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From The Co-Editor Alexis Selby
Veteran Romulo "Romy" Camargo Named as Recipient for the Valentines for a Veteran Benefit Gala All American Music Events is proud to announce local New Tampa resident and veteran Romulo "Romy" Camargo as this year’s recipient for the Valentines for a Veteran Benefit Gala. Romy, who was also chosen to be this year’s Grand Marshall for the Gasparilla parade, will also have his story premier February 28th on History Channel's "Live To Tell".
About Romulo "Romy" Camargo
quadriplegics and paraplegics the ability to stand and exercise. All Proceeds from this event benefit will be donated to Romulo and Gaby's SCI Foundation, Inc. Stay In Step Foundation is a not-for profit corporation organized under Florida law. Visit www.stayinstep.org and their event Facebook page Valentines for Veterans Benefit Gala for more information.
Valentines for Veterans Benefit Gala
eran Romulo Camargo. All Proceeds from this event will be donated to Romulo and Gaby's SCI Foundation, Inc. Stay In Step Foundation is a notfor profit corporation organized under Florida law. The event will have, single, couple, table and corporate table options available. You can purchase your ticket here: Valentines for Veterans Benefit Gala Tickets Valentines for Veterans Benefit Gala will be held on February 14 at StoneChef Catering & Events, located at 1930 East 7th Avenue in Tampa from 5:30pm – 9pm. Attire is formal/semi-formal.
Romy was an Army Special Forces officer who was shot in the neck and paralyzed from the shoulders down during an ambush in Afghanistan in 2008. This past spring, after 20 years in the service, he retired. Along with his wife, Gaby, Camargo now runs the Tampa-based “Stay in Step,” which is a non-profit spinal cord injury recovery center that provides rehab programs and equipment and allows for
February 14, from 5:30pm – 9pm, at StoneChef Catering & Events, located at 1930 East 7th Avenue in Tampa Join Stay in Step as they host a night of live entertainment, appetizers, a 4 course Dinner and dessert, raffle, silent auction, key note speakers and dancing as they honor Veterans, and fundraise for hometown hero and Vet-
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Community Calendar & News Briefs
GKA presents Abstract Atmosphere of Art Abstract Atmosphere of Art, a multi-media kinetic art experience featuring 135 original works of Mark Gonzalez will be showcased at the Carrollwood Cultural Center, located at 4537 Lowell Road in Tampa, now through February 29. For more information please call (813) 269-1310.
Nar-Anon Family Groups Upcoming Meetings The Nar-Anon Family Groups are a worldwide fellowship for those affected by someone else’s addiction. As a twelve-step program, they offer their help by sharing their experience, strength and hope. Thursdays, 7:00 p.m., Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 2348 Collier Pkwy. (Immaculata Hall - Rm. E Back Entrance) Tuesdays, 7:00 p.m., Hope Church, 5107 Lutz Lake Fern Rd., Lutz. Mondays, 7:00 p.m., Turning Point - Mary Martha Bldg., 6227 Sheldon Rd., Tampa
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Thursdays, 7:00 p.m., Christ the King Church, 821 So. Dale Mabry (Mary Martha Center – Buidling 717 – Rm 203). Newcomer Meeting held on the 4th Thursday of the month @ 6:30 pm Mondays 7:00 PM The Grace Place, 732 W. Lumsden Rd., Brandon Thursdays, 7:00 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 121 Carver Ave., Brandon (near Parsons Ave. & 60E). For more information please visit Naranonfl.org. For their direct help line, call 1-888-947-8885. For meetings outside FL visit www.naranon.org
PATIENT ADVOCATE SERVICES, INC. – Striving to Help Patients with Health Insurance and Medical Billing Problems Patient Advocate Services, Inc. (PASi), a local 501(c)(3) non-profit, was founded by Kim Petro McCrum after experiencing many of the problems common to patients dealing with the health care systems. The nonprofit was formed to improve the experience of patients overwhelmed by
illness and medical bills. The US has a very complicated medical billing system - with 68,000 different codes that are both complicated and time consuming for anyone trying to understand the complexities. Eighty percent of medical bills that are generated by medical providers contain errors, according to Medical Billing Advocates of America and 60 percent of all bankruptcies are due to medical bills, according to NerdWallet, and out of that 60 percent, 70 percent have health insurance. The US healthcare system, according to the World Health Organization, ranks 37th in quality of healthcare, but ranks in at number two for having one of the most expensive healthcare systems. PASi strives to provide assistance to patients of all ages, their families and caregivers, in managing their medical bills and providing referrals to patients who need specialized advice or assistance. Even though the Affordable Care Act has attempted to address some of the deficiencies in the healthcare system, it has fallen short of correcting many of the problems that
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frustrate patients and continue to force others into bankruptcy.
PASi Introduces Wellness Program A Mayo Clinic study showed that 70 percent of Americans take at least one prescription drug on a regular basis, while 50 percent take two or more. In addition to PASi's primary goal of helping patients with medical billing problems and referrals, it also strives to promote good health and a healthy lifestyle. To this end, PASi recently introduced a member-based wellness program. Membership in the PASi Wellness Program entitles members to take advantage of a variety of holistic and/or alternative treatments. There is a perfect opportunity coming up to find out more in person: PASi invites you to its Wellness Program Meet & Greet on February 24th at 6:30 p.m., which is being held at Trinity Ultimate Fitness, located at 11108 Challenger Avenue in Odessa, FL. Patient Advocate Services, Inc. (PASi) can be contacted by phone at 727-372-0567 or by email at patientadvocate123@gmail.com. For more information about PASi and the services provided, log on to www.patientadvocateservices.org
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Drive for a Cure 2016…
We’re very excited to announce the 2016 East Lake Woodlands “Drive for a Cure” Golf outing. This annual event will take place on Friday, February 26, 2016 at the East Lake Woodlands Country Club. Arrival and registration begins at 11:00 AM with a 1:00 PM shotgun
start. There will be flights for women, men and mixed foursomes. Dinner, along with the Chinese, silent and live auctions will follow play. The cost is $100.00 (if paid before February 12 or $115.00 if paid after February 12); cost covers golf, cart, range, snacks, dinner and a contribution to our charities. The cost for dinner only is $45.00.
This year we are extremely pleased to welcome Linda Hurtado, a 20-year veteran of TV news here in Tampa Bay. She anchors FOX 13 News at Noon as well as the FOX 13 News at 5 PM with Cynthia Smoot. Linda takes pride in being very connected and involved in her community. In addition to her many hosting and speaking engagements, she has won 12 Emmys, an Edward R. Murrow award, Associated Press awards, Society of Professional Journalism awards, and a Florida Bar award for a variety of news and
health stories. She has been very active with the American Cancer Society’s Reach to Recovery and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer events long before her own diagnosis of breast cancer in 2011, because her mother was a breast cancer survivor until the disease finally took her life in 1995. Since her own diagnosis and recovery, she has become the local emcee for the Susan G. Komen events. Additionally Linda supports the Face of Courage non-profit as well as the My Hope Chest that funds reconstruction for women who do not have insurance. And every year she donates proceeds from A Shoot for a Cure to the Florida Hospital Foundation to fund mammograms for women without insurance. In the U.S. in 2015 there were an estimated 231,840 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 60,290 new cases of in situ breast cancer among women resulting in 40,290 breast cancer deaths. Although breast cancer in men is rare, it does happen. In 2015, there were an estimated 2350 new cases among men in the U.S. resulting in 440 deaths.
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Linda Hurtado
Contributed
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Checks from 2015 proceeds were presented to the Suncoast Affiliate of Susan G. Komen and Morton Plant Mease Foundation By supporting the Morton Plant Mease Mammography Program and the Florida Suncoast Affiliate of Susan G. Komen, a dedicated effort is made to keep the funds raised to benefit those in the Tampa Bay area. While the major portion of the funds raised focus on screening, diagnostic and treatment services for the uninsured and underinsured, a portion of the funds is also used to support research with the goal of eradicating breast cancer once and for all. Both recipients are designated as 501(c) 3 organizations. Since 2007 the Drive has sent $153,000 to the organizations we
support. This year our goal is to reach $200,000 to support those dealing with breast cancer. Participation and sponsorship is very important to this effort, and there are many opportunities available to help us meet this goal. Come play with us on our beautiful, top-quality golf courses; you’ll have a wonderful time and you will be instrumental in supporting this very worthwhile goal.
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For more complete information about the event, registration, sponsorship and donations, log on to www.elwdriveforacure.com . We’ll see you on February 26th!
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Family Fun with Horses at Suncoast Stables Suncoast Stables, located at 1108 Altamont Lane in Odessa FL, has a fun, family-friendly event planned for Saturday, February 20th. Stable owner Krystle Lee invites the community to come out and meet the horses. The fun begins at 5 p.m. with a barn tour, but that is just the beginning of an evening of fun and horsing around! There will also be a horseback riding demonstration, a grooming station demonstration and a chance to win a 4-pack of free riding lessons. And what better way to wrap up an evening of horseplay than a free, kid-friendly horse movie watched on a blanket under the stars? This event is free but bring some cash because there will be food and drinks for purchase, as well as face painting for the kids. Proceeds will benefit Suncoast Stables’ Youth Club and Saving Grace for Equines, a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization focused on the rescue of American Saddlebred horses. Krystle grew up around horses and enjoyed competing as a juvenile and amateur in the American Saddlebred arena, so the rescue of
Joy Rodak loves horses. She has shown American saddlebred horses for 20 years, and for the past few years, she has headed up a horse rescue in Ocala, Florida. In October 2013, Joy bought six American saddlebred horses from a meat broker to save them from being sent to a slaughterhouse in Canada. By December of that year, she’d started Saving Grace for Equines and was determined to save more horses that still have plenty of healthy years left. While it is illegal to slaughter
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this breed is one she is happy to help support. The driving force and passion behind Saving Grace for Equines is Joy Rodak. Kristen Pawlowski, who sent us the event information hoping to get help with publicity, says, “These girls love these horses…from mucking stalls to the show ring and it really teaches them respect for animals, discipline and responsibility. They all support each other and it is just a wonderful experience!”
Saving Grace for Equines
horses for meat in the United States, they are still shipped to Canada and Mexico and processed for human consumption. Joy knows that there is much more to be done but feels its important to do what she can to support a growing need, stating, “It’s not a lot, but we are doing our part along with the other saddlebred rescues in the country.” Saving Grace for Equines has rescued numerous horses experiencing inhumane treatment and conditions, including starvation, abuse, unsafe habitats, and some of those are bound for slaughter for human consumption. Many horses are abused and neglected before being sent to “kill brokers” where they are purchased by the highest bidder, and some of those are contracted by slaughterhouses. “These are very nice horses that can still serve a purpose,” says Joy. Many times the original seller often has no idea what can befall their horse and Joys says most of the owners are unknowing participants. The horses rescued usually have some physical issues. They are often
malnourished and need dental work. Saving Grace for Equines works on their nutrition for three or four months before they are ready for adoption. Saving Grace for Equines relies on donations and sponsorships to operate. Log on to savinggraceforequines.org for information and to donate. For more information about Suncoast Stables, log on to www.suncoaststable.com or call (813) 368-0666.
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We Found Her... at Labranche Studio Suites If you’ve been looking for a new hair dresser, look no further than Jacquie Caetano. A proud member of New Tampa for over 25 years, Jacquie and her family are no strangers to the area. Her father Joseph was a New Tampa pioneer, opening one of, if not the first, hair salon in New Tampa in 1988 called the Bostonian.
Following in her father’s footsteps, Jacquie has a serious passion for helping people achieve their very best look possible! “Making a change in someone’s appearance for the better and helping my clients to have a more positive outlook on their life is why I do what I do,” says Jacquie. With over 32 years of experience and a
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wealth of knowledge in the field, it’s clear why so many people in the New Tampa community trust Jacquie with their hair dressing needs. Jacquie is located at Labranche Studio Suites
(just past I-75 off Bruce B Downs) at 18101 Highwoods Preserve Parkway, Tampa, FL 33647. Call (813) 391-6644 for additional information or to book your next hair appointment!
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The Trinity Spine Center Offers a Conservative Approach to Patient Care By Julie Kanehl If you’ve ever been injured in an accident, fallen, or simply had an injury because of work or play, you know how back pain can change the quality of your life in one fell swoop. The Trinity Spine Center is staffed by some of the most respected physicians and doctors in their field and their whole-patient, conservative approach to treatment yields positive results. Trinity Spine Center’s doctors are truly committed to taking the time that is necessary with each of their patients, and making sure that each patient gets the personalized medical attention that they deserve. Victor Hayes, MD, and Farhan Siddiqi, MD, both highly-esteemed spine surgeons in the area, are the cofounders of The Trinity Spine Center. Trinity Spine Center opened in 2006 on Hawbuck Street, and then in 2009, moved to its brand new 21,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility at 2040 Short Avenue in Odessa, just off of S.R. 54. The physicians at Trinity Spine Center treat patients who suffer with any kind of back, neck or spine pain, and have already successfully treated more than 15,000 patients. Their goal is to offer a variety of modalities for back pain under one roof, increasing patient care and improving on the communication that can be lost when patients traditionally see multiple doctors who do not work together. Whether you need chiropractic care or spinal surgery, it is all under one roof at the Trinity Spine Center. The Trinity Spine Center is very unique in its approach, and is at the forefront of stem cell research to reduce back pain. As a result, Trinity Spine Center draws patients from all over the state and the nation. It’s no surprise, because patients there have
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the opportunity to meet with surgeons and receive diagnostic testing, as well as receive chiropractic care, attend physical therapy and even receive pain management care all in one place, at their very own Trinity Wellness Center, an integral part of Trinity Spine Center. Patients appreciate this ease of care, because when your back hurts, traveling all over town from one doctor to the next can be a difficult and painful thing to do. George, a Trinity Spine Center patient said, “I went to see Dr. Hayes after I read an article about him. I thought I would need back surgery after a car accident but since I’ve been going to Trinity Spine Center, I am feeling much better and I will probably not need surgery!” Conservative Care by Doctors That Care The doctors and staff at The Trinity Spine Center believe that surgery should be a last resort, and as a matter of fact, 94 percent of their patients are treated without the need for spinal surgery. From degenerative disk or joint disease to scoliosis, and carpal tunnel to osteoporosis, Trinity Spine Center patients are treated by a team of highly educated and specifically trained professionals, who will work together to get patients back on their feet in no time. Having everything you need on hand and in one place gives patients peace of mind, but most importantly, it makes it easy for all of the doctors to communicate easily about the best approach to each patient’s unique medical condition and treatment. Chief Operating Officer, Jorit Wijnmaalen, DPT, MBA, MTC, CEAS, or “Dr. J” as he’s known, says, “One of the most important aspects of our patient care is the communication that we have with one another. We are
never more than a phone call away and patients see that and really appreciate it.” Dr. J’s approach to wellness, exercise and nutrition is an inspiration to many patients at The Trinity Spine Center, and he encourFarhan Siddiqi, MD & Victor Hayes, MD ages patients to Co-Founders of Trinity Spine Center realize that no matter their age, Tampa where he earned a Bachelors of size or condition, regular exercise will Science in Athletic Training and gradcontribute to their overall health and uated with honors in 2006. While atwellbeing. The Trinity Spine Wellness Cen- tending graduate school, Dr. Possert was able to work with high school athter offers patients the least invasive letes part time in Pinellas County as an approach to spine care including Athletic Trainer for two years. Since physical therapy, chiropractic care, graduating with his Doctorate, Dr. decompression therapy and even nuPossert has worked in the outpatient tritional services. facility setting full time and in the Dr. Ronald F. Stacey II, DC, is a hospital setting part time. Board Certified Chiropractor, and has If pain management is necessary, been with Trinity Spine Center since patients are in good hands. Pain man2009. He says, “We have an array of agement is used carefully and responsispecialties under one roof, and we can start conservatively and move each pa- bly at Trinity Spine Center. Dr. Casey J. O’Donnell, FAAPMR DABPM, tient up to the next option if it’s necspecializes in the treatment of spasticessary.” He adds, “It avoids having to ity and dystonia, electromyography, have each patient see a chiropractor at one place, a primary at another, and so and pain management. He utilizes an array of diagnostic tools to view the on. Here we can provide a plan of tissues in the body in order to see how [total spinal] care.” the nerves in the body are functionDr. Nathan A. Possert graduated ing, and then he can perform procefrom East Lake High School before dures such as trigger point injections, honorably serving in the U.S. Navy nerve blocks, and ultrasound guided for 4 years in which he was Quarter injections, just to name a few. master and a search and rescue swimDr. O’Donnell says, “As a physiamer. After serving in the Navy, he trist, my background is in rehabilitagraduated with honors from St. Petion and my goal is to get patients tersburg College in Tarpon Springs in 2004 and then transferred to the Uni- moving and back to a normal, active lifestyle.” versity of South Florida (USF) in
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Dr. Jorit Wijnmaalen
Dr. Ronald Stacey II
performing even the most intricate of spinal surgeries. On staff at the Medical Center of Trinity, both physicians received their Doctorates from the prestigious Cornell University in New York, followed by double fellowships at the Arizona Institute for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery and the Maryland Spinal Reconstructive and Scoliosis Surgery Center. Both Dr. Hayes and Dr. Siddiqi are Board Certified in Orthopaedic Spinal Surgery and both of them travel nationally teaching endoscopic surgery procedures to other doctors around the country. The Trinity Spine Center offers patients the most comprehensive care by having many different kinds of spine care health professionals on staff and in one place. The Trinity Spine
A brand new approach to treating back pain is now available at Trinity Spine Center, and that is the use of stem cells for back pain. Dr. J says, “A whole lot of patients will benefit from this new and exciting approach.” He explains, “We are the only ones in the U.S. doing it like we do it, and we are also the only ones at this time who are FDA compliant.” Working closely with Daniel A. Grande, PhD., the Director of the upand-coming Stem Cell Research Laboratory at Trinity Spine Center, patients who suffer from arthritis, degenerative
disk disease, and herniated disks may find relief through Stem Cell Therapy. Stem Cell Therapy is “an intervention strategy that introduces new adult stem cells into damaged tissue in order to treat disease or injury.” This exciting new kind of therapy offers the possibility of pain relief, the renewal of tissues and the alleviation of pain.
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When Back Surgery is Necessary: Choose Trinity Spine Center When surgery is absolutely necessary, patients are in good hands with Drs. Siddiqi and Hayes, as both surgeons are experienced and qualified in
Dr. Casey O’Donnell
Dr. Nathan Possert
Center’s physicians are committed to working together with each patient to produce the best possible results. Trinity Spine Center is located at 2040 Short Avenue in Odessa, just off of S.R. 54 and just east of Duck Slough Blvd. The Trinity Spine Center is currently taking new patients, and they accept Medicare and most major insurances. The main office can be reached at 727-372-9922 and is open Mon. – Fri., 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. The Trinity Spine Wellness Center can be reached at 727-807-3101, and is open Mon. – Fri., 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. to accommodate patients. Visit www.trinity-spine.com online, and find them on Facebook.
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With Plans to Open Late Summer of 2016, Florida Hospital Center Ice Marks a New Era for Ice Sports in Tampa Bay! Living in Florida, there aren’t as many opportunities for those who wish to take up hockey or figure skating, but Florida Hospital Center Ice, an immaculate 150,500 square foot facility, is looking to change that. This year-round skating rink and multisports complex will offer an infinite amount of opportunities for those who wish to develop their skills both on and off the ice. “With Olympic and NHL-size rinks, this is where the players will come to play,” says co-owner Gordie Zimmermann of Z Mitch, LLC. “It’s where youngsters will learn, and where all ages can stay active and have fun.” Hoping to bring an increased awareness of hockey and figure skating to the state of Florida, Z Mitch, LLC,'s, Gordie Zimmermann and George Mitchell decided this area would be the perfect location! Teaming up with Florida Hospital, this impressive new training facility will be focused on sports performance, with a goal of producing top athletes that can compete at an elite level Nationwide. Gordie says, “There were a number of reasons why we chose this area. After the past few years of Lightning success we knew we wanted to do something in Tampa and this area is one of the new hot spots as far as the demographics. This complex has great visibility from the highways, and is easily accessible from all over Tampa Bay. This is going to be the biggest ice sports complex in the entire South East. There is nothing else like this in the Southern United States!” Florida Hospital, which will also
have an office within the facility, will have staff on hand, and, working alongside Center Ice staff, will offer unique sports performance programs for individuals and teams who want private training sessions and other specialized skill-training programs both on and off the ice. “Partnering with Florida Hospital, we have an increased focus on sports –related performance, injury prevention and wellness,” says Gordie. “This really changes the dynamics for athletic training. Our programs are going to be an enhancement in the world of sports and I think it is the key to making hockey players faster and figure skaters stronger. If you take a kid from three years old and give him or her the opportunity to become a top athlete, providing the right coaches, trainers and managers from a young age and all the way through to adulthood, the possibilities are endless.” As amazing as the sports complex will be, what it will do for the area is just as incredible – giving the quickly growing New Tampa/ Wesley Chapel area an unfathomable economic boost! From sports tournaments to top-notch athlete training, when this complex is completed, this will be the place where people from all across the country come to skate! “The community has just come together and rallied around this rink,” says Shari Trotter. “We have already had such great feedback. High-level competitive skaters are excited about the coaching and excited about what the rink has to offer. There really are very few complexes that have anything close to this; the size of this facility,
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By Alexis Selby
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along with the amenities, coaching and sports programs are going to be top in the nation.” From free-skating to free throws, Florida Hospital Center Ice will be a Mecca for everything sports-related! A place where people from all across Tampa Bay can come together over their shared love of sports!
Highlights on and off the ice include: – One Olympic-size rink – Three NHL-sized rinks – One kid-sized rink. – Public Skating – Hockey leagues and figure skating programs for all ages and levels – Rinks that convert to sport court for
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From free-skating to free throws, Florida Hospital Center Ice will be a Mecca for everything sports-related! Shooting Stars basketball and vollyball, plus lacrosse, roller and street hockey, curling, speed skating and other sports – Camps, clinics and multisport training programs – Full summer camp programs – On-site sports medicine specialists – Full restaurant – Corporate party rooms – Sports pro shop – Performance and off-ice training facilities
So, no matter what your hobby or skill level is, there will be something for everyone. Florida Hospital Center Ice will be a great, family-friendly place where people of all ages can have fun and stay active!
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Florida Hospital Center Ice will be located at 3173 Cypress Ridge Blvd. in Wesley Chapel. For more information, and to stay informed of their progress, visit www.FloridaHospitalCenterIce.com.
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