Vol. 9, Issue 3, March 2020
®
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
Mother’s Restaurant — Food, Family, and Friends this neighborhood gem. Mother’s Restaurant offers an incredible selection of homemade healthy dishes, fresh salads, soups, flatbreads, sandwiches, and low-calorie entrees for those of us who are “always on a diet,” as well as a wide selection of Glutenfree dishes for people with dietary restrictions. Chef Alex and Joel explained that up to 70% of the menu can be customized and can be made gluten-free, including their incredible pasta dishes. “We cater to every diet,” says Joel. See “Mother’s” on page 8
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: From the Editor.....................5 Tech Talk with Bob.................6-7
By Carla M. Dubis Tedeschi Three and half years ago, owners and business partners Joel Olinski and Brad Spoor joined forces and blessed the Tampa Bay community with the opening of an amazing new restaurant, Mother’s. Located in the heart of Westchase, Mother’s
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Restaurant features a scratch kitchen concept with a fun twist on all “mom’s classic recipes.” “Mother’s honors all mothers. We’re an elevated Southern comfort,” explained Joel. “We like to rotate the menu yearly. From Chicken Pot Pies to Sloppy Joes— everything that brings you
back to your childhood and what your mother would make at home. I wanted to bring something to Westchase that was a one-stop-shop. Good for families with children, and good for adults.” Don’t let the words “Southern Comfort” fool you into thinking there are only high-carb dishes at
Westchase..........................12-13 ALLPRO Tree and Landscaping...................16-17
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As you know, our publication’s primary focus is to cover all the great things that Tampa Bay has to offer. We are hyper-localized, and reach the following areas; East Lake, Westchase, Carrollwood, Trinity, Odessa, Lutz, and Land O’ Lakes. We mainly focus on informing the community about all the fantastic local businesses and what products and services they have to offer you and your loved ones. We are proud promoters of a “shop local” mentality. When you think about getting the most out of your money, you might think about long-term investments—things such as 401k, real estate investments, IRAs, and so forth. And as you might imagine, these are all great options for the money you want to keep, but how do you get a return on investment for the money that you spend? The answer is simple—by shopping locally. When you local, you’re making a personal investment in your neighborhood and community. In fact, for every $100 spent, roughly $68-$73 of it returns to local activity. Money is kept in the community because locally-owned businesses often purchase from other local companies, service providers, and farms. Purchasing local helps grow other businesses as well as our region’s tax base. Whether you realize it or not, when you shop local, you are individually stimulating the local economy with your support and, in turn, helping shape your community’s unique character and personality. When you shop locally, you benefit from a personalized customer service experience, as local business owners are usually running and
operating their own shops. They feel personally invested in your purchase. Local business owners genuinely care about you and your family; they want to get to know you and want to make sure you’re enjoying the products or services they offer. After all, they are your neighbors. By shopping local, you’re also supporting incredible local charities and non-profit organizations. Most of our featured local businesses and their owners are very involved in helping their communities prosper, and the majority donate a lot of their proceeds to local charities and nonprofit organizations. Where we shop, where eat, drink, play, and have fun—all of it makes our community home. Tampa Bay’s one-of-a-kind local businesses are an integral part of the distinctive character of this place. Let’s keep Tampa unique; let’s keep it local. With that said, we’re looking for local writers to join our team. You’d be in charge of writing stories about local businesses, charities, and other incredible organizations. No real experience is needed; you need to have a flexible schedule and enjoy meeting new people. We’re looking for someone organized, responsible, with a passion for the written word, a vehicle or means of transportation, and who works well in a tight deadline environment. If that sounds like you, please get in touch with me at carla@nnlflorida. com. I look forward to hearing from you. Until next time,
Carla Dubis
Tech Talk with Bob: Don’t Trash Your Identity I am happy to report that ever since I started offering cyber security services to our clients last spring, many people have become more aware of their digital security practices and are taking measures to better protect themselves online. Now remember, there is no silver bullet or guaranteed solution to being 100% secure online. However, implementing better online practices will make your digital world safer and make it harder for internet criminals to target you, exploit you, and wreak havoc in your real world. I have seen people employ great security practices to protect their business and personal data. But then they turn around and personally hand over their computer’s data to anyone for the taking. How does this happen? What do you do with your old
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computer when you get a new one? You would be surprised how many people throw their old computers into the trash. If you do this, your trash becomes a potential security
risk to you. First, never throw your old tech items into the trash. These components need to be disposed of properly and responsibly because they
usually contain elements that are not safe for the environment. In addition, most municipalities have laws and impose fines in regard to the proper/improper disposal of these items. Second, your discarded computer has a disk drive in it (hard disk drive/ solid state drive) that stores your information, including your personal data. Even if you delete your personal files, there are still methods cyber criminals can use to extract data that you thought was erased. Therefore your old computer sitting by the curb or in a dumpster can be intercepted by multiple people, who will rummage through your trash, from the time you throw it out to the time it gets to the landfill. So let me explain the process that we use. First, we remove the disk drive
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mounted inside the computer that actually stores all the information that was ever processed on that computer. It is usually in the form of a hard disk drive or solid-state drive. We then disassemble and dispose of the remaining components through industry channels we have in place. At this point all that is left is the old disk drive. We place that drive into an industrial shredder that converts it into a pile of rubble. There is no way any of our data will get into the hands of anyone, let alone cyber criminals, through an old computer we discarded. Now I want to simplify this process for anyone who needs to dispose of their old computers. We will pick up your computer(s) at your home or business. We disassemble them in our facility. Then we dispose of the components. Your disk drive will make a side-trip to be shredded into a pile of rubble before its
disposal. This way you have a quick and easy way to dispose of your old environmentally toxic computer. Plus, you also have peace of mind knowing that the data that was on your old computer is safe and inaccessible because your computer has been dismantled and its disk drive is no longer in one piece. We usually charge anywhere from $200 and up,
per computer, to provide this vital security service. However, in recognition of Earth Day 2020, if you schedule an appointment for us to dispose of your computer before the end of April 2020, I’ll do it for ONLY $99 per computer. (Sorry, no other coupons or offers can be applied to this special.) Remember protecting your data is always up to you. My staff and I are
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here to help you navigate through these cumbersome and often confusing tasks. Cyber criminals will exploit the easy, unprotected systems. Protecting yourself online is your responsibility. Don’t go it alone. We’re here to help. 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 727-534-4000. We’ve been helping folks restore their peace of mind, and sanity, with their technology for decades. Be Safer In Your Digital World! If you need a certified professional, call us now at 727-534-4000. We’ve been helping folks restore their peace of mind, and sanity, with their technology for decades.
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“Conversation Pieces” include; Mac & Cheese bites, Calamari, Mama’s Chicken Wings, Mother’s Meatloaf Sliders and one of my personal favorites the Tuna Tartare and the Smoked Fish Deviled Eggs. Amongst the most popular main entrees, we have the Sam Adams Beer Battered Fish and Chips, Seared Ahi Tuna Steak, Salmon Piccata, Braised Pork Shank, Mother’s Meatloaf, Shrimp and Grits, and their famous and one of my alltime favorite dishes in Tampa; the Braised Skirt Steak Risotto.
Mother’s - Story continued from page 1 “We can cook something for everyone, once you’re here, you will not leave hungry.” Joel is not above bussing a table, cleaning the kitchen, or working his celebrated magic behind the bar. With a lifelong hospitality background, originally a master mixologist that placed third in the world for competition, Joel ran the Blue Martini at the International Plaza for nearly 17 years. His dream had always been to create a restaurant where the
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locally-sourced ingredients were familiar but done in a way that raised the bar of how food could be served. Presentation is key to Joel and head chef Alex Rosenblum. “We use a team of people to come up with our food. Plating is a big deal for me,” says Joel. “I want to make sure everything that comes out not only tastes amazing but also looks like art.” And trust me, it does. I am a regular at Mother’s myself, and I can honestly say that everything I’ve ever tried not only looks amazing but also tastes delicious! Some of Mother’s favorite
Unique Cocktails and Drinks When you are a jet-set world-renowned mixologist, it only makes sense that Joel’s bar boasts some of the most unique and exquisite cocktails and drinks — from wine and craft beer to house wine on tap and creative poptinis, my personal favorite is the “Mother Fudger,” give it a try, you’ll not be disappointed. Mother’s drink menu is handcrafted, and it includes cocktails with the finest of ingredients combined in the most innovative ways. Some exceptional curious combinations with fun names include the Drunk Piggy and the Toasted Monkey.
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What’s New at Mother’s? From new team members to new spectacular menu items rolling out mid-April, as well as new cocktails, new desserts, new brunch items, an updated wine list, and a possible brand new location coming soon to a place near you! When asked about all these “new changes” Joel says, “We’re never ‘replacing’ just rotating. Like any Mother’s kitchen, we’re always coming up with something new to please our loved ones! We like to make seasonal menu changes, depending on what specialty products are fresh and available, as well as new ideas and suggestions by our Chefs, staff and guests alike.” Joel is proud to welcome manager Andre Zamudio, and operations manager Suzanne Do to the Mother’s Team. Andre Zamudio amasses an outstanding 27 years of corporate management and restaurant experience. He recently culminated a backof-the-house and front-ofthe-house operations training at Mother’s, and he couldn’t be more excited to be part of the Mother’s team. “I am extremely happy to be here. I look forward to sharing my own culinary ideas with the team, as well as participating
in Mother’s future plans of expansion and growth,” says Zamudio, who seemed captivated by Mother’s Culture, its innovative concept, and of course, the Mother’s unique motto; “Food, Family, and Friends.” Zamudio’s background experience includes business management at the famous waterfront restaurant Ulele, Executive Chef experience at Brio’s Tuscan Grille, as well as several years of experience as a Revenue Operations manager for City walk. Zamudio opened and operated 4 of the largest venues on a city walk at Universal Studios. When referring to Andre and Suzanne, Joel says, “Andre and Suzanne are powerhouses. They are both extremely experienced and incredibly talented.” “Suzanne Do has quickly absorbed the Mother’s Culture… she’s the ‘Mother’s Mother’,” says Joel in between laughs. He literally called her “The Queen B,” and said Suzanne did an amazing job at making everyone’s jobs easier, including his. Joel couldn’t be more proud of the entire Mother’s team. “We all work very hard, and it’s paying off. We’re
beginning to be known as a staple in the community, And now we not only grow from within but we also have experienced people like Andre and Suzanne coming from other restaurants and the hospitality business, looking to work and grow with us, which is huge,” says Joel. “That means we must be doing something right. That is definitely an indication that the business is progressing well, and catching people’s attention.” Joel would like to thank the community for their continuous support. “We wouldn’t be here without you.” Mark Your Calendars Mother’s Events are where you wanna be! Wednesdays - Get over the hump and visit Mother’s on a Wednesday for their $15.99 all you can eat seasoned wings, a $5 glass of wine and live music. Saturday & Sunday Brunch - Mother’s homemade brunch is served from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. They serve ultimate Bloody Marys, Mimosas or their signature Red or White Sangria for only $13.99. March 17th - St. Pattrick’s Day - Special traditional Irish Fare. Green Beer. Live Music.
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and a Rock after Dark Karaoke entertainment. “Come test your American Idol voices,” says Joel. Though nobody really expects you to sound like Carrie Underwood. April 12 - Easter Brunch - With a special menu. Live Music and extended Brunch Hours from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm. Reservations are recommended. If you can’t make it to Brunch, make it to dinner, starting at 4:00 pm. Mother’s Day - May 10th - One Of Mother’s Biggest Celebrations of course! Complimentary champagne provided for all Mothers. A special Brunch with extended hours from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm. As well as a special dinner, featuring unique Mother’s creations and special dishes. Live music and entertainment of course. Mother’s Restaurant is located at 12227 W Linebaugh Ave, Tampa, FL 33626. Reservations are not mandatory but encouraged. Visit mothers fl.com for more information or call 813-814-1533. Make sure you like them on Facebook at https://www.facebook. com/MothersFL/ and follow them on Instagram @ motherswestchase.
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Pediatric Dentistry of Westchase Offers Team Approach – Dentist, Parent, Pediatrician, Child By Deborah BostockKelley
It’s a family affair at Pediatric Dentistry of Westchase, both for the patients and the practice. In 2021, a decade will have passed with Dr. Sandra Makram opening her practice in the heart of Westchase to treat young patients. In 2018, her sister, Dr. Christina Makram, joined the practice to expand the level of comprehensive dental services they could offer their young patients. “I fell in love with the Westchase area. It’s such a great family neighborhood with wonderful schools and young families.” Though dentists don’t have to be board-certified, both dentists dedicated the extra time to specialize in pediatric dentistry and went through rigorous exams to be certified by a national board. “We provide care from birth to 18 years old. In the early stage, we want to create a dental home for children and families. We work closely with pediatricians, so if a child needs any treatment, they already have an office to go to.” Dr. Makram said that pediatric dentistry is not only a team effort with the pediatrician but with the parents. It’s essential to Dr. Makram to have the
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parents involved in the child’s care. Before, a child would be taken in for the exam, and the parent would wait in the waiting room. Today, a dental visit follows the same procedure as a pediatrician visit. Parents are in the exam room with their children and are actively involved. In the not too distant past, parents were instructed to bring their children to the dentist at 4 or 5 years old. Dr. Makram said that age is way too late to be proactive with their children’s teeth. She recommends bringing your child for a dental check-up around age 1. “Kids would come
into the dentist – 4 to 6 years old – and at that time, would already have a mouthful of cavities. The American Board of Pediatric Dentistry encourages these early visits – 6 months after the first tooth comes in – typically around the child’s first birthday, but this may vary,” she said. “We want to try to get ahead of the problem.” The first few visits aren’t to do anything invasive. The child is typically seated on the parent’s lap. This allows the parent to discuss medical history and any issues the child might be having. It gives the child the chance to
become comfortable with the dentist and the dental visit. It allows Dr. Makram to educate the parent and answer questions. “Points discussed during your first visit include; 1) how do I care for my child’s teeth? 2) What do I do when they’re teething? 3) What can I give them when they are having discomfort? 4) How do I clean a toddler’s teeth? 5) What kind of toothpaste should I use? 6) What should I give them to drink? and 7) What should I avoid?” Dr. Makram said education is a large part of pediatric dentistry, so much so that she and her staff
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Sandra Makram, D.D.S have partnered with local preschools and elementary schools and visit to teach the youngsters how to take care of their teeth using storytime and puppets. “We’ve partnered with many of our local schools here because it’s all about the education. We visit schools and talk about dental health and prevention. We adjust our presentation appropriately based upon the age of the children.” Presentations have been so popular, and she has several students and even the teachers’ children as patients. Dr. Makram’s goal is to help the children be proactive in their dental care from the earliest age.
“We want to make sure we have good habits and patterns from the very start, so we don’t see these young kids coming in with all these dental problems so early. Our main goal is prevention, preventative dentistry,” she explained. “On a social and psychological side, when you start regular dental visits at a young age, it becomes a very, very normal routine. A lot of positive reinforcement from the very beginning, rewards – stickers, toys, a fun game room – it just makes it such a pleasant experience from the start. That way, as they do get older, they don’t have that common fear of the dentist. We’re starting it off on a positive note and building that relationship with the child and the family. That allows getting to interact, to get to know the kids and the family. On the flip side, they get to know us and build trust in us, so future treatments and visits become second nature to them.” Dr. Makram said that her team is specially trained to work with young children, and we’ve learned what works and what doesn’t.
“We don’t push or force any treatment. We want the parents to be on board and comfortable with all facets of the treatment. Though a lot of pediatric offices don’t allow parents to come back, we invite parents in with us during the exam visit and treatment visits,” she said. “It’s a team approach with the parent, the assistant, and me, so we can safely examine the child. Ultimately the goal is the kids are getting the proper, safe care with the parent’s involvement.” When asked what she enjoyed most about having her practice, she answered immediately. “The kids! The smiles. The high-fives. That fearful kid that comes in and is worried and you’re able to turnaround the whole
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appointment, and he leaves here smiling, giving highfives, getting a prize from the treasure box. That makes our day. It’s all about the kids, about making it a positive experience for them, making them feel comfortable, and making it so that they’re life-long awesome dental patients.” Pediatric Dentistry of Westchase is located at 13027 W Linebaugh Ave and is open Monday through Thursday. To schedule an appointment or to learn more about the Pediatric Dentistry of Westchase, call 813854-5800 or visit www. westchasepedo.com. Online appointment scheduling is also available.
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ALLPRO Tree and Landscaping - The Elite Service You Deserve By Carla M. Dubis Tedeschi Not only do trees provide oxygen to the environment, but they are dominant ornamental features in your home landscape and add value in many ways. But like any asset, the value will not increase without proper care and attention, and caring for trees involves pruning. Pruning a tree will often be done for aesthetic purposes, but it is also completed for the benefit of the tree. Damaged, diseased, or broken limbs can be safety risks for those nearby and for the health of the tree. Removing these branches will also prevent further decay. Whether you need to remove a potentially hazardous tree or boost your curb appeal, certified local arborist and ALLPRO owner Pete Spiridis, and his professional team of experts can gladly and affordably take care of your tree or landscaping problems. Whether you own a residential property or a business, Pete and the ALLPRO experts are at your service. They design impeccable landscaping, trim every type of tree, grind tree stumps, remove stumps, install and remove sod, place rock beds, lay mulch, and
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perform all sorts of other yard-related duties. “ALLPRO did a fantastic job of trimming my huge oak tree,” said 5-star reviews M. Ceglian. “The tree was damaged by lightning, hanging low and spreading out over our neighbor’s property. Pete and his crew raised it, brought it in, and made it look amazing again. Allpro is the first tree service that I would use again and recommend to others.”
Extreme Weather Conditions in Tampa Bay Call For Early Preparation Hurricanes, severe winds, lightning, heavy rain, Tampa Bay has it all. As Pete explains on his website, “Trees in urban areas of Tampa Bay endure especially brutal stimuli. Some trees do not have the genetic predisposition to deal with these forces.” At ALLPRO, the arborists “custom-tailor solutions that promote the health of your
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unique trees and landscapes.” ALLPRO is ready to help you during the 2020 Hurricane Season. The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane wind scale paints an informative picture of potential damage to your trees from a hurricane, particularly improperly pruned trees. Using a rating system of 1 – 5, it warns that, at 74 to 95 mph, a category 1 hurricane can cause damage. “Large branches of trees will snap, and shallowly rooted trees may be toppled,” possibly causing “extensive damage to power lines,” creating outages that can last “a few to several days.” Downed trees can block roads, delaying the response time for emergency crews. Snapped branches can become lethal projectiles. “After the recent heavy winds in Tampa, we ended up with a palm tree and old landscaping mess,” says Mary H. “Pete and his staff took care of three fallen palm trees, and he designed a new clean look that meshed with some exciting new landscaping. The job was beautiful, and we couldn’t be happier! We got what we paid for as promised and on time.” The time to prepare is now. When you take the steps that you need to make your home secure, don’t forget one crucial element that is often overlooked and can cause damage to your home, your trees. The solution is not the removal of trees but taking proper preventative care of them. According to Pete, “more of the trees that failed during the 2018 and 2019 Hurricane seasons were improperly pruned trees.” Proper pruning not only improves your trees’ overall health, but it also ensures that your family will be able to enjoy the shade of their favorite trees for many years to come. “Pete and the ALLPRO team removed 4 huge trees for me after Hurricane Irma came through,” says Lorrie D. “They were fast, friendly, professional and reasonably priced. They arrived on time and did the entire job, including stump removal in one day. Many thanks to Pete and the ALLPRO team.”
Experts in Landscape Design & Installation Every stunning yard has its origins in exemplary landscape design & installation. ALLPRO Tree & Landscaping staffs highly creative designers who relish the opportunity to work with clients to create gorgeous landscape plans. “Our goal is to build an aesthetically pleasing landscape that requires minimal maintenance and satisfies you in every possible way,” says Spiridis. “ALLPRO Tree & Landscaping has landscape design & installation down to a science. The result is always a majestic landscape that holds its beauty across posterity. Allpro Tree & Landscaping goes beyond the basics of landscape design. “We make every effort to stay within clients’ budget limits,” says Pete. “Furthermore, we get the job done with incredible speed. You won’t have to worry about our team dragging their feet and occupying your property longer than necessary. We strive to plan and build landscaping in as little time as possible to ensure that you are provided with landscape design & installation of the highest quality.” If you are wondering if ALLPRO lives up to its reputation of providing “the elite service that you deserve,” as their website pledges, why don’t we ask the experts? National online home service guru, Angie’s List, was impressed enough to present ALLPRO with its “Super Service Award.” The Better Business Bureau, who analyzes and rates companies, according to both the quality of the service they provide and the complaints received about them, awarded ALLPRO Tree and Landscaping Inc. its highest rating, an A+! Pete and the expert folks at ALLPRO are ready to help. Just call (727-409-3315 or 813-244-9234), and don’t forget your free, no-obligation inspection. Visit their website at www. myallpro.com for more information.
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