Shell Pillow Aids In Recovery

Mary Glassman considered what to name the Shell Pillow, and ultimately settled on a tribute to her dear friend who first inspired it, Shelley Archbold. (Photo courtesy of Bob Thompson)

It was one week after her wedding, when she was just 28 years old, that Shelley Archbold discovered a lump in her breast that turned out to be cancerous.

Through radiation and chemotherapy, her friend from college, Wesley Chapel graphic artist Mary Glassman (photo), sat by Shelley’s side.

Several years later, after Shelley gave birth to a son, she underwent genetic testing and decided to have a double mastectomy to reduce her risk of having a future recurrence of the disease.

Mary wanted to give Shelley a meaningful, useful gift. Searching the internet, she found that many women use a mastectomy pillow, but she didn’t find one she thought looked very comfortable — or sanitary, for that matter.

“I’m kind of a germophobe,” says Mary, who squirmed at the thought of a pillow up against a body recovering from surgery that couldn’t be washed. “My mom taught me to sew when I was very young, so I thought I could sew her something.”

Mary says she made a quick pattern, cut it out, and fashioned the first pillow. Since Shelley had a double mastectomy, Mary made two pillows so she would have one for each side.

“It turned out that her gift was by far the most useful thing that I didn’t know I would need,” says Shelley. “A lot of times when you’re sick, people want to help and they don’t really know how. Mary took it to the next level trying to think of what really would be the most comforting and helpful. She’s brilliant.”

Because Shelley liked the pillow so much, when Mary’s aunt had a mastectomy, Mary made her pillows, too. A couple of friends and neighbors asked her to make them for friends who had the procedure, too.

Mary, who lives in Seven Oaks with her husband and two kids, considered how many people could benefit from her pillows. She knew she couldn’t personally sew enough to make the pillows by hand, so she researched and found a company to manufacture the pillows.

Mary considered what to name the pillow, and ultimately settled on a tribute to her dear friend who first inspired it. 

She named it, “The Shell Pillow.”

Her first production run has been completed and is currently being shipped. Once the pillows arrive, they will be ready for sale.

Mary says The Shell Pillow is better than others on the market because it is longer, offering more comfort.

While it was designed for those recovering from a mastectomy, it can be used by anyone recovering from breast or shoulder surgery who would benefit from being able to rest their arms away from their body.

And, of course, there’s that washable cover. “They have an aesthetic appeal and don’t look like a medical device,” Mary says. “You’d be comfortable having them out on the couch or on your bed.”

While Mary is both excited about launching her business and a bit nervous about the unknowns of undertaking something she’s never done before, she said she’s mostly looking forward to making the recovery process more comfortable for any women facing recovery from a mastectomy.

“I saw my friend and aunt suffer through it,” Mary says. “It’s difficult. If it could let them rest a little easier, ultimately that’s my goal, to give people comfort.”

Her friend Shelley believes The Shell Pillow will make a difference.

“I was really honored that she named it after me,” says Shelley. “I hope others find comfort the way I did, and know that it came from a friend helping a friend. Her reason to make these came from the heart.”

The Shell Pillow currently is available for pre-order and is expected to be available for purchase later this month. For more information or to purchase The Shell Pillow, visit TheShellPillow.com.

The Brunchery Looking To Open Doors By December

When it comes to grabbing breakfast off busy Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in New Tampa, there is no shortage of places to grab a pastry, donut, breakfast sandwich or a cup of coffee.

But, if you want a couple of eggs over easy, a strip of fresh bacon, a slice of warm toast and coffee in a ceramic mug, you’re pretty much out of luck.

However, the good news is that your luck is about to change.

The Brunchery, a popular Valrico restaurant locally owned for 30 years by Kevyn Farley and known for its stuffed French toast, grilled muffins and six kinds of eggs Benedict, is planning to open in the old Boston Market space on BBD the first week in December, if not sooner.

New owner Stanley Athan is enthusiastic about his latest venture. He grew up in Washington state, in a family that has spent more than 50 years in the restaurant business.

Stanley Athan

Athan’s first job was washing the dishes in one of his father’s restaurants at age 14, so he could earn enough money to buy a car when he turned 16. He is the youngest of three brothers, all of whom now own restaurants — Stanley owns Voula’s Good Eats, named after his mother, in Mountlake Terrace, WA.

When he started looking for new a new business to buy, however, a number of factors pointed him towards Florida. He spent eight months searching for a pizza place or a diner — anything but a chain eatery.

“Floridians are sick of chains,” he says. “They go because they don’t have other choices.”

When one of his old high school friends mentioned that the restaurant he lived down the street from, The Brunchery, was for sale, Athan quickly hopped on a plane.

“When I first walked in, it was exactly what I was looking for,” Athan says. 

On his second visit, they got his order wrong. He ordered stuffed waffles, and instead was brought stuffed strawberry French toast. He said it was so good, however, he left a $10 tip.

The Brunchery wasn’t “broke,” so Athan didn’t have much to fix. The restaurant uses the same recipes that Farley used, continues to buy their products —bread, fruit, etc. — from the same vendors, and perhaps most important, serves the same coffee. 

Athan merely added some social media muscle to the operation, and sales have been up since he took over in December of 2018.

Now, he is looking to duplicate the rooster-themed, country feel of his prized mom n’ pop at his 2,300-sq.-ft. space in Valrico to his new 3,100-sq.-ft. space in New Tampa, which will have seating for 100.

He is fully aware that a place to have breakfast in New Tampa is high on the wish list of many area residents.

The Brunchery is best known for its breakfast items — made-from-scratch Belgian waffles and French toast (for the special this week, they were stuffed with blackberries), homemade homefries, steak and eggs and breakfast scrambles — but it also has a lunch selection that includes burgers and sandwiches. 

Athan said one of the best compliments he has gotten since taking over the restaurant came from one of his customers who is from New York, and said The Brunchery’s Reuben sandwich was the best he’s had since moving to Florida.

With chef and general manager Al Marku, Athan hopes to build the same loyal customer base in New Tampa that he has built in Valrico.

“We know what customers want and like,” Athan says. “We will be bringing that to New Tampa.”

Moffitt’s Partnership With AdventHealth WC Just The Beginning

Moffitt Cancer Center VP of government affairs Jamie Wilson (right) asked Jim Engelmann & the other North Tampa Bay Chamber members in attendance at the NTBC’s Sept. 26 Economic Development Briefing for their support of Moffitt’s efforts to receive more funding the state’s cigarette tax revenue. 

Moffitt Cancer Center VP of government affairs Jamie Wilson (right) asked Jim Engelmann & the other North Tampa Bay Chamber members in attendance at the NTBC’s Sept. 26 Economic Development Briefing for their support of Moffitt’s efforts to receive more funding the state’s cigarette tax revenue.

The Moffitt Cancer Center, which recently forged a new partnership with Advent Health Wesley Chapel, could be making an even bigger footprint in Pasco County, with talk of a massive research center at the intersection of S.R. 52 and the Suncoast Pkwy.

But to do so, Moffitt will need money.

Jamie Wilson, the vice president of government affairs for Moffitt, spoke to local business leaders at the North Tampa Bay Chamber (NTBC)’s Economic Development Briefing at Hunter’s Green Country Club on Sept. 26.

Wilson’s presentation is part of a more aggressive effort by Moffitt to convince the state legislature to raise the cancer center’s share of Florida’s annual cigarette tax.

“We have grown from a small cancer hospital with 409 employees in 1986 to 2019, where we now have 6,500 employees serving more than 68,000 patients a year,” Wilson said. “The demand continues to grow. We’re asking our legislature to partner with us again, and groups like this Chamber to support our (request).”

Wilson told the NTBC members in attendance that Moffitt, as the state’s only Comprehensive Cancer Center, is asking to increase its share of the cigarette tax from 4.04 percent this year to 7 percent next year and 10 percent in 2023. Each increase would produce an additional $11 million in annual revenue.

The existing Moffitt Cancer Center on the University of South Florida (USF)’s Tampa campus off Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. and E. Fowler Ave., is 33 years old, and Wilson said there is no space available for growth in cancer research or treatment there. He said there were 130,000 people diagnosed with cancer last year in the state of Florida — and that number is expected to continue to grow.

“There is more and more demand every year,” he said. “We are seeking additional assistance from the cigarette tax so we can accommodate that growth by building new, state-of-the-art treatment and research facilities.”

The additional revenue would be used to expand Moffitt’s local footprint. That likely would include a new hospital on McKinley Dr. (aka N. 40th St.) in Tampa, about a mile from the existing hospital on the USF campus, and potentially, a new research campus in Pasco County, which has already approved the zoning and land-use changes for the massive proposed development near the Suncoast Pkwy. that also could include homes, hotels and other commercial enterprises.

Wilson said that a facility such as that would be a huge boon for Pasco County, as it would bring thousands of high-paying jobs to the area as well.

“I think we all know or have been touched by someone dealing with cancer,” said District 2 County Commissioner Mike Moore. “I think something like that would be great for Pasco County, but I think the good it would do for everyone, here and around the world, would be tremendous.”

Moffitt already has a new and innovative partnership with AdventHealth, which was announced earlier this year.

Back in May, AdventHealth Wesley Chapel (AHWC) and Moffitt broke ground on a new $44-million outpatient center to treat cancer patients from a new medical office building on the AHWC campus.

The three-story, 100,000-sq.-ft. medical office on the hospital’s campus will fill a pressing need for cancer treatment here. The outpatient center will offer medical and radiation oncology services and will be designed to accommodate oncologists to deliver chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiation therapy to patients. It is expected to open next fall.

Moffitt and AdventHealth also teamed up recently to bring early-phase clinical trials for patients who have run out of other treatment options to AdventHealth Celebration near Orlando.

It is that kind of forward-thinking that Wilson said proves Moffitt has been worth every penny it has received from the cigarette tax, and an increase would help it do more.

“I think the return on investment has been great,” he said, adding later, “Moffitt is doing some pretty great stuff.”

Dr. David Scamard Is Your Independent Optometrist Inside Costco!

Costco Wholesale is highly-regarded for its great deals and convenience. Where else can you shop for groceries, electronics and furniture, while getting your tires rotated and filling up your gas tank on the way out — all at great prices?

However, one of the local Costco store’s lesser known perks adds even more convenience.

Not only can you get your eyes examined at Costco, you can get the frames and lenses right there.

Excellence in Eye Care

Don’t let the convenience factor fool you. Independent Optometrist David Scamard, O.D., has been in the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel area for more than 17 years, delivering the highest level of service and an exceptional experience.

Dr. Scamard’s Excellence in Eye Care, LLC, is an A-Rated business, according to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), has a 5-Star rating on Google Reviews with more than 140 reviews, and even has a 5-Star rating on the practice’s Facebook page. 

Dr. Scamard is a local product. He attended Hillsborough High School, did his undergraduate work at the University of South Florida and earned his Doctor of Optometry degree from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale.

He opened his first private practice in New Tampa in 2002. He sold that business in 2007 and moved into a new location off of S.R. 54 in Lutz, where he operated Eye Care Professionals of Tampa Bay until 2017.

In 2017, the Costco on S.R. 56 opened up, and Dr. Scamard brought his Excellence in Eye Care inside the store. The good news is that you do not have to be a Costco member to walk in to visit or make an appointment with Dr. Dave.

“Doctor Dave is very personable and still professional and caring,” says  Michael Mendivil, who works at the adjacent hearing aid center, also inside Costco. “He does an unbelievable job. He is thorough with his eye exams and is just an awesome practitioner. I went through three optometrists before I found him, and I feel like he finally got my prescription right.”

Dr. Scamard’s experience spans almost two decades. Many of his patients from his early years have followed him to his location inside Costco. 

“The health of your eyes is very important,” Dr. Scamard says. “You’ve heard the expression, ‘The eyes are the window to the soul?’ Well, your eyes are also a window to your health.”

He notes that diseases like glaucoma can go undetected for years and says the American Optometric Association recommends an eye exam for everyone once a year, but especially diabetics should have their eyes checked every year. 

“Your eyes are such sensitive organs, they can manifest signs of systemic disease,” Dr. Scamard says. 

One of the high-tech devices Dr. David Scamard of Excellence in Eye Care (located inside the Wesley Chapel Costco) uses is a RT-5100 Refractor, a digital refractor with electric motors that changes the lenses at the touch of a button. Dr. Scamard says this machine is faster, more accurate and more efficient than the old-style analog devices. (Photo: Andy Warrener)

Dr. Scamard uses some of the most cutting-edge technology in the industry. For eye exams, he uses an Optos retinal camera in his office. This high-tech tool is a retinal imager that gives the optometrist a view of the internal structures of your eyes.

The old-fashioned way to see into your pupils was to dilate them. 

“People don’t always have time to get their pupils dilated,” Dr. Scamard says. “When your pupils are dilated, you are very sensitive to bright light and your near-sightedness is fuzzy — sometimes for up to five hours after dilation. It’s something that compels a lot of people to pass up their annual eye exams.”

Most peoples’ impression of an eye doctor appointment involves looking into that metal mask as the doctor manually flips through different lenses in front of your eyes to achieve the proper prescription. Dr. Dave says that is now officially “old-school.”

One of the other high-tech devices Dr. Scamard uses is a RT-5100 Refractor, a digital refractor with electric motors that change the lenses. Scamard operates the digital refractor from a console on his desk.

“The digital refractor is faster, more accurate and more efficient than the old-style analog devices,” he says. “Our patients appreciate that we have the latest technology available to them.”

Convenience

The entire process from eye exam to putting the glasses on your face or contacts in your eyes can be completed right there in Costco. However, while you do not need to be a Costco member to utilize Dr. Scamard’s services, you do need to be a member to get your  glasses and contact lenses from the wholesale giant. 

After your exam, the next step is, well, just steps away. Need a prescription filled from Dr. Scamard? It can be filled right there in Costco’s pharmacy. Want to browse glasses and contacts lenses? There is an entire showroom right outside Dr. Scamard’s office. 

“Costco even carries some of the high-end lines of frames like Prada, Tiffany, Oakley and Mont Blanc,” he says. “A lot of their frames and lenses are priced at what my cost was when I operated out of my own office. Some of my patients say that they have had savings up to 50 percent. Additionally, Costco has been rated number one by consumer reports for the best value in glasses and contacts, for the last several years.”

Costco carries a sizable line of contact lenses, including newer designs that allow more oxygen into the eyes, helping to prevent dryness. If the store doesn’t have them in stock, they can usually be delivered to the store in a week or less. The customer can even order them online and have them delivered to their home. 

Having trouble setting an appointment? Excellence in Eye Care makes that easy as well. Dr. Scamard says that some offices have up to two-week waiting lists, but he even accepts walk-ins. 

Excellence in Eye Care does not accept optical insurance but does provide itemized receipts that patients can use for reimbursement from their providers. Insurance can be applied to the lenses and frames sold at Costco, however.

Eyeglass exams start at $79, and contact lens exams start at $99. In the month of October, Excellence in Eye Care is offering a free set of sunglasses with the cutout or mention of the coupon in the Neighborhood News on page 40.

Excellence in Eye Care is located in the Costco Wesley Chapel Warehouse at 2225 Grand Cypress Dr., on the south side of S.R. 56, in Lutz. The office is open Tuesday and Thursday, 1 p.m.-7 p.m.; Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, call (813) 279-7038 or visit ExcellenceInEyecare.net.

What (Teriyaki) Madness Is This?

Although we had been previously told to expect some sort of fried or grilled chicken restaurant in the space previously occupied by Wok Chi in the Shops at Wiregrass, the new restaurant that opened there earlier this month is called Teriyaki Madness, which is more of a Japanese experience, whereas Wok Chi was definitely more of a Chinese restaurant.

Please note that in our October 18 Wesley Chapel edition, I mistakenly called this new restaurant by a different name, which also was a fast-Asian concept that closed several years ago. I already have apologized to the general manager at Teriyaki Madness for my mistake, so I hope you will read this and go visit Teriyaki Madness soon. Feel free to make fun of me when you do visit.

Teriyaki Madness specializes in — you guessed it — dishes cooked with a teriyaki glaze (thicker than most sauces) that, to me, is more like BBQ sauce than something you’d get at a Japanese restaurant. This fast, healthier-than-most-fast-casual concept was founded in Las Vegas in 2003 and currently includes more than 100 locations being operated throughout the U.S. and now Mexico by M.H. Enterprises, which is based in Denver, CO.

In addition to beef, chicken and tofu teriyaki dishes, Teriyaki Madness also offers spicy chicken, spicy tofu teriyaki, orange chicken teriyaki, fried chicken katsu and yakisoba noodles with chicken, beef, tofu or all veggies. Appetizers include crispy chicken egg rolls, edamame (soybeans), crab Rangoon, chicken pot stickers and more.

The veggies are very fresh and you can customize which veggies you want, so yes, I’ll visit The Teriyaki Madness (28152 Paseo Dr.) again soon.

For more information, call (813) 803-3749, search “Teriyaki Madness” on Facebook or visit TeriyakiMadness.com.