Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News, Volume 25, Issue 14, June 30, 2017 by Neighborhood News

Volume 25 Issue 14

Inside:

June 30, 2017

Zammy Spreads Joy At The Shriners Hospital! In Neighborhood Magazine!

Don’t Forget To View, Like & Share Every Episode Of The Award-Winning WCNT-tv! The Direct-Mail News Magazines Serving New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Since 1993! For the complete list of neighborhoods that receive this publication by direct mail in Wesley Chapel (zip codes 33543, 33544 & 33545), see page 42!

A Sneak Peek At The Amazing, New Cypress Creek Middle High School! By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN

celeste@ntneighborhoodnews.com Carin Hetzler-Nettles (CH-N) is the principal of the new Cypress Creek Middle High School and was previously principal of Wesley Chapel High, where she earned Pasco County’s Secondary Principal of the Year in 2012. We spoke with Hetzler-Nettles during staff training week at Cypress Creek, located off Old Pasco Rd. As the entire staff worked together to create the culture of the new school (which is set to open to students on Pasco’s first day of classes for the 2017-18 school year, which begins on Monday, August 14), Hetzler-Nettles reflected on all the work that’s being done to get the school ready for its first class of students. Here are some highlights from that conversation:

An aerial view of the sprawling new Cypress Creek Middle High School campus on Old Pasco Rd., near Overpass Rd. Photos on this page provided by the Pasco School District. principal does a lot of work this time of year, but it’s very rare to have this opportunity to be side-by-side with the entire staff, building something new. We’re setCypress Creek Middle High School Principal Carin Hetzler- of opening a new school, com- ting the stage, creating our culture here. We’re Nettles (3rd from right) is joined by (le.-r.) assistant principal pared with the typical summer setting our school-wide expectations and motMeighan Melsheimer, assessment coordinator Lesley Kirkley, routine at other county middle to, and talking about what a Cypress Creek learning design coach Ariel Huey, assistant principal Kyle and high schools? “Coyote” looks like. CH-N: Really different! Every Ritsema, and bookkeeper Lorraine McKinney Cypress Creek will be a pilot program for

CM: How different is this process

Also Inside This Issue: News, Business & Sports Updates Gov. Scott Vetoes Money For Overpass Rd. Interchange; Quail Hollow Could Get Final Decision; Local Mom Helping Military; Lexus Dealership Set For Dec. 2017 Opening; Wesley Chapel Couple Turns Mini Doughnuts Into Maximum Success; Curling Fever At FHCI; Former WCH Wildcat Has NBA Dreams; Plus, Local Business Features!

Pages 3-30

Neighborhood Magazine

Zammy Spreads His Love To Shriners’ Kids; A Visit To Las Palmas Café; Firehouse Subs Serves The Community; & More Neighborhood Nibbles & Business Bytes!

Pages 31-44

“trauma informed care,” so we had training for that. We learned about ourselves as a staff and to be mindful that everyone comes in with their own trauma (which could be something minor), and we react in different ways. When a student acts out, it’s because of something in their life, and it’s on us to figure that out, and then to build resilience, grit and perseverance. Those are life skills. On the last day of our staff retreat (which was earlier this month), our teachers will get their schedules and find out their classrooms, which they’re so excited about. Then, as teams, they’ll head out into the community to commit random acts of kindness. We want to say “hi” to our fellow community members and tell them we’re hoping for their support. (Editor’s Note-To that end, four Cypress Creek Middle High teachers from the school’s Athletic Dept. showed up at our office on June 22 (photo, left), and all four were obviously excited to talk about the opening of the new school.) CM: What’s your favorite thing about the campus itself? CH-N: The look of this school reminds me of a community college. It has beautiful brick paver accents. There are amazing (floorto-ceiling) windows in the classrooms. There’s so much natural light and every classroom has a great view. We are the only high school in the county that will have a rubberized track, so we’ll be able to host some big meets. We also have a large cafeteria and an enormous band See “Cypress Creek” on page 14.

Joe Whiskey’s & O’Brien’s To Host Fund Raisers For Troy Duncan July 15! By GARY NAGER

For those who have lived in Wesley Chapel for any period of time but have somehow never seen the Troy Duncan Band perform...I wonder how that’s even possible. Former Skinny’s Sports Bar owner Ken Santo says that Duncan’s group was his “house band for four years before they became famous.” Since then, the Tory Duncan Band has made regular appearances at both O’Brien’s Irish Pub & Grill in the Wesley Chapel Village Market, as well as at Joe Whiskey’s Sports Bar, which has occupied the same space Skinny’s once did in the Pinewalk at The Grove plaza (next to Cody’s Roadhouse) on S.R. 54 for more than a year. Santo and O’Brien’s co-owner/general manager Randy Goodwin and Joe Whiskey’s owner Mike Izzi all agreed that they wanted to do something to help Duncan, who has been fighting a two-year battle against cancer and was recently diagnosed again with leukemia. The countrified rock singer and guitarist was still being treated at Shands Medical Center in Gainesville at our press time. And, like so many entertainers and hospitality industry folks, Duncan has no health insurance,

so the people who have benefited from his shows all decided to give something back. To that end, both O’Brien’s and Joe Whiskey’s are hosting fund raisers to benefit Duncan — and help defray some of his everincreasing medical costs, with benefits at both locales on Saturday, July 15. Both bars O’Brien’s Irish Pub & Joe will offer plates of Whiskey’s Sports Bar will both delicious food for host benefit events for popular either $5 (at Joe local musician Troy Duncan of Whiskey’s) or $10 the Troy Duncan Band, who has (at O’Brien’s) per been diagnosed with leukemia. plate, with proceeds being donated directly to help Duncan.

O’Brien’s, will have entertainment all day, including Nunes at Night, featuring cancer survivor John Nunes, performing in the evening. Joe Whiskey’s Troy Duncan Fundraiser will be held from 1 p.m.-7 p.m., with DJ music and karaoke hosted by Alan Hudson Brady. Both bars also will offer drink specials, 50/50 raffles, silent and/or live auctions and so much fun to support an outstanding local musician that you really need to check out both events. The smoker-friendly Joe Whiskey’s Sports Bar (see ad on page 37) is located at 27429 County Road 54. For more information, call (813) 973-8336 or search “Troy Duncan Benefit July 15th” on Facebook. O’Brien’s Irish Pub & Grill is located at 5429 Village Market. For more info, visit ObriensWesleyChapel.com, search “Obriens Wesley Chapel” on Facebook, or call (813) 973-9988.

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Part 3: Making Driving In Our Area Better; Plus, WCNT-tv Begins Its Second Year! An editorial by Gary Nager So, your favorite (or not) New York-transplanted editor is back for another rant about driving in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel — and really everywhere in Florida. I’ve already complained about our self-deputized civilians who refuse to get out of the left lane (because they may be traveling the posted speed limit), despite the fact everyone who wants to drive a normal speed has to pass them on the right — and are still doing it despite Florida’s new law that says you can be ticketed for it. “Slower traffic keep right” isn’t just a slogan. I’ve also previously explained why dedicated right turn exit and acceleration lanes when going from one major roadway to another are neither yield nor stop signs. So, here’s Part 3 of this “helping you drive better” series — which I felt was particularly fitting as our recent drought ended and we began the rainy/hurricane season when the calendar turned to June — driving in the rain. Let’s take a quick quiz on the subject: 1. Whenever you’re driving in the rain, you should: a.) reduce your speed, b) allow yourself additional braking distance between you and the vehicle in front of you, c.) turn on your headlights if they’re not already on or on auto, d.) all of the above. The answer, as most everyone knows (except those who refuse to turn on their headlights in the rain), is d., all of the above. 2. When are the roads at their slipperiest or slickest?

Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News Address: 29157 Chapel Park Dr., Suite B Wesley Chapel, FL 33543 Phone: (813) 910-2575 Advertising E-mail: Ads@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Editorial E-mail: EditorialDept@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Publisher & Editor Gary Nager Billing Manager Stephanie Smith Marketing/Advertising Representative Tom Damico Advertising Sales & Office Assistant Jannah McDonald Assistant Editor / Photographer John C. Cotey Staff Writer Celeste McLaughlin Correspondents Brad Stager • Andy Warrener WCNT-tv Sales & Production Assistant Gavin Olsen Graphic Designers Blake Beatty • Georgia Carmichael Nothing that appears in Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News writers are their own and do not reflect the publisher’s opinion. The deadline for outside editorial submissions and advertisements for Volume 25, Issue 16, of Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News is Monday, July 17, 2017. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News will consider previously non-published outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News will not return unsolicited editorial materials. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit &/or reject any advertising. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the actual cost of the advertising space itself, nor for the validity of any claims made by its advertisers.

Photo by Jannah McDonald

a.) When it’s been raining heavily all day, b. When it first starts to rain, c.) The roads are always equally slippery, d.) I have no idea. The answer to that one is actually b., because the oils that build up on the roadway when it’s dry outside rise to the surface and make the roads slicker than when it’s been raining all day and those oils have all been washed away. Sadly, this means that for many people, the answer, until now, was d. Now, for the toughie/trick question (despite the hint in the photo above): 3. When it is raining so hard that seeing the vehicles in front of you becomes difficult, you should: a) Pull off to the side of the road and have your hazard lights flashing, b) Continue driving, but turn on your hazard lights, c.) Continue driving, but make sure that your headlights are on, reduce your speed and use extra caution or d.) I have no idea. The “trick” part is that if it’s so bad that you really can’t see the vehicle in front of you, the answer should be a., but very few of us will choose to do that when we’re in a hurry to get to or from work or to a meeting or event that we can’t afford to pull over and wait it out, especially because you’re something of a sitting duck if someone else swerves off the road. The most practical answer, in that case, is actually c. Those of you who picked b. might as well have picked d., because you are truly clueless — a fact that is re-proven to me almost every time it rains more than a drizzle here. But, here’s why you don’t turn your hazards on in heavy rain, McFly — your hazard lights are for when you and/or your vehicle are in an emergency situation — you had to pull off the road to change a flat tire, your car breaks down in the middle of the road, etc. If you’re already driving with your hazards on and your car breaks down (maybe because you’re driving through deep water and your car’s electrical system goes bad), how will the vehicle behind you know that your car has stopped working? The answer is usually by smashing into you from behind, which is normally the

rear-ender’s fault, but not in this case. As indicated on the sign in the photo, Florida law says “Driving in Rain: Headlights On, Hazards Off,” which means that if you have an accident while violating this law, you would be the at-fault driver. So, please: read the sign and obey it. Driving in the rain is tough enough without drivers who make up their own laws because they mistakenly think it’s easier to see flashers than it is steady lights.

WCNT-tv’s Anniversary!

Check out the ad for WCNT-tv — Wesley Chapel & New Tampa Television — on page 30

of this issue. You’ll see some numbers that I’m very proud of. As of June 23, exactly a year since we debuted the show — we have reached more than three quarters of a million people and have been viewed nearly 370,000 times on YouTube and Facebook. Our recent Neighborhohood Dining News segments about Little Italy’s Family Restaurant & Catering and Fushia Hot Pot Buffet & Asian Bistro each garnered thousands of views and have generated some new business at both locations. And, our most recent News segment about the Diverging Diamond Interchange and most recent Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce Featured Business segment about American Wood Flooring are among the best work we’ve done to date. Please view, like & share all of our WCNT-tv segments on YouTube & Facebook!

Table of Contents

Local News Updates.....................3-15

Scott Vetoes $15 Million For Overpass Rd. Project....4 After Multiple Delays, A Vote For Quail Hollow?.......5 Military Mom Starts A Package-Shipping Nonprofit...6 New Lexus Dealership About More Than Great Cars...8 Mini Doughnuts, Maximum Success.................10-11 Curling Club Takes To The Ice At FHCI...........12-13 Wesley Chapel Community Calendar..........................16

Local Business Updates..............18-27

Heartwood Preserve Conservation Cemetery.........18 Discovery Village Make Seniors Feel At Home.........20 Lee Nails & Spa Is All About Pampering...................22 SPOTLIGHT ON: Wesley Chapel Medical Clinic..23 Vitale Institute Helps With Breath of Fresh Air..24 Tint By Masters Can Keep Your Home Protected...26

Local Education/Sports Updates......28-29

WCH Hoops Great Has NBA Aspirations..................28 Prestigious Hockey Camp Coming To FHCI............29

Neighborhood Magazine

Zammy Brings Smiles To Shriners Hospital....31 Las Palmas Cuban Café.........................................34 Firehouse Subs Serves The Community...................36 ‘Neighborhood Nibbles & Business Bytes’.........38 Wesley Chapel & New Tampa Classifieds...........40 @NTWCNews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 14 • June 30, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Scott Vetoes Overpass Rd./I-75 Money By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com Florida Governor Rick Scott wielded his veto pen earlier this month in a state budget deal with legislative leaders and, in the process, crossed off a number of Pasco County projects, included the proposed new interchange at I-75 and Overpass Rd. in Wesley Chapel. Scott vetoed $15 million for the proposed planned exit for Overpass Rd., approximately halfway between the S.R. 54 (in Wesley Chapel) and S.R. 52 (in San Antonio) exits. In all, Scott knocked $22 million in Pasco County projects out of the $83 billion state budget for 2018. The Governor also vetoed more than $400 million in local projects statewide. The I-75/Overpass Rd. interchange is located in a rapidly developing sector that includes the new Cypress Creek Middle/High School (see story on page 1), new housing developments and Metro Development’s “Connected City” corridor, which is a 7,800-acre behemoth running north from Overpass Rd. in Wesley Chapel to S.R. 52 in San Antonio, and east from I-75 to Curley Rd. The interchange was being counted on to help ease traffic at the congested interchanges at S.R.s 52 and 54 by providing another east-west option for travelers. It also was expected to improve the safety conditions on the surrounding state roads, and improve emergency evacuation and response times with the county. Overpass Rd. is currently an east-west roadway that runs 0.86 miles from Old Pasco

Rd. east to Boyette Rd. Overpass Rd. crosses over I-75 but without any connections to the interstate, between S.R.s 52 and 54. The interchange also is part of a larger project to extend Overpass Rd. nine miles from its current eastern terminus at Boyette all the way to Hwy. 301 in Zephyrhills. The interchange was identified in the 2009 Pasco Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)’s Transportation Update Plan (through 2035) “Needs Plan.” That plan scheduled the new interchange, extension and expansion of Overpass Rd. to be completed by 2020, at a total cost of roughly $100 million. The interchange also was expected to ease some of the traffic concerns on and around Old Pasco Rd., which already is a hotbed of construction, with Cypress Creek Middle/High opening this fall, the Quail Hollow community possibly adding 400 new homes to replace the existing golf course (see story on pg. 5) and, closer to S.R. 54, 264 new multi-family units in the Arbours at Saddle Oaks.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 14 • June 30, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

Oft-Delayed Quail Hollow Vote Now Expected at July BCC Meeting By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com Plans to build homes on the golf course at Quail Hollow Country Club will — dare we say it? — finally get a yes or no vote at the Pasco Board of County Commissioners (BCC) meeting on Tuesday, July 11, after a third delay continued the long fight between residents and golf course owner Andre Carollo of Pasco Office Park, LLC. The vote by the five-member BCC has been delayed at meetings in April, May and the latest, on June 6. At the conclusion of May’s meeting, District 4 commissioner Mike Wells was one of those who pushed by a 3-2 vote for a continu-

Neighborhood News

ance, but also said he would not be in attendance at the June 6 meeting. Carollo’s team, citing his absence, requested the vote not be held without the full board in attendance. The BCC agreed with the request, pushing a potential vote to July. Carollo and his Pasco Office Park LLC are seeking to change the zoning of his golf course property so he can build roughly 400 single-family homes. The plans also call for 30,000-sq.-ft. of office and retail space and a 10,000-sq.-ft. daycare center. Carollo already has a R1 zoning, which means he already can build a maximum of 306 homes on the golf course property, which is located at 6225 Old Pasco Rd if he so chooses, without rezoning it.

@NTWCNews

His plans have been met with stern opposition from current Quail Hollow residents, who have consistently packed the Dade City Courthouse and West Pasco Government Center in New Port Richey during meetings. Residents have argued that they purchased their homes because they were sold as golf course properties, and others fear the area, which they say is already prone to flooding, cannot handle the additional development and that Old Pasco Rd., which provides the community’s access to S.R. 54, is not modern enough to handle the additional traffic. Attorney Barbara Wilhite, who is representing Pasco Office Park LLC, has argued that her client has made a number of modifications in his original plan in order to appease

residents, but it is never enough. Commissioners Kathryn Starkey of District 3 and Ron Oakley, whose District 1 borders Quail Hollow, have already voiced their support for the zoning change.

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

The STANO Foundation Sends Care Packages To Support Our Military By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN

celeste@ntneighborhoodnews.com

When single mom Paula Stano’s only son, Jordan Viches, went into the Marines straight out of Wiregrass Ranch High in 2013, the only way she could communicate with him was via old-fashioned letter writing. Jordan told his mom that receiving the letters “felt like Christmas,” but that some of his friends never got any letters at all. So, Paula started writing letters to Marines other than her son as well. That became the beginning of a journey that has led her to where she is now, as the founder and president of the STANO Foundation, a 501(3)c non-profit organization that sends care packages to members of the military who are deployed and stationed both in the U.S. and abroad. As her son’s military career continued and she became aware of needs of his fellow Marines, she began soliciting donations from friends and acquaintances. Jordan was stationed abroad in Japan, but some of his friends were deployed to countries such as Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan, so she started sending them packages. “They would ask for things like two-ply toilet paper or black crew socks,” she says, “or a certain kind of cracker or chips or candy they couldn’t get where they were stationed.” So, as her efforts grew, she created the STANO Foundation (which is her last name developed into an acronym: Supporting Troops Area-wide, Nationally and Overseas), and her efforts continue to be supported by the community and continue to reach more members of the military in more areas. “We send out packages every month now,”

(Above left): Paula Stano and her son, Jordan Viches, by Melissa Korta Photography. Military members (top right) helped by the STANO Foundation and its volunteers (bottom right) mug for the camera.

she explains. “We reach out to the community and ask if they have loved ones stationed in the United States or overseas, and then we send them packages.” Paula says that, twice a year, the foundation sends out an especially large number of packages. First and foremost, prior to Christmas, about 600 boxes are mailed. In late June and early July, roughly halfway through the year and just before the time we celebrate Independence Day, the STANO foundation sends out another 300 boxes. “We make sure each person gets an individual box,” she says. “We ask them about the things they miss the most, their favorite snacks

and allergies, and then we try to accommodate each person’s individual needs.” While her efforts grew from simple letter writing into an official nonprofit serving hundreds of troops, the operation is still based out of her Wesley Chapel townhouse. At our press time, she was getting ready for her big July shipment. “You should see my living room right now,” she says. “It’s amazing.” It takes an incredible effort, a lot of donations of supplies, and additional donations to pay for the shipping. “Shipping is our largest expense,” Paula says. “It will cost $6,000 to ship the boxes in

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 14 • June 30, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

July,” which means her cost is closer to $12,000 at Christmas time. Paula is thrilled that Tech Data, based in Clearwater, has partnered with her to pay for shipping the July boxes and also to collect many of the items that need to be donated. She’s reaching out to the community to solicit the additional donated items and to provide the funding for boxes that are shipped throughout the rest of the year. A supply list can be found on the STANO Foundation website at STANO.org. Some of the most wanted items include sunflower seeds, beef jerky, protein powder, travel-sized shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothpaste and deodorant, to name just a few. “Items can be dropped off at Ideal Massage (in the Summergate Professional Park) in Wesley Chapel (behind Sam’s Club) or people can contact me and any of our Board members will do a pick-up of items that you would like to donate.” Anyone who would like to sign up a loved one in the military to receive a package from the STANO Foundation also can do so via the same website. Jordan is still an active duty Marine, currently stationed in Moscow. “He’s loving it, and I’m hoping to go see him in September,” she says, adding that Jordan is one of the foundation’s Board members, helping the foundation to know who needs what and help make sure the packages meet the needs of those who receive them. “There’s no way I could do this by myself,” she says. “It really does take a village.” For more information, visit STANO. org or find the foundation’s Facebook page by searching “STANO Foundation.”

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Hi-Tech Service To Be A Hallmark At WC Lexus; Oh...The Cars Are Nice, Too By JOHN C. COTEY When Patrick Abad, the managing partner and VP of the Lexus of Wesley Chapel dealership scheduled to open later this year, regaled the June 21 audience at the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC)’s Economic Development Briefing with updates about the area’s next luxury car dealership, he drew oohs and ahhs from the crowd. And, he did a lot of that without even mentioning the cars. Thanks to a local family median income in the $80,000 range, an influx of new homes on the horizon and rapid business growth, Wesley Chapel has become a hot destination for luxury car dealers. Lexus of Wesley Chapel, being built just south and west of Wesley Chapel Toyota at 5300 Eagleston Blvd. (south of State Road 54 between Bruce B. Downs Blvd. and I-75), will be joining what is growing into a booming luxury car market that already includes MercedesBenz of Wesley Chapel, which opened in 2015, and Audi Wesley Chapel, which will open a little later this year than Lexus. Abad wowed the WCCC audience with details of what will be a state-of-the-art facility that he expects will revolutionize the local carbuying experience. “We have visited over 40 Lexus dealerships in the last 18 months, and we took the best from each one,’’ Abad said. “When we sat down with the architect, we said we want all of these things.” Those things include simple, but expensive touches like the $2 million being spent on a double car wash. “Lexus said we didn’t have to build a car wash,” Abad says, “so we didn’t... we built two.” A pavilion, equipped with a grill, refrig-

erator and televisions and able to host small corporate events, will link the Lexus dealership to the adjacent Wesley Chapel Toyota dealership. Inside, a cafe featuring fresh sandwiches and a smoothie machine, massage chairs, a business center and even a “quiet” room for those working while they wait for their cars is being incorporated into the dealership. Abad is part of the Wil- (L.-r.) Randy Newbold of Williams Automotive Group, Steve Domonkos of the Shops at Wiregrass, Eric Johnson of Williams Auto, liams Automotive Group of Jennifer Tussing of the Wesley Chapel Chamber and Patrick Abad, the managing partner and VP of Lexus of Wesley Chapel. Wesley Chapel, which also oping to happen in this market,’’ Abad said. “And, Lexus will hire 100 people, and Abad said erates Wesley Chapel Toyota and Wesley Chapel we’ll be ready.” they are looking more to the customer service Honda on Wesley Chapel Blvd. (or C.R. 54), High-tech customer care, though, will be and hospitality industries. He also said he has the Wesley Chapel Used Superstore on S.R. 54 a centerpiece. “Technology like you will not see received 1,200 applications from all over the and Tampa Honda on N. Florida Ave. in any other store,’’ Abad said. country — even one from a director of conWilliams Automotive, run by brothers When Lexus owners pull in, radio-fre- cierge at a Ritz-Carlton Hotel in California. John and David Williams, has been chasing a quency identification (RFID) will alert their Lexus will hit the ground running. Abad is Lexus dealership — there are only 236 in the customer service rep inside. An electronic tire handling a promotion called the Founding 100, country, Abad says — for years. They even did reader will tell you if you need new tires before which will provide various perks for the first 100 their own market study, which showed a need you even take a seat inside. WiFi in the poles in customers to buy a Lexus at the Wesley Chapel for a Lexus dealership in Wesley Chapel, and as the parking lot will allow employees to better location. It includes upgrades like a lifetime warone of about 500 applicants, presented it yearly address customer needs via their tablets. ranty, lifetime oil changes and car washes, as well in the hopes of being awarded one. Once choAs for sales, gone are the days of what Abad as other VIP services. sen, the process included five thorough on-site called the “27 steps of the sale process.” With The promotion already has been a hit. Six interviews at Toyota. smarter shoppers these days due to computers months before Lexus is set to open, 95 cars al“Two grueling years,’’ Abad said, adding and the internet, Abad said sales reps do not have ready have been pre-sold. “The average Lexus that it was the first time in 12 years a new dealer to drag customers through all 27 steps. store sells about 100 monthly,’’ Abad said. “We’re had been brought into the Lexus family. He said “Customers are all at different spots in the doing 100 the first week.” Or more. Abad added that the success of Wesley Chapel Toyota, cho- process,’’ he says. “If they come in and know that Lexus of Wesley Chapel they may widen the sen as the WCCC Large Business of the Year in the price they want to pay, what their car is promotion for additional customers. 2015, played a big role. worth, what they want to buy, can’t we just skip “I think this is going to be great for the The new dealership is being built on eight steps 1-22 and go right to 23?” community,’’ he says. “I think you are going to acres of land, and though the standard Lexus In fact, due to tablet technology, Abad said be proud of what we do.” dealership is roughly 20,000-sq.-ft., the Wesley in some cases it might be feasible to skip right For more information, check out Chapel location will be 64,000-sq.-ft. to 27, and sign the paperwork for your car on a Lexus of Wesley Chapel’s website at Lexus “It’s bigger because we know what’s go- tablet in your own driveway. OfWesleyChapel.com.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 14 • June 30, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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Wesley Chapel Residents Score A Hit With Their South Tampa Mini Doughnut Factory By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com Wesley Chapel resident Patrick Ruddell doesn’t wait for many things, and he knows what he wants. So, when he found himself tossing and turning in bed one night three years ago mulling his next move, he got up and opened his laptop at 3 a.m. and emailed three of the top donut shops in Tampa with one simple question: “Do you want to sell? I want to buy.” “That’s all I sent,’’ Patrick says. “Three emails with the exact same phrase.” In 12 hours, he had a response, and just two hours after that, he had a Non-Disclosure Agreement. Three days later, he was at Perks Donut Bar in South Tampa. “I loved it,’’ he says. “It was perfect.” And with that, Patrick and his wife Zezura were on their way to becoming the King and Queen of Doughnuts in the Tampa Bay area. Mini Doughnuts, to be exact. The Wesley Chapel couple, easily recognizable around the area for his distinguished beard and her wide smile, have created a succulent sensation with their Mini Doughnut Factory, which opened in November 2015 on S. Dale Mabry Hwy. in South Tampa and became a social media wonder on Instagram and Facebook, thanks to a smart and aggressive strategy and a fresh twist on a pretty standard product. The Mini Doughnut Factory makes its popular, doublebite-sized donuts to order in a small, 1,200-sq.ft. space in a nondescript strip center with bad parking and, almost always, a crowd out the door. The cake portion of their donuts are tasty, but not too sweet. That is saved for the variety of interesting and unique toppings ranging from sweet to savory — from your basic chocolate and vanilla to eye- and taste-bud-catchers like the Sweet Pig (maple icing and bacon), LeLe Coco (lemon icing and toasted coconut) and the Homer Simpson (strawberry icing with rainbow sprinkles). Customers know to keep their eyes open for new

(l.-r.) Zezura, son Jordyn, daughter Aryanna and Patrick Ruddell have made their Mini Doughnut Factory in South Tampa one of Tampa Bay’s hottest spots, and hope to bring one to Wesley Chapel one day. (Photo courtesy of Lindsey Meyer)

flavors, like the Guava minis for Gasparilla and the Fireball buttercream icing and Hot Tamales for Father’s Day. Initially, Ruddell was worried that regular customers of Perks would turn their noses up at the newer, smaller doughnuts. “Why are you doing mini donuts?,” people told him. “That’s stupid.” He actually considered offering regular-sized donuts initially, before easing into the miniature version. But, that was hardly the Ruddells’ style. “We decided, that’s it, we’re opening as mini doughnuts

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from Day 1,” Zezura says. “You’re either going to love it or hate it. And, people loved it from Day 1.” By January, the lines were long and seemingly unending. “I went out the door, took a selfie and was like, oh my God, what did we do here?,” Patrick says. “In less than three months, how did this happen?” “We cried,” Zezura says. “We literally cried.” It is more than just the doughnuts, says business partner and friend Lee Kearney, a broker for Spin Real Estate in Seminole Heights. It’s the experience, as customers can watch their

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doughnuts being dipped, rolled and packed up, as well as the interaction with employees, including Patrick and Zezura.

Always Giving Back, Too

The Ruddells say they feel deeply connected and thankful to their community and customers. They have spearheaded a number of charitable projects around Tampa Bay and are not only regulars at events to help the less fortunate, but among the first to reach into their own pockets. “They are a big hit because they have integrated themselves into the community,’’ Kearney says. “They promote good things in the community. That, and it’s a great product, by great people. That’s what makes it special.” Success was nothing new for the Ruddells. Patrick had a great run in real estate years before, flipping more than 700 houses between 2005 to 2008, before the market crashed and took almost everything he owned with it. “We lost everything, literally everything,” Zezura says. “We were living in Seven Oaks, had what we thought was our forever home. Great money, great house, nice cars, the whole shebang. We lost everything down to where we had to sell jewelry to pay bills.” “We short sold that house,” Patrick says, adding, “We lost $170,000 selling that house.’’ The Ruddells struggled that first year after the economy crashed, but slowly worked their way back, emboldened by a never-say-die entrepreneurial spirit. Patrick flipped some web domains, including ScienceFiction.com (the country’s top sci-fi website, he says, with four million visitors a month) in 2012. They used that money to get back into real estate, and moved to Fort Lauderdale, where Patrick took a job in the web industry, but hated it. They moved back to Wesley Chapel and plotted their next move. The plan — diversify, and find something that was recession-proof. Driving around Wesley Chapel and New Tampa, Patrick says he felt like he was passing a Dunkin’ Donuts at every turn. One of his hobbies, he says, is walking into a business and analyzing it. How much would it cost? Could he make it better? “Obviously, if there are five Dunkin’ Donuts within a few square miles of where we are, doughnuts are doing well,’’ Pat-

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rick said. And he had no doubt he could make better doughnuts, specifically smaller ones that are made-to-order and always fresh, in a variety of designs and toppings.

The Power Of Love...& Great Doughnuts

Success has taken the Ruddells on a roller coaster ride neither ever imagined. “Success is more stressful than failure,’’ Patrick says. Zezura says they worked 100 hours a week for six straight months, creating a major imbalance between work and family, including their two children, son Jordyn and daughter Aryanna. Even a 20-year relationship couldn’t withstand some of the pressures they were now facing. They separated and even filed for divorce at one point. However, what initially tore them apart brought them back together, stronger than before.

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“We decided last year that we needed to turn the corner and fix this,’’ Zezura says. It came down to being unable to live without each other. “I’m the one that will run through the wall, but this is the most supportive woman ever,’’ Patrick says. “Success or failure, she is always there, saying, ‘We are going to do it, we are going to make it.’” “I’m not afraid of failure, really,’’ Zezura says. “Because we’ve been there,’’ Patrick adds. “If you’ve made it once, you can make it again.” And yes, they have made it, again. After breaking even the first month, Patrick and Zezura were pulling in six-figure profits at the Mini Doughnut Factory by the sixth month, far exceeding their goals and expectations. They will open a second store in St. Petersburg later this summer. Another is planned for Orlando. However, what’s the one place they would like to build a Mini Doughnut Factory more than any other? At home, here in Wesley Chapel. “We want it more than anything,’’ Patrick says. They live in Wesley Chapel, and send their kids to schools here. Patrick coaches basketball at the Wesley Chapel District Park on Boyette Rd. — a pretty good hoopster himself, the 5-foot-10 donut maven says he once harbored NBA dreams — and the couple are regulars at Wesley Chapel eateries like their favorite, First Watch, where they say they can be found a handful of times a week. The one thing they’d like to do most in Wesley Chapel, though, is work. Two months ago, they were on the verge of a deal to open a store on S.R. 56. What they thought was a done deal, however, wasn’t, as they say the leasing company reneged on an agreement. It was devastating. So, they have had to move on. But, every once in a while, a customer from Wesley Chapel will venture into their store, and ask why they can’t have one here. Patrick says he hasn’t given up yet. “It hits me hard in the heart,’’ he says. “I wanna be everywhere where people want us to be.” For more info, visit MiniDoughnutFactory.com, or search MiniDoughnutFactory on Facebook and Instagram. Just don’t do it on an empty stomach.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 14 • June 30, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Curling Fever Has Wesley Chapel In Its Grip At Florida Hospital Center Ice! By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com It is Saturday night in Wesley Chapel, a typical summer night where a 90º+ day has given way to a torrential downpour. But, inside chilly Florida Hospital Center Ice (FHCI), the atmosphere couldn’t be a more perfect for the Tampa Bay Curling Club (TBCC). A cart with plastic pitchers of beer is hoisted onto a rink — where stones and brooms and a collection of mismatched locals with rubber bands on their shoes (to keep from slipping) — men and women, ranging in ages from 15 to 70, are ready for their favorite night of the week. In a cacophony of stones clacking together and teammates cheering each other on, club president Bernie Skerkowski’s voice seems to boomerang off the boards. “No……no……Yes! Sweeeeeep! Sweeeeeep!” Skerkowski teaches the sport and runs the curling program at FHCI, but he also is on a team — Curl Jam — in the inaugural season of curling that is now less than halfway through its first season in the Tampa Bay area. He is exhorting his teammates to brush the ice, which is covered with tiny droplets of water that harden into little pebbles of ice, and smooth it out so the 42-pound stone that he has just slid towards the “house,” or target, can pick up some steam and trajectory. “Sweeeeeeeeeeeep!” When the stone finds its mark inside the house, he flashes a smile towards his teammates, and is greeted with two thumbs up. This happens on all five sheets (or rows) of ice on one of the three NHL-sized rinks every Saturday night at FHCI, over and over, by an enthusiastic group excited about being curling pioneers in Wesley Chapel. The “Spirit of Curling,” a common phrase used in the game by players to describe the sportsmanship, camaraderie and etiquette that is supposed to define the sport, is on display. “We can’t wait for Saturday nights,’’ said DJ Bonoan, a computer engineer who formed a team, House of Chapel, with his friends Noah Bethel, Orlando Rosales and Billy Still. Bonoan and his teammates have so embraced curling’s arrival, he is documenting their first season on a blog called TheHadjiChronicles.com, where he posts a video series he shoots and edits called “STONED.” “We’re always thinking about it,’’ Bonoan says. “I’m at work, looking at better strategies for playing, looking for game plans,

Although the sport of curling is definitely in its infancy at Florida Hospital Center Ice, more than 60 people already are participating in the first-ever curling league in the Tampa Bay area, including curling vet Scott Gargasz (squatting) of Advanced Hands.

trying to figure out better ways to get the stone down the ice. Man, we love it!” Bonoan has even downloaded a curling game app for his cell phone. Skerkowski isn’t surprised that Bonoan and others have quickly developed an obsession with curling. He and FHCI general manager Kevin Wolter had talked about hosting a curling league long before the doors were even open at the facility, with both feeling it would be a big hit in the community. When they were able to convince developers to build room for five sheets of curling ice (one sheet for each game being played), they knew they could make it work. “I am still a little surprised,’’ Skerkowski says. “It’s more people than I expected. When we had our informational meeting, I thought we’d get 30-40 people out, but we had 100.”

Big Numbers, Big Fun!

The TBCC (visit TampaBayCurlingClub.com) currently has 63 members, and 80 percent of them had no curling experience when they signed up. The league, which has 10 teams, is co-ed, although, if interest increases, Skerkowski is open to a women’s-only league in the future.

The league already utilizes five sheets every Saturday. The Orlando Curling Club, which has been around for a few years, usually only has access to three or four, according to Skerkowski. “They can’t believe how many we’ve got,’’ says Skerkowski. The league has recently been accepted into the Grand National Curling Club (GNCC), a 150-year-old organization that has more than 4,700 members, or roughly a quarter of all curlers in the U.S., according to its website. Skerkowski says getting in the GNCC was a coup for a club so young. “Even they (GNCC) were surprised by how many members we have,’’ he said. The current TBCC league, which was about to complete (at our press time) the fourth week of a 10-week season, is just the tip of the, well...iceberg. By the start of the next season, an influx of snowbirds returning to Florida and word of mouth is expected to increase the number of local curling participants. The 2018 Winter Olympics will be held in February in PyeongChang, South Korea, which will give the sport another boost, with the TBCC expecting to see an influx of new members as a result. Wolter says there could also be plans for

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 14 • June 30, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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a Sunday morning league, which are very popular up north, as well as bonspiels, or weekend tournaments. “It has been very successful so far, so we can definitely see this expanding into a number of different things,’’ he says. Curling reminds many of shuffleboard, a popular game with the older set in Florida, although it is more commonly referred to as “chess on ice” and dates back to the 1500s. Each game is played on a rectangular sheet of ice which is roughly 150 feet long and 16 feet wide. At FHCI, the five sheets of ice are laid down side. The ice is “pebbled,” a process where small droplets of water are frozen across the surface. Without pebbling, Skerkowski says, the stone would barely move. With it, the stone is able to glide more effectively and spin, or curl...hence the name. While players take turns “throwing,” or pushing, the stone, their teammates play the role of sweepers, using a broom to brush the ice to the front and side of the stone. The brushing reduces friction underneath the stone and allows its path, speed and spin to be manipulated. Teams alternate shots and are aiming for the house, the area that looks like a target, as they try to score points for being closest to the center. Each team throws eight stones to complete an “end” (or inning, like in baseball). Although the number varies, a typical match consists of eight ends. “When we were first got here, I was thinking, ‘How hard could this be?,’’’ says Bonoan, who is no stranger to working out. “But, I’ll tell you this, it’s a lot more challenging than it looks on TV. I was actually sore after the first Learn To Curl class.” Although curling is huge in Canada — where national finals are televised — and in the northern U.S. (it has even been featured in an episode of “The Simpsons”), the only time most Americans ever see the sport is during the Winter Olympics. The game enjoyed a spike in popularity when it returned as an Olympic sport in 1998, after its exclusion from the Olympic programs since 1924. In 2010, it was prominently featured during Olympic TV coverage, creating another boost of popularity. “People laugh at it, but when it is on during the Olympics, everybody watches it,” Skerkowski says.

Catching The Fever...

New Tampa resident Raquel Aluisy, who convinced best friend Janice Tuffy to join her and started researching the sport be-

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fore it even started at FHCI (only to find the closest clubs were in Orlando or Fort Myers), says “I remember curling during the Olympics, watching it at 3 a.m. when I was little, and thought it looked so cool and fun,’’ Aluisy says. “A couple of months later, they announced it at Center Ice and I called Janice and said ‘WE’RE DOING IT!’” Raquel and Janice met Chris Ansey and Dave Hobbs at one of the Learn To Curl classes in May, and decided to form a team, Kuch’s Kurlers, for the league. “Everybody was just so friendly and nice,’’ she says. “We all learned together, fell together and got back up together.” Raquel tried to recruit others, “but all my friends at work think I’m crazy.” Saturday night may not ideal for many, but Raquel has no problem making her way to Wesley Chapel for league matches. At least, so far. A Tampa Bay Lightning season ticketholder, she expects a few of the hockey games to conflict with her curling career. “That will be a tough choice,” she says, laughing. Mike Meyers of Dade City watched curling during the last Olympics, and when he read that an ice rink was being built nearby, he told his wife if they ever started curling, he was going to play. One of the first few curlers to sign up at FHCI, Meyers and his son Chris, who is 15, play on Get Your SHEET Together. On a recent Saturday night, Chris found the bulls eye a few times, although the team

(L.-r.): Liz Mitchell was just “along for the ride” until she got curling fever herself, Tampa Bay Curling Club president Bernie Skerkowski guides his stone, and Annie Gargasz gets busy sweeping. fell short against License to Curl. brooms, most members have gone online a year, but will eventually own them. “He’s not a big sports kid at all, but he to buy their own, which start at around Some teams have also decided to buy has picked it right up,’’ Mike said. $50 for a fiberglass version if you shop matching uniforms for the games. Their teammates, Danny Winters and around. There are specially-made curling “It’s been worth every penny,’’ says his fiancé Liz Mitchell of Wesley Chapel, shoes, which is another cost for the seri- Bonoan. “I can’t wait to see what other signed up together. Danny says he was de- ous player, there are slider slippers to share stuff they have planned.” bating trying the sport out after stumbling and you can get by with rubberbands to For more information about upacross a curling demo one day at FHCI, keep from slipping. coming Learn To Curl Classes, current when his 8-year-old son Avery nudged the You do not, however, need the most league standings and future leagues, guy at the sign-up table and said ‘My dad expensive piece of equipment, the stone. visit TampaBayCurlingClub.com or wants to try it out.’” The FHCI is leasing 16 of the granite contact president Bernie Skerkowski That guy happened to be Skerkowski, stones for the league, for a cost of $6,000 at (813) 758-2279. who closed the deal with Winters. “I was along for the ride,’’ said Mitchell, who admits she has also developed a fondness for the sport. It’s not cheap to curl, a fact that nearly scared off Mitchell and others. To join the Tampa Bay Curling Club, the annual dues are $75 (which covers insurance) and to register a team is $250 (or what amounts to $25 a match). That comes out to $250 per player, though Skerkowski says a team of eight that alternates the weeks they Let Us Help You Protect What Ma�ers Most play cuts that in half. Ice time is not cheap. In fact, the league started a three-week hiatus after the games June 24 because other scheduled events need the rink. And creating the particular curling A�orneys Bryan & Elizabeth Devolder sheets is time consuming. “We’ve made it as cheap as possible,’’ he says. “Nobody is makFAMILY LAW ing any money off this.” Child Support & Custody While the club provides some

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‘Cypress Creek’

Continued from page 1 room, and the most beautiful gym floor I’ve ever seen. We had been working out of two classrooms at Quail Hollow Elementary. To move into the new campus, we needed to have the wi-fi working, a place to sit at and something to sit on. That happened last week, so this is our home now. The trailers will go away, but we will have a district employee and construction subcontractors finishing up around campus, for probably six more months. CM: What are you most excited about? I am most excited about the opportunities for students. It’s so cool to have middle and high school students together. I have seen the power of kids talking to kids, and of kids showing leadership, like when eleventh grade students help ninth grade students transition. They explain, “This is why you need to do your homework,” or even say, “Let me sit with you at lunch.” I see that happening. Outside of school, you don’t necessarily see that part of them all the time, but we see that kids have big hearts and truly want to help others. We have a “Pack leader” program where, over the summer, eleventh graders will be trained in leadership and eighth graders will be trained in peer counseling. Then, those trained students will be scheduled into core classes in the lower grades. So, an eleventh grade student might be scheduled into a ninth grade English class and they are the “Pack leader” in that class. We partner them up in one of their strong subjects to help kids in that class. They might set up a texting app to remind the class that there’s a test t o m o r r o w, or take kids outside the class to help them, or just talk, if they had a fight

(Above left) Cypress Creek Middle High School’s beautiful gym floor and (right) brand new campus, where teachers met for a culture-building retreat (below right), where they learned to howl like Coyotes.

with a friend, for example. We’re trying to help kids stay engaged. The Pack leader might say the same things as the teacher, but in a different way. So many things divert kids’ attention, whether it’s that they don’t see the purpose of school, they’re looking for fun, or they’re making bad choices. It’s on us as educators to engage them and find what works for them. It’s different with every kid, so there are a lot of different ways to do that. CM: How deep are your roots in Pasco County schools? I am a product of Pasco County Schools. I graduated from Land O’ Lakes High. I started my career in 1996 as an ESE teacher at River Ridge Middle School. I spent a year in Hillsborough County but found it very different and came back to open Mitchell in 2000. I got my educational leadership certificate and became assistant principal, then became principal at Wesley Chapel High in 2009. I’ve actually worked with people who were my teachers in high school. When I was at Mitchell, I became an administrator and one of the teachers there was a teacher I had in high school. The same thing happened when I was principal at Wesley Chapel. I was principal of a teacher who taught me. CM: How does the size of Cypress Creek Middle High School compare to other campuses in the area? We are starting with 650 high school students, which is very small. The next

smallest high school in Pasco County is 1,100 students, so we’re about half the size of that. It’s almost unheard of. But, our middle school has 850 students, which is pretty typical. As those middle schoolers age up, we will end up being the size of a traditional high school, so we will grow quickly. We will have about 1,500 at the high school and 900 at the middle school (in the next few years). In about four years, we hope to have a completely separate middle school built adjacent to this school. (Right now,) Cypress Creek Middle High School is a way to relieve a booming population that is necessary at our feeder schools. We’re embracing it as a unique opportunity to create a dynamic culture. We’re doing vertical teaming, so sixth through eleventh grade teachers in each department (math, for example) will meet every week. There will be no “they didn’t learn this in middle school.” We will have a seamless campus and curriculum. And, when that day comes when there’s a separate middle school campus, we expect that culture will bleed over into that campus, as well. CM: What do you want your students to know as they get ready to come to Cypress Creek? Life is full of possibilities. That’s how I approach every day. I know parents teach their kids they can do whatever they put their mind to, and that’s what’s being instilled in our school. It’s easy to be worried or concerned about having sixth through

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twelfth graders on the same campus and sharing buses, and it’s right to have concerns. But, we are planning for that. We already have schools with this model. We can also look at what an amazing situation it is that a middle schooler has access to criminal justice, business, and journalism classes. If they want to take Spanish or American Sign Language, they can walk across campus and take it. They have easy access to accelerated courses. They don’t have to do it online. It’s a great opportunity and it’s very exciting to me. It’s easy to stay comfortable. I loved working at Wesley Chapel with those kids and teachers and parents and staff, but I took a leap of faith to come here, and so did all the other staff. We are looking at the possibilities and all the doors that will open for all of these students. It’s gonna be really cool.

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JULY 2017

Sunrise meets the 1st & 3rd Fridays of each month, 7:15 a.m., at Happy Hangar Cafe, 4241 Birdsong Blvd. For info, call Kathy Schenck at (813) 956-4436. Women-n-Charge - 11:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m. at Pebble Creek Country Club (10550 Regents Park Dr., Tampa, 33647). We share our talents, build relationships, and share our resources with other women in business. $15 for members, $18 for guests. Register at www.women-n-charge.com. For more information, please contact Judy at 813-600-9848 or admin@women-n-charge.com.

Sunday, July 2

Vacation Bible School at Family of Christ Lutheran Church - Join us for a week of “Maker’s Fun Factory” from July 10-14. Children ages 5-12 may register to attend. Cost is $40 for the week, from 9 a.m. - noon each day. For more information, contact the church office at (813) 558-9343, ext. 116, or register online at http://familyofchristtampa.com/2017-vbs-registration/.

Saturday, July 1

Connerton Independence Day Celebration - See ad on next page. BayChapel Food Pantry - Free food to help needy families. Open every Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., behind Christian Brothers Automotive on Bruce B. Downs Blvd., at 20300 Trout Creek Dr., New Tampa. Visit BayChapel.org. Meditation Group - All faiths and all levels of meditation experience are welcome at this free meeting at Sanctuary Wellness Center, 8903 Regents Park Dr., Suite 120, 10 - 11 a.m. For more info, see “The Sanctuary Wellness Center in New Tampa” on Facebook or “New Tampa Intuitive Development Center” on Meetup. Patriotic Music Program - The Florida Wind Band presents Honor, Integrity, and Service, at 7:30 p.m. at the USF School of Music’s Concert Hall, performing a selection of music to honor men and women who serve our nation as military and first responders. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.com or on the day of the concert at the School of Music Box Office. $15 general admission or $10 for students, seniors, military (active and veterans), and first responders. Group rates available. Visit www.floridawindband.org or call 813-531-9252.

Monday - July 3

Monday - July 10

Tuesday, July 11

Keep It Local - This seat-specific networking group emphasizes small, local businesses. Meets meets every Tuesday, 11:30 a.m., at GrillSmith at The Shops at Wiregrass. For more info, call Marino Cecchi at (813) 513-9001. Pasco Fine Arts Council Summer Art Adventure for Kids - Art classes for kids throughout the summer, through July 27. Held at Pasco Fine Arts Council, 4145 Fairford Drive in New Port Richey. Visit PascoArts.org for schedule and registration information.

Friday, July 14

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

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

Avalon Park West Independence Day Celebration - 5 p.m.-9 p.m., enjoy familyfriendly activities, including a pie bake-off, bike parade, community performances, bounce houses, food trucks and much more. Don’t miss the fireworks show starting at 9 p.m. Free & open to the public. 5227 Autumn Ridge Dr., Wesley Chapel.

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

Tuesday - July 4

Wednesday - July 5

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

Saturday, July 15

Fundraiser To Benefit Troy Duncan - See story on page 1!

Monday, July 17

Tuesday - July 18

NAMI Friends & Family: Mental Health Support Group - NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) of Pasco support group for friends & family of those with mental illness. The group meets the 1st & 3rd Tues. of each month, 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m., at Atonement Lutheran Church (29617 S.R. 54). For info, visit NAMIPasco.com.

Friday, July 21

The Deacon Blues Band Concert To benefit The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation — See story on page 17.

Tuesday, July 25

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

Thursday, July 6

BNI Networking Meeting - Business professionals are invited to attend this networking organization’s meetings on Thursdays, 7:30 a.m., at Savannah Church (3758 Maryweather Lane, behind Dunkin’ Donuts off BBD Blvd.). For info, call Vicky McShane to RSVP @ (813) 714-6513. Networking For Your Success - The Networking For Your Success group meets Thursdays, 8 a.m., at the Lexington Oaks Golf Club clubhouse (26133 Lexington Oaks Blvd.). All are welcome. For more information, call (813) 994-9944. RGA Network Weekly Meeting - The RGA Networking Group meets weekly for networking at GrillSmith at the Shops at Wiregrass mall. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m.; lunch is noon-1 p.m. For more info, visit RGANetwork.net. Celebrate Recovery - Meeting Thursdays at 7 p.m. at Bridgeway Church (30660 Wells Rd.), the purpose of Celebrate Recovery is to bring freedom from dysfunctional, compulsive & addictive behaviors through biblically-based principles. Dinner & free childcare available. For info, call (813) 907-1313

Friday, July 7

Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Sunrise - The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel 16

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Deacon Blues Band Benefit Concert July 21!

The Deacon Blues Band, which has been rocking the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area since 1998, will play another fun concert to raise money for yet another great cause in our area. The band, which started as Father Eric and the Deacon Blues (Fr. Eric was a Priest at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church on Cross Creek Blvd. in New Tampa for several years), plays multiple charity events each year and is available for hire. The band’s keyboardist, long-time New Tampa resident (and Wharton High hockey goalie) Bernie Desrosiers spearheads many of the charitable events by the Deacon Blues and this time is no different. On Friday, July 21, 7:30 p.m., at Peabody’s Palms Lounge in the Shoppes of Amberly plaza in Tampa Palms (15333 Amberly Dr.), Desrosiers, his wife Ann and their youngest daughter Nicole (below; also a professional performer at Busch Gardens, in addition to being a backup vocalist for the band) will perform with the Deacon Blues at yet another great concert, this time to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Nicole is a type 1 (aka juvenile) diabetic herself. And, the band’s saxophonist, Dr. Kelly O’Keefe, will be one of more than 9,000 cyclists, 2,000 volunteers and

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27,000 spectators participating in the “El Tour de Tucson” Ride to Cure Diabetes, one of the largest century (100-mile) charity rides in America, which also benefits the JDRF, November 17-19 of this year. The suggested donation to attend the concert at Peabody’s Palms Lounge, which also will raise money for JDRF (you also may sponsor Dr. O’Keefe’s November ride), is $10 per person (there also will be a 50/50 raffle). The stated goal of the JDRF is to “Create a World Without Diabetes,” which is the sixth leading killer of people worldwide. The Deacon Blues Band has performed previous benefit concerts for the Silver Shield Foundation, the Moffitt Cancer Center, the Tampa Fisher House, the St. Elizabeth Homeless Shelter, Hurricane Katrina victims, Haiti Earthquake Relief, at the Taste of New Tampa and many more. For info, call Peabody’s at (813) 972-1725 or search “Deacon Blues Band Benefit Concert” on Facebook. — GN

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 14 • June 30, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Consider Heartwood Preserve Conservation Cemetery For A Natural Burial By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN

celeste@ntneighborhoodnews.com Laura Starkey grew up running through the old Florida woods that made up her family’s expansive cattle ranch, much of which is now the 18,000-acre Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Preserve in the Trinity area of New Port Richey, just a short drive west of Wesley Chapel. Now, her passion is conserving the land she loves, and connecting people to it. To that end, she has created Heartwood Preserve Conservation Cemetery, the first conservation cemetery in the Tampa Bay region. It opened this past fall, set on 41 acres of the original Starkey Ranch bordering the wilderness preserve, and Laura is the cemetery’s founder and executive director. One of just a few conservation cemeteries in the entire state of Florida, Heartwood Preserve provides environmentally-friendly options for people looking for a more natural burial. “The word ‘conservation’ in our name means that not only are we are providing a natural burial option for those who don’t want all the fancy bells and whistles of a modern burial with an expensive casket and vault, but we’re also really contributing to the permanent conservation of this ecosystem,” Laura explains. “We are both literally and figuratively becoming part of this land.” Laura and Heartwood Preserve manager Diana Sayegh explain that first and foremost, the cemetery is about conserving the precious longleaf pine flatwoods and cypress dome wetlands ecosystems of the preserve.

Heartland Preserve Conservation Cemetery in the Trinity area of New Port Richey provides a unique form of burial in natural setting for your final resting place. “Land conservation is kind of tricky,” “We invite people to come and take a she says. “Sometimes, you think you just walk, hike and get some fresh air,” Diana buy the land and hold on to it, but you have says. “You can park for free, use our picnic to manage it and maintain it, including conbenches, and experience nature. There are trolled burns, managing invasive species and woodpeckers, owls and butterflies, and we different things you have to do to keep it have free events, such as silent meditation healthy and protected. I am always looking walks, yoga and even frog-listening events. for tools to do that. Sometimes land may This place is gorgeous, and we want the become a state or county park, but there are community to experience it.” other ways to do that, too.” Laura explains that using the land as She explains that there are layers of proa conservation cemetery is a tool that will tection in place to ensure that Heartwood allow it to be preserved forever.

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Preserve will always remain a natural burial preserve, with no above-ground burials, such as in a mausoleum, and a lower density than a traditional cemetery. In addition, when someone purchases a space at Heartwood Preserve, a portion of that fee goes to permanently protecting that ecosystem. She says that what started out as an intellectual idea for her has morphed all the way into a spiritual experience. “A conservation cemetery is a practical tool to help pay for protecting the land, but on a community and spiritual level, it’s an opportunity for the community to be connected to the land in a really deep way” she says. “What a beautiful thing to say your final wish — your final resting place — will protect the land.” Diana says the fact that Heartwood Preserve allows pre-planning sets it apart from other conservation cemeteries. “Like making a will, pre-planning for your cremation or burial is a gift to your family,” says Diana. “Your family is not left with the burden of the cost or the decision making. They have peace of mind for when that time comes.” She continues, “It is a cemetery, and it’s sad, but it’s not typical. It’s natural and beautiful and serene and peaceful.” Heartwood Preserve doesn’t allow embalming or vaults, neither of which are required by law. “The full body can be placed into the ground, wrapped in a shroud or buried in a biodegradable, natural casket,” Diana explains. “We also allow cremated remains to be buried directly in the ground or in a biodegradable urn, but we don’t scatter ashes.”

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Diana, who worked in a traditional funeral home for many years before joining Heartwood Preserve, says she had to learn about so-called “green burial” and, she says, “it was a big wakeup call for me.” She says she now considers it her personal mission to educate people that other options are available to them. “In my old job, I used to tell people, ‘This is what has to happen, and this is how much you have to pay.’ But, I’ve learned that you don’t have to be embalmed or purchase an expensive casket.”

Not For Everyone?

Diana says that Heartwood Preserve welcomes all faith and religions, but she understands that natural burial is not a good fit for everyone. “It’s okay if you want a more traditional burial. I respect that,” Diana says. “But, we want people to know this is another option.” Don Zegel’s son, Gregory, passed away when he was just 21. That was nearly five years ago and his son was cremated, but Don says that ever since, “I’ve been looking for something meaningful to do with his ashes.” When he and his wife, Gay Wasik, were biking through the Starkey Wilderness Preserve, Gay had what Don says was a “magical” experience. When she returned home, she began researching the preserve and came across information about Heartwood Preserve Conservation Cemetery. Don says he looked at the Heartwood Preserve website and it really struck a chord with him. “I love the woods, I love old Florida, and I love nature,” he says. “I was ready right then, but Diana told me I needed to come out and be sure that’s what I wanted for my son’s burial,” Donald explains. “I visited, and I fell in love with the feel of the place and with their philosophy. When I walked the property with Diana, I didn’t want to leave.” He says the feeling of peace and comfort that he

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felt extended to the burial service that was held at the preserve. “It was a small family thing, and Laura and Diana were both there,” Don says, “It felt like they were welcoming us into their family, like they had this land and were allowing us to be a part of it.” That’s exactly what Laura hopes people will feel if they choose Heartwood Preserve for their loved ones’ burials, or even their own. “We’re growing a family here,” Laura says. “It’s so moving to me, because that’s what makes me so happy to come to work. We’re just getting started, but it really feels like we’re doing the right thing.” Don says, “Now, when we think of Greg, Heartwood Preserve is where we take our minds. It’s been such an affirming experience. After five years of being in mourning one hundred percent of the time, I have started to go through some real healing.” Heartwood Preserve Conservation Cemetery is located at 4100 Starkey Blvd. Visitors are always welcome when the gates are open, Mon.-Sat., 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., and 11 a.m.–4:30 p.m. on Sun. For more information, call (727) 376-5111, visit HeartwoodPreserve.com, or see the ad on page 14 of this issue.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 14 • June 30, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Discovery Village At Tampa Palms Offers Luxurious Assisted Living Special to the Neighborhood News

Tampa’s newest and most advanced senior-living community is now open! Discovery Village at Tampa Palms, located in New Tampa, is located just minutes from the area’s best shopping, entertainment and health care facilities. This 105-unit residence features suites and upgraded one- and two-bedroom apartment homes, and offers three levels of care, making it the perfect community for seniors of any lifestyle. Our Supervised Independent lifestyle is ideal for independent seniors who desire only minimal assistance with everyday activities. For those seniors needing a bit more support, we offer an all-inclusive, no care level Assisted Living lifestyle which provides complete assistance with all activities of daily living. Lastly, Discovery Village’s all-inclusive no care level Memory Care lifestyle is designed to accommodate seniors with dementia-related diseases. Each lifestyle comes with our exclusive three-year “rent lock” program which provides a financial value unlike any other senior-living community in Hillsborough County. Discovery Village at Tampa Palms is established from a new era of bold, energetic senior living, complete with resort-style amenities and a wealth of social and recreational activities. The community’s Grande Clubhouse offers a sensational dining room that provides three gourmet meals with tableside service daily, as well as a private

At Discovery Village at Tampa Palms, residents enjoy a fun and outstanding lifestyle, whether they need supervised independent, assisted living or memory care. dining room for special family celebrations. Of course, to ensure they always look There also are numerous social areas their best, a full-service, professional beauty that are convenient for entertaining and salon and spa with barber shop is available to mingling with neighbors, including a game all of the residents of Discovery Village. room complete with a full-size pool table Happy & Healthy and several card and other game tables for Health and wellness are top of mind hours of friendly competition. at Discovery Village at Tampa Palms. Residents can enjoy daily happy hour The senior-equipped fitness center celebrations or evening nightcaps in The includes state-of-the-art exercise machines, Legends Club & Bar. The clubhouse also as well as free-standing weights and yoga hosts the luxurious Silver Cinema Movie mats, ideal for even the most health-conTheater, complete with a theater-style popcorn machine, so residents can keep up with science enthusiast. Year-round water fitness can be enjoyed the newest releases or reminisce with one of in the outdoor heated pool, which boasts a their favorite childhood movies.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 14 • June 30, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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gradual-entry ramp to streamline access. For residents who might be feeling a bit under the weather, relief is always close by with a fully monitored nursing station available on-site. The Discovery Zone Media Center will blow residents’ minds with a plethora of cognitive brain fitness tools, as well as a multifunctional craft center and activity room for inspiring the creative soul. Additional services include an on-site medical director, on-site therapies and an on-site, Medicare-certified home health care agency to ensure all of your health and wellness needs are met. But, what makes Discovery Village at Tampa Palms so unique are the six lifestyle programs that come together to create a senior living experience unlike any other. These programs provide residents with fun, stress-free and easy living. Socialize with neighbors, enjoy fine dining, get out and about with chauffeured transportation and take advantage of the health and wellness opportunities. Plus, weekly housekeeping and concierge services all make life the best it can be.

Sensations - Dining

Some of the most exciting times happen three times a day at Discovery Village. That’s when residents sit down in the “Sensations” dining room to enjoy healthy, delicious meals made from scratch, complete with friendly tableside service, sparkling china and linen tablecloths and napkins. Our Executive Chefs prepare daily menus filled with international cuisines and artistically prepared meals to suit every palate. Using the freshest ingredients available,

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our chefs create mouth-watering appetizers, entées and desserts that keep our residents’ taste buds tingling. You’ll also love the selections during themed parties and other special events.

Celebrations - Activities

Stay active and continue to enrich your life with Discovery Village’s Celebrations program. Our full-time Activities Director ensures that there is always a variety of activities and events going on. From exercise to parties, seminars to games, you’ll find something to enjoy with friends and neighbors each day. Whether at the community or on-the-town, you’ll find it difficult to decide what to do next!

Dimensions - Wellness

Social, intellectual, spiritual, physical, medical and emotional wellness are important aspects of life at Discovery Village.

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Residents have ample opportunity to get involved in our comprehensive wellness programs. From yoga to water aerobics, educational classes to spiritual gatherings, there is always something fun and interesting going on at our communities to fill your mind, body, and soul. Our professional team members are always nearby to help you enjoy the best possible quality of life.

Connections - Transportation, Maintenance, Security

When you need to get out and about, our professional drivers will get you there with our complimentary scheduled transportation. Check the schedule for regular trips to nearby locations such as dining, shopping, religious services and other fun excursions or for personal appointments, like going to your doctor’s office. Just make a request with the Concierge a couple of days

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in advance and we will make sure you get there on time.

Impressions - Housekeeping

Our housekeeping team makes a lasting impression in keeping your community and home clean, allowing you more time to do the things you enjoy. Expect excellence from dedicated and conscientious team members who are committed to the utmost in quality for the care your home deserves.

Expressions - Concierge Services Concierge services at all of our communities take the hassles out of your life and put conveniences in. We can make reservations to local restaurants or a must-see show. Need a beautiful flower arrangement sent to a friend or family member? We’ll have them delivered. We’ll also help make your move smooth and stress-free. We can assist with

scheduling your move, disconnecting household services, help with furniture layout and placement and offer complimentary interior design consultation. We are at your service! At Discovery Village, residents are graciously cared for by a team of uniquely remarkable professionals offering the utmost in comfort, happiness and healthy living. The elegance and splendor of the community are carried throughout, from furnishings to décor to luxury-appointed senior apartment homes. Every detail was thoughtfully executed to provide residents with a sense of elegance and pride. Discovery Village at Tampa Palms will forever change the landscape of senior living and deliver on our promise of exceptional care and exceptional value. Call (813) 605-2400 or visit www. DiscoveryVillages.com to schedule a tour today and enjoy lunch on us!

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 14 • June 30, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Lee Nails & Spa For Licensed Nail Techs, Cleanliness & A Relaxed Atmosphere BY BRAD STAGER

Between warm weather and casual fashion, gloves are seldom worn in the Sunshine State. But, since sandals so often are worn here, that means a lot of hands and feet are out on public display. Keeping Wesley Chapel residents well-manicured is a job the crew at Lee Nails & Spa, located in an outparcel building at The Grove at Wesley Chapel shopping center (next to the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce office), eagerly undertake seven days a week. Available services range from a basic nail trim and polish (with many fashionable options such as American or French style in a rainbow of colors) to waxing and the trademarked Botanical Escapes Herbal Spa Treatments, such as an herbal detox formula or maybe a Chocolate Mint Bliss recipe. While the menu of services is extensive, owner Kenny Truong says what Lee Nails & Spa really offers patrons is one of modern life’s most valuable commodities. “We provide relaxation.” The relaxation begins as soon as you cross Lee Nails & Spa’s threshold and enter a space of soft track lighting and mellow music. New arrivals at the spa are quickly attended to and escorted to one of nearly a dozen manicure stations or a plush pedicure recliner with a massage function. If someone needs to take the edge off a busy day, a complimentary glass of wine, chardonnay or merlot, is offered with each pedicure. Chilled water is an option for

Owner Ken Truong (far left) and his friendly, professional staff of licensed nail technicians are available to serve you at Lee Nails & Spa in The Grove at Wesley Chapel shopping center. non-imbibers. A magazine rack filled with the latest issues of People, Allure, Glamour and other publications offers a chance to catch up on some light, non-digital reading. Tangible results also are an objective, says Truong, who has 15 years of experience in the cosmetology field. “We’re dedicated to making our customers look beautiful,” he says. At Lee Nails & Spa, customers can have beauty without risking their nail health. Regular acrylic nails can look great, but they can leave natural nails under them susceptible to itching and even infection. Truong

says his salon offers non-acrylic nail alternatives like NexGenNails to customers. “It’s strong, but doesn’t damage your nails like acrylic does,” he says. “It also has vitamin E in it.” Informing customers about all of the options available to them that may provide a benefit to them is part of Truong’s business philosophy. “We also educate customers about what kind of manicure they should get and what kinds of products can soothe and protect dry skin,” he says. Lee Nails & Spa was opened in 2009

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 14 • June 30, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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by Kenny’s brother Tony. Both of them emigrated from Vietnam, along with six other brothers. Kenny and Tony each got their start in the cosmetology field while living in Cleveland, OH. Kenny took over Lee Nails & Spa last year when Tony moved to Orlando to open a new salon. Maintaining a clean, safe and productive environment that focuses on delivering good customer service is an important element of Truong’s operation. He and his entire staff of nail technicians are all licensed through the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DPR)’s Board of Cosmetology. According to Truong, he maintains strict sanitary standards by providing customers one-time-use liners for spa pedicures, and also uses commercially-packaged disposable materials like emery board nail files that are discarded after just one use. There is onsite equipment to sterilize all of the durable tools that are reused. “One of the most important things that customers love about coming to my salon is the cleanliness,” says Truong proudly.

An Emphasis On Service

Customers entering the salon are likely to be met by Truong personally, and he will graciously deliver them to a staff member who will provide the relaxing and enhancing services requested. Truong recognizes the success of his business is in the hands of the people he hires. “Our staff is young and talented, to provide the best customer service,” he says.

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One such employee is Angela Butdee, who has been working at Lee Nails for two of the three-and-a-half years she has worked as a nail technician. She expresses appreciation for the overall atmosphere of the salon as well as the beautifying task at hand. “It’s quiet and I like that we have lots of nice customers that come here,” Angela says. “I love doing the designs for their nails.” She adds there is another important attribute for nail technicians. “When you work with nails, you have to be calm and you have to make customers feel relaxed.” Sharon Gilbert appreciates that kind of customer experience when she comes in to Lee Nails every few weeks for a manicure or pedicure. “They take their time and they’re gentle,” she says. “I feel special when I leave.” Gilbert also notes the hygienic standards of Lee Nails & Spa. “It’s very clean and they use plastic linings in their pedicure tubs,” she says, adding that she got into the habit of getting a professional manicure when she taught at

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The University of Ohio in Columbus. “A handshake was the first way I was going to meet someone,’’ she said. “It’s a way of putting your best self forward. Now I just do it for myself.” While indulging in spa treatments may seem like an extravagant luxury, Lee Nails & Spa offers promotions to make its services more affordable. Customers can join the salon’s VIP Program and get $3 off a single service or $5 off a combo service (does not apply to polish change or waxing), Monday-Thursday. To do so, text LEENAILS2 to 51660. Other discounts, such as 10-percent-off for customers 12 years of age or younger (parents or guardians must accompany the child) and for ages 65 and older, are available, as are “pop-up” specials announced on the “Lee Nails Spa In Wesley Chapel” Facebook page. More special deals and samples of the work Lee Nails & Spa does can be found at LeeNailSpaofTampa.com and be sure to check page 42 of this issue for other exclusive offers. Lee Nails & Spa is open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m., and 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Sunday. It is located at 6013 Wesley Grove Blvd., Suite #104. For more information or make an appointment, call (813) 907-8100.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 14 • June 30, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

The Vitale Institute Provides Ear, Nose & Throat Services, Plus Plastic Surgery! By BRAD STAGER Your ears, nose and throat are not only close to each other, they are interconnected by a system of ear canals, sinus cavities and throat passages. Dr. Paul DiPasquale, D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathy), navigates this complex, inner terrain on behalf of his patients at Vitale Institute in Wesley Chapel’s Summergate professional center, just off SR 56, between Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. and I-75. As a Board-certified otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat specialist), Dr. DiPasquale treats allergies, as well as sinus and hearing problems. He also provides aesthetic care, since he is a Cleveland Clinic Health Systems (in Cleveland, Ohio) trained Fellow of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgeons (FAACS), offering whole body, as well as facial, plastic surgery services. He opened the Vitale Institute here in 2009. Dr. DiPasquale, who earned his D.O. degree from the University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kansas City, MO, says there’s not much difference between Medical Doctors (M.D.s) and Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.s). “D.O.s are very similar to M.D.s,” he says. “We practice pretty much the same medicine. They do the same surgeries I do; they just don’t really treat patients with manipulation.” D.O.s and chiropractors both manipulate muscles and joints in treatments, but D.O.s tend to focus on larger structures of an afflicted area and chiropractors focus on more specific parts of an area needing treatment and are most often concerned with the alignment of a patient’s skeletal structure. Also, D.O.s can pre-

scribe medicines, while chiropractors cannot. Dr. DiPasquale also is a member of the American Academy of Osteopathic Surgeons, the American Board of Osteopathic Surgery and the American Osteopathic Academy of Otolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery. He says his combination of certified skills distinguishes his practice among local ENT specialists. “I’m the only ENT that I know in Dr. Paul DiPasquale is the otolaryngologist at the Vitale Institute, this area, M.D. or located off S.R. 56 in the Summergate Professional Center. D.O., who can do ear, In treating allergies, Dr. DiPasquale nose and throat and begins with lifestyle changes for allergens general plastic surgery,” Dr. DiPasquale says. that can be avoided, such as particular foods “I’ve been trained in both.” or chemicals. If the allergy is to something According to the American Osteopathic more pervasive, like pollen, then a regimen of Association (AOA) website, their physicians controlled exposure is prescribed to reduce adopt a hands-on philosophy emphasizing “a whole-person approach to treatment and care” the body’s immune response to the substance. Traditionally, that has meant allergy shots, through specialized training in the musculobut Dr. DiPasquale offers an alternative in the skeletal system, which consists of the body’s form of sublingual immunotherapy, which muscles, bones and nerves. Treatments can include actual manipulation of bones and muscle involves administering allergen formulations, customized for each patient, as drops under structures, such as the spine, but the priority is the tongue. Like allergy shots, this increases a still on preventing disease. patient’s tolerance to the substance and reduces Patients at Vitale Institute can expect the least invasive treatment possible to relieve their allergic symptoms. “Now, we can treat allergies a different afflictions, especially for allergies and sinusitis, an inflammation or swelling of the tissue lining way,” says Dr. DiPasquale. “Instead of taking Claritin or Zyrtec every day for the rest of your the sinuses that can cause sinus blockage.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 14 • June 30, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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life, you can take sublingual immunotherapy for one or two years.” He adds that the treatment is new enough that it does not yet have as widespread insurance coverage as traditional allergy shots, but more insurance companies are starting to include it. He also notes that effectively treating allergies is important to avoid possible future sinus problems. “Allergies lead to sinus disease,” he says. “If you don’t have normal sinus flow, you get sinusitis.” DiPasquale says this illustrates how patients benefit from the range of allergy and sinus treatment options offered at Vitale Institute, as opposed to seeing two different doctors — an allergist and an ENT specialist. “I felt I could help patients more if I could combine both of them,” he says. “We keep it all together, combining allergies and sinuses under one roof.”

Balloon Sinuplasty, Too

Just as he offers an easier, painless option for treating allergies, Dr. DiPasquale also is able to do the same for patients needing their sinus drainage pathways enlarged. Sinus surgery to relieve blocked or narrowed passages has been around since the middle of the 18th century. In the early days, incisions were made and bones were broken to accomplish this. Since the 1950s, however, endoscopic tools and techniques allowed doctors to be less destructive and invasive by working through the nose opening and being more precise in their work by using tiny video cameras. Dr. DiPasquale says that the latest technique, which has been available for about 10 years, is balloon sinus dilation, and it is even less invasive and risky. The procedure involves

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guiding a balloon through the nasal opening and into a nasal passage, then inflating it. The surrounding drainage passage wall expands to accommodate the balloon and retains its shape after the balloon is removed. He notes that the procedure typically takes less than an hour and recovery from any discomfort is usually within 1-3 days. Dr. DiPasquale has been performing balloon sinuplasty since 2012. “Before, when I trained, we were surgeons,” he says. “Now you’re trying to treat that patient with a minimally invasive surgery with maximal results.” Other nose and throat conditions and procedures Vitale Institute is ready to assist with include nasal polyps, sleep apnea, snoring, chronic sore throat, hoarseness, oral biopsy, as well as tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy.

Plastic Surgery & Audiology

Some patients are more concerned with how their nose looks, rather than how it is working. As a Board-certified facial plastic surgeon, Dr. DiPasquale can help with that as well. “I can work with the aesthetics as well as the functionality,” he says. In addition to rhinoplasty (a surgical procedure that reshapes or resizes the nose to enhance its appearance), Dr. DiPasquale also performs procedures like breast augmentation, male and female breast reduction, tummy tucks and liposuction. He also provides skin care services such as lesion removal and Botox injections. Patients needing audiology testing, treatment and services also are well-served at Vitale Institute, whether they are suffering from hearing loss that needs to be evaluated or to have an infection resolved. Balance disorders (e.g., vertigo) related to the ear also are treated. An extensive selection of hearing aids

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is available, including some that are small enough to fit inside the ear canal. There also are hearing aids that can receive audio streamed directly from smart devices such as phones, TVs and music players. Audiology services are primarily administered by Alaina Hodges, Au.D., a Board-certified Doctor of Audiology, or audiologist. Dr. Hodges received her Clinical Doctorate of Audiology from the University of South Florida in Tampa and is a member of the American Academy of Audiology, Florida Academy of Audiology and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Meanwhile, Dr. DiPasquale says that keeping his patients informed is an important part of his treatment manner. “If you can educate a patient, they’re your biggest advocate.” That assessment is borne out by testimonial comments his patients have written online, such as Vitale Institute’s Facebook page, where 18 reviewers unanimously award the practice five out of five stars. “Dr. DiPasquale is the best allergy and sinus doctor I’ve ever seen. I had the balloon procedure and am breathing better than I have in years! My allergies are under control again, too. The staff is fabulous and friendly. Highly recommend making an appointment,” a patient named Maria wrote. Out of 26 Google Review entries, Vitale Institute has a 4.6 overall rating, including this comment from Letitia Budzienski: “We’ve been going to the Vitale Institute for years. We absolutely love that we can get multiple needs met in one place.” For more information, visit VitaleInstitute.com, call (813) 406-4400 or see the ad on pg. 9 of this issue. The Wesley Chapel office is located at 27516 Cashford Cir., Suite 101. The recently-opened Zephyrhills office is at 6719 Gall Blvd., Suite 107.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 14 • June 30, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Tint By Masters Gulf Coast Can Keep Your Home Safe & Sun-Free! window tinting is properly installed, you won’t even know it’s there.

By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com In the early hours of Friday morning, Feb. 23, someone in a hazmat suit tried vigorously to break through the glass at the New Tampa Mosque on Morris Bridge Rd. near Cross Creek Blvd. to get inside and set the place on fire. The arsonist was foiled. The window wouldn’t break. When Ryan King heard the news that the windows could not be breached, he was thrilled. “Those were our windows,’’ he says. “They said it was shatter-proof glass on the news (on TV), but it wasn’t. It was our window film.” King, who owns Tint by Masters Gulf Coast, has been servicing windows for 16 years, including hundreds of homes in New Tampa. Not everyone requires the kind of security the mosque did, but that is just one application of the window film that Tint by Masters Gulf Coast provides. More popular uses in residential areas, especially in bigger homes with big windows, are for decoration, heat control, UV protection and privacy. King also does decorative work, like specific designs or frosted glass for residential and commercial buildings. King has been at his current location in the Nancy Plaza on Westshore Blvd. in South Tampa for six years, and before that he had locations in St. Petersburg and Orlando.

Cooling Off

The right window film from Tint by Masters Gulf Coast can not only keep your AC bills down, it also can deflect glare from the sun, making your home’s view more pleasurable. He says he was finishing his degree in 3D Animation from Seminole State College in Orlando when he started in the business, because it allowed him the flexibility he needed to fit in his coursework. After doing a few internships, King says he decided to go into window film full-time, starting his company in 2002. “It was good to me,’’ King says, “and I was good at it.”

As anyone who has tried to apply their own window film can attest, being good at it is no easy task and requires surgeon-like precision. Getting a film on your cell phone without any bubbles or lines can be tough enough, but large windows on the front or back of a home can be painstaking. King, who carries a $2-million insurance policy on jobs, said that if the

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 14 • June 30, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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Car owners have been tinting their automobile’s windows for decades, both for the privacy and to protect the interior of their vehicles from the sun’s harsh rays. Homeowners are following suit, for most of the same reasons. With temperatures rising, and along with it the costs of keeping your home at a comfortable temperature, it is becoming imperative, especially in homes facing the sun, to invest in some form of sun protection. While curtains, drapes and blinds are the most popular choices, King says window film is actually a better option. “We can stop as much as 75 percent of the heat coming into somebody’s house,’’ says King, one of 50 or so authorized 3M Window Film dealers in the state. “We can stop 99.9 percent of the UV (ultra violet) rays coming through (the windows) as well.” Many people buy their homes because of the view large the windows afford them. King says the proper window film allows them to take advantage of big windows by not having to cover them up. Melissa Fernandez Bunch lives in a 112-year-old home in South Tampa. With single-pane glass windows with no window coverings at all, “we were having trouble keeping the house cool.” Her air conditioning repairman

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suggested window film, and to make his point, he used a device that took the temperature of the wall in their back room that faced the sun. It was 15 degrees warmer than the other walls in the room. “He suggested solar film,’’ Bunch says. “Honestly, we were not sure it would make a huge difference, but we were willing to give it a shot. And it made tremendous difference. There is definitely a noticeable temperature change, for sure.” King says there are numerous options for your window film, and it can be as dark as you want it, or as light, with the same reflective properties. Many window films can keep the sun out or reduce its glare without distorting your view of things on the other side of the window. “Ours is 100-percent unnoticeable from the exterior,” Bunch says. “And they did such a good job applying it you can’t even see at the edge where it stops.” Bunch wanted to keep her view through her windows open and clear, though others use curtains — namely the so-called “blackout” curtains in severe cases — which can do a good job of keeping the light out of a room. The heat, however, is another issue. “You take in the same amount of heat behind a blackout curtain,’’ King says. “You get the same heat load behind the curtain, it’s still piling in, still seeping out the tops and the sides and bottom. It’s just not hitting you all at once.” King says the cost savings on one’s electric bill can be significant. He says

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This window has film on it, meaning despite the sun hitting the couch, it will not cause the furniture to fade, nor will it make sitting on the couch hot and uncomfortable. some customers have been 5-7 degrees cooler after window film, and that typical payback on what you spent to have any window film products installed is 3-5 years. During the colder months, the window film also can help keep the heat in. Depending on the size and number of windows you need protected, coverage can cost anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars. A more comfortable temperature is just one reason people decide to use window films. Another is preventing sun damage, to your floors and furniture, and to yourself.

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“I just did a house last week where the person who moved had two huge oriental rugs, and when they moved out and the next guy moved in, you could see big huge rectangles where the rugs were,’’ King said. “They didn’t face south, west or east, it was just north and it was just the sun bouncing off the water (and causing the fading on the floors). If you’re going to put in $10,000 worth of wood floors, you want to keep that floor from fading.” Most people don’t even realize these effects are even happening, King says. Same goes for the sun hitting the back of your neck when sitting on the couch.

In fact, it’s those people who King says become his customers. “With the sun hitting you it’s like being at the beach,’’ King says. “You put sunscreen on when you’re sitting outside at the beach, but just because you’re cool (inside) doesn’t mean its not happening.” Safety is another benefit of window film, although much of that business is commercial. King has done some community clubhouses in New Tampa with the same protective window film he installed at the New Tampa Mosque in December. When the friend he worked on the mosque project with texted him that morning, King got a rare glimpse into the success of the film. “It’s rare that it’s tested in that situation,’’ King says. “I’ve seen it work before, but you have to wonder how crazy somebody is to sit there and beat on it for hours on end. A typical criminal is going to be, ‘It didn’t break, it didn’t fall out, I’m moving on.” King has a done a number of big and small jobs, including some he can’t even talk about. He has done a number of downtown buildings, repaired and tinted windows in the traffic controller tower at Tampa International Airport, and recently completed a project putting in “one-way” mirror film at a rehabilitation resort. Tint by Masters Gulf Coast (3648 S. Westshore Blvd.) serves customers across Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties and is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5p.m. For more info, call (813) 571-5750 or see the ad on page 42.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 14 • June 30, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Former WCH Wildcat Erik Thomas Ready To Pursue Pro Basketball Career By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com

When 22-year-old Erik Thomas was a basketball star at Wesley Chapel High (WCH), he drew attention from opponents for his always-tenacious effort on the court, from fans for his overall dominance and from the media for his mind-boggling, record-setting statistics. What he failed to draw, however, was the kind of attention from big-time Division I college coaches that you might expect someone who averaged 33 points and 16 rebounds as a senior for the Wildcats would receive. Blame it on his size, which was and still is 6 feet, 5 inches, and 215 pounds. Blame a torn ligament in his ankle that scared away some schools. Or, blame it on the game itself, which is more impressed by flash than fortitude. But, you can’t blame Thomas’ attitude, work ethic or competitive drive, which continue to propel him towards his dream of playing in the NBA. On June 22, Thomas woke up with slight hopes for being drafted that evening’s second round. And why not? Three days before the draft, the Portland Trailblazers called and invited him to a pre-NBA Draft workout. When he arrived, he found out he would be competing against a number of top college basketball players in a quest to convince team brass he was a worthy draft pick. The group, invited to the sixth and final pre-draft workout held by Portland,

After going undrafted, Thomas said he would be trying to earn a spot with an NBA team for their summer league, held in Las Vegas and Orlando. “Everybody wants to be drafted, of course, and it was my dream to get drafted,’’ Thomas said. “But, if I can get on a summer league team and go there and perform, I’ll have more people watch me play. Hopefully, I opened up eyes at that camp.”

Impressive College Stats

Thomas has certainly opened eyes since he left Wesley Chapel as its most accomplished basketball player. Thomas’ college career included Erik Thomas with his sister Sthefany (left)and momn one-year stops at East Georgia State College and Baton Rouge CommuniFabiana. ty College (BRCC). included North Carolina small forward While at BRCC, he earned Louisiana Justin Jackson (who ended up picked No. Junior College Assn. Player of the Year 15 in the first round by Portland but then honors and attracted a slew of those Divitraded), Oregon power forward Jordan Bell (drafted No. 38 overall by Chicago in sion I coaches that seemed to miss him at second round), Kansas State guard Wesley Wesley Chapel. He ended up choosing the University Iwundu (drafted No. 33 overall by Orlanof New Orleans. “My coach (at BRCC) do in the second round), and California’s called around, telling coaches I was transIvan Rabb (drafted No. 35 overall by forming into a great player,’’ Thomas said. Orlando in second round). “He warned everyone in our conference, That’s pretty good company to keep, ‘Hey, you should watch this kid.’ I think and Thomas held his own against the betsome of the schools might be upset they ter-known players. didn’t recruit me.” “I spoke to one of the (Portland) Like back in his days as a Wildcat, guys, he said they liked my performance,’’ Thomas continued to draw attention from Thomas said. “I think I did very well, conopponents, fans and the media. This past sidering it was my first pro workout. I was season, he capped his college career by just enjoying the moment, honestly.”

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 14 • June 30, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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Erik Thomas worked out for the Portland Trailblazers three days before the NBA Draft. Although he wasn’t drafted, Thomas is pursuing opportunities in the NBA’s Sumer League.

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Elite Hockey Camp Coming To FHCI It hasn’t even been open for a year, but Florida Hospital Center Ice (FHCI) is wasting no time making a name for itself in the hockey community. On the heels of luring the U.S. Women’s Hockey Team to train here beginning next month, FHCI announced on June 14 that it also will be hosting the V-Red Prospects Advanced Camp the week of July 16-20. Former Tampa Bay Lightning players Dave Andreychuk and Brian Bradley (currently the vice president of community affairs for the Lightning), camp co-founder Gardiner MacDougall and FHCI managing partner Gordie Zimmermann were on hand

as the camp announced it was moving to the U.S. for the first time, after 16 years in Canada, where it started. The camp is for two groups of players — those born in 1998-2002 (juniors), and those born in 2003-2005 (intermediate). The V-Red Prospects program has produced 49 NHL-drafted players, including 23 that have played in the NHL like St. Louis goalkeeper Jake Allen, Philadelphia center Sean Corturier and Colorado left winger Gabriel Landeskog, to name a few. For more information about the camp, visit FloridaHospitalCenterIce. com/sport/v-red-2017. — JCC

leading the Privateers in scoring (19.5), rebounding (7.8), steals (45), field goal shooting percentage (59.1) and even free throw percentage (78.3). He earned Southland Conference Player of the Year honors, and guided his team to its first NCAA tournament appearance in 21 years. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Thomas said. “For all of us to be able to have that experience together, to win the conference title and get as far as we did, that’s just a story to tell later down the line to the grandkids.”

(since broken) with 2,563 points before going on to Division I Clemson University in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Thomas definitely ended up living up to his sister’s rep, scoring 2,138 points. They are the only brother-sister team in the history of the Bay area to each break the 2,000-point mark. As a junior at WCH in 2011-12, Thomas averaged 21.7 points and set a school record by averaging 14.1 rebounds. That record didn’t last long, as his senior year, he averaged 16.3 rebounds, and added another school record with 32.7 ppg. That included one game where he had 32 rebounds, and two games where he scored 45 and 46 points. The Wildcats went 24-5 in both of his final two seasons, and he was named the Florida Dairy Farmers Player of the Year for Class 5A.

A Family Legacy

For local basketball fans in Wesley Chapel and even New Tampa, where his parents now live, the name Thomas is synonymous with hoops excellence. Sister Sthefany also played at Wesley Chapel High, graduating in 2007 after setting the Pasco County career scoring record

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 14 • June 30, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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Zammy The Sheepadoodle Spreads His Joy At The Shriners Hospital! By GARY NAGER

Although I had never encountered a sheepadoodle until January of this year, when New Tampa resident Todd Pitner brought his sweet, then-year-old, 100-lb. sheepadoodle named Zammy into our office for a story in our January 13 issue — after a photo of Zammy, taken at the Shops at Wiregrass mall, went viral (more than a million hits) on Reddit. And, my life hasn’t been the same since. Although I currently live in an apartment, if I ever do move into a house, I’m going to buy a sheepadoodle (old English sheepdog and standard poodle because I have never seen a better disposition on an animal of any size or breed, much less on a giant stuffed animal come to life. Since that first story, Zammy has appeared on WCNT-tv, replacing yours truly on set with my co-anchor Susanna Martinez, and I promised Todd that if he ever wanted us to do a follow-up, all we needed was someplace to go where I could see — and chronicle — Zammy’s instant rapport with literally everyone he meets. So, when Todd asked me and WCNT-tv production assistant Gavin Olsen (who starred as the voice of Zammy in that WCNT-tv segment) to tag along and watch this gentle giant work his magic with the children in the Shriners Hospital on the Tampa campus of USF, we were both thrilled to tag along. And of course, Zammy didn’t disappoint. Whether the kids were wheelchair bound or walking, teenagers or toddlers, or even Shriners Hospital staff, Zammy gave

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everyone a few happy minutes of his time and I didn’t see one kid, parent or hospital staffer leave him without a smile on their faces. I thank Shriners Hospital Tampa’s public relations manager Lisa Buie for not only letting us accompany Zammy on his mission of good will, but also for getting everyone in these pictures to sign a release so we could show them. Look for more Zammy exploits in future issues — and on future episodes of WCNT-tv.

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The Shriners Hospitals for Children-Tampa is a 60-bed nonprofit specialty care facility that has served 60,000 patients since it was established in 1985. For more information, visit ShrinersHospitalforChildren.org. To keep up with Zammy, check him out on Instagram @ZammyPup.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 14 • June 30, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 14 • June 30, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Las Palmas Café Is A Lot More Than Just Great, Authentic Cuban Cuisine!

By GARY NAGER

HEN THE husband-andwife team of Chef Ramses and Ana Garcia took over Las Palmas Café in the Pebble Creek Collection four years ago this month, the restaurant was already a popular little place that not enough people outside of Pebble Creek knew about. Today, in addition to revamping the interior, Ramses says he “changed literally everything on the menu” to make the Cuban dishes more authentic. And, using his training from places he worked for in his hometown of Miami, he has slowly added many other menu items, some of which are not traditionally Cuban, although everything we’ve sampled on Las Palmas’ extensive (but never expensive) menu has been delicious. In fact, there are so many great items available at this still-hidden gem that I didn’t have room for a pic of what has always been my favorite dish at Las Palmas — the merluza a la Rusa, or flaky, breaded white fish with a unique topping of hard boiled eggs, pimiento and parsley. Instead, I did include a pic of Ramses’ equally delicious (and less fattening) grilled fish, with a side of yellow rice, and his grilled chicken with a side of homemade fried plantains. I’m all about trying new things, so I told Ramses to make some of his favorite dishes for us to sample at the Neighbor-

hood News, and he didn’t disappoint. First up was a fried yuca appetizer, served with a delicious cilantro lime dipping sauce. I don’t always love the consistency of yuca, but Ramses no doubt knows how to make it crisp, tender and very tasty. Ramses’ award-winning “historic” Cuban sandwich also didn’t make it onto these two pages, in part because his fullpage ad on page 41 has such a gorgeous picture of it, but also because he wanted me to try his equally tasty Cuban club sandwich, which includes ham, turkey, bacon and Swiss cheese, with lettuce, tomato and mayo pressed on perfect Cuban bread. “Our traditional Cuban incudes our famous roast pork, ham and Swiss, with mustard, mayo and pickles pressed on Cuban bread,” Ramses says. “We entered the Cuban Sandwich Festival for the first time in April (as reported last issue) and we were proud to win, but not surprised. We sold more than 1,000 mini-Cubans in the two days of the festival. By the time they announced that we had won (on Sun.), we were already almost sold out.” Other traditional Cuban cuisine Ramses made sure we tried were the Havana Trio — ropa vieja (shredded beef), roast pork (lechon) and picadillo (ground beef with olives and veggies in tomato sauce), and Ramses’ must-try braised ox tail. I told Ramses that I had only ever

Shrimp in Garlic Sauce w/Tostones

Cuban Club Samdwich

Fried Yucca Appetizer

had ox tail at Jamaican restaurants, and usually, it was in a soup, which I didn’t love. But, his ox tail is in big pieces, on the bone like a veal or pork shank, in a dark, savory sauce. “We only make ox tail on Thursday,” Ramses said on my recent Thursday visit. “But, we braise it for six hours and have regulars who come in every week for it.” And, as if on cue, in stepped Bob, a Pebble Creek resident whose first words were, “Where’s the grumpy guy? I’m here for my ox tail.” Other new and old favorites of mine at Las Palmas include the grilled flank steak with chimichurri sauce, the breaded steak milanese with marinara sauce and Italian cheese, the “masitas” (pork chunks) and tender, grilled pork chops. One item I couldn’t try that everyone else in our office raved about is the featured picture at the top of this page — shrimp in garlic sauce, served with a side of homemade tostones (large and not sweet fried green plantains). If you’re not allergic to shrimp, I definitely suggest dipping Ramses’ perfect Cuban bread in the sauce. Other popular appetizers include ham, chicken or cheese croquettes, empanadas and pork tamales. Soups include black bean, chickpea and chicken tortilla. Try the house and Las Palmas salads (the creamy herbal dressing is addictive), too. Other favorites on the menu include 34

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 14 • June 30, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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the chicken and yellow rice, the CubanCreole shrimp stew, the “vaca frita” (crispy beef), the Cuban rafters (merluza topped with shrimp), Ramses’ steak sandwich (unbreaded palomillo steak topped with sautéed onions and shoestring potatoes) and the fried fish sandwich.

Daily Lunch Specials & More!

Even though all of the entrées on the menu are only $8.99-$14.99, many of the previously mentioned favorites (including picadillo, ropa vieja, pork chops and more) are available as lunch specials (with white or yellow rice and a side item) for only $7.99-$8.99 for lunch. There’s also a great kids menu, with all items $4.99 or less, an extensive catering menu and many homemade desserts, including flan, rice pudding, creme brulée, triple chocolate truffle cake and Ramses’ homemade tres leches dessert, which Bob says is, “the best I’ve had anywhere and I’ve had it all over the world. Do yourself a favor and try it for yourself!” Las Palmas Café is located at 19651 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in the Pebble Creek Collection. It is open Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on Saturday (closed Sunday). For more information, call (813) 907-1333 or visit LasPalmasCafe.net. And please, tell Ramses and Ana that the Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News sent you! @NTWCNews

(Clockwise from top left): The Havana Trio, grilled fish, owner/chef Ramses Garcia, his favorite braised ox tail and grilled pork chops, all available at Las Palmas!

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 14 • June 30, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Firehouse Subs — Serving Great Subs...And First Responders Across The Country Submitted to the Neighborhood News

SARRK RESTAURANTS,

LLC, is the owner and operator of nine Firehouse Subs location in the Tampa Bay area. Through a valuable partnership with the Impact Group, Sarrk Restaurants, LLC, became one of the earliest franchisees to sign on with Firehouse Subs, with its first location that opened in New Tampa in 2002 that was later relocated to the Shoppes at New Tampa of Wesley Chapel plaza in 2012. The New Tampa Firehouse Subs was the 51st location for the franchise. Since then, the company has grown to become a national & international brand in 44 states, as well as in Canada, Puerto Rico and Mexico, totaling more than 1,000 locations, making Firehouse Subs one of the fastest growing fast casual restaurant concepts. All restaurants have a focus to provide the highest in Quality, Service and Cleanliness, all based on a Firehouse Subs’ firefighter theme. And, for the Sarrk Restaurants, LLC, owner Sarju Patel and the public, the brand has become much more than that. Firehouse’s current marketing drive focuses on a new slogan, “This Sub Saves Lives.” And it really does! Through the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, the company’s 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, which has granted more than $25 million to hometown heroes in 46 U.S. states (plus Canada and Puerto Rico) since it was established in 2005 to provide lifesaving equipment to more than 2,800 first responder organizations.

All of Patel’s valued team members that make this company run to its optimum are expected to learn what the foundation is all about and, in turn, educate the community. The live saving equipment that is provided is truly remarkable. This part of the business is so strong, that the company’s own analysis has shown that the restaurants that raise the most foundation dollars has a higher percentage of sales than restaurants that do not embrace this aspect of the business. The old saying “Giving is Receiving” is very much alive and true. Funds are raised in three ways — customers can donate their loose change into canisters at the register, they also can “round up” their Firehouse purchases to the next dollar and/or purchasing a five-gallon pickle bucket for only $2. Firehouse of America will donate 0.13 percent of your purchase in 2017 at all U.S. Firehouse Subs locations to the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. This percentage will result in a minimum donation of one million dollars. The Foundation was founded in 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Firehouse Subs co-founders, Chris Sorensen and Robin Sorensen, traveled to Mississippi, where they fed first responders as well as survivors. As they traveled back to Florida exhausted and exhilarated, they knew we could do more and the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation was born. Locally, through the funds raised from all Firehouse locations in the Tampa Bay area, here is a list of some of the Equipment that local organizations have received to date, valued at over $100,000:

Wesley Chapel Firehouse Subs Staff

Tuna Salad Sub •AED Defibrillator — Pasco County Sheriff’s Office •Personal Locator Devices – Hillsborough County Sheriff’s office •Fire Prevention Safety materials to educate the community – City of Seminole Fire and Rescue •See-Doo water craft and trailer, surf rescue sled, life vests, ropes and helmets – City of Treasure Island Fire Dept. •John Deere Gator Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) and Medlite Transport Deluxe System – Pinellas Suncoast Fire & Rescue •RoboteX Inc Avatar Tactical Robot – Largo Police Department •Extrication Equipment – Tampa Fire Rescue Station 13 •AED Defibrillator – Clearwater Central Catholic High School

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 14 • June 30, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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Steak-n-Cheese Sub

What About The Food? — GN

Of course, most people still know Firehouse Subs for their steamed meat, toasted subs and everyone in our office has their favorite. I’m partial to the semi-spicy tuna salad sub and the steak-n-cheese sub (and I also really enjoyed the savory chicken noodle soup,too). Graphic artist Blake Beatty and assistant editor John Cotey both prefer the NY steamer sub, which features corned beef and pastrami. Sales rep Tom Damico enjoyed the hook & ladder sub, which comes with smoked turkey breast, Virginia honey ham, and melted Monterey Jack. And, billing manager Stephanie Smith said she really enjoyed the crispy, toasted sub roll on her meatball sub, as well as the zesty tomato sauce.

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Meatball Sub

NY Steamer Sub

Hook & Ladder Sub

You can add your favorite dressings and toppings to any Firehouse sub, but the chain is famous for serving its subs “Fully Involved®,” or loaded, complete with mayo, deli mustard, lettuce, tomato, onion, and a kosher dill pickle on the side. The pickles are pretty tasty, too. And, the fresh-baked, fudgy brownies are to die for and everyone in the office enjoyed the white chocolate macadamia nut and chocolate chip cookies, the Miss Vicki’s chips and Coca-Cola “super fountain,” where you can combine more than 100 different sodas and sparkling waters. The Wesley Chapel Firehouse Subs is located at 1824 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. For more info, call

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Brownies & Cookies

(813) 977-3181 or visit FirehouseSubs.com. Or, see the ad on page 35 of this issue for $2 off when you buy a medium or large sub, chips and a drink.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 14 • June 30, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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

The Chamber Stays Busy

If you think the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) is going to slow its roll anytime soon, guess again. This month, the Chamber unveiled its new “Explore Wesley Chapel & New Tampa” video at its Monthly Business Breakfast at PHSC on June 6, held ribbon cuttings on June 5 at Mystic Oaks Dentistry (photo above left) and at Charley’s Philly Steaks; on June 8 at The Joint Chiropractic in New Tampa (above right); on June 21 at Lakeside Heating, Cooling & Plumbing (photo on next page) on U.S. 41 in Land O’Lakes (the latter was a dual ribbon cutting with the WCCC and the Central Pasco Chamber) and on June 29 at The Salt Room Wesley Chapel.

The Chamber also will hold another Final Friday networking social, at The Brass Tap in the Shops at Wiregrass mall on Friday, June 30., 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Please note that not all Chamber events are free, although most are open to the public. For info (including all start times for these events), call (813) 994-8534 or visit WesleyChapelChamber.com.

The Cake Shop Opens!

Congratulations to my new friends Joe and Jana, the owners of The Cake Shop, which opened in May at 20327 Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in the Live Oak Preserve area of New Tampa, next to Firestone Complete Auto Care. The Cake Shop naturally has a Euro-

pean flair and feel, as the owners are from the eastern European country of Montenegro, and Jana’s incredible, different-each-day variety of truly gourmet cakes by the slice, square (like the moist, delicious chocolate ice cube in the photo above far right) or the whole cake are beyond compare and made with the highestquality ingredients. There also are different-each-day, gourmet cupcakes, gluten-free and egg-free cakes and desserts, plus sandwiches, salads, Lavazza coffee and you should also ask about their awesome custom cakes for special occasions. You really have to see it to understand it, so please tell Joe and Jana that you saw them in the Neighborhood News, whether you stop in, call (813) 991-8513 or check them out on Facebook or Instagram @The-

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 14 • June 30, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

CakeShopTampa, or see the ad on pg. 34!

Have You Tried Menchie’s?

Speaking of sweet treats, Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt has now been open for several months in the same outparcel building at the Shops at Wiregrass mall that will soon be home to Irish 31. Menchie’s, which was founded in California in 2007, has grown into the largest selfserve frozen yogurt franchise in the world, with more than 540 locations in the U.S., Canada and twelve countries from South Africa to England and from The Bahamas to Japan. Menchie’s is always adding new flavors and tie-ins, like the new chocolate caramel biscuit Twix flavor (photo, right) and a tie-in with the new “Captain Underpants” movie.

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And, there are dozens of toppings and sauces, from my favorite hot fudge, marshmallow and peanut butter sauces to everything from fresh fruit to gummy candy. If you’re looking for a great deal, Menchie’s is currently offering $5 off any froyo cake with the ad on page 37 of this issue. Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt is located at 28356 Willet Way and is open every day from 11:30 a.m. (noon on Sun.) until 10 p.m. Mon.-Thur., until 11 p.m. on Fri. & Sat. and til 9 p.m. on Sun.. For more info, visit Menchies.com or call (813) 991-0365.

Openings & Closings

There’s been a lot of businesses open-

Neighborhood News

ing/breaking ground and closing in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel over the past several weeks. Here’s a quick rundown: • Starbucks has opened in front of the Tampa Premium Outlets on S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel and the Starbucks location on S.R. 54, near the Wesley Chapel Walmart has broken ground. • Pita’s Republic (in the same plaza on BBD at County Line Rd. as Five Guys and Frogury, see ad on pg. 46) will become NY Guys Grill & Smoothie by the end of the month. We were told the eatery will remain open during the transition. • The second location of Precinct Pizza has opened at 10970 Cross Creek Blvd. in New Tampa, in the space previously occupied by Zaytoun Grill. • Wing Zone has closed in the Publixanchored New Tampa Center plaza, while the new China One take-out Chinese restaurant has opened next to Leiva’s Jewelers and The Joint (see previous page) in the same plaza. • Tuesday Morning (left) has announced that its store in the Publix-anchored City Plaza at Tampa Palms shopping center will close by the end of June, or whenever the store runs out of inventory. No word yet on when The Fat Rabbit Pub & Grub will open in City Plaza. • Look for updates on Wendy’s, Taco Bell and all of the other businesses under construction near the Tampa Premium Outlets on the current episode of WCNT-tv, which should debut today (June 30).— GN

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 •Volume 25, Issue 14 • June 30, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

New Tampa & Wesley Chapel

Classifieds

CLEANING SERVICES

HOME IMPROVEMENT

B CLEANING SERVICES: Over 14 years experience! Commercial & residential; Weekly, bi-weekly, monthly; New house & post construction clean-up; Window cleaning; Move-in or move-out cleanings; Pressure washing; FREE estimates; References available. Call today: 813-531-0154 or e-mail: bcleanings@hotmail.com

WESLEYCHAPELPRESSUREWASHING.COM Soft pressure exterior house cleaning, screen enclosures, pool decks, driveways, sidewalks, fences, roofs, paver sealing and deck staining. We clean everything. No job too big or small. Experience the difference when you hire a pressure cleaning professional. Licensed and insured. Owner operated. Call for a free estimate or visit our website. 813-433-6015.

D-ULTRA CLEANING SERVICE We have our own supplies and more than 400 clients in New Tampa! For more info, Call 758-9710. R HOUSE CLEANING SERVICES To Keep Your House clean, call Marlene! Working now in Wesley Chapel and the New Tampa areas. Monday through Friday, 8 AM - 4 PM. We can help: Call 562-637-5974 or email kolungaa@ hotmail.com. FREE estimates. SQUEAKY CLEAN HOME SERVICES is a residential cleaning company offering weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly services. We also specialize in movein/move-out cleanup. All supplies and equipment provided. We are an Owner Operator company with over 20 years experience. “If it Needs to be Clean, We’re your Team! Call us for your free in home estimate today! 813-625-6045.

HELP WANTED “WORK-FAMILY DECISION MAKING” STUDY EIRB #0002537. Be a part of a study about work and family! To participate in this study you and your partner would need to: (1) Complete a short eligibility questionnaire, and (2) Meet with a researcher for a 90 minute in-lab session. You will earn $70 per couple for your time. Contact the research team at USFWorkFamily@gmail.com to sign up. WANTED: PIANIST/ACCOMPANIST Trinity Church of Wesley Chapel is seeking a talented pianist/ accompanist to play for the traditional worship service, accompany the choir, soloists, special programs, etc. Contact Julie Pearson, Choir Director, music@trinitychurchwc.com. HIRING PERSONAL TRAINER. Private Women’s Studio with Boot Camp & Personal Training in Wesley Chapel & Land O’ Lakes owned by Samantha Taylor. Please no phone calls or walk ins.To apply part time: www.lolfitbodybootcamp.com/hire-pt. PHYSICAL THERAPIST (PT) An established New Tampa outpatient clinic is hiring a part-time PT to provide custom, one-on-one care. Fax resume to (813) 994-3080.

DAVID BRIDGES PRESSURE CLEANING Complete exterior cleaning of your home or business with a professional & personal touch. - Pool decks and screen enclosures - All fencing/ driveways and walkways/roofs - Gutter and downspouts. Find your happiness in a fresh, bright clean home. Your neighbors will love you for it! All work guaranteed. Licensed and insured. Call 813-215-1177. GREG’S PAPERHANGING. For all of your wallpapering needs. Licensed and insured, clean, quick and reasonable. Call 973-2767 for a free estimate. RAYMOND PAINTING. Exterior & Interior Services. Exterior: Painting, pressure washing, clean & seal pavers, stucco, roofing, leaks & wood rot repair. Interior: Painting, plastering, ceiling & wall repairs & tiles. Licensed & Bonded. References avail. Free estimates. Your Neighborhood Arbor Greene Resident! We work 7 days. Call 813-994-5124. DRY WALL SPECIALIST. Not a handyman. Affordable Quality Work repairing water damage, ceilings and walls, retexturing, popcorn removal, room additions, cracks, holes, plaster and stucco repair. 26 Years Experience. Wesley Chapel resident. State Certified. Call Ron for free estimate: 813-7845999.

POOL SERVICES

MISCELLANEOUS

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!! Call Chris today @ (813) 8575400 or visit TranquilityPoolService.com. New customers get ONE MONTH FREE! AllStarPoolsofTampaBay.com Highest quality salt and ozone generators, pumps, motors, filters. Marcite, quartz and pebble finishes. Pool cleanups and acid washes, paver and river rock sealing. Paver decks and driveways. Mention this ad for $69 pool service. Call or text 813-244-7077. See our display ad. Visit AllStarPoolsofTampaBay.com AQUATEC POOL SERVICE has been keeping pools clear & swim safe since 1994. WE DO POOLS RIGHT! Commercial & Residential. CPO #33-303052 Licensed & Insured. Service guarantee. Call 813-312-5694 TODAY and get 1 MONTH OF QUALITY SERVICE FREE. www.aquatecpool.com

SPACE AVAILABLE

EDUCATION ATTENTION ALL STUDENTS: It’s NEVER too early to prepare for the SAT/ACT. Through Small Group Instruction(SGI) my partner and I can help improve your Reading and Writing Scores. For a reasonable fee and a commitment of 2 hours/week, your confidence will soar while your fear of the SAT/ ACT will diminish. Call Kim at 813.480.3273 or Jason at 607.621.9018. JASMINE LANDSCAPING, INC Complete landscaping maintenance. Tree, palms, hedge trimming, planting, mulching, stones, sod replacement, pressure washing, gutter cleaning, 1 time cleanup, leaves removal & more. Assistance with HOA compliance. Free estimates. Certified / Insured. We accept Cash, Checks, PayPal, Quick Pay, Visa/MC/AMEX. Now hiring drivers & helpers. Call 813-420-4465.

CAT SITTING Tampa Cat Lady Professional CatSitting Service. Cats are happiest in their own home, surrounded by familiar sights, sounds and smells. When you are away, we feed, cuddle and play with your kitties and clean and dispose of litter. Insured, bonded, and Red-Cross certified in pet first aid/CPR. You may visit TampaCatLady.com and submit a service inquiry or call 813-994-9449.

HOMETEAM LAWNCARE LLC High-quality professional Services: Weekly or bi-weekly year-round full-svc lawn care starting at $90/month: Mow, edge, trim, blow, mulch-bed maintenance, hedge and low-tree trim. Additional Services: Sod, Mulch, & Rock Placement; Hedge Trimming, & Tree Trimming; Landscape Installation; Fall/Spring Clean-Up. Family Owned & Operated, Licensed & Insured, Background Checked, Call or Text (813) 817-9554.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 14 • June 30, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

COMPUTER/BUSINESS SERVICES PROFESSIONAL TECH SUPPORT in your home or small business. A+, Certified computer tech with 20 years exp. Maintenance & repairs, upgrades & tutoring. More affordable than large chains! Friendly, personalized svc. Technical jargon explained. Remote assistance available. References available. Call (813) 957-8342 for a free estimate. DO YOU HATE YOUR COMPUTER?!? WE CAN HELP YOU! Troubleshooting, installation, networking & virus removal. WE COME TO YOU! Residences & businesses, more than 25 years exp. Contact Jeffrey Blank at (813) 973-4507, visit WSICA.COM or email Wsica@wsica.com

CERTIFIED ORGANIC VEGETABLE FARM in Central Florida! Enjoy pastoral views from every window and complete privacy on this 42-acre farm w/4+2 2398 sq.ft. Whether you continue Organic Farming, Farming of Your Choice or just enjoy living on this beautiful property, it’s a must see! Call to schedule your private tour. MLS #G4833016. Beth Atalay Cam Realty and Property Management 407-929-1852

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to order your classified ad today!

MILLENNIUM HOME REPAIR.Professional Handyman. Cabinet Installation, dry wall repair, tile installation & repair, some plumbing, laminate flooring, light fixtures, interior painting, appliance installation, pressure washing, paneling, window repair, awning installation, carpentry, garbage disposal, fence repair, crown molding, window blinds, seal baths & showers, TV mounting & more. Call 813-400-1408 or email TYCOONUNION@YAHOO.COM.

PET SERVICES

BRIDGE PLAYERS WANTED. Intermediate level. Rubber Bridge, not Duplicate. Daytime. Weekdays only. Schedule is uniquely constructed each month and is based on members’ availability. One table, typically. Held in homes of members. No frills. Free. Don’t hesitate! Call Harry at (813) 907-2541 or Dolores at (813) 435-0014.

REAL ESTATE

SERENITY SALON & SPA SUITES Wesley Chapel. 1 suite available for rent. Call for details: 813-312-5247 or 813-997-6302. Great location!

LAWN & LANDSCAPING

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“Since 1971”

Ronnie’s Carpets, Inc. “Our Prices Are Simply Better” WOOD - VINYL - CERAMIC TILE CARPET - LAMINATE

FREE Shop at Home Service Johnny Vandervlis Sales & Design Consultant

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Cell: 813-312-6853 johnny@ronniescarpets.com

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 •Volume 25, Issue 14 • June 30, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 14 • June 30, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

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Neighborhood News

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 14 • June 30, 2017 •WCNeighborhoodNews.com