Lutz News-Lutz/Odessa-April 2, 2014

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Lutz game company goes mobile By Michael Murillo mmurillo@lakerlutznews.com

If you’re one of the millions of people who play video games on a computer, cellphone or mobile device, you might imagine that the games come from a giant complex in Silicon Valley, or a high tech company in a foreign country. But sometimes they come from Lutz. “We are a carefully-guarded secret treasure of Lutz, and we love being here,” said Adam Bohn, chief executive of Artix Entertainment. The company began in 2002 in Bohn’s spare bedroom, and today the company employs nearly 50 people and operates out of Northpointe Village. Artix has had great success creating online role-playing games, also known as RPGs, and massively multiplayer online games, or MMOs, that are playable through an Internet browser. The company boasts more than 170 million players who have signed up for the games, which are free to play with upgrades and other in-game advantages available at a price. But with a trend toward mobile-platform gaming,Artix didn’t want players leaving the company’s games at home with their computers. So, after eight months of development, they’ve recently entered the

COURTESY OF ADAM BOHN

Adam Bohn isn’t big on traditional business attire, but his Lutz-based company, Artix Entertainment, is big on video games. Their latest offering, ‘Battle Gems,’ is their first on mobile platforms.

mobile game market with “Battle Gems,” a free game that combines puzzle, fighting and role-playing elements. Players can battle more than 100 different foes, collect items and complete quests,

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bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com

When Trish Trout runs with thousands of racers at the 118th Boston Marathon in April, she’ll cross an item off her bucket list. “Boston is the crown jewel of running, and coming from a non-elite running status, it always seemed like it was a dream too far out of reach,” the 39-year-old mother of two said. The Wesley Chapel woman couldn’t picture qualifying and she knew the only other way would be to run for a charity, something she couldn’t quite foresee happening. But one of her co-workers encouraged her to see if she could run for a charity. He told her:“If you can get in, I will help you with fundraising.” So,Trout decided to try, and was accepted to run as part of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge. Last year’s bombings in Boston didn’t dissuade her from the desire to run the 26.2-mile race. “It motivates me more,”Trout said.“It has given me a way to show my kids,‘Yes, there are people who do bad things, but if we let that stop us, then we let them win.’” Her daughter Alexa attends Wiregrass Ranch High School, and her son Adam attends John Long Middle School.They’ll both be in Boston to watch their mom run. “People ask me,‘Are you sure you want to take your kids there?’”Trout said.“I say, ‘Absolutely, there’s no greater sense of accomplishment than seeing your kids in an environment where everyone who is there is there for the same reason, to accomplish something that is greater than themselves.’” She knows it’s no easy feat to complete a marathon. And she realizes she is not the

all through their cellphone or tablet.The entire game can be played with no cost to the user, Bohn said, but faster play options and

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Running the Boston Marathon is on Trout’s ‘bucket list’ By B.C. Manion

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Trish Trout says she’ll complete the Boston Marathon even if she has to crawl or roll across the finish line.

ideal candidate to make the run. “If you look at me, I’m not built to be a runner,”Trout said. But she’s determined to make it happen. “I will crawl. I will roll. It doesn’t matter. I will cross that finish line on the day that I’m supposed to,”Trout said. Trout has run in a half-dozen halfmarathons and began training for the Boston Marathon around September. Generally, she does her shorter runs on weekday evenings — making her way through the neighborhoods of Meadow Pointe and Plantation Palms. She prefers running in the road because the pavement is easier on her knees and hips than sidewalks. She does longer runs on the weekends. Trout, who is a quality assurance analyst for a software company, enjoys running for causes. She ran a Gasparilla 15-kilometer on See MARATHON, page 14

Lisa Bekiaris can’t remember any time where the welfare of animals wasn’t forefront on her mind. She grew up around animals in Maryland, and was always quite involved with her 4-H program there.When Bekiaris moved to Florida several years ago, she stayed busy with work and other projects. But in 2008, she read a newspaper story that would change her focus. “It was a story about the tough times people were having, and many of them couldn’t even afford pet food,” she said. While a lot of needed attention goes to finding pets a home, there are many times when pets might have a home, but because of financial or health issues of their owners, their bellies go empty. Or just as bad, they are full, but their owners are not. “I have had people tell me, ‘I didn’t eat today because I had to buy dog food,’” See CHANCE, page 14

Daphne is just one of the many animals whose pet bowls have been filled, thanks to Raffle Rescue’s efforts throughout the county.


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