Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News, Volume 30, Issue 18, September 6, 2022

Neighborhood News @NTWCNews1 For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 18 • September 6, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net Volume 30 Issue 18 September 6, 2022 ELECTION RESULTS! Wesley Chapel has a new representative on the Pasco County Commission. See page 4 HEALTHY SHOPPING! Nutrition Smart still one of our area’s best stops for healthy groceries. See page 20 LUCKY DILL! Located in Palm Harbor, find out why you should visit this authentic NY deli! See page 34! EDITORIAL Celebrating major milestones for two localSeeresidents.page3

How Do You Define Delicious? Enter our 2022 Reader Dining Survey & Contest! See pg. 13!

Photo by Charmaine George

2

Morgan Conlin Valerie Wegener

She also has called the office several times over the years to tell me about news stories happening in her area and she was among the many Pebble Creek residents who contacted us to let us know about their sadness over the closing of the Pebble Creek Golf Club last year. “It was a shame,” Marion reiterated to me at her birthday celebration, also mention ing that she is the only member of her bridge club to still be a member all 42 years she has lived in Pebble Creek. “It was an important part of our Pebble Creek community.”

Gary Nager Managing Editor / Photographer John C. Cotey

Charmaine George Graphic Designers

Producer/MultimediaSpecialist

© 2022 JM2 Communications, Inc.

Congratulations are in order for two local residents — Nazeraeh Montrond and her siblings, who just received the keys to their new townhome in the Wesley Reserve community at Chapel Crossings, and long-time New Tampa resident Marion Brodarick, who celebrated her 100th birthday with her bridge club during their weekly game at Heritage Isles Golf Club on Cross Creek Blvd.

As we reported in our July 12 issue, the Montrond family’s home was built and has been provided mortgage-free by PulteGroup’s Built to Honor® Program in partnership with Building Homes for Heroes®, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit that has provided 300+ homes for injured military veterans and their families since the 2001 terrorist attacks.

Pulte’s program has built and donated more than 70 homes nationwide since 2016, including five in the Tampa Bay area. Although I personally never met the Montrond family, I congratulate them and hope they enjoy their new home.

Fellow bridge club member Florence Bronner, who called our office to invite us to Marion’s 100th birthday celebration on Aug. 23, said the club has had as many as five (or more) tables of players over the years, but is now down to just two, as many members had passed or moved away. Florence was thankful we were able to attend Marion’s celebration. “Not that many people get to celebrate their 100th birthday,” Florence said. “Even fewer are as sharp or quick witted as MarionMarionis.” said the secret to her longev ity is that she has kept her mind and body active over the years. “I played every sport I could,” she said. “And playing bridge and reading the too,keepNewsNeighborhoodhavehelpedmymindsharp.”Weloveyou,Marion!

Nothing that appears in Wesley Chapel Neigh borhood 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 necessarily reflect the pub lisher’sTheopinion.deadline for outside editorial submis sions and advertisement reservations for Vol ume 30, Issue 20, of Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News is Monday, September 19, 2022. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News will con sider previously non-published outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guar antees regarding publication dates. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News will not return unsolicited ed itorialWesleymaterials.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.

Publisher & Editor /Ad Sales

The Montrond Family’s New Home & Marion’s 100th Birthday!

By GARYEditorialNAGER

Nazeraeh, just 22, and her siblings — Arabella, age 14, Kevyn, age 18, and 10-yearold Bentley — received the keys to the Wesley Chapel townhome on August 25 (their mom Christl’s birthday), just two days before we went to press with this issue, in honor of their parents (both of whom are deceased) U.S. Army Sergeant Alberto Montrond (who was killed by an improvised explosive device in 2006) and Christl (who died in 2021 from a number of health issues).

Also born Aug. 25, Marion Brodarick has lived in New Tampa’s Pebble Creek community for 42 years, and I was excited that photographer Charmaine George and I attended her 100th birthday celebration.

Correspondents CelesteIsabellaMcLaughlinDouglas Lead Video

Billing Assistant Jannah Nager

Although we only met a few times over the nearly 30 years I have lived in the area and published the Neighborhood News, Marion has felt like a member of my local family, having entered virtually every contest I have ever run in the paper, including every year’s Reader Dining Survey & Contest (see pages 12-13).

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 18 • September 6, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net 3Neighborhood News @NTWCNews Wesley NeighborhoodChapelNews 28949 State Road 54 Wesley Chapel, FL 33543 Phone: (813) 910-2575 Advertising E-mail: Ads@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Editorial E-mail: EditorialDept@NTNeighborhoodNews.com

(Left) Long-time New Tampa resident Marion Brodarick’s bridge club celebrated her 100th birthday with her at Heritage Isles Golf Club on Aug. 23. (Right) The Montrond family moves into their new Wesley Chapel home, which was provided by the Pulte Group’s Built to Honor® program & Building Homes For Heroes nonprofit organization. (Photos by Charmaine George)

Seth Weightman gets in some last-minute campaigning on Primary Election day (Aug 23), as he cruised to an easy victory in the District 2 race for the Pasco County Commission.(Photo: Facebook)

By JOHN C. John@NTNeighborhoodNews.comCOTEY

As far as surprises go, Pasco County didn’t have many (if any) on Primary Election night (Aug. 23). But, the Wesley Chapel area most likely has a new commissioner lined up to replace the departing Mike Moore in District 2. Buoyed by the backing of Moore and other well-known local Republicans, Seth Weightman coasted to an easy win over opponents Christie Zimmer and Troy Stevenson. Weightman picked up 48.9 percent of the vote, while fellow Republicans Zimmer (27.1 percent) and Stevenson (24 percent) basically split the rest. A regional manager for waste-hauling company Republic Services, Weightman was backed by county tax collector Mike Fasano, former Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford and current Florida Sen ate President Wilton Simpson (who won the GOP nomination for Florida Secretary of Agriculture and will face Democratic nominee Naomi Esther Blemur in the General Election on Nov. 8). Only registered Republicans voted in the two County Commission prima ries. If only Republicans had entered the races, the primaries could have decided the elections, as voters of all parties would have been allowed to cast ballots.But,Louie Rodriguez entered the Dist. 2 race as a write-in candidate with no party affiliation, which closed the pri mary to only Republican voters. On Nov. 8, Weightman and Rodriguez will “run” against each other. In Dist. 4, challenger Gary Bradford was accused of employing the same closed pri mary strategy when he defeated incumbent Christina Fitzpatrick 43.9-37.7 percent, avenging his loss for the same seat in 2020. According to the Tampa Bay Times, Bradford acknowl edged that a friend of his, Cory Patter son, filed as a write-in candidate in order to close the primary to Republicans only. As the Times noted, Patterson, who has donated to Bradford’s campaign and has a Bradford campaign sign in his yard, will “run” against his friend on Nov. 8. Only about 1 in 4 (24.8 percent)reg istered voters in Pasco County cast ballots in the 2022 Primary Election. However, that was still up from just 21 percent for the midterm Primary Election in 2020. Meanwhile, there were three Pasco

Weightman, Teachers Big Winners On Primary Night School Board seats up for grabs on Aug. 23. In Dist. 1, which includes all of Wes ley Chapel, Al Hernandez (44.8 percent) and James Washington (31.5) were the top two vote-getters of the three candi dates. Since Hernandez failed to pass the 50 percent threshold, he and Washington will square off in November to deter mine who replaces retiring Allen Altman, the Dist. 1 member since 2006. Cynthia Armstrong edged Matthew Geiger by 2,159 votes on Election Day, but by then, had already built a massive 13,000-vote advantage via mail-in ballots, to hold on to her Dist. 3 seat with 58 percent of the vote. Megan Harding retained her Dist. 5 seat with 71 percent of ballots cast. In other races, Dist. 12 U.S. Congressman Gus Bilirakis easily won his primary with 84 percent of the vote. His 33,883 votes were more than five times the combined amount of his four challengers, who received roughly 6,000 votes total. Bilirakis is in a safe Republican district and is expected to easily win re-election in November against Democrat Kimberly Walker and Charles Smith, who has no party affiliation. And, in one of the more interesting votes of the night, Pasco’s millage refer endum to raise funds to increase teacher salaries easily passed (59-41%), even though a similar measure narrowly failed in neighboring Hillsborough County. In Pasco, registered Republicans, generally advocates of lower taxes and less spending, outnumber Democrats 165,856 to 114,335. But, in Hillsbor ough, which has more registered Demo crats, its millage referendum failed in a vote so close a recount was ordered.

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The new Publix center will be located directly behind the Bank of America, Ad vance Auto Parts and Starbucks-anchored Pleasant Plaza on S.R. 54 (see map). Permitting also was submitted last month for a retail and restaurant project to be located behind the Clearwater Cross ing plaza (anchored by Glory Days) and wrapping behind the new Publix. Wiregrass Ranch development com pany Locust Branch, LLC, submitted a

preliminary development and construction plan for a 7,216-sq.-ft. strip center. There are no current plans for the future of the Hollybrook Publix building. However, Scott Sheridan, the chief operat ing officer of Locust Branch, LLC, doesn’t think it will remain empty for long. “I think that will be an easy fill,” he says, largely in part to the fact that it is a heavily-trafficked area.

It has been almost a decade since the plans for the Publix supermarket in the Hollybrook Plaza to move a little to the east into a newly built location were first floated.Butnow, those plans finally are pick ing upAccordingsteam. to permitting records filed with Pasco County, Publix is beginning the process of moving from its current location at the corner of S.R. 54 and Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. to a 9.5-acre parcel right across Wiregrass Ranch Blvd. from the Walmart.Plansindicate that Publix, which owns the land, will build a 60,548-sq.-ft. center, which will be anchored by a 48,848-sq.-ft. grocery store, with a 2,100-sq.-ft. liquor store and 9,600 square feet of retail space.

New Apartments

Wesley Chapel is losing one Publix....but gaining another, as plans have been submitted to start the process of relocating the store at the corner of S.R. 54 and BBD Blvd. to the east. (NN Map: Charmaine George)

The new 2 Minutes will be 3,017-sq.-ft. and will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.

NEW CHILDCARE OPTIONS: There are a few new childcare/education op tions coming for Wesley Chapel residents. Amazing Explorers Academy (AEA), a 12,110-sq.-ft. facility which will be located just south of Overpass Rd. near Watergrass, is in permitting. AEA will offer a STEAM curriculum for 200 students be tween the ages of six weeks-12 years old. Also, a 13,586-sq.-ft. Primrose School (for children in Pre-K through kindergarten) on Chancey Rd. and Persim mon Park Dr. in Wiregrass Ranch also is in permitting. A third, as-yet-unnamed 10,000-sq.-ft. childcare facility is being planned just north of the El Dorado Furniture store (see below) on Wesley ChapelPLACEBlvd.TO

Publix Prepping For Big Move And Other Notes

TWO MINUTE WARNING: The Sombutmai Center, located at 22835 S.R. 54 a little west of Morris Bridge Rd. in Wesley Chapel, is adding a restaurant to its plans, according to permitting records. 2 Minutes, a popular mom-and-pop restaurant known for its large portions and located on Gall Blvd. in Zephyrhills, is planning its second location at the new Wesley Chapel-located center.

SIT: Speaking of El Dorado Furniture, the 70,000-sq.-ft. store located on S.R. 54, just west of Wesley Chapel Blvd. (across from the Cypress Creek Town Center), will hold its Grand Opening in September. El Dorado promises a different kind of furniture store experience, with Boulevard showrooms set up like strips of old-fashioned city streets, with benches and street lamps lining the path.

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By JOHN C. John@NTNeighborhoodNews.comCOTEY

There are also new apartments planned just south of Hollybrook Plaza, behind the Sonny’s BBQ on BBD.

“It’s definitely a different demographic than what we tend to go after,” said Adam Thomas, the director of Florida’s Sports Coast. “Out of all of our sports, 95% of them are youth sports. This will be a new audience to tap into.”

SVB will host almost every racquet sport, includ ing padel (which will be played for the first time in the Senior Games Dec. 9-11), tennis (Dec. 3-8) and pickleball (Dec. 8-11).

And, because of the growth of sports venues in Wesley Chapel over the past decade, many of the events will take place here.

Events like bowling and shuffleboard (Zephy rhills), golf (Trinity), and even power lifting (Land O’Lakes) will be held across the county. “We’ve always been involved with the Senior Games in some form or fashion,” Thomas says, “but landing the actual games as the host destination, that will bring in close to 2,000 (hotel) rooms for a weeklong event, and it will bring up to 3,000 athletes and their families here for that same time period. So we’re looking at total visitors per day of 4,000.”

By JOHN C. John@NTNeighborhoodNews.comCOTEY

Cypress Creek High and its rubber track will be home for many of the running events. Track & field is scheduled for Dec. 9-11, with a 1,500-meter power walk and 1,500-meter race walk set for Dec. 11.

In 2020, the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County hosted the 3-on-3 basketball (above) and volleyball Florida Senior Games events. This year, it will host those Senior Games sports again, as well as archery. (Photo: FloridaSeniorGames.com)

Thomas says that, according to Florida’s Sports Coast’s projections, the Senior Games will have an economic impact of $1.2 million per day throughout Pasco County. And, because the event is a national qualifier, Thomas is hoping the Florida games can put Florida’s Sports Coast in line to host the national event at some point down the road.

For more information about Florida’s Sports Coast, visit FLSportsCoast.com.

The county has hosted various Senior Games events in the past. The Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County hosted bag toss, basket ball shooting, 3-on-3 basketball and volleyball in December 2020, while pickleball was played at the Sarah Vande Berg (SVB) Tennis & Wellness Center in Zephyrhills.

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The Florida Senior Games is an Olympic-style sports festival, for athletes over the age of 50 (and there is even a 100+ age group). The 31st annual Games in December will consist of 22 sports — half of which will be staged in Wesley Chapel — and will be held December 3-11. The event is a qualifier for the 2023 National Senior Games in Pittsburgh, PA.

For more information about the 2022 Flori da Senior Games, visit FloridaSeniorGames.com or follow FloridaSeniorGames on Facebook.

The Wesley Chapel area already is host to some of the largest youth sports tournaments in the Tampa Bay area and will now expand its reach to a new demographic — seniors.

The Florida Sports Foundation, the state of Florida’s sports promotion and development organi zation, and Florida’s Sports Coast (Pasco County’s sports tourism arm) will team up to be the primary host of Florida Senior Games for the next three years, starting in December of this year.

The Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus will host archery, basketball shooting and 3-on-3 basketball (Dec. 3), and volleyball (Dec. 10-11), while Saddle brook Resort will host foot golf Dec. 10.

“This opens the door for us,” Thomas says. “We’ve definitely got our eyes on that.”

Florida’s Sports Coast To Host 2022-24 Florida Senior Games

This year, however, will mark the county’s first time as the primary host of the entire event.

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Neighborhood News @NTWCNews12 For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 18 • September 6, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net Our Annual Dining Survey Evolves With The Community but the spaghetti and meatballs are simply to die for. Some restaurants just do one thing better than anyone else, so fill us in! We’ve also added a aren’tpotatosticksdays,experience.orbecauseAppetizer”“FavoritecategoryitcanmakebreakadiningThesemozzarellaandloadedskinssimplyenough.Restaurantsarereallyputtingsomeseriouseffortintotheir pre-meal offerings. And really, who hasn’t ordered nothing more than an appetizer (or two) as their meal? We’ve also added a Covid-19-inspired category — “Best Coffee Shop,” because a lot of us work out of a coffee shop these days. We’ve also added “Best KRATE at The Grove,” because, well, duh! While you can certainly vote for any of the con tainer restaurants in any other category, we decided that the container park really needed its own category. Plus, we’re curi ous to see how this one will turn out. We decided to split the dessert catego ries into “Best Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt (FroYo)/Gelato” and “Best Bakery” sweets, and added a “Best Fried Chicken/Wings” category, given “Best Indian Food” and “Best Latin (Other Than Mexican)” their own categories for the first time, added “Best Breakfast/Brunch” and brought back the “Best Burger” category. And, with the exception of the KRATEs, any of your favorites can be in New Tampa (zip code 33647, as well as in the Palms Connection plaza on E. Bearss Ave. in 33613) or Wesley Chapel (zip codes 33543, 33544 and 33545, as well as 33559, which is technically Lutz, but it al lows you to include picks near the Tampa Premium Outlets, since so many locals love so many of those places to eat). We think we have everything cov ered this time around. While it might be a little more work for you than when we gave you the names of pretty much every restaurant in our distribution areas, our goal was to present enough choices so that this year’s Reader’s Survey would present the most complete and accurate snapshot of your views of the dining experience in Wesley Chapel and New Tampa. Now, it’s your turn. Thanks in ad vance for entering.

There may be a few more categories this year than usual, but we think we’ve actually made it simpler for you — just write in your favorite choices, although we do ask that your rank your favorite three restaurants in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel overall, and throw it in an enve lope and mail it to us. Or, you can take a picture of your ballot once you fill it in and email it to john@ntneighborhoodnews.com. Or, visit NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net, and fill out the 2022 Reader Survey there. Heck, we even have prizes for a few of the lucky ones that do (see next page). We — and the local eateries — do truly appreciate your participation. So, what’s different this year? Well, we’ve added a “Best Dish” category, because sometimes, that’s the reason you’re going to a certain restaurant. Maybe the place isn’t your favorite overall, With all of the changes in this year’s Reader Dining Survey & Contest (see entry form on pg. 13), can Noble Crust repeat as your favorite restaurant in Wesley Chapel and New Tampa? It’s up to you to decide! (Photo: Charmaine George)

— JCC & GN For you oldtimers out there, it doesn’t seem that long ago that the de bate over who had the best food in New Tampa or Wesley Chapel came down to the ABC Pizza on S.R. 54 and the gas station in front of Pebble Creek (Spoiler alert: It was the ABC Pizza). Now, the choices for good food in both of our distribution areas are seeming ly endless. In fact, in Wesley Chapel and New Tampa alone, there are close to 200 restaurants, and pretty much everything is covered, except for maybe Vietnamese, although a quality full-on Vietnamese restaurant is going to be opening soon just south of County Line Rd. (scoop alert!). Otherwise, if you have a hankering for something, there are multiple places to satisfy your cravings. But, to determine what the best places are (or, at least, your favorite places), we need your help. Any Reader Survey is only as good as, well, its readers. So whattya say?

There are 24 categories in our 2022 Reader Dining Survey on this page. Please fill in as many categories as you like, but to be eligible to win this year’s FREE Dining Gift Cards (to the restaurant of your choice), you MUST tell us your top three favorite restaurants (of any cuisine type) in New Tampa or Wesley Chapel AND provide an answer in at least 18 of the 24 total categories. Please note that this year, your votes will still count if you don’t provide answers to at least 18 categories, you just won’t be eligible to win this year’s prizes. Three winners will be drawn at random from all correct entries, whether you enter by mail or at NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net by no later than Wednesday, November 23, to win a $100, $60 or $35 gift card to the restaurant of your choice. Mail-in entries must have all requested personal info (right) & be mailed to Neighborhood News 2022 Dining Survey & Contest, 28949 State Road 54, Wesley Chapel, FL 33543. — GN YOUR YOURYOURCOMMUNITYNAME________________________________________YOULIVEIN(Epperson,TampaPalms,etc.)DAYTIMEPHONE#________________________________EMAILEnteronlineorbymailbyWednesday,November23!NeighborhoodNews2022DiningSurvey&Contest28949StateRoad54,WesleyChapel,FL33543ToEnterOnline,visit:NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

NEW YEAR, NEW RULES!

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 18 • September 6, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net 13Neighborhood News @NTWCNews 2.1.3. BEST NEW NEIGHBORHOODRESTAURANT NEWS 2022 READER DINING SURVEY FAVORITE DISH IN NT OR WC FAVORITE APPETIZER IN FAVORITE KRATE AT THE FAVORITE RESTAURANTS IN NEW TAMPA & WESLEY CHAPEL (IN OR BEST MEXICAN FOOD IN BEST LATIN (NOT MEX.) FOOD BEST ICE CREAM/FROYO/GE BEST BURGER IN NT/WC BEST PIZZA IN NT/WC BEST FRIED CHICKEN/WINGS BEST STEAK IN NT/WC BEST BREAKFAST OR BRUNCH BEST FULL LIQUOR BAR IN BEST BAKERY/DESSERT IN BEST AMERICAN RESTAURANT BEST ITALIAN FOOD IN BEST BESTBESTGREEK/MEDITERRANEASIANRESTAURANTBESTTHAIFOODINNT/INDIANFOODINNT/BESTSUSHIINNT/WCBESTBEERORWINEBARFAVORITECOFFEESHOP

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•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.

•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.

And while there are many Do-It-Yourself design ers and decorators out there who fill their needs online, Debbie says that doesn’t always work out. In fact, she says that, most of the time, it doesn’t. Debbie and Sara can bring a design studio right to your driveway. The Decorating Den van is stocked with a wide variety of samples of fabrics and colors — samples you can touch and feel and hold up to a wall or piece of furniture, offering the kind of coordination that often can’t be matched by the pictures you see online.

By JOHN C. John@NTNeighborhoodNews.comCOTEY

Decorating Den Interiors Brings A New Look To Your Home

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•T-Training: Decorating Den provides opportuni ties for decorators to constantly update their skills and learn about the latest trends through conferences and working with other franchise owners in the region.

“Window treatments are such a custom thing,” Debbie says. “If you want a truly custom treatment, you need someone to come to your home and meas ure (the available space) and match fabrics. You need a professional to do it right.”

Debbie’s local franchise is truly a family affair. Her 91-year-old mother Phyllis runs the office, and 30-yearold Sara is the window treatment specialist. In fact, it was Phyllis who met Merchant at a church group and suggested Decorating Den, and it was Sara who has done the work in Merchant’s home.

•I-In-home decorating: Design decisions are made in your home, in your existing lighting, working with what you already own.

Debbie says the reasons why her clients love work ing with Decorating Den are outlined in the following “NIFTY” benefits:

When Sheila Merchant was looking to refresh some of the furniture and window dressings in her Arbor Greene home, she did what she always does. She called Decorating Den Interiors. “They have done just about every room in my home,” says Merchant. It’s the kind of repeat customer that keeps fran chise owner and decorator Debbie Demboski and her daughter Sara McKenzie-Nelson atop their field in the Tampa Bay and Central Florida area. Decorating Den, which says it is North America’s largest interior design and home furnishings franchise company, was founded in 1969; Debbie has been a Decorating Den franchisee since 1989, and is one of the company’s longest-ten uredItrepresentatives.willcomeasno surprise to Merchant that Deb bie was recently named Franchise Owner of the Year, the highest annual award presented by Decorating Den Interiors.The key to Debbie’s success is the combination of a super-convenient model — the business comes to its customers with a completely free consultation and no hourly fees — and, of course, a keen eye for style. Whether you want to update a room or patio, a piece of furniture, your window treatments, or redeco rate your entire home from top to bottom, Debbie can find something that pleases your visual palate.

•N-National umbrella: Decorating Den has the buying power of a national company.

“(Sara) is fantastic,” Merchant says. “She really brings us out of our comfort level and we love it. We’re traditionalists in our 70s, so we might fall back into wanting the same old same old, but she is not afraid to Debbie Demboski (left) and her daughter Sara McKenzie Nel son are the Decorating Den duo ready to bring a fresh new look to your home or office. (Photo courtesy of Debbie Demboski)

Subtle changes can transform a room, like the dining room above, with the before on the left and the after on the right. Decorating Den can also give your bathroom a whole new look. say, ‘Have you thought about doing it this way?’”Merchant has had her bedroom and family room windows decorated, some dining room chairs reupholstered and other“Probablytouches. 10 things in all,” she says. Sara, who has now worked with Debbie for eight years, plays an im portant, and increasingly wider, role at Decorating Den. Window treatments — these days that mostly includes replacing vertical blinds with more modern sliding and curtain panels, solar shades and motorized shades or panels — currently make up roughly half of Decorating Den’s“Shebusiness.isthe future,” Debbie says of Sara, and Merchant agrees, adding that Debbie’s daughter has a good eye for colors and Anotherpatterns.repeat customer, Lisa Dosal, recently moved from her Wesley Chapel home to Oviedo, FL. Roughly 10 years ago, Debbie re-did the window treat ments in Lisa’s home and also reuphol stered some older, classic furniture.

Debbie has a Bachelor of Arts de gree in Design and Business from West Virginia University in Morgantown. She got into the interior decorating busi ness when she was living and working in Atlanta and a friend became a Decorating Den franchise owner. Debbie went to work as a decorator for that business and, soon after, started her own franchise.

And, business is going great, she says. “It’s probably doubled in the last few years,” Debbie says. “It’s definitely been beneficial being part of a big na tionalDebbiecompany.”says that the Covid-19 pan demic contributed to the increase as well. With people confined indoors during parts of the last few years, they spent a lot of time looking at their old furniture or out their windows…and noticed that things needed to be updated or replaced. “We never really shut down,” Deb bie says. “We worked through it and there was a challenge with travel, but otherwise, as people were more or less locked into their homes, they wanted to change things. And of course, a lot of them started working from home.” In addition, many people wanted rooms converted to home offices, or ex isting home offices updated. Debbie jok ingly says that finding desks during the height of Covid-19 was akin to the hunt for toilet paper around that same time. “We had some supply chain issues we had to work through,” Debbie says, “and some fabrics and materials were dis continued as businesses shut down. But, it’s gottenDebbiebetter.”hasa long list of clients and says that she can have as many as 20 dif ferent projects going at any one time. As Sara has grown into her role as a de signer, that workload has become easier to manage.Itkeeps their customers coming back. In fact, Merchant says she has an other decorating job planned for this fall. Guess who she’ll be calling? “I wouldn’t use anybody else.”

Decorating Den offers a “good, better, and best” mix of product lines to meet every budget.

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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 pg. 23, call Debbie or Sara at their studio at (813) 982-2820 or on their cell at (813) 817-2264, or visit Deb bieD.DecoratingDen.com.

Dosal says all the furniture has lasted and is coming with her to Oviedo, but she wanted her window treatments in her new home refreshed and another piece of furniture reupholstered. While she waited for her new home to be finished, Debbie actually reupholstered the furniture so it was ready to go before Lisa even moved. Debbie also traveled to Oviedo to do the window treatments and add some other design “Originally,touches.weloved the whole Decorating Den concept and how they came to us (in Wesley Chapel),” Lisa says. “And, we loved working with Debbie. She works with you to decide on something that we liked. She didn’t just pick some thing she liked and made us use it. We work together to find the perfect look.”

a nationally recognized program to train allergists and immunologists. In that ca pacity, they do clinical research and have been involved in many of the innovations in the specialty of allergy and immunol ogy over the past several decades.

The doctors also are also experts in treating immunodeficiency diseases — patients who are abnormally susceptible to infections.Thefour of them are set apart by their commitment to research and educa tion in the field, treating patients in private practice while also conducting re search at the University of South Florida (USF) Division of Allergy & Immunol ogy Clinical Research Unit (CRU). The private practice office and CRU make up the top floor of a medical building near the corner of Fletcher Ave. and Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., and the practice is found online at AllergyTampa.com.

By CELESTE McLAUGHLINCorrespondent

“Because of our research back ground,” says Dr. Cho, “we take a scientific approach to diseases. We are all currently involved in doing research on both the university and clinical side, so we have more scientific understanding.”

Their goals are to improve the qual ity of life of their patients with allergies and immunologic diseases and make them self-sufficient in caring for their own health and the health of their chil dren and families. They also continue to improve the diagnosis and treatment of allergic and immunologic diseases. While Dr. Lockey says that there’s nothing wrong with a doctor who chooses only to focus on seeing patients, physicians join his team because they also want to do academic research and train new physicians in the specialty.

“We all have our areas of specialty and interest,” he explains. “That’s what makes us so powerful.”

A Little Background Dr. Lockey earned his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree from the Tem ple University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War, then subsequently joined the faculty of the USF (now Morsani) College of Medicine as a Professor of Medicine. Dr. Lockey also has served as president of the World Allergy Organization and is a past presi dent of the American Academy of Al lergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), of which all of the practice’s specialists are members.

Doctors Combine Clinical Practice & Research

Dr. Richard Lockey, Dr. Mark Glaum, Dr. Seong Cho and Dr. Amber Pepper diagnose and treat various al lergic and immunologic diseases in both children and adults. These include allergic nose and eye problems; other respiratory issues such as asthma; food, drug and insect allergies; various forms of allergic skin disorders, including atopic eczema, urticaria (hives) and contact dermatitis; acute and chronic sinusitis; and systemic allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis.

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Richard Lockey, M.D., founded the practice in this location in 1984 as Academic Associates in Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Nearly four decades later, he continues to practice alongside a team of professionals who are all Boardcertified in both internal medicine and allergy and immunology and who pride themselves on excellent patient care. All four also educate residents and medical students at USF and supervise

The doctors of AllergyTampa.com include (l.-r.) Dr. Amber Pepper, Dr. Richard Lockey, Dr. Mark Glaum and Dr. Seong Cho. All four doctors see patients at their offices on BBD Blvd. and South Tampa and also teach at the University of South Florida. (Photos by Charmaine George)

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The doctors provide the community with pollen counts, including pollen counts from mold spores, year-round. In the spring, they provide pollen counts from trees. In the summer, they provide counts for grasses and, in the fall, for weeds. They are experts in both out door and indoor allergies cause by mites, molds, animals and other allergens.

Drs. Lockey, Glaum, Cho and Pep per recommend that patients always look for physicians with expertise and ongo ing training to meet your specific needs. They intentionally stay up-to-date on medicine and treatment at the forefront of medicalPatientsscience.cansee Drs. Lockey, Glaum, Cho or Pepper at their North Tampa office, which is located at 13801 BBD Blvd., Ste. 502, or in the South Tampa office, located at 1906 W. Platt St. To learn more about the services they provide, visit Aller gyTampa.com, call (813) 971-9743, or see the ad on page 29. Dr. Lockey has been serving area residents for nearly four decades, and also has served as president of the World Allergy Organization and is a past president of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

Dr. Glaum earned his M.D. degree at the Hahnemann University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA. He completed a fellowship in allergy and clinical immunology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, also in Philadelphia. His areas of interest include how the body responds to substances that cause allergic reactions and advanc ing diagnostic techniques, such as rhi noscopies (examining nasal passages with specialized instruments).

work together, but my training and background gives me a better perspective of bothAnd,sides.”likethe other doctors in the practice, Dr. Cho explains that the ongo ing research and university experience means they take a scientific approach to treating patients, as well. Dr. Pepper earned her M.D. degree from USF in 2013, then completed her residency in internal medicine in 2016 at USF and a fellowship at the practice through USF’s Division of Allergy & Immunology.Whileall of the doctors are able to treat nearly all allergy and immunology issues, there are times when they rely on each other to handle very complicated cases. They say that some local allergists refer to them when a patient has a par ticularly intricate issue. For example, Dr. Cho’s background as an ENT means he’ll sometimes handle nasal allergy testing for patients of his colleagues, if skin and blood tests are negative for allergy responses and the patient requires that nasal allergy testing.

Dr. Cho received his M.D. degree as an otolaryngologist — an ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor — from Kyung Hee University School of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea. His allergy and immunology training was completed at the Northwestern Uni versity Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago,“BeingIL.an ENT is unique,” Dr. Cho says, “I have more expertise in sinus problems. Often ENTs and allergists

By GARY NAGER it became so popular. It was in 2010, before the store had moved to its current location, that Wesley Chapel general manager Fausto Soriano joined the company. “I was interested in nutrition, so I stopped in and got hired part-time in the produce department,” Soriano says. “Within three months, I became the produce man ager. But, I wanted to keep learning, so I eventually became the grocery manager and then the store manager, where I had to learn about every department, including vitamins and supplements, which is the largest depart ment where some guys work 20 years to learn and keep up with all of the new products. You have to be able to cater what you sell them to each customer’s specific needs. When I became the GM at the new Pembroke Pines store, it already was a monster that outsold (and still outsells) our other stores in terms of vitamins and supplements.” Soriano took over as GM of the Wesley Chapel location in March of 2020, at the start of the pandemic. “I wanted to buy a home and couldn’t afford anything in the South Florida area,” Soriano says, “but when the owner told me the Wesley Chapel posi tion was available, I jumped at the chance because homes were so much less expensive here — at least at that time.” He says that although Pembroke Pines is still the king of Nutrition Smart’s stores in terms of vitamins, “the Wesley Chapel store actually does a higher volume on the grocery side.” He also is proud that Nutrition Smart’s selection of vitamins and supplements is the largest of any store in Wesley Chapel or New Tampa. Soriano also credits his vitamin and supplement experts — Gary Kyle and Joe Geier (photo on this page) with keeping customers coming back.

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But, moving to Florida, working long hours to try to grow the Neighborhood News, visiting and writing about every new restaurant in our area and spending all of my free time with my sons and their love of fast food ulti mately got me back to an unhealthy weight. But years later, when Nutrition Smart opened, I found a new oasis of healthy snacks, including the same delicious cookies and chocolate bars with little or no processed sugar and healthier alternatives to the chips and pretzels I craved.

Nutrition Smart Is Wesley Chapel’s Original Green Grocer & More!

The most important of her solutions was to get me to stop eating my body weight in processed sugars and starchy, salty snacks. And, until I tore a calf muscle playing bas ketball and couldn’t work out, I was able to keep the weight off for a few years.

But for me, it was more about the snacks. More than 15 years before Nutrition Smart opened, when I still lived in Westches ter County, NY, I lost more than 35 pounds with a Registered Dietitian who didn’t need her degree in nutrition to figure out the biggest challenge to my ability to lose weight and keep it off was that I was a “carbaholic.”

The first Nutrition Smart store opened in Pembroke Pines, FL, in 1996. Today there are four stores in this Florida mini-chain — Coral Springs, Port St. Lucie, Wesley Chapel and the flagship store in Pembroke Pines that actually had to move to a larger location in a better plaza in the same community because

A Little History

“They’ve both been here for a long time and people trust them to give them good advice. You don’t get that kind of help or knowledge in grocery or pharmacy stores. When they go on vacation, customers will say, ‘I’ll come back when Gary (or Joe) comes (L.-r.) Knowledgeable vitamin and supplement specialists Joe Geier and Gary Kyle and general manager Fausto Soriano are a big part of why Nutrition Smart on BBD Blvd. (south of S.R. 56) is becoming more and more popular. (All photos on these pages by Charmaine George)

When Nutrition Smart, Wesley Chapel’s original and, once again, it’s only “green” grocery store, opened in 2009 on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. just south of S.R. 56, I was at the store’s Grand Opening. And, even though I never felt the need to eat only organic produce and unprocessed foods, I knew there was a huge — and growing — demand in our community for food, bever ages, vitamins and supplements that supported peoples’ efforts to live a healthier lifestyle.

Nutrition Smart (1821 BBD Blvd.) is open Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-9 p.m., and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, call (813) 3414444, visit NutritionSmart.com or see the ad on pg. 33 of this issue, which also has a coupon for 20% off your next in-store purchase (some restrictions ap ply; see ad for details).

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 18 • September 6, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net 21Neighborhood News @NTWCNews back. That’s a big part of what separates Nutrition Smart from other stores.” Soriano also says that the reason Nutri tion Smart finally started advertising with us and wanted us to write a story was because, “There are so many people here who moved from other states who never heard of us. We hope the Neighborhood News can help us get the word out because everyone reads it.” Despite the fact the store only carries organic produce, as well as everything from unpasteurized “raw” milk to organic meats and meat alternatives to breads, grains, bulk nuts and dried fruits and of course, an evergrowing roster of my beloved snacks, Soriano says that the fastest-growing category in terms of sales at the store these days are im mune support products, “like zinc, elderberry and silver, because of Covid.” He adds, “Even though Publix and pharmacies carry some of our same products, we are Wesley Chapel’s one-stop shop for all of these items — and we definitely offer competitive pricing and price-matching (with other stores) on the same products.” He adds, “And, as the GM, I have to try everything. How can I recommend some thing to a customer I’ve never tried myself?”

The Wesley Chapel Nutrition Smart prides itself on selling only organic produce. (Below center) Our editor loves the amazing selection of healthier cookies from the Alternative Baking Company. (Bottom left) If you’re looking for unpasteurized “raw” milk, you’ll find it in Nutrition Smart’s dairy case. (Bottom right) The store also carries a wide variety of CBD products , and Joe or Gary can help you pick the right CBD products for your needs.

(Above)

He also notes that the store should be bringing back its popular juice bar soon. Customer Appreciation Day! Soriano says that Nutrition Smart’s Customer Appreciation Day — which is being held this year on Saturday, September 24, is one of his favorite days each year, but they stopped having the event during Covid. “We’ll have live music, free samples, giveaways, raffles, discounts, cooking classes and other demonstrations,” he says, “but it’s also an opportunity for customers to slow down, spend some time in the store and get to try some things before you buy, plus our people will be on hand to answer questions. Everything moves so fast these days. We really hope the community will come out and see why Nutrition Smart is different and special.”

Blue Heron Senior Living Offers The Best Of Four Worlds!

The sunsets at Blue Heron Senior Living in Wesley Chapel are an added bonus to go with a long list of amenities for residents in Assisted Living and Memory Care. (Photos courtesy of Blue Heron)

Candy Spitzer searched extensively for the perfect retirement home. Her criteria included a place near her children, where she didn’t have to cook or clean and where she could still have neighbors. She found the community she was look ing for at Blue Heron Senior Living & Memory Care. “I wanted to be with people who would be similar to my age so that we could still talk to and really communicate with each other,” says Spitzer, a 78-yearold Blue Heron resident. “Blue Heron was so far above any of the other places that I went because I never saw that ability for us to be able to get together as much as we can here.”

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Blue Heron Senior Living, located on Eagleston Blvd. off Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in Seven Oaks near the new (opening in 2023) BayCare Hospital, had a staggered opening in June 2021. The 159,000-sq.ft. retirement home offers four distinct lifestyle communities for residents — including assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing and rehabilitation. “We are a very unique community,” says Community Relations Director Lilly Gonzalez. “We are the only community in the Wesley Chapel and New Tampa area that combines assisted living, memory care, skilled rehab and long-term care, all on oneEvencampus.”beyond Wesley Chapel/New Tampa, the combination of all four ser vices is Gonzalezrare. says the goal of Blue Her on is to provide care and services to its residents, so they can have the independ ence to do the things they enjoy. Family members, she says, can visit and spend quality time with their loved ones know ing they are being cared for properly. “When their family comes, they can enjoy the visit without having the burden of having to care for [and ask], ‘Did you take your pills, did you take a shower, did you drink your water?,’” Gonzalez says. “They can rest assured that we took care of those responsibilities.” An Array of Choices Spitzer is just one of about 83 resi dents who currently live in the assisted living community. There are 18 studio apartments, 43 one-bedroom apartments and 12 two-bedroom apartments to choose from. Residents of the 73 apart ments — some are occupied by couples — can partake in social, educational, spiritual and health-oriented activities. Residents also are welcome to leave their homes to shop or go out to eat, Gonzalez says, which is something Blue Heron residents like to do often. Resi dents also receive a pendant, often worn like a necklace, that they can press in case they need a care team member for assistance.BlueHeron offers a host of ameni ties. In each assisted living apartment, there are full-sized refrigerators, a washer and dryer, television and telephone service, as well as WiFi, which along with the other utilities, are all included in the monthly price. The lobby has comfortable seating and a gas-fired fireplace, ideal for

By ISABELLACorrespondentDOUGLAS small gatherings or just relaxing. The main dining area, which serves up to three meals a day to residents, is behind the lobby, and also has an open kitchen area, called The Bistro, for graband-go snacks and drinks, including cof fee and a wine tap for residents to enjoy while watching television or mingling with new Whenfriendstheweather is right, an out door patio beckons. It features a gas grill, a putting green and plenty of umbrellacovered seating for those who choose to look out over a sizable pond. It also is a perfect area for live music, which residents are treated to on occasion. Blue Heron also has an art studio/ gallery, a spa/salon and a life enrichment center.Gonzalez says the fourth floor might be the residents’ favorite — “It has a lounge area and it’s really a pretty place to watch the sunsets,” she says. Some apartments have balconies that overlook a courtyard and the pond as well, offering beautiful views. To provide peace of mind, Covid-19 regulations are in place at all Blue Heron communities. Employees are regularly test ed for Covid-19 and residents are required to wear masks in the common areas. This has not, however, done away with the community aspect of Blue Heron, Gonzalez says. She recalls a time when residents did not want anyone to be excluded, so they pushed two tables together in the dining room. Gonzalez says the residents take pride in the community and make it comfortable and inclusive for everyone, which is something management also encourages.“It’sreally a precious thing,” she says. “They’re able to feel comfortable

short-term rehabilita tion services and long-term nursing care on-site. There are 106 private suites in the health and rehabilitation center, as well as a “Return to Home” program that includes advanced therapy equip ment, physical, occupational and speech therapies, virtual reality workouts and neighborhood amenities.

“Our whole vision is for rehab to home,” Cedeno says. “To get patients stronger so that they can return home or to assistedAssistedliving.”Living or Memory Care residents who have a medical need that requires a skilled nurse or intense rehab can just transition over and get the help they need before returning to their regu lar apartments.AssistedLiving and Memory Care are independently licensed with the state of Florida, and the skilled nursing has a distinct license for their service spe cialty, Gonzalez says. Both areas of the community offer skilled, certified and licensed staff members through Resident Aides, Medication Technicians, Certified Nursing Assistants, Licensed Practical Nurses and Registered Nurses. A variety of doctors visit residents and patients, including cardiology, podiatry, psychol ogy and many other specialties. Residents in Assisted Living can maintain their current primary care physicians if they choose to do so. Another unique touch offered by Blue Heron is its respite stay program. If a family caregiver needs to go out of town for a few weeks and can’t leave a parent or older relative alone to care for themselves, they can stay at Blue Heron like they would a hotel, provided they meet the same requirements as a regular resident. These respite stays won’t be available forever because, eventually, Gonzalez says, Blue Heron will be at 100-percent oc cupancy. But until then, “it is a service to the community.”Thosesame caregivers also can ben efit from a free support group offered by Blue Heron on the third Wednesday of every month, from 3 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Eileen Poiley from the Byrd Alz heimer’s Center & Research Institute at USF hosts the free monthly forums. The forum are designed to help Tampa-area caregivers cope with any stress and guilt, deal with loved ones who may no longer recognize them, are caring for a relative who is exit-seeking or are in physical and cognitive decline. Gonzalez says roughly a dozen or so caregivers attend, and every one isThewelcome.longlist of amenities and the growth of the community are two of the main reasons why Spitzer is overjoyed with her choice. For people wondering about living at Blue Heron, she says it is the best senior living community she’s looked at in the area. “I just wish more people would un derstand that it’s not a punishment for their children to take them like my sons brought me,” Spitzer says. “It’s become a joy and I would hope that older people will begin to look at this as being their new home and that you can live a very nice Bluelife.”

Memory Care is its own separate neighborhood, and features its own dining room (top left) and 22 studio apartments (top right), as well as a number of security measures to keep the residents safe.

Heron Senior Living is lo cated at 5071 Eagleston Blvd. in Wes ley Chapel, and its hours are MondayFriday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m., and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on the weekends. For more information, call (813) 454-0513, visit SeniorLivingAtBlueHeron.com or see the ad on page 29 of this issue.

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enough to display this and engage other new residents and make them feel com fortable — that’s unique.” For Blue Heron residents with de mentia, the community offers a secured, but intimate memory care community, which allows residents to thrive and not be overwhelmed. Offering a smaller homelike environment also ensures the person alized attention and programming these residentsGonzalezdeserve.says that with Memory Care, “it’s all about engagement with planned events, scheduled outings, mean ingful and purposeful programs that keep our residents stimulated, within their own familiarSheenvironment.”addsthatthe Memory Care community provides a supervised neigh borhood for residents, while also allowing them to maintain their independence. “For those who may have a tendency to try to walk away and go look for a loved one or go look for their home and wander off, well then, the independent area in assisted living is no longer safe for them,” she says. “Memory Care is a secured neighborhood and provides that safety and peace of mind.” While the 22 Memory Care studio apartments may all be similar, the front of the “cottages” vary, with some designed with brick, stone or wood.

Skilled Nursing & Rehab “Skilled nursing and rehabilitation services are for patients who need more acute services for thatNewChapelnitylivingonlynursingforAdmissionsDirectorCedeno,saysillnesses,”injuriessurgeries,varyingorLenee’theoftheskilledside.ItistheassistedcommuinWesleyorTampaoffersboth

She adds, “It’s a very rewarding experience. Music

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She defines “previous formal private musical train ing” as one-on-one instruction. If someone has partici pated in a band or chorus in high school, or something similar, that would not disqualify them from participat ing in the Thosestudy.whodo participate will be randomly as signed to a group for their music lessons. Because the groups are assigned at random, participants will not get to choose the type of music lessons they will re ceive. The classes will meet twice a week for 12 weeks and study participants are asked to also practice at home 30 minutes a day, or three hours a week. There are various classes available to accommodate different schedules.Cognitive training interventions contain task nov elty, progressive difficulty, practice components, social elements, and are “ecologically valid,” which means that individuals can use the new skill in everyday life.

By CELESTE McLAUGHLINCorrespondent

Jennifer Bugos, Ph.D., is heading up a study at the USF School of Music that will examine the effects of music training interventions on memory and motor function. (Photo: Charmaine George) See “Music” on pg. 26

“One of the key components of the study is that the task must be novel — or new – to participants,” explains Dr. Bugos. “We’re looking for people with three or less years of previous formal private musical training and not currently reading music and engaging in musical performance.”

“Many of our previous participants can play for their own enjoyment or report playing ‘Happy Birthday’ for their grandchildren. Dr. Bugos says. “Some even per form at church or just for their own enjoyment.”

Music touches people creatively and socially, but it also deeply affects our brains. Jennifer Bugos, Ph.D., first considered that idea when she was much younger, as a secondary caregiver for her grandparents. With her grandfa ther’s ability to speak declining to the point where he could barely utter a sentence, she would play the piano, and he would sing every word to “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Nearby, her grand mother was in a near vegetative state, but her toe would still tap along to the music. These experiences led Dr. Bugos to her life’s work, studying, as she says, “what it is about music that is so special.” Her background in music education includes Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Master of Edu cation and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Music Education, plus studies in gerontology and postdoctorate study in neuropsychology. She serves as Associate Professor of Music Education in the School of Music at the University of South Florida (USF), with two decades of research and a 22-page curriculum vitae detailing the research she has done to understand the connection between music and cogni tive performance, among other accomplishments. “Music is a powerful stimulus that we know can help to improve memory,” she says. “It’s a powerful way to exercise the brain.” Last year, the National Endowment for the Arts chose USF as one of just six nationally designated re search labs in the area of “the arts, creativity, cognition and learning.”Asprincipal investigator, Dr. Bugos will lead researchers who will study the effects of music training interventions — specifically, subjects will participate in music classes — on memory and motor function. The study is called Cognition and Coordination Across the Lifespan in Music, or the acronym CALM. It is open to adults ages 18-25, as well as to adults over age 60, with plans to recruit children ages 8 to 12 in the future. Participants should have no or very little formal training in music.

USF Music School Seeking Participants For Cognitive Study

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‘ ContinuedMusic’from pg. 24

Partners include Kuumba Dancers and Drummers and the Patel Con servatory at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts. The Gasparilla Music Foundation also is a partner on a series of studies examining the effects of music training on coordination and cognition in children.Tosee if you qualify to par ticipate in the study, or for more information, contact Dr. Jennifer Bugos at (813) 974-2753, email her at BugosJ@usf.edu or see the ad on page 32.

The first session begins in Septem ber, but new sessions will begin every four months, so those who are interested can feel free to reach out, even if their schedule doesn’t permit them to partici pate in the September sessions.

training contains all of the active ingredi ents of a cognitive training intervention.” Because the programs are struc tured as cognitive training programs, Dr. Bugos says, “They are a bit more intense than a traditional music lesson.” She ex plains that it’s important for the lessons to be rigorous — and for participants to attend regularly and practice at home — so they can see gains. She also notes that the programs are engaging and that people who partici pate will notice benefits in terms of cog nitive performance. They also will make social connections. She says previous participants still sometimes get together for coffee, for example. Lessons are offered free of charge, and participants will receive all materi als and access to instruments for the duration of the program. In addition, they are required to participate in four research sessions, for which they will be compensated. USF parking passes also are provided.“It’sagreat program,” Dr. Bugos says. “There are cognitive benefits, mo tor system benefits, and learning a new skill that can last a lifetime.” Additional studies are open for participants who are currently cancer pa tients or have experienced heart failure. All studies require participants to follow Covid-19 procedures, including wearing masks during the lessons.

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Get A Brand-New Kitchen In Only Five Days With Kitchen Tune-Up

By CELESTE McLAUGHLINCorrespondent

If you would love to have a new kitchen, but the thought of months of remodeling fills you with dread, Tampa Palms residents Al and Zein Aita want you to know they have the perfect solution for you. As owners of the local franchise of Kitchen Tune-Up, they offer fast, clean, and affordable solutions for a complete kitchenKitchenmakeover.Tune-Up has been around for more than 35 years and has more than 200 locations throughout the United States. Over the last few years, the com pany has grown tremendously, including the Aitas’ expansion into the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel area a little more than two years ago. It’s the best of both worlds, says Al, because, “we are locally owned and oper ated, but we have the support of a large company.”Thatmeans lower prices because the corporate entity buys in bulk. And while, these days, everyone is experiencing delays and supplier shortages, being a larger buyer, Kitchen Tune-Up is able to get priority faster than other companies, so access to materials hasn’t been as delayed as it has been for others in the industry. Kitchen Tune-Up can help if you are looking for a complete, custom kitchen remodel, but they also offer much easier and quicker solutions that can update and refresh nearly every home. First, if you still love your kitchen but it’s looking a little worn, the “origi nal tune-up” includes a deep cleaning and wood reconditioning. Cabinets are cleaned to remove all dirt, grease, wax, smoke and dust, and any imperfections or discolorations are restored, includ

ing repairing scratches and dents. They’ll make your old cabinets look like new with a penetrating oil or fresh coat of finish, and you can even add new accessories, such as hardware, roll-out drawers inside your cabinets, or new countertops or backsplashes.Ifyouno longer love your cabi nets, but you still like the color, Kitchen Tune-Up can replace all of your doors and drawer fronts with new ones that are color-matched to your existing cabinet

See “New Kitchen” on pg. 30

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boxes in a process called “redooring,” which includes new, soft-close hinges, pulls and Changingknobs.the color isn’t hard, either. Al says most customers choose this option, which is called “refacing.” “Refacing is perfect for customers who like the layout of their kitchen and don’t want demolition mess,” he says. This includes redooring, but also add ing a veneer layer to the cabinet boxes so you’re not limited to your current kitchen color.“Most kitchens are done in four days at about half the cost of a new kitchen,” Al says. “It’s a beautiful transition without the hassle and the mess.” He says his job is something like be ing a detective, listening to the customer and making recommendations about what would work best for them. With any of the available options, Kitchen Tune-Up technicians can customize the job to include upgrades such as adding an island, additional cabinets, or whatever the cus tomer wants in order to have the kitchen of theirFordreams.thosewho don’t like their current kitchen layout or need more extensive help, Al says working with Kitchen TuneUp allows customers the benefits of the large corporate backing for full kitchen

Al and Zein Aita’s Kitchen Tune-Up franchise can provide a custom complete or partially remodeled kitchen, or just some updates that can make your kitchen look more modern and new without the big price tag. (Photo by Charmaine George)

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Above is a typical kitchen before “refacing”. Below is that same kitchen after refacing by Kitchen Tune-Up.

He says current trends include twotone kitchens, with white cabinets on the top and grey or blue cabinets on the bot tom. Many customers are choosing natural colors — such as a soft green — for their cabinets. Al says having the support of the national Kitchen Tune-Up corporation helps him to stay up-to-date on all trends and newWithideas.anyoption, customers can add on accessories, such as a farmhouse sink, which is a popular option right now. Al says his customers also love having rollout trays inside the “Theycabinets.don’thave to go digging deep in a bottom cabinet anymore,” he says. “Just roll it out, and it’s very smooth and practical, so you don’t have to be on the ground looking for your pots and pans.”

redesigns, with 3D designs and quality tech nical support for any unusual circumstances.

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‘New ContinuedKitchen’frompg.28

The process starts with a phone call, where Al strives to understand exactly what each customer wants and needs, and then schedules a free, in-home consultation and estimate. Everything is custom made, so careful measurements are taken, and then it takes about three weeks to order and receive materials.

The Five Trust Points Al says he often hears stories about problems with contractors, but Kitchen Tune-Up has a very strict set of “Trust Points” that every franchisee is expected to provide:These Trust Points include: • We listen carefully. • We communicate promptly. • We respect your home. • We arrive on time. • We provide solutions. “We want to ensure our customers have a good experience, so we emphasize these trust points,” Al says.

Al and Zein have lived in Tampa Palms for six years and say they always dreamed of running a business together. Al’s background is in retail and sales, and Zein’s is in accounting, although she also holds a Master’s degree from the Univer sity of South Florida in Project Manage ment. So, Al works with the customers to ensure they get the kitchen of their dreams, while Zein handles the accounting for theThebusiness.couple has a 16-month-old daughter, Julia. “It’s been challenging taking care of a baby and running a business,” Al says, “but we’ve gotten used to it and are get ting better every day.” He says they love it when they get to reveal a finished kitchen to their custom ers. “It’s very rewarding to start on a Monday with one kitchen and end on Fri day with a completely different kitchen,”

Al says. “It’s the best part of the job and we’re happy to help our customers with that.” Cheryle White recently had her cabinets refaced, after buy ing a new home with cabinets she didn’t“Theylike.didn’t have handles, didn’t open and close properly, and my kitchen looked old and dated and needed to be refreshed,” Cheryle says. “At the same time, it had brand new quartz countertops that we didn’t want to waste, so we looked at our options.” She says she’s thrilled with how her kitchen turned out. “A lot of people don’t know that if your cabinets are in good shape, you don’t need to tear them out,” she says. “If you just don’t like the aesthet ics, you can change them.” Kitchen Tune-Up offers several options for financing, which currently includes a 12-month interest-free option. Kitchen Tune-Up will come to you for a free inhome consultation. For more information, (813) 8225911, visit thecom/tampa-north-flKitchenTuneUp.orseeadonpage39.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 18 • September 6, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net 33Neighborhood News @NTWCNews

Neighborhood News @NTWCNews34 For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 18 • September 6, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

When Alex Mitow, the son of Kim Mitow, who first opened The Lucky Dill Deli in Palm Harbor way back in 1991, emailed to ask for advertising rates in the New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News, I’ll admit I was a little confused. Why would a deli restaurant located in Palm Harbor (that I personally had visited many times over the past 31 years because it is a true New York-style deli) want to adver tise itself to two communities located at least 45 minutesDuringaway?mymost recent visit, Lucky Dill general manager Ron Garcia explained it this way to“Weme:know that pretty much everyone in Palm Harbor, Tarpon Springs and even New Port Richey and Clearwater pretty much already knows who and where we are and what we serve,” Ron said. “But, our goal is to bring in and introduce a whole new group of customers to our ‘destination restaurant’ because we know that if they give us a try, they’ll keep coming back — and tell their friends about us.”

The Lucky Dill Deli on U.S. 19 in Palm Harbor has a huge variety of true NY-style deli favorites, from (above left) The New Yorker bagel sandwich with Nova Scotia salmon, (above right) the Empire State Stacker, (below left) brisket & pastrami combo sandwich with real au jus and (below right) real matzo ball soup.

By GARY NAGER

Ron, who has more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality business himself, has been the GM at The Lucky Dill since 2020. He told me that it was important to him to maintain the family feel Kim and her family created with delicious, top-quality food and outstanding service. Kim and her children Jason, Tanya, and Alex, worked hard to bring the New York way of life, along with its commitment to top-notch food and great value, to Lucky Dill Palm Harbor. Over the years (according to its website), “Lucky Dill has been heralded as not only one of the best restaurants in Palms Harbor (it’s nominated again for that honor by Creative Loaf ing), but one of the top NYC delis in Florida. A loyal follow ing of New York transplants... have grown to call Lucky Dill their home away from home.” And, for good reason. It had been a couple of years since I had visited The Lucky Dill, but I was excited to give it another try, because it offers a few of my favorite New York deli items you really can’t find anywhere else near here, including real matzo ball soup and savory Jewish-style brisket of beef (not to be confused with BBQ brisket) with real au jus for dipping. “We use real steamer trays and col lect the brisket drippings to make the au jus,” Brian, the head bartender (left) at Lucky Dill’s full liquor bar (with great craft cocktails) told me. We don’t use any of that canned or powdered crap other places use for their au jus.” The menu at The Lucky Dill is huge, but the variety of deli sandwiches — with favorites like corned beef, pastra mi, roast beef, turkey and even chopped liver — is definitely the star of the show. Those who like their sandwiches as big

In addition to traditional deli favorites, The Lucky Dill has a (left) full liquor bar, (above left) amaz ing Bananas Foster French toast and even Italian favorites like (above right) Vinny’s mozzarella stack.

The

Photos by Charmaine George Lucky Dill Deli — A True NY Deli, But So Much More!

The Lucky Dill also features The Ditch Plains Surf Bar, the first-of-its-kind in the Tampa Bay area. Serving up a slice of Hamp tons sophistication in Palm Harbor, this new bar celebrates laid-back beach life with its own beachy menu and refined takes on fresh summery cocktails, quenching frosés and craft beers from New York breweries.

But, in addition to those deli classics, The Lucky Dill also offers “A Taste Of Little Italy,” with favorites like clams casino pasta, chicken Alfredo and Vinny’s mozzarella stack. Breakfast, Bakery & More! Breakfast at The Lucky Dill includes The Bagel Noshery, with classics like The New Yorker with Nova Scotia salmon, the BEC (Bacon, Egg & Cheese) deluxe, with thickcut bacon, cheddar cheese, scrambled eggs and chipotle apple aioli.

The Lucky Dill Deli (33180 US Hwy. 19, Palm Harbor) is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day, 8 a.m.-9 p.m. For more info, call (727) 789-5574, visit LuckyDillDeli.com or see the ad on pg. 37 for a 3-course Dill-Flation meal deal. Join the email list and receive a $15 gift card emailed to you on your birthday.

The Lucky Dill’s Brooklyn Bakery (top) offers an incredible variety of cakes, pies, cookies (above left) and even a cannoli bar where you pick your own fillings . Lucky Dill’s outdoor Ditch Plains Surf Bar has its own menu with favorites like fresh calamari (above right), as well as a true Hamptons-style tiki bar (below).

There’s also a variety of bowls and toasts, like Awesome Avo + Egg toast and an Aussie Brekkie Bowl with poached egg, farro grains, fresh veggies, avocado, grilled hal loumi cheese and pickled onions, as well as a variety of traditional egg and omelette dishes and “Bennies,” including the Brighton Beach Benny with smoked Nova Scotia salmon, wilted spinach, poached eggs and Hollan daise sauce on an English muffin with a side of home fries. I’ve had the Bananas Foster French toast, which is literally to die for.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 18 • September 6, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net 35Neighborhood News @NTWCNews as their heads definitely should try one of the “skyscraper” options, like the Empire State Stacker shown on the previous page, which is a nearly 9-inch-tall combo of corned beef, pastrami, turkey and roast beef with Swiss and provolone cheeses on marble rye. Lucky Dill even offers “old school” NY Deli Delights like tongue, silky smoked whitefish salad and “Nib bles & Noshes” like Gabila’s Coney Island knishes, Lower East latkes (potato pancakes) with sour cream and chunky applesauce and Hebrew National hot dogs.

The Lucky Dill’s Brooklyn Bakery has a huge variety of cakes, pies (the peanut but ter pie is decadent), cookies (including the best black & white cookies I’ve had outside of NYC) and a cannoli bar, where you can custom-design your cannolis with a variety of fillings and toppings. The Bakery counter also serves as The Lucky Dill’s to-go area.

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There also are great daily specials like the Social Hour (Mon.-Fri., 3 p.m.-6 p.m.), with greatly reduced drink and select snack (at the bar only) prices, Taco Tues., Whiskey Wed. and endless mimosas and bloody Marys for $25 Sat. & Sun. One thing that some folks have been concerned about is the fact that The Living Room Wesley Chapel adds a 20% service charge to every check, but it is posted on the menu, at the bar and every table, as well as mentioned by every server. The Living Room (2001 Piazza Ave., Ste 100) is open for lunch and dinner every day. For more information, call (813) 934-7911 or visit TLR.restaurant.

— GN The Living Room — Now Open At The Shops! Now Open: Nova Pizza & Gorkhali Kitchen! Falabella Bistro Adds Liquor & New Menu Items!

Congratulations to my friend and one of Wesley Chapel’s favorite restaurateurs Steve Falabella! By breaking through a wall between his Falabella Family Bistro (6027 Wesley Grove Blvd.) and adjacent 900º NY Pizza at The Grove, Steve has been able to add full liquor to his beer and wine license at Falabella BistroJannah(only). and I already loved Steve’s delicious Italian cuisine, but since we prefer full-liquor drinks when we dine out, we probably haven’t been to the Bistro as often as we might have otherwise. But now, Fuhgeddaboudit! While Jannah sipped her delicious Cosmopolitan (and I enjoyed a new rum punch drink), we both gobbled down our favorite fried zucchini appetizer, shared Steve’s new filet mignon (photo) entrée with Marsala mushroom sauce (which we ordered on the side) and his chicken, spinach and ricotta cannelloni, and followed all that up with a slab of dessert chef Evelyn Barreno’s awesome chocolate mousse cheesecake. Need more prodding? Check out the ad on pg. 12 of this issue, call (813) 428-6957 or visit FalabellaBistro.com. — GN Nova Pizza is now open in New Tampa’s Pebble Creek Collection at 19651 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in the former location of both Windy City Pizza and Full Circle Pizza. And, even though some folks aren’t happy that Nova Pizza doesn’t offer Chicagostyle pizza, yours truly and others are thrilled that Nova has NY-style ‘za and Italian fare (like the tasty chicken parmigiana pictured here). We also loved the pepperoni and cheese pizzas, the meatball sub and the garlic knots. For more info, see the ad (far right), which has a coupon for 15% off any pur chase at Nova Pizza, or call (813) 501-4056. So, even though I’m from New York and lived and/or worked in Manhattan for about 10 years, I never remembered seeing a Nepa lese restaurant featuring the cuisine of Nepal, a small country located in the Himalayan mountains between China and India. When I found out that Gorkhali Kitch en (named for a soldier from a certain region in Nepal), located at 10044 Cross Creek Blvd. in the Cross Creek Center plaza (in the former location of India Gate restaurant), was going to be the first Nepali restaurant to open in the entire Tampa Bay area, I had to check it out. And, while the menu also features many dishes from India (including delicious tandoor oven lamb chops), I had to try at least one of the most authentic dishes from Nepal, the pan-fried chicken and veggie momo dum nplings. Momos also are available steamed, deep-fried, in a soup broth and just with veg gies. I also really enjoyed the Nepalese fried rice with egg, veggies and soy sauce. Please tell my new friends Menora, Reena, Ponam and Rajesh that I sent you. For more info, call (813) 388-6404 or visit GorkhaliKitchenTampa.com.

Congratulations to Zach and Christina Feinstein of The Feinstein Group on the recent opening of their second location of The Living Room at the Shops at Wiregrass. The Wesley Chapel location of The Living Room is larger and has more indoor and outdoor seating (with live music on weekend evenings) than the original location on Main St. in Dunedin, and definitely has at tracted lots of locals to fill those seats since its soft opening on Aug. 8. Known for its amazing craft cocktails, like the Humidor, Bourbon Smash and “Oatgeat” Mai Tai, Executive Chef Joshua Rhynes also has created a menu of delicious Snacks (like flash-fried pork dumplings), Shareables (including tuna poké), Handhelds (e.g., Korean street tacos), Soups & Salads (roasted tomato bisque and Kale, Caesar!) and entrées like the perfectly spicy chargrilled pork chop (photo by Charmaine George) marinated in habanero salsa, with cilantro lime rice, avocado, roquette, zucchini and squash, fresh shrimp garganelli pasta and more.

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Only a few restaurants have yet to open at Phase 1 of the KRATE Container Park at The Grove at Wesley Chapel — and the word is definitely getting out that KRATE is a great destination for a wide variety of cuisine types from all over the world. Bakery X (pronounced “Eeks” en Français)

Merveilleux!

Authentic French Bakery did finally open on Aug. 3, and if you love au thentic French croissants, breads and pastries as much as I do, you have to check it out! In additional to traditional butter croissants and a few varieties of French bread (the brioche is unlike anything you’ve had at local restaurants), Bakery X also bakes its own pain Suisse (Swissstyle croissants with custard), pain du chocolat or almond (chocolate or almond croissants) and more (photo above).

More Eateries Now Open At The KRATEs!

The Peruvian-Chinese fried rice also looked amazing and the fish ceviche was spot-on. Also now open is the second Wesley Chapel location of Cafe 365 (the other is in the Shops at Wiregrass), which has delicious gelato (I loved the marshmallow flavor), desserts (photo below), coffee drinks and more. The only eateries yet to open at the KRATEs are Boba Mac’s (mac & cheese and boba teas) and Café Zorba Greek Cuisine. — Gary Nager

Also now open at the KRATEs is Pisco Express Peruvian Chinese Fusion, which capitalizes on the fact that Peru is directly across the Pacific Ocean from China and the cuisine combines the best of Latin American with Chi nese fare, like the Tallarin Saltado (Chifa) below left, which is lo mein-style egg noodles with fresh veggies and your choice of protein (Jannah and I devoured the chicken Tallarin in the picture).

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