Excellence In Eye Care For Outstanding Eye Care & Convenience!

You can find the friendly staff of Excellence in Eye Care (l.-r.) optometric tech Savannah Leder, Dr. David Scamard, Dr. J. Carson Woolwine & optometric tech Hannah Mammen inside the Costco off S.R. 56 in Lutz. (All photos by Charmaine George)  

Remembering to get your family’s groceries regularly is easy. Remembering to get your eyes checked regularly — maybe not so much.

Thankfully, optometrist David F. Scamard, O.D.’s office, Excellence in Eye Care, LLC, is conveniently located inside the Costco Wholesale store on the south side of S.R. 56 in Lutz, next to the Tampa Premium Outlets.

Dr. Scamard explains that eye exams should never be an oversight (pun intended).

“Many people tell me that they can’t imagine not being able to see, but they forget to go for regular eye exams,” Dr. Scamard says. “Getting your eyes checked regularly is so important for eye health.”

Dr. Scamard has been a practicing optometrist in the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel area for more than 20 years. He earned his undergraduate degree at the University of South Florida (USF) in Tampa and received his Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree from Nova Southeastern University (NSU) in Fort Lauderdale in 1999. He says that it was during his undergraduate years when he first got exposed to eye care, while working for an optometrist.

“At first, I didn’t know what area [of healthcare] to specialize in, but after working for an optometrist in college, I realized that I enjoyed helping people to be able to see,” he says. “You can feel the instant gratification of patients when you give them new glasses or contacts and you hear them say ‘Wow!’”

Excellence in Eye Care offers comprehensive eye exams and contact lens exams (with dilation included) for patients who need prescriptions for glasses and contacts. Retinal imaging also is available as an alternative to dilation.

“For patients who don’t want or can’t handle dilation, retinal imaging is helpful because we need that view to check the health of their eyes,” says Dr. Scamard. “We offer retinal imaging at a low cost, and patients get to see the inside of their eyes — actually see what the doctor sees.”

He adds, “I recently had a patient with macular degeneration, in the early stages, and I was able to show it to him. [By the process of] autofluorescence, the images show the blood supply underneath the eye. This is not as apparent during a dilation or by the naked eye. Thankfully, we caught it early.”

If you need eye exams specifically for diabetes, glaucoma or to renew your driver’s license, need an exam for eye trauma or pink eye, or need a foreign body removed from your eyes, Excellence in Eye Care can help with that, too.

After working in New Tampa and Lutz for several years and successfully growing his patient base in those communities, Dr. Scamard moved his office into Costco as soon as the wholesale club opened on S.R. 56 more than six years ago. He says that partnering with Costco has been advantageous for many reasons.

“Costco has a great reputation,” he says. “Costco Optical has been historically rated #1 by Consumer Reports as an optical department and offers fair prices and good value for contacts and glasses. I had a lot of established patients who followed me here, but it’s also a growing area, so I get lots of new patients here as well.” 

Excellence in Eye Care and Costco operate independently. You do not need a Costco membership to receive any services at Dr. Scamard’s office. But, if you are a Costco member, Costco Optical will accept prescriptions from Excellence in Eye Care for your glasses and contact lenses.

In 2022, Dr. J. Carson Woolwine joined Excellence in Eye Care as the office’s second optometrist. Also earning his O.D. degree from NSU (in 2016), Dr. Woolwine works 2-3 days a week with Dr. Scamard, which allows the office to be open for expanded hours six days a week.

Young Kids Need Eye Exams, Too 

Children may receive eye screenings at the pediatrician’s office or at school.  But, what parents may not know is that children should be seen by an optometrist regularly too, ideally with the first visit in the first 6-12 months of their lives.

In an interview with Optometric Management magazine published in 2002, former U.S. President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Jimmy Carter shared some truly eye-opening (again, pun intended) stories about two of his eleven grandchildren who needed help with their eyes at a young age. Pres. Carter’s granddaughter Margaret suffered from amblyopia, or lazy eye, which was first suspected at around age 3, but was not properly diagnosed until later when she injured her eye with a butter knife and couldn’t see properly. Early treatment with eye therapy and eye patching corrected the problem.

But, a more serious case of amblyopia occurred with Carter’s grandson Jamie, who, at 8-1/2 years old, had no obvious symptoms and had already passed several eye exams at school. When he ultimately did fail a school eye exam, an optometrist diagnosed him with advanced amblyopia. By that age, the doctor explained that it might be too late to correct Jamie’s eyesight completely, but eye therapy and patching was leading to improvement in his overall vision.

Dr. Scamard, who has specialty experience in pediatrics, is very passionate about early childhood eye exams.

“A lot of parents think that the school is checking their children’s vision, but that’s just a screening,” he says. “Parents have come to me in tears, saying, ‘I’m a terrible parent! How did I not realize this earlier?’ Children’s eyes should be checked within the first year and on a regular basis after that. We offer free comprehensive eye exams for children ages 6-12 months through the InfantSee program, which has been supported by the American Optometric Assn. and by Johnson & Johnson Vision. We were one of the charter members of that program.”

Dr. Scamard says that there are many conditions that childhood eye exams can catch and that catching them early is key.

“With conditions like amblyopia and strabismus (crossed eyes), children don’t realize that they aren’t seeing well,” he says. “They think that type of vision is normal and they can adapt to it. Unfortunately, after age 9, the brain loses plasticity (or the ability of neural networks in the brain to change through growth and reorganization) and visual pathways may not form properly. There’s a better prognosis before age 9. Afterwards, therapies may not take.”

Back to school and sports physical eye exams usually keep Excellence in Eye Care busy in late summer, but appointments and walk-ins for patients of all ages are always welcome. One of the office’s four optometric technicians, Savannah, Evangelina, Fran and Hannah, will help you schedule your eye exam. Mention Neighborhood News to get a free pair of non-prescription sunglasses (while supplies last).

Excellence in Eye Care does not accept insurance, but will provide an itemized receipt to submit for reimbursement with vision insurance companies. Costco Optical does accept insurance for glasses, contact lenses and other eyewear products. 

Excellence In Eye Care is located inside Costco at 2225 Grand Cypress Dr. in Lutz. The office is open Mon., Wed. & Fri., 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; 1 p.m.–7 p.m. on Tues. & Thur.; & 10 a.m.–2 p.m. on Sat. For more info, see the ad on pg. 3, call (813) 279-7038, or visit ExcellenceInEyeCare.net.

Visit Pampered Peach Wesley Chapel For Your Waxing & Facial Needs 

(Above, L.-r.): Waxologists Ashley Villela, Katie Kantor, Amanda Gonzalez (manager) & Nikki Brown of The Pampered Peach’s Wesley Chapel location on Bruce B. Downs Blvd., next to Dickey’s BBQ pit, invite you to enjoy outstanding services in a true spa environment. (Photos by Charmaine George)

Between vacations, big occasions and Florida’s virtually year-round beach season, there’s always a reason that you need to look and feel your best. The Pampered Peach Wax Bar on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in Wesley Chapel (across from AdventHealth Wesley Chapel) will take care of all your waxing and even your facial needs and give you a relaxing spa experience in the process.

The Pampered Peach Wax Bar is a homegrown Tampa Bay addition to the waxing industry. Jessica Kustron, the founder and CEO (chief executive officer) of The Pampered Peach, was born and raised in Tampa. After owning and running her own day-spa in Tampa for more than ten years, she saw an opportunity to create a wax-only salon to offer a more intimate approach to waxing customers.

The Pampered Peach has added a display of some new “merch” for sale.

Since launching The Pampered Peach in 2017, the business has expanded greatly, with seven locations now open or in the planning stages across four states. Today there are four locations in the Tampa Bay area (Wesley Chapel, Brandon, Temple Terrace and South Tampa), with more on the way, including planned locations in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and Ybor City.

You probably won’t see co-owners Jonathan Smith, Michael Grande, and Anthony Cintron much around The Pampered Peach of Wesley Chapel, but that’s how they prefer it, as they let their talented team of “waxologists” shine while they do the behind-the-scenes management and growth of the business.

“We’re all from this area and our market research indicated that Wesley Chapel, with its massive growth over the past five years, could really use a business like this,” Jonathan says. He and his girlfriend Amanda Gonzalez, who is the manager at the Wesley Chapel location, both live in Wesley Chapel, while Michael is in Land O’ Lakes and Anthony lives in Palm Harbor.

It’s clear that this trio of owners knows the industry well, from the lingo, to the products, to even first-hand knowledge of the services so that they can improve the experience for all their clients.

Ashley gets the wax ready for a client’s procedure.

“We offer three different types of wax — hard wax, soft wax, and sugaring — which is really unique in the waxing industry,” Jonathan says. “Picking the right wax will depend upon the area and hair type being removed, and sugaring offers a purely organic option.”

He adds, “We use and sell cruelty-free, botanical-based Farmhouse Fresh products, which have won multiple awards internationally and have many magazine and celebrity endorsements.”

The services available at the salon are truly head to toe. Amanda says the most popular waxing areas are the traditional Brazilian (bikini), eyebrows, and underarms, but other areas like half or full waxing of the arms, legs and back also are available. For the face, you can have every pesky hair near your lips, sideburns, ears and nose (and more) removed, and even get a full-face waxing package.

While The Pampered Peach’s website touts that the spas offer a five-minute Brazilian — and you can definitely get it if in a rush — if you have the time, the owners recommend consulting with the waxologists to get the best possible experience.

“Our waxologists — Amanda, Nikki, Ashley, and Katie — are all very well trained, with about 15 years of experience combined,” says Michael. “When you get services with us, especially the first few times, the waxologist will perform a consultation with you, asking about your skin type (dry versus oily), allergies, pores, acne and more. Based on your answers, they may add steam or other services if needed. They get to know you well.”

“Waxing gets easier over time,” Jonathan adds. “As the hair gets thinner, the hair removal becomes less painful and more predictable A Brazilian may take about 30 minutes the first time, but after that, the time goes down to 15 minutes or less.”

And, Amanda says that men shouldn’t feel shy. She says that while the salon mainly sees female customers, there has been an increase in male clients for services like back and chest waxing as well as arms, legs, Brazilian with a stem (aka, a “Manzilian”), and full body.

Facials & Specialty Services
Nikki provides a relaxing facial.

The Pampered Peach Wesley Chapel is proud to have expanded into also offering facials. As one of the initial locations to add facials, the salon offers four types — brightening, soothing, acne and anti-aging — and all of them can be mini (30 minutes) or full (60 minutes). The Wesley Chapel location also has increased from three service rooms to four, with the newest one being dedicated to facials, with a spa-like environment and relaxing music.

Brow lamination and brow henna, which involve using a tint or henna coloring to fill in missing areas of the eyebrows, is another specialty. This quick and painless process leaves eyebrows looking fuller and usually lasts 3-4 weeks.

Worried about ingrown hairs? The salon offers a treatment for that as well.

“Ingrown hairs often come down to a lack of exfoliation and not enough post-care support,” says Michael, emphasizing the importance of speaking with the waxologists to get the best experience for your skin and hair type.

Even the best wax service can’t stop hair from eventually growing back, so The Pampered Peach offers memberships monthly, annual and as package membership deals that are perfect for routine follow-ups. For periodic a la carte services, you also can get a VIP card for discounts on merchandise and future services.

If you’re not sure where to start, visit the Pampered Peach’s website to get offers on Brazilians and other bikini and brow waxes for new customers and other seasonal discounts. Pampered Peach Wesley Chapel additionally offers 20% off facials and $25 Brazilians for first-time guests. And, if you mention the Neighborhood News, you can get your second Brazilian for $25, too.

And, stay tuned  — The Pampered Peach Wesley Chapel is planning to launch a new website with a streamlined online booking process, as well as to add 16 more hours across the week, including opening on Mondays, by later this year.

The Pampered Peach Wax Bar of Wesley Chapel is located at 2653 BBD Blvd., Suite 102. The salon is open Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday; and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, call 727-FL-PEACH (357-3224). Or, visit PamperYourPeach.com/wesley-chapel-fl or find the spa on Facebook and Instagram.

Attorney Derek Usman Is Ready To Fight For You & Your Business!

Attorney Derek Usman (left) of the Usman Law Firm, PA., and his marketing assistant Corinne Ishler, attended the Hillsborough Bar Association’s Judicial Food Festival. (Photo provided by Derek Usman)

When you have a local and approachable attorney like Derek Usman available, calling upon a lawyer for legal help in employment and business matters gets a little less stressful.

Outside of his offices or the courtroom, you may see Derek out and about in the area. He is a proud member of the Rotary Club of New Tampa. He regularly attends Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church in South Tampa’s Hyde Park neighborhood. You might even find him picking up kombucha or cold pressed juice at Nutrition Smart.

“People need somebody they can trust,” Derek says. “A lot of people don’t have someone in their social circles who is capable, ethical and competent to help with legal matters. The average person may only need someone like me once in a lifetime, so it’s important to always be trustworthy.”

After nearly a decade of practicing law in Chicago, Derek has been serving the Tampa Bay area since 2015, when he moved to Wesley Chapel. His Usman Law Firm, P.A., has two offices. The main office is on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in New Tampa, just south of Wesley Chapel and his newer office is in downtown Tampa. Derek specializes in business law (contracts, labor, company ownership structure, etc.), employment law (workplace disputes) and litigation.

 Derek’s education and experience make him especially well suited to the areas of business and employment law. He earned his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Business from Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) in 1997. He became a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Illinois shortly thereafter. Then, in 2001, he earned his Juris Doctor degree (J.D.) degree from the Northern Illinois University College of Law. After law school, he joined the Comptroller’s Office at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and, while working there, was able to earn a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation degree, at no cost to himself, from Chicago-Kent College of Law at IIT in 2005.

His experience with accounting and taxes helps him spot financial issues in contracts and transactions. “I can check if assets are depreciated, inflated, or valued properly,” he says. “In public companies versus private companies, ownership can be valued in different ways and I can help clients figure out which option is most advantageous for them.”

Your Litigation Specialist

What does it mean to specialize in litigation? It means Derek is capable of serving as a trial lawyer.

“As a lawyer, going to court is common,” Derek explains. “You have to go to court every time you file a motion. But, it’s unusual for business disputes to go to trial. It’s (usually more) economical to settle. But going to trial is something I am always prepared to do for my clients.”

For example, the Usman Law Firm recently emerged victorious in a three-day federal jury trial against Ulta Beauty, Inc., in which Derek was able to win $60,000 for his client in an employment law case. He also has represented Priatek, LLC, a startup company based in St. Petersburg, and two whistleblowers who filed a lawsuit against the Salvation Army.

Derek says many people would prefer to pick a large law firm versus a smaller practice like his for business legal matters.

“The so-called ‘white shoe firms’ — the well-established, large city firms — may feel less risky, especially if money is not an issue,” he says. “But, bigger firms also can mean double or triple the cost without necessarily getting a senior lawyer. You may get the new, less-experienced guy right out of law school.

He adds, “On the other hand, when you go against large companies that have in-house legal teams, they will have their experts for all types of cases. They definitely will have their own trial expert.” Either way, I have gone up against them.” 

The Usman Law Firm, P.A.’s New Tampa location is at 20701 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Suite 207, and the downtown Tampa location is at 505 E. Jackson St., Suite 305. For more information, please visit DUsmanLaw.com, call (813) 377-1197.

Compass Claim Solutions — When Your Insurance Co. Says ‘No!’ 

If your home has ever suffered damage like this, make sure you call Shawn Thompson of 
Compass Claim Solutions. He will see to it that you get paid what your claim is really worth, not just what your insurance company is willing to pay. (Photos provided by Shawn Thompson)

Shawn Thompson, the owner of Compass Claim Solutions, first began advertising in the Neighborhood News in 2022, as Hurricane Ian was expected to make landfall in or very close to Tampa. But, when that major hurricane devastated Ft. Myers and much of southwest Florida instead, Shawn spent a lot of time in that area, helping to make sure that the people there — who had literally lost everything — were properly compensated by their insurance companies.

The New Tampa and Wesley Chapel areas were largely spared from the brunt of that storm, as well as from the wrath of Hurricane Nicole six weeks later, but what if this year’s hurricane season hits even closer to home? Who will make sure you get properly compensated when your insurance company offers only a minimal payment that won’t cover all the damage or even denies your claim outright?

A Licensed Florida Public Adjuster, Shawn is an independent expert who is ready to fight for you. He can help you file or contest property damage claims related to not only hurricanes, but also due to lightning, floods, wind, storms, fire, mold, theft, vandalism, plumbing, and more.

Shawn says it can be extra tricky to understand your hurricane coverage. Does your claim fall under the hurricane deductible? Is flooding separate? With hurricane season fast approaching, Shawn can help with questions like these and more.

“Last year, this area was spared from major hurricane damage,” says Shawn. “I was glad to be able to assist many people in and near the Ft. Myers area by giving licensed estimates of the damage they incurred, filing and adjusting claims, and negotiating with their insurance companies.”

The Thompson family — (l.-r.) Shawn, Luke, Kasey & Lindsay (holding the family’s puppy Wrigley) — has lived in the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area since the mid-2000s.

Born and raised in Ocala, Shawn graduated from St. Leo University near Dade City in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Business Management. After ten years at CVS Pharmacy, including in upper management, Shawn decided to make a change.

Thankfully, he was introduced to the public adjuster industry by his brother-in-law Leonard Pisciotto, Jr., and, in 2012, began the process of getting licensed himself. This included a one-year apprenticeship with Leonard at his family business — Equitable Public Adjusters — which had more than 50 total years of experience. Shawn also worked for six months handling claims for insurance companies. 

Since 2015, Shawn has been working full time as a Licensed Public Adjuster and has helped thousands of clients get fair and better settlements from their insurance carriers.

 Shawn provides free insurance claim assessments for homeowners, business owners and organizations like HOAs (homeowners associations) to evaluate for missed opportunities to increase the value of their claims, such as inadequately reported damages, uninvoked clauses in your insurance policy, or loss of business income. He is very familiar with the homes and businesses of this area, having moved to New Tampa in the mid-2000s, and to Wesley Chapel in 2010, where he is now living with his wife Lindsay, their children, Kasey and Luke and their puppy, Wrigley.

“To offer the most benefit, I always recommend contacting me first, as soon as you think you might need assistance with your insurance company or a claim,” says Shawn. “There are three main ways I can initially help with insurance companies: directly communicating with their insurance adjusters on site with required documentation, providing a licensed estimate of all damages and interpreting insurance policy language.”

But, he adds, it’s never too late to involve a public adjuster, even if your claim already has been closed. 

“We can get involved at any point of the process,” he says. “Sometimes, a claim is evaluated as falling under the deductible, so the insurance company will only pay the deductible — or less — and it’s not enough to cover the loss. We can argue this as a diminished payout to recover additional funds. And, if a claim is denied outright, we can look for opportunities to overturn that claim.” 

If there is ever a reason to dispute an insurance claim, Shawn says the next step is to negotiate with the insurance company and their claims adjusters. But sometimes, talking to the insurance company can become a long, drawn-out process.

 As recent client Jackie Graziano describes, “Shawn really stepped up to resolve my homeowners claim.  I was struggling for two years and, in a few short months, Shawn had it done and I was financially compensated by the insurance carrier.”

Another client, Carolyn Mayer, says her only regret was that she didn’t reach out to Shawn earlier. “We had a major loss that was very tricky to navigate with the insurance company,” she says. “Shawn took a HUGE burden off our chests and took sole responsibility to help us navigate the very tricky process of insurance claims. His knowledge and persistence allowed us to recoup about three times what the insurance company initially offered. If we had called him earlier, he could have prevented the very poor clean-up done by the insurance contractor and helped to prevent further damage.”

Shawn says that negotiations are usually successful for the majority of claim disputes. But, if further actions are ever needed, such as involving an independent appraiser, going through mediation or, as a last resort, taking legal action, Compass Claim Solutions is prepared to do whatever is necessary keep you from leaving money on the table.

“Legally, there are only two parties that can represent a policyholder through the insurance claim dispute process — a public adjuster like me and an attorney. In all the cases I’ve been involved in, I can count on my hands the number of times litigation was required. Contacting a public adjuster to help contest a claim is always a good first step.”

 So how much does it cost to hire a licensed public adjuster? With Shawn, the answer is zero dollars up front. He will only collect if you collect.

“In Florida, a public adjuster’s fee is capped at 20% of what’s recovered. But, I always tell my clients that my fee is negotiable,” says Shawn. “My goal is to help you recover much, much more than you would have gotten before my involvement. It’s not unheard of to get 10-20 times more than what you would have gotten initially.”

Compass Claim Solutions is available 7 days a week, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. For more information, see the ad on pg. 22, call (352) 502-5928 or visit CompassClaimSolutions.com.

Taylor Gardner Gutters & Exteriors Can Help Build Your Home’s Value 

The crew at Taylor Gardner Gutters & Exteriors takes the business of cleaning out and/or installing new rain gutters at your home very seriously. (Photos provided by Taylor Gardner)

Your home’s rain gutters may not be high on your list when it comes to home improvement or maintenance. But, Florida is one of the rainiest states in the country with an average rainfall of 40-60 inches per year, so it may be more important than you think.

“If you don’t have gutters, you are risking water damage to your home’s foundation,” says Taylor Gardner, the owner of Taylor Gardner Gutters & Exteriors. “If you have gutters and neglect them, that’s actually more of a disadvantage, as you risk standing water collecting and building up right against your roof.”

Taylor Gardner

Taylor Gardner Gutters & Exteriors is a family-owned business with more than 31 years of experience in installing and repairing residential and commercial gutters. The business was first started in Lutz by Taylor’s father Ed Gardner, and was officially transitioned to Taylor (a Wharton High graduate) in 2019 after Ed passed away. In 2021, the business expanded and the office was moved to U.S. Hwy 41 in Land O’ Lakes.

In addition to working on gutters, Taylor Gardner Gutters also can repair soffits and fascia, which are the supporting structures for gutters located behind the gutters and underneath the roof. The company also performs gutter cleanings and leaf guard installations, screen room installations, and even window replacements. Taylor Gardner Gutters can reroute underground water drainage away from a building’s foundation towards preferred locations, such as private ponds, sidewalks or sewers.

Taylor, a U.S. Marine for nine years who served in Iraq and later earned a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Business Administration from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, has been involved in the business since childhood. Assisting his dad in his youth, he remembers that the early days of the business consisted of “me and Dad and one truck and one trailer.” Today, Taylor is the leader of five gutter crews and three soffit and fascia crews with 15 employees and 10-15 others in partnership. Improving water drainage around your home can have so many benefits.

“Our customers’ homes can vary from a 30-year-old house in New Tampa to a newly constructed house in Wesley Chapel to a mansion built over swamp land,” says Taylor. “Houses settle over time, causing cracks in walls and stucco, allowing water to move underneath the house. Windows are intentional cracks in the foundation for light and ventilation, but mold and mildew can grow there too. With tiles and wooden floors, spots can pop up as water gets in. Sometimes swamps are drained, clay is put on top and homes are built on top of that, but the water table (the boundary between groundwater and dry land) is already high, and it will move up in crevices.”

He adds, “Sometimes homes already have gutters, but they are neglected and that’s actually a worse situation. Blocked gutters keep standing water against the house, weighing the gutters down with hundreds or even thousands of pounds of water, leaves and debris easily. That can lead to cracked fascia and roof leaks.”

Here are some examples of the types of gutters that can be installed by Taylor Gardner Gutters.

Taylor also says that gutters can even add unexpected aesthetic appeal. Copper gutters can last up to 100 years and add a beautiful shining element to the outside of the home. Half-round gutters were more common in older homes and can add a more traditional look. Rain guards are alternatives to gutters that use long chains to redirect rainfall. With more than 20 different colors to choose from, your gutter color and style can vary from subtle to bold. 

While the company serves locations in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Hernando, and Polk counties, Taylor says, “Hillsborough and Pasco counties are our bread and butter.” In fact, as Hillsborough and Pasco counties continue to grow, Taylor says his business is growing right alongside them.

“We work directly with GL Homes, the builders for The Ridge and Winding Ridge communities in Wesley Chapel,” he says, “and with the new construction by the former Pebble Creek golf course, to install all of the gutters for their properties.”

Taylor recommends spring as the best time to consult a gutter professional, especially for gutter cleaning. Taylor Gardner Gutters offers free gutter estimates. In anticipation of the rainy season from May to October, the company currently is offering a special rate of 15% off leaf guard products, such as Leaf Blaster Pro and Leaf Relief, which can block leaves and debris from entering gutters and creating blockages.

“Gutters are the least expensive upgrade you can do to improve the value of your house,” says Taylor. “It generally costs less than painting your whole home, getting floors done, or getting new landscaping.”

Taylor Gardner Gutters & Exteriors is located at 6202 Land O’Lakes Blvd. The office is open Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-5 p.m. For more info, visit TaylorGardnerGutters.com, call (813) 515-0844, see the ad on pg. 39 or visit the company’s pages on Facebook and Instagram.