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Special to The Laker / Lutz News GEICO, the well-known national insurance company that opened its doors to America in 1936, has opened its first location right here in Wesley Chapel, with local insurance agent Jaime Bryant at its helm. Bryant has over 17 years’ experience with GEICO. He joined the company right out of college in 2004 at its Lakeland office, where he worked in a management development program. “And I just worked my way up from ...
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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, ...
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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 ...
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By Kelli Carmack According to data compiled by Small Arms Analytics & Forecasting, nearly 23 million firearms were sold last year. With this astonishing rise of new gun owners, Garrett Hamblen is focused on promoting top-notch gun safety and responsibility through his firearms academy, Hamblen Security. “This pandemic has launched the biggest new gun owner surge I’ve seen in my entire lifetime,” says Hamblen. “It’s ...
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by Kelli Carmack  Garrett Hamblen never intended to become a pastor — in fact, he went to school in his home state of Indiana for his Bachelor’s and Master’s in Business at Indiana State University, graduating in 2012. Everything was all set up for 23-year-old Hamblen to enter the business world, but right before he graduated, his father committed suicide. “When I lost my dad, ...
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Spring cleaning is upon us, and nothing improves the appearance of your home more remarkably and more quickly than pressure washing its exterior walls, decks, screens, fence, driveway and roof. Hiring an experienced pressure cleaning company that is licensed and insured is important when inviting someone to work on your home. And that’s why many homeowners call on ASAP Pressure Cleaning. The company has been ...
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By Kelli Carmack Nothing beats the feeling of coming home to a place you love. Just ask the residents of Crystal Lake in Zephyrhills. Crystal Lake is a relaxed, resort-style 55-plus manufactured home community that offers gorgeous lakeside views, perfect for an evening stroll with family and friends. This community was established more than 30 years ago and today has an array of beautiful amenities, ...
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By Kelli Carmack The Laker/Lutz News “Your Future. Our Community. Together.” This is the motto of San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union (SACFCU), the oldest chartered financial institution in Pasco County. The credit union has served its members in the eastern half of Pasco County for over 65 years. Patricia Sarne, president and chief executive officer, attributes its longtime success to its unwavering philosophy of ...
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By Kelli Carmack The Laker/Lutz News The Twisted Sprocket Café, located in the Bexley community in Land O’ Lakes, is a hidden gem with cozy indoor and outdoor seating areas that are open to the public. The café specializes in trendy breakfast and lunch items, such as acai bowls, avocado toast, quesadillas and many other items from its healthy menu. Its top-sellers include the Twisted ...
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By Kelli Carmack When you pick up a bag of A Cup of Organic’s premium organic coffee, one of the first things you’ll see is oil on the coffee beans. “This is a telltale indicator that our coffee is fresh,” says Doug Torres, owner of A Cup of Organic. “If there isn’t oil on your coffee beans, or a layer of oil on top of ...
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The Beach House Assisted Living and Memory Care at Wiregrass Ranch sets the new standard in luxury senior living.  Its prime location in Wesley Chapel, elegant design, first-class amenities and sophisticated comfort represents a unique inspired lifestyle.  The apartments are bathed in seaside pastels for a tropical ambience and convey a sense of the sea and coastal living. The Beach House offers 24-hour support and ...
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By Kelli Carmack Tampa Surgical Arts offers cosmetic treatments that give patients confidence and makes them look years younger. Two of the practice’s most popular procedures are the Brazilian Butt Lift, and facelifts for the lower neck and face. “I love being able to sculpt people’s bodies and help them achieve the curves they always wanted to have, or get rid of stubborn fat,” ...
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By Kelli Carmack When Gem Ashby moved from her native island of Barbados to attend medical school in America, her mind was set on a career as a pediatrician or surgeon. However, after completing her rotations at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Dr. Ashby found herself falling in love with another specialty, Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN). “Once I witnessed my first ...
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Patients feel at ease and know they are in caring hands when they meet Dr. Andrés E. Guerra-Andrade, physician and owner of Oral Surgery and Implant Specialists/Facial Cosmetics of Lutz. As a highly trained oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Dr. Guerra has made a significant difference for the many patients he’s treated in the past decade. Oral Surgery and Implant Specialists/Facial Cosmetics of Lutz prides itself ...
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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 ...
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(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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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,” ...
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