Carrollwood - Vol. 3, Issue 12, December 2015

The Premier “Shop Local” Community Magazine Directly Mailed To 15,000 Homes In Carrollwood, Lake Magdalene & Avila

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:Local Author Publishes Book...............................3Community Calendar/ News Briefs..................4-5European Wax Center Carrollwood...................8-9Forbidden Images Tattoo Art Studio............12-13Local Teachers Need Your Help.........................16Westchase Mellow Mushroom.......................18-19Book Signing at Ellay Boutique..........................22George Kontos Roofing, Inc.........................26-27Tampa Premium Outlets...............................28-29

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDTAMPA FL

PERMIT 1185

Your neighborhood. Your magazine.

Vol. 3, Issue 12, Dec. 2015

®

By Deborah Bostock-Kelley

It is very likely if you speak to thedoctor responsible for urgent care atCentra Care, with her smile that makesyou feel like everything will be okay,you will immediately sense the passionshe has for her work and her patients.

Dr. Nkem Uzo doesn’t talk about

her job like it’s just a job. In an officethat feels nothing like a typical sterile,urgent care facility, being the doctor atthe Linebaugh Ave location is simplyher calling.

Meet the DoctorDr. Uzo earned her Doctorate of

Medicine from Obafemi Awolowo

University Medical School in Nigeriaand completed her residency in Inter-nal Medicine at Nassau County Med-ical Center part of SUNY atStonybrook. Following residency, sheworked many years as an ER Physician.

Board Certified in Internal Medi-cine with extensive Emergency Medi-cine experience, she holds

certifications in Advanced Cardiac LifeSupport, Pediatric Life Support andBasic Life support. She is also certifiedon the National Registry of CertifiedMedical Examiners (NRCME).

Dr. Uzo came to Centra Care be-cause their beliefs aligned with herown. Affiliated with Florida Hospital,

Compassion is Key at Centra Care Urgent Care

See “Centra Care” on page 24.

Carrollwood Area Neighborhood News & Lifestyles2 DECEMBER 2015 For Ad Info 813-928-6124 • NNLFlorida.com

Carrollwood Area Neighborhood News & Lifestyles DECEMBER 2015 3For Ad Info 813-928-6124 • NNLFlorida.com

Neighborhood News& Lifestyles

Directly mailed once a month to 15,000households in zip codes 33618, 33624 & 33613

220 S. Safford Ave. Tarpon Springs, FL 34689

Phone: (813) 928-6124; Fax: (727) 942-2432Advertising E-mail: [email protected] E-mail:

[email protected]© 2015 Carrollwood Neighborhood News & Lifestyles

Nothing that appears in Carrollwood NeighborhoodNews & Lifestyles may be reproduced, whether wholly or inpart, without permission. Opinions expressed by Carroll-wood Neighborhood News & Lifestyles writers are their ownand do not reflect the publisher’s opinion.

The management of Carrollwood NeighborhoodNews & Lifestyles is always happy to accept outsideeditorial submissions to the paper. Please call for outsideeditorial submission and advertisement deadlines.

Carrollwood Neighborhood News & Lifestyles willconsider previously non-published outside editorial submis-sions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500words. Carrollwood Neighborhood News & Lifestyles reservesthe right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submis-sions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates.Carrollwood Neighborhood News & Lifestyles will not returnunsolicited editorial materials.

Carrollwood Neighborhood News & Lifestyles reservesthe right to edit and/or reject any advertising. CarrollwoodNeighborhood News & Lifestyles is not responsible for errors inadvertising beyond the actual cost of the advertising space it-self, not for the validity of any claims made by its advertisers.

PublisherMatt SelbyAdvertising SalesJared Nager (Manager)Linda ViegaMike BirdAccounting ManagerAlexis SelbyMarketing & DevelopmentAshley KnoblachArt DirectorTony Sica

EditorAlexis SelbyCorrespondentsJulie KanehlMarcy SanfordPamela SicaKatie ThomasKim ThomasDara TuckerDeborah Bostock-Kelley

Last week I had the pleasure ofmeeting with local author Betsy Mac-Donald to talk about her new book,“The Vulnerable”. A true story, TheVulnerable is an intriguing book aboutBetsy’s Autistic brother Michael whosuffers from Asperger’s and her journeyto reconnect with her family and helpMichael escape a tortuous relationshipwith a couple that was supposedly car-ing for him while all the while theywere taking advantage of him, abusing,and even poisoning him, slowly tryingto murder him and make it look like anaccident just to gain his inheritance.

The Vulnerable has all the makingsof a Hollywood thriller, but like I said,this tale is unfortunately non-fiction.Speaking of Hollywood, Betsy is meet-ing with some movie producers thatsought her out after reading her book,so a screenplay may very well be next.

During our interview Betsy de-scribed to me some of the horriblethings that these sick people did to herbrother; it made my stomach flip flop. Ican’t imagine how anyone could livewith himself or herself after committingsuch heinous acts; manipulating an

autistic person for their own personalgain. It’s absolutely disgusting, andwhen I asked Betsy what her ultimategoal was in telling her story she replied,“I just want to make people aware ofwhat can happen to the ones we love,especially those who may become vul-nerable without the right people intheir lives. I want to help people seethat they need to make a plan, espe-cially if they have a child or a loved onewith Autism. I want people to reallythink about what could happen to thatperson if they weren’t around, that waythey can prepare and hopefully preventsomething terrible from happening, be-cause once it’s too late there might notbe anyone around to protect them.”

I don’t want to give too much ofthe book away, but what I will report isthat Betsy has saved Michael and hecurrently lives with Betsy and her hus-band locally. I personally have a closefriend, whom I’ve known since highschool, with Asperger’s so this story re-ally hits home for me. Betsy says,“Knowledge is power. It is my wishthat by hearing our story, maybe oneperson’s life can be saved!”

Betsy MacDonald’s book “TheVulnerable” is for sale at Amazon.com.Betsy is a psychiatric R.N. holding posi-tions as a Mental Health Director,where she lectures the public andhealth agencies. She has also run a hos-pital as Director of Nursing and hascounseled and evaluated youth inschool settings. She is a nationally pub-lished author with non-fiction coverstories. This true mystery has clairvoy-ance, hauntings, and gut wrenchingemotion on a journey to crack her birthfamilies code of silence. VULNERA-BILITY is forefront in attempt to saveher Asperger's Autistic brother. To con-tact Betsy visit www.TheVulnerable.net.

Local Author Publishes “The Vulnerable”,an Intriguing Non-Fiction Novel About

Saving Her Brother From True Evil


Community Calendar & News Briefsoffers holiday shoppers a delightfulrespite from the seasonal hustle andbustle with their production ofScrooge, the Musical at the Carroll-wood Players Theatre, 4333 GunnHighway, Friday, November 27through Saturday, December 19 withperformances Fridays and Saturdays at8 pm and Sundays at 3 pm.

This adaptation of Dickens’ im-mortal A Christmas Carol closely fol-lows the original story but with alively score written by academy awardwinner Leslie Bricusse. Songs includethe Oscar nominated “Thank YouVery Much,” the toe-tapping “De-cember the 25,” and the wistful“Happiness.” The sometimes darktale of the cantankerous EbenezerScrooge and his night of redemptionand transformation is a Christmasstaple that becomes more light-hearted in the hands of CarrollwoodPlayers director Jeff Lukas.

The production features RobL’Ecuyer as Ebenezer Scrooge, SamBurke as Bob Cratchit, Faith Clark asThe Ghost of Christmas Past,Nicholas Knetxke as The Ghost ofChristmas Present, Jeffrey M. Lukas asThe Ghost of Jacob Marley, Bradley

Clark as Tiny Tim, Adriane Falcon asMrs. Cratchit, and Philip Houdesheldtas The Ghost of Christmas Future.

Tickets, $23 for adults, $20for seniors, students and militarywith valid ID, may be purchasedonline at carrollwood-players-the-atre.ticketleap.com. Or make it aholiday night out with the Friday-FamilyFunPack. Reduced-priceticket bundles for $35 for two and$65 for four are available at thebox office Friday nights. For moreinformation, visitwww.carrollwoodplayers.org.

Tampa’s community theatre since1981, Carrollwood Players offers aregular season of quality live theatrein its 100-seat playhouse, along withalternative theatre selections in itsnew intimate 60-seat black box per-formance space.

16th Annual HillsboroughRiver Holiday Boat Parade

Sunday, December 13th, atLowry Park Boat Ramp, 7525 NorthBoulevard in Tampa

Friends of the River's 16th An-nual Hillsborough River Holiday BoatParade will be on Sunday, December

4th Annual Golf TournamentHosted by Equestrian Inc.Thoroughbred Rescue

Sun., Dec. 6 at The Eagles GolfClub, 16101 Nine Eagles Drive,Odessa

Join Equestrian Inc. Thorough-bred Rescue for their 4th Annual GolfTournament, which is sure to bringgreat fun and great competition!

It will be a Shotgun Start/Scram-ble Format, with tee-off starting at 12Noon. Dinner and awards will followat 6 pm. There is a $100 entry fee,which includes a gift bag, green fees,cart fees, range balls, snacks, drinktickets and dinner. There will also be aUS Hole In One contest with manygreat prizes, including $10,000 cash, aflat screen TV, Callaway Irons and air-line tickets. Sponsorships are available.

For more information pleasecontact Jack Fischer @ (813) 731-0973. All proceeds benefit Eques-trian Inc. Thoroughbred Rescue, a501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

The Chancel Choir and Or-chestra of Grace LutheranChurch Presents HolidayLessons and Carols

Sunday, Dec. 13th at 4:30 pmThe Chancel Choir and Orches-

tra of Grace Lutheran Church at Car-rollwood (3714 W. LinebaughAvenue, Tampa) will present a serv-ice of Lessons and Carols on Sunday,December 13h at 4:30 PM. Featuredin this event will be Soprano soloistLisa Katt Watson and Harpist DollyRoberts. A reception will be heldfollowing the service.

The tradition of the Festival ofNine Lessons and Carols has beenpopularized by the Choir of KingsCollege, Cambridge, England wherethe first presentation was made in1910. From the 1930’s it was airedeach Christmas Eve and has continuedto this day except for one year duringWorld War II when it was silenced.British composer, John Rutter, hasarranged the Anthems and Carolswhich will be sung by the choir andcongregation.

Contact the church office (813)961-8747) for directions or questions.

Carrollwood Players TheatreSteps into the Holiday Seasonwith Scrooge, the Musical

The Carrollwood Players Theatre


13th. All boaters and paddlers of ca-noes, kayaks, etc. in the Tampa Bayarea are invited to JOIN the FUN atthe Boat Parade for Everyone!

Paddlers and boaters are neededto help create this FREE communityevent, sponsored for the 16th consec-utive year by Friends of the River. Thisannual community tradition celebratesanother year of life in a city with a re-stored, beautiful river runningthrough it.

On Sunday, December 13, 2015boaters will assemble at 5:30 pm atLowry Park Boat Ramp. The paradebegins at 6:00 pm, arriving upriver atSulphur Springs Park at approximately7:00 pm.

This event begins and ends at twoCity of Tampa Parks:

It begins at Lowry Park BoatRamp, on the Hillsborough River:7525 North Boulevard, Tampa, FL33604.

The parade ends at SulphurSprings Park, 701 E. Bird St. Tampa,FL 33604.

Spectators may enter along thefishing bridge just north of Pool Pavil-ion, or through the parking area viaNebraska Ave. entrance between BirdSt. and the Hillsborough River bridge.

The event is held at dusk on the

Sunday evening in December prior toChristmas during which the tide is atits highest that month. This year, thehigh tide is at 5:00 pm on Sunday,December 13, and will be low by 9:00pm, 2 hours after the end of the event.

Boaters put in or meet at theLowry Park Boat Ramp. The sun willset that evening at 5:35 pm. We askeveryone to be on the river by 5:45.The parade begins at 6:00 p.m. andtakes approximately one hour to reachits terminus on the River between I-275 and Nebraska Ave. at SulphurSprings Park, where a communityparty will welcome your arrival.

Paddlers lead the parade, andpowerboats bring up the rear. A desig-nated safety boat will separate the twocontingents, ensuring no power boatadvances into the zone where paddlersare moving upriver at their own pace.The event is a slow parade – not arace! All participants are asked to pro-ceed in a slow and safe manner.

FAQsWhat kind of boat may participate? Whatever you've got that floats!

This is the holiday boat parade foreveryone! Paddlers of kayaks, canoes,jon-boats, and paddleboards are wel-come, as are motor boats. Decorateyour boat, whatever you've got, with

battery powered LED lights (nowavailable everywhere for ~$3/string)or with yard decorations on power-boats, operated by car batteries withinverters. Be creative!

Are there ID requirements or anage limit to enter the event?

Anyone 18 years of age and upmay participate as individuals pilotingtheir own vessel. Minors under 18 arepermitted on boats captained by anadult. ALL participants, regardless ofage, must complete a hold harmless li-ability waiver prior to the event.

What are my transport/parkingoptions getting to the event?

Free parking is available at theLowry Park Boat Ramp. Boaters re-turn back down river to the park afterthe parade, making a round trip circuitup and then downriver.

Do I have to register via ticket towatch the Holiday Boat Parade event?

No, tickets (which are free) areonly for those who are participatingIN the parade on a boat. Spectatorsneed not acquire a ticket – just cometo either park or anywhere in betweenalong the river.

For more information or addi-tional questions please contact theparade organizer, Phil Comptonwith Friends of the River, at [email protected]

Book Signing PresentedBy Sips Coffee

Sat., Dec. 19th from 1 p.m. - 3 p.mat Sips Coffee, 6118 Gunn Hwy, Tampa

Come meet author and publisherDr. Evelyn Johnson-Taylor on Saturday,December 19th from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.and get your book signed. Featuredbooks include A Woman’s Call: Livinga Life of Purpose, Seven Blessing Block-ers: Discover How You Can OvercomeHindrances to the Abundant Life, Iden-tity Crisis: Discovering Your True Iden-tity in Christ, Women of Promise: SevenBlessing Blockers and How to OvercomeThem. For additional info please visitwww.EvelynJTaylor.org.




By Alexis Selby

Looking for a great gift idea foryour loved one or friend this holidayseason? Why not give the gift of beau-tiful skin, with a fabulous waxing pack-age or gift card from European WaxCenter in Carrollwood. Whether yourgift receiver has never been to Euro-pean Wax Center before, or has beencoming for years, I’m sure he or shewill really appreciate this thoughtfulgift – I know I would!

And, if your loved one is already aregular at European Wax Center, thatmakes it even easier. “All you have todo is call us up or come in to our storeand we can look up their information,that way we know exactly what serv-ices they get; you can either purchase apackage for them or apply credit totheir account,” says Ashley, the Desig-nated Manager at EWC Carrollwood.“You also have the option of buying agift card, so they can choose the serv-ices they want.” This really is a fantas-

tic gift idea, because you know that itis something they will use.

Specializing in full body waxingfor both men and women (excludingselect areas for men), European WaxCenter of Carrollwood provides avery gender-neutral atmosphere,where people of all genders can feelcomfortable and relaxed. “We get alot of men in here,” says Ashley.

“Our girls are extremely professionaland do a great job of making theguys feel comfortable.”

At European Wax Center, theyare so sure that you are going to lovetheir wax, that, as a nationwide pro-motion, they offer all first-time Floridaresident customers a complimentarywax, with no purchase necessary. Forwomen, this includes a free brow, un-

derarm or bikini line wax, and for themen, a free ear, nose or brow wax.Ashley says, “We offer free waxing forfirst time customers because we know,that once they try our wax they aregoing to love it and will stay with usfor years to come!”

I still remember my first timecoming to European Wax Center Car-rollwood over two years ago. I hadonly ever done traditional waxing, so Ihad no idea what to expect. From thefirst wax, I was hooked! I couldn’t be-lieve how little it hurt as compared toregular waxing. Instead of the tradi-tional thick wax that is pulled off withstrips, EWC has formulated their own

European Wax Center Carrollwood –Give the Gift of Beautiful Skin!


exclusive Comfort Wax, that is madefrom 100% natural beeswax, that onceapplied to the skin naturally hardensand is pulled off without the use ofstrips. Since my first visit, I have be-come a regular and really appreciatehow easy and virtually painless theirwaxing process is.

Another thing I really enjoy ishow friendly and nice the staff is.They always make you feel so com-fortable, and engage you in conversa-tion during the wax, so you barely

even notice that you are gettingwaxed. “Our staff is really passionateabout what they do; they really careabout their clients,” says Ashley.“What really speaks volumes is whenI am walking down the hallway andhear laughter coming out of therooms. I love the fact that the staffcan make the experience as comfort-ing and fun as possible.”

Whether you are a first time clientor a regular, the staff at EWC Carroll-wood always does a fantastic job of en-

suring you get one-of-a-kind treat-ment. “We tailor the experience toeach guest,” says Ashley. “With firsttime clients, we always explain ourfour step process, so they know exactlywhat to expect.” This four-stepprocess includes, cleaning the area,prepping it for the wax, doing the waxand then finishing off with a hydrat-ing, calming product that helps mini-mize redness and agitation.

Usually designated onlyfor first-time clients, as aDecember promotion, Euro-pean Wax Center Carroll-wood is offering all clients aspecial package – Buy ninewaxes and get three free!This can be used for anyservice, so the savings reallyare tremendous!

EWC also offers other discountedpackages throughout the year, prefectfor frequent waxers who want to savea bit of money. And, for those whodon’t want to pay for the package allup front, EWC gives you the option ofbreaking up the payments into four in-terest-free payments (package must

exceed $150 to be eligible). EWC also offers some great in-

centives to its clients – for every newclient you refer, you will receive a $5credit towards your account whenthey come in for their first visit. De-pending on how many people youknow, the benefits could really add up!

Offering the highest quality wax-ing services for an extremely afford-able price, with waxes starting as lowas $10, having silky smooth skin issomething that can easily be budgetedinto any lifestyle!

So, if you are looking to earnsome extra brownie points this holidayseason, show your loved one howmuch you care, with a fabulous giftcard or waxing package from Euro-pean Wax Center Carrollwood!

European Wax Center Carroll-wood is located on the corner ofDale Mabry and Fletcher in front ofLowes at 12915 N Dale MabryHwy. in Carrollwood. They areopen 7 days a week, Mon. – Fri. 9a.m. – 8 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.and Sun. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. For moreinformation please call (813) 961-4800 or visit www.WaxCenter.com.

I still remember my first time coming to European Wax Center Carrollwoodover two years ago. I had only ever done traditional waxing, so I had no idea

what to expect. From the first wax, I was hooked!




Skill, Trust & Commitment At Forbidden Images Tattoo Art StudioForbidden Images would like to

thank and celebrate all of their clientswho have contributed to a successful37 years in their tattoo art studio.

“Our great clientele has embracedour studio and in effort to meet thehigh demand of our customers, wewill continue to work very hard tokeep the quality and service you all de-serve and must have,” says Litos, co-owner and Master Tattoo Artist atForbidden Images. “Our business hasbeen built on the exceptional skill lev-els of talented hard working TattooArtists, and the addition of superiortalent will continue to do so, allowingForbidden Images to stay distin-guished from the other shops.”

Forbidden Images is blessed andproud to have a talented family ofartists, including Litos, Steven Corni-celli, Jeremiah McCabe, and FranklinLewis. A driving force and motivation,co-owner Julie runs Forbidden Imagesalongside her husband Litos, andgreatly complements the excellence oftheir reputation. Julie provides eachclient with individualized attentionand ensures that they are treated likefamily and with the utmost respect.

A collaborative effort, ForbiddenImages boasts a beautiful open shop,encouraging all the tattoo artists towork together as a team. They are al-ways bouncing ideas off of each otherand this continuous communicationensures that no matter which artistyou see, high-quality tattoo work is al-ways a goal. “We are here to show thepublic and the clientele what they de-serve, not just the tattoo, but also theenvironment and the respect they willget when they come to us,” says Litos.

The tattoo art studio is an AsianZen style with some industrialtouches. The talent of his wife Julie,and her vision to decorate, created a

space of inspiration and tranquility.Together, Litos and Julie form a com-bination of confidence, trust and com-fort for those who experience theirstudio. “Anyone can paint a picture,but to make you feel it is a gift,” saysLitos. “Forbidden Images is commit-ted to the individual expression of art.Come visit and experience for yourselfwhy it is vital to value art the same waywe live life – with passion!”

LITOS“Tattoos tell stories,” says Litos,

“and my job as a fine art tattooist is tomaster the ability to stop time andcapture it on your skin.” Litos hasbeen in the Tattoo industry for 37years. Originally from Rio de JaneiroBrazil, he has dedicated his life to cre-ating art on paper, canvas and skin.Recognized in the industry with nu-merous national and internationalawards for his art, knowledge and ex-perience, he still has the same passionas when he first started. “I am blessedand honored to be chosen to be the

artist responsible to immortalize myclients’ most special images,” saysLitos. His work can be viewed at thewebsite www.ForbiddenImages.comand on Instagram “LITOSART”.

Litos runs the studio alongsidewith his wife Julie and three other tal-ented artists: Steven Cornicelli, Jere-miah McCabe and Franklin Lewis.

STEVEN CORNICELLIAfter walking into Forbidden Im-

ages in early 2012, Steven was as-tounded by the artistic atmosphere ofthe shop. “Just walking into the shopinspires you,” says Steven. “I metwith Litos and Julie and they offeredme a chance of a lifetime – I took it!”Born in Maryland in 1970, Steven is acreative artist who has been drawinghis entire life. In the early 1980s artbecame a way for Steven to expresshimself – it started with tracing super-

heroes out of comic books; thatopened up the floodgates to a lifededicated to art. As a young adult,Steven studied art anatomy classes atSUNY Farmingdale, as well as art anddesign classes at the Art Institute.After getting his first tattoo at the ageof 18 he was hooked and realized tat-tooing was his calling. Although ittook some time for his dream to be-come a reality, Steven officially madehis breakthrough into the tattoo in-dustry in 1996 and has been tattooingever since.

JEREMIAH MCCABEJeremiah McCabe has been per-

fecting the technique of professionaltattoo art since completing his appren-ticeship in 2001. He learned to tattoofrom Perry Stratton in Lapeer, Michi-gan and worked with him until mov-ing to Florida in 2007.

Jeremiah spent the next four yearsmastering the art of realism in his tat-too work. In 2011 Jeremiah felt as ifthere was more out there for him anddecided to move again. With thismove he was able to start focusing onthe type of art that he loved the most– new school. To Jeremiah, new-school art really gives him the freedomto use his imagination and allows himthe opportunity to push himself to be-come more creative.

“The best thing about being atattoo artist is the opportunity totravel all over the world,” says Jere-miah. “I really love what I do. I get topush myself each day to become betterand use my imagination to help othersexpress themselves through body art.”

Jeremiah is willing to take on any-thing that has been placed in front ofhim; with this motivation he feels thateach person that sits in front of himgives him the opportunity to become


a better artist. Jeremiah has been working at

Forbidden Images alongside Litos,Julie, Frank, and Steve, since 2013,and continues to evolve his style evenfurther. Along with making the moveto Trinity, 2013 was the beginning ofJeremiah's tattoo travels. He's sincebeen invited to work in top conven-tions in England, France, andSwitzerland, and continues to planmore international explorations inthe future.

In 2014, Jeremiah was asked byWaterloo Tattoo Workstations to jointhe Waterloo Elite sponsor team.Along with Eternal Ink, Jeremiah issponsored by some of the top prod-ucts in the tattoo industry.

In addition in 2014, Jeremiahwon awards for Best Female LegSleeve and Best Overall Male at InkLife Tour stops in Tampa and FortMyers. Then in 2015, Jeremiah wasinvited to tattoo at the Star Wars Cele-bration in Anaheim, CA. As part ofthat convention his nerd dream cametrue, and Jeremiah became an Offi-cially licensed artist with Lucasfilm!

FRANKLIN LEWISA tattoo artist at Forbidden Im-

ages since day one of his careerFranklin was taught by the man him-self, Litos, and strives to learn moredaily. Franklin says, “My style of tat-tooing comes from a love for the oldschool ideas of tattooing – BOLDWILL HOLD! I have a strong pas-sion for Japanese influenced art, butam open to new ideas and styles. Iam always up for a challenge! Out-side of tattooing, I love skateboard-ing and music – lots of music! I lookforward to meeting you all, so don’tbe a stranger!”

Forbidden Images is a companythat thrives off of positive energy andthe staff connects with their clientson a whole different level, providingthem with an embracing atmosphereand an exceptional experience.

Forming long lasting relation-ships with all of their customers issomething that Litos, Julie, Steven,Jeremiah and Franklin pride them-selves on. Once they create a tattooon someone, they like to keep the

communication flowing, facilitatingopen interaction with all of their cus-tomers to fully ensure complete satis-faction. “Our clients become goodfriends of ours,” says Litos. “Whenyou come to us you will get one-on-one attention. We ask a lot of ques-tions so we can accurately interpretyour feelings about the tattoo, as op-posed to just creating an image. It’snot just the subject of the tattoo; it’sthe meaning that creates the tattoo.”

In addition to using the highestquality inks, all of the tattoo artist areprivy to using the best quality prod-ucts, as Forbidden Images remains atthe forefront of leading developmentsand technology in regards to the tat-too industry. Litos is very adamantabout continuing education and at-tends numerous conventionsthroughout the world in order to stayat the very top of his field.

Litos and Julie are very active inthe community and are huge sup-porters of local businesses. “We havea great relationship with businesses inthe local community,” states Litos.

“Together we help each other growas people.”

At Forbidden Images Tattoo ArtStudio, the artists are able to inter-pret an important part of you andthrough talent and creativity will givelife to your deepest emotions andbring to reality a true work of art.

Litos says, “We thank you all andhope you honor us with a visit to ourstudio and experience for yourselfwhy people come to us. LET USCREATE YOUR FORBIDDENIMAGE!”

Forbidden Images is located at10900 State Road 54, suite 104 inTrinity, next to Grille 54. They areopen Mon. – Sat. 12 p.m. – 9 p.m.and Sun. 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. Toschedule an initial consultation, foradditional information regardingthe shop, or to purchase gift cer-tificates for the holidays, please callJulie at (727) 846-8757, visit on-line at ForbiddenImages.com oremail [email protected].




Local Teachers Need Your Help! Bless Baby Bennett!

Born on June 15, 2015, BennettRohrbacker is a gift to this world.Born with many special needs, how-ever, at two weeks old, Bennett wasdiagnosed with 18q Deletion Syn-drome, which is a genetic deletion onthe 18th chromosome. Due to thisdeletion, he spent the first 8 weeks ofhis life with both of his legs in castsbecause of a foot malformation, andwill be undergoing surgery to correcthis right foot in a few months.

In addition to this syndrome,Bennett has also been diagnosed withhypotonia, or low muscle tone. Hetakes several medications each day:one for hypothyroidism; one for py-lori spasm (a condition that preventshis stomach from emptying properly);and a cream for his eczema. He alsohas an aberrant right subclavian ar-tery, where his right subclavian arterypasses by his esophagus.

Bennett’s parents, local Tampateachers Natalia and Craig

Rohrbacker, have done an amazingjob of giving Bennett and his older, 2-year old brother Rowan all the loveand attention they need. They haveshown unending patience with bothan infant who cries frequently and anenergetic two-year-old boy – not tomention all of the students they workwith each day. They have an unshak-able faith in God, which is how theyget their strength each day.

Most recently, Bennett was foundto have moderate hearing loss in hisright ear and profound hearing loss inhis left ear. His hearing loss will re-quire assistive hearing devices for bothears – which insurance does not cover.These are just some of the difficultieschildren with 18q Deletion Syndrometend to face, along with a possibility ofautism and other developmental de-lays. With each specialist visit comesfifty-dollar co-pay plus additional,medical costs.

Due to these expensive medical

costs, Bennett’s godmother Julie isasking for your help. She says, “Iwould love to be able to take some ofthe worry off of their shoulders byproviding them with money for Ben-nett’s hearing devices, as well as all ofhis other current and future medicalcosts. Natalia and Craig are truly ablessing to baby Bennett. I am hopingthat others will want to give them

blessings back – in the form of prayersand finances if you are able. Thankyou for listening and God bless!”

To help donate towards babyBennett’s hearing aids, please visitwww.YouCaring.Com and in thetop right search bar type “BlessBaby Bennett”. Any donation isgreatly appreciated.



By Alexis Selby

Undergoing a fabulous facelift, ifyou haven’t been to the newly reno-vated Mellow Mushroom inWestchase, or it’s been a while sinceyou’ve visited, you have to comecheck out their great new look! Withbeautiful new artwork, fresh paint anda new bar and tables, this updatedlook adds some exciting appeal to thislocal hot spot!

Keeping with the same 70’stheme, you will find the friendly, laid-back atmosphere remains unchanged,and this awesome restaurant continuesto provide a fun venue where you cancome to hang out and enjoy craftbeer, hand-crafted cocktails and one-of-a-kind creations.

“Mellow Mushroom has amazingpizza and salads and a great selection ofcraft beer,” states happy customer Bill.“They get beers there in draft that oth-ers can't even get in the bottle. The at-mosphere is laid back and casual andthe staff is awesome. Definitely stop inif you are in the area.”

Westchase Mellow Mushroom of-fers a full liquor bar and an extensivelist of beers, a majority of which are lo-cally brewed, including more than 115microbrews and 30 beers on tap. “Wetry to have something different foreveryone every time they come in andare constantly rotating beers on tap,”says Kitchen Manager Justin Newsom.So, if you are in the mood for a thirst-quenching beer, look no further thanMellow Mushroom; with so manybeers to choose from they have some-thing for every palate and preference.

Looking to find a new brew - tryone of their flights of beer and sampleup to 4 different smaller portionedbeers - allowing you to find something

you will really love. Shelly, a regular at Westchase

Mellow Mushroom states, “We startedcoming here a couple of years ago. Weusually built our own pizza but on awhim one night we tried the ‘MightyMeaty’. Oh, Holy Heaven on a plate.

If you've never had it, you're seriouslymissing out. A pie that dare I say it,would turn a vegetarian into a carni-vore with one bite. Even my 6 yearold who has been strictly cheese andpepperoni for his entire pizza eatinglife has been converted. The decor is

fun and the food is amazing. Theyhave a great beer selection too!”

Westchase Mellow Mushroom hasa fabulous selection of tantalizingmenu items to choose from, includingpizzas, salads, calzones, hoagies, pitas,oven-roasted wings and much more,all of which are prepared with greatcare, giving you selections that notonly taste amazing, but look amazingas well. “We are well-known for ourpizzas, and offer many different op-tions, from our basic cheese pizza toour super-meat pizza which is loadedwith toppings,” states Justin. “When itcomes to our food, we do things dif-ferently. The food speaks for itself!”And, that is does, as from the first timemy husband and I ate at WestchaseMellow Mushroom, we have beenback many times since and have alwayshad such a wonderful experience.

“We are super vegan and vegetar-ian friendly,” says Justin. MellowMushroom offers many different alter-natives for every diet and lifestyle, in-cluding the use of Daiya vegan cheeseand their gluten-free pizza, which hasgluten-free dough and other gluten-free ingredients, in addition to theirmany other vegetarian and veganmenu options.

If you are like me and like to havea little snack before the main entrée,than I recommend you try one oftheir delicious appetizers, which in-clude everything from stuffed Porto-bello mushrooms to spinach artichokedip. One of my personal favorites isthe Bruschetta, which consists of dicedtomatoes and Feta Cheese tossed inbalsamic vinegar and olive oil servedon fresh toast points and finished off

Come Check Out the New and ImprovedWestchase Mellow Mushroom


with a balsamic drizzle. Crunchy andsweet and loaded with fresh tomatoes,the Bruschetta is every bit as appetiz-ing as it looks.

The Kosmic Karma Pizza, whichis a specialty at Westchase MellowMushroom, is a feast for both the eyesand the stomach, and the presentationalone is enough to make your mouthwater. This is a must-have menu item!This red-sauce-based pizza, toppedwith mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes,spinach, feta and Roma Tomatoes istied in with a fancy pesto swirl andboasts a taste that is out of this world.The combination of ingredients was sodelicious that I was almost at a loss forwords. In fact, my husband was – “Idon’t even have words for how goodthis pizza is. I can’t explain it, it’s justthat good!”

If you are feeling a little creative,you also have the option of creatingyour own pizza or salad, for a cus-tomized entrée that is as unique as youare. One thing is for sure - no matter

what you order, it’s guaranteed to befresh and delicious!

Westchase Mellow MushroomNow Offers Burgers – AndThey Are Really Good!

New to the menu, WestchaseMellow Mushroom recently addedburgers to their list of options. “Wenow offer burgers, and they are reallygood,” says Justin. They are more of agastro-pub style burger, cooked onflat-top and made using 100% grassfed free range beef. We also offer aveggie burger, which is excellent!”

On our last visit my husband andI sampled their “Carnie” Pub burger,and OMG was it amazing! Made with100% choice, all natural, certified blackAngus beef, finished with Swisscheese, cartelized onions, garlic aioli,romaine lettuce, sliced tomato andpickle chips and served on a briochebun, this burger was juicy and flavor-ful and the combination of the ingre-dients made for an incredible taste that

In addition to a full liquor bar and an extensive list of beers, Westchase Mellow Mushroom has a fabulous selection of tantalizing menu items to choose from,including pizzas, salads, calzones, hoagies, pitas, oven-roasted wings and much more, all of which are prepared with great care, giving you selections that not

only taste amazing, but look amazing as well.

was out of this world. Looking for a vegetarian option?

From what I hear their “Herb” VeggieBurger is just as delicious, made withtheir signature veggie patty made fromquinoa, kale, brown rice and roastedmushrooms, and seasoned with roastedgarlic and shallots. It is then toppedwith fresh avocado, cheddar cheese, gar-lic aioli, romaine lettuce, sliced tomatoand onion and served on a grilledbrioche bun. Described as earthy, deli-cious, and filling, this is a patty bothyour spirit and tummy will enjoy.

Both burgers are served alongsidetheir red potatoes, which are roastedwith crispy cartelized onions, freshrosemary, kosher salt, fresh garlic, anda hint of paprika. Believe me when Isay they are every bit as yummy asthey sound!

Westchase Mellow Mushroom hasdaily specials, including Happy Hour,which is every day from 3 p.m. – 7p.m., and includes $2.00 off on allmixed drinks, wines and beer, as well

as $5 pitchers of beer and sangria and$2 off select appetizers (Bruschetta,hummus and pretzels).

Mellow Mushroom also offerscarry-out, and gift cards are available.

Mellow Mushroom is the perfectplace for a night out with friends ornice family meal. Whether you are en-joying a hot slice of pizza in their laid-back outdoor seating area or sittingindoors in the spacious dining area,one thing is for sure – at WestchaseMellow Mushroom you are sure tohave a good time. The fun, upbeat at-mosphere is a great place to bring thefamily and with their vast menu filledwith delicious food, there is somethingfor every preference and taste!

Westchase Mellow Mushroomis located at 11955 Sheldon Roadin Tampa. Hours are Sun. – Thurs.11 a.m. – 10 p.m. and Fri. – Sat. 11a.m. – 11 p.m. For more informa-tion please call (813) 926-3600 orvisit their website atMellowMushroom.com/Tampa.




Carrollwood Author Book Signing at Ellay Boutique Who:Carrollwood Author Karen A. Lynch

What:Will be signing copies of her book,Irish Holiday Fairy Tales by Finn Mc-Cool, the Magic Leprechaun Cat

Where:Ellay Boutique

When:Dec. 12, 2015 From 11:00 a.m. to5:00 p. m.

Description:Lynch is a longtime resident of

Carrollwood. She is the owner ofFlorida Cause for Paws Cat Rescueand Sanctuary, which is a self-fundedcharity, that has been in operation forover 27 years.

Lynch is a former internationalbreeder of champion Thoroughbredand Andalusian horses. She is a gradu-ate of The University of Tampa, withBAs in creative writing and politicalscience. She was the assistanteditor/news editor of UT's paper,

The Minaret, and for five years, pub-lisher and editor of the SuncoastChapter of the U.S. Army (AUSA)and the John Wayne Chapter of the US Special Forces newsletters. She is theauthor of four books.

In addition to Irish Holiday FairyTales, her literary works include, Deci-sion for Disaster; Betrayal at the Bay ofPigs, which she ghostwrote for her latehusband, CIA Intelligence OfficerGrayston L. Lynch. The book isdeemed by historians and scholars tobe the definitive work on the Bay ofPigs Invasion and its movie rightswere optioned by Ron Howard andUniversal Studios.

She is also the author of the spynovel, The Game of Lies and a chil-dren's book, Harry B and Timmy T'sBeary Magical Christmas. She has alsowritten the play, Cat Scanned, whichwas produced on stage by The Car-rollwood Players.

Irish Holiday Fairy Tales is pub-lished courtesy of the Cork AnimalCare Society of Cork, Ireland andprinted in Ireland. An American ver-sion is available online at Amazon and

all good on-line book retailers.The Irish version is only available

for purchase on Lynch's website, orat book signing events. The link iswww.warofwits.net/Irish-Holiday-Fairy-Tales.html. Credit cards are ac-cepted and autographed and multiplecopies are available. Gift purchasesare available and are accompanied bya gift card.

Finn McCool, the Magic Lep-rechaun Cat is a real cat. He has beenspokescat for Florida Cause for Pawssince 2008. His stories are based onIrish legends, folklore or history with abit of leprechaun magic for fun. Theyhave been published in 60 countriesover six continents and have beenawarded two international short storyawards. His book, Irish Holiday FairyTales was the only book chosen by Cat

Fancy Magazine for its holiday giftguide and was used twice as prizes forcontests run by the magazine.

His stories have been prized bylocal teachers as a delightful way to ed-ucate their students on the mystical,magical Emerald Isle, Ireland. A placealmost never covered by most school'scurriculums.

Volume II of Irish Holiday FairyTales will be available for purchase onSt. Patrick's Day 2016.

All profits from the sale of IrishHoliday Fairy Tales go to support thework of Florida Cause for Paws.

All of Lynch's books are avail-able on Amazon.com. You may con-tact her for further information onbooks, or to schedule an event, [email protected], or by phone at813-245-1797.



the mission statement of Centra Careis about “extending the healing min-istry of Christ.”

When you enter the front waitingroom, not only do you have a specialarea just for kids, but the coffee sta-tion isn’t the same burnt-tasting coffeeyou find in most urgent care facilities.Instead, patients are treated to aKeurig coffee maker with manychoices. It’s the little things like that,that can make a tremendous differenceand leave such a positive impressionon patients.

Besides three convenient loca-tions in Carrollwood, Brandon, andSouth Tampa, with a new facilityopening in Wesley Chapel next year,Centra Care takes patient waiting timevery seriously. Patients even have theoption to visit their website and makean online reservation to see the doc-tor. “This decreases wait time,” saidDr. Uzo. “We also have the ability towrite prescriptions and dispense med-ication in-house. Everything is underone roof, which really adds to patientconvenience. Convenience is key. I

think this is what differentiates usfrom the numerous urgent care cen-ters that are opening up everywhere.”

Centra Care also has xray ma-chines on-site. Sharon Smythe, a newpatient to Centra Care saw the outsidebanner and stopped in for an xray. Shesaid, “I liked that they were affiliatedwith Florida Hospital and that they

have on-site xrays.”Being a part of Florida Hospital

has distinct advantages. Dr. Uzo hasimmediate access to the patient’s elec-tronic medical records, and should thecare require emergency treatment,Florida Hospital, which is but 5 min-utes away, has the same instant accessto patient history at Centra Care.

“We have very compassionate,dedicated people that work here andevery center has a physician, as op-posed to a nurse practitioner or physi-cian assistant. We extend extra care toour patients – the staff is trained to re-alize it’s all about the patients,” Dr.Uzo explained. “Our motto is extend-ing the healing ministry of Christ and

“Centra Care”Continued from page 1


I want that to be obvious in every-thing the patient sees from the minutethey walk through the door. Our goalis to make sure each and every patientis fully satisfied.”

This philosophy may be is the rea-son why several patients have turnedto the medical expertise and compas-sionate care of Dr. Uzo, a dedicateddoctor who takes time to listen to her

patients and help them find the bestsolution to their ailments.

A member of Carrollwood AreaBusiness Association (CABA), CentraCare is active in the community withdonating backpacks for schools, offer-ing free school and sports physicals inAugust, complimentary flu vaccines inOctober and other activities andevents that can be found online on

their website.Centra Care accepts most insur-

ances and also takes self-pay patients.“I’m very passionate about pa-

tient care and providing the very bestfor each and every patient,” said Dr.Uzo. “The patient is coming here,putting their entire trust in me as aphysician, and I really relish the factthat at the end of the day, they feelmuch better. I enjoy working here. Itactually fulfills the passion I have formedicine. This is an organization that

I recommend to a lot of professionals,where they’ll feel appreciated and theycan feel they make a difference. This isthe place to be.”

Centra Care is located at 4001West Linebaugh Avenue in Tampaand is open 8am to 8pm Mondaythrough Friday, and 8am to 5pmon the weekends. To learn more orto make a reservation, call (813)644-6991 or visitwww.CentraCare.org.

Board Certified in Internal Medicine, with extensive Emergency Medicine experience, Dr. Uzo has a passion for her work and her patients.


George Kontos Roofing, Inc. –Providing Safety, Security & Quality Roofing Services

By Alexis Selby

For over 40 years, George Kon-tos Roofing, Inc. has been providinghonest, knowledgeable and excep-tional roofing services to the TampaBay Area and beyond. With their pre-cise attention to detail, ethical in-tegrity and lengthy experience youcan be assured that your roof is ingood hands, as they understand theimportance of building a sturdy, solidroof that will last for decades.

Family-owned-and-operated,George Kontos Roofing consists ofowner George Kontos, his son Vasilis,who is the Residential General Man-ager, and their group of well-trained,professional staff. George, who hasbeen working as a roofer since the1960’s, is highly-qualified and dedi-cated to providing quality craftsman-ship and very competitive prices.Vasilis, who grew up learning thetrade alongside George, knows all theins and outs of the roofing businessand does everything possible to en-sure that their customers have a greatexperience. Both George and Vasilisare state licensed professionals and to-gether, this father-son team brings thecommunity a trusted name and acombined total of over 50 years ofroofing and construction experience.

Vasilis says, “This is one of ourfirst years we have ever advertised.The business has thrived since the70’s to the successful place it is todaythrough word of mouth from satisfiedtestimonials and referrals.”

George Kontos Roofing Inc. per-forms all of their own work from startto finish and they do not use sub-con-

tractors. “Our employees have beenhere for the long haul,” says Vasilis.“We are not a transitional company.When it comes to our employees,they are all trustworthy. We know ourstaff like family.” Gary Stark, theCommercial General Manager, hasworked at George Kontos RoofingInc. for over 10 years. Gary says, “Weall help each other out here.”

Services Kontos Roofing offers a variety

of services, including both residentialand commercial work, ranging fromsmall leak repairs to large roof re-placement. No matter what you arelooking for, George Kontos Roofingwill always provide you will a free esti-mate. They specialize in new con-struction, re-roofing, wind mitigationinspection, roof repairs, ventilations,skylight repair and installation, flash-ing (weather-proofing), custom-mod-ified roof systems, hot asphalt roofing,Duro-Last Roofing Systems, wood re-pair, soffit, fascia and much more.George Kontos Roofing installs alltypes of roofs, including shingled, flat,metal and tile – they have somethingfor every budget and style. Alongwith installing shingles that carry alifetime warranty, George KontosRoofing Inc.’s GAF Certificationmeans that the company also offers a100 percent satisfaction guaranteeand 50-year warranty on labor andmaterials – that is a guarantee you cancount on!

At George Kontos Roofing Inc.they understand that emergencies dohappen, which is why they offer24hour emergency service. If you

have an emergency, you can rely onGeorge Kontos Roofing Inc. “Emer-gency situations always come first,”states Vasilis. “We are known for ourfast turnaround.” Some of their emer-gency roofing services include tarpovers, temporary roofing repairs, en-tire roof replacement, cartage and dis-posal and clean-up.

George Kontos Roofing Inc. hasa great deal of experience workingwith the Duro-Last Roofing System, avinyl roof membrane that reflects 88percent of the sun’s energy; savingyou money on cooling costs. Duro-Last is a chartered partner of EnergyStar Roof Products; these are top-of-theline products that are very afford-able. George Kontos Roofing Inc.believes in using Energy Star RoofingProducts because it is a trusted labelin energy efficient products as desig-nated by the Federal Government.

George Kontos Roofing Inc. alsospecializes in AttiCat Insulation,blown-in fiberglass insulation that

keeps your home well-cooled in thesummer heat.

Hydro-Stop, an economical wa-terproof roofing coat, is another inno-vative product that George KontosRoofing Inc. works with. This ap-proved Class 1 Roof System consistsof a premium coat system that allowsfor lower energy consumption andhigh performance against fire, wind,leaks and more.

Two years ago my husband Mattand I decided it was time to redo ourroof, as our previous roof had beenover 25 years old and was in desperateneed of repair. Matt went to highschool with Vasilis and has known himfor many years, so when we werelooking for a roofer, George KontosRoofing came to mind. They did suchan outstanding job and our roof looksa thousand times better. Not onlywere the workers prompt and courte-ous, but they were also extremely pro-ficient and very hard-working.Despite having to tear up our old

Owner George Kontos and his son Vasilis Kontos (left)


roof, there was never a mess and anyand all debris was immediately pickedup and disposed of. Within two dayswe had a beautiful new roof! Afterour roof was finished, Vasilis stoppedby and checked to make sure we werehappy with our results and that every-thing went well – we had only goodthings to say.

Kontos Roofing was professionalthe entire time and for the quality ofroof we received the cost was very af-fordable. I am extremely happy withour choice to use Kontos Roofing andwould recommend them to anyone

who is looking for a new roof or inneed of roof repairs.

Kontos Roofing serves the entireTampa bay Area, including Pinellas,Pasco and Hillsborough Counties, aswell as other areas throughout thestate of Florida.

George Kontos Roofing workswith all the best roofing products andis fully dedicated to bringing you thehighest quality products at the mostreasonable price. George KontosRoofing is a very trustworthy com-pany and has been providing safety,security and quality roofs to the

Tampa Bay Area for nearly 40 years.George Kontos Roofing Inc. is

Licensed, Bonded and Insured; LIC #CCC 029579.

George Kontos Roofing Inc. islocated at 201 South Levis Avenue

in Tarpon Springs. Hours are Mon.– Fri., 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and 10 a.m.– 5 p.m. on Sat. For more info, call(727) 938-6900 or (727) 224-6360. You can also visit their web-site at www.KontosRoofing.com.

George Kontos Roofing Inc. will add curb appeal to your house with a beautiful, new roof. The before (left) and after (right) pictures of our house show the difference a new roof can make!


Let the Savings Begin! The TampaPremium Outlets in Lutz is Now Open!

By Julie Kanehl

Tampa Premium Outlets is thelong-awaited outlet mall that has Lutzand Wesley Chapel at the center of alot of attention! Located at 2300Grand Cypress Drive in Lutz, just offof S.R. 56 and west of I75, its locationis convenient to all of Tampa Bay.Tampa Premium Outlets opened itsdoors on October 29th at 10 a.m. toexcited crowds, impressive lines and ofcourse, a lot of great deals.

Owned by The Simon PropertyGroup, which owns retail properties in37 states and Puerto Rico, Tampa Pre-mium Outlets has a lot of experiencedesigning crowd-pleasing retail centerslike this one. Their Grand Openingevent included music, fireworks, andthe opening of 103 stores, includingpopular brands like Coach, Nike Fac-tory, Vera Bradley, Calvin Klein, PoloRalph Lauren, and Michael Kors. An-chored by Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th,Tampa Premium Outlets is a 441,000sq. ft. retail center that has more than20 shoe stores, alone. Add in somefun dining options like Johnny Rock-ets (which will actually be opening onNovember 12th), a playground areafor the kiddos, and savings that youjust won’t find at other malls, and it’sno surprise that people are flocking tothe new shopping center in droves!

Grand Opening Success!The main courtyard at Tampa

Premium Outlets was abuzz through-out the day with live entertainment,contests and giveaways, and even stiltwalkers made the rounds as manyguests lined up at their favorite stores,

eager to be one of the first ones in thedoor. Many of the stores offered giftsto the first 100 people inside, likeHelzberg Diamonds, who offered afree pearl bracelet and extra savings totheir first customers. There was a lotof excitement for kids of all ages at theDisney Outlet Store, as they gave awayspecial edition Mickey ears to theirfirst paying customers while supplieslasted. While many retailers usedcoupons, giveaways and outlet exclu-sives to garner excitement, some storesjust needed to be there-like the Coachstore, which had a line snaking halfway down the corridor before the mall

even opened.Some of these stores are simply

beautiful from a retail standpoint. Im-maculately merchandised, every storedisplays its brand with pride: Storeslike Swarovski simply sparkled,Kitchen Collection has you wanting tobecome a chef, and did I mention thatthere’s a Lindt Chocolate and an Aun-tie Anne’s?

All the excitement and crowdsaside, the employees of Tampa Pre-mium Outlet and of the individualoutlet stores were simply fantastic.Everyone was super-informative, help-ful and while the mall was busy, it was

a pleasurable place to shop!I spoke to one local shopper

who came to the Grand Openingwith her mom and her two youngchildren, she said, “I’ve gotten somegreat deals! I’m really happy wecame. The lines to pay are long, butworth it.” She also said, “I really likethat there are lots of areas to sit andrest between shopping!”

Simon Properties did a great jobof designing the shopping center tohave plenty of seating, so that whilethere are more than a hundred greatshops to see, it doesn’t have to feel likea marathon.


Become a Tampa PremiumOutlets VIP!

The best news is that, while theopening weekend has come and gone,the savings will continue! It’s beenprinted that the savings at a Simonoutlet mall like this one, can be up to

65% or more than what you’d find at aregular store, which is great! Butthere’s a way to save even more. Be-come a VIP!

As a Tampa Premium OutletsVIP, you have the opportunity toearn extra savings that aren’t made

public! It’s totally free, and it’s easyto sign up on their website! One yousign up, you simply print yourvoucher and take it to guest relationsto pick up your VIP Coupon Book,and let me tell you, you’ll feel like aVIP, because these savings can be

combined with the savings and dis-counts in the stores. Some examplesinclude 10% off your entire purchaseat Sketchers, $25 off your purchaseof $100 or more at Vera Bradley and$15 off your purchase of $30 ormore at Yankee Candle. This is just afraction of the discounts! These sav-ings last throughout the season, soget online, get your voucher andstart racking up those savings!

Tampa Premium Outlets is theperfect place to save money whileshopping, and it’s also bringing a lotof jobs to the area as many of the re-tailers are still hiring! Whether you arein the market for a new pair of shoes,looking for a great place to spend theday with the family, or you are lookingfor a new job in retail, head on downto Tampa Premium Outlets!

Tampa Premium Outlets is lo-cated at 2300 Grand Cypress Drivein Lutz, Florida. They are openMonday-Saturday 10 a.m.-9 p.m.,Sunday 10 a.m.-7 p.m. To reachtheir shopping line call 813-938-6272, or visit them online atwww.PremiumOutlets.com/out-let/Tampa.




Documents

Carrollwood - Vol. 3, Issue 12, December 2015