SPOTLIGHT ON…Heartwood Preserve Cemetery

In the old Florida woods where she grew up, in what is now the Trinity area of New Port Richey (just a short drive west of Wesley Chapel), Laura Starkey has set 41 acres of land aside as the Heartwood Preserve Conservation Cemetery, adjacent to the 18,000-acre Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Preserve.

On Nov. 4, Heartwood Preserve celebrated its one-year anniversary in business with refreshments and cake, an artist providing temporary henna tattoos and activities for the family.

In the year since it opened — as the first conservation cemetery in the Tampa Bay region, and one of just a handful in the state — Heartwood Preserve has offered environmentally-friendly options for people looking for a more natural burial.

“The word ‘Conservation’ in our name means that not only are we are providing a natural burial option for those who don’t want all the fancy bells and whistles of a modern burial with an expensive casket and vault, but we’re also really contributing to the permanent conservation of this ecosystem,” explains Laura, who is the cemetery’s founder and executive director. “We are both literally and figuratively becoming part of this land.”

Laura and Heartwood Preserve manager Diana Sayegh explain that, first and foremost, the cemetery is about conserving the precious longleaf pine flatwoods and cypress dome wetlands ecosystems of the preserve.

“We invite people to come and take a walk, hike and get some fresh air,” Diana says. “You can park for free, use our picnic benches, and experience nature. There are woodpeckers, owls and butterflies, and we have free events, such as silent meditation walks, yoga and even frog-listening events. This place is gorgeous, and we want the community to experience it.”

Diana says the fact that Heartwood Preserve allows pre-planning sets it apart from other conservation cemeteries.

“Like making a will, pre-planning for your cremation or burial is a gift to your family,” says Diana. “Your family is not left with the burden of the cost or the decision making. They have peace of mind for when that time comes.”

She continues, “It is a cemetery, and it’s sad, but it’s not typical. It’s natural and beautiful and serene and peaceful.”

Heartwood Preserve Conservation Cemetery is located at 4100 Starkey Blvd. Visitors are always welcome when the gates are open — Mon.-Sat., 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., and 11 a.m.–4:30 p.m. on Sun. Events that are open to the public, including yoga, educational activities and more, are listed on the events page of Heartwood Preserve’s website at HeartwoodPreserve.com. For more info, call (727) 376-5111.

Nibbles and Bytes: Woof!

Pet Paradise Is A Great Reason To Get A Dog!

I’m currently between dogs in my life, but after attending both the VIP pre-opening and the Grand Opening and Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) ribbon cutting of the new Pet Paradise Wesley Chapel, located off S.R. 56 behind the Gate gas station, I’m almost tempted to go out and get me a new puppy, just so I can watch him or her play at the coolest pet resort ever.

For those who wonder if their dog or cat will be comfortable at a “resort” with indoor-outdoor “condos,” a dog bone-shaped pool, 24-7 video monitoring and lots of other dogs (and yes, cats, too), all I can tell you is that, while I’ve never owned a cat, I’ve yet to see a dog unhappy, sitting off by itself or not engaging in the seemingly-all-day, all-out play sessions with other dogs of all breeds and sizes at this amazing new boarding and doggie daycare facility. I mean, I haven’t seen even one snarl or “warning snap,” even from multiple “alpha” dogs.

When I’ve had dogs, boarding them did sometimes make me a little anxious, but Pet Paradise WC manager Zandra Straple, who has a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Animal Science from the University of Florida in Gainesville, and her awesome staff definitely have a winner on their hands here in “The Chap.”

And more great news, my friends at Seven Oaks Pet Hospital, located less than a half-mile from Pet Paradise on 56, provide on-call veterinarian services for the resort.

Don’t forget to mention to Zandra and assistant manager Brianna Bermudez that you read about Pet Paradise in the Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News! Pet Paradise is located at 2270 Cypress Ridge Blvd.

For more info, visit PetParadiseResort.com or call (813) 778-0337.

The Drs. Ambay Open Their Transformations Center!

Congratulations to Dr. Aparna Ambay of 360 Dermatology and her husband, Dr. Raj Ambay of Ambay Plastic Surgery, on the opening on Oct. 19 of their amazing, new Transformation Aesthetics & Surgery Center (located a 1/4-mile north on Cypress Ridge Blvd. in Wesley Chapel from Pet Paradise).

The state-of-the-art, free-standing building offers not only the dermatology and skin care services of 360 Dermatology, but also the cosmetic plastic surgery of Ambay Plastic Surgery. Best of all, Dr. Raj can perform his plastic surgery magic and Dr. Aparna (both have been named among “America’s Top Doctors” by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd.) can do skin cancer surgeries in the Transformations Aesthetics Center’s on-site surgery center.

The opening and WCCC ribbon cutting on Oct. 19 attracted hundreds of locals, including several other local health care professionals, as well as WCCC members and many of the current and former patients of these Top Docs.

Dr. Raj, who has served as a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army and Special Operations (Green Beret) in both Afghanistan and Iraq, also is trained in trauma surgery, oral surgery and dentistry. During the Grand Opening event, you could see the joy on his face and hear it in his voice as he called the ribbon-cutting at this unique medical and aesthetic facility, “the fulfillment of a long-time dream.”

For info about the Transformations Center (2441 Oak Myrtle Ln.), visit TampaBayTransformations.com, call (813) 563-1144 or see the ad on pg. 15.

True Inspiration!

A $2.8-million dollar women’s health center, called “Inspiration Place,” opened in the Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel Wellness Plaza on Oct. 23, offering comprehensive care for women at every stage of life.

The next day, FHWC hosted a VIP event attended by hundreds of locals at Inspiration Place. The hospital’s president & CEO Denyse Bales-Chubb (photo below) was excited to unveil this unique, 12,000-sq.-ft. center created, she said, “To do something truly special for the women of Wesley Chapel.”

Services available for women at the beautiful new Inspiration Place include gynecology, obstetrics and prenatal care, along with primary medical care and wellness services and more.

Inspiration Place also includes a spa, for services such as massages and skin care treatments. There’s even a coffee bar.

All I can tell you is that I heard lots of “oohs” and “aahs” during the VIP event tours of Inspiration Place, and quite a few women who were booking appointments.

Appointments can be booked now at FHInspirationPlace.org. — GN

Culver’s Is So Delicious, You Probably Shouldn’t Call It ‘Fast Food!’

OK, SO WHEN YOU read the headline above, did you think to yourself, “Culver’s? I thought Gary doesn’t like fast food?”

And of course, you’d be correct. I’m not a chain restaurant guy, much less someone who eats any kind of fast food more than once a month (or less), so how is it that I’m about to rave about Culver’s, the 500+-unit, Wisconsin-based chain that has an extremely popular location right here off S.R. 56?

Because Culver’s really shouldn’t be called “fast food,” other than the fact that this growing chain, which has 45 locations in Florida, does usually deliver your food to your car or their comfortable indoor seating area within 5-7 minutes or so.

In fact, Culver’s of Wesley Chapel franchise owners Ann and Marty Roeske don’t refer to their second Culver’s (they also purchased one of the first 100 or so units of the chain in 2000 in Wautoma, WI, near where they lived,; that location is now operated by their children) as fast food at all.

The famous cheese curds at Culver’s.

“It’s cooked-to-order food that is served quickly,” says Marty. “The company is always finding new ways to cook the food faster, but will never sacrifice the quality that the families who love us have come to expect.”

Ann adds, “If a family from Wisconsin comes here to visit, if their sandwiches or cheese curds or frozen custard don’t taste exactly the same to them as they do where they’re from, we’re not doing our jobs.”

That’s why Craig and Lea Culver — who opened the first Culver’s in Sauk City, WI, in 1984 (along with their parents, George & Ruth) — insist that all Culver’s franchise owners have to be on-site, hands-on owner-operators who also must be properly trained to ensure that the quality that has made Culver’s famous in 22 states (and growing), especially throughout the Midwest and Rocky Mountain regions, as well as the Southeast, Texas and Arizona, always stays consistent.

More Than Just Burgers!

When I first heard Culver’s was opening in our area (the location on Nebraska Ave. at Bearss Ave. opened a year or so before the Wesley Chapel restaurant), I couldn’t figure out why so many Midwest transplants were so excited about it.

I was thinking, “OK, so it’s another burger place,” even though I’ll admit that I’m always excited about anyplace that serves authentic frozen custard — which is like your favorite ice cream, only creamier…sort of a delicious cross between soft-serve and “hard pack.”

But, while Culver’s “Butter Burgers” (no, they don’t make the burger with butter, it’s the bun that’s buttered, according to Marty) are delicious  — they’re certainly better and fresher (Ann says Culver’s 100-percent Midwestern beef is never frozen) than most fast food burgers — I’ve really enjoyed getting to know Culver’s other sandwiches and menu items.

My favorite, for sure, is the beef pot roast sandwich, which seems to be the only “brisket” served in this area that isn’t barbecued/smoked. This premium chuck roast is as tender as my mom’s brisket, slow-braised in a classic blend of herbs and spices and is served in those juices on Culver’s signature bun (which absorbs them nicely). You can enjoy this tasty “sammy” with Culver’s horseradish or BBQ sauce, although it honestly doesn’t need any sauce at all.

I also really enjoyed trying Culver’s North Atlantic Cod fish sandwich and the chicken noodle soup (both shown in the photo, right), as well as the crispy chicken sandwich and tenders. I’ve never tried Culver’s grilled chicken sandwich, but I liked the flavor of the grilled chicken on the Garden Fresco salad and the sesame ginger dressing.  I’m not the biggest chili lover, but “George’s Chili” is thick with meat and very tasty.

And of course, Culver’s recently added Wisconsin cheddar cheese dipping sauce and also is famous for its crispy, crinkle-cut fries. Plus, if you mention Culver’s crisp-outside, creamy-inside fried cheese curds to any former “Cheesehead,” they immediately start writing love sonnets set to music about them. Seriously.

All that having been said, the main reason I keep going back to Culver’s isn’t because of those items or the fact it’s a mile from where I live, it’s because of the frozen custard, a dessert I have enjoyed since the first time I visited the Boardwalk in Atlantic City in my teens. Every time I see Culver’s post a new flavor on their board on S.R. 56 mentioning Reese’s, Snickers, marshmallow or, say, the Oreo cheesecake custard on the previous page, I find myself detouring for a cup or cone, usually a cup and usually with Culver’s deep, delicious real hot fudge.

Just another fast food place? I think not!

Culver’s of Wesley Chapel is located at 2303 Sun Vista Dr., Lutz. For more info, including a great gift card special, see the ad on pg. 40, call (813) 949-1414 or visit Culvers.com. And, please tell Ann, Marty and their always-friendly, happy and courteous staff that the Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News sent you!

For Eyebrows That Don’t Sweat Off, Consider Creative Permanent Makeup By Pam

Creative Permanent Makeup by Pam owner Pam Edmonson says that eyebrows are her favorite.

If you’re tired of drawing on your eyebrows, just to worry you might sweat them off later in our Florida heat, Pam Edmonson says she has a solution for you.

It’s called microblading, and Pam has been providing this popular eyebrow service since she was first trained in the technique in 2014. She uses a small blade and ink to create each individual hair. Her steady hands help draw on an eyebrow which she then microblades, with each stroke adding a more natural look to the eyebrow.

As a State of Florida-licensed permanent makeup artist, Pam has owned and operated Creative Permanent Makeup By Pam since 2011. Last year, she and a business partner opened Serenity Salon & Spa Suites, located off S.R. 54 in the Brookfield Professional Park, about a half-mile west of Morris Bridge Rd. The suites are available to be rented by other small businesses, such as hair stylists, massage therapists, and licensed aestheticians.

“As one of the owners of Serenity Salon & Spa Suites, I love the way that we enable other women to be able to do their own job and be successful at it,” Pam says. “We have an amazing group of women working here!”

After many years of running a business in the manufactured housing industry, in 2009, Pam says she wanted to do something different, so — at age 46 — she became the “oldest student in hair school,” she says.

While she enjoyed hair, Pam says she soon discovered something that interested her even more. “I love detail,” Pam says. “As a detail person, eyebrows are what first drew me into the permanent makeup field.”

In 2010, she studied permanent makeup at the Boca Ta-2 School for Permanent Makeup in Williston, FL, then began providing permanent makeup services in Zephyrhills in 2011. Pam is Florida-licensed as both a cosmetologist and as a tattoo artist.

“Any time that ink is implanted into the skin, it is a tattoo,” Pam explains, “and you must be licensed through the Florida Department of Health.”

The cost of Pam’s permanent makeup services starts at $400. She 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 also offers a scalp therapy treatment for women who have thinning hair. She says that the scalp therapy doesn’t seem to work well on male pattern baldness — it’s more effective on thinning hair — but women tend to respond well to it.

She also offers microneedling, which improves the skin by producing a slight injury to the face with a tiny needle. The body naturally grows new collagen at the “injury” site, which plumps the skin in the treated area and produces cell turnover, reducing scarring, fine lines and wrinkles on the face.

Of all of her services, however, Pam says she still gets the most satisfaction out of doing a client’s eyebrows.

“Brows are always my favorite because of the drastic way they change how someone looks,” Pam says. “Our eyes are meant to be framed, and brows definitely complete the face. Some women look so much younger when they have them done.”

Pam says she is committed to continuing education and frequently attends training to learn the latest, most advanced techniques. That’s how she came across a class called “Browmasters” in 2014, when microblading was a newer process and just beginning to take off. Now, as the process continues to grow in popularity, she already has lots of experience in doing it – several hundred sets of eyebrows, she says.

Pam 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 and show you their work before and after.”

Having a set of eyebrows done by Pam takes about an hour. The price includes a free touch-up after the first four weeks, to help deepen the color and make them more permanent. Once completed, clients sometimes don’t need to come back for a year or two, although everyone’s skin is different. Those “touch-up” visits start at just $100.

And don’t worry, she says, she’ll be straight with you. Pam says she isn’t going to take on a client who wants her to do something she can’t, or something Pam doesn’t think should be done.

“Although microblading is my favorite,” Pam says, “it may not be the right answer for a client. There can be a better alternative, depending on the canvas that I am working on.”

Pam treats clients of all ages, and eyebrows of all sorts, from those that need to be reconstructed to some — on blonde- and red-haired people in particular — that tend to fade from view. Young clients come in for the convenience of not having to draw in their own eyebrows, while older ones come in to fill in plucked-over patches or to highlight brows that have faded with age and exposure to the sun.

She sys she also helps a lot of women who come to her after a mediocre or poor experience with someone else. One such client is Janice, who lives in Wesley Chapel and asked us to only use her first name.

“I had permanent makeup done by another provider about a year ago and was only marginally happy with the results,” Janice says. “It faded, and I had a terrible reaction to the tool that was used on my lips. It took weeks and weeks to heal.”

Janice says she thought long and hard about doing it again, “but the ease of permanent make-up is so great that it superseded my fear. Once you have it, you just think, ‘Man, this is so great for every day.’ After doing my research, I felt that Pam’s method was going to give me better recovery and a better long-term result.”

As it turns out, she was right. Not only did Janice love the spa-like ambiance, cleanliness, and relaxing feeling of Serenity Salon & Spa Suites; she says Pam’s work is “perfect. I couldn’t be happier.”

She adds, “Before, it was just a tattoo. It faded quickly and didn’t look as natural as I wanted it to. With Pam, and microblading, the process was different, and the outcome is superb compared to what I had previously.”

Pam wants to see all of her clients as happy as Janice. “I’m extremely passionate about my work,” she says. “When people tell me what a difference I made in their life and how they feel about themselves, that’s the reason that I love what I do!”

Creative Permanent Makeup by Pam is located at Serenity Salon & Spa Suites, at 33913 S.R. 54, Suite 101. For a free consultation and more info, see the ad on page 39, visit CreativePermanentMakeupbyPam.com, or call (813) 997-6302.

Bay Dermatology’s WC Office Offers Skin Health & Cosmetic Care

Dr. Adam Bennett (right) joined the Wesley Chapel office of Bay Dermatology on BBD Blvd. last year.

When Bay Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery opened its Shoppes of Wesley Chapel office (on Bruce B. Downs {BBD} Blvd. across from Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel) last year, it brought local residents the resources of a medical practice that has been taking care of skin, hair and nail maladies throughout the Tampa Bay area for almost three decades.

Bay Dermatology marketing manager Tom Agriesti says the health practice’s mission has been clear since it was established in 1988. It has grown to eight offices, including Homosassa, Spring Hill, Port Richey, Palm Harbor, Largo, St. Pete Beach, Wesley Chapel and N. Dale Mabry Hwy. in Lutz.

“From day one, Bay Dermatology has provided the highest quality care for (our) patients and we’re glad to be able to do that for people living in the Wesley Chapel area,” Agriesti says.

Services and treatments available at Bay Dermatology range from health-preserving therapies and surgeries to appearance-enhancing cosmetic surgery, as well as procedures that are non-invasive.

Bay Dermatology’s Wesley Chapel office treats skin disorders such as acne, psoriasis (a condition in which skin cells build up and form scales and itchy, dry patches) and vitiligo, a long-term skin condition characterized by patches of the skin losing pigment.

The office also offers treatments for eczema and rashes, the removal of moles and warts, as well as skin cancer screening and treatment.

Clinical dermatology treatments for conditions like psoriasis, eczema and rashes such lichen planus, an inflammatory skin condition, characterized by an itchy, non-infectious rash of small, pink or purple lesions, include topical and oral medications. Bay Dermatology also uses XTRAC laser therapy for psoriasis, which uses targeted UVB light to treat the condition without damaging surrounding healthy tissue.

An extensive menu of aesthetic services, such as fillers, facials, Botox, peels and laser hair removal, also are available for consideration. Agriesti suggests having a customized, personal skin care consultation as a good starting point in providing patients with recommendations for treatments and products.

Therapeutic facials offer a way to freshen your appearance and the Bay Skin Care Signature facial treatment brings together the cosmetic benefits of antioxidants, serums, light chemical peel, extraction and facial massage topped off with a mask-treatment application. There’s also a facial geared toward the specific needs of teen complexions, as well as a “Just for Men” routine that aims to ease irritations like razor burn and promote a well-groomed appearance.

Chemical peels include glycolic, vitamin C and therapeutic combinations of salicylic and lactic acids as well as retinol and resorcinol. Generally, peels are intended to minimize the signs of aging, such as wrinkles, but Bay Dermatology’s VI Peel is a deep peel that aims to reduce if not eliminate blemishes such as age spots, freckles and acne scars as well. Many patients use the clinic’s aesthetician services as part of their post-operative care for cosmetic, laser and other surgical procedures.

Dr. Adam E. Bennett, MD, PhD, joined Bay Dermatology’s Wesley Chapel office last year.

He earned his medical degree from the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville and continued his education in dermatology at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, completing his dermatology residency at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, Tampa General Hospital, and Florida Hospital Tampa.

Dr. Bennett is Board-certified in dermatology and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology. His Ph.D. was earned at Cambridge University in Cambridge, United Kingdom.

According to Dr. Bennett, even though Bay Dermatology treats patients throughout the Tampa Bay area, it comes down to the one-on-one relationship between the patient and his or her  dermatologist, which he frames thusly:

“What would you do if it was your own family member or yourself?”

“Every single person who comes through the door is treated that way, with the best principles of excellence in medicine applied to their situation,” says Dr. Bennett, who adds that while he isn’t fluent in Spanish, he is competent in “medical Spanish,” meaning he can communicate on medical issues with patients who prefer to speak Spanish.

“We try to give optimal time to our patients when they’re in the room with the doctor and treat all of our patients like they’re members of our own family,” office manager Vanessa Kirschner  says.

Kirschner says that Bay Dermatology accepts a large number of insurance plans and will try to schedule same-day appointments if requested.

Kirschner’s patient-reception colleague, Anntoinette Sheppard, offers advice that will make your introduction to Bay Dermatology more efficient and easier overall.

“If you print out the paperwork (from our website), and have it filled out when you come in, it speeds up the process and I can get you in the back,” Sheppard says.

Dr. Bennett says sometimes a patient’s first visit is a quest for an answer to an internal query, such as wondering if you have skin cancer. “If you have something you’re worried about,” he says, “that’s a great reason to come in.”

Concern over a mole during a skin cancer screening prompted New Tampa resident Katie Floyd to visit Bay Dermatology’s Wesley Chapel office.

“You have to be aware of what’s going on with your body and if you see something that’s grown or changed color it’s a good idea to have it checked out,” says Floyd.

Floyd added that her experience at Bay Dermatology has been a good one, and conveniently located near her New Tampa residence.

The consensus among Google Reviewers about Bay Dermatology’s Wesley Chapel office is positive, with a score of 4.9 out of five possible stars from 11 reviews, among them, Vicki Barnitt’s five-star rating.

“Dr. Bennett was very thorough, friendly, and explained all procedures,’’ she wrote. “Staff are courteous and everything ran smoothly and on time during both of my appointments. Highly recommend Bay Dermatology!”

On The Cutting Edge

In addition to being a resource for personal skin health and cosmetic care, Bay Dermatology is undertaking initiatives that could bring cutting-edge, state-of-the art dermatological and cosmetic treatments and procedures to Wesley Chapel and New Tampa residents.

Dr. Bennett, who says he has a professional interest in research, says that Bay Dermatology is making big investments in research on behalf of its patients in the Wesley Chapel and New Tampa area.

“(Bay Dermatology) just opened our new clinical research center (in Pinellas County) and my goal is to expand it to all offices, including Wesley Chapel,” he says.

By adding research capability, Bennett says Bay Dermatology will be able to ensure the efficacy and safety of the medical grade cosmetics it offers, and also work with national researchers who are developing experimental treatments for skin diseases such as psoriasis.

Bay Dermatology’s Wesley Chapel office is located at 2653 BBD, Suite 120A. For more information or to make an appointment, visit BayDermatology.com or call (813) 514-0823.Â