Vol. 7, Issue 12, December 2018
®
Your community. Your magazine. ™
The Premier “Shop Local” Community Magazine Directly Mailed To Over 15,000 Homes In Citrus Park, Westchase & Surrounding Areas
This Independent Community News, Business & Dining Guide Is Directly Mailed Once Each Month To: Arlington Park • Aston Villas • Bay Arbor • Berkeley Square • Calf Path Estates • Enclave At Citrus Park • Fawn Ridge Fawn Lake • Forest Lakes • Hampton Lakes • Highland Park • Lake Chase • Mandolin • The Eagles • Tree Tops Twin Branch Acres • Waterchase • West Hampton • Westchase • Westchester • Westwood Lakes • Windsor Place
A New Day in Real Estate
Altru Realty LLC!
To be willing to name a real estate company, using an abbreviated form of the word ‘altruism,’ there has to be something very special and very different about that brokerage. Altruism in real estate seems like a contradiction in terms - selfless concern for the well-being of others - but one company in St. Petersburg, Altru Realty LLC, has made that principle an important part of every aspect
of their operations. Words like consideration, compassion, kindness, goodwill and decency easily apply to their on-going business philosophy and practices. Founded by partners, native Floridian, Keith Gordon (broker with 34 years of experience) and Erin Knorr (behind-thescenes guru), the offices of See “Altru Realty” on page 12
Dance Excellence Ballroom: Creating Community in Oldsmar By Deborah Bostock-Kelley Dance Excellence Ballroom owners Stefan and Traci Dobrev’s goal is to get people off of the couch watching Dancing with the Stars, So You Think You Can Dance, and World of Dance and into their ballroom to experience the magic firsthand. “Instead of watching what other people are doing and saying oh, I wish I could
do that, we want to teach them how to do it,” said Stefan. “People think with ballroom dancing, you have to compete but actually only ten to 20% of students in the dance studio compete. The majority do dance for fun, health, and exercise. It teaches you how to communicate with a partner and shows you how to work together.” Stefan, a dancer since See “Dance” on page 10
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: From the Editor........................5 Holiday Recipe - Christmas Tree Cookies ................................6-7 It’s Christmas Every Day at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s Christmas Town™...............................14-15 2018 Oakdale Christmas Light Display - FREE and FUN for the Whole Family!..........................18
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WESTCHASE / CITRUS PARK TAMPA BAY NEWS & LIFESTYLES
VISIT US ONLINE AT: TBNEWSANDLIFESTYLES.COM
220 S. SAFFORD AVE. TARPON SPRINGS, FL 34689 MAIN OFFICE: 813-928-6124 FAX: 727-942-2432 ADVERTISING E-MAIL: INFO@NNLFLORIDA.COM
Publisher Timothy Selby
Art Director Tony Sica
Editor Carla Dubis
General Manager Matthew Selby
Advertising Sales Matt Selby Jim O'Reilly Mike Bird
Billing Managers Doreen Selby Tina O'Reilly
Photography by Mike Bird (c) 2018 Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles. All Rights Reserved. Westchase / Citrus Park Tampa Bay News and Lifestyles is published monthly and distributed by the U.S. Postal Service to over 15,000 Homes in Citrus Park, Westchase and surrounding areas.. Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles is not responsible for errors in advertisements beyond the cost of advertising space. Nothing that appears in this publication may be reproduced in any way without consent of the publisher.
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! With the holidays comes the pure joy of spending quality time with family and friends, often those that live far away. For my husband Matthew and I, this will be our first time hosting a Christmas party at our new home in Tarpon Springs. I personally love spending time with my relatives, I love Christmas and I love cooking, so I jumped at the chance to have everyone over for this magical Holiday. Little did I know what I was getting myself into! I knew we would have to entertain a lot of people since my husband has a big, wonderful family, but I was not counting on having some of my own relatives fly all the way from Italy and others from Venezuela so they could come and spend the Holidays with us. What an unexpected, nerve wrecking blessing! Add my sister’s husband’s family that’s coming down from Maine and my sister in law’s husband’s Cuban family to the mix, and we have around 51 guests coming over and one big MULTICULTURAL CHRISTMAS PARTY in the making! My mom and I are coming up with a “multicultural” Christmas menu. It will include pulled pork, beans, rice and fried plantains (Cuban/ Venezuelan), Seafood/Lobster (Maine), Lasagna / Pasta (Italy)
and many different kinds of desserts! There will be something for everyone to enjoy. I have slowly started buying some Christmas decorations, prepping the guest rooms and bathrooms, I’m also waiting on some quotes to rent some tables and chairs, and I am calling my friend Brandon from Mosquito Hunters so he can send his team to spray our backyard. We don’t want anyone getting bit by those little suckers. It’s been over a decade since I spent the Holidays with some of these relatives, and it will be the very first time our families are meeting each other. A lot has changed in the past 10 years... we’ve lost quite a few loved ones, but we’ve gained well over 50 amazing relatives! Incredible people from different generations, backgrounds, nationalities, and ethnicities interacting with one another, telling stories, sharing laughs and making new, beautiful memories… that’s what the Holidays
are all about. Christmas should not be about lavish gifts, the best gift of all is the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other. Before I wrap up, I want to say Happy Birthday to my cousin Jose Francisco! Jose is turning 23 on Christmas day, so we’re having a cake to celebrate not only Jesus’ birthday but Jose’s as well. Jose Francisco has always been like a brother to me, he was the one who flew from Italy back in September 2017 to walk me down the aisle at Sacred Heart church, after my father unexpectedly passed away a couple of months before our wedding day. Happy Early Birthday Jose! I love you a lot! The memories you make with the ones you love is not just an important thing, it’s everything! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from everyone at Tampa Bay News and Lifestyles! Carla Selby.
Holiday Recipe - Christmas Tree Cookies Cookies are basically the point of Christmas, right? Whether you’re making them for a party, Santa, or just a cozy night in by the fireplace, there’s always a reason to whip up a batch of cookies during the holidays. Ask yourself, would you rather decorate a real tree, or a sugar cookie Christmas tree?
YIELDS: 16 - 18 I TOTAL TIME: 0 HOURS 30 MINS INGREDIENTS COOKIES • 3/4 c. unsalted butter, at room temperature • 1 c. sugar • 1 egg • 1 tsp. vanilla extract • 1 tsp. almondt extract • 2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour • 1 tsp. baking soda • 1/4 tsp. kosher salt FROSTING • 1 c. butter • 4 c. powdered sugar • 1 tsp. vanilla extract • 3 tbsp. water or milk • Green gel icing color • 3 tbsp. red and white pearl sprinkles • 18 yellow star sprinkles DIRECTIONS
• Preheat oven to 350º and line two cookie sheets with parchment. • Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Mix in egg and vanilla and almond extracts. In a separate bowl, whisk together dry ingredients. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until smooth. Dough will be thick. • Make three sizes of cookie dough balls: 1 teaspoon, 2 teaspoons, and 3 teaspoons. (You should have an even number of each.) Place medium and large cookies on a cookie sheet and press down slightly on each. Bake until center looks mostly cooked, 7 to 8 minutes. Place smallest balls of dough on another cookie sheet and press down slightly. Bake until center looks mostly cooked, 5 to 6 minutes. When cookies are done, remove from oven and let cool 2 to 3 minutes, then transfer to a cookie rack to finish cooling.
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• Make frosting: Beat butter until smooth. Add half the powdered sugar and mix until smooth. Add vanilla and 2 tablespoons water and mix until smooth. Add remaining powdered sugar and mix until smooth. Add green gel icing color to frosting and mix until your desired shade of green. • Assemble cookies: Get one size of each cookie. Fit a piping bag with a medium sized star piping tip (I used Wilton 32) and fill bag with green frosting. • Pipe a swirl of frosting onto the largest cookie, then add the second medium sized cookie on top. Pipe a swirl of frosting onto the second cookie, then top with the smallest cookie. Pipe a swirl on top of the final cookie and decorate with a star and round ornament sprinkles. Continue building cookie trees, then refrigerate until ready to serve.
Visit tbnewsandlifestyles.com for more Holiday Recipes! Happy Holidays!
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DECEMBER 2018 7
Your Local Westchase Area Financial Advisor Member SIPC
Doris Muller Westchase resident of 13 years
You Talk. I Listen. In Person.
Cell: 813-597-9147 Office: 813-792-7976 9902 W Linebaugh Ave Tampa, FL 33626 www.edwardjones.com/doris-muller
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DECEMBER 2018 9
“Dance”-
continued from page 1
the age of 7 and a Bulgarian National Dance Champion, and Traci, a ballet dancer since age 5 and competitive gymnast since middle school, pride themselves on having a studio both students and instructors enjoy coming to. Opened in November 2014, the Dobrevs are pleased to have created a fun, safe place where people can meet, form friendships, and find people with similar interests. “It’s so inspirational and that’s what I wanted to create – a place where people wanted to come to – teachers and students,” said Stefan. At Dance Excellence Ballroom, students can learn both International and American Style Ballroom dances, including Salsa, Cha Cha, Rumba, Jive, Samba, Tango, Waltz, Viennese Waltz, Quickstep, and Swing.
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Lessons are available privately or in a group class setting and isn’t necessary to bring a partner, unless you want to, though many couples participate as part of a date night. Eleven full-time instructors, and two receptionists are part of the Dance Excellence family. And that immediate sense of “family” is a very important part of the Dance Excellence philosophy as soon as you enter the expansive studio. Certified instructors aren’t transient, rather they are hired as employees of the studio, with comprehensive benefits and continuous education requirements. “We are selective of who we hire. They have to be great dancers, but they also have to be team players who want to excel,” explained Stefan. A misconception about
ballroom dancing is that it is only for retirees. Dance Excellence Ballroom students range from age 4 to senior citizen and through a structured program, can check their progress, right along with their instructor, to know where they stand. The Dobrevs confirm that students are getting everything they wanted out of their lessons. The Dobrevs are confidant a person does not exist that Dance Excellence Ballroom can’t teach to dance, no matter if the dancer considers himself with “two left feet.” “Everyone can learn how to dance, but it depends on the level that they want to learn and how much time that they want to invest, and how good they want to be,” said Stefan. “We love having fun and building community, but we also have a structure.” Their Beginner Program provides instruction of the basics of four or five popular
social dances. The Foundation Program expands those basics to variations of popular social dances. At the next level, students move into the Bronze 1-4 Program. After completing this program, Stefan said that students will be able to go to any social event and dance all the popular social dances with confidence and with any partner, to any type music. The highest program of social dancing instruction they offer is the Silver Program. Besides looking skilled on any dance floor, the benefits of ballroom dancing come in four main categories: mental, physical, social, and emotional. Ballroom dancing is mentally stimulating, necessitating listening, planning, sequential learning and problem-solving. Multiple studies have proven dancing challenges the mind and may prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s in older adults. Because ballroom dancing
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involves precise physical activity, listening to the beats in music, remembering dance steps, and taking your partner into account, it is mentally challenging. Ballroom dancing is as physical as going to the gym
to work out; however, less stressful on the body. “When people engage in dance, it’s good because it’s not only the physical, but you have to connect timing and get down to a coordinated sequence of steps. There’s a
lot of mental of processing that goes along with the physical movements,” explained Traci. “It helps with the aging of brain because it’s working the brain in so many different ways. For kids, it helps with the development of the brain.” Ballroom dancing is a social experience as ‘partner dancing’ requires communication, teamwork, and helps create friendships and community. Even some romantic relationships have been born from holding hands and consciously listening and responding to the moves of your dance partner. “Learning how to listen and talk to your partner is key,” said Traci. Emotionally, ballroom dance helps build confidence and poise, and can help people overcome shyness. “Especially for children, ballroom dance teaches them manners, how to treat one another and teaches them
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teamwork,” said Stefan. The first Friday night of the month, Dance Excellence Ballroom hosts a couplesonly party, while social parties happen on Thursday evenings. On Saturday, the ballroom host classes for children with special needs. “Our goal is to have these incredible students in competition next year,” said Traci. Stefan stressed, “No matter whether you want to compete or just learn to dance socially, ballroom is for everyone. Our biggest goal is to create a community.” Dance Excellence Ballroom is located in the Oldsmar Plaza at 3730 Tampa Road, Suite 7. They are open Monday through Friday 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. For more information about group or private lessons or dance parties, visit www. DanceExcellenceBallroom. com or call (813) 814-0099.
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“Altru Realty”-
continued from page 1
Altru Realty LLC are ideally located at 2515 1st Avenue North and offer a choice of convenient days and hours of operations for potential customers: Mon- Thurs 8:30 AM to 7 PM, Fri – 9:00 AM, Sat – 9:00 to 5:00 PM, Sun – 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, something for everyone. They have chosen to specialize in working only with the seller side of the real estate market, and have admittedly, taken the total team concept to new levels. Unlike the traditional real estate company, Altru Real Estate and its affiliates, Move in Virtual Tours and New Frontier Title Company, provide their sellers with a one-stop selling experience with a seamless transition from marketing through closing. No aspect of the listing and selling experience is overlooked by Altru’s talented team. Referred to by partner Keith Gordon as “transaction professional negotiators,” his team is never satisfied with just providing a simple MLS listing. Altru offers their sellers a complete, all inclusive, professional selling experience and marketing program, with several seller-friendly twists including a 1 ½% fee instead of the usual 3%, no upfront fees and the ability to opt out of their contract with Altru with only a 60-day notice.
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An entire marketing strategy is employed to ensure that Altru’s clients receive the highest price for the properties that they are entrusted with. In a real departure from normal real estate transactions, with their sellers in mind, all marketing costs are paid by Altru, not their sellers, something rather unique in the real estate industry. No aspect of the selling experience is overlooked. A typical transaction follows a carefully orchestrated process. Photography affiliate, Move In Virtual Tours, takes high definition photos and a Matterport Immersive 3D Virtual Tour of the property to be sold as the first step in their overall marketing plan. The graphic design and digital marketing team then turns the seller’s address into a custom .com website and creates an individualized brochure to stimulate interest in the property being sold. Once all initial steps have been completed, the marketing team then broadcasts the property across the Internet through multiple social media sites to garner the attention of the most potential buyers available. The actual sales process is especially unique; a 4-step process begins with what Keith calls, “All Buyers, Providing Value, Altru-certified negotiator, and transaction coordinator. Each step is a vital team-based cog in the sales engine.
“All Buyers,” conducted by one of Altru’s transaction professional negotiators with a minimum of 15 months of specialized, rigorous negotiating training, negotiates the sales price on behalf of the seller. Unlike typical agents, in most cases, he doesn’t accept the first offer but actually slows the process down to allow multiple offers to be received before finally accepting one. This allows the seller to receive the highest price possible. “Proving Value” is the process of determining the market value of the house being sold. This involves reviewing the multiple offers submitted. Trying to determine value, based on a single offer, is counterproductive to the seller’s potential profits and studiously avoided by the Altru team. It is the Altru transaction professional negotiators who make sure that their seller receives the highest possible price for their property. According to Erin, it is a matter of “clients before commission,” working for the betterment of the client before the brokerage, a unique ethic in real state. Once an offer has been accepted and moves to contract, another essential part of the Altru team comes into play, the transaction coordinator team. Many a real estate transaction has blown up at the closing table
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because someone forgot to dot the i’s and cross the t’s, failing to comply with required timeframes for submittals, inspections, escrow requirements and the myriad of details that make up a real estate transaction. Altru’s professionals are experienced in all aspects of the compliance issues that can short circuit a transaction
and ensure their sellers a seamless transition to the closing table. In the dog-eat-dog arena of real estate sales, it is refreshing to learn there is a company, Altru Realty LLC, who does take their sellers best interest at heart.
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Unique in all aspects of their operations, this seller-friendly, professional organization continues to thrive. If you have a home to sell, you owe it to yourself to call 727 551 4474 for the selling experience of a lifetime. Your Altru Realty professionals are waiting for your call.
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IT’S CHRISTMAS EVERY DAY AT BUSCH GARDENS TAMPA BAY’S CHRISTMAS TOWN™
Experience the joy and wonder of the holiday season every day at Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay’s Christmas Town™. New this year, guests can enjoy millions of twinkling lights, Christmas shows and Sing-A-Long Train, and of course visits with Santa and Rudolph® - now EVERY DAY of the season - starting Nov. 17 through Dec. 31. Christmas Town features extended hours on weekends and additional select dates with even more new experiences, including an all-new holiday show, indulgent culinary treats, visits to Rudolph’s® Winter Wonderland, nighttime experiences on Florida’s best thrill rides and so much more. Christmas Town is included with any daily admission or annual pass, and is open until 10 p.m. on select dates.
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There is so much to experience and see during Christmas Town. New this year at Dragon Fire Grill is the holiday spectacular “Christmas Is...” featuring contemporary music that celebrates seasonal traditions. The new show joins a festive line-up of returning favorite shows including Christmas on Ice, Elmo’s Christmas Wish, the Holiday Hills Band, Carol of the Bells light show and the Christmas Town Sing-ALong Train. The NEW Brunch with Santa is a Christmasthemed dining experience that’s perfect for the entire family. Adults can enjoy unlimited mimosas or “build your own Bloody Mary” upgrades, and everyone can delight in a menu bursting with delicious holiday delicacies. No Christmas celebration is complete without a visit
from St. Nick and guests will have the opportunity to take a photo with Santa as part of their experience. Brunch with Santa is available at the Serengeti
Overlook Restaurant on select dates beginning Nov. 17 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Come early with the
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whole family and make Christmas Town the unforgettable backdrop for your holiday card! Santa will be awaiting your visit at Santa’s House presented by CocaCola®. Additional amazing photo opportunities are around every corner: the enchanting twinkling light tunnel leading into Stanleyville, all your favorite characters at Rudolph’s® Winter Wonderland, Ice and Poinsettia princesses along pathways, larger-than-life Cookie Monster® and Elmo® nutcracker figures along the Sesame Street®
Safari of Fun walkway, and playful penguins at the holiday-themed Penguin Point. Guests will discover even more merriment in the Christmas Town Village, celebrating the season in a new location. Greeted by friendly snowmen, guests will be immersed in festive fun along the Gwazi pathway, including merry merchandise and tasty holiday treats. In this enchanting realm, little ones can even take a ride on the fan-favorite Jingle Bell Express miniature train. Indulge in winter whiskey
and wine tastings while completing your holiday shopping with unique gifts from artisans around the world at the Artisan Market at Xcursions and around the park. For a gift that gives all year, shoppers can select a new Busch Gardens Annual Pass with benefits to enjoy exciting events, worldclass coasters, and upclose animal encounters. From Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum, guests can select the pass with perks they want most – all with no down payment. For a limited-time, Busch Gardens Annual Passes start as low as $9.99 per
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month for Florida residents. In 2019, Pass Members can look forward to unique benefits, the park’s 60th anniversary celebration and exclusive ride time for the spring opening of Tigris, Florida’s tallest launch coaster. For complete event information, including dates, times and packages, visit ChristmasTown.com. Be the first to know about events, special deals and future announcements by following Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s blog and social media channelson Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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DECEMBER 2018 17
Holiday Announcement
2018 Oakdale Christmas Light Display FREE and FUN for the Whole Family!
Looking for some wholesome. beautiful, and FREE family fun attractions during the Holidays? Well. look no further! The Oakdale Christmas Light Display event is amongst the largest and longest running home displays in the United States. This is their 42nd year. It’s been taking place yearly since 1977! They were among the top 3 finalists on NBC’s Today Show. They have been featured on HGTV’s “All Out Christmas Special” and in PEOPLE Magazine. Description: * One-half acre in size, App. 1/4 million lights. * A walking yard tour that includes a small pond, several waterfalls & fountains. * An 18-train HO scale railroad, with moving planes and carnival rides. * Many animated & lit up figures and inflatables. * House covered with lights and window cabinet displays. * Bubble machines for the kids.
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Dates/Times: Beginning Friday, Nov 23 thru Jan 3, 2019, 6 pm to 10 pm, nightly (rain or clear skies). Location: Oakdale Christmas House 2719 Oakdale Street S, St. Petersburg, FL Directions: Take I-275 to exit 22 (old exit 9), which is 175E. Turn right on 4th St., heading south. Go 1 mile, crossing over 22nd Ave S. Next street on left is Oakdale. Go 2 blocks, park or look. Phone: 727 822-5562 Website: ChristmasDisplay.org FREE and FUN for the Whole Family!
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