Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News, Volume 27. Issue 18, August 23, 2019 by Neighborhood News

WESLEY CHAPEL

Inside:

NEWS

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Volume 27 Issue 18 August 23, 2019

To Watch All Of Our Recent Videos, Visit ‘Neighborhood News’ on Facebook! The Direct-Mail News Magazines Serving New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Since 1993! For the complete list of neighborhoods that receive this publication by direct mail in Wesley Chapel (zip codes 33543, 33544 & 33545), see page 42!

Playground Will Include All

First Look Inside:

Brrrrrrrr!

We have a beach in Epperson, so why not a winter park just a few miles away? Page 6

By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnewscom

ike Moore spends a lot of time at the Wesley Chapel District Park (WCDP) on Boyette Rd. Sometimes he is coaching. Other times he watches his three kids participate in other activities. And other times, he has noticed the absence of children with disabilities, who don’t get the same opportunities his kids do. “A void,” he calls it. A few years ago, Moore, the Pasco

County Commissioner for District 2 and Seven Oaks resident who represents most of Wesley Chapel, started out on a mission to fill that void. On Aug. 6, Moore revealed his work to his fellow county commissioners, as plans to build an inclusive playground that is welcoming to those with physical disabilities — and to those who care for them — sprang to life. “I’ve been doing a lot of research the last couple of years, looking at other inclusive parks around the country,” Moore says. “I thought it was something we should do here. I wanted to

figure out a way to make that happen.” With help from the local community, including the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel, AdventHealth Wesley Chapel and the Lennar Foundation, the county commission accepted a total of $120,000 in contributions towards building the new playground — with $5,000 more in contributions expected — and agreed to kick in $215,000 of public money as well. The $340,000 is expected to cover the entire cost of building the inclusive playground.

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See “Playground” on page 4.

Football Season Kicks Off Tonight! By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnewscom The 2018 high school football season begins tonight, and we have you covered -- check out our season previews for all three Wesley Chapel high school teams on pages 28-30. Wiregrass Ranch High (WRH) has made the playoffs for the past three straight seasons, but doing it a fourth straight time might be their toughest task yet. The Bulls begin a daunting schedule tonight at 7:30 p.m. — at home against Zephyrhills High — the first of 10 games against opponents who finished .500 or better last season. “The goal is always the same,” head coach Mark Kantor says. “Make the playoffs.” That’s something the Bulls have in common with their neighborhood rivals at Wesley Chapel (WCH) and Cypress Creek Middle/High (CCH), where both teams are dreaming the same dream.

GAMES TO WATCH THIS SEASON

Tonight: Cypress Creek at WCH; Zephyrhills at WRH. Aug. 30: WRH at WCH. Sept. 13: Nature Coast Tech at WRH; CCH at Pasco. Sept. 27: WRH at Armwood. Oct. 11: River Ridge at WCH. Oct. 25: Tampa Bay Tech at WRH. Nov. 1: Mitchell at WCH.

The Wildcats have a deep set of skill position players and should be fun to watch, while the Coyotes are entering only their third year of football and are thinking that it might be time for a breakout season. Tonight at 7:30 p.m., CCH squares off against WCH at Wesley Chapel, the first-ever meeting between the two budding rivals. Look for updates on all local high school sports teams in these pages and at NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net.

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Neighborhood News Online Continues To Add More Videos & Viewers

An editorial by Gary Nager As we’re going to press with this issue, it’s now been almost nine months since we received funding from Google to expand our video news operations. During that time, we have increased our output of real video news to an average of more than two videos per week, and more and more of you are getting on board by viewing, liking, sharing and commenting on our videos, especially on Facebook (search “Neighborhood News”), although our releases also are available on YouTube (search “Neighborhood News Online”). Most video producers will tell you how much harder it is to get views on YouTube than on Facebook, but we’re working on building those numbers up, too, so look for an update in an upcoming issue. In the 30 weeks since we received the first half of our Google funding on January 14, we have released 62 videos. Although we aren’t yet including numbers for four videos that were released the same day or after we went to press with this issue, our first 58 videos of 2019 have reached half a million people on Facebook and been viewed nearly 300,000 times, with 50,000 interactions (likes, shares and comments). Our most-watched video of the year at our press time was the preview of the opening of the S.R. 56 extension from meadow Pointe Blvd. to U.S. Hwy. 301 in Zephyrhills, which was viewed more than 15,000 times and had a reach of nearly 29,000 people on Facebook. Four other 2019 video releases had been viewed 12,000 times and 20 of our videos had Facebook reaches of more than 10,000, including our latest News Desk release — “What’s Still Missing In Wesley Chapel?” (photo), which has been viewed 9,000 times and reached more than 15,000 people. Both the S,R. 56 Extension video, with more than 4,500 Likes, Shares & Comments) and the “What’s Still Missing” video (3,600 in-

Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News Address: 29157 Chapel Park Dr., Suite B Wesley Chapel, FL 33543 Phone: (813) 910-2575 Advertising E-mail: Ads@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Editorial E-mail: EditorialDept@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Publisher & Editor /Ad Sales Gary Nager Managing Editor / Photographer John C. Cotey Correspondents Libby Baldwin • Jarrett Guthrie Celeste McLaughlin • Andy Warrener Lead Video Producer/Multimedia Specialist Charmaine George Photography, Videography & Video Editing Eric Cupps • Richard Nasrallah • Matt Tsvetkov Graphic Designer Georgia Carmichael Advertising Sales, Office & Billing Assistants Janet Levins • Jannah Nager

Nothing that appears in Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News writers are their own and do not reflect the publisher’s opinion. The deadline for outside editorial submissions and advertisement reservations for Volume 27, Issue 20, of Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News is Monday, September 9, 2019. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News will consider previously nonpublished outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News will not return unsolicited editorial materials. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit &/or reject any advertising. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the actual cost of the advertising space itself, nor for the validity of any claims made by its advertisers.

teractions) fell short of surpassing our video about the new Chickfil-A opening on S.R. 54, which had nearly 4,800, for the our most interactions so far this year. We’ve even had an average of 5,000 views on Facebook for each of our three video releases in Spanish to date, and there’s more Español on the way! In other words, I’m feeling pretty confident that more and more businesses will hop on our multimedia bandwagon, as there is no other multimedia real news source serving the residents and businesses of New Tampa and Wesley Chapel. Among the releases you can expect to see when this issue reaches your mailbox are recaps of four recent ribbon-cutting events, as well as another News Desk, although the latter is an update on the new Village at Hunter’s Lake project which is expected to open in 2020 on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in New Tampa. The video updates all of the restaurants and shops coming to this exciting project, which local elected officials are hoping will revive New Tampa’s less-than-robust economy — especially when compared with what’s happening just to the north in Wesley Chapel. And of course, our website, NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net, also continues to garner a lot of attention, especially whenever managing editor John Cotey posts items of interest on Facebook, many of which have attracted thousands of “click-throughs” to our website. For more info about our multimedia advertising opportunities to promote your business, call (813) 910-2575 or see the ad on this issue’s back cover (page 44).

Two Quick ‘Teasers’

I was hoping to have a news story in this issue about my wife Jannah, but we decided to hold it over for our September issues instead. Loyal Neighborhood News readers know that Jannah has been working for the Pasco Education Foundation for the past four+ years, but she has an exciting new job that definitely will make her even more well-known and popular right here in Wesley Chapel than she has become from all of the publicity she’s had in these pages. I know that is saying a lot, but it’s true, so please check it out next issue! I also hope you’ll check out this year’s Dining Survey & Contest on page 33 of this issue. We’ve got a whole new format that’s gotten a great response in New Tampa already, so please check it out and enter to win some free dining!

Correction From Last Issue

In our last issue’s Nibbles & Bytes column, I called Cindy Cruz the “proprietor” of the new Rice n’ Beans in Wesley Chapel. Cindy and her husband David actually own the delicious new restaurant together and Cindy is the executive chef. I apologize for any inconvenience and hope you’ll tell Cindy, David & their staff I sent you!

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Table of Contents

Local News Updates.....................3-11

Pasco BOC Approves Winter Park North Of WC...........6 9/11 Memorial Will Be Unveiled September 7..........8 Hope Allen Recaps The Chamber’s 20 Years.................10 Wesley Chapel Community Calendar.........................12

Local Business Updates..............16-25

New Tampa Dance Theatre Celebrates 25 Years.........16 American Wood Flooring Has The Floors You Need!...18 New Tampa Plastic Can Improve Your Look........20 Decoration Den Offers Decades Of Experience..........22 Personal Touch Makes Prime Rx Special........24

Education & Sports News..........26-30 Wesley Chapel Goes Back To School!.......................26 Wesley Chapel High 2019 Football Preview.............28 Wiregrass Ranch High 2019 Football Preview.........29 Cypress Creek High 2019 Football Preview..........30

Neighborhood Magazine

Enter Our 2019 Dining Survey & Contest!-------33 Walk-On’s Now Open On S.R. 56........................35 Full Circle Pizza Gets New Owners & Entrées..........36 Neighborhood Nibbles & Business Bytes...........38 New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Classifieds...........40 @NTWCNews

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Playground: Wesley Chapel will be home to the county’s first inclusive play area. FROM PAGE 1

Moore says that work could begin on the park in about six months. The response from the community since the announcement has been overwhelming, Moore says, noting that he has even received calls from others looking to make donations, and parents of children with disabilities who are overjoyed. The playground is not just for children with disabilities. The goal is to build a playground that is available to everyone, and isolates no one. It will be the first of its kind in Pasco County, but not the last, Moore hopes. He says that for every 1,000 children in Pasco County, there are 85 who have some type of special needs. The Pasco County School District says there are 16,000 children with special needs countywide. “We want a place where kids have the opportunity to participate and not just sit on the sidelines, no matter what their abilities are,” Moore says. While many area parks may be compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines, few truly meet the standards of what proponents consider to be inclusivity. To meet those inclusive standards,

Members of The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel presented a check to the Pasco Board of County Commissioers on Aug. 6 to help fund an inclusive playground at the Wesley Chapel District Park.

many of these playgrounds incorporate wider pathways and easier-to-navigate surfaces, activity panels that are at ground height, larger swings with more back support and sensory elements that include touch and music. While the local playground may focus on physical activities, Moore says promoting socialization is a significant benefit of inclusive playgrounds, which bring kids who might otherwise shy away from others due to their disabilities together by promoting active play. “We want a place that takes away

the social barriers and gives parents an opportunity to participate as well,” Moore says. “Parents don’t always feel they are part of something, because their kids can’t take part.”

Getting The Ball Rolling

Once Moore hatched the idea, he went to Keith Wiley, the director of the county parks department. With a new indoor recreation center on the way to the WCDP as well, Moore had synergistic goals. Wiley’s reaction? He says he was

thinking the exact same thing. “Our team realized the need for more special needs summer camps, but where would they go?,” Wiley says. “That I got that call (from Moore) was an amazing coincidence.” There are few offerings within 30 miles for area residents to take their children to. At the park at the New Tampa Recreation Center, some swings were outfitted last year to accommodate children in wheelchairs. And, in another part of Tampa Palms, an autism-friendly sensory park is in the design phase, although no money was included in the recent fiscal 2019 City of Tampa budget to begin construction.

That Rotary Connection...

To help raise the needed funds, Moore reached out to some reliable community partners. As a former member of the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel (and still an honorary member), Moore presented a proposal to the club, whose Board thought it was in line with their mission and agreed to donate money from a special charitable fund the club created. “Years ago, when I was president, (former club president) Dane Parilo, Mike and I got together, and we had this vision — what if we could (start a special fund); what if we could raise

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money for future projects?,” says Eric Johnson, the past president of the Rotary Club. “And, it’s all coming to fruition right now. We are very excited about this opportunity.” According to Johnson, Rotary District 6950 (which includes about 40 Rotary Clubs) is giving a $10,000 grant to match the Wesley Chapel Rotary’s donation of $35,000, and the club plans on donating $5,000 more to be raised from their Casino Night fund raiser being held tonight at Lexington Oak Golf Clubs, bringing their total donation to $50,000. That is one of the club’s biggest donations to date. Pasco County Commisioners Mike Moore (left) and Ron The Rotary Club will mainOakley, who each represent districts that include a portion tain a butterfly garden adjacent of Wesley Chapel, pose with Arcadia Solesky of the Lennar to the playground. Foundation, which donated $50,000 to the project. The Lennar Foundation also being a part of this project.” is donating $50,000. Perhaps no one, however, was “We are very excited and grateful (to be involved),” said Arcadia Solesky, more pleased than Moore. He says the inclusive playground will go down as director of marketing for the Lennar one of the highlights of his career. Foundation. “It’s not always the government Meanwhile, AdventHealth condoing things, it’s the community tributed $25,000 to the project. coming together for the betterment “Our brand promise is to feel of all of our kids,” he said. “After this whole,” says AdventHealth chief project is done and complete…this will financial officer Tyson Davis. “I can’t rank as one of the top things we’ve think of a better way to apply that brand promise in our community than ever done.”

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Will A Winter Wonderland Be Just A Snowball’s Throw Away? By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com

It’s no secret that a large portion of our population is here because they were eager to trade the frosty inconvenience of snow for the year-round warmth of the Florida sun. Be honest, though. You miss it sometimes, don’t you? Well, for at least part of the year, you may be able to relive some of the winter’s better moments, as a proposed snow park in Pasco County recently got the green light from Pasco’s Board of County Commissioners (BOC). The park will be located at the corner of St. Joe Rd. and Bellamy Brothers Blvd., roughly 15 miles north of the Shops at Wiregrass, adjoining Treehoppers Aerial Adventure Park and Scream-A-Geddon Horror Park. The BOC unanimously approved a conditional use permit on Aug. 6, allowing Point Summit, Inc., which runs Treehoppers and Scream-A-Geddon, to build Florida’s first snow park on 58 acres in Dade City it purchased last year. The park will have a snow tubing hill, a snow play area and other winterrelated activities, and is expected to be another feather in the area’s ever-growing tourism cap.

The snow park is permitted to operate 120 days a year, from 2 to 7 days a week, depending on the weather. Clarke Hobby, the lawyer for Point Summit, Inc., said based on recent winters and the temperature needing to be under 80 degrees for the snow concept to work, “something tells me it’s going to be (open for) more like 45 days (a year).” Snow tubing in Florida? Sure, why not, say developers who intend to build a The proposed snow park north of Wesley Chapel. (Photo: Dion Hinchcliffe/ Flickr) park will not operate ditions that almost everybody is happy on the same day as with,” Hobby said. Scream-A-Geddon (or the fall festival Some of those conditions include the “horror park” operates in unison not allowing access to the park off with), which has a temporary-use perBellamy Brothers Blvd., planting more mit to run 56 days (this year, it opens than 1,000 six-foot red cedar trees Sept. 13 and runs through the first to, according to Hobby, “create an week in November). evergreen condition that will be a great Denise Hernandez of Pasco’s planning and development department said a noise and visual buffer for our neighbors” and creating a 400-foot setback neighborhood meeting was held in May, with 32 residents in attendance, and only for all structures. Some residents, however, weren’t quite one letter of objection was filed. satisfied, expressing concern that the county “We have worked with the neighbors in coming up with a series of con- was sacrificing more of its rural areas.

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During public comment on Aug. 6, Judy Geiger submitted a stack of red manilla folders that she said included 33 letters of objection, among other documents, and yielded her remaining time to Bob Hunter, a former Hillsborough County planning commissioner. According to Hunter, the conditional use sought by Point Summit was not consistent with Pasco’s land development code, which protects against rural decline. “A snow mountain and a haunted house are certainly not consistent with the surrounding area,” Smith said. Two other residents also spoke, but District 2 commissioner Mike Moore noted that some of the complaints were coming from people who lived a good distance away from the proposed park, and seemed satisfied with the efforts of Hobby and the park owners to appease the concerns of the local residents. “What I’m seeing are not rejections from people living right across the street,” Moore said. “And, I like the 400-foot buffer (plan).” District 5 commissioner Jack Mariano agreed. “This will be a nice amenity, as well as helping tourism,” Commissioner Mariano said before voting yes.

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Pasco County’s First 9/11 Memorial To Be Unveiled at TPO By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com Every year when the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel is handing out miniature American Flags on the anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, current club president Chris Casella is moved to tears. People who lost a brother, sister, loved one or a friend thank Casella and his fellow Rotarians, and share their heartbreaking stories. “It never fails,” says Casella, who, due to an injury, was on limited duty as a sworn officer with the New York Police Department (NYPD) when the World Trade Center towers crumbled to the ground. The latest project hatched by Casella and his fellow Board member Troy Stevenson and the Rotary Club (with help, see below) is Pasco County’s first permanent 9/11 Memorial, which will be dedicated at the Tampa Premium Outlets on Saturday, September 7, at 8:46 a.m., the time the north tower was struck in 2001. Stevenson is a 13-year first responder with the National Disaster Medical System and U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services. Casella and Stevenson have received a lot of help from not only their fellow Board members, but especially from Wesley Chapel resident Stephen Spelman, a retired Fire Department of New York (FDNY) emergency medical technician who was at the foot of the north tower when it collapsed.

The dedication of the new memorial will follow a onemile Memorial Run/ Walk at TPO — which will begin at 7:30 a.m.. The run/ walk is open to all ages and is $10 per person to participate. All net proceeds will go to fund local scholarships for graduating high school A piece of the ladder from FDNY Ladder Truck 18, pictured above being students in Pasco County who intend pulled from the rubble of the north tower of the World Trade Center, will be the centerpiece of a 9/11 Memorial being developed by the Rotary Club of Wesley to pursue careers as Chapel and the Tampa Premium Outlets. (Photo courtesy of Chris Casella) first responders. The centerpiece Motts Military Museum in Ohio, which he of the 9/11 Memorial will be a 2-foot piece was unable to attend, due to Hurricane Irma. of the ladder from FDNY Ladder Truck 18 For the past two years, Spelman and (photo), which will be framed and hung on a Casella have discussed what to do with the 25-foot stretch of wall at TPO’s food court. piece of ladder. Ideas ranged from donating The wall will have a vinyl wrap depicting it to a library or local firehouse to building a images from that day, as well as the names of memorial, which wasn’t financially feasible. everyone who perished. While organizing the Memorial Run/ According to Casella, FDNY Ladder Walk with TPO, one of the mall’s executives Truck 18 was destroyed by falling debris, but mentioned that he had been approached the firefighters on the truck were all spared. by a guy looking for help with a possible “Everybody on that truck survived by memorial. Casella asked if the guy’s name jumping under the ladder,” Casella says. happened to be Steve...and it was. Once TPO agreed to host the 9/11 The ladder segment belongs to Spelman, Memorial by donating the space, plans took who received it for being a scheduled guest off and eventually came to fruition. speaker at a ceremony on 9/11/17 at the

Casella also has been active in organizing events to benefit first responders, such as having Rotary Club members serve breakfast at all of the Fire Rescue Stations in Wesley Chapel and the Pasco Sheriff’s District 2 office in Dade City each year on 9/11. The 9/11 Memorial and run/walk, however, may be his proudest achievement. “It’s emotional for me, and I know it is for Steve as well,” Casella says, his voice cracking. “Memorializing it is a big deal for, I think, everybody. It’s something we’ll never forget.” Casella says the response to the Memorial Run and 9/11 Memorial has already been “incredible.” Spelman has been in contact with two women who lost their husbands on that terrible day who also will share their stories at the dedication. Surviving first responder John Berrang also recently emailed Casella to applaud the Rotary Club’s efforts and said he’d like to participate in the one-mile run, despite currently undergoing treatment for stage 3 cancer contracted at the World Trade Center site. It was an email that Casella says was both inspiring and difficult to read, but a reminder that Sept. 11 remains a terrible day with a lot of meaning to many people. “Thanks again,” Berrang wrote to Casella, “for remembering the heroes we lost on 9/11.” For more information or to sponsor the Walk/Run, visit WCRotary. com/911-Memorial-Mile, or email Casella at Cdcasella@me.com or Stevenson at Troynyc65@aol.com.

Pasco County's first permanent 9/11 Memorial to be dedicated in the Tampa Premium Outlets Food Court at 8:46 a.m., following the Walk/Run.

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The North Tampa Bay Chamber’s 20 Years Celebrated At Breakfast! By GARY NAGER I have known North Tampa Bay Chamber (NTBC) president & CEO Hope Allen since the day she took over the leadership of the former Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce in 2013. I and the Neighborhood News also have been strong supporters of the Chamber since it first formed back in 1998, so I have seen all of the changes the Chamber has gone through during its 20-year history. Therefore, the Chamber’s monthly Business Breakfast at Pasco Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch on August 6 was a great trip down memory lane for me, as Hope was the featured speaker and she definitely hit the highlights of the still-growing Chamber’s incredible 20-year journey. Fresh off her first major vacation away from the Chamber she leads and loves, Hope’s Power Point presentation at the breakfast told the tale of a fledgling Chamber that first met in one of its then-65 members’ garages in July 1998. The old Wesley Chapel Chamber unveiled its first logo in January 1999, and held its first awards banquet and hired its first part-time employee later that year. In January of 2000, the Chamber unveiled its first website and held its first Community Festival in March 2001.

switch our focus from being into parties, pageants and parades, to being the connector, convener and catalyst for businesses. We wanted to be the best, the go-to organization, for local businesses.” In February of 2014, the Chamber unveiled North Tampa Bay Chamber president & CEO Hope Allen regales Chamber its official Facemembers and guests with stories of the Chamber’s 20-year history on Aug. 6. book page and in And, even though there was a 12-year 2015, it acquired gap in her presentation between 2001 and the faltering New Tampa Chamber and its 2013 (when Hope took over as executive primary asset — the Taste of New Tampa, director), as someone who attended most which wasn’t held for several years because of the Chamber’s ribbon cuttings and of that defunct Chamber’s issues. events prior to 2013, I can assure you that “That’s when we really started to things didn’t really start to take off for the grow,” Hope said of the merger with New old Wesley Chapel Chamber until Hope Tampa. “More businesses started to reach arrived on the scene. out to us on both sides of the county line.” “The Chamber evolved over time, Hope also told those in attendance as it has to, in order to serve the needs of that she was particularly proud of the fact the businesses in the community where it that the Wesley Chapel Chamber earned the is situated, and we certainly have,” Hope Florida Association of Chamber Professionsaid at the breakfast. “In 2013 (when als (FACP) Certified-Plus designation and the Chamber had about 300 members), that she has earned her Florida Chamber the Board decided that we were going to Certified Professional (FCCP) certification.

“Of more than 300 Chambers of Commerce throughout Florida, only 18 have earned certification and only seven are Certified-Plus Chambers with a CEO who also is certified,” she says, adding that it takes five years of consecutive senior leadership to become FCCP-certified. “And you have to have three peer reviews and submit a dissertation.” Hope’s dissertation was on the fiduciary responsibilities of a Chamber.

And Still More Changes...

During her presentation at the breakfast meeting, Hope also talked about her Chamber’s 2017 asset acquisition of/joining forces with the former Greater Pasco Chamber, which helped the NTBC increase its membership by more than 200 businesses, although it also brought with it a fresh set of new challenges for Hope and her small staff. The Greater Pasco Chamber’s membership was mostly on the west side of Pasco County (it also had some western Pinellas members). One of the challenges was trying to host networking and other business events on both sides of the Suncoast Pkwy. But, perhaps the biggest challenge was to come up with a new name for the Chamber, which now had members in Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough. Many Wesley Chapel Chamber members, including yours truly, were

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concerned that unless Wesley Chapel was still in the Chamber’s name, some members might defect and the Chamber could lose its identity altogether. The North Tampa Bay Chamber name was officially adopted in January 2018 and neither Hope nor her staff has taken a backwards step since then. In fact, the Chamber moved its office from The Grove in Wesley Chapel to just off S.R. 54 in Lutz and has grown to 730 members and four full-time employees. Although I personally haven’t attended many events on the west side, my understanding is that they also are well-attended, and the ribbon cuttings, breakfasts, Final Friday and coffee events continue to attract new faces in our area. Hope and the NTBC also have continued their advocacy efforts regarding transportation in our area, including the

Diverging Diamond Interchange at I-75 and S.R. 56, the S.R. 56 expansion to U.S. Hwy. 301 in Zephyrhills, the planned Overpass Rd. exit off I-75 and others. “Our Vision is to be the trusted leader and driving force for the growth and success of our business community,” she said. “And our Mission is to provide valuable services to our members, advocate for a positive business community and sustain and further develop a thriving economy for the North Tampa Bay Region. All I can say is mission accomplished...so far...and keep it going! For membership & other information, visit the NTBC at 1868 Highland Oaks Blvd., Lutz, or at NorthTampaBayChamber.com, or call (813) 994-8534. And, some of the Chamber’s events are listed in this issue’s Community Calendar on page 12.

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AUGUST 2019 Saturday, August 24

Free Community Boot Camp - Camp Gladiator is a fitness movement with dynamic, fun & challenging workouts. This is ‘60-minutes of Amazing’ at your favorite place to shop. This Free event is held every Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m., at Tampa Premium Outlets (2300 Grand Cypress Dr, Lutz). Participants should bring: exercise mat, 1-2 bottles of water, sweat towel, a smile & great attitude. For more information, email Christine Iloni at christineiloni@campgladiator.com. Bay Chapel Food Pantry - Free food for needy families. Open every Saturday from 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., behind Christian Brothers Automotive (20300 Trout Creek Dr., off BBD). For more info, visit BayChapel.com/foodpantry.

Monday, August 26

Yoga On The Lawn (The Shops at Wiregrass) - This Free event is held every Monday, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., at Center Court (weather permitting). This is Relaxing Beginner-to-Intermediate Yoga, sponsored by Energia Wellness Studio. For more info, call (813) 973-7300. Wesley Chapel Speaks - The Wesley Chapel Toastmasters meet every Monday at 7 p.m. for networking, 7:30 p.m. for public speaking, at the Edward Jones Building Main Floor, Keller Williams Training Room (18302 Highwoods Preserve Pkwy., New Tampa). For more info, call Martin at (813) 693-0969.

Wednesday, August 28

Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Noon - The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Noon meets Wednesdays at noon at Lexington Oaks Golf Club (26133 Lexington Oaks Blvd.). First time guests attend free. For more information, call (813) 391-3895 & see ad & story on page 8 of this issue.

Thursday, August 29

North Tampa Veterans Association meeting - All armed forces veterans & associates are invited to a weekly lighthearted Dutch-treat breakfast meeting to get acquainted & tell your tales, new & old. Location: Steak ‘n Shake, just off BBD Blvd. (at 17509 North Palms Village Pl.), every Thursday at 7:30 a.m. Bring your spouse and your brag sheet. Open to veterans of all branches of the U.S. military. RGA Network Weekly Meeting - The RGA Networking Group meets weekly for networking at Grillsmith at the Shops at Wiregrass mall. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m.; Lunch is served noon-1 p.m. For more information, visit RGANetwork.net.

Friday, August 30

Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Sunrise - The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Sunrise meets the 1st & 3rd Fridays of each month, 7:15 a.m., at Happy Hangar Cafe (4241 Birdsong Blvd., Lutz). For more information, call Kathy Schenck at 813-956-4436. Drive-Thru Prayer - Takes place every Friday, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., at Atonement Lutheran Church (29617 S.R. 54). You will find trained members of the church’s Caring Ministry Team under the portico. Share your cares & concerns in prayer while you stay seated in your car. Everyone is welcome. North Tampa Bay Chamber: Final Friday Event - Held the last Friday of each month, Final Friday allows business professionals to meet in a ‘not-too-formal’ setting. This month’s event is hosted by the Top Shelf Sports Lounge at AdventHealth Center Ice (3173 Cypress Ridge Blvd.). 4 p.m.-6 p.m. There is no fee to attend this event. For more info, call the Chamber office at (813) 994-8534.

Monday, September 2

HOPE Services: How-To Seminar for Persons with Disabilities & Supporting Families – Held on the first Monday of each month, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., at HOPE Services’ Wesley Chapel office (2406 Cypress Glen Dr., Suite 102). These group seminars are led by HOPE Services’ in-house counseling team & many of its Job Coaching/Training team attend. The primary goal is to spread awareness of the free services available to families. A special topic is included at each session, focusing on bringing clients & family members together in a supportive & educational forum. HOPE Services: We understand. We care. We help. We give HOPE. For more info, call (813) 907-1903.

Saturday, September 7

Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Noon to host 9/11 Memorial Mile Run/Walk & 9/11 Memorial Dedication — At Tampa Premium Outlets. For more details, see the ad & story on page 8. Fresh Market at Wiregrass - The 1st & 3rd Saturday of the month, you can enjoy the Fresh Market at Wiregrass (28211 Paseo Dr, Wesley Chapel), 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Shop for fresh produce, hand crafts, candles, sauces, fresh bread, & much more. For more info, visit tampabaymarkets.com. Atonement Lutheran Church Community Event - Come join us from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. as we share the love of God with the Children & Families in our area. Location: 29617 S.R. 54, Wesley Chapel. We will have Food, a Bouncy House, Games, Prizes & more. Following the event, we will have a Ribbon Cutting Celebration (sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce) for our New Building. We look forward to seeing you there.

Sunday, September 8

Cruisin’ At Wiregrass Car & Truck Show - A special show honoring First Responders. Custom, classic & new cars cruise in and line the streets. Noon -4 p.m. Participating cars must arrive between 10 a.m.-Noon. For car registration info. visit premiumcarshows.com.

Saturday, September 14

Container Gardening - Loved your garden up North? Can’t figure out how to do it in Florida? It can be successful. Attend this FREE UF/IFAS Pasco County Extension seminar to learn the “how-to’s” of planting flowers, foliage and herbs in containers and watch them flourish. 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m. at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park (5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Highway 41, Land O’ Lakes). Please register by going to eventbrite.com & searching ‘9-14-19 Container Gardening’.

Tuesday, September 17

North Tampa Bay Chamber: Coffee Social - Want to gather with other colleagues and peers in a relaxed networking environment? Please join us at our no-agenda monthly coffee social which takes place the Third Tuesday of the month, 8 a.m.-9 a.m. at Buttermilk Provisions (2653 Bruce B. Downs Blvd). For more info., call Eliana at (813) 994-8534. Bromeliads - Come learn about this interesting species of plants. They range from tiny to huge in size. Their beauty is unsurpassed and they love living in Florida. Come join us for this FREE UF/IFAS Pasco County Extension seminar. 2 p.m.-3 p.m. at New River Branch Library (34043 S.R. 54, WC). Please register by going to eventbrite.com & searching ‘9-17-19 Bromeliads’.

Wednesday, September 18

Central Pasco Democratic Club - The monthly meetings feature speakers and briefings about the Pasco County Democratic Party. Meetings are held 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m., at the Meadow Pointe CDD office (28245 County Line Rd.). For more info, visit Facebook.com/centralpascodems or call Cindy Beres at (813) 702-4387.

Saturday, September 21

Brittany Hutchinson Benefit Golf Tournament - Pebble Creek Golf Club - Shotgun start: 8 a.m. $75 per player, 4-person scramble, Closest-to-Pin, Long-Drive, Mulligans, Raffles, Prizes, Lunch Buffet. Sponsorships Available! Hole Sponsorships cost just $100. This tournament is for a great cause! Brittany is a Wesley Chapel resident in need of a 2nd kidney transplant - A portion of the proceeds will go towards her medical expenses. Pebble Creek Golf Club (10550 Regents Park Dr, Tampa). Register online at BelovedBQueen.com . For more info. call Tony at (917) 578-7779 or email lebco22@gmail.com. Visit NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net to add your upcoming events to our online calendar. With enough advanced notice, events that happen in our readership areas may also appear in our print editions, as space allows.

Tuesday, September 3

I Like Bats - Bats consume insects, pollinate plants & disperse seeds, but they are also threatened. Their populations are declining, largely as a result of human activity, misconceptions & fear. Learn all about bats at this FREE UF/IFAS Pasco Extension seminar on Tuesday, September 3, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at Land O’ Lakes Branch Library (2818 Collier Parkway). Please register by going to eventbrite. com & searching ‘9-3-19 I Like Bats.’ GFWC Pasco Junior Woman’s Club - The Monthly Meeting of the GFWC Pasco Junior Woman’s Club will be held 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m., at the Lexington Oaks Clubhouse (26304 Lexington Oaks Blvd.). The club is a nonprofit organization dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service. Women of all ages are invited to attend and see how you can get involved in your community. For more information, call Beth Reed at (813) 380-8124.

Friday, September 6

North Tampa Bay Chamber: WOW (Women of Wesley Chapel) Meeting - This women-only exclusive group is for members and prospective members of the North Tampa Bay Chamber. The WOW network meets the first Friday of every month at Beach House Assisted Living at Wiregrass (30070 S.R. 56), 7:30 a.m.-9 a.m. For more Information & the fee to attend, call the Chamber office at (813) 994-8534. 12

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The New Tampa Dance Theatre Is Celebrating Its 25th Anniversary! By CELESTE McLAUGHLIN

It may be housed in a quiet building on a busy suburban street, but the New Tampa Dance Theatre (NTDT) offers dancers a world-class, professional experience that is unmatched in the Tampa Bay area, whether you or your child like to dance for fun or dream of a career on stage one day. Located on Cross Creek Blvd. (across from Heritage Isles) in New Tampa, the 7,500-square-foot NTDT is the largest professional dance training facility in the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area. Owner and artistic director Dyane Elkins IronWing is in her 25th season of creating dance memories and futures for her New Tampa- and Wesley Chapel-area students, many of whom have gone on to study dance in college and/or dance professionally. “As always, I’m so proud of our students,” says Elkins IronWing. “Our dancers become excellent college students, with their impressive time-management skills, perseverance and creative thinking.” Elkins IronWing herself says she started dancing at age 5, later trained in New York City, and performed with the Ballet Metropolitan in Columbus, OH. She moved to Tampa in 1995 to be near family and friends and immediately opened NTDT in the Pebble Creek Collection on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. In 2002, she purchased the property on Cross Creek Blvd., designed her spacious new studio herself, and moved the school to the new building in January 2006. With the bigger location, Elkins IronWing was off and running, offering smaller class sizes and larger, more varied schedules. She says she also has a larger pool of students today, with the ongoing explosive growth in Wesley Chapel. “Our name might say New Tampa; however, our location is much closer to Wesley Chapel than one might assume,” says Elkins IronWing. “We are extremely convenient to all of the current growth (there). Wesley Chapel families are shocked to discover just how close we are and excited because of how quickly they can drive to our school.”

All Ages & Experience Levels

Elkins IronWing caters to both the recreational dance lover as well as the devoted

The community’s largest and longest-running interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet, “The Nutcracker,” now in its 20th season for the New Tampa Dance Theatre, will be held Friday-Sunday, December 13-15, at USF Tampa’s College of the Arts Theater 1.

pre-professional, and every level in between. NTDT’s leveled curriculum offers multiple art forms for students to explore. Through personalized attention and professional expertise, the NTDT faculty provides a positive educational experience based on the studio’s core principles of respect, responsibility and teamwork. Teen/Adult classes include four eightweek sessions (from Sept.-May) of classical ballet, tap and Zumba. Children ages 3-4 can participate in the Early Childhood Program, ages 5-8 can take part in the Children’s Program, and ages 9-18 are invited to join NTDT’s Youth Program. In addition to classical ballet, the studio offers full programs in creative movement, modern, jazz, tap and hip-hop. Each program has its own directors and specific syllabuses guiding students in a structured manner through their studies. Dyane’s husband, Troy IronWing, is NTDT’s director of tap, while she will instruct ballet, jazz and creative movement classes this season. Both have continued to tour internationally, now for 15 years, with the Rhythm Extreme performance troupe. The facilities at NTDT are as top notch as the instructors, and include maple flooring for the tap classes, 20-25-ft.-tall mirrored walls, student locker rooms and a

large studio space that can accommodate up to 200 people. Sprung floors provide shock absorption to protect the dancers’ joints, and an on-site physical therapist ensures the health of the dancers. NTDT also features a café offering light meals, snacks, coffee and other drinks.

The Training You Need

NTDT has developed a reputation for creating strong, professional dancers with alumni who have moved on to highly respected companies, Broadway productions and the Walt Disney Company. Because NTDT students learn to be

proficient in multiple art forms, these students have an edge in the competitive world of dance and many of them have been accepted into prestigious summer intensive programs, including the School of American Ballet and American Ballet Theater in New York City, The Harid Conservatory in Boca Raton, the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago and the Boston Ballet. “With this milestone 25th anniversary celebration season, it’s a time for reflection with extreme gratitude and love for all the amazing people who have been a part of our dance programs and family,” says Elkins IronWing.” “I credit all of my success as a profes-

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sional dancer to the foundational training I received at NTDT from age 6-18,” says Victoria DeRenzo, who today is a professional dancer and choreographer who has toured internationally in 28 countries on four continents, most notably with Pilobolus Dance Theatre. “I loved every second of my experience growing up at there,” she adds, “but I had no idea how spoiled I was until I graduated. Not many people receive a top-notch dance education in multiple artforms during their lifetime, let alone at the age of 6.” If a student doesn’t choose to pursue a career in dance after high school, they can still reach a level of artistry to be accepted into many college dance programs, says Elkins IronWing. “Believing in yourself, respecting the process of working toward a goal, and having a well-rounded dance education give our students the tools and confidence to continue discovering new passions throughout their lifetimes,” she says.

Great Productions, Too!

All students get to perform in the “Spring Production” and — through the studio’s nonprofit partner, the Dance Theatre of Tampa (DTT) — in the winter production of “The Nutcracker,” as well as the “Summer Concert Series,” held in June at USF. DTT provides more than 300 free tickets to NTDT’s corporate sponsors, local community supporters, alumni members and students. A small costume rental fee for productions is the only cost over the tuition that parents have to pay at any time — Elkins IronWing says there is never a requirement to

beloved Nutcracker as a Christmas gift) and her “party friends.” Each year, a portion of the proceeds from the Tea is donated to the Ronald McDonald House Charities in South Tampa. Tickets for both the Tea and “The Nutcracker” go on sale on Monday, September 30. Training to be a professional dancer is hard work, but the New “It’s all about the Tampa Dance Theatre is a lot of fun, too. children at NTDT, always has been and throughout our various moves as a milibuy advertising or pay performance fees. always will be,” Dyane says. “We are a comNew Tampa residents Gary and Charity tary family,” Charity says. pany that enables children to succeed. The Every holiday season, Dyane says local Hartley relocated here in 2018 from Virginia, key is setting high expectations while having residents look forward to the community’s and enrolled their daughter Hope at NTDT. fun and building self-confidence. With the largest and longest-running interpretation of “New Tampa Dance Theatre and the amazing season ahead of us, we would like entire staff were the linchpins for our transition Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet, “The Nutcracker,” into the New Tampa area,” Charity says. “The now in its 20th NTDT season. This year, it will to thank all of our trusting and loyal families over the years and the organizations that be held Friday-Sunday, December 13-15, at warmth of the studio, quality of instruction continually support our vision. Without their USF Tampa’s College of the Arts Theater 1. and wonderful students have made us feel recognition and time, NTDT wouldn’t be the You can catch free sneak peeks of “The right at home. We especially love the way magical place it has become!” Nutcracker” at the Shops at Wiregrass mall on NTDT manages the educational aspect of The New Tampa Dance Theatre offers Saturday, November 23, Friday, November their DTT company members, ensuring they year-round free trial classes for prospective 29 and Friday-Saturday, Dec. 6-7. have exposure to various dance forms both in dancers of all ages. To tour the facility or NTDT’s much-awaited Sugar Plum Fairy their weekly training, master classes and dance to rent it for a meeting, party or function, Tea fund raiser is now in its 15th season and performances they attend as a group.” visit NTDT at 10701 Cross Creek Blvd. Transferring at 14 years old, Charity says will be held Sunday, December 1, at USF’s For more info, see the ad on pg. 34. To Gibbons Alumni Center. Hope was originally placed in the Youth Procheck out the exciting lineup of fall classes, This popular event features a light lunch, gram Level 6 and has made true, long-lasting desserts (including a chocolate fountain), give- visit NewTampaDanceTheatre.com or call friendships at NTDT. (813) 994-NTDT (6838).You can follow “The positive atmosphere, paired aways, a sneak preview of “The Nutcracker,” NTDT on Facebook and Instagram at with the super talented staff, is simply the and an opportunity to dance with Clara (the “New Tampa Dance Theatre.” best dance experience we’ve encountered lead role of the young girl who receives the

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 27, Issue 18 • August 23, 2019 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

American Wood Flooring Outfits Your Home With The Hottest Trends By ANDY WARRENER

American Wood Flooring has been operating as a family business for more than 25 years. It began as a small storefront in New Port Richey, selling wood flooring exclusively. The showroom in the Super Target-anchored Northwood Plaza in Wesley Chapel opened 12 years ago. CEO Andy Dunning has always kept on top of the latest trends and products in the flooring business. While American Wood Flooring has stayed true to its roots, still offering traditional carpet, wood, tile and laminate options, Dunning says the product dominating the floor covering market these days is Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) flooring. “In July, we did 33 installs just out of our New Tampa store, and 25 of them were LVP,” Dunning says. “Vinyl plank could make laminate products obsolete.” Dunning says that LVP flooring has only been available for about a year-anda-half, but the product is dominating the market, and for good reason.

Why LVP?

Dunning says the number one reason is durability, which breaks down into three aspects: LVP is waterproof, dent-proof and scratch-resistant. And, LVP floors are 100-percent waterproof. This is huge for Floridians, who

Andy Dunning is holding Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring, which he says is the hottest product in flooring, due to its durability and quality. (Photo: Andy Warrener)

often have swimming pools or pets and endure sometimes torrential rainfall in the late summer and fall months. LVP’s high-density material is nearly impossible to dent and its uniform consistency makes it extremely scratch-resistant. “LVP is different than most flooring in that there are no wood particles, and no glue,” Dunning says. “It’s a lock-and-fold system. There is some

subfloor prep but it’s minimal.” A high-quality and waterproof floor covering? What’s not to like? LVP floors are waterproof for a couple of reasons. One, they are not made from wood. LVP floor panels are made from a PVCtype material. There’s never any swelling or cracking. Second, even if moisture somehow gets past the tight lock-and-fold system,

the attached padding is made from an anti-microbial melamine material. The melamine material comes attached to the LVP panels and leaves no air pocket between the panels and the sub floor, as laminate flooring does. Waterproofing aside, LVP floors are some of the most durable on the market. There are currently only three mills in the world that have patent rights to produce LVP’s Rigid Core material. “The material in the Rigid Core is much more dense than the material used in the cores five to 10 years ago,” Dunning says. “I have two great Danes and I can tell you that my LVP floor is close to being indestructible.” Animals large and small will find it nearly impossible to scratch the LVP floor. “We have two pugs that go up and down the stairs a lot and we have not seen any marks anywhere,” American Wood Flooring customer and Land O’ Lakes resident Kurt Kraemer says.

Competitive Pricing

Thanks in large part to the ease of installation, LVP floors can be installed at very competitive prices, when compared with other flooring. And, through the months of August and September, American Wood Flooring is offering complete installation of LVP flooring for as little as $4.99 per square

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can be viewed either in Dunning’s showroom or on the web at FlooringForFlorida.com.

Top-To-Bottom Service

American Wood Flooring doesn’t just throw the floor down and leave. The company is there for every step of the process. Dunning offers a free in-home consultation where he brings samples to your home, takes measurements and is able to give a very accurate quote. “I had my whole house done — bedrooms, bathrooms, closets — and it all looks really nice and the whole process was really smooth,” Kraemer says. “We even had the stairs done and it finishes off the place very nicely. We were very happy with the work; they even put all the furniture back in place where it was.” Kraemer also was pleased with how the work design allowed him to still utilize his home during a Even big old Bentley — one of Andy and Sara Dun- complete floor replacement. ning’s two Great Danes — can’t damage the LVP floor “They did the important areas in the Dunnings’ home. first,” Kraemer said. “They did the foot. Hardwood floors can cost as much as bedrooms first, so I wasn’t incon$17-$18 per square foot and don’t offer venienced much. I was so grateful for this, anywhere near the durability that LVP does. coming home from work and being able Dunning currently has four different to use my house.” styles/colors to choose from: Windsor, Even if you’re just trying to sell your Blarney, Conway and Edinburgh. Samples home, a new LVP floor might be the

LVP is popular and trendy, but American Wood Flooring carries many different types of flooring to fit every need and desire.

clincher in helping make that sale. “We had the LVP product installed in a home we were revamping to sell,” local Realtor Cherry Norris says. “Andy came over and was very professional. We checked other pricing and his quote was better for LVP flooring, plus some carpet. We were all happy with the price and the quality of material. It totally changed the look of the house and the house sold to the first buyer that saw it. The buyers really liked the way it looked and felt. It’s a tight installation with no gaps. The clients loved the color and said it looked like real wood planks.”

American Wood Flooring stays on top of the emerging technologies in the industry and offers first-rate service at premium pricing, while still offering a list of traditional flooring options. The company even offers Bloomin’ Brands gift cards (good at Outback, Bonefish and Carrabas) to clients who refer friends and family. American Wood Flooring’s Wesley Chapel showroom is located at 1285 BBD Blvd. and is open Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-6 p.m., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sat., and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sun. For more info, visit FlooringforFlorida.com, call (813) 991-7999 or see the ad on page 42.

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New Tampa Plastic Surgery’s Dr. Fakhre Can Deliver A New You turn to the Tampa Bay area after his training and currently lives in Seven Oaks with his wife of 16 years and three sons, who keep them busy and entertained.

By CELESTE McLAUGHLIN

New Tampa Plastic Surgery, a premier cosmetic surgery “boutique,” has been helping New Tampa and Wesley Chapel residents look and feel their best since 2011. Specializing in the aesthetic plastic surgery of the face, breasts and body, Board-certified plastic surgeon Peter Fakhre, M.D., rejuvenates and enhances the natural beauty of his patients with the latest cutting-edge surgical and non-surgical procedures. Dr. Fakhre also has been named one of the top doctors in the country by Vitals. com (a medical review forum for consumers). According to the website, Dr. Fakhre was named a “Vitals Top 10 Doctor.” Of more than 870,000 doctors nationwide, Dr. Fakhre has been recognized as being in the top one percent, of all physicians, as determined by patient ratings. With a brand new office located on Cypress Ridge Blvd. in Wesley Chapel, behind (just north of) Synovus Bank and the Mercedes Benz dealership, New Tampa Plastic Surgery sees patients from all across Pasco and Hillsborough counties. Dr. Fakhre and his staff help everyone who walks through their doors feel welcome; he says their primary goal is to make the patient feel comfortable while exploring his or her best options for plastic or reconstructive surgery (as well as non-surgical alternatives, in some cases) in a professional and confidential environment. You can see the results of Dr. Fakhre’s work when you visit NewTampaPlasticSurgery.com. Although his work definitely speaks for itself, he also is highly recommended by his patients. In a physician review on Vitals.com, Dr. Fakhre’s patient Jane Gibbons said, “Plastic surgery? More accurately — Surgical Artistry! Dr. Fakhre is a master of his craft. He not only is an accomplished surgeon, (he also) is a man of integrity who listens, counsels and guides his patients toward the goals they are seeking. (He) then satisfies those goals with skill and precision!” She continues, “Dr. Fakhre works with his patients to determine the best surgical and non-surgical options that will achieve the desired outcome. As a bonus, his office staff is compassionate, efficient and shares his philosophy that everyone deserves to look their best. Unquestionably, Dr. Fakhre is the best that Tampa Bay has to offer!”

Outstanding Credentials

Dr. Fakhre, who is one of only a few plastic surgeons in the Tampa Bay area to be double-Board-certified by both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and by the American Board of Surgery, explains, “There are many things that are important in achieving successful outcomes in plastic surgery: an understanding of the patient’s desires, their physical examination, realistic goals, sound surgical technique, attention to detail and outstanding postoperative care, all of which contribute to success in cosmetic plastic surgery.” He earned his Bachelor of Science 20

So Many Surgical Options

The friendly, professional staff at New Tampa Plastic Surgery’s new office on Cypress Ridge Blvd. is led by Dr. Peter Fakhre and nurse practitioner Christina Ahrens (in lab coat).

(B.S.) degree in Biology from the University of South Florida in Tampa, graduating summa cum laude. He then elected to attend the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville. It was while he was at U-F that Dr. Fakhre’s surgical talent, aesthetic eye and love for plastic surgery were realized. Dr. Fakhre then completed a general surgery residency at the world-renowned Mayo Clinic, where he scored in the 98th percentile in the American Board of Surgery in Training Exam, the highest among all of the residents in his program. He was involved with numerous publications and research projects, which have been presented at a number of scientific meetings, including the distinguished American Society of Plastic Surgeons. During his surgical training, Dr. Fakhre was awarded the Excellence in Teaching Award by the Mayo Clinic Medical School and served as Chief Resident in Surgery in his final year of surgical training. Dr. Fakhre was then privileged to match at his first choice of Plastic Surgery fellowship programs at the prestigious Methodist hospital, where he again excelled, scoring the highest in-service exam score among all plastic surgery residents in his program and serving as Chief Resident during his final year of plastic surgery training. “I had the wonderful opportunity to train with members of the original group of plastic surgeons that invented the breast implant, as well as facial and body plastic surgeons whose surgeries have been featured on The Discovery Channel,” Dr. Fakhre says. “Working in such an environment provided great exposure to a large volume of both primary and revision cosmetic surgery cases. This experience was priceless and I’m happy to bring this type of training to the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area.” This training and his own expertise helped Dr. Fakhre earn the highest score possible, in the 99th percentile among Plastic Surgeons in plastic surgery of the breast, on the American Board of Plastic Surgery

written examination. In addition to refining his surgical skill and technique during his plastic surgery training, Dr. Fakhre also volunteered his time with Operation San José and traveled to Guatemala on a cleft lip and palate surgical mission. There, he helped deliver surgical care to many cleft lip and palate patients who otherwise may never have received the treatment they needed. Dr. Fakhre says that he was happy to re-

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Many of us have things we would like to change about our bodies. Time, age and weight changes all take a toll on your body and these factors can affect your appearance and self-image. Dr. Fakhre says that cosmetic plastic surgery is a way to help you look and feel better. “When we are happy with our appearance, we feel more confident,” he says. New Tampa Plastic Surgery offers a plethora of cosmetic surgery procedures for women and men, including breast enhancement (augmentations, lifts and reductions), tummy tucks, face and neck lifts, eyelid surgery, liposuction and more. Known for his technical skill, eye for beauty and superior aesthetic practice, Dr. Fakhre will work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan to achieve your desired outcome and to make the “new you” a reality. “Cosmetic plastic surgery allows the surgeon to combine artistry with sound surgical techniques to produce superior results,” says Dr. Fakhre. Breasts, for instance, are often at the core of a woman’s femininity and self-confidence. Dr. Fakhre explains that breast augmentation surgery is one of the most personal decisions a woman can make.

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“Breast augmentation surgery can increase your self-confidence and satisfaction with your body,” says Dr. Fakhre. “By increasing or restoring breast volume, we can help our patients achieve a better-proportioned body.” Dr. Fakhre’s breast augmentation patients are first educated about implant size and types, so they can make informed decisions about which would best satisfy their personal goals. He says that the two main implant types available are still silicone and saline and that the implant selected depends upon a variety of factors. Currently, the most common implants that Dr. Fakhre uses are silicone implants, which he says look and feel more natural than their saline counterparts. Breast lift surgery removes excess tissue and repositions the breast and/or nipple to a more youthful position. This procedure is often chosen by women desiring to restore form to their breasts or reclaim their “before-baby” appearance. And, although breasts are intertwined with the feminine profile, women are not the only ones who have breast surgery. In fact, Dr. Fakhre says that he has helped many men feel better about their appearance with reduction surgery for men with female-looking breasts (also known as gynecomastia).

Liposuction, ‘Mommy Makeovers’ & More

Another popular cosmetic surgical procedure at New Tampa Plastic Surgery is liposuction, which can improve the body’s contour by removing fat deposits that are

went so smoothly. I highly recommend Dr. Fakhre. I give him 10 stars!”

Non-Surgical Options, Too

The new office of New Tampa Plastic Surgery is state-of-the-art and even includes an on-site surgery center. Call the number at the end of this story to schedule a free consultation and tour of the facility.

resistant to diet and exercise. Liposuction restores proportionality and minimizes problem areas. Dr. Fakhre says that if you find yourself shopping for clothes to hold your tummy in or help slim your thighs, liposuction may be your answer. He adds that liposuction offers significant results with minimal downtime. “In fact, many (liposuction) patients recover over a weekend and return to work on Monday,” he says. A full “Mommy Makeover” also is a popular procedure sought by women who want to get back to the body they had before they had children. Dr. Fakhre says that the most common “Mommy Makeover” combines a breast lift (with or without breast augmentation for reshaping), a tummy tuck to tighten the midsection that was stretched during pregnancy and liposuc-

tion to remove unwanted fat deposits. Dr. Fakhre, who also has surgical privileges at AdventHealth Wesley Chapel and AdventHealth Tampa, says that he performs surgeries both in the surgery facility in his office as well as at the Tampa Bay Surgery Center, located at the corner of N. Dale Mabry Hwy. and Fletcher Ave. Wherever he performs his artistry, however, Dr. Fahkre’s satisfied patients are a testament to his experience and training. “From the moment I walked through the door in his office I was always greeted on a first-name basis, which made me feel like I wasn’t just another patient to get in and out,” Christina Vargas wrote in her patient testimonial about her experience with New Tampa Plastic Surgery. “The whole process — from scheduling my appointments to the day of the procedure, even my recovery —

New Tampa Plastic Surgery also is a true cosmetic boutique, offering skin care and other non-surgical cosmetic procedures, in addition to plastic surgery. Many of these non-surgical procedures — such as Botox and dermal fillers, Latisse eyelash lengthening and thickening and chemical peels that rejuvenate and energize the skin to beautify your natural state and more — often provide the results a patient is looking for, and are less “invasive” than surgical options. Board-certified nurse practitioner Christina Ahrens (in photo on previous page, in lab coat, next to Dr. Fakhre) has more than 13 years of experience in dermatology and plastic surgery and performs all of the non-surgical procedures at New Tampa Plastic Surgery. “We are fortunate to have Christina as part of our team,” says Dr. Fakhre. “She does an outstanding job in the treatment of our patients.” For your free cosmetic plastic surgery consultation with Dr. Peter Fakhre, call New Tampa Plastic Surgery at (813) PLASTIC (752-7842). The office is located at 2525 Cypress Ridge Blvd. For a full menu of services, visit NewTampaPlasticSurgery.com. And, be sure to check out the ad on page 15 of this issue and ‘Like’ New Tampa Plastic Surgery’s Facebook.com page so that you can be notified of the office’s monthly promotions on various services.

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Debbie Demboski Celebrates 30 Years Of Decorating Your Dens (& More!) By CELESTE McLAUGHLIN

In 2019, Decorating Den Interiors is celebrating 50 years in business. Tampa Bay-area franchise owner and decorator Debbie Demboski has been a Decorating Den franchisee since 1989. She is proud to be celebrating 30 years in business herself, as one of the company’s longest-tenured representatives. She says Decorating Den continues to be successful because clients appreciate that the business comes to them with a completely free consultation and no hourly fees, whether you want to update a room, a piece of furniture, your window treatments, or redecorate your entire home from top to bottom. “There are not a lot of 50-year-old companies,” says Debbie, especially as home design businesses seem to be contracting because so many people now turn to online shopping. “But, Decorating Den is growing, and the last couple of years have been really tremendous for us.” Debbie says one of the biggest benefits of working with Decorating Den is that her design studio gets parked right in your driveway. Stocked full of samples of fabrics and colors, the Decorating Den van at your home or office means your designer will

Whether you want to redecorate your entire home or just a room or two, you can trust Decorating Den’s Debbie Demboski and Sara McKenzie (l.-r. in photo on next page) to get the job done right — on your budget! help you choose how to decorate your not only fits your style and budget, but has been her partner for the last five years. interior space while standing inside and also works perfectly in your space.” “Sara takes most of our new clients looking at that very space. Debbie has a Bachelor of Arts degree and has built her clientele to where she is That’s something online shopping in design and business from West Virginia now getting repeat business and referrals, just can’t do. University in Morgantown. She says she as well,” Debbie says. “So many people have a vision and got into the interior decorating business Sara and Debbie admit that their get excited, purchase something and when she was living and working in Atlan- biggest competitor today is the online bring it home, before realizing that it just ta and a friend became a Decorating Den shopping craze, but once people try workdoesn’t work,” says Debbie. “Having a franchise owner. Debbie went to work as a ing with Decorating Den, they realize how professional opinion can actually save you decorator for that business and, soon after, much better it is than the trial-and-error time and money. I will come to you and started her own franchise. process of buying online themselves. assist you in picking out something that Debbie’s daughter, Sara McKenzie, “Every now and again, maybe the

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best product is from one of those online sites,” Debbie says. “But, Decorating Den has such vast product lines and we know the quality, size and proportion of all of those products.” Decorating Den offers a “good, better, and best” mix of product lines to meet every budget. “A decorator can help you so much versus doing it yourself,” Debbie says.

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Why Decorating Den?

While other designers charge an hourly fee for their time, Decorating Den does things differently. Debbie says the reasons why her clients love working with Decorating Den are outlined in the following “NIFTY” benefits: •N-National umbrella: Decorating Den has the buying power of a national company. •I-In-home decorating: Design decisions are made in your home, in your existing lighting, working with what you already own. •F-Free consultation: Not only do Debbie and Sara come to you, there is no cost for the consultation and never any hourly fees for their time. •T-Training: Decorating Den provides opportunities for decorators to constantly update their skills and learn about the latest trends through conferences and working with other franchise owners in the region. •Y-Your lifestyle: Your likes, dislikes and budget are Debbie and Sara’s highest priority, to be sure that your home reflects your personal taste — not theirs. Jennifer Pressley became a client of Debbie’s when she lived in Apollo Beach and hired Debbie to decorate her home as her budget allowed — one room at a time. When the Pressleys moved to FishHawk Ranch in Lithia just a few months ago, they immediately hired Debbie to begin decorating their new home, too. “She’s amazing,” says Jennifer. “She really understands how to ask the right questions and get the feel of how you want to decorate the house. Coming into this house, I had no clue where to start.” One of the first rooms they decided to tackle was Jennifer’s daughter’s bedroom. Jennifer says Debbie had to endure the 11-year-old saying, “No, I don’t like that,” to many, many options. “Debbie’s so patient,” says Jennifer, explaining that she didn’t get frustrated, but just kept looking until she found the absolutely perfect curtains for the room. Jennifer says that when she originally was looking for help to decorate her former home, she talked with several designers who charged $100 per hour for a consultation. “Debbie doesn’t do that,” Jennifer says. “The consultation is free and then her fee is ‘hidden’ in the cost of what you purchase.” Neighborhood News

That’s why Jennifer says she has recommended Decorating Den Interiors to her friends. She loves working with Debbie because, she says, “She’s not pushy, she’s not expensive, and she works with you on a budget.”

Franchises Throughout Central Florida

For the past 25 years, Debbie also has owned the regional Decorating Den territory license and can sell franchises from coast to coast in the central part of Florida. “I just sold a franchise on the east coast,” says Debbie. “The new franchise owner is currently in corporate training. I’ll help her set up her business, go with her to her first few appointments, help her with marketing ideas and do ongoing training.” In fact, Debbie says, franchise opportunities are available right here in the Tampa Bay area, too. “There’s a new subdivision every time you blink,” says Debbie. While Debbie and Sara currently cover everywhere from Odessa to the west to Thonotosassa in the east, and Wesley Chapel to the north to Lithia in the south, Debbie says that’s a large enough geographic area that could easily support a new franchise. Debbie also offers her expertise, at no cost, to groups who are looking for a unique guest speaker. “We constantly do free workshops,” explains Debbie. “One of my most popular talks is on decorating for the holidays. We can show before-and-after pictures, trends and talk about products.” She says groups of Realtors, homeowners associations or any group looking for a guest speaker is welcome to reach out to her. Decorating Den Interiors comes to you at your home or office in Wesley Chapel or New Tampa for an absolutely free consultation. For more information, see the ad on page 34, call Debbie at (813) 982-2820 or visit DecDens.com/DebbieD. @NTWCNews

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Prime Rx Pharmacy Fills Your Prescriptions With A Personal Touch! he moved to the United States. He explains that in the U.S., his doctorate in Ayurveda is not recognized. So, Ghiya enrolled at St. John’s University in Queens, NY, and received his B.S. degree in Pharmacy in 1992. Then, he moved to Florida. “Even back then, corporate pharmacy was looking at quantity, not quality,” he says. Instead, he chose to be an independent pharmacist. “This way, I get to spend more time with each patient,” he says, using both his pharmacological training and physiological training from India.

By CELESTE McLAUGHLIN Prime Rx Pharmacy in the Cross Creek Center plaza on Cross Creek Blvd. in New Tampa has only been open for three months, but owner Vikas Ghiya, R.Ph. (Registered Pharmacist) is a long-time New Tampa resident who was happy to bring his business home to his neighborhood. Ghiya has worked as a pharmacist since 1992, first for Eckerd, then Publix. In 2009, he established Prime Rx Pharmacy in Seminole, in Pinellas County, in partnership with others who opened other Prime Rx pharmacies in St. Petersburg and Riverview. When the partnership dissolved in 2012, Ghiya kept his Seminole location open while he commuted from New Tampa. Recently, his landlord notified him that he needed to move the pharmacy, so he decided to relocate all the way to New Tampa, cutting 3 hours a day out of his commute. He says he now travels less than three miles each way to work. Vikas has been married to his wife, Harsha, for 32 years. Harsha manages the office and billing for the pharmacy, and also has a license as a pharmacy technician, so she can help her husband with that part of the business when needed. Currently the staff also includes Joseph Ortiz, who is Prime Rx’s primary pharmacy tech, and Ghiya says the staff prides itself on being both fast and accurate, plus going

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Vikas Ghiya and his wife, Harsha, are long-time New Tampa residents who recently moved Prime Rx Pharmacy from Seminole in Pinellas County closer to home on Cross Creek Blvd. above and beyond what is typical at a corporate pharmacy/chain drug store. “Here, customer service is a priority,” explains Ghiya. “We often recognize our customers and welcome them by name.” While Ghiya is quick to say he would never criticize a fellow pharmacist, he says in a corporate environment, pharmacists

generally are simply too busy to offer such personalized service. Not so at Prime Rx Pharmacy. In India, Ghiya says he was educated in Ayurvedic medicine, which is a holistic healing system developed more than 3,000 years ago. Ghiya earned a doctorate degree and practiced Ayurveda in India until 1988, when

Whether medicine is needed in a hurry or it’s just your regular prescription, Prime Rx Pharmacy will deliver it to your home (provided it is within a certain distance from the pharmacy) at no charge. “We offer free delivery,” says Ghiya. “If the kids are sick and Mom can’t leave the house, we deliver.” In fact, Ghiya says closing his pharmacy in Seminole hasn’t meant losing all of those patients as customers. He says that Prime Rx Pharmacy still delivers medications to Seminole twice a week. “However, some come to this

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pharmacy,” says Harsha. “They say, ‘you drove to us for 10 years, now we can drive to you once a month.’” The pharmacy also offers compounding, such as mixing creams for male and female hormones. Each patient requires a completely custom tailoring of estrogen, progesterone and/or testosterone, which must be done in a compounding pharmacy such as Prime Rx. Prime Rx Pharmacy also provides compounding for veterinary medicines when needed for your dog or cat. And, it offers free flavorings in certain medications, which is especially popular in some antibiotics for kids. In addition to prescriptions, the pharmacy also carries durable medical equipment (DME) for sale, and some items are also available for rent, such as wheelchairs, canes and more. Prime Rx also sells oil diffusers and essential oils, such as lavender and jasmine, to help people with sleep issues or anxiety, as well as CBD oil. “We carry a broad spectrum of over-the-counter medicines and specialty vitamins, too,” says Ghiya, including the brands Pure and Ortho, which he says are high-quality vitamins. “They work better and are absorbed better,” he explains. “You cannot find this stuff in Walmart, CVS or Walgreens.” He says he and his staff also are

should take it. This is especially helpful for people who are chronically ill and take several medications at different times throughout the day. “Instead of opening three or four different bottles, patients just open one blister pack,” Ghiya explains. “It helps the patient not to miss any pills. We count and make sure they get the exact dosage they need.” He tells the story of one patient he recently helped with this type of packaging. “She took 18 medications, some once At Prime Rx Pharmacy on Cross Creek Blvd., owner/phar- a day, some four times a macist Vikas Ghiya is happy to help patients who have to take mul- day,” he explains. “That tiple medications every day. These blister packs divide your meds means she’s opening bottles by when they need to be taken, marked with the day and time, to 20-30 times a day. Instead, reduce the instances of patients forgetting to take their medication we give her a blister pack, or accidentally taking more medication than they need. and each one says which date and time to take it, so happy to counsel patients on the best vitamins, especially when they are taking she knows if she missed a dose.” Nine months later, he says that the prescription medications. patient’s health has improved. “Her doctor asked her what she was Custom Pill Packaging doing to improve her health, and she Prime Rx Pharmacy also offers said, ‘My pharmacist helped me,’” Ghicustomized pill packaging, with medications sorted by the day and time a patient ya says. “It’s because she’s not missing

doses or taking extra doses.” Now, he adds, she’s only on 12 meds and some of those are at reduced dosages.

Taking Time With Patients

“We like to make it fun and make people laugh when they come here,” Ghiya says. “People come in from the doctor and they’ve already waited and waited.” Often, they’re stressed because they’ve received a bad diagnosis, so Ghiya and his staff always offer a listening ear, comfort and moral support. “One patient moved here from New York and her daughter is diabetic and needs a particular insulin,” explains Ghiya. “She doesn’t have a car and was able to walk in to our pharmacy. Within two days, we took care of everything and delivered her special order to her. She said it was a totally different experience than at other pharmacies.” He says the mom was nervous about using a syringe to give her daughter insulin, so he taught her how to use an insulin pen instead of a syringe. “It’s easier to use and more accurate,” Ghiya explains. “We sat with her for 45 minutes to help her. We’re happy to do that.” Prime Rx Pharmacy is located at 10010 Cross Creek Blvd. at Kinnan St. It is open Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. For more information, see the ad on page 39, visit PrimeRxPharmacy.com or call (813) 955-7777.

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Wesley Chapel Goes Back To School!

Students at public schools throughout Pasco County went back to school on Aug. 12 & we were there. Feel free to email us at EditorialDept@ NTNeighborhoodNews.com if you recognize any of the students and parents in these pictures.

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Wesley Chapel May Have Enough Skill Players To Make The Playoffs By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com

Jelani Vassell led the Wesley Chapel High (WCH) football team last season in rushing yards, receiving yards, kick return yards, interception return yards and scoring. He even found time to throw 19 passes. To say Vassell had a target on his back when lining up against the opposition is a sizable understatement. So, what is this year’s goal, according to Wildcats’ coach Tony Egan? “We need to take the target off his back,” he says. He thinks he has enough players to do just that, which in turn will make the Wildcats a better team and one that should contend for a playoff berth. Here’s how they stack up: QUARTERBACK: Junior Owen Libby is the new starter, and recent Wiregrass Ranch High (WRH) transfer Matt Helms, a sophomore, is right behind him. Egan said he’s never had depth at quarterback, so having two interchangeable signal callers is definitely a bonus. Neither has yet thrown a varsity pass, but Egan says they have both looked good this summer in 7-on-7 play and have a plethora of talented targets this season. RUNNING BACK: Senior Isaiah Cole was the starter last year (332 yards, two TDs), but he suffered a knee strain in camp and may be out for a while. Senior Quay Jones, a physical, downhill type runner, will step in and start the season in the backfield. WIDE RECEIVER: Vassell, a senior, might be the best player in Pasco County, if not the most versatile. He averaged 30 yards a catch last season on 20 receptions, with six touchdowns. He also ran for 541 yards and eight scores, and returned two interceptions for 70-yard TDs. “He’s a tremendous player,” Egan says. “When we need something to go our way, he makes that play for us.” Vassell will have lots of help this season, as junior Jon’tavius Anderson (more

switch to a defense that employs only three lineman will help keep the Wildcats from having to play so many of their offensive players both ways. Sophomore defensive tackles Gavin Paul and Jayshaun Bell are moving up from junior varsity and have shown promise. LINEBACKERS: Senior Brenden Maddox, who Egan says “is a beast,” led the Wildcats with 95 tackles, 17 for a loss, last season, and returns as a starter on the outside. Sophomore Jordan McCaslin, the son of former Florida Gator Eugene McCaslin, will start at inside linebacker, along with Ramsey, and Owen Libby takes over at quarterback this year senior Steven Mira and Stinson will for Wesley Chapel. (Photos: Andy Warrener) share time at outside linebacker. DEFENSIVE BACKS: This than 120 yards receiving in the spring might be the best group in Pasco County game) and sophomore Nehemiah Mor— Vassell and Anderson will start at the gan will line up alongside him. Another WRH transfer, junior Tyler Stinson, who corners and Jones is the safety, and a host of others will rotate in. is the younger brother of former WCH “Our two corners are hands down and current Florida State University the best in the county,” Egan says. player Isaiah Bolden, is expected to make “There is no doubt in my mind.” an impact as well. KICKER: Four-year starter Fletcher “We’re pretty loaded at the skill Martin handles both the kicking and positions,” says Egan. punting duties. OFFENSIVE LINE: Wharton junTHE FINAL WORD: Wesley ior transfer Tyre’ Brooks (6-0, 300) and Chapel has an exceptional amount of junior Tyree Thomas (6-0, 285) give the playmakers on both sides of the ball, and Wildcats some serious beef at the guard

Jelani Vassell led the Wildcats in rushing and receiving last year. will put up some points this season. The last three seasons, however, they have been in the playoff hunt heading into their last two games, but have gone 0-6 down the stretch while getting outscored 252-61. If the ‘Cats can finish stronger, playoff football could be the reward.

positions, along with junior Logan Jeffrey, while Xzavier Owens starts at center and Kaleb Rivera mans the right tackle spot. The left tackle position is still open, although Egan says there are some solid candidates. Egan was formerly an offensive line coach at River Ridge, which set county records for rushing when he was there, and others with offensive line experience, like Matt Smith (Sunlake), Tom McHugh (Pasco) and Brian Colding (Pasco), have joined the staff from schools that historically have had strong lines. So, hopes are high that the offensive lines will be coached up in 2019. DEFENSIVE LINE: Smith is the new defensive coordinator, and the

2019

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Despite Defections, Bulls Look To Preserve Their Playoff Streak By JOHN C. COTEY

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Like overcoming injuries or a lack of depth, losing players to other schools has become another one of the problems facing high school football coaches across the country these days. Wiregrass Ranch High (WRH) coach Mark Kantor knows that more than most others. When the Bulls, 7-4 last season, open their season tonight at 7:30 p.m. at home against Zephyrhills, they will do so without two of their spring standouts — quarterback Hunter Helton and receiver Noah Biglow — both of whom have transferred to Armwood. That will change some things for the Bulls, but it won’t change everything. Kantor says his team is rallying around new QB starter Rocco Becht, and still plans to make it to the playoffs for the fourth straight season. Can the Bulls do it again? Let’s take a look: QUARTERBACK: The plan was to prepare Becht for the starting role next season. But, the son of former Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Anthony Becht and last year’s junior varsity starter, where he did well, has now been thrown into the varsity fire.

RUNNING BACK: Seniors Nate Miller and Keith Walker will be the starters in the backfield. Miller led the team in rushing last year with 468 yards and was tied with Walker with seven touchdowns. WIDE RECEIVER: Walker (pictured, right) is a playmaker in the backfield and in the slot, where three of his five touchdowns in the spring game came on receptions. He will be a valuable weapon on offense. Juniors Tyler Brueckner and Broden Guirl, who is a big target at 6-foot-3, spent last year catching Becht’s passes on JV and will both be varsity starters in 2019. Senior Julian Gonzalez, who tied for the varsity team-high in 2018 with 16 catches, is back as well. OFFENSIVE LINE: The Bulls have a wealth of experience up front. Connor Lenczden (the biggest lineman at 6-7, 275) and Robert Gibb will start at tackle, Daniel Thompson and Josh Hood will start at guard and Barit Dhugana handles the duties at center. All are seniors. “When they get after it, they can be as good as any offensive line I have ever coached,” Kantor says. DEFENSIVE LINE: Seniors Tyler Hayes and Dylan Ridolph are

linebackers who come up and play on the ends for the Bulls — they had 33 and 21 tackles for losses, respectively, in 2018 — and both are excellent pass rushers. Senior Gabe Thompson also will see time at defensive end, while Isaiah Miller, Andres Jimenez and Ian Alford all play inside. Like the offensive line, the Bulls starters are all seniors. LINEBACKERS: Kantor has a solid crew, consisting of seniors Nick Graziano, Tyler Mesnekoff and Mark Kieper, as well as junior Craig Kailimai, but the best of the bunch and the squad’s leader is Ridolph, who had 82 tackles and 22 sacks in 2018. DEFENSIVE BACK: Senior Jonavon Tillis is a big corner at 6-3, and he will start alongside junior Larry Gibbs. Junior Grady Clower is the strong safety, and senior Julian Gonzalez is the free safety. KICKER: Adam Mihalek takes over as both placekicker and punter for two-year starter Hayden Wills. THE FINAL WORD: Losing your quarterback less than a month before opening night can be a devastating loss, but the Bulls’ schedule may be an even bigger obstacle to overcome. WRH has six teams on its schedule that made the playoffs last year, and three

of those teams won 11 or more games. Not a single 2019 opponent had a losing 2018 record, and the combined winning percentage of all 10 teams was a whopping .710. Yikes.

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Coyote Football — Expecting More Growth In Year Three By JOHN C. COTEY

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When Cypress Creek Middle/High School (CCH) head coach Mike Johnson looks out across the field during a typical practice these days, he can’t help but harken back to just three years ago. Then, he had little more than a handful of kids show up for his first practice. Now, he sees more than 50. “It’s amazing,” says Johnson, who is 3-17 in two seasons at the helm of the Coyotes. “I think this is a year we can definitely break out of that ‘You’re a first-year program’ image. We are ready to turn that corner and start climbing that mountain to run with all these other teams.” Here’s how the Coyotes, who open their season tonight at Wesley Chapel at 7:30 p.m., are looking for Year 3: QUARTERBACK: Jehlani Warren is the old man at quarterback this season — the senior is the only QB among Wesley Chapel’s three high school football teams that already has had any varsity starts entering 2019. Last year, Warren was 81-for-142 passing (57 percent) for 1,163 yards and eight touchdowns. This year, Johnson expects him to better those numbers. “He had a decent year,” Johnson says, “and I think he’s really ready to (break out).” Junior Justin Lavine and sophomore Owen Walls will provide depth under center. RUNNING BACK: Senior Jovanni Anderson (156 yards, 2 TDs) is the top returning rusher and will start. His ground-and-pound style will be complemented by sophomore scatback Andrew Burgess (photo), and junior Issac Walker is a combination of both styles. WIDE RECEIVER: Explosive senior Jalen Warren, Jehlani’s twin brother, returns after leading the team with 32 catches, 498 yards and six touchdowns last season. The Coyotes may have graduated four players who combined for nearly 1,000 receiving yards last season, but sophomores Dontrell Clerkley and Merrick Simmons are expected to replace those stats this season. Junior Brycen Hernandez will slide into the slot after playing fullback last season, and junior Colin Ostapchuk will contribute there as well. “It’s a deep group,” Johnson says. OFFENSIVE LINE: Senior Kyle Cantwell (6-3, 250) can start at either tackle position and will anchor the line. Junior Paul-andre Tre’ also is a versatile tackle. Junior Jake DiMarco is the start30

Running back Andrew Burgess has big shoes to fill this season. ing center, and seniors Kyle Florey and Noah Smith “have come a long way,” according to Johnson, and will start at guard, with junior Matt Lodge pressing hard for one of those spots as well. DEFENSIVE LINE: Cantwell will start at tackle, and Hernandez and senior Brody Gommier will be the starters at defensive end, but Johnson’s hope is that he won’t have to play his offensive line starters too much on the other side of the ball. LINEBACKERS: Jalen Warren and Addison will be the starters at outside linebacker, and are coming off a season in which the duo finished 1-2 in tackles (77 and 73 respectively) for the Coyotes. Nine of Warren’s tackles were for a loss of yardage. Sophomore David Willins has earned one of the middle linebacker jobs, along with senior Sebastian Bramonte. Defensively, Johnson says his unit is coming together and playing faster and reacting this season instead of overthinking their assignments. DEFENSIVE BACKS: Simmons, Clerkley, Jehlani Warren, Ostapchuk Walker and junior Jonathan Garcia can all play defensive back, and Burgess and Clerkley will split duties at safety. KICKER: Senior Trace Wolden and junior Colton Corrao will handle the kicking duties. THE FINAL WORD: The Coyotes graduated many of their playmakers, so guys like the Warren brothers and Burgess will play have to play bigger roles on both sides of the ball. Johnson isn’t ruling out a playoff berth, but a more realistic goal might be a .500 season, even though the Coyotes’ schedule only includes two teams (Wesley Chapel and Mitchell) that won more than four games last season and six opponents that won three or fewer.

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NEW TAMPA & WESLEY CHAPEL

2019 Reader Dining Survey & Contest!

Win $100 in Dining Gift Cards to the Restaurant of Your Choice! NEWS Below is a list of virtually every restaurant in Wesley Chapel’s three zip codes — and some others that are located on or near S.R. 54 and S.R. 56 in Lutz. Please circle or select FIVE (5) of these restaurants as your favorites in Wesley Chapel. Do not number them. No write-in votes are allowed. Then, circle or select ONE (1) favorite for each of the additional options (Pizza, Dessert & Bar/Tavern). Then, complete the entry form with your name, address (with community — Meadow Pointe, Epperson, etc.), daytime telephone number and a valid email address and mail your entry to Neighborhood News Dining Survey, 29157 Chapel Park Dr., Suite B, Wesley Chapel, FL 33543 by November 11, 2019, to be eligible to win a $100 gift card, $60 gift card or $35 gift card to the restaurant of your choice in the Tampa Bay area! This form also is available on our website — NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net and must be COMPLETELY filled in for you to be eligible. One entry per person per household only. Good luck! — GN

Please Circle or Select Your Five (5) Favorite Restaurants in Wesley Chapel from the list below! 365 Caffe Italiano Cantina Laredo 900 Woodfired Pizza Capital Tacos Amici Pizza Charley’s Cheesesteaks Applebee’s Cheddar’s Arby’s Chick-fil-A Arroy Thai Chili’s Asian Buffet China Gourmet Asian Chao China Wok Bagelicious & More Chuck E. Cheese’s Bahama Breeze Chuy’s Tex-Mex Barnes & Noble Cinebistro Batter & Dough Clean Juice Beef O’Brady’s Costco Best NY Pizza Cracker Barrel BJ’s Brewhouse Culver’s Blaze Pizza Dairy Queen Blondie’s Cookies Dickey’s BBQ Bonefish Grill Don Pan International Bakery Bonsai Sushi Dunkin’ Donuts Bosco’s Italian to Go Earth Fare Brunchie’s FJ Express Buffalo Wild Wings Firehouse Subs Burger King First Watch Burger Monger Ford’s Garage Buttermilk Provisions Fratelli’s

Fresh Healthy Cafe Gonna China Green Leaf’s Beyond Great Salads Green Mango Grillsmith Haagen-Dazs Happy Cow Frozen Yogurt Hardee’s Hibachi Express Hilton Garden Inn/Garden Grille Honeybaked Ham Ho Wok Hot Wok 88 Hyatt Place Hotel/Gallery Restaurant Irish 31 Jenny’s Mini Donuts Jersey Mike’s Subs Jimmy John’s Johnny Rockets La Prima Pizza Le Macaron Little Italy’s Family Restaurant Longhorn Steakhouse Marco’s Pizza McDonald’s

You’re Not Quite Done Yet! There are still three more categories for you to respond to — but we only want you to circle or select your ONE (#1) favorite place for pizza (or flatbreads), your favorite dessert place and your favorite bar or tavern in Wesley Chapel.

Your Favorite Place For Pizza In Wesley Chapel (Please circle or select only ONE (1) - no more, no less!)

900º Woodfired Pizza Amici Pizza Best NY Pizza BJ’s Brewhouse Blaze Pizza Bosco’s Italian to Go Chuck E. Cheese’s Cinebistro Costco Earth Fare Fratelli’s

Grillsmith Hilton Garden Inn/ Garden Grille Hyatt Place Hotel/ Gallery Restaurant La Prima Pizza Little Italy’s Marco’s Pizza Mellow Mushroom MOD Pizza Noble Crust

NY NY Pizza Papa John’s Pizza Pizza Hut PizzaMania Pomodoro Pizza O’Brien’s Irish Pub Sam’s Club Super Target Villa Fresh Italian Kitchen

Your Favorite Dessert Place In Wesley Chapel

(Please circle, select or WRITE-IN only ONE (1) - no more, no less!)

**Note - Only places that are dessert-only or mainly dessert are shown below, so we will allow a write-in

365 Caffe Italiano Barnes & Noble Baskin Robbins Batter & Dough Blondie’s Cookies Buttermilk Provisions Culver’s

Menchie’s Yogurt Cafe Mellow Mushroom MOD Pizza Moe’s SW Grill Nestle Toll House Café Noble Crust Nothing Bundt Cakes NY NY Pizza O’Brien’s Omari’s Grille/Lexington Oaks OTB Cafe Outback Steak House Panda Express Panera Papa John’s Pizza PDQ Pholicious Pinchers Crab Shack Pizza Hut PizzaMania Poke Falls Pollo Tropical Pomodoro Pizza Popeye’s Chicken Publix

Red Robin Rice n’ Beans Sam’s Club Shang Hai Chinese Smoothie King South Philly Cheesesteaks SuperTarget Sweetea Cafe Taco Bell Taco Bus Taco Son Texas Roadhouse The Hungry Greek The Wing House Tijuana Flats Tokyo Grill & Sushi Top Shelf Sports Lounge Umu Japanese & Thai Vallarta’s Mexican Restaurant Villa Fresh Italian Kitchen Waffle House Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar Wendy’s Wing Stop Wolf’s Den Yamato Japanese Restaurant

Your Favorite Bar Or Tavern In Wesley Chapel (Please circle or select only ONE (1) - no more, no less!)

Applebee’s Bahama Breeze Beef O’Brady’s BJ’s Brewhouse Bonefish Grill Buffalo Wild Wings Cantina Laredo Chapel Cigars Cheddars Chili’s Chuy’s Tex-Mex Cinebistro

Ford’s Garage Grillsmith Hilton Garden Inn/ Garden Grille

Hyatt Place Hotel/ Gallery Restaurant Irish 31 Joe Whiskey’s Longhorn Steakhouse Metro Lagoon Bar Noble Crust O’Brien’s

Omari’s Grille/Lex Oaks Outback Steak House Pinchers Crab Shack Red Robin Rice n’ Beans Texas Roadhouse The Basement The Wing House Top Shelf Sports Lounge Vallarta’s Mexican Restaurant Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar Yamato Japanese Restaurant

YOUR FIRST & LAST NAME: ________________________________________________ YOUR STREET ADDRESS: ___________________________________________________ CITY: _________________________________________ ZIP CODE: __________________ YOUR COMMUNITY: ________________________________________________________ (Seven Oaks, Union Park, etc.) YOUR DAYTIME PHONE NUMBER (w/area code) ____________________________ YOUR VALID EMAIL ADDRESS: ____________________________________________

Menchie’s Yogurt Café Dairy Queen Nestle Toll House Café Don Pan Int’l Bakery Nothing Bundt Cakes Dunkin’ Donuts Enter online at NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net or mail your COMPLETELY Haagen-Dazs FILLED IN entry form, by Monday, November 11, 2019, to: Happy Cow Frozen Yogurt WRITE-IN: Jenny’s Mini Donuts 2019 NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS DINING SURVEY Le Macaron ______________________ Neighborhood News @NTWCNews For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 27, Issue • August 23, 2019 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net 29157 Chapel Park Dr., 18 Suite B, Wesley Chapel, FL 33543

Walk-On’s Walks Into Wesley Chapel! Not only am I a big fan of New Orleans and its Cajun and Créolestyle cuisines, I’m also a big fan of having great new sports bars to watch football and hockey games — especially when they’re within walking distance of where Jannah and I live. Therefore, the July 25 Grand Opening opening of the new Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar on S.R. 56 (between Ford’s Garage and Wesley Chapel Blvd.) was pretty exciting for me. Neighborhood News Online was onhand for both the “Friends & Family” preview and the Grand Opening/Ribbon-Cutting for Walk-On’s, which was attended by the parent company’s founder and CEO Brandon Landry, as well as local franchisees Paul Hollabaugh and Jared Burnett. Landry’s minority partner, Saints QB Drew Brees, has yet to visit, but we have a great Walk-On’s video that was recently released that you can view on our Neighborhood News Facebook page and on our Neighborhood News Online YouTube channel. Bottom line? So far, so good. General manager Gyorgy Tamcsu, who previously managed the Red Robin in front of the Shops at Wiregrass, promises great food, great service and yes, 90 TVs, perfect for the upcoming NFL and NHL seasons,. I enjoyed a pretty good blackened redfish (photo; the bed of cheesy grits and fresh

Debbie Demboski Sara McKenzie 813.982.2820 green beans are tasty, too), and Walk-On’s also has N’Awlins-style chicken “Alfredeaux,” great gumbo, “Poboy” sandwiches and more. For info about Walk-On’s Wesley Chapel (25372 Sierra Center Blvd., Lutz), call (813) 553-6500 or visit Walk-Ons.com, and please tell Gyorgy & his crew we sent you! — GN

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Full Circle Chicago Pizza’s New Owners Give The Menu An Upgrade! By GARY NAGER Anyone who has been reading my dining reviews for any number of years surely knows that I have always been and always will be a New York-style pizza guy. Therefore, it’s been hard for places like Full Circle Chicago Pizza in the Pebble Creek Collection to ever really rank among my favorite pizza places in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel. Whether deepdish or thin-crust, I am happy to eat Chicagostyle pizza, but it just will never be the same for me as NY-style ‘za. Even so, new Full Circle owners Julia and Freddy Nova took over a few months ago, and they called me to say I needed to try the place again, and not just for the pizza, but also for the new Italian specialties Freddy has been adding to Full Circle’s already tasty menu. And, after several amazing meals at the new Full Circle, I do believe Freddy and Julia are on to something delicious. Julia is half-Italian, but while Freddy’s family is originally from Guatemala, he has

not only cooked at three well-known country clubs for 20 years in New Jersey (including the renowned, historic Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, which has hosted the U.S. Senior Open and the Senior PGA Championship), he and Julia also owned and operated a successful “Jersey-style” pizza place known as Little Italy in Paramus for five years before they relocated to Tampa and found Full Circle for sale. Freddy’s extensive experience shows in everything he creates at Full Circle. Jannah and I agree that his chicken parmigiana (photo on next page) is the best we’ve had in New Tampa — and, although he hasn’t yet added veal to the menu, folks I’ve met inside since the Novas took over have raved about the eggplant parm. And, my side of penne in marinara sauce came out al denté without me having to order it that way. Atza nice! My new pal Freddy also turned a simple chicken and broccoli pasta dish (right) into a perfectly garlicky (is that a word?) masterpiece, and he’ll even add sautéed spinach or broccoli to it upon request (as I did). I’m not usually as big on chicken Francaise, but Julia told me it’s her favorite, so I tried it on my most recent visit and you can take the egg-dipped coating and lemon without either being overpowering.

Sandwiches...

Folks from the Windy City love their Chicago-style Italian

beef sandwiches (top right photo on next page), and Freddy kept the tasty au just the bread is basically soaking in from the original Full Circle. People also rave about his Philly cheese steaks; I enjoyed his spicy version. However, I still prefer an oven-baked parmigiana sub, with gooey mozzarella, meatballs, chicken or Italian sausage, and Freddy’s baked subs have the right “crackle” (the roof of your mouth should be both cut and burnt when the bread and sauce are perfect...and

these are) and are all lip-smacking-tasty. I also have enjoyed the fried ravioli appetizer and the garlic knots and plan to try the jumbo wings and even the pierogies, although I try not to fill up too much on appetizers when the main event is always so great.

OK, What About That Pizza?

Remember what I said earlier about me and Chicago-style pizza? Freddy says he hasn’t changed Full Circle’s already im-

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mensely popular thin-crust or deep-dish Chicago-style pizza much — although it does seem to me that he has increased the ratio of sauce to cheese on the deep dish, which makes it possible to eat with your hands, instead of a knife and fork (as I’ve always had to do with most other Chicago-style deep-dish). And yes, Full Circle offers slices of thin-crust pizza for lunch and has deep-dish pies available every day for lunch and dinner. However, I’m proud to say that Freddy has even found a loophole in my anti-Chicago-thin-crust bias. He has introduced a margherita pizza — with a zesty sauce, fresh mozzarella and even fresher basil — that is unlike any other I’ve tasted before. And, here’s the thing, when I last lived in New York, the whole coal- or wood-fired brick oven pizza craze hadn’t really yet taken off, so I had no preconceived notions of what a cracker-thin “Neapolitan”-style pizza should taste like when I moved to Florida. And, although I have always liked the Neapolitan-style pizza in our area, it’s never been as high on my list of favorites as most NY-style pizza. Until now. Freddie’s margherita pizza has a delicious garlic-infused sauce that is similar to what many places use

for their “Grandma’s pizza.” The mozzarella is fresh and the basil adds just that hint of sweetness. But, Freddy’s margherita pizza (right) also has a much crisper crust than most Neapolitan-style pizza, which usually comes out with a charred bottom, but not crispy. Bottom line? If you hate it, I’ll buy your leftovers. In fact, I went so crazy for this pizza that I just had to share it with my new friends Beth, Wayne and Don (photo at the bottom of the previous page) and all three also raved about it. Best of all, with the coupons in the ad on page 43 of this issue, you can save money (details below) on Full Circle’s ristorante-quality cuisine in clean, comfortable, casual surroundings with plenty of booth and table seating available. There’s also Yuengling on draught, Peroni and other beers in bottles and red and white wines by the glass or bottle. Full Circle also has a great family atmosphere and everything on the “Kids Corner” menu is either $4.99 or $5.99. You’ll also find an extensive catering menu with truly fair prices. As for those coupons, on Tuesday and Wednesday (only!), you can get a large thin-crust pizza with one topping for only $9.99. And, although the coupons can’t be combined, you also can save $5 off any purchase of $30 or more, or $2 off any purchase of $15 or more.

Help Wanted!

(Expires 9/30/19)

Full Circle Pizza is hiring experienced servers and pizza makers now, especially since they will be slammed once this story breaks. Please stop in to fill out an application. Full Circle Chicago Pizza (19651 BBD Blvd.) is open every day for lunch and dinner. For more information, see the ad on pg. 38, call (813) 994-3700, or visit FullCircleChicagoPizza.com.

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Nibbles & Business The Latest & Greatest News In Dining, Shopping & Business In New Tampa & Wesley Chapel!

Omari’s Grill & Lexington Oaks Golf Course Re-Open!

According to owners Anass El-Omari and his wife Susana Herrera, the Lexington Oaks Golf Club golf course should be re-opened by the time you receive this issue in your mailbox. The golf course has been closed since shortly after a great 4th of July event, and although the original plan was to keep Omari’s Grill — the outstanding, real restaurant at the club — open during the golf course renovations, it also closed, to give Anass and his staff time to revamp Omari’s already excellent menu. “We wanted to make it easier, faster and even better,” Anass says. “And I believe we’ve done just that. Come give us a try.” Although two of my favorite dishes on the old menu — the flounder Almendrine and

the Chef’s filet mignon — are no longer on the menu, Susana says they will still be offered as specials. The staff was being trained on the new menu, so I got to sample a couple of new items, including the Buffalo chicken wrap sandwich (photo, left), which surprised me with how much I loved it. The chicken was crispy fried and the Buffalo sauce had a zing, but wasn’t overstated. Great fries, too. We’ll have a full-length dining video about Omari’s Grill soon, but in the meantime, Anass, an avid golfer, says that his reconditioned greens may now be the best in town, despite an act of vandalism while the course was closed. And of course, you also can sample Omari’s cuisine if you visit the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel (see story on page 8) there on Wednesdays at noon. For more information about the restaurant and golf course (26133 Lexington Oaks Blvd.), visit LexingtonOaksGolf.com, call (813) 907-7270 or see the ad on pg. 32.

Two New Soft Serve Ice Cream Shops Now Open In New Tampa

We may not be getting a lot of new restaurants just yet in New Tampa, but we have recently added two new soft-serve ice cream shops — Mr. Penguin, which is located at

18089 Highwoods Preserve Pkwy., between Michaels and Pure Barre in The Walk at Highwoods Preserve Plaza; and Sprinkles Ice Cream (photo, right) located in the same Mobil gas station building (see below) as the recently relocated Saffron Indian Cuisine and Deano’s Pizza & Pasta (formerly Hawkeye’s NYS Pizza) at 10865 Cross Creek Blvd. Mr. Penguin, which also has a South Tampa location, has your basic vanilla and chocolate (or swirl both) ice cream flavors, but I’m interested to see how they combine soft-serve with any of about two dozen Italian ice flavors (including some unique ones, like sugar-free cotton candy, green tea and sour apple) in what they call “gelati” (not to be confused with “gelato”). For more information, visit Mr.PenguinIce. com or call (813) 252-7625.

Meanwhile, Sprinkles is a tiny little, notsit-down place featuring vanilla, chocolate and swirl soft serve ice cream, plus delicious shakes (Reese’s and Nutella are among the flavors), smoothies (try the strawberry mango), slushies (watermelon, fruit punch and more), plus healthy additions like chia or flax seed, protein powder, carrot and spinach.

LARGE THINCRUST PIZZA & ONE TOPPING

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 27, Issue 18 • August 23, 2019 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

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have virtually every fruit and vegetable available), plus two dozen different boosters (even echinacea) and shots (from ginger to turmeric), plus smoothies, bowls, salads, wraps and even six kinds of healthy toast, with breakfast coming soon! For more info, visit JuiceFactory. net or call (813) 345-8884.

Original Saffron Owners Reopen In New Location!

For those who were confused as to why the original Saffron in the Cross Creek Center plaza became Saffron Palace (which is now closed), original Saffron Indian Cuisine owners Sunita and Nimesh Chheda say the important thing is that New Tampa’s original Indian restaurant is back in business. Try the soups and other quick, hot foods to go, from vegetable samosas to chicken tikka masala. Although there are a couple of tables inside, this is not the old sit-down-dining Saffron, but Nimesh promises me that my favorite lamb chops in New Tampa are back. For more info, call (813) 600-3315 or visit SaffronIndianCuisineTampa.com.

Check Out The Juice Factory!

Are you trying to eat and drink a little cleaner? You definitely should check out the Juice Factory, located next to Five Guys Burgers & Fries at 6431 E. County Line Rd. This unique mom-and-pop (photo on previous page) is actually owned by four brothers, and has a huge selection of healthy juices (you also can create your own — they

Island Fin Poké Co. Coming Soon!

If you’ve been waiting to hope on the Hawaiian-and Caribbean-style poké (pronounced poe-kay) bowl craze, or you’ve already gotten excited about the poke restaurant coming to the Villages at Hunter’s Lake plaza (next to the under-construction Sprouts Farmers Market), you won’t have to wait a year or more — because Island Fin Poké Company (photo above), which has existing locations in Worcester, MA, and in Winter Springs, FL, with more central Florida and other new locations coming soon, is expected to be open at 6417 County Line Rd. (between Winn-Dixie and Ginza, across from Juice Factory) by the end of October. Franchise owners and long-time New Tampa residents Brenda and Jeff Sproat (I coached against him in Little League between 10- 15 years ago) promise that once you’ve created your own poké bowl at Island Fin, you may never want to visit another poké place. I’m definitely looking forward to trying both the ahi and spicy ahi tuna and the chicken bowls...and to catching up with the Sproats. For more information, visit IslandFinPoke.com. — GN

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New Tampa & Wesley Chapel HOME IMPROVEMENT

Classifieds

COMPUTER/BUSINESS SERVICES

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

PROFESSIONAL TECH SUPPORT in your home or small business. A+, Certified computer tech with 20 years exp. Maintenance and Repairs, Upgrades and Tutoring. More affordable than large chains! Friendly, personalized service. Technical jargon explained. Remote assistance available. References available. Call (813) 957-8342 for a free estimate.

DAVID BRIDGES PRESSURE CLEANING Complete exterior cleaning of your home or business with a professional & personal touch. - Pool decks and screen enclosures - All fencing/ driveways and walkways/roofs - Gutter and downspouts. Find your happiness in a fresh, bright clean home. Your neighbors will love you for it! All work guaranteed. Licensed and insured. Call 813-215-1177.

DO YOU HATE YOUR COMPUTER?!? WE CAN HELP YOU! Troubleshooting, Installation, Networking & Virus Removal. WE COME TO YOU! Residences & Businesses, more than 25-Years Experience. Contact Jeffrey Blank at 813-973-4507, visit WSICA.COM or email Wsica@wsica.com.

DRY WALL SPECIALIST. Not a handyman. Affordable Quality Work repairing water damage, ceilings and walls, retexturing, popcorn removal, room additions, cracks, holes, plaster and stucco repair. 26 Years Experience. Wesley Chapel resident. State Certified. Call Ron for free estimate: 813-784-5999. TJ’S PRESSURE WASHING LLC. Did your HOA send you a letter ordering you to clean your driveway, house, screened enclosure, fence or even your roof? However, you’re too busy or too tired to clean it. Call or Text TJ, a current 20-year Sheriff’s Department veteran and a professional exterior home cleaning expert. You can trust me with your investment. Call or Text: 727-808-7775. CHARLES POPPE ELECTRIC. Electric of all kinds pools, spas, service changes, new circuts, low voltage, repairs, upgrades, changes to existing, trouble shooting, GFCI performance testing, generators. Expert in the field - over 40 years experience. Discount for retired people 50%. Licensed and Insured Master Electrician EC 13002399 - free phone estimates. Call 813-477-9068. AMBLER ENTERPRISES Home Improvement. Call James at 813-385-6402. 30 Years Experience. Specialist in Kitchens & Bathrooms. Referrals upon request. All interior work: Drywall, Texture Paining, Doors, etc. Use us once & you won’t need to look elsewhere. Please Google us if you would like to see pictures: Wesley Chapel Ambler Enterprises. RAYMOND PAINTING. Exterior & Interior Services. Exterior: Painting, pressure washing, clean & seal pavers, stucco, roofing, leaks & wood rot repair. Interior: Painting, plastering, ceiling & wall repairs & tiles. Licensed & Bonded. References available. Free estimates. Your Neighborhood Arbor Greene Resident! We work 7 days. Call 813-994-5124.

CLEANING SERVICES

B CLEANING SERVICES: Over 18 years experience! Commercial and Residential; Weekly, bi-weekly, monthly; New house and post-construction clean-up; Window cleaning; Move-in or move-out cleanings; Pressure washing; FREE estimates; References available. Call today: 813-531-0154 or e-mail: bcleanings@hotmail.com D-ULTRA CLEANING SERVICE We have our own supplies and more than 400 clients in New Tampa! For more info, Call 813-758-9710.

HELP WANTED

HIRING PERSONAL TRAINER. Private Women’s Studio with Boot Camp & Personal Training in Wesley Chapel & Land O’ Lakes owned by Samantha Taylor. Please no phone calls or walk ins.To apply part time: www.lolfitbodybootcamp.com/hire-pt. BOSCO’S ITALIAN-TO-GO is hiring! Inside & Delivery positions available. Must be 18+, have a good attitude & have your own reliable transportation. Stop in at 30122 S.R. 54, Wesley Chapel to fill out an application.

LAWN & LANDSCAPING

A.T.B. Landscaping & Lawn Service. Licensed and insured serving the Tampa Bay area over 20 years. Family owned and operated. Quality work at affordable prices. We provide services in gutter clean-out, screen repair, pressure washing and sprinkler repair. Landscaping and property maintenance including: sodding, trimming trees and hedges, and clean ups. Other services are available. CALL 813-907-LAWN (5296)

Jasmine Landscaping, Inc. Complete lawn maintenance: Tree, palm & hedge trimming, planting, mulching, stones, sod replacement. Gutter cleaning, leaf removal & more. Cited by your HOA? Ask about our HOA Compliance Special, our Fall/Spring Special & FREE ESTIMATE! Licensed & insured. Accepting new residential & commercial accounts. We accept Visa, MC, PayPal, Zelle, AmExp. Call or text 813-420-4465. Now hiring full-time workers. HEAVY HITTER LAWN CARE: Veteran owned and operated lawn care maintenance service, focused on lawn mowing, trimming, edging and blowing (flexible with extra services). Well maintained and professional laborer ensuring customer satisfaction and on-time cuts. Rain or shine, the quality and schedule will be kept. Licensed and Insured. Call or text 678-673-7856 for your FREE ESTIMATE.

COMMERCIAL SPACE AVAILABLE 1,850 sq.ft. Commercial/Medical Space Available to Lease. Address: 24420 State Road 54 in Lutz (in the Medi-Weightloss Building). For more info, call 813-2934377 or email: gwillett@mediweightlossclinics.com. Our Classified Ads are the ones your neighbors in New Tampa & Wesley Chapel actually read!

POOL SERVICES TRANQUILITY POOL SERVICE. New Tampa owned & operated. Great Pricing with outstanding customer service! LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED. See why we are New Tampa and Wesley Chapel’s #1 Choice!! Call or Text Chris today @ 813-8575400 or visit TranquilityPoolService.com. New customers get ONE MONTH FREE! NEIGHBORHOOD POOLS Wesley Chapel owned and operated since 1999. Weekly service. No long term contracts. Mention this AD for one-month Free service. Call 813-907-7322 for details or text Joe at 813-758-7608. AQUATEC POOL SERVICE has been keeping pools clear & swim-safe since 1994. WE DO POOLS RIGHT! Commercial & Residential. CPO #33-303052 Licensed & Insured. Service guarantee. Call 813-312-5694 TODAY and get ONE MONTH OF QUALITY SERVICE FREE. www.aquatecpool.com AMERICAN FAMILY POOLS - Wesley Chapel owned & operated since 1992. Monthly service: $55 per-month. Service includes: Chemicals, Filter Cleaning, Brushing, Skimming (as needed) & Emptying of all baskets. REO/Bank Owned Specialist. Pool Clean Out’s - Green-to-Blue in a few hours. Above-Ground Pool Liner Changes. Equipment Repairs. NO CONTRACTS. Licensed & Insured. Call (813) 994-5383 or email: ate05@hotmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS

Charles Junk Hauling, Tree Cutting & Demolition. Junk, trash, debris-removal, garage clean-outs, yard-waste removal, whole-house clean-outs, we haul everything from A-to-Z. Demolition: Tile, cabinets, carpet, walls, sheds, decks, fencing, hot-tubs, swing-sets, concrete porches, etc. Low-low cheap prices – guaranteed, quality work. Call: 813-528-7683. 7-days a week.

SALON SPACE AVAILABLE

SERENITY SALON & SPA SUITES Wesley Chapel. Booth rental for Stylist available. Can be either full time or part time. Give us a call!: 813-312-5247 or 813-997-6302.

PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTOGRAPHER AVAILABLE Retired Professional Photographer (45+ years experience) in the Tampa Bay Area. Corporate Events, Personal Occasions, Portraiture, Pets, Comercial Photography & Real Estate. Reasonable rates. Call/Text 813-748-3901 or Visit: russellleprephotography.com

PIANO LESSONS

PIANO LESSONS. Summer is a great time to start! 30+ Years of Experience. Reasonable rates. Children or Adults. Call 813-994-7857 for a FREE interview.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 27, Issue 18 • August 23, 2019 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

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HOW DO YOU GET YOUR

? Volume 26 Issue 25

Inside:

For Great Gift Ideas, Shop Our Gift Guide!

December 1, 2018

In Neighborhood Magazine!

Remember To View, Like & Share Every Episode Of WCNT-tv On YouTube & Facebook! The Direct-Mail News Magazines Serving New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Since 1993!

BRUCE B. DONE!

For the complete list of the neighborhoods that receive this publication by direct mail in New Tampa (zip code 33647), see page 50!

Imagine being a traffic engineer for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and director of public works in Hillsborough County for 29 years, going to work, designing traffic layouts and signals to help traffic flows in 14 Florida counties. Imagine doing your highly stressful job so well and acquiring so many admirers along the way, that when you suddenly pass away, it is so heartbreaking that they re-name a road in your honor. Now, imagine your name is Bruce Barkley Downs. ••• In New Tampa, you won’t have Bruce B. Downs to kick around much longer, as the widening of the much-maligned, and breathlessly-besmirched boulevard that bears the late Mr. Downs’ name is now — finally — complete. But, not completely complete, mind you. See “Bruce B. Done!” on page 6.

News:

Business:

News: Sports: LongtimeBruce LocalB. Politicians Voted News, Business & Looking For Unique Holiday Gifts? INSIDE Surprise! Downs (BBD) Former Wharton High Football Also Inside INSIDE Blue Wave. Try Updates Creativity Unpinned. Blvd. IsOut OurInArea’s Worst Road Players Declare for NFL DraftEducation Page3-17 10 This Issue:Pages

Pages 28-29

Pages 34-37 Pages 3-32

Neighborhood Magazine: Neighborhood Magazine: The First New Tampa Brew Fest The Readers Have Spoken! Was AAre Smashing Success. Here Their Favorites! Pages Pages 39-40 39-52

WESLEY CHAPEL

Inside:

NEWS

A Recap Of The 2019 Taste Of New Tampa!

See Neighborhood Magazine

Volume 27 Issue 8 April 5, 2019

Now Celebrating 25 Years As New Tampa & Wesley Chapel’s Primary News Source! The Direct-Mail News Magazines Serving New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Since 1993! For the complete list of neighborhoods that receive this publication by direct mail in Wesley Chapel (zip codes 33543, 33544 & 33545), see page 46!

First Look Inside:

Openings Galore

Burlington and 5 Below are open, and Wawa and Chick Fil-A aren’t far behind. Cue the applause.

Pages 10-11

ONE HEART To me, the story of my relationship with the former Jannah

Story by Gary Nager Photo by Jillian Joseph Photograhy

the Neighborhood News, we first got together when I walked into the now-defunct Stage Left (the music Johnson McDonald is so much venue on S.R. 54 in Lutz), the night more than just your usual case of of my birthday in 2015. boy-meets-girl, boy and girl fall in The place was packed. Jannah love and live happily ever after. Ours is the story of two people and I were both members of the Rotary Cub of Wesley Chapel, so who have been through a lot in their lives — although not nearly as when I heard and then saw a group much as some people we know and of women, all of whom also were members of that same Rotary Club, love — but who somehow figured invite me, rather loudly, to join out how to be there for each other them at their table, I didn’t refuse. and became two stronger, better So yes, ours is a match made in people because of our mutual respect for and support of each other. Rotary heaven, and we know a few other couples who also met through the This marriage may not be the world’s largest service organization. first rodeo for either of us — and, But, enough of that mushy quite honestly, neither one of us thought we’d ever get married again stuff. Because we decided to put on our wedding ourselves, I knew I — but after knowing each other for would have to pull together a lot of as many as eight years and being tothe contacts I’ve made through the gether for more than four, we both just knew it was the right time for us Neighborhood News in order to put on the kind of wedding we wanted. to make this thing official. I owe these businesses and busiAlthough we actually met ness owners a lot because only with all when Jannah was working for the of their help, could we have the wedAmerican Cancer Society and was ding of our dreams. So, the story that putting on the Wesley Chapel Relay follows is my way of thanking them. for Life and I was covering it for See “The Business Side Of Jannah & Gary’s Wedding” on page 4.

Vroooom!

The Man Cave will give your hair a professional and relaxing tune-up in a cool, guy-oriented setting.

Pages 22-23

Newcomer Tops At Taste

The Taste of New Tampa & Wesley Chapel attracted roughly 1,000 patrons, who sampled the wares of neary 40 local eateries, and two Taste-y newcomers made this year’s top three.

Pages 40-41

New Tampa Neighborhood News

Directly mailed every four weeks (13 issues per year) to every home, apartment & business in zip code 33647 — nearly 27,700 addresses & more than 65,000 people! Publisher & editor Gary Nager has been providing REAL, hyperlocal news for the residents & businesses of New Tampa since the name was first coined.

Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News

Directly mailed every four weeks (13 issues per year) to nearly 26,000 addresses and more than 60,000 people in Wesley Chapel’s three zip codes — 33543, 33544 & 33545! Our Wesley Chapel edition was the first & is still the only local news magazine dedicated to covering the fastest-growing area in Florida!

NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

The online news & information source for New Tampa & Wesley Chapel, thanks to thousands of click-throughs per day generated by our daily news posts on Facebook (search “Neighborhood News”).

Neighborhood News Online Videos

Whether you watch us on Facebook (search “Neighborhood News”) or YouTube (seearch “Neighborhood News Online’), our video content has reached two million people and has been viewed for more than two million minutes since 2016.

The Tampa Bay area’s ONLY Neighborhood News publications have been the REAL news source for New Tampa & Wesley Chapel for 25 Years! And, thanks to our recent funding from Google, the Neighborhood News is now the ONLY truly multimedia advertising medium by and for the residents & businesses of New Tampa & Wesley Chapel!

To find out what we can do to promote your business, call (813) 910-2575!