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LAND O’ LAKES/LUTZ EDITION
MARCH 4, 2015
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KATHY STEELE/STAFF PHOTOS
Molly Flanagan, 14, sets up her slap shot at the groundbreaking ceremony for the largest ice and sports complex in the southeastern United States.
Ice rink skates into Pasco By Kathy Steele
ksteele@lakerlutznews.com
The traditional gear of hard hats and shovels gave way to hockey sticks and the whack of slap shots at the groundbreaking ceremony for the largest ice and sports complex in the southeastern United States. The 150,000-square-foot sports facility in Wesley Chapel is expected to become a
major tourism draw. Roughly 100 people attended the Feb. 24 groundbreaking festivities to celebrate the $20 million project. The facility is expected to be popular with youth hockey leagues and to attract international hockey tournaments. But other sports including figure skating, basketball, soccer, lacrosse and even curling will be possible in a chameleon-like facility that can accommodate
a variety of playing fields and sports. It’s a dream come true for Canadian-born Gordie Zimmermann, managing partner of Z Mitch LLC and former general manager at the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon. He and business partner George Mitchell are the project’s developers. “I really love hockey,” Zimmermann said. See ICE, page7A
Putting his best foot forward Stephen Levin is state podiatry president By Michael Murillo
mmurillo@lakerlutznews.com
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B INSIDE, PAGE 1B
When Stephen Levin was younger, he wanted to be an architect. He even studied it in college. But then, his career path changed. “I didn’t get into the architecture program,” Levin said.“I was studying architecture as an undergraduate, and it didn’t work out.” Eventually, he found a way to study a different kind of arch. He went into medicine, and became a podiatrist. The 44-year-old has been a podiatrist for 16 years. In addition to having a successful practice, New Tampa Foot & Ankle, the Wesley Chapel resident has been elected the 2015 president of the Florida Podiatric Medical Association. “It feels good,” Levin said of being named as the organization’s leader. “It’s definitely something I never thought I’d do, but its definitely nice to be here and to be involved in that part,” Levin said. As president, Levin said he’d like to focus on increasing membership and adding younger members to the roster. The FPMA has around 1,000 active podiatrists in its membership, as well as past members and others who have reasons to join. But to those outside the organization, Levin would like to spread the word that a podiatrist can do more than the general
MICHAEL MURILLO/STAFF PHOTO
Dr. Stephen Levin has plenty of models, but the podiatrist enjoys treating his real-life patients at New Tampa Foot & Ankle on Foggy Creek Road in Wesley Chapel. He recently was selected to be president of the Florida Podiatric Medical Association.
public probably realizes. “Some people don’t know the full scope of what we do. That’s probably the biggest thing we have to overcome. “What does a podiatrist do?” he continued. “It’s not just going to get your corns taken care of,” he said. Podiatrists handle problems and care issues related to the foot, ankle and other areas just below the knee. They can help treat sports injuries, provide diabetic care, and address other forms of trauma, as well as routine foot care.
Different communities have different medical needs, Levin said. A community that is overwhelmingly populated by seniors means a podiatrist serving that area will see the same types of patients and problems every day. That might get a bit boring day-in and day-out, but he doesn’t have that problem in Wesley Chapel. His patients run the spectrum from toddlers to seniors, and that means he sees a variety of podiatric problems. See FOOT, page7A
Eagle Scout’s gazebo project benefits church By Michael Murillo
mmurillo@lakwerlutznews.com
Eighteen-year-old Robert Sturm has been a scout most of his life. He became a Tiger Scout when he was 5 and has been involved in scouting ever since. He’s also attended First United Methodist Church of Land O’ Lakes since he was quite young, too. In fact, the church formed his first scout packs and troops. So, when it came time to choose an Eagle Scout project, an important part of qualifying for the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America, it was pretty easy to decide to combine the two together. “I’ve been going there my whole life,”
COURTESY OF THE STURM FAMILY
Robert Sturm’s project not only helps the church, it helped him earn his Eagle Scout designation. His Eagle Court of Honor was held at First United Methodist Church of Land O’ Lakes last year.
Sturm said about the church. “And they sup- Lakes Blvd. port our troop, too, so it’s nice to be able to The idea was to create a place where give back to them.” church members and their families can With help from around a dozen people, enjoy the comforts of a covered outdoor Sturm managed a project to create a gazebo See GAZEBO, page7A for the church, located at 6209 Land O’