Lutz/Land O' Lakes/Odessa - Vol. 4, Issue 3, March 2013

The Business & Dining Magazine Directly Mailed To 20,000 Homes In Odessa, Lutz & Land O’ Lakes AreasThis Independent Community News, Business & Dining Guide Is Directly Mailed Once Each Month To:

Ashley Lakes, Ballantrae, Belle Meade, Calusa Trace, Canterbury, Cheval, Citrus Greens, Concord Station, Devonwood, Dolce Vita on LakeKeystone, Echo Lake, Farmington Village, Fern Glenn, Grey Hawk at Lake Polo, Heritage Harbor, Ivy Lake Estates, Keystone Groves,

Keystone Manors, Keystone Reserve, Keystone Shores, Lake Charles, Lake Church, Lake Parker Estates, Lakeside Grove Estates, NorthlakeVillage, Northbridge at Lake Pretty, Northton Groves, Oakstead, Orange Blossom Creek, Reflections, Steeple Chase, Stillwater, Stonegate,

Suncoast Crossings, Suncoast Meadows, Swan Cove, The Eagles, Van Dyke Estates, Van Dyke Farms, Villa Rosa, Wyndham Lakes

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

ECRWSSPostal Customer

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PAIDTAMPA FL

PERMIT 1185

Alpaca Fashion.......................3Calendar................................4Regional Medical Center.....6-7Mangrove Bay Dentistry..10-11Bay Dermatology & Cosmetic

Surgery.........................14-15New Tampa Eye Institute..18-19Rizzotto Tax...................22-23Area Rugs Direct............24-25Concussion & Balance TreatmentCenter..............................26-27

Vol. 4, Issue 3, March 2013

®Neighborhood NewsNeighborhood News ®

L A N D O ’ L A K E S . L U T Z . O D E S S A

& Lifestyles

By Marcy Sanford

When a restaurant has been inbusiness for 25 years, you know theymust be doing something right tokeep their customers coming back –maybe it is the food, the service, or theatmosphere. In the case of Pizza Villa,located at 21501 Village Lakes Centerat the corner of Land O’ Lakes Boule-vard and State Road 54, they do allthree perfectly. They have wonderful,homemade food. They have excellentservers who know their customers,make sure they get personalized serv-ice and have developed friendshipswith them. And while the outside of

the building may be unassuming, theinside is decorated with beautifulstained glass lamps and colorful pic-tures of Greek Seascapes.

Manager Cheryl Will says theyhave customers who’ve been regularsfor years and many who’ve moved outof the area but make a beeline forPizza Villa whenever they are back intown. One bite of their food and it’seasy to taste why.

When I visited Pizza Villa, myhusband and I agreed, it was the bestpizza we’d ever eaten. Owner VasiliosFotopoulos says the secret ingredientis the Greek extra virgin olive oil, “Wemake our pizza dough fresh daily,

using extra virgin olive oil andwe let the dough rise threetimes.” Pizza Villa recentlyadded gluten free dough to theirmenu, so now everyone in thefamily can enjoy pizza. PizzaVilla has many gourmet pizzasor you can create your own withtheir wide variety of toppings tochoose from. All pizzas are avail-able with thick or thin, traditional orgluten free crust.

If you’ve never been to Pizza Villayou might think, based on their name,that pizza is all they offer. But there istruly something for every taste ontheir menu. In addition to pizza, they

have Greek and Italian appetizers,soups, salads, pastas, dinners, sand-wiches, and desserts all available atlunch and dinner.

With more than 20 appetizers ontheir menu from Greek favorites toloaded potato skins, Italian munchies

Pizza Villa - A Local Favorite for 25 Years!

See “Pizza Villa” on page 30.

By Katie Thomas

The Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) ofPasco County was founded in 2006 as a prevention coalitionbuilding a network involving the local community in sub-stance abuse prevention and awareness efforts. With a mis-sion to, “develop, motivate and encourage strategicrelationships that reduce county risk factors and decreasesubstance abuse rates among youth and adults,” ASAPgauges the extent of local alcohol and drug abuse and associ-ated problems. By identifying the most important local sub-stance abuse problems, ASAP is able to target strategies thatpromote healthy norms. ASAP monitors trends over time inorder to evaluate the effectiveness of prevention programsand initiate policies for change. ASAP’s positive outreach hasbeen measured meticulously and has shown a significant

Pasco ASAP Brings Awareness& Changes for a Better Future

STAND members learning leadership skills at the TeenChallenge with Florida Army National Guard, SSG

Garcia in January 2013See “ASAP” on page 28.

2 For Ad Info Call (813) 928-6124 • www.NeighborhoodNewsFL.com MARCH 2013 Neighborhood News & Lifestyles

For Ad Info Call (813) 928-6124 • www.NeighborhoodNewsFL.com MARCH 2013 3Neighborhood News & Lifestyles

Neighborhood News& Lifestyles

Directly mailed once a month to 20,000households in zip codes 33556, 33558 & 34638

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The management of Neighborhood News & Lifestylesis always happy to accept outside editorial submissions tothe paper. Please call for outside editorial submission and adver-tisement deadlines.

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Neighborhood News & Lifestyles is published by ADS 2Publications, Inc.

PublisherTim SelbyGeneral ManagerJim O’Reilly EditorKim ThomasAdvertising SalesManagerMatt SelbyAdvertising SalesJim O’ReillyKen BurkeAlexis Selby

CorrespondentsAlexis SelbyJulie KanehlAmy PatersonKatie ThomasArt DirectorDat X. DoGraphic ArtistsDat X. DoTony SicaAccounting ManagerDoreen SelbyBilling AssistantTina O’Reilly

Sat., Mar. 16, 5:30–8 PM––Golden Spirit Alpaca Ranch of Odessa,Florida is hosting “Catch the Spirit”alpaca glamour and fashion show. Ifyou love animals, cashmere-like alpacafashion, good food and fun, then joinBrenda and Frank Crum, Jr. at theirGolden Spirit Alpaca Ranch for “Catchthe Spirit’ Glamour Show. You willenjoy an evening with a cast of hug-gable alpaca and luxurious alpaca fash-ion. This is a great way to see aworking alpaca ranch right here in theTampa Bay area, and even consider al-paca ownership. This event is casual,fun and something you simply won’twant to miss.

“We’re delighted to invite peoplefrom our community to visit our ranchthis St. Patrick’s Day weekend,” saidBrenda Crum, co-owner of GoldenSpirit Alpaca Ranch. “Catch the Spiritglamour show will give people achance to get up close and personal

with our adorable, huggable alpaca,and to see how their fleece is used infine fashion for adults and children.”

Catch the Spirit glamour event isopen to the public, but space is limitedand registration is required. The eventto be held Saturday, March 16 from5:30 – 8 p.m. is $40 per guest; foodand cocktails provided. Visit online atwww.goldenspiritalpace.com to regis-ter or for additional information.

About Golden Spirit AlpacaRanch: Golden Spirit Alpaca Ranch islocated at 10937 Tarpon Springs Roadin Odessa. “At Golden Spirit AlpacaRanch we strive to preserve the healthof our animals with a continual focuson quality. Our husbandry practices,feed, supplies and other needs are de-veloped in consultation with our vet-erinarian, agricultural managementcompany, feed specialists and ofcourse, other breeders.”

Golden Spirit Alpaca Ranch Hosts“Catch the Spirit” – A Casual Glamour

Event for Alpaca and Alpaca Fashion

CorrectionIn the February issue, the phonenumber for S & W Kitchens was

incorrect. S & W Kitchens showroomis located at 4952 Ridgemoor Blvd inPalm Harbor. For more information,

please call (727) 328-4346or visit www.SandWKitchens.com

Read the corrected story:http://goo.gl/x57p6


Community CalendarOakstead Elementary 3rd AnnualSpring Sprint

Sat., Mar. 16––Oakstead Elemen-tary is proud to announce that it willbe host the 3rd Annual Spring Sprintfor a Healthier Generation and theywould love the community to join in.All ages are welcome; award categoriesstart at age 5 and under and gothrough 60 and over! Awards will begiven to Top Overall Male & Female,3 deep in age categories, and Corpo-rate and School Challenge (Businessand School with the most partici-pants). This is an excellent opportunityto get the whole family or everyone inthe office out and exercising together!The 5K starts at 7:30 a.m. and the 1Mile Fun Run starts at 8:15 a.m. Fri-day night packet pickup is March 15from 4–6:30 p.m. at Oakstead Ele-mentary, 19925 Lake Patience Roadin Land O’ Lakes. Race Day Packetbegins at 6 a.m. at Rasmussen College,18600 Fernview St. in Land O’Lakes. Please visit our website formore information:https://sites.google.com/site/oak-steadspringsprint/

18th Annual Taste of the TownSat., Mar. 16, 11 AM–1:30 PM––

Do you have a favorite food? Wouldyou like to sample some of the culi-nary treasures in our area? If so, planon attending the 18th annual Taste OfThe Town at the Community Spot-light/Expo 2013 at the Land O’Lakes Recreation Complex.

SmileFaith Foundation EGGstrava-ganza

Mar 16, 10 AM–2 PM––Smile-Faith EGGstravaganza, 8125 US 19 inPort Richey, invites you to bring thefamily to this fun-filled communityevent featuring: Easter egg hunt, food,bounce house, face painting, “makeyour own cupcake” stand and morefun activities. Guest appearances bythe Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy!

Carrollwood Hurricanes Cheer &Football Registration

Sat., Mar. 23, 10 AM – 2 PM––registration held at 7-11 conveniencestore in Westchase at 12049 Whit-marsh Lane at the corners ofLinebaugh Ave. and CountrywayBlvd. Registration for ages 5-15 yearsold for the Hurricanes Youth Football

and Fall Cheer organization. The prac-tice and home fields of the Canes (aPop Warner League) are located atCitrus Park Athletic Complex, 18105Gunn Hwy. in Odessa. Registration in-formation is online at Carrollwood-Hurricanes.com. Contact BarbaraHaight at [email protected] orcall 863-738-4522 for more informa-tion

New Tampa Eye Institute HostsEducational Seminars

Thurs., Mar. 28, 12 PM––“Prob-lems and Solutions for the Aging Eye-lid” Presented by Dr. Laurie B. Small,fellowship trained oculoplastic special-ist. For many, the delicate tissuearound the eyes starts to sag andstretch with the aging process. Eyescan appear puffy and the extra skin ofthe upper eyelids can actually blockyour upper field of vision leading todifficulty driving or reading. Dr. Smallwill show you how your eyelids canlook younger and your eyes can feelbetter – Dr. Small will share how. Ifthe goal is to improve your vision,some treatment may even be coveredby your insurance.

Thurs., Apr. 25, 12 PM ––“Glau-coma – What Is It? How To Treat It?Presented by Dr. Gretta Fridman,Board Certified, fellowship trainedglaucoma specialist. Glaucoma is

known as the “silent thief of sight” be-cause in its early stages, you feel nopain or any symptoms. It will stealyour sight before you know you havethe disease. More than 4 million peo-ple have glaucoma and 2 million don’teven know it yet. Anyone can haveglaucoma, but some people are athigher risks: anyone over age 60,African Americans over age 40, diabet-ics, those with a family history of glau-coma.

“Continued research in the fieldof vision loss has achieved significantbreakthroughs, with early detectionand timely treatment, 90% of peoplediagnosed with glaucoma retain theirvision,” says Dr. Fridman.

Unfortunately, any loss of visiondue to glaucoma is permanent. How-ever, there are steps you can take toprotect yourself against vision lossfrom glaucoma. Studies show thatearly detection and treatment of glau-coma, before it causes major visionloss, is the best way to control the dis-ease. Treatment for the most commonform of glaucoma includes medica-tion, laser and surgeries.

Limited seating for both seminars!Please call 813-994-7000 for a reser-vation. Refreshments will be served.New Tampa Eye Institute is located at27348 Cashford Circle in WesleyChapel.


Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point Receives Full Designation as Level II Trauma Center

Regional Medical Center Bayo-net Point announces that the FloridaDepartment of Health has awardedthe hospital full Level II Trauma Cen-ter designation, marking the end of ayear-long provisional period and com-mitment to trauma care that began in2009. Regional Medical Center Bayo-net Point is the only trauma center inPasco, Hernando, and Citrus Coun-ties.

“For almost two and a half years,the staff at Regional Medical CenterBayonet Point has been working hardto continue our history of providingthe highest levels of critical medicalcare to our community through thedevelopment of a trauma program,”said Shayne George, Chief ExecutiveOfficer. “By receiving this Level IITrauma Center designation, we con-tinue to meet the needs of our grow-ing community by providing qualitytrauma intervention and treatment,”he added.

The development of a traumaprogram was a natural step in the evo-lution of Regional Medical Center

Bayonet Point and is a very proudmilestone for the hospital. It is a partof the HCA Florida and USF Healthagreement for trauma care which sup-ports local needs for trauma servicesthrough an affiliation with a major ac-ademic university and medical school.

Trauma is the leading cause ofdeath among Floridians ages onethrough 44. Florida’s death rate fromaccidental drowning among childrenages one through four is the highest inthe nation and falls are the leadingcause of death among Florida resi-dents age 65 and older. When serioustrauma injuries occur, rapid transport,prompt treatment, and early rehabili-tation of the trauma victim reducesmortality, physical injury, and financialcost. Florida’s trauma centers have re-duced the statewide trauma mortalityrate from 6.8% in 2004 to 4.9% in2010 and provide faster treatment toimprove patient outcomes and keeppatients close to home and their lovedones.

“This full designation allows criti-cally injured patients to have access to

treatment in the ‘golden hour’ whichis the first hour after serious injury inwhich there is the highest likelihoodthat prompt medical attention willprevent death,” said Scott Norwood,MD, Medical Director of RMCBP’strauma program.

About Regional Medical CenterBayonet Point

Regional Medical Center Bayonethas been serving the community since1981. We are a 290-bed acute carehospital located in Hudson, FL andhome of the nationally acclaimedHeart Institute. We have more than350 physicians, 900 employees and500 volunteers on our integratedhealthcare delivery team.

Regional Medical Center BayonetPoint has achieved distinction in thefollowing areas:

• Recipient of the 2012 Ameri-can Heart Association (AHA)/Ameri-can Stroke Association’s Get With TheGuidelines® Gold Plus PerformanceAchievement Award in both heart fail-ure and stroke.

• Recipient of the AHA’s Mis-sion: Lifeline Bronze Quality Achieve-ment Award for implementing ahigher standard of heart attack carethat improves the survival and out-comes for STEMI (ST Elevation My-ocardial Infarction) patients.

• Top Performing Hospital,the Joint Commission - recognized asone of the nation’s top performinghospitals in quality measurements forheart attack, heart failure, pneumonia,and surgical care.

• Certified Advance PrimaryStroke Center - Joint Commission

• Accredited Chest Pain Cen-ter, with PCI - Society of Chest PainCenters for Cycle I, II and III

• Heart & Stroke ChampionsAward Winner 1998 – 2011

• MRI, CT, Ultrasound, andNuclear Medicine Accredited - Ameri-can College of Radiology

• Approved, with Commenda-tion, Community Cancer Program -American College of Surgeons.

• 10 Joint Commission Dis-ease-Specific Certifications: primary


stroke center, acute myocardial infarc-tion, chronic obstructive pulmonarydisease (COPD), coronary artery by-pass graft, heart failure, joint replace-ment hip, joint replacement knee,lung cancer, pneumonia, wound care!

Regional Medical Center Bayo-

net Point is located at14000 FivayRoad, Hudson, FL. 34667. For ad-ditional information on RegionalMedical Center Bayonet Point visitRMCHealth.com or Heartof-Tampa.com. Or visit RegionalMedical Center Bayonet Pointon Facebook.

On January 22, 2013 the Pasco County Board of County Commissionerspassed a Resolution in support of the verification for Regional Medical Cen-

ter Bayonet Point to become a Level II Trauma Center.

Pictured: L-R Pasco County Commissioners, Jack Mariano, Pat Mulieri;Shayne George, President & CEO Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point;Mark Anderson, Trauma Program Director, Joseph Mastandrea, TraumaNurse Coordinator, Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point; Pasco County

Commissioners’, Henry Wilson; Kathyrn Starkey & Ted Schrader.


By Marcy Sanford

Since opening Mangrove BayDentistry in 2008, Dr. Toan Tran andhis talented, caring and professionalstaff have developed a loyal followingamong their patients. Those who visitMangrove Bay Dentistry appreciatethe way everyone there focuses notonly on the dental health of theirpatients but also on making sure thatthey are comfortable and relaxedduring their visit. “This was the mostpleasant experience I have ever had ata dentist’s office. The staff was veryprofessional and the atmosphere wasvery welcoming. I would definitelyrecommend Mangrove Bay Dentistryto others,” says one patient. Locatedat 13998 W. Hillsborough Avenue,Mangrove Bay Dentistry offers patientfocused, personalized care.

“Dr. Tran and staff are excellent,very accommodating and easy to talkto. They always take the time to an-swer any questions. I like that he alsooffers some evening hours. I wouldhighly recommend Mangrove Bay to

anyone in need of a competent den-tist,” says Eric, another patient of Dr.Tran’s.

Maybe it’s the little touches thatmake Mangrove Bay Dentistry so spe-cial: blankets if you are cold, head-phones if you want to block out noisefrom your dental equipment, and TVsthat come to you so you can watchthem while you are laying down in thedental chair. Or maybe it is the waythat everyone at Mangrove BayDentistry goes above-and-beyond tomake sure patients feel at home. What-ever the reason, all of these small butimportant details add up to an amaz-ingly comfortable visit to the dentist.

“From the first time we walked into Mangrove Dentistry we were im-pressed,” says Jay M. “The staff is

consistently friendly and helpful.The dental suites are modernand comfortable. The flat panelTVs in each chair with you incharge of the remote make theappointments go by super fast.On our first appointment, mywife and I were examined andx-rayed. Everything wasexplained to us while looking atour giant teeth on the TV screenin front of us. We could seeexactly what Dr. Tran was talk-ing about and it enabled us tomake decisions regarding ourcare very easily. The dental care planwas also explained to us from our in-surance point of view so we could timewhat was needed with our coverage.”

“There is always new technology

and updates in dentistry,” says Dr.Tran. “At Mangrove Bay Dentistry wemake sure we are up-to-date andskilled at the latest advances but onething never changes and that is ourfocus on our customer service. We

Patients Love Going to the Dentist at Mangrove Bay Dentistry

Dr. Tran spends quality time with his patients, making sure they are well informed


want our patients to not only enjoybeing here, but also to want to comevisit us. One of my favorite parts ofbeing a dentist is the relationships I’vebuilt with my patients and their fami-lies.”

Patients like Ron G. truly appreci-ate Dr. Tran’s approach. “My first visitto the dentist is the one that sets thetone for whether I make this my newhome. I have never been in a dentistoffice where all, not one or two, butall of the staff wanted to make surethat I was comfortable and checked tosee if they could do any thing to make

my visit more pleasing. This is an of-fice of true professionals, not only Dr.Tran, but the entire staff, right up tothe ladies in the office that take care ofall the paperwork. I do not like to bein the dental chair, but my first visitwas a positive one, thanks to all of thestaff.”

After just one visit to MangroveBay Dentistry, all of Dr. Tran’s patientsappreciate the effort and care that heand his staff give to them, “Thehygienist is one of the funniest ladiesI have ever met. Her humor got methrough all the things I usually hate

about going to the dentist. Dr. Tranwas awesome! It felt good to go to thedentist without the pressure of gettinga bunch of unnecessary work. The lastfew dentists I had were more like sales-men...always trying to talk me intogetting veneers and other dental workthat I don’t need. I love my smile andI left my dental visit feeling very secureabout it. I never realized how impor-tant that was until I went to Dr. Tran’soffice.”

Mangrove Bay Dentistry acceptspatients of all ages from those who arejust getting their first teeth to adultsand seniors making sure they keep theones they’ve got.

“My daughter’s dental visit was abreeze. She was quickly escorted backto the hygienist’s room and was takenextremely good care of. I love every-one at your office and would recom-mend you to all my friends and family.Thank you so much,” says Heather.

Another patient notes, “Everyonewas very nice and professional. Every-one was willing and able to answer allthe questions I had. My visit was verythorough and I felt like I was the onlypatient in the office. (I wasn’t, buteveryone was very attentive.) Thefacility is very up-to-date with very

modern technology. I would definitelyrecommend Mangrove Bay Dentistryto others.”

“Very impressed with this officeand staff,” sums up another patient.“Most time a Dentist has spent withme in 20 years. Would definitelyrecommend them.”

Mangrove Bay Dentistry islocated at 13998 W. HillsboroughAve in Tampa. Hours are M – F,8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Evening and Satur-day appointments are available. Formore information or to schedule anappointment, call 813-891-9898 orvisit mangrovebaydentistry.com.The well-appointed office and treatment rooms at

Mangrove Bay Dentistry are designed to be comfortable and serene.


By Julie Kanehl

The skin is the body’s largestorgan; it is a crucial barometer of ourbody’s internal health, and it can be af-fected by everything from our hor-mones to the beautiful Floridasunlight that we all enjoy year round.The threat of skin cancer is very real,especially where we live, and that’swhy it is so important to have yourskin looked after by an experienceddermatologist. In addition to check-ing for signs of skin cancer, a qualifieddermatologist can help you witheverything from acne to psoriasis,from mole and cyst removal to cos-metic treatments like Botox and chem-ical peels. If you are looking for adermatologist, you will be impressedwith the doctors and staff at Bay Der-matology and Cosmetic Surgery,which has grown throughout theTampa Bay area by maintaining a stel-lar level of care for its patients.

Bay Dermatology and Cosmetic

Surgery has been taking care of localpatients and providing them with ex-ceptional care and treatment of skin,hair and nail disorders since 1988.Since then the practice has grown toinclude seven locations, all of whichare staffed with Board Certified der-matologists and specialists. In additionto having an impressive staff, who arecommitted to spending time with theirpatients, providing exceptional care,and being as thorough as possible, BayDermatology and Cosmetic Surgeryhas some of the most advanced tech-nology in skin care treatment availablefor their patients. Their Tampa office,which is located at 3657 Madaca Lane,is convenient to all of Tampa, Odessa,Oldsmar and Westchase, and theirthorough and experienced staff willhelp make sure that your skin looksand feels its best.

Meet the Staff at Bay Dermatologyand Cosmetic Surgery in Tampa

Bay Dermatology and Cosmetic

Surgery in Tampahas a friendly andknowledgeablestaff, which in-cludes Board Certi-fied dermatologistDavid W. Dorton,DO, FAOCD andBoard Certifieddermatologist RisaRoss, DO,FAOCD. In addi-tion to the doctorson staff, Bay Der-matology and Cos-metic Surgery hasPhysician’s AssistantTerri Beck, PA-C, Nurse PractitionerCynthia J. Weston, ARNP-C, and Jen-nifer Sammartino, Licensed MedicalAesthetician on hand to make surethat every patient receives the verybest quality care. Together, they createan environment that is both profes-sional and friendly.

Dr. Dorton earned his Medical

Degree from Nova Southeastern Uni-versity College of Osteopathic Medi-cine in North Miami Beach, Florida.After graduating, he completed an in-ternship at Florida Hospital in Or-lando, and then completed hisresidency in dermatology and derma-tologic surgery at Gulf South Medicaland Surgical Institute in New Orleans,

Choose Bay Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgeryin Tampa to Care for your Skin

The staff and doctors at Bay Dermatology & CosmeticSurgery are professional, caring and personable


where he earned the honor of becom-ing Chief Resident.

Dr. Dorton specializes in diseasesof the skin, hair and nails, and is wellknown for his experience in treatingskin cancer, especially his expertise inMohs Micrographic Surgery. He alsospecializes in laser vein removal, apply-ing dermal fillers, Botox, and faciallaser resurfacing. Dr. Dorton is also awell-published dermatologist in hisfield and is well known in the area forappearing on local television stationsabout dermatological care.

Dr. Risa Ross, who grew up innearby East Lake, attended Universityof Florida for her Undergraduate workwhere she graduated with honors, fol-lowed by earning her Medical Degree,

with honors, from Nova South-eastern University College of Os-teopathic Medicine. Next shecompleted her internship anddermatology residency at LargoMedical Center, where she servedas the Chief Intern and Co-ChiefResident. Since then, this busymom of three has lectured atmultiple national meetings and

has won the prestigious KoprinceAward.

Dr. Ross is especially knownfor treating patients of all ages,

even children. Young patients oftencome to the practice with commondermatological ailments such as wartsor acne, and Dr. Ross is extremelyadept at working with those childrenand their parents to treat their prob-lems. Of course, the majority of herpatients are adults who seek her outfor her friendly bedside manner andher knowledge of treating a variety ofconditions.

Dr. Ross says, “I really enjoy see-ing patients of all age ranges. I cantreat the whole family from newbornsto the elderly. I find that to be reward-ing.” She adds, “I really do love myjob, and the staff here is really sup-portive and helpful with patient care.”

Dr. Ross and Dr. Dorton alsowork closely with their aesthetician toprovide a complete cosmetic packagefor their patients. Bay Dermatologyand Cosmetic Surgery provides anarray of cosmetic solutions to commonskin issues using proven techniqueslike chemical peels, Juvederm fillers,facial sculpting, laser hair removal andmore.

Bay Dermatology and CosmeticSurgery is also affiliated with PlasticSurgeon Jason Swerdloff, MD, who isBoard Certified in Facial Plastic Sur-gery and who specializes in perform-ing the Natural Lift. Patients who areinterested in a facelift, but who areanxious about the recovery time, turnto Dr. Swerdloff for the Natural Liftbecause it can be performed in-office,in a fraction of the time, and with amuch smaller recovery time. Dr.Swerdloff also specializes in Foreheadand brow lifting, Rhinoplasty, Oto-plasty and more.

Getting Regular Checkups CanSave Your Life!

The doctors at Bay Dermatologyand Cosmetic Surgery highly recom-mend that everyone receive a thor-ough, head-to-toe cancer screeningat least once a year, and twice a yearif you spend a great deal of time inthe sun.

Dr. Ross talks about the impor-tance of prevention and says, “Werecommend a sunscreen SPF of 30and above, and it’s important to lookfor ingredients like zinc oxide and ti-tanium oxide, but the key is that youhave to apply enough.” She explains,“You need at least 1 oz. to cover theexposed areas of your body. It’s alsoimportant to apply sun protection15-30 minutes before sun exposure,to wear hats and sun protectiveclothing as well.” She adds, “Themost important thing you can do

when you are in the sun is to reap-ply.”

Some of the things that thephysicians at Bay Dermatology andCosmetic Surgery look for in theirscreenings are moles that might havechanged in size, shape or color, andto see if there are any spots thatwon’t heal. While there are many dif-ferent kinds of skin cancer, anychange in your skin should be lookedat carefully by a qualified physician.

You know that mole behind yourknee? Has it changed? Is it darker?Has it grown in size? Is it raised now,where it wasn’t before? These are thekinds of concerns that should betaken seriously. These changes aremarkers of skin cancer.

A common misconception is thatskin cancer only grows in areas wherethe skin has actually been exposed tothe sun, but oddly enough, that’s nottrue. This is why it’s so important tohave your dermatologist check yourbody from head-to-toe. To help com-bat the growing skin cancer rates in ourstate, and to help improve the chancesof catching skin cancer early, Bay Der-matology and Cosmetic Surgery is pro-viding free skin cancer screeningsthroughout April, so call for availability.

Your skin is your largest organ, andit’s one of the first things that peoplenotice about you, so if you are lookingfor a dermatologist who will help youkeep your skin healthy, young-lookingand beautiful, make an appointmenttoday at Bay Dermatology and Cos-metic Surgery.

Bay Dermatology and CosmeticSurgery is located at 3657 MadacaLane in Tampa. It is a Care CreditProvider and accepts most major in-surance providers. Office hours areMon.–Thurs., 8 a.m.–5 p.m., and8 a.m.–3:30 p.m. on Fri. To make anappointment, call 813-264-5447 orvisit www.BayDermatology.com.

Board Certified dermatologist David W.Dorton, DO, FAOCD and Board Certified

dermatologist Risa Ross, DO, FAOCD.


By Marcy Sanford

Regular comprehensive eye examsare important to keep you seeingclearly and to preserve your vision forlife. As you age, eye health becomesmore and more important since dis-eases like glaucoma, cataracts, anddiabetes can seriously impact yourvision with little warning and no earlyside effects. Facial muscle spasms orchanges to the eyelid area due to agingor disease can also seriously affect yourvision and comfort. Gretta Fridman,MD, and Laurie Small, MD, of theNew Tampa Eye Institute located offSR 56 in the Summergate ProfessionalCenter are dedicated to ensuring thattheir patients keep their eyes looking,feeling, and seeing their best.

Glaucoma, Cataracts & DiabeticEye Diseases

According to the World HealthOrganization, glaucoma is the secondleading cause of blindness in theworld. It is estimated that 2.2 millionAmericans have glaucoma but onlyhalf of those know they have it. “AtNew Tampa Eye Institute, we have the

most advanced technologies available,including the SITA SWAP which al-lows us to detect glaucoma at a muchearlier age in our patients, whichmeans you can start treating the dis-ease immediately,” says Dr. Fridman.“The sooner you begin treating glau-coma, the less likely you are to haveproblems with your vision. There aremany new treatments, medications,and surgeries for glaucoma patientswhich greatly improve the chances ofretaining vision.”

Many people think that they willhave signs or symptoms of glaucoma,but they do not. If you are at risk forglaucoma, you need to have regular,thorough eye exams to make sure youdo not have it. Everyone is at risk forglaucoma but high-risk groups includeAfrican Americans or Hispanic peopleover 40, people with diabetes or highblood pressure, and anyone with afamily history of the disease.

Dr. Fridman also specializes inhelping patients with diabetic eyediseases and cataracts, a clouding ofthe eye lens, which blocks light. Mostcataracts are related to aging, althoughoccasionally children may be born with

the condition, or acataract may developafter an injury, inflamma-tion or disease.

Dr. Fridmanreceived her Bachelor ofArts undergraduatedegree from BarnardCollege, ColumbiaUniversity, and herMedical Degree fromthe State University ofNew York at Downstate.She completed her oph-thalmology residency andglaucoma fellowship at the Universityof South Florida.

OculoplasticsDr. Laurie Small, who specializes

in oculoplastics, recently joined NewTampa Eye Institute. “I knew Iwanted to join a practice with a family-style atmosphere – the kind of practicethat allows you to treat patients withall the time and individual attentionthey deserve. Dr. Fridman and I havecomplementary specialties and make agreat team.”

Problems affecting the eyelids, thetear system, and the area surroundingthe eyes can be the result of birth de-fects, aging changes, tumors, trauma,or diseases. Depending on the reasonfor and severity of your problem, youmay need medical or surgical treat-ment. Dr. Small is an expert at helpingpatients who have eyelid problems,whatever the reason. She also helpspatients alleviate facial muscle spasms.

Dr. Small performs cosmeticprocedures like Botox and fillers andcosmetic surgeries including endo-scopic brow lift which, unlike other

Dr. Laurie Small Dr. Gretta Fridman

Your Sight is the Focus at New Tampa Eye Institute


brow lift surgeries, does not leave avisible scar.

Dr. Small received her Bachelorof Science undergraduate degree fromThe University of Miami and herMedical Degree from the Universityof Florida. She completed her ophthal-mology residency and oculoplasticsurgery fellowship at the University ofSouth Florida.

Dr. Fridman, Dr. Small, and theentire staff of the New Tampa EyeInstitute are dedicated to taking careof their patients. They have made surethat New Tampa Eye Institute has themost advanced technology to helpdetect and take care of your eyes. Butthey have also kept their patients’comfort in mind by providing a wheel-chair accessible exam room and otheramenities throughout the office.

“I worked at the V.A. hospital

during my resi-dency,” says Dr.Fridman. “I en-joyed workingwith the veter-ans that werepatients there. Ialso learned a lotabout what ittakes to make anoffice accessible

and comfortable for older patients orfor those with disabilities. We want tomake sure New Tampa Eye Institute isaccessible and comfortable for all ofour patients.”

*See the Community Calendaron pg. 4 for upcoming seminars withDr. Small and Dr. Fridman.

New Tampa Eye Institute islocated in Wesley Chapel at 27348Cashford Circle at the SummergateProfessional Center in WesleyChapel. They are open Mon.–Fri.,8 a.m. to 5 p.m. They are availableuntil 7 p.m. on Thurs and everyother Sat., by appointment. Formore information or to schedule anappointment, please visit online,www.newtampaeyes.com, [email protected] or call813-994-7000.


By Kim Thomas

With the deadline for filing 2012tax returns looming, it is the perfecttime for those age 60 or older to takeadvantage of a flat-rate $69 fee to havetheir income taxes prepared and filedwith a company that is trusted forgoing the extra mile for its clients. “Aswe age our tax returns become sim-pler, so why pay what everyone elsedoes?” says owner, Ed Rizzotto. TheRizzotto Tax Advisory Group,founded in 2006 by Edward G. Riz-zotto, is much more than just a taxpreparation firm – the company iscomprised of a team of experts in thefields of taxes, finance, insurance andlaw who are dedicated to helping re-tirees save money on their taxes, pro-tect their assets, and prepare for acomfortable future.

With an uncertain economy inour future, many retirees and babyboomers are concerned about whethertheir pensions and retirement savingswill last the rest of their lives. Whetheryou are already a retiree, or within fiveor ten years of retiring, you need toknow how to protect your money andunderstand how tax laws will affectyour retirement. In addition, there areoften legitimate adjustments that canbe made now to reduce tax liabilitiesof which many people are unaware.

Not Just For RetireesRizzotto Tax Advisory Group ex-

tends their $69 flat-rate fee for federaltax returns (state returns are includedif applicable) to government employ-ees and municipal workers, teachers,law enforcement personnel, firefightersand now active and retired militarypersonnel of any age. They also pro-

vide tax services to baby boomers andthose nearing retirement who may stillbe working.

With tax laws changing every dayit is nearly impossible for the averageindividual to keep up. Seemingly sub-tle changes in tax laws can make a bigdifference in tax liability, and thank-fully, not always in a negative way. EdRizzotto explains, “ It is imperativethat baby boomers who are age 59 ½or older, and still working be aware ofhow the Pension Protection Actsigned into law August 17, 2006changed the rules governing IRA’s,401(k)’s, 403(b)’s & 457 plans andwhat they must know to protect themand their family.”

It is also important for people toknow about recent laws passed by theDepartment of Labor as they relate todisclosure of fees within employer re-tirement plans. These fees now mustbe disclosed to both employers andemployees. Most people don’t knowwhat they are paying in fees. I want tomake my clients aware of the laws.”

The Rizzotto TeamEd grew up in Pinellas County

and went to work in the family con-struction business straight out of highschool. During that time, he alsoearned his Bachelor’s Degree in Busi-ness Management and, soon after, ob-tained the necessary licenses to enterthe insurance and financial services in-dustry. He started his new career as anagent for Allstate Insurance Company,where he worked for many years andwas promoted to Agency Manage-ment, responsible for overseeing 22agencies in Southwest Florida. Ed alsoserved as both active and reserve dutyin the U.S. Coast Guard for 13 years.In 1999, he joined a local retirementplanning firm, where he helped hun-dreds of retirees over 6 years. He en-joyed the opportunity to benefit thecommunity, and was determined tocreate a complete local business wherehe could help retirees save money ontheir taxes and better manage theirportfolios, so that they could focus onenjoying their retirement years – andThe Rizzotto Tax Advisory Group wasestablished in 2006.

In 2009, Lorrie joined RizzottoTax Advisory Group as Director ofMarketing. Lorrie Rizzotto alreadyhad an impressive career in the market-ing industry. Specializing in corporateincentive and meeting planning, sheworked at Allstate’s Regional Floridaoffice for 11 years, and then becamean Independent Corporate MeetingPlanner with HelmsBriscoe, where sheachieved “President’s Club” status inthe Top 50 in the country. Currently,she handles all marketing, networking,event planning, and the firm’s year-end client appreciation gala. She andEd and have been married for 23 yearsand have two daughters who attendMitchell High School.

Linda Snook, CPA and CertifiedFinancial Planner at Rizzotto Tax Ad-visory Group, has been helping indi-viduals and business owners since1986 to minimize taxes, protect retire-ment assets, and plan gifting and estateconservation strategies. Linda came toFlorida in 2000 after practicing inOhio for 14 years. She graduated fromOhio State University with a Bache-lor’s Degree in Accounting, and thenattended the University of Akron toreceive her Master’s Degree. Linda hasa diverse background including publicaccounting, corporate accounting andwas an instructor for a local commu-nity college. Linda has served as com-missioner for the Pinellas SuncoastFire and Rescue District, as CitizenMember of the Indian Shores Admin-istrative and Finance Committee, asTreasurer for the Tampa Bay BeachesChamber of Commerce, and as Treas-urer for the National Association ofWomen Business Owners. Linda livesin Largo and enjoys spending timewith her children, biking, swimming,skiing and football.

Nayda Stern has more than 20years of income tax preparation experi-ence and holds the designation of IRSEnrolled Agent. This enables her torepresent Rizzotto Tax AdvisoryGroup clients before the IRS. In addi-tion to her extensive tax preparationexperience with a national firm, shehas taught basic and intermediate in-come tax courses for those who learnto prepare taxes. Nayda is originallyfrom Buffalo, New York and is a grad-uate of New York University School ofEducation. She resides in Land O’Lakes, FL with her husband Alan.

Concierge Level ServiceWhile taxes are a large part of The

Rizzotto Tax Advisory Group, the ma-jority of their tax clients also utilize thefirm’s other services including invest-ments, retirement planning, long-term

The Rizzotto Tax Advisory Group“Your Partners in Tax & Retirement Planning”

Edward G. Rizzotto


care, wills, trusts, annuities and life in-surance. Clients have access to expertsin the fields of taxes, finance, insur-ance, and the services of elder law at-torneys who can handle wills, trusts,and overall estate planning. Ed says,“Clients like the opportunity we pro-vide to get everything taken care of inone place.”

“When people come in to see us,”says Ed, “the first thing we do is dedi-cate an hour or two of our time tocomplete an overall review that coversthe last couple of years, includinggoing over their tax returns in detail,studying their portfolios, and dis-cussing their important concerns todetermine how we can help them.Then, at a follow-up appointment, wepresent a thorough plan for them.”

The Rizzotto Tax AdvisoryGroup provides conservative yet effec-tive advice when it comes to financialplanning and investments. “Many peo-ple are concerned with the economyright now and preservation of funds isvery important,” says Ed. “Saving ontaxes, reducing taxation on social secu-rity and protecting the financial well-being of a spouse after another’s death– those are things that my clients areconcerned about. Today, people alsowant alternatives to CDs and moneymarket accounts. They are looking forsomething tangible and more clientsare investing in precious metals with usand other conservative investment ve-hicles of which they may have beenpreviously unaware. “

Rizzotto explains that being in-volved with his clients in all the keyareas of tax returns, insurance needsand investments helps protecting theirbottom line. “We’ve had people whohave had other advisors and financialplanners who convinced them to makechanges, not aware of the tax im-pacts,” says Ed. “If there is an invest-ment or change that could cause ataxable event – we know that up-front.”

Client TestimonialsPalm Harbor residents Olly and

Vicky G. write, “We have just receivedthe results for the first two years thatwe have had since taking your recom-mendations for an investment programto suit our financial and income needs.We want you to know that we aremost appreciative of your assistance tous, particularly since we have increasedour net worth each year while drawingthe planned monthly income from ouraccount, even with the sliding poorUS economy. You have thoroughlydiscussed, in detail, our financial posi-

tion and desires for our retirementyears. You have answered our phonecalls promptly and you have fully an-swered all of our questions. Frankly,we have never received such fine assis-tance and results from any of the nu-merous consultants that we have hadover the past many years.”

Russ and Vicki, a couple fromPalm Harbor who retired in 1996, atfirst went with a big-name company.Unsatisfied, they started looking forsomeone who would be readily avail-able to them. “Vicki and I got an ap-pointment with Ed, and he helped usget things changed over on a Fridayafternoon as the market was goingdown fast. We got everything changedover before the big drop in Decemberof 2007. As the months went by, wewere very happy and we felt very luckythat we contacted Ed and his Group.We lost about one-third of our retire-ment before we went with Ed, but wewould have lost two-thirds of it if wehadn’t switched. We now have yearlymeetings to look at where we are andwhere we want to go. We would rec-ommend Rizzotto Tax AdvisoryGroup to anyone dissatisfied with theircurrent investment firm.”

Ed and Barbara J. of Trinity arehappy they chose Rizzotto Tax Advi-sory Group. “We have been veryhappy with Ed’s handling of our port-folio. Before Ed handled our invest-ments, we were involved in a losingmutual fund, which Ed suggested wesell immediately and reinvest in a Fundsuggested by him. This new fundpulled us out of a hole, and we givecredit to ED RIZZOTTO. Ed is al-ways ready to help. He has come toour home anytime we ask him, to ex-plain some of our questions. We haveour income tax done by his firm andnever have had a problem. All in all,our transactions with Ed and his staff,have been nothing but exceptional.We do recommend Ed Rizzotto mosthighly.”

Ed and Lorrie Rizzotto, and theentire team at The Rizzotto Tax Advi-sory Group, are very committed toachieving their clients’ needs and goalswhile providing the complete servicesthey need for a more secure retirementfuture.

The Rizzotto Tax AdvisoryGroup is located at 3030 StarkeyBlvd, Suite 150 in Trinity, and inLargo at 1034 Belcher Rd. South.Call (727) 683-9119 or visitwww.rizzottotax.com for moreinformation or to schedule anappointment.


By Katie Thomas

If you’ve ever been to the storeshopping for a rug, then struggled tofit it into a sedan only to get it homeand find that it just isn’t right for yourhome, then you know the frustrationthat comes with going from store tostore without any real satisfaction.Don’t despair – you will love shoppingwith Area Rugs Direct!

Area Rugs Direct provides aunique in-home shopping experiencethat is both convenient and enjoyable.Area Rugs Direct has exquisite andaffordable collections of area rugs(sizes range from 3’x5’ to 10’x14’)that are brought right to your homeor business, so you can see first-handexactly what they will look like withyour home décor.

Area Rugs Direct is a great solu-tion when it comes to outfitting yourhome with area rugs. This companybrings its decorative magic to yourhome, which allows you the conven-ience of shopping in comfort rightfrom your favorite chair. From helpingyou find the perfect match to delivery

and complete installation, Area RugsDirect works with you every step ofthe way for the perfect finish!

Owner Tony Mogavero came upwith the innovative concept for bring-ing the “rug store” to the customervia in-home shopping in 2005. AreaRugs Direct provides customers withdesign expertise and a great selectionof quality rugs through a shop-at-homeexperience that is like no other, allow-ing you to see how a rug fits in withyour style, aesthetics and personal taste– before you buy! “When you have theopportunity to see the rug in yourhome, you know exactly what you’regetting,” says Tony, whose profes-sional manner and friendly, trustwor-thy demeanor is greatly appreciated byhomeowners.

With Area Rugs Direct, you canskip the hassle of shipping fees, and ittakes the guessing game out of howthe rugs you choose to outfit in yourhome will fit by allowing you to see,touch and properly match a rug toyour home before any purchase ismade. Just imagine, you can actuallyget the perfect size rugs for every area

in your home tomatch, or if youlike an eclecticlook, you canchoose the rightmix of rugs. That ishard to find whenyou are out shop-ping and evenharder to visualize– especially if youhave to go to morethan one store.Area Rugs Directprovides an afford-able solution topurchasing one rugor a houseful ofrugs, the priceless design expertise andin-home consultation that comesalong with service is unbeatable!

In addition to bringing rugs toyour home, Area Rugs Direct assistsyou in selection, layout, installationand design techniques. With a goal toexceed customer expectation, theytake the steps necessary to ensurequality service and satisfaction. Youwill first receive a consultation over the

phone to ensure that your expecta-tions can be met including budget,décor, colors and size. Area RugsDirect will then set up a free, no-obligation appointment. This visit is toeducate customers in options, stylesand buying information and even ifthe customer doesn’t buy right away,the knowledge gained during thisappointment is invaluable. Once youhave taken a look at the wide variety

Area Rugs Direct - Shop at Home - “From Our Van to Your Home”

Tony Mogavero, owner of Area Rugs Direct


of rugs offered and make a decision,the Area Rugs Direct team will helpyou redecorate, move furniture andset up your room for installation soyou get exactly what you want.

The inventory is endless and con-tains all different styles: casual, con-temporary, retro, traditional andtransitional designs.

“Our customers are always im-pressed with our work,” says Tony.“We work with many individualdesigners that are licensed ASID(Associates of Interior Designers).Working directly with decorators,designers and window treatmentspecialists has provided us with

expertise in many aspects of design.” Odessa resident Jill E. Cotten had

Area Rugs Direct visit her new homeright after the family moved in. Jillsays, “A total experience. We asked forrugs and received those and so muchmore! Tony was generous with thesharing of his decorating expertise,offering added suggestions regardingwall hangings, furnishings and paintcolors. His ideas were a welcomebonus at the time of overwhelmingactivity!”

Rob and Deb Scott, also ofOdessa, appreciated their shop-at-home experience and Area Rug Di-rect’s great prices. “Tony provided a

one-stop shopcustom solutionthat saved us twoof our mostprecious resources;time and money.”

Lutz residentsDavid Gregg andSusan Bartlett alsohad a great experi-ence, “Tony wasfabulous! He knewexactly what kind ofrug our homeneeded. The rugs

he suggested were perfect. And webrought him back for a few more.”

Lutz resident Chris Decker says,“I have purchased area rugs in the pastonly to return after they didn’t work inmy home. Tony knew what rugs topull and what might look good. Hehelped me choose an awesome rug tomatch my sofa, love seat and armchair.It was a pleasure and no traveling backto return rugs!”

Globally Aware, LocallyResponsible

When starting Area Rugs Direct,Tony recognized that many countriesbreak child labor laws, so he actively

sought out manufacturers thatadhered to humane guidelines andwere monitored by Woolmark andother regulatory agencies.

Area Rugs Direct is A+ rated bythe better Business Bureau and A ratedSuper Service Award Provider onAngie’s List consecutively in 2011and 2012.

Tony’s friendly demeanor andknowledge is something you won’tfind in many places. He has incredibledecorating sense and he’s always will-ing to share design ideas with cus-tomers. His passion flows into hiswork, making him a pleasure to bearound.

Area Rugs Direct always followsup and is flexible in working with yourschedule. Enjoy the affluent expertisethat Area Rugs Direct provides fromtheir van to your home!

Area Rugs Direct, LLC is ap-pointment based and is availableseven days a week for customerconvenience. Call (813) 505-3174or (727) 210-0900 for a FREEin-home consultation. Make sure tovisit www.ArugDirect.com for moreinformation and special coupons!

Area Rugs Direct offers a convenient, in-home shopping experience where customers get to see howa rug will look and fit in their home before they make a purchase, ensuring complete satisfaction.


By Alexis Selby

Often overlooked, a concussion isthe most common type of traumaticbrain injury suffered in sports, and,due to its varying symptoms, is oftenleft undiagnosed and untreated. Moreand more, we are hearing tragic storiesabout athletes who have playedthrough concussions only to suffer se-vere neurological problems later intheir lives, and although concussionawareness has dramatically increasedover the past few years, still, manyneglect to seek help to rehabilitate themost important organ in their body –their brain!

But, there is hope, and the doc-tors at the Concussion & BalanceTreatment Center aim to shed light onthis devastating brain injury and bringawareness to athletes and individualseverywhere. Using the GyroStim, afully automated, computer-controlledmulti-axis rotating chair, the doctors atthe Concussion & Balance TreatmentCenter are revolutionizing the way

concussions are treated. By stimulatingthe vestibular system, the GyroStim isuniquely designed to assist the doctorsby providing precise, powerful andcontrolled motion profiles for individ-uals ranging from small children tosenior citizens.

Featuring the only GyroStim inthe state of Florida, and one of few inthe entire country, the Concussion &Balance Treatment Center is leadingthe way in the advancement of tech-nology and research and is able to helppeople like never before.

The symptoms of a concussioncan last for weeks, months, or evenyears, and as research progresses, weare only beginning to fully compre-hend the exorbitant long-term effectsthat concussions can cause. If left un-treated, concussions can have a cumu-lative effect, meaning that the severityof the concussion, along with thesymptoms associated with that concus-sion will worsen with each subsequentincident, due to unresolved injury tothe brain and the accumulation of

brain damage. As a result, thosewho have had one or more concus-sions, who have not properlyhealed their brain, are far more sus-ceptible to getting another.

The prevalence of concussionsis drastically underestimated, espe-cially when it comes to youthsports. Childhood is a critical timefor brain development, and it is be-coming apparent that numerouscognitive deficits noticed later onmay be linked to concussions sus-tained earlier in life. The doctors atthe Concussion & Balance Treat-ment Center stress the importanceof forming a baseline of neurologi-cal testing before your child playssports. This allows the doctors totrack your child’s brain and accu-rately diagnose if and when yourchild has experienced a concussion,helping them to better treat yourchild in the healing process.

According to the National Dis-semination Center for Children withDisabilities, over one million children

each year suffer from a concussion, ofwhich, more than 30,000 go on toincur long-term disabilities as a result.

Using the GyroStim, the doctors at theConcussion & Balance Treatment Center

are revolutionizing the way concussionsare treated.


I cannot emphasize enough how cru-cial it is to get your child tested beforethey play a contact sport, or any sport,for that matter, and to follow-up withregular check-ups throughout the year.The same holds true for any athlete orindividual at any age. No one shouldhave to suffer through the long-term

effects of a concus-sion, and it is nevertoo late to seek help.With the guidance andassistance of the caringprofessionals at theConcussion & BalanceTreatment Center, theroad to rehabilitationis just a phone callaway.

The Concussion& Balance TreatmentCenter is located at7827 Gunn Hwy,

Suite 110, in Tampa. Hours areMon. – Fri. 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.For more information or to set up aconsultation, please call (813) 792-9111, email [email protected], or visit online,ConcussionBalanceTreatment.com.

Sit back and relax at Concussion & BalanceTreatment Center.

branding for the triad of ASAP, Bay-Care Behavioral Health, and PascoSheriff’s Office, tackling a series ofproblems as a result of prescriptiondrug abuse and substance exposed in-fants. ASAP is teaming up with painmanagement physicians to developrecommendations of best practices toreduce doctor shopping and prescrip-tion pill abuse. BayCare BehavioralHealth has increased the number ofbeds for medically supervised with-drawal in their detoxification center.The Pasco Sheriff’s Office is expand-ing their intelligence-led policingefforts to target prescription pill crime.Pasco be SMARxT also works with theHealthy Start Coalition of Pasco in ed-ucating obstetrician offices aboutscreening pregnant women for pre-scription drug abuse.

“Talk it Up, Lock it Up” is astatement that promotes adults to talkto youth, families and friends aboutthe dangers of substance abuse andalso teaches people the importance ofsafely locking up all medications andalcohol. ASAP encourages parents toimprove skills to communicate withtheir kids, learn substance abuse signsand symptoms, and reduce opportuni-ties for risk taking behaviors. Chrissiestated, “We focus on the exceptions tothe problem and point out the posi-

tives that already exist. Parents andguardians can be really influential bysetting a standard for teens and show-ing them that they can make a signifi-cant difference.”

ASAP Board of DirectorsThe ASAP Board of Directors is

comprised of diverse members who areactive in the local community. The col-lective experience of the board mem-


impact on reducing alcohol-relatedcrashes, prescription pill overdosesdeaths in Pasco County.

ASAP Committees such as Alco-hol Initiatives, Rx Abuse Prevention,Substance Exposed Newborns, Com-munity Resources, Assessment andEvaluation Tools have made substan-tial progress in educating the commu-nity about substance abuse, preventionmethods, and treatment options. Indi-vidual committees allow for completefocus on specific issues to strategicchange in the environment. The com-mittees are able to prioritize objec-tives, intercept the problem andcollaborate together to put preventa-tive measures in place.

For one example, ASAP joinedforces with the Pasco County Sheriff’sOffice and a local grassroots group,Save Pasco, to present and ordinanceto the county commissioners banningsynthetic drugs from being sold inconvenience stores. With the supportof the community and ASAP’S out-reach efforts, the ordinance was passedin a remarkable time of only tenmonths. This victory within the com-munity is one of many accomplish-ments ASAP has achieved and thereare many more initiatives in progress!

ASAP’s dedication and involve-ment in the battle against substanceabuse is making an impact throughoutthe area. Chrissie says, “We work to-gether as a community to discuss whatproblems exist and from there we workto fill in the gaps and find solutions.”At present, ASAP has over 40 sectors ofthe community represented, but thecoalition is always looking to expandmembership and welcomes participa-tion of the community citizens.

Community Action PlansCoalition Coordinator Chrissie

Parris, Project Manager Liana Dean,and Project Coordinator Shelah Neeceexplained the inner workings of ASAPand the goals they strive to meet.ASAP developed three strategic actionplans focused on major priorities thatneed to be tackled in 2013.

The current top priorities are to:(1) Reduce the amount of alcohol-re-lated motor vehicle accidents and in-juries; (2) Reduce the number ofprescription-related overdoses and re-duce the number of newborns goingthrough withdrawal from drugs; and(3) Expand ASAP outreach to increasecapacity to reach specific sectors of thecommunity.

In 2007, underage drinking cost

Pasco County $64 million which in-cludes the costs associated with med-ical care, morbidity and mortality,crime, motor vehicle crashes, and firedestruction. To build communitychange, ASAP works with the PascoSheriff’s Office and Alcohol BeverageTobacco (ABT) establishing relation-ships with local businesses to decreaseaccess to alcohol by those underage.Alcohol sales compliance checks areused regularly as a tool to keep thecommunity a safe and healthy place forour youth, ensuring that businesses arein compliance with the laws and ordi-nances regulating the sale of alcohol.ASAP champions those businesseshelping to keep our youth safe bysending certificates of appreciation andrunning an article in their monthly e-newsletter. In addition, ASAP usesmedia campaigns to target open houseparties and underage drinking, includ-ing TV spots, billboards, cinemas andpresentations to parents at severalschools to help adults start the conver-sation on alcohol and other drugs withyouth in their lives. ASAP is highly ac-tive during Red Ribbon Week activi-ties at Pasco County schools andparticipates in MADD (MothersAgainst Drunk Driving) advisorycouncil meetings.

Primarily targeting alcohol abuseamong young people in Pasco,STAND (Safe Teens Against Drugs)is a youth-led initiative for teens thatwant to be a positive influence in theircommunity. Teens plan events and par-ticipate in activities to increase out-reach to youth and adults. Youngadult perspective provides new insightto the pressures teens face, how tochallenge social norms, and ways to bea leader among peers.

In order to combat the prescrip-tion pill epidemic, ASAP has been ac-tively involved in education andputting programs in place that raiseawareness as well as give people theopportunity to voice concerns andquestions. ASAP has installed dropsites for safe pharmaceutical disposaland participates with the Pasco Sher-iff’s Office in many take-back events,in which the community can drop offunused and expired prescription med-ications. In 2011 and 2012, over4,000 pounds (!) of safely disposedmedications were collected throughpermanent drop off locations and takeback events. Proper disposal of med-ications helps to reduce misuse andabuse. “Be Aware, Don’t Share” is aslogan ASAP implements, to remindpeople that sharing prescriptions canresult in accidental overdoses anddeath.

“Pasco be SMARxT” is the

“ASAP”Continued from page 1

Sharon Hall from MADDpresenting power of parents to theASAP Coalition at the February

monthly meeting


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bers allows ASAP to expand outreachefforts to include all sectors of Pasco.

ASAP Chairperson, Tracey Kaly,LCSW, Clinical Manager for BayCareBehavioral Health, oversees the clinicaloperations of mental health and co-oc-curring treatment services for adults.Sergeant Art Rowand is ASAP’s ViceChairperson and currently the supervi-sor of the Pasco Sheriff’s Office’s Selec-tive Traffic Enforcement Patrol(STEP),which concentrates on DUIenforcement and other traffic violationsknown to cause crashes. Program Di-rector, Paula Green oversees the Sub-stance Abuse Prevention andIntervention Programs at Youth andFamily Alternatives, Inc and is the Sec-retary of ASAP. Debbie Antioco serves

as ASAP’s Treas-urer. Board mem-bers at large includePhil Cohen fromthe Public De-fender’s Office, whoprovides insight intolegal processes, andChristopherWittmann, fromTrinity Pain Center,who offers perspec-tive on highly ad-dictive medicationsand treatment op-tions.

Getting Involved The Alliance for Substance Abuse

Prevention is changing the atmosphereand environment within Pasco Countyin order to build a better present andfuture. Upcoming events offer theopportunity for the community to joinin the efforts to make beautiful PascoCounty the best place possible to live.

If you would like to get involvedwith Pasco ASAP, you can:• Invite ASAP to speak.• Volunteer at an upcoming event.• Follow Pasco ASAP on Facebook

and Twitter.• Tell your friends about Pasco ASAP.

• Donate resources.• Lend any experience you may have.• Join a committee.• Attend a monthly meeting.

Upcoming Events in 2013Stand Meetings––The 2nd and

4th Wednesday of the month at theCentennial Park Library in New PortRichey at 4 PM; ASAP invites all par-ents, guardians, youth and anyone in-terested in being a part of theyouth-led initiative to join.

Parent Summit, April 26––Ateen panel will discuss challenges theyface and guest speakers will educateparents and other adults who want tobe a positive influence to teens.

National DEA PharmaceuticalTake Back Day, April 27, 10 AM–2PM––Three take back sites will acceptunused or expired pharmaceuticalswith no questions asked, at WiregrassMall, Gulfview Square Mall and CrewsLake Park.

Cyclone Rally Against Under-age Drinking and MedicationAbuse, May 2––Panel discussion withguest speakers Superintendent KurtBrowning, Sheriff Chris Nocco, JudgePat Siracusa, a Paramedic, and SADDClub President Melanie Triplett. Fol-lowed by a MADD Candlelight vigilto remember those lost to driving

under the influence and substanceabuse, at Centennial Middle School inDade City.

4th Annual Prescription DrugConference, May 23––ASAP is host-ing a conference on prescription pillsat the Palace Grand in Spring Hill.Registration is free for members of thecommunity who want to learn moreabout interagency collaboration to re-duce substance abuse in Pasco.

Coalition Meetings––ASAPmeets the fourth Tuesday of everymonth at the Land O’ Lakes Commu-nity Center at 5401 Land O’ LakesBoulevard (U.S. 41) from 10AM to12PM.

The Alliance for SubstanceAbuse Prevention of Pasco Countyhas a plethora of FREE resourcesavailable to the community on theirwebsite, Facebook and Twitter. Ifyou need additional information,you can contact by email: ChrissieParris, Coalition Coordinator [email protected]; LianaDean, M.S.W., Prescription DrugProject Manager at [email protected]; or Shelah Neece, Pre-scription Drug Project Coordinatorat [email protected]. Visit thecoalition online atwww.pascoasap.com.

3rd Annual Prescription Drug Conference on August8, 2012 with a legislative panel of Judge Lynn Tepper,

Superintendant Fiorentino, Representative Fasano, Sen-ator Legg, Poison Control Medical Director Dr Lewis-

Younger, ASAP Board Member Christopher Wittmann,and Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco.


to Santa Fe egg rolls, you are sure tofind something to please everyone atyour table. I highly recommend theeggplant fries (even the kids at ourtable enjoyed these – what a great wayto get them to eat their veggies!)When I found out that the eggplantfries were actually baked and not fried,it just made me enjoy them evenmore. We also had grape leaves stuffedwith a tantalizing mixture of rice, freshdill, mint and lemon. They were deli-cious. Carol says the spanakopita is an-other favorite on the appetizer menu.

There are plenty of soups tochoose from – favorites like Greekbean, potato and ham, and chickenand rice. Jack and Wanda Cannonhave been regulars at Pizza Villa for 12years (sometimes coming in twice aday) and they say the chicken and ricesoup and the Greek chicken are theirfavorites, “In addition to the greatfood, Pizza Villa has the best service ofany restaurant we’ve been to. Every-one here is always friendly and alwaysgoes above-and-beyond to make sureeverything is right.”

There are also fresh salads on the

Pizza Villa menu that are sureto delight your taste buds.The Greek house dressing wasperfectly tangy. The salad wasfresh, tomatoes ripe, and theblack olives were sublime.

Cheryl says head chefEvangelia Kalogeropoulosmakes sure that everythingthat comes out of the PizzaVilla kitchen is top quality.“Evangelia has been withPizza Villa for almost 25 years.She makes sure that every-thing we serve is delicious. She has awonderful talent for cooking.”

If you’re in the mood for a fillingand mouthwatering dinner, Pizza Villais the place for you. All of the Greciandelights like Briam (baked eggplant,zucchini, potato, tomato, and onion),Mousaka (fresh eggplant and groundbeef with a rich béchamel sauce) andthe baked Greek chicken are servedwith a Greek dinner salad and garlicrolls.

Pizza Villa serves a wide variety ofpasta dishes to tempt your taste budslike chicken parmesan and manicotti,spaghetti, ziti and lasagna. They alsohave traditional Greek favorites such asgyros and souvlaki and 14 different

grinders for you to choose from.As the perfect ending to your din-

ner, Pizza Villa has some wonderfuldesserts like baklava, cannoli, almondcookies, and tiramisu. Pizza Villaserves beer and wine, including sangriaand Greek wine to compliment yourdinner. And if you want to try yourown Greek cooking at home, they selltheir own private label Greek extra vir-gin olive oil, Greek kalamata olives,and Greek pepperoncinis.

Pizza Villa offers daily lunch anddinner specials and happy hour is allday, every day.

If you want to pick food up totake home, Pizza Villa has a conven-ient drive thru. Just call ahead and

place your order and you can driveright up to the pick-up window.

This April, Pizza Villa will be cele-brating their 25th Anniversary.Whether you’re a regular, have neverbeen before, or it’s been a while sinceyou’ve visited Pizza Villa, be sure tostop in and wish them Happy Anniver-sary and check out their Anniversaryspecials and events.

Pizza Villa is located in the Vil-lage Lakes Center at the corner ofSR 54 and Land O’ Lakes Boule-vard in Land O’ Lakes. They areopen Mon.–Sat., 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.and noon to 10 p.m. on Sun. Formore information or to place anorder, call 813-949-7483.

“Pizza Villa”Continued from page 1

Pizza Villa has been satisfying its customers for 25 years with delicious pizza, pasta,Greek & Italian specialties, sandwiches, salads and scrumptious desserts!

Lutz/Land O' Lakes/Odessa - Vol. 4, Issue 3, March 2013

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Transcript of Lutz/Land O' Lakes/Odessa - Vol. 4, Issue 3, March 2013