New Tampa Neighborhood News Issue 19-12 by Neighborhood News

Volume 20 Issue 19

Inside: A Smorgasboard Of Local Dining Info!

September 8, 2012

See Neighborhood Magazine!

The Direct-Mail News Magazines Serving New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Since 1993! THIS INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY NEWS MAGAZINE IS DIRECTLY MAILED TO: NEW TAMPA: Arbor Greene • Cory Lake Isles • Cross Creek • Easton Park • Grand Hampton • Heritage Isles • Hunter’s Green • Hunter’s Key • K-Bar Ranch • Lake Forest • Live Oak Preserve • Pebble Creek • Richmond Place • Tampa Palms • The Hammocks • West Meadows WESLEY CHAPEL: Aberdeen • Belle Chase • Brookside • Chapel Pines • Country Walk • Lexington Oaks • Meadow Pointe • New River • Northwood • Pinewalk • Pine Ridge • Saddlebrook • Saddleridge Estates • Saddlewood • Seven Oaks • The Lakes at Northwood • The Villages of Wesley Chapel • Wesley Pointe • Westbrook Estates • Williamsburg

20th Anniversary ‘Taste’ To Be Held March 24 In Tampa Palms! Primrose School & Primrose Park, Across From Freedom High In Tampa Palms, Will Host Expanded Event By Gary Nager The New Tampa Chamber of Commerce, Tampa Palms Professional Center and Primrose School of Tampa Palms are proud to announce that the 20th annual Taste of New Tampa & Business Expo will be held Sunday, March 24, noon-6 p.m. The Taste, New Tampa’s signature one-day event, has been held in a variety of locations from Tampa Palms to Wesley Chapel the last 19 years, but had been staged at either Freedom High or the New Tampa Community Park in Tampa Palms or at Wharton High on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. the last several years. But, events held at schools and community parks located adjacent to schools can not serve alcohol, and to once again be able to offer beer and wine to Taste attendees was one of the priorities of the Chamber’s Board of Directors for the 20th milestone event. “This Board and others before it also hoped to find a location that might be able to become a permanent site for

the event in years to come,” says Regina Ramalheira, the new Board president. “And, we also considered the possibility of expanding the Taste to a two-day event featuring headline entertainment and a Battle of the Bands.” And, the Chamber is well on its way to making most of those ideas into a reality. The Tampa Palms Professional Center and Primrose School & Park, which are self-contained on Primrose Lake Cir. off Commerce Park Blvd., offer a location that is not only large enough to handle a greatly expanded event, it’s also a location which offers the benefit of potential temporary wet zoning, as well as plenty of parking and a plaza that normally sees very little traffic on the weekends (the SpringHill Suites by Marriott hotel and St. Andrew Presbyterian Church located in the center are the only exceptions). After discussions with Gar Urette of the professional center and Richard and Jana Radtke of the Primrose School, the Chamber Board opted to move the event to a Sunday afternoon, expand it from the usual three to six

full hours, locate all of the Taste exhibitors and activities inside the park and add both a Battle of the Bands and, if possible, a true headline entertainment act to the festivities. The details about the entertainment will be announced as they are firmed up, but if anyone who reads this has access to any headline national or even top-level local entertainers, you’re asked to call Jayne Baker at the Chamber office at 293-2464.

Reimbur$ing Restaurant$ The number of restaurants participating in the Taste has dropped over the last few years, in no small part due to the change in the local economy, which has made it more and more difficult for mom-and-pop restaurants, in particular, to afford to give away an average of 1,500 “tastes” without receiving anything in return other than, they hope, quite a few new customers. So, when the Board invited me to be the chairman of this year’s Taste, as I had several previous years, I said that I would be less interested in re-taking

control of the event if the Board was unwilling to get these restaurant owners something more than just a nice picture in our Taste follow-up issue. To that end, the Board agreed to reduce the admission price from $15 (in advance) or $20 (day of) per adult (and kids over age 12) all the way down to just $5 per adult in advance and $10 the day of the Taste. It also will cost $1 per Taste Ticket to sample each restaurant’s samplings or to purchase tastes of beer or wine, and the ticket proceeds will be split 50-50 with each restaurant. In other words, if a restaurant collects 1,000 tickets during the Taste, it will be reimbursed $500. The individual restaurants/beverage suppliers will determine the number of Taste Tickets they will charge for each of their own samples, as well as the size of each sample they give away. For information about Taste 2013 sponsorships, exhibitor and restaurant tables, call Jayne Baker at 293-2464 or visit NewTampaChamber.org or TasteofNewTampa.info.

Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel’s Public Opening To Be Held Sept. 16!

NEWS, BUSINESS, SPORTS & EDUCATION UPDATES

NEIGHBORHOOD MAGAZINE!

Apartments Coming To Pebble Creek, New Kids Get Into Monkey Bizness At The Shops Tampa Primary Results By Precinct, Eye At Wiregrass Mall, Local Culinary Students Docs Help New Tampa See Clearly, Lots Of Are Tomorrow’s Chefs, Multiple Dining Local Business News & Much More! Reviews & More!

Pages 1-32

Pages 33-52

New Hospital, New Jobs At our press time, FHWC still had plenty of positions to fill. Experienced interested nurses and clinical staffers are encouraged to apply online at FHWC’s website, FHWesleyChapel.com/ Careers, but a hospital spokesperson See “Hospital” on page 28.

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Also Inside This Issue!

wall, an obstacle course and some large, inflatable slides.

Postal Customer

After years of planning and construction, the brand new Florida Hospi-

tal begins to see patients in October. According to a press release from the hospital, the “Community Grand Opening” will be held on Sunday, September 16, at 1 p.m. The event will be free, open to the public and will feature live entertainment, refreshments and activities for all ages, including tours of the new facility, which will give attendees a look at areas that will not be open to the public once the state-ofthe-art, 83-bed hospital opens. The event also will include appearances by Tampa Bay Lightning players and McGruff the Crime Dog, who will be helping with child fingerprinting. For kids, there will be a rock-climbing

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tal Wesley Chapel (FHWC) on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., just north of the Shops at Wiregrass mall, is finally gearing up for its public Grand Opening, and is in the process of filling hundreds of additional positions before the hospi-

Dated Material Please Rush!

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 â&#x20AC;˘ Volume 20, Issue 19 â&#x20AC;˘ September 8, 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Asst. Editor Matt Wiley Updates You On Our Daily Web News By Gary Nager; guest editorial by Matthew Wiley A wise Bob Dylan once sang, “The times, they are a’ changin.’” Cliché as that sounds, it’s true, and we at the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News are aware that we can do more to take better advantage of today’s technologies. We know the Internet has taken over in terms of access to local and even international news, and that what most people used to wait for and pick up in their driveways every morning, they can now see on their phone or iPad as soon as it happens. Duh. I spend more time reading on my phone than I do talking on it. But, regardless, we’re getting with the times and here’s the plan. Coming very soon, every day on WCNeighborhoodNews.com and NTNeighborhoodNews.com, there are going to be daily headlines. Sure, we’ve mentioned it in the paper before and attempted to keep up with the task, but bad habits die hard, and when your bad habit is not putting daily news on your news website...well, you get the idea. In the past, our website has been a place to find the whole previous issue that might have missed your mailbox, or because maybe you tossed it in the trash and then heard there was something good to read in it, or an article that directly concerned you and your community, and you wanted a second chance. (We forgive you, by the way.)

New Tampa Neighborhood News 15345 Amberly Dr., Tampa, FL 33647 Phone: (813) 910-2575 Fax: 910-2483 Adv. E-mail: Ads@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Editorial E-mail: EditorialDept@NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Publisher & Editor Gary Nager Assistant Editor / Photographer Matt Wiley Correspondents Camille Gillies • Michael Murillo • Sheryl Young Advertising Customer Service Manager Nikki Bennett

Marketing Director/Senior Graphic Designer Ashley Knoblach/Porsha Lamos

Advertising Sales Reps Taylor Gardner/Jared Nager Nothing that appears in New Tampa Neighborhood News may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by New Tampa Neighborhood News writers are their own and do not reflect the publisher’s opinion. The deadline for outside editorial submissions and advertisements for Volume 20, Issue 21, of New Tampa Neighborhood News is Monday, September 24, 2012. New Tampa Neighborhood News will consider previously non-published outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. New Tampa Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates. New Tampa Neighborhood News will not return unsolicited editorial materials. New Tampa Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit &/or reject any advertising. New Tampa Neighborhood News is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the actual cost of the advertising space itself, nor for the validity of any claims made by its advertisers. © 2012 JM2 Communications, Inc.

The point is, if you don’t keep up, you get left in the dust. We don’t want to get left in the dust, and we don’t want our readers to ever get left in the dust when it comes to the news that affects those of us who live and/or work in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel. No one likes dust. So, make sure you keep an eye on our websites for the news that concerns you. We are currently recruiting freelancers who want to contribute news items to our website. The only way to truly embrace the voice of the community is to let the community speak. If you are interesting in being a contributor, shoot me an email at EditorialDept@NTNeighborhoodnews.com with a resume and ONE short (less than 1,000 words) writing sample and we’ll get you started. If you think something’s not getting covered that should be, and you feel like you have what it takes to get the info uploaded to the net, let us know and do the same. We’re “all ears.” The New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News have been the alldirect-mail community news publications serving New Tampa & Wesley Chapel since 1993, and we’ve been around every block in our areas. We know what’s up, and you, our readers, deserve to be the first to know. — MW

well as a number of Wesley Chapel residents who work in New Tampa, so my philosophy as the owner and editor of the community news magazines serving both areas is that it pays to be members of not only the New Tampa Chamber of Commerce but also the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber. To that end, we have a great deal for you, now that the Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News has been officially announced as the print home of the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC)’s monthly printed newsletter. The Chamber also has

agreed to allow us at the Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News to handle the advertising sales and design for Chambermember businesses who want to purchase any of the very limited number of spaces available each month. “We’re very excited about this opportunity,” says Chamber executive director Mary Adele Cluck. We’ve already sold a few ads for the newsletter, but still have several spaces remaining. To order your Wesley Chapel Chamber newsletter ad, call Nikki at 910-2575 or visit WCNeighborhood News.com today! — GN

Reserve Your Ad In The WC Chamber Newsletter Today! Although our New Tampa readers don’t get to read our Wesley Chapel issue unless they do so online on our website, we realize that there are many New Tampa residents who own businesses or work in Wesley Chapel, as

Table of Contents

LOCAL NEWS, BUSINESS, EDUCATION & SPORTS UPDATES....................Pages 1-39 Rental Apartments Coming To Pebble Creek .....................6 Sinkhole Scare On Kinnan St..................................................8 Downed Power Lines Close All Lanes Of BBD......................8 New Tampa’s Aug. 14 Primary Election Results..................10

New Tampa News Briefs..................................12

Liberty Middle Teacher Watched Porn In Class Charges Upheld For Would-Be Freedom High Bomber JD Porter Domestic Violence Charges Dropped Local Woman Tired Of ‘BS’ Political Fliers, Makes Jewelry New Tampa Community Calendar...............14-15 New Tampa Chamber Newsletter......................16

Local Business Updates...........................18-24

EyeDocs Help New Tampa See More Clearly...........18 Avalon Park West Breaks Ground In WC................20 NT Dance Theater Shows You The Moves.............22 Artisan Aesthetics Introduces LipoControlTM ............24

Education & Sports Updates.........................28 New Tampa Schools Get Hurricane Day.

Neighborhood Magazine Kids Get Into ‘Monkey Bizness’ At Wiregrass......33, 37 WaZoo Gets Wild With Beerfest................................36 Local Culinary Students Are Chefs Of Tomorrow......40 Koizi Endless Hibachi & Sushi Eatery........................44 Ciccio’s Sizzles With New Menu.....................46 PDQ Is More Than Just ‘Pretty Darn Quick’............48 Neighborhood Nibbles & Biz Bytes...................49

NEW TAMPA COLOR CLASSIFIEDS..............50

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 19 • September 8, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

New Rental Community Ready To Open At Pebble Creek Golf Club leasing center is currently set to open in November, with occupancy beginning in December, although Morris says that the apartments won’t be fully completed until April 2013. The six-building, 168-unit development will feature one- and two-bedroom apartments that will run from about 800 sq. ft.-1,100 sq. ft. and will rent for about $1 per square foot. In addition to size, location also will be a determining factor in monthly rental price, with golf course or pool views being more expensive. Speaking of amenities, Morris says The Links will feature a resort-style pool, complete with an outdoor kitchen and eating area, and a clubhouse with a large gym and social media area inside. The two parking garages that will accompany the apartments also home to an area for washing residents’ cars. “We’re going to be a ‘Class A’ (or luxury) apartment complex,” Morris says. “I think it will be an enhancement to Pebble Creek.” Morris says that Bayfair has owned the land where The Links are being constructed for about five years. “I hope (the apartments) have Plexiglas,” says Chris Holman, the assistant golf pro at Pebble Creek. “Some of those windows are going to be pret-

By Matt Wiley Home to one of the four golf courses in the New Tampa area, a new rental apartment community in Pebble Creek will soon offer a bird’s eye view of the Pebble Creek Golf Club course from three stories up. The Links at Pebble Creek, a new, gated apartment complex, has been under construction on the site of the course’s former driving range since April 1. When completed, The Links will offer rental apartments that are intended to offer a nice alternative to owning a home on the course, according to J. Michael Morris, president and founder of Bayfair Homes. “The property was there and available,” he says. “Plus, we liked the idea of putting apartments on a golf course. It’s a neat situation because (the apartments) are not on BBD, but they’re close. We’re a smaller complex than most in the area, and completely gated. It’s going to be very secure.” Morris says that the original plan was to construct for-sale townhomes on the property, but after the recent local housing market crash, he says it didn’t seem like a profitable venture. So, instead, The Links at Pebble Creek are going up. The complex’s

ty close to hole number nine.” Holman says that, as far as golf is concerned, he’d rather still have the driving range, but that the course’s new hitting cage — which is serving as the range’s replacement — is actually better in a lot of ways, including The Links at Pebble Creek is a new rental apartment proximity and maintenance. which will welcome new residents in December, located on “The driving the former driving range of the Pebble Creek Golf Club. range’s condition For additional information was always an issue, but this new pracabout Bayfair Homes and The Links tice area does exactly the same thing,” at Pebble Creek, please visit Bayhe explains. “You just don’t get to see Fair.com. how far your ball goes.”

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 19 • September 8, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Possible Sinkhole Deemed Depression, Kinnan St. Reopened and Oak Preserve Blvd. Steve Valdez, a spokesperson for the Public Works department, says Drivers can once again travel smoothly along Kinnan St. in the Live that the indentation was originally thought to be due to leaking water Oak Preserve and Cross Creek areas pipes. However, it has since been after a possible sinkhole that closed down a section of the road on August determined that this is not the case. “Crews from Ardaman & Associ24 was determined to be only a ates, Inc., our consultants, determined “depression.” that the indentation is just a depresAccording to the Hillsborough sion, not a sinkhole,” Valdez explains. County Public Works Department, “But yes, we’re going to keep our the indentation recently appeared in eyes on it.” the roadway on Kinnan St. between Valdez says that crews performed the intersection of Bassett Creek Dr. geo-tests to make sure that the suspicious indentation that disrupted traffic for Live Oak and Cross Creek residents for days was not, in fact, a growing sinkhole. While crews worked to fix the roadway, drivers in the Live Oak and Cross Creek communities were unable to access Oak Preserve Blvd. from Kinnan St. Until the road was A Ardaman & Associates crew investigates what repaved, Oak Preserve was thought to be a possible sinkhole on Kinnan Blvd. was only accessible from BBD. St, just north of Bassett Creek Dr. By Matt Wiley

Accident Knocks Down Power Lines, Closes BBD Traffic on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. can sometimes feel like it’s at a standstill during the busy commuting hours in the early morning or afternoon. However, on the morning of August 29, traffic actually stood still for more than two hours after an accident knocked down power lines and closed all four lanes of the busy road. According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), a A fire burns where power lines fell across traffic accident at around 7:30 a.m. the northbound lanes of BBD on Aug. 29. near 42nd St. and BBD knocked down power lines and closed all of BBD. The truck was pulling a trailer lanes of the road until the Tampa Elecfull of lawn equipment and had four tric Company (TECO) arrived. passengers in the truck bed. Due to the accident, TECO The truck attempted to avoid the reports that about 3,000 customers in collision, but struck the Impala in the the Tampa Palms area were without rear and kept moving until it hit a power, but that power to all customers TECO power pole, snapping it at the was restored by 9:40 a.m. base and causing the lines to fall onto HCSO says that the crash occurred the lanes of BBD, causing a small fire. when a 2008 Chevy Imapla heading HCSO says that one of the truck’s south on BBD attempted to turn into passengers complained about leg pain the Oak Ramble Plaza shopping center, and was transported to Florida Hospital just south of Amberly Dr. The Impala, on Fletcher Ave. driven by 24-year-old Francis Griesser Griesser was cited for failing to pulled out in front of a Ford F-250 yield to a right-of-way and driving with truck traveling in the northbound lanes a suspended license. — MW

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 19 • September 8, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

New Tampa’s Voting Turnout Again Lags Behind The County

By Matt Wiley With the biggest political event of the year now but a memory, the final results from the August 14 primary election in Hillsborough County have finally been posted. New Tampa voted, along with the rest of Hillsborough County, to see who will face off against whom in the November general election. The Aug. 14 “primaries” also helped fill a few seats in so-called “universal primaries” and non-partisan elections. Of the more than 35,000 registered voters in New Tampa’s 12 voting precincts, only about 13 percent cast ballots, which was slightly lower than the voter turnout percentage for the rest of the county, which the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections office reported at nearly 16 percent, or only about 13,000 out of nearly 700,000 registered voters. A few New Tampa precincts — namely #s 357, 358 and 361 — had higher voter turnout percentages than the county as a whole, each precinct with more than 17-percent of its registered voters casting ballots. Many of the public offices on the primary ballot will still have to be decided in November, such as the Dis-

trict 63 State Representative race, which will see the Democratic primary winner, New Tampa resident Mark Danish, squaring off against incumbent Rep. Shawn Harrison (R-New Tampa). “(The primary) campaign went very well,” says Danish, fresh off his win at the polls against opponent ZJ Hafeez. “We had a good ‘ground game’ and had a lot of contact with people. I’m going to continue to campaign and get the word out. I think I’m a good person to represent the area.” Danish took 61 percent of the vote in all of the precincts that voted for the seat. He took 57 percent of the vote in New Tampa’s 12 precincts. Some of the primary winners will get to sit back and watch the November elections knowing that they’ve already been elected, such as District 2 County Commissioner Victor Crist (RNew Tampa), who won his universal primary against Sharon Calvert by a large margin, with Crist grabbing 63 percent of the vote. “I’m honored and humbled by it,” he says. “It’s a good feeling knowing that people are recognizing the job I’m doing.” Crist (61 percent overall, 66.3 percent in New Tampa) says that relying upon his past performance on the

Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), and not on promises for the future is what he thinks helped solidify his re-election. “We also had good ‘grassroots’ organization,” he explains. “We knocked on a lot of doors and shook a lot of hands.” Also thanking a “grassroots campaign” was Cindy Stuart, the newly elected District 2 Hillsborough County School Board member, who solidly defeated (57 percent-43 percent, 59.5 percent to 40.5 percent in New Tampa) the incumbent, long-time School Board member Jack Lamb. “The incumbent out-fund-raised us,” Stuart says. “So, we tried to get to as many events as possible, including the New Tampa Rotary Pigfest and the Taste of New Tampa. We took advantage of every chance that we could to talk to people.” New Tampa also voted in several other important county-wide races, including for Hillsborough County’s Supervisor of Elections, in which Craig Latimer narrowly beat out Thomas Scott with just more than 52 percent of the vote. Latimer (52 percent countywide, 53.5 percent in New Tampa) will face Rich Glorioso (R-Plant City) in the general election in November to

replace current supervisor Earl Lennard, come November. In addition to Dist. 2 County Commissioner, our area also voted for the Dist. 6 Republican nominee on the November ballot, another close race in which Margaret Iuculano squeaked by Don Kruse with 52 percent of the vote, although she grabbed an impressive 63.7 percent in New Tampa. She will go on to face Democratic incumbent Kevin Beckner in the November general election. The Dist. 7 School Board seat also was up for grabs, but, with seven names on the ballot, the race was close enough that Carol Kurdell (nearly 36 percent of the vote) has to go up against runner-up Terry Kemple (19 percent) in a runoff that will appear on the November ballot as well. The New Tampa August primary voting results by precinct for many of the public offices can be seen in the accompanying chart. Congratulations to all of the winners and don’t forget to get out to the ballot boxes on Tuesday, November 6! For more information, including full results in all of the races contested on August 14 for all of Hillsborough County, please visit VoteHillsborough.org.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 19 • September 8, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

N EW T AMPA Liberty Teacher Accused Of Watching Porn In Class A New Tampa middle school teacher is facing possible termination after reports of watching pornographic material during class, in full view of his students. David Tenney, a sixth grade study skills teacher at Liberty Middle School, located off Commerce Park Blvd. in Tampa Palms, reportedly exposed his students to pornography on more than one occasion. He has been suspended since August 10. On June 28, Tenney, 51, of Odessa, received a letter from the Hillsborough County School District’s Office of Professional Standards (OPS), informing him of the allegations he is facing. In the letter, Linda A. Kipley, the OPS general manager, writes that on April 27, Liberty principal James Arimmati informed the office that Tenney had reportedly exposed his students to pornography on several occasions. “While you were using your personal laptop during instructional time, inappropriate pictures popped up onto the screen in full view of your students,” Kipley writes. “In addition, it

News Briefs was reported that while in your classroom during instructional time, students observed you watching a pornographic video on your David Tenney personal cell (photo from 2001) phone.” The letter states that although the District had the authority to take possession of the laptop and cell phone, Tenney refused the District any access to either device. Kipley goes on to detail the legal ramifications of Tenney’s actions. “If determined to be true, (these) facts would constitute a legal basis for dismissal under the Hillsborough County Teacher Tenure Act,” she writes. Under the Act, Tenney is accused of immorality, insubordination, persistent violation or willful refusal to obey laws and incompetency to perform the duties of employment. Tenney was arrested once in 2001 for violating a domestic injunction.

Charges Upheld In Freedom Bomb Plotter Case There is no freedom in sight for Jared Cano, the former Freeedom High accused of attempting to build and discharge a bomb at his former school, after a Hillsborough County judge upheld the charges against him on August 20. Cano’s attorney, Norman Cannella, brought a motion before Hillsborough Circuit Judge Kimberly Fernandez to dismiss the case on the grounds that Cano, now 18, was not actually capable of making a bomb from the materials Tampa Police Department (TPD) officers found in his mother’s apartment in August 2011, at what is now called The Landmark at Grayson Park (formerly known as Cypress Run at Tampa Palms) apartments. This isn’t the entire story. To read the rest, visit NTNeighborhood News.com!

Bodies Found At Target Ruled A Murder-Suicide The two bodies that were found in the Wesley Chapel Target parking lot on August 9 have been identified and the case has been officially described as a murder-suicide. According to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), the bodies discovered in the vehicle are those of

Armando Troconis, 66, of Holiday, and his girlfriend, Elizabeth Behrens, 60, of Tampa. This isn’t the entire story. To read the rest, visit NTNeighborhood News.com!

Charges Dropped Against J.D. Porter Domestic violence charges against well-known local developer J.D. Porter have been dropped. The Pasco County State Attorney’s Office dropped the case against Porter, 33, the driving force behind the development of Wiregrass Ranch, on August 1 after his girlfriend — and sister-in-law of Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco — Maridy Gregory, 30, decided that she did not want to press charges. The new information was not released until August 17. This isn’t the entire story. To read the rest, visit NTNeighborhood News.com! — MW We`ve got you covered better than ever, New Tampa! Asst. editor Matt Wiley updates our website — NTNeighborhoodNews.com — every weekday with the latest news & information coming out of the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area. Check out the full-length versions of these stories and the most daily news about our area of any online or print news medium.— GN

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 19 • September 8, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

N EW T AMPA

Community Calendar

Artisans Wanted For Arts & Crafts Under The Palms Artists and Crafters wanted! The Tampa Palms Women’s Club presents its annual “Arts and Crafts Under the Palms” craft show & sale, which will again be held at the BJ’s Wholesale Club in the Market Square at Tampa Palms plaza on Saturday, October 20. This is an opportunity for artists and crafters to display and sell their original works to thousands of local residents. For more info, visit TampaPalms WomensClub.com or call 903-9034.

Battle Of The Bands

It’s never too early to get your band pre-qualified to be part of the Teenage Battle of the Bands held annually in mid-October during the Hillsborough County Fair. Hillsborough County’s Parks, Recreation & Conservation Department is looking for bands to participate in a competition that provides free studio time to the top two winners. Band members must be between 13-20 years of age, and only one band member can be age 20. The entry fee is $50 dollars and only a limited number of bands will be accepted. Those wishing to compete must pre-qualify by providing a link to

an online video of their band. For more information, contact Joe Soletti at 744-5871.

Ladies ‘Foodie’ Club Of New Tampa/Wesley Chapel

A new club for women in the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area who enjoy socializing, trying out new restaurants and cooking ideas, sharing recipes and other food-related activities is looking for additional members. For more information, send an email to Eileen.jones@yahoo.com.

MOMS Club New Tampa

The MOMS (Moms Offering Moms Support) Club of New Tampa is currently open to new members in the New Tampa area. The MOMS Club offers a variety of daytime activities of mothers and their children, opportunities for Mom’s Night Out and many more benefits. For more info, or to join the club, email MOMsClubNewTampa_ southeast@yahoo.com.

BNI Millionaire Makers

Wednesday, September 12, 7:15 a.m. - The BNI Millionaire Makers chapter meets every Wednesday morning at Pebble Creek Golf Club (10550

Regents Park Dr., off Bruce B. Downs [BBD] Blvd.). The $13 meeting fee includes a hot breakfast. Contact Lisa Jordan at 621-6015 for details.

Business Networking Int’l

Wednesday, September 12, 7:30 a.m. - BNI, a group of business professionals dedicated to helping their respective businesses grow through qualified referrals, meets every Wednesday morning at the Cory Lake Isles Beach Club clubhouse (18630 Plantation Bay Dr., off Morris Bridge Rd.). For more information, call Jal Irani at 451-8229.

New Tampa Noon Rotary

Wednesday, August 15, noon The New Tampa Noon Rotary Club meets every Wednesday for lunch at Hunter’s Green Country Club (18101 Longwater Run Dr., inside the gates to Hunter’s Green). Guests are welcome.

New Tampa Eve. Rotary

Wednesday, September 12, 6:15 p.m. - The New Tampa Evening Rotary Club meets every Wednesday at Hunter’s Green Country Club. New members are always welcome. For more information, call Liz DeAmbrose at 956-6487 or email homenet@gte.net.

Tampa Toastmasters

Wednesday, September 12, 7 p.m. - Great speeches & great topics.

Come hone your public speaking skills. Tampa Toastmasters meets every Wednesday at Pebble Creek Golf ClubNew guests are always welcome. For more info, call 428-6356.

Food Addicts In Recovery

Thursday, September 13, 7 p.m. - Are you having trouble controlling the way you eat? Are you underweight or overweight or obsessed with weight or dieting? You are not alone. Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous (FA) is a support group without any dues, fees or weigh-ins and is based on the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s a fellowship of individuals who, through shared experiences and mutual support, are recovering from the disease of food addiction. FA meets Thursdays at Florida Hospital Tampa (on BBD) in the Camelot A room. For more info, visit FoodAddicts.org or call Roz at 355-4197.

CBC Networking

Thursday, September 13, 7:45 p.m. - Come together with like-minded professionals at the Christian Business Connections (CBC) Networking group, which meets every Thursday at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church (located at 5338 Primrose Lake Cir., near Freedom High and Liberty Middle School in Tampa Palms). Call Annete Faurote at 407-

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9225 for more information.

Free ESL Classes

Thursday, September 13, 10:30 a.m. - A FREE English as a Second Language (ESL) class is now meeting at Tampa Bay Presbyterian Church (19911 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.) on Thursday mornings. Activities for school-aged children also are provided during these classes, which are taught by a native English speaker using several ESL and Bible study resources. There is no charge to attend. The classes also discuss American culture and English idioms and slang. Come practice your conversational English and make new friends in a fun and relaxed environment! For additional information, call the church office at 973-2484.

Northeast Tampa Women In Business Meeting

Thursday, September 13, 6 p.m. - The Northeast Tampa Women in Business group meets the second Thursday of each month at Hunter’s Green Country Club. Come out for some great relationship building with women in business from around the area. For more info, visit NETWIB.org or call 364-2174.

New Tampa Triathlete Club Tuesday, September 18, 7:30 a.m. - A new club has formed for the

fitness-minded. Membership is open to runners, swimmers, cyclists and triathletes across the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area. All members receive club benefits, including a training schedule, group support, seminars and socials. Currently, the club is hosting a group bike/run at the Morris Bridge Rd. entrance to Flatwoods Wilderness Park every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 7:30 a.m., and a group run from Kona Multisport (previously, the “Ironman Store”), in the same plaza as Sweetbay & LA Fitness at BBD/County Line Rd., at 6:30 p.m. on Mondays. The club’s bi-monthly seminars will cover topics such as nutrition, racing strategies, new gadget and gear demonstrations and transition workshops. The club also enables members to connect and encourage one another in their triathlon endeavors. For more info, join the Facebook group or e-mail NewTampaTri Club@gmail.com.

at Freedom High next April. For more info about volunteering or becoming a sponsor, please contact Michelle Rossi at Michelle. Rossi@Cancer.org or visit RelayForLife.org/newtampafl.

place vendors and concessions. Proceeds will benefit the PTA. For more information, or to donate or become a sponsor, please contact VeteranPTA1@gmail.com or visit VeteransPTA.com.

Veterans Elementary Fall Festival Seeks Sponsors

If your company, group or organization has an event you’d like to see promoted in our Community Calendar, please send your information and any pics you have to Attn: Matt Wiley, Editorial Dept@NTNeighborhood News.com.

Friday, October 12, 5:30 p.m. The PTA at Veterans Elementary in Wesley Chapel is seeking sponsors for its fifth annual Fall Festival, entitled “Pumpkin Palooza.” This fun-filled family night and school fundraising event will include carnival games, inflatables, a dunk tank, photo booth, pumpkin decorating contest, market-

ACS Relay For Life Kick-Off Party

Tuesday, October 2, 6 p.m. The “Kick-Off Party” for the 2013 New Tampa Relay for Life will be held at Hunter’s Green Country Club for all volunteers wanting to form a team for the annual event. This year’s theme will be announced at the party. The 2013 New Tampa Relay will be held

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 19 • September 8, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

New Tampa Chamber of Commerce, Inc.

2011-12 Board of Directors President-Regina Ramalheira

Board Members:

15310 Amberly Dr., Suite 250 Tampa, FL 33647 Information: (813) 293-2464 Fax: (813) 388-4408

Website: NewTampaChamber.Org

‘Working To Improve The Quality Of Life In New Tampa!’

Karen Hilton Earl Meyer Mike Daly Joyce Gunter Neil Heird

The New Tampa Chamber of Commerce is proud to name Jayne Baker as the Board’s new Executive Assistant!

Check Out Our Annual Meeting & Business Expo Sept. 27 At HGCC! Hunter’s Green Country Club To Host This Year’s Business Expo! On Monday, September 10, the Board of Directors of the New Tampa Chamber of Commerce will discuss adding additional Chamber Board members. If you’re interested in serving on the Board, please let us know ASAP. We will be voting in the new team of Board members at our annual meeting & Business Expo on Thursday, September 27, 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m., at Hunter’s Green Country Club. Set-up for our signature Fall event is 4:30 – 5:30 at the club, with the Expo beginning at 5:30. This event is free to attend and is open to the general public. Showcase your business, sell merchandise (restaurants may not bring or sell food but can sell gift cards and give out coupons/menus etc,). We encourage all Business Expo participants to have some type of giveaway. This will make it easy for collecting business cards and follow up with these new clients. This event is limited to the first 100 members to reserve their spot and we welcome new members to immediately join now to participate in this year’s Expo. This is an excellent opportunity to sponsor this event and is limited to just five sponsors

at the front entrance for $500 (to capture all incoming patrons), and the four others at $100 for larger spaces in the four corners of the room. We already have two sponsors: Mindspring Marketing & Internet Solutions and Prudential Financial Insurance. Other booths are FREE to Chamber members and includes a tablecloth, chair and a one-person entry ticket (a $10 value). The cost to attend the Expo is just $10 to cover the appetizers and is open to the public, your friends and family. A cash bar will be available. Please call Regina Ramalheira at 245-8893 for more information, or the event chair Casey Gorman at HGCC at 973-1000. To reserve your booth (a few spaces were still available at our press time), call Rachel Haviland at 767-9290.

Mark Your Calendars!

On Tuesday, September 11, also at Hunter’s Green Country Club, the New Tampa Chamber hosts its monthly luncheon, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., with speaker Stephanie Roberts, the former Meteorologist for ABC-TV News and now working for the Home Shopping Network. Up to four non-competing sponsorships are available for lunch at $100 each. The cost to attend the luncheon is $18 in advance (for on-line

registrations) or $20 at the door. On Thursday, October 4, our popular “Networking on the Nines” rotates to Hunter’s Green Country Club (it was held at Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club on September 6), and will continue to rotate; please check NewTampaChamber.org for each month’s location). We are again looking for a beverage sponsor. The cost to participate is $15 for members and add just $10 and bring a non- Chamber member for a total of just $25 for two golfers! On Tuesday, October 9, HGCC, will again host the monthly Chamber luncheon, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. We are looking for four non- competing sponsors at $100. Pricing consistent with September’s luncheon. And on Wednesday, October 17, the Chamber is looking for a business to host a networking social and provide refreshments. All the focus will be on your business. Any time of the day! On Thursday, October 25, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Stonewood Grill & Tavern will again host and sponsor the Chamber’s free “Connections” networking event, and will provide free appetizers and one free drink per visitor (must be at least 21 to consume alcoholic beverages)! And finally (see story on page 1)

the 20th annual “Taste of New Tampa” will be held Sunday, March 24, noon6 p.m., in Primrose Park, adjacent to the Primrose School of Tampa Palms (5307 Primrose Lake Circle), across Commerce Park Blvd. from Freedom High & Liberty Middle School. We are planning to have a “Battle of the Bands” all day long and are also planning for a signature “headline” group to entertain the last hour. We are looking for business sponsors from $500 up to the main sponsor of $10,000. We also are beginning to sign up, way in advance, restaurants and businesses. Current members may obtain a booth at the discount fee of $200. Admission to the Taste will cost just $5 per adult in advance and $10 at the gate, with samples from 50 or more restaurants available at a cost of just $1 per ticket. Restaurants will be receive 50 percent of the tickets they collect in return for providing the samples. For all questions and registrations for any event please call our Executive assistant Jayne Baker at 293-2464 or Regina Ramalheira at 245-8893. You may also may make Taste inquiries online. Also call Regina if you’re a current New Tampa Chamber member who never received a plaque or have a plaque from a few years prior.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 19 • September 8, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Local Woman’s ‘Political’ Beads Are No B.S! By Matt Wiley They come in numbers for months at a time, stacking high and filling mailboxes, pointing fingers while brandishing insincere smiles and promises of a better tomorrow. If elected, of course. As November nears, the 2012 election season is peaking, which means the amount of political propaganda and flyers appearing in mailboxes won’t soon be getting any smaller. Kathi Stoy is tired of the “BS,” and she has found a way to turn a nuisance into a nifty accessory that supports a good cause. “We get so many of those political fliers, I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be fun to do something with them?’” she says. So, Stoy began making beads out of the fliers and started stringing them together into necklaces, bracelets and earrings. In the spirit of the political season, she calls her jewelry-making hobby-turned fund raiser “BS Beads,” a name that, she says, is pretty fitting. “We went though several name ideas, but I think that most of the political fliers contain a lot of ‘BS,’ to put it bluntly,” she says, laughing. “So, I decided to make beads out of ‘BS.’ I thought about spelling the whole name out, but people seem to get the idea.” Stoy just recently began making

the beads, and selling them at the SoundExchange, a popular record store on N. Nebraska Ave., just a few miles from New Tampa, where she works. But, aside from that, she says, she really hasn’t been advertising her hobby — and media attention isn’t really what she’s looking for with the “jewelry.”

From BS To Feeding The Homeless

What she is interested in, however, is raising money for Trinity Café, a restaurant-style dining hall just outside of downtown Tampa that has served free meals to the homeless for more than 10 years. This is where all of the proceeds from BS Beads are going. “I just sent my first check the other day,” she says. “It was only $50, but hopefully there’s more to come.” Cindy Davis, program director for Trinity Café, has been showing off her BS bracelet since it arrived in the mail, along with the first check. “What Kathi’s doing is just incredible,” she says. “I hope she sells a lot of jewelry. She called and asked if she could donate and we need donations to keep food on the table. I tell people about (BS Beads) every day.” Davis explained that, since opening in 2001, the non-denominational, non-

profit Trinity Café has served more than 800,000 meals in a restaurant-style atmosphere to help restore a sense of dignity to those less fortunate, who may spend most of their time on the street. Patrons are welcomed by a host at the door, seated at a table and order from a server off of a menu. Chef Alfred Astl serves up a daily, threecourse hot dinner with hearty portions. Most Café workers are volunteers. “We’re not in the business of turning over tables,” Davis says. “We have conversations with our hungry diners. We give them a break from the street, and on a very frugal budget.” Currently, the whole program is based out of the dining hall at the Salvation Army at 1603 N. Florida Ave., but Davis says that Trinity Café recently purchased a piece of property that will one day be the program’s new home, once the funds are raised to renovate it.

Making Beads Out Of BS

And that’s where BS Beads comes in. By cutting one political flyer (usually an 8”x10” postcard, or smaller) into strips, Stoy says she can glue, dry and finish about 16 beads. Considering the amount of political fliers that are arriving on a daily basis, that’s obviously a lot of beads. After the beads are made,

Kathi Stoy sells her BS Beads (inset) at the Sound Exchange in North Tampa. she just strings them onto jewelry cord. “It’s stretchy, so one size really does fit all,” she says. For earrings, she uses wire and other supplies that can be found at any craft store. When making the beads, she tries to make sure that none of the candidates’ names, or any words at all, although a few words can be seen. “There was one I made that I could see the words ‘non-partisan,’” she says. “I thought, that’s just like me. The fliers I cut up are non-partisan.” For more information, or to purchase BS Beads jewelry, stop by SoundExchange (14246 Nebraska Ave., between Fletcher Ave. and Bearss Ave.), or call 978-9316 and ask for Kathi. For more info about Trinity Café, visit TrinityCafe.org.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 19 • September 8, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

The Eye Docs Of New Tampa Will Bring Your Life Into Focus! By Camille Gillies The “vision” (pun intended) for Dr. Samuel Teske, O.D.’s vision for a redesigned and expanded New Tampa optometry office recently became crystal clear. After serving patients since 2007 in a 1,500-sq.-ft. office in the Publixanchored New Tampa Center shopping center at the corner of Cross Creek/ New Tampa Blvd. and Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvds., Dr. Teske at press time was moving his Eye Doctors of New Tampa office into the much roomier 3,000-sq.-ft. space formerly occupied by a Blockbuster video store located a couple of spaces away from its original location in the plaza. He says the expansion is part of an effort to make patients more comfortable and the practice more efficient. “We are a patient-centric practice,” Dr. Teske explains. “We want to make the experience here as pleasant and convenient as possible.” That’s one of the reasons a coffee bar graces the reception area of the sleek new space. Patients will now be able to enjoy complimentary coffee drinks, such as iced lattes, from the FLAVIA beverage system, and they’ll have the opportunity to check their

email using the office’s free Wi-Fi. Televisions will be another new feature. “We have added televisions to the waiting area, which will run videos to help educate our patients,” Dr. Teske says. “We are also excited to be able to display our entire frame line. The original office space limited the number of frames that we could make visible to patients, and some patients were unaware of the full extent of our selection because we didn’t have room to display all of them.” The office has added Oakley, Maui Jim and Tiffany a& Co. to its existing line of stylish and high-quality frames. He adds that the office’s technology also received an upgrade with the addition of an optical coherence tomography (OCT) machine. This machine delivers high-resolution images of the tissues within the retina. “It’s like an MRI for the eye,” Dr. Teske explains. “In the past, we had to refer patients elsewhere for the test, but now we can do it right in our office. It gives us the ability to provide more fullscope optometry.” The office also is equipped with an Optomap machine, which provides a thorough screening of the retina to determine if your eye is healthy. The test can lead to the early detection of

diseases such as glaucoma, diabetes, macular degeneration and even cancers of the eye. Another diagnostic tool used in optometry is the visual field machine (VFM), which aids in the early detection of glaucoma, stroke, diabetes and high blood pressure. Dr. Teske has added a stateof-the-art VFM to the Eye Doctors office. Dr. Erin Cooper and Dr. Samuel Teske can be found at “We (optometrists) The Eye Doctors of New Tampa in the New Tampa Center. can identify health problems people might not as eye alignment and focusing ability. know they have,” Dr. Teske says, point- The new Eye Doctors office is kiding out that this often happens with friendly, using electronic eye charts that male patients because men tend to feature cartoons, making eye exams a avoid going to a primary care physician. fun experience for children. “Some patients don’t find out they Dr. Teske is no stranger to young have high blood pressure until it’s children — he and his wife, Dr. Lisa revealed in an eye exam.” Teske, a veterinarian at the nearby PebDiagnosing vision problems in ble Creek Animal & Bird Hospital, this infancy is extremely important, too, summer celebrated the birth of their which is why Dr. Teske recommends third child. The couple and their chiltaking children six-months-old and dren — all under age 4 — live in New older for an eye exam. Tampa. “Twenty-five percent of kids have The Eye Doctors also includes Dr. some kind of vision disorder,” Dr. Erin Cooper, O.D., who joined the Teske states, explaining that practice a year ago. Dr. Cooper received optometrists can address such problems her undergraduate degree from the

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 19 • September 8, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

University of Georgia, Athens, and her Doctor of Optometry degree from the Southern College of Optometry, Memphis. She graduated with honors in pediatrics, adult primary care and ocular disease. Dr. Cooper speaks fluent Spanish and has volunteered her professional skills in Colombia. She and her husband, Dr. Seth Cooper, an orthopedic surgeon, live in South Tampa. Meanwhile, Dr. Teske’s education includes an undergraduate degree from Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln, and a Doctor of Optometry degree from the Illinois College of Optometry, Chicago. He graduated with honors in ocular disease, pediatrics, contact lenses, geriatrics and primary care. Dr. Teske received much of his clinical training at the Illinois Eye Institute, which is affiliated with the University of Chicago. The busy optometrists are proud to have their own in-house lab, which greatly speeds up the production time necessary for patients to receive topquality lenses. Dr. Teske, who refers to his staff as a hand-selected “all-star team,” employs nine “stars” in the New Tampa office. Among them is lab manager Jason Paoli, one of only two technicians in the state certified to build and repair the edging equipment he uses to make lenses. “Having an in-house lab not only speeds up the process, but we have better control over the quality of the prod-

uct, too,” Jason explains. “Our equipment is calibrated and in better condition than any place that is mass-producing lenses. Those places may be less expensive, but the workmanship of our products is better and more precise.” Dr. Teske adds, “We focus on patient convenience and saving the patient time.” The office also utilizes electronic records and interoffice messaging to speed up the flow of work. “I take my time with my patients, so I do whatever I can elsewhere in the office to speed up the pace of the appointment,” he says. Along the lines of that same focuson-service commitment, The Eye Doctors of New Tampa plan to extend their Saturday office hours and are now accepting additional medical insurance plans, as well as several new vision insurance plans. The Eye Doctors also have opened an office in the Trinity area of New Port Richey. Dr. Teske doesn’t rule out further expansion, stressing that his primary goal is to, “bring quality care to the Tampa Bay area.” To make an appointment or learn more about The Eye Doctors of New Tampa, call 632-2020 or visit TheEyeDocs.com. You’re also welcome to stop by the new office at 19066 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, next to Pinch-A-Penny, in the New Tampa Center shopping plaza.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 19 • September 8, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Avalon Park West Community To Bring More Homes To WC! The entire development, once completed, is approved for about 4,800 single-family homes, with the first comResidential and commercial munity, Cypress Village, to offer 342 growth are continuing apace in Wesley homes. But Eric Marks, the president Chapel, as another large community of Avex Homes, said at the August 28 has broken ground along S.R. 54, groundbreaking co-hosted by APW offering hundreds of homes in its first phase alone and as many as 4,800 total, Greater Wesley Chapel that the number and bringing more jobs to our area. of single- and multi-family residential The Avalon Park Group, the same units in Avalon Park West will likely developers as the adjacent New River end up being closer to 3,500. It also is Township community, broke ground approved for nearly 700,000 sq. ft. of on Avalon Park West (APW, located on commercial space, including more than the north side of S.R. 54, just east of 560,000 sq. ft. of retail and 120,000 New River) on August 28. sq. ft. for office buildings. The community also features several permanent conservation areas. Avex Homes, which is overseeing the development’s construction, is a new partnership between Orlando-based Avalon Park Group and sitEX Properties USA, a Switzerlandbased real estate investment fund and project development Cypress Village is the first subdivision under development in company. At the groundthe new Avalon Park West community. By Matt Wiley & Gary Nager

Avex Homes president Eric Marks (far left) welcomes the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce to the groundbreaking for Avalon Park West, a new masterplanned community located on S.R. 54 in Wesley Chapel. breaking, which was attended by nearly According to the company’s web200 Avex/Avalon employees, Wesley site, the Avalon Park Group is a family Chapel and even New Tampa Chamber of companies that was started by Beat members, Marks said that Avex Homes Kahli, a Swiss investment banker, in will specialize in developing homes 1995, and specializes in a range of “with the lifestyle of families in mind,” developments, from master planned including front porches, setback garages communities, such as Avalon Park West and a variety of open floor plans. and New River Township, to industrial “We want to create communities, parks, such as the North Suncoast not housing developments,” said Industrial Park near the Suncoast Pkwy. Marks, who also noted that, according in Pasco County. to data from the National Association For additional information of Home Builders, Avex Homes expects about Avalon Park West and Avex to create 15 new jobs for Wesley Homes, visit AvalonParkWest.com or Chapel residents in its first year. AvexHomesFL.com.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 19 • September 8, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

The New Tampa Dance Theatre Is Your Dance Headquarters! by Sheryl Young Do you or your kids love to dance or watch professional dancers? Do your kids twirl around the house or mention wanting dance lessons? If so, move your feet over to the New Tampa Dance Theatre (NTDT), located in a free-standing building on Cross Creek Blvd, just three minutes east of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. NTDT currently is accepting enrollment for their fall 2012 season. Classes began August 13, but the studio is still enrolling new and returning students. NTDT was established in 1995 in the Pebble Creek Collection as New Tampa’s first professional training facility for dance and it has become a name synonymous with excellence in education, trust, and integrity. In 2002, Artistic Director and owner Dyane Elkins IronWing purchased land to build a free-standing, state-of-the-art training facility specifically designed for dance. In January 2006, the school moved into its beautiful 7,500-sq.-ft. home, which includes floors properly made for dancing, large locker rooms, a café, faculty lounge and even a costume warehouse. The building offers unique vistas, with its 24foot-tall ceilings, 10-foot-high windows

overlooking the wetlands, and a performance space large enough to seat an audience of 250 people. “Once I purchased the land, I never looked back,” Dyane says. “And, the school continued to flourish, so the dream of having my own facility quickly became a reality.” She takes note of a quote she has posted in the lobby: “What would you do if you knew you could not fail?,” and says. “I truly live by this and ask the students regularly, so they, too, can see their dreams become reality.” NTDT and its affiliated nonprofit company, the Dance Theatre of Tampa, have an additional goal, a community mission. “Connecting and sharing with New Tampa and the surrounding communities through the art of dance is an important part of our mission,” Dyane explains. “We do many free public performances and help develop outreach programs that provide exciting and valuable cultural experiences for people of all ages.” NTDT’s outreach program has grown to serve 10 local schools, reaching 1,000 children in the New Tampa area to enrich their lives through dance. In the past season, their community performances have exposed more than 7,000 children (and many more adults)

to dance productions – some for the first time. For small children, NTDT is the official dance school for Bright Horizons Family Solutions child care centers in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel. NTDT also is wellknown in the area for its annual local production of “The Nutcracker,” which has sold more than 1,500 seats per season for the past 13 years. All major NTDT performances, including Spring Productions and Summer Concert Series, are held at venues on the University of South Florida’s Tampa campus. Dyane says dancing was always in her blood. “My aunt was a professional dancer,” she says. “I started at age 5 along with trying many other sports, but I never quit dancing and soon realized it was my passion. I couldn’t imagine life without it.” Over the years before opening NTDT, Dyane performed professionally with Dino Anderson’s Dance America, toured nationally with magician Tod Bucanon, trained under scholarship in

New York City for two years, and performed with several professional NYC companies, including Ballet Metropolitan and Jazz Met. Dyane and her husband Troy IronWing have been performing nationally and internationally for the past 10 years with the bi-coastal based group, Rhythm Extreme, which is a high-energy, Stomp-like show including drumming, tap dancing, and just about anything that can create rhythms. Troy, who has been NTDT’s Tap Director since 2003, began playing the drums at age 6, and found his passion for tap in college. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Musical Theater with a minor in Dance and has had the privilege to

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 19 • September 8, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

train with tap masters Savion Glover, the Nicholas Brothers, Derrick Grant and Ted Levy, to name just a few. Both students and parents enjoy his fun-loving personality and ability to connect with children. Dyane, as the Artistic Director, still does some substitute teaching at NTDT when needed. “I have nine strong, well- educated and very talented faculty members,” she says. “Our staff is dedicated to the development of the students. We don’t only teach dance. We give students the self-esteem they need to be successful in life.”

A Wide Range Of Classes

Classes at NTDT start with very young children and go all the way through senior adults, with everything from classical ballet, modern, tap, jazz, creative movement, and hip-hop. “Children as early as age 3 can begin with creative movement,” Dyane says. “At every age level, whether it’s the recreational or pre-professional programs, our faculty follow a prepared syllabus to ensure that each student learns the proper techniques.” In fact, Dyane urges parents of young children to ask about her staff’s training and the syllabus so they can be confident of their kids’ dance education. Each spring, families can see the culmination of what their children have learned in two separate Spring Produc-

tions – one for ages 3-8 and another for ages 9 and up. NTDT also offers a concentrated Boys Program on Saturdays (12:301:30pm), for boys ages 5 and older. With more than 35 students attending, these classes improve athletic balance and help build coordination for all sports. Dyane says dance is a great skill for both cheerleaders and school dance teams to study, and it’s the perfect adult activity for staying in great physical shape; it also allows adult students to meet new people with common interests. For students who want to be professional dancers, there’s even a class to train them in auditioning skills. “With older children and teenagers aspiring toward a dance career, we coach them through the professional audition process, which can be quite grueling,” Dyane explains. “We've taken groups to New York for ‘cattle call’ auditions (which are open to the general public). We teach them how to present themselves. This usually starts at age 11 or 12, and they’re ready for formal professional auditions at 15 or 16.” As a result, NTDT students are regularly accepted into prestigious summer programs including the School of American Ballet, American Ballet The-

ater, and the Joffrey, Boston and Kirov Ballets. Many NTDT alumni have received college scholarships and moved on to dance professionally. “We take pride in treating and training each student as an individual,” Dyane says. “It’s a private school mentality. We’re not obsessed with numbers. We know each student’s name.” Lisa Laches, the mother of two NTDT students, attests to the great training. “My daughters, Rachel (16) and Elizabeth (14) have been dancing since 2002,” she says, “and with the New Tampa Dance Theatre since 2004. Under Dyane’s guidance, they have grown into confident, mature, strong dancers, with discipline and respect, not only for their dance instructors, but for their peers as well. The friends they’ve made at dance are their closest friends, and they thoroughly enjoy their time in the studio. They feel privileged to per-

form in the community, and look forward to ‘The Nutcracker.’” Speaking of “The Nutcracker,” NTDT allows children from other dance schools to audition for the studio’s biggest annual show. “Dancers who are at least 8 years old and taking ballet class somewhere are eligible to audition,” Dyane says. Still not sure you want to enroll? Take a trial class. Children and adults are both welcome to try any class in their age group at NTDT for free. You can even try multiple classes to discover which dance styles are your favorites. “We also stay very involved in community and charity projects,” Dyane adds. “We support the South Tampa Ronald McDonald House with a portion of the proceeds from our most popular fund raiser, the ‘Sugar Plum Fairy Tea.’” This year, the Tea is scheduled for Sunday, December 2, 2 p.m.-4 pm, at the USF Alumni Center. Attendees will get a sneak preview of “The Nutcracker,” which will be performed December 14-16. Ticket sales begin October 15, through Ticketmaster or the NTDT box office. For more information or to enroll in classes, visit NTDT at 10701 Cross Creek Blvd or call 994NTDT (6838). The studio is open Monday-Thursday, 5 p.m.-8 p.m., and 9 a.m.-noon on Saturday. Visit NewTampaDanceTheatre.com.

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Artisan Aesthetics Surgeon Introduces New LipoControlTM Treatment! Dr. Stanley Castor To Host Lipocontrol Open House Sept. 20! Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and owner of Artisan Aesthetics in Tampa Palms Stanley Castor, M.D., has been chosen as one of the first doctors in the U.S. to be able to offer a brand new innovative body-shaping technology that until recently, was only available in Europe. Dr. Castor is proud to announce that his practice, Artisan Aesthetics, one of the pioneers in the field of aesthetic medicine, is now offering GPSLipo® Laser LipoControl™ by Osyris, an FDA-approved body-shaping treatment for removing unwanted fat. Dr. Castor says GPSLipo®, which uses the LipoControl™ laser, is the safest and most precise laser lipo or liposuction procedure available for removing fat and tightening your skin.

How The GPS Laser LipoControl™ Procedure Works Even with eating properly and exercising regularly, many people are still seeking ways to quickly and effectively remove stubborn areas of unwanted fat. LipoControl™, the latest innovative technology to hit our shores, quickly and safely removes problem areas of fat deposits, with total control and safety — and this unique procedure is now being offered by Dr. Castor. The procedure uses thermal energy in the form of a heat-generating laser to actually liquefy unwanted body fat and then remove the liquid fat, all in one easy procedure. LipoControl™ ensures a high level of safety and control because it also features a built-in GPS tracking system, which allows Dr. Castor to determine in real live time exactly how much energy is being delivered to a given area of the body, and allows him to keep that amount of energy uniform. Among the benefits to the patient with this additional control and precision are even smoother and more impressive results. The entire LipoControl™ procedure can be done in one session on a

number of different areas of the body including the abdomen, waist (love handles), hips and thighs, buttocks, back of arms, knees, ankles and even under the chin to remove unsightly “turkey necks.” And, best of all, the procedure can be done right in Dr. Castor’s office without the use of general anesthesia. In addition to removing unwanted fat, the heat generated by LipoControl™ causes the skin in the treated area to contract, resulting in firmer, smoother skin that further enhances your body-shaping goals. Skin tightening continues to improve for a period of up to 4 months depending upon your body’s unique chemistry. Dr. Castor says, “I am amazed at the performance and results we are seeing from LipoControl. Hands down, this is the best, minimally invasive fat removal procedure on the market. And, my patients already love the results! ” Dr. Castor works with his patients to set realistic expectations, but LipoControl™ patients see immediate results, due to the reduction in fat and instantaneous skin contraction that occurs during the procedure. Typically, a day of rest after receiving a LipoControl™ procedure is recommended but most patients resume normal activities by the second day. The results of LipoControl™ continue to improve over the next 2-4 months and, best of all, every Artisan Aesthetics patient who has received a LipoControl™ treatment to date reported improvement in the targeted body area(s). To see how the LipoControl™ system works, Artisan Aesthetics invites you to come to a GPSLipo®LipoControl™ Open House at the officeon Thursday, September 20, 5:30 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres and beverages eill be served. Attendance is free, but space is limited, so call 971-2000 to reserve your space today! Dr. Stan Castor grew up in Zephyrhills and graduated from Zephyrhills High at the top of his class in 1982. He spent some time working

as an orderly and patient care assistant after high school and became interested in medicine. He worked his way through college playing church music jobs. Dr. Castor graduated Cum Laude from Florida Southern College in Lakeland with a B.S. degree in Biology and earned his M.D. degree from the University of & back Pennsylvania School of Medi- As you can clearly see, from both the front (above) TM cine in Philadelphia. He com- (below), the results achieved by the LipoControl procepleted a five-year internship dure available from Dr. Stan Castor of Artisan Aesthetics in Tampa Palms are nothing short of miraculous! and residency in General Surgery at Emory University Hospitals in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Castor continued his training in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery for two years at the renowned Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, OH. He also completed a cosmetic surgery fellowship with world-renowned plastic surgeons, Drs. Baker and a member of the American Stuzin and Baker in Miami, Society of Plastic Surgeons and a Fellow FL This fellowship is only offered to of the American College of Surgeons. two plastic surgeons per year. Dr. Stanley Castor’s practice, Dr. Castor is Board-certified in Artisan Aesthetics, is located at 5383 Plastic Surgery by the American Board Primrose Lake Cir., Suite A, in of Plastic Surgery, the only plastic surTampa Palms. For more info, call gery board recognized by the American 971-2000 or visit DrCastor.com. Board of Medical Specialties. He also is

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 19 • September 8, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

“Hospital”

Tropical Storm Isaac Cancels Classes

Continued from page 1 warns that most of these may be full by the time you are reading this. Recently, FHWC hired its first three Board-certified obstetric and gynecological (ObGyn) doctors who will be providing services at the hospital once it opens in October. Annette Williams, MD, FACOG; Jennifer Roller, MD; and Tymesia Hudson, MD; will be available to provide women’s services at FHWC. The hospital staff urges women who are expecting and have due dates after FHWC’s opening to begin regis-

Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel’s ObGyn physicians include (l. to r.) Dr. Annette Williams, Dr. Jennifer Roller & Dr. Tymesia Hudson.

tering to deliver in one of the eleven new elaborate labor/delivery/recovery/postpartum rooms, each complete with its own relaxing whirlpool tubs and large, LCD TVs in each bathroom. The new doctors also will work in FHWC’s full-service Women’s Center in the FHWC’s Wellness Plaza, the 100,000-sq.-ft. medical office building adjacent to the hospital and slated to open in early 2013. The Women’s Center will offer mammograms, ultrasounds, stereotactic biopsies, bone density tests and ObGyn checkups. For additional information, please visit the FHWC webThe finishing touches are evident everywhere, as Florida site at FHWesleyChapel.com. Hsoiptal Wesley Chapel gets ready to open Sept. 16!

Up north, a “snow day” is a treasured event. In Florida, the same can be said for hurricane days — for most students, anyway. Tropical Storm Isaac gave the nearly 193,000 students in the Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) system, as well as all staff members, their first “hurricane day” of the school year on August 27, just one week after classes began for the fall semester. However, although school was canceled, not much has changed in the school district’s 201213 school calendar. “Our school district is originally scheduled for 181 instructional days,” says HCPS spokesperson Linda Cobbe. “The state requires students to be in school for 180 days. So we’re still good.” Cobbe adds that even if a storm causes school to be cancelled for another day during hurricane season, the District will ask the state Dept. of Education to forgive the day. “They usually will, but it’s not automatic,” she says. Cobbe says the parents and staff at all 206 HCPS schools and 73 learning centers were alerted early August

26 via ParentLink on-line, as well as the District’s automated phone system, local media outlets and even social media networks. “We did our best to communicate with parents,” she says. “Our Facebook page got a LOT of hits.” Cobbe explained that, due to the fact that Isaac was only a tropical storm, only the “Level 1” storm shelters were open, the closest to New Tampa being Greco Middle School on Fowler Ave. The larger schools are only used as shelters when the threat of a large, stronger storm is imminent. “We were on call,” says Wharton High principal Bradley Woods. “Anytime there’s a storm threatening the area, we’re ready to open our doors, but they save us for the bigger ones.” Woods says that, aside from having no school on August 27, the new school year has been going very well. Despite losing a day, he says, the teachers “just went with the flow” and taught what they had planned to teach Monday on Tuesday, instead. “(A hurricane) is just one of those things that comes with living in Florida,” he says. “There’s not really much you can do.” — MW

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The New Monkey Bizness — More Fun Than A Barrel Of …. Kristin Green. “It’s a play gym designed for the younger child,” “Quit monkeying around!” Kristen says. “But older kids can Sound familiar? You may have climb in too.” By “older kids,” she reproached your children with those means ages 7 and younger because words or even heard them from your Monkey Bizness is primarily geared own parents when you were goofing for little tykes and their parents. In off. One place you won’t hear them is fact, a special section with a tripleat the new indoor play center that padded carpet is reserved for the opened last month at The Shops at youngest tots, or as Monkey BizWiregrass mall. At Monkey Bizness, lit- ness refers to them, “crawlers.” tle kids are encouraged to go ape! “We are designed primarily for The main attraction at Monkey toddlers, preschoolers and early eleBizness is the PlaySmart gym, a soft, mentary school-age children,” contained play system that’s a maze of a Kristin explains, adding that Monstructure where kids under 7 or 8 can key Bizness is a safe environment climb, swing, bounce and explore to for younger children who might their heart’s content. The PlaySmart otherwise become overwhelmed by indoor playground is professionally the more rambunctious play of designed and constructed by the comolder kids. Kids love to ‘monkey around’ at the colorful, comfortable new Monkey Bizness play pany of the same name, according to In the few short weeks since center in the Shops at Wiregrass mall. Monkey Bizness Wesley Chapel owner its debut, Monkey Bizness has vising the children’s activities, staff “A friend texted me about this already attracted a loyal folmember Ivett Lopez shares that plans cute place,” says Andrea. “It was rainlowing. Mom Sandra Weston are under way to add arts and crafts ing and it seemed like a good indoor has driven from Valrico every projects to the already fun art room activity.” The women said they were week since the July 14 openactivities. impressed by the “clean environment” ing to entertain her children Although the art room is fun, and “great location.” Alexa, 7, and Jake, 4. Alexa Monkey Bizness offers a pleasant “And, we were just saying that we says she enjoys painting and atmosphere for its adult clientele, too. wished we’d thought of (opening) it,” drawing in the art room, You can sip a Seattle’s Best coffee and Andrea comments. while her brother, Jake, chat with a friend in the dining/sitting Unlike many other indoor play romps on the indoor play area as you watch the kids hoot and places, Monkey Bizness offers a fullapparatus. holler on the play equipment. service coffee bar, snacks and healthy “She would play here all That’s what moms Andrea grab-n-go meals. day,” Sandra says of Alexa. Christopher and Lindsey Harrie were “We like to say that while the kids Gazing at the finger-painting doing on their first visit from play, moms can get a cup of coffee, station, Sandra adds, “I like New Tampa resident Betty Gilmore enjoys wear- it because there is no mess at Zephyrhills. They brought four kids: dads can get some work done, and two 7- and two 5-year-olds. ing out her kids at Monkey Bizness. home.” Charged with superSee “Monkey Biz” on page 37.. By Camille Gillies

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WaZoo 2012: Blinded By Darkness, But At Least There Was Beer By Matt Wiley Florida summers are unpredictable, and the animals at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo know it. On any given day, our weather can go from a sunny afternoon to an all-out monsoon in a matter of minutes. For one night this summer, the animals again had the night off, as Tampa Bay’s beer connoisseurs battled the elements and a power outage to sample more than 280 beers from around the world during the 17th annual WaZoo Beer Fest, named one of the top ten beer festivals in the country by USA Today. The weather on August 4 looked promising throughout the day for the herd of eager beer drinkers waiting in line to purchase tickets to sample unlimited suds and food at the zoo, which is located off Sligh Ave. But, Mother Nature had other plans, as a thunderstorm moved in just before the event opened its gates at 7:30 p.m., knocking out power to the entire zoo for about two hours and leaving the more than 4,000 in attendance moving through the event a lot like animals in the wild, engulfed in darkness once the sun went down. Luckily, there was beer. Among the myriad of booths were

local favorites World of Beer, which has a location in Tampa Palms, and The Brass Tap, located in the Shops at Wiregrass mall, each of which served numerous different types of beer from around the globe on draft. More than 80 breweries were repre(Clockwise from top left) Bell’s Brewery was a popsented, including ular booth at the 2012 WaZoo. World of Beer Tampa’s own Cigar sponsored the event’s main stage. The crowd inside City Brewery, Tampa Bay Brewing Company, the VIP tent was even bigger than usual, thanks to some strong storms that blew through the area. Cold Storage Craft Brewery and Odessa’s organization. Thanks to support Big Storm Brewery, as well as for WaZoo, the organization Gainesville’s Swamp Head Brewery. raised more than $150,000, Other notable tasting booths included exceeding its goal and budget Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Anchor expectations, despite the Brewing Co., Brooklyn Brewery and inclement weather. Bell’s Brewery, to name a few. Cheers to the Lowry Park Zoo, all “Despite the rain, which caused of the sponsors and, most importantly, some chaos, WaZoo was a great time!” everyone who came out to support a says Melissa Wroble, a bartender at Cicgreat event for an even better cause! cio’s Lodge in Tampa Palms. “You The zoo’s next big food and bevcan’t go wrong with so many different erage event is the always-amazing 26th beers, delicious food, music and your annual Zoofari, “one of the biggest, best friends!” tastiest and ‘wildest’ all-inclusive food Proceeds from the event went to festivals in Tampa Bay area.” Like benefit the zoo, which is a nonprofit WaZoo, Zoofari, which will be held

Saturday, November 11, features unlimited sampling of food from some of the area’s top restaurants, as well as open bars along the way. There will also be art and live music to enjoy. Tickets go on sale in September. For additional information about Lowry Park Zoo, located at 1101 W. Sligh Ave in Tampa, please visit LowryParkZoo.com or call 935-8552.

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“Monkey” Continued from page 33 grandparents can get a break,” says Kristin. “But we also encourage parents and caregivers to join the children in the play area.” That’s where guest Betty Gilmore could be found, interacting with her three children on the play floor. A Grand Hampton resident, she has become a regular herself, and has been joined by friends from St. Petersburg on three different occasions. “There is nothing like this place from here to St. Pete,” Betty says. “It’s great because it offers something that all three of my kids can do.” Her children include 18-month-old twins, Addison and Kendall, and son, Hayden, 3. “It’s also reasonably priced,” she adds. “And, they don’t mind if you bring your own snacks. Plus, they give you a wristband if you want to leave and re-enter.” Betty says Monkey Bizness gives Hayden an opportunity to burn off an abundance of energy in a safe atmosphere. “He always loves to come back,” she comments. As they are belted into the triple stroller, the twins and Hayden all appear to be contentedly exhausted. Despite the fact kids were scampering all over the play floor, Kristen said this particular Friday afternoon was a

little slow. Things would pick up at 5 p.m., she predicted, because Fridays and Tuesdays are family nights, when admission is $5 per child and $3 for crawlers. (Typical admission is $8 for walkers and $5 for crawlers.) Tuesday also is dubbed “Takeout Tuesday” because families are welcome to pick up their favorite takeout meals from the many fine restaurants in the mall or even bring dinner in from home to enjoy with the kids. “My husband and I know what it’s like to be working and have kids this age, and one of our goals is to make this a convenient place to bring your children,” Kristen explains. “We want it to be clean, safe and affordable.” Residents of Lutz, Kristen and her husband, Bradley, both 36, have two sons: Spencer, 7, and Cooper, 5. Both graduated from USF, Bradley’s degree is in civil engineering and Kristen is a former high school business technology teacher at East Lake High in Pinellas County. They knew a few years ago that they wanted to open a business like this, and when her parents attended a grandchild’s birthday party in Illinois at one of the ten other Monkey Bizness franchises in five states (this is the first in Florida), they called and told her, “You can do this!” She says the dream has been two years in the making. Her passion for the business is evident as she describes the thrill of watch-

ing the wide-eyed children: “My husband and I see the little ones so excited to be here and we feel it right here (pointing to her heart) because we didn’t have a place like this to bring our kids when they were that age.” Unlike most Monkey Bizness franchises, which are located in strip centers, this one has the benefit of the beautiful surroundings of The Shops at Wiregrass. “We knew this is where we wanted to be,” Kristen says, adding that Seattle’s Best Coffee and a variety of “Grab & Go” the Wiregrass location snacks are always available at Monkey Bizness. appeals to both kids and parents because they can only open 9 a.m.-noon on Saturday & visit Barnes & Noble or Dillard’s, ride Sunday because the facility closes for the train, shop or have a meal in one of private parties from noon till 5 p.m. on the many restaurants. “If there is a weekends. waiting list at Monkey Bizness, families For information about party can amuse themselves at Wiregrass packages – Monkey Bizness offers while they wait,” she adds. five different choices starting at $99 The busiest day at Monkey Bizness – or, for a schedule of hours or any to date is Wednesday, when The mall additional information, call 388features “Wiregrass Wednesdays,” with 2922 or visit MonkeyBizness.com. free kids’ club activities from 10 a.m.You also can visit “Monkey Bizness 11 a.m. If you would like to visit the WesleyChapel” on Facebook for spenew play center when open play is less cial promotional offers. Monkey Bizcrowded, Kristin advises to stop by ness is located at 28329 Paseo Drive, between 9 a.m.-10 a.m. or after 2 p.m. Suite 160, next to Barnie’s Coffee & You might note that Monkey Bizness is Dillard’s in the Shops at Wiregrass.

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Today’s Local Culinary Students Could Be Tomorrows Top Chefs! By Matt Wiley Forget the reality shows. “America’s Next Top Chef” could be right here in New Tampa, getting the education and real-world training necessary to make anyone’s mouths water with the culinary creations from Tampa’s Art Institute’s Culinary Arts program. Many of these delicious dishes can be tasted at the school’s Tutored Chef restaurant, for a fraction of the cost of a high-end eatery. Just ask Jordan Hoeffner and Pina Freni. They both can be found cooking at the Tutored Chef on Thursday and Friday nights through mid-September, making multiple-course meals that even the biggest food afficionados couldn’t possibly scoff at, as part of their program’s curriculum to earn their Associate of Arts degree in culinary arts. Hoeffner, 27, and Freni, 42, also work at restaurants in Tampa Palms — Ciccio’s Lodge, located in the City Plaza on Tampa Palms Blvd., and Stonewood Grill & Tavern, located on Palm Pointe Dr. near I-75, respectively. Hoeffner has worked at Ciccio’s for more than 10 years, but being in a restaurant kitchen is new territory for Freni, who was a lawyer in New York

before moving to Florida 11 years ago. “I got burned out between practicing law and the cold weather,” she says. “When my husband got a job opportunity down here, we jumped at it.” She adds, however, that she always has wanted to be a chef. “That was my dream 20 years ago,” she explains. “My parents had other dreams for me, obviously. At one point, I woke up and decided that life’s too short and I need to be happy with what I’m doing.” So, she started researching culinary schools in the area and stumbled onto the Art Institute’s website, checked it out, went to an open house...and enrolled. Now she’s on her way to fulfilling her dreams, one dish at a time. Working at Stonewood is a 90-hour externship that the school requires to help her get more restaurant experience while in school. “Its difficult and challenging, but you need that to push you and make you perform,” she says. “It’s a very competitive industry.” Hoeffner’s story is a little different. “I was raised around food, and, being in hospitality at the same restaurant since I was 15, I wanted to stay in the industry,” she says. “I figured going

You can sample the culinary skills of New Tampa’s Pina Freni (left) & Jordan Hoeffner at the Titored Chef restaurant, located at the Art Institute of Tampa. to culinary school would be the next idea is to give students a good idea of stepping-stone to further my career.” what it’s like to work in a restaurant’s Both Freni and Hoeffner have kitchen, going as far to split the kitchen been learning to cook dishes from into different stations that everyone around the globe in the school’s culirotates between each week. There is nary program, which features classes for even a dishwashing station. different regions of the world. For “It’s the first time in a year that example, some of the classes include everything I’ve learned has finally American cuisine, Latin cuisine and gelled,” says Freni. “You’re not just learning bits and pieces anymore. It all Asian cuisine. Hoeffner says that the just fits. And, you’re getting the expericlasses are set up to teach them the actual cooking techniques used in those ence of working a food line and serving a customer. You’re getting real-life areas, not just recipes. The program experience in that class.” also features a baking & pastry class. Its not all fun and cooking, The Tutored Chef restaurant also Hoeffner says, and, just like in the is part of the program and even counts highest-end dining establishments, the as a class, entitled “A la Carte.” The

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standards are strict, even for class. “You have to hand-write all of your recipes and your uniform has to be in pristine shape when you walk in,” she says. “If there are wrinkles, you’re getting sent home. Some instructors are stricter than others. You also have to keep detailed journals of everything done in class each week. You wouldn’t think it is, but it’s a lot of outside work to really get the full benefit.” Although it seems like working at a restaurant and then going to culinary school, where they also work in a restaurant, would be enough to fry their attitudes towards cooking, but neither chef-in-training is fazed. “Some people meditate; I just want to cook,” says Hoeffner. “It’s my Zen. It makes me calm.” She adds that going to culinary school also has influenced the way she cooks at home, although she doesn’t have much free time to cook during the hours most people would want to eat. But, she does it anyway.

“I guess I’ve become more of a ‘snob’ with where I shop for groceries now and the ingredients I use,” she explains. “I’m more conscious of where I’m getting my food and it’s really influenced the way I cook.” Both soon-to-be chefs have plans for continuing in the industry. Freni plans to one day be a caterer or private chef, which, she says, would give her much more creative freedom. Hoeffner would like to open her own restaurant. “I want to have my hand in every little part of it,” she says. For now, the duo will continue to be serving up three-, five- and even seven-course meals at the Tutored Chef restaurant on Thursday and Friday nights from 6:30-8:30, located on the second floor of The Art Institute of Tampa at 4401 N. Himes Ave. until September 14. Meals start at a little more than $6. For more info about the Art Institute and its culinary program, please visit ArtInstitutes.edu/Tampa.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 19 • September 8, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Koizi Is New Tampa’s Endless Sushi & Hibachi Grill Eatery! By Gary Nager Based on the number of Japanese steakhouses located in and near New Tampa, not to mention all the other places that also serve sushi, a lot of you really enjoy chowing down on Japanese cuisine. Unfortunately, for many people, a dinner at the average Japanese steak house usually has to be a “big night out” or special occasion. Well, you may have to rethink your ideas about the cost of enjoying truly delicious sushi and teppanyaki (hibachi) fare, now that Koizi (it’s actually pronounced “Ko-ee-zee”) Endless Hibachi & Sushi Eatery has opened. Located in the same Shoppes at the Pointe plaza in Tampa Palms as World of Beer and the Coffee Beanery (behind Olive Garden), Koizi is a more delicious, more affordable way to enjoy all you can eat of sushi, hibachi entrées and a number of other great Japanese appetizers and dishes than any of those “Asian buffet” restaurants. Koizi lives up to its self-billing as the “Tampa Bay area’s first & only full-service, endless sushi bar and hibachi steakhouse.” And, once you’ve visited Koizi, you’ll realize that it is actually the polar opposite of any “buffet place.” First of all, the restaurant itself — the décor, ambiance, etc. — is absolute-

ly beautiful. No remnant of any previous restaurant in the same space remains. Whether for a business or casual lunch or a dressed-up dinner date, Koizi is, well...really cozy (sorry for the bad pun), even though it’s actually a pretty big place. The menu offers ridiculously affordable opportunities to “pay one price” for lunch or dinner — $8.95 for lunch (11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.), $17.95 for dinner (4 p.m.-10 p.m.) and $14.95 any time on Sundays (noon-9 p.m.). That one price includes all-you-can eat, made-to-order sushi (everything from fresh snapper sashimi to unique rolls like the “Sexy Girl” roll, which is served with a lighted “diamond”), plus unlimited appetizers (like a variety of hot soups, crispy Shanghai egg rolls, pot sticker dumplings, Udon noodles and more), plus unlimited Mongolian beef, General Tsao’s chicken, shrimp and broccoli and a few other nonhibachi entrées. Full yet? You haven’t even hear-

At Koizi Endless Sushi & Hibachi Grill in Tampa Palms, you can get unlimited (clockwise from top left) pot sticker dumplings, “Sexy Girl” rolls & hibachi fare like fresh squid, steak & shrimp; NY Strip, ribeye, filet & lobster tails are ‘upcharged.’

about the hibachi fare, which you can enjoy even if you choose not to sit at one of the six teppanyaki tables. The “standard” hibachi fare, which is all you can eat for no additional charge over the prices listed above, includes unlimited top sirloin, shrimp, chicken or squid (aka calamari). But, if you really want a gourmet dining experience, you can pay to “upgrade” your steak to one full dinner portion of filet, NY strip or even ribeye for only $5 more. Feel like kicking your

seafood up a notch? Upgrade to a portion of salmon or scallops for $5 or a tender, delicious lobster tail for only $8. General manager Mark Planeta, who also has worked at Dempsey’s Steak House at Saddlebrook Resort

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 19 • September 8, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

You won’t confuse the beautiful interior of Koizi with any other restaurant, either. Tampa, says that Koizi’s goal is to com- lunch or dinner at Koizi, call and ask bine the best quality food at the best how you can order sushi and hibachi price possible. “to go boxes” for take out. “Value is so important for people Just don’t ever confuse Koizi, these days,” says Planeta. “But, just where “the possibilities are endless,” offering a lot of food won’t keep peowith any Asian buffet place or with any ple coming back. We think more peoother Japanese steakhouse or sushi bar ple will want to come back for this kind in the Tampa Bay area. But, please go... of quality and value.” and tell them yours truly sent you! Koizi doesn’t currently serve beer Koizi Endless Hibachi Grill & or wine, although you can get free Sushi Eatery (17012 Palm Pointe “shots” of sake from a ketchup-style Dr., Tampa Palms) is open every day squeeze bottle during the fun (and for lunch and dinner. Reservations sometimes a little loud, based on the are accepted but not required, but crowd) hibachi table chefs’ shows. And, Koizi also can host “Hibachi Table while you can’t take out your leftovers Parties” for up to 16 people. For when you order the all-you-can-eat more info, call 971-1919.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 19 • September 8, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Ciccio’s Revamped Menu Adds New Items & Brings Back Old Favorites By Gary Nager If you’ve been reading this publication for any period of time, it’s pretty likely that no one has to tell you how much I’ve loved what originally was called Ciccio & Tony’s, but has also been called Ciccio’s Lodge and now, Ciccio’s California Cuisine. Whatever name you choose to call it, proprietor Robert Garofano’s longtime favorite, still located in the (Publix-anchored) City Plaza at Tampa Palms shopping center, continues to adapt its format to the community that has come to love it. I don’t know when you first fell in love with Ciccio’s, but I’ve been a fan from the beginning and Garofano knows his customers as well as any restaurant owner in the biz. He recognizes there are items from the original Ciccio & Tony’s menu that people have been clamoring for and that not every Ciccio’s Lodge menu item was as big a hit as some others. So, welcome to the new and improved Ciccio’s, which still boasts the same sharp-looking, TV-covered, fun bar area with virtually every premium alcohol brand (including my favorite Blanton’s bourbon), plus a variety of margaritas, craft beers and wines by the

Our editor recommends (l. to r.) the new Ahi Tuna Poki Water Bowl and plans to try the new Volcan roll at Ciccio’s California Cuisine in Tampa Palms. He also recommends the tasty burgers (with sweet potato fries) and daily entrée specials like blackened wahoo (below, right).

glass, and its variety of entertainment options and daily specials (see below). But now, Ciccio’s also has added, for example, these amazing sushi bowls created at the affiliated Water sushi bar restaurant in South Tampa. All three of the “Water Bowls” at Ciccio’s feature fresh ahi tuna served over your choice of brown or sticky rice or, for $1 more, over Asian noodles or farro (which is a whole grain wheat that looks and tastes like a nutty rice), along with delicious sauces and dressings. My favorite so far is the Ahi “Tuna Poki,” tossed with fresh minced ginger, cilantro, and a spicy garlic rayu ponzu sauce served over jicama and cucumber and topped with yuzu tobikko and sesame seeds. I also have sampled and enjoyed the sesame rare tuna Water

Bowl and the Hot & Crunchy bowl. Although I haven’t tried them yet, among the new sushi rolls available are the Dino & Jimmy Tempura (shrimp, fresh Alaskan crab, avocado, cucumber, scallion and topped with sesame aioli, spicy mayo, kabayaki glaze and tempura crisps) and the Volcano roll (fresh Alaskan crab, cucumber, scallion, cream cheese and crispy onions, topped with wonton flakes, avocado and served with a warm seafood dip, kabayaki glaze, and sriracha aioli). Still hooked on a certain Ciccio’s wrap? Many of my friends who live and work here are and some have said they’ve missed, for example, the Ybor wrap (blackened chopped chicken, white beans, tomato, jalapeno, red onions and cilantro), which has been

brought back. Among the new wrap choices are the Milano (chopped chicken breast, garlic ricotta cheese and mushroom marsala; the Gyro Wrap (choice of chicken, gyro meat or vegetarian, with feta cheese, lettuce, black olives, hummus and tomatoes; and the Diablo (chopped chicken breast, rice, avocado, provolone cheese, onions and chipotle tomato sauce. But, best of all for me, is the return of Ciccio’s daily dinner entrée

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 19 • September 8, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

The return of the Ybor wrap (above) is certain to bring even more customers back to Ciccio’s bar.

specials. On my first visit since the new menu was adopted, I savored a fresh blackened wahoo with a unique eel sauce atop scallions, fresh tomatoes and sticky rice. Yes, I love Ciccio’s menu — including my favorite black-&-whitesesame-crusted tuna, spicy linguine with fresh clams, delicious burgers (the turkey burger is my fave) and brick oven, thin-crusted pizzas — but having fresh fish, steak and other daily specials is what really keeps bringing me back. Speaking of specials, Ciccio’s offers an everyday “Ultimate Happy Hour,” “Margarita Monday,” “$2 Tuesdays,” “$3 Wednesdays” and “Ladies Night Thursdays.” See the Ciccio’s ad on page 43 of this issue for details of all the specials, but needless to say, they’re all great deals on great food and drinks.

Ciccio’s al denté linguine with fresh clams still has that slightly spicy kick. Ciccio’s California Cuisine (16023 Tampa Palms Blvd.) is open every day for lunch (weekend lunch starts Sat., Sept. 15, at noon!), dinner and late-night dining and is still one of New Tampa’s favorite caterers, too. For more info, call 9751222 or visit CicciosLodge.com.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 19 • September 8, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

PDQ Is Pretty Darn Quick & Pretty Darn Good, Too! By Gary Nager OK, so you’re driving along S.R. 56 and decide that you’re hungry, but you’re in something of a hurry. Well, whether drive-through or dine-in, the new PDQ Fresh Tenders, Salads, Sandwiches & Shakes is a fast, fun, attractive place with a delicious (but admittedly, a little bit limited) menu. PDQ, which today has three locations (the other two are in Carrollwood and South Tampa), will grow to seven locations by the year’s end, and the place has a pedigree. It was founded (as “Tenders”) in North Carolina by a new restaurant company created by Outback co-founder Bob Basham. But, PDQ isn’t about impressing you with history lessons, it’s about trying to get you to come back for its

food, service and high-energy atmosphere. The menu includes plump, freshly fried tenders (served with amazing sauces; more on them below), grilled and “crispy” chicken and turkey sandwiches, hand-tossed salads with unique (especially for a “fast food” place) dressings, fresh-cut fries, freshly made cole slaw, fresh apple slices with a decadent toffee dip, amazing handspun shakes in a variety of delish flavors and the coolest fountain sodas in the biz. And that’s it. In other words, if you’re not up for a salad, sandwich or fried tenders, you need to take your business elsewhere. But, if you’re looking for a unique take on fresh poultry, here are a few of my favorite items on the menu. In my opinion, the fried tenders are better than Publix’s and the crispy chicken sandwiches are better than Chick-filA’s... and I really love Chick-fil-A sandwiches, too. I just think the chicken itself is superior. The grilled chicken salad, grilled chicken and turkey sandwiches also are served fresh, hot and tasty, and all of PDQ’s entrée items

taste even better to me with either the zesty “Sweet Heat” or creamy garlic dipping sauces. The creamy garlic also is an outstanding salad dressing, although I do love PDQ’s Caesar dressing and I’ve heard many customers asking for both the unique blueberry vinaigrette and low-fat “Fiesta” dressings, too. The fresh-cut, skinon fries are crispy (but not overly crisp) perfection (but diet-deadly) and the homemade fresh cole slaw has a little spice and a lot less mayo than most I’ve tasted. Yum. The hand-spun shakes are utterly delicious, but definitely not on the diet for those trying to watch their weight (like yours truly). Instead of the shakes, I have enjoyed both the regular and diet Cheerwine, which is a tasty, 95year-old cherry soda bottled in The (clockwise from top) fresh tenders and North Carolina, and especially, the fresh-cut fries, grilled turkey sandwich with amazing, 100-option soda machine creamy garlic sauce and grilled chicken which allows me to fill my drink salad with blueberry vinaigrette dressing are with all the ice I want and cover it all worth trying at PDQ on S.R. 56. with my favorite 75-percent diet and 25-percent regular Barq’s to check out a truly unique dining convanilla root beer, but you can opt for cept that’s perfect for families — kids any combination of any other Cocaand their parents love the food — and Cola product. there’s even a nice outdoor seating area Wesley Chapel PDQ operating with misters to keep you cool. partner Eric Knott and his enthusiastic PDQ (27757 S.R. 56) is open team (they will even come to you in the every day at 11 a.m. and until 10 parking lot and walk you under an p.m. Sun.-Thur., and until 11 p.m. umbrella if it’s raining and you don’t on Fri. & Sat. For info, call 528have one) of more than 70 invite you 8770 or visit EatPDQ.com.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 19 • September 8, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

The Latest & Greatest News About Dining, Shopping, Retail & More In New Tampa & Wesley Chapel! Selmon’s To Become An Outback? - New Tampa residents were stunned to see the closing of Lee Roy Selmon’s on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., one of the more popular restaurants and bars in the New Tampa area. Rumors are running rampant about what will happen with Selmon’s, but here’s the best information we have — although none of this had been confirmed by sources at either Mvp Holdings Tampa, Inc., the company started by former Outback honchos Bob Basham, Chris Sullivan and Nicholas Reader, which owns Lee Roy Selmon’s, the new PDQ chain and Carmel Café, or by OSI Restaurant Partners LLC, which owns the land upon which the New Tampa Selmon’s sits. The initial reports and notices on the restaurant itself indicated that Selmon’s was closing temporarily for renovations and a possible name/format change, but that either changed or never was the plan. Instead, an unnamed source with Mvp Holdings said that the bottom line was that Selmon’s lease expired and that OSI was seeking a huge increase in rent for the freestanding building which does not have direct access to BBD. We also heard that Selmon’s might become a Carrabba’s Italian Grill, despite the fact that there already is a Carrabba’s on N. 56th St. in Temple Terrace. There also is an Outback Steakhouse next to Carrabba’s in Temple Terrace, but unnamed employees at the Temple Terrace Outback say they

were told that the New Tampa Selmon’s would become an Outback. OSI apparently isn’t as concerned about a New Tampa-based Outback cannibalizing its Temple Terrace location as they are about Carrabba’s doing the same. In the meantime, Dave Rathbun, the managing partner at Stonewood Grill & Tavern, located only about a mile from the shuttered Selmon’s, says he is sorry to see it go, even though his bar and restaurant business already had seen an uptick since Selmon’s closed. “I never want to see a place go that helped bring people from other areas to New Tampa. Selmon’s is a known name and I really like their food and going there to watch games. We’re not a sports bar, so we don’t offer the number of TVs they do.” We’ll keep you posted as details about Selmon’s become clearer. Authentic Colombian Cuisine at La Pollera Colorada - Meanwhile, we hope you’ll check out another eatery, located at 8904 N. 56th St. in Temple Terrace. La Pollera Colorada, owned by longtime local restaurateur Carlos Villegas, is open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner and offers authentic Colombian cuisine and Carlos says his is the best homemade sangria in town. For more info, call La Pollera Colorada at 988-3030. Wiregrass Rumor Mill: Panera & Pandora In; Cheesecake Factory...? - To update a previous item in this space, the smell of bread baking will soon be an everyday scent for shoppers.

However, at this point, we cannot confirm or deny whether or not there will be cheesecake at the Shops at Wiregrass. The mall will soon be home to a new jewelry store, as well. Along S.R. 56, a sign boasting the phrase, “Baking Soon,” has appeared, letting drivers passing by know that they will soon have a brand new Panera Bread bakery-café, where they can grab a bread bowl, sandwich, salad and a wide variety of baked goods. According to the press release, Panera will be built on the outparcel closest to GrillSmith and S.R. 56, and is expected to be open for business sometime in November, just in time for holiday shopping. “Our concept has been embraced by many local communities, and we look forward to sharing our signature Panera warmth in the Wesley Chapel and New Tampa area,” says Kevin Ricci, operating partner of Covelli Family Limited Partnership, a Panera franchisee that operates more than 200 Paneras across the country, 26 in the Tampa Bay area, including the location on Highwoods Preserve Dr. off Bruce B. Downs Blvd. (BBD) near I-75. We have no further info at this time about what will replace the recently shuttered Aja. A spokesperson for the mall says that The Cheesecake Factory moving in is still just a rumor. In addition to Panera, the Shops at Wiregrass will also soon be welcoming a Pandora Jewelry, which will move in between Chico’s and Dillard’s.

The store, which is expected to open in mid to late October, will be about 1,000 sq. ft. and will carry the entire line of sterling silver and 14karat-gold Pandora Jewelry. “We are offering the Wiregrass mall the entire Pandora shopping experience,” says Heidi Hardman, of Polkadotz, the franchisee. “People can create their completely custom look from our extensive line of charms to represent their own unforgettable moments, important people, pets and events.” Burger 21 Opens Sept. 10 Meanwhile, New Tampa’s burger battle will become even more heated on Monday, September 10. That’s when Burger 21® (Burger 21.com), a fast-casual “beyond the better burger” franchise concept founded by the owners of The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc., will celebrate the Grand Opening of its New Tampa location, the fourth company-owned Burger 21 location in the Tampa Bay area. The restaurant will be the first tenant in the new Trout Creek Commons plaza, next to the new Auto Zone store, at 20304 Trout Creek Dr. at BBD Blvd. “Our concept’s success in Westchase, Carrollwood and Lakeland has exceeded expectations,” says Mark Johnston, Burger 21 president and chief concept officer and president of Front Burner Brands, restaurant management company for Burger 21. We’re excited to bring our crafted burgers and shakes to New Tampa as we expand in the Bay area and beyond.” — GN

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 19 • September 8, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

NEW TAMPA & WESLEY CHAPEL H E L P

W A N T E D

Join OrthoTechnology’s Winning Team! Ortho Technology, a medical supply distributor located in New Tampa, is seeking talented energetic candidates for the following positions: Distribution Associates - Small parts pick/pack/ship experience preferred. Strong attention to detail, computer skills, ability to stand/walk for entire shift & lift up to 50 pounds required. We provide a great work environment, excellent benefits package and growth potential. Submit resumes to careers@orthotechnology.com. Visit our website at www.orthotechnology.com for additional information and other job opportunities. We provide a great work environment and excellent benefits package. PHYSICAL THERAPIST – An established New Tampa outpatient clinic is hiring a part-time PT to provide customized, one-on-one care. Fax resume to (813) 994-3080 HELP WANTED - Medical Billing Personnel, part-time, flexible hours, Local PT Clinic. Fax resume to 813-994-3080. HAIRSTYLISTS & NAIL TECHNICIANS NEEDED! - Paris Hair, the New Look, a beautiful free-standing Salon & Spa in the heart of Temple Terrace. With an extremely professional team, we are a thriving business! We offer a relaxed atmosphere, excellent customer service, and we're ready to increase our staff! Hairstylists & Nail technicians needed! For more information, Contact: Alexander Jasmine at (813) 985-3343 or online at parishairthenewlook.@hotmail.com HELP WANTED - Chiropractic office looking for outgoing, organized front desk receptionist to handle the day to day functions: open/close office, answer phones, greet patients, schedule appointments and follow office procedures. Computer literacy required. Must be able to multi-task, be responsible and pay attention to details. Some evenings / no weekends approx 36 hr week. Please fax resume to 813-991-5493 HELP WANTED - Part Time Medical Asst. for doctor's office. Experience preferred. Good salary & benefits. Fax resume to 632-7114 or call 632-7111.

FITNESS &WELLBEING TAI CHI CLASSES - Open to the public at the Club Tampa Palms. Benefits: Strength, Flexibility, Balance, Focus and reduced stress. New Beginner 6 week courses starting every few month’s adults Thur. evening’s 7-8 pm and seniors Wed. 2:30-3:30 space is limited. Also personal instruction in Tai Chi, Kempo Karate, Boot Camp Fitness Training and more. With more than 31 years of training and teaching experience. Please contact me for more details or go to: chuan-fa.org Peter 787-7560 or e-mail peter@chuan-fa.org LICENSED MOBILE MASSAGE THERAPIST Available seven days a week, 9am -9pm. $55 for 1 hour! Types of massage available: Swedish, Deep Tissue, Aroma Therapy, Hot Stone, Corporate Seated, Pregnancy, Sports & Injury Rehab. References available. www.barkdollmassagetherapy.com CALL 727-372-6389 Lic #MA47546. JAZZERCISE CLASSES - Classes available MonFri 8:30am & 9:30am located at Jansen Dance Project. Jazzercise is a combination of dance, hip hop, kickboxing, yoga, and Pilates. Enjoy 30 minutes of rockin’ cardio and 30 minutes of strength training. All Monday’s in September are FREE! For more information call Julie (813) 505-5258, www.jazzercise.com or jwagonerjazz@verizon.net.

Classifıeds

HOME

IMPROVEMENT

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 NEED HOME MAINTENANCE – Almost any job, large or small, ext/int, fencing , screening, sm. concrete, sprinklers, painting, repairs, int. doors, locks, sheet rock, windows, paint, caulk, grout, trim, shelving, garages organized. Installations, removals, pressure washing, wood restoration & more. Call Dale’s Home Maintenance @ 973-0194 or 727-2582. GREG’S PAPERHANGING – For all of your wallpapering needs. Licensed & insured, clean, quick & reasonable. Call 973-2767 for free estimate. RAYMOND PAINTING – Interior & Exterior pressure washing, paper hanging, plaster, stucco, tiles, clean & seal pavers, roofing leaks, etc. Licensed & Bonded. References available. Free Estimates. Your Neighborhoond Arbor Greene Resident. We work 7 days. Call 994-5124. DAVID BRIDGES PRESSURE CLEANING Complete exterior cleaning of your home or business with a professional and 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. 813-215-1177 FLORIDA'S TRU-PROFESSIONALS: Certified professionals who specialize in roof repairs/installation, remodeling, repairing, flooring needs, construction clean-up (excavation, demolition, xeriscaping designs, & scaffolding), lawn maintenance (sodding, plant removal/installation, rock gardens, irrigation, tree removal/installation), and professional, residential, and commercial cleaning. For more information, contact (813) 444-5455 or (813) 516-2008.

E S T A T E

R E A L

FIND YOUR DREAM HOME FROM YOUR CELL PHONE! - Wish you could see home details while you are driving around looking at homes? NOW YOU CAN! With Team Bohannon's Mobile MLS Search application, you can search for any home in the area on your cell phone. Check out price, beds/baths, details, maps, even photos – all from the convenience of your cell phone. SEARCH PROPERTIES WHENEVER AND WHEREVER YOU WANT! GET IT NOW - Text: MLS4YOU to: 87778 Compliments of Doug, Annette and Dale Bohannon Coldwell Banker 813-979-4963 FOR RENT - 24' X 12' Office Space. In a busteling Organic Spa Group w/ 5 busy professionals, all active in the community, who offer: organic hair color, facials, nails, weight management and personal training as well as European Massage therapy. Ready made clientele waiting for you to join us! Perfect for Accupunturist, life coach, therapist, small boutique, wig salon, artist, small florist, bridal, etc. Available immediately. Please contact Star at 813.973.8787.

COMPUTER SERVICES

P O O L

PROFESSIONAL TECH SUPPORT – in your home or small business. A+ certified computer tech with 15 years of exp. Maintenance & repairs, upgrades & tutoring. More affordable than the large chains! Friendly, personalized svc. Technical jargon explained in plain English. References available upon request. Call 957-8342 for free estimate.

TRANQUILITY POOL SERVICE - New Tampa owned & operated. Great Pricing with outstanding customer service! LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED. See why we are New Tampa’s #1 Choice!! New customer’s ONE MONTH FREE! Call Chris Today @ (813) 857-5400 or visitTranquilityPoolService.com

DO YOU HATE YOUR COMPUTER?!? WE CAN HELP YOU! Troubleshooting, installation, networking & virus removal. WE COME TO YOU! Servicing residential and businesses, with over 25 years experience. Contact Jeffrey Blank at 813.973.4507 today! www.WSICA.COM; Wsica@wsica.com

TAMPA CAT LADY- Professional Cat-Sitting Service." Cats are happiest in their own home, surrounded by familiar sights, sounds, & smells. When you are away, we feed, cuddle, & play with your kitties & clean & dispose of litter. We help deter crime by bringing newspaper/mail & rotating lights/blinds, giving your home that lived-in look. Insured, bonded, & Red-Cross certified in pet first aid/CPR. Call 994-9449 or visit us at www.TampaCatLady.com. PAWS IN THE PALMS, LLC - Dog walking;at home pet care; 24-hour emergency visits for existing clientele. Paws in the Palms is an exclusive pet care service that fits your lifestyle. We recognize that no two pets are alike and will accommodate his or her unique needs (medication requirements, exercise, food instructions, etc.). Familiarity and consistency are key to a happy, healthy pet and a happy, reassured YOU! Call (813) 252-5577 visit us @https:// www.facebook.com/PawsInThePalms

CLEANING SERVICES D-ULTRA CLEANING SERVICE - We have our own supplies & more than 200 clients in New Tampa! For more information, Call 758-9710. M.Y. CLEANING SERVICE - Offering Residential cleaning. We offer complete bath & kitchen cleaning, as well as dusting and polishing furniture. We provide our own supplies. Free estimates! Your satisfaction is our priority! With 5 years of experience, we guarantee meticulous cleaning! Call Mila: (813) 516-3554.

JASMINE’S LANDSCAPING - Complete lawn maintenance, Tree, palm and hedge trimming, Planting, mulching, stones, Sod replacement, Pressure washing, Gutter cleaning and more. Cited by your HOA for violations? Need to comply for: Pressure washing, Trimming, Mulching, Sod replacement, Sprinkler repair or Mailbox repair or replacements?Ask about our HOA SPECIAL! FREE ESTIMATE! 813.420.4465 LAWN CARE - We Specialize in Residential Lawn & Landscape Maintenance! Landscaping, Mulching, Clean-ups, Palm/Tree Trimming & Sprinkler Repair also available. Owner Operated over 17 years. Call us today for Reliable Service for everything that grows @ your property 813-973-3825 or visit: ntlcpropertymaintenance.com

S E R V I C E S

KJ POOL SERVICE – Enjoy Your Pool, While We Maintain It. Servicing pools for over 6 years. First Month Free, Plus Free Evaluation & Quote. Owner & Operator. LICENSE, BONDED & INSURED. Office:(813)909-9466 Cell:(813) 748-9817 kjpoolservice@yahoo.com. Visit our website @ kjpoolonline.com AQUATEC POOL SERVICE - keeping pools clear & swim safe since 1994. WE DO POOLS RIGHT! Commercial & Residential. CPO #33-303052 Licensed & Insured. Service guarantee. Call 813-780-8616 TODAY and get 1 MONTH OF QUALITY SERVICE FOR FREE. www.aquatecpool.com

EDUCATION / BABYSITTING PIANO LESSONS/TUTORING - Children, teens, and adults. I am a highly qualified/certified Florida educator specializing in piano, music theory, language arts, reading, writing, geography, elementary math, beginning Spanish, and FCAT/test preparation. Contact Mrs. Daley at 813-468-1424 for rates and scheduling. PROFESSIONAL TENNIS LESSONS Recently relocated USPTA/PTR teaching professional available for private/group/team tennis lessons. Former Head Tennis Professional at the #2 and #3 Tennis Resorts in the U.S. Past coach of former #1 singles player at the University of Florida. Call Steve Brady at 843-422-3993 or email sbrady@hargray.com BABYSITTER / NANNY AVAILABLE -Days, evenings & weekends. I also do house cleaning & pet sitting. Call 813.220.7030 or email: hughjul5@aol.com

M I S C E L L A N E O U S SPRINGER STORAGE: RV & Boat Storage Port Richey, FL Starting at $35.00 mo. Pay first two months, 3rd month free. 24 hour access & 24 hour monitoring. Call to reserve your spot. 813-8331191. CAR SERVICES – Don’t Have a Ride? Don’t Want to Leave Your Car? Shouldn’t Drive? We Drive You and Your Car Home! Night Clubs, Corporate Events, Sporting Events, Concerts, Appointments, Airport or Stranded... Call Jay at (813) 966-1530. FURNITURE FOR SALE - Double leaf Thomasville dinning table and six chairs. $800,Matching china closet $750,Will sell as a set for $1400. Lazy Boy sleeper sofa $250, 2 Queen Anne wing chairs $250 both,Wicker chair white $50, 3 unit Thomasville book case w/ lighting $650, Thomasville writting desk. $400, Cherry coffee table $20, Wrought iron and Glass "sofa table" $100, Set of 3 nesting tables. $75. Virtual tour for viewing: http://hdshowings.com/881f CONTACT JUDI BECK 813-380-3866.

TURN YOUR CLUTTER INTO CASH Garage & estate sales, inventory liquidation,& appraisal services. We'll sell it for you online! We evaluate & appraise your products, you get top dollar. Call Mary: 813-428-5793. NEED EXTRA MONEY...We can turn your unwanted, old or broken gold jewelry into CASH! Take advantage of high gold prices which may not last long. Don't sell to the fly by night companies. Take it to Tampa Palms Hometown Jeweler. Jeweler on staff w/ 35 years experience. Charles Jewelers, 972-4653 (next to Stein Mart on Bruce B. Downs).

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS CLASSIFIEDS ARE NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE! Visit www.ads.ntneighborhoodnews.com or call 813-910-2575

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 19 • September 8, 2012 •

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 19 • September 8, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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ASBURY

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WHITEHALL

NG I D N AY E P D 1 IN 4 BR, 2 1/2 Bath, 2 Car Garage, 3336 s.f. Newer tile roof & a/c. Custom kitchen w/ granite counters, Maple cabinetry & stainless VWHHO DSSOLDQFHV 5HPRGHOHG EDWKURRPV QHZ WLOH Ă RRUV 3DYered lanai w/ pool/spa package. Conservation lot w/ pond view and oversized yard. Offered for $379,900

4907 HALLSTEAD WAY ODESSA

Custom 3 Bed, 2 Bath, 2 Car Garage, 2311 s.f. Stunning upgrades throughout. Large fenced home site surrounded by mature landscapin. 1HZHU URRI H[WHULRU LQWHULRU SDLQW JOHDPLQJ KDUGZRRG Ă RRUV SODQWDtion shutters & remodeled master bath. New gourmet kitchen w/ maple FDELQHWU\ JUDQLWH FRXQWHUV XSJUDGHG DSSOLDQFH SDFNDJH 3DYHUV RQ ODQDL overlooking a sparkling pool/spa package. Offered for $289,900.

5 BR,+ 6 1/2 Bath, 3 Car Garage, 6752 s.f. Separate Guesthouse, exercise room, home theater, gated courtyard with extra parking, pool and spa w/ rock waterfall. Located on a beautiful, two-sided conservation homesite with-in top selling gated village. Offered for $1,250,000

LANCASTER

WINDSOR

NG S I D EK N E E P W 2 IN 2 Bed, 2 Bath, 2 Car Garage, 1338 s.f. Maintenance free Villa w/ a light, bright open feel. Large kitchen w/ coiffured ceilings, white raised panel cabinetry, white appliance package w/ refrigerator. Located on beautiful golf course home site w/in The Groves. This 45 and over community has all the amenities your looking for! Offered for $129,900.

NG I D YS N E P 4 DA IN 5 BR, 5 Full Baths, 4438 s.f., 3 Car Garage. Gated village. Upgrades WKURXJKRXW +DUGZRRG Ă RRUV 3ODQWDWLRQ VKXWWHUV 2YHUVL]HG NLWFKHQ Z Âľ 0DSOH FDELQHWU\ 6 6$SSO /DQDL Z RXWGRRU NLWFKHQ 3RRO spa. Offered for $750,000

4 BR + Den, 3.5 Bath, 3 Car Garage, 3281 s.f. Upgraded Hanna Bartoletta in top selling gated village. Upgraded kitchen w/ granite counters, stainless steel appliances, recipe desk and 42â&#x20AC;? Maple cabinetry. Stunning private conservation setting. Offered for $390,000.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 â&#x20AC;˘ Volume 20, Issue 19 â&#x20AC;˘ September 8, 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com