Special to The Laker/Lutz News

The Laker and Lutz News brings home 11 statewide honors

July 29, 2015 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

The Laker and Lutz News received 11 honors at the Florida Better Weekly Newspaper Awards luncheon in St. Mary on July 24.

The winning entries were selected from a field of 1,600, in a competition judged by newspaper professionals from New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

B.C. Manion, the editor for The Laker/Lutz News, received six awards for her work, including a first place in obituary writing, and a first place in faith and family writing, for work published in The Laker.

She also won second place honors for education reporting, and third place for health-medical and science reporting for work published in The Laker.

And, she won third place in the categories of outdoor, and for arts, entertainment and reviewing reporting for work published in The Lutz News.

Photographer Fred Bellet, whose work is frequently featured in The Laker and in The Lutz News, won three first place awards and two-second place honors.

He won first place in the categories of sport picture, feature photo and photo series in one issue, for work published in The Laker. He also won second place in the categories of photo series in one issue and portfolio photography for work published in The Lutz News.

Manion’s winning entry in the faith and family reporting category detailed a church’s efforts to make the word of God accessible to people with hearing disabilities – through the installation of special equipment.

“The is a very informative article about an important subject. This type of journalism is a service to the community,” the judges wrote.

Her winning obituary detailed the life of Don Porter, whose influence played a significant role in shaping the development of Wesley Chapel.

The judges said the piece was “respectfully written — painted a complete picture of the man.”

Bellet’s winning entry in the feature photo category was of a World War II veteran, which the judges called “the standout photo” in its group, and said it “serves as a reminder that our World War II veterans are dwindling in number.”

Bellet also claimed top honors for a photo series featuring the Festival of Flights. The judges said: “A nice mix of shots, especially the little boy’s reaction and the evening shot of the balloons, that really brings the reader to this event.”

Bellet also captured a first place finish in the sports picture category for a photo capturing the precise instant of a skydiver’s landing. “A nice, tightly composed shot of an unusual sporting activity,” the judges said.

Manion’s other winning entries featured two stories from her Worth the Trip series, showcasing The Tampa Theatre and Bok Tower Gardens. She also was honored for an education story on a prize-winning custodian.

Bellet’s other winning entries featured a photo series featuring skydivers and a portfolio of photos.

Published July 29, 2015

A birthday celebration for America

July 22, 2015 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

On July 4, Grand Horizons had a Fourth of July picnic/potluck at the community center. Approximately 85 residents attended this function and, from what Chris told me, everyone seemed to have a good time. She also went on to tell me that along with Rich and Chris Fulton who were hosting this event, they also had Dave and Jenny Molinek, Bill and Pidge Elliott, Tom and Sue Medise, and Chick and Annmarie Shackewyc helping and cleaning up. I was also told that Fred Sage gave the blessing. The Social Club supplied the fried chicken, coleslaw and potato salad, while desserts and side dishes were brought in by the individuals that were attending. Chris ended by saying that there was more than enough to eat, and nobody left hungry. It was a very good turnout, as some people were still away for the summer months.

Sue Amstutz and Bill Peters (Photos courtesy of Adrianne Ayres)

On July 10, the lunch connoisseurs met and had a lovely lunch at Red Robin. I do not know the exact number of people who went, but I am sure they all had a good time. If I recall correctly, they have luscious and juicy hamburgers, and all the French fries that you can eat.

Paper crafting is still going on every Wednesday in the craft room. Here we can find many people with all sorts of talents, plus creative teachers. I do know, from being there last winter that all sorts of articles are created, and some of them are quite useful.

By Helene Rubenstein

Published July 22, 2015

Planting a garden that’s friendly to pets

July 22, 2015 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Gardeners love their plants and their pets. Knowing the basics about plants, design and safety can help make the garden a great space for humans and their nonhuman companions.

My pet-friendly yard is a favorite place for my dog, Pepper Pinson, to explore. (Photos courtesy of Nicole Pinson) — My pet-friendly yard is a favorite place for my dog, Pepper Pinson, to explore.
(Photos courtesy of Nicole Pinson)

To plant a dog-friendly yard, consider the places in your yard that your dog likes to visit. Does he use specific pathways? Does she like to patrol the fence line? Learning where your dog enjoys spending time in the garden can help you design a pet-friendly backyard. My 85-pound sheepdog, Pepper, loves to play in the garden. But on more than one occasion, Pepper has accidentally run over a newly planted shrub. Now, I notice where she likes to play, and I keep these parts of my garden plant-free, so we both can enjoy our backyard.

If you have favorite plants that are unique or fragile, consider locating them in the front yard to protect them from damage. You can also protect your plants by using raised beds. Keep in mind dogs are reluctant to push through vines and dense plantings. Sturdy plants, such as tough ornamental grasses, or plants with woody stems like viburnum, can help make your garden more resistant to dogs.

Some cats enjoy plants such as catnip. Many of us are familiar with catnip, also called catmint. Catnip is in the Lamiaceae family, which also includes many aromatic plants such as mint, rosemary, salvia and thyme. While being a favorite for cats, it also serves as an excellent garden plant for pollinators when blooming. Catnip is a perennial in Florida, and grows 3 feet to 5 feet tall. But if your catnip is anything like mine, the neighborhood cats will quickly find and roll around in it, which means you may need to replant it often. Catnip may be propagated from seed or cuttings.

Some common landscape plants, such as oleander, are toxic to cats and dogs.

Cats may also love to chew on grasses such as cat grass and lemongrass. Both cat grass and lemongrass are in the grass family, Poaceae. Lemongrass is an easy plant to grow, and it thrives in full sun. It is a perennial throughout most of Florida, and you can use the stalks to flavor teas, soups, curries and stir-fry.

However, any plant a pet eats could make them vomit, so it is usually a good idea to keep plants out of their reach.

According to Dr. Amber Meade, “Most veterinarians know common plant toxins, so if you suspect your pet is sick from eating a plant, always consult your veterinarian. It’s always better to have them evaluated as soon as possible, because sometimes waiting until they are showing signs of sickness is too late.”

The Pet Poison Helpline (PetPoisonHelpline.com/pet-owners/basics/top-10-plants-poisonous-to-pets/) is a good online resource that provides 24-7 support for pet owners. The American Society for Prevention and Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) maintains a list of toxic and nontoxic plants on their website at ASPCA.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control.

For questions about poisonous or toxic plants, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has a poisonous plants webpage at FreshFromFlorida.com/Divisions-Offices/Plant-Industry/Bureaus-and-Services/Bureau-of-Entomology-Nematology-Plant-Pathology/Botany/Poisonous-Plants.

Dogs are reluctant to push through dense plantings such as plumbago.

A pet-friendly yard also means using care when applying pesticides and other chemicals. Read pesticide labels carefully, and follow label directions with regard to application, timing and re-entry periods. Practice the basic steps of integrated pest management, and always properly identify the pest before selecting a control. When possible, use the least toxic pesticides, such as soaps, oils, spinosad or neem, if they are appropriate for your pest problem.

If your cat chews on houseplants, or your dog eats your shrubs, then do your research to develop a pet-friendly planting plan for your garden. Common landscape plants and houseplants may be toxic to our nonhuman companions. Doing some research can save you money and keep your pets safe!

For additional information, contact "> or (813) 744-5519, ext. 54145.

By Nicole Pinson

Nicole Pinson is Urban Horticulture Agent in Hillsborough County. The author gratefully acknowledges Dr. Amber Meade, MS, DVM, Broadway Veterinary Hospital, Durham, North Carolina, for her advice and input during preparation of this article.

Big changes for businesses processing credit cards

July 20, 2015 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Mike Matthew

Special to The Laker / Lutz News

In just a few months, business owners who process credit card payments will benefit from a favorable new rule regarding Fraud Liability — so long as they meet certain criteria.

“Beginning in October, 2015, the liability on fraudulent transactions switches to the issuing bank instead of the merchant, so long as the merchant is able to process credit cards that have the new chip technology,” explains Terry Inman, President and CEO of Vecter Technologies, LLC. “The new chip technology is known in the industry as EMV (Europay MasterCard Visa) which is a technical standard for smart payment cards.”

“However, businesses that are unable to process smart cards will continue to be liable for fraudulent transactions,” Terry explains.

In order to benefit from this important change, Vecter Technologies is updating its current customer base, while also helping new merchants, by providing compliant credit card processing equipment needed to process EMV transactions.

“Vecter loans EMV capable equipment to qualifying merchants at no cost,” says Terry. “Vecter never leases equipment to its customers, as equipment is constantly changing to meet processing demands. In many cases, merchants are stuck in a lease where the equipment they are using is no longer a viable solution. Lease options can be a costly investment to the merchant.”

Terry goes on to say, “We encourage businesses to upgrade their equipment which will allow them to accept EMV, near communications, and swipe transactions now, and not wait until the liability shift in October.”

EMV cards, or smart cards, which have been in use for years in Canada and Europe, have a small computer embedded in them which significantly reduces credit card fraud.

“These smart cards help with fraud prevention and will not be usable if a thief attempts to skim the card numbers, which is unfortunately something that can happen with magnetic stripe cards today,” Terry stated. “Even though Pay at the Pump stations and ATM locations are prevalent to these type of fraudulent transactions, the Fraud Liability shift for these services will not go into effect until October, 2017. The reason for the delay is due to the significant equipment investment and the limited number of certified installation technicians across the country.”

“The liability shift gives issuing banks a real incentive to provide customers with EMV credit cards,” Terry said, “even though they are more expensive to manufacture than traditional magnetic stripe cards commonly used today.”

“This means smart cards will quickly become the standard card used by most consumers. It’s essential that businesses update their processing equipment so they are ready to accept smart card transactions,” Terry noted.

In addition to providing credit card processing services, Vecter Technologies has a proprietary point of sale system (POS) called Total Commerce. It also offers an industry specific POS system for cigar merchants called Fuego Total Commerce, and a software application specifically designed for private schools called Total Campus, in order to provide a cashless environment. In addition to having their own frontend gateway, they are also certified on most Point of Sale software solutions including tablet systems such as BreadCrumb, iConnect, and ShopKeep.

Vecter Technologies, with sales offices in 22 states, differs from its competitors as its sales agents earn a portion of the residual revenue instead of an up-front commission. “This creates a personal relationship between the agent and the merchant. It also provides a real incentive for the agent to assist in resolving any merchant related issues that may arise,” said Terry.

Vecter Technologies is a register Agent of Citizens Bank NA, Providence, RI and utilizes WorldPay as its primary acquiring partner.

Terry and his wife, Kristan, are the sole owners of Vecter Technologies, LLC. The main office is located in Land O’ Lakes, Florida. They welcome calls from business owners wanting to learn more about the upcoming industry changes and how they can prepare their business for the future.

(888) 795-1280

2711 Letap Court, Unit 102

Land O’ Lakes, FL 34638

www.VecterTech.com

Vecter Technologies…A Direct Line to the Future

Omega Tree Service – 30 Years Experience Trimming Trees

July 20, 2015 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Meaghan O’Neal

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Buck Rollings is passionate about making trees healthy and safe, and his employees at Omega Tree Service share that commitment.

Buck, a certified arborist, is the owner of Omega Tree Service — a commercial tree trimming company that has been in business for more than 30 years. Buck bought the business four years ago when he retired from the U.S. Marines Corps after 20 years of service.

With the business came crew members who had worked at Omega for many years.

“I was very fortunate to keep the crew that came with Omega,” said Buck. “Not only are these employees exceptionally skilled and knowledgeable, they’ve become like family because we spend so much time working together.”

Having an experienced crew is invaluable, Buck explains, because they keep alive the craftsmanship of tree trimming by training younger employees.

“Tree trimming is an art that is dying — a skill that can’t be found in books. It’s something you learn by doing,” Buck explains. “There’s a huge difference between having the knowledge of how a tree should look, and then actually being able to trim a tree safely and accurately.”

Once you understand how trees should be trimmed, it’s troubling when you see trees that are trimmed incorrectly, Buck says.

“There’s only one way to trim trees, and that’s the right way,” says Buck.

All of Omega’s crew members are certified, and all participate in ongoing training with other arborist in the area, as well as enrolling in programs taught by the University of South Florida. In addition, Omega Tree Service is a member of the International Society of Arborist.

Because felling trees and trimming massive tree limbs can be extremely dangerous, Omega’s employees are trained to avoid accidents and know how to leave a tree so it’s safe for customers.

“Trimming trees improperly doesn’t just make them less appealing visually, but it can actually make them very dangerous to homeowners. That is why we put so much time into training and making sure our work is done correctly,” said Buck.

Another priority of Buck and his staff is prolonging the longevity of their customers’ trees.

“We are very passionate about finding ways to preserve trees, instead of doing major work just for the money,” he said.

With Omega’s extensive experience and equipment, it primarily focuses on larger tree trimming jobs. Buck and his crew do a lot of work in Lutz and Land O’ Lakes because there are so many mature, older trees in this area.

813-931-4741 • www.OmegaTreesTampaBay.com

Our trip to Lake Winnipesaukee

July 15, 2015 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Marty and I decided to take a “mini” trip to New Hampshire and left our Connecticut home on June 25. After a leisurely drive to New Hampshire, our first stop was the Wolfeboro Trolley Company. This was a great way to tour the town of Wolfeboro as we took a 45-minute narrated tram ride. We saw the views of Lake Winnipesaukee, and the water looked so peaceful and refreshing.

The Winnipesaukee Belle provided a narrated cruise of Lake Winnipesaukee. (Photos courtesy of Marty Rubenstein) — The Winnipesaukee Belle provided a narrated cruise of Lake Winnipesaukee.
(Photos courtesy of Marty Rubenstein)

We got to see the many museums and the shops that sold different wares. One museum, the Wright Museum of World War II, housed WWII equipment, uniforms and memorabilia. We also learned the history of Lake Winnipesaukee.

You were allowed to hop on and off the trolley all day. If you saw a store that looked intriguing, you just got off and took another trolley when you wished to continue.

After the trolley ride, we went on the Winnipesaukee Belle for a relaxing, narrated cruise. We saw beautiful houses that looked like mansions. The ride was lovely and the narration, very informative.

Next, we traveled to the New Hampshire Boat Museum, where we saw vintage boats, lake memorabilia and more. There were also hands-on activities for the kids. It started with a video about the early life on the lake from the Native Americans until today.

It was now dinnertime and while I usually do not mention where we ate, I will this time. We ate at Hart’s Turkey Farm, and I mention it because there is a little story about its history. In the late 1940s, brothers Russ and Larry Hart and their wives left New Jersey to begin farming in New Hampshire. Helen and Geda helped their husbands in growing vegetables and apples. The two couples sold chickens, eggs and turkeys from a delivery truck. In 1953, they raised turkeys exclusively, and that is when the business started to grow.

After dinner, it was back to our motel to plan for the next day.

Miniature Mount Rushmore at Klickety Klack Railroad.

In the morning, we went to the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad. We boarded the train for a pleasant two-hour ride with unsurpassed scenery along the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee. We enjoyed the nostalgic elegance of the past, as we traveled over the historic tracks that were part of the Boston and Maine railroad system. We traveled in restored coaches that reflected the vintage of the past. This was where memories were created one ride at a time. Passengers can catch this ride either at Meredith or Weirs Beach.

After the train ride, we headed to Lucknow, formerly known as Castle in the Clouds. We had gone there many years ago and enjoyed it so thoroughly we decided to make a return visit. Once again, we had a marvelous time.

During our visit we learned the history of this beautiful place. We heard the rags-to-riches story of the owner, Thomas Plant. The castle was built of stone and oak, intended to stand for centuries. We strolled through the gardens and saw the many waterfalls. Some people went on horseback rides or rode in carriages.

It is a unique country home and gentleman’s estate, built in 1914 on a mountaintop high over Lake Winnipesaukee. Originally comprised of 6,300 acres, the estate features 16 rooms and consists of a stable/garage, two gatehouses, a 100-foot greenhouse, farm buildings, an 18-hole golf course, tennis court and a lake for swimming. This was some site, and after completing our tour, we went to the Loon Center.

The view of Lake Winnipesaukee from the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad.

We started off the tour of the center by viewing a video, and in the video we got to see how protective the parents are of their newborn. The center offered much information and a great view of the lake.

Next, it was back to our motel to prepare for the final day of our trip.

In the morning, we got up early to go back to Wolfeboro for a classic boat ride.

We went for a ride on a 28-foot wooden speedboat. We’d taken this ride many years ago and were happy to take the ride again. We had the time of our lives, and while on the speeding boat, we saw lakefront homes and boathouses.

We heard fascinating stories of lake history, geography and wildlife. One story explained how to tell if a house was recently built or built many years ago. You can tell, according to the story, by where the house is situated and also their boathouses. If the house is farther away from the water, you know that it was recently built. By the same token, if a boathouse extends over the water, it was not built recently. The 45-minute trip ended all too soon, and we took a ride to our final destination, which was Klickety Klack Railroad.

The Klickety Klack Railroad is a beautiful layout of miniature trains, trees, waterfalls and so on. It is all in one room, but there’s so much to see.

We saw so much during our trip, but like always, it sure felt good to get home.

By Helene Rubenstein

Published July 15, 2015

Freedom Fest entertains and delights

July 8, 2015 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

The fourth annual Wesley Chapel Freedom Festival drew thousands to The Shops at Wiregrass on July 3.

Kids and adults face-planted in watermelon during the watermelon-eating contest.

David Towner, of Tampa, stopped for a snapshot while making his way along the booths and exhibits at The Wesley Chapel Freedom Festival on July 3. There were 50 vendors at this year’s festival. The event drew an estimated 40,000, up 10 percent over last year, said Debbie Detweiler, marketing director for The Shops at Wiregrass. (Fred Bellet/Photos) — David Towner, of Tampa, stopped for a snapshot while making his way along the booths and exhibits at The Wesley Chapel Freedom Festival on July 3. There were 50 vendors at this year’s festival. The event drew an estimated 40,000, up 10 percent over last year, said Debbie Detweiler, marketing director for The Shops at Wiregrass.
(Fred Bellet/Photos)

Competitors put their creativity on display for the bike-decorating contest.

Little boys and little girls did their best to charm the judges and the crowd during the Little Miss & Mr. Firecracker Pageant.

Children had a blast jumping around in bounce houses and playing with animal-shaped balloons.

The parking lots were full. Restaurants were buzzing. And people of all ages were decked out in red and white and hanging out all over the mall during the event, hosted by The Shops at Wiregrass and the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel.

Festivities concluded with a 10-minute fireworks show, sponsored by Land O Lakes Moving, which drew “Whoos!” and “Whoas!” along with oohs and ahs from those gathered.

“I feel like I’m at Disney World,” one boy in the crowd pronounced.

Xavier Abreu, 10, of New Port Richey, keeps an eye on the competition as Wesley Chapel's Michael Lopergalo, 11, eats his way closer to the rind and wins first place in the youth division of the watermelon-eating contest. — Xavier Abreu, 10, of New Port Richey, keeps an eye on the competition as Wesley Chapel’s Michael Lopergalo, 11, eats his way closer to the rind and wins first place in the youth division of the watermelon-eating contest.

Four-year-old Noor Keraa wore her patriotic headdress as she watches the contestants of the Little Miss Firecracker pageant during the Wesley Chapel Freedom Fest at The Shops at Wiregrass. She was at the Independence Day event with her dad, Sami Keraa of Wesley Chapel.

Some of the older contestants took to a little exercise with Hula Hoops before the start of the Freedom Fest Little Miss & Mr. Firecracker pageant.

Madelyn Moodie, with parents Rachell and Matt Moodie, was the Little Miss Firecracker overall girls winner. (Photo provided) — Madelyn Moodie, with parents Rachell and Matt Moodie,
was the Little Miss Firecracker overall girls winner.
(Photo provided)

Two-year-old Jaycee Watkins, of Wesley Chapel, gets in a little exercise prior to her stage appearance for the Little Miss & Mr. Firecracker Pageant. She was there with her mom, Casie Watkins, of Wesley Chapel.

Cape Cod, chips and a Sandwich

July 8, 2015 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

We left for a trip to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and it was somewhat chilly when we started out but warmed up nicely as the day progressed.

Bourne Bridge (Photos courtesy of Marty Rubenstein) — Bourne Bridge
(Photos courtesy of Marty Rubenstein)

We arrived in Onset, Massachusetts, later in the morning, but in time to take the Hi-Lane Canal Cruise. This was a three-hour cruise, with one hour going the length of the canal and two hours coming back to the dock. Once on board, we cruised all the way through the Cape Cod Canal, and we also saw the Sandwich Boat Basin. Points of interest included the Sagamore Bridge, the Bourne Bridge, the Vertical Lift Railroad Bridge, Gray Gables and more. There were pathways on each side of the canal for walking, bicycle riding, jogging, and just plain relaxing and sitting on a bench.

After the cruise, we drove to view the Bird Island Lighthouse located in East Marion. The lot for the viewing was filled, so we stopped on the side of the road and had a gorgeous view. Since one picture is worth a thousand words, we took a snapshot, and now we have memories of where we have been.

Next, we visited Ned’s Point Lighthouse in Mattapoisett, which is located in the middle of a park with a beautiful body of water in the front of the park. There’s a beach there and people were taking advantage of the sunny day.

On the second day, we started by traveling to Eastham to view the Eastham Windmill, which was built in 1680 , moved to Plymouth, and then to Truro in 1770. It was moved several times and was moved elsewhere in Eastham in 1793, and finally at the present location in 1808. The many moves took place because of erosion.

On a small trip to North Truro, we saw the Cape Cod Highland Lighthouse. In July of 1996, the Cape Cod Highland Lighthouse was moved 453 feet back from the edge of the eroding cliff to save it from falling into the ocean.

After that, we were on our way to Provincetown, where we went on a dune tour. Here, we were piled into a dune buggy, where we took a relaxing and scenic ride along the panoramic Atlantic Ocean shoreline before driving through the sand dunes of the Cape Code seashore. The best part — we didn’t do the driving. We just sat back and enjoyed our time.

Provincetown is a unique blend of old-fashioned fishing villages and a hip arts community. Its narrow streets are lined with charming old homes, and its main thoroughfare, Commercial Street, is filled with unique shops, galleries and restaurants.

Next, it was onto the whale watch that is just a stone’s throw away from the dune buggy.

A naturalist speaks to the guests on the whale watch tour.

There was so much fun and adventure on this trip. I do not care how many times you have seen a whale, the first sighting on this trip is something that you cannot prepare yourself for. The tail flukes or seeing a whale blowing after a deep dive is unbelievable. We saw humpback whales, minkes and more on this thrilling trip.

The third day at the Cape, we tried to get up early as there was still so much to see, and we also had to drive home.

We arrived at the Chatham Railroad Museum, but it wasn’t open yet. That was OK, as we saw, outside and adjacent to the museum, a caboose and several other things. We browsed around and then went to our second site, which was the Chatham Lighthouse.

It was somewhat windy at this time, but you could still see some children frolicking in the water, while others were creating sand castles on the beach with their pails and shovels alongside them. It was a spectacular view.

Not far from here was the Chatham Fishing Pier, where you can get a glimpse of the workers loading and unloading what they needed for the day. We saw all types of boats, including fishing gear of all shapes and sizes. The view of the beach was breathtaking.

We are now so close to the end of our trip, but it wouldn’t be complete without taking a self-guided tour through the Cape Code Potato Chip Factory that is located in Hyannis.

We saw the inspection plus the storage bins. We viewed the potatoes being weighed and sliced, and put in fryers. Eventually, they are put in bags. Upon leaving the factory, we received a sample bag. I must add that the chips are yummy.

On the way home, we drove through Sandwich, a quaint little town, and made a few stops and browsed in some stores.

We’re now back home after a nice and relaxing trip.

By Helene Rubenstein

Published July 8, 2015

Enjoying the art of old-fashioned barbering

June 30, 2015 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Mike Matthew

Special to The Laker / Lutz News

Stephanie Metzger, owner of Steph’s Barber-Shop, and her staff of master barbers invite you to experience the look and feel of the neighborhood barbershop. It wasn’t too long ago when barbershops in small towns all across America were the hub of the community.

They were places where friends and neighbors came together, news was shared and people came to know one another as part of a community. These places still exist, though it can be hard to notice them when you’re driving by at 50 miles per hour, and your mind is buzzing with the day’s activities.

Steph’s Barber-Shop is an oasis of old-time peace and calm, tucked away in the Turtle Lakes Plaza on State Road 54 in Lutz, just north of 54 U-Store. Here you can take a few minutes to relax and actually enjoy a conversation with Steph, her barbers and your fellow patrons.

The atmosphere is friendly and relaxed. It’s a place where fathers and sons can sit side by side as equals. Ladies are welcome, too. Two female barbers, Stephanie and Bev, and two male barbers, Si and Tom, take all the time needed to provide you with a perfect haircut.

It’s truly a family practice with an old-fashioned look and feel. “We have a passion for the old-fashioned art of barbering,” says Steph. “That’s how I keep my clients. Once we get you in here, we keep you. People start out as clients, become our friends and, soon enough, we’re all one big happy family.”

“Our barbers are masters having over 30 years of experience providing gentlemen’s cuts, kids’ cuts and cuts for women, too,” says Steph. “We specialize in hot towel shaves, flattops and fades, along with new haircut fashions for young men and college students.”

Prices are fair. Regular cuts are $15, $13 for seniors and kids. After four haircuts, the fifth is free. Hours are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome. After-hour cuts are available by appointment.

“Give us a try from your friends at Steph’s Barber-Shop.”

Steph’s Barbershop is located at 24016 State Road 54 in Lutz. Stop on by, or give her a call at (813) 948-4247. You can also visit her Facebook page at Stephs-Barber-Shop for more information, along with the latest specials and coupons.

Safe, life-changing surgery at Magnolia Plastic Surgery Center

June 30, 2015 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Meaghan O’Neal

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Dr. Anahita Azharian is bringing safe, life-changing plastic surgery to the Wesley Chapel area with Magnolia Plastic Surgery Center.

In August of 2014, Dr. Azharian moved back to Tampa, her childhood home, to open her new practice and be closer to family. She had earned a Masters of Public Health in Infectious Diseases at University of South Florida before leaving the area 14 years ago for medical school at Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Lauderdale.

Dr. Azharian’s residency in General Surgery was completed at Mercy Catholic Medical Center in Philadelphia, followed by a fellowship in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

After her studies, Dr. Azharian worked in New York City until moving back to the Tampa area to open Magnolia Plastic Surgery Center.

Dr. Azharian enjoys owning her own practice for many reasons, but especially because it allows her to set her own high standards.

“Opening my own practice has been a good way to go by my own morals and values, and to do things the way I feel is right,” she says.

Her highest priority, and most important value, is patient safety. While Dr. Azharian acknowledges that any type of surgery comes with some risk, she always informs her patients if something is potentially dangerous, and encourages them to look at alternatives.

“Patient education is closely tied to safety,” said Dr. Azharian. “Many people who seek plastic surgery are not always educated about what it really entails. While plastic surgery is usually done for cosmetic reasons, the procedure is still a surgery and should always be taken seriously.”

Honesty is another important value that Dr. Azharian lives by, and she strives to make sure that her patients are realistic about what they’re going to look like after the surgery.

“We make sure patients have realistic expectations so there are no surprises,” said Dr. Azharian. “We never give anyone false expectations.”

That doesn’t mean that patients don’t have amazing results. “It means that patients get what they actually need and want,” said Dr. Azharian. “We believe that everyone is different, and that someone else’s results won’t necessarily be yours. My joy comes from finding the right surgery for the right patient, and then setting the right expectations.”

Magnolia Plastic Surgery is different than other practices for many reasons, Dr. Azharian said, beginning with the fact that she is a woman.

“I can relate to what society expects of a woman, and to the changes in a woman’s body as she ages,” she says. “Most of my patients are women and I share many of the same perspectives and experiences.”

Dr. Azharian also says her practice is different because of the amount of time that she spends with her patients.

“I never rush people out the door and want my patients to feel comfortable,” she says. “I take time to listen so patients can fully explain what they want,” she said.

Magnolia Plastic Surgery Center works with many breast cancer patients, many whom are referred by the Florida Medical Clinic.

Watching the progress and strength of cancer patients has been especially gratifying for Dr. Azharian and her staff. They often see patients from the start of their cancer treatments, through complications, and to when treatment ends

Dr. Azharian seeks to deepen the good reputation of the Magnolia Plastic Surgery Center by valuing her patient’s safety, being honest about her results, and giving patients the best surgery that they can have. Her ultimate goal is to do the best surgery she can every single time.

(813) 563-2220 (ask for Wanda) • 2404 Creel Lane, Suite 102 • Wesley Chapel • www.magnoliapsc.com