New Tampa Neighborhood News, Volume 29, Issue 13, June 22, 2021

Volume 29 Issue 13 June 22, 2021

Red Hot Market!

Glenn & Gretchen Schmidt are smiling because Realtor Kristy Darragh (not pictured) had no problem selling their home in West Meadows for more than their asking price in just a few days. (Photo by Charmaine George)

By John C. Cotey John@NTNeighborhoodNews.com When it came time to sell his home in West Meadows, Glenn Schmidt and his wife Gretchen (photo) knew they were entering a pretty good local housing market.

So, when he finally listed his home with long-time New Tampa Realtor Kristy Darragh of Florida Executive Realty, the Schmidts were hoping there was enough interest that they’d at least get their asking price.

On a Friday, his four-bedroom, three-bath house was officially put up for sale.

On Saturday, he had 33 people show up for a showing.

On Sunday morning, there were 22 more scheduled showings by 2 p.m.

“I had to stop setting appointments,” Schmidt says.

“My phone would not stop blowing up.”

See “Red Hot Market” on pg. 4

‘Delicioso’ Falabella Family Bistro Opens In The Grove!

See more in ‘Neighborhood Nibbles & Bites’ on page 35!

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Don’t Shoot The Messenger! A Hopeful Update About Olympus Pools

I told the Statens that I would An editorial by Gary Nager pull their advertising until things There’s no doubt that it’s improved for them and that rather been a difficult several months than jump on the media bandwagon for Olympus Pools, the swimmaligning the company, my primary ming pool contractor that has concern was trying to help those cusbuilt more pools in the Tampa Bay area than any other company. tomers, especially those who still had unfinished holes in their yards.

Following a flurry of Some will say that despite the complaints on Facebook by a new partnership, it’s all still too little plethora of Olympus customers with unfinished too late for Olympus (which is still pools, which prompted a number of investigataking some lumps online), but the tive news reports on several Tampa Bay-area TV Statens’ promise to complete every stations, followed by pending lawsuits and even unstarted/unfinished pool and not reported investigations by local law enforcement take on new customers until those agencies, Olympus owners (and long-time New pools are done is definitely a step in News Channel 8 investigative reporter Shannon Behnken with Tampa residents) James and Alexis Staten knew Jordan Hidalgo and James Staten. (Source: News Channel 8) the right direction. they had to do something.

And, considering that there were close to 300 customers reported to have partly or (in many cases) fully paid for, but unfinished, pools, and so many of them were complaining about a lack of communication from the company, the Statens had to not only act quickly, they had to seek help.

To that end, according to a news release sent on May 25, a highly-rated Tampa Bay-area pool company had jumped in to help Olympus Pools, thanks to a new partnership between the two companies and their owners.

Specific terms of the partnership were not disclosed, but Jordan Hidalgo, a general contractor who founded Pools by Jordan, a high-end pool construction company based in Pinellas county, has partnered with Olympus to help assist and help restore the company to its pre-Covid standing.

“I saw what Olympus’ customers were going through on the news, but I also know the high quality of Olympus’ work and their capabilities. So, after weeks of negotiations, I’m happy to say we’ve reached an agreement, and we’re excited to get to work on sorting this all out,” said Hidalgo.

Hidalgo, who also runs a management consulting firm for pool companies called The Pool Consultants, and his team have taken over administration, accounting, permitting, purchasing and customer relations for Olympus.

James Staten, who founded Olympus Pools, will remain on board and out front, running sales, field operations and business development.

Olympus Pools, which was founded in 2010

by Staten, has generated more than $150 million in revenue over the last decade and completed more than 3,000 pools.

The release also promised more direct access to ownership, improved customer relations, and those who have been waiting for their pools to get started can expect work to begin sooner, thanks to the new partnership.

“Some things are going to happen immediately, and (others) are going to take a little bit of time as we dig into things, but we’re ready to get all of these pools done as quickly as possible and work on rebuilding the positive image that Olympus worked so hard to achieve,” said Hidalgo.

The news of the partnership comes amid a flurry of recent work activity, including reports of dozens of pools finally started and/or completed.

“I’m looking forward to putting this chapter behind Olympus and showing what our talented teams are capable of accomplishing together,” said Hidalgo in the release.

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INSIDE:

New Tampa already has one medical marijuana dispensary, but could be getting more.

Page 8

Dr. David Scamard offers the latest in vision tech at his Excellence in Eye Care.

Pages 22-23

After opening just before the pandemic hit, Lima celebrates with new menu items!

Pages 32-33

New Tampa Neighborhood News

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Red Hot Market: Resale Homes Are Selling At An Unprecedented Pace!

Continued from page 1.

Meanwhile, Henry says that higher interest rates will eventually cause some paralysis. He says it happened in 2018 for a brief period, stopping home owners from selling out of their historically low mortgage rates and also slowing demand. But, that situation could be at least a year or two away and would merely level the market.

But, as available homes get snatched up, they aren’t being replaced on the market. In New Tampa, there is almost no new construction other than in K-Bar Ranch, which currently only has a few homes for sale.

And, fewer people are re-selling their homes because, quite frankly, there is no place for them to go.

By the end of the weekend, they had 15 offers, including two buyers offering to pay in cash, and they eventually accepted a bid well over their asking price.

“We significantly more than doubled what we originally paid for the house,” he says. “It’s one thing to hear that you’re going to do very well when you sell, but then to see (this)? It was ridiculous.”

The Schmidts’ story would have been highly unusual just a year ago. But nowadays, it’s normal.

“This market, it’s a phenomenon,” says Darragh (photo). “It’s mind boggling.” **** Chris Henry, another long-time local Realtor who lives in West Meadows, has had similar experiences recently. For example, he aggressively listed a client’s home for $25,000 more than he normally would have because the market was heating up, and it led to 74 showings over the next two days, resulting in 33 written offers, and sold for an additional $30,000 over that already-inflated asking price.

“You know, it’s cliché to say, but this is really unprecedented,” Henry says.

He adds that a number of factors are creating a local market that is moving at breakneck speed. He says that home builders slowed down their pace after the 2008 meltdown, building only half of what they would normally have built over the next 10 years.

But now, they’re delayed in playing catch-up, due to labor and materials shortages, as well as rising lumber prices. Inventory of re-sale homes have been at an all-time low because people aren’t moving. Locals are staying put because there are very few homes on the market from which to choose. They are enjoying increased equity in their homes and the record-low mortgage/refinancing rates have made home improvements more attractive.

Couple all of that with a massive influx of new residents running away from coronavirus-ravaged states to Florida, which also has friendlier tax policies, and “you have a perfect storm,” Henry says.

He also says that there are 20 buyers for almost every house being sold, and anything under $350,000 sells almost instantly, usually for more than the asking price — and often with cash. In Tampa, the median number of days on the market for resale homes was 9 days in April of this year, compared with 21 days in April of 2020.

In the early- to mid-2000s, a similar boom was instigated by poor lending practices and rampant investor speculation. That led to the average list price in New Tampa

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Speaking Of No Place To Go...

Realtor Kristy Darragh of Florida Executive Realty in Tampa Palms says the current redhot local housing market should stay this way for a while. (Photo by Charmaine George)

rising from $272,000 in 2003 to $443,000 in 2006. Then came the crash of 2007-08.

By 2011, the median home in New Tampa was down to $236,000.

Economists and Realtors alike will tell you that this boom is related primarily to the migration of people to Florida, from places like New York, California and all points in between. The ability to work remotely here has been another driving factor. Henry says that four of his last six sales have been to New Yorkers. Because of Covid-19 and the economy, thousands of people each day are leaving states that are not as “open” as Florida, or as tax-friendly, selling their homes and showing up on the doorsteps of local Realtors flush with cash.

Do we risk another real estate bubble/ crash reminiscent of 2007-08? According to Darragh, the New Tampa market is healthy and finally realizing the growth in appreciation it has long deserved.

“The New Tampa market has been undervalued for more than eight years, with a slow growth in appreciation, due to the amount of new construction available,” she says. ”Now that the new construction inventory in Wesley Chapel has come to an abrupt halt, the re-sale market pricing in the New Tampa area has jumped overnight.”

If there’s an end in sight, she doesn’t see it — and she is far from alone.

Over the past six months, home prices across the country have risen by 17 percent.

Nationally, the typical home asking price in May was $380,000, up 15% from last year.

“Absorption rate is a term used in the real estate industry to describe how fast homes are selling,” Darragh says. “A normal absorption rate for Tampa for the first quarter of this year should have been 40-50% per month. That means that each month, when new listings come on the market, the number of buyers will buy up 40-50% of those new listings. This year ,that number was a staggering 179%-200%!”

That means this aggressive absorption rate is sucking up everything that is being built, every new listing that comes on the market, plus the existing inventory of homes.

Realtors agree that supply and demand are dangerously out of balance, and question whether this is economically sustainable. The only thing that can slow it down, they say, would be more inventory. But, there’s no indication of inventory build-up anytime soon “We know the migration of out of state buyers are a big factor in the low inventory and surge in pricing,” she says. “These are real buyers who are highly qualified and have a lot of cash.”

Florida is in the real estate spotlight.

Affordable housing, low taxes, white sandy beaches and great weather have made the Tampa Bay area one of the fastest-growing post-pandemic areas in the nation. Once the pandemic passes, will the flood of new residents recede? Probably not, Darragh says.

“I doubt that the buyers who moved here to escape the pandemic will go back once we go back to normal,” Darragh says.

“The cat is out of the bag.”

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Gustave (Gus) Zader and his wife Diane bought a custom-built home in Stafford Place in Tampa Palms in late 2018, and planned to retire there. But, when one of their neighbors made $100,000 selling their home, the Zaders decided to down-size and sold their home for cash — and a tidy profit — last month.

At the same time, they closed on a home in Tampa Palms, but with one contingency — they can’t move into it until September.

They considered renting until then, but couldn’t find anything. Gus, a retired Navy commander and currently the executive director of a strategic research program at USF, secured a spot at the Macdill Air Force Base FamCamp, where the Zaders live in their 26foot Winnebago View.

And, Gus says they are not alone. Others at the camp are living in RVs after selling their homes and waiting to find another place to live.

“Everybody’s kind of shifting around and making do with what they have,” he says.

“It’s a good market to sell in, but if you need (to buy) a place, it can be tough.”

While traditionally 3-4 months worth of inventory is considered good, the latest numbers say there isn’t even a month’s worth of homes for sale. The number currently is 0.7 months supply, meaning that if nothing new came on the market over the next three weeks, there still would be zero houses for sale in New Tampa.

“We are accustomed to low inventory, but I think we are all surprised to see the influx of buyers from out of state coming to the Tampa Bay area,” says Darragh’s fellow Florida Executive Realty Realtor Judi Beck.

“To have less than one month of inventory is really uncharted waters.”

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Realtor Chris Henry says the likelihood is that this 4-bedroom, 3-bath home in Richmond Place, which was listed for $449,000 shortly before we went to press, will already be sold by the time this issue arrives in your mailbox.

“Pent Up Equity” chart, New Tampa’s for sale, with an average selling price of median home price was $236,000 in 2011, $271,000. well below the $289,000 it should have been, Just 12 months later, inventory was according to a normal rate of appreciation of down to just 2,500 homes, but the average 3.5 percent per year. sale price had soared to $358,000.

New Tampa’s median home price is In New Tampa, there were only 34 currently $380,000, but the normal rate of single-family homes listed for sale as of June appreciation says it should be $407,570.

11, and 14 of those were asking for more “We haven’t even gotten back to normal than $500,000 — pricing a lot of first-time yet,” says Darragh. “There’s still plenty of buyers out of the market. Only five homes room to run before you even see a bubble.” were listed under $300,000.

That means deals can still be found. In For a 3BR/2BA, the prices ranged other areas of Tampa, the average “Sold” from a low of $324,900 to $408,000; for price far exceeds the price in a market with a a 4BR/3BA, the range was from as little as normal rate of appreciation. In South Tampa, $307,000 to $1.25 million. for example, it’s $175,000 over normal marDarragh has spent hours poring over the data to figure out the current market. Her desk ket value; in Carrollwood, it’s $125,000 over; is covered in pie charts and bar graphs, while in Seminole Heights, it’s plus-$120,000; and, her computer constantly refreshes to update in Wesley Chapel, it’s almost $100,000 over. her on the local housing market in real-time.

But, Darragh says that deals can be had, and that selecting the right Realtor might be With her 30 years of experience selling the most important decision you ever make. in New Tampa and, with over $1 billion in “If you ever needed a local expert, it’s sales over that time, she is downright giddy now,” she says. right now looking through her pages of And, of course, a little luck never hurts. housing statistics.

When Glenn and Gretchen Schmidt “This market is a once-in-a-generation decided they were ready to move out of their kind of market, because of what stimulated West Meadows home, they started building it (a pandemic),” Darragh says. “It’s a very in Estancia in Wesley Chapel. They bought good market for both buyers and sellers — last July, right before things got crazy, and and people don’t think about it that way got what Glenn says was a good deal.

— but looking at the charts and listening to “We hoped the market would be okay real estate experts and economists, they don’t over the next year when we needed to sell the think this is going to end anytime soon. This house,” he says. could be the beginning of something that, in Then, due to Covid-related building detheory, goes on for years.”

The pricing surge has been eye-opening, lays, construction of the Schmidts’ new home especially in places like Seminole Heights and stretched into this summer. They were able to South Tampa, but while the urge to cash out ride the wave of the current market and, with may be strong, Darragh insists the market is their new home ready for move in, they could still good for buyers, especially in New Tampa. sell their old one for significantly more than they would have, say, a few months ago on That’s because, she says, New Tampa more of a regular timeline. is only just now catching back up from the crash of 2007-08.

“Sometimes,” Glenn says, “it’s just Based on a Florida Executive Realty pure dumb luck.”

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K-Bar Ranch Pkwy. Receiving Safety Upgrades

By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com With more than 1,000 homes scheduled to be built in the coming years in the sprawling K-Bar Ranch development in New Tampa, District 7 Tampa City Council member Luis Viera has been keeping a close eye on the transportation issues already plaguing the community.

Whether it’s poorly marked roads, unsafe crosswalks or simply ways to get in and out of K-Bar Ranch, the infrastructure needs to keep pace.

By the end of this year, a number of improvements along K-Bar Ranch Pkwy. are expected to be completed.

The parkway itself is still under construction and less than half complete, but when completed, it will be the spine road of the growing community. At that point, it will run from the Kinnan St. entrance all the way east to Morris Bridge Rd., to an exit/entrance just a little north of the current entrance to the Easton Park subdivision.

Residents have complained about the lack of definitive striping on the

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New speed limit signs (left) and road stripings are expected to help make K-Bar Ranch Pkwy. safer for both motorists and pedestrians. (Photos: John C. Cotey) “Me and my son were driving out completed portions of K-Bar Ranch Pkwy., resulting in some near-accidents. on the same K-Bar Ranch Pkwy. residents had just been complaining about, Two auto-related deaths, in 2012 and and, lo and behold, I had to swerve out 2019, were both blamed on speeding. of the way of another car in what could Viera says he has experienced the have been a tragic accident,” Viera says. concerns first-hand. After conducting Viera requested that the City of one of his community meetings at K-Bar Tampa take immediate action. He Ranch, Viera says a vehicle almost hit also plans on holding a K-Bar Ranch him on his way out.

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workshop at a City Council meeting in September to address other issues related to public safety.

Improvements now planned for KBar Ranch Pkwy. include: • Departing Kinnan St. eastbound, the existing 30-mph speed limit signs will be upgraded with enhanced and more visible panels above.

• Approaching Kinnan St. westbound, upgraded stop signs and bright sticks will be added.

• Departing Hawk Valley Dr (private road) eastbound, adding a two-way traffic warning sign.

• Departing Redwood Point Dr. east- and westbound, installing new 30-mph speed limit signs and with enhanced conspicuity panels above.

• The skipping yellow center line along the original section of K-Bar Ranch Pkwy. will be updated with a double yellow center line and raised pavement markers.

• Departing Laurel Vista Way (private road)/Wild Tamarind Dr. east- and westbound, new 30-mph speed limit signs and more visible panels above will be installed.

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• Approaching Paddock View Dr. eastbound, end-of-road marking signage (red diamonds) and an advanced T-intersection warning sign will be added, as well as a refreshing of all markings as needed and adding raised pavement markers.

• Departing Paddock View Dr. westbound, new 30-mph speed limit signs will be installed with enhanced conspicuity panels above.

“It is pivotal that the City of Tampa and local governments invest in the requisite infrastructure, roads and public safety systems, as a community grows,” Viera says. “K-Bar Ranch is a growing community and needs this constant attention. Transportation is pivotal.”

CONNECTION COMING: Another primary improvement along KBar Ranch Pkwy. will be a connection to Meadow Pointe Blvd. into Wesley Chapel.

However, the developer, MI Homes, has targeted Dec. 31 as a completion date, although there are still some permitting issues to resolve that could stretch that completion date into 2022.

The Meadow Pointe Blvd. connection will be the only northbound way out of KBar Ranch (other than Morris Bridge Rd.) when K-Bar Ranch Pkwy. is completed.

The Meadow Pointe Blvd. connection is the consolation prize for those

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who wanted to see Kinnan St. in K-Bar and Mansfield Blvd. in Meadow Pointe connected to give residents on both sides of the border easier access and to reduce congestion on BBD. But, as we’ve reported previously, after years of negotiating with Hillsborough County, Pasco County commissioned a study that recommended connecting the roads only for emergency use, and instead agreed to connect K-Bar Ranch Pkwy. to Meadow Pointe Blvd. and Wyndfields Blvd. for vehicular traffic.

K-Bar Ranch Pkwy. is being constructed in segments, and once each road segment is completed, it will permit the developers to build more homes in that area.

Segment C, starting at the Kinnan St. entrance, is currently completed.

Segment D, which is partially completed, will connect to the Meadow Pointe Blvd. extension, which also is under construction right now.

Segment F also is under construction, and will take the parkway almost to the westernmost part of Easton Park.

Completion is targeted for Dec. 31 for those segments.

The remaining segments to complete the parkway are pending permitting, meaning that completion will most likely not happen until 2022.

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New Tampa Vacancies Attracting Cannabis Dispensaries?

The cannabis industry has always been 2018 as a chain to compete in

By JOHN C. COTEY a hot investment, but it broke out and the crowded home décor marjohn@ntneighborhoodnews.com became red hot during the pandemic. Ac- ket. While it is a standalone

New Tampa opened its first medical marijuana dispensary just last year, VidaCann on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in North Palms Village, but it may not be the last.

According to recent City of Tampa permitting records, there are at least two inquiries related to opening medical marijuana dispensaries in New Tampa.

One inquiry involves opening a dispensary in the vacated Jimmy John’s location next to the Coldstone Creamery on BBD in Highwoods Preserve.

An official application hadn’t been filed and was required by June 14, which was after our deadline for this issue.

A second inquiry was a request for an advisory opinion related to the zoning of the vacated Batteries + Bulbs location just south of the Wendy’s on BBD. The City of Tampa replied with a zoning verification letter confirming that a medical marijuana dispensary is permissible at the location, under the property’s PD-A zoning designation, because it is considered a pharmacy.

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cording to BDS Analytics, the sales of legal cannabis were roughly $18 billion in 2020, a 46% increase over 2019 sales.

While the use of recreational marijuana is not (yet) legal in Florida, a 2016 constitutional amendment passed permitting the use of medical marijuana by patients suffering from a list of medical conditions.

According to FLDispensaries.com, more than 500,000 Florida residents already have medical marijuana cards, more than 2,500 doctors are licensed to write prescriptions for it and the number of cannabis dispensaries statewide is around 300.

Only California has more medical marijuana patients (estimated at 1.9 million) than Florida’s 561,177, as of May 21.

MORE HOME DECOR: Bealls Inc. is opening one of its newly branded Bealls Outlet/Home Centric stores in the space vacated by the former Toys “R” Us store at The Grove in Wesley Chapel.

Bealls Inc., founded in 1915 and based in Bradenton, launched Home Centric in

store in some locations, the one coming to The Grove is the company’s store-within-astore concept focused on affordable home décor products — like furniture, artwork and holiday supplies — sold within a traditional Bealls Outlet.

WELCOME TO COLDSTONE 2: Those who have been lamenting VidaCann was the first medical marijuana dispensary in New the closure of dessert favorite Tampa, but it probably won’t be the last.

Happy Cow Frozen Yogurt in Survey in the “Favorite Dessert” category the Shoppes at New Tampa plaza on Bruce every year — including No. 1 in 2019.

B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in Wesley Chapel Coldstone’s ice cream is made induring the pandemic are in for a treat. house daily, and is considered “super And, another frozen treat, at that. premium” by industry standards because Coldstone Creamery, the popular ice it contains 12%-14% butterfat (you didn’t cream parlor, will be moving into the space think they made it so creamy and deliformerly occupied by Happy Cow, next to cious just using milk and cream, did you?). the First Watch in the Shoppes plaza.

It also offers some of the best ice cream Coldstone’s New Tampa location (also cakes around. on BBD) has finished at or near the top To borrow a phrase from Coldstone, of the Neighborhood News’ annual Reader “Welcome to Wesley Chapel.”

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Downtown Wesley Chapel?

This rendering is what downtown Wesley Chapel will one day look like, according to the developers of Avalon Park West.

But, Wiregrass Ranch is still developBy JOHN C. COTEY projects will one day, in fact, be down- retail shops and restaurants with attracing.

Its town center — the community’s tive storefronts?

John@NTNeighborhood.com town Wesley Chapel. downtown, when it is completed — hasn’t “I think, ultimately, downtown Wesley So, where will downtown Wesley even broken ground. And, Avalon Park Chapel will be wherever the people say it Downtown Wesley Chapel.

Chapel actually be located?

Wesley Chapel and The Grove also promise It may not currently, or officially, Whose project will possess most of is,” North Tampa Bay Chamber president that big things are on the way, and a newer, exist, but is interesting enough of a the qualities that typically define a small & CEO Hope Kennedy says, adding that bigger and different downtown Wesley she thinks the closest thing to downtown concept that three area developers — town’s downtown — with pedestrianChapel could emerge. See the next page for Wesley Chapel currently is the area around JD Porter, Beat Kahli and Mark Gold friendly, open public spaces, generous a look at each of these developments. the Shops at Wiregrass.

— have all suggested that their current amounts of greenery, and a cluster of

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JD Porter, whose family owns most of the land in Wiregrass Ranch, isn’t terribly concerned about which community will be home to Wesley Chapel’s “official” downtown.

“I don’t think you can force a downtown,” he says. “I think if it’s thought through and done with purpose, I think there will definitely be a downtown in Wesley Chapel. I just don’t think you can count on a downtown popping up in the next six months, the next year or anything like that.”

Porter says a community’s downtown must come about organically, and he thinks that is what’s happening in Wiregrass Ranch. While he has plans for a town center a little northeast of the Sports Campus on the yet-to-be-finished Wiregrass Ranch Blvd., construction is a ways off. Instead, he says, the area around his town center is filling in nicely, with Raymond James Financial (and the 700+ jobs it promises) beginning construction recently and joining the number of housing subdivisions, the Sports Campus, the mall, Pasco-Hernando State College and AHWC as walkable and bikable destinations.

There have even been talks of light rail or another form of public transportation within the Wiregrass Ranch community.

Porter thinks a 5-10-year timeframe is reasonable for his vision of downtown to emerge. That vision includes walkability, 150,000-200,000 square feet of retail, 200,000-300,000 square feet of office space and 800-2,000 residential units.

He has compared it to Georgia’s Buckhead development near Atlanta in the past.

“It will come naturally,” he says.

“We’re getting the density, getting all the different uses coming together that will create the downtown area.”

Porter says it has been a thoughtful process putting together Wiregrass Ranch, and the town center will be its jewel.

“Almost everyone in Pasco has a ‘town center,’” he says, “basically comprised of a Publix, a couple of dry cleaners and maybe a smoothie shop. That’s not a town center.”

Porter has bigger goals. Downtown Wesley Chapel may not be enough.

“I look at our town center as being Downtown Pasco County, Downtown Wesley Chapel, Downtown North Tampa,” Porter says. “But it’s got to mature naturally, it can’t be forced. We have some stuff going on. We’ve upped our timeline. We have some exciting things coming down the pike.”

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So, Where Will Downtown Wesley Chapel Be Located?

When developer Beat Kahli announced upcoming plans for a downtown core in Avalon Park Wesley Chapel (APWC) in February 2020, it was heralded by many in the media as Wesley Chapel’s future downtown.

And that’s exactly what Kahli thinks it will be.

Kahli is investing more than $700 million in the project — with a $33-million commitment from Pasco County -— which he says could break ground in the next few months.

The APWC (formerly Avalon Park West) downtown will be located on the north side of S.R. 54, less than a mile west of Eiland Blvd. (just west of Zephyrhills), but despite The “Wesley Chapel Downtown” locations on the map above are approximate and are not to scale. its distance from most of Wesley Chapel, will look the most like a small-town downtown, based on its renderings (see pg. 10).

The downtown area will be a mixeduse development on 215 acres. The entire APWC project is being built on 1,800 acres, the same size as its successful Avalon Park Orlando. It will eventually have 4,800 residential units (it currently has 1,000) and 15,000 residents. Many residents won’t have to leave — they will be able to live, work and play in APWC. “We don’t build subdivisions,” Kahli says, “we build towns.”

And, while many people might assume that the downtown core is just for residents of APWC, it will be open to everyone.

Kahli says the area will have two of the most important qualities of a downtown — The Village at The Grove (above) is just one part of what developer Mark Gold says will be the walkability and mixed-use buildings. future downtown Wesley Chapel.

After a 10-year buildout, the APWC The Porters have been in Wiregrass Ranch since forever, and downtown development will have roughly developer Beat Kahli has patiently held onto the land that will be 2,700 residential units, 165,000 square Avalon Park Wesley Chapel (last column) for almost 25 years. That feet of Class “A” office space and 190,400 makes The Grove developer Mark Gold the new kid on the block. square feet of commercial development.

But, Gold is no rookie when it comes to buying up older The “neo-tradional” project will include projects and making them relevant again. Even when he purfour-story buildings, with neighborhood chased The Grove for $64 million in 2018, he wasn’t shy about commercial on the bottom floor and the calling it Wesley Chapel’s future downtown. other three floors reserved for residential.

Despite arriving late to the party, with The Grove project There will be multiple parking decks already well under way, he will get the first crack at cementing his 254-acre property as the and sidewalks, and four freestanding Class area’s downtown.

He is pouring more than $100 million into that dream, taking Wesley Chapel’s first major A office buildings, which are typically larger, and will feature top-of-the-line shopping center (it was built in 2007, a year before the Shops at Wiregrass) and transforming amenities and high-income tenants. it into something the area hasn’t seen before.

“Compared to other large projects The former Cobb movie theater has been renovated and is open, the long-ignored area Gold calls “The Village” has been revitalized and KRATE, an innovative retail and restaurant in the (Wesley Chapel) area, which are park made up of converted hip, reimagined shipping containers, is rounding into form. generally single-use projects with several While others see The Grove as more of an entertainment and retail district, Gold takes hundred or several thousand single famoffense. He says the project is much more, with more than 600 homes approved for construc- ily homes, maybe some apartments, and tion just north of The Grove, as well as apartment complexes in the surrounding area. Other then somewhere else maybe a mall or strip businesses will come in, bringing more jobs. He sees The Grove as a destination for residents mall, somewhere else maybe a school,” as far away as Tampa and Orlando.

Kahli says, “we are integrating it all. We’re “It will be the No. 1 destination for families, and they will be able to shop, eat, walk, play building full towns. That’s our approach mini-golf and many other things,” Gold says. “There will be no need to go anyplace else.” in Wesley Chapel, and wherever we go.”

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Volunteer Leaving His Mark At Florida Aquarium

By CELESTE McLAUGHLIN When Ken Moser moved to Wesley Chapel from Maryland in 2017, he and his wife Becky were retired and looking for a place to volunteer.

“We went to the (Tampa) zoo (at Lowry Park) in July and it was 95 degrees,” he says, adding that they immediately decided that the zoo was most definitely not the place for them.

Ken joined a fly fishing club, and says one of the members was always talking about the Florida Aquarium, so he eventually decided to give that a try.

In March 2019, Ken and Becky began training to volunteer together.

Over the last two years, and despite the Covid-19 pandemic, their efforts have made quite an impact.

So much so, that in April, Ken was named the Florida Aquarium’s Volunteer of the Year. This title earns him an honorary spot on the Aquarium’s Board of Directors for the year.

While he was chosen for his dedication — nearly 600 volunteer hours over the past two years (similar to Outstanding Service winner Edwin Rodriguez, whom we featured last issue) — and his infectious good attitude, he also was recognized for how another of his hobbies has enhanced the aquarium itself.

Ken created eight different stained glass windows that are now located throughout the aquarium. He

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says creating stained glass is one of many hobbies he’s taken up to keep busy during retirement.

“About eight years ago, my wife and I took a stained glass class at the community college,” Ken says. “I’ve been self-taught from there.”

The eight windows he’s created for the aquarium started when he noticed a two-foot window in the Madagascar section of the aquarium, where he thought he could mirror the bright colors of the exhibit with a brightly colored window.

Wesley Chapel resident Ken Moser poses with one of his stained glass pieces near the After that, he says he Florida Aquarium entrance. (Photos: Charmaine George) was inspired to make a waddling through the wetlands exhibit, there are sea window of leafy sea dragturtles, spoonbills and moon jellies (jellyfish). I tried ons for the volunteer lunch room. Ken says they were to keep it to what people can see at the aquarium.” so well-received that he was asked to make windows Josh and Theo are brown pelicans who have for the front of the aquarium and the CEO’s office. been popular on the Florida Aquarium’s social media “Each one is specific to the aquarium,” he says. accounts, and moon jellies are jellyfish that can not “The pelicans are Josh and Theo, the penguins are

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Ken works on another stained glass design at his home in Wesley Chapel (top left) and talks about his pelicans, Josh and Theo. only be seen, but also touched in the a month, but soon determined they had aquarium’s touch tank. more time than that to spare.

Ken says the more time he spends “Once I got in the commissary,” there, the more he gets to know the Ken says, “I would go three times a animals. week. It’s just a fun place to go.”

“If you take the time to watch each The commissary is where food is preindividual animal,” he says, “you’ll start pared for the aquarium’s 8,000 animals. to see their individual behaviors.”

“We have menus for the various When asked if he has a favorite animals,” Ken explains. “Some require marine animal, Ken doesn’t seem to be different fishes that have to be cut up able to narrow it down. different ways, for example, and birds “Every week seems to be a different have seeds and pellets.” one,” he says. “The jawfish is one of the Ken hasn’t worked in the commismost comical characters, and I like lissary since March 2020, before Covtening to the wood ducks talking back id-19 shut down the aquarium and no and forth to each other in the wetlands. volunteers were allowed in.

And, the stingray tank has a little baby When the aquarium reopened in who is worth the price of admission just May, a few volunteers helped in guest to see her.” services and as “roaming disinfectors,” Ken and Becky both work in to make sure guests stayed on the patheducation, teaching guests about the ways and wore masks. aquarium’s many animals. They initially Now, Ken says, a limited number agreed to volunteer at least eight hours of volunteers are back in the education

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department manning the touch tanks during the day.

“As soon as volunteers were allowed,” he says, “I felt responsibility to come back and keep the program alive.

At one time, they had 300 volunteers, but they were down to zero. If no one comes back, there’s no program.”

He says the aquarium is always staffed to provide necessary care to the animals, but although the aquarium functions without volunteers, he says, “everyone is happier with us there.”

Ken adds that the staff treats the volunteers like family, and that he and other volunteers feel enormously appreciated and grateful to be able to be part of the aquarium.

He is impressed with how the aquarium has navigated its way through the pandemic, too.

In fact, Ken and Becky donated their first Covid stimulus checks to the aquarium.

“Being retired, we didn’t plan on that money, so we thought, ‘Who needs it more?,’” says Ken. “The aquarium lost all of its guests and still needed to feed the animals every day, so we thought the money was better used that way.”

Ken says he and Becky intend to

Ken also painted these penguins waddling through the wetlands exhibit at the Florida Aquarium. continue volunteering at the aquarium as long as they possibly can.

“When they announced the award, there were several people who had reached the 25-year mark as volunteers at the aquarium,” Ken says. “There are some really dedicated people there. I might not get 25 years — I started a little late — but at least I left my mark there with the windows. They should be there long after I’m gone, so I will leave that behind.”

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15

Excel Music Owners Eager To Re-Open Doors To Students

By JOHN C. COTEY 2020, is hoping to be fully open by the end

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com

At Excel Music, the rooms are cozy and the lessons have always been intimate, as children and adults file in each day to work on honing their musical skills with professional instructors.

But, cozy and intimate don’t work well with Covid-19, so like so many small business owners, John and Sheri Thrasher had to make some drastic adjustments, primarily going virtual with their lessons. It wasn’t easy, but they have survived.

Now, in their 15th year of running Excel Music, which is located in the Cory Lake Isles Professional Center on Cross Creek Blvd., the Thrashers are hopeful things are getting back to the old normal.

“We are starting out (next month) by just having all instruments, except voice and wind instruments,” John says. “We’ll start with that and see how comfortable everyone is with it and how things continue to proceed over the summer.”

However, they continue to proceed cautiously, John adds. The school, whose physical building has been closed since March

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of July or August.

“Like most of the school systems around the country, we’ll want to be back to full in-person lessons by the fall,” he says. “We’ve been maybe accused of being a little overcautious, but that’s always been my nature.

(Safety) was always really important. I just didn’t want our school being responsible for bad things happening to anybody.”

Fortunately, John says, Excel Music’s virtual lessons have been a success. Although often confused with online lessons, which are more like videos that students follow along with, the virtual lessons have kept Excel’s staff of music teachers — all either university trained (many with Master of Music degrees) or with at least 10 years of study and performing experience — engaged with those receiving lessons.

John says the staff adapted during the pandemic and has now mastered the art of virtual lessons.

“The results we’re seeing from students and hearing from teachers is that the kids are still progressing very well,” he says.

Bill Effingham has been teaching guitar at Excel Music since it opened. He says he

would never have considered virtual lessons prior to the pandemic, but now sees it as an additional tool. He says the Thrashers were able to make the transition seamless.

“Considering that everything happened so quickly and last minute and that it was a totally new thing, John and Sheri were right on top of things,” Bill says. “Obviously, I was a little panicky that first week, but I think by week 2 or 3 we were totally transitioned over. They did a great job with it.”

While they may not have the same effectiveness of handson, in-person lessons, virtual lessons won’t be completely abandoned by Excel Music John and Sheri Thrasher of Excel Music on Cross Creek. Blvd. once students return to the classrooms. While some parents have survived more than a year of virtual music lessons only. declined to even try the virtual to where they were before. route, it did offer some convenience to “It’s been one of these weird things others who, for example, travel during the that’s helped us become more fleet of foot,” summer. John estimates that students taking John says. “We can now adjust more quickly a month off require two months to get back to what students and parents want. That’s

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probably been the one advantage of us jumping head-first into the virtual lessons.”

However, John is eager to get the classrooms back open.

“We have some wonderful parents and students that stuck it out, and we’re looking forward to getting back to what we’ve always done,” he says.

The music school has always offered lessons in voice and practically every instrument, with piano, violin, guitar and drums being the most popular, although quite a few students study brass and woodwind instruments, too, such as trumpet, tuba, saxophone and clarinet.

While choir remains on hold for now, John hopes to get the popular pre-school program up and running again this summer.

John has had students as young as 5 years old and as old as the 86-year-old trumpet player who once took lessons at Excel.

Both John and Sheri have a strong background in music, giving them perspective on the value of learning an instrument.

John, who continues to play in a band with friends, was the drummer for country singer Mickey Gilley for many years, which gave him the opportunity to perform on TV on “The Joan Rivers Show,” “Solid Gold” and “Hee-Haw,” as well as on telethons hosted by Lou Rawls and Jerry Lewis. He also played at such venues as the White House

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and the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN. In the 1990s, John and Sheri had success together with a band of their own in Japan called Tz, where he says they sold tens of thousands of CDs. It was in Japan, where there is a culture that reveres teachers, that led them to start thinking about something like Excel Music, which they opened in 2006.

“There’s so much data about how great studying music is for your brain for spatial learning and big-picture thinking,” John explains. “There are always studies coming out saying that because music is a whole brain activity, when kids learn music, their math and other school skills improve, too.”

Bill is one of two teachers who have been with Excel Music since it opened in 2006, and a number of others have stayed with the Thrashers for five, six, or eight years.

“We definitely have stability,” John says.

“We’ve been doing this for a long time.”

Like several instructors at Excel Music, Bill teaches and plays gigs. He is in a band called Lorelei On The Rocks (check them out at loreleirocks.com) and hopes to instill in his students the same love of playing that he has had for more than four decades.

“In the beginning, they memorize notes and learn the mechanics,” Bill says. “But, when they start to ‘hear’ the music and a little light bulb goes off and you know they got

it, that’s what I love about teaching.”

Soon, John hopes lots of little light bulbs will go off in the heads of local music students who return for in-person lessons.

“We’re just eager to get back to what we usually offer,” John says. “This has been really, really challenging for everybody. “It’s been a trying and learning experience, but like anything that is hard, you grow from it, you learn from it and you’ll be better for it.”

Excel Music, located at 10353 Cross Creek Blvd., Suite I, is still open for virtual lessons only right now. For more information, visit ExcelMusic.org, call (813) 991-1177 or see the ad on page 24 of this issue.

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Get Walk-In Covid Vaccines & Personal Service at Prime Rx Pharmacy

By CELESTE McLAUGHLIN Prime Rx Pharmacy in the Cross Creek Center plaza on Cross Creek Blvd. (at Kinnan St.) is making it easy for adults, teens, and kids ages 12 and up to get a Covid-19 vaccine.

Vikas Ghiya, R.Ph. (Registered Pharmacist), says that’s the key to students being able to return to school safely this fall.

“If people are vaccinated, the chances are less to get sick or spread Covid,” says Vikas, who emphasizes that it is both convenient and free to get a vaccine. “There’s no cost for the vaccines and no charge for patients, whether they have insurance or not.”

The pharmacy offers all three currently available Covid-19 vaccines — the twodose vaccines manufactured by Moderna and Pfizer and the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine — and those who want them can just stop in at a convenient time.

If you prefer to make an appointment, you can do so by calling the pharmacy at (813) 955-7777 or by visiting mycovidshots.com/#!/form/PrimeRxPharmacy to make your appointment online.

For the past year, the pharmacy has been taking precautions to ensure that its customers and staff stay safe during the pan-

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The staff at Prime RX Pharmacy on Cross Creek Blvd. includes (l.-r, front row): co-owner Harsha Ghiya, pharmacist & co-owner Vikas Ghiya, pharmacy tech Angelica Guinand & pharmacy intern Doaa Abd Alghafar. (Back row) Pharmacy techs Ayush Gandhi & Victoria Hart. (Photos by Charmaine George)

demic. Now, the precautions are routine.

For example, masks are worn at all times, chairs up front are separated for social distancing, shields are installed to separate staff from customers at the register, and additional cleaning measures are in place.

In addition to home delivery for

anyone who is not comfortable coming into the store, Prime Rx now also offers curbside service.

The ease of getting a vaccine and having prescriptions delivered to your car or home are examples of the many ways Prime Rx Pharmacy puts its patients first and

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serves them in a personalized way.

Vikas, who is a long-time New Tampa resident, opened the Cross Creek location nearly two years ago, bringing his business to his home neighborhood from its previous location in Pinellas County.

He has worked as a pharmacist since 1992, first for Eckerd, then Publix. In 2009, he established Prime Rx Pharmacy in Seminole with partners who opened other Prime Rx pharmacies in St. Petersburg and Riverview.

When the partnership dissolved in 2012, Vikas kept his Seminole location open while he commuted from New Tampa. He says that when he had the opportunity to relocate, he decided to come all the way to New Tampa, cutting three hours out of his daily commute.

Vikas has been married to his wife, Harsha, for 32 years. Harsha manages the office and billing for the pharmacy, and also has a license as a pharmacy technician, so she can help her husband with that part of the business when needed.

Vikas says the entire staff prides itself on being both fast and accurate, plus going above and beyond what is typical at a corporate pharmacy or chain drug store.

“Here, customer service is a priority,”

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explains Vikas. “We often recognize our customers and welcome them by name.”

In fact, to be more accessible to patients, the pharmacy can now be reached by text message. “People can text us whenever we are open,” says pharmacy tech Angelica Guinand, “to ask questions or ask for refills.”

If you text after hours, a member of the pharmacy staff will reply when the office opens again.

In India, Vikas was educated in Ayurvedic medicine, which is a holistic healing system developed more than 3,000 years ago. He earned a doctorate degree and practiced Ayurveda in India until 1988, when he moved to the United States. He explains that in the U.S., his doctorate in Ayurveda is not recognized.

So, Vikas enrolled at St. John’s University in Queens, NY, and received his B.S. degree in Pharmacy in 1992. Then, he moved to Florida.

“Even back then, corporate pharmacy was looking at quantity, not quality,” he says. That’s why he chose to be an independent pharmacist, using both his pharmacological training and physiological training from India to spend more time with each patient.

Blister Pack Prescriptions…

Prime Rx Pharmacy offers customized pill packaging, with medications

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Prime RX Pharmacy carries a wide selection of over-the-counter medications, vitamins and durable medical equipment (DME) for sale, with some items also for rent, such as wheelchairs and canes.

sorted by the day and time a patient should take each of them. This is especially helpful for people who are chronically ill and take several medications at different times throughout the day.

“Instead of opening three or four different bottles, patients just open one blister pack,” Ghiya explains. “It helps the patient not to miss any pills. We count and make sure they get the exact dosage they need.”

He says he’s had patients whose health has improved, thanks to the consistency of

not missing doses of medication or taking extra doses.

…And More

In addition to prescriptions, the pharmacy also carries a wide selection of over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and durable medical equipment (DME) for sale, with some items also for rent, such as wheelchairs and canes.

Vikas and his staff are happy to counsel patients about the best vitamins

for them, especially when they are taking prescription medications. Prime Rx offers high-quality vitamins that he says work better and are absorbed better than those sold in typical chain drug stores.

Pete Radigan lives in Basset Creek in K-Bar Ranch. He switched from local chain drug stores to Prime Rx Pharmacy about a year ago.

“Vikas is great,” Pete says. “From the moment that I met him, he’s gone out of his way to make me feel like I’m part of a family. It’s little things, like dropping off a prescription because I didn’t make it up to the pharmacy before it closed and he knew my wife was sick.”

While prices are similar — or lower — than what Pete says he used to pay at the chains, the service is more personalized.

“Vikas looks at the customer as a whole person, at his family, at everything,” Pete says, “as opposed to just that transaction, that day.”

And, Pete says, the personalized service and family-like atmosphere is not only cultivated by the pharmacist. “It’s his whole staff. They’re as customer-centric as he is.”

Prime Rx Pharmacy is located at 10010 Cross Creek Blvd. It is open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. For more information, visit PrimeRxPharmacy.com, call (813) 955-7777 or see the ad on page 27 of this issue.

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Farina Orthodontic Specialists Focused On The Future

By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com Mark Farina, D.M.D. (Doctor of Dental Medicine) is one of the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel area’s best-known, most respected orthodontists. In his 26 years of creating beautiful smiles locally, Farina Orthodontic Specialists has been responsible for fixing more than 20,000 smiles.

And, not only is he not done yet, Dr. Farina is taking his practice to new heights.

While he already has three offices, including one in Tampa Palms off Amberly Dr. and Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. (that he moved into in 2000), it is his glimmering, modern, cubed building on BBD between the Shops at Wiregrass and AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, that has expanded his services and his vision.

The three-floor, 16,000-sq.-ft. building is certainly not your daddy’s dental office, inside or outside. It does, however, reflect the hightech and futuristic nature of Farina’s practice.

“I wanted to create a building to reflect our thought process of moving into the next 10-20 years,” Dr. Farina says. “It’s modern, clean, and unobtrusive. And, the windows represent a radical transparency, which is something we pride ourselves on with our fees, consultations and allowing parents to come back with their children.”

Farina Orthodontic Specialists operates out of the new building’s first floor, and half of the second floor has offices handling oral maxillofacial surgery, periodontics and implant dentistry (with Dr. Matthew Waite, Dr. Mary Elizabeth Joyce and Dr. James Wilson) and endodontics (root canals) with Dr. Christian Kamaris and Dr. Frank Delgado.

The other half of the second floor will be home to a training facility and administration.

The space will offer continuing education for those already working at Farina Orthodontic Specialists and even those at other offices. Dr. Farina says it will have a “Google-like” atmosphere, with an open lounge and classrooms, and should be completed by the fall.

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Orthodontist Dr. Mark Farina says the core values of Farina Orthodontic Specialists separate it from other orthodontic practices and have contributed to his popularity. (Photo: Charmaine George) temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain, and has The third floor will be the new home served on research teams at both New York for Communication Corner & More, which University and the University of Pennsylvais owned by Jill Vought, who specializes in nia to help find new and better ways to solve speech and physical therapy. orthodontic problems.

“My concept was to have a multi-interdisciplinary facility where all the specialties can In fact, he has never stopped looking for come together to give a treatment plan and the better way. the best possible care to our patients,” Dr. Farina says. “It’s almost like a Cleveland Clinic or Mayo Clinic of dentistry, where we have all the specialists under the same roof.”

As for the thing he is most known for, Dr. Farina continues to offer the best in orthodontic services with the most advanced technology.

Dr. Farina earned a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Biology from Boston College in Boston, MA. He earned his D.M.D. degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in Philadelphia and did his post-graduate orthodontic training at New York University in New York City, NY. He also has received advanced training in the integrated diagnosis and treatment of

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“We are always trying to polish the diamond,” Dr. Farina says.

It begins with stellar patient service from the first phone call to the consultation and explaining what will be done, taking the patient through the process step by step. A friendly waiting room offers a beverage bar and iPads, which are used for entertainment and for signing in — there is no paperwork.

“It’s about treating everyone really like family,” Dr. Farina says. “We really work hard on our culture. The goal is not to just end up with patients with straight teeth. (We believe) the experience, from start to finish, is what separates us from others.”

Patients begin in the 3D Imaging Room, where an i-CAT 3D Machine takes a 3D image of not just the patient’s teeth, but also the bones and airways in their head. The process takes all of five seconds.

The 3D Imaging can help bring clarity to a number of problems, and can help identify red flags like temporomandibular disorder (TMD), which is an irregularity with the temporomandibular joint that causes clicking, popping or just pain and discomfort in the jaw area.

Farina Orthodontic Specialists also treats sleep apnea and snoring, both of which can be the result of an obstructed airway. The

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imaging also can detect airway development problems in children.

The process combines digital impressions created with the 3D imaging machine and intra- and extra-oral photographs, offering a more complete picture of the patient’s overall oral health.

There’s even an iTero 3D impressionless scanner that will create a digital 3D model of your teeth.

“It avoids having that dreadful goop in your mouth,” Dr. Farina says. “In three minutes, we have a full 3D model that’s far more accurate than your typical mouth impression.”

If that’s not easy enough, the Farina Orthodontic Specialists website (FarinaSmiles. com) offers a Virtual Smile Assessment, where patients can upload a smile selfie and receive a virtual consultation from the comfort of their own homes.

In addition to traditional braces, Farina Orthodontic Specialists uses the Invisalign® brand of clear aligners and has been designated a “Diamond Plus,” or in the top one percent of orthodontic practices in North America with Invisalign patients.

Dr. Farina also offers his own trademarked system, called ClearTech.

“It’s for minor tooth movements and relapses, like maybe if someone didn’t wear their retainer,” he says. “It’s a less expensive option than (Invisalign) , and just as effective. And we control every step of the way.”

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Who needs that dreadful goop when the 3D impressionless scanner (above) at Farina Orthodontic Specialists will create a digital 3D model of your teeth in minutes? (Photo: Charmine George) Farina Orthodontic Specialists also gives back to the community. Dr. Farina says they are close to launching a “Million Dollar Smiles” initiative, where $1-million worth of smiles will be donated by 2023-24. Those in need and with special circumstances would be nominated and receive free dental care. Dr. Farina already has picked up the bill for a patient who lost their father and a Vietnam vet whose dream it has always been to have a great smile.

“I’ve always been very involved in the community,” he says. “I coached locally, I lived locally and I’ve always had great support from parents. It’s in our core values to help.”

In fact, Dr. Farina speaks of his practice’s Five Core Values often. The practice’s Five Core Values are: 1.) Delivering “WOW,” through service and smiles 2.) Make it simple, get it done 3.) Be present, clear and humble

4.) Encourage and embrace change 5.) One team, one family, one vision Those core values are a big part of the reason many of his patients keep coming back to Farina Orthodontic Specialists, like Stacey White, who has been going to see Dr. Farina for roughly 10 years.

Both of Stacy’s daughters, Kathryn (now 24) and Hanna (17), got their braces from Dr. Farina. And in fact, Stacy decided to get Invisalign as well, since her teeth had shifted since her childhood braces.

“We just love how great they are with their patients,” Stacy says. “They know their stuff, and they are truly very warm and friendly. ” While Kathryn was a patient at Dr. Farina’s Tampa Palms office, Stacy and Hanna got to experience the new office in Wesley Chapel and loved it, especially the 3D imagining.

“They really do pride themselves on looking for the next best treatment, not just because it’s cool but because it makes the experience better, faster and easier. That’s really nice.”

For appointments and more information about the Wesley Chapel office (2370 BBD Blvd., Suite A), or any of the three locations of Farina Orthodontic Specialists, call (813) 972-2929, visit FarinaSmiles.com or see or see the ad on pg. 16 of this issue. The office accepts most dental insurance plans.

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Excellence In Eye Care Expands Focus On Kiddie Eye Care “Children think that’s just the way the world looks. They don’t realize they should be able to see better. They could even end up with visual problems, such as a lazy eye, that may never be fully corrected because the visual pathways haven’t formed properly.”

He says that parents should bring their children in for an eye exam once a year and that children’s eyes often change even more quickly than that.

Dr. Scamard also is a charter member of a program called Infant-See. For babies who are at least six months old but not yet one year, Dr. Scamard will do their first eye exam for free. “It takes less than 10 minutes and allows us to check everything out from an optometrist’s point of view.”

By CELESTE McLAUGHLIN For nearly 20 years, independent optometrist David Scamard, O.D., has taken care of patients’ eyes in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel. Even before his practice was called “Excellence In Eye Care,” that’s exactly what he always strived to deliver.

Since 2017, Dr. Scamard’s Excellence In Eye Care, LLC, has been located inside the Costco next to the Tampa Premium Outlets on S.R. 56. Prior to that, it was located off of S.R. 54 in Lutz.

He has been practicing much longer than that, however, since he opened his first private practice in New Tampa way back in 2002.

He had previously earned his undergraduate degree at the University of South Florida in Tampa and earned his Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale.

Some people who see Dr. Scamard inside Costco have been his patients over the last two decades and originally found him at one of his previous locations.

For example, patient Jill Bonnville and her husband Frank Filippone saw Dr. Scamard for about 10 years when he was located on S.R. 54, but then lost touch.

They saw several doctors closer to their home in Town ‘N Country, but every year, when it was time for their exams, Jill would again try to find Dr. Scamard.

Of all the doctors who have tried to help her with her admittedly difficult eyes, Jill says, “He’s the only doctor who nails it the first time, every time.”

And, while it takes her nearly an hour to get to his office, she says it’s worth it.

Jill says she went back to another doctor for several months in a row to get a prescription that would allow her to

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New Technology For Sports

The staff at Excellence In Eye Care, located inside the Costco on S.R. 56, includes (l.-r.) optometric technician Jill Wagner, Dr. David Scamard and office manager and optometric technician Eileen Aldrich. (Photos: Charmaine George)

see better, but that doctor kept getting it wrong.

When she finally found Dr. Scamard again, “I couldn’t believe it,” Jill says.

“It was very similar to when I first had to get glasses as a kid. When I put them on, I went, ‘Wow. This is what everything is supposed to look like.’ I didn’t even realize it was that bad until he fixed it.”

false impression that their kids’ eyes are being checked thoroughly at school or they can address problems once a child starts having them, but problems are missed in school screenings,” explains Dr. Scamard.

Also this fall, Dr. Scamard and his team will introduce a sports vision therapy program for people of all ages to improve their sports performance.

Using a specialized machine called the Sanet Vision Integrator (bottom photo on next page), patients can improve their hand-to-eye coordination and reaction time. Dr. Scamard says it will

Wee Care Eye Care Coming Soon

Coming this fall, Excellence In Eye Care will introduce Wee Care Eye Care, offering a new experience that is focused (no pun intended) on children’s eye care.

While Dr. Scamard has always seen babies and children, the new program will expand the practice’s focus on kids, with a specially-designed, kid-friendly exam room and education targeted at parents.

“A lot of times, parents are under the

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Dr. Scamard uses state-of-the-art equipment to elevate his practice beyond just a place to get glasses. help athletes in many sports, including don’t have to have their eyes dilated. baseball, hockey and others.

“We’re state of the art,” he says.

Eileen Aldrich, the practice’s ofThe entire process from eye exam to fice manager, who also is an optometric putting the glasses on your face or the contechnician, explains, “It will give them tacts in your eyes can be completed right better visual perception, such as when to there in Costco. However, while you do use a racket to hit the ball, and gets them not need to be a member of the wholesale more focused on using vision to reach their club to visit Excellence in Eyecare and training or sports goals.” have an exam, you do need to be a Costco The machine hooks up to a large, member to get your glasses and contact touch-screen television, which provides lenses from the wholesale giant’s eyewear exercises for the person being trained to department right next to the office. respond to, while they work on balance Excellence In Eye Care does not using a Wii Fit board. accept vision insurance plans. Howev“There’s no one else in the area who er, Eileen says, “We do offer a detailed, has this instrument,” Dr. Scamard says, “so itemized bill once a patient is seen. The we’re very unique in that regard.” patient can then send that bill to their He says many patients are impressed insurance company for reimbursement.” with all of the latest technology available at Dr. Scamard, Eileen and optometric Excellence In Eye Care. technician Jill Wagner will do whatever it For example, Dr. Scamard uses a high- takes to help you with your eye care needs. tech retinal imager to view the internal “We want our patients to feel comstructures of the eyes. He also uses a digital fortable,” says Dr. Scamard. “We listen to refractor, which he says is faster, more acour patients, address their needs, and we curate and more efficient than the old-style take our time with them. We really pride analog devices, and patients like that they ourselves on making sure our patients are happy — that’s always our goal.”

Jill Bonnville says she is one of those very happy patients.

“He’s very kind, he’s extremely patient,” says Jill. “I ask a lot of questions and he explains both the scientific stuff and what it means. It’s always a nice experience.”

Excellence In Eye Care is located inside the Costco Wesley Chapel Warehouse at 2225 Grand Cypress Dr. (on the south side of S.R. 56) in Lutz. The office is open Tuesday and Thursday, 1 p.m.-7 p.m.; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday; and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, call (813) 279-7038, visit ExcellenceInEyecare.net or see the ad on page 17.

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The Show Must Go On For Wharton Prom(s)!

By CELESTE McLAUGHLIN From Homecoming to field trips, the Covid-19 pandemic has stolen quite a bit of the typical senior year experience from the graduating class of 2021.

At Wharton High, senior Taryn Bartley was determined that it wouldn’t steal the senior prom, too.

Taryn didn’t know if her fellow classmates would even be interested in attending a prom planned by another student, so she took to Instagram and posted a poll asking Wharton seniors if they would go, where they would want the prom to be held, and how much they would be willing to spend on a ticket.

“I got 144 responses to that survey,” she says, “and it snowballed from there.”

After touring a few venues, she chose The Italian Club in Ybor City and set the date for May 28. She drafted rules, like no alcohol and identification being required, and only sold tickets to students whose parents signed a form acknowledging the rules.

While school prom committees typically spend all year planning for the big day, Taryn had just 44 days from the day she posted the survey until the day the prom was held. Her mom Amy provided guidance and signed the contracts with vendors, and they benefited from Taryn’s older sister’s experience, who helped plan the Wharton prom two years before.

Taryn knew she needed to sell at least 100 tickets to have enough money to rent the venue. An additional 40 tickets would allow her to hire a deejay.

She was told a typical Wharton prom often has about 300 or 350 students attending, so she was thrilled when she sold 201 tickets.

Then, her mom says, “She worked really hard to spend all the money because she didn’t want to make a profit.”

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Taryn Bartley (far right photo) decided Covid-19 had stolen enough of her senior year and organized the Wharton prom at The Italian Club in Ybor City (above right) in just 44 days. (Photos provided by Taryn Bartley) Taryn held the event the day after grad- was careful to include the school’s student-elected prom court in her event. uation. She didn’t want any repercussions from the school for students who attended, “Out of 10 members of the prom court, and wanted to minimize the chance that we had eight of them come to our prom,” anyone might have to quarantine due to she says. The two who were missing parexposure to Covid at the prom. ticipated in a separate prom organized by “If I was the reason someone couldn’t different students and parents. walk at graduation, I would have felt terriTaryn says that all of the hard work ble,” Taryn says.

The night of the event, Taryn’s parents and a couple of other adults took over as chaperones so she could enjoy herself, going out to dinner in a party bus with friends.

But first, they gathered at the Hunter’s Green Captain Nathaniel Hunter Park with dozens of others, taking pictures as they’ve done for many other events over the years.

“We’ve all gone to school with most of these people our whole lives,” says Taryn.

“We’ve added more people as you go on, but there are a lot of the same people, and it was really nice to have everyone together.”

Officially, Wharton did offer some activities to replace prom, so Taryn also

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definitely was worth it. “I think it turned out great,” she says. “It really came together like a last hurrah.”

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Advisor Kyle LoJacono, back row, with six of the Blue & White seniors — middle row (l.-r.)

Vlada Pitner, Taryn Bartley and Payton Kenny, and front row (l.-r.) Taylor Kaliszewski, Callie Zack and Allie Massey. (Photo courtesy of Kyle LoJacono)

Blue & White Takes 1st! will attend the University of Florida in

By JOHN C. COTEY who Gainesville in the fall. “It was difficult to get

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com things done this year. Trying to connect and

Callie Zack knew this past year would be a tricky one when it came to putting out Wharton High’s school newspaper, the Blue & White.

The onset of Covid-19 practically wiped out the last quarter of 2020, where journalism students generally learn page design, so many new staff members had some catching up to do. Callie’s two associate editors, Allie Massey and Taryn Bartley, would be doing e-learning while she was at school, so teamwork was paramount. And, her ability to pull it all together, as a third of the staff would be learning from home as well, was going to test her organizational skills.

However, Callie and Co. passed the test with flying colors. In May, the American Scholastic Press Association (ASPA) named the Blue & White the best high school newspaper in the country.

More than 90 schools entered the Senior High School category, which is judged by journalism teachers who have entered outstanding publications in the past.

The Blue & White received 960 out of a possible 1,000 points in the contest this year, the most scored by any other newspaper, earning the Wharton publication the ASPA’s highest honor, Most Outstanding High School Newspaper for 2020-21.

“Adviser Kyle LoJacono and the entire staff of the Blue & White newspaper should be congratulated on this excellent achievement,” Dr. Richard Plass, Chairman of the ASPA, told the Neighborhood News in an email.

“It was very rewarding,” says Callie, Neighborhood News

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make deadline was very weird.”

While the year was plagued by Covid-19, it wasn’t short on providing news for the four, 16-page issues the staff put out.

Callie thinks that what separated the Blue & White from its competition was its visual appearance, a new section that focused on hot topics called “The Spotlight,” great photography, a generous use of infographics and a plethora of big national stories — Covid-19, Black Lives Matter, the election, the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, that the staff localized.

“We were a complete newspaper,” Callie says. “We had a staff with a lot of different strengths and we played to them. They didn’t try to be good at one thing, they tried to be good at a lot of things.”

Personally, Callie says she was most pleased with her Feb. center spread about the events of Jan. 6. “I loved writing that piece,” she says, adding that, at 960 words, it was the longest thing she had ever written.

Callie, whose sister Ashley (editor in chief) and brother Taylor (sports editor) are former Blue & White staffers, said she is happy to end her tenure, and high school career, being named the best in the country, especially considering the circumstances.

“There were so many things, like just getting cameras to kids who weren’t on campus,” Callie says. “So many things that we would have never even thought of before.

But, to have the organization and skill to make it all happen, I’m just really proud of this group.”

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Mission To Feed The Hungry Leads To Congressional Award

By ISABELLA DOUGLAS It was a Sunday tradition — pack peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and travel to THORN Ministries in Riverview to feed the homeless.

What started in fifth-grade for Nitya Anne sparked a lifelong goal to never see another person go hungry.

“You feel like you’re doing something in the community that has a purpose,” Nitya says. “This motivates you to become a better person.”

Nitya has accumulated more than 800 volunteer hours from fund raising, tutoring and other initiatives she started.

The 17-year-old junior, who lives in West Meadows but attends King High’s IB program, made a commitment in 2019 to volunteer more than 400 hours to her community. After setting proactive goals to enrich both herself and the community, she will accept a Congressional Award Gold Medal later this year.

The Congressional Award is given to individuals who complete personally challenging goals in voluntary public service, personal development, physical fitness and expedition/exploration. The award ceremony, which is usually held in Washington D.C.,

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Nitya Anne could have 2,000 volunteer hours by the time she graduates high school.

will occur either over Zoom or next year, due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Nitya has spent most of her volunteering career at food pantries and hospitals, with a single goal in mind: to help people.

She has raised more than $3,000 in the pursuit of providing the basic necessities for individuals.

Nitya’s mother Rajani, who took her to her first volunteering event, told her daughter she should apply for the Congressional Gold Medal.

“I’m really, really proud,” Rajani says.

“I hope other kids get motivated by this and do more community service.”

“No Girl Left Behind” is an initiative Nitya created after her 2016 visit to India, where she saw a lack of educational opportunities for girls in the country. When she returned home, she started fundraising at local community events by selling Indian cuisine in exchange for donations towards education in India.

“I felt like the spreading of education is really important,” Nitya says. “I started helping two girls in India by giving funds from my fund raisers and this gave them the opportunity to go and learn.”

In high school, she is an active member of her school’s Speech and Debate Club, where she created a Speech and Debate camp for middle schoolers interested in learning key public speaking techniques and participating in mock competitions.

Nitya also started a tutoring club at

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her high school to help students of all ages struggling in their classes due to the pandemic.

Her advisor for the Congressional Award is Jessie Peña, who also is her homeroom and English 3 teacher.

“She’s really going above and beyond,” Peña says. “It’s just about who she is and the care that she has for the homeless and for other people who are in need.”

Nitya has gained new skills as a result of her volunteer efforts, such as better time management and project planning. Peña says she asks questions and contributes her ideas more.

“She’s been growing a lot as a result of her participation in this volunteer work,” Peña says. “She’s a great example of what can happen to yourself in terms of personal growth and development by giving to others.”

Nitya plans to continue volunteering and her advisor says she will most likely have 2,000 volunteer hours completed by the time she graduates from high school.

“I want to dedicate my time to helping the community as much as possible,” Nitya says. “I feel like it’s really important to continue to volunteer, even if it’s not for an award.”

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Wharton Will Debut New Artificial Turf Field This Fall!

By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com Wharton High will be playing its football games this fall on a brand new artificial turf field, with construction expected to be completed by the end of July.

The Wildcats will debut the field for their regular season football home opener against rival Freedom High on August 27.

“Oh yeah, they are excited about it,” says Wharton’s athletic director Eddie Henderson.

According to Henderson, Hillsborough County Public Schools is doing a rotation of 3-5 fields each summer, with the final goal being to install artificial turf at every public high school.

Last year, the first schools in the rotation — Sumner, Sickles and Hillsborough — had new fields put in. This summer, Steinbrenner, Lennard and Blake are getting new fields, along with Wharton. Each field costs roughly $2 million, but Henderson says the District will make up a lot of those costs with what it saves in maintenance and re-sodding.

“I think that there will be a lot of money saved over the long run,” Henderson says.

Plant High was the first county public school to put in an artificial turf field in 2010,

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after raising $600,000 for the project.

SPEAKING OF WILDCATS: Wharton recently wrapped up its spring season with a 14-0 loss in one half of play against Tampa Bay Tech, but second-year coach Mike Williams wasn’t concerned about the score.

“The spring is about evaluating our kids and seeing who is ready to move up to varsity,” Williams says.

“And we liked what we saw.”

Although the Wildcats graduated all of their varsity quarterbacks, Williams was pleased with last year’s The graphic above is an artist’s rendering of what the Wharton junior varsity starter, Tyree Works, High football field will look like with its artificial turf field. who handled all of the spring snaps.

Almost every defensive player is back, But, Works will have more competition in the including a linebacking crew that could make fall from some promising freshmen and trans- an argument for being the best in Tampa Bay fers. Williams is hoping to transition from a and includes All-Staters Dave Crouch and power-based offense to one featuring more Henry Griffith and second-team MaxPreps perimeter passes to spread out the game.

Freshman All-American Booker Pickett Jr. With leading rusher Keith Morris and “This is going to be a big summer for a some key wide receiver transfers ready to lot of the guys,” Williams says. beef up the offense, Williams expects to score more than the 19 points per game the team NUMBERS GAME AT FREEDOM: averaged last year.

Freedom High, coming off a winless season, The Wildcats went 7-2 in 2020 because picked up an 8-7 jamboree win over King last the defense was top-flight, allowing only nine month to wrap up spring football. points per game and posting three shutouts.

Quarterback Alex de la Cruz threw a

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touchdown pass to Greg Underwood Jr., and then found RJ Broadnax for the two-point conversion and the win.

De la Cruz will enter the fall as the starter, after promising freshman and last year’s leading passer Taquawn Anthony said he would not be returning to Freedom.

The Patriots suffered a more serious blow when their best player, Robby Washington, transferred to Eagle’s Landing High in McDonough, GA. Washington led Freedom in rushing, receiving and touchdowns last year, and averaged more than 12 yards every time he touched the ball. He has offers from Alabama, Miami and Boston College.

Third-year coach Chris Short will continue trying to rebuild the Patriots, though only 22 players dressed out for the spring game and very few of them had any previous game experience.

He says a lot of players are waiting on paperwork, but admits that adequately filling a football roster for the upcoming fall season will be a tough chore.

“The hardest thing I’m dealing with right now is the same as when I was an assistant, and that’s getting kids to come out,” Short says. “I’m hoping it’s a cyclical thing with us, but if we can get these kids signed up we’ll be okay.”

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Lima Peruvian Cuisine Celebrates One Year With New Menu Items!

By Gary Nager I remember very clearly when I first met Oscar Escudero, the owner of Lima Rotisserie Chicken & Peruvian Cuisine in the New Tampa Center plaza on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd.

It was when Oscar opened, only a couple of weeks before the Covid-19 pandemic shut down the world in March of 2020. We wondered together not just if, but also how long, the pandemic would affect his new eatery.

Needless to say, it wasn’t an ideal time to open a new restaurant. But, while Lima is a true sit-down restaurant, it also adapted very well to take-out (and delivery) only and, while it’s been a rough 15 months, Lima has weathered the storm, thanks to its outstanding food and an owner committed to success.

When I did my first review of Lima, I mentioned that Peruvian food has long been considered the best of the Latin cuisines and

was actually named the #1 cuisine in the entire world by Bloomberg.com in 2017.

But, whether Peruvian food is already among your favorites or you’ve never previously tried it before, you owe it to yourself to give Lima a try.

When you walk into Lima, the heady aroma of Peruvianspiced rotisserie chicken immediately lets you know you’re in for a delicious meal. But, while the crispy skin and moist, delicious chicken is hard to resist, it’s far from the only reason to visit Oscar’s place. Last year, I told you about the Conchitas Parmesana (baked scallops on the half-shell, topped with butter and parmesan cheese) and the perfect fresh fish Ceviche de Pescado (far right) appetizers (there also is a fish ceviche served with a trio of sauces, and a shrimp, mussels and calamari ceviche, too), as well as the Lomo Saltado Lima (near right), which is hearty beef tenderloin tips woksautéed with spices, sliced onions,

Try our editor’s favorite dishes at Lima in the New Tampa Center plaza, including (clockwise from top left on this page) the Pescado a la Chorillano, Tallarin Saltado de Pollo, Ceviche de Pescado, Lomo Saltado Lima and Peruvian rotisserie chicken. (Photos by Charmaine George)

fresh tomato wedges, cilantro and a touch of soy sauce and vinegar, served over a bed of crispy French fries.

Speaking of wok-sautéeing, I also mentioned that I was surprised that Peruvian cuisine was heavily influenced by the Chinese engineers and builders who came across the Pacific and settled in Peru to help build the railroad that went from the desert coast of Lima on the Pacific Ocean to and through the Andes mountains that divide the north from the south of the west coast South American country.

Among the wok-sautéed dishes available at Lima include the “lo mein”-style Tallarin Saltado de Pollo (top right photo) and features pulled “a la brasa” (rotisserie) chicken (although you also can have it with steak or seafood), with sliced onions, tomatoes and cilantro, blended

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with delicious lo mein noodles, soy sauce and vinegar. The fried rice (top right photo on next page) has scallions, egg and a distinctively nutty taste and is topped with everything from chicken and crispy noodles to the Arroz con Mariscos (seasoned rice topped with mixed seafood — shrimp, clams, calamari and mussels) shown at the top of the next page.

Speaking Of Seafood...

As you long-time readers know, I’m highly allergic to shrimp, mussels and lobster, so I can’t indulge in many of the newer seafood dishes on Lima’s menu. However, since my last review of Lima in these pages, I have found at least one new favorite — the Pescado a la Chorillano (fresh snapper or basa fillet, lightly fried and topped with sautéed

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onions, tomatoes, cilantro, spices and a splash of wine) shown in the top left photo on the previous page.

However, in addition to the new fish dish I love, Oscar says the pandemic caused him to add some new menu items to make sure he utilized all of the seafood he already was ordering, so I had photographer Charmaine George, who took the pictures on both of these pages, sample Oscar’s other new seafood options on the menu.

Among those are the Jalea (near right), which is breaded and seasoned seafood deep-fried and topped with Peruvian salsa, and the Pescado a la Macho (bottom right), which includes a mix of seafood atop a breaded filet of fish sautéed in a creamy yellow pepper/wine sauce. Charmaine and another patron at Lima the day we shot most of these photos gave enthusiastic thumbs-up to all of these dishes.

Lima also features Cusquena Peruvian and other domestic and imported beers, plus delicious soups, salads and chicken and beef tenderloin sandwiches, as well as sides of yuca, tostones (fried plantain slices) and some of the tastiest black beans and rice I’ve ever tasted.

Lima Rotisserie Chicken & Peruvian Cuisine (19062 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.)

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opens every day at 11:30 a.m. and stays open until 7 p.m. on Sun., 8 p.m. Tues.Thur., and until 9 p.m. on Fri. & Sat. For more info, call (813) 304-0205, visit LimaTampa.com or see the ad on pg. 38 of this issue for a great 15%-off coupon!

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Pick Of The Week 1: Vesh Bistro At SVB! Checking Out The

New Señor Tequila!

Batter & Dough Closes Storefront!

So, while scrolling through Facebook, I noticed that Batter & Dough, the unique dessert and breakfast place located on S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel, in the same Cypressview Square plaza as Capital Tacos, announced that it had closed its storefront location to concentrate on catering.

The Facebook post I saw said, “We thank you for all the memories you created with us. Words cannot express our gratitude to the love and support we have received.

We have closed our location but we will continue to make large catering orders.

You can contact us through IG, FB or at Thebatterandough@gmail.com.”

While I will miss their waffle ice cream sandwiches, I may have to order some of their great desserts like this Chocolatey Peanut Buttery Pie (photo) — and others — sometime soon. — GN

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I remember when I first met Mark Vesh of Vesh Catering. It was at a groundbreaking event for AdventHealth Wesley Chapel and I remember being so impressed with the food being served, I asked to meet him. Since then, I have enjoyed Mark’s delicious finger foods at any number of local events, but until recently, I had never had a complete meal created by him and his staff.

But, when I heard Mark (top photo), his wife Patty and their team were opening the Vesh Bistro at the new Sarah Vande Berg (SVB) Tennis & Wellness Center in Zephyrhills, I was excited to sample everything on the menu.

And, to date, I have not been disappointed.

From appetizers like the ahi tuna bruschetta (bottom photo) and specialties like the cauliflower crust caprese & pesto flatbread (above right) and some of the best chicken salad in town on a bakedin-house croissant (right) and so much more, the food at the Vesh Bistro is always on-point. There’s even an all-you-care-to-eat Sunday brunch buffet with an omelet station, perfect candied bacon and a rotating menu of lunch favorites. And, for special events like the Mother’s Day and Father’s Day brunches, the Vesh Bistro at SVB always puts out an even-more-impressive spread!

The Vesh Bistro is at the SVB Tennis Center (6585 Simons Rd., Zephryhills).

Call (813) 517-0707, visit VeshCatering.com or watch the video on our “Neighborhood News” Facebook page.—GN

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I’m pretty confident that our “Neighborhood News” Facebook page was the first to tell anyone (on May 25) about the opening of Señor Tequila in the former Bonefish Grill location in the Shoppes at New Tampa plaza on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., just south of S.R. 56.

Very little seems to have been changed inside the new Mexican restaurant, the fourth link in a local chain which has existing locations on N. Dale Mabry Hwy. and in Westchase, as well as Winter Springs, and after sampling a few menu items, the food and service are both pretty good.

Jannah and I enjoyed the sizzling fajitas for two (above) on our first visit and photographer Charmaine George and I also gave thumbs-up to the steak tacos (below), the steak Tampiqueño (ribeye steak grilled with onions) and the pollo ranchero (grilled chicken breast with sautéed onions, tomatoes, jalapeños and cilantro). Also try the house-made chips with semi-spicy salsa and the full liquor bar with an impressive tequila/ margarita selection.

Wesley Chapel’s Señor Tequila is located at 1640 BBD Blvd. For more info, visit TheSenorTequila.com or call (813) 4285411 & please tell them I sent you.— GN

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Pick Of The Week 2: Falabella Family Bistro! Have You Seen Our Latest Dining Videos?

Congratulations to Steve and Micaela Falabella and their entire family and staff on the opening of the amazing Falabella Family Bistro, located at 6027 Wesley Grove Blvd. in the Village at The Grove plaza in Wesley Chapel!

Steve, who also owns 900º Woodfired Pizza in the Shops at Wiregrass, also is looking forward to the opening of his second 900º Woodfired location in The Grove, right next to his family’s “delicioso” new Italian bistro.

The Bistro is a casually elegant new place for tasty — and affordable — Italian favorites using the Falabella family’s recipes from both New York (where Steve grew up) and Milan, Italy.

Also offering beer, wine, wine cocktails and espresso drinks, Falabella Family Bistro has everything from (top to bottom photos) small plates like bruschetta and chicken parmigiana to full-sized entrées like a savory vongole (spaghetti with white clam sauce) to items not shown here like true Italian-style lasagne (with bechamel sauce instead of ricotta), Sam’s meatballs, antipasto boards (shaped like Italy), gnocchi, sausage & peppers heros, pressed panini sandwiches and more. Best of all, almost all of the items on the menu are only $8.95-$14.95 (with only the large-size antipasto board costing more).

Top it all off with house-made desserts like tiramisu, NY cheesecake and a perfect cappuccino and you’ll become a regular at the Bistro.

Falabella Family Bistro is open every day, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. (10 p.m. on Sat.-Sun.).

For more information, call (813) 428-6957 or visit FalabellaBistro.com. — GN

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If you’re looking for updates on all of the new restaurants in New Tampa, Wesley Chapel and beyond, look no further than our “Neighborhood News” page on Facebook.

Because new eateries keep opening in our distribution areas, we have increased the number of dining-oriented videos we’ve been releasing, including my latest “Neighborhood Dining News” segment, which was shot (photo; ad below) at the now-open Falabella Family Bistro (see story on this page), but also includes sneak peeks at the coming-soon Ice Dreammm Shop and Bluefin Sushi, plus food pics from the now-open Omnivorous kitchen inside Double Branch Artisanal Ales (see pg. 36). All of these newcomers are located in the ever-expanding Village at The Grove, but there also are updates on the new Token Ramen at the Shops at Wiregrass, as well as from the new Señor Tequila (see story on previous page) in the former Bonefish Grill location on BBD. Another well-received recent dining video was a look at the truly delicious Vesh Bistro at the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center (story also on the previous page), even though it’s in Zephyrhills. It’s my pleasure to keep you informed, both in print and online, about all of these new places because I truly love sampling them — almost always on my own nickel. — GN

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • New Tampa Neighborhood News • Volume 29, Issue 13 • June 22, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

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New Tampa & Wesley Chapel HOME IMPROVEMENT

CUSTOM INT. WINDOW COVERINGS! Cust. fabrication of all types of window coverings — plantation & hurricane shutters, vert. blinds, roller, cellular, woven wood & Roman shades, cellular vert., panel tracks, retract. awnings, motorization experts, alum., wood & faux wood blinds & more! FREE installation on orders over $250! Call Henry @ 813-948-6363, email TampaBlindsbyDesign@ gmail.com or visit TampaBlindsbyDesign.com.

TOM JOSEPH HANDYMAN: FREE ESTIMATES! Serving residents, Realtors & property mgrs. 30+ yrs home construction exp. Move in/out setups & repairs.

Repairs for sale/rent. Hang flatscreen TVs. Setup wifi & home theater. Install closet organizers. Cabinets, pullouts, shelving. Gen’l carpentry. Crown molding. Kitchen backsplash. Door install/repair & more! Call 813-751-4998 or email JosephHomesllc@outlook.com AMBLER ENTERPRISES Home Improvement. Call James at 813-385-6402. 30 Years of exp. Specialist in Kitchens & Bathrooms. Referrals upon request. All interior work: Drywall, Texture Paining, Doors, etc. Use us once & you won’t need to look elsewhere. Google us to see pictures: Wesley Chapel Ambler Enterprises. See our display ad at the bottom of this page!

JUNK HAULING SERVICE! • We handle all types of furniture removal — bdrm sets, chairs, mattresses & box springs • Hot water heaters & hot tubs - take apart & remove • Construction material • Carpet removal • Estate, eviction, yard, garage & attic clean-outs • Ofc, home & factory • Comm’l/res’l. GorillaJunkremovalExperts.com. For appts, call/text Nigel @ 888-346-5865.

WESLEYCHAPELPRESSUREWASHING.COM Soft pressure ext. house cleaning, screen enclosures, pool decks, driveways, sidewalks, fences, roofs, paver sealing & deck staining. We clean everything. No job too big/small.

Exp. the difference when you hire a pressure cleaning pro. Licensed & insured. Owner operated. Call for a free estimate or visit our website. 813-433-6015.

RAYMOND PAINTING. Ext. & Int. Svcs. Ext: Painting, pressure washing, clean & seal pavers, stucco, roofing, leaks & wood rot repair. Int: Painting, plastering, ceiling & wall repairs & tiles. Licensed & Bonded. References available. Free estimates. Your Neighborhood Arbor Greene Resident! We work 7 days. Call 813-994-5124.

CHARLES POPPE ELECTRIC. Electric of all kinds: pools, spas, svc changes, new circuits, low-voltage, repairs, upgrades, changes to existing, troubleshoot’g, GFCI performance testing, generators. We are experts w/40+ years exp. Discount of 50% off labor for senior citizens! Lic’d & Insured Master Electrician (EC 13002399) - free phone estimates. Call 813-477-9068.

MILLENNIUM HOME REP. Prof’ Handyman. Cabinet install, dry wall rep, tile install & rep, some plumbing, laminate flooring, light fixtures, int. painting, appliance install, pressure washing, paneling, window rep, awning install, carpentry, garbage disp, fence rep, crown molding, window blinds, seal baths & showers, TV mount & more.

Call 813-400-1408 or email TycoonUnion@yahoo.com.

DRY WALL SPECIALIST. Not a handyman. Affordable, Quality Work repairing water damage, ceilings & walls, re-texturing, popcorn removal, room addt’ns, cracks, holes, plaster & stucco repair. 26 years exp. WC resident. State Certified. Call Ron for a free estimate: 813-784-5999.

TJ’s PRESSURE WASHING LLC. Houses, Fences, Driveways, Lanais & Screened Enclosures. Most resdt’l 2-car driveways & vinyl fences start at $75. House washing starts at $150 /1-story home, $199/2-story home.

Need an instant quote? Text me a picture of the job you need done. Call Tj at 727-808-7775.

Classifieds

HOME HEALTH CARE

HOME DIALYSIS PARTNER: Why travel for dialysis?

Home Hemodialysis Partner LLC ‘s Cert. Home Health Aide & Phlebotomy Tech will come to you! We attend mandatory training at your clinic, assemble your machine at home, check vitals, start & finish treatment w/you, maintain contact w/an on-call nurse & safely remove you from the machine. Accepting new clients June 21! Email YourDialysisPartner@gmail.com or call 813.841.3754.

CAREGIVER/HOUSEKEEPER URGENTLY NEEDED! This is a live-out position. Work Mon-Thurs, $650/wk.

Childcare & light housekeeping. Must be able to interact w/children & speak English. Non-smoker, please! MUST HAVE REFERENCES & BE RESPONSIBLE! If interested, email Linda at flowershop998@gmail.com.

CNA/HHA available to do private duty care in your home. 30 years of exp. Will attend to all of your daily needs. References upon request. Call Rhonda at 850-586-1868.

SENIOR OVERNIGHT COMPANION SITTERS Two kind senior sisters seeking work safeguarding your loved one during the overnight hours. We’ve been working w/the senior population for 10 years & have seen a need for local, English-speaking, backgroundchecked, Covid-tested, dependable companions w/their own transportation. Very reasonable rates. Call Diane or Elisa at 813-938-8614.

COMPUTER & BUSINESS SERVICES

DO YOU HATE YOUR COMPUTER?!? WE CAN HELP YOU! Troubleshooting, Installation, Networking & Virus Removal. WE COME TO YOU! Residences & Businesses, more than 25-Years Experience. Contact Jeffrey Blank at 813-973-4507, visit WSICA.COM or email Wsica@wsica.com.

PROFESSIONAL TECH SUPPORT in your home or small biz. A+, Cert. computer tech w/20 years exp. Maintenance & Repairs, Upgrades & Tutoring. More affordable than large chains! Friendly, personalized svc. Tech jargon explained. Remote assistance & refs. avail. See our ad on pg. 32 or call (813) 957-8342 for a free estimate.

MISCELLANEOUS

ELITE RIDES. Private rides in a sanitized 2020 Tesla, plus concierge services. Airport, schools, medical appointments, shopping, etc. Courteous, reliable professional. New Tampa to Tampa Int’l Airport - $35 (one way, 24/7). Driver vaccinated w/two shots. Cory Lake Isles resident. Call/text 813.765.2037.

GET $500 TOWARDS CLOSING COSTS... when you buy a NEW CONSTRUCTION HOME with Florida Homes with Geri at Epperson OR Mirada. Schedule a PRIVATE TOUR of both Communities by a Resident Realtor. Join @LifeAtTheLagoon with @RealtorGeri Call/Text 813-609-0966. Connect with me on Instagram & Facebook.

CLEANING SERVICES

PATY CLEANING SERVICE. Comm’l or resid’l cleaning service. We have our own supplies & 6 years of exp.

Free estimates. Call 813 943 6054 or email patycleaningservice@hotmail.com.

A-to-Z CLEANING & ORGANIZING. Home & Ofc Cleaning & Organizing Svcs! We use our own supplies. Affordable & Reliable. Family-Owned & Operated. WC resident. Weekly & Bi-Weekly / Deep Cleaning/ Move-In / Move-Out. Serving WC & NT. Call today for a FREE No-Obligation Quote: 813-4621270. Local references supplied upon request.

B CLEANING SERVICES: Over 18 years exp.! Comm’l & Resid’l; Weekly, bi-weekly, monthly; New house & postconstruction clean-up; Window cleaning; Move-in & move-out cleanings; Pressure washing; FREE estimates.; Refs. avail.

Call 813-531-0154 or e-mail: bcleanings@hotmail.com COMMERCIAL SPACE AVAILABLE_____ 1,850-sq.-ft. Commercial/Medical Space Available to Lease. Address: 24420 SR 54, Lutz (in the Medi-Weightloss Building). For more info, call 813-293-4377 or email: gwillett@mediweightlossclinics.com.

LAWN & LANDSCAPING _

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ALL DIMENSIONS LANDSCAPE & EXTERIORS, LLC. Complete resid’l & comm’l landscape, hardscape & softscape. Mulch & decorative stone. Patios, decks, retaining walls, property maintenance & lawn care. Sod & lawn install’n, artificial turf, fencing, railings, soft & hard pressure washing, painting. We do anything exterior. Call (724) 541-2535 or (813) 485-6661 for a 25% discount on labor & materials.

NTLC Property Maintenance. Residential & Commercial lawn maintenance for New Tampa & Wesley Chapel.

Sprinkler repairs, tree trimming, mulching, landscaping & clean-ups also available. Licensed & Insured. CALL BILL @ (813) 973-3825.

A.T.B. Landscaping & Lawn Service. Lic’d & insured, serving the Tampa Bay area 20+ years. Family owned & operated. Quality work, affordable rates. Gutter clean-outs, screen repairs, pressure washing & sprinkler repairs. Landscaping & property maint., including sod, tree & hedge trimming & clean ups. Other services avail.

CALL 813-907-LAWN (5296).

Jasmine Landscaping, Inc. Complete lawn maint.: Tree, palm & hedge trimming, planting, mulching, stones, sod replacement. Gutter cleaning, leaf removal & more. Cited by your HOA? Ask about our HOA Compliance Special, our Fall/Spring Special & FREE estimate! Lic’d & insured. Accepting new resid’l & comm’l accounts. Visa, MC, PayPal, Zelle, AmEx. Call or text 813-420-4465. Now hiring FT workers.

HEAVY HITTER LAWN CARE: Veteran owned & operated lawn care maint. service, focused on lawn mowing, trimming, edging & blowing (flexible w/extra svcs.). Well maintained & professional laborer ensuring cust. satisfaction & on-time cuts. Rain or shine, quality & schedule will be kept. Lic’d & Insured. Call or text 678-673-7856 for your FREE Estimate.

POOL SERVICES

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ALLSTARPOOLSOFTAMPABAY.COM. Pool cleanups, & acid washing of old pool finishes. Marcite, quartz & pebble finishes from $3K. We offer cool decking, Eurocrete & paver decking options. Paver, river rock sealing, leak detection & inground vinyl liner replacements avail. Quality salt & ozone generators, pumps, motors & filters. Mention this ad for a $79 pool svc. (restrictions apply). Serving NT & WC since 1990. Call/text 813-244-7077 or visit AllStarPoolsofTampaBay.com.

TRANQUILITY POOL SERVICE. New Tampa owned & operated. Great Pricing w/outstanding customer service!

LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED. See why we are New Tampa and Wesley Chapel’s #1 Choice!! Call or Text Chris today @ 813-857-5400 or visit TranquilityPoolService.com. New customers get ONE MONTH FREE! AQUATEC POOL SERVICE has been keeping pools clear & swim-safe since 1994. WE DO POOLS RIGHT! Commercial & Residential. CPO #33-303052 Licensed & Insured. Service guarantee. Call 813-312-5694 TODAY and get ONE MONTH OF QUALITY SERVICE FREE. www.aquatecpool.com.

NEIGHBORHOOD POOLS Wesley Chapel owned & operated since 1999. Weekly service. No long term contracts. Mention this AD for one-month Free service. Call 813-907-7322 for details or text Joe at 813-758-7608.

PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTOGRAPHER AVAILABLE! Retired Professional Photographer (45+ years experience) in the Tampa Bay area. Corporate Events, Personal Occasions, Portraiture, Pets, Commercial Photography & Real Estate. Reasonable rates. Ask me about “Front Porch Portraits,” taken from the safety of your front porch, FREE OF CHARGE! Great for Families, Children, Pets & more! Call or Text (813) 748-3901 or Visit: russellleprephotography.com.

TREE SERVICE

FITZPATRICK’s TREE SERVICE. 25-yrs of Prof. Service. Licensed & Insured. Free Estimates. Tree Trimming & Tree Removal. Stump Grinding. Dead-Wood Removal.

Affordable Rates. 24-Hour Emergency Storm Service.

Free Mulch. Call 813-495-9541 or 813-788-TREE.

FITNESS & WELL BEING

YOGA, PERSONAL TRAINING, NUTRITION & PHYSICAL THERAPY w/DR. LAUREN LEIVA, DPT! Phys Ed for everyone, including all children, w/a certified personal trainer who also is a degreed Dr. of Physical Therapy. Ask Dr. Leiva about her PE4ME sliding scale pay program! For more info, visit TheExerscienceCenter.com, call 813.464.0313 or see the ad on pg. 19 of this issue.

Break It Down Productions. Customized Private Yoga Sessions w/Susanna Jones. Develop strength & flexibility, while learning how to breathe & relax. I specialize in working w/beginners and those requiring a more gentle approach than most group Yoga classes. I explain everything, and provide variations so that you actually feel good in the stretch instead of strained.

Gift certificates available. www.breakitdownproductions.com or Call (813) 802-8393.

Neighborhood News Classified Ads Deliver Results! Directly mailed to 150,000+ people every 4 weeks! Order yours today at

NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • New Tampa Neighborhood News • Volume 29, Issue 13 • June 22, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Neighborhood News

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Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • New Tampa Neighborhood News • Volume 29, Issue 13 • June 22, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • New Tampa Neighborhood News • Volume 29, Issue 13 • June 22, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • New Tampa Neighborhood News • Volume 29, Issue 13 • June 22, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • New Tampa Neighborhood News • Volume 29, Issue 13 • June 22, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • New Tampa Neighborhood News • Volume 29, Issue 13 • June 22, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • New Tampa Neighborhood News • Volume 29, Issue 13 • June 22, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • New Tampa Neighborhood News • Volume 29, Issue 13 • June 22, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • New Tampa Neighborhood News • Volume 29, Issue 13 • June 22, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Neighborhood News

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