Palms Pharmacy In Tampa Palms Is Dedicated To Serving The Community!

It has been about a year since I first met and interviewed Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) Shahida (pronounced “Sha-Da”) Choudhry and pharmacy technician Naivis Valdez of the Palms Pharmacy in The Shoppes at The Pointe in Tampa Palms, and a lot of new things have happened in that short time.

Although no one will ever accuse the Palms Pharmacy of being overcrowded with merchandise, Shahida and Naivis have added a number of new products and services — and all are still available at prices that beat the national pharmacy or grocery chains, if you could even find the same natural, health-conscious brands at those pharmacy “superstores.”

And of course, even though some people do get to know their pharmacist, I can assure you that you will never receive better, more personalized service anywhere else. Yes, Palms Pharmacy has great products, but their specialty is still bringing back the “good old days” of the “corner drug store.”

A Pharmacy App For The Digital Age

Of course, in today’s fast-paced, digital world, Shahida and Naivis can offer technology to make your pharmacy experience even more convenient with a new, free app — an app that currently is only available at Palms Pharmacy in all of Tampa.

The app is called “RxLocal” and it allows you to refill your prescriptions, receive reminders and even interact with the pharmacy. “It’s so convenient,” Shahida said as she got me signed up to use the app. “Everyone who has tried it has found it really easy to use.”

Even so, one of the things I love the most about the Palms Pharmacy is that Shahida and Naivis are somehow able to beat the national drug chains on price and can even compete favorably with Walmart and other discount stores on everything from prescriptions to over-the-counter (OTC) medications.

In last year’s article about the store, I mentioned that I saved money on items like extra-strength Tylenol and Mucinex and those discounts haven’t gone away.

Best of all, with new products and services being added all the time, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for at the Palms Pharmacy.

If you like natural vitamins and supplements, the store now carries two additional all-natural lines — Ortho Molecular Products & Pure Encapsulations, as well as Nordic Naturals. Pure promises, “Zero compromises. Pure Results,” in supplements that have zero gluten, zero hydrogenated fat, zero artificial sweeteners and colors and zero magnesium stearate.

Meanwhile, Ortho Molecular Products promise, “Quality beyond what’s expected,” and to take multiple steps other companies may not take to ensure the quality of the company’s formulations.

Expanding The Zum Line & More

In our last story about the Palms Pharmacy, I mentioned that the store carried multiple products in the Zum line from Indigo Wild, which creates, “Natural products for body & home.”

My fiance Jannah absolutely loves the Zum Bar all-natural soaps and the company keeps coming out with new scents. Palms Pharmacy also carries Zum Kiss lip products, Zum Body lotions, Zum Rub moisturizers with shea butter and Zum Mist aromatherapy & body mists.

“Our customers have gone absolutely crazy asking for more of the Zum line and, of course, we listened,” says Shahida. “And we continue to add other all-natural products, like the American Provenance all-natural deodorants, because we keep getting customer requests for more.”

Shahida and Naivis also like to support local companies, like “KurVee Girl,” or KVG bath “bombs,” which the KurVeeGirl.com website describe as, “a great way to scent and enrich your bath with amazing oils essential for hydrating your skin and leaving it soft.”

Shahida says that KVG bath bombs and other all-natural skincare products are made nearby in Dade City, FL, and come in another unique variety of scents, including Wild Orchid, Ginger & Lime, Fresh Cotton and many more.

Also new at Palms Pharmacy is the line of LovePop pop-up greeting cards. Each card is a work of origami and there are cards for every occasion from birthdays to holidays to wedding announcements that will surely become a keepsake for anyone who receives one.

Discounted Lab Work, Too

Shahida and Naivis also are proud that the Palms Pharmacy has recently contracted with two laboratories in order to provide discounted lab tests to their patients.

“Some doctors already complain that our prescription drug prices are too low,” Shahida says, “but now, with our contract with Quest Diagnostics, we can offer discounted blood work that doesn’t have to be ordered by your doctor.”

A second lab, ZRT Laboratory, offers discounted saliva hormone testing.

“Doctors were sending me the results of hormone tests (for estrogen, testosterone, cortisol and more) and telling me which hormones to use to properly balance them,” Shahida says. “Now, we can do those tests here, send the results to the patient’s doctor for less and even compound them here.”

  

Community Caring, Global Reach

Shahida and Naivis also are proud to be rooted in the New Tampa community and beyond. They have been donating thousands of dollars in OTC medications and medical supplies to Puerto Rico, not just since Hurricane Maria (see story on pg. 12), but since Hurricane Irma hit the island in September.

“We also have donated a lot of school supplies to schools here in our community and our Team Palms Pharmacy T-shirts have been worn by people on mission trips all over the world, from Thailand to Switzerland to Puerto Rico and even the USF Latin American Medical Student Association mission trip to the Dominican Republic.

“We’re here to help any way we can,” she says. “So, come on in, have a cup of complimentary coffee or our ‘snack of the week’ and let us treat you like family, too.”

The Palms Pharmacy is located at 17008 Palm Pointe Dr. and is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday (closed on Sunday). For more information, including about local delivery, call (813) 252-9063, or visit ThePalmsPharmacy.com.

Wesley Chapel 2017 Year in Review: People

(l.-r.) Zezura, son Jordyn, daughter Aryanna and Patrick Ruddell have made their Mini Doughnut Factory in South Tampa one of Tampa Bay’s hottest spots, and hope to bring one to Wesley Chapel one day. (Photo courtesy of Lindsey Meyer)

It Was A Busy Year For Locals Making Their Mark

From online stars to booming business, from reality competition shows to good old-fashioned game shows, Wesley Chapel saw its share of residents get their 15 minutes of fame in 2017.

Back in August, Florida Hospital Center Ice was home to “Tampa Bay Idol,” an audition for the new incarnation of “American Idol,” which will now air on ABC-TV. The local tryout was hosted by Channel 28-WFTS-TV’s “ABC Action News,” and more than 400 people showed up to audition.

Over the past 12 months, we have introduced you to Wesley Chapel residents and “Idol” hopefuls Brittany Collins, 28, who is a third-grade teacher at Heritage Elementary in New Tampa, and Caloi Koelndorfer, a 16-year-old junior at Wiregrass Ranch High.

“It was awesome,’’ Caloi said of her audition. “I just let it go and tried to have fun.”

Those who got the thumbs-up – including both Brittany and Caloi – were awarded a “front-of-the-line” certificate to the next round of tryouts, held in Orlando. Unfortunately, both of their “American Idol” journeys ended there.

We’ve heard that one Wesley Chapel resident and two “Tampa Bay Idol” contestants may have made it to the next round of auditions. But, that’s still all we know at this time. The show doesn’t air until March, so we’ll keep you posted if a Wesley Chapel resident appears on it.

Then, in October, we watched NBC-TV’s “The Voice,” catching glimpses of 16-year-old Wiregrass Ranch High junior Alexandra Joyce. Her audition and subsequent battle round were reduced to montages on the show, so the hit show’s audience didn’t get to really appreciate the full extent of the teen’s talents.

After three chairs turned around for Alexandra –— those of Academy- and Grammy-award winner Jennifer Hudson, Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine and country crooner Blake Shelton — she joined Jennifer’s team. But, Alexandra’s journey on the show ended in her first battle round.

“I think it’s definitely been kind of a stepping stone for me,” she says. “I have a single on iTunes; I never in a million years thought I would have a single on iTunes.” Alexandra’s two audition songs, Taylor Swift’s “Wildest Dreams” and Charlie Puth’s “One Call Away” are both still available.

In November, Wesley Chapel resident Christopher Moody’s stint on the CBS-TV daytime game show “Let’s Make A Deal” aired.

Which was more memorable — that he won $18,000 worth of prizes, including a new dining room set and a 7-day trip for two to Greece, or Moody’s spot-on hot dog costume?

Moody was offered $1,000 for a box with unknown contents — then $1,400, then $2,000.

“I turned it down,” Moody says. “It was just a gut feel. Right from the beginning, I was hoping I’d win a trip, I had a good hunch that is what was going to be in the box.”

Turns out he’s glad he followed that hunch.

And, we don’t want to forget to mention Zammy, the 100-pound “sheepadoodle” whose picture at the Shops at Wiregrass mall (right) went viral on the social media site reddit.

Zammy had about 600 followers on his Instagram account, @ZammyPup, before his photo hit reddit. After that, his owner, New Tampa resident Todd Pitner, says, “It went from 600 to 1,000 overnight, then 2,000 in a week, then 9,000.”

This pic of Zammy went viral after it was posted on reddit, and Todd Pitner (top right) says it has been viewed more than a million times.

Zammy continues to gain fans. As of the end of 2017, the lovable Sheepadoodle has more than 71,000 followers.

“Zammy’s just a really special dog, with a special personality,” says Todd, “and he brings joy to people.”

Something else that brings joy to people is – let’s be honest – doughnuts. Another Wesley Chapel resident we featured in 2017 was Patrick Ruddell who has made his Mini Doughnut Factory in South Tampa one of Tampa Bay’s hottest spots, with a crowd almost always out the door.

Ridell’s second Mini Doughnut Factory just opened in St. Petersburg.

At one point this year, Patrick and his wife, Zezura, were on the verge of a deal to open a store in Wesley Chapel on S.R. 56. What they thought was a done deal, however, wasn’t, as they say the leasing company reneged on an agreement.

As for opening a store in the community where they live, Patrick says, “We want it more than anything.” Here’s hoping 2018 is the year that brings Wesley Chapel its own Mini Doughnut Factory.

Wesley Chapel 2017 Year in Review: Sports

Hockey, Tennis & Lots Of Firsts For Area High School Teams

Wesley Chapel has had the occasional high school team break through. Saddlebrook Resort trains world-renowned tennis players. But, to call our community a sports “mecca” would be an overstatement.

That may, however, be changing.

Consider in 2017 alone: Wesley Chapel hosted the U.S. Women’s Olympic Hockey team training camp, some of the best professional women’s tennis players in the world competed in the Federation Cup semifinals at Saddlebrook, a new indoor sports facility received approval (and will break ground next year) and even the local kids made a little history at Wiregrass Ranch, Wesley Chapel and Cypress Creek high schools.

Not bad for one year.

As for ranking what we feel were the top stories, where do we start?

* The U.S. Women’s Olympic Hockey team training for the 2018 Winter Olympics was huge news. We wrote about it on page 11.

* The RADD Sports indoor sports complex will break ground in 2018, and could be open by spring of 2019. While we’re still not sure how much use Wesley Chapel residents will get out of the complex, its overall local economic impact is likely to be significant.

* The Fed Cup semifinal pitting the U.S. against the defending champion Czech Republic at Saddlebrook Resort in February put a buzz in the area’s significant tennis population.

Saddlebrook constructed a temporary 3,500-seat stadium around one of the resort’s Har-Tru Classic Green Clay Courts, and it was nearly full on both days of the event, despite temperatures that were blazing.

The Fed Cup, started in 1963 as the women’s version of the men’s Davis Cup, is the world’s largest annual international team competition in women’s sports, with roughly 100 teams competing.

The semifinals were a good get for Wesley Chapel, and the U.S. delivered an exciting down-to-the-wire 3-2 win as Coco Vandeweghe and Bethanie Mattek-Sands won the final doubles match to clinch it.

Many of those who watched from the stands in Saddlebrook that weekend were also watching from their couches in November on The Tennis Channel as Vandeweghe (this time with Shelby Rogers) again clinched a 3-2 win in Minsk, Belarus, ending a 17-year Fed Cup championship drought for the Americans.

* Wiregrass Ranch High (WRH) became the first team from Wesley Chapel to win a Florida High School Athletic Association football playoff game, despite a few 10-0 seasons back in the early-2000s by Wesley Chapel High (WCH).

The Mark Kantor-coached Bulls, led by 1,000-yard rusher Adrian Thomas, managed a school best-ever 9-3 record, and a 17-10 win over Lake Nona in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs (before a loss to state powerhouse Lakeland ended their season).

The Wesley Chapel softball team won almost as many games this season (19) as it had in 10 previous seasons (22), setting a school record.
(Photo courtesy of Steve Mumaw)

* At WCH, the softball team made some of its own history. Losers of 27 straight games and 43 of 44 over a three-year span at one point, coach Steve Mumaw and freshman pitcher Jordan Almasy led the Wildcats to their first playoff appearance ever. WCH won a school record 19 games, beat Robinson 4-0 for their first postseason win, and had eventual Class 6A champ Land O’Lakes on the ropes before losing 4-2 in the Regional semifinals.

* And, the new kids on the block at Cypress Creek Middle High (CCH) hit the ground running — on August 25, the Coyotes, coached by Mike Johnson, won the first football game they ever played, beating Gulf 12-0.

The closest anyone came to winning a state title in 2017?

* The WRH boys tennis team, which already won state titles in 2014 and 2015, fell short in their bid for No. 3 in four years, in April. The Bulls lost to Parkland Stoneman Douglas High 4-1 in the State Class 4A championship match, just the third time in their last 114 matches the Bulls boys have lost a head-to-head battle.