SPOTLIGHT ON…Creative Permanent Makeup By Pam!

Pam Edmonson is passionate about eyebrows. She’s been offering Creative Permanent Makeup By Pam since 2011, but moved last year into her new location at Serenity Salon & Spa Suites, located off S.R. 54 in Suite 101 of the Brookfield Professional Park, west of the Walmart at the corner of Eiland Blvd.

There, Pam offers permanent makeup and other aesthetic services, but she says that eyebrows are still her favorite.

“Eyebrows completely frame the face,” Pam says. “They are so important.”

Pam has been a licensed cosmetologist in Florida since 2009. She then studied at the Boca Ta-2 School for Permanent Makeup in Williston, FL. She treats clients of all ages, and eyebrows of all sorts, from those that need to be reconstructed to those that have faded with age and exposure to the sun.

Pam has been doing the popular “microblading” technique since she was trained in it in 2014. She uses a small blade and ink to create each individual hair. Pam’s penchant for detail serves her well, as her steady hands help draw on an eyebrow which she then microblades, with each stroke adding a more natural look to the eyebrow.

“Microblading is a big thing right now,’’ says Pam, who is licensed through the Florida Department of Health for permanent makeup (the same license as tattooing). She encourages anyone who wants permanent makeup to schedule a free consultation with her. 

“Do your homework,” she says. “Make sure the person who does your eyebrows does a consultation. They should sit down with you, show you their work before and after, and also after the skin has healed from the process.”

Having your eyebrows done by Pam takes about an hour and the cost includes a touch-up after the first four weeks, to help deepen the color and make them more permanent.

Pam also offers permanent eyeliner, and is now offering permanent lip color, too.

“I used to not like to do lips, but I learned a new technique,” she says. “It’s not as painful and the color stays beautifully. I had mine done, and it looks so natural and full.”

Pam is currently charging $350 for eyeliner or eyebrows, and $450 for lips. She says she will be raising prices later this year, so anyone who wants to take advantage of her lower prices should do so before September 1.

Some of Pam’s other services include scalp therapy (for women with thinning hair) and microneedling, which improves the skin by producing a slight injury to the face, causing new collagen to grow at the “injury” site.

For a free consultation or more info, visit CreativePermanentMakeupByPam.com, or call (813) 997-6302.

Students & Teachers Across Wesley Chapel Are Back In School

The lunchrooms and the walkway and courtyard at Cypress Creek Middle High School were finally filled by students as the new school, while others across Pasco County were back in business on Aug. 14. (Photo: Pasco County Schools)

Among the thousands of students who went back to school in Pasco County on August 14, more than 1,500 of them spent their first day at Wesley Chapel’s newest school, Cypress Creek Middle High School, which is located off Old Pasco Rd.

Cypress Creek Middle High was expected to open with about 1,500 students, but actually had 1,603 students show up on the first day. The school’s capacity is 1,958 students, so it still has some room to grow.

The new school was needed to relieve crowding at not only Wiregrass Ranch High and John Long Middle schools, but also has students who previously were zoned for Sunlake and Wesley Chapel high schools, as well as Weightman and Rushe middle schools.

All students at the new school follow the same bell schedule, from 7:25 a.m. to 1:50 p.m.

“The first few days have been outstanding,” said Cypress Creek principal Carin Hetzler-Nettles. “Our students are enjoying their new environment and are learning the layout of the campus. Other than the normal situation of getting used to the routine, and watching to see where we need to change procedures with car loop or bus loop, etc., we have truly had an amazing first few days.”

Hetzler-Nettles also said that the campus was filled with Parent Teacher Student Association members helping students find their classes, and even Pasco Superintendent of Schools Kurt Browning was on hand to help welcome the students and direct them to their new classes.

Cypress Creek Middle/High. (Photo: Cypress Creek Howler)

“It takes a village to open a new school,” added Hetzler-Nettles, “and our community has just been so welcoming and helpful! We couldn’t have done it without them and are excited for our future!”

Among those who helped get the teachers set up in their new digs at the school on July 26 were volunteers from the Pasco Education foundation and the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel.

At Long Middle School, one of the schools that lost students to Cypress Creek, principal Christine Wolff said, “You always miss the kids on campus that you have grown attached to, and my wish for all of our former students is to have a good adjustment and get excited for learning, and take that excitement for learning with them wherever they are.”

She says that while Long’s enrollment numbers are down slightly (1,488 students were enrolled on opening day this year, versus 1,810 last year), the school is still over capacity because of all the growth in the area.

“We did have a smooth start to the school year,” Wolff says, “And, just like all of our Pasco County schools, we’re focused on meeting our school improvement goals and making sure they (the teachers and students) are meeting the learning standards in the classroom.”

And at Wiregrass Ranch High (WRH), the 10-period schedule is a thing of the past, as many former students have new homes at either Cypress Creek Middle High or WCH.

A contentious rezoning process last year was designed to ease the overcrowding at Wiregrass Ranch while also filling the new school.

“We had a great start,’’ said WRH principal Robyn White. “We are back to the 7-period day, and while there are a lot of students on campus at the same time, it is manageable. We started day one with a little over 2,200, which was a decrease of 300 from last year.”

CORRECTION: We inadvertently omitted New River Elementary from our chart of Pasco County school grades in our last issue. We’re really sorry about that, because principal Lynn Pabst and the students and teachers at New River earned a “B” grade for the third consecutive year.

SPOTLIGHT ON…Samantha Taylor Fitness!

Fitness professional Samantha Taylor (photo) offers fitness training and nutritional counseling for women only, helping them to “age backwards,” as Samantha says, at her Wesley Chapel location, across the street from Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC) in the Shoppes of Wesley Chapel plaza on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd.

Her Pure Health Personal Training and Fit Body Boot Camp programs start with a completely free, no-obligation consultation called a “Body Transformation Analysis” to determine goals and plan a fitness program.

The most customized, personal and private option available is Pure Health Personal Training. This can be done in one-on-one, semi-private, or in small group sessions. In addition to the personal training, each client also meets with an assigned results coach monthly, to make sure they’re progressing.

Clients who choose Samantha’s Fit Body Boot Camp attend regular or beginner Boot Camp sessions, which vary in cardiovascular intensity levels. Several classes are offered every day, and many women choose three or more times each week to attend.

“We are getting women in amazing shape,” says Samantha. She is a Certified Personal Trainer who began her career 24 years ago and launched her own business 17 years ago. During that time, she estimates that she has trained 5,000 local women. Samantha uses her experience as a personal trainer – seeing what works and what doesn’t with her many clients – and her years of intensely studying the human body to coach women in fitness and healthy eating.

“Most of the people who come to us have done all the diets,” says Samantha. “The shakes, pills, protein diets and calorie deprivation diets. They’re shocked they can eat the way I show them. They love the food and they lose weight.”

She says many of her clients see more than just weight loss – they’re getting healthier as well.

“They are preventing diseases such as heart disease and diabetes,” she says. “Some clients no longer have to take cholesterol or blood pressure medication, and no longer suffer from muscle pains and aches.”

Samantha’s original location also is nearby in Land O’Lakes, off S.R. 54 on Knight Rd., and she has recently opened her third and fourth locations in Carrollwood and Westchase, respectively.

She’ll host another free seminar Saturday, August 26, 12:30 p.m., at her Land O’Lakes location (2206 Knight Rd.) featuring Shannon Barker, the Samantha Taylor Fitness Nutrition Educator, who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Food Science & Nutrition. Taylor and Barker will help attendees achieve their fullest potential in health and fitness by learning to tweak their diets and track their calories for maximum results.

Light snacks and gourmet coffee will be  provided at the seminar, which is free for members and guests. Reserve your space at SamanthaTaylorSeminars.com.

For more info, call (813) 377-3739, visit SamanthaTaylorFitness.com.

VIP Pest Control Can Help You With All Of Your Florida Bug Problems

VIP Pest Control owner Vicki Hutto wants her customers to know that they are “Very Important People.”

“We work for you,” Vicki says. That’s why, for example, you’ll always talk with a live person when you call VIP’s office.  “We give our customers personal attention. No two people are alike, and no two houses are alike.”

For the past 11 years (it was established in 2006), VIP Pest Control has served Wesley Chapel and the surrounding areas of Pasco and Hillsborough counties, keeping homes and businesses free from insects — including termites, mosquitoes, ants, roaches, bed bugs and more — with treatments that include both traditional chemical and kid-friendly and pet-friendly organic options. VIP also handles problems with nuisance animals such as rodents and snakes.

Same-day service is often available, especially if you have a serious issue that needs immediate attention. “If you call us in the morning,” says Vicki, “we can usually work you in that day.”

She and her team emphasize the importance of taking care of the families and pets in the homes they treat. They always are aware that pets and kids spend time on the floor, so they use pet-friendly and child-friendly treatments. That’s why VIP technicians offer many organic options, and Vicki says you won’t be charged a premium for using those organic products.

Prior to launching VIP Pest Control, Vicki worked for Orkin and says she was the first female termite inspector in the entire company. She was inducted into the Orkin National President’s Club three years in a row, a prestigious honor given to the top three percent of sales producers nationwide. She also worked at two smaller pest control companies.

Vicki says she’s proud that every review on the company’s Facebook page rates VIP Pest Control as 5 stars. Vicki wants all of her customers to feel like Anisa Jivanjee, who writes, “Just got my house treated by VIP’s Vaughn and Vernon. I am so impressed by their detailed treatment of nook and crannies, attic and perimeter of the house. Plus, I got a very courteous explanation of what they were doing. Can’t talk enough about Lilly, who is always so patient, respectful and thorough whenever I call. I love VIP Pest Control!”

Termite Tips & Treatments

Vicki says the most important thing you should get from reading this article is this: Every homeowner in Florida should get a termite inspection every year. You should have a company that will inspect your home and guarantee they will treat and get rid of any termites that move into your home with a termite bond.

She says the bond is similar to an insurance policy. If it expires and you get termites, you’re no longer covered, so it’s important to renew annually.

While a sure sign of termites is a visible swarm of the bugs, you can have termites even if you don’t see that telltale swarm.

“A common misconception is that when that swarm is gone and you no longer see bugs, you no longer have a problem,” says Vicki. “That’s not true. They’re still there, and you have no idea how fast they can destroy a house. They only swarm once a year, but they eat 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

Vicki explains there are two kinds of termites that typically affect houses in the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel area — drywood and subterranean termites — and VIP Pest Control can treat both. While many companies often treat drywood termites by spot treating (which Vicki says doesn’t work) or tenting (which is expensive, causes an enormous inconvenience and can often cause damage to your home), VIP Pest Control uses a fogging method that treats the entire house and leaves a residual product in the wall to discourage the termites from coming back.

“Tenting a house means you have to move yourself, your kids, your pets, even your plants out of your home for several days, and the tent itself is heavy and can break roof tiles and ruin shrubs and sprinklers,” Vicki says. “Then, your house is filled with an odorless, colorless gas that can kill you, and then they take the tent off and you move right back in.”

She says her system is not going to damage your house, and that she’s been using it for three years, with great results.

VIP Pest Control also offers a preventive treatment in the walls of your home that can keep it from getting termites, and also will act as a fire retardant and protect against mold.

“It costs 10 cents on the dollar to prevent instead of treating (termites),” she says. “It’s affordable and can save you a lot of money and headaches in the long run.”

Rodent Control

“If you see signs of rodents, such as droppings, or hear noises, call us right away,” says Vicki. “Rodents can be dangerous, because they can chew through wires and actually set your whole house on fire.”

She says it’s important to not only eradicate the pests, but also to close the holes that allowed them to come in to your home, so they can’t get back in.

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are a nuisance and very difficult to eradicate. While bed bugs have a reputation for being transmitted via hotels, Vicki says you should be concerned about them even if you don’t travel.

“Anytime someone’s stuff is touching someone else’s stuff — such as backpacks at school — that’s an opportunity for bed bugs to be transmitted,” explains Vicki.

So, if you see black spots in a bed — a telltale sign of bed bugs — be sure to call an expert. You also can check VIPPestControlLLC.com for a wealth of information. Vicki notes that, while they can be difficult to find and eradicate, the experts at VIP can help you get rid of bed bugs with minimal headaches.

Other Pests

You should also call a pro if you see ants or roaches. “We see it all the time,” she says. “People tell me they get a can and spray the bugs. All that does is cause them to scatter, so that by the time we come out, your problem is three times worse — and in three different places.”

While palmetto bugs are big and ugly, they’re not harmful like German roaches, which carry many diseases. Vicki says that one female German roach will have 50 babies every 28 days, so if you see one roach, that probably means you have 50 more behind your walls.

VIP Pest Control also treats lawns for mosquitoes, and can provide a one-time treatment to keep your yard mosquito-free for an event, such as a wedding or party.

Woman-Owned

Vicki says that being a woman-owned business also sets her apart in the pest control industry and helps her to better relate to many of her customers.

“Most times when we visit a home, it’s the woman who is there to meet with us,” she says.  Vicki says she is always looking to hire female technicians to join her company, too.

VIP Pest Control specializes in working with homeowners associations, townhome and condo associations, too, “because you will get what your neighbor has,” she says.

VIP Pest Control is located at 119 Flagship Dr. in Lutz. It is open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Now through September, get 30-percent off any regularly priced termite treatment. For a free quote, or for more information, visit VIPPestControlLLC.com or call (813) 234-8888.

School’s In: Things To Know

After a somewhat tumultuous spring, with several changes being implemented or announced — including new attendance boundaries for many New Tampa schools, busing and bell schedules — things are seeming to calm down as students and parents adjust to new routines.

Here’s what’s new for the 2017-18 school year in New Tampa, with more changes on the horizon for the following school year, including the rezoning of Clark, Heritage, Hunter’s Green and Pride elementary schools.

New Principals At Two Schools

While their official start dates were late last spring, two principals are looking forward to starting off the school year with new schools in our area.

Cindy Land is the new principal at Turner/Bartels K-8 School.

At Turner/Bartels K-8 School, principal Cindy Land replaced Jonathan Grantham, who left to become a deputy superintendent of schools in Marion County. Land had been principal at Pride Elementary since 2009 and prior to that, worked at Chiles.

“It’s definitely a blessing to be promoted to this position,” says Land, who lives in Live Oak Preserve and whose three sons will all attend Turner/Bartels this school year. “This is the neighborhood school for my children.”

She says that while her new school includes middle school grades six through eight, she sees a lot of similarities between  Turner/Bartels and Pride.

“We have a diverse population,” she says. “Parents are very interested in their children’s education, they participate and volunteer and are supportive. I also see that the community seems to really embrace the school. I’m excited to be here and to bring the school and community together,” she says.

Land’s departure from Pride left a vacancy there that has been filled by Amy Zilbar.

For the last four years, Zilbar was a principal coach for the school district, working with new principals and supporting them and others in leadership development. She says her position at Pride is a homecoming, of sorts.

Amy Zilbar replaces Cindy Land as principal at Pride Elementary.

“Early in my career, I worked at Hunter’s Green teaching first grade and as an administrative resource teacher,” she says. “Back then, the only schools in the area were Hunter’s Green, Clark and Tampa Palms.”

While Zilbar says she loved working as a principal coach, she’s happy to be back at a school site, “to put into practice all the things we have been working on,” she says.

“This school has been absolutely wonderful,” Zilbar adds. “Everyone has been so welcoming, from the teachers, to the PTA, to the community, and especially the students have been amazing.”

She says she looks forward to continuing the level of academic excellence already in place at Pride — a consistently A-rated school by the State Department of Education — and to building even more partnerships and traditions there.

Courtesy Busing Ends For Some

As school is getting under way, more New Tampa students will be walking and biking to area middle and high schools.

Many middle and high school students who have received courtesy busing (a bus to a school that is less than two miles from a student’s home) in the past will no longer have bus transportation provided by the Hillsborough County School District.

The responsibility of transportation is now on the parents, so expect further crowding of the roads, as parents who don’t want their children walking or biking will be driving to and from school, too.

However, for Wharton High students who live across Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. from the school, bus transportation will still be available for this school year.

Jamie Warrington, transportation and safety manager for Hillsborough County Public Schools, says that now that BBD is under construction to go to eight lanes in front of the school, it is considered a hazard for students to cross. Once that construction has been completed, BBD’s eight lanes will still be considered a hazard, so the bus transportation for those students will continue.

At our press time, the affected students had not yet been notified of the change, and the school district’s website has not been updated to reflect it, but Warrington says parents will be notified by email before school starts.

To find out if your child will be provided bus transportation to their school for this school year, visit http://www.sdhc.k12.fl.us/doc/445/transportation/resources/busroutes/.

It also is expected that the School Board will end courtesy busing for elementary school students for the 2018-19 school year.

New Bell Schedule For Turner/Bartels K-8 School

All of the schools in our area will have the same school hours as last year, except for Turner/Bartels K-8, where the school day will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. this school year.

Back in the spring, school officials proposed changing the bell schedules countywide to allow more time for buses to get students to school on time, but were met with such backlash that they put off the change for all schools countywide until next school year, 2018-19.

Through Friday, August 25, the school district is again accepting feedback on adjusting the school schedule ahead of the School Board’s final vote on the matter, which is expected to be held on Tuesday, October 17.

The District is asking parents, students, employees and members of the community to download and use an Excel spreadsheet “simulator” to “try out” different school start and dismissal times (using formulas in the spreadsheet that ensure each scenario meets appropriate number of minutes in the school day, along with not starting too early or late).

Then, people can submit their suggestions for start and end times by emailing their completed spreadsheet back to district staff.

To check out the start time simulator, click the link on the school district’s home page at SDHC.k12.fl.us or go directly to SDHC.k12.fl.us/doc/1985/administration/resources/bellsimulator/.