New Tampa Issue 03-11 by Neighborhood News

Volume 19 Issue 3

Inside: You Can Still Win Straz Center! Tickets

January 29, 2011

See page 35!

The Direct-Mail News Magazines Serving New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Since 1993! THIS INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY NEWS MAGAZINE IS DIRECTLY MAILED TO: NEW TAMPA: Arbor Greene • Cory Lake Isles • Cross Creek • Grand Hampton • Heritage Isles • Hunter’s Green • Hunter’s Key • K-Bar Ranch • Lake Forest • Live Oak Preserve • Pebble Creek • Richmond Place • Tampa Palms • West Meadows WESLEY CHAPEL: Aberdeen • Belle Chase • Brookside • Chapel Pines • Country Walk • Lexington Oaks • Meadow Pointe • New River • Northwood • Pinewalk • Pine Ridge • Saddlebrook • Saddleridge Estates • Saddlewood • Seven Oaks • Lakes at Northwood • The Villages of Wesley Chapel • Wesley Pointe • Westbrook Estates • Williamsburg

High Water Bills Hit Home For Some New Tampa Residents By Michael Smith Water is a precious commodity, one that we cannot live without. Thankfully, we live in a civilized society where we can have fresh, clean water piped directly into our homes, and it is usually something that most of us think very little about. Still, how much is too much to pay for the privilege of having that water come into our homes? That is the question that some New Tampa residents and others from around the city are asking after receiving water bills from the City of Tampa Water Department in the last several months that are double, triple — or even more, in some cases — than what they normally run. New Tampa is one of three areas in the city that have been most affected by the problem, along with Dana Shores (near Tampa International Airport) and Lake Magdalene (in the Carrollwood area). Despite the differences in location, many of the stories related

the council by residents members of those areas that she had are similar — her home’s their water water and bills were irrigation about as high systems as expected inspected, up until but no leaks November of or other last year, issues were when they detected. suddenly “Our shot up for usage has no apparent reason. Above, a New Tampa resident speaks to the members of been the same,” Inglis Kathy the Tampa City Council about her water bill. told the Inglis of Council members. “Nothing is Tampa Palms was one of about two changed. I think the water company dozen residents who chose to attend needs to accept some of the responsibilthe January 20 City Council meeting to ity, because something is wrong.” try to get answers about her water bill, Another resident of the Harbor which she said rose from an average of View neighborhood said that her water around $150-$220 to more than $500 bill showed that her usage had in November. In December, her bill increased to more than 62,000 gallons was $169.27, but in January it rose of water in one month, even though no again to more than $1,000. She told

one was living in the home at the time, and another said that she had been billed for using 51,000 gallons of water in her condo in one month and then zero gallons the following month, even though her condo, too, had been unoccupied the whole time. “I was told that in order to use that much water, I’d have had to flush my toilet an average of 76 times per hour,” she said. At the same meeting, however, officials with the Tampa Water Department and the city’s Public Works Department said that of the cases that had been investigated so far, most were found to have been caused by a leak or some other issue that the homeowners had been unaware of. “Our goal is not to have high water bills,” Tampa Water Department director Brad Baird told the Council members. “We want to be fair, and we certainly don’t want to turn peoples’ water off because we care about our See “Water” on page 6.

Wharton High Outreach Club Sheds Light On ‘Invisible Children’

LOCAL NEWS, BUSINESS, SPORTS & EDUCATION

NEIGHBORHOOD MAGAZINE!

MPO Says BBD Segment ‘A’ Will Be 8 Lanes, Municipal Election Registration Info, Wharton High Gets An A From The State & Much More!

Our Exclusive 2011 Valentine’s Day Gift Guide, A Review Of The New Asian Buffet Local Super Bowl Info & Your Chance To Win Tickets To The Straz Center!

See pages 3-32!

See pages 33-56!

ECRWSS

Also Inside This Issue!

forward to our legislators in an attempt to get them to take action.” Currently, the U.S. Congress has yet to pass House Resolution 2478, called the “Lord’s Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act of 2009.” The goal of this bill, according to GovTrack.com, is to “support stabilization and lasting peace in northern Uganda and areas affected by the Lord’s Resistance Army through development of a regional strategy to support multilateral efforts to successfully protect civilians and eliminate the threat posed by the See “Club” on page 10.

Postal Customer

Even though being a teenager comes with its own degree of angst, most American teens, by world standards, live a pretty good life. So, a firsthand account of the life of 17-year-old

Club invited Akello as a guest speaker in October and to follow up the group’s outreach efforts, a “Roots for Peace” festival is being planned at Wharton on Friday, February 18, 5 p.m.-9 p.m. This event, an effort to raise funds to rebuild schools in Uganda, will be open to the public and will feature games and entertainment, along with tables for businesses and organizations from the New Tampa area. “The event is focused on the children affected the by the civil war in Northern Uganda — a war that has now spread to the Congo,” says Wharton Global Outreach Club president Jamila Blake. “Through this event, we hope to raise money to help rebuild schools that were ravaged by war in Uganda. Another goal is to raise awareness of this issue in the community. We want to bring this human rights issue

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID TAMPA FL PERMIT 2801

By Melissa O’Brien

Monica Akello might have come as a surprise to some 600 Paul R. Wharton High students at an assembly last October. Akello, who lost both parents to war, is a speaker with the “Invisible Children” organization, whose mission is to travel the world and raise awareness of the 23-year long civil war in Northern Uganda. Wharton High’s Global Outreach

Dated Material Please Rush!

Community Festival Planned Feb. 18 To Raise Awareness of Uganda’s Plight

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 19, Issue 3 • Januar y 29, 2011 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Helping Hands...Helping Others...Helping Ourselves My friend and fellow New Tampa Noon Rotary Club member Valerie Casey, who also has organized a charity golf tournament to benefit the Fisher House at the James A Haley Veterans Administration Hospital the last few years, has a love for our military men and women that can’t be denied. Valerie, who grew up moving from one military base to another with her family, doesn’t believe there is any more noble cause than to help those who have been injured while in service to our country. And apparently, she’s not alone. The third Thursday of every month, a group of dedicated volunteers, many but not all of whom are retired military men and women, bring in a dinner catered by a local restaurant to the Haley VA Hospital and serve it to 300 or more people from many different countries and walks of life and all they ask in return is that people like you and me spend a little time with and get to know the wounded heroes being rehabilitated at the hospital. After attending my first Operation Helping Hand dinner last week, which was catered this time by Champp’s Sports Bar & Grill in International Plaza, I have to admit that I’m embarrassed that this was the first time I took part in this monthly event. I met a young army vet named William, who was seriously injured in a rappelling accident during basic training, as well as a young Marine who also

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Publisher & Editor Gary Nager Managing Editor Michael Smith Correspondent

An editorial by Gary Nager was left paralyzed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. These young heroes and dozens of others were surrounded by not only civilians like Valerie and me, but also by police officers, FBI agents and current and retired military men and women from not only every branch of the U.S. armed services, but by uniformed service men and women from Denmark, Poland, Japan, Germany, Great Britain and others who work out of or visit the U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Command at Macdill Air Force Base in South Tampa. Valerie and I basically walked around chatting with and thanking these young heroes, as well as some of the doctors who help them survive the most heinous types of injuries and many of the organizers of Operation Helping Hand, including U.S. Navy Capt. (Ret.) Bob Silah, the chairman of Operation Helping Hand, Inc., which is a project of the Tampa Chapter of Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Inc. The members of both MOAA and Operation Helping Hand receive no compensation for their difficult, wonderful efforts. “Operation Helping Hand is a devoted humanitarian effort dedicated to providing support for U.S. military active duty personnel injured in Iraq and Afghanistan and being cared for at the Haley VA Hospital,” says Silah.

LOCAL NEWS, BUSINESS, EDUCATION & SPORTS UPDATES................................Pages 1-32 MPO Holds Off On BBD Segment ‘A’ Decision.........6 Water (cont. from page 1)........................................7 News Briefs..................................................................8 Tampa Municipal Election Info Fireworks, Dry Conditions Lead To Brush Fires Man Hit By Car After I-75 Accident Club (cont. from page 1)........................................10

Melissa O’Brien

New Tampa Community Calendar.......................12

Local Business Updates............................16-19

Office & Distribution Assistants Karen Glenn • Cyler Porter Nothing that appears in New Tampa Neighborhood News may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by New Tampa Neighborhood News writers are their own and do not reflect the publisher’s opinion. The deadline for outside editorial submissions and advertisements for Volume 19, Issue 5, of New Tampa Neighborhood News is Monday, February 14, 2011. New Tampa Neighborhood News will consider previously non-published outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. New Tampa Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates. New Tampa Neighborhood News will not return unsolicited editorial materials. New Tampa Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit &/or reject any advertising. New Tampa Neighborhood News is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the actual cost of the advertising space itself, not for the validity of any claims made by its advertisers. © 2011 JM2 Communications, Inc.

See “Editorial” on page 30.

(L. to r.) U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, Valerie Casey and Operation Helping Hand chair Bob Silah.

Table of Contents

Art Director Billing Manager Tony Sica Ashley Knoblach Advertising Sales/Customer Service Managers Nikki Bennett • Kelly Porter • David Zacharia

“This is the busiest of the five Polytrauma Rehab facilities in the U.S. for treating active duty casualties and most of the people serving food in this room are volunteers who simply believe, as I do, that it is our duty and privilege to do everything we can for our wounded.” The Helping Hand program was launched in 2004 and since then, it has helped more than 700 active duty wounded and more than 1,000 of their family members. Thanks to the generous donations of individuals, corporations and service and other

New Tampa Community Council News..............16 Artisan Aesthetics.................................................18-19 Education—Wharton Receives Its First ‘A’................22 Local Scouts Earn Eagle Honors................................26 Editorial (cont. from page 3)......................................30

Neighborhood Magazine Our 2011 Valentine’s Gift Guide.........33-34, 46-47 Tampa Matchmakers Can Find You A Valentine!.......33 New Tampa Dance Theatre Is A Unique Gift Idea.....34 Win Tix To “Night Of Stars” At The Straz Ctr!...35 J. Baja’s Mexican Grill Opens In Tampa Palms....38 Enjoy The Variety At The New Asian Buffet..............39 Local Super Bowl Events & More..............................42 Bullseye Saloon Replaces Cody’s Roadhouse..............43 ‘Rock Of Ages’ Is A Trip Down Memory Lane..........50 Sister Hazel Rocks The Hard Rock............................51 . . NEW TAMPA COLOR CLASSIFIEDS..............54

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 19, Issue 3 • Januar y 29, 2011 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

MPO Holds Off On Decision For Southern Section Of BBD By Michael Smith After it was proposed that the southernmost segment of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. be redesigned as an eight lane roadway with two lanes set aside for high occupancy vehicle traffic, the members of the Hillsborough County Metropolitan Organization (MPO) voted earlier this month to hold off on making any binding decision on the project until a later date. At the MPO Board’s January 4 meeting, staffer Beth Alden explained that while the southernmost segment (aka segment A, which includes the area between Bearss Ave. and Palms Springs Blvd. in Tampa Palms) of BBD was originally conceived and designed as an eight-lane project, as is the rest of the roadway, the middle two segments of which (segments B-C, between Palms Springs Dr. and Pebble Creek) are now under construction, the southernmost portion of the project is now listed in the county’s Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) as a six-lane project. Alden said that’s because the MPO Board wanted to make sure there would be right-of-way available for the addition of light rail or other mass transit options in the future. However, she noted that the MPO’s plan for that transit relied primarily upon the passage of the county’s proposed one-cent transportation tax, which was rejected by voters last fall. Therefore, since funding for light rail is now not going to be available, at least for the foreseeable future, Alden said that the MPO staff had concluded that the best option at this time would be to keep the project at eight lanes, as designed, except to set aside the two outer-most lanes for high occupancy vehicles, i.e., buses and carpool vehicles with more than one occupant. Alden said that this seemed to be the best option, especially in light of the results of surveys taken at a pair of public meetings last spring, where the majority of those responding had shown support for the construction of a light passenger rail system. “This was seen as an acceptable option if funding for rail was not immediately available,” Alden said, adding that the proposal also had support from the MPO’s Citizen’s Advsory Council and the county’s Bicycle/Pedestrian Committee. Alden noted, however, as did several members of the MPO Board, that many of the residents who had responded to the surveys seemed to be divided about the best way to go for the project. Most who responded sup-

ported light rail, Alden said, although they also expressed concern about the impacts light rail would have upon the community, especially for those residents living closest to BBD, if it were put along the eastern side of the road. Putting the light rail in the median would present another set of issues, however, Alden said. First of all, the passenger stations wouldn’t fit in the median unless the curbs were relocated, and if the curbs had to be relocated, that would delay the project by up to three years. Putting the light rail in the median also would require the median to be closed at nine locations, which would interfere with vehicles turning left from BBD, and would require some type of provision to allow pedestrians to reach the light rail stations from either side of the roadway. On the other hand, putting the light rail on the east side also has its own set of issues, including the same median closures as well as closures of the side streets, and while residents on the east side would have easy access to the light rail stations, those on the west side would have to cross multiple lanes of traffic to get to them. “The bottom line is, there’s not a unified public sentiment in this area, and there will be some opposition, no matter how it’s built,” Alden said. That was reflected at the MPO meeting, too, as area residents spoke both in favor and against the proposal to build the roadway with lanes reserved for high-occupancy vehicles. Bill Edwards, who said he represented the Tampa Palms Homeowners Association, said that he and others had issues with the idea. “We wanted rail on the side, and no buses,” he said. “This just seems like an excuse to build what was originally planned but the community rejected.” On the other hand, Joe Ammon, who also lives in Tampa Palms, said he supported the idea. He said that residents on the east side of BBD were concerned more about the noise light rail would bring. “This way, we’re getting the advantage of increased bus service, we hope,” he said. The members of the MPO Board themselves also seemed to be divided over the proposal. Board member Joseph Caetano, who represents New Tampa on the Tampa City Council, said he supported the eight-lane proposal, as did Hillsborough County commissioner Mark Sharpe, who noted that bus service in the New Tampa area is currently limited

For now, the county’s plan is to widen the southern segment of BBD to eight lanes, without high-occupancy vehicle lanes, as depicted above. to just one route. “Setting aside a lane (of BBD) for one bus is going to go over like a lead balloon up there,” Sharpe said. The MPO members then discussed how easy it would be to change from HOV lanes to regular lanes in the future, and Alden said that it would basically be a matter of restriping the roadway. “It would be harder to take away two lanes for transit in the future,” she said. “This way, it would be easier to remove the HOV option in the future if it were not being utilized.” Finally, upon being asked, Alden

said that the main reson for making a decision now would be to define the project to make it eligible for possible federal funding, but she admitted that a final decision could be made after construction is complete, since it really is just a matter of striping. “Ideally, we would like to have a decision prior to the completion of construction, though,” she said. So, in the end, the nine MPO Board members in attendance voted unanimously to build the segment as eight lanes, with a future vote planned when the “best use” for the two lanes becomes clearer.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 19, Issue 3 • Januar y 29, 2011 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

“Water” Continued from page 1 customers.” Baird also told City Council that the water department has not changed monitoring, metering or billing processes, and he also vouched for the accuracy of the meters used by the city. “Those meters are accurate 99.99 percent of the time,” Baird said. Baird explained that water bills in Tampa are generated when meter readers input the numbers from a home’s water meter into a hand-held device. If the numbers indicate a usage of more than four times the normal rate, Baird said that the device gives the meter reader a prompt to double check the numbers to make sure they were input correctly. If they were, then the information from the device is downloaded at the water department and an exception report is generated. When that happens, Baird said, the customer’s usage history is examined to see if there have been similar anomalies in the past. If there haven’t been, then the meter reader is dispatched to read the meter for a third time, and if the same results are generated at that point, then the customer is billed for that amount. In addition, he said, a notice is placed on the door of

the home to let the homeowner know that there may be a problem that needs to be looked into. (Note: In Tampa, meters are actually read only every other month. On alternating months, the bills are generated based on an estimate taken from the customer’s average usage over the previous 14 months. Then, when the meters are read, customers are billed for the amount of water used based on the meter reading, minus the amount billed the previous month.) Baird said that his department had received about 500 total complaints about unusually high water bills, and up to that point, 31 had been investigated. Of those, he said that 27 were found to have a leak, while in the remaining four cases, some residents had admitted to over-watering their lawns, some were found to be not really that much higher than in the past, and the others were inconclusive. Baird also noted that the city’s tiered billing system, which went into effect last year, could be to blame for some of the high bills. He said that the new system was put into place to encourage conservation by targeting those customers who use the most water, with those who fall into the two highest tiers paying double or triple the rate paid by customers in the lower

tiers. If a customer had a leak, he said, it could push them into a higher tier without their knowledge. Baird also added that the freezing temperatures that the area has experienced this winter could be partially to blame. He said that the weather had caused 570 water line breaks since December, in both public and private areas, and at least some of the unusually high bills could be due to leaks from such breaks. Some of the Council members remained skeptical, however. District 2 Councilwoman Mary Mulhern said that the way the high bills were clustered in certain neighborhoods seemed to indicate a problem with the city’s monitoring and recording process and suggested an independent review of the process. “The city needs to work with our customers to find out exactly what the problem is,” she said. Other Council members suggested lowering the water rates citywide, but they were told by city attorney Chip Fletcher that while the Council does have the responsibility for setting water rates, there is a lengthy process involved in doing so, and he added that lowering the rates could affect the city’s ability to pay certain bond issues. The same could be true if the city suspended the collec-

tion of water bills until the cause of the problem is pinpointed, as was also suggested. Finally, however, something of a compromise was reached. Public Works administrator Steve Daignault said that the city would not turn off anyone’s water for nonpayment while the matter is being investigated; he also vowed to increase the number of staff members working to find the cause of the high bills. He also said that the city would work out payment plans with residents whose bills were still too high. In the meantime, District 7 Council member Joseph Caetano, who represents the New Tampa area and says that his office has received more than 50 emails and phone calls about the situation, was planning to host a meeting for local residents who are concerned about their water bills. At our press time, the meeting was scheduled to be held on Friday, January 28, 9 a.m., at the New Tampa Regional Library (10001 Cross Creek Blvd.). Unfortunately, this issue likely didn’t reach you in time for you to make it to that meeting. Baird and Daignault also were invited to attend to help answer questions. For more information about the meeting and any others that may be held, call Caetano’s City Council office at 274-7073.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 19, Issue 3 • Januar y 29, 2011 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

N EW T AMPA Register By January 31 For Tampa City Elections City of Tampa residents who are planning to vote in the March 1 Municipal Election are reminded that they must be registered by Monday, January 31, in order to do so. Although municipal elections typically produce a much lower turnout than national elections, this year could be different, with a half-dozen candidates vying to replace outgoing Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, including former mayor Dick Greco, former City Council members Bob Buckhorn and Rose Ferlita (who also is now a former county commissioner), current Tampa City Council chair Thomas Scott and others. There also are four candidates who qualified to run for the District 7 seat on the Tampa City Council, including incumbent Joseph Caetano, New Tampa resident Dean Hale, Lisa Montelione and the access cable TV host formerly known as White Chocolate, Charles Perkins. (The jurisdiction for District 7 includes all of New Tampa’s city-based communities). New Tampa voters also have a stake in the District 2 and District 3 races, since both of those seats are atlarge. Tampa Palms resident Curtis Stokes was appointed to the District 3 seat last year, but he is now running for the citywide District 1 seat, although the front-runner in the District 3 race is said to be well-respected former Hillsborough County Commissioner Chris Hart, who unexpectedly filed to run earlier this month. Meanwhile, incumbent District 2 Council member Mary Mulhern is running for re-election against a pair of opponents, Susan Long and Scott Strepina. (Look for more info on all of the candidates in our next issue).

News Briefs Meanwhile, other important dates to remember are Saturday, February 19, when early voting begins (including at the New Tampa Regional Library on Cross Creek Blvd.), and Monday, February 21, which is the last day to register for a run-off election, should one become necessary. In order to participate, all voters must be registered in the city of Tampa. To request an absentee or VoteBy-Mail ballot, or for other election information, visit the Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections website at VoteHillsborough.org.

Fireworks, Dry Conditions Caused Several Brush Fires While some area residents welcomed the New Year with the age-old tradition of setting off fireworks in their backyards and driveways, others unfortunately had the job of fighting the brush fires that those fireworks were ultimately blamed for causing. According to a report from the Florida Division of Forestry, there were a number of brush fires that sprang up all around the Tampa Bay area on New Year’s Day which were suspected of having been caused by errant fireworks, including one that burned across approximately 25 acres of undeveloped land on the south side of S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel. According to Forestry spokesman Dave Fogler, witnesses reported seeing some people in the Northwood subdivision lighting fireworks before the brush fire broke out. Fortunately, Fogler said, winds gusting towards the north kept the fire away from homes in the subdivision, but smoke drifting over the roadway did cause fire officials to close down a portion of S.R. 56 near the intersection of Bruce B. Downs Blvd. for about an hour. There were no

accidents that were reported as being caused by the smoke, however, and Fogler said the cause of the fire is still under investigation. The Wesley Chapel fire was just one of eight reported on New Year’s Day in and around the Tampa Bay area, Fogler said. The largest consumed 78 acres near Dade City and came close to threatening several homes before being extinguished. Although its cause also is still under investigation, fireworks also are suspected. Fogler added that in spite of recent rain, the threat of wildfires in our area is still elevated, because freezing weather in December further dried out vegetation that was already parched by drierthan-usual conditions over the previous months. A Forestry Division forecast also is predicting a higher-thanusual potential for brush fires throughout 2011 in Florida, thanks to a prevailing La Nina weather pattern that has shown a connection with increased fire activity in the past. Fogler says that accidentally setting a wildfire is a misdemeanor, but if a person is convicted, he or she also can be held responsible for the expense involved in fighting the fire they started, and he recalled one case where that bill exceeded $30,000.

Tampa Man Hit By Car After I-75 Fender Bender A Tampa man was seriously injured in December when he was hit by a car as he was crossing I-75 following a minor traffic accident. According to a report issued by the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), Jeffrey Curtis Frandsen, 44, of Tampa was traveling south on I-75 near the Bruce B. Downs Blvd. exit on the afternoon of December 29. At that time, Frandsen’s 2004 Chevy Blazer swerved out of its lane and struck a 2006 Ford Explorer driven by 25-year-old Michael Terrell Hallman of Plant City. After the collision, Frandsen stopped his vehicle on the outside shoulder of the roadway, while Hallman stopped on the inside shoulder. Hallman told investigators that Frandsen got out of his vehicle and asked if Hallman was okay, and then tried to run across the interstate. That’s when he was hit, however, by a third vehicle, a 2007 Chevrolet Impala driven by 27year-old Elton Shomari Johnson of Wesley Chapel. Johnson told investigators that he had seen Frandsen but was unable to stop from hitting him. At our press time, Frandsen was listed in good condition at Tampa General Hospital. Neither of the other drivers was injured.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 19, Issue 3 • Januar y 29, 2011 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

“Club” Continued from page 1 Lord’s Resistance Army and to authorize funds for humanitarian relief and reconstruction, reconciliation, and transitional justice, and for other purposes.” The bill has some 200 bipartisan cosponsors in the House and a similar bill, S. 1067, exists in the U.S. Senate. Blake says that while the Global Outreach Club was started two years ago at Wharton, since the group welcomed their Ugandan guests, interest in the club has doubled. “Once we had the assembly in October, it really brought the issue home to our students,” says Blake. “You could see the reaction from the audience as Monica described her life and what conditions are like for teens in Uganda. She explained that many children in Uganda are forced to be soldiers and fight in the war. After she spoke, we had a lot of people interested in helping and joining the club.” So far, in addition to the Wharton High PTSA, the club has 13 area businesses that will be sponsoring the event, including Gigante Productions, which will provide the music and Florida Executive Realty Realtor Diane Acken. Light “carnival-type” food will be available and activities will include events for young and old, including face-painting

and ring toss games and performances by dance troupes and local bands. “We plan to have a ‘peace tree’ at the event where we will invite people to attach their wishes for peace in the region,” says Blake. “We plan to deliver the tree to one or more of our legislators to remind them of the importance of supporting the efforts to rebuild lives in war-torn Uganda.” Elizabeth Glover, the Wharton High Advanced Placement Human Geography and American Government and teacher who is the teacher sponsor of the club, says the club’s impact on the students is very significant. “Having a global awareness of what other kids their age are experiencing is very humbling for our students,” says Glover. “Many students can be naive to how others live in other countries. When the “Invisible Children” organization came to our school and showed their documentary, the students learned first hand, from one teen to another, what life in Uganda can be like. It really helped our students to appreciate their own lives and inspired them to help others.” The “Roots for Peace” awareness fund raiser will be held Friday, February 18, 5 p.m.-9 p.m., at the Wharton High track. It is a free event and open to the public. Additional local business-

es and vendors are encouraged to participate for a nominal booth fee. For more information, contact 334-0779. For more information about Invisible Children, visit InvisibleChildren.com.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 19, Issue 3 • Januar y 29, 2011 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

N EW T AMPA

Community Calendar

Ladies’ Foodie Club of New Tampa/Wesley Chapel A new “Foodie Club” for women in the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel areas who enjoy socializing, trying out new restaurants and cooking ideas, sharing recipes and other food-related activities is now forming. For more information, send an email to Eileen.jones@yahoo.com.

MOMS Club New Tampa The MOMS (Moms Offering Moms Support) club of New Tampa, which offers a variety of activities for stay-at-home mothers, is looking for new members. The club boundaries include all of the New Tampa area, except for Tampa Palms, Grand Hampton and Live Oak. For info, call 994-4272 or visit momsclubnewtampa.webs.com.

Business Networking Int’l Wednesday, February 2 – Business Networking International (BNI), a group of business professionals dedicated to helping their businesses grow through qualified referrals, meets every Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. at the Heritage Isles Clubhouse (18630 Plantation Bay Dr., off Cross Creek Blvd). For more info, call Jal Irani at 451-8229.

New Tampa Noon Rotary Wednesday, February 2 – The New Tampa Noon Rotary Club meets every Wednesday at noon at Hunter’s Green Country Club (18101 Longwater Run Dr., inside the Hunter’s Green subdivision).

the law firm of Pilka & Associates, who will discuss immigration law. For more information, call Kimberly Weisgarber at 391-3974.

made by calling 841-5932 or online at netwib.org.

New Tampa Rotary Club

Friday, February 11 – Shoresh David Messianic Synagogue at Trinity Church (33425 S.R. 54 in Wesley Chapel) will host a special visit by George Whitten, the founder of WorthyNews.com, and his wife Rivka, who recently released an all-Hebrew CD featuring the song “Mercy Seat.” The couple will lead worship and minister beginning at 7 p.m. Admission is free, but an offering will be collected. For more information, call 7156248 or visit ShoreshDavid.org.

Wednesday, February 2 – The Wesley Chapel Civil Air Patrol squadron meets every Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m., at Tampa North Aero Park (4241 Birdsong Blvd.). On February 2, the squadron will hold a special physical testing exercise at the Wesley Chapel District Park on Boyette Rd. For more information, visit WesleyChapelCAP.com or call Cheryl Spence at 973-7270.

Friday, February 4 – The New Tampa Rotary Club meets every Friday, 7 a.m., at Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club (TPG&CC, 5811 Tampa Palms Blvd.). On February 4, the group’s guest speaker will be Daphne Fourqurean, vice principal of Mort Elementary, who will talk about the effects of the Rotary Club’s activities in support of the school. And on February 11, the group’s guest speaker will be CPA J. Michael Morris of Hanna, Lemar & Morris, who will talk about the latest changes in the tax code for businesses and individuals. For more information, visit NewTampaRotary.org or contact Karen Frashier at 375-2663.

Nw Tampa Evening Rotary

NE Women In Business

Civil Air Patrol

Thursday, February 3 – The New Tampa Evening Rotary Club meets every Thursday, 6:30 p.m., at Hunter’s Green Country Club (18101 Longwater Run Dr.) On February 3, the group’s guest speaker will be Dr. John H. Adams, PhD, of the University of South Florida Department of Global Health, and on February 10, the guest speaker will be attorney Mayra Calo of

Synagogue Hosts Husband & Wife Mission Team

Thursday, February 10 – The Northeast Tampa chapter of Women in Business will hold its regular monthly dinner meeting, 6 p.m.-08:30 p.m., at Hunter’s Green Country Club. The group’s guest speaker will be massage therapist Molly Snow of Neos Massage in Wesley Chapel. Reservations are requested by Friday, February 4, and may be

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 19, Issue 3 • Januar y 29, 2011 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

New Tampa Chamber of Commerce, Inc.

2010-11 NTCC Board of Directors President-Rachel Haviland

Board Members:

15310 Amberly Dr., Suite 250 Tampa, FL 33647 Information: (813) 293-2464 Fax: (813) 388-4408

VP-Said Iravani Treasurer-Lesley Zajac Secretary-Connie Bladon

Non-Officers: Regina Ramalheira

Website: NewTampaChamber.Org

Seema Jain Matt Palmer Craig Miller Nick Kline Judy Silvasi-Patchin

Executive Director: Karen Frashier

Wanted: Sponsors, Restaurants & Artists For The 2011 Taste! The 18th annual Taste of New Tampa will be held on Sunday, March 20, 1 p.m.-4 p.m. As the premier annual event in the area to promote your business or restaurant, the Taste also is the best way to showcase your product or service to local residents. The event, for the first time, will be hosted by Paul R. Wharton High on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. Visit NewTampaChamber.org to request event registration forms for your business or restaurant, or to choose a sponsorship package. The Taste of New Tampa is the best way to promote your business to 3,000+ local residents and contribute to your community. All proceeds from the event are donated to local school groups and volunteer organizations. Chamber members and members of the community are encouraged to volunteer as we organize the event. Please contact Karen Frashier at info@NewTampaChamber.org or call 2932464 to be added to the email list for event information or to volunteer for the planning committee.

Chamber Welcomes New & Renewing Members

The New Tampa Chamber is growing each month and we would like to welcome our new members: Ron Sell Black Belt Academy and Garrison Urette with the Tampa Palms Professional Center. Thanks also to our renewing members: Regina Ramalheira ReMax Realty; Ginger Fitness & Rehabilitation; Harris Financial Group; Matthew S.

Johnson, DDS; Salon at the Walk Inc.; Pebble Creek Golf Club; AFLAC-Lee Hoffman; Gentle Dentistry; Children’s Dentistry; The Law Office of Patricia A. Carroll; Dr. Travis Mohr with North Tampa Spine & Joint Center; Rachel Haviland - The Social Network Marketer, and Nancy York, Mercantile Bank. They are poised to grow their businesses in 2011, please welcome them to the Chamber! For more information about how to join the New Tampa Chamber, please visit NewTampaChamber.org or call 293-2464. New and renewing members are invited to the Chamber luncheon on February 14 to receive their Chamber plaques!

Join Us for A Winter Wonderland & Ribbon Cutting! The Chamber will be celebrating the ribbon cutting and Winter Wonderland Bash for the Fairfield Inn & Suites at 12260 Morris Bridge Rd., Temple Terrace, on Thursday, February 10, 5 p.m. 3H Groups Hotels will reveal its newly renovated hotel at the event, in conjunction with The Hope Lodge. Guests will enter the hotel through a “live” snowfall and may purchase white ribbons supporting efforts to raise

Upcoming New Tampa Chamber Events: Thursday, February 10, 5 p.m.: “Winter Wonderland Bash & Chamber Ribbon Cutting” — at Fairfield Inn & Suites (12260 Morris Bridge Rd., off E. Fletcher Ave.). Monday, February 14, 11:30 a.m. “Tampa Mayoral Candidate Forum” — at Pebble Creek Golf Club (10550 Regents Park Dr., off BBD, across from Super Wal-Mart). Please visit our website at NewTampaChamber.org for details on upcoming events. Also, join our Facebook page to receive regular updates on Chamber news. Simply visit Facebook.com/NewTampaChamber and click on the “Like” button to join us! awareness and funds for lung cancer patients. These funds will be donated to the American Cancer Society Relay for Life walk that takes place at Coleman Middle School on April 8. Please join us to welcome Fairfield Inn and their staff to New Tampa and the New Tampa Chamber of Commerce and enjoy an all-white Winter Wonderland food and beverage menu.

Mayoral Candidate Forum

We invite you to join us for a very special Chamber luncheon on Monday, February 14, when the New Tampa Chamber will be hosting the Tampa Mayoral Candidate Forum at Pebble Creek Golf Club (10550 Regents Park

Dr.). Hear from the candidates themselves without a media filter! Candidates Rose Ferlita, Dick Greco and Ed Turanchik have confirmed their attendance at time of printing. Questions from the audience will be put to the candidates by New Tampa Chamber president Rachel Haviland, who will serve as moderator for this one-hour Town Hall-style forum. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m. Please register for the event online at NewTampaChamber.org. The cost to attend is $15 if you pre-register by February 11, or $20 at the door. This is an excellent opportunity to invite business colleagues to attend a New Tampa Chamber event.

Somerset Professional Park - 15283 Amberly Dr., Tampa, FL 33647

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 19, Issue 3 • Januar y 29, 2011 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Artisan Aesthetics Can Give You The Look You Want By Melissa O’Brien Even though lately, it may seem that we all need to tighten our belts and mind our budgets, there are still affordable options within the “luxury” world of plastic and laser surgery that can give you the look you want and maybe even give you a leg up on the competition. In fact, as more people are in job searches these days, some of them are turning to affordable treatments that can make them look years younger. Some say a younger look and attitude will make people more competitive in this challenging job market. “With the downturn in the economy, people may have less disposable income, but this industry has responded,” says Stanley Caster, M.D., the owner of Artisan Aesthetics Plastic Surgery & Laser Center, located in the Tampa Palms Professional Center off of Commerce Park Blvd. in Tampa Palms (north of the USAA building). “A lot of companies are offering their products for less money to plastic surgeons and we are able to transfer that savings onto our patients.” Dr. Castor says that many companies, like Allergan, which manufactures the dermal filler Botox, are offer-

ing buy-onetreatment, getone-at-a-discount options and many people are foregoing full-fledged surgical facelifts for non-surgical treatments like Juvederm, Restylane, Radiesse and other facial Dr. Stanley Castor fillers that help diminish facial wrinkles and folds. “These procedures freshen up the laugh lines and make people look and feel better,” says Dr. Castor. “I see a lot of patients who, for employment reasons, are trying to compete with a younger crowd. Some want to stay competitive in sales and marketing, and they want to do something to make themselves look younger. Others may have lost their jobs and are just looking to refresh their look.” Dr. Castor says many of his patients also are older women and men who are physically active and very healthy and who want to look as young as they feel. “I have patients who are in their 70s who tell me they feel like they are

50 or younger,” he says. “They are active, and in great physical shape, running around after their grandkids, and there is no reason they shouldn’t look as good as they feel.” He adds that some of these patients are afraid of anesthesia, but the industry trend has been toward less invasive procedures. “People are busier and more active and they don’t want to take time away from work,” says Dr. Castor. “So, there are procedures and treatments we can do, like smaller scar facelifts and new liposuction technology that is less invasive and is done with local anesthesia [instead of general]. This allows you to go back to work or to your retirement activities more quickly, with less down time.” Dr. Castor grew up in Florida and attended Florida Southern College in Lakeland. He then studied medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia. He completed his internship and residency in General Surgery at Emory University Affiliated Hospitals in Atlanta. Dr. Castor then continued his training in Plastic Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, OH, and also completed a prestigious cosmetic

surgery fellowship with the worldrenowned plastic surgeons Dr. Tracy Baker and Dr. James Stuzin in Miami. Dr. Castor is Board-certified in Plastic Surgery by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, which is the only plastic surgery board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. He also is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He says that an initial consultation is a key part of his interaction with his patients. “I spend close to an hour with new patients to find out what their goals are and how they are interested in improving their appearance.” He adds, “There is usually more than one way to meet a patient’s goals, so we go over different procedures and options. I explain the risks and benefits of each procedure and then show patients before and after pictures so they can get an idea of the outcome. We explain how long the recovery period will be and then my staff can discuss the financial aspects and financing options that are available.” One of those patients is Chris Chisholm, who lives in Meadow Pointe and was recently featured in a

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 19, Issue 3 • Januar y 29, 2011 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Googling him on the Internet. “He was one of three physicians I consulted,” says Chisholm. “I had even called a physician in Los Angeles [because of that community’s reputation for plastic surgeons.] But, I chose Dr. Castor because of his willingness to listen to me and to do what I wanted, instead of following some kind of ‘textbook’ procedure. What is amazing is that there is hardly any scar there and Artisan Aesthetics offers a wide variety of ways to he took off 145 sq. inches help you look your best, such as the Accent skin of excess skin! When I went in, I was a little tightening treatment demonstrated here by nervous and embarrassed Licensed Esthetician Delilah Meri. but Dr. Castor made me New Tampa Neighborhood News article feel extremely comfortable. He last October about the Max Muscle explained that there are a number of supplement store in Wesley Chapel. men who choose to have this proceAfter losing a substantial amount of dure done.” weight, Chris underwent an Dietris Dorsey, who lives in New abdominoplasty (better known as a Tampa, says she could not have asked tummy tuck) performed by Dr. Castor. for a better doctor to perform her surgery. “Dr. Castor is absolutely wonder“I had lost 125 pounds and havful,” she says. “He is such a caring and ing been obese had left a lot of loose affectionate guy. You can talk to him skin in my abdomen,” says Chisholm. like he is your friend. I work at a hos“I wanted to lose the excess skin that pital and I had heard quite a few posiwas there since my weight loss.” tive things about him from the nurses. Chisholm found Dr. Castor by

I have recommended him to other friends because I’m very happy with the outcome of my surgery. He knows his business, but he is a very soft-spoken and humble man.” Artisan Aesthetics is located at 5383 Primrose Lake Cir. in Tampa Palms. For more information, call 971-2000 or visit Artisan Aesthetics is conveniently located in the Tampa DrCastor.com. Palms Professional Center off Commerce Park Blvd.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 19, Issue 3 • Januar y 29, 2011 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Focus On Reading, New Grading System Give Wharton Its First ‘A’ By Michael Smith Every year, the Florida Department of Education (DoE) issues grades for every school in the state for the prior year. Obviously, the higher the grade, the better the school is supposed to be, at least as far as meeting the state’s guidelines, which in the past consisted primarily of students’ success on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) and gains made by students over the previous year. However, for the 2009-10 school year, the state DoE changed the way it assessed high schools, expanding its criteria to include the previous measures, as well as adding some new measures, including the school’s graduation rate, participation in advanced classwork and students’ ability to score well on college-level assessment tests like the SAT and ACT. Those new criteria, along with a focus on reading in all class subjects (not just English and Language Arts), helped New Tampa’s Paul R. Wharton High achieve the first A grade in the school’s 10-year history for the 200910 school year. School administrators were justifiably proud of their accomplishment, as evidenced by the announcement posted on the school’s marquee (right),

and principal Brad Woods says it took a concerted effort on the part of Wharton’s students and staff to raise the school’s grade from the C it had received the year before. “It was a combination of things,” Woods says. “First, we met to make all of our staff members aware of where their students were, so they could spend extra time with those students who needed extra help. Then, about nine or ten weeks before the FCAT test, we gave the students in ninth and tenth grades specific reading assignments that were similar to the FCAT style, not only in their core classes, but in several elective classes as well.” Woods says that integrating FCAT-style reading assignments into the school’s regular curriculum gave students more opportunities than they would have otherwise had to prepare for the FCAT, which is important because even under the new guidelines, FCAT success still counts for half of a school’s grade from the state. However, Woods notes that Wharton made gains in every category that is measured, including the school’s graduation rates for both regular and at-risk students, both of which increased by about 1 percent between 2009 and 2010, and the school’s participation in Advanced Placement (AP)

classes, which Woods says increased by 9 percent. All of the factors combined gave the school 1,192 points out of a possible 1,600 points, which Woods says would have given the school a B grade under the previous standards. As for the future, Woods says that he, like everyone else in the education field, is waiting to see what will happen next, as legislators continue to change the way they grade (and allocate funding to) public schools throughout the state. “We’re basically at the mercy of the state to see how we’re going to be graded next year,” he said, noting that some educators and legislators have begun calling for an end to FCAT testing all together. Meanwhile, Wharton is now a member of the “A” club that also

includes every other school in the New Tampa area, except for Freedom High in Tampa Palms, which received a “B” grade from the state for 2009-10. However, Freedom’s “B” was still an improvement over the school’s 200809 grade of “C”. For more information about the grading criteria used by the state, as well as complete information about how every school in our area fared in every category, visit the DoE website at FlDoE.org.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 19, Issue 3 • Januar y 29, 2011 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Scouts From Local Troop Flying High To Earn Eagle Honors By Michael Smith Being that Eagle Scout is the highest rank that a member of the Boy Scouts of America can achieve, it’s certainly noteworthy when one member of any troop reaches that level. It’s even more noteworthy, however, to have three Scouts reach Eagle Scout in a given year from one single troop, such as is the case with Troop 180, which meets in Tampa Palms. Firstly, Scout Sam Bryant, whose father Dave just happens to be the Scoutmaster for Troop 180, was recognized in an Eagle Court of Honor ceremony on December 17 for completing the requirements for his Eagle rank, and the troop is now making preparations for another Court of Honor ceremony to honor two of its other members, Andrew Loeffler and Jonathan Thelen, later this month. Bryant, 14, is a freshman at Freedom High in Tampa Palms, where he plays tuba in the school’s marching band. As a member of the Scouts since the first grade, he’s following in the footsteps of both his dad and his grandfather, Samuel Becker, who also earned his Eagle rank in 1938. Mr. Becker even flew from his home in

Iowa to attend show leaderthe Court of ship by planHonor cerening and exemony, where cuting the he pinned his project from own Eagle beginning to medal on his end. grandson. “It’s not A major just about part of the doing a good requirements deed,” Dave for Eagle Bryant says. Scout is that “The main prithe Scout has Local Boy Scout Sam Bryant receives his Eagle ority is that the to plan, organ- Scout badge from his grandfather Samuel Scout demonize and carry Becker, who earned the same honor in 1938. strates his leadout a commuership skills, nity service project, and Sam’s project because an Eagle Scout is first and was to hold a dog adoption day at foremost a leader and a role model for Club Tampa Palms last September. He the other members of the troop.” invited several local adoption groups As a dad, though, Dave says he is and animal welfare organizations to “very proud of Sam’s accomplishparticipate, and the result was that four ment,” as is his mom, Judy. dogs found new homes that day as a Meanwhile, Loeffler, who is the result of his efforts. son of David and Georgette Loeffler “I really like animals, and I wantand a sophomore at Jesuit High, chose ed to do something that would help to refurbish the outdoor classroom and them,” Sam says. fire pit area at the New Tampa Baptist Dave says that most people focus Church on Livingston Ave. in Lutz. on the community service aspect of the The 16-year-old and his team of project, but what matters most in the helpers put in new landscaping, built Eagle criteria is the Scout’s ability to new picnic tables and benches and

installed a new fire pit and added brick pavers in the outdoor area, which the church uses for its Sunday School and Youth ministry programs. Thelen, 15, is the son of Gil and Struby Thelen and he also attends Freedom High, where he is a sophomore. His service project was to clean up and re-landscape a 1,600-sq.-ft. area at the school’s football stadium, which he then decorated with new flowers and plants and a 10-foot-wide Freedom High logo made out of colored rocks, completing the project just in time for the school’s first home football game last fall. In addition to rounding up helpers for their projects, the Scouts also had to seek out donations from local businesses. Handyman Pro assisted in the project at the church, and a number of businesses, including Big Earth Landscape Supplies, Kerby’s Nursery, Tree Mart, Lowe’s and The Home Depot contributed towards Thelen’s school project. Boy Scout Troop 180 meets at Grace Episcopal Church at 5 p.m. on most Sundays. New and prospective members are always welcome to join. Call the church at 971-8484 for additional information.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 19, Issue 3 • Januar y 29, 2011 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 19, Issue 3 • Januar y 29, 2011 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

“Editorial”

a few dollars to help those who help these brave men and women. In other words, this may have been my first Operation Helping Hand dinner, but it won’t be my last. For more info or to make a donation of money or your time, call 963-1854 or visit Operation HelpingHandTampa.com.

Continued from page 3 organizations, the program has been able to give more than $1.6 million in cash, checks, in-kind services and materials directly to these most deserving patients and their families. During the monthly dinners, these heroes and their families are presented with flowers, gift certificates and items they need while receiving treatment at the hospital or while their families stay at the Fisher House. Operation Helping Hand, which was honored with a Governor’s Point of Light award and a President’s Call to Service award last year, also provides welcome kits with information about area churches, restaurants, attractions and services. “But, we always hear how much these wounded heroes appreciate it when members of the community come out to say ‘thank you,’” says Silah. “It’s nice for them to be able to hear that you care.” Valerie and I were only at the dinner for maybe an hour, but it made me realize not only how much I appreciate our military men and women, but how little effort it takes to help someone in need. If busy people like U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, Reeves Import Motorcars owner Vivian Reeves and uniformed service

Buckle Up, New Tampa!

William (front) may not have the use of his legs, but it’s nice to know his friend Ed (far right) and other people care about him. men and women from all over the world can take time out of their schedules to help those who give up the use of their arms, legs and eyes for our freedom, I’m pretty sure I can find some more time, too — as well as

I still have never met Allan Young, but after hearing his story, I felt compelled to relay it to you. Allan, 57, lives in Thonotosassa, but his life was changed forever back in July 2008, when he was driving to the Wal-Mart SuperCenter on Bruce B. Downs Blvd., just south of Paul R. Wharton High. Allan attempted to turn into the Wal-Mart but was broadsided on his passenger side door by a vehicle traveling straight through the same light. No one was charged in the accident, but Allan, who wasn’t wearing his seat belt, was unconscious for five weeks and suffered severe brain trauma and multiple other injuries. Today, he can walk and he has been pain-free since around last Thanksgiving for the first time since the accident. But, if you talk to Allan, there’s no doubt his brain has been through a major trauma. His speech is slurred and he has trouble collecting his

thoughts, but there’s also no doubt he understands everything you say and would speak better if he could. Allan isn’t asking for your sympathy or monetary help. The patented inventor, who was dishonorably discharged from the military as a young man, isn’t eligible for treatment at a VA hospital. He is interested in speaking to young drivers about the dangers of not buckling up and all he asks is that someone pay for his transportation to and from the school so he can tell his story. His message is simple: “Do you want to be a mental case forever, like me? If not, buckle up!” For more information, visit IShareBecauseI Care.com.

Allan Young (top) two months before his accident and (above) in the hospital following it.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 19, Issue 1 • Januar y 4, 2011 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Let Tampa Bay MatchMakers Help You Find Your Valentine! By Gary Nager There’s no doubt that if you’re a single or divorced adult man or woman above the age of 21 who isn’t at least “involved” with someone, Valentine’s Day can be a difficult time. Everybody and their sister wants to set you up with someone, even if you’re not seriously “looking” for love. But, what if you really are looking for someone to settle down with? And, what really is the best way to find someone in today’s technology-driven, Reality-TVdistorted world? If you believe the TV commercials for a certain on-line dating site, about one in four relationships today begin on either Match.com, eHarmony, Plenty of Fish, Facebook or other websites. Still, so-called traditionalists will tell you that it’s still best to be introduced to someone through a friend and most adults agree that trying to find a serious

relationship at work is a no-no. Well, New Tampa resident Nancy Wall, Ph.D., has another idea, one that is actually centuries old but somehow combines “Old World” values with modern technology — matchmaking. Her company, Tampa Bay MatchMakers (TBMM), was established in 2007, a year after Dr. Wall, who earned her Ph.D. in Adult Education from the University of South Florida (she also has an MBA from Crummer Graduate School/ Rollins College, a B.S. in Psychology from Duke University) earned her certification in Life Coaching from the Coach Training Alliance and had created the Tampa Jewish Singles Network. She also has been certified in Matchmaking by the Matchmaking Institute in New York. Dr. Wall and TBMM have appeared and/or been featured on many local TV stations, in local newspapers and magazines and she says matchmaking does work. So, if you’ve been set up by friends, tried the on-line dating thing and perhaps even dated someone from work to no avail, Dr. Wall says she can help you finally find true happiness, as she says she has helped bring together at least ten married couples and many more committed relationships.

Here’s How It Works Don’t spend another Valentine’s Day alone. Let Tampa Bay Matchmakers help you find Mr. or Ms. Right.

Nancy will first meet with each prospective client at Starbucks or some other informal, inexpensive place, for a

free initial consultation. She will get you to talk about your needs, wants and desires when it comes to finding your “soul mate.” She will even offer some helpful advice to ensure that you are someone she wants to work with, someone who she feels is a potential match for some of her database of more than 150 professional, local singles scattered throughout the Tampa Bay area, including many right here in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel. “The people we work with have two things in common — they are professional men and women ages 2175 and they have all decided that they’re ready to settle down with the right person,” she says. “If you’re just looking to ‘date,’ Tampa Bay MatchMakers is not the right option for you. In that case, I have absolutely no problem telling prospective clients to go on Match or another dating site or even suggest other ways for you to meet people.” Once you and Dr. Wall have agreed that TBMM is the right option for you, there are three “membership” levels from which to choose: Traditional - New Clients can sign up as a Traditional members with TBMM at no cost. It’s free and private to receive personal matchmaking. Select - This is TBMM’s most popular membership program. Dr. Wall says this program has proven very successful and will continue to be the

heart of TBMM. The TBMM team will do the leg work for you by attending various events on your behalf and prescreening your matches before setNancy Wall, ting up your introPh.D. ductions. Elite - With an Elite Membership, TBMM is your personal concierge to help you find the love of your life. Services include image consulting, date coaching and role-playing. Preview photos and profiles of your matches and much more. And, Nancy says matchmaking does indeed work, as this message, just one of the multiple testimonials on the company’s website, attests: “Yes, I would say things are going very well between Patricia and myself. In fact, we are engaged to be married. We are very much in love and looking forward to a happy life together. Thank you, for it would not have happened without you.” So, even if you perhaps can’t find that certain someone by this Valentine’s Day, if you’re truly serious about finding Mr. or Ms. Right, give TBMM a call to find out more. For additional information, visit TampaBayMatchmakers.com or call 907-0410 to set up your free consultation. Good luck!

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 19, Issue 1 • Januar y 4, 2011 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

New Tampa Dance Theatre — A Valentine’s Day Gift For Your Son? By Gary Nager When you think of dance classes — whether ballet, tap, hip-hop or Latin — you probably don’t think of those dance lessons as a proper gift for your son, do you? Well, Dyane Elkins-IronWing, the long-time owner of the New Tampa Dance Theatre (NTDT) on Cross Creek Blvd. (which was the New Tampa area’s first school of dance), says you should think again. Just as many pro football players have excelled on ABC-TV’s “Dancing With the Stars,” Dyane says many younger boys and teens are finding that dancing is not only a wonderful form of artistic expression, it also is a great way to get and stay in shape. “We are offering a free ‘boys only’ class on Saturdays, 12:15 p.m.1:30 p.m., taught by male instructors,” she says. “The minimum age is 5 and there already are 25 boys Dance lessons at NTDT attending! are a great way for boys Using to get and stay in shape. strength,

stretch, jumping, and turning, this free class offers great coordination building and conditioning for all sports.” Dyane also notes that NTDT has great coed programs for teens and adults in yoga, ballet, tap and jazz funk, with both morning & evening classes available. “We invite you to come in and try one of (Left) Teen/adult dance classes at the New Tampa Dance Theatre can make a great gift for you and these classes for free,” your Valentine. (Right) New NTDT ballet director Donald Tolj has received rave reviews. she says. “These classes allow you to exercise, 10:30 a.m.; Wednesday, 8:15 p.m.students with his endless knowledge, socialize, meet new friends and really 9:15 p.m. along with his kind and respectful way have a blast!” • Ballet - Monday, 10:30 a.m.of coaching each student. Don has an She adds that dance and yoga, 11:30 a.m. innate ability to recognize what each “will improve your balance, focus, • Jazz Funk - Monday, 8:45 dancer needs to improve, whether it's flexibility, and physical strength. Pracp.m.-9:45 p.m. regarding technique or words of ticing these art forms creates active • Tap - Thursday, 8 p.m.-9 p.m. encouragement for our recreational bodies so you can continue to be And, Dyane says that perhaps the and pre-professional students. We are physically fit throughout your entire most exciting new development at so fortunate to have Don on our faclife. When challenged physically, the NTDT is the studio’s inspiring new ulty, and he has received nothing but mind is able to find stability, focus, ballet director, Donald Tolj. Previous- rave reviews from students, parents, and peace.” ly with The Elmhurst School in Birm- and colleagues.” Here is the schedule for NTDT’s For additional information ingham, England, Dyane says Tolj has teen/adult classes, which cost $5-$12 about the New Tampa Dance Thebeen a wonderful addition to the per class. And, bring a friend and atre (10701 Cross Creek Blvd.), NTDT faculty. receive 1/2 off your class tuition! call 994-NTDT (6838) or visit “With Don teaching both chil• Yoga - Monday, 9:30 a.m.NewTampaDanceTheatre.com. dren and adults, he inspires all of our

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 19, Issue 3 • Januar y 29, 2011 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Win Tickets To ‘A Night Of Stars’ At The Straz Center! If you enjoy great music AND a great meal, Opera Tampa is sponsoring a fun contest just for you! The winner will receive VIP treatment for the “A Night of Stars” concert on Thursday, February 24, in Carol Morsani Hall at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts (formerly the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center)! The Grand Prize winner’s package (a $250 value!!!) includes: two premium seats for the Feb. 24 “A Night of Stars” concert AND dinner for two at Maestro’s, inside the Straz Center, before the show! (Please note that the dinner does not include alcoholic beverages or gratuity.)*** To enter the contest, all you have to do is go to OperaTampa.org to find the correct answers to these

three questions & fill them in below: 1. Who is the leading baritone of his time and a three-time Grammy Award winner? ____________________________ 2. What opera is being performed on the Carol Morsani stage on Apr. 29 & May 1? ____________________________ 3. What is the local telephone number to order tickets? ____________________________ To be eligible to win, you must answer all three questions above correctly and fill out all of the info below. Entries are due by Thursday, February 10, and can be mailed or emailed to the addresses given below.

Your Name _________________________________________ Address (with zip code) ___________________________________________________ Phone # _____________ Email _______________________ Have you ever been to an Opera Tampa performance? ___Yes ___No Mail to: Neighborhood News Straz Contest, 15345 Amberly Dr., Tampa, FL 33647 Email to: NTNNedit@yahoo.com. Note: The winner will be notified by telephone! ***Tickets are for the “A Night of Stars” concert. They do not include the gala after the concert.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 19, Issue 3 • Januar y 29, 2011 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

WELCOME TO FAMILY & COSMETIC DENTISTRY

Dr. Neeraja Jasthi • Cleanings (Ages 4 and up) • Crowns, Bridges and Implant Crowns • Veneers • Zoom & Take Home Whitening • Root Canals & Extractions

FAMILY & COSMETIC DENTISTRY 20441 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. (across the street from Wharton H.S., in front of Live Oak)

“Let Our Family Be Here For Yours”

866-9913

Dr. Neeraja Jasthi, DMD

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 19, Issue 3 • Januar y 29, 2011 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

J. Baja’s Mexican Grill — Fresh & Delicious Comes To Tampa Palms! By Gary Nager If you enjoy places like Moe’s, Panchero’s and Tijuana Flats, I have a suggestion for you — check out the new J. Baja’s Mexican Grill, located in the Shoppes of Amberly plaza on Amberly Dr. in Tampa Palms. J. Baja’s isn’t one of those chains, although it sort of has the look and feel of one, from the company’s stylish logo to the inexpensive simplicity of its delicious menu. But, the differences between J. Baja’s and any of those chains are many — from the fact that none of the food is frozen or pre-cooked, to the fact that owner/chef Joey and his wife NiNi are almost always on hand to provide quality control for what my son Jake calls “the best Mexican food ever!” I don’t know if I’d go quite that far, but there’s no doubt that J. Baja’s has great food at unbeatable prices. My favorite dishes to date are the awesome (and huge!) Mexican pizza, which has a thin, crisp crust and your choice of beef, chicken, pork, steak or veggie (pictured top right; $6.49$7.49) and the overstuffed steak ($6.39) or chicken ($5.89) fajita burrito, with chunks of real steak or chicken, plus green peppers, onions, lettuce, queso blanco, sour cream and pico de gallo salsa (although you can add or take out ingredients, too). Everyone in our office is raving about J. Baja’s, too. Sales rep Kelly Porter is addicted to the unique burrito bowl, which consists of rice, beans, cheese, lettuce, sour cream and salsa and your choice of beef, steak, pork, chicken or veggie ($6.49-$6.99). Kelly also loves the unique J. Baja’s salsa, which is slightly spicy and adds black beans and corn to the usual diced tomatoes and onion. Fellow sales rep David Zacharia enjoys the chips and mild salsa, as well as the crunchy or soft regular and fajita-style

tacos, which come in sets of two for just $4.49-$5.59, depending on whether you get them “side of the road” (with homemade guacamole, cilantro and onion), regular (with cheese, lettuce, sour cream and salsa) or fajita style, which come with green pepper, onion, lettuce, queso blanco and pico de gallo). There’s also Jake’s favorite overstuffed regular bean, beef chicken, pork and steak burritos ($5.79-$6.99, or $0.89 more to “make it wet” with enchilada sauce); as well as customer service manager Nikki Bennett’s favorite, the enchiladas ($5.69-$6.49), which come with beans, rice, queso blanco and enchilada sauce); great quesadillas (billing manager Ashley Knoblach’s favorite is the veggie; $4.59-$6.49) and even salads with your choice of the same meats and J. Baja’s homeAmong our favorites at J. Baja’s include (clockwise from top left), chips & salsas, made chipotle ranch dressing ($5.69the Mexican veggie pizza, the steak fajita burrito and the chicken burrito bowl. $6.99). And, by the way, Ashley says J. Baja’s sour cream, which is more of a creamy sauce than the usual thick sour cream, also is her favorite. In other words, we’re thrilled to be in the same plaza as J. Baja’s and we’re betting you’re going to love it, too. Check out the coupon on their ad in this issue, for two FREE crunchy or soft chicken or beef tacos when you purchase a large drink (reg. $4.89)! And, please tell NiNi and Joey that we sent you! J. Baja’s Mexican Grill is located at 15309 Amberly Dr., next to Lifestyle Family Fitness. It is open ever y day except Sunday. For more information, call 632-0103.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 19, Issue 3 • Januar y 29, 2011 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Asian Buffet & Sushi Grill Offers Buy 1 Get 1 Half Off Special! I’ve nevcr been a big fan of the Asian buffet restaurants popping up all across the Bay area, including Wesley Chapel, but I have to say that if you’re looking for great variety and great value for your money, you can’t go wrong with a visit to the Asian Buffet & Sushi Grill, located in the Shoppes at New Tampa plaza, just south of S.R. 56 and the Shops at Wiregrass mall. Asian Buffet owners Jimmy and Leo Wong have more than 25 years each of experience in the restaurant business and they have owned the China King Buffet in Ft. Myers the last 15 years. And, from the looks of the much newer Asian Buffet & Sushi Grill, they know what their customers want — seafood, seafood and more seafood! Manager and spokesperson Cheree Zhang says that Asian Buffet is the biggest buffet restaurant in our area and with more than 250 items available at any time and the biggest selection of fresh seafood I’ve seen in Wesley Chapel, it’s hard to argue with her. The dinner buffet at Asian Buffet is already a bargain at just $13.99 per adult for dinner (served from 3:309:30 p.m.), which includes unlimited you-peel-em shrimp, mussels, different varieties of crabs, oysters, clams and yes, even all the hot snow crab legs you can eat! But, from now until February 13, you can get one adult meal (lunch or dinner) at half-price when you purchase one at the regular price, just by mentioning the Neighborhood News! “Some of the buffet restaurants serve their crab legs cold, so people eat less of them,” says Zhang. “But, we know our customers prefer them hot and fresh with plenty of freshly melted butter.” Zhang also notes that many of the buffet restaurants charge additional for meals including crab legs, “but we never do.” And of course, Asian Buffet also serves at least 20 different varieties of fresh sushi, as well as a full selection of

soups, salads, appetizers (the BBQ spare ribs are our favorite so far), entrées (we liked the house special beef, sautéed green beans and chicken with mixed veggies) and desserts. We also really enjoyed the fresh hibachi grill, where you choose your steak, chicken, seafood, veggies, noodles and spices and a hibachi chef cooks it in front of you. Zhang says there’s even great Italian food, like pizza, grilled sausage and more, because Asian Buffet’s head chef previously cooked at an Italian restaurant. “He’s always experimenting with new types of food,” she says. “That’s one reason why we have so many repeat customers. You never know what new items he will serve.” Despite the presence of the other buffet restaurants in the area, Asian Buffet must be doing something right. Zhang says the restaurant served more than 15,000 customers its first month, “and we have been busy every day. We have a lot of customers who eat here two, three or even four times a week.” In fact, one such regular customer we spoke to boasted that Asian Buffet is “the best in the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area.” Asian Buffet & Sushi Grill is located at 1742 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Wesley Chapel, and is open every day for lunch and dinner. Reservations are preferred on weekends, so call 907-7688! — GN

For unlimited everything, including the area’s largest selection of fresh-all-day sushi choices (above), visit Asian Buffet in the Shoppes at New Tampa plaza on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in Wesley Chapel (same plaza as Publix & Beall’s).

Asian Buffet & Sushi Grill offers tasty BBQ spare ribs (left), but the hibachi-grill entrées (right, top and bottom) are our favorites so far. You choose your meat, veggies and spices and a chef cooks it all your way while you wait. For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 19, Issue 3 • Januar y 29, 2011 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 19, Issue 3 • Januar y 29, 2011 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

What Are Your Plans For The Big Game (Feb. 6) This Year? By Gary Nager For many, the final game of the NFL season, even though it’s always on a Sunday night and most of us have to work the next day, is as much a time for an annual blow-out party as any other day on the calendar. On this page, we present a number of great last-minute ideas for this year’s “Big Game,” which of course is being held only about a week after you receive this issue — on Sunday, Febr uar y 6, 6 p.m. The teams weren’t set at our press time, but it will either be the Chicago Bears or Green Bay packers representing the NFC vs. either the New York Jets or Pittsburgh Steelers from the AFC.

Bella Vita

Whether you want to make a special pasta dish for your Big Game bash or you just want to order in the best New Yorkstyle pizza in New Tampa, Bella Vita is a great choice. The Big Game special at Bella Vita is that you get 10 free wings when you purchase any two large pizzas. Bella Vita Ristorante & market is located at 19651 Br uce B. Downs Blvd., in the Pebble Creek Collection. Call 973-7703.

Garlic Press Catering

Garlic Press chef/owner Allen Cann, who is from the Italian north end of Boston and has 10 years of catering and 18 years of restaurant experience, says he normally brings a simple touch to his Big Game bashes. “I usually do your basic hot Buffalo wings, marinated (in Guinness stout) baby back ribs or a stuffed pork tenderloin (depending upon the size of the party), ziti with chicken, broccoli, garlic and oil and a chocolate fondue for dessert,” he says. “But, if you go one my website, you’ll find complete menus, although I am always willing to customize your menu and do pretty much anything you want.” Allen, a regular at Peabody’s (next to our office; see below) also is available to cater a most perfect Valentine’s Day dinner for you and your special someone. For more information or to

book a par ty, call 335-2130 or visit GarlicPressCatering.net.

at 15311 Amberly Dr. Call 977-1231 or visit TheOliveBranchDeli.com.

Land & Sea Market

Peabody’s

Land & Sea, located in the Oak Ramble Plaza just south of Tampa Palms, has great Big Game packages for you, including the Tail Gate Package, where you pick any four items from this list for just $34.99: (3 chicken kabobs in Italian, Teriyaki or Buffalo; 3 lbs. of hot or mild Italian sausage; 3 beef kabobs, Italian or teriyaki; 3 lbs. of chicken wings; 2 shrimp kabobs, Cajun or BBQ; 3 chicken mignons; 1 package of 8 burgers and 8 hot dogs; or 3 pork mignons). Other items available include fresh jumbo wings ($2.99/lb.), 5 marinated shrimp kabobs ($15.99) and butcher-cut baby back ribs & pork butt. Land & Sea Market is located at 14943 BBD Blvd. To place an order, visit LandandSeaMarket.com or call 977-3155.

You’re invited to the biggest Superbowl XLV party in Tampa at Peabody’s! With 70 TVs, high-def and Surround Sound, plus 10-ft. screens, you’re in for the ultimate Big Game experience! Peabody’s is even raffling off a 40-in. flatscreen LCD TV, plus tailgating gear, including a tent and a grill! The amazing food and drink specials include $2 drafts and $8 buckets of Miller Lite or Coors Light, $15 all-you-candrink select drafts (during the game), $15.99 for 20 wings and a Coors or

You can’t go wrong with the teriyaki wings at Peabody’s for the Big Game. Miller Lite pitcher and more. Peabody’s is located at 15333 Amberly Dr.. For more info, call 9721725 or visit PeabodysTampa.com.

la Pink Boutique

Guys if you’re planning on having your wives/significant others join you for the Big Game, wouldn’t you rather them first get together with their friends in a fashionable boutique and enjoy some incredible savings? Well, la Pink Boutique, in The Walk at Highwoods Preserve plaza (next to Men’s Wearhouse), is having a “Superbowl Sunday Sale,” 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (which means it will be over by game time), where you’ll get 40-percent-off all apparel, jewelry and fragrances, 60-percent-off retired vera Bradley items and great savings on current and soon-to-beretired Vera Bradley, too. la Pink Boutique is located at 18035 Highwoods Preser ve Pkwy. Call 972-2862 for details.

Olive Branch Deli

Here’s an easy Big Game party special from the Olive Branch, located in the Shoppes of Amberly plaza, Tampa Palms. Get a mix & match regular subs, meats or wraps platter, plus 24 chicken wings, plus your choice of 3 lbs. of macaroni or potato salad or a nachos & salsa platter (serves 10-12 people), for only $49.99. The Olive Branch Deli is located

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 19, Issue 3 • Januar y 29, 2011 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Have Your Super Bowl Or Valentine’s Day Party At Bullseye Saloon! By Gary Nager So, about four months ago, I was driving from Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. to E. Bearss Ave. and I realized that the Cody’s Roadhouse sign had been replaced by a sign that said “Bullseye Saloon.” Since I’m the kind of guy that usually prefers mom-and-pop restaurants to the big chains, I stopped in and enjoyed a huge “Stockyard Philly” sandwich with “Bull Chips” and I realized that Bullseye was a place I was going to like more than Cody’s. As it turns out, the change from Cody’s to Bullseye happened so quickly because the new restaurant is owned by the same two gentleman who were the former chain franchisees — Jeff Schneider and Joe Coppola. “All it took was changing out the sign and and adding a few touches inside and we did it without having to close,” says Schneider. “We did pretty well as Cody’s, but it didn’t allow us any creativity with the menu and we decided we wanted to give our customers what they really want.” So, eleven different steaks were cut down to four and several other menu changes have been made and I have to say I’ve enjoyed Bullseye so far. My favorite dishes are the top sirloin and NY strip steaks (prime rib on the weekends, too), the fall-off-the-bone baby back ribs, the “Half Drunken” chicken (I order it well-done), the aforementioned Philly sandwich, the steak and chicken fajitas (also available in shrimp,

Bullseye Saloon’s top sirloin is thick, tender and spiced just right! although I’m allergic to it) and even Bullseye’s unique but naked honey garlic wings (other wing varieties also are available). Other entrées include grilled, blackened or fried grouper, grilled Atlantic salmon, Jack’s bourbonmarinated steak, the “Mother” loaf meatloaf, smothered grilled chicken and a variety of flatbread pizzas, plus burgers and other sandwiches. Bullseye also features a “Kiddy Corral” menu for the young’ns. The sweet rolls and cinnamon butter also are a treat. My favorite sides to date are the skin-on mashed redskin potatoes, the garden blend rice, the signature chili and the “loaded” baked potato soup.

Super Bowl/V-Day!

out their can’t-be-beat deal for Valentine’s Day (Monday, February 14), when you can enjoy a bottle of wine and a filet and lobster dinner for two, with strawberry cheesecake for dessert. Filet & lobster for one is just $19.95 and Bullseye’s usually-weekends-only prime rib also will be available for either $14.95 (12-oz.) or $20.95 (16oz.). Call the restaurant for details! Bullseye Saloon (2836 E. Bearss Ave., one block west of BBD Blvd.) is open ever y day for lunch and dinner. Call 374-0135 for reser vations (not required, but suggested for Valentine’s Day) or visit BullseyeSaloonTampa.com .

We recommend the naked honey garlic wings, although they also come mild to hot, or with sweet chili or BBQ sauces.

Bullseye, which also offers great entertainment and a full premiumliquor bar, is the perfect place to watch the Big Game, but Jeff and Joe really would love to have you check

Our editor enjoys the “loaded” baked potato soup and baby back ribs (left) and the “Half Drunken” chicken and Bull Chips at Bullseye Saloon on E. Bearss Ave.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 19, Issue 3 • Januar y 29, 2011 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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Solo Practice! Practicing 14 years in Tampa Graduate of UF & USF Residency All Children’s Hospital

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 19, Issue 3 • Januar y 29, 2011 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

On this page and the following two pages is an A-Z listing of all of the Valentine’s Day-gift-oriented advertisers in this issue, as well as all of the dining advertisers who would like to provide a romantic backdrop for your celebration of the day dedicated to lovers. Please support these businesses and tell them that we sent you! — GN

A Focus On Fitness

A Focus on Fitness, located at Star’s Organic Spa Group (see separate listing) in the Seven Oaks Professional Park off S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel, is offering some great Valentine’s Day specials, including your first personal training session for free. Also, if you purchase any training package from Ashley or Kelly, your “friend or sweetheart” can train with you for free, or you BOTH can receive 50-percent-off the cost of an Ideal Protein weight loss consultation. For more information, visit A Focus on Fitness (2136 Ashley Oaks Cir., Suite #101) or call 843-2354 or 326-7945.

Ar tisan Aesthetics

Dr. Stanley Castor, M.D., and his

staff are offering $150 off all laser hair removal packages. Standard bikini or underarm, just $99 per session. Gift cards are available. For details, call 971-2000 or visit DrCastor.com. Also, see the story on page 18 of this issue!

A Special Rose Florist

Our friend Rose O’Berry of A Special Rose Florist is offering 10-percent-off all in-town holiday delivery orders if they’re ordered by February 10. In addition to beautiful, fresh flowers, Rose carries fresh fruit and chocolate gift baskets, Thomas Kincade collectibles and much more. For more info, visit A Special Rose at 14546 BBD Blvd. (in Shell gas station building), call 979-9453 or visit ASpecialRoseFlorist.com.

Avalon MedSpa

Avalon MedSpa and Sushi Tsu Japanese Steak & Sushi, both in the Shoppes at Amberly plaza in Tampa Palms, and Grandeur Salon on County Line Rd. (in Sweetbay Plaza) are teaming up to offer an incredible Valentine’s Day package neither of you will ever forget! You’ll get dinner for two at

Sushi Tsu, plus a couple’s massage at Avalon, for just $175. Add a cut and blow dry at Grandeur and the package costs just $235! You must present the coupon at Sushi Tsu (see page 42) to receive the dinner special. Visit Avalon MedSpa at 15347 Amberly Dr, in the Shoppes of Amberly, Tampa Palms, or at Tampa Spa.com or call 866-8400. Sushi Tsu (910-9404) is at 15363 Amberly Dr. and Grandeur Salon can be reached at 994-9455.

Badar’s Hair & All

Now open in the Shoppes at New Tampa of Wesley Chapel (between Publix & Beall’s), Badar’s is your place for everything from custom hair styles to facials, permanent makeup, laser hair removal and much more. Badar’s Hair & All is located at 1820 BBD Blvd. Call 973-8819 or 503-2365 for more info or to book your appointment today!

Beverly Hills Florist

New Tampa’s newest florist and tuxedo rental shop is now open in the Pebble Creek Collection! Mention the ad on page 3 of this issue and a receive

a free membership into the unique Beverly Hills Florist Club. For details, visit Beverly Hills Florist at 19651 BBD Blvd., call 973-3000 or visit BeverlyHillsFlorist NewTampa.com.

Bullseye Saloon (for merly Cody’s)

The all-new Bullseye Saloon is offering these great Valentine’s Day specials: Filet & Lobster dinner, $19.95; 12-oz. prime rib, $14.95; 16-oz. prime rib, $20.95; and call for details about Bullseye’s filet & lobster dinner for two, with a bottle of wine & strawberry cheesecake for dessert. For more info, call 3740135 or visit the Bullseye Saloon at 2836 E. Bearss Ave., in the Palms Connection. Or, see the story on p. 43!

Café Olé

The newly expanding Café Olé (which is soon adding a liquor store to go with its new formal dining area) in the Cross Creek Center plaza is offering a romantic 3-course, fixed-price dinner which includes soup or salad, appetizer and your choice of at least five different entrées, as well as romantic violin music, on Monday, February 14.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 19, Issue 3 • Januar y 29, 2011 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

For more information, stop by Café Olé at 10020 Cross Creek Blvd., in the Cross Creek Center plaza or call 907-5242.

Charles Jewelers

Charles Jewelers in City Plaza at Tampa Palms is offering $10 off any purchase over $50 (excluding Pandora Jewelry and clearance items), as well as a 20percent bonus if you sell the store your unwanted gold For more info, visit Charles Jewelers at 16053 Tampa Palms Blvd., in City Plaza or call 972-4653.

Ciccio’s/The Lodge

Your lady will receive a free glass of wine or champagne and you’ll both enjoy fantastic entrées at Ciccio’s/The Lodge in the City Plaza at Tampa Palms shopping center on Valentine’s Day. For more info, visit Ciccio’s/ Lodge at 16023 Tampa Palms Blvd., call 975-1222 or 295-4663 or visit CicciosLodge.com.

Elysium Beauty Salon Elysium owner Fadia Boudib is offering two red-hot specials through Saturday, February 12 (Elysium is

closed Sunday & Monday): 25-percentoff all $100 gift certificates, as well as 20percent off all chemical services! For more info, call 994-4604 or visit Elysium at 1821 BBD Blvd., next to Nutrition S’Mart, south of S.R. 56 and the Shops at Wiregrass mall.

Grandeur Hair Design

See the entry under Avalon MedSpa and the ad on page 3 for a great Valentine’s Day special! Call Grandeur Hair Design (6431 County Line Rd.) at 994-9455 or visit GrandeurHD.com.

Insignia Hair Studios

At Insignia Hair Studios, located in the professional building behind Walgreen’s off bruce B. Downs Blvd. and County Line Rd., new clients can receive $75 color, highlights or relaxer with a haircut. For more information, call Insignia Hair Studios (20731 Center Oak Dr.) at 994-0006 or visit Insignia HairStudios.com.

Kathy’s Flowers

Kathy’s Flowers, located in the Cory Lake Professional Center on Cross Creek Blvd., asks you to order early from New Tampa’s finest selection of all styles, col-

ors and lengths of the freshest roses for Valentine’s Day! For more information, visit Kathy’s Flowers at 10353 Cross Creek Blvd. or call 991-1990.

Land & Sea Market

Located in the Oak Ramble Plaza on BBD Blvd., just south of Tampa Palms, Land & Sea has a great deal on a true dinner for two for lovers: Get two filet mignons and two rock lobster tails for only $17.99! Also available are prime choice beef tenderloins, 12-14-oz. and 6oz. rock lobster tails, live Maine lobsters, 10 varieties of shrimp, stuffed mushrooms, Chilean sea bass, beef Wellington, lobster and crab bisque and much more! For more info, call Land & Sea Market (14943 BBD Blvd.) at 9773155 or visit LandandSeaMarket.com.

la Pink Boutique

la Pink Boutique, located on BBD Blvd. in The Walk at Highwoods Preserve (next to Men’s Wearhouse) is New Tampa’s place to shop for Valentine’s Day gifts, but also is featuring New Tampa’s biggest and best Super Bowl Sunday sale on Sunday, February 6, with 40-percent off all apparel, jewelry and fragrances, 60percent-off retired vera Bradley handbags, 40-percent-off soon-to-be-retired Vera Bradley and 25-percent off current Vera Bradley items. Many items will be marked down to $5-$10! For more info, visit la Pink at 18035 Highwoods Preserve Pkwy., in The Walk or call 972-2862.

New Identities Hair Studio

At New Identities Hair Studio, located in the Shoppes at Amberly plaza in Tampa Palms, you’ll receive a free $25 gift card for yourself every time you purchase a $100 gift card, through February 14. Note-The gift cards may be used for services only.

For information and appointments, visit New Identities at 15307 Amberly Dr., call 979-0760 or visit NewIdentitiesSalon.com.

Saf fron Indian Cuisine

Saffron, located in the Cross Creek Center plaza on Cross Creek Blvd. at Kinnan St., is offering a great Valentine’s Day-only dinner special on New Tampa’s favorite authentic Indian cuisine. It’s a full dinner for two for only $29.95! For details about this unique Valentine's Day meal deal and more information, call Saffron (10044 Cross Creek Blvd.) at 600-3315 or visit SaffronIndianCuisine.us.

Salon Athena

Bring out the goddess in someone you love with this great deal from Salon Athena, located in the Oak Ramble Plaza shopping center on BBD Blvd., south of Tampa Palms. The Valentine’s special gives you 10-percent-off a “Brazilian Blow Out, which icnludes a complimentary haircut! You also can get a $125 gift certificate for only $100 and 20-percentoff all facials. Appointments preferred. For appointments and more info, call Salon Athena (14933 BBD Blvd.) at 910-2770.

Skin Solutions Of Tampa Palms

Licensed Esthetician Lori Strickland of Skin Solutions of Tampa Palms wants you to help someone you love look their best for Valentine’s Day, so through February 28, you can still receive 50-percentoff the regular price of a HydraFacial when you mention this publication, Skin Solutions of Tampa Palms is located at 15277 Amberly Dr. (in the same office as the General Dentistry practice of Lou Cerillo, D.D.S.) , in Somerset Professional Park. For info, call 971-1688 or visit DrCerillo.com.

The Guide continues on page 48!

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 19, Issue 3 • Januar y 29, 2011 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Sophia’s

Sophia’s, located next to Publix in the New Tampa Center plaza across from Hunter’s Green, is now New Tampa’s only upscale secondhand boutique. You’ll receive $45 off your purchase of $25 or more. In addition, for gentleman looking for a cute gift for a loved one this Valentine’s Day, you’ll receive 15-percent-off your entire purchase when you mention that you saw Sophia’s ad (on page 32) in Neighborhood News. Sophia’s is now buying upscale designer apparel and accessories, as well as your unwanted gold! For more information about the store’s buying schedule and products at Sophia’s (19020 BBD Blvd.), call 971-6900 or “like” them at Facebook. com/SophiasTampa.

Spa Moritz

Spa Moritz, located across Commerce Park Blvd. in Tampa Palms from Freedom High, has several outstanding packages which make perfect Valentine’s Day gifts: the Sweethearts Package includes a Vitamin C/Seaweed Facial or a Swedish back massage with Clarisonic back treatment and your choice of a shellac manicure or hair cut or Kerastase conditioning treatment with blow dry or a

chocolate-covered strawberry pedicure AND gift certificate to Pagelli’s Italian Restaurant in the Shops at Wiregrass mall — a $178 value for only $119! Or, choose the My Treasure for Two Package, which includes a couples chocolate martini pedicure with a martini for each of you for only $116! Or, try a Cupid’s Delight for Two, which is a couple’s Swedish massage, for only $159. There’s also professional teeth whitening for only $125. For more info, call Spa Moritz (17401 Commerce Park Blvd.) at 9714772 or visit SpaMoritz.com.

Star’s Organic Spa

Give the gift of beauty to someone you love at Star’s Organic Spa in the Seven Oaks Professional Park off S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel, where new clients receive a free haircut with the purchase of any color service from Star. For appointments and more info, call Star’s Organic Spa (2136 Ashley Oaks Cir., Suite #101) at 9738787 or visit StarsOrganicSpa.com.

Sushi Tsu Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi

In addition to teaming up with Avalon MedSpa (see Avalon entry on previous

page) and Grandeur Hair Design for one great Valentine’s Day special, Sushi Tsu (located in the Shoppes of Amberly plaza in Tampa Palms) also is offering a great Dinner for Two special for only $60! See the coupon in the ad on page 43. Must print out coupon from SushiTsu.com and present it when you order. Sushi Tsu Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar is located at 15363 Amberly Dr. Call 910-9404 for details and reservations.

The Flower Co.

Located in the Cross Creek Center plaza on Cross Creek Blvd. at Kinnan St., The Flower Co. will give you a free box of premium chocolates when you purchase a $50 arrangement for Valentine’s Day. The offer is valid with pick-up orders only, while supplies last. For more information, call The Flower Co. (10040 Cross Creek Blvd.) at 991-4200.

Urban Culinar y Café

Every day can be Valentine’s Day at Urban Culinary Café in the Cross Creek Center plaza (Cross Creek Blvd. at Kinnan St.), where you can buy one entrée and get a second entrée for half-price throughout the month of February! You

must bring in the entire ad from page 52 of this issue to get this great meal deal! For more information, including the entertainment schedule at Urban Culinary Café (10016 Cross Creek Blvd.), call 994-3800 or visit UrbanCulinaryCuisine.com.

You Do The Dishes

Valentine’s Day (Monday, Feb. 14), between 1 p.m.-10 p.m., is the perfect day and time to bring in your sweetheart to You Do The Dishes Paint-Your-OwnPottery Studio & Coffee Shop in the Shoppes at Amberly plaza in Tampa Palms, because you’ll both paint for free! For details, call You Do The Dishes (15357 Amberly Dr.) at 975-1700 or visit YouDoTheDishes.com.

ZZ’s Styling Salon

With the coupon on page 47 in this issue, new clients can receive 20-percentoff all services or $10 off any service at ZZ’s Styling Salon, located in the Cross Creek Plaza on Cross Creek Blvd. (next to BP). Both offers are valid with a minimum $40 purchase. For more info, visit ZZ’s Styling Salon (10857 Cross Creek Blvd.) or call 982-9191.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 19, Issue 3 • Januar y 29, 2011 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

‘Rock Of Ages’ Opens Exciting New Year At Ruth Eckerd! By Gary Nager

cast members direct their best jokes to the audience, instead of each other. If you missed it, you’ll have to catch it on Broadway, where it is still running, as there are no more local stops for “Rock of Ages” on its 60-city tour. But, if you love great theatre or great music, there are plenty of other awesome shows and concerts coming soon to Ruth Eckerd, including the musical based on the Mel Brooks movie “Young Frankenstein” (Feb. 813) and “Spring Awakening, which won eight 2007 Tony Awards, including Best Musical (Mar. 18-19).

Other upcoming shows at Ruth Eckerd include the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (Tues., Feb. 15), Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons (Feb. 17-18), Puccini’s Madama Butterfly (Fri., Feb. 25), Paul Anka (Feb. 28) and a sold out appearance of John Mellencamp (Mar. 4). Ruth Eckerd Hall is located at 1111 McMullen Booth Rd., Clearwater. For complete upcoming event information and to buy tickets, call (727) 791-7400 or visit RuthEckerdHall.com.

The plot may have been whisperthin and the music may have been too loud for some older theater-goers, but the one-week (Jan. 18-23) run of “Rock of Ages” at Ruth Eckerd Hall was definitely worth seeing, especially if you’re a fan of 1980s-era rock bands such as Bon Jovi, Journey, Twisted Sister, REO Speedwagon, Whitesnake and even Pat Benatar. Nominated for five 2009 Tony Awards, “Rock of Ages” is set on L.A.’s famed Sunset Strip during the mid-to-late 1980s and tells the love story of hair band rock hopeful Drew, who was “born and raised in south Detroit,” and Sherrie, an acting hopeful from Kansas who, surprise surprise, ends up becoming a stripper after having sex in a bathroom with Poison front man Bret Michaelslookalike Stacee Jaxx. But, while the plot may be predictable, the music of “Rock of Ages” is powerful, and there are (Left) Stacee Jaxx (hat), the lead singer of the fictional band Arsenal in the rock musical “Rock of Ages,” definitely stole his look from some out-loud laughs new reality TV star Bret Michaels of Poison. (Right) Oh, Sherrie! Drew and Sherrie are the love story protagonists of “Rock of Ages.” throughout the show, as

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 19, Issue 3 • Januar y 29, 2011 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Sister Hazel Opens The New Hard Rock Café On New Year’s Eve! By Gary Nager Although the new Hard Rock Café at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa actually opened December 21, it wasn’t until ten days later that I first had an opportunity to sample both the food and the promise of great events to come at the new 17,500-sq.-ft. café. In the cafe, which is not only filled with the usual Hard Rock memorabilia but also with the casino’s usual bevy of lovely lady servers as well as the firstever opportunity to actually play casino games inside a Hard Rock Café. Table seating inside the café surrounds the elevated stage, which already is the site of regularly-scheduled live performances three nights per week. Opposite the stage, the main Hard Rock Cafe bar is highlighted by a dramatic multi-media canopy, arched over the bar and thrusting out to the main restaurant seating area. The Cafe also features a smaller bar to the side of the stage, as well as a new outdoor patio and bar. You can get all of your Hard Rock limited-edition merchandise, including t-shirts, gifts, collectible pins, and more at the café’s Rock Shop. I have only eaten at the Hard Rock Café twice so far and found the food to

be the same as the cafés in New York and Orlando. You’ll find lots of finger food appetizers, very good burgers, as well as steaks, a twisted chicken mac n’ cheese, sockeye salmon and a Mediterranean shrimp linguine. But, the main reason I visited the Hard Rock on New Year’s Eve was to see and even interview one (Above) Lead singer Ken Block was definitely “Happy” as Sister of my all-time Hazel became the first band to play at the new Hard Rock Café favorite bands, at Tampa’s Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.” Gainesville’s own Sister Hazel! their fans, but also for each other. Although the band has never had a topIn other words, if you can’t have 10 hit, there’s no doubt that Sister fun opening a new year at a Sister Hazel has a tremendously loyal fan base Hazel concert, check your pulse — (in other words, I’m never the only one you may already be dead! at their shows singing along to every The band played a little less word) and even newcomers to their than two hours, but hit the highconcerts can’t help but get caught up lights of virtually every one of the in the catchy tunes and memorable group’s eight CDs, including a few lyrics of their songs or the obvious love tracks from the new “Heartland the band members have not only for Highway” compilation, of which my favorite was probably the rocking “Great Escape” and “She’s Got A Hold On Me.” But, of course, you had to love hearing “Champagne High” a few minutes before the new year struck, as well as favorites like “This Kind of Love,” “All For You” and “Happy.” The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (5224 Orient Rd., of f I-4 and Hillsborough Ave.) is open 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. At our press time, no major concerts were planned at the new Hard Rock Café, but we will let you know if that changes. Call 6211302 for more info or visit SeminoleHardRockTampa.com. Sister Hazel will be at the House of Blues in Orlando on Saturday, Febr uar y 19. For tickets, call (407) 934BLUE (2583).

(Top to bottom) Our editor got to interview Sister Hazel lead guitarist Ryan Newell. The new Hard Rock Café has lots of great rock memorabilia, including this guitar played by Bob Dylan. You can even play casino games in the Hard Rock Café and be served great burgers (left) by hot bartenders. For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 19, Issue 3 • Januar y 29, 2011 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 19, Issue 3 • Januar y 29, 2011 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

NEW TAMPA & WESLEY CHAPEL H E L P

W A N T E D

Join OrthoTechnology’s Winning Team! Ortho Technology, an international orthodontic supply distributor located in New Tampa, is seeking talented energetic candidates for the following full-time positions: Distribution Associate: High energy individual needed to receive, restock, pull & pack customer orders. Fast paced environment. Basic math & computer skills, ability to stand/walk for entire shift & lift up to 50 pounds required. QC Inspector: Entry level position responsible for accuracy of outgoing orders. 1-2 yrs exp w/QC responsibilities. Ability to stand/walk for entire shift, close vision, basic color differentiation and basic math req’d. Small parts/med device experience a plus. We provide a great work environment, excellent benefits package and growth potential. Submit resumes to careers@orthotechnology.com. PTA position available. Part-time (Tampa Palms clinic). Fax Resume to: 813-994-3080 Part time Medical Assistant. Must have lab/blood draw experience. Wesley Chapel office, family medicine. evening and Saturday hours. Fax resume to 813-994-0085. New Financial Advisors office in Wesley Chapel located in Live Oak is looking for a FT Administrative Assistant. Flexible schedule. Pay range $10-15 per hour. Must have working knowledge of Word and Excel. Must also be able to type 50 wpm. No Smokers. Please e-mail your resume, photo, and contact information to: yourjobposting@yahoo.com.

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see clients included FSU coaches & professors. For a FREE estimate & references call Randi at (cell) 850-509-6615. Yes, I do Gators, too. Images Cleaning Svc. Pressure Washing Commercial/Residential, driveways, walks, decks, enclosures & homes. Gutter cleanout, trash removal, move in/out cleaning. 30 years of experience. Starting @ $50. Call Robin @ 813.240.1981. Bright Cleaning of Tampa Inc. Residential and Commercial. Free Estimates. We are family owned and operated. Good References upon request. Lowest prices Please call us at (813)562-6772.

WINDOW CLEANING WINDOW WASHING most windows $6.00 incl. inside, outside & sills. “Make Your Whole House Shine” 10+ yrs. experience. Convenient appointments. A POINT OF VIEW WINDOW WASHING. Wesley Chapel. 813-973-1451.

L A N D S C A P I N G Everyday Gardener’s Club. Full-service property maintenance available for residential & commercial. One-stop shopping with licensed, insured professionals. Specializing in landscape design with conceptional drawings & renderings available. Let your imagination & our professionals come together to create dreams that will last a lifetime. Call 933-1120 or visit www.EverydayGardenersClub.com Professional palms, tree trimming & removal service. Serving Tampa Bay for over 20 yrs. The only tree-guy you’ll ever need. Licensed & insured. Call today for a free estimate:813-321-9114

COMPUTER SERVICES Professional Tech Support in your home or small business. A+ certified computer tech with 15 years of exp. Maintenance & repairs, upgrades & tutoring. More affordable than the large chains! Friendly, personalized svc. Technical jargon explained in plain English. References available upon request. Call 957-8342 for free estimate.

HOME

IMPROVEMENT

Need home maintenance? Almost any job, large or small, ext/int, fencing , screening, sm. concrete, sprinklers, painting, repairs, int. doors, locks, sheet rock, windows, paint, caulk, grout, trim, shelving, garages organized. Installations, removals, pressure washing, wood restoration & more. Call Dale’s Home Maintenance @ 973-0194 or 727-2582. RAYMOND PAINTING. Interior & Exterior, Pressure Washing, Paper Hanging, Plaster, Stucco, Tiles, Concrete, Clean & Seal Pavers. LICENSED & BONDED. References Available. FREE ESTIMATES. Your Neighborhood Arbor Greene Resident. WE WORK 7 DAYS. CALL 994-5124. Greg’s Paperhanging. For all of your wallpapering needs. Licensed & insured, clean, quick & reasonable. Call 973-2767 for free estimate.

CLEANING SERVICES D-ULTRA CLEANING SERVICE. We have our own supplies & more than 200 clients in New Tampa! For more information, call 758-9710. Isn’t life busy enough? Save time. We can help. Your satisfaction is our first priority. Guaranteed, affordable, reliable, quality domestic svcs. Free estimate: Chelsea Maid Company @ 994-6662. A+ Cleaning Service. FSU grad, honest & dependable. Moving very successful business to Tampa Palms area to be near first grandchild. My Tallahas-

LAWN MAINTENANCE Enjoy your time & let A.T.B. Landscaping & Lawn Service do the work for you. We provide landscaping, lawn maintenance, clean-ups, tree & hedge trimming, sodding, sprinkler repair & fertilization. Other services also available. 907-LAWN

These are the Color Classifieds Your Neighbors R E A D! Call Dave @ 910-2575 to order your ad today! P E T

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T A I C H I L E S S O N S

Professional Pet Care. Exp’d. Pet sitter. We walk, play, feed & administer medicine, all in the comfort of your pet’s home. We also bring in mail, water plants & help maintain home security while you’re away. Bonded, insured & trained in Pet First-Aid & CPR. Call For The Love Of Pets at 545-8406 or 4163126 or www.FortheLoveOfPetsOnline.com.

Tai Chi Classes open to the public at the Club Tampa Palms. Benefits: Strength, Flexibility, Balance, Focus and reduced stress. Class Times, Tues. Seniors 2:30-3:30 pm and Beg. 7-8 pm. Also New 6-week Beginners courses starting every few months. Space is limited. Contact me for more details. Also personal instruction in Tai Chi, Kempo Karate, Boot Camp Fitness training and more. With more then 30 years of training and teaching experience. Call Peter today #787-7560 or E-Mail me at chuan-fa@tampabay.rr.com

Tampa Cat Lady Professional Cat-Sitting Service. You say goodbye - we say hello. Cats are happiest when in their own home, surrounded by familiar sights, sounds & smells. When you are away, we feed, cuddle & play with your kitties & clean & dispose of litter. We help deter crime by bringing newspaper/mail & rotating lights/blinds, giving your home that lived-in look. Licensed, bonded & Red-Cross certified in pet first aid/CPR. Call 994-9449 or visit www.TampaCatLady.com. New Tampa Pet Sitting Service. Lots of love & care for your pets. Great experience & references. Recommended by Angie’s List. Licensed, Insured & Red Cross Certified. Call Maria @ 416-5301.

B U Y I N G

Tired of working out of your house? Is a long commute getting to you? Need space in New Tampa? Cory Lake Professional Center. Office suite available. 950 sf. Call David – 813-494-8654 A/C WAREHOUSE W/OFFICES, 920 S.F. In New Tampa off Bruce B Downs located in New Tampa Professional Park behind Pilot Bank. Call Gail- 813-973-4155.

BABYSITTER WANTED

NEED EXTRA MONEY…We can turn your unwanted, old or broken gold jewelry into CASH! Take advantage of high gold prices which may not last long. Don’t sell to the fly by night companies. Take it to Tampa Palms Hometown Jeweler. Jeweler on staff w/ 35 yrs. exp. Charles Jewelers, 972-4653 (next to Stein Mart on Bruce B. Downs).

Part time Baby Sitter wanted for a 13 month baby girl. Two days a during the week, mornings 9am -12 pm and Saturday evenings. Montessori experience preferred not required. Background check and References required. Call Sonia 216316-4343. Lives in New Tampa.

NTLC Property Maintenance. Residential & Commercial lawn maintenance for New Tampa & Wesley Chapel. Sprinkler repair, tree trimming, mulching, landscaping & clean-ups also available. Licensed & Insured. Call Bill @ 973-3825.

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S E R V I C E S

D R I V I N G S E RV I C E

Tranquility Pool Service. New Tampa Owned & Operated! Great pricing w/outstanding customer service. Relax & enjoy while we keep your pool in pristine swimming condition! Licensed, Bonded & Insured. Call Chris today for a free quote @ 857-5400 or visit us at www.tranquilitypoolservice.com to see why we are New Tampa’s #1 choice! New customers mention this ad & receive one month FREE!

Don’t Have a Ride? Don’t Want to Leave Your Car? Shouldn’t Drive? We Drive You and Your Car Home! Night Clubs, Corporate Events, Sporting Events, Concerts, Appointments, Airport or Stranded... Call Jay at 813966-1530.

ENJOY YOUR POOL, WHILE WE MAINTAIN IT. KJ POOL SERVICE. Ser vicing pools for over 6 years. FIRST MONTH FREE, PLUS FREE EVALUATION AND QUOTE Owner and Operator. LICENSE, BONDED & INSURED. Office Number: 813.909.9466 Cell Number: 813.748.9817. kjpoolservice@yahoo.com.

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G O L D

Licensed Mobile Massage Therapist. 9am 9pm, Mon, Tues & Wed. $50 for 1 hour! Types of massage available: Swedish, Deep Tissue, Aroma Therapy, Hot Stone, Corporate Seated, Pregnancy, Sports & Injury Rehab. References available. www.barkdollmassagetherapy.com CALL. 727-372-6389 Lic # MA47546.

Aquatec Pool Service **Special Offer: New customers get 1 Month FREE!** We follow strict National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF) standards - We do pools right. All technicians are in uniform, drug-free, and background checked. Quality, professional service. Licensed & Insured. Call Today 780-8616 or visit our website www.aquatecpool.com to see why you should choose us!

O F F I C E

R E A L

E S T A T E

Foreclosure Homes & Bank REO listings by email at www.TampaForeclosuresToday.com. Team Bohannon, Coldwell Banker 813-982-7512 Avoid Foreclosure, We can help! www.TampaShortSalesToday.com Team Bohannon, Coldwell Banker 813-982-7512

L E G A L

S E R V I C E S

Get Your Estate In Order ...Last Will...Power of Attorney...Living Will. Experienced Tax Attorney 813-972-5078.

M A

T H

T U T O R

Math Tutor now available for in-home. Math Tutor now available for in-home lessons in Tampa Palms/New Tampa area. I teach math at HCC and can tutor you at any level, beginning through advanced. Raise your grades, improve your grasp of math or take it to the next level. $25 per hour, 4 classes minimum. I will tailor your lessons to suit your needs. Let 2011 be your year for success in math! Local references available. CALL (813) 382-3027.

CLASSIFIED RATES 1 issue.........................$35 2 issues........................$50

I N V E S T M E N T SEEKING INVESTOR/PARTNER Experienced restaurateurs interested in acquiring an existing successful restaurant in Sarasota/ Bradenton area. Total purchase price: $120K. Monthly lease: $4K. We have the 20% down payment. Seeking $100K-$150K. Serious inquiries only, please. Call (941) 377 3125 or email goldbergkerstin@yahoo.com.

6 issues.....................$120 26 issues...................$300

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 19, Issue 3 • Januar y 29, 2011 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com