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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.

Library Attack Victim’s Recovery Inspired By Community

Carisa Biesecker — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:55:21 +0000

Every good story seems to start with a hero seeded in trying circumstances due to some foe’s doing, but good always perseveres. Every now and again, life mimics these stories as is the case with the victim of the Bloomingdale Library attack.
Having been brutally attacked by accused assailant Kendrick Morris, now 17, in April at the Bloomingdale Library, the 18-year-old East Bay High School student was left badly beaten and blinded, leading to an induced coma in her recovery from the injuries. Morris is currently in Hillsborough County jail and is scheduled to be tried as an adult, while the victim returned home from rehabilitation in November.
“She’s doing good. Home has been a much better environment for her to recover in. It is much easier for her but harder on my mom,” states the victim’s older sister, both of whose names cannot be released due to legal reasons. The victim’s eyesight has improved, and the family is working on her ability to start eating solid foods, which will then help strengthen her capacity to speak. Her sister says the 18-year-old communicates through hand and face gestures. To keep her therapy on track and her progress enduring, the Brandon-based family is seeking volunteers in the realm of a speech therapist, a nutritionist and a doctor of alternative medicine as the 18-year-old is reacting poorly to current prescriptions.
With the support of the community, the victim has gained a wheelchair, a conversion van, donations and volunteers’ time and help. “There’s so many [who have helped], I wouldn’t be able to name them all,” says the sister. “We just want to say thank you. We really wish we could personally thank you all.”
Care is around the clock for the victim, whose mother is the main provider of her needs, though many volunteers from the community have helped along the way. Through time and donations, over $100,000 to put a number on it, the family has been able to move forth with the 18-year-old’s therapy, but funds are running out and coverage will soon be coming to an end.
If you would like to make a donation to the recovering 18-year-old, visit any branch of SunTrust Bank with a check made payable to the Bloomingdale Library Attack Victim Fund. Or, if you would like to volunteer your time and energy to help the family, call Cheryl Zemina, a close friend of the family’s, at 695-1412.
In the end, the victim’s sister exclaims, “It’s helped our little sister recover faster knowing there are so many good people out there, rather than just one bad person. Everyone tells her she is an inspiration, but the truth is, the community is an inspiration to her to get better.” And this victim plans to be a victim no longer but a hero in her own right as she uses the bad to forge good, one day planning to create her own charitable endeavor, helping those who have suffered as well from brain injuries, stroke and trauma. But readers will have to find out more about those adventures in the sequel.
Until then, visit www.bloomingdalelibraryattackvictim.com to blog or see what upcoming fundraising events are in the works.

Sharks Host First Season Six-Way

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

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

First Big Box Opening In February

Jennifer Silverstein — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:43:26 +0000

The SouthShore area will soon be home to its first department store, Bealls.
According to its Website, the corporation, through its subsidiaries, operates over 560 retail store sites in states across the Sun Belt, from Florida to California, with annual sales over one billion dollars. Since its modest beginnings in 1915, Bealls has grown to be a major employer in the state of Florida as well as a valued asset to all the communities it serves throughout the country.
Director of Public and Government Affairs for Bealls, Bill Webster, said the grand opening for the Riverview Bealls is scheduled for Friday, February 6. “And we are on schedule,” he said.
The first department store in the SouthShore area, the Bealls store will be 80,000 sq. ft. which, Webster said, is one of the larger new prototypes. The store will be equipped with larger aisles and larger shopping carts, as well.
Webster said that the store will have “more depth of product” and will carry a “broader assortment of items pretty much across the board.”
He said that Bealls chose this area because it is a rapidly growing area and that the Apollo Beach and SouthShore areas are under-equipped in retail. “People in this area have to travel through several miles of traffic to get to other locations,” he said. Webster also said he believes this is a good geographical location for the store.
The new store does not yet have an address assigned to it from the post office, however, it is located on the corner of U.S. Hwy. 301 and Big Bend Rd., next to the existing Publix, about one mile from I-75.
For more information, call 1-800-569-9038, Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. or visit www.beallsflorida.com.

Governor Huckabee To Speak At Bell Shoals

Carisa Biesecker — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 01:20:14 +0000

Heading a new campaign, presidential candidate and former Arkansas governor, Mike Huckabee will be making his way to Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon to speak, endorsing his fifth book, From Hope to Higher Ground: 12 STOPS to Restoring America’s Greatness. Located at 2102 Bell Shoals Rd. in Brandon, Bell Shoals is readying itself for Huckabee’s arrival, scheduled for Sunday, December 7, at both the 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. worship services. Having made plans of Huckabee’s visiting before the passing of both Pastor Forrest Pollock and Pastor of Music and Worship Simeon Nix, his visit was rescheduled in order to bring “a message of hope and encouragement to our church,” states Minister of Outreach Ministries and Women Debbie Weisemann. “In our world today, with the economy and everything else that is going on, I think everyone needs a word of hope.” An avid speaker, Huckabee mentioned his continued desire to visit Bell Shoals, revamping his entire itinerary to make it work, which gave members of the congregation great encouragement that he would want to visit their church in small-town Brandon. Here, the 44th governor of Arkansas will cover the topics of his writings. According to his Website, Huckabee’s latest book “points out that progress for our Country cannot happen with the continued bipartisan rift dividing it. He taps into the fundamental core of every American, confronting matters closest at hand with the call for a critical change in perspective and a clear plan of action that shows what we can become as a truly indivisible nation. The governor presents 12 key things we need to STOP doing in order to make America stronger, speaking out on immigration, the job market, health care, education and taxes, and provides practical solutions that could bring our nation to higher ground.” Serving as Arkansas’ governor from 1996-2007, Huckabee would leave office in January of 2007 to promote his fifth book, later campaigning for the presidential ticket in 2008. What you may not know about this well-rounded political figure is that he lost 110 lbs. due to being diagnosed with Type II diabetes, he completed four marathons, he stood behind the pulpit for years as a pastor, he was the youngest president to ever be selected for the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, he has written his sixth book Do the Right Thing, recently released in November, and he plays bass guitar in his band Capitol Offense. The 52-year-old, who lives with his wife, Janet, in North Little Rock, together having had three children – John Mark, David and Sarah – now grown, doesn’t plan to retire anytime soon, being felt led to do more to help those like his past congregations whose “experiences gave him a deep sense of the problems faced by individuals and families,” according to his Website. ”The Bell Shoals Baptist Church family is honored to have former Arkansas governor and presidential candidate, Mike Huckabee as their pulpit guest on December 7,” says Senior Associate Pastor George Thomasson. “Tickets are not necessary, and the public is graciously invited to attend.” For more information, call 689-4229 or visit www.bellshoals.com. To learn more about Huckabee, visit www.mikehuckabee.com.

Shop Local Sponsors Are Local Businesses

Marie Gilmore — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 21:35:42 +0000

Local Businesses are getting excited about something these days. It is the idea of being embraced by their community and supported as a local small business. With the new Shop Local campaign in the Osprey Observer and on www.ospreyobserver.com, local businesses can link efforts and put forth the message that yes, people are going to watch what they are spending but just maybe, they will also watch where they are spending and make a choice to Shop Local and keep dollars in the local economy instead of overseas.
Valrico advertising representative and Small Business Marketing Seminar speaker Shannon Carlton was excited about the campaign.
“This gives my clients something to embrace and it is all about supporting small businesses.” When asked what the Shop Local campaign is, Carlton describes it as a program that businesses can sign up for and receive a window decal and a poster to identify them as a Shop Local business. Then, they are connected to the www.osprey observer.com website and weekly contest where residents list favorite local businesses and can win prizes.
Hundreds of local residents have already signed up and won prizes including tickets to the Disney on Ice show, restaurant gift certificates and services.
Visit www.ospreyobserver.com and click on the Shop Local symbol for more information. Also, see Carlton’s small business marketing tips online. If you would like to receive an invitation to an upcoming Small Business Marketing Seminar, email shannon@ospreyobserver.com. The seminar includes a complimentary lunch and marketing tips including how to get a press release published and free things you can do to market your business.
For more information, 657-2418.

Local Moms Roll For A Cure

Carisa Biesecker — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:36:56 +0000

“An estimated 138,530 people in the United States will be diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma in 2008,” reads the Website of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, inspiring the MOMS Club of Lithia to continue the fight, hosting the Fourth Annual Roll for a Cure.
Taking place on Thursday, November 20, at the Palmetto Club, located at 17004 Dorman Rd. in FishHawk Ranch, Roll for a Cure will be “a night of fun, food, prizes and bunko,” according to Terri Fischer, president of the MOMS Club of Lithia-Bevis, which is working in conjunction with the MOMS Club of Lithia-FishHawk Creek to host the event. The two groups were once one, having dispersed into two due to growth, and both felt the effects of lymphoma first-hand as they watched one of their own pass away from the disease, forging the conception of Roll for a Cure.
Residents will wine and dine on appetizers, desserts and a cash bar with a DJ on-hand to dole out the tunes and $2 and $5 raffle tickets will be available for purchase to win prizes. With last year’s event welcoming 130 residents and raising $8,500, the group is hoping for a turnout of 100 this year. “Our goal is to beat our amount raised last year, but we will be excited about any amount raised since all the proceeds from the evening go directly to benefit the amazing charity,” says Committee Chair Danielle Triplett of the MOMS Club of Lithia-FishHawk Creek.
Doors will open at 7 p.m. for Roll for a Cure, with games beginning at 7:30 p.m. Those interested in donating to a good cause can play bunko for $20. Sponsors of the event include: www.mountaincabinbythelake.com, Family Medical Care of Riverview, Superior Autobody in St. Petersburg, It’s Personal-Seriously Adorable Personalized Artwork, the Bank of Tampa as well as donations from sponsors such as Alycia Alverez Photography, RobZFitness, Studio 1 to1, Lowery Park Zoo, Stonewood Grill and Tavern and many more.
If you are a business owner and would like to make a donation to be incorporated within the prize baskets, need more information or would like to find out more about the MOMS Club of Lithia-FishHawk Creek, please contact Triplett at 294-0405 or visit www.rollforacure.info. To learn more MOMS Club of Lithia-Bevis, call Fischer at 654-9988. To inquire about The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, visit www.leukemia-lymphoma.org.

Eye On Business

Kate Quesada — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 20:10:43 +0000

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.

Tennis Store Opens at BSAC
The Brandon Sports and Aquatic Center (BSAC) is now home to the Brandon area’s first tennis pro shop, The Tennis Shack of Florida, offering a wide variety of products for every tennis player’s needs, from apparel to custom stringing services.
According to owner Tim Plossl, the store will carry brands including apparel by Adidas and Fila and shoes by Adidas, Fila, Prince and Babolat.
For more information, call 315-9810 or visit www.mybsac.org.

New Business Brings Fun to the Streets
Valrico residents James and Josette Delaney are bringing a taste of the tropics to the Brandon area.
The Delaney’s recently opened a franchise of Kona Ice, a traveling Hawaiian Ice van offering 20 flavors of shaved ice and ice cream.
In addition to traveling through local neighborhoods, Kona Ice can be scheduled for private parties or group events.
“Kona has its most fun when they are supporting the community,” says James. “Whether you are a school, a church, or an organization looking for fundraising ideas, Kona Ice is there to help. In a time crunch, don’t worry because under the right conditions we can serve over 200 people in less than an hour.”
For more information, call 484-6595 or visit www.kona-ice.com.

A Massage and Rehab Clinic Opens in Brandon
A new clinical, medical and rehab massage clinic, A Touch of Wellness, opened its doors recently at 915 Oakfield Dr. Ste. A. and celebrated with a Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, August 15.
“A Touch of Wellness, is a massage and rehab clinic with a softer feel which caters to the diversity that is part of what makes Brandon so great,” says Scott Robinson, L.M.T., owner. “We specialize in auto injuries, sports injuries, and any soft tissue injuries. We also offer nutrition consulting, nutritional supplements, and will be adding a chiropractor to the practice within the next 45 days.”
The practice’s two massage therapists are trained in a variety of techniques from Neuromuscular Therapy, Trigger Point Therapy and Reiki to Hot Stones and Relaxation massage.
In addition to taking patients at their Brandon office, A Touch of Wellness makes outcalls for any patients not ambulatory and offers corporate accounts.
For more information, please call Robinson or Sharon Aldrich, L.M.T., M.M.P. at 689-7799.

New Store is 4Reel
With fall on the horizon, the temperatures will be just right for outdoor activities like fishing and camping and a new store, 4Reel Fishing and Camping Supplies, which opened recently in the SteinMart-anchored Lithia Crossings Plaza makes shopping for those outings a breeze.
From camping lanterns and air mattresses and fishing tackle and hooks, 4Reel has a wide variety of supplies.
“Our store carries something for every person in the family,” says Cheryl Phelps who owns the store with her husband Mike. “We have fishing and camping supplies for the most experienced to the up and coming.”
Valrico residents who grew up fishing and camping on the Alafia River, the Phelps see the Bloomingdale area as a perfect place for the store.
“The area is so family oriented as well as out going and that combination spells camping and fishing,” says Cheryl.
4Reel Fishing And Camping Supplies is located at 3430 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. and can be reached at 651-5151. For more information, visit www.4reelfishingsupplies.com or stop by the store Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Aquali Opens In Valrico
With a wide range of services from master technicians, Aquali Salon and Spa opened recently on Erindale Dr. in Bloomingdale.
“All of our stylists are master technicians, many of whom have furthered their skills by becoming educators for product lines, including Alterna, Rusk, Sexyhair and Scruples,” says stylist Hannah McArty.
The full service salon and spa offers services including hair color, perms, relaxing techniques and hair extensions and spa services including acrylic nails, manicures, spa pedicures, facials and full body waxing.
“Aquali salon and spa is a green friendly environment,” says McArty. “Not only do we recycle, we offer coffee and fruit flavored water in glasses rather than non bio-degradable cups. We are trying hard by taking small steps to preserve our environment just as you are at home.”
Aquali Salon and Spa is located at 3652 Erindale Dr. and is open Tuesday-Thursday 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
For more information, call 653-3736.

Cruise Planners Offers Deals
October is National Cruise Vacation month and Sherry Leybovich ECCS, CTA, owner of Cruise Planners, is celebrating with The World’s Largest Cruise Event, offering clients values and incentives on cruise travel to the world’s top destinations.
“The World’s Largest Cruise Event is a celebration where lucky agents like me get to give the gift of great savings on cruises, and our clients are the guests of honor,” says Leybovich. “Best of all, Cruise Planners is extending what is traditionally one special night into an entire week of offers and incentives, so the gifts will keep coming from October 4 to the 10.”
According to Leybovich, a prize-a-day giveaway has been incorporated into this year’s cruise event week where clients can enter a daily contest for fabulous prizes and ultimately be entered into the week end grand prize of a free cruise.
Cruise Planners will host a cruise night on October 6 from 7-9:30 p.m. at the Palmetto Club located at 17004 Dorman Rd. in FishHawk Ranch where clients can learn more about Cruise Planners and the new Royal Carribean Oasis of the Seas, which will be the largest cruise ship in the world when she debuts in December 2009. Representatives from the US Postal Service will be on hand to take applications for passports and to answer questions on the new regulations concerning passports. Lights refreshments will be provided by Bellafia Chocolate Boutique and Lah-Tea-Dah.
Founded in 1994, Cruise Planners is an American Express Travel Services Representative national cruise agency headquartered in Coral Springs, that operates a franchised network of more than 700 experienced travel professionals who independently book cruises and other associated travel. Leybovich has also earned many personal awards and is one of the top franchisees within Cruise Planners. She is currently one of the finalists for home based business of the year through the Brandon Chamber of Commerce.
For more information, call at Leybovich 657-0844, or visit www.cruisesforu.com.

Hospital Welcomes New CNO
“Susan Laber, RN, BSN, MHA, CHCQM, has been promoted to the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) of Brandon Regional Hospital,” says Mike Fencel, the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, “replacing Cheryl Goforth who was promoted to CNO at Trident Health Systems, in Charleston, South Carolina.”
Prior to assuming this role, Laber was the Interim CNO for several months, as well as Assistant CNO at Brandon, from 2006-2008. Since her promotion, Laber and her family have relocated from the Sarasota area to FishHawk Ranch.
Laber’s vision for her nursing team can be boiled down to “do what is right for patients first and inspire others to do the same thing. The opportunity lies in providing an environment where patients are the number one priority; use data to make positive changes; challenge the status quo and create a positive culture where nurses want to work.”
For more information, call the hospital at 571-5105.

Bonefish Grill Awarded Top Honors
Consumers have voted and the results are in: Bonefish Grill has been awarded the Platinum Award in the seafood category at this year’s Consumers’ Choice in Chains Awards. Platinum is the highest honor. The annual survey, conducted by Restaurants & Institutions magazine and now in its 28th year, is considered a key measure of success for restaurant chains across the nation.
For the 2008 awards, more than 3,100 consumers were asked to rate 120 restaurant brands on eight customer satisfaction attributes: food quality, menu variety, value, service, atmosphere, cleanliness, reputation and convenience.
“We are especially thrilled that this award is voted on by consumers,” says John Cooper, President of Bonefish Grill. “It means our customers appreciate the lengths we go to in delivering an exceptional dining experience. Congratulations and thanks go to our teams across the country.”
Patricia Daily, Restaurants & Institutions’ publisher, says, “The R&I Consumers’ Choice in Chains awards is a people’s choice award that conveys to the industry and beyond which restaurants have earned consistent business and guest loyalty and why.”
Complete survey results are available through Restaurants & Institutions magazine (www.rimag.com).
For more information and sample menu from the restaurant, visit www.bonefishgrill.com.

Winn-Dixie Helps Hurricane Victims
Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. announced recently that customers can help their neighbors affected by the 2008 hurricane season by simply donating at any neighborhood Winn-Dixie.
Winn-Dixie is implementing its “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” program in all of its 521 stores as a way to assist the American Red Cross, which has seen its Disaster Relief Fund depleted after an active year of disasters.
The Red Cross provided food, shelter, counseling and other assistance to the communities affected by the storms that battered Florida and the Gulf Coast during the past month. Similar efforts across the country have forced the Red Cross to launch a national drive to raise $100 million to keep the Disaster Relief Fund afloat.
Winn-Dixie customers will find “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” donation sheets available at all registers, where they can donate an amount between $0.50 and $500 directly to the American Red Cross. The cashier will scan the Neighbors Helping Neighbors donation sheet, which automatically adds the amount designated by the customer to the total bill.
“Our neighbors face a long and difficult recovery process, and we want to do everything we can to help them,” says Terry Grooms Derreberry, Winn-Dixie manager of corporate giving. “Our hearts go out to those who were impacted by these storms.”
The American Red Cross provides immediate response in more than 70,000 disasters each year through its Disaster Relief Fund. Disasters include fires, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and tornadoes. Contributions to the relief fund are used to provide food, shelter, counseling and other assistance to victims as needed.
The Winn-Dixie in the Bloomingdale Plaza at 179 Bloomingdale Ave. can be reached at 681-7337. For more information, please visit www.winn-dixie.com.

E.R. Continues To Improve Its Service

Tamas Mondovics — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 19:57:38 +0000

For most people going to the ER is a two fold problem. One is the medical emergency itself, the other is actually being there. Many who visit their local hospital emergency room likely think about the lengthy visit they will have to endure while wondering what kind of care they are actually going to receive, all before they even walk through the ER doors.
“That mental image is what we are here to change,” said Brandon Regional Hospital’s new director of emergency services Randy Spivey.
Spivey, who took over the department in June of 2007 and who has over two decades of hospital emergency room experience under his belt proudly mentioned that the Brandon ER is his fifth emergency department he has run since 1990.
But Spivey understands that local residents and patients are not interested in numbers or an impressive resume. “They want results and good care provided as quickly as possible,” he said.
This director has his work cut out for him. According to ER statistics, BRH sees close to 200 patients per day which amounts to almost 70,000 a year. More than a dozen of the ER staff is on duty at any given time.
For this reason Spivey agreed and explained that his main challenge is the sheer volume of patients. While pleased with the recent progress at his department which has been renamed from “emergency room” to “emergency center,” with the purpose of removing the negative idea of a “waiting room” and replacing it with a “reception” area, he said that his job has only started and he is determined in providing the highest level of care to all, as fast as possible.
“We are on the right track but, I am not satisfied with where we are just yet,” Spivey said. “It is a work in progress.”
According to Spivey the recipe for a well run emergency center has three main ingredients that comes under the department’s mission of providing the highest patient care possible accomplished only through speed and communication.
“It is good people in the right place, good cooperation between hospital departments and working closely with the ambulance services,” Spivey said.
Repeatedly emphasizing the fact that without his staff, which he said was doing a fantastic job, improvements could not be made. Spivey said, “We have some absolutely great people working here, and I am pleased with their hard work.”
Interestingly, and possibly the reason for this director’s success, is that he is not concerned about other hospitals and reports or statistics from similar facilities.
“I focus on what needs to be done here while making sure that the Brandon community is cared for and that our patients receive the best, the fastest and the highest level of treatment possible,” he said.
Spivey is also a member of Atlanta’s Disaster Medical Assistance team. He was born in Hartsville Tennessee and moved to Brandon in June of last year with his wife Lisa Flueallen, an RN who currently works at Tampa General Hospital’s pediatric emergency room.
For more information about BRH emergency services, please visit www.myBRH.com.

Bleu Donates Special Day For Victim

Jennifer Silverstein — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 20:24:48 +0000

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), located at 5120 U.S. Hwy. 41 N. in Ruskin raising more than $17,000 of much needed funds for the student who now requires $30,000 per month in rehabilitation costs
In Valrico, Bleu Salon will open its doors on a Monday when it is typically closed and donate all funds for services to the girl’s fund. On Monday, September 29, 12 Noon-5 p.m., all haircuts, blow dry and style, mini manicures and mini pedicures, 15-minute massages and waxing will be for donations to the fund. Bleu is located at the Lithia Crossings Stein Mart anchored plaza at 3472 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. Call 651-4020 or visit www.bleusalonandspa.com.
This is not the first time that Bleu Salon has given back in August of 2007 they held an event called Hairdresser Unlocking Hope. A total of $2,665 was raised for those still in need from Hurricane Katrina.
In 2005 and 2006, the salon sponsored local participants in the Susan G. Women 3 day walk for Breast Cancer and donated $3,024 (in 2006) and $2,975 (in 2005). Bleu Salon has also donated to the Emergency Care Help Organization (ECHO). Back in 2005, the entire salon and clients donated 800 cans of food for those in need at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
At the Ruskin event, there was food, music, and beverages. The cost was $10 per family at the door or $5 per person. Additional donations were also accepted; for a donation of $10 or more, people could sign an eight-foot banner for her.
Melanie Morrison, the executive director for the Ruskin Chamber of Commerce, who along with a small committee comprised of Denise Reiter, Shirley May, Tony Zipperer, Stacy Self and Kelly Reedy, organized the event in less than two weeks, she said. She enlisted the help of some of the girl’s friends.
The event raised a total of $20,000, with the Wal-Mart on Bloomingdale Ave. having donated $1,000 prior to the event, and the Brandon Foundation committed to donating $2,000. The night of the event, Morrison said, they raised $17,000 in cash.
“We never dreamed it would be that great,” she said. She had volunteered for the Ruskin Relay for Life in April of 2008, approximately two weeks before her attack, Morrison said. She had also volunteered the year before at the Ruskin Seafood Festival in November of 2007. “So it had extra meaning,” Morrison said.
The 18-year-old girl, who was blinded in the April attack and can’t walk or swallow, is undergoing rehabilitation in Sarasota. The girl was about to graduate from East Bay and had a full scholarship to the University of Florida. Morrison said the girl’s sister told them that the girl and her mother watched the event on television from their room.
Her care costs $30,000 a month and Medicaid recently notified the girl’s family that it would only pay for her medical care until August 15.
The girl’s 16-year-old assailant, Kendrick Morris, has been arrested and charged with kidnapping, aggravated and sexual battery. He has pled guilty and is awaiting trial in Orient Road Jail.
For more information, call Morrison at 645-3808 or send an e-mail to ruskinchamber@earthlink.net.
For those who did not make the event, but still wish to contribute, a fund has been set-up for the teenager at SunTrust Bank. To contribute, go to any SunTrust Bank branch and request the money go to the Bloomingdale Library Assault Fund.
Other events are being planned across the community with all funds going directly to the care of the girl, whose name and identity has remained private.