Vol. 18, Issue 04, April 2022
®
Your community. Your magazine.
The Premier “Shop Local” Community Magazine Directly Mailed To 18,000 Homes In Trinity & Surrounding Areas This Independent Community News, Business & Dining Guide Is Directly Mailed Once Each Month To:
Aristida, Champion’s Club, Chelsea Place, Country Place, Ellington Estates North, Ellington Place, Fairway Springs, Fox Hollow, Foxwood, Greenbrook Estates, Heritage Lake, Heritage Springs, Hills Of San José, Hunter’s Ridge, Hunting Creek, Longleaf, Magnolia Estates, Nature’s Hideaway, Oak Ridge, Riverbend, Riverchase, River Crossing, River Oaks, Riverside Estates, Riverside Village, Riverside Villas, Seven Springs Golf & Country Club, Southern Oaks, Spring Lake, The Sabals, Thousand Oaks, Timber Greens, Trinity, Trinity East, Trinity Oaks, Trinity West, Veterans Village, Woodbend, Woodgate, Wyndgate & Wyndtree
Transport Your Tastebuds to Mexico at Carmelita’s New Port Richey! By Carla M. Dubis Tedeschi The first Carmelita’s opened in St. Petersburg over 35 years ago, and over time, additional locations opened in Largo, Pinellas Park, and Clearwater. Jose and Karla Salazar are the proud owners of the New Port Richey Location, and their story is humble and heartwarming and the epitome of the American dream.
Trinity Hearing and Balance Center Provides Hope for Those Suffering from Hearing, Dizziness and Balance Problems
See “Carmelita’s” on page 20
INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Editor.........................5 Jacobson Cullunary Arts............6
By Deborah Bostock-Kelley Imagine removing yourself from a group conversation because you couldn’t hear the words coming from your friends’ mouths or tinnitus, a constant high-pitched ringing in your ears that negatively impacts your days and causes sleepless nights. What about vertigo so bad you hesitate turning your head for fear of making the room spin? While in college, Dr. Kelly
Jose started working for Carmelita’s when he was just a teenager and managed to learn his way around the business. When he was employed by Carmelita’s, he worked his way up from busser to manager to a now proud owner. Jose and Karla opened up the old county road location in 2008 and have been providing their customers with the freshest,
Tech Talk....................................8 SAT/ACT...................................10 Jacob McLean..........................14 CMK Construction...............16-17 Mother’s Day Contest.........22-23 Kinnah Kreidler.........................26 Hayden Cockman.....................28 Classifieds.................................30
See Trinity Hearing & Balance on page 18
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Autism Awareness Month Recent CDC statistics revealed that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is 4.3 times more prevalent in boys than in girls. According to the Child Mind Institute, girls “often go undiagnosed because they don’t fit autism stereotypes and mask symptoms better than boys do.” April 2 celebrates World Autism Awareness Day. Autism prevalence is now one in every 59 children in America. There is no better way to support this day than by becoming aware of the characteristics of people with this condition and how we can do better to increase our understanding and promote kindness.
“Help Us. Help You” Tampa has expanded an innovative program that aims to enhance communication between first responders and individuals with special needs such as autism or any disability that affects their communication. This is a dual effort between Tampa Police Department and Tampa Fire Rescue to ensure citizens are safe when interacting with first responders. The first step is to voluntarily collect addresses and primary contact information for individuals with special needs. First responders will be able to access this vital in tbnewsandlifestyles.com an emergency or call For or visit For Advertising Advertising Info Info 727-943-0551 727-943-0551 II info@nnlflorida.com info@nnl- information
for service. Registered residents will be mailed stickers to place in the windows or doors of their home or vehicle. Please visit tampa.gov to fill out a City of Tampa Voluntary Special Needs Registry Form.
Additional Resources: Please go online and visit autismspeaks.org for valuable information and pledge to help create a safer world where all people with autism can reach their full potential by increasing understanding and acceptance.
Puzzle Ribbon - Show your
support for people and children with autism by wearing the Autism Awareness Puzzle Ribbon - as a pin on your shirt, car magnet, or social media picture.
Until next time,
Carla M. Dubis Tedeschi. APRIL 2022 5
Creamy Spring Carrot Soup Courtesy of Jacobson Culinary Arts Academy at Tarpon Springs High School melt butter and sauté on• 1 cup onion finely ion until soft and tender. chopped • 2 tablespoons butter or Add carrots, potatoes, and vegetable broth. butter-oil • 4 1/2 cups diced spring Cover and cook on medium heat 30 minutes carrots or until veggies are very • 1 large potato, peeled, tender. cubed Using a blender or im• 2 cans vegetable broth mersion blender to puree or 1 cup vegetable broth the soup right in the pot. powder • 3 cups heavy whipping Return to heat and add heavy whipping creme, creme • 3 teaspoons fresh pars- parsley, salt, and pepper. Cook over low heat until ley heated through. • 1/2 teaspoon salt, to Serve the soup gartaste nished with fresh parsley, • 1/8 teaspoon black chives, croutons, or a pepper, to taste dollop of crème fresh. Enjoy! In a large stockpot,
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APRIL 2022 7
Tech Talk with Bob: “I Think I’ve Been Scammed!”
Cybercriminals are using effective techniques in their scheme to separate you from your money. I regularly receive calls from folks saying, “I think I’ve been scammed! What do I do now?” My friend Kate fell victim to a scammer recently. While surfing the web, a message popped up on her screen. This “official looking” pop-up message instructed her to call a specific phone number because she had “a malware infection that needed immediate attention.” If that wasn’t bad enough, she also found herself locked out of her computer. It was frozen. No mouse. No keyboard. She felt her only option was to call the phone number on the screen, which she did. By the time those scammers finished with her they had not only taken control of her computer, but also convinced her that they could restore it to working order once she paid them $499.00. She did. These scammers called it a service charge. I call it extortion. Now mind you, Kate is a bright, intelligent woman who would typically never
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get taken for a ride. But these cybercrooks are extremely proficient at what they do. They constantly hone their skills conning trusting people who think they’re in trouble. Why do they do it? Scamming people in this fashion has proven to be exceptionally profitable. Most are offshore. Few get caught. Your best defense? Internet safety awareness and developing safer online habits to make it more problematic for these crooks to “have their way” with your computer and take control of your digital life. So, what do you do if you get a pop-up on your screen telling you to call a phone number or click on a link? First, take a picture of your screen with your cell phone. Be sure any phone number or website address is readable. Second, do not click on any links. Do not call any phone numbers. Third, immediately disconnect your computer from the internet and TURN IT OFF. And finally, CALL ME IMMEDIATELY at 727-5344000 for instructions on what to do next. What do you do if you receive a phone call from a stranger telling you that you have a malware infection or something else is wrong with your computer? Immediately hang up. Do not engage them in conversation. If they call back, hang up
again or don’t even answer. But what do you do if you have already downloaded their software to give them control of your computer? Immediately disconnect your computer from the internet and TURN IT OFF. Then, CALL ME IMMEDIATELY at 727534-4000 for instructions on what to do next. If you leave it on, they can monitor your activity, steal your data, and even ransom it. Leave your computer off until I have an opportunity to assess the safety of your system. What if you have given them your credit card number? Immediately call your card issuer and have your card and the transaction cancelled. Don’t wait to get your credit card statement. Call your bank and deal with this immediately. Some banks may require you to file a police report. This story does have a happy ending. I was able to purge the malware from Kate’s computer and give it a clean bill of health. She called her bank. They flagged the transaction for their fraud division; cancelled Kate’s credit card; and had a new card in the mail to her the very next day. If Kate had done nothing, she would have been scammed out of nearly 500-bucks. But even worse, those crooks would still have control of her computer. They could
spy on her or ransom her computer whenever they felt like it. Kate changed from being a passive victim to a vigilant internet user by recognizing and taking immediate control of her situation. These crooks can be intimidating. They’re relentless. They prey on a person’s fear of, and inexperience with, technology. Every time I speak with a victim of this scam, they always say the same thing. “I can’t believe I fell for it.” Sometimes their embarrassment of being scammed prohibits them from reaching out for help. Kate felt so much better when SHE took control of the situation. Be safer not sorrier. You do not have to be a casualty of these high-tech outlaws. Are you certain your computer is safe? You don’t have to do this alone my Friend. My staff and I are here to keep your computer safer and keep it running. My team repairs computers and secures them, on our bench, on-site in your home or office, and even remotely. We have the best solutions already in place and we’re only a phone call away. Call us anytime 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!
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APRIL 2022 9
SAT AND ACT IMPROVEMENT: EXPANDING BRIGHT FUTURES By Dr. Wayne Adams Upcoming Exam Dates: SAT on May 12th, June 4th, and August 27th; … ACT on April 2nd June 11th, and July 16th. The Florida Legislature is considering several bills that would expand the qualifications for Bright Futures to include paid paid work hours as well as volunteer hours. This is meant to help students who need or want to work. The lower academic award (around $18,000 over 4 years), called Florida Medallion Scholars Award, currently requires that a student complete 75 hours of volunteer work, along with certain academic requirements. That would include a weighted 3.0 GPA, an ACT score of at least 25, or SAT 1210. For the higher award (around $25,000 over 4 years), called Florida Academic Scholars Award, requires 100 hour of volunteer work, plus a weighted 3.5 GPA, and an ACT score of at least 29 or 1330 for the SAT. For more information about this possibility, go to https://floridaphoenix. com/2022/02/18/big-changes. To help my parents and students in quickly comparing colleges and universities, I have now developed a quick and easy way to get the most current and detailed information available on the Internet. You can quickly find out such information as national ranking, type, ranges of SAT and ACT scores for acceptance, campus life,
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overall and net costs, starting salaries, mid-career earning levels, and much more. This is particularly helpful when combined with my guide “Negotiating with Colleges” that has helped save my students $1,000 to $10,000/ year in college costs. This is part of the first halfhour of each prep class where I almost always meet with the parent(s) and student(s) so we can get to know each other, they can hear the philisophies underlying the classes that have proven so successful for my students, and see how I aim for each student and family to have their best possible futures … including doing their best on SAT and/or ACT Exams. As we all move into spring, many SENIORS are working on bringing up their exam scores up to qualify for the 75% or the 100% Bright Futures Scholarship (about $25,000). We have until the last SAT Exam on Saturday, June 4th, to qualify with the SAT, and until the last ACT Exam on Saturday, June 11th, to qualify with the ACT. At this point, it is not unusual to do a “Skill Strengthening” class to improve either the Writing and Language / Reading combined score or the Math score on the SAT, or either the English and Reading combined score or the Math and Science combined score on the ACT. These focused classes are about half the hours of a full prep class. Sometimes, when we are aiming for more improvement, we do the full prep classes. My JUNIORS and some SOPHOMORES are usually
focused on getting ahead with preparing for the SAT and/or ACT and either work over the spring, or get set to prepare starting right after school finishes for the ACT in mid-July and/or the SAT the last Saturday in August. For students wanting to do a combination class of ACT and SAT, we can finish either the week just before school resumes in August (with a complementary, additional review class the week before the SAT), or the week before the actual SAT Exam. During the summer, we easily schedule around family vacations, summer jobs, athletic commitments, and “surprises” as they may arise. If You Would Like To Talk More About Your Student … Please contact me at 727-2530639 or send me an email at wwa0811@mykolab.com. Dr. Wayne Adams is one of the leading SAT and ACT tutors in the country. His students normally improve 200+ points on the Writing, Reading, Writing and Essay, and Math, and 4 – 7 points on the ACT composite. They have been admitted to 8 of
the top 10 universities in the country, 18 of the top 25, 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, Naval - Air Force - 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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12 APRIL 2022
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APRIL 2022 13
Live to lift
Jacob McLean, a weightlifter at J.W. Mitchell High School, was selected as a Gregg Schindler Student Athlete for April. By Hanna Carberry-Simmering
“I get a good night’s sleep and I normally have to cut weight so I
At the start of this year, Jacob
don’t eat a lot before. I haven’t lost
McLean decided to join the
any of the meets, I’ve either gotten
J.W. Mitchell High School boys
first or second for my weight
weightlifting team after he had
class,” McLean said.
started lifting two years ago. His
McLean’s first year on the
personal record as of now is 245lb
team has been successful with
bench and 205lb clean and jerk. As
him heading to districts. Because
the weightlifting season came to a
he did well at districts he’ll be
close, Mclean prepared for districts
heading to regionals and possibly
on April 2.
states afterwards. He started
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At the district meet on April 2, Jacob McLean proudly wears his medal from the tournament. McLean moves on to regionals April 6 – 8. Photo provided by Jacob McLean
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weightlifting after experiencing self esteem issues. “I used to be pretty insecure about my body so I wanted to change it though lifting and then I really just got attached to it,” McLean said. He practices after school with the rest of the boys weightlifting team, normally on Mondays and Wednesdays. Coach Chris McFarland (FAC) coaches the boys weightlifting team during spring and is an assistant football coach during fall, while teaching the weightlifting class at school. “He’s a first-year lifter. He won conference and he’s done a great job this year helping and just being a positive role model for all the other students,” Coach McFarland said. Congratulations to Jacob McLean, Gregg Schindler Male Student Athlete of the Month.
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APRIL 2022 15
CMK Construction–Your Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling Experts
By Tom Bostock
Construction:
It’s not by accident that CMK Construction has become the “go-to” contractor for kitchen and bathroom remodeling in the tri-county areas of Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties in Florida. When wife and husband owners Courtney and Manny Kavouklis first established CMK Construction in 2004, they committed to providing the highest quality kitchen and bathroom remodeling products, accessories, and services available in Tampa Bay. From that humble beginning, their commitment to their customers remains as strong as ever. With multiple fivestar online reviews, read what just a few of their many recently satisfied customers had to say about their experience with CMK
What a difference a project manager makes!
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Carole P. 5 months ago “What a difference a project manager makes! After a slow and stressful start… Everything went smoothly after the project manager, Collin, took over my shower remodel. He was knowledgeable about construction, so he was able to make suggestions to improve the project. He communicated daily and kept me informed about what to expect. All crew members were professional and considerate. Everyone was on time. This includes the demo crew, plumber, and Joey, who framed, installed the Schluter system, and tiled it. Communication and responsiveness from
Collin and the crew turned an initial stressful situation into a positive experience. The result was a beautiful shower.” Master Bathroom Remodel Bill H. 7 months ago “I recently got my master bathroom remodeled by CMK Construction. I am very happy with their work, and they made the entire process go very smoothly. From my initial meeting with Kelly for a quote, which was by far the best quote out of three companies, while using the best quality material, to my meeting with Jessica to pick out all the materials, where she understood my taste and offered her ideas, to my meeting with Anthony, the project manager, who was my point of contact throughout the entire
project and kept me informed every step of the way, everyone knew exactly what I wanted before construction began. The construction crew, Joe and Scott, did an amazing job, and I was very happy with how the bathroom turned out. It looks absolutely beautiful. Even with a couple of minor issues noticed after completion, CMK manager, Dylan, sent the electrician and the guys back to take care of them. They did not finish until I was completely satisfied. Dylan and Anthony made sure that everything that I wanted to take care of was finished in a timely manner. I plan to have CMK remodel my other two bathrooms in the near future. I would highly recommend CMK to my friends and family for their home improvement needs.
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Thank you to everyone at CMK Construction.” If you visit their website https://www. cmkconstructioninc.com/ or Facebook page, there are many more similar reviews to choose from. “Products are a big part of our customer experience,” Manny said, stressing the quality of the products CMK installs during their remodeling
projects. “We are the bath and kitchen remodeling experts,” he noted, explaining that doing the same thing over and overdevelops and installation expertise. Their product choices also reflect CMK’s focus on quality. One of their bathroom providers, Schluter, like several of their other vendors, even provides a lifetime warranty. The ’customer
experience’ Manny noted begins with your initial phone call. Unlike other contractors, following an initial, no-cost consultation visit from an experienced installation expert, a project specialist, to determine the cost of your project during an in-house consultation. Then design experts at their 4000 square foot showroom feature hundreds of products and accessories
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to customize and enhance your remodel project to your perfection. All materials, ordered and received in their special warehouse, are delivered to your job site, ready for installation by the experienced CMK team, overseen by a project manager, explicitly assigned for your remodel. Your satisfaction is their goal! Caveat Emptor. Buyer beware. Not all remodeling contractors are the same, and Manny offers several suggestions to potential buyers: Research the company and the products they will use. Are they quality products, or more inferior ones? Do they offer a warranty on those products? Is the company large enough to get your remodeling completed promptly? In our Covid era, workers are in short supply. Are they licensed, bonded, and insured? When looking for a remodeling expert, you owe it to yourself to choose the best, CMK Construction, voted the Best of the Best by the Tampa Bay Times, ‘Triple A’ rated by the Better Business Bureau, and recipient of multiple awards for quality and service. Call or come by today for all your bath and kitchen remodeling needs. You’ll be so glad you did! CMK Construction, 13329 W. Hillsborough Ave, Unit 104. Call 727800-1644 for a FREE, noobligation consultation for your remodeling project.
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Trinity Hearing & Balance- story
ear disorders are as varied
continued from page 1 Hansen thumbed through a catalog and was intrigued by an audiology class description. That class set in motion the path to her practice. “I really liked the class and continued in the science field.” After obtaining both her undergraduate and graduate degrees at Purdue and her Doctorate of Audiology at the Arizona School of Health Science, Dr. Hansen received her clinical board certification from the American Academy of Audiology and is “clinically certified by the American SpeechLanguage Hearing Association.” Founded in 2006, Dr. Hansen opened Trinity Hearing and Balance Center to give those dealing with hearing and balance issues hope and remedy. At Trinity Hearing and Balance Center, Dr. Hansen and her team work with you to diagnose and find solutions for your hearing, tinnitus, and balance needs. They use state-ofthe-art equipment, the most advanced technology available, and the latest advances in digital hearing aids to meet your individual hearing needs. Reasons behind impaired hearing and inner
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as the patients themselves. This is not a cookiecutter, one-size-fits-all treatment. Because their focus is on your individual, unique needs, the care you receive is specific to what you are dealing with, providing follow-up that ensures the treatment is working for you as intended. “We do diagnostic testing for hearing and fit hearing aids for all lifestyles and budgets. All doctors at our practice are doctors of audiology.”
Dr. Hansen said a con-
siderable difference exists between non-doctors fitting hearing aids, hearing aids self-fit ordered online and visiting licensed audiologists. If a hearing aid is needed, Trinity Hearing and Balance Center has access to all major manufacturers as using just one company may not be substantial to meet all of your hearing needs. They offer in the ear “invisible” hearing aids, over-the-ear hearing aids and even the ones that work in conjunction with your smartphone.
For tinnitus, The AGX
tinnitus solution treats the symptoms of your specific audio sensations by matching the tonal pitch of your tinnitus. “It’s the prescription, how they’re fit, how they’re tested – there is such a wide range,” she explained. “Often, the people who come here have stopped living their lives because they can’t hear. They are withdrawn because they haven’t been able to carry on a conversation. When we fit them with the right hearing aids
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and the right prescription and offer all follow-up care with our’ patient for life’ program, they are in tears when they tell us they never realized how much they’ve been missing. That makes such a nice story.” On the other side of the practice, Dr. Hansen provides relief for dizziness and vertigo. Dizziness and vertigo can occur when the inner ear, working with the brain and eyes to control balance, becomes out of sync. The Trinity Hearing and Balance Center professional staff are committed to finding answers for you and will work with you. “That’s the tricky part. There can be so many different reasons for vertigo. We are just one piece of the puzzle as we rule in or rule out if it is the inner ear. Many physicians refer their patients to us to see if it is caused by their inner ear that is contributing.” One of the most common causes of vertigo is
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) — the sudden sensation that you’re spinning or that the inside of your head is spinning. Usually triggered by changes in your head’s position, BPPV causes mild to intense dizziness. If the testing result is BBPV, treatment is provided in the Epley Omniax chair, where the treatment of the crystals in your ear is repositioned. “The chair tilts them in different positions. A good percent of the time, one treatment is all that is needed. It’s a relatively simple twenty-minute treatment, and no pain is involved. We maneuver them, and once the particle is positioned, the vertigo is resolved. “We do diagnostic testing for hearing and dizziness and balance problems with equipment to assess both. We have a balance platform to assess balance and an Epley Omniax System to check, test
for, and provide treatment for vertigo. The Omniax System sets us apart from others as there are just a handful in the United States.” Trinity Hearing and Balance Center acquired this sophisticated system as soon it was available, being the first in Tampa Bay and the United States to use this diagnostic tool and the world as well. The System allows Dr. Hansen and her team to rule out various causes of vertigo, allowing for more precise treatment and a greater chance of success. Dr. Hansen and her team pride themselves on keeping on top of the latest information in man-
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aging both hearing and balance issues. Whether your problem is hearing or balance-related, Trinity Hearing and Balance Center is always at the forefront of treatments and state-of-the-art technology. “When our patients have been avoiding things for so long, and now, they can go back to doing the things they enjoy doing, that’s always a nice feeling.” Trinity Hearing and Balance is conveniently located in New Port Richey at 8605 Easthaven Ct., Ste 101. Call (727) 755-0391 or visit www. trinityhearingandbalance. com.
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“Carmelita’s” story continued from page 1 most delicious homemade Mexican food and unmatched customer service that has made Carmelita’s a Bay area staple. They have two children, Sebastian and Sofia. Sofia is currently pursuing a business degree with a possible master’s in business law at the University of Central Florida. Sebastian was accepted into several medical schools after finishing his master’s degree at Johns Hopkins University; now, he has another hard choice to make. Carmelita’s exudes Mexican culture from the moment you walk in, with its bright, colorful decor and family-friendly atmosphere. The taste of the homemade food is authentically indigenous to Mexico. The portions are large, and the prices are affordable despite the supply issues most small local restaurants have been facing since the COVID-19 pandemic started. “We are still pushing through! We’re finally operating at 100% capacity and no longer enforcing a mask mandate. We respect everyone’s opinions on the matter, and we work diligently to keep customers comfortable in a safe and clean environment for everyone,” says Jose Salazar. “But I couldn’t have made it without my wife Karla, the hard work of my staff, and the overwhelming
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continuing support of the Tampa Bay community.” I was able to personally feel that support for Carmelita’s and the Salazars when I was flooded by messages online after posting on my social media a few photos of the magnificent feast I had last time I visited the restaurant. What I find truly beautiful about this whole situation is that my followers come from various countries with diverse nationalities, backgrounds, and ethnicities. But if we can all agree on anything, it is on how much we all enjoy fresh food and consistency. It doesn’t matter your skin color, political inclination, or religion; we all have to eat! As the famous cookbook author James Beard said, “Good is our common ground, a universal human experience.” “Is that Carmelita’s…the
one at New Port Richey?” said my American friend Jason D. “I go there all the time. Their Nachos con Carne are amazing!” Well, I couldn’t agree more with him! I have been lucky enough to have enjoyed these nachos a few times during my visits. A heaping plate of homemade toasted tortilla chips topped with
seasoned ground beef and a blend of cheeses finished off with tomatoes, green onions, black olives, sour cream, and guacamole. “Is Jose still the owner of that Carmelita’s?” asked my Venezuelan friend Andreina V. “I met him and his wife a while back! The Salazars are a very beautiful, honest, and hard-working
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instead of dealing with third parties,” says Jose. “Again, we are greatly thankful and blessed for the support of ur patrons and loyal staff.” Daily Specials & Taco Tuesdays! Nobody does Taco Tuesdays like Carmelitas! Stop by next Tuesday to enjoy ALL YOU CAN EAT tacos for only $13.49, served with two sides! Daily specials are listed on a whiteboard by the entrance, so check them out if you’re in the mood for something different not on the menu.
family. They always greet me and treat me like a family member. The food is amazing and always consistent, but the service and the people are what keeps my family, and I am coming back for more.” “The chicken taquitos are to die for. Now I need to go get them!” said my Indian friend Elie R. “I go to
Carmelita’s frequently with my family, and the Taquitos are always our main appetizer!” I hadn’t had the opportunity to try them until last time, and now I couldn’t agree with my friend Elie more. Multiple bite-size flour or corn tortillas stuffed with seasoned chicken and cheese, fried and served on a bed of lettuce, garnished
with sour cream and guacamole. The Salazar’s positivity and resiliency are remarkable. Today, even in the face of adversity with COVID, supply issues, and food price increases, Jose and Karla continue to provide their regulars and new visitors with fresh, homemade Mexican food and impeccable customer service, making Carmelita’s a Bay area staple. Due to high cost and volume errors, they will be reconsidering their delivery through UberEats and DoorDash, so Jose is encouraging everyone to please stop by and carry out. “At the end of the day, it benefits us all. We get to serve you and your family better in person, and we’re able to fix any food issues faster or provide you with instant credits
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Do NOT leave without at least sharing a dessert! Satisfy your sugar cravings with a delicious cheesecake burrito! Rich, smooth cheesecake with a slightly tangy finish, rolled in a melt-in-yourmouth, flaky pastry tortilla, served with vanilla ice cream, and drizzled with delicious caramel topping and whipped cream. Other fantastic options include fried ice cream, apple chimichangas, traditional Mexican custard (flan), mouth-watering sopapillas, and churros! Carmelita’s Mexican Restaurant - New Port Richey is conveniently located at 8526 Old County Rd 54, New Port Richey, FL 34655. Open Monday through Sunday from 11:00 am to 9:30 pm. Questions? Email info@ carmelitas.net or call them directly at 727-376-4800.
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Mothers are Queens - Make Her Feel As Such with a Royal Makeover at Shears of Trinity!
Mothers are Queens. It may sound cliche but it is every bit as true. We’ve all been so accustomed to her being around and in charge of the affairs that sometimes we forget she deserves some recognition for all her hard work, and definitely some pampering. Lori McEwen and the rest of the talented
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staff at Shears of Trinity invite you to participate in their Mommy Royal Makeover contest, in which one fortunate mama will win an incredible experience at the salon, where she will be treated like the Queen she is! Royal Makeover Contest Rules: • To participate you
have to nominate another client. Individuals cannot nominate themselves. Please provide their full name, phone number, or email address.
• All entries must be submitted by text at 727-236-1790, by email: shearsoftrinity@gmail. com, or by Facebook message,
no later than May 1st, 5:00 pm. • The winner will be announced on Thursday, May 5th via Facebook Live. Make sure to like and follow @ShearsOfTrinity. • The winner will be contacted by the information submitted with their nomination.
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$75.00 OFF of a Full Keratin Treatment, or receive an express Keratin treatment for only $75.00!
Additional Salon Specials include: Gifts certificates - Pur-
chase a $50.00 certificate and receive an additional $10 off services certificate. (Maximum 3 services certificates per
client) Give your hair a royal treatment with
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Select Redken, Pureology & Matrix products Buy one get one for $10 With over fifty years of combined experience, the staff at Shears of Trinity are waiting to make all mothers feel like Royalty! (727) 236-1790 Call today for a stylish tomorrow.
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24 APRIL 2022
For Advertising Info 727-943-0551 I info@nnlflorida.com or visit tbnewsandlifestyles.com
For Advertising Info 727-943-0551 I info@nnlflorida.com or visit tbnewsandlifestyles.com
APRIL 2022 25
Can’t Stop Kreidler
J.W. Mitchell High School junior Kinnah Kreidler leads her team on and off the softball field
By Sofia Chianella Starting when she was younger, Kinnah Kreidler has always dominated the sport of softball. Multiple times, she was chosen for the West Pasco Girls Fast Pitch All Star team, a group of hand-selected players that traveled to other softball tournaments in the area. As she grew older, Kreidler used her experience from advanced teams such as All Stars to earn a position on a travel team, a group of girls who travel to tournaments all around the state, and sometimes even the nation. Kreidler leads the Mitchell Mustangs with the highest batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage as well as the most home runs, hits, and stolen bases. She assists her fellow teammates with areas of the sport they grapple with. “Just because I may have some more experience, I try and help
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Kinnah Kreidler flashes a smile at a home game versus Anclote High School. Mitchell won the game 16-0. Photo by Sofia Chianella them, especially if they play the same position as me and we are working on that specific position, or even just little things [like] hustling on and off the field, and reminding them of some things,” Kreidler said. While success
for Kreidler has been achieved, she humbly understands that softball comes with its challenges, specifically the mental aspect. “When you’re playing you have to be in the right mindset the whole entire game and
you can’t get down on yourself,” Kreidler said. Keeping a positive mentality, Kreidler has used fourtime All American former collegiate and professional All Star softball player Sierra Romero as her inspiration
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for success. “She was on the Michigan softball team and I’ve always looked up to her since I was little. She has always been one of my favorite softball players,” Kreidler said. Over the past three years, practicing every day as a catcher on Varsity, Kreidler developed relationships with all of her teammates, including her coach Mr. Scott Bisbe (FAC) who she now shares a strong bond with. According to Coach Bisbe, Kreidler has a
0.474 batting average as of April 2. She has 18 hits in 38 at bats with 13 runs batted in, one double, one triple and three home runs. The catcher has also thrown out two runners trying to steal. Her success on the diamond spills over to her teammates in the dugout. “They hype you up all the time, especially when you get a good hit. It’s kind of contagious because then everybody starts getting hits, too,” Kreidler said. With this dedication
and commitment, at the age of 17, Kreidler committed to further her athletic career at the University of Tampa, a prestigious school with an elite softball program. Because the school is close to home, Kreidler will have the opportunity
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to explore the area she will live in in just a year. “I get to go there all the time, even if it’s just going out to Tampa. I love being in the environment, it makes me so comfortable and happy,” Kreidler said.
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Catching Fastballs and Attention
Gregg Schindler Athlete of the month Hayden Cockman looks back on his senior year on the Mitchell baseball team and discusses his future plans By Emma Diehl Mitchell High School senior Hayden Cockman has taken home one of this months’ Male Gregg Schindler Athlete of the Month award for his work on the baseball diamond. Cockman is above the national average for runs batted in, games played, batting average, on base percentage, and runs, making him one of the team’s top fielding performers. His desire to play grew when he was young. “[I decided to play baseball when] I moved down to Florida. I started playing when I was 11,” Cockman said. This being Cockman’s first year at Mitchell, he grew into his leadership role for the Mustangs. “[I have shown initiative] by controlling the field and calling out all of the plays. [My favorite position to play is] catcher because that is the position I play right now,” Cockman said. In his senior year this season, Cockman signed with the College of Central Florida in Ocala to continue his career at the next level. Coach Howard Chittum (FAC) nominated Cockman for the Student Athlete of the Month honor, and Cockman claims Coach Chittum had the biggest influence on his athletic career.
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Senior Hayden Cockman takes his catcher’s stance on March 23, at the game against George Jenkins High School. The Mustangs won the game 3-2. Photo by Emma Diehl “He got me committed and signed to the college I am going to play at next year. [I chose the College of Central Florida] because I felt at home,” Cockman said. On March 16, the team played Cypress Creek in the Farm Bureau Classic and walked off to make it to the final game of the
tournament. The team’s energy during the last inning propelled them to victory. “He was great defensively and got on base a lot. He had some really key hits. He has done a phenomenal job as our catcher, which is such an important position because you’re handling the baseball every play of the game,”
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Coach Chittum said. After seven years in the sport, Cockman has learned quite a few lessons from playing baseball. “Baseball has taught me a ton of discipline, and how to be responsible. You just
have to work hard, be coachable, and do what other people don’t do,” Cockman said. Congratulations to Hayden Cockman, this month’s Gregg Schindler Athlete of the Month.
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APRIL 2022 29
TRINITY AREA CLASSIFIEDS HELP WANTED
are available as well as one-to-one in-person teaching. Call 941-9620028.
Spartan Marketing Group, LLC is hiring energy (electric/ gas) sales reps. No cap on commission, no weekends, paid company trips. $1200 per week easy! Call today at 727-4202301 or stop by: 40349 US Hwy 19 N, Suite 402, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689.
WINDOW CLEANING Custom Edge Window Cleaning. Residential and commercial. Reasonable rates. Also offering Vinyl window cleaning. Fully licensed and insured. Call Gary at 727-877-5650 for a FREE estimate!
ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE Experienced teacher with two master’s degrees and knowledge of Spanish and French. ESL certified with 120-hour course through Oxford Seminars, both classroom, and practicum. I seek students who are motivated to learn conversational English, reading, and writing. I charge $25 per hour and live in New Port Richey. Zoom meetings
30 APRIL 2022
Mary’s Spotless Touch Cleaning Service, Inc.- Licensed, Insured and Bonded for your piece of mind. We offer both residential and commercial cleaning and have been cleaning in the area for 15 years. No home/office too large or small. We are extremely pet friendly, pay attention to detail that is often overlooked and supply all the necessary cleaning products to efficiently clean your home/office and leave it smelling and
looking wonderful!!We also offer other cleaning services such as carpet cleaning, deep cleaning, windows, etc. Weekly, biweekly and monthly rates available. Now also accepting Visa, MC, American Express, and Discover for your convenience. Call for a free estimate today with a dependable and trustworthy company!! Call Mary (727) 3890347. LOW COST PRESSURE CLEANING. HOUSES • POOL CAGES • DRIVEWAYS AND SIDEWALKS • POOL DECKS • PVC FENCES • CLEAN OUT GUTTERS • CALL DARIN. www. lowcostpressurecleaning. com. 20+ years experience. Licensed and insured. (727) 207-9176 A NEW LOOK Pressure Washing. 2 car driveway $75 (includes all front sidewalks). 3 car driveway
$95 (call for long driveways). Pool decks & cages $125-$200. I also gently clean home exteriors, gutters, soffits, lanai’s & fences - Free estimates. Heritage Springs, Trinity & other local areas. Resident of www. 34655. anewlookpw.com Call Randy 727-271-2920 ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR FAMILY OWNED AND OWNER OPERATED ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR. Owner performs all jobs. We offer many services, from switch replacements to ceiling fan installations and more. Reasonable rates. Keep this ad on your refrigerator, we do troubleshooting as well! Licensed, EC13005494, and insured. Call CHARGER ELECTRICAL SERVICES @ 727-9375999.
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For Advertising Info 727-943-0551 I info@nnlflorida.com or visit tbnewsandlifestyles.com
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