Vol. 15, Issue 07, July 2019
®
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
Dr. Albert Makes People Smile at Home and Abroad
By Deborah Bostock-Kelley
Past the comfortable waiting room with a big screen TV, free wi-fi, a coffee and snack bar and a vintage video game console is the doctor’s consultation room. On the desk, to the far left of his computer sits a Spider-man coffee mug. The message of that movie franchise so resonated with Dr. Jeremy Albert, DMD, MS, a specialist in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics, that he paraphrased it and applies
it to his successful practice, Albert Family Orthodontics: “With great knowledge comes great responsibility.” Dr. Albert feels it was his responsibility to bring his 15 years of experience to take care of his orthodontic patients conveniently where they live, work and go to school and make them feel comfortable, knowing they are in the most capable, experienced hands possible for braces, expanders, and Invisalign. Growing up in Tarpon
Springs, an East Lake High School alum, Dr. Albert earned his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from The University of Florida and has been honored with numerous awards and is a member of several dental associations since opening his practice in 2003. Dr. Albert doesn’t pass his patients on to a second doctor in the practice. There is no second doctor. He is there because he loves both the
See “Dr. Albert” on page 28
Dr. Jeremy Albert, DMD, DS, owner of Albert Family Orthodontics
Success-driven preschool moves full STEAM ahead with enhanced curriculum By J Pancia Since opening their doors in 2012, the staff at Excel Creative Learning Academy has exceeded their expectations in fulfilling the preschool’s motto to “engage, enrich and empower” children during the most formative years of their lives. Mission accomplished, if you go by the reviews of students’ parents and ECLA’s elementary school-readiness score card with Pasco County. Online reviews have averaged at five stars, and the academy operates with a continuous waiting list. See “Excel Creative Academy” on page 22
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: From the Editor.............................5 Tech Talk with Bob.......................6-7 St. Vincent de Paul Church.........8-9 Aspire Medical Group............12-13 Action Air Conditioning...........16-17 SAT/ACT Improvement................26-27 The Mak Brothers Band.....................32 Classifieds....................................36
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July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, which was established in 2008 to start the process of improving access to mental health treatment and services, and to promote public awareness of mental illness. Why care? Each year millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental health condition. And 2019 is no different, statistics show that 1 in 5 adults will experience mental illness this year. Mental health conditions do not discriminate based on race, color, gender or identity. Anyone can experience the challenges of mental illness regardless of their background. However, background and identity can make access to mental health treatment much more difficult. When trying to access treatment, many marginalized communities have to contend with such issues as:
• Barriers to access to treatment • Language barriers • Lack of cultural competence • Racism, bias and discrimination in treatment settings • Lower likelihood of health insurance or adequate coverage • The high level of health stigma in minority populations • Belief that treatment will not help their condition Many cultures sometimes view mental health treatment as a luxury, considering their symptoms as a “phase” that will eventually go away. As a Hispanic woman, I was one of those hoping this “phase” of my life would eventually go away on its own, but it didn’t.
After I unexpectedly lost my father two years ago, my mental and physical health started to suffer. I was diagnosed with lyme disease, and more recently, graves disease (an auto immune disease that attacks your thyroid and affects pretty much EVERYTHING in your body, from your mood to your joints and everything in between!). These auto immune diseases combined with the sadness I was experiencing made me feel really anxious and extremely depressed. And even though I would remind myself daily I was blessed and had everything I needed to be happy, I couldn’t shake the sadness or anxiety. My smile faded, tears were rolling down my face on a daily basis without any particular reason, I stopped doing things I used to enjoy and I started isolating myself more and more from my loved ones. Eventually my family and friends started to notice and they were there for me, and happy to help in any way possible. I was/am lucky to have such caring relatives and friends who encouraged me to seek help and talk to someone about my symptoms. It is hard opening up to all of you and admit my own struggles, but here I am... an open book. I am currently seeing a therapist, and even though I was extremely reluctant at first, I am very happy I did. Having the chance to talk to a mental health professional about what you’re going through helps enormously, and helps fight the stigma of mental illness. Overcoming the stigma of mental illness False beliefs about mental illness can cause significant problems. Stigma can lead to discrimination. Discrimination
may be obvious and direct, such as someone judging you and making negative remarks about your mental illness or your treatment. Sometimes it could also be unintentional or subtle, such as people avoiding you because they wrongfully assume you could be unstable, violent or dangerous due to your condition. Do not let stigma create self-doubt and shame. Sometimes those negative thoughts don’t just come from others. You may mistakenly believe your condition is a sign of personal weakness or that you should be able to control it without help. Seeking counseling, education yourself about your condition and connecting with people going through the same can help you gain self-esteem and overcome destructive self-judgment. I am here, sharing my story with you, in hopes that I can give you the encouragement needed to seek help if you believe to be battling a mental illness. Knowing you’re not alone is one of the most helpful and comforting feelings, that’s why I encourage YOU to share YOUR story. It can be incredibly reassuring to know in this moment right now, someone else is going through similar struggles as you are— regardless of where they are, who they are, or how they identify. We can all help ignite change against these disparities and fight stigma this Minority Mental Health Awareness month. It simply starts with learning more about mental health and informing our community. Be kind, ALWAYS. You never know what others may be going through.
Carla Selby.
Tech Talk with Bob - Avoid The Phish Bait! By Bob Dalles
More than 60-million people have been affected by identity theft. Every day over 150-million phishing emails are sent globally. About 80,000 people fall victim to these scams daily. More than 90-percent of cyber attacks begin with email phishing. Did you know that you have a 1 in 3 chance of being in a cyber attack? Phishing (pronounced “fishing”) is just one of the many ways cyber criminals can attack you. It is the most popular strategy used by criminals to trick you into voluntarily handing them your sensitive data and information. Phishing is a social engineering technique that relies on your familiarity and trust of a
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specific web site along with the cyber criminal’s hope you will quickly take action before thinking things through. Imagine this. You just woke up. You’re still tired and trying to get your day started. One of your morning rituals is to check email. You turn on your computer and while it is booting up you go pour yourself a cup of coffee. You plop down in front of your computer and look through your emails. While sipping your coffee you notice an email from your bank. You open it and it reads something like this. “Due to numerous unsuccessful online login attempts, your bank account has been frozen. To reinstate your account privileges, please click the “link” provided and
enter your username and password. You will not be able to access your funds until you complete this process.” The criminal hopes you will panic and quickly click the link. The link loads what looks like the login page of your bank’s web site. The login page looks legit because the criminal made an exact duplicate of your bank’s login page. The criminal is hoping you will click the link and enter your username and password without thinking twice. Once you submit your information to the fake login page --- BAM!!! --- the criminal now has what they need to access your bank account. You just took the “phish bait.” An even scarier part about this is you may not even
realize you have turned over access to your bank account until days, weeks, or even months later. Most criminals will act immediately and empty your bank account. Some might just monitor your deposits and withdrawals for a while and then grab your money at a later time when they know your account is likely to have more money
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in it. Remember, once they get your username and password they can access and manipulate your account whenever they feel like it without you even knowing. So, what do you do if you get, what looks like, a legitimate email from your bank or other business you deal with online? Before clicking any link, call the bank or business and ask them directly if they sent you the email. Best practices to minimize your risk at phishing attempts is to never click the link. If you need to go to your bank’s web site, type the web address into your web browser yourself. Never trust a link you receive in an email, especially if you are going to input any of your confidential information. Avoid becoming another cyber attack statistic. Don’t get hooked by the phish bait! (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.)
Never enter confidential information into any web site until you know the web site and your computer system is safe. If you are not sure your system is safe, please have it looked over by a Professionally Certified Computer Technician. If you need a certified professional, call us now at 727-5344000. We’ve been helping folks restore their peace of mind, and sanity, with their technology for decades. Have a tech question? Email it to TechTalk-TBNL@ BobTheComputerGuy.NET. Questions will be selected by the popularity of a topic and answered in this column. If you have a more urgent need or have a unique situation you may schedule an appointment with one of my Professionally Certified Technicians by calling 727534-4000. Until next time, stay safe on the internet!
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St. Vincent de Paul Church Celebrating 50 Years!
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in
Holiday, FL is proudly celebrating their 50th Anniversary as a Parish and have incorporated numerous events throughout 2019 to make this a memorable, thankful and joyful period of remembrance and celebration. Before the parish was established on May 19, 1969, Pasco county was considered Benedictine mission territory served by the monks of St. Leo’s Abby. On March 9, 1919 the monks built a mission parish at Our Lady Queen of Peace in New Port Richey. It was not until the diocese of St. Petersburg was established in 1968 that growth in the Catholic population necessitated a new parish in this area. Father Joseph E. Beaumont was appointed founding pastor, June 6, 1969 and celebrated the first Sunday Masses on August 3, 1969 at the Padgett Funeral Home. Lacking adequate worship space while the church was under
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construction our weekend home was arranged through the officers at Beacon Square Civic Association. Father Edward J. Farrell came to the parish on October 1 of that same year. Construction of the church took three years to complete and was dedicated on September 4, 1972. Building continued on the catechetical center and parish hall for another three years. Father Farrell died on October 9, 1974 and the parish was dedicated in his honor on March 19, 1976. During all this time it was clear that the church was not the
buildings but rather the people who gave of themselves to raise the funds for the beautiful worship space, class rooms and parish hall that gathers God’s people for the ministry of the living Gospel. A new direction was added to the pastoral leadership of the parish with the arrival of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament on August 2, 2003. This date is the feast of Saint Peter Julian Eymard, the apostle of the Eucharist and founder of the Congregation. The Charism of Eucharist has taken root
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in the life and liturgy of the parish. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and attention to the liturgical ministry called forth greater participation in the worship life of the parish. In fifty years we have grown in service to building up the Body of Christ with our Family Faith Formation programs with a great team of catechists teaching children and adults and welcoming new members into the Catholic Church. The parish is rich in Outreach and Social Ministries with the renewal of St. Vincent de Paul Society food pantry and home visitations. The Knights of Columbus with the Women’s Auxiliary provides Friday Night dinners and many other occasions to come together and share community life. Our parish is a diverse community comprised of many nationalities. It is an expression of the catholicity of our faith. We welcome a growing number of
members from the Vietnamese community. It is the Eucharist that unites all of us in the person of Christ who said “My body is true food and my blood is true drink.” It is in this way that we are united in the person of Christ, each offering a contribution in the banquet of life. We have been and still are celebrating our 50th Anniversary throughout all of 2019. Events so far have been a Dinner show, publication of a commemorative cookbook, Parish Mission, Fashion Show and Parish Picnic. Yet to come are: August 3 - Dinner and a Concert. September 8 – Parish Appreciation Lunch. September 27 & 28 – Parish Retreat with Father Nieli. October 27 – Fall Festival. November 10 – International Day Potluck and Talent Show. December 31 – New Year’s Eve Dinner, Dance and an amazing
array of RAFFLE items (1st. prize – New 2019 Kia Soul car. 2nd. Prize – 3 days/2 nights Spa vacation with 2 Swedish massages at Saddlebrook Golf Resort & Spa. 3rd. prize - $1,000 VISA Gift card.) The theme of the raffle is Saint Vincent de Paul has “Soul”, how about you? All of these events will be held on our parish campus at 4843 Mile Stretch Drive, Holiday, FL 34690. Your attendance at any of these events would be genuinely welcomed. Please call our parish office at 727-938-1974 with any questions you might have. Raffle item tickets are $20 each for a chance to win one of
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three GREAT prizes and can be purchased at the Parish Office (Mon. – Fri. from 9:00am to 2:00pm)
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Dr. Jamie Melichar of Aspire Medical Group Brings Healthcare Solutions to Fellow Longtime Residents of New Port Richey By Lisa Stephens Searching for quality medical care can be daunting these days when looking for providers who will listen to patients’ concerns and include the patient in the type of care they receive. Fortunately, a newly opened practice in New Port Richey is ready and willing to accept new patients and they aim to listen to the concerns of their patients. Aspire Medical Group opened in May. While the practice is new to the community, the doctor providing the service is certainly not new to New Port Richey. Dr. Jamie Melichar grew up in New Port Richey. As a long time resident, she is eager to provide her medical knowledge to the friends, neighbors and residents of New Port Richey. Dr. Melichar graduated from Gulf High School where she was a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and Math Honor Society. She also served as president of the Student Council. Her interests in medicine began during her youth. “I was very interested in medicine as a kid so when I was 14, I volunteered at North Bay Hospital for the Nurse Helper Program.” It was during her time there that she met Kristy Kahen, who at the time was the Emergency Room Manager at North Bay. “Kristy hired me and later cross trained me to do other things,” Dr. Melichar explained. “So, I met Kristy when I was just 15 or 16 years old,” she said. Today, Kristy Kahen serves Aspire Medical Group as the Nurse Practitioner serving patients alongside Dr. Melichar.
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After graduating from University of South Florida, Dr. Melichar attended medical school and completed her residency in Largo. She worked as a doctor in community health for four years in Tarpon Springs before taking the leap to open her own practice with Aspire Medical Group. “It’s a fresh start,” she said of the decision to open her own practice. “This is home to me and the house I grew up in is just about five minutes away from my office now,” she shared. Giving back to the community she loves is important to Dr. Melichar and that’s why she made the decision to keep her practice in the area in which she grew up. Nurse Practitioner Kristy Kahen is originally from Ohio and move to the Tampa Bay area in 1993. “I always knew I wanted to go into nursing and so I aligned my studies for the nursing program,” she said. Originally obtaining her LPN license, she worked her way into the RN program and later obtained her
bachelor and master degrees. Today, it’s an incredible opportunity for Dr. Melichar and Nurse Practioner Kahen to work together. “We’ve known each other for a very long time and we share the common goal of helping patients with their medical issues,” she said. The positive aspect of being part of a small practice allows Dr. Melichar and Nurse Practioner Kahen to really get to know their patients. In the larger practices, lots gets lost in the translation, Dr. Melichar explained. “Here, want to be able to listen to our patients, get to know them individually and help them understand their bodies and listen to their problems,” she said. “We have a calling for this,” she added. Nurse Practioner Kahen added, “We allow more time with our patients and we respect the fact that they know their own bodies and we include them when we make decisions. It’s a good partnership that we want,” she explained.
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The services provided by Aspire Medical Group encompass many type patients. “We can provide help to people in their 20’s and those elderly patients as well,” Dr. Melichar said. This primary care practice can provide services to women seeking Pap smears to those patients seeking help with chronic illnesses like diabetes and more. “We have a common cause here and that is to help people find their health. We want to get to know our patients and help educate them about their health,” Dr. Melichar added. Office Manager Christina James is on hand to help you
set an appointment that works best for you and answer any questions you might have about insurance or general questions. Currently, they accept Blue Cross, Aetna, Cigna and Simply insurances. They are currently working towards to being established with Medicare soon. Call Aspire Medical Group at 727-807-5900 today to set your appointment. The office is located at 7278 State Road 54 New Port Richey. Website is www. aspiremedicalgroup.wixsite.com. You can also find them on Face Book.
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Action Air Conditioning: “Keeping It Cool” for over 30 Years By J. Pancia
Summer’s here in the Sunshine State, when we rely on our air conditioning almost as much as the air we breathe. Unfortunately, AC breakdowns happen all too often during the summer, at the worst possible time. During these desperate moments, it’s advisable not to call the first business name printed on a flier or advertised on TV. Some companies hire middle men and subcontractors, which can lead to faulty repairs, miscommunication and substantially higher costs. It’s best, instead, to keep a list of trusted, experienced servicers who do business in a competent and straightforward manner. Action Air Conditioning of Tampa Bay is that established, customerfocused company found at the top of many business and property owners’ lists. The 31-year-strong heating, ventilation and air conditioning company does more than the average servicer or retailer in-house. “We put our customers and staff first,” says Jackie Ramirez, Action Air’s chief financial officer. She and her brother, Chris Russell, the company’s vice president, enforce a “people-first” policy in their familyowned-and-operated business. Their father, David Russell founded Action Air Conditioning of Tampa Bay in 1988. Initially the
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company was small and concentrated most of its resources in the residential replacement market. In 1990, he joined forces with Frank Lipp, who was trained by William Carrier, the inventor of air conditioning systems. “Action Air came within a couple of hours to check out our problem,” says customer Viola Luke. “They came before 9 a.m and worked all day to install the new a/c. The reps and techs were all professional, friendly and courteous. They worked hard to deliver the best product and service. We love our new Lennox unit.” Action Air service techs, who are trained in-house and certified by top-name manufacturers, do all the repairs -- the company hires no subcontractors. Action Air employees who visit and perform repairs clean
up after themselves, are conscientious to property owners and are accountable for their work. “We treat our employees like family and incentivize them to do a first-rate professional job from start to finish,” Chris says. Plus, Action Air offers affordable maintenance plans to help prevent a pricey repair later. Customers who purchase maintenance plans receive 20 percent off repairs and receive other various benefits. “Malfunctions are often caused by very simple things, such as dust buildup, improper refrigerant charge, worn belts, or issues with the blower or coils,” Chris says. “With prompt and knowledgeable service, correcting these faults is not only inexpensive but
cost-effective.” Action Air’s huge warehouse stocks units and parts on the premises, so you don’t have to wait more than a day to get that much-needed repair when your unit shuts down. Action Air features a recently remodeled showroom, which allows customers to browse units before making a purchase. Prospective customers can drop in any time to compare models manufactured by Lennox. “Action Air’s sales staff will be happy to review all the features and issues you need to consider before purchasing a system,” Chris says. “Our Comfort Consultants can go over the differences in all the systems and explain factors such as SEER, refrigerant, and all the parts of an indoor air system in terms you can understand
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David Russell (left), President and Chris Russell (right), Vice President to make an educated investment.” The showroom, Chris explains, displays full HVAC systems, set up and operating so you can see the components of the matched system including a heat pump, air handler, air cleaner, and thermostat. “You can look, feel, and listen to the most advanced cooling systems made today in our showroom,” Jackie adds. It’s a feature not widely available by other sellers and servicers. Most often customers go blindly into costly installations, something Action Air doesn’t recommend. “Remember, you would not purchase a car without going to the dealership for a test drive, so Action Air makes it easy for you to test-drive a new indoor air system, as well” Action Air offers other products to help with indoor air quality and humidity. Action Air cleans dryer vents as well. “I contacted Action Air to come out to my home
to diagnose a unit that was cooling intermittently,” says customer Ryan Doherty. “They were able to have someone out to the house in about an hour, and the Technician they sent, Christian, was able to quickly diagnose the problem and solve it. He also inspected the unit completely, replaced an additional part that was failing, and offered suggestions on additional maintenance and when he thought future issues may need to be addressed. Overall, the experience was exceptional and I would highly recommend Action Air for future issues.” In addition to customer kudos, Action Air has won numerous awards and has received National recognition for outstanding performance. What’s the secret of Action Air’s success? It goes back to that people-first approach Jackie mentioned earlier. “We engage in the highest level of commitment as a team,” Jackie affirms, “and we’re
working toward another great and growing 30-plus years.” Action Air Conditioning, Inc. is located on the corner of Busch Blvd and Armenia at 8926 N Armenia Ave in Tampa, Florida. They
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are open 7:00am - 7:00pm with 24-hour same day emergency service available. For more information please call (813) 9356644 or visit www. actionairconditioning.com
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EXCEL CREATIVE LEARNING ACADEMY STORY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
While satisfying the demands of parents on their search for a private preschool for their child, ECLA checks off every objective on their list, from safety concerns to curriculum. With expertly designed learning tracks -- from infant Discoverers and Climbers to preschool Voyagers and Innovators -- ECLA has earned the coveted online praise of parents for its meticulous cleanliness and consistent feedback on their children’s progress.
Capturing young minds from the heart A graduate of Kent University, Academy Erika Director Mahoney earned her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and founded the academy seven-plus years ago. “I was an elementary school teacher for almost 10 years before leaving the public school system to start ECLA,” she explained. “So altogether, I have almost 20 years experience.” Mahoney’s in good company, too. Each ECLA staff member, the director assures, is fully background-checked according to the requirements of the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and goes through multiple types of criminal history checks. Lead teachers hold a CDA or higher certification in Early Childhood Education and assistant teachers meet all DCF requirements. Each staff member is also CPR and First Aid certified as well.
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What’s more, many of the teachers at ECLA are long-term staffers who have worked as a team for several years. Moving forward in changing times Using the same building blocks as when they started, Academy Director Mahoney and the ECLA staff are forging ahead in the 21st century with an enrichment program that highlights science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics -also known as STEAM subjects. “We’re changing our existing enrichment program to a STEAMdriven program for the upcoming school year,” she announced to Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles this week. ECLA’s enrichment program, thus far, has brought specialized lessons
into every classroom on a daily basis (from age 2 to older). Along with weekly art, music & movement, physical education, Spanish, and health and nutrition lessons with our students, children will be fully prepared for the rigorous demands of our tech-driven society and stricter academic standards. Some may be concerned that pre-k children are too young for STEAM. Not at all, if you consider their daily activities. According to Mahoney, it’s all a matter of refocusing the learning process. For instance, science-based skills encourage curiosity, investigation, answering questions, and problem solving with experimentation and exploration. Technology can refer to using simple tools like crayons and rulers or more intricate ones like
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microscopes and computers. With engineering, kids recognize problems and come up with testing solutions. Art encourages creativity and process development, and allows children to illustrate concepts they are learning. Mathematics deals with numbers,patterns, shapes, organizational skills.. “Kindergarten isn’t what it was when you and I were little, and the expectations are very high for our children,” Mahoney explained. “To prepare students, our curriculum combined with our amazing staff build a love for learning in our students and ensure they are ready for elementary school.”
elementary School,” she said. SMART Board technology, portfolios, centers and journals are used to keep students interested and engaged in the learning process. “We consider our students, parents and staff family, and are as protective of their well-being as our family at home,” Mahoney affirms. Always in-touch
ECLA keeps parents in touch with their children’s progress with the “My Brightwheel” app for smartphones. Moms and dads no longer have to depend on their kids to tell them about what they did in school because the A safe space for happy learners app provides details at their fingertips. How does ECLA get information to parents The preschool located inside the Medical Arts Building electronically? Each classroom is equipped with an on the Medical Center of Trinity Hospital campus caters iPad that teachers use to update parents throughout the to children of staff and patients, but also the community day. They include details on what kids are eating and at large. snacking on, rest periods, daily activities, diaper changes, From safety concerns to curriculum, Mahoney and the potty training and more. staff at ECLA want parents to know that the measures Photos and videos are also sent to share special taken to provide an excellent experience are in place. moments and parents are welcome to send messages Twenty-two security cameras monitor instruction and back and forth with the teachers. Progress Reports are sent home with students three whereabouts of everyone in the academy, and check in and out children using fingerprint scanners to ensure no times a year. Parents also have access to their child’s one is in the school who shouldn’t be. portfolio along the way so they have knowledge of In the classroom, ECLA uses state of the art technology their child’s strengths and weaknesses and what they’re to ensure each student is ready and capable of entering learning in the classroom. kindergarten with the knowledge and experience needed If you’re interested in visiting ECLA, Mahoney can to succeed. A state-approved Creative Curriculum, provide a free tour by appointment only. implementation of the Souns program for early literacy, as well as lessons based on Kindergarten readiness skills and Hours of operation are 6:30 am to 6:30 pm., and developmentally appropriate practice combine to provide Excel Creative Learning Academy can be found an optimal learning experience. at 9332 State Road 53, Suite 204, Trinity, inside “ECLA’s daily activities and lessons are geared toward the Medical Arts Building at the Medical Center social and emotional development as well as skill-building of Trinity Hospital. Call 727-372-4977 or visit excelcreativelearningacademy.com. to make sure all students are prepared for entry into For Advertising Info 727-943-0551 I info@nnlflorida.com or visit tbnewsandlifestyles.com
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SAT AND ACT IMPROVEMENT: WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH THE SAT? By Dr. Wayne Adams “Dr. A, what should we do about our student taking the SAT with the new information about the secret student ‘Adversity Score’ sent from the College Board to top schools for the past two years without parents’ approval or even knowledge that work against students from good high schools who work hard and don’t have “hardships” such as going to an inner city school or living in a poverty stricken neighborhood?” You may be aware of the recent investigative news reports by the New York Times and Wall Street Journal that have exposed this adjustment score sent to colleges and universities with all SAT scores
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secretly for the past two years. David Coleman, the new president of the College Board who gave us Common Core (which has been rejected by most states as an attempted government takeover of high school education), is heavily pushing this adversity score to give “disadvantaged students” a better chance of admission to top colleges and universities. Already, I have had one parent switch from a student preparing for the SAT to preparing for the ACT. Others are asking the same types of questions. Here are several “realities” of the SAT and ACT Exam. First, this arbitrary and secret action of the College Board is going to fuel the fire of “merit admissions” already rag-
ing with the Chinese American lawsuit against Harvard University for discrimination. The Department of Justice has filed a brief with the Boston Federal Court in support of the Chinese American position. This will definitely go to the Supreme Court, sooner rather than later, probably within a year. Depending upon the decision,
this case can cause a dramatic upheaval in how colleges and universities evaluate and admit students. Second, the PSAT exam given in all high schools remains the only qualification exam for National Merit Scholarships – and is often used to “track” students starting in their freshman or sophomore
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years into high, medium, and low level academic instruction tracks. Third, most colleges equally accept the SAT or ACT Exam only as part of their applications. If a student uses the SAT, often at least two Advanced Subject SAT Exams are also required. If the ACT Exam is used, no Advanced Subject Tests are required. As we head into the fall, the first SAT Exam is on August 24th, and the first ACT Exam on September 14th. And the PSAT Exam given to all juniors usually is given on the middle Wednesday in October. Please note that I am not arguing for or against either exam, just letting you know some basics about what is happening in my “testing” world. Practically, about 75% of my students prefer the ACT Exam,
and 25% prefer the SAT Exam. Usually, a student will score 10-15 percentiles higher on one or the other, but there is no way to predict. And for years I have had a combination prep class the saves 15 hours of class time from the classes needed to separately prepare for the SAT or the ACT. Everyone knows that my purpose is to help every student have their best possible future, which includes doing their best on the SAT and/or ACT Exam. So I think you will enjoy the four special reports I give to families of all my students: How To Write College Admission Essays Colleges Will Love, Negotiating with Colleges that has helped my students and parents save $1,000 to $10,000 a year in annual college costs, Dream Colleges And Universities (Top 25, 5 more, and the Top 5 in
Florida), and How To Survive And Thrive As A Freshman At A Secular University. If you would like to talk more about my helping your student, please give me a call at 727-253-0639 or send an Email to wwa0811@gmail.com. Dr. Wayne Adams is one of the leading SAT and ACT tutors in the country. His students normally improve 200 – 350 points on the Writing, Reading, Writing and Essay, and Math, and 4 – 7 points on the ACT composite. They have been admitted to eight of the top ten universities in the country, eighteen of the top twenty-five, and many schools in Florida. These schools include Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Stanford, U Chicago, Duke, U Penn, Johns Hopkins, Cornell, Notre Dame, Emory, UC Berkley, UCLA, USC, UNC (Chapel Hill),
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University of Virginia, NYU, Northeastern (Boston), Boston College, Georgia Tech, Air Force and Merchant Marine Service Academies, Penn State, Purdue, Ohio 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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“Albert Family Orthodontics” - Continued from page 1 community and what he does
and another doctor may not have the same enthusiasm or passion. It is him alone dividing his time between his practice in Trinity and Palm Harbor. Imagine being so impressed with a dentist from your childhood that you follow in his footsteps? Dr. Albert, himself a braces patient, fell in love with dentistry in his teens and knew that was a career path he wanted to take. A huge fan of puzzles, Dr. Albert felt a similarity between doing a puzzle and perfecting a patient’s smile. While in dental school, he made the decision to focus on orthodontics. “I always liked puzzles as a little kid and that’s basically what orthodontics is – we’re trying to figure out how to get everything to fit together, discover where all the pieces go.” Dr. Albert has treated many orthodontic cases that are similar in their initial presentation, but is keenly aware that every patient’s treatment is a little different. “The patients bring their own dynamics to their treatment. Sometimes it’s not a direct path you are taking but constantly adjusting and accommodating corrections. Orthodontics is really a process of accessing and recalculating treatment each time the patient comes in. It’s not just about the initial appliances or aligners that go on the teeth, but how you use those appliances and adapt to their progress.” Albert Family Orthodontics treats children and adults, and new patient evaluations are always free of charge. The first consultation visit includes a thorough exam, a complimentary panoramic x-ray, and a discussion of potential treatment options
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and costs. Along with a low initial down payment, Albert Family Orthodontics offers no-interest, in-house financing, Care Credit, as well as accepts most insurance that includes orthodontics. Albert Family Orthodontics offers the most advanced technology to help his patients be able to see in threedimensional view a replica of their teeth. Out is the antiquated tray impressions or molds of teeth. Dr. Albert uses the iTero intraoral scanner to scan a patient’s mouth for braces, Invisalign, expanders and diagnostic study models. Not only does the 3-D scan show the current structure of the teeth but it can also produce a simulated outcome of what their teeth will look like after the completion of the expected treatment plan. Treatment time varies per each patient’s specific orthodontic problem, but in general, ranges from 6 to 24 months. The average timeframe a person is in braces or Invisalign is approximately 18 months. While braces do come both in classic silver and clear, most teens still opt for the silver and colorful bands, enjoying them as a trendy version of mouth jewelry. Millennials and adults tend to gravitate to Invisalign because of the convenience and minimal intrusiveness on their lifestyle. Dr. Albert notes however that more and more teens are choosing Invisalign as well for their comfort and versatility for their active lifestyles. “Invisalign is a series of clear trays that the patient wears for 1 week at time and we typically give them 8-12 trays each time they come in. They then progress through the trays in between the visits. We continually check them and ensure that they are fitting properly. Very small movements with each aligner, but over the
treatment time, it moves the teeth to where we want.” Addition of the AcceleDent appliance to Invisalign treatment can reduce length of treatment time by 30%. AcceleDent applies a gentle vibration that helps increase the bone and tooth remodeling process, which speeds the rate in which teeth can move. Based on recommendation by American Association of Orthodontists, Dr. Albert suggests initial orthodontic evaluation should occur at
the first sign of orthodontic problems or no later than age 7. At this early age, orthodontic treatment may not be necessary, but helps determine the best time to begin treatment. Through his success of this practice, Dr. Albert is proud to give back to his community. He sponsors local children’s sports teams, bands, and cheerleading throughout the year. He participates in the Smiles Change Lives charity by providing pro bono orthodontic services to low
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Albert Family Orthodontics has beautiful waiting room with TV’s, comfortable chairs, and a super cool, “old school” arcade machine with many games to keep you entertained while you wait!
income qualified families in the community annually. Through his church, Cypress Meadows Community Church, he visits Haiti and Kenya on dental mission trips to provide dental services to those who would otherwise go without. “The first time I went there, we had a how-to-take-careof-your-teeth talk and handed out toothbrushes. Later, they had a church meeting and all the kids were holding their toothbrushes,” he said. “I know if we’re not there helping them out, very likely no one is helping them out. It’s a pretty cool feeling to pay it forward, a lot of those kids never had something we as Americans take for granted – something as simple as a toothbrush.” Dr. Albert believes whether home or abroad, sharing your talents and gifts is important. “I personally feel that it is important to use your gifts and knowledge in ways that are not solely self-serving. There’s a balance between having a practice and giving back to the community and the world. Orthodontics is really one of the professions where
it still is really personal and not like ordering prescriptions online or going to a medical office where it’s a different nurse or doctor all the time,” he said. “I’ve value that I get to develop relationships with my patients and their families over time. I’m the only doctor that you or your child will see over the course of orthodontic treatment and that personal relationship is very important to me. That’s what I think sets my practice apart from most clinics, and with that continuity of care and supervision comes predictably excellent and efficient results.” Albert Family Orthodontics’ Trinity location is at Trinity Professional Place, 1806 Short Branch Drive, Suite #102 in Trinity (at the corner of Duck Slough and Trinity Blvds.) The Palm Harbor office is at 2445 Tampa Road, Suite A. For more information, please call 727-376-2770 (Trinity) and 727-781-7475 (Palm Harbor), Mon. – Fri., 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., or log on to www. albertfamilyortho.com.
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JULY 2019 31
The Coming of Age of The Mak Brothers Band
The Odessa-based rock band hasn’t graduated high school, but they’ve evolved into an act worthy of recognition.
By J Pancia The Mak Brothers Band might just have what it takes to fill the iGen rock ‘n’ roll supergroup void. For now, the young Odessa-based trio can be found at Tampa Bay live music venues. All three members share the same surname, Makrianes — hence the band name — and attend Sickles High School in Northwest Tampa. Frontman/guitarist Ian is a senior; brother/bassist Aidan and cousin/drummer Evan are freshmen. Don Makrianes — the band’s manager and dad of Ian and Aidan — says that he and his brother fostered a love of rock ‘n’ roll while raising their sons. The Makrianes boys grew up to the sounds of The Boss, Tom Petty and Cheap Trick. Don took them to their first concert, Bruce Springsteen, in 2010. They got together as a band officially in 2011 but started lessons at the Rockatar Music Academy in 2012. “That’s how we were able to get small shows early on,” Ian recalls. Evan still takes lessons there. “We also volunteer there over the summer and help teach young kids how to play instruments,” he adds. According to Don, who works a day job at Tech Data, the boys were focused from the beginning and were on track to do some serious professional work with music. He effuses pride as he tells me how much they’ve progressed since starting out as a band. Likewise, Ian owes a lot to his father. “My dad grew up in Cape Cod and moved to Florida in high school and went to Clearwater Central Catholic,” he shares. “A lot of the music he likes, I heard at a young age and a lot of it I still listen to and take influence from today. I also show him a lot of new bands I enjoy; we like to share music with each other. We’ve also been to tons of concerts together.” Which bands had the most impact on them? “I used to be very influenced by punk bands like Green Day, but as time has gone on, I’ve found myself influenced the most by Brian Fallon of The Gaslight Anthem,” Ian says.
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Aidan says his early influences were Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers along with Green Day. “But now I’ve grown to look up to people along the likes of Kevin Grimmet from Hunny and Rich Meyer from Highly Suspect.” Evan digs the drummer for the Chainsmokers, Matt McGuire, the bands Hunny and The 1975. “I also love Social Distortion,” he adds. All three seem to have cherry-picked what works for them musically and are forming their own style and approach. Ian plays shimmery, melodically complex solos on his Gibson. Evan beats the skins with power and precision, and Aidan plucks at his Rickenbacker bass with the nimble confidence of a true Macca Brother. As for songwriting, Ian writes the lyrics and the three collaborate on the arrangements. Sure, they started out like a lot of young bands by playing straight-ahead punk. While those roots are still there, they’ve injected their sound with stylistic touches that set them apart from generic three-chord rock bands. “A lot of the pedal-related things are from artists I listen to but the chords and solos are just things that I find sound — for lack of a better word — cool,” Ian says. “I don’t know much about music theory, so we all just kinda like to throw in different things that just sound cool to us and things that we think make songs sound fuller and more complete.” He mentions the bridge in one of their latest songs, “Tough” — “because it almost becomes a whole new song and smoothly transitions back into the original melody, and that took us a while — probably longer than it should’ve (laughs) — to write.” While they grew up part of the first generation raised with cellphones, the threesome gets the importance of promoting their music via social media but still find it challenging at times. “For us and many others, self-promo is a work in progress. I have no doubts that we’ve gotten much better at it, but it is definitely a skill you learn as time goes on because it’s hard to promote yourself without coming off as annoying, but I definitely think we have gotten much more comfortable with it and we’ll continue to grow.”
Another challenge is those promo photos. Pics that are just a few months old can look outdated because they’re still growing — evident especially with Aidan and Evan., No matter, their sound comes out bigger than what you’d imagine looking at them. The last time I, personally, had a similar feeling of amazement, the Hat Trick Heroes rocked my world a decade ago with their ’70s-influenced hard rock. Also formed by brothers, they haven’t been actively playing gigs since 2014. Hopefully, these two siblings and a cousin will stick around a while. A gig at a recent multi-band showcase at Crowbar garnered the Mak Brothers enthusiastic applause, and many of the young adults in attendance were seeing them for the first time. “Something we always find special at gigs is when we are playing with other bands and their fans stay and watch us and get into the music and dance around because they don’t have to do that,” says Ian. “It means they genuinely enjoy our music and that makes us happy.” Another special experience: They played onstage for Cheap Trick at one of their sound checks in 2015. “A friend of my dad’s, who is a friend of the lead singer Robin Zander’s family, was able to get us passes to watch Cheap Trick’s soundcheck at the Capitol Theater in Clearwater in 2015,” Ian reminisces. “So during the sound check, they had us come on stage and we played their hit “Surrender” for them! There’s actually a video of it on our Youtube Channel. “We’ve been able to talk to them a few other times and Robin Zander has given us some great advice.” What did Zander tell them three years ago? “He said that the most important thing we can do as a band is to constantly practice and to always stay together, and we’ve definitely lived by that for the past three years.” Given how far they’ve come, we look forward to where The Mak Brothers Band will be three years from now. Find out about the Mak Brothers Band’s upcoming shows at facebook.com/pg/mak. brothers.band.
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TRINITY AREA CLASSIFIEDS FOR SALE
TOWNHOUSE in Trinity area. 2,416 sq ft, 3 Br + loft / 2.5 B. Walk in closets. Beautifully remodeled. Listed on ForSaleByOwner. com. 7702 Wimpole Dr. 727-514-9211 Tom’s Bargain Thrift Store Summer Clearance Sale: 50% OFF!
(Gunn Hwy Flea Market at 2317 Gunn Hwy, Odessa, FL 33556, Building A in the back) Living Room, Dining Room, Bedroom, Tables, Lamps, Gift Items, records, DVD’s, luggage, clothing, collectables, office files, home décor, toys.
Saturdays and Sundays ONLY from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. Stop by and ask for Tom! Large Selcetion of
Sofa Sleepers!
SERVICES AVAILABLE SENIOR CARE SERVICES. Short or long term. Medical care, Drs. appts., home cooked meals. Honest and reliable. Excellent ref., lic. with 30+ yrs. exp. Reasonable rates. Call 727-421-8997. YARD CLEAN UPS TREE & SHRUB PRUNING AND REMOVAL LANDSCAPE INSTALLATIONS Licensed & Insured CALL Ed 727 514-5411 COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE by ALL TURF LAWN AND LANDSCAPE Family owned, servicing Tampa Area for 22 years. Providing landscape maintenance for HOA’s, Apartment & Condo
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Housing, Senior and Assisted Living Facilities, Hospitals & Medical/Indutrial Parks, Shopping Malls and more. Licensed and Insured. Call for a no obligation quote. Call Edward at 727-819-1174 www.allturflandscape.com
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) 389-0347.
Great Panes Window Cleaning KRISTIN’S CLEANING 20 years servicing SERVICES We pay attention to the details homeowners: any type of home, condo or villa. & supply products to make FREE, simple, NO PRESSURE your home SPARKLE ! estimate. My Promise: “You Great Prices Too owe me nothing until you are Most homes only $65 100% satisfied!” Licensed and Mom of 8 with over 30 years Insured. experience. Pet FriendlyCall Tom 727-777-6030 Excellent References Angie’s List Service Award Winner Text www.greatpanesfl.com or call (727)423-4997 Kristin LOW COST PRESSURE CLEANING. HOUSES • POOL SIT & STAY PET BOARDING HOTEL or AFFORDABLE PET CAGES • DRIVEWAYS AND SIDEWALKS • POOL DECKS SITTER for IN-HOME VISITS • PVC FENCES • CLEAN OUT Boarding 10 Acres of safe GUTTERS • CALL DARIN. fun. We will treat your pet www.lowcostpressurecleaning. like family. Over 10 years experience. Angie’s List Service com. 20+ years experience. Award Winner. 1st night Free Licensed and insured. (727) 207-9176 for New Customers TEXT or call (727)423-4997 Kristin
A NEW LOOK Pressure Washing. 2 car driveway $65 (includes all Mary’s Spotless Touch front sidewalks). 3 car driveway Cleaning Service, Inc.Licensed, Insured and Bonded $85 (call for long driveways). Most pool decks & cages for your piece of mind. We $125. I also gently clean home offer both residential and commercial cleaning and have exteriors, gutters, fascia, soffits been cleaning in the area for 15 & fences - Free estimates. years. No home/office too large Landscape cleanup and odd jobs too. or small. We are extremely Heritage Springs, Trinity & pet friendly, pay attention to detail that is often overlooked more! Resident of 34655. www.anewlookpw.com and supply all the necessary cleaning products to efficiently Call Randy 727-271-2920 clean your home/office and leave it smelling and looking wonderful!!We also offer other EDUCATION/TUTOR cleaning services such as carpet cleaning, deep cleaning, English As A Second windows, etc. Weekly, biweekly Language: Experienced
teacher with graduate degree and knowledge of Spanish, French seeks students. I can help you learn conversational English with tools such as picture books. I charge $20 per hour and live in New Port Richey. We would meet at local library. Call 941-962-0028 Private Writing Tutor! High school, college, or adult personal/professional, writing projects. English grammar, punctuation, research writing (APA, MLA), essays, reports and college statements of purpose. Experienced (25 years), college English instructor. I can help you meet any writing/editing challenge. Available: mornings, afternoons and weekends. Call: 727.277.2099
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 @ 727-937-5999.
MUSICIANS WANTED Looking for Alto sax & clarinet player to join a NEW 8 piece band. Call Wayne Johnson and the “Little Big Band” at 727-375-1444.
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