Out Of A Hole

Posted Apr 13, 2007 by Suzanne Schmidt

Updated Apr 13, 2007 at 12:55 PM

By SUZANNE M. SCHMIDT
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It was a windy day in Kissimmee when the Hunter’s Green Country Club golf team shot the lowest score in tournament history.
Even though the lively bunch of guys came back the second day playing with a vengeance, the team managed only to land second place in the Florida State Golf Association Men’s Interclub Team State Championship.
“The important thing is to stay in the shot,” said Brian Kenny, member of the team. “You just have to play it shot by shot and be able to let go of a bad score on the hole before and just move on.”
After six weeks of matches and two rounds of playoffs with 85 teams from throughout the state, only six advanced to the finals in Kissimmee.
The Hunter’s Green team consists of Kenny, Tim Hume, Amar Singh, Frank Vari, Mike Hamrac, Matt Takamatsu, Nick Meyer and Jack Demboski.
The teams played March 31 and April 1 at Falcon’s Fire Golf Club in Kissimmee for the final competition.
Everything was looking good for the team when they beat Innisbrook to win the region tournament, and advance to state tourney.
“We beat Innisbrook on their own course,” Kenny said. “Everybody was shocked we beat them.”
Then, according to Kenny, the first day on the course the team shot under par, but it wasn’t good enough as it found itself 14 strokes off the pace.
“We didn’t play our best on Saturday,” Hume said. “At the end of the day, we were last in the tournament.”
Singh attributes the teams losing streak to the wind.
“It was tough to play the first day because it was so windy,” Singh said. “We shot the lowest score in tournament history that day. We came in the second day and we knew we had to fight hard. We did great because we knew we had a lot of ground to cover, but it ended up not being enough.”
Hunter’s Green rallied in the second day, but finished six strokes back.
Hume said though team effort, they were able to place second.
“We had a good enough team to overcome a 14-stroke deficit,” Hume said. “It was the team effort that allowed us to make it to second place. No one else had the team support we did.”
The team was accompanied by Ken Creighton, Hunter’s Green Country Club general manager, a golf teaching professional from the country club Sean Nadolski, and Matthew Ruby golf professional.
Kenny said the team started out the competition just thinking it would be a good time.
“When we started out we were just having fun,” Kenny said. “We just thought why not try it out. We went out there just to enjoy ourselves and unfortunately we came up a little short.”
Even though the team did not finish first this time, they are determined the next time they will win first place.
“We are going to win it next year, that is a guarantee,” Demboski said. “We have more camaraderie than any of the other teams.”
Other members of the team share Demboski’s enthusiasm because they say they have what it takes.
For information about the tournament, visit http://www.fsga.org.

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Rising Star Ready To Take Off

Posted Apr 6, 2007 by Suzanne Schmidt

Updated Apr 6, 2007 at 01:21 PM

SENIOR ACCEPTED TO FILM SCHOOL

By SUZANNE M. SCHMIDT
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Brian Maxwell Wolford hopes to see his name in lights one day.
He is not trying to be an actor, but he does want to be in movies as a director. Wolford, a senior at Freedom High School, applied for Florida State University Film School in order to get closer to his goal.
Out of 300 applicants only 30 were selected for the prestigious film school. Wolford said he couldn’t believe he was one of the lucky few who were selected.
“I applied to FSU Film School last year in the fall,” Wolford said. “The school is the third highest ranked film school in the world. The film school is so intense that I have to spend my first year there getting all my academic classes that are required done during freshman year, so that I can spend about 6 or 7 days a week my sophomore, junior and senior year completing classes for film.”
Wolford had to enter his resume and a 300 to 500 word personal statement as well as be interviewed in order to get into the school. At the interview, he was asked about how much of his free time he would be willing to give up.
“They told me I was not going to be able to come home to visit my family for three years,” Wolford said. “They also asked me if I was ready to give up my hobbies of scuba diving and playing the drums.”
Wolford has been making movies for three years with his video production company called Good Stuff Video Productions. He started with making movies of his younger sister Sarah’s gymnastics competitions and has since directed music videos, sports videos and commercials for his school’s morning show.
“I have already been able to make a living from my movies,” Wolford said. “My favorite movies I have made are the ones I have done for free like the Halloween video.”
Wolford made an 8-minute Halloween movie called “The Initiation.” He had friends star in it and it will be shown on the morning show.
“I have made commercials for local businesses,” Wolford said. “The money we raised buys new equipment for the school. I try to make most of my videos intense. I use music, fades and other special techniques.”
In the future, he hopes to make sports movies like “Remember the Titans.”
“I enjoy doing sports videos,” Wolford said. “I want to make things all my own, though. I don’t idolize anyone. It doesn’t really matter what I am directing as long as it is good.”
Even though there is no director he wants to mimic, there is one he highly respects. He said he likes Christopher Nolan, director of “The Prestige.”
“It is such a tough business, that is why you only hear three directors names when there are plenty other ones out there,” Wolford said.
Ever since embarking on his directing career, Wolford said he doesn’t just watch a movie anymore.
“It is tough to watch a movie without critiquing it,” Wolford said. “I can’t really just sit back and enjoy it. I look at different ways I would have done things.”
Vivian Fiallo, guidance counselor at Freedom, said she is happy he was accepted.
“It is a very long, rigorous application process,” Fiallo said. “It is very difficult to get in. I am so very excited and proud he made it.”
Terry Wolford, mother to the future director, said she is also very proud of him.
“He has been dreaming about this for three years,” Terry Wolford said. “It is pretty unusual for someone to be ready for this as a freshman. You have to be driven from an early age to make it work.”
For information about Wolford’s video production company, visit http://www.goodstuffvideoproductions.com.

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Merchants Use Hummers As Elaborate Mobile Billboards

Posted Mar 29, 2007 by Suzanne Schmidt

Updated Mar 29, 2007 at 11:53 AM

BUSINESSES HUM TO NEW TUNE  

By SUZANNE M. SCHMIDT
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A big part of developing a successful business is advertising.
Some businesses buy ads in a newspaper, a magazine or on the radio or television while others are finding creative ways to advertise.
A trend developing recently has been to buy an H1, H2 or H3 and covering it in advertisements. A Realtor, a fitness studio, a food franchise and an army recruiter in the New Tampa area have all purchased Hummers for the purpose of advertising their business.
Tony Friel, one of three owners of eight Moe’s Southwest Grill and one Shane’s Rib Shack in the Tampa area, said using the Hummer for advertising is cheaper than using traditional media.
“We looked into the cost of advertising with billboards, radio and other media,” Friel said. “Buying Hummers was significantly cheaper and you still get great exposure.”
He and the other two owners collectively advertise with another group of franchise owners who own four Moe’s and one Shane’s in the Tampa area. They have a fleet of six Hummer’s with the Moe’s logo and colors covering the vehicles.
“Each of us has a Hummer to drive around,” Friel said. “We have had them for about two years and now it seems like they are popping up all over the place.”
Friel said the H2 is a great vehicle to drive around to get recognition.
“They stand out and they make a statement,” Friel said. “We added up the bill of paying for three billboards and it would cost about $10,000 a month and we added up the total cost of paying for six Hummers and it is only about $4,000 a month.”
He said the most important part of advertising is just to get the name out there and have people pay attention to it, which is exactly what having a Hummer covered in the Moe’s logo does.
“If people see the Moe’s Hummer then it will be on their mind,” Friel said. “It makes a statement – it says look at me. We also do a lot of catering and we use it for that purpose and for parades and other displays.”
Nick Davis, a Realtor for Keller Williams, 18101 Highwoods Preserve Parkway, said he also bought an H3 because of the price and the image it portrays. His Web site is http://www.tampahomessold.com.
“It is a dependable vehicle and the price really drove me to it,” Davis said. “They are not as expensive as most people think they are.”
Davis bought his H3 about a year ago. He is retired Army and his wife, Cindy, is still active in the reserve.
“I have advertisements on the back window and will be getting some things put on the sides soon,” Davis said. “My wife, Cindy, said she wanted a big, little truck. I drive it everyday and I have attracted a lot of business because of it. I have had people call me while they were driving behind me.”
Davis said he also chose the Hummer because he remembers when he was in the Army in 1985 when he had the chance to field test it.
“When they were introduced to the military, we were trying them out,” Davis said. “We would roll them, flip them and jump over stuff. They are definitely sturdy vehicles. The H3 is completely different then the ones we used to drive back then.”
Davis said he thinks the Hummer is the perfect way to advertise because of the recognition they get.
“The Hummer has something special,” Davis said. “It is something a lot of people want to look at.”
Demetrius Greene, personal trainer and director of Mobile Fitness Studio, is also retired from the Army. He recently bought an H2 and H3 because it reminds him of his days in the Army as well as for other reasons.
“The Hummer’s image is everything,” Greene said. “The Hummer projects success.”
Greene said the Hummer is the perfect vehicle for towing around his mobile fitness studio.
“The Hummer is one of the only vehicles I can pull a trailer this size around without having to make any modifications,” Greene said. “Because of its boxy frame and smooth sides, it is easy to put graphics on.”
Ron Horvath, an Army recruiter in Carrollwood, uses an H1 and an H2 to attract attention and recruits. The H1 is about 20 years old. According to Horvath, the HUMV, or high mobility multipurpose vehicle, was created for the military originally.
“The HUMV was conceived as a military vehicle in the early 80s,” Horvath said. “It was designed primarily to replace the Jeep as a transport vehicle. It was primarily used by the Army as a troop carrier, a weapons or a medical vehicle.”
Both the Hummers are painted and are used as a display as well as to drive around in.
“The Hummers come in handy for use in parades or just as a static display,” Horvath said. “We also use them to transport things. They are a great attention getter. We exhibit them at community events to attract attention.”
Horvath said the Hummer and the Army go together.
“It was first conceived of as a military vehicle, so it makes sense,” Horvath said. “It does attract people.”

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Diet Doctors Win Losing Battle

Posted Mar 22, 2007 by Laura Cone

Updated Mar 22, 2007 at 09:42 AM

Diet Doctors Win Losing Battle
TREAT OBESITY,
NOT VANITY

By LAURA CONE
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When Dr. Shari Maddix graduated from the University of Miami School of Medicine, she expected to become an anesthesiologist. Instead, she finds herself as one of a growing number of physicians casually referred to as “diet doctors.”
Maddix helps obese patients lose weight through a medically-supervised weight loss program at the Medi Weightloss Clinics in Lutz.
In an era of growing obesity rates and a time when people who want to lose a few vanity pounds may order pharmaceutical diet pills from the Internet, Maddix said it’s important to have proper screening and supervision.
“The thing I like – rather than people buying diet pills over the Internet – is that it’s medically supervised,” Maddix said. “These pills have side effects and people need to be monitored. It gives them accountability to come back here and do their best every week.”
The Medi program is housed within the Physician’s Walk-In Clinic in Lutz.
Maddix does laboratory work to test her patients’ liver, thyroid, kidney and other organs. She checks their blood pressure and heart.
“It’s not just about weight loss and outward appearance,” said Maddix, adding some of her patients have been able to decrease the amount of insulin they take to manage diabetes. “Treating obesity helps to reduce or eliminate medical problems associated with obesity or made worse by obesity. It’s a program to improve overall health.”
She recommends many of her patients consume 500 calories of lean proteins as well as vegetables and fruits.
Maddix turns away people who simply want to lose a few vanity pounds. Clients must meet a criteria of a Body Mass Index of at least 27 or greater.

Critics of rapid weight loss
Not everyone agrees with the idea of using appetite suppressants and a low-calorie diet to lose weight.
Tina Fingerhoot of New Tampa, a certified strength and conditioning specialist, said eating too few calories can lower a person’s metabolism. She does not recommend eating less than 1,200 calories a day.
“Six hundred is extremely low,” she said. “For the general person that’s not something I would recommend. If you are obese, I always say start cutting calories little by little. Slowly get some exercise in – nice and easy walking or swimming.”
Just because people lose weight on low-calorie diets does not mean they are becoming fit, according to Fingerhoot. She never advises her clients take pharmaceutical appetite suppressants.
“Some of these people who take diet pills are in such a bad situation it’s either that or gastric bypass,” Fingerhoot said. “People think it’s the answer for them. It should be a lifestyle, not for right now to lose weight.”
Some diet doctors take a more conservative approach when it comes to caloric intake.
Dr. Mitch Forman, a physician and owner of New Tampa Urgent Care, recently opened a clinic in the Shoppes at New Tampa in Wesley Chapel, which offers a weight loss program along with full-service urgent care.
“There was a need in the area,” said Forman, who also has an Urgent Care facility in the Highwoods Preserve area of New Tampa. “We are doing a similar program to Medi plan but we are not putting people on ultra-low 600-calorie diets.”
His clients consume between 1,000 to 1,200 calories.
“That’s more realistic and we give them the option of a low-carb diet,” Forman said.
By prescribing appetite suppressants such as Phendimetrazine, Forman said his patients break their cycle of overeating.
Some medically supervised weight loss clinics also prescribe what Forman calls a cousin drug called Phentermine. While Phentermine is a stimulant, it does not have the extreme stimulant effect of an amphetamine.
“There are other things we can use,” he said. “It depends on their medical history and what they can tolerate.”
His patients must have a Body Mass Index that is 25 or higher so they fall in the “overweight” category.
He said many of his patients have a history of high blood pressure or diabetes.
“I see them every week and we discuss diet and exercise and more of a healthy lifestyle,” Forman said. “This is a way of giving them better health.”
In terms of self-medicating, Forman said he sees on-line pharmacies as a potentially hazardous trend. Some on-line pharmacies have a physician review a person’s request and questionnaire before mailing prescription medicine to the individual who may or may not see a physician in real life.
“I think it’s dangerous,” he said. “I think you need to consult with your personal physician. Some doctor looking at your health history over the Internet and not examining you is not safe. These are prescription medications, controlled substances.  You never know how safe it is for you.”
Maddix said most people will develop a tolerance to appetite suppressants. That’s why she, like Forman, includes education and counseling as part of the sessions.
“I absolutely love what I do,” said Maddix, who ended up in the field by chance. “There is nothing better than having someone who struggled with weight their whole life have this work for them. They feel so much better about themselves.”

A couple gets in ship shape
Charles Huffman, 30, and his wife, Carol, 28, have together lost more than 250 pounds since they started seeing Maddix in September 2006.
Huffman said he adheres to a 500 calorie diet with less than 20 grams of carbohydrates.
“My wife cooks up some creative dinners that keep us below the 500 calorie count,” he said. “We also drink a lot of water – a gallon of water a day. They put us on an appetite suppressant as well.”
Huffman said he has just 20 more pounds to lose before going on the maintenance plan, which will allow him about 1,700 calories a day.
Huffman said he never would have taken appetite suppressants without the supervision of a doctor. He is now off blood pressure medicine because of his lighter frame.
“I think this is a good way to open our minds up and to see how much we did really overeat,” he said. “We look at old pictures of ourselves and did not realize how much bigger we were back then.”
The couple recently went on a cruise. Although he was tempted by all of the buffets, Huffman said he did not gain any weight and his wife dropped a few pounds during the week of the cruise.
Why did he decide to take such an aggressive approach to losing weight?
“I need to see immediate results or I give up,” Huffman said. “We have been on many other diets and they were not fast enough.”
For information on Medi Weight Loss, 24420 S. R. 54, Lutz, call 909-1700.  For information on New Tampa Urgent Care, 1644 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., call 929-3600.

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Freedom Artist’s Dream Comes True

Posted Mar 21, 2007 by Suzanne Schmidt

Updated Mar 21, 2007 at 03:16 PM

WINS CONGRESSIONAL CHOICE AWARD

By SUZANNE M. SCHMIDT
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Irma Diaz said she couldn’t believe it when she was chosen as the winner of the Congressional Choice Award.
Diaz, a senior at Freedom High School, only entered her two mixed media pieces in the Next Generation & 11th Congressional District Student Competition, the annual high school art exhibition at the Tampa Museum of Art, because her art teacher, Jane Lewis, asked her to. She never thought she would win the award.
“I was crying because I was so excited,” Diaz said. “Even 20 minutes later, I still couldn’t believe it. I just entered two pieces I already had. It was kind of last minute. I never expected to win.”
Diaz will have her artwork on display at the U.S. Capitol representing District 11 of Florida for one year from June 2007 to June 2008. She will also represent the district in “An Artistic Discovery,” a national ceremony in Washington, D.C. recognizing the winners from districts across the country.
In addition to all the recognition, winning the award has brought Diaz closer to her dreams of attending The Savannah College of Art and Design, to which she won a $20,000 scholarship donated by the college.
“My first choice of any college has been Savannah College,” Diaz said. “It is my dream school. From everything I have heard and seen, it is exactly the environment I would hope for.”
Diaz said she intends to spend a year learning to give ultrasounds at Hillsborough Community College and then go to Savannah the following year.
“I want to have a stable job while going to school,” Diaz said. “It will be good to have a back up job just in case I don’t make a lot of money at art.”
After graduating from Savannah College of Art and Design, Diaz hopes to become an illustrator.
“I want to be an illustrator,” Diaz said. “It is a job you can do from anywhere. I want to be able to travel the world and do art to make a living.”
The possibilities are endless for Diaz right now. According to her art teacher, Diaz has been getting offers to do commissioned artwork ever since she won the award.
“I have been receiving phone calls from people as far as Sarasota,” Lewis said. “It is hard for Diaz to give up her artwork because it is so emotional for her. We figured out a way for her to do work but to not be so emotionally attached to it. Her artwork heals her, but it also heals the person buying it.”
Diaz said when she is creating pieces it is a very personal process, but she is learning to change.
“Most of my art is like journaling,” Diaz said. “I get my emotions out. It is a very personal process for me. Giving something like that away is like tearing a page out of my diary and selling it. I do think it is pretty cool people would want to buy my artwork, so I am going to try to do things and not be so emotionally attached.”
Diaz said she finds her inspiration in things many people wouldn’t normally want to see. She works with a mixture of acrylics, watercolors, collage paper, newspaper clippings and photography to create her artwork.
“I don’t have one specific style, the only same element in all my work is that I like to do things that aren’t very attractive,” Diaz said. “I like to draw things society deems as ugly and have them still be interesting. I like drawing attention to the ugly things.”
Lewis said there are many other students who have been inspired by Diaz’s success.
“It is a big deal for Freedom,” Lewis said. “Diaz is an incredible inspiration to all the up and coming artists in the school. The journals and sketch books are improving. This is the best thing that could have happened to her. It is validation for who she is.”
Lewis said Diaz is an amazing artist because of her creativity.
“There is never any repetition in her work,” Lewis said. “Every page of her sketch book is different. Her artwork is a good investment because one day she will make it big.”
Out of the 600 entries at the contest, 120 were chosen to be in a show at the Tampa Museum of Art. Only five pieces were chosen for top awards with the highest award given being the Congressional Choice Award.
For information visit http://www.tampagov.net/dept_museum/Education/index.asp.

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St. James Friends Find A Workout Partner In Jesus

Posted Mar 21, 2007 by Suzanne Schmidt

Updated Mar 21, 2007 at 03:15 PM

OUTREACH MINISTRY
DRAWS MEMBERS

By SUZANNE M. SCHMIDT
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Normally a church sanctuary is full of people worshiping God, but on Monday nights the sanctuary at St. James United Methodist Church gets a work out.
With Christian music blasting on the boombox, people from the community and from the church gather to exercise as a part of the church’s Living His Way Ministry.
Each of the classes offered at the church, 16202 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., fall under three categories: personal finance ministry, career ministry and lifestyle ministry.
Alton Tolley, coordinator for the Living His Way ministry, said the ministries started in spring 2005 as a way to meet people at their point of need.
“It is a way to introduce the church to people who are not familiar with it,” Tolley said. “I think it meets people at their need which is why we started the ministry. It is also good because it gives education to our members and the community.”
The church offers many different classes that are open to members and the public, including scrapbooking, faithful fitness, marriage recovery and divorce care. Many of the classes are free except classes that need a workbook, such as the personal finance ministry.
Each ministry must be based on a scripture verse.
“Each ministry has a scripture verse that fits that particular ministry,” Tolley said. “When a member comes up with a new idea for a ministry they take it to the leadership council to request for approval.”
Certain components are reviewed in order to decide if the church will offer the ministry.
“The ministry must be Scriptural-based,” Tolley said. “There must be a Christ-component or purpose in the ministry and it must be supported by a verse from the Scripture. There must also be people in place in order to do the ministry.”
Then if the class is approved, the council finds the time and place for it in the church.
The church started with the personal finance ministry in January 2005 and the rest have grown from there, according to Tolley. The personal finance ministry teaches people how to develop and live on a budget.
“This is not about selling stocks or bonds, it is strictly a class about budgeting,” Tolley said. “I think most people might keep track of what they spend, but they don’t actually have a budget.”
The church also offers career ministry, which is a one-day workshop, where people learn how to write a resume and interview and networking skills.
“We help people learn how to find a job or how to seek advancement within their company,” Tolley said.
Many different classes fall under the lifestyles ministry heading, including scrapbooking, faithful fitness, divorce care and marriage enrichment.
The faithful fitness class is open to all ages young, old and in-between. Tina Fingerhoot, an in-home personal trainer, leads the class.
“I came to the pastor because I wanted to do something healthy,” Fingerhoot said. “We do a lot of cardiovascular work, we use bands for strength training and we also do a lot of stretching. It is all Christian-based. We only listen to Christian music.”
Fingerhoot said the class is a great way for Christians in the community to meet other Christians and work out together.
“It is nice when people who attend the church come but it is also nice to get people from the community,” Fingerhoot said. “It is nice to get people who don’t know about Christ yet. We have a pretty good core group, but we still have room for about 12-15 more people.”
Stephanie Voth attends the workout class even though she is a member of Idlewild Baptist Church. She said she has only been attending the class for about three weeks, but she has lost almost 4 1/2 percent body fat.
“I have been on a special diet for about a month,” Voth said. “In the first week I lost only a half percent of body fat, but then I started doing this and I have lost 25 pounds already.”
The workouts have been beneficial for Voth in other ways as well.
“It is a good Christian environment,” Voth said. “We exercise to wholesome music and we are sweet and encouraging to each other. My kids can come and do what they can.”
Morgan Voth said she likes to come and work out with her mother.
“I am now stronger and more flexible,” Morgan said. “I like to spend time with my mom. This is really and upbeat and fun workout. I like to try to keep up with them.”
Mindi Yakubek leads the scrap booking class.
“It has been a hobby of mine for about a year and a half, which is also when I started the class,” Yakubek said. “I like to sit and talk. I enjoy having the fellowship of fellow Christians.”
There is no fee to attend the class. All glue, stickers, tape, scissors and other extras are provided except for paper and the book.
“They have free access to all of our materials,” Yakubek said. “When I get something new I will do a lesson, but for the most part we just work on whatever we want to work on. It is just a soothing time when we can be crafty.”
The scrapbooking class also does community outreach projects. At Christmas last year, the class created about 70 Christmas cards to give to people at Metropolitan Ministries.
Monica Castaneda is a regular in the class.
“I like to scrapbook for fun,” Castaneda said. “I like to do things for events at school. I have been doing it for a while.”
Other ministries do outreach community projects as well like the prayer shawl ministry.
“They meet the last Monday of each month and knit shawls for terminally ill patients,” Tolley said. “They take the shawls to recovering cancer patients who are going through chemotherapy. It is a time when they are especially cold, so the ministry is trying to help out.”
For information, call 977-0784, Ext. 223 or visit http://www.stjamestampa.org.

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Spring Break Camp Offers Escape For Children

Posted Mar 16, 2007 by Suzanne Schmidt

Updated Mar 16, 2007 at 01:17 PM

ABRAKADOODLE TEAMS UP WITH YOUNG CHEFS
By SUZANNE M. SCHMIDT
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During Spring Break children will have a chance to explore space, learn what it was like to be a pirate and take a trip back to Medieval times through the Spring Break Cooking and Art Adventure Camp.
The camp at Young Chefs Academy, 10335 Cross Creek Blvd., will take place March 19-21 with a morning session from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and an afternoon session from 2 to 6 p.m. The camp is open to children ages 5 to 12.
Children will be treated to three hours of cooking lessons and one hour of an art lesson. The cooking lessons will come from the franchise Young Chefs Academy while the art lessons will come from Abrakadoodle another franchise. Both businesses were opened recently in New Tampa.
Each day of the camp will have a different theme. The food cooked and the art project created will revolve around the theme.
The first day is a Knight’s Feast theme where children will be learning about medieval table settings, manners at the banquet table and how to cook roasted apples and caramel bread pudding.
“We will probably make a castle for the girls and a dragon for the boys out of model magic,” said Tony Capobianco, owner of Abrakadoodle in New Tampa.
The second day will be themed around pirates and children will learn about what pirates eat and will learn how to make a treasure map.
“It is not just about cooking,” Rocio Herrada, owner of Young Chefs Academy in New Tampa said. “The children will also be able to learn about what it was like to be a pirate. They will learn about the different types of pirates and the different things they ate.”
The third day will be themed supper in space. Children will learn about what the astronauts eat in space.
In the art portion of the day, the children will be learning about Van Gogh and will be trying to recreate a version of his Starry Nights painting.
“We will teach the kids about the artist,” Capobianco said. “Then they do their interpretation of it. Many of the children really enjoy this lesson.”
Herrada said children will learn about six recipes a day.
“They get to cook and eat what they make,” Herrada said. “They do all the prep with the chopping and the mixing.
The only thing they don’t do is get near the stoves or ovens,” he added. “It is nice because most children won’t try different things, but when they are making it themselves, they want to try it.”
Herrada just opened her doors a few months ago.
She said she likes the franchise because of the valuable lessons it teaches children.
Through the Young Chefs curriculum children ages 3 and older learn the importance of proper food handling, food preparation, cooking and baking techniques,                presentation, table setting                       and manners.
Capobianco started Abrakadoodle in New Tampa at the end of last year.
He still does not have his own location but he usually holds classes at The Learning Express in New Tampa as well as at various schools in the area.
Abrakadoodle is an art education franchise with curriculum for children from 20 months to sixth grade.
“We focus on process art,” Capobianco said. “We teach them how to get to the finished product and are not   just focused on the end product. We focus on motor     skills and hand-eye coordination.”
There are basically four different themes including a pirate theme, a studio 1 theme focusing on master and contemporary artists, anime, which is a style of Japanese animation, and pop art, which focuses on artists like Andy Warhol.
“We use all different medias,” Capobianco said. “We teach them to use watercolor markers, sculpture and painting. Everything we teach is age appropriate.”
Registration for the camp will be taken up until the day before the event.
Both new businesses also offer birthday parties and will be offering summer camps.
For information about Abrakadoodle, visit http://www.abrakadoodle.com, or call 866-5437.
For information about Young Chefs Academy, visit http://www.youngchefsacademy.com or call 929-3338.

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Chiles Students Perform In Symphony

Posted Mar 16, 2007 by Suzanne Schmidt

Updated Mar 16, 2007 at 01:14 PM

SANG WITH FLORIDA BOYCHOIR

By SUZANNE M. SCHMIDT
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Two Chiles Elementary School students had the chance of a lifetime when they performed in the Lord of the Rings Symphony at Mahaffey Theater Feb. 21-22.
Music teacher Jennifer LeBlanc nominated fifth-graders Cameron Barker and James Rose.
“In early November, public school teachers got a flier from the Florida Boychoir,” LeBlanc said. “James and Cameron instantly came to mind. I contacted their parents and they went in for the audition. I thought it was such a unique and wonderful opportunity for them. I am so glad they took the time to do it.”
Barker and Rose auditioned and were selected to sing with the Florida Boychoir for the performance. The Florida Orchestra, University of South Florida University and Chamber Singers choir and Clearwater Christian College choir performed together for the symphony.
The Boychoir had to perform songs from the trilogy, which meant learning the elfish dialect from Tolkien’s books.
“It was really an astonishing program,” LeBlanc said. “I couldn’t believe the lyrics they had to learn. They had to learn a whole new language. I am very proud of both of them. They are both so outgoing and naturally talented.”
The Boychoir practiced for the symphony throughout December and January with the Boychoir Choirmaster and founder Brian Collar. Markus Huber of Germany was the symphony’s guest conductor for the performances.
“It was a lot of fun,” Rose said. “The practices weren’t boring. We had a wonderful instructor. He (Brian Collar) always told a lot of jokes.”
Both Barker and Rose said they enjoyed performing on stage and hope to continue to do so.
“I would like to be able to perform my whole life,” Barker said. “I like acting. I have been in a lot of plays. I have had the lead and have been in the supporting cast. I enjoy seeing the audience applause. I know I did a good job and I know everybody enjoyed.”
Barker and Rose were offered a chance to audition and continue to perform with the Boychoir. Barker decided to stay with the Boychoir and is also a member of the Falcon’s Pride Chorus at his school.
“I love to perform in front of people,” Rose said. “It wasn’t as nerve-racking as I thought it would be. I would maybe like to be in music when I grow up.”
Rose decided not to join the Boychoir, but is a member of the Advanced Hand Bells Choir at his school.
Rita Barker, Cameron’s mother, said she was really impressed with the performance.
“An opportunity like this doesn’t come along everyday for students this age,” Barker said. “It was a wonderful experience for them. They had a chance to see what it is like to work with people in the music profession.”
The symphony not only featured music, there were also original storyboards and illustrations from the film trilogy projected on a large screen for the audience.
“It was an amazing visual journey along with the musical journey,” Barker said. “It was very effective in carrying the audience along.”
Mark Rose, James’ father, said he thought the performance was amazing.
“I think it was really neat,” Rose said. “He certainly enjoyed it. He likes doing things in the performing arts world, but this is the first time he sang. He really liked what he was doing.”

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New Tampa Area Realtors Market To Single Women

Posted Mar 15, 2007 by Laura Cone

Updated Mar 15, 2007 at 12:59 PM

By LAURA CONE
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A decade ago some single women looked at the purchase of their own home as a sign of failure in the love department. But Realtors in the New Tampa area are catering more to single women – never married, divorced or widowed – who view owning their own home as not only a symbol of their personal success, but a necessity for their desired lifestyle.
According to the National Association of Realtors, married couples account for 61 percent of all homes purchased while single women now purchase 22 percent. Single men account for 9 percent of purchases.
Whether the rising number of women purchasing homes is related to high divorce rates, better income for females or the fact that many women are waiting longer to get married, Realtors notice the trend.
Julie Noyas, a broker and realtor with FireHouse Realty in New Tampa, said Realtors are used to satisfying women’s homebuying preferences because typically it’s the woman who controls the decision even when it’s a couple searching for a new home.
“Even when you have a husband and a wife, the woman usually takes charge,” Noyas said. “She has been in charge the whole time.”
Noyas said she has seen an increase in the number of single women buying not just condominiums and townhouses, but single-family homes in the New Tampa area. A few single women purchase homes in Florida for their second or vacation homes, she said.
She said most single women tend to hire a lawn-mowing service to take care of their yards. They also look for communities with amenities such as fitness rooms and swimming pools.
She said her female clients are attracted to New Tampa because they are looking for homes that require little or no maintenance. Most of her single female clients want homes less than 3 years old.
“I think people from out of state who are researching on the Internet hear a lot about New Tampa,” she said. “They are attracted to the area because it is relatively new.  They know they have better building codes. That is a big concern when they are looking for a home.”
She said single women want to live in homes that are safe in case of hurricanes as well as neighborhoods that are safe because security is usually a high priority.
Her female clients are savvy about finance and make sure they have a home warranty and thorough inspection. They also look for neighborhoods with easy access to major roads.
Noyas said she often reads articles in real estate trade journals about how to market to single women.
“I like seeing it,” she said. “Women feel a little more secure in their skin going forward.”
Noyas said the kitchen and bathrooms with modern appliances are equally important to her single female clients.
“A second bath is real important,” she said. “Most of them are having guests come over and they like easy access from a bathroom to the guest bedroom.”
While women with children tend to worry about schools and recreation for the entire family, single women have different priorities, Noyas said. They aren’t as concerned about the bonus room, playrooms and family rooms.
“She is going to be looking at what is easy for her,” Noyas said. “She may ask whether the neighborhood safe or if there are things to do. She is looking at kitchens and bathrooms.”
Michael Mann, a broker associate with Century 21 Bill Nye Realty in Wesley Chapel and the treasurer for the East Pasco Association of Realtors, said he has noticed an increasing number of younger people moving to the Zephyrhills and surrounding area.
“I’m working with a single woman right now,” Mann said. “She came up from Naples and bought a house in Zephyrhills. In today’s society they are becoming more independent. A lot of them are working for themselves and they can buy homes on their own.”
Mann said his client bought a three bedroom, two bath home with 1,500 square feet.
Mann also observed single women care most about the kitchen and bathrooms.
Mann said women often have the most influence in terms of the home purchase when they are buying as a married person.
“Usually women are making the decision,” Mann said. “If it’s OK with them, it’s OK with the husband. I’d say more so than not, women have a strong influence on what’s going to happen.”

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Baby Machines

Posted Mar 15, 2007 by Laura Cone

Updated Mar 15, 2007 at 12:57 PM

By LAURA CONE
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With 3-D/4D ultrasound technology, 26-year-old April Simons of Land O’ Lakes was able to put a name to her baby’s face.
Simons, who is eight months pregnant, decided with her husband, Robert, to name their son, Tristan.
They knew they were having a boy at 12 weeks.
“There is so much more we know now,” said Simons, who recently had an ultrasound for entertainment – not diagnostic purposes – at Look Who’s Kickin’ Ultrasounds. “My mom had one sonogram with me and they thought I was a boy. They did not have any clue 27 years ago. Now it’s so enlightening.”
Look Who’s Kickin’, which opened in January in Lutz, is one of an increasing number of ultrasound and maternity spas that cater to pregnant women who are hoping for a sneak peak of their babies.
With advanced ultrasound technology, parents can see their babies sleep, suck their thumbs, stretch and yawn.
With the baby boom in the New Tampa area, business owners such as Erica Hoskins, 27, say they are catering to a growing trend.
“This place gives you baby fever,” said Hoskins, who is trying to have her first child with her husband, Jay. “This area of is full of young families. Babies and pregnant mommies are everywhere. It’s a young family area.”
She said some fathers cry when they see their child for the first time.
Hoskins, a sonographer, calls her Look Who’s Kickin’ an all-inclusive “pregnancy cafe,” and “ultrasound spa and boutique,” which offers three-dimensional, color ultrasound images and video for pregnant women and their families.
Babies in 3D on Amberly Drive in Tampa Palms also offers 3D/4D ultrasound sessions with multiple monitors positioned for viewing by the expectant mother and guests.
Stacy Wills of Wesley Chapel, a sonographer who works at Look Who’s Kickin’, says she had an ultrasound when she was pregnant with her 1-year-old daughter, Veronica.
“When she was born she looked exactly like she did in her 3D picture,” Wills said. “I knew she would have my husband’s lips and not mine. She had my husband’s cheeks.”
Wills said she was surprised by how the experience affected her husband, Horacio’s attitude.
“My husband got more and more attached and nurturing to me after the sonogram,” Wills said. “He would ask, ‘Are you hungry? Is the baby hungry?’ He was a lot more caring.”
Simons said she liked the atmosphere at Look Who’s Kickin’ with its hardwood floors, granite countertops, plants, candles and framed baby artwork by photographer Ryan Joseph of Ybor City.
“It is very soothing and calming to have a nice atmosphere,” Simons said. “It has Zen-like quality.”
Hoskins simply calls her 1,200-square-foot professional space, “groovy.”
Hoskins said she wants clients, family and friends to feel at home. She can accommodate up to about a dozen friends and family members who can watch the action on a 42-inch plasma monitor.
“They get to be part of the experience and spend 45 minutes looking at their baby,” said Hoskins, adding fathers are taking a more active role in pregnancies.
“Back in the day it was ‘I’m pregnant.’ Now it’s ‘We are pregnant.’ Dads don’t want to miss anything,” Hoskins said.
Amy Rivera of Land O’ Lakes, a massage therapist and doula at Look Who’s Kickin’,  pampers pregnant women with a soft massage. She only performs massages on women during the second and third trimester. They also offer pedicures for pregnant women as well as guests.
“I’ve always wanted to be in the mix of the pregnancy scene,” said Rivera, who has daughters named Talia, 8, and Stacia, 7. “I think we all enjoy what we do. We have the same passion – wanting to be a part of the experience.”
For information on Look Who’s Kickin’, 22953 State Road 54, Lutz, call 909-8080.

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LifeSource Family Chiropractic Opens In Wesley Chapel

Posted Feb 27, 2007 by Laura Cone

Updated Feb 27, 2007 at 01:03 PM

LifeSource Family Chiropractic Opens In Wesley Chapel
OWNERS SHARE LOVE, VISION FOR PRACTICE

By LAURA CONE
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Some women fall in love while watching a romantic movie or dancing to a slow song.
Erica Bergheiemer, a chiropractor with LifeSource Family Chiropractic, fell in love with her fiancé while learning about chiropractic adjustments and supporting organizations such as the World Chiropractic Association.
Bergheiemer, 31, and Jonathan Berns, 30, of Wesley Chapel met while attending Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa. They graduated in 2004 and 2005.
They opened LifeSource Family Chiropractic in the Shoppes at New Tampa
Feb. 1.
“I first met him at school and right off the bat I noticed he was a leader,” Bergheiemer said. “He was involved in the groups and organizations I wanted to be in. He was in charge of a lot of things I felt strongly about. His vision was big and so was mine.”
She said the couple had a friendship for two years, which eventually developed into a deeper relationship. She said the two began talking about their vision for their own office and realized they shared the same idea. They wanted a family-oriented practice where they could improve other people’s lives.
Bergheiemer is originally from Warwick R. I., while Berns is from Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
They plan to be married Oct. 27 in Sand Key.
While Bergheiemer first learned about chiropractic care because her parents and sister went to a chiropractor for help with everything from allergies to thyroid problems, Berns was born into the chiropractic field. He had a home birth and has never had a drug or a vaccination. His father, Donald Berns, is also a chiropractor.
Berns said they decided to move to New Tampa after visiting the area.
“She is from the East Coast and I’m from the Midwest so Florida was a compromise where we could both by happy for the rest of our lives,” Berns said.
He said one-third of their patients are children, although they see people of all ages.
Children often have problems such as asthma, allergies, chronic ear infections or constipation.
“If the spine is not in proper alignment, it can cause a certain part of the body to malfunction,” he said. “We remove the inference by adjusting the spine and that allows the body to heal naturally.”
They have an office manager and two massage therapists who work out of their 2,000-square-feet office. They have state-of-the-art software including touch screens to check in and offer computerized scans.
Berns said they are looking forward to their fall wedding overlooking the water.
“We fell in love and we both share a strong love for the profession,” he said. “It’s been both of our dreams. What better way to spend the rest of your life than practicing your dream with the person you love.”
Bergheiemer said one of the common misconceptions is that chiropractic care is about cracking bones or alleviating back and neck pain.
“Really we are nervous system specialists,” she said. “We help people with anything the nervous system controls – the ability to heal, the ability to get over colds.”
She said chiropractic care helps athletes with reaction time and healing time and can ease heart burn.
“We want to have a very vibrant, upbeat place where people are healing and bringing in family and friends because they understand the importance of chiropractic and true health without drugs and surgery,” Bergheiemer said.
For information on LifeSource Family Chiropractic, 1722 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Wesley Chapel, call 929-3700.

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Spice It Up With Indian Food

Posted Feb 26, 2007 by Suzanne Schmidt

Updated Feb 26, 2007 at 01:02 PM

GROCERY STORE OPENS IN NEW TAMPA

By SUZANNE M. SCHMIDT
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For some, Indian food is a regular part of their diet and for others it is a mystery.

Hinal Shingala knows all about Indian food. She and her family are from Gujarat, India, but have lived in New Tampa for the last six years. She recently opened Spices of India Grocery in New Tampa, 15343 Amberly Drive.

Shingala said the thing that sets Indian food apart from other foods is the spices.

“In India, people’s kitchen cabinets are filled with spices,” Shingala said. “Not everybody uses the same spices. It varies by region, but many of the spices used are similar.”

She stocks the shelves with everything she can to provide anyone trying to cook Indian food with all the groceries they could need.

“Cooking is my hobby,” Shingala said. “I have tried to make the store like a store you might find in India. I remember what the small groceries used to be like before they
became so commercialized and I tried to bring that feeling here.”

She said the types of food and how it is prepared varies in different regions of India. There are typically three meals served a day with lunch being the largest.

The first meal served is at breakfast time and it usually consists of a hot tea, boiled with tea leaves, milk, ginger and sugar, and usually a sweet snack.

The second meal is served at lunchtime and is the biggest meal of the day. Usually at this meal, bread, rice, soup and a vegetable or meat is served. Typically the meat served would consist of chicken, lamb, fish or goat. The bread served is either a nan, baratha or a roti.

Of course, after lunch is, dessert.

“Many deserts are made with milk and wheat flour,” Shingala said. “Some are served hot and some are served cool. We have plenty of sweets here in the store.”

The third meal is served at dinner time and it is usually kept light. There is usually bread and one vegetable or a meat dish served with rice or soup.

While in India, Shingala received her master’s degree in home economics. She said her degree is comparative to a dietitian here.

“If someone is interested in learning about Indian food, we can guarantee we will have everything they need,” Shingala said. “We have freezers with already made meals and we have all the ingredients you could need to make Indian food.”

Shingala said she has given out plenty of advice to help people learn to cook Indian food.

Mahesh Shingala, Hinal’s husband, said he has seen a nice mix of people from India and people who are not in the store.

“We see about half and half,” Mahesh Shingala said. “We give advice about how to cook the food. Most Indian dishes are good for health-conscience people. Most of the food is low fat and there isn’t much junk food.”

In addition to the groceries, the store also rents Bollywood DVDs and CDs and sells health and beauty products and herbal remedies. For information, call 971-9131.

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Singles Feel Left Out On Valentine’s Day

Posted Feb 15, 2007 by Suzanne Schmidt

Updated Feb 15, 2007 at 02:02 PM

I have never – in my life – had a good Valentine’s Day.
Whether I was single or not, it was always a day of disappointment for me. I think it is unfair to have a holiday exclusively for couples.
I am single, and therefore, I have no special someone taking me out or buying me presents, but that is not why I am bitter.
Valentine’s Day is too commercialized. I remember when I was a child in school we would always give each other Valentine’s and there was always a party with cupcakes and chocolates.
It was all very simple then and just good clean fun. Then, once I got older and started dating, everything changed.
We just finally get over the sting in the pocketbook from Christmas and here we are, spending all this time and money trying to figure out the perfect gift.
I always thought the day should be more about just spending time with the person you love and not about how much money was spent.
Lately, I have been seeing ads on the television, in the newspaper and on the radio to buy jewelry or take your special someone out to a restaurant or some other form of entertainment.
Every other commercial I see couples sharing a meal or a kiss. I am quite sick of it at this point and I will be glad when it is all over. It has just become a day for couples to spend more money on each other and a day for all singles to feel left out.
I don’t really see the point of Valentine’s Day. I think if you love someone, you shouldn’t wait for that one day out of the year to express it. I think that it would make more sense to show that special someone how much you care all year round.
I think too many holidays are getting bogged down by the commercialism. I don’t think any holiday should revolve around what a person is giving you.
A person’s love should never be measured by how much money they are willing to spend. It shouldn’t matter what the present is. It should matter how much a person cares.
While pondering the meaning of Valentine’s Day, I decided to do a little research. There are a few stories about Saint Valentine that might be the influence behind the day.
One legend tells of Valentine as a priest. When an emperor decided he didn’t want his potential soldiers getting married, because they would be better fighters if they didn’t have wives and families, he banned marriage.
Saint Valentine still helped couples to wed anyway and for that he was killed. Other stories state Valentine was killed because he helped Christians escape from Roman prisons. Yet another story might explain why we call each other Valentine.
It was St. Valentine himself who sent the first Valentine’s greeting when he wrote a letter and signed it “From Your Valentine” while he was in prison. These are all stories about a man who believed in romance and was willing to sacrifice for it.
So where did things go wrong? It started out as a story about a man who believed in love and romance and has now turned into a day of giving each other flowers, candy and jewelry.
Even though I don’t like Valentine’s Day, I do hope couples out there enjoy the day. Enjoy your chocolates, roses and fancy dinners. Take the time to love each other and forget about the rest. That is my advice.

Suzanne Schmidt is a reporter for In The Loop.

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Churces Bide Time In Shopping Centers, Schools

Posted Feb 15, 2007 by Suzanne Schmidt

Updated Feb 15, 2007 at 01:59 PM

AVERAGE 7-YEAR WAIT FOR CHURCH CONSTRUCTION

By SUZANNE M. SCHMIDT
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With the high price of real estate in New Tampa, many churches have adapted by finding non-traditional meeting spaces.
Some churches find the mobility to be a blessing, while others have just been biding their time until they could finally find a place to call home.
After about four years of meeting at Liberty Middle School, St. Andrew Presbyterian Church will finally have a place of its own. St. Andrew’s offers a 10 a.m. service.
“It has taken a while to get to this point,” said the Rev. David Shelor. “On average it takes about seven years before a church gets into a building. We had a lot of issues finding land. The price of property has skyrocketed and it has made it difficult.”
After a few deals had fallen through, the church looked to an unconventional location, the Tampa Palms Professional Shopping Center.
“We expect to break ground this month, while we are still trying to raise money,” Shelor said. “We hope to be in by the end of this year. We are very fortunate to have found a spot in the center. We like the significance of that. Rather than separate ourselves in our own plot of land, we will be in the middle of where people live and work.”
Shelor said he is excited about getting into their own space because of all the options it will open up to them.
“We will have a main building with a worship space, nursery and classrooms,” Shelor said. “The second building will have a place for the classrooms. We certainly hope to expand our services. With our own building we will have more opportunity to offer services to the community during the week and on Sunday.”
The Rev. Dean Reule, pastor of Cypress Pointe Community Church, said he is looking forward to their building being finished for the same reason. The church has a plot of land at the corner of Cross Creek Boulevard and Morris Bridge Road.
“We will have the opportunity to do ministry seven days a week,” Reule said. “Being in our own building will afford us all new opportunities. We will be able to do more for the community”
The non-denominational church, has been meeting at the New Tampa Muvico Starlight 20 since 2000. Sunday mornings the church uses five theaters for children, youth and adult services at 9 a.m. and 10:15 a.m.
“When we got started in May 1998, there was no place to meet,” Reule said. “We contacted the owners of Muvico while it was still being built. They don’t show films on Sunday mornings, so it was a win-win situation for both groups involved.”
The church’s first building is currently under construction and is expected to be finished in August.
“The plan was always to have our own campus,” Reule said. “We purchased the land and have been paying it off. The 30,000-square-foot building has been paid for all through generous contributions. I feel really happy for the people of the church; they have worked so hard to see this goal accomplished.”
The Rev. Steve Wells, pastor of North Pointe Church, said having church at Wharton High School has many benefits. The southern Baptist church meets 10:30 a.m. on Sunday.
“We have been meeting here for two and a half years,” Wells said. “We use the auditorium and the cafeteria. The community is growing so rapidly and the property is so scarce.”
Wells enjoys the freedom of having a mobile church.
“Most churches that meet in a building have fixed audio gear,” Wells said. “If we have an opportunity to perform or go to another location, we have a portable sound system. We are able to pick up and go out into the community and we can take our entire church set up.”
Another reason Wells likes the school as a meeting place is for the neutrality.
“We don’t have any of the elements that might intimidate a person,” Wells said. “We use a contemporary method of meeting people; it is not such a sterile environment. So even if a person doesn’t see themselves as a religious person, they can come. Since it is at a high school, it is more on neutral ground.”
The church enjoys the freedom and the space they have at the high school. There are no plans to move into a building of their own one day.
“This is a great way to grow with the community,” Wells said. “We have unlimited facility space that supports dynamic growth. If we need another room, we just pay for another room that week. The auditorium seats 850 people. The location is perfect.”
For more information about St. Andrew’s visit http://www.saintandy.com or call 907-3057. For more information about Cypress Pointe visit http://www.cpcconline.com or call 973-0314. For more information about North Pointe visit http://www.thenpc.org or call 545-9420.

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Let’s Eat Gives Dieters Gourmet Choices

Posted Feb 8, 2007 by Laura Cone

Updated Feb 8, 2007 at 03:08 PM

By LAURA CONE
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As a diabetic, Dr. Albert Ford of Land O’ Lakes turned to a nutritionist who recommended the take-and-bake Let’s Eat in Tampa Palms.
“To me, it’s gourmet food,” said Ford, who pays a little extra money to have the meals prepared for him. “That’s what I like – the flavor and the taste.”
Ford said he watches his portion size and tries to reduce sugar in his diet.
“I’m trying to lose weight,” he said. “It’s portion controlled and it tastes good. That’s why I am here.”
Susan Andrews, the owner of Let’s Eat in The Pointe at Tampa Palms, said customers may either pick up prepared meals or prepare the dishes in her professional kitchen. Customers may omit various seasonings, oils and ingredients if they choose to accommodate their special diet.
Andrews said there are nine Let’s Eat businesses in Florida. Executive chef Jessica Raia-Long of South Tampa creates the menus.
Andrews said many people like the fact they can control the ingredients in the dishes. If an individual likes capers but does not like garlic, they can alter the recipe posted at the prep stations.
“I think people enjoy the atmosphere and a lot of people like the social aspect,” she said.
Customers reserve kitchen time at Let’s Eat. They visit http://www.letseatdinner.com and pick entrees and kitchen time. The ingredients are already chopped and ready for assembly.
Some of the January menu items included beef medallions in brandy sauce, coconut encrusted shrimp, Asian beef stir-fry, Caribbean pork and quiche Lorraine. The chicken rustica pasta consisted of bow tie pasta with grilled chicken, olives, red bell peppers, capers, garlic and parmesan cheese. Vegetarians omit the chicken.
A 3-ounce serving of the Gasa Puttanesa dish, a white fish with garlic, tomatoes, capers and olives, contains 220 calories, 8 grams of fat, 3 grams of fiber and 27 grams of protein.
A serving of the minestrone soup has 260 calories, 8 grams of fat, 2 grams of fiber and 16 grams of protein. Their homestyle chicken pot pie has 260 calories, 8 grams of fat, 2 grams of fiber, 16 grams of protein and 2 grams of sugar per serving.
In February, she plans to provide beef medallion kabobs with mustard glaze, Thai turkey burgers with a pineapple chutney, chicken picatta and rosemary and apple pork loin chops.
Andrews offers a Take 2 Tuesday during which customers may come in between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. without an appointment and prepare one or two family-sized entrees for $20 each. It typically takes 15 to 30 minutes to prepare the meals which feed four to six people, she said. She is now offering a similar Take 2 Fridays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Customers receive instructions about how to bake the meals.
On March 2 she plans to host a special cocktail reception and fundraiser for Prevent Blindness Florida. Fifty percent of all proceeds from the day’s meal preparations will be donated to Prevent Blindness.
For more information on Let’s Eat, 17024 Palm Pointe Drive, Tampa, call 615-9303.

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