Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News, Volume 25, Issue 12, June 2, 2017 by Neighborhood News

Volume 25 Issue 12

Inside:

June 2, 2017

New Owners/New Menu At Bosco’s Italian To Go! In Neighborhood Magazine!

Don’t Forget To View, Like & Share Every Episode Of The Award-Winning WCNT-tv! The Direct-Mail News Magazines Serving New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Since 1993! For the complete list of neighborhoods that receive this publication by direct mail in Wesley Chapel (zip codes 33543, 33544 & 33545), see page 46!

Will The Diverging Diamond Fix The I-75/S.R. 56 Interchange? By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com A diamond could be a commuter’s best friend, according to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). A diverging diamond, that is. That was the message delivered by Ryan Forrestel, PE of American Consulting Professionals, LLC, as he presented what he feels will be the solution to the snarled mess that is the S.R. 56 interchange of I-75 to the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) on May 23, during a meeting at the Mercedes-Benz of Wesley Chapel dealership located just a few hundred feet from where the construction of the diverging diamond interchange (DDI) will begin. Forrestel, the consultant design project manager for the $24.1-million Diverging Diamond Interchange project, told a group of roughly 20 representatives from affected businesses like Havertys, Tampa Premium Outlets, Chick-Fil-A, Florida Hospital Center Ice and others that it will be a good news, bad news proposition. The good: engineers say the DDI is going to make traffic smoother and more efficient and in the long run yield improved results for local businesses. The bad: during the long-awaited construction beginning in fall of 2018, the already-congested interchange is likely to become even more clogged. No one, however, was surprised.

Also Inside This Issue: News, Business & Sports Updates RADDSPORTS Tells Chamber They Are Ready To Build; PCSO Still Looking For Quail Hollow Shooter; Commisioners Can’t Decide On Golf Course’s Fate; Neo-Nazi Bomb Plot In New Tampa; Audi Dealership Breaks Ground; U.S. Women’s Hockey Makes Wesley Chapel Its Home; Spring Football Wraps Up; Plus, Local Business Features!

Pages 3-34

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WC Rotary’s Derby Just Ducky; Bosco’s Is A Love Story With Great Italian Food; Boy Scout STEM Fair At FHCI & More Neighborhood Nibbles & Business Bytes!

Pages 35-48

“I think this is a good opportunity for us,’’ said Stacey Nance, the general manager of TPO, located just west of the DDI. “Is it going to be cumbersome? Absolutely it is.” Forrestel’s presentation seemed to assuage some of the concerns of representatives from those local businesses, many of whom are concerned that shoppers already are avoid-

ing the area because of the traffic. The project, moved up twice from its original 2024 and then 2020 start dates, is expected to expedite traffic through the muchmaligned interchange, which handles roughly 100,000 vehicles a day and connects many of the residents of Wesley Chapel, Lutz and Land O’Lakes to Tampa.

Forrestel said he will have the DDI plans drawn up by January, and then in June of 2018, bidding will begin to find the company to build it. Construction should start by the fall of 2018, and Forrestel said it could tentatively take anywhere from 18-36 months to build. See “DDI” on page 4.

WCH Softball Caps Huge Turnaround With First Playoff Appearance! By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com The Wesley Chapel High (WCH) girls basketball team won eight more games this season than it did last season. The WCH football team, just two years removed from an 0-10 season, went 7-2. The Wiregrass Ranch High (WRH) football team made the playoffs for the first time since 2010. However, when it came to the 2016-17 school year, there weren’t any high school teams in Wesley Chapel that turned things around quite like the WCH softball team did. Buoyed by a bevy of youngsters and first-year coach Steve Mumaw, the Wildcats did the improbable this spring — they beat softball powerhouses Pasco, River Ridge and Land O’Lakes in one of Tampa Bay’s toughest districts, won 19 games and made it to the Class 6A Regional semifinals before losing 4-2 to the eventual State champion Gators. “Now that it’s over and the tears are gone, we can reflect,’’ said Mumaw. “Land O’Lakes won the State championship, and we were pretty close to (beating) them. It could have been us.” Depending upon how many players return — the new Cypress Creek MIddle/High School zones are expected to claim at least a few players — the

Wildcats have the makings of what could be a state contender the next few years. That was hardly imaginable before 2017. Although they showed signs of promise last year, winning seven games in their best season ever to that point, the previous eight years had yielded records like 2-22, 2-21, 2-20, 1-22, 1-15 and 0-24. At one point, WCH lost 27 straight games and 43 of 44 over a three-span. Things changed this spring with the infu- The Wesley Chapel softball team won almost as many games this season (19) as it had in 10 previous seasons (22), setting a school record. sion of some key freshmen, who meshed instantly with a talented crop of sophomores. “We had high expectations,’’ said Mumaw, who has had two stints as the baseball coach and one as the athletic director at WCH. “I wouldn’t

See “WCH Softball” on page 33.

Democracy In Action At Bilirakis’ New Office; Plus, Congrats, Bartell Family! An editorial by Gary Nager So, I saw democracy in action about three weeks ago and it made me smile. Unfortunately, the people who saw me smiling thought I was laughing at them, but I wasn’t, even though some of what was happening did make quite a few people who were on hand to see it laugh, even if a little uncomfortably, and others, maybe a little afraid. I was just doing my job — covering the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting for Congressman Gus Bilirakis’ new office at the Chamber office in The Grove plaza in Wesley Chapel on May 9 — when an obviously organized protest with about 25 people holding signs basically blocked the Chamber’s front door. Thankfully, it was a peaceful protest... those holding the signs and chanting certainly did not keep anyone who was there to celebrate the ribbon cutting from going in. On the other hand, several attendees mentioned that they were happy a deputy from the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) was on hand to ensure that peace was maintained. It seemed, from the signs and the chanting going on, that most of the protesters weren’t happy that Rep. Bilirakis voted for what the Congressman called the ‘first phase’ of the bill to repeal and replace Obamacare. I understood why some people were upset with that. What surprised me were the sign-holders who claimed that Bilirakis didn’t support veterans health care. That really surprised me because, as long

Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News Address: 29157 Chapel Park Dr., Suite B Wesley Chapel, FL 33543 Phone: (813) 910-2575 Advertising E-mail: Ads@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Editorial E-mail: EditorialDept@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Publisher & Editor Gary Nager Billing Manager Stephanie Smith Marketing/Advertising Representative Tom Damico Advertising Sales & Office Assistant Jannah McDonald Assistant Editor / Photographer John C. Cotey Staff Writer Celeste McLaughlin Correspondents Brad Stager • Andy Warrener WCNT-tv Sales & Production Assistant Gavin Olsen Graphic Designers Blake Beatty • Georgia Carmichael Nothing that appears in Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News writers are their own and do not reflect the publisher’s opinion. The deadline for outside editorial submissions and advertisements for Volume 25, Issue 14, of Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News is Monday, June 19, 2017. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News will consider previously non-published outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News will not return unsolicited editorial materials. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit &/or reject any advertising. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the actual cost of the advertising space itself, nor for the validity of any claims made by its advertisers.

“Then yes, maybe that is true.” Ahhh, democracy. Ya gotta love it!

Congrats To The Bartells

as I’ve known Gus (who is the senior Republican on House Committee for Veterans Affairs) veterans’ issues have always been at the top of his agenda, even though Rep. Bilirakis’ last challenger for his District 12 Congressional seat, Democrat Robert Tager, consistently tried, unsuccessfully, to show that Bilirakis wasn’t the supporter of U.S. vets that he claims to be. But, what shocked me the most that afternoon was that Rep. Bilirakis didn’t in any way try to insulate himself from the obviously angry crowd. To the contrary, as soon as his ribbon cutting (which was held inside the Chamber office) was over, the Congressman first stepped outside to address those who were unhappy with him. He answered several questions, with people chanting in his face, and invited the protestors inside, 5 or 6 at a time, so he could address their criticisms and concerns as individually and completely as time — and his protesting constituents themselves — would allow. As a long-time non-politico in a too-political world whose job it has been to cover more politicians and elections than I ever thought possible, there’s no doubt I was smiling as I witnessed democracy in action months removed from any election. Whether you were on the side of those laying on the concrete, chanting and holding signs, or the U.S. Congressman who gave every one of those antagonists the opportunity to be heard by an elected official they supposedly hated, if that tableau didn’t make you proud to be an American, then you’re very different than I am. “Rep. Bilirakis, I have disagreed with every vote you’ve made since you took office.” “I’m sorry to hear that. Were you in favor of or against the federal budget this year?” “Against, why?’ “Because I voted against it, too. Maybe we don’t always disagree on every issue?”

Congratulations go out to my friend Paul Bartell, his wife Jamie and their son James, as the Sean Bartell Foundation held its second annual spaghetti dinner, held a WCCC ribbon cutting and gave away its 10th $1,000 to Wesley

Chapel High grad ((and future WCNT-tv contributor) Chase Oknefski from the proceeds from the Foundation’s previous events. The dinner, donated by Little Italy’s Family Restaurant & Catering (see ad on page 40) at the Trinity Church of Wesley Chapel Fellowship Hall on S.R. 54, attracted more than 100 people, served as the official launch of the Foundation, which is why a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held. I’ve seen the effort the Bartell family has put into the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life for many years. Now that Paul is focusing more of his “free time” on the nonprofit named for James’ brother Sean (who lost his battle with a rare skin condition in 2014), watch out!

Table of Contents

Local News Updates.....................3-17

RADDSPORTS Eager To Build Sports Complex.....6 PCSO Searching For Quail Hollow Shooter(s).........9 Neo-Nazi Bomb Plot In New Tampa?....................10 Audi Holds Official Groundbreaking.......................11 U.S. Women’s Hockey Has New WC Home............12 New Tampa Girl Chases Hockey Dream North.......13 Cultural Center Project Closer To Reality...............14 Wesley Chapel Community Calendar..........................16

Local Business Updates..............18-30

Debbie & Robert Marvin: Experience Matters.......18 A Healing Arts Thinks Outside Traditional Box.......20 Dr. Marta Rivera For Pediatric Dentistry & Braces....22 SPOTLIGHT ON: Fla. Heart and Vascular.......23 Euro Pilates More Than Just Yoga..........................24 Decorating Den Brings Décor To Your Driveway......26

Local Education/Sports Updates......28-33

Wiregrass Ranch High’s Co-Valedictorians............28-29 Bulls Prep For Tough Schedule in Spring Matchup.....30 WCH Wildcats Find A QB In Spring Win...................32

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WC Rotary’s Derby Is Just Ducky..............35-36 Bosco’s: A Love Story With Delicious Pizza.......38 ‘Neighborhood Nibbles & Business Bytes’.........42 Wesley Chapel & New Tampa Classifieds...........44 Scouts On Ice At STEM Fair...................................46 @NTWCNews

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‘DDI’

Continued from page 1 “We haven’t gotten that far yet,’’ Forrestel said. “That’s just a safe range.” The timing of the construction is a concern to local businesses, as it will likely conflict with the busiest shopping time of the year. “The fear was starting in the fall,” Nance said. “If there is any concern, it’s that it is hitting us all at prime time.” Forrestel said the current LOS, or Level of Service, of the interchange is “F,” and “it is only going to get worse before it gets better” as development continues on the north and south sides of S.R. 56, both on the west and east sides of the interchange Much of the traffic is caused by morning commuters trying to get on I-75 southbound, and evening traffic trying to exit northbound, which can back up two miles from where I-75 splits to S.R. 56. “On the northbound off ramp and southbound on ramp, we’re making a lot of changes,’’ said Forrestel, who said he drives past TPO every morning and sees the eastbound traffic backing all the way up to Old C.R. 54 (or Wesley Chapel Blvd.). As part of the DDI project, however, that mile-long backup during peak morning hours is projected to be reduced to 300 feet once a second lane is added to the exit for people getting on I-75 southbound. The other change, which Forrestel describes as minor but really important, is widening the northbound off ramp. He said the original design had four lanes, with a center lane serving as a shared lane for travelers going

Ryan Forrestel, PE of American Consulting Professionals, LLC, tells local business leaders about the plans for the Diverging Diamond Interchange at the S.R. 56 exit off I-75. east or west. But, they found that it created and Facebook on Friday, June 9), after nearly confusion for drivers and had a significant im- four years of construction that involved repact on the traffic, so the exit will be widened building everything, including the bridge over where the barrier wall on the east side of the I-75. Forrestel said that the Wesley Chapel ramp ends, and will now be five lanes. DDI project will involve no expansion of the Three of those northbound exit lanes will overpass, although it will be reconfigured, so be dedicated to go west (turn left onto 56), it shouldn’t take nearly as long to complete. and two lanes will be dedicated to go east (or The median on the bridge, as well as the right onto 56). current walkways, will be eliminated to create “It will be a significant improvement,’’ an additional westbound lane, and the bridge Forrestel said. (which is technically two bridges) will be conThe first DDI in Florida was recently nected. Pedestrians will be able to cross right completed in Sarasota — at the University down the center of the bridge. Pkwy. exit (No. 213) — and has drawn posiForrestel added there will be plenty of tive reviews (including from Neighborhood signs directing drivers. The fourth eastbound News editor Gary Nager, who will provide a lane on S.R. 56 is being pulled back 500 feet, video tour of the Sarasota DDI in the episode so signs can alert commuters much sooner of WCNT-tv that will premiere on YouTube about the interchange directions.

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“All of these changes will be improving the efficiency of the interchange dramatically,” Forrestel said. The real key to making it all work, however, remains the DDI’s signature crossovers, where the east and westbound lanes appear to cross over. Though other solutions were considered for the interchange — like a flyover similar to what was built an exit south at Bruce B. Downs Blvd. — the DDI was chosen for its ability to handle large swaths of traffic from both directions. “Huge left turns lanes work best for the DDI,” Forrestel said. “In some places, they are a great solution; in other place they are a terrible solution.” The Wesley Chapel interchange, however, it is expected to move more cars through the interchange in a free-flowing manner, as the left turn lanes will no longer be crossing in front of other traffic and only entail two phases of lights. Forrestel showed a video of a DDI in Atlanta (which can be seen at youtu.be/gY8xUUAQWs) which has fewer lanes but otherwise resembles the one coming to Wesley Chapel. Forrestel said the timing of the lights will be adjusted to accommodate the busier traffic in the morning and evening. The scope of the DDI project takes into account a model that projects traffic out to 2038 and considers the lengthening of S.R. 56 (one of the signs at the interchange will point you to Zephyrhills, in fact) as well as projected land uses in the Wiregrass Ranch area. Local businesses asked that they be kept updated so they can inform customers of the construction. “We want everybody to be prepared,’’ said WCC CEO Hope Allen.

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RADDSPORTS Tells The WC Chamber: Sports Complex Is ‘Ready To Go!’ By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com Richard Blalock is eager to get shovels in the ground and the long–awaited indoor/outdoor sports complex in Wiregrass Ranch built. He says that these days, it’s just a waiting game. However, when Pasco County is ready to issue the permits and get the ball — or, in this case, basketballs — rolling, Blalock assured local business leaders on May 25, at the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) Economic Development Briefing, that his team is ready to go. “We’re hoping to get it all papered up in August,’’ said Blalock, the CEO & Founder of RADDSPORTS, the Sarasota-based company that will build and run the Wiregrass Sports Complex (WSC) at Pasco County, as he said it is currently called. “We are 30 percent into drawings, 40 percent into civil design, and it will be 18 months to build, but we think we might be able to get it in 12 or 14.” That would mean a spring 2019 opening for the $44-million WSC, which is planned for part of a 224-acre parcel located northeast of the Shops at Wiregrass. “We’re excited for it,’’ said WCCC CEO Hope Allen. “We’ve been waiting.” Blalock and RADDSPORTS VP of development Anthony Homer showed some new designs to the monthly WCCC gathering at the Pebble Creek Golf Club in New Tampa, and also revealed some new news. In conjunction with Mainsail Development, the sports complex will have one of the first full-service Marriott-branded Residence Inns, a 120-room hotel that will now be Lshaped to create a courtyard at the entrance to

Anthony Homer (left) and Richard Blalock of RADDSPORTS, with WCCC CEO Hope Allen.

the WSC, and it will feature a sports theme and rooftop bar overlooking the complex, which also will have an amphitheater for concerts and seven soccer fields. Blalock also showed plans for ponds and a trail system through the complex, in an effort that could appease the more country-minded Wesley Chapel residents who worry that the area’s natural beauty is giving way to a concrete jungle. “We’ll be marketing this complex nationwide as kind of an ‘old Florida’ theme,’’ Blalock said. “We want to keep the natural sites, and the ponds….we’d like to tell the basketball teams and volleyball teams up in New York to come down and see a gator. We want to keep that whole theme of nature; that’s what the community is looking for.” As for the programming, Blalock said it’s too early to determine if the 98,000-sq.ft. indoor facility will be something residents can just walk in off the street and use, but the focus will clearly be on drawing the top youth sports

tournaments and athletes not only from around the state, but also from around the country, for tournaments that will fill hotel rooms and restaurant seats and make an economic impact. Blalock said an intensive youth program will focus on different levels (recreational, competitive and elite) of five primary sports — cheerleading, basketball, volleyball, soccer and lacrosse. The plan is to develop and promote players, like a minor league would do, while also developing the athletes into good citizens. “The youth sports industry needs a culture change,’’ he said. Blalock also said the indoor facility will offer educational and tutoring labs, coaching programs for kids who are not inclined to play sports competitively, concession stands and meeting spaces. “The flexibility is huge,’’ Blalock said. The indoor complex, which also can be converted to accommodate indoor soccer and lacrosse, will co-market with the hotel, much

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in the way Disney Sports ties in athletic events to its resorts. Homer said they have 38 events already planned for the first year, but he expects to “blow that number out of the water.” Despite the on-site presence of the Residence Inn, Homer said there will still be plenty of rooms to go around. A volleyball event, for example, could attract 128 teams, resulting in a need for 800-900 hotel rooms. “Our 120 rooms won’t even put a dent in it,’’ Homer said. “It will fill up not only our hotel, but the others in the area.” The county says the sports complex is expected to generate 27,000 room nights per year. Blalock said RADDSPORTS has already secured U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permitting, and is now just waiting on the county. There is still one obstacle to get over — getting the Tourist Development Tax (TDT) raised in order to help finance the complex. The WSC will be built with $11-million previously set aside by the Board of County Commissioners ($8.5-million in tourist tax funds and $2.5 million in excess bond proceeds from a prior half-cent sales tax bond), a county-backed loan of $14,253,700, plus $18,750,000 from Mainsail Development. The proposed two-percent increase in the TDT is expected to generate $1.2 million annually, which will help by paying down the loan, along with the revenue RADDSPORTS says the WSC will generate. A super majority vote (four of the five BCC commissioners) is required to officially pass the TDT increase. A vote will be held at a future meeting, following a public hearing. For more information and to take a look at the plans, visit RADDSPORTS. com/pasco-wiregrass-complex/.

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Quail Hollow Shooter Still At Large By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com The Pasco Sheriff’s Office was still looking, as of our press time, for the shooter(s) who fired a semiautomatic rifle at a May 14 event at Quail Hollow Golf & Country Club (QHGCC), located 6225 Old Pasco Rd., just north of Wesley Chapel Blvd. One person was shot and suffered nonlife-threatening injuries, and a second person received a cut to their hand that appeared to be unrelated to the shooting. Others, including one pregnant woman, was trampled, as party attendees fled the scene. Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) deputies found the car, a white Hyundai Elantra believed to belong to the shooter, but did not reveal where it was discovered. They also identified 25-year-old Jonathan Mortume (photo) as a person of interest in the Mother’s Day shooting. The event was a Haitian Flag Day celebration, which more than 500 people attended, seemingly taking organizers and QHGCC employees by surprise. “We here at Quail Hollow are extremely appalled at what transpired this past weekend and we are taking the necessary steps to ensure nothing like this ever happens again,’’ the club management wrote on its Facebook page. “We sincerely apologize to our customers, our staff, the residents of Quail Hollow, and the Wesley Chapel community as a whole.” The club also responded to claims that it was woefully understaffed with security for an event that large. It said that, based on the

number of attendees event organizers gave them, they scheduled ample security. “Way more people showed up than they had us plan for,’’ it said on Facebook. The PCSO said that it believes the Carollo family, which owns the QHGCC, fired the Jonathan Mortume, company that was 25, has been named as managing the club. a person of interest in QHGCC is a the May 14 shooting at popular locale for Quail Hollow Golf & Country Club. weddings, parties and meetings. Since 2014, there have been 90 calls to PCSO relating to the club, but none were significant —mostly for noise and disturbances — with 24 of those since May 14, mostly related to the shooting and continuing investigation. Inspectors have been busy at the club since the shooting, issuing a total of $2,172 in fines — for not having a permit for the event (one for the manager, one for the owner, totalling $518), prohibited banner signs ($118), improper addresses ($1,018) and not having a permit for proper storage on the property ($518). If you have any information about this event, please contact Pasco County Sheriff’s Office at 1-(800) 706-2488.

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New Tampa Man Admits To Murdering His Roommates & To Neo-Nazi Ties By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com Devon Arthurs walked into the Green Planet Smoke Shop in New Tampa at around 5:30 p.m. on May 19, held three hostages and then surrendered to police before revealing that he had shot his two roommates back in the apartment they shared at the Hamptons in Tampa Palms. Things got stranger from that point on. According to a Tampa Police Department (TPD) report, the 18-year-old Arthurs ended up telling officers he fatally shot Jeremy Himmelman, 22, and Andrew Oneschuk, 18, because they disrespected his recent conversion to Islam. Arthurs claimed the three men previously shared neo-Nazi beliefs (a claim denied by the family of the two victims in a Tampa Bay Times story). Stranger still, when police took Arthurs back to the apartment, a fourth roommate, Brandon Russell, was outside the door crying. Russell, a Florida National Guardsman, was the one who leased the apartment, according to a federal complaint filed on May 20. Police found Himmelman and Oneschuk dead inside, with gunshot wounds to the upper body and head. After being read his Miranda rights, Arthurs voluntarily agreed to speak with law enforcement officials and confessed to the shootings, providing specific information about the weapon he used and the exact location of the shot placement on each victim. Arthurs told authorities that Russell had nothing to do with the shootings, but that he had participated in online neo-Nazi chatrooms “where he threatened to kill people and bomb infrastructure.” TPD obtained a search warrant for the residence, and discovered a cooler in the garage

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(beneath the apartment) “containing a white, cake-like substance that two FBI and TPD bomb squad technicians immediately recognized …as HMTD (an explosive also known as hexamethylene triperoxied diamine). Other explosive precursors were found in the garage, including one in a Devon Arthurs package addressed to Russell. Electric matches and empty 5.56-caliber ammunition casings with fuses that could be used to detonate destructive devices were discovered. “I know that the HTMD found in the garage combined with the amount of ammonium nitrate and nitro methane also found in the garage would constitute a “bomb,” FBI special agent Timothy Swanson wrote in the complaint. Inside Russell’s bedroom, officers found Nazi and white supremacist propaganda, and a framed photo of Timothy McVeigh, the man executed for killing 168 people in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. The complaint says Russell admitted to being a national socialist (more commonly known as Nazism), and that he had manufactured the HTMD. He also confessed to being a member of the group called Atomwaffen (German for atomic weapon). The Southern Poverty Law Center listed the Atomwaffen as one of 99 active neo-Nazi hate groups. Russell said when he was in an engineering club at USF in 2013, he used HTMD to boost homemade rockets and send balloons into the atmosphere for testing. “Based on my training and experience,

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HMTD is too energetic and volatile for these types of uses,” Swanson wrote in the complaint. He also wrote that he received confirmation from ATF Explosive enforcement office Kevin Miner that the HTMD is an explosive, and that probable cause existed that Russell was intending to assemble a destructive device. Russell was arrested on an FBI warrant May 21 in Key Largo and charged with possessing an unregistered destructive device and unlawful storage of explosive material. Why Russell was released and ended up in Key Largo two days after the shooting is unclear. Arthurs was charged with two counts of first degree murder, three counts of armed kidnapping and two counts of aggravated assault. According to police reports, Arthurs walked into the Green Planet Smoke Shop at 15352 Amberly Dr. in Tampa Palms and pulled

a handgun from his waistband. He ordered a store employee and a customer to the floor, asking, “Why shouldn’t I kill you?” Another customer entered the shop a few minutes later and was also ordered to the floor. Arthurs told the hostages that he had already killed someone and that he was upset because of the American bombings in the Middle East. When TPD contacted Arthurs, one hostage managed to escape, and police convinced him to allow the other two to leave as well. After surrendering, Arthurs made several references to Allah, according to the report. “I had to do it,’’ he told officers. “This wouldn’t have had to happen if your country didn’t bomb my country.” Arthurs claimed he shot his roommates to prevent them from committing planned acts of domestic terrorism.

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BCC Again Pushes Back Vote On Fate Of Quail Hollow Golf Course By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com Lingering concerns about whether or not the property rights of Quail Hollow residents are being considered strongly enough is giving some Pasco County commissioners fits. At a contentious Board of County Commissioners (BCC) meeting on May 9 at the historic Pasco County Courthouse in Dade City, commissioners once again failed to come to a consensus on whether to vote to approve Quail Hollow Golf & Country Club owner Andres Carollo’s request to rezone his property. Instead of making a decision, the BCC voted 3-2 to continue the issue, until June 6 at 1:30 p.m. in Dade City. Carollo and his Pasco Office Park LLC is seeking to change the zoning of his golf course property to MPUD, allowing him to raze the course and clubhouse and pave the way for 400 single-family homes, including 30,000-sq.-ft. of office and retail space and a 10,000-sq.-ft. daycare center. Carollo already has a R1 zoning, which means he already can build a maximum of 306 homes on the golf course located at 6225 Old Pasco Rd if he chooses to. “I’m not comfortable pushing this,’’ District 5 commissioner Jack Mariano told his fellow commissioners. District 2 commissioner Mike Moore, who represents parts of Wesley Chapel, including the Quail Hollow area, and District 4 commissioner Mike Wells, voted with Mariano to continue the decision until June 6. While acknowledging Carollo’s property rights, “I have concerns for the residents too,’’

changes to improve safety and stormwater facilities to handle a 100-year storm (or a storm with a one-percent probability of occurring), when the county requires only 25 years. Since the last hearing, Wilhite says Carollo has agreed to a very strict regulatory program in regards to offsite discharges, and agreed to hire an independent certified inspector to monitor stormwater erosion and sediment control both for pre-construction and during construction, at a notable cost. “We have met conditions that far exceed your code,’’ Wilhite said. When Mariano suggested a continuance to allow more time for Quail Hollow homeowners and Wilhite’s team to negotiate and work things out, Wilhite implored the BCC to The red-shaded area is where new homes could replace the vote. “I know what the (residents’) agenda is,’’ she said. “You heard them golf course in Quail Hollow. come here and object to conditions Moore said. “It’s tough. Many of them were that anybody else that doesn’t want to sold a golf course-front property, and when I stop a project would agree to. They want you met with them I saw titles that were signed by to stop the project.” the applicant (Carollo). I saw the paperwork. It Commissioners Kathryn Starkey of Disstill concerns me.” trict 3 and Ron Oakley, whose District 1 borAttorney Barbara Wilhite, who is rep- ders Quail Hollow, voted against a continuresenting Pasco Office Park LLC, said her ance, saying they were on board with Wilhite’s client deserved a decision, after four meet- request for a vote. ings and “countless” good faith changes to Both commissioners said they were in fahis original plan. vor of the plan put forward by Carollo, because Wilhite argued that her client has gone they are proponents of the rights of a property back and made a number of modifications to owner. Starkey said the adjustments made to the original plans to appease the residents and the original plan made the current version “100 the county, but, “it is never enough.” She cited times” better. agreeing to a binding conceptual plan, traffic “The fact is, these golf courses are going

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defunct everywhere...something has to be done with them and this gentlemen has property rights and I am definitely a property rights person,’’ Starkey said. “They have done as much as they can to negate the worst conditions.” Dozens of Quail Hollow residents again packed the room for the meeting. A handful spoke — including Sarasota-based attorney Maureen Jones, who is representing the Quail Hollow Neighborhood Citizens Group Inc. Those who did speak were often admonished by Moore and Pasco County attorney Jeff Steinsnyder for straying from the allowed topics — the four conditions related to pollution and run-off during construction that had been added to the development plan since the last meeting in April. The June 6 meeting could bring to an end the long process of rezoning QHGCC, which was built in 1965 and despite closing from 2008-10, was bought for $1.7-million by Carollo and refurbished and re-opened. In Jan. of 2016, the first rezoning request was filed by Carollo, and since then dozens of changes have been made to it. This year alone, four meetings have been held regarding Carollo’s request to re-zone. On Jan. 12, a public hearing was held in Dade City, as the county’s Development Review Committee (DRC) heard from dozens of concerned Quail Hollow residents. The DRC continued that meeting to March, where it voted 4-1 to approve the zoning change. That sent it to the BCC for final approval, but meetings in April and May both ended with continuances. Mariano applauded Wilhite and her team’s efforts to get the rezoning approved. “This is the last hurdle,’’ he told her.

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New Audi Dealership In Wiregrass Ranch Holds Its Official Groundbreaking By GARY NAGER

A high-tech concept in luxury car sales is coming to Wesley Chapel. Dimmitt Automotive Group has broken ground (and has already begun going vertical; see photo below left) on its new Audi dealership, a 40,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility off of S.R. 56 in Wiregrass Ranch, that’s considered Audi’s most innovative retail experience yet. Audi Wesley Chapel is expected to open in the fall of 2017 (“probably in November,” according to Dimmitt CEO Scott Larguier). The project, referred to as Audi Terminal, will be a modern, openarea facility (rendering, bottom right, from the Dimmitt Automotive Group) that’s designed to be fully client-centric. “From the moment you enter the showroom, you’ll notice that the entire facility is designed with the customer experience at its core,” Larguier explained during the building’s May 22 groundbreaking ceremony, which included members of the Dimmitt family, Bill, JD and Quinn Porter and Scott Sheridan of Locust Branch, LLC (which is developing the Porter Family Trust property in Wiregrass), Pasco County

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with sleek leather club chairs.” Larguier explained that the hightech building is reflective of the high-tech luxury Audi vehicles that will be on display and sold inside. What customers won’t see are sales desks and phones. “It’s the perfect union of elegant interaction and advanced technology,” Larguier said. Audi Wesley Chapel is the latest example of Dimmitt Automotive Group’s commitment to an elevated car buying experience. The Dimmitt family already features Cadillac, Land Rover, Jaguar, Toyota, Aston Martin, Bentley, Rolls-Royce and McLaren dealerships. Everyone on hand praised not only the Porter and Dimmitt families, but also Pasco County for bringing yet another luxury Dirt and excitement are in the air at the groundbreaking for Audi Wesley Chapel, brand to “the Chap,” as Allen loves to call which will open later this year off S.R. 56, a mile or so east of the Shops at Wiregrass. it. Audi will open just a few months after Lexus of Wesley Chapel, which is being Above photo by Stephen John Photography (see ad on pg. 40 of this issue). opened by the Williams Auto Group. Commissioner Mike Moore and Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce CEO Hope Allen, as well as more than a dozen WCCC business members. According to a Dimmitt press release, the Audi Terminal will “capture customers’ imaginations before they even walk in the door. Its stunning architecture will look like a modern art building. Inside, customers will be greeted with exciting Audi automobiles, iPads and luxury lounges filled

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 12 • June 2, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

U.S.

Women’s

Hockey

Team

Call

Wesley

By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com After a week of practicing and living in Wesley Chapel, the U.S. Women’s National hockey team has decided to move in. USA Hockey announced on May 5 that the team will call the new Florida Hospital Center Ice (FHCI) its home beginning in September, and leading right up to the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea. The 2017-18 U.S. Women’s National Team will move its headquarters to Wesley Chapel as it prepares to win gold at the upcoming Winter Games Feb. 9-25. “This is a big deal for us,’’ says Gordie Zimmermann, FHCI’s general manager. “This is giving us international exposure, and it’s a great thing for our community.” Zimmermann says Tampa Bay Lightning chairman and governor Jeff Vinik was one of many to congratulate him on winning the bidding rights to be the home for the woman’s team. “He called to say this was a great thing for us, them being here,’’ Zimmermann says. Jay Feaster, the former general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning and currently its executive director for community hockey development, says the upcoming U.S. team camp will be great for the area and even better for the growth of women’s hockey in Florida. There is currently only one elite team for girls in the Tampa Bay area, which is based out of Lakeland. “This is a tremendous opportunity for us in terms of trying to grow the women’s game at the youth level,’’ Feaster says. “The challenge is making young people aware of the game, and letting girls know that they can, in fact, play.” Feaster said the Lightning will have a presence during U.S. training. The organization already has invested $6 million to grow the game through its “Build The Thunder” program, which visits hundreds of schools in the area and teaches students street hockey in order to introduce them to the game. Now, Feaster says, that program will be able to incorporate successful, Olympic- and World Championship-winning women into the program to generate

A U.S. Women’s Hockey Team hopeful looks for an open teammate during the final scrimmage before the team was selected, following a five-day tryout (May 1-5) at Florida Hospital Center Ice in Wesley Chapel. more interest among girls. Feaster notes that the Lightning has been working on creating girls hockey leagues for aspiring players, and is hopeful of fielding an elite team to compete around the state later this summer. “Our goal is to get it where you don’t have local, talented kids that feel like to get to a Division I scholarship or make it to the next level, they have to leave the state,’’ Feaster says. “To have this spotlight on us, it’s just a great opportunity for our female players.” Feaster and Zimmermann both credit the efforts of Brett Strot in getting Team USA to make Wesley Chapel its home. Strot is a longtime assistant coach with a number of the women’s national teams, and also is the head coach of the USPHL Tampa Bay Junior (Elite and Empire) hockey clubs that play out of FHCI. Zimmermann says that a few other cities bid to host the women’s national team, but the combination of the weather, Saddlebrook Resort (where the players will stay) and FHCI’s multiple rinks and training facilities was too good for USA Hockey to pass up. “It was just a really good fit,’’ Zim-

mermann says. The announcement that the team would be based in Wesley Chapel came on the same day USA Hockey announced the 23 players named to the U.S. Women’s National team in a ceremony at Amalie Arena, the downtown Tampa home of the Lightning, that was broadcast live on the NHL Network.

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Chapel

Home

The selections came at the conclusion of a weeklong U.S. Women’s National Team Selection Camp that took place May 1-5 at FHCI, featuring 42 invited players and including a scrimmage that was open to the public. Of the 23 players selected, 21 were on the team that recently defeated Canada to win the gold medal at the International Ice Hockey Federation Women’s World Championships. Also, 12 members of the new national team also were on the 2014 U.S. Women’s Olympic team that won the silver medal, after losing to Canada 3-2 in overtime (the first time the gold medal was decided in OT in women’s Olympic hockey). Eleven states are represented on the new roster, led by Minnesota (6), Massachusetts (4) and Wisconsin (3). There are no Florida players on the team this year, but Zimmermann and Feaster both say they hope that someday, that will change. “This is truly a team of elite athletes and great role models,” Feaster says. “Best of all, they win, too. There are two programs that are the preeminent women’s teams in the world, and that’s the U.S. and Canada (which has won the last four gold medals). Chances are, you’ll see them playing each other next year for the gold medal, too.” Look for more stories about the U.S. Women’s Hockey Team in future issues of this publication and on WCNT-tv.

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New Tampa Girl To Chase Hockey Dream In Elite Program In Pittsburgh By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com Lilly Hartnell has been playing hockey for four years, and has evolved into one of the top players around while earning a reputation for her skills as a defender and proving she’s as hardnosed as they come. And yet, 14-year-old Lilly has never played a hockey game against girls. That will change this summer, when Lilly reports to Pennsylvania to join the girls AAA team in the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite hockey program, one of the top youth hockey programs in the country. “It’s going to be different,’’ she says. Lilly, however, is ready. Though she hasn’t been playing as long as many of her future teammates who start at much younger ages in the Midwest and Northeast, Lilly has been playing on the boys Jr. Bulls travel team out at the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon since she began. One thing is for sure – she’s plenty tough enough. “When she was playing Pee Wee division (11-12 year olds), there was no hitting allowed,” said her mother, Valerie. “This one here, she’s so aggressive, she led the league in penalty minutes.” She might just be the hardest-hitting freckle-faced, braces-wearing girl around. An Arbor Greene resident and eighth-grader at Terrace Community Middle School, Lilly’s story may be unique locally, but it’s not entirely uncommon. Because there is only one elite travel hockey team in the state — the Lady Vipers in Lakeland — there are few opportunities for girls players to

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Lilly Hartnell has taken some hard hits while playing with the Jr. Bulls boys travel teams based at the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon. hone their craft against other girls. So, they do what Lilly does — play for boys travel teams, which is rare, or move north in search of better opportunities and competition. Lilly has Division I-A college hockey aspirations, and knew she would eventually have to find a girls’ program to play for. Last summer,

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while competing at a Team USA developmental camp in Kent, OH, she made friends with a number of players who are in the Pittsburgh Penguins youth program. They encouraged her to apply for a tryout, and others suggested the St. Louis Blues and Dallas North Stars programs as well. In April, Lilly got her tryout, along with 70 others. After the first two days, she anxiously checked her cell phone, hoping not to receive the dreaded “You did not make it” email. After refreshing her screen, and those on her parents phone and laptop, “a few million times,” the email never came. Lilly had survived another cut from a field of 40, before playing herself into one of 16 spots on the team. “It was nerve wracking,’’ she says. When she got the good news, her family celebrated in their hotel room with screams, hugs and tears. That’s pretty heady stuff for a player with only four years of hockey experience, but succeeding on ice is in her blood. Her father Sean and his twin brother Stacey, born in Kamloops, British Columbia, both played collegiately for Ohio State. Her grandmother was a figure skater who taught kids to skate for decades in Canada, and her grandfather owns a rink. And, her cousin, Scott Hartnell, is in his 16th NHL season as a left wing for the Columbus Blue Jackets after stints in Nashville and Philadelphia. But, don’t ask Lilly her favorite hockey team — she says she has to like her cousin’s Blue Jackets, her hometown Tampa Bay Lightning, the Blackhawks (since she was born in Chicago) and the Penguins because she will be playing in their elite youth program. “I’m a mash-up,’’ she says, laughing. While her three older sisters never expressed any interest in hockey — twins Lauren and Layne play college soccer at Division II West Liberty University in Wheeling, WV — Lilly asked to play when she was nine and instantly loved it. “The second day I got off the skates, I told my dad I was going to be the best I could at this,’’ Lilly says. Just a few months ago, Lilly thought for a moment she might be done with hockey. During a February travel game, Valerie says her daughter took an intentional cheap shot from a 6-foot2, 200-pound opponent, sending Lilly into the boards and out of the rink on a stretcher. “He literally tried to hurt me,’’ says Lilly, who is accepted and protected by her male teammates, she said, but occasionally, an opponent doesn’t take too kindly to being stopped by her on defense.

“I about had a heart attack,’’ Valerie says. “It was scary.” Sean was coaching the team, and he rushed out to tend to Lilly, while an assistant coach immediately said to call for an ambulance. Her parents had decided last year that this spring would be Lilly’s last season, as the boys she played against had reached puberty and were growing bigger and stronger. There is no open ice hitting allowed in the women’s game, although things can still get a little chippy when players get tangled up near the boards. Like a true hockey player, though, Lilly returned to the ice a week later. She finished out the season with the Jr. Bulls, which ended in Nashville the first weekend in May, at a tournament. Now, she impatiently is finishing out the school year while she waits for her golden opportunity in Pittsburgh. Lilly and her mother will soon start looking for an apartment, where they will stay for the upcoming Pens AAA season while keeping their home in Arbor Greene. The schedule isn’t out yet, but last year’s AAA team opened the season with a TorontoBoston-Vermont road trip, and also played games in Prague and Italy. Lilly doesn’t know what’s in store for 2017-18, but she can’t wait to find out. She is confident this coming year will get her one step closer to her goal of playing collegiately at Ohio State, and then in the Olympics. “I feel like this is definitely going to help me grow as a person and as a hockey player,’’ she says. “While I’m going to miss my teammates (at the Jr. Bulls), this is going to be great.”

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 12 • June 2, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

New Tampa Cultural Center & New Retail Plaza Move Closer To Reality By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com The Village at Hunter’s Lake project, which is seeking to have the property located directly across the street from the main entrance to Hunter’s Green on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. rezoned from community commercial (CC) to mixed use (PD), passed its first hearing before the Tampa City Council. The City Council approved a number of waiver requests by the developers, including the most important one — adding both a second and third access point from BBD into the development. The second reading is scheduled for Thursday, June 1, 9:30 a.m., at the Old City Hall on Kennedy Blvd. in downtown Tampa. If the project is approved, that will pave the way for developers Harrison Bennett Properties and Regency Centers to begin work. The developers requested the rezoning change for multi-use on the 14 acres of developable land on the 80-acre parcel to accommodate a 30,000-sq.-ft. Cultural Center; a four-story, 241-unit multi-family project called The Haven at Hunter’s Lake; a green grocer; a retail shopping strip center; a restaurant (with a drive-in window) and a community park with a dog park. At the May 11 meeting before the City Council, the Hunter’s Lake developers requested a waiver to reduce the number of loading zones and parking spots and some slight wetlands reduction, which didn’t spark any debate. City of Tampa senior planning engineer Melanie Calloway, however, did object to the request for additional access points. The main entrance into the Village at Hunter’s Lake will be directly across BBD from Hunter’s Green Dr. However, developers want additional access points south of the proposed main entrance (where there is currently a maintenance road) and to the north at Hunter’s Lake Dr., which already leads to Suntrust Bank and LifePoint Church on the east side of BBD. Calloway pointed out that for the last 20 years, the City of Tampa has been very deliberate and consistent about granting access points on BBD to preserve capacity limits and limit anything detrimental to the roadway. “We have spent a lot of money (on BBD),’’ she said. Calloway also noted that other areas in New Tampa along BBD have been developed with fewer access points, like Tampa Palms Area 4 — which has 701 development units, 484 single family units, 400 hotel rooms, 85,000-sq.ft. of commercial and business of-

City Council member and New Tampa resident Luis Viera (top left, in blue) voted to pass the Village at Hunter’s Lake project onto a second reading. The project, approved 6-0 by the Council, will include 241 multi-family units, the long-awaited New Tampa Cultural Center and a strip shopping center.

fice — and only three access points along BBD. “This proposed property has 250 multifamily, 72,000-sq.-ft. of commercial, a cultural center and a dog park,’’ Calloway said. “And they want three access points. We find that being a little bit excessive.” If an access point at Hunter’s Lake Dr. is approved, the left turn lane at that intersection would be lengthened to reduce traffic backing up. Without that access point, lawyers for the developers argued, drivers who miss the main entrance would have to make a U-turn and traffic would likely back up on northbound BBD. The other concern was that the existing HART bus stop on the southbound side of BBD would create a public safety issue. “It (the bus stop) would be safer with the access we are proposing,’’ said Steve Henry, a transportation and civil engineer and president of Lincks & Associates. Henry pointed out that Walmart and other smaller locations already have two access points along BBD. Jeff Cobb, the vice president of the Hunter’s Green Community Association, voiced support for the project, calling it a “Hyde Park-esque effort that will serve, support and enhance New Tampa.” But, with 5,000 residents and 1,000 visitors a day (according to Cobb), he voiced concern that without a second access point, and the likelihood of traffic backing up at the only left turn into the project, would create problems. Patrons, he said, would make the decision to turn right at the light at Hunter’s Green, and once inside, make a U-turn to enter the Village at Hunter’s Lake from Hunter’s Green. “It’s a safety issue,’’ he said. “We think it’s critical you support this second left turn.” Despite the city’s concerns about additional access points, the City Council ultimately voted 6-0 to approve them (and the rest of the

project) and send it to a final reading and public hearing next month. According to the New Tampa Commercial Overlay District Development Standards, a proposed new access point to BBD, “shall constitute a substantial change to the approved zoning site plan, as well as an amendment to the DRI, where applicable, both of which shall require approval by City Council.” District 2 Hillsborough County Commissioner Victor Crist, a Hunter’s Green resident, has long championed the project, the jewel of which is the Cultural Center that will be home to the New Tampa Players (NTP), a local theatre troupe. In December, he told NTP that he hoped the Cultural Center could be open by 2019, and was working hard to secure funding. NTP has been lobbying the county and

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 12 • June 2, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

city of Tampa governments for a Cultural Center since 2000. The Harrison Bennett Properties proposal was initially approved by the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners by a 7-0 vote in December 2014. “This has taken a lot of effort over three years,’’ said David Freeman, the president of Harrison Bennett Properties, which also developed The Walk at Highwoods Preserve. Freeman sees this Village at Hunter’s Lake project as New Tampa’s downtown. “We’ve got these communities, like Hunter’s Green and Tampa Palms, which individually are great master-planned communities but don’t really work together as a whole. We see this project really as the linchpin to bring everything together.”

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JUNE 2017 Saturday, June 3

BayChapel Food Pantry - Free food to help needy families. Open every Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., behind Christian Brothers Automotive on Bruce B. Downs Blvd., at 20300 Trout Creek Dr., New Tampa. Visit BayChapel.org. “Amazing Grace” Building Project - See story on next page.

Sunday, June 4

Meditation Group - All faiths and all levels of meditation experience are welcome at this free meeting at Sanctuary Wellness Center, 8903 Regents Park Dr., Suite 120, 10 - 11 a.m. For more info, see “The Sanctuary Wellness Center in New Tampa” on Facebook or “New Tampa Intuitive Development Center” on Meetup.

Monday, June 5

Professional Business Connections (PBC) - PBC meets Mondays at 7:45 a.m. at The Happy Hangar Cafe (at Tampa North Aero Park, 4241 Birdsong Blvd., off S.R. 54, Lutz). For info, call Matt Archbold at (813) 782-1777. Wesley Chapel Speaks - The Wesley Chapel Toastmasters meets every Monday at 6 p.m. for networking, 6:30 pm for public speaking, at Wesley Chapel Nissan (28519 State Rd 54). For more info, call Martin at (813) 693-0969.

Tuesday, June 6

Keep It Local - This seat-specific networking group emphasizes small, local businesses. Meets meets every Tuesday, 11:30 a.m., at GrillSmith at The Shops at Wiregrass. For more info, call Marino Cecchi at (813) 513-9001. NAMI Friends & Family: Mental Health Support Group - NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) of Pasco support group for friends & family of those with mental illness. The group meets the 1st & 3rd Tues. of each month, 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m., at Atonement Lutheran Church (29617 S.R. 54). For info, visit NAMIPasco.com. Pasco Fine Arts Council Summer Art Adventure for Kids - Art classes for kids throughout the summer, through July 27. Held at Pasco Fine Arts Council, 4145 Fairford Drive in New Port Richey. Visit PascoArts.org for schedule and registration information. GFWC Pasco Junior Woman’s Club - Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Lexington Oaks Clubhouse, 26304 Lexington Oaks Blvd. Visit GFWCPascoJWC.blogspot.com or Facebook.com/GFWCPascoJuniors for more informaiton.

Wednesday, June 7

Business Networking International (BNI) - BNI, a group of business pros dedicated to helping their member businesses grow through qualified referrals, meets every Wed., 7:30 a.m., at the Cory Lake Isles Beach Club clubhouse (10441 Cory Lake Dr.) in New Tampa. Call Bill Sullivan at (813) 994-1143. Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel - The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel (Noon) is now meeting meets Wed. at noon at Lexington Oaks Golf Club (26133 Lexington Oaks Blvd.). First-time guests attend for free. For more info, call (813) 862-8989 or (813) 391-3895. Live Oak Preserve Food Truck Rally - Open to the public! Features fresh produce, a variety of vendors, and food trucks. Summer events held the first Wednesday of each month from 5-8 p.m. 9401 Oak Preserve. Info at facebook. com/LiveOakPreserve.

networking at GrillSmith at the Shops at Wiregrass mall. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m.; lunch is noon-1 p.m. For more info, visit RGANetwork.net. Celebrate Recovery - Meeting Thursdays at 7 p.m. at Bridgeway Church (30660 Wells Rd.), the purpose of Celebrate Recovery is to bring freedom from dysfunctional, compulsive & addictive behaviors through biblically-based principles. Dinner & free childcare available. For info, call (813) 907-1313.

Friday, June 9

Mental Health Support Group - NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) of Pasco is a support group for adults in Pasco County living with mental illness or in recovery. The group meets the 2nd & 4th Friday of each month, 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m. at Atonement Lutheran Church (29617 S.R. 54). For info, visit NAMIPasco.org.

Saturday, June 10

Live Oak Preserve Farmer’s Market - Open to the public, second Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Features fresh produce, a variety of vendors, and food trucks. 9401 Oak Preserve. Info at facebook.com/LiveOakPreserve. Beauty Pageant Preview - Be the first to know all the details for the 2017 Miss Pageants with a Purpose finals to be held on Saturday, May 20. This is a free event & refreshments will be served. Special Pageant Packages available for those who attend Pageant Preview! To be held at Mid-Florida Credit Union Community Room (20401 BBD Blvd.), 9 a.m., Please R.S.V.P. to (813) 714-6513.

Friday, June 16

The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Sunrise - The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Sunrise meets the first and third Fridays of each month at 7:15 a.m. at Happy Hangar Cafe, 4241 Birdsong Blvd. For more information, call Kathy Schenck at (813) 956-4436.

Monday, June 20

East Pasco Democratic Club - Meets 3rd Monday of each month at American House, 38130 Pretty Pond Rd. in Zephyrhills from 7-8:30 p.m. For more info, visit www.eastpascodems.com or call Wilson Blount at (505) 463-4210.

Thursday, June 23

FREE Nutrition Seminar - Confused about what you should eat? Join Samantha Taylor in this free nutrition seminar where she’ll help you understand nutrition and take away the confusion you may have with food. We’ll have a special guest speaker with a B.A. in Food and Science. Held at 2206 Knight Road. in Land O’Lakes. Visit SamanthaTaylorSeminars.com.

Tuesday, June 27

Wesley Chapel Lions Club - The Wesley Chapel Lions Club meets every 4th Tues., 6 p.m. at Hyundai of Wesley Chapel (27000 Wesley Chapel Blvd.). For info about volunteering, community efforts, meetings, helping the vision impaired & more, visit WesleyChapelLionsClub.com or the club’s page on Facebook.

Thursday, June 8

BNI Networking Meeting - Business professionals are invited to attend this networking organization’s meetings on Thursdays, 7:30 a.m., at Savannah Church (3758 Maryweather Lane, behind Dunkin’ Donuts off BBD Blvd.). For info, call Vicky McShane to RSVP @ (813) 714-6513. Networking For Your Success - The Networking For Your Success group meets Thursdays, 8 a.m., at the Lexington Oaks Golf Club clubhouse (26133 Lexington Oaks Blvd.). All are welcome. For more information, call (813) 994-9944. RGA Network Weekly Meeting - The RGA Networking Group meets weekly for 16

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 12 • June 2, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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New Tampa Wildcats To Begin 20th Season! The New Tampa Wildcats, the first organized youth football and cheer program in New Tampa, was established in 1997 and will celebrate its 20th season beginning on July 5. The Wildcats have their own field very close to County Line Rd. in the Live Oak Preserve area of New Tampa and provide a safe, fun environment for boys and girls ages 5-15. The program’s stated goal is to, “develop well-rounded young men and women who learn not only the fundamentals of football and cheerleading, but also the importance of education and teamwork.” You don’t have to live in New Tampa to play or cheer for the Wildcats. For more information, visit http://www.NewTampaWildcats.org/, call (813) 501-5259.

Amazing Grace To Get More Amazing! Grace Episcopal Church has been serving the Tampa Palms community for more than 20 years in the Anglican tradition (blending Roman Catholic and Reformed Christianity). This makes Grace a perfect fit for cradle Episcopalians/Anglicans, as well as for families of blended faiths: e.g., Roman Catholic spouse and Protestant Spouse, or Christian spouse and other faith spouse. For many years, Grace has had a vision of building a new Sanctuary and enhancing the church’s presence within the New Tampa community. After paying off its mortgage, tithing to help others, restarting youth programs and setting up an endowment, Grace is ready to embrace and complete its original vision—to create an inviting presence in the community. The Grace Vestry has decided that the church now has sufficient funds from the land sale to avoid a mortgage, but would still like to raise one third — or $450,000 over three years — to be good

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stewards for their future home. To this end, Grace is kicking off its “Amazing Grace Building Project” within the community. Grace also is inviting the community at large to become a part of making this vision a reality by supporting the project through traditional donations for stained glass windows, pews, altar rails, and much more.

Upcoming Events

The Amazing Grace Building Project groundbreaking ceremony will be held on Saturday, June 3, at 11 a.m. Join as Grace embarks on this project, which will rededicate the church to the glory of God, serve the congregation, the Parish and the Community of New Tampa. For more info about how to support Grace in its efforts, please visit GraceNewTampa.org or see the ad below. — Submitted to the Neighborhood News

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 12 • June 2, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Debbie & Robert Marvin Now At Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate By Brad Stager Conventional sales principles may be based on the ABCs of “Always Be Closing,” but the real estate team of Debbie and Robert Marvin, of Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate in New Tampa, opt for what might be termed the “ABHs,” or “Always Be Helping,” approach to doing business. With 54 years of real estate experience between them, the married couple have built their business reputations and raised their profiles in the local real estate industry by working hard for their clients who are investing their money and lives in a home. Debbie says they know selling or buying a home can be an emotional time for people, and proceed accordingly. “It’s always stressful when buying or selling a home, so we try to keep that to a minimum,” she says. Robert adds that relationships form the foundation of a successful real estate deal. “From the first meeting, you have to develop a sense of comfort and trust that things will come out the way you want them to,” he says. After getting acquainted, the Marvins say the hard work begins of making sure a buyer ultimately moves into a house they’ll be happy to call home, or a seller receives the maximum financial return possible. And, Debbie says, being there, and on time, for the client, whatever the hour, is part of their routine. “Real estate doesn’t work 9 to 5, and it works weekends, too,” says Debbie. “We’ve gotten calls at 2 a.m.”

Robert adds that there are a lot of occasions when it’s important for the real estate agent to be present, to ensure a deal goes smoothly. “Every transaction has a life of its own and we’re hands-on from start to finish,” Robert says. “Besides showings, you’ve got to show up for appraisals, inspections and when vendors come to make repairs.” The Marvins say they each have their strong points and interests. They combine them to meet client needs and expectations. “We do work as a team, and we each have our strengths,” says Debbie, who moved to Tampa from Maryland in 1990. “I love the listings and marketing side, interacting with the agents and telling them about the house.” Robert, who lived in Ohio before coming to Tampa in 1974, says keeping an eye on the details is what he focuses on. “Understanding the contract and negotiating from start to finish (is paramount),” he says. “There are times you have to negotiate repairs at closing time.” The goal, Robert adds, is for everyone to leave the closing table feeling satisfied with the deal. “It has to be a win-win situation where the buyer, seller and the agent all feel good.” He also notes that getting to the closing table requires flexibility. “You have to go wherever the fire is,” he says. “Sometimes you have the day all planned and something comes up.” However, Debbie says that’s not necessarily a bad situation. “It’s what keeps it exciting, and that’s

the good thing about having the both of us working together,” she says. Repeat business from satisfied customers is one indicator of success in any business and the Marvins have their share of clients who call upon them as their go-to real estate team. Reinaldo and Cassandra Jara of Wesley Chapel have sold three homes and purchased two using the Marvins as their agents and are in the midst of another house-hunting venture with them. Reinaldo summarizes his reasons for doing business with them in three words: “Reliable, professional and caring,” he says, adding that Robert, “is a straight shooter who works hard for his client and is always available. He listens and lends his expertise.” Long-time New Tampa-area Realtors Robert & Debbie Marvin Debbie says that the are now with Coldwell Banker’s office in the New Tampa Center. couple has even worked Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate, with succeeding generations located in the Publix-anchored New Tampa of families, as some of their clients’ children Center shopping plaza at the intersection also have used them to buy or sell a home. of New Tampa Blvd. and Bruce B. Downs “We’ve sold to their kids, grandkids, (BBD) Blvd. cousins and business partners,” she says. They are designated Luxury Home The Marvins, who live in Wesley ChapSpecialists with Coldwell Banker but, as el, are members of the National Association Debbie says, they work for clients throughof Realtors and are now affiliated with

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out the housing spectrum. “From the low 100s to over a million dollars,” Debbie says, “with room for horses, on the water...we list it all.” Managing Broker Karen Krotki says the Marvins are vital assets to Coldwell Banker’s New Tampa office. “We’re proud to have them here,” Krotki says. “They’re a top-selling and top-listing team that provides a high level of service to their clients.” As part of the Coldwell Banker organization, the Marvins are able to list homes to a global audience of potential buyers and can likewise access homes for sale from New Tampa to the United Arab Emirates and most everywhere in between. Coldwell Banker also has resources such as mortgage, title and closing services available to clients. And, while the firm’s reach is global, Coldwell Banker and the Marvins also have a commitment to doing good things locally. The Marvins hosted the Tampa Bay CaresWalk 2017 through its charitable foundation, Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate Cares. Tampa Bay CaresWalk 2017, held in April, benefitted the Gramatica (as in former Tampa Bay Bucs kicker Martin and his brothers) Family Foundation, which partners with builders and developers to provide mortgage-free housing and other assistance to disabled military veterans. The Marvins have each been working in real estate for more than two decades — Robert for 30 years and Debbie for 24 — all in the New Tampa area. When each of them began their careers in the business, BBD had more deer crossings than traffic signals. It was the City of Tampa’s Frontier Land, but they saw the

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potential and became involved in the New Tampa housing market from the beginning, going with the flow of brokerage openings, closings and mergers before signing on with Coldwell Banker in December. Debbie attributes the growth of the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel areas to a mixture of location and investment. “We’ve got it all here,” she says. “It’s convenient to downtown and the airport and we have a lot of restaurants and businesses that attract people.” Not surprisingly, technology used by real estate agents also has changed during their careers. Debbie says that today, her cell phone is one of her favorite tools. “My phone is always with me, so I’m always accessible,” she says. “Whatever they need, such as a copy of a contract, I’ve got it with me.” The Marvins also have a website, DebbieSellsTampa.com, and a Facebook page, (search “Debbie Sells Tampa”) that offer real estate tips as well as current listings. Even with all of the advantages that technology offers to work more efficiently, the Marvins stay connected to what they say really matters in their business. “You still have to have that personal interaction,” says Robert. “You have to have that voice conversation.” Debbie concurs. “You need to be hands-on with people and have a relationship with them...not just a Tweet.” To meet with Debbie and Robert Marvin, call them directly at (813) 8923917, or at the New Tampa Coldwell Banker office at 19026 BBD Blvd. by calling (813) 977-3500. And, please tell them that you read about them in the Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News!

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 12 • June 2, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Still Feeling Pain Despite Your Best Efforts? Visit A Healing Arts Center! By BRAD STAGER

Crossing the threshold of A Healing Arts Center’s door in the New Tampa Professional Park at the corner of Regents Park Dr. and Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in Pebble Creek (a little more than a mile south of the Pasco County line) transports a visitor from the busy and stressful realm of daily living into Kim-Marie Patey’s calm oasis of natural healing and wellness. The beneficial effects begin upon entering the lobby, where the refreshing fragrance of Aroma Land essential oils, such as the pine needle, citrus and patchouli-infused Buddha Blend, mix with gentle harp and flute background music. The soothing ambiance is just one part of creating a healthy experience, combined with Patey’s certified skills as a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) and acupuncturist who heals through acupuncture, vacuum cupping therapy (using suction cups to stimulate blood flow and relax muscles), massage and nutritional coaching Patey is a member of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) and Florida State Oriental Medicine Association (FSOMA). She also is certified in injection therapy for pain relief and aesthetics. For example, homeopathic injection therapy involves administering substances derived from botanical, animal and mineral sources via injection into the skin as a means of relieving pain or improving health function. Patey says the majority of her patients are seeking pain relief, but many are also seeking relief of digestive issues and stress.

Acupuncture is a technique derived from traditional Chinese medicine practices in which trained acupuncturists stimulate specific points on the body by inserting thin, single-use, sterile needles into the skin. Because the needles are extremely thin and are not deeply inserted, treatments are considered noninvasive and are generally painfree. Acupuncture is used to help treat pain, sedate the nervous system, relax muscles and Kim-Marie Patey (left) and Janine Petrossian of A Healing Arts stimulate both blood Center off Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in New Tampa. flow and the body’s lymphatic system. ture,’’ Barone says. “After my first meeting “It’s truly a mind and body-balanced and treatment with Kim-Marie, I was put at approach to healing,” says Patey, who has ease with her professionalism and knowlbeen treating patients for 20 years, 16 at a edge. She provides a tremendous level of Carrollwood location and the last four years guidance and insight as a part of her treatin New Tampa. ment that is absolutely priceless and helps It’s a prescription that works for me achieve a spiritual and physical balance Danielle Barone, a U.S. Air Force veteran that is vital for my well-being.” who uses the Veterans Administration (VA)’s Patey says many of her patients try Choice program to access authorized health- acupuncture after other treatments and care professionals like Patey, who are outside therapies don’t deliver relief from pain and of the VA’s medical system. Barone says she discomfort or promote better health. sought relief from physical pain as well as “People come here as a last resort, after stress at A Healing Arts Center after treateverything else they’ve tried has failed and ment with medications proved ineffective. ask, ‘Can you give me a miracle?,’” Patey “I decided I wanted to try acupuncsays. “It needs to be a primary choice.”

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Janine Petrossian was originally a patient of A Healing Arts before becoming its office manager and now witnesses the benefits other people experience on a daily basis. “Everybody that walks out of this office feels better than when they walked in,” says Petrossian.

Other Unique Treatments

Patey has even more healing techniques at her disposal to treat patients. She says cold laser therapy, using red and infrared light, is intended to assist in the treatment of inflammation and pain, and helps improve skin health by stimulating cell structures like mitochondria, which generate fuel for the cell. Tuning fork therapy (far right photo on next page) combines sound, vibration and touch by using vibrating tuning forks of various sizes which produce different audio tones to the ear and levels of stimulation to the body when applied to the skin surface. Patey says the therapeutic intent is similar to acupuncture’s. A common element to each of the therapies is bringing the body’s structures and systems into a state of harmony so they all function optimally. This is most developed with acupuncture, which is based on the ancient Chinese medicine principle of promoting the free flow of the body’s vital energy, or “Qi” (pronounced “chee”). Patey says that when your Qi is not flowing freely, nutrients are not delivered to vital organs and toxins are not disposed of properly. It is thought that these impediments within the body create discomfort,

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express joy as often as you can.” A Healing Arts Center also offers a variety of products to help support your wellness on a daily basis. There are teas ranging from relaxing chamomile to energizing green tea, a complete line of natural skincare products, books on a variety of wellness topics and the aforementioned essential oils. Insurance coverage of services at A Healing Arts Center through Workers Compensation and as-an-out of network PPO provider is available. The center does not have a formal contract relationship with any insurance providers. To begin your journey to wellness at A Healing Arts Center, located at 8903 Regents Park Dr., Suite 130, visit AHealingArts.com, (813) 960-8833 or see the ad on page 17 of this issue.

such as headaches, allergies, neck and back pain, as well as digestive problems. The skillful use of acupuncture and analogous therapies can help alleviate blockages by directing blood and energy flow to the affected areas. “Acupuncture (photo above) literally resets your body so it can function more energetically,” says Patey, who lives in the Grand Oaks community off Wesley Chapel Blvd. “The teachings (of acupuncture) also are about the spirit and the emotional part of our body. Every organ has an emotional association. It’s a well-rounded approach to healing.” While holistic healing has roots extend-

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ing deeply into past ages, Patey says modern medicine often borrows from the canons of alternative medicine. “Naturopaths and D.O.s (Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine) were using a lot of the natural, homeopathic nutraceuticals, and herbal medicines,” Patey says, adding that wellness is best achieved by combining more than one method. “Healing is available in many forms,” she says. “You’ll get better results when you integrate modalities, such as when you incorporate massage with acupuncture.” Working in the field of natural wellness provides a lot of opportunities to explore related technologies and techniques, but Patey says there is a lot of power to heal within each person. “Live in the moment and take a deep breath,’’ she says. “Pay attention to your thought patterns and

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 12 • June 2, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Caring, Pediatric Dentistry, Orthodontics & More With Dr. Marta Rivera! ages one to 18 (although she does treat some adults, too), and recommends a cleaning and exam when your child turns one. “We can look at their habits and teach parents how to clean emerging teeth,” she says. “As a dental professional, we can see things that are there, even before the teeth emerge.”

By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN

celeste@ntneighborhoodnews.com At Pediatric Dentistry of New Tampa, Marta Rivera, D.M.D., offers dentistry — and even orthodontics — for children, in a warm and fun, but professional, atmosphere. The office has been open in the Tampa Palms Professional Center (across Commerce Park Blvd. from the New Tampa Recreation Center and just 15-20 minutes from most of Wesley Chapel) since 2008. For five years prior to that, Pediatric Dentistry of New Tampa was located in Hunter’s Green. Dr. Rivera — although most of her patients and their families call her “Dr. Marta” — was born in Brooklyn, NY, and moved with her family to their native Puerto Rico when she was 10 years old. She graduated from the University of Puerto Rico with a Biology degree and then graduated from the University of Puerto Rico Medical Science Campus School of Dentistry in San Juan. She owned her own general dentistry practice for seven years and also worked with the Olympic committee of Puerto Rico, taking care of the athletes and children who boarded in the specialized training school. In 1995, Dr. Rivera did a residency in pediatric dentistry at the University Children’s Hospital in San Juan and moved to Florida in 1997. And, after passing the Florida Dental Board, worked in dental offices in Lakeland and Plant City until opening her own private practice. Services provided at Pediatric Dentistry of New Tampa include digital (low-

Health Beyond Teeth

Dr. Marta Rivera (left) sees patients from 1-18 years old in her office in the Tampa Palms Professional Center. dose) X-rays, treating periodontal disease, bleaching of teeth for teenagers, sedation dentistry, conscious sedation with nitrous oxide, cosmetic dentistry, mercury-free restorations and custom-made athletic mouth guards. Dr. Marta mainly sees patients from

Dr. Marta says she tries to integrate a holistic approach when she sees a child, so she not only looks at teeth and dental problems, but also considers other health issues, such as nutrition and food allergies. “Because we see our patients every six months and sit down and talk with their parents, we can talk about nutrition, habits and other information,” says Dr. Marta. “The relationship is very important.” For example, she says, kids with recurrent acid reflux generally have more cavities, so sometimes a child who eats the right foods might still be getting cavities because of acid erosion. “If their nutrition is good, but the child is still getting cavities, I refer them to their pediatrician or a pediatric ear, nose and throat specialist. It could be as a result of food sensitivities.” She says it’s frustrating when kids have cavities when their parents are taking good care of them. “It’s not just sugar or bad hygiene that causes cavities,” she says.

Orthodontics, Too

Dr. Marta says she was the first provider in Florida to offer Myobrace, a type of “myofunctional” (meaning it deals with the mus-

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cle function of the mouth) orthodontics. “Some kids have habits that are detrimental to the development of the dental arches, and we can work on that before traditional orthodontics,” she explains. Dr. Marta says Myobrace is often an ideal treatment to eliminate habits such as thumb sucking or tongue thrust that cause teeth to become misaligned. With Myobrace, a child can correct those habits before beginning traditional orthodontics, or sometimes eliminate the need for traditional orthodontics altogether. “We evaluate the child’s airway for snoring, grinding teeth, enlarged tonsils, poor posture, breathing issues and speech problems, amongst other issues,” she says. “The myofunctional therapy may help, in conjunction with the help of other professionals like pediatric ear, nose and throat physicians and pediatricians.” (Note-More information about myofunctional orthodontics can be found at Myobrace.com.) In addition, Dr. Marta does also provide traditional orthodontics. “I’m not an orthodontist,” she explains, “but I was highly trained in my residency to do orthodontics.” She is happy to offer braces to her patients because they already know her and feel comfortable with her. She says she only provides orthodontics to patients she knows she can help and refers more complicated cases to specialists. Even beyond orthodontics, “We like to offer as many services as we can,” says Dr. Marta. For example, each month, a Board-

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certified pediatric anesthesiologist comes in to provide deep sedation for Dr. Marta’s patients. This might be for children who have many cavities or extractions, for healthy patients with special needs, or for a laser phrenectomy to eliminate “tongue tie.” In addition, Dr. Marta says, “We have a multicultural practice and we try to honor the practices of other cultures.” She explains, “We don’t get away from the standard of care, but we offer other options that can help, but won’t hurt.” As an example, she says, instead of a prescription medicine, she can recommend a mouthwash of essential oil to reduce inflammation. (Note-Dr. Rivera holds a diploma, in aromatherapy and herbal medicine, from the American College of Healthcare Sciences in Portland, OR, which helps her to recommend these types of alternative therapies for her patients, when they are appropriate and preferred by families.) Another way she honors her multicultural patients? “I speak English and Spanish,” she says, “and I am trying to learn a little Arabic so I can at least say ‘open’ and ‘close’ so the kids feel safe and comfortable.”

Feeling The Love

Kristie Bond is a parent whose two children have been going to Pediatric Dentistry of New Tampa for several years and says she is impressed with the ways that Dr. Marta has gone above and beyond to make her children feel comfortable. “My daughter had sensory issues and needed a little more patience and gentle touch,” says Kristie. “We started seeing Dr. Marta when she was about 6 and she’s

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14 now.” Not only has Kristie’s daughter had regular cleanings and check-ups, but she also has braces and will be getting them off this summer. Kristie says the entire staff has a great way of putting kids at ease, and she appreciates how courteous and friendly they are. “We’ve had a very good experience,” Kristie says. “Dr. Marta is amazing. My son, who is 11 now, is on the autism spectrum. He couldn’t do the full-out cleaning (at first), so they worked with me to get him accommodated by using the same room, first showing him the tools and what is to be expected at the cleaning. Then, next time, they just cleaned one tooth. The next appointment, we did a little bit more. Now, he’s able to let them clean all of his teeth. They’ve been very patient and accommodating, and so kind.” Dr. Marta says her choice to be a pediatric dentist has been an extremely rewarding decision. “I’ve been doing this long enough that I’ve seen some of my patients graduate and even have babies,” she says. “They even come back from college and visit me.” She says she loves what she does because of the kids. “They make me laugh,” she says. “We provide a healthy and fun environment, and we have the opportunity to educate them and their parents, too.” Pediatric Dentistry of New Tampa is located at 5326 Primrose Lake Cir. and is open Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. The office accepts many insurance policies, primarily PPOs. For additional information, see the ad on page 19, call (813) 374-0388 or visit TampaHappySmiles.com.

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SPOTLIGHT ON..Premier Heart & Vascular! Over the course of a lifetime, a healthy human heart proves itself to be a reliable muscular pump, beating thousands of times a day and sending blood throughout the body via a network of veins, vessels and capillaries. When working right, most people don’t even notice this life-supporting cardiovascular system functioning. But, when something goes wrong, such as clogged arteries, heart disease or other damage, the physicians and staff of Premier Heart & Vascular Center in the Summergate Professional Park off S.R. 56, can help. Dr. Sunil Gupta, MD, FACC (Fellow of the American College of Cardiology), founded the practice with an objective that has remained constant throughout its 15-year existence. “Our goal is to provide care to patients and do it promptly and do it right,’’ says Dr. Gupta. “That’s what drives us.” According to Dr. Ketul Chauhan, MD, FACC, another one of the physicians at Premier Heart & Vascular, patients benefit from the ability to devote the substantial resources and knowledge available within the practice, where each doctor is a Board-certified cardiologist, with advanced training in diagnosing and treating cardiovascular disease, to provide needed treatment. “We’re able to take care of them from seeing them and diagnosing them to consulting with them and fixing them with interventional procedures if needed,” Dr. Chauhan says. “That’s as comprehensive as it gets.” Premier’s physicians specialize in interventional cardiology and among the non-invasive services provided to patients are diagnostic procedures like tilt-table, treadmill and pharmacological tests; as well as Couma-

din, pacemaker/defibrillator, and congestive heart failure (CHF) clinics. They also perform laser vein ablation, which treats varicose veins by sealing them. Invasive procedures performed on an inpatient basis include angioplasty, which uses small balloons to open narrowed or blocked blood vessels, and implanting stents (small, mesh-like devices made of metal, which are placed inside of a coronary artery to support and keep it open to ensure adequate blood flow). Premier’s cardiac surgeons also perform pacemaker implantation as well as heart valve repairs and replacements. There are seven physicians who are part of the Premier Heart & Vascular team, treating patients at five clinics in the Tampa Bay area, from Carrollwood to Lakeland. “Because of our reputation, we are able to attract good people to work for us — physicians, physician assistants and other staff members,” he says.

Premier Heart & Vascular Center’s Wesley Chapel office is currently located in the Summergate Professional Park at 27424 Cashford Cir., although the practice has a new office under construction on BBD. For more info, visit PremierHeartandVascular.com, call (813) 788-1400 or see the ad on pg. 8.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 12 • June 2, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Euro Pilates Has The Experience You Need To Get Stronger & Feel Better Safely clients start, they often stay for years. “Some clients become very dear friends.” In fact, Maria says, a group of clients recently attended Maria’s daughter Ania’s graduation from USF together. Ania also is a trainer in the studio, who now holds a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Sports Science and works at Euro Pilates full time. “I have successfully cloned myself,” Maria laughs, saying that Ania’s training style is so much like hers that Euro Pilates clients can easily train with either one of them and not skip a beat. Ania has worked at Euro Pilates for three years now. “I really enjoy it,” she says. “The people who come here are awesome. Plus, I like to travel and this job gives me a lot of freedom to do that. For example, I’m getting ready to get a yoga certification in India.”

By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN

celeste@ntneighborhoodnews.com As a child growing up in Russia, Maria Ivanova was diagnosed with severe scoliosis (curvature of the spine). She persisted as a professional rhythmic gymnast anyway, but when she retired, she says she was in a lot of pain. “I was looking for medications or anything to help me feel better,” Maria says. Instead of finding a pill to cure her pain, she discovered Pilates, a form of exercise designed to improve physical strength and flexibility. “Pilates made me feel so good,” she says. “And, when you’re in pain, you just want to feel better.” That was the beginning of a journey that led her to become a master trainer, certified in all levels of Stott Pilates — known as a contemporary approach to original Pilates with a rigorous and thorough education method — and to spend the rest of her life teaching and training others using Pilates. She has been a certified instructor for about 12 years now. Maria is the owner of Euro Pilates, located in the Countyline Professional Center, just south and east of the corner of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. and County Line Rd. (behind Walgreens). Maria moved to her current location in 2015, after being upstairs in the MidFlorida Credit Union building, also on BBD, since opening about 10 years ago. New clients to Euro Pilates start with at least three one-on-one personal training sessions to become familiar with this unique system of exercise. Then, they can then choose to continue personal training, or try out the many classes offered. Many clients do a combination of both classes and individual training.

Why Pilates?

Small class sizes and unique equipment are part of the experience at Euro Pilates in New Tampa that can help you safely build greater strength and flexibility. “I’m here every day,” says Nicole Regush of Wesley Chapel. “Seven years ago, I had just had a baby and wanted to strengthen my muscles. I started doing private sessions three times a week and I just got addicted because I felt so good.” Nicole adds, “It’s nice to have a combination of both independent and group training. In a private session, you focus on your needs more, like if your hips are tight or your back

is bothering you that day. In groups, it keeps me motivated because I see others who are stronger than me, and we get to try so many different equipment options.” That includes Pilates equipment called a Cadillac machine, reformer, chair, barrel, and more, all designed to help people strengthen and elongate muscles throughout their bodies. Maria says Pilates lengthens the muscles so they look lean and strong. She says once

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Maria explains that, as she did, some people first turn to Pilates because they are in pain. “If someone has scoliosis or rotated hips, or has little pains here or there, or if they’ve had major surgery such as a hip replacement or back surgery, we are trained to help.” She says she is not a physical therapist, but has similar knowledge, thanks to her Stott Pilates training. “Everything we do is good for you,” she says. “We explain why we do certain things, like to make certain muscles tighter, to align the body and provide muscle balance.” Others find Pilates for general strength training and physical fitness. Maria says Pilates doesn’t just work the major, global muscles, but also local muscles. So, for example, in the leg, the quad muscle does all the work and your gluteus maximus (butt muscle) does none. Pilates “wakes up” that glute muscle and

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strengthens it. Maria says, “We pay attention to the smallest details of movement.” Many women discover Pilates when they are pregnant and don’t want to lose muscle tone. Maria says she and the other instructors at Euro Pilates are trained to help clients who are pre- and post-partum. Sometimes people come to Maria when other gym routines don’t seem sustainable. “Ladies — especially those over 40 — often find us because they don’t want to be flipping tires in a parking lot or they realize running may not be good for them, so they want smart strength training. It’s not always working harder that gets results. Sometimes, it’s about working smarter.” Maria says that’s what her extensive training in Pilates allows her to teach. For example, she says, there’s no need to push through pain in your lower back to make your back stronger. “The stronger your abs are, the more you can elongate your back, so you really want to work on ab strength. People just don’t know that.” Connie Bainbridge, a New Tampa resident, found Euro Pilates nine years ago when she and her husband and were looking to get into better physical shape. “We both had previously had cancer and heard that Pilates was good for rehabilitation and strengthening,” she says. “We came in and tried it and it was the perfect exercise for both of us. It was strengthening, but it wasn’t as intense as a boot camp.” Connie, who is now 60, reports she is in much better shape now physically than she was when she started. “The classes are small and you get personal attention,” she says. “It’s very motivating. The instructors know exactly what you can do, so they train you at your level to get you to a higher level.” She says she’s been going to Euro Pilates three times a week for nine years, doing both personal training and group classes, and says,

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had three children in six years, so it’s been a whirlwind in our personal lives,” he says. Now that he’s back doing Pilates again, along with bicycling, running and spending time on a motorcycle, he says, “Pilates ties my fitness program together. To be honest, I felt like it was a missing link I had.” Chad says the workouts are a good fit for him. “I have three kids and a wife and a professional career, and — like most people — my time is precious,” he says. “I can get in and get out and have someone looking out for me making sure I’m doing everything correctly, so I’m not going to put myself in a position where I’m going to get an injury.”

Give It A Try...

Maria Ivanova and her daughter Ania are two of the certified Pilates trainers you’ll find at Euro Pilates, located just south of County Line Rd. in New Tampa. who now lives outside of Wesley Chapel. unlike other people she knows who train at “Doing what I do on a motorcycle,” other gyms, she’s never had an injury from Chad says, “you need to be fit and strong, working out at Euro Pilates. “It’s a fun exercise,” says Connie. “In the and also need to be flexible. Working with Maria gives me that combination of strength past when I’ve quit going to gyms it’s been and flexibility. With her past experience as an because I’ve been bored, but I’ve never been bored here. Plus, I have no aches and pains, no athlete, she understands the recovery days and the hard days.” medications, and I feel I’m in better physical He says he first discovered Euro Pilates in shape than many people my age.” 2010, when he and his wife were living in New Tampa. “I really didn’t know or understand Professional Athletes, Too what Pilates was,” Chad says. “I had a vision of Even professional athletes come to yoga, but it’s different and really challenging.” Euro Pilates to strengthen their core. Chad He recently started working out with Reed is an international motocross and supercross champion, originally from Australia, Maria again after a hiatus. “My wife and I have

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There’s no membership fee at Euro Pilates. Clients pay per class or purchase a package of classes. Classes are small, with a maximum of five students in classes with equipment and a maximum of eight with no equipment. “Because we know everyone and how they are feeling,” says Maria, “we are attentive to their needs in a way that’s not possible in a larger group.” Beyond Pilates, there are other classes that use Pilates techniques for a different type of workout, such as Barre or Yoga-Lates, a relaxing combination of yoga and Pilates, set to soothing music, that is offered on Sunday mornings. Maria also teaches Kizomba classes, a smooth, sensual dance that originated in Angola. Maria was the first Kizomba teacher in Florida, and is known as “Kizomba Chick,” traveling the country teaching and organizing Kizomba festivals. For more info, visit the studio at 20743 Center Oak Dr. in Tampa or at www.Euro-Pilates.com, call (813) 7564000, or see the ad on pg. 36 of this issue.

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Decorating Den Brings Your Home’s New Look Right To Your Front Door By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com In 1994, Debbie Garner hired Decorating Den’s Debbie Demboski to decorate her new home in Tampa Palms. She had seen Debbie around, at church and at Tampa Palms Elementary, where Garner was a teacher, and she had definitely seen Demboski’s Decorating Den van. She asked a few of her neighbors who had used Debbie, and they gave glowing reviews. It wasn’t long after that that Garner joined the club of satisfied Decorating Den customers. “The thing about Debbie is that she comes to you,’’ Garner says. “She comes to your house and brings things to show you. If I needed some pictures, or a rug or a lamp, I didn’t have to go out and look for (them). She’d say, ‘Let me look around.’ I just don’t have that creativity and can’t see things like she can.” Garner said she was able to choose items for her home from a wealth of catalogs and fabric and color swatches in the van, with helpful and reasonably-priced suggestions from Debbie, who re-did every room in Garner’s home. Debbie manages a successful blend of convenience, styles and pricing, leaving many satisfied customers, and those customers, like Garner, drive future business via “repeat and referral.” Debbie says working with Decorating Den has a number of “NIFTY” benefits: N: National umbrella, as Decorating Den has the buying power of a

national company. I: In-home decorating, since design decisions are made in your home, in your existing lighting, working with what you already own. F: Free consultation, because not only does Debbie come to you, there is no cost for the consultation nor will you pay hourly fees for her time. T: Training. “This is a very fashion-forward, trendy business,” Debbie says, “so we attend conferences, have private showroom tours, and the decorators from all the regional franchises work with each other to share ideas and collaborate.” Y: Your lifestyle, which includes likes, dislikes and budget, things Debbie makes her highest priority so that your home reflects your personal taste, not hers. NIFTY definitely equaled SUCCESS in 2016, says Debbie, who is in her 27th year with Decorating Den, 25 of them here in New Tampa. “Last year was our best year ever,’’ she says. Demboski doesn’t have a large, glittering showroom, but she has more than enough to meet the needs of clients on the shelves inside a van that operates as an effective portable studio. “They call me because we’re a homebased business,’’ Debbie says. “So when people call and say, ‘Where is your store?’, I can tell them, ‘right in your driveway.’ I have a great selection. We could do a whole house with what’s in my van there.” And she has. With customers scattered all over New

Tampa and Pasco, Hillsborough, Hernando and Polk counties — and even some as far away as Melbourne Beach (see below) — Debbie is always busy. But, she has help these days — Debbie’s daughter Sara McKenzie joined her team about three years ago. “It’s now a mother-daughter-daughter business,’’ says Debbie, whose mother Phyllis Wilcher works as the Decorating Den regional secretary. “That makes it kind of neat.” A Freedom High and University of South Florida graduate, McKenzie grew up in the family business and says she always had a good sense for fashion. She also says that she held back from join- Debbie Demboski (left) and her daughter Sara McKenzie of Decorating Den take the hassle out of interior designing. ing her mom because It’s very intimidating (to try to follow that).” she wasn’t sure she After seven years working as a regioncould meet Debbie’s expectations. “She is so good at it,’’ Sara says. “She can al manager for a small retail chain, Sara walk in somewhere and start spitting out ideas. decided to get certified as a decorator and

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joined her mother on a full-time basis. She says she shares the same creative spark as her mother, and already has worked on a number of big projects. Like her mother, she says she likes to get the customer involved early in the process. Garner said it is Debbie’s penchant for letting the customer lead the way initially that makes her a joy to work with, and why she keeps coming back. When Garner moved to Cory Lake Isles in 2000, she called Debbie again to design her new home. And, 14 years later, after Garner moved back to Florida from New York in 2014, so she called Debbie to do her current home in Tierra Verde. “She is really good at listening to her clients and understanding exactly what they want before she starts making suggestions,” Garner says. Debbie’s first consultation is always free, and there are no hourly charges for the work she does.

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Debbie says that 70 percent of her calls are for window treatments, which also happen to be her favorite thing to provide for her customers. While there are plenty of carpet and furniture stores around, it’s harder for people to find window treatments they really love. Sometimes, Debbie says, an entire room that a client thought needed to be remodeled can be given a completely fresh look merely with newly decorated windows. “I can even help them with total renovation,” she says. “We have contractors that can remodel a kitchen, if we wanted. But, for the most part, people are looking for area rugs, furniture and bedding. We can

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holds monthly meetings with them. Four years ago, she was named Regional Director of the Year at Decorating Den’s company-wide international annual conference. Debbie has a degree in design and business from West Virginia University in Morgantown. Prior to beginning her decorating career, she worked at a number of different retail positions. She says she got into the interior decorating business when she was living and working in Atlanta and a friend, Terri Erwin, became a Decorating Den franchise owner. Debbie went to work as a decorator for Terri’s Sara and Debbie can help you transform any room in your home business and, soon after, with tweaks to your windows, walls and furnishings. started her own franchise before later buying the do as little or as much as they’re interested Central Florida region and developing it. in doing.” She says she continues to evolve as a Decorating Den is North America’s decorator, as new styles emerge. She works largest interior design and home furnishings hard to stay on the cutting edge, even franchise company, with more than 400 after being in the business for nearly three franchises across the U.S. and Canada. decades. But, one thing that hasn’t changed, Debbie not only owns her own Decoshe says, is building relationships with her rating Den franchise, she also is the regional clients and fulfilling their needs. director for Central Florida and manages 10 She understands that sometimes people other franchises. And, while her own personal want a re-design, but letting go of Grandfranchise is in the running for the company’s ma’s old dining room table or Aunt Jane’s top franchise this year, so is her region, where recliner can require a gentle touch. she has helped train the franchise owners; she “I try to work around people’s existing

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things,’’ Debbie says. “I’m more like, ‘Well, gosh, if you have this, then maybe we add some pillows or maybe we re-cover it or maybe we move it back here.’” That doesn’t mean selling isn’t a big part of her business as well, but Debbie and Sara keep the pressure off. The bigger payoff for them is their happy clients. Last year, one of Debbie’s clients was visited by her sister, and loved what Debbie had done so much she hired her to decorate her home...in Melbourne Beach. Even though it was a three-and-a-half hour drive, Debbie decided to take on the task, and it was such a success, the sister recommended Debbie to her parents right around the corner. “I probably drove six times, back and forth, at least,’’ Debbie says. “But it was worth it.” Debbie says that the area most people like to decorate is not actually a room at all — it’s the space people see when they first walk into a home. She has a vast network of places to choose her products from, including companies like Pendragon, Lexington and Century, to name a few. “No other design company out there has 400 stores,’’ says Debbie. “And we have a good, better and best product mix. A lot of it comes down to people’s budgets and what they are looking for. Whatever that is, we can find it for them.” Decorating Den comes to you at your home or office in Wesley Chapel and New Tampa. For more information, call Debbie at (813) 817-2264 or visit her on Facebook by searching “DecoratingDenbyDebbieD.”

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Wiregrass Ranch High Co-Valedictorian Lauren Payne Follows Her Sister To U-F By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN

celeste@ntneighborhoodnews.com Lauren Payne says she wasn’t necessarily trying to earn the title of valedictorian of the 2017 class at Wiregrass Ranch High, but that’s where her hard work and smart choices landed her. She recently graduated as co-valedictorian, with a weighted GPA of 4.79. “I chose my classes based on what I thought was going to be interesting,” Lauren says, not with having the toughest schedule in mind. “I took a mix of AP (Advanced Placement) classes and dual enrollment, and they were all good.” She says her favorites — among courses such as AP calculus B/C, government and statistics — were her dual enrollment world literature and AP biology classes. What did she take for fun? “Oceanography and anthropology were like electives,” she says. “Lauren has a really strong work ethic,” says her mom, Janet. “It is really important for her to try her best and challenge herself.” Lauren’s natural drive to try her hardest has earned her some pretty impressive credentials. For example, she’s a National Merit Scholarship winner. This makes her eligible for a program called the Benacquisto scholarship, where the State of Florida provides a financial award equal to the cost of attendance at a Florida school, including tuition and fees, on-campus room and board, books, supplies, travel and miscellaneous expenses remaining after using award given by the National Merit Scholar

program and the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship program. Lauren is taking her Benacquisto scholarship to the University of Florida in Gainesville, the school from which her older sister Emily just graduated. Emily was WRH’s salutatorian in 2013. “I chose U-F because I’ve been visiting my older sister there since middle school,” she says, “and I always felt like I belonged.” U-F also offered her its Presidential Scholarship, which offers $5,000, $8,000 (gold) and $10,000 (platinum) per year to in-state, high-achieving students. Her plan is to major in microbiology and cell science and eventually work in the medical field. “It’s exciting to be on my own for the first time,” says Lauren, who has lived in the same house in Meadow Pointe her entire life, attending Sand Pine Elementary and John Long Middle School before WRH. While she’s following her older sister’s footsteps into college, she also followed her athletically. Lauren watched Emily run cross country in high school, so she started running in middle school. Lauren became part of a team at WRH that won the Sunshine Athletic Conference Eastern Division championship this year. “I looked up to my sister, so I thought running cross country looked like so much fun,” Lauren says. “Once I started, I really liked the coach and all the girls on the team, so I stuck with it, even though it was a lot harder than I thought it would be.” She adds, “There are some days for everyone where it’s just a really rough

run and it doesn’t feel fun or easy. There’s a point where you have to decide whether I’m going to stick through this. The experience with all the other girls on the team made the hard days worth it.” In addition to being a scholar and an athlete, Lauren also was active on campus at WRH, as a class Senator all four years, president of Mu Alpha Theta (math honor society), a Ranch ambassador (representing the school at different events such as orientation and open house) and a member of both the National Honor Society and the Science National Honor Society. “She grew up liking to try a lot of different things, such as dance, swimming, and playing a couple of different instruments,’’ said her mother Janet. In fact, Janet says Lauren still plays violin but had to stop playing in the school’s orchestra. “Orchestra is a big-time commitment,” Janet said, “Lauren had to make choices. She even did cheerleading for her first two years, but couldn’t keep doing all of those activities, so she had to make decisions about how to best spend Wiregrass Ranch High co-valedictorian Lauren Payne her time.” While Janet is proud of Lauren, will follow her sister Emily to the University of Florida. she doesn’t seem at all surprised great public schools and great teachers who at her success. “Since Lauren was pretty have nurtured her along the way. Those young, she’s always had a curiosity about things came together: good schools, good how things work and has been enthusiasteachers, she gets a lot of support and she tic about school,’’ Janet said. “We’ve had tries hard.”

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WRH Co-Valedictorian Rachel Sawah Heads To USF’s Med Program With Her A.A. By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN

celeste@ntneighborhoodnews.com While many high school seniors struggle to figure out what they want to do next, Rachel Sawah says she knows exactly where she’s headed. She says the journey that’s gotten her to this point in life has helped her to determine her plans for the future. She just graduated from Wiregrass Ranch High (WRH) as the class of 2017’s co-valedictorian, with a weighted GPA of 4.79. While a student there, she also took many dual enrollment classes at Pasco Hernando State College, which allowed her to also graduate with her Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree this spring. “Dual enrollment was a rewarding experience because I was able to take college classes in a college setting,” she says, “so I believe I am now better prepared for a university setting. Plus, there’s a greater variety of courses available in dual enrollment, such as microbiology, that I didn’t have in high school.” Courses like microbiology have helped Rachel determine that she will study neurology and hopefully become a neurologist or neurosurgeon someday. “I thought I wanted to be a doctor, just a family practitioner,” she says, “but I didn’t have any specialization in mind. I feel that taking those extra upper level courses enabled me to find my certain path.” And, she admits, those upper level courses also helped her GPA, which helped secure her spot as co-valedictorian. In the fall, she’ll attend the Univer-

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earned her A.A. degree, it could take even less time than that. “For now, I anticipate finishing my Bachelor’s degree in one or two years,” she says. “Then I might even apply to some upper level medical schools.” Whether she transfers out of the University of South Florida or not, she’s happy to be getting her start there. She was accepted to and offered scholarships at several other Florida schools, but staying close to home was the most attractive to her. “Financially speaking, USF was the best offer,” Rachel says. “They have a great pre-med program and I have basically a full ride, covering books and everything.” She’ll live at home and commute to the school. “It’s really nice to stay at home with my family,” she says, which includes her mom and dad, two sisters, and a new baby brother. While she feels she’s well prepared for college and is looking Rachel Sawah is not only the co-valedictorian at WRH, forward to it, she says her experishe also has earned her A.A. degree (right) from Pasco ence of being off campus for the Hernando State College by taking dual enrollment classes. last year of her high school experience has not been a detriment. sity of South Florida, where she’ll enter “I was still involved in a lot of activities the school’s honors B.S.M.D. (Bachelor (at WRH),” she says, “I was on the varsity of Science/Medical Doctor) program, a combined, accelerated program that allows tennis team and in Key Club, Mu Alpha Theta math honor society, National Honor students to graduate with both degrees in just seven years. For Rachel, having already Society, and HOSA.” She explains HOSA is

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the Health Occupation Students of America, a student-led health organization for people interested in the medical field, with international competitions, in which she placed first in the state in a speech competition, both her junior and senior year. In addition, Rachel says she completed more than 400 volunteer hours during high school, with more than 200 of those at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, plus other organizations and activities like the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life. Those service hours at the hospital also have helped her find her path toward a career in the medical field. “It’s helped to guide me because you see the doctors and you can help them and ask questions,” she says. “Having these in-person experiences, and taking many college courses, all of this is learning for the real world. I’m excited to start the next chapter.”

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WRH Bulls Football Team Preps For Tough 2017 Schedule In Spring Game By ANDY WARRENER The Wiregrass Ranch High (WRH) football team will arguably be one of the top two or three teams in Pasco County, but that does them little good when it comes to making the playoffs because they play in Class 7A-District 8, which also includes Hillsborough County powers Plant, Sickles, Gaither and Wharton. So why not cap the spring football season against, well, another tough Hillsborough County team? That was third-year head coach Mark Kantor’s thinking as the Bulls fell behind 33-13 in the fourth quarter before rallying back and falling just a little short in a 33-27 loss to Tampa Catholic (TC) on May 19. “You don’t know what it’s like going against them (Hillsborough County teams) until you actually line up against them,” Kantor said. “These kids are seasoned guys now and they’ve learned so much.” Spring offered some challenges for the Bulls, who are coming off their most successful season after a 7-3 record earned them a spot in the Class 7A playoffs last season, their first postseason appearance since 2010. To get back to the playoffs, one of the Bulls’ primary focuses in the spring was on replacing multi-facted quarterback Chris Faddoul, who signed to play for Florida A&M University in Tallahassee. Faddoul made the lion’s share of the Bulls’ pass attempts in 2016, was third on the team in rushing and was their primary punter and place kicker. Replacing him is like replacing 3-4 players, but the Bulls have a deep roster (43 for the spring) and a lot of candidates. Junior Grant Sessums, who threw only 28 passes in 2016, took all of the passing attempts in the spring game against TC. He was harried

by the Crusaders’ defense and threw thee interceptions, but also threw for two touchdowns and ran for another. Rising junior Raymond Woodie III comes over from playing QB at Carrollwood Day School (CDS), but played free safety in the TC game, picking off a pass and running it back 40 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. Woodie, a contrast to Sessum’s pocketstyle passing, threw for 543 yards and four touchdowns as a sophomore for CDS, and already boasts 16 college offers from the likes of the University of Southern California, Penn State University, Michigan State University and the University of South Florida. His recent transfer to WRH left him out of the quarterback spot for the spring game as he learns the playbook, but Woodie could end up sharing time under center with Sessums. “He (Woodie) adds another dimension,” Kantor said. “He’s tough, athletic and wants to help the team.” He’ll also strengthen a running game led by senior Daquion “Da Da” McGee, who rushed for 1,063 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns last year but found tough sledding against TC, rushing 13 times for minimal gains. His counterpart in the backfield is fullback Chase Oliver, a 5’-9”, 210-lb. sledgehammer. “Chase is a throwback football player,” Kantor said. “If he played in the ‘60s, he’d be an All-American.” On the Bulls’ first drive against TC, Oliver steamrolled a Crusader defender for 11 yards and a first down. On the second drive, he caught a short pass and rumbled 54 yards, clobbering defenders to set up a short score. He finished with five touches for 82 yards in the spring game, although he never found the end zone.

The WRH coaches are careful not to run Oliver too much, as they also need him on defense, where he starts at linebacker. “It’s challenging (playing both ways) but I have to lead by example,” said Oliver, who is emerging as one of the team’s veteran voices. He says he was pleased with the late charge by the Bulls vs. TC. “You can’t go to sleep, you have to play a complete game,” Oliver said. “I like the way we fought back from 3313.” Speaking of veteran leadership, the Bulls’ QBs will have the luxury of having a seniorheavy receiving corps. Leading receivers Adrian Thomas and Jacob Hill return after more than 400 yards between them in 2016. Rising senior Jordan Miner is a threat at wideout New WRH Bull Raymond Woodie III (6), follows a block by Jordan and at defensive back. Daniel Miner (1) on the way to a big gain in the 33-27 spring game loss to Tampa Catholic on May 19. Biglow and Shamaur McDowell also are good-sized, veteran playing tight end though, so now that I’m lined receivers. up over the tight end a lot, I know the blocks. It McDowell, Miner and Woodie give the felt good to get in there and scare that quarterBulls the most recruited trio of teammates in back. We’re going to do well this year.” Pasco County. Behind Roberts are two big, set pieces who The Bulls also got a great showing in the certainly look like dominant linemen. Lenczden, spring game from senior Devaun Roberts. He whose measurements are not listed on the roster, set a high bar for himself against TC, picking up is roughly 6’-6” and 260 pounds. Senior Nkem two sacks, a tackle for loss, a fumble recovery, a Asomba is listed at 6’-5”, 265. “He’s actually a pass defended and a quarterback pressure from basketball player, football is new to him,” Kanhis defensive end position. “This is my first year tor said of Asomba. “He’s shown some athletiat defensive end,’’ Roberts said. “I’m used to cism and that he can play this sport.”

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 12 • June 2, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

QB No Longer A Question Mark For WCH Wildcats Football Team By ANDY WARRENER

Like every high school football team in the Tampa Bay area, Wesley Chapel High (WCH) came into spring practice with a number of important questions. On May 18, however, the Wildcats may have answered their most important question during their 31-14 spring football victory over Mitchell High, based in the Trinity area of New Port Richey. After a three-way battle to replace last year’s starting quarterback Jacob Thomas, second-year Wildcats coach Anthony Egan declared Isaiah Bolden the winner of a threeway battle with senior Tyler Wittish and junior Jelani Vassel to call his signals during the 2017 football season, which begins in August. All Bolden did was go out and threw for a touchdown and run for another in the victory by the Wildcats over Mitchell. WCH is coming off a 7-2 record in 2016, their most successful season since 2004. “He (Bolden) started looking really good in 7-on-7s this season, so I thought we should give him a shot, see what happens,” Egan said. While Egan also says he liked what he saw in Whittish and Vassel, it was hard to resist the temptation of putting his best athlete under center. An oral commitment to the University of Oregon in Eugene (ranked 21st in the nation by an Athlon Sports preseason poll), after initially committing to Florida State University in Tallahassee, Bolden is another threat in a backfield filled with guys who are a threat to score every time they touch the ball. And, it’s no secret that the Wildcats want to get Bolden more touches. He had nearly 500 return yards last season, including three touchdowns (two on kickoffs and one on a punt return), but with Thomas under center and the Wildcats committed to the running game, Bolden was limited on offense. WCH attempted fewer than eight passes a game in 2016 despite having Jacob Thomas, the county’s leading passer the year before, under center. Bolden may not throw much more than that, but expect those attempts to be a lot more exciting, as the future Duck opens things up, whether he throws the ball or tucks it under and runs. Bolden has high-level speed and his presence under center will pull attention away from the Wildcats’ receivers and backs, who are already talented and numerous. Bolden threw for 95 yards, including a

Isaiah Bolden (above, left, with the ball) won the starting QB job in the spring and delivered a long TD run and TD pass in the 31-14 victory over Mitchell High on May 18. His favorite target during the spring game WR Justin Trapnell (right), who had more than 90 yards receiving, including a 58-yard TD.

58-yard touchdown pass to Justin Trapnell, to give WCH a 10-7 lead over Mitchell at halftime in the spring game. On the opening drive of the second half, Bolden scrambled out of the pocket, dodged one defender and raced 64 yards for a touchdown to extend that lead to 17-7. He finished with 81 yards rushing. Bolden won’t have to do it all, if the spring game is any indication. With a number of talented skill players returning, as well as a good group of linemen, the Wildcats seem poised to take another step in 2017, which kicks off with a home game Aug. 18 against Land O’Lakes. Dexter Leverett, who ran for 1,249 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2016 and had 100+ yards in all nine of his starts, ran for 55 yards against Mitchell, and also led the way with some key blocks. “Us backs, we have to take care of each other,” Leverett said. “Everyone has to do their thing.” Malik Melvin ran for 123 yards in the spring game on eight carries, with two scores. He is a rising star and would likely be the main guy on a different team, and is coming off a solid 2016 campaign. “If you take one thing from our backfield, it’s unselfishness,” Coach Egan said. “They want to block for each other. Now we have three or four guys who want to do it.”

About the only bad news out of the Wildcats vaunted backfield this spring was the expected loss of sophomore Keith Walker, who ran for 48 yards on four carries with a TD but is zoned to attend Cypress Creek in the fall. The WCH defense looked a little wobbly out of the gates in the spring game, giving up a three-play, 64-yard drive, but tightened up and didn’t allow another score the rest of the way (Mitchell’s second, and final, touchdown came on a kick return). Do-everything defensive lineman Austen

Wittish is the only returning starter from the 2016 front seven. He led the team in tackles last year with 93, including four for a loss of yards. The Wildcats’ success this season could hinge on how Wittish, his brother Tyler (a junior), seniors Andrew Brooks and Matt Severson and junior Ben Thomas can gel. Egan mentioned Chase Harris and Nick Hoffman as guys who will factor into the defensive alignment in 2017. “It’s the same system but we’ll have six new guys up front this year,” Egan said.

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‘WCH Softball’

Continued from page 1 say we expected to get to the point we did, but we knew we were going to be a much-improved team.”

An Ace In The Circle

You don’t win in softball if you don’t have a good pitcher, and the Wildcats have a very good one in Jordan Almasy. The newcomer went 13-6 in the circle this year, including a complete game shutout over the Gators during the season, and striking out 130 batters in 116 innings. “She was tremendous,’’ said Mumaw. “She was the reason we were what we were at the end of the season. The way she could just take another team and kind of dominate them was a key.” The Wildcats got strong seasons from returning players like the coach’s daughter, senior Dana Mumaw (a .286 batting average and 16 RBI), as well as from sophomores Payton Hudson (.328), Ashley Nickisher (.367, 15 RBI) and Neely Peterson, who set a school record for home runs (3) and RBI (20), while hitting a team-high .443. Peterson has to share both of those new school records with one of the talented freshmen who helped drive the Wildcats, Anna Margetis, who also added a .338 average to her exploits, and fellow frosh Morgan Herndon batted .370. Herndon wasn’t even a starter at the beginning of the year, and came on late, as did so many of the Wildcats. Peterson, who hit in the middle of the lineup, was walked 17 times, as teams avoided her this season. But, once the rest of the lineup came around, that became a dangerous proposition. After driving in just one run during a nine-game stretch in the middle of the season, Peterson took advantage of a hot lineup, driving in 13 runs over the last 10 games. “When they had to throw to her later in the season because girls were on base, she always came up with the hit to drive them in,” Mumaw said.

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Catcher Neely Peterson and pitchr Jordan Almasy confer during a game this season. (Photo courtesy of Steve Mumaw)

She wasn’t alone. In fact, after a season in which a school-record five players had 10 or more RBI, this spring, the Wildcats doubled that with 10 players with double figures in RBIs. Mumaw says it was a complete team effort. “It was enjoyable,’’ he said. “I wouldn’t say I did a better coaching job or anything, they did it all. I just had to stay out of their way.”

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Wesley Chapel Rotary’s 2nd Duck Derby Rocks Out In Land O’Lakes! By GARY NAGER

Even though I’m no longer a member of the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Noon — which now meets Wednesdays at noon at Lexington Oaks Golf Club — I have a lot of wonderful friends I love in the club and, well, you long-time readers know how much I enjoy a great event. And, the WC Rotary Club’s second annual Duck Derby is one event that truly had it all — family-oriented fun, a classic car show, a free Kids Zone with games, activities and inflatables, an amazing, rocking band and some outstanding prizes, all to benefit the charities the club supports. One of those charities is the Pasco Sheriff’s K-9 Association, which received a check for $1,500 — enough to fund a Kevlar vest for one of the Sheriff’s Office’s growing corps of K-9 officers, one of which was on-hand doing demonstrations at the event. Event chair Jodi Sullivan said she was hoping for a little better turnout than the 150-200 people estimated to have braved the 90º heat and extreme humidity behind the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge off U.S. 41 in Land O’Lakes, but the event itself could not have been any better and still netted nearly $6,000. And, that total includes

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the donation to the K-9 Assn., as well as the $1,000 Grand Prize won by the club’s Sgt.at-Arms Gilbert Bennett, when incoming club president Chris Casella tossed the first of hundreds of small, rubber ducks to cross the fun-

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nelled finish line, powered by Pasco Fire Rescue personnel spraying them with a fire hose. The ducks “battled” for prizes for their owners — who paid a donation of anywhere from $3-$5 per duck in an effort to win a variety of

great prizes, from the $1,000 top prize, to a two-night stay at Saddlebrook Resort to gift certificates to area restaurants and more. To read more of this recap and see lots of additional pictures, see page 36!

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‘Duck Derby’

Continued from page 35

This year’s Duck Derby also featured an “Ugly Duckling” race, where larger rubber ducks from at least 20 area businesses (including this one) were colorfully decorated. Judges (mistakenly, in my opinion) awarded the Most Original Duck title to Allen Collins Realty and the Duck That Best Represented its Business to David Alvarez of DCA Media Consulting, who took some of the photos on these pages. The Ugly Ducklings also had a race, which was won by the self-powered ducks on speedboats from Lakeside Heating, Cooling & Plumbing and Cash 4 Gold of Wesley Chapel. All in all, it was another outstanding event and a great job by Sullivan, her committee and the entire club.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 12 • June 2, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Bosco’s Italian-To-Go Is A True Wesley Chapel Love Story With A Great, New Menu!

BOSCO’s

By GARY NAGER

Italian-To-Go owners Charles and Nancy Frankulin went on their first date for their senior prom at Wesley Chapel High (WCH) 14 years ago. They’ve been together ever since. Both started working at Bosco’s ItalianTo-Go in the Freedom Plaza on S.R. 54 (about a mile east of Saddlebrook Resort) several years ago, where they learned the restaurant business and talked about opening their own eatery some day. It didn’t take long for “some day” to happen, as Linda Carr, the owner of Bagelicious & More in the same plaza, purchased Bosco’s from the former owner, but always with the intent of fixing the place up a bit and flipping it. The Frankulins purchased Bosco’s in January and have slowly been building a following for their tasty Italian fare at very fair prices. It took them a while, but Nancy, Charles and Nancy’s mom recently started revamping and upgrading the menu and the interior of the small, mainly take-out restaurant. “The menu hadn’t changed for 14 years,” Charles says. “We felt like it was time to start adding some new items and improving some of the old ones. Some of the improvements are immediately noticeable — like upgrading the sauce, cheese, crust and toppings on Bosco’s Detroit-style conveyor belt pizza.

While it may never be like true New York-style pizza to me, there is a definite difference between what the Frankulins are serving now, compared with what was being served before they took over. The thing I like is the addition of some great new dinner entrées, including a grilled (not fried) chicken parmigiana. Now, even though the chicken is grilled and not breaded, it is still sitting atop a heaping pile of spaghetti, covered with a zesty tomato sauce and topped with mozzarella cheese, so you can’t really call it “dietetic” (especially with a side of tasty garlic knots), although you can call it “delicious.” The Frankulins also were proud participants in the recent Taste of New Tampa. “We had a lot of people tell us they didn’t now we were there or that there were new owners,” Nancy says. “It was a great event for us.” I recently took our office to lunch at Bosco’s and the reviews were all pretty terrific. Billing manager Stephanie Smith loved Bosco’s cheese ravioli, which she got with a side of sweet Italian sausage. Graphic designer Blake Beatty also raved about the huge, traditional calzone, to which he added pepperoni. New sales and marketing rep Tom Damico enjoyed the cold Italian sub, which came with a can of soda and a bag of chips. Staff write Celeste McLaughlin enjoyed her tossed salad with grilled chicken and we agreed that the Greek dressing served with it was excellent.

Owners Nancy & Charles Frnkulin

Tossed Salad w/Grilled Chicken

14” Meatball & Pepperoni Pizza

And, assistant editor John Cotey and I agreed that our 14” (the small size) pizza was really tasty. The Frankulins tried a recent special, offering the 14” pizza with one topping for just $7.99 (14” pizzas regularly cost $11.49 with no toppings)! We got pepperoni on all of it and meatballs on half for just $1 more. “We tried it for the week of graduation, in order to get people with graduation parties to order a lot of them,” Charles says. “And it’s been working great,” Nancy added. “We’ve sold a lot of $7.99

pizzas this week!” Bosco’s also serves 18” large pizzas starting at $13.49. Specialty pizzas include “Vegilicious”, “Italiano” and Bosco’s Winter White Spinach pizza, starting at $16.99 for a small and $19.99 for a large. I also really enjoyed Bosco’s spaghetti ($7.49) and side of meatballs ($3.39)and the meatball parmigiana hot sub ($8.49). In addition to the calzones ($11.99), Bosco’s stromboli stuffed with three Italian meats and three Italian cheeses start at $12.99.

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Traditional Calzone

Grilled Chicken Parm & Garlic Knots

Bosco’s also has oven-baked chicken wings, a chicken Caesar pasta salad ($8.99) and a huge antipasto salad (also just $8.99). Other dinner entrées include chicken Alfredo ($8.49), lasagne ($9.49), baked stuffed shells ($8.49) and manicotti ($8.49). I haven’t sampled the desserts yet, but Bosco’s does have cheesecake, cannolis and tiramisu, all for $3.39-$3.99 each..

Special Offers, Too?

Bosco’s has lots of great “regular”

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specials, too, from the $16.99 18” pizza with your choice of garlic bread, cheese bread or any two-liter Coca-Cola product for just $16.99 (see the ad on page 46 for the coupon), as well as two pizzas with two toppings each, plus 8 wings and a two-lite soda for just $28.99, and more. Please note that these special offers are for carry-out only. Bosco’s Italian-to-Go (30122 S.R. 54) is open Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m., and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. on Friday & Saturday. It is closed on Sunday. Delivery is available, too, to a limited area for a delivery charge of $2.25 and a minimum order of $20. For more info, visit BoscosMenu.com or call (813) 907-2440 and please tell them we sent you!

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 12 • June 2, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 12 • June 2, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

The Latest & Greatest News About Dining, Retail, Health Care & More In New Tampa & Wesley Chapel!

Irish 31 & Noble Crust Still On The Way, But...

It seems like new dining options are opening near the Tampa Premium Outlets (TPO) almost every day (e.g., signs for the previously announced Wendy’s and Taco Bell have recently gone up across the street from TPO), but the restaurant question the most people ask me is “Are Noble Crust and Irish 31 still coming to the Shops at Wiregrass?” The answer is a resounding “yes,” but neither restaurant looks like it will be ready to open by the end of this month, which was the last thing I heard from Noble Crust Wesley Chapel GM Will Perez and founder TJ Theilbar a couple of weeks ago. Even so, Irish 31, which has existing loca-

tions in Westchase, Westshore, at Amalie Arena and Hyde Park Village, all in Tampa, will open its first Pinellas County location on Clearwater Beach and its first Pasco location at Wiregrass, hopefully sometime in July. We told you about Irish 31, which is owned by former USF football star Jay Mize, before any other news medium, back in January 2016. The Irish 31 at Wiregrass will be 2,800 sq. ft. and will feature the same great chef-inspired cuisine (like the delicious grilled chicken ploughman’s salad above left) as the other Irish 31 locations. Visit Irish31.com for more details. Meanwhile, Noble Crust, which had a widely viewed WCNT-tv episode following its second place People’s Choice award at the

Taste of New Tampa, has a 4th St. in St. Petersburg location that continues to impress me with its array of delicious Italian cuisine with a southern twist, like the bucatini pasta with beef, lamb and pork meatballs pictured above center. Just get it open, guys! For more info, visit Noble-Crust.com.

Taco Son Opens On 54!

Anytime you can offer big servings of good food at a fair price, you have a potential formula for success. One new restaurant that seems to have solved this equation is the third location of Taco Son, which has existing locations in St. Pete and on N. 56th St. in Temple Terrace, and is now open in the Freedom Plaza (next to Grey Wolf Armory; see ad on pg. 37) at 30056 S.R. 54.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 12 • June 2, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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Owner Raymond Rodriguez is an extremely personable, hands-on owner and he knows how to give his customers authentic Mexican fare and very fair value for their money, like the two-taco combination plate (with rice and beans; left) for just $7.99. The place has been packed for lunch and dinner every day since it opened in May and the customers all seem very happy. Check out Taco Son and tell Raymond and his crew that you read about them in the Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News! For info, call (813) 528-8892 or visit TacoSonMexicanGrill.com.

The Chamber Stays Busy

If you think the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) is going to slow its roll anytime soon, guess again. With the frenetic pace of construction in our area, especially here in “the Chap,” even if the summer schedule is a little less full than it has been the last month for the WCCC, there will still be plenty for Chamber business members — and the community — to do during what looks to be a long, hot summer. In May, the Chamber has held its Monthly Business Breakfast on May 2, where Pasco Hernando State College VP of Academic Affairs & College Provost Dr. Stanley Giannet was the featured speaker. Dr. Stan, who used to

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be the Provost at the PHSC Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, is always a dynamic speaker and he and the faculty and staff of PHSC have a lot to look forward to, including the future expansion of the Porter Campus. The Chamber also hosted an unfortunately controversial ribbon cutting for U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis’ new office inside the chamber office (see page 3). There also was another well-attended Coffee Social at Buttermilk Provisions, the Audi Wesley Chapel groundbreaking (see page 11), ribbon-cutting ceremonies on May 24 at the new Axiom Bank inside the Walmart on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in New Tampa and at the beautiful, new Holiday Inn Express & Suites Tampa North-Wesley Chapel (see below). There also was an outstanding Economic Development Briefing from Wiregrass Sports Complex at Pasco County developer RADDSPORTS (see story on page 6), and another fun Final Friday networking social at Glory Days Grill in New Tampa on May 26. This month, you can attend another Monthly Business Breakfast at PHSC on Tuesday, June 6, where the Chamber will debut its new “Explore Wesley Chapel New Tampa” video; a ribbon cutting on Thursday, June 8, at The Joint Chiropractic in New Tampa (see below); another free Coffee Social at Buttermilk Provisions on BBD in Wesley Chapel on Tuesday, June 20; another Economic Development Briefing at the Pebble Creek Golf Club on Thursday, June 22, featuring representatives of the under-construction Lexus of Wesley Chapel; a ribbon cutting and family field day at Pioneer Museum in Dade City on Saturday, June 24; and another Final Friday networking social, at Pinot’s Palette in the Shoppes of New Tampa at Wesley Chapel plaza (next to Office Depot), off BBD. Please note that not all Chamber

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online at LasPalmasCafe.net. And, see the ad on this issue’s back cover for more info!

The Joint Opens!

events are free, although most are open to the public. For info (including all start times for these events), call (813) 994-8534 or visit WesleyChapelChamber.com. I also wanted to give a special shout-out to the folks at the new Holiday Inn Express, which hosted one of the best Grand Opening events I’ve attended, with delicious food from Puff ‘n Stuff Catering and lots of great giveaways, as well as tours of this beautiful, new hotel (my pics did not do it justice) located adjacent to Florida Hospital Center Ice.

Congrats, Las Palmas!

Congratulations go out to my friend

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Ramses Garcia (at left in photo, above right) of Las Palmas Cuban Café (19651 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in New Tampa), for winning the coveted title of Best Historic Cuban Sandwich in Tampa, during the 6th annual Cuban Sandwich Festival in Ybor City on April 2. Dozens of restaurants competed in multiple categories (including Most Popular, Non-Traditional and Traditional World’s Best Cuban sandwiches), but Ramses says he was truly honored (but not surprised) that he took home the Best Historic Cuban title. Make sure you tell Ramses that you saw him in the Neighborhood News, whether you stop in, call (813) 907-1333 or order

Even though I had never been adjusted by a chiropractor before I visited the new The Joint Chiropractic, located in the space previously occupied by the Halftime Sports Lounge at 19014 BBD Blvd., in the Publixanchored New Tampa Center Plaza, I’m a true believer now. The Joint welcomes walk-ins and no insurance is needed because the prices are so amazing. New patients who visit now through June 7 will pay just $19 (instead of the usual $29) for their initial visit, which includes a consultation, exam and a chiropractic adjustment with Dr. Barnabas Bickerton, D.C. For more info, visit TheJoint.com or call (813) 995-7380. — GN

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Boy Scout STEM Fair Held At Florida Hospital Center Ice By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN celeste@ntneighborhoodnews.com

Have you ever seen hundreds of Scouts on ice skates? On May 6, about 350 Boy Scout and Cub Scout families from the Tampa Bay area and beyond gathered at Florida Hospital Center Ice in Wesley Chapel for the Greater Tampa Bay Area Council’s inaugural Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Fair. Boys of all ages, along with their families, tried out ice skating on one of the new skating center’s four full-size rinks, while more than a dozen vendors showed off robots and gadgets on the adjacent rink. “We’re going to do this again,” says Jeff Smith, a Boy Scout volunteer who was one

of the event’s organizers. “We had about 100 people more than we were hoping for. It was a great turnout.” He adds, “The facility was stellar. The majority of the people who came for the STEM Fair had never been there before. The parking was great and the staff offered tours of Florida Hospital Center Ice.” When they weren’t skating, the kids got to watch drone demonstrations and a couple of different 3D printing demonstrations. They were able to interact with robots built by high school robotics clubs, such as Tampa’s Middleton High, and check out summer camps from Busch Gardens and MOSI. Firehouse Subs provided meals for purchase. A couple of colleges also were represented, where parents and older kids could ask questions about technology and medical fields. “This is a way to embrace new technologies and get kids excited,” Smith says. “If all we teach boys is how to tie knots and make a fire with two sticks, Boy Scouts will become obsolete. So, Boy Scouts is embracing STEM as a way to stay relevant.” To acknowledge the Boy Scouts’ new emphasis on STEM, a few attendees were presented with the Council’s first “Supernova” awards. The Supernova awards are part of an awards program that are, “designed to motivate youth and recognize…advanced achieve-

ment in STEM-related activities.” Because the program is so new, only one Scout in the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area has earned it. Kenny Lewis, who is now a member of Boy Scout Troop 180, actually earned his Supernova award as a Cub Scout in Pack 801, which is based out of Hunter’s Green Elementary and where his father, Ken Lewis, is the Cubmaster. Two other Scouts, one from Land O’Lakes and one from Bushnell, also were presented with Supernova awards. Smith says he is now working with Florida Hospital Center Ice to make next year’s Boy Scout STEM Fair even bigger and better. For more information about Boy Scouts and the STEM connection, visit TampaBayScouting.org.

Kenny Lewis (center) receives his Supernova award during the recent Boy Scout STEM Fair at Florida Hospital Center Ice.

ew p! N r i de ersh n U wn O A proud participant in the

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