Estrella Publishing - Fish Hawk Living magazine
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Published by Estrella Publishing LLC, PO Box 6962, Goodyear AZ 85338. Additional copies and article reproductions can be obtained for a fee by contacting info@EstrellaPublishing.com Catherine Uretsky, Publisher and Editor 623.594.9283 info@EstrellaPublishing.com Al Uretsky, Publisher and Sales Executive 623.594.9283 info@EstrellaPublishing.com All contents Š 2010-2018 Estrella Publishing LLC. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in any form, in whole or part, without written permission from Estrella Publishing LLC is prohibited. Estrella Publishing accepts freelance contributions, there is no guarantee that materials will be used or returned. Some content is provided by Brandpointe and Family Features. Estrella Publishing is not responsible for the views of contributing writers and assumes no responsibility for errors appearing within. Opinions expressed are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the Publisher or Advertisers. Estrella Publishing reserves the right to restrict all advertisement to their proper classification and to edit or reject any copy at its sole discretion. Neither this publication nor Estrella Publishing is an agent of or in any way affiliated with the associated Developer nor Homeowners Association, or any of their respective affiliates. This publication has not been approved by, sponsored by, or endorsed by the associated Developer nor Homeowners Association in any way.
Catherine Uretsky Publisher & Editor
Lisa Aber Assistant Editor
Al Uretsky Publisher & Sales Exec
T h e B r e w e r Te a m . n e t Jeff: 813.951.4680 Liz: 813.299.6745
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From Me To You... All my childhood I had long hair. Very long hair. I would sit on the ends by mistake sometimes and jerk my head backwards. Not fun. To this day I don’t know why I kept it like that. It was not required in my family and it certainly made my life more complicated. Perhaps it was because I did so much ballet, I had to tie it up anyway, might as well have a big bun as a little one. Anyway there was a day in my late teens when I decided enough was enough and I went to get it cut. All of it. Buzzed up the back and short on top. After that came about 5 years of dramatic hair styles. Whether it was buzzed on one side and chin length on the other, or varying shades of blue and purple - I made a statement with my head. That was also the time when I became somewhat reckless in life too, living in places that as a parent I shudder at ( I am not talking back alleys, more like war zones), and taking risks just to push the boundaries. To see how far I could go and survive. This is not an uncommon thing in a teenager, taking risks, testing ourselves and our place in the world. I admittedly went to some extremes and as an adult I am amazed that I am still here. But I think we all went through some measure of this in our lives. The Amish have a well documented time called Rumspringa when their teenagers are allowed to go out into the world and be as crazy as they like. Getting experience in all the worldly things that they turn away from in their home life. I used to think it was bizarre that a society so regimented would encourage a ‘get out of jail free’ experience, but I understand it better now. If the young adults can see what is out there it is no longer forbidden fruit, it is something they can knowledgably decide to leave behind. As parents my husband and I decided to move here partly to give our children more of a ‘normal’ 4 Estrella Publishing - Fish Hawk Living magazine
childhood. One with less stress and expectation, away from the Joneses whom I would never be able to keep up with. My children were not enrolled in Mandarin at age 3, I would rather they played with their toys and friends - well the ones who were not taking so many classes that they had time to play. We also hoped that by taking them away from many temptations and the easy access to those temptations, that we could protect them from themselves when those teenage years struck. And to a certain extent we did. I am sure they could get illegal substances if they tried but to my knowledge they did not. One of my children certainly followed in my footsteps, travelling to the northern border of India to help displaced children. The fact that she was based only 150 miles from the border of Afghanistan made those 3 weeks the longest of my life. It did give me a new found understanding of what I put my parents through, and a strong belief in karma. I can’t wait until my children’s children pass that blessing along to them.
Catherine Uretsky
Editor, Fish Hawk Living magazine info@estrellapublishing.com 623.594.9283
On Our Cover
Congratulations to Madison Giurbino age 8 who is the winner of our Cutest Kids in FishHawk competition! December 2018
Culture Club No place like The Florida Orchestra for the holidays By Kelly Smith Sometimes when friends and family gather for the holidays, you don’t know whether to laugh or cry. Live music with The Florida Orchestra can bring peace on earth and good will to all generations, whether it’s through traditional classical music or a classic comedy film concert. Both Aunt Sue and little Johnny will have a jolly good time. Mozart & Sibelius (Dec. 7-9 with Sunday matinee): Mozart’s beautiful Sinfonia Concertante will melt your heart, with TFO’s Nancy Chang on violin and Derek Mosloff on viola. Also: Sibelius’ Symphony No. 1. Stuart Malina conducts. Free tickets for kids and teens in advance to this and all Tampa Bay Times Masterworks concerts. Holiday Pops (Dec. 14-16 with two matinees): Pure holiday magic you can’t buy at the mall, featuring the velvet voice of American Idol star Michael Lynche and Unlimited Gospel Expressions choir. Trevor Pettiford of Bay News 9 narrates The Night Before Christmas. Jeff Tyzik conducts. Home Alone in Concert (Dec. 21) It’s a movie and a concert all wrapped up into one holiday package. The orchestra performs John Williams’ charming score live as the comedy classic
starring Macaulay Culkin plays on the big screen at Ruth Eckerd Hall. Featuring The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay. Daniel Black conducts. Put these on your list: Keep the holiday cheer alive with tickets to an upcoming concert. For example, Star Wars Live in Concert: The Empire Strikes Back (Jan. 26) features the full movie with live orchestra music at Ruth Eckerd Hall. An Intimate Evening with Seal (Feb. 9) is an outstanding orchestra concert with the fourtime Grammy winner that you can feel good about: Proceeds support The Florida Orchestra’s community, education and artistic initiatives. Gift certificates also available. The Florida Orchestra: Performs regularly at the Straz Center in Tampa, Mahaffey in St. Petersburg and Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater. The orchestra offers affordably priced tickets to a variety of concerts; prices vary. See FloridaOrchestra.org or call 727.892.3337 and 1.800.662.7286.
THE FLORIDA ORCHESTRA Raymond James Pops
Holiday Pops Pure holiday magic you can’t buy at the mall, featuring the velvet voice of American Idol star and St. Pete native Michael Lynche. Jeff Tyzik conducts. Fri, Dec 14, 8 pm, Straz Center Sat, Dec 15, 2 pm & 8 pm, Mahaffey Theater - Matinee Sun, Dec 16, 2 pm & 7:30 pm, Ruth Eckerd Hall - Matinee Special Film Concert
Home Alone in Concert The orchestra performs John Williams’ charming score live as the comedy classic starring Macaulay Culkin plays on the big screen. Featuring The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay. Daniel Black conducts. Fri, Dec 21, 7:30 pm, Ruth Eckerd Hall One night only!
LISTEN LOCAL | Concerts in Tampa, St. Pete & Clearwater FloridaOrchestra.org | 727.892.3337 or 1.800.662.7286
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Holiday Giving We wrote about Queena, the Bloomingdale Library Survivor last month. Bravely surviving a life-changing attack in 2008 that left her unable to see, talk or eat on her own, she and her family work hard every day to help her regain the life she once knew as a high school senior who looked forward to moving on to college. Over the last decade, the community has followed Queena’s story. Initially identified as a victim following her attack at the Bloomingdale Library, Queena has turned into a beacon of hope to her supporters and followers and she is now referred to as a survivor! The community can follow Queena’s progress on her website JoinQueena.com. This website documents Queena’s journey to regaining her life through therapy, faith and love as well as a
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glimpse to her daily life. Medicare covers only physical therapy, while nearly $70,000 is required annually for all of treatments that have helped her make such progress. These additional expenses are funded through the generosity of the community and donations from supporters like you. Financial support can be mailed to Join Queena, P.O. Box 891277, Tampa, FL, 33689 or dropped off at any Bank of Tampa or SunTrust Bank. Checks can be made payable to “Bloomingdale Library Assault Victim Trust” or “Hope Heals The Brain Inc” (if you would like to tax-deductible) or at www.joinqueena.com/donate/. Queena’s sister, Anna, has started a 501c3 non-profit organization called Hope Heals The Brain Inc. in hopes to continue raising funds and awareness for families and individuals affected by traumatic brain injury in the Central Florida region.
December 2018
School Zone
It’s the time of year when many of us reflect on all the things we’re thankful for in our lives. As a school district, we’re grateful for the support of our community. First of all, I want to thank you for passing the Education Referendum last month. It shows the deep care and understanding the people of Hillsborough County have for education, our students, our teachers and staff, and our future. Our commitment is to spend your investment wisely. So what’s next for our schools? Money will begin coming into our district this February, and work in our schools will begin soon afterward. Please bear in mind this is a ten-year referendum, with projects spread over those ten years as we receive the money, so the work can’t all be done overnight. Our existing maintenance crews will focus on high priority projects. We will start bringing in bids from outside vendors for larger projects and be able to begin the first phase of those in March and April. The first wave of projects includes at least 20 air conditioners and millions of dollars in roof repairs. That work will largely take place over the summer, because we must have all our students and staff off campus as outside crews work nonstop to complete the projects before school starts. Once again, thank you. We are grateful for our community’s trust and your vote to invest in our students.
Bevis Elementary *Toy Drive benefiting Toys for Tots and students at McDonald Elementary. Drop off new, unwrapped toys for children of all ages at the school, December 10-14. FishHawk Creek Elementary School *Holiday Sock Drive benefiting Emergency Care Help Organization (ECHO). Drop off new socks at the school through December 10. Barrington Middle School *National Junior Honor Society canned food drive benefitting Metropolitan Ministries. Drop off non-perishable food items at the school through December 14. *Student Government collection for a local veterans’ home. Drop off new clothes and toiletries at the school through December 14. Newsome High School *Helping Others Today (HOT) Club Book Drive benefitting Head Start. Drop off children’s books at the school through December 6. *JROTC Operation Fallen Angel Toy Collection benefitting Ministry of Hope in FishHawk. Drop off new, unwrapped toys at the school through December 14. The support and generosity of our community at the ballot box, during the holidays, and throughout the year is heartwarming. I’d like to wish you and your family a very happy holiday season. Jeff Eakins Hillsborough County Public Schools Superintendent
Spirit of Giving Our caring students understand there are many people in our community who are less fortunate than they are. Especially during the holiday season, the spirit of giving shines brightly in our FishHawk schools with several donation drives taking place for those in need. There are several ways that you can help: Estrella Publishing - Fish Hawk Living magazine
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"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord." - Luke 2:11
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Cold Defense
If you’re hearing the people around you start to sniffle and hack, you may feel a sense of impending doom about your chances of avoiding a cough or cold. Unfortunately, since the average American contracts two to three colds every year, according to the CDC, you may be right. But if you do come under the weather, there’s no reason to suffer needlessly. When it comes to anticipating cough and cold season, consider the following care tips from author and health and wellness expert Cassie Sobelton.
* Stock up. When you’re sick, the last thing you want to do is shop for supplies you need for relief. From tea and honey for soothing comfort to tissues and sanitizers for clearing away germs, having it on-hand now will give you the first sense of relief when sickness strikes.
* Clean out the cabinet. Always check your medicine cabinet for expired products and purchase new products at the beginning of the season. * Fight germs. Make a habit of carrying disinfectant wipes or sprays so you can clean up any areas that may have been exposed to germs, like common areas in the workplace. Be sure to also wash your hands several times a day and avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with your fingers. * Fuel your body. This will boost the immune system’s ability to fight off germs. Eating quality foods helps the body thrive and assists in removing toxins and chemicals that can be harmful to the body, so a healthy diet will help your body feel its best. * Relax and recharge. One of the best things you can do to help your body get back to health is to relax. Staying home to rest will not only give your body the care it needs, but will help you avoid spreading germs to friends and co-workers. Take a steamy shower, turn on a humidifier filled with water and a little eucalyptus oil, drink herbal tea with honey and lay low until you’re feeling your best. Entirely avoiding colds or coughs during the cold months of winter may be nearly impossible, but such illnesses can be easier to tolerate if you take steps to reduce their severity and stock up on comforting supplies.
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Holiday Safety At the risk of sounding like a Grinch holiday festivity can lead to unintentional safety hazards. 30 percent of all home fires and 38 percent of home fire deaths occur over December, January and February, reports the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI). As you enjoy the holidays this year, think about best practices for keeping you and your family safer. 1. Lying down for a long winter’s nap? Stash appliances elsewhere to rule out overheating. A hot phone under a sack of feathers could spell disaster. 2. Install tamper-resistant receptacles. These electric outlets feature internal shutters that keep curious children from inserting objects. 3. Space heaters come in handy for banishing winter chill, but they can overheat, spark, tip over and/or ignite combustibles such as wadded-up giftwrap. Turn them off when you leave the room or go to sleep.
Estrella Publishing - Fish Hawk Living magazine
4. Get that holiday glow. Instead of the open-flame candles that inadvertently spark holiday decor each year, consider battery-operated candles.
5. Multi-outlet power strips and extension cords are handy plugging in too many things can over-tax your home’s electrical capacity. Never use an extension cord or power strip for heaters, as this could cause cords to overheat and result in a fire. 6. Decorate wisely. Consider fire hazards before draping that garland over a fireplace mantle. Check decorations for safety listing labels and never connect more than three strings of lights. 7. Give lit decorations a holiday break. Reduce the likelihood of fire by simply shutting everything off when there’s no one home (or awake) to enjoy them. Half of home fire deaths occur between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., reports the NFPA. 8. More Christmas tree, more water. If you put up a real tree, make sure you water it daily. A driedup pine tree is nothing but kindling. The Electrical Safety Foundation International wishes everyone a safe, warm and happy holiday.
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Charity Scams Charitable giving is a significant part of many people’s lives and budgets, and individuals are often eager to give back and lend a helping hand to those in need. Unfortunately, not every organization seeking a donation is exactly what it claims to be. If you’re not careful, you could wind up losing your well-intentioned money to a scam. Don’t let the threat of scammers keep you from supporting the causes you care about. By staying educated and informed about charity cons, you will be prepared to spot a scam and avoid falling victim to fraud. While scams and other ploys can arise at any time, they often increase while emotions are running high - like near the holidays or following a natural disaster - when people let their guard down and are eager to support those in need. Such scams may request donations from you over the phone, through the mail, via email or even on social media. They might include charity names that are very similar to legitimate charities, or even mention recent genuine emergency relief efforts. Their goal is to look as authentic
as possible in hopes of tricking you. Some of them are very convincing, but you can protect yourself with these fraud awareness tips from Western Union.
Be wary of any sense of urgency to donate. Scammers will try to work quickly, urging you to donate before you find any holes in their story. “If you get a phone call where someone is wanting a donation, don’t act right away. Do your research and donate to a recognized charity,” advised Western Union Senior Manager of Anti-Fraud Operations John Skoglund. Remember, authentic charities won’t push you for an immediate response, and will be happy to accept a donation at any time. Don’t be afraid to ask for details about an organization. The charity should happily provide them. You can also find a third-party source for information such as Charity Navigator or the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance. If the group that contacted you isn’t recognized as a charity by either of these organizations, you should exercise extra caution and think twice before donating. Some donation requests may come through emails that house fraudulent links taking you to look-a-like websites. These websites have phony donation pages where fraudsters can capture your personal and financial information. Instead of clicking on links in a donation request email, open a new browser window to navigate to the charity’s official website and donate there. Don’t ignore your own concerns regarding a charity’s legitimacy and never assume you’re “just being paranoid.” If you notice any red flags or feel uncertain about the situation, don’t donate. You may just be right after all. To learn more about scams and how to protect yourself, visit the Western Union Consumer Protection Center at www.westernunion.com/ fraudawareness.
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December 2018
It’s Puzzling
Wrestling the kids (or yourself) away from screens, devices, even the television can be a nearly impossible task, but it’s vital to our mental and even physical health. A jigsaw puzzle requires your full attention and therein lies the magic. Everyone from tweens and teens to millennials and over-worked parents to seniors are returning to this quiet pastime of childhood. Call it a retro revolution. Here are some benefits of puzzling that might surprise you. Jigsaw puzzles exercise the left and right sides of your brain at once Your left brain is logical and works in a linear fashion, while your right brain is creative and intuitive. When you’re doing a jigsaw puzzle, both sides are engaged. Think of it as a mental workout that improves your problem-solving skills and attention span. It’s no surprise that Bill Gates admits to being an avid puzzler. Jigsaw puzzles improve your short-term memory Can’t remember what you had for lunch yesterday? Jigsaw puzzles can help with that. Doing a puzzle reinforces connections between brain cells, improves mental speed and is an especially effective way to improve short-term memory. Jigsaw puzzles improve your visual-spatial reasoning When you do a jigsaw puzzle, you need to look at individual pieces and figure out where they’ll fit into the big picture. If you do it regularly, you’ll improve visual-spatial reasoning, which helps with driving a car, packing, using a map, learning and following dance moves, and a whole host of other things.
Focusing on one image for a long period of time, without extraneous thoughts entering your mind, is in itself meditation. By doing a jigsaw puzzle, you’re getting the same benefits as if you meditated. The stress of everyday life evaporates and is replaced by a sense of peace and tranquility that lowers your blood pressure and heart rate. Jigsaw puzzles are a great way to connect with family Starting a jigsaw puzzle and keeping it on a table in your living room or kitchen is an invitation for the whole family to participate, whenever they have a few minutes to sit down and focus. It’s a tactic that parents of teens can use for starting a conversation while working toward a shared goal. You’ll live longer, better if you puzzle regularly Studies show that people who do jigsaw and crossword puzzles have longer life spans with less chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease, memory loss or dementia. Puzzling stimulates the brain and actually wards off the plaque that is the marker of Alzheimer’s, according to a recent study published in the Archives of Neurology. The study compared brain scans of 75-year-olds to 25-year-olds. The elderly people who did puzzles regularly had brain scans comparable to the 25-year-olds. Doing jigsaw puzzles is good for your mind, body and spirit. So, on your next lazy Sunday (or better yet - crazed Monday), unplug, put your phone on “Do Not Disturb,” and get swept away by a puzzle.
Jigsaw puzzles are a great meditation tool and stress reliever Estrella Publishing - Fish Hawk Living magazine
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Cheese!
‘Tis the season for getting together with friends and family to celebrate. Food is at the heart of the holidays, so whether you’re hosting an event or attending as a guest, you’ll want to whip up something to impress a wide variety of taste buds. The perfect solution: A holiday cheeseboard. Creating a cheeseboard like the ones you see in food magazines might seem intimidating, but it’s actually surprisingly simple. Just follow these five steps to a delicious holiday cheeseboard that’s guaranteed to get rave reviews. 1. Select a serving tray: A wood cutting board is timeless, but feel free to get creative with your serving vessel. You can choose your grandmother’s crystal platter, that festive holiday tray or repurpose a favorite cake plate. The only rule is the tray must be large enough to hold all your cheese plus accompaniments without being overcrowded. 2. Choose cheese wisely: Select three to five varieties of cheese for your board. This provides nice variation without overwhelming guests with too many options. When in doubt, remember this rhyme when shopping: Something old, something new, something stinky and something blue. Consider an Italian cheese theme and choose from a variety of cheeses. From 14 Estrella Publishing - Fish Hawk Living magazine
fresh mozzarella and tart feta to aged Asiago and buttery Fontina, you’ll have nice variety for everyone. 3. Get the right amounts: You want enough cheese to satisfy everyone but you don’t wants loads of leftovers. Typically 4-6 ounces of cheese per person is a good estimate, but increase or decrease that amount based on time of day and other foods being served. 4. Add accompaniments and garnishes: For a well-rounded cheeseboard, extras are essential. Crackers, crostini and bread as well as nuts, dried fruit, olives and meats can be customized to your tastes. 5. Consider proper preparation: One of the best parts of a cheeseboard is it can be prepared ahead of time. This means less work and more time to spend with loved ones during holiday events. To get started, organize your cheeseboard in an eye-appealing manner with cheeses from mildest to strongest flavor as that’s the best way to sample them. Keep in mind you can set cheese out about an hour before serving as this time allows cheese to adjust to room temperature which maximizes flavors. Then add extras to fill in the spaces on the board, placing garnishes like jams and honey in the middle. Whether you’re hosting a casual neighborhood gathering, a festive celebration with family or a formal get-together with business partners, a delectable cheeseboard is ideal for guests to nosh on. December 2018
Puzzles & Games
3 Sudokus for December - Breezy, Medium & Expert
Numbers from 1-9 must appear only once in each row, column and box. Good Luck! Solutions are on our website www.EstrellaPublishing.com
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