caring for queena
Above: Cathy Tunick-Cabeche begins her facial treatment on Queena Vu. Below: Autographed ball caps from the Florida Gators football team and the Tampa Bay Lightning hang on the back of the door to Queena’s bedroom. To the far right is a personalized autograph from the Gators’ legendary quarterback, Tim Tebow.
story + photos by kim fatica
A long commute provides the familiar drone of road rumble as Cathy Tunick-Cabeche guides her car toward Bloomingdale. It’s a Sunday in mid-July, smack dab in the heat of summer, so no football will be missed today. Tunick-Cabeche’s thick Bronx accent betrays her allegiance to local sports teams. Pro football is a passion. “There are some Sundays I’d like to just sleep,” she says without a hint of regret. “And then I’m, like, ‘Okay, get your butt up and go,’ especially during football season because I always miss the beginning of the game.” Personal sacrifices are part of being a dedicated volunteer and Tunick-Cabeche, known as “Cat” by Islanders and friends, has been making the 40-minute monthly trek to Bloomingdale from her Town and Country home for five years. Her normal daily commute brings her to Davis Islands where she is an esthetician for Islander Massage and Skincare, but the monthly ritual is for a good cause. Tunick-Cabeche’s monthly pilgrimage is dedicated to Queena Phu, the 23-year-old who was savagely raped, beaten and left to die at the Bloomingdale Library in April of 2008.
for the rest of the world to know her. On the JoinQueena.com website, her mother, Vanna, posted:
Phu was 18 then, a brilliant senior at East Bay High with a full scholarship to the University of Florida. She was drawn to Queena’s situation after reading an article in one of the daily papers that described her mother’s broken spirit. The story was overwhelming. “We’re all parents. We all have kids and we all do the best we can for our kids,” she said. “Here this woman did everything right. She raised this wonderful daughter, a daughter who was going to go to college, and you think you do your job (as a parent) and then this awful thing happened. It just touched me.” The barbaric attack caused severe brain damage that left Queena nearly blind, unable to speak, walk, or feed herself. Her mother became her full-time caregiver.
money,” she said. “So, I thought, I can offer what I do!” Her hour-long sessions with Queena involve facial massage therapy and Reiki for healing. Most might dismiss facials as strictly cosmetic, but she is assuring that it’s all but superficial. “Oh, no, I’ve seen improvement,” she insists. “There’s been so much improvement since I’ve started. Queena’s jaw will lock and her mother will ask if I can come out, so I go out after work and take care of her.” As we pull up to Queena’s home, the garage door is open. A stockpile of various supplies dominates most of the space and a makeshift desk is in the center of it. One of the vehicles in the driveway has a light blue “JoinQueena. com” sticker promoting the website that is a portal to community support.
Tunick-Cabeche was moved to do something. “What could I offer? It’s not like I have a lot of
Queena lived behind the curtain of an alias until April of this year, when it was finally time
My daughter no longer wants to live in the darkness. She no longer wants to hide her name and face as the “Bloomingdale Library Attack Survivor.” Queena made the brave decision that she wants you to see God’s strength through her and how far she has come. Now, the family home has become a constant hub of activity with visitors like us, and many others who just drop in throughout the day to say hello and offer support. On this particular day, five people are lining up to visit. For all the tragedy that has befallen the family, the atmosphere is light and Vanna is a gracious hostess. Everyone gets hugs. Local comedian Frank Hall keeps throwing out subtle one-liners that keep everyone chuckling. Vanna is sprightly and certainly not the person one might expect to meet after all she has been through. When it’s our turn to get to talk to her I ask her if the family has always lived in Florida. She freely offers that she is from Vietnam. “One of the boat people,” she says, matter-of-factly. “1980. You remember.” 3
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W
hile August has us all focused on another school year and the excitement of college and professional football returning this month, we have a lot to be thankful for. With that spirit of gratitude, ThePOST is celebrating the charity of its residents and businesses. Charity and volunteerism are important to me. I am celebrating my 40th year of involvement with the Boy Scouts of America, both as an Eagle Scout and as a trained adult leader who embraces community involvement and the concept of paying forward our daily blessings. I enjoy volunteering my time on our Civic Association board to help our community, and as a VP with the American Marketing Association. In these endeavors, enrichment opportunities flourish for my peers and me. It’s just impossible to lose when you give yourself freely with no expectations. Most of us will remember the horrible fate suffered by high school student Queena Phu five years ago, but few of us are as intimate with this story as Cathy TunickCabeche. The esthetician at Islander Massage and Skincare has been giving one Sunday each month to provide free services to Queena and her family. Some will dismiss this as an unnecessary luxury, but from what I witnessed, it provided the incapacitated young woman with a gift of love. The bond between Queena and Cathy moved me to a sniffling mess of emotion. Davis Islands also hosts one of the biggest and most well known charities, the Ronald McDonald House. We got an inside look at what it has done for a Dade City family who welcomed a very special set of twins to this world. It’s just another extension of the hospitality our neighborhood is known for. And, of course, there is the thoughtful contributions made by those who provide content for ThePOST. People like Jenny Hawley, who does the copy editing of our paper; Ann Vanek-Dasovich, Harold Moore, Coral Nardandrea, Ellen Fiss, Neil Consentino, Cristan and Jenn Fadal, Katy Gadsby, T.J. King and Carolyn Bigley–all have provided some great ideas and content. It feels great to know people want to be involved with their neighborhood publication. Thanks, friends and neighbors, for all you do for your community!
Kim Fatica, Editor | kim@di-post.com
the support the post creative staff and contributors staff: Kim Fatica / Executive Editor Mark Newkirk / Publisher Joe Strickland / General Sales Manager Jay Rowlingson / Creative Director Noah Fatica / Photojournalist Jenny Hawley / Copy Editor
volunteers: Cristan Fadal / Contributing Writer Ellen Fiss / Contributing Writer Maggie Fitzsimmons / Contributing Writer Katy Gadsby / Contributing Writer Harold Moore / Contributing Writer Coral Nardandrea / Contributing Writer
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islands’ history fun facts
1. Nearly all streets on the island are named after bodies of water or islands. They are loosely arranged in alphabetical order starting with Adalia Avenue. (the first street crossed after arriving on the island from the only bridge that connects it to the mainland) and ending with Severn Avenue, the street farthest away from the bridge that leads to the main island’s southernmost point, on which the Davis Island Yacht Club is situated. 2. Originally, Davis Islands consisted of three islands. With the construction of the airport, however, the end of one canal was filled in to make enough land area for a runway, connecting the two largest islands at their southern ends and reducing the archipelago’s island count to two.
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19 Aviation Day 20 Radio Day 25 Kiss and Make Up Day 26 Dog Day, A Davis Islands favorite Women’s Equality Day
30 Toasted Marshmellow Day This Month in History:
August 2, 1876: Wild Bill Hickock is killed during a poker game. He was holding a “Dead Man’s Hand”, two pair, aces and 8’s. August 6, 1890: Baseball pitching legend Cy Young pitches his first his first game, a win. August 9, 1930: Animated cartoon Dizzy Dishes premieres, with star Betty Boop! August 25, 1932: Amelia Earhart completes her trans-continental flight.
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Tunick-Cabeche says Vanna is an unwavering source for her daughter’s improvements, not the people that come there. “I think it’s because of her mother. It costs them $70 thousand a year for all of her treatments. I think that’s why she’s advanced so much. She’ll try everything for Queena and Queena works hard. She is a very strong young woman and the mother is the driving force.” From space-aged water therapies to the facials and Reiki that will be provided during our visit, everything has had some positive effect on Queena’s improvements. Tunick-Cabeche won’t accept any payment. “Her mother tried to give me money and I said, ‘No–if I take money today, I’m never coming back. But if you just say thank you I’ll come back every month until you throw me out or say no more.’”
Top Left: Queena’s senior portrait hanging in the family living room is an uplifting reminder of the promising future she had prior to 2008..
As we wait for Queena’s room to be readied for us, her sister, Anna, is equally as gracious as her mother. Anna, now 26, is vibrant and beautiful as the family’s spokesperson and media contact. Pictures of her and Queena in happier times show just how close they have always been. The photos are attentiongrabbers. In every picture, both women flash smiles that are worthy of Hollywood glamour. When the room and Queena are finally ready for us, it occurs to me that it’s an odd mixture of décor. For the most part, it’s like walking in to a college dorm room, with trinkets and inspirational plaques hanging next to corkboards full of pictures of friends and family, beads and more inspirational quotes. Once everyone else gets shooed from the room and the door closes, it reveals a rack full of ball caps on it–Florida Gator hats, to be specific, and many of them are signed by football players that include the legendary Tim Tebow. There is, however, an offset to this: the adjustable hospital bed in the middle of the room and stands with medical supplies that are on either side of it. On one table a quartz-like stone glows orange among bottles of lotions, wipes, menthol cream and pictures of Jesus and the Virgin Mary. “Himalayan salt lamp,” explains Tunick-Cabeche. “I like to get her special things like candles and aromatherapy kits.” Himalayan salt lamps contain a high amount of minerals and are said to release negative ions that help clean the surrounding air, ease difficulties in breathing, promote healing and increase energy. Queena is happy to know her friend, “Cat”, is in the room and she reacts with a wide grin on her face. Not a sound comes from her mouth as it opens wide with delight. Her hands remain in tightly clenched fists that do not unfold. It’s a miracle to witness, considering the extent of her injuries. Cat introduces me to Queena and I gently touch her arm and
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Above: A picture of Queena and older sister, Anna, during happier times. Below: Cathy Tunick-Cabeche insists that Queena’s mom, Vanna, is solely responsible for her progress. “She’ll try everything for Queena and Queena works hard.”
put forth a friendly voice to say hello. I get a contorted grimace from Queena and her body jerks suddenly before Cat is able to comfort her and let her know I’m a good person and a friend. Though I do my best not to take it personally, the incident leaves me crushed and I decide it’s best to just keep quiet and let Cat perform her services while I take pictures. Atmospheric New Age music eases the tension, bringing calm as Cat begins her one-hour session with a facial, occasionally stopping to say something to Queena in her ear that brings her to open her mouth or smile. Witnessing her reactions entirely erases any idea that she is completely non-functional. She is aware, alert and responsive. Cat mixes up a batch of something yellow with a thick, pasty texture, and then deftly applies it to Queena’s high cheekbones, forehead and chin. A little moisturizer goes on Queena’s lips and she reacts by tasting them with the tip of her tongue and smiling broadly with approval. She is also very aware of my presence and realizes that I’m standing next to the bed, as I ready to capture an image of Cat starting her Reiki treatment. Her face glances up, though her eyes aren’t necessarily focused on me.
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The Reiki portion of Queena’s monthly session involves the laying on of hands, a transference of life force energy that is claimed to have healing properties. Cat focuses hard, eyes shut, hands together and placed carefully on strategic areas of Queena’s body and joints. The hour passes quickly and Cat’s services are complete. More people are waiting to see the inspirational young woman, who appears to have her own healing properties. “There are times I can feel depressed, worrying about business, my family, bills and all,” Cat says, glowing. “I’ll go and I see Queena and I’ll trip and she laughs. How can I complain about anything when Queena can smile at me and laugh at something stupid I do? Every time I mention it, she just laughs. It just makes me feel better.” Cat’s clients, co-workers and family members all support her caring for Queena.
About five percent of anything she takes in from facial packages goes right to Queena’s trust fund. “There’s something about volunteering and doing something that makes you feel better,” she says, with a grin. “It makes me feel like I’ve become a better person being around Queena. It’s very rewarding for me. You get just as much as the person you’re helping.” After a sneak peek of the latest Queena teeshirts, a few more hugs and an affirmation that she’ll be returning soon for another visit, we’re heading out through the garage and back in the car to head home. Even though Queena and her family live so far from Davis Islands, the care shown to Queena and her family draws the neighborhood closer. “It’s nice because it ties the Islands to Queena. To me, she is all of Tampa Bay’s daughter.”
“The women I work with (Kathy Carroll and Erin Powers) have been so supportive,” she beams. “If I donate a facial, they’ll donate a massage. A lot of my clients have been very supportive. They’ve had bidding wars on facials. I’ve had clients who have just walked in and (given) money.”
If you would like to help Queena and her family, you can drop off donations to Islander Massage and Skincare located at 39B Davis Boulevard, or head to Queena’s website, JoinQueena.com.
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auto burglaries and nearly all of them involved a purse or some other valuable item that was left in plain view in an unlocked car for criminals to spot.” He added, “We’re also concerned about the amount of bike thefts that are taking place on Davis Islands. Residents reported six stolen bikes within the last three months alone.”
‘major’ crime fighter
introducing tpd’s Major Paul Driscoll
One would be hard-pressed to find a connection between nuclear engineering and criminal justice, but TPD has benefited from the technological brilliance of Major Paul Driscoll, a former nuclear engineer who has used technology to improve the department’s crime fighting efficacy. For the past 13 years, the major has been in charge of the department’s grant program. He managed to secure big money from federal and state programs totaling more than $80 million. Those funds helped to purchased a fleet of new helicopters. Coupled with the video downlink system purchased with those same funds, the department has greatly enhanced their ability to catch fleeing criminals from the air. TPD also got a high-tech boost from Driscoll after he was able to get funding for video systems and laptops for patrol cars. Davis Islands is one of several neighborhoods included in the District One patrol area, but DI has the lowest crime rates in the city. Still, Driscoll says, nearly all of the most recent crimes have been preventable. “There’s still a great deal we can do to keep criminals off the islands, but we need your help,” he wrote in a letter to ThePOST. “Right now the majority of the crimes being reported on the islands are auto burglaries and bike thefts.” This mirrors the message delivered by TPD to the Davis Islands Civic Association at nearly every one of their monthly board meetings. And the message of prevention from Driscoll is still the same. “So far this year, we’ve investigated six
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Again, as has been reported in ThePOST and promoted within ThePOST Facebook community, it’s a simple matter of keeping garage doors closed, bikes locked up and taking advantage of TPD’s bike registration program. You can head to www. tampagov.net/police and register online or find the QR code in the July edition of ThePOST. As petty as these crimes may seem, they’re still bothersome to Driscoll. “For us one crime is too many. With your help, we can work together to make the Islands even safer for you and your families!”
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what’s the hurry? City considers radar feedback signs for DI
The ongoing battle with speeding on the islands has caught the attention of the city’s Transportation Division. Appearing before the last quarterly meeting of the Davis Islands Community Plan Stewardship Committee, William Porth, the city’s Traffic Safety Coordinator, assured those in attendance that there were several possibilities that could produce relief. On July 17, Porth sent a follow-up email to Antonio Amadeo, the Civic Association’s Traffic Safety Chairman, in which one specific location was mentioned: the northeast corner of West Davis Boulevard and Chesapeake Avenue. Civic Association president Cristan Fadal was to meet with the property owners to seek their permission for the city to proceed with the installation in the northbound right of way adjacent to the home. Just how effective are radar feedback signs? In 2006 StopSpeeders.org polled traffic engineers, police officers and safety professionals from around the United States, asking them what they thought were the most effective traffic calming options. More than 96 percent of the respondents agreed that driver feedback signs were most effective on residential streets. Feedback signs had a greater perceived efficiency over the long-term than actual police officers with radar guns.
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According to a 2009 Federal Highway Administration aggregate study, countermeasures for reducing speeds have various degrees of effectiveness in specific applications. Everything from roundabouts to rumble strips were listed with results ranging from as little as zero change (raised intersection in an urban local street) to as much as a 33 MPH reduction (dynamic speed feedback sign in a rural 15 MPH school zone). The city of Bellevue, Washington conducted their own study of radar sign effectiveness and published their findings in a 2005 report. They had feedback signs installed at 20 locations in 25 and 30 MPH zones. The city experienced a reduction of 1 to 5 MPH at a majority of locations during a twoyear period. In the first year, reductions were seen at all but one site. After two years, five sites saw greater reductions in speed while five sites saw speeds beginning to creep back up, but still lower than when no feedback sign was in place. Bellevue’s installation costs, including the cost of the actual sign, ranged from $24,500 (sign needed modification from solar to standard electrical service) to as low as $7,400. An approximate average cost landed around $10,000 per installation. Maintenance costs were listed as “Minimal” in most cases and the annual electricity bill for each sign averaged $36. With so much annual sunshine in Tampa it is reasonable to expect the city to consider solar-powered signs.
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“Black Widow”
di model turns murderess by Harold Moore
Davis Islands. Peaceful, laid back, friendly and homey with a sense of community. Major crime here is an expensive bicycle carelessly left unattended, which develops a mind of its own and wanders off. It hasn’t always been that way. Through the years there have been residents with questionable job skills who had skirmishes with the law, but none garnered attention like the “Black Widow” murderess. Betty Lou Haber was a former fashion model married to a wealthy Islands resident named Albert Haber. Evidently, she was not content to let nature run its course and collect his life insurance upon the termination of a long life, so in 1975, she conspired with her son to hire a friend of his to hasten the process. In what was supposed to look like a
robbery, Mr. Haber’s body was found in his Davis Islands home beaten so badly it was unrecognizable. He had also been shot in the head. Unfortunately for Mrs. Haber, things didn’t go as planned and she, her son, and the messy hit man were convicted of murder and received life sentences with no possibility of parole for 25 years. Betty Lou was eventually allowed to walk after nearly 28 years of good behavior at the Florida Correctional Institute in Marion County. Before you cast an eye at your spouse and think “What if…,” just remember: TPD always gets their man (or woman). Instead, become a member of our Neighborhood Watch and we’ll be the first to advise you if a neighbor tries it.
To join the Davis Islands Neighborhood Watch, contact Harold Moore at mooretrux@aol.com.
how to get action (Hint: Don’t Call the Mayor)
A recent Sunday morning traffic stop by the roundabout on the southern portion of Severn Avenue sparked an informative conversation between a TPD patrolwoman and a nearby resident who was thrilled to have witnessed a rare stop there. At first, the resident praised the officer for issuing a ticket in a lightly-patrolled area of Davis Islands, but it didn’t take long before kudos shifted to playing the M-card: calling Mayor Buckhorn to get increased patrols on Severn. This resident, like many others, expressed dismay that Tampa Police never seem to respond in time to catch drag racers, errant cyclists and late night revelers. Claiming he was a personal friend of the Mayor, the resident reiterated that he would call his pal to get action. Unfazed by the well-intentioned saber rattling, the patrolwoman offered some great insight. First, it’s helpful to have some statistics and TPD has one important stat posted on its website: The First District covers 42 square miles and serves more than 127 thousand residents. The officer said that on any given day there could be only one patrol car in the vicinity. Even if it’s just over in Hyde Park, she said it can still take anywhere from five to seven minutes for it to arrive at Davis Islands, and that’s if it’s not already on a call.
For speeding and other perceived infractions of traffic law that are not life-threatening, residents should call the non-emergency number: (813) 3546600. That number, of course, is also good for reporting other crimes that are not considered an emergency. She then pointed out that residents can really help the police department by notifying them of trouble spots and requesting increased patrols. Residents can easily do this online by going to www.TampaGov.net > Departments > Police > Contact Us > Help TPD. Once on the “HELP the Tampa Police Department” page, you have seven areas where you can share information or request help. The last selection, Traffic Complaint, will take you to a login page (if you have a MyTampaGov account), but you can click on the “Bypass Sign In” button. Now you will have the opportunity to share your comments or leave a request that will go to a tracking system and alert the authorities of your concerns. Finally, the patrolwoman suggested that residents have the option of allowing the police to use their private driveways or property for monitoring speeders. To do this, residents must repeat the above procedure to get to the Traffic Issue reporting page in order to give the police formal permission to use private property. These suggestions are the best ways to maintain a friendship with Mayor Buckhorn.
watch the road
Tampa ranked among nation’s worst drivers A study performed by daily webzine Slate ranked five Florida cities in the Top 10 cities hosting the nation’s worst drivers. Miami was named as the city with the worst drivers. Tampa came in at #4. The magazine narrowed its 40-city list based on statistics published in Allstate Insurance Company’s annual America’s Best Drivers Report. It then took into consideration metrics in four other categories: years between traffic accidents, automotive fatalities, alcoholrelated driving deaths, and pedestrian strikes. Author Brian Palmer admits in his article that his weighting may be a bit “arbitrary,” and other metrics could be used, but the numbers are authentic and gleaned from reputable institutions. A downloadable Excel spreadsheet from the Slate.com website shows some glaring statistics for our city: #5 in Automotive Fatalities #10 in Pedestrian Strikes #13 in Automotive Fatalities #18 in Years Between Auto Accidents
The other Florida cities (and their ranking) included in the study: Hialeah (3), Orlando (7) Ft. Lauderdale (8).
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islander profile
friendly advice
pet friendly an interview with davis island
dogs in the florida heat with dr. steven lewis
animal clinic’s dr. steven lewis By Katy Gadsby | Photo by kim fatica
animal you call a pet, we will be happy to help.” Dr. Lewis: Of course! I hate to see someone with their pet rat not be able to get help for it. Over the years I’ve just gotten used to trying the best I can to help people with the problems they find with whatever animal they call a pet. I’ve removed tumors from a goldfish and a rat. I’ve even casted a broken leg on a chicken!
Dr. Steve Lewis, in an exam room with his cat and clinic celebrity, Gracie Sue.
Since June of 2011 our community has been fortunate enough to have our very own clinic for our pets. The Davis Island Animal Clinic is owned and operated by Dr. Steven Lewis. He and his staff are professional, fun, and love what they do. Recently, we got a chance to sit down with the doctor and find out what brought him to Davis Islands. Post: Until recently, you owned a successful practice in Plant City. What brings you to Davis Islands? Dr. Lewis: Mainly because I already owned a house here. After my father’s death, I was looking for a change and got a call from my best friend from veterinary school (Cornell University, 1978) asking me to join his practice in Plant City. So in 2003 my wife and I moved to Florida. Our three children were all in their twenties at the time. Within a year I had discovered sailing and the Davis Islands Sailing Club. Eventually, I bought a house on the island, bought a sailboat and joined the sailing club. My best friend and I worked together in Plant City for eight to 10 years until the practice got too big and we sold it. At that point, I decided to open the Davis Island Animal Clinic. Now I live one mile from work! I can walk to work and walk to the yacht club. We love it here! There are a lot of great people and it’s very familyoriented. Post: You are one of the few veterinarians in the area who work with small mammals, reptiles and birds, in addition to dogs and cats! You’ve even written on your website, “No matter what
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Post: Are you from Florida originally? Dr. Lewis: No. My father and I worked together for many years in Lockport, NY, running a mixed veterinary practice (both dairy and small animals). Twice a day we had open office hours with no appointments. The office was usually packed and we did everything from handling patients to answering phones. For rest of the day we traveled from farm to farm, handling whatever the farmers had for us. For 15 years I also had my own equine practice where I worked on riding horses, eventing horses and racehorses. During that time I was the personal physician for Abdullah, the Trakehner stallion, who won individual silver and helped the United States win team gold in the 1984 Summer Olympics. At one point, I was running four different practices in NY, which we then consolidated into one major practice. Eventually, I got to the point where I wasn’t being a vet anymore. Someone else was doing the things that I wanted to be doing: working with animals and their owners. Those are the things I love and why I became a veterinarian in the first place.
By Katy Gadsby The summer heat and humidity requires that we pay more attention to our dogs’ needs. Veterinarian Steven Lewis of the Davis Islands Animal Clinic shares some practical tips for caring for your pooch in the oven-like heat. “The good and bad thing about our pets is that they are self-sacrificing, even to their own detriment,” Lewis said. “They’ll just keep running even if it’s harming them, so we have to be good caregivers. We have to be smarter and more thoughtful than they are.” Here are his keys to making summer more tolerable for your pooch, and you: Remember: • Don’t leave dogs in the car. • Provide plenty of fresh water and change it regularly. Don’t let it stagnate. • Avoid exercising dogs in the middle of the day. Exercise early in morning or later at night when it’s cooler.
More on Exercise Dogs don’t sweat. Their primary way of cooling is by panting which releases heat over their tongue. To a much smaller degree, they radiate heat through their ears and feet or by lying on a cool surface. Since they can’t release heat like we do, our dogs heat up much quicker. Earlier in the morning or late at night, they may be able to exercise for 45 minutes to an hour. However, older dogs may not be able to go that long. Outward signs that Fido may be getting overheated: • Panting • Bright red gums and/or tongue If you’re curious about how your dog handles the heat, take his temperature before and after your walk/run. All you need is an inexpensive digital thermometer and some Vaseline or other lubricant. It’s only a few degrees before it’s unsafe:
100°F
Ideal temperature (although can range between 99°-102°)
102.5°-103°F
Not ideal, but will probably be okay
103.5°-104°F
Too high; Definite potential for harm
105°
Damage occurs to internal organs: liver, kidneys and spleen
For an older dog, with a possible arthritic condition, don’t keep walking or running until he/she starts limping. Figure out how long it takes the dog to start limping and then only go half that distance. That way, they will only have just started limping by the time you get home or not be limping at all.
Post: Any plans to retire? Dr. Lewis: No way! My wife says I’m a workaholic, but the truth is I’m very fortunate that I LOVE what I do. I like talking to people. I like the excitement and challenge of doing an examination, coming up with a therapeutic diagnosis, explaining it clearly so that the pet owner can understand it, and then seeing the outcome, where the pet (rat with a tumor, chicken with broken leg) gets better. Post: Well we’re certainly happy that you’re not planning to retire anytime soon! Thanks so much for spending some time with us today. We’ll look for you and your wife around the island, maybe jogging or sailing.
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islands club
pattern full
Islands Pizza owner John Harr was in the bar half of his establishment, busy greeting guests August 1, and celebrating a name change. The pizza and bar now have two separate identities. The sign on the door to the 2,500 square foot bar now reads “Islands Club.”
The work being done on the Dog Beach and the east boat ramp leading in to the channel have forced the temporary closure of runway 18-36 at Peter O. Knight Airport.
Familiar DI Nightspot Revived, Anchor Bar Gets a Twin
“I wanted to try to get an upscale bar vibe back on the islands,” explains Harr. “Years ago, the Islands Club used to be the place to be on the islands.” The pizza side of the business will remain the same, but the floor space on the bar side has already seen changes and work will continue on the Islands Club with mid-August as the target for completion. Booth seating and long tables have been replaced by square, four-seat tables, and a pool table now sits in close proximity to the front window. A six-foot projector screen will be installed to accommodate the NFL package Harr purchased to show football games. The menu for the Islands Club will be different and Sunday brunches will be part of the offering. Harr has owned Islands Pizza since 2012, but he has also been the owner of the Anchor Bar for the past four years, and now, he says, is a perfect time for him to expand into downtown. He is opening a second Anchor Bar at the corner of North Franklin and Twiggs with the vision of it being a “higher end local hangout.” The menu and specials will mirror the offerings of the Davis Islands bar, including his Islands pork sliders with pineapple salsa and a brandy reduction sauce served on openfaced cornbread. Open from 11 a.m. to 3 a.m., it will serve up lunch and dinners for take-out and delivery. It is also offering catering service, according to its new Facebook page. Anchor Bar Downtown is scheduled to open August 15, adding to the explosion of entertainment and eating establishments that have appeared in downtown this year. Anchor Bar on Davis Islands is a favorite hangout and has been nominated as one of the Bay Area’s favorite bars.
Editor’s note: In the July “Tidbits” section, we wrote that the last restaurant to deliver food was in the process of being sold. That was incorrect. Islands Pizza is still offering delivery service. ~KF
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Renovations Close peter o’knight Runway
A 100-foot crane that is being used to dredge out the boat ramp and move large rocks for a breakwater is the culprit, preventing the use of the northsouth runway. The crane is just south of the airport and in the flight line for the 2,688-foot strip. General Manager Mike Quinn of Atlas Aviation said the runway hasn’t been a huge inconvenience, but pilots are really getting some good crosswind training from using only runway 4-22, which is 3,405 feet long and lies in a more east-west position.
fair ‘shear’
Mayor Achieves Ribbon Cutting Hat Trick Three businesses in 30 mintues. Mayor Buckhorn set a personal ribbon cutting record July 24 with a “shear” workout that helped launch three new establishments in downtown Tampa. His ribbon ritual began at 4:30 in the afternoon at the corner of Tampa and Polk Streets when he sliced through the opening ceremony at The Paddywagon, an authentic Irish Pub–one of at least six now in the Downtown-Davis IslandsHyde Park-SoHo neighborhoods. The pet- and smoker-friendly bar offers 24 taps with craft beer, a full liquor bar with rare whiskies, cigars, and 13 televisions for watching sports. There’s also a patio for those who are nonsmokers. Fifteen minutes later, Mayor Buckhorn was standing at the corner of Ashley and Zack Streets to snip the red wrap at Anise Global Gastrobar’s grand opening. The Gastrobar had actually had a soft open a few months earlier and in that short time established itself as a favorite Happy Hour and pre-show dining spot, according to Donna Chen of the Tampa Downtown Partnership. Hosting numerous events in that time span, its craft cocktails and boutique wines have become popular nightlife fare. Another fifteen minutes passed when Mayor Buckhorn stood at the corner of Franklin and Madison to launch the Crumb & Cork’s inspiring food and entertainment offerings. Cheese, charcuterie (aged and smoked meats) and select wines add to the enjoyment of live jazz. The Crumb & Cork has Happy Hour specials from 4-6 p.m.
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This 100-ft crane at the east boat ramp is the reason why Peter O. Knight Airport had to shut down runway 18-36. Photo: Kim Fatica
and offers a “Jazzy Mimosa Brunch” from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays. Reservations are requested at least 24 hours in advance for parties of five or more.
if the shoe fits Hyde Park Village Gets well-heeled Boutique
The month of August will see at least three new stores pop up in Hyde Park Village, but none may be more celebrated than Navy, a shoe boutique that will also carry accessories and handcrafted jewelry from independent designers from around the country. The 560 square-foot store is the creation of 30-year-old Victoria Bowa, a bright and energetic entrepreneur who earned her Juris Doctor from Stetson University in 2010. She had no reservations for explaining why she’d rather be in wedges and stilettos than in a stuffy courtroom. “I’ve always been drawn to fashion, and having my law degree has been helpful with leases, term agreements, orders… it’s definitely been a plus.” The ticking of her entrepreneurial clock had a lot to do with it, too. “I’ve always thought about it–since I was little,” she offers. “And turning 30 is a big milestone. Now’s the time to take a risk!”
Bowa says she selected shoe lines that weren’t readily available in most department stores. Those include Brazilian-made Schutz and L.K. Bennett from London, the line worn by Britain’s most stunning royal, the Duchess of Cambridge. When ThePOST asked Bowa how she came to settle on the store’s moniker, she replied, “It is a sophisticated spirit…the color evokes preppy, but it’s really more about it being the new black. Navy can go with just about anything.” The store’s grand opening is Saturday, August 5. It’s located in the “horseshoe” area of Hyde Park Village, at 1607 W. Snow Circle.
hire ranking
Florida Makes Top 10 Worst States to be Unemployed Lists are popular these days, but this is a list few people still struggling through a rebuilding period out of a recession will want to read. The website 247WallSt.com took a good look at Department of Labor employment statistics and data from unemployment insurance benefits to compile their Top 10 Worst States to be Unemployed. Florida ranked 8th, sandwiched between Ohio (7) and Kentucky (9). Tennessee took top honors with an unemployment rate of 8.5 percent Statistics associated with Florida’s ranking include: • Percentage of unemployed receiving benefits (32, 8th lowest) • Percentage of average weekly wage covered by benefits (28.5, 8th lowest) • Unemployment rate of 7.1% (22nd highest) • One-year job growth rate of 1.7% (14th highest) Montana was named the best state for unemployed Americans, where 55 percent of their unemployed were receiving benefits and their two percent one-year job growth placed them in the top-10 best states for growth. Floridians should not despair; there is a silver lining in that dark cloud hanging over the state. The website named the city of Vero Beach as runner-up for the U.S. city with the best wage increases (11.1%).
bragging rights
& World Report ranked TGH as the number two hospital in Florida and the best hospital in the Tampa-St. Petersburg metro area for 2013-14.
Our Tidbits section is typically reserved for business news and not sports, but the state’s most intense sports rivalry has now gone off the gridiron and on to the social media grid, making it serious business for more bragging rights.
The hospital was also among the publication’s top 50 hospitals nationally in six specialties: • Cardiology & Heart Surgery (49th) • Ear, Nose & Throat (35th) • Nephrology (24th) • Orthopedics (19th) • Pulmonology (32nd) • Urology (32nd)
Another Top 25 Performance for Gators, Seminoles
We know how big that rivalry is in South Tampa.
Mashable, the online world’s most revered company for keeping the pulse on the Digital Age, rated the country’s 25 most engaged college sports fans in an online article posted July 23. Turns out the Florida Gators came in at #10 while the Florida State Seminoles ranked 22nd. Gators fans won’t like discovering that the Georgia Bulldogs came in at #9. According to the article on Mashable. com, online ticket broker TicketCity used a fan engagement formula that took in to account Twitter followers, Facebook likes, talking trends, and more traditional metrics such as game attendance, percentage of filled seats at home games and home ticket prices. Ohio State Buckeye fans won’t like knowing that the Michigan Wolverines ranked #1 and OSU fell in at #4 on the list.
hot wired
Three Times Charmed at TGH The accolades came in threes this time around for Tampa General Hospital. One of the state’s top hospitals received recognition for its connectivity, its specialties, and for its care of heart attack and stroke patients. On July 11, Hospitals & Health Networks magazine placed Tampa General Hospital among the nation’s most wired hospitals and was the only Bay area hospital named to the publication’s annual rankings. It joined nine other Florida hospitals, including Lakeland Regional Medical Center, Shands at the University of Florida, and Florida Hospital in Orlando. H&HN’s annual Most Wired Survey is considered to be the benchmark for the level of IT adoption in U.S. hospitals and health care systems. In a July 11 press release, Chief Technology Officer Balaji Ramadoss explained how technology improvements have benefited both patients and staff. TGH has advanced into technologies that focus on patient safety and quality, such as using technology to avoid medication errors. Physicians can use smart phone technology to care for their patients from anywhere in the world. The award recognizes TGH for having a wide range of advanced technologies, from allowing patients to review their records and interact with their care givers on-line, all the way to the use of advanced robotics for surgeries.” The next recognition for the hospital came five days later when U.S. News
“A hospital that emerges from our analysis as one of the best has much to be proud of,” said Avery Comarow, U.S. News Health Rankings Editor. “Only about 15 percent of hospitals are recognized for their high performance as among their region’s best. Just three percent of all hospitals earn a national ranking in any specialty.” Most recently, on August 1, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association gave the hospital two recognitions. The first, the Mission Lifeline–Silver Receiving Quality Achievement Award, recognized TGH for providing an exceptional standard of care to patients experiencing the most deadly form of heart attacks. TGH also received the association’s Get With The Guidelines–Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award for its commitment and success in providing top care for stroke patients. According to Karen Wilson, the hospital’s stroke program coordinator, TGH treated 784 stroke patience in 2012. The hospital has received the association’s awards annually since 2005.
best ‘shop’
Pink Petticoat Named to Intimate Apparel’s Elite On July 30 Hyde Park Village announced that The Pink Petticoat lingerie boutique had received a nomination from Intima Magazine’s as one of its finalists for recognition in its Best of Intima Awards. Shop owner Lesley Geyer will travel to New York City this month for the awards ceremony with the hope of returning to Tampa with the Best Shop Award, the most prestigious recognition in the industry. Geyer opened her shop in 2008, so achieving such high recognition in a short amount of time has been humbling for her. “As the only store of my kind in Tampa, it is not often that I have the opportunity to meet and network with my peers in the lingerie industry. It is so flattering to be nominated and to be recognized is quite the honor,” Geyer was quoted as saying in a press release. Geyer’s store was one of 33 finalists selected from a field of 200 nominees. She has accepted an invitation to sit at the table with representatives from popular lingerie brand Hanky Panky during the actual awards ceremony. The Pink Petticoat is located at 714 S. Village Circle.
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civic association
ride on
bike share program coasts into tampa this fall story by cristan fadal, president August is already upon us, and as we prepare for the kids to go back to school or prep for your fantasy football draft, there are some great initiatives your Civic Association has planned. We need your participation to make them successful. Our next meeting of the Association board is 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 6th, at the Sandra Freedman Tennis Complex at 59 Columbia Drive; all residents are invited. If you are unable to make that meeting, we meet regularly on the first Tuesday of each month at the same location. We are excited to share the news that the Tampa Bay Bike Share program is coming to Davis Islands. This past week we meet with the folks driving this initiative and they are excited about including Davis Islands as one of the locations for this project. Over the coming months we will work with them on determining the best location and how best to get the word out for a fall launch. To learn more go to Tampabikeshare.com and see what the future holds.
Last month we mentioned a few initiatives where we need resident involvement. Take a look at the list below and if you are interested please contact us at membership@dicivic.org. • Work with the City on strategy for cleanup of the water and area around Seaplane Basin • Volunteer to help coordinate this fall’s Davis Islands Resident Social • Volunteer to plan and coordinate Fall Festival in the Village • Secure sponsorship for our future Movies in the Park • Volunteer to participate in the development of a Davis Islands Community Market
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Thank you for your time; we look forward to seeing you around the Islands!
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giving back
catching their breath Ronald McDonald House helps family story by coral nardandrea When Arianne De Guzman went into USF Health for a routine check-up twentyfour weeks into her pregnancy, she did not expect to hear that she was having contractions one hour apart. Because her due date was still more than three months away, she thought that the sharp pangs were a false labor, also known as Braxton Hicks contractions. She certainly did not expect to undergo an emergency C-section that same day at Tampa General Hospital.
In comparison, the House provides the opportunity to stretch out and relax in some much-needed quiet.
Twins, Aislynn and Kairi, were born prematurely at just one pound, eight ounces each. Both babies have endured struggles due to their low birth weight. Kairi, the smaller of the twins, entered the world with digestion and blood pressure issues that required corrective surgery. It took her nearly three months to gain about two more pounds.
While at TGH for the twins’ birth, a surgeon told her husband, Geary, about the nearby House. The very next day House Manager Betsy Wilkinson called Arianne and extended an invitation to stay. “I almost cried on the phone,” she exclaimed.
Aislynn had issues that included breathing difficulties and a heart condition. She managed to reach four pounds and is finally in a regular hospital crib. Although she had been too fragile before, Aislynn can now be held. Arianne spends eight hours throughout the day with her twins and the remainder of her time occupying her daughter, Charlotte, at the nearby Ronald McDonald House on Davis Islands. “I like knowing what’s going on,” De Guzman says about her proximity to the hospital. “Being nearby gives you confidence.” De Guzman says that being able to enjoy the playground with Charlotte is a huge benefit of staying at the House. She loves talking to the volunteers and sharing experiences with other families at the House. She also enjoys the home-cooked meals prepared by thoughtful community groups. But most of all, De Guzman appreciates the peace of the House after a long day. “All you hear is beeps, and nurses are always coming in,” she says about the hospital.
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DeGuzman admits that she knew very little about the Ronald McDonald House before the twins were born. Her only exposure to it came from visits to TGH while being monitored for a rare blood vessel disorder. She could see the playground each time she left the hospital to return home.
De Guzman’s husband uses the family’s only car to travel 40 miles every day to the Davis Islands Ronald McDonald House. That’s a long day after working a busy shift at the Publix in Dade City. “I don’t think he wants to miss anything,” De Guzman says as she plays with Charlotte. “And Publix has been so supportive to Geary.” The De Guzmans were able to spend Easter and Father’s Day at the House together because of the company’s generosity.
Above: Arianne De Guzman, on a recent visit to the Ronald McDonald House playground with her 12-month-old daughter, Charlotte. Top Right: Aislynn had breathing issues and a heart condition, but eventually gained enough weight so she could be held.
The De Guzmans plan to stay at the House until the twins are released, which should be relatively soon.
Bottom Right: Approximately two weeks after her April birth, Kairi weighed in at a little more than one pound.
As for how the stay has impacted their family overall, Arianne says she wants to see her kids give back once they’re older, especially after the beautiful experiences they have had here as a family. She noted that other families have stopped by to drop off little snack bags that she and Charlotte have enjoyed.
Coral Nardandrea hails from Ocala and is studying Creative Writing at the University of South Florida. She has been serving a summer internship working under the tutelage of RMDH Marketing and Communications Manager Allison Barrick.
DeGuzman says it’s the little things people do to make a difference that count. “If you have a giving heart, you’re going to want to (give back).”
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ronald mcdonald house 35 Columbia Dr, Tampa, FL 33606 Phone: (813) 254-2398 www.rmhctampabay.com
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the island life
The July 10 storm moved in quickly over Davis Islands. These clouds and the dark walls of rain beneath it reached the south beaches of the islands within a few minutes of capturing this image.
to the Powers that be July storms raise power outage questions on davis islands story + photos by Kim Fatica Tampa residents were treading water during the month of July with recordsetting rainfalls that dumped 9.9 inches of water on us–about three inches more than normal for the month. Those same four weeks also brought high winds and plenty of downed trees to Davis Islands. The City of Tampa and professional arbor services were busy with chainsaws and chippers clearing debris and fallen timbers. The violent July 9 storm that raged through the area caused the most damage, including a large palm tree that fell across the multi-use path at the intersection of Channel and South Davis. It also caused a number of outages around the neighborhood. Three days later, Islander Tommy Morrill had questions about the reliability of Davis Islands’ power delivery system. He shared his thoughts with his DI neighbors on the social media site Nextdoor.com:
If you have lived on DI for a while, then you know the power goes out several
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times a year, during downpours, light rain, and even during a sunny day! Sometimes you can hear the explosion of a nearby transformer. One would think that with all of the property taxes owners pay to live in such a prestigious area, this occurrence would be slim to nonexistent with upgrades to our electricity components. Wouldn’t burying the lines and placing transformers on the ground or underground improve service? Just saying… ThePOST offered to take Tommy Morrill’s question to TECO to get an answer and media spokesperson Cherie Jacobs provided one:
Tampa Electric is proud to provide 99.9 percent reliability to our customers. Over the past five years, Tampa Electric’s customers have had the fewest – and among the shortest – interruptions among Florida’s investor-owned
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utilities. Reliability on Davis Islands meets or exceeds our system average. Underground lines can be slightly more reliable than overhead lines, with fewer wind- and lightning-related outages. However, outages on underground lines last significantly longer than outages on overhead lines. Problems on underground power lines are harder to find and harder to fix. Underground installation also is significantly more expensive than overhead lines. About 44 percent of Tampa Electric’s distribution power network is underground, paid for by the customers who requested the underground installation. In the late 1990s, the Davis Islands community formed the Utilities Task Force to explore whether installing power lines underground was a feasible option. After more than eight years of evaluation, the task force did not purse the option. Jacobs went on to say that trees, animals and lightning caused 60 percent of the power outages in the area.
High winds and lots of rain on July 5 brought this palm tree down across the multi-use path at the intersection of South Davis and Channel Drive.
Unable to drive down a flooded Severn Avenue near the airport, a couple took the same route at least a half dozen other drivers did: the multi-use path. A TPD patrol car was among those spotted driving on the path during the July 10 torrent.
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final grades
state releases grades for schools, districts story by Kim Fatica The Florida Department of Education released its preliminary grades and performance scores July 26 for all school districts, elementary and middle schools. Overall, the four public schools serving Davis Islands, Harbour Island and Hyde Park fared well against other schools in the district. Gorrie, Wilson and Plant all accumulated enough points to receive a grade of A. Robinson, which hosts an International Baccalaureate (IB) high school, also received an A grade. For the sake of simplicity, we focused on overall scores and grades. The report includes a total of 67 county school districts and 3,186 schools. Complete report information is available at SchoolGrades.fldoe.org. Elementary schools Scores for Gorrie Elementary and Wilson Middle Schools were based on performance metrics from FCAT 2.0 testing, End-of-Course Assessments (EOC), and the Florida Alternate Assessment (FAA). Students were scored in reading, mathematics, writing and science. Individual category percentages reflect those students who performed satisfactorily or higher. Those scores were reflected in the schools’ overall ratings. Gorrie Elementary School received 616 points out of a possible 800, placing it fourth among Hillsborough elementary schools. Bevis lead the pack (677), followed by Mitchell (651) and Mabry (635). Gorrie students scored best in Reading (88%), then Writing (87%), Science (81%) and Mathematics (78%). middle schools Among Hillsborough middle schools it was Terrace Community Middle School that came out on top with a score of
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805 out of 900, followed by Valrico Lake Advantage Academy (722), Williams (714), Randall (710), Martinez (704) and Wilson (702). Wilson students scored best in Writing (87%), followed by Mathematics (83%), Reading (81%) and Science (70%). High school scores are still pending. While the performances for the local schools serving our readership are in good standing, the school district did not fare as well. The state downgraded Hillsborough from a B to a C grade. It has not been an A-grade school district since 2010 and 23 schools lost their A grade. An official statement from school superintendent MaryEllen Elia kept things on a positive note. “The big story is that at a time when it is more difficult to raise your school grade, due to hard work and intense focus, many of our schools raised their grade.” The district still has its bragging rights. On its “Points of Pride” web page, the district boasts that 62 students were National Merit Semifinalists, an increase of 19 students from 2012. The page also states the district was chosen as one of the Best Communities for Music Education by the National Association for Music Merchants Foundation. Two Hillsborough high schools made U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best High Schools list. Robinson, considered a magnet school because of its IB program, earned a Silver medal and a ranking of 624. Statewide, it ranks 38th with 62 percent of its student body participating in AP courses. The other high school that made the list was Tampa Bay Tech, ranked 944 nationwide and 52nd in Florida.
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fund raisers
wilson back-toschool mixer if you can’t make the event, you can still help story by kim fatica
The Woodrow Wilson Middle School Foundation Board is sponsoring a mixer from 6-9:30 p.m. on Friday, August 16. The event will be held at 702. S. Edison Avenue, directly across Swann Avenue from the school. Datz will cater the event. Tickets for the casual, adults-only event are $75 per person with proceeds going to the foundation for enhancements in technology, staff development, improving the school’s facilities, and offering enrichment programs. The Woodrow Wilson Foundation was created in 2004 and raised more than $300,000.
That money has helped replace hardwood floors, created a reading garden and outdoor classroom, purchased textbooks and educational CDs, updated the cafeteria and provided enhancements to the school’s award-winning art and music programs. Sponsorship opportunities range from $75 on up to $5 thousand. Unfortunately, the deadline to RSVP was August 8, but questions about late registration, donations and sponsorships can be sent via email to Wilson.Middle@sdhc.k12.fl.us.
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