Osprey Observer » Tampa Bay

Eye On Business Riverview/Apollo Beach/Ruskin

Jennifer Silverstein — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 20:44:20 +0000

Norgard Insurance Holds Ribbon Cutting
In early March, Norgard Insurance Group, located at 809 E. Bloomingdale Ave. # 387, hosted a Ribbon Cutting at the Brandon Chamber of Commerce.
Norgard Insurance Group offers its clients a variety of benefits the not limited to medical benefits for a group or individual, pre-paid legal, supplemental benefits, life and disability insurance and retirement planning.
For more information, please contact Dwayne Lewis at 928-4508 or via e-mail at dwayne@norgardinsurancegroup.com or Chad Norgard at 454-5072 or via e-mail at chad@norgardinsurancegroup.com
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Tampa Bay Printing Grand Opening
Now located at 501 S. Falkenburg Rd. in Tampa with Tampa Centre, Unit C-7, Tampa Printing will be hosting its Grand Opening with specials from Precision Car Audio (PCA) and The Glass Bandits including full feature car alarms installed for $125 and free windshield installation with full coverage insurance.
It is also offering 35 percent window tint for $100 on any vehicle with a life time warrantee and a free power window motor and regulator diagnostic, a $25 value.
It is also offering 10 percent of your next order of $100 or more from Tampa Printing.
For more information, call 230-9890 or visit www.813TampaPrinting.com.

New Yogurt Shop Open In Brandon
Feel good about supporting a healthier world. Relax your mind, body and soul by escaping to your nearest DJ’s yogurt stop, located at 2946 Providence Lakes Blvd. in Brandon.
The yogurt shop is a self-serve style of natural frozen yogurt in 12 flavors with 33 varieties of toppings and fresh seasonal fruits. It has zero grams trans fat, is low in calories and carbs. Any flavor with unlimited toppings is 0.39 cents an ounce.
It is having a grand opening special of 50 percent off all purchases.
It will be having a raffle drawing giveaway for DJ’s yogurt stop customers, which includes a three gigabyte laptop, two eight gigabyte digital cameras, two eight gigabyte Mp3 players and two $50 gift cards. The final drawing will be March 31 at 6 p.m.
DJ’s Yogurt Shop is located on the corner of Providence Lakes and Causeway, next to Starbucks. It is open Monday – Sunday from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
For more information, call the shop at 655-9808.

Chick-fil-A goes WiFi
Join the Honorary Mayor Tammy Holmberg at 9 a.m., on Wednesday, March 25 at Chick-fil-A Lake Brandon Village, located at 11325 Causeway Blvd. in Brandon.
Celebrate with owner Paul Holmberg and his staff as they cut the wire for a special ribbon cutting ceremony.
Bring your laptop and try out the WiFi, while enjoying free coffee and breakfast.
For more information, call 655-1237 or visit www.Chick-fil-A.com.

Biker’s Bay
Lenny and Nora Gillespie, owners of the franchise Biker’s Bay, a motorcycle repair shop, are celebrating the business’ one year anniversary. It is the only Ride In/Ride out bike shop in the Brandon area.
They are also members of the Faith Riders at Bell Shoals Baptist Church, 2102 Bell Shoals Rd. in Brandon.
It is located at 9520 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., by the Sheriff’s Department, three blocks west of Falkenburg Rd. For more information, please call 740-2453 or e-mail noraandlenny@earthlink.com

Computer Help
Providence PC Consulting provides in-house computer, network and application support for all your residential or small business needs.
Owner Jay Drennan started the company after 25 years of experience with computers and related technology. Providence PC Consulting offers a wide variety of solutions, including website design and hosting, data backup and recovery, audio/visual and video production, software training, virus and spyware removal, high speed router set-up and various troubleshooting and repair needs.
For more information, visit its Website at www.ProvidencePCC.com, e-mail Drennan at jay@ProvidencePCC.com or call 393-9495.

Title Company Receives Award
All American Title is proud to announce that it has been notified by its underwriter Stewart Title Guaranty Co. that it was one of its top 10 agents in the entire state of Florida for 2008.
All American Title Company has two offices, one in Brandon at 679 W. Lumsden Rd. and one in the South Shore area at 609 18th Street S.E. in Ruskin.
For more information, call 684-3330 or 649-9740. More information is also available on its Website at www.allamtitle.com.

Liberty Tax Is Just What The Doctor Ordered; Free Tax Preparation for Hospital and EMT Employees
To honor these often unsung heroes, Liberty Tax Service is offering free tax preparation for all emergency medical technicians and hospital employees during the week of March 2-6. The company will offer this service at their Brandon offices located at 231 W. Brandon Blvd. and 10827 Bloomingdale Ave. for first-time customers.
“EMT and medical professionals work selflessly each and every day, saving lives and making friends and family comfortable through times of stress and pain. It’s our pleasure to be able to give back just a little to these individuals who perform life-saving miracles every day,” said Stephanie Nussbaum, general manager and owner of Liberty Tax Service.
Call Liberty Tax Service at 681-5358 if you’re eligible for this promotion, and you’d like more details.

Planet Smoothie Has New Owner, Outlook
Planet Smoothie in Brandon has been in operation for nine years. Eight months ago, Tony Menendez opened Planet Smoothie by University of South Florida (USF) and has enjoyed running this store and seeing it grow. In December of 2008, he was presented with the opportunity to take over the Planet Smoothie Brandon location and was not very familiar with the area. “In taking a good look I immediately fell in love with Brandon,” he said.
Menendez said he is trying to build a new customer base to go on top of the great loyal customer base that Planet Smoothie already has and is actively looking for events, parties and meetings to cater.
He is also trying to educate potential customers out there about Planet Smoothie and its great products. Planet Smoothie uses all fresh fruit in its smoothies and no preservatives. “This is what I feel makes our smoothie such a great tasting product,” Menendez said. “We also have very unique names for our smoothies that stick with you like the ‘Chocolate Elvis’ and ‘Yo’ Adrian’ to name a few.”
Menendez said the USF store is very involved with the community and Planet Smoothie Brandon will be no different.
Planet Smoothie Brandon is located at 11391 Causeway Blvd. in Brandon.
For more information, call the store at 653-9515 or visit www.planetsmoothie.com.

Cuenelli’s Peruvian Chicken
Mayla Cuevas recently opened Cuenelli’s Peruvian Style Rotisserie Chicken with the support of her husband Erick and her sons Kito and Daniel and her daughter Gabriela, who work in the restaurant with her. The Peruvian restaurant first opened in October and offers authentic Peruvian food, cooked from scratch. The 1,200 sq. ft. storefront is complete with an oven that was shipped from Peru. It cooks on charcoal only, using no electricity or gas. “That’s what gets us the great taste of the chicken and is what we are known for,” said Mayla.
Cuenelli’s other popular dishes include Bisteck a lo Pobre, a sirloin steak served with white rice, beans, fried egg, French fries and plantains; Lomo Saltado, a grilled sirloin with onions and tomatoes served with white rice and French fries and Papa a la Huancaina, boiled potatoes topped with spicy creamy cheese sauce. It also serves some traditional Peruvian desserts including Alfajores or Peruvian cookies, flan and cuatro leches or four milk cookies.
The restaurant can seat 40 people inside, with room for approximately 35 on its patio area.
Mayla said that she has been getting requests for Peruvian ceviche and will begin to serve it on the weekends. Cuenelli’s is available for dine in, take out and also does catering.
The Cuevas’ have been local Riverview residents for six years and say they plan on participating in local Winthrop events with the other tenants.
Cuenelli’s Peruvian Style Rotisserie Chicken is located at 6260 Winthrop Town Centre Ave. in Riverview within the Winthrop Town Centre. It is open Tuesday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., Sunday 12 Noon – 8 p.m. and is closed on Monday. For more information or to place a takeout or catering order, call 681-7773.

Kiddie Kat’s Childcare
A new business recently came to the area, Kiddie Kat’s Childcare, located at 1109 E. Camellia Drive in Brandon
Kiddie Kat’s is a licensed family childcare home and is looking to fill all current openings. The business was opened for two reasons. First, to help parents afford quality childcare at a reasonable price and second, to assist in teaching a strong foundation to our future. “Nurturing Our Future,” is the motto of Kiddie Kat’s, according to its owner and provider Kathi Collins.
The rates are very competitive, and the quality of care is extraordinary due to a low class size.
The following services are offered: structured environment; healthy, nutritious, tasty snacks and meals provided; diapers provided; indoor/outdoor activities; north Brandon/Seffner area, educational development based; daily workout video with Bert, Ernie and Big Bird; infant/toddler CPR and first aid certified; early childhood development certified and babysitting Available.
For more information, call 571-7085 or 918-7772 Collins is also available via e-mail at kathi@kiddiekats.net. Kiddie Kat’s also has a Website at www.kiddiekats.net.

Women’s Care Offers Extended Hours
To make those well women’s visits and paps a little easier for its patients, Women’s Care is staying open late on Tuesday nights in the Brandon office for those ladies who need evening appointments. One Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) will be on-site until 7:30 p.m. seeing patients in May, every Tuesday.
Also, Women’s Care is starting to perform in-house surgeries such as NovaSure and Essure procedures in the office.
Women’s Care of Brandon is located at 731 S. Parsons Ave. in Brandon. For more information, call 681-9171.

The Salon at Remington Provides Professional Services
The Salon at Remington, a Cosmetology program part of Remington College recently opened and held a ribbon cutting at its location at 6302 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Ste. # 400 in Tampa.
The Salon at Remington is a MATRIX signature school. It uses professional products from Matrix, Design Essentials, Pevonia and OPI.
All services are performed by students under the strict supervision of a licensed instructor. The salon functions and provides all services of a full service salon and spa including manicures, pedicures, facials and waxing. Hair services include cuts, color, perms, relaxers, up do’s, braids, hair extensions and many more services.
If you’re interested in starting a cosmetology program, please come and take a tour of Remington’s campus. It has classes starting monthly. Remington also has many other diploma and degree programs. You can reach the admissions department at 935-5700.
The salon is open Monday – Thursday, 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. and Friday, 9 a.m. -3:30 p.m., appointments are recommended but walk-ins are welcome.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 316-4470.

Eye on Business January Brandon

Jennifer Silverstein — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 21:53:44 +0000

Japanese Steakhouse Coming To Brandon
Kobe Steakhouse, a chain of restaurants with locations also in Tampa, Clearwater and Orlando, will soon be open on S.R. 60, across from the Westfield Brandon mall. The steakhouse will sit in the same building that used to house Benningan’s, which closed in July. Currently, the only Benningan’s in the Tampa Bay area that is still open is its location in Channelside.
Kobe Steakhouse and Sushi Bar offers teppanyaki, which means table cooking in Japanese, and a variety of sushi rolls and sashimi.
For more information, visit www.kobesteakhouse.com

Storage Center Available For Rent
Self Storage Centers of America, located at 9234 Causeway Blvd., recently held a ribbon cutting with the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce in December and is now open for business and is available to rent.
The facility has a large facility with 546 inside climate controlled units, 60 parking spots for RVs 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 or to rent a storage unit, call 621-7867.

Local Dentist Earns Fellowship in National Academy
At the American Academy of Implant Dentistry’s 2008 annual meeting in California, Sanford Schwartz of Brandon was recognized as a Fellow of the Academy.
As one of 282 dentists who hold this distinguished membership, Dr. Schwartz is one of the leading experts in implant care. Schwartz maintains a dental practice at 787 W. Lumsden Rd.
To qualify for Fellowship, Schwartz completed more than 400 hours of postdoctoral instruction in implant dentistry, performed more than 50 implant cases, held Associate Fellow in the Academy and passed the Academy’s Fellow examination. The Fellow examination included a series of oral examinations, presentation of 10 implant cases and review of Schwartz’s professional and leadership credentials.

Local Resident Starts Online Business Selling T-shirts
Scott King, a Brandon resident and staff member at Fox and Hound Irish Pub, has started his own Website selling T-shirts. His Website, http://www.print fection.com/lowbrowscottking, currently sells three T-shirt styles in 31 different colors. The three designs include an eye and heart, a gothic heart and a heart T-shirt, all on sale for $24.99.
Center Has Entertainment for the Whole Family- requested by Shannon

Looking For A Fun Location For A Family Outing?
K Breeze Indoor Putt Putt opened recently on Bloomingdale Ave., offering a Playstation 3 gaming center in addition to an 18-hole miniature golf course.
Owned by John Tierney, the center is available for birthday parties in a private room, with three different packages available, and offers drinks and light refreshments.
Children under 3 years play for free.
K Breeze Indoor Putt Putt is located at 815 W. Bloomingdale Ave. Hours are Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. and Sunday, 12 Noon-6 p.m. Call 315-9813 for more information.

Dog Gone Holistic Hosts Pet Photo Day
Dog Gone Holistic, located at 5620 FishHawk Crossing Blvd. in Lithia is hosting a Pet Photo Day with photographers, Flash & Co. on Saturday, January 31.
Pet & People Photos will be taken from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. starting at $20 for one 8×10.
Props such as an airplane, motorcycle, golf cart and bathtub will be available and prop packages start at $89.99.
Visit its Website at www.doggoneholistic.biz or call store at 813-651-0842 for more info or to reserve you photo session.

XB-fit Energy Drink Now Open on Bloomingdale Ave.
Are you constantly on the run? Do you always go from home to work, to a restaurant, then to the store, a game or a club and finally back home? And when you do get home, is there so much to do you can’t think straight? Is this your schedule – day in and day out, week after week? Then you probably aren’t as healthy as you should be. Sounds like you need to XB-Fit energy drinks.
XB-Fit Energy is the brainchild of a firefighter and paramedic, Joe Greco of Thonotosassa. He saw an opportunity in the nutritional supplement and energy drink industries.
XB-fit is available in 8.3 ounce cans, with a five calorie, sugar-free option also available. XB-fit also comes in one ounce convenience packs, which Greco said are perfect for your purse or the kid’s lunch box. For more information or to order your XB-fit energy drinks, visit www.xbenergy.com or call 888-611-2348. Orders placed will be directly shipped t your home.

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, washer and dryer, and 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.
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.
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.

Florida State Fair Embraces Super Bowl with “Touchdown Tampa Bay”

Jennifer Silverstein — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:07:03 +0000

It’s just about time for Fair time! The Florida State Fair will be back in town before you know it. The fair will run this year from February 5-16. Gates open daily at 9 a.m. and closing time varies by the day of the week and weather conditions.
This year there will be five armband days, February 6, 8, 13, 15 and 16.
“This year’s ‘big event’ should be a lot of fun,” said Paul Wilson, President/CEO of Wilson Media, the company which handles all of the fair’s advertizing and media relations.
Rides and foods are still being secured, and there will be new of each, Wilson said. Food is the No. 1 reason people came to the fair last year, he said.
Wilson said, “Sharks will be sighted at this year’s Fair. A new exhibit, Shark Encounter is very interesting. But it’s educational and exciting for Fair-goers.”
“Yep, someone swims with the sharks, ‘live’ at the Fair,” he said.
Elvis impersonators will shake, rattle and roll in as the Elvis Extravaganza returns. Also, new this year, a Vegas-style show is coming called Glitz, A Tribute to halftime shows.
Opening day, Thursday, February 5, after 3 p.m., you can save 33 percent off regular price of an armband at $20 each armband. No advance sales; must be purchased at a Fair Midway booth inside the Fair.
Student days Friday, February 6 and Monday, February 16, students ages 12 through 12th grade can get into the fair for $6, children ages 6-11 for $5. This student discount on gate admission can only be purchased at the entrance gate on these fair days.
Visitors are encouraged to bring a box of pens and/or pencils to benefit Teaching Tools program for Hillsborough Education Foundation.
This discount is separate from the free admission voucher provided to the public school district students in participating counties. Students must bring their admission voucher and provide it at the entrance gate to get free admission on the specified day.
Hillsborough county public school students will receive free admission vouchers valid for use on Friday February 6.
Senior days are February 10-12, with seniors ages 55 and over getting in for $6; free gate admission is available on February 12 after 4 p.m. This discount can only be purchased at the entrance gate on these days during the fair.
For more information about the 2009 Florida State Fair, call toll-free (800) 345-FAIR or 621-7821 or visit www.floridastatefair.com.

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.

TB Water Suing For Cracked Walls

Tamas Mondovics — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:45:49 +0000

As if the ongoing water shortage was not enough to deal with, members of the Tampa Bay Water Board have another issue on their hands.
During a recent meeting, the board unanimously voted to sue the three companies: HDR Engineering, Barnard Construction and Construction Dynamics Group, which have been involved with the design and construction of the recently built 930-acre C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir, located in southeast Hillsborough County.
According to Tampa Bay Water, HDR designed the reservoir, Barnard was the lead construction contractor and Construction Dynamics oversaw building it. But investigations of the now crack-ridden walls of the multimillion-dollar reservoir have determined that the cracks were caused either during the design, construction or oversight of the project.
While Tampa Bay Water officials have not said how much money they will try to recover in the lawsuits, board member and Tampa City Councilman Charlie Miranda reportedly said that he wants to make sure taxpayers don’t get stuck with the repair bill.
“For me, it is paramount that the public interest be protected,” Miranda said.
Moving forward with litigation as well as filing the lawsuit by December 20, —before the statute of limitations runs out— also means that Tampa Bay Water will cancel contracts with HDR and the other firms.
When full, the reservoir can provide enough water to operate the Tampa Bay Regional Surface Water Treatment Plant at full capacity for more than six months.
The reservoir’s banks are coated with 16 inches of soil cement to prevent erosion from waves. It took 183 days to initially fill the reservoir. During construction, more than 150 pieces of heavy equipment were used and more than 150 people employed.
Thirteen million cubic yards of earth were moved in total for this project. That is equivalent to one dump truck every minute for two years straight.
While the first cracks were visible in the soil-cement covering of the 15-billion gallon capacity reservoir’s inner walls as of late 2006, they’ve become more widespread, causing officials to drain the water levels so cracks below the waterline could be investigated.
According to Tampa Bay Water, safety is paramount in the reservoir design, construction and operations. The facility is an earthen structure, with an embankment as wide as a football field at its base and that averages 50 feet in height. Armored with 16 inches of soil cement, including a stair-step design that rings the top, the reservoir is built to withstand hurricane force wind and rain.
Instrumentation built into the reservoir and various measurements taken provide feedback on soil moisture, stability and other safety factors.
For more information about the reservoir, please visit www.Tampabaywater.org.

Small Business Of The Year Winners Announced

Marie Gilmore — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 01:45:42 +0000

The Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce announced the winners of the 2008 Small Business of the Year Awards. The annual recognition gala, featuring a red carpet theme, was held in October at The Palmetto Club at FishHawk Ranch. Fifteen area businesses were recognized as finalists at the Chamber’s annual event, sponsored by Bank of Tampa – Brandon Division. Supporting sponsors include Alday Donalson Title, Hanna, Lemar & Morris, P.A., State Farm- Melissa Snively Agent, and The Brandon News & Tribune/ The Tampa Tribune. Dave Mishkin, radio voice of the Tampa Bay Lightning, was the celebrity emcee for the 2008 event. One winner from each of the five categories was announced. Each finalist and past recipients of this prestigious Chamber award were also honored and featured in a video presentation. Nominations were received from the 1,800-plus members of the Chamber and divided into categories based on the number of employees or type of business. Judges reviewed the applications and interviewed the candidates to determine the finalists. The judges made personal visits to the finalists’ places of business, to conclude the judging process and determine the five winners. Award categories include home based businesses, minority and woman owned businesses, businesses with one-five employees, six-15 employees and 16 or more employees. This year’s winners include: Home Based Business Black Diamond Associates, LLC Minority or Women Owned Business Brandon Montessori School at River Hills 1 to 5 Employees Huth & Booth – The Portrait Gallery 6 to 15 Employees i9 Sports Corporation 16 Plus Employees ServiceMaster 24 Hour For more information on this event, visit the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce’s Website at www.brandonchamber.com or call Jamie Reid at 689-1221, ext. 43.

From Television to Radio for FishHawk Resident

Renee Hobbs — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 01:30:32 +0000

FishHawk Ranch has a country radio celebrity in its community: You can hear Jenny Dean weekday afternoons on US 103.5 FM on the Travis & Jenny Show from 3-7 p.m. Originally from Kentucky, Dean spent about five years in Illinois anchoring television news and came to this area to work for Bay News 9 as an anchor. Eventually, Dean made the decision to join the Clear Channel radio family and says, “I enjoy radio a lot.” Dean explains that the big difference between the two is that in radio, “I can have an opinion; I can just be myself and this is an opportunity to show people who I am.” Dean starts laughing and adds, “Not only that, but I don’t have to wear makeup, and I don’t have to get all dressed up for radio.” Dean emphasizes she didn’t leave television because she was unhappy, but, “I thought radio would bring something different and new to my life and it has.” Dean seems to have a lot of talents including singing, and says she has sung the National Anthem for all the professional sports teams in the area. Right now, Dean is getting ready for the annual Battle of the Media Bands, and comments, “I usually throw together some sort of band for the event, and we just make a fun night of it.” Dean also loves to travel and says she does so every time the opportunity presents itself. Dean has visited several states and has taken a lot of cruises, but says she has always wanted to go to Europe and also hopes to pack up her kids and take them to see the Grand Canyon one day. Dean has a 12-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter and says one of the things that attracted her to FishHawk Ranch was the schools. Dean goes on to say, “I love FishHawk; the neighborhood and community are just great, and it reminds me of the kind of area I grew up in when I was a kid.” WFUS 103.5 is also the FM home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, meaning all the games can be heard on the station, along with pre-and post-game coverage. For more information about Dean or the radio station, visit www.us1035.com or call 839-9393.

New League Makes FishHawk Home

Tamas Mondovics — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 19:16:26 +0000

Originated by Native Americans as a game “said to be played ‘for the pleasure of the Creator,’” according to the online Wikipedia, lacrosse is becoming popular yet again in the States with the FishHawk Coyotes Youth Lacrosse being forged.
Kicking off in December, the new team is inviting those in second-sixth grades to enroll in the team, with the rec team playing second to fourth grade students and the youth team welcoming fifth through sixth grade students. Up to 25 players will be chosen to put their skills to the test on the fields of the FishHawk Sports Complex, with 10 being on the field at one time.
“The team was started because there was an opportunity for lacrosse to be played at the FishHawk Sports Complex,” says coach and FishHawk resident Brian Lemon, who is vice president of Operations for the National Lacrosse League, having once joined the ranks as a professional lacrosse player for the National Lacrosse League. “We had the choice to bring the team under the umbrella of the FishHawk Youth Sports Association and felt it was a good time to do so.”
Amidst 10 other lacrosse teams connected to the Tampa Bay area’s West Florida Lacrosse League, the FishHawk Coyotes Youth Lacrosse will play a total of 12 games from January to mid-April, with practices beginning in late November. Led by Lemon and fellow coaches Tim Jones and Andrew Cox, also FishHawk residents, the sport of lacrosse “teaches sportsmanship, how to work with your teammates and life lessons so that they can transfer into the real world, done so by the provision of a solid coaching philosophy,” mentions Lemon. “Really, it is all about the kids.”
Any first-year players are welcome to register for the team as ongoing sign-ups continue. The cost is $175 which includes the player’s uniform as well as all equipment being supplied, though players will have to furnish their own lacrosse stick. The league has future plans to develop a middle school team as well as a girls program in the upcoming year, though girls are welcome to sign-up for the current teams until this concept becomes a reality. For further information or to sign-up for the team, visit www.leaguelineup.com/FHCOYOTES or call Lemon at 689-2070.

Murman Takes Home Pioneering Award

Marie Gilmore — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 18:12:28 +0000

Longtime area resident and former State Representative Sandra Murman was presented with the 6th annual Pioneering Woman Award at the recent ceremony presented by the Brandon Sunburst Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association.
The award, recognizing women providing impact to the community and who have been pioneers, living in the area for 20 years or more, would qualify.
This year’s candidates included Tampa Bay Vending owner Marie Bartholomew, Magruder Insurance Agency owner Patricia Magruder, Community Advocate Sandra Murman and Brandon Foundation coordinator Diana Niles.
Past recipients of the award have included Carol Todd, Cookie Gray, Kay Sullivan, Trudy Carey and Anne Nymark.
The awards ceremony included a dinner at Brandon Elks Lodge and a business symposium with 20 local business booths.
St. Pete Times columnist Ernest Hooper was the Emcee and local attorney Mary Ann Stiles was the guest speaker. Music was provided by Middleton High School orchestra and chorus teacher James Crumbly. Stiles spoke about all the women in the room being pioneers and that overcoming obstacles made her appreciate having food in the cupboard today.
“The four women being recognized tonight are all pioneers,” said Stiles. “We don’t take no for an answer.”
“The four women being recognized here tonight are all successes, and pioneers,” she continued. “Each of us is. We’re women who won’t settle for ‘enough.’ We won’t take no for an answer. We’ve come a long way, baby, but we’ve still got a long way to go. Thank you for what each of you do to help us get there.”
The ABWA, American Business Women’s Association, is an organization with the goal to bring business women of diverse occupations together to provide opportunities for them to help themselves and others grow. The group meets the second Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. at Giordano’s.
Sponsors of the Pioneering Dinner include Mary Boor, Whidden’s Florist, Trudy Cary, and Carol Todd, Valrico State Bank.
For more information, contact Jeannie Costantino at 600-5683 or Jeanette Konkowski at 655-1125.
For more information about the organization, visit www.abwa.org.

YMCA Plans New South Shore Facility

Tamas Mondovics — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:11:51 +0000

It is not the matter of “if,” but the matter of “when” residents of Apollo Beach and the surrounding SouthShore areas have a new YMCA facility to enjoy.
Due to the continued growth in the Tampa Bay area, YMCA officials have begun making plans for a new facility to serve the needs of the SouthShore community.
According to Tampa Bay YMCA group Vice President Cindy Sofarelli, though the actual timeframe of the new facility is not available, the necessary, preliminary work of planning for the new center has begun.
“Of course, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done,” Sofarelli said, but added, “The ball is rolling.”
Sofarelli explained that, so far, a strategic plan has been completed which includes a number of things before specific decisions concerning location, size and function of the future center can be established.
For YMCA officials, the emphasis is on building not a structure but relationships with members of the community and by starting programs which will result in partnerships with local organizations such as church groups, schools and businesses that will help to determine the need of the community.
“We will be conducting a market study starting in 2009 by contacting local residents,” added Sofarelli.
The actual timeframe and the exact location of the new facility is hard to say and has not been determined, although the Big Bend corridor is a very likely possibility.
“All of this, however, has to do with a number of different types of YMCA centers available for residents to choose from. These include a full family center with a swimming pool, or it may be an outdoor type similar to the well-known Camp Cristina facility. The possibility of a smaller, express model is also on the list,” Sofarelli said.
For now, residents are encouraged to focus on taking advantage of the many upcoming events scheduled for the various existing YMCA locations as well as events sponsored or hosted by the organization.
One of these is the YMCA’s fourth Annual 2008 Corporate Challenge fundraising event that is prepared to take participants on a wild adventure full of mental and physical challenges. Held on Friday, November 7, from 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. at YMCA Camp Cristina, a 65-acre outdoor adventure site in Riverview, the event will put teams of 6 – 10 members from local organizations head to head in a day of healthy team-building competition.
Sponsorships are available, and team entry is $500 which includes all activities of the day, a light breakfast, lunch, and a signature commemorative bandana. All proceeds benefit the YMCA’s Building Strong Kids Campaign which helps make YMCA participation possible for children and families in the Brandon area regardless of their financial circumstances.
For more information, call Bryan Beckham at 677-8400.