Month: March 2017

Wesley Chapel Office Of Pasco Cardiology Associates Expands Its Open Hours

The staff at Pasco Cardiology Associates in Wesley Chapel include (l.-r.) med. asst. Annette Vandenburgh, Dr. Binu Jacob, MD, FACC, practice manager Natalie Parsons & receptionist Joseph Hart.

As the population of Wesley Chapel grows, so does the need for its residents to have access to high-quality medical care.

For those who need the services of a cardiologist, Dr. Binu Jacob, M.D., FACC (Fellow of the American College of Cardiology), and Dr. Ramanath Rao, M.D., FACC, are adding Tuesday morning hours to the schedule at their Pasco Cardiology Associates office located directly across Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. from Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC) in the Windfair Professional Center.

As of Mar. 1, Pasco Cardiology Associates is now open on Tuesday mornings, 9 a.m.-noon, in addition to the regular office hours on Thursdays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

“We just see the population of Wesley Chapel growing tremendously and our patients are asking more and more (for us) to be more present in this community,” says Dr. Jacob, who received his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree from the University of Miami (Florida) Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine and his Board certification in Cardiology & Heart Failure from the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville.

He returned to the University of Miami in Florida to become Board-certified in Electrophysiology.

Dr. Jacob joined Dr. Rao in 2010 at the Pasco Cardiology Associates office in Zephyrhills and they opened the Wesley Chapel office together in 2012. Dr. Rao earned his M.D. degree from the University of Mysore Medical College in Mysore, India, and completed his Cardiology Fellowship at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine in The Bronx, NY.

Both doctors are equipped with the knowledge and skills to handle a range of heart and vascular issues, but as Dr. Jacob explains, they have adopted an approach whereby each of the physicians focus on one particular “system” of a patient’s cardiovascular infrastructure.

“Dr. Rao and I always joke that he’s the ‘plumber’ and I’m the ‘electrician,’” says Dr. Jacob. “He deals with anything heart attack — and heart disease — related, venous disease and vascular disease, so he focuses on your ‘plumbing.’ I focus on the electrical aspects of the heart, electrical pacemakers, defibrillators, or if somebody needs an ablation, where we go into the heart and fix an arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat). That’s the aspect that I deal with.”

According to the American Heart Association (AHA) website, catheter ablation is a procedure that destroys small areas of heart tissue that are causing irregular heartbeats.

Some of the conditions treated at Pasco Cardiology Associates are: cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease), ventricular fibrillation (uncoordinated contraction of the cardiac muscle), peripheral artery disease (obstruction of large arteries), congenital heart disease (defect at birth), stroke, and angina pectoris (chest pain).

Services provided include coumadin clinic (to determine if coumadin, an anticoagulant medication, should be prescribed to reduce the risk of blood clots), exercise and nuclear stress tests (where a small amount of a radioactive substance is ingested by a patient to determine blood flow to the heart), electrocardiogram (EKG) and echocardiogram (or Echo tests) and Holter monitoring (a Holter monitor is a device worn by a patient and continuously records the heart’s rhythms during normal activity) among others.

Insurance policies issued by most major carriers are accepted, as is Medicare.

An Ounce Of Prevention…

What Dr. Jacob prefers, however is that people take care of their cardiovascular systems before repairs are needed.

He emphasizes prevention and says that it’s important for people to manage their lifestyle and risk factors by controlling what they eat and making regular exercise, such as walking, a part of their routine. “I really try to teach my patients disease prevention,” says Dr. Jacob, who is a Wesley Chapel resident.

For Dr. Jacob, his journey to becoming a cardiologist was something he set out on at an early age, entering medical school at age 19 after applying himself and getting ahead in his secondary education by taking advanced placement courses at Ely High School in Pompano Beach, FL.

Dr. Jacob credits his mother, who worked as a nurse for more than three decades, as a major influence on him.

“She always said, ‘Treat your patients like family,’ so I refuse to see somebody for just a matter of minutes,’’ he says. “I have to take my time and understand where they’re coming from.”

Dr. Jacob adds that he takes a conservative approach to treating his patients, preferring lifestyle adjustments over treatment and, if treatment is needed, always opting for the least invasive procedures possible first.

“Too many people nowadays do a knee-jerk reaction where they want the latest and greatest, but not necessarily what’s beneficial for them,” says Dr. Jacob. “I really advocate to try the conservative things first.”

Hjalma Johnson has been a patient of Pasco Cardiology Associates for four years. He says his heart is in good hands around the clock with Dr. Rao.

“Dr. Rao is a consummate professional,’’ says Johnson. “He does follow-ups and calls to let me know if we need to do anything else and I have his cell phone number and can call him 24/7.”

In addition to Dr. Jacob and Dr. Rao, there’s a team of support professionals at Pasco Cardiology Associates who interact with patients.

Annette Vandenburgh is a medical assistant who makes her professional priority quite clear. “Number one is patient care,” Vandenburgh says. “We’ll do anything for the patient to make sure that everything is taken care of.”

Practice manager Natalie Parsons says patients can help themselves by bringing in their proof of insurance and a picture ID for their first visit and also recommends that you bring in bottles of all of your prescriptions each time you come to the office.

“Then, we can see who is prescribing the medication and when it was last filled,’’ she says.

The “face of the office,” according to his colleagues, is receptionist Joseph Hart. He says making often-anxious patients and their families feel better begins when they come in the door.

“I want them to come in and feel comfortable and assured that they’re going to get the care they’re expecting.”

With the additional availability to Wesley Chapel patients, Dr. Jacob anticipates Pasco Cardiology Associates will become further established as a contributing member of the local medical community.

“As Wesley Chapel grows,” he says. “I want us to grow with it.”

Dr. Rao and Dr. Jacob are affiliated with Adventist Health System’s Florida Hospitals in Hillsborough and Pasco counties (including Florida Hospital Tampa and Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel) and Dr. Jacob is affiliated with Bayfront Health Dade City.

The Wesley Chapel office of Pasco Cardiology Associates is located at 2649 Windguard Cir., Suite 102, in the Windfair Professional Center in Wesley Chapel. For more information or to make an appointment, call 788-0439.

Pasco Cardiology Associates

La’ Berry Frozen Yogurt & Ice Cream Café Has Great Food, Too!

La’ Berry Frozen Yogurt & Ice Cream Café wants to be the first place you think of for a quick and delicious lunch or dinner, as well as for delicious frozen yogurt and ice cream with more than 80 different toppings!

Some people love La’ Berry Frozen Yogurt & Ice Cream Café in the Trout Creek area of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. (in the same building as Burger 21) for its varieties of frozen yogurt. Others (like yours truly) love it for the new Working Cow ice cream and still others for its variety of tasty, healthy sandwiches and other food items.

In other words, even if you think the name of the café is a little long to remember, just remember “La’ Berry” and you can enjoy a variety of great, healthy lunch and dessert items in a clean, casual environment. La’ Berry’s new owners — my friends Urvesh and Trina — have both worked in the health care field, so they’re particularly proud of the café’s many healthy options.

For example, La’ Berry always has several gluten-and dairy-free and one or more soy-free frozen yogurt options (all for just $0.59 per ounce) among its always-rotating flavors, as well as one or more flavors with no sugar added.

“We have a lot of people who love the taro, chocolate almond milk and even rose (yes, like the flower; it was available for a limited time in Feb. for Valentine’s Day) flavors,” Trina says. “And, we will be adding more flavors for people with dietary restrictions in the future.”

And, Urvesh says that Working Cow (which is based in St. Petersburg) is a healthier alternative in super premium ice cream. The company’s website says that everyone at Working Cow is, “proud of the fact that all of the dairy we use contains no hormones or high fructose corn syrup. Our goal is and will always be to provide you with the freshest healthiest ice cream available.”

And yes, it is delicious, as anyone who tried the Working Cow samples at last weekend’s Taste of New Tampa & Wesley Chapel can attest. My favorites so far are the chocolate peanut butter, cookies & cream and espresso chip flavors, although the kids will go crazy for the “Superman” and “Cookie Monster,” too.

And, if you’ve never had authentic and creamy “kulfi” Indian ice cream on a stick (photo top left on next page), ask Urvesh or Trina to give it a try. I’ve only sampled the cream-flavored kulfi as I’m writing this story, but…yum!

I also really love the toppings — especially the various sauces — that you can add to your frozen yogurt cup or your Working Cow sundae at La’ Berry, especially the hot fudge, marshmallow, peanut butter and white chocolate sauces, although there are at least 80 items — from brownies to gummy worms to fresh fruit and from Reese’s cups to boba juice balls (and so many more), so everyone will find something they like to put on top of their tasty frozen dessert.

Outstanding Sandwiches, Wraps & Salads

But, if you’re looking for a quick and healthy lunch or dinner any day of the week, you also really need to try some of La’ Berry’s delicious salads, sandwiches and other food items.

For sandwiches, my favorite is the foza chicken panini, which comes with grilled chicken, fresh spinach, basil and mozzarella, plus tomatoes, sundried tomatoes, red peppers, red onions and a delicious pesto sauce, all on artisan white or whole grain panini bread. I had Urvesh hold the artichoke mayo and give me an extra side of the excellent pesto sauce.

I also loved the chicken Greek wrap, the chipotle chicken panini (which has chicken, bacon, cheddar cheese and a zesty chipotle spread) and our WCNT-tv sales and production assistant Gavin Olsen raves about his Philly steak panini). Our office also enjoyed both the big garden salad (which costs just $6.95, or add grilled chicken for just $1 more) with La’ Berry’s excellent Greek dressing (there’s also a Greek salad on the menu) and the La’ Berry salad, which includes fresh strawberries, blueberries, cand
ied walnuts, bleu cheese crumbles and a tasty raspberry vinaigrette dressing.

On a future visit, I definitely plan to also try the gourmet grilled cheese (with fresh mozzarella, jack and cheddar cheeses) and the new tuna melt sandwich.

And, best of all, Trina and Urvesh always make everything fresh for you when you order your lunch or dinner, and all of these menu items cost just $6.95-$7.95. All sandwiches are served with your choice of chips or pasta salad or you can upgrade your side to fresh fruit cup, a cup of soup or a nice side salad for just $1 more.

For you vegetarians out there, La’ Berry also has not only a tomato and mozzarella panini, but also a Cali veg wrap and even authentic Indian potato-and-veggie samosas. These crispy, fried appetizers (photo above) are like a slightly spicy potato knish inside, but with a super-crisp shell, and served with a deliciously spicy dipping sauce.

I have yet to sample any of La’ Berry’s different soups, but I meant to during the recent run of colder-than-normal weather.

La’ Berry also has a nice kids menu, with everything from PB&J sandwiches to corn dogs to a chicken melt sandwich, all for either just $3.95 or $4.95 per item. And, if you or your kids are into that whole smoothie craze, La’ Berry has you covered there, too, with ten different flavors, including my favorites — the peanut butter cup and bananas Foster flavors, and other fresh fruit options like strawberry, blueberry and even “razz matazz” and “mango madness.”

And, once you get the kids to eat a delicious, healthy meal, you’ll want to reward them with La’ Berry’s delicious frozen yogurt or Working Cow ice cream — and you should reward yourself, too.

“We’re committed to healthy food and serving people with dietary restrictions,” Trina says. “We’re still adding menu items and specials, so please keep stopping in to give us another try if you haven’t been here in a while and feel free to make suggestions about items you’d like us to add.”

La’ Berry Frozen Yogurt & Ice Cream Café is located at 20304 Trout Creek Dr. It is open 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. on Sun., 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. on Mon., & Tues.-Sat., 11 a.m.-10 p.m. For more info, search for “La’ Berry Frozen Yogurt & Ice Cream Café-Tampa” on Facebook or call 345-8537. La’ Berry also offers fund-raising events on-site for school and other groups.

La' Berry

Freedom Falls A Little Short Of A State Hockey Title At FHCI

The Freedom ice hockey team, comprised mostly of players from Freedom High in Tampa Palms and Wharton High on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., advanced to the Statewide Amateur Hockey of Florida (SAHOF) State championship tournament, where the Patriots fell in the semifinals.

Teams from all over the state converged for the two tiers of the State tournament, which was held for the first time ever at Florida Hospital Center Ice on S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel the weekend of Feb. 25-26.

Wiregrass, Freedom, Mitchell and West Boca (Spanish River) competed in the Tier 2 high school division. Tier 2 teams can draw from up to four schools, typically in the same general area, like Freedom.

The Tier 1 championships were also held at the same time. Those teams have rosters comprised entirely of athletes that attend a particular school.

For the tournament, Tier 2 teams had to limit the number of schools they could draw their athletes from to four. While the Freedom team is comprised mostly of athletes from Freedom and Wharton, they still had to make some painful cuts to the roster.

“It’s tough to compete with a limited roster,” Freedom head coach Dave Spataro said. “These kids played really hard and sort of made up for it. It would have been easy to lay down because we didn’t have this or that player but that attitude did not emerge in the locker room.”

In pool play, the Patriots fell to eventual champion Mitchell 4-2 and then beat West Boca. In their final pool game Feb. 26, they faced off against Wiregrass, a team that draws primarily from Wesley Chapel and Wiregrass Ranch high schools, in what proved to be a tough, physical game.

Wiregrass put on the early pressure, getting three shots on goal in just the first 10 minutes, but they were all saved by Freedom goalkeeper Dominik Rini, who attends high school at Tampa Chamberlain.

Freedom was able to run counters on fast breaks to get some pressure off their goalie, and with 4:29 left in the first period, forward Gianni Grieco got on the end of a 2-on-1 fast break and notched the game’s first goal.

Wiregrass charged right back and tied it 1-1, cleaning up a puck that ricocheted off of Rini. Freedom nearly took the lead in the waning moments of the first but entered the second period in a 1-1 tie.

The second period was dominated by Wiregrass, which took the lead just over a minute in on a shot by Joseph Davis. Two-and-a-half minutes later, Wiregrass made it 3-1 after a long flip shot found Zachary Parker deep in the opposite end. A minute later, it was 4-1 in the Ice Hawks favor.

Freedom’s Owen Barno scored to make it 4-2 in the second period, but Wiregrass scored again to lead 5-2 heading into the third.

The teams traded goals until penalties sent players from both teams into the penalty box. It would be counters to the teams’ power plays that would push the last bit of scoring through, with Freedom’s leading scorer Colton Sipperley cutting the lead to 6-4, followed by Wiregrass getting another goal by Davis with 1:05 remaining.

Final score: 7-4, Wiregrass.

“These are life lessons,” Spataro said. “You work with what you have to be successful in life and they did that. We’re proud of ourselves, we rose above it to play to our full potential.”

Spataro was particularly proud of the way his team held on in the close 4-2 pool play loss to Mitchell, the defending state and national champions. The Mustangs, who beat Wiregrass to win the Lightning Cup (the championship for the Tampa Bay Lightning High School League, or TBLHSL), beat the Ice Hawks again 5-0 to win the SAHOF Tier 2 title.

“That was a hell of a team to compete against,” Spataro said of Mitchell.

North Broward Preparatory won the Tier 1 championship. It was the fourth consecutive year the Coconut Creek-based school captured the Tier 1 title.

For Freedom, its run to the state championships capped a solid season that included a 14-5-3 record in the TBLHSL, good for third-place in the Andreychuk Division, behind Jesuit and Wiregrass, which both finished 16-6.

Sophomore Colton Sipperly and senior Hunter Sipperly, both forwards, led the Patriots in goals, with 25 and 23, respectively, during the regular season. Hunter scored six in a 12-3 win over River Ridge and Cotton netted five goals in a 6-3 win over Newsome last November.

Cotton added 24 assists for a team-high 49 points, while senior defenseman Brian Seybold was second with 33 points on 18 goals and 15 assists. Forward Tyler Young, another senior, scored 13 goals with 17 assists.

hockey

Topash Painting — Three Generations Of Painting Homes In New Tampa!

(L.-r.): Cole, K.T. and Hollie Topash hope that when you need or want to have your home painted, you’ll think of Topash Painting first.

For three generations now, the Topash family has been painting homes in Wesley Chapel and surrounding areas.

“We’ve always been a family-owned business and we’ve been a second-generation business,” says K.T., who bought Topash Painting from his dad, Paul, in 2009. “But now, we’re getting to be third-generation painting company.”

He explains that his son, Cole, who is 16 and homeschooled, often works as his father’s helper. “He’s working with me today, in fact,” says K.T.

Paul Topash established his company in the Lutz area in 1978. “About 20 years ago, we moved the business out to Wesley Chapel to keep it local to where we live, and we’ve been there ever since,” says K.T.

Never A Subcontractor

When you hire Topash Painting, you will always work directly with K.T.

“Our family is a great team,” says K.T. “My wife, Hollie, does all the bookkeeping, which is a full-time job in itself. Without her, I couldn’t do what I do. She frees me up to do the painting, the estimates, and what I need to do to get the job. Then, my son helps me paint. We all make a great team together.”

K.T. also has a helper for bigger jobs when his son is not available, but Hollie says you’ll always see K.T. at your home when you hire Topash Painting.

“There’s not a job where you won’t see K.T.,” explains Hollie. “His helper won’t be there without him; that will never happen. K.T. does each estimate, does every job himself – from start to finish, including pressure washing – on every job.”

Because his services are so in demand and he doesn’t hire subcontractors or laborers, he often books well in advance, sometimes as much as 90 days in advance.

“When I say I’m going to be there, I’m going to be there,” he says. Hollie adds, “The only thing that gets us off schedule is rain – or the occasional illness or emergency – but we’re usually able to swap an interior job for an exterior, and it works out so that we stay on schedule.”

K.T. jokes that he, “works to support his hobby,” which is another family affair. K.T., Hollie, and Cole are all licensed falconers, training birds of prey. Hollie explains, “They hunt for squirrel or rabbit or pheasant, and are taught to come back to us on a whistle. K.T.’s bird is a falcon that hunts ducks or other birds. The falcons develop a real bond with their trainers.”

K.T. adds, “Whenever we’re not painting, that’s our life.”

How To Hire A Painter

K.T. stresses the importance of protecting your investment in your home by painting the exterior when needed.

“Paint helps to seal off the wood and keep moisture out,” he explains. “Using a good quality paint makes a tremendous difference in how long the paint lasts. Some paints can be really expensive, but there’s a place where you get the biggest bang for your buck as far as quality.”

K.T. will help you get the best paint for your personal circumstances, such as if you’re planning to sell your home soon or if it will be your “forever home.” He offers some additional helpful tips for anyone who is considering hiring a painter for interior or exterior work:

• Ask friends and neighbors about painters they’ve used.

• A clean vehicle indicates a neat painter who takes pride in his or her work. Observe the vehicle he or she arrives in when they come to do the estimate.

• You shouldn’t be asked to buy your own paint before the job.

• Painters should return your calls in a timely manner.

• They must be able to show they are licensed, bonded and insured in your county.

“Always ask,” says Hollie. “If someone gets hurt at your house and isn’t insured, you’re liable. Make sure they’re bonded, too. If something expensive gets broken at your house, K.T. is bonded so you can replace it.”

She adds that if you’re not specific and you only ask, “Are you licensed?,” some contractors might answer “yes,” meaning they hold an occupational license. “Anyone can pay $35 at the county and get an occupational license,” she says. “Ask if they are a licensed paint contractor.” Hollie says this is what K.T. is, and he’s had training, invested money, and had to take a test to earn it.

“There are a lot of companies in Pasco and Hillsborough counties who are not licensed,” says Hollie. “There’s a big difference between an occupational license and a proper paint contractor license. It doesn’t benefit us to be properly licensed; it protects the customers.”

Painting His Whole Life

“K.T.’s dad, Paul, painted for me and my family when K.T. was a kid,” says Michelle, a long-time Wesley Chapel resident who didn’t want to share her last name. “The minute K.T. could hold a paintbrush, he was painting. I’ve seen him grow and watched him become the dad to his son that his dad was to him. He’s just a great guy.”

She says that K.T. also is a man of integrity, which she believes is rare. “I’ve watched him hold tight to his moral code,” Michelle says. “This is a time of uncertainty with contractors. You wonder if they’re coming, if they’ll be on time, (if they’re) using the product they say they’re using. K.T. is true to his word and he really cares.”

She adds, “I think that’s why he has so many repeat customers. Sometimes he gets really busy, but I don’t mind waiting. I just tell him to put me on his list.”

K.T.’s truck touts that Topash Painting is the home of the “neat and tidy professionals,” and Michelle says that’s absolutely true. “I have white carpet in my house that’s 25 years old. It’s that old because I take really good care of it. He’s painted every wall inside and out you don’t even know he’s been in the room.”

For estimates or appointments, call Topash Painting cat 780-2511 or e-mail topashpainting@gmail.com. Or, find “Topash Painting” on Facebook .

Topash Painting

Wiregrass Ice Hawks Fall Just Short Of A State Title At FHCI

The Wiregrass Ice Hawks receive their medals for finishing second at the SAHOF High School Tier 2 finals, the first major championship event held at Florida Hospital Center Ice off S.R. 56.

The Wiregrass Ice Hawks, a high school team comprised of players from Wiregrass Ranch (WRH), Wesley Chapel (WCH), Zephyrhills and Pasco high schools, won their division in the Tampa Bay Lightning High School League.

The Hawks beat two teams to make the league’s championship, the Lightning Cup.

They beat two more teams a week later to make the high school state championship.

The only thing the Ice Hawks couldn’t beat? Mitchell High from New Port Richey.

Playing in the Statewide Amateur Hockey of Florida (SAHOF) final for the first time, Wiregrass ran out of gas and fell to the Mustangs 5-0 on Feb. 26, in front of a packed, boisterous crowd at Florida Hospital Center Ice (FHCI) off S.R. 56.

It was the Hawks’ third loss to Mitchell in eight days.

“We had a tougher semifinal game (than Mitchell did) this morning (Note-both finalists played other teams in the State semifinals earlier the same day; see below) and that took it out of us,” said Gordie Zimmermann, the team’s head coach and the managing partner at FHCI. “Still, to meet and compete in the state title game, you can’t ask for a better season than that.”

The loss capped a great postseason for the Ice Hawks, who won the Andreychuk Division of the Tampa Bay Lightning High School Hockey League with a 16-6 record. They beat Bradenton Manatee and Tampa Jesuit high schools in the playoffs of that league, before coming up short in the Lightning Cup finale, held at Amalie Arena on Feb. 18, losing 7-4, also to Mitchell.

Wiregrass forward Adam Zimmermann moves the puck against Freedom.

In the State playoffs at FHCI a week later, the Hawks lost a pool match against Mitchell, 5-4 in overtime, but fought back from that loss to earn a third chance at the Mustangs. in the State title game.

Unfortunately for Wiregrass, after the overtime loss to Mitchell Saturday night, the team had to survive a physically tough 7-4 Sunday morning victory over New Tampa’s Freedom High.

Complicating the matter, one of the Ice Hawks’ top players, forward Gehrig Oppenheimer, was ejected from the win against the Patriots and suspended for the championship game. “Missing one of our front line guys really changed our dynamics,” Zimmermann said.

Fatigue and the loss of Oppenheimer showed, as Mitchell scored in the first four minutes and led 4-0 before the end of the first period.

The Mustangs kept up the pace in the second period, outshooting the Ice Hawks 23-11, but were unable to find the back of the net with any of them.

Still, Zimmermann said his players were able to relish the moment in the third period, playing in what will be their new home in front of an appreciative home crowd. He recalled during a timeout in the final, some of his players told him they were having the best time of their lives.

“Guys like Alex Carr and Alejandro Rivera got a couple of shifts in there (in the final),” Zimmermann said. “There were guys that just wanted to be a part of it.”

In its win over Freedom Sunday morning, Wiregrass fell behind 1-0 before cleaning up a puck that ricocheted off Freedom goalie Dominik Rini to tie things headed to the second period.

Physical play was the theme at the State tournament, especially whenever Wiregrass played Mitchell.

Wiregrass took the lead just over a minute into the second period on a shot by Joseph Davis who would earn a hat trick with his three goals against Freedom. Davis also scored two slapshot goals from the point in the Saturday night game against Mitchell to give the Hawks a late 4-3 lead.

Teams from all over the state converged for the two tiers of the State tournament, which was held for the first time ever in our area. As the champion, Mitchell is now headed to the national tournament.