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Carrollwood

Screenwriter premiers film in Bay area

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When Andy Warrener went to Villagio Cinemas in Carrollwood last week, he wasn’t going merely as a movie patron.

He was there to see the Florida premier of “The Black String,” a movie which the Odessa native co-wrote and co-created.

For Warrener, the film’s Florida debut was a moment that was years in the making.

‘The Black String’ co-writer Andy Warrener, left, and its lead actor, Frankie Muniz, stand together at the horror film’s Florida premiere at Villagio Cinemas in Carrollwood, on Oct. 25. (Courtesy of Andy Warrener)

“I’ve been in the screenplay format since I was 19,” he said. “Screenplays became a creative outlet.”

A photojournalist by trade, Warrener made a transition into the film industry. His love for literature also compelled him into that line of work, he said.

He moved to Los Angeles in 2002, where he lived for almost seven years.

While there, he met director Brian Hanson, who introduced a screenplay idea that Warrener found intriguing.

The concept dealt with a psychiatric patient who couldn’t distinguish between delusions or reality.

“I’m like ‘I love it. Let’s talk more about it,’” Warrener said. “Subsequently, we had meetings and sessions, and we fleshed out the idea. Next thing you know, there was a script.”

However, the two screenwriters began to focus their attention elsewhere, putting the script aside.

It wasn’t until 2017 that producer Richard Handley read the script, found it interesting and wrote a newer version – ultimately becoming the film’s storyline.

Jonathan, the main character of “The Black String,” is played by Frankie Muniz.

Muniz rose to prominence as a child actor starring in the television series “Malcolm in the Middle,” as well as several movies.

Initially, the film premiered at the Austin Film Festival in 2018.

The film also has been released on DVD, Red Box and Google Play.

Warrener, who considers himself a “horror film buff” said “The Blair Witch Project” and “Paranormal Activity” are some of his favorites.

“What makes those movies so scary, to me personally, is that it’s something that could happen to anyone,” he said.

He thinks “The Black String” is a film that resonates with viewers.

Although this was Warrener’s first screenplay to become a film, he has written nine others.

He also noted that he’s teaming up with Hanson again, and this time they’ll be working on a mystery-thriller.

And, Warren, who lives in Odessa again, said he’s not ruling out using Tampa Bay as the setting for future projects.

Published November 06, 2019

What a difference a decade can make in real estate

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Even the most casual of observers can easily see that housing demand and residential real estate values have rebounded in recent years in Hillsborough and Pasco counties.

There are new subdivisions popping up all over.

But, to put a finer point on what’s happening, Craig Nowicke, a real estate broker with RE/MAX, based in Carrollwood, dropped by the Rotary Club of Lutz to talk about the Hillsborough real estate market in the past decade.

Craig Nowicke, a real estate broker based in Carrollwood, gave members of the Rotary Club of Lutz an overview of changing real estate market conditions in Hillsborough County over the last decade. (B.C. Manion)

Nowicke and his wife, Linda, are licensed Realtors, with Nowicke specializing in both commercial and residential properties, and his wife focusing on residential properties, including the luxury market.

He provided a “snapshot” of the Hillsborough market between 2008 and 2018.

That marks the period from when the market “absolutely crashed” to today, “where we’re essentially back where we were,” Nowicke told those gathered at the Heritage Harbor Golf & Country Club.

From 2007 to 2008, a year that Nowicke said Hillsborough’s housing market was “driving off the cliff,” the market volume dropped by 24 percent, he said. The total dollar value of single-family residential homes that were sold that year dropped from $3.1 billion to $2.4 billion,” he said.

At the same time, the median sold price decreased by 19 percent, from $220,000 to $178,500.

There were 10,471 units sold in 2008, Nowicke said. And, at that time, there was 24 months’ worth of supply in the inventory.

He explained: “That means there was two years’ worth of houses to meet demand. If no new house came on, it would take two years to sell everything in those market conditions at that time.”

In 2008-2009, the market volume bottomed out at $2.3 billion in sales, he said. Median prices continued going down, reaching $132,000.

“Units (sold), though, started to recover because price has gone down,” Nowicke noted.

In 2011-2012, the market volume increased by 27 percent, going from $2.5 billion to $3.2 billion, he said.

“We hit the bottom, in January of 2011, in price,” he noted.

Unit sales continued to rise, increasing from 16,600 to 18,432. Meanwhile, inventory dropped to 13.5 months, in January 2011.

Fast-forwarding to 2017, the total market volume was $6.8 billion — an 11.7 percent increase from the year before. The median price was $216,600. And, there were 26,000 units sold — which is more than 2 ½ more (units sold) than bottom.

Now, the market’s inventory is well below a balanced market, Nowicke said.

There was 2.7 months of inventory in May, the most recent statistic available, he said.

“That is really, really low inventory,” he said.

Experts today consider 5.5 months of inventory to be a balanced market, Nowicke said.

A sellers’ market
The amount of inventory available dictates the difference between a sellers’ market, a buyers’ market and a balanced market.

“The sellers’ market means that the sellers have all of the leverage. There’s no inventory to sell, which is where we are now. Sellers have all of the leverage. There’s more buyers than there are sellers,” he said.

“It’s going to drive prices up. The sellers can demand more, or, for example, if they need to do some repairs, they can just refuse to do them because they don’t care. They’ll just wait for the next buyer.
“The buyers’ market, remember back to the 24-month supply? The buyers had all of the leverage,” he said.

So, buyers get lower prices and more concessions, he added.

“You don’t want to give me a good deal on this house? I’ll just go buy the next one because there’s plenty of houses to buy.

“The balanced market means there’s approximately an even number of the people who want to buy and sell,” Nowicke said.

The real estate expert also talked about the difference between distressed sales and traditional sales.

Distressed sales include homes that are in foreclosure and homes that are being sold short of how much is owed on them, he said. A traditional sale is a home that went on the market that wasn’t a short sale or a foreclosure.

“It was just an everyday sale,” he said.

“In 2011, 40 percent of our market was traditional sales; 60 percent was distressed,” he said.

Since then, the market has improved enormously, and the only homes that can be found at a discount tend to be those which need substantial repairs.

Conditions in the housing market were different when it heated up before, he said.

“This is my general impression, not necessarily data that I researched, but we had a whole lot of new inventory come on line. Lots of builders building new developments. And, then we had unbelievably lax lending policies.

“So, I think if you could fog a mirror, you could not only buy the house, but you also could get a second and a third line on it. You might have $400,000 worth of financing on a $300,000 house that was probably worth $200,000 on its best day,” he said.

Now, he said, “you drive around here and you see all of the construction. They’re building new product all of the time, and it is selling.

“I just helped somebody buy up in Spring Hill, and there’s 30 houses coming up out of the ground next to the one that she just bought.

“It’s crazy.

“I get nervous about this. How long can this go on?

“I don’t know how long it can go on. The pendulum always swings, so there will be a day when it will be a buyers’ market again.

“I don’t know when, but it isn’t right now,” Nowicke said.

Published July 25, 2018

Home Depot offers jobs in spring hiring spree

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Home Depot is looking to fill 1,350 jobs in an estimated 30 stores across the Tampa Bay region, including in Pasco County.

The “Jobs in Bloom” hiring spree anticipates adding 80,000 jobs at stores and distribution centers nationwide. There are full-time, part-time and spring seasonal jobs available, according to a news release from the Atlanta-based Home Depot.

More than half of Home Depot’s seasonal hires move on to permanent positions, the release said.

The largest number of available jobs, at an estimate of 3,000, is in Chicago. Other targeted cities include Dallas, Philadelphia and Sacramento.

According to the Home Depot website, jobs are available at the Zephyrhills location, at 32715 Eiland Blvd.; and, in New Tampa, at 17601 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. In Hillsborough County, the Carrollwood store at 16121 N. Dale Mabry Highway also has job openings.

Home Depot has retooled its online application process.

Applications take about 15 minutes on any type of electronic device – computer or mobile, the news release states.

“We want everyone to have an easy and convenient experience with The Home Depot, whether they’re shopping with us or applying for a position,” Tim Crow, executive vice president of the company’s human resources department, said in the news release.

To personalize the application process, Home Depot also is highlighting job experiences of current employees in video and photo essays. These are available at the store’s digital content site, “Built from Scratch.”

Other links are available at the online Careers site and #HomeDepotHiring.

Nationwide, jobs are available at nearly 2,000 stores and 75 distribution centers. Jobs include customer service and sales, lot associates, freight and receiving, store support and cashiers. Job availability varies from store to store.

For information, visit Careers.homedepot.com/jobs-in-bloom/.

Published March 8, 2017

Heroes for Hire playing the right tunes

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Being a boy band with a first release on iTunes is heady stuff.

But, Heroes for Hire is getting used to the attention, playing their brand of edgy, alternative rock at venues such as Skipper’s Smokehouse, New World Brewery and Buckets.

Louis Mittens, 15; Ben Hense, 13; Ryan Romero, 15; Corey Fox, 15; and, Josh Morin, 14, came together as a band at Jim Chambers Music Box.

Heroes for Hire celebrated their first iTunes release with a performance at the Orpheum in Ybor City.
(Courtesy of Marlene Fox Photography)

Chambers is the maestro who orchestrates and fine tunes young musicians at his “school of rock” in Carrollwood. He puts bands together with that right mix of personal chemistry and musical chops.

“In six weeks, they’re expected to play a show,” Chambers said.

Heroes for Hire started playing gigs more than a year ago.

On Feb. 4, the band had a release party for its first iTunes’ song, “The Wanted One,” at The Orpheum in Ybor City.

Romero is the group’s songwriter. He also came up with the band’s name which salutes the military.

“You think of soldiers. They’re always heroes,” said Romero.

He started writing songs in seventh grade. “I like emotional topics that have a moral meaning, that are inspirational.”

Some band members knew one another before coming to “the box,” but mostly they’ve become fast friends because of the music. They attend Blake High School, Buchanan Middle School and Gaither High School, and live in Carrollwood and Lutz.

Fox’s mother started him on bass guitar when he was age 10.

“I was super into it,” he said, adding that a long career in music “would be a dream.”

Chambers knows how those dreams can sometimes happen.

He is a former music executive who earned Grammy awards with Maroon 5 and Loudon Wainwright III.

Chambers got his start in the mailroom at Sky Records, which was co-owned by Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls. Ray got him a job promotion after a chatty encounter one day at work.

In a podcast interview with Cigar City Radio First, Chambers recalled Ray asking afterward, “Who’s that kid in the mailroom who won’t shut up? Put him on the phones.”

From there, marketing and promotion became his way up the music industry ladder.

In nearly three decades, Chambers built a long resume. His jobs included merchandise representative for Sony Records in Miami and national sales representative for a division of Sire Records in New York.

Along the way, he watched Maroon 5 break into the outer stratosphere of the music world.

The economic crash in 2009 cost him his job. He flirted with moving to Belize, but ended up back home in Carrollwood, with his parents.

He taught drum lessons for awhile. Then, he ran a home-based music academy, until the homeowner’s association objected.

In July 2015, he opened Jim Chambers Music Box in a small shopping plaza, at 4312 Gunn Highway. Creative Loafing magazine recognized his school as “Best of the Bay” band incubator.

His band protégés include the all-girl band, Extra Celestial, and Inkblot.

Musical influences on Heroes for Hire are the Foo Fighters, Jack White and Jimi Hendrix.

Morin admires instrumental rock guitarist Joe Satriana. “He lets the guitar be his melody,” he said.

Rehearsals at Chamber’s studio are free-wheeling, get-it-on rock shows. But, live performances are the best.

“This is a way of getting feedback,” said Hense, who plays the drums.
It also builds a fan base that gets to know their music.

Mittens thinks he’s found his niche.

“Pretty much all I want to do is play guitar, in and out of school,” he said.

Published February 22, 2017

Primary elections over, now onto November

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Fewer than one-fifth of the registered voters in Hillsborough and Pasco counties decided the outcome of the primary elections on Aug. 30.

Some of the more notable races had Pat Frank defeating Kevin Beckner for the Democratic primary for Clerk of the Circuit Court in Hillsborough County, and Gary Joiner defeating Ted Schrader in the race for property appraiser in Pasco County.

Claude D. Brown, a Land O’ Lakes resident and poll deputy, has worked 22 elections at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center. (Fred Bellet/Photos)
Claude D. Brown, a Land O’ Lakes resident and poll deputy, has worked 22 elections at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center.
(Fred Bellet/Photos)

In other high-interest races, Marco Rubio handily defeated Carlos Beruff and other challengers in the Republican race for U.S. Senate, while Patrick Murphy won by a substantial margin on the Democratic side of the ticket in both counties.

Voters in both counties, and across Florida, overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment that extends to commercial and industrial properties a renewable energy tax break already enjoyed by residential property owners. The amendment also exempts all renewable-energy equipment from state tangible personal property taxes.

The amendment needed 60 percent approval from voters and still requires action by the Legislature to enact the changes.

Mary Deeny, of Lutz, was among the early-bird voters who trickled in between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m., on Aug. 30, at the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, to cast their ballots.
Mary Deeny, of Lutz, was among the early-bird voters who trickled in between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m., on Aug. 30, at the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, to cast their ballots.

Overall, voters in both Pasco and Hillsborough counties chose to stay home from the polls.

In Hillsborough County, of 812,359 registered voters, just 153,626 cast ballots, representing a turnout of 18.91 percent.

Hillsborough voters who showed up early at the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library seemed to share a singular motivation, while not always agreeing on candidates.

Lutz resident Mary Deeny said she hasn’t missed an election since age 18. Not voting is never an option, even if outcomes don’t always go her way.

The 51-year-old is puzzled about why more people don’t vote. Maybe she said, “They are not tapped in. It’s tunnel vision. I think they don’t understand the importance of local government.”

Carrollwood resident Jeff Jenkins, 63, considers voting a responsibility. He cast his first ballot at age 18.

“I think it’s an obligation to vote, plain and simple, whether it’s a primary or a general election,” Jenkins said.

One reason some might stay away from the polls is a belief that their vote won’t count, he said. “I think it’s a lack of engagement and a disconnect.”

Lewis Gray, husband of school board candidate, Lynn Gray, sets up a ‘Lynn Gray for School Board’ sign near the entrance to Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library.
Lewis Gray, husband of school board candidate, Lynn Gray, sets up a ‘Lynn Gray for School Board’ sign near the entrance to Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library.

Donna Trask was motivated to vote in a particular political contest.

“I definitely wanted to vote for Marco Rubio,” said Trask, 68, of Carrollwood.

Rubio also collected a vote from Kristen Mayer, who lives in the Lake Magdalene area.

Mayer thinks voting gives people a chance to choose who serves their communities. “We may not always like the choices, but we are the ones who are going to change the choices (by voting).”

Local races, especially for the Hillsborough County School Board, motivated Sherry Knox to go to the polls.

She arrived before 8 a.m., prepared to wait in line. It turned out she didn’t have to, because only a handful of voters were there. It took Knox just minutes to vote.

“I thought it would be more today,” Knox said. “To me, it’s important because it’s local government. It affects us directly. I don’t know why people don’t vote.”

She supported school board candidate Lynn Gray in the District 7, at-large race.

Meanwhile, in Pasco County, of 326, 937 registered voters, 60,943 cast ballots. That represents an 18.64 percent turnout.

Sherry Knox, who lives in the Lake Magdalene area, was especially interested in voting for her candidates in the school board races.
Sherry Knox, who lives in the Lake Magdalene area, was especially interested in voting for her candidates in the school board races.

Voters trickled in at Alice Hall at Zephyr Park in Zephyrhills.

Those arriving felt a civic obligation, or wanted to support a particular candidate.

Sixty-one-year Laura Cotty, a retired insurance processor, wouldn’t miss an election.

“I always vote. Your voice doesn’t matter if you don’t vote. …The main reason I came out is to vote on the property tax (Amendment 4), so that renewable energy is not taxable,” Cotty said.

Fifty-four-year-old Susan Woods, who is self-employed, said she was mostly interested in that issue, too.

Eighty-three-year-old Robert Merchant also felt compelled to vote. “It’s our duty,” he said.

Seventy-seven-year-old Mary Merchant wanted to show her support for a candidate in the race for District 1 of the Pasco County Commission.

“I happen to like Mr. (Ron) Oakley. Out of all of the (stuff) on television, he was about the nicest and the most honest,” she said.

For for full results, visit PascoVotes.com and VoteHillsborough.org.

–Staff writers Kathy Steele and Kevin Weiss contributed to this report.

Published September 7, 2016

Raising funds to strike out cancer

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On Jan. 10, the Saint Leo baseball team will have its first practice of the year.

Players will run drills, hit, catch and field the ball in anticipation of a new season.

They’ll also shave their heads. Just like last season.

It’s not a fashion statement.

Saint Leo baseball coach Sean O'Connor and most of his team got their heads shaved last year to close out the team's fundraising for cancer research. They'll do it again on Jan. 10. (Photos courtesy of Saint Leo University)
Saint Leo baseball coach Sean O’Connor and most of his team got their heads shaved last year to close out the team’s fundraising for cancer research. They’ll do it again on Jan. 10.
(Photos courtesy of Saint Leo University)

It’s a celebration of their off-season project, which is raising money for the Vs. Cancer Foundation, a nonprofit organization that raises funds to fight cancers that impact children.

Saint Leo is one of many college and high school baseball programs, as well as other sports teams from around the country, that donate to the cause.

The players solicit donations on social media, collecting money for several weeks before the start of their season.

Saint Leo coach Sean O’ Connor was contacted before last season by foundation CEO Chase Jones, a former college baseball player who was diagnosed with stage IV brain cancer at 18 years old.

Now cancer free, Jones founded the Vs. Cancer Foundation and reaches out to sports teams to help raise money for the cause.

O’ Connor was impressed with the story and wanted to help.

“I thought it was something we should do, and it was something we should be a part of,” he said.

But, he didn’t make it mandatory. If a player wanted to help, he was welcome to do so, but it wouldn’t be forced on anyone. And, he didn’t want them simply donating the money themselves, or hitting up their families for large contributions. Instead, they would reach out through their social media profiles and get the community to help.

While it wasn’t a team requirement, it became a popular cause. Around 90 percent of the team participated last year, raising $3,200 for the foundation. The success didn’t surprise O’ Connor, who played baseball at Saint Leo when he was a student athlete. Charitable giving and community support isn’t just a characteristic of O’ Connor or the baseball team. It’s part of the university culture.

“I think it’s a Saint Leo thing, to tell you the truth. I think a lot of our teams do the same thing,” he said. “I think it’s something we do here, and we do it pretty well.”

So well in fact, that the baseball team has upped its goal for the current campaign. It is looking at raising $5,000 this time around, and it is off to a good start. In the first week of fundraising, the team collected around $700. That puts the overall goal well within reach before Jan. 10.

Saint Leo baseball's offseason program includes cancer fundraising
Saint Leo baseball’s offseason program includes cancer fundraising

This season, the team will take a trip to visit a children’s hospital in St. Petersburg that benefits from the funds, and it is starting it fundraising efforts earlier than last year.

While raising money to fight cancer doesn’t log any runs or pitch any strikes, O’ Connor believes it’s good for the team as a whole. And, since the team won 36 games last season (their third straight season with at least 30 victories) it’s a positive for morale as well.

“I think the kids feel good about themselves. I think it’s certainly something that they come together and do,” he said. “It gives them a sense of purpose.”

It will also give them new haircuts at the first practice. Lesa Walley and the Regency Beauty Institute in Carrollwood donate their time to come out and perform the cuts, which also aren’t mandatory on the team.

Still, the vast majority of players participate, even if a shaved head isn’t their normal style.

The coach participates, too.

“I was freaked out last year about shaving my head,” O’ Connor admits.

That’s because he had never done it before.

But, he joined the athletes, and in addition to finding a cause the baseball team can get behind, he found a new style as well.

“I’ve shaved it numerous times since last year,” O’Connor said. “Now, I really like it.”

For more information or to make a donation, visit Team.Vs-Cancer.org/SaintLeo.

Published December 23, 2015

 

Nostalgia, newer songs in ‘Mary Poppins’ production

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Julie Nelson has a challenge as lead choreographer for the latest New Tampa Players show.

On one hand, it’s something most people know.

On the other hand, it’s something people don’t really know at all.

Choreographer Julie Nelson, left, works with the stars of ‘Mary Poppins.’ Courteney McClutchy (Mary) and Jarrett Koski (Bert) prepare for opening night on Aug. 7. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photos)
Choreographer Julie Nelson, left, works with the stars of ‘Mary Poppins.’ Courteney McClutchy (Mary) and Jarrett Koski (Bert) prepare for opening night on Aug. 7.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photos)

“I think people know the songs more than anything. I think they remember the songs more than they remember the storyline,” Nelson said.

She’s talking about “Mary Poppins,” the story made famous by the 1964 Walt Disney film, and the latest New Tampa Players production based on the Broadway musical, which runs Aug. 7-9 and Aug. 14-16 at the University Area Cultural Development Center.

While the audience will probably recall the story of the iconic nanny as it goes along, songs like “A Spoonful of Sugar” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” are expected to be familiar from the beginning. So Nelson and her co-choreographer, Jarrett Koski, have been tasked with bringing those popular elements to life. But, they also want to let the audience follow the story, which might not be as well known to them.

For a musical, “Mary Poppins”, features a good amount of dialogue.

And, as a theater enthusiast for more than 30 years, that suits Nelson well. She prefers a play that has a healthy amount of story to supplement the singing and dancing.

Even the most well-known songs need a lot of practice to get them just right. The New Tampa Players' cast of ‘Mary Poppins’ rehearsed ‘Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’ as a group ahead of opening weekend.
Even the most well-known songs need a lot of practice to get them just right. The New Tampa Players’ cast of ‘Mary Poppins’ rehearsed ‘Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’ as a group ahead of opening weekend.

“I’ve seen some shows where it’s just sing-and-dance, sing-and-dance, sing-and-dance, and there’s not enough in-between,” Nelson said. “So I do like when there’s a good ratio.”

There’s also the challenge of bridging the differences between the movie and the play, given the former is probably where most people gained a fondness for the story.

The source for both comes from British author P.L. Travers who wrote eight children’s books with Mary Poppins as the magical nanny blown by the East wind to Number 17 Cherry Tree Lane in London. She lands at the doorstep of the Banks family, where she becomes nanny to the children.

The film included scenes where live actors interacted with animation, which isn’t something a stage production would accommodate. Still, knowing that people remember the famous scene where Dick Van Dyke, who plays a chimney sweep, dances with animated penguins, Nelson wanted to give the audience a hint of what they recall from the film.

“We added a penguin-ist flair to ‘Jolly Holiday,’ a movement that resembles the penguins, just to touch on that little memory,” she said.

She also got to work on songs that might be unfamiliar to many people. “Playing the Game” is a slower-tempo number that didn’t appear in the movie, and wasn’t a part of the original Broadway show. It was a fun song to choreograph since it features children playing the roles of toys and is a little different from traditional “Mary Poppins” classics, she said.

Theater isn’t just a personal passion for Nelson, who will teach theater at Corbett Preparatory School in Carrollwood this fall. It’s more of a family affair. Her twins, McKinnley and Rylie, have roles in the current production, and “Mary Poppins” was the first Broadway play they saw in New York. Nelson’s husband, Bill, also helps out backstage.

Being in a theater family, Nelson appreciates the family friendly message and production of “Mary Poppins,” and its story of ultimately bringing a family together. She also appreciates the opportunity to share her interest in theater with the community by taking part in a performance with such well-known songs.

“I’m an educator first. I’m very passionate about theater and the arts,” Nelson said. “Even in my classroom, just sharing my love of the arts with others is always awesome for me.”

Show times for both weekends are Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15-$20. The University Area Community Center is located at 14013 N. 22nd St., in Tampa. For information and to buy tickets, call (813) 386-6687, or visit NewTampaPlayers.org.

Published August 5, 2015

Health care reforms pass House, onto Senate next

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The House of Representatives has passed legislation that could pave the way for more treatment options for people who are ill, and the bill’s bipartisan support bodes well for its passage in the Senate, said Congressman Gus Bilirakis, who has taken a leadership role on this issue.

The 21st Century Cures Act passed the House by a vote of 344-77 on July 10.

Ashleigh Pike, left, looks on as her mother, Beth Pike, describes the impacts that Ashleigh’s illness has had on the young woman’s life. (File Photo)
Ashleigh Pike, left, looks on as her mother, Beth Pike, describes the impacts that Ashleigh’s illness has had on the young woman’s life.
(File Photos)

“Now, we’re waiting on the Senate to pass a bill,” Bilirakis said, and he’s confident that will happen, perhaps by the end of the year.

Passage can’t come soon enough, Bilirakis said, noting the legislation offers hope to people who are desperate for new treatment options.

The Senate’s version of the bill will likely have fewer provisions, Bilirakis said.

To help protect provisions he believes are important, Bilirakis has sponsored stand-alone bills, as well.

One of the stand-alone bills he has introduced is called the Orphan Product Extensions Now Accelerating Cures & Treatments Act (OPEN ACT). That calls for giving drug makers and innovators incentives to “repurpose” major market drugs for life-threatening rare diseases and pediatric cancers.

The aim is to open the door to the development of hundreds of safe, effective and affordable treatments for rare disease patients, Bilirakis said.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, of Utah, has co-sponsored that bill in the Senate.

Bilirakis said he doesn’t care whether these provisions are adopted in the overall legislation or his stand-alone bill. He just wants action on these issues.

A panel of health care providers discusses ways to improve health care delivery to patients. Reducing bureaucracy, increasing funding and encouraging innovation are some of their suggestions.
A panel of health care providers discusses ways to improve health care delivery to patients. Reducing bureaucracy, increasing funding and encouraging innovation are some of their suggestions.

While legislators were drafting the 21st Century Cures Act, roundtables were held around the country to give stakeholders a chance to discuss issues being faced by patients and providers.

Bilirakis convened roundtables in Lutz, Land O’ Lakes and Carrollwood, where he listened to hours of testimony from patients, patient advocates, doctors, researchers, makers of medical devices and other stakeholders.

The settings for the sessions were comfortable meeting rooms, but the testimony delivered dealt with issues of life and death, and was often poignant and dramatic.

At a session in Lutz, patients told Bilirakis about difficulties in getting a proper diagnosis and finding effective treatments.

Ashleigh Pike was one of those patients.

Before she became ill, she was a vibrant young woman who delighted in teaching elementary school children. Now, she lives life from a wheelchair and requires full-time care.

“On the outside, I look fine,” the former teacher told Bilirakis. But, she added: “My quality of life has been greatly compromised.”

Pike suffers from a form of dysautonomia, a malfunction of the autonomic nervous system. That system controls automatic functions of the body, such as heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, kidney function, temperature control, and dilation and constriction of the pupils, according to Dysautonomia International’s website.

At another session, health care providers told Bilirakis about a variety of roadblocks that frustrate their work.

Dr. David Morgan, the chief executive of the University of South Florida’s Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute, told Bilirakis the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s patients must improve. About one in five people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s do not have the disease, Morgan said.

The disease can be accurately diagnosed with PET — positron emission tomography — scans, but those are expensive and generally not covered by insurance, Morgan said.

Proper diagnosis is important not only for treatment of patients, but also to ensure that clinical trial results are not skewed by including patients in the trials who do not have the disease.

Reforms also are needed in the way clinical trials are conducted, Morgan said, noting the current approach takes too long and costs too much.

At that same session, Dr. Richard Finkel, chief neurologist at Nemours Children’s Hospital of Orlando, told Bilirakis that the focus must be greater on patient-centered cures.

“Patients are willing to accept different levels of risk. But the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) doesn’t look at it that way,” he said. “They are very risk averse.”

Medical device makers face other obstacles, Lisa Novorska, chief financial officer for Rochester Electro Medical Inc., told Bilirakis.

Her company can know how to improve a device, but can’t pursue those improvements because of the costs to comply with FDA requirements. The FDA plays a valuable role in protecting the public, but it also creates paperwork nightmares for small businesses, she said.

Bilirakis said The 21st Century Cures Act addresses many concerns raised during the roundtable sessions, and provides an $8.5 billion increase for the National Institutes for Health.

Published July 29, 2015

Natural Market keeps it fresh and in the family

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A thriving business in Carrollwood prompted the Kim family to open Natural Market II in Land O’ Lakes.

Now nearing its first anniversary, the store is settling into its new community and giving customers another choice for locally grown fruits and vegetables.

The store also stocks an eclectic mix of Asian, Latin and American grocery staples.

Jeff Kim, right, and his son, Yong Son, sell organic and fresh fruits and vegetables at Natural Market II. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)
Jeff Kim, right, and his son, Yong Son, sell organic and fresh fruits and vegetables at Natural Market II.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

A recurring plea from Carrollwood customers who had moved to Pasco County prompted Jeff Kim to search for a second location for Natural Market.

That, and the chance for a new beginning in a high-growth area like Pasco.

“They’ve been asking us to open,” said Kim. “Finally, it’s time.”

On a drive down Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, Kim spotted a vacant gas station at 4204 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., at the Bell Lake Road intersection.

It was not in the best of shape, he recalled. “Everything had to be cleaned out.”

From the start, the grocery business has been a family affair.

Kim and his family came to Tampa from Korea nearly 30 years ago when he was a teenager.

The family opened its Carrollwood market, at 4441 Gunn Highway, about 18 years ago.

Natural Market’s green roof helps draw attention to the shop, which sells fresh food, produce and flowers. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Natural Market’s green roof helps draw attention to the shop, which sells fresh food, produce and flowers.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

Kim divides his time between Carrollwood and Land O’ Lakes. His son, Yong Son, is manager of the Land O’ Lakes store.

Customers say they appreciate the family friendly atmosphere.

“We love that it’s local and a lot of the veggies come from local farmers,” said Diane Polson, who stopped by recently to pick up fresh tomatoes. “That’s my No. 1 biggie.”

She also likes the purified water system that Kim has recently installed. “It’s another bonus,” she said.

The bins at Natural Market are filled with a variety of fruits and vegetables. Some are familiar such as cantaloupe, tomatoes and apples. But it is a place to find the unfamiliar as well, including dragon fruit, sapota fruit, rambutan and longan.

Freshness and uniqueness is what Natural Market strives for. Raw honey, bee pollen, herbs, fresh-squeezed juices and farm-fresh eggs are a small part of the foods stocked on shelves and in refrigerators.

Kim also points with pride at the freshly cut flowers and flower arrangements.

Shopping for the market is always a pleasure, he said.

“It’s from experience. You go to the market every day. You see all the unique produce. It is something that connects with me,” he said.

Published July 15, 2015

Art quilts show off Tampa Bay history

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Joanne Rodriguez knew immediately which historical Tampa landmark she wanted to create on her appliqued quilt – the image of the iconic minarets at the University of Tampa.

“When I came down to Florida in the 1980s, I just thought they were so beautiful,” said the Wisconsin native. “It’s very Tampa.”

Betty Jo Weber of Land O' Lakes makes her way down the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library hallway, where art quilts are on display. In the foreground, Sandi Snow's art quilt depicts a memory of the Hotel Floridan. (Fred Bellet/Photo)
Betty Jo Weber of Land O’ Lakes makes her way down the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library hallway, where art quilts are on display. In the foreground, Sandi Snow’s art quilt depicts a memory of the Hotel Floridan.
(Fred Bellet/Photo)

Her quilt is one of several on display through June at an art exhibit – “Memories of Tampa Bay” – at the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, 2902 W. Bearss Ave.

Other quilts feature landmarks such as the St. Petersburg Pier, the Hotel Floridan in downtown Tampa, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and the Dade City Historic Courthouse.

The idea for the show came from a challenge made by Terry Montaldo, long-time member of the Feather Princesses. She created a quilt featuring the Hacienda Hotel, a historic landmark near her home in New Port Richey.

“They are currently redoing it as a boutique hotel,” Montaldo said. “I’m quite anxious to see it done. It’s been a dream of people that live here.”

More than 150 members from around Tampa Bay belong to Feather Princesses. A general meeting takes place on the second Wednesday of each month at the Carrollwood Cultural Center. About a dozen smaller groups meet at various times and locations such as the Barnes & Noble Bookstore in Carrollwood, Salvation Army in New Port Richey, and quilting shops in Dade City, Lutz and Land O’ Lakes.

Rodriquez joined about four years ago.

She grew up sewing clothes. “I just always loved to sew,” she said. “I even do it on vacation. This is the only group that does strictly appliques. It’s very unique.”

The guild began with a conversation between two friends, Dorothy Johnson and Laura Brooker.

“Before we knew, we were starting a guild,” said Johnson, who is the current president. “It just happened.”

In August, the Feather Princesses will celebrate their 10th anniversary.

“It’s very hot right now,” said Johnson of appliques and art quilts. “Unlike patchwork, with appliques it allows more creative expression. You’re not limited to specific shapes.”

Members work for months on some of their creations. It took a year to pull together the current library exhibit.

With so much time spent together, education and fellowship are a huge part of the appeal, Johnson said.

“We just love getting together and being with one another,” she said.

Some quilters have nearly 50 years of experience.

“Others are just learning to thread a needle,” Johnson said. “But everyone is willing to share. We’re just a fun group of ladies who like to get together and make beautiful appliques.”

For information, contact the Feather Princesses at (813) 253-9227, or visit FeatherPrincesses.org.

Published June 3, 2015