Vol. 9, Issue 8, August 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
Tampa Dental Wellness of Westchase and Carrollwood Delivers So Much More Than Smiles By: Deborah Bostock-Kelley Most teenagers don’t know their future career path. Dr. Amy Creech-Gionis knew she wanted to follow in her dentist’s footsteps at age 14. While her mother had extensive dental work, he allowed her to sit a watch the procedure from a nearby chair. “At one particular visit for a cleaning, my dental hygienist, Sandy, asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I told her ‘I think I want to do what you do.’ She smiled and said, ‘Amy, do what HE does!’” The seed was planted. A rare Florida native, she attended Stetson University, studying Biology and Chemistry, and then went on to University of Florida College of Dentistry to complete her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree. “My intention at the beginning of dental school was to become an Orthodontist, however once I got to the clinical portion of dental school, I realized that there are so many cool aspects to dentistry I did not want to limit myself to just one thing for the rest of my career. I loved it all!” She graduated from UFCD in 1995 as a General Dentist and moved to Tampa to join her fiancée and opened her first practice in a high rise in Downtown Tampa. Though she loved her patient base of
business professionals and others who worked in the heart of the city, in 2001 she moved her practice to where she had planted roots with her husband and growing family – Westchase. “I built my first “scratch” practice in Westchase in 2001 of Sheldon Road and have practiced in that community ever since! I love being close to home and serving my friends and neighbors. I don’t think I have ever had a trip to Publix without seeing a familiar face from the office,” said Dr. Creech. See “Dental Wellness” on page 10
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: From the Editor.....................5 Tech Talk with Bob.................6-7 Charitable Giving..............8-9 25 Family Fun Activities For Covid-19 Summer..........12-13
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Keep The Faith The coronavirus pandemic continues to challenge us in ways we could never have predicted, from unprecedented amounts of family time to homeschooling to working remotely, or not working at all. Staying positive and optimistic during times of crisis can be challenging, but it’s critical to your mental well-being and immune system. Remember this will not be this way forever. It is a difficult time, but it is just that, a time. It may be tough right now, but this too shall pass. Think about all the physical, logistical, financial, mental, and emotional struggles you may have encountered throughout your life, and the good ways you approached and handled all those challenges. Go You! Practice gratefulness. Some circumstances right now may be hard to change or may contribute to your feelings of helplessness. But there are other things in your life that are good and inspire gratitude. Making a list of the good things that you appreciate, whether big or small, can help shift your focus in a more positive direction. Communicate. Feeling Isolated? There’s no need to cut all communication while trying to social distance. Thanks to all the communication technology most of us in the industrialized world have access to, doing video calls, and jumping into group chats, and even attending virtual parties and concerts, are valuable options for which we should be grateful. Checkin with your friends and reconnect with those you may not have heard from for a while. Keep in mind that your friends and family are likely suffering from the same types of anxiety and stress that you are experiencing right now, so make a mental effort to contribute positively to the conversation. Incorporate humor and laughter into your day. This is one of the most important steps you should take in improving your positivity and benefiting from a more optimistic disposition. Numerous studies have confirmed shortterm and long-term benefits of laughter on the human body and mind. Everything
from stimulating your organs to lowering your stress levels, improving your blood circulation, strengthening your immune system, and even relieving physical pain – laughter is the best medicine. Walk away from distressful conversations and situations. In today’s highly stressful pandemic environment, it is easy to get pulled into negative interactions and exchanges that can leave us feeling distressed, frightened, insecure, and pessimistic. Recognizing these encounters early on and removing ourselves from these situations and interactions can help us manage our stress and contribute to our positivity. This also includes obsessing over constant news coverage, and updates about the spread of the virus. Staying informed and aware of what is happening locally and globally is important, and we should all make sure we are as educated and prepared as possible. But creating a healthy balance between news consumption and our daily routines is also crucial in helping us maintain a sense of normalcy and control over our mental health. Have faith. I’m not talking about religious faith, although if you are a religious person and can draw from your belief systems, you most definitely should! I’m talking about having faith in humanity; in science; in technology; in our health care heroes; in collaboration; in the good in people; in our resilience; in our perseverance; in our ability to overcome even the most outrageous of obstacles to grow and evolve; in our future; in our constant and mutual commitment to improving ourselves and our communities; in our kindness; in our empathy; in our desire to provide a good life for ourselves and our loved ones; in never giving up until we find the right, permanent solution to bring this virus to heel. In life after Corona and everything we will have learned after all of this is done. Always believe in yourself and your endless capacity to love. Stay safe, until next time.
Carla Dubis Tedeschi
Tech Talk with Bob: I Think I’ve Been Scammed! Cybercriminals are using successful techniques in their quest to separate you from your money. I have been receiving an onslaught of calls lately from folks saying, “I think I’ve been scammed! What do I do now?” My friend Kathryn fell victim to a scammer just last week. She was minding her own business surfing the web when a message popped-up on her screen. This “official looking” pop-up message instructed her to call a specific phone number because she had “a malware infection that needed immediate attention.” If that wasn’t bad enough, she also found herself locked out of her computer. It was frozen. No mouse. No keyboard. She felt her only option was to call the phone number on the screen. Which she did. By the time those scammers finished with her they had not only taken control of her
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computer, but also convinced her that they could restore it to working order once she paid them $499.00. Which she did. These scammers called it a service charge. I call it extortion. Now mind you, Kathryn is a bright, intelligent woman who would typically never get taken for a ride by such crooks. But these cybercriminals are extremely good at what they do. They constantly hone their skills conning trusting people who think they’re in trouble. Why do they do it? Scamming people in this fashion has proven to be extremely profitable. Few get caught. Most are offshore. Your best defense is internet safety awareness and developing safer online habits. So, what do you do if you get a popup on your screen that tells you to call a phone number or click on a link? Take a picture of your screen with your
cell phone. Be sure any phone number or website address is readable. Do not click on any links. Do not call any phone numbers. Have your system examined for malware by a technology professional. Do not conduct any transactions involving private or sensitive information until you know your system is squeaky clean. What do you do if you receive a phone call from a stranger telling you that you
have a malware infection or something else is wrong with your computer? Immediately hang up. Do not engage them in conversation. If they call back, hang up again or don’t even answer. What do you do if you have already downloaded their software to give them control of your computer? Immediately turn your computer off. If you leave it on, they can monitor your activity, steal your data, and even ransom it. Leave your computer off until a professional looks over your system. What do you do if you have given them your credit card number? Immediately call your card issuer and have your card and the transaction cancelled. Don’t wait to get your credit card statement. Call your bank and deal with this as soon as it happens. Some banks may require you to file a police
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report. This story does have a happy ending. I was able to purge the malware from Kathryn’s computer and give it a clean bill of health. She called her bank. They flagged the transaction for their fraud division; cancelled Kathryn’s credit card; and had a new card in the mail to her the very next day. If Kathryn had done nothing, she would have been scammed out of nearly 500-bucks. But even worse, those crooks would still have control of her computer. They could spy on her or ransom her computer whenever they felt like it. Kathryn changed from being a passive victim to a vigilant internet user by recognizing and taking immediate control of her situation. These crooks can be intimidating. They’re relentless. They prey on a person’s fear of, and inexperience with, technology. Every time I speak with a victim of this scam, they always say the same thing. “I can’t believe I fell for it.”
Sometimes their embarrassment of being scammed prohibits them from reaching out for help. Kathryn felt less violated when SHE took control of the situation. Be safer not sorrier. You do not have to be a casualty of these high-tech outlaws. 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 727534-4000. 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 727-534-4000. Until Next Time… Be Safer Out There!
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How to make charitable giving part of your financial plan Presented by Justin Cole Author Nelson Henderson is quoted as saying “The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.” This philosophy is a keystone to how many of our clients manage their wealth legacy. Over decades of observing financial behavior, it is inspiring to witness how families in our local community level-up their philanthropic pursuit as they pass into new wealth tiers. As an Independent Branch Leader at Charles Schwab, I’ve noticed a boost in interest among our clients, particularly Baby Boomers who have spent decades accumulating their wealth and are keen on being good stewards of their assets. Many clients attend charitable events and often
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write checks to support causes they believe in, but they’re also more interested in having conversations about how they can incorporate their charitable giving goals into their broader financial plans for the long-term. It’s an encouraging interest, as we find that when our clients stick to a plan, it helps them build wealth and meet their financial goals, which can put them in a better position to give with greater impact to the causes that are meaningful to them. Plus, having a thoughtful strategy for your charitable giving can help you make the greatest impact with your generosity while also receiving some tax savings. One of the most common ways our clients tend to choose to make the most of their giving is through a donor-
advised fund (DAF), which is a charitable giving vehicle typically administered by a public charity and designed to help donors manage their charitable giving. You can open this type of account with a tax-deductible contribution and then make donations to public charities over time. The contribution is irrevocable but you pick the charities that it will benefit, as long as they are 501(c)(3) organizations. You can contribute a variety of taxdeductible assets, including appreciated securities, real estate and cash, and the fund sponsor handles the administrative details. (Please note that each DAF has its own rules around donations and grants.) For clients who are interested in making meaningful contributions while also adding another
source of retirement income, charitable remainder trusts may be an appropriate choice. A charitable remainder trust is an irrevocable trust that you set up and make a contribution to in cash, investments and property. The trust provides you and other income beneficiaries you may select with distributions from the trust annually for life or a period of time up to 20 years. After that period, the
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remainder of the trust passes to the named charity. There are various types of charitable trusts, and the rules governing them can be complex, so they can be expensive to set up and will require an attorney to draft the trust document. There are a number of additional vehicles to carry out your giving goals as well. But remember, if you make charitable donations with a more holistic plan in place,
you will likely have a better impact on the organizations you donate to and your overall financial picture. And as you consider where to make your donations, check an organization’s tax status. Nearly all 501(c)(3) organizations are eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions, but it’s always best to ask the charity you plan to donate to about its tax status or you can check
the IRS’ online databased for qualified organizations. As you can see, your family’s philanthropic initiatives and financial plan are not mutually exclusive. There are plenty of tools and resources to help optimize your desire to help those around you. We are living during an era of socially consciousness and a shared value system of lending a hand to lift those who are less fortunate. Consider marrying those values with your financial plan to better elevate your impact. Justin M. Cole is an Independent Branch Leader at Charles Schwab with over 20 years of experience helping clients achieve their financial goals. Mr. Cole also holds his Certified Financial Planner ® designation and has obtained his Masters degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of South Florida (USF). Some content provided here has been compiled from
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previously published articles authored by various parties at Schwab. A donor’s ability to claim itemized deductions is subject to a variety of limitations depending on the donor’s specific tax situation. Consult your tax advisor for more information. Information presented is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as personalized investment, tax or legal advice as individual situations vary. Charles Schwab does not provide tax or legal advice. Information presented is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as personalized investment advice. Where specific advice is necessary or appropriate, Charles Schwab recommends consultation with a qualified professional. (0720-0CT5)
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Dental Wellness -
story continued from page 1 Since 2012, Dr. Creech continued to expand Tampa Dental Wellness from her flagship location in Westchase to a second location in central Carrollwood. “Both practices are very focused on the patient receiving the very best dentistry has to offer in terms of technology, variety of services available under one roof, customer service, technology and current treatment. We enjoy patients of all ages, even very little ones as young as a few years old. Parents of very young children or of children on their first visit generally have a parent accompany them into treatment rooms, but our goal is always to establish a trusting relationship with the child, and gradually most children are comfortable coming to see us for treatment without their parents in the room. With Covid-19 protocols, we aim to minimize any additional people in the office unless they are directly receiving care. We take safety of our patients and team very seriously!” Dr. Creech has invested in technologies, protocols and equipment to provide an extremely clean, safe environment where everyone can relax and know that they are being cared for with the utmost safety. As a “paperless” office, all records are digital. Payments and completion of routine forms can be completed in a touchless manner. Upon arrival at the office, patients remain in their car until they have completed a quick Covid Screening Text, a masked team member then comes to the car and records their temperature, and then the patient is escorted directly to their treatment room to minimize contact with others or the need to touch general surfaces. “Along with our normally stringent sterilization and disinfections protocols, we are utilizing additional Hypochlorous Acid foggers to clean the office and treatment rooms between patients safely and very completely. All team members wear masks and/or faceshields at all times inside the building. Hand sanitizer is used frequently by all nonclinical staff, and appropriate physical distancing is carefully practiced. In the clinical areas, all team members wear PPE that includes full water resistant surgical
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gowns, headcovers, surgical masks and faceshields. Safety is first priority!” A typical first visit to Tampa Dental Wellness of Westchase and Carrollwood includes a medical and dental history “get to know you” dialogue, diagnostic digital xrays, a complete examination by the dentist and the dental hygienist using The Florida Probe, which measures around each tooth and can aid detection of what may have been “silent” gum disease issues, an oral cancer screening, and pictures of the inside of the mouth and the teeth displayed on a large screen TV to the patient. Depending on the needs of the patient, the dental hygienist will complete her treatment. Finally, one of their friendly and knowledgeable front office team members will spend time with the patient to discuss any treatment needs that the doctor has diagnosed, and answering all questions. Dr. Creech does not believe in the term dental coward. “We take it very seriously that dental anxiety is a very real and valid thing, and because of this, many years ago I attended what was at that time Medical College of Georgia Dental School to receive my training and certificate in IV and oral conscious sedation. Whether it be as simple as warm blankets and lip balm, to creating a unique sedation protocol that fits the needs of the fearful patient, we go to every length possible to make our patients comfortable during their visits with us. My greatest joy is seeing patients that were initially almost too afraid to enter the building, or sit in the chair come back year after year with a smile now, and no longer needing to be sedated for treatment. That is a great testament to my amazing team!” Services at Tampa Dental Wellness of Westchase and Carrollwood cover the gamut from Sedation Dentistry, placement and installation of dental implants, porcelain veneers, full mouth reconstruction, dental crowns, smile makeovers, dental bonding, teeth whitening, scaling and root planing, and tooth extraction. “I am blessed with an amazing group of professionals that work with me at both offices. The dental hygienists are absolute experts in educating their patients about their health, and they take very personal interest in each
and every one and truly care that each person has the information, tools and encouragement to improve and then maintain their oral condition,” she said. “My two associate doctors, Dr. Connie Leal and Dr. Nicole Madahvieh are very knowledgeable, friendly and gentle. Between the 3 doctors, we provide scheduling flexibility and are able to make sure that we can see any patient that has a need very quickly.” Dr. Creech eagerly admits to being a continuing education junkie, having received advanced training in Implantology. “I now spend a considerable part of my practice placing dental implants to restore my patients’ smiles and dental health. I can anchor a loose denture for my seniors so that they can eat, talk and smile comfortably again, replace a single lost tooth without having to damage neighboring teeth for a bridge, or even replace a full mouth of missing teeth with implants. I love surgery, and I have to say this is one of the parts of my practice that brings me the greatest satisfaction.” Dr. Creech loves giving back to the patients and communities that welcomed her. From Patient Appreciation basket giveaways, complimentary teeth polishing to brides and grooms-to-be before their big day, Dr. Amy’s Annual Halloween
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Candy Buy-back and other things to supporting the local elementary, middle and high schools with sponsorships, sponsor youth sports teams and more every year, they love their communities. When asked what makes a good dentist, Dr. Creech responded, “I truly believe dentists are some of the most caring, empathetic members of the healthcare community. We tend to be detail oriented, sensitive and creative. I would say that actively listening to each person, taking time to hear what a person expects and desires is just as important as looking for what a person needs, treatment wise. Establishing a relationship is paramount, because a doctor patient relationship is best when it involves mutual trust.� Accepting new patients and inviting entire families, Tampa Dental Wellness of Westchase and Carrollwood is
located at 11321 Countryway Blvd. (Westchase) and 11123 N Dale Mabry Hwy. (Carrollwood). They take most insurance PPO plans, and offers a Savings Plan for patients who do not
have dental insurance so that they can receive two annual preventive visits with the dental hygienist, xrays and exams as well as significant savings on all other treatment. For more
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information, visit her website at tampadentalwellness. net or call 813.855.2273 (Westchase) and 813.265.2273 (Carrollwood) to schedule an appointment.
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25 Family Fun Activities For The Summer During Covid-19 By Carla M. Dubis Tedeschi Picture the perfect Tampa Bay summer and you might envision barbecues with friends, beach bungalows, pool parties, and sightseeing vacations. There’s always plenty to look forward to in Florida during the summer. But with the coronavirus pandemic changing the landscape of available—and acceptable—activities, summer 2020 may look a bit different than usual. Despite the disappointment of canceled summer camps, concerts, cruises, and camps, with a little creativity, it is still possible to have a fun summer as a family in our beautiful Sunshine State. I’ve done a lot of research online and rounded up a list of safe and fun alternatives to enjoy as a family during these trying times. Here are 25 great options for you and your family to enjoy this summer: 1. Visit the beach - From Honeymoon Island to Ft. DeSoto, Florida beaches are still the number one destination for a fun summer day with the family. Go to visitflorida.com for a county-by-county list of currently open beaches. The Florida Keys reopened to visitors on June 1st. 2. Visit your local public pool or neighborhood YMCA. The majority are open with certain guidelines and regulations, but they are always a fun way to keep the family entertained for a whole day of swimming and fun under the sun. Some fantastic public pools in Tampa that are great for kids include; Bobby Hicks Pool, Danny Del Rio Pool, Loretta Ingraham Center, and the Sulphur Springs Pool amongst others. 3. Use a lawn sprinkler. Provided you have some yard space, go old-school with your family, and haul out a lawn sprinkler for kids to run around in. You might even get the urge and run through it yourself. 4. Get a kiddie pool. It may
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not be the height of luxury, but in a pinch, an inexpensive kiddie pool is better than nothing! Cool off in one of these refillable plastic shells. 5. Have a squirt gun or water balloon fight. Sometimes you don’t feel like taking the whole plunge into a pool, anyway. Spritz each other with squirt guns instead or enjoy an epic water balloon fight. 6. Visit a Florida State Park, lake or first-magnitude Spring. Some of my favorites include; Alexander Springs, Blue Grotto, Blue Spring State Park, Bob’s River Place, Buccaneer Bay at Weeki Wachee Springs, Crystal River/Homosassa Spring, De Leon Springs State Park, Devil’s Den Prehistoric Spring, Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, etc. 7. Camp in the backyard. Roast marshmallows, tell spooky stories, and spend the night under the stars—right in your own backyard. 8. Take a culinary “vacation.” Can’t travel the world? Bring the flavors of far-flung cuisines to your home kitchen. Once a week, try a new recipe from a place you’d like to visit someday, like a fresh poke bowl from Hawaii, succulent chicken tikka from India, or a traditional arepa from Venezuela (my home country.). 9. Enjoy the great outdoors. After months of quarantine, we could all probably use more fresh air. Have a picnic, take a hike, or go for a scenic drive. Bay news 9 offers incredible resources on their site baynews9.com under the “Florida on a Tankful” section. Explore all the magnificent places you and your family can enjoy on a tank full. 10. Make it a staycation. Your very own hometown (or one close by) can be a surprising source of interest and fun. Make a list of the popular attractions in your
area you’ve never visited—or the ones you’ve visited and loved. See how many of them you can hit this summer. If budget allows, book a stay at a local hotel or local Airbnb where you can leave daily stressors behind and simply relax. I recently used the Airbnb app to book a stay at a Tiny Home located on a goat farm in Deland, Florida, and it was a blast! Download the app, set your budget, and research all the incredible local places you visit right here in Florida. 11. Create a “Home Chore Chart.” Summertime is a great opportunity for children to learn hard work and responsibility while parents are away at work. By setting up a chore chart and an allowance system, parents can teach their children the value of money and hard work. Also, chores and allowance system can give a self-confidence boost to your children. Best of all, this can all be done safely within the home. 12. Take advantage of virtual tours. Famous sites and worldclass museums all over the world have jumped on the virtual bandwagon during Covid-19. Destinations like the battlefields at Gettysburg, the Louvre, and the Smithsonian now have tours available online. Take an educational “trip” as a family to any of these bucket-list attractions. 13. Have a daily workout. Summer camp or
no, kids need physical activity! Schedule a time each day for exercise, whether a bike ride, a walk, a dance party, or a kidfriendly Youtube workout video. 14. Game Nights: Build mini empires. Legos, K’nex, and plain old wooden blocks can all serve as a fun foundation for hours of play. Bring on the board games. Large-group games may be out of the question at the moment, but board games are still on the table (figuratively and literally). This classic family pastime has a hidden benefit: Board games can be good for kids’ linguistic, cognitive, and social development. 15. Watch astronauts read children’s books from space at https:// storytimefromspace.com/ 16. Watch live video feeds of giraffes, baboons, koalas, hippos, polar bears, owls, and so many more animals from the San Diego Zoo right in the comfort of your Florida home. Visit: https://kids. sandiegozoo.org/index.php/ videos 17. Get kitchen-savvy. If there’s one skill your child will always use, it’s cooking. Chef it Up 2 Go Tampa Bay brings the cooking fun to you. They are currently offering “fall virtual cooking classes” for kids! They also run after school enrichment programs, field trips, fundraisers, and more. Ages 3 and up. For more information contact them
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at tampabay@chefitupkids.com or visit https://www.facebook.com/ chefitup2gotampabay/ 18. Try a science experiment - Everyday household items like baking soda, vinegar, and food coloring are fair game for science experiments for kids of any age. Visit mosi.org for fun project ideas, or join the staff for “Virtual Most” a daily Facebook live featuring STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) activities and a chance to ask questions! Summer camps through MOSI may be available, please check their website for up to date information. 19. Teach Your Kids Life Skills - Some of the best lessons in life are learned outside of the classroom. Why not use this time to teach the kids how to change a tire or do a load of laundry? You could also teach your own etiquette class, demonstrating the proper manners to use on everything from receiving an event invitation to dining at a restaurant. 20. Dive into arts and crafts. You don’t have to be a creative master to help your kids enjoy arts and crafts. Search projects appropriate to your child’s age on Youtube or Pinterest. 21. Plan a scavenger hunt. Who doesn’t enjoy a scavenger hunt? Create your own list of items for kids to find around the house, then set them loose to search for a pink sock, a measuring spoon, a jingle bell, or other simple objects. 22. Play dress-up. An outfit of Mom’s high heels, Dad’s ties, and a silly hat? Why not? Playing dress-up is an age-old, cost-free go-to for little ones. 23. Crack open a good book. To motivate kids to read, find out if your local library is offering a distanced summer reading program for kids. Or, if audiobooks are your child’s preference, tune in to Librivox, which features thousands of classics in the public domain for free. Audible, too, is offering many kids’ titles for free as long as schools are closed. 24. Make it a family affair. Had to cancel your annual summer luau or Fourth of July bash? Have a themed “party” with immediate family instead. Scrounge up some costumes and pair a themed menu to the occasion. 25. Have a parade. A birthday boy or girl deserves to feel special! When a party isn’t possible, enlist friends and family to drive by in a celebratory parade. Lots of helium balloons are optional but encouraged. For more family fun ideas and local resources please visit: fun4tampakids.com
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