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Morningstar Named Ambassador Of The Year

Jennifer Silverstein — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 20:30:39 +0000

Local Brandon resident and owner of local electric company, Morningstar Electric, Tammy Morningstar has been selected as the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce’s Ambassador of the Year.
Morningstar is co-owner of Morningstar Electric, located at 506 Shamrock Rd. in Brandon, with her husband, Ken.
“I was completely surprised when I was announced as the winner of the award,” she said. “I felt honored to receive this award. I was selected by my peers for this award and it means a great deal to me to know my peers respect and trust me enough to honor me in this way.”
Bonnie Tekampe, who was Ambassador of the Year in 2006, said that receiving the award is quite an honor because the ambassadors do a lot to get the word out to the community. “It meant a whole lot to me,” she said. Tekampe said that Morningstar deserves the award because she is very giving; involved in the community and her business is very reputable. “I’ve used her business both commercially and residentially,” she said.
“Basically, the job of the ambassadors is to welcome new members and make them feel a part of the community, and she does that very well,” Tekampe said.
“When I became an Ambassador I was extremely shy and didn’t know anyone,” she said. “I made it my goal to step out of my comfort zone and challenge myself everyday to excel to new levels.”
Morningstar said her future plans for the community is to see it come together and support local business and charities, neighbors helping neighbors and family events for all to attend.
Her company is very involved in the community and has plans to become more involved. It has done free electrical work for wounded soldiers as well as some local charities. It is involved in the Community Roundtable Charities of Brandon and plan to waive its $49 Dispatch Fee to all customers in the month of April and May if they donate a bag of non-perishable grocery items to us for the Emergency Care Help Organization (ECHO).
“I was also involved with the Brandon Mayors Race and plan to stay involved until I myself am able to run for Mayor,” Morningstar said.
Morningstar and her husband have lived in Brandon for 12 years and have three children, Alexis, 14, Nicholas, 12 and Kelly, 8, and they all attend Central Baptist Christian School located on Windhorst Rd.
For more information on Morningstar Electric, please call 892-4582 or visit www.morningstarlighting.com.
The Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce is located at 330 Pauls Dr. in Brandon.
For more information on the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce and its Ambassador program, please call 689-1221 or visit it’s Website at www.brandonchamber.com.

Brandon Regional Unveils New Cancer Treatment With CyberKnife

Marie Gilmore — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 17:58:21 +0000

By Kathy L. Collins

Brandon Regional Hospital held a ribbon cutting ceremony in early March and unveiled its newest weapon in the fight against cancer, CyberKnife. For cancer patients and others with benign tumors, the CyberKnife Radiotherapy System allows doctors to focus the radiation with a tiny beam. This allows for a higher dose of radiation to a specific area.
The Medical Director for the CyberKnife Cancer Center at Brandon Regional Hospital is Robert S. Lavey, M.D., M.P.H. He is a Board Certified Radiation Oncologist who graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University and earned his medical degree at Stanford University. He also has a Master of Public Health degree from the University of California, Berkeley. Prior to moving to Brandon to work at the Center for Radiation Oncology in 2008, Dr. Lavey served as an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Radiation Oncology at the University of Southern California for 13 years.
According to Lavey, “This is the only machine that uses advanced robotics and image-guidance to keep its radiation beam focused on tumors that move when the patient breathes or shifts position. This allows us to give more radiation to the tumor in a shorter time that conventional radiation therapy.”
With traditional radiation, you have a wide margin of error. As such, traditional treatment ends up damaging a lot of healthy cells, explained Lavey.
While CyberKnife does not replace standard radiation for all patients, it does allow doctors to treat where you could not previously. Lavey explained that a patient who has a tumor in the brain, lung, trunk or spine, can now receive a highly effective dose of radiation to the tumor with minimal effects on the delicate normal cells in the surrounding brain, nerves, and organs.
CyberKnife technology was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1999 for treatment of tumors in the head. In 2001, the technology was cleared to treat tumors anywhere in the body. Worldwide, there are 150 CyberKnife treatment machines in clinical use.
Because CyberKnife is non-invasive and concentrates the radiation to an area close to the tumor, there are minimal to no side effects. Additionally, because the radiation is so tightly focused, the course of treatment lasts one to five days as opposed to one to two months for standard radiation treatment.
“Having the CyberKnife Cancer Center in Brandon gives patients access to the most technologically advanced radiation therapy system in the world right in their community,” notes Melonie Hall, Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Brandon Regional Hospital. “They can drive in from their home for treatment daily, and their local doctors can participate in their radiation treatment and offer care,” added Hall.
Patients who want to determine whether CyberKnife treatment is appropriate, can be referred by their physicians or can contact the Center directly at 571-6464 and speak with the Cyber Nurse, Brenda Bailey
Patients in the Brandon area are indeed lucky, as the community has two machines in operation. In addition to the one at the CyberKnife Cancer Center in the Brandon Medical Plaza at 425 S. Parsons Ave., there is one located at New Millennium CyberKnife at 601 Lumsden Professional Ct., Brandon. For more information on the CyberKnife Cancer Center, call 571-6464 or visit www.cyberknifeflorida.com. For more information on New Millennium CyberKnife, visit www.newmillenniumcyberknife.com.

Public Hearing For Expansion of Valrico Rec Center

Marie Gilmore — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 19:02:44 +0000

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE USE
March 5, 2009
Public Meeting Scheduled to Discuss the Proposed
Phase II of the Development of the Valrico Recreation Center
Hillsborough County will hold a public meeting to discuss Phase II of the Development of the Valrico Recreation Center.
The proposed project includes adding a football field, along with an irrigation system and lights. In addition, parking will be expanded. Phase II is budgeted at $250,000 through CIP (Capital Improvement Program) funds.
The park currently has a recreation building that houses the after-school and summer playground program, walking trail, basketball court, playground, parking and landscaping.
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the details of the project and receive public input. County staff will be at the meeting to answer any questions residents may have.
Please attend, we welcome your input.
* Date: Tuesday, March 10
* Time: 6:30 p.m.
* Place: Valrico Recreation Center, 707 S. Miller Road, Valrico, FL 33594

All meeting facilities are ADA compliant. For additional assistance, please call us.

For more information, residents should call Steve Valdez, Public Works Department – Quality Assurance Section, at 813-272-5275 (TTY: 813-301-7172)

Affordable housing built by local builder D.R. Horton

Jennifer Silverstein — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 19:59:32 +0000

There’s an old adage in the real estate business: “What are the three most important things in real estate? Location, location, location.”
D.R. Horton realizes that many things are important to homebuyers in addition to location. For 30 years, D.R. Horton’s homes have been designed and built with a focus on quality and value, and it is now offering that quality and value to customers in the FishHawk and Riverview areas.
What else should you consider as you are selecting your new home? Vice President of Sales and Marketing for D.R. Horton’s Tampa divison Darren Saltzberg said, “We believe the financial strength of the homebuilding company is an important consideration, especially in today’s uncertain economic environment.”
“In the 30 years since D.R. Horton was founded in 1978, we have delivered more than 385,000 homes to our homebuyers,” Saltzberg said, adding, “for each of the past 7 years, we have delivered more homes to our customers than any other homebuilder in the United States.”
D.R. Horton’s trademark “Manor” town homes are available in Kinglet Ridge at FishHawk Ranch. The Santa Barbara is a one-story, approximately1, 200 sq. ft. townhome with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a one-car garage. The Catalina is a two-story, approximately 1,481 sq. ft. townhome complete with three bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms and a two-car garage. The Santa Cruz is also a two-story townhome, with three bedrooms and two-and-a –half bathrooms and a two-car garage. Its sq. footage is approximately 1,635 sq. ft. All of these townhomes are model homes. The Santa Barbara is available from the upper $120s, the Catalina from the upper $140s and the Santa Cruz from the upper $150s.
D.R. Horton also has three floor plans available in the Riverview area at Eagle Palms: The Preserve North. The first is called the Concord, priced from the low $100s- this plan is an approximately 1,017 sq. ft. home with two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a one-car attached garage. It is a one-story plan. The second plan for this community is the Newport; priced from the upper $120s this plan includes two bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms and a one-car garage. This two-story model is 1,183 sq. ft. The last model available in Eagle Palms: The Preserve North is the Pasadena. Priced from the upper $130s, this plan provides an approximately 1,580 sq. ft. townhome with three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and a one-car garage. This is a two-story model.
Recently, Jonathan Torres purchased a townhome in Eagle Palms. He and his fiancé moved to the Riverview area from Miami and Torres, being a first time homebuyer, said that D.R. Horton made the process as easy as possible.”I always had access to see the home while it was under construction,” he said.
“The home is great,” Torres said. “I haven’t had to have anyone come out for repairs since I closed.” He said that D.R. Horton is consistently making an effort to back up its quality and service.
Torres said the townhomes are so different than any others he’s ever seen. “When you look at the buildings, they look like single family homes,” he said.
Kinglet Ridge at FishHawk Ranch and Eagle Palms: The Preserve North are both communities offering townhomes with garages. For more information on Kinglet Ridge, call 689-4600. For information on Eagle Palms: The Preserve North, call 234-9530.
The Tampa D.R. Horton office is located at 14055 Riveredge Dr. Ste. 200 in the Hidden River Corporate Center III. For more information, visit tpa.drhorton.com or call 549-1935.

N Zone Set for First Winter Season

Tamas Mondovics — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 20:29:38 +0000

Continuing in its tradition of molding kids into winners who are not recognized only by the goals they kick or the touchdowns they score, but for traits like effort, teamwork and leadership on and off the field, Riverview’s newest addition to its popular youth sports arena, N Zone Youth Sports, is now accepting registrations. Its first winter season flag football, soccer and cheerleading programs are scheduled to run from Saturday, February 7 to Saturday, April 4, at the Summerfield Community Center located at 13011 Summerfield Blvd. in Riverview.

While the number of those registering to participate may change, the quality, commitment, dedication and the willingness to succeed remains as strong as ever on the part of all those involved with the league.

“This includes those who are sort of behind the scene,” said Tony Westbrock, who founded the league, along with his partner Rick Mercilliott.
Westbrock was talking about the hard work done by Denise Westbrock and Coleen Mercilliott, who besides being wives and moms handle the daily operation and administration aspect of the league, including answering all of the phone calls and questions and handling all the registration paperwork, not to mention playing a major role in the league’s cheerleading program.
“Our wives do deserve the credit for the smooth operation of the league,” Westbrock said.
The cost of each nine-week season, which includes the playoffs, is $120 per person, while for Summerfield Crossings residents, the cost is $100. Military families receive an additional $10 discount. Games are played at the Summerfield Community Center and are conveniently scheduled on Saturday mornings.
The N Zone team also hopes that the league’s values and the “every child is a winner” attitude will continue to impress the community as well as the parents, who want to get away from the over-competitive nature of the traditional youth sports arena.
“These values are so often overlooked, robbing the youth sports experience of excitement and character,” Tony said.
For more information and details about the new youth league as well as information about registration and cost, please visit www.nzonesports.com or call 938-4471.

Winthrop Buzzes With New Business

Jennifer Silverstein — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 20:22:21 +0000

Winthrop Town Center in Riverview at the corner of Bloomingdale Ave. and Providence Rd. is flourishing with new businesses opening in the small town-centered plaza. And with homes under construction in the surrounding area, a community Advantage Center planned nearby and a few more spots to fill, Winthrop is becoming a community destination. With boutiques including Bellafia Chocolate Boutique, Downtown Divas fine gift shop and Happy Paws and Tails, salons including First Choice Hair Cutters and an Asonipse Aveda Salon, banks, a newspaper office, Starbucks, Publix, Moe’s Southwest Grill and Shane’s Rib Shack, there is reason to go to Winthrop anytime.
Acropolis Greek Taverna
Acropolis Greek Taverna, with two other locations in Ybor City at 1833 E. 7th Ave. and North Tampa at 14947 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., will open soon in the spot that used to house Mojitos.
The Greek restaurant will open on Sunday, February 15.
The bar and grill will offer such Greek appetizers such as Hummus, Tzatziki, an appetizer platter, calamari and octopus. Salads will include a roasted vegetable salad, buffalo chicken salad and the Acropolis salad, which is a Greek salad with lamb gyro meat and warm pitas with tzatziki sauce.
The Acropolis restaurants feature unique items, specific to location. They differ slightly and not all items will be available at all locations.
For more information, call 971-1787 or visit www.acropolistaverna.com.
Green Iguana
Green Iguana Bar & Grill recently opened back in early December. It replaces M.J. Barleyhoppers. Manager Mike Finnegan said that management brought Green Iguana to the area because “it’s a great location and there was nothing like this in the area.” Finnegan is a Clearwater resident, but says that most of the staff consists of local residents.
Green Iguana, located at 6264 Winthrop Town Centre in Riverview, is open from 11 a.m. – 3 a.m. every day with happy hour from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Happy hour is all day every other day. Their 2-4-1 happy hour includes well drinks, house wines and Budweiser products.
For more information, call 643-7800 or visit www.greeniguana.com.
Cuenelli’s
Cuenelli’s Peruvian-style-rotisserie chicken recently opened in the Winthrop Town Centre. Offering flavorful roasted chicken and Peruvian specialities, including Cilantro rice, black beans, flan and an excellent family value of a whole chicken and three large sides for $17.99. There is plenty of food for four adults with leftovers, creating excellent flavors and homemade sauces. It is located at 6260 Winthrop Town Centre Ave. Call (813) 681-9993.
BikeWorks
BikeWorks recently made the move from Kings and Bloomingdale avenues to the Winthrop Towne Center in early November. It had been in that location for 17 years, but has been in business for a total of 23 years.
“Cap” Pooler, owner of BikeWorks, said he did not make the more for more space; the new location is actually smaller, 3,600 sq. ft. from the old store, which was 4,000 sq. ft., but for a better location. Also, the new space is two stories, and the second can be used for storage. With the tall ceilings in the new location, Pooler can now rack the bikes as well and present a more marketable look, he said.
BikeWorks sells bikes, accessories and services bicycles. Pooler said it also builds custom bikes and does bike fittings.
Custom and road bikes that BikeWorks carries include Pinarello, Trek, Colnago, Orbea, Issac, Carrera and DeRosa.
BikeWorks is located at 6046 Winthrop Town Centre Ave., behind Starbucks, and is open Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and is closed on Sunday for product testing. Call 661-RIDE (7433) or visit www.bikeworks-brandon.com.

Valrico January Business Column

Jennifer Silverstein — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:24:36 +0000

Storage facility opening soon
Budget Self Storage on S.R. 60 and Miller Rd. is nearing completion. According to its Website, the storage facility will be open in February. Budget Self Storage is located at 2504 S.R. 60 E. in Valrico, for more information call 657-7744, e-mail valrico@budgetselfstorage.bz or visit www.budgetselfstorage.bz.

CPA Opens New Office
Certified Public Accountant John C. Bailey recently expanded his team and moved to a new office at 12307 Boyette Rd., in the Clarkson Allstate building.
The new team member, Sue McCain, will assist Bailey with his growing business offering her wide variety of administrative and tax preparation experience.
“Documents and files of a confidential nature can be left with Sue with confidence as she will make sure they are properly delivered to me and stored in an appropriate manner,” says Bailey.
In addition to providing individual and business income tax preparation and planning services, Bailey provides tax preparation and consulting services for payroll, sales and use, and all state taxes.
For more information, contact Bailey at 672-9449 or cbailey@johncbaileycpa.com.

Marco’s Pizza now Open In Plaza, Offering Delivery
Marco’s Pizza, a franchise started in Ohio, recently opened in Valrico, located at 801 E. Brandon Blvd. The chain has been open for approximately three months, since October, said Manager Andy Dixon, a Lithia resident. What makes Marco’s Pizza different from other pizza places, Dixon said is that it uses better ingredients, everything is made fresh and nothing is frozen. “We make our dough daily,” he said.
Marco’s most popular pizza is its White Cheezy pizza, with four types of cheese including feta, bacon, onions, tomatoes and garlic butter sauce. Dixon said this pizza is “award-winning.”
Marco’s is offering limited delivery, within four miles of its storefront, and also offers take-out. You can also place you order online at www.marcos.com. Marco’s Pizza is open Sunday – Thursday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. For more information or to place an order, call 643-9988.

East Meets West When Indian Cuisine Comes To Valrico
Tandoor Indian Cuisine, in the same plaza as Marco’s Pizza, at 805 E. Brandon Blvd. in Brandon, has been open for approximately two months, opening in November. The restaurant offers take out and catering, boasting “Catering is our specialty” in its menu. It will cater for weddings, conferences, birthdays, parties and special events. No occasion is too big or small, it says.
Kaustlubh Shiodkai, manager of Tandoor, said that it offers from dishes that other Indian restaurants don’t such as beef and pork, but it also has vegetarian dishes available. He also said their prices are about $1-$2 less than others.
Shiodkai said Tandoor’s most popular dishes are its appetizers, Gobni Manchurian and Lollipop chicken. The restaurant can hold about 40 people.
Tandoor has a lunch buffet from 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., and is open for dinner Tuesday – Thursday, 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 5:30 p.m.- 10:30 p.m. For more information or to make a takeout order, call 654-7300 or visit it’s Website at www.tandoorbrandon.com

Marriott To Open Fairfield Inn & Suites Hotel in Plant City
New hotel is the first Fairfield inn in plant city
Marriott opened an 87-room Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Plant City in early January. Located at 4307 Sterling Commerce Dr., the Fairfield Inn & Suites Lakeland/Plant City will operate as a Marriott franchise.
Whether you are traveling for business or for pleasure, the three-story hotel offers guests convenient access the Florida State Fairgrounds, the Sun ‘n Fun Air Museum, the Florida Strawberry Festival and Dinosaur World. Rates begin at $129 per night.
The hotel features a variety of enhancements to guest rooms and public areas, as well as the addition of distinctively designed suites. The signature king suite offers separate living and sleeping areas. In the living area, there’s a pantry with coffee maker, mini-refrigerator and microwave. A dividing wall separates the pantry and it features a 32-inch television and a stereo system. Additional in-room amenities include a desk chair, hair dryer and two phones with free local calls.
A complimentary continental breakfast is available each morning in the lobby area. Other hotel amenities include an outdoor heated swimming pool with whirlpool spa, exercise room, valet laundry service and free high-speed Internet and business center.
For more information or reservations, call the Fairfield Inn & Suites Lakeland/Plant City hotel directly at 757-6202, call the Fairfield Inn toll-free number at 800-228-2800, contact a travel agent or visit the Website at www.fairfieldinn.com.

New Businesses opening in Kingsway Plaza
A restaurant and credit union will soon be available to local residents at Kingsway Plaza, located at the corner of Kingsway and Windhorst roads.
Louie’s restaurant, a Latin/American café most popular sandwich is its Cuban and its most popular meal is its Picadillo, which is seasoned ground beef with diced potatoes and green olives. All of Louie’s meals are served with rice, beans and veggies. Owners and Brandon residents, Luis and Trini Simon, are both of Latin descent, Luis being Cuban and Trini being Puerto Rican. The 1,200 sq. ft. restaurant can hold up to 30 people and the Simon’s are planning on putting tables and chairs outside for patio seating.
Louie’s Latin/American Café is located at 1217 Kingsway Rd. in Brandon. Its hours are Tuesday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Saturday, 9:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. The café will be closed on Mondays. For more information or to place a take out order, call 315-9845.
The Railroad & Industrial Federal Credit Union Account Executive Humberto Bravo said that the credit union is aiming at a July opening date, but the Seffner and Brandon Chambers are hosting a ribbon cutting and ground breaking ceremony for Wednesday, January 14, at 1:30 and 2 p.m., respectively. The 2,500 sq. ft. credit union will feature safe deposit boxes and a drive thru, Bravo said. Its hours will be from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday- Thursday and 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Friday. Once the facility opens, Bravo said it will evaluate whether to open on Saturdays. For more information on the Railroad & Industrial Federal Credit Union, visit its Website at www.rifcu.org or call 621-6661.

Eye on Business Riverview

Kate Quesada — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:59:34 +0000

Pinch A Penny Celebrates Two Years
Pinch A Penny Boyette/FishHawk, located at the intersection of Boyette Rd., Bell Shoals Rd. and FishHawk Blvd., is celebrating two years in business this month, taking care of residents’ swimming pool needs.
“We are proud to be a Florida state contract licensed Pinch A Penny, offering not only supplies and expertise at our retail store, but on-site repair and cleaning at your swimming pool, with skilled technicians,” says owners Kim Zerr.
Hours are Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. For more information, call 657-1054.

Hospital Uses Games
South Bay Hospital’s Outpatient Rehabilitation Department is now using the innovative Nintendo Wii system to help patients recover from surgery, stroke and Parkinson’s.
“Our therapists are excited to offer rehabilitation patients something fun and new in the clinic,” says Rehab Director Paul Melancon. “Wii gives patients of all ages the ability to engage in physical exercise. The non-traditional approach is fun and stimulating which can speed up recovery time dramatically.”
“The addition of the Wii is a fine complement to our existing program,” says Melancon. “The ability to bring a smile to the faces of our patients and provide them an enjoyable rehabilitation experience is very rewarding.”
For more information, contact Melancon at 634-0221.

New Skin Care at Spa
Victoria Mrksich has moved her skin care business to A Peaceful Harbor Day Spa and Salon located at 1312-A Apollo Beach Blvd.
Mrksich, who has been in the skin care industry for more than 12 years, feels that her knowledge of services and products separates her from others in the field.
“I possess a strong knowledge of my services and products, a gentle touch and a desire to help you meet all of your skin care goals. Your skin care concerns are my skin care concerns, I am here to help,” she says.
Services include microdermabrasion, chemical peels, a range of facials and waxing services. In addition, she is also offering the newest technology in the industry, the non-surgical facelift. Visit www.MyVSkin.com or call 645-3303 for more information.

Carpet One Floor & Home Teams up with Box Tops for Education
Dove Interiors Carpet One Floor & Home and Dove Interiors Too recently announced its participation in the Box Tops for Education program.
According to Dove Interiors owner Joan Miller, in just over 11 years, Box Tops for Education has earned over $200 million to help America’s schools.
“Now, Dove Interiors Carpet One Floor & Home and Dove Interiors Too is joining the effort to help keep America’s schools stocked with supplies,” says Miller. “Stop by Dove Interiors Carpet One Floor & Home and Dove Interiors Too with your official Box Tops for Education coupons, and I will distribute them to Ruskin Elementary, Wimauma Elementary, Apollo Beach Elementary, and Summerfield Elementary.”
An active community member, Miller has owned and operated her Dove Interiors Carpet One Floor & Home since 1990.
“This is a new program for Dove Interior Carpet One Floor & Home,” says Miller, “and I’m very excited to have a direct role in the education of the area’s children.”
Box Tops for Education allows community members to earn cash rewards for their schools by engaging in everyday activities like buying groceries, shopping online, and making credit card purchases. Clip box tops from participating brands and earn money for your school. Make sure your school is registered and ready to receive rewards.
Contact Dove at 645-8660 or 672-9100 for more information about dropping off box tops, and visit Box Tops for Education at www.boxtops4education.com.

Five Guys Burgers and Fries Supports Toys for Tots with Tips for Toys
Five Guys Burgers and Fries, a national award winning fast food franchise, held its first annual Toys for Tots night in December at the Riverview location in the Shoppes of South Bay, off Big Bend Rd. Ten percent of the proceeds at the restaurant from the evening business will be donated to the local Toys for Tots campaign. The restaurant staff opened up their hearts by donating all of their tips from one week in November to buy toys for this worthwhile cause.
Five Guys Burgers and Fries in Brandon is located in the Westfield mall and can be reached at 657-0700. To reach the Riverview location, call 677-0400.

Martial Arts School Opens
There is something new in Riverview, KLS Tae Kwon Do. KLS Tae Kwon Do, located at 13320 Lincoln Rd, is a family-operated school that offers many programs from after-school pick-up to classes for the whole family.
According to owner Lori Van Kleeck, the primary focus at KLS Tae Kwon Do is for each student to grow into the best person they can become, using martial arts as a means of achieving their goals.
“The staff has been training and instructing in the local area for over 11 years and has developed a special curriculum for all students ages 4 and up to build self confidence, self respect and self esteem,” says Van Kleeck. “The primary aim of KLS Tae Kwon Do is not only to develop self defense skills but to also achieve academic excellence and to develop character. Students are required to furnish copies of their report cards to be eligible for each promotion.”
For more information, call 374-8838 or visit www.kls-taekwondo.com.

Learning Center Announces New Program
Huntington Learning Center of Apollo Beach recently announced a new program to give students a “Fast Track to Success.”
“This program follows the same guidelines approved by the Hillsborough County School District for the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) program, but it’s available to everyone,” says Executive Director Arthur J. Pierce II. “This program will help our kids perform better in school and will increase their skills to a degree that parents and teachers will see the difference.”
The program, a 12-week course offered two days a week for one-and-a-half-hours, is for students Kindergarten-12 who needs help in either math or reading or preparing for the FCAT.
The center is located at 6144 U.S. Hwy. 41 N., and can be reached at 645-4162.

Little Harbor Announces Townhomes
Little Harbor is pleased to announce an exceptional opportunity – the chance to purchase a two or three bedroom townhome in this amenity-rich, Caribbean-style seaside community on the SouthShore of Tampa Bay. A limited number of townhomes are being offered at significant discounts to qualified buyers.
Priced from the low $300,000s, these residences are marina and canal-front, and constructed of reinforced concrete block. Each unit has many design and construction features including expansive terraces, a washer and dryer, and am oversized one car garages and carports. The total AC sq. footage ranges from 1,000 to more than 1,800 sq. feet, with total area ranging from 1,800 to more than 3,200 sq. feet.
Ready to welcome you now are full resort amenities, including a secluded beach, deepwater marinas, wet and dry boat storage accommodating boats up to 60 feet in length, a private social room, waterfront dining, a Tiki Bar, heated pools, a state-of-the-art fitness center, tennis courts, massage therapy, eco-tours, water sports rentals, professional services and more. Little Harbor features more than three miles of open shoreline and unimpeded access to Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, which sets the seaside village apart from most coastal communities. This one-of-a-kind community is located just 30 minutes from three major metropolitan areas: Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota.
Little Harbor is an island-style residential resort on Tampa Bay. This unique seaside village presents an enchanting combination of beach, bay, river and harbor-front residential homes and resort-style residences, along with a colorful mix of amenities that evoke images of a bygone Caribbean lifestyle. The project is being developed by EarthMark Companies, a real estate development company known for creating resort-style, amenity-rich communities, as well as for its environmental stewardship through mitigation banking.
To learn more about this extraordinary and limited special offer, to visit the Sales & Information Center located at U.S. Hwy. 41 and Shell Point Rd., call 888-645-9010, e-mail sales@littleharbor.com or visit www.LittleHarbor.com.

Insurance Team adds Agent
All Bay Insurance Group recently added Jessica Weston to its team, as the agency continues to grow. A Riverview resident, Weston, who has more than six years of insurance experience, has earned a bachelor’s degree and completed her MBA.
All Bay Insurance Group opened in 2006 and specializes in personal auto, property, watercraft and motorcycles, along with financial services for the SouthShore community. The agency team consists of Joel Meek (agency owner), Troy Abell (account executive) and Esther Charpentier (contact manger).
“Our growth is attributed to our desire to help protect our customers rather than simply selling insurance,” says Meek.
All Bay Insurance Group can be contacted at 677-1121.

New Restaurant Comes to Plaza Bella
Food lovers throughout the area have a treat coming this month when the doors open to a new restaurant in Plaza Bella. Owned by Riverview resident Maribeth Hernandez and Sergio Arce, Rock N Pineapple will offer diners the opportunity to cook their own food, which includes Kobe beef, Caribu pork and much more with an Island theme, on hot volcanic rock plates right in front of them.
“When we decided to open a restaurant, we did a lot of research and asked a lot of people in the area what they were looking for in an eating establishment,” says Hernandez, who moved to the area from New Jersey a year ago. “We took all that and the pieces have been coming together for the last year.”
The restaurant, which is expected to open early this month, features a full bar, outdoor patio with seating for 30 and inside dining area.
“We are really excited to be here and are looking forward to becoming part of the community,” says Hernandez.
Rock N Pineapple is located at 1022 Bloomingdale Ave. in the Green Boutique-anchored Plaza Bella, at the intersection of Bloomingdale Ave. and Bell Shoals Rd., and can be reached at 321-4900. A Website will soon be up and running at www.rocknpineapple.com.

Resident Opens New Law Office
The Law Office of Ingrid M. Hooglander, P.A. is opening a new law office in Lithia this month.
At the new office, Hooglander and her team of attorneys plan to serve clients in the areas of family law, employment law, criminal law, social security/disability, personal injury, bankruptcy and real estate.
Hooglander began her legal career as an assistant state attorney with the Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s Office where she worked her way from a county prosecutor to an “A” level felony prosecutor, handling all aspects of the prosecution of the cases. During her tenure at the State Attorney’s Office, she tried over 25 jury trials and hundreds of bench trials. She has also worked as a staff attorney for circuit criminal and circuit civil judges, preparing judicial orders on all litigation motions and as counsel for two privately owned companies handling various employment law, human resources and general business issues.
Hooglander is a member of the board of directors for Brandon Young Life and YP Brandon and is on the planning community for the Brandon Chamber of Commerce for the Leadership Brandon Class of 2009.
For information or to schedule a consultation at the office, located at 16637 FishHawk Blvd., Ste. 103, call 363-6045 or e-mail ingrid@imhooglander.com. For more information, visit www.imhooglander.com.

CPA Opens New Office
Certified Public Accountant John C. Bailey recently expanded his team and moved to a new office at 12307 Boyette Rd., in the Clarkson Allstate building.
New team member Sue McCain will assist Bailey with his growing business, offering her wide variety of administrative and tax preparation experience.
“Documents and files of a confidential nature can be left with Sue with confidence as she will make sure they are properly delivered to me and stored in an appropriate manner,” says Bailey.
In addition to providing individual and business income tax preparation and planning services, Bailey provides tax preparation and consulting services for payroll, sales and use, and all state taxes.
For more information, contact Bailey at 672-9449 or cbailey@johnbaileycpa.com.

Raquet Club Opens Restaurant
Apollo’s Bistro, a casual upscale bistro, recently opened next to the Apollo Beach Racquet and Fitness Club at 6520 Richies Way in Apollo Beach.
With menu items including shrimp or scallop scampi and clams with fresh tomatoes and herbs and rigatoni bolognese, the restaurant has something for everyone and recently started serving Sunday brunch.
In addition, Apollo’s Bistro can accommodate groups of up to 200 and catering is also available. For more information, call 641-2685. Restaurant hours are Monday – Friday, 11 a.m.- 8:30 p.m. and Saturday, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Sharks Host First Season Six-Way

Tamas Mondovics — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:54:23 +0000

“If you have to wrestle Brandon you might as well get it out of the way,” said Riverview wrestling Coach William Sargable following a meet against the Eagles.
That being said, the young Riverview team was ready to host its firs 2008-09 season six-way tournament in November, producing some impressive results.
Just before the weigh-in, Riverview Head Coach William Sargable commented on the fact that the program continues to work on building the numbers but spoke highly of the effort turned in by each athlete, and the numbers spoke for themselves.
Individually there were some impressive performances with Ryan Hight (5 pins), Herman Hernandez (4 pins), Lemarkus Dennis (3 pins), Ryan Gascon (3 pins) and Rafael Rivera (3 pins) who finished with 5-0 for the day.
Steven Akel and Taylor Akins went 4 and 1 with 3 pins each. Jeffery Hagin, Eric Nava, Ryan Pulaski, Josh Dossantos and Jacob Scott went 3 and 2. Aaron Kee and Lance Gabbert both went 2 and 3.
Team results included RvHS 64 – Armwood 18, RvHS 72 – Blake 6, RvHS 76- Freedom 6 and RvHS 60- Middleton 20. The Bloomingdale defeated the Riverview 54-24.
The event was an opportunity for a number of wrestlers to show what they are made of for first time, but the Sargable was pleased.
“It was the debut matches for several guys… they wrestled well. The JV team went 5 and 0 on the day. Awesome Job,” he said.
For some of the veterans like Ryan Hight, who, according to Sargable, blew through his opponents like a hot knife in butter, it was just practice.
Hernandez— Hight’s wrestling buddy—this portion of the season is just the preparation for the championship.
“For me, the next three months are just to get ready for states,” Hernandez said.
Sargable summed up the day by saying that the Riverview wrestling program’s inexperience was exposed, however, it was still a productive day.
“We still have lots of work to do, starting with not giving up pins. Nonetheless, it has been a great start to the season.”
For more information about the Riverview high School wrestling program, please visit www.eteamz.com/riverviewwrestling.

Eye on Business Riverview December

Kate Quesada — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:50:12 +0000

Playmania Adds New Programs
PlayMania, a family owned indoor children’s play and learning center, offering a series of parent-child programs devoted to the physical, emotional and social development of children including open play and classes children from birth to age six, recently added new programs including a dance class, toddler and preschool music and ornament making.
Visit www.playmaniatampa.com or call 649-8919 for more information.

Florist Celebrates New Location
Formerly Apollo Beach Flowers, Riverview Florist opened recently at 9405 U.S. Hwy. 301 S., at the intersection with Gibsonton Rd., in Riverview. Owned by Rick and Jan Crosby, who owned Apollo Beach Flowers for 15 years and Sun City Flowers before that, Riverview Florist is a full service floral store with products including balloon bouquets, silk flowers and fresh arrangements.
“We can do flowers for weddings, funerals, parties or gifts, says Jan, who takes great pride in the flowers, especially the roses. “We pride ourselves on our customer service and stand behind every one of our arrangements.”
The Crosbys have already started making themselves a part of the community through charity work and special deals for students at East Bay High School.
“We are really excited to be here and are looking forward to everyone finding out about us,” says Jan.
For more information, call the store at 677-9700 or visit www.riverviewsfinestflorist.com. For toll free calling nation-wide, call 1-800-525-4438.

Shop Local at CRT
Looking to buy something electronic for someone on your holiday list this year? Then instead of hitting one of the national chain stores, head over to CRT Computers at the intersection of Big Bend Rd. and Summerfield Blvd.
“We sell pretty much everything you will find at one of the big retailers, but with personal customer service and one on one attention,” says Daniel Zell who owns the store with fellow Riverview resident John Delage. “No one gets lost in the shuffle here.”
CRT, which recently celebrated its one year anniversary in this location, is a full retail store offering computer repair and retail, televisions, cameras, MP3 players and much more.
“We recently started stocking security cameras for homes and businesses,” says Zell, who explains that the interest in security cameras has grown in the tough economy.
For more information, call the store at 671-1108.

Legacy Holds Ribbon Cutting
Legacy Venture Group & BuyBizUSA owner Brian Stephens is hosting a ribbon cutting and evening networking event on Thursday December 11, beginning at 5:30 pm.
“Light refreshments, food, live music and fun for all will be available,” says Stephens. “The Beaux Art Gallery next door will be hosting a ‘Your Business & Art’ event in conjunction with the Ribbon Cutting.”
Legacy Venture Group Office is located in the Winthrop Shopping Center at 11256-B Winthrop Main St. in Riverview on the first floor of the Times Building (large white columns) on the far corner in the front, next to the Beaux Art Gallery.
For more information, call 571-7700.

Southbay Hosts Holiday Stroll
The Shoppes of Southbay will hold the first annual South Shore Holiday Stroll on Saturday, December 13. All proceeds will toward helping to stock local food pantries. The event will be held from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at the shopping center on the southeast corner of Big Bend Rd. and U.S. Hwy. 301 in Riverview.
This is a free event open to the public. Guests will begin their stroll at the eastern end of the center where every family will be given a card to be stamped or signed by each of the shops. Each shop will have a sampling or goody for the families. Santa will be at the end of the stroll and will be available for pictures. Once the card is filled out completely the family will be given a goody bag and their card will be entered into a raffle for one of five beautiful gift baskets.
Participating shops include: Smoothie King, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Little Ceasars, Risque, Goin’ Postal, Sweetbay, Great Clips, Sonlight, Playmania, Leslies, Dove Interiors, Planet Beach, New Identities, LeBelle’s, Southbay Auto Service, Game Time, Buffalo Wild Wings, Goodyear and Fifth Third Bank.
Special appearances will be made by Buccaneer Cheerleaders, Lightning Girls, East Bay High School Jazz Band and Krewe of the South Shore Marauders pirates. Girls Scouts will also be available to do all your holiday gift wrapping.
Participants are asked to bring a canned good to assist in this effort.
For more information, contact Jennifer Griest from Southbay Auto at 675-5181.

Self Storage Hosts Ribbon Cutting
Self Storage Centers of America, located at 9234 Causeway Blvd., is hosting a ribbon cutting with the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce on December 16 at 12 Noon.
The facility, which opened in October, has 546 climate-controlled units, 60 parking spots for RV’s and boats as well as 80 outside non-climate controlled units that range from 10×20 to 10×40.
“Our facility has drive up storage units, RV/boat parking, free truck and driver with move-in, boxes and packing supplies and state of the art security,” says General Manager Sheila Burnett. “We are considered a Class “A” Facility.”
Office hours of operation are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday – Saturday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sunday. Gate Operation is 6 a.m.-9 p.m.
For more information, call 621-7867.

Cardel Homes introduces new evening Model Home Hours
To accommodate homebuyers’ schedules, Cardel is pleased to announce new model home hours, effective immediately. The new hours are Monday to Friday, 2–8 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. and Sunday, 12 Noon–6 p.m.
Despite the later hours and elegant decor, evening dress is not required.
Cardel Homes builds single family, multi-family, and resort homes in locations across North America. For more than 30 years, their dedication to quality, fairness, and community involvement has made Cardel a mainstay among serious builders in the cities where they operate. In addition to achieving a reputation for design innovation and homebuyer satisfaction, Cardel is known for their charity and community initiatives. Cardel has conceived of organized, and funded numerous events that bring neighbors together on behalf of worthy causes. Cardel offers models in Starling Water on FishHawk Blvd. and within the Garden District in FishHawk Ranch and in Covington Park, in Apollo Beach.
For more information, visit www.cardelhomes.com.

Planet Beach Celebrates Anniversary
Planet Beach Contempo Spa is celebrating one year in its location in Summerfield.
“Planet Beach Contempo Spa offers an escape from daily stress by offering affordable day spa services that are controlled by the client,” says representative Anne Toro.
New services at the spa include cosmetic teeth whitening by Whiter Image, a Hydration Station, similiar to a vitamin infused steam bath that also used radiant heat that allows pores to open up and skin to become deeply hydrated, a private label nutrition line that includes meal replacement shakes, as well as online indiviualized meal planning, UV therapy (previously known as tanning) and Mystic spray tan.
“We also offer Hydromassage: it uses whirlpool jets heated to 100 degrees that the customer can adjust the pressure and the speed. The water is fully encapsulated so the client does not get wet from the jets,” says Toro. “We also offer photo rejuvenation via our Rejuvasun bed. LED light is known to help with collagen production, which is what helps plump our skin. This in turns leads to the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.”
Planet Beach is located in the Shoppes of Southbay, at the intersection of U.S. Hwy. 301 and Big Bend Rd. and is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday 12 Noon-5 p.m.
To schedule an appointment, call 741-9280 and for more information, visit www.planetbeach.com.

Author Joins Dolphin Realty
Tommy Lovett, author of Doors Wired Shut, has joined Coldwell Banker, Dolphin Realty, in Apollo Beach.
“Tommy’s drive and desire to help people will bring great value to Dolphin Realty and fit well with our Customer First mentality and we are blessed to have him,” says broker Dianne Allers. “Tommy’s book is a true story about unfair housing practices toward handicapped and disabled American Veterans attempting to purchase a home.”
Lovett joined the United States Army in September of 1982 and was injured in the line of duty receiving an honorable discharge on May 15, 1984.
“Tommy quickly noticed discrimination in housing for Disabled veterans and has become a champion for Veteran housing,” says Allers. “He specializes in Veterans Administration specially adapted housing as well as VA loans and grants for veterans qualified for home purchase. Tommy brings to Coldwell Banker Dolphin Realty the passion to further the cause of veteran housing expertise.”
For more information, contact Lovett at 494-4867.

Ground Brocken at Riverview Hilton
Stacy Snow Feiler of Legacy Venture Group Business Brokers was one of the first visitors at the site of Riverview’s first hotel, the Hilton Garden Inn, Tampa South East, which is slated to open in January 2009.
“I saw first hand what the Great American Bar & Grill will look like, heard the echo of the 4,200 sq. ft. meeting space, climbed six flights of stairs to the presidential suite and tromped through construction workers to visit the fitness room, pool, fireplace lobby and two kitchens,” says Feiler.
For more information, visit www.hilton.com.

Free Financial Seminar
United Mortgage Affiliates is offering a free seminar covering financial issues including short sales, how to get 100 percent financing and home buying and selling this month.
The seminars will take place on Wednesday, December 10, and Wednesday, December 17, from 6-7 p.m. and both Saturday, December 13 and Saturday, December 20 from 10-11 a.m. at the Century 21 – Link Realty office at 1517 Oakfield Dr. in Brandon.
For more information, contact Michelle Teeter at 300-2522 or Joe Haynes at 781-9487.