Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Zephyrhills honors its own for community, commercial service

October 2, 2013 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

A dozen awards were handed out during the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce annual banquet Sept. 19, honoring community and business leaders who made a difference over the past year.

John Scott of Gulf Coast Financial Strategies ‘passes the gavel,’ so to speak, to incoming Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce president Carolyn Sentelik during the chamber’s annual dinner Sept. 19. (Photo courtesy of Gary Hatrick)

Goin’ Postal, and founders Marcus and M.J. Price, each were honored for Innovative Business of the Year (for the company), and the Community Service Award (for the couple) during the event at Scotland Yard Golf Club. They were nominated alongside companies like Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, The Commons on Pretty Pond and the Quiet Zone and The Home Theatre.

Large Business of the Year went to CF Industries for its reputation, services, growth and leadership for a company with 25 or more employees. It was nominated alongside Goin’ Postal, Humana Marketpoint, Ryman Construction and Sonny’s Real Pit BBQ.

The Diamond Award, which honored nonprofit organizations that helped the community, was given to Eastside 7 Rotary Clubs. Also nominated were Main Street Zephyrhills, Planned Pethood, The Samaritan Project, and Town Ark/The Thomas Promise.

Gary Hatrick, who also served on the business and community awards selection committee, earned two awards — Citizen of the Year and Chamber Member of the Year. Also nominated for those awards were Kevin Bahr, Linda Boan, M.J. Price, Wade Thomas, CenterState Bank, and Jon Dearolf of YMCA of East Pasco.

Winning Small Business of the Year was the Zephyrhills Free Press, while Katy Boyd of Saint Leo University was named Ambassador of the Year from a pool that included the newspaper, John and Diana MacDiarmid and Stephanie Stephenson.

Other winners included:

Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, for Zephyrhills Economic Development Champion

John Kinsman for Leadership in Youth Involvement

Zephyrhills City Council president Lance Smith for Leadership in Government Affairs

Carolyn Sentelik of the Florida Hospital Zephyrhills Foundation was named the new chamber president, with John Scott of Gulf Coast Financial Strategies as vice president and treasurer. Hatrick, of High Road Photography, was named secretary.

Natural Setting Conducive To Patient Care At New Psychiatric Hospital in Wesley Chapel

October 2, 2013 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Often people are surprised to learn that over a lifetime, close to 50 percent of Americans face a mental health issue that would benefit from professional treatment. Unfortunately, for different reasons, many do not seek or receive the help they need.

That statistic from the Center for Disease Control is cited by Jim Harris, chief executive officer of North Tampa Behavioral Health, a new psychiatric hospital opening this week in Wesley Chapel.

Harris has worked in the mental health care field for 20 years, first as a clinical social worker and then in hospital management. He has been in Wesley Chapel since June making sure all details are in place to welcome patients and family to a nurturing, warm environment that he and his staff are committed to establishing at their new hospital.

“We really have a rare opportunity to build a hospital from the ground up,” said Harris. “We’re creating an open, welcoming, noninstitutional environment that will help counter the stigma that often keeps people from seeking or following through with their treatment.”

North Tampa Behavioral Health is located just east of The Shops of Wiregrass on State Road 56 on 16 acres of wetlands and forest with beautiful views and abundant wildlife and birds.

“This setting is conducive to treatment and helping patients get better,” said Harris. “There is a lot of peace and quiet with no urban distractions.”

The hospital’s foremost philosophy is to treat patients and their families with dignity and respect. “We consider each patient’s unique individual needs during their time with us,” said Harris.

The hospital is opening with a staff of 70 that will grow to as many as 200 or more as it treats more patients in its 75-bed facility. It employs a variety of positions required to run a hospital, including doctors, nurses, case managers, techs, cooks, housekeepers and maintenance workers.

North Tampa Behavioral Health will open one unit at a time as its census grows, offering treatment for adults and seniors with mental health and substance abuse concerns. Harris said he expects many patients to have a dual diagnosis. Often times psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety, bipolar, post-traumatic stress or psychosis can be co-occurring with a sub- stance abuse problem.

The hospital also offers a unique half-day, partial-hospitalization program that provides more intense services than traditional outpatient services. Other levels of care include an intensive outpatient program and a mobile assessment team.

Eventually, law enforcement and mental health professionals will be able to place people needing emergency psychiatric care under the Baker and Marchman legislation to prevent someone from hurting themselves or others.

Supporting its evidence-based treatment programs, North Tampa Behavioral Health offers many physical activities for its patients with amenities including a full gym, outdoor basketball court, walking path, spacious community rooms, café and quiet rooms.

“Our goal is to bring together mental and physical health approaches to psychiatric therapies founded on the most current princi- ples of patient safety,” said Harris.

North Tampa Behavioral Health can be reached at (813) 333-0000, or at www.NorthTampaBehavioralHealth.com. It is located at 29910 State Road 56, Wesley Chapel.

This story was written by the advertising department.

Wesley Chapel hospital, Focus on Fitness win top awards

September 25, 2013 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

There were smiles and tears as the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce honored businesses and volunteers at its annual banquet Sept. 14.

Kelly Mothershead, the owner of A Focus on Fitness, accepts the Small Business of the Year award at the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce annual banquet at Hunter’s Green. (Photo courtesy of Tony Masella, OurTownFla.com)

The awards acknowledge the accomplishments of small businesses, larger businesses, volunteers, civic organizations and business leaders for the contributions they make to the regional economy. They are nominated and voted on by their peers.

This year’s winners were:

• Small Business of the Year: A Focus on Fitness
• Large Business of the Year: Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel
• Business Leader of the Year: Greg Lenners, The Shops at Wiregrass
• Volunteer of the Year: Cathy Bickham, Chapel Home Health
• Civic or Non-Profit of the Year: Oasis Pregnancy Care Centers
• President’s Award: Dean Smith, Quest National Services
• Board Member of the Year: Maureen Moore, Saint Leo University

Bickham of Chapel Home Health was elected the 2014 honorary mayor of Wesley Chapel, and won through a fundraising competition. Mary Ann Yaney will serve as the deputy honorary mayor.

The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1998, and now has nearly 500 members.

Not all saturated fat is bad

September 25, 2013 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

If you have been looking for a family-friendly, yet upscale, casual restaurant with some of the best prepared food you have set your taste buds on, dining at Stonewood Tavern & Grill in Tampa Palms is a must.

Stonewood offers excellent food choices to complement a healthy lifestyle with outstanding service and a “private” restaurant feel — a perfect opportunity to enjoy a great experience in your neighborhood.

This restaurant does not cut corners when it comes to the preparation of their food. They use only local seafood, the produce comes right from Land O’ Lakes, and the new menu takes it one step further by only using the top 15 percent of steak cuts in the country — USDA Certified Private Reserve Angus.

The food is always prepared fresh from scratch in their kitchen, and can be tailored to your specific needs for any order. Believe me, you will know it is fresh.

May I suggest the oak-fired wings for a starter? Unlike most wings, they are grilled — so a big “Yea!” from your personal trainer. The perfect blend of sweetness, juiciness and crunch makes it hard to save room for the main dish after you have enjoyed this appetizer.

For those who prefer, there were other inviting appetizers on the menu as well. A few examples: calamari, smoked salmon, seared ahi tuna and crab cakes.

For my entrée, I chose the special offered that evening: Beef & Reef, which included a perfectly cooked-to-order filet mignon, buttery lobster tail and a side of your choice. When you do not need a steak knife to cut your steak, wow, you know it is perfect. I am a firm believer that saturated fat is actually good for you; it’s what people ate for thousands of years and didn’t really get heart disease.

If you want to learn more about this, watch a movie called “Fat Head.”

We also tried the cedar plank roasted salmon, and the flavors in this dish were also outstanding. The quality of the meat, fish and produce were evident in every bite. Just as with this meal and having a few wings to start with, I had plenty of leftovers to practice that self-control.

Stonewood has 15 locations in Florida. However, we have one local at 17050 Palm Pointe Drive in Tampa, less than a mile southwest of Interstate 75 off Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

Stonewood Grill & Tavern is a memorable dining experience and provides genuine service every time. They always go beyond my expectations, and each time I cannot wait to go back.

By Samantha Taylor, Pure Health Studios

Wanted: Your best football photos

September 25, 2013 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Think you have the best eye when it comes to prep football pictures? Then your work could end up in this very section, complete with your own photo credit.

The Laker/Lutz News is looking for photos at football games, whether they are of the cheerleaders, crowds, or even game play if you can zoom in well enough. We’ll publish our favorite ones right in this section. (File photo)

The Laker/Lutz News wants your pictures from local gridiron games. Whether it’s of a special play, a new routine from the cheerleaders, or even screaming fans from the grandstands — we want you to send it.

Each week, we’ll select the best pictures and post them to our Facebook page at Facebook.com/TheLakerLutzNews, and our favorite could actually end up in print in the paper’s sports section.

Pictures should be submitted by email, but only one picture per email. Each entry must include the full name and address of the photographer, which game the photo was shot at, and identify all the prominent people in the photo.

They should be submitted no later than 3 p.m. each Monday to .

Anything can happen on any given Friday, and here’s your chance to be a part of it.

NFLer wants to help kids who trashed his home

September 25, 2013 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

A retired professional football player who makes his home in Lutz is receiving national attention this past week after some 300 teenagers allegedly trashed his vacation home in New York.

Brian Holloway, an offensive lineman for the New England Patriots and later the Los Angeles Raiders in the 1980s, learned about the destruction happening at his home in Stephentown, N.Y., as it was happening through Twitter. Now he is working to track down all the teenagers that damaged his home, and is working to get their help in cleaning up.

Graffiti litters the walls of Brian Holloway’s barn in New York after a party there allegedly involved some 300 teenagers. Holloway was at his home in Lutz while the party was taking place. (Photo courtesy of Brian Holloway)

Holloway’s launched a website to accomplish that. There he says that while broken things can be fixed and stolen things can be returned, the 300 or so people who attended this party are “in peril.”

“I know one thing, if my child was involved, I would want to know everything now,” Holloway said on his website. “We are old school disciplinarians, we do not sit back, we take action. We step in and take charge. It’s so easy for kids to get off track if we let them.”

Holloway bought the house soon after joining the NFL, but now spends most of his time in Florida because of his football injuries. He would host community gatherings at the home when he lived there full-time, which included guests like civil rights activist Rosa Parks and football star William “The Refrigerator” Perry.

The former NFL player is now trying to bring some of the people involved in the party together to help them take a different path.

He called them “the future leaders, each who possess tremendous potential if they choose to do the right thing, make the right choices, and take the first steps.”

For more on Holloway’s efforts, visit www.HelpMeSave300.com.

New Town, New Homes, New Life

September 25, 2013 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

If you’ve been driving by Connerton recently, Central Pasco’s “New Town,” and you were wondering what sounds you were hearing, it’s not just the honking of the sandhill cranes – you will hear hammers pounding, saws buzzing, powertools whirring and contractor
trucks driving in and out, as the New Town awakens to a fresh economy. Connerton’s developer, Hayman Woods, a Dallas-based development company, promised to bring this community back to life after the housing bust, and they are keeping their promise.

Since their grand reopening in May of this year, almost 40 homes are under contract with four outstanding builders, Taylor Morrison, Ryland, M/I Homes and Homes by WestBay. These builders offer innovative floor plans from 1,481 to over 6,300 sq. ft. with prices from the low $100s to over $700,000.

The residents are excited to see all of the activity. Connerton was given the New Town designation by the State of Florida and Pasco County. To be designated as a “New Town,” a community must include certain uses. In addition to residential home building, a New Town offers education, recreation, retail and commercial development.

When they say, “timing is everything,” the phrase certainly applied to the opening of Connerton during the real estate boom, and the slowdown during the bust. However, Connerton is now well-positioned for the economic recovery because its amenities, parks, trails and an $8 million dollar clubhouse are already in place.

The 10,000 sq. ft. clubhouse offers a state-of-the-art fitness center, super pool with a unique aquatic playground and children’s wading pool. A café, meeting rooms for resident and community use, plus tennis and basketball courts are all available as part of the Connerton lifestyle.

The annual Labor Day ice cream social was recently coordinated by Amy Gallogly, the onsite activities director, and her staff. She keeps residents busy with holiday parties, nature walks, scavenger hunts, wine tasting events, and is always willing to listen to other suggestions. In addition to the clubhouse, an extensive trail and boardwalk system runs throughout the community, and will eventually connect all of the villages. These trails and walkways help to promote a more sociable, pedestrian culture.

Connerton Elementary School opened in 2010, providing students with updated technology, such as rolling laptops filled with new MacBooks and interactivè whiteboards for classroom use. Connerton Elementary is an “A” rated school, along with Pineview Middle and Land O’ Lakes High School, which Connerton residents attend.

The staff leadership is provided by Principal Aimee Boltze and Assistant Principal Claudia Steinacker. Together they uphold the school’s mission to provide a nurturing environment for both students and teachers. The school also provides learning opportunities for 55 intellectually disabled students in five self-contained classrooms.

These students are also integrated into the traditional classroom environment, helping to provide disability awareness for all grade levels. If you have an opportunity to visit the school, you will be welcomed by a friendly staff who will be happy to provide you with a tour of this state-of the-art education center.

The “New Town” of Connerton is back on its feet with a wonderful lifestyle to offer its residents. So, if you haven’t been there lately, stop by, visit the clubhouse, walk the trails, and be sure to visit the new models. It could be your new home!

Connerton is located in Land O’Lakes, approximately 7 miles north of the intersection of SR 54 & US 41.

For more information, call (813) 996-5800, or visit www.Connerton.com.

This story was written by the advertising department.

These pediatricians provide personalized care

September 25, 2013 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

When your child is sick, you don’t want to wade through automated prompts, voice mail menus or negotiate with an answering service. You want a live person to help answer your concerns and a physician’s office, who knows you by name, not medical record number.

Dr. Yanina Abaunza-Fiallos, left and Dr. Luisa Gomez McElroy are board certified pediatricians practicing at Dr. Nina's Pediatrics in Lutz. — Dr. Yanina Abaunza-Fiallos, left and Dr. Luisa Gomez McElroy are board certified pediatricians practicing at Dr. Nina’s Pediatrics in Lutz.

Being mothers themselves, the staff at Dr. Nina’s Pediatrics places great emphasis on answering family concerns. These physicians founded their practice around the premise of patient-centered care and accessibility. Patients are always able to reach the staff quickly and easily during office hours and they strive to personally answer phone calls after hours.

Dr. Yanina Abaunza-Fiallos has been practicing in the Tampa area for 17 years, and opened her own practice in Lutz in November 2003. Dr. Luisa Gomez McElroy has been practicing in the Tampa area for 15 years, joining Dr. Nina in May 2012. Both doctors are board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics.

“We’re a small practice,” says Dr. Nina. “There are only two doctors. This allows us to get to know our patients well.”

“We love our patients and their families,” says Dr. Luisa. “We don’t just provide a diagnosis and move on. Dr. Nina and Dr. Luisa always take the time to answer questions and educate their patients and their parents.

Dr. Nina and Dr. Luisa pay close attention to each child’s development and provide parents with tools to recognize development issues early on. Topics such as nutrition and growth are discussed during wellness visits to identify any issues or concerns before they become a problem. They give parents ample opportunity to ask questions to optimize the child’s path to wellness.

“We follow recommended check-up schedules and place a strong emphasis on prevention and vaccinations, says Dr. Luisa.” We firmly believe vaccinations are a part of keeping our children healthy. Our recommendations are based on the American Academy of Pediatric guidelines.

Both doctors have many patients in their practice that they cared for from the day they were born, with many continuing to see them into their 20s. As their former patients become parents themselves, they are returning to bring their own children. Doctors and nurses also trust their children’s care to Dr. Nina and Dr. Luisa which is very heartwarming for them and their staff.

“We’re not just for babies,” says Dr. Nina. “We also provide vaccinations for college, and perform high school and college physical examinations. We deliver 24-hour emergency service and can normally accommodate same-day appointments.”

Dr. Nina and Dr. Luisa are affiliated with three area hospitals: Florida Hospital Tampa, St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital and St. Joseph’s Hospital North, where they are available to provide newborn care. Free prenatal consultations are also offered so that parents can get to know their baby’s doctor prior to delivery.

As a student, Dr. Nina was initially interested in teaching children with special needs. Because of this early exposure to children with medical disabilities, she changed career paths to medicine in order to further impact their outcome. Pediatrics was definitely the right path for Dr. Nina and it is a passion that is ignited every time she comes to work.

Dr. Luisa decided on a career in pediatrics during medical school. She developed a passion for caring for children. She feels pediatrics has one of the greatest impacts on patients’ lives, as she can educate and teach prevention starting in early life.

Dr. Nina and Dr. Luisa are currently accepting new patients at Dr. Nina’s Pediatrics, and welcome the opportunity to be a part of your child’s life. Accessibility, quality and personalized care are just a few of the core values of Dr. Nina’s Pediatrics.

Dr. Nina’s Pediatrics is located at 18572 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Lutz. They can be reached at (813) 964-1800, or online at www.DoctorNina.com.

– Mike Matthew

This story was written by the advertising department.

Public is invited to peace-building program

September 25, 2013 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

A peace-building program, sponsored by Saint Leo University and some other organizations, will be offered at two locations on Sept. 30.

The event will feature Rabbi Ron Kronish, director of the Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel, and Qadi (Judge) Iyad Zahalka, head of the Muslim Sharia Court in Jerusalem. They will discuss “The Other Peace Process–Interreligious Dialogue in the Service of Peace.”

The speakers will share their thinking on grassroots efforts at peace building. The event will be hosted by Saint Leo’s Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies.

The program will be presented twice. The first session is scheduled from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., in the Student Community Center, Greenfelder-Denlinger, 33701 State Road 52 in Saint Leo, four miles east of Interstate 75.

An evening session is scheduled from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Congregation Beth Am, 2030 W. Fletcher Ave. in Tampa.

The event is free and open to the public, but space is limited so admission will be first-come, first-serve.

Besides Saint Leo, other sponsors of the event are Congregation Beth Am, University Ministry and West Central Florida Pathology Associates/Harvey Feld M.D.

For more information and to register, contact Abraham Peck, executive director of

Saint Leo University’s Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies, at (352) 588-7298 or .

Shihan Stephen Del Castillo Empowers Kids With Martial Arts

September 18, 2013 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Shihan Stephen J. Del Castillo opened his first martial arts academy in Wesley Chapel in October 2000. It was a small place, but one with big dreams.

kravmaga10152013 — Shihan Stephen J. Del Castillo with his student Melissa.

He dreamed of creating a place that would touch lives one blackbelt at a time and improve people, families and society. Thirteen years and hundreds of students later, Shihan Steve is achieving these goals.

Shihan Steve (Shihan title denotes the status of Master Instructor) has more than 30 years of martial arts experience. He also has a master’s degree, many awards and accolades from his military, civic service and martial arts career. Plus, the August 2013 issue of Success Magazine published a story about Shihan Steve and his school.

But these impressive credentials and personal accomplishments are not what makes Shihan Steve the most proud. Rather, it is the quality of blackbelts his school is producing and the contributions those students make to the community.

“Most of my blackbelts are ‘A’ students,” Shihan Steve says. “But many of them didn’t start that way.”

Shihan Steve asserts that the focus, discipline, courtesy and respect instilled through his program results in students performing far better in school.

“It all starts with development of one’s self-esteem,” he says. “We develop champions from the inside out.”

Shihan Steve has empowered hundreds of kids through his program that uses a system of positive reinforcement and gentle correction.

Especially at the beginning of a student’s training, Shihan Steve says the most important step is to develop a student’s confidence and trust in him or herself and the instructor.

Shihan Steve calls this program Krav Maga Martial Arts. It is one of the most practical self-protection systems available and can be used by people of any age to teach martial arts and improve a student’s spirit and character.

In addition to making sure that every student in every class has fun, Shihan Steve sees that students get a great workout and learn something new. His program and its process results in students growing from wherever they are to where they want to be.

There have been many changes in the 13 years since Shihan Steve opened his first academy. Many martial arts schools have come and gone. Things at his school have changed too — including the school’s name, its colors, logos, uniforms and staff.

“My curriculum also has evolved, ” Shihan Steve says. “But I am very proud that the one thing that has never changed is my vision and mission.

“Thomas Jefferson said, ‘In matters of style, swim with the current but in matters of principle, stand like a rock.’ Our martial arts school, or “dojo” as we call it, has honored this rule. I wrote a vision and mission statement 13 years ago that is still the bedrock of what we do today. Our name has evolved, and our style has been enhanced with the integration of other styles, but our mission and our principles remain the same.”

Shihan Steve is offering free seminars all throughout this back-to-school season, including his Back to School Success seminar and Bully Proof workshops. He also offers free two-week trial memberships to all community youth, as well as teens and adults.

To learn more about Shihan Steve’s school, mission, seminars and programs, please visit www.tampakravmaga.com.

This story was written by the advertising department.