1 For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 16 • August 9, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net Neighborhood News AugustVolume@NTWCNews30Issue169,2022BUSINESS NOTES Will the planned grocery store in The Grove be on Target? See page 8 AVALON PARK’S DOWNTOWN It may not be ‘Downtown Wesley Chapel,’ but it is on the way. See pages 14-15 CHICKEN SALAD CHICK! Chicken salad eatery & new KRATEs in our Nibbles & Bites updates! See pages 44-45 EDITORIAL A plea for Wesley Chapel to vote in the Primary Election on August 23. See page 3 JDWithAHEADPLANSBIGhisTownCenterlooming,PortersaysWiregrassRanchisreadytotakeoff.Seepages6-7! Photo by Charmaine George Get Out & Vote, Wesley Chapel! See pages 3, 10-11 & 13!
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Governor (Dem. Primary) (*To face Ron DeSantis) Charlie FloridaRobertNicoleCadenceCristDaniel“Nikki”FriedL.WillisAttorneyGeneral(Dem. Primary) (*To face Ashley Moody) Aramis Ayala Jim FloridaDanielLewisUhlfelderCommissioner of Agriculture (Dem. Primary)*to replace Nikkie Fried Naomi Esther Blemur J.R. FloridaRyanGaillotMoralesCommissioner of Agriculture (Rep. Primary) *to replace Nikkie Fried James W. Shaw Wilton Simpson
WESLEY CHAPEL’S AUG. 23 PRI MARY ELECTION BALLOT (Cont.)
If You Care About Our Country & Our Community, Please Vote Aug. 23! By GARYEditorialNAGER WESLEY CHAPEL’S AUGUST 23 PRIMARY ELECTION BALLOT County Commission District 2 Republican Primary *To face Write-In Candidate Louie Rodriguez & replace Mike Moore Troy Stevenson Seth CountyChristieWeightmanZimmerCommissionDistrict 4 Republican Primary *To face Write-In Candidate Cory A. Patterson •Christina “Fitzy” Fitzpatrick Gary Charles(*(RepublicanRepresentative(*U.S.YesforSchool(Nonpartisan)CountyGroupCircuitGroupCircuitSchoolSchool*ToSchoolShannonBradfordJ.WittwerBoardDistrict1(Nonpartisan)replaceAllenAltmanAlHernandezStephenA.MeismanJamesWashingtonBoardDistrict3(Nonpartisan)•CynthiaArmstrongMatthewGeigerBoardDistrict5(Nonpartisan)•MeganHardingCharlesPhillipTouseullJudge,6thJudicialCircuit,22(Nonpartisan)•CynthiaNewtonNicholas“Nick”FiorentinoJudge,6thJudicialCircuit,27(Nonpartisan)•KeithMeyerScottFinelliCourtJudge,Group4Clementine“CC”CondePatrickMooreBoardMillageElectionReferendumPublicSchoolStudentsShallTheDistrictSchoolBoardofPascoCountylevyanadditionaloperationaladvaloremmillagenottoexceed1millbeginningJuly1,2023,andendingnolaterthanJune30,2027,foressentialoperatingexpensestomaintainsalariescompetitivewiththemarket,attractandretainhigh-qualityteachers,busdrivers,andothernon-administrativeschoolsupportemployeesandwithannualreportingtoPadcoCountytaxpayersfortransparencyoftheuseofthesefunds?orNoSenator(DemocraticPrimary)TofaceMarcoRubio)RicardoDeLaFuenteValDemingsBrianRushWilliamSanchezinU.S.Congress,District12Primary)TofaceKimberlyWalker(DEM)&Smith,NPA,Write-In)GavinBrownAlanM.CohnEddieGellerCesarRamirezWilliamVanHorn Wesley itorialNeighborhoodanteesoutsideNewslesssubmissionssiderNewsumesionslisher’stheirbyorborhoodEditorialDept@NTNeighborhoodNews.comAds@NTNeighborhoodNews.comNeighborhoodChapelNews28949StateRoad54WesleyChapel,FL33543Phone:(813)910-2575AdvertisingE-mail:EditorialE-mail:Publisher&Editor/AdSalesGaryNagerManagingEditor/PhotographerJohnC.CoteyCorrespondentsCelesteMcLaughlinIsabellaDouglasLeadVideoProducer/MultimediaSpecialistCharmaineGeorgeGraphicDesignersMorganConlinValerieWegenerBillingAssistantJannahNagerNothingthatappearsinWesleyChapelNeighNewsmaybereproduced,whetherwhollyinpart,withoutpermission.OpinionsexpressedWesleyChapelNeighborhoodNewswritersareownanddonotnecessarilyreflectthepubopinion.ThedeadlineforoutsideeditorialsubmisandadvertisementreservationsforVol30,Issue18,ofWesleyChapelNeighborhoodisMonday,August22,2022.WesleyChapelNeighborhoodNewswillconpreviouslynon-publishedoutsideeditorialiftheyaredoublespaced,typedandthan500words.WesleyChapelNeighborhoodreservestherighttoeditand/orrejectalleditorialsubmissionsandmakesnoguarregardingpublicationdates.WesleyChapelNewswillnotreturnunsolicitededmaterials.WesleyChapelNeighborhoodNewsreservestherighttoedit&/orrejectanyadvertising.WesleyChapelNeighborhoodNewsisnotresponsibleforerrorsinadvertisingbeyondtheactualcostoftheadvertisingspaceitself,norforthevalidityofanyclaimsmadebyitsadvertisers.©2022JM2Communications,Inc.
Please
But, as I’ve said so many times before, even without a “big” national election this year, I wish that more of you would consider casting ballots in local Primary and General Elections as “impor tant,” too.Whether you believe it or not, those who are elected to serve you on the Pasco School Board and County Commission actually have at least as much, if not more, effect on your everyday life than your U.S. Senator, Congressman and even the President.And,ifyou care about how much teach ers are paid and other School District needs, this year’s Aug. 23 Primary also is asking you to vote for or against adding a School Board millage to your tax bill. The millage referendum will not ap pear on this year’s General Election ballot in Nov. note that all of the candidates listed
on this page may not appear on your ballot, as dif ferent precincts have different candidates.
• - Indicates incumbent in a race
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Most Primary Elections, like the one coming up on Tuesday, August 23, tend to have much lower voter turnout than General Elections. My hope this year, with primaries to select Democratic opponents to face Gov. Ron DeSantis and Attorney General Ashley Moody in November, and the recent craziness in U.S. and world politics (e.g., the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the Jan. 6 Capitol Insurrection hearings, the economy, gas prices, Ukraine, the Middle East, etc.) that more people than usual from our area will cast ballots on Aug. 23.
Representative in U.S. Congress, District 15 (Democratic Primary) Gavin Brown Alan RepresentativeWilliamCesarEddieCohnGellerRamirezVanHorninU.S.Congress, District 15 (RepublicanDemetriesPrimary)“Commander” Grimes Laurel Lee Kevin “Mac” McGovern Kelli FloridaJackieStargelToledoGovernor&Lieutenant
Porter is thrilled to be bringing Orlando Health to Wiregrass Ranch. He said landing AHWC in 2012 was one of his proudest accomplishments, and Orlando Health is another. As plans for the long-awaited Wiregrass Ranch Town Center progress, Porter was hoping to make a big splash for something to anchor the town center that will both be a job provider, produce daily foot traffic and provide a higher quality of life needed to make the town center a one-of-a-kind success. “For us to make it successful, we needed something good as an anchor,” Porter says. “Not apartments, not retail, and we need daytime traffic. Having Orlando Health on that corner within walking distance of the town center is an absolute game changer, and it’s what we’ve needed for the past 5-6 years.”
Orlando Health Wiregrass Ranch will be an anchor for the Wiregrass Ranch Town Center, and may not be the last hospital built in the area.
4 For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 16 • August 9, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net Neighborhood News @NTWCNews Another Hospital Headed To Wiregrass Ranch Area
Orlando Health Wiregrass Ranch Hospital is coming to town, which will give Wesley Chapel three hospitals. If that seems like a lot, it’s not, says Wiregrass Ranch developer JD Porter. “Quite honestly, I doubt it’s the last announcement of something of that nature that you will see before end of the year,” Porter says. “A lot of people want to beForhere.”now, Orlando Health has made it official -- it will be Wesley Chapel’s hospital No. 3, joining AdventHealth Wesley Chapel (AHWC) and the soonto-be-finished BayCare Hospital Wesley Chapel, which is scheduled to open in 2023. AHWC and Baycare are both located on Bruce B. Downs Blvd., a few miles from each other. On July 12, Orlando Health an nounced it would be building a multilevel hospital in the Wiregrass Ranch master-planned community. Orlando Health Wiregrass Ranch will be a 300room facility at the northeast corner of the S.R. 56 and Wiregrass Ranch Blvd. The property purchase is expected to close later this fall. The hospital has filed plans with Pasco County and had a pre-app meeting with county planners on JulyThe25.New hospital is expecting to break ground by the end of the year. “At Orlando Health Wiregrass Ranch Hospital, we will provide a broad range of health care services, all in one convenient location,” said John Moore, senior vice president of Orlando Health’s West Region. “Patients will receive exceptional emergency and inpatient care from clinical experts in multiple specialties, the highest quality diagnostic services, and seamless access to all of Orlando Health’s trusted primary and specialty care providers.”
Orlando Health, founded more than 100 years ago, is headquartered in Orlando, and is a not-for-profit health care organization with $8 billion in assets. The 3,200-bed system includes 10 award-winning hospitals, 9 hospitalbased emergency rooms and 7 freestanding“TheirERs.phasing plan and aggres sive style and size of the facility they are going to put in makes a big statement, from our perspective,” Porter says. The five-story Orlando Health Wiregrass Ranch will be the largest hos pital in Wesley Chapel. Its 300 planned rooms are more than AHWC (148) and the upcoming BayCare Hospital (60) By JOHN C. John@NTNeighborhoodNews.comCOTEY
combined. AHWC has room to expand to 300 rooms, which could eventually give the Wesley Chapel area 660 total hospital rooms. A fourth hospital, or specialized medical facility, in Wesley Chapel could be announced by the end of the year. Porter says he can’t say which brand it is, or where it will be located. It appears that it will likely be in the north end of Wiregrass Ranch, and Porter would only say “the Bruce B. Downs corridor will have a strong medical presence.” According to Porter, the acceler ated growth in Wesley Chapel warrants the additional hospital. Before tab bing Orlando Health to build Orlando Health Wiregrass Ranch Hospital, he says several healthcare analysts told him the Wesley Chapel area, which has 10s of thousands of new homes already being built or in planning, was ripe for more hospital beds. “We didn’t want to oversaturate, but after going through and working with a couple of medical office folks that survey every market throughout the country, they said they have never seen a place that has the potential for growth on the medical, office and hospital side like Wesley Chapel and Wiregrass Ranch,” Porter says. Orlando Health Wiregrass Ranch will also have a new neighbor. Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) has filed plans with Pasco County planners for a two-story, 56,559-sq.-ft. medical facility about a quarter mile east of where new hospital will be located. FCS will be located at the southwest corner of Hueland Pond Blvd. and S.R. 56. and will be the second major cancer center facility in Wiregrass Ranch. The 28,000-sq.-ft. Moffitt Cancer Center at Wesley Chapel opened on the AHWC campus in May 2021. FCS was founded in 1984 and has nearly 100 locations in Florida. According to its website, FCS utilizes a comprehensive, multidisciplinary ap proach to cancer treatment and special izes in innovative clinical research and cutting-edge technologies. FCS claims to offer patients access to more clinical trials than any other private oncology practice in Florida. In the past five years, most new cancer drugs approved for use in the U.S. were studied in clinical trials with FCS participation prior to approval.Porter says that along with the nearby North Tampa Behavioral Health hospital, residents of Wiregrass Ranch will have access to a variety of top medi cal options.“It’sreally creating an entirely dif ferent sector than what you have at Ad vent and what you have at BayCare,” he says. “We’re going to continue to grow that as long as the market remains solid.”
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There are plenty of options, and Por ter and Sheridan are in no rush to make any of“Nothem.town center, no downtown has had this much space set aside ahead of time,” Porter says. “In today’s environ ment, there’s nobody that would sit on property that valuable in order to let it grow We’ve already started planning by how we’ve oversized it in order to see what it actually could be, versus what can we throw in here just because we sold everything around it. That, to me, makes it much more attractive as a canvas. Noth ing isOneforced.”major component of the Town Center, which Porter hasn’t mentioned before, will be a potential four-year col lege, keeping with the education corridor concept hatched years ago along Mans field Blvd. (home to an elementary and high school and Pasco Hernando State College, a two-year institution). “I think (a 4-year college) would be a great fit,” he says. “It would benefit everyone in the county.”
Restaurants, Too When it comes to restaurants, highend establishments like Cooper’s Hawk, which will open next year, will be chosen over many of the national chains you see on the west side of I-75. In fact, Porter says he can see another 5-6 restaurants coming to Wiregrass Ranch in the same category as Cooper’s Hawk. Although he can’t say which ones until later this year and early next year, he says to get a good idea, take a look at some of the more upscale restaurants along Boy Scout Rd. in the Westshore area of Tampa, where you’ll see at least two or three restaurants that will be coming to Wiregrass Ranch in the future. “We’re looking at higher caliber and quality,” says Sheridan. “We’ve turned down quite a few places and elevating who we’re talking Sheridanto.”says some smaller restaurants that will bring a more local hometown feel also fit into the plans. Both Porter and Sheridan say finding the right balance between big and small, and local and national, is the key to building a successful TownAnd,Center.forthose who worry that brick and mortar is going to one day envelop the remaining country charm of Wiregrass Ranch, Porter says he is not just giving lip service to making sure plenty of the land he grew up on (photo on next page) survives. “There’s going to be programmed green space throughout the Town Cent er,” he says. “We will create something everyone talks about, but never delivers. We’ve probably spent as much time plan ning that out as what the streetscape will look like. It’s ever-changing. We’ve got the ability to do some really creative stuff. It will shine in a way that nothing else has, I think that’s fair to say.” With careful direction — “It’s criti cal that it comes off as well-designed,” Sheridan says — Wiregrass Ranch’s Town Center is set up to succeed. With housing developments like Espla nade 55+ (860 homes), Estancia (1,184), Persimmon Park (450) and an entirely new, yet-to-be-named 2,000-home subdivision to be built east of Wiregrass Ranch Blvd. behind the proposed Town Center, there will be plenty of customers for whatever Porter brings to town. “The most important aspect of get ting this stuff is making sure that you’re not only successful on a Thursday and JD Porter isn’t looking to develop Wiregrass Ranch with just anything. He wants earth-shakers and differ ence-makers. He wants heart-stoppers and jaw-droppers.Hewants
By JOHN C.
The map above shows the approximate location of the planned Wiregrass Ranch Town Center.
AdventHealthunicorns.Wesley Chapel? That was a“Nounicorn.onebelieved that was happening,” he says of Wesley Chapel’s first hospital. The Shops at Wiregrass? “I don’t think our family thought that was possible,” he says of Wesley Chapel’s first mall.
Porter’s Wiregrass Ranch Keeps Taking Shape
Porter also says that he’d like to see an ethnic grocery store, maybe a local butcher, baker and seafood guy, among a large as sortment of small family-run businesses.
“I want it to be somewhere you go if you want something authentic,“ he says. “Where people don’t mind paying a little extra for something real.” Porter wants plenty of civic uses. He says he’d like to see someone relocate their Master’s degree, MBA or nursing programs to the Town Center. According to Porter, Pasco County already has asked to reserve 75,000 sq. ft. of office space at the site in order to build a county center. Also exciting are the possibilities –and there’s already been talks — of midrise buildings with structure parking. “That changes the skyscape,” Porter says. “It changes what we’re going to look like. It’ll be done better than anyone else in the county….and in North Tampa, by far.”
Pasco Hernando State College? The Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus? Raymond James Financial (which chose Wiregrass Ranch out of 78 different sites, according to Porter)? And, most recently, Orlando Hospital (see story on pg. 4)? “EveryUnicorns.time there’s been something that would be the holy grail, whether by chance or we’ve just done things the right way or a combination of both, we’ve got ten them,” Porter says. “Then, when you get them, you’re like, ‘okay, what’s next?’” Those unicorns, which have provided jobs and people to the area, now sur round what will be the centerpiece of the 5,100-acre Wiregrass Ranch Development of Regional Impact (DRI) — the longawaited Wiregrass Ranch Town Center.
Porter says the Wiregrass DRI, which is being developed by his family’s Locust Branch, LLC, and extends from S.R. 56 north to S.R. 54, and west to east from Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. to Meadow Pointe Blvd., will soon have its biggest missingWhilepiece.itdoesn’t have any publicly an nounced tenants just yet, Porter and Scott Sheridan, the chief operating officer of Lo cust Branch, LLC, are making the kind of careful choices that will cement the roughly 100-acre Town Center as what they expect to be the downtown area of not only Wes ley Chapel, but north Tampa as well. “We are laying the groundwork,” says Sheridan. “We are having active conversations with users who will be a key part of the Town Center. It’s all about finding the right blend.”
John@NTNeighborhoodNews.comCOTEY
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To feed those future retail and com mercial tenants, the Town Center will receive the benefit of foot traffic from Orlando Hospital and Raymond James Financial employees, which will number more than 5,000, a sports campus that already attracts thousands of athletes and their parents every month, not to mention the schools and a mall that will be walking and biking distance away. And, that doesn’t even include the rest of the Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills and New Tampa residents that are within a short drive. In fact, from K-Bar Ranch in New Tampa to the proposed Town Center will be less than a 10-minute drive. Patience, Porter says, will soon pay off for everyone in Wesley Chapel. “As soon as you see Orlando Hos pital start doing stuff, you’re going to start seeing the infrastructure in the Town Center come at the same time,” Porter says. “Then, it becomes a reality vs. we have cow pens there now. It becomes easier to sell it. Now that we have an announcement, now that we have permitting, we’re actually set up to start telling a significant story.”
Friday night, but that you’re staying busy as hell all the time,” he says. “When your doors are open, you’re all packed up. That’s the thing we’re addressing way more than anybody else in the county.”
The preliminary plan reveals a 147,000-sq.-ft. retail building, with nearly 500 parking spots located on the parcel of land just south of The Grove’s main property, right across Pink Flamin go Ln. from Cost Plus World Market.
A new, unnamed grocery store is coming to The Grove, but the planned building is too large for a Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods.
The mystery about what grocery store might be coming to The Grove at Wesley Chapel has brewed for more than a year, since it was first teased on social media, but the answer finally may be close to being Accordingunveiled.torecords filed with Pasco County, potential unnamed de velopers will meet with county planners Oct. 18 in a pre-application meeting.
Business Notes — Updates
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2019, the project will include an un named 55,401-sq.-ft. grocery store with 4,200-sq.-ft. of additional attached retail. The 35-acre site also includes an addi tional outparcel for future development. Also at Epperson, the 7.5-acre MetroLagoon itself is getting some upgrades. An expansion of the amenities will include a 4,500-sq.-ft. clubhouse located at the north end of the lagoon, a 700-sq.-ft. restroom building centrally located on the east side of the lagoon (adjacent to the Epperson Lagoon Townhomes), five gazebo/pavilion shade structures, 97 additional parking spaces and 96 golf cart parking spaces.
& More
cated at Curley Rd. and Overpass Rd., at the entrance to Wesley Chapel’s lagoon communityOriginallyneighborhood.reportedinDecember
The bad news — if that is the size of the building, you can likely rule out any of the trendy and hip grocery store ideas bandied about online. The square footage of the proposed building is more than twice what you would find at any Publix, Sprouts, Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s. If The Grove still plans on adding a grocery store component to its massive redevelopment, then all signs seem to point to a Super Target, a combo of a regular Target store that sells the usual clothing and other household items, combined with a full-size grocery store.
However, there already is another Super Target in Wesley Chapel located at the corner of County Line Rd. and Bruce B. Downs Blvd., although proximity to other stores doesn’t stop big names like Publix, Walmart or Rd.nextend“green”GROCERIES...SPEAKINGJoe’sasretailguesstheyentirelyplanswe’llsignedGrove,AccordingStarbucks.toThenothinghasbeenwithanygrocer,sohavetowaitandsee.Ifthegrocerystorehavebeenscrapped—wedon’tthinkhave—thanyourtowhatthelargebuildingmightbeisgoodasours.R.I.P.totheTraderBrigade.OFIfyourfavoritegrocerydoesn’tupatTheGrove,yourbestbetisonCurleyneartheEppersonMetroLagoon.Plansareinthefinalstageofpermittingtobeginacommercialprojectlo
SPORTSAcademyCOMPETITIONSports+ Outdoors (AS + O) has been one of the longestrumored stores coming to the Cypress Creek Town Center North area. It was on some of the original maps touting the area long before many of the businesses that are up and running were ever men tioned. And finally, it’s just about here. One of the nation’s largest sport ing goods and outdoor sellers, AS + O is in permitting to open a 63,700-sq.-ft. store on the same lot as (and adjacent to) PopStroke, which already is under construction, behind the Chipotle and Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar on the On The Grocery Store At The Grove By JOHN C. john@ntneighborhoodnews.comCOTEY
NEWThereCONVENIENCESaretwoDaybreak Market & Fuel convenience stores now either under construction or in permitting in WesleyOneChapel.location is at the southeast corner of S.R. 54 and New River Rd., and a second store is being built at the corner of Hueland Pond Blvd. and S.R. 56, right across Hueland Blvd. from where the new Orlando Hospital Wiregrass Ranch (see story on pg. 4) will be located. Both convenience stores will be roughly 4,800-sq.ft. Daybreak Market & Fuel was founded in 2019, and has six current locations, three of them in Port Charlotte,DaybreakFL. Market & Fuel carries 76® fuel, which it touts as being top of the WHAT’Sline. IN A NAME? We’re not sure if the name is staying the same, but the Wesley Chapel Latin Market is being built on S.R. 54. The only thing is, despite its name, the market is located in Zephyrhills, at 35500 S.R. However,54. it’s just a short drive (a little more than a mile) east of Wesley Chapel, and will be the area’s first Latin market. The 12,000-sq.-ft. market is in permitting, and there are no other details available at our press time.
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DONEIt’sDEAL!official — Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant is coming to Wiregrass Ranch (see story on pg. 6). While we first told you it was com ing in early June, the much-anticipated eatery finally submitted its plans to Pasco County in July for a 10,570-sq.ft. restaurant. It will be located at the northwest corner of S.R. 56 and La juana Blvd. (the road that leads to the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County), just east of the existing Culver’sAccordingrestaurant.toits website, since it was founded in 2005 in Illinois by CEO Tim McEnery as that state’s first winery/ restaurant, Cooper’s Hawk has received more than 500 wine awards from various local, national, and international wine competitions.In2021,Copper’s Hawk was named by USA Today as the top winery restau rant in the U.S. in a reader’s survey. It is expected to open in Wiregrass Ranch sometime in mid-2023.
DICK’s Sporting Goods will have some serious competition starting next year, as Academy Sports + Outdoors comes to the Cypress Creek Town Center North area north of S.R. 56.
AS + O is one of a number of busi nesses coming up in the coming months near the Wesley Chapel Blvd. and S.R. 56/54 intersection, such as St. Luke’s Eye Center (next to Miller’s Ale House), El Dorado Furniture (across S.R. 56 from Miller’s, which is opening soon), Chicken Salad Chick (next to Zaxby’s; see story on pg. 44) and Har ley Davidson of Wesley Chapel less than a half-mile north of 56 on Wesley Chapel Blvd.
north side of S.R. 56, across from the Tampa Premium Outlets.
AS + O, headquartered in Katy, TX, a suburb of Houston, has more than 260 stores, and says on its website that its 2021 sales exceeded $6.77 billion. Academy is similar to DICK’s Sporting Goods, selling a variety of hunting, fishing, and camping gear, along with name-brand sports equipment and apparel, footwear and bikes.
The sporting goods chain opened its most recent store in Panama City, FL, but the Wesley Chapel location will be just the second in the Tampa Bay area and the 15th in Florida. The first Tampa Bay store, in Pinel las Park, is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The Wesley Chapel location will open sometime in 2023. “Tampa Bay is not only known for its enthusiastic sports fan base but also boasts renowned fishing, beaches and outdoor activities,” said Sam Johnson, Academy’s executive vice president of retail operations. “Whether you’re soak ing up the sun on the beach, hitting the bay, or heading to a Lightning game, our team is eager to serve the local com munity and make it easier to have fun and gear up by providing great value and unmatched service.”
From 2004-06, Chris was an instruc tor at Sinclair Community College. He says, “Through the majority of my career, I had the privilege to serve the US Army of Corp of Engineers, constructing projects from Fort Polk, Fort Benning, Fort Bragg, Fort Stewart, Fort Campbell, multiple AFB and VA hospitals.” He added, “Pol iticians are supposed to always put us, the constituents first (their bosses), America & Americans first. This has not been the case for a very long time and President Trump brought that to everyone’s attention.”
So, thankfully, whether you’re a registered Republican, Democrat or Independent, the ballot for the Primary Election on Tuesday, August 23 (see pg. 3), isn’t too packed with options, although many of the races are important for voters of all ages, genders and party affiliations. Whether for the U.S. Senate or House, the Pasco County Commission and Pasco School Board (or the referendum to increase the School Board millage rate), the decisions you make on (or before) Aug. 23 will affect your life as a Wesley Chapel resident. To that end, the Neighborhood News offered all candidates in every race on the Aug. 23 ballot an opportunity to submit a short (100-200-word) bio and photo of themselves. Unfortunately, most of the candidates chose to not introduce themselves to the tens of thousands of registered voters who receive this publi cation in zip codes 33543, 33544 & 33545. But, all County Commission & School Board candidates have been included and, if at least one candidate submitted info in other races, we included bios & photos of their opponents in their respective races, either from Ballotpedia.com or their own candidate websites. Those bios and photos appear on these two pages. Remember that the early voting period runs from Saturday, August 13-Saturday, August 20, and vote by mail ballots must be received at one of Pasco Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley’s offices (including three in Wesley Chapel) by 7 p.m. on Aug. 23. — GN ation military veteran. He enlisted in the Navy in 1997, however; his military career was cut short after sustaining an injury. He served on the USS Enterprise and received an honorable discharge. Thereafter, he graduated from SCUN with a Bachelor of Arts degree.Helives by his oath to protect and defend the Constitution against ALL ene mies, foreign and domestic. The state our Republic is in is what prompted Brian to run for Congress. To learn more about his campaign, please visit Perras4Congress.com
Troy AccordingStevensonto his Troy ForPasco.com website, Troy believes in responsi ble & sustainable growth, multimodal transportation and infrastructure, sup porting first responders and fostering community engagement. Troy is a conservative who values God, family, and country. He has personally raised funds to help families in need, and also made it his mission to support our law enforcement men and women by raising the funds need ed for the Pasco Sheriff’s Office to acquire three K-9 Police dogs. Troy has been an active member of the Pasco County community for over 20 years. For the past 16 years, Troy has been an active First Responder for NDMS (National Disaster Medical Services) and has served during Hurricane Katrina, Maria, Super Storm Sandy, and various vaccination and relief efforts. He is a dedicated family man who has been married to his wife Iris for more than 27 years. He is an active mem ber of his church: Life Church in Wesley Chapel. He is on the Board of Directors of the Wesley Chapel Rotary and the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce. Troy owns Acme on the Go, a LED mo bile billboard Truck Fleet, that markets local business. He has donated his Trucks and Services to hundreds of community events.
BrianBrianPerrasPerras is a Chris tian conservative, native Pasco County resident who lives in his childhood home. Brian graduated from Ridgewood High in 1996. He’s a third gener
firstBallotpediacounties.PinellasandwhichCongressionalrepresentingBilirakisCongressman(incumbent)GusM.isaRepublicanFlorida’s12thDistrict,includesallofPasconorthernpartsofandHillsboroughAccordingtohisprofile,hewaselectedtoCongressonNovember
DistrictPascoarehealthindependence,educationrity/legalintent,misesCongress.com)cialwasinperience1973.CollegevocationalpediaSidprotectstitutionalistorFacebook.com/brianperrasforcongress.or“Wearenolongerbeingrepresentedprotected.I’manAmericaFirstConwhoiswillingtoserveandWE,THEPEOPLEatanycost!”PreskittSidPreskittwasborninBirmingham,Alabama.AccordingtohisBallotprofile,SidearnedadegreefromtheofOceaneeringinPreskitt’scareerexincludesworkingcommercialdiving.Asof2022,Preskitttheoperationsdirectorofacommerdivertrainingfacility.Hiscampaignwebsite(Preskittforpromises“NoComproon”theUSConstitution’soriginalthe2ndAmendment,bordersecuimmigration,militaryreadiness,reform,electionintegrity,energynomedicalmandates,freedom&termlimits.Hesays,“Evilispowerlessifthegoodunafraid.”CountyCommission,2(Rep.Primaryonly)
SethAccordingWeightmanto timesvoted(SWFWMD)Watertoedwebsite,SethWeightman.comhisSethwasappointbyGov.RonDeSantistheSouthwestFloridaManagementDistrictBoardandtocutyourtaxestwoontheSWFWMDBoard.
Jack JackMartinMartin was born in Newark, NJ. According to his Ballotpedia profile, Martin studied at Union County College and Zion Bible College and earned a Bachelor’s degree from Central Bible College in 1983. His career experience includes work ing as a Senior Pastor, county fire depart ment Chaplain, and member of the Florida ESF-8 emergency response team. Martin has been affiliated with the Assemblies of God, the Republican Party of Florida, the NRA, the Republican Liberty Caucus, and Liberty Pastors.
Biographies of Candidates for Pasco Voters on the August 23 Primary Ballot U.S. Congress, District 12 (Republican Primary only) Gus M. Bilirakis
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Do You Know Who You’re Voting For On August 23?
He is a small business owner and active community
7, 2006. Gus serves on the House’s Energy and Commerce Committee. He is the Rank ing Member of the Consumer Protection & Commerce Subcommittee and a Member of the Health Subcommittee and Communica tions and Technology Subcommittee. With 38 bills he authored signed into law since 2015, Congressman Bilirakis was recently designated as the Most Effective Republican Lawmaker in the State of Florida by the Center for Effective Lawmaking at Vander bilt ChrisUniversity.LeiserChrisLeiser is a fourth generation Floridian born in Bartow in Polk County 1978 and graduated Coun tryside High in Clearwater in 1996. On a Ballotpedia candidate survey, he said, “God has been making a way for me before conception. By the grace of God I know him, first and fore most I am a believer, a father, a husband and a patriot with a deep sense of obliga tion to we the people & our constitution.” He also has been an entrepreneur since childhood. “I have always enjoyed problem solving, engineering and building things. I have been in the construction industry for over 24 years, (involved with) projects exceeding billions. In 2003 I married my high school love, Tina. We have two beau tiful children, Channing & Madison.”
“The responsibilities of county commissioners are immense. As our county continues to grow, we have one chance to get it right. This requires clear vision... new eyes. Eyes that can see that our county is in desperate need of new leadership and ears that can hear the voice of the people and what’s important to them. We need someone who is NOT a politician. We need someone who is willing to fight on behalf of the peo ple. We need someone who isn’t afraid to say, “NO” and who will ask the tough questions. That is Shannon’sme!”
Shannon J. website,Shannon4PascoCC.comAccordingWittwertoherShannonsays,
servant who says he is a “common sense leader, who brings the knowledge and skills needed to help Pasco thrive.” Seth and his wife, Jessica — both Pasco natives — are proudly raising their two chil dren in Pasco and are ready to tackle the issues that matter to our community. On the issues, Seth says he will work to strengthen our local economy, invest in sustainable infrastructure, promote public safety and preserve Pasco’s identity with smart growth. Continuing a fam ily legacy of service, Seth is actively involved in our community and ready to stand for us as Pasco County Commissioner.
Christie is a past president of both the East and Central Pasco Assn. of Realtors, a member of the Pasco 54 Corridor Study, and was a Founding Member of the Nature Coast Volunteers for Veterans.
top priorities for Pasco are balanced growth, keeping taxes low, safeguarding the community, community involvement and supporting small businesses, veterans and seniors. She says, “I am a Christ follower, wife, mom of 2, owner of a construction/remedi ation company, and a constitutional conser vative. I have lived in Pasco County for seven years and almost 20 years in Florida. “I never saw myself getting involved in politics until recent events opened my eyes, and I realized that change was needed. Putting my hat in the ring was not any easy decision to make, but one that I felt com pelled to do.”
James, who has been an educator for 27 years, 16 of which have been in Pasco County schools, is a graduate of Anclote Elementary, Gulf Middle School and Gulf High. He has a B.A. degree in English Education and an M.Ed. degree in reading, both from St. Leo (College, now) University. James is a two-time Teacher of the Year who has taught at Pasco, Gulf and Zephyrhills high schools, and was a District runner-up for Pasco Teacher of the Year. His mother is a retired Pasco County teacher, his wife is a current Pasco County teacher and one of his three sons is a freshman at Cypress Creek High. He says, “I will improve the quality or our children’s education while creating an atmosphere where teachers don’t feel limited and all families are welcomed and involved.”
Gary rose through the ranks to major management community relations positions. These positions included various assignments such as Police Officer, Field Training Officer, School Resource Officer, Hostage Negotiator (Tactical Response Team), Patrol District Cor poral, Community Relations Corporal, and Senior Detective. Gary and his wife Deborah have called Land O’Lakes home for 20+ years. Christina “Fitzy” Fitzpatrick (Incumbent)According to itsfuturemittedChristinacomChristinaFitzpatrick.herwebsite,CommissionerFitzpatrickiscomtobuildingabetterforPascoCountyandcitizens.ChristinawasborninYonkers, NY, but moved to New Port Richey, FL, 33 years ago. She has spent most of her life in Pasco County; she went to school, worked, started businesses, and created non-profits here. Christina has a strong love for education. She believes that solid academics form a basis for a strong life. Christina attended Ridgewood High and graduated with honors. She then earned her Associate of Arts degree from Pasco Hernando Community College. Next, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from the University of SouthHardFlorida.workand determination helped create Christina’s success. In addition to her duties as a Pasco County Commissioner, she also manages the operations of Miracles Schools. Miracles is a Pasco-based school, dedicated to giving quality education to children with special needs. She serves as administrator and principal of the school.
JamesAccordingWashingtontohis Pasco.the54onlong,website,4JamesWashington.comVoteJamessays,“FortooourDistricthasfocusedthegrowthalongtheSRcorridor,whileignoringimpendinggrowthofeastGrowthisimportant.As a District, we should be working with the State Legislature, the County Commission, and local businesses and nonprofits to meet that growth by build ing new schools, as well as provide resources to our established schools.”
ChristieAccordingZimmerto her Zim merForPasco.com website, Christie says, “Public service was instilled in me from an early age. My mother, Bonnie Zimmer, served Pasco County on both the County Commission and the School Board. And, for over 20 years, I have worked to better manage growth in Pasco as Chair, Vice-Chair and member of the Citizens Ad visory Board for the Pasco MPO. But, I have learned that, ultimately, the decisions on where to locate new neighborhoods and apartment complexes, and at what density, rests with the County Commission. For too long those de cisions have been dominated by development interests with heavy checkbooks.” She adds that, “With me on the County Commission, we will have an experienced business woman, who knows the develop ment code, fighting for communities who want to retain their character and fighting to keep from having more people than we have roads, schools and water to accommodate.”
Al, who has been married for 27 years, graduated from Miami Senior High; obtained an Associates of Arts degree from Miami-Dade Community College; earned a Bachelor’s de gree in Business Management and a Master’s degree in International Business & Finance, both from Nova Southeastern University. He also taught economics, marketing, and busi ness management as an Adjunct Professor for Florida National University. “I am a firm believer that God helped me through each stage of my life for a purpose. I also am a proud product of the public educa tion system. I value a family rooted in faith, a strong education, hard work, and a solid moral fromremoveandMAN.Steve4PascoKids.comStephencompass.”A.MeismanAccordingtohisStevewebsite,says,“MypronounisIidentifyasahusbandfatherandIplantotheWOKEagendaPascoSchools!”Headdsthat,asaparent, small busi ness owner, taxpayer and community mem ber, he is running for Pasco County School Board District 1 because he is “fed up with the corruption in our current system. I know the only way to make a change is to stand up and become the force behind the change we want to see.”
Pasco County School Board, District 1 (Non-Partisan) Al HernandezAccording to his Al Hernandez.org website, Al says he is running because, “It is all about our children’s fundamental education, the overall well-being of the families in our community, and the hard working staff of a District who is balancing policy and safety in order to take care of our students and their families. While I can passionately speak to reasons like financial literacy, workforce creation, and my continued advocacy for parents to have the ability to take an active role in their children’s education, most importantly is my drive to see my com munity full of culture and solid education.”
In addition, Steve, who is married and has two school-aged children, says he will “bring a unique parents’ point of view to Pasco Schools.” As a father who has both home-schooled his kids and taught them in Public School, Steve has experienced firsthand how the District is leaving the students of Pasco County unprepared, uneducated and he is standing up to fix it. He says his goals are to “remove Cultural Marxism from Pasco County Schools, and be gin teaching Pasco students HOW to Think, not WHAT to think.”
Matt’s career experience includes work ing for 25 years as a teacher, guidance coun selor, teacher union rep, school and District administrator. He has sat on multiple boards, including the Boy Scouts of America, YMCA, local nonprofits and neighborhood boards. He has been married for 21 years and has three school-aged children. “My platform is to listen and fight for the rights of students and parents, increase teach ers salaries and seek an independent Financial Audit to find wasteful spending in the District. I also want to create an information hub where parents & students can get education al/career planning outside of the school day. I will hold the Pasco School District adminis tration accountable, make all schools safe and have a positive culture, increase transparency, performance in all low-performing schools and create a parent council.”
MattAccordingGeiger to his Ballot pedia profile, Matt was born in Pennsylvania. He earned a Bachelor’s degree from La Roche University in 1996 and a graduate degree from Slip pery Rock University in 2001. He earned a second graduate degree from the California University of Pennsylvania in 2007.
Pasco County School Board, District 3 (Non-Partisan) Cynthia Armstrong (Incumbent) Although we couldn’t find a website for her, Cynthia first won election to the Pasco School Board in 2010. The New Port Richey real estate agent and three-term incum bent, (according to a Tampa Bay Times July 6 profile), “ac knowledged that some actions made residents unhappy. But initiatives such as repurposing some schools and altering bus routes have been necessary during financially tight times.”
The Times profile also says she, “wants to continue efforts such as expanding choice offerings and providing more rigorous cours es. She also has advocated for stronger District funding, including the property tax referen dum to boost employee pay.”
Pasco County Commission, District 4 (Rep. Primary only) GaryAccordingBradford to his Vote GaryBradford.com website, Gary has over 38 years of ex perience in the first responder community, primarily serving the Tampa Police Dept. from 1982 to 2007 as a law enforcement officer. After retirement in 2007, Gary started Bradford Group, a government relations firm specializing in advocacy for the men and women of the first responder community.Garyhas been working closely with the first responder community advocating for the first responders in Tallahassee, various county commissions and city councils. In Tallahassee, he is part of the Florida Benevolent Associ ation’s lobbying team that represents over 33,000 law enforcement officers, sheriff’s dep uties, corrections officers, probation officers, Florida Wildlife Commission officers, Florida Highway Patrol troopers and various other first responder units. Gary served his fellow first responder community in Tallahassee until he retired in 2022.
More Pasco candidates appear on pg. 13
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Pasco County has the following phases of the project funded in its 10-year 2022-31 Capital Improve ment Program: • Design Phase: Fiscal Years 2022-23 (a little behind schedule) • Right-of-Way Acquisition: Fiscal Years 2024-25 • Construction: Fiscal Years 2026-27 The county is still accepting feedback until Thur., Aug. 11. You can access the comment form online at bit.ly/3OaDPmS.
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A large crowd showed up as Pasco County planners fielded questions and concerns about the upcoming Old Pasco Rd. widening.(Photo: John C. Cotey)
More than 100 residents showed up to the Pasco Hernando State College In structional Performing Arts Center (IPAC) to view and ask questions about Pasco County’s plans to widen the 6.88-milelong Old Pasco Rd. from a sleepy two-lane country road to a four-lane divided road way that can accommodate future traffic demands.Thepublic workshop, scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m., was practically packed 15 minutes before that. “This is one the biggest crowds I’ve seen for one of these,” said Michael Cook, a real property professional for Pasco County. The July 28 workshop was scheduled to give residents their say about the widen ing project. Many filled out comment cards and put them in a box on the way out. Pasco County is performing a Route Study and Pond Siting Analysis to evalu ate the impacts of widening Old Pasco Rd. from Wesley Chapel Blvd. (C.R. 54) to S.R. 52. Two alternatives were presented, the primary difference between them being one has a more urban design utilizing curbs and gutters, while the other uses swales. Improvements also will include po tential signalization of several intersections, on-street bicycle lanes, a sidewalk on one side of the road, a multi-use path on the other side, and drainage improvements.
Old Pasco Rd. Workshop Draws A Crowd By JOHN C. john@NTNeighborhoodNews.comCOTEY
The county says portions of the re quired road right-of-way already have been acquired south of Overpass Rd. All re quired road right-of-way has been acquired from north of Overpass Road to S.R. 52. In addition, the right-of-way for 12 of the 14 pond sites already has been acquired within the corridor. The county says that Alternative 1, which is a wider build, would affect 47-48 properties, including two residential relo cations, and cost roughly $102 million. Alternative 2 would affect 41-42 prop erties, also including two residential reloca tions, and would cost roughly $93 million. There also is a no-build option, which would cost nothing but seems highlyRight-of-wayunlikely. acquisitions account for more than $14-million of each total. Cook says some suggestions turned in by attendees would likely be incorporated into the design phase, such as place ments of right and left turn lanes and the pond locations. The design phase is anticipated to begin starting sometime next Currently,year.
“I’m fine with it as long as there’s no damage done to my house,” said Ruben Rosado, who has lived on Old Pasco Rd. since 2002, right around the time that the original Old Pasco Rd. Route Studies were approved by the Board of County Com missioners in March 2001 and April 2003. Rosado and others also voiced con cerns about how close the expanded road would be to their property, the ease of getting out of their driveway and speeding, which some think will be more prevalent on a more open road.
PatrickPatrickMooreMoore is a former Pasco County prosecutor and current Senior Assistant Attorney for Pasco County. He has handled hundreds of criminal and civil trials and spent thousands of hours in the courtroom, dedicat ing his entire legal career to the citizens of Pasco and keeping our community safe. He has handled misdemeanors to murders and everything in between, as well as complex civil litigation, appeals, federal litigation, and providing legal guidance to quasi-judicial and administrative boards. Patrick is supported by Pasco’s profes sional firefighters and first responders, many respected local attorneys, elected officials, professional Realtor organizations, prose cutors, the Public Defender, and more for his experience, fairness, integrity, and even temperament. He is the only candidate in this race who currently lives in Pasco County, works in Pasco County, and is raising his family in Pasco County. Please visit PatrickMooreForJudge. com for more information about Patrick’s background, qualifications, and experience.
Pasco County School Board, District 5 (Non-Partisan) Megan Harding (Incumbent) Megan was elected to the Pasco School Board in November 2018, bringing keen insight into the educa tion system and a commit ment to put children first — passions central throughout her life and work, first as a young student herself, as well as a sister, teach er, volunteer, and actively engaged citizen. Raised in Pasco County and educated in its public schools, she holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of South Florida and a Master’s Degree in Reading K-12 from Saint Leo University. She taught in Pasco County Schools for seven years before decid ing to run for the School Board with the aim to give a greater voice to students, teachers, staff, and Oncecommunity.elected,she resigned her teaching position to focus on School Board priorities and, today, she is actively involved in the schools and wider Pasco community. Megan spends her time inside schools and working within the District as an advocate and volun teer, while teaching part-time in the Elemen tary Education Dept. at Saint Leo University, and serving on the Board of Directors for the Florida School Board Association. She is mar ried to Jeromy Harding, and the couple lives in New Port Richey with their dog, Piper. Charles Phillip Touseull According to his VoteDoctorT.com website, Charles (or “Dr. T”) says he, “will foster an environ ment which respects parental rights and provides District accountability while keeping familiesOriginallyinformed.”from Hicksville, NY, Charles made Florida his home in 1990. He’s been married to his wife Susie for 15 years and they have three children and five grandchildren, with two attending Pasco schools. He says he has, “always been a strong advocate for education” and has taught in the Pasco School system. Charles has earned an A.A.S. degree from Nassau (NY) Community College, a B.S. in Medical Biology from C.W. Post College (NY) and a Doctor of Chiroprac tic degree from the NY Chiropractic College. He has owned and operated chiropractic practices in NY and FL. “I am a follower of Jesus Christ, a fighter for the family, a constitutional conservative and a believer that we must invest in children, so they can live a prosperous life!”
Circuit Judge — 6th Judicial Circuit, Grp. 22 (Non-Partisan) Nicholas “Nick” Fiorentino Nick graduated from Clearwater High, St. Pete College, the University of South Florida and Stetson College of Law. He has been practicing law in the Sixth Circuit for nearly 2 decades. He says, “When selecting judges, it is important that candidates have a wide variety of experience in and out of the courtroom. I have represented clients and litigated matters in all major areas of law that a Circuit Court Judge may be assigned, including family, probate, civil, and criminal. I am a Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator (in Fami ly Law), a Parent Coordinator, and a Florida Supreme Court Qualified Arbitrator. I chose to run for Circuit Court Judge because it is important for us to have judges who will work hard for the citizens they serve, will treat everyone before them with respect and will make timely and consistent rulings in the cases before them. Judges should serve the community in and out of the courtroom, and my legal and commu nity experience shows that I will do that if elected. Please visit my website at Fioren tino4Judge.com to review my qualifications, experience and community service.
fromShedegreewhereofSheCondeClementine(Non-Partisan)“CC”CondeClementine“CC”isanativeFloridian.attendedtheUniversityMiamiinCoralGables,sheearnedherB.A.inPoliticalScience.earnedherLawDegreetheWesternNewEngland
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Judge Newton’s CynthiaNewton 4Judge.com website says she was elected Circuit Court Judge in 2004 and served in the Family Law Division in Clearwater (2005-07), Criminal Division in Clearwater (2008-15), the Civil Division in St. Petersburg (2015-18), Family Division (2019-20), Civil Division in St. Petersburg (2021-present) and has presid ed over 100 jury trials as a judge, with just as many non-jury trials. She says, “St. Petersburg has been my hometown since I was eleven years old, and in that time, I’ve been proud to be a part of its unique heritage and culture, as well as its tradition of excellence in athletics. That’s a tradition I carried on with me to college ath letics, and even today as a triathlete.”
Pasco County Judge, Group 4
“CC” has also been an instructor in evidence and trial practice for Pasco-Hernando State College. She has been lead counsel in over 200 jury trials in her 30-year career. “CC” has a rating as an AV preeminent lawyer by Martindale Hubble. Only 5% of attorneys in the country enjoy this distinction.
Cynthia Newton (Incumbent) A member of the St. Petersburg and Clearwater Bar Associations, Judge Newton earned a B.A. degree in Philosophy from the University of South Carolina in 1989 and her Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from the Gonzaga University School of Law in 1994. She was admitted to the Florida Bar and the Mid dle District of Florida in 1994 and served as Assistant Public Defender (1995-2004), where she spent eight years handling felony cases and litigated over 100 jury trials as lead counsel.
University School of Law in Massachusetts. “CC” has served as a Law Clerk for the late Honorable Judge Salmon in the 11th Judicial Circuit, Dade County. After the clerkship ended, “CC” worked in the Pinellas-Pasco Public Defender’s Office for 13 years. She has been in private practice handling criminal, civil and immigration law for the past 17 years.
Pasco County Candidates (continued from pg. 11)
On
— Story by JCC, photos by Charmaine George Avalon Park Breaks Ground First Downtown Building
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One of Wesley Chapel’s most anticipated projects broke ground on July 14, as Avalon Park Wesley Chapel held a ceremony to kick off its upcoming downtown area. The groundbreaking event featured food, music and entertainment by Jazz Under the Starz, the Wesley Chapel Theater Group and the Pasco County Fine Arts Council, and a number of dig nitaries, including developer Beat Khali (left in near right photo) and District 2 Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore (right in same photo). The three-story, 73,000-sq.-ft. mixed use building will be the first to be built in downtown, and will feature 40 apartments and below them more than 23,00 sq. ft. of retail space.
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By CELESTE MCLAUGHLINCorrespondent Deacon José Moronta and Mariela Labrador have organized a cancer support group that helps break down the language barrier for Spanish-speaking people. They group meets at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church the third Thursday of each month. (Photo: Charmaine George)
When Mariela Labrador, a long-time parishioner of St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church on Cross Creek Blvd. in New Tampa, found herself a caregiver for a loved one with cancer, she looked around for resources and support from her community.AsanativeSpanish-language speaker, she found it helpful to connect with oth ers who understood what she was going through, and where she could communi cate without any language barrier. She found Latinos Unidos Por Un Nuveo Amanecer (Latinos United for a New Dawn, or LUNA) online at Luna CancerFL.org. LUNA’s mission is to reach out to the Spanish-speaking commu nity to help cancer patients, survivors and their Overfamilies.time, Mariela began volunteer ing for the organization, which has been part of the Tampa Bay community for more than 20 years, and eventually, she became a member of the organization’s Board of EarlierDirectors.thisyear, Mariela says, she de cided to connect her work with LUNA to her church and organized a support group to meet at St. Mark’s for Spanish speakers who are facing cancer. She says she hopes to grow the group to be large enough to support bringing in guest speakers on relevant topics, such as nutrition, relaxation, or pain management. But, at this time, she is focusing on build ing relationships and growing the group so people can share experiences and lean on each “Atother.this point, I’m concentrating on reaching out to the community and identi fying the needs,” Mariela says. The local LUNA group meets on the third Thursday of each month, from 6:30 p.m.- 8 p.m. at St. Mark’s. While the group took a break over the summer, its next meeting will be held on Thursday, September 15. All are welcome to attend. You do not have to attend St. Mark’s or be of any particu lar faith tradition to participate in the support group, and there is no need to RSVP in Anyoneadvance.who has questions or needs more information, can call the church at (813)-907-7746.
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Habla Espanol? There’s Cancer Support For You
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LOCH IT IN!
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It was an eventful final leg. Angie, who didn’t think she would be needed again after her two previous legs, was told by one of the observers she needed to swim the final 1,500m. Oh, and she had to do it in roughly 38 min utes if they wanted to set a record. “At that moment, I realized the burden to break the record has landed on a 52-year-old mom who has not been competing in 30 years, and who just re-started training barely six months ago,” Angie says.Continued
As it turns out, there is a Loch Ness monster. Her name is Angie Ng. Swimming the final 1,500 meters on a four-person relay, after already logging 6,000 meters on two previous legs, Angie (above) churned her arms and fluttered her legs faster than she ever remembered, cutting through the famous Scottish Lake Loch Ness, the seconds ticking away. When she finally reached the end, tripping and falling on the rock-covered beach, the Seven Oaks resident had helped set a Loch Ness record for a 4-person relay team in the 23-mile long lake. Not bad for a 52-year-old mother of Angie,two.and her friends Eliza Chang, Ryan Leung and Chun Kong Mak, finished the July 27 swim in the frigid lake in 11 hours, 29 minutes, 27 seconds.
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The British Long Distance Swim ming Association still needs to certify the record, but for now it tops the 11:38.20 mark set in 2019 by a four-person all-male team. “Two days before the swim, we realized breaking the record was doable,” Angie says. “But our goal was just to complete a skin swim (without a wet suit) in the cold Loch. We tried our best and are very happy with the results.”
Those months of doing laps in the early morning at the Seven Oaks Club house pool were about to pay off. It was a tough swim – the current seemed to be taking her to the right, so much so that, at one point, the boat had to move from her left side to her right to keep her from swimming into a chan nel where there were other boats. “I sprint and I sprint,” Angie says, adding that she focused on her breath ing and keeping her shoulders loose. She swam the final 200 meters alone, as the boat could go no further, due to the depth of the lake. Because her luggage was lost when she arrived in Scotland, Angie was without her contact lenses and prescription goggles. She says that all she could see was a big patch of yellow, which was the beach, “and I was told just swim straight into it. So I swam and swam, yet the beach was so near yet so far, like it can never be reached.” She finally saw some rocks on the lake floor, and crawled and fell and crawled and fell again across the slip pery rocks on the shore. When she was completely on shore and not touching any water, the swim was officially over. “I raised my arms, signaled to the boat and there, we completed our mar velous Loch Ness swim,” Angie said. Not only did Angie finish her swim in borrowed goggles, she was fortunate enough to get the last onepiece swimsuit in her size from Pri mark, a discount store, for six pounds, or seven U.S. dollars. Angie has been swimming since she was 3 years old, her mother start ing her in the pool to combat her bronchitis. She continued to swim as she grew up, competing on the Chi nese National Team in international and Junior Olympic events. She also swam competitively for two years at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, before work, marriage and children took her out of the pool. Despite participating in the milelong Hong Kong Cross Harbour Race in 2016 and 2018, the last year the event was held due to Covid (until re suming in December 2021), she barely has had time to get in the pool. But, now that daughter Kristen is at the University of Central Florida and son Kelvin is at the University of Washington (in Seattle), Angie’s morn ings are free for swimming. She just needed a mission. In January, she found one when Eliza called with the crazy idea to swim Loch Ness. Angie eagerly jumped into training to be part of the first relay team from Hong Kong to even at tempt the challenge. While Angie trained at the 89º Seven Oaks pool, the water in Loch Ness averages around 59º in July. It was 55-57º during her swim. Because she was rusty, she could only swim 500 meters when she started training, but soon added more dis tance, with 24 laps becoming 250 laps and more this summer. Most days she swam 5,000 meters, or a little more than three miles, and even managed a few longer (10,000m) workouts. In preparation for chilly Loch Ness, she filled her bathtub at home with ice and water 3-4 times a week, taking 15-minute soaks hoping it would prepare her for the lake. Angie and her team started a Facebook page documenting their preparation, and to raise money for charity. A nurse practitioner at the University of South Florida, Angie is donating 100% of her portion to Doc tors Without Borders. As for Nessie, Angie can’t be sure if Loch Ness’s famed monster was around or not, because she didn’t have her goggles.But,ifNessie was there, she wasn’t the only monster in Loch Ness that day.
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Angie Ng, top left, celebrates swimming the length of the Loch Ness Lake with her team of friends, and poses in front of the stories lake the day before the swim. (Photos: Courtesy of Angie Ng)
While surgery volume has picked up, so have patients coming in for nonsurgical treatment options, such as pho tofacials, which require no downtime, and help to get rid of red and brown spots or patches on the skin, including helping patients with rosacea. She says that at this time of year, people want to have a nice glow for the It’s been one year since Dr. Roshni Ranjit-Reeves officially opened her Ocu lofacial Surgery & Cosmetic Institute on S.R. 54 in Lutz, a mile or so west of the Tampa Premium Outlets.
“Dr. Rosh,” as her patients call her, says her practice is growing, as people discover the benefits of coming to her for cosmetic services to improve the look of their eyes, faces, and skin. “It’s aesthetics, but it’s also func tional,” Dr. Rosh says. “I want to help people see better and feel better, too.”
The procedure she performs most often removes excess fat from under the eyes, and she typically adds laser skin resurfacing to remove fine lines. “When we’re doing surgery in the office, patients can look at it right when we’re done,” she explains. “We sit them up and show them the mirror and their eyelids are lifted, the bags are gone, and the skin looks great.”
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Some patients receive insurance-based services, typically after being referred to Dr. Rosh by their primary care doctor or dermatologist. For example, some patients need surgery or treatment to restore the function of their eyes, for conditions such as droopy lids, eyelid malposition, thyroid eye disease, tear duct surgery or recon struction after cancer surgery. Others receive aesthetic treatments, such as lower lid surgery, laser skin re surfacing, ear lobe repairs, upper lip lifts, photofacials and laser peels.
She says her cosmetic patients typi cally also want to look refreshed — or like a better version of themselves — but not change how they look. “I feel like the word has gotten out,” she says. “We’re doing surgeries in our office that people are happy with in terms of speedy recovery, less downtime and it’s easier to come in and get picked up when there’s none of the stress in volved with going to the hospital.”
‘Dr. Rosh’ Celebrates
Look & Feel Better By CELESTECorrespondentMcLAUGHLIN
She says she continues to get great reviews on the surgeries she does with her “magic wand,” a carbon dioxide laser that she says makes very precise incisions, which helps minimize both bleeding and recovery time.
Dr. Rosh, who recently was named a “Best of the Best” Cosmetic Surgeon in Tampa Bay, Gold Award winner, by the Tampa Bay Times, says that even functional surgeries often result in patients not only being able to see bet ter and feel better, but also have a nice aesthetic look when they are done. “The functional and cosmetic sides blend together a lot,” says Dr. Rosh, “like, if patients do upper lid surgery through their insurance but then decide they want lower lid and skin resurfacing, too.” A Year Of Helping Patients (L.-r.) Lisa Fahey (front desk and insurance specialist), Dr. Roshni-Ranjit Reeves and Susan Gregor (lead ophthalmic technician and first assistant) work together to help you not only see better, but look better as well. (Photos: Charmaine George)
And, she adds, “Most surgical patients can drive in around three days and may be bruised or swollen for 1-2 weeks. And, most of the swelling re solves within a month.”
The week of August 15-19, Dr. Rosh will have a special camera in her office to look at blemishes, damage from the sun and ultraviolet light, and redness under the skin at a microscopic level. “There’s a double mirror, so the patient and I can both see the same thing,” Dr. Rosh says. “It’s a nice way of looking at the skin in an objective way at a microscopic level and then, we can tailor our plans accordingly.” She says any new or established patients who make an appointment with her the week of August 15-19 will be able to have Dr. Rosh look at their skin through the camera. About Dr. Rosh Dr. Rosh came home to the Tampa Bay area with her husband, Dr. Corey Reeves, and their baby daughter after completing a fellowship and practicing at Duke University in Durham, NC. Now, their daughter is a toddler and the couple has a baby boy on the way. She says she’ll take a few weeks off this fall, so her schedule is very full lead ing up to her maternity leave, and her intention is to start performing surgeries again in October. Dr. Rosh earned her Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree from the University of South Florida’s Morsani College of Medicine in Tampa. She also earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Anthropology and Biomedical Sci ences from USF. She then completed her ophthal mology residency at the USF Eye Insti tute and an oculofacial and reconstruc tive fellowship at the Duke Eye Center. She is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and The American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Re constructive Surgery. GreatLupiResultsButler attended the Grand Opening of Dr. Rosh’s office last year. She had been thinking about having a procedure done on her eyes and even had consultations with specialists, but hadn’t found the right doctor yet. However, that changed when she met Dr. Rosh. “She made me feel so comfortable,” Lupi says. “I knew right away I wanted her to be my doctor.” Last September, Lupi had a proce dure to lift her upper and lower eyelids. “I was so happy with Dr. Rosh,” she says. “I got the results I was looking for, but not only that, her people skills also are amazing. She’s just such a kind, caring, fair and honest individual.” Lupi also appreciates that Dr. Rosh makes herself available to her patients. “She basically held my hand the whole recovery. Every time I have something that concerns me, like a little bump on my eye, she says, ‘come see me.’ It ends up being nothing, but she takes care of me.” Lupi says she recommends Dr. Rosh to all of her friends. “I’ve always worked out and I’m in good shape,” says Lupi, “but age is something that nowadays you have the opportunity to have some help with, so hey, why not?” Dr. Roshni Ranjit-Reeves’ Ocu lofacial Surgery & Cosmetic Institute is located in the same building as the Medi-Weightloss Center at 24420 S.R. 54 in Lutz. For appointments and more information, including current specials, see the ad on page 30, call (813) 3030123 or visit DoctorRosh.com.
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Dr. Rosh has received outstanding reviews for her non-surgical cosmetic procedures, such as Botox® treatments, and she is happy to help her patients look and feel their best. holidays without any down time. Her es tablished patients often don’t see her over the summer while they’re busy traveling, which she says is fine as long as they are wearing sunscreen, using antioxidants to protect from UV damage and on a good medical-grade skincare routine. “Then, they come in during the fall and let me laser away any sun damage from the summer,” Dr. Rosh says.
ion, not rightful interpretation.”
So, at The Cathedral, Bishop Carl says he focuses on “rendering experi ences that are life-changing.” He says his church is nondenomina tional, but that he sees all of humanity as the church’s denomination. While many denominations have been created because of disagreements — with some people splitting off to form a new denomination — Bishop Carl is all about unity and, he says, the power of God that comes from the Bible. “I give people freely what I learned in seminary,” he says. “Sometimes, what you hear from the pulpit is opin
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The Cathedral Of Worship & Praise — A Product Of The Pandemic By CELESTECorrespondentMCLAUGHLIN
Bishop Carl was first ordained as a Senior Pastor 12 years ago in New York City and was consecrated a Bishop in August 2021 by Churches of The Body of Christ Fellowship. He is part of the Joint College of Bishops for the organization, which is a fellowship of believers, rather than a specific denomination. Curry holds a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Theology from New Life Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC, and a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Christian Family Counseling from New Hope Institutional Academy in Amity ville, NY. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in psychology from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, and is cur rently working on a M.S. degree program in spiritual care from AdventHealth Uni versity in AfterOrlando.40years of ministry in New York City, Bishop Carl says he and his wife (and Co-Pastor) Yonnicka moved their family to Tampa six years ago be cause God called them here. They both took jobs at AdventHealth Wesley Chapel — Yonnicka as a respira tory therapist and Bishop Carl as a Chap lain — and then moved into Live Oak Preserve in New Tampa with their three children — 13-year-old Zidan and 6-yearold twins Mordecai and Aviana. From their home to their jobs, to church, their entire commute is a total of six minutes.“Allofit happened effortlessly,” Bishop Carl explains. While he wasn’t seeking to move away from New York, he and Yonnicka felt called to the area and to starting a new church here.
The Light & The Pandemic He says that starting during the Cov Bishop Carl Curry, who also is a Chaplain at AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, came to Tampa from New York City with his family and started a new church — The Cathedral of Worship & Praise, located in the Healing Plaza building next to AHWC. (Photos provided by Bishop Carl Curry)
The Cathedral of Worship and Praise Christian Center started as a way for peo ple to connect virtually online during the pandemic in December 2020. Once it was safe to do so, Bishop Carl R. Curry — who prefers to go by “Bishop Carl” and is the independent Pastor of the church — says, “God pre sented the opportunity,” and The Cathe dral began holding services in person on Sunday mornings at 11 a.m. in the Heal ing Plaza building next to AdventHealth Wesley Chapel. The first service was held on Easter Sunday of this year. He says the services are “concentrat ed” to last no more than an hour and 15 minutes, and focus on the Word of God, instead of the big production elements (such as lights and smoke) that are often popular in big churches. “I grew up in big churches, where the lights and the glitz and the gospel singing were stirring and moving,” says Bishop Carl. “But, when it’s all said and done, my moment was good, but it did nothing for my spiritual journey, as far as something that I could take with me when I left the building.”
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Voices For Unity Concert
id-19 pandemic was a way to meet people where they were, even as churches went into lockdown phase and some churches couldn’t survive it. “We were able to help people deal with what was happening to them on a day-to-day basis,” he says. Now, he’s bringing people together who are looking for more than just a “ritualistic worshipping of God on a spe cific day at a specific time.” He says it’s all about relationships, and letting people know that everyone has value, and that both God and the people at The Cathedral are willing to meet you right where you are. “We’re not called to be perfect or created to be perfect,” says Bishop Carl. “We’re called to be holy.” Toni is a Wesley Chapel resident who attends church at The Cathedral and asked that we only use her first name. “I started watching the church ser vices on Zoom,” says Toni, who also said she had Covid early on in the pandemic and was mostly staying home, rather than attending services in person. “Then, when they had their first (in-person) service, I went and it was very good.” Toni says she grew up in a church where she got there early in the morning and often stayed most of the day, but now, many people don’t want to sit in church all day. She says the 11 a.m. time on Sundays is perfect for her and that she likes that the service only lasts for a little more than an “Thehour.service is awesome,” she says. “I like the music and I like the preaching. (Bishop Carl is) very articulate, very knowledgeable and well-versed in the Word of God.”Bishop Carl’s experi ence as both a counselor in New York and now as a Chaplain in Wesley Chapel has given him a lot of insight into how people are feeling about the world we live in right now, saying that many are feeling bombard ed with local, national and global problems. “There’s a lot of depression and anxi ety with the rise in the housing market, inflation, parents feeling disconnected from kids, and kids are feeling disconnect ed from parents,” he explains. “There’s a lot of separatism going on, and we want to move the mindset and focus onto something greater than ourselves.”
Bishop Carl’s wife and Co-Pastor Yonnicka (left) also is an important part of The Cathedral of Worship & Praise, where everyone seeking the Word of God is always welcome to attend online or in person.
The Cathedral plans to be a voice for unity in the community, having hosted a program in downtown Tampa bringing Christians together to support Ukraine and co-hosting (with Churches of The Body of Christ) an upcoming Voices for Unity Concert (see ad below) on Friday, August 12, 7 p.m. (at the Healing Pla za), calling for people of every denomina tion to come together as one. “The theme is ‘Many Denomina tions, One Voice,” says Bishop Carl. “It will be a fellowship concert of praise, worship, liturgical dance, prayer and com ing together for all humanity. Come and receive your Previously,miracle!”thechurch’s online ser vices have been held via Zoom but, begin ning in August, they will be live-streamed through a platform called FaithLife. Bishop Carl says links to the live stream will be posted on The Cathedral’s Face book page, which you can find by search ing “The Cathedral of Worship and Praise Christian Center” on Facebook. The Cathedral of Worship and Praise Christian Center meets at 2950 Healing Way in Wesley Chapel in the Healing Plaza building on Sunday mornings at 11 a.m. For more infor mation, visit TheCathedralofWP.com, email TheCathedralofWP@gmail.com, call (813) 943-9773 or see the ad on page 30 of this issue.
By ISABELLACorrespondentDOUGLAS
The New Tampa resident is known among her friends and family as being “extra” — from her bright, bold apparel to her contemporary modern home dé cor. Her passion for fashion and interior design fueled her to create Cort of Ap peal, a client-focused fashion styling and interior design business, which she started in October 2021. Her mission is to bring style to both wardrobes and homes, not only in the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel commu nities, but also nationwide.
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Cort
Your Home, Your Personality Hordge’s business is best known, however, for its interior design consul tations. From homes to offices, Cort Design works with clients — virtually or in-person — to create a personality for each space, and works with wholesalers for home décor items she thinks will fit the vibe she is shooting for to make her clients“There’shappy.a lot of cohesion, there’s a good vibe and energy feel from what she puts together,” Da’na Langford of the Village of Healing Center (a health care center in Cleveland, OH), one of her clients, says. “It’s very beautiful, it’s unique, it stands out. It looks very mod ernized and professional…there’s a flow to everything.”Hordgeworked virtually with the Village of Healing Center from late December to February of this year to renovate its building’s interior. Langford, the center’s co-founder, hired Hordge to create a space where Black women could feel safe and become better educated about healthcare services.
Cortnie Roshaune Hordge lives by the motto: life isn’t perfect, but your home and wardrobe can be.
Cort of Appeal derives from Hordge’s first name and her goal to ap peal to her clients’ fashion and interior design“Fashionexpectations.isreally about how you feel and how you want to feel in the clothes or in the environment that you’re in,” she says. Her online business is made up of two parts: Cort Fashion and Cort Design. She also has created a shop called Cort’s Curvy Closet for curvy women, where new and gently used apparel from her own wardrobe can be purchased. From updating a client’s wardrobe to on-call styling assistance, Hordge says Fashion Cort is for bringing out the beauty in her clients. Treesa Battles, another New Tampa resident and creative consultant at Cort of Appeal, said both the business and Hordge’s apparel are distinctive and fashionable.“Shehas really unique pieces, very Of Appeal Brings Style To Your Fashions & Interior Design
bold pieces, very bright, vibrant pieces and it’s really what folks are looking for when they are fashion forward,” Battles says. Hordge’s mom, Natalie Simmons, inspired her daughter to always look her best. Simmons says she is proud of her daughter’s accomplishments and knows the business will excel because of her daughter’s love for beauty and her attention to every detail. “She’s extra with everything,” Sim mons said. “She amps everything up.”
The Center was designed to showcase Cortnie Roshaune Hordge of Cort of Appeal gave one of her clients “the glam I didn’t know I needed” with her design of the living room and kitchen above. (Photos courtesy of Cortnie Hordge)
Black history, with photos and descrip tions on acrylic signs. Without Hordge, Langford says the space would have had printed photos framed on walls and would lack the emphasis on Black culture. “We wanted Black women to be able to walk in and see themselves,” Langford says. “And so, Cortnie just brought all of that very much to light for us.” When Langford hired Hordge to complete the job, she was initially con cerned about the interior design being too time consuming. She was pleased to find out she only had to say “yes” or “no,” and Hordge and her team would do the“She’srest.very bubbly, professional, down to earth and, if she does not think that something will gel well with what you’re thinking, she will definitely let you know that. And then, we’ll send an other option, instead of just saying ‘no,’” LangfordHordge’ssays.favorite interior design is her most recent house project because she was able to convince her client, Neoshia Woodson, to step out of her comfort zone. Woodson hired Cort of Appeal to design her newly purchased home in Wimauma. She wanted to use all of her furniture and elevate her space while still maintaining her budget. Hordge introduced Woodson to wallpapers and convinced her to have a teal accent wall — additions Woodson was initially unsure about. “Cortnie gave me the glam, and she gave me the glam that I really didn’t want and didn’t know I know I needed,” Woodson says. “She took my place to anotherAlthoughlevel.” Hordge’s business cur rently is primarily online, she still believes in an in-person presence. New Tampa’s Cortnie Hordge has a knack for designing a new look for you, and your home.
Hordge and her team have attended pop-up shops in Tampa to showcase their fashion and interior design items from her business and will attend another pop-up event on Sunday, August 14, at 200 East Madison St. in Tampa. She also will compete in an event as a stylist at Fashion’s Finest Tampa Bay on Saturday, August 20. Next year, she hopes to open a shop at Wesley Chapel’s KRATE at the Grove container park.
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For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (813) 421-0054, visit CortAppeal.com or see the ad on pg. 40. Cortnie also can be found on Facebook and Instagram by searching @cortappeal.
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Four ‘As,’ Seven ‘Bs’ For Area Schools
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Seven Oaks Elementary, John Long Middle School, Wiregrass Ranch High (WRH) and the Pinecrest Academy charter school were the only Wesley Chapel schools to earn “A” grades from the Florida Dept. of Education (FDoE), according to the annual results released last month.Longhas never received anything but an A grade, dating back to 2007. It was the fourth straight year get ting an A for Seven Oaks, and third straight for WRH. Pinecrest Academy received a grade for the first time. As a district, Pasco County Public Schools received a B. “I’m pleased to see what our schools have accomplished, especially considering the challenges of the past two years,” said Kurt Browning, Pasco’s Superintendent of Schools. “All credit goes to the stu dents, their teachers, and all the admin istrators who have worked so hard. Now that we have the test scores and school grades, our teachers and administrators are laser focused on the data and plan ning for greater accomplishments next year.” JCC By JOHN C. John@NTNeighborhoodNews.comCOTEY
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The new 650-student Patel Elementary, a Hillsborough County charter school which held its official ribbon cutting (photo above) on July 25, is on the same Dr. Kiran C. Patel Campus for Innovative Learning as Patel High (with 600 students) and the Terrace Com munity Middle School (660 students). The event was attended by many local and state dignitaries, including U.S. Senator Rick Scott, who sent a video of congratulations. At the ribbon-cutting event, Patel Elementary co-founder Ashok (Ash) Bagdy introduced Dr. Patel (above, right) as the new school’s “founder, visionary and benefactor” and a “global humanitarian who has donated hundreds of millions of dollars for education, health care, arts and culture in North America, Asia andWhenAfrica.”Ash finished his introduction, Dr. Patel thanked his own parents for ensur ing that he had a great education and said his goal has been to do the same for students in his native India, as well as in Africa and the U.S. He said that Patel Elementa ry, whose mascot is the Pioneers, is based on the principle that, “in the early, formative years, if you don’t provide the right environ ment then you know for sure you’ve missed the boat.”
Patel Elementary Charter School In Temple Terrace Opening
For more information about Patel Elementary (10739 Raulerson Ranch Rd.), see the ad on pg. 35, call (813) 444-0660 or visit PatelElementary.org. — Gary Nager, with photos by Charmaine George Wesley Chapel’s newest high school — the Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation (KRAI), which opens this month to 9th and 10th graders for the 2022-23 school year — held its inaugural student orientation, known as the “Navigator Kickoff,” on July 29. Although we weren’t on hand for the kickoff, we wanted to welcome Wesley Chapel’s fourth high school to the community. Al though KRAI isn’t a charter school, it is a Pas co school choice magnet school, and students have to apply for attendance by lottery. The school, which is located north of the entrance to the Watergrass community (and south of the Innovation Prep K-7 charter school) at 32555 Innovation Dr., off Curley Rd., “was built to provide students with an educational opportunity unlike any other,” ac cording to its website (krai.pasco.k12.fl.us) Every year after this year’s inaugural school year, KRAI will add a grade level until becom ing a full-fledged 9-12 high school. Kirkland Ranch offers ten in-demand and innovative programs structured to in clude an integrated business curriculum that offers a diverse learning experience focused on helping students develop dynamic skillsets that lead to high-paying careers. The ten programs are: Automotive (Diesel), Biomedi cal Sciences, Building Trades & Construction Technology, Cybersecurity, Digital Media, Electricity, Engineering & Applied Robot ics, Patient Care Technology and Welding Technology Fundamentals. If you want to be ready for college, career, and life right out of high school, KRAI is the place to be! KRAI’s principal is DeeDee Johnson (with hard hat, above), who previously was the prin cipal at Wesley Chapel High and most recently Pasco Middle School in Dade City, before transitioning to oversee the opening of KRAI. “I am most excited about the opportuni ties that it’s going to bring students in the District,” she says, “whether it’s college, career, or preparing them for life.”
Although it is located at least 20-30 min utes south of Wesley Chapel, off the Fowler Ave. exit of I-75 in Temple Terrace, the opening of Kiran C. Patel Elementary for the 2022-23 school year also represents a unique opportunity for students in our area.
Also
Kirkland Ranch Academy Of Innovation Is Wesley Chapel’s Newest High School!
Best of all, she said, during the school’s Open Houses, “the children have been asking the questions and zipping from room to room, imagining their lives as Pioneers.”
Dr. Patel also touted the importance of kids being able to complete their education “from elementary through high school at one location. That is an important choice that we can now offer to every one of our (elementary) students.” Ashley Galfond (center right photo), the Patel Elementary principal who spent eight years as an assistant principal in Hillsborough public schools (most recently at Chiles Elemen tary in Tampa Palms), spoke of her excitement to open Patel with 288 students in grades K-2. “The strategic plan of beginning small allows us to build the family culture here at our school. Each year, we will add six new classes of kindergartners and, before you know it, these incoming second graders will become fifth graders and we’ll have a full K-5 school.”
She emphasizes that while the school can provide a pathway to an in-demand, high-pay ing job right after high school, it’s also a great choice for college-focused students. “There are industry certifications, but also Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment courses,” says Johnson. “It’s going to give students a leg up by having connections with busi ness and community partners.”
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For 2022-23
Wesley Chapel Resident Anthony Becht Takes XFL Head Coaching Job Wesley Chapel resident Anthony Becht apparently smells what “The Rock” is cooking up. Becht, who has been an assistant coach at Wiregrass Ranch High the past few years while his son Rocco, who is now at Iowa State, was starting at quar terback, has been named the new head coach of the St. Louis franchise in the revamped XFL. The league is co-owned by famous wrestler and actor Dwayne “The Rock” “FootballJohnson.isback where it belongs, St. Louis! And I’m proud to be the head coach of your XFL Team,” Becht tweeted after the announcement. “This is a fresh start. And we’re not going anywhere. So let’s create a franchise and fan base that makes some noise!!” Becht is familiar to St. Louis fans, having played a full season at tight end in 2008 with the St. Louis Rams. “I can’t wait to get back to St. Louis and to see some old friends,” Becht told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “I’m excited to be a part of all this. Ticket sales have been great, and I can’t wait to get started.”
The three seasons before that, he played for the Tampa Bay Bucs. Becht, the 27th pick in the 2000 NFL Draft by the New York Jets, is known locally for his work as a television analyst, as well as for the youth football camp he has hosted in Wesley Chapel. Becht’s staff will have a Tampa Bay feel to it. St. Louis’s offensive coordinator Bruce Gradkowski played quarterback for the Bucs in 2006 and 2007, and defensive coordinator Don nie Abraham was a Bucs’ defensive back from 1996-2001. “I love this staff, and I’m expect ing to add some more top guys,” Be cht told the Dispatch. “I know I’m not the smartest guy on the staff, which is great because by surrounding myself with outstanding people, I know I can learn and I can keep getting better.”
By JOHN C. John@NTNeighborhoodNews.comCOTEY
Long-time Wesley Chapel resident Anthony Becht has been named the head coach of the new St. Louis team in the revamped XFL. Becht, a TV analyst and former coach at Wiregrass Ranch High, played three seasons at tight end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. (Photo credits: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (left) and Al Messerschmidt, Getty Images (right).
This will be the third try for the XFL, which played one season in 2001 and then had its comeback season in 2020 cut short by the Covid-19 pandemic. St. Louis didn’t have a team in the 2001 league, but in 2020, the team was called the Battlehawks — teams haven’t been assigned nicknames or mascots yet — and were one of the top drawing teams in the XFL. The XFL, which starts up next Feb ruary and will have its games shown on ABC-TV and ESPN, will have teams in Arlington, Houston and San Antonio, as well as Orlando, Florida, Las Vegas, Seat tle and Washington, D.C.
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The Volleyball Wildcats Are Loaded & Eyeing A State Title
By JOHN C. John@NTNeighborhoodNews.comCOTEY taste of coming so close last year has lingered throughout the offseason. Collison said Korta and Ekechi have both grown as players, and Teets, Ly and Ashkenase have both markedly improved. “When we came back for open gym this summer, and I saw how everyone had improved, I was like, ‘Wow, we’re going to be good,’” the coach said. The Wildcats were traditionally one of the worst teams in Pasco County until Collison was hired in 2017. Before that, WCH had cycled through six different coaches the previous eight years. However, Collison didn’t have im mediate success. Her first two seasons at Wesley Chapel, her teams were 10-32.
Gradually, the ‘Cats started getting some standout players, starting with Jordan and Chloe Danielson. The sisters’ first season together was 2019-20, and they led WCH to a 14-11 season, the first time the program had ever registered double-digit wins. The following season, the Wild cats were 17-6 and went to the Regional playoffs for the first time since 2003, as the sisters combined for 400 kills. Even though Jordan graduated in 2021, Collison was able to continue building her team around Chloe, thanks in part to the growth of club volleyball, which provides playing and training yearround. She says everyone on her team is a member of a club somewhere and competesCollisonyear-round.hasbeefed up the schedule as well this year, with two high-level tour naments, in the hopes that if her team reaches the Region final again, it will be more battle-tested than it was in 2021. “The majority of the team are kids that are go-getters, that want to get bet ter,” she says. “They want to prove this year that this hasn’t just been a lucky two years in a row. Our goal is to win Districts first, but because we came so close last (L.-r.) Brooke Ashkenase (2021 leader in digs), Chloe Danielson (kills) and Jenna Ly (assists) all return this season for Wesley Chapel High, a Region finalist last year. (Photo: Mike Bitting)
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When Wesley Chapel High (WCH) vol leyball coach Brittany Collison looks at this season’s roster, it’s hard not to dream big. Not only did the Wildcats put together their best record, 19-5, in the school’s history last year, they won their first District title in 20 years, won two Re gional playoff games for the first time ever and fell just one victory short of a trip to the State Final Four. And this year’s roster? Well, it looks mighty familiar. “I only lost three seniors from last year, so really the bulk of my team is still here,” says Collison. “It’s going to be a good year. There are high expectations, not only for me but the girls really want it. They’re all really excited.” Eight of the 12 players return from last year’s squad, including arguably the best player in school history in senior out side hitter Chloe Danielson. The 6-foot Danielson had a school-record 375 kills in 2021, and was named Pasco County’s Player of the Year. She had plenty of help, however. Juniors Lizzy Ekechi and Grace Korta each had more than 100 kills, and sophomore Emily Teets had 72. Senior Jenna Ly led the team in service aces and assists and junior Brooke Ashkenase led in digs and serves received. The Wildcats have added some new firepower as well. Transfer Emma Letourneau, a 5-foot-11 junior, will make the WCH attack that much more explo sive, after leading Pasco High with 198 kills last“Lastseason.year,I think we did rely on Chloe a ton,” Collison says. “We are go ing to have a lot more options this year.” In prepping for 2022, Collison says she has seen a lot of good signs that the Wildcats could make more history. The
For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 16 • August 9, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net 37Neighborhood News @NTWCNews year, we are definitely looking at the State final four this Meanwhile,season.”Cypress Creek High (CCH) also is looking for another good season. Last year, the Coyotes went 17-6, with half of those losses to Wesley Chapel. CCH made it to last year’s Class 5A, Dis trict 5 final before falling to the Wildcats, but as runner-up, still advanced to the RegionUnlikequarterfinals.WCH,however, almost half of the Coyotes’ roster has graduated, including most of their statistical leaders. The top returners are expected to be kills and blocks leader Sadie Walker, a junior, and setter and libero Laney Robinson. At Wiregrass Ranch High (WRH), the Bulls are coming off a 9-10 season but have one of the best all-around play ers in Pasco County in junior outside hitter Haley StrawserStrawser.had191 kills and 54 aces to lead the team in 2021, and was second in blocks and digs and third in assists. Gianna Ginesin, Victoria Vizciano and Delaney Moran all played key roles for the Bulls last season and are expected to return this Volleyballseason.season tips off Aug. 22, when WCH plays at Zephyrhills at 7:30 p.m. CCH plays at Pasco High at 7 p.m. on Aug. 23, and WRH hosts Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate High at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 24. For schedules and stats, visit MaxPreps.com and search for each school.
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Although, as a native New Yawka, I can’t call the pizzas “true NY style,” I will say that the crusts are always crispy, whether you get the Buffalo chicken, the “Dickie V” (named for sportscaster and former college basketball coach Dick Vitale, it combines Italian sausage, cherry peppers, fresh basil, grated parmesan and a garlic buttered crust. “It’s awesome, baby!”), or my current favorite, the “Meaty Meaty” (with bacon, homemade Italian sausage and pepperoni; photo at the top of the next page). There are even “Artisan” options like Goat Cheese Arugula and Italian Margherita pizzas. And, while I can’t call this a truly Italian From the time that it opened in 2020, Bubba’s 33, the elevated sports bar and restaurant concept from your friends at (and located next to) Texas Roadhouse off S.R. 56, has been a popular place with New Tampa and Wesley Chapel residents for its great food and craft cocktails at very fair prices and its TVs-everywhere sports bar feel. It also offers great music video channels to keep everyone upbeat and having fun. Bubba’s is a place for everyone from rabid adult NFL and NHL fans to families with young children and the made-from-scratch menu literally offers something for everyone. Let’s Talk Food First! The menu at Bubba’s hasn’t changed much since it first opened but that’s probably because so many of the long-time offerings have proven to be so popular. For “Party Starters,” the Big O’Rings (photo below right) are always sliced fresh, hand-battered and fried crisp, served with the delectable Bubba’s sauce (which is like a cross between thousand island dressing and remou lade sauce). Photographer Charmaine George also loves the Shotgun Shrimp, which are lightly breaded shrimp topped with a creamy, spicy sauce and topped with green onions that the menu says, “You won’t want to share.”
Other Party Starters include Crooked Fried Cheese, Layered Cheese Fries, a Chorizo sausage Queso Dip and Crispy Fried Pickles.
in
er (we add crispy bacon to it) and the bacon grind bacon cheeseburger. We prefer the Classic because it’s one thick patty, instead of the twopatty bacon grind burgers. Charmaine’s favorite is the Bacon Guacamole burger (with sweet potato fries) on the next page. She says the guacamole and pepper jack cheese are perfect comple ments to the crispy bacon.
ItalianOneSpecialties!ofthethingsthat sets Bubba’s 33 apart from most other sports bars/restaurants is its variety of Italian specialties, from Signature Pastas (including favorites like layered Lasagna and Chicken Parmesan Pasta), as well as a huge variety of Homemade, Stone-Baked Pizzas.
Great arefavoriteBostonmadewhich(cod)PhillysCheesesteakareHand-CraftedEvenSandwiches!Bubba’s33’sSandwichesspecial,fromthePhillyandChickentotheFriedFishsandwich(left),isfriedinahouse-SamuelAdams®Lagerbatter.MineandJannah’sburgersatBubba’stheClassicCheeseburg
Bubba’s 33 — Where Delicious Food & Drinks Meet Great Music & Fun!
Bubba’s also has great wings, available with eight different sauces and two different dry seasonings.Saladand“Seinfeld” fans have to love “The Big Salad,” which is, like, “a really big salad with a lot of stuff in it.” There also are Italian Chopped, Grilled Chicken (or Chicken Tender), Salmon and Kale Quinoa salads on the menu, but Jannah and I love to just get a side salad with our meals, with Bubba’s zesty balsamic vinaigrette dressing. Our favorite items on the “Hearty Din ners” menu include the Southern Fried Chick en breast and garlic mashed potatoes (I get the creamy white gravy on the side), the California Chicken (grilled chicken topped with avocado, pico de gallo and jack cheese; we also order the honey lime sauce on the side) and the two Texas Roadhouse-quality ribeye steaks — the Grilled 12-oz. Ribeye and the Signature 14-oz. Ribeye shown above right, which is marinated in a Starbucks® espresso signature blend. Among the many sides are great sweet potato fries, steamed broc coli and mac n’cheese.
By GARY NAGER
Photos by Charmaine George (Clockwise on this page) The Shotgun Shrimp, Signature Ribeye steak, Big O’Rings and Fried Fish sandwich some of our favorite menu items at Bubba’s 33 off S.R. 56 Wesley Chapel
are
For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 16 • August 9, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net 41Neighborhood News @NTWCNews pasta dish, our favorite pasta option may be the Chicken & Bacon Mac N’ Cheese (bot tom photo), which features a blend of five cheeses, grated parme san and sprinkled with bread Musiccrumbs.Bingo!Onourmost re cent visit, Jannah and I attended Bubba’s 33’s super-fun “Music Bingo Tuesday” event. It starts at 7 p.m., is free to enter and you can win from gift certificates for $5-$20 off and other swag. But honestly, it’s not about the prizes. Your host, Jerry, gives out Bingo cards with four games on them and each game has a theme (“Guys & Girls,” “Live, Love & Hate,” etc.). Everyone has all of each game’s songs on their cards, but you have to mark them when they are played and there are multiple ways (across, up & down, 4 corners, etc.) to win. You just have to be the first to yell “Bingo” when you complete each way to win. The really fun thing about it is that even if you don’t know all of the songs yourself, no one minds telling you, since no one has the same order of the songs on their cards. In other words, if you don’t “get” it, go try it! Bubba’s 33 also has Monday Madness ($8.99 for almost any burger) and Tuesday Pizza Night (when any 12” pizza is just $10.99)Bubba’sspecials.33 is located at 26340 Silver Maple Pkwy. It is open every day for lunch & dinner. For more info, call (813) 5225090, visit Bubbas33.com or see the ad on pg. 44 for a Free Appetizer with Purchase of Any Entrée (dine-in or take-out). The coupon is valid Mon.-Thur. only and only one offer available per table or per order.
42 For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 16 • August 9, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net Neighborhood News @NTWCNews
For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 16 • August 9, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net 43Neighborhood News @NTWCNews
New Tastes Coming To The Shops At Wiregrass!
Congratulations to Tammy and Brad Cochran of Tampa Bay CSC, for opening their fifth location (including the one on N. Dale Mabry Hwy. in Lutz) of Chicken Salad Chick, located on the Wesley Chapel Blvd. extension south of S.R. 56 (in the new build ing next to Zaxby’s), on Aug. 2, which was after this issue went to press and about two weeks later than the Cochrans originally had planned, due to permitting issues. North Tampa Bay Chamber CEO Hope Allen helped the Cochrans with those permit ting issues so that they would be able to open, as planned, on the 2nd. We hope to post a video on our Face book page of the actual opening day — where the first 100 people in line won a free scoop of chicken salad every month for a year (includ ing one winner who received one scoop a week for a year) — around the time this issue reaches your mailbox. “We’re thrilled to bring Chicken Salad Chick to the Wesley Chapel area,” Tammy says. “We’ve already received tremendous support from the local community. We have no doubt that our Wesley Chapel Chick family will fall in love with the food and hospitality, just as we did.” We didn’t yet know the opening day for the adjacent Ann’s Spa & Nails Lounge, nor for the as-yet unnamed seafood restaurant set to open at the other corner of the same build ing, but will keep you posted. The photo above is of the Chick’s chicken salad BLT (with a cup of tomato bisque soup as a side). The left photo is of the WC Blvd. lo cation’s interior. (Photos by Charmaine George) For more info about Chicken Salad Chick (25038 WC Blvd., Lutz), call (813) 993-4506 or visit ChickenSaladChick.com — and please tell them we sent you!. — GN
44 For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 16 • August 9, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net Neighborhood News @NTWCNews
Chicken Salad Chick Opens Next To Zaxby’s!
Fat Rabbit Celebrates Five Years In New Tampa!
Nova Pizza Replaces Windy City! As this issue hits your mailbox, a new NYstyle pizzeria should be open to replace Windy City Pizza (formerly Full Circle Pizza) in New Tampa’s Pebble Creek Collection. Nova Pizzeria, from former Full Circle owners Julia and Freddy Nova, was expected to open the first week in August, so it (hope fully) should be open as you’re reading this. Although Freddy says he knows a lot of customers miss the Chicago-style deep-dish and thin-crust pizzas at the old Full Circle (and from the short time Windy City was open), “My experience before Full Circle was with New York-style pizza and Italian specialties, so we hope the New Tampa com munity will come give us a try and enjoy the new Nova Pizza! — GN
Congratulations go out to The Fat Rabbit Pub, located at 16029 Tampa Palms Blvd. W. (in the City Plaza at Tampa Palms shopping center) for celebrating its fifth anniversary. Always near the top of the New Tampa rankings in both our Reader Survey and with yours truly, Jan nah and I visited Fat Rabbit for its anniversary celebration on July 16.
Executive chef Cole McBride, who has been coming up with the Fat Rabbit’s unique better-than-bar-food dishes from Day One, offered a number of specials for the day, including those top-rated wings topped with “Apocalypse” wing sauce (which has earned an 8/10 on the “heat” scale), a red velvet cake/cheesecake dessert special (photo, right, shown with the Rabbit Lager special served in a 5-Year Anniversary glass, while supplies last) and a new burger that Cole says is being added to the menu: “The Rabbit 13 (photo below),” which is a short rib and brisket patty topped with tortilla strips, roasted poblano peppers, pepper jack cheese and pico de gallo (shown on the side here), topped with a creamy queso cheese sauce and served with your choice of the greatest tater tots in our area, crispy fries or the awesome, super-crisp onion rings shown here for just $1 more. Perhaps best of all (at least for me) is that Cole says he should soon be bringing back his weekly fresh fish specials. So good! For more info, call (813) 252-3004 or visit FatRabbitPub.com. — GN
Everyone knows how excited I am about the impending opening of The Living Room in the former location of Ciao! (and Pagelli’s before that) in the Shops at Wire grass, but the expected soft opening of The Living Room later this month isn’t the only new thing to get excited about at the mall. Also coming soon to the mall are Leo nidas “The Preferred Belgian Chocolate” and Crazy Sushi, both of which will be located on Paseo Dr. at the Shops. No open ing dates have been announced for either newcomer, but Leonidas already has joined the North Tampa Bay Chamber, so definitely stay tuned! — GN
Also opening at the KRATEs the weekend we went to press was Ato “Edible Art,” the sister restaurant to Zukku-San Sushi Bar & Restaurant on S.R. 56 (see ad below) Ato features a variety of “curated” and create-yourown masterpiece poké bowls (above left) and sushi burritos (being made above center) as well as some of our favorite Zukku-San ap petizers (including both the sautéed, eel-sauceslathered Zukku dumplings and the fried gyoza dumplings shown top right). And, while Ato is well worth a trip to the KRATEs on its own, but there are other newbies to try, too. The Flipn’ Fries Factory opened as promised (near Bebo’s Cheesesteaks & Rhythm Pon de Grill Jamaican Cuisine) in July and although the menu only offers French fries with a variety of toppings, the fries are crispy and always served hot and delicious, no matter what you toppings you choose — whether you pick one of the Flip’n Fries menu favorites or make-your-own. Jannah and I were surprised how much we loved the bacon & beer cheese fries (top right photo) from the menu, which are loaded with real bacon and topped with the mildest beer cheese sauce ever.
More and more new restaurants have been opening at the KRATE Container Park at The Grove at Wesley Chapel and the word is definitely getting out that KRATE is a great destination for a wide variety of cuisine types from all over the world. Although it wasn’t open at our press time, Bakery X (pronounced “Eeks”) Authentic French Bakery had a sign inside saying that its soft opening would be on Aug. 3, a few days after we went to press with this issue. If you love authentic French croissants, breads and pastries as much as I do, this is an other KRATE to get really excited about.
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Mediterranean food lovers also should try the new Falafel Factory, which is located next to Palani’s Hawai’i Noodles (and congrats to Palani’s for winning a “Best of the Best award as Best Asian Restaurant from the Tampa Bay Times). We enjoyed the organic chicken shawarma wrap (right), which comes with hummus and your choice of up to four of the Factory’s fresh veggie salad bar toppings. Other options at the Falafel Factory are, of course, falafel (fried chick peas balls) pita and wrap sandwiches, a pita burger and even a clas sic hot dog and a variety of fresh salads. Other eateries at the KRATEs that also are getting close to opening, albeit without yet announcing their respective opening dates, are Boba Mac’s (mac & cheese and boba teas), Café Zorba Greek Cuisine, Pisco Express Peruvian Chinese Cuisine and 365 Café. Oh, and a big shout out to my new best friends, Tracy and John Dimillo of Urban Sweets, for serving the best chocolate chip cookie sandwich I’ve had in years! I already loved Tracy’s cupcakes and other desserts, but you have to try the cookie sandwiches! — Gary Nager; Ato photos above by Charmaine George Ato, Bakery X, Flip’n Fries & Falafel Factory Are The Newest KRATEs To Open At The Grove!
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46 For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 16 • August 9, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net Neighborhood News @NTWCNews N ew T ampa & w esley C hapel Classifieds HOME IMPROVEMENT CUSTOM INT. WINDOW COVERINGS! Cust. fabrication of all types of window coverings — plantation & hurricane shutters, vert. blinds, roller, cellular, woven wood & Roman shades, cellular vert., panel tracks, retract. awnings, motorization experts, alum., wood & faux wood blinds & more! FREE installation on orders over $250! Call Henry @ 813-948-6363, email TampaBlindsbyDesign@ gmail.com or visit TampaBlindsbyDesign.com.
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