palms magazine

Palms Magazine MARCH 2011

A Community Magazine for

Tampa Palms area Residents

Volume I, Issue 6

MARCH, 2011

Cover Photo

ContestSee InSIde

MAGAZINE

The Yeager Family


© 2011 Palms Magazine. All rights reserved. Palms Magazine is currently published monthly, dis-tributed by the U.S. Postal Service free to all residents of the Tampa Palms area and advertisers. Unless otherwise noted, the views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent those of the Publisher. Palms Magazine is not an officially sanctioned publication of the Tampa Palms Association or Tampa Palms Country Club. Tampa Palms Country Club logo used with permission. Lists are for reference only and do not imply official sanction or recommendation by Palms Magazine. Editorial submissions are welcome. Publisher reserves the right to reject or edit all submissions for length and clarity. The Publisher is not responsible for errors or omissions.

LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER

1936 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., #340 • Wesley Chapel, FL 33544813-991-0323 [email protected]

www.ycnpub.com

A special Thank You to Publix for their support of Palms Magazine and

the Tampa Palms community.

www.publix.com19034 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL - (813) 631-1911

Send in your photos!Email photos to: [email protected]

This month’s cover photo contest winner is Michele Yeager

Contributing community photographers: Michele Yeager

POINT OF CARE CLINICS PRIMARY CARE

Your Source for Quality Comprehensive & Efficient Health CareProudly serving Wesley Chapel and New Tampa Since 2000

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Certified in Internal Medicine Over 22 years of Experience in

Dermatology and Internal Medicine

Aliya Rathore MD Board Certified in Family Practice Special interest in Women’s Health

Convenient and Easily Accessible Location in

Seven Oaks Professional Park

Accepting Major Insurance Plans

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• Comprehensive Primary Care Services • Management of Complex Medical Problems • Extensive Dermatology Disease Management • Skin Surgery for Skin Cancer, Moles Cysts and Skin tags • Screening for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm with Onsite State of the Art Ultrasound AortoScan• Uroflowmetry for the Accurate Diagnosis of Urinary Conditions

2106 Ashley Oak Circle Wesley Chapel FL 33544http://poccprimarycare.com/

for Appointment

813-994-8481PleaseCall

This year has been a much better winter. At this time

last year we were still freezing. It reached the 80’s in February and is hopefully staying that way now that we are in March.

Some things to look for in this month’s newsletter is the Best Spring Yard Contest, Wiregrass Ranch plans and of course the cover photo contest. The Best Spring Yard contest , will be for 2 months with the winner an-nounced in May. Next month we are starting a “High School Senior to Watch” contest. It will be for people to send in their nominees for the most involved, caring and dedicated upcoming school year Senior. Many people are sending in their photos, news, announcements, stories, sports and more and we

really appreciate that. They are so much fun to share. Continue to send in your information and we will print as much as will fit. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please let us know. This newsletter is for all residents and we want you to be involved. Happy Spring....soon! :)

Cindi [email protected]


Club News

As 2011 welcomes the month of March, there is an unwelcome feeling of disappointment and regret … Remember

the New Year resolutions that were made in January – exercising consistently, getting in shape, and making a change? These goals may have now come to a slow crawl because people may not be seeing immediate results. To make those resolutions come to life you need to change your diet, enjoy and focus on a well-rounded workout and take baby steps.

1) Change your diet for the better. This isn’t a quick fix, pill, or fad diet, but rather a long-term sustainable goal. Be cognizant of

your food choices and record everything you eat, making yourself accountable. (*iPhone users: try the free app “Lose It!”)

2) Enjoy exercising and moving! Have fun, because it will make you want to keep coming back for more. Take a friend for a workout buddy or join one of the 25 weekly classes that are offered at Tampa Palms!

3) Unmotivated on the daily elliptical, bike or treadmill? Try new things! Cardio and strength training are fundamental parts of any weekly exercise routine, not just one or the other. Keep surprising

your body with new things to allow for maximal efficiency during your workout.

4) Two words… baby steps. Don’t make unrealistic goals that cannot be reached in your ideal time frame. Choose to start off slow to avoid injury and properly perform all exercises. Set short-term goals every 2 weeks … you can do it!

Interested in getting your resolutions done this year? Meet with Personal Trainer, Evan Smith! Call the Tennis & Athletic Center at 813-632-1676.

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Spa ServicesBeautiful Skin at The Spa

Beautiful skin begins with healthy skin. To maintain and improve the health of your skin, an effective, professional pharmaceutical skincare plan is imperative.

Over-the-counter products only treat the surface layer of the skin. Optimal skin health is achieved by reaching live tissue. Our professional skincare products work at the cellular level to diminish fine lines, fade sun damage, increase hydration and promote cellular turnover, which will create more youthful looking skin.

To schedule a Facial Treatment or Consultation to begin a home care treatment plan call the TAC at 813-632-1676 or our esthetician Paula at 813-416-5677.

Summer is right around the corner, are you ready for bath-ing suit season??

Check out our Healthy Tan system, which airbrushes a natural tan on the whole body.

Still on target for your New Year’s resolution?

evan smith, Personal Trainer


Protect your skin from the harmful radiation of the sun that causes skin cancer and aging with a healthy and natural airbrushed tan.

We also now offer full body Salt Glow treatments. Salt Glow treatments exfoliate the body and rid it of winter dryness. A Salt Glow treatment will even the texture of the skin in preparation for your Healthy Tan to be airbrushed on.

Packages available. Please contact the Tennis and Athletic Center to schedule your appointment today, 632-1676.

Massage ServicesSpring sports got you in a knot? The Tampa Palms Spa offers a variety of massage treatments including Deep Tissue and Sports Massage. Please contact the Tennis and Athletic Center for your appointment today!

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AquaticsTampa Palms Country Club Tiger Sharks

The Tiger Sharks swim year round in conjunction with USA Swimming and the Private Club League spring season. Our swim team is made up of children ages 4 and up. Practice includes stretching and warm-up, developmental stroke training and drills, and a cool-down. Swimmers will be divided into smaller groups so children at the beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels will all receive the proper training. For additional information on Swim Lessons or Swim Team please contact Coach, Gary Goodner at (813) 632-1676.

Swim Lessons

It is very important that your child know how to swim before the summer comes! Swim Lessons are currently being offered for the

beginner, refresher lessons, and advanced level lessons for the more experienced swimmer. All lessons are thirty minutes in length and are scheduled on an individual or small group basis. We hope to see you at the pool!

Infant Swimming ResourceAn added measure of safety and a foundation for a lifelong enjoyment of the water...

The goal for the lesson for Infants between 6 to 12 months of age is to assume a back float position from any angle of safe presentation into the water. The goal for lessons for a baby over 12 months of age is to swim face down, roll onto the back to float, rest and breathe, then rotate back over to continue swimming to the wall. Each lesson is by appointment and for 10 minutes each day, Monday through Friday.

• Private, one on one instruction

• Certified Master Instructor

• Teaching children 6 months to 4 years of age

• All classes are Monday through Friday

• Class times are afternoons March-May, and mornings June-July

• Member Discounts

For information about scheduling, enrollment and lesson fees…Contact Emma Groebel at 748-6142 or email [email protected]

For a comprehensive look at the ISR program please visit our website atwww.tampaswimbabies.com

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Club News

Continued on page 8

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TennisTennis Tip of the Month

Those of you who have been on my court have heard this before! “Move Your Feet!” One of the biggest errors players make is that they are not ready to hit a ball because they are standing on the court unprepared. The essence of a good player is in their footwork. Once a ball is in play, you should constantly be moving your feet. If you think about it, a point usually lasts less than 10 seconds. Everyone can move their feet for 10 seconds!

In a tight match, your legs are the first to go. You’ve got to stay conscious of your footwork.

Next time you are out there practicing, do this: after each shot you hit, move your feet for 5 steps and repeat with each stroke. Make it a habit and you will see that you are better prepared for each shot.

Remember: If you don’t move “de” feet, you will have defeat!

March 26-27th.

Tampa Palms is hosting this great USTA sanctioned tournament. Divisions are : Men’s Open Singles and Doubles, NTRP Men’s 3.0-5.0 Singles and Doubles, NTRP Women’s 2.5-4.5 Singles and Doubles. Interested players can sign up at the USTA Website. The tournament number is 151121911 to sign up. It would be great to have Tampa Palms Tennis represented well at this event!

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Member Events Members at Tampa Palms enjoy the following social events in March

St. Patrick’s Irish Buffet CelebrationWednesday, March 16th 5:00pm to 9:00pm$17++ per person. Come celebrate with Irish style and drink some Irish green draft beer! We will have a delicious buffet with Irish dishes to choose from. Please call (813) 972-1991 for menu details. Reservations requested. Dress Code Applies.

Cross Bay Chef’s Table Featuring…Chilean Wine and CuisineWhere: Tampa Palms Golf & Country ClubWhen: Wednesday, March 2, 2011Time: 6:30 pm Reception7:00 pm DinnerReservations Required: 813.972.1991A 48-hour cancellation policy appliesPrice: $39.95++ per person

Get ready to be swept away to the tastes and aromas of Chile! Our entire menu has been centered around exquisite Chilean Cuisine and wines paired from that region as well. You must be a Cross Bay Member to attend this event. Cross Bay discounts do not apply.

70’s, 80’s, 90’s Tampa Palms Rock ‘N Roll Food & Adult Beverages Pairing Party

Saturday, March 26th at 7:00 pmRock Out, Drink & Eat with some of the greatest

$29.95 PP++, $5 of each entry fee will be donated to the Tampa Police Memorial Committee Dress code: jeans and t-shirts!Call 813.972.1991 for Reservations


Club NewsContinued from page 6

Landshark Lager (Jimmy Buffet)

Barbecued Garlic Marinated Beef and Mushroom Kebobs Cilantro and jalapeno chimmichurri.

Roasted Fall Vegetable and Roma Tomato Gratin.Caramelized shallots, roasted garlic and fresh thyme with parmesan cheese.

Ciroc Vodka (Puff Daddy)Miso Marinated Salmon with Cucumber-Tomato and Avocado Salsa.Roasted red pepper coulis.

Jasmine Rice with Fried Garlic chips.Cilantro, sesame onions, srircaha,

Red Stag Bourbon (Kid Rock)

Honey and Chipotle Glazed Pork Loin.Asiago and rosemary biscuits and melted onions.

Streusel Topped Whipped Sweet Potatoes Brown sugar and Butter

Cabo Wabo Tequila (Sammy Hagar)

Lime and Coriander Grilled Chicken Thigh. Paprika scented tequila butter and crispy shaved red onions.

Sea Salt and Pink Peppercorn Fried Plantains.Red Pepper aioli fried basil leaves.

GOLF TIP OF THE MONTH

From New Golf Head Pro Jeff Anderson PGA

Dealing with Side Hill Lies

In an ideal world, we wouldn’t hit balls into embarrassing lies in the first place. but the fact is, we do it, no matter how good or well-practiced we are. And consequently, it pays to know how to get out of these situations!

One of the most difficult is the side hill lie, where the ball is above or below your feet. Here are some tips that will improve your chances of a successful escape.

Ball ABOVE your feet:

In this situation, the most common mistake is hitting behind the ball and making it go too far left. To fix these problems you should:

1. Choke down on the club. The amount depends on the severity of the slope.

2. Aim to the right and open the clubface ever so slightly (turn it clockwise). The ball tends to go left from this type of lie because the slope pulls it that way.

3. Reduce knee flex. It’s less likely that you will hit the ball “fat” or behind this way. Ball BELOW your feet:

In this situation, the most common mistake is hitting the ball too far right and topping it. To fix these problems, you should:

1. Grip near the end of the shaft to help avoid hitting it “thin” or on top.

2. Aim slightly left. (The ball tends to go right from this type of lie.)use more knee flex. This helps avoid hitting the ball “thin” or on top. v

Menu & Beverage Pairings


Insurances AcceptedVSP, VCP, EyeMed, CompBenefits, Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Health, TriCare

and AvMed

Dr. Robert E. Luckey is a board certified Optometric Physician. He is a proud graduate of Nova South-eastern University .Prior to Dr. Luckey’s career as an Optometric Physician, he served in the U.S. Military for fourteen years.

He is an active member of the American Optometric Association (AOA), the Florida Optometric Association (FOA), and is currently the President of the Hillsborough Society of Optometrists (HSO).

Dr. Robert E. LuckeyBoard Certified Optometric Physician

Luckey EyeCare, 27340 Cashford Circle, Suite 102, Wesley Chapel, FL 33544

Office: 866-4004 Fax: 866-4005 www.luckeyecare.com

(Conveniently located behind Sam’s Club in the Summergate Professional Center)

Specializing in:• Primary Care Optometric (pediatric starting at 6 months and adult)

• Computer Vision Syndrome • LASIK Consultations • Contact Lens Fittings • Allergies and Dry Eye Therapy • Medical• Emergency Medical Care

Luckey EyeCare Premium EyeCare and Dry Eye Center

Of North TampaBringing “Old Fashioned” Patient Care to the Wesley Chapel Area!

Outstanding patient care, largest selection of frames in Wesley Chapel … such as Dolce & Gabana, Gucci, Adidas, Burberry, Dior, Vogue, Juicy Couture, Menizzi, Silhouettes, Costa Del Mar, Wiley X, Versace, etc.


Upcoming Programs ScheduleOur regular weekly club breakfast meetings are held on Friday mornings at 7:00 AM at the Tampa Palms Golf and Country Club, 5811 Tampa Palms blvd. Our schedule for future club and District events, their dates, meeting times and speakers is listed below.

3/04

Deann Marasco-Exec. Wellness Coordinator, Monsour Executive Wellness Cntr.Deann will speak to us about the execu-tive wellness Program available at the Monsour wellness Center on the usF Tampa campus. A program of tests, evaluations, and procedures, created for busy executives who are stretched thin on time.

3/11

Robin Gibson-Senior Librarian Hillsborough Public LibraryRobin will update us on Hillsborough County library programs and Friends of New Tampa library board of Direc-tors opportunity

3/18

John N. Greene, MDusF Medical students will report on their recent Medical mission trip to san-ta Cruz, bolivia

Professional, business and community leaders who live, work or have retired in the New Tampa Area may be eligible for membership in the New Tampa Rotary Club. For further information about our club visit our website at www.newtam-parotary.org or contact Karen Fraiser at 375-2663 or [email protected].

Thursday 3/24 from 5-9. Spaghetti Dinner The dinner is at santos, and you can eat in or we will have an area to pick up. The cost is $10 for adults and $6 for kids. The fundraiser is for Rotary’s continued battle against Polio. Our club regularly meets at lexington Oaks clubhouse at 7:15 am Fridays, and all are welcome.

MORNING ROTARy News

New Tampa Rotarian hosts a chili cookoff to benefit New

Tampa Relay for Life

Tom Gruber, member of the New Tampa Ro-tary club, is also this year’s Event Chair for the New Tampa Relay for Life. Tom recently

hosted a Superbowl Chili Cookoff at his home to benefit the New Tampa Relay for Life event. Mem-bers of the New Tampa Rotary were among those invited and encouraged to submit a homemade chili entry. These entries were judged by attendees who voted by donating dollars for the chili of their choice. The entries varied by types of meat used as well as the degrees of thickness and spiciness. The

event raised $476 and mouthwatering chili was en-joyed by all. Pictured below left are fellow Rotarians and Relay team members, Gary Gunter and Les-lie Zajac. Below right Rotarian Peter Gambacorta (center) offers serving advise to David Cotton and Connie Bladon. To date, the New Tampa Relay has 21 teams participating and has raised over $15K. The Relay will be held on May 6-7, 2011 at Bartel’s Middle School. For more information or to sign up and join the team, contact event coordinator, Lau-ren McQueen at [email protected]. v


TAMPA PAlMs wOMeN’s Club

WHEN: Thursday, April 14th, 2011WHERE: Tampa Palms Golf and Country ClubTIME: 11:00 social time in the ballroom lobby, 11:30 Fashion show by bealls and luncheon in the ball-roomPRICE: $22 per person

Announcing TPWC’s annual fashion and lunch benefit. Come and spend time with us enjoying a fashion show, lunch, and silent auction with raffle.

The proceeds of the benefit will go to OASIS (Outreach Assist-

ing Students in School). Money donated by the TPWC goes to buy school uniforms, shoes, socks, and under garments. The fashions will be presented by Bealls department store, and modeled by members of the TPWC, OASIS, and other volunteers. Included in the ticket price is lunch, fashion show, and door prizes. Additional items will be sold at silent auction, and also raffle tickets will be for sale.

This event is open to the public; we encourage people to come, and bring a friend! Call Anita at 979-4588 for further info or to sign up for the benefit. Sign up deadline is Saturday, April 8, 2011. v

FASHION SHOW & LUNCHEON BENEFIT

The TPWC new board was installed in January. Past president Mary Field made

sure to keep everyone involved before handing over the gavel to Etta Green. Mary had an alphabet letteralong with a compliment for many of us to display, and then challenged

the group to make a sense of the let-ters. In short order the correctwords were revealed: Tampa Palms Womens Club! What a nice visual display showing ushow important each member is to the club, withall of us working together for both fun and charitable causes. v

THE 2011 BOARd IS ABOARd!

Last year’s models.

Open tO the public with cOmplimentary Spa Valet parking

The Spa at Saddlebrook Resort5700 Saddlebrook Way F Wesley Chapel, FL 33543

813.907.4419 F www.saddlebrookresort.com1 mile east of I-75 at exit 279 (SR 54)

Saddlebrook resort joins the elite niche in the world of cosmetic skin care.

Our new facials offer an Oxygen Infused delivery system of hyaluronic acid,

providing instant results. Hailed by celebrity estheticians,

endorsed by celebrities Madonna, Justin Timberlake and

Eva Longoria, and recommended by the world’s most

notable physicians including Dr. Nicholas Perricone and

Dr. Drew Ordon “The Doctors”, this age management

service is a must!

For more information and to book your appointment call

813-907-4419

“There is no other non-surgical product in the world today that provides a better result in less than an hour.”


busINess sPOTlIGHT

The last few winters have taken their toll on all of our tropical and subtropical plants. These plants are consistently burned to the

ground then come back in the spring, if they come back at all. Our Schefflera’s, Hibiscus, Duranta (Dew Drops, Gold Mound), Ixora’s, and Roebel-leniis are just a few that get hurt year after year. As we are in Florida, we want our yards to have that tropical feel, and these plants are readily available and make it easy to accomplish that. However if you are tired of waiting every year for your plants to come back, or if you are done replacing them, here are some ideas that will give you that tropical feel that will hold up fine in our area.

Trees are a fantastic way to add a tropical look to your landscape, and there are some great selections that hold up very well in our area. Loquats are an exceptional tree with few pest problems, a large tropical looking leaf, bright orange fruit that are delicious, and they are evergreen. Majestic Beauty

Indian Hawthorn (tree form) is another small tree that has dark evergreen leaves, beautiful pink flow-ers in the spring, and maintains a smaller stature which is good for smaller landscapes.

Palm trees would be missed from a tropical landscape and there are two that when used with the correct plants, can provide that tropical look. Chinese fan palms either a single trunk or triple trunk provide a thick screen, can grow in sun or shade, and are one of the most tropical looking fan palms. The other palm is the European Fan palm, which can be grown as a single trunk or multiple trunk. They come in either a green leaf or with a hint of silver, they are very cold tolerant and stay small, so they can be put closer to the house, or in a smaller landscape.

Trees are tough to replace but shrubs can be a pain if you have to replace them every year or so. One shrub that is gaining in popularity, and can handle

the cold with no problem, is the Frostproof Garde-nia. This shrub has a nice compact growth form (3-4’x2-3’), very densely foliated, attractive foliage, and a beautiful fragrant flower in the summer. Breeze grass is a good green grass that stays around 2-3’x2-3’, maintains a round form, and is very wispy which makes it a terrific accent piece.We have a wide range of plants that will work here, tropical’s and sub-tropical’s will grow here in the summer but may be as annuals. It all depends on what you like and what makes you happy when you pull up to your house or when you look out your window. If you don’t mind replacing your plants after the cold there is nothing wrong with that, if you get tired of replacing your material know that there are other options.

If you ever have questions you can always call us at Wesley Chapel Nursery (813-973-8890) or come in and we will be happy to help you find the right plants for your landscape. v

Replacing dead Plantswith What Works in Your Area


sCHOOl News

Tampa PalmsElementary School6100 Tampa Palms blvd. Tampa, Fl 33647, 975-7390tampapalms.mysdhc.orgHome of the eagles.

Safety FirstDid you know that over 400 cars drop off children each morning at Tampa Palms? Please try to schedule your drop off as close to 7:30am as possible. It is important to remember our safety procedures for drop off. Parents need to pull their car to the front of the pick up line, come to a complete stop while their children exit the car, and make sure their children have completely exited the car prior to driving off.

Please refrain from using your cell phone during car rider drop off. We all need to focus our full attention on a safe drop off for all the children.

As a reminder in the afternoon, we ask that all cars in the pick up line pull all the way up to maximize the numbers of cars ready for pick up.

Thank you for your support as we work together to keep all of the children at our school safe.

Thank You VolunteersA very special thank you to all of our school volunteers. Our volunteers play such an important role in the success of our children at school.

A special “shout out” to our Volun-teers in Learning (VIL) crew. Your ef-forts in helping children on a weekly basis makes a huge difference. If you are interested in the Volunteers in Learning Program please come by and see me or drop me an email. We always have children available need-ing “that special touch of TLC”.

Our Volunteer Social will be held on Wednesday, May 18th at

8:30am. We hope that all of our school volunteers will mark their calendars for this special event!

Conference NightOur Spring Conference Night will be on Thursday, March 3rd from 3:30-8:30pm. Please feel free to schedule a conference with your child’s teacher on March 3rd. Parent/Teacher com-munication is a critical aspect of your child’s success in school.

Kindergarten Round UpKindergarten Round-Up will be held on Friday, March 4th for all of our in-coming Kindergarten students. The Round-Up will start at 8:30am in the cafeteria and families will receive an overview of the Kindergarten cur-riculum, registration requirements, and a tour of the school. All incom-ing Kindergarten students and their families are welcome to attend!

(Please share this information with your neighbors who have pre-school aged children starting Kindergarten in August).

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Freedom High School17410 Commerce Park blvd, Tampa, Fl 33647, 558-1185freedom.mysdhc.orgHome of the Patriots.

“I Feel The Need To Read”Students from Café Freedom and other clubs will be participating in a Literacy Fest at Mort Elementary on Tuesday, 3/8. Students from Freedom will serve a spaghetti dinner and read to children while parents attend a meeting on the importance of reading and literacy. Freedom students also are planning this year’s “I Feel The Need To Read” Freedom Festival on Friday, 3/11. Second graders from Mort, Riverhills, MOSI and Forest Hills Elementary Schools will come

out to Freedom for a fun filled day of reading.

Summer OpportunitiesHillsborough County Sheriff ’s Office Leadership Academy: The Leadership Academy

– Sheriff ’s Rising Stars – is an excel-lent opportunity for juniors (upcoming seniors) to train to be effective leaders, de-velop relationships, and become positive role models, The program will be held 6/13-17. Applications are in Guidance (see Mrs. Fiallo). Deadline to apply is 3/1. Last year, senior Liat Sanz was selected to attend.

University of Alabama Capstone Business Leadership Academy: This is a 10-day residential summer program designed for rising seniors interested in pursuing a career in business. Cost is $350 but scholarships are available. For more information, visit www.cba.ua.edu/sumeracademy.

Sewanee Environmental Institute (SEI) Pre-college Field Studies Experience: The summer program is designed for students, who want to study the environ-ment. The program runs 6/26-7/9 on the campus of the University of the South, Sewanee, TN. Deadline to apply is 4/10. Apply at http://sei.sewanee.edu/pro-grams/precollege.

FSU STRIDE Summer Institute: Students interested in the medical field have an opportunity to become a medical student for a week. Scholarship funding is available to help students attend the summer program. More information can be found at this site http://med.fsu.edu/index.cfm?page=advisingOutreach.si or contact Kathleen Relihan, [email protected].

FSU Young Scholars Summer Program: Applications are now available for the FSU Young Scholars Program, which will be held 6/12-7/23. The program is a resi-dential science and mathematics program for academically gifted students interested in careers in the sciences, engineering, and health professions. For costs of the program and an application, visit http://bio.fsu.edu/ysp/index.html. Applications are due 3/15.

Summer Programs at Patel Conservatory: Programs are offered in music and dance. Scholarships are available. For more infor-mation, contact www.patelconservatory.org or call 813/222-1002.

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Chiles ElementarySchool16541 Tampa Palms blvd. w., Tampa, Fl 33647, 558-5422chiles.mysdhc.orgHome of the Falcons.

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Liberty MiddleSchool17400 Commerce Park blvd, Tampa, Fl 33647, 558-1180liberty.mysdhc.orgHome of the eagles.

DRY IN 1 HOUR!No Sticky Residue • Environmentally Friendly

Prompt & Reliable

Carpet • Upholstery • Hardwood • Tile & Grout

813-994-5050Bill Boom

www.heavensbest.com/tampa_fl


New TAMPA CHAMbeR OF COMMeRCe


sCOuTs

Every Girl Scout

Cookie Has A Mission

As part of the 2011 Girl Scout Cookie Program, Girl Scouts of

West Central Florida (GSWCF) offers the community the opportunity to donate to U.S. military troops serving overseas through its Cookies from Home program. Cookies from Home is a unique way for Girl Scouts to give back to their communities: donations of cookies through the program will be sent directly to our military troops serving in combat zones overseas through a partnership with Support Our Troops. “Life is good when you get Girl Scout Cookies,” said Steve Carney, reporter/anchor with 970 WFLA and served in Afghanistan in the U.S. Navy.

In addition to enjoying the cookies themselves, military troops also use them to build relationships with local children. “Generally, we have been [giving] the cookies and sweets to the children that we meet out on mission,” wrote a soldier serving with the United States Army Corps of Engineers in Tikrit, Iraq. “…thank you for allowing my team to give out your cookies to the needy families in Iraq. Without your help, my job would be considerably harder,” wrote a soldier serving on a reconstruction liaison team in Baghdad. In 2010, 45,000 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies were donated to U.S. military troops through the Cookies from Home program. Donations to the Cookies from Home Program may be made in person through a Girl Scout, booth sales or online at www.gswcf.org at anytime during the Girl Scout Cookie Program, through March 20. v

The Girl Scout Cookie Program is going mobile as part of a

national pilot program. Started in February, cookie lovers in Hillsborough and Pasco will be able to use their smart phones to find the nearest cookie booths and a list of dates and times when those booths will be open. The application, which is available for iPhones and Android devices, uses either GPS or manually entered zip codes, cities, or states to find cookie booths near the customer. The app will conveniently map those locations and add the booth information to the calendar. In addition to locating the booths, customers can learn about their favorite cookies, including nutritional values and ingredients. Cookie lovers can take a fun, interactive quiz to

learn their “cookie personalities.” The app can be downloaded free by simply calling **GSCookies (**472665437) from a mobile phone, or by searching for “Cookie Locator” in the iPhone App Store or Android Market Place. Through the cookie app, users will also be able to share booth locations, cookie information and their cookie personalities with friends on Facebook, Twitter and via e-mail. With the new cookie app and the Cookie Booth Locator, it’s easier than ever to satisfy your Girl Scout Cookie cravings! Find a booth at a Publix along Bruce B Downs or at Sam’s Club. v

FIND COOKIES WITH FREE MOBILE APP & BOOTH LOCATOR!


The top question I receive about car insur-ance is: “How much liability coverage should I have?”

Liability coverage protects you should you cause a crash, and pays for injuries and damages to the other party. There is both bodily injury liability pro-tection and property damage liability protection. In 1972, a Florida law went into effect mandating $10,000 bodily injury liability protection per per-son, $20,000 bodily injury liability protection per accident, and $5000 property damage liability pro-tection. This is commonly referred to as 10/20/5.

Let’s say that the Florida legislature created a reason-able minimum for insurance back in the early 70s. Guess what those minimum coverages would be today after adjusting for inflation? Well, the new minimums would be $52,000 bodily injury liability protection per person, $104,000 bodily injury

liability protection for accident, and $26,000 and property damage liability protection, or 52/104/26. Insurance companies do not sell those exact amounts, so we would say 50/100/25.

Since the average cost of a new car in 2010 was $28,400, the $25,000 in property damage liability protection coverage appears too low. So, we might say the absolute minimum coverage you should have would be 50/100/50.

Insurance guides that you will find on the Internet from Kiplinger and MSN Money recommend minimum coverages of 100/300/50. Why? Because these liability coverages include the cost of defend-ing you, in court if necessary. Legal fees have risen dramatically over time, and attorneys regularly charge hundreds of dollars per hour. So, lower coverages can be used up pretty fast in a dispute.

We have found that increasing the property damage liability protection from $50,000 to $100,000 will cost you only a few dollars, so that is what we recommend. There are many cars on the

road today worth over $50,000. Many insurance agents recommend minimum liability coverage of 100/300/100.

Some people just look at the cost of the liability in-surance and say: “I just can’t afford any more than a low amount of insurance”. Please look at your assets first. What do you have to lose? If you use up your coverage, you will have to get your own attorney and defend yourself. You will have to pay any legal judgments that exceed your policy limits. They can go after assets you have spent your entire life accumulating, as well as your future earnings! This experience can devastate a family, both emotionally and financially.

The more assets you have, the more insurance you need. It’s as simple as that. Ask your insurance agent to help you determine the coverage that is right for you.

What do I have, you ask? I have 250/500/100 liability coverage, plus an umbrella policy. I feel safe with that amount of coverage. Do you feel safe with your insurance coverages?

By Gary Gunter Agency OwnerGunter and Gunter Insurance

Crash! Do I have enough car insurance?

busINess ARTICle

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Tampa Palms has always prided itself on living above the fray. Although you may

not have escaped this latest housing crisis unscathed, you’ve fared far better than most other communities in Tampa Bay.

January home sales in Tampa Bay were up 14.3% over last year, but Tampa Palms trounced that number, bringing in 57% more sales this January than last. Granted, only 11 homes sold in all of Tampa Palms last month, but with all the negative real estate numbers we’ve been seeing lately, we’ll take all the good news we can get!

Of the 11 home sales in January, only three were single family homes. The rest were condos. The median sold price per square foot fell 22.9% from $130/sq.ft to $100/sq.ft. Given that the median home size of sales last year was 2,648 sq.ft last year, that means the median home in Tampa Palms is worth right around $264,800 based on January sales.

So why are prices still falling? The answer is distressed sales. Yes, Tampa Palms, even your residents were not completely insulated from the Great Recession. 33% of Tampa Palms home sales in January 2011 were either foreclosures or Short Sales – “distressed sales”, in industry jargon. The number of distressed sales jumps to 82% when we add in condos. Last year, we had no distressed sales of single family homes in January and only 43% of sales were distressed when we add condos to last year’s numbers. So distressed sales have definitely increased year after year.

The real estate industry insists on comparing same-month sales, so that’s where we started our analysis. But that practice can mask the true

health of a community, especially since January is always the slowest month for sales in any given year.

When we looked at the last 12 months, home sales in Tampa Palms have been slightly increasing – spiking considerable in June, when the home buyer tax credit was in full swing. So your increasing home sales trend seems stable.

Sold prices haven’t been too bad either. Although they’ve fluctuated between $100 and $130 per square foot, the median for the year was $125. So no need to get down on home values just because January was a bad month – the picture for 2010 didn’t look quite as dire.

Overall, the trends for Tampa Palms are pretty favorable. Only 10.5% of single family home sales last year were foreclosures or short sales. That’s way below the regional average of 45%. So while distressed sale prices are pulling down home values in the rest of Tampa, Tampa Palms home prices are only suffering because buyers can get better deals in other communities.

So here’s the message: Encourage your fellow Tampa Palms owners to stand firm on their prices. Price decline is only occurring in Tampa Palms because folks are more anxious to sell (average days on marketing is decreasing) and you’re cutting your prices to attract buyers. Also, demand for higher-end homes is still sluggish due to the Great Recession, so sales will be slow in Tampa Palms until the economy picks up.

As long as you continue to hold your own and don’t succumb to external market pressures, you should recover nicely. Then you can get back to riding high above the fray! v

ReaLTy CORneR

The Stateof Real EstateTampa Palms

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