Author: Brad Stager

Family & Cosmetic Dentistry Gives You The Power Of A Winning Smile

Family & Cosmetic Dentistry on BBD is about more than just the talents of family dentists (both in white) Dr. Neeraja Jasthi (left) and Dr. Sandra Pojtek. The office’s friendly, professional staff speaks seven languages.

The logo for Family & Cosmetic Dentistry has these words: “A smile is the same in any language.” It is a statement that expresses a basic truth of daily living and guides the work of the professionals who work at this family-friendly dental office.

Before she chose dentistry as her career, Dr. Neeraja Jasthi, DMD, says she considered becoming a physician. But, learning first-hand how the power of a smile can change one’s life set her on the road to Tufts School of Dental Medicine in Boston, where she earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree in 1996. The road after dental school ultimately brought her to open Family & Cosmetic Dentistry on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., located just south of County Line Rd. (in the same plaza as Amscot) in New Tampa, where she has been practicing dentistry for the past 10 years.

Dr. Jasthi says it was her own experience with orthodontics, while wearing dental braces that helped move her teeth into proper and visually appealing alignment, that enlightened her to the importance of helping people with one of their most basic physical attributes — their smile.

“I had an orthodontist who inspired me,” Dr. Jasthi says. “I saw how it changed my teeth and how a smile is so important. It shows your character and you can boost others and show compassion with a smile.”

Relieving people’s pain and improving patient health are other reasons Dr. Jasthi cites for pursuing her career as a dentist. She is a member of the American Dental Association (ADA), Florida Dental Association (FDA), the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) and the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD).

By investing in training and technology, Dr. Jasthi and her team are able to provide numerous services, ranging from procedures that maintain oral health or repair dental damage to cosmetic treatments that can brighten and enhance a smile. Some of the available services include basic dental cleanings and exams, fillings, crowns, root canals, bridges, veneers, whitening, Invisalign braces, dentures and extractions.

Working with Dr. Jasthi to deliver high-quality care is her team of about a dozen dental technicians, assistants and hygienists, as well as Dr. Sandra Pojtek, DMD, who recently joined the practice.

“My team has to reflect my values in providing the best care possible and being sensitive to patient needs,” Dr. Jasthi says.

The growth of Family & Cosmetic Dentistry’s patient population created a need for an additional dentist and resulted in the hiring of Dr. Pojtek, who is a 2014 graduate of the University of Montreal’s Faculty of Dental Medicine in Montreal, Canada. She also completed a one-year residency at East Carolina University’s School of Dental Medicine in Greenville, NC. Just as Dr. Jasthi found a sense of direction from an established dental practitioner, so has Dr. Pojtek.

“I would consider her (Dr. Jasthi) a mentor figure,” says Dr. Pojtek. “We have similar values. The philosophy here is about putting the patient’s needs first and the quality of work, offering the best dentistry.”

The hiring of Dr. Pojtek means patients can now schedule treatment or a consultation at Family & Cosmetic Dentistry Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Some of the advanced technology used at Family & Cosmetic Dentistry are the i-CAT Cone Beam 3D Dental Imaging machine which, according to its manufacturer, provides more detailed images than analog X-rays, improving diagnoses and treatment. The office also offers crowns, inlays, onlays and veneers, often in one visit.

But, even with advanced technology to improve treatment options and outcomes, Dr. Jasthi is a firm believer that each of her patients actually provides the first-line of their own dental (and overall health) defenses when they develop good habits like proper brushing and flossing, as well as becoming informed about how proper dental hygiene contributes to their overall well being.

“I’m also concerned about (my patients’) physical health,” she says. “We educate our patients about oral and gum health and how it will impact their general health.”

Multiple Payment Options

Paying for dental work is always a consideration in choosing where to get treatment. Family & Cosmetic Dentistry accepts most dental insurance plans, major credit cards and Care Credit Financing. Another option is an in-office dental savings plan for patients can enroll in. These plans carry enrollment fees of $99 for adults and $69 for children 13 years and younger, but enrollees receive one cleaning and exam at no charge each year and a 15-percent discount on many procedures, such as fillings, perio scaling, crowns and veneers. Check with Family and Cosmetic Dentistry for complete details, including restrictions. Patients also accrue financial credits to their accounts through a new patient referral program. And of course, first-time patients can schedule a free consultation appointment.

Sharing the talents and skills that she and members of her team possess with people whose needs exceed their ability to access dental care is one of the values Dr. Jasthi upholds. Her practice participates in scheduled dental camps at the St. Petersburg Free Clinic, providing basic dental care to patients without charge. “I try to help people as much as I can,” she says.

Building successful dental practice one smile at a time has paid off in terms of positive online reviews at sites like Zocdoc.com and Healthgrades.com as well as patients like Rana Hayes of Wesley Chapel, who are happy to share their experiences at Family & Cosmetic Dentistry.

“Dr. Jasthi is a perfectionist,” says Hayes, who lives in Bridgewater. “She pays strict attention to detail.”

Hayes has been a patient of Dr. Jasthi’s for more than 10 years and also commended the staff at Family & Cosmetic Dentistry.

“They’re extremely courteous and professional,” Hayes says. “You’re treated like you want to be treated.” She adds that she found the staff to be helpful and accommodating, even when her appointments sometimes needed to be changed.

Another patient, Denis Cole, an Englishman who lives outside of London, includes stops at Family & Cosmetic Dentistry in his travel plans. Cole resides in the Wesley Chapel area from October to April each year and now starts and ends his annual visits with dental cleanings and checkups at the office after undergoing extensive treatment from Dr. Jasthi four years ago.

“She’s very good and has a good staff there,” the self-described “rainbird” says. “They did the work very efficiently and at a good price. You won’t get that kind of work with National Health in England.”

Treating international visitors and residents of the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel areas is facilitated by the ability of the staff at Family & Cosmetic Dentistry to communicate in several languages besides English. Other languages spoken at the practice are: Telugu (a native language in India), Spanish, French, Russian, Slovak and Lithuanian.

Family & Cosmetic Dentistry (20441 BBD) treats patients age 4 and older. For more info, visit DrJasthi.com or call 866-9913. There is a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week answering service available if the office is closed when you call. Or, use the office’s online contact page at DrJasthi.com/contact-us to ask questions or to request an appointment.

Dr. Jasthi Family & Cosmetic Dentistry

The Moody Group Is Your One-Stop For Real Estate, Mortgages & More

The team at The Moody Group includes (back row:, l.-r.) Erika Mendieta, Marcelo Mendieta, Leon Moody & Sherlyn Clark. (Front row, l.-r.) Haydee Irribarren, Vanessa Gallucci & Mitzi Hess.

Owning a home in New Tampa or Wesley Chapel can be a source of joy, but it also can be a burden when there’s a change in your employment or lifestyle.

As a one-stop real estate resource, The Moody Group Real Estate Sales & Property Management — located just south of County Line Rd. at Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. and Oak Joy Ct. between the Walgreens and The Tire Choice (in the same building as Central Bank) — can manage the property of New Tampa and Wesley Chapel residents who quickly need to move on to other places. The office also can help newcomers to our area find a place to live.

The Moody Group specializes in home sales, rentals, property management and investment property services in the neighborhoods located in the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel areas.

For Leon Moody, the basic principle guiding the organization that bears his name is one that reassures its customers.

“People are our business, real estate just happens to be our product,” says Moody, who was born in Dade City and, as an outdoorsman, spent a good bit of his early life enjoying the wilderness of what is now Wesley Chapel.

As a real estate professional, Moody has more than 30 years of experiences to draw upon and back up his candid assessments of situations when doing business. “The truth is the truth,” he says. “Just because you built those cabinets doesn’t make your house worth $50,000 more than the market.”

That straightforward approach applies, whether a customer needs to rent out their New Tampa estate for $3,000 a month when a far-away career opportunity arises or a family on a tight budget is starting a new life in the Sunshine State and needs to find a place costing less than $1,000 a month. For those whose credit rating may have taken a heavy hit during the recent recession (making it difficult to buy or rent housing in the neighborhood of their choosing), there may be a second chance at the “Good Life” available by working with The Moody Group.

“We’ll look at the whole person,” says Moody. “We may want to know more about you and get the last month’s rent, but we’ll try to help you.”

Assisting Moody in his work is a team of professionals who contribute their expertise and energy toward the company’s success and the care of its customers.

Buying and selling property is at the core of any real estate business and The Moody Group’s approach is to combine a high level of customer service with educating clients so transactions are successfully completed. Many client relationships involve a homeowner who may be facing a corporate transfer or military deployment and is unsure whether to rent or sell his/her home.

Marcelo Mendieta is a real estate agent with The Moody Group who says making that choice begins with a good look at the numbers, and the people involved.

“We do a market analysis to see if it’s better to rent the house or sell it and guide our client in the right direction,’’ Mendieta says. ”I like to sleep at night, so we treat people with respect.” He adds that extending that respect involves communicating honestly with clients, especially when a deal encounters problems. “We like to give people bad news right up front,” Mendieta says. “We’re straightforward and that’s what keeps people referring us.”

Being on top of problems is one of the positive attributes Google reviewer and condominium owner Lan Rice cited in his five-star testimonial about The Moody Group.

“The Moody Group has been managing a condo I own in Tampa for about a year now,” Rice wrote. “The few problems that have arisen with the condo have been handled quickly and professionally. The Moody Group has been very good about keeping me informed and they process the rent payments quickly and accurately.”

Russ Latimer moved with his family to Tampa from Maryland and expressed his appreciation for the efforts of The Moody Group in ensuring a smooth transition for his family in his online review:

“The pictures on the web showed a very nice house in a gated community with a pool and hot tub.,” Latimer wrote. “Unfortunately, the previous tenants, upon their departure, left the house in need of many repairs. The Moody Group kept us informed about the status of the property and did an outstanding job of correcting the many issues left by the previous tenants.”

Renting private homes in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel requires extensive knowledge of the area’s communities and the covenants and restrictions each of their Home Owners Associations (HOAs) and Community Development Districts (CDDs) have. Making sure a potential tenant is a good fit for a community in terms of comfort with its rules, or lack of them, is a big part of the work routine for Vanessa Gallucci, who is The Moody Group’s property manager.

“I get customers who say, ‘I don’t want to be in an HOA,’ while others like the restrictions,” says Gallucci, who also is the go-to person for many of the issues that arise in the course of conducting business. To her, the tougher the challenge, the greater the motivation to make things right.

“I love having an irate customer because I can put myself in their position and say, ‘Let’s figure out how to make you happy,’” she says. “At the end of the day, we want to earn their trust.”

For people who might consider using The Moody Group to buy a home, real estate agent Sherlyn Clark has one essential piece of advice. “First and foremost, buyers must be pre-approved,” says Clark, who adds that one of the ways The Moody Group plans on growing in 2017 is by establishing a working relationship with a mortgage company so the mortgage approval process can be handled in-house, easing that burden for potential buyers. “Customer service is our number one goal,” she adds.

For more info about The Moody Group (20701 BBD), visit LeonMoody.com. The Moody Group Facebook page features listing highlights and articles of interest. You also can call 994-0123 or see the ad on pg. 37 of our latest issue. The office can communicate in English, Spanish and Creole.

Moody Group

Exclusive Clientele Salon Adds Breakthrough Technology To Analyze Hair

Christy Johnson has been using her talent as a hair-styling artist to enhance the appearances and lift the spirits of her clients for more than 30 years. Now, the owner of Exclusive Clientele Salon, located in the Cross Creek Center plaza on Cross Creek Blvd. at Kinnan St. in New Tampa, wants to use state-of-the art technology and knowledge to promote hair and scalp wellness a few miles south of Wesley Chapel.

Exclusive Clientele Salon has gained a reputation in the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel communities as an upscale, full-service salon offering a wide range of services, from basic cuts and colors, blow drying to weaves, in a comfortable, clean and friendly environment. Johnson and her staff take the expression, “Look good, feel good,” to a higher level.

“I want all of my clients to feel like they are exclusive,” Johnson says. “We’re all about making people feel good from the inside out, spiritually and beautifully.”

That approach has earned Exclusive Clientele Salon a loyal customer base and plenty of positive online comments, such as Dana Barnes’ Google Review.

“Christy is my stylist at Exclusive Clientele Salon,” Barnes writes. “Her customer service is always great when I am there. I highly recommend (this) salon.”

The ambiance of Exclusive Clientele Salon is more like a relaxing spa than a bustling hair cuttery. Paintings illustrate natural scenes throughout the salon and the subdued lighting in the dryer room complements the “Quiet” sign posted there.

Johnson says her focus has always been on promoting healthy hair, and that has a lot to do with why she’s venturing into the field of trichology — the scientific study of human hair and related disorders, including hair loss and scalp problems.

How Trichology Can Help You

“We know that a lot of people are suffering from hair loss from alopecia, chemotherapy, radiation and medicines, and that there’s also a lot of elements in the environment that affect skin and hair,” Johnson says. She also cites improper maintenance of some hair styles as causing scalp and hair problems.

exclusiveclientele2 — The digital scope in this private room at Exclusive Clientele Salon can help analyze your hair.

Johnson and stylist/hair wellness consultant Kenya Bryant-Long have earned certificates for completing trichology courses taught by Rodney Barnett, a pioneering practitioner and teacher of trichology.

“He’s known all over the world as one of the best trichologists and teachers,” Christy says.

In addition to learning trichology, Christy is outfitting her hair restoration and wellness center with the latest technology (photo, right) to put that knowledge into practice. A client’s introduction to trichology begins with an extensive consultation in a private room. Christy says it’s important to have a space that’s conducive to discussion and analysis of what might be affecting someone’s hair and scalp health.

“Everything we do will be behind closed doors,” explains the 14-year New Tampa resident. “You don’t have to worry about anyone else knowing your business.”

And, Kenya says a lot of the conversation will revolve around the client’s lifestyle and health habits.

“We’ll do an in-depth consultation with them about what they eat and what kinds of medications they’re on,” she says.

Clients will able to get a good look at their hair and scalp with a digital scope that magnifies a view of their head surface and transmits it to a 50-inch monitor. To find out what’s going on inside the body that may be affecting their hair’s health, a biochemical assessment will be conducted using a trichological device known as a compass which, according to Kenya, “reads biomarkers in the body.”

One of the treatments administered at Exclusive Clientele Salon uses what is called an “oxygenator” to hydrate and cleanse the scalp and hair follicles with a nutritional solution.

Trichology is sometimes characterized as a para-medical practice, bridging the fields of dermatology and cosmetology. One way that relationship comes into play is with platelet rich plasma (PRP) hair restoration therapy administered by a dermatologist. PRP therapy works by injecting platelets from a patient’s blood into their own scalp. Human blood contains stem cells and other products that assist in tissue regeneration and healing. The therapy is based on the principle that growth factors in the platelets stimulate hair growth in follicles that are not producing hair but are still viable and capable of doing so. Post-procedure monitoring and maintenance of the scalp and hair is done by a trichologist.

But Wait, There’s More!

Other technologies used by Exclusive Clientele Salon are cool, low-laser treatments which Kenya says, “will help stimulate hair growth,” a micro mist treatment that she says will, “restore the moisture and help retain it,” and an exfoliating mask that loosens and removes scalp debris.

In cases where hair rejuvenation in bald spots does not occur, Johnson offers a non-surgical hair replacement option with hair prosthetics. A hair (or cranial) prosthesis is a more exact fit than a wig and often incorporates considerations in terms of material allergies and scalp sensitivities such as the sensitivities cancer patients may have.

It’s a family affair at Exclusive Clientele, with Christy’s daughter, Ariel Glover, and Kenya’s daughter, Asia Wilson, both working at the salon. The two daughters have spent their young lives following their mothers’ careers and finding not only inspiration, but also their own professions, from the experience.

Ariel, who does a lot of the hair coloring and extension work, shares her mother’s holistic approach to the business.

“We make people feel good on the inside by making them look good on the outside with an exclusive experience,” Ariel says. “It creates confidence in the client and brings out the best in them when they feel beautiful.”

Like Ariel, Asia decided at an early age to follow her mother’s example of a career in the beauty industry and according to Kenya, “[Asia] can pretty much do anything” in the salon, including hair coloring, highlighting and extensions.

Johnson adds that, “Asia has a warm spirit and makes everyone feel comfortable and relaxed.”

As a family business, Johnson credits her husband Thomas for much of Exclusive Clientele’s success. Thomas is the CEO of Capital Financial Services and, according to Christy, “really motivates me and gives me that push I really need.”

Whatever the motivation, Johnson says Exclusive Clientele Salon’s venture into hair restoration reflects the approach she takes toward personal and professional growth.

“We’re not just stuck behind the chair,” she says “We’re keeping up with technology to help men and women with their hair problems.”

Exclusive Clientele Salon is located at 10026 Cross Creek Blvd. For more information, visit ExclusiveClienteleSalon.com, call 994-2393, or see the ad on page 24.

Exclusive Clientele

Avalon Park West Continues To Build On Its ‘Small Town Feel’

Home buyers looking for the convenience and amenities that a mixed-use master-planned community offers may find what they’re looking for at Avalon Park West (APW), located five miles east of I-75 at S.R. 54 and River Glen Blvd. in Wesley Chapel. APW is part of the New River Township Development of Regional Impact (DRI), which is undergoing review for a revision requested by the developer, Avalon Park Group, to distinguish APW from the existing New River community.

If approved by Pasco County, the project’s eventual size of about 1,400 acres and 4,400 single-family homes and multi-family units, means the APW development is large in size, but the streets lined with homes featuring spacious front porches and set-back garages give it a “small town feel.”

The landscaping emphasizes natural features such as ponds and trails, while the amenities center offers a clubhouse, pool and playground. Frequent special events like movie nights provide recreation for residents. For people who just want to relax, yoga classes are available.

With New River Elementary within walking distance, as well as plans for a K-12 charter school, an assisted living facility, and plans for a future downtown area with 680,000 sq. ft. of retail and office space, APW is — according to marketing manager AnaLee Rodriguez — a community where residents, “live, learn, work and play.”

Rodriguez says Avalon Park Group has a clear vision of what the project should be.

“We’re building a small town,” says Rodriguez. “You can grow up in this community, go to school, work, start (and raise) a family here and, with the assisted living facility, you can even have older members of the family live nearby.”

The first phase of APW, known as Cypress Village, consists of 317 single-family homes. Builders for the first phase are Beazer Homes, Avex Homes, and D.R. Horton, which has already completed its involvement in Cypress Village.

Avex and Beazer are still building and selling homes on lots in 45-foot and 55-foot widths. Some floor plans have flexibility in how they can be configured, ranging from a 1,697 square-foot, single-story home with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a two-car garage (listed at $216,990), to a two-story home priced at $289,990 for 2,974 square feet of living space that includes four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and a two-car garage. Homeowners association (HOA) and community development district (CDD) fees combined start at about $2,000 per year, based upon the home you purchase.

Home features vary by builder and model, but examples available include 50-gallon water heaters, high-efficiency HVAC systems, Energy Star-rated appliances, pre-wired security systems, ceramic tile flooring in wet areas and irrigation systems.

For residents like Jefson and Candice Louis, living at APW with their two children means more than having a nice home with a front porch view of the world.

“The community is family oriented with lots of activities,” says Jefson, who cites APW’s annual Fourth of July celebration as one of his favorite events. “It’s great sitting on your porch, watching the fireworks.”

Candice expresses appreciation for the neighborly attitudes of residents. “We meet together, take our children to the playground and eat together on Sunday. We have fun here.”

She’s also looking forward to the forthcoming commercial development that will complement the quiet residential area with convenient shops and services. “That’ll be a great addition,” says Candice.

Sidewalks and nature trails make APW a pedestrian-friendly community, which promotes relationships as well as exercise, according to Elisenda Lopez, whose family has lived there for about a year and a half.

“I like to walk in the neighborhood and run into my neighbors and have conversations with them,” Lopez says.

Cassandra Miranda’s family of five includes three daughters, whom she says benefit from the activities hosted by the community. “They have so many events for the kids to come out and meet each other.,” says Miranda.

‘Avalon Aglow!’

Many events at APW are not just for its residents, but are open to the general public as well, creating relationships with the greater Wesley Chapel community. In addition to summer’s Fourth of July Celebration, APW hosted last month’s third annual Wesley Chapel Jazz Festival (see pg. 3) and the public is invited to attend “Avalon Aglow” on Saturday, December 10, 5 p.m.-8 p.m., featuring food trucks, a snow slide and fireworks.

Inviting the public into the community demonstrates that while APW is designed to be self-contained, that doesn’t mean isolating the community from non-residents, according to APG senior VP Ross Halle.

“We don’t believe in separating people and things by walls,” Halle says. “We see our community as serving a much larger population than just the people who live there.”

To learn more about the homes and lifestyle offered by Avalon Park West, visit AvalonParkWest.com, see the ad on pg 15 of this issue or call 783-1515. The new information center, which should be open in December, will be located at 33613 S.R. 54. To attend a public event, go to the clubhouse area at 5227 Autumn Ridge. Dr.

Avalon Park Avalon Park West

Importance Of Cybersecurity Stressed At PHSC

cybersecurity-1 — Keynote speaker Sri Sridharan, the managing director of USF FCC, told the audience that cybertheft of consumers’ financial information and money has become so common that it is usually unreported by the media and not investigated by law enforcement.

As people spend more of their time working, shopping and socializing online, they’re risking real-life consequences to their financial, professional and even personal well being. That’s the message that a group of experts delivered on Oct. 11 during a recent cybersecurity symposium at the Pasco Hernando State College (PHSC) Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch in Wesley Chapel.

Speakers presented information about protecting yourself from identity theft and social media risks, as well as about internet-based crimes such as human trafficking. The event was co-hosted with the Florida Center for Cybersecurity (FCC) at the University of South Florida (USF) and is part of PHSC’s Community Awareness Series.

Keynote speaker Sri Sridharan, the managing director of USF FCC, told the audience that cybertheft of consumers’ financial information and money has become so common that it is usually unreported by the media and not investigated by law enforcement.

“Just because you don’t hear about it doesn’t mean the problem isn’t there,” Sridharan said, adding that identity thieves target public Wi-Fi networks such as those made available by coffee shops, restaurants and stores to intercept personal information from people using those networks.

Another trend, called ransomware, allows hackers to encrypt information on a computer or data network, preventing users from accessing their files. Users regain access by paying money to the hackers. Sridharan said one way people can avoid identity theft is taking personal responsibility for online behavior.

“Cybersecurity is a serious problem and people have to practice good cybersecurity ‘hygiene’ to protect their personal information,” he said.

Using complex passwords that are unique to each login, shopping at well-known commercial websites, not using unknown USB drives or memory cards you’ve found laying around and becoming savvy about malicious links in emails and websites are some of Sridharan’s suggestions for maintaining your online security.

Dumpster diving (going through people’s garbage looking for discarded documents with personal information on them), shoulder surfing (peering over someone’s shoulder to steal a password or PIN) and skimming (a small device that scans your credit card when it’s inserted at the gas station, ATM or other automatic money machine) may sound like extreme sporting activities but they’re actually some of the common techniques used by identity thieves according to Jeff House, associate director of PHSC network services, who also spoke during the symposium.

“The main thing is being aware that the technologies we take for granted can easily cause us to lose our identities,” House said.

He recommends shredding sensitive documents before discarding them, positioning yourself away from the prying eyes of people around you when working online or using bank cards in public and taking a good look at point of sale terminals at registers and gas pumps to see if they appear to have been altered with information-stealing skimmers.

Social Security Protection

Staking out your Social Security account online long before claiming your benefits was the advice from Daryl Rosenthal, a public affairs specialist from the Social Security Administration. He says going online to SocialSecurity.gov and creating your account (called “my Social Security account”) allows you to review your earnings history for accuracy, learn about benefits and keep someone else from accessing your account and stealing your benefits. Rosenthal said it’s not easy for someone else to access your account, but it can happen if they acquire enough personal information about you. “To get an account, you have to enter information you know about yourself beyond your Social Security number,” he said.

Rosenthal also advises that people shouldn’t routinely carry their Social Security cards with them, and that they should resist providing their Social Security number to businesses that request it.

The internet has become a virtual playground and shopping center and Corporal Alan Wilkett of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) says there’s a dark side to that activity, with human trafficking taking place online. He says the practice of human trafficking involves economic slavery, body organ harvesting and the sex trade.

“The auctions of people are taking place online and it’s one of the most diabolical things around,” Cpl. Wilkett said. “Most of the adults I talk to have no idea this is going on.” According to Cpl. Wilkett, the best way to combat human trafficking is increasing public awareness of the problem and a willingness to get involved.

Bullying is the topic for PHSC’s next Community Awareness Series event, which will take place Wednesday, November 16, 2 p.m.-3 p.m. It will be held in the Building B conference room of the Porter Campus, located at 2727 Mansfield Blvd. For more information, you can visit PHSC.edu or call 527-6629.