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New Monthly Food Truck Event and Business Grand Openings Ring in the New Year at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel
As 2025 begins, the community of Avalon Park Wesley Chapel embarks on another year of progress and development. Following a year filled with significant achievements, there is anticipation for even greater milestones, with new businesses, engaging events, and more reasons to appreciate this vibrant neighborhood.
A Recap of 2024: A Year of Significant Milestones
The past year was marked by several noteworthy achievements. One of the most celebrated moments was the Grand Opening of Downtown I, the first mixed-use building in Downtown Avalon Park. This innovative space integrates residential living, retail shops, and office spaces, providing residents with the convenience of having everything they need in one location. The Flats have seen an influx of new residents, and businesses within the area are thriving as they serve the community.
The year also saw the arrival of new establishments, including The Flats at Avalon Park apartments, ISI Elite Training, Woof Gang Bakery and Grooming, and Rita’s Italian Ice. These additions brought fresh flavors and essential services to the growing community.
What’s New in 2025
Downtown I is welcoming even more exciting businesses this year, giving you more places to shop, dine, and have fun. Keep an eye out for announcements – more great spots are joining the neighborhood soon!
Looking for a new place to call home? The Flats at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel still has beautiful oneand two-bedroom apartments available. It’s a perfect time to check out the units, whether you’re looking for a cozy space or a roomy apartment with a balcony. Visit www.theflatsatavalonpark.com/wesley-chapel to learn more and book a tour!
Fun Events to Kick off the Year
Start your year with some flavor at our Fourth Friday Food Truck Night on January 24th from 5-8pm! Enjoy delicious food trucks like Coco’s Latin Cuisine, Piccola Pizzeta, Westchase BBQ, and Nacho Wagon. Plus, enjoy live music and a fun atmosphere—perfect for winding down your week with the whole family.
Additionally, the grand openings of ISI Elite Training on January 11th and Rita’s Italian Ice on January 24th are set to add even more excitement. Whether someone is seeking a new fitness center or a delightful dessert, these businesses offer fresh options to enhance the community experience.
Mark Your Calendar
Preparations are also underway for more exciting events like Absolutely Avalon on April 19th, where you can join in the fun and celebrate all that makes Avalon Park Wesley Chapel special. Stay tuned for updates on the Avalon Park Wesley Chapel events page!
Thank You for a Fantastic 2024!
Avalon Park Wesley Chapel extends heartfelt thanks to its incredible residents, businesses, and partners who have contributed to its continued growth and success. The community looks forward to building a place where everyone feels at home, connected, and inspired.
Here is to a year filled with opportunities, enjoyment, and a strong sense of community spirit. Warm wishes for a prosperous New Year from Avalon Park Wesley Chapel.
New Year, Fresh Perspective.
While writing this column, it is around 25°F with snow in Switzerland, and I am overlooking the City of Zurich, as seen in the picture I just took.
From our Zurich residence, it is about two miles to the high school I attended more than four decades ago, located in the heart of the city.
It still feels like a fairy tale that the son of a baker moved from Switzerland, in the heart of Europe, to East Orlando, Florida.
At first glance, my historical hometown of Zurich and Avalon Park in Orlando could not seem more different. Here in Zurich, there is the view of mountains and snow, while in Avalon Park, it is abundant sunshine and summer heat.
After almost one-third of a century, I feel Avalon Park is where I am truly at home, while Zurich remains where I grew up. But in my heart, both towns feel deeply like home. After spending a few weeks in Zurich, I miss Avalon Park, and vice versa.
You might think I enjoy the “extreme opposites,” but when I look at Avalon Park and Zurich, I realize the two towns have more in common than one might think. Both Zurich and Avalon Park are communities where you can live, learn, work, and play. Many buildings are mixed-use, with apartments or offices above retail stores and restaurants. In both Zurich and Avalon Park, you can walk or bike to schools, stores, and restaurants.
I grew up in a small apartment in the northern
PUBLISHER
Beat Kahli
EDITOR
Stephanie Lerret
MANAGING
EDITOR
Marielle Fernandez
ART DIRECTOR
Kenzie Farrish
neighborhoods of the City of Zurich, called Seebach. The apartment, roughly 600 square feet, was a flat my parents shared with my brother, sister, and me. It was located above a bakery and a coffee shop. My dad, now in his 80s, still lives there. Less than 50 yards down the street is a small grocery store, and my elementary school was about half a mile from our home. With our residence being small, the entire neighborhood became our “living room.”
This is probably why my family and I enjoy living on a 10-acre ranch in East Orlando today, with horses, chickens, a dog, and a cat. That lifestyle is certainly very different from growing up in northern Zurich.
Zurich is an international city, and in most parts of town, you can hear all kinds of languages. Besides Swiss German, English is one of the most commonly spoken languages. Zurich serves as the European headquarters for Google, and many American companies choose Switzerland as their European hub, including General Motors, Dow Chemical, Caterpillar, IBM, and more.
Sometimes I hear people say, “These are the most challenging and difficult times in history,” citing the war in Ukraine, the Middle East, economic challenges, and more. However, being born in the U.S. during the last approximately 60 years has certainly been a blessed time of prosperity. Consider the monumental challenges someone born in Germany around 1880 would have faced, enduring two world wars with vast destruction, two instances of hyperinflation, and the Great Depression.
We are truly blessed to live in Avalon Park or Zurich (or both), and I am very thankful for that.
Happy New Year!
New River Elementary Fundraiser
Exciting News! New River Elementary School’s Parent-Teacher Organization is partnering with Bubble Down Car Wash to raise funds for our initiatives! For every car wash purchased, 50% of proceeds go directly to supporting our organization! Plus, you save $10 on a BestestTM car wash!
Visit https://bubbledown.com/ fundraisers/new-river-elementary-schoolsparent-teacher-organization/ to help us today!
#Fundraiser #CommunitySupport
New River Elementary & Avalon Park Wesley Chapel
WORK
SMARTstart Member Scores Pilot Partnership for Cognitive Performance Tracking in Sports
Athletes’ Cloud, a Pasco EDC SMARTstart Incubator Member, along with NeuroCatch Inc. and the Tampa Bay Juniors Hockey Club (TBJ) a member of the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL), launched a new brain health pilot program that will integrate cognitive training into the team’s athletic development program.
This innovative initiative, which will be overseen by Athletes’ Cloud, highlights the vital role of brain health in sports performance, injury prevention, and recovery, with a focus on establishing cognitive baselines for athletes at a young age. “We’re thrilled to partner with NeuroCatch and Tampa Bay Juniors Hockey Club to revolutionize athlete cognitive development and brain health,” said Trey Stapleton, Head of Communication. “Together, we’re setting new standards in youth sports, prioritizing athlete well-being.”
TBJ is renowned for its progressive approach to athlete training. Led by Owner/Coach Brett Strot, Head Coach Garrett Strot, and General Manager Kevin Wolter, TBJ combines physical training, character building, and cognitive development to elevate player performance. In today’s high-stakes sports environment, cognitive skills such as focus, attention, and memory are as essential as physical conditioning. These skills directly impact reaction time, decision-making, and overall performance, providing athletes with a crucial competitive edge. ““The NeuroCatch® Platform is a game-changer for our player development, helping athletes sharpen focus and play instinctively,” said Brett Strot, Tampa Bay Juniors Hockey Club owner and coach.”
Measuring brain function requires sensitive, specific, reliable, and rapid methods. The NeuroCatch® Platform that will be used during the pilot is a brain function measurement system based on the science of brain vital signs, enabling cognitive assessments through the integration of objective neurophysiological and cognitive-behavioral measures. This technology delivers widely researched, scientifically
validated assessments of cognitive function within minutes at the point of care.
This four-month pilot program will accomplish three critical objectives to gather actionable data: Baseline Scans: Using the NeuroCatch® technology, foundational data will be established to track the cognitive progress of over 50 Premier and Elite Team members and coaches.
In-Season Monitoring: Two to three mass scanning sessions will track the impact of training and gameplay on cognitive health. Specific cognitive exercises and methodologies will also be introduced to enhance player development.
Injury Management: TBJ will use the NeuroCatch® technology to aid in concussion protocol management with TBJ trainers and players doctors. Post-impact scans will compare baseline data and provide actionable insights for recovery protocols. This ensures players, parents, and medical professionals have real-time access to critical information.
After a puck injury in 2023, NCAA Ice Hockey player and former TBJ left winger Livio Azevedo used NeuroCatch® and a personalized recovery plan to regain—and even enhance—his cognitive and sensory abilities in just two months. “NeuroCatch® has been a game-changer, helping me recover from injury and enhance my cognitive performance,” said Azevedo. “With TBJ’s support, it accelerated my recovery and continues to optimize my gameplay and brain health.”
Data collected during the season will culminate in team reports and a comprehensive case study, providing actionable insights to improve training methodologies. The results will also be benchmarked against anonymized data from hockey players across the U.S. and Canada. Players will have access to their individual results and performance data through the Athlete’s Cloud website and app. “NeuroCatch® and Athletes’ Cloud technology could revolutionize player training by enhancing cognitive capabilities,” said Head Coach Garrett Strot. “This program promises to elevate performance on and off the ice.”
Athletes’ Cloud is seeking additional local sports organizations to partner with and bring this advanced technology and awareness to their teams to help protect and increase athletes’ cognitive functions, learn more and contact them here
“It’s incredibly exciting to see a sports tech company like Athletes’ Cloud thriving in Pasco’s entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said Dan Mitchell, SMARTstart Program Director. “As Florida’s Sports Coast, this is the perfect place for innovative ventures that blend technology and athletics. I can’t wait to see how they continue to impact the sports world.”
“Tampa Bay Juniors’ progressive approach to player health and performance is inspiring,” said Tanja Yardley, VP of Clinical Innovation at NeuroCatch Inc. “We’re proud to support this game-changing initiative to advance athletic performance and the mental edge needed to win.”
PLAY
Audition
Announcement: Arsenic & Old Lace
The Wesley Chapel Theater Group is excited to announce auditions for Joseph Kesselring’s play Arsenic and Old Lace, which is directed by Colleen DeFelice.
Auditions are open to the entire community, and we welcome actors of all ethnicities. To be eligible, you must be at least 18 years old at the time of auditions. We pride ourselves on being a community theater that values diverse
talent and experience levels.
Interested actors should complete an audition form and provide a list of any potential date conflicts. We strongly encourage all adults aged 18 and over to apply.
For more information and the Audition Form: https:// forms.gle/X2HnZNgHWiS4WCtc6
Coming together to create a healthy community
