Junior Woman’s Club Members Accompany Vets On ‘Honor Flight’

honor3Tampa Palms resident Melanie Otte remembers her grandfather’s stories about World War II. He would regale the family about his wartime exploits, as they leafed through his photo albums, and proudly show off a picture of the Enola Gay — the first aircraft ever to drop an atomic bomb — that he had to jump a fence to take the photo with a small spy camera.

It never really hit her, though, what his service meant to him until she recently chose to take part in an Honor Flight.

Otte and Wesley Chapel resident Jennifer Lee, both members of the Greater Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC)’s New Tampa Junior Woman’s Club, served as volunteer guardians to a pair of U.S. Military veterans on Sept. 22, an experience that left both amazed, appreciative and very much in awe.

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Jennifer Lee (left) and Melanie Otte

“I had been to Washington, DC, as a kid, but this was a much more moving experience,’’ Otte says. “I mean, standing there with a person who lived it, that was just something totally different.”

Honor Flights are one-day trips organized by non-profit organizations dedicated to providing a way for veterans to visit the monuments created in the name of their service scattered throughout the nation’s capital.

Last year, the New Tampa Junior Woman’s Club donated $400 so one veteran could make the trip. That inspired Otte and Lee to get involved as Honor Flight volunteers this year.

Otte served as a volunteer guardian to 80-year-old Korean War U.S. Air Force Military Police veteran Frank Kynion, who lives in St. Petersburg, while Lee escorted Laura Tilton, a 92-year-old Venice resident and World War II veteran.

The day of the Honor Flight began with alarm clocks going off at 3 a.m. for the volunteers, a donated breakfast from McDonald’s at the St. Petersburg-Clearwater Airport, and a 4 a.m. flight to the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport with about 80 other veterans and their guardians.

When they got off the plane, the spunky Tilton asked Lee if the wheelchair had a speed limit, and Lee asked if she was pushing too fast.

“No, pick it up, we got things to see,’’ Tilton told her with glee.

honor4A contingent of military personnel was there to greet the veterans at the airport, setting off a whirlwind day of emotional sightseeing.

“When we were at the Korean War Memorial, it was very somber,” says Otte. “Frank was visibly taken aback. You could tell he was welling up.”

Otte said the listing of the Korean’s War’s U.S. fatalities (almost 40,000, with more than 100,000 injured) and the 19 haunting seven-foot-tall stainless steel statues standing in a patch of juniper bushes at the memorial was overwhelming.

Lee pushed Tilton around, although the former Naval Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)/pharmacy maid, was able to stand and walk for short periods of time.

“She was a lot of fun,’’ Lee says. “I think a lot of them just appreciated the one-on-one attention. She told me, ‘I had so much fun. I like to giggle, you like to giggle. She told me I was now her third daughter.”

honor1As the vets returned to Florida, they read dozens of letters written to them by school children and adults, thanking them for their service and dedication. When the plane landed back in Clearwater, a throng of roughly 800 people, including a band, were there to greet them.

Kynion, who married a Japanese woman after the war, says he faced discrimination as a result, and also lived through the anti-military era of the Vietnam War, so he was humbled by the support. In fact, many of the veterans, on multiple occasions, asked why everyone was doing this for them.

Otte told him the answer was simple: “Because you are our heros.”

The GFWC New Tampa Junior Woman’s Club meets the second Monday of every month at 6:30 p.m. at the New Tampa YMCA (16221 Compton Dr. in Tampa Palms). For more info, visit GFWCNewTampaJuniors.org.

Two-car collision on S.R. 54 leaves two dead

fhpWESLEY CHAPEL — Two women are dead after an accident on S.R. 54 and Ernest Drive near the New River Library backed up traffic for hours Sunday night.

Lutz resident Barbara Janet Charlebois, 38, was traveling west on S.R. 54  when, for unknown reasons, she drove off the roadway and onto the right shoulder of the road. She overcorrected her vehicle, a 2004 Toyota Camry, to the left which caused her to swerve into the eastbound lane and into the direct path of a 2014 Buick Verano driven by 76-year-old Bridget Mary Kent of Ontario, Canada.

The collision between the two cars occurred around 8:50 p.m.. Charlebois suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene. Kent had serious injuries and was taken to Lakeland Regional Hospital.

There were two passengers in Kent’s vehicle. and both were taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa. Lillian Cruickshank, 70, suffered serious injuries. William Edward Kent, 78 of Ontario, Canada, passed away overnight.

 

 

Spa Moritz takes it to another level with added pampering

SpaMoritz1Spa Mortiz, located off Commerce Park Blvd. in Tampa Palms (across from Freedom High), has been a part of New Tampa for more than a decade, but if you haven’t visited lately, you may not know just how this community favorite has recently been getting even better.

Owners Patricia and Martin Anello have brought world-class European luxury to the spa since purchasing it about a year ago, when they moved to Tampa Palms from Madrid, Spain. The Anellos have enjoyed Europe’s finest spas and have replicated many of the details and luxury of their European experiences at Spa Moritz.

“As Thanksgiving approaches, it’s important for us to thank the community,” says Patricia. “We have gotten such a warm reception since we arrived here. People have accepted and welcomed us, and made us feel so comfortable.”

She says former clients are coming back to the spa and recommending it again to their friends. Patricia attributes the spa’s recent growth the way the staff treats every guest and pays attention to the little touches that really matter.

“We treat our guests as we would visitors in our homes,” Patricia says. “The details are important to us, so that people who come to the salon don’t feel like a number or even just a client, but like a pampered guest.”

She says the “new” Spa Mortiz will still make you feel beautiful, with a complete array of salon and spa services, but Patricia says there also is a new emphasis on health and wellness, including programs that address healthy and better-for-you products.

For a complete menu of services, visit SpaMoritz.com, but this article will focus on many of the new services that have been added over the last year.

Skin Care

Spa Moritz continues to carry and use the world-famous Pevonia line of skin care products. For those wanting 100-percent organic treatments, Patricia recently added a line of products from Hungary called Éminence. Both lines of skin care products are used in treatments at the spa and can be purchased for home skin care regimens.

“We also offer advanced treatment for skin care,” says Patricia. “Instead of using chemicals, we provide treatments that give results with alternatives.”

For example, she says the new oxygen facial provides a deeply purifying and healing effect to reduce signs of redness and hyperpigmentation. The new dermal rejuvenation system is a two-step process. The first is a facial that creates collagen and elastin naturally, without first injuring the skin like during a chemical peel. After a couple of weeks, once the collagen and elastin have been produced in the skin, the second part of the process is a peel to remove the surface skin.

Spa Moritz also offers acne treatments for teenagers, including a class that teaches teens how to take care of their skin and even the foods you can eat that are best for your skin.

Pedicures

Spa Moritz offers a wide range of pedicures for every taste and desire. For feet, Spa Moritz is now offering a line called Footlogix, which is made with pharmaceutical-grade ingredients and offers “transformational foot care” to heal skin from the inside out. Specialty Footlogix formulas treat everything from very dry skin, to cracked heels, to cold feet and even sweaty feet.

Footlogix products can be used in any of the spa’s pedicures, such as its signature spa pedicure or luxury spa pedicure, or guests can receive a specialized Footlogix pedicure that is customized with only Footlogix products.

Another new option for guests is the Pure Fiji pedicure. Reminiscent of the tropical South Pacific island, Patricia says a Pure Fiji pedicure is as much about the experience as it is the individual products. It includes rituals such as a warm foot soak in a fragrant coconut milk bath and a coconut sugar rub and foot massage.

“I really like the results,” says Patricia. “You will feel very pampered.”

Some guests opt for the Voesh line of products, which is another new line, out of New York, that Patricia says offers the most hygienic experience possible. With six aromatherapy scents, each guest can choose a customized treatment. All the products needed for a pedicure come individually packaged in one disposable box, so products aren’t used for more than one guest.

Of course, many clients still opt for either the ever-popular chocolate martini or piña colada pedicure, both of which include one of that treatment’s namesake drinks.

Manicures

Patricia is happy to announce that the spa has recently added a product called Bio Sculpture Gel to the extensive menu of services available at Spa Moritz. She describes it as a healthier alternative to gel, acrylic or shellac nails, because it is free from chemicals that leave can leave nails damaged or dehydrated.

She says this product is in line with Spa Mortiz’s mission to increase the health and wellness of each guest who visits. And, she notes that Spa Moritz is the only spa in the area that this product can be obtained.

“We’re bringing products to the community that are not otherwise available,” says Patricia.

Salon

What’s new in the salon is a product called Olaplex, which Patricia says can be added to any chemical treatment, such as color or highlights, so that the chemicals do not damage your hair. “We also can do a separate Olaplex treatment to repair hair,” she explains.

And now, Spa Moritz employs only Master Stylists, meaning each stylist has been working at least 10-20 years.

“We want only the best for our guests,” says Patricia. “Although we’d like to have more stylists on our staff, we are not going to hire anyone who doesn’t meet our standards. We want every guest to be thrilled, so we insist on the best.”

She says other services at the salon include hair extensions and “up-dos,” especially for brides, bridesmaids and other formal occasions. The salon also offers aromatherapy, hydration and smoothing treatments, and scalp massage. “We want our guests to have a relaxing spa experience, not just get their hair done,” says Patricia.

One customer who appreciates the new Spa Moritz is local Realtor Luz Maria Von Greiff, who has lived in Tampa Palms for 14 years.

“I had tried Spa Moritz in the past (before the Anellos took over), but I wasn’t thrilled,” says Von Greiff. “Then, I met Patricia and thought she was so nice and professional, so I decided to try it again. That was (my) best decision!”

Luz Maria says, “The variety of services is so interesting, and Patricia and her staff are great. For example, I have delicate skin that reacts to (some) products, so they are extremely dedicated to making sure each product they use will work for my skin.” She says she also appreciates how warm and friendly everyone at the spa is, to her and to other guests. “It’s such a welcoming environment. Being in the service industry myself, I really appreciate what Martin and Patricia are doing,” she says. “They’re bringing their own style, their flair and their products to Spa Moritz.”

Massage

The newest massage at Spa Moritz is a bamboo massage, which Patricia says is healing and relaxing. She notes that it is comparable to a hot stone massage, but uses heated bamboo sticks instead of rocks.

The spa also offers a “fusion massage,” where clients choose a length of time, generally 50 or 80 minutes, and receive a combination of massages, such as Lomi Lomi, aromatherapy, therapeutic to treat a particular area, hot stone, or bamboo.

Other Spa Services

Patricia says the Spa Moritz staff loves to create custom packages to help their guests meet their wellness goals. For someone who is looking to lose weight, they can create a package that includes a wellness coach, lymphatic drainage massage and body wraps (such as seaweed or green coffee treatments) for detoxification.

“We consult with each person individually,” says Patricia. “We talk about their goals, time and budget, and come up with something that perfectly fits their needs.”

For brides, birthdays, bachelorette parties or other celebrations, Spa Mortiz offers packages to pamper and enjoy your special day in luxury and relaxation. Call the spa at the number below to find out more about how best to celebrate your special occasion. Discounts are offered, and many special touches are included, such as cake and champagne with lunch, which is served beautifully in a private room.

Customer Appreciation

If you want to give Spa Moritz a try, Patricia offers what she calls “Customer Appreciation Nights,” which include a cocktail offered in the front reception area, and then a short treatment in each of the spa’s areas, such as massage, nail and skin care treatments. So, anyone who wants to experience the luxury of Spa Moritz can do so in one evening, enjoying many of the treatments described in this article.

To be invited to the next Customer Appreciation Night, call Spa Mortiz at the phone number below. The cost is usually $25 per person, which includes a $25 credit towards any service for a future visit.

You also can schedule your own Customer Appreciation Night for your own group (or your business) by calling the spa. Patricia says these groups especially enjoy the evening because they already know each other and feel comfortable with each other.

Spa Moritz is located in Tampa Palms at 17401 Commerce Park Blvd., Suite 103. Spa Moritz is open Mon.–Sat., 8 a.m.-8 p.m., & on Sun. or special events. For more info — including your chance to win a free massage or facial, visit SpaMortiz.com or see the ad on page 10 of this issue. To make an appointment, call 971-4772.

 

Have bike, will travel…across the country

DrNickRotary Club of Temple Terrace member, USF professor and Saddlebrook Resort Tampa director of wellness Dr. Nick Hall, Ph.D., M.D., recently completed a cross country trip from Oceanside,CA, to St. Augustine, FL, on his bicycle to raise funds and awareness for End Polio Now, a campaign focused on ending polio in the only two countries where it remains – Afghanistan and Pakistan. Since its first project in 1976, Rotary International has helped reduce polio cases by 99 percent around the world. Here are the 10 most interesting things you should know about Dr. Hall’s bike trek:

1— This wasn’t Hall’s first rodeo….err, bike ride across America. When Hall was a teen, he had a summer job in Black Hills, SD, and would take a bus home to Chicopee, MA. One summer, however, he decided to bike the 2,000+ miles home. This year, Hall decided to combine the 50th anniversary of that ride with Rotary’s fight against polio.

2 — Traveling roughly 100 miles a day, it took Hall a little over a month to complete the trip, starting July 14 and ending Aug. 15. He says he could have made it home even quicker, but he had one serious accident and a number of visits to friends along the way, including a day in Gainesville for a Rotary Club lunch.

3 — About that accident: it happened in west Texas when he ran over a 6-inch bolt that was laying in the road, jamming the front wheel of his bike. “The bike came to an abrupt stop, and I kept going,’’ Hall said. Bloodied but unbowed, he caught a ride with a truck driver — who ironically lives in Tampa — to San Antonio. Hall found the part he needed to fix his bike on eBay, and two days later was back on his way.

“My back-up plan was to leave the bike there with a Rotarian and resume the trip around Thanksgiving,’’ said Hall, who was racing to get back to USF for the start of fall classes, where he teaches anatomy & physiology and human nutrition.

DrNickBike14 — The bike, by the way, was a late 1960s vintage British-made copper-colored Raleigh Carlton. He says it was very similar to the bike he rode 50 years ago.

5 — On his original ride, Hall said he occasionally slept in jail cells and rescue missions along the route.

“I was sleeping in a park in Mobile, NE, and was roused in the middle of the night by a police office who told me it was against the law to sleep in the public park,‘’ Hall said. “He gave me a choice: get booked for vagrancy or he would book me in jail as a lodger.” So Hall spent a few nights 50 years ago on a steel cot.


6 — Hall didn’t get to spend a night in the slammer this time, instead pitching a tent wherever he could. The best places to sleep, he said, were behind churches, especially those in the bible belt. “Massive churches, unlike anything you have seen, nicely manicured lawns, secluded areas.” Hall said he also spent at least one night a week in a motel room, to re-energize.

7 — The worst place to sleep? Anywhere too dark to notice his surroundings, especially, well, railroad tracks. “One night, I slept in this beautiful green meadow, and it turns out the train track was right on the other side of the bushes,” Hall said.

8 — As for food, Hall, an expert on nutrition, says he would try to eat a good high-protein breakfast, preferably eggs and, once back on the road, he would munch on Fig Newtons and Hostess Apple Pies, the same ones he ate 50 years ago.

“I won’t normally even look at them, but they were a treat to look forward to on the ride.” Ice cream would keep him cool, and he would munch on potato chips to replace the sodium he was sweating out. Salads and fruits were regular treats.

9 — Did we mention that Hall was lugging along a 66-pound duffle bag (he weighed it at the airport when he flew to California before the trip) and two 10-liter water bladders, each weighing 15 pounds? So those artificial fruit pies were burned right off, and Hall said he weighed exactly the same – 150 pounds – at the end of the trip as he did at the beginning.

10 — Hall says the scariest things about the trip were the heat in the southwest, drivers distracted by their cell phones and, especially, roads with little or no shoulder room for bikes. Louisiana had many of these roads, including enough long bridges with no shoulders to Hall nervous. “There were lots of logging trucks, and there was nowhere for them to go, and nowhere for me to go,’’ he said. “I would just get as far over to my right as I could and hold my breath.”

Is Hall done riding bikes across America? Nope. “It was sad being over in many respects,’’ he said. “I got to where I was looking forward to meeting people.” Hall is back in the classroom and sharing his story at Rotary Club meetings, including a recent visit to Wesley Chapel Rotary Club, and still spreading the word about the fight against polio.

 

The Gift Box Boutique offers an array of goodies for shoppers

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The Gift Box Boutique owner Jennifer Colón

With the opening last weekend of the Tampa Premium Outlets mall on S.R. 56 (see page 1), it may be hard right now to think about shopping anyplace else, but I do have a suggestion:

I’ve been talking fondly about The Gift Box Boutique — located in The Shoppes at The Pointe plaza in Tampa Palms, between Ciccio’s Cali and Stonewood Grill & Tavern — since it first opened a little more than a year ago. I’ve now probably spent maybe $300-$400 there on a variety of unique and uniquely affordable gifts (mainly for female friends, relatives and employees),  and every purchase to date has been met with excitement from its recipient.

And, the good news is that virtually any gift you’re looking for — from home décor items, women’s clothing and jewelry and yes, there are gifts for men and children (including babies), too — can be found at The Gift Box.

Owner Jennifer Colón and her husband Rick, who moved to Tampa from Dallas seven years ago and now live in Tampa Palms, promise a unique shopping experience at The Gift Box that you simply won’t find at any mall.

“I know my inventory and can help direct you to the perfect gift for birthdays,  the holidays or any special occasion,” Jennifer says. “Of course, you can always just come in to browse, too. I know there’s a lot to see, so come on in!”

Gift Box holiday kidsWEBI’ve yet to try to buy any clothing for ladies at The Gift Box, but there are a number of designer labels you won’t find elsewhere. “We carry Chatoyant, Gretchen Scott, Glam, Escapada and more,” says Jennifer. “And we like to keep current on our clothing. We only buy six of each item (in multiple sizes), so not everyone who shops here will end up with the same outfits.”

She adds that the store also offers many different accessories for ladies, from scarves to boot toppers, Yellowbox sandals, Lilly Pulitzer and Kate Sade bags and accessories  and Ginger Snaps and other jewelry items.

Your Holiday Headquarters

Afraid you’ll be fighting the traffic at the new mall this holiday season? Why not do your holiday gift shopping at The Gift Box instead?

“We’re got plenty of Thanksgiving stuff,” Jennifer says. “We’ve been selling lots of personalized (outdoor) turkey signs for your home, “Gobble ‘til You Drop’ throw pillows and more.”

There’s also already a number of Christmas items in The Gift Box’s displays. So, whether you want to dress your kid up like one of Santa’s elves or you want unique Nora Fleming mini-ornaments, Jennifer promises more and more holiday-themed options will be coming in for the season, including 7th Ave. Apothecary candles, “and lots of other great hostess gifts for when you attend those holiday parties.”

She adds that she is the only store in New Tampa that can carry Toffee to Go, which made Oprah’s Top 10 list. “And, it comes in a variety of flavors,” Jennifer says.

Gift Box teaWEBAnd of course, there’s always new items on the way at The Gift Box. “We listen to our customer requests, too,” Jennifer says, “so you really have to keep checking in with us to see what‘s new. For example, we recently added a new line of teas, tea cups and accessories for tea and coffee drinkers. I’d say 25 to 30 percent of our inventory has been requested by our customers.”

One reason I keep coming back is because I have gotten such a great response from giving The Gift Box’s reasonably-priced, painted wood signs with cute sayings like, “I drink coffee for your protection,” as gifts and Jennifer keeps adding new ones.

Other newer specialty lines include Columbia Restaurant items, including the famed Ybor City restaurant’s famous sangria mix and sangria pitchers. And, speaking of Ybor City, another recent addition is a line of cigar accessories, more bar and alcohol-related gifts (for men and women), and even Cameron’s Man Claws, which look like brass knuckles but actually are used to “lift, shred, carve, toss and mix with ease!”

Holiday Premier Open House!

Gift Box ColumbiaWEBJennifer says The Gift Box has lots of great special event in the store, including Ladies Nights every couple of months on Thursdays. “I call them our ‘Sip & See’ events,” she says. Plus, on Thursday,  November 12, 4 p.m.-8 p.m., the boutique will host its Holiday Premier Open House with free beverages and snacks.

“We also have extended holiday hours (starting Dec. 1) and a great loyalty program,” she adds. “If you join our email list, you’ll get a weekly email with specials and promotions. Come check us out!”

The Gift Box is located at 17032 Palm Pointe Dr. and currently is open Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-7 p.m., and noon-5 p.m. on Sun. For more information, visit Facebook.com/The Gift Box Boutique, see the ad on page 30 of this issue or call 284-5986.