Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Suzanne Schmidt

To most people a bunch of leftover signs would just be a bunch of trash, but to Marcus Price it is an opportunity.

Price, co-owner of Goin’ Postal and Life Size Greetings in Zephyrhills, ended up with lots of scrap material while making signs through his company, Life Size Greetings.

One night he and one of his business partners, Bob Stephens, decided it would be a great idea to build an airplane out of those scrap pieces.

“We had all of this spare plastic and we were looking for a way to use it,” Marcus Price said. “I originally drew the plan on a napkin and then Bob went through and put the pieces together and fixed the design as we went along.”

Now the airplane is almost complete and he plans to fly it to see how well it works.

“I know how an airplane works and what shape they should be,” Marcus Price said. “When we have an engine the idea is to be able to fly at about 20 miles per hour. We figured all of that out on a napkin too.”

About 99 percent of the plane is made up of the recycled plastic signs including the wheels, the body of the plane and the wings. PVC piping is used to make the controls and to reinforce some of the structure of the airplane.

In the next couple of weeks, Price and Stephens plan to build the control surfaces and then at some point they will take it for its maiden voyage. Since the plane will not have an engine, it will be towed behind a truck just to see if it is able to fly.

“For the first flight, it should only be about six or seven feet off the ground,” Marcus Price said. “If anything happens, it should be OK since we won’t be that high up.”

Stephens said over the last couple months, he and Price have spent about 24 hours total building the plane.

“I am normally the Devil’s advocate to his ideas, but when he came up with this one I was all for it,” Stephens said. “It was a no brainer, he must do it. I am just jealous we built it for him and I can’t fly it. Over the years, we have done so many fun things. We both love to fly and we have loved creating the plane.”

Marcus is no stranger to flying. He is actually a multiple engine commercial instrument rated pilot, which means he can fly commercial airplanes.

“He has always been an aviation enthusiast and so have I; we actually met sky-diving,” M. J. Price said. “He could apply for a job at a place like Delta Airlines and get a job. He was in the top of his class at Airline Training Academy in Orlando.”

Marcus’s Dad, Tony Price, was his original inspiration to learn how to fly.

“My Dad was an old-time pilot,” Marcus Price said. “He flew real airplanes and he once built an airplane in our living room when I was 7-years-old.”

Price said he is looking for a sponsor to buy an engine for the small plane so that he can try to fly it independently.

“We built it so that it can support an engine,” Marcus Price said. “We are looking to get an MZ313 cc, which is a racing bike engine. Anybody could sponsor the engine.”

The future plans if the plane works, is to sell kits on eBay and then to move on to make a catamaran and a tank with a potato gun on the turret all out of recycled plastic signs.

Marcus and his wife M. J. and Bob Stephens all started Life Size Greetings in 2003. The business has grown now to create signs for such big names as Danica Patrick, Estee Lauder, NASA and McGruff the Crime Dog.

“We do everything from making stand ups for weddings to school fundraisers,” M. J. Price said. “We can also make great big holiday cards and greetings and we do enlargements for the courtroom to make an impact on a jury.”

For more information about Life Size Greetings, visit www.lifesizegreetings.com.

A princess, a watchdog, a lover, a baby and a gentle giant

By Sarah Whitman

Senior Staff Writer

A smile stretches across Garret Van Zanen’s face the moment he sees Bubbles, a friendly chihuahua, stretched out across the front desk at West Winds Assisted Living Facility in Zephyrhills.

“She’s beautiful,” Van Zanen said. “Just like the people who work here.”

Bubbles belongs to Kelly Irish, West Wind’s business director, and Kasey O’ Keefe, executive director at the senior home. The couple has five dogs, all of which are used as therapy dogs.

“The animals bring comfort to the residents and brighten their day,” Irish said. “They all help the residents in different ways.”

Bubbles is the princess. She loves attention, doting and being pampered. She has more than 40 doggie outfits to show off to residents and visitors. Most have a touch of pink and frills.

She makes the residents laugh.

“Bubbles is the official greeter,” Irish said. “She sits up front and welcomes everyone who comes in, so we dress her up. She loves it.”

Bubbles was actually the third dog to melt hearts at West Winds.

Carrie, a rat terrier, was the first. She moved in two years ago, after O’ Keefe rescued her as a pup. She’s been the resident watchdog ever since. Her bark sounds whenever she senses danger.

“If there’s a stranger in the building, Carrie lets everyone know,” Irish said. “The residents know if they hear her it means something is different.”

The second dog to arrive at West Winds is a little more relaxed. Tinkerbell, a 15-year-old fox terrier, is a lap dog and loves to snuggle. She will spend hours hanging out in residents’ rooms.

“If a resident is sick, we’ll bring Tinkerbell to their room and she’ll just curl up in bed next to them and go right to sleep,” Irish said. “She brings them peace.”

Resident Jean Lawrence loves Tinkerbell but is most fascinated with the fourth dog to call West Winds home, a more than 100-pound great dane named Shadow. He is a gentle giant with a big heart and a slightly shy disposition.

“Shadow is just gorgeous,” Lawrence said. “All I have to do is look at him and he makes me smile.”

Shadow was rescued from the Citrus County pound after being found abandoned on the side of the road.

“He had been traumatized by abuse and was afraid of people,” Irish said. “The pound was excited about him coming here because they thought the residents would help him as much as he would help them.”

West Wind resident Thomasine admires Shadow from a distance but loves to play with the little dogs. When she first moved to West Winds, she spent most days alone in her room. Then, she met Bubbles and started venturing down the hall to spend time with the dogs.

“I never had a dog before,” she said, grinning from ear to ear. “I love all of them.”

Irish said the dogs help many residents interact better socially.

“Some residents had dogs in the past and the dogs remind them of those experiences, so they start talking about it,” she said. “It’s a wonderful thing for them to open up and talk about the things that have brought them joy.”

The newest canine at West Winds fits in the palm of most residents’ hands. Gizmo, known as the baby of the bunch, is half chihuahua and half pomeranian.

“Everybody wants to hold the fur ball,” Irish said. “Gizmo is smart and full of energy.”

Gizmo will be the first West Winds dog to attend training and become an official therapy dog. To enroll in training, dogs must be 6 months to a year. So, he still has a couple months to wait.

Still, Irish doesn’t think of her dogs as being less qualified than certified therapy animals.

“You can just look and see you don’t need a certificate to be a dog that makes someone’s day better,” she said.

For information on West Winds, 37411 Eiland Blvd., call (813) 783-8100.

Cheval instructor to coach USF team

By Sarah Whitman

Lauren Barth is most at home surrounded by the loves of her life, healthy happy horses.

Barth owns Cheval Equestrian Center in Lutz, where she teaches riding lessons and boards 20 horses, three of which are hers. She was recently selected as the new coach for the University of South Florida equestrian team.

Barth’s longtime student and USF team member, Megan Vaglia, recommended her for the position.

“Lauren has such a love for teaching,” Vaglia said. “I had a feeling she’d make a great coach.”

The 2010 to 2011 school year marks the USF equestrian team’s third season. The team, made up of 10 girls, will begin preparing this summer for a challenging type of competition. College team members ride a different horse at each show and do not meet the horse until it’s time to ride. To understand the horses needs and temperaments, riders are given a printout sheet listing each animal’s characteristics.

“It can be intimidating,” Vaglia said. “I know Lauren can help us a lot so we’ll be ready.”

Barth will work with the team to teach skills needed for college style riding.

“I’m going to make sure they learn to ride as many different horses as they can while at home,” she said. “Then, when they go to competitions they’ll be on their own.”

Barth believes great riders are born with a gift.

“You have to have a natural ability to get along with the horse,” she said. “Then, you need a basic foundation of skill and when you put it all together, it works.”

Barth saddled her first pony at 6-years-old. She grew up around horses in New York and by high school knew she wanted to pursue riding professionally.  She found success as a junior rider but longed to own her own farm.

Looking for change and warmer weather, she moved to Florida in 2001. Three years later, she took over Cheval Equestrian Center. The former owners left the facility with few customers and a dwindling reputation. Barth went straight to work.

“Having my own farm has always been a passion,” Barth said. “Since I took over, I’ve been working to build this farm into a business from the ground up.”

Barth teaches lessons to riders ages 4 and up. She has about 20 students, from beginners to advanced competitors. Many of her students own their own horses and board them at the farm. There are also four lesson horses on site.

Parent Adrianna Johnson brings her son Sam, 5, and daughter Ella, 6, to lessons each week.

“What Lauren has done with the farm is wonderful,” Johnson said. “It’s just a wonderful place to be and Lauren is a wonderful teacher. I trust her completely. I’ve watched my son fall off a horse and just stood back because I know he is in good hands.”

Barth said a good rider has to be willing to commit. Horse ownership is an even bigger responsibility.

“Owning a horse is a full-time job,” she said. “You have to take care of them, keep them clean and exercise them regularly.”

Barth teaches her students to treat their animals with love and care.

Many of her students compete in shows. They take trips around Florida, to Atlanta and to New York. Barth, who is single and lives in Lutz, travels two to three times a month for up to four days at a time.

“Anywhere a customer wants to go to a show, I pack up and go with them,” Barth said.

Young Ella and Sam recently competed locally in the Pinellas County Hunter Association Show at the fairgrounds. Sam finished in 3^rd and Ella took home 1^st place.

Johnson was excited to see her children succeed.

“It amazes me to see what they can do,” Johnson said. “Sam just started doing shows and I’m already seeing a difference in him. He’s learning to ride and he’s also learning responsibility and values.”

Success and blue ribbons come with effort, Barth said.

“With horseback riding, it’s about what you put into it,” she said. “If you put in the time and build a good relationship with your horses, they will be good to you.”

Vaglia said Barth taught her to respect each horse she meets.

“It’s a type of teamwork,” Vaglia said. “Each horse is different and when you ride, you get to know them.”

For information on Cheval Equestrian Center, visit www.chevalequestriancenter.com.

Lessons are $45 an hour and open to anyone age 4 and up.

Chamber of commerce and noon Rotary club host golf event

By Kyle LoJacono

Each year the Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce and Noon Rotary Club of Zephyrhills come together for one event — the annual Zephyrhills Scramble.

The golf tournament, which began five years ago, starts at 1 p.m. May 7 at Silverado Golf & Country Club, 36841 Clubhouse Drive in Zephyrhills. Registration starts at noon. For more information on the event, call the chamber at (813) 782-1913 or download a registration form at www.zephyrhillschamber.org.

“Me and my son (Kerry Barnett) started it,” said Dale Barnett, who has been a member of the Rotary club for 25 years. “We thought it would make things easier to have one big event so that business people aren’t constantly being asked to support charitable events all year.”

The money raised from sponsorships and people participating will be split equally between the two groups, with much of the funds going to area scholarships and community service projects.

“The Rotary club gives $3,500 in scholarships to Zephyrhills High School students,” said Mike Mira, chamber and Rotary president. “Usually it goes to three or four students. We also will do the Eastside Eight food baskets again at the end of the school year to help out students in need.”

The Eastside Eight refers to the eight Rotary clubs in central and east Pasco County. In December, the eight donated food baskets to children on free or reduced lunch so their families could have a Christmas dinner.

The Eastside Eight will again be giving food baskets to kids who get free or reduced lunches at school so they have meals for a few weeks in the summer. Mira, who was one of the people who organized the event, said the plan is for each group to give 50 to 75 baskets to needy children.

The chamber also does a number of charitable programs throughout the year that are partly funded by the scramble.

“One of the scholarships we will be giving this year is in the application process right now,” said chamber executive director Vonnie Mikkelsen. “We’re calling it the Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce Business Scholarship and it will go to a Zephyrhills High School student as well.

“The scholarship will be given (later) to the student whose goals best exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit,” Mikkelsen continued. “The scholarship will help the student achieve their five-year goals.”

Two years ago, the event brought in $33,000 to help fund the chamber and Rotary club’s charities, but that total dropped to $16,500 at the 2009 event.

“This is the third year I’ve been a part of the event,” Mira said. “I was the scramble chairman for two years and now I’m the president of both groups and I must say Vonnie has done a great job securing sponsorships for us and getting people interested in the event.”

This is Mikkelsen’s first year organizing the scramble. She started with the chamber last December.

“I knew about the golf tournament and knew it was with the Rotary club when I started,” Mikkelsen said. “Let me just say that it’s been a great experience helping to put it together, but there have been a lot of capable volunteers helping from the start.”

One of those volunteers is Barnett.

“People always tell me that it’s the best and most fun golf tournament they’ve ever played in,” Barnett said. “…I used to golf twice a week, but I have a pinched sciatic nerve, so I won’t be able to play in the event for the first time, but anyone looking for a fun Friday this is where to be.”

There will be a number of special things during the day, including a putting contest, longest drive event and special prices for making a hole-in-one on key holes to be determined.

“We only had 72 golfers last year and we hope to sell out this year,” Mira said. “We’ll have things going on all day and an oasis with Bloody Mary’s and margaritas for free.”

Mira said there are already more golfers signed up than last year, but emphasized there is more room for people to join in.

“We’ll let people sign up right until the start,” Mira said. “We’d like people to sign up as early as possible so we have an idea how many people will be there…We want to get as many people as we can because the more people who sign up, the more good we can do in the community.”

If you go

• What: fifth annual Zephyrhills Scramble
• When: 1 p.m. May 7, registration at noon
• Where: Silverado Golf & Country Club
• Address: 36841 Clubhouse Drive in Zephyrhills
• Call (813) 782-1913 for more information
• Registration forms at www.zephyrhillschamber.org

By Suzanne Schmidt

Melissa Rivera, owner of E.M.E.R.G.E. Hair Studio in Lutz, invited teens to become empowered while also checking out the latest hairstyles and makeup during teen night April 26.

Rivera said she wanted to have the event to show teen girls they do not have to put up with violence.

“I wanted to do a fashion show for prom, but at the same time empower the teenagers,” Rivera said. “There is so much going on right now like with Chris Brown and Rihanna. So many kids are getting caught in relationships where they are getting abused, that they think it is normal. Kids need to learn they don’t need that.”

Rivera recently opened E.M.E.R.G.E., which stands for Every Moment Energize Realize Genuine Elegance. The salon, 24720 SR 54, offers cuts, color, Brazilian keratin treatments, facials, waxing, manicures and pedicures.

The salon also offers the new OPI Axxium gel polish that according to Rivera will stay on nails for up to two weeks without chipping.

At the “Alice in Wonderland” themed event, representatives from the Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Pregnancy Center, The Spring of Tampa Bay, Shapes and Krav Maga Martial Arts school attended the event to let teens know about their services.

Lauren Jones, youth coordinator at The Spring, said she was happy to share important information with teens such as letting them know about the national teen dating abuse hotline at (866) 331-9474. She said one in three teens will experience dating violence with physical, mental, verbal or sexual abuse. For more information, visit www.loveisrespect.org.

“I want to reach the teens about teen dating violence,” Jones said. “It is very prevalent which is why I try to get out to talk to teens as much as possible. It is almost accepted as normal.”

Land O’ Lakes residents Patsy Bly and her daughter Mary Bly, 17, were talking to teens about the Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Pregnancy Center. Mary Bly was hoping to recruit teens to help her form a teen advisory board at the pregnancy center where she volunteers while her mom was letting teens know about the services available.

“We are here to let teens know the center is here ready to let girls know about their rights and options,” Patsy Bly said. “They can help with diapers and formula and with making better choices. There is also a library of learning materials where parents can go and teach their sons and daughters.”

Missy Johnson of New Tampa attended the event to watch her daughter, Shaniqua, walk the runway. She said the event was a good idea.

“These kids are dealing with a lot of issues I didn’t have,” Johnson said. “Like teen pregnancy now is a fad, when I grew up it was something you kept a secret and they are also dealing with domestic violence and drugs. Anything that empowers them and builds their self-confidence is great. I always tell my girls to be a leader not a follower.”

Stephen Del Castillo, owner of Krav Maga Martial Arts, let people know about the youth and teen programs he offers including his bullying program.

“Violence could happen to anyone at any time,” Castillo said. “If you don’t know what to do if you are attacked, then you should take classes.”

Through the “Alice in Wonderland” themed fashion show, Rivera and her staff were able to show off their hair and makeup skills. Roxanne Null, 16, of Land O’ Lakes was Alice at the event.

“It was exciting to get made up and feel special,” Null said. “I like the hair and makeup. It was very creative.”

For more information, visit the studio on Facebook or call (813) 948-9668.

By Suzanne Schmidt

A new store in Wesley Chapel provides spiritual guidance, workshops and metaphysical supplies.

Gaia Spiritual Doorways, 26300 Wesley Chapel Blvd., opened in the beginning of March.

Stephanie Smith of Zephyrhills is the psychic reader and universal psychic healer at the store. Smith, who previously owned the store when it was based in Zephyrhills, sold it to Sandy Sostakowski of Land O’ Lakes a few months ago.

Sostakowski said she decided to move the store so it would be closer to home and because there are no metaphysical stores in the Lutz, Land O’ Lakes and Wesley Chapel area.

“The store is very diverse in cultures, spirituality and religion,” Smith said. “We have something for everybody.”

The store sells candles, crystals, gems, jewelry, books, oracle and tarot cards, runes, oils, incense, botanical and spiritual items, saint and angel statues, fairy items, dream catchers, Buddha statues and more.
“If we don’t have something, we can order it,” Smith said. “Most of the time we can get what they are looking for and bring it here.”

The store also has hands-on workshops and classes on subjects like Reiki, a form of energy therapy, astrology, chakra therapy, gemstone and crystal therapy, and how to use a pendulum and tarot cards.

“Some people just come in to sit and relax and read our books,” Sostakowski said. “If people are curious, we encourage them to come in with an open mind.”

Ligia Novas of Wesley Chapel said she has been going to the store for readings and to shop for a few years. She was really excited when the store moved to Wesley Chapel because it means she can spend more time there.

“I just enjoy being there so much,” Novas said. “I have studied the effects of stones for years. It is exciting to be able to touch stones that I have only read about before. It is a great place to be because people from different religions with different beliefs can come in and feel comfortable just sitting and talking.”

Smith gives tarot readings as well as offers services outside of the shop like psychic parties and home cleansings. She said her tarot readings are unique because she actually writes down her predictions and gives a time frame.

Smith said her psychic parties can be a lot of fun for a group of about six to 10 people to get together and have their tarot cards read. She said she uses her talent to see spirits that she has had since she was little.

“I will go to the hostess’ house and give a reading to all the guests,” Smith said. “At the end I will do a group reading where I open myself as a conduit for the spirits. It is not a séance. It is a nice girls night out.”

JoAnn Boston of Wesley Chapel felt very good about her second reading from Stephanie Smith. She said she also likes the new location.

“I came back for another reading because what she told me in the first reading came true,” Boston said. “I like that they are closer and that the store is bigger now.”

Novas said she also loves getting readings from Smith.

“I like that Stephanie gives readings that are focused more on the present and not a few years out,” Novas said. “She is extremely accurate and she is great for guidance. She gives great advice. I go to her for guidance about things that I have doubts about and after I talk to her things become clearer.”

In the future, Sostakowski is hoping to expand the business to include more merchandise and start renting out spiritual DVD’s or movies. She said she is also always adding more workshops and classes to the schedule.

The grand opening will be May 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sostakowski said she hopes everyone will come out and see the new location.

For more information, visit www.universalpsychichealer.com or call (813) 943-3666.

The hours are Monday and Thursday from noon to 6 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and closed on Sunday.

“We are here to help people feel better and get through the tough times,” Smith said. “I am here to give intuitive advice and spiritual counseling.”