Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Networking on tap at EPNG

Mary Adele Cluck, the executive director of the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce, and Hope Allen, the chamber’s sales and marketing manager, will be the featured speakers at the June 11 meeting of the East Pasco Networking Group.

The group meets at the Village Inn at 5214 Gall Blvd. Networking begins at 8 a.m. followed by the meeting, which starts at 8:30 a.m.

 

SWFMD elects officers

The governing board of the Southwest Florida Water Management has elected new officers, including Carlos M. Beruff, of Manatee County, as board chairman; Michael A. Babb, of Hillsborough County, as vice-chair; Randall S. “Randy” Maggard, of Pasco County, as secretary; and, Jeffery M. Adams, of Pinellas County, as treasurer.

Governing Board members are unpaid, citizen volunteers who are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Florida Senate. The board sets policy for the district, which is responsible for managing water and related resources of west central Florida to meet the current and future water users’ needs, while protecting the environment.

 

ADA workshop for small businesses

Hillsborough County and the Alliance for Citizens with Disabilities-Hillsborough County will have a special event to update small businesses on the legal and technical requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The free workshop will be from 8:30 a.m. until noon and will feature experts helping business leaders avoid costly mistakes by reviewing the latest ADA needs and requirements.

A complimentary continental breakfast will be provided.

The workshop will be at the Children’s Board, 1002 E. Palm Ave. in Tampa.

Those interested in attended are asked to register online at https://sbic.hillsboroughcounty.org.

For more information, call the Hillsborough County Small Business Information Center at (813) 914-4028 or visit http://www.HillsboroughCounty.org.

 

Women-N-Charge grants

Women-N-Charge, whose mission, in part, is to support and assist professional women in managing their businesses more effectively, has awarded two $1,000 grants.

The grants were sponsored by Ierna’s Heating and Cooling and Foundation Repair Contractors, Inc.

Connie Blaney, of Liberty Manor For Veterans, received the business advancement grant.

Letoria Leiba, a licensed mental health counselor, received the career advancement grant.

Women-N-Charge meets on the first Friday of the month at Pebble Creek Country Club in New Tampa from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

To learn more about the group, visit www.women-n-charge.com.

 

Job Fair at The Shops at Wiregrass

A job fair is scheduled for 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on June 5 at The Shops at Wiregrass, directly across from Dillard’s and next to Soma Intimates.

 

Kellie Jo Carlucci is employee of the year

Kellie Jo Carlucci has been named the employee of the year at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point.

The winner is selected by the Employee Advisory Group. Recipients are deemed to be the employee who best exemplifies employee excellence.

 

Tampa metro area has highest job growth in April

The Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater Metropolitan Statistical Area led the state’s metropolitan areas in job creation during April, according to a news release from Gov. Rick Scott’s office.

The Tampa Bay metro area gained more than 35,400 private sector jobs. The area also experienced a 1.9 percent decline in its unemployment rate over last April.

Since December 2010, the metro area’s unemployment rate has declined 4.7 percentage points, dropping from 11.4 percent to 6.7 percent.

The Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater MSA led the metro areas in gains in:

–Education and health services (+9,600 jobs)

–Professional and business services (+8,800 jobs)

–Trade, transportation and utilities (+7,700 jobs)

–Construction (+4,000 jobs)

 

Oak Hill Hospital adds V. Antoine Keller to staff

Oak Hill Hospital and Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point has added Dr. V. Antoine Keller, Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, to its medical staff.

Dr. Keller is board certified in cardiothoracic surgery, vascular and endovascular surgery.  He specializes in minimally invasive complex heart procedures such as valve repair and valve replacement. He also performs minimally invasive single coronary artery bypass grafting.

 

North Tampa Chamber meetings

The North Tampa Chamber of Commerce has several upcoming meetings:

–June 20: Networking luncheon: 11:30 a.m., Beef O’ Brady’s, 8810 N. Himes Ave. (Himes & Busch), Tampa. Order from lunchtime menu. Cost: $4.99 to $9.99/pp (does not include tax/gratuity), whether you eat or not. RSVP by June 18 to Kelly Winterling at or call Horizon Bay at Lutz at 909-9679. Directions? Call 936-2058.

–June 25: 66th Annual Installation & Awards Banquet – Doors open at 5 p.m. with adjournment at 9 p.m. Location: Emerald Greens Golf & Country Club, 13903 Clubhouse Drive, Tampa. Highlights: Welcoming the incoming board, celebrating accomplishments and honoring those who have been instrumental in the chamber’s success.

To RSVP, or for more banquet details, visit the North Tampa Chamber website at www.northtampachamber.com or phone (813) 961-2420. This event is open to the public.

–June 27: Networking luncheon, 11:30 a.m. Embassy Suites USF near Busch Gardens, 3705 Spectrum Blvd., Tampa (east of Bruce B. Downs/north side of Fowler Ave.). Order from select menu or buffet. Cost: $11 to $12.50 per person, includes tax and gratuity. Charge applies whether you eat or not. RSVP by June 25 to Jenn Beaumont at , or call AGLA-American General Life at 334-8998. Directions? Call (813) 977-7066.

 

Dr. Pariksith Singh receives entrepreneurship award

Indus Entrepreneurs of Tampa Bay has selected Dr. Parisksith Singh as its TiETaN of Healthcare Entrepreurship Award for 2013.

The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), was founded in 1992 in the Silicon Valley by a group of successful entrepreneurs, corporate executives and senior professionals in the Indus region. There are currently 11,000 members including over 2,500 charters in 60 chapters across 17 countries. TiE’s mission is to foster entrepreneurship globally through mentoring, networking and education. Dedicated to the virtuous cycle of wealth creation and giving back to the community, TiE’s focus is on generating and nurturing our next generation of entrepreneurs.

Singh is the founder and current CEO of Access Health Care, LLC, Access II, Integral Healthcare (an Accountable Care Corporation) and Auroveda Operating Foundation, LLC as well as numerous other entrepreneurial ventures.

 

By Diane Kortus

 

In last week’s paper, I wrote about the remarkable gains we’ve made in readership at our papers. I shared with you that 80 percent of households in Lutz regularly read or look through the Lutz News. And in Pasco County, 75 percent of households read The Laker with the same loyalty.

It is not surprising, then, that I am writing this week with news about awards my staff has received for outstanding work in a recent statewide newspaper competition. It only makes sense that our excellent readership scores correlate with superior work that is recognized by peers in the newspaper industry.

Earlier this month, Community Papers of Florida honored us with 11 awards for writing, ad design and theme pages. We competed with weekly and monthly publications, many of which have much larger staffs and more resources than we do.

Once again, Stefanie Burlingame, our graphic designer for the past five years, won several awards for outstanding advertising design. She is one of the best ad designers in the state, and I am proud – and fortunate – to have Stef on my team. The accompanying story tells you more about our advertising winners and the local businesses whose ads were recognized.

This was the first year we received an award for writing from Community Papers of Florida. It was especially meaningful that our winner is Jeff Odom, our homegrown, 19-year-old reporter who started writing for us when he was a student at Steinbrenner High in Lutz.

Jeff took third place for Best Original Writing for a piece he wrote about John Naperkowski, a physical education teacher at Chester Taylor Elementary in Zephyrhills who had a heart attack at the school and was resuscitated by a fellow teacher using the school’s automated external defibrillator, or AED.

Ironically, Naperkowski is the reason there was an AED available to save his life in the first place. Fourteen years earlier, he tried to revive a 9-year-old boy at Hudson Elementary who collapsed during Naperkowski’s physical education class.  Sadly, the child died.

An investigation concluded that the child might have lived if the school had had an AED to use while waiting for emergency personnel. After this tragedy, the school board decided to install AEDs at all Pasco public schools.  Hudson Elementary was the first to get one.

Jeff’s piece was poignant because it told the emotional story of an inspirational man in our community who fought for what was right after a young boy’s unnecessary death. The irony that the technology Naperkowski fought for saved his life 14 years later was not lost on our readers – or the judges.

To read Jeff’s award-winning story, go to lakerlutznews.com/lln/?p=11135

When I congratulated Jeff on his award, his response was endearing. To say he was excited is an understatement.

I had forgotten how I felt when I received my first professional award. Jeff’s exuberance was instantaneous and he was bursting with pride.

He made me remember how joyful it was to be recognized for a job well done when I was first starting out. What fun it was to be doing something I was so passionate about. How blessed I was to have a job I couldn’t wait to get to every day.

This undoubtedly will be the first of many awards that Jeff will earn in his journalism career. He will continue to tell stories about people we are proud to call our friends and neighbors.

Jeff already knows he has a winner when he writes a story about someone you care about – with or without formal recognition from a newspaper contest. That is one of the many attributes of a good journalist, and it’s what drives Jeff to dig deep and find stories you won’t find anywhere else.

There could come a day when Jeff forgets the specifics of the stories that warranted his awards. But he will never forget his first award – the one he earned while working as a reporter at The Laker and Lutz News.

It makes me proud that this young man’s legacy started right here, writing important stories about everyday people who make a difference.

At this newspaper, I’m proud to say, he makes a difference as well.

 

The Laker and Lutz News recently received 11 awards from Community Papers of Florida for outstanding work in writing, ad design and theme pages.

Five employees were recognized for their work, leading with Graphic Artist Stefanie Burlingame, who received nine awards for ad design. Working closely with Burlingame with seven awards was Sales Assistant Carolyn Bennett, who contributed creative concepts and copy writing.

Also recognized were Account Manager Terri Williamson with four awards, Classified Sales Representative Rachel Thompson with two awards and Staff Writer Jeff Odom with one award.

In addition, eight local businesses were recognized for their ads published in The Laker and Lutz News. Recognized were Holloway’s Farm Supply, Kerri Shelton Hair Studio, Angels Gymnastics, Core Support Automotive Recycling, Mini of Wesley Chapel, Wesley Chapel Nissan, Elsa’s Mexican Restaurant and St. Joseph’s Hospital-North.

 

Best Original Writing

Third Place – Jeff Odom

 

Full Color Ad (1/4 to 1/2 page)

Second Place

Stefanie Burlingame, Carolyn Bennett

Holloway’s Farm Supply, Land O’ Lakes

 

Color Ad (less than 1/4 page)

Second Place

Stefanie Burlingame, Carolyn Bennett

Kerri Shelton Hair Studios, Land O’ Lakes

 

Color Ad (less than 1/4 page)

Third Place

Stefanie Burlingame, Carolyn Bennett, Terri Williamson

Angels Gymnastics, Lutz

 

Automotive Advertising (black & white)

Second Place

Stefanie Burlingame, Rachel Thompson

Core Support Automotive Recycling

 

Automotive Advertising (color, more than 1/4 page)

First Place

Stefanie Burlingame, Carolyn Bennett, Terri Williamson

Mini of Wesley Chapel

 

Automotive Advertising (color, less than 1/4 page)

Second Place

Stefanie Burlingame, Carolyn Bennett, Terri Williamson

Wesley Chapel Nissan

 

Dining & Entertainment Advertising (color, less than 1/4 page)

Third Place

Stefanie Burlingame, Carolyn Bennett, Terri Williamson

Elsa’s Mexican Restaurant, Lutz

 

Theme Promotions – Restaurants

Third Place

Stefanie Burlingame, Carolyn Bennett

Eats and Entertainment Page

 

Theme Promotions – Pets

Third Place

Stefanie Burlingame, Rachel Thompson

Pet Station Directory

 

Agency Produced Ad

Second Place

St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, Lutz

 

By B.C. Manion

 

Twenty-three-year-old Gina Spinella is on a trek that will take her through the bayou country of Louisiana, across the rangelands of Texas, up the mountains of New Mexico and through the deserts of the southwest.

Along the way, she’ll stop to help with housing projects in local communities, including construction work in areas hit by Hurricane Katrina, in New Orleans.

She’ll also get a chance to see spectacular sights, including the northern rim of the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park in Utah and the Yosemite National Park in California.

Spinella is pedaling across the southern United States as part of a trip organized by Bike & Build, an organization that seeks to raise money and awareness about the need for affordable housing.

The young woman from Lutz began training for the journey in early March.

She was out on the Suncoast Trail on May 15, in her final training day, before heading out to Jacksonville to start her trip.

“I’m definitely nervous. I’m like, ‘Oh, man, what  am I going to do when we have the 100-mile days?’” Spinella said, before beginning her morning training run.

When a friend told her about Bike & Build, it piqued her interest.

“The first thing I saw was the adventure,” Spinella said, but it was the chance to make a difference that persuaded her to put her life as a hair stylist on hold, to make the trip.

“I want to be able to say that I did something good in my life,” Spinella said.

The idea of pedaling more than 4,000 miles across the southern United States is  daunting, she said.

“I didn’t do cycling before this. It’s completely new, but doing something good and helping families out along the way is kind of a reason to do it,” she said.

She’s looking forward to spending time helping on housing projects, as the cyclists traverse the country.

She’s especially interested in hearing the stories of the people she meets along the way.

She had to raise $4,500 to take part in the bike ride. She did that through a pancake breakfast at Organic Life Coffeehouse & Bakery in Lutz, a car wash at the 7-Eleven at SR 41 and SR 54 in Land O’ Lakes and by receiving contributions from her parents, friends and guests at Mikel’s Salon The Paul Mitchell Experience, where she used to work.

The trip requires substantial commitment, and Spinella, She figured there was no time like the present to take that on. “There’s really no best moment to do it,” she said.

Bike & Build is geared toward engaging 20- to 25-year-olds in a public awareness campaign that tends to garner media attention as cyclists make their way across the country.

“They’re trying to get the younger generation involved,” Spinella said.

The organization provides meals and makes arrangements with churches and community groups across the country to provide accommodations for the cyclists. Sometimes, such as national parks, they’ll sleep in tents at campsites, she said.

“We have to have our own sleeping bag and our own supplies,” she said.

The length of the rides will vary – averaging about 75 miles a day, she said.

“They’re very flexible. I’ve talked to some of my route leaders. They said it’s really laid back. You can really ride at your own pace,” she said.
They also have a support team for riders who need help.

Spinella did most of her training along the Suncoast Trail, averaging 25 miles a day.

When she began training, she said, “I was winded just doing five miles. Now,10 miles, 20 miles, is like nothing to me. Thirty is comfortable. You start going so long you get in a zone. I start to feel tired at 50, but it’s not like I’m completely drained. I’ve definitely seen a difference in my health, overall.”

She does get sore after long rides, she said. She has a simple solution for that: “I just take a hot shower.”

Spinella said affordable housing is an important cause.

Many families struggle to find housing within their financial means in safe neighborhoods.

“With the economy, these days, it’s hard for anybody,” she said. She said she understands, because even when she was working overtime she didn’t earn enough money to move out of her parents’ home.

In addition to physical training for the ride, cyclists also put in sweat equity hours to be sure they can handle tasks at the sites where they’ll be helping to build homes.

“They want us to have some experience on a construction site before we just go,” she said. “I’ve been working with the Hillsborough Habitat for Humanity. They actually built a whole block of houses over by the fairgrounds off (US) 301.”

Before she set off for her journey, Spinella said she knows there will be difficulties.

“During the summer, we’re going to be riding every single day. Right now, I’ve just been slowly working my way into it. It’s been like baby steps. Over the summer, we’re going to go hardcore.

“They say the first two weeks is the hardest to get through, but once you get through that, you start getting used to it.”

She’s excited about tackling those challenges, and she’s eager to help others.

The experience, she expects, will create memories to last a lifetime.

 

 

By B.C. Manion

 

Ray Perez wants patrons at Happy Cow Frozen Yogurt in Wesley Chapel to leave the shop with an experience that tops a visit to a run-of-the mill yogurt shop.

When the Wesley Chapel entrepreneur and his partners were working out their plans for the shop, they had specific ideas in mind.

First off, they wanted to wow their patrons with the shop’s design.

“We have a lot of things that you won’t find in your average yogurt store. Custom wallpaper, wood veneer, crown molding,” said Perez, a graduate of the University of South Florida, with extensive experience in restaurant work.

They also wanted to provide a sensory experience that customers would enjoy – the scent of freshly baked cookies or waffle bowls, a mix of music selections aimed to please people of all ages and a fun gathering place for guests.

Most of all, however, the shop’s owners wanted to offer customers a wide selection of frozen yogurt, sorbets, gelato and toppings. Frozen yogurt flavors include white chocolate truffle, cappuccino, cheesecake classico and cookies n’ cream. Gelatos include chocolate hazelnut, Tuscan tirumisu and caramel sea salt and sorbets include mango tropicale and Sicilian orange. Toppings include candies, fresh fruits and sauces.

Perez takes particular pride in the brand of frozen yogurt his shop offers – from a company he prefers not to name.

“What sets us apart is no one is using this product,” Perez said, noting there are two main suppliers of frozen yogurt, but his shop uses a different vendor.

“We spent a lot of time thinking of what our initial flavoring offering was going to be. I kind of wanted to have something for everyone,” said Perez, who is a graduate of Wharton High.

As time goes on, Perez plans to introduce customized flavors that will only be offered at Happy Cow. He also plans to tap into the power of social media, to let his customers help him decide future flavors to offer.

The best part of running a shop like this is seeing customers enjoying themselves, said Perez, whose partners are his aunt and uncle, Connie and Bill Rogers.

“It’s rewarding to see 4-year-old daughters dragging their father to the yogurt machine,” Perez said.

The shop had its grand opening on May 10 and, so far, business has been good.

“On the weekends, especially at night, we’re booming.”

While it seeks to offer something for everyone, the shop appears to be particularly popular with families and young couples, Perez said. It also attracts a fair number of college students, he said.

The shop is self-serve, with patrons filling their cups just the way they like them.

The price is 49 cents an ounce, with most tickets averaging $4 to $5, Perez said.

Unlike many frozen yogurt shops, which serve up sample cups, Perez allows his patrons to grab small paper cups and fill them themselves.

Research shows that people prefer getting their own samples, Perez said. Plus, it keeps things moving in the shop.

Self-serve shops also give people a chance to try varied flavor combinations, Perez said.

“You kind of put your stamp on your frozen yogurt creation,” he said.

Perez is the former general manager of Burger Monger, which is a few doors down, so he knew the location was good. There are 11 restaurants in that plaza alone, he said.

The opening of the hospital, future plans for the Fields at Wiregrass sports complex and the soon-to-open Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch also make the area attractive, he said.

“This area is booming. There’s a lot of excitement going on here. There are always new events going on at the mall. The hospital opening up, there’s just a lot of great places to eat out here. It seems to attract new businesses,” Perez said.

The shop, at 1646 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, is between First Watch and Bonefish Grill.

It has the feel of a franchise, but isn’t one.

Ultimately, Perez and his partners hope they can open additional shops and create a franchise operation.

The Wesley Chapel resident is optimistic about those possibilities.

“We think we have a good brand and a good product,” Perez said.

 

 

 

By B.C. Manion

 

Suzin Carr sang “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” in Hungarian to try to wow the crowd, while Lauren Leahey promised “free pink cotton candy and kittens” in her effort to influence voters.

The two women are squaring off against each other and against Karin D’Amico and Susan Gulash in a four-way race to win the honorary title of Lutz Guv’na.

Carr, Leahey and stand-ins for the other two candidates kicked off the annual campaign at a mock debate at the Old Lutz Schoolhouse on the afternoon of May 18.

D’Amico and Gulash had last-minute conflicts, so they sent Elisabeth Butterfield and Annette Bellingar, respectively, to fill in at the debate.

Gulash, who arrived too late to join the debate, has adopted the attitude of so many Guv’nas who have gone before. “If I get elected, anyone over 40 years old automatically becomes 20,” she said in a telephone interview after the debate.

The contest, which dates back to 1991, began as a way to raise money for community causes. As time has gone on, it has also become a way to build community spirit.

That’s what attracted Lauren Leahey, who is representing the GFWC Pasco Junior Woman’s Club. She hopes her run for the post will help recruit more women to join her group — a younger version of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club. That club is backing D’Amico’s bid for re-election.

While D’Amico couldn’t be at the debate, her campaign issued a press release noting the candidate’s desire to make history by become the first Guv’na to win re-election.

In the release, D’Amico quotes Laurel Hill Thatcher who said ‘Well behaved women seldom make history.” D’Amico notes that in the race to be Guv’na, “outrageous behavior is what it takes to win.”

Winning a second term would be especially historic this year, as Lutz celebrates its Centennial year.

Carr is also aiming for a repeat reign as Guv’na.

She pulled out the stops at the kick-off celebration, donning a black tutu and belting out her “Twinkle, Twinkle” number – wowing the crowd with her antics.

Meanwhile, her husband Jim took on a low-profile role, milling around the gathering offering patrons a chance to rub his belly and make a wish, for $1.

Several former Guv’nas and Guv’na wannabes were also there, offering their support.

Cheryl Benton lost her bid for Guv’na a few years back, but hasn’t lost her enthusiasm for the annual competition. Indeed, she even dusted off her Southern belle dress – which was the signature of her campaign – and wore it to the May 18 kick-off.

The annual Guv’na’s race is fun and helps make a real difference in Lutz, Benton said.

“All of the money goes back to the community,” Benton said.

The winner will be announced during Lutz’s annual Independence Day festivities.