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VOLUME 4 ISSUE 11 • JULY 2011

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BRANDON EDITION

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Table of Contents 8

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Volume 4 Issue 11 • July 2011

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8-10

local

This busy summer includes more generous efforts by our giving community to benefit those who could use a little extra help: the annual “election” for Honorary Mayor, a casino night fundraiser for local heroes, and great concerts for a cause. Read on to discover how you can become involved.

14-15

feature

Leaders build a community. Leadership Brandon is now accepting applications for the Class of 2012. To learn more about the project that educates leaders to build a better Greater Brandon area, don’t miss this month’s feature.

16-17

spotlight interview

Make Next Year Your Child’s Best School Year Ever

Many patients are already enjoying the thorough medical care and professional treatment offered by the team of Dr. Alejandro Diaz and Dr. Sumita Chandran. Their expertise, education, and cultural backgrounds blend for a perfect fit here in our town. If you’re in need of an internist or family practitioner, be sure to consider their practice.

Just in time for the summer, Huntington is offering

Meet Julie Reavis and learn of her three-year-old automotive repair and tire business where customer service is top priority.

Enjoy free WiFi in the comfortable waiting area or the shuttle to work or play. This company makes auto maintenance painless.

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dining profile

If this review doesn’t jumpstart your craving for great Mexican food, nothing will. Tres Amigos boasts fresh-made daily ingredients and the crowds are in full agreement: This cantina knows how to do Mexican.

Huntington Learning Center 1590 Bloomingdale Avenue Valrico, FL 33596 813-681-1500 Accredited by AdvanceEd • Independently owned and operated 2011 Huntington Mark, LLC

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Licensing Opportunity

Licensed territories are available. We are looking to expand the family and are looking for motivated individuals to join our award winning team.

If you are interested in owning your own Focus Magazine contact Mike Floyd at 813.707.8783 ext 26.

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Letter From The Publisher WELCOMING NEW PATIENTS A NEW YEAR BRINGS NEW STAFF TO BETTER ACCOMMODATE YOUR NEEDS

WINNER OF THE 2011 MOST SUCCESSFUL DOCTORS AWARDS

There is a quote from Margaret Mead that says, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, concerned citizens can change world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.”

Our feature this month is on the Brandon Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Program. Writer Cheryl Turner walks us through the ins and out of this long-standing program and the benefits it brings to our community. The purpose is to take a group of involved citizens and educate them on all areas of the community, especially the roles that go the most unnoticed but hold the greatest impact.

After reading this article, you will see that the alumni cherish the experience, mostly because of everything their eyes have been opened to about Brandon and Hillsborough County. The reason I love the Margaret Mead quote is that the Leadership program takes a group of concerned citizens and educates them on the needs and functions of the community. There are many stories of people who have formed new relationships and discovered new areas of philanthropic interest directly as a result of this program. It’s one of the best avenues Brandon has to impact the entire community.

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This same impact of a concerned citizen can be seen in many of the physicians that serve our community. There is another quote by Lao-Tsu that says “as for the best leaders, the people do not notice their existence.” Our physicians show up to their practices each day and one by one meet and build relationships with the patients. The decisions they make on a daily basis permanently impact our community.

For example, one of the physicians on our cover this month is Dr. Sumita Chandran. She lives in Brandon and has practiced here for a few years. She recently moved over to PrimeCare. When we were doing the photoshoot for this spread we somehow ended up in a conversation about one of her recent patients. She shared that a women came in for abdominal pain. Apparently, Dr. Chandran was the third doctor she had come to see. The other two had written it off as something minor. When Dr. Chandran realized the patient was anemic, it raised a red flag in her mind, so she ordered an additional test that was not traditionally standard for an abdominal complaint. The result of the test led to the discovery of colon cancer.

By catching it early on, the patient should be fine. However, decisions physicians make that seem so small, like the decision to order or not to order a test, have a lasting impact. You can get to know Dr. Chandran and Dr. Diaz better in their spotlight interview this month.

We are so thankful for the people in our community who are concerned enough to make a difference.

Mike Floyd - Publisher mike@floydpublications.com

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www.focusbrandon.com Credit Manager Angel Carter acarter@floydpublications.com Standards of accuracy: The goal of the writers at FOCUS Magazine is to provide heart-warming stories that are accurate from the start. Being human, however, we sometimes make mistakes. Please forgive us.

So if you notice anything that is incorrect, then please do not hesitate to contact the editorial department and inform it about the fact error. To do so, call (813) 707-8783 or e-mail editorial@floydpublications.com. The staff will fix the error in a timely manner.

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Local » Focus

Kiwanis Club candidate Cami Gibertini (right of the Y) is supporting the Campo YMCA and ECHO charities. photo by Barbara Schwabe

Nat Storm stumps for the Brandon’s first honorary mayor in 1959 with the slogan “A Pork Chop in Every Pan.” photo by Jeanine Nickerson

Barbara Schwabe (far right) at Center Place promoting her candidacy to local philanthropists and fine art enthusiasts. photo by Barbara Schwabe

Candidates Vie for Charitable Donations to Become Brandon’s 44th Honorary Mayor T Written By: Amanda Molinaro

hough we are still months away from government elections, the town of Brandon is embroiled in a fierce race between two dedicated candidates who have hit the campaign trail hard in a vie to become this year’s honorary mayor.

The position of honorary mayor is awarded by the Brandon Community Roundtable, a collective which helps organize and schedule fundraising efforts for dozens of Brandon’s local nonprofit charities. They hold meetings every second Wednesday of the month at Center Place (located next to the Brandon Library). Each meeting provides the opportunity for charities to make their mission statements known to local corporations, businesses, and potential contributors. Vice President Jeanie Nickerson explains their purpose as “to support the fundraising efforts of the local charities, by establishing a community

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calendar to avoid conflicting efforts among organizations, to impart information to groups to share during their meetings, and to improve and unite this area through our events.”

Established in 1957, the Community Roundtable has been running the Honorary Mayor campaign since 1959. The title of honorary mayor is awarded to whichever candidate stumping for a nonprofit earns the most charitable donations during the campaign ‘season’ of June 1-July 4. The votes (or donations) are tallied by the Community Roundtable, and the winner is announced during Brandon’s annual Fourth of July parade. Nat Storms was Brandon’s first inaugural honorary mayor with the oddball campaign slogan of “a pork chop in every pan” to match his colorful, interesting personality. This year two candidates vie for the position: Cami Gibertini, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club, and Barbara Schwabe,

representing the Center Place.

Gibertini has selected Emergency Help Care Organization (ECHO), a nonprofit that collects and distributes emergency relief in the form of clothing, food, and household items to citizens recovering from unexpected emergencies in the greater Brandon area, as well as the Campo YMCA as her supporting charities. Along the campaign trail, Gibertini has held fundraising events at Westfield Mall with her Mayor’s Mall Crawl and Cami’s 5-K Fun Run, Ladies Mystery Movie Night at AMC Regency, a Combat aerobics challenge at the Campo YMCA, as well as a clay shooting event at FishHawk Sporting Clays to garner up donations.

Schwabe is supporting Brandon’s Center Place, an organization that promotes the fine arts and civic involvement with several fundraising stumps, such as evenings of wine and cigar samplings, Barbie Movie Nights, and Bunco games. Upcoming events are

slated to include a fashion show at The Tea Cup Tea Room, line-dancing lessons at the Dallas Bull, and a Disco Bingo tournament at O’Brien’s Pub.

A schedule of events for each candidate can be found on their respective organization’s websites (echofl.org for Gibertini and centerplacebrandon.org for Schwabe). Both candidates agree that fundraising this year has been a blast with droves of people turning up to events to contribute and to just meet fellow likeminded philanthropists. The competition is completely friendly and although the title of honorary mayor grants the elected a position with the Community Roundtable Board of Directors, the candidates are really in it for their charities. They are always in need of funding, and with the help of the candidates, the Community Round Table, and contributors like you, these charities will be able to continue to help Brandon’s citizens.

Local » Focus the public of the need for service dogs.” The organization rescues dogs, and teaches the veteran to train his/her dog. A very personal, hands-on operation, K9s for Veterans will use proceeds collected from this event “to help pay for veterinarian services, dog food, training equipment and team training sessions.”

RVR Horse Rescue provided volunteers to help out at Casino Night. As one of the five charities receiving proceeds from the benefit, RVR operates solely on donations and depends on volunteers for their horse rescue operation. Located in Riverview, RVR is dedicated to saving and rehabilitating abused and neglected horses that can then be adopted by qualified families.

Freedom Excursions of Apollo Beach, Florida takes wounded warriors, with both physical and psychological wounds, out on the water as part of their therapy. They, too, operate solely on donations and with the help of volunteer teams. Many of our wounded war veterans from James V. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa have benefited from Freedom Excursions. Being able to leave the hospital, with their physicians,

Blackjack table, Local Heroes Casino Night.

Photo by Phillip Mockler of Everyday Heroes, and K9s for Veterans

Local Heroes Casino Night I

nurses, or caretakers and family members, for an afternoon on Tampa Bay or the Gulf of Mexico, makes a tremendous difference in their recovery.

The Knights of Columbus group at Nativity Catholic Church are the fifth charity receiving a part of the proceeds from Casino Night. Known worldwide, their charities include partnerships with Special Olympics, the Global Wheelchair Mission, and Habitat for Humanity. Locally, their generosity also extends to Food for Families and Coats for Kids.

Websites and/or contact information for donations or to obtain additional information for these charities are: Everyday Heroes, www.everydayheroesusa. org; Halley’s K9s for Veterans, 813-503-8861 or 727-692-7101, www.k9sforveterans.org; RVR Horse Rescue, www.rvrhorserescue. org; Freedom Excursions, 813-321-0992, www.freedomexcursions.org; Knights of Columbus, www.brandonknights.org.

Your compassionate gift can continue the magic of this memorable night. It’s never too late to donate.

Everyday Heroes USA Hosts Benefit at The Bridges in Bloomingdale

Written By: Cheryl Rogers-Turner

t was one of those nights you wished could go on just a bit longer. Everyone was having a great time. No one walked out a loser. Professional dealers from Elite Casino Fantasy Casino Parties worked with finesse the game tables set up at The Bridges in Bloomingdale. Phillip Mockler and his organization, Everyday Heroes USA, turned out to be the heroes that night.

Five charities were blessed Saturday evening, June 25, 2011, when a full house turned out to gamble and raise much appreciated funds.

This first annual Local Heroes Casino Night, hosted by Everyday Heroes, had a simple mission: to raise funds to keep these charities doing what they do best. Each charity provides an invaluable service to those who serve us in our community and in the world.

Everyday Heroes USA is dedicated to

helping the individuals and family members of those who protect us: military personnel, veterans, law enforcement and firefighters.

Help comes in the form of fundraising, counseling, job placement, and creation of a network of businesses and organizations that offer services and discounts to our heroes.

K9s for Veterans, the highlighted charity at Casino Night, was established by Mike and Pam Halley in 2008. Mike is a two-tour Vietnam combat veteran, 100% disabled, who realizes the importance of getting veterans with “invisible” disabilities, such as post traumatic stress disorder and depression, out of the house and back into the community. The organization’s mission is “to provide obedient dogs to disabled veterans of all war eras, to help the veterans overcome their disabilities in order to become more productive and functional, while informing

Phillip Mockler, founder Everyday Heroes USA, right, with Sgt Harnett, Afghanistan 2003. Photo

by Phillip Mockler of Everyday Heroes, and K9s for Veterans

FOCUS Magazine brandon july 2011

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Local » Focus

Families can enjoy Park Square’s unique fountain at any time of the day. photo by Amanda Molinaro

F

Tampa Bay. The admission is free for all but bringing canned goods and non-perishables to donate will earn a concertgoer a raffle ticket per each item for some sweet swag.

Every Friday night from June 10 to August 19, the area called Park Square, located in the heart of FishHawk Ranch, is transformed into its own mini music festival. Residents from all around the community converge with beach blankets and chairs upon the cool grasses of the central lawn to enjoy a night of rock n’ roll while, at the same time, supporting great causes like Feed America

This past Friday night on June 17, Park Square was almost blown apart by the hurricane force shreddings of Tampa’s own Category Three. Fronted by former Disco Inferno front man, Gary Schutt, Category Three had the people of FishHawk rocked to the core. They played two one-hour sets of ‘80s and ‘90s rock covers with a few surprises thrown in, like their rendition of The Charlie Daniels Band’s “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” featuring Schutt ridiculously (in a good way) finger-tapping Daniel’s fiddle solos on his guitar. The skills of each player in Category Three is a thing of amazement in itself. Barely giving anyone time to recover from Schutt’s mind-numbing riffs, bassist

eeling blue because you waited too long to buy your tickets for Coachella?

Disappointed because gas prices derailed your plans for a road trip up to Bonnaroo?

Upset because you can’t get time off from work for Lollapalooza? Brandon party people, don’t throw those glow sticks away just yet; the FishHawk Ranch community has got you covered. Back for it’s second year is the Summer Concerts for a Cause.

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Summer Concerts The Woodstock for a Cause of FishHawk Written By: Amanda Molinaro

Nolen Strong whips his bald head back and forth as he pops and slaps the silly out of his bass. Not to be left out is Cat-3’s rhythm section, Dan Martin, whose crash cymbal made everyone’s teeth chatter.

Being the family oriented community that FishHawk Ranch is, the kid to adult ratio was about 10:1. Kids of all ages, shapes, and sizes ran around and around Park Square. A person could not walk more than a few steps along any part of the square without a kid darting out around them or ambushing them from a shrub. But, kids will be kids and their energy helped to stir up the mini mosh pit they created in front of Cat-3’s stage. Adults could relax and let them do their thing as they sprawled out on the lawn and mingled with their neighbors while enjoying a beer

here or a mixed drink there to take the edge off a long week (always enjoy music festivals responsively!). Pizzas slices were available from Fuhgidabowdit Pizzeria from a stand set up outside the restaurant in the square, while The Upstairs cocktail lounge was in full swing.

Cat-3 rocked on as the sun went down and festival goers broke out the glow stick jewelry to sling around their little moshers.

But, while you can always plan an awesome concert, you can’t plan the weather. Cat-3 had to cut their last set short due to rain.

Make sure you visit FishHawkconnect.com for info on upcoming acts. Shows are every Friday 7-10pm, so bring your cans!

Brandon Chamber Of Commerce » Focus

BRANDON CHAMBEr Business briefing Nominations are currently being accepted for the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce’s 2011 Small Business of the Year Awards.The awards ceremony and progress is to recognize and honor small businesses from the Brandon area that have demonstrated leadership,positive growth and development, creativity,and integrity in operating a business as well as a commitment to community services.

Award Categories Include: 1-5 Employees,6-15 Employees, 16 Plus Employees,Home-Based Business and Minority or Women-Owned Business.

Only one nomination required for participation,self nomination is acceptable.Nominations will be accepted until 5:00pm on July 11th.Complete nomination form is available at www.brandonchamber.com.

The Small Business of the Year Awards will be presented at Small Business of the Year Awards Gala on Thursday,October 20,2011,at the Crowne Plaza - Tampa/East.

For more information please contact Jamie Reid at jreid@ brandonchamber.com or 813-689-1221,ext.8843.

SMALL BUSINESS EDUCATION In partnership with the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce,the Hillsborough County Small Business Information Center (SBIC) holds FREE small business counseling every Tuesday and Wednesday,8:30am to 4:00pm, at the Chamber.For more information,or to schedule an appointment,please call 813-689-1221.

FREE Working Smarter Workshops led by counselors of the Hillsborough County Small Business Information Center.

“Smart Start Your Business”will be held on Tuesday,July 19th, 9:30am to 11:30am.This workshop will provide attendees general information on mandatory licenses,legal entities,zoning issues,marketing,grant availability and financing options.For more information or to register please contact Jamie Reid at jreid@brandonchamber.com or 813-689-1221,ext.8843.

BIZ ED 101 SEMINAR SERIES “The Buyer/Seller Dance: Who’s Really Leading”seminar, presented by Rusty Fox of Sandler Training will be held on Wednesday,July 27th,11:00am-1:00pm,at the Brandon Chamber,330 Pauls Dr.,Brandon.Cost is $18 for Brandon Chamber members and $30 for potential members with lunch included.This workshop will explain the psychology, culture and reasons behind this very real phenomenon that occurs whenever a salesman and prospect are engaged in a conversation.It helps executives and sales people understand why buyers are behaving and speaking in a manner which can be quite perplexing if reasons are not understood.Participants will learn; why prospects don’t return your calls or disappear, the psychology of prospects and why they buy,why traditional selling strategies no longer are effective and what you can do about it and how to make the transition from peddler to trusted advisor.

For more information or to register please visit www. brandonchamber.com or contact Jamie Reid at jreid@ brandonchamber.com,or 813-689-1221,ext.8843.

LEADERSHIP BRANDON The Leadership Brandon program is a community leadership development program of The Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce that began in 1985. The Leadership Brandon program is a series of seminars,tours and interactive presentations concentrating on various phases of leadership development and community awareness. The program is open to all. Nominations for the Class of 2012 are currently

underway.

For more information or to make a nomination,contact Crystal Colegrove at 813-689-1221,ext.8824,or ccolegrove@ brandonchamber.com.Nomination forms for the Class of 2012 are also available at www.brandonchamber.com.

The Leadership Brandon Alumni will be holding their quarterly Networking Social on Friday,July 15th,at Grillsmith, 459 Brandon Town Center Dr.,Brandon,5:30pm – 7:00pm.

This event is open to all Leadership Brandon Alumni and their guests,for more information or to RSVP please contact Crystal Colegrove at ccolegrove@brandonchamber.com or 813-6891221,ext.8824.

The 12th Annual Leadership Brandon Alumni Casino Night event will be held on Friday,August 12th,6:30pm -11:00pm, at Center Place Fine Arts & Civic Association.Cost is $30 and includes; $2500 in Casino Fun Money,door prizes,silent auction,hors d’oeuvres,complimentary beverage and much more.Separate $20 buy in for the Texas Hold’em Tournament.

Tickets and sponsorships are still available,please visit www. leadershipbrandon.com or contact Crystal Colegrove at ccolegrove@brandonchamber.com,or 813-689-1221,ext.8824 for more information.

JULY NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES Business After Hours – Tuesday,July 12th,5:30pm,hosted by Manpower,2076 Badlands Dr.,Brandon.

Networking at Noon – Tuesday,July 19th,12:00pm,hosted by The Preserve at Alafia Village,10110 Gibsonton Dr.,Riverview.

Coffee Club – Tuesday,July 26th,8:00am,hosted by Costco Wholesale,10921 Causeway Blvd.,Brandon.

FISHHAWK SUMMER EVENING FEST The 3rd Annual FishHawk Summer Fest presented by Verizon Fios will be held on Tuesday,August 2nd,at the Palmetto Club,17004 Dorman Rd.,Lithia.Exhibitor and Sponsorship packages are available for more information please contact Amber Aaron at aaaron@brandonchamber.com,or 813-689-1221,ext.8815.

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS - BRANDON Are you under 39 years of age? Or feel like it??? Then this group is for you.YP Brandon inspires young professionals to Lead by example,Grow by association, and Give back to the Brandon community. Come join the Young Professionals at Barnacles,926 Providence Rd., Brandon,Thursday,July 7th,5:30pm,for a Networking Social.

This event is FREE for YP members and $5 for guests.

Can’t make the social? Join us for a Straight Up Networking Luncheon on Wednesday,July 13th,11:45am,at California Pizza Kitchen,827 Brandon Town Center Dr.,Brandon.For more information on YP Brandon or their events please contact Crystal Colegrove at ccolegrove@brandonchamber.com or 813-689-1221,ext.8824,or visit www.ypbrandon.com.

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WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Amazingly Creative Events,Buckhorn Properties,Inc.dba Buckhorn Springs Golf & Country Club,Catering by Lundy’s, CMC One Source Office Solutions,Consulate Healthcare, Dusty’s Camper World,Florida Title Pros,Haskell Termite & Pest Control,Inc.,Hope Chiropractic,John E.S.Cochrane Golf Schools,Morgan Exteriors,Inc.,Roof Works,Inc., Southern Technical College,SunTrust Bank/Bloomingdale, The Retreat at Broadway Centre and Think Big Enterprises, LLC.

FOCUS Magazine brandon july 2011

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Join us on Thursday nights this summer in the Polo Club Lounge for friendly gatherings, great drink specials, dancing and more!

Come dressed comfortable... Bowties not required!

Coming Soon! Wednesday Nightʼs “Southern Family Buffet” starting the evening of JULY 6, 2011

The Premier Showplace for Talent in Florida

JUNE 17 & 25 RALPH ALLOCCO & SECOND WIND

Performing in the Red Rose Dining Room

JUNE 18 THE MYSTICS

The Mystics, including, original members of the group, George Galfo and Phil Cracolici, will perform their hits, including their number one chart topper “Hushabye.” P.J. Leary’s Las Vegas Sounds perform before and after the show.

JUNE 24 JOHNNY ALSTON’S MOTOWN ROCK & ROLL REVUE

A dynamite crowd pleaser! P.J. Leary’s Las Vegas Sounds perform before and after the show.

JULY 1 BOBBY PALERMO

Bobby Palermo brings you a night full of humor, impersonations and high energy audience interaction.

Bobby has received numerous National Awards and has been selected Tampa Bay’s Entertainer of the Year – 2 years in row!

Destiny will open and close the show.

JULY 2, 8, 16, 29 & 30 RALPH ALLOCCO & SECOND WIND

Performing in the Red Rose Dining Room

JULY 9 & 29 JOHNNY ALSTON’S MOTOWN ROCK & ROLL REVUE

A dynamite crowd pleaser!

P.J. Leary’s Las Vegas Sounds perform before and after the show.

JULY 15 COVER TO

MERRITT

Richie Merritt, formally of the Marcels, will be performing in the Red Rose Dining Room.

Also, P.J. Leary’s Las Vegas Sounds perform before and after the show.

AUGUST 5 COVER TO

Doo Wop At Its Best! Relive the 50s & 60s as though it was yesterday. “Forever in Love,” “Just Over the Brooklyn Bridge.” Plus, P.J. Leary’s Las Vegas Sounds.

COVER

The trio covers the top hits from yesterday to today!

Also, P.J. Leary’s Las Vegas Sounds perform before and after the show.

JULY 22 RICHIE

AUGUST 20 LOLA & THE SAINTS

COVER

The trio covers the top hits from yesterday to today!

Also, P.J. Leary’s Las Vegas Sounds perform before and after the show.

AUGUST 6, 12, 19 & 27 RALPH ALLOCCO & SECOND WIND

5

Bring in this coupon to receive

$

OFF Your Entree

When you join us for

Dinner on Thursday Choose any entree from our menu

Performing in the Red Rose Dining Room

AUGUST 13 & 26 JOHNNY ALSTON’S MOTOWN ROCK & ROLL REVUE

Good for Thursday nights only.

Coupon expires - July 15, 2011

Must bring in this coupon for discount.

One coupon per person / per check.

A dynamite crowd pleaser! P.J. Leary’s Las Vegas Sounds perform before and after the show.

JUNE 19 is FATHERʼS DAY! Check our Website for info on our Fatherʼs Day Brunch and events!

TEL: 813.752.3141

I-4 Exit 21 • 2011 N. Wheeler St.• Plant City, FL 33563

WWW.REDROSEINNANDSUITES.COM

Mrs. Evelyn Madonia - Owner

FCS

Feature» Leadership Brandon Mac Dill Air force Base Tampa, FL Leadership Class of 2011. Photos provided by Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce

Leadership Brandon Accepting Nominations for Class of 2012 Written By: Cheryl Rogers-Turner

G

reat community leaders do not normally just appear on the scene in time to save the day. Typically, leaders are individuals born with characteristics and personality traits that propel them toward leadership, yes. But they are also well-rounded individuals, constantly learning and striving to find solutions to a myriad of problems and issues facing the community in which they live, work and play. Brandon is looking for leaders such as this, and thanks to Leadership Brandon, future leaders are being equipped with the tools and knowledge they need to get the job done.

The Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce is a lead player in assisting future leaders, as well as current community leaders, who would like to increase their knowledge and awareness of what’s happening in local neighborhoods.

Community needs are ever changing. A great leader is conscious of this, and tries to keep a step ahead of the game in order to meet the need head-on when it arises.

Leadership Brandon is a community leadership development program with a purpose. That purpose is to identify community leaders of diverse backgrounds, develop their potential, and nurture their desire to accept civic responsibility and

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leadership roles in the community. This is accomplished by exposing participants to the challenges and opportunities currently facing the Greater Brandon area.

Participants become familiar with some of the processes and programs available to the community.

Crystal Colegrove is the Director of Member Programming at the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce. She describes Leadership Brandon as “a give back program that is unique because it means something different to each individual participating. In existence for 26 years now, this program is similar to others around the State of Florida and around the country. This program exists to help leaders understand and learn aspects about the community they might not be aware of.

Maybe the issue of most importance is how it teaches participants in what ways they can step out and give back to the community.”

Curriculum in the Leadership Brandon program consists of a series of seminars, tours and interactive presentations spanning a period of eight months. Participants must commit to attend one day-long session each month, usually held on the third Wednesday. Topics vary, but will include team building and leadership styles, social issues, national security, arts and recreation, law enforcement and the criminal justice

system, national, state and local government, tourism and economic development, public and private education, transportation issues, print and electronic media, and the role and impact of MacDill Air Force Base in Hillsborough County.

Former students make up the Alumni Planning Committee, which assists in drawing up new curriculum each year. The basic topics are the same each year, as listed above, but broken down into different topics depending on what is going on in the community that year.

Class members are chosen for the program by a Selection Committee comprised of local community and business leaders.

Applications are mailed to nominated individuals beginning the first week of July, and should be returned by the nominees no later than August 1st. Nominations can be submitted from businesses or organizations, individuals may nominate other individuals, or an individual may nominate himself or herself. Once nominated, a six-page application is mailed out. Nominees must complete the application and return in a timely manner due to class size restrictions.

The Selection Committee is looking for individuals who live or work in the Greater Brandon area and are interested in, or intend to seek, civic oriented leadership roles in the community. They are also

interested in people with potential for advancement to leadership roles who are currently involved with organizations which play a significant role in the community.

Sincere commitment, motivation, and demonstrated interest in serving the community are required.

Graduates of the Leadership Brandon Class of 2011 each took away something different from the program. Many discovered things about themselves that may have surprised them. Colegrove explained that since every individual has different passions, each class member either learned something new or grew in an area of personal interest from attending the monthly sessions. Some may have enjoyed one session more than others, and others learned for the first time what social service organizations, of which they are not yet aware, are out there making a difference in the community.

Carl Shenning, an insurance agent with Jennings & Associates Insurance, Inc. in Brandon, graduated with the Class of 2011 in May. “I have developed a better understanding of my own leadership traits as a result of the diverse situations we were given the opportunity to take part in. It was interesting to see various individuals rise to the occasion and lead, or become quiet followers.”

Feature» Leadership Brandon Shenning went on to say “the Leadership Brandon program truly opened doors for developing new relationships, both personally and professionally. I imagine that many of these new acquaintances will become close friends and business partners in the years to come.”

Prior to taking the program, Shenning admits he was unaware of what went on “behind the scenes” at many of the businesses and non-profit organizations in the Greater Brandon community, such as the Brandon Outreach Clinic, Women’s Resource Center, and A Kids’ Place. “I have learned what a huge impact each of these organizations has on the local community, and how necessary they are.”

Highlight of the program for Shenning personally was “Law Enforcement Day. It was one of the most enlightening days of Leadership Brandon for me. Meeting our Sheriff, David Gee, and his team, gave me a greater respect for the commitment they have to our county and community. We toured the Orient Road and Falkenburg Road jails and afterward met with a distinguished panel of key change makers in our county. We met with Major Clyde Eisenberg,

Assistant Chief of Police John Bennett with the Tampa Police Department, Mark Ober from the State Attorney’s office, Chris Watson from our Public Defender office, Chief Judge Manuel Menendez of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, and Norman Campbell from the Department of Juvenile Justice. I would highly encourage business owners or individuals who want to give back to this community to become involved in the Leadership Brandon program. The knowledge and experience gained will allow them to assist others in ways they never imagined possible.”

Each year a former class member is selected to be chair of the next session. Richard J. “Rick” Rios, Vice President and financial advisor at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, is the Leadership Brandon 2012 Chair-Elect.

Rios is a graduate of the Class of 2008, and recalled during his experience as a class member, “I learned so much about the community I live in that I didn’t know prior to my participation in Leadership Brandon, that I graduated from the program feeling like I hadn’t really known the community prior to my participation. It was very enlightening and an eye opener.”

Rios remarked that Leadership Brandon

To work together with other leaders in the community to complete that work was great!”

“changed the way I view Hillsborough County and the Brandon area. I look at things from a larger perspective with other interests in mind. For example, I had no idea how large the population of homeless people in Brandon was. I was shocked. I never realized the number of non-profits serving this area and the wonderful work they do. More needs to be done. I was appalled at the number of graduating seniors from Hillsborough County who do not go on to college. I had never been involved in local politics enough to talk with my elected officials about issues affecting me and my family until I had the opportunity to do just that through Leadership Brandon. Not being in the military, I didn’t have any idea the impact MacDill Air Force Base had on this county and how important it is to us. These are just a few of the things I learned which impacted my personal and professional viewpoint.”

Rios noted that “the program has improved significantly even since 2008. The Chamber has expanded the leadership training aspect of the program and continued to better the community awareness information as well. Participants in the program not only receive beneficial leadership training, but learn more about, and have opportunity to actually be involved in, their community in a manner they have not seen it in before.

I believe that anyone who participates in this program will leave feeling enlightened, empowered, and with a desire to serve in their community.”

Highlight of the Class of 2008 for Rios was his class project, “giving a facelift to the old Valrico Civic Center building on Fifth Street in Valrico. The building had been constructed around 1913 and was in need of significant repair. Our class would not have been aware of something like that had it not been for the Leadership Brandon program.

One Buc Place, Tampa, FL - Leadership Class of 2011. Photos provided by Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce

The 2012 Class Calendar is listed on the Leadership Brandon website with the Opening Retreat scheduled for October 1, 2011. For additional details on the program, or to secure a nomination form, visit www. leadershipbrandon.com, or contact Crystal Colegrove at the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce, 813-689-1221. Email for Crystal is: ccolegrove@brandonchamber.com. All nominations should be in the Chamber office no later than August 1, 2011.

Leadership Class of Brandon 2011, Graduation. Photos provided by Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce

Where Brandon Ends and the FUN Begins!

• Dinner • DJs • Live Bands • Dancing • Ladies Night

• Late Night Menu • Pool • Arcade Games • Karaoke

Something For ALL!

813-685-9218

1602 E. SR 60, Valrico, FL 33594 Find Us on

...............

FOCUS Magazine brandon july 2011

15

Spotlight» Doctors Diaz and Chandran

Treating Patients with Care

Physicians Doctors Diaz and Chandran are Providing a Great Experience at PrimeCare Plant City Interview by Brian West Photos by Sophia Hyde

Doctors Chandran and Diaz

E

veryone is looking for quality health care, and it’s not always easy to find. But two Brandon physicians recently teamed to help provide a better level of care for their patients. They believe they have the best team they’ve ever worked with and are working diligently to provide quality health care without sacrificing the patient’s experience to achieve great results. I recently had a few minutes to speak with Dr. Alejandro Diaz and Dr. Sumita Chandran of PrimeCare Plant City and learn a little about each of them and their practice.

Focus: What brought you to the United States?

Dr. Diaz: Actually, ever since I was a child, I wanted to come to the United States. There were various reasons: there were a lot of restrictions, a shortage in medications for my patients, and I was working at a top hospital in Cuba. We had a good school of medicine, but we have a lot of technical issues with the equipment.

So I decided to come here. Actually, my wife won the Visa lottery so my whole family was able to come. We came over in 1995. We had several friends here in Florida and we like the warm climate, so we decided to settle here.

Dr. Chandran: I grew up in the city in India, so we had everything available there, but on my mother’s side of the family I had a lot of uncles who were physicians that lived here in the United States. I guess when they would visit us during summer vacations, the whole idea of America [and its opportunities] was always present with

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them. America offered greater prospects, and I just wanted to venture out and come to another country. We have a big family in India, and we have a relatively big family here in the United States also. So, I just wanted to come here for the opportunity.

And now after coming here, I love it. I still visit India once a year and my parents come here to visit, but I guess I wanted to have the best of both worlds. So, I moved here in 1997.

Focus: What do you miss most about home?

Dr. Diaz: Everything - the beaches, the street where I lived, and my neighborhood.

I also miss the food, but we have good food here, too. I hope that Cuba will be free in the future.

Dr. Chandran: The same thing. I grew up there so all of my memories are there - my home, my family, and my relatives. My parents are green card holders and they still like to visit here. We still go there, and it is a long trip. I really miss my mom’s

PrimeCare Plant City welcomes you to stop by anytime to take a tour and meet the physicians and staff. Other than the doctors, the staff includes Rovena, Nellie, Amy, Tammy, Victoria, and Christina.

cooking. Last year when I visited India, I found a big difference. The economic boom for our generation is too big. It’s too big. It’s good. In 1997 it wasn’t like this.

I guess all the jobs from here are being outsourced to India, which is good for them.

Focus: Where did you get your interest in medicine?

Dr. Chandran: My family. On my mother’s side, there are a lot of doctors. As I grew up, I saw them a lot. Also, in school I was interested in biology and living things.

Dr. Diaz: Since I was a child, I’ve always wanted to do something in the medical field. I love science, and the human body

fascinates me. I’ve always had a desire for a vocation involving medicine.

Focus: What type of medicine are you practicing?

Dr. Chandran: I am practicing internal medicine, which is mostly like primary care. We see a lot of the geriatric population, and maybe a little bit younger.

I think it’s very rare that we have to refer the patients to others. We can pretty much treat all chronic illnesses. Being a primary care physician, I think we concentrate a lot on prevention and screening tests so we don’t have issues later. So, we concentrate on their blood work screening procedures and then try to educate the patient on what they can do to prevent it.

Spotlight» Doctors Diaz and Chandran team. This is just my first few weeks, but I’ve been observing the staff here and once we get the call from the patient, it starts there.

Everyone is very friendly.

There is close follow-up and there are levels of followup that involve more than just the doctor. Here, the doctor sees the patient and the entire team follows-up with various things like test results. Every now and then the team follows-up with surveys to look for improvements. Overall, this is a great office and a great team.

Dr. Diaz: I am practicing family medicine, but mostly what we do here is internal medicine. We’re treating seniors and adults, basically anyone who is at least 18 years old. We’re treating all the chronic illnesses, as well as cardiac and respiratory.

We concentrate on prevention, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. We’re treating a lot of patients for hypertension and diabetes.

Focus: Given your cultural background, are you f inding that your patients are primarily of a specif ic clientele?

Dr. Diaz: Let me tell you, in the first 6 months here when you start hearing that there is a large Hispanic population, we wondered, but probably 99 percent of our patients are American. Later on, by word of mouth, we’ve seen an increase in Hispanic patients and some Indian, too.

Focus: How long has PrimeCare Plant City been established?

Dr. Diaz: We opened August 3, 2009.

Dr. Chandran: I just joined the practice at the end of May.

Focus: Tell me what sets your practice apart from the others?

Dr. Diaz: When I started here almost two years ago, I realized right away how great the team was. I think this is the best team I’ve ever worked with in my whole life.

We’re like a family here. It feels like home.

Everybody gets along pretty well working with each other.

Dr. Chandran: To begin with, I think our office is a fun office. We have a great

Focus: Do you f ind yourself working with the hospital?

Dr. Chandran: I’m only doing outpatient work.

Dr. Diaz: I used to work in the hospitals, but we’re growing so fast that we didn’t want to keep our patients waiting. So we have a group of hospital physicians that we refer them to if we need to send someone there.

Dr. Chandran: And there is very good communication.

Dr. Diaz: The hospital is very good at keeping us informed. We get updates every day until the patient is discharged.

Focus: Have you found any differences practicing medicine here in the United States when compared to your home country?

Dr. Chandran: Yes. In India, once you go to the doctor [and receive their diagnosis], that’s the final word. Here in the United States, everybody likes tests, even if your clinical knowledge is sound. So even when we’re confident in our diagnosis, we find that the patient will still want a test to verify. We order tests in the doubtful cases.

Dr. Diaz: Medicine is an art and a science.

I was trained in a very strong school of medicine. A good physical exam, a urinalysis, CDC and follow-up are all you need. The tests aren’t usually necessary.

You just need to take more time with the patient and evaluate them carefully; listen to the patient, evaluate their hair, their eyes, their skin, even just watching the patient walk helps the diagnosis.

I really enjoyed my time with Doctors Diaz and Chandran. They are great physicians with a lot of experience that helps with their patient care. I found them both very approachable, and was left with the impression that their patients are probably thankful for the effort they put forward to create an overall positive treatment experience. One thing that sets their practice apart is that they offer for anyone to stop in, take a tour and meet the physicians and staff before scheduling an appointment. So, feel free to swing by and meet Dr. Diaz and Dr. Chandran for yourself! Thanks for all your efforts and we wish you much success in your new practice.

PrimeCare Plant City

1706 South Alexander Street Plant City, FL 33563 (813) 717-9000 www.primecarellc.com FOCUS Magazine brandon july 2011

17

business Profile» Tire Mania Auto Repair

Tire Mania Auto The Colorful Shop with Repair a Can Do Attitude W Written By: Cheryl Rogers-Turner

hen the national automotive repair chain decided to move out of the rented building, the accountant for the building owner suggested they open their own tire and automotive repair shop in the space. After taking charge of the project, the accountant now runs the show. Three years ago Tire Mania moved into the space on the southwest corner of Highway 60 and 301 where their competitor once thrived.

The shop is easy to locate, with the business name now painted over the entrance in large block primary colors spilled out over a bright yellow background.

Julie Reavis is that accountant, the CEO and founder of Tire Mania. As a local small business owner with roots in family restaurant ownership, and an education in accounting, Julie sought out skilled mechanics and service technicians to round out her business. She is justifiably proud of the group of talent she has assembled to make her shop top of the line and first choice for locals seeking trusted auto service

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and repairs. Today a full-service auto repair shop going by the new name, Tire Mania Auto Repair, this shop is giving local dealerships something to worry about.

Evidence of employee certifications and qualifications adorns the north wall of the lobby outside of the customer waiting area. A comfortable atmosphere with large screen television and couch makes waiting for repairs a pleasant experience. Those looking for a reprieve from dealerships will be pleased with this customer friendly shop. Reavis confirms that maintenance and repairs are often up to 50% less than what a dealership will quote.

Bring your favorite book and curl up on the comfy couch while you wait for your vehicle repairs. Or perhaps tote along a laptop to take advantage of the free Wi-Fi. Have to get back to work? Tire Mania’s shuttle van will be happy to get you there on time.

Tire Mania Auto Repair does everything from oil changes to air conditioning and

Photos provided by Tire Mania Auto Repair engine repairs. Fleets are welcome. A NAPA AutoCare Center, with the largest network of independent repair facilities in North America, Tire Mania’s work is guaranteed for 12 months or 12,000 miles.

NAPA AutoCare is not a franchise, but a seal of excellence. Shops in this network use NAPA quality parts and have a reputation in the community for performing fair honest repairs. Independent repair business owners are invited to join based upon their community reputation, integrity, qualifications and experience.

Involvement in the community is important to Reavis. Tire Mania is honored to be a sponsor of Ye Notorious Krewe of the PegLeg Pirate, an organization whose mission is to assist amputees, their families, and other organizations who assist amputees.

Julie’s customer service background at her family’s restaurant has given her a winning touch with customers. “I know most all of

my customers by name when they walk in the door,” touts Reavis. She is commonly the face behind the counter greeting customers and is a “hands-on” employer who involves herself in every aspect of the business.

Customer satisfaction is top priority.

For additional information or to schedule a service appointment, go to the Tire Mania Auto Repair website, www.tiremania.net or call the shop directly at 813-246-4050.

Location: 105 US Highway 301 South, Suite 103, Tampa, FL 33619. Hours of operation are Monday thru Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Tire Mania Auto Repair 813-246-4050 105 US Highway 301 South, Suite 103, Tampa, FL 33619. Hours of operation are Monday thru Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. www.tiremania.net

calendar of events

If you have an upcoming event and would like us to add it to our calendar of events please email the information to: editorial@floydpublications.com

Sunday, July 3

Saturday, July 9

• Celebrate America 3PM and 7PM Celebrate America will include drama and musical presentation of “Song of the Patriot”.

It will feature a 150 voice choir, 40 piece orchestra, multimedia video presentation, as well as a time of recognition of both Military personnel and First Responders.

Interpretation for the deaf and Spanish translation will be offered. Presentations will be at 3:00 and 7:00 PM. 2102 Bell Shoals Road For more information: www.bellshoals.com or call 689-4229, ext. 221.

• Saturday Night Salsa Social 7PM to 10PM The Way 2 Dance Studio presents: Who’s hosting? Tatyana. New in town? Enjoy a salsa, cha-cha, hustle, merengue and bachata dance party all evening long. Bring friends or come alone to practice the moves you know or learn new ones. Group class starts at 7 p.m.

Cost: $8 pp; $15 per couple 610 Oakfield Drive For more information: (813) 966-4788

Monday, July 4 • Brandon Blast 5:00 - 9:00 PM Come join the Brandon Foundation celebration the 4th of July at Westfield Brandon. We’ll have bouncy houses and water slides for the kids; live music, food and drink for the adults. Plus, other surprises and at 9:00, the BEST fireworks in Brandon!!

Westfield Brandon is located off SR60 just east of I-75. Come early for Preferred Parking, $5.00

Tuesday, July 5 • Muriel Anderson Concert and Workshop 7PM to 9PM Music Showcase presents: Fingerstyle guitarist and harp-guitarist Muriel Anderson performs and conducts a workshop. She is the first woman to have won the National Fingerpicking Guitar Championship and her music can be heard in Woody Allen’s film “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.” She plays many styles of music and during her performances she transforms the guitar into a lyrical choir, then a marching band, then a Japanese koto, then a Bluegrass band, then a Beatles tune and the next, Chopin’s Minute Waltz.

Price: Advance $15; At the Door $20 402 Oakfield Drive, Brandon For More Information: (813) 685-5998

Sunday, July 17

Tuesday, July 26

• Barnacles 11th Anniversary Bash 1PM to 5PM Barnacles Restaurant would like to thank the Brandon community for 11 yrs of support with an Anniversary Bash. There will be bounce houses, face painting & balloons for the kids. For the adult’s great food, drink specials, music, sports celebrity autographs & more! All proceeds from this event will be donated to Operation Helping Hand through the Tampa Chapter of the Military Officers Association (MOAA)& will specifically help the wounded Servicemen & Servicewomen at our local Tampa VA Hospital.

926 Providence Road, Brandon For more information: 813-653-0959

• Coffee Club Hosted by Costco Wholesale 8AM to 9:30 AM 10921 Causeway Blvd, Brandon

Saturday, July 30 • Change Your Oil Change a Life 9AM to 2PM Bring the whole family for hotdogs, raffles, karaoke and more!

119 Central Drive (Behind Jesse’s Steakhouse) Call today to reserve your time 657-4399

Tuesday, July 12 • Business After Hours Hosted

by Manpower 5:30 to 7:30PM 2076 Badlands Drive, Brandon, FL 335112808 For more Information: 813-643-1568

Thursday, July 14 • BUNCO Cocktail Fundraiser 7:00PM A BUNCO Cocktail Party Fundraiser will be hosted by Delaney Creek Lodge to benefit The American Cancer Society, Seffner Relay For Life. The event will be held at 320 S. Lakewood Dr. in Brandon on Thursday, July 14th at 7:00 p.m. Cocktails, cash bar and numerous prizes. The public is welcome. Cost is $15.00/person.

Space is limited so call Cheryl at 813-6558858 for your reservation now.

Saturday, July 16 • Brandon High School Class

of 1991 Reunion Time: 7:00pm to 11:00pm The Class of 1991 invites our alumni to their 20-Year Reunion on Saturday, July 16, 2011 Dinner and Dance at the Don Vicente Inn 1915 Republica de Cuba (corner of 14th St and 9th Ave-Ybor City) For more information: contact Andrea at 727-798-4534 andrea@reunionplaceflorida. com

ASSISTING YOU in YOUR Home!

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FOCUS Magazine brandon july 2011

19

entertainment » dining profile the last 13 years and still never get tired of it,” he said. “This is great.” A large, stuffed flour tortilla rolled full of chicken and crispy tortilla shreds and other ingredients, topped with cheese and ranchero sauce.

There was a lot going on - spicy chicken and cheese among them. It came with a side of Mexican rice and a portion of a sweet mashed cornbread that hit the spot.

photo by tony cartagena

We also tried the Mario’s Pork Carnita, a customer favorite: Slow roasted, pulled pork served with the same freshly made tortillas as before, sliced tomatoes, red onions, cilantro, lime wedges, and guacamole.

“It’s really good pork, man!” expressed our photographer, Tony, impressed by its tenderness.

Tres Amigos Mexican Kitchen & Bar Cantina I written By: John Ross

n the tall brick building previously known to Brandon as Don Pablo’s, we met up with co-owner Joe Morales of the new Tres Amigos restaurant. A previous manager of Don Pablo’s himself, he told us how he and his partners purchased the restaurant and upgraded just about everything with regards to the food. The inside of the restaurant is colorful and vibrant - colossal Hispanic paintings against brick, dozens of state and country flags hanging from the high ceiling, and a canvas of green, blue, red, and stone colored surfaces from top to bottom.

The FOCUS staff sat down with Joe and asked what the biggest change to the food has been since the opening of Tres Amigos. “We knew what people liked,” he began, noting how he and his partners have learned through the years what Brandonites are most fond of. It turns out that the Don Pablo’s menu needed only minor tweaking as far as content goes. But they made one critical, needed change.

“One of the first things we started doing is making everything from scratch, every day.”

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Besides tasting the difference in the fresh, vibrant food at Tres Amigos, we could see the from-scratch distinction, even as each dish was brought to our table. The chef who prepared our dishes came out to see our reaction. We beamed with anticipation.

He beamed with pride. He knows how to make some beautiful-looking meals, and he knows it!

The Carne Asada was a 9 oz. marinated and grilled skirt steak, served with Mexican rice, lettuce, tomatoes, red onion and a choice of side. The steak itself was marbled enough that I could stretch it with a fork an inch in length with ease. Ultra tender, it was cooked medium and was good eaten traditionally and when converted into a juicy steak burrito with a nearby tortilla.

The Bacon Wrapped BBQ Shrimp Sizzling Skillet Fajita was a surprisingly “obvious” way to make good shrimp, yet this was the first time we’ve tried it. With two skewers full of large, fresh shrimp it was a recipe that surprised our staff in that one would expect it to be a more popular way to prepare shrimp. “Barbeque and shrimp - who would have thought?” remarked our Tony. It definitely beats out a chintzy lemon butter and pepper recipe, and as Joe said as we talked about this shrimp version, “Everything tastes better with bacon!”

We first tried the fresh tortillas. Made just moments before being brought to our table, we lifted the top of the container and steam poured out. I grabbed a corner of one tortilla and peeled the top one off, drizzled a couple spoonfuls of creamy hot Queso all over it, rolled it up… and sunk my teeth into what is undoubtedly the best “pre-dinner bread” I’ve ever eaten. Eating a tortilla only moments old doesn’t seem even to resemble a packaged tortilla, or even one repressed and moistened. You can get 6 of these for $.99. What a deal!

For our first entrée, we tried Joe’s favorite, the Chicken Ranchero Chimichanga. “I have eaten this a couple times a week for

photo by tony cartagena

Joe asked us to try one more thing, even though we were stuffed. “If this doesn’t knock your socks off, there’s something wrong with you,” he said. I told him I could only eat one, maybe two more bites, just to get an idea of what this final dish would taste like. Back to the hot, fresh tortillas now- meet the dessert known as Sopapillas: flour tortillas fried golden brown and topped with powdered sugar with a choice of honey or butter sauce. We added the suggested $.99 scoop of vanilla ice cream to the middle of it. Combine the deliciousness of the tortillas as described above, and now imagine them covered in a sweet sauce with a big scoop of ice-cold ice cream in the middle. 20 bites later, I was beyond full.

Becky Kelly, a passerby patron stopped at our table after it was all said and done.

“He’s writing a lot, it must be a good review!” she said, complimenting the food herself.

Come try what could be considered the best Mexican food in town and taste the freshness of these delicious favorites.

Wednesdays from 5 p.m. to close, enjoy $1.25 tacos, house margaritas, wells drinks, and drafts. Get great Tres Amigos coupons at www.tresamigosbrandon.net

Tres Amigos Cantina 813-689-6476 2025 W. Brandon Blvd. (in front of Sam’s Club) Brandon, FL 33511 Mon – Thu 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Fri – Sun 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Your Hearing Loss Impacts Everyone Around You!

Dr. Lisa E. Tanner

Hearing loss has a big impact not only on you, but also those around you. Hearing loss can cause you to be misunderstood and inaccurate perceptions can be formed about you. Hearing loss usually occurs gradually; therefore, a breakdown in communication can occur without you realizing that your hearing loss is the cause. Some people with hearing loss compensate by adopting certain coping strategies such as: blufďŹ ng, dominating the conversation or a tendency to withdraw from social gatherings. Has communication become stressful for you and others around you? Let us help!

FREE Summer Seminar Schedule: Seating is limited - RSVP at 813-315-9850 July 19, 2011 2pm - Technology with a Twist Learn about the latest hearing technology during pretzel time August 23, 2011 2pm - Loops & Scoops Learn about T-coils, Looping and FM systems, while enjoying ice cream with us

People of all ages and all types of hearing loss are welcome. Sign language interpretation available with advanced notice. For more information about Advanced Diagnostics and Hearing Solutions visit our website at www.adhs-brandon.com.

813-315-9850 | 522 Oakfield Dr | Brandon, FL 33511 FOCUS Magazine brandon july 2011

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O’Neal & Sons Upholstery

Quality Craftsmanship Spanning 4 Generations

We specialize in everything from Automotive, Marine, Home Furniture and Commercial Applications AUTOMOTIVE

Seats and cushions • Carpets • Headliners • Door Panels Convertible tops • Vinyl tops • Tonneau Covers

HOME FURNITURE

Couches • Love seats • Chairs • Bar stools

MARINE

Seats and cushions • Carpets • Bimini Tops • Clear plastic Windows T-Top canvas replacements • Console and boat covers

COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS

Restaurant Booths and Chairs • Bar Railings • Long Wall Seats Custom Golf Cart Seats • Pool and Spa Areas • Customized Seating

2303 James Redman Pkwy., Suite G • Plant City, FL 33563 Phone: (813)-752-0405 • onealandsons@verizon.net www.onealandsons.net

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july 2011 thefocusmagazine.com

COMPLETE INTERIOR RESTORATION OF A 1941 MERCURY

Mark Your Calendars!

For The

2nd Annual

WinterFest at Winthrop December 2nd—4th Register Now: - Craft and Food Vendors

Title Sponsor:

- Sponsors - Local Dance & Music Groups Contact the Brandon Foundation at : (813)- 689-6889 info@brandonfoundation.com www.WinterFestAtWinthrop.com

Family Fun, Entertainment and Vendors to help start your holiday season off with a smile. Winthrop Christmas tree lighting, Santa’s Workshop, 5K run and much, much more!

December 2– 4 Winthrop Town Centre Corner of Providence & Bloomingdale Riverview, Florida Benefiting the Brandon Foundation and its registered charities.

FOCUS Magazine brandon july 2011

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Serving Brandon area families since 1960.

A long tradition of caring compassionate service.

STOWERS funeral home 401 West Brandon Blvd. Brandon, Fl 33511 • 813-689-1211

Herb S. Popple Funeral Director, General Manager

Today, we continue our long and proud history of community service as members of the Dignity Memorial national network of funeral, cremation and cemetery service providers.

Stowers Funeral Home, as a Dignity provider, specialize in offering exclusive Added Value BeneďŹ ts designed to provide a higher level of funeral care before, during, and after the service, all backed by a 100% Service Guarantee.