Lutz/Land O' Lakes/Odessa - Vol. 4, Issue 6, June 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

Dated MaterialPlease Rush!

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDTAMPA FL

PERMIT 1185

Free Golf For Kids.................3

Community Calendar.............4

News Briefs........................6-7

Jaime Air Conditioning..10-11

Brooker Creek Preserve..12-13

D&D Pressure Washing..14-15

Lakeside Animal Hospital..16-17

Stand Down...................18-19

Trinity Yoga...................20-21

Alton Voss......................22-23

Vol. 4, Issue 6, June 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 Julie Kanehl

Let’s be honest, being a parent isthe hardest, most wonderful thingyou’ve ever done. But hard getsharder when your child is diagnosedwith a learning disability or disorder.The label in itself can be hard to swal-low, even when you know that a labeldoesn’t make a child and even whenyou know that a label doesn’t makeany difference in who your child reallyis, what they can become or what theycan achieve. That said, it can still behard to know what to do next withregard to your child’s individual suc-cess at home, in school and in life ingeneral.

When your child is diagnosed or

given a label of ADHD, ADD,dyslexia, autism, Tourette’s, an As-perger’s Spectrum disorder, a learningdisability or a processing disorder, it’shard to know what to do. For parentsand families this can be a scary andoverwhelming time, and while theseissues have become almost common-place over the last two decades, theanswer to the root of the problem hasnot been agreed upon. The popularalthough controversial approach to“fixing” it, however, is to use modernmedicine. There is another option.Brain Balance Achievement Centersoffer a medicine-free, education-basedBrain Balance Program that compre-hensively helps each child reach their

The Brain Balance Achievement Center in OldsmarChanging Children’s Lives

See “Brain Balance” on page 28.

Susan, a Sensory-Motor Coach atBrain Balance in Oldsmar workswith student Autumn McGinnis

(Clockwise from top left)Tracy, Jenny, Jessica and Evelyn

Define Your Personal Style atWestchase Hair Studio & 3 Wishes Aesthetics

By Alexis Selby

Westchase Hair Studio and 3 Wishes Aestheticsare celebrating their one-year anniversary and wouldlike to thank the community for their loyalty andsupport. “We look forward to many more years inthis area,” says Tracy Eller, stylist and co-owner ofWestchase Hair Studio.

If you want beautiful hair and radiant skin, thetalented professionals at Westchase Hair Studiowill help you achieve your dream look. Ownersand stylists Evelyn Irvin and Tracy Eller are com-mitted to listening to their clients and helpingthem get the look they want. Co-located within

Westchase Hair Studio is 3 Wishes Aesthetics,where owner Jenny Molloy, Board Certified NursePractitioner and National Trainer, is an expert inBotox®, Dysport®, Restylane®, Juvederm®, andanti-aging care for the face and hands. WestchaseHair Studio and 3 Wishes Aesthetics are in StudioB at Westchase Professional Center, located at11059 Countryway Boulevard in Westchase.

Within Studio B, you’ll find a cozy, invitingplace where you can boost your spirits with a newlook, get expert advice on how to maintain yourcurrent look, or have your wrinkles smoothedaway – a place to relax and be pampered.

See “WC Hair Studio” on page 26.

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For Ad Info Call (813) 928-6124 • www.NeighborhoodNewsFL.com JUNE 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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Nothing that appears in Neighborhood News & Lifestylesmay be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permis-sion. Opinions expressed by Neighborhood News & Lifestyleswriters are their own and do not reflect the publisher’s opinion.

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.

Neighborhood News & Lifestyles will consider previ-ously non-published outside editorial submissions if they aredouble spaced, typed and less than 500 words. NeighborhoodNews & Lifestyles reserves the right to edit and/or reject all out-side editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regardingpublication dates. Neighborhood News & Lifestyles will not returnunsolicited editorial materials.

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

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

From The Editor Kim Thomas

Free Golf For Kids All Summer What can parents do this summer

to pry kids away from video games andget them doing something healthy andenriching without costing a lot ofmoney? And, how about a sport thatadults and kids can do together for therest of their lives – Golf! Every day thissummer, Ace Golf is offering kids fromage 5 to 15 a free small bucket of balls tohit on the golf range at any one of theirfive locations.

Now in its third year, the Kids FreeBucket Program has attracted over 500kids. It is completely free and availableat Ace Golf Range in Brandon andRiverview, Pebble Creek Golf Club inNew Tampa, and Wentworth and Cres-cent Oaks Golf Clubs in Tarpon Springs.Just stop by and pick up a punch cardanytime now through August. No pur-chase is necessary. An adult must ac-company the participating child.

In addition, kids age 5 – 15 canplay golf for free any day this summerwith a paying adult at Pebble Creek,Wentworth and Crescent Oaks GolfClubs. All three clubs welcome publicplay and also offer memberships.

Besides the free programs,Ace Golf also offers SummerJunior Golf Camps, Adult GolfSchools, Summer Golf RoundPackage Discounts, and “Every-day Heroes” golf discounts foractive duty police and first re-sponders.

“Golf is a mainstream sportthat anyone of any ability canplay at just about any age,” saysAce Golf owner Bill Place. “Ourfacilities are open to welcome people into the game and show them how easyand fun it can be. Anyone may take ad-vantage of our lesson programs, dine inour restaurants, and play at our courses.We also offer additional privileges andevents with membership.”

Ace Golf is locally owned by BillPlace and Su Lee. The company hastwo golf ranges and three golf courses.All are open to the public. Ace GolfRanges are located at 820 S. Kings Av-enue in Brandon (phone 813 651-4653)and at 12910 Boyette Road in Riverview(phone 813 672-7750). They are opendaily until 10pm. The facilities feature

18-acre Golf Practice Ranges, MiniatureGolf, and Batting Cages. For more in-formation, go to ace-golf.com.

The Pebble Creek Golf Club is at10550 Regents Park Drive in NewTampa. Call 813 973-3870 x3 or gotopebblecreekclub.com. The Went-worth Golf Club is at 2990 Went-worth Way, Tarpon Springs, FL (EastLake Road, 1light south of TarponAvenue). Call 727-942-4760 or goto wentworthgolfclub.org. The Cres-cent Oaks Country Club is at 3300Crescent Oaks Boulevard, TarponSprings, FL 34688. Call 727 937-4653 or go to Crescentoaksgolf.com.


Community CalendarLutz Chiefs Summer FootballCamp

June 24–28, 8 AM–12 PM––2013Elite Warrior Football Camp con-ducted by Steinbrenner Warrior Foot-ball will be held Jun. 24–28 for ages6–15 (grouped by age and skill).Come join the fun with members ofthe Steinbrenner High School Foot-ball Team and learn the basic funda-mentals of Football with specifictraining on technique and skill. Everyparticipant will receive a camp T-shirtand a Certificate of Completion. Con-cessions will be available for campers

Cost: $100 with online PRE-REGISTRATION, $125 Day of theEvent. (Make Checks payable to: LutzChiefs).

Camp Location and Registration:Lutz Chief’s Stadium is located at 656W Lutz Lake Fern Road in Lutz. Pre-Registration and details are online atwww.warriorfootballcamp.net. Forquestions, please contact Head Stein-brenner Football Coach Perez:[email protected] orcall (813) 789-4418.

Keystone Community Church –“God Bless America” Celebration

Sun., June 30, 10:30 AM––Key-stone Community Church (KCC) in-vites the public to join them as theyhonor God and country, pray for ournation, and sing some patriotic fa-vorites! This special service will be ledby Keystone Community Churchmusic and drama ministries, as thechurch honors ALL who have sacri-ficed to maintain others’ freedom! Ifyou have served or are currently serv-ing in the military or if you are withone of our hometown first responderunits, KCC invites you to please comeand let the church honor you and joinin the fellowship and great food fol-lowing service! Keystone CommunityChurch is located at 21010 StateRoad 54 in Lutz and can be reachedat (813) 948-4522. Visit online:www.keystonecommunity.org.

Messiah Lutheran Church VacationBible School

June 17–21, 9 AM–12 PM––Mes-siah Lutheran Church & Preschool,

located at 14920 Hutchison Road inTampa will host Vacation Bible Schoolfor children ages 4-6th grade. For in-formation, contact Penny Healey (Di-rector) at (813) 265-0806 [email protected].

Sat., June 29––Messiah LutheranChurch & Preschool will host a youthcar wash and Granny’s Attic yard sale.For information, please call (813)961-2182.

Nar-Anon Family Groups MeetingsNar-Anon Family Groups is a

worldwide fellowship for those af-fected by someone else’s addiction.Florida Website: Naranonfl.org, HelpLine: 1-888-947-8885

Meetings are as follows:Tuesdays, 7 PM––Hope Church,

5107 Lutz Lake Fern Rd. in Lutz.*Narateen is same location, day andtime.

Thursdays, 7 PM––Our Lady ofthe Rosary Church, 2348 CollierPkwy. (Immaculata Hall - Rm. E -Back Entrance)

Saturdays, 10 AM––UnitedMethodist Church, 207 BuckinghamAve. in Oldsmar.

Wednesdays 8 PM––AsburyUnited Methodist Church, 4204 ThysRd. in New Port Richey. Mondays,

7:00 p.m., Turning Point, MaryMartha Bldg., 6227 Sheldon Rd.,Tampa.

Thursdays, 7 PM––Christ theKing Church, 821 S. Dale Mabry (2-story bldg. across parking lot, room203).

Tuesdays 6:45 p.m.––All SaintsChurch, 1700 Keystone Rd. in Tar-pon Springs. *NEW NARATEENMEETING STARTING JUNE 18(Same day, time and location, differentroom).

Newcomers of NorthwestHillsborough

Thurs., June 20, 11:30 AM––TheNewcomers of Northwest Hillsbor-ough will meet for their monthlyluncheon at Hula Bay, 5210 WestTyson Ave. in Tampa. June’s luncheonis casual and doesn’t have a pro-gram. Lunch is ordered off themenu with separate checks. To learnmore visit www.newcomersnwhillsbor-ough.com.

Obstetrics Program Offers SixWeek Prepared Childbirth Course

June 26, 7–9 PM––at MedicalCenter of Trinity. The fee is $70. Formore information and to register forclasses call (727) 834-5630.


Community News BriefsMcKitrick ElementaryStained Glass Dedi-cated to Sandy HookElementary Victims

On June 3rd, McK-itrick Elementary Schoolinstalled another StainedGlass window in theirmain office. Since Janu-ary, four teachers havebeen working with Artteacher Dianne Zink andglass artist, Jay Aalbergevery Monday to createthe window. The Mon-day after school groupwas started in the Fall as a weekly cre-ative outlet for teachers to reenergizeand focus on ways to incorporate artinto other disciplines. One of themediums that was introduced wasstained glass.

Ms. Zink asked the group if theywould like to work on a “teacher” win-dow for the office. Last year, 11 stu-dents helped create a stained glasswindow of their mascot, the Bobcat.The teachers agreed and Jay Aalberg,professional glass artist, was asked tohelp out again. Ms. Zink created the

Tree of Knowledge design which incor-porates many different colored leaves.

After the shooting in Newtown,Connecticut at Sandy Hook Elemen-tary School, Ms. Zink asked Jay and theteachers if they would like to dedicate26 of the leaves to the lives of the adultsand children who were victims of theshooting. Unanimously, they agreed.

The glass that was used for theseleaves blends in with the others but itis different in that it is iridized andstands out a bit more when no lightcomes through the window. It is asubtle difference but they feel it is an

appropriate way tohonor the memory ofthose precious lives andnever forget them. Theteachers who workedon the window areLiisa DiTarando, CheriGamm, Chaz Jansen,Aimee Kennedy andDianne Zink. Fundingfor the window wasmade possible by McK-itricks’s very active andsupportive PTA andthe HillsboroughCounty Arts Council.

Vendors Sought forOctober HolidayCraft Fair in Odessa

Keystone United MethodistChurch (KUMC) is seeking vendorsfor its Annual Holiday Craft Fair to beheld on Sat., Oct. 12. Outdoorbooth space (measures 10’ x 12’) isavailable for a fee of $30. To requestan application or obtain more infor-mation, e-mail [email protected], or call the churchat (813) 920-5153.

Open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., thefair offers a variety of crafts and otheritems, plants, home-baked goods, andgift baskets. Breakfast and lunch will

be offered as well. KUMC is located at16301 Race Track Road, Odessa.

LOL High School Band AnnualBanquet Boasts BIG Surprise!

The Land O’ Lakes High SchoolBand held it’s annual Band Banqueton May 17th. Students were recog-nized for all their hard work and dedi-cation. There was a surprise at the endof the banquet.

LOL Transport & Moving ownerRene Van Hout presented checks toall the seniors who will be majoring inMusic Education in college. During

(L-R) Band Director, Rober Bosma; Kyle Spence, Sen-ior; Rene Van Hout, owner of LOL Transport & Mov-ing; Tyler Dusek, 2012 recipient; Glenda Lopez, Senior;

Alison Flaherty, Senior


her presentation, Rene stated, “I’mexcited that you are the next genera-tion of teachers, entertainers, andmost importantly mentors.”

Alison Flaherty posted on herfacebook page, “I just want to take thetime out and thank Ms. Rene for gen-erously giving me and the otherLOLHS future music majors checkstowards school at the banquettonight. I really appreciate this kindoffer and also appreciate your love forthe arts and advocacy for them. Yourgenerous act tonight proved that yousupport our career decisions and ap-preciate what we have put into theband, just like we appreciate what youhave contributed to the band for thesepast few years. Again, thanks so muchand I immensely appreciate it!”

Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foun-dation of Florida and NationalEmployee Wellness Month

During the month of June, theBetter Hearing Institute (BHI) is em-phasizing the value of employee hear-ing to both worker wellbeing and abusiness’ bottom line. In an era whenmore and more companies are embrac-ing Workplace Wellness Programs, BHIis raising the flag on hearing health.

Nearly 40 million Americans suf-fer from hearing loss, and the majority

of them arein the work-force. As themedian ageof theAmericanworker goesup, it be-comes increasingly important thathearing health become a workplacewellness priority. Hearing loss can af-fect quality of life, and it can also affectjob performance and earnings by lim-iting a person’s ability to communicateeffectively. Fortunately, hearing aids—as well as other appropriate treatmentsand workplace accommodations—canhelp significantly.

Locally, Sertoma Speech & Hear-ing Foundation of Florida is embrac-ing BHI’s plan to build awareness thataddresses hearing loss in the work-place. At its location in New PortRichey (4443 Rowan Road), the Ser-toma Foundation will be holding oneof its battery giveaways from 10 a.m.to 2 p.m. on Friday, June 21. Call theoffice at (727) 834-5479 for details.

In today’s rapidly changing busi-ness landscape, where organizationsare coming to rely more heavily onaging workers who have valuable ex-perience and expertise, this employer-employee partnership becomes

increasingly important. Addressinghearing loss in the workplace is asmart business strategy that benefitsboth employer and employee.

For other ideas on how to partici-pate in National Employee WellnessMonth in your workplace, visit online,nationalemployeewellnessmonth.com.

Hearing Loss is the most com-mon birth defect nationally. Early de-tection and intervention is vital for aninfant to have the opportunity to ac-cess speech and other sounds forlearning and brain development. TheSertoma Speech & Hearing Founda-tion of Florida assists hard of hearing

babies and children to hear the worldaround them so they can succeed per-sonally, academically and socially.

The mission of the SertomaSpeech & Hearing Foundation ofFlorida is to provide quality develop-mental and rehabilitative services, prod-ucts and education––primarily tochildren––throughout Florida, in a car-ing and compassionate environment,never limited by the ability to pay.

Sertoma Speech & HearingFoundation of Florida, Inc. is locatedat 4443 Rowan Road in New PortRichey. For more information, call(727) 834-5479.


Jaime Air Conditioning And Heating SpecialistsBy Marcy Sanford

When Westchase resident MannyParad met Jaime Central Air Condi-tioning & Heating Specialist JaimeGuerrera, he knew he had found abusiness partner who shared the samehigh standards for honesty and cus-tomer service, and after 47 years ofworking in the air conditioning andheating industry, Manny knows thatbeing honest with your customers andperforming high quality work is whatkeeps a company in business.

“Much of our business is in theWestchase area and many of our newcustomers come from referrals,” saysManny. “I live in Westchase and amproud that I can go places in thecommunity without fear of runninginto an unhappy client. We stand be-hind our work and are proud of theloyalty our customers have to us. Wewant to make sure that we always treatour clients with utmost respect andthat when we’ve finished the job,we’ve earned their trust and loyalty.”

Jaime Central Air Conditioningand Heating is a bi-lingual companyand has employees who speak both

English and Spanish to better serveclients. Jaime Central Air Condition-ing and Heating services both residen-tial and commercial clients.

Customers of Jaime Air definitelyhave great things to say about Manny,Jaime, and the professional workersthat have come to their rescue. “JaimeAir did a great installation,” says onehappy Westchase homeowner. “Mywife was very happy with how cleanthey kept our home during the trickyrenovation. The new system cools fastand it's very quiet due to the newductwork they installed. Now all ofour rooms are the same temperature.We got a new Trane system for lessthan the price the other companyquoted us.”

Air Conditioning Repairs Air Conditioning Units definitely

take a beating in the hot Floridaweather, where they are rarely given abreak. Should you have an issue,Jaime Air is able to repair all majorbrands of air conditioners. And whenyou call, you’ll talk to a live person onthe phone. In fact, Manny says manytimes he can help the customer resolve

the issue over the phone. If your unitdoes need repairs, Jaime is personallyinvolved to make sure everything isdone correctly and in a timely manner.

Many air conditioning repairs aresimple and inexpensive, but complexrepairs can be costly so you want a

company that is honest. Jaime Air’sservice technicians are not paid oncommission, so you can rest assuredthat they won’t try to up-sell you onunnecessary parts or services.

Whether you need your AC repaired or replaced, or would like to find out howto cool a room better or lower your energy costs, Jaime Air can help you.

Jaime Air offers free estimates and second opinions and guarantee to havethe lowest prices with the highest quality work.


Air Purification andDuct Sanitation

There are several signs that couldindicate you have mold growing inyour ductwork, such as staining orwater damage around ductwork, con-densation inside ductwork, or a mustysmell. If left untreated, mold canmake you and your family sick. If youare concerned about mold growth,Jaime Air can install UV-C lights toprevent mold growth in your system.They can also install electronic air

cleaners to help remove pollen anddust.

However, in some cases youmight want to have your ductworkreplaced and if that is the case, theprofessionals at Jaime Air are expertsat doing this in a timely, cost-effective,and unobtrusive way. In fact, dirtyductwork that is over 12 years old inFlorida can be replaced for about thesame cost as having it cleaned. As anextra bonus, you might find that theairflow throughout your houseimproves with new ductwork.

“There is no reason for one roomto be hotter than others in yourhouse,” says Manny. “But sometimesthe ductwork that was originally in-stalled is too small for the room to getsufficient air or the purpose of theroom has changed over the years andtherefore new ductwork is needed toget more air into the room. We canfix your ductwork so that every roomin your house will be as cool as youwant it to be.”

New AC Installation “Jaime Air did a great job in our

home in Westchase,” writes a happycustomer. “We had 5 bids for the sameTrane system. Manny Parad came toour home and explained which systemwas the best one for us to buy. He

measured our home and the installerswere able to finish the job the sameday. They did a great job and left ourhouse clean. We saved $1000 on thesame system quoted by others.”

The average life span of an airconditioning unit in Florida is 7 to 10years, although some higher end mod-els can last as many as 17. If you findyourself in need of a new air condi-tioning unit, Jaime Air will help youfind a system to fit your home andbudget. They install many differentbrands of air conditioning units andare licensed dealers for three of the topbrands – Trane, Carrier, and Bryant.

“Jaime Air installed a new Bryantsystem for me,” says a customer. “Igot proposals from a few of my localdealers and Home Depot. The sales-person Jaime Air sent did not try toup-sell me. He explained the brandsavailable for my home, as well as thesize and the model. He was the onlyone who measured my home to besure I had the right size unit. All ofthis took less then an hour and heexposed a bunch of myths the otherdealers had told me. The system Ichose was a Bryant two-stage modelthat is now keeping every room in myhome at the same temperature. Theinstall took 7 hours and they doublesealed all of the ducts and put a plas-

ter-like seal on it. I needed a new ductbox, plywood stand, and electricalbreaker and Jaime Air did not chargeme extra for it.”

Energy Savings Manny was a State of Florida EnergyRater for many years so he knows howto help you save money on your cool-ing and heating costs.

“There is no charge for me tocome look at a house-wide problem,”says Manny. “Whether it is highenergy bills, too much humidity inthe house, or a room or area that isn’tas cool as you would like it to be, I candetermine what the problem is andgive you solutions to fix it.”

When they aren’t helping peoplebeat the heat, both Manny and Jaimeare active in local charities includingthe USO, St. Joseph’s Hospital, andOldsmar Cares.

Jaime Central Air Conditioning& Heating makes service calls Mon-day through Saturday.

You can call them any day ofthe week, whenever you have aproblem, at (813) 601-0764 or EnEspanol at (813) 601-3147. Youcan also visit their website for moreinformation at www.JaimeAir.com.


By Marcy Sanford

Located in Tarpon Springs and aneasy drive from Lutz, Land O’ Lakes,and Odessa is the largest natural areain Pinellas County – Brooker CreekPreserve. With 8,700 acres of wetlandforest next to Brooker Creek, themain feeder for Lake Tarpon, the Pre-serve is home to many animals such aswhite tailed deer, otters, gopher tor-toises, bobcats, and coyotes and evensome endangered species of plants, in-sects, and birds including orchids,Bachman’s sparrows, and Tiger Swal-lowtail butterflies. The Preserve hashiking trails, an educational and re-source center, a nature store, and aviewing blind for bird watching.

Open since 2004, the educationand resource center at Brooker CreekPreserve was designed with sustainablemethods and materials. The 6,000square foot center features exhibits ofthe different habitats found on thePreserve. The nature store, which isrun by the Friends of Brooker Creek,has books, t-shirts, toys, and snacks forsale. They even have a native plant

nursery where you can find wildflowerseeds, Firebush, Beauty Berry, Tropi-cal Sage, Spider Lilly Bulbs and manyother plants that are native to thisarea.

The resource center has informa-tion to help you with projects such asnative plant landscaping and retentionpond reclamation. They also have a li-brary and database with informationabout many different environmentaltopics.

Brooker Creek’s four miles of hik-ing trails meander through forestedwetlands, oak hammocks, pine flat-woods, cypress domes, and swamps.The education center trail is an easystroll for hikers of all ages and abilities.The elevated boardwalk made of re-claimed plastic and wood materialskeeps visitors’ feet dry as they walkover and through bottomland swampsto the drier areas of the preserve.From the end of this trail, you canchoose hikes of varying length and dif-ficulty or the bird path, which will takeyou to a bird viewing blind overlook-ing a freshwater marsh.

Brooker Creek Preserve is host to

a wide variety of special eventsthroughout the year for all ages andinterests – many of them free.

Regular monthly events at BrookerCreek Preserve:

Book Time @ Brooker, EveryThursday, 10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

This program is designed to con-nect pre-schoolers to the wonders ofthe natural world. In addition to hear-ing a great story, children will partici-

pate in a craft, game, or other hands-on activity related to the story. Rec-ommended for ages 3 to 5.

Brooker Book Club, First Saturdayof the month, 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

This book club is for adults whowant to discuss novels by Florida au-thors. The book for July is “Star Is-land” by Carl Hiaasen.

Guided Hikes, Saturdaysthroughout the month, 9 a.m. –10:30 a.m.

Make Time for Nature at Brooker Creek Preserve


Volun-teer Guidestake visitorson a three-fourths of amile hikealong theEducationCenterTrail tolook athow the

land has changed over time and dis-cuss the ecological footprints left bythose changes. All ages are welcome.

Wildflower Garden Club, LastSaturday of the month, 8 a.m. – 11a.m.

Get your gardening hands dirty inthe Preserve’s wildflower garden.Morning snacks are usually provided.

Upcoming Special EventsGuided Photography Hike, Friday

June 28 & Saturday June 29, 8:30a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Hike the preserve insearch of that perfect shot. This pro-gram provides opportunities for pho-tographers of all levels to hone theirskills. In a brief classroom session,local photographers and master natu-ralist Karl and Kathleen Nichter high-light the seasonal features that help

participants capture the natural beautyof Brooker Creek Preserve. Thenyou’ll hike the boardwalk and trailslooking for those shots that reflect theseason. Recommended for adults andchildren 12 and over.

Botany Hike, Friday, July 12, 9a.m – 11 a.m. Join a Brooker CreekNaturalist to explore the fascinatingplants found on the Preserve. Learnhow to identify wildflowers, ferns, epi-phytes, trees, and more. The ecologyof various plant communities will alsobe examined. Best suited for adultparticipants.

Birds of Brooker Hike, Saturday,July 13, 8 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Learnhow to identify common birds duringa one-mile trail hike. Bring waterand binoculars if you have them.

Tree ID, Saturday, July 20, 10:30a.m. – 12 p.m. Join your local NaturalResource Agent as she discusses thebasics on how to identify trees in yourarea. The presentation includes aguided tree ID walk.

Wildlife Hike, Friday, July 26, 9a.m. – 10:30 a.m. An experienced nat-uralist will guide a hike along theboardwalks and natural trails. This is alearning experience for everyone.

Come prepared with binoculars, cam-eras, and questions. Any questions theguide cannot answer will be re-searched in the resource room uponreturn to the Education Center.

All events in this listing are freebut registration is required due to lim-ited space. You can get more informa-tion about the events and register forthem at http://brookercreekpre-serve.eventbrite.com/.

The Center and Store hours areThursday through Saturday: 9 a.m. –4 p.m. The trail hours are Sundaythrough Saturday: 7 a.m. to approxi-mately one hour before sunset. There

are picnic shelters, parking, and rest-rooms available. Admission to the cen-ter and preserve is free.

For more information aboutBrooker Creek Preserve visithttp://brookercreekpreserve.org/.For more information about theFriends of Brooker Creek, visithttp://www.friendsofbrookercreekp-reserve.org.

Brooker Creek Preserve is lo-cated at 3940 Keystone Road inTarpon Springs; phone 727-453-6800.


By Marcy Sanford

Your home is probably yourbiggest investment. Doug Drozd andDina Asuras, the owners of D & DPressure Washing, can help you keep itlooking its best. The couple has manyyears of pressure washing experience,which began when they lived inChicago and started pressure washing.Once they moved to Florida, theyexpanded their training and knowl-edge to learn how to best clean themold and mildew that sometimesseems to grow overnight on sidewalks,driveways, and houses. Doug andDina enjoy the challenge of bringingback the original beauty of a propertythat has become dirty and dingy.

D & D Pressure Washing canhandle all sizes of jobs from residentialto commercial. They pressure washdriveways, sidewalks, screen enclo-sures, houses, fences, restaurants,commercial buildings and more.

“We both go to every job andwork as a team. We have two com-mercial grade pressure washers so wecan both work on a job at the same

time. They pre-treatthe areas to bewashed and then dothe cleaning. Every-thing is then rinseddown. We do notrush through ourjobs or set a timelimit on how long wewill work on them.If one of us misses aspot the other will seeit and it will get cleaned.”

Doug and Dina say that using theright equipment and the correct mate-rials for pressure washing helps themto do a thorough job. “Many compa-nies do pressure washing as a side partof their business and don’t use theright cleaning materials or equipmentso your property can still look dirtyafter it’s been cleaned. We only dopressure washing. It is not a part-timeside job for us,” says Doug.

D & D Pressure Washing’s clientsare certainly happy with the end result.“I am impressed with D & D PressureWashing,” says Elizabeth. “Doug andDina paid attention to all the details of

the job and didn't quit until everyspeck of dirt was gone. I would rec-ommend them for any job. They areon the top of my list.”

Customer Robert says, “Greatjob making the 10-year-old vinylfence look just like new.”

“Finally! No more letters fromthe HOA about the mold on mydriveway,” says Laurie. “You guys arethe bomb for making my drivewaylook like new again. I’ll recommendyou to all my friends.”

While “no more letters from theHOA” is certainly something to cele-brate, there are other benefits of hav-ing professionals like Doug and Dina

pressure wash your home or business.In fact, it can save you money if youinclude regularly scheduled powerwashings as part of your home’s rou-tine maintenance plan.

Exterior washing of your homecan extend the life of vinyl siding,concrete, wood, and bricks as well asyour driveway, porch, lanai, deck,sidewalk, and fence. The humidityin Florida makes it easy for mold andmildew to grow. And if your house isnear water or a preserve area, it canquickly accumulate grime and slime.

Regular pressure washing caneliminate contaminates that contributeto rot, decay, and premature aging of

D & D Pressure Washing Cleans it Up Like New!


your home’s coating and buildingmaterials. Quite simply, pressurewashing services can add years of lifeto your property and save you moneyon costly repairs.

Doug and Dina are happy togive you a free estimate. They arefully licensed and insured and they

never subcontract their work. Dinaand Doug personally complete eachjob and guarantee that it will be donecorrectly.

For more information, visitwww.ddpressurewash.com or call(813) 949-5131 to schedule anappointment.

Before After


By Marcy Sanford

Pets are like part of your familyand if you have one, you want to makesure that it receives the best possiblecare but sometimes bills from the vetcan give you sticker shock. If you livein the Odessa area, you are in luckbecause Dr. Azza Diasti, owner ofLakeside Animal Hospital, is an advo-cate for people and their pets. She hasmade it her mission to make sure thatevery pet can get great, affordablehealth care. Located at 8521 GunnHighway, Lakeside Animal Hospitalhas clean and roomy pet daycare andovernight boarding facilities, fun andchallenging training facilities, andstate-of-the-art examination roomsand laboratories.

“We want to make sure we keepour clients’ pets happy and healthy sowe focus on preventative health,” saysDr. Diasti. “We want to make surethat every pet gets the basic care theyneed. We look at each pet individuallyand determine what type of treatmentor health plan is needed. Every petgets an individualized plan for vac-

cines, blood work, and preventativecare based on its breed, health, andage. Every pet is an individual andshould be treated that way. Since eachplan is designed specifically for eachdog or cat, they get the best qualitycare at the most affordable price. Wework with our pet owners to makesure that giving their pets top-notchcare is affordable to them.”

While most pet owners know theimportance of regular vaccines andflea, tick, and heartworm prevention,many probably overlook their pets’dental health because they do notknow how it can affect overall health.But keeping your pets gums, mouth,and teeth healthy and clean can help itlead a longer, more fulfilling life.

“All pets will develop some de-gree of dental disease during their life.An astounding 80% of dogs and 70%of cats will show some signs of dentaldisease by the time they are three yearsof age,” says Dr. Diasti. “Most casesof dental disease start with the accu-mulation of bacteria-containing plaqueand tartar on the animal's teeth. Overtime the disease will progress, often

leading to severe gum disease, oral ab-scesses, and tooth loss. There also isevidence that poor dental health maycontribute to disease in other organs,such as the heart, liver, and kidneys.Good dental health is truly a criticalcomponent of keeping your pethealthy and happy.”

You can check your pet at hometo see if they have any signs of dentaldisease. Some of the most commonsigns are: bad breath; visible plaqueand tartar on teeth; red, swollen, orreceding gums; pain and/or bleedingin the mouth; loose, fractured,abscessed, or missing teeth; pain ordifficulty eating.

If you notice any of these symp-toms, you should take your pet to thevet right away. These could be signsof a serious dental health problem.Even if your pet does not have any ofthese symptoms, it is still a good ideato have regular professional teethcleaning to keep any issues from oc-curring.

When your pet’s teeth are cleanedat Lakeside Animal Hospital, youknow that they are in kind and loving

hands. The procedure is performedunder general anesthesia so that thecleaning is effective and safe for yourpet. The cleaning includes:

TOOTH SCALING – to removeplaque and tartar from the teeth, bothabove and below the gum line. Theyuse both ultrasonic and hand instru-ments at Lakeside Animal Hospital.

TOOTH POLISHING – to re-move small pieces of plaque andsmooth the enamel. This helps to slowdown the future plaque and tartar ac-

Lakeside Animal Hospital Treats Your Pet as an Individual

Azza Diasti, DVM


cumulation.DENTAL CHARTING – Lake-

side Animal Hospital keeps detaileddental records to monitor your pet’sdental health.

Lakeside Animal Hospital also in-cludes a full mouth x-ray with everydental cleaning so you can see if thereare problems under the gums.

Periodic professional teeth clean-ings are very important to your pet’shealth, but there are things you can doat home to help fight dental disease.There are toothbrush/toothpaste kitsthat are specifically designed for pets,water additives that kill bacteria andhelp decrease plaque and tartarbuildup, special diets, andbones/chews that are designed to helpmechanically remove tartar buildup.

These products will not help insevere cases, but are designed forpreventive measures. You shouldbe sure to check your pet’s teethand gums on a regular basis forsigns of dental disease.

Pets bring unlimited happi-ness into our lives. It’s naturalthat you would want to makesure your pets are happy andhealthy. Pet owners in the areahave entrusted their pets toLakeside Animal Hospital for

many years and it is easy to see why.Dr. Azza Diasti, Dr. John Golphin andall of the animal-loving professionals atLakeside Animal Hospital make surethat they take the time to know youand your pet and to develop a cus-tomized, affordable health plan foreach individual dog or cat they see.

Lakeside Animal Hospital islocated at 8521 Gunn Highway inOdessa. Hours are: Mon. – Fri.,7:30 a.m.–6 p.m. and 8 a.m.–2 p.m.on Sat. To schedule an appoint-ment, please call (813) 920-5100.You can find information aboutkeeping your pet healthy, check outspecial offers, and sign up to receiveLakeside Animal Hospital’s e-newsletter at www.lakesideah.com.


Become a Corporate Sponsor forthe Pasco County Stand Down

Pasco County Stand Down isseeking sponsors that want to helphomeless veterans. The Stand Down– No One Left Behind event will beheld on Friday and Saturday, Septem-ber 13th and 14th at the VeteransMemorial Park, 14333 Hicks Roadin Hudson.

What is a Stand Down?The Term Stand Down was used

in the military, during the times ofwar, to remove exhausted combatunits requiring time to rest and re-cover from the battlefields to a place

of relative security and safety. Today,Stand Down refers to a grassroots,community-based intervention pro-gram designed to help the nation’sestimated 67,000 homeless veterans“combat” life on the streets.

“Stand Down” began in SanDiego in 1988. Twenty-five yearslater, that organization has celebratedmany successes and now there aremore than 200 Stand Downsthroughout the country. PascoCounty Stand Down will reach outto homeless and at risk veterans inPasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, andHernando counties.

Stand Down is a time for the

community to connect with ourhomeless veterans and to begin tobreak down the barriers that arekeeping these heroes on the streets.The “hand up, not a handout” phi-losophy of Stand Down requires thework of countless volunteers, busi-nesses and local, state and nationalorganizations.

HELP IS HERE – No One LeftBehind

Veterans and their families whoare living on the streets or who do nothave permanent housing will get freeaccess to: hot meals for two days;showers, clothes and haircuts; courtservice and legal counseling; medicaland mental health services; dentalcleaning and examination; housingvouchers; state photo identificationcards; job and employment counsel-ing; personal hygiene kits; AA , NA ,& Celebrate Recovery Meetings;women and children services andmuch more!

Ways you can help: Donation of Goods—Reading

glasses, boots, backpacks, personalhygiene items and more are needed.

Donation of Time—Volunteers

are needed to cut hair, serve meals,set-up, clean up, sort donations, pro-vide medical and dental services,massages, therapy and more.

Become a Vendor—Stand Downis looking for organizations and busi-nesses that provide needed goods andservices to Veterans and their families.

Become a Corporate Sponsor—Various levels of sponsorship are avail-able. (See below)

Become a Financial Donor––Pasco County Stand Down needsfunds to purchase food, personal hy-giene items, tents, port-o-lets, sleepingcots and other necessary supplies.

Sponsorships Available: Squad Sponsor $100—Recogni-

tion on the website as a Squad Spon-sor.

Platoon Sponsor $250—Recogni-tion on the website as a Platoon Spon-sor, 2 X 2 “Thank You to OurVeterans” Sign on one of the StandDown Veterans Tents with companyor family name.

Company Sponsor $500—Recog-nition on the website as a CompanySponsor, 2 x 4 “Thank you to OurVeterans” Sign on one of the StandDown Veterans Tents with company


name and logo. Battalion Sponsor $1,000—

Recognition on the website as a Bat-talion Sponsor, 2' X 4' SponsorBanner with company name and logoon the Entertainment Stage or FoodTent for the Stand Down, Companyname and Logo on all marketing ma-terials prior to the Stand Down(fliers, brochures, newspaper ads).

Brigade Sponsor $2,000—Recognition on the website as aBrigade Sponsor, 2' X 4' SponsorBanner with company name and logoon the Entertainment Stage or FoodTent for the Stand Down, Companyname and logo on all marketing ma-terials prior to the Stand Down(fliers, brochures, newspaper ads),Company name and logo on bannerat the entrance gate of the StandDown, Company name as a primarysponsor in press releases.

Does it Make a Difference?Yes. Stand Down has been suc-

cessful in matching the right servicesto those Veterans who are strugglingto get their life back together. TheStand Down is an opportunity to in-troduce homeless veterans to society

and as Americans let them know weare proud of the service they gave forour Country. Even for those veteranswho return to life on the streets,Stand Down is an opportunity forthem to take a safe harbor from”Combat on the Streets” for oneweekend of the year.

Partnering Organizations: Metropolitan Ministries, Career

Central Connections, BayCare, Be-havioral Health, FL Dept. of HWYSafety, PC Housing Authority, PCHealth Department, GenerationsChristian Church, St. ThomasAquinas, Unity Truth Center, HPHHospice, Paws for Patriots, Bay AreaLegal Services, Dept. of Childrenand Family, Steps to Recovery, Cele-brate Recovery, Pasco County VetCenter, Pasco County VA Services,FL Dept. Of VA, V O A Medical/Dental Van, National Guard, H. E.P., and Disabled American Vets.

For further information aboutthe Pasco County Stand Down, goto www.PascoStandDown.org.You also can contact Patti [email protected] call 727-375-8801 ext. 2232.

By Alexis Selby

Trinity Yoga and Massage Inc.celebrated its grand re-opening onMay 17th, welcoming new co-ownerJanel Norton and introducing new in-structors Adria Owen and VictoriaHawkins. The evening started off witha free power yoga class taught byAdria, that was accompanied by thevery cool yoga tunes of DJ Menscha,an up and coming DJ in the TampaBay area. Food, drinks and chair mas-sages by Peter Lowden of Ahava Mas-sage made for an evening full of fun,with plenty of things for guests to dowhile meeting new and current stu-dents. Christina Lowden and JanelNorton, owners of Trinity Yoga, wereso grateful for the outpouring of sup-port from the community and feel re-ally lucky to be a part of theTrinity/New Port Richey area. Janelsays, “This area is just full of beautiful,

kind people who have really helped usto grow and share our love of yoga.”Trinity Yoga now has 31 classes a weekon their schedule, ranging from gentleyoga for the beginner or athlete thatneeds a good stretch, to hot poweryoga for those looking to change uptheir workout routine or create moreflexibility for their current activities orsport. They also offer many differentforms of massage, from relaxation tostructural integration and acupunc-ture.

Trinity Yoga Teacher BiosJanel NortonJanel tried her first yoga class in

1992 while covering humanitarian re-lief efforts in Bosnia; she didn’t under-stand a word of it (the class was inanother language). Fast forward over20 years of working in high stress en-vironments such as war zones, dailynewspapers, graduate school, and the

biggie – parenting; Janel always foundthat a good workout was a great wayto keep her sane in the midst of a hec-tic schedule, but had no idea howphysically demanding yoga could beuntil she stepped into a hot powerclass at Trinity Yoga. She was hooked!Then, something transformationalbegan to happen. She noticed yogafollowing her off the mat. Whether itwas using the breath she learned inclass to stay calm through heavy traf-fic, or taking a pause to center beforedealing with her prepubescent daugh-ter, she found the after effects of yogawere transformational on many levels.Janel decided to explore yoga furtherthrough teacher training, and receivedher Yoga Alliance 200-YTT certifica-tion through the Lotus Pond this pastMarch. Before the ink could dry, shesigned up for the 500-YTT. The starsaligned just as she began teachingclasses at the very studio where she

began heryoga jour-ney – it wasan offer tobecome co-owner ofTrinityYoga Stu-dio. Now,Janel hasthe oppor-tunity toshare thebenefits ofthe practice with her community byhelping others cultivate their owninner peace and strength and healing.

Adria OwenAdria is a RYT200 certified Yoga

Alliance teacher who discovered theamazing practice of yoga six years ago.She soon realized that yoga not onlyhelped bring calm into her life but also

Trinity Yoga and Massage Inc. Celebrates its Grand Re-Opening

Adria Owen


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provided another outlet to express cre-atively while forming a deeper connec-tion to herself, others and theDivine. Creative expression has alwaysbeen a common thread in Adria’s lifeand before becoming a yoga instructorshe enjoyed the opportunity to travelthe country as a National Educator fora major hair color corporation and alsoworked behind the chair as a stylist for11 years. In 2012, she made thechoice to stop traveling and moved to-wards a new path. Along this journeyshe has recently become engaged andlives in the Westchase area with her fi-ancé Kevin, his two children Claireand Kevin II and their “furry chil-

dren” Harpo andCali. Fanning theflames of transforma-tion, she completedher 200-hour train-ing at The LotusPond and is currentlyworking towards her500-hour certifica-tion.

VictoriaHawkins

In addition tobeing a 200-hourRYT Yoga Instructor,

Victoria is also an Intuitive Artist, Li-censed Clinical Social Worker, Certi-fied Stress Management Consultant,Certified Medical Meditation Consult-ant and in her spare time a BellyDancer. She has been working withfamilies and individuals of all ages “offthe mat” since 1996 after graduatingfrom FSU with a Masters in SocialWork. Victoria discovered yoga in1998 in a Bally’s gym in West PalmBeach, FL. Initially meant to be a wayto stay flexible, yoga quickly became alife transforming practice for her. Shereceived her Hatha Yoga certificationin 2008 and her Level 1 & 2 Radiant

Child Yoga Certification in 2011.Victoria then went on to earn her200-hour RYT certification in EmpathYoga in 2012.

Victoria’s yoga style is a bal-anced fusion of strength, flexibility,and flowing movement. She loves tocreate an environment where yoga isaccessible to everyone in the room,no matter his or her ability or experi-ence. Victoria is an avid reader ofspirituality texts and ancient wisdom,and she loves to integrate these pearlsof wisdom into her “on the mat”practice as she passes her experience

on in a “relevant-to-today” kind ofway. Her informal “life” training hascome from a variety of sources andteachers, and she looks to live in her“Now” as she learns to simply “Be”and follow her passions where theywill lead!

Trinity Yoga and Massage islocated at 8514 Old CR 54, NewPort Richey Fl, 34653. For moreinformation or a class scheduleplease call (727) 376-5263 or goto www.Trinity-Yoga.com.Janel Norton Victoria Hawkins


Alton Voss – Overcoming AddictionBy Matt Selby

Addiction can affect anyone;whether it is a loved one, a neighbor, afriend or even yourself. It tears apartfamilies, relationships and communi-ties. The Ross Poel Organization, a501c3 nonprofit organization dedi-cated to sponsoring selected individu-als in need of treatment for drugaddiction, who otherwise may not beable to afford their entire treatment,believes everyone deserves the oppor-tunity to be cured. Thanks to thiswonderful organization, Alton Voss,someone who I have known since theage of 9, has overcome his addictionand is on the road back to a healthy,drug free, meaningful life.

Alton and I grew up togetherplaying football. I knew him long be-fore addiction ever had a grip on hislife. Alton was always the biggest kidon the field, and sometimes it washard for my teammates and me tograsp that he was our age. I can re-member when we were 11 Altoncouldn’t play half the season becausehis body was growing too fast. He had

ankle and foot problems from the fastgrowth and by the age of 12, the kidwas wearing size 13 shoes and stoodabout 6 feet tall. The rest of us werelucky to be 5 feet tall, but at least wecould play. When he was able to play,we crushed teams. I played quarter-back and Alton was a receiver and run-ning back. All we had to do was gethim the ball and it took the entire de-fense to take him down. We had a lotof fun playing youth football andeveryone knew Alton was going to bea great ball player when he grew up.

Fast forward to high school; bythis time Alton and I had grown aparta bit, as we went to different schools. Iplayed quarterback for Tarpon HighSchool in Pinellas County and Altonnow played quarterback and safety forGulf High School in Pasco County.On the offensive side of the ball, Altonand I both led our counties in QB sta-tistics and we both landed 1st team allcounty honors as quarterbacks. Wetalked every now and then, but I hadno idea what Alton was battling dur-ing this time and, even worse, neitherdid he. He didn’t know it yet, but he

had a few triggers men-tally that always madehim feel a little bit off.It all started when hetried his first Roxy-codone pill during thesecond semester of hissenior year of highschool. He loved thefeeling of bliss and eu-phoria and instantly hewas hooked; it helpedhim escape from theday- to-day stress, andany negativity on hismind seemed to disap-pear. “I had no ideawhat I had gotten myselfinto at the time and knowing what Iknow now, I wish I would have nevertaken that pill that day,” says Alton.

Graduating high school, Altonstood 6 foot 3 inches tall and weighedabout 225 pounds. Many collegescouts were after him, and for goodreason; he was arguably the best quar-terback Gulf High School had everseen and one heck of an all-aroundathlete. By the time Alton left for USF

he said that he did pills at least 15more times. Unfortunately, his time atUSF was very short lived. He left USFafter his freshman season. He toldeveryone that had he lost his passionfor the game – something he hadloved so much growing up. Alton says,“looking back, I know it was thedrugs that controlled my decision, andto this day it is one of the biggest mis-takes of my life.”

After he quit USF, Alton

Alton Voss (Right) shows off championshiptrophy in Argentina


bounced around a bit, and eventuallyhit an all time low when a friendshowed him how to contort his backto make it look like he had a disorderso he could get pain pills. He went toa pain clinic and after manipulating theMRI results to look like he hadbulging disks, Alton was prescribed240 Roxycodone, 120 Oxycontin and90 muscle relaxers. Alton knew thiswas way too many pills for him, butstill felt like he’d won the lottery. Hedecided to sell the pills he didn’t con-sume himself, and the addict now be-came the dealer for many.

Alton eventually enrolled at St.Petersburg College and soon after hehad what he refers to as a “manicepisode.” By this time, Alton wasdoing pills, marijuana, and even somecrack if it was around. The drugs,mixed with his underlying triggers,were a disastrous combination. Afterhis episode, he booked a flight toMichigan and decided a change inscenery was needed.

Unfortunately, Michigan was nobetter for Alton, at least not at first.Soon after arriving in Michigan, Altonwas arrested and charged with afelony. He went to the Ottawa CountyJail (OCJ), and a week into his stay, hewas sent to Hackley Hospital where he

was misdiagnosed as schizophrenicand bi-polar. He was sent back to OCJand this is where he was introduced tohis attorney. She was able to get hischarges reduced to a misdemeanorand he returned to Florida. Theystayed in contact after he arrived backin Florida. At this point, his life wassteadily heading downward. He wasstill using marijuana and was now onprescribed psychiatric medications thatwere not helping. He spoke with hisMichigan attorney almost everydayand one day she asked him a question,"What if I could get you into treat-ment at CMI in Argentina?" Thisamazing opportunity is what heneeded to get his life back.

Alton went to CMI Abasto, a ad-diction treatment center, with no ex-pectations but hoped that his lifecould be changed forever. After oneweek of thorough medical and philo-sophical assessments he was given hisdiagnosis and treatment plan. This washis first time entering treatment. Hestarted to work intensely on himselfbecause the drugs were just a conse-quence of something much deeper.The drugs were the symptom of theproblem. CMI helped him to realizethe problem – the “why” for thedrugs – and showed him ways to work

on the problem. So, witha lot of hard work, hisurge to use drugs naturallydisappeared and was re-placed with a good practi-cal philosophy ofunderstanding himself.Now, Alton is currently inhis outpatient phase,which consists of treat-ment, a business intern-ship, and training forfootball. Because of thislife-changing program,Alton now has the oppor-tunity to go to college andplay football again whenhe completes his outpatient treatmentin June 2013.

Alton’s treatment at CMI hasturned his life around, and now hewants to do the same for anyone elsewho is searching for a way to improvetheir quality of life. Alton has beenworking with the Ross Poel Organiza-tion (RPO) to help educate, prevent,and sponsor those who do not havethe financial means for treatment.Alton is actually the first patient to gothrough RPO and receive this spon-sorship. If you know anyone whocould benefit from RPO or CMIAbasto, please go to RossPoelOrgani-

zation.com or CMIAbasto.com. Atthe RPO website there is also an op-portunity for people to contribute tothe sponsorship fund. Any donationyou can make is greatly appreciated inthe fight against drug addiction.

Because of CMI Abasto andRPO, my friend Alton’s life has beentransformed. His story is that of inspi-ration, and Alton would like you toknow that no matter what the addic-tion, there is a solution; and with de-termination, inner strength and thehelp of the caring individuals at CMIAbasto you too can achieve successover your addiction.

Alton Voss #11 and me #12 at 10 years old playingyouth football


The day I met George Csanadi,owner of GCS Driving Academy, Iknew he and I would be friends. I metGeorge when my daughter, Catherine,was 3 weeks away from her 15th birth-day, when Catherine was countingdown the days until she would get herdriving permit. My heart beat so muchfaster when she talked about gettingbehind the wheel. Knowing thatGeorge is a former race car driver andtrainer made me confident that heknows how to handle cars and under-stand the road. His passion for trainingteen drivers to be safe, responsible driv-ers is evident within the first 5 minutesof meeting him. I signed Catherine upfor George’s 10-hour driving instruc-tion the day after she got her permit.Though I think my husband and Imodel appropriate behavior behind thewheel (most of the time) and knowingthat Catherine is a cautious, responsibleyoung lady, I could not bring myself tosit in the passenger seat that first timewithout being extremely anxious.

On Catherine’s first day withGeorge, he confidently had her drive

around Lithia/Brandon area and theyconcluded their day with a trip on I-75! All I thought when I heard aboutthe I-75 trip was, “Thank goodness itwas him and not me the first time and Iam glad I didn’t know before theywent.”

After each day with George,Catherine came home with more confi-dence and was also more cautious. Iknow she learned so much having acalm, confident adult next to her whotalks about defensive driving and therules of the road. She respected himbecause he is a professional but sheliked that he could relate to how teensthink. “George taught me why to docertain things and why I needed to becautious. He talks to me like an edu-cated person, he didn’t talk down tome. He assessed what I already knewand built upon that,” says Catherine.

To learn more about GCS Driv-ing Academy, visit www.gcsdrivinga-cademy.com. Or call George Csanadi813-713-4233

Keeping Our Teens Safe on the Road!!!The Rayburn Experience


“We embrace the fact that weare a small business,” says Jenny.“This gives us the flexibility to bemore creative. We are all about qual-ity customer service, which is why wework so well together.”

Westchase Hair Studio Evelyn and Tracy have been

working together for many years andas talented stylists have developedquite a loyal following. Last year theyknew it was time to establish their ownstudio and thus created WestchaseHair Studio. “We truly enjoy andappreciate our clients, many of whomhave been with us for years,” saysEvelyn. “We are very happy!”

Evelyn and Tracy are passionateabout creating beautiful styles for theirclients. Receptionists Jessica Leon andNancy Joel also share this passion forstyle, and both are currently attendingcosmetology school.

Evelyn began her career in Berlin,Germany, and is ranked among thetop stylists in the industry. She is aproud recipient of the Dillards andSaks Top Twenty Awards and theMaster Artisan Gold Award. Tracy

began her career in Southern Califor-nia and has worked in South Tampaand Westchase for many years. BothEvelyn and Tracy are committed tolearning the latest techniques andmost current trends in hair design,and will once again attend the 2013Premier Hair Show in Orlando. Whilethere, they will participate in work-shops, receive training from industryexperts, and learn all about the latesttrends and techniques.

Recently, I visited Westchase HairStudio for a haircut – which by theway was long overdue – and Tracy didan amazing job cutting my layers andtrimming my hair, helping to add vol-ume to my look. She was very friendlyand personable and I had a wonderfulexperience and would recommend herexpertise to anyone looking to updatetheir style.

Westchase Hair Studio carriestop-of-the-line products, such asLanza, Pureology, and Aquage. Hair-color lines include Wella and Redken.Redken Chromatics is a revolutionaryhair color that fortifies every strand ofhair, producing shinier, healthier look-ing hair. Chromatics is an ammonia-free formula designed to producevibrant color after just one treatment.

Evelyn and Tracy will be able tolook at your hair and recommendwhat will work best for you. From allthe years of coloring my hair, I havedone quite a lot of damage and havebeen having an issue with dried-outhair. On my previous visit, Tracy rec-ommended a leave-in conditioner tohelp reverse some of the damage. Shesuggested I use Trauma Treatmentfrom Lanza and after my first use Icouldn’t be happier. This productgave my hair the much-needed mois-ture it lacked, and after the first weekI had already started to notice a bigdifference – thanks Tracy!

Evelyn and Tracy also are expertsin hair-transforming keratin treatmentsand use formaldehyde-free productsfrom Simply Smooth and Chi. Theseall-natural products work on the out-side of your hair structure, as well asdeep within the cuticle, providing

smoother, softer, shinier hair througha gentle and natural healing process.

3 Wishes Aesthetics Jenny Molloy, Board Certified

Nurse Practitioner and owner of 3Wishes Aesthetics, is an expert in cre-ating a relaxed, natural look withFDA-approved Botox® or Dysport®and her comfortable treatments withFDA-approved Juvederm®, Resty-lane® and Perlane® soften and en-hance facial features in a natural waythat will leave your friends guessing –how does she look so young?

Jenny is an expert in her field andis a National Trainer and clinical con-sultant for physicians and other nursepractitioners, qualified to train them toperform minimally-invasive cosmeticprocedures with Dysport, Perlane andRestylane.

Jenny has been providing herartistic talents to many happy TampaBay clients for over 10 years. Jennyalso offers mildly exfoliating facialtreatments designed to improve skintone, minimize pores, and improveskin texture and color. What is new in2013? Jenny has added two newtreatments, specially designed totighten skin around your eyes and

“WC Hair Studio”Continued from page 1


erase spots on the backs of yourhands!

Whether you are looking for a beau-tiful new look, or want to update yourstyle, Westchase Hair Studio and 3 WishesAesthetics has the solution. Come visittoday, and spend some time with Evelyn,Tracy, Jessica, Nancy and Jenny. They willhelp you create that magical look and give

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Wishes Aesthetics are co-located at11059 Countryway Blvd., Studio B,in Tampa. Hours are Tues. – Thurs.,10 a.m. – 8 p.m., Fri. from 10 a.m. – 6p.m. and 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Sat. Forquestions or to schedule an appoint-ment, please call (813) 852-1200.

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Find testimonials for WestchaseHair Studio and 3 Wishes Aestheticsby visiting them on facebook.


fullest academic, social, and physicalpotential.

The Brain Balance Center ofOldsmar, located at 4022 TampaRoad, is one of more than 50 BrainBalance Centers in the nation. Steadilygrowing because of their proven suc-cess with children diagnosed with is-sues like these, parents and families areembracing the individualized pro-grams available for their entire family.Using personalized and comprehen-sive assessment tools, the educatedand certified teachers, nutritionists,coaches and professionals at Brain Bal-ance assess your child’s difficulties, andthen work with your child, your entirefamily and even his or her teachers tofacilitate growth.

Brain Balance Center of Oldsmaris owned by Director Larry Polnicky,whose own son, Ben, made incredibleadvances in the program that they at-tended out of state. Larry was so im-pressed with the program that heopened the Oldsmar location so thatother children like Ben would be ableto make progress without medication.

How? The Brain Balance pro-gram believes that your brain canchange. That’s a bold statement, butwhen your child begins to speak, afterbeing told that they would not be ableto do so, or when your child’s gradesimprove dramatically despite beingtold that they wouldn’t be able to suc-ceed, the reality kicks in. There is an-other option, indeed, and thousandsof children’s lives have been improvedbased on this program.

Program Director, Heather Las-cano, takes the time to find out whatthe world looks like from your child’sperspective. She comes to Brain Bal-ance of Oldsmar after years in pharma-ceutical drug development as well asyears of patent, business, and contractlaw, and has used tools like yoga in herown small business to aid many peoplewith a variety of ailments. Her experi-ence, her “out of the box” approachand her dedication to truly helpingpeople make Heather a unique fit.

Is your Child Disconnected?This “brain-based, not drug-

based” program is based on Dr.Robert J. Melillo’s research on neu-robehavioral disorders. Dr. Melillo,who is a world-renowned neurologist,professor and author, believes that allof these conditions, which were previ-ously thought to be unrelated, are in

fact related, and can be grouped intowhat is called Functional Disconnec-tion Syndrome. Brain Balance is not amedical facility, and so it does not em-ploy doctors, write prescriptions formedications, or accept insurance.What it does do is offer hope, options,proven techniques and a personalizedapproach.

In his book, Disconnected Kids, heexplains how these conditions all finda commonality in the way that thebrain works, and while if you were totake a child with any of these condi-tions and give them an MRI Scan, orany other number of medical tests,there would be nothing to find. Thebrain is not damaged. These issues areall connection issues, and research hasproven that the left hemisphere of thebrain and the right hemisphere of thebrain have distinct responsibilities,abilities and functions. Most of us caneasily be labeled “left-brained” or“right-brained” but research hasfound that when one-half of the brainhas a deficiency, it leads to these con-nectivity issues, which can result in a“disconnect” between a child andtheir ability to learn, communicate andsucceed. The goal is to challenge thehemisphere of the brain that is show-ing a deficiency and to stimulate it sothat it will learn to function.

One parent said, “We drive 2-1/2hours one way and our son is worthevery minute and mile spent on theroad. Just 20 sessions and my son’sreading fluency and word reading hasmarkedly improved. We are so proudof him! He loves coming to Brain Bal-ance. His confidence has improvedgreatly too. Thank you to such anawesome team of professionals whounderstand and care about childrenwith learning challenges. It’s also asoft place to land as a parent.”

Another parent writes, “”I am soproud of Jalon. I’m also so thankful toBrain Balance for all that they havedone and are continuing to do forhim. I have been telling everyoneabout Brain Balance and I will keeptrying to spread the word because Ibelieve in this program. Unlike anyother therapy, Brain Balance treats thewhole child. They were the first to runblood tests and do other extensivetesting to test every level from Jalon’sprimitive reflexes to food sensitivitiesand identify the weaker hemisphere ofJalon’s brain. Once they received theseresults they were able to come up witha program that addresses his sensory,academic and dietary needs. The resultis that in just a couple months Jalon

has made amazing strides and is nowmeeting or surpassing his peers inmany areas.”

The Brain Balance program is tai-lor-made for each individual child andgenerally works with children fromkindergarten age to ninth grade. Each

program generally consists of one ortwo 12-week after-school programs,where each child participates in arange of activities that help them toimprove the connections betweenboth hemispheres of their brains.

One of the best parts of the Brain

“Brain Balance”Continued from page 1

(top row, L-R) Heather Lascano (Program Director), Andrea Bartelloni(Academic Evaluator and School Liaison), Henri Lasane (Sensory Motor

Evaluator), Bonita van Dorseer (Teacher and Parent Group Leader)(bottom row, L-R) Anne Sweeny (Teacher), Maria Mogollon (Assistant

Director), Patricia Hoover (Sensory Motor Coach) Not pictured Susan Rose (Sensory Motor Coach)


Balance Program is that the educatedand experienced staff realizes thatwhen a child is effected, the entirefamily is effected, and as a team, theygather around to give the child thesupport that he or she needs fromevery angle. The program itself givesthe child a physical and cognitive ac-tivity program that will, in time,change the way the brain reacts. Com-bined with the right nutrition, andarmed with the role that nutritionplays in your child’s behavior, certainbehaviors can be changed right away.While we’re all comfortable with tradi-tional allergies, there are foods thatmay affect the way your child learns,or reacts. It may be strawberries thatare the trigger, or the ingredient thatholds their favorite candy together,but with an understanding of all ofthese things, progress can be made.

Focusing on areas such as academic

performance, social abilities, cognitivefunction, sensory and motor skills, vi-sual-spatial organizational skills and nu-trition, your child will be given everyopportunity to make advances that youmight not have thought possible.

Polnicky says, “In a study where60 of the students had ADHD, 82%of those students were shown to nolonger exhibit any signs of ADHDafter one 12-week program.” He adds,“Two-thirds of the students improvedby two grade levels, and one-third ofthe students actually improved by fourgrade levels; 100% had some improve-ment, and 0% had no improvement, soeven if I didn’t know from personalexperience that this program worked,we have the research to back us up.”

One parent wrote a testimonialsaying, “Brain Balance truly made ourhome more peaceful. He is a com-pletely different child than when he

started the program. What you offerto kids and their families is priceless!”

Is this Program for your Child?The Brain Balance Mission State-

ment is “to make the Brain BalanceProgram available to as many childrenas possible, that each child may reachtheir greatest physical, mental, socialand academic potential.”

If your child has been diagnosedwith a neurobehavioral disorder likeADHD, Dyslexia, Autism or As-perger’s Syndrome, Tourette’s, or anynumber of learning disorders, don’tlose hope. There are answers beyondthe drug store.

The best way to find out moreabout Brain Balance is to come to oneof their free information events. TheBrain Balance Center of Oldsmarholds parent lectures where parentsand professionals alike can gain aunique window into a child’s brain

function. Their lectures offer insightinto how the brain normally developsand what may interfere with the stagesof typical development.

Parents can also come in for a freetour, sit down one-on-one with theCenter Director and see for them-selves what all of the buzz is about.

The truth is that people comefrom all around the world, and crossstate lines to come to Brain BalanceCenters. Their innovative, holistic ap-proach to children and families haschanged the lives of thousands of peo-ple. We are lucky to have a Brain Bal-ance Center right here in Oldsmar.

The Brain Balance AchievementCenter of Oldsmar is located at4022 Tampa Rd., Suite 6. For moreinformation or to schedule a tour,please call 813-475-6977. You canalso email them directly at [email protected], orvisit www.brainbalancecenters.com.

Lutz/Land O' Lakes/Odessa - Vol. 4, Issue 6, June 2013

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Transcript of Lutz/Land O' Lakes/Odessa - Vol. 4, Issue 6, June 2013