Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News, Issue 16, August 1, 2015 by Neighborhood News

Volume 23 Issue 16

Inside:

Café Olé Is New Tampa’s Authentic ‘Taste Of Spain!’ See page 34!

August 1, 2015

Named The 2014 ‘Small Business Of The Year’ By The Wesley Chapel Chamber Of Commerce! The Direct-Mail News Magazines Serving New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Since 1993! For the complete list of neighborhoods that receive this Wesley Chapel issue by direct mail, see page 42!

Welcome To Our 2015 Guide To New Homes In Wesley Chapel! Wesley Chapel Driving Pasco’s Growth In Several Communities By Gary Nager, with Matt Wiley When you’ve been doing the same job for more than 21 years, you’re likely to see a lot of things change. Well, in my capacity as the publisher and editor of the Neighborhood News for New Tampa and Wesley Chapel since 1994, I’ve seen housing booms and housing busts come and go — with the biggest boom hitting New Tampa and Wesley Chapel in 2004-06 (followed by the bursting of the local housing bubble in 2007-08). We’ve also seen the slow, but inevitable resurgence of resales and new homes being built in our area ever since, especially in Wesley Chapel. These new units definitely are adding value to the overall community and raising the average home prices in our 33543, 33544 and 33545 zip codes. In this issue and at WCNeighborhood News.com, we are providing you with an exclusive, updated map (see page 23) outlining where new homes are being built in both of our distribution areas. We’ve, of course, been documenting all of the amazing commercial additions to Wesley Chapel over the past few years — Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC), The Grove and the Shops at Wiregrass, Pasco Hernando State College (PHSC)’s Porter Campus, the Tampa Premium Outlets mall (see story below) and the Florida Hospital Center Ice skating facility, to hit a few of the highlights — and there’s no doubt that Wesley Chapel is now the fastestdeveloping area in Pasco County. But, in this issue, we are proud to provide a complete update on the new residences be-

ing constructed in Wesley Chapel and where those new homes are being built — including the names of (we hope) all of the communities and the builders constructing those homes — in Wesley Chapel (there’s some New Tampa info, too), although the emphasis in this issue is on the major Developments of Regional Impacts {DRIs} and Master Planned Unit Developments {MPUDs} in zip codes 33543-45, including: • Watergrass — A Wesley Chapel community with a large number of builders is this MPUD located off Curley Rd., which has a built-out Phase I of 400 homes and is in Phase II development, which will add another 350 single-family (SF) homes and 126 villa units. The Watergrass MPUD, which is approved for a total of 1,999 residences, currently has four builders — with prices starting from $179,990 for villas by DR Horton and SF homes from the $230s by Ryland, SF Standard Pacific Homes (SP) homes starting in the $300k-$400k range and Bakerfield Luxury Homes starting from $400k to more than $1 million. Watergrass has been developed by Chicago-based Crown Community Developments, which also is still developing Seven Oaks (see page 22) and is getting ready to develop Chapel Crossings across S.R. 54 from the north end of Meadow Pointe. • Wiregrass Ranch — Of course, with the Shops at Wiregrass mall, FHWC and PHSC all already in place, it was only a matter of time before the residential phase of development in the Wiregrass Ranch DRI finally got rolling. There currently are two large subdivisions building new homes on

The GL Homes Sebastian model is the largest floorplan available in the new Ridge at Wiregrass Ranch subdivision, located off Mansfield Blvd. & S.R. 56. The Sebastian floorplan includes 5 bedrooms & 5.5 baths & starts at $559,900. For more info, see the GL Homes Builder Spotlight on page 22.

the property being developed by the Porter Family Trust. The first section is called Estancia, where the infrastructure for the second of four phases is now under development and 300 homes (about 85 closings to date) are being built in Phase I. Estancia is planned for a total of 1,181 SF homes and Standard Pacific is the builder, with 3-6-bedroom homes ranging between 2,021-5,359 sq. ft., and $255,000-695,000. A second large, also upscale section of Wiregrass Ranch is called The Ridge. For more info about this subdivision, see the GL Homes Builder Spotlight on page 22. • Avalon Park West/New River Township — Another huge development which still has thousands of approved units to be built is the New River Township DRI, although the portion currently under develop-

ment is being called Avalon Park West and is being developed separately from the existing New River development (off S.R. 54). The entire DRI is planned for a total of 4,800 residences in six phases and Avalon Park West (which currently is in its Phase I of development, with surveying for Phase II also under way) has SF homes by the following builders: Avex Homes-80 homes built on 120 lots, 3-4 bedrooms, 2,227-3,659 sq. ft., $196,000-225,000; Beazer Homes - 60 homesites, 4 inventory homes, $241,000-$291,000, 2,0563,042 sq. ft. DR Horton - 50 sites (15 homes built), $249,000-329,000, 3-5 bedrooms.

during the Job Fair. Attendees are asked to come dressed to impress in professional attire with copies of their resumes. Miller also says that any companies or community organizations interested in becoming sponsors of the Job Fair should call the Tampa Premium Outlets main office at 909-8716. While most of the stores moving in have been confirmed through building permits submitted to Pasco County, the first wave of “official” store announcements was made on July 22 and includes Adidas, Banana Republic Factory Store, Brooks Brothers Factory Store, Coach, Cole Haan, Disney Store Outlet, Ecco (shoes), Express Factory Outlet, Fossil, Gap Factory Outlet, Hartstrings, Nike Factory Store, Puma & Samsonite. According to Pasco County building permits, however, the preliminary list of stores for Tampa Premium Outlets also currently includes: American Eagle Outfitters, Ann Tay-

lor, Asian Chao, Asics, Calvin Klein, Carter’s, Christopher & Banks, Columbia Sportswear, Converse, Easy Spirit, G.H. Bass & Co., Godiva Chocolates, Famous Footwear, Fossil, Fragrance Outlet, GreenLeafs & Bananas, Gymboree, Haagen Dazs, Hanes, Helzberg’s Diamonds, Hurley, Janie & Jack, J.Crew, Jockey, Kay Jewelers, Levi’s, LOFT, Lucky Brand Jeans, Michael Kors, Naturalizer, New Balance, Nine West, New York & Co., O’Neill, OshKosh B’gosh, Papaya, Perfumania, Rack Room Shoes, Ralph Lauren, Reebok, Robert Wayne Shoes, Saks OFF 5th Ave, Seiko, Skechers, South Philly Steaks & Fries, Sperry, Swarovski, Talbot’s, Tommy Hilfiger, Van Heusen, Vera Bradley, Villa Italian Kitchen & Wilsons Leather.

See “Wesley Chapel” on page 22!

Tampa Premium Outlets Job Fair Aug. 27, 1st ‘Official’ Store List Released As construction continues at a rate as blistering as the current summer temperatures, the future Tampa Premium Outlets mall (located on S.R. 56 at I-75) is inching ever closer to its planned October 29 opening date. With 110 stores scheduled to move in, the retailers are hungry for local employees. To help, outlet mall developer the Simon Property Group is hosting a massive, oneday Job Fair for Thursday, August 27, at

the Embassy Suites hotel on the University of South Florida’s Tampa campus (off E. Fowler Ave.), 10 a.m.-7 p.m., sponsored by the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC). “We’re going to be filling a significant amount of jobs (at the fair),” said Simon spokesperson Les Miller. “These (job fairs) always are successful.” A July 23 press release from Simon says more than 800 seasonal, part-time, full-time and management positions will be filled

News, Business & Sports Updates

Neighborhood Magazine

Indoor Sports Facility Recommended For Wiregrass Ranch, Tampa Premium Outlets Traffic Already Getting Heavy & Lots Of Local Business Features!

Freedom Festival Lights Up The Wiregrass Mall, Café Olé Has The Area’s Best Spanish Cuisine, Seafood & Salsa, Plus More Neighborhood Nibbles & Biz Bytes!

Pages 3-32

Pages 33-44

By Matt Wiley

Also Inside This Issue!

Why You Should Check Our Website & Facebook Page Daily! An editorial by Gary Nager Like most adults who remember watching “The Wonder Years” when it was on TV, I’m still doing everything I can not to get too involved with technology, even though I can use my cell phone to play games or search the internet. Even so, the facts of the media business today are such that unless you jump into the technology pool with both feet, you’re going to be left behind. Therefore, it’s awesome to be able to work with young people like general manager Nikki Bennett, assistant editor Matt Wiley, marketing & graphic arts assistant Chelsie Rosatone and office assistant Jill Reilly (see page 17) every day, so the New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News can keep adding new and interactive ways to communicate with people seeking information about our distribution areas. So, while I’m still the kind of guy who prefers to hold an actual publication in his hands, I’m happy and proud that my Neighborhood News “peeps” know the difference between Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram and we’re all sort of learning together how best to use these and other social media apps to provide our print readers with more and better ways to keep up with what’s happening in their neighborhoods — and beyond. Although the fallout from daily newspapers cannibalizing their print publications with their own daily online content seems to have stabilized somewhat, niche publications like ours are still the ones benefiting the most from being able to supplement what we do in print with new online content still primarily focused on our distribution areas. Our website (WCNeighborhoodNews. com) and Facebook page (Facebook.com/

Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News Address: 29157 Chapel Park Dr., Suite B Wesley Chapel, FL 33543 Phone: (813) 910-2575 Advertising E-mail: Ads@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Editorial E-mail: EditorialDept@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Publisher & Editor Gary Nager General Manager Nikki Bennett Assistant Editor / Photographer Matt Wiley Correspondents

Celeste McLaughlin • Anu Varma Panchal

Graphic Designers Georgia Carmichael • Chelsie Rosatone Office Assistant Jillian Reilly Advertising Sales Rep Mary Dorey Nothing that appears in Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News writers are their own and do not reflect the publisher’s opinion. The deadline for outside editorial submissions and advertisements for Volume 23, Issue 18, of Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News is Monday, August 17, 2015. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News will consider previously non-published outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News will not return unsolicited editorial materials. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit &/or reject any advertising. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the actual cost of the advertising space itself, nor for the validity of any claims made by its advertisers.

NeighborhoodNews) stats keep trending upward, thanks to young Mr. Wiley making sure that when news that affects our area does hit (whether we had a story first or not), our social media-savvy regular readers know they don’t have to wait until that next issue hits their mailboxes to find out if any other major news about our area has broken since our most recent issue. For example, we were the first news media outlet to announce that the Tampa Premium Outlets Job Fair is going to be held on August 27 (see the story at the bottom of page 1), and that was just one of several days the past month that both our Facebook page and our website saw a spike of activity 5-10 times above our usual number of “hits” per day. One thing is for certain: You can rest assured that everything you read on our website/ FB page will provide you with timely news and information that will adhere to the strict standards for journalistic excellence you’ve come to know in our print publications — and we’ll always provide more than just pictures.

another 24.3 percent had either an Associate’s (9.2 percent) degree or “Some College” (15.1). We invite readers and advertisers alike to compare those numbers with any other local media source. We also invite you to “Like” our Facebook page and check our website every day for our exclusive updates,as well as to enter our next online-only contest.

Correction From Last Issue!

In our previous issue (dated July 3), my page 3 editorial discussed all of the reasons why Wesley Chapel is a great place to live and raise a family. The column quoted quite a bit of information from a study by NerdWallet.com, a website which is, “focused on helping people lead better lives And, The Winner Is... through financial education and empowerAs I mentioned earlier, we got the statistics ment....NerdWallet is building accessible about our demographics from those who reonline tools and providing research and sponded to our online Reader Survey & Contest, experts that can’t be found anywhere else, where the Grand Prize was a $100 gift card to all to help consumers take back control of Saddlebrook Resort & Spa Tampa (973-1111, their choices.” Saddlebrook.com), located, of course, off S.R. To read the NerdWallet study that 54 here in Wesley Chapel. named Wesley Chapel as the third best The winner, drawn at random from all of place in Florida to raise a family, visit the correctly-filled-out entries we received, was NerdWallet.com/blog/cities/best-citWendy Tunstall of Seven Oaks! Congrats go ies-young-families-florida-2015. — GN out to Wendy, who told us that she “really loves

Survey Says...

We recently completed our first onlineonly Reader Survey & Contest, in an effort to see if we could stimulate more response from people who already have been utilizing our website and social media. Several hundred people participated in the Survey & Contest and the results were pretty impressive to us, considering we’re really still in the infancy of what we plan to do in the future, in print and, especially, online. Perhaps the most impressive stat was that nearly 80 percent (79.2, to be exact) of those who responded to the survey said that they read the Neighborhood News when they receive it in the mail and 8.3 percent said they would read it if they lived in our distribution areas. We also were excited that while 69 percent of respondents had visited our website before, 29.2 percent said they were visiting for the first time. We also were somewhat surprised (but thrilled) that 77 percent of the respondents were female (22 percent were male; fewer than 1 percent did not respond to that question) and more than 56 percent of the respondents were either in the 25-34 or the 35-44 age group. And, perhaps the most telling statistic of all is that 60.5 percent of the respondents had either a Doctoral (2.5 percent), Bachelor’s (37 percent) or Master’s (21 percent) degree and

Table of Contents

Local News Updates.............................4-19

Firm Recommends Indoor Facility For Wiregrass Land.......4 Tampa Premium Outlets Already Increasing SR 56 Traffic....6 Wesley Chapel News Briefs.............................................8 New Tampa CVS Robbed Wesley Chapel Doctor Charged With Medicaid Fraud Grove 16 Shooting Judge Exits Case Home Burglaries Rising In Wesley Chapel Elections Supervisor Talks Cost Of County Charter..........10 Help Moffitt Cancer Center Research E-Cigs.....................14 Wesley Chapel Community Calendar............................18 USF Autism Center Retains Funding From State...............19

Local Business Updates.......................22-27 Home Builder Spotlights On: ..............................22 GL Homes At The Ridge At Wiregrass Ranch Mobley Homes At K-Bar Ranch ICI Homes At Grand Hampton Budget Blinds Can Decorate Your Windows.......................24 Shriners Hospital Keeps Kids Safe This Summer..............26

Local Sports Updates...........................30-31 Lightning High School Hockey League Registration.........30 Two WCAA Teams Headed To Softball World Series.......31

Neighborhood Magazine.....33-44

Freedom Fest Lights Up Wiregrass Mall.....................33 Café Olé For Spanish Cuisine, Seafood & Salsa........36 ‘Neighborhood Nibbles & Business Bytes’..........36 WESLEY CHAPEL COLOR CLASSIFIEDS....40 WC Resident Earns Journalism Award At UF..........42

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Consulting Firm Recommends Indoor Multi-Sport Facility For Wiregrass Land By Matt Wiley

After several months of study by a private consulting firm, a final report has been submitted to Pasco County about what should be done with the land that was dedicated for a sports facility in the Wiregrass Ranch Development of Regional Impact (DRI). According to the report published on July 10 from Chicago-based Johnson Consulting, Pasco County should focus its efforts on constructing an indoor sports facility on the same 224 acres of land dedicated by the Porter family (which owns Wiregrass Ranch) that almost became a 19-field baseball complex. The 75-page report is based on economic and demographic factors, as well as an analysis of industry trends, other nearby facilities, demand, financial projections and, of course, available funding. “Based on the objective findings, we are recommending a multi-use sports facility as the best use for the given site at Wiregrass Park,” the report states. “Examining further into the county, we see that Wesley Chapel is boasting rapid population growth, a high proportion of residents ages 5-34, and a median household income greater than that of the (U.S). This combination of a growing and young population that possesses a greater proportion of disposable income is a great opportunity for the development of the county as a whole.” The report explains that the sports facility industry has changed during the past two decades from an industry that focused on building single-sport facilities

to building multi-sport facilities to create a larger demand. The challenge for Pasco, the report points out, is designing a specialized facility that will generate enough demand to justify its development while also making sure that it will be unique to the surrounding region. The right type of facility would attract weekend tournaments and still support the local leagues that would utilize it on a weekly basis. “It will be critical for a facility in Pasco County to target sports where current demand is unmet by existing facilities to help ensure the new sports complex will capture a sufficient number of event days and, in turn, supplement use of the facility outside of national and regional tournaments,” the report says. “This becomes especially necessary as traditional sports (such as baseball and football) continue to see participation rates decline. Facilities with the flexibility to host a variety of sports will have the greatest chance of success over the long-term as national participation rates fluctuate.” The report recommends an 85,000-100,000-sq.-ft., multi-purpose indoor facility that could be expanded in additional future phases. The facility should include 6-8 basketball courts (that could be converted to volleyball courts), elevated seating for 500-750, two concession stands, locker rooms, 4-6 multi-purpose rooms, plus healthcare partnerships, like the one at the nearby Florida Hospital Center Ice (FHCI) rink off S.R. 56. After 5-10 years, the report says that the facility could construct a second phase and add 15,000-20,000 sq. ft. of space in

the form of additional hard courts or even turf fields to expand not only the site, but also the capabilities of the sports complex. By that time, the report projects that the facility could be raking in more than $775,000 per year in net income. The report also says the facility could bring in more than $245,000 in its first year alone. Hotel availability also is considered in the report, which states that there are 1,122 hotel rooms available within a five-mile radius of the sports facility site. But, 800 of those rooms are located in Saddlebrook Resort & Spa, which the report The land in blue above was dedicated to Pasco County by says is, “an unlikely lodgthe owners of Wiregrass Ranch for a county park, which ing option for participants could house a multi-sport, indoor facility in the future. of youth sports tourism events.” However, a new similar-sized buildings in Bradenton and 82-room Holiday Inn Express & Suites is we’re curious about their operating costs,” tentatively planned to open next to FHCI Caum explains. “The BOCC is always sometime in the spring of 2016 and the interested in what (projects are) comparable Cypress Creek Town Center DRI is zoned so we can follow best practices.” for up to 300 hotel rooms north of S.R. 56. Caum says that once the clarifications Pasco tourism manager Ed Caum says are made, the next step will be to present that the county staff has gone through the the report to the BOCC. However, he report and is in the process of sending some noted that a date for the presentation had questions for further clarification back to not yet been set at our press time. “This is Johnson, before the report is the brought on hold for now because we’re knee-deep before the BOCC. in (2015-16) budget negotiations,” Caum “Johnson said that there are some says. “That takes precedence.”

drmarta@tampahappysmiles.com

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Tampa Premium Outlets Adding Traffic Ahead Of October Opening By Matt Wiley

It’s said that, “If there’s a will, there’s a way,” and that seems to be the work ethic of the crews currently hustling to finish Simon Property Group’s newest outlet mall — the Tampa Premium Outlets (see separate story at the bottom of page 1 of this issue) on S.R. 56 — in time for a planned October opening in the Cypress Creek Town Center (CCTC) Development of Regional Impact (DRI). While that feat may have seemed far-fetched when ground officially was broken in December on the project that had long suffered from years of setbacks, judging by the progress the past seven months, it appears that the challenge is finally becoming a reality. Much work has coincided with the construction of the mall, including the on-going $6.8-million resurfacing of the 2.42-mile stretch of S.R. 56 from Wesley Chapel Blvd. east to Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., which will include the north and southbound I-75 on-ramps. Sidewalks also are being added to S.R. 56, including on the I-75 overpass. New traffic signals have been hung at the intersection of the future Grand Cypress Dr. and S.R. 56 and a new right turn lane has been installed on eastbound S.R. 54 approaching the Wesley Chapel Blvd. extension. As construction has increased in the area, so has traffic, and the devel-

The new Tampa Premium Outlets mall (center) isn’t scheduled to open until October, but traffic already is piling up daily near the S.R. 56/I-75 interchange in Wesley Chapel.

opers of CCTC and Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) are working with Pasco officials to try to provide temporary relief and set future plans to alleviate driving headaches. FDOT spokesperson Kris Carson says that the resurfacing project has caused periodic daytime lane closures along S.R. 56, but the resurfacing should wrap up by late summer, weather permitting (although the project is contracted through the spring of 2016). Carson says that a study is planned to look at reconstructing the S.R. 56 interchange entirely, but no details about that possibility currently are available. In addition, the county is planning

to widen the 3.5-mile stretch of Wesley Chapel Blvd. from the S.R. 54/56 intersection north to Progress Blvd., which is the entrance to the Westbrook Estates development on C.R. 54. This segment of the overall “C.R. 54 Extension Pipeline Project” is referred to as the “Sierra Segment,” as Sierra Properties is developing the northern section of CCTC, where the widening will occur. Pasco transportation planning manager James Edwards says that the S.R. 54/56 project currently is programmed into the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)’s “Mobility 2040” Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) for fiscal year 2019, and

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that a recent payment to the county of $6 million from J.G. Cypress (one of the other CCTC developers), is to be allocated to reimbursing Sierra Properties for obtaining the necessary right of way for the widening, as well as the cost of the bid process, design and construction of the widened lanes. The C.R. 54 Extension Pipeline Project also is planned to stretch to the south in the future. According to the LRTP, Wesley Chapel Blvd. will be extended south to intersect with County Line Rd. between 2020-25 and will be funded with county mobility fees, Edwards says. “County Line Rd. is an important connecting road in the transportation grid in this area,” Edwards explains. “It is important because it allows (nearly) unimpeded travel from U.S. 41 to BBD and even east of BBD (into Meadow Pointe). I-75 is a barrier to east/west travel and there aren’t too many other alternatives out there. (County Line Rd.) is essentially a back door for those residents who know it and use it to access BBD, and Collier Pkwy. to Livingston Ave. and U.S. 41/ Dale Mabry Hwy.” For more information about the Tampa Premium Outlets, visit PremiumOutlets.com. For info about the outlet mall’s upcoming Job Fair and first “official” store announcements, see the story on pg. 1.

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News Briefs

New Tampa CVS Robbed

A suspect is in custody, following an armed robbery and Tampa Police Dept. (TPD) SWAT Team standoff in New Tampa. According to TPD, at around 8 p.m. on July 16, James Jackson Taylor, 21, a resident of the Portofino Apartments (located off New Tampa Blvd. in West Meadows), walked into the CVS Pharmacy at the intersection of New Tampa Blvd. and Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. Taylor reportedly wore James Taylor yellow gloves and a black T-shirt over his face and approached the pharmacy counter with a handgun, demanding Oxycodone pills. TPD reports that the staff was not meeting Jackson’s demands quickly enough so, after taking the pills and heading to the front door, he fired two shots into the ceiling. Jackson fled in a red Mitsubishi Outlander to the nearby Portofino Apartments. The TPD report says that officers interviewed witnesses at the CVS and were able to track Jackson down at his apartment using his vehicle description. Officers negotiated with Jackson for two and a half hours. Jackson threatened to harm himself during the negotiation, so a TPD SWAT team was called to the scene. When Jackson opened the door, he refused to show his hands or come out of the apartment, so officers used a Taser to subdue him and take him into custody. Officers found the gun from the robbery, the clothing Jackson was wearing and the stolen pills in the apartment. Jackson was being held at our press time without bond at the Hillsborough County Jail, charged with armed robbery of less than $300 and with discharging a firearm.

Doctor Charged With Medicaid Fraud

A Wesley Chapel doctor and his employee are in custody for allegedly filing false Medicaid claims. According to a press release from Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office, Dr. Daniel Jiannetto, 54, and his ex-wife/office manager Michelle McKleroy, 45, were taken into custody on July 15, following an investigation by the state Medical Fraud Control Unit for allegedly defrauding the Florida Medicaid program of more than $100,000. The press release states that a complaint from the Florida Division of Insurance Fraud and the Amerigroup Health Plan sparked the investigation. Dr. Jiannetto, who ran the Jiannetto Institute (an ear, nose & throat practice with an address listed in the Summergate Professional Park in Seven Oaks) and McKleroy (whose arrest report states that she works as a nurse at the Moffitt Cancer Center on the University of South Florida [USF]’s 8

Dr. Daniel Jiannetto & Michelle McKleroy

Tampa campus) allegedly billed Medicaid for medical services that never were rendered. Jiannetto and McKleroy face one count each of first-degree Medicaid provider fraud, one count of first-degree scheming to defraud and one count of second-degree criminal use of personal identification information. The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) took Jiannetto into custody, and he was being held without bond at the Land O’Lakes Detention Center at our press time. McKleroy was arrested by the USF Police Department and released on July 16 on a $70,000 bond. If convicted, the defendants face up to 30 years in prison and more than $100,000 in fines and restitution. Bondi’s Office of Statewide Prosecution will prosecute the case.

Grove 16 Judge Steps Away From Trial

It’s been nearly two years since retired Tampa Police Department (TPD) captain Curtis Reeves allegedly shot a man in the Cobb Theatres Grove 16 movie theater (located in The Grove shopping plaza) in Wesley Chapel, and the judge who has overseen the repeatedly delayed case to date has now officially stepped away from it. According to Pasco County court records, Pasco Sixth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Pat Siracusa officially recused himself from the trial on July 2. No explanation accompanied the order and the case was reassigned to Judge Susan L. Barthle on July 6. Siracusa’s recusal comes just days after he approved a motion on June 30 to delay the case from an August 24 start date until at least January of 2016. Pasco/Pinellas Sixth Circuit Court spokesman Stephen Thompson says that the repeated delays are what ultimately led to Siracusa’s recusal. “The case would’ve been assigned to another judge in January 2014, when (Judge Siracusa) was reassigned from Dade City to New Port Richey,” Thompson says. “Siracusa agreed to keep the Reeves case under the understanding that it would go to trial in a reasonable amount of time. It hasn’t.” Thompson says that Siracusa had to recuse himself to focus on his new cases and that Barthle would have been the judge to take the case, initially, had Siracusa not agreed to take it. “(Siracusa) had expressed a lot of frustration (with trial delays) on the bench,” Thompson says.

The motion in June to delay the case until January seems to have been the final straw for Siracusa. The defense indicated in its motion that it still had months of work left before it would be ready for a “non-prejudiced” trial. Prior to the Jan. 13, 2014, fatal shooting, Reeves reportedly asked Land O’Lakes resident Chad Oulsen, 43, several times to stop texting during the previews for the matinee showing of “Lone Survivor,” a film about the U.S. war in Afghanistan, and even complained to theater management. Oulsen reportedly said he was texting his young daughter’s babysitter before he was shot in the chest, but this was later disproved after an examination of his phone. The bullet also hit the finger of Oulsen’s wife Nicole, who had her hand on her husband’s chest. Judge Siracusa’s office refused to provide a comment for this story. For more info, visit CurtisReevesTrial.com.

Home Burglaries On The Rise In Wesley Chapel

It’s important to keep your doors locked, garage doors shut and not to open the door for strangers. All this advice seems pretty elementary, but when the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) is reporting more and more break-ins in our area, it shouldn’t go unheeded. PCSO reports that between July 5-10, it received reports of five separate residential break-ins in the area along S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel and Lutz, on both sides of the I-75 interchange — in Seven

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Oaks, Indian Lakes, Twin Lakes and the Enclave communities. PCSO says that no surveillance footage is available from any of the break-ins, but that a tall, thin black male was seen leaving one of the burglarized residences and was chased by a neighbor. The suspect escaped in a brown Nissan. PCSO offers several tips to prevent home & auto burglaries, which always seem to go up in numbers during the summer months: • When you leave home, make sure all doors & windows are locked. • Keep your garage door closed and locked, whether you are home or not. An open garage provides a burglar with all the access he or she needs to break into your home. • Observe carefully & report all suspicious persons and vehicles. Get license plate numbers of suspect vehicles. • Keep valuable collections, such as stamps, jewelry & coins, in a safe deposit box instead of in your home. • Remember to trim shrubbery around doors & windows. • When you’re out in the yard, lock the doors. Daylight burglaries while people are at home are more common than you might think. • Don’t post information about leaving town on vacation on any social media sites. Anyone with any information about the break-ins is encouraged to contact PCSO by calling 1-(800) 7062488 or by clicking on the “TIPS” tab at PascoSheriff.com. — MW

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Enjoy this versatile, three-way split layout with 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 car Garage. This 2,488 sq. ft., open concept home is located in the front part of Meadow Point with no HOA Dues and low CDD. Large pool & outdoor entertaining space surrounded by a manicured lawn, complete with detached utility shed. Offered at $279,000

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Charming 4 bedroom, 2 bath, 1 car garage Wooded view 15102 Deer Meadow Dr. - Lutz Offered at $164,900

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3 bedroom, 2 bath, plus bonus room, 2,094 sq ft, stainless steel appliances, screened lanai, corner lot in gated community. Priced at $236,900

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Don’t need to build! Almost everything brand Robert Marvin & new. New appliances, 42” cabinets , interior Debbie Marvin and exterior paint, new carpet, and the list 813-892-3917 goes on! 2,874sf. Ft 3BD/office/loft/plus bonus. 2/1 baths. No CDD and LOW HOA. Offered at $229,900

4 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, Den, Conservatory, 2,895 Square Feet, 3 Car Garage, Lush Backyard Garden, Conservation Lot, Loaded with Upgrades Offered at $445,000

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Unique Farm 3.74 Acres of Peace and Tranquility! Plenty of room for Horses, Goats, Chickens or anything else! Completely Fenced w/ 3 different Fields for Grazing 30 x 30 Garage w/Elec, a 12 x 32 Shed w/Elec 3 - 18 x 21 Rounded Dome Structures,200 ft paved Driveway, Former model (Homes of Merit) 3 bed 2 bath 1,856 sq ft

Resort living in the well desired Saddlebrook Golf community. This Condo offers 1/1. Balcony overlooking pond. For more information contact Bob Gibson 813-892-7414

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Pasco Supervisor Of Elections: Charter Gov’t Could Cost $375,000 By Matt Wiley

As the county’s appointed Charter Advisory Committee (CAC) continues to decide whether or not to pursue drawing up a new structure for Pasco’s government, the group recently heard from Pasco’s supervisor of elections Brian Corley (photo), who painted an expensive picture of what a new form of government could entail. Since January, the future of Pasco County’s governmental structure has been debated, following a push by future Speaker of the Florida House and Dist. 37 State Rep. Richard Corcoran (R-Land O’Lakes), who insisted to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) that changing the county’s current structure would be in Pasco’s best interest. Rep. Corcoran said that a charter form of government would put more power in the hands of the county’s voters by allowing for single-member districts (instead of all five commissioners being elected county-wide), voter recall of constitutional officers (such as the Clerk of Court, Tax Collector, Property Appraiser and the Sheriff), an elected county mayor/administrator and term limits. None of those provisions are possible under the current structure, because local non-charter governments in Florida can only be changed by the state legislature. To further explore the county charter idea, the BOCC appointed a Charter Advisory Committee (CAC) of 15 local residents, 10 of which were appointed by the BOCC and one each by the five members of Pasco’s state legislative delegation in Tallahassee, to explore whether or not to move forward with forming a county charter. After hearing from...(as reported in our last issue)...On July 13, the group heard from Corley, whose office is responsible for making sure that elections in the county run smoothly, are transparent and that the results are reported both accurately and in a timely manner. The supervisor’s office has four locations throughout the county (although the closest to Wesley Chapel is in the

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Central Pasco Professional Center in Land O’Lakes on U.S. 41), which employs a total of 22 full-time and 50 part-time employees, plus 1,200 paid poll workers and operates on a $3.4-million annual budget. The office handles voter registration, outreach and election administration for the county’s 307,643 registered voters. Currently, there are 111 voting precincts with 108 physical polling locations in Pasco, 13 of which are located in Wesley Chapel. Corley told CAC members that additional services that a charter government would require could cost more than $375,000 in the first year, with a recurring cost of $30,000 each following year (see breakdown below). Currently, the government in Pasco is comprised of a five-member county commission, each serving in at-large seats, meaning that the entire county votes for all five commissioners. Adopting a charter would allow for single-member voting districts, which could mean that Wesley Chapel voters would only vote for the seat representing the county district in which they live. Another possibility is that two additional at-large seats also could be added, also raising the cost. “That involves additional (voting) precincts because, right now, we don’t have precinct lines drawn for singlemember districts,” Corley explains. “Right now, we have to align our precincts with the Congressional, State House and State Senate lines.”

there’s additional equipment that would need to be purchased.” Corley also estimates that it would cost about $300,000 to buy additional voting equipment. New voter information cards also would need to be created and distributed and could cost a one time fee of more than $44,000. Recurring fees include 22 new voting precincts that would need to be added in 21 locations ($3,150) with seven poll workers to staff each precinct ($27,510). Corley said that there are pluses and minuses to enacting a charter, but that he is reserving his opinion because it would be like him commenting on a candidate in an election. To him, he says remaining non-partisan is important (especially for an elections supervisor) and that he finds the idea of constitutional officers running in non-partisan elections intriguing. “If there’s one office that seems the most appropriate to be non-partisan, it’s the supervisor of elections office,” says Corley, who ran as a Republican. “I don’t have an opinion on that because (the supervisor’s office has always been run) non-partisan.” As the process continues and the CAC makes its decision about whether to continue with the process of drafting a

charter, Corley says that voter education is the key. “My main concern is educating voters,” he says. “If the ballot asks voters if they want Pasco to adopt a charter form of government, there are 307,000 registered voters and not everyone is up on current events.” He says that the next logical question any voter should have is, “What’s in the charter?,” adding that the charter document itself could contain 15-20 pages of legal jargon. “The question I have is how (is the county) going to educate the voters on the content (of the charter)?,” Corley said. “It would be inappropriate to put just the highlights of a charter on a sample ballot. (The County) could put the charter content online, but not everyone has internet access.” He added that a previous charter initiative failed in 1976, largely due to a lack of voter education. Regardless of what transpires during the next several months, Corley said that he’s confident with his team. “We can handle anything,” he says. “We don’t have an opinion. If the voters decide that they want (a charter), we’ll make it work. There’ll be some work for us, but that’s what we exist to do.” For more info, please visit Pasco Votes.com. For more info about charter government, please visit PascoCountyFl.net.

Corley Breaks Down His Cost For Charter Government

Corley says that there is a one-time cost of $343,000, along with a recurring cost of $30,000 each year, but adds that it’s an approximate number, based upon five single-member districts. “If we go to single member districts, there are logistical issues,” Corley explains. “We would have to re-precinct, we would have to notify voters and

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Help The Moffitt Cancer Center Research E-Cigs In A New Study By Matt Wiley

Their popularity has spiked in recent years and it’s not uncommon to see them in many public places. “Ecigs,” or electronic cigarettes (photo), have seemingly become a cultural norm, and they’re often touted as being effective in kicking traditional cigarette-smoking habits. However, thanks to a recent $3.6-million research grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Moffitt Cancer Center (located on the University of South Florida’s Tampa campus off Bruce B. Downs [BBD] Blvd., a few miles south of Tampa Palms) is poised to get to the bottom of the safety issues involved with the electronic nicotine distributors. According to a June 29 press release, Moffitt received a grant to study the use of E-cigs during the next five years. The goal? To find out if E-cigs really are any safer than traditional cigarettes and whether or not they really can assist in kicking the habit, as many advertise. “Public health researchers are really playing catch-up with the explosion of e-cigarettes onto the marketplace,” said lead investigator and the director of Moffitt’s Tobacco Research & Intervention Program, Dr. Thomas Brandon, Ph.D. “With millions of smokers trying

e-cigarettes in an efing both cigarettes fort to quit smoking, and E-cigs, whether I’m delighted that or not they have the (NIH) is intertried to quit smokested in determining ing or are interested the effectiveness of in quitting smoking. that strategy, and 2. Former that Moffitt will be smokers who are conducting among currently using only the first studies in this E-cigs. area of research,” Dr. 3. People Brandon said. Moffitt who have already spokesperson Kim quit using both Polacek said that NIH Photo by ‘patrisyu’ from FreeDigitalPhotos.net. traditional cigarettes currently funds only and E-cigs. between 10-20 percent of grant ap“We have already received many plications per year. volunteers from group 2, but we are During the first year of the study, still seeking additional people from Moffitt researchers will be interviewing groups 1 and 3,” Dr. Brandon said. E-cig users to learn about their experi- If you fit either of the criteria for the ences and their perceptions of the pros study, see below. and cons of these smoking substitutes. During the final four years of the The researchers want to interview cur- study, researchers at Moffitt will enroll rent and former smokers who also are 2,500 E-cig users throughout the current or former E-cig users. InterU.S. and follow them for 24 months views officially began the first week of July, Dr. Brandon explained. “For the first study, we are looking to interview people who have used both e-cigarettes and regular cigarettes simultaneously at one time,” Dr. Brandon said, adding that researchers want to interview people from three different groups: 1. People who are currently us-

by sending them surveys every three months. The research is expected to provide valuable data about the longterm use of E-cigs and their value for quitting smoking. “Millions of smokers are using e-cigarettes to try to quit smoking, yet because there is a lack of data, (doctors) are not able to advise them about whether or not that is an effective smoking cessation strategy,” Brandon explains. “This study should provide some answers that will be very useful to smokers as they consider ways to quit.” To participate in the E-cig study, you must be at least 18 years old and must have used E-cigs for at least one month and spent at least one year as a daily smoker. For additional information, E-cig users interested in being interviewed for the study should call Moffitt’s Tobacco Research and Intervention Program toll-free at 1-(877) 954-2548.

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Sharpline Investigations’ Back To School Drive Sharpline Investigations is hosting a ‘Back to School’ drive for students in Hillsborough & Pasco counties with brand new backpacks filled with school supplies to start the new school year off right. The company is collecting backpacks, pencils, pens, spiral notebooks, composition books, binders & notebook paper at Wesley Chapel Nissan (28519 S.R. 54) and at the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce office (6013 Wesley Grove Blvd., Suite 105) through Aug. 21. For more information, please visit SharplineInvestigations.com.

August 2015 Monday, August 3 Experienced Networking 3 Professionals (ENP) ENP meets Monday mornings at 8 a.m. for breakfast and networking at Quail Hollow Golf & Country Club (6225 Old Pasco Rd.). For more information, call Brad Benson at 973-1814. ‘Wesley Chapel Speaks’

3 ToastMasters

Mental Disorder

4 Support Meeting The Pasco County Chapter of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) offers a support group for family & friends of those with mental illness. The group meets the first & third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Atonement Lutheran Church (29617 S.R. 54). Call (727) 992-9653. Wednesday, August 5 Chapel 5 Wesley Breakfast Club The WC Breakfast Club brings business people together to network Attendees will also pick up valuable marketing ideas and have a chance to present their business to the group. The club meets the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7:30 a.m. at Quail Hollow Golf & Country Club (6225 Old Pasco Rd.). For more information, please call Bill at 992-3370.

Club Of 5 Rotary Wesley Chapel (Noon) The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel meets Wednesdays at noon at Stage Left Bar & Kitchen (24400 S.R. 54, Lutz). For more information, call 862-8989 or 391-3895. Thursday, August 6

The “Wesley Chapel Speaks” ToastMasters Networking For Club meets on the first and third Monday of 6 Your Success every month, 6:15 p.m., at Hyundai of Wesley Chapel (26944 Wesley Chapel Blvd.). The Networking For Your Success group For additional information, meets Thursdays, 8 a.m., at Lexington Oaks call David West at 610-1650 Clubhouse (26133 Lexington Oaks Blvd, or visit WesleyChapel Speaks. off S.R. 54). All are welcome. Call 994-9944. ToastMastersClubs.org. Food Addicts In 6 Recovery (FA) Professional Business 3 Connections (PBC) FA is a fellowship of individuals who, PBC meets Mondays at 7:30 a.m. at The through shared experiences and mutual Happy Hangar Cafe (at Tampa North Aero support, are recovering from the disease Park, 4241 Birdsong Blvd., off S.R. 54, Lutz). of food addiction. The group meets ThursFor more information, call Chris days at 7 p.m. at Seventh Day Adventist Thurow at 546-6860. Church (33420 S.R. 54, Wesley Chapel). For more info, visit FoodAddicts.org. Tuesday, August 4 Friday, August 7 Business Networking 4 International (BNI) Club Of 7 Rotary Wesley Chapel Sunrise BNI, a group of business professionals The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Sunrise supporting each other through qualified meets Fridays at 7:15 a.m. at Quail Hollow referrals, meets Tuesdays, 7:30 a.m., at Golf & Country Club (6225 Old Pasco Rd.). Heritage Church (1854 Oak Grove Blvd., off For more information, call Lynne S.R. 54, Land O’Lakes). For more info, email Morgan at 695-6466. Tim at Tim@TampaHomes24-7.com. 18

Women-N-Charge

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Join the ladies of Women-n-Charge, 11:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m., at Pebble Creek Country Club (10550 Regents Park Dr.), for lunch, speakers & networking.The cost is $15 for members & $18 for guests. Register at Women-NCharge.com. Or, call Judy at 600-9848.

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The New Tampa Players presents its production of “Mary Poppins” at the University Area Community Development Center (14013 N. 22 St.) at 8 p.m. Additional showtimes are available throughout the month. Tickets cost $20 & may be purchased at NewTampaPlayers.org or by calling 3866687.

Saturday, August 8

8 BayChapel Food Pantry BayChapel will be opening its FREE food pantry to the community at Christian Brothers Automotive (20303 Trout Creek Dr, New Tampa) from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. for anyone in need. For more information, call Lee at 731-4040.

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advance of the event to Matt@ NTNeighborhoodNews.com.

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USF Autism Center Maintains Funding Since the Neighborhood News has chosen to focus our community service efforts this year to raising autism awareness for ourselves and in our communities, we were thrilled to hear from Dist. 63 Rep. Shawn Harrison (R-New Tampa) that the Center for Autism & Related Disabilities (CARD) at the University of South Florida (USF) maintained its annual funding allocation from last year in this year’s state budget, signed into law by Governor Rick Scott in Tallahassee on June 23. CARD-USF is based at the school’s Tampa campus, located on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. a few miles south of Tampa Palms, and has a network of seven other centers throughout the state at other universities, including the University of Florida in Gainesville and the University of Central Florida in Orlando. According to the state budget, CARD-USF received more than $1.3 million to continue providing services for patients with autism-related disorders, as well as hearing and vision impairment. “I’m pleased to maintain the work we’re doing in the community at no cost to the clients,” says CARD-USF executive director Dr. Karen Berkman, adding that the money will be used to cover operational costs, including paying staff and purchasing equipment and supplies. Dr. Berkman explains that her overall budget is about $1.3 million, which is funded through a grant from the Florida Department of Education. She says that the amount the center received this year wasn’t the amount requested, but it is the

same amount that CARD received last year. Although it won’t have to happen this year, she explains that there have been years in the past in which CARD did not receive the funding required to maintain all of its services and adjustments had to be made. “We’ve been in that situation before and, typically, we had to adjust staffing,” Dr. Berkman explains. “Sometimes you can’t keep everyone on board or you adjust expenditures in other areas. However, our mission never changes.” Founded in 1993, CARD’s mission is to optimize the potential of people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and related disabilities to become valued citizens in their schools and communities. The center provides free information, consultation and training to families, educators and professionals who work closely with individuals diagnosed with ASDs, including autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), Rett’s Syndrome, Asperger’s Syndrome and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder. CARD also provides support for related disabilities, including those who are deaf-blind (hearing and vision impaired), hearing impaired or vision impaired with other disabling conditions. CARD will be hosting its annual Autism, Health & Wellness Symposium at the Embassy Suites on USF’s campus in November, although a final date had not yet been set at our press time. For more info about CARD, please visit CARD-USF.fmhi.usf.edu.

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‘Wesley Chapel’ Continued from page 1

• Meadow Pointe — Although it is one of the older “names” among Wesley Chapel developments, there are still new homes being built in Meadow Pointe. (Note-Pasco County calls Meadow Pointe III-IV by its original DRI name, Wesley Chapel Lakes). In fact, Meadow Pointe actually has four active builders in a number of new subdivisions, and the Country Walk subdivision (just south of S.R. 54) has three active builders: Pulte Homes - Building on 32 homesites (11 sold) in Country Walk. The homes are all 3 bedrooms with between 1,5652,443 sq. ft. of living area, ranging between $205k-$260k. Meritage Homes - Building on 221 lots (180 remaining), with homes ranging between 2,010-4,158 sq. ft., and prices ranging between $251k-$389k. Cardel Homes - Building on 97 lots (only 19 still available) in Country Walk. The homes are 2,200-3,363 sq. ft., and range between $297k-$352k. Two other sections of Meadow Pointe also are selling new homes. Standard Pacific Homes (SP on the map; which also is building in Estancia at Wiregrass, Union Park and Seven Oaks) has a total of 42 lots in Phase 1 of Windsor at Meadow Pointe (with only two remaining), plus 66 Phase II lots (33 remaining). The homes range between 2,9154,853 sq. ft., and start at $344k-$436k. SP also is just starting Phase I of Meridian at Meadow Pointe and has 37 homesites, with floorplans from 3-6 bedrooms, 2,292-4,443 sq. ft., and prices starting at $325k-425k. • Union Park — Previously known as

Golden Ranch or Livingston, the MPUD now being called Union Park (located east of Meadow Pointe III & IV, with access from Meadow Pointe Blvd.) has been purchased by Metro Development, which has four builders and 1,600-1,800 homes planned, in three phases. Below are the four Phase I builders in Union Park: David Weekley Homes - 2,537-3,231 sq. ft., starting at $313k-$352k. Homes By West Bay- 90 lots (55 sold), 1,996-4,846 sq. ft., $250k-$379k K. Hovnanian Homes - 47 lots (24 sold), 2,416-3,188 sq. ft., $283k-$330k. Ryland Homes- 48 lots, 3-4 bedrooms, 1,804-2,595 sq. ft., $234k-$277k. • Seven Oaks — Crown Community Developments has sold all of the land in Seven Oaks, which still has a few active subdivisions. The total number of units (excluding apartments) in the Seven Oaks DRI will be about 2,180 homes at build-out, but here are the remaining lots and builders: DR Horton is selling townhomes in the Lakeside neighborhood, starting from $180,990. Standard Pacific Homes is selling SF homes in the Bellafield neighborhood priced from the $300s to mid $400s. And, Ryland Homes has townhomes in the Maple Glen neighborhood priced from $239,990. • Northwood — Taylor Morrison homes has 202 homesites, with about 100 sold and 76 built. The builder has nine floor plans, 2,055-5,073 sq. ft. & $274k-$438k. Smaller communities in Wesley Chapel also adding new units are Brookside (east of Saddlebrook on S.R. 54), where Javic Homes is the primary builder; Forest Oaks on Boyette Rd. (Avalon Building Corp.); and Quail Woods off Old Pasco Rd. (Southern Crafted Homes).

BUILDER SPOTLIGHT ON... ICI Homes At Grand Hampton

If you’re looking for a new home in the New Tampa community of Grand Hampton, ICI Homes, based in Daytona Beach, literally has the last ten lots available in one of New Tampa’s most beautiful communities, which is located off County Line Rd., with easy access to S.R. 56, I-75, I-275 and Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. According to its website, ICI Homes is continually ranked among the nation’s Top100 Builders in a prestigious annual survey published by Builder magazine. Established in 1980 by founder Mori Hosseini, ICI Homes has been the recipient of countless prestigious awards for design and innovation, and has long enjoyed local, regional and national acclaim. The builder sets itself apart through its unique ability to make custom changes without sacrificing affordability. ICI believes in a “hands-on” approach with all new home buyers, offering custom changes by experienced design professionals who help make decisions for the homebuyer easier and, per22

haps surprisingly, within their budget. ICI Homes is offering six different floorplans in Grand Hampton from the company’s “Estate Series,” which have anywhere from 3-5 bedrooms, 2-3/12 baths, all with 3-car garages and 2,561 sq. ft. to 3,564 sq. ft. of living area. The homes have base prices starting from $404,900 to more than $475,00, although the final price depends upon factors such as your lot and elevation premiums for the model you select (plus other available amenities such as wet bars, fireplaces, bonus rooms, summer kitchens, etc.). As an example, the beautiful Salerno model shown above starts at 2,837 sq. ft. and a base price of $440,900. Grand Hampton, which opened in 2004, features gated security and a beautiful clubhouse with great activities and the ICI Homes in the community are truly unique. For more info about ICI Homes at Grand Hampton, see the ad on pg. 5, visit ICIHomes.com or call sales associate Tim Wilson at 994-7140 or 918-9374.

BUILDER SPOTLIGHT ON... GL Homes At The Ridge At Wiregrass Ranch If you’ve been reading this publication for a while (including the story at the top of page 1), you may have heard about the explosive growth going on in Wesley Chapel, and a lot of that growth is taking place in the Wiregrass Ranch DRI off S.R. 56. The newest and one of the most exciting communities in this growing development is The Ridge at Wiregrass Ranch, where GL Homes — which touts itself as “Florida’s leading homebuilder” — is getting ready to “Welcome you home” to the Grand Opening of its first eight gorgeous models in The Ridge on Saturday, July 25! Although there are also some smaller floor plans available in The Ridge, according to GL Homes’ website, the models expected to be on display on July 25 will have between

2-5 bedrooms, 2-5.5 baths and 2-3-car garages and will range between 2,092-4,479 (air conditioned) sq. ft. The prices for these models start at less than $300,000 to more than $600,000 (the Conrad floorplan below, with five bedrooms and 4 baths and 3,381 sq. ft., is a mid-sized option in GL’s “Preserve Collection” at The Ridge starting at $354,900). The Ridge is expected to have 562 homes built in two phases, with an opulent, 11,000-sq.-ft. clubhouse that is expected to open in the Spring of 2017 and will include a resort-style pool, tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, a fitness room, an arcade and other fabulous amenities. Since 1976, GL Homes has grown from a small, local builder to one of the nation’s largest. For four decades, GL Homes has created exceptional communities and built quality residences in Florida’s most desirable locations. There are more than 63,000 people living in GL homes throughout Florida. The builder currently also is building homes in Valencia Lakes in Wimauma. For more information, visit GLHomes.com/ The-Ridge-at-Wiregrass-Ranch or call (855) 671-1400.

BUILDER SPOTLIGHT ON... Mobley Homes At K-Bar Ranch

If you’ve lived in this area for any period of time, you may already know the name Mobley Homes. Heck, with Mobley’s nearly 1,500 residences already built in Tampa Palms and West Meadows — and now as many as 2,000 residences already built or being built in the in K-Bar Ranch Development of Regional Impact (DRI) — you may even already have owned a Mobley Home or perhaps admired a friend’s house built by this quality, local custom builder. According to its website, Mobley Homes has a customer-first philosophy and a devotion to excellence. The builder combines a customer-centered mission with award-winning architecture, which has enabled Mobley Homes to create beautiful, new homes in the Tampa Bay area for more than 30 years. In K-Bar Ranch, Mobley Homes currently is building in two gorgeous neighborhoods — Bassett Creek and The Woodlands. The custom home builder is building

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163 homes in Basset Creek and the remaining 22 lots (at our press time) offer twelve floor plans (three currently in inventory, including a 4,050-sq.-ft. Amelia B style, like the one pictured above). These homes offer 75’ lots and range between 2,763-4,050 sq. ft. of living area, with 3-6 bedrooms, 3-5 baths and 3-4car garages starting at $344,000-$418,900, although those prices can go up, depending upon your level of customization. Mobley also has just three lots left of 29 total in The Woodlands, which offers ten floorplans on 50’ lots starting at 1,891-3,321 sq. ft., all with 3-5 bedrooms, 2-3.5 baths and 2-car garages with prices starting at from $247,900-$304,900. Mobley Homes also currently is building in The Manors on Lake Padgett in Land O’Lakes. For additional information, visit MobleyHousing.com or call New Home Specialists Neisha Roberts, Renee Riordan or Maureen Groom at 960- 8966.

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Budget Blinds Of Greater Tampa Gives Your Windows Great Treatment! By Matt Wiley

What better way to show support to returning U.S. military veterans than by donating your business services to them? Well, that is exactly what Budget Blinds of Greater Tampa (located on W. Fletcher Ave. in Tampa, just 15-20 minutes southwest of most of Wesley Chapel) is doing, by recently partnering with Homes For Our Troops (HFOT), a non-profit organization that builds homes for returning injured veterans. Nationwide, Orange, CA-Budget Blinds has agreed to provide window coverings in every HFOT home built across the country for the next three years, valued at more than $1 million in donated products and services. Locally, Elaine Trotter, co-owner of Budget Blinds of Greater Tampa, says that her franchise location is donating $1 to HFOT for every single blind sold by her franchise in 2015. “It’s an initiative we’re very excited about,” Elaine says. “We believe in ‘home.’ A home should be a safe haven, a place of refuge at the end of the day. For the returning injured and disabled veterans, navigating their current environment can be very difficult. So, we’re proud that we’re able to provide window coverings in a home that has been specially adapted for them.” Elaine says that Budget Blinds specializes in beautifying the inside of

the windows of your home, whether you want shades, shutters or draperies. In 2008, she and her husband Jim purchased the Greater Tampa franchise (which was the first to open in the state, in 1994 in Land O’Lakes). Elaine explains that Jim was more than 20 years into a corporate career that required him to travel extensively and move often. Finally, he had enough and they decided to stay in Tampa. “We started looking for other alternatives,” Elaine says. “We always wanted to own a small business together, grow it and be able to employ people and give back to our community.” Elaine says that they started looking at franchising and stumbled upon Budget Blinds. She says that since the company has great corporate support, buying power and was military veteran-friendly, “their business model was in line with our thinking.” So, as the local economy hit rock bottom, the Trotters opened their first business. “We could have run the business ourselves during the economic downturn, but we hired people anyway and started out very slow. There were four of us in the beginning, but now, we’ve grown to 15 employees.” Elaine says that the growth forced Budget Blinds to move from the small, original showroom in Land O’Lakes to its current space in Tampa, which houses large displays of the company’s

products, including numerous variations on Budget Blinds’ own lines of blinds, shutters, shades, drapes (including the signature Inspired Drapes line that launched last year), panels, bedding, screens and even area rugs. Elaine says her store should be fully stocked with Momeni Rugs within the next month and that she has a rug “for any budget to complete any room.” Elaine also explains The above Inspired Drapes design earned Budget Blinds of Greater Tampa on W. Fletcher Ave. a First Place award in the national that one of the most company’s annual design contest. popular product lines that Budget Blinds sells Elaine says, “We bring samples and is plantation shutters. products to the client’s home. Our con“Most of our customers love plantasultants can see the client’s decorating tion shutters (decorative shutters that are style and get a look at the actual windows placed on the inside of the home),” she to solve the problem, whether it’s heat says. “They’re a beautiful asset to your or glare or privacy. We always work with home, like furniture for your windows. our clients. We bring the ‘shop-at-home’ They’re also considered a permanent experience to them, so they don’t have to fixture of your home and can increase its run around to multiple stores.” appraisal value. They provide great insuElaine says that Budget Blinds also lation from the heat and a good view.” stands by its products, offering a five-year But, you don’t have to rely on just “No Questions Asked” warranty on all your own opinion for decorating with products sold. new window accessories because Budget “Our warranties separate us from Blinds has a team of in-home consultaeveryone else in the industry,” Elaine tion designers. explains. “Blinds are like cars. They have

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what we were looking for and received excellent customer service all the way through — from scheduling our in-home appointment, our oneon-one consultation and with the installation. Bravo for a job well done, start to finish!” Elaine and the friendly folks at Budget Blinds of Greater Tampa are good at what they do — so good, in fact, that they recently won Above is an example of the kinds of shutters that Budget Blinds a national award: first can install in your home that can help increase its value. place in the 2015 Budget Blinds Design Contest parts that wear out, and accidents can for Decorative Hardware. happen in the home. We get a lot of calls To commemorate the victory, Elaine’s about pets. It really gives our clients the decorative drapery design was featured peace of mind that if something happens, in Window Fashion VISION magazine, a we’ll replace that product for free, once, respected industry publication. within a five-year period, no matter what “We don’t just sell a product,” happens.” Elaine says. “We try to help our customElaine tells of a recent customer who ers solve dilemmas and provide them had just purchased blinds from her store. with good service and a good experience. “The client was fostering a dog,” We’re not perfect and we may not always Elaine says. “Yes, it happened, the foster get it right, but we’ll always try to make dog ate the blinds. She called us disit right.” traught, but was excited to hear that they Be sure to check out the Budget were covered under our warranty.” Blinds of Greater Tampa showroom Customers brag about the Greater at 1208 W. Fletcher Ave., which is Tampa store on Elaine’s website — open Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.–5 p.m., and Budget Blinds.com/NorthTampa. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. on Sat. Call 968-5050 “The selection at Budget Blinds to schedule a free in-home consultais incredible!,” says a Wesley Chapel tion or visit BudgetBlinds.com/North resident named Holly. “We found exactly Tampa for more info.

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Shriners Hospital For Children Can Help Keep Kids Safe This Summer Known as “trauma season” among public health and medical professionals, summer is a time when serious injuries and unintentional deaths increase dramatically among children. Statistics from a Safe Kids U.S. Summer Ranking Report from May 2007 show that 40 percent of all injuryrelated emergency room visits and 42 percent of all injury-related deaths among children happen between May and August. However, many of these injuries can be prevented with a few simple precautions. “I know a fun-filled summer day can turn into tragedy within seconds when an accident occurs,” said Dr. Maureen Maciel, a pediatric orthopae-

dic surgeon and the acting Chief of Staff at the Shriners Hospital for Children — Tampa, located on the campus of the University of South Florida, 2030 minutes south of most of Wesley Chapel. “Shriners Hospitals wants to provide families with simple ways to reduce the risk of childhood injuries so kids can enjoy a safe summer.” As experts in the treatment of pediatric orthopaedic conditions, spinal cord injuries and burns, Shriners Hospitals for Children provides critical, surgical and rehabilitative care to children, regardless of the families’ ability to pay. Shriners Hospitals for Children – Tampa urges parents and caregivers to remind their kids of these

The Shriners Hospital for Children on USF’s Tampa campus has one focus this summer — to help keep kids safe while they’re enjoying their break from school. simple precautions to help keep them umbrellas and tents secured to prevent injury-free this summer: serious injury that can occur when these • Swing on a swing set sitting down. items are dislodged by wind. • Slide feet first, one child at a time. “Sustaining a serious injury can be • Do not push or shove others on the a life-altering event for a child,” said playground. Dale Stauss, chairman of the Board of • Always swim with an adult/“buddy.” Directors for Shriners Hospitals for • Wear a life jacket if not comfortChildren. “We see patients every day able or experienced in the water and on a with injuries caused by accidents, and watercraft. we are committed to raising awareness • Never let children play on or around about how to (keep children safe).” lawn mowers. For additional safety tips, fli• Never allow children to play near ers and activity pages for children, fire pits, campfires or BBQ grills. visit ShrinersHospitalsforChildren. • Fun at the beach always requires org/SafeSummer. Should an injury sun protection, plenty of water and shade occur, the physicians and staff of breaks. Be sure to provide children with Shriners Hospitals can help. To plenty of water to avoid dehydration. find out more about the treatments Also, pay close attention to keeping beach available, visit ShrinersHospitalsfor-

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Children.org. To make an appointment, call 1-(888) 665-5437.

About Shriners Hospitals

Shriners Hospitals for Children are changing lives every day through innovative pediatric specialty care, worldclass research and outstanding medical education. With 22 locations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, Shriners Hospitals provide advanced care for children with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries and cleft lip and palate. Shriners Hospitals for Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and relies on the generosity of donors. All donations are tax deductible to the

fullest extent permitted by law. More than 50,000 children have received orthopaedic specialty care in a family centered environment at Shriners Hospitals for Children – Tampa since its opening in October 1985. The hospital continues to focus on providing the highest quality pediatric medical care to children regardless of the families’ ability to pay and relies on the generosity of donors to deliver its mission. The Tampa location is a major referral center for complex and highly specialized orthopaedic care for children throughout Florida and south Georgia. Visit ShrinersHospitalsforChildren.org/Locations/Tampa for more information.

SPOTLIGHT

ON...

For clothes and customer service you can’t find at the mall, visit la Pink Boutique in The Walk at Highwoods Preserve shopping center, off of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd, in New Tampa, next to Men’s Wearhouse. Amy Crumpton owns la Pink, which opened in its current location in 2006 when Amy named it for her favorite color. “Everything in my world should be pink,” she laughs, but adds that the store offers much more than just her favorite color. “We are a ladies boutique that offers clothing of all types,” Amy says. “We have dresses for most occasions, although we don’t carry formal wear. We currently have a great collection of summer styles, and we also carry shoes, jewelry, scarves and other items such as Vera Bradley totes, purses and backpacks.” la Pink Boutique also is proud to offer items created by local designers, including Bourbon and Boweties bracelets (handmade bangle bracelets made locally in Brandon that include stones, coins, pearls and other decorations). The store also carries Lindsay Phillips shoes, a line of footwear with interchangeable snap embellishments so ladies can change the look of their shoes without buying a new pair. All you have to do is purchase a new emblem and snap it onto the toes of your shoes. The designer was born and raised in Clearwater, and actually came up with the concept for her shoes in a high school art class, and has now built a thriving business from her original ideas.

Pink

Boutique!

la Pink also was the first boutique to sell shirts, camis and leggings from Lutz designer Tees by Tina, who now has five stores of her own, in cities such as Sarasota and even Charleston, SC. After Amy opened la Pink in its current location in 2006, she expanded it in 2010, taking over the vacant space next door to approximately double the store’s size to its current 2,000 square feet. “My plan is to stay put,” Amy says. “I’ve been told to move my business to South Tampa because people think I’d do much better there, but I live in New Tampa and this is where I want to be. This area needs this type of shop, and embraces it.” la Pink Boutique is located at 18035 Highwoods Preserve Pkwy. (in the same plaza as Best Buy), and is open Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.- 6 p.m., and 10 a.m.-5 p.m on Sat. It is closed on Sun. For more information, call 972-2862, “like” the la Pink Boutique Tampa page on Facebook or see the ad on pg. 19.

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SPOTLIGHT ON... Hunter’s Green Country Club! Hunter’s Green Country Club (HGCC), located off Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in New Tampa, is not just for Hunter’s Green residents. In fact, anyone can become a member of this beautiful, private club. If you’re not a member already, here’s a little bit about what you’ve been missing. In addition to the beautiful, 6,900-yard, Tom Fazio-designed golf course (photo) with “environmental integrity,” the club also features an elegant clubhouse, a great pro shop, driving and practice area, wonderful golf pros (led by head golf pro Doug Brown), plus an amazing array of 17 championship-caliber Har-Tru (clay) tennis courts and lots of outstanding benefits and amenities for its members — all only two miles south of the Pasco County line! HGCC membership director Ann Pereira and member relations director Ashley Allen-Nelson stress that although HGCC is a private club owned by Club Corp. of America (CCA), “the largest owner and operator of private clubs worldwide,” membership in the club is available to everyone, regardless of where you live. In fact, Ann says, “Today, fewer than 50 percent of our members actually live in Hunter’s Green, although more than 80 percent of our members do live in New Tampa, Wesley Chapel and the surrounding communities.” HGCC membership allows you to play golf and enjoy privileges at more than

300 top-quality CCA-owned-and-operated (and allied) clubs and resorts in more than 20 countries around the world, including nearly 40 right here in Florida. Among the local clubs with reciprocal benefits are Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club, Carrollwood Country Club, the Tampa Club and Centre Club (all in Tampa), plus Feather Sound, Countryside and East Lake Woodlands Country Clubs (in Clearwater). But, even if you only plan to spend your time at HGCC, you won’t be disappointed with the Tennis Athletic Center (TAC), which has a great pool, those amazing tennis courts, spinning, personal training and other group and individual exercise opportunities — and a playroom for kids. Plus, you’ll receive bar code access to get inside the entrance gates (like Hunter’s Green residents have) when you join. HGCC is located at 18101 Longwater Run Dr., Tampa. For more info, visit ClubCorp.com/Clubs/Hunter-sGreen-Country-Club or call 973-1000.

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Lightning High School Hockey League Registration Officially Open By Matt Wiley Ice hockey is a big deal in our area right now. Maybe it has something to do with our own Tampa Bay Lightning making it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 2004. It could also have to do with the fact that Florida Hospital Center Ice (FHCI), which will be the largest recreational skating facility in the state, is about to open in a few months here in Wesley Chapel (off S.R. 56 near the I-75 interchange). Either way, if your high school student is interested in hitting the ice this next school year, registration officially has begun for the new Lightning High School Hockey League (LHSHL). According to a press release from the Tampa Bay Lightning, the puck officially dropped for LHSHL registration on July 1. The release says that the Lightning organization will now be responsible for all aspects of high school hockey in the region, including admitting teams to the LHSHL, registering players, scheduling practice ice and games, securing on-ice officials, administering supplemental discipline (suspensions, fines outside of on-ice penalties, etc.), conducting championship playoff brackets and All-Star game(s) and overseeing all aspects of LHSHL operations. The LHSHL website explains that the league originally was known as the Florida High School Hockey Association (FHSHA). However, in April 2015, the FHSHA member teams voted to turn over control of the league to the Tampa Bay

Lightning, which officially took over on May 1. The Lightning organization saw taking over high school hockey in the area as a way to become more involved in the community, says Lightning spokesperson Brian Breseman. “The Lightning have always shown a great interest in community hockey,” Breseman explains. “Since former Stanley Cup-wining Lightning general manager Jay Feaster took over as executive director of community hockey development, the organization will continue to put more of its resources into (community hockey).” Breseman says that, although the Lightning is just now taking over high school hockey in the area, the organization has been involved since the beginning and Amalie Arena in downtown Tampa regularly plays host to the high school hockey championship and all-star game. “This is a good situation for the long term for high school hockey,” says FHCI developer and Wiregrass Ranch High hockey coach Gordie Zimmermann. “With our facility coming online, a lot of components will be held there.” In addition to games, Zimmermann says he’s already received a letter of intent from the Lightning to hold future hockey training camps and high school tryouts at FHCI. He says that with the Lightning taking over and with more facility space, a junior varsity program also is being added. “In the past, a lot of kids would try out, but many couldn’t get on a team, so

they just didn’t play,” Zimmermann explains. “The new JV program will help with that.” Zimmermann also says he expects to see an increase in youth ice hockey in our area, thanks to the Lightning’s recent Stanley Cup Finals appearance. Breseman agrees, “I don’t have a crystal ball, but (the 2014-15 Stanley Cup run) could have a positive impact on interest (in high school The new Lightning High School Hockey League, which includes hockey).” Freedom, Wharton & Wiregrass Ranch (picture) high schools, The press release is registering players now for the 2015-16 season. states that the high that if a student’s high school isn’t one of schools participating in the eighteen in the league this school year, the inaugural season of the LHSHL are that student still can register and will be asBerkeley Prep in South Tampa, Bloomingdale, Countryside, East Lake, East Manatee, signed to a school in their appropriate zone. While the Lightning now is in charge George Jenkins, Jesuit, Mitchell, Newsome, of high school hockey, players still are Palm Harbor, Plant, River Ridge, Sarasota, responsible for providing their own skates Seminole, Steinbrenner, Wharton, Freeand pads. dom and Wiregrass Ranch. The teams for the 2015-16 season — All interested high school players, which runs from September-February — are including those entering high school as set. But, if additional schools want to get in freshmen, can register online at Lightning for the following season, all they have to do HighSchoolHockeyLeague.com. Once is register, Breseman says. registered, students will be contacted by For additional information, please their respective schools and given the opvisit LightningHighSchoolHockey portunity to try out for either their school’s varsity or junior varsity team. Breseman says League.com.

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s ,

WCAA Angels, Ponytails Need Your Help To Get To World Series! By Matt Wiley

It’s one thing for a youth sports team from any town to compete for the title of the best in the U.S., but having two teams from Wesley Chapel competing for that title is something completely different. During the July 4 weekend, the Wesley Chapel Athletic Association (WCAA)’s Darlings (7-8 year olds), All-Star Angels (9-10 year olds) and Ponytails (11-12 year olds) girls softball teams each competed in the Dixie League State Championship in Tallahassee. By the end of the three-day tournament, both the Angels and Ponytails were State Champions. Now, both teams are looking to make history by winning the Dixie League World Series in Carthage, NC, a six-day tournament that begins on Friday, August 7, and they need your help to get there (see below for more info)! Both teams ended up having to defeat a team three times in a row for the title. “We had a tough run (at the State tourney),” says Angels manager Joel Eason, who explains that after a 2-1 win over Belleview, the team fell to Wewahitchka (Wewa) 1-0 and had to play Wewa two more times, winning 8-5 and then 2-0 to take the State title. “It was pitching and defense that really held it down for us,” Eason says. “One of the things we talked to the girls extensively about was playing ‘simple’ softball, not trying to do too much and sticking to the skills we’ve been working on all season.” The WCAA All-Star teams are comprised of 12 girls from each age group who were chosen from the 48 girls who played during the recreational season. Eason says that he knew the girls were a special team from when they first began playing together, especially because of the team’s pitching depth. “I said that we may run into a team with one pitcher as good (as one of ours), but not three (as good as our three),” he explains. “We were confident that if these girls pitched the way they were capable, we were going to do well. You coach long enough, you’re able to see what you have and what you don’t.” He seems to be correct so far. Angels pitchers Ahmari Arca, Elise Eason (Eason’s daughter) and Ireland Sibbitt collectively threw 37 strikeouts during four games of the State tournament, allowing only 14 walks, 15 hits and a total of 7 runs. The

Congratulations to the Wesley Chapel Athletic Association Dixie League Softball State Champion Angels (left) and Ponytails,, who both are moving on to the World Series in Carthage, NC, on August 7. The teams need your help to get there! WCAA Angels scored 12 runs on 15 hits they probably shouldn’t have won. We had “We’re working hard to raise money and 22 walks. a theme from the beginning — sisters.” so that the families don’t get beaten up (fiEason says that during the final game Finn explains that, while many of the nancially),” Finn says, adding that any help of the tournament, something particularly girls already knew each other before getting is greatly appreciated and that checks for exciting happened: three Wesley Chapel on the All-star team, he wanted them to donations should be made out to “WCAA” teams were competing for the State Cham- know that they were all sisters and that they with “World Series” in the memo, so that’s pionship at the same time on three different were going to work together. the only place the money can go. fields. The Darlings may have suffered a “It built friendships deeper than just “Every once in a while, we’ll send a tough 12-11 loss, but the Ponytails put to- on the softball field,” Finn says. team to the World Series, but never two,” gether a spectacular rally for the title against Finn says. “It’s unprecedented. If we win, How You Can Help! the age 11-12 team from Marianna, FL. it’ll be a major accomplishment and they The two teams have made it to the “We were down 7-3 going into the should have parades for these kids if we Dixie League World Series, but they’re not last inning,” recalls Ponytails manager Tyler do because the competition is going to be there yet. Sending 24 families to Carthage, Finn, who explains that the team was able incredible at that level.” NC, for the six-day tournament is estimated to put players on base and start moving For more information, or to make them into scoring position. After batting in to cost about $20,000, and the teams have a donation, visit Facebook.com/Softbeen hard at work fund-raising as group at a one run, two Ponytails got on base in time number of different locations since they got ballWorldSeries. You also can call Coach for Aubrey McLeod to smash a three-run Finn at 313-8374. back from the State tournament homer to tie the game. “The players and families were bouncing off the walls,” Finn says. “We were able to drive in one more run for the 8-7 lead. And then, we still had to hold them for the final three outs.” Finn says that the after first Marianna batter got on base, the second hit a grounder that resulted in a double play. “You don’t see many double plays at that age level,” Finn says. “Then, it came down to their last batter and our pitcher Hailey Vazquez struck her out on a 2-2 count. The girl got caught looking and we won the State championship.” Finn says that he, too, knew that this year’s group of Ponytails was a special team and that their chemistry had been a big part of their success so far. “(The girls) have a lot of heart,” Finn says. “They didn’t give up in a game that

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Wesley Chapel Rotary’s 2015 ‘Freedom Fest’ Is The Best One Yet!

Our sincere congratulations go out to event co-chairs Jeanine McLeod and Dr. Pablo Rivera and my entire Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel (Noon, which meets Wed. at noon at Stage Left Bar & Kitchen on S.R. 54 in Lutz) for hosting an incredibly successful fourth annual Freedom Festival, held again on July 3 at the Shops at Wiregrass mall. With a crowd estimated to be larger than last year’s record 50,000 attendees and with the rain holding off the entire afternoon and evening, new club president Erin Meyer says she expects the total raised for the 2015 Freedom Festival to be more than $25,000 for the club and its selected charitable causes. “Jeanine, Pablo their amazing committee, our entire club and the Wesley Chapel community all deserve credit for this awesome event!,” Meyer said. As for the festivities themselves, about

(Top, l.-r.) FHWC sponsored the bike parade during the 2015 Freedom Festival, which featured a spectacular fireworks display, sponsored by LOL Transport & Moving. (Below, l.-r.) Eva Covey receives a “Most Original” bike award from county commissioner Mike Moore. New Wesley For more 2015 Chapel Rotary Club president Erin Meyer (in yellow) was Freedom Festival among the many enjoying the Watermelon Eating Contests pics, see page 34! for kids & adults, sponsored by Ierna’s Heating & Cooling.

70 kids competed for the titles of Little Miss and Little Mr. Firecracker, which had two very young winners — Madelyn Moodie & Emmitt Jones, respectively. Age group winners included Linley Bruce & Thomas Murtha (ages 3-24 months old); Mikaila DeLucco & William

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Pickering (2-4 years); Eva Covey & Noah Zabel (5-8 years). The pageant was sponsored by the Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative (WREC). The “Best Overall” winners in the annual Bike Decorating Contest, sponsored by Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, were Kyle

Crawford (for ages 3-5), Katelyn Garmas (ages 6-8) and Cloe Varga (ages 9-11). The Club also thanks Ierna’s Heating & Cooling, which sponsored the alwaysfun Watermelon Eating Contest and LOL Transport & Moving, which sponsored the evening’s awesome fireworks display. — GN

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More Pics From The 2015 Freedom Festival!

On this page are the 2015 Little Miss & Mr. Firecracker winners — Madelyn Moodie (top, left) & Emmitt Jones (top, center) — and some of their fellow contestants.

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FHWC Hosts Men’s Health Seminar At Health & Wellness Center By Matt Wiley

Medical technology and treatments keep progressing, often times more quickly than hospitals can keep up with, even if they had unlimited resources to pay for them. However, Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC, located off Bruce B. Downs [BBD] Blvd.) does a good job of staying at the forefront of technological innovation and offering new treatments to the community, as it recently did during its first Men’s Health Seminar. Held in June (we didn’t have room for this story last issue) in honor of “Men’s Health Month,” FHWC put on a free seminar tailored exclusively for men in the surrounding areas in order to educate them about some of the newest medical procedures and research about medical conditions that commonly affect aging males — most notably pulmonary disease, gastrointestinal issues and cancers of the colon and prostate. In a conference room on the second floor of the FHWC Health & Wellness Center (located adjacent to the hospital), more than 40 men and a few women gathered to hear presentations throughout the afternoon from three FHWC doctors, including Martin Fernando Britos-Bray, M.D., Internal Medicine & Pulmonary Disease; Joseph S. Cody, M.D. Gastroenterology; and Dr. Bertram A. Lewis, M.D., Ph. D. Urology. Attendees also got to enjoy a healthy, catered

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lunch from Corporate Caterers. “Anytime we have people coming out to learn about their health and how to better themselves, it’s a good thing,” said FHWC spokesperson Tracy Clouser. “You can tell that the Wesley Chapel community is highly educated. (The attendees) have done their own research (about these topics before coming to the health seminar) and have really been asking great questions.” While we weren’t able to cover the whole event and subsequently missed Dr. Britos-Bray’s presentation about the problems and symptoms of pulmonary disease (responsible for one-in-six deaths in the U.S.) and Dr. Cody’s presentation about the importance of gastrointestinal endoscopy (a procedure that involves using a long flexible endoscopic tube with a camera at the end to see the lining of the upper GI tract), this reporter was able to sit in on Dr. Lewis’ presentation about a revolutionary new procedure that reportedly takes a lot of the guesswork out of prostate cancer screenings, the most common type of fatal cancer in men. FHWC has employed the new UroNav Fusion Biopsy System, which can help create a detailed, three-dimensional view of the prostate that the urologist can use to guide precision biopsies for identifying cancerous prostate lesions. Dr. Lewis explained that, traditionally, doctors have to “go in blind” to take prostate biopsies using an ultrasound and run the risk of completely missing an area

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that could be affected, or only getting a sample of an area that has a lower grade of cancer, but isn’t a good representation of how serious the cancer might be in another area of the prostate. Basically, he says it’s much easier to misdiagnose using the “old” system. “This is sort of the next generation when it comes to prostate cancer Dr. Bertram A. Lewis discusses the benefits of a new prostate cancer diagnosis,” Dr. Lewis screening procedure during the FHWC Men’s Health Seminar in said, adding that the June at the hospital’s Health & Wellness Center. procedure pairs the normal real-time ultrasound said. “They’re more advanced than we biopsy with a recent MRI (magnetic are, but they’re learning, as well. I think I resonance image, performed by FHWC’s (now) have more information about what impressive 3 Tesla MRI machine) to proI would do (if diagnosed with any of the vide a better visualization of the biopsy diseases covered) and my options. Menneedle during the procedure. tioning that (detecting and diagnosing “The key to (UroNav) is there is acprostate cancer) is not an exact science, tually a radio wave detector that lies over that was very important to me because I the patient’s abdomen and can tell where want to know that.” the probe is during the biopsy,” Dr. Mitchell also said that these types of Lewis said. “It’s a fairly elaborate system seminars are a boon to the area. that allows for more accurate biopsies.” “There’s no doubt about (this being New Tampa residents Logan good for the community),” Mitchell exMitchell and George Galiouridis, both plained. “You have to have these classes. members of the FHWC Health & WellThe community needs this material. Eveness Center’s fitness center, heard about rybody has their own stories and they’re the seminar through an email. Both had very eye-opening.” attended similar seminars at another local For more information about uphospital in the past. coming free classes at FHWC, please “The doctors are learning,” Mitchell visit FHWesleyChapel.org.

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Café Olé Restaurant & Tapas Bar New Tampa’s Place For Spanish (Cuisine), Seafood & Salsa! By Gary Nager

It’s been the winner of my favorite restaurant in New Tampa the last couple of years and it’s always done pretty well in our annual Reader Dining Survey, so I’m still kind of surprised when people tell me that they’ve never heard of or never tried Café Olé Restaurant & Tapas Bar in the Cross Creek Center plaza on Cross Creek Blvd. at Kinnan St. Café Olé is more than just New Tampa’s only place for authentic Spanish cuisine, it also has the best and freshest fish and seafood and the only truly “continental cuisine” in our area. I’d think those facts alone would make Café Olé New Tampa’s favorite restaurant, but if not, I hope the pictures and descriptions on these pages will convince everyone who still has never tried Café Olé to (finally!) check it out for themselves for lunch or dinner. Owner Frank Aliaga, who still regularly travels back and forth to his native

country, has been the owner of Café Olé for as long as it’s been in business and he keeps expanding the place to where there are now several different dining areas, plus a new sports bar area (there’s always soccer playing on many of the TVs, although patrons are allowed to watch other sports, too). But, Frank promises that Among our editor’s favorite special dishes at Café Olé Restaurant the Spanish food and Tapas Bar pictured on this page are the fresh red snapper in at Café Olé is lemon and butter (above) and the filet mignon kabobs (below). Top authentic — from photo by Jayne Baker. his great variety was homemade veal ravioli, featuring of tapas to his incredible entrées — but whether you feel five or six large, overstuffed raviolis topped with fresh mushrooms and a like having a great steak or lamb dish, zesty mushroom gravy, garnished with chicken, pork, veal, fish, shellfish or vegetarian, just about everyone can find fresh basil. My other favorite starters at Café Olé include the almejas Castillas something they’ll love at Café Olé. (or little neck clams sautéed in garlic, Amazing Tapas onion and white wine) and the tradiThere’s always a great variety of tional albondigas Navarette, which are tapas — the traditional Spanish appetiz- baby meatballs slow cooked in a red ers that started the whole “small plates” wine reduction sauce and served with trend in American restaurants — at Café sautéed red peppers and mushrooms. Olé. In addition to the nearly 20 hot And, just in case those tapas items and cold tapas items on the menu, there don’t sound appetizing enough for are always a few different tapas specials you, try dipping Café Olé’s always fresh that change daily. bread, which is crunchy outside, hot During our recent visit, photogand soft on the inside (and served with rapher Jayne Baker raved about the pre-softened butter) in any of those gambas al ajillo (jumbo shrimp sautéed sauces. Warning: Taste explosion! in garlic, crushed red pepper and virgin Whether you think you enjoy olive oil). I can’t eat the shrimp, but octopus or not, I suggest trying either Jayne marveled (before polishing off the hot or cold octopus tapas options at the whole thing herself), “This is a small Café Olé before dismissing this delicious plate? There’s like seven or eight really sea creature out of hand. I particularly large shrimp in this dish.” loved an octopus tapas special at Café One of the tapas specials I enjoyed Olé because the octopus was sliced so

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thin it literally melted in your mouth. There’s plenty of authentic Spanish potato tapas options on the menu, too, although I get enough carbs from just the bread, so I can’t really make any recommendations, although I know the items are popular. My shrimp-eating friends also enjoy Café Olé’s shrimp and fish ceviche and special tapas items like the crab meat quesadillas, filet mignon

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Sauces To Die For!

As for the entrées, my first choice at Café Olé is always to hear the fresh fish special of the day and it never lets me down. For example, on my most recent visit, I was able to enjoy fresh red snapper sautéed with fresh tomatoes and hearts of palm in an amazing lemon butter sauce. The dish also came topped with large shrimp (as pictured on the previous page), but if I’m getting the dish myself, I’ll of course order it without shrimp or with the shrimp served separately if someone else at the table can enjoy it. If there’s fresh grouper, flounder, corvina or sea bass on the specials list and you feel like fish, get it. My favorite fish item on the actual menu is the fresh filet of flounder, sautéed with onions, garlic, olives, capers and finished in a riojana tomato sauce. Mmmm. Of course, the most popular seafood dishes at Café Olé are the traditional Spanish paellas, also known as the “Especialidades de la Casa” on the menu, but the only one I’ve ever been able to sample is the one with chicken and chorizo sausage, as both of the others involve multiple kinds of shellfish I can’t eat and one “paella negra” even offers a variety of fresh seafood with Valencia rice and black squid ink. Other seafood options include mahi-mahi “Andaluz,” topped with shrimp and tomato bruschetta, salmon, a Spanish style bouillabaise and a seafood medley. But, when I’m not Among our other favorite dishes at Café Olé include the veal enjoying the fresh fish at raviolis (top left) and gambas al ajillo (shrimp in garlic Café Olé, I’m a natural meat sauce) tapas (top right), the asparagus crostini (next row, eater and all four meat items left), the classic Spanish paella (next row, right), the veal on the menu — the NY chop special (above left) and rack of lamb in port reduction strip steak, sautéed veal with (above right) and the Spanish-style flan (left). Some of the mozzarella and marsala wine, photos on this page by Jayne Baker. char-grilled churrasco-style steak with chimichurri sauce tacos and asparagus crostini are also all and the “Parrillada Olé” (a mixed grill, outstanding. although I order it without shrimp, Even if you’re just looking for a also served with chimichurri) also are great salad, Café Olé has you covered, outstanding. with the ‘ensalada Olé” (house salad But, some of my favorite non-fish served with goat cheese and an excellent specials I’ve had at Café Olé include balsamic vinaigrette), a tasty Caésar and crusted pork chops, the rack of lamb, a tropical salad with Mandarin orange filet mignon kabobs and I did once sections and feta cheese. have an incredible grilled veal chop.

Any meat served with a brown sauce or red wine/port reduction at Café Olé is a surefire winner. I also have enjoyed most of the chicken dishes on the menu, but the pollo Olé, topped with a yummy brandy cream sauce, is probably my favorite. There’s also a daily vegetarian special. If you’re looking for an elegant, leisurely lunch, Café Olé’s lunch menu offers lunch portions of many of the dinner items, plus great sandwiches and there’s usually always at least one awesome fish and/or chicken or pork special every day as well. For dessert, there are traditional choices like Spanish-style flan de la casa and tres leches, as well as a decadent New York-style cheesecake and more. And, not only does Café Olé have a full, premium liquor bar and Spain’s own Mahou lager (and other quality beers) on tap (plus many Spanish and South American beers in bottles), it also has the best, priced-right wine list in our area. If you love Spanish red wines like Riojas and Tempranillos, you definitely should try the full-bodied Pesquera or Condada de Haza ribero del duero reds, especially if you’re having one of Café Olé’s many hearty meat dishes. And, Café Olé recently improved its already-great Happy Hour, which is now every day, 3 p.m.-7 p.m. Domestic drafts are just $2.20, imported and

micro-brewed drafts cost just $2.80 and house wine and sangria cost just $4. There’s also different live musical entertainment (like the vocalists above) every Thur.-Sat. night and Café Olé is hosting a great Salsa Dance Social on Sunday, August 16, 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Your $10 cover charge includes one free soda, draft beer or house wine, plus a one-hour salsa workshop at 7, followed by two hours of dancing. It’s a great way for adult couples or singles to enjoy a little Latin rhythm while getting your “True Taste of Spain.” Café Olé (10020 Cross Creek Blvd.) is open every day for lunch and dinner at 11 a.m., and stays open until 11 p.m. Sun.-Wed., and until midnight Thur.-Sat. For more information, visit CafeOleRestaurant. com or Facebook.com/CafeOleRestaurant, call 907-5242.

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Friday, August 7th 2 shows - 7p & 10.30p $10/ticket, cash sales only. Buy tickets early, limited seating.

Located Just 3 Miles West of I-75/SR56 • 24400 State Road 54, Lutz, FL 33559 (813) 949-4334 • www.StageLeftTampa.com • Facebook/StageLeftTampa Neighborhood News

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

Legacy Assisted Living To Hold Grand Opening Aug. 6

The Legacy at Highwoods Preserve, New Tampa’s first assisted living facility, invites the public to attend its official Grand Opening on Thursday, August 6, 5 p.m.-8 p.m., with a Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) ribbon-cutting ceremony at 5:15. The Legacy touts itself as “assisted living like you’ve never seen before” and staff will be on-hand to give tours of the technologically-advanced new building. The event also will feature Caribbeaninspired cuisine, tropical drinks, dessert and live music from the Jose Valentino Band. Don’t miss out! For more information, please visit LegacyatHighwoodsPreserve.com or see the ad on page 43.

Stage Left To Host Second Comedy Night Aug. 7

It’s been a while since I’ve seen my friend and hysterical, Tampa-based standup comic Aniria Wilson perform live. In fact, the last time I saw Aniria on stage, she hadn’t yet married her new husband Joe Turney. My dear friend (and former Tampa Palms resident) Susan Saiger, Aniria’s writing partner and fellow rising standup star who got a legitimate ordained minister’s license online, flew in from her Los Angeles home to marry the couple a couple of

months ago (photo below left). Suzi may not be on hand when Aniria and two other funny joke tellers do two shows on Friday, August 7, at 7 p.m. & 10:30 p.m., at Stage Left Bar & Kitchen (located at 24400 S.R. 54 in Lutz, about two miles west of the new Tampa Premium Outlets mall), but I surely will be. Also on the bill (for just a $10 per person cover charge) are funny guys John Murray and JB Ball, both of whom I’ve seen before, too. Whether you want to attend the early or late show, act fast. The last Stage Left Comedy Night sold out before the evening of the show. For more information, call 9494334, visit StageLeftTampa.com or see the ad on page 37.

Florida Hospital Center Ice ‘Program Intro” On Aug. 8!

A couple of months prior to the expected fall 2015 opening of the largest ice skating/hockey facility in Florida, Florida Hospital Center Ice (FHCI) will host a “Program Introduction” event on Saturday, August 8, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., at the site of the still-under-construction facility, which is located at 3173 Cypress Ridge Blvd., behind the Hampton Inn & Suites

just off the S.R. 56 exit of I-75. The Tampa Bay Lightning will be represented by ThunderBug, the Lightning Girls and some team alumni, there will be target shooting and radar speed shooting contests, hockey and figure skating reps will be on hand, and there also will be curling and speed skating reps on hand, Shooting Stars volleyball and slam dunk basketball programs will offer demonstrations and the Wesley Chapel Athletic Association (WCAA) will be accepting donations of gently used sports equipment of all kinds. The WCAA also will have representatives on hand for those who want more information about the WCAA’s box lacrosse league. Sports Radio WDAE-AM (620) will broadcast live from the event. For more information, visit WesleyChapelIceCenter.com.

Buffalo Wild Wings Opens To Hungry, Waiting Crowd!

If you drove by the new Buffalo Wild Wings (BWW, or “B-Dubs,” as in the company’s commercials) Wesley Chapel, located on S.R. 56, just east of Cypress Ridge Blvd., on the morning of July 6, you probably saw a mass of people wrapped

around the building, tents and even a sofa (or so we’re told). That actually was the line of more than 130 B-Dubs fans anxiously awaiting the opening of the new sports bar and restaurant, which promised free wings for a year to the first 100 patrons through the door. Word spread quickly through social media, as several commented that they would be calling off going to work that day for the occasion. General manager Dana Balch said that some hungry locals were lined up by 2 p.m. the day before, waiting for the doors to officially open. “Everyone was really excited,” Balch said. A WCCC ribbon-cutting was held on July 3 ahead of the grand opening to welcome the area’s newest chain restaurant. Congrats to those who won their wings! Buffalo Wild Wings is located at 26725 S.R. 56. For more info, please visit BuffaloWildWings.com and when you visit, please tell Casey & Co. that you read about them in the Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News! — MW

More WCCC News

As this issue hits your mailbox on either July 31 or August 1, the WCCC is already hitting the ground running, as the Chamber’s busy season heats up again after a somewhat slower July. The first event that anyone can attend is another “Final Friday” free afternoon networking event on Friday, July 31, 4 p.m.-6 p.m., at Stage Left Bar & Kitchen (24400 S.R. 54, Lutz). Bring your business cards, your appetite and your thirst and stick around for the evening’s musical entertainment — the NaTL Act — which starts playing at 8 p.m. The second Chamber event is an exciting Monthly Business Breakfast, on Tuesday, August 4, 8 a.m., at Pasco Hernando State College (PHSC)’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch. The guest speaker is the general manager of the Tampa Premium

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”

Outlets mall, Stacey Nance. As of this writing, the Outlet Mall had just announced that its huge Job Fair would be held on Thursday, August 27, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., and also released the preliminary list of stores that definitely will be included in the mall (see bottom of page 1). Nance might be making announcements of more “official” stores at the breakfast, so this one is a must-attend for you shopping and dining enthusiasts! The cost to attend the breakfast is $15 for WCCC members if you book and pay by Friday, July 31, or $20 at the door and for all nonChamber members. The Chamber has several ribbon-cutting/Grand Opening ceremonies coming up, including at VIP Elite Barbershop, located at 20309 Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in New Tampa (less than a mile south of the Pasco County line), at 5 p.m. On Thursday, August 6, the WCCC will host two ribbon-cutting events/ Grand Openings — the first will be at 11 a.m. at Retina Specialists of Tampa Bay (the office of Dr. Ahmad Bakir Tarabishy (26851 Tanic Dr., Suite 102, in the Cypress Glen Professional Park off S.R. 56) and the second at The Legacy at Highwoods Preserve assisted living facility will be at 5 p.m. (see first item on previous page). The Chamber also will be on hand at the “Program Introduction” for the Florida Hospital Center Ice (FHCI) facility on Cypress Ridge Blvd. on Saturday, August 8. See the third item on the previous page for more details. And, on Thursday, August 13, 11 a.m., the Chamber will host a ribbon cut

at Zaytoun Mediterranean Grill (10970 Cross Creek Blvd., at Morris Bridge Rd.). Since our last issue went to press, there were two June ribbon cutting events we weren’t able to show pics of in our last issue — on June 18 at RejuvaMed, the Center for Dry Eye & Hormonal Disorders, LLC (the office of Dr. Kenneth Andronico, D.O.), located at 28945 State Road 54, Suite 101, in Wesley Chapel, and the joint WCCC ribbon cutting (held at the Grow Financial Credit Union branch on BBD Blvd. in Wesley Chapel) for It Works! Body Wraps and TapSnap Phototainment on June 23. On July 16, we missed the actual Grand Opening and WCCC ribbon cutting of the new Bealls Outlet in Tampa Palms, but did make it to the joint WCCC/Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce event kicking off the expansion of Chiropractic Physician Heidi Pickering, D.C.’s Paradise Palms Chiropractic & Spa office at 19011 N. Dale Mabry Hwy. in Lutz. For membership and other info about the WCCC (including all event

info), visit WesleyChapel Chamber. com, stop by the Chamber office (6315 Wesley Grove Blvd., #105) or call 9948534.

Bravo, Mezzo!

Call it “Bristol Place Reborn.” Mezzo means “center” and the new Mezzo (Clockwise from top left) The joint WCCC ribbon cutting event for ItWorks! Body Wraps & TapSnap Phototainment (June 23). The Chamber of Tampa Palms also cut a ribbon at RejuvaMed (June 18). Representatives of the new (formerly Bristol Mezzo of Tampa Palms (formerly Bristol Place) apartments cut their own Place) apartment ribbon at a Grand Opening event on July 11. complex is “right architecture, a vivid new color scheme in the middle of so and a newly landscaped entrance with many urban conveniences.” enhanced security gates and block paver A representative for the complex auto court, plus a redesigned clubhouse, says, “Mezzo (which held a fun Grand WiFi cafe and more await you at Mezzo. Opening celebration on July 11) feels For more information, call 978like a Mediterranean village.” 8300 or visit BristolPlaceReborn. The complex Tuscan-inspired

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New Tampa & Wesley Chapel HELP WANTED REAL ESTATE AGENT - Award-winning Real Estate team with an overflow of serious buyer leads is seeking to hire talented experienced and motivated full time real estate agents whose desire is to earn more money, expand their horizons and have a fulfilling life. Great training available.. Keller Williams Tampa Properties. Contact Annette with Team Bohannon (813) 431-2840. PHYSICAL THERAPIST (PT) - An established New Tampa outpatient clinic is hiring a part-time PT to provide customized, one-on-one care. Fax resume to (813) 994-3080. MEDICAL BILLER - Spanish-speaking Medical Biller wanted for New Tampa Medical Equipment Company. Duties: Gathers billing information by reviewing patient records; checking for completeness. Bills insurance carrier by inputting billing info to database; initiating electronic transmissions. Resolves disputed claims by gathering, verifying & providing additional information; following up on claims. Resolves discrepancies by examining and evaluating data; selecting corrective steps. Skills/Qualifications: Data Entry Skills, Microsoft Office Proficiency, Time Management, Organization, Professionalism, Customer service and Attention to Detail. Please forward your resume to: Richard.Jones@solarusmedical.com. WING ZONE IS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR POSITIONS - Including shift leader, cooks, cashiers and delivery drivers. Wing Zone offers flexible scheduling, competitive pay wages, advancement opportunities and much more. Come join out team of flavorholics and wing lovers at Wing Zone. Applications are available at store location: 19062 Bruce B Downs. Corner of Cross Creek in the New Tampa Center. NOW HIRING STYLIST - Upscale hair salon seeks hairstylist. Please inquire within... 6431 Country Line Road, Suite 107 Tampa, FL 33647 Contact (813) 994-9455

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HANAQ PRANA YOGA STUDIO, located in New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area, is looking for RYT Yogis who want to grow and teach our community the vast benefits of Yoga & Meditation. Flat fee plus percentage of attendance. Rates based upon experience, new RYTs are always welcome. Join the movement create conscious about the real Yoga LifeStyle. (813)-333-1026

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PET SERVICES

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 23, Issue 16 • August 1, 2015 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

EDUCATION / BABYSITTING

TUTORING - Infinite Edge is located in Tampa Palms & offers tutoring in all subjects, including Math, English & SAT, ACT & FCAT tests, 1st-12th grade. We also offer AP classes and last year, our students scored a 5 on any AP subject in which we helped. Please call (813) 971-6500. GREAT HOPE PRESCHOOL - We offer preschool for ages 6 weeks to 12 years. We accept the ELC - School Readiness program, offer FREE VPREK and offer multi child discounts. New owner and renovated classrooms. Now enrolling all age groups. Infants-Afterschool. Mention this ad and receive 1/2 off enrollment fees. TOUR TODAY!!! 30126 State Road 54 Wesley Chapel, FL 813-929-6276 or 813-323-8030. #CO6PA0267

CLEANING SERVICES

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 23, Issue 16 • August 1, 2015 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

WC Resident Earns Society Of Professional Journalists Award At UF By Matt Wiley

It’s always been challenging to earn a living as a journalist, but one Wesley Chapel native has a bright future ahead of her. You may even have seen her byline on a recent crime story out of our area that appeared in a local daily newspaper. After winning (on April 20 of this year) the prestigious Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) award during her last semester at the University of Florida (UF) in Gainesville, Wesley Chapel’s own Ayana Stewart, 21, has had an internship at the Tampa Bay Times in St. Petersburg. The SPJ award is given to only two UF students each spring. Stewart, who also served as president of UF’s SPJ chapter for more than a year, says that she did not expect to win the award that is presented to graduating seniors with her fellow student and friend Erica Hernandez. “(Winning the award) was not something I expected at all,” Stewart says. “My professors recognized the growth and progress I had made. It was definitely something I was humbled and very honored to receive.” UF School of Journalism master lecturer Mike Foley says that Stewart was extremely deserving of the award. “The award was based on her incredible record here,” Foley says. Since graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Journalism in May, Stewart has been working general assignments for the Times

in downtown St. Petersburg as part of her eighth internship in the field. As part of her internship, Stewart also covered the recent New Tampa CVS robbery (see our story about this event on page 8). “They’re keeping me busy,” Stewart says. “I’m having a lot of fun and learning a lot.” The Times isn’t the first high-profile internship Stewart has worked, either. In fact, she spent the fall semester of 2014 working for the Scripps-Howard Foundation’s news wire in Washington, DC. During her time with the foundation, she also got to cover two events at the White House, one which was hosted by former U.S. President Bill Clinton and the second by current First Lady Michelle Obama. “Those two experiences were the most notable that I’ve had (in journalism),” Stewart recalls. “It was really surreal. I was pinching myself. Even though I don’t think I’ll end up in DC, seeing what political reporters do every day was good for me. It’s pretty overwhelming with security. I had press credentials, but that doesn’t mean a whole lot to the White House security people. But, I wouldn’t trade the experiences I’ve had.” Stewart says that she attributes winning the award to getting involved in journalism early in her college career, something she hadn’t really considered until completing her senior project while at Wiregrass Ranch High (located off Mansfield Blvd.). She says that she was able to shadow a religion reporter at The Tampa

Tribune (where she also later worked as an intern) and found something that she both enjoyed and did well. She started an internship with the Gainesville Sun during her first semester at UF. “I think the benefit of something short-term is that you get to learn and gain knowledge from really smart people and then move on,” she says, adding that the UF journalism program was very competitive, but it also was a valuable education opAyana Stewart (right) accepts the University of Florida’s College portunity. of Journalism & Communications’ ‘Society of Professional Jour“I met tons of great nalists’ award during a ceremony on April 20. mentors and friends (in appreciates quality content and good story the program),” Stewart telling.” says. “They brought in professors with Stewart thinks that the journalism real-world experience, people from The field is changing, but that it’s not going Washington Post and the Times to teach us anywhere anytime soon. things that they learned (in the field). The “I’m not as pessimistic as some peoprogram forced you to strive to be the best ple,” she says. “There have been layoffs and and to get a good job one day.” hard times, recently, but good reporting Although she already has a ton of is something that society will always value. experience working for newspapers, StewIt’s changing, but it’s not dying.” art says that she’s not quite sure what the When she’s not writing, Stewart says future holds for her career. she enjoys spending time at church and “I’ve never really been a ‘climb the with her fiancé Vagner. ladder’ person,” she explains. “I think I’ll For more information, or to read be okay working at a paper or taking the some of Ayana Stewart’s work, check skills I’ve learned and taking them elseout AyanaStew.com. where. I want to work for a company that

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 23, Issue 16 • August 1, 2015 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 23, Issue 16 • August 1, 2015 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 23, Issue 16 • August 1, 2015 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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