Vol. 8, Issue 12, December 2017
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Your community. Your magazine.
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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, Stillwater, Stonegate, Suncoast Crossings, Suncoast Meadows, Swan Cove, Van Dyke Estates, Van Dyke Farms, Villa Rosa, Wyndham Lakes
Heartwood Preserve: Choose a Final Resting Place to Nourish and Protect Natural Florida By Kim Thomas Walking along the pathways of Heartwood Preserve, you’ll find a completely natural landscape. It’s far enough from major roadways that if you are quiet and still – you hear nothing but the sounds of nature. Open to the public, Heartwood Preserve offers walking trails, birdwatching opportunities and tranquility. Much more than that, Heartwood Preserve contains one of only two conservation cemeteries in Florida. For many, the idea of a
completely green burial is appealing. There is no embalming and the caskets or shrouds are simple and perishable. Everything is completely organic and returns to the earth naturally. Choosing a green burial at Heartwood Preserve enables one to nourish nature rather than occupy space in a conventional cemetery. Located in Trinity, just on Starkey Boulevard, Heartwood Preserve Conservation Cemetery opened early November 2016 and was founded by Laura Starkey, who is carrying on a family legacy. Laura’s paternal See “Heartwood” on page 28.
K and K Parrot Supplies:
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Everything Your Feathered Friend Needs
From the Editor Carla Selby......3
and K Parrot Supplies owners Kathy and Karen are a wealth of knowledge. They owned a breeding aviary in Delaware for 10 years before entering the pet supply business but even before that Kathy was in love with birds. “My first pet bird was a cockatiel. After that, the birds I kept as pets got bigger and bigger.” Kathy now owns three parrots and is happy to share her expertise from years as a pet bird owner and breeder. One area where she sees some misconceptions among pet bird owners is when it comes to food. “The quality of bird food has become so much better than it was
Bleakley Bavol Law Firm.....6-7 The Hen House...................10 BHHS Donation Station......12 Tech Talk with Bob........14-15 A Necessary Conversation.....18-19 SAT Exam Changes.........20-21 Grout Tech.....................24-25 Tech Talk with Bob....................26
Postal Customer
ECRWSS
See “Parrot” on page 26.
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID TAMPA FL PERMIT 1185
K and K Parrot Supplies recently opened a new retail store at 4608 Land O’ Lakes Boulevard. For more than 13 years the online retailer has been providing bird owners and lovers with high quality toys, food, and accessories at competitive prices and now, with their brick and mortar location, they are able to serve their customers and their birds even better and continuing to live up to their slogan to provide feathered friends with everything they need to live happy, healthy lives. If you are a new bird owner, K
Morgan Stanley-Brent Hulling...4-5
Dated Material Please Rush!
By Marcy Sanford
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Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles
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From The Editor Carla Selby
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Tampa Bay News and Lifestyles Holidays are many things to many people. For some, the primary function of a holiday is its religious significance. It is a time when specific spiritual opportunities are available to experience. For others Holidays are opportunities for friends and relatives to get together and celebrate life. Most people get a few days off during the Holidays so there is an opportunity to renew family bonds or spend time with good friends. Relatives that you haven't seen in a while join together with you to celebrate the family that you belong too. Our lives have become so hectic and stressful that we spend way too little time with the people we love. This causes all sorts of health
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problems, both emotional and physical. When I was very young I used to hear adults talk about "stress" all the time, and it seemed like a "fake" disease or an excuse for people to get together and complain about work and other responsibilities. Now that I am in my 30s and I am dealing with "adulthood" and all its glory, I can attest that stress is one of the most unpleasant things I have ever dealt with. What it does to our bodies AND our hearts, it's a scary thing. We all need some time to cool off, to step away from our daily worries and to decompress… and the Holidays are the perfect time to do that, and to really worry about what's important in life. I encourage you to remember that this time
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should be used in ways that above all, give you peace and happiness. Remember that Christmas is not in the size of the tree in your house, or even the amount of lights decorating your front porch. It is not in the amount of gifts we send or the greeting cards we get. Christmas is in our hearts. Christmas it's in the kindness we show others, and the smiles of our loved ones. Christmas is what we make of it with those who we care about the most, so make it a great one. My best wishes for all of you during this season, and a wonderful new year 2018.
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Correspondents Julie Kanehl Marcy Sanford Katie Thomas Art Director Tony Sica Accounting Manager Doreen Selby Billing Assistant Tina O’Reilly
Advertising Sales Jim O’Reilly Jared Nager Nothing that appears in Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles writers are their own and do not reflect the publisher’s opinion. The management of Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles is always happy to accept outside editorial submissions to the paper. Please call for outside editorial submission and advertise-
ment deadlines. Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles will consider previously non-published outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates. Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles will not return unsolicited editorial materials. Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles reserves the right to edit and/or reject any advertising. Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the actual cost of the advertising space itself, not for the validity of any claims made by its advertisers. Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles is published by ADS 2 Publications, Inc.
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“Experience, Intellectual Capital and Dedicated Personal Service to Help You Meet Your Life Goals.” By: Katie Cammardella Investments, asset protection and finding financial freedom through direct planning and market analysis gives you a leg up and increased comfort when it comes to money matters. Working directly with a financial advisor who focuses on analyzing the market, diversifying assets and helping you make smart worthwhile investments, not only helps you invest your money, but also helps to build your financial portfolio with professional intellect and backing. Brent Hulling serves as Vice President, Financial Advisor and Financial Planning Specialist for Morgan Stanley (100 N Tampa St., Suite 3000, Tampa, FL 33602)- a long trusted financial services company. Working with Brent helps you to meet your life goals - from investments, 401k rollovers, life insurance and retirement planning to asset management and assistance with your trust accounts - Brent has the knowledge, market know-how and
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professionalism it takes to help you feel safe when it comes to your money and future. Brent Hulling is a resident of Land O’Lakes, where he takes pride in his community and family. With over a decade of experience in the financial services industry, Brent has found success in building strong relationships with his clients through market knowledge, education, strategic advice and services that help put complex financial jargon into layman’s terms. As a Morgan Stanley financial advisor, Brent upholds the company values that were first put into place when opening in 1935 - a commitment to community - as well as his own values to help his clients make the best decisions to meet their financial goals. Brent says, “Growing up my father was always trying to instill a sales mentality in me, I never wanted to go into sales so I resisted. But the thing that I did embrace was that entrepreneurship mindset and how clients value service. When I got my first job at T. Rowe
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Price working with their High Net Worth clients I grew to really enjoy helping clients with their financial plans. I love what I do and never really thought of it as sales, it’s really more about helping clients reach their financial goals and making great decisions that enhance their quality of life for the long haul.” Before joining Morgan Stanley in 2010, Brent owned and operated a flood insurance agency where he gained experience in customer relations with many small business owners. “From my experience with this company, I gained valuable insight into the financial concerns and challenges of small business owners, as well as the substantial effort involved in building wealth” says Brent. “Owning and operating my own small business for flood insurance helped me gain knowledge as a business owner and also take into consideration what it takes to grow your money and find success.” Brent received his B.A. in Communications from the University
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of South Florida. He has attained the Financial Planning Specialist (FPS) designation and holds Series 7, 63, 66 and Life, Health and Variable Annuity Insurance licenses. Brent believes in continuing his education to stay ahead of the industry and to be at the forefront of the financial market. He says, “I attend numerous conferences to meet with and learn from some of the brightest minds in the industry.” Although, not currently practicing, Brent holds his Property and Casualty Insurance license and Florida Real Estate License. Brent focuses on financial planning, insurance and retirement income planning. His understanding of the financial world paired with his ability to help everyday people understand the market is helpful to all walks of life. Helping clients expand and build portfolios , Brent's services are praised with great reviews from all his clients. Whether you’re a large investor, big business, small business or family
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to his community. Brent says,“I believe in the value and necessity of our community’s great institutions.” Brent can often be found engaging in his kids events and activities, enjoying watching local Tampa sports, playing golf and working to better our community. He often donates to local charitable organizations and takes part in supporting The Humane Society, Feeding America, Lowry Park Zoo, his church, The Dream Center of Tampa and to Morgan Stanley’s foundation that supports charities. Brent’s knowledge and Brent Hulling, Vice President experience combined with his Financial Planning Specialist excitement in helping small Financial Advisor businesses and fellow entrepreneurial spirits is wanting to grow your assets - Brent palpable upon speaking to him. He has treats you with the same respect. No a true passion for helping people find matter how big or small your portfolio their success and keeping that success. may be, rest easy knowing Brent has From Investing, Family Financial your best interest in mind and works Strategies, Retirement Planning and diligently to update you on what is happening in the financial industry and Business Planning and more - Brent Hulling is your guide to understanding how it may effect your money. the financial industry, setting goals and As a long term Tampa resident, seeking success with your money. Brent feels strongly about giving back
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Contact Brent Hulling direct at (813) 227-2170 and begin the journey of smart financial planning! Brent Hulling is a Financial Advisor with the Wealth Management Division of Morgan Stanley in Tampa, FL. The information contained in this article is not a solicitation to purchase or sell investments. Any information presented is general in nature and not intended to provide individually tailored investment advice. The
strategies and/or investments referenced may not be suitable for all investors as the appropriateness of a particular investment or strategy will depend on an investor's individual circumstances and objectives. Investing involves risks and there is always the potential of losing money when you invest. The views expressed herein are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect the views of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, Member SIPC, or its affiliates.
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The Bleakley Bavol Law Firm Earns the Trust of Businesses and Families By Marcy Sanford The Bleakley Bavol Law Firm, located at the top of Carrollwood in Tampa, has continued its pace of strategic growth since moving north from downtown in 2008. The firm consists of fifteen lawyers, supported by 17 paralegals, legal assistants, law clerks and administrators, which power the firm’s growing presence throughout Florida. Evidenced by its “AV” rating by Martindale Hubbell, The Bleakley Bavol Law Firm has earned its reputation as a well-trusted name in the Tampa Bay Area and beyond. The Bleakley Bavol Law Firm represents a wide range of clients including Fortune 500 Companies, local family run businesses, and individuals needing help with estate planning. An example of the firm’s diversity occurred last summer when the firm had near simultaneous trials representing a physician in a medical
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malpractice matter, a world-wide mall developer in a premises liability action, and an individual against guardianship attorneys involving the improper handling of a guardianship estate. In this latter action, following a two-week jury trial, partners Ron Denman, Chuck Bavol, and Grant Kindrick recovered a record $16,400,000 verdict from the jury. However, regardless of the matter, the size of the client, or the nature of their legal issue, one thing is always the same – everyone at The Bleakley Bavol Law Firm believes in dedication to the client’s best interest. “We want our clients to trust us and know that we are always doing what is best for them,” said Managing Partner Robert Bleakley. “We pride ourselves in finding strategic ways to close cases and solve client’s problems that result in the best possible outcome for our clients.” At The Bleakley Bavol Law Firm, you’ll find four senior partners, each
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Managing partner Robert Bleakley and attorney Christina Hebert with greater than 25 years of legal experience; six partners whose experience ranges from 7 – 25 years in the profession; and five associate
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attorneys (“the Young Guns”) with experience ranging from fresh out of law school to 10+ years of experience. It is with this younger group of
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attorneys that Bleakley seeks to mold the future of the firm. Bleakley noted, “For many years the firm sought to recruit experienced attorneys from other law firms to join our firm. A few years ago, it occurred to us that our firm philosophy, process, and procedure were unique, and we wanted to develop young lawyers into our culture from the very beginning so they could grow and develop and carry on the work of the firm long after the senior partners have retired to the golf course.” Business & Corporate Law: Bleakley says that although the firm’s roots have typically been in the representation of large businesses or carriers in auto and trucking liability matter, medical device litigation, professional liability, product liability, premises liability and workers compensation matters, since moving to Carrollwood just over 10 years ago, the firm has significantly grown small business practice. Many of the firm’s lawyers have friends, neighbors and people they know through their church or social circles, who need representation for their small business. Most of these small businesses and individual clients had never contacted an attorney until they had an issue arise. “Most of the time with our smaller business clients, we are hired because they receive a notice about something and realize there are holes in their policies. Or if it is a family owned business, they may realize that Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles
they could be personally responsible in a legal issue and want to protect their assets.” The Bleakley Bavol Law Firm provides legal representation to businesses of all sizes from sole proprietors to start-up and emerging companies, private and public corporations, limited liability companies, and other business organizations. Because they have corporate and employment attorneys on staff, they can help you with the legal steps to form a new business or the contracts and legal documents needed to protect your employees and your company. If you do have a legal issue that arises, you can trust that they will handle the issue in a timely manner so that you can get back to focusing on what is important to you. Their expert trial lawyers are committed to helping you protect and preserve your assets. Estate Planning, Wills, & Trusts: Whether you need a simple will or trust or are looking for business succession planning, The Bleakley Bavol Law Firm can help. Christina
Hebert joined the firm more than 10 years ago and has over 20 years of experience representing individuals and families in their estate planning needs. The firm has assisted hundreds of families in the North Tampa area with these necessary documents and does so in a neighborhood environment helping the client feel at ease with the process. It is important for anyone who has assets to set up a will or trust. Otherwise, your assets will pass according to state laws and those may not be consistent with your wishes. Having a will or trust written by a legal professional will protect your loved ones and favorite charities. If you are a family run business or a large corporation, you may want a plan of succession for your business and the Bleakley Bavol Law Firm can help develop that. Bleakley credits the firm’s focus on building trust with its clients as the reason it has been so successful. “Trust is so important; the client has to know that their lawyer is looking out for them. Most people start with a
preconceived notion that lawyers are only looking out for their own best interests. Here, we teach our lawyers to prove otherwise. Anyone can say they put their client’s first, but at this law firm we strive to prove it every day.” At The Bleakley Bavol Law Firm you get the best of two worlds: the experience, professionalism, and competitiveness of a large downtown firm combined with the trust, friendliness, and convenience of a neighborhood law office. The Bleakley Bavol Law Firm provides personalized attention from lawyers who truly care about you and your wellbeing, and the wellbeing of your business. The Bleakley Bavol Law Firm is located at 15170 North Florida Avenue in Tampa. The firm is open 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Mon. – Fri., and by appointment outside normal office hours. For more information or to schedule a consultation, please call (813) 221-3759 or visit www.bleakleybavol.com.
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The Hen House - A Gathering Place… Where You Can Also Shop, Celebrate & Create! by Carla Selby What happens when 3 happy hens decide to get together to share their passion for pretty things, parties and people? The Hen House! Your go-to gathering place during this Holiday season and beyond. The Hen House offers a wide variety of unique clothing, jewelry, gifts, home decor, candles, artisan crafted goods, spectacular florals, creative workshops… and so much more! There's definitely something for everybody at the Hen House. Crafting at home alone? Don't have all the right tools? The Hen House has all you need to finish that lingering craft project. The hens warmly invite you to come over and craft with them! They have a fully stocked craft bar with many supplies for you to use. They welcome you and your unfinished craft projects during craft bar hours, which are Tuesday through Saturday 11:00am - 4:00pm. Cost is $10 per hour. Have you ever dreamed about painting but do not know where to start? The Hen House offers a beginner open studio with Kim Seymour every Thursday from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. This is an instructor moderated class where the basics are taught and you can come with an idea of what you would like to paint and they will happily show you how to bring it to life. The hens prefer that you sign up for all of their classes, including Open studio, in advance by visiting their
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website www.thehh.con or by calling the store. Need to decorate a table for a special occasion or want to send that special someone a little something to brighten their day? The Hen House is also a full service floral boutique! So you can find gorgeous fresh flower arrangements for your table or a beautiful bouquet for a loved one. Do you have a special request? Contact the hens directly to place a special floral order for your next big event. The Hen House also accommodates small private parties for
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special occasions such as birthdays, baby showers, bridal showers and such. So, whether you want to do a little Holiday shopping for yourself or your loved ones, if you are wanting to try something crafty, simply looking to throw a small party or if you just wish to curl up in their Cozy Coop (aka Hospitality Corner), The Hen House will have a perch ready for you! Your little chicks are always welcome, too! We encourage you to log on to www.thehh.com for a list of their incredibly fun December Workshops.
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Some of them include painting a beautiful reindeer on a wooden pallet, bringing your own small piece of furniture to give it a new look, creating your own decorative wreath for Christmas and so much more. Please purchase your desired workshop online to reserve your spot or call the Hen House directly. The Hen House is located at 11730 N Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, FL 33618. Phone Number is: (813) 2644367.
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Use the BHHS East Lake Office as your Donation Station gratitude for many things in our lives. At this time of year, I know I can give thanks that I won’t be facing snowstorms, but instead will be enjoying the beautiful winter weather that we have in Florida. It is also the time to take advantage of the miles of walkways through East Lake Woodlands to enjoy the outdoors. I am also Bob McCaffery, The McCaffery Team, Berkshire thankful that I am a Hathaway Home Services-Florida Properties Broker Associate on an Group, East Lake Woodlands office, shows his sup- effective and port for the ongoing food drive for Metropolitan knowledgeable real estate Ministries, Tampa. team at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services We have moved the clocks East Lake Woodlands Office. Our forward, just finished our Florida Group has received the Thanksgiving Feast and are Unity Award in 2017 from adjusting to the idea that the Metropolitan Ministries for December Holidays are soon donations and time spent collecting approaching. It reminds us to have
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for this cause. Founded in 1972, the Metropolitan Ministries provides food, shelter, resources, counselling, education and job training services that alleviate suffering, instill selfsufficiency and promote dignity for low-income and homeless families in the area. The donation receptacles are in all 22 of our offices all year long, and it is important to know that there are Metropolitan Ministries locations in Tampa and Pasco Counties that directly aid the Tampa Bay communities. Visit www.metromin.org to see the benefits they are providing and to receive information on how you may be of help. For our company the energy to promote gets even more enthusiastic during the holidays, and the efforts at Christmas time and include the company goal to “fill the Cabernet Sleigh”, a U-Haul driven by our Owners, to pick up donations,
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nicknamed after our signature BHHS colors of Cabernet and Cream. Metropolitan Ministries also partners with the Sunshine Kids Foundation, a national non-profit organization, benefitting children with cancer. Our Florida Properties Group has also been a longtime supporter of the Sunshine Kids and is involved in their charity raising events throughout the year. The McCaffery Team is thankful to be located within the gates of East Lake Woodlands. Ernie Del Barba, Bud Haynes, Ann Galatro, Joan Daly, Fonda Dillard, Claudia Preisig (Bilingual), Linda Gagliardi and myself, Bob McCaffery wish you a Happy Holidays. Please stop by our East Lake office to talk with us about your real estate needs and let us help you reach your goals of buying or selling a home, leasing information, or finding investment properties.
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Tech Talk with Bob: “When to Buy a New Computer” By Bob Dalles Greetings! I am receiving emails from readers asking if they need to fix their existing computer or scrap it and buy a new one. This is a difficult question to answer without actually inspecting the computer myself. My goal in this column is to give you things to consider before buying a new system. Some people believe that they need to upgrade their existing system or buy a new system every time Apple or Microsoft releases a new operating system (OS). The OS is the basic software on a computer that allows other programs/apps to function. If you use a word processing program to write letters, the word processor (WP) needs an OS to help the WP save files, print files, etc. Think of the OS as the stage (platform) where the other programs/apps perform. I could make much more money if I advised my clients to upgrade their OS every time a new one is released. However, I do not advise my clients to jump into a new computer or upgrade their OS unless they need it. My goal is to advise my clients to do what’s best
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for their current situation. Yes, I want to make money but I want my clients to know that they will get an honest recommendation from me and only advise them to upgrade if they actually need a newer OS. After all, wouldn’t you be happier keeping hundreds of dollars in your pocket instead of spending it on something you really don’t need? So, how do you know if you need a newer OS? If your computer is running Windows 7 should you upgrade to
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Windows 10? I always say, “do not upgrade unless you have a program/app or piece of hardware (printer, scanner, etc.) that requires the newer OS.” If your computer functions properly there is no need to upgrade just because a newer OS has been released. One trap users fall into with a newer OS, (by either upgrading their current computer or buying a new system) is that some of their existing hardware or software is not compatible with the newer OS. This is a big issue for those users who are running Windows XP and jump to Windows 10. They sometimes learn that their printer or a program no longer works with the newer OS. Now they have to spend even more money on a new printer and new program. Yikes! Most hardware/software manufacturers design their products to eventually become functionally obsolete. That is why I always advise my clients to schedule a “pre-purchase consultation” with me so we can determine what an upgrade is really going to cost them. It is money well spent because if we determine that you need to upgrade, you will be more
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knowledgeable when you walk into a store or shop online. Every client who has done that is happy because they bought what they needed and was not “upsold” to something they didn’t need. Clients who schedule prepurchase consultations typically find that they usually save more money on their new computer purchase than what they paid for the consultation. I’m not saying that sales people in these stores are looking to take advantage of you, it’s that they don’t know your whole story (since they don’t come to your home or office) to truly determine what best suits you. Some clients have even paid me to accompany them to the store as liaison between them and the sales person. We’ll also browse the internet with you if you prefer to buy online. Some of the emails I receive ask me to recommend a make and model for an upgrade. I will not do that because it is not my intention to endorse or denounce any particular brand publicly in this column. Plus without an onsite pre-purchase consultation it would not be appropriate for me to make a recommendation. However, if we do
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have a pre-purchase consultation we will discuss brands and model numbers that are suitable for your specific needs. Let’s quickly touch on hardware. The main issue with laptop/notebook computers is the battery not holding a charge anymore and/or getting extremely hot when connected to the power supply. In this is case the battery can be removed to lower the heat produced by the laptop. However, this only works if you plan to keep the computer in one place. If you need mobility then replacing the battery is cheaper than buying a new computer.
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As long as there are no software issues, most hardware issues can be resolved for less money than a new purchase. Have a tech question? Email it to TechTalkTBNL@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 727-534-4000. Until next time, Happy Holidays!
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A Necessary Conversation Takes Unflinching Look at Bullying, Mental Health, Gun Violence and Those Left Behind to Pick Up Pieces A Necessary Conversation, an original theatre production joining two short plays dealing with bullying, mental health, gun violence and its aftermath will be on stage in the Straz Center for the Performing Art's TECO Theatre on Saturday, January 20, 2018. Written by two teachers, Peter Nason and Deborah BostockKelley, A Necessary Conversation features two poignant performances that debuted in 2017 to stellar reviews and positive audience response - Nason's 47 Reasons to Live at the Tampa Fringe Festival and BostockKelley's 11:11 at Tampa Bay Theatre Festival. His tells the tale of the inner workings of a potential school shooter and hers explores the survivors left behind. After seeing each other's production, Deborah and Peter realized the messages they were writing about were perfect bookends for one another. The gun violence topic was timely and the
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plays provided an opportunity to start a conversation educators, parents and teenagers should be having. “When I wrote the play almost 10 years ago, I put it away because something similar to the events in it happened AFTER I was writing it, so it sat in a drawer for years. I tweaked it a few years later, and a student of mine—Caleb Brening— suggested that I send it out,” said Nason. “Little did I know, but the world has gotten crazier, and the events in the play are more pertinent now than they were nearly a decade ago when I wrote it. In some ways, it’s as if I woke up and wrote the play this morning.” Directed by Nick Hoop, 47 Reasons to Live, a dark reflection on a school shooting, will not leave you like some performances do. Caleb Brening’s performance as James will get under your skin and stay there long after the show ends. “My play deals with educators trying to figure out what to do
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with a very troubled student. It poses some very tough questions because that’s the tough world that we face—as teachers, as parents, and as teens,” said Nason. “How do we reach that troubled kid? What do we do to help him…but also to help ensure that those kids who could be affected by his actions remain safe?” In Bostock-Kelley's 11:11, the play examines how mothers in a grief support group attempt to put on the façade of a normal life after experiencing a parent's worst nightmare - the traumatic and violent loss of a child. Directed by Bostock-Kelley, 11:11 features the talents of Amy C. Ragg, Monique Brown, David Fraga, and Kym Welch, familiar faces to Tampa Bay community theatre. “This was written in 2016 after I saw another Facebook post about a child who killed himself because of in school and online bullying. His parents never knew, and only
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discovered the tormenting he went through after his suicide,” said Bostock-Kelley. “11:11 examines the other side. What if the bullied child couldn’t take it anymore, and something inside just breaks? And what happens to the family left behind?” In August 2017, BostockKelley submitted an application and applied for a grant and the opportunity to fund their theatre project. In September 2017, she was honored to be one of two recipients awarded Theatre Tampa Bay's Jeff Norton Dream Grant. She reached out to the Straz Center with their concept and the venue graciously helped make their vision a reality. "Now more than ever, we need to have this dialogue," she said. "Before the digital age, you could go home and get away from the bullies. I can’t imagine being a bullied child today in the technology world. There’s no place to escape. Compounding this topic,
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no matter what your stance is on guns, gun violence is an epidemic. You just need to log on to social media to learn about another in this series of senseless tragedies. When is the next one too many? How many more hashtag-namesstrong do we need before someone
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says no more?" A Necessary Conversation features two performances, 3pm and 7pm on January 20. The evening show includes a question and answer talkback session following the production. The talkback panel includes Robert
Allen, a father who recently lost his bullied son to suicide; Freddy Barton, Safe and Sound Hillsborough, an organization founded in 2013 to address violence in the family, school, or neighborhood; Wendy Malloy, Tampa volunteer lead, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America; Emily Surak, 2017 Miss America's Teen Miss Central Florida Outstanding Teen who volunteers with Crisis Center and is using her platform to discuss teen suicide prevention; The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay; Ashley Ryan Lord from Anti-Bullying Action Committee for Hillsborough County/ Kids on the Block, and other expert speakers still to be
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identified. Everytown- Moms Demand Action, Tampa Chapter is the community partner and the recipient of ticket sales of the evening show. Both playwrights hope A Necessary Conversation will cause the reflections, the remembrances of over 200 school shootings since 2013 and start the discussion – what can we do to fix a broken child and stop violence before it happens. A Necessary Conversation will be presented at TECO Theatre January 20. Performances are 3pm and 7pm. The evening show includes question and answer talk-back panel. Tickets for day show are $15 and evening show with talkback are $20. Tickets may be purchased online at www.lifeamplified.ticketleap.com/anecess aryconversation012018. Stay up to date with the performance by liking A Necessary Conversation on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pg /anecessaryconversation012018.
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SAT AND ACT IMPROVEMENT: SAT EXAM CHANGES By Dr. Wayne Adams
When the SAT added a new exam date last August, it caused quite a stir in the testing community because now the SAT had the first exam of the fall, students could prepare outside of the school year, and suddenly the ACT was behind in the “fall testing race”. What many did not realize is that the SAT only shifted their normal SAT exam date in January up to August, and did not replace the January date. So the last SAT Exam of the fall is on December 2nd, and the first SAT Exam of the spring is on March 10th. The last two SAT Exams of the spring are scheduled for April 14th and June 9th. The remaining exam dates for the ACT are December 9th, Feb 10th, April 14th, and June 9th. With the major exception of the University of Florida, with a very “hard” application date in November, most other colleges and universities in Florida will consider applicants on a “rolling admission”
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date with more flexibility for when SAT and ACT Exam scores are received. Also, current Bright Futures’ rules allow seniors to take the SAT
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and/or the ACT through the late spring and to have the scores counted for possible scholarships. Currently, the 75% Bright Futures requirements are a minimum of
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1170 on the SAT and 26 on the ACT, and the 100% Bright Futures requirements are a minimum of 1290 on the SAT and 29 on the ACT. And if your student takes one
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of the exams multiple times, when I last checked Bright Futures will “super score” to average the highest test scores in each test area and give the student the benefit of averaging up. Over the holidays, many students and parents like to have a little more relaxed tutoring schedule where students can also focus on the exam apart from the rigors of regular high school or dual enrollment assignments. We can start in December and prepare for the ACT Exam on February 10th, and then on the SAT Exam on March 10th, or have a combination class that saves 15 class hours from preparing for each exam individually because of the overlaps. If You Would Like To Talk More About Your Student … Please contact me at 727-2530639 or send me an e mail 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, Writing and Essay, and Math, and 4 – 7 points on the ACT composite. They have
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been admitted to eight of the top ten universities in the country, seventeen of the top twenty-five, and many schools in Florida. These schools include Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Stanford, U Chicago, Duke, U Penn, Johns Hopkins, Cornell, Notre Dame, Emory, UC Berkley, UCLA, USC, UNC (Chapel Hill), NYU, Northeastern (Boston), Boston College, Georgia Tech, Air Force and Merchant Marine Service Academies, Penn State, LSU, Auburn, UF, U Miami, FSU, USF, UCF, Florida Atlantic, Florida Gulf Coast, FIU, New College of Florida, Stetson, and Julliard – Manhattan - New England - and Berkley Conservatories of Music. Many have received academic, athletic, or music scholarships. This year, he also tutored three juniors who scored at the national merit finalist/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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Grout Tech - Your Tile and Grout Specialist! By Katie Thomas Grout Tech is a family owned business serving Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco Counties. Grout Tech specializes in cleaning and sealing tile and grout, re-coloring grout, re-caulking showers and tubs, and repairing grout and broken tiles. Throughout the years, Grout Tech has grown through its many referrals from happy customers. People really appreciate that Grout Tech saves them time and money, but it is the excellent service provided that has really helped this business grow. You may think you need an entire new floor due to broken tiles or just overall dinginess, but Grout Tech asks you to consider saving money and time by using their cleaning and repair services. Grout Tech can renew existing grout and tile to its original beauty by cleaning and maintaining the tile and grout lines. John Cole and his wife were ready to re-tile their entire bathroom before calling BJ at Grout Tech. John shared, “Our bathroom tile was over 40 years old it was looking grungy and very dull. We called
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After
Before
With the help of Grout Tech, even the dirtiest and oldest of floors can be restored and renewed to their original beauty and splendor. Grout Tech and we are extremely pleased with our results! We saved so much money by having the grout in our shower resurfaced and the tile cleaned and it looks brand new.” Before you spend thousands of dollars remodeling and re-tiling your bathroom or kitchen be sure to call Grout Tech for a FREE estimate on cleaning or repairing old dingy tile and grout. Grout Tech can breathe new life into your existing tile work, making everything shine like new at a
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fraction of the cost. The floors in our homes, especially in heavy foot traffic areas such as the kitchen and bathrooms, take a daily beating. After a few years, they just aren’t as beautiful as they once were. To renew the dull back to beautiful, Grout Tech works with you to find out what fits your budget and which services will get you the most bang for your buck. Because grout is a porous material, trying to remove stains is
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seemingly impossible. Grout Tech owner BJ explains, “Color sealing grout lines is one of the many services we offer and it is definitely the most effective way to create a perfect, new look.” Using a step-by-step process, Grout Tech begins by using a cleansing product to remove all bacteria and surface dirt with special machinery. They will then apply a color seal (of your choice). Once the sealer is applied the grout lines will be permanently
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After
Before protected from any stains. The color seal also guarantees against cracking, chipping and peeling. Additionally, they will also cosmetically fix or replace chipped or cracked tiles, making your bathroom or kitchen tile like new again. BJ from Grout Tech is happy to set your appointment, come out and give you a free estimate. She stresses, “It is important for me to be respectful of our customers’ time so I will always arrive at the time we set.” In addition to always arriving in a timely manner, BJ says that they can keep their prices low because they are a family owned business and not a franchise. She explains, “What many people don’t understand is that
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franchises are often forced to charge more for their services because they have to maintain their franchise fees, but not with Grout Tech.” Not only does Grout Tech keep its rates competitive, but the company will also honor any other quote as long as it is in writing. Carla Bartow, a satisfied customer, shares her experience, “When BJ came out to give us a quote, she looked at the job and I could tell immediately that she knew what she was talking about. We had our family room, kitchen and dining room re-grouted. They also regrouted the tub, shower and base of our toilet in our bathroom. They were fantastic! Not only were they
professional and reliable but they also completed the job much faster than we had anticipated.” Repeat customer John C. says, “I had Grout Tech come out to my place three years ago. The service was excellent and the price was great too. I recently rehired Grout Tech to come out to complete my other two bathrooms, which they’ll begin working on in June. I chose Grout Tech once again because their professionalism and skill is unbeatable.” Another satisfied client, John F. says, “My wife and I had a bad experience with a grout service company we hired off Craigslist. The work was terrible and they lacked
professionalism. My wife found Grout Tech and we were so happy the connection was made. Grout Tech worked miracles on our floors and solved all our grout and tile problems. They performed work for us back in 2014. We loved that they were great with our pets and felt really comfortable having them in our home working. We hired them again in 2016 due to their excellent service and we were again completely satisfied with the service they provided. I wouldn’t consider using any company other than Grout Tech.” If you need assistance in cleaning and sealing tile and grout, re-coloring grout, re-caulking showers and tubs, and repairing grout and broken tiles Grout Tech is at your service! If you are tired of scrubbing until your hands are sore trying to clean stained, old grout, call Grout Tech today! It is amazing just how much better your bathroom and kitchen areas look with crisp, clean grout lines! To find out more about Grout Tech’s services or for a free estimate call BJ at 727-768-6828.
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“Parrot” Continued from page 1 years ago. Parrots and bigger birds can live up to 80 years but with the high quality food available now, they may have a longer life span. Many people think it is ok to just feed seeds to birds but good quality food is very important or the bird can get sick.” K and K Parrot Supplies carry the full lines of high quality foods by Hari, Volkman, and Higgins. They even carry both the TOP’s and Harrison’s lines of organic foods. If your bird is a picky eater or has food allergies, Kathy and Karen are happy to special order any type of food your favorite bird might need. “Parrots and other birds make great pets,” says Karen. “They all have different personalities and when you talk and interact with them they become amazing companions. Like any animal you have to give them love, attention, and care.” Kathy and Karen are happy to help bird owner with tips on how
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Parrots and exotic birds of all kinds of feathers can be found at K and K to best care for them. Kathy even takes notes for each customer so she can help them remember what they bought the last time they were in the store. K and K Parrot Supplies stocks foraging and
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enrichment toys and cages of all sizes to help keep your feathered friend happy and occupied. Monthly wing clipping will help keep your pet bird safe if he or she spends time outside his or her
DECEMBER 2017
cage. With this procedure birds are still able to exercise their muscles while easily moving around the house and being able to coast to a safe landing. This important procedure is best handled by an
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expert. Kathy and Karen are happy to be able to provide this service to their customers along with nail trimming. Most people do not feel comfortable doing this on their own and Kathy and Karen have years of experience. They can ensure your bird is groomed properly and safely.
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Karen and Kathy are very active in the community and are happy to be able to donate food to local rescue organizations. K and K Parrot Supplies literally has everything you need for birds of all sizes from conures and cockatiels to cockatoos and macaws. They sell food in bulk for
larger breeds and even carry bird food for wild birds. Also available is handfeeding formula for baby birds. K and K Parrot Supplies’ online store is always open. They offer free delivery on orders of $50 and more. You can also order online and pick your order up at
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their retail store. K and K Parrot Supplies, located at 4608 Land O’ Lakes Blvd, is open Tues. and Thurs. from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Wed. and Fri., 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. For information or to place an order, visit KandKParrotSupplies.com or call 302-354-4843.
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“Heartwood” Continued from page 1 grandfather, Jay B. Starkey pioneered the family’s conservation efforts when he donated and sold a majority of the family’s land to create the Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park, which is now an 18,000-acre wilderness preserve that lies adjacent to Heartwood Preserve. The whole of Heartwood Preserve is 41 acres, with the Conservation Cemetery taking up a small section. “Conservation comes into the name because this is a nature preserve and the property will remain in its natural state. So when you are buried here, you are participating in the preservation of this land in its natural state and contributing to the health and protection of important plant communities,” explained Laura Starkey. Keeping these woodlands pristine is personal for Laura, who grew up exploring the lay of her family’s land. For the past decade, Laura, as Director of Conservation Lands, has taken care of the Starkey family’s natural areas. “I learned about natural burial at
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a land conservation conference and it just appealed to me,” said Laura. “It’s a way to hold on to the natural areas and also to share in the conservation with other people.” Heartwood Preserve, along with Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park, protects Florida’s majestic longleaf pines. Laura is extremely knowledgeable about Florida’s ecology and the efforts others in the state are making to save ecosystems such as the ones supported by longleaf pines. In the office at Heartwood Preserve, one can find a number of books on natural Florida (including some by Laura’s friend Carlton Ward, Jr., author, conservationist photographer and eighth generation Floridian). Supporting diverse ecosystems and home to nearly 600 plant and animal species (including threatened and endangered species), longleaf pine forests once encompassed more than 90 million acres across the Southeast. According to the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (nrcs.usda.gov), the Southeast’s precious corridor of longleaf pines is now broken, reduced by almost 97
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percent over the last 200 years. A major concern to naturalists, the plight of the longleaf pines finally gained government support in 2010, when the NRCS launched the Longleaf Pine Initiative (LLPI) in an effort to support conservation. Through the efforts of the LLPI, along with other conservation efforts such as Heartwood Preserve and Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park, the longleaf forests are slowly gaining ground. From 2010 to 2014, the amount of healthy longleaf forests grew from 3 million acres to more than 4 million acres (nrcs.usda.gov).
Remembrance Under Longleaf Pines The meandering paths at Heartwood Preserve invite guests to take a nature walk, providing a deeply satisfying way to remember a loved one. Laura led me on a walking tour through Heartwood Preserve and we came upon a gravesite. A simple mound surrounded with pinecones that friends and family gathered, the grave eventually will settle to seamlessly blend with the rest of the woods, becoming home to
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Laura Starkey wildflowers, bushes and trees that help wildlife to thrive. No tombstones are allowed; rather a small metal plaque marks the spot at ground level. Laura said the Preserve is looking into allowing the planting of a Florida-native tree to commemorate loved ones who are buried on the Preserve. Services are very personable. The gravesites are prepared prior to the
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family arriving, but family and friends are given the option to shovel dirt to fill the grave. This appeals to many grieving friends and family members on an innate level. After all, death is part of life as is grieving; the option to actively help lay one’s loved one to rest is cathartic for many. Personally, prior to visiting Heartwood Preserve, I thought I preferred cremation to burial, simply because I don’t like the idea of my body preserved with chemicals and entombed. A final resting place under Florida’s longleaf pines, where the body truly returns to the earth sounds much better. The burial of cremated remains is an option at Heartwood Preserve, and, just as with a body, the ashes may be in a biodegradable container or poured directly into the ground. While tombstones aren’t allowed, there are other ways that people have chosen to mark the graves of loved ones. One young man’s friends and family marked his simple wooden casket with handprints and drawings. Things found on the preserve land also are allowed to decorate gravesites, such as the pinecones circling the
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gravesite I visited with Laura.
Responsible and Loving Pre-Planning While Heartwood Preserve is one of two conservation cemeteries in Florida, it is the only one licensed to offer pre-planning. It’s not something we like to think about, but making plans prior to one’s death is a very loving gift to those still living. Many times, when someone dies unexpectedly, the family has no clue about the personal wishes of their loved one. “In this industry, we meet couples married 50 to 60 years that haven’t discussed their wishes for burial,” shared Heartwood Preserve Manager Diana Sayegh, who works closely with families making final arrangements as well as pre-planning. “We have casual, intimate meetings with families to discuss what a green burial means for the full body or cremains. For instance, we don’t scatter ashes; they are put into the earth. There is no embalming so that it is a completely natural burial.” If a green burial under the Florida sky in a protected stand of longleaf
pines seems like a good final resting place, stop by Heartwood Preserve’s office and talk to Diana or Laura. It’s a beautiful place to take a nature hike, and often, guided tours are available. Diana recalled a recent silent meditation walk led by a local yoga instructor. “Every now and then, she’d remind us to stop and breathe and take it all in. I really enjoyed it.” Talk & Tour events at Heartwood Preserve are held twice monthly on the first Tuesday of the month at 9:30 a.m. and the third or fourth Thursday monthly at 5:30 p.m. The Tuesday morning tours (led by Diana) focus on answering common questions about the green burial process. The Thursday early evening tours (led by Laura) are meant to educate the
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public about the conservation efforts of the Preserve. Heartwood Preserve is located at 4100 Starkey Boulevard in Trinity, FL. Welcome Center hours: Mon. – Fri., 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and by appointment on weekends and holidays. Nature Preserve hours: Mon. – Sat., 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. on Sun. Find more information about Heartwood Preserve Conservation Cemetery, Talk & Tour events and guided walks at www.heartwoodpreserve.com. To schedule a pre-planning appointment with Diana, please call 727-376-5111.
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