Vol. 10, Issue 07, July 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
Dr. Albert Makes People Smile at Home and Abroad
By Deborah Bostock-Kelley
Past the comfortable waiting room with a big screen TV, free wi-fi, a coffee and snack bar and a vintage video game console is the doctor’s consultation room. On the desk, to the far left of his computer sits a Spider-man coffee mug. The message of that movie franchise so resonated with Dr. Jeremy Albert, DMD, MS, a specialist in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics, that he paraphrased it and applies
it to his successful practice, Albert Family Orthodontics: “With great knowledge comes great responsibility.” Dr. Albert feels it was his responsibility to bring his 15 years of experience to take care of his orthodontic patients conveniently where they live, work and go to school and make them feel comfortable, knowing they are in the most capable, experienced hands possible for braces, expanders, and Invisalign. Growing up in Tarpon
Springs, an East Lake High School alum, Dr. Albert earned his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from The University of Florida and has been honored with numerous awards and is a member of several dental associations since opening his practice in 2003. Dr. Albert doesn’t pass his patients on to a second doctor in the practice. There is no second doctor. He is there because he loves both the
See “Dr. Albert” on page 28
Dr. Jeremy Albert, DMD, DS, owner of Albert Family Orthodontics
Scrub-A-Dub Bin Cleaning Because Grime is a Crime
Jennifer Trudel, Owner Scrub-A-Dub Bin Cleaning 844-SCRUBBY
By Kelly Stuart Williams, MA In our hot, humid climate, where we’re concerned with everything from air quality to water purity, safe pest control, and preserving our natural resources, it’s great to find a Tampa Bay-based business that has aligned itself with personal health, environmental safety, and pest prevention. Not surprisingly, Scrub-A-Dub Bin Cleaning was created by a health expert, Jennifer Trudel, who worked as a practicing pharmacist for 28 years. “Many residents have no idea
how our county-issued, trash/ recycle bins are a breeding ground for viruses, bacteria, insects, and vermin,” said Jennifer Trudel who added, “And many people keep their bins in their hot garage where the odors can become overwhelming.” Scrub-A-Dub Bin Cleaning takes care of odor and bacteria concerns, as it not only sanitizes trash bins (at 200 degrees) so that they are 99.9% free of germs, but it deodorizes them, so there are no more smelly trash cans outside the home or inside the garage. See “Scrub-A-Dub” on page 24
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: From The Editor......................5 Action Air Conditioning......8-9 SAT & ACT Improvement...12-13 Local Author JC Gatlin.......16-17 The Mak Brothers Band......20-21 Tech Talk with Bob..........26-27
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July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, which was established in 2008 to start the process of improving access to mental health treatment and services, and to promote public awareness of mental illness. Why care? Each year millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental health condition. And 2019 is no different, statistics show that 1 in 5 adults will experience mental illness this year. Mental health conditions do not discriminate based on race, color, gender or identity. Anyone can experience the challenges of mental illness regardless of their background. However, background and identity can make access to mental health treatment much more difficult. When trying to access treatment, many marginalized communities have to contend with such issues as:
• Barriers to access to treatment • Language barriers • Lack of cultural competence • Racism, bias and discrimination in treatment settings • Lower likelihood of health insurance or adequate coverage • The high level of health stigma in minority populations • Belief that treatment will not help their condition Many cultures sometimes view mental health treatment as a luxury, considering their symptoms as a “phase” that will eventually go away. As a Hispanic woman, I was one of those hoping this “phase” of my life would eventually go away on its own, but it didn’t.
After I unexpectedly lost my father two years ago, my mental and physical health started to suffer. I was diagnosed with lyme disease, and more recently, graves disease (an auto immune disease that attacks your thyroid and affects pretty much EVERYTHING in your body, from your mood to your joints and everything in between!). These auto immune diseases combined with the sadness I was experiencing made me feel really anxious and extremely depressed. And even though I would remind myself daily I was blessed and had everything I needed to be happy, I couldn’t shake the sadness or anxiety. My smile faded, tears were rolling down my face on a daily basis without any particular reason, I stopped doing things I used to enjoy and I started isolating myself more and more from my loved ones. Eventually my family and friends started to notice and they were there for me, and happy to help in any way possible. I was/am lucky to have such caring relatives and friends who encouraged me to seek help and talk to someone about my symptoms. It is hard opening up to all of you and admit my own struggles, but here I am... an open book. I am currently seeing a therapist, and even though I was extremely reluctant at first, I am very happy I did. Having the chance to talk to a mental health professional about what you’re going through helps enormously, and helps fight the stigma of mental illness. Overcoming the stigma of mental illness False beliefs about mental illness can cause significant problems. Stigma can lead to discrimination. Discrimination
may be obvious and direct, such as someone judging you and making negative remarks about your mental illness or your treatment. Sometimes it could also be unintentional or subtle, such as people avoiding you because they wrongfully assume you could be unstable, violent or dangerous due to your condition. Do not let stigma create self-doubt and shame. Sometimes those negative thoughts don’t just come from others. You may mistakenly believe your condition is a sign of personal weakness or that you should be able to control it without help. Seeking counseling, education yourself about your condition and connecting with people going through the same can help you gain self-esteem and overcome destructive self-judgment. I am here, sharing my story with you, in hopes that I can give you the encouragement needed to seek help if you believe to be battling a mental illness. Knowing you’re not alone is one of the most helpful and comforting feelings, that’s why I encourage YOU to share YOUR story. It can be incredibly reassuring to know in this moment right now, someone else is going through similar struggles as you are— regardless of where they are, who they are, or how they identify. We can all help ignite change against these disparities and fight stigma this Minority Mental Health Awareness month. It simply starts with learning more about mental health and informing our community. Be kind, ALWAYS. You never know what others may be going through.
Carla Selby.
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Action Air Conditioning: “Keeping It Cool” for over 30 Years By J. Pancia
Summer’s here in the Sunshine State, when we rely on our air conditioning almost as much as the air we breathe. Unfortunately, AC breakdowns happen all too often during the summer, at the worst possible time. During these desperate moments, it’s advisable not to call the first business name printed on a flier or advertised on TV. Some companies hire middle men and subcontractors, which can lead to faulty repairs, miscommunication and substantially higher costs. It’s best, instead, to keep a list of trusted, experienced servicers who do business in a competent and straightforward manner. Action Air Conditioning of Tampa Bay is that established, customerfocused company found at the top of many business and property owners’ lists. The 31-year-strong heating, ventilation and air conditioning company does more than the average servicer or retailer in-house. “We put our customers and staff first,” says Jackie Ramirez, Action Air’s chief financial officer. She and her brother, Chris Russell, the company’s vice president, enforce a “people-first” policy in their familyowned-and-operated business. Their father, David Russell founded Action Air Conditioning of Tampa Bay in 1988. Initially the company was small and
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concentrated most of its resources in the residential replacement market. In 1990, he joined forces with Frank Lipp, who was trained by William Carrier, the inventor of air conditioning systems. “Action Air came within a couple of hours to check out our problem,” says customer Viola Luke. “They came before 9 a.m and worked all day to install the new a/c. The reps and techs were all professional, friendly and courteous. They worked hard to deliver the best product and service. We love our new Lennox unit.” Action Air service techs, who are trained in-house and certified by top-name manufacturers, do all the repairs -- the company hires no subcontractors. Action Air employees who visit and perform repairs clean up after themselves, are
conscientious to property owners and are accountable for their work. “We treat our employees like family and incentivize them to do a first-rate professional job from start to finish,” Chris says. Plus, Action Air offers affordable maintenance plans to help prevent a pricey repair later. Customers who purchase maintenance plans receive 20 percent off repairs and receive other various benefits. “Malfunctions are often caused by very simple things, such as dust buildup, improper refrigerant charge, worn belts, or issues with the blower or coils,” Chris says. “With prompt and knowledgeable service, correcting these faults is not only inexpensive but cost-effective.”
Action Air’s huge warehouse stocks units and parts on the premises, so you don’t have to wait more than a day to get that much-needed repair when your unit shuts down. Action Air features a recently remodeled showroom, which allows customers to browse units before making a purchase. Prospective customers can drop in any time to compare models manufactured by Lennox. “Action Air’s sales staff will be happy to review all the features and issues you need to consider before purchasing a system,” Chris says. “Our Comfort Consultants can go over the differences in all the systems and explain factors such as SEER, refrigerant, and all the parts of an indoor air system in terms you can understand to make an educated
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David Russell (left), President and Chris Russell (right), Vice President investment.” The showroom, Chris explains, displays full HVAC systems, set up and operating so you can see the components of the matched system including a heat pump, air handler, air cleaner, and thermostat. “You can look, feel, and listen to the most advanced cooling systems made today in our showroom,” Jackie adds. It’s a feature not widely available by other sellers and servicers. Most often customers go blindly into costly installations, something Action Air doesn’t recommend. “Remember, you would not purchase a car without going to the dealership for a test drive, so Action Air makes it easy for you to test-drive a new indoor air system, as well” Action Air offers other products to help with indoor air quality and humidity. Action Air cleans dryer vents as well. “I contacted Action Air to come out to my home to diagnose a unit that was
cooling intermittently,” says customer Ryan Doherty. “They were able to have someone out to the house in about an hour, and the Technician they sent, Christian, was able to quickly diagnose the problem and solve it. He also inspected the unit completely, replaced an additional part that was failing, and offered suggestions on additional maintenance and when he thought future issues may need to be addressed. Overall, the experience was exceptional and I would highly recommend Action Air for future issues.” In addition to customer kudos, Action Air has won numerous awards and has received National recognition for outstanding performance. What’s the secret of Action Air’s success? It goes back to that people-first approach Jackie mentioned earlier. “We engage in the highest level of commitment as a team,” Jackie affirms, “and we’re working toward another
great and growing 30-plus years.” Action Air Conditioning, Inc. is located on the corner of Busch Blvd and Armenia at 8926 N Armenia Ave in Tampa, Florida. They
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are open 7:00am - 7:00pm with 24-hour same day emergency service available. For more information please call (813) 9356644 or visit www. actionairconditioning.com
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SAT AND ACT IMPROVEMENT: WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH THE SAT? By Dr. Wayne Adams “Dr. A, what should we do about our student taking the SAT with the new information about the secret student ‘Adversity Score’ sent from the College Board to top schools for the past two years without parents’ approval or even knowledge that work against students from good high schools who work hard and don’t have “hardships” such as going to an inner city school or living in a poverty stricken neighborhood?” You may be aware of the recent investigative news reports by the New York Times and Wall Street Journal that have exposed this adjustment score sent to colleges and universities with all SAT scores
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secretly for the past two years. David Coleman, the new president of the College Board who gave us Common Core (which has been rejected by most states as an attempted government takeover of high school education), is heavily pushing this adversity score to give “disadvantaged students” a better chance of admission to top colleges and universities. Already, I have had one parent switch from a student preparing for the SAT to preparing for the ACT. Others are asking the same types of questions. Here are several “realities” of the SAT and ACT Exam. First, this arbitrary and secret action of the College Board is going to fuel the fire of “merit admissions” already rag-
ing with the Chinese American lawsuit against Harvard University for discrimination. The Department of Justice has filed a brief with the Boston Federal Court in support of the Chinese American position. This will definitely go to the Supreme Court, sooner rather than later, probably within a year. Depending upon the decision,
this case can cause a dramatic upheaval in how colleges and universities evaluate and admit students. Second, the PSAT exam given in all high schools remains the only qualification exam for National Merit Scholarships – and is often used to “track” students starting in their freshman or sophomore
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years into high, medium, and low level academic instruction tracks. Third, most colleges equally accept the SAT or ACT Exam only as part of their applications. If a student uses the SAT, often at least two Advanced Subject SAT Exams are also required. If the ACT Exam is used, no Advanced Subject Tests are required. As we head into the fall, the first SAT Exam is on August 24th, and the first ACT Exam on September 14th. And the PSAT Exam given to all juniors usually is given on the middle Wednesday in October. Please note that I am not arguing for or against either exam, just letting you know some basics about what is happening in my “testing” world. Practically, about 75% of my students prefer the ACT Exam,
and 25% prefer the SAT Exam. Usually, a student will score 10-15 percentiles higher on one or the other, but there is no way to predict. And for years I have had a combination prep class the saves 15 hours of class time from the classes needed to separately prepare for the SAT or the ACT. Everyone knows that my purpose is to help every student have their best possible future, which includes doing their best on the SAT and/or ACT Exam. So I think you will enjoy the four special reports I give to families of all my students: How To Write College Admission Essays Colleges Will Love, Negotiating with Colleges that has helped my students and parents save $1,000 to $10,000 a year in annual college costs, Dream Colleges And Universities (Top 25, 5 more, and the Top 5 in
Florida), and How To Survive And Thrive As A Freshman At A Secular University. If you would like to talk more about my helping your student, please give me a call at 727-253-0639 or send an Email to wwa0811@gmail.com. Dr. Wayne Adams is one of the leading SAT and ACT tutors in the country. His students normally improve 200 – 350 points on the Writing, Reading, Writing and Essay, and Math, and 4 – 7 points on the ACT composite. They have been admitted to eight of the top ten universities in the country, eighteen 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),
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University of Virginia, NYU, Northeastern (Boston), Boston College, Georgia Tech, Air Force and Merchant Marine Service Academies, Penn State, Purdue, Ohio State, LSU, Auburn, UF, U Miami, FSU, USF, UCF, Florida Atlantic, Florida Gulf Coast, FIU, New College of Florida, Stetson, and Julliard – Manhattan - New England - and Berkley Conservatories of Music. Many have received academic, athletic, or music scholarships. This year, he also tutored three juniors who scored at the national merit finalist/semi-finalist levels on the most recent PSAT. He is a former Dean of a Graduate School of Business and Full Professor, and began college teaching at the University of Maryland in 1968. He has degrees and advanced studies at Harvard, Yale, Vanderbilt, Columbia International, and Luther Rice.
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Local Author Uses Tampa Bay as Backdrop for Murder By Deborah Bostock-Kelley
Author JC Gatlin, a fifteen-year resident of Tampa has prominently featured Tampa Bay as the backdrop of a series of murder mysteries. H_NGM_N: Murder is the Word, his fourth book features a supernatural edge. Any Tampa Bay resident can recognize the locations described in his books, from downtown Tampa and Ybor City to the buildings on Kennedy Boulevard and the Skyway Bridge, making the stories hyper local. In 2016, JC’s book 21 Dares topped Amazon’s Suspense and Teen & Young Adult charts and he hopes to repeat that accomplishment with his newest release. Published by Millford House, available in paperback and as an ebook, H_NGM_N: Murder is the Word is the first of this series. H_NGM_N: Murder is the Word tells the tale of Tampa Features Reporter Tori Younger, a fan of true crime books and a frustrated journalist who works
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for a morning news program. When she returns home to for the funeral of a childhood friend who committed suicide, she receives cryptic text messages from the departed friend’s cell phone. When murder is suspected, Tory uses her skills to try to solve the case, proving her worth as a “True Crime” journalist, the job she aspires to. To solve the murder mystery, she’s assisted by her irksome, younger cameraman RJ. JC finds it both surprising and humorous when readers ask where to find copies of the books Tory reads in his murder mystery. “They don’t exist. They’re all fictitious. I made them all up,” he said. When asked if he has the character or story figured out first when he creates a story, he responded, “It may sound gruesome, but I usually have the murder in mind first. I start with murder then work my way backwards. Depending on what’s going in the book, I try to determine what type of character might be interesting, might
learn something or be changed by these events.” Writing came naturally to JC. A voracious reader as a young child and actively involved in his high school
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newspaper, he always knew writing was the career he wanted to pursue. “I started reading at a very young age and loved mysteries, but my favorite books growing up was ‘Encyclopedia Brown.’” Dean Koonz, Mary Higgins Clark, and Steven King were influential on JC’s path to becoming a murder mystery writer. “My absolute favorite writer is Steve Alten who wrote ‘Meg,’ the shark movie that came out last summer. He was very influential,” he said. “Back in 90s, he was very supportive and responsive in nurturing other writers. I’ve very much always loved Steve Alten. He’s one of my favorites. I think I’ve read every one of his books.” Though JC’s characters are sometimes inspired by real people, once the story gets to a certain point, JC said that the character evolves and takes on his own life. “I’ve never had anyone read my book and go, hey is that about me?” He joked. The process from concept to completion averages 6 months to 8 months and book two in the series will
continue with the paranormal edge, delving into RJ’s past. Tori and RJ will have to solve a mystery involving his family. For now, JC is already entrenched in writing Darkness Hides, completely unrelated to his current series. It’s another murder mystery for Millford House. Set in Tampa, a Fish and Wildlife officer is tasked with solving murders as a hurricane looms in the Gulf. JC regularly attends book fairs and library events in the Tampa area and enjoys when the fans seek him out. “I love when students come back and say they read the last book and ask if I have a new one. They want autographs and pictures taken,” he paused and said. “It makes you really feel like a celebrity.” Find JC at 5th Annual On Point Book Fair at West Shore Mall on September 21st and the Tampa Bay Times Festival of Reading at the USF campus in St. Petersburg on November 9th. H_NGM_N: Murder is the Word is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Books a Million! Learn more about JC at http://jcgatlin.com.
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The Coming of Age of The Mak Brothers Band
The Odessa-based rock band hasn’t graduated high school, but they’ve evolved into an act worthy of recognition.
By J Pancia
The Mak Brothers Band might just have what it takes to fill the iGen rock ‘n’ roll supergroup void. For now, the young Odessa-based trio can be found at Tampa Bay live music venues. All three members share the same surname, Makrianes — hence the band name — and attend Sickles High School in Northwest Tampa. Frontman/ guitarist Ian is a senior; brother/bassist Aidan and cousin/drummer Evan are freshmen. Don Makrianes — the band’s manager and dad of Ian and Aidan — says that he and his brother fostered a love of rock ‘n’ roll while raising their sons. The Makrianes boys grew up to the sounds of The Boss, Tom Petty and Cheap Trick. Don took them to their first concert, Bruce Springsteen, in 2010. They got together as a band officially in 2011 but started lessons at the Rockatar Music Academy in 2012. “That’s how we were able to get small shows early on,” Ian recalls. Evan still takes lessons there. “We also volunteer there over the summer and help teach young kids how to play instruments,” he adds. According to Don, who works a day job at Tech Data, the boys were focused from the beginning and were on track to do some serious
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professional work with music. He effuses pride as he tells me how much they’ve progressed since starting out as a band. Likewise, Ian owes a lot to his father. “My dad grew up in Cape Cod and moved to Florida in high school and went to Clearwater Central Catholic,” he shares. “A lot of the music he likes, I heard at a young age and a lot of it I still listen to and take influence from today. I also show him a lot of new bands I enjoy; we like to share music with each other. We’ve also been to tons of concerts together.” Which bands had the most impact on them? “I used to be very influenced by punk bands like Green Day, but as time has gone on, I’ve found myself influenced the most by Brian Fallon of The Gaslight Anthem,” Ian says. Aidan says his early influences were Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers along with Green Day. “But now I’ve grown to look up to people along the likes of Kevin Grimmet from Hunny and Rich Meyer from Highly Suspect.” Evan digs the drummer for the Chainsmokers, Matt McGuire, the bands Hunny and The 1975. “I also love Social Distortion,” he adds. All three seem to have cherrypicked what works for them musically and are forming their own style and approach. Ian plays shimmery, melodically complex solos on his Gibson. Evan beats the skins with
power and precision, and Aidan plucks at his Rickenbacker bass with the nimble confidence of a true Macca Brother. As for songwriting, Ian writes the lyrics and the three collaborate on the arrangements. Sure, they started out like a lot of young bands by playing straightahead punk. While those roots are still there, they’ve injected their sound with stylistic touches that set them apart from generic three-chord rock bands. “A lot of the pedal-related things are from artists I listen to but the chords and solos are just things that I find sound — for lack of a better word — cool,” Ian says. “I don’t know much about music theory, so we all just kinda like to throw in different things that just sound cool to us and things that we think make songs sound fuller and more complete.” He mentions the bridge in one of their latest songs, “Tough” — “because it almost becomes a whole new song and smoothly transitions back into the original melody, and that took us a while — probably longer than it should’ve (laughs) — to write.” While they grew up part of the first generation raised with cellphones, the threesome gets the importance of promoting their music via social media but still find it challenging at times. “For us and many others, self-promo is a work in progress. I have no doubts that we’ve gotten much better at it, but
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it is definitely a skill you learn as time goes on because it’s hard to promote yourself without coming off as annoying, but I definitely think we have gotten much more comfortable with it and we’ll continue to grow.” Another challenge is those promo photos. Pics that are just a few months old can look outdated because they’re still growing — evident especially with Aidan and Evan., No matter, their sound comes out bigger than what you’d imagine looking at them. The last time I, personally, had a similar feeling of amazement, the Hat Trick Heroes rocked my world a decade ago with their ’70s-influenced hard rock. Also formed by brothers, they haven’t been actively playing gigs since 2014. Hopefully, these two siblings and a cousin will stick around a while. A gig at a recent multi-band showcase at Crowbar garnered the Mak Brothers enthusiastic applause, and many of the young adults in attendance were seeing them for the first time. “Something we always find special at gigs is when we are playing with other bands and their fans stay and watch us and get into the music and dance around because they don’t have to do that,” says Ian. “It means they genuinely enjoy our music and that makes us happy.” Another special experience: They played onstage for Cheap Trick at one of their sound checks in 2015. “A friend of my dad’s, who is a friend of the lead singer Robin Zander’s family, was able to get us passes to watch Cheap Trick’s soundcheck at the Capitol Theater in
Clearwater in 2015,” Ian reminisces. “So during the sound check, they had us come on stage and we played their hit “Surrender” for them! There’s actually a video of it on our Youtube Channel. “We’ve been able to talk to them a few other times and Robin Zander has given us some great advice.” What did Zander tell them three years ago? “He said that the most important thing we can do as a band is to constantly practice and to always stay together, and we’ve definitely lived by that for the past three years.” Given how far they’ve come, we look forward to where The Mak Brothers Band will be three years from now. Find out about the Mak Brothers Band’s upcoming shows at facebook.com/pg/mak.brothers.band.
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“Scrub-A-Dub” - Story continued from page 1
As well, those viruses, bacteria, molds and
mildew are no longer being transferred to the hands of the lucky resident who rolls the bins down to the street. When asked, Jennifer explained how she and her husband started Scrub-A-Dub, “I knew I wanted to start my own business, and we learned about the bin cleaning technology from pharmacy colleagues. We found a vendor who could equip our trucks with the bin cleaning machinery, and it was customized to our Scrub-A-Dub standards. I love making a difference; I love solving problems.” While the bin cleaning technology is not new in the United States, Scrub-A-Dub is the only provider in Northwest Hillsborough County and Southeast Pasco where they serve customers in Wesley Chapel, New Tampa, Carrollwood, Odessa, Lutz, and Land-o-Lakes. “After we learned about the technology, its health benefits, and its environmentally friendly nature, I told my husband, “We need to do this now!” Prevalent in the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada for over 20 years, the demand for bin cleaning is predicted to steadily grow in the United States. Jennifer described the Scrub-A-Dub services packaging when she exclaimed, “It’s such a clean model; no pun intended.”
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She explained that one-time services, annual maintenance, monthly, bi-monthly, and quarterly are available options. There are no service contracts, and service is provided to commercial businesses as well as residences. Considering the benefits, the service is very affordable, and satisfaction is guaranteed. Literally and figuratively, Jennifer Trudel is the person behind the wheel of Scrub-A-Dub; she drives the truck and provides the service. “I love my customers, and I love giving great customer service,” said Jennifer who further described her client interface, “I really enjoy meeting my customers who share how much they appreciate their cleaner and odor-free
trash bins. I love coming home and seeing the positive testimonials they leave on our website.” The Trudels’ business has doubled since opening Scrub-A-Dub in January 2018, “We have gone from 300 clients in 2018 to 620 clients in 2019, and we keep growing,” said Jennifer. When asked where they are getting new clients, Jennifer explained, “Often, it’s a neighbor of one of our clients. They see us cleaning their neighbor’s bin, and they decide to let us do the dirty work. I guess it’s like keeping up with the Joneses.” While cleaning trash bins is serious business, Jennifer Trudel explained that
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she wanted to make her business and her brand fun, so the two Scrub-A-Dub mascots have names and make regular appearances. Scrubby is a life-size, huggable character, while his little brother Sudsy makes appearances throughout the community when he is not riding alongside Jennifer in the truck. “I wanted the service to have a face, and I
wanted it to be fun,” said Trudel. Their motto is, “Grime is a crime!” Jennifer explained that the nasty water is disposed of at the end of the day, according to EPA guidelines. “We only use ecofriendly, biodegradable, disinfectants and deodorizers. Our trucks are entirely selfcontained so the dirty water generated from
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the cleaning process is reclaimed back into the truck. We leave no evidence that we have been there except your sanitized and deodorized bins.” To elaborate on their commitment to the environment, they have provided the following assurance on their website at www.scrubadubbincleaning.com, “From our specialized equipment, our environmentally conscious operation to our 100% biodegradable cleaning products, we pride ourselves in our “no effect on the environment” promise. Consistent with her decision to become a pharmacist, Jennifer Trudel is committed to making a difference in people’s lives and in their community through her new business with Scrub-A-Dub Bin Cleaning. With the environmentally friendly technology, affordability, and convenience of curbside service, there is no longer a reason for residents to clean their own trash bins. “And even if they wanted to take the time and go to the trouble, they would not be able to match our 200 degree sanitation service that removes 99.9% of germs,” said Jennifer. “After all, we provide a professional service.” For more information on Scrub-A-Dub Bin Cleaning or to schedule a service, call (844) 727-8229; e-mail info@scrubadubbins. com or visit their website at www. scrubadubbins.com
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Tech Talk with Bob - Avoid The Phish Bait! By Bob Dalles
More than 60-million people have been affected by identity theft. Every day over 150-million phishing emails are sent globally. About 80,000 people fall victim to these scams daily. More than 90-percent of cyber attacks begin with email phishing. Did you know that you have a 1 in 3 chance of being in a cyber attack? Phishing (pronounced “fishing”) is just one of the many ways cyber criminals can attack you. It is the most popular strategy used by criminals to trick you into voluntarily handing them your sensitive data and information. Phishing is a social engineering technique that relies on your familiarity and trust of a
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specific web site along with the cyber criminal’s hope you will quickly take action before thinking things through. Imagine this. You just woke up. You’re still tired and trying to get your day started. One of your morning rituals is to check email. You turn on your computer and while it is booting up you go pour yourself a cup of coffee. You plop down in front of your computer and look through your emails. While sipping your coffee you notice an email from your bank. You open it and it reads something like this. “Due to numerous unsuccessful online login attempts, your bank account has been frozen. To reinstate your account privileges, please click the “link” provided and
enter your username and password. You will not be able to access your funds until you complete this process.” The criminal hopes you will panic and quickly click the link. The link loads what looks like the login page of your bank’s web site. The login page looks legit because the criminal made an exact duplicate of your bank’s login page. The criminal is hoping you will click the link and enter your username and password without thinking twice. Once you submit your information to the fake login page --- BAM!!! --- the criminal now has what they need to access your bank account. You just took the “phish bait.” An even scarier part about this is you may not even
realize you have turned over access to your bank account until days, weeks, or even months later. Most criminals will act immediately and empty your bank account. Some might just monitor your deposits and withdrawals for a while and then grab your money at a later time when they know your account is likely to have more money
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in it. Remember, once they get your username and password they can access and manipulate your account whenever they feel like it without you even knowing. So, what do you do if you get, what looks like, a legitimate email from your bank or other business you deal with online? Before clicking any link, call the bank or business and ask them directly if they sent you the email. Best practices to minimize your risk at phishing attempts is to never click the link. If you need to go to your bank’s web site, type the web address into your web browser yourself. Never trust a link you receive in an email, especially if you are going to input any of your confidential information. Avoid becoming another cyber attack statistic. Don’t get hooked by the phish bait! (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.)
Never enter confidential information into any web site until you know the web site and your computer system is safe. 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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“Albert Family Orthodontics” - Continued from page 1 community and what he does
and another doctor may not have the same enthusiasm or passion. It is him alone dividing his time between his practice in Trinity and Palm Harbor. Imagine being so impressed with a dentist from your childhood that you follow in his footsteps? Dr. Albert, himself a braces patient, fell in love with dentistry in his teens and knew that was a career path he wanted to take. A huge fan of puzzles, Dr. Albert felt a similarity between doing a puzzle and perfecting a patient’s smile. While in dental school, he made the decision to focus on orthodontics. “I always liked puzzles as a little kid and that’s basically what orthodontics is – we’re trying to figure out how to get everything to fit together, discover where all the pieces go.” Dr. Albert has treated many orthodontic cases that are similar in their initial presentation, but is keenly aware that every patient’s treatment is a little different. “The patients bring their own dynamics to their treatment. Sometimes it’s not a direct path you are taking but constantly adjusting and accommodating corrections. Orthodontics is really a process of accessing and recalculating treatment each time the patient comes in. It’s not just about the initial appliances or aligners that go on the teeth, but how you use those appliances and adapt to their progress.” Albert Family Orthodontics treats children and adults, and new patient evaluations are always free of charge. The first consultation visit includes a thorough exam, a complimentary panoramic x-ray, and a discussion of potential treatment options
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and costs. Along with a low initial down payment, Albert Family Orthodontics offers no-interest, in-house financing, Care Credit, as well as accepts most insurance that includes orthodontics. Albert Family Orthodontics offers the most advanced technology to help his patients be able to see in threedimensional view a replica of their teeth. Out is the antiquated tray impressions or molds of teeth. Dr. Albert uses the iTero intraoral scanner to scan a patient’s mouth for braces, Invisalign, expanders and diagnostic study models. Not only does the 3-D scan show the current structure of the teeth but it can also produce a simulated outcome of what their teeth will look like after the completion of the expected treatment plan. Treatment time varies per each patient’s specific orthodontic problem, but in general, ranges from 6 to 24 months. The average timeframe a person is in braces or Invisalign is approximately 18 months. While braces do come both in classic silver and clear, most teens still opt for the silver and colorful bands, enjoying them as a trendy version of mouth jewelry. Millennials and adults tend to gravitate to Invisalign because of the convenience and minimal intrusiveness on their lifestyle. Dr. Albert notes however that more and more teens are choosing Invisalign as well for their comfort and versatility for their active lifestyles. “Invisalign is a series of clear trays that the patient wears for 1 week at time and we typically give them 8-12 trays each time they come in. They then progress through the trays in between the visits. We continually check them and ensure that they are fitting properly. Very small movements with each aligner, but over the
treatment time, it moves the teeth to where we want.” Addition of the AcceleDent appliance to Invisalign treatment can reduce length of treatment time by 30%. AcceleDent applies a gentle vibration that helps increase the bone and tooth remodeling process, which speeds the rate in which teeth can move. Based on recommendation by American Association of Orthodontists, Dr. Albert suggests initial orthodontic evaluation should occur at
the first sign of orthodontic problems or no later than age 7. At this early age, orthodontic treatment may not be necessary, but helps determine the best time to begin treatment. Through his success of this practice, Dr. Albert is proud to give back to his community. He sponsors local children’s sports teams, bands, and cheerleading throughout the year. He participates in the Smiles Change Lives charity by providing pro bono orthodontic services to low
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Albert Family Orthodontics has beautiful waiting room with TV’s, comfortable chairs, and a super cool, “old school” arcade machine with many games to keep you entertained while you wait!
income qualified families in the community annually. Through his church, Cypress Meadows Community Church, he visits Haiti and Kenya on dental mission trips to provide dental services to those who would otherwise go without. “The first time I went there, we had a how-to-take-careof-your-teeth talk and handed out toothbrushes. Later, they had a church meeting and all the kids were holding their toothbrushes,” he said. “I know if we’re not there helping them out, very likely no one is helping them out. It’s a pretty cool feeling to pay it forward, a lot of those kids never had something we as Americans take for granted – something as simple as a toothbrush.” Dr. Albert believes whether home or abroad, sharing your talents and gifts is important. “I personally feel that it is important to use your gifts and knowledge in ways that are not solely self-serving. There’s a balance between having a practice and giving back to the community and the world. Orthodontics is really one of the professions where
it still is really personal and not like ordering prescriptions online or going to a medical office where it’s a different nurse or doctor all the time,” he said. “I’ve value that I get to develop relationships with my patients and their families over time. I’m the only doctor that you or your child will see over the course of orthodontic treatment and that personal relationship is very important to me. That’s what I think sets my practice apart from most clinics, and with that continuity of care and supervision comes predictably excellent and efficient results.” Albert Family Orthodontics’ Trinity location is at Trinity Professional Place, 1806 Short Branch Drive, Suite #102 in Trinity (at the corner of Duck Slough and Trinity Blvds.) The Palm Harbor office is at 2445 Tampa Road, Suite A. For more information, please call 727-376-2770 (Trinity) and 727-781-7475 (Palm Harbor), Mon. – Fri., 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., or log on to www. albertfamilyortho.com.
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