Eye On Business Riverview
New Owners of Apollo Beach Flooring celebrate with ribbon cutting From flooring and cabinets to countertops, blinds, shutters or shades, Apollo Beach Flooring has everything you need to give your home a face lift. Newly owned by Richard Widmer and Dorothy Williams, Apollo Beach Flooring offers sale and installation of carpet, wood flooring, laminate flooring, cork, tile, (floors, walls, backsplash etc), VCT and vinyl and cabinets (custom and prefab), countertops (laminate, granite, solid surface) and custom blinds, shutters and shades. It also provides floor repairs, carpet stretching, cabinet repairs and floor care products. “We come to your home or business to measure and give you a free estimate. We offer a lifetime warranty on our installations,” says Widmer, who has 27 years experience in the industry. “We love this area. It is a beautiful quaint town. This area is growing and we felt we could make a contribution to the community with Rick’s expertise and knowledge.” Apollo Beach Flooring and More is located at 205 Apollo Beach Blvd, Ste. 105 and can be reached at 645-6118 or apolloflooring@verizon.net. Hours are Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Store Opens For Special Occasions Looking for that perfect dress for homecoming or another formal occasion? Bloomingdale resident Cheryl Bowen recently opened Perfection Prom and Party on Bloomingdale Ave. offering dresses, evening gowns and accessories for prom, sweet sixteen, quinceanera, and other formal events. A dress registry insures that the dress you choose will be unique for your occasion. Perfection offers personalized service with friendly sales staff to assist you in a fresh, contemporary setting with later store hours to accommodate its busy customers’ schedules. Appointments and fashion show bookings are also available. Bowen, the wife of a retired Air Force officer has experienced over a dozen military relocations throughout the United States and Europe and understands the value of a well-stocked dress shop when the need for formal attire arises. “In addition,” adds Bowen, “My teenage daughter Hannah’s friends are always happy to offer advice, keeping me in the loop and up on the latest trends.” Perfection Prom is located at 10313 Bloomingdale Ave., across from SuperTarget in the Bloomingdale Towne Center, and can be reached at 621-1991. For more information, visit www.perfectionprom.com.
Thai Restaurant Opens on Boyette In the Thai language, “chai yo” means “cheers” and at the new Chai Yo Thai Cuisine customers are treated to a celebration with every meal. “We strive to infuse a celebratory, yet refined, spirit into the food that we prepare, the service that we provide, and the atmosphere that we create for our guests,” says owner Topp Saenngarm. “We will offer a dining experience that highlights the simple elegance of Thai cuisine and the warmth of Thai culture, so that our guests will come to think of Chai Yo as the ideal place to relax with friends and family.” Located at 11695 Boyette Rd., Chai Yo’s menu includes a wide variety of Thai favorites from Pad Thai to Green and Red Curry and appetizers such as fresh rolls and satays. “We pride ourselves on three main principles: the quality of our foods and services, the teamwork of our employees and the respect we have for each other and our customers,” says Saenngarm, who started in the restaurant business at the age of 16 and went on to get a graduate degree in engineering from the University of South Florida. For more information, visit the Website at www.chaiyothaicuisine.com or call 671-6935.
TechPlayzone Plans Night Out Every third weekend TechPlayzone invites young people to participate in Parents’ Night Out from 6:30-11 p.m. Leaving parents with an evening off, young people are able to enjoy TechPlayzone’s computers, movie making, electronic kits and more. During the month of December, there will be two weekends of Parents’ Night Out so that parents may take advantage of additional time for holiday shopping, cooking and gift wrapping. During Parents’ Night Out, TechPlayzone staff orders pizza and provides drinks and popcorn. The cost is $30 per child per night plus $15 for each sibling. TechPlayzone is a science and technology center conveniently located near Riverview, Valrico, Lithia and Brandon communities. TechPlayzone is pleased to announce that it is a finalist for 2008 Brandon Chamber of Commerce Small Business Award. Parents can find out more about TechPlayzone’s Parents’ Night Out, Tech Camps, After School Programs and Birthday Parties by calling 684-7329 or visit techplayzone.com/techplay.
Lil’ Swimmer Aquatics Offers Swim Lessons Although summer has come to an end, it is never too late to teach your little one to swim. New business, Lil’ Swimmer Aquatics teaches children from about 8 months, or as soon as they can crawl, to 5 years survival swimming skills based on the proven PediaSwim methodology in the Apollo Beach, Ruskin, Riverview and Brandon areas. “One of the unique aspects of this business is that I can actually go to the family’s home pool to teach their children to swim,” says Owner and Apollo Beach resident Korey Nielson, a graduate of the PediaSwin Academy. “All of our lessons are one-on-one with the child so we can individualize the lesson and gear the lessons toward the child’s learning style.” For more information, call 777-3373 or visit www.lilswimmer.net.
Resident Offers Legal Services in Riverview Riverview resident Michael C. McGinn, P.A. recently moved his law office from downtown Tampa to the Riverview area offering residents help in the areas of family law, personal injury and auto accidents and criminal defense. “Unless I am with a client or in court I will always take your call and I am available 24/7. I have night and weekend appointments available and I offer services at affordable fees which is important in today’s economy,” says McGinn, who graduated from Florida State University and Stetson University College of Law (cum laude) and worked as a legislative assistant to former U.S. Senator Bob Graham and tried more than 60 jury trials to verdict for the Office of the State Attorney in Polk County. “I chose the location because it is close to home and it is a growing area that is currently underserved by the legal community,” says McGinn. For more information, call 374-0353 or visit www.yourtampadefense.com.
Dove Interiors Comes to Southbay After 17 years in business in Ruskin, Dove Interiors opened a second store in the Shoppes at Southbay, Dove Interiors, Too, recently offering Riverview residents a one-stop-shop for flooring with products including carpet, hardwood, tile, laminate, cork, blinds, shades, shutters, soft valances, drapery, bedding, area rugs and floor cleaning products. Owned and operated by the mother, daughter and son team of Joan Miller, Kimberly Scott and Rick Razick, Dove Interiors offers a “Beautiful Guarantee,” which helps eliminate some of the stress from ordering flooring by replacing the selection with another if for any reason our customer is unhappy. “We also have the absolute best, nicest, most polite and experienced installers that you will appreciate having in your home,” says Miller. “Our main crew leader has been with us for over 13 years. That’s almost unheard of in this industry. We are very proud of them.” Dove Interiors, Too is located at 10645 Big Bend Rd. in Riverview and can be reached at 672-9100 and Dove Interiors Carpet One is located at 2305 College Ave. in Ruskin and can be reached at 645-8660.
Resident Makes Travel Fun Riverview resident Dee Deel Klotz Khayyata knows the ins and outs of the travel industry. As the face of Superocity.com, Khayyata, along with her husband Faez, help travelers find the best prices on vacations and more. While the main product is travel, the Website also features a honeymoon registry, along with car, golf and flower Websites. Customers are also offered tickets to sporting events, concerts, theatres, Disney and Busch Gardens. They can also help with passports, foreign currency exchange, a variety of vacation packages, last minute deals and much more. The Khayyatas, who moved to Riverview from Dearborn, MI, in February 2008, are both referring travel agents and independent marketing reps for the company. Superocity.com is open 24/7, 365 days a year via the internet at www.superocity.com. For more information, call Khayyata at 964-6356.
Storage Facility Opens For residents of the SouthShore who love their boats, trailers, RVs and campers but need a cost effective place to park them, there is a new low cost solution, Buc-A-Day Storage in Ruskin. Located at 1415 3rd St. N.E., Buc-A-Day Storage specializes in the outdoor storage of vehicles and is situated on 18.5 acres. Owners Kent Rankin and Richard Crannell, Honorary Mayor of Apollo Beach, saw low cost, clean, safe, 24/7 access and high technology driven outdoor storage was a growing need for the SouthShore area. “Our motto, ‘Home of the 0.99 cent special, (under 30 feet in length)’ makes outdoor storage an affordable alternative to more expensive options and even appeals to the homes with boat trailers perpetually parked in their front yards,” says Crannell. “With most new housing developments having deed restrictions and the proximity to the best boating waters in Tampa Bay, it was a perfect fit.” The location is convenient to area boat ramps and I-75 and the storage facility recently installed additional security fencing, computer operated key pads for recording use by tenants and 24 hour recorded video surveillance and additional lighting through out the facility. For more information, e-mail richard.crannell@verizon.net or call 480-1916.
Firm Announces Successful Peer Review The Apollo Beach accounting firm of Alvarez Company, P.A. CPA Firm has successfully completed a rigorous review of its accounting and auditing practice. The reviewer concluded the firm complies with the stringent quality control standards set by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the national professional organization of CPA’s. José A. Alvarez CPA, managing director of Alvarez Company P.A. CPA Firm, has been a member of the AICPA for the over 34 years and explained the importance of the AICPA Peer Review. The firm focuses on privately-owned businesses, individuals, and not-for-profit organizations with an emphasis on advising business owners and is located at 605 Apollo Beach Blvd. For additional information on the firm, contact Alvarez by e-mail jalvarez@alvarezcpa.com or visit www.alvarezcpa.com. New Identities Celebrates Anniversary New Identities Salon is celebrating two years in business at its SouthShore location on November 14. Owner Kelly Higgs- Rockquemore started the company with a salon in Tampa in 1994, which is now a tour salon for Redkin, one of six in the country. Rockquemore now coaches the stylists in the salon every month, administers the educational fund, is in charge of budgeting, promotions, hiring and inventory control of all supplies and oversees several non-profit benefits. New Identities SouthShore is located at 10639 Big Bend Rd. and can be reached at 741-1177.
South Bay Recognizes World Stroke Day South Bay Hospital, located at 4016 Sun City Center Blvd. in Sun City, is celebrating World Stroke Day throughout the months of October and November by educating the community about stroke. Kim McKell, RN, MSN, stroke coordinator is spreading the word about what you can do to lower your risk of stroke, how to recognize the signs and symptoms of stroke and the importance of calling 911 if you or someone you know might be experiencing a stroke. For more information about stroke, contact McKell at 634-0249. If you would like to have McKell speak to your community group or organization, please contact Melissa Morgan at 634-0496.
Heath Fair at Prime Care Prime Care of Tampa Bay invites residents to attend a community health fair to promote healthy living on November 15 from 9 a.m.-12 Noon at its office at 13142 Elk Mountain Dr. in Riverview. During the event, residents will have the opportunity to meet the office’s doctors Cecil Sue-Wah-Sing MD and Jocelyn Bueno MD and can participate in health screenings, give-aways and more. Event sponsors include LinCare, WellCare, Tower Diagnostic, ACE Homecare, Reliance Consulting, Pediatric Healthcare Alliance and One Touch. For more information, call 672-8440.
Pedal for Prevention Through November Expresso Fitness and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recently announced their partnership for Pedal for Prevention, a virtual ride-a-thon to raise funds for diabetes research, advocacy and education taking place in select fitness facilities across the country. Riverview Snap Fitness Center, located at 11369 Big Bend Rd. in Riverview, is one facility taking part from November 2-16. Throughout this time, participants can hop on an Expresso Bike and earn miles (and pledges) at any time. This virtual ride-a-thon is truly the first of its kind that allows individuals to use their daily cardio workout to benefit others. For more information, visit www.diabetes.org/tour or www.expresso.net.
Medical Group Opens Riverview Office Brandon Family Medical Care, which is celebrating six years of business in the Brandon area, recently opened the doors to its Riverview location at 13007 Summerfield Square Dr. offering a full range of personalized medical services for your entire family. In addition to providing children ages 2 years and up with routine care (physicals, immunizations) and urgent care issues, the office provides women’s health care needs including annual exams/pap smears, cancer screening, evaluation of abnormal cycles, family planning, osteoporosis risk assessment, PMS/Menopausal concerns, and natural/alternative treatments for menopause and treatment for acne, skin cancer screening, wart removal, weight loss, smoking cessation, auto accidents, sexual dysfunction, depression and anxiety, chronic pain, unsightly moles, varicose veins and scar treatment. Owned by Lithia residents Michael Davis, MD, and John Fehling, MD, Valrico resident Randell Sehres, MD, and David Thiele, MD, all Brandon Family Medical Care physicians are Board Certified Family Practice Physicians and are members in good standing with the Florida Medical Association. Brandon Family Medical Care-South is located on the corner of Big Bend Rd. and U.S. Hwy. 301 S., across the parking lot from CiCi’s Pizza and can be reached at 684-5255.Hours of operation are Monday- Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
YMCA Hosts Corks and Forks Themed with the title Down Under and Australian decor, Corks and Forks will take place poolside at Campo YMCA’s newly unveiled Family Fun Pool, located at 3414 Culbreath Rd. in Valrico, on Saturday, November 22, from 7-10 p.m. Tickets cost $50 for YMCA members and $75 for non-members.
Wilhelm Holds Breakfast For 80 In October, Mary Ann Wilhelm hosted her third annual campaign breakfast for her campaign for Honorary Mayor of Ruskin. Over 80 tickets were sold for the event. The grand prize – a brand new fully installed Carrier Infinity home cooling system was won by Dick Berg, an employee of Lewers Funeral Home. The second prize, a two-day, one night stay at the Resort and Club at Little Harbor was won by local resident Brian Lantz. The wine gift basket provided by SouthShore Community Bank was won by local attorney Damon Glisson. Gift baskets from the Ruskin Redneck Training Company were won by Dr. Stephen Murray and local resident Trish Todd. A handmade fashion wrap donated by local realtor Roberta Rowe was won by Joe Horvath. Carol Spagnola of Cruzin Canine Cuts won a gourmet chocolate basket provided by Wilhelm and Lori Graves of Southeast Glass and Mirror won a gift certificate from the Saints and Sinners Restaurant and Lounge provided by Allen Tidwell of Affinity Insurance Group. Food was provided by Wilhelm Heating and AC, Inc., and prepared by Judy Hamp of Weichert Realtors, SouthShore. For further information, contact Anne Madden, marketing director of Wilhelm Heating and AC, Inc., at 641-1811.
Dog Park Celebrates Anniversary Give A Dog A Bone, located at 6114 N. U.S. Hwy. 41 in Apollo Beach, is holding an Ott’s dog park third year anniversary celebration on Saturday, November 15, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Bring your pups for a day of fun. There will be food for the owners and treats and food samples for the pups. Attendees are asked to donate $5 as they come in for the celebration. Give A Dog A Bone will also be hosting Christmas pet/family pictures on Saturday, November 8, and Saturday, November 22, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. On Saturday, November 15, the Presents for Pups drive kicks off. The shop will be collecting dog/cat food, treats, toys, beds (even gently used), towels, blankets, shampoo, cleaning supplies, office supplies, etc. All supplies collected will be dispersed to C.A.R.E. shelter in Ruskin, Humane Society of Tampa and local rescue groups before Christmas. All supplies can be dropped off at Give A Dog A Bone. If you have any questions, please call 641-3734. Feline Folks Initiates Program Feline Folks, a non-profit dedicated to humane feline management, is conducting a free educational program on Wednesday, November 12, at 7 p.m. at SouthShore Regional Library, off 19th Ave. NE. The topic is The Emotional Life of Cats and Pet Holiday Hazards. Paw pads and 2009 calendars will also be available for sale. For more information, email Info@FelineFolks.org or call 944-7651.
Civic Association Promotes Family Time A Bicycle Rodeo sponsored by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department will be held on Saturday, November 15, from 9 a.m.-12 Noon or until supplies run out. The event will be hosted by the Apollo Beach Civic Association, taking place at the SouthShore Methodist United Church in the Harbor Point Business Center located at 435 Apollo Beach Blvd. Deputy Fletcher invites all area children to come (with an adult or a parent) with their bicycles for a safety check, to ride “the challenge” and to be awarded for completing these tasks. Bicycle helmets and loaner bikes will be available. The association will also hold a 1958 Movie Night with refreshments and a non-denomination service at the Calvary Luthern Church, located at 5309 U.S. Hwy. 41, on Friday, November 14, starting at 6:30 p.m. The event is organized by Kathi Sheehan of SouthShore Methodist United Church. For more information, call 649-9462 or email apollobchcivicassoc@tampabay.rr.com.
Help Elmira’s Wildlife Sanctuary Elmira’s Wildlife Sanctuary 2009 calendar is at the printer and should be available for sale at $7 each or three for $20. This product is an excellent way to share the sanctuary’s mission with family and friends. On November 22, Saturday, there is a stable party at Sundance, and the sanctuary is having a yard sale and needs stuff to sell, people to buy stuff, people with muscles and/or a truck to move stuff around. The organization also has ongoing needs for volunteers to help with the animals, yard work and maintenance, shopping, small office tasks and most of all, people to cover the sanctuary. Please call Lois Croft at 385-4595 if you can help with any of the events mentioned.
Mayoral Candidate Announces Events Christa Jerome announces her Christa 4 Mayor schedule of events: Sunday, November 23, at 8 a.m. a Charity Toy Run will be held at X-Treme Power Sports of Tampa located at 1019 U.S. Hwy. 301 S. Registration begins at 7 a.m. with $20 per driver and $10 per rider. On Friday, December 12, at 12 Noon the Twelve Days of Christmas Golf Tournament will take place at Summerfield Crossings Golf Club. There will be contests for the Longest Drive and Hole-in-One as well as raffles and a dinner buffet. All proceeds benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Riverview. Email Christa4Mayor@yahoo.com or visit www.Christa4Mayor.com for more information.
Fall Plant Sale Arrives The Riverview Garden Club will be holding its annual Fall Plant Sale on Saturday, November 15, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. There will be many different varieties such as Florida natives, herbs and annuals, to name a few, at prices that will amaze your pocket books. The sale will be held at 9403 U.S. Hwy. 301 S. in Riverview. For more information, call President Marlene Kirst at 653-1459. Summerfield Happenings Located at 13011 Summerfield Blvd., Riverview, Summerfield’s Annual Holiday Market will kick off on Saturday, December 8, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Residents will find a wide variety of holiday gifts to choose from with 50-plus craft vendors, artists and home-based businesses onsite. Remember to bring the little ones to Tinsel Town at 12 Noon as Santa arrives. Attendees are encouraged to bring a new unwrapped toy to the Holiday Market as part of Summerfield’s Toys for Kids holiday project. New unwrapped toys can also be dropped off the day of the holiday craft show or anytime before December 15. All toys will be donated to a local charity for distribution just in time for Christmas. Registration opens November 1 for crafters, artisans and local small businesses wishing to participate in the Holiday Market this season. The cost is $25 per table and $10 for electrical. Wine Tasting Also taking place is Time for Wine – It’s A Taste of European Tradition on Tuesday, December 2, at 6:30 p.m. at Summerfield Community Center. Hosted by Charles Visalli from a Time for Wine, guests will sample a wide range of wines, learn their varieties and characteristics and discover how to match them with various foods. Cheese and crackers will be served. The cost is $7 per person. For more information or to RSVP, call Summerfield’s Program Administrator Chelsea Greene at 671-4568. Summerfield announces its upcoming Holiday Market and Time for Wine events for December.
Veterans Save on Gas If you are a U.S. veteran and have access to the VA system, the Disabled American Veterans Chapter No. 110 of Sun City Center now operates a new service van to the James A. Haley VA Hospital in Tampa. Any such veteran is eligible to use this free service. It operates on a regular week-day schedule. It is not a “handicap accessible” vehicle, nor is it a taxi service. Reservations for the van service must be made seven days prior to the appointment by calling 642-0302 and indicating your name, telephone number, date and day of week the ride is needed, as well as the van pick-up station number to be used. Volunteer drivers from Sun City Center and South Shore area are needed. If interested, please call 634-4489.
Barbershop Chorus Welcomes Members South Shore Sound, a women’s barbershop chorus affiliated with Sweet Adelines International, is offering a holiday performance opportunity for women on Sunday, December 14. Participants will attend rehearsals starting Monday, November 3, every Monday at 7 p.m. for six weeks at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church located at 1239 Del Webb Blvd. W. in Sun City Center. Rehearsals will be led by Meg Mahoney, director of the South Shore Sound Chorus. On Sunday, December 14, participants will apply what they have learned by singing in a Holiday Show with the South Shore Sound Chorus. The show will be held at the United Methodist Church in Sun City Center. For further information, go to www.southshoresound.org or call Terry at 786-9418.
St. Anne Women Meet The Saint Anne Council of Catholic Women held its annual “Salad Supper” in October at the parish center on U.S. Hwy. 41 in Ruskin. Guest speaker for the evening was Stephanie Bosse, program coordinator for the Catholic Relief Services Fair Trade Program in the Orlando Diocese. Her topic for the evening was “A Cup of Justice,” and she addressed, in particular, Fair Trade’s efforts to provide fair wages and profits for workers in Nicaraguan coffee cooperatives. The next meeting of the Saint Anne Women’s Council will be held on Tuesday, November 11, and will include a memorial service for deceased members. For more information, contact the parish office at 645-1714.
Veterans Receive Homage Destiny Church, located at 2322 11th Ave. SE in Ruskin, is hosting a “Salute to Veterans” on Sunday, November 9, at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. The annual event will pay homage to veterans of the Armed Forces and Merchant Marines with patriotic music and video presentations. The honored history, bravery and sacrifice of members of the Armed Forces throughout the history of the United States will be the focus of attention. Chuck Reif, Lt. Col. USMC (retired) will be the featured speaker. Jerry Lubrano, the lead pastor of Destiny Church is himself a 20-year veteran of the United States Air Force, retiring in 1989 from active duty, and will be presenting each veteran who attends the service with a commemorative coin to say thank you for honored service to our country. For more information, call 645-3337.
St. John Episcopal to Host Bazaar St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, located at 705 9th St. SE in Ruskin, is having its annual Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, November 15, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Coffee and doughnuts will be served early and a luncheon will take place at 12 Noon (donations accepted) with the infamous Singing Waiters. There will be Attic Treasures, creative crafts, Christmas items, baked breads, cookies, cakes and homemade canned goodies for sale as well as a raffle, jewelry, gift baskets and a Chinese auction. Also, St. John the Divine celebrated the church’s 46th anniversary in October with a Fall Dinner/Dance. The dinner was catered by Tasty Solutions and music by The Two of Us. For more information, call 645-1521.
Gibsonton Church Holds Men’s Fellowship First Baptist Church of Gibsonton, located at 9912 Indiana St. in Gibsonton, is to host a Men’s Fellowship Meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 18. There will be a potluck dinner, devotions and prayer requests. For more information, call 677-1301, Anthony at 654-8865 or visit http://1stbaptistgibsonton.org. Fall Festival at RUMC Riverview United Methodist Church, located at 8002 U.S. Hwy. 301 S. and the corner of Riverview Dr., will be having its Fall Festival on Saturday, November 15, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The Festival will have lots of fun things to do for young and old including: games for children and adults, inflatable rides, pony rides, crafts, food, music, an old-fashion cake walk and much more. All proceeds from the festival will be used for various charitable and mission needs. Space is available for crafters and antique dealers. If you wish to reserve booth space, please contact Kimberly Blaisdell at 458-3584. For more information, visit www.riverviewflumc.org or contact Linda Bauer at 677-0868.
Shop at Beall’s to Help Calvary For the third year, Beall’s Outlet, located in Cypress Village Shopping Center near Home Depot, will be offering punches on its discount cards for non-perishable food items being collected at its location through Christmas. Just bring your items to the store to deposit in a box near the checkouts and receive your punch on your card. All food items will be donated to the Community Cupboard in Ruskin, a ministry of Calvary Lutheran Church in Apollo Beach. Punch cards can be used personally or donated for use by Calvary when it does supplemental shopping for its annual Angel Tree project which provides Christmas gifts for underprivileged children. If you or your organization has a desire to help, contact the Calvary church office at 645-1305.
Youth Group Sends Thanks to Supporters During the month of September, 23 youth from St. Anne Catholic Church High School Youth Group and four adult chaperones attended Rock the Universe at Universal Studios in Orlando. The weekend included two nights of Christian concerts and a day at Islands of Adventure. It was an inspirational event for all in attendance. The group would like to thank all who support the youth group, making events like this possible. In November, the youth group is attending the Homeless Retreat in St. Petersburg. The youth group meets Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8 p.m.; new members are welcome. The church is located at 106 11th Ave. NE in Ruskin. For more information, call 645-1714.
PlayMania to Honor Gymboree Memberships As reported this week, Gymborees in Hillsborough County abruptly closed after the franchise owner filed for bankruptcy. Whitney and Todd Brundage, owners of PlayMania, Inc. recognize that this is an unfortunate event at a time when many parents cannot afford to purchase another membership. PlayMania will be honoring Gymboree memberships with any purchase of equal or lesser value. PlayMania will also be honoring any deposit given on a Gymboree Birthday Party. Located in Riverview on the corner of Big Bend Rd. and U.S. Hwy. 301, PlayMania is an indoor play center for children up to age 6. Featuring open play, classes and birthday parties, PlayMania is becoming widely recognized in the Riverview area. For more information, please call 649-8919 or visit www.playmaniatampa.com.
Local Girl Scouts Honored Sixteen Girl Scouts in the Riverview area were awarded their Bronze and Silver Awards at a ceremony in September. Danielle Lenhardt from Troop 784 recorded 15 books on tape and created activities related to the stories for a local church preschool. Sarah Culter, Hannah Jackson, Kylie Rowan, Alexis Rowan and Macey Wilson of Troop 1011 earned their Bronze Award as a troop by organizing a “Queen for a Day” party for girls with cancer in a local hospital. Leilani Beal, Samantha Schutte, Elizabeth Metayer, Heather Nelli, Jullian Boyar, Taylor Thibodeaux, Brynne Piesco, Kathryn Wallace, Riley Wilson, and Maggie Watts from Troop 705 also worked as a troop to earn their Silver Award. These young ladies planned and led an encampment weekend for 150 Brownie and Junior Girl Scouts. For more information on how to join, volunteer, reconnect or donate to Girl Scouts of West Central Florida, visit www.gswcf.org or call 800-881-4475.
Cub Scouts Recruit New Members Cub Scout Pack 205, which meets weekly at Riverview Elementary School, is recruiting new members from grades one through five. The pack is affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America Gulf Ridge Council. Activities include monthly camping trips, outings and an annual miniature car race, along with community service opportunities. Meetings are held at 6:30 p.m., Tuesdays in the school cafeteria located at 10809 Hannaway Dr. For information, call Cubmaster Matthew Green at 633-0853 or e-mail mgreen609@netzero.com.
Music Showcase Idol Contest Music Showcase, located at 402 Oakfield Dr. in Brandon, will hold it’s annual Idol Contest on November 15 at 10 a.m. The contest is open to all ages and is separated into three age categories: 8-12, 13-18 and 19-adult. Each age category must have at last eight participants or the contestant will be moved into the closest age category. The contest is free and open to all singers. Pre-registration is requested but not required, and all contestants must come with an accompaniment track. No live bands or musicians will be accepted. Prizes are awarded on the day of the contest, which include a free recording session. All those interested in participating should contact Wendi Pruitt at 685-5998.
Rotary Club Welcomes Speaker Paul Sponseller, vice president and trust officer of Encore Trust, recently spoke to members of the Rotary Club of SouthShore which meets every Wednesday at 12 Noon at Cypress Creek Golf Club, located at 1011 Cypress Village Blvd. in Ruskin. For more information about Rotary International, see www.rotary.org. For information about the SouthShore Rotary please call the club President, David Madden, at 447-9015.
Post Announces Meeting The next meeting of the Riverview Detachment of the Marine Corps League will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 2, at the American Legion Post 148 located at 7240 U.S. Hwy. 301 in Riverview. The detachment is always seeking new members and the meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month. All former and active duty marines plus navy corpsmen who have served a tour with the Fleet Marine Force are eligible to join. For additional information, call Jack Skelding at 672-1778 or visit www.mclriverview.org.
Chamber Unveils Night in Havana The Apollo Beach Chamber of Commerce invites you to A Night in Havana on Saturday, November 8, at the Moose Lodge Ballroom, located at 1212 E. Shell Point Rd. in Ruskin, from 6-10 p.m. The cost is $25 per person and includes Cuban cuisine, casino gambling for prizes, entertainment, a salsa contest and a silent auction. For more information, contact Joanne Gadeck at 645-1366.
Business Women Recognized National Business Women’s Day at Sava Cafe in Apollo Beach was celebrated in September by the Apollo Beach Women’s Club. It was very rewarding to see so many professional women coming together to support each other and provide information about the organization to guests. If you were unable to attend, please join the group for its monthly meeting held the third Monday of each month at Freedom Plaza in Sun City at 5:30 p.m. Visit http://abwasouthshore.com for more information.
BSSDD Has Openings The Boyette Springs Special Dependent Taxing District (BSSDD) Board of Trustees announces a vacancy for position of trustee. All homeowners who are registered voters and currently live in Boyette Springs are eligible to serve on this very important board. The BSSDD is comprised of seven volunteer homeowners. This is a working board, without a management company, which focuses on the maintenance and upkeep of the critical common areas, entrances, landscaping, exterior wall and monuments of this community as well as the setting up of the holiday decorations and floral arrangements at the five entrances. The term of service runs to September 2012. Anyone interested in serving as trustee should send their name, address and phone number to: Boyette Springs SDD, Attn: President, PO Box 1621, Riverview, FL 33568-1621 or email boyettesdd@gmail.com or bod@bshoa.org. The meetings of the BSSDD Board of Trustees are held on the second Wednesday of each month at the Tampa Bay Academy, administration building, located at12012 Boyette Rd. at 7 p.m.
New Big Lots Store Has Big Bargains
Many SouthShore residents eagerly anticipated the opening of the new Big Lots store in October. Maybe it’s the thrill of the hunt or the satisfaction of finding that certain item at a discount rate. Read more
Ruskin Thanksgiving Day Dinner
Teaming up with the South Hillsborough County Service Center advisory board and Beanie’s Family Sports Grill, the Ruskin Chamber of Commerce plans to lull the pangs of hunger for 500 people at the upcoming SouthShore’s Big Give in Ruskin. Read more
Eye on Business Riverview October
Rita’s Water Ice Opens In Riverview
Looking for a delicious, cool treat? Then head over to Rita’s Water Ice which opened recently in Riverview. With flavors of Italian ice, which are made with fresh fruit in the store ranging from green apple and raspberry lemonade to mango and lemon, old fashioned frozen custard and layered gelatin, the franchise, owned by Riverview residents Lucio and Marleny Rodriguez, has something for everyone.
Rita’s Water Ice Franchise Company, headquartered in Trevose, Pennsylvania, is the largest Italian ice concept in the nation and is currently operating in 17 states with more than 500 stores.
“Rita’s signature product is its Italian ice, often referred to as water ice, which is much smoother than a snow cone and combines ice with real fresh fruit; mixed onsite in batches and served within 36 hours,” says Rodriguez, who moved with Marleny from New Jersey two years ago. “Real fruit adds dramatically to the taste of the ice, which comes in over 30 different flavors.”
Rita’s also offers cream ice, Italian ice flavors that, according to Rodriguez, are as smooth and silky as ice cream, in different flavors.
Rita’s in Riverview is open Sunday through Thursday from 12 Noon-9 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday from 12 Noon-10 p.m. The store is located at Summerfield Square, 13149 U.S. Hwy. 301 S. in Riverview.
Please call the store at 741-0ICE (0423) for directions or to learn the available flavors of the day.
Fishing Fun At Little Harbor
The popular sport fishing television and radio show, Reel Animals Fishing, which is aired weekly on NBC and Florida Sun Sports, recently filmed an episode at The Resort & Club at Little Harbor in Ruskin.
Captains Billy Nobles and Mike Anderson ventured out into Tampa Bay from one of the Little Harbor marinas and spent the morning of Wednesday, September 3 fishing for redfish, snook and trout.
While the captains fished, the film crew toured the 124-acre Resort & Club at Little Harbor, a Caribbean-style waterfront island resort and residential seaside village, complete with lush tropical landscaping, island-style hospitality and the natural wonders of a waterfront resort. Little Harbor is a full-service AAA Travel Three-Diamond resort which offers its guests a secluded beach, two restaurants, lounge, Tiki bar, tennis, marinas and a bounty of amenities.
The show airs each week in the Tampa Bay area on NBC on Saturday at 6:30 a.m. and again on Sunday at 11 a.m. and on the Florida Sun Sports Network on Friday at 11 a.m. and Sunday at 5:30 p.m. The very popular fishing duo is also viewed regionally in 23 markets and will soon be expanding into the Canadian market. You can also listen in to captains Nobles and Anderson on ESPN radio WHBO 1470 AM on Sunday mornings or log onto www.reelanimalsfishingshow.com.
For information and reservations at the Resort & Club at Little Harbor, call 1-800-327-2773 or visit www.staylittleharbor.com.
New Manager at Self Storage Centers of America
Self Storage Centers of America recently announced the addition of Sheila Burnett as general manager for the new storage facility located at 9234 Causeway Blvd.
Burnett brings a strong real estate, accounting, sales and marketing background to the storage facility which opened in early October.
“We are excited about providing a full range of moving and storage services in a unique setting for local residents, and we are pleased that Burnett will be instrumental in the marketing and leasing for the store,” says Larry Jordan, partner of Self Storage Centers of America, Inc.
Self Storage Centers of America offers climate controlled and standard storage in a variety of sizes as well as boat, RV and vehicle storage. Additionally, a full range of boxes and quality packing supplies are available. This gated facility also features extended personalized access hours and a friendly professional staff.
For more information, call Self Storage Centers of America at 621-7867 or visit www.selfstoragecentersofamerica.com.
Storsafe Opens for Boats and RVs
Looking for somewhere to store your RV or boat? Then look no further than Storsafe, which opened recently in Gibsonton.
“Storsafe is a premier RV, boat and self storage facility,” says Marketing Manager Karin Mundt. “We found that there was a need in the area for covered, enclosed and open RV and boat storage since we have so many boaters in the area.”
According to Mundt, many residents living in communities with restrictions that do not allow storage of boats and RV use Storsafe.
Some of the features at Storsafe include 50 amp services, wash down areas, an air station and a RV dump station. The entire 20-acre facility is built to withstand hurricane strength winds and in addition to the RV and boat storage, the building offers climate controlled and non-climate controlled storage.
“We also provide the customers with moving boxes, locks and a free moving truck,” says Mundt. “We have 24/7 computerized access control for the customers and 24 hour video recorded surveillance, monthly specials, military discounts and senior citizen discount.”
Storsafe is located at 12704 S. U.S. Hwy. in Gibsonton and can be reached at 341-STOR(7867). For more information, visit www.storsafeselfstorage.com.
Triangle Resolutions, LLC Opens Doors
Triangle Resolutions, LLC and owner, Damon Dye LMHC, NCGC, hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony with the support of the Riverview Chamber of Commerce last month for the new business hoping to help residents seeking life balance.
Dye, a licensed mental health counselor and nationally certified gambling counselor, started Triangle Resolutions, LLC in July, 2007, and recently began serving the Riverview community from his office at 10014 Park Place Ave. off Gibsonton Dr., between U.S. Hwy. 301 and I-75.
Dye has a master’s in mental health counseling and is currently pursuing his doctorate in counseling psychology. He serves as a primary referral for the Florida Council on compulsive gambling, and is board certified in clinical hypnosis to treat clients dealing with trauma. Dye also has extensive experience counseling children from the ages of 3 to 17.
Triangle Resolutions, LLC is proud to open its doors to offer discreet services for a wide variety of life challenges. Hours include evenings and weekends to accommodate all schedules. Consulting services and workshops are also available.
For more information, call 714-6107 or visit www.triangleresolutions.com.
Pulte Nears Halfway Point in Ventura Bay
Pulte Homes is almost 50 percent sold-out at Ventura Bay, its gated community at Bloomingdale Ave. and Gornto Lakes Rd.
“To date, nearly half of the 206 homes have been sold in this 20-acre community that will have 29 residential buildings when completed,” says Scott Campbell, Tampa division president. The community’s amenities – including a pool and cabana – are complete.
Prices start at $156,900 in Ventura Bay, where Pulte Homes has two furnished model homes.
The Montenero model, with 1,715 sq. ft. of living space, has three bedrooms and 2.5 baths. It also includes a covered, screened lanai and an attached two-car garage. Pricing starts at $175,900.
The 1,580-sq.-ft. Milan model also has three bedrooms and 2.5 baths, as well as a covered, screened lanai and an attached one-car garage. It is priced from $156,900.
The Montenero features an 18-by-24-foot living-dining area with triple sliding glass doors opening to the lanai. Similarly, the Milan has a 17-by-19-foot living-dining area, also with triple sliding glass doors to the lanai.
Both designs feature three bedrooms and two baths on the second floor, and a powder bath on the first floor.
Sales are being conducted from the Ventura Bay sales center at 10286 Post Harvest Dr. Office hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Saturday and 12 Noon-6 p.m., Sunday. Call 627-9333 for more information.
South Bay Installs Mammography Unit
South Bay Hospital is pleased to announce the installation of a new digital mammography unit at the South Bay Hospital Outpatient Diagnostic and Rehab Center. Digital mammography produces a higher quality image than traditional mammography, during a shorter exam time for the patient.
The image produced by the digital mammography unit is a high resolution image that can be enhanced and manipulated. This means that the physician can zoom in on questionable areas and make adjustments to the image. This technology expands the ability to detect abnormalities and breast cancer in more women.
Digital mammography also allows for less time in the exam room and less time waiting on results. Since the image is instantly transferred to a computer, there is no longer the need to wait on film development. This means patients are able to get their results sooner.
“Waiting for mammography results can be very stressful,” says hospital CNO and breast cancer survivor Terrie Jefferson, RN. “Reducing that wait time for our patients while producing a higher quality image for diagnosis can help ease some of that anxiety.”
For more information about digital mammography, contact Melissa Morgan at 634-0496, or to schedule a digital mammography, call 642-8468.
Serenity Stream Empowers Women
In observance of Breast Cancer Awareness and Domestic Violence Awareness month, Serenity Stream Yoga & Wellness is beginning a Women’s Empowerment series that will continue on through 2009. Judy Shepherd, licensed clinical social worker, and Ellen MacKay, registered yoga teacher, will join together to promote health and well-being through an hour of education and group discussion and an hour of yoga.
The start-up workshop in October will focus on simplifying life, appropriately being named, “I Have Everything I’ve Ever Dreamed of but Why am I Still Not Happy?” In this workshop, participants explore why people become dissatisfied with their lives, despite the fact that they are achieving their goals and appear to be successful. This workshop helps participants develop strategies to really simplify and enjoy life. The yoga section of the workshop will involve becoming aware of and enjoying the subtleties of basic yoga postures, breath and meditation.
Monthly workshops will begin in January, featuring such topics as “Are You a Mess from Stress?”, “Relationship Check-Up,” and “Creating Joy in Your Life.” Each workshop will include an hour of related yoga postures including focus on balance, stress relief, partner yoga and strength building.
Serenity Stream Yoga & Wellness is located at 11954 Boyette Rd. in Riverview. The class will take place on October 25 from 3–5 p.m. and tuition is $35.
For more information about this workshop and other classes offered, visit www.serenitystream.com or call 368-6546.
Photographers Recognized
Local photographers Edward Booth and Betty Huth, owners of Huth and Booth Portrait Gallery, recently received the Florida Service Award for service to the profession at the Florida Professional Photographers Annual Convention.
“We both were honored to receive the Florida Service Award given for service to the profession,” says Booth. “Receiving this award in just three years is very unusual.”
According to the duo, they have worked together for 18 years to create family portraits with the expectation that they will be handed down from generation to generation.
“We pride ourselves in providing our clients with exceptional portraiture of families and children,” says Booth. “It’s a pleasure that we continue to strive for, that of seeking excellence in preserving precious memories.”
Since moving to the area from California in July of 2005, Huth and Booth have been active members in the Riverview and Greater Brandon area communities, volunteering their services to numerous charity organizations, clubs and civic centers. They are also members of the Brandon 86’ Rotary Club.
The Huth and Booth Portrait Gallery is located at 11711 Nikki View Dr. in Brandon in Lake Brandon Professional Park. For more information, call 571-2100 or visit www.hbphoto.com.
Local Hair Stylists Open New Salon
Local Hairstylists Maria Elena Martinez and Siriinthip “Tipp” Chanthamart recently opened En Vogue hair Salon in Summerfield Shoppes, located on Big Bend Rd. in Riverview across from the Summerfield Golf Course. With over 37 years of combined experience, Martinez and Chanthamart practice the newest technologies in hair, updating their clients look with the perfect color and cut. Specializing in color design and utilizing the latest techniques, they listen to their clients and can provide a full beauty makeover. Also on staff is PJ Hughes with 25 years of hair styling experience. If you desire a classic look, funky color or anything in between, En Vogue Salon will meet your needs. An exclusive Keune distributor (www.keune.com) affords for a variety of hair products to choose from. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with appointments available by calling 672-3632 or salonenvogue2@yahoo.co.m
Festival of Food & Fun For Families
The Ruskin Seafood Festival is celebrating its 20th year as South Hillsborough County’s largest community event.
Last year, over 18,000 people enjoyed the arts, crafts, music and sumptuous seafood. “We hope we’ll have 20,000 visitors for our 20th anniversary,” said Melanie Morrison, executive director of the Ruskin Chamber of Commerce. Read more
Bleu Donates Special Day For Victim
There has been a recent outpouring of support from the community for the East Bay High School student who was attacked at Bloomingdale Library in April. Read more
Community Embraces Events For Victim
There has been a recent outpouring of support from the community for the East Bay High School student who was attacked at Bloomingdale Library in April.
Recently, a benefit was held at the Ruskin VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars), Read more
Eye On Business Riverview
Eye on Business
By Kate Quesada
Bibzees Fashion bibsBibzees is a home-based online baby boutique started by local Mom, Beth Powell. She had a second baby with a drool problem and reflux; he was constantly donning a bib. “The problem was I had quite the trendy wardrobe for him and was covering up his little graphic tees and onesies with pastel blue and green bibs that said ‘I Love Daddy’,” said Powell continuing, “I began a hunt for trendy bibs and couldn’t find any that would work with his outfits.”Powell said she felt like she was sitting on this great idea and that she needed to follow through with it. She started purchasing baby blank products to find a good quality bib and onesie. Next, Powell found a dye company in the Los Angeles garment district to dye and vintage wash the product. Then, she set out to find a screen printer that would use water based inks that were safe for the baby and the environment. “Finally,” she said “And the fun part, I came up with some trendy designs to put on my bibs. Thus Bibzees was born early 2008.” The great part about Bibzees is that they come as a set, with one bodysuit and two coordinating bibs. For example if you order Surfer Dude, you get a custom dyed blue bodysuit and two blue bibs, one with a surfer and one with a shark. Bibzees carries 3 piece bodysuit and bib sets and has just added Toddler Tees for 12 to 18 month olds. Powell’s latest designs, “Baby Ink” are tattoo designs. The current products range from $13.50 to $26.95 (excluding tax). Powell has lived in Brandon, Riverview, Tampa and is moving a few miles back to Brandon in September. For more information visit Powell’s Website, www.bibzees.com. Apollo Beach Florist moves to RiverviewRuskin resident Jan Crosby is moving her business of 15 years to the Riverview area. Located at 9405 U.S. Hwy. 301 S., where All-American Florist used to be, Crosby will offer a full service floral salon. With 25 years of floral design experience, Crosby will provide services like corsages, weddings and funerals. They can also send/deliver flowers locally as well as world-wide. Crosby said she plans to join the local chamber and host a ribbon cutting for her new business, which is already open. The hours are Monday-Friday 9 a.m. – 5p.m. For more information, call 677-9700.Click Photography Ribbon CuttingOn Wednesday, June 4, with 50 people in attendance a Ribbon Cutting and Website Launch was held for Click Photography in Apollo Beach. Holding the ribbon are Jennifer Gordon, owner Click Photographer and Nelson Ferrar owner of N2N Graphics- the web designer for the new Ruskin Chamber of Commerce website. For more information, visit www.ruskinchamber.org.Ali Lassen’s Leads GroupThe Southshore Professional chapter of the Ali Lassen’s Leads Club is a structured referral environment where members meet weekly over lunch to pass hot leads to other members. The group meets at Freedom Plaza in Sun City Center every Wednesday at 11:45 a.m. Each member exclusively represents his or her industry in the group and this chapter is looking for new members.For more information, contact Penny at 454-5406 or by e-mail at psmith@hrblock.com. Wilhelm wins Ruskin RunaroundWilhelm Heating and Air Conditioning placed first in he Ruskin Chamber of Commerce’s “Ruskin Runaround” held on May 31, 2008. The 14 Participating teams stopped at 22 area businesses and collected cards at each venue. The Wilhelm Heating and Air Conditioning Team of Donna Kelly and Judy Hamp had the best hand at the end of the event. The photo shows (from left to right) Donna Kelly, Anne Madden and Judy Hamp. Madden and Mary Ann Wilhelm stayed at the Wilhelm office during the event to man their business “stop” on the route. For more information on Ruskin chamber events call 813-645-3808 Sumatra Coffee Reopens Its Doors After closing for nine days, they have reopened their doors to the community. Sumatra is simplifying and refining its service and products. They will not be offering sandwiches but focusing on coffee and pastries. Sumatra will keep its coffee menu and going back to the roots of a traditional coffee shop-style. The shop will be operating on a temporary schedule, and will expand hour as business grows. The current hours are Monday – Saturday 7 a.m. To 1 p.m. And on Sunday 7 a.m. To 12 Noon. Sumatra will continue to be a meeting ground for the arts, ideas and a second home for the greater Riverview/Apollo Beach area. You can contact Sumatra Coffee at 671-6875 or e-mail at sumatracoffee@drinksumatra.com. IC Electronic ComponentsIC Electric Components has in business under the name InstoComp, Inc. DBA IC Electronic Components for more than five years and at their new location in Riverview at 10018 Park Place Ave., for over a year. Their location is approximately 1,800 sq. ft. and they are looking to hire sales people to service a worldwide market as they are in growth mode. They will hire no more than 15 people at this location. “We offer a great compensation package and are willing to train people about our products and services,” said owner Glenn Nichols. IC Electronic Components is an Independent Distributor of production quantities Hard-to-Find Electronic components. “We sell Obsolete Discontinued by the original manufacturer Electronic Components (Memory, SDRAM, DDR, NAND, Flash, modules, Logic , logic , FPGA’s, CPLD’s, Micro controllers, Semiconductors, IC’s, high / low frequency RF, Power products, Capacitors, Transistors, Diodes, Connectors, Crystals, Relays, Resistors, Switches, semis, semiconductors and more),” Nichols said. “Focus manufacturers include Motorola, Maxim/Dallas, Analog Devices, Intel and more; Nitch in RF/Microwave power transistors.”Nichols said they sell to a broad base that includes small electronic repair shops to the U.S. Government. Some devices are priced under a penny others can cost over $2,000 each.Standard hours for IC Electronic Components are Monday – Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, visit them on the Web at www.icelect.com or www.riverview.icelect.com or e-mail at sales@icelect.com or call 672-8300.Dawn’s water safetyDawn Blake, a resident of Riverview who has lived in the area since 2004, has been providing swim lessons throughout the Riverview, Brandon, Valrico, Sun City center, Ruskin, and Tampa area. Currently she only provides one-on-one private swim lessons for infants to adult ages. She has been a Red Cross certified water safety instructor for five years. Prior to moving to Riverview, Blake was employed by YMCA of Clearwater and tarpons springs to perform lifeguard, swim instructor and water aerobics instructor duties. Her swim lessons also include teaching children how to don a life vest, provide assistance in water emergencies and prevent potential injuries by following rules while in the pool or any water source.She also instructs parents on how to assist in their child’s learning and how to be observant while around the water. Blake said she is able to provide a pool for my students if they do not have access to their own. If you have any questions about my business please feel free to call me at the provided number above or at (727)204-6790. Blake provides lessons year around but often by September due to the decrease in temperature and the commencement of school she does not have much continued interest. The peak season is April to August. She also provides all the necessary equipment. Currently Blake receives referrals through the www.clubswim.com Website or through previous students. Galish Grand OpeningPlease join The Galish Group Insurance Agency as the staff celebrates its grand opening and ribbon cutting with the Greater Riverview Chamber of Commerce, clients, friends and family. The fun-filled event is scheduled for Wednesday, July 23, 5-7 p.m. At the Galish Group’s new office at 10849 Park Dr. (behind the Handy Station on Balm Riverview Rd.) And will include light appetizers, beer, wine and other refreshments, door prizes donated from local businesses and more. Stop by to meet owner, Glenn Galish; Tampa region director of operations, Sharon Still; and Pinellas County agent, Jeanette Lawrenson. The Galish Group offers home, auto, life, health, flood, motorcycle insurance and more. Companies represented include Progressive, MetLife, Universal Property & Casualty, Humana, Travelers and others.Prospective clients can use the no-pressure health insurance comparative rater online at www.tophealthcompanies.com, which allows individuals to shop online and compare companies’ side-by-side on their own time. For more information, call 924-2460 or visit www.galishgroup.com. The Ruskin Chamber of Commerce welcomes its new members New members include: Cockroach Bay User Group (C-Bug), The Satin Chef, Holiday Inn Express, All Bay Insurance Group, www.ourgv.com/jml, Mango Jo’s South Shore, LLC, Cardinal Roofing, Sunrise Senior Living, Accurate Air, LLC, Cruzin’ K9 Cuts, LLC, K & B Travel, LLC and Sun City Center Flowers & Gifts. The Chamber membership is now up to 307 members. For more information, contact the chamber at ruskinchamber@earthlink.net. Local Businesses Combine Resources to Support C.A.R.E. of Ruskin. Canine Related Business Owners Group Together to Support C.A.R.EGive a dog a bath? Well, yes…and more! Give A Dog A Bone, Cruzin’ K9 Cuts and Camp Bow Wow – Tampa South Shore merged their talents to provide support and raise funds for C.A.R.E. Animal Hospital of Ruskin. On Saturday, June 21, the three local business owners sponsored Suds n Summer, an outdoor doggie day spa (so to speak) that included nail trimming, dog baths and loads of attention for their canine customers. All three business owners believe in giving back to their communities and this was a means of doing just so. They raised over $400 to support C.A.R.E.The dogs were just awesome. They loved all of the attention and their owners enjoyed watching someone else give their pups a bath. The owners were great, too. There were a few times when there were long lines waiting for doggie pedicures (okay, nail trimming) and there was a small weather event. Tried and true, they waited patiently in line and even helped hold up tents during the heavy rains and winds.The Art of Beauty inside and Out On Thursday, July 17 at 6:30 p.m. For a Life Enrichment Series hosted by South Shore gallery entitled The Art of Beauty Inside and Out. Anti-aging and beauty from the inside out. Let Max give your body and mind what is needed to look, feel and live to the MAX! Presented by Lynn Clement, RN MS ANPJennifer Anderson, owner of Skin Chic Inc., will be speaking on the topic of The Art of Mineral Makeup and Color. She is a Paramedical Aesthetician, Professional Makeup Artist and Educator with over 15 years of experience in her field. She will be sharing her expertise in the newest makeup technology using the only patented mineral makeup line in the beauty industry.Come enjoy wine samples provided by PRP Wines.Please RSVP by July 15th.South Shore Gallery is located at 447 Apollo Beach Blvd. In Apollo Beach. For more information, call 645-0483.ABWA-American Business Women of AmericaThis is a “NEW” year for all new and old members as we continue to grow and learn more about each other. The South Shore County Chapter of the ABWA is about women joining forces to further themselves both professionally and personally. Our members get the inside track on the issues facing their local communities, as well as the trends and events that drive today’s National businesses. The ABWA’s next event will be the ABWA 30th Anniversary Celebration Dinner, on July 21 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Florida Room of the atrium building.The Atrium Building is located at 945 N. Course Ln., Sun City Center at the center of the Central Campus, the Florida Room. The Atrium includes a large open area containing exhibits of the work of the various arts and crafts clubs. Special dinner invitations will be extended to past members, other chapters, members of the Greater Bay Area Council, spouses, relatives, friends and business associates are encouraged to attend. The cost to attend is $20 per person. Tickets are available at Southern Grace gifts & home accessories located at 301 U.S. Hwy. 41 S. in Ruskin. For more information, call 641-0004 or visit www.southern graceonline.com. For information about the event visit the ABWA Website at www.abwasouthshore.com or contact publicity chair Nicole Vikhlyantsev at Register@leadingtheweb.com.
Photo Captions: Bibzees is a home-based online baby boutique started by local Mom, Beth Powell. Powell has lived in Brandon, Riverview, Tampa and is moving a few miles back to Brandon in September. The great part about Bibzees is that they come as a set, with one bodysuit and two coordinating bibs.
It Takes A Community to Build A Playground
In the words of the builder of the world’s largest playgrounds, Walt Disney, “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” Bayou Pass Village found itself with one big problem: a lot of children and no playground. With that in mind, it got to work. The residents of Bayou Pass worked eight months to raise money to purchase playground equipment for the community’s children. Neighbors held fundraisers, cookouts, community yard sales and movie nights where they sold popcorn. With the help of Florida Home Partnership, the Community Foundation of Sun City Center and The Home Depot, they reached their $30,000 goal for their new playground.Bayou Pass Village is a planned community of 230 houses that is designed for first-time homeowners with modest incomes. Families contributed 600 hours of “sweat equity” toward building their homes, and they took it upon themselves to build something special for everyone.They called the project Bayou Pass Playground Build-Up, but this project would culminate with more than just a playground, this would be a celebration.The event seemed more like a festival than a work day. The community celebrated with music, clowns, bounce-houses, a caricature artist, games, food, games and Tampa Bay Lightning cheerleaders. The First Apostolic Church from Ruskin grilled steak, chicken, hotdogs and hamburgers for the 100 volunteers who were building the new playground.The local Home Depot sent a team of 12 employees to take part in the build-up; Bryon Kintz, the receiving manager at the Sun City Center Home Depot, was the team captain for the build-up. “This is such a rewarding experience for us,” said Kintz. “We love giving back to the community.” Luan Nguyen, a Bayou Pass Village resident, co-chaired the project with Melinda Dale from the Florida Home Partnership. Nguyen assisted in deciding the scope of the playground project, which includes a shelter, picnic tables and benches as well as a large playground.Nguyen and his 7-year-old son Alex were sweaty but excited at the build-up, having looked forward to the day for months. “This is a culmination of all our hard work,” he said.Dale, who facilitated the build-up celebration event, was happy with the enormous turnout. “This is definitely a labor of love by the residents and the whole community,” she said. “They all should be very proud about their accomplishment.”The residents may now also claim that “sweat equity” built their community playground which the children will benefit from for years to come.For more information about the Bayou Pass Village, please visit the Florida Home Partnership Website at www.FLHOME.org or call 672-7860.Photo Caption: Team Depot from Sun City Center helps build the new playground at Bayou Pass Village.
