New Tampa Neighborhood News, Volume 26, Issue 13, June 15, 2018 by Neighborhood News

Volume 26 Issue 13 June 15, 2018

Inside:

Visits To Minerva & 900º Woodfired Pizza! See Pages 38-41

Remember To View, Like & Share Every Episode Of WCNT-tv On YouTube & Facebook! The Direct-Mail News Magazines Serving New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Since 1993! For the complete list of the neighborhoods that receive this publication by direct mail in New Tampa (zip code 33647), see page 46!

HART TO IMPROVE BUS SERVICE! New Tampa’s current one-stop Route 51LX is getting a makeover, with more stops, making it easier for local residents to get to nearby malls, downtown & Tampa Intl. Airport! By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com

New Tampa residents without vehicles and/ or in need of access to public transportation have always lived with a dearth of options. But, that is about to change. Starting Sunday, July 1, a long-overdue, allday, hourly bus route is being launched by the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) that will transform public transportation between S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel near the Shops at Wiregrass and the University of South Florida area. The new route, called Route 275 Limited Express (275LX), will replace the existing and limited Route 51LX. It is funded at $1.2-million annually through fiscal year 2019 by an Urban Corridor grant from the Florida Department of Transportation. The new route will run from Wesley Chapel through New Tampa, the University area and downtown, all the way to Tampa International Airport (TIA). Additional stops in New Tampa will make the

service more accessible for more people who need to use public transportation. Ruthie Reyes-Burckard, the chief operating officer at HART, says it will now be possible to take a bus from a number of new stops in New Tampa all the way to TIA in less than two hours, for the price of a $2 ticket. And yes, the HART buses are equipped with WiFi. “That’s a pretty good deal,” she says. More important is that the new route will offer a slew of brand new stops at New Tampa locations, as opposed to the one (in front of the Lowe’s at the corner of Bruce B. Downs {BBD} Blvd. and Commerce Palms Dr.) that exists now. The new route promises to be a dramatic improvement for those who currently use public transportation, with the hope, Reyes-Burckard says, that the added convenience will encourage more use. The soon-to-launch Route 275LX will merge with Route 51LX to provide hourly service beginning at 5:30 a.m., with 13 stops between the Pasco

See “HART” on pg. 4.

Tennis Event At Hunter’s Green On June 23 To Benefit Victim Of Lyme Disease

By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com

For years, whatever it was that was ailing Courtney Krysa befuddled doctors. Fatigue and horrible joint pain had transformed her life into a difficult struggle. Even when she was able to play soccer for Freedom High, Courtney would sometimes pass out. She developed a heart arrhythmia, several neurological deficits and debilitating arthritis. That finally led to a definitive diagnosis — Courtney had Advanced Neurological Lyme disease, likely the result of a tick bite she was treated for in 2008. Although she wasn’t diagnosed with Lyme disease at the time of the bite — never developing the bulls-eye rash that is often the first symptom of the disease — she has suffered with the consequences and a series of setbacks ever since. While there is no actual cure for the disease, and very few effective treatments, after years of searching, Katie Krysa thinks... hopes...she has found the answer. But mostly, for the first time in a

Courtney Krysa while, Katie says she has found hope. On Saturday, June 23, at noon, at the Hunter’s Green Country Club Sports Club, friends of Katie will host “A Twist of Lyme” tennis social to raise money for Courtney’s continued treatment. Katie, a Tampa Palms resident who plays league tennis with teams based out of West Meadows, is not surprised the

New Tampa tennis community is stepping forward to help cover the costs of Courtney’s treatments. Katie says she already has exhausted her bank account by spending $20,000 for six weeks of the treatment; another 18-24 weeks is likely needed. “I’ve relied on many of my tennis friends during this entire process,” she says. “They have been so great.” A minimum $30 donation is requested to be part of the social, which also will have silent auctions and raffles. The first 50 people to sign up will receive a tennis towel, and everyone who plays gets lunch, two margaritas and an afternoon of tennis and music, provided by D.J. Robby Rob. Once a vibrant, energetic teenager, her mother says Lyme disease has ravaged Courtney’s body, penetrating her nervous system and damaging her kidneys. Courtney missed most of her senior year at Freedom, and couldn’t attend graduation ceremonies. Katie says she has spent over $100,000 visiting clinics in Cleveland and Nashville, as well as visiting dozens of specialists, with every potential solution, most of them not

News: Business: News: Sports: News,Former Business & INSIDE Tampa’sBruce City Council Discusses Summer Vacation? Don’t Leave Surprise! B. Downs (BBD) Wharton High Football Also Inside INSIDE New Tampa Connections ToRoad Pasco. Your Pets Withfor Just Anyone! Blvd. Is Our Area’s Worst Players Declare NFL DraftEducation Updates Page3-17 6 This Issue:Pages

Pages 22-23 34-37 Pages 3-32

Neighborhood Magazine: Neighborhood Magazine: Checking Out Bricks Minifigs The Readers Have & Spoken! Here Their In TheAre Shops At Favorites! Wiregrass! Pages35 39-52 Pages & 46

covered by insurance, leading to a dead end. Ready to give up, Katie says she discovered David Minkoff, M.D., an alternative medicine specialist, at the LifeWorks Wellness Center in Clearwater. LifeWorks specializes in treating chronic illnesses, and Katie says she has been encouraged by the early results. Courtney, who has spent much of the past few years bed-ridden and in a wheelchair, can today walk 25 feet without assistance, and has displayed cognitive improvements. “I didn’t know where to go anymore before I found this treatment,” Katie says. “I didn’t have a lot of hope. I just thought I was going to have to watch her slowly get worse.” After years of disappointment, Katie is hoping her last hope can help restore to Courtney some of the quality of life she once enjoyed. To read more about Courtney’s story and register for the A Twist of Lyme tennis social, visit HopeRisingInc.org. The HGCC Sports Club is located at 18050 Hunter’s Oak Ct.

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WCNT-tv About To Complete Its 2nd Year As Our Area’s Online News Source! An editorial by Gary Nager

I hope you’re continuing to enjoy watching our WCNT-tv — Wesley Chapel & New Tampa Television— segments on YouTube and Facebook. It at least appears that quite a few of your enjoy watching and sharing the segments, whether they’re “News Desks” with yours truly and my co-host Susanna Martinez or senior video editor Gavin Olsen’s outstanding slide videos, which continue to grow in popularity. In fact, Gavin’s slide video from March 7, about the “green” grocery store known as Earth Fare breaking ground at the corner of S.R. 56 and Wesley Chapel Blvd./S.R. 54, has been our most-viewed segment of 2018 to date, with a reach of nearly 30,000 people on Facebook, nearly 17,000 views and more than 1,100 engagements (Likes/Loves, Comments and Shares). And, one of Gavin’s most recent (June 5) slide videos was about the reopening of Amici Pizza on Wesley Chapel Blvd. in Lutz, which generated a reach of 24,000 and nearly 14,000 views and 1,500 engagements. Less than two weeks earlier, on May 24, our “Virtual Tour: What’s Coming Soon to Wiregrass Ranch & SR 56” reached more than 23,000 people, with nearly 16,000 views and 1,000 engagements. And, on April 16, his video “SR 56 & U.S. Hwy. 301 Connection” had a reach of nearly 22,000 people, plus more than 12,000 views and nearly 1,000 engagements. And, the list goes on and on. In fact, the top six videos of 2018 appear in a full-page ad on pg. 34 of this issue. Those top-six videos together generated a reach of more than 127,000 people, plus nearly 88,000 views

New Tampa 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 Marketing/Advertising Representative Tom Damico Advertising Sales & Office Assistant Jannah McDonald Assistant Editor / Photographer John C. Cotey Correspondents Celeste McLaughlin • Brad Stager • Andy Warrener WCNT-tv Video Producers/Editors Gavin Olsen • Giuliano Ferrara Graphic Designers Georgia Carmichael • Stephanie Vokes Flischel Office Assistant & Mentor “Wild Bill” Peterseim

on YouTube and Facebook and nearly 5,500 engagements. We expect these types of short videos to generate even more views and engagements than our WCNT-tv News Desk segments with Susanna and I talking, because they’re shorter and don’t require the viewer to actually listen to the video. Even so, our new News Desk segments also continue to attract thousands of views each and also will now include full captioning, so more people can watch it without having to have the volume on as they watch. Gavin and I believe that having the captioning of every episode will be a factor in finally getting us over the one million total views on YouTube and Facebook I’ve been hoping for since the show started. Over the next couple of weeks, I also hope you’ll look for the return of WCNT-tv business correspondent Mollyana Ward, who held a North Tampa Bay Chamber (NTBC) of Commerce Ribbon Cutting, after the Chamber’s own ribbon cutting at its new office, for Lagoon Realty, the local real estate company in Epperson, where the first Crystal Lagoons® amenity in the U.S. held its own Grand Opening celebration on April 28. Also, over the next month or two, you’ll also see WCNT-tv segments updating the S.R. 54 and S.R. 56 areas near Wiregrass Ranch, and hopefully, a live update (with frosty beverage in hand) from the new Bahama Breeze Island Grill opening this summer. I also want to thank our webcast partner, the North Tampa Bay Chamber and CEO Hope Allen for continuing to support the show and this publication, even though it’s been a little while since Mollyana has gotten to host a Chamber Featured Business segment. We plan to remedy that soon. So, while we haven’t quite yet reached a million total views on Facebook and YouTube, we are approaching 700,000 total views and a total Facebook reach of more than 1.2 million people in a little less than two years (WCNTtv debuted on June 23 of 2016). So yes, I’m pretty proud of those accomplishments. Please call (813) 910-2575 or email ads@WCNT-tv.com for information about promoting your business on our show.

Jennifer Cofini of the Parks Auto Group has taken the gavel back from Dr. Zack Kalarickal as Board Chair of the NTBC.

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Local dentist Dr. Zack Kalarickal has officially resigned his position as Chairman of the Board (and from the Board itself) of the

Table of Contents

Local News Updates.....................3-18

Roadway Study Doesn’t Offer Any Answers...............6 Business Notes: A New Restaurant On BBD?...........8 New Wiregrass Sports Complex Breaks Ground.......10 Storage Units Equal Big Business In Our Area..........12 New Tampa Community Calendar...............................16

Nothing that appears in New Tampa Neighborhood News may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by New Tampa Neighborhood News writers are their own and do not reflect the publisher’s opinion. The deadline for outside editorial submissions and advertisements for Volume 26, Issue 15, of New Tampa Neighborhood News is Friday, June 29, 2018. New Tampa Neighborhood News will consider previously nonpublished outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. New Tampa Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates. New Tampa Neighborhood News will not return unsolicited editorial materials. New Tampa Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit &/or reject any advertising. New Tampa Neighborhood News is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the actual cost of the advertising space itself, nor for the validity of any claims made by its advertisers.

Local Business Updates..............20-26

New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Classifieds..........44

Neighborhood News

NTBC only about six months into his oneyear term, citing family concerns. Immediate past president Jennifer Cofini of the Parks Auto Group, who read the Chamber’s official statement to more than 100 NTBC members at the NTBC’s Monthly Business Breakfast at PHSC’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch on June 5, has agreed to step in to serve the remainder of Dr. Kalarickal’s term. No additional information was available at our press time. But, for additional info about the NTBC itself, including the upcoming meeting/event schedule, stop in at the new office at 1868 Highland Oaks Blvd. Suite A, Lutz, FL 33559, call (813) 994-8534 or visit NorthTampaBayChamber.com.

Artisan Aesthetics Plastic Surgery & Laser Center. .....20 My Pet Sitter Will Care For Your Fur Babies!.........22 Bay Breeze Car Wash & Lube Renovates Its Flagship...24

Local School Updates...............27-34

Bible Study Class Provides Spiritual Support..........27 Turner-Bartels Takes Tech Talents To Nationals.......28 Wharton & Freedom Spring Sports Wrap-Up.....30-31

Neighborhood Magazine

Bricks & Minifigs Joins The Shops At Wiregrass .......35 Minerva Indian Restaurant.....................................38 900º Woodfired Pizza Serves Great Pasta, Too!.......40 Neighborhood Nibbles & Business Bytes.........42

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 13 • June 15, 2018 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

‘HART’

Continued from Page 1 County Public Transportation (PCPT) ParkN-Ride (at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel in Wiregrass Ranch) and the University area, with 28 total stops to TIA. Service will be available until 10 p.m. New Tampa will have stops at BBD and Hunter’s Lake Dr., Hunter’s Green Dr., Richmond Place Dr., Highwoods Preserve Pkwy., Commerce Palms Blvd./Lowe’s, Palm Springs Blvd., Tampa Palms Blvd., Amberly Dr. and Lake Forest Dr. From there, the 275LX will head south, turn west on Fowler to I-275, to the Marion Transit Center in downtown Tampa, to stops on Westshore Blvd. and Spruce St. before arriving at the TIA rental car facility. A route to TIA was a big selling point for Tampa residents who participated in surveys and email questionnaires distributed by HART, which also held 10 public outreach sessions, four on-board sessions and an open house at the New Tampa Regional Library on Cross Creek Blvd. in March. HART proposed three route options. One proposal was a seven-day, 6 a.m.-10 p.m. route running from Wiregrass Ranch to the Marion Transit Center, without an airport stop. A second proposal presented a route running from Wiregrass Ranch to the airport during the week, but only going as far as the University area on weekends. At a public hearing March 28, a majority of the 105 attendees said they preferred the third option, Wiregrass Ranch to TIA, or 275LX route. It was approved at the May 7 HART Board of Directors meeting. “We’ve heard many requests for more

routes for years,” says Reyes-Burckard. “The (current) options for a few trips in the morning and afternoon doesn’t work for people who might have emergencies, or work an alternate schedule. This will provide them with much more flexibility.” The current 51LX route available to New Tampa bus riders is extremely limited. Riders can only catch buses heading Interim HART CEO Jeff Seward (left) and Tampa International Airport south from the Park-NCEO Joseph Lopano at HART’s TIA Rental Car Facility stop. Ride location at Lowe’s, (Photo courtesy of HART) but only at 6:05 a.m. and 6:42 a.m. Riders needing via the Pasco County Public Transportato go north to the Park-N-Ride lot next to tion (PCPT) Route 54 connector), the Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (off BBD in hope for HART is that a more robust Wiregrass Ranch) have no morning options. route will successful. In the evening, buses leave the Lowe’s stop Reyes-Burckard, who has been with at 5:29 p.m. and at 6:02 p.m. to return to HART for nearly 17 years after spending 10 their original starting point, with no stops in years with the Metropolitan Transportation between and no return service to New Tampa. Authority (MTA) in New York City, said The current route was one of the new Route 275LX is part of HART’s HART’s underperforming lines. It was revamped strategy to make their system into established in 2005, but since 2014 has more of a grid that offers more frequency and seen declining ridership. It was projected more connectivity. to serve fewer than 10,000 passengers for She adds that at least some of the impeall of 2018 and the most recent data shows tus for the new route is the New Tampa and that Route 51LX has had 500 fewer pasWesley Chapel area’s recent and additional sengers compared to last year at this time. development still to come. Ridership has been stymied by a num“The development in that area is what ber of issues, including the difficulty getis really spawning the need to include this ting there for many New Tampa residents, (route with more stops and all-day buses) in especially those north of the I-75 intersecour service,” Reyes-Burckard says. “This is tion. But, with additional stops, as well not only an opportunity to serve the comas easier access to the Shops at Wiregrass munity going downtown. It also will serve (and even the Tampa Premium Outlets, businesses in that (BBD) corridor.”

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 13 • June 15, 2018 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

HART’s Route 275LX Stops (As of July 1, 2018)

Wiregrass Ranch Park-N-Ride Lot (BBD, north of S.R. 56) BBD @ Hunter’s Lake Dr BBD @ Hunter’s Green Dr. BBD @ Richmond Place Dr. BBD @ Highwoods Preserve Pkwy BBD @ Commerce Palms/Lowe’s BBD @ Palm Springs Blvd. BBD @ Tampa Palms Blvd. BBD @ Amberly Dr. BBD @ Lake Forest Dr BBD @ Lakeside Commons BBD @ 138th Ave BBD @ Medical Park Dr BBD @ 132nd Ave 131st Ave @ BBD University Area Transit Center (UATC) 131st Ave @ BBD BBD @ VA Hospital @ Sky Walk BBD @ Campus Hill Dr BBD @ USF Pine Dr Fowler Ave @ 15th St Fowler Ave @ 9th St Marion Transit Center MTC Westshore Blvd @ Cypress St Westshore Blvd @ Laurel St Spruce St @ Westshore Blvd Spruce St @ O’Brien St Airport Rental Car Facility TIA

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Viera & Tampa City Council Faced With A K-Bar Ranch Connection Conundrum By JOHN COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com When the Tampa City Council met in early May to debate a rezoning that would allow M/I Homes to proceed with building 700 new homes in K-Bar Ranch, council members got stuck on one major point: There aren’t enough roads in the area to allow residents to get in and out of their new neighborhood. Without connections to Pasco County, particularly merging Kinnan St. in New Tampa with Mansfield Blvd. in Meadow Pointe, more homes would mean more residents who are essentially trapped with just one road, Kinnan St., out of their neighborhoods. So the discussion was postponed until June 28 in the hopes that Pasco, with help from a yearlong Wesley Chapel Roadways Connection Study, which was near completion, would provide some answers. The report is out. And no, it hasn’t. At a May 29 open house at the Porter campus of Pasco-Hernando State Community College, an executive summary of the report was presented to roughly 75 locals — including politicians on both sides of the argument — but didn’t address actual connections in a way many who attended may have hoped. How that ends up affecting future development in K-Bar Ranch remains to be seen. The Tampa City Council will take up the debate again June 28. But, any decision they make will have to be made without any promises of any connections between Hillsborough and Pasco counties. And, Pasco is in no rush to make a decision on the issue.

The public comment period about the Roadways Study ends today, and AECOM, the consulting firm that did the study, isn’t scheduled to present them to the Pasco MPO until August. A final study report will be finalized following that meeting, and then Pasco County will run a public opinion poll — basically an up or down vote on each of the connections, as well as combinations of connectors — in September or October. The Pasco MPO will then meet in October to review the final study and decide what recommendations to make to Pasco’s Board of County Commissioners (BOC). The BOC will have the final say, with no date given for a final vote. Long-time New Tampa resident Jim Davison debates roadway connections with Pasco County residents at an Connecting only Kinnan to open house May 29. (Photo: John C. Cotey) Mansfield — the streets still separated by a 30-foot hop-skip-and-a-jump When it was pointed out to Moore that patch of dirt and bushes — without any other the gap between 500 and 4,000 is significant, connections being made, was not studied. and that 500 cars could be only 250 making District 2 commissioner Mike Moore, round trips, he said “That’s still a lot.” who represents the Meadow Pointe area, says At the original roadways meeting May connecting Meadow Point Blvd. to K-Bar 15, 2017, Pasco residents who filled out Ranch Pkwy remains his favored option, and is public comment cards were opposed to the opposed to connecting Kinnan-Mansfield. connection, but only by a 37-36 margin. “I think some people possibly thought the “Now that we’ve done the study, and study would show maybe just a couple of hunpeople can see the numbers, the true numdred cars a day (added to Mansfield traffic with bers, I have a sneaking suspicion that will the connection),” Moore said, “but the study change quite a bit,” Moore said. shows obviously that’s not the case. It’s anyWhile extensive, the study included no where from 500 to 4,000 (according to traffic recommendations. It only went as far as listing projections). If anyone thinks Kinnan-Mansfield positives — alternate routes during accidents, can handle 4,000 cars a day, it’s just not reality.” economic benefits, convenient travel to attrac-

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tions in Hillsborough County, and relieving the traffic of up to 7,000 vehicles per day on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. and Cross Creek Blvd. — and negatives, like the increased traffic with minimal congestion relief for Pasco County roads and almost $2-million in additional improvements needed, with connections. The study looked at four alternatives, including a no-build alternative that would put up a gate for emergency vehicles and bicycle and pedestrian accommodations at Kinnan-Mansfield, but no connection for general public use. Other alternatives studied included: • Connecting Kinnan-Mansfield and KBar Ranch Blvd. to Meadow Pointe; • Connecting only K-Bar Ranch Blvd to Meadow Pointe Blvd.; and • Doing all three possible connections: Kinnan-Mansfield, K-Bar Ranch Pkwy.Meadow Pointe Blvd., and Wyndfields Blvd. to K-Bar Ranch Pkwy. Tampa’s District 7 councilman Luis Viera, who represents New Tampa, attended the meeting and was disappointed by the lack of specificity in the study. However, he was pleased by the prospect of at least an emergency gate at Kinnan-Mansfield. Moore said Pasco County proposed one two years ago, and even offered to split the costs, but Tampa rejected it. “I’m not looking at this from a political perspective,” Viera said. “If we can have a compromise for now, if a gate is built only for first responders, that’s a net positive. We obviously want to go further. That’s getting to first base, and we want a home run. But right now, that would be a net positive for both sides from a safety perspective.”

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 13 • June 15, 2018 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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Business Notes: Is Something On The Horizon In The Old Vuelo’s Spot?

Is the former location of Vuelo’s Mexican Restaurant & Macaroni Grill close to getting a new tenant?

By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com The site of failed Mexican restaurant Vuelo’s — which was previously Señor T’s, which was previously Romano’s Macaroni Grill — and which has been vacant since May 8 of last year, may soon be showing some signs of life. According to Curtis Rorebeck, the managing broker at Hybridge, the site, located right on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. just north of the Home Depot, has drawn the interest of a handful of suitors since going dark. While stopping short of calling a deal imminent to sell to a group that would open a new restaurant at the location, Rorebeck did say there is an offer under review. “We are going through the process,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of interest on that property.” Rorebeck even said that on more than one occasion since Vuelo’s closed, the property was under contract, but those deals fell through. The current negotiations, however, are “promising,” he says. While the location has been blamed in years past as not being ideal, it will be across the street from (and a little south of) the new Villages at Hunter’s Lake planned for 2019-20, which will feature the New Tampa Cultural Center, 241 apartments, a “green” grocer and other retail stores. MORE FOOD, MON: A few steps south Chili’s (next to Oakley’s Grille), the space formerly occupied by Dairy Queen is being renovated and expected to open as a Jamaican restaurant. LIEGE WAFFLE HOUSE: Batter & Dough, a coffee shop specializing in liege waffles, mini pancakes and high-quality coffee, could be open by the end of the month in the Cypress View Square (which also counts Capital Tacos as a tenant) on S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel. Liege waffles are traditionally made from yeast-risen dough and Belgian pearl sugar, and are smaller, lighter and crispier that regular Belgian waffles. They are served as breakfast and lunch snacks, with or without toppings. Batter & Dough also will sell coffee, milkshakes and fruit coolers, and have a seating area for customers. “We are almost all set up,” says store manager Javier Perez. “We are just waiting on the final inspection.” NEW TAMPA PIANO & PEDAGOGY’S NEW HOME?: New Tampa Piano & Pedagogy Academy (NTPPA), which is 8

The New Tampa Piano & Pedagogy Academy should break ground on its new home on Cross Creek Blvd. around August. currently operating adjacent to the New Tampa Dance Theatre on Cross Creek Blvd., is expecting to break ground on its own building near the end of the summer. Just a few steps west of its current location, developer Abhishek Jain has filed for a permit to build a 4,000-sq.-ft. building, 2,810 sq. ft. of which will be the NTPPA’s new home. Considering the new location is next to a dance studio, music academy and Creative World School, Jain would like to lease the remaining 1,200 sq. ft. to a youth-oriented business, or perhaps a pediatrician. Jain’s wife Judith is the founder and executive director of the NTPPA. S.R. 56 BUSY AGAIN: On the north side of S.R. 56 (across from the Tampa Premium Outlets) in the Cypress Creek Town Center Development of Regional Impact (DRI) in Wesley Chapel, things are going to start heating up again, as a flurry of building permits are working their way through Pasco County. Just this month, permitting requests have been made for the beginnings of a 20,000-sq.-ft. Home Goods store, a 40,565-sq.ft. Burlington Coat Factory, and a 24,254-sq.-ft. Earth Fare, the first green grocer to land in Wesley Chapel (as we reported last issue). Permits for four shell buildings, ranging between 1,919-sq.-ft. and 3,000-sq.ft., are being processed as well, although no tenants had been publicly named at our press time. Those buildings could be homes for some businesses that Dilip Kanji, the Impact Properties president and developer of the Hyatt Place Hotel & Convention Center, said previously were on their way. As previously reported by the Neighborhood News, those include Chipotle Mexican Grill, Total Wine & More, Walk-

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 13 • June 15, 2018 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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Long Awaited Indoor Sports Complex Finally Breaks Ground In Wiregrass Ranch! By GARY NAGER & JOHN C. COTEY Wesley Chapel has had quite a few transcendent moments the last two years — from the opening of Florida Hospital Center Ice in 2017 to the completion of the first Crystal Lagoons® amenity in the U.S. a couple of months ago. But, there’s always room for one more, right? On June 7, years of frustration and failure were finally buried by shovel-toting dignitaries, as the long-awaited and much-anticipated multiuse Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex finally broke ground. Adam Thomas, the director of Pasco’s office of tourism development, as well as the director of Visit Pasco (VisitPasco.net) — who has only been in his job seven months — was genuinely excited to be the one who got to emcee the event. Thomas said, “This project, a public-private partnership between Pasco County and RADDSPORTS, has been two years in the making, so I kind of lucked into being the guy who gets to host it.” Jonesboro-based RADDSPORTS, LLC, is developing the $44-million sports complex, which is being built on a 224-acre parcel donated by the Porter family. The complex also will include a full-service 128-room Marriottbranded Residence Inn. Other speakers at the event — all of whom raved about the partnership between the Porters, the county and RADDSPORTS — included District 2 Pasco County commissioner Mike Moore, Dist. 36 State Representative Amber Mariano, JD Porter, the owner/developer of Wiregrass Ranch, RADDSPORTS CEO and president Richard Blalock and Julianne Corlew, the VP and managing partner of Mainsail Lodging & Development, which is developing the Residence Inn.

(Left) Adam Thomas of Visit Pasco hosted the June 7 groundbreaking (right) of the new 64,000-sq.-ft. RADDSPORTS /Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex. More than 200 people attended the event, including four of Pasco’s five county commissioners and other local dignitaries who donned hardhats to toss some dirt. Moore told the crowd, “I think we have kids and will have meeting space for non-sports be an all-purpose, state-of-the-art facility and the right team in place to make this happen, activities. My partner and I thank the county one of the few of its kind in Florida. wouldn’t you agree?,” which was greeted by commission and the county staff for having the Blalock, who helped transform Newberry’s thunderous applause. “This will help our local vision to make it happen. Hopefully, by this time sports recreation scene as the tiny central Florida sports teams and leagues 365 days a year, with next year, we’ll be inside the building.” city’s recreation director, said that “Pasco is visitors not just from out of state but from all He also thanked North Tampa Bay Champositioning itself as a leader in sports with this around Florida, too.” complex. There are eight basketball and 16 volber (see page 3) CEO Hope Allen. “Hope was Porter agreed, “We’re on the brink of some- leyball courts, with room for other indoor and the first community leader we met when we thing great here, and it’s been 15 years that we’ve “mat” sorts, from cheerleading to soccer and started this and she’s been on board ever since.” wanted to do this. But, thanks to the county Meanwhile, Corlew said that the Residence even lacrosse to pickleball, one of the fastestcommission’s leadership, we now have the ability Inn by Marriott that Mainsail is developing in growing sports in the country.” to make it happen and bring the best competition In fact, on hand during the groundbreaking conjunction with the complex will feature 128 here. I appreciate this public-private partnership. event were cheerleaders from Team Cheer Wesley suite-style rooms, with hot breakfast served Let’s create a great community together!” Chapel, kids from the Wesley Chapel Athletic daily, with social activities, trail maps and a Porter also was proud to trumpet the fact Association shooting basketball on a makeshift rooftop bar, the mere mention of which drew that, “The infrastructure already is here. Our court and even members of the West Pasco Fut“ooohs” and “aaahs” from the attendees. planned Town Center is right across that creek, “We’re very proud to be part of this probol Club and Florida Premier Soccer. and there are 30-plus miles of trails in Wiregrass.” Blalock also noted that although all of the ject,” Corlew said. “We’re also looking forward The complex will be located northeast of programming that will be available Monday to partnering with the other hotels in this area the Shops at Wiregrass, behind Florida Hospital through Friday at the complex hasn’t been set because the kinds of tournaments that will be Wesley Chapel, and will be accessible by Lajuana yet, “There will be weekday programming for hosted here will bring in more people than we Blvd. (where Audi Wesley Chapel is located). youths, adults and even seniors. And, we even can accommodate alone.” Corlew, who was The 98,000-sq.-ft. indoor facility is expected to plan to teach the business side of sports to local speaking a few hundred feet north of the 92-

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room Fairfield Inn (which is expected to open in July) added, “I want to learn pickleball!”

The Facility Itself

For many in attendance, the groundbreaking was the first time they actually got a good look at what the complex will look like, inside and out, thanks to a number of large poster boards (two are shown on this page) displaying everything from the Residence Inn to the gym floors to the other facilities at the complex. The complex is being built with $11-million ($8.5-million in tourist tax funds and $2.5 million in excess bond proceeds from a prior half-cent sales tax bond) previously set aside by Pasco’s Board of County Commissioners, a county-backed loan of $14,253,700, plus $18,750,000 from Mainsail Development. A two-percent increase in the Tourist Development Tax, which was approved last year, is expected to generate $1.2-million annually to help pay down the loan. “Our partners are extremely excited, as are we,” said Thomas. “We know what this facility is really going to bring, not just to Wesley Chapel,

not just the county, but the whole region.” Thomas also said that Pasco expects the sports complex, which also will have an open-air amphitheater, sports turf field, trails and playgrounds, to generate 27,000 room nights per year, and that sports tourism is a $12-billion business in Florida that generates 580,000 jobs. The facility is being called the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex — any name must have Wiregrass Ranch in it, per contractual obligation -— although Blalock confesses that he prefers “Campus” to “Complex.” The indoor facility will be able to host big, national basketball, volleyball, cheerleading and gymnastics tournaments and competitions. But, it will pursue any sport that can fit under the roof. “With an indoor facility, you can go after unconventional sports, anything you can possibly do under 100,000-sq.-ft. of space,” Thomas said, including such Olympic sports such as table tennis, fencing, wrestling and karate. For more information about the complex, visit RADDSPORTS.com.

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Self-Storage Facilities Are Booming In New Tampa & Wesley Chapel! tion (SEO), but back in the 1960s it was merely a ploy to get listed near the front of the Yellow Pages. The two men built six more facilities around Odessa, and expanded to places like Austin and Houston. The bigger players in the “biz,” like Public Storage Inc., currently the largest self-storage company in the U.S., didn’t arrive until 1972.

By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com

A drive through Wesley Chapel or New Tampa still never fails to reveal now development. New restaurants are popping up on every corner. There is shopping everywhere you turn. Major sports facilities are breaking ground. Hundreds of new hotel rooms are almost ready to be booked. An avalanche of houses and apartments is under construction. It is a sexy place for developers. But, the seemingly most popular business in the area these days might be the least sexy of them all: Self-storage facilities. Why the explosion? It’s simple. “There’s tons of money to be made,’’ says Patrick Rairigh, managing partner of Rairigh Realty & Investments, LLC, “and they are great businesses to own.” New Tampa is getting another storage facility as well, with a CubeSmart — located behind the Christian Brothers Automotive shop on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. — close to completion. That pales, in comparison, to the construction of such units just a few miles north. Within one roughly 10-mile radius, five storage facilities have landed on the Wesley Chapel map the last two years. A three-story, 80,000-sq.-ft. CubeSmart (with 94,000 square feet of storage space in all) on S.R. 54 recently opened, with another three-story, 80,400-sq.-ft. CubeSmart facility under construction, on S.R. 56. Morningstar Storage, another threestory unit boasting 100,000 sq. ft. of storage, is currently being built in Wiregrass Ranch, behind the new Fairfield Inn (behind Audi Wesley Chapel). The Storage Center In Wesley Chapel — arguably the most straightforward name of any local business — was getting ready to hold a June 12 Grand Opening (see Calendar on pg. 16) for its four-floor, 76,500-sq.-ft. facility off S.R. 56 and Trout Creek Dr. (behind WaWa), also in Wesley Chapel. And, developers have already met with the county about yet another 110,000-sq.ft. storage facility, to be located behind the Walgreens on S.R. 54 and BBD.

Not For Everyone

CubeSmart has opened this new self-storage facility on Trout Creek Dr., behind the Christian Brothers Automotive shop on Bruce B. Downs Blvd., as well as one on S.R. 54 Wesley Chapel (with another one on the way near S.R. 56). Not only do they make money, the facilities are inexpensive to build, have low overhead costs, require few employees — some can be run by less than a handful of workers — and have great profit margins, Rairigh says. When New Tampa was still in its development phase, like Wesley Chapel is today, he says it was almost impossible to get approval to build a self-storage facility. “Years ago, Bruce B. Downs was the hardest spot you could find to put a storage unit,” Rairigh says. “They were ugly and no one wanted them.” Rairigh Construction built the second self-storage unit ever located in New Tampa, and then sold it to Metro Self Storage in 2003. The first facility was built on Doña Michelle Dr. before also being sold to Metro. When it comes to investments, selfstorage has proven to be safe and reliable. It is a $38-billion industry, according to SpareFoot, a company that covers the storage industry. While the vast majority of the facilities are mom-and-pop-owned, it’s no wonder that many are backed by Real Estate Investment Trusts, also known as REITs. Nearly 1-in-10 Americans pay an average of $91.14 per month to store their overflow “stuff” in more than 50,000 self storage facilities across the U.S., offer-

ing more than 2.3 billion square feet of total rentable space. The average price in Florida is closer to $88 a month. The five aforementioned new storage facilities in Wesley Chapel offer roughly a half-million square feet of previously unavailable storage space. Those facilities, which offer a variety of unit sizes (a 5’ x 10’ unit, for example, is the most popular size in Florida, which would run you $100 a month at the recently opened Cube Smart on S.R. 54) generally operate at an 80-90 percent occupancy rate. The industry even spawned a hit reality television series on the A&E Network, “Storage Wars,” which followed professional scavengers who would bid on storage lockers that had been abandoned or were no longer being paid for.

A Little History

According to SpareFoot, the selfstorage industry as we know it today got its start in the Midland-Odessa area of West Texas in 1964, when two local oilmen constructed a building for customers to house their belongings. Russ Williams and stepson Bob Munn called it A-1 U-Store-It U-LockIt U-Carry-the-Key, which today sounds like someone trying to get their business web hits with Search Engine Optimiza-

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Storage facilities may be money makers, but they aren’t exactly the kind of businesses that excite county planners or chambers of commerce. North Tampa Chamber of Commerce CEO Hope Allen has been a happy promoter and champion of new businesses coming to Wesley Chapel and New Tampa and creating excitement in the community, but she is more muted about the recent proliferation of storage facilities. “Demand is going to drive the market,” Allen says. “If that is what is driving the market, then so be it.” While there is no doubting their money-making prowess for investors and developers, there are areas around the country that are now recoiling in the face of the self-storage industry’s impressive growth, as oversaturation becomes a major concern. Last year, Collier County commissioners considered placing a year-long ban on some businesses, like storage facilities, along a 7-mile stretch of U.S. 41, to encourage, “more desirable land uses, such as restaurants, hotels and stores,” according to the Naples Daily News. “We don’t have any rules like that,” says Ernie Monaco, acting planning and development director for Pasco County. “If there was no need for them, believe me, they wouldn’t be building them.” Besides, there is currently nothing Tampa or Hillsborough or Pasco County can do to stop developers from building them. “At the end of the day, people are investors and want to make money,” Monaco says. “We don’t own the land.” Monaco says the self-storage expansion is, however, yet another indicator of our area’s continuing growth. The more houses and apartments that

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The appropriately-named Storage Center In Wesley Chapel, located behind the WaWa on S.R. 56, is one of the new-look facilities popping up throughout the area. (Photo: John C. Cotey)

are built, and as more businesses move here — Raymond James Financial, for example, is expected to add more than 1,000 jobs to the area — more and more people also will be moving in. And, with new homes getting smaller and smaller, those new residents will need places to store their things. Plus, many baby boomers are downsizing. Over-55 adult communities are in the works in Wesley Chapel, and older residents relocating to the area from the Midwest and Northeast will need to find replacements for their attics and basements. And, storage solutions aren’t just for families who have outgrown their homes or apartment-dwelling downsizers — or even people who are trapped in the consumerist cycle of ordering things they don’t need from Amazon and other easy-to-buy-from websites — but small businesses as well. Allen and Monaco’s greater concerns center on the storage units taking up valuable space in prime areas they feel could be better used for commercial or industrial projects that create more jobs and attract customers during normal business hours. To meet demand, storage facilities have evolved from rows of garage-like units in discreet locations to accommodating and comfortable buildings offering free Wifi in more convenient and highprofile locations. Monaco says more and more developers of self-storage facilities “want the visibility.”

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While the new New Tampa CubeSmart is set off BBD, the two CubeSmarts in Wesley Chapel have roadside locations on the area’s busiest roads, and the Storage Center In Wesley Chapel, while more tucked out of sight, is directly behind a popular and heavily-trafficked WaWa. However, these aren’t your Daddy’s self-storage places, either. The recently opened CubeSmart on S.R. 54 looks like a large office building, and the Storage Center In Wesley Chapel could almost be mistaken for a small hotel. Rairigh thinks New Tampa and Wesley Chapel, when the self-storage units currently under construction or planned are all built, is approaching saturation. But, the interest in building more such facilities hasn’t waned. He says that over the last three years, he’s had a steady stream of investors and developers knocking on his door looking for sites. Price, he says, is not an object for potential suitors. “The model has changed,” he says. “You used to need a lot of land to build them, but now you have climate control buildings that are more vertical. They take up less space because they can be built on smaller parcels of land. And, the builders are putting some money into them. They have nice facades, they look like they belong. “Honestly, some of them look better than some of the office buildings.”

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JUNE 2018 Saturday, June 16

Bay Chapel Food Pantry - Free food for needy families. Open every Saturday from 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., behind Christian Brothers Automotive at 20300 Trout Creek Dr. (off BBD). For more information, visit BayChapel.com/foodpantry.

Tuesday, June 19

Keep It Local - This seat-specific networking group emphasizes small, local businesses every Tues., 11:30 a.m., at GrillSmith at The Shops at Wiregrass. For info, call Marino Cecchi at (813) 513-9001. Edcuational Seminar/Q&A - The Legacy at Highwoods Preserve is hosting a FREE seminar, 5 p.m.-6:30 p.m., with guests from Mortellaro Law to answer your questions about senior living decisions. Please RSVP by calling (813) 605-7734 or emailing hello@legacyathighwoodspreserve.com. For more info, see the ad on pg. 36.

Rotary Club Of New Tampa Noon - The New Tampa Noon Rotary Club meets Wednesdays at noon at Mulligan’s Irish Pub (in the Pebble Creek Golf Club). Guests are always welcome. For more info, search “New Tampa Noon Rotary” on Facebook.

Thursday, June 28 North Tampa Veterans meeting - All armed forces veterans are invited to weekly

lighthearted Dutch-treat breakfast at Steak ‘n Shake just off BBD Blvd. (17509 North Palms Village Place) every Thursday at 7:30 am. Get acquainted and tell your tales, new and old. Bring your spouse and your brag sheet.

SkinScope Event - One Day ONLY! 360 Dermatology invites you to get a Complimentary Skincare Analysis and customized treatment recommendations, special pricing and raffle prizes. RSVP for your consult time by emailing cosmetic@360dermatologytampa.com or calling (813) 406-4835. For more info, visit 360DermatologyTampa.com or see the ad on pg. 40 of this issue.

JULY 2018

Thursday, June 21

Wednesday, July 4

‘A Night of Beauty’ - Riverchase Dermatology invites you to learn about facial rejuvenation from 5-7 p.m. with product demonstrations, special event pricing and raffle prizes. Space is limited. To RSVP or for more information, call (813) 978-8888, visit RiverchaseDermatology.com or see the ad on pg. 23 of this issue.

Wiregrass Ranchers Kids Club - Free entertainment for kids, featuring Mr. Tommy, the first Wednesday of every month at The Shops at Wiregrass, from 10-11 a.m. For more info, visit TheShopsAtWiregrass.com/events.

Rotary Club of New Tampa - New Tampa’s first Rotary Club still meets every Friday for breakfast at 7 a.m. at TPGCC. For more info, including the speaker schedule, contact David Lanigan at (813) 760-6548 or dave@davidlanigan.com or visit NewTampa Rotary.org.

Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening at Storage Center of Wesley Chapel - Check out the newest option for storage in the Wesley Chapel/New Tampa area at 1891 Trout Creek Rd., behind WaWa & Nutrition S’Mart, at the corner of BBD & SR 56, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. For more info, see the story on pgs. 12-13.

Friday, June 22

Saturday, June 23

“A Twist Of Lyme” Tennis Social - See story on pg. 1 of this issue.

Monday, June 25

Thursday, July 12

Welcome Fletcher Pharmacy Customers

New Tampa Democratic Club - Now meeting at a new time! The New Tampa Democrats meet at the New Tampa Regional Library (10001 Cross Creek Blvd.) from 7-8:30 p.m. Guest speakers are featured at every meeting. For info, email newtampademocraticclub@gmail.com or call (813) 563-0845.

Wednesday, June 27

English As A Second Language (ESL) - The ESL group meets Wednesdays at Tampa Bay Presbyterian Church (19911 BBD Blvd. in Pebble Creek), 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Classes are taught by native English speakers. The cost is $40 each semester for the workbook & class materials. For info, call Holly at (813) 360-2077. BNI Millionaire Makers - The BNI Millionaire Makers chapter meets Weds. at Heritage Isles Country Club (10630 Plantation Bay Dr.), at 7:15 am. The cost is $13 to attend, which includes a hot breakfast. Call Lisa Jordan at (813) 621-6015 for info. Business Networking International (BNI) - BNI meets every Wed., 7:30 a.m., at Mulligans inside Pebble Creek Golf Club (10550 Regents Park Dr.). Call Rob Montgomery at (813) 679-6446.

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Dr. Stan Castor Of Artisan Aesthetics Offers Cellulite Treatments & Much More! By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN

Every patient who visits Artisan Aesthetics Plastic Surgery & Laser Center in Tampa Palms is seen personally by Board-certified plastic surgeon Stan Castor, M.D. That’s the philosophy Dr. Castor has continued to embrace since he first opened Artisan Aesthetics in the Tampa Palms Professional Center off Commerce Park Blvd. in 2007. Dr. Castor offers facial cosmetic surgery, breast augmentation, body contouring surgery, liposuction, laser treatments, dermal fillers, facial treatments and peels, “mommy makeovers” and more. “I don’t use a physician’s assistant or nurse practitioner in my office,” Dr. Castor says. “I do all of the consultations and procedures myself, including minor procedures, such as Botox or a dermal filler. If you come to my office, you see me.” Dr. Castor, who is Board-certified in Plastic Surgery by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, earned his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia in 1992, after earning a B.S. degree in Biology in 1987 from Florida Southern College in Lakeland. In 1997, he completed a five-year internship and residency in General Surgery at Emory University Hospitals in Atlanta, GA, before taking on two years of intensive training in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at the renewed Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, OH. He also completed a cosmetic surgery fellowship, offered to only

Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Stan Castor (center) and his professional staff at Artisan Aesthetics offer a variety of surgical and other cosmetic procedures in their office in Tampa Palms. two plastic surgeons each year, with world-re- is currently the longest FDA clearance for any nowned plastic surgeons Drs. Thomas J. cellulite treatment. Baker and James M. Stuzin in Miami, FL. Dr. Castor explains that cellulite is caused by the connective fibrous bands woven Cellfina Cellulite Treatment throughout fat in the thighs and buttocks. These tight bands pull down the skin, which Of the many procedures available in his creates that infamous puckering on the suroffice, Dr. Castor offers “Cellfina” to get rid face of the skin. of cellulite. Cellfina is a minimally invasive A small blade — about the size of a treatment that Dr. Castor says has been clinneedle — is used to cut through the fibers. ically proven to treat the primary structural cause of cellulite for at least two years, which Similar to a rubber band under tension, once

released, the treated skin bounces back to smooth itself out. “What struck me as impressive is that the patient satisfaction rate for this procedure is 96 percent after two years,” Dr. Castor explains. “That’s unheard of.” Because it is more invasive than procedures that only temporarily reduce the appearance of cellulite using treatments on the outside of the skin (including the Accent machine that has been in use at Artisan Aesthetics for some time for reducing cellulite and tightening skin), Dr. Castor says Cellfina will work better and last much longer. It does, however, also have a higher cost than those other treatments. Cellfina treatments start at $3,000. “There are probably 25 to 30 devices on the market to reduce the appearance of cellulite, but they only last about six months,” says Dr. Castor. “Once you stop doing the treatment, the cellulite returns. This is the only device out there that has approval for permanent cellulite removal. It’s much more effective than any temporary device.”

Breast Augmentation

Another popular procedure at Dr. Castor’s office is breast augmentation. Dr. Castor estimates he performs between 150-200 of these surgeries each year. He does so many that the vendor of the implants he uses says he does the third most procedures of any doctor in the Tampa Bay area. One reason many women choose to have Dr. Castor perform their surgery is that – in addition to being a Board-certified

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plastic surgeon with 20 years of experience – all of his procedures are done in his in-office surgery suite. “It’s much more private and homey than being in a hospital,” says Dr. Castor. “At hospitals, there are sick people and infections, and your surgery could get bumped by an emergency. At my office, patients have a better environment, especially for this type of elective surgery.” He explains that he has a surgical team — including a nurse anesthetist, two surgical technicians and a recovery nurse — on his staff, so you’ll see the same people in the office and at your surgery. Dr. Castor emphasizes that there are still two primary types of implants — silicone and saline — and that they are available in different profiles to help each woman get the exact shape, size and feel she’s looking for. “We have newer implants called ‘gummy bear’ implants,” he says, explaining that the name indicates they are thicker and firmer, but still soft, like the texture of a gummy bear. “Every couple of years, they come up with something that looks better and feels even more natural.” He says some prospective patients worry about safety, but the silicone implant leaks of the 1990s are a thing of the distant past. “Silicone implants were reapproved in 2006 and they’ve pretty much taken over the market,” he says, adding that the revised silicone implants have, “been out for 12 years, so if there was a problem we would know about it by now.” A patient of Dr. Castor’s, who lives in Lutz and asked us not to use her name, says she is particularly impressed by the doctor’s bedside manner and how much he cares about his patients. “During the consultation, he was pretty thorough,” she says. “We went over different options, as far as incisions, and he takes into account what your concerns are. Even the day of the surgery, he came in and talked with me

about what to expect, when to remove my bandages, and made sure to answer all of the questions I had.” She adds, “I absolutely love the outcome. Two days after my surgery, Dr. Castor was on vacation, (but still) called me to follow up and check up on me to see how I was doing and if I had any questions or concerns that came up. It was unexpected and really nice, and is a testament to how important his patients are to him.” Dr. Castor explains that he does all consultations himself, spending 30-45 minutes going over everything, discussing what the client is looking for — such as a natural look in a bathing suit or a look that really “shows” — and then making a recommendation for certain implants or profiles, and answering any and all questions. “A lot of patients tell me they’ve been to several doctors,” he says, “and I’ve spent more time with them than all the other doctors combined.” For more information about breast augmentation, visit ArtisanPlasticSurgeryCenter.net/breast-augmentation. From there, you can also visit other parts of the doctor’s website, including a section with several videos, where you can learn more about Dr. Castor and his office. Over the years, Dr. Castor has built a reputation for himself through the work he’s done with his patients, so much so that the Consumer Research Council (a Washington, DC-based research organization that provides guides to consumers about professionals in different industries) named him in its 2010 Guide to America’s Top Surgeons, and he has appeared in the Guide every year since then. Artisan Aesthetics Plastic Surgery & Laser Center is located at 5383 Primrose Lake Cir. in Tampa Palms and is open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. For more information, see the ad on page 9, visit DrCastor.com or call (813) 971-2000.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 13 • June 15, 2018 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

My Pet Sitter Gives You Peace Of Mind When You Have To Leave Your Pets! medications. He says they have had animals who have needed insulin shots and have even administered IV fluids to cats that needed them. He says My Pet Sitter’s staff can handle these and other challenges because of the staff’s extensive experience with the service’s many clients. “One time we had a dog going into diabetic shock, and Kelly had to rush it to the vet,” Glen says. “The vet said if not for her quick action, the dog might not have made it.” He says they understand things like this can happen, and they are prepared for it. “I like to say that it’s not brain surgery, but you have to pay the same attention to detail,” Glen explains. “You’re in someone’s house taking care of one of their most valuable possessions. (Some would say they’re more like members of their family.). It’s a lot of responsibility, and we love taking on that responsibility.”

By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN

For pet owners who are going out of town or working long days, it can be nerve-wracking to ensure that your dog, cat or other animal is cared for while you are unable to do so. My Pet Sitter is a local company that helps people ensure their four-legged family members get the attention they need when their people aren’t at home. Glen Hatchell and his wife Kelly are co-owners of My Pet Sitter, as well as My Dog Trainer. “We’ve been in the pet-sitting business in New Tampa since 2009,” says Glen. “We used to do pet sitting and dog training as part of a franchise, but now we do the same thing as an independent small business. We changed the name of the company, but —from a client perspective — nothing else has changed.” The Hatchells made the transition one year ago and will celebrate My Pet Sitter’s first anniversary on July 1. Glen says the business can be summed up in one succinct phrase: “We do what our pet owners want us to do.” Whether that’s stopping by every day while a pet’s Mom and Dad are at work, or visiting three or four times a day while the family is on vacation, My Pet Sitter is flexible to meet your needs. For dogs, a typical visit starts with a walk. “With some dogs, we may be out on a walk for the entire visit,” Glen says. “In other cases, the dog can’t handle a 30-minute walk, so we hang out in the backyard, or they walk for 15 minutes and then we play with their

Happy Pets, Happy Owners

Kelly and Glen Hatchell, owners of My Pet Sitter and My Dog Trainer, play with new client Tristan.

toys (with them).” While families are on vacation, some dogs get a long walk every day, while others get walked at every visit, multiple times a day. Glen says that depends upon the age and temperament of the dog, and what the owner feels is best for the animal. Glen says the company does a lot of cat sitting as well, because cats often don’t do well in boarding situations. My Pet Sitter will come in to feed your cat, change the water

and scoop the litter. He says many client cats are very playful, so they play with them. “Other cats hide under the bed,” he says. Whatever your pet’s needs, My Pet Sitter’s staff of seven employees can accommodate them. Every employee is certified in animal first aid and pet CPR, background checked and fully trained. Glen explains that many pets they care for have special needs, including needing

“One thing that’s so cool about being a pet sitter is that there’s nothing more exciting than walking into a house and seeing a dog that’s the happiest thing in the world,” Glen says. “It really is a feeling that’s so amazingly wonderful!” He says My Pet Sitter sends updates with pictures after each visit, so clients get to see their furry best friends during the day, as they’re working or traveling. A client named Juliana, who lives in Pebble Creek, has been using Glen and Kelly’s pet-sitting services since 2010, when she had a serious illness in her family that required her to be away from home for several months.

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Juliana says that, thanks to My Pet Sitter, she had absolute peace of mind. “They completely rescued me and my dog at that time,” she says. “I don’t know what I would have done without them. It was such a difficult time, but I would come home to a perfect dog and a perfect house.” She adds that, no matter what she needs and when she needs it, she doesn’t hesitate to ask. “The answer is always yes with them,” she says. “They always say ‘okay.’”

Sit! Sit! Please?

In addition to My Pet Sitter, Glen and Kelly also own My Dog Training, offering training and behavioral consulting for all breeds of dogs. Glen says that starting out as a franchise owner provided him with a lot of training, so that he would be properly educated and equipped to help clients as both a pet sitter and a dog trainer. Although Glen says it is not required, he is certified by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers as a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA). He says he also is the only trainer in Hillsborough County to earn the CPDT-KSA (Knowledge & Skills Assessed) certification. He says he has more than 4,000 hours of training experience and has worked with more than 3,000 dogs. Glen also is the dog trainer (photo above) for the Humane Society of Tampa Bay on N. Armenia Ave. in south Tampa, and holds obedience classes at the shelter. He started there as a volunteer in 2010. Now, eight years later, he still volunteers, but he also is part of the paid staff, where his main re-

sponsibility is running a play group program. “Every morning, I go through and get dogs out in the play yard so they can interact,” he says. “I get them excited about being at the shelter. We’ve had feral dogs come in and I’ve worked with them to get them socialized before they get adopted.” He says the playgroup has had an impact on increased adoptions at the Humane Society. And, Glen’s time at the shelter has given him lots of experience to help his private clients, too, whether they are introducing new animals to each other or need help with basic obedience and behavioral issues. In fact, he says, sometimes pet sitting can actually be a solution to some behavioral issues. “Sometimes it’s energy-related and the recommendation is that the dog needs more outlets for (his or her) energy,” he says, “so I suggest having a dog walker during the day.” He also offers training and behavioral consulting for cats with issues in the home, such as litter box problems. For more information about My Pet Sitter & My Dog Training, call (813) 9357387, visit MyHomePetSitter.com, or see the ad on page 44 of this issue.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 13 • June 15, 2018 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Check Out The Revamped New Tampa Flagship Of Bay Breeze Car Wash! 1 oil and in the month of June is offering a free wash with synthetic oil change for $18.99. All of Bay Breeze’s lube techs are Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)-certified.

By ANDY WARRERNER

In a day full of appointments and deadlines, basic vehicle maintenance can oftentimes fall into the ”I’ll do it later” box. At the 13+-year-old flagship location of Bay Breeze Car Wash & Lube, located off Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., just north of I-75 (in North Palms Village), you can move that maintenance out of deferment and into the checked box. Whether it’s an express wash, oil change, wiper change or fluid exchange, Bay Breeze Car Wash & Lube is going to get you in and out on the hop. “The quality of the job a customer gets and the in and out time getting it done is something that sets us apart from other car washes,” VP of operations Scott Barone says. How fast is Bay Breeze Car Wash & Lube? If it’s an oil change, Barone says most customers are in and out in 15 minutes once work begins on their car. If it’s a car wash, you might not even have to get out of your vehicle. And, speaking of car washes, renovations to this first Bay Breeze location began on June 11 and the car wash area there will be closed through Friday, June 15, or the day this issue reaches your mailbox. And, while the oil change services will still be open on Friday, the revamped car wash area will reopen with a much-improved Express Wash lane tomorrow — Saturday, June 16 (more on this below). Express Wash lanes are offered at all seven Bay Breeze locations across the Tampa Bay area, including at the company’s other New Tampa location off BBD, in the Trout Creek area of New Tampa, just north of Wharton High.

Upgrading & Expanding

General manager Terrance Ramoutar (left) and assistant manager José Ortiz greet you at the Bay Breeze Car Wash & Lube flagship location off BBD Blvd. just north of I-75. The Express Wash aims at getting customers in and out in less than three minutes. Now, there even are payment methods in place so that the customer doesn’t have to leave his or her vehicle. “We keep the express in express and this applies to both oil changes and washes,” Barone says. “You’re not getting in and out in 15 minutes (for an oil change) if you go to the dealership.”

For vehicle maintenance, Bay Breeze Car Wash & Lube can do more than just oil changes. Most standard vehicle maintenance services are available, including: windshield wipers, air filter, transmission/coolant/engine flush, light bulb replacement and fuel injection. Check out BayBreezeCarWash.com for a full list of available services. Bay Breeze Car Wash & Lube uses Mobil

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 13 • June 15, 2018 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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The Express Wash area (photo, right) at the flagship location is reopening with a new Express Wash menu, complete with a dedicated lane and easier-to-negotiate new exit from the facility. And, while the revamped Express Wash lane will not have a free vacuum area included with your Express Wash, the flagship location will still manage to offer a hand towel dry service while still getting you in and out quickly. Along with the physical renovations, Bay Breeze Car Wash & Lube will offer new membership options, ranging from as little as $20 per month to $50 per month. The $50 Ultimate Package includes a tire shine, application of a nano-polymer sealant and a triple foam polish. Both memberships include unlimited Express Washes. Express Washes are done using the same spinning rollers that you remember as a kid. However, instead of the coarse bristled brushes, Bay Breeze uses 2nd Generation Envirosoft brushes, which are made from foam. “It’s closed-cell foam technology where no particles get trapped,” Barone says. “It’s the best material on the market for the surface of your vehicle.” Bay Breeze Car Wash is still expanding, too. The company plans to open a new Express Wash location in Wesley Chapel on SR 54 and Vandine Rd. by the end of this year.

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Home Grown Talent

New Tampa general manager Terrance Ramoutar and assistant manager José Ortiz have both come up through the ranks at Bay Breeze Car Wash & Lube. Most Bay Breeze locations have between six and 10 employees. The flagship station in New Tampa, however, has 60. “We call this location (New Tampa) ‘Bay Breeze University’ because it’s where we identify talent,” Barone says. “Most (of our) management staff passes through this store at some point.” Ramoutar has 15 years of experience in the industry and ran the car wash at the New Tampa location prior to Bay Breeze taking it over in 2010. Ortiz worked in detailing at Stadium Toyota prior to coming over to Bay Breeze 17 months ago, and helped open the location on BBD in the Trout Creek area. “José stood out,” Barone says. “We look

Neighborhood News

for people with a hunger and desire to grow and from the beginning, Jose demonstrated that he was responsible, motivated and dedicated, and he rose to become a manager.” Ortiz says he learned a lot about the company and managing it at the Trout Creek location. “Multi-tasking, workload, employee relations, accommodating customers, the experience put me in touch with some of the problems you come in contact with at express locations,” Ortiz said. “When I transitioned over to full service, you’re dealing with many more employees and you have to learn to schedule weeks ahead and forecast things.” Ramoutar was a greeter at the previous car wash and when the transition to Bay Breeze happened, he was elevated to supervisor and, eventually, to general manager. “It takes a lot of worry away, knowing these guys, knowing their history, how they work,” Barone says. “Having them in key roles is important. Otherwise, it just doesn’t work.” Barone himself has worked his way up, too. He was the GM of the Brandon location (2007-13) and has been Bay Breeze corporate’s VP of operations for the last five years. All three have the same sentiments about working in a family atmosphere. “In my experience, a family-owned company with a family atmosphere treats employees and customers the same way,” Ramoutar says. “It feels like a family here. That’s why we have people that have been coming to us for 15 years.” Bay Breeze Car Wash & Lube also has gift cards available, just in time for Father’s Day (Sunday, June 17).

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Laura, a Wesley Chapel resident, gave Bay Breeze 5 stars out of 5 in a recent Yelp review. “Love this car wash. I go out of my way to come here. The wash has never damaged my car or sticker decals. The wash is cheap and the vacuums are powerful and easy to use. I wish they had a covered roof over each vacuum spot. It would make it cooler in the hot Unlike the Express Wash service at the other Bay Breeze Exsun while vacuuming.” press Wash on BBD in the Trout Creek area (above), the Bay Breeze Car Wash & Lube’s flagship New Tampa loca- New Tampa flagship’s renovations will not include a free vacuum area with its revamped Express Wash services. tion is at 17501 N. Palms Village Pl. (next to Steak & Shake) and days a week, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Lube services is open Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.- 5:30 are available at this location Monday-Satp.m. and 10 a.m. -4 p.m. on Sunday. For urday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. more info, call (813) 615-1333. The Trout on Sunday. For info, call (813) 973-0033 Creek location is at 20306 Trout Creek Dr. or visit BayBreezeCarWash.com. Or, see and its car wash services are available seven the ad on pg. 30 for a great coupon special.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 13 • June 15, 2018 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 13 • June 15, 2018 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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Nondenominational Christian Bible Study Classes Available Now At St. James UMC By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN

On Thursday mornings in New Tampa, dozens of women gather together to laugh, read the Bible and share life with each other. Some are young women. Others are moms, who may bring their young children to attend their own classes in a nearby room. Still others are grandmothers and even great-grandmothers. Whether they’re young or old, married or single, parents or not, and whatever their religious preference, all women are invited to join the Tampa Northeast/New Tampa Community Bible Study (CBS) class, says the group’s teaching director, Karis Tiberia. “We’re there to study the Bible together,” Karis explains. “One of the things I think is special is that we focus on the essentials of the Christian faith, not on denominational distinctions. Whether they attend church or not, everyone is welcome.” While the focus is on studying the Bible, that’s not all that’s happening in the group. “We encourage each other, love each other, challenge and take care of each other through all of the ups and downs of life,” Karis says. The Tampa Northeast/New Tampa CBS class is part of an international organization called Community Bible Study. The group that meets in New Tampa has just completed its third year, with about 75 women registered, and will begin its fourth year this fall. It meets most Thursday mornings, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., at St. James United Methodist Church, 16202 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. While St. James provides meeting space for the group, it is completely independent and supported by other churches, too, such as Grace

We are with you every step of the way

Members of the Leaders Council for the Tampa Northeast/New Tampa Community Bible Study group, which meets at St. James United Methodist Church on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. meet the leaders, pick up a study book and/or Episcopal Church, where the group’s Leaders register. The group will meet most weeks, exCouncil meets each week to prepare. Moms who have children who are in third cept for holidays, and will end on May 9, 2019. grade and younger can bring the kids along. The group will be studying the Book of Carmellia Loyd is the children/youth director. Matthew. Registration is $35 and children’s She says children will be cared for in a loving, registration is $10. fun and safe environment, and all teachers are Participants complete a 10-15 minute trained and background checked. lesson in their CBS study book each day, then gather for the weekly class, where they sing “It’s not childcare,” Carmellia says. “From worship songs, break into discussion groups, the time they’re two and older, they’re in proand then come back together for a large group gramming, learning Bible stories, songs, simple verses, and how to have a relationship with God.” teaching, led by Karis. “Some people gain knowledge by answerThe group’s leadership team is made up of 15 women, including Karis and Carmellia. When ing questions, others by sharing in discussion, women join CBS, they’re placed into a smaller and some by hearing the teaching,” Karis says. discussion group, called a “core group.” New this “CBS covers all of those ways.” year, one core group will be meeting in the eveCarmellia says she has been involved in CBS, which has several groups in the Tampa ning to accommodate more women’s schedules. Bay area, for 18 years. The first class will be held Thursday, “The thing I like about it is it is straight September 6. An Open House will be held on Bible study,” says Carmellia. “They ask you Thursday, August 30, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m., for questions, you look at the answers in the Bible people to drop by, find out more about CBS,

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and discuss it in your small group. It doesn’t matter if someone has known Jesus for six weeks or has been a saint for 60 years — everybody has something to contribute.” Carla Rybolt is the group’s coordinator, handling logistics, including member registration. She has participated in the New Tampa group since its inception. “Being in God’s word keeps me closer to God at all times,” Carla adds. “I was in the midst of a terrible storm when I started with CBS and the class led me through a gamut of learning how to completely trust God and let go of all of my anxieties. Through everything that I’ve learned, I’ve been surrounded by amazing women who hold me up.” Karis agrees. “It’s made a difference as I go through life to have women who I know will be there for me. Aside from the Bible study and how we grow in our faith, I am also personally encouraged by my participation both in the class and as a leader.” All three women say they love the diversity of the women who attend the group. “The number one thing I liked about CBS from the beginning is that it’s biblically-based and everybody is welcome. Whether you’re Atheist or Jewish, no one is ever turned away,” says Carla. “Jesus tells us to love one another, and that’s the way it is at CBS.” Carmellia adds, “It’s for anybody, whether you want to find out what the Bible is all about or have studied it for years. It’s a great place to feel comfortable and not judged.” Registration is open now. For more information, visit the group’s website at TampaNortheast.CBSclass.org or email Carla Rybolt at CBS.Tampa.Northeast@ gmail.com.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 13 • June 15, 2018 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Turner/Bartels STEM Students Headed To National Competition June 22! By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN

Not only does Nathaniel Bostic teach technology classes to middle school students at Turner/Bartels K-8 School (TBK8), he spends his free time making sure students who attend the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) school have ample opportunity to learn outside of regular classes, too. Nathaniel and his wife Rebecca are co-advisors for the school’s chapter of the Technology Student Association (TSA), a national organization made up of 250,000 middle and high school students in about 2,000 schools, where students learn through competitions and leadership opportunities. In the three years the Bostics have been building the TBK8 chapter of TSA, their hard work has paid off. After being ranked 10th in the state during its inaugural year in 2016, the TBK8 chapter ranked fifth in 2017 and jumped to first place in Florida this year. TBK8 took 28 students to the statewide competition in Orlando for five days in late February and early March, where more than 1,000 middle school and high school students competed in 34 categories. Of those students, 22 advanced to the middle school national competition, which will be held in Atlanta, GA, from June 22-26. The TBK8 team cleaned up in many of the categories, placing in the top 3 in 20 of them. TBK8 took first place in Children’s Stories, Coding, Inventions & Innovations, Mass Production, Mechanical Engineering, Technical Design and Video Game Design. The Turner/Bartels team was runner-up in Biotechnology, Career Preparation, Digital Photography, Problem Solving, Web Design and Spirit Award. And the squad also finished third in Community Service Video, Construction Challenge, Forensics, Microcontroller, Off The Grid, Structural Engineering and System Control Technology. Rebecca, who taught second grade at Turner/Bartels last year and will teach first grade next year, and Nathanial have been at the school since 2015, when he was recruited from a school in Manatee County with a top-performing TSA chapter.

Students in the Turner/Bartels K-8 School (TBK8) chapter of the Technology Student Association (TSA) took first place overall of all the middle schools in Florida at the recent TSA State competition. The team members are pictured here with their winning trophies and chapter co-advisors, Nathaniel Bostic (in the very back row toward the left) and his wife Rebecca (far right).

“Every year, Manatee County brings back more trophies than any county in the nation,” says Nathaniel, who says he has been involved with TSA for about 10 years now. “Turner/Bartels wanted to get something started and expand TSA to all these qualified students who weren’t getting that opportunity.” Of the 34 different events students can compete in at the middle school level, some are individual and others are for teams. Nathaniel and Rebecca emphasize that it’s not all about robots, either. For example, one category is children’s stories. The team has to do all of the artwork and read their book to an age-appropriate group of students. Rebecca says that’s close to her heart, as the middle school students visit her primary classroom and actually engage with the younger students at the school. There’s also biotechnology, where TBK8 students designed a fire-fighting capsule. The capsules, which are filled with chemicals that extinguish fires, are dropped from a helicopter but don’t release their contents until they reach the base of the fire. It can be a more effective way to fight a fire, they say, than to fight it by pouring buckets of water on it from above. “The experience for the kids — what they learn — is invaluable,” says Desiree

Azam, a parent and volunteer for the TBK8 team. “It’s about team building and community and is a very diverse program. It’s quite an accomplishment, to be doing that, along with keeping up their grades.” Desiree’s son, Sayeed, and his teammate, Alexis Cowles, took first place in Florida in the “mass production” category, which qualified them to advance to the national competition. “Now, it’s crunch time,” says Nathaniel. “For these kids who took first place, that’s great, but there are 49 other states.

Even though it’s first place in Florida, it might be 49th in (the nation). So, we amp it up and get the projects ‘national ready.’” Nathaniel and Rebecca are only there as advisors, however. “The thing about TSA that’s really awesome is it gives students a place to be, some who may not fit in otherwise. It gives them a purpose,” Rebecca says. “TSA is a student-led organization. We’re there to help them, remind them of deadlines and quality-check their work, but otherwise, it’s all them.”

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She says that the students are judged by adults in the industries their projects represent, so they have to be fully committed to their projects and be willing to work hard to be successful. The hard work is a major part of what she and her husband want to teach their students. “We’re looking to raise a generation of students who have ambition and accept guidance and know what it really means to work in the real world,” explains Nathaniel, saying that in today’s schools, many students want answers simply given to them. “No, you have to work,” says Rebecca. “TSA teaches them responsibility and leadership skills. It’s that drive of getting them to take ownership and see the success they can have if they give it their best.” While there are still relatively few schools in Hillsborough County with a TSA Sayeed Azam (right) and his teammate, Alexis Cowles, make up just one of seven teams that took home first-place trophies at the State chapter, Nathaniel says he and Rebecca have helped start TSA competition. Azam and Cowles won their trophy in the “mass production” category. chapters at both Wharton and King high schools, where TBK8TSA.org. You can support the many of their middle school students go students and help defray the extenafter graduating from TBK8. sive costs of travel to the national Find out more about the TSA competition at GoFundMe.com/Turchapter at Turner/Bartels by visiting nerBartelsTSA.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 13 • June 15, 2018 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Freedom’s Softball & Tennis & Wharton’s Baseball & Track Teams Spring Forward By ANDY WARRENER

The spring sports season ended last month, and, of all the spring teams at New Tampa’s two high schools, the Wharton baseball team proved to be the last team standing, falling in the Regional semifinals. They weren’t the only team to put up a strong postseason, however, as Wharton’s softball, track & field and girls tennis teams all made it past Districts, as did the softball and both tennis teams at Freedom. Here’s a recap of some of the highlights: WHARTON BASEBALL: The Wildcats made yet another Regional playoff run in 2018, after finishing as the runner-up in the Class 8A, District 4 tournament. Wharton set down crosstown rival Freedom 4-0 in the District semifinals, but fell to the Strawberry Crest Chargers in the final. After an 8-1 win over Ocala Forest in the Region quarterfinals, Wharton got another shot at the Chargers, but dropped a 3-2 decision to finish the season at 17-9. The Wildcats’ three-man pitching rotation was a strength all season. Duncan Pastore, a senior, and junior Brian Baughman each won six games — Pastore had three shutouts — and junior Zach Allen was 4-2. The trio combined for 127 strikeouts in 117 innings. Pastore also led the Wildcats with a .431 average and 17 RBI, while Baughman batted .398 and led the team in hits. Senior Leo Alfonzo batted .397 and tied for the team lead with 17 RBI. “Starting pitching, as well as talent-

Freedom High’s softball team won their first District title this season, beating Wharton in the (Photo courtesy of Autumn Hernandez).

ed freshmen and sophomores, have been key to our success this year,” coach Scott Hoffman said. “Brian Baughman was a stud down the stretch.” The Wharton baseball team even earned the District’s Team GPA Award with a team Grade Point Average of 3.505. Freedom’s baseball team finished 6-16, dropping its last eight games. Senior Hunter Kniskern hit .333 with five doubles to lead the Patriots.

FREEDOM SOFTBALL: After a slow start,. the Patriots went 13-1 down the stretch to finish 19-6. The only loss in that streak was to arch-rival Wharton, but the Patriots got revenge when it mattered most, beating the Wildcats 13-0 to win the District 8A-4 title. “That was the first District title for softball in Freedom’s history, so it was a great accomplishment for those 11 girls,” Patriots head coach Autum Hernandez said. “The

girls were motivated before the game, they wanted to prove that they hadn’t played their best against Wharton the two previous times we played them.” Freedom advanced to the Regional semifinals by beating Ocala Forest 6-2 in the first round of the State Class 8A playoffs, before a 7-0 loss to East Ridge ended the Pats’ season. Sophomore Ellis Erickson led Freedom with 34 hits and a .442 batting average. She was one of a number of underclassmen — sophomore Shaniyah Pope had 25 RBI, while freshman Lilly Kiester led the team with 26 runs and junior Abigail Vandeberg hit .361 — to shine for the Patriots, who have a bright future, according to Hernandez. The team only had two seniors, with Kristina Calixto driving in a team-best 27 runs while going 8-2 in the pitching circle, and Dallas O’Clair batting .333. The future also looks promising for Wharton, as underclassmen led the team in average, runs and doubles (freshman Tieley Vaughn), hits and RBI (junior Jordyn Gendron) and triples (junior Asia Thomas). Sophomore Jillian Long was the winning pitcher in 13 of Wharton’s 15 wins. The same East Ridge team that ended Freedom’s season did the same to Wharton in the first round at Regionals. FREEDOM TENNIS: The Patriots broke through for a historic season in 2018, taking two boys and two girls to the Class 3A State tournament in Orlando under fourthyear head coach Rich Simard. “We’ve been pretty consistent the last four years, both boys and girls,” Simard said.

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“We’ve been either District champs or runners-up over that time.” The Freedom boys won a third straight District title in 2018. At the District 3A-9 tournament, Patriots sophomore Hakim Zerki took the title at No. 1 singles, and then teamed up at No. 1 doubles with senior Jared Klay for another title. The wins qualified both players for States. The Zerki-Klay doubles team made the Round of 16 at the State tournament, the highest climb for a boys doubles team under Simard. Things look even more promising for the future, as Zerki’s younger brother, Malik, will be a Freedom freshman next year. On the girls side, sophomore Julianna Gibson won her second straight District singles title at No. 1, and then teamed up with sophomore Zoe Ruszin to win at No. 1 doubles. That helped the Patriots team to a second-place team finish at Districts, but Gibson and Ruskin qualified for States as individuals. “The girls are going to be even stronger next year,” Simard said. “Gibson was very close to breaking through deep into the State tournament, and next year is going to be a good shot for her.” WHARTON TRACK: The Wildcats took 13 athletes from the boys and girls teams to the Class 4A State meet at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville on April 16. Senior AJ Hampton was the top finisher for Wharton, running the 400 meters in 48.09 seconds to take fourth place. The time was just off his personal and school record of 47.53, set a week earlier at Regionals. Hampton capped his high school career with three medals at States. Next year, he will attend Northwestern University in Evanston,

IL, on a football scholarship. Northwestern, however, does not have a men’s track program. “AJ willingly did the most painful event in track, knowing that if he qualified for States, it would be his last race,” Wharton boys coach Kyle LoJacono said. “Having AJ as kind of the captain of the sprints and Frankie (.) as captain of distance was huge this year.” Godbold, a four-year runner and twoyear captain for the ‘Cats, surprised even Coach LoJacono with his chance entry in the 800 meters. Godbold, more of a traditional long distance runner that LoJacono threw into the 800m halfway through the season, was only seeded eighth at the District meet. However, he finished second in 2 minutes, 3 seconds. He cut his time even further at Regionals, with a 1:57.97, the fastest time for a male 800m runner for Wharton in the last decade. “Just getting to states for Frankie was incredible, it made me so proud,” LoJacono said. Teammate Nehemiah Rivers, a junior, became the first male Wildcat distance runner to win the 1600m at Regionals. He also became the first Wildcat to qualify for the State meet in both the 1600m and 3200m races in the same season. Rivers placed 12th in the 3200 at the Class 4A State finals with a time of 9:44.44, and he was 22nd in the 1600m finals, running a 4:36.70. Both times were markedly slower than Rivers’ breakout performances at Regionals, where he set personal and school records in the 1600 (4:25.39) and 3200 (9:25.77). While winning the 1600 at Regionals, Rivers ran a sterling 59-second final lap.

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Bricks & Minifigs Brings The Joy Of Legos To The Shops At Wiregrass! By BRAD STAGER To the uninitiated, a business called Bricks & Minifigs might suggest a shop where you can buy fine masonry and, perhaps, Ficus carica saplings, but to those in the know, the national chain’s Shops at Wiregrass lifestyle center location (across from Buckle on Paseo Dr.) is the go-to destination for serious devotees of all-things Lego. It’s a place to buy hard-to-find, gently used Lego model building kits (many of them from collectible retired lines) and original creations ready for display, as well as loose pieces such as interlocking bricks, character figures and a variety of accessories. According to the Lego company’s Wikipedia entry, about 600 billion of the bricks and related pieces have been manufactured by the Billund, Denmark-based company since 1949, and franchise owner Adam Smyk says there’s no reason any of the blocks should ever end up n a landfill. “You never want to throw Legos away,” says Smyk, who specializes in buying, selling and trading those random blocks. Over the more than six decades that Legos have been on store shelves, their cross-generational popularity has remained strong enough that Smyk embarked upon a second career as a Bricks & Minifigs franchisee after serving 20 years in the U.S. Navy. He says he learned firsthand that the value of these toys lies in the experiences created by diving into a pile of the primary-color plastic blocks and creating something. “When the kids were young and I’d come home from deployment, I’d use Legos as a way to re-connect with them,” he says. Smyk, who retired from the Navy as a Senior Chief Electrician’s Mate, says he became acquainted with Bricks & Minifigs by shopping at a store in Hawaii while he was stationed at Pearl Harbor. “There was a store there I loved taking my kids to,” he says.

Adam Smyk (above) owns the Bricks & Minifigs store at the Shops of Wiregrass, where patrons can buy, sell and trade Lego blocks and kits. Bricks & Minifigs stores are something of a up, as well as a design-your-own minifigure (min- way, Bricks & Minifigs offers a party space and rarity, with only 38 located throughout the U.S. plenty of Lego pieces to do so. The cost is $175 ifig) station for customizing Lego characters. Smyk has the only such store in Florida. for a 90-minute party. The venue does not Smyk is building the business partly on the (Note-Bricks & Minifigs has no formal serve food, but does provide plastic utensils for premise that his personal experience with Legos licensing relationship with The Lego Group.) customers who bring their own and — most is shared by other families, a point that he says is Merchandise sold at Bricks & Minifigs important, according to Smyk — “we take care often validated in the course of conducting daily includes a mix of assembled and unassembled of the cleanup.” He says that one of the biggest commerce. verified-to-be-complete kits representing a crossparty attractions is when guests build their own “We had a family from Memphis, Tennessection of licensed themes, such as the “Star Lego cars and race them on the store’s Lego see, on vacation in Orlando that came all the Wars” series. Derby track. way over to our store because what they like to Smyk says that some of the merchandise Smyk’s enterprise involves his family, with do as a family is spread the bricks out and build in his store can cost hundreds of dollars, but adult son Daniel and his girlfriend Jenny Fraley something together,” Smyk says. there’s plenty to attract customers who are on working there, as well as his two younger, Whether it’s rebuilding a retired Lego much stricter budgets, such as display cases full of Bionicle or Castle set, or manipulating bricks elementary-school-age sons, who occasionally assembled kits, many of them priced well under help out when they aren’t in school. into a personal creation, Legos can supply plenty $50 (with a large selection under $20), and an For Fraley, providing a good customer of indoor recreation during the hot summer extensive line of minifigures (including the popu- days ahead, as well as during power outages that experience for everyone who visits is paramount. “It’s a personal joy of mine, trying to find a are sometimes part of the season as well. They lar “Ninjago” series) selling for less than $10. piece they’re looking for,” she says. also can be part of life’s special moments, like For fans with big projects on their agendas Fraley and Smyk say Legos have a wide birthday parties. and who are interested in volume purchases, For those who want to celebrate the Lego there are tables full of blocks and parts to scoop See “Storage on pg. 46

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Minerva Indian Restaurant — Where Adventurous Taste Buds Are Rewarded!

By GARY NAGER

VEN WHEN I lived in New York City, where some of the most renowned Indian cuisine outside of the sub-continent itself is served, I was never the biggest fan of curry, a primary (and spicy) ingredient in Indian food from all of the country’s many distinct regions, each of which has its own signature dishes. But, it’s been more than 35 years since I lived in the Big Apple and since then, either my taste buds have “grown up” or the twoyear-old Minerva Indian Restaurant in the New Tampa center plaza on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. has some of the most delicious Indian food I’ve ever tasted. Or, maybe a little bit of both. At any rate, when Minerva opened in 2016, I had freelance writer Brad Stager write the story about owner Venkat Reddy’s unassuming (from the outside) but elegant inside eatery because — a) Brad told me he knows quite a bit about and loves Indian food and b) I was concerned about not being able to rave about a new advertiser. Well, you can call me an old dog learning some new tricks at Minerva, which actually shouldn’t surprise me too much because even when it first opened, I was definitely impressed not only with the restaurant’s huge selection of excellent Indian beers (at really low prices; see below for more info), but also with Minerva’s Indian-style Chinese chicken fried rice, which had a hint of curry, but nothing about any of the spices were overpowering and the portion was huge. Two years later, Venkat has an even more impressed new fan. Whether you enjoy Minerva’s tremendous lunch buffet, which offers different dishes every day, including North and South Indian and Indo Chinese options, the buffet is a great way to sample more than two dozen options (including salads, vegetarian dishes and desserts, as well as many main and side dishes), or order off the huge and very fairly priced menu — you really can’t go wrong. Among the starters I’ve sampled, I really enjoyed the crispy vegetable spring rolls (served with mint and tamarind sauces on the side; I preferred the tamarind); the equally crisp and delicious garlic naan (similar to pita bread, but crispier and better tasting than any pita I’ve ever eaten; and the Minerva Special Soup, which is sort of a blend of traditional New York-style Chinese egg drop soup and my mom’s homemade chicken soup. In addition to a savory, but not spicy broth, the

soup is loaded with white meat chicken and a variety of fresh veggies. In a word...awesome. And, if you’ve never sampled any of the Indian beers, you owe it to yourself to include a Taj Majal, Kingfisher or the amazing Hunter strong premium beer, which does have a 6.5-percent alcohol content (thus, the “strong” label), but tastes to me like a crisp, refreshing lager or pilsner.

Enticing Entrées!

I usually steer clear of Indian buffets, because, too often, there are too many different kinds of curry in one place for me. I know most people who like Indian food go for the butter chicken, Masala or Tikka Masala dishes (all of which are Specialties of the House at Minerva), but when I ate Indian food in New York, I really only liked Tandoori clay oven dishes, and only at some places. And, while I do enjoy Minerva’s Tandoori chicken on the buffet, my favorite entrée at Minerva is the Tandoori lamb shish kabab, which is actually ground lamb served with a crispy edge outside and tender inside on a sizzling fajita-style dish, only with better onions and peppers than at any Mexican restaurant. And, best of all, none of the entrées I’ve mentioned costs more than $14.95. I also really enjoyed the Minerva Special Chicken, which serves equally delicious veggies with boneless chicken pieces in a sweet red curry sauce that has no bite at all. Another new favorite of mine is the goat curry, which is tender goat on the bone, again with a very light curry sauce that was excellent when paired with the vegetable biryani (basmati rice) from the buffet. And, speaking of the buffet, it’s truly a bargain at $9.95 MondayFriday (11 a.m.-3 p.m.) and although the buffet costs $12.95 on Saturday and Sunday, Venkat says that he adds some special items that make it well worth the $3 extra cost. And yes, for you vegetarians out there, Minerva offers nearly two dozen veggie entrées, plus hand-made dosas (crepes), a South Indian favorite served with sambar, coconut and ginger chutney and a variety of veggiebased fillings. So, reward your adventurous taste buds and try Minerva Indian Restaurant. You’ll be glad you did. And, check out Minerva’s ad on pg. 41 of this issue for some awesome coupon specials, including $2 off a lunch buffet, $5 off orders over $30 and two different buy-one, get-one-half-off coupons. Minerva is located at 19050 BBD in New Tampa. For more info, call (813) 978-8586 or visit MinervaTampa.com.

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900º Woodfired Has A Lot More Than Just Two Kinds Of Delicious Pizza! By GARY NAGER

MOST

Neighborhood News readers recognize how much I enjoy doing our dining reviews, especially when I get to do stories about my favorite local eateries and their restaurateurs. Case in point: 900º Woodfired Pizza, located in the Shops at Wiregrass, which is owned by someone I’ve really only known since he and a former partner opened it in the mall seven years ago. Today, long-time New Tampa resident Steve Fallabella is the sole proprietor and Steve is a very handson kind of owner (like a certain newspaper editor) and he has an authentic Italian heritage and knowledge of good food honed in New York. Steve says he also enjoys being the “delivery boy” for 900º Woodfired’s growing catering side of the business (more on that below). Even though I’ve never been a New York sports fan myself (I root for the Rays, Bucs and Lightning), Steve is a lifelong Yankees fan who also is a past president of his subdivision in West Meadows. And yes, 900º Woodfired, which isn’t a chain and is one of the most successful places to eat at the mall, is a really good restaurant, even though its primary business is still pizza — both New York-style and the 900º

woodfired Neapolitan style that gives the place its name. But, I told Steve that even though a pic of each kind of pizza will likely slip into this article, I really wanted to focus on everything else there is to eat at 900º Woodfired.

For Starters...

I’ve mentioned in previous stories about 900º Woodfired how much I enjoy the caprese appetizer (fresh mozzarella, sliced tomato, oregano, extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar and fresh basil served on a bed of mixed greens), and the entire Neighborhood News staff recently got to enjoy a variety of other starters, including the fried, cheese-filled raviolis (served with a marinara dipping sauce), the fried calamari (also served with marinara) and the homemade bruschetta. My favorite appetizer that we all sampled this time around, however, were the oven-baked naked wings. We split an order of ten wings — five with no sauce and five with garlic and parmesan — and they come out crispy outside, moist inside and the garlic parmesan sauce wasn’t overpowering, as it can be at some places. The wings went down easy with my 23-oz. Peroni Italian beer on draught, and bottled beers and a variety of house wines also are available. But, my favorites at 900º Woodfired are the pastas, and I’m not talking about baked items like lasagna and baked ziti, although those also are on the menu

Penne w/Pesto Genovese, Chicken & Spinach

Tortellini Della Casa

— and they’re all pretty darn tasty, too. My favorite pasta combination on the menu is the beef-and-veal-filled tortellacci, which are pasta “pockets” (some call them “purses”) filled with ground beef and veal in a classic Bolognese (meat sauce). So good. I also enjoyed the tortellini della casa, which are spinach-and-cheese-filled tortellini in a sautéed tomato sauce with black olives, chopped garlic and fresh spinach. It’s probably also not too surprising to our readers that I often take advantage of 900º Woodfired’s “Create Your Own Pasta” option. I almost always choose the penne pasta with pesto Genovese sauce, grilled chicken and sautéed spinach. It’s such a huge portion that I usually have it as a side dish with every meal for several days and the penne always comes out al denté (firm), as I prefer it, without having to ask for it that way.

Fried Ravioli

Pizzas, Catering & More!

OK, yes, 900º Woodfired Pizza does have pizzas, too (having won “Best Pizza” in our annual Reader Survey in 2015-16), but I’m going to be honest again — I’m biased as to which style of pizza I prefer. Although the 900º F, wood-burning oven (photo, left) is awesome to watch, I’ve never liked wood (or coal)-fired, Neapolitan-style pizza as much as I do true New York-style options. Of course, I’ve never been to Naples, but I grew up on Long Island and lived in Manhattan in my 20s, so the more authentic, the better. Steve knows that using the best ingredients (never mention the words “Papa” and “John” in the same sentence to me) makes the best pizza; his New York crust is legit and his blended pizza sauce and mozzarella are the real deal, too. So, I still prefer regular ol’ NY-style

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cheese pizza the best, but for the pics for this story, I wanted to show 900º Woodfired’s delicious toppings, so the photo above right is a large (16”) NY-style pizza that is half-pepperoni, half-”Mega Meat,” with ‘ronis, sausage, bacon and ham. To no one’s surprise, none of it was left over. As for the woodfired pizza that gives the place its name, we decided to try a couple of pizzas other than our usual (and super-delicious) Neapolitan-style margherita pizza and went a little exotic. Several in our office went crazy over the 12” medium-spicy Buffalo chicken pizza, but I was stunned at how much I loved the Ortolano pizza (above, left), which is a veggie lover’s dream — a sauceless pie with fresh mozzarella, sliced cherry tomatoes, marinated zucchini and eggplant, artichokes and fresh basil. The pieces of artichoke were huge and a little overpowering, but this is one delicious and unique pizza. And, for those who want or need gluten-free pizza, every pizza on the exten-

sive menu is available as a 10” gluten-free. “Our newest growth area is catering,” Steve says. “Through the EZcatering Network and word of mouth, our catering has doubled over last year. And, our online catering reviews have been awesome. We will soon be publishing a new catering menu, and eventually buying a vehicle dedicated for the catering business.” Steve is one of those techie people who jumps all over the latest industry trends. In fact, 900º Woodfired was the first Wesley Chapel restaurant to use Ubereats. “I helped Uber recruit more restaurants in Wesley Chapel, so they would deliver into more subdivisions,” Steve says, “and our delivery business just took off. We’re part of the industry shift to the convenience of dining at home vs. dining out.” He also offers online ordering for takeout. For more information about 900º Woodfired Pizza (28152 Paseo Dr.), which is open every day for lunch & dinner, visit 900DegreesWoodfiredPizza.com or call (813) 527-6940.

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Nibbles & Business Bytes The Latest & Greatest News In Dining, Shopping & Business In New Tampa & Wesley Chapel!

Amici Pizza Reopens...And The Crowd Goes Wild!!

It took so long to open that many fans on the Wesley Chapel Community Facebook page of Amici Pizza — previously located in the Grand Oaks Square plaza on Wesley Chapel Blvd. in Lutz but which has been closed for a few months— was never going re-open in its new, freestanding building located less than a mile north of its old location. Well, our Neighborhood News Facebook page and WCNT-tv — Wesley Chapel & New Tampa Television — were among the first to announce, on June 4, that brothers Vincent and Rick Mannino had finally reopened at 26602 Wesley Chapel Blvd./S.R. 54, also in Lutz. The result of our announcement was one of our most popular Facebook posts and WCNTtv videos of 2018 — with a reach of more than 24,000 people, 14,000 views on YouTube and Facebook and 1,500+ likes, loves, shares and com-

ments (aka engagements; see pg. 3 editorial). Happy Amici patrons across the area were raving about the layout and look of the new place, the food (like the true NY-style meat pizza above; photo by Gavin Olsen) and about the return of a 16-year-old local favorite. We wish the Mannino brothers luck, but it doesn’t look like they’re going to need it. We also wish Rick’s wife Tracy much success in her also-new Salon Tré Anne hair salon which shares the building with Amici. Amici Pizza is open every day for lunch & dinner. For take out & more info, call (813) 973-9734 or visit Amici-Pizza.com and please tell ‘em the New Tampa Neighborhood News sent you! For Salon Tré Anne, call (813) 994-3553 or visit the salon’s page on Facebook.

Checking Out The Basement

Now that Amici Pizza and Salon Tré Anne are open in their new location, we also wanted to tell you that we already have visited

The Basement Beer & Wine Bar — the new bar and entertainment venue which has been open in Amici’s former space in the Grand Oaks Plaza for a couple of months — a couple of times and have enjoyed it ourselves and heard only nice things about it from other locals. While I wish that The Basement (26252 WC Blvd.) would have full liquor, the place that husband-and-wife owners Jason and Ashley bill as “The Best ‘80s Bar in Tampa” does have a fun vibe and offers DJ dancing on weekend evenings, trivia and karaoke during the week (my buddy, Gary Carmichael of Heart & Soul Karaoke is there on Thursday evenings), a pool table and a great selection of craft and other beers, plus a variety of house wines. For info, call (813) 527-6562 or visit TheBasementWC.com.

Ellen’s Hallmark Store Closes!

I was sad to learn last month that the Ellen’s Hallmark store in the City Plaza at Tampa Palms shopping center was closing May 31. A spokesperson for the store told me that Publix, the plaza’s landlord, had raised the rent too high for the 20-year-old cards & more store to continue. The Ellen’s Hallmark store in the Shoppes at New Tampa (S.R. 56 at BBD) is still open.

Have You Tried Bayscape Bistro?

I’m sure most residents of that community have heard that the restaurant at the Heritage Isles Golf & Country Club has changed hands again,

following a $1.3 million investment by the Heritage Isles Community Development District (CDD) to revamp the club house and the restaurant that rarely has been much more than a place for hungry golfers to stop and have a sandwich and a cold beer. No matter how nice the renovations may be, unless the CDD found the right operator for the restaurant — one that could attract people who don’t live in Heritage Isles to check it out — it was likely to fail again. Well, not only is the new Bayscape Bistro & Bar at Heritage Isles significantly more attractive looking than anything else that has occupied the space before, you may recognize the name of the guy who owns and operates it — and who has provided a much more restaurant-like menu than any of his predecessors. Edward Bujarski, who ran one of the first and most successful high school culinary arts programs in Hillsborough County at New Tampa’s Wharton High for 17 years, is genuinely excited to bring real, fresh food to Cross Creek Blvd. near Morris Bridge Rd. and to be able to hire some of his former students to work at Bayscape. Even though Bujarski took over the location in November, he didn’t open until January because he wanted to finish out his last cooking classes for his students at Wharton in December. Even so, I first visited Bayscape the day we went to press with this issue, but I wanted to show you what I decided to order that day because I know you haven’t had a salad like the Bayscape chef salad pictured on the next page. It combines greens,

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roasted chicken, mojo pork, cheddar and pepper jack cheeses, tomatoes, cucumbers and four crispy seasoned pieces of grilled toast that I assure you are better than any croutons you’ll have anywhere. Other menu items I definitely will try in the future include the roast chicken, mojo pork and top round roast beef dinners, as well as the daily specials, which Bujarski says has included steaks, fresh fish and more. He even does wine tastings and wine dinners and has special weekday events like Monday Sautés, Wing Wednesdays & Fiesta Fridays. Look for more about Bujarski’s new venture in a future issue, but go check it out and please tell the happy crew we sent you! Bayscape Bistro & Bar (10630 Plantation Bay Dr.) is open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For more info, call (813) 994-3445 or visit BayscapeFlorida.com.

La Prima Pizza Is For Sale!

If you love NY-style pizza as much as I do, you probably love La Prima Pizza, located next to the SuperTarget in the Northwoods Plaza. If you’re interested in owning and/or operating a successful local restaurant, one of the few true NY-style pizza places in Wesley Chapel, you definitely should talk to La Prima owner (and my

long-time friend) Willie Lopez and his Chef Dino, who are looking forward to retirement after 15 years of serving the Wesley Chapel community. “It’s been an amazing run for us,” Lopez told me as I enjoyed yet another perfect slice from La Prima. “I believe there’s still tremendous growth opportunities here in an established, turnkey business. It just needs to be someone else’s business to make it happen.” If you’d like more information about La Prima Pizza (1211 Bruce B. Downs {BBD} Blvd.), stop in or call Willie Lopez at (813) 907-2878.

Here & There, This & That...

• The latest word from a company spokesperson about Bahama Breeze Island Grill, which is getting ready to open just east of Chuy’s Tex-Mex on the north side of S.R. 56, is that the Wesley Chapel Bahama Breeze should open sometime in mid-July. We’ll keep you posted when the company announces an actual opening date. • I also spoke with Cary Anderson of Streetfront Commercial Properties, who is now leasing out the space in the Shoppes of Amberly plaza in Tampa Palms, which does have a few vacancies, including the 6,400-square-foot space previously occupied by Casa Ramos Mexican Restaurant. Anderson says he has been close to closing a deal for the space, but that he is still looking for “something special, like a sit-down Italian or seafood restaurant or even a great sandwich place for that Casa Ramos slot.” Again, we’ll keep you posted. For leasing and other information, call (727) 418-9427 or visit StreetfrontCommercialProperties.com. — GN

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‘Bricks & Minifigs’

Continued from Page 35 appeal, and attract customers of all ages to the store. “A lot of our adult customers enjoy them for the relaxation,” Smyk says. “People come in and say, ‘This is my childhood.’” Thomas Annitto, 18, says he has found some merit in Smyk’s assessment of Legos as more than just a kids’ toy. “I’ve always played with Legos since I was a little kid,” Annitto says. “This store is the coolest place ever. It’s perfect for little kids and big kids.” Running his shop, however, is more than just playing around with toys for Smyk. It’s a business in a competitive market and for Smyk, that entrepreneurial lesson sank in when he was searching for a storefront for his shop. A Pinellas County mall tenancy abruptly

ended, and a Brandon location fell through. He says his family business has found a good home

among the merchants at The Shops at Wiregrass. Smyk and his family moved to the Tampa Bay area after he retired from the Navy two years ago. When they researched where on the mainland to move to from Hawaii, the answer was clear to them. “All the magazines like Forbes and Money listed Tampa among their best places to live,” says Smyk. So, he and his family moved to the area without having previously set foot here. They recently moved to Tampa Palms from a community in southern Hillsborough County. Smyk opened his Shops at Wiregrass location in March, and it has proven to be a regional customer magnet as a shopping destination. In addition to the aforementioned family from Memphis, the five-star Facebook testimonial by Lakeland resident Harold Joe Strickland Jr. speaks to the business’ regional appeal. “It was over on hour drive from Lakeland,”

Strickland Jr. wrote, “but well worth the drive.” While a lot of his customers appreciate the distinctive products Bricks & Minifigs offers, Smyk says his used inventory offers great value. “It’s all good as new,” he says, “but a cheaper cost because it’s used.” Whether someone is buying, selling or trading a rare, limited edition set or looking for a deal on a bulk order of Lego bricks, the store’s objective is the same, according to Fraley. “I like to see a smile on someone’s face when they walk out the door,” he says. Bricks & Minifigs is located at 28210 Paseo Dr., Suite 150. You can learn more, including up-to-date information about new arrivals and special deals, by searching for “Bricks and Minifigs, Tampa” on Facebook, or by visiting BricksandMinifigs.com/store/ tampa-florida. You also can call (813) 9947171 or see the ad on pg. 28 of this issue.

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