westchase - vol. 2, issue 8, august 2013

The Community & Local Business Magazine Directly Mailed To 16,000 Homes In Westchase & Surrounding AreasThis Independent Community News, Business & Dining Guide Is Directly Mailed Once Each Month To:

Arlington Park • Aston Villas • Bay Arbor • Berkeley Square • Calf Path Estates • Enclave At Citrus Park • Fawn RidgeForest Lakes • Hampton Lakes • Highland Park • Lake Chase • Mandolin • The Eagles • Tree Tops • Twin Branch Acres

Waterchase • West Hampton • Westchase • Westchester • Westwood Lakes • Windsor Place

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

ECRWSSPostal Customer

Dated MaterialPlease Rush!

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDTAMPA FL

PERMIT 1185

Editorial...............................3

Community Calendar andNews Briefs........................4-5

Han Il Kwan KinjaRestaurant.............................8-9

OJ Mortgage Company.....10-11

Stone Chase Grill Has NewOwner............................14-15

Spiro Verras Opens Palm HarborOffice.............................16-17

Vol. 2, Issue 8, August 2013

Neighborhood NewsNeighborhood News ®

W E S T C H A S E A R E A

& Lifestyles

By Julie Kanehl

The rainy season has definitely ar-rived in Tampa Bay, bringing with itrecord rainfall, waterspouts, funnelclouds and as always, a plethora oflightning and thunder. When it comesto feeling safe in your home, the dura-bility of your roof is a top priority be-cause it protects your home, yourfamily and everything you own. Hav-ing a trusted roofing company likeArry’s Roofing at the ready is as im-portant as knowing the number to thepower and the phone company.

Family owned and operated, with

more than 25 years of experience,Arry’s Roofing Services is located at770 N. Grosse Avenue in TarponSprings, and services homes and busi-nesses within a 50-mile radius of theirhome office, including the entireTampa Bay Area and beyond.

Owner Arry Housh, who hasbeen putting on roofs since 1983,opened Arry’s Roofing Services withhis wife Becky in 1990 and since thenhe, his sons Stephen and Matthew,and his team of Florida State CertifiedRoofing Contractors, have protected

See “Arry’s Roofing” on page 20.

Arry’s Roofing Services – The Trusted Choice inTampa Bay for More Than 25 Years

See “Spine Center” on page 18

By Julie Kanehl

When you suffer from back orneck pain, it can honestly feel like theworld is crumbling around you.Everything suddenly becomes diffi-cult. Where others can breeze throughtheir day, taking for granted each stepthat they take, walking, shopping andeven driving can be more than you canbear. More people suffer from backpain than almost any other chronicpain out there, but when it’s serious,and you need medical attention, whygo to someone less experienced whenyou could go to a nationally recog-nized neurosurgeon like Dr. George

Gian-nakopoulos,M.D.?

Dr. Gi-annakopou-los has beenpracticing inthe area fornearly 20years, andhas per-formed well

over 7,000 successful spine surgeriesin that time. His Spine Center of Ex-cellence is located in Port Richey, justa few minutes north of Gulf ViewSquare Mall on U.S. Highway 19, and

he has locations in Trinity and inBrooksville as well to accommodatehis patients. In addition to teachingseminars and keeping office hours athis three locations, Dr. Giannakopou-los performs surgeries at The MedicalCenter of Trinity, Regional MedicalCenter Bayonet Point in Hudson,Oak Hill Hospital and the BrooksvilleRegional Hospital.

One of the most experiencedspine surgeons in the country, Dr. Gi-annakopoulos attended Rutgers Uni-versity in New Jersey and St. George’sUniversity where he earned his med-ical degree at The Robert Wood

Spine Center of Excellence Helping Patients Regain Mobility & Vitality

Dr. Giannakopoulos

Your neighborhood. Your magazine.

2 AUGUST 2013 Westchase Area Neighborhood NewsFor Ad Info Call (813) 928-6124 or Visit NeighborhoodNewsFL.com

AUGUST 2013 3Westchase Area Neighborhood News For Ad Info Call (813) 928-6124 or Visit NeighborhoodNewsFL.com

Neighborhood News& Lifestyles

Directly mailed once a month to 16,000households in zip codes 33626 & 34677

220 Safford Ave. S. Tarpon Springs, FL 34689

Phone: (813) 928-6124; Fax: (727) 942-2432Advertising E-mail:

[email protected] E-mail:

[email protected]© 2013 Westchase Neighborhood News is published by ADS 2 Publications, Inc.

Nothing that appears in Westchase NeighborhoodNews may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, with-out permission. Opinions expressed by Westchase Neighbor-hood News writers are their own and do not reflect thepublisher’s opinion.

The management of Westchase Neighborhood Newsis always happy to accept outside editorial submissionsto the paper. Please call for outside editorial submissionand advertisement deadlines.

Westchase Neighborhood News will consider previ-ously non-published outside editorial submissions if theyare double spaced, typed and less than 500 words.Westchase Neighborhood News reserves the right to editand/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makesno guarantees regarding publication dates. Westchase Neigh-borhood News will not return unsolicited editorial materials.

Westchase Neighborhood News reserves the right toedit and/or reject any advertising. Westchase NeighborhoodNews is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond theactual cost of the advertising space itself, not for the validityof any claims made by its advertisers.

Westchase Neighborhood News & Lifestyles is pub-lished by ADS 2 Publications, Inc.

PublisherTim SelbyGeneral ManagerMatt Selby Advertising SalesJim O’ReillyKen BurkeAccounting ManagerDoreen SelbyBilling AssistantTina O’ReillyMarketing & DevelopmentAshley Knoblach

EditorAlexis SelbyCorrespondentsKim ThomasJulie KanehlKatie ThomasMarcy SanfordLenay RuhlDara TuckerErin AldrichArt DirectorTony SicaGraphic ArtistDat X. Do

From The Editor Alexis Selby

Your Neighborhood. Your Magazine.My husband

Matt, General Man-ager of the Westchase NeighborhoodNews, and I would like to take a secondto thank you, our wonderful readers,for your continued support of ourWestchase Area community magazine.We have been pleasantly caught offguard by the overwhelming amount ofpositive feedback that has been given tous, not only in the form of call ins andemails, but from many of you that wehave seen out in the community at vari-ous events. We have received manyconstructive ideas about what peoplewant to see in "their Westchase Maga-zine" too. We have been told at least ahundred times now about how muchthey love the positive, warm, “no-hardnews feel” of the magazine.

However, over the past year or so,we have had a re-occurring complaintthat I thought I would never hear –multiple readers have said they wouldlike to see more businesses advertisingwith us, as well as more offers andcoupons. The offers I can understand,

but more ads? In the 20 years my hus-band’s family has been publishing theNeighborhood News, we have neverheard this type of complaint. Recently,my husband asked a reader to go intodetail about why she would like to seemore ads and she wrote, "Your maga-zine is all about the place where I grewup and love. It's about what is going onin our community and this area. It ismostly family, or at least locally ownedbusinesses that help keep the economymoving. I would love to see every busi-ness take advantage of your platformyou have provided because I think itcan really help them reach all of us,their customers. We all frequent thelocal businesses here and this area haseverything you could hope for in thesense of variety of marketplace. I per-sonally, and I am not alone, would liketo see more coupons and offers enticingcustomers to come in and shop. Yourmagazine is something many of us getexcited and anxious to read everymonth. Keep up the great work."

We really appreciate feedback like

this and this example illustrates exactlywhat we want to accomplish for thecommunity. We could definitely use allof your help growing our magazine. Ifyou would like to see your favorite localplaces in this magazine, please, bring acopy with you the next time you goout, and show the owner. Tell themhow you feel about our publication andask them to contact us.

In regards to advertising, my hus-band says, “I am pretty much the ‘antisales guy’ or at least against the ‘oldschool’ version of a salesman – dressedup in a suit and tie knocking on doorsand harassing people into advertising.That’s just not me; I like to let myproduct speak for itself and let my cur-rent advertisers and readers do the talk-ing. This isn't to say I won't personallywalk into a business and show themwhat I have to offer – I will – I'm justnot into the high-pressure aspect ofsales.”

Once again, thanks for all of yourcontinued support. We look forward toseeing you around the neighborhood!

Palm Harbor DermatologyPlans Northwest TampaExpansion

Growing dermatologypractice to renovate SheldonRoad building for thirdmedical office

Taking another step to widen itsgeographic presence in the Tampa Bayarea, Palm Harbor Dermatology hasannounced that it plans to open itsthird area location at 11601 SheldonRoad, in northwest Tampa, later thisyear.

Palm Harbor Dermatology, athriving medical practice with officesin Palm Harbor and Brandon, is leas-ing and renovating the 4,140-square-foot building on Sheldon Road. RossReal Estate, LLC, represented by RickNoll of that company, purchased thebuilding earlier this month for$900,000 from Chiarito Enterprises,Inc.

With a planned opening in No-vember, the facility will be the firstcomprehensive skin care center innorthwest Tampa staffed by physicianswho are board-certified and fellow-

ship-trained in Mohs MicrographicSurgery. A wide range of skin careservices - from spa services to routineskin checks to specialized treatmentsand surgical procedures for skin condi-tions and skin cancer - will be pro-vided at this location, which includes amedical spa and a fully equipped labo-ratory.

“Many of our patients have beendriving to Palm Harbor from Odessa,Westchase, and other communities innorthwest Tampa, so it makes sense toopen a facility closer to where theylive,” says Dr. Amy S. Ross, presidentof Palm Harbor Dermatology. Dr.Ross is one of only nine fellowship-trained Mohs surgeons (and the onlyfemale of the nine) in the Tampa Bayarea, according to the American Col-lege of Mohs Surgeons.

Palm Harbor Dermatology hasgrown to capacity in its Palm Harborlocation, helping drive the decision toopen a third location. The practice hasbeen growing rapidly as more TampaBay area residents learn about thequality and experience of its doctorsand staff.


Community Calendar Community News BriefsBalanced Path Yoga – Offer-ing Donation – Based YogaClasses Outside of the StudioSetting in Westchase.

Balanced Path Yoga is now offer-ing outdoor yoga classes 3 nights aweek in parks around Westchase.These are donation-based classes andno one will be turned away for lack offunds. The classes are suitable for alllevels and tailored to the individualstudents.

About Balanced Path Yoga “Our mission is to inspire health

of mind, body, and soul, bringing bal-ance into everyday life by making yogaaccessible to everyone. We strive toraise consciousness on individual andsocietal levels about making environ-mentally sustainable choices and inter-acting with the beauty of nature tobring about a sense of inner peace.”

Balanced Path takes its inspirationfrom the original Sadhus and Yogiswho lived in the forests and temples ofancient India and practiced yoga out-doors to be closer to nature. They de-veloped the practice of Asana (the

physical postures of yoga) to make thebody strong and flexible enough towithstand the rigors of spending manydays or weeks in seated meditation toultimately reach Samadhi, or enlighten-ment. Like these original practitionerswe can use our yoga practice to combatthe physical and emotional stresses ofmodern life. To this end, Balanced Pathseeks to take yoga out of the studio andinto natural settings or the comfort ofyour own environment.

For more information on theinstructor and class schedule, pleaseemail Blaire Foubister [email protected] or visitwww.BalancedPathllc.com.


About Palm HarborDermatology

Palm Harbor Dermatology’sphysicians are board-certified and fel-lowship-trained experts in the care andtreatment of skin conditions, includingskin cancer. A wide range of services –from routine skin checks to specializedtreatments for skin conditions to surgi-

cal procedures (including Mohs Mi-crographic Surgery) that diagnose andtreat skin cancer – are performed byskilled physicians and staff. With of-fices in Palm Harbor and Brandon, thepractice plans to open a northwestTampa office in November 2013.

For more information, visitPalmHarborDermatology.com.


thing in between. In addition, they alsoserve beer and wine, offering a nice va-riety of Korean imports.

Whether you are new to Koreancuisine, or just want a little help choos-ing what to order, the friendly serverswill happily give you recommendationsbased upon your individual preferences.Yujin says, “All the servers who workhere are Korean, so they really knowthe menu well and are able to give yougreat suggestions.”

On my previous visit Yujin recom-mended I try the Dolsot Bibimbap – atrue Korean specialty. Made with rice,assorted vegetables and beef, this dish isserved in a hot stone bowl, which siz-zles the whole time you are eating. Asthe rice cooks, it absorbs the natural fla-vor of the sizzling bowl, creating a dis-tinguishing taste that is reallyone-of-a-kind. The rice then begins toharden a bit, creating a thin crust that isabsolutely delicious, and as everythingheats up, you mix all the ingredients to-

gether for the ultimate Korean experi-ence.

Another uniquely Korean specialtyand a dish that Kinja has truly masteredis Garbi, also known as Korean BBQshort ribs. Seasoned to perfection andcoated in a sweet, yummy sauce, witheach bite, the meat literally falls off thebone. Served in a more-than-generousportion, accompanied by 5 differentside dishes, this entrée is the perfectshare size; although, after one tender,tasty bite you might not want to shareat all. “With all the sides, when youorder a Korean entrée you get yourdaily serving of vegetables,” says Yujin.“Korean food is very good for you; it isreally healthy.”

Kinja’s menu also showcases deli-cious Japanese fare, which includes a hi-bachi section, giving guests the optionto choose from a list of fresh ingredi-ents, which are cooked to order. “It isimportant that every dish is made toperfection,” says Yujin. “My dad makes

By Alexis Selby

Perfectly capturing the multicul-tural diversity of Western Asia, Han IlKwan Kinja restaurant in Tampa inter-twines unique aspects of the Koreanand Japanese cultures to bring guests auniquely delicious array of authenticAsian cuisine. A true staple in the localcommunity, for over 30 years Kinja hasbeen a fundamental part of Tampa’shistory. “Open since 1979, we were thefirst Korean restaurant to open inTampa,” says Yujin Kim, who runs therestaurant alongside her father Hei Kimand mother Soon Kim. Originally at an-other location, in 2001 Kinja moved to8401 Waters Ave. in Tampa to betteraccommodate guests. Yujin’s family alsoowns another restaurant in Land O’Lakes called Ginza, located at 2215Collier Pkwy. From the peaceful aura ofthe beautifully decorated dining area, tothe masterful presentation and aromaticflavor of the exquisite menu selections,dining at Kinja truly is an experiencemeant to engage all your senses.

Yujin says, “Established by mygrandfather over 30 years ago, thisrestaurant is a continuation of his legacyand we are dedicated to it and reallywant it to flourish. It is a part of mygrandpa. It is the last thing that he leftbehind.” The front wall, which is deco-rated in his honor, features pictures ofYujin’s grandfather, “so as soon as youenter he still greets you,” adds Yujin.

Recently undergoing beautiful newrenovations, featuring elegant décorand the addition of sectioned seating,Kinja’s new look was specifically de-signed to provide guests with an en-hanced dining experience. The newlyadded seating not only looks great, butalso offers diners more privacy, and the

separate dining rooms are ideal for largeparties and special celebrations.

If you’ve never had Korean food,than you are in for a real culinary treat,as Korean food boasts deliciously distinctflavors, and the chef at Kinja does an ex-ceptional job of bringing these flavors tolife; and, if you have tried Korean before,you will find this to be some of the bestyou’ve ever eaten. Customer Donald Pwrites, “Authentic Korean food! Thestaff was very friendly and helpful in se-lecting menu items that we were cravingfor. I will definitely go back the nexttime I am visiting Tampa.” A true testa-ment to the quality of their food, “westill have the same regulars that havebeen coming to our restaurant since wefirst opened,” adds Yujin.

Encompassing a little bit of every-thing, Kinja’s menu perfectly embodiesthe uniqueness of the Korean andJapanese cultures, incorporating a hugeselection of flavorful options, rangingfrom traditional to modern, and every-

Han Il Kwan Kinja –Deliciously Authentic Korean & Japanese Cuisine!

Kinja offers a delicious selection of fresh sushi, such as their Red Dragon Roll (L) and Fire Volcano Roll (R).


everything from scratch, including all ofthe sauces, which are specialized to us.”On my previous visit my husband and Itried their chicken and steak, cooked hi-bachi-style alongside an assortment ofgrilled vegetables and fried rice. A feastfor the eyes with its huge portion size,this selection boasted huge chunks ofchicken and steak and a nice variety ofpeppers, all grilled in a savory sauce thatwas really tasty. Despite sharing this en-trée, we still had some left over to takehome for later!

In addition to hibachi, Kinja alsooffers a wonderful selection of fresh

sushi, and Hei is an expert when itcomes to preparing the rolls. Yujin says,“My father is a great sushi man, that iswhat he loves to do. It is his specialty.He prides that we have the best sushi inTampa Bay and I concur!” One of myfavorites is their Fire Volcano Roll. Inthis roll, generous chunks of broiledspicy Salmon are placed atop a spicytuna roll, completed with spicy mayo,avocado sauce and eel sauce. With eachbite, the roll literally melts in yourmouth, and the sauce is absolutelywonderful and is perfectly accompaniedby a yummy crunch. If you are more in

the mood for a raw fish delicacy, try oneof Kinja’s raw fish-style rolls, they areevery bit as appetizing!

Sushi BuffettAn excellent way to sample some

of the many delicious rolls and exquisitecuisine that Kinja has to offer, the sushibuffet, held weekdays from 11:30 a.m.– 2:30 p.m., and Friday and Saturdaynights from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m., features awide assortment of made-to-order sushirolls, as well as a hibachi section and va-riety of hot Korean food dishes.

“My co-workers and I came here

for lunch; so, naturally we had thelunch buffet,” writes customerJonathan G. from Tampa. “I wentstraight for the Hibachi bar – there wasshrimp, chicken, and steak available forHibachi cooking. I recommend the Hi-bachi for starting off. Next you havesushi, which consists of about 13 or sochoices. Try every one! They are allgood, especially the fried ones. In thebuffet they also offer other foods, in-cluding fried wontons, beef bulgogi,spicy pork, fired rice, and many others.The food here is really good. I defi-nitely recommend this restaurant!”

Looking to cater your next partyor event? With their extensive menu,you will have no problem choosing se-lections that everyone will enjoy, andtheir wonderful staff can accommodategroups of all sizes.

A delicious fusion of Japanese andKorean, Han Il Kwan Kinja offers a di-verse selection of authentic cuisine in abeautiful atmosphere that truly embod-ies the Asian culture. Yujin says, “Whenyou come here, you really get the fullKorean experience!”

Han Il Kwan Kinja is located at8401 Waters Ave. in Tampa. Theyare open Mon. – Thurs. 11:30 a.m. –10 p.m.; Fri. and Sat. 11:30 a.m. –11 p.m.; Sun. 4 p.m. – 10 p.m. Formore information please call (813)806-1551.

Encompassing a little bit of everything, Kinja’s menu incorporates a huge selection of flavorful options, includingChicken and Steack Hibachi (L) and Garbi (Korean BBQ Short ribs) (R).


By Marcy Sanford

When you’re making one of thebiggest financial decisions of your life,you are going to want help fromsomeone you can trust. For more than19 years OJ Mortgage has been assist-ing people become homeowners. Theyhave helped thousands of peoplethroughout Florida navigate the con-fusing array of mortgage options, al-lowing them to make the smartestfinancial decisions based upon theirlifestyle and budget. The wonderfulstaff at OJ Mortgage prides themselveson helping their clients find the bestpossible loan that makes the mostsense for their financial situation.

Previously owning her own mort-gage company for 10 years, MarketingManager and Loan Originator DianeSchillace has worked in various capaci-ties within the banking and real estateindustry and brings with her a plethoraof knowledge in regards to the loanprocess. After analyzing your financialsituation by looking at your income,assets, and credit score, she will rec-

ommend the best loan option for youand your family. A licensed mortgagebroker for over 18 years, whether you

need a mortgagefor a new home, arelooking to refinanceyour existing homemortgage, or findyourself underwaterwith your currenthome loan, you cancount on Diane.

“Before wemake any recom-mendations to aclient, we look at allthe variables oftheir life style andfinances to deter-mine what makessense for them,”says Stanley Blacker,CEO/President ofOJ Mortgage. “Weare always honestwith our clientswhen we tell themwhat the best op-

tion is for them, even if it meanstelling them they should wait a fewyears to buy a house so they can im-

prove their credit. We don’t want tojust find a loan for our clients, we wantto form a relationship with them andmake sure that we help them buy thehome of their dreams.”

The sound advice clients receiveat OJ Mortgage is just one of themany reasons why more than 85% oftheir business comes from referrals. OJMortgage even has grandchildren ofclients coming to them for mortgageadvice.

“Underwater” in Your Mort-gage? OJ Mortgage can Help!

OJ Mortgage has helped hun-dreds of “underwater” homeowners tostay in their homes. Times have beentough, and these unfortunate home-owners have seen the values of theirhouses decline to the point where itwas worth less than their existingmortgages. Most thought they had nooption but to walk away from theirbeloved home, consequently ruiningtheir credit. But, with the help ofDiane and OJ Mortgage there is a so-lution! In conjunction with the gov-

OJ Mortgage Co. Inc. Has The MortgageSolution That Is Right For You!

Top row: L.Creamer (processor); T.McCaffrey (CFO/Of-fice Mgr); S.Blacker (COO/owner/loan originator);

D.Schillace (loan originator, marketing mgr)Bottom row: S. Lang (processor); H.Hutto (processor);

L. Kalfas (receptionist)Missing from picture: loan originators K.Schiff

and L. Jensen

AUGUST 2013 11For Ad Info Call (813) 928-6124 or Visit NeighborhoodNewsFL.comWestchase Area Neighborhood News

ernment’s Home Affordable RefinanceProgram or H.A.R.P. 2.0, Diane isable to assist borrowers with little tono equity by refinancing their mort-gages to current market rates. Whilemany people were frustrated by the 6– 12 month turnaround time whenthe program initially started, it nowonly takes approximately 3 – 4 weeksto close these loans, and the averageH.A.R.P. 2.0 refinance borrower is ex-periencing hundreds of dollars in sav-ings in their mortgage payments.

Before H.A.R.P. 2.0 there weren’tany feasible financial options forhomeowners whose mortgage was un-derwater and many of these home-owners felt desperate and hopeless.Before H.A.R.P. 2.0, homeowners had

to bring tens of thousands of dollars tothe closing table and they couldn’t re-finance because they had no equity.With a H.A.R.P. 2.0 loan, homeown-ers usually do not have to put anymoney into the transaction.

OJ Mortgage was one of the firstmortgage providers in the area to helptheir clients with H.A.R.P. loans andcurrently they are one of the biggestproviders of this type of loan. They havethe knowledge and expertise to helpyou. They have worked with clientsthroughout the state of Florida to helpthem gain peace of mind, assuring themthat they will be able to afford to keeptheir homes. Stop worrying about yourhome today, give the H.A.R.P. special-ists at OJ Mortgage a call and save your

house and your credit.OJ Mortgage has helped thou-

sands of homeowners navigate thecomplicated process of refinancing ahome mortgage. With interest rates atan all time low, it may be financiallybeneficial for you to refinance your ex-isting home mortgage. OJ Mortgagehas been assisting borrowers since1994. They will, at no cost and no ob-ligation, analyze your current mort-gage and explain what your optionsare. They can help you save on yourmonthly payment and the best part is,a majority of the time you don’t evenhave to bring any funds to the closingtable. There are many loan options tochoose from, including Conventional15 and 30 year loans, FHA, VA,jumbo and streamline loans, as well asno cost loans and the refinancing ofyour current loan, in addition to theH.A.R.P. 2.0 refinancing program. Ex-pert Loan Originator Diane Schillacewill help you determine which optionmakes the most sense for you, yourlife, and your finances.

OJ Mortgage is so confident thatthey are finding the best mortgages fortheir clients that they encourage themto shop around with other mortgagescompanies, and if someone does find abetter, legitimate deal, they are willingto match it.

With just one phone call, find outhow OJ Mortgage can help you.

Diane is dedicated to her clients andwill work full-time to make the loanprocess as easy and quick as possible.She understands that buying or refi-nancing a home isn’t a 9-5 event,which is why she is available by phone24 hours a day, 7 days a week to betterhelp you.

Diane doesn’t just forget abouther clients after the loan process; shekeeps in regular contact throughoutthe year, giving her clients beneficial fi-nancial information, such as when bet-ter interest rates become available.

Buying a home is one of thebiggest, most important decisions youcan make in your life. Don’t trust aloan from just any organization; makesure you have experts looking out foryour best interest – experts like theones at OJ Mortgage.

OJ Mortgage provides loans forhomes throughout the state ofFlorida. Their office has a completestaff of 3 knowledgeable processors,an office manager, receptionist and4 loan officers. They are located at29190 US 19 in Clearwater and theoffice is open Mon. – Fri. from 8:30a.m. – 5 p.m.; Diane is available allday every day by cell phone. Formore information please call DianeSchillace at (727) 492-1140, orvisit OJ Mortgage’s website atwww.OjMortgage.com or email herdirectly at [email protected]

NO COST LOANS

• Competitive Fixed Rates - All costscovered by lender credit

• Loan Balance - current balance; noincrease in balance

• Loan Term = remaining term on loan• Interest rates are .25% higher than

loans with closing costs• No prepayment penalty• Loan must be over $200,000

PROGRAMS OFFERED

• Purchase

• Refinance

• HARP 2.0

• Jumbo Loans

• FHA/VA

• No Cost Loans

HARP 2.0: HOME AFFORDABLEREFINANCE PROGRAM

• For borrowers who owe more than their houseis worth

• Must be a property financed prior to June 2009• Must be guaranteed by Fannie Mae orFreddie Mac

• Can be primary residence, second home orinvestment

• Can be a condo or single family residence


By Marcy Sanford

While growing up in New YorkCity, Frank Mast, (whose full familyname is Mastandrea) was spoiled byhis mother’s gourmet cooking. Frankwas raised in a loving Italian familywith a mom who loved to cook. Hesays, “My mother never cooked thesame meal twice. She loved to experi-ment with dishes and make them moredelicious each time she cooked them.She always used the freshest ingredi-ents and always created delicious Ital-ian classics for our family.” Recentlypurchasing Stone Chase Brick OvenBar & Grill in March, Frank, with thehelp of his son Frankie, have sincebeen busy revamping the menu to in-clude many of their family’s Italianrecipes; while still keeping many of theStone Chase dishes that are alreadyWestchase favorites.

Frank is also the owner of BaysidePools, and together he and Frankierun both businesses simultaneously.“Before I settled in Westchase, I trav-eled a lot with my job,” says Frank. “Ireally developed an appreciation forgood food during my travels. We’ve

been listening to many of our regularsand our new menu will be a blend ofnew dishes and established ones. Wealso plan to have black board specialsThursday through Saturday to giveour diners the chance to order otherauthentic Italian dishes. I’m very ex-cited about the changes we’re makingat Stone Chase.”

Frank plans to introduce the newStone Chase menu in September.Some of the new dishes include newappetizers from the brick oven, likeFra Diablo, Fried Eggplant, and mus-sels. Many of the new dishes comefrom Frank’s Mastandrea family cook-book. One of the family’s favoriterecipes, Mastandrea meatballs, will befeatured as an appetizer, as well as in apasta dish, and as a sandwich. Franksays, “Our recipe for meatballs is trulyamazing. They are handmade eachday. The process that goes into makingthem is very time consuming, but theyare definitely worth it.”

Frank relied on many family fa-vorites when making additions to theentrée menu. “We have many authen-tic Italian dishes on our new menu,”adds Frank. “We use only real Italian

cheeses and meats, which gives ourfood an incredible flavor. We will havelobster linguine and the pasta sauce isone that my mother used to make.”Other Italian favorites passed downthrough his family, like OrecchietteMastandrea, Rigatoni al Telefono,Chicken Parmigiana, Osso Buco, andChicken Caprese, will also be added tothe Stone Chase menu.

Despite the new changes to themenu, Stone Chase will still serve theflat bread pizzas that Westchase resi-dents know and love (and yes they arekeeping the $5.95 flat bread special onTuesday nights). And, as an extrabonus, they are also adding Neapolitanstyle pizzas. This type of pizza is madewith authentic, top quality ingredientsfrom Italy, such as Caputo flour andsauce made with Marzano tomatoes.The crust is crispy and chewy and theingredients are fresh and delectable.Stone Chase will also offer wholewheat and gluten free crust.

Another welcome addition atStone Chase is a new lunch menu thatwill feature lunch size versions of manydinner entries and salads, and will alsoinclude a new selection of paninis and

calzones. There are even several newsalads on the menu that will be avail-able for both lunch and dinner.

Frank also has yummy plans for

Westchase Welcomes New Owner of Stone Chase Grill

Owner Frank Mast


the dessert menu, where he has addedItalian favorites such as gelato,tiramisu, and freshly made zeppole. Anew cappuccino and espresso machineis being installed behind the bar, mak-ing Stone Chase an excellent place toend your evening with a lusciousdessert and delicious nightcap.

The inside of Stone Chase willalso be getting a new updated look,with new lighting, new colors, and abrighter interior. The restaurant willbe open throughout the renovationsand everything should be completedby September, just in time for the rollout of the new menu.

To stay up to date on the latestchanges, additions, and specials atStone Chase, visit their Facebookpage. In addition to their weekly spe-cials, Frank, who is also the owner ofBayside Pools, will be offering specialsto Bayside Pool customers and onStone Chase’s Facebook page.

Stone Chase is located at12227 W. Linebaugh Avenue. Theyare open Monday through Sunday11:30 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. For reser-vations call (813) 818-8000. Youcan also get more information byvisiting their website at www.Stone-ChaseGrill.com.


Attorney Spiro J. Verras OpensNew Palm Harbor Office

By Kim Thomas

Spiro J. Verras, Attorney at Law,welcomed guests to the Grand Open-ing of his Palm Harbor office, locatedjust behind Pier 1 Imports on US 19in Palm Harbor. Friends, clients anddignitaries celebrated alongside Attor-ney Verras as the Greater Palm HarborArea Chamber of Commerce con-ducted a Ribbon Cutting. More thanone hundred guests came to offertheir congratulations and all enjoyedthe uplifting conversation and the deli-cious spread. Dignitaries attendingthe event included State Rep. CarlZimmerman, Congressman Gus Bili-rakis’ District Director Elizabeth Hit-tos, Chamber President/CEO ConnieDavis and “Honorary Mayor of PalmHarbor” Arlene Tracht. I had the op-portunity to speak with several guestswho were clients, and all seemed toecho what one client who drove overSt. Petersburg said, “He is just thenicest man. Spiro Verras really does

care about you asan individual andthat’s why every-one is here forhim.”

Spiro Verras’practice focuseson business law,estate planning,probate andtrusts, real estateand closings, civillitigation, corpo-rate and commer-cial transactions,and business law.And until now, itwas solely basedin Tampa’s HydePark Village. Theopening of thePalm Harbor of-fice is like coming home for AttorneyVerras. He says, “I grew up in TarponSprings, and my family operated arestaurant in Palm Harbor for many

years. Since many of my clients are lo-cated in Pinellas County, I’m de-lighted to return to the community.”Verras adds, “While our Tampa officewill remain available to serve my Hills-

borough County clients, I intend tospend most of my time working in thenew Palm Harbor location.”

After graduating from TarponSprings High School, Mr. Verras at-

Pictured, from left: Juan Carlos Saucedo-Campos, Jan Mellen, Miriam Saucedo Verras, JordanMyers, Spiro Verras, Rep. Carl Zimmerman, Connie Davis and Arlene Tracht. Photo by Halyn

Hughes Griggs.


tended Yale University and TulaneLaw School. Upon completing hislegal studies in 1993, Attorney Verraswas hired by a prominent Louisianalaw firm and was formerly a partner atJones, Verras & Freiberg, a New Or-leans-based multistate law firm, forwhich he opened a Tampa office in2001. Mr. Verras subsequently servedas managing partner of the BilirakisLaw Group and was also a co-founderof the Unthink social media project.

“Practicing in a small firm settingfor the first time in my career, my goalhas been to create a relaxed, personaloffice environment with the capabili-

ties I was accustomed to in a largefirm,” he explained.

Spiro Verras has two conven-ient office locations – one in PalmHarbor at 31640 US 19 N, Suite 4(located behind Pier 1 Imports)and the other in Tampa’s HydePark Village at 1509 W. SwannAve, Suite 240A. To schedule anappointment call (727) 493-2900for his Palm Harbor office or (813)228-6800 for his Tampa office.Email him at [email protected]. For more informationvisit www.Verras-Law.com.


Johnson Medical School in 1987. In1988 he completed his internship ingeneral surgery at The University ofRochester, followed by completing afellowship at the University of Massa-chusetts in the area of Clinical Neu-rosurgery. Dr. Giannakopouloscompleted his residency at the Hah-nemann University Program in Neu-rosurgery in 1994, and passed theAmerican Board of Neurological Sur-gery with the distinct honor of AlphaOmega Alpha. Dr. Giannakopouloshas been both the Chief of Staff andThe Chairman of Surgery at bothRegional Medical Center BayonetPoint and at the former CommunityHospital in New Port Richey.

While Dr. Giannakopoulos isknown for everything from successfulspine surgeries to removing brain tu-mors, I know Dr. Giannakopoulos asmy doctor. After getting into a caraccident in 2009, and having a terri-ble reaction to an epidural steroid in-jection given to me by anotherdoctor, Dr. Giannakopoulos was the

first physician to really sit down withme and look at all of my films. Dr.Giannakopoulos ordered his ownfilm, and was able to properly diag-nose my back and neck problems.Since then, he has been a great sup-port to me. I can honestly recom-mend him personally to everyone Imeet. He is knowledgeable, experi-enced, kind and professional.

While Dr. Giannakopoulos is akeenly skilled surgeon, he prefers toprovide conservative treatment op-tions where possible. Unlike otherdoctors who are quick to provideprescription pain pills, Dr. Gian-nakopoulos and his staff shy awayfrom doing so. Instead they focus onproviding safe and conservative tech-niques like bracing, physical therapyand interventional pain treatmentslike Facet Blocks, Epidural Injectionsand Radiofrequent Nerve Ablations.

When the conservative approachis no longer working, Dr. Gian-nakopoulos is the person to turn tofor surgery. He has more hours inthe O.R. than many of the otherneurosurgeons in the state, and hehas also trained extensively in micro-scopic surgeries. In fact, all of his

procedures are performed using mi-croscopic technology. Dr. Gian-nakopoulos can perform every kindof spinal surgery from minimally in-vasive surgeries, to surgeries such asLaminectomies, Laminotomies,Foraminotomies, Microdiscectomiesand brain surgeries.

One of Dr. Giannakopoulos’spatients said, “I have been seeing theDoctor for seven years now. He haskept me out of pain. Last week heperformed a laminectomy on L4/5

and it went perfectly. I highly recom-mend Dr. Giannakopoulos.”

Dr. Giannakopoulos also special-izes in treating Lumbar Spinal Steno-sis, which is a narrowing of the spinethat is caused by the natural wear andtear that our spines experience in ourlifetimes. In fact, he believes that thisis the #1 spine problem that faces theelderly. Spinal Stenosis causes painand a problem straightening thespine, leading to a bending over or ahaunch. Unfortunately many elderly

“Spine Center”Continued from page 1

The Spine Center of Excellence in Trinity offers a comprehensive andconservative approach to spinal care and when surgery is necessary, you will

be in the excellent care of Neurosurgeon, George Giannakopoulos, M.D.


folks think that this is just a part ofaging that they have to learn to livewith, but that’s not necessarily thecase.

“My focus is to help prevent pa-tients from becoming paralyzed,”says Dr. Giannakopoulos. “If a pa-tient who used to be able to walktwo miles can’t get around the gro-cery store without pain, I can helpthem. The philosophy of the Neuro-surgeon is to restore function and topreserve neurological functions.What happens in the case of severeSpinal Stenosis is that something isencroaching on the spinal canal, andto cure the problem, you really needto operate. This kind of surgery issafe and provides between 85% and90% relief of symptoms, and the re-covery is generally very quick.”

One of Dr. Giannakopoulos’spatients wrote, “My mother has hadthree cervical surgeries and is head-ing for her first lumbar surgery thisweek…The staff is always very caringand take care of my questions andFMLA paperwork in record time.They have offered assurances that allwill be taken care of and it was doneas stated. They even coordinated

home nursing care for my mom sinceI can’t be there for the full six weeksof recovery. When she told me sheneeded the lumbar surgery, I wantedto make sure Dr. G was the only doc-tor to have anything to do with hersurgery and he is. I’m very happy toknow that Dr. G is so thorough andas skilled as he is. Mom’s recoveryhas always been weeks less than pre-dicted and she is in her early 60s. Pa-tience is a virtue and his staff isnothing but.”

Whether you are having lowerback pain, neck pain, suffering fromSpinal Stenosis, or are having numb-ness or weakness in your extremities,Dr. Giannakopoulos and his staff canhelp get you back on your feet again.I know because he really helped me.

The Spine Center of Excel-lence has three locations. The mainoffice is located at 11425 US Hwy19 in Port Richey. The Brooksvilleoffice is located at 11341 CortezBlvd, and the Trinity location isconveniently located at 2433Country Place Blvd. For more in-formation or to make an appoint-ment please call (727) 861-2332.


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For most of us, our roof is one ofthose things we take for granted; that is,until something is wrong with it – as in,there’s a giant leak and we’re scramblingfor buckets and pails! In Florida, our roofstake a beating, and with the hurricaneseason upon us, don’t take the chance thisseason. Instead, have the experts at Arry’sRoofing Services check it out.

Arry says, “I honestly believe thatpeople are reactive instead of proactiveabout their roofs. We can walk yourroof, clean out the gutters, check theseals and make sure that your roof isready for this summer’s weather.” Headds, “Sometimes things happen andno one notices – then they call and say‘I have a leak!’ When that happens, ourteam of expert roofing contractors willhelp you determine whether your roofneeds to be repaired or replaced.”

Offering a proactive maintenanceplan that will prolong the life of yourroof, Arry’s offers an affordable main-

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If you knowyou need to have your roof repaired,Arry’s offers free estimates and theycheck everything, from the roof’s con-dition to the gutters, the soffits to thedrainage points. There are many signsthat may tell you if you need a new roof.If the tiles or shingles on your roof arecurling, peeling or cracked, or if you seewater stains on your interior ceilings,chances are your roof needs to be re-placed. The longer you wait, the worsethe repair will be, because as your roofdisintegrates, your whole home is indanger. Don’t wait until disaster strikesto call Arry’s qualified, certified team ofprofessionals.

If you don’t think a repair is goingto do it, or your roof is aged, Arry’s hasa great reputation within our commu-nity. From shingle to tile, flat and low-

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Isaac and Cindy Rivers say, “If get-ting a new roof could be described asan 'enjoyable' event, our experiencewith Arry's Roofing would qualify.From our first contact with the office,everyone was very courteous and pro-fessional. This was as 'enjoyable' as aroofing project could be. They wereclean and prompt, and delivered exactlyas was promised. We were quicklyheading into a rainy period and thecrew really showed that they were ex-perts in their field, working efficientlyand carefully, covering vulnerable areasduring sporadic rain showers and then

“Arry’s Roofing”Continued from page 1


getting quickly back to work whenable. They showed up on time andcleaned up the area well when done forthe day. We would definitely use themagain if we ever need roofing workdone, and would definitely recommendwithout hesitation.”

Arry’s Roofing ServicesHas Heart

From Arry’s “No Roof Left Be-hind” program, which awards a needyfamily with a new roof, to the Roofs forTroops program and rebate that theyhonor through one of their manufac-turers, Arry’s does more than protectour homes, they protect the homes of

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Arry’s Roofing Services is lo-cated at 770 N. Grosse Avenue inTarpon Springs and services the en-tire Tampa Bay Area. For more in-formation, or to schedule a freeestimate or inspection, call the officeat (727) 756-1688 on Mon. – Fri.7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., or visit theirwebsite at www.ArrysRoofing.com.

westchase - vol. 2, issue 8, august 2013

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