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

Volume 26 Issue 15 July 13, 2018

Inside:

Little Italy’s Gets A New Chef! See Pages 38-39!

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Prayers For Pedro & The Aguerreberry Family

By GARY NAGER

MAGINE, IF YOU CAN, your husband or wife taking the kids for their usual bike ride together and waiting for them to come home. Everyone knows bicycles can be dangerous, but even those times that you get that feeling in the pit of your stomach because it’s taking a little longer than usual for them to return, it pretty much always turns out OK. Doesn’t it? Then, imagine what the family of West Meadows resident Pedro Aguerreberry, 42, is going through today, less than two weeks (as I’m writing this) since Pedro took his sons Lucas, 8, and Bennett, 3, out for a bike ride, never to be seen alive again by his wife Meghan or those young boys. But, this wasn’t just another tragic accident that, in an instant, changed forever the lives of the Aguerreberry family and everyone who worked with the always-smiling Pedro at Citigroup and their friends and neighbors in New Tampa. Instead, it was an intentional act by a sadly mentally deranged young man who posted on Instagram the day before he made that quick U-turn in his car on New Tampa Blvd. (the main road that runs through West Meadows) to run down Pedro and his young sons that no one should blame him for what he was about to do. Instead, Morse said, “blame the devil.” Yes, Morse, the former Freedom High student who was Baker Acted by the Tampa Police Department (TPD) on June 12, just two weeks earlier, only to be released — against the protests of his own mother — on June 19, a week after being held and evaluated, was obviously dealing with a serious mental illness. But, this isn’t about whether or not the man charged with the first-degree, premeditated murder of Pedro should be declared not guilty by reason of insanity or not. It’s about what happens after a happily married, devoted husband and father is intentionally taken from the arms of his loving family by someone he had never met.

Trying To Make Sense Of It

Even though I had never met Pedro or Meghan, I was one of more than 200 people who filled St. James United Methodist Church on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. on June 27 for his funeral. The next day, I also came out to take pictures of the 100 or so who got together to put on a memorial bike ride and run in his honor. At the memorial service on Friday, I was stunned that the start of the service was delayed by an hour, as I was one of only maybe 30 people who were actually sitting in the seats. The other (approximately) 175 or so people in attendance made a circle around the outside of the seating area and every last

one of them hugged Meghan and the boys (Lucas was able to get himself into a seat, but Bennett, who was more severely injured in the crash, was still in a wheelchair) and offered them all prayers and other words of love and encouragement. I had never seen this done at a funeral before but I definitely felt this amazing energy flowing

See “Pedro” on page 4.

News: Business: News: Sports: News,Former Business & INSIDE Rec Center Expansion & SensoryMeet Roxanne Of Surprise! Bruce B. Downs (BBD) WhartonSimmonds High Football Also Inside INSIDE Friendly Park Taking Shape Blvd. Is Our Area’s Worst Road PremierUpdates Sotheby’s Players Declare for Int’l. NFLRealty DraftEducation Page3-17 10 This Issue:Pages

Pages 24-25 34-37 Pages 3-32

Neighborhood Magazine: Neighborhood Magazine: Updating The Have Ever-Changing The Readers Spoken! Here S.R.Are 56 Their DiningFavorites! Scene Pages Page39-52 42

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No U.S. Team In The Draw Isn’t The Biggest Problem With The World Cup! An editorial by Gary Nager

Unlike most Americans, I have been an ardent soccer fan who has not missed watching most of every FIFA World Cup tournament since 1982. No, I don’t watch all (or many at all) of the European and South American Premier League matches every week the four years between each Cup, but for me, watching soccer’s Super Bowl is as much a tradition as watching the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship, pro golf’s major tournaments and the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs every year. I’ve told some of this story in years past, but pro soccer first became of interest to me in August 1977, when a friend of mine told me he had two tickets to see the team I knew as the New York Cosmos host the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers at the Cosmos’ new home field — Giants Stadium at the New Jersey Meadowlands. I had never seen a professional soccer match before, so I agreed to go, especially since the Cosmos’ roster included superstar names like Giorgio Chinaglia, Franz Beckenbauer, Shep Messing and of course, the legendary Pélé, in his final season as a professional footballer. After being one of a record (for soccer at the Meadowlands) crowd of more than 77,000 people (not a misprint!) who watched the Cosmos dismantle the Strikers 8-3, on their way to ultimately winning the 1977 North American Soccer League’s Soccer Bowl, I couldn’t imagine that anyone would ever say that soccer wasn’t big or important in the U.S. at the highest level. In the summer of 1982, I was working at my first full-time job out of college — as an editor for the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE) on 2nd Ave. between 42nd St. and 43rd St. in New York City, editing the IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering. The work wasn’t particularly exciting, so I often

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Address: 29157 Chapel Park Dr., Suite B Wesley Chapel, FL 33543 Phone: (813) 910-2575 Advertising E-mail: Ads@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Editorial E-mail: EditorialDept@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Publisher & Editor Gary Nager Marketing/Advertising Representative Tom Damico Advertising Sales & Office Assistant Jannah McDonald Assistant Editor / Photographer John C. Cotey Correspondents Celeste McLaughlin • Brad Stager • Andy Warrener WCNT-tv Video Producers/Editors Gavin Olsen • Giuliano Ferrara Graphic Designers Georgia Carmichael • Stephanie Vokes Flischel Office Assistant & Mentor “Wild Bill” Peterseim

Nothing that appears in New Tampa Neighborhood News may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by New Tampa Neighborhood News writers are their own and do not reflect the publisher’s opinion. The deadline for outside editorial submissions and advertisements for Volume 26, Issue 17, of New Tampa Neighborhood News is Monday, July 30, 2018. New Tampa Neighborhood News will consider previously nonpublished outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. New Tampa Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates. New Tampa Neighborhood News will not return unsolicited editorial materials. New Tampa Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit &/or reject any advertising. New Tampa Neighborhood News is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the actual cost of the advertising space itself, nor for the validity of any claims made by its advertisers.

spent my lunch time doing the daily New York Times crossword puzzle (in ink) after stopping at the little Italian deli across the street for a roast beef sub on the most amazing sesameseeded Italian hoagie rolls I had ever tasted. The owner of the deli, who appreciated anyone — but especially an American — who was interested in soccer, told me in his broken English, “If-A Italia makes it to the-a finals, we will-a offer free food and-a beer to anyone who wants-a to join us.” Needless to say, when Italy squared off against West Germany in the final on July 11, even though I had already started another job, I made my way back to that little deli on July 11 to watch the action on one of the 12 or so tiny TVs sprinkled around the deli, none of which were hooked up to cable. The amazing thing was that there was a large contingent of German natives and fans also represented inside the deli, which was closed on Sundays anyway. It was pretty tight quarters — I’d say there were nearly 100 people stuffed into every nook and cranny of this (maybe) 1,500-sq.-ft. store. Italy ended up winning its third World Cup title that year, defeating the Germans 3-1, but it was scoreless and extremely tense after the first 45 minutes. When Italy went up 3-0 in the second half, some of the German fans left, but most stayed and actually celebrated with hugs and tears with the Italians. Fast forward to 2018, and although many people in the U.S. still don’t get or care about soccer, at our press time, I had watched all or most of every match leading up to the quarter-finals (the final 8 teams) from Russia. I believe it’s been a pretty good tournament, with favorites like Argentina, Spain, Portugal and the defending champs from Germany all eliminated earlier than expected. Still left in the draw at our press time were some of the other favorites, including Belgium, England, Uruguay, France and Brazil. Based on the early rounds, I felt that Uruguay was the most consistent team on offense and defense and that France had the most explosive front line scorers, but after top-ranked Belgium was fortunate to escape with a win over Japan in the round of 16, most oddsmakers installed Brazil, which has the most cups (5), as the new favorite. I have nothing against Brazil, but there’s no doubt that Mexico out-hustled and outplayed the likes of stars Neymar, Willian and Paulinho in the scoreless first half. When the game resumed, it was obvious that these referees were going to call a foul anytime anyone made contact with a man before they touched the ball.

But, when Mexican player Miguel Layun “intentionally stomped” on Neymar’s ankle 20 minutes after Neymar scored (in the 51st minute) to give Brazil a 1-0 lead, Neymar stayed down for several minutes (perhaps to take a rest?), screaming like a baby for the world to see. I’m not questioning whether or not he was really in pain, but there’s no doubt that one thing Americans can’t understand about soccer is why players put on such theatrical acts in order to get foul calls, especially now that they’re using instant replay. And somehow, Neymar was able to stay on the field the rest of the game. The problem, for me, is that even though soccer players only play one match per week during their pro seasons, the same players have to play two or three games a week during the World Cup, but teams can still only make three substitutions per game and no player who leaves

Is Brazil star Neymar’s greatest asset his acting ability? (Photo: So. China Morning Post-Nicolas Atkin). the field can return. I wish FIFA would embrace the concept of “fresh legs” and allow more like three subs per half and those who leave the game to return. Automatic yellow cards for players faking injuries might help, too. Go, France!

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Table of Contents

Local News Updates.....................3-19

City Council Okays More K-Bar Expansion...............6 Traffic Townhall Scheduled for July 21...................8 New Tampa Rec Center & Sensory Park Updates....10 Crystal Lagoon Riding Out Murky Waters.......12 Business Notes: S.R. 56 To Add Sports Bar & More...14 New Tampa Community Calendar...............................16

Local Business Updates..............20-29

Discovery Village Offers Alternatives For Seniors..........20 Fit 4 Life Personal Training & Physical Therapy......22 SPOTLIGHT ON: Ferrera Dental Care!........................23 Roxanne Simmonds Of Premier Sotheby’s Int’l Realty.....24 American Wood Flooring Is A One-Stop Shop......26 SPOTLIGHT ON: Scrub-A-Dub Bin Cleaning!...27 Organic Safe Lawns Is An All-Natural Solution..........28

Local School & Sports Updates...30-33 School Grades Repeated At New Tampa’s Schools...30 Martin St. Louis Makes The Hall In First Try.......32

Neighborhood Magazine

Pickle Slush More Sweet Than Sour.......................35 New Chef Makes Little Italy’s More ‘Autentico’......38 Neighborhood Nibbles & Business Bytes.........42 New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Classifieds..........44 @NTWCNews

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

‘Pedro’

Continued from Page 1 between every one of those well-wishers and the entire Aguerreberry family. As if he hadn’t already been through enough that week, poor Bennett simply couldn’t handle the receiving line. After the first 20 minutes or so, he said, “Mommy, please stop letting go of me,” as Meghan tried desperately to continue holding his hand while hugging every one of the attendees with her other arm. Still 20 minutes later, Bennett pleaded with her again, “Mommy, please stop hugging them.” I can’t imagine that anyone who left St. James did so with his or her heart still intact after hearing this sweet child’s plaintive cries. After that, it was difficult to focus on the beautiful, sweet words of remembrance from Brett, Oscar and Laura, Pedro’s friends and coworkers at Citigroup who spoke. Everyone who did mentioned Pedro’s smile. “Pedro was always happy and always had the greatest smile on his face,” Brett said. “He was always saying, ‘Hey, Brett, isn’t this just the greatest day?’” It’s still so hard to believe that someone like that could be taken away from the people who love him by such a senseless, heinous act. Even so, I personally wanted to thank Loyless Funeral Homes for providing such a beautiful video memorial for Pedro, both online and during the service. All of the pictures of him and his family on these pages were saved from that video.

Honoring Pedro’s Memory...

It certainly isn’t difficult to understand why so many people have felt compelled to try to help the Aguerreberry family. In addition

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to the memorial bike ride, a GoFundMe page has already raised tens of thousands of dollars to help them and The Fat Rabbit Pub in Tampa Palms and 900º Woodfired Pizza in the Shops at Wiregrass (owner Steve Falabella lives in West Meadows) were among those holding fund-raising events (Fat Rabbit’s was on July 8) to help. As for the bike ride, cyclists young and old started at the BBD entrance to Flatwoods Park, turned right onto BBD and left onto New Tampa Blvd., pausing to honor Pedro at the makeshift shrine (photo on page 1) set up by his fellow West Meadows residents near where he was struck and killed by Morse’s car a little west of Wood Sage Dr. Brett was among the handful of runners who said a little prayer for Pedro before taking off to run the park’s paved loop together. The 30-year-old Morse (photo, right), was formally charged with premeditated first-degree murder on July 6.

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Tampa City Council Approves Rezoning For 700 Homes In K-Bar Ranch By JOHN COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com

After two readings and one continuance, the Tampa City Council has approved a rezoning that will pave the way for developer M/I homes to build 698 new homes in K-Bar Ranch. The growth of the soon-to-be burgeoning community, located north of Cross Creek Blvd. in the northeasternmost part of New Tampa, has been a point of some public debate, due to the lack of infrastructure, namely roads, in the area. But, only councilman Luis Viera, who represents District 7, which includes all of the neighborhoods within Tampa’s city limits in New Tampa — including K-Bar Ranch — was the only vote against the rezoning approved by the council (by a 6-1 vote on June 28) to allow the new homes to be built in K-Bar. As it is with any zoning matters, Viera is not allowed to comment on the case for 30 days following the vote. More homes means more cars, and currently, the only way in and out of K-Bar Ranch is Kinnan St., which runs north and south, or Basset Creek Dr., a two-lane road that runs past Pride Elementary before connecting to Kinnan. Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa are still pursuing connections north into Pasco County at three different points to help relieve congestion, and K-Bar Ranch Pkwy., an east-west road which is connected to Kinnan St., is still under construction and will provide a path out via Morris Bridge Rd., but not until late 2019 at the earliest. There was very little discussion amongst the City Council members before the vote, and no one from the public spoke. Craig Margelowsky, the president of the Heron Preserve neighborhood in K-Bar Ranch and an opponent of adding more homes in his community without more roads, attended the May meeting but was unable to attend on June 28. He says he was disappointed with the decision, but not surprised. Margelowsky says that he is concerned that by passing the rezoning request, the City of Tampa gave away any leverage it might have had in securing connections with Pasco County. If the rezoning was conditional upon new roads, government officials, as well M/I Homes, would be more pressed to find quicker solutions. “This took away all the expediency,” Margelowsky says. However, the City Council had little

More homes have been approved for K-Bar Ranch, which is now completely rezoned and headed towards nearly 2,000 total homes and condos/townhomes in the next few years. (Photo: John C. Cotey) choice but to okay the rezoning, says Melanie Calloway, the senior transportation planning engineer for Tampa, in order to guarantee the connection of K-Bar Ranch Pkwy. Calloway cited House Bill 7207, or the Community Planning Act, passed in 2011 and signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott, which handcuffed local governments from imposing what was once state-required concurrency for transportation, parks and schools. The bill allows developers to build without making improvements on over-capacity or failing roadways, which aren’t considered when performing traffic analyses. Calloway says the City of Tampa can’t legally require M/I Homes to make the connections, but are encouraging them to work with Pasco County, which M/I Homes says it is continuing to do so. “I think there is more interest in making those connections than there has been,” said K-Bar Ranch attorney Donna Feldman. “I think, in time, they will occur.” Feldman also said that at the Wesley Chapel Roadways presentation on May 29, it was shown that the majority of those on the Pasco side wanted connections. However, that “majority” was only true for two of three potential connections — at Meadow Pointe Blvd. & K-Bar Ranch Pkwy., and Wyndfields Blvd. at K-Bar Ranch Pkwy. No indication has been given that there is enough support for the most convenient, controversial and contentious connection — between Kinnan St. and Mansfield Blvd.

in Meadow Pointe. Pasco County District 2 commissioner Mike Moore, who represents the area, is on record as being adamantly opposed to it. He has suggested the Pasco Board of Commissioners (BOC) may not even vote on the connections until next year. While Moore favors only two of the three connections, the City of Tampa feels that all three connections need to be made. But, Margelowsky isn’t convinced the Tampa City Council will hold firm on that stance. “Without requiring roads (before passing the rezoning), now Pasco County can sit on this for five years,” he said. “I know

that the Wyndfields and Meadow Pointe Blvd. connections will get done, but I don’t see anybody going and actually fighting for Kinnan-Mansfield.” Connections or no connections, Feldman said the rezoning needed to be approved. The 2,280 acres of K-Bar Ranch was annexed into Tampa in 2002 to “grow the wealth, size and import of the City of Tampa, and the City of Tampa has done that,” she said. She said the land-use entitlements allow for far more density than what was allowed for in a 2015 rezoning of the area. The current rezoning is for a northwest portion of land adjacent to Kinnan St., and a northeast portion of K-Bar Ranch adjacent to Morris Bridge Rd. The rest, Feldman says, already has been rezoned. Feldman told council members that M/I Homes has done its part. The financial impact of building K-Bar Ranch Pkwy is $18.8-million, and she said that M/I Homes also donated 60 acres of K-Bar Ranch land to the city for a park, which also was more than required. “This project, as a whole, has been mitigated over and above what is necessary to accommodate this rezoning, which really started with the annexation of this project in the early 2000s,” Feldman said as she asked the council for approval. K-Bar already has roughly 500 homes and townhomes already built, with another 700 or so approved in 2015 — despite similar protests from residents then about a lack infrastructure and roads — that currently are under construction. The new rezoning will add nearly 700 more homes to the community, bringing the total to nearly 1,900.

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New Tampa’s Traffic Issues Getting A Closer Look From City, Local Residents

Hunter’s Green resident Peter Mirones (left) listens as residents voice their concerns about bike and pedestrian safety in New Tampa, as well as about the reckless driving that Mirones and others say has contributed to some of our area’s traffic problems. (Photo: John C. Cotey) By JOHN C. COTEY Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) john@ntneighborhoodnews.com corporals — to sound off on traffic issues they encounter on a daily basis. After sitting in on a quickly organized “I am pleased and happy that anyone town hall meeting called by a local resident, showed up,” said Ingram. “I think this was District 7 City of Tampa councilman Luis a good start.” Viera says the next New Tampa Council Those in attendance focused primarily on (NTC) meeting could be one of its most many of the same issues Ingram has, as well as informative, as well as most important. bicycle and pedestrian safety. On Wednesday, July 25, 7 p.m.-8:30 A lot of the frustration was aimed at p.m. at Compton Park in Tampa Palms, the what they feel was a lack of response to their NTC will host a town hall with the City of complaints from the Tampa Police Department Tampa’s Transportation Department, as well (TPD). Most in attendance also argued that as with the Florida Department of Transpormore of a police presence in New Tampa would tation (FDOT). help deter reckless drivers. Viera says that the city will discuss the Peter Mirones, who lives in Hunter’s new timing for the traffic signals on Bruce B. Green, said he has seen a parked TPD car draDowns (BBD) Blvd., including the troublematically alter the way people drive. But, when some intersection at Cross Creek Blvd., as that police car leaves, “it’s Hell’s Bells.” well as upcoming transportation projects that Mirones, an avid bicyclist, says New Tampa will affect our area. is not friendly to bikers, and others agreed. “It’s very important for New Tampa The bike trail on New Tampa Blvd. is in residents to come to this meeting,” Viera such disrepair it is practically unusable, he said. says. “There are a lot of exciting and pivotal Mirones organized a biking event over things happening in our city with regards to the weekend to memorialize West Meadows mass transit and transportation and we need resident Pedro Aguerreberry, who was killed by to be updated on all these developments. a driver on June 24 (see page 1). The ride began And, most importantly, New Tampa residents at the entrance to Flatwoods Park and eventuhave to be engaged, because without engageally made its way down New Tampa Blvd. near ment, we will not see the results we need for where Aguerreberry was struck. Mirones said our area...and our area needs results now.” some of the police officers even suggested that April Ingram would agree. The K-Bar Ranch (see separate story on pg. the bicyclists should ride in the road because the bike path was so bad. 6) resident isn’t exactly sure when her outrage Others at the July 2 meeting who enjoy over local traffic in New Tampa boiled over. but also fear biking in New Tampa suggested Was it during the 30 minutes or so she says some kind of pedestrian bridge that crosses over it has sometimes taken her to turn right onto BBD at Richmond Place Dr. would allow safer Cross Creek Blvd. from BBD on her way home access into Flatwoods Park for those who live on from the University of South Florida? the west side of BBD. While there is a light at Was it the first time a car did not yield to Richmond Place Dr., the general consensus was her as she tried to walk across Kinnan St. at a that it is not safe for anyone crossing BBD. designated crosswalk, or was it the second? Another suggestion: New Tampa Was it one of the many times she’s seen cars should consider installing rectangular rapid speeding by? Or the times she has been awakflashing beacons, or RRFBs, similar to the ened at night by the sound of car tires squealing and screeching, the result of racing down Kinnan ones at crosswalks on E. Fletcher Ave., at St.? Or, just how unsafe she feels in general when some of the New Tampa area’s trouble spots. Viera encouraged everyone to attend she’s biking with her son or walking her dog? next week’s NTC meeting to present some Whenever it was, Ingram hosted a meeting of the concerns and suggestions that were at the New Tampa Regional Library on July 2 to raised at the meeting. find out if she was alone...and she wasn’t. “There were some good ideas presented Roughly a dozen local residents from tonight,” Viera said. “I think the momenMeadow Pointe, Cory Lake Isles and Hunter’s tum has really been growing in the City of Green showed up — including Viera and Eric Tampa the last 6-9 months toward pedesDenney, an aide to District 5 Hillsborough County commissioner Ken Hagan, as well as two trian safety. Meetings like this can help.” 8

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Rec Center & Sensory Park Both Taking Shape As Plans Are Revealed By JOHN C. COTEY The fruits of this year’s New Tampa-friendly budget are beginning to ripen, as meetings in June and July presented visions of the expansion of the New Tampa Recreation Center (NTRC), as well a sensory-friendly park, which will be the first of its kind in the Tampa Bay area. On July 11, after this current issue went to press, the City of Tampa’s Parks & Recreation Department was scheduled to host a community meeting at the NTRC to present its plans for a 7,825-sq.-ft. expansion of the overcrowded Tampa Palms home of one of the Tampa Bay area’s most sought-after gymnastics and dance programs. The popularity of the programs has resulted in thousands of Tampa and Pasco County residents being placed on waiting lists for years. However, those waiting lists should dwindle a lot, thanks to $1.95 million allocated in this year’s budget to creating more room for more programs at NTRC — which could double — says Brad Suder, the superintendent of planning and design for Tampa Parks & Rec. The expansion will add another multi-purpose room similar to the room currently used and there will be a new preschool gymnasium. Currently, the preschool program uses the main multi-purpose room. Suder said the NTRC also will have a new training box, a 1,760-sq.-ft. rectangular room that can be used for a variety of training regimens. In addition, Suder said, there will be more windows so parents and family can watch the gymnastics and dance programs, as well as six new bathrooms. One of the bathrooms will have an electro-

magnetic lock, so it can be open on the weekends for those using the outdoor areas when the NTRC is closed. The expansion currently is in the design stage, and bids are expected to go out in October. Suder said he expects construction to begin in January, and for the expansion to be completed for the summer of 2019, or a year from now.

Attendees looked over a series of display boards (left) showPublic Shown ing examples of other Sensory Park Plans sensory parks in the U.S. At another public — which are created for meeting held in June, children and adults identimore than two dozen fied as having Autism residents and City of Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Tampa officials gathered and are focused more with design architects Attendees at the June 11 meeting at the on soothing and serene at the NTRC to share New Tampa Recreation Center were asked activities — with some adideas and their vision for to place stickers on the proposals they liked or ditional ideas for the New a 5-acre sensory-friendly Tampa park. wanted for the sensory-friendly park. park that will be located Those who are on behind the B.J.’s Wholesale Club on Commerce the autism spectrum can take in information Palms Dr. in Tampa Palms. from their five senses just like everyone else, David Conner, president of David Conner but cannot process it the same way and can & Associates, showed some preliminary plans to become overwhelmed, which makes them area residents. Conner heads up the planning, unable to communicate and interact because landscape architecture and urban design firm they are overcome with anxiety. that is being paid $49,400 (of the $90,000 Sensory-friendly parks focus on incorporatbudgeted by the City of Tampa) to begin deing easier-to-process activities and sights. They signing the sensory-friendly park. are, however, still accessible to everyone.

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Proponents of the park say as many as 40,000 children in and around the New Tampa area are likely to use the park each year. The displays showed photographs of potential amenities that could be part of the park, like slides, swings and jungle gyms. Residents were asked to place “Like” and “Love” stickers (above) on the amenities they liked the most. District 7 Tampa City Council member Luis Viera, whose older brother Juan has autism, spearheaded the effort to get the study and design of the sensory park funded in this year’s city budget. Several residents voiced their excitement and approval during a short presentation by Conner and Brad Suder of Tampa’s Parks & Recreation Department. “We live in Stafford Place (in Tampa Palms), like one block away from the park,” said Jeff Chacon, who said that he is eager to take his two-year old grandson, Finn, to the park. “I want to be able to walk down there with my grandson. We’re excited. It’s good for the neighborhood and good for the City of Tampa.”

July 31, 2018 • 5:30pm - 7pm Life Coach & Speaker -Laura White Are you stressed, trying to juggle life: working, family and taking care of parents - having the pressure of making decisions for your parents/loved ones. Join us with guest speaker and Life Coach - Laura White (BCACLC, CHNP, BTCL) as she provides us with some practical encouraging advice that will help us live a balanced more fulfilled life!

Please RSVP by July 27. Call 813-375-9858. Light refreshments will be served.

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Trouble In The Lagoon Paradise? What Exactly Were Epperson Residents Promised About The First Crystal Lagoons® Amenity In The U.S.? By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com

After years of anticipation and months of positive press clippings, the country’s first community to be home to a Crystal Lagoons® amenity in northern Wesley Chapel’s Epperson community, is facing choppy, albeit crystal clear, waters. First, summer is here and the lagoon isn’t open, thanks in part to Pasco County ordering Metro Development Group, which is building the high-profile project, to halt construction for 30 days back in May when it discovered 19 violations for buildings that Metro had been built without first receiving the proper permits. While construction did resume, even more disconcerting to Metro might be a host of current residents — and others who are or were under contract and waiting to move into Epperson — complaining publicly about what they feel are broken promises and false advertising that have led to additional fees, despite paying premium prices for homes in the community. That group, which it says numbers roughly 70 families, including homeowners and those who have (or had) placed deposits and/or are under contract, hired the Kovar Law Group to represent themselves when, they say, they did not receive any answers from Metro. They took their complaints public on June 15, when the group called local media news outlets, including the Neighborhood News, for an impromptu press conference at the lagoon. That has exacerbated strained relationships, mostly through Facebook posts and comments, from residents who say they are pleased with Metro and who fear the bad publicity will bring down their property values and cast an unfair stain on the new community. Metro responded to the Neighborhood News through public relations firm Tucker/ Hall with a prepared statement:

“The Epperson neighborhood has been extraordinarily popular, and we are honored that so many families are moving here and Construction has resumed at the Crystal Lagoons® amenity in Epperson, after a delay due to permitting. The delay enjoying the in opening the lagoon, combined with the cost of amenities, has riled some in the community. (Photo: Gavin Olsen) area. We want Metro to succeed, but you have to be fair and They have to be reasonable, though.” all families to enjoy the neighborhood and Some don’t think Epperson’s latest email not let it become some amusement park. It’s amenities, and we have already extended new not what I signed up for.” falls into the reasonable category, though. discounts and benefits to early residents. We According to an email sent to residents want to hear feedback from residents about three weeks ago, thanking them for their paChanges In Pricing their questions so we can work with them to tience, Epperson introduced, in addition to the Epperson is reducing prices for current make the area even better as this neighbor$25 monthly fee all residents pay, Play Passes. homeowners. Residents who bought before hood grows.” Bronze Level passes, which will cost $20 June 25 receive a 75-percent “pioneer” Those angry with Metro, however, say a month per person for the summer season discount, but just for this summer, meaning they haven’t received any clear answers. (March through September), are good for that the Play Pass tiers will be only $5, $15 They say they were promised an idyllic unlimited slide rides, four Wibit (an inflatand $22 a month per person. Next year, the paradise, presented for months in beautiful able water platform) sessions and four guest pioneer discount will be 50 percent, then 25 renderings where one monthly fee of $25 passes. For $40 more a month per person, percent in 2020, before being phased out gets you full run of the lagoon, all packaged Silver Level passes allow four 1-hour kayak completely. as “Lagoon Living.” rentals, four 1-hour paddleboard rentals and Kristen Alvis, who bought her home Instead, those residents are discovering two more guest passes. in July of 2017, and others, say those who a number of things they claim Metro and the A Gold Level pass is $90 per person per are complaining did not read their conbuilders in Epperson did not market — admonth, allowing for 30 Wibit sessions, 30 tracts closely enough. “I signed a contract ditional costs for amenities, including rides 1-hour kayak and paddleboard rentals, eight with M/I Homes and again at closing and, down an inflatable water slide and kayak and passes and unlimited slide rides. in both cases, it was clearly stated that the paddleboard rentals, as well as rules against A family of four could spend as much $25 monthly fee provided you access to the bringing in your own chairs and coolers, as as $360 a month ($4,320 per year) to enjoy lagoon,” Alvis says. “There was nothing well as memberships for non-residents. close to unlimited access to the lagoon implied about (other) amenities.” “The people complaining are the ones amenities, or $2,160 just for the summer. And, for those who are complaining that who looked at stuff without asking questions,” (Note-Metro did not respond to a question public memberships will be available when says Epperson resident Ken Shere. “They obvi- about what happens from October through they thought they were buying into an amenously didn’t read the bylaws” which, he adds, February, since it’s not mentioned in their ity offered only to residents, Shere points out state clearly that Metro has the right “to set current pricing.) where it clearly says in a recent community and adjust pricing.” “I hope they come to some sort of resodisclosure addendum that, “the Lagoon will Bill Rowe, who moved into Epperson lution, something fair,” Rowe says. “I don’t not be for the exclusive use of buyers within June 1 with his granddaughter, agrees, but want that every time my daughter goes down Epperson Ranch, and outside memberships only to a certain point. a slide I have to get out my wallet and pay a will be available.” “You can put into a contract that we fee. I want my wife to be able to walk down Shere says Epperson is the best neighhave the right to make changes,” Rowe says. to the lagoon and have a bottle of water with borhood he has ever lived in. He said Metro “Of course, they are going to make changes. her without water police stopping her. I want provided an Icee truck, tent for a grill and

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Some residents are disappointed that the water slide depicted in renderings used in marketing materials still on display at the pool (top left) are not what they ended up with, which Metro Development Group says was done out of caution, due to the potential for severe weather in Florida. Other residents are leery of the lack of free amenities at the lagoon. (Photos: Gavin Olsen) other items for Epperson’s summer bash, and er avenues to resolves their issues. When they back and forth wavering on really what it was has helped develop a tight-knight community. going to be.” hired an attorney, he says that started a series He is disappointed in the negativity towards of back-and-forth attacks on social media. Smith adds that even today, site maps at Metro, and thinks much of it is being fueled “That’s when it all got real,” said Kip the lagoon show a two-person slide next to by non-residents who only have deposits down Lessem, an Epperson resident since April. a tube slide in the Adventure Bay part of the and aren’t yet as invested in the community. “The fact that the lagoon isn’t open yet, lagoon; when in fact, only a large blue-andHe says he is convinced that 95 percent and then all this other stuff happened, it just white inflatable slide sits on the other side of of residents are happy, even though many added fuel to the fire.” the lagoon. might be discouraged that the lagoon isn’t But, Jonathan Smith, a one-time proThe renderings have been used for open yet. Those on the other side say that spective Epperson resident, says Metro’s lack months by Metro to promote and market they believe more than half of the residents of a response to concerns about amenities, the lagoon, although their defenders say that are unhappy and want answers from Metro. and a series of what he called “conflicting renderings of any project are always subject to messages,” left him and others no choice. change and should not be taken literally. When the group of residents and poten“If you look at the rendering and can’t “It was marketed and advertised and tial future residents started having town halls, sold to us as an all-inclusive exclusive amenity take it literally, then why even post it?,” Smith Shere says he and others asked them to stop asks, adding that instead of deluging Metro for residents,’” he says. “Metro has gone representing the community and look for oth-

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with emails, the group decided to hire an attorney to represent their concerns and try to get some answers. On May 24-25, two town hall meetings were held. Smith said due to some of the personal attacks he has endured, he and his wife backed out of their contract. “I don’t want it to fail,” he says. “I just think Metro should come in and say, ‘Hey guys, we’re going to take responsibility for this (confusion), and moving forward, we’re going to change our marketing material.’ If they had said ‘amenities not included, prices subject to change,’ we would have been okay with that. I just feel like the way they did it was false advertising.” Lessem says he thinks bashing Metro publicly wasn’t the way to go, although he admits he is one of those disappointed that the lagoon may not open much before Labor Day. He said the pricing is no surprise to him, but he can see how it can add up for larger families. He hopes Metro will reevaluate the prices of passes in order to attract more people to the community. And, about that community — Lessem knows nerves have been frayed and enemies made, all inflamed by Facebook. He said he is “disappointed in the maturity level” shown by many of his neighbors on both sides of the issue, “but people let emotions get the best of them when they get passionate.” At the end of the day, however, he says everyone has to live together. “The community is not the lagoon, it’s the community,” Lessem says. “It’s your neighbors. When all of this is said and done, you have to ask yourself, what’s more important? You’re going to find out you missed out on, like making friends, because of whatever side you are taking in this whole debate.’’

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Business Notes: Updates On Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar, Chipotle & Earth Fare

Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar is coming to S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel, part of an aggressive expansion by the sports bar franchise owned in part by New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees. By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com Permitting has been filed with Pasco County planning for a 15,664-sq.-ft. shell building that is expected to be a commercial strip center right off S.R. 56, in front of the soon-to-open Hyatt Place Hotel & Convention Center. The strip center is expected to be home to a number of coming projects that have been previously reported, like Golf Galaxy, , Total Wine & More and Blaze Pizza. One highly-anticipated sports-themed restaurant has already begun the permitting process, but it won’t be headed to the new center as once-rumored. Instead, the Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar will begin construction soon a little bit to the west, near the corner of S.R. 56 and Wesley Chapel Blvd. (S.R. 54). Walk-On’s, a franchise with more than a dozen locations across Louisiana and Texas with an aggressive plan to expand into 11 other states this year, will be located in the same center with Chipotle Mexican Grill, and a 3,000-sq.ft. Sleep Number store will also be on that parcel. The Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar will be one of the few “pure” sports bars in the area. Its founders, Brandon Landry and Jack Warner, met in 1997 at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, where both were walk-ons (hence the name) for the Tiger basketball team. While they didn’t play much, they did get to travel the country with the Tigers and, along the way, visited enough sports bars that they formulated an idea for starting their own back in Baton Rouge. According to the Walk-On’s website, in 2000, Landry and Warner sketched out their vision for a floor plan on a napkin from 35,000 feet above the earth, as they flew home from a road game at the University of Tennessee. They opened their first location in 2003 and, in 2012, Walk On’s was named the No. 1 Sports Bar in America. Two years later, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees joined the business as a co-owner. Walk-On’s menu is a little different than many sports bars, highlighted by some unique Cajun dishes, like po’boy sandwiches, gumbo, crawfish, fried Lousiana Alligator and Cajundillas (a tortilla stuffed with chicken, andouille, boudin sausage, caramelized onions and cheese). 14

All of it served by waitresses dressed as cheerleaders and televisions blaring the calls from your favorite sporting events. HOME DECORATING: While the new AtHome stores continues construction behind Costco on the south side of S.R. 56, Home Goods has filed permitting requests with Pasco County for a 20,006-sq.-ft. store to be located next to the Earth Fare health and wellness supermarket, which has begun to go vertical just east of Walk-On’s and Chipotle on the north side of 56. ON THE MOVE: Local restaurant favorite OTB Delights Café, which currently is located on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. across from Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, is moving a few miles up the road. According to the county’s permitting records, OTB— which stands for Only The Best — is looking to move into the new Nye Commons Plaza on the west side of BBD, just south of S.R. 54, which is owned by Nye Commercial Developers. Currently under a zoning review, OTB, which specializes in serving hand-crafted fresh and healthy sandwiches, wraps and salads — but which owner Dirson De Mesquita says will feature a much-expanded breakfast menu (including real bacon!) — would take over a 1,345-sq.-ft. space in the 14,000-sq.-ft. plaza., which now has seven tenants, including Nye Commercial Developers. “We are all filled up,” says Brent Nye, who says he still regularly fields calls from prospective tenants. Also moving into the plaza is Board & Brush Creative Studios, which is looking to take over a 1,302-sq.-ft. space in the plaza. Board & Brush is a do-it-yourself studio, allowing customers to build “on-trend, farmhouse-classic, inspirational pieces of décor for your home, office or cottage.” Although primarily for wood projects, the studio does have other project materials, like glass, slate, canvas and others. Board & Brush is a franchise that has more than 150 locations across the U.S., including eight currently in Florida, the closest of which is in Clearwater. Also in permitting to set up shop at Nye Commons is Keystone Title Agency, Inc., which currently has a location in Port Richey. Avalon Spa & Nails also is opening a second Wesley Chapel location in the plaza, and Nye says a veterinarian and an insurance company have leased space as well.

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JULY 2018 Saturday, July 14

Bay Chapel Food Pantry - Free food for needy families. Open every Saturday from 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., behind Christian Brothers Automotive at 20300 Trout Creek Dr. (off BBD Blvd.). For more info, visit BayChapel.com/foodpantry. Rotary Club of New Tampa - The New Tampa Rotary Club meets every Friday for breakfast at 7 a.m. at TPGCC. For more info, including the upcoming speaker schedule, contact David Lanigan at (813) 760-6548 or dave@davidlanigan.com. Or., visit NewTampaRotary.org. One Year Anniversary Celebration at The Learning Experience - From 9 a.m.1 p.m. enjoy games, activities, music, food, water play, face painting, fun arts & much more. This FREE event is for everyone. For more info, call (813) 5758268 or see the ad on pg. 31 of this issue.

Free Home Buyer Workshop - Come learn about the current home-buying process with real estate professionals and lenders at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Florida Properties Group, 26771 S.R. 56, Wesley Chapel, FL 33544. Complimentary refreshments and appetizers, 6 - 7:30 p.m., Register for FREE on eventbrite at https://GuideMeHome.eventbrite.com, and see the ads on pgs. 2 & 34!

Friday, July 27

The Freedom Center presents HopeFest - At Wesley Chapel Elem. School (30243 Wells Rd.), 6-9 p.m. Get Education-Ready with health information, school supplies & new backpacks at this FREE event with bounce houses and carnival games. Register at FreedomisHere.org or call (813) 414-1664.

Tuesday, July 31

Life Coach Speaks At Legacy - Legacy at Highwoods Preserve (18600 Highwoods Preserve Pkwy., invites you to learn about living a balanced, more fulfilled life with Life Coach & Speaker Laura White, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., . Light refreshments will be served. Please RSVP by July 27 and call (813) 375-9858 or see the ad on pg. 10.

Tuesday, July 17

AUGUST2018

Monday, July 23

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

Keep It Local - This seat-specific networking group emphasizes small, local businesses every Tues., 11:30 a.m., at GrillSmith at The Shops at Wiregrass. For info, call Marino Cecchi at (813) 513-9001. New Tampa Democratic Club - Now meeting at a new time! The New Tampa Democratic Club meets at the New Tampa Regional Library (10001 Cross Creek Blvd.) from 7-8:30 p.m. Guest speakers are featured at every meeting. For info, email newtampademocraticclub@gmail.com or call (813) 563-0845.

Wednesday, July 25

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

Wednesday, August 1 Saturday, August 4

5th Annual APTacious Experience - See the ad on pg. 21 of this issue!

YOUR TAMPA CITY COUNCILMAN

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Thursday, July 26

North Tampa Veterans meeting - All armed forces veterans are invited to weekly lighthearted Dutch-treat breakfast at Steak ‘n Shake just off BBD Blvd. (17509 North Palms Village Place) every Thursday at 7:30 am. Get acquainted and tell your tales, new and old. Bring your spouse and your brag sheet.

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Discovery Village At Tampa Palms Offers Luxurious Assisted Living selections during themed parties and other special events.

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 dining room for special family celebrations. There also are numerous social areas that are convenient for entertaining and mingling with neighbors, including a game room complete with a full-size pool table and several card and other game tables for hours of friendly competition. Residents can enjoy daily happy hour celebrations or evening nightcaps in the Legends Club & Bar. The clubhouse also hosts the luxurious Silver Cinema Movie Theater, complete with a theater-style popcorn machine, so residents can keep up with the newest releases or reminisce with one of their favorite childhood movies. Of course, to ensure they always look their best, a full-service, professional beauty salon and spa with barber shop is available to all of the residents of Discovery Village.

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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!

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Health and wellness are top of mind at Discovery Village at Tampa Palms. The senior-equipped fitness center includes state-of-the-art exercise machines, as well as free-standing weights and yoga mats, ideal for even the most health-conscience enthusiast. Year-round water fitness can be enjoyed in the outdoor heated pool (bottom photo on next page, which boasts a 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 multi-functional craft center and activity room for inspiring the creative soul. Other services include an on-site medical director, on-site therapies and an on-site, Medicare-certified home health care agency (top right photo on next page) to ensure that 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.

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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 (left photo on next page) 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, our chefs create mouth-watering appetizers, entrées and desserts that keep our residents’ taste buds tingling. You’ll also love the

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

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request with the Concierge a couple of days 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. For more information, call (813) 605-2400, see the ad on pg. 29 or visit www.DiscoveryVillages.com to schedule a tour today and enjoy lunch on us!

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

After 22 Years, Fit 4 Life Personal Training & Physical Therapy Is Still Thriving By GARY NAGER

I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again: I have not only known Travis Monday (a fellow University of Florida alum) for as long as he has been in business here in Tampa — which is 17 years (this month) of the 22 years he has owned and operated Fit 4 Life Personal Training & Physical Therapy — I’ve been working out at his New Tampa studio. In other words, if you think I’m out of shape, feel free to blame him. Just kidding, Travis (photo on this page). Imagine instead what I would look like if I hadn’t been visiting Fit 4 Life at least two days a week most every week since 2001. But, let’s start with a little history. Travis, a former UPS driver who is certified as a personal trainer by the American Council on Exercise (ACE), as well as in SuperSlow training, first opened Fit 4 Life in Wausau, WI, in 1996, at the tender age of 22. After five successful years of operating his personal training studio in his home state, Travis sold that practice and opened Fit 4 Life in Tampa Palms in 2001, although that was at a different location than where he has been for at least the last dozen or so years, in the Tampa Palms Professional Center, just south of the Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. exit (#270) off I-75. He started adding licensed Physical Therapists (PTs) shortly after opening that first, 2,500-sq.-ft. Tampa Palms studio. He moved from that location to the former Model & Visitor Center in front of Hunter’s Green off Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in New Tampa before opening the current studio. In fact, Travis met his wife Fiona (photo on next page) when he first hired her as a PT for Fit 4 Life. Today, they have two young daughters, Molly and Madison, and continue

to be the driving personal training and PT forces behind this dynamic, 4,500-sq.-ft. studio.

MedX Equipment

When Travis first opened in Wisconsin, he had only six pieces of circuit training equipment, all of which were MedX machines, which Travis says are the best out there for using the SuperSlow training method. Because Fit 4 Life is a personal training studio and not a “gym” or “health club,” every training client works oneon-one with one of Travis’ outstanding trainers every time he or she visits the studio. Instead of throwing up as much weight as you can using momentum to get through reps, your trainer will force you to move the weight in each rep of each exercise as slowly as possible, ten seconds in each direction of the exercise. Today, Fit 4 Life not only has 18 pieces of MedX equipment (you usually only use 5 or 6 of the machines each visit), one of them is a computer-driven neck and one is a lower back (lumbar extension) PT machine; both allow Fiona and her fellow licensed PTs to track your progress. If you have neck or low back pain (or both) and haven’t gotten the relief you hoped for from your previous PTs, you owe it to yourself to give these machines a try at Fit 4 Life. “There’s no doubt that since the economic downturn in our area in 2008, we’ve seen much faster growth of our physical therapy clients than we have personal training,” Travis says. “Even so, we have helped more than 6,000 training clients lose tens of thousands of pounds of fat. We’re up to 3,000 people we’ve helped with their low back and neck pain and have a 95-percent success rate, and an 88-percent success rate with surgical candidates.” He adds, “We are the only clinic in the

area that truly does one-on-one physical therapy. We don’t just get you out of pain, we are 100-percent committed to finding the underlying problem and solving it and we have expanded to help all PT needs, from shoulders, necks, hips, knees, etc., because of our high success rate. And, more than 350 doctors have sent us PT clients, but you don’t need a prescription to come here for therapy.”

Party With The Mondays!

Whether you’re already a Fit 4 Life client or patient or not, everyone who receives this publication in his or her mailbox is invited to

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

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attend the studio’s annual Client Appreciation Martini Party on Friday, July 20, 5 p.m. until whenever folks are done enjoying the great, free food from Stonewood Grill & Tavern (also in Tampa Palms) and free martinis. For more information, to set a personal training or physical therapy appointment, or to RSVP for the Client Appreciation Martini Party, call (813) 907-7879. You also can stop in anytime the studio (located at 17419 Bridge Hill Ct.) is open and sign up for the party at the front desk. See the ad on pg. 32 of this issue for two complimentary personal training sessions, or visit Fit4LifeTampa.com to find out more.

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SPOTLIGHT ON.........Ferrera Dental Care! If you’re coming in for an appointment at Ferrera Dental Care, located just off Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., south of E. Bearss Ave., be prepared to use your mouth — and not just to “open wide.” General and cosmetic dentist Robert Ferrera, D.D.S., believes that effective, two-way communication is key to building relationships with his patients and achieving excellent results. “I have known Dr. Ferrera for many years, in fact I was his first patient,” says Bob Cornett, who has been a patient of Dr. Ferrera for 30 years. “Over the years, I’ve been blessed to have been associated with him. I can’t say enough for the respect I have for Dr. Ferrera and his entire staff. I’m there every three months, and have been doing this for many years.” Full mouth rehabs — often the result of teeth grinding — are among Dr. Ferrera’s specialties. And, he says, adopting the latest technologies is another. Cerec Restoration is a dental restoration system that allows dentists to produce and place custom-fitted ceramic dental restorations using a variety of computer-assisted technologies. Ferrera got involved with Cerec in 2009, during the nationwide economic downturn. Domestic laboratories were raising prices for lab work and many dentists turned to sending crowns offshore to keep their (and their patients’) costs down. “I never wanted to send anything offshore,” Dr. Ferrera says. “I realized that

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I could control my costs by using the Cerec machine.” Today, instead of multiple appointments and sometimes a weeks-long process, Dr. Ferrera can now create and place a crown in only one day. Ferrera graduated from Tampa Catholic High School and earned his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree from the University of South Florida and graduated at the top of his class in 1985 from the Ohio State University College of Dentistry in Columbus, with his Doctorate of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) degree. He teamed up with his friend and neighbor Bill Leonard (as well as Tom Wade) to help create the Rotary Club of New Tampa in 1995, and has held every chair position in the Rotary Club of New Tampa with the exception of president. Dr. Ferrera celebrated his 20th anniversary at his BBD location in March. Ferrera Dental Care is located at 15047 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. For more information, call (813) 558-6684, visit DrFerrera.com or see the ad on pg. 13.

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

You Can Bank On Roxanne Simmonds Of Premier Sotheby’s Intl. Realty Island, Armature Works and other restaurants. Roxanne and Dennis have been married 33 years. They live with their newly-adopted Maltipoo puppy, Webster. Their daughter, Nicole, used to live in Cory Lake Isles, too, but recently moved back to Boston and will be married this October. Their son, D.J., was a Boston police officer who died in 2014 as a result of injuries sustained when he was one of the first officers to engage the Boston Marathon bombers nearly a year before. “He’s our hero,” says Roxanne.

By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN

With more than 20 years of experience in banking, most recently as an executive managing teams of people, local Realtor Roxanne Simmonds of Premier Sotheby’s International Realty has the expertise to help her clients navigate the sometimes-tricky process of buying or selling a home. The Cory Lake Isles resident says she fell in love with the New Tampa area when she relocated to Tampa from Boston 11 years ago. At the time, she was a market executive with Bank of America and was later promoted to area executive for West Florida. After that, Roxanne worked as a program executive, where she says she traveled all over the country, managing the sale of financial centers to community banks. She explains that when Bank of America executives wanted to sell off financial centers that no longer fit their business model, she would manage that transition, which would include selling the physical building, transitioning clients to the new community bank and transitioning Bank of America associates to their new employer. While Bank of America brought her to Tampa, Roxanne says it was the appeal of Cory Lake Isles that drew her to New Tampa. She says she always loved her drive back home after working in downtown Tampa. In fact, although she still spends most of her time in the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area, the Premier Sotheby’s International Realty local office is in South Tampa on S. Moody Ave. “There’s so much beauty (in New Tampa),” she says. “With the quietness and trees, I

About Premier Sotheby’s International Realty

Roxanne Simmonds of Premier Sotheby’s International Realty and her husband, Dennis, enjoy living the Florida lifestyle. She wants you to enjoy it, too, by helping you find your dream home.

feel like I’m going to my country home right in Tampa.” She says homes in the New Tampa area currently are an excellent value, especially when you consider the amenities offered in many local communities — such as community pools and clubhouses — and the proximity to shopping at two major local malls and the continuing influx of new restaurants. “We are a community that truly has

something for everyone,” says Roxanne. “I love this area,” she adds. “If my husband and I decide to downsize, it will still be in New Tampa. I see the growth of the community, but it seems it’s growing closer together. You have all different backgrounds, and the diversity is fabulous.” She also enjoys the proximity to downtown Tampa, where she and her husband, Dennis, enjoy visiting Jackson’s of Harbour

Roxanne says she was drawn to Premier Sotheby’s International Realty because it is a luxury brand with a great reputation. Although she is one of the first associates in New Tampa with the company, she is familiar with its reputation from her time in downtown Tampa and Boston. Premier Sotheby’s is affiliated with the world-renowned Sotheby’s auction house (Sothebys.com). Roxanne left her role with Bank of America in 2016 and took some time off. She earned her real estate license in 2017, and that’s when she says her phone started ringing off the hook from companies who were recruiting her to join their agency. But, no one from Premier Sotheby’s ever called her. She says that’s because the company is difficult to get into because of its high standards. So, Roxanne decided to call them. The local Premier Sotheby’s management found her banking background and customer service focus a great match for their

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variety, too. No matter what the price point is, I make sure the client has a luxury experience.” Roxanne adds that if you’re considering selling your home, there’s no reason to try to make that decision alone. “If you are even thinking about whether or not to sell your house, contact me,” she says. “I can give you information to help with the decision, either way.” She can help you understand the value of your home and have a conversation about where you want to go in the next season of life and how to get there. She helps buyers who are relocatRoxanne, with Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn. ing, those who are buying a first home, a bigger home or downsizing. Whether upscale company. Plus, Roxanne did residenthey need to know how to get electrictial lending in the early part of her career, so ity, what a CDD is, or how flood zones work, she already understood that important part of Roxanne says she can help guide buyers and the home-buying process. sellers through all of their questions. She adds “I know how to treat people well,” says that she enjoys helping people find the special Roxanne. “I’ve been trained through the place that will become their home. companies I’ve worked for, but I also just “It is just a material thing, but it’s where know that it’s important to treat people with memories are made, where we celebrate holrespect and to be kind.” idays and birthdays, and at the end of a hard She doesn’t overlook the simple things: day, it’s where we retreat from life,” Roxanne “If you say you’re going to do something,” she explains. “So, we want it to be comfortable, says, “do it. Be timely. Return phone calls.” whether it’s 1,000 square feet or 7,000.” While the name Sotheby’s conjures up Premier Sotheby’s International images of luxury, Roxanne says she will help Realty’s Tampa office is located at 202 anyone looking to buy or sell a home. S. Moody Ave. For a consultation with She says her currently active listings go Roxanne Simmonds, call her at (813) up to $850,000 right now, but she’s also 613-3687 or send an email to Roxanne. working with a client looking to purchase in Simmonds@PremierSIR.com. For more the $180,000-$250,000 price range. information, visit RoxanneSimmonds. “We have multi-million-dollar propPremierSothebysRealty.com or see the ad erties,” Roxanne says, “but we have a wide on page 30 of this issue.

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

American Wood Flooring Offers The Newest Products & All-Inclusive Pricing a particular installer, the warranty is still valid, regardless of who did the installation. The only additional costs a customer might incur outside of the square foot quote is if old tile flooring needs to be torn out or if the project includes covering a staircase. “It happens all the time when the customer is holding a quote from a big box store or competitor that’s for something like $2.99 a square foot,” Andy says. “But, once they nickel and dime you to death, it often ends up that our quote is less than theirs and I stand behind everything I sell.”

By ANDY WARRENER

Decorating trends change over the years and American Wood Flooring, located next to Marshall’s in the Super Target-anchored Northwoods Plaza in Wesley Chapel, is always adapting to those changes. For example, formica cabinets and linoleum floors are pretty much things of the past. CEO Andy Dunning’s showroom reflects those changing trends and more. “We’re always bringing in more samples and getting with manufacturers to fit the new demand for the most current styles,” Andy says. The family business has been around for 25 years and started out exclusively in wood flooring, based out of another small storefront in New Port Richey. A little less than 12 years ago, Andy opened the shop in Wesley Chapel. The showroom floor, crowded with sample displays, reflects how quickly trends have changed and how American Wood Flooring has changed along with them. “When we started out, it was mainly wood flooring,” he says. “Then, we had customers that wanted their whole house done, so we expanded into carpet. When we had customers who also wanted their bathrooms re-done, we expanded into tile, too.” American Wood Flooring can cover your entire house — with wood, laminate, tile and carpet. “We want to be your one-stop shop,” Andy says. “We just had carpeting installed on the second floor of our home,” says custom-

So, What Are The Latest Trends?

Is it wood or is it tile? Andy Dunning of American Wood Flooring, located next to Marshalls on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in Wesley Chapel, can sell and install both in your home and he stands behind what he sells. er Jacqueline DeRoze. “They did such a preparation, underlayment, removal and superb job that we just ordered flooring for disposal of old carpeting and padding, the entire main level.” transition pieces, material and install of quarter-round trim. Even things like movEverything-Included Pricing ing furniture in and out of the room are Dunning says that customers someincluded in the price per square foot. times get sticker shock when they look What’s more, American Wood at American Wood Flooring’s prices per Flooring offers a Lifetime Warranty on the square foot when compared with other installation, and that is offered through the installers. But, that’s because every squarestore, not the installer. That means that if foot price at American Wood Flooring American Wood Flooring no longer uses is all-inclusive — which means sub-floor

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

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Color scheme-wise, Dunning says that grey- and white-wash tones (lower photo on next page) are the newest trends. For laminate flooring, LVP, or Luxury Vinyl Plank, is the latest craze. LVP is a hybrid of laminate and vinyl flooring that’s completely waterproof. Most laminate flooring is water-resistant but water can still seep into the cracks where the pieces fit together and saturate the fiber board, causing swelling and warping. LVP panels have a vinyl veneer that protects both the panels and the joints from water intrusion. The sub-layer of the LVP is actually made from Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), a thermoplastic known for its rigidness. A layer of cork separates the top layer of PVC from the bottom layer. Flex Core Naturals is one of the five different brands of LVP flooring that American Wood Flooring has available. “We brought it (LVP) into the store about 18 months ago and we were install-

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SPOTLIGHT ON....Scrub-A-Dub Bin Cleaning!

ing three to five floors a month with it,” Dunning said. “Now we’re putting in 12 to 15 LVP floors a month.” LVP falls in the middle price range with regard to the different types of flooring, coming in between $5.99 and $7.99 per square foot. As a comparison, Andy says some hardwood flooring can go as high as $17 or even $18 per square foot. He adds that another benefit to LVP flooring compared with other types of laminate is the sound. Dunning says an air pocket exists between laminate flooring and the sub-floor. This can make that knocking sound when walking on it with shoes, especially hard-soled shoes. LVP flooring lays flush with the sub-floor, so it is quieter. Another growing trend in flooring is the demand for American-made product. “When we started in Wesley Chapel in 2008, about 40 percent of the product we sold was made domestically,” Andy says. “This year, I would say that 75 percent of our product is made here in the U.S.” He adds that he enjoys this trend. “Typically, the domestically-made products are better quality,” Andy says. “Most are made from American lumber anyway. It puts Americans back to work and brings jobs back to the United States.” Another bonus to ordering through American Wood Flooring is that there is no sales tax if American Wood Flooring also does the installation. “The State of Florida considers flooring a permanent home improvement and customers can save the sales tax if we do the install,” Andy says. “American Wood Flooring installed all of the hardwood flooring in my house,” says another satisfied customer, Janet

Noblett. “They did such a fabulous job. Andy is very professional, dependable and extremely knowledgeable. I have recommended him to many of my family and friends and they have all been so pleased.” Right now, American Wood Flooring is offering a promotion for waterproof flooring for just $5.99 per square foot. The store also has a $3.99-per-square-foot laminate flooring special, as well as a $1.99per-square-foot carpeting special. American Wood Flooring also offers a refer-a-friend incentive. Customers who refer a friend receive $50 gift cards to restaurants like Bonefish Grill, Outback Steakhouse and Carrabba’s Italian Grill. The American Wood Flooring showroom in Wesley Chapel is located at 1285 BBD Blvd. and is open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday. For more info, visit AmericanWoodFlooringFla.com, call(813) 9917999 or check out the ad on page 21.

Jennifer Trudel has lived in the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area since 1996. While serving the community as a pharmacist in Tampa, she dreamed of one day owning her own business. When the stress of her job pushed her to consider early retirement, she started researching what to do next. An acquaintance in another part of Florida raved about Jennifer’s sparkling clean trash bins on social media, and Jennifer recognized the opportunity to bring an innovative business that would be totally new to our area — and the perfect fit for her admitted neat-freak personality. That’s when Jennifer launched ScrubA-Dub Bin Cleaning, a service that comes to your home as often as you desire — from just four times per year up to once a month — to make sure the trash and recycling bins you drag back into your garage aren’t stinky and nasty, but are instead immaculately clean and smelling fresh. It all happens with Jennifer’s customdesigned truck, which was delivered to her last December, allowing her to begin serving clients since January of this year. One of her first customers was Joshua Green, who lives in Seven Oaks. He has been pleased with the results. “The bins are nice and clean and look brand new,” Joshua says. Scrub-A-Dub’s customers leave their bins out on trash day, after the truck has picked up their trash and/or recycling. Jennifer comes by, the bins are raised above the truck and centered around a head that spins and blasts

190-degree water. “It’s basically a high-pressure power wash that lasts about 30 seconds,” explains Jennifer. For an initial cleaning, Jennifer then uses a scrub brush and biodegradable degreaser to clean the inside of the bin, then runs it through the truck again. She pressure sprays the outside of the lid, wipes the handles and the inside and outside of the lid — anywhere your hand might touch. Then, she says the bin no longer smells, but she wants it to smell good, so she adds a deodorizer, and then wipes out any excess water. “It’s overkill, but I do it because I’m a type-A person,” she laughs. “I want the bin to look beautiful, and I want every customer to be wowed.” To sign up for Scrub-A-Dub Bin Cleaning or for more information, visit ScrubADubBins.com. You also can call Scrub-A-Dub at its toll-free number, (844) 727-8229 — 844-SCRUBBY — or see the ad on page 40.

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Organic Safe Lawns Lives Up To Its Name & Its Promise To Keep Your Lawn Healthy By ANDY WARRENER Consumer demand for organic items — whether it be food, healthcare products or even lawn care items — has grown by double-digits nearly every year since the 1990s. According to a 2015 report by the Organic Trade Association, sales of organic products have increased from $3.6 billion in 1997 to $43.3 billion in 2015. Jim Schanstra, the owner of Organic Safe Lawns Inc., is well aware of the trend. He says his past experiences working with chemicals and his wife’s battle with cancer have helped shape his current business into one where he and his crew work hard to safely make sure your lawn will stay healthy, green and free of pests, while also making sure your family and pets are protected from harmful chemicals. “When I started in this business, places like Whole Foods were just starting to creep into people’s awareness,” Schanstra says. “Now, we’re seeing significant growth, with people seeking us out.” The products — fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides — used by Schanstra and Organic Safe Lawns are certified by the Organic Materials Review Institute or OMRI, an independent testing company that certifies organic products. He says the products use a proven technology that was originally designed for fruits and vegetables, although Organic Safe Lawns deals strictly with lawns and ornamental plants. Schanstra says there are many advantages to going organic. One of those is the most simple — it is simply better for the lawn and plants, and better for the people and pets who touch them. It may not be equally

Jim Schanstra and his dog Angel want to keep your lawn safe for your pets, too. effective with regard to weed control, but Schanstra says it actually is more effective with regard to fertilization. Using chemical fertilizers and pesticides may lead to greener lawns — due to a higher concentration of nitrogen — but they also can lead to the same typical lawn problems so common here in Florida. Lawn problems like fungus and disease, chinch bugs, webworms and mole crickets are often found in high-nitrogen soils. “We found that by reducing the nitrogen level (in the products used), we almost eliminate fungus and pests,” Schanstra said. “The cheapest way to get green grass is with highnitrogen fertilizer.” Schanstra says he uses an application of chelated iron and manganese to get a deep green color, whenever homeowners associations are strict about the lawn’s shade of green.

Sustainable Growth

Schanstra also says that high-nitrogen fertilizers push top growth and weaken root structure. Over time, the root system can’t sustain the foliage. “A weakened root structure is like candy to bugs,” Schanstra said. “After using our treatment, you’ll see the bugs moving over into the neighbor’s yard.” The nitrogen in Schanstra’s fertilizers is derived from chicken urea, a natural source. With synthetic fertilizers, inorganic salts accumulate in the soil, causing it to “bind up.” Schanstra says the soil can get so full of salts that it won’t grow anymore. “I have tried all the best, with no results,” one customer, John from South Tampa, posted on Organic Safe Lawns’ website. “With large oaks, I thought it was impossible to keep St. Augustine (grass in my yard). Organic Safe

Lawns proved they can grow St. Augustine in difficult conditions.” Chemical-based fertilizers are designed to be absorbed through the leaf (foliar absorption). All of the organic fertilizers that Schanstra uses are absorbed through the roots. And, he adds, they are all water-soluble liquids that are safe for pets, wildlife and humans. Typical fertilizers are granular and come in two types of encapsulation. The first is water-based, meaning the fertilizer is released by coming into contact with water. The second is a polymer, or plastic encapsulation. Its releasing agent is heat. Erratic Florida weather — too much rain or too much heat — can sometimes cause the release of a month’s worth of fertilizer in a week or even a day. Schanstra says this is what causes run off and those nasty algae blooms in lakes and ponds. With an organic, liquid fertilizer, your plants and grass will absorb what they need, when they need it.

Exposure To Harmful Chemicals

Top-coated lawns treated with synthetic pesticides and herbicides put people and pets in danger. Why do applicators of pesticides wear rubber boots? Because, Schanstra says, they don’t want to get any of the application on them. Schanstra asks why would you want you or your pet to track that into your house? “The dog goes over into the neighbor’s yard to pee, and they’re chewing on their paws when they get back,” Schanstra said. “Kids crawl around and play on the grass and absorb it when they walk in it.” The chemical herbicide Atrazine is used widely across the U.S. and Florida to prevent

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pre- and post-emergence of broadleaf weeds. Schanstra says that Atrazine was banned by the European Union in 2003, and has been studied to determine its carcinogenic effects on humans and other mammals. It was found by the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Diseases (ATSDR) to have adverse effects on the endocrine system of mammals and likely contribute to some birth defects. “A lot of lawn companies will blanket your yard with Atrazine,” Schanstra said. “It costs five dollars for a 600-gallon mix. They use it because it’s cheap.” Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, or DDT, was used in the U.S. in agriculture as a pesticide and as a household insecticide in the 1940s and 1950s, only to be banned in 1973. Schanstra suspects that exposure to DDT as a youth had something to do with his wife Julie developing non-Hodgkin’s large cell lymphoma cancer. Thankfully, Julie’s fight with cancer was won with the help of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. But, it was a constant reminder to Schanstra of the potential effects of chemicals used in the environment. In 2006, just before a scheduled sales meeting with an organic fertilizer manufacturer, Schanstra says that one of the associates said that he’d read a recent news article that stated, “Florida uses more chemical-based fertilizers and pesticides on residential properties than the rest of the United States combined.” “This statement hit me like a lightning bolt,” Schanstra said. “It was in that moment that I decided to do something about it. That was the conception of Organic Safe Lawns.” In January of 2010, Organic Safe Lawns became a corporation. Schanstra’s three licensed technicians don’t spray weed killer, either. Instead, they rely on a healthy root system to suppress weeds and when

Neighborhood News

needed, they go with the good ol’ fashioned yanking them out. “We are about the process and the materials,” Schanstra says, “as opposed to harmful chemicals, with regard to weed control.” He notes that it takes time and regular application to have a weed-free, organic lawn in a way that’s safe for people and pets. That’s why Organic Safe Lawns recommends treatments every 30 days. Schanstra says his property has been on the Organic Safe Lawns service for nine years, and that if he gets three weeds in a month, it’s a lot. “We had Tru-Green before, with absolutely no results, and what a hassle to terminate their contract,” says a client named Lisa. “After just six months, our lawn is thick and healthy and the weeds are gone! No hidden charges. We recommend Organic Safe Lawns.” It’s also prudent to treat the lawns or ornamental plants around your property, including those that may closely border your neighbors. That’s why Organic Safe Lawns offers a referral program. Every referral made by a current customer will earn that customer one free month of service. “The concept is to create a safe environment and a chemical-free buffer zone around it,” Schanstra said. “We’ve found that the best way to pick up new business is with existing customers.” Organic Safe Lawns services Tampa, New Tampa, Wesley Chapel and Land O’ Lakes. For more info, see the ad on pg. 43, call (813) 393-9665, email organicsafelawns@verizon.net or visit OrganicSafeLawns.com. Existing customers can pay their invoices on the website, too! Prospective customers can fill out a contact form on the site to get a free estimate and $10 off their first treatment.

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Six New Tampa Public Schools Earns ‘A’ Grades For The Second Straight Year By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN

School grades for the 2017-18 school year were released by the Florida Department of Education on June 27, and New Tampa’s schools continue to perform well. Considering just the letter grades, all of the schools in New Tampa received the exact same grade as the previous year. “The grades remained as they were,” says Anna Brown, Ph.D., the area superintendent for Hillsborough County Public Schools. Dr. Brown, who oversees all of New Tampa’s public schools, says, “We had no declines, but, within those grades, many schools actually increased their grade point, turning out an even stronger A.” One such school was Chiles Elementary in Tampa Palms, which has had an A rating every year since opening in 2001. Principal Terri Evans says this year’s scores may be the highest ever achieved at the school. “We have 32 points more than we had last year,” says Evans. “We had a big jump in learning gains and in the bottom quartile, and we’re especially excited about that.” School letter grades are based on the compilation of individual scores on statewide tests, called Florida Standards Assessments (FSAs), at each grade level. Learning gains describe how much each individual student gained from one year’s test to the next, and the bottom quartile describes the students who scored the lowest on their FSAs at the school. “I think a letter grade is a bit of an overgeneralization,” Evans continues, “but I

School Name

LA Achievement Math Achievement Science Achievement 2018 2017 2016 2015 20 81 83 A A A A CHILES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 79 72 A A A A 79 CLARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 71 60 61 C C B B 43 HERITAGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 56 C C C C 57 46 HUNTER'S GREEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL A A A 79 A 79 69 PRIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 73 77 A A B A 69 TAMPA PALMS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 66 61

70 67

59 61

FREEDOM HIGH SCHOOL

WHARTON HIGH SCHOOL

TURNER-BARTELS K-8 SCHOOL

BENITO MIDDLE SCHOOL LIBERTY MIDDLE SCHOOL

also think that to maintain that A every year, we have to be a really great school in a lot of ways. I’m hopeful that it reflects all that we do — that we have that kind of a school where kids want to go to school and learn and families want to be involved.” The area’s other A schools are Clark, Pride and Tampa Palms elementary schools, and Benito and Liberty middle schools. Turner/Bartels K-8 School earned a B, while four schools earned a C: Heritage and Hunter’s Green (HGE) elementary schools, as well as both of our area’s high schools, Freedom and Wharton. While the consistency in grades is encouraging for the schools that continue to earn As, those that earned Cs are once again disappointed.

“For as hard as we work and what a wonderful school we have,” says HGE principal Gaye Holt proudly, “the letter grade doesn’t show what everyone expects of us.” Dr. Brown agrees. “School grades are created by the state, with their definition of one way to categorize schools,” she says. “When you walk on the campuses, the grade of C is not reflective of the quality of teaching in each classroom or the quality of the relationships we have with our students and families.” Despite some high-profile challenges at Wharton High, Dr. Brown says she is encouraged that its letter grade did remain the same, and didn’t drop. She says that all of the schools in

A C

B C

A B

New Tampa have many very high-achieving students and excellent teaching and that all of our area schools are positioned well to provide excellent service to the students of New Tampa. “The bottom line is, this is how we’re measured,” says Dr. Brown, “so we need to dig in and make sure we’re meeting every student’s needs at their individual level.” Parents of Hillsborough County public school students who want to view their child’s FSA scores, including FSA End of Course exams, can view them at https://testscores.sdhc.k12.fl.us. The complete DOE report is online at FLDOE.org/accountability/accountability-reporting/school-grades/.

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10-U All Stars Headed To World Series!

The Twisted Sisters, North Tampa Athletic Association 10-under softball All-Stars are headed to the Babe Ruth World Series after winning the State title July 2 in Lake City, FL. The Twisted Sisters overcame a disappointing loss in Districts to make it all the way to the top. After playing the District tournament at Madeira Beach and finishing second behind Bloomingdale, the New Tampa-based team came face-to-face with the Bloomingdale again in the State semifinals. The rematch, however, went the Twisted Sisters’ way, as they knocked off Bloomingdale 4-1. In the championship game, the New/North Tampa team endured a rain and lightning delay — during which an impromptu dance-off between the teams took place —

before beating West Volusia 6-1, to advance to the World Series. In five games at the State tourney, the Sisters outscored their opposition 32-7 (all five were victories) in advancing to the World Series July 28-Aug. 4 in Jensen Beach, FL. The team is coached by Otis Bass, with Michael Connell, Devol Connell and Justin Horne as assistant coaches. The Twisted Sisters are Chelsea Anderson, Jordan Ankers, Isabellarose Bass, Eliza Connell, Lola Coole, Hailey Horne, Allison McDuffie, Grace Mercado, Eliana Rivera, Willa Soorus and Skylah Stephens. The team has set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for their World Series trip. If you would like to help, go to GoFundMe.com and search for “North Tampa Twisted Sisters.” — JCC

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Sonic’s Pickle Juice Slush Gets A ‘C,’ For ‘Confusing’ By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com

I was expecting Nikki Spirakis to take a sip, turn to her left and spit it all over Troy Quast in disgust, who would then wipe it off his face and flick it at Drew Fisher, thus creating a huge scene and giving me a great story to write about Sonic Drive-In’s new Pickle Juice Snow Cone Slush. The taste test to end all taste tests. Instead, after each sip, all I got was a quizzical look. Then another. And yet, another. It did seem that the Pickle Slush was more of a Pickle Dud. Not only did my squad of brave taste testers take a swig of this new concoction that was sweeping the nation, but they took a second, and a third, and, well, you get the point. And, they all kinda liked it. Now, don’t get me wrong. Nikki, Troy and Drew said they would never order one ever again. In fact, I caught Troy staring longingly at the picture of the Green Apple Slush with Nerds candies, instead of focusing on the food review duties I was paying him for. But overall, they found the new Sonic offering to be, well, not terrible. “It doesn’t taste like pickle,” Nikki said, then after smacking her lips together, decided, “well, maybe a little bit.” A little bit, however, was not enough.

(l.-r.) Troy Quast, Nikki Spirakis and Drew Fisher all volunteered to try the new Pickle Juice Snow Cone Slush at Sonic Drive-In, but were unsure what to make of it. (Photo: John C. Cotey) When Sonic announced the slushes in March, I knew I had to try one. I’ve had pickles in various forms, even straight pickle juice to combat cramps, and loved them all. Truly, we are in the era of the pickle. There are pickle-flavored sports drinks, promoting the hydrating effects of the high levels of potassium and sodium in pickles. There are pickle juice vodkas and chasers and juices and even ales. But, a pickle slush? It was too ridiculous of an idea to ignore. When they made their debut on June 11, Pickle Juice Snow Cone Slushes made social media go crazy. Twitter raved and ranted, and YouTube reviews showed audacious overreactions of

people spitting it out as they fell out of their chairs (thanks, Nikki, for letting me down.) I knew I had to rally the troops to be the first in line. (Note: There was no line). While the mouth-puckering drinks will show up on my expense report as $12.99 slushes, a small pickle slush only set me back $1.29 each, which might have been the best thing about them. “It’s a small price to pay,” said Nikki, “to be one of the cool kids.” We came, we tasted, we survived. Years from now, we will share this day with our grandkids, and show them the “We Tried The Pickle Slush — Dill With It!” t-shirts we had made to commemorate the day.

(Note: There were no t-shirts). When served, the brightly and artificially colored Chernobyl-green slushes looked delicious — more like they were lime- or green apple-flavored, and strangely, some sips it seemed like they were, if only for a second. “I think the radioactive color is fooling your taste buds,” Troy said. But according to Sonic’s website, a small Pickle Juice Snow Cone Slush contains only 180 calories, and a whopping 48 grams of sugar. That’s fine for a Blue Hawaiian or Bahama Mama Snow Cone Slush, but too much as it offsets the punchy acidic taste of the brine that makes pickles so delicious. Nikki and Troy dumped their slushes after a half dozen or so sips. “Too sweet,” Troy said. Drew and I vowed to finish ours. We failed. “I don’t think it’s that bad,” said Drew, “but I don’t think I can drink a whole one.” On a scale of 1-10, I’d give the Pickle Juice Snow Cone Slush a 4, if only for not being terrible. I was expecting something different and unique, but mostly, something that harnessed the wonderfulness of pickles. Instead, I felt the sugar content made for a too-confusing concoction. If I want sugar, I’ll go for the large Chips Ahoy Choco Chunky Chocolate Cookie Jar shake, boasting 146 grams of sugar and 214 carbs. (Note: I got one for the road. Don’t judge me.) Nikki gave the pickle slush a 2, for being too sweet (and “not more dill pickley”). Drew gave it a 5. Troy, a statistics professor at the University of South Florida who likes to remind me of how smart he is, gave it a 3.48 (p-value = .03). I will pretend I know what that means.

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Little Italy’s Family Restaurant & Catering Gets A New Chef!

SO,

By GARY NAGER

how can one of my favorite local restaurants get even better when the husband-and-wife chefs who opened it — and still own it — hire a new chef? That’s what has happened recently to my friends Jessica and Carl Meyers of Little Italy’s Family Restaurant & Catering on S.R. 54 in Lutz, less than two miles west of the Tampa Premium Outlets. Jessica and Carl have brought in an authentic Italian chef, born and raised in Napoli (not Naples, FL), who has honed his skills in not only his native country, but also in Germany, Australia, England, Tampa and, most recently, his own place, which was called Manzoni’s, even though neither the chef’s first nor last name is Manzoni. “Manzoni is-a the street-a I grew up on in-a Napoli,” says Chef Simeone (pronounced “Sih-me-oh-nay”) Chiacchio, who opened Manzoni’s in Tarpon Springs a few years ago, after working at some of the better Italian restaurants in South Tampa. “Manzoni’s was-a the first-a time I ever owned a restaurant, and I-a found out that I’d-a rather cook for-a someone else and not-a have-a to be the boss.”

That worked out perfectly for Jessica and Carl, who brought in Chef Sam (“or Simon,” says Simeone. “Sam is just-a little easier for-a some people.”) less than two months ago and have enjoyed not only his “autentico” Neapolitan cuisine, but also his accent, his sense of humor and his ability to multi-task. “I told him you’re like an octopus,” says Jessica. “Carl and I really admire his skills. He can cook anything and he’s already adding amazing new specials and slowly making changes to our existing menu. We’ll be rolling out our new menu soon.” Carl, who has been to Italy many times, says he can tell Chef Simeone is authentic because, “he doesn’t let anything go to waste. He cuts up the leftover penne and spaghetti for his pasta fagioli (one of his new specials) and he saves all of the scraps of cut produce, like onions, garlic and more and makes stock to keep his chicken dishes moist.” Carl also mentioned something I forgot to write down about the beans used in Chef Sam’s pasta fagioli, but all I can tell you is that it is the best I’ve had in the Tampa Bay area. A bowl of it is so big and hearty, it’s a meal unto itself. But, don’t get too full to try Sam’s outstanding faggotini pasta, which may

Chicken Vesuvio

Pasta Fagioli

not have an appetizing name, but it’s a flavor I’ve never tasted in Italian food before. Faggotini is a pasta “purse,” stuffed with pecorino Romano cheese and pear. Each bite of these filling purses has just a hint of sweetness from the pear, a perfect complement to the salty cheese. But, these faggotini are lightly covered with just the right amount of a creamy, but still light, pink tomato sauce that expertly finishes off this unique pasta dish. “Just-a don’t-a call it a ‘vodka sauce,’” Sam says. “There’s-a no vodka in it.”

New Entrée Specials, Too!

As soon as I saw the new specials board (both the pasta fagioli and faggotini are on it), I got really excited about what Sam’s bringing to the table (pun intended) at Little Italy’s, especially once Jessica and Carl also showed me Sam’s super-extensive menu from Manzoni’s.

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Chicken Panna

.Of the new entrées already sampled by yours truly, my surprise favorite was the chicken Vesuvio, which Sam can make for you with the chicken lightly breaded or unbreaded. The chicken surrounds ample, tender slices of eggplant and are topped with fresh mozzarella and a light (but not pink), zesty tomato sauce. My second favorite dish from the specials board was the Caprese chicken over pasta (I’m obviously a tomato/tomato sauce guy). Thick, tender (thanks to that homemade stock?) chicken breasts are topped with also-thick slices of delicious, fresh tomatoes, dense (but perfectly melted) slabs of fresh mozzarella in a thicker tomato sauce more reminiscent of Little Italy’s original sauce, topped with fresh basil. It was served over a helping of spaghetti that provided side dishes for two more meals for me after all that I left over during my visit. The third new entrée I sampled was

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(L.-r.) Carl & Jessica Meyers & Chef Sam

Fagottini Pasta the chicken panna, which is served in a thinner-than-Alfredo creamy sauce with pancetta, peas and fresh mushrooms. Jessica said it was her favorite of the new specials and she almost didn’t let me steal even a bite from her (just kidding, Jess). And of course, yes, you can still order anything from the restaurant’s existing menu, although you might want to ask your server to explain any tweaks Sam may have made to Little Italy’s locally famous lasagne, veal parmigiana (my personal favorite; more on that below), chicken piccata, calzones and huge, unique, rectangular pizzas. You might just recognize that server, by the way, as Jessica says that she is now going to sometimes work the floor as a server, especially on the weekends, because she really does want Little Italy’s thousands of loyal fans to have full explanations of every new dish and any tweaks Sam may have made to their favorite dishes when they visit. “All I can say is that the guy is doing amazing things in that kitchen,” Jessica says, “so I want to explain to our customers what goes into making these dishes.” Carl adds, “This restaurant and kitchen aren’t large enough to do true fine Italian dining. But, what we’re serving now is a step up from what we’ve been doing, without being a step up in price.” Sam told me not to order the veal parmigiana until the next time I came in because Little Italy’s just started using a new meat purveyor, “and I-a want-a you to-a taste-a the good-a vitello (veal).” He says there will be osso buco (veal shanks on the bone) on the specials board soon and maybe even a steak special. “Oh, and-a Gary, I know you’re-a not-a the only-a one who likes-a fresh veggies,” Sam says. “We’ll-a give you a Neighborhood News

Caprese Chicken Over Pasta choice-a of pasta or veggies with-a your (non-pasta) entrée, too.” And of course, Sam can create just about anything you want for your next party. Catering has been a big part of Little Italy’s success the past three years, and I don’t see that side of the business slowing down anytime soon. I guarantee you that a big tray of Little Italy’s lasagne would have been the perfect addition to your 4th of July — or any other — celebration. And, of course, Little Italy’s still has a “Little Goombas” menu and recently added beer and wine. So, enjoy a delicious glass (or bottle) of chianti, pino grigio or Grandma’s homemade sangria, or a Peroni or other domestic beer and get to know the new Little Italy’s. It’ll be “molto delizioso.” Little Italy’s (24436 S.R. 54, Lutz) is open for dinner only Tues.-Fri. and for lunch & dinner on Sat. & Sun. For more info, call (813) 909-212 or visit LittleItalyFamilyRestaurant.com.

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

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

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Nibbles & Business Bytes The Latest & Greatest News In Dining, Shopping & Business In New Tampa & Wesley Chapel! More Dining Options Coming To S.R. 56!

• According to a sign on the door (photo), Bahama Breeze Island Grille, is expected to open just east of Chuy’s Tex-Mex on the north side of S.R. 56 on Monday, July 16, or three days after this issue arrives in your mailbox. Fresh fish and live music one mile from where we live means Jannah and I will be frequenting Bahama Breeze...frequently. • Also opening this month, next to Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt in the Shops at Wiregrass, is Nothing Bundt Cakes, which has been among the favorites at each of the last two Tastes of New Tampa & Wesley Chapel. A company spokesperson says the local store selling those amazingly moist bundt cakes with perfectly creamy icing is “expected to open in July.” •Not enough for you? Pomodoro Pizza, which is opening in the space previously occupied by Kwan Ming Bistro in the plaza on S.R. 56 that also is home to Wolf’s Den, also is expected to open by mid-July. Pomodoro is the first local pizzeria to admit that it has New Jersey-style pizza — which I’ve tried to tell quite a few New Tampa and Wesley Chapel residents over the years — is similar to, but slightly different (in most cases) from New York-style. I’ll let the Pomodoro owners give you their take on the differences, but new pizza is never a bad thing for me to try.

set to open in the S.R. 56 corridor next issue.

Pebble Creek Family Dentistry Adds New Dentist

• And last, but not least, another newcomer to the same plaza as Mellow Mushroom on the north side of S.R. 56, across from the Tampa Premium Outlets, is Sweetea Café, which was still mostly a shell inside at our press time and doesn’t look like it could possibly be open before the end of this month, but we’ll keep you posted. • Now open, a couple of miles further to the east on S.R. 56, in the same plaza as Capital Tacos, is Batter & Dough, where I had the most amazing, unique ice cream sandwich on waffles I’ve ever tasted. Find out what Liege waffles are, or sample the other delicious-looking homemade tastes, including gourmet coffee, at Batter & Dough and tell me what you think. We’ll also have updates on Earth Fare (which recently began going vertical), Mod Pizza (in the getting-much-closer-to-completion building next to Starbucks on S.R. 56, in front of Costco) and the three hotels

Congratulations to Dr. Maitry Patel, D.M.D., the new dentist recently added to help Dr. Vijay Patel, D.D.S. (no relation), serve his growing patient roster at Pebble Creek Family Dentistry (19007 Bruce B. Downs. Blvd.). “Dr. Maitry (photo) shares my practice philosophy and will allow us to expand our patient hours to Mon.Thur., 8 a.m.-6 p.m.,” says Dr. Vijay Patel. Dr. Maitry Patel earned her initial dental degree in India, where she practiced in a governmental facility providing dentistry to an underserved community. She began working in the U.S. as a licensed dental hygienist while earning her Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) degree, with honors, from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in Philadelphia, PA. An Invisalign-certified dentist, Dr. Maitry is a member of the Omega Kappa Upsilon dental honor society who prides herself on providing gentle dental care to all of her patients. For appointments at Pebble Creek Family Dentistry, or for more info, call (813) 406-4947 or visit PebbleCreekFamilyDentistry.com. Or, see the ad on pg. 11.

Check Out Dr. June’s APT-acious Experience August 4!

I hope our Neighborhood News readers will check out Dr. June Hall, Ed.D.’s 5th annual “APTacious Experience” on Saturday, August 4, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., at the New Tampa Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites (8310 Galbraith Rd., across from Sukhothai). Dr. June, who earned both a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Mental Health Counseling and her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree in Educational Psychology from Nova Southeastern University, wants to help you Accentuate Positive Thinking (APT) so you “Don’t Throw In The Towel: Wash, Dry & Fold.” In addition to Dr. June (center in photo below), this year’s APTacious Experience also will feature health & wellness clarity coach Erlin Monrouzeua, M.A., and the Ambassador of Happiness® Maura Sweeney. To register for this year’s APTacious Experience, which costs $64 per person, call (813) 993-8100, visit APTacious.com or see the ad below. — GN

What is APTacious? The practice of Accentuating Positive Thinking in your professional and personal life. Whether you are a smail business owner, mompreneur, interested in health/wellness, or simply looking for inspiration, the APTacious Experience is for YOU!

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

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

New Tampa & Wesley Chapel

Classifieds

HOME IMPROVEMENT

CLEANING SERVICES

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.

B CLEANING SERVICES: Over 16 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

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.

G&E Cleaning Services: Over 15 years experience. Commercial & residential: Weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. New house & post-construction clean-up, move-in or move-out cleanings, pressure washing and window cleaning. Free estimates. References available. Call 813-325-6446 or email Pinheiro.FG@hotmail.com

Icare House Cleaning, Free estimates, affordable and reliable, serving Wesley Chapel and Tampa for over 17 years, local business! Call today for a free, no obligation quote, 813-531-1917 Let us take good care of your house while you spend quality time doing what you love! We use our own supplies.

HELP WANTED 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.

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. Tjs Pressure Washing LLC. Driveways, Houses, Fences, Lanais and Screened Enclosures. Most residential 2 car driveways or vinyl fences starting at $60. House washing prices start at $100 for a 1 story home and $150 for a 2 story home. Looking for an instant quote? Just text me a picture of the job you need done. Call Tj at 727-808-7775

D-ULTRA CLEANING SERVICE We have our own supplies and more than 400 clients in New Tampa! For more info, Call 758-9710.

COMPUTER/BUSINESS SERVICES

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 or Text Chris today @ (813) 857-5400 or visit TranquilityPoolService. com. New customers get ONE MONTH FREE!

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

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. Visit AllStarPoolsofTampaBay.com

LAWN & LANDSCAPING

HOMETEAM LAWNCARE LLC High-quality professional Services: Weekly or bi-weekly year-round full-service 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.

SPACE AVAILABLE SERENITY SALON & SPA SUITES Wesley Chapel. Booth rental for Stylist available. Can be either full time or part time. Give us a call!: 813-3125247 or 813-997-6302.

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

MISC. SERVICES

ELITE RIDES - Transfers in a luxury vehicle. Prompt, Reliable, Professional. Cory Lake Isles Resident - New Tampa. Call 813-765-0558 PIANO LESSONS available in the Live Oak Community. Taught by my 17 y.o. daughter who’s been playing for 13 years. Excellent for elementary aged children. Excellent references with current students enrolled. $15 for 1/2 hour. Give the gift of music! Text (preferred) or call 678-327-4136 or email LiveOakPianoLessons@gmail.com.

Are You Getting The Most Bang For Your Advertising Bucks? To order your classified or display ad, call Tom Damico at (813) 910-2575!

CNAs/HHAs NEEDED: Established Senior Homecare Service is seeking CNA’s and Home Health Aids to work with our company. Contact 813-985-1200 for more information. FREELANCE OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS & WCNT-tv! Whether you want to write business stories for the Neighborhood News or you want to involved in the production of the only Facebook and Youtube-based Webcast for New Tampa & Wesley Chapel, please forward your resume & one short writing clip to Ads@WCNT-tv.com. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE Plastic Surgery practice in Wesley Chapel/New Tampa is seeking a motivated, friendly medical assistant to work full time in both front office and back office capacities. Candidate must be professional, reliable and familiar with computer software. Please send your resume and a cover letter with your qualifications for the position to tampaps@ gmail.com.

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Jasmine Landscaping, Inc. Complete lawn maintenance: Tree, palm & hedge trimming, planting, mulching, stones, sod replacement. Gutter cleaning, leaf removal & more. Cited by your HOA? Ask about our HOA Compliance Special, our Fall/Spring Special & FREE ESTIMATE! Licensed & insured. Accepting new residential & commercial accounts. We accept Visa, MC, PayPal, Zelle, AmExp. Call or text 813-420-4465. Now hiring full-time workers.

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POOL 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.

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

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

Expires Dec. 31, 2018

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

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NOW OPEN Wellness Plaza | 2700 Healing Way, Ste. 305 Wesley Chapel, FL 33543

Portfolio of Fine Homes 6416 Renwick Cir.

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5008 Ashington Landing Dr.

JUST LISTED

17206 Emerald Chase Dr.

COMING SOON 4 Bed +Den | 3 Bath | 2,996 SF | 3 Car Side Load Garage| New Engineered Wood Floors, Remodeled Kitchen And Secondary Bathrooms, Upgraded Tile Roof, Travertine Pool Deck, New Marcite In Pool, New Coping, Heated Spa, Large Lot On Pond | Gated Village of Kensignton Call For More Information

5030 Wesley Dr.

9210 Meadow Lane Ct.

8772 Ashworth Dr.

17503 Edinburgh Dr.

4 Bed | 4 Bath | 3,478 SF | 3 Car Garage | Remodeled Kitchen and Baths, Maple Cabinetry, Granite, High-End Stainless Steel Appliances, Mahogany Wood Floors, New Carpet, Crown Molding, Custom UpLighting | Pool/ Heated Spa Package, New Travertine Lanai Offered for $450,000

18131 Longwater Run Dr.

8118 Hampton Glen Dr.

6621 Stonington Dr.

10218 Waterside Oaks Dr.

7829 Tuscany Woods Dr.

16313 Heathrow Dr.

9138 Highland Ridge Way

17760 Oak Bridge St.

SOLD IN 4 DAYS

SOLD IN 2 WEEKS SALE PENDING

SALE PENDING

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3 Bed +Office | 2 Bath | Tile Flooring, Granite Counters, Maple Cabinetry, Arched Walk Ways, Over Sized Windows | Maintenance Free Gated Village Offered for $250,000

17221 Broadoak Dr.

9338 Deer Creek Dr.

6539 Stonington Dr.

17201 Emerald Chase Dr.

SOLD

Phone: (813) 931-6700 • KristyD@Realtor.com • RealEstateNewTampa.com