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Minnesota

Giving thanks with a grateful heart

November 26, 2014 By Diane Kortus

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, a time to reflect on the blessings in our lives.

This past year has been particularly joyful for me, both professionally and personally.

Since this newspaper is such a big part of my life, I want to share with you the top 10 reasons Thanksgiving is especially meaningful to me this year.

Our readers
I want to thank all of the readers of The Laker/Lutz News for embracing our new, bigger size. We took a leap of faith in August, changing our format to match the size of most daily newspapers.

Besides becoming 30 percent bigger overnight, we added a B section to give us a second front page, and to organize our classified products.

I confess I was more than a bit nervous about making such a significant change and taking on the additional expenses that came along with it. But taking risks comes with ownership, and it’s the only way to grow.

Four months into this change, we continue to receive positive comments — almost daily — about our new size.

My staff
A huge thank you goes to my staff of 12. I am ever so thankful to this group of professionals who meet challenging deadlines every week.

Think about it: How many business owners ask their staff to create a brand new product every week? But this is what my staff does — writing stories, taking pictures, selling and creating ads, and then putting it all together to fill typically 24 very big pages of stories and advertisements.

This requires an unbelievable amount of talent, commitment and hard work. Our staff box on Page 3A does not begin to give my employees enough recognition for the work they to do to bring you one of the best community newspapers in the state. 

Our advertisers
The newspaper we produce each week is possible because of the support we receive from our advertisers. They recognize that we offer an excellent vehicle to let patrons know about the services and products they offer.

My son Andy’s safe return
My son, Andrew Mathes, a captain in the U.S. Marine Corps, returned home at the end of May after seven months in Afghanistan. There is no greater gratitude that a mother can have than knowing her child is away from harm’s way.

Andy and Erin’s renewed wedding vows
Andy and his wife Erin, who were married a week before Andy’s deployment last November, renewed their wedding vows a year later — on Nov. 8 — at the church where Erin grew up in Appleton, Wisconsin.

Only nine family members were present when Andy and Erin married in a military chapel in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. When they renewed their vows, more than 150 family and friends traveled from across the country to be there.

My nine brothers and sisters
I am grateful, always, for my nine brothers and sisters. But it was especially touching to see all of them at Andy’s and Erin’s renewal of vows.

Most of my family lives in Minnesota — a five- to six-hour drive to Appleton. But they were all there, as were many of Andy’s cousins, despite an approaching winter storm and the fact that the wedding was on the same day as opening of deer hunting season in Minnesota.

My daughter Rachel’s graduation and new job
My beautiful daughter, Rachel Mathes, graduated from Stetson University in May and is working as an art teacher in Jacksonville. It’s hard to say whether I’m more grateful for Rachel graduating from college in four years and landing a job in her field, or for the fact that I am no longer paying tuition.

When Rachel was born I felt so blessed to have a daughter, and that gratitude deepens with each passing year. I only wish that Jacksonville was closer to Land O’ Lakes so we could see each other more often.

My father, Don Kortus
Dad will be 86 in February, and his love for his family — which consists of more than 45 children, grandchildren and great grandchildren — holds us all together.

I am thankful for Dad’s wisdom, good health, sharp mind, and unwavering support for me.

Jonas
Jonas, my 9-year-Airedale terrier, is a cancer survivor, and I am thankful he will be my companion for many more years.

After being diagnosed with cancer in August 2013, his prognosis was poor because dogs with his type of cancer rarely live longer than a few months.

But after having a tumor on his spleen removed, he recovered so well that he underwent chemotherapy and is now in remission.

Vic Anthony
Finally, I am thankful for finding love the second time around.

When I opened my heart to love again, I met Vic Anthony, who has had my back these past three years. Sharing with Vic the pleasures and challenges of my family, my business, and my dog Jonas, has renewed my spirit and brought me much happiness.

See this story in print: Click Here

Filed Under: Commentary, Local News Tagged With: Afghanistan, Andrew Mathes, Appleton, Camp Lejeune, Don Kortus, Erin Mathes, Jacksonville, Jonas, Land O' Lakes, Minnesota, North Carolina, Rachel Mathes, Stetson University, Thanksgiving, U.S. Marine Corps, Vic Anthony, Wisconsin

Simon: Outlet mall construction has started

October 22, 2014 By Michael Hinman

Crews were out this week clearing the land near the intersection of State Road 56 and Interstate 75 for a new outlet mall, and it looks like come this time next year, there will be a new place for residents to shop.

Simon Property Group told investors in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Wednesday, that construction has started on Tampa Premium Outlets, a 441,000-square-foot center that is now expected to open next October. That is later than what Simon had hoped to complete construction, originally saying last year that it would open by the end of 2014, and then pushing that back to July 2015 a short time later.

It’s one of two new projects Simon has started in the most recent quarter, according to the filing, joining a 366,000-square-foot center start in Tucson, Arizona.

The Indianapolis-based company didn’t say how much it was spending on construction of the outlet mall in the general Wesley Chapel and Land O’ Lakes area, but said all of its current construction projects totaled about $2.2 billion. That includes the Tucson project, as well as recent premium mall openings in North Carolina and Minnesota, and construction and expansion of at least 30 other projects throughout North America.

Tampa Premium Outlets LLC purchased the more than 48 acres of land on three parcels for $14.1 million on Oct. 3, according to Pasco County property records. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Simon Property Group, according to state corporate records, and Simon’s financial filings with the SEC.

The full project will be built in seven phases, according to plans filed with the county last February, which would include the main outlet mall in the first phase located in nine buildings. It will include nearly 2,400 parking spaces, far more than the 1,600 spaces required by the county for a project of this size.

Simon has not made any formal announcements on tenants for the property, or who will anchor, although some of those announcements are expected by the end of the year.

Filed Under: Updates Tagged With: Arizona, Indianapolis, Interstate 75, Land O' Lakes, Minnesota, North America, North Carolina, Pasco County, Simon Property Group, State Road 56, Tampa Premium Outlets, Tampa Premium Outlets LLC, Tucson, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Welsey Chapel

Fact Check: Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera’s campaign visit to Zephyrhills

September 30, 2014 By Michael Hinman

Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera made a campaign stop on behalf of Gov. Rick Scott in Zephyrhills Sept. 22, speaking in front of the Conservative Club of East Pasco.

Throughout his stump speech, Lopez-Cantera attacked Scott’s Democratic opponent, former Gov. Charlie Crist, but also made some other claims as well. 

For the complete story of Lopez-Cantera’s campaign stop, read the Oct. 1 edition of The Laker/Lutz News.


 “The high-speed rail was a project that is about $2 billion, but that would not have covered the cost of the project. And you know who would’ve been on the hook to cover the cost of the project? All of us.

“Look at California. They took the federal money, and they have not laid one inch of rail in their state for high-speed rail. They’re hundreds of millions of dollars in the hole. They raised the gas tax 6 cents just to cover the expense.

“And that is still not going to cover the cost, that is projected to be around $100 billion.”

President Obama announced construction of high-speed rail routes in several states, including Florida, in 2009 as part of his overall stimulus package to help jumpstart the nation’s lagging economy.

Florida was set to receive more than $2 billion, while California was gearing up to receive $8 billion in federal funds. However, while the federal dollars were expected to cover the cost of the Florida route’s first phase between Tampa and Orlando, the California contribution was just a fraction of the $68 billion needed to build the entire line in the state, that had been planned for decades.

The California project took a big hit last January, however, when a state judge there ruled the government could not sell billions of dollars in bonds that would’ve helped finance the project, according to the Washington Post.

In August, the New York Times called the high-speed rail project a failure, claiming the Obama administration spent $11 billion on the project, with nothing to show for it. However, Michael Grunwald from Time magazine disputed that report, saying just $2.4 billion has been spent nationwide, and that major construction of the first high-speed rail lines are just beginning after years of planning.


“In the next two years, you can expect another $1 million in tax cuts, and this is not a Charlie Crist rhetoric tax cut. Another $120 million will be cut in taxes if you have a cellphone. Your cellphone bill will go down.

“And we’re going to eliminate the manufacturing sales tax once and for all, so that we can continue to attract manufacturing jobs to our state, because those are good, high-paying jobs.

“We are going to get a constitutional amendment passed that if your (home) value does not go up, your property taxes will not go up. It is not fair.”

The Tax Foundation, a non-partisan research think tank based in Washington, D.C., has called some of these policies a “mixed bag.”

The constitutional amendment, for example, would require the approval of 60 percent of voters. At the same time, this would affect local government revenue, not state government revenue, said Lyman Stone of the Tax Foundation.

“Restrictions on property tax assessments can reduce local taxation, but only if there are also restrictions on property tax rates, effective standardization of tax-assessing practices, and strict limits on other local revenue sources,” Stone said. “Otherwise, if property taxes are ineffectively capped, localities will just raise the same revenues through less transparent means, like excessive fees, fines, or budget gimmicks that just push expenses further out.”

However, in the same analysis, Stone praised the proposed reduction in cellphone taxes. Florida, he said, has the fourth highest taxes on cellphone usage, and would bring the state closer to norms experienced elsewhere in the country.


 Drug testing those people receiving state funds “was passed in 2011, and has been challenged by liberal groups since then. We are still appealing it. There is an injunction in place that doesn’t allow (the state to enforce drug-testing) until it makes its way through the courts.”

A federal judge last December struck down the law forcing welfare recipients to be drug tested, saying the law violated the Constitutional protection against unreasonable searches. It was similar to a ruling made in Michigan in 2003 that put many proposed drug-testing policies on hold for several years.

The suit that led to the decision was put together by the American Civil Liberties Union, a group generally described as “liberal,” on behalf of a U.S. Navy veteran, Luis Lebron, who had filed for public assistance and was asked to submit to testing.

The New York Times reported late last year the program cost far more than it saved, finding less than 3 percent of those tested with positive results for narcotics.


“We talked about how we increased funding for education the last three years, and how Gov. Scott was a champion of a $480 million pay raise (for teachers). That was not a bonus but a pay raise.”

The raises, according to Scott, would amount to $2,500 per teacher, and up to $3,500 for those deemed “highly effective.” However, while the Legislature did approve a measure that would make an additional $480 million available to school districts, it’s still up to county school boards — not the states — on how that money will be distributed, if at all.

Also, the allocated money is not just for teachers in the classroom. It’s also for guidance counselors, social workers, psychologists, librarians, principals and assistant principals, according to the bill, which means at least some of the money is earmarked for those who aren’t in front of students.

Scott has pushed for increased education funding in recent years, but that came after he slashed the education budget in 2011 by $1.3 billion. In fact, despite his most recent increase, education funding per student is still below the levels under Crist in 2007, according to Politifact.


“Charlie (Crist) doesn’t want anyone to remember that he was governor for four years, and what the state looked like when he took it over. It had a 3.5 percent unemployment rate, and when he left, it was much higher. He is going to say it was the global recession, and that it would’ve happened to anybody. That is not true. The same time that Florida lost 830,000 jobs, there was another governor who focused on jobs, and they added 200,000 jobs. And that was Texas.”

Crist moved into the governor’s mansion in January 2007, enjoying an unemployment rate of 3.5 percent. However, by that July, it had climbed to 4 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

As the Great Recession went into full swing, unemployment would rise to 4.8 percent after Crist’s first full year in office, and then 8.8 percent after his second.

Florida’s unemployment rate peaked at 11.4 percent in December 2009, and started to drop by April 2010.

When Scott took office in January 2011, the unemployment rate already was declining, dropping to 10.9 percent. It would take nearly three years for Scott to see unemployment rates drop below 7 percent, which it finally did in September 2013, but has plateaued around the 6.3 percent mark since last December.

In terms of what states weathered the recession better than others, Texas did gain attention for its job growth. However, many of those jobs, according to news reports, came in the oil and natural gas industries, which took only a minor hit during the recession.

Florida, on the other hand, was hit hard by the crash of the housing market, losing many jobs in that field — something Texas was able to absorb.

Last July, NPR reviewed job growth in all 50 states between January 2008 and May 2014, using data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. During that time, North Dakota had the biggest job growth at 21.2 percent, followed by Texas with 8.4 percent — both taking advantage of growth in the petroleum industry.

In total, 18 states and the District of Columbia saw positive job growth since the time the recession was in full swing, but none of them are Florida. The Sunshine State is ranked 38th in job growth since January 2008, tied with Maine, showing it’s still short of reaching its pre-recession levels by 1.7 percent.

Of the 19 states and territories that have seen positive growth since the recession, eight are led by Democrats, and seven by Republicans. Two other states — Oklahoma and Iowa — went from Democrat to Republican governors during that time span, while two others — Minnesota and California — went from Republican to Democrat.


“The first two years, he was chasing the vice presidency and not focusing on the state. The second two years, he was running for a United States Senate seat.

“And he is the first governor in the history of Florida to not run for re-election.”

Charlie Crist was touring and campaigning with John McCain after the U.S. Senator won the Republican nomination in 2008, and many news outlets said Crist was one of the contenders to possibly accompany McCain on the presidential ticket, especially since that could help deliver Florida in the presidential election.

McCain, however, chose Sarah Palin instead, and would go on to lose to Barack Obama and Joe Biden in the November race.

Less than a year later, Republican Mel Martinez resigned from his U.S. Senate seat some four years after winning it, and Crist appointed his chief of staff, George LeMieux — who many largely saw as a placeholder for Crist — and Crist soon after announced his intentions to run for the seat.

When it became obvious Marco Rubio was going to win the Republican nomination two years later for the senate seat, Crist would stay in the race as an independent, eventually losing to Rubio in 2011.

Crist, however, is not the first governor in history to not run for re-election. Assuming Lopez-Cantera was only referring to sitting governors eligible to seek re-election (which would exclude the likes of Lawton Chiles and Jeb Bush), C. Farris Bryant chose to serve just one term as governor, and did not seek re-election in 1964. He would be succeeded by another Democrat, W. Haydon Burns, in a two-year term in 1965.

Filed Under: Updates Tagged With: American Civil Liberties Union, Barack Obama, California, Carlos Lopez-Cantera, Charlie Crist, Conservative Club of East Pasco, D.C., District of Columbia, Florida, Iowa, Luis Lebron, Lyman Stone, Maine, Michael Grunwald, Michigan, Minnesota, New York Times, North Dakota, NPR, Oklahoma, Orlando, Politifact, Rick Scott, Tampa, Tax Foundation, Texas, Time, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Navy, Washington, Washington Post, Zephyrhills

Saint Leo abbot discusses the art of spirituality

September 25, 2014 By B.C. Manion

For thousands of years before Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press, books were printed and illustrated by hand — a painstaking process often completed within the confines of monastery walls.

Reproductions of two volumes of the St. John’s Bible are on display at Cannon Memorial Library at the University of Saint Leo this year to help celebrate the 125th anniversary of Saint Leo Abbey, Holy Name Monastery and the university. (Courtesy of Saint Leo University)
Reproductions of two volumes of the St. John’s Bible are on display at Cannon Memorial Library at the University of Saint Leo this year to help celebrate the 125th anniversary of Saint Leo Abbey, Holy Name Monastery and the university.
(Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

The St. John’s Bible, a modern version of that ancient practice commissioned by St. John’s Abbey and University, depicts the first handwritten illuminated Bible of a monumental size commissioned by a Benedictine Monastery in more than 500 years.

The original volumes are housed at the Hill Museum and Manuscript Library on the campus of St. John’s Abbey and University in Collegeville, Minnesota.

But 299 reproductions of the work have been made, and two volumes are on loan this year to Saint Leo University, Holy Name Monastery and Saint Leo Abbey.

The illuminated volumes and other religious artworks were the focus of a discussion led by the Rev. Isaac Camacho, abbot of Saint Leo Abbey, which is a Benedictine community of monks in St. Leo.

The abbot’s talk, “The Art of Spirituality,” covered not only the use of art to inspire spiritual understanding and growth, but also the artful pursuit of the spiritual life.

“Who created me? What is there after life? What is God? How is God?” Camacho said. “God’s beauty does not remain wrapped up in himself.”

Through his creation of the universe, the abbot added, “our God has already demonstrated that natural things are fundamentally good.”

Art is an expression of mankind’s creative nature, he added.

“Every single human being knows that there is something creative inside of us and art is an expression of that,” Camacho said. “We cannot deny that art will lead us to try to understand that there is beauty beyond ourselves.”

He also believes that being artistic is an intrinsic part of being human.

“If you say you are not an artist, you are lying to yourself,” Camacho said.

For some people, the art can be as simple as a stick figure. For others, it can be a poem.

Pursuing that artistic expression, and using it to help express spiritual discovery, helps people feel more connected to their spiritual life, the abbot added.

He encouraged people to feel free to mark up their Bibles with illustrations or other notations, to help make it truly their own.

“Your spiritual journey will be nourished when you discover something beautiful,” Camacho said.

The St. John’s Bible was completed by a team of calligraphers led by Donald Jackson, the calligrapher to Queen Elizabeth II. The calligraphers collaborated with 80 contemporary artists who illuminated the work.

The volumes are made from traditional materials such as calfskin, ancient ink, gold and silver leaf. Calligraphers used quill pens, fashioned from goose, turkey and swan feathers.

The reproductions on display at the university’s library are two of the seven volumes of the Heritage Edition of the St. John’s Bible — a limited edition of full-size facsimile reproductions of the original work.

The public is invited to see the sacred works of art, which are on display in the lobby of the Daniel A. Cannon Memorial Library, on Saint Leo University’s campus at 33701 State Road 52 in St. Leo.

The two volumes that are on display include the first five books of the Old Testament and the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John from the New Testament. Pages of the text are turned on a regular basis to new illuminated passages in the volumes.

Published September 24, 2014

See this story in print: Click Here

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Collegeville, Daniel A. Cannon Memorial Library, Donald Jackson, Hill Museum and Manuscript Library, Isaac Camacho, Johannes Gutenberg, Minnesota, Saint Leo Abbey, Saint Leo University, St. John's Abbey and University, St. John's Bible, St. Leo, State Road 52

MOSI wins national award from Noyce Foundation

August 4, 2014 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

The Museum of Science & Industry in Tampa has been selected as one of just seven museums in the country to receive the Bright Lights Community Engagement Award from the Noyce Foundation.

The award recognizes science centers, children’s museums and natural history museums that have done what it considers to be an outstanding job of engaging with their local communities, especially in areas like science, technology, engineering, art and math. It comes with an undisclosed monetary prize said only to be above $100,000.

“For decades, MOSI has been engaged in the issues of Tampa and the region, with particular emphasis on underserved and at-risk populations, and those who work with them,” said Ann Bowers, chair of the Noyce board of directors, in a release. “Outreach and community engagement are not a separate department at MOSI, but embedded in its organization culture and actions. Commitment to community and improving lives permeates everything this institution does.”

The goal of the award, according to the foundation, is to discover and shine a light on those willing to embrace their communities in new and profound ways. A panel of 15 judges helped select the winners.

MOSI provides more than $3 million annually in free passes, scholarships and memberships to those who cannot afford them. In addition, MOSI works with educators, Head Start teachers, families and children to increase science interest and improve science inquiry, according to a release.

“Our impact on students in the Tampa Bay community and beyond through outreach programs, scholarships and trainings, allow us to bring fun, interactive STEAM education to those who might not otherwise make it to our science center,” said Molly Demeulenaere, MOSI’s vice president of growth, in a release. “This award will allow MOSI to continue its mission of being an educational resource with an emphasis on underserved communities.”

Other museums winning the Bright Lights award include Explora in Albuquerque, New Mexico; the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul; the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California; the Hands On Children’s Museum in Olympia, Washington; The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia; and The Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose, California.

The Noyce Foundation was created in 1990 to honor the memory and legacy of Robert N. Noyce, co-founder of Intel and inventor of the integrated circuit, which fueled the personal computer revolution and gave Silicon Valley its name.

The Bright Lights award and donation will allow MOSI to continue reaching underserved populations with initiatives like scholarships, outreach programs, teacher trainings, and science assemblies to help meet the needs of families and schools with limited resources.

For more information on the Museum of Science & Industry, visit MOSI.org.

Filed Under: Updates Tagged With: Albuquerque, Ann Bowers, California, Explora, Hands On Children's Museum, Intel, Minnesota, Molly Demeulenaere, Monterey Bay Aquarium, MOSI, Museum of Science & Industry, New Mexico, Noyce Foundation, Olympia, Philadelphia, Robert N. Noyce, San Jose, Science Museum, Silicon Valley, St. Paul, Tampa, Tampa Bay, The Franklin Institute, The Tech Museum of Innovation, Washington

Cindy Perkins ‘elected’ Lutz Guv’na for 2014

July 8, 2014 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

In the end, Cindy Perkins proved she could win an office — for a price.

The Lutz chiropractor topped four other candidates in charity fundraising efforts over the Fourth of July weekend, to succeed Suzin Carr as the new Lutz Guv’na.

Cindy Perkins, a Lutz-based chiropractor, is sworn in as the new Lutz Guv'na for 2014. (Photo by Suzanne Beauchaine)
Cindy Perkins, a Lutz-based chiropractor, is sworn in as the new Lutz Guv’na for 2014. (Photo by Suzanne Beauchaine)

Perkins, who originally hails from a small town in Minnesota, told the Lutz News last month she enjoys the small-town feel that Lutz provides. The long-standing Guv’na event shows that while Lutz might be part of a growing, larger metropolitan area, it hasn’t forgot about its roots.

“It really appeals to me that the money that’s raised through the Guv’na campaign goes back to local schools or local nonprofits or the library,” Perkins said before the “election.”

Joining Perkins in seeking the Guv’na office were Liane Caruso of Limelight Marketing, Susan Gulash of Gulash Graphics, Lutz Volunteer Fire Association president Jay Muffly, and Soccer Gemz director Jerome Smalls.

 

 

Filed Under: Updates Tagged With: Cindy Perkins, Gulash Graphics, Jay Muffly, Jerome Smalls, Liane Caruso, Limelight Marketing, Lutz, Lutz Volunteer Fire Association, Minnesota, Soccer Gemz, Susan Gulash, Suzin Carr

Passing the baton to my future daughter-in-law

September 18, 2013 By Diane Kortus

When my son Andy announced his engagement recently, I had flashbacks to his childhood at the same time I was offering congratulations and best wishes.

Andy Mathes, son of Publisher Diane Kortus, and Erin Morgan became engaged in Savannah, Ga., over Labor Day weekend.
Andy Mathes, son of Publisher Diane Kortus, and Erin Morgan became engaged in Savannah, Ga., over Labor Day weekend.

When Andy was born 25 years ago, I believed no one could ever love him as much as I did. From the time he was an adorable tow-headed baby to a defiant teenager to an honorable man, I have loved Andy unconditionally. In good times and bad, no matter how angry I got when he tormented his little sister or did not call to tell me when he’d be home, and I’d stay up worrying.

But now another woman loves my son in a way I never can — as his future wife. And I find that a bit humbling, knowing there is someone else with whom Andy shares his deepest thoughts and emotions.

But I am getting ahead of myself. Let me first tell you the love story of Andy Mathes and Erin Morgan.

A Lake Wobegon reference stopped Andy last October as he passed by a table full of teachers in a bar in Yuma, Ariz. A first lieutenant in the U.S. Marines, Andy was out west conducting training. Erin was in Yuma as a second-year middle school teacher. The two met when Andy overheard Erin and her friends talking about Garrison Keillor and the “Prairie Home Companion” radio show.

I’m from Minnesota and my children grew up listening to Garrison most Saturday evenings. By the time they were in kindergarten they knew all about Lake Wobegon, the town where “all the women are strong, all the men are good looking and all the children are above average.”

Growing up, Andy spent summers with his Minnesota relatives, and although a Florida native, I’ve always thought he was a Midwesterner at heart. As it turned out, Erin is from Appleton, Wis., and is a graduate of St. Mary’s University in Winona, Minn. With that Minnesota connection, Andy and Erin had enough in common to begin dating.

Andy called me after meeting Erin and told me he had that instinctive feeling that “she was the one.” While I loved that Erin had good Midwestern values and was of the same Catholic faith, I was not as sure as my idealistic son that he had truly met his future wife.

Of course, Andy proved me wrong. After three weeks in Yuma, Andy went back to his platoon in Camp Lejeune, N.C., and he and Erin continued to talk every day. They met next in the Twin Cities over New Year’s, when Andy conjured up a plan to visit his grandparents after spending Christmas in Land O’ Lakes with me and his sister, Rachel.

Andy rendezvoused with Erin in St. Paul, who got away from her family in Appleton to meet up with Andy in the snow.

And that’s how it came to be that my father and stepmother met Erin before I did, along with my many sisters, brothers, nieces and nephews.

Two months later, Rachel and I finally met Erin. We planned a weekend where we could all meet, and Andy could show Erin the Naval Academy in Annapolis where he had graduated. Not only was Erin charming, but she and Rachel also seemed to have an instant, sisterly connection. I began to think that maybe Andy’s premonition was right.

I wasn’t surprised this spring when Erin decided to apply for teaching positions in school districts close to Camp Lejeune, and was proud when she quickly got a job teaching fourth grade. She joined Andy in North Carolina this summer.

Andy and Erin’s engagement is clouded with both joy and uncertainty. Andy leaves this week for training in southern California before he deploys to Afghanistan this fall. There he will be part of a team of Marines advising the Afghan National Army.

When Andy returns next July, he and Erin will finalize their wedding plans, a celebration that will likely be in Appleton in November, in the church where Erin grew up.

While of course I worry about my son’s deployment, I am comforted knowing he is loved by a wonderful young woman who shares his dreams, and will be waiting for him when he returns home.

And that is truly all any mother wants. To pass the baton on to another woman who will embrace her son in love and share a future of happiness with him.

Filed Under: Commentary, Land O' Lakes News, Local News, Lutz News, People Profiles, Wesley Chapel/New Tampa News Tagged With: Afghanistan, Andy Mathes, Annapolis, Appleton, Arizona, California, Camp Lejeune, Diane Kortus, Erin Morgan, Florida, Garrison Keillor, Lake Wobegon, Land O' Lakes, Minnesota, Rachel Mathes, St. Mary's University, St. Paul, Winona, Yuma

Husband and Wife Team Board Certified in Plastic Surgery and Dermatology Open Clinic in Wesley Chapel

February 13, 2013 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Women have many choices when it comes to cosmetic surgery and skin care. Board-certified plastic surgeons and board-certified dermatologists are uniquely trained to provide these services. Together, Drs. Raj and Aparna Ambay provide Tampa’s first center for coordinated care.

Raj S. Ambay, M.D. and Aparna Ambay, M.D., FAAD
Raj S. Ambay, M.D. and Aparna Ambay, M.D., FAAD

“Quality and safety should always be a priority,” Dr. Raj Ambay, a board-certified plastic surgeon, recommends patients look past marketing hype by checking the board certification of their doctors with the Florida Dept. of Health and the American Board of Medical Specialties. “Your health and safety is too important to accept a compromise,” he said.

Dr. Ambay completed his general surgical residency at the prestigious Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Following his residency, he completed a plastic surgery residency at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a cancer fellowship with the National Institutes of Health, and a second sub-specialty fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, where he specialized in microsurgery and tissue transplantation.

“Microsurgery and tissue transplanta- tion allow me to perform the most advanced forms of breast cancer reconstruction,” said Dr. Ambay. “Knowing how to reconstruct a breast requires an artistic eye and comprehensive under- standing of anatomy. That knowledge is the foundation for delivering superior results in cosmetic surgery.”

Dr. Ambay brought his medical expertise to the Tampa area in 2010 when he relocated here with his wife, Dr. Aparna Ambay, a board certified dermatologist, and their daughter Amani.

Dr. Ambay is also a reservist, Lieutenant Colonel and an Army veteran. He was deployed to Iraq in 2011 and spent four months stationed in a combat hospital supporting a Special Forces unit.

When Dr. Ambay entered the combat zone, he recalled his commander saying, “the force behind you is far greater than the challenges ahead of you.”

“When I returned from Iraq, I felt like that was the same reason to open a medical center,” said Dr. Ambay. In early 2012, Tampa Institute of Plastic Surgery and 360 Dermatology opened together in a Seven Oaks office complex in Wesley Chapel behind Sam’s Club.

In addition to the convenience of the two disciplines working together, patients appreciate the practices’ state-of-the-art technology. Every suite has high-tech features such as iPads mirrored on large LCD screens to enhance patient education.

On Feb 5, ABC Action news featured Dr. Raj Ambay as the first practice in Florida to use HIPPA-compliant email and texting technology. This technology provides updates to anxious family members on the status of their loved ones while in surgery, at the same time, and anywhere in the world.

Another first by the Ambays’ is their use of video technology to host consultations and after-surgery check-ups. “Our patients like the option of meeting with us through their computer or smart phone because they don’t have to put their life on hold to visit the doctor” said Dr. Aparna Ambay. The facility is a spacious 4,000 square feet decorated in inviting, warm colors that make patients feel at home and at ease.

The Ambays chose Wesley Chapel for their practice because of its family friendly environment, convenience to I-75 and rapid growth. “Plus, we live close by and so we are a part of the community which we also serve.”

At 360 Dermatology, Dr. Aparna Ambay not only performs non-invasive cosmetic procedures but also specializes in Mohs surgery, a precise tissue preserving surgical technique used to treat skin cancer. It is the only on-site, state certified Mohs facility in Wesley Chapel.

“The goal is to remove all of the skin cancer while preserving surrounding healthy tissue,” said Dr. Ambay, who also said that a substantial portion of her patients choose to have their skin cancer defect reconstructed by Dr. Ambay, the plastic surgeon, rather than waiting weeks with an open wound.

Why does a woman consider plastic surgery or cosmetic dermatology?

“Our patients are intelligent women who frequently say that they have spent their lives taking care of everyone else but themselves. Now it’s their turn to do something for themselves,” said Dr. Ambay. “If cosmetic surgery and beautiful skin improves a woman’s self esteem and overall well being, then why not?”

The Tampa Institute of Plastic Surgery is located at 27716 Cashford Circle, Wesley Chapel. They can be reached at (813) 406-4835, or visit them online at www.ambayplasticsurgery.com, or at www.360DermatologyTampa.com.

This story is a feature of the advertising department. 

Filed Under: Closer Look Tagged With: 360 Dermatology, Amani Ambay, American Board of Medical Specialties, Aparna Ambay, Army, Florida Department of Health, Houston, Iraq, Mayo Clinic, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Minnesota, National Institutes of Health, Raj Ambay, Rochester, Sam's Club, Seven Oaks, Tampa, Tampa Institute of Plastic Surgery, Wesley Chapel

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03/05/2021 – Apple Pie Bombs

The Pasco County Library Cooperative will offer “Foodie Feast: Apple Pie Bombs” on March 5. Participants can learn how to make tasty, apple pie bombs. Watch the prerecorded video between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., online at Facebook.com/hughembrylibrary or Facebook.com/newriverlibrary. For information, call 352-567-3576, or email Danielle Lee at . … [Read More...] about 03/05/2021 – Apple Pie Bombs

03/06/2021 – Bridal Trunk Show

The Gulfside Hospice New Port Richey Thrift Shoppe, 6117 State Road 54, will host a Bridal Trunk Show on March 6 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. There will be more than 250 dresses to choose from, starting at $29.99 and many brand new. Admission is free, but limited spots are available to allow for social distancing. Brides must register online in advance, by March 3, at bit.ly/NPR-Bridal-Trunk-Show. All proceeds from the shop go to help hospice patients in Pasco County. For questions, contact Jeremi Sliger at , or call 727-842-7262. … [Read More...] about 03/06/2021 – Bridal Trunk Show

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The Grand Concourse Railroad, 11919 Alric Pottberg Road in Shady Hills, will offer a Pancake Breakfast and Unlimited Train Rides event on March 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The cost is $6 for adults and $4 for kids. For information, visit Grand Concourse Railroad on Facebook. … [Read More...] about 03/06/2021 – Pancakes and trains

03/08/2021 – Tomato garden

The Pasco County Library Cooperative will present a video on how to grow a tomato garden. Those interested can view the video at Facebook.com/hughembrylibrary or Facebook.com/newriverlibrary, all day, on March 8. For information, call 352-567-3576, or email . … [Read More...] about 03/08/2021 – Tomato garden

03/09/2021 – Grilled cheese

The Pasco County Library Cooperative will present a video on how to make green grilled cheese on March 9 at 4:30 p.m., for grades four to seven. To view the video, visit the Library Cooperative on Facebook or Instagram. … [Read More...] about 03/09/2021 – Grilled cheese

03/09/2021 – Poetry discussion

The Pasco County Library Cooperative will host a virtual poetry discussion group on “Female Power!” on March 9 at 6:30 p.m., for ages 16 and older, via Zoom. Participants can share a favorite poem or take part in discussions on poems about women or written by women poets. Themed poems will be sent out to help with the session. Registration is required. For information, contact Amaris Papadopoulos at 727-861-3020 or . … [Read More...] about 03/09/2021 – Poetry discussion

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