Vol. 11, Issue 12, December 2020
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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
Treat Yourself in Luxury at Bella Nails & Spa! By Joy Bergman Think about the last time you were really able to treat yourself – Something along the lines of a soothing Milk and Honey pedicure with a complimentary glass of wine. A “meday” with 1,500 fabulous color options to choose from for your perfect manicure, whether it be regular style, gel, acrylic
nails, or dip. Think of a nourishing, waterless manicure with your choice of UV Protective Collagen or Phyto Collagen Gloves, moisturizing your hands after a busy day. Imagine a smile on your face as you sit back with a friend enjoying a hot stone massage with a relaxing cream or lotion. See “Bella Nails” on page 20
“She’s One of Us” Dr. Jamie Melichar Aspire Medical Group By Tom Bostock Although COVID-19 has impacted our society in ways we never contemplated, the medical profession has been up to the task. Local family doctor, Jamie Melichar, has not let it keep her from providing her patients with the same level of excellence they have always received.
In today’s interview, Dr. Melichar noted, her waiting room, once filled with patients, is almost empty these days. Instead, she has embraced the latest communications technology to serve them, preserving the confidentiality of the access to their medical files from electronically prying eyes with personal, faceSee “Aspire” on page 16
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: From the Editor..............................5
Tech Talk with Bob......................8-9
Grout Tech...............................12-13
Dr. Jaime Malichar, MD, Aspire Medical Group
2 DECEMBER 2020
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Holiday Celebrations During the COVID-19 Pandemic Over one million new covid-19 cases were recently reported in the United States over the past week. As cases continue to rise all over Florida, the Tampa Bay area ranks in fifth place with some of the highest numbers of cases reported since this pandemic first started. The CDC recommended not traveling during the Holidays unless necessary and is frequently reminding people that the safest way to celebrate the Holidays is at home with only the people you live with. Traveling increases the chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. This holiday season, do not travel out of state or have family travel into Florida to join your celebrations. Personally, I used to celebrate Thanksgiving and the Holidays with large groups of over 40 people!!! But this year I’ve decided to celebrate with only the members of my household… of course my three cats are included! This pandemic has been extremely stressful and definitely isolating. I know many of us were looking forward to spending the Holidays celebrating together and cheering for the new year, but we have to do our part to flatten the curve and bring those numbers down. Consider celebrating virtually with those loved ones or family members outside of your own household. Your household is anyone who currently lives and shares common spaces in your housing unit (such as your condo, home, or apartment.) This can include family members, roommates, or people who are unrelated to you, and of course, your pets! People who do not currently live in your housing unit should be considered part of different households. Face to face celebrations that bring together different families and members of different households pose varying levels of risk that we should all consider. Social gatherings during the upcoming Holidays should be kept at a minimum, and only to those members of your direct circle. This holiday season, consider how your plans can be modified to reduce the spread of coronavirus to keep your family, friends, and community healthy and safe. If you’re hosting a party, please host outdoor rather than indoor if possible. Limit
the number of attendees as much as you can to allow people from different households to remain at least 6 ft apart at all times. Gatherings with more people always pose a higher risk than gatherings with fewer people. The CDC does not have a limit or recommend a specific number of attendees for holiday gatherings. They recommend that everyone stay 6 feet (2 arm lengths) apart, wear masks, wash hands and sanitize often, and follow all state regulations. Even though you may consider it “rude” to skip a party or gathering, do not be afraid to say no and stay at home with your immediate family. Nobody should judge you or make you feel bad for trying to keep everyone safe. If you’re an older adult or person with certain medical conditions who is at an increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19 or live or work closely with someone at increased risk of severe illness, you should avoid in-person gatherings with people outside your household. My mother is 67 years old and has bad COPD, and her lungs are not the best. She suffers from chronic pneumonia, and she’s at a very high risk of catching it. So we’ve had to turn down some invitations because of the high risk it would represent. Even though this has been a tough year for a lot of us, there are things you can still do to enjoy the Holidays while social distancing. Go on a walk or a drive to see holiday decorations with the members of your immediate household. Learn a new recipe at home and cook more often with people who live with you. Do all your Holiday shopping online rather than in person. You can still share food and baked goodies with friends or relatives that are not the best in the kitchen, but consider delivering it to their doors without having direct contact with them. With all that said, I want to leave you with this message that resonated with me; 2020 may not have been the year we got everything we wanted, but it became the year in which we truly learned to appreciate everything we already had. Let us be thankful that despite everything, we’re still here fighting. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year 2021. Stay safe, everyone! Until next year!
Carla Dubis Tedeschi
6 DECEMBER 2020
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Tech Talk with Bob: Shop Safely Online
By Bob Dalles As the holidays quickly approach I find myself scrambling to get all my shopping done in time. Due to the COVID craziness I find that I am doing more of my holiday shopping online this year; and you may too. As holiday euphoria sets in we want to be sure that we do not drop our guard when shopping online. Here are a handful of tips to help improve your posture when it comes to shopping online safely. First and foremost, do not use your computer for any financial transactions if you are not certain that your computer itself is functioning 100% free of any viruses, spyware, keyloggers, Trojans or any other questionable software. If you question the integrity of your computer’s safety you need to have it checked out by a certified professional. My analysts and technicians can comb through your system to make sure it is squeaky clean and ready for
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safe online shopping. Second, make sure your computer is using robust antimalware software solutions to protect you. Be sure to keep that software up-to-date too. Third, be certain your computer’s operating system is up-to-date with all its latest tweaks and security patches. Security breaches discovered in your computer’s operating system can leave you extremely vulnerable to attackers. Fourth, not only does your computer need to be safe, but the network it is connected to must also be safe. Only shop online when you are connected to a trusted network. That means use your private home network not some public wi-fi hotspot at a park, restaurant, hotel, etc. Any information that you type into any website can be seen and even collected by the owner of the hotspot; or a malicious attacker who has hacked and taken control
of the hotspot. Online shopping from your private home network is typically safer than using a public hotspot.
Fifth, use credit cards instead of debit cards when shopping online. Banks these days are pretty good about protecting
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their card users against fraud. However, if you do have an issue with a transaction, you’ll have less of a headache if you used your credit card instead of your debit card. Sixth, vet your vendors. Don’t just buy from any website. It doesn’t take much to set up a website these days so you will find some really sketchy websites trying to sell you stuff. Be discriminating when it comes to websites you choose to enter your credit card number into. If your gut doesn’t feel right as you start to enter your card number, stop. Only buy from online vendors you are absolutely comfortable with. We have the ability to provide support without needing to send an IT Specialist out to your home or office. We can safely remote access your computer to perform most repairs. We can also remotely perform complete scans for viruses and other malware issues. So if you think you have malware, we can scan for it remotely from our location to yours. So, during this pandemic,
we can still provide technical support to you safely via your phone and internet connection. Cyber criminals will exploit the easy victims and unprotected systems. Protecting yourself online is your responsibility, but you do not have to do it all yourself. We’re here to help. If you are not sure your system is safe, please have it looked over by a Professionally Certified IT Specialist. Call us now at 727-534-4000. We’ve been helping folks restore their peace of mind, and sanity, with their technology for decades. We Keep You Safer In Your Digital World! 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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DECEMBER 2020 11
Grout Tech - Your Tile and Grout Specialist! 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 fraction of the cost. Grout Tech is a family owned business serving Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco Counties. With over 17 years of experience in the industry, Grout Tech specializes in cleaning and sealing tile and grout, recoloring grout, re-caulking showers and tubs, and repairing grout and broken tiles. Grout Tech will renew existing grout and tile to its original beauty by cleaning and maintaining the tile and grout lines. Jeremy G. and his wife were ready to re-tile their entire bathroom before calling BJ at Grout Tech. “Our bathroom tile was over 40 years old it was looking grungy and very dull. We called 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.” BJ 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
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Before
After
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 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.
to remove stains is seemingly impossible. 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 protected from any stains.
Because grout is a porous material, trying
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fantastic! Not only were they professional and reliable but they also completed the job much faster than we had anticipated.” Excellent Service Leads to Referrals 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. Grout Tech’s success stories say that before calling Grout Tech, their bathrooms, guest bathroom showers and floor grout, had deteriorated over time and the tiles were dull and stained. “The tile was in good condition but it was stained so we had Grout Tech come out and clean them and they turned out very well.” They were so pleased that they have already referred Grout Tech to neighbors in their community.
Before 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. Kathy G., a satisfied customer, shares her
After 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 re-grouted the tub, shower and base of our toilet in our bathroom. They were
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Grout Tech can also remove and re-caulk around sinks, baseboards, tubs and showers serving to clean up old moldy areas and keep your dry wall free from water damage. From old to new in just one day! To find out more about Grout Tech’s services or for a free estimate call BJ at 727-768-6828.
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“Aspire” story continued from page 1 to-face online consultations. She noted it is important for everyone to follow the coronavirus protocols: wear protective face masks whenever necessary, wash your hands frequently, try not to touch your face, and practice social distancing whenever you are around people–at least six feet between each person, minimum. It concerns her that many people disregard the science that is trying to protect them. She wears both face masks and a protective plastic shield when she sees any in-office patients for their own protection. Going the extra mile for her patients is what makes Dr. Melichar such a
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good doctor. There was never any doubt that Dr. Melichar’s continuous path of excellence would include her current distinguished career as a medical doctor. She always excelled academically throughout the school. A resident of New Port Richey, her academic path to excellence began at Gulf High School. Her drive to succeed included memberships in several prestigious organizations, including the National Honor Society, the Spanish Honor Society, and the Math Honor Society. Always interested in the needs of others, she also served as president of the Student Council. When it came time to choose her higher learning
institute, the University of South Florida was her obvious choice. Upon graduating, she attended medical school, completing her residency in Largo. Dr. Melichar looked forward to practicing medicine for her friends and neighbor in the New Port Richey community
where she grew up. When she was only fourteen years old, when girls imagine various careers and professions, Dr. Melichar already knew what she wanted to be, a doctor. To achieve her goal, she first volunteered at North Bay Hospital, where they
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later selected her for their Nurse Helper Program. It was a chance meeting with Kristy Kahen that solidified her plans. She cross-trained Dr. Melichar when she was just fifteen or sixteen years old. Aspire Medical hired Kristy as a Nurse Practitioner at the same time as Dr. Melichar. Dr. Melichar started in private practice with the
Aspire Medical Group. Although Aspire was new at the time Dr. Melichar joined, she certainly wasn’t. This was the community where she was raised. These were the friends and neighbors she grew up with. Although that explains her successful practice’s continued growth, Dr. Melichar is always willing to accept new patients with
the same friendly, outgoing attitude. In a previous interview, Dr. Melichar noted, “This is home to me, and the house I grew up in is just about five minutes from my office now.” Deciding to join a practice in New Port Richey was Doctor Melichar’s way of giving back to her community. Doctor Melichar’s general practice can see patients from sixteen to a hundred sixteen, for anything from pap smears to diabetes maintenance and everything in between. Concerned about the potential loss of information in larger practices, hers is just right, not too big, not too small. As she noted in a previous article, “Here, I want to be able to listen to
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our patients, get to know them individually, and listen to their problems. We have a calling for this.” What more could you ask from your doctor? Dr. Melichar’s practice welcomes new patients and continues to serve current ones, accepting all Medicare Advantage plans, including Humana, WellCare, and Optimum. Call Aspire Medical Group to make your appointment today at 727 807 -5900. The office is located at 7278 State Road 54, just a short distance from anywhere in New Port Richey and surrounding communities. Visit their website: www. aspiremedicalnpr.com, or Facebook page at https:// www.facebook.com/ aspiremedicalgroupllc/.
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DECEMBER 2020 19
“Bella Nails” story
continued from page 1 If you can’t remember the last time you were treated in luxury like this, then it’s time you head on over to Bella Nails & Spa on Highway 54 in Lutz. “The salon is absolutely loving, the staff is nice the establishment is new, and the vibe is ever young and light,” happy Bella Nails customer Vicki remarks. “Also I didn’t mention they offer an endless amount of beverages including WINE!! Lol.” And it’s true – the royal treatment at Bella Nails includes more than just providing wonderful nail services. The nail spa is also proud to serve complimentary beer, juice, water, wine, and soft drinks to help their customers relax. Whether you choose to walk in or make an appointment, or whether you’d prefer a simple manicure or a bold set of acrylics, Bella Nails
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& Spa has got you covered. Take it from those who enjoy excellent treatment when getting their nails done! Roseanne W. says, “This is a 5 star spa! The place is immaculately clean, the technicians are expertly trained and everything is state of the art.” This proves true, seeing how Bella Nails & Spa built such a great reputation at their former location of six years, that they had to relocate to a new unit in 2018…which is just a couple doors down! That’s right, Bella Nails is still conveniently located at the Sun Lake Plaza, but in a new facility, with 3 times the space! This gives the caring staff more room to accommodate more guests and provide the services they love in even more luxury. As Bella Nails’ owner Andy says, “Everything is brand new in here,” from top-of-the-line brands like OPI, A New Revolution, CND, and
Chisel, to the state of the art massage chairs, tables, and décor – the nail spa knows how to treat their customers right. And in taking care of their customers, Bella Nails, in the spirit of gratefulness, has recently been able to give back to front line/health care
workers in the area, by offering doctors, EMTs, nurses, police officers, fire fighters, etc., a complimentary classic pedicure as a thank you for their services to the community. This special, which took place in June, helped many front-line workers come in and take a load off,
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knowing that their hard work was much appreciated by the local community. In fact, the thank you special received such great feedback that the nail spa might offer it again once the pandemic ends. Just to give you an idea of the true variety of manis and pedis that Bella Nails offers, check out this review written by Francheska G: “Loved this place, went in for a pedicure walked out smelling like Starbucks lol….I tried the coffee pedicure and yummmmm it smelled so good my skin felt great.” Sonia, another satisfied customer of Bella Nails, said: “Just love getting the powder dip there are so many pretty colors!!!” Indeed, Bella Nails acquires high quality equipment and products, including 1500
different nail polish colors! Kaitlyn P. commented, “I love going to Bella nails, my nails last a long time. No chipping or breaks. Pedicures feel amazing, love the chairs.” Pedicures like the Coffee pedicure, for instance, include a “coffee-infused bath,” with a honey and coffee sugar scrub, a cappuccino mask, and a relaxing massage with coffeeinfused lotion and hot stones. Another delightful pedicure is the Milk and Honey, which comes with a honey sugar scrub in a calming bath with warm milk. Other signature pedicures at Bella Nails are the BIRdicure with instilled beer, the “bubbly” volcano pedicure, the Black Charcoal pedicure, the Refresh pedicure, the Bamboo Charcoal, the Cucumber Splash, the Mango Candy, and of
course the regular pedicure. While Bella Nails believes that “Beauty starts from the toes,” the nail spa also succeeds in providing their customers with top-notch manicure services, ranging from beautiful and simple manis to trendy SNS-Dipping Powder. They also have gel nails, acrylics, waterless manicures, and VOESH “Mani-in-a-box” treatments available. Nail enthusiast Laurie said, “I love going to Bella Nails! I go to Kevin, who is amazing! I can show him a picture of nails I like from Pinterest, and he can always duplicate!” And if you happen to be in the mood to get your eyebrows done while you’re at it, Bella Nails also offers a variety of waxing services, from full-face to Bikini and more.
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In addition to following CDC guidelines, Bella Nails maintains a very clean facility, using all disposable kits for manis and pedis services as well as thoroughly cleaning all tools and surfaces. While they are not taking group reservations at the moment, the nails spa does have private sections available for events. Currently, Bella Nails’ hours are 9:30-7:30 on weekdays, 11-7 on Saturdays, and 11-5 on Sundays. As a result of the many stellar services, the top-notch equipment, the beautiful facility, and the awesome rewards program, Bella Nails goers believe the spa is the best around, and some long-term fans like Rylee can’t “imagine going anywhere else.” She said, “I’ve watched them grow so much and I’m happy I found a place that really invests in and cares about their clients.” So next time you’re in the need of getting your nails professionally buffed or you simply want to relax in an elegant atmosphere with caring people who listen to what you want, you’ll know where to go! Bella Nails & Spa is located at 18937 State Road 54 in Lutz, 33558. Call to book an appointment at (813) 909-1234. Be sure to look Bella Nails up online at lutzbellanails.com and check out their Face Book page, Bella Nails & Spa - @ thebellanails.
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