Month: July 2016

New Tampa Cultural Center Weaving Way Through Red Tape

The land across from Hunter’s Green’s main entrance still sits there, mostly untouched, other than serving as a retention pond for a road widening.

Despite county approval 18 months ago for a village/town center, dog park and New Tampa Cultural Center, there are no dump trucks, no cranes and no men in hard hats wandering around.

If you are one of the many who have wondered — and many have asked us — what is going on, the answer is plenty.

“Tell them it’s definitely coming,’’ says District 2 County Commissioner Victor Crist, who represents New Tampa on the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) and was one of the key forces in making the long-sought-after New Tampa Cultural Center a reality.

“There are so many hoops we have to jump through,’’ Crist says. “But we’re jumping through them.”

David Freeman knows that all too well. His company, Harrison Bennett Properties, LLC, won the rights (along with Regency Centers as part of a joint venture) in 2014 to build a mixed-use village center, tentatively called The Village At Hunter’s Lake at the time of approval.

The development is expected to feature a 20,000-sq.-ft. cultural center (expandable to 30,000-sq.-ft.) that will seat roughly 300 and include art and sound galleries — and its primary tenant will be the New Tampa Players, a local acting troupe that has been putting productions in our area for more than a decade — a 3-acre dog park and a town center that would include a “green” grocer, shops and restaurants and anywhere from 100-250 condos, townhomes or boutique apartments.

Harrison Bennett will build on roughly 17 acres of land purchased by the City of Tampa. The property is part of 80 acres originally purchased by the city for drainage and a retention pond for the widening of Bruce B. Downs to eight lanes.

Freeman’s proposal was chosen via a unanimous 7-0 vote by the BOCC on Dec. 17, 2014, with the understanding that Harrison Bennett would be responsible for obtaining the necessary zoning, permits and land-use approvals from the City of Tampa.

“At this point, we are really getting started with the process of rezoning so we can move ahead,’’ Freeman says. “Right now, everything else is just on the backburner.”

“People are excited,’’ says Crist, who is often asked about the status of the project. “They want to get it up and opening and running immediately. Unfortunately, this is not just a clean piece of dirt. It’s environmentally protected land, and had an original zoning as a park site or preserve. This is a very complex deal.”

The project is currently in an inspection period, according to Josh Bellotti, director of Hillsborough County’s Real Estate & Facilities. He said that engineers are continuing their investigation of environmental and stormwater issues.

The inspection period was scheduled to conclude on July 30, but has been extended through Sept. 9 to allow the buyer to conduct its due diligence. The extension is nothing too unusual, Bellotti said, as engineers begin digging into undeveloped land and find new issues to deal with.

After the inspection period is over, the project moves into the approval period – which lasts 180 days – when Freeman has to obtain all of the necessary regulatory approvals. The approval period, should any issues arise, can be extended up to a maximum of 360 days. Closing would occur 30 days after the approval period ends, which could be sometime in March of 2017.

A Little History…

Sure, red tape can hold up projects for years. But you can’t blame those skittish about the development of the cultural center clearing obstacles. The quest for a cultural center — or a “pulse” and “identity” as some had referred to it over the years — has stretched more than a decade.

In 2001, a Connecticut firm was paid $27,000 by the city for a study that determined New Tampa could support a cultural center. The nonprofit New Tampa Cultural Arts Center — led by Hunter’s Green resident Graeme Woodbrook — was offered the six acres it requested for the project, but the city wanted the group to come up with a $10-million endowment to pay for it, killing the effort in 2005.

The project was revived again for a brief time in 2007 by New Tampa Players president and founding artistic director Doug Wall, who also was involved in the earlier efforts. But again, money was an issue, until Crist was able to secure promises of funding and the project gained traction.

“It’s rewarding for them to know their work was not done in vain,” Crist says.

Crist says he is currently working on creating a new nonprofit, similar to the University Area Community Development Corporation (which Crist helped start and he is still a Board member). The nonprofit would be housed at the Cultural Center and would manage it, while being responsible for programming and fundraising.

The cost of the Hunter’s Lake project is around $7.5-million. The county has $3.1-million budgeted in its CIP program, Harrison Bennett will provide the county with $2.02-million in cash, as well as making another $1.885 million in site improvements.

Crist said he has been told the final appropriations for the project are included in the 2016-2017 county budget, which will be debated and finalized by Aug. 1.

Terrace Smiles Stresses Overall Health Through Proper Dental Care

Just as some people consider the eyes to be windows to the soul, Dr. Brian Witt, D.M.D. (Doctor of Medical Dentistry), views the mouth as a portal to the body, with a direct influence on your overall health. It’s a perspective that guides how dentistry is practiced at Terrace Smiles, located minutes from most of New Tampa off E. Fletcher Ave., a couple of miles west of I-75.

“We help people feel better as well as look better. That’s why I do what I do,” says Dr. Witt. “Dentistry has been linked to the health of our bodies. Everything is connected. The studies are very clear today that heart attacks, strokes, heart disease and diabetes are often all related to infections in your mouth. So, making sure that your mouth is completely healthy with no gum infection and no tooth infection protects your heart and your blood vessels from stroke and heart attack.”

It’s not just Dr. Witt’s opinion either. Research published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), in Bethesda, MD, cites a connection between poor oral health and increased risk of heart disease.

The increased amount of bacteria and infections resulting from poor dental health also create problems for people who have diabetes, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, one of NIH’s institutes.

Oral Infections Are More Problematic With Diabetes

With the American Diabetes Association (ADA) reporting that as of 2012, 29.1 million Americans have diabetes, the implications for the disease’s impact on personal health — especially for diabetic patients who have infections in their mouths — are substantial.

“Diabetes is very closely linked to personal health because a diabetic has trouble healing,” says Dr. Witt. “So, if you have infections in your body, a diabetic can’t control their blood sugar, so they get worse and diabetes is a huge killer of the body. Therefore, being able to control their blood sugar for a diabetic is very important, and if they have an infection in their mouth, they won’t be able to do that.”

According to Dr. Witt, ensuring optimal oral health adds up to a very important outcome.

“What we do here is we help save lives,’’ he says. “By keeping people’s mouths healthy without disease, we keep their bodies healthier and we help save their lives.”

Terrace Smiles also offers an array of cosmetic dental services. Dr. Witt says there’s nothing superficial about that aspect of his practice.

“The other thing that we do here is we help give people confidence. Because, when their teeth are straight and aligned and beautiful, and they’re confident about their smile, they’re happier, so they’re more able to go out in the world and be more social.”

Terrace Smiles is capable of fulfilling a wide range of dental needs, from exams and cleanings to several more complex procedures.

“We’re a full-service dental office,” says Dr. Witt. “I’m fully trained in all aspects of general dentistry. We also offer several advanced dental care procedures here, including laser gum surgery, tooth implants, implant dentures, full mouth reconstruction, smile makeovers and even orthodontics.”

Providing an extensive line of treatments means patients don’t usually have to deal with multiple providers to get the dental care they need.

“People don’t like to be referred to other offices,” says Dr. Witt. “People become accustomed to the way that they’re treated here and they don’t want to go to other places. Unless it’s an extremely advanced case that requires a specialist, I’m fully trained to take care of their needs.”

Even with all the research showing how important dental health is to your health, a lot of people are reluctant to visit a dentist until major problems develop.

“The biggest challenge getting people in is getting the word out that their health is dependent upon the health of their mouths and the health of their teeth,” says Dr. Witt. “Less than 50 percent of the population gets dental care. That’s a lot of people who aren’t seeing a dentist.”

Recognizing that people are reluctant to seek dental treatment influences how the staff at Terrace Smiles interacts with patients, who are referred to as “guests” by everyone at the office.

“We understand that dentistry is something that people are afraid of, so we take pride in the fact that we are extremely gentle and we help people get through their fear of dentistry by gently getting their work done,” says Dr. Witt.

It’s an approach that resonates with Lisa Van Sickle of New Tampa.

“The entire staff is attentive, organized and professional,” she said. “The technology I’ve been exposed to is cutting edge.”

Susan Wenrick of Temple Terrace chose Terrace Smiles when her 80-year-old aunt, who lives in Zephyrhills, required dental treatment.

“She loves it and feels very comfortable here,” Wenrick says. “They’re very friendly and one-on-one. It’s a very relaxed atmosphere.”

Care Worth Traveling For

Terrace Smiles’ office manager, Shirley DeSouza, says the practice takes care of people who come from far beyond the Tampa Bay area.

“We have patients who travel from Canada to see Dr. Witt. We have a patient from New Jersey now, who came down just to see us.”

Dr. Witt says empowering people to maintain their oral health and bright smiles is an important part of the routine at Terrace Smiles.

“We teach them how to brush their teeth when they’re here,’’ he says. “We teach them how to properly care for their teeth on their own.”

Dr. Witt’s home care advice is to brush twice a day and floss daily. But, even with a diligent regimen, he says people still need professional cleanings with checkups.

“The reason it is so important that people see their dentist on a regular, strict schedule is that bacteria and infection build up over time and only dental instruments can remove it,” he says. “You can’t remove an infection at home. You can keep everything healthy, but it’s building up over time, so every 3-6 months you need to come in to the dental office so we can clean out the places you can’t reach.”

Witt, who was born and raised in Tampa and now lives in Land O’ Lakes with his wife and their two children, says he committed to a professional life of dentistry at a young age and achieved that goal with the support of his family.

“They’d never had a doctor in the family so they felt like, ‘Okay, whatever,’ and they supported me the whole way as I became a dentist.”

Dr. Witt earned his D.M.D degree from the University of Florida College of Dentistry in Gainesville 1995 and established his own dental practice in Temple Terrace in 1999. He moved Terrace Smiles from the city’s business district to its current pastoral setting on Telecom Dr. in Telecom Park, just south of E. Fletcher Ave., seven years ago.

Dr. Witt is a member of local, state and national dental associations as well as both the Temple Terrace Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce, which recognized Terrace Smiles as a 2016 Ed Hanna “Business of the Year” finalist in the Health & Wellness category.

While family and dentistry are Witt’s greatest passions, he makes it a point to involve himself and Terrace Smiles in projects that benefit the larger community. He has donated dental supplies to villages in Ghana, supported the U.S. Marines’ Toys for Tots program as well as the Heroes Health Fund, a nonprofit organization founded by actor John Travolta to assist uniformed services personnel and other first responders whose jobs expose them to potentially dangerous levels of environmental toxins.

Whether it is his daily work at Terrace Smiles or the community projects he supports, it all comes together in what Dr. Witt says is the reason he became a dentist: “To help people. To make people well.”

You can learn more about all of the dental services available at Terrace Smiles (located at 13214 Telecom Dr., Tampa) by calling 977-7000, or visiting TerraceSmiles.com or the Terrace Smiles Facebook page, where you also can view testimonial videos of patients.

New Tampa Plastic Surgery – Expertise & Artistry To Help You Look Your Best

IMG_0462 copy — Dr. Peter Fakhre & his professional staff invite you to visit New Tampa Plastic Surgery off BBD.

New Tampa Plastic Surgery, a premier cosmetic surgery “boutique,” has been helping New Tampa and Wesley Chapel residents look and feel their best since 2011.

Specializing in the aesthetic plastic surgery of the face, breasts and body, Board-certified plastic surgeon Peter Fakhre, M.D., rejuvenates and enhances the natural beauty of his patients with the latest cutting-edge surgical and non-surgical procedures.

Dr. Fakhre also has been named one of the top doctors in the country by Vitals.com (a medical review forum for consumers). According to the website, Dr. Fakhre was named a “Vitals Top 10 Doctor.” Of more than 870,000 doctors nationwide, Dr. Fakhre has been recognized as being in the top one percent, of all physicians, as determined by patient ratings.

Located in the Windfair Professional Park off Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., across from Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC), New Tampa Plastic Surgery sees patients from all across Pasco and Hillsborough counties. Dr. Fakhre and his staff help everyone who walks through their doors feel welcome; their primary goal being to make the patient feel comfortable while exploring his or her best options for plastic or reconstructive surgery (as well as non-surgical alternatives, in some cases) in a highly professional and confidential environment.

You can see the results of Dr. Fakhre’s work when you visit NewTampaPlasticSurgery.com. Although his work definitely speaks for itself, he also is highly recommended by his patients. In a physician review on Vitals.com, Dr. Fakhre’s patient Jane Gibbons said, “Plastic surgery? More accurately — Surgical Artistry! Dr. Fakhre is a master of his craft. He not only is an accomplished surgeon, (he also) is a man of integrity who listens, counsels and guides his patients toward the goals they are seeking. (He) then satisfies those goals with skill and precision!”

She continues, “Dr. Fakhre works with his patients to determine the best surgical and non-surgical options that will achieve the desired outcome. As a bonus, his office staff is compassionate, efficient and shares his philosophy that everyone deserves to look their best. Unquestionably, Dr. Fakhre is the best that Tampa Bay has to offer!”

NTPlastic Dr. Fakhre, who is one of the few plastic surgeons in the Tampa Bay area to be double-Board-certified by both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and by the American Board of Surgery, explains, “There are many things that are important in achieving successful outcomes in plastic surgery: an understanding of the patient’s desires, their physical examination, realistic goals, sound surgical technique, attention to detail and outstanding postoperative care, all of which contribute to success in cosmetic plastic surgery.”

He earned his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Biology from the University of South Florida in Tampa, graduating summa cum laude. He then elected to attend the University of Florida College of Medicine. It was while he was at UF that Dr. Fakhre’s surgical talent, aesthetic eye and love for plastic surgery were realized.

Dr. Fakhre then completed a general surgery residency at the world-renowned Mayo Clinic, where he scored in the 98th percentile in the American Board of Surgery in Training Exam, the highest among all of the residents in his program. He was involved with numerous publications and research projects, which have been presented at numerous scientific meetings, including the distinguished American Society of Plastic Surgeons. During his surgical training, Dr. Fakhre was awarded the Excellence in Teaching Award by the Mayo Clinic Medical School and served as Chief Resident in Surgery in his final year of surgical training.

Dr. Fakhre was then privileged to match at his first choice of Plastic Surgery fellowship programs at the prestigious Methodist Hospital where he again excelled, scoring the highest in-service exam score among all plastic surgery residents in his program and serving as Chief Resident during his final year of plastic surgery training.

“I had the wonderful opportunity to train with members of the original group of plastic surgeons that invented the breast implant, as well as facial and body plastic surgeons whose surgeries have been featured on The Discovery Channel,” Dr. Fakhre says. “Working in such an environment provided great exposure to a large volume of primary as well as revisionary cosmetic surgery cases. This experience was priceless and I’m happy to bring this type of training to the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel area.”

This training and his own expertise helped Dr. Fakhre earn the highest score possible, in the 99th percentile among Plastic Surgeons, in plastic surgery of the breast, on the American Board of Plastic Surgery written examination.

In addition to refining his surgical skill and technique during his plastic surgery training, Dr. Fakhre also volunteered his time with Operation San José and traveled to Guatemala on a cleft lip and palate surgical mission. There, he helped deliver surgical care to many cleft lip and palate patients who may have otherwise never received the treatment they needed.

Dr. Fakhre says that he was happy to return to the Tampa Bay area after his training and currently lives in Seven Oaks with his wife of 13 years and two children, who keep them busy and entertained.

So Many Surgical Options

So many of us have things we would like to change about our bodies. Time, age and weight changes all take a toll on the body and these factors can affect your appearance and self-image. Dr. Fakhre says that cosmetic plastic surgery is a way to help you look and feel better. “When we are happy with our appearance, we feel more confident,” he says.

New Tampa Plastic Surgery offers a plethora of cosmetic surgery procedures for women and men, including breast enhancement (augmentations, lifts and reductions), tummy tucks, face and neck lifts, eyelid surgery, liposuction and more. Known for his technical skill, eye for beauty and superior aesthetic practice, Dr. Fakhre will work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan to achieve your desired outcome and to make the “new you” a reality.

“Cosmetic plastic surgery allows the surgeon to combine artistry with sound surgical techniques to produce superior results,” says Dr. Fakhre.

Breasts, for instance, are often at the core of a woman’s femininity and self-confidence. Dr. Fakhre explains that breast surgery is one of the most personal decisions a woman can make.

“Breast augmentation surgery can increase your self-confidence and satisfaction with your body,” says Dr. Fakhre. “By increasing or restoring breast volume, we can help our patients achieve a better-proportioned body.”

Dr. Fakhre’s breast augmentation patients are first educated about implant size and types so they can make informed decisions about which would best satisfy their personal goals. He says that the two main implant types available are still silicone and saline and that the implant selected depends upon a variety of factors.

Currently, the most common implants that Dr. Fakhre uses are silicone implants, which he says look and feel more natural than their saline counterparts.

Breast lift surgery removes excess tissue and repositions the breast and/or nipple to a more youthful position. This procedure is often chosen by women desiring to restore form to their breasts or reclaim their “before-baby” appearance. And, although breasts are intertwined with the feminine profile, women are not the only ones who have breast surgery. In fact, Dr. Fakhre says that he has helped many men feel better about their appearance with reduction surgery for men with female-looking breasts (also known as Gynecomastia).

Liposuction, ‘Mommy Makeovers’ & More

Another popular cosmetic surgical procedure at New Tampa Plastic Surgery is liposuction, which can improve the body’s contour by removing fat deposits that are resistant to diet and exercise. Liposuction restores proportionality and minimizes problem areas. Dr. Fakhre says that if you find yourself shopping for clothes to hold your tummy in or help slim your thighs, liposuction may be your answer. He adds that liposuction offers significant results with minimal downtime.

“In fact, many (liposuction) patients recover over a weekend and return to work on Monday,” he says.

A full “Mommy Makeover” also is a popular procedure sought by women who want to get back to the body they had before they had children. Dr. Fakhre says that the most common “Mommy Makeover” combines a breast lift (with or without breast augmentation for reshaping), a tummy tuck to tighten the midsection that was stretched during pregnancy and liposuction to remove unwanted fat deposits.

Dr. Fakhre, who has surgical privileges at Florida Hospital Tampa and Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, says that he performs most of his surgeries at the New Tampa Surgery Center, located nearby (off S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel), although he adds that he does perform minor procedures in his office as well. Wherever he performs his artistry, however, his satisfied patients are a testament to his experience and training.

“From the moment I walked through the door in his office I was always greeted by first-name basis, which made me feel like I wasn’t just another patient to get in and out,” Christina Vargas wrote in her patient testimonial about her experience with New Tampa Plastic Surgery. “The whole process — from scheduling my appointments to the day of the procedure, even my recovery — went so smoothly. I highly recommend Dr. Fakhre. I give him 10 stars!”

Non-Surgical Options, Too

But, the office also is a true cosmetic boutique, offering skin and other non-surgical cosmetic procedures, in addition to plastic surgery. Many of these non-surgical procedures — such as Botox and dermal fillers, Latisse eyelash lengthening and thickening, fat injections, chemical peels that rejuvenate and energize the skin to beautify your natural state and more — often provide the results a patient is looking for, and are less “invasive” than surgical options.

Board-certified nurse practitioner Christina Ahrens has nine years of experience in dermatology and plastic surgery and performs all of the non-surgical procedures at New Tampa Plastic Surgery.

“We are fortunate to have Christina as part of our team,” says Dr. Fakhre. “she does an outstanding job in the treatment of our patients.”

For your free cosmetic surgery consultation, call to make an appointment with Dr. Peter Fakhre at New Tampa Plastic Surgery at (813) PLA-STIC (752-7842). The office is located at 2541 Windguard Cir.

For a full menu of services, visit NewTampaPlasticSurgery.com. And, be sure to check out the ad on page 11 of our latest issue and ‘Like’ New Tampa Plastic Surgery’s Facebook.com page so that you can be notified of the office’s monthly promotions on various services.

New Tampa Plastic Surgery

Need A New Look For The Summer? Try Raquel.Does.Hair!

Raquel Torres of Raquel.Does.Hair has a private room inside the Visionary Hair Company salon in the Cypress Glen Professional Park off S.R. 56 — Raquel Torres of Raquel.Does.Hair. has a private room inside the Visionary Hair Company salon in the Cypress Glen Professional Park off S.R. 56

Raquel Torres of Raquel.Does.Hair. is an independent veteran hairstylist who gives her clients an exclusive salon suite experience in her own private room located in the Visionary Hair Company salon in the Cypress Glen Professional Park off of S.R. 56 (just east of I-75).

“You pay for my full attention,” says Raquel. She says she never double-books, so she won’t be attending to someone else’s haircut while you’re sitting under a dryer. “I control my own schedule, which is nice because I can set the appropriate appointment length to give each client the best experience possible.”

Raquel became licensed as a cosmetologist in Florida in 2003. She was dual enrolled in high school, where she thought cosmetology school would help her gain independence and an option for supporting herself while she attended college. Instead, she “fell in love and found I had a knack for hair.”

She did go on to receive her Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree from Pasco Hernando Community (now State) College in Brooksville in 2005. In addition to her cosmetology schooling and general education, she also recently went to barber school and became licensed as a barber last July.

Raquel says men, women and children come to her for, “everything in the color and cut family.” She says that includes hair cuts, razor cuts (which she says offer more texture versus a blunt cut using scissors), pixie cuts and short hair cuts for women, among other styles. She does color and highlights, and especially loves a technique she uses with many of her clients called “balayage highlighting,” where she hand-paints your highlights instead of using foils.

“It makes it so the outgrowth is more natural with no heavy horizontal lines,” Raquel says, “so people can carry their natural color much longer without needing any kind of touch-ups.”

Especially now that Raquel has her barber’s license, she says she offers men much more of an experience than any of those “quick places” men often go to for their haircuts. Her high-quality cuts include shampoo and a scalp massage, which she says men really enjoy.

“When a man comes to me for the first time, they often tell me no one had ever given them a scalp-massage before,” she says. “Now, they won’t let me skip it. They enjoy the relaxation of the experience.”

Raquel2 Raquel worked in salons in Brooksville, Gainesville, and Wesley Chapel for many years before she says she “took a leap of faith” and began working independently in 2012. She found the room for rent at Visionary Hair Company and felt that striking out on her own at that time in that location was meant to be. “My faith played a huge part in this,” Raquel says. “I really wanted this decision to come when I was sure it was what I was supposed to do.”

Raquel says that, to date, her business has grown primarily from word of mouth and referrals. She encourages clients to refer their friends to her when they’re looking for something new.

“Every client you refer to me means $10 off your next service, and your friend gets $10 off, too.” says Raquel.

“I hear from people all the time that it’s harder to find a new hairstylist than to find a new doctor,” she adds, “especially because, when you try someone new, you have to walk around ‘wearing’ that until your next experiment.”

So, Raquel wants to make the experience of giving her a try easy and pressure-free. She says she talks with each client for 5-10 minutes before she ever takes out her cutting tools. Because her room is private, she can close the door, so there’s no one else watching. She says she prides herself on being able to communicate with her clients.

“Anyone can say they are a hair stylist, but I really work to understand how my clients see themselves so that we can agree on a vision for their look,” says Raquel. “I take as much time as needed to be sure we find a style that complements them and their lifestyle.”

She also says the private room allows each client to have the experience that really fits their needs at that time. “A lot of moms come in and just want peace and quiet while they drink their coffee,” she says. Then she laughs, “Others want to talk, and I tell them they can talk as much as they want as long as they hold their head still.”

She says she also has clients who want to come in and have a good time, so she’ll put on some good music and maybe even sing and dance while she works. “If you’re looking for entertainment, I can do that, too,” she laughs.

Client Allen Williams says that Raquel’s warm, bubbly personality, and excellent work has kept him coming back to Raquel since the day he went to a salon and the person he wanted to see wasn’t there, so he ended up with her.

Allen says she cut his hair and his response was, “Wow! I like this.” Allen’s been going to her ever since, following her to her new location.

Allen’s wife Julie started going to Raquel a little over a year ago. “She’s always in a happy mood, and I feel super comfortable with her,” Julie says. “She really seems to know what’s going to look good on me.” Julie adds that she wanted to “go blonde” for the summer, but Raquel talked her out of it.

“She’ll do what you want,” Julie says, “but the times I’ve gone against her advice, I’ve regretted it.” Julie says Raquel suggested she tone the blonde way down so it goes with her complexion, and she loves the end result.

Allen and Julie’s son, who is a high school student, began getting his hair cut by Raquel, too. Raquel describes his style as “hipster chic” and says he’s “very particular” about his hair. His parents say people often ask him who cuts his hair, so they refer them to Raquel.

“I love her,” says Julie, “and everyone I’ve recommended her to loves her, too.” Allen concurs, “I refer everybody to her, because you can pretty much guarantee they’re going to be happy.”

That’s Raquel’s goal. “I don’t care how you looked when you came in,” she says, “I’m responsible for how you look and feel when you leave.”

Raquel.Does.Hair. is located at 2405 Creel Ln., Suite. 101, inside the Visionary Hair Company salon. Raquel is available by appointment Tuesdays-Saturdays beginning at 10 a.m. To make an appointment, call Raquel at (352) 442-1082. You can see before and after photos of her work, check her prices, and read client testimonials at StyleSeat.com/raqueldoeshair.

Raquel. Does. Hair.