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AUGUST 2018 3
4 AUGUST 2018
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NEW TAMPA TAMPA BAY NEWS & LIFESTYLES Publisher / Assistant Editor Matt Selby Email: matt@nnlflorida.com
Creative Director Carla Dubis Email: carla@nnlflorida.com
Editor Carla Dubis
General Manager Jim O'Reilly
Graphic Design Tony Sica
Advertising Sales Matt Selby Jim O'Reilly Julie Rinaldi Mike Bird
Billing Managers Doreen Selby Tina O'Reilly
Photography by Eric Bunch - NTP2 Photography Mike Bird
Office Mascots Marley, Ziggy, Zeus, Mr.Penelope (c) 2017 Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles. All Rights Reserved. New Tampa Lifestyles is published monthly and distributed by the U.S. Postal Service to over 22,000 Homes in New Tampa. Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles is not responsible for errors in advertisements beyond the cost of advertising space. Nothing that appears in this publication may be reproduced in any way without consent of the publisher.
August is traditionally the time for lazy days centered around swimming pools, ice cold drinks, backyard barbecues, baseball, trips to the beautiful Florida beaches and live music under the stars. A lot of parents are thinking about back-to-school sales while the kids are daydreaming about longer summers and Justin Bieber’s engagement being fake news. For me, August is a month in which I spend most of my time indoors. As someone with severe allergies to… well… everything, I tend to get sicker during this time and I am also constantly eaten alive by mosquitoes. And it seems I am not the only one. Recently, I received an email from Hillsborough County News, reporting that Hillsborough County Mosquito Management Services had been monitoring mosquito activities, and determined that mosquito populations have reached levels that threaten the public health, and there has been many incidents of mosquito-transmitted diseases reported in the area. Similar findings
and an excessive number of complaints about mosquitoes have been reported in other counties, including Pinellas and Pasco.
let me know what you think about the site and what kind of stories and content you’d like to see featured on there.
If it wasn’t for our friend Brandon, owner of Mosquito Hunters of Tampa Bay, I couldn’t spend more than 5 minutes on my own backyard without being eaten alive by those annoying little creatures. If you are having a mosquito problem, or if you want to avoid having one, please call Brandon at 813-609-8440 today! I promise you will not regret it.
Everything we do is for you, our readers… and through our print and online platforms we try really hard to support our community and its local businesses, as well as non-profit organizations and charities. So if there’s anything specific you’d like to read about, or a special organization that’s touching people’s lives and could use some support, please let me know!
I want to finish off by saying thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to every person that has reached out and provided some feedback on our brand new website; tbnewsandlifestyles. com. I’ve received several emails from our readers congratulating us, telling us how much they love our new look, and overall showing an incredible amount of support and understanding during this transition.
We also want to feature YOU… yes, you! If you’re a local artist, musician, performer, actor, or if you volunteer at any non-profit organization that you’d want to see feature in any of our 7 publications, we want to hear from you. So please feel free to reach out and let us share your story with the rest of the community.
I highly encourage everyone reading this editorial to email me directly at carla@ nnlflorida.com, and
I wish all of your kids a happy BackTo-School time, and as always, thank you for your support and readership. Carla Selby.
MacDonald Training Center (MTC) was founded in 1953 by J. Clifford MacDonald and a group of visionary parents of individuals with developmental disabilities. At a time when the only alternative to being sent to a state institution was to sit at home and do nothing, these individuals rejected both options and proceeded to create innovative educational, vocational and residential alternatives. Their efforts led to one of the first pre-schools in our nation for children with developmental disabilities. Mr. MacDonald received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1964 for his advocacy for people with disabilities. MTC has continued to be a leader and innovator in service to people with developmental disabilities for over sixty years. We were one of the first organizations to develop supported employment and supported living services as alternatives to sheltered workshops and traditional group homes.
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In 2002 we became the first organization in the state to close all of our group homes. All individuals to whom we currently provide residential services live in their own homes, regardless of their service needs. Today, MTC’s primary areas of service includes educational, vocational and residential supports for persons with disabilities. MTC day services includes vocational skills training and life enrichment activities from computer lab and fine arts instruction to recreational outreaches for people with developmental disabilities. Additionally MTC provides supported employment counseling and placement services for people with a wide variety of disabilities WHAT WE BELIEVE • We believe it is a privilege to serve individuals with disabilities. • We believe the people we serve are productive,
contributing and valued members of our community. • We believe the people we serve should be afforded opportunities to give back to their community. • We believe in real homes, not “home-like environments.” • We believe in real work, not “work-like environments.” MTC is an organization that envisions “people with disabilities leading the lives they choose.” Please help support the MacDonald Training Center by attending their fantastic and fun CASINO NIGHT on September 22nd at the Holiday Inn Tampa Westshore. Tickes are only $50 and they include complimentary hors d’oeuvres and complete access to all gaming tables. For more information on MTC visit: https:// macdonaldcenter.org/
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AUGUST 2018 7
8 AUGUST 2018
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AUGUST 2018 9
Save Money, Save The Planet, Go Solar Today! Act Now & Capitalize on the 30% Tax Credit! Florida is known as the “Sunshine State,” so why not take advantage of the fact you could power up your entire home with Solar Energy and highly reduce your carbon footprint, while improving your property value and cutting down those high energy costs? Solar is more affordable than ever before and people are starting to switch. The price of solar has fallen drastically over the last decade thanks to research into more efficient and cheaper ways to build solar panels. And since more people and big companies are investing in solar, (think Tesla, Amazon, Apple… just to name a few) the price comes down as the demand increases. An average family can save over $1,000 a year just by switching! And that’s not counting any extra energy their panels make that they can sell back to the power grid.
A Stimulus Package that WILL NOT LAST For a short time, you can access and utilize federal tax credits that can save you up to 30 percent of solar installation costs. You can finance your very own solar system with a solar loan, line of credit, or cash. Solar Professionals of Florida also offers different financing options for your solar panels as well. These allow you to make an investment with $0 down and start making money right away!
out the traditional electric bill just like if you bought the system upfront as well.
solar this year, but this incentive may not be around long!
The downside to all of this is that it’s not going to last. The big utility companies dislike the money they’re losing to solar energy and companies like ours, and the governm ent incentives will only last as long as their solar initiative.
When financed, the system is $0 down and you don’t pay a dime until after installation. Not everyone qualifies unfortunately. A 660 minimum credit score is required. If you do not know your credit score we could do a soft check for you during our initial appointment.
Other incentives are also available for qualifying circumstances that add attractiveness to an already winning concept.
Traditional electric companies jack up your rates an average of 4% each year! Over time, you could end up paying double for the same amount of electric consumption by staying on their grid. By going solar, and offsetting the utility company’s electric cost, you lock in a discounted monthly payment until the system is paid off and then never have to pay another payment for the equipment again! That’s right, you will get to own your electric producing equipment instead of just paying the electric company for power they produce and charge you for your consumption.
Why Choose Solar Professionals of Florida?
Here’s what you need to know: If you buy the system outright without utilizing the low financing option, your Solar Energy Package will offset your electric cost to net $0 annually and you will have no payments! On average, the financed payments are less than the homeowner is paying for traditional electric in month number 1, so most homeowners finance and keep more of their liquid cash in the bank. The system still net $0’s
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Our team of professionals has over 3 decades of experience in the industry, and pride themselves of having accomplished two great things: 1) Our team provides an end-to-end, seamless solution to homeowners, which includes; financing, planning, and everything else needed to get you off the ground and producing your own solar energy.
In addition to the tax credit, your home value can easily increase by $15,000 or more by going solar! Going Solar also helps our planet! This green, alternative energy utilizes the power of the sun to power your home. That’s it! How awesome is that? You’ll help save thousands of trees and save thousands of gallons of fuel over the course of your system life. Speaking of system life. Your panels are covered by a 25-year manufacturers warranty! With so many pros to going solar, it’s amazing we all haven’t made the switch already.
2) Solar Professionals of Florida utilizes only the highest-grade solar equipment and panels, proudly made in the USA, coupled with best of breed, local installers to insure quality throughout each project.
Join the thousands of Florida homeowners who have made the switch to Solar! Call us today for your free solar energy assessment and when you switch to solar with us, we will pay you $500!
Our team of experts takes your project from initial solar evaluation, to design and permitting, to install and on to energy production. The panels go up and your energy costs go down! It’s that easy! A 30% Federal tax credit of the total cost of the system is awarded to the homeowner for going
Call 813-750-7770 or visit us online at myspf.org for more information.
----Proud partners of Solar Homes. Lic No: CV-c056667 EC No: EC-13006510
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“Christina was amazing and set up our trip to Hawaii. I wasn’t even thinking of going, but when I saw the deal she posted in her Facebook travel page (Christina’s Travel Deals and Promos) and the savings... I was hook, line and sinker and off to the Islands we went. It was absolutely beautiful and I can’t wait to book my next trip with Christina.” L. Michelle Pentifallo First in Real Estate Services, Inc. Owner/Broker For Advertising Info 813-928-6124 I info@nnlflorida.com or visit tbnewsandlifestyles.com
AUGUST 2018 11
12 AUGUST 2018
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AUGUST 2018 13
Radiance Orthodontics Puts Smiles on New Tampa Kids, Teens and Adults If you ask a few of Dr. Sam Jureyda’s patients to describe their experience with him, you’ll quickly hear a common theme. They respect him and appreciate him because of his kindness and dedication to superior orthodontic treatment. You could say he makes them smile, while adjusting their teeth for the perfect smile. “I think the world of his practice and the work he’s doing for my daughter,” says Scott Nolan, whose 10-year-old, Josephine, has been treated at Radiance Orthodontics for nearly a year. “Dr. J is just done such a great job of helping her understand the process – and feel like she’s an important part of it.” Dr. J, as his patients call him, has spent more than 20 years practicing orthodontics. Before moving into private practice in 2006 – and subsequently opening Radiance Orthodontics about two years ago – he taught graduate level students at the University of Buffalo. As a former educator, he is dedicated to the students and teachers at schools in the local community. He is a business partner or contributor at most public schools in New Tampa. Chances are, if your elementary, middle or high school is having an event where business partners are welcome, you’ll see Dr. J and his team. “It is my honor and privilege to support the students and educators in New Tampa,” says Dr. J. “The children in our community are its future, and I am grateful to have the opportunity to be in partnership with the schools that are educating them.” Dr. Jureyda believes his own practice is improved by education, too. So he strives to stay at the cutting edge of orthodontics, offering his
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patients the latest treatments and methods for the most appropriate and most efficient orthodontic treatment available for each patient’s personal needs and situation. “Orthodontics is a dynamic specialty,” Dr. J says, “with new technologies and materials requiring a constant updating of clinical skills and practice protocols.”
Initial Consultation
Dr. Jureyda offers a completely free, no obligation consultation to any patient who is interested in learning more about orthodontic treatment, whether or not you have been referred to an orthodontist. The practice welcomes children, teenagers, and adults. Common issues Radiance Orthodontics treats include straightening and correcting
crowded teeth, overbite, underbite, missing teeth, or many other issues. In the interest of providing the most complete diagnosis and comprehensive exam, your free consultation and oral exam includes X-rays, along with a review of your dental and medical history. Dr. J and his staff will then work with you to create a customized treatment plan and discuss flexible financial options. Those options include a variety of braces, but not like you remember them! Today’s braces can be metal, clear or ceramic, and Dr. J can explain he many different options available to you during your free consultation. Another popular option is Invisalign, which uses invisible, removable, comfortable aligners to straighten teeth. The method is constantly improving and is
now so effective, it may work more quickly than traditional braces. If you’re not sure timing is right for orthodontic treatment because of an upcoming big event, such as a wedding or senior pictures, a free consultation is recommended. Dr. J can work with your individual situation to be sure you’re picture-perfect for your big day.
Our Patients, Our Friends
“We believe in building partnerships with each patient – educating, supporting and encouraging them. You are important to us as a person,” Dr. J explains. “We look forward to your visits as time spent with a friend. We hope you will feel the same.” Many of his patients say they agree. “He’s just a super-nice guy,”
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says Johnathan Donald, whose son, Braxton, has been a patient at Radiance Orthodontics for a little more than a year. “I think I’m a nice guy, but he blows me away,” Johnathan laughs. He says he believes Dr. J’s background as a professor influences how he treats his patients. “He comes at it not only as an orthodontist who has to run a business,” says Johnathan, “but also like a doctor teaching a student, spending time to determine what will be best for you.” Shelia Reed is another New Tampa parent who brings her daughter to Radiance Orthodontics. Shelia was concerned about her daughter, Jewel, and while her dentist said it was no rush to see an orthodontist, Shelia decided she had nothing to lose by taking advantage of the free consultation offered by Radiance Orthodontics. Dr. Jureyda prefers to take a proactive approach to treatment, rather than to wait until all teeth come in to deal with problems. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” Dr. J explains. “If there’s a problem, we can intercept and resolve it, and we don’t have to just accept the problem and wait.” Early intervention is typically simpler and smaller than a full treatment, and Dr. J won’t recommend unnecessary treatment. Dr. J’s approach has been a benefit to Shelia Reed and her daughter, Jewel. “When I explain to my closest friends or family, I say he’s a godsend,” she says. “He is the most amazing person in his field.” Shelia says Dr. J involves Jewel in her care, asking her to hold instruments and showing patience in explaining details directly to Jewel. “I feel like my daughter is his only patient,” she says. “I’m sure all of his patients feel like that, too. I really, genuinely trust him, and my daughter looks forward to seeing him.” Johnathan puts it this way: “Give him a chance,” he says. “Make an appointment and go in. I promise you will be rewarded. He is so good.” To read additional reviews about the practice, Google “Radiance Orthodontics,” where you’ll see that every review is a five-star rating. You can also search for Radiance Orthodontics on Facebook or Instagram for photos, giveaways, reviews, and more. For more information about Radiance Orthodontics, located at 17427 Bridge Hill Court, Suite A, in the Tampa Palms Professional Center, please visit www.MyRadianceBraces.com. To schedule your free consultation with X-rays, call Radiance Orthodontics at 813-972-1100. For Advertising Info 813-928-6124 I info@nnlflorida.com or visit tbnewsandlifestyles.com
AUGUST 2018 15
A brief history of world-class vision care Even as late as the 1960’s in the most medically advanced country in the world, the understanding of cataracts and their treatment would have been considered almost medieval compared with the medical knowledge and surgical practice of today. No one knew 1968 would prove to be a watershed year for the understanding and treatment of cataracts… including Dr. James P. Gills. A gifted physician, Dr. Gills had studied neurology but became intrigued by the inner workings of the eye and its medical issues. As a result he pursued ophthalmology and opened St. Luke’s Eye Clinic inTarpon Springs, Florida. By 1974, Dr. Gills was the first physician in the United States to dedicate his practice to the treatment of cataracts using intraocular lens implants. Initial reactions from his peers in the medical community was at best, mixed. Dr. Gills’ superior patient outcomes spoke so loudly that in a few short years, he was lauded as a “trail blazer” and one of the few true pioneers of modern surgical techniques for the treatment of cataracts. Dr. Gills and St. Luke’s had come of age. St. Luke’s innovations seemed to emerge almost daily, in medicines used within the eye, advances in anesthesia for the eye surgery, the development of micro-incisions, the use of ultrasonic vibration, computer guided lasers, and an on-site and purpose built surgical center, all of which revolutionized cataract surgery to the point we all recognize it today. St. Luke’s is without a doubt the most experienced cataract surgical center in the world.
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Today a cataract surgeon who performs perhaps hundreds of procedures a year might be considered an experienced cataract surgeon, a St. Luke’s surgeon may have performed thousands. Nothing delivers world class vision care like world class experience. Today, Dr. Pit Gills carries on the St. Luke’s tradition of an unmatched depth of experience and the commitment to innovation with over 40,000 surgical procedures performed, making him the most soughtafter cataract surgeon in Florida over the past seven years. Dr. Pit Gills leads a team of eye surgeons, ophthalmologists and optometrists at St. Luke’s including cataract surgeons Jeffrey Wipfli, MD and Brandon Rodriguez, MD. St. Luke’s Cataract & Laser Institute has not only seen patients from 77 countries, but has cared for more than three generations of Floridians for cataract and refractive surgery, retina diseases, glaucoma, hearing, dermatology and plastic surgery. Call today for a consultation 727-491-8283 or visit us at StLukesEye.com
Jeffrey Wipfli, MD consults with a cataract surgery patient.
Brandon Rodriguez, MD performing cataract surgery.
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AUGUST 2018 17
Garage Guru
What’s going on with my car?
Brought to you by Christian Brothers Automotive, New Tampa and Wesley Chapel
Don’t Ignore the Tire Pressure Warning Light! That light can help you avoid getting stranded with a flat and prevent ruining a perfectly good tire. Let me share the frantic call we got from a friend in the middle of her family road trip when the Tire Pressure light suddenly came on. Hello, this is Christian Brothers Automotive. How can we help you?
“Hi, oh great you’re there? This is Michelle. I’m so glad I got you. We’re in Mississippi now with another 800 miles to go and I’ve got three kids and a dog in the car and I’m so nervous. My tire pressure light suddenly came on and I pulled over on the side of the highway. All the tires looked normal so I drove to the next rest stop to call you. I know TPMS means something about my tire pressure but none of my tires look flat. Is my car safe? What should I do?” Three kids and a dog on a family road trip should be all the stress you need. I admire Michelle’s gumption. Now add a Tire Pressure light (TPMS) glaring at you from the dashboard and…well…enough is enough. So, here’s the rest of the story: I could hear how nervous she was and I wanted her to know that she did the right thing by pulling over to check her tires as soon as she felt safe when the TPMS light popped on. Since her tires looked normal and it was not far to the rest stop, it was good thinking to get to that safe place rather than staying on the side of the highway with the kids, the dog, and trucks whooshing by. Her next step was to call her road service. But, even though she had brought her car in to us for a road trip Inspection and only minor maintenance was needed, she hadn’t joined a road service program. If she had, road service would have come out to check her tires for pressure and punctures and change a flat if needed. A tire pressure gauge would check
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the pressure to see if one was low. If a tire is 5 pounds or more less than the other three, then it is a good bet there is a puncture --- but not always. Also, the proper tire pressure is listed on a sticker the manufacturer puts on the inside of the driver door sill or the inside edge of the driver door. She didn’t have a gauge but she said all the tires looked the same and she did not see any nails in her tires. Since the tires looked normal, she saw no nails, and the next town was less than 10 miles away, I advised her to drive there cautiously. But if the car started to feel “wobbly”, stop and check the tires again. Her luck held out and she made it to the next town where she called from a garage. The Technician found a screw in one tire and the pressure was a little low which set off her TPMS light, but not low enough yet to see an obvious difference. The puncture was fixed (about $25.00) and she was safely back on the road – three kids, a dog, and a tire safely holding air, all because Mom had been thoughtful, safe and courageous. “ TPMS” stands for Tire Pressure Monitoring System. TPMS sensors are about the size of your ignition key and are inside the tires, you can’t see them. They are attached to the valve stem which is where you put air into the tire, and are connected wirelessly to your car’s computer to monitor tire pressure. When tire pressure varies more than a few pounds, the computer sets the TPMS light on your dash. The light is usually the initials “TPMS” or can be a picture of a tire, or both. Not all cars have these systems but most modern cars do. Does anyone remember Service Stations? Flash back to the 50’s and 60’s. Service Station Attendants checked tires, oil and coolant, and washed our windows, all while pumping gas for us. If our tires were low, they alerted us. Too bad those days are gone. Today TPMS Sensors can provide that early warning, helping us to avoid
getting a flat and to be able to repair a punctured tire before ruining it by running on it with low pressure. A puncture is only one reason a TPMS light might come on. The warning light can come on when air in the tire heats up on long drives increasing tire pressure, or can change with the weather like decreasing on cold days. Also, TPMS sensors are powered by small batteries built into the sensor. Five to seven years is a common battery life. When the battery dies, the TPMS light often times will flash instead of shine steady. Our best advice is to pay attention to your Tire Pressure light. If it comes on, find a safe place to stop and look your tires to see if one seems low. Or check the pressure if you have a gauge. If one looks low or the gauge reading finds one tire 5 pounds less than the others, do not drive on it. Call your road service or your trusted garage to come change your tire. Or, find the lug wrench and get ready to be sweaty because you will need to replace your flat tire with your spare. We are eager to hear about your car concerns. Is your car acting up or have you wondered about how some part of your car works? Drop us a note at: Marty.labarbera@cbauto.net, and we will offer our honest opinion. Christian Brothers Automotive, where we care for your family by caring for your family car.
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