Vol. 18, Issue 02, February 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
Rizzotto Wealth Management As the 2021 tax return deadline approaches, it is a perfect time for those ages 55 or older to take advantage of a $99 fee to have their income taxes prepared with a company that is trusted for going the extra mile for its clients. Rizzotto Wealth Management extends their $99 flat-rate fee for federal returns (state returns are included if applicable) to Active & Retired Military, First Responders, Government Employees and Educators of any age. All tax returns are
prepared by one of the firm’s Senior Tax Preparers or IRS Enrolled Agents. If you don’t fit into one of the mentioned categories, give them a call to inquire about their special pricing. Through changing tax environments, it is crucial to work with a firm that is up to date on policy and can help you navigate through the stressful tax season ahead. At Rizzotto Wealth Management you will find a team of Investment, Insurance, Tax & Legal Experts. They have recently opened their doors in
a more spacious and upgraded office and are ready to serve all of your financial needs at their new location. They specialize in educating their clients on subjects such as: how to preserve your assets, how to diversify your portfolio
Pasco Window & Door, Helping Protect Homes from Hurricanes, Thieves & Noise! By Carla M. Dubis First established in 1941, Pasco Window & Door (PWD) is currently one of the oldest running businesses in New Port Richey, Fl. PWD is a longstanding company that performs repairs in addition to selling and installing new, high-quality products. See “PWD” on page 18
for growth and safety, and how to create more income for retirement while reducing your taxes. Rizzotto Wealth Management is committed to assisting their clients
See “Rizzotto” on page 20
INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Editor........................5 Jacobson Cullunary Arts.........6-7 SAT and ACT..........................8-9 Advent Health....................10-11 Tech Talk..................................14 Athletes of the Month........26-27 Club Member of the Month....28 Classifieds.................................30
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Heartfelt Words For February February is full of history, romance, and heart-shaped everything. Oh yes, love is in the air! But so is COVID-19. A couple of years into the pandemic, the evidence is clear. The virus is transmitted predominantly through the air.
Celebrated every February since 1976, Black History Month’s theme for 2022 conveniently focuses on the importance of Black Health and Wellness. Health and Wellness include not only one’s physical body but also emotional and mental health.
Focusing on our health has never been more critical. And being that February is a month dedicated to affairs of the heart, let me get straight to the point. Heart disease is still the No.1 killer of Americans. And people with poor cardiovascular health are at increased risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 and its variants.
I have learned in my 36 years of life, with several of them battling a couple of autoimmune diseases, that as long as you have good health and the love and support of your family, everything else that life throws you, you can endure.
Through my editorials, I like to encourage positive thinking and promote healthier ways of living, not just during the pandemic, but as a consistent part of our lives. The good news is that heart disease is preventable in most cases with smarter lifestyle choices. Some of them include: • Not smoking. • Maintaining a healthy weight. • Controlling blood sugar and cholesterol. • Treating high blood pressure. • Getting at least 20 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per day. • Getting regular health checkups.
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Please drink more water — This is a self-reminder and a reminder to all of my readers. Are you experiencing headaches or muscle cramping? You could be dehydrated. Most of us do not drink enough fluids—which is extremely important if we consider that the human body is made up of 60% water! So let’s stay hydrated in Tampa Bay! In the still overhanging shadows of this confusing pandemic, we should all do our part to share helpful resources and valuable information that can positively impact the overall health of our local community. Let’s continue to make wise and healthy choices for ourselves and our loved ones. Until next time,
Carla M. Dubis Tedeschi. FEBRUARY 2022 5
Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta Mandarin Orange and Berries JACOBSON CULINARY ARTS ACADEMY AT TARPON SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL • 1 ½ cups plus 2 Tablespoons heavy cream • ¼ cup sugar • ½ cup of whole milk • 2 teaspoons powered gelatin • 1 vanilla bean split and scraped for seeds • Zest of mandarin orange Simple Syrup • ½ cup water • ½ cup sugar • ¼ cup Spring Florida Honey • ½ orange or mandarin juiced • Mandarin orange slices • Star anise Garnishes:Raspberries Blackberries Valrhona Chocolate Pearls (optional), Freshly whipped cream Directions: Split vanilla been down middle and
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scrape out the seeds. Add the cream, milk, sugar, vanilla bean seeds and zest. Bring just to a boil, remove from heat, cover and let steep for 10 minutes. Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil, place 2 tablespoons of boiling water in a small heatproof bowl. Using a heatproof bowl, combine the hot water and gelatin mix, stirring until dissolved. Add the dissolved gelatin to cream mixture, stir with spoon and strain through a fine sieve. Cool slightly, pour into little jars or ramekins, and chill for at least 3 hours or 4 hours. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, add sugar, star anise, water, honey, mandarin orange juice, Bring to a low boil. Reduce syrup by half over medium heat, stirring often. Remove from heat, chill. Place mandarin slices over set panna cotta, cover with simple syrup, add berries,
chocolate pearls and whip cream. Enjoy!
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SAT AND ACT IMPROVEMENT: LOOKING AHEAD
By Dr. Wayne Adams
Bright Futures Scholarships are always of high interest with my students and parents because they can represent about $18,000 to $25,000 during a four year period at a public university in Florida, and eligibility can help in negotiating the best college “deals” with both private and nonFlorida public universities out-of-state. At this time, there appear to be no changes in award levels and qualifications for either the 100% or 75% levels for 20222023. But significant possible changes are being discussed now in the Florida legislature, which controls the Bright Futures program. The most significant idea is to modify the program was recently voiced by Chris Sprowls who recently told reporters the state needs to focus on its workforce priorities, and that it’s up to students to choose their majors carefully. “We have to rethink how we subsidize every degree to the same degree,” he said. Possible options being discussed include fully funding as before majors in STEM, healthcare, and other majors, and only fully funding majors deemed not as worthwhile for the first two years. In other words, a computer science major would be fully funded, and a 16th Century Literature major only for the first two years. Part of my guides and booklets for each of my student’s and their families includes a guide to multiple websites where everyone can get an idea of the average net cost, normal graduation rate after 4 - 6 years, average starting salary after graduation, normal average income multiple years after graduation, and average college debt for most colleges and universities today. As a former Dean of a Graduate School of Business, I can attest that colleges and universities are a business … just with different names for things such as “profit” being “surplus”. The ultimate key to education is positive cash flow for the colleges and universities.
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All of my students and parents are well-aware that higher education is an investment, and needs to be evaluated in many ways including short and long term financial. This is always part of the first half hour of our first class as we get to know each other, and we discuss how the classes are designed to help my students and their families have their best possible futures … including doing their best on these exams. This is also why my Negotiating with Colleges and Universities Guide is so popular with my families. Not only is it often a surprise that you can negotiate, my families have saved from $1,000 to $10,000 a year in college costs by knowing many ways to nicely, effectively help negotiate the best educational deals. 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 727-253-0639 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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AdventHealth North Pinellas Recognized as One of the Best Hospitals for Emergency Care by the 2022 Women’s Choice Award®
AdventHealth North Pinellas has been named one of America’s Best Hospitals for Emergency Care by the Women’s Choice Award®, America’s trusted referral source for the best in healthcare. The award signifies the hospital is in the top one percent of 4,728 U.S. hospitals offering emergency care services. “We are honored to be recognized as one of the best hospitals in the nation for emergency care,” said Jason Dunkel, AdventHealth North Pinellas President and CEO. “This recognition highlights our commitment to providing expert, compassionate emergency care to our community.” AdventHealth North Pinellas is one of only 477 award recipients in the U.S representing the hospitals that have met the highest standards for emergency care in the U.S. by the Women’s Choice Award. The award recognizes excellence in emergency care based on several process of care measures focused on time patients spent in the emergency department, including: • Total Time Spent in the Emergency Department • Percent of Emergency Patients Who Left Without Being Seen
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“This is a testament to the work and dedication that our team brings each and every day,” said Dr. Jeremy White, ER Medical Director at AdventHealth North Pinellas. “We are committed to providing safe, high-quality care, and to have that work recognized is gratifying.” Criteria for selecting AdventHealth North Pinellas as one of America’s Best also included the percentage of patients who came to the emergency department with stroke symptoms who received brain scan results within 45 minutes of arrival. Also included this year were hospitals that performed well in responding to patients showing symptoms of severe sepsis, a very dangerous condition. The awarded hospitals represent those with emergency departments with average measure times in the highest 25th to 50th percentile in the country. The methodology for America’s Best Hospitals for Emergency Care award is unique in that it combines Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey results with primary research about women’s healthcare preferences. According to the Women’s Choice Award®,
women make or influence 94% of all healthcare decisions for themselves and others. They want to be confident that they know which emergency departments in their communities will take care of their loved ones quickly and with the best possible care. For more information about the America’s Best Hospitals for Emergency Care, please visit https:// womenschoiceaward.com/ best-emergency-care About AdventHealth North Pinellas AdventHealth North Pinellas, located in Tarpon Springs, is a 168-bed, full-service hospital specializing in cardiovascular medicine, emergency medicine, orthopedics, and spine care, wound healing, sleep medicine, women’s care, and general surgery
including minimally invasive and robotic-assisted procedures. AdventHealth North Pinellas has been nationally recognized by the American Heart Association, the American Stroke Association, The Joint Commission, and The Leapfrog Group, for excellence in providing quality patient care. AdventHealth North Pinellas serves both the Pinellas and Pasco communities of West Central Florida. For more information, visit www. AdventHealthNorthPinellas. com. About the Women’s Choice Award® The Women’s Choice Award for Best Hospitals™ is a trusted referral source and coveted credential that identifies the nation’s best hospitals based on robust criteria that includes rel-
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evant clinical performance, patient satisfaction and appropriate accreditations. The Best Hospitals demonstrate exceptional ratings, providing the highest level of care and commitment to their patients’ health and well-being. The Women’s Choice Award is the only designation that takes into consideration
the preferences of women when selecting a hospital. Visit http://www.womenschoiceaward.com/ to learn more. The information contained in this release is not permitted to be used in a non-press related context without the express prior written consent of the Women’s Choice Award.
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Tech Talk with Bob: A Gift Card Scam! My friend Bea had an experience that really rattled her nerves. She received an email from “Amazon” telling her that her account was charged $3,000.00 for a television. After confirming with Tony, her husband, that he didn’t buy it, they concluded it must be a mistake. Tony immediately called the customer service phone number that was included in the email. Once he finally got through to “customer service” he received yet more discouraging news. Bea and Tony’s Amazon account had been hacked according to the “representative.” Needless to say, they were both astounded. Fortunately, the “representative” was able to offer them a quick solution. For $500.00 the “rep” could repair the “hacked account” and expunge the charges for the $3,000.00 television. Tony wasn’t thrilled with the solution but reluctantly agreed to the “rep’s” terms. Tony reached for his American Express card to pay. As Tony read off his Amex number the “rep” immediately stopped the transaction and told Tony that their credit card processing system had just gone down, again. The “rep” explained to Tony that they were having problems with the system all day. Tony asked if the “rep” would call him when the system came back up. The “rep” agreed but warned that if Tony delayed, that $3,000.00
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TV might ship before the order could be cancelled; and then Tony would also have to pay the shipping to return the TV. In order to expedite the cancellation, the “rep” suggested Tony pay with a $500.00 gift card. The “rep” explained that they process gift cards on a different system than credit cards, so that even though their credit card system was currently down, they could still process the payment by having Tony read off the numbers on a gift card. Tony sent Bea out to pick up a $500.00 gift card. While waiting for Bea to return, Tony asked the “rep” how something like this could happen and why he had to pay so much? The “rep” explained that it was not Amazon who was hacked, but it was Tony’s IP address that had been hacked which led to Tony’s Amazon account being hacked. Therefore, the financial responsibility fell on Tony, according to the “rep.” Tony was determined to get to the bottom of this nightmarish mess. Finally, Tony called me and filled me in on what was going on. I cringed as he revealed the events that transpired. I immediately explained to Tony that he was in the process of being scammed. Tony and Bea came within inches of giving away a sizeable pile of money to cyber criminals. Fortunately, they did not give the gift card code to the scammers. Can you tell me what Tony
should have done differently? He assumed that the Amazon customer service phone number that was listed in the email was legit. The cyber criminals were so good that Tony believed he was actually speaking with Amazon when he called. But he wasn’t. What Tony needed to do was look up Amazon’s phone number instead of relying on the contents of this bogus email. Had he actually called Amazon Tony would have found out that Amazon had nothing to do with this and that Tony, Bea and Amazon were all unsuspecting players in this deception. I cannot tell you how happy I am that Tony contacted me before he and Bea handed over the 500 bucks to these criminals. There are a lot of scams like this circulating. If you ever receive a suspicious email like this, call the company directly. Be sure to look up the phone number on your own and not rely on any phone numbers given in the email. Companies like Amazon want to know about these scams. So, report any emails claiming you owe money. By the way, Bea and Tony were just one
of many folks caught up in a cyber scam claiming to be Amazon. If you get any emails from Amazon and want to verify them, Amazon’s “real” customer service number is 1-888-280-4331. Please stay on guard and stay safe. Never forget, cyber criminals will exploit the easy victims and unprotected systems. Whether you are a business or non-profit who keeps records about clients, customers, prospects, employees, vendors, sales, budgets, inventories… you get the idea. It is your responsibility to protect your personal network, your computer’s operation, and your data. Even a home user who may only keep records about club members, kids’ sports leagues, volunteer work, filing your income taxes, or just ordering a pizza using your credit card on your home computer is a target. 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. We have the best solutions already in place and we’re only a phone call away. Call us anytime at 727-5344000. 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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“PWD” story continued from page 1 displays many of the products that they offer. Husband and wife Chris and Andrea Scura, local New Port Richey residents, purchased PWD from the original owner back in 2014. They are entirely hands-on and have worked hard to steadily grow the business each year. Raising three daughters, who are all active in community sports and running the company, has kept them quite busy over the years. PWD specializes in window and door installation, different types of hurricane/ security protection, screen/ sunrooms, garage screens, and performing different kinds of glass, screen, and window repairs. PWD offers commercial glass and commercial door repairs, such as door closers, hinge pins, and panic bar replacement. Windows and doors get old. Like most products, they must be maintained to continue to function correctly. Helpful Hint: Manufacturers recommend waxing the inside of vinyl frames of windows, tracks of sliding glass doors, and hurricane shutters with a high-quality
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car wax. Additionally, inspect your windows and doors and re-caulk the outside with a high-quality exterior caulk as needed. Do not use a pressure washer to clean your windows. Remember to operate and clean your windows, doors, and hurricane shutters at least two times a year to keep parts moving and ensure they function correctly. Whether you choose to replace your windows with insulated or hurricane impact products, you will be making your home more energy-efficient, lowering your energy bills, increasing the security and value of your home, and giving you peace of mind during storms. Do you dislike hearing the garbage trucks, lawnmowers, the neighbor’s dog barking? Hurricane impact windows will help solve these problems as well!
PWD installs windows and sliding glass doors manufactured by PGT & CWS (made by Pella). Both of these manufacturers are leaders in the industry and provide high-quality products that are fully warrantied. (Please see their websites for each warranty offered). Broken glass, windows not staying up, sliding glass door roller needing replacement? Bring your repairs to them, or they can come to you! PWD has specialized service technicians that come to your home to perform these types of repairs (as long as you are located within their service area). They specialize in custom-sized glass cutting and replacement, replacing sliding glass door rollers, rescreening, and more! Have pets? You can change from a standard screen to a more substantial
pet screen. Is the scorching Florida sun blinding you but still want the ventilation? If so, Sun Screen may be the answer for you. PWD offers solutions to most screen problems! “Pasco window & door is a hidden gem. We are new to FL and were recommended to have window screens replaced. They did a quality job within a few days,” says recent customer Rosemary B. on her 5-star google review. “The price was better than we expected. We received excellent friendly service. We will use this company to replace windows and for a storm door. Highly recommend!” Not all Contractors are Created Equal! PWD knows there are many options when
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choosing a window company. PWD is unique in having a full-time Service Department. This means that they have the trained staff who are able to perform any service or repairs needed beyond the one-year labor warranty supplied by the manufacturer. Most other window contractors ONLY do installations, so if there is an issue down the road, they cannot help. PWD takes pride in its workmanship and stands behind its installations. “We
do not take shortcuts, and we make sure we do the job right. Being a licensed and insured contractor, we always pull building permits. We have a lot of repeat customers and referrals, which is always our biggest compliment!”, says Chris. When a county permit is pulled, the jobs are inspected by county Inspectors to ensure the job was installed correctly. PWD explains that the biggest mistake they see
people make is hiring a “handyman” to install these products. “We get calls every week where a customer is in tears asking for our help because the customer made the mistake of hiring an unlicensed contractor,” says Andrea. “Handymen are NOT legally allowed to install windows and doors, nor are they able to pull a required building permit. Unfortunately, they are very good at convincing consumers otherwise!” When you hire a handyman: #1 You are at risk for them walking away with your money, #2 You are at risk for a fine for hiring an unlicensed contractor, #3 If caught by Code Enforcement, your property will be “Red Flagged” by the county. In addition to fines, the county will make you remove the products (if they aren’t up to the current Building Code) and install new ones that are up to code, ultimately costing you more than double! #4 If you have any issue with the install initially or down the road, you have NO recourse against a handyman. After all, you chose to hire an unlicensed contractor. Florida licensed contractors are fingerprinted and
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registered with the state, background, and financial checks are performed on the license holder. Contractors are required to hold General Liability Insurance and Workman’s Compensation insurance. This is all to help protect the consumer. PWD explains that they see handymen confusing homeowners, making them believe that the worker is licensed by showing a Registration Number. This is not a Contractor License. This is simply a number that anyone can get once they register a business with the state of Florida. BEWARE! Think about who you are letting into your home! Some handymen are very skilled; however, many cannot become licensed with the state due to past criminal records. To verify who you are hiring is genuinely licensed, please call your local county Building Department or check the state’s website at: www.myfloridalicense.com. “We know it is because of the customer loyalty that we have been able to stay in business for thing long… so, we truly thank you!” - Chris and Andrea. Help keep this longstanding, New Port Richey business around for another 41 plus years! Give Pasco Window & Door a call for a FREE estimate on any new product installation job or any of your replacement or repair needs. 727-847-2254 or visit www.pascowindowanddoor.com for more information on their products and services.
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“Rizzotto” story continued from page 1 every step of the way when it comes to Investing, Retirement, Income Planning, and Taxes. The firm is dedicated to providing exemplary service while displaying the highest standards of ethics and professional knowledge. They are approved members of the National Ethics Association and the National Association of Tax Professionals. Rizzotto Wealth Management’s main objectives are to help you Plan, Invest, and Protect. They work with clients to develop an overall plan that encompasses your entire financial picture, taking the time to establish a deep understanding of your financial needs in order to find the best investment strategy for you. Amidst the vast sea
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of negatives, they want to make sure you are properly positioned for the significant opportunities ahead. Meet the Rizzotto Team Ed Rizzotto, Founder and Managing Partner, moved to Florida 51 years ago from New York and has been a Trinity resident since 2000. A graduate of Clearwater Central Catholic High School, he earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Management from National-Louis University in Evanston, IL. Ed also served both active and reserve duty for 13 years in the U.S. Coast Guard. He started his Insurance and Financial career over 25 years ago. In 1999, he joined a local retirement planning firm, where he helped hundreds of people with tax and retirement planning for over six years. Ed Rizzotto
Nic Ranocchia (left), Managing Partner and Ed Rizzotto (right), Founder and Managing Partner enjoyed the opportunity to plan for the future and focus more on enjoying their benefit the community, and retirement years – and The was determined to create a Rizzotto Tax Advisory Group complete local business where he could help clients (both pre- was established in 2006. In 2019 Rizzotto Tax Advisory retirees and current retirees) Group officially rebranded as save money on their taxes, better manage their portfolios, Rizzotto Wealth Management
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to reflect the services they’ve always been passionate about, investments and retirement planning. Ed holds a stateregulated Life & Health license and specializes in finding the appropriate insurance vehicles for clients as well as retirement planning and tax reduction strategies. Nic Ranocchia, Managing Partner, is a graduate of the University of South Florida, with a bachelor’s degree in Finance. Nic is a financial advisor who takes pride in digging into clients’ portfolios and making suggestions that make sense based on data and current trends. He analyzes client accounts and gives indepth reviews in which clients’ discover any unnecessary fees, past performance, risk level, diversification, and more. He also brings a modern approach to the table using the latest technologies available to
ensure all information is considered before a decision is made. With these techniques, Nic has been able to help many clients reach their financial goals. Together, Ed and Nic work efficiently as a team to serve their client’s financial needs as a whole. Nic is securities licensed and registered with FINRA as an Investment Advisory Representative and specializes in managed brokerage accounts. Lorrie Rizzotto, Director of Operations, joined the firm in 2009. Before joining Ed in running their family business, Lorrie specialized in corporate incentive and meeting planning. Married for 32 years, Lorrie and Ed have two adult children. Dori Greeson, Administrative Assistant, comes to us with a wide variety
of experiences having worked with a law firm, engineering services, real estate office, insurance agencies, and a home healthcare agency. We are pleased to have her with us, knowing our clients will receive courteous and friendly attention from her at all times. Dori’s interests and personal experiences include enjoying time with her family and friends, strolling along the beach at sunset, reading, ministering with her husband in Florida prisons and short term mission trips to such places as South Africa, Mozambique, Vietnam, Jamaica, India and Taiwan. Kim Mitchell, Marketing Coordinator, She has an associate’s degree in Business Marketing. Kim has many years of experience as a sales assistant in the mortgage industry. She enjoys spending time with her family, being at the beach, running, biking and just being outdoors. Their team of IRS enrolled agents and senior tax preparers have an average of over 20 years of experience in tax preparation and tax law and are ready to assist you with all of your tax preparation needs. They also have a longstanding relationship with a trusted elder law attorney who specializes in wills, trusts and estate planning.
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They go Beyond just Taxes Many members of the community have grown to know and trust the firm as a tax service, but their services stretch far beyond just taxes. They handle investments, insurance, brokerage accounts, portfolio management, retirement income planning and more. Rizzotto Wealth Management is guided by your goals and objectives and is not obligated to any single product or company. They look at your complete financial picture to serve as the single source for all of your financial needs. Through all phases of life, the Rizzotto Wealth Management team can help you establish the appropriate portfolio to help you pursue your financial goals. Rizzotto Wealth Management is committed to assisting their clients every step of the way, whether you’re looking for something with higher growth potential or safety they’ve got you covered! To schedule a tax consult or complimentary financial review, please call 727.683.9119. Fee-based financial planning and investment advisory services are offered through Truvestments Capital, LLC an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Insurance products and services are offered through independent insurance agents.
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Guillan Goes for Gold!
The Gregg Schindler State Farm Female Athlete of the month for February, 2022
As an all-around athlete, Izabella Guillan succeeded at weightlifting using her athletic capabilities to perform for multiple teams.
By Sofia Chianella Just 20 short months ago, in June 2020, Izabella Guillan, a junior at J.W. Mitchell High School, was first introduced to the sport of weightlifting, leading her athletic journey to take a quick turn from soccer to a strenuous weight workout. Looking for an activity that could keep her in shape, Guillan attended a gym named Train Harder, recommended to her by her friends. Shortly after she joined the training facility, she fell in love with the atmosphere. “I like how it’s an individual sport because I played team sports all my life, and playing an individual sport gives me control of my work ethic and basically everything else,” Guillan said. In order to keep up with her high performance levels, Guillan joined the girls weightlifting team at J.W. Mitchell High School, beginning a rigorous practice schedule. “We train in the morning, four days a week depending on when our meets are. Before we trained after school every day. There was a rule about being there
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On Nov. 3, 2021, Izabella Guillan warmed up before snatching at a home meet against Gulf High School. Photo by Breanna Mahan
three days a week, but we would train after school and in the morning sometimes,” Guillan said. Multiple components are needed in order to succeed at proper lifting. Guillan vouches for the importance of positivity to those who want to participate in weightlifting. “I think a good mentality [is necessary] because if you don’t have a good mentality playing into your lifts and your actions, you’re going to do bad at your lifts,” Guillan said. With videos of failed attempts at lifting circulating popular social media platforms, opponents of the sport have argued about the dangers of this activity. Despite these situations, Guillan considered herself lucky, as she has never faced a threatening situa-
tion when lifting. “If you have good technique and you’re not ego lifting, then it’s okay, but of course there are dangers with every sport. But good technique and good form is the main thing,” Guillan said. Attempting to pursue a triumphant future, Guillan engages in Olympic weightlifting, a club where she is able to compete at national events. Along with traveling during the summer, fall, and spring to competitions, Guillan still wants to further her athletic career. “I’m trying to make the youth world champion team, but I mean, if I could go to the Olympics that would be super cool,” Guillan said. Head coach Cobie Lee complimented Guillan on her statues of team captain,
top weight lifter in her class, district champion, regional champ, record breaker of school clean and jerk, and her dedication to becoming state champion. “Izzy is an amazing athlete and captain on our varsity girls weightlifting team. Her perseverance and determination in weightlifting has helped her achieve incredible numbers in the snatch and clean and jerk lifts. Her hard work and dedication to weightlifting has proven to be paying off,” Lee said. As the 2021-’22 season of girls weightlifting comes to a close with victories in regionals as well as districts, Guillan will continue to practice with a mindset toward upcoming achievements. Congratulations to this deserving athlete.
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In it to Win it!
The Gregg Schindler State Farm Male Athlete of the month for February, 2022
Dominick Phanco (’22) was awarded with Gregg Schindler Male Student Athlete for January.
By: Hanna CarberrySimmering Starting soccer at the age of four, Dominick Phanco (’22) holds the captain position of the J.W. Mitchell varsity boys’ soccer team fourteen years later. Soccer was the first sport he started playing and decided to stay with. Phanco’s first year as captain has been successful. The team celebrated a big win against Jesuit on Jan. 8, and clinched the district championship on Feb. 2. “[At] the Jesuit tournament we were the lowest ranked team in our bracket and ended up pulling out a win, so that was awesome,” Phanco said. The regular season came to an end with a total of 21 games played. The last regular game of the season was an away game against
During the game on Jan. 17, Dominick Phanco (’22) rushes to get the ball from a Land o’ Lakes player for another chance to score a goal. Photo by Hanna Carberry-Simmering
Land o’ Lakes on Jan. 17, that ended with a win. This continued the team’s two-week winning streak. Phanco has been inspired over the years from famous soccer players and his own family members. “As far as soccer goes, my role models are players like Messi, but my role model in my life is my dad. Everything he does for me inspires me to push harder every day,” Phanco said.
Oscar Ubillus, the boys’ varsity soccer coach, nominated Phanco for the Gregg Schindler Male Student Athlete of the Month. “Dom is our leader and well-deserving of this award. He’s exactly what you want as a coach from your senior and captain. He continues to put forth maximum effort on and off the field setting a good example for his teammates. We look
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forward to seeing how far he can lead us in the postseason,” Ubillus said. As Phanco’s last season of high school soccer comes to an end, he is committed to University of California Santa Barbara where he will continue to play D1 soccer for the next four years. Congratulations to Dominick Phanco, the Gregg Schindler Male Student Athlete of the Month. FEBRUARY 2022 27
Playing his Way to the Top!
The Gregg Schindler State Farm Club Member of the month for February, 2022 Titus Janshon, a senior at J.W. Mitchell High School, is this month’s Gregg Schindler Club Member of the Month for his participation in the Marching Mustangs. By Emma Diehl Titus Janshon has been a member of the Marching Mustangs since his freshman year, and has been a leadership member for two years. Janshon plays multiple instruments, including the baritone saxophone, the piano, bassoon, viola, and double bass. “Bassoon is my favorite because it was my very first instrument that was chosen for me in sixth grade, and I’ve stuck with it ever since. It’s one of the most complicated instruments in the band, and I love it for that,” Janshon said. On top of his dedication to the band, Janshon currently takes five Advanced Placement (AP) courses, is a member of Mu Alpha Theta, and is the Parliamentarian for the Mitchell chapter of National Honor Society (NHS). “I mostly just record NHS members’ requirements for the club, tracking meetings, tracking the requirements for committee hours, and service hours as well. Right now I am taking AP Psychology, AP Government/ microeconomics, AP English
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At the fall concert on Nov. 21, Titus Janshon plays the bassoon in the wind orchestra of J.W. Mitchell High School. Photo provided by Titus Janshon
Literature, AP Computer Science, and AP Music Theory,” Janshon said. Janshon currently has multiple offers from four-year universities, and has yet to commit to one. He plans to continue playing the band wherever he goes. “I am stuck between a few really good choices right now. It’ll be a few months before I
decide. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, University of South Florida, and Florida Institute of Technology are my best choices right now. I am hoping that I can [continue band in college] but it all depends on which college I go to. If the college I go to has a band, I will definitely join it,” Janshon said. Mr. Ryan Harring, the Director of Bands and Orchestra for JWMHS recommended Janshon
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for this honor. He spoke of Janshon’s commitment to the band and his leadership potential. “When I read the award description, his name was the first one that popped into my head. He is a hard worker, great leader, solid musician, and one of the top academics at the school - it was a no brainer for me. He is one of the most organized and thorough leaders on our leadership team. He is also a student that understands how to work with other students and hold them to a high
standard,” Harring said. Congratulations to Titus Janshon on receiving the honor of Gregg Schindler Club Member of the Month for February for his participation in the Marching Mustangs.
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