Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News July 6 2013 Edition

Volume 21 Issue 14

Inside: Bucs QB Josh Freeman Hosts Camp At WCH!

July 6, 2013

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

Estancia Community Officially Approved For Wiregrass Ranch DRI

By Matt Wiley At long last, homes will soon be going up inside the Wiregrass Ranch Development of Regional Impact (DRI) in a newly formed Community Development District (CDD) called Estancia at Wiregrass, located to the east of the intersection of the future Chancey Rd. extension and Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., between S.R. 56 and S.R. 54.

In January, we reported that Standard Pacific Homes (SPH), a builder from Orange County, CA, had purchased 677 acres of land from the Porter family, who own the Wiregrass DRI, to build a thenunnamed community consisting of 1,181 single-family homes spread out across four gated and un-gated neighborhoods. The community will be named Estancia.

At the June 25 Pasco County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting, the Estancia community CDD was officially approved by the BOCC with a unanimous vote.

“(The approval) is great,” says Frank Messina, Tampa Bay division manager for SPH. “The development is staying right on schedule. We hope to have the home models completed during the fourth quarter of this year and to begin sales in early 2014.”

SPH is no stranger to the area, having already built homes in several large communities in the Wesley Chapel area, including Seven Oaks, Watergrass and Meadow Pointe.

The four neighborhoods inside Estancia, three of which will be gated, will feature a Tuscan-style, “Euro cottage” or Mediterranean look in front, which, as Messina described in January, will be much different than most other homes in the area. Each neighborhood will be built around a clubhouse, which will feature similar architecture to that of the homes in the community. The clubhouses will feature pools, tennis and basketball courts, fitness rooms and other amenities.

According to documents submitted

MAP

Estancia at Wiregrass Ranch

The Estancia at Wiregrass Ranch CDD, which was approved by Pasco County on June 25, will be home to 1,181 singlefamily residences and include more than 675 acres off BBD between S.R. 54 and S.R. 56. It will be bordered to the south by the future Chancey Rd. extension and to the east by the future Wiregrass Ranch Blvd.

Map source: PascoCountyFL.net, updated by Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News

to Pasco County, construction costs for the infrastructure of the project, before any homes are built, are estimated at more than $44 million, which will be paid for by issuing bonds.

The Porter family did not return calls for comment.

Source: PascoCountyFL.net

Gonzalez Declines Pasco Administrator Job, Michele Baker Offered Position

NEIGHBORHOOD MAGAZINE!

Pasco I-75 Widening Six Months Behind Schedule, Neel Family Offers $25,000 Reward, Wesley Chapel Schools Score Well On FCAT Tests & More!

Bucs’ Josh Freeman Teaches Fundamentals At Football Camp, WC Rotary Travels To Honduras, La’ Berry Is LaDelicious, Plus More Neighborhood Nibbles & Biz Bytes!

Pages 1-22

Pages 23-36

ECRWSS

NEWS, BUSINESS, SPORTS & EDUCATION UPDATES

saying that when visiting Pasco during a trip in June, he didn’t get much time to visit the area with his family. But, Schrader debunked that statement during the meeting, saying that Gonzalez was given plenty of time to see the area on several days in the afternoons and, on one day during his stay, was asked to attend only one meeting.

The rest of that day was spent with his family touring the Wesley Chapel area.

“Bringing him (Gonzalez) back (to Pasco), I don’t think is the appropriate thing to do,” Schrader told the BOCC. “We’ve reached out to him. We’ve given him an offer, one that I believe is very competitive in the Tampa Bay area. We just need to move forward.”

See “Baker” on page 34.

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

Also Inside This Issue!

believe this is the best fit for my family and me at this time.”

Instead of beginning a new search for an administrator, the BOCC voted 4-1 to keep Baker on Michele Baker to replace her forPhoto: Pasco County mer boss, longtime Pasco ad- ministrator John Gallagher.

Gallagher had served more than 30 years as Pasco’s CEO and Baker served for the last seven years as his assistant. She had been appointed interim administrator during contract negotiations with Gonzalez.

“We reached out to bring someone in from not only outside the area, but from outside the state, and it didn’t work out,” Schrader said in the meeting.

Published reports quoted Gonzalez as

Dated Material Please Rush!

Just weeks after being chosen by the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) to fill the County’s empty Administrator seat, City of Irving, TX, city manager Tomas “Tommy” Gonzalez has turned down the job and interim county administrator Michele Baker will drop the “interim” from her title.

During a June 25 BOCC meeting, the commissioners were tasked with figur-

ing out what to do about the County’s empty administrator seat that they hoped would be filled after deciding to formally offer the job to Gonzalez on May 28, which he declined in an email on June 22.

“Thank you and the commission for your offer to be the next Pasco Chief Executive Officer,” Gonzalez explained in his email to BOCC chairman Ted Schrader, who was in charge of negotiating the contract. “However, after discussing compensation and much consideration, I don’t

Postal Customer

By Matt Wiley

Editorial - Print Advertising Doesn’t Work? Read On! An editorial by Gary Nager One of the things I hear all too often these days — especially from people who have never advertised in the New Tampa or Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News — is that advertising in local print media “just doesn’t work anymore because of the internet.”

To all of those folks, all I can say is, “Yeah, right.”

First of all, I’m not naive. I know that more of our advertisers get far greater results from having business feature articles written about their businesses than they do from any ad in any print or online medium. Sadly, because of the number of advertisers we have (100-150 in every issue) and with a space limit of only four or five business profiles that can run in any issue, those features can only appear in the print version of this publication once a year (although those article and issue archives also are always available at WCNeighborhoodNews.com).

The point is that between our two publications each month, we only run about 100 business profiles in print per year, which still doesn’t cover the total number of advertisers we have, so that space is very precious to us. We hear all the time — from so many of the businesses that have had features written — just how much business those stories can and do generate.

Here’s an incredible case in point.

Last year, we wrote an article about American Wood Flooring (AWF) in the SuperTarget-anchored Northwood Shop-

Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News 15345 Amberly Dr., Tampa, FL 33647 Phone: (813) 910-2575 Fax: 910-2483 Advertising E-mail: Ads@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Editorial E-mail: EditorialDept@NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Publisher & Editor Gary Nager General Manager Nikki Bennett Assistant Editor / Photographer Matt Wiley Correspondents Bonnie Mason • Kathleen Schiop Senior Graphic Designer Porsha Lamos Advertising Sales Rep Taylor Gardner Nothing that appears in Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News writers are their own and do not reflect the publisher’s opinion.

The deadline for outside editorial submissions and advertisements for Volume 21, Issue 16, of Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News is Monday, July 22, 2013.

Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News will consider previously non-published outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News will not return unsolicited editorial materials.

Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit &/or reject any advertising. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the actual cost of the advertising space itself, nor for the validity of any claims made by its advertisers. © 2013 JM2 Communications, Inc.

ping Plaza located just north of County Line Rd. on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., and AWF owner Andy Dunning said that he not only got a tremendous response and plenty of orders, he also sold his largest-ever single-customer job of more than $30,000 in flooring thanks solely to that article.

In other words, Andy was thrilled with the results and made sure he continued to advertise all year long in either our New Tampa or Wesley Chapel editions each month (and in both issues each month several times), because he wanted to make sure that he kept his business in line for another feature this year.

Well, that article ran for the first time this year in our May New Tampa issue and, even though AWF is located in Wesley Chapel — and despite the fact that the issue hit its 24,000+ mailboxes in zip code 33647 the Friday and Saturday of Memorial Day weekend — Andy said the phone started ringing Friday afternoon, rang all weekend long and less than a week after the story came out, he already had set his one-week record for his store of more than $40,000 in orders!

“And the phone calls are still coming and people are still stopping in to see what we have. All thanks entirely to the story in the New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News!”

Andy also says that even though just his ad running in either publication alone doesn’t generate the same type of response as the stories, “It’s so worth it to advertise all year long because it keeps you in line to get the story each year as soon as possible. And, we do sell jobs just based on the ad alone, too. There’s really been nothing else like it for this store. If you can only afford to advertise in one local publication and you’re in or trying to sell to New Tampa or Wesley Chapel, this is the place to spend your money.”

And of course, we have helped many other local businesses the last 20 years and

the restaurants who advertise with us regularly (and therefore have received full-length dining reviews from us) tell us that there is no doubt that more people in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel read the New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News — and respond to those reviews by visiting the eateries — than any other print, broadcast or online medium.

For more information about advertising in the New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News, call GM Nikki Bennett at 910-2575.

For American Wood Flooring (1285 BBD Blvd.), call 991-7999.

Table of Contents

LOCAL NEWS, BUSINESS & EDUCATION UPDATES................................................Pages 1-26

I-75 Construction Through Wesley Chapel Six Months Behind .......4 Neel Family Offers $25,000 Reward For Info About Cold Case.........5

Wesley Chapel News Briefs........................................6

WC Business Burglars Busted Cash For Gold Burglary Clarification Pasco Begins New Recycling Program Attempted Homicide In WC Deputy Assaulted During Post-Party Brawl Wesley Chapel Community Calendar...............................8

Local Business Updates.................................10-23

Bella Mia Hair Designs Will Design Your New Look...............10 Keeps Carpet One Has Been Covering Floors For 22 Years!....12 Custom Windows & Doors: Well Worth The Drive!...............14 Sunset Funeral Home & Memory Gardens.............................16 Wesley Chapel Schools Trump State, District On FCAT...18

Neighborhood Magazine

Local Kids Train With Bucs At Freeman Football Camp..........21 WC Rotary Installs New Board & Recaps Honduras Trip.......22 Peabody’s Has Plenty Of Great New Options.........................24 La Berry: Family-Owned Frozen Yogurt & Coffee..................26 ‘Neighborhood Nibbles & Biz Bytes’...............................30

WESLEY CHAPEL COLOR CLASSIFIEDS.......32-33

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Volume 21, Issue 14 • July 6, 2013 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

3

I-75 Construction Through Wesley Chapel Nearly Six Months Behind Schedule

By Matt Wiley The contractor currently constructing the widening of I-75 from S.R. 56 to north of S.R. 54 in Wesley Chapel is racking up quite a bill, as the company is being charged each day until the project, which already is about six months behind schedule, is completed.

The $22.8-million project to widen the 4.3-mile stretch of I-75 from four lanes to eight, which began in March 2011, will not be completed until around September, says John McShaffrey, spokesperson for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).

“The contractor is having difficulties with the project,” McShaffrey says of Better Roads, Inc. “(Better Roads, Inc.) is making progress on the project, but not to probably anybody’s satisfaction.”

McShaffrey says that a lack of resources in both personnel and equipment is to blame for the delay and that Better Roads is being assessed financial penalties of $5,809.88 per day while the project is still being built, since running out of the original number of contracted construction days. The fines would have begun in April, but the number of contract days had been extended to June 1.

“Those financial penalties will accrue until the project is done,” he explains.

“Even though they are working six days a

4

week, they’re not working with enough crews to get the project done in a timely manner.”

When Better Roads was awarded the project, the initial contract granted the company 565 days to complete the widening, but, in May, 138 additional days (which were neCrews from Better Roads, Inc., work to finish the behind-schedule gotiated for in the contract) were widening of I-75 between S.R. 54 and S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel. added to make up the company before the contract was for weather delays, holidays and other awarded. time extensions, extending the allowed “They have to be in good standing number of days to 703. McShaffrey says with the State,” he says. “They have to that more days could still be added to meet certain qualifications and have the make up for changed working conditions bonding capacity to take on the job, and additional work, but at our press which they did, or it wouldn’t have been time, Better Roads already could be asawarded to them. Sometime after getting sessed for 27 days of penalties. The total the job and starting work on it, (Better financial penalty will not be determined Roads) got behind.” until the job is done.

Currently, the most work that still has McShaffrey says that when Better to be done is on northbound I-75 in front Roads won the contract, the company had of the rest area, about three miles north of the resources to complete the project. He the S.R. 56 interchange and a mile or so explains further that FDOT researched south of the S.R. 54 interchange. North-

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 14 • July 6, 2013

• www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

bound traffic currently still is being shifted to the widened southbound lanes. McShaffrey estimates that, at our press time, Better Roads was about 90-percent finished with the project.

“They’ve got a large amount of the project done, and it won’t take a lot to finish it up,” McShaffrey explains. “But, it will take a commitment (from Better Roads) to continue working out there and that’s what we’re looking for. We hope (the completion date) ends up being sooner rather than later. It’s an important part of the road.”

Better Roads, Inc., did not return calls for comment.

Neel Family Offers $25,000 Reward For Information About 2005 Cold Case

By Matt Wiley More than eight years after his stillunsolved murder, the family of David Neel, a Wesley Chapel man who was killed while driving on I-75 in 2005, is offering a substantial reward for any information regarding the cold case.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), the Neel family is offering a $25,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Neel’s murder, which the family announced during a press conference on June 10. “$25,000 is a lot, but it’s for David,” said Neel’s widow Debra Neel of the reward. “This is for him.”

Neel was discovered deceased in his crashed vehicle on March 6, 2005, not from the crash but from injuries sustained from a gunshot wound to the chest.

Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) troopers responded to a traffic crash on the southbound exit ramp of I-75 onto I4. Neel had been driving his 1990 Ford F-150 pickup truck south from the S.R. 54 exit on his way from the family’s Angus Valley home to meet them at the Strawberry Festival in Plant City, where he had been earlier in the day.

During the investigation, a single bullet hole was discovered in the driver’sside door of the truck. The investigation

The family of David Neel (above) is offering a $25,000 reward for information that leads to identifying his killer.

the investigation, we have forensically followed leads as far away as Ohio and West Virginia to other similar-type shootings of vehicles on roadways,” Bunten explains.

“We did the best we could to follow up on everything, but nothing matched up.

We didn’t get a lot of positive leads. We do anything that we can do to find some commonalities.“ In cases such as Neel’s, Bunten says that the law enforcement agencies get together and compare evidence and leads, including the caliber of bullets used and the background of the victim.

“Over time, the family wanted to help give some incentive for someone to

come forward with information and has come up with this reward, themselves. We have gotten a few calls (since the reward was announced), but nothing that has been extremely productive. There are some leads that we are following up, but we haven’t gotten ‘the call.’ It sounds odd, but that’s the call where the information is just too perfect.”

The Neels are offering the reward for a one-year period. Crime Stoppers also is offering a $1,000 reward for any information that proves to be useful. If you or anyone you know has information regarding this case, please call HCSO at 247-8660.

showed that the shot was fired from a passing vehicle, but no vehicles or suspects have yet been identified at our press time and the case has remained unsolved. The theory is that Neel was most likely the victim of a road rage incident, says Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) Cpl. Dane Bunten.

“David was able to maintain control of his vehicle at least for a little bit,” Bunten explains. “He was able to take the I-4 exit, but lost control before the east/west split. He drove down an embankment and crashed into a tree.”

Bunten says that HCSO has followed numerous leads since Neel’s death, but hasn’t been able to name a suspect.

“In the process of following up on

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5

W ESLEY C HAPEL Business Burglars Busted

Three people have been arrested in connection with a string of business burglaries that have plagued the Wesley Chapel area in recent weeks.

According to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), Sarah Zachman, 31, Jamar Thompson, 28, and Christian Quevedo, 25, have been arrested in connection with business burglaries at Dr. John Long Middle School, Cash For Gold (32733 Eiland Blvd.), Goin’ Postal (27221 S.R. 56), CVS Pharmacy (30050 Thompson County Line Rd.) and Reckitt Benckiser (2148 Ashley Oaks Cir.).

All of the burglaries occurred in the Wesley Chapel area since midMay, with the most recent occurring on June Quevedo 24. The report states that the suspects either sold, or attempted to sell, the items at pawn shops across Hillsborough and Pasco counties, and even as far north as Apopka.

Thompson and Zachman Zachman are both charged in the burglary of $25,100 worth of electronics from Long Middle School. The report states that the school provided serial numbers for several cameras that went missing in the burglary, which were identified at more than one pawn shop in Hillsborough County. The suspects were staying at Quevedo’s home at 1906 Echo Pond Pl. in Meadow Pointe, less than 150 yards from the school.

Quevedo and Thompson also reportedly stole 58 cartons of cigarettes valued at $3,074 from the CVS Pharmacy in Meadow Pointe, as well as two Insignia flat-screen TVs from Reckitt Bensicker in the Seven Oaks Professional Park and $5,000 in jewelry from the Cash For Gold in eastern Wesley Chapel.

Thompson, who has no listed permanent address, has been charged with five counts of burglary of a business, five counts of grand theft, dealing in stolen property and driving with a license that is suspended or revoked, as well as two Hillsborough warrants for not having a valid driver’s license. He is being held at the Land O’ Lakes Detention Center on a $52,000 bond.

Quevedo has been charged with felony possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of paraphernalia and four counts each of burglary of a business and grand theft. He also is being held on a $33,150 bond at the Land O’ Lakes Detention Center.

Zachman, of 8327 W. Hanna Ave. in Tampa, has been charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana, as well as burglary of a business and grand theft. She also is being held at the Land O’ Lakes Detention Center on a $10,150 bond.

6

News Briefs Cash For Gold Burglary Clarification

In our last issue, a story ran about a woman who reportedly stole $13,000 in jewelry and sold some of it as her own at the Cash For Gold on Eiland Blvd. in Wesley Chapel. However, not all of the jewelry was turned in to the store for money.

Cash for Gold owner Trevor Campbell brought it our attention that, even though the article did not say that all of the jewelry was turned in by Angela Helton, who remains in custody, it could have easily been read that way.

In total, only ten small pieces of jewelry were turned in to the Cash For Gold store, for which Helton was given $101. At our press time, the rest of the jewelry had yet to be located.

The victim, Graznya Kowalska, was even able to identify some of her missing jewelry in the case at Campbell’s shop, which he gave back to her at no charge.

“I gave her the pieces of jewelry back for free,” Campbell says. “The law actually says that a person would normally have to pay back what the store paid for the gold.

But, I make it my policy to make sure that these people aren’t made victims again.”

Pasco Begins New Recycling Program

In an effort to improve recycling participation in Pasco County, including in Wesley Chapel, residents are being offered an alternative to the decades-old “Blue Bag” system.

Wesley Chapel residents probably noticed some mail from Pasco County in the past few weeks, specifically from the county’s Solid Waste department. Included in the envelope was a reflective sticker, along with a letter, detailing the county’s new “Choose & Use Your Own Container” program.

For 20 years, if residents wished to recycle, Pasco officials asked that the residents purchase clear, blue bags to hold recyclables when put out by the curb, known as the “Blue Bag” system. Residents had the option to recycle plastics 1 and 2, as well as glass and aluminum cans, using the bags. However, since mid-June, the county has expanded the program and changed the way that recyclables are collected.

Instead of purchasing translucent bags, residents now can purchase any sort of bin or container they choose and attach the program’s highly reflective sticker to it, letting the trash haulers know that recyclables are inside of the container.

“Our main goal is to improve recycling participation, which will naturally result in a higher percent of our trash stream being recycled,” Pasco Recycling coordinator Jennifer Seney said in a June 6 press release.

“Making recycling convenient to the citizens is key.”

Now, residents can include plastics 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7, as well as aluminum and metal food cans and clear, green and brown glass containers in their recycling.

However, if desired, residents can continue to use the Blue Bag system, in which case, a sticker is not necessary.

For more information, please visit PascoCountyFL.net and click on “Utilities” from the “Departments” menu.

Attempted Homicide In WC

A man is in critical condition after being shot several times by his spouse during a domestic dispute in Wesley Chapel.

According to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), Diana Louise Matthews, 42, of 33502 Arthur Dr. in Wesley Chapel, was arrested at 3 p.m. on June 16 after shooting her husband, George Reavis, 47, several times during a domestic dispute at the couple’s residence.

The PCSO arrest report Matthews says that during an interview following her arrest, Matthews confessed to shooting Reavis several times, although she is not sure how many shots she fired. The report says that when the verbal altercation became physical, Matthews exited the residence to avoid Reavis. When he followed her outside, she grabbed a Colt .380 handgun from her car and inserted a clip of ammunition.

The report says that in her interview, Matthews said that she attempted to run back inside the residence, but was grabbed by her hair, which is when she spun around and opened fire. After shooting Reavis, the report states, Matthews told deputies that she went into the house and attempted to shoot herself, but could not reload the gun, at which point she called her former spouse on the telephone and admitted to shooting her current husband. Deputies confirmed the phone call with the ex-spouse, the report states. Matthews told deputies that she had hidden the gun in her bathroom, which was recovered as she described.

Reavis was reported to still be in critical condition at our press time.

The report states that the suspect told deputies that domestic abuse had been an issue for years, She is being held without bail at the Land O’ Lakes jail on one charge of attempted murder.

No further information was available at our press time.

Deputy Assaulted At Publix During Post-Party Brawl A weekend fight amongst a group of partygoers, apparently about a lost cell phone, has escalated into charges of felony

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 14 • July 6, 2013 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

battery on a law enforcement officer for one Wesley Chapel man.

According to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), while driving home early on June 16 after attending a party in Tampa with his brother and three other passengers, Michael Jermaine Brown, Jr., became physical, following an argument about a lost cell phone.

Brown, 20, of 5020 Anclote River St., located inside the New River Township community on S.R. 54, struck the other passengers, first in the car, before escalating the confrontation once the car was parked in the parking lot of the Publix Super Market Brown at Hollybrook Plaza on S.R. 54 and Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd.

The report says that the passengers attempted to calm Brown in the car, but Brown exited the vehicle and began “aggressively approaching” the victims once they, too, exited the vehicle. Brown’s brother, who was not identified, attempted to hold him back from the other victims, but Brown punched him in the head and began to struggle with him.

At the same time as the fight, one of the victims located undercover PCSO Deputy Ryan Oakley nearby and informed him of the situation. Oakley responded with his badge around his neck and identified himself to Brown, and ordered him to stop fighting.

The report states that Brown responded by saying, “F—k your badge! F—k the police! I don’t give a f—k!” and continued to wrestle with his brother. When the two wrestled each other to the ground, Dep. Oakley attempted to restrain and handcuff Brown, but Brown was able to push away from and then kick Oakley in the stomach several times, before throwing overhead punches that split Oakley’s eyebrow open to the point of requiring stitches.

Brown was finally subdued when backup arrived and he remains in custody at our press time at the Land O’ Lakes jail on an $8,300 bond, charged with three counts of simple battery, one count of domestic battery, one count of felony aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer and one count of resisting arrest with violence. Alcohol was determined to be a factor in this case. No additional information was available at our press time. - Matt Wiley

Sparkling Beauty Red Hatters — The Sparkling Beauties, a chapter of the Red Hat Society (a global networking group of women approaching the age of 50 & beyond), are enjoying life to the fullest in the pursuit of fun, friendship, freedom and fulfillment.For more information, call Queen Diamond at 907-1431 or email IamretJudy@aol.com.

WCAA Flag Football - Registration has begun for the 2013 Wesley Chapel Athletic Association (WCAA) Flag Football Season and will remain open until Wednesday, July 10. WCAA currently is registering boys and girls ages 4-13 for their U7, U9, U11 and U14 divisions. Practices begin the first week of August and the eight game season will take place on Friday nights beginning August 24. For more info, please visit WCAA.CountMeIn.com.

Monday, July 8

Experienced Networking Professionals (ENP) — This networking group meets Monday mornings at 8 a.m. for breakfast and networking at Quail Hollow Golf & Country Club (6225 Old Pasco Rd.). For more info, call Cindy at 505-3065.

Free Networking International — Free Networking International (FNI), a group of area business owners, meets each Monday for networking and discussion at Lexington Oaks Golf Club (26133 Lexington Oaks Blvd., off S.R. 54). For more info, call Stacy Dalton at 469-5499.

Wesley Chapel Business Forum & Networking (WCBFN) — WCBFN meets Mondays at 8 a.m. at Lexington Oaks Golf Club (26133 Lexington Oaks Blvd., off S.R. 54). For more information, call John Roth at 377-2622, email John.Roth@IBuilderz.com or visit the group’s Facebook page.

Tuesday, July 9

Business Networking International — Business Networking International (BNI), a group of business professionals who work to support each other through qualified business referrals, meets Tuesdays, 7:30 a.m., at Heritage Church (1854 Oak Grove Blvd., off S.R. 54, in Land O’Lakes). For more info, email Tim at Tim@TampaHomes247.com.

East Pasco Networking Group — The East Pasco Networking Group meets every Tuesday, 9 a.m., at Beef O’Brady’s (1660 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in the Shops at New Tampa of Wesley Chapel plaza). For more info, call Frankie Ammons at 479-7997 or e-mail Frankie@studioglory.com.

Mothers Of Preschoolers — Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) is a non-profit group which meets to build friendships between mothers of infants to kindergarteners in the local community. MOPS meets the second Tuesday of each month, 9:30 a.m., at Victorious Life Church (6224 Old Pasco Rd.). For more information, email Debbie at VLCMops@yahoo.com.

Wesley Chapel Networking On The Nines — Networking on the Nines, put on

by Insurance New Tampa, is a great way to meet new friends and clients or strengthen existing relationships, while playing a nine-hole scramble at Lexington Oaks Golf Club (26133 Lex. Oaks Blvd.), beginning at 3 p.m. Call Susan at 435-6350 for more info.

Friday, July 12

WC Sunrise Rotary Club — The Wesley Chapel Sunrise Rotary Club meets every Friday, 7:15 a.m., at Quail Hollow Country Club (6225 Old Pasco Rd., off S.R. 54)For more info, call Lynne Morgan at 695-6466.

Monday, July 15

‘Wesley Chapel Speaks’ ToastMasters — The “Wesley Chapel Speaks” ToastMasters Club meets on the first and third Monday of every month, 6:15 p.m., at Hyundai of Wesley Chapel (26944 Wesley Chapel Blvd.). Club meetings are open to all interested parties. For more information, call David West at 610-1650 or visit WesleyChapel Speaks.ToastMastersClubs.org.

Saturday, July 27

Song & Dance-A-Thon - Celebrate National Dance Day at Song And Dance Studio of the Arts (27221 Foamflower Blvd.). The fun begins at 5 p.m. and will include the “So You Think You Can Dance” National Dance Day dance, a dance challenge, Zumba lessons and just plain dancing. The fee is $3, but refreshments will be provided. For more information, call 973-3156.

Friday, August 2

Women-N-Charge — The ladies of Women-N-Charge will have their monthly lunch meeting at Pebble Creek Country Club (10550 Regents Park Dr., in New Tampa). This month’s meeting will feature Barbara J. Dandro of B.J. Dandro & Assoc. Tickets cost $15 (at Women-N-Charge.com) up until Tuesday, July 30, then go up to $18. For info, contact Judy at 600-9848 or email Info@Women-N-Charge.com.

Saturday, August 3

Florida Writers Association — The Florida Writers Association (FWA) of New Tampa/Wesley Chapel is a FREE group that meets the first Saturday of each month, 10 a.m., at the New Tampa Regional Library (10001 Cross Creek Blvd.). Presentation topics include editing, marketing, options for publishing, navigating social media and more. For more info, email Cindy at Cindy. Campbell@OmnificPublishing.com.

Wednesday, July 10

Wesley Chapel Rotary Club — The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel meets every Wednesday, 12:15 p.m., at Ciao Italian Bistro (2001 Piazza Ave., in the Shops at Wiregrass mall). Call 862-8989 or 391-3895 or see the story on page 22.

Thursday, July 11

Networking For Your Success — The Networking For Your Success group meets Thursdays, 8 a.m., at Quail Hollow Golf & Country Club (6225 Old Pasco Rd.). For more info, visit NetworkingforYourSuccess.com or call Shawn Clark at (888) 7112032.

Wesley Chapel Republican Club — The Wesley Chapel Republican Club meets the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at Wesley Chapel Hyundai (27000 Wesley Chapel Blvd.). This month’s guest speaker will be District 5 Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano. The club is open to Republican men and women who are interested in “good government.” New members are welcome. For more information, please contact Mike Moore at 777-6171, or email WCRepublican@ATT.net.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 14 • July 6, 2013 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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Bella Mia Hair Designs Can Help You Make An ‘Informed’ Hair Decision

By Bonnie Mason Tired of the same old look? Abby Harris, the owner of Bella Mia Hair Designs, and her team of stylists have the knowledge and experience to give you the best cut and style to complement your features and fit your lifestyle. Whether it’s a classic look like the “bob,” one of the latest outré styles or an ombre hair color technique (where hair is colored lighter at the bottom and darker at the top), the pro stylists at Bella Mia Hair Designs, conveniently located in the Publix-anchored New Tampa Center shopping plaza on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., only two miles south of Wesley Chapel, can give you the look you’ve always wanted.

Abby Harris purchased Bella Mia Hair Designs nearly six years ago. The salon’s previous name was The Bostonian and Harris was a stylist there for 8 years.

“I want to bring a complete salon experience to local residents,” says Harris, who explains that there is a big difference between “getting a haircut” and a true salon experience. “We work with our clients to make sure they have the information they need to make the right decision about the hair style they choose.”

For example, a bob may not be the best style for someone with an oval shaped face. And, a longer hair style may not be the best for someone always on the go. An

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informative and honest consultation before the cut is what all clients at Bella Mia Hair Designs always receive.

“If I have a client who wants a style that I know is not exactly the right one for their specific features or lifestyle, I will tell them,” Harris says. “Ultimately, it’s still the client’s decision, but we try to guide them with the knowledge we have.”

Harris received her cosmetology license through a vocational school in New Jersey when she was 18 years old, before studying with renowned hair care expert Vidal Sassoon in London.

“Education is what really sets us apart from our competition,” Harris explains.

The stylists at Bella Mia have all studied in New York City, London, Miami, Las Vegas, Italy and even Bulgaria. Each year, Bella Mia’s team of stylists attends a Redken educational training program in which they learn the latest and greatest in color and design. The “Redken method” is the educational technique of cutting and styling that all Bella Mia stylists are trained to follow.

Harris explains that utilizing the one method of education allows for more uniformity in colors and products at Bella Mia. Also, the Redken “language” is universal among its stylists.

“Our belief is that we have learned from the best and use the best products in the industry,” says Harris. Other product

The professional stylists of Bella Mia Hair Designs, located in the New Tampa Center shopping plaza on Bruce B. Downs Blvd., less than two miles south of the Pasco County line, include (l. to r.) Ken Patten, owner Abby Harris, Jessica Curtis, Lauren Rathbone, Rachel Kampert, Tyra Davis, Sarah Romine and Martina Petrova. lines carried in the salon include Rusk, Wayne Grund, Chi and Tigi.

Training To Be The Best

After almost three years working at Bella Mia, senior stylist Martina Petrova left Tampa for an opportunity to join the Arrojo Studio, NYC, owned and operated

by Nick Arrojo, the original stylist for The Learning Channel (TLC)’s “What Not To Wear” TV program.

“I completed my fast track apprenticeship program in a few months and be-

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came a full-time stylist at Arrojo Studio,” says Petrova, who returned to Bella Mia two years later and has worked with Harris since then to develop a training program for the other stylists at the salon.

“Basically, I’m teaching classic fundamentals of hair cutting and design,” Petrova explains. “The idea is to master the classics, and when you do, the creativity is limitless. There is always something to be learned; I'm learning every day. Excellent results set us apart and continued education is the key to success.”

apprenticeship with the salon.

For nearly four years, prior to settling in Tampa where her immediate family moved from New Jersey, Harris says she traveled the world while working on cruise ships in her early years.

Having visited more than 40 different countries and designed hair for thousands of cruise ship passengers, Harris says Martina adds some color to Wesley Chapel resident with certainty, “Hair with Robin Warnberg’s hairstyle. “I come in for a cut, some big waves is still popular color and some therapy,” jokes Warnberg. and of course, the classics Petrova says that she loves being able with structure within a haircut like a ‘bob’ to create easy-to-care-for hairstyles for her will always be around.” clients, through proper shape and using Bella Mia Hair Designs stylists strive correct products. to make their salon a welcoming and “Beautiful hair should be a complecomfortable atmosphere for families. ment to someone’s lifestyle and personal“We want our clients to bring their ity,” Petrova says. “I love the craft and the entire family to Bella Mia –— everyone pursuit of perfection. Hairdressing creates should experience the salon style — even works of art. It has to be both beautiful children,” says Harris, whose chic salon and functional.” portrays a sense of pampering to everyone In addition to in-service training for who visits, but with a family feel. “We stylists, two associates, who also are liwork together as a family — there is a carcensed, also work at the salon. Harris ofing camaraderie between stylists and we fers her associates a chance to learn from are in a great place to offer our clients the her in-service training and day-to-day opbest techniques known worldwide. I’m erations in styling techniques. The prodefinitely very excited about the future of gram is approximately 10 months of an

Bella Mia Hair Designs.”

Need more coaxing? “I am truly impressed with Bella Mia Hair Designs,” says Mariana Iordanova, a Bella Mia customer. “I always feel warmly welcomed and like part of their family when I am there. The staff is made up of friendly professionals who can meet all of your different styling needs. My personal stylist is Martina, who is a very highly trained professional and always gives me the best hair advice. I recently had an agave hair treatment that was superb. From specialized treatments to just a quick trim, Bella Mia is the place to go!”

Harris lives in Wesley Chapel with her husband David, who also helps out at

the salon with daily operations and marketing. The couple has a two-year-old son, Luca, and another baby due in October.

Bella Mia Hair Designs is located at 19038 BBD Blvd. in the Publix-anchored New Tampa Center plaza. The salon offers cuts and styles, hair color and highlights, body perms and straightening for men, women and children. Facial waxing also is available. It is open Tues.-Fri., 9 a.m.-8 p.m., and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sat. For more info, including about Bella Mia’s $69.95 color, cut, treatment & blow dry special (restrictions apply), call 632-3552, visit BellaMiaHairDesigns. com or see the ad on page 23.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 14 • July 6, 2013 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

11

Keeps Carpet One Has Been A Wesley Chapel Flooring Tradition For 22 Years!

By Matt Wiley

Tired of that same old carpet that’s been in your house since you moved in?

How about that cracked tile in the kitchen or bathroom? Is some of your laminate flooring beginning to peel or shift? Don’t worry, because Keeps Carpet One Floor & Home on S.R. 54 in eastern Wesley Chapel has you and your floor covered.

The 2,200-sq.-ft. Keeps Carpet One showroom is covered from floor to ceiling with a variety of options that could become the new floor of your home. Even the floor of the showroom is covered with strips of flooring samples. Whether it is carpet, hardwood, laminate, vinyl, tile or even a combination, Keeps Carpet One has been your one-stop shop on S.R. 54 for 22 years.

Part of the Carpet One Floor & Home national buying group with more than 900 stores under its umbrella, Leslie Egan has been running the Wesley Chapel location since she purchased the Keeps Carpet One showroom in 2008.

“I’ve owned this shop for the past five years,” Egan explains. “I think it speaks volumes that we’re still open with the economy still struggling.”

The longevity of the store could be due to a number of factors. For one, customer service comes first at Keeps Carpet One. Egan knows firsthand how impor-

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tant customer service is working in such close proximity to a big-box home improvement store.

“Not only do we offer free estimates on all flooring, but we’re very attentive to our customers,” Egan explains. “You don’t have to chase us across the store. We are honest, forthright and very customer service-oriented.”

Plus, the free estimates she mentions are always all-inclusive, per-sq.-ft. prices.

“We even go out and do the measurements, ourselves,” Egan says. “We also offer a shop-at-home service, if you don’t want to go out and shop around. You can call in to our store and someone will come out to your house with floor samples and help you decide what to choose for your home. Just tell us what you have in mind.”

Purchasing flooring from Keeps Carpet One has some serious advantages, including the “Beautiful Guarantee,” which allows a customer to return any flooring that may not look ideal once it has been installed.

“No questions asked,” Egan says of the guarantee, which can last as long as 120 days, depending upon the brand and quality level of the flooring. “If you put a carpet in your house and you don’t like it for any reason, we’ll replace it. The product, the installation…everything.”

And the people doing these installations are all from Keeps Carpet One, too.

“We have our own installers, so we don’t subcontract,” Egan says. “It won’t be some stranger coming into your home, or someone that we’ve never met. It’ll be one of our employees.”

Among the many products offered at Keeps Carpet One, Egan says that not much stands up to the Lees Carpet brand, which, she says, is virtually indestructible.

Deborah Spanger (left) and Leslie Egan of Keeps Carpet One can “You can pour help you transform your home from right under your feet. bleach on it,” Egan explains. “You can write a faux, limestone tile that comes in nuin permanent marker on it. Nothing will merous patterns and looks almost exactly stain it. I’ve been carrying it for about two the same as ceramic tile, minus the cracks. years now and it’s been a huge hit.”

“It can go right over the tile floor,” With more than 300 options for Lees Egan says. “You don’t have to get somealone, Keeps Carpet One has what cusone to come in with a jackhammer to rip tomers need to make sure that each room the old tile up.” in their home is unique.

Although Egan also carries a variety Since taking over the store, Egan exof hardwood flooring brands, including plains that many customers come in and Armstrong, Mohawk and Shaw, she says tell her that over time, they have begun to that vinyl and laminate flooring also are notice cracks in their tile as their home specialties at Keeps, with patterns and settles. With a Congoleum product called styles to suit anyone’s needs. In fact, lamiDuraCeramic, your tile (or any floor, for nate flooring is the most popular type of that matter) can be covered right up with flooring that Egan says she sells. She says

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Spanger explains. “I’ll basically take somebody by the hand and lead them through the design process, letting them know what works best in any room.”

Betty Reitz, a Wesley Chapel resident, found out about Spanger first hand when she started using Keeps Carpet One in 2012. “They were very patient,” Reitz says. “I was in and out of there for several months with vinyl floor samples trying to decide which one would work best in my house. I decided on some sheet vinyl and they did a A small sample of the hundreds of different kinds wonderful job.” of carpets available at Keeps Carpet One. However, Reitz decided to make some other changes, as well. that most of the laminates, and even many Since it took her several months to decide of the vinyl options, look almost identical on flooring, she says that she did not want to real hardwood flooring. to choose a wallpaper on her own and consulted Spanger.

Design Services, Too! “Debbie got an idea of what I might Although the majority of Keeps Carlike and came to my home with a few pet One’s business still comes from flooring projects, it’s not all about what’s under ideas,” Reitz explains. “Her suggestions were excellent. I was able to make a deciyour feet. If redesigning your floor, why sion in minutes and I was stunned at how not consider giving an entire room a easy and pleasant it was.” makeover?

Let Keeps Carpet One transform For help, consider consulting Keeps your home. Come to the showroom at Carpet One’s Deborah Spanger, an interior decorator who has been in the area for 34120 S.R. 54, just west of Eiland Blvd., call the store at 782-6712 or several years. She specializes in window visit KeepsCarpetOneZephyrhills.com. treatments, including customized drapes, sheers, window coverings and even wallpa- Don’t forget to mention this article for a 10-percent discount! per. “I also do color consultations,”

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13

Custom Windows & Doors — Well Worth The Drive From Wesley Chapel!

By Matt Wiley There’s a cliche for getting in someone’s way, “You make a better door than a window.” However, when it comes to Custom Windows & Doors (CWD) in Port Richey, just a few miles west of Wesley Chapel, they’re good at making both.

Since 1987, when Bob Leggiere moved to Port Richey from Yonkers, NY, with his family and business that he began 20 years earlier, CWD has sat in the same location on U.S. 19, providing a number of services for both residential customers and area home builders in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties.

Today, since Bob’s recent passing, Carole Leggiere and her son Gary run the family-owned business that provides everything you need for the outside of your home. The friendly staff at CWD is committed to making sure that all of the windows and doors sold at CWD meet all required codes, as well as coordinating proper permitting and even showing you how to install their products yourself, if you’re more “hands-on.” CWD even provides free quotes!

CWD carries everything from fabricated doors, storm doors, screen doors for doorways and garages, retractable screen doors to any type of window, whether the regular aluminum framed or vinyl to replace the screen in a lanai.

And, with hurricane season about to

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kick into high gear, it’s a good idea to make sure that your home is prepared.

Whether you need hurricane shutters or impact-treated windows, CWD will make sure that your home is fully capable of weathering the storm.

In March 2012, the State of Florida changed its boundaries for the wind-blown debris areas near the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, forcing more builders to install windows that are resistant to stronger winds in more new homes. It is highly recommended that homes that had windows installed prior to 2012 have new windows installed so that they are up to code, or resistant to 140 mph, in most areas of Hillsborough and Pasco counties, a service that CWD is happy to provide. A stop in at the 2,000-sq.-ft. showroom will give you plenty of ideas about how to better safeproof your home, while at the same time making it easy on the eyes.

“I normally recommend impact-resistant windows because they’re good for much more than just protecting your home against a hurricane,” says Gary. “They’re burglar-proof, as well, and energy-efficient.

They even help eliminate noise.”

Since the windows are made to withstand getting hit with debris flying at high speeds in a storm, it is extremely difficult to just smash an impact window.

As far as conserving energy, Gary explains that not only will customers notice a decrease in kilowatt-hours used on their

bill, but in many cases, they will be rewarded with energy credits, or a discount, on their bill from TECO or Duke (formerly Progress) Energy.

CWD offers hundreds of different inserts and styles of windows, featuring options from PGT Industries, Silverline Windows & Doors, Custom Window Systems, Jeld-Wen Windows & Doors Carole & Gary Leggiere of Custom Windows & Doors in and Soft-Lite WinPort Richey on U.S. 19 will help you outfit your house for a dows. Window ophurricane, or to just improve your home’s “curb appeal.” tions also include shutters down. It’s too hard for them. single- and double-hung, roller, casement These shutters make it simple. Just grab and picture windows, all of which are them and pull.”

Florida-approved and Energy Star rated.

CWD also sells the classic hurricane Plus, CWD also sells hurricane shutstorm panels, which are less expensive, but ters to help protect your windows. In fact, still serve the same purpose. They also Carole says that CWD is the sole distributor in the area of a new kind of storm shut- carry accordion, Colonial and Bahamasstyle shutters. To measure up to the new ter: the Nautilus Rolling Shutter System, codes, homes usually need to be equipped which works almost like a window shade.

“They’re hurricane roll-down shutters with either impact resistant windows, or non-impact resistant windows with some that are much easier to use,” says Carole.

“Especially for older people, the problem is sort of hurricane shutter, whether they are rolling or the classic panels, Gary says. that the panic sets in when a hurricane is Tired of all of the dirt around your coming and they can’t get their heavy

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that almost all of the work is done with inhouse staff and very little sub-contracting is ever used, except on large projects that may include Stucco work or room additions, which CWD does also offer.

Despite the number of services offered, one of the most important to consider is the customer (Left & center) Custom Windows & Doors can completely transform the entry to your home. (Right) A service provided. When Nautilus Rolling Shutter System from Custom Windows & Doors can protect your home in a hurricane. Bob started the business in New York and later want, we can do it.” pool that your screened-in lanai doesn’t brought it to Florida, one thing always has By configuration, Gary means that seem to do much about? CWD offers remained the same: the company’s devoCWD can outfit whatever door you many vinyl window options that can rechoose with whatever glass insert you place screens and still allow the same amount of light. Vinyl windows have other might want. CWD can even completely change your front entryway to fit your viuses, as well. sion for your home. Gary says one of the “If you have an emergency, such as if more popular requests is to either make a a kid kicks a soccer ball and shatters your double door entry way a single door entry window, we can come out and install a with two sidelights, or vice versa. temporary vinyl window so there’s not a Plus, he says, you never have to worry gaping hole in your wall and the A/C is about a product not being the correct size. blowing air straight outside until it can be “Sometimes, customers will tell me replaced,” Gary explains. that they went to a big box home-imKnock, Knock provement store and they were sold a CWD also features a door departdoor, but when they got it home, it didn’t ment on the premises, along with doors fit the door frame,” he explains. “We can galore in the showroom, including vinyl, alter the products and still have them meet glass sliding, fiberglass, steel, double, slidall warranties. We can design any sort of ing, stained glass inset and security doors. door you want. We can really increase your “Everything we offer is custom curb appeal.” made,” Gary says. “Any configuration you Another great thing about CWD is

tion to exemplar service, no-pressure sales environment and knowledgeable staff and skilled installation.

“Customers might come in to get a screen repaired, but will see the showroom,” Carole says. “They’ll sit down with us and realize that we’ll work with you and that it is affordable to do some improvements to your home. We’re here to help.”

For additional information about Custom Window & Doors, located at 7940 U.S. 19 in Port Richey, please visit Custom-WindowsAndDoors.com or call (727) 841-9490. The CW&D showroom is open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and 9 a.m.-noon on Saturday. Other appointment times are available by request.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 14 • July 6, 2013 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

15

Sunset Funeral Home & Memory Gardens — A Peaceful Place To Be Laid To Rest

By Matt Wiley Planning for your own death — or the death of a loved one — can be an emotionally overwhelming task, especially without proper planning. However, whether planning ahead for yourself in order to spare loved ones the trouble, or if a loved one has suddenly passed, the friendly and comforting staff at Sunset Funeral Home & Memory Gardens is here to help.

Located just a few miles southeast of New Tampa, in nearby Thonotosassa, Sunset Funeral Home & Memory Gardens has everything you and your family need to plan for a proper funeral ceremony, burial or cremation, as well as a staff of 20 with the guidance and expertise to help send your loved ones off with a celebration of their lives, rather than a somber service.

Part of the Dignity Memorial national network of funeral, cremation and cemetery providers, Sunset is a full-service funeral home and burial site, located on 60 acres off U.S. 301. The lobby, painted a brightly lit aqua blue, feels a lot less like a funeral home and much more like a hotel. The funeral service space looks and feels like a comfortable social gathering space where meals might be served, rather than a place where funerals are held.

“The main thing is, when someone

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passes away, the family members have so many emotions,” says Sunset funeral home supervisor Sandra Ramirez O’Connor. “The most important thing is to choose a funeral home or cremation center, finalize the death certificate information and all of the details. Many times, families are in shock and don’t know what to do.”

O’Connor explains that it is never too early to begin funeral pre-planning.

In fact, she says, the younger, the better.

Never Too Early To Plan

“Some people say that they have a life insurance policy,” O’Connor explains.

“But, that doesn’t really mean anything for funeral planning. It just means that you have some money set aside. What about the details? All of the details that you don’t take care of, your loved ones will have to deal with. Sometimes they don’t know what you would want, and they feel bad.”

To help with the funeral and burial process, Sunset offers funeral preplanning, or prearranging services, which allow you and your family to make the decisions about how you want your funeral, burial or cremation to be performed, together.

The little details such as what casket, urn or flowers you would want present at the service are covered extensively with the funeral director at a time when it certainly

(L. to r.) Sunset Funeral Home & Memorial Garden’s friendly office staff members Sandra R. O’Connor, Brian Zipter, April Stone, Giovanno Caballero and Luis Romero. is easier to concentrate. The difficult decovers the cost of the predetermined excisions are eased with planning ahead. penses of a funeral, cremation or burial, “One of the biggest misconceptions which can include standard funeral home is that preplanning is only for the eldservices, funeral merchandise and church erly,” says Sunset sales manager Giovanni services. The idea is to set aside funds for Caballero, a Cross Creek resident. “Fuyour funeral before the need arises, assurneral preplanning or prearranging is for ing that you and your family will pay curanyone that is interested in sharing their rent costs. desires, relieving their family of having to Many companies offer “final exmake difficult choices and bear unnecespense” insurance policies, but these polisary expenses and making important decies set aside money for the future use of cisions for you, without the pressure of paying for a funeral at the time of a loved illness or circumstance.” one’s death, without actually purchasing Sunset also provides “pre-need life anything. With these policies, there is no insurance,” or an insurance policy that guarantee that the policy will cover all of

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the amount of the service that the client had already purchased. Sunset also offers a transportation and relocation service to help bring the late loved one home with a single phone call. Also, any planning done at Sunset, or any other Dignity location is completely transferable and will be honored at any of the 1,800 Dignity locations across the U.S. Whether a cremation or traditional burial is preferred, Sunset offers four plans for each, which also include a “Compassion Helpline,” which offers counseling over the phone; an “Aftercare Planner,” a comprehensive estate management guide; access to legal services and the child/grandchild protection plan.

Regardless of what type of service a loved one wants, Sunset is there to help.

“No one person is alike, so no service should be alike,” says O’Connor. “We only have one shot to do this service, so we tell the family, ‘let’s put our thinking caps on. We are going to take our time with the family or friends and come up with a plan to properly celebrate the loved one’s life. The end result is truly a celebration.”

For more information about Sunset Funeral Home & Memory Gardens, please visit Sunset-FH.com or call 986-2402. Sunset is located at 11005 N. U.S. Hwy. 301, in nearby Thonotosassa.

Sunset Funeral Home & Memory Gardens is located on 60 acres off U.S. Hwy. 301 in Thonotosassa, only 20-30 minutes from most of Wesley Chapel. the expenses that arise when the funeral is needed.

Prepayment Programs

With preplanning, Sunset even offers numerous payment options.

“You can make a single premium payment and owe nothing, if you’d like,” explains Caballero. “Or, you can choose a plan that provides insurance coverage, while you make payments over several years. You can even have payments taken from your bank account automatically.”

Payments and policies are not the

only way that Sunset offers superior customer service to you and your family. As part of the Dignity family, Sunset also is able to offer numerous other services to help ease extra stress during a time of great loss. Dignity and Sunset also offer a “Family Protection Plan,” which forgives any balance if you should pass before your plan is paid off.

Dignity and Sunset also offer a child and grandchild protection plan. If something were to happen to a client’s child or grandchild, at no cost to the client, Sunset will cover the cost of the funeral up to

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17

Wesley Chapel Schools Trump State, District On 2013 FCAT Tests

By Matt Wiley This year’s Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) scores are in and the students at Wesley Chapel’s public schools clearly have been working hard, as most schools in the area easily surpassed both the District and State averages on the annual math, reading, science and writing tests.

According to the FCAT 2.0 test score reports released by the Florida Department of Education (DOE), the Pasco County School District (PCSD) performed at about the same level as the State in math (grades 3-8), reading (grades 3-10), science (grades 5 & 8) and writing (grades 4, 8 & 10).

The FCAT 2.0 test was put into practice in 2011 and measures student achievement according to “Next Generation Sunshine Standards,” which are more rigorous than those tested on the original FCAT test. FCAT scores will later be factored into school assessments, which the DOE reports as letter grades for every public school in the state each year.

Wesley Chapel students, for the most part, scored higher than both the State and District in most of the testing. In math, reading and science, scores are measured on a 0.0-5.0 scale, with Level

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3.0 demonstrating proficiency.

For a comparison between each individual school and the State and District averages, please consult the chart included on this page.

A Brief Overview Of FCAT Math, Reading & Science

In FCAT reading, Seven Oaks Elementary’s third graders, Veterans Elementary’s fourth graders and Wesley Chapel Elementary’s fifth graders led the area in elementary school scores by grade.

“Our scores went up as they do every year,” says Seven Oaks principal B.J. Smith. “I attribute it to our strategic planning and professional teacher development. It’s tough to say that one strategy helps scores go up. It’s more about everyone on staff knowing where we’re going as a school and helping the kids learn.”

Veterans Elementary principal Donna Busby says that she is extremely proud of her students and staff.

“I’m proud of all of the hard work,” she explains. “We’ve implemented more problem-solving-based learning. The students are more receptive when they are more active in their learning. For example, students are given a problem and several different strategies to solve it. A student will come up and explain to the class

which strategy they used to solve the problem.”

Both Dr. John Long and Thomas E. Weightman Middle schools met or exceeded State and District reading averages, as did ninth graders at both Wesley Chapel (WCH) and Wiregrass Ranch High (WRH) schools. However, WCH’s sophomores fell below both averages.

Veterans and Seven Oaks third graders led the pack in math, while Double Branch’s fourth graders outscored all other elementary schools. Veterans’ fifth graders also were well prepared for the math FCAT, scoring higher than the rest.

Long Middle School scored well above the State and District averages in each grade on this year’s math FCAT, as well.

Veterans and Sand Pine Elementary fifth graders stood out among the rest in FCAT Science, as did Long.

Wesley Chapel Writing Well

The FCAT Writing test is a little different than the multiple choice FCAT Math, Reading and Science tests. Instead, it provides students with either an expository, narrative or persuasive writing prompt. To the best of their abilities, fourth, eighth and tenth grade students compose a well-thought-out and wellcommunicated written response to the

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prompt, which is evaluated on a 1.0-6.0 scale. The State of Florida defines proficiency as scoring a 3.5 or higher on the FCAT Writing exam.

Although the State’s mean (average) score was a 3.4 and the District average a 3.3, or just below “proficiency,” the mean score for the students at Wesley Chapel’s twelve public schools was a 3.5.

In fourth grade writing, Wesley Chapel Elementary averaged a 4.0, with 74 percent of students scoring a 3.5 or higher. Veterans was not far behind, averaging a 3.8, with 75 percent of students scoring a 3.5 or above.

Long’s eighth graders averaged a 3.5 and had 66 percent score a 3.5 or higher, well above the District proficiency average of 48 percent.

Both Wesley Chapel high schools performed at or above State and District averages. The high school State average of 3.4 had 62 percent of students scoring a 3.5 or better, while the District averaged a 3.3, with 63 percent proficiency. WCH averaged a 3.5 and tied the District proficiency average, while WRH averaged a 3.7 and trumped the State and District with a solid 76-percent proficiency.

For full FCAT score results from Pasco County and the rest of the State of Florida, please visit FCAT.FLDOE.org.

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Josh Freeman Football Camp Puts More Than 200 Kids Through The Combine At WCH

By Matt Wiley For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the season is never really over, as it takes months of off-season training to be prepared for the next NFL season.

So, even though school is out, more than 200 kids from across the Tampa Bay area came out for the annual ProCamps Josh Freeman Football Camp at Wesley Chapel High on June 19-20.

Battling the summer Florida heat and rain, the campers got pointers from several Bucs players, new and old, including wide receiver Vincent Jackson, retired linebacker Derrick Brooks, and of course, current Bucs QB Josh Freeman himself.

“Football teaches life lessons here and there,” Freeman told the campers. “It’s all about getting out there, having fun and competing.”

The two-day camp split participants into small groups, which each worked with a different “coach,” who would teach them different fundamental football skills. After a certain amount of time, the groups rotated. Day 1, unfortunately, was rained out just as the kids

were about to play their scrimmage games, but they were able to squeeze a few in during Day 2 before the rains came.

“I really liked playing the games,” said Cade Zois, 7, of Land O’ Lakes. Zois said he learned to look through his “window,” or where the eye opening in his football helmet would be, when gazing down field.

For the Bucs’ Jackson, who ran most of the first day of camp because Freeman was late due to a “personal matter,” said teaching fundamentals and community service are keys for success.

“We have a passion about our community,” said Jackson, who has his own “Jackson in Action 83” charity which helps military families. “We know what it means to give back. We were once in these kids’ shoes.

They’re learning the fundamental skills (of Clockwise from top: Tampa Bay Bucs QB Josh Freeman (right) talks with campers during his refootball). It’s that kind of stuff that they’ll cent football camp at WCH; Bucs WR Vincent Jackson works on pass-catching skills; Jackson and use in the future.” a ProCamps coach help campers learn how to take a snap and get into the proper position to For more information about future throw a touchdown pass; and campers compete to see who has the fastest feet.

Josh Freeman Football ProCamps, visit ProCamps.com/Josh Freeman. For Vinseason public workout schedule, as well as cent Jackson’s Jackson In Action 83 Founinfo about purchasing tickets to Tampa dation, Inc., visit JacksoninAction83.org.

Bay Bucs pre- and regular-season games, And, for the Tampa Bay Buccanneers’ previsit Buccanneers.com.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 14 • July 6 , 2013 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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Wesley Chapel Rotary Installs New Board & Recaps Trip To Honduras! at Ciao! Italian Bistro in the Shops at Wiregrass mall.

And, speaking of the mall, I offer congratulations to its head honcho Greg Lenners, who recently completed his year as the president of the WC Rotary Club, which saw tremendous growth during his 2012-13 tenure.

I was very gratified to attend the WC Rotary’s annual installation and awards banquet, which was held at the elegantly revamped Quail Hollow Country Club on June 22, where Lenners handed the gavel over to Eric Johnson, the (Above) The new officers and Board of Directors of the Wesley Chapel Rotary Club were installed at community relations director for the club’s annual installation & awards banquet at Quail Hollow Country Club on June 22.

Wesley Chapel Honda & Toy(Below) Three of the nine WC Rotarians who traveled to Las Trojes, Honduras, in April. ota, who helped install his new Board at the banquet. Lenners also honored at least half of his club’s very deserving members with a variety of awards.

Among the club’s many accomplishments the past year, Lenners and Johnson were both proud to be among a group of nine WC Rotarians who traveled to Las Trojes, Honduras, for a week in April, in a joint effort with Pure Water for the World to provide 50 clean drinking water filter systems for families in Las Trojes. The club also helped construct six outdoor latrines for schools in this impoverished town in Central America. This was the second year visiting the area for several of the WC club members, who all say that the trip, while it may not be “easy,” is tremendously gratiPassing the gavel: Outgoing Wesley Chapel Rotary Club presi- fying and an opportunity for the club members who participate to truly feel like family. — GN dent Greg Lenners (right) & his successor Eric Johnson.

I was a Charter Member of the New Tampa Noon Rotary Club since its inception about ten years ago. But, when I attended my first Wesley Chapel (WC) Rotary Club meeting last year, I got the kind of feeling you only get when you know you’re among friends in a dynamic group of people that is not only still growing, its members keep building momentum together as a true Rotary family.

Both the New Tampa Noon club and the WC club meet at noon on Wednesdays, so I can’t really belong to both clubs. And, with the continued growth of not only its noon Rotary Club (there is also a WC Sunrise Rotary that meets Friday mornings), but of the entire Wesley Chapel area — and of our Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News — well, let’s just say that I am now proud to be one of the three newest members in this now-72-member club, which meets each week

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 14 • July 6, 2013 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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Peabody’s New Lunch Menu Has Plenty Of Great New Options!

By Gary Nager It’s been about a year since we told you about the new menu and equally new smokeless environment at Peabody’s Billiards & Games in the Shoppes at Amberly plaza in Tampa Palms. The new menu, the still-decreasing number of other sitdown dining options in the area, the opportunity to enjoy smoke-free billiards and other games and of course, all of the eye candy servers and bartenders have helped bring new crowds of adult New Tampa residents to join all those USF students at the new Peabody’s.

But, not just resting on their successful transition to a smokeless restaurant, Peabody’s continues to upgrade its menu, recently adding 27 new starters, soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers and even a new chimichanga to its already-renowned wings, New York-style pizzas, and a signa-

Peabody’s has added an excellent French onion soup to its selection of starters.

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ture New York strip steak that a certain newspaper editor really enjoys.

Let’s Get It Started

Yes, Peabody’s still has its famous wings, available with 15 premier sauces, from nuclear to honey garlic, but also has so many other great ways to start a great meal. The menu is so new I haven’t yet sampled too many of these, but I can vouch for the bistro onion soup (loaded with vidalia onions, French bread and tasty provolone, rather than traditional gruyere cheese) filling spinach artichoke dip, the homemade mozzarella sticks with zesty marinara and the house-cut fries tossed in Kosher salt and parmesan cheese (although I still order them extra crispy and without parmesan).

Other starters at Peabody’s I plan to sample soon are the loaded potato skins, the garlic knots, and even the Spanish nachos, which tops fresh tostada chips with Peabody’s homemade chili (the chili also is available as a starter alone), sweet corn, queso cheese sauce, jalapenos, tomatoes, onions and a lime sour cream. The nachos

We call the new salads at Peabody’s in Tampa Palms “shareable,” because both the Greek (left) & Cobb salads are perfect for at least two (or more) people to share. Photos by Matt Wiley

cost $9.39 (add $3 to add grilled chicken), but the plate is so huge, it could easily serve 3-4 adults.

Peabody’s also is the place to enjoy huge, “shareable salads.” In addition to standard house, Caesar and blackened chicken salads, Peabody’s now offers a great Greek salad served with a properly tangy Greek dressing that I also enjoyed on the massive new Cobb salad. This bad boy features rows of crispy diced chicken, crisp real bacon bits, black olives, bleu cheese, sweet corn, diced tomatoes, cheddar cheese, avocado and egg atop fresh greens. The crisp diced chicken really rocks, but if you can eat the whole salad by yourself, you’re a better man than me.

Wrap It Up!

Peabody’s continues to expand its sandwich offerings, too. In addition to some of

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 14 • July 6, 2013 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

the sandwiches we already enjoyed — from the roast beef panini, New Tampa Cuban (Black Forest ham, Cuban-style pulled pork, Boar’s Head® Genoa salami, dill pickles, Swiss cheese, mustard and mayo), an Italian sub and “heart-healthy” chicken Caesar wrap, Peabody’s now also offers a healthy (if you replace the fries it comes with, anyway) West Coast turkey wrap (with Boar’s Head® oven-roasted turkey, fresh avocado, red onions, crisp Romaine lettuce, applewood-smoked bacon, sharp cheddar and mayo in a spinach wrap), a veggie spinach wrap, assistant editor Matt Wiley’s favorite Buffalo chicken wrap and a totally tasty new Peabody’s club. I really enjoyed the combination of Boar’s Head® Black Forest ham and oven-roasted turkey, applewood bacon, avocado, tomato and lettuce, I just

(L. to r.) Some of the huge, new overstuffed sandwiches at Peabody’s include the new Peabody’s club and Buffalo chicken wrap sandwiches. If you have a really big appetite at lunch or dinner, you might want to check out Peabody’s new chimichangas, available with your choice of steak (pictured) or chicken. Photos by Matt Wiley (Lower right) The Peabody’s signature grilled NY Strip steak, served with yummy grilled corn, awesome fries and caramelized onions is a big hit with our editor.

I’m stoked to try — the traditional think I would order it on a pressed panini onions, peppers and chicken (or substitute foosball, elecMargherita (with olive oil, fresh garlic, fresh steak for $1 more). Garnished with cheese, instead of the thick toasted ciabatta roll. tronic bowling, tomato and basil, but no sauce) — and a Peabody’s also has some new burgtomatoes, black olives, corn, red onion, golf and basers, of which the most interesting to me is TexMex option (with Bullseye® BBQ scallions and sour cream, as well as sides of ketball games, sauce, red onion and diced chicken breast) sour cream and homemade salsa, the chimi tabletop comthe “breakfast burger,” which features the I’m not as excited about, even though you is a meal for at least two people. puter games, a same 1/2-pound Peabody’s burger may be. These specialty pizzas are not availThe menu also tells you which items variety of entopped with applewood bacon, cheddar able by the slice, however. are available for late-night dining. Be sure tertainment cheese and a perfect over-easy fried egg.

Peabody’s also has an excellent”signato check out the coupon in the ad. specials (everyThere also are heart-healthy veggie burgture” NY strip, a thick, 10-oz. house-cut Desserts include a huge, decadent thing from live ers, less-heart-healthy Bulls (topped with steak grilled to perfection and served with brownie a la mode, homemade zeppole music, beer pong and foosball tournaments Peabody’s homemade chili and cheddar char-grilled local corn on the cob, home(Italian-style donuts) and a creamy cheeseto food and drink specials and more. cheese) and Cowboy (topped with bacon, made fries, caramelized onions and served cake with strawberry sauce.

For more info about Peabody’s onion rings and BBQ sauce) burgers. with a roasted garlic aioli.

Although you can’t smoke inside any(15333 Amberly Dr.), which is open New Tampa Neighborhood News genPizza, Steak &...Chimis? more and no one under 21 is allowed in until 3 a.m. every night, call 972-1725 eral manager (and former Peabody’s barI’ve always been a fan of Peabody’s after 9 p.m., Peabody’s is a 15,000-sq.-ft. or visit PeabodysBilliards.com. Mention tender) Nikki Bennett and senior graphic true NY-style pizzas, whether cheese, pepentertainment complex with lots of outthis story to receive your choice of a artist Porsha Lemos both raved about the peroni or meat lover’s, but now the restaudoor seating areas for smokers and fun great Buy One, Get One Free menu HUGE new chimichanga, a made-for-sharrant/bar located next to the New Tampa games inside, including lots of beautiful item special or buy an entrée and get a ing monster stuffed with melted cheese, Neighborhood News office has one option pool tables and electronic dart boards to free order of garlic knots.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 14 • July 6, 2013 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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La’ Berry Frozen Yogurt & Java Café Offers Unique Options

By Gary Nager We know we've told you about quite a few new frozen yogurt and/or ice cream places in Wesley Chapel and New Tampa the past several issues, but owners and Wisconsin natives Linton Paterno and his mother Annie promise that a visit to the new La’ Berry Frozen Yogurt Café, located in the Trout Creek Commons plaza on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. (next to Burger 21) in New Tampa, is still a unique experience.

Both Annie and Linton have worked in restaurants their entire working careers — a combined 65 years of experience. And Linton, a frozen yogurt fanatic, promises that there are several differences between La’ Berry and the other yogurt shops in Wesley Chapel or New Tampa.

“For one thing, La’ Berry (the corporation) promises that you won't find our yogurt anyplace else in Florida and all La’ Berry cafés, including ours, make the yogurt fresh every day,” Linton says, noting that the biggest difference is that 90 percent of other frozen yogurt shops purchase their product pre-frozen. “We believe you can really taste the fresh-made difference.”

The Georgia-based company, which started in the business in 2010, today has seven locations, although the New Tampa store is the first in Florida.

La’ Berry's creamy, unique frozen yo-

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that no other shop in Florida carries her favorite Door County Coffee. Founded in 1993 and located “in the heart of Door County,” in Forestville, WI, the company’s website says you will find a 20-year tradition in every delicious drop of Door County Coffee. Door County offers more than 100 freshly roasted coffees including regular, decaf, a variety of flavored coffees, Fair Trade organic (Left) The mother-and-son owners of La’ Berry Frozen Yogurt & Java Café in New Tampa, Annie and Linton Pacoffee and the company's terno, invite you to check out the trendy shop’s delicious smoothies (right), frozen yogurt, pastries & Door County Coffee. popular seasonal coffees.

“I know a lot of pargurt (my favorite of the rotating flavors so vitamin & mineral blend, high-energy ents who come in with their kids enjoy far are the peanut butter and banana) also blend, and “Doctor’s garden.” having a latté or a cup of flavored coffee, is used in the shop's delicious smoothies.

And, also available exclusively at La’ and the reaction so far to our Door And, the selection of 80 amazing toppings Berry is Chloe's Fruit Soft Serve, which includes everything from Pop Tart pieces has only three ingredients — fresh fruit, fil- County Coffee has been great,” says Annie. “I knew it would be. The coffee is to chocolate “rocks,” and fresh strawberries tered water and a touch of organic cane very smooth and we always have a regular and raspberries to hot fudge, hot caramel sugar, to prevent the product from freezand a dozen other sauces, even a spicy siring. La’ Berry offers a rotating variety of at roast, decaf and a daily featured flavor.”

La’ Berry’s Java Café menu also offers acha sauce that college students love! least two Chloe’s Fruit Soft Serve flavors, Customers can even customize their all of which are non-dairy and also fat- and espressos, cappuccinos, lattés, macchiatos, own smoothies, choosing their own fagluten-free.But, Linton says that best of all, and a flavored coffee of the day, depending upon the season. The current flavors, at vorite “froyo” flavor, toppings to mix in “It’s delicious!” our press time, include blueberry cobbler, and even “boosters,” such as regular and cinnamon sugar biscotti, orange crème and Don’t Forget The Java! vanilla whey protein, collagen “fresh face,” vanilla crème brulée. And, for those on Annie, an avowed coffee lover, says weight-loss fat burner, fiber blend, multi-

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 14 • July 6, 2013 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

La’ Berry’s frozen yogurt comes in a variety of flavors with as many as 80 amazing fruit & candy toppings & sauces.

La’ Berry’s delicious Door County Coffee the go, you can enjoy your coffee in La’ Berry's trendy café, or get your java on the makes a great caramel macchiatto. run and pull into the shop’s designated "Coffee Addict" parking spot. "We will come out, take the order and deliver it to your car," Annie says. "You can even call ahead (phone number and address below), so we can bring it out to your car as soon as you arrive!"

La’ Berry Frozen Yogurt & Java Café is open Monday.-Thursday., 7 a.m.-10 p.m., 7 a.m.-11 p.m. on Fri., 11 a.m.-11 p.m. on Sat. & 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on Sunday. It is located at 20304 Trout Creek Dr., next to Burger 21, on BBD in New Tampa. For more information, call 345-8537 or visit LaBerry FrozenYogurt.com. See the ad on page 31 for great coupon specials, including buy one, get half off on frozen yogurt, 20-percent-off your entire check or $1 off an order of $4 or more.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 14 • July 6, 2013 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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

By Gary Nager

WingHouse Opens On S.R. 54 With A Big Crowd

Although its original scheduled opening was delayed by a week or so during the remodeling of the former Buffalo’s SW Café on S.R. 54 (at 5510 Post Oak Blvd.), Wesley Chapel’s Ker’s WingHouse opened on June 6 to an estimated crowd of between 500-1,000 people. Included among that throng were two dozen or more Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) members who cut a ribbon with Wesley Chapel general manager Eric Ratcliff of the new Ker’s Wing House and his staff of gorgeous servers and bartenders.

The opening day crowd filled up the “first 100 on line” by 8:40 a.m., with the first three arriving at 6 p.m. the day before.

Each of the first 100 received not only an official WingHouse T-shirt, but also one free lunch per month for a year.

That mass of humanity waited in the pouring rain of Tropical Storm Andrea and Ratcliff says that while the number of people was not unexpected, it was still overwhelming.

And, Ratcliff says he’s pleased with the crowds the WingHouse has seen since the opening. I’ve been there twice at peak lunch hour — once on a Tuesday, the other on a Thursday, and there already was a wait for tables both days, although there were still plenty of seats on tap at the bar, where Wesley Chapel’s finest in feminine pulchritude provide outstanding service and beautiful smiles at no extra charge.

Ratcliff also says he’s heard some of the available commercial parcels around the

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ropractic & Injury Center on their move to their much more comfortable and accessible new office off S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel.

Dr. Scheu says he outgrew his space in the SuperTarget-anchored Northwood Plaza on BBD, just north (Left) The ‘world-famous WingHouse girls’ were ready to serve a huge crowd of attendees as the doors to the Ker’s WingHouse in of County Line Wesley Chapel opened on June 6. (Right, l.-r., front) New Ker’s WingHouse Wesley Chapel general manager Eric Ratcliff (left), Rd., and moved with Wesley Chapel Deputy Honorary Mayor Ken Stewart & Honorary Mayor of Wesley Chapel Troy Stevenson. on June 3 into his new office in WingHouse have been sold, so look for upa drawing and the usual outstanding Chamthe Cypress Ridge Professional Park, located dates in future issues. ber networking. off S.R. 56 and Cypress Ridge Blvd., at For more info about the new Ker’s For more info about Firehouse Subs 2312 Crestover Ln. WingHouse, call 428-7157 or visit Wing(1824 BBD), call 977-3191.

For appointments and more inforHouse.com. mation about New Tampa Chiropractic New Tampa Chiro Moves Firehouse Subs Also Cuts A & Injury Center, call 994-6111.

Congratulations to Dr. William Scheu, Ribbon With The Chamber D.C., and his staff at the New Tampa ChiAlso just after we went to press with our June issue, Firehouse Subs, which has been located for several months in the Shoppes at New Tampa plaza on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. just south of S.R. 56, cut a ribbon with the WCCC. About 30 people attended the Firehouse opening with owner Sarju Patel and general manager Meagan Watson, which featured some tasty sandwich samples, Congrats to Firehouse Subs, located between Publix & Bealls on BBD.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 14 • July 6, 2013 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Team Bohannon Opens Keller Williams Office Congratulations also go out to Team Bohannon, the office of the husband-wife-&son team of Realtors Doug, Annette and Dale Bohannon and their buyer consultants Kyle Williams, Kevin Mize and Janneth Santana and seller consultant Janie Targington.

The Keller Williams office of Team Bohannon (l. to r.

Team Bohannon had Dale, Doug & Annette Bohannon, Kyle Williams & been based at the Coldwell Kevin Mize; not pictured are Janneth Santana & Banker office in the New Janie Targington) is located in Seven Oaks, off BBD. Tampa Center shopping plaza for the past 18 years, but al“Since the shift in real estate in 2007 ways had its own staff under the Coldwell only one real estate company both grew and Banker umbrella. Now, Doug, Annette, saw an increase in volume, and that was Dale & Co. have opened their own Keller Keller Williams, which is now the largest Williams office at 3902 Flatiron Loop, in real estate company in the U.S.,” says Anthe professional plaza adjacent to Bright nette. “The company’s philosophy and ours Horizons Childrens Center of Seven Oaks were a perfect match.” Keller Williams now off BBD at Mystic Oak Dr. has more than 700 office across the country with 77,000+ agents.

July Honorary Mayor of WC Events: “There were five things that attracted Sat, July 20, 7 p.m. - “July TropiTeam Bohannon to Keller Williams,” she cal Karaoke Night” to benefit Mary Ann adds. “1. The training program, 2. The Yaney’s Honorary Mayor of Wesley “culture,” 3. The coaching 4. The cap sysChapel campaign, at Pebble Creek Golf tem & profit sharing & 5. The technology.”

Club (10550 Regents Park Dr., New “We found out that Keller Williams is Tampa). Donation of $20 or $35 for 2 to more about changing lives,” Doug adds. attend. Call 549-4215 for info.

“They already have changed our lives and Sat, July 27, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. the lives of our team by welcoming us into “July Family Fun Day” to benefit Cathy their family. We are forever grateful.”

Bickham’s Honorary Mayor campaign, at For more info about buying or listAtonement Lutheran Church (29617 S.R. ing a home with Team Bohannon, please 54). Free to attend; Vendor tables are a call Annette Bohannon at 979-4963 or $50 donation. Call 618-0578 for info. visit NewTampaRealEstate.com.

WELCOME TO FAMILY & COSMETIC DENTISTRY

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Dr. Neeraja Jasthi, DMD

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NEW TAMPA & WESLEY CHAPEL H E L P

W A N T E D

PHYSICAL THERAPIST – An established New Tampa outpatient clinic is hiring a part-time PT to provide customized, one-on-one care. Fax resume to (813) 994-3080 HELP WANTED - Looking for licensed hairstylists. full time or part time looking for the right person to work in a fun, family atmosphere. If interested call (813) 973-1514 and ask for Bonnie.

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Fax resume to (813) 994-3080.

HELP WANTED - Hiring housekeeper, with car and valid driver’s license. Spanish a plus. Call: 813.758.9710 or 813.758.9745 NOW INTERVIEWING - Experienced Family Medicine Nurse Practitioner & Medical Assistant position. F/T or P/T. To inquire please email resume to bobbie@fwctampa.net or call (813-994-0611 opt.1) and ask for Bobbie.

HELP WANTED : LPN - part time/weekdays (2 to 3). 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Allergy/asthma experience a plus. Call (813) 971-9743, extension 108.

HELP WANTED - Transaction Manager for Top Producing Real Estate Team. Must Have: At least 1 yr Real Estate experience and working knowledge of listing file from pre-listing to closing. Excellent organizational skills, time management skills & work ethic.

Dedication to exceptional customer service. Perform & multi-task well in a fast paced environment. Attention to detail, Outlook, Word, Excel, Top Producer, ResNet and MLS skills. A "Yes, I can do it" attitude, confidence & maturity, Email resume with salary history.

HELP WANTED - New Tampa medical office needs back office clerical support. 15-20 hours per week. Must be very detail-oriented. Some phone responsibilities as well as filing and other clerical duties.

Email resume to Sara at doctor@floridawoundcare.com. No phone calls please.

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GREG’S PAPERHANGING – For all of your wallpapering needs. Licensed & insured, clean, quick & reasonable. Call 973-2767 for free estimate.

RAYMOND PAINTING – Interior & Exterior pressure washing, paper hanging, plaster, stucco, tiles, clean & seal pavers, roofing leaks, etc. Licensed & Bonded. References available. Free Estimates. Your Neighborhoond Arbor Greene Resident. We work 7 days. Call 994-5124.

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TAI CHI CLASSES - open to the public at the Club Tampa Palms. Benefits: Strength, Flexibility, Balance, Focus and reduced stress. New Beginner 6 week courses starting every few months. Adults Course: Thursday evening’s 7-8 pm. Seniors Course: Tuesday afternoons 12-1 pm. Space is limited! Also personal instruction in Tai Chi, Kempo Karate, Boot Camp Fitness training and more.

With more than 30 years of training and teaching experience. Please contact me for more details or go to: chuan-fa.org. Peter #787-7560 or E-mail peter@chuan-fa.org

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P O O L

S E R V I C E S

TRANQUILITY POOL SERVICE - New Tampa owned & operated. Great Pricing with outstanding customer service! LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED. See why we are New Tampa and Wesley Chapel’s #1 Choice!! New customer’s ONE MONTH FREE! Call Chris Today @ (813) 857-5400 or visit www.TranquilityPoolService.com AQUATEC POOL SERVICE - 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 1 MONTH OF QUALITY SERVICE FOR FREE. www.aquatecpool.com

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 14 • July 6, 2013 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

FITNESS & WELLBEING

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COMPUTER SERVICES PROFESSIONAL TECH SUPPORT – in your home or small business. A+ certified computer tech with 20 years of exp. Maintenance & repairs, upgrades & tutoring. More affordable than the large chains! Friendly, personalized svc.

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CLEANING

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 14 • July 6, 2013 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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“Baker”

Continued from page 1 District 2 commissioner Pat Mulieri suggested right away that Baker be chosen to fill the vacant seat.

“I know you’re all excited and want to bring someone in from the outside, but Ms. Baker has given 190 percent,” Mulieri said. “We need stability, no interim; an administrator that can grab the bull by the horns and move forward. My motion would be to offer (Baker) the position.”

District 4 commissioner Henry Wilson, the sole opposing vote on the BOCC, expressed interest in starting a new search for someone from outside Pasco.

“I think its time to take a look at what we’re doing,” said District 5 commissioner Jack Mariano. “Michele Baker is a phenomenal individual. She’s dedicated.

There are a lot of benefits to bringing her in as administrator. Anytime that you can promote from within, that’s great.”

Mariano said that he wanted to have an administrator candidate that was someone not only committed, but competent, which he said he sees in Baker.

However, discussions became tense between Mulieri and District 3 Commissioner Kathryn Starkey, who was adamant about finding an outside perspective to bring in fresh ideas for the County.

“I don’t know why we’re in any big rush,” Starkey said. “I think outside, fresh

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ideas are very good for (Pasco).”

Mulieri shot right back, “But we still haven’t given Michele a chance to spread her wings. We would not be making a mistake (offering her the job).”

Mariano helped to sway Starkey into giving Baker a chance.

“I don’t think she’s going to hold us back,” he said. “I’ve got a passionate, competent person that I think is going to do a fantastic job for us. Let’s give her our full support and get this county rolling.”

Following the 4-1 vote, Schrader said that he would get together with Baker to begin contract negotiations. Her initial contract offer will be for two years.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 14 • July 6, 2013 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com