Closer Look

By William Jacko Special to The Laker/Lutz News When a former client referred his brother, a first-time homebuyer, to April Barra, she  knew she would do whatever it took to help him find his future home “He was looking to purchase a starter home an hour’s drive away. There were several trips to show homes, written offers, inspections, and even a couple of contracts that ...

By Kelli Carmack Rob Howard got his start in the flooring business 35 years ago as a teenager, when he was working at a grocery store and his manager asked if he could finish the store’s floors when a contractor failed to show. Rob agreed to help, discovered that he enjoyed the work, and has been in the flooring business ever since. Over the years, ...

JULY 23, 2020 BY SPECIAL TO THE LAKER/LUTZ NEWS When you walk into Tampa Surgical Arts, there is soft music playing, calming aromas and restful furniture — not the typical sterile environment found in a traditional facial and cosmetic surgeon’s office. Making sure his patients feel relaxed and comfortable is a priority for Dr. Manik Bedi, owner of Tampa Surgical Arts, and facial and cosmetic surgery center ...

(This is a Paid Advertisement) Residents in Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills and Dade City are continuing to discover one of the area’s most charming restaurants, Plaza Mexico Restaurant Bar & Grill, and keep coming back for its outstanding food and great prices. “Families love the variety of our menu, and especially enjoy our chimichangas, taco salad and combo specials,” said Hector Alvarez, one of the restaurant’s ...

By William Jacko Special to The Laker/Lutz News When people need a good lawyer, they often turn to a big downtown firm. With the opening of its new building in North Tampa, Bleakley Bavol Denman & Grace now provides this big-firm quality and prestige for Pasco and North Hillsborough residents. “We’re right on the corner of Florida and Bearss. We’re convenient for people who want ...

By Kelli Carmack Ever since he was a young child, Jerry Moates Jr. has been in the cabinet business. His father, Jerry Moates Sr., opened Statewide Custom Cabinets in 1972, and would bring his namesake with him to work whenever he could. “I went on Saturdays and just hung out with him until he got off work,” said Jerry Jr., who is now the owner ...

By Kelli Carmack With a career spanning over 34 years, financial advisor Bill Kimbrough knows how to help you answer the question, “Can I financially get there?” By taking the time to learn the individual goals of each of his clients, Kimbrough builds a strategy tailored just for them. He identifies the most appropriate investments, protections and services to get clients where they want ...

By Kelli Carmac  If you’re a snowbird, odds are you’re getting ready to head back north. As you say goodbye to Florida, do you find yourself wondering if your home will be okay while you’re hundreds of miles away? While you hope your home will be fine until you return, that’s not always the case. Unforeseen damages can happen— broken A/C unit, hot water tank leak, mold, roof and storm damage, rodent ...

By William Jacko When Bruce and Tasha Henry chose the name OhmStar Home Lending for their new business, they wanted something with a soothing sound that would generate positive energy. “The meaning of ohm is the ultimate,” said Tasha Henry, who holds a doctorate in occupational therapy. “It’s been proven that saying the word ‘ohm’ brings a calming effect and healing vibration to the soul ...

By Kelli Carmack When Hurricane Irma hit two years ago, Alfred Carrillo and his family were staying with Bobby Van Allen and his family. The catastrophe that ensued from Irma’s wrath led to a conversation between the two friends that became an idea for a new business venture. “One thing led to another, I broke out a napkin and it all came together,” said Van ...

It’s not just about finding that dream home, or quickly selling a client’s property, for the Prime Time Home Team.  According to partners Ernest Van Glahn and Debi Bolusi, their business is also about building long lasting relationships that often evolve into friendships. With over 22 years of combined industry experience, the two Realtors train under the Craig Proctor Coaching Program, where Ernest is also ...

By Deborah Bostock-Kelley After 20 years in the Air Force managing data centers, followed up by 18 years working in corporate IT, Michael Varnadore was looking to be self-employed in a career in which he had a passion. He found the perfect fit with Nerds to Go, a national franchise that specializes in bringing computer and cellphone repair services to a customer’s home or business ...

By Kelli Carmack, Special to The Laker / Lutz News Cesar Heyaime and Aliana Metsey are the perfect hosts. Their charismatic personalities, hearts of gold and undeniable passion for cooking makes anyone who walks into their Lutz restaurant feel completely welcome. The couple opened their new restaurant, Heritage: An American Bistro, three months ago in the Tropical Village shopping center on U.S. 41, across from Walmart ...

To see Hector Alvarez working at Plaza Mexico Restaurant Bar & Grill is not unusual. Alvarez is one of the owners at Plaza Mexico, the kind of family owned restaurant where the owners lead from the front and work alongside their employees, to ensure professionalism and quality control “Not only do the employees work here, but the owners also work here,” Alvarez said. “At most ...

By William Jacko Special to The Laker/Lutz News When Vincent Hernandez saw a need for an affordable dry cleaner in Zephyrhills, he and his wife, Emina, decided to open $1.99 Cleaners on U.S. 301, just south of downtown. And, with his family’s long history in the dry cleaning business, Hernandez had an immense knowledge base and business know-how to draw from. “My family has been ...

By Deborah Bostock-Kelley News Special to The Laker/Lutz Rich Nicoloff was already late for church when he spotted a couple on the side of the road with a blown tire. He knew if he stopped, he’d miss the service. But, Nicoloff also knew he wasn’t the kind of person who could just drive past. So, he pulled over, explained that he owned Bella Tires in ...

Special to The Laker/Lutz News New owners at Dade City Auto Sales have revitalized this long established car lot on U.S. 301, by bringing in better quality vehicles and increasing its inventory to over 100 vehicles by the first of the year. “We had a vision of what this place could be,” said Lou Taliercio, who now owns the business with brother Mike. “Our vision ...

The stately grandfather clock in the lobby at McDannold Law belonged to Andrew McDannold’s beloved grandparents, who died without leaving the clock to any particular beneficiary, making it difficult for family to decide who would inherit the timepiece McDannold keeps the clock in his law office because it symbolizes the reasons that motivated him to practice elder law — his love for his grandparents, the ...

Owning a pharmacy has been a very personal and rewarding career for Evelyn Johnson of X-Tra Discount Drugs — one of the oldest independent pharmacies in Zephyrhills currently celebrating its 30thyear. “We truly care about our customers, and are proud to have been providing friendly, professional services for so many years,” said Johnson, who is a pharmacist and owner of X-Tra Discount Drugs. The pharmacy opened ...

By William Jacko Special to The Laker/Lutz News With several large RV dealerships in the area, Optimum RV in Zephyrhills has found its niche specializing in used recreational vehicles. “We sell late-model, quality used products that are close to like-new condition, but priced dramatically less than what a new RV would cost,” said Zachary Crandell, general manager.  “All the big stores on I-4 are 85 ...

By Deborah Bostock-Kelley Special to The Laker/Lutz News A full-time realtor for 15 years, including the past five years with Charles Rutenberg Realty, Beth Hibben understands the importance of communication. When someone calls, she picks up the phone seven days a week, and never sends her buyers and sellers to an impersonal, automated message. “When people call me, I answer the phone, and it usually ...

By Deborah Bostock-Kelley Special to The Laker/Lutz News In 2019, an estimated 268,000 new cases of invasive breast cancerwill be diagnosed in women living in the U.S. To reduce this sobering statistic, AdventHealth Wesley Chapel is using innovative diagnosis and advanced treatment options with state-of-the-art technology. All patients at the hospital receive noninvasive, 3D mammography that helps the radiologist see issues that were hidden in ...

By Deborah Bostock-Kelley Special to The Laker/Lutz News Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club unveils a completely updated golf course with a ribbon-cutting event on Aug.19, hosted by the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce. The Grand Reopening Celebration is from noon to 2 p.m., at the clubhouse inside this master-planned community off State Road 52 and I-75, in San Antonio. Raffles and door prizes ...

Special to The Laker/Lutz News It’s the local ownership and management of Hudson Square Coastal Furniture that keeps customers coming back, again and again. “Our sales are up every year with very little advertising, because our customers are so pleased with the quality of our furniture and the service we provide. They come back on a regular basis to see what’s new, and tell their ...

Special to The Laker/Lutz News By William Jacko Shortly after Charles and Nancy Frankulin began dating in 2003, they started working at Bosco’s Italian To Go! in Wesley Chapel. They never imagined that one day they would marry and buy the business. “We started dating in 2003 when we were seniors in high school, and have been together ever since,” Charles said. “I started at ...

By William Jacko Special to The Laker/Lutz News Breakfast can be the most important meal of the day, so why not start it with something tasty and healthy at Keke’s Breakfast Café, in the Willow Bend Towne Center in Lutz.  Owners Stephen Poletta and Scott Crawford pride themselves on the freshness of Keke’s food. “We cut our potatoes, hand-crack our eggs, and never use liquid egg mix,” ...

By William Jacko Special to The Laker/Lutz News Long before Andrea Mannino founded Amici Pizza, it was the prospect of love, not business, that inspired him to leave his hometown of Carini, Italy, for America. His son, Vincent, smiles as he tells the story of the family restaurant his parents founded 18 years ago in Wesley Chapel. “My parents are from the same town in ...

By William Jacko Special to The Laker/Lutz News Meridien Research in Spring Hill recently had a patient whose dementia-related agitation dramatically subsided while participating in an Alzheimer’s clinical study it was conducting. “When we first met this patient, he was pacing, walking up and down the halls, and kept repeating that he wanted to leave,” said Sarah Hollingshead, site director for Meridien’s Spring Hill office ...

This could be you at Ukulele Brand’s restaurant and bar in Land O’ Lakes. You’re seated on a covered outdoor deck sipping a rum runner cocktail, watching the sun set over East Lake Ellis and enjoying live local music, while waiting for your gator tail and grilled grouper to emerge fresh from the kitchen of Executive Chef Chris Boemmel. “All these things make us a ...

By William J Jacko Special to The Laker / Lutz News When you visit your doctor or hospital, have you noticed that nurses and other medical staff are making fashion statements with their uniforms or scrubs? “The scrub industry has come a long way, I can recall years ago when most scrubs were a light blue color, were big and baggy with drawstring pants, and ...

By William J Jacko Special to The Laker / Lutz News Tracy Mannino, owner Salon Tre’ Anne in Wesley Chapel, has been styling hair for 23 years.  She began her career in Boston, moved to Florida 20 years ago, and started styling hair at Beyond Hair, the previous name of her salon. After a year, Mannio’s father bought the salon and she managed it for ...

By William Jacko Special to The Laker/Lutz News Moody Judy’s specializes in hot dogs, Cubans and unique sandwiches, and of course ice cream—and fun. Judy Lambert owns the café, and would not have it any other way. “I love food, meeting people and making sweet memories,” Lambert said. “My goal is to create a meeting place where family and friends can enjoy good food and ...

Special to The Laker/Lutz News Your air conditioner is the most expensive appliance in your house, and when it breaks, you want to call a company that will do everything possible to prolong its life. Bay Harbor Services is that kind of company. Bay Harbor has recently expanded into residential services, after many successful years in commercial air conditioning sales and service. “On the commercial ...

Special to The Laker/Lutz News Less than 45 minutes from Lutz and Land O’ Lakes, Tarpon Springs is someplace new to go for  date night, or a weekend outing with the family. “What really breathes life into our downtown is our variety of restaurants,” said Kelley Riedy, operations manager for Tarpon Arts. “There’s a pizza and pasta place, a little bistro that makes its own ...

By William Jacko Special to The Laker/Lutz News If you like a delicious meal with a high-quality craft beer, then BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse in Wesley Chapel is the place for you. Six BJ’s breweries supply the restaurant chain with its own line of craft beers that complement any meal perfectly. From its signature Chicago-style, deep dish pizza to its extensive menu of appetizers, burgers, ...

By William Jacko Special to The Laker/Lutz News When Shihan Wayne R. Shockness II was 7 years old, his friends dared him to sneak into a karate dojo. “I was shocked,” Shockness said.  “I saw this guy throw a roundhouse kick directly over his head, and he literally did a split in the air, balanced on the one leg and put the other leg directly ...

If you’re looking for artisan-style pizza served lighting fast with unlimited toppings, then you’ll want to check out MOD Pizza in Lutz, located near the Tampa Premium Outlets on State Road 56. Scott and Ally Svenson founded MOD Pizza 10 years ago, because they love Italian street pizza and wanted to improve upon the usual pizzeria experience.  MOD stands for Made On Demand, because their ...

By William Jacko Special to The Laker/Lutz News You are walking to your car in a dark parking lot, and someone jumps out from behind and places a chokehold on you. What do you do? If you were a student at Wesley Chapel MMA, you would know exactly what to do, because you would have been trained by Ryan Deichert, the school’s head instructor. Deichert ...