Vol. 10, Issue 12, December 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
Trinity Family Physicians Provides Personalized Care to Patients
By Deborah Bostock-Kelley
“Let Our Family Care for Yours” is the motto of Trinity Family Physicians founded by the husband and wife team of board-certified family physicians, Dr. Stephanie Eldridge and Dr. Amir Shirmohammad (Dr. Shirmo). The private practice has been serving elementary schoolers to senior citizens in Trinity and its outer lying areas since 2007. The couple follows the belief that each patient should be treated the same way they would take care of their own family. Recently expanded, Dr. Eldridge and Dr. Shirmo are excited about the coming new year and are accepting new patients See “Trinity Family Physicians” on page 24
Divine Connections Massage and Spa: Try The Divine Difference This Holiday Season By Morgan Fliss Sisters Mercy Terrill and Maggie Malast opened Divine Connections Massage and Spa with the vision to “be the leader in therapeutic and medical-grade massage therapy in the Tampa Bay area.” Their establishment --nestled in the Lutz/ Land O’ Lakes/Northdale area-- has been thriving as a part of the community for
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: From The Editor......................5 Bella Home Market................6-7 Tech Talk With Bob............10-11 SAT & ACT Improvement...14-15 Bleakley Bavol Denman & Grace................................20-21
See “Divine Connections” on page 28
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Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year 2020! It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…. oops, is that even allowed to be said anymore? As the holiday season approaches, greetings and salutations tend to take a festive tone. In an effort to be more inclusive, many people have opted to say “Happy Holidays” over “Merry Christmas”. I choose to continue to wish everyone I know, and even strangers on the street, a Merry Christmas and that isn’t meant to offend anyone. Whether you’re Catholic, Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Protestant, Atheist, Buddhist, etc., if you hear the words “Merry Christmas” this season, please understand, it’s expressed with happiness and compassion. This person is not trying to ruin your day or hurt you with two mere words. In fact, they are only trying to brighten your day with kindness and a friendly greeting. It is impossible for a complete stranger to know what specific holiday you celebrate or if you
even if you celebrate at all. When someone you don’t know turns to you and wishes you a “Merry Christmas,” one way you can respond is by simply saying thank you and Merry Christmas to you as well. Or, if you feel so inclined and willing, let them know you don’t celebrate Christmas and/or bring up your specific holiday if applicable. Let’s try to be thankful for the sincere joyful wishes and take this exchange as a teaching moment to share more about your holidays, religion or culture. Who knows, the friendly conversation and exchange of warm words could be the difference someone needs in their day. With that said, I hope you all have a wonderful time during the Holidays, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2020. We have plenty of wonderful businesses within the pages of all 5 of our publications that have many spectaular gift ideas and great offers for you to choose from! Thank you all so much for your readership and support through yet another year. See you in 2020!
Carla Selby.
Bella Home Market is Renovated and Ready for the Holidays! Jim and Lou are proud to announce the purchase and renovation of Bella Home Market in Lutz. We are excited to welcome back our existing customers and invite those who haven’t shopped with us before to stop by and see our expanded offerings of home décor, gifts, jewelry and chalk mineral paints. Want to give your home that “wow” factor? Bella Home Market features unique new, vintage
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and repurposed home decor for those who desire something not found at the big box stores. Tables, lamps, wall art, mirrors, clocks, florals, sconces and accent pieces are just a few of the home decor items you will find to put those final touches
on your home design. Looking for that gift for the person who has everything? We pride ourselves in carrying an array of clever gift ideas. We offer several lines of affordable, yet stylish jewelry; bar accessories; kitchen wares; bath products; candles and small collectables! Bella Home Market is pleased to showcase distinctive items created by local artisans including Tres Monkey soaps and scrubs, Cutie and Noodle greeting
cards and Vicki Hudson jewelry. We are also proud to announce that we are now a Premier Retailer of Pasco county’s own Dixie Belle Paint Company, an extremely popular line of chalk mineral paint for the do-it-yourselfer. This easy-to-use paint can be used on a variety of different surfaces with little to no prep work. Our paints and supplies are restocked weekly with the entire line of Dixie Belle Paint products. Also, on
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for that special gift or need Dixie Belle Paint for your next restoration project, come and see us at Bella Home Market.
display are examples of some of the amazing transformations that
can be accomplished with a little paint and a lot of imagination.
Whether you desire to make your home dĂŠcor pop, are looking
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Bella Home Market is located at 1532 Land O Lakes Blvd in Lutz, next to the Breakfast Nook in the Tropical Village Shopping Plaza on Highway 41, just south of the intersection with Highway 54. For a look inside our store, visit us online at BellaHomeMarket. com or Facebook.com/ BellaHomeMarket.
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DECEMBER 2019 9
Tech Talk with Bob: Farewell Windows 7 ..Continued I thought I was finished writing about Windows 7 in last month’s issue, however, since it was published I have been receiving lots of phone calls with even more questions. If you or someone you know is currently running Windows 7 on their computer, you may have some of these same concerns. Will my Windows 7 computer stop working in January 2020? No. I have been getting a lot of calls about this. If you are running Windows 7 your computer is not going to suddenly stop working in January. Your computer will continue to function just as it does today. The exception being that after January 14, if you use Windows 7 and are connected
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to the internet, you will become an easier target for cyber criminals. Will I be able to move
my pictures and other documents from my Windows 7 computer to a new computer? You sure
can. A new computer is not much fun if you can not have your pictures and other stuff on it. If you are familiar with, and comfortable utilizing, external storage devices and manipulating file systems, you should have no problem moving your stuff onto your new computer. Do I need to buy a new computer or can I upgrade what I have? That depends on the capabilities of your current system. I highly recommend that you sit down with a knowledgeable professional to help you navigate through your Information Technology (IT) situation. To make a well-informed decision, you need to look not only at the computer hardware itself,
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but the software you run, your network’s configuration, and peripheral devices like scanners and printers, to see if they are also going to make the transition into Windows 10 smoothly. A good tech can help you assess your system in less than an hour. If your computer is suitable for a Windows 10 upgrade, my tech can walk you through the software purchase directly with Microsoft. Then they can download and install it for you right on the spot. If that’s what you need. If you determine that purchasing a new computer is the proper direction for you, my tech can help you shop online or at local stores to make your purchase. Want to know a secret? Techs know where the deals are. My techs have found clients computer systems for less than $200.00.
Unfortunately, I do not have the space to go into more detail here. So what I have done is written a checklist to help guide you through the Windows 7 phaseout. If you would like to get a FREE copy give me a call at 727-534-4000 and I will get that right out to you. I would also like to give a Big Thank You to all of my Clients and Readers. Your loyalty and continued support throughout the years is greatly appreciated. Please be sure to take the time to be grateful for what you have and cherish your time with family and friends. My wonderfully supportive family and incredible staff wish you and your loved ones Happy Holidays and a Healthy, Safe, and Secure New Year!
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SAT AND ACT IMPROVEMENT: PLEASANT SURPRISE Dr. Wayne Adams NEXT EXAM DATES … The remaining fall exam dates are SAT: December 7; ACT: December 14. The first test dates in 2020 are ACT: February 8, and SAT: March 14. The remaining dates for the spring are SAT: May 2, and June 6; ACT: April 4 and June 13. For seniors, Bright Futures will accept SAT and/or ACT Scores from the last exams in June to qualify for scholarships next fall. Many students like to do some preparations over the Christmas Holidays when they are relative free of normal school requirements and get a head-start for spring. Tutoring over years has produced some very pleasant surprises along the way. In many ways they are “gifts” from my many students. When I began, and for every student since the first, I have always asked this question at the
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end of the first class, “What surprised you the most from this class?” Here are some of the typical answers: “How much I learned.” “How fast the time went by.” “That I could remember so much on the vocabulary review.” “This wasn’t boring.” “That it is so different from any other type of class I have ever had.” “You are so easy to work with.” Over the years, I have kept asking, “How can I help my students do even better on these exams? … and “How can I help my students and their families have their best possible futures?” The first part has meant continually trying new approaches and adopting those that work well. Not long ago, I created a special practice instruction with the toughest math questions I could find, along with the answers, for the SAT and a separate one for the
ACT. The results have been spectacular, often with students jumping another 30 – 50 points on the SAT and another 2+ points on the ACT from their previous “bests” in class. Recently, I built on this with a “step by step” math guide for every aspect of these math tests using “hyper-notes” and memory aids. Many of my students come lacking some math foundations, usually
built in the 6th – 8th grade, that hamper their speed and accuracy. Others simply need a “rapid review” because their math studies now really aren’t aimed at the SAT and/or the ACT. Again, the initial results have been excellent. Yet, to me, the most important gifts are when I hear from students and parents after they have taken the exam(s). Here are a few examples:
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Thank you, thank you Dr. A. Without you, I couldn’t have done it. I qualified for Bright Futures and now can go to college. Thank you with all of my heart.” (Student from Sickles HS) I wasn’t sure how much you could help when we started because my SAT was already so high. Went up another 150 points to a 1530. Also got a 34 on my ACT. Thank you so much. (Student from Berkley HS) As a top student in the IB program, I could not understand why I couldn’t break 1100 on the SAT and 23 on the ACT. Your classes showed me so many amazing ways to improve, and inspired me to really excel. How do a 1410 and 31 sound? Wow. (Student from Central Catholic HS) After failing the FCAT and being told I would not graduate with my class, you were my last hope. I tried the ACT before and scored a 14. Took the ACT again in April as my last chance and got a 20. I am going to
walk with my class! You found a way. (Student from East Lake HS) My girlfriend went to Julliard, and I had the performance skills and grades to go the next year. But my SAT score was way too low. After your class, it really went up and now I am going to Julliard. Thanks, Dr. A. (Student from Tarpon Springs HS) Over the years, I have helped many students from many high schools in the Tampa Bay area: Berkley, East Lake, Central Catholic, Mitchell, Tarpon Springs, Sickles, Calvary Christian, Countryside, Dunedin, St. Petersburg, Seminole, Clearwater, Farragut, Jesuit, Academy of Holy Names, Palm Harbor University, Gibbs, River Ridge, Bishop McLaughlin, and Land O’Lakes. And each of my students/ parents receive a copy of the following books I have written: How to Write College Application Essays Colleges Will Love, Negotiating With
Colleges (that has saved my students and families from $1,000 to $10,000 in annual college costs), How To Survive And Thrive Your First Semester At A Secular College, and Dream Colleges And Universities: Top 25, 5 More, And Top 5 In Florida. If you would like to talk with my further about your student and my classes, please contact me at 727253-0639 or at wwa0811@ mykolab.com. Dr. Wayne Adams is one of the leading SAT and ACT tutors in the country. His students normally improve 200 – 350 points on the Writing, Reading, and Math, and 4 – 7 points on the ACT composite. They have been admitted to all 5 of the Top 5 universities in the country, 9 of the top 10 universities in the country, 18 of the top twenty-five, most service academies, and many schools in Florida. These schools include Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Stanford,
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U Chicago, Duke, U Penn, Johns Hopkins, Cornell, Notre Dame, Emory, UC Berkley, UCLA, USC, UNC (Chapel Hill), University of Virginia (honors), NYU, Northeastern (Boston), Boston College, Georgia Tech, Air Force, Naval, and Merchant Marine Service Academies, Penn State, Purdue, Ohio State, LSU, Auburn, UF (honors and regular admissions), U Miami, FSU, USF, UCF, Florida Atlantic, Florida Gulf Coast, FIU, New College of Florida, Stetson, and Julliard – Manhattan - New England - Berklee Conservatories of Music. Many have received academic, athletic, or music scholarships. He has also tutored three national merit finalists. 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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Bleakley Bavol Denman & Grace Settle into New 28,000 Square Feet Corporate Law Office By Deborah Bostock-Kelley Conveniently located on Florida Avenue, just off the interchange of Interstate 275, is a 28,000 square feet behemoth, a masterpiece of architecture. Listed as an Omni Award-winner for best structure and design in the Southeast on Loopnet.com, its private lakefront property was built in 1994. For ten years, the impressive structure was the lavish corporate headquarters for NCO Financial. When NCO vacated in 2004, it sat abandoned for 15 years, subsequently fell into disrepair until Robert W. Bleakley, managing partner of Bleakley Bavol Denman and Grace, had the vision to relocate the expanding law firm to its sprawling space. Once the idea was set into motion, Robert and his partners Chuck Bavol, Ron Denman, and Robert Grace, worked with architect Chris Osborn, general contractor CSI, and Kristen McKinlay and Melanie Rose, owners of the luxury interior design firm McKinlay Rose Interiors, to bring his concept to fruition. Over the course of a year, they performed interior and exterior renovations throughout the property, transforming a dated stone and wood setting into a chic, modern, minimal glass and steel workspace in shades of grey, blue and white, for 20 attorneys and their staff. Today, the spectacular
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entryway boasts a stunning atrium with two colossal stainless steel water features, a circular reception desk, reception seating, tables for meetings, and a 20-foot screen, in an space large enough to host hundreds of people for parties, corporate training, continuing education, community events, and even weddings and receptions. In fact, just a few weeks after moving in, the firm hosted the annual banquette for North Tampa Young Life, and event attended by approximately 150. The firm is in the process of organizing its Holiday Open House, with the legendary “Black Honkey’s”, a local 9 member band performing in the atrium. The acoustics are so impressive that the group requested to use the space for future performances.“The guy came in here to look at the acoustic situation, discovered it was great and asked if I minded if he told others about our atrium.” The firm had been slowly transitioning to going completely paperless, but some lawyers move faster than others. Robert used the move to force some of the firm’s slower evolving teams to make the paperless transition once and for all. Robert chose not to move any file cabinets to the new location. “The move forced us to
rip the bandaid off and go paperless,” he explained. “From a legal pad and redwell paper files to a
laptop with a thumb drive is a really hard transition for some of our attorneys, but we must get with the
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times. As of today, everyone is running in a paperless fashion.” Though Robert could have selected any location for his firm, he chose the Florida Avenue location for its proximity to provide excellent legal counsel to Carrollwood, North Tampa, and South Pasco residents and busiensses, saving them the drive downtown to find full-service “AV” rated law firm, the highest possible rating on Martindale Hubbell’s lawyer rating system. With the new location comes expanded capabilities in trusted legal solutions. Whether business or personal legal assistance is needed, Bleakley Bavol Denman and Grace is ready to help their clients with
Business and Corporate Law, Commercial Litigation, Construction Litigation, Drug and Medical Device Liability, Employment Practice, Estate Planning and Probate, General and Premises Liability Claims, Insurance Defense, Product Liability, Professional Liability Defense, Sports Law, Trademark and Copyright Litigation, Trucking, Cargo, and Automobile Liability Claims, Workers’ Compensation Defense, and Appellate Practice. “Between Bush Ross and Macon Georgia, we are probably the biggest firm traveling up the 75. You have to go all the way to Georgia to find a larger firm. This is an opportunity for us to serve with businesses,
families, and partnerships that are in the growing markets of North Tampa, Pasco, and Hernando counties and beyond. We are unique in that a firm of our resources are located in their neighborhood. They can hire a Tampa mid-sized firm, with credentials and resources, and experienced trial and transactional lawyers without having to go downtown.” Bleakley Bavol Denman and Grace prides itself in providing the personalized benefits of a boutique firm combined with the substantial experience of 20 attorneys. (Robert believes the firm will add five more attorneys over the next two – three years). When it comes to excellent client service and transparency, the firm places the burden of proof on itself. “We place the burden of proof on ourselves daily. That means that we have to – not just say it or write it – but we have to prove that we put our clients’ interests first from the minute that we’re assigned a case,” Robert explained. “You’re going to hire me, but before you pay me a dollar, let me see if I can get this resolved. We tell clients how the trial process works, like when you think you are going to trial; you are really on a list on sometimes 50 other cases set for trial that period. It might take several rollovers, depending on what type of court you are in. We are honest and tell our clients that, yes, there is a cost to that. When we
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have the opportunity to get rid of the case, resolve the problem, if possible, before they even hire us or right after, we look for those opportunities in every step of the case, is there any way to get rid of this on our client’s terms? Proving we put our clients’ interest first is something we seek to make cultural in our firm, from the time we hire a new attorney, through our firm meeting, and in our mentoring sessions with our younger lawyers, we stress that we must prove ourselves daily to our clients.” Robert is excited about the opportunities the new space affords. “This is a place for our community, a home for our present and future attorneys and staff, and firm and a place we hope will be home to other experienced laywers seeking to make a lateral move for their own families and clients. This is a place that we want to work for the rest of our careers and hope the space will be an asset allowing us to continue attracting talented lawyers and staff to our firm.” Bleakley Bavol Denman and Grace is located at 15316 North Florida Avenue in Tampa. The firm is open from 8:30 a.m. – 5.30 p.m. Monday through Friday, with appointment times available outside regular office hours. For more information, to schedule a consultation or ask about renting the atrium space, please call (813) 221-3759 or visit www.bbdglaw.com. DECEMBER 2019 21
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“Trinity Family Physicians”
story continued from page 1. under their care. As part of their expansion, Trinity Family Physicians has brought on two Physician Assistants. Rachel Azzarelli and Ian Simpson have been accepted with open arms by patients of the doctors. Under their supervision, the pair have quickly become part of the practice family. “Their training and previous experience, coupled with their bedside manner, communication, and time spent with patients, has made them so well-received. In a short period, they already feel like family,” said Dr. Shirmo. “Their family and friends followed them to our practice. That’s a testament to who they are and how much they are trusted.”
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At Trinity Family Physicians, expert care is coupled with attentive physicians. As they own the practice, no one is forcing the doctors to move quickly from one patient to the next, to keep a corporate timetable. Dr. Eldridge and Dr. Shirmo, as well as their Physicians Assistants, are known for actually listening to their patients’ concerns, spending the type of quality time that other doctor’s offices sorely lack. From acne, diabetes management, immunizations, menstrual issues, postpartum depression, skin cancer screenings and treatment, and wrinkles, Trinity Family Physicians literally has a
patient covered, A to Z. A list a half of page long on their website showcases the vast number of issues they treat. The practice even offers nutrition counseling for patients seeking to lose weight. “We can help them change their lifestyle, along with eating the right diet, being more active, and taking the right supplements,” said Dr. Shirmo. “That is incorporated into care for other issues like diabetes. Nutrition counseling would be part of that treatment and covered by insurance. Most people think they have to see a weight loss doctor who will give you shortterm results. We’re looking for permanent long-term results, and changing your lifestyle is the way to do it.”
In addition, it is the fact that they care and how they care for their patients that makes all the difference. Sometimes, a home-bound patient or a patient with an incredibly demanding schedule still needs to see a doctor. Trinity Family Physicians makes a previously impossible option, a convenient and straightforward process. The doctors offer superior care to established patients through a new, state-of-the-art televisit service. The virtual appointment is as simple as downloading an app, scheduling tele-appointment and connecting with the doctors via laptop, desktop, or smart device. Not all appointments require an in-office visit. Follow-ups, blood test
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Physician Assistants Rachel Azzarelli (left) and Ian Simpson (right) keep the continuity of care in top notch form and lend thier compassion, expertise and experience to the practice.
results, medication followups, diabetes management, follow-up nutrition counseling, and other non-urgent established patient care can be quickly addressed from the comfort of the patient’s home or office. Any prescriptions and labwork needed can be sent electronically. As long as it is a private setting with a WIFI signal, a patient can have an appointment anywhere that is quiet and convenient for them, even in their car during a lunch break or a child’s sports event. “About 15 minutes prior to their appointment, they would login and fill out the appropriate paperwork, and they would be in cue to be seen by the provider. The doctor logs in and sees them through their device of choice. We can see them and talk to them and have a face to face conversation,” said Dr. Shirmo. “What’s nice about this is you can see the facial expressions of the patient. This allows us
to connect with the human being on the other side.” The response to the tele-appointments has been overwhelmingly positive. One hundred percent of patients polled that have used the service would use it again. It has allowed patients who were not exceptionally punctual in returning appointments to be more attentive to their personal healthcare. “Compliance rates and satisfaction is higher. There are not many times that 100 percent of the people agree 100 percent,” said Dr. Eldridge. Dr. Shirmo explained tele-visits eliminate busy patients going to a walkin clinic where the doctor doesn’t know him or his history. “Who better than to take care of you than your own doctor?” asked Dr. Eldridge. “We know you. We have a history together. So who better to do a televisit than with us?”
Expanded service hours also help to accommodate the busy schedules of their patients. Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday and 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday. The doctors recommend calling early for extended hour appointments, as they tend to fill quickly. Just like families help one another, the doctors regularly support the community they work in through participation in local charities. When asked what makes a good day, the doctors did not hesitate in their response. “Every day, I know I’ve had a good day because when I can leave the practice and go home, I know that I can go to bed, knowing that
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I’ve done all that I can for my patients,” said Dr. Shirmo. Dr. Eldridge added, “You know you’ve had a good day when you’ve been able to do God’s work and help people through their toughest times, get them through struggles and illness. That always feels good.” Trinity Family Physicians is located at the corner of Trinity Blvd. and Duck Slough Blvd. at 1817 Cypress Brook Dr., Suite 101 in Trinity. The hours are Mon-Thurs 8:00-6:00 p.m., Friday 8:00-5:00 p.m. For more information, call (727) 834-8377 or visit their Facebook page or website at www. trinityfamilyphysicians. com.
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“Divine Connections” Story continued from page 1 just over four years now. Their backstory is a unique one. The sisters’ love for massage therapy began when they both were injured and used this type of therapy for rehabilitation. Maggie is a licensed Massage Therapist and Esthetician who graduated from Florida State University and the Sunstate Academy in Clearwater. She has over a decade of work experience in massage therapy and chiropractic care. Mercy was born with an eye disorder called Aniridia, and because of that is legally blind. She has used her hands as her sense of vision since birth, making her a natural at
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massage therapy. After almost completely severing her spine in college, she experienced healing through massage therapy and holistic medicine. Later in life, she returned to massage school and graduated from Sunstate Academy as well. “This is what I wanted to do. I wanted to pass forward the gift and the blessing that I was given,” Mercy said. Divine Connections, located on Van Dyke Road near the Veterans Expressway, is open 7 days a week and has an array of unique aspects to their Spa. For one, they never cut out any hands-on time from the session length. Also,
there are no contracts or monthly programs. Instead, they offer discounted packages that are always shareable and never expire. Lastly, each massage is personalized to the individual, with no extra charge in modalities such as deep tissue or trigger point
therapy. The biggest differentiator about Divine Connections is their emphasis on medical-grade therapy. Many of their clients are those suffering from car accident injuries, frozen shoulder pain, lack in range of motion, and the
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like. Other clients that commonly come in for therapeutic results include professional athletes, marathon and triathlon runners, or just anyone looking to relieve pain, including strains from a desk job. “We want to make sure that people understand that the importance of massage is not for luxury, but rather for health treatment that helps the body. [Massage therapists] are a tool to help the body achieve health and wellness,” Mercy said. Some services at Divine Connections are rare to find at other local spas. Last year they introduced CBD upgrades, which has become by far their most popular massage enhancement. Up to 100mg of Cannabis is used as a muscle relaxant to reduce soreness. It maximizes the therapeutic benefits of massage while acting as an antiinflammatory. They have an entire page on their website dedicated to shedding light and information on this upand-coming product in the massage industry. Another unique service of Divine Connections is the Far Infrared Therapy Bio-Mat. Far Infrared light and Negative Ions are conducted through Amethyst Crystals in the mat. Aside from its soothing warmth, it’s been proven to enhance sleep quality and strengthen the immune system. Clients can try their first 30-minute session for free. Many choose to regularly upgrade their massage to be on the Bio-Mat for maximum benefits. Divine Connections also offers a wide variety of facial and skin care services to correct pigmentation, aging, blemishing and more. Between their hand-selected skin care brand, Elixir of Life, and the $10 upgrades to add microdermabrasion or chemical peels, their Facial Corrections Series aims to give clients their best, tailored
results. Some other available skincare services include lash perming, lash and brow tinting, and waxing. The sisters’ vision is for the spa to grow into a wellness center and provide more holistic services within the medical field. “We want to have a one-stop-shop here in this area,” Mercy said. Not only that, but they wish to provide these services at an affordable rate without compromising the value of its quality. “The divine difference is that we don’t do memberships or contracts. We do all modalities and we don’t charge extra for that,” Mercy explained. The most popular deal offered by Divine Connections is their Buy-3-Get-1-Free massage packages. Their most popular package is for 60-minute massages, however, the same package is available for 30, 45, 90, and 120-minute massage sessions. For example, clients can purchase four 60-minute massages for the price of three, making each 60-minute massage an average of only $52.50, way less than the average price of a medical-massage. It’s perfect for the holiday season since all packages are shareable via gift certificate and never expire! If you want to give Divine Connections a try before getting a package, they now offer a new Intro Special at $59.95 for any new client’s first 60-minute massage. As a local family-owned business, Divine Connections is also dedicated to giving back to the community. They always offer a 20% discount on regularly priced services to all first responders, teachers, medical personnel, and active/retired military personnel. “We love these people to come in because we appreciate their service to our community. We know they sometimes don’t get thanked for what they do, so we make sure to recognize them by honoring them with a discount.” Divine Connections has continued to get outstanding reviews averaging 4.9 stars out of 5 on Google reviews. Previous clients have said that the spa is “by far the best” and has “amazing and professional service.” Many reviewers continually recommend the spa to others and compliment how relaxing and comfortable the environment is. As the holiday rapidly approaches, Divine Connections is offering a seasonal special for the entire month of December. Get a $150 gift certificate at a 15% discount, bringing the total to $127.50. Or try their year-round staple: the $99 Rejuvenation Package, which includes a 60-minute massage, a 30-minute facial, and 30 minutes on the Far Infrared Therapy BioMat. Call or stop in to make an appointment and start your Divine experience today! Divine Connections Massage and Spa is located at 6052 Van Dyke Rd, Lutz, FL 33558. Phone: (813) 4022959 Visit them online at DivineConnectionsMassage.com.
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