Meadows, Swan Cove, Van Dyke Estates, Van Dyke Farms, Villa Rosa, Wyndham Lakes
Cornerstone Pros Has You Covered for Air Conditioning, Plumbing and Electrical By Deborah Bostock-Kelley
face and your shirt sticks to your back, you grab a bottled water from your refrigerator and you Google on your cell phone a reliable repair company to call. While removing a glass from your cupboard, you happen to notice a clog in your kitchen sink – which is difficult to see because the kitchen light struggles to come fully on.
Imagine July in Florida, a humid 98 degrees at the heart of summer. You insert your key in the front door and enter your home, expecting a cool reprieve from the sweltering heat. Instead you are greeted by a temperature equal to the outside. What happened to your airconditioning? As perspiration drips down your
See “Cornerstone” on page 22
More Than Skin Deep - Dermatology Associates Liza Brown, D.O., F.A.A.D., By Carla Selby
The skin is the largest organ in our bodies, and an excellent indicator of what may be going on below the surface. Visiting your dermatologist on a regular basis is just as important as visiting your primary care provider or dentist. Each visit allows your doctor to check in with your current state of skin health and
potentially spot any early signs of problems. Given the fact that it is easier to treat symptoms the earlier they are found, you will be doing yourself a big favor by staying on top of your skin care and remembering to schedule regular dermatology appointments. See “Dr. Liza Brown” on page 26
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: From The Editor......................5 TB Lightning Season Recap..6-7 Tech Talk with Bob..........12-13 The Grout Guy................14-15 SAT & ACT Improvement..18-19 Patio Pools......................28-29
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4 MAY 2019
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Happy Mother’s Day, May The 4th be with you! May is full of holidays, proclamations, awareness events, and tacos, yes… tacos! Let’s start with Memorial Day. Formally known as Decoration Day, this is a Federal holiday observed yearly on the last Monday of May. This year, Memorial Day falls on May 27th, 2019, and it is a day to commemorate all men and women who have died while serving in the military for the United States of America. Many amazing troop supporters, and local business owners will be offering Memorial Day specials, one-of-a-kind offers, and fantastic discounts on merchandise, products, and services. Make sure to carefully browse this issue of Tampa Bay News and Lifestyles, so you can take advantage of those great deals and save big this upcoming Memorial Day. Apart from Memorial day, the month of May houses a few other special days as well. The 2nd Sunday of May we celebrate International Mother’s Day. I would like to personally wish my mother, Berardina Tedeschi, a very Happy Mother’s Day. I couldn’t have asked for a better role model. I love you! To all mother’s, grandmothers, great grandmothers, and foster moms, I wish you a very Happy Mother’s Day! Remember, successful mothers are not the ones that never struggle or get frustrated; they are the ones that never give up, despite the struggles and continue loving unconditionally. Star Wars fans? May the 4th be with you! Star Wars Day, May 4, celebrates George Lucas’ Star Wars. Fans of the media franchise observe it by re-watching the Star Wars movies, wearing costumes, sharing movie quotes and posting funny memes on social media. The date was chosen for the pun on the catchphrase “May The Force Be With You” as “May The Fourth Be With You.” Also in May, many U.S citizens look forward to “Cinco de Mayo,” which is a holiday that celebrates the date of the Mexican army’s 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. You wouldn’t guess it, but Cinco de Mayo is a relatively minor holiday in Mexico, but in the United States has evolved into a huge commemoration of Mexican culture and heritage, and the Holiday its frequently confused
with “Mexico’s Independence Day,” which takes place on September 16th. Lastly, I want to bring your attention to something of importance that also takes place during the month of May; Lyme Disease Awareness Month. Many states and counties have taken steps to raise awareness regarding Lyme and tick-borne diseases. Declaring May “Lyme Awareness Month,” is one move to help remind people spring is here, ticks are out, prevention and proper education are your best tools to staying healthy. With the spread of the disease to all 50 states, Lyme awareness, education, and early intervention are critical. Even though Lyme disease may not be too common here in Florida, you can still get infected. Take it from someone who is currently battling this debilitating and life-altering condition. I spent several years not knowing what was wrong with me, not understanding why I was feeling so sick and tired all of the time, until I was properly diagnosed by an infectious disease doctor about five months ago. Please be prepared and learn the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease. If you have symptoms such as; high fevers, chills, body aches, weight gain/loss, TMJ, headaches/migraines, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, arthritis with severe joint pain and swelling, particularly on the knees and other large joints, heart palpitations or an irregular heartbeat, and problems with short-term memory amongst others, please contact your primary physician. Ask him or her, to advise you and refer you to a Lyme Disease specialist near you. Fighting Lyme has been an uphill battle, but with the proper treatment, I am finally feeling like myself again. It’s been tough to open up to everyone about this, but if I can help raise awareness with my own story, then so be it. If your health fails, it can overshadow everything else that’s going on in your life. Take care of yourself, eat a healthy diet, make sleep a priority, find a fitness habit that works for you and don’t get too stressed out. Stress can wreak havoc on your body. Until next time! Carla Selby.
Tampa Bay Lightning - The Season That Got Away... Again.
By Tom Bostock
When Sir Fredrick Arthur Stanley (Lord Stanley of Preston) first donated a trophy cup to the championship hockey team of Canada in 1892, little did he realize how coveted his cup would become in the professional ice hockey world. Over the years, storied teams like the Montreal
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Canadians (23), Toronto Maple Leaf ’s (13) and Detroit Redwings (11), to name a few of the winning NHL teams, have won the prized cup multiple times. (thoughtco.com). It is the ultimate achievement in professional hockey. The fledgling hockey team that was awarded to Lightning founders, Phil Esposito, Henry
Lee Paul and Mel Lowell during the league expansion in 1991, which began play in 1992 and was assigned to the Norris Division of the Campbell conference, appeared to pose no apparent threat to the established Northern teams in the National Hockey League. All of that changed in 2004 when Lightning Captain, Dave Andreychuk victoriously hoisted famed Lord Stanley’s Cup, after beating the Calgary Flames in the final of their 7-game series, announcing to the hockey world that the upstart Tampa Bay Lightning were for now for real! Today’s Tampa Bay Lightning seemingly put an exclamation point on how real they were, joining only 2 other teams in the history of the NHL with 60 wins, enjoying the rarefied air of only the 1976-77 Montreal Canadians and the 1995-96 Detroit Redwings. A recent 5 - 2 win over the Senators, with Yanni Goure’s
2 goal, 1 assist performance, helped clinched their 60th win in grand fashion. All eyes were on those final games and then the Lightning’s Stanley Cup run. Their 61st and 62nd win, a drubbing of the Bruins, ended their regular season, fueling fan expectations of greater things to come. Injuries impact team performance and the Lightning were no exception. According to ESPN.com, from information provided by rotowire.com, Lightning stalwart defenseman Victor Hedman would not be active again until the playoffs. Since the Lightning had already secured their playoff berth, resting the injured defenseman seemed like a good idea. Joe Smith of The Athletic reported that head coach, Jon Cooper said that Hedman (upper body) was doubtful to suit up for the rest of the regular season. Not wishing to repeat last year’s loss to the Washington Capitals in the Eastern Conference
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finals, it seemed like a good idea at the time to have a well-rested Hedman. The Tampa Bay Lightning looked forward to the playoffs with a wealth of offensive talent and high-scoring lines to choose from. A fan favorite, Russian born Nikita Kucherov had taken the Lightning by storm, beginning to challenge ever consistent team captain, Steven Stamkos, for supremacy on the ice. He seemed destined for a greatness in the playoffs that was not to be. According to all the sports pundits and talking heads, the Lightning were poised to go deep into the playoffs; they were both fans’ and sports book favorites to win this year’s Stanley Cup. To win, the Lightning needed to overcome some old habits. Diana C. Nearhos, in a Tampa Bay Times article, reminded fans that the Lightning had to come from behind in each of its final four games. Twice they were able to complete the comeback for a win in those final regular
season games. The playoffs proved something else entirely! Having closed out the regular season with a final drubbing of the Bruins 6 -3, to reach 62 wins, the Lightning breathed the rarified air of only one other 62-win team in the entire history of the NHL, the 1995-1996 Detroit Redwings, but apparently were too preoccupied reading their own press clippings to pay attention to what happened to Detroit in the playoffs; they did not win the Stanley Cup that year. The fact that the Lightning spotted the Bruins 2 goals before they scored their first one in their final game of the season should have been a reminder to the Lightning of what could and did happen in the playoffs, just as it happened to Detroit. An unstoppable, impregnable juggernaut of offense, defense and goal tending took to the ice that first playoff game, pounding the other, ill prepared team into utter submission. Didn’t you just love the final battle in the seventh and deciding game? Oh,
that’s right, there was no seventh, or sixth or even fifth game, for that matter. And surprisingly enough, the unstoppable offensive juggernaut wore the colors of the lowly Bluejackets, led by former Lightning coach, John Tortorella, a man on a mission. In an interview, after the complete annihilation of the favorite Lightning in a 4 -game sweep, John revealed his secret to the wins; he told his team to focus on one game at time. The Lightning, on the other hand, didn’t seem to focus on much of anything. Out shot, outscored and out of position in many instances, they skated their way to hockey immortality; the first team to win the President’s Trophy for scoring the most points in the regular season and then being swept in the first round of the playoffs, 6-3, 5-1, 3-1, and 7-3! Close only counts in horseshoes and this Lightning team didn’t even get a whiff of Lord Stanley’s cup with their inept on-ice play – or lack thereof.
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With Lightning efforts that probably belonged in the Hall of Shame, as the Zamboni cleaned and resurfaced the ice after the final game, I hope that they added some detergent sufficient to remove all traces and stench of these playoffs whose odors will probably linger with Lightning players until they start anew with Spring training in September. What will next year’s team be like? Will it have the same promise of unbeatable offense and stifling defense that characterized this year’s team. Will we again have our hopes crushed by lackluster, indifferent play in the playoffs or will that championship be realized once again like its 2004 predecessor? Where there is life, there is hope and we diehard Lighting fans are no different. If you will play like the Lightning that we have come to know and love, we, your loyal fans will still be the Thunder!
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8 MAY 2019
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10 MAY 2019
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MAY 2019 11
Tech Talk with Bob: I Think I’ve Been Scammed! By Bob Dalles Cybercriminals are using successful techniques in their quest to separate you from your money. I have been receiving an onslaught of calls lately from folks saying, “I think I’ve been scammed! What do I do now?” My friend Kathryn fell victim to a scammer just last week. She was minding her own business surfing the web when a message popped-up on her screen. This “official looking” pop-up message instructed her to call a specific phone number because she had “a malware infection that needed immediate attention.” If that wasn’t bad enough,
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she also found herself locked out of her computer. It was frozen. No mouse. No keyboard. She felt her only option was to call the phone number on the screen. Which she did. By the time those scammers finished with her they had not only taken control of her computer, but also convinced her that they could restore it to working order once she paid them $499.00. Which she did. These scammers called it a service charge. I call it extortion. Now mind you, Kathryn is a bright, intelligent woman who would typically never get taken for a ride by such crooks. But these
cybercriminals are extremely good at what they do. They constantly hone their skills conning trusting people who think they’re in trouble. Why do they do it? Scamming people in this fashion has proven to be extremely profitable. Few get caught. Most are offshore. Your best defense is internet safety awareness and developing safer online habits. So, what do you do if you get a popup on your screen that tells you to call a phone number or click on a link? Take a picture of your screen with your cell phone. Be sure any phone number or website address is readable. Do not click on any
links. Do not call any phone numbers. Have your system examined for malware by a technology professional. Do
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not conduct any transactions involving private or sensitive information until you know your system is squeaky clean. What do you do if you receive a phone call from a stranger telling you that you have a malware infection or something else is wrong with your computer? Immediately hang up. Do not engage them in conversation. If they call back, hang up again or don’t even answer. What do you do if you have already downloaded their software to give them control of your computer? Immediately turn your computer off. If you leave it on, they can monitor your activity, steal your data, and even ransom it. Leave your computer off until a professional looks over your system.
What do you do if you have given them your credit card number? Immediately call your card issuer and have your card and the transaction cancelled. Don’t wait to get your credit card statement. Call your bank and deal with this as soon as it happens. Some banks may require you to file a police report. This story does have a happy ending. I was able to purge the malware from Kathryn’s computer and give it a clean bill of health. She called her bank. They flagged the transaction for their fraud division; cancelled Kathryn’s credit card; and had a new card in the mail to her the very next day. If Kathryn had done nothing, she would have been scammed out of nearly 500-bucks. But even worse,
those crooks would still have control of her computer. They could spy on her or ransom her computer whenever they felt like it. Kathryn changed from being a passive victim to a vigilant internet user by recognizing and taking immediate control of her situation. These crooks can be intimidating. They’re relentless. They prey on a person’s fear of, and inexperience with, technology. Every time I speak with a victim of this scam, they always say the same thing. “I can’t believe I fell for it.” Sometimes their embarrassment of being scammed prohibits them from reaching out for help. Kathryn felt less violated when SHE took control of the situation. Be safer not sorrier. You do not have to be a casualty of
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these high-tech outlaws. If you are not sure your system is safe, please have it looked over by a Professionally Certified Computer Technician. If you need a certified professional, call us now at 727-5344000. We’ve been helping folks restore their peace of mind, and sanity, with their technology for decades. Have a tech question? Email it to TechTalk-TBNL@ 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 727534-4000. Until next time, stay safe on the internet!
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Let The Grout Guy Bring your Tile and Grout Back to Life!
By Lisa Stephens Does the tile or grout in
your kitchen or bath need a facelift? It’s amazing what a difference The Grout Guy, Cole Wilson, can make when it comes to restoring tile and grout. His ability to deep clean just about any surface including ceramic, porcelain and natural stone flooring
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or walls and then seal it to maintain its look enables him to leave the customer well satisfied. In business since 2001, Cole continues to learn about new products and techniques in order to serve his customers with the latest technology and processes. Because he custom mixes his own grout colors, he can create any color the customer
desires! The possibilities are endless. Originally from New Hampshire, Cole received his original training in construction and masonry when he served in the Navy as a Seabee. After leaving the Navy, he went to work at a cable company but was interested in owning his own company and working for
himself. “My wife’s best friend started a business in Arizona doing the same thing and I thought ‘Hey, that sounds interesting and sounds like something I’d be great at.’” He took a chance on going for his dream and never looked back. As sole owner, Cole said he hopes to expand his business some day but is reluctant to depend on others
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to be as detail oriented as he is when it comes to serving his clients. “I am a perfectionist. I cannot hire anyone that isn’t as meticulous as me.” His wife steps in to help with the phone calls or paperwork when she isn’t working her other job. “But all the decisions are made together. We’re a team,” he shared. Get the ball rolling on that project you’ve been putting off. Initial contact is made by phone or through his website. Afterwards, Cole will come out to take a look at the project
you need help with. During that visit, he will give you a price and let you know how long the job will take. Every job is unique. “I always tell the customer about how long the job will take. The shortest is about half a day, but recently I had a customer who had showers, floors, driveway, pool screens and decks all included and it took me a week,” he said. The average time to complete a job, however, is about a day. He comes out to take a look prior to any job because there are so many variables to consider for each project. “Some showers are beyond repair
and I will let the customer know the honest truth,” he shared. Some clients actually want tiles replaced instead of just cleaning the entire tile and grout areas. He educates the customer on how each completed project might look based upon the work they want done and he listens to the customer when they’re describing what they want the end result to be. Once an agreement has been made on the work to be done and a price, he begins as soon as possible. “It depends on the month and how busy we are but it’s usually the next week or week after,” he explained. Sometimes special equipment or supplies have to be ordered. “I treat each job like I would one for my home or my parents’ home. I do what it takes to make the customer love the floor or shower or whatever.” Upon completion, Cole leaves the customer with a magnet listing maintenance instructions. One tip he offers is what he considers the most important aspect of maintaining tile and grout; dry the floor or shower each and every time it is used or cleaned. In his own shower, he keeps a squeegee close by and uses it after every shower on the walls. This, he explained, prevents water from sitting on the tile and staining the grout. “So drying
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is the key,” he said. For floors, he color seals the grout so stains cannot penetrate the grout. Dirt, however, can form in a layer over the seal. For that, he uses Dawn dish detergent and a wet cloth to clean the floor and grout areas. He follows that with a dry towel and uses his toes or hands to wipe up the dirt. This, he says, keeps the floor looking new for a long time. The Grout Guy does more than kitchen and baths! Cole goes outside too! “I do pressure washing of patios and screens and am certified in pressure washing and paver sealing and restoring with United Association of Mobile Contract Cleaners. He also takes on commercial projects, which are among his favorites. He has restored concrete floors, cleaned tile floors, removed epoxy grout off floors and changed the color of the grout. He often has large tile company call him to request his help. “If I can’t help, I can find a person who can,” he said. Call 727-213-5723 today to schedule your free estimate appointment. Mention this ad for a $25 discount for Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles readers! See before and after photos at www.thegroutguy.com. Find them on Face Book for customer comments and more.
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SAT AND ACT IMROVEMENT: SPRING AND SUMMER PREP
Dr. Wayne Adams
“Dr. A, I got a 1200 on the SAT!” my student almost shouted with excitement coming through the door to start the ACT part of our prep classes. “That’s great. Do you realize it is worth about $18,000 in scholarship money at any Florida Public University?” I replied. “Wow! That’s even greater.” “Yes, and now with the ACT let’s see if we can get you another $6,000 with a 100% Bright Futures scholarship,” I said and we began. By the way, it looks like this student has an excellent chance to hit an ACT composite of at least 28.5 (yes, the ACT Exam rounds up on their composites if they are .5 or higher). The Academic Scholar qualification threshold is a composite of
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29 on the ACT. As I often discuss with students, where could they find a job where they could earn $18,000 to $24,000 … tax - free ? I call this, “Dialing for Dollars.” And each of my students and their parents receive a copy of my special report about Negotiating with Colleges, that has saved many between $1,000 and $10,000 a year in college costs. At this time of year, many parents are asking what they should do about SAT and the ACT Exams. The last SAT Exam in this school year is on Saturday, June 1st, and the last ACT Exam is on Saturday, June 8th. During the summer, there is an ACT Exam on Saturday, July 13th, and an ACT Exam on Saturday, August 24th. For seniors, the Bright Futures program will consider scores from the June 1st and
the June 8th exams to qualify for these scholarships for students starting as college freshmen next fall. For juniors soon to become seniors, these exams can give an idea of how they can score, whether that will be in the range for applying to their selected schools next fall, and whether it will qualify them for a Bright Futures scholarship if they stay in Florida. For sophomores soon to become juniors, this is excellent preparation for the PSAT exam next October which is the only national qualifying exam for National Merit Scholarships. Also, this can help prepare for later exams in their junior and possibly senior year. Another very popular option for rising seniors and juniors is to prepare for these exams over the summer. Students can focus more on preparing
because they normally do not have all the time pressures that occur during a school year. Classes can be scheduled around vacations and other requirements, and are easier to change at the last minute if needed. If you would like to talk further with me about the New SAT Prep Class, and/or my ACT Prep Class, please contact me at 727-253-0639 or 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 New SAT Writing, Reading, and Math combination scores, 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,
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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. 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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20 MAY 2019
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“Cornerstone”
continued from page 1 Before collapsing into a moment of deep despair, envision a telephone number you can contact where each issue – airconditioning, plumbing, and electrical – are conveniently remedied by a single phone call. Though the scenario was extremely fabricated, the resolution is not. Founded on faith and family in Land O’Lakes, Cornerstone Pros, a woman-owned business, is proud to offer the Tampa Bay community licensed air conditioning, heating, plumbing and electrical service providers 24/7. “We developed our company on our values and integrity. We try to be a good example in the community and serving the Lord in that process,” said owner Dana Spears. First opened in 2006 to service customer air-conditioning needs, in 2011 Dana got her plumbing license and a plumbing division
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was added. Finally to compliment these two services, in 2014, the electrical division was formed. “We felt there was great demand from our customers to have one company to provide all of their home services,” said owner Dana Spears. Cornerstone Pros is a family business with 10 family members working together with other employees, totaling over 66. “We try to keep our ‘familyowned and operated’ reputation strong,” she said. “Customer service is what our company was built on and we are very proud of our online ratings. We understand that there are many tradespeople out there that know the mechanical side of our industry, but we felt that there wasn’t a very strong presence for customer service and meeting customer needs.” Coming from a customer support background, Dana made it her goal to combine exemplary customer support with qualified technicians. “We’ve built our business on
meeting our customers’ needs, providing them with a service that they deserve and I think it has worked very well for us.” Such services include maintenance, repair and replacement to your airconditioning unit. To ensure your a/c is in tip-top shape for the upcoming scorching summer months, Dana recommends checkups and tune ups before the heatwave hits. “Having us come out every 6 to 12 months to clean and check your drain lines and a/c system will extend the life of your system. It gives you that forewarning like ‘we’ve had to replace a few parts this year, your warranty is almost up and would you be interested in looking at replacement or do you want to wait until it dies’”? For this service, Cornerstone Pros provides maintenance tech, not service techs troubleshooting, but techs specifically trained to performed maintenance. A recommendation sheet allows the customer to know of any findings.
To save on your electric bills, Cornerstone Pros specializing in electric and gas tankless water heaters to replace outdated and energy deficient water heaters. Not only do the old-fashioned 40-50-gallon standard water heaters take up space, they add cost to your monthly electric bill. Cornerstone Pro’s certified experts can tackle any electrical need in your home including adding or replacing lighting and fixtures, replacing or installing ceiling fans, installing LED, cables for cameras, media equipment and panel upgrades. Cornerstone Pros offers a maintenance program for all three of their trades – Air-Conditioning, Plumbing and Electrical. “We come out every 6 months for a/c. We do a home inspection on your plumbing and electrical once a year. We’ve really found that it gives our customers peace of mind.” She explained that if a customer is on the maintenance program and does have an
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emergency, not only will you take priority, you get additional savings on services needed. Cornerstone Pros services all brands and will provide you with a free estimate on installations or a second opinion on repairs. They make it a point to get to emergency calls within the same day. A flat-fee company, Cornerstone Pros offers upfront pricing so there are no surprises. With hurricane season beginning in June, to protect your home from electricity loss, Cornerstone Pros offers free estimates for full-home generators. During the hurricane that left entire cities without power, Dana said the generator allowed them to run their business. Cornerstone Pros installs Generac Home Standby Generators and if the electricity does go out at your home, your power will transfer smoothly to the generator. “We were without power at our office for 7 days, but we installed the standby generator and were
able to get our office running 2 days after the storm,” she said. From a clogged sink to a whole home re-pipe, customers have trusted Cornerstone Pros to fix their plumbing issues quickly, reliably and with integrity. In addition to expert plumbing services, Cornerstone can install personalized well water treatment and water purification systems. These systems will both remove impurities from your water and improve its taste. The removal of hard water can prevent fixtures in your home from discoloring and rusting, increasing the life of your appliances. As most people don’t plan for their a/c to die, home to need re-piping, or water heater to need replacing, Cornerstone Pros offers convenient financing options for every budget. Financing is also available for generators and water purification systems. What’s most important to Dana is ensuring her customers receive the best service possible, no matter what trade service is being
provided. “We want to build enduring long-term relationships with our clients,” she said. “(Potential customers) just need to look at our combined 3800 five-star reviews online. We’re very proud of that as a company. We work really hard to make a positive experience.”
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To schedule an appointment with Cornerstone Pros for air conditioning, heating, plumbing & electrical, call (813) 9494445. Learn more information about the specials and services they provide at www. cornerstonepros.com or on Facebook.
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“Dr. Liza Brown” Continued from page 1 With a beautiful office conveniently located at the Trinity Professional Park on Duck slough Blvd behind outback, Dermatologist Liza Brown, D.O., F.A.A.D., specializes in skin cancer detection and removal, cosmetic botox, fillers, chemical peels, fat destruction, as well as diagnosing and treating difficult skin cases. Dr. Brown is a proud Trinity, FL native and she is Board Certified by the American Academy of Dermatology. “I was inspired to become a dermatologist to help my grandfather who had suffered from severe psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis for most of his life,” says Dr. Brown, who completed her medical school training in Bradenton, FL and her residency training in Miami, Fl with some of the country’s best cosmetic, medical and surgical dermatologists. “I knew once I finished my training I wanted to come home and give back to my community.” Most of us place a huge amount of confidence in our doctors, entrusting them with our health, and at times, our very lives. This is why open two-way communication, trust, and mutual respect are essential in doctorpatient relationships. For Dr. Brown trust is the foundation of her relationship with each one of her patients. She is professional, caring and attentive. Dr. Brown will carefully listen to all your concerns and make you feel at ease. “I treat my patients like I would treat my own family,” says Dr. Brown. “I use the most up to date treatment guidelines and advanced medical treatments to get my patients the best results possible. Every patient is seen by me, the physician. We don’t aim for quantity, we aim for quality and I think that makes all the difference in the world.” Nearly half of Americans over age 65 have some type of skin disease. Skin diseases are often serious, and many can actually be fatal. Melanoma, a potentially deadly form of skin cancer, is increasing at the fastest rate of all cancers in the United States. Many people believe that it develops only in sun-exposed areas, has to be raised, develops only in a mole, and occurs only in light skinned people and the elderly, but none of that is correct. In fact, melanoma can occur even in teenagers, may occur on skin that does not have any moles, may be completely flat, develop on any part of your body, and not cause any symptoms. Melanoma can therefore fly under the radar unless you look for it. “I perform full skin exams and use dermoscopy as a tool to aid me in skin cancer detection,” says Dr. Brown. “I also offer dermtech non-invasive sticker biopsies for borderline lesions.” Full body skin exams take roughly 30 minutes, if any procedure is needed, then it may take a little longer. There is no case too big or too small for Dr. Brown, she is ready to tackle and solving them all. “I enjoy treating and solving difficult dermatology cases. The ability to have bedside diagnostics such as simple skin scrapping and millimeter biopsy techniques allows for rapid diagnoses of cutaneous rashes, infections and skin cancers. Every day it’s like having an exciting new puzzle to solve. Our fast biopsy result rate allows for a quick resolution to the
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patient’s problem and being able to treat most dermatological issues, and occasionally cure them on the post is very rewarding.” As for the best part of her profession Dr. Brown says, “I love being able to build relationships with my patients, help them feel and look better, and increase their self-esteem.” The Sunshine State - A Blessing and a Curse Living in Florida can be both a blessing and curse for your skin health. You may benefit from multiple outdoor activities, but the frequent exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays, can have dangerous consequences. Exposure to UV tradition causes the skin to create more melanin, which gives you that beautiful tanned look. Although you may love having that golden appearance, that color shows your skin cells have been damaged. UV exposure can lead to: 1) Signs of premature agin, such as lines and wrinkles 2) Brown spots or discoloration 3) Lax skin 4) Skin Cancer “Signs of sun damage include deep tan, leathery appearance, dry, cracked, wrinkled skin, with discoloration as well as many areas of freckling, nevi, mixed with pink scaled areas of pre-cancerous and possibly cancerous cells,” says Dr. Brown. “You will notice thinning of the skin, loss of elasticity and easy bruising.” Protect yourself from the sun and don’t let the desired for sun-kissed skin ruin your health. “Living in the Sunshine State it is important to get a skin exam at least once yearly. I highly encourage using sunblock to prevent sun damage, sin cancer, signs of aging, loss of elasticity and wrinkles, pigment, melanoma, sunspots and many more conditions,” says Dr. Brown. “Remembering to apply sunscreen, at least SPF 30 every single day, regardless if you’re spending time outdoors will keep your skin looking young and cancer free. I recommend different sunscreens according to my patient’s skin type; Elta MD, La Roche Posay, Neutrogena, Obagi and Revision are all amazing sunscreens in different forms for different patients with different skin issues. Wearing a hat and sun shirt as well as staying in the shade or avoiding sun exposure between 10:00am - 4:00pm is the best way to prevent sun damage.”Daily sunscreen and a nightly topical Retin-A or Vitamin A derivative are great anti-aging treatments. “Ideally, in a perfect world, you would want to wash your face in the morning with a PH balanced cleanser,” says Dr. Brown. “Apply your daily sunscreen, moisturizes and a topical Vitamin C (If you’re non-acne prone). At night time, wash your face again and apply your nightly Retin-A, eye cream, neck cream and if pigment prone, then possibly other night time formulations as well. As we start to age wrinkles become more prominent, facial fat begins to droop, pigment darkens and bone loss occurs. We can correct these problems with neurotoxin such as Botox, fillers, fat dissolving Kybella, Sculptra, chemical peels, microneedling and lasers.”
ABCDE Rule Dr. Brown recommends her patients to check their own skin and get familiarized with their own moles and body at least once a month. She also mentions following the ABCDE rule for noticing weird moles. “The ABCDE rule is a guideline to evaluate for early melanoma or dysplastic, atypical moles,” says Dr. Brown. “A stands for Asymmetry , you want to make sure your moles aka Nevi are perfectly round . B stands for border. It’s important to make sure your nevi have a nice smooth border and don’t look jagged or like a cloud. C stands for color. Any new pigment brown or black in an existing lesion that creates more than one color . D stands for diameter. Anything greater than a pencil eraser or 6mm needs to be monitored . And Finally E stands for evolution. Or anything changing , itching, bleeding. That last rule really goes for any skin cancers . If you have a lesion that is new, looks like a pimple but doesn’t resolve , not going away, a scab that comes and goes or any rough scaly patches you should come in for an exam . There are melanomas that are amelanotic which means no pigment , so if you see a new pink spot in a sun damaged area it’s important to have that checked out. You can see with the many forms of skin cancer presentations why it’s so important to get an exam by a qualified physician who has spent years studying the skin.” Your Diet Affects Your Skin Sure, your diet keeps your body slim and healthy, but its impact doesn’t stop there. The food you eat, from wrinkle-fighting antioxidants in fruits and vegetables to hydrating healthy fats in fish, may matter to your skin almost as much as it does to your waistline.
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While skin inflammation can be attributed to sun damage, many a times it is the foods we consume that are the real monsters behind inflamed skin. Sugar, processed meats, dairy, sodas, fried foods and gluten, may all affect your skin in negative ways. Everything you consume can either benefit or hurt your body. “Eating nutrient-rich whole foods, grains and health fats as well as drinking plenty of water, getting enough rest and exercise are good for your whole body, including your skin,” says Dr. Brown. “While many other people report flares with different foods, they may be more prone to acne when eating those certain items. Rosacea, a common skin disorder, will flare with increased temperature foods, spicy foods and alcohol. While there are other diseases such as Dermatitis herpetiformis that are caused by gluten sensitivity.”
psoriasis, visible skin damage, redness, itching, scars, stretch marks, if your nails are breaking or you are experiencing hair loss, then it is time to schedule an appointment with Dr. Brown. Remember: regular checkups for skin cancer can save your life. You can talk to Dr. Brown regarding any concerns you have about almost any condition that is affecting your appearance. Before scheduling, please check with your health insurance plan to find out what services are covered and whether you need a referral from your primary care physician. Write down a list of any mendicants and supplements you’re currently taking and bring a list of questions and concerns to discuss. “My friendly staff and I look forward to getting to know you and your family, and improving your skin health,” says Dr. Brown.
Skin Cancer Checkups Can Save Your Life
Dermatology Associates, Liza Brown, D.O., F.A.A.D., is located at 2160 Duck Slough Blvd STE 103, Trinity, FL 34655. Call (727) 807-9070 to schedule your appointment. Visit https:// dermdrbrown.com/ for more information.
If you haven’t been to a dermatologist in a while, or ever… If your acne is not responding to an over-the-counter skin treatment, if you want to get a skin cancer screen, if you have eczema,
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Patio Pools Celebrates 40 Years Providing Pools to Tampa Bay By Deborah Bostock-Kelley It’s the big 4-0 for Patio Pool in Lutz. For four decades, this three-generation, familyowned independent pool installation, remodeling and retail establishment has been going above and beyond the expectations of clients throughout Tampa Bay. Founded by Charles Foster, daughter Gina Schrader runs the office, while her sons design pools, sell, handle marketing and social media and provide customer service. Even her 90 year old grandmother is part of the business, doing some light housekeeping on the weekends. “It’s definitely a family affair,” said Gina. “We’re kind of iconic in the area. Most people in the area know us because we’ve been in business so long. Either their grandparents had us build their pool, or their parents, friends or neighbors. We tout ourselves
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on being one of the fastest pool company in the Bay area. We’ve been around for so long that we have such a big presence in the Tampa Bay area.” Patio Pools is recognized for not only providing a high-quality product, but for an expeditious turnaround. She credits the great organization of Patio Pools for allowing the quickest installation possible. “We’re on top of things constantly. We typically will finish a standard pool in 21 working days. We’re definitely the quickest in the area.” When hiring a pool contractor, Gina said doing your homework is very important. While it’s good to look for customer reviews on social media, those can be bought. The client should investigate the business through the Better Business Bureau, Myfloridalicense.com and talk to friends and family to make sure ofthe legitimacy and proven
workmanship of the business. “Keep in mind how old the company is. You can have one company that has 5 complaints and you can have another that has 5 complaints, but one is only 5 years old. Keep in mind how long they’ve been in business, when doing searches of the company. We currently only have one.” She warned to be leery of a new company with hundreds of
detailed reviews. “They can be bought and we would never do anything like that. All of our reviews are authentic.” She also explained every photo on the Patio Pool website comes from completed jobs and no stock photography is ever used. She doesn’t need other people’s photos as Patio Pools has built nearly 8,000 pools since its inception.
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“We really pride ourselves on doing a good job because although we are big in the area because people know us, we are still a relatively-small family-run business. We have to do well. It’s our business.” As Florida’s rainy hurricane season can make installation unpredictable, if you’re looking to have a pool to cool down in this summer, Gina suggests the best time for installation is during the winter. It can take 2 to 6 weeks to get the permit, depending upon the municipality
and approximately 21-28 working days – from breaking ground to installation for Patio Pools to bring your vision to life. Not only can Patio Pool build your dream pool, they can remodel your old pool and re-top existing decks to make it look new again. They also can build custom water features, lanais, sun decks, fireplaces and fire pits, as well as outdoor kitchens. Patio Pools can also customize lighting and add automation so you can run your pool from your Alexa or your smart phone.
“We can do most of the items that you would connect with your swimming pool or backyard, excluding landscaping.” A retail store at 4118 Gunn Highway provides the chemicals, toys, cleaners, parts, equipment and everything to meet your swimming pool needs. They can recommend a perfect pool service if you don’t want to do yourself. “There are so many bad swimming pool companies out there. You feel like you’re doing the used car sales pitch. We really dislike that, it makes everyone in the pool industry look bad. When we sell to somebody, we don’t sell, we educate. We’re not going to lie and tell them something they want to hear just to sell the product. We’re going to tell them flat-out the truth. If you set the expectations to reality, then they know what they’re doing. It’s a big project. A pool is most likely the second largest purchase you will make besides your home or car.” Not only is Patio Pools proud to be part of their community, they love that the business is more than just business. Customers
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from forty years ago drop by the retail store to say hello, to show off grandkids’ pictures, and even a dog or two has ventured back to Gina’s desk. “I love my customers. We have made some very special relationship with customers,” she said and added. “And the other people I work with. We’re definitely a family, even the ones that aren’t related. It’s a good environment in a stressful business.” Gina said that she is proud that Patio Pools is recognized as providing a painless process, being the antithesis to horror stories heard about working with pool companies, and being responsive to customer needs. When asked if she had a favorite project or customer response, Gina didn’t hesitate to respond, “We’re proud of all of them.” Patio Pools is located at 4118 Gunn Highway. Call 813.327.4654 to schedule a free consultation and to learn more, visit www.patiopools.com, or follow on Facebook and Twitter.
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