Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News, Volume 28. Issue 20, September 29, 2020

WESLEY CHAPEL

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Volume 28 Issue 20 September 29, 2020

COMEDY GOLD!

There’s already a taproom, dueling piano bar and mini-golf, and a unique movie theater and a container park are on the way to The Grove. But, if you think developer Mark Gold of Mishorim Gold is done, it looks like the joke might be on you!

By John C. Cotey John@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Two guys walk into a bar.

One guy says, “Hey, how would you like to bring your comedy club to The Grove theater in Wesley Chapel?”

The other guy says, “Hey yeah, that sounds like a great idea. Let’s do it!”

Okay, so that’s not much of a joke — we’ll leave that to the pros, who will be headed to Wesley Chapel in a few months, when the renowned Side Splitters Comedy Club opens a its second location in The Grove on S.R. 54.

Developer Mark Gold, who is redeveloping The Grove into an entertainment space unrivaled in the area, says he has forged a deal with Brian Thompson, the owner of Side Splitters in Carrollwood, to bring a full-fledged

stand-up comedy club to the area before the end of 2020.

As part of the former Cobb theater’s dramatic makeover — which already is set to include a huge video game area, a high-tech spin room, theaters that cater to kids and moviegoers and two new restaurants — Side Splitters Comedy Club will take over one of the theaters for its stand-up shows.

“We have gotten a ton of requests to get another location and Wesley Chapel is one of the areas with the most requests,” says Thompson. “We know it’s a growing area and, when the opportunity came up to get in there, we took it. We see it as a win-win for both of us.”

See “Comedy Gold” on page 4!

Tampa’s FAMOUS Side Splitters Comedy Club To Open...

Inside The Grove Movie Theater • Mini-Golf & Water Park Coming Soon!

For Leasing Information, call Keren at (407) 636-1266 or email Keren@ mgoldgroup.com

TrebleMakers — Now Open! (see pg. 35) F45 Training — Now Open! (see pg. 9!)

Double Branch Artisanal Ales — Now Open!

Power Martial Arts — Now Open!

Jillian Joseph Photography — Now Open!

Highland Axe Throwing — Now Open!

Degajé Coffee Shop — Has Re-Opened!

The Roman Group Realty — Opening Soon!

RAW Space Collaborative — Opening Soon!

For added safety, UV light sterilizers for AC units installed in all shops!

Check Out Those Delicious Treble Makers!

For details, see the story on pgs. 30-31 & the ad on pg. 35!

Upcoming Events At The Grove: Oct. 9-11 — Fri, 5p-11p; Sat, 11a-11p; Sun, 11a-9p

Oct. 9-31 — Mon-Thur, 4p-8p; Fri, 5p-11p; Sat, 11a-11p; Sun, 11a-9p

..................................................................

TLC Community Markets (Every Saturday!)

To apply to be an entertainer, or for more event information, contact Matheus Gold Office: (813) 406-5819 Cell: (407) 534-0810 Email: matheus@mgoldgroup.com

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Zooming Through An Awesome Community Meeting On Racism An editorial by Gary Nager So, I certainly didn’t know what to expect when 21 people got together for the first-ever New Tampa and Wesley Chapel Zoom community meeting on racism on August 25, but I have to say that it was shocking, eye-opening, disheartening and heartwarming all at the same time.

How could it possibly have been all of those things at once?

It was shocking because, from my meeting co-host — District 63 State Rep. Fentrice Driskell — to military veteran April Lewis to my friend Nikii Lewis (all shown on this page), some of the stories told by the black and white people alike who participated in that meeting showed just how prevalent dealing with racism both in our area and in this country truly is and seemingly always has been.

It was shocking for me to hear that Rep. Driskell, a Harvard University and Georgetown Law-educated Tampa-based attorney originally from Polk County, has been assumed to be either the court reporter or the client/defendant as often as she has been assumed to be the lawyer.

It was eye-opening to hear Nikii, who lives in a mostly white neighborhood in Wesley Chapel, tell the story about her six-year-old daughter, who told her — at age 3 — that she’s afraid of white people, and that when her daughter was drawing pictures of people, she wouldn’t use a brown crayon because, she said, she wanted the people “to look normal.”

And, it was disheartening to hear that April Lewis, a recent transplant to New Tampa who is suffering from PTSD after six years in the Army with two deployments, who also is a Gold Star wife whose husband was killed in Iraq, doesn’t feel safe when she walks into a store and doesn’t feel the same equality as I do.

But, the Zoom meeting also was heartwarming because several of the attendees who

were white said that they were participating because they felt the need to do something in the wake of the recent shootings of black people like George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Jacob Blake and others by law enforcement officials and the civil unrest that has followed those incidents across this country.

When I organized the event, I didn’t know what my goal was — and I still don’t — but I do know that I truly do not want it to stop there.

“If my black skin is good enough to fight for this country, I can’t understand why my blackness isn’t good enough to receive the same equality as everyone else.”

— New Tampa resident & Gold Star wife April Lewis.

Representative Fentrice Driskell See “Zoom Meeting” on pg. 10 “I can’t even tell you how many times, as an attorney in court, that people have assumed that I was the court reporter or the defendant.” — Dist. 63 State

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Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News

“My daughter would draw pictures of people and I’d ask her, ‘Don’t you want to use a brown crayon to make them look like you?,’ and she’d say, ‘No, Mommy, I want them to look normal.’” — Wesley Chapel resident Nikii Lewis

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3

‘Comedy Gold’ Continued from page 1

And, for the record, Gold and Thompson didn’t forge the deal at a bar.

Instead, Thompson, who says he has been unofficially scouting the Wesley Chapel area for years, came across a 3-D video online showing the new things happening at The Grove and inquired about any vacancies.

He was told one unit was available, but it was smaller than what he was looking for, so he declined.

However, five minutes later, after Gold found out a comedy club had called — just what he had been looking for — the developer arranged to meet with Thompson that same day.

“He said he was one of the top comedy clubs in the U.S.,” Gold says. “I had a theater available in what will be an entertainment complex. It’s perfect. It’s a good fit.”

While the original Side Splitters is a 5,500-sq.-ft. location and seats 250 patrons at tables and chairs below the stage, the comedy theater at The Grove will seat roughly 170 above the stage, with food and drink service.

“It will be a little different, but it will be the same intimate feel of Side Splitters that people dig,” says Thompson, who,

4

at our press time, was expecting to meet with Gold’s management company to hammer out the details.

Thompson, who was the general manager at Side Splitters since 2007 before buying the club in 2019, says it draws 70,000-80,000 people a year while mostly holding shows Thursdays through Sundays. That built-in audience is likely to translate nicely to the Wesley Chapel location, which also happens to be the home of some of Side Splitters’ more popular comics, like Rahn Hortman and JB Ball.

Side Splitters Carrollwood has hosted a number of nationally-known comics, and Thompson says some of those big names also will come to Wesley Chapel.

“We’ll definitely get comedians with some strong TV credits — some late night appearances, “America’s Got Talent,” “Last Comic Standing” — people like that,” Thompson says.

Open mic nights also are popular at the club and will carry over to The Grove. So, get ready!

“It’s a nice partnership,” Thompson says. “Mark’s vision is having a one-stop shop, where people can walk around, grab dinner, play a round of golf and see a comedy show, without having to get in their cars to drive to each place. We’re very very excited to be part of that.”

A Water Park For The Grove, Too?

Jamie Hess hadn’t even opened his dueling piano bar, Treble Makers (see story on pgs. 30-31), before he was on to the next thing.

A water park for The Grove?

“I get bored easily,” Hess jokes.

According to Hess, he was having a conversation with Gold only about a month back when the developer asked what he thought about the idea of a water park, which could be built on 1.8 acres next to the Chuck E. Cheese’s.

I thought it was absolutely brilliant,” Hess said, who went ahead and jumped in as the point man on the project. He signed a letter of intent that day.

Hess says it wasn’t hard to convince him. After all, he was the first person to sign a lease with Gold. (Note - Double Branch Artisanal Ales had actually signed with the previous owners shortly before Gold bought the property.)

“I think his vision for this area is great,” Hess says. “I wanted to be a part of it right from the beginning.”

The water park will not be sprawling like Tampa’s Adventure Island, but will be family-oriented, says Gold, and small enough where parents will have no trouble keeping an eye on their kids.

Hess says he envisions the park as something similar to Splash Harbour Water Park in Indian Rocks (above),

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Neighborhood News

but larger — Harbour Island (above) is on 1.3 acres, compared to the 1.8 acres planned for The Grove’s water park.

The Grove park will have a lazy river and a variety of slides and splash zones. It won’t need a mini-golf course like Splash Harbour, because Gold is building a standalone course as part of his theater complex.

The water park will have season passes, as well as one-day and four-hour passes. “We’re thinking $25 for a fourhour pass,” Hess says, “and we’ll keep it very very reasonable for season passes.”

He adds that he is in the feasibility phase and, once that is determined, the design phase begins, followed by permitting.

Within a year, Hess says, the park could be ready and he has already shown the county pictures of what he has planned and, “they were enthusiastic.” — JCC

@NTWCNews

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WNBA Star Happy To Be Home In Wesley Chapel

By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com For Candice Dupree, a Wesley Chapel resident and women’s pro basketball star, her 15th WNBA season is over. And while she wishes her summer also included the playoffs, she says she couldn’t be happier.

She’s back home with her threeyear-old twins, Cali and Demi.

“I told my mom, ‘Whenever that last game is, I need you here the next morning to get me out of here,’” Dupree said from the IMG Academy in Bradenton, where, on Sept. 12, she wrapped up the season with her Indiana Fever teammates in the WNBA bubble — basically an isolation zone to keep the players coronavirus-free so the season could be played.

“I want to get home.”

Home is Wesley Chapel, just up the road from New Tampa’s Wharton High, where Dupree remains the school’s all-time leading scorer.

Today, she says, her greatest accomplishments are raising her twins with wife DeWanna Bonner, a job she is eager to resume full time.

Because Dupree and Bonner are

Candice Dupree pushes her 3-year-old twins Cali and Demi on swings near their home in The Ridge at Wiregrass Ranch.

both WNBA players, that is often no easy task. They play for different teams, have different schedules and because most women’s basketball players make more money playing overseas — before coronavirus and this summer’s WNBA season, Dupree was playing in Hungary, DeWanna

in China — they have a hectic travel schedule and few days off.

While some WNBA players brought their children into the bubble, Dupree was able to rely on mom Patty and Dupree’s twin sister Crystal, who she jokes enlisted as the nanny the day Bonner gave birth to the twins.

“We didn’t really know what we’d be getting ourselves into inside the bubble,” Dupree said. “At home, they have school, they play outside and in the pool. They wouldn’t have been able to do that (in Bradenton).”

The bubble was an experience Dupree said she won’t forget. She was playing in Hungary when President Donald Trump enacted a travel ban from Europe because of Covid-19, and, the very next day, she was hustling to get back to Florida.

When she entered the bubble in June for the WNBA’s 22-game schedule, the league was at the forefront of the social justice movement in the wake of the death of George Floyd and nationwide protests.

Dupree was active in the league’s initiatives and personally met with the League of Women Voters in hopes of becoming more involved with the voting community.

With the season now over, Dupree is eager to spend time with the girls.

“My girls are to the point where, when we talk, they are like, ‘Momma, come home. When are you coming home?,’” Dupree said. “Initially, they See “Candice” on page 8!

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7

‘Candice’

Continued from Page 6 were not like that. But, they were starting to miss their parents.”

Dupree is not looking to return to Europe to play hoops anytime soon and, at the age of 36, her WNBA career is finally winding down.

She will be a free agent. Her stats this year were in line with her career numbers of 14.4 points and 6.6 rebounds a game, and she is in great shape physically. She could play another two years, she says.

“But, if a different job opportunity comes my way, I wouldn’t hesitate to take it,” she added.

Opportunities she is interested in exploring include coaching at the professional level.

Now that she’s home, Dupree said she plans to check out the new Wiregrass Sports Campus of Pasco County (near her home in The Ridge at Wiregrass Ranch), which recently hosted the seventh annual Candice Dupree Invitational, a girls basketball tournament for college hoops hopefuls.

For years, Dupree has sponsored teams for the tournament organizers, the East Tampa Youth Basketball Association, by buying them shoes and uniforms.

“It sounds great, we’ve needed something like (the Sports Campus) in that area for years,” Dupree said.

She says one of her daughters may be interesting in the Sports Campus’ cheerleading program; the other, she laughs, likely leans more towards playing football.

And, while she takes her kids on walks and plays with them in the pool back at home, she’ll contemplate her next move.

8

Candice Dupree is the WNBA’s fifth all-time leading scorer, despite never imagining a pro career when she played for New Tampa’s Wharton High.

“I’m not really in a rush,” Dupree admits. “I usually leave for Europe after Christmas but who knows if that will be happening. I just want to spend time with the girls and hang out for the time being.

Then, we’ll see what happens.”

Do You Remember When...

Dupree was a silky smooth forward for the Wildcats, becoming the school’s all-time leading

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scorer and winning the Dottie McGahagin Award as Hillsborough County’s best girls player in 200405 (to go with a 4.8 GPA). She went on to be an All-American at Temple University in Philadelphia, playing for three-time Olympic gold medalist Dawn Staley, and was the No. 6 pick by the Chicago Sky in the WNBA draft in 2010.

One thing she said she never imagined while making buckets at Wharton is that she would one day be where she is today — a seven-time WNBA All-Star, a 2010 league champion and one of the best players the women’s league has ever seen.

“I never wanted to play in WNBA,” Dupree said. “I’m not going to lie. I didn’t even know what it was. I was so busy competing in so many different sports I never even watched pro sports on TV. I was just excited to be recruited and get a full ride somewhere.”

Dupree is fifth all-time in WNBA career scoring, having put up more points than women’s basketball legends like Lisa Leslie, Sue Bird and Tina Charles.

In 2010, she put together one of the best WNBA seasons ever, averaging 15.7 points and 7.6 rebounds, shooting a blistering (and league-leading) 66.4 percent from the floor, and was second from the free throw line at 93.6 percent.

“I put together a pretty good resume,” Dupree said. “I’m on some lists with some very elite company. At some point, when I have I have time to sit back and reflect, I’ll say, ‘That was one helluva career.’ But, right now, I’m still wrapped up in it, playing and trying to win games, so I don’t pay it too much attention.”

These days, her attention is focused somewhere else.

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9

‘Zoom Meeting’

Continued from page 3

On this page are more of the comments from those who attended that first Zoom meeting, all of whom related their personal stories about their experience with racism.

David Larson, the owner of the Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites in New Tampa, was among the most emotional, as he talked about his halfMexican son not thinking his parents would believe him if he told them he was being discriminated against at school. David also assured his team at “In one of the neighborhoods where Ronnell grew up in the hotel that he sees them, is there for Tampa, there was an elementary school called Robert E. Lee Elementary, and that was just considered a normal them and that he supports the Black thing. And, for too long, it was considered taboo to even Lives Matter movement.

Kyle and Sara Hill, who have only talk about racism, so meetings like this are definitely a lived in Wesley Chapel for a year, talked step in the right direction.” — Live Oak residents Ronnell about people patrolling their neighbor& Brittaney Curtis hood in golf carts carrying guns after the George Floyd incident and their fears about their children being discriminated against in public schools.

No solutions were offered...yet, but all 21 participants agreed that they would like to be part of a solution locally, so there surely will be more meetings in the future. And, many in attendance offered books to read, videos to watch and other media to help people better understand the experience of not being white in the United States.

To be part of those future meetings, email me at Ads@NTNeighbor“When the George Floyd incident originally started, there hoodNews.com to be added to my mailing list and look for more video were people in our own neighborhood patrolling in golf releases from the first meeting on our carts and (carrying) guns, which was kind of concerning to us.” — Wesley Chapel residents Sara & Kyle Hill Neighborhood News Facebook page.

“My son is half Hispanic and it was only recently he told us he was discriminated against in school.

When I asked why he never told us, he said he didn’t think my wife and I would believe him.” — New Tampa hotel owner David Larson

“I was working as a prosecutor in Pasco County and got pulled over by a cop because prosecutors have their plates blocked out. He didn’t believe I was a prosecutor until he called one of my associates he knew who told him I was.” — Attorney & Wesley Chapel resident Cornelius Demps “I grew up in a small town in southeastern Pennsylvania and we had no black people in our town. I remember we had a community pool and we were going to have a swim meet at the pool , but people in the town were concerned that something bad would happen if black people from other communities would be swimming in the pool. I wasn’t raised that way and I remember being shocked that anyone would think something like that.” — New Tampa resident Donna Harwood “I worked as a speech language pathologist in the Pasco elementary schools and I am learning a lot about racial injustice in this country. I would like to do something about helping to change that situation, but I realize that (as a white person) I can’t lead that but I am here to learn and follow..” — New Tampa resident Naomi Lang-Unnasch.

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Covid Can’t Keep Emerald M Ranch From Its Work

By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com When Brianna, a Wesley Chapel teenager with Cerebral Palsy, graduated from high school in 2019, she could have rolled herself across the stage in the wheelchair she has been confined to for most of her life.

Instead, she walked.

For Lisa Michelangelo, who had helped make that miracle possible at her Emerald M Therapeutic Riding Center in Brooksville, it was the type of moment she lives for and why she does what she does.

“It was really one of the most awesome things I’ve seen,” Michelangelo says.

Michelangelo, a physical therapist in New Tampa, founded the Emerald M ranch six years ago. Named for the stone that Michelangelo says stands for “hope, renewal and growth,” Emerald M offers physical therapy that incorporates hippotherapy, which utilizes the movement of horses for rehabilitative purposes.

It has been a godsend for many like Brianna. It was the first time any of her Center Academy classmates had ever seen Brianna walk. Thanks to the therapy she received at the Emerald M Therapeutic Riding Center, Brianna made her graduation one of the most memorable days of her life — and the same can be said about many of those in attendance.

“I can’t express how much doing this has changed my whole perspective,” Brianna said in a video that played at the Emerald M’s second annual Derby Day fund raiser earlier this month at the Hyatt Place Hotel in Wesley Chapel. “It’s definitely life changing. I believe that wholeheartedly. It was one of the best decisions me and my family ever made.”

The fund raiser, like Brianna’s graduation, was a hit. It raised more than $20,000 to help the Emerald M ranch continue to provide its unique form of therapy.

Usually held on the same day as the Kentucky Derby in May, the fund raiser almost didn’t happen this year, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We were planning and then stopped planning and then started planning again,” says Michelangelo. “It was a real blessing to be able to do it.”

The event was limited to 120 people, or half of capacity, and about 100 attended. Those not ready to venture out or concerned about the size of the crowd despite a host of coronavirus precautions taken by the hotel’s staff, the event also was streamed to provide a virtual experience.

Because most of Emerald M’s participants are more susceptible to coronavirus, the 20-acre ranch had to shut down in March, and re-opened in June. It

12

Source: EmeraldMTherapeuticRidingCenter.org

Sarah Clanton spent the first five years of her life with nothing. She existed chained to a bed in the Ukraine, and when she was adopted by Yvonne and her husband Jon Clanton, she could barely sit up by herself.

Lisa Michelangelo (left) with Brianna at the recent Derby Day celebration at Sarah is one of the Emerald M Therapeuthe Hyatt Place Hotel in Wesley Chapel. (Photo courtesy of Lisa Michelangelo) tic Riding Center’s most successful patients, who despite being blind and mentally underfeatures 10 horses, and more than a dozen volunteers. developed, is now walking with assistance and responding The center, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, usually hosts two to instructions and showing major improvement in her fund raisers a year — the Derby Day event in May, which was moved to September 5, and a gala dinner in October, motor skills, thanks to hippotherapy.

Emerald M has participants who suffer from autism, which had to be cancelled. processing disorders, emotional disorders, cerebral palsy, “Derby Day did not offset the gala, but we did benefit with twice what we raised at Derby Day last year,” paralysis and brain tumors. It also offers beginner horseback riding lessons for siblings of program participants, Michelangelo says. “That is tremendous. It puts us in a which helps keep everyone in the family involved. much better place moving forward.”

The center also offers therapeutic adaptive riding, According to Michelangelo, hippotherapy, or equineassisted therapy, is a growing and effective way to improve which is more recreational and teaches someone with a disability horsemanship skills and how to ride. one’s coordination, balance and strength, especially in Regardless of the help needed, Michelangelo says cases with children suffering from Cerebral Palsy. there’s a good chance they can provide it at Emerald M. According to the American Hippotherapy Association, “I love what I do,” Michelangelo says. “It doesn’t Inc., and others, the horse’s pelvis and hips move in the feel like therapy. We’re out in a recreational environment, same way as a human’s. By riding on a horse and maintainand once the kids get on the horses, I’m golden because ing balance, sometimes even riding sideways and even by they don’t ever want to get off.” sitting backwards, the movement of the horse is channeled Emerald M Riding Center is located at 4022 to the brain and can enhance neuromuscular development.

Goldsmith Rd. in Brooksville. For more information Not only does it help build things like strength and or to donate, visit EmeraldMTherapeuticRidingCentcontrol, it has various sensory benefits and also helps er.org, or call (352)-244-7471. improve motor skills.

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Business Is Pretty Cool At Total Air Solutions

By MIKE CAMUNAS Total Air Solutions has been serving not only the Tampa Bay area, but areas up and down the Gulf Coast, for the last 19 years. But, over that time, Total Air has mostly dedicated its business to commercial properties — from offices to medical clinics and more.

It was only about two years ago that Total Air started servicing residential customers and co-owner and co-founder Bill Albert knows that’s one reason why there are those in our area who may not be familiar with his company.

“We’ve been in Tampa a lot longer than people realize,” Albert said. “We hire local techs and we’re continuing to grow and very interested in growing in the Lutz, New Tampa and Wesley Chapel areas.”

While Total Air Solutions has made strides in its quest to become the go-to service provider for air conditioning in our area, Albert points out that the recent “new normal” brought on by the novel coronavirus and subsequent quarantining from the pandemic — such as working from home and virtual schooling — has led to a very large uptick in the residential air conditioning business.

“Everyone is in their houses now,”

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Total Air Solutions service tech Matt Bonnell inspects an air conditioning unit. The Tampa office of Total Air serves Wesley Chapel, New Tampa & Lutz. (Photos: Charmaine George).

Albert says. “It was fine when you left your house at seven in the morning (and could turn the air down). But now that you’re there 24/7… everyone needs the service much more because the air is always running. And, it’s Florida. So it’s been a banner year for our residential side.”

On The Grow From Day One

Albert figures that Total Air, which he started in his garage with fellow co-owner/co-founder Frank Decarlo, has

nearly doubled in size in less than a year.

“To put it frankly, it’s going like gangbusters because everyone is staying home and they’re concerned about their air conditioning,” he says. “Our commercial side slowed down a bit, especially in April and May, but we’re seeing that pick back up, too, as offices are reopening.”

Albert worked for six years as an HVAC distributor for Carrier Florida, first in Tampa and then in Orlando,

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and prior to that, he held positions in a solar hot water heating and installation company and a home energy design system firm.

Decarlo previously was the VP/ general manager at a heating and cooling company in North Port for seven years, where he was initially hired as a service manager and grew that company’s annual sales fourfold. Prior to that, he was a service technician at an air conditioning firm in New York.

Now, 19 years later and having combined their efforts, Total Air Solutions has offices in Tampa and North Port and 92 employees.

“There are a lot of air conditioning companies out there, but there are very few qualified technicians,” Albert says.

“We’re also Carrier-certified and (have won Carrier’s) President’s Award three years in a row, but we can also fix any brand because when you call us, we send you service technicians, not salesmen. There’s an industry term for that — an SID, or “salesman in disguise” — but that’s not what you get from Total Air. We’re not going to sell you things you don’t need. We try to find the total air solution for our customers.”

Like any business, Albert adds, Covid-19 has affected the way Total Air

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Total Air Solutions co-owner Bill Albert Solutions meets its customers’ needs.

The offices were initially shut down and the employees were working remotely.

And then, the technicians would go out to calls and drive separate vehicles.

And, Albert says, Total Air is adhering to every guideline put out by the U.S. Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).

“While we’ve been very lucky that we’ve been touched very sparingly with our employees and personally with this disease,” Albert says, “we are still taking every precaution provided by the CDC. (We use) masks, gloves, sanitizer, booties, covering the (cost of) testing for our employees — we’re just doing the best we can, like everyone else.”

Hurricane Season Mode

Albert adds that Total Air also is handling the “new normal” of visiting customers’ homes well, but also is in full hurricane season mode at our press time, knowing that any storm that hits the area could require a lot more service requests.

“We’re very conscious of hurricane season because we know there can be damage or people can be without air conditioning,” Albert says.

“We want to help them get it back up and running as quickly as possible.”

And, Total Air does that very well and efficiently. It’s one of the reasons they been able to keep customers from the very start.

“I’ve been a customer with Total

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Air Solutions for about three years,” says Carroll Grant of New Tampa. “It all started when my air conditioner went out in the middle of the night. They were here at 7 o’clock in the morning to install the new unit with no hassle at all, and I’ve been happy ever since.”

Grant is aware that, as a Floridian, having a working air conditioning system isn’t a luxury.

“Living here in Florida, having reliable air conditioning service is not just a request or a hope, it’s an absolute necessity,” he says. “So, my suggestion would be to anyone who needs air conditioning solutions, give Total Air a call.

I would very much recommend them to friends and family, and I have.”

Especially since Total Air is now offering three inspection for the price of two, a package which costs just $149.

The special is only for new customers, who need to mention that they read about it in the Neighborhood News before the service is started.

Albert says this special offer is one of his favorites because he knows it offers a great value to his customers, especially if they are using Total Air Solutions for the first time.

He says the maintenance of an air conditioning system, even a new unit, is vital to keeping your house cool.

“Just because it’s running doesn’t mean it’s perfect,” Albert says. “I ask (customers), ‘Don’t you change the oil in your car?’ So, you get the maintenance right there, and then you have another maintenance for the next year.

It’s a great deal.”

And of course, Total Air Solutions also provides residential and commercial heating services, including installing heat pumps, and offers indoor air quality and filtration solutions (more in demand these days, due to Covid-19), as well as duct work services, and you can even finance your new Carrier AC. Total Air Solutions’ Tampa office is at 1015 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. For more info, visit TotalAirFl.com, call (813) 247-2665 or check out their ad on page 37 for a great Carrier rebate offer.

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15

New Tampa Dance Theatre Offers $25 Tuition For 25th Season 2.0

By NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS Whether you or your child likes to dance for fun or dreams of a career on stage one day, the New Tampa Dance Theatre (NTDT) offers dancers a world-class, professional experience that is unmatched in the Tampa Bay area.

Located on Cross Creek Blvd. (across from Heritage Isles) in New Tampa, the 7,500-sq.-ft. NTDT is the largest professional dance training facility in the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area. Owner and artistic director Dyane Elkins IronWing is in her 25th season of creating dance memories and futures for her students, many of whom have gone on to study dance in college and/or dance professionally.

“As always, I’m so proud of our students,” says Elkins IronWing. “Our dancers become excellent college students, with their impressive time-management skills, perseverance and creative thinking.”

While the coronavirus pandemic wiped out most of the first half of the year for NTDT, Elkins IronWing is hoping to finish her “25th season 2.0” out strong.

“Our hearts are bursting with excitement, seeing our beautiful students again,” she says. “With last season ending differently than planned, we are continuing to get back to the community and extending this milestone celebration by

16

‘Respect, Responsibility and Teamwork.’”

A Chance To ‘Do As I Have Done’

Now in its 25th season (2.0), the New Tampa Dance Theatre on Cross Creek Blvd. offers a variety of classes for all ages, ranging from 3 years old all the way up to adults.

offering all new students $25 per month tuition for every class!”

NTDT’s complete schedule of classes is being offered with in-person, Zoom, or a hybrid of both to ensure that families feel 100-percent comfortable during this transition. Elkins IronWing says that the safety of their students has always been her top priority, so social distance guidelines, extra disin-

fecting nightly with hospital-grade products and masks are required at this time.

“Our students are extremely excited about being back dancing at the school and spending time with their dance family,” says Elkins IronWing. “We’re extremely proud of our faculty and our students’ dedication during this transition. They are all truly living up to the NTDT motto of

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Elkins IronWing herself says she started dancing at age 5, later trained in New York City and performed with the Ballet Metropolitan in Columbus, OH. She moved to Tampa in 1995 to be near family and friends and immediately opened NTDT in the Pebble Creek Collection on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd.

In 2002, she purchased the current NTDT property on Cross Creek Blvd., designed her spacious new studio herself, and moved her school to the new building in January 2006.

With the bigger location, Elkins IronWing was off and running, offering smaller class sizes and larger, more varied schedules.

She says she also has a larger pool of students today, with the ongoing explosive growth in Wesley Chapel.

“Our name might say New Tampa,” she says, “but our location is much closer to Wesley Chapel than one might assume.

We are extremely convenient to all of the current growth (there). Wesley Chapel families are shocked to discover just how close we are and are excited because of how quickly they can drive to our school.”

All Ages & Experience Levels

NTDT caters to both the recreational

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dance lover as well as the devoted pre-professional — and every level in between.

The studio’s leveled curriculum offers multiple artforms for students to explore.

Through personalized attention and professional expertise, NTDT’s professional faculty strives to provide a positive educational experience.

Teen/Adult classes include four eightweek sessions (from Sept.-May) of classical ballet, tap and Zumba.

Children ages 3-4 can participate in the studio’s Early Childhood Program, ages 5-8 can take part in the Children’s Program and ages 9-18 are invited to join NTDT’s Youth Program.

In addition to classical ballet, NTDT offers full programs in creative movement, modern, jazz, tap and hip-hop.

Each program has its own directors and specific syllabuses guiding students in a structured manner through their studies.

Dyane’s husband, Troy IronWing, is NTDT’s director of tap, while she will instruct ballet, jazz and creative movement classes this season. Both also have continued to tour internationally — now for 15 years — with the Rhythm Extreme performance troupe.

The facilities at NTDT are as topnotch as the instructors, and include maple flooring for the tap classes, 20-25-ft.-tall mirrored walls, student locker rooms and a large studio space that can accommodate up to 200 people.

Sprung floors provide shock absorption to protect the dancers’ joints and an on-site physical therapist ensures the health of the dancers. NTDT also features a café offering light meals, snacks, coffee and other drinks.

The Training You Need

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

Because NTDT students learn to be proficient in multiple art forms, these students have an edge in the competitive world of dance and many of them have been accepted into prestigious summer intensive programs, including the School of American Ballet and American Ballet Theater in New York City, The Harid Conservatory in Boca Raton, the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago and the Boston Ballet.

“With this milestone 25th anniversary celebration season, it’s a time for reflection with extreme gratitude and love for all the amazing people who have been a part of our dance programs and family,” says Elkins IronWing.”

One local former student certainly agrees with that assessment.

“I credit all of my success as a professional dancer to the foundational training I received at NTDT from ages 6-18,” says Victoria DeRenzo, who today is a professional dancer and choreographer who has Neighborhood News

toured internationally in 28 countries on four continents, most notably with the renowned Pilobolus Dance Theatre in Washington Depot, Connecticut.

“I loved every second of my experience growing up there,” she adds, “but I had no idea how spoiled I was until I graduated. Not many people receive a top-notch dance education in multiple artforms during their lifetimes, let alone at the age of 6.”

If a student doesn’t choose to pursue a career in dance after high school, they can still reach a level of artistry to be accepted into many college dance programs, says Elkins IronWing.

“Believing in yourself, respecting the process of working towards a goal, and having a well-rounded dance education give our students the tools and confidence to continue discovering new passions throughout their lifetimes,” she says.

Great Productions, Too!

All students get to perform in NTDT’s “Spring Production” and — through the studio’s nonprofit partner, the Dance Theatre of Tampa (DTT) — in the winter production of “The Nutcracker,” as well as the “Summer Concert Series,” held in June at the University of South Florida’s Tampa campus.

DTT provides more than 300 free tickets to NTDT’s corporate sponsors, local community supporters, alumni members and students. A small costume rental fee for productions is the only cost over the tuition that parents have to pay at any time — Elkins IronWing says there is never a requirement to buy advertising or pay performance fees.

New Tampa residents Gary and Charity Hartley relocated here in 2018 from Virginia, and enrolled their daughter Hope at NTDT. “The New Tampa Dance Theatre and the entire staff were the linchpins for our transition into the New Tampa area,” Charity says. “The warmth of the studio, quality of instruction and wonderful stu@NTWCNews

dents have made us feel right at home. We especially love the way (NTDT) manages the educational aspect of their DTT company members, ensuring they have exposure to various dance forms in their weekly training, master classes and dance performances they attend as a group.”

Transferring at 14 years old, Charity says Hope was originally placed in the Youth Program Level 6 and has made true, long-lasting friendships at NTDT. “The positive atmosphere, paired with the super talented staff, is simply the best dance experience we’ve encountered

throughout our various moves as a military family,” Charity says.

Every holiday season, Elkins IronWing says local residents look forward to the community’s largest and longest-running interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet, “The Nutcracker,” now in its 21st NTDT season. This year, it will be held Friday-Sunday, December 18-20, at the USF Tampa College of Arts Theater 1.

“It’s all about the children at NTDT, always has been and always will be,” she says. “We are a company that enables children to succeed. The key is setting high expectations, all while having fun and building self-confidence. With the amazing season ahead of us, we would like to thank all of our trusting and loyal families over the years and the organizations that continually support our vision. Without their recognition and time, NTDT wouldn’t be the magical place it has become!”

The New Tampa Dance Theatre offers year-round free trial classes for prospective dancers of all ages.

To tour the facility or to rent it for a meeting, party or function, visit NTDT at 10701 Cross Creek Blvd.

For more information, see the ad on pg. 27. To check out the exciting lineup of fall 2020 classes, visit NewTampaDanceTheatre.com or call (813) 994-NTDT (6838). You also can follow NTDT on Facebook and Instagram at “New Tampa Dance Theatre.”

The Gift of

Music for Today’s World!

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17

Dr. Duga & Dr. Feeney Can Help Your Kids Enjoy Visiting The Dentist!

By CELESTE McLAUGHLIN Since opening his pediatric dentistry office more than two decades ago, one philosophy has always guided Paul Duga, DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery).

“We provide one-on-one, private, patient-driven care,” he explains. “We provide dentistry that is safe and healthy, and also non-threatening, so kids don’t grow up with an irrational fear of dentists.”

He and Shawna Adams-Feeney, DMD (Doctor of Medical Dentistry), see patients at their Dr. Duga, Dr. Feeney & Associates Pediatric Dentistry office in the Somerset Professional Park in Tampa Palms, located off Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. at Amberly Dr. Especially during times of uncertainty, Dr. Duga and Dr. Feeney (as she is called by most of her young patients) are reassuring. While facing a pandemic, the doctors’ always-calm tone helps parents to know their kids are in good hands.

“People want to know how their kids are going to be taken care of safely,” Dr. Duga explains. “That’s very important to everyone. We’re taking temperatures, doing screenings, and all the things we’re supposed to be doing.”

While the office has made some changes because of Covid-19 — such as adding Plexiglas barriers at the front desk — Dr. Duga says most of the health and safety precautions that are currently recommended by the CDC have always been standard practice at his office.

“The governor of the state of Florida closed us for about six weeks, but not because of risk,” Dr. Duga says. “We already practiced sterilization techniques and barrier control, such as wearing masks and goggles, to keep our patients and staff healthy. We were shut down because front line people needed (so much of) the personal protective equipment.”

Closing dental offices meant masks and gloves that were desperately needed in hospitals would go there until production could be ramped up to provide enough

Dr. Paul Duga opened his practice in New Tampa more than 20 years ago and, along with Dr. Shawna Adams-Feeney, their office in Tampa Palms has grown into one of the area’s best-known pediatric dentistry practices.

PPE for both hospitals and all other medical offices.

“As far as social distancing is concerned, our office was almost designed for it,” Dr. Duga says. “Our floor plan allows us to keep families all separated and safe.”

He recognizes, however, that many people are even more anxious these days, and the staff does everything it can to counter that.

“We always try to maintain a spirit of positive-ness,” he says.

ney here,” he says with a smile. “If a kid is struggling to connect with me, maybe the next visit he or she might want to go to Dr. Feeney. We do everything we can

to keep all of the children comfortable.”

Both doctors are Board-certified pediatric dentists.

Dr. Duga earned his DDS degree from the Marquette University School of Dentistry in Milwaukee, and then worked as a general dentist in Milwaukee. He went on to earn his Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry from the Louisiana State University School of Dentistry in New Orleans.

Dr. Feeney earned her Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry from the University of Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford, after receiving her DMD degree from the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston.

The doctors encourage their young (usually from age 1 up to about age 18) patients to come in every six months to maintain good dental health.

They provide examinations, cleanings, sealant placement, tooth repairs (such as fillings and crowns), as well as cosmetic whitening and orthodontic alignments.

“We do continuous growth evaluation, bite evaluation and provide guidance through early orthodontic care,” explains Dr. Duga. The practice also offers braces and Invisalign invisible aligners for its patients, although they do also refer some patients to orthodontic offices, when needed.

For a child who has special needs or

About The Doctors

While Dr. Duga established the practice in 1998, he says working with Dr. Feeney — as he has since she joined the practice in 2005 and became his partner in 2009 — gives children the option to choose the dentist with whom they feel more comfortable.

“I really appreciate having Dr. Fee-

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rewarded with a small toy at the end of each visit.

Atiya says one of her daughters has special needs.

“They treat her no different than my other kids,” she says. “I have no concerns about them seeing her or caring for her. They just embrace her and meet all of her needs. They just love all my kids so much.”

Dan Paone lives in Dr. Duga (above) and Dr. Arbor Greene and also Feeney are happy to have brings his kids to Drs. Duga made their pediatric den- and Feeney. His children tal office a local favorite are ages 8, 9 and 10 and for New Tampa kids and are in various stages of their Happy Patients orthodontic treatment. Like their parents.

“I’ve seen kids since Atiya’s kids, they have only they were one or two and ever been to one dental now they’re going off to coloffice their whole lives. lege,” says Dr. Duga. “You “We like that our kids get to know these families. have had one pediatric It’s been a wonderful thing.” dentist from the time we first Atiya Young brings took them to the dentist, her four children to Dr. including orthodontics,” Dan Duga and Dr. Feeney. In says. “It’s great that we don’t fact, her oldest, age 18, have to go anywhere else.” just came in for his regular Dan also says that he cleaning and checkup beappreciates how “fantastic” fore leaving for college.

Dr. Duga is with his kids, and “We started seeing that he also is great about Dr. Duga when he was one,” says Atiya, communicating with parents, too, such as whose other kids are 15, 12 and 9. when he analyzes x-rays and explains to Dan “They have friendly customer service and exactly what treatments his kids might need are very clean and organized. I love how in the future. they speak to them on their level, how “I definitely recommend Dr. Duga patient they are with them. and I wish we had someone like him when Her daughter, Brooklyn, says she I was a kid,” Dan says. “Actually, I wish I actually likes going to the dentist. had an adult dentist like him.”

“You walk in and they’re so nice to Dr. Duga, Dr. Feeney & Associyou and so welcoming,” says Brooklyn. ates is located at 15293 Amberly Dr. Atiya says her kids like the perks, To learn more about the practice, visit too, such as fun in the lobby — includDrDugaDrFeeney.com, see the ad ing video games — and TV screens and on page 32 or call (813) 631-1100 to headphones while in the chair, plus pick- schedule an appointment or find out ing flavors for their toothpaste and being about your insurance/payment options. is too young to cooperate, a parent can choose sedation dentistry. An anesthesiologist comes in to safely manage the sedation, so the dentist can focus on fixing the teeth and getting them healthy.

“We do accept dental insurance, but we’re not an insurance-driven office,” says Dr. Duga. “Insurance is a contract for paying bills, not healthcare.”

The staff will gladly help patients and potential new patients understand their insurance benefits.

Come to the Experts.

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According to Dr. Duga, this Plexiglas barrier is one of the changes at his office since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, although he says the office has always maintained the highest degree of cleanliness..

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19

Jim Plummer Wants To Make Your Money Work For You!

By CELESTE McLAUGHLIN Most people wonder if they will have enough money to retire comfortably, and many don’t really understand their investments, or know what they need to do to be prepared for their post-work years.

“It’s so complicated,” says James B. Plummer, wealth advisor with ILG Private Wealth. “People need help in retirement.”

Plummer, who goes by Jim, is an independent advisor representative (IAR), and ILG is a registered investment advisor (RIA). Jim says being an IAR — as opposed to working for a specific investment firm — means his primary responsibility is to put the client first.

“I’m paid differently than a broker dealer (which typically charges fees for trading securities such as stocks and bonds),” he explains. “I can work with whatever companies I want to, (the ones) that best suit my clients. We look at the whole picture, so the client sees how everything dovetails together to be prepared when they get to retirement age.”

That whole picture, he says, includes bonds, stocks, exchange traded funds (ETF), life insurance, long-term insurance, annuities (which is income

Jim Plummer of ILG Private Wealth helps clients figure out the complicated world of retirement, including investments, annuities, insurance and Social Security.

for life) and other options.

While ILG Private Wealth is located in Pennsylvania, the company also has an office in Celebration, FL. Jim was working for the company in Pennsylvania when he and his wife of 44 years moved to Tampa Palms last October to be closer to family.

Jim goes into the Celebration office as needed, but his clients only deal direct-

ly with him. He typically visits a client’s home or work, where they have easy access to any paperwork they will need to go over with him. If a client prefers to come to Jim, he’ll gladly meet them at another location, such as the Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club.

A Little History...

Jim earned his B.S. degree in Ac-

counting and Business Administration from Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, MI. He became an accountant, then was a chief financial officer for 30 years for two multimillion dollar corporations. He says that during that time, he saw the need for employees to get good advice when they were “handed a lot of money” at retirement, so he got licensed to begin a new phase of his career.

He says he has been an IAR for 18 years now, and that he has some clients who have been with him from the beginning.

Because of his background working in business, Jim is particularly interested in helping small business owners prepare for retirement.

“I’ve dealt with family business owners all my life,” Jim says. “I work with anybody who is interested, but my focus is on business owners.”

You Need An Expert

If you spend a few minutes talking with Jim, he’ll probably share some interesting tips that could help you retain more of your money in retirement.

Here’s one example: “Most people probably have a 401(k) if they’re working, or maybe an IRA,” Jim explains. “If you look at how

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much money that investment is worth, it’s not all your money. The government will take taxes out before you get it.”

So, in some cases, he says, it might be more beneficial to put that money into a Roth 401k or Roth IRA. You pay taxes on it before you put the money in, but once you invest in a Roth, what you accumulate is all your money.

“There are no taxes when you take that money out,” says Jim. “There’s nothing on the growth and nothing on the principal.”

He says you can move money from a regular 401k to a Roth, but you want to move enough that you can afford to pay those taxes on it, but not so much that it puts you in the next tax bracket.

Sound confusing? It can be. That’s why Jim says you need someone like him to help you figure it out.

“We’re a planning organization,” says Jim. First and foremost, he gathers his clients’ information and focuses on finding out what their needs are. How long until you need your money? What do you want – or need – your money to do for you?

Then he shares more of those valuable tips. Here’s another one: “Make sure there’s enough money for you,” he says. “If you want to give your kids a bunch of money, do it through life insurance. You could give them an insurance policy that’s worth 10 times as much [as you could give them now]. You don’t know what life holds for you.”

Jim also reminds people to keep their beneficiaries updated, saying that the beneficiaries listed on a life insurance policy or other investment supersede any will or trust. As life changes, you may want to change beneficiaries.

He also can help you understand Social Security and the taxes related to Social Security benefits.

“Most people have more money in Social Security than they have saved for themselves,” he says. While full retirement is at age 66, should you take your

Social Security benefits then? Or, should you wait until you’re age 70? Or later?

Essentially, he says, “Social Security is paying 8 percent on that money. You can’t earn that on money in the investment markets right now.”

But, he notes that delaying when you take your Social Security still isn’t right for everyone, and Jim can help you figure out what’s best for you, your spouse and your family.

He offers these words of caution, however. “You’re stuck with that decision the rest of your life,” he says.

“You can’t make a change once you’ve decided what to do.”

Jim says he helps many clients do a Social Security analysis to decide what’s the most beneficial time for each of them to take that money, whether that’s early, late, or a blend of both.

Webinars Can Help

Jim has a series of webinars that he offers to help educate people about important financial topics, including how to plan for Social Security. Anyone, whether they are a client of Jim’s or not, can attend the sessions, which last about 45 minutes to an hour, depending upon the questions asked by the participants.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, Jim says he would offer the educational seminars in person, but they are now available online only, in the comfort of your own home or office. He says the technology today to attend his webinars is so simple, that you just click a link to get connected to the Zoom meeting.

So, even people who are not technologically savvy are easily able to attend.

Jim Plummer works remotely in Tampa Palms and will meet you at your home or business for a consultation. See the ad on page 33 for details about his upcoming educational webinars. For more information, to register, or to discuss how Jim might be able to help you with your financial planning, call him at (814) — not 813 — 931-4271.

813-321-1700 www.NerdsToGo.com 19651 Bruce B Downs Blvd Ste C-6 Tampa M-F 9am-6pm • Sat 10am-4pm

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21

Wildcats Volleyball Team Has Big Dreams For 2020 “Since we’re used to each other’s energy, we just bounce off each other all the time,” Jordan says. “When she does something good, it pushes me to do something good, and I push her back.

So, it’s nice to have the same energy as someone playing next to you.”

By MIKE CAMUNAS The Wesley Chapel High (WCH) volleyball program — barely older than its players — may be coming of age.

Although its past is littered with losing records — prior to last season, the team had won as many as eight games just once (in 2013) — the WCH team is coming off a 14-11 season, with plans to reach even higher in 2020.

“The year before that we were 3-17, so, yeah, it was a complete turnaround… and we’re looking to be (Class 4A, District 6) champs this year,” said Brittany Collison, who is entering her fourth season as the team’s head coach.

“That’s the endgame.”

Turnarounds happen a lot quicker when you add a couple of high-jumping, spike-pounding, six-foot volleyball players like sisters Jordan and Chloe Danielson. The duo, who also play for Collison’s Club Steel team in the offseason, played together up on the net last season.

In her first high school season, Chloe, now a sophomore, led the team in kills (216) and blocks (95), while Jordan, a senior, was second in kills with 204 and led the team with 328 assists.

“They play all year for me at Club Steel, so I know what I’m getting with them,” said Collison, a former collegiate libero at Eastern Florida State College.

“There’s high-level playing from both of them. They just bring the energy and passion to this team.”

The Danielsons already have led the Wildcats to a 4-1 start through Sept.

21 of this season, with wins over Fivay, River Ridge, Anclote and Gulf.

But, it wasn’t always this much fun, especially for Jordan.

“My freshman year was super rough,” she said. “We weren’t good at all and neither was I. I wasn’t even close to how good I am now or how good

KEEPING AN EYE ON CYPRESS CREEK: The Coyotes beat Zephyrhills and Gulf by 3-0 scores to open their season, and will take on Wiregrass Ranch on Sept. 28.

Cypress Creek is expected to be led this season by junior outside hitters Leah Vrabec and Alyssa Pollicita, junior libero Anna Slean and senior setter Madison Cathart, who all return from last year’s 8-8 squad.

Wesley Chapel High volleyball sisters Chloe (left) and Jordan (right) Danielson led WCH to a 14-11 season in 2019 and are eyeing a district title in 2020. (Photo: Mike Camunas)

we are now. … I’ve only been playing club for 3-4 years, but there I’m not the captain. Here, I’m the captain, so I’m like, ‘Let’s get this done.’”

It is not, however, only a two-person show at WCH, which boasts plenty of experience. Senior middle blocker Amiya Oliver is a force at the net, sophomore setter Vanessa Campos is emerging as a standout and senior libero Carina Santiago-Sanchez led the team in digs last year with 247.

But, once Chloe was added to the roster, the Wildcats’ success — especially at the net — could not contained.

“We were good and were winning, so that helps,” Chloe said. “Jordan was already here, so that made it easier and things were great from the start. She has a lot of energy up on the net, which gets me really hyped at the net, too.

She’s a really huge role model for me because I’ve watched her even before I started playing, so when I see her and what she can do, it makes me want to

improve myself and my game, too.”

The two sisters are able to feed off each other, and their versatility is an added bonus. They can both play most any position, and in fact, Jordan led the team in assists and was second in digs, and Chloe was first with serving aces last year.

BULLS START SLOW: The Wiregrass Ranch High (WRH) volleyball team dropped its first two matches before picking up its first win Sept. 15 over Gaither. They were 1-3 heading into a local showdown with the Wildcats on Sept. 22, or after we went to press.

Seniors hitters Alexis Driggers and Zoi Evans led the team with 33 and 25 kills respectively, while setter Kayla Baer had 62 assists.

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PARKING LOT KARAOKE ROCKS BUBBA’S 33!

The threat of possible serious rainfall may have kept a larger crowd from attending “Parking Lot Karaoke” at Bubba’s 33 on Sept. 9, but it couldn’t dampen the spirits — or the enjoyment — of those who did attend.

The threat of rain — including menacing clouds pretty much all evening, despite never more than a tiny drizzle falling during the three-hour event — definitely contributed to fewer than 20 singers and 50 people total from attending the second outdoor karaoke party at Bubba’s (the other was held May 21).

On the other hand, the video truck from Acme On The Go again displayed the words to each song so big that no one needed their reading glasses, karaoke jock Allan Hudson Brady kept the fun going by making sure that every singer in attendance got to take the stage as often as they wanted and the food, drinks and outdoor table service from Bubba’s were again outstanding.

Parking Lot Karaoke also raised less money for the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Foundation than last time (only $100 vs. $350), but everyone who did hang around said they would come back to do it again in a heartbeat.

By holding the evening of music and fun outside — yes, you run the risk of encountering inclement weather — where social distancing wasn’t an issue, and with yours truly wiping down the microphones after every song, a truly great time was had by all. Among those were yours truly and my wife Jannah, as we changed up the lyrics to the Barenaked Ladies duet “If I Had A Million Dollars” to the more appropriate (for today’s world) “If I Had A Billion Dollars.”

Now that bars throughout the state have been allowed to re-open, you should check out Allan’s always-fun karaoke shows every Thursday-Saturday at Joe Whiskey’s in the Pinebrook at The Grove plaza on S.R. 54 — especially since smoking is no longer permitted inside the bar, which definitely helps save on your vocal chords.

I really want to thank hard-working owner Jeff and his wife (and marketing director) Crista Dean of Bubba’s 33 for again being such gracious hosts and Rotary Club of WC member Troy Stevenson for making it so difficult for any karaoke “regular” to go back to trying to read their song lyrics off a TV screen. And of course, I also want to thank everyone who braved the elements to join us to raise money for a good cause.

There’s no doubt that there will be another installment of Parking Lot Karaoke at Bubba’s in the not-too-distant future, so look for announcements in these pages soon.

Please also feel free to suggest another nonprofit organization we can help out. — GN

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27

NEW TAMPA & WESLEY CHAPEL

2020 Reader Dining Survey & Contest!

Win $100 in Dining Gift Cards to the Restaurant of Your Choice!

NEWS Below are the ten categories for this year’s New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News Dining Survey & Contest. From the list on the facing page (or write in/come up with your own, as long as they’re in or adjacent to our distribution areas; more on that below) of all of the actual restaurants located in New Tampa (includes everything on or near Bruce B. Downs Blvd. and Cross Creek Blvd., from Bearss Ave. to County Line Rd.) & Wesley Chapel (includes everything north of County Line Rd. on or near BBD, S.R. 56 & S.R. 54, from Wesley Chapel Blvd. to Morris Bridge Rd.), we require that you fill in no fewer than seven of the 10 categories or your votes will not be counted. Please do not try to stuff the ballot box by putting the same restaurant in every category (e.g., we’ve had people select hamburger places for their favorite Asian food in years past) and the same restaurant can NOT be your favorite in both New Tampa and Wesley Chapel. The restaurants you select also must be in business at the time you fill out your form.

Once you’ve filled in your favorites, complete the entry form below with your name, address (with community — Tampa Palms, Pebble Creek, etc.), your daytime telephone number and a valid email address (ALL of these spaces MUST be filled in) and mail your entry to Neighborhood News Dining Survey, 29157 Chapel Park Dr., Suite B, Wesley Chapel, FL 33543 (or fill out the form at NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net) by Friday, November 6, 2020, to be eligible to win a $100 gift card, $60 gift card or $35 gift card to the restaurant of your choice in the Tampa Bay area! One entry per person per household only! Please also note that all gift card winners will be drawn at random from among all correctly filled out entries ONLY. Good luck! — GN

Favorite Restaurant in New Tampa: ______________________________________ Favorite Restaurant in Wesley Chapel: ______________________________________ Favorite Italian/Pizza in NT/WC: ______________________________________ Favorite Asian Restaurant in NT/WC: ______________________________________ Favorite Hamburger Place in NT/WC: ______________________________________

FIRST & LAST NAME: _____________________________ STREET ADDRESS: _______________________________ CITY: ______________________________________________ YOUR COMMUNITY: ______________________________ (Hunter’s Green, Grand Hampton, etc.)

DAYTIME PHONE #: ______________________________

Favorite Latin Food in NT/WC: ______________________________________ VALID EMAIL: ____________________________________ Favorite Greek/Med./Indian in NT/WC: Enter online at NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net or mail your COMPLETELY FILLED IN entry form, to be received no later than ______________________________________ Friday, November 6, 2020, to: 2020 NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS DINING SURVEY Favorite Place for Breakfast in NT/WC: 29157 Chapel Park Dr., Suite B, Wesley Chapel, FL 33543 ______________________________________ Favorite Ice Cream/Yogurt/Dessert NT/WC: Additional comments (not required): ______________________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ Favorite Bar or Tavern in NT/WC: ____________________________ ______________________________________ 28

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NEW TAMPA & WESLEY CHAPEL

2020 Reader Dining Survey Cheat Sheet

NEWS

American NT Bayscape Bistro (Heritage Isles GC) Bearss Tavern & Tap Burger 21 Chili’s Ciccio Cali Cracker Barrel Fat Rabbit Glory Days Grill Hunter’s Green Country Club Island Fin Poke Co. Juice Factory Mahana Fresh Moe’s Southwest Grill Mr. Dunderbak’s Mulligans Irish Pub (PCGC) Peabody’s Grill & Bar PJ Dolan’s Irish Pub (Bearss) Red Lobster Stonewood Grill & Tavern Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club TGI Fridays

American WC Applebee’s Aussie Grill Bahama Breeze Beef O’Brady’s (2 locations) BJ’s Brewhouse Bonefish Grill Bubba’s 33 (see pg. 34) Buffalo Wild Wings Burger Monger Cheddars Chili’s Cracker Barrel Culver’s (2 locations) Dempsey’s SteakHouse (Saddlebrook) Dickey’s BBQ Five Guys (NT & WC) Ford’s Garage Fresh Healthy Café Garden Grille (Hilton Garden Inn) GrillSmith Honeybaked Ham Irish 31 Johnny Rockets Longhorn Steakhouse Moe’s Southwest Grill Oakley’s Grille O’Brien’s Irish Pub Omari’s Grille (Lexington Oaks GC) Outback Steak House PDQ Pinchers Crab Shack Poke Falls Red Robin Smoothie King Sonny’s BBQ Texas Roadhouse The Wing House Top Shelf Sports Lounge (at AHCI) TrebleMakers (see pgs. 30-31 & 35!)

Walk On’s Bistreaux & Bar Wing Stop

Neighborhood News

Asian NT Aroi Thai

China City China One China Wok Ginza Endless Hibachi & Sushi Gu Wei Noodle & Grill (NEW) Ho King Kobe Japanese Steakhouse Koizi Endless Hibachi & Sushi Liang’s Bistro Asian Cuisine Michi Ramen New China King Palm Thai Saffron Indian Cuisine Sake House Sushi Sushi Avenue Sushi Café Thai Lanna Thai Ruby

Latin NT/WC Arepa Mia Cantina Laredo Cantina Mexican Rest. (NT) Capital Tacos Chipotle Chuy’s Tex-Mex Don Julio’s Mexican Restaurant Don Pan International Bakery Las Palmas Latin Grill Latin Twist Café Lima Peruvian (see pg. 34) Moe’s SW Grill (2 locations) Pepe’s Cuban Café (Just closed) Pollo Tropical Rice n’ Beans Taco Bus Taco Son Tijuana Flats Vallarta’s Mexican Restaurant

You also can vote online at NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Asian WC Arroy Thai

Asian Buffet Asian Chao Bonsai Sushi China Gourmet China Wok FJ Express Gonna China Hibachi Express Ho Wok Hot Wok 88 Panda Express Pholicious Shang Hai Chinese Sweetea Café Tokyo Grill & Sushi Umu Japanese & Thai Yamato Japanese Restaurant

Greek/Mediterranean/ IndianNT/WC Acropolis Greek Taverna Al-Sham Palace Atithi Indian Restaurant Ice Spice Café India Gate Restaurant Medilish Mediterranean Grill

Petra Mediterranean Express Taza Market The Hungry Greek (WC) The Little Greek (NT)

Breakfast NT/WC Bagelicious & More Bayscape Bistro Big Apple Bagels Brunchie’s Buttermilk Provisions Cracker Barrel

Ice Cream/ Dessert NT/WC

35 Below 365 Caffé Italiano Barnes & Noble Baskin-Robbins Batter & Dough Blondie’s Cookies Bruster’s Buttermilk Provisions Coffee Speaks & Tea Talks Cold Stone Creamery Dairy Queen Degajé Don Pan Int’l Bakery Dunkin’ Donuts

Minerva Indian Restaurant

Grain & Berry Haagen-Dazs Ice Dreammm Shop Ice Spice Café Le Macaron Menchie’s Yogurt Mr. Penguin Nothing Bundt Cakes Panera Bread Raining Berries Smallcakes Cupcakery Sprinkles Ice Cream The Cake Shop Twistee Treat

First Watch Panera Bread The Brunchery Waffle House Wolf’s Den

Bars Only, etc.

The following restaurants & bars don’t fit any of the other categories Chapel Cigars (bar only) Clean Juice Double Branch Artisanal Ales (bar w/food trucks) Grain & Berry Hummingbird Jerk House Joe Whiskey’s (bar only) Linkster’s Tap Room (bar only) The Bar (Hyatt Place WC) The Basement (bar only) The Brass Tap (bar only) Xtreme Body Nutrition & Smoothies * - We apologize for any we missed

Italian Food & Pizza NT/WC Ciccio Cali

900º Woodfired Pizza Amici Pizza Best NY Pizza BJ’s Brewhouse Blaze Pizza Bosco’s Italian-to-Go Cappy’s Pizza Capri Pizza-n-More Chuck E. Cheese’s @NTWCNews

Deano’s Pizza & Pasta Domino’s Pizza (in Shell) Fratelli’s Pizza & Café Full Circle Pizza Hungry Howie’s Pizza Little Italy’s Family Rest.

Marco’s Pizza (2 locations) Mellow Mushroom

MOD Pizza Noble Crust NY NY Pizza Oakley’s Grille Olive Garden Oronzo Honest Italian Papa John’s Pizza Pasta di Guy (see pg. 31) Peabody’s Grill & Bar

Pizza Hut PizzaMania Pomodoro Pizza Precinct Pizza Taste of NY Pizzeria Via Italia (BBD) Via Italian Kitchen (SR 56) Westshore Pizza Woodfired Pizza (Bearss Ave)

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 28, Issue 20 •September 29, 2020 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

29

Treble Makers — Delicious Food & Super-Fun Entertainment!

By GARY NAGER

It was less than a year ago when Jannah and I visited Gainesville for her work and happened upon a non-chain dueling piano bar/restaurant called The Keys. We had already eaten dinner, but hung around for the entire dueling piano show on a weekend night and we both looked at each other and said, “Why can’t we have something like this in Wesley Chapel?” mutliple times.

A few months later, Wesley Chapel resident Jamie Hess had a meeting with The Grove developer Mark Gold and discussed the possibility of bringing a non-chain restaurant/bar with live entertainment to Wesley Chapel and a week or so after that, Jamie and his wife Sandy, Lee Bevan and Jamie’s brother Joe and his wife Niki became partners in a then-unnamed, unbuilt new restaurant and lounge.

A few weeks later, the five partners realized they had stumbled onto the right thing at the right time when more than 1,800 different people (most, but not all

(Clockwise from top left) Treble Makers in The Grove has amazing coconut curry grouper; (l.-r.) Jamie Hess, Kevin Maggard & Lee Bevan want Treble Makers to be Wesley Chapel’s go-to restaurant for seared ahi tuna and sweet-&-spicy calamari. (Photos: Charmaine George & Gary Nager) dampen the enthusiasm of either the partof whom were residents of Wesley Chapel) ners or the local community for the first real suggested names on the Wesley Chapel sit-down, non-chain American restaurant Community Facebook page for their new to open in Wesley Chapel since Dempsey’s place and, not long after that, Treble MakSteak House at Saddlebrook Resort. ers became an actual thing. And, not even And, guess what? Treble Makers is, the start of the Covid-19 pandemic could in my humble opinion, the best restaurant of any kind to open here since Dempsey’s, too.

And, while Jannah and I were so psyched to be getting our wish of having piano

bar entertainment three miles from where we live fulfilled, we are both even more excited today about Treble Makers’ delicious food.

And, best of all for these partners, we’re not the only ones.

Start Me Up!

Executive Chef Kevin Maggard interviewed for the job at Treble Makers by creating a seven-course meal of his take on many of the items Bevans and the Hesses said they wanted on their menu at Joe and Sandy’s Wesley Chapel home. Kevin, who was trained at The Art Institute of Tampa, but has been a sous chef for multiple restaurants and catering companies in the Tampa Bay area, said that although he was fine with

Coming Soon to Wesley Chapel!

WESLEY CHAPEL’S AUTHENTIC ITALIAN MARKET, FEATURING: • Deli • Pizza • Fresh Pastas • Cheeses • Salads • Sandwiches • Butcher Shop • Hot, Prepared Foods!

• Imported Italian Specialties -

Olive Oil, Vinegar, Tomatoes & Wines

• Breads & Desserts made on-premises!

Moschella’s Italian Eatery & Market 5648 Post Oak Blvd. (at Old Pasco Rd.), Wesley Chapel, FL 33544 For more information, call 813.973.7500 • www.Moschellas.com

Now hiring cooks, pizza makers, deli workers & cashiers! Please apply at www.Moschellas.com

30

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 28, Issue 20 • September 29, 2020 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

many of their choices, he called the menu. “a little boring.” When he asked if he could get a little adventurous with their concept, he was told to go ahead and run with it.

The result? Kevin and his fellow AI grad and head sous chef Jason Rosenberg came up with a number of unique menu items, some of which are on these pages.

For starters, while my long-time readers know how much I love seared tuna, they’ve rarely ever heard me brag about calamari being one of my favorites. But, at Treble Makers, while the sesame-crusted ahi tuna (on a bed of homemade Asian-style slaw) is as good or better than what you pay more for at Bonefish, Kevin’s calamari is extra crispy and in a perfectly balanced sweet-spicy sauce that can only be compared with Ocean Prime’s in Tampa. So good.

Then, throw in his top-seller, the Imperial crab dip, homemade potato gnocchi in a smoky Alfredo sauce topped with a homemade cheese crisp, Buffalo shrimp and unique wings and, well, you get the idea.

So, What Else Is On The Menu?

Jamie says that although Treble Makers doesn’t yet have a separate lunch menu, the full dinner menu is available for every day for lunch, and includes such midday-friendly items as blue crab bisque, French onion soup, house, Caesar and wedge salads, plus a brisket/chuck blend burger, grilled or blackened chicken sandwich and steak, fish or shrimp “Treble Street Tacos” — none of which are shown here but only because Treble Makers has only been open two weeks as I’m writing this and I’ve been so enamored with so many of the dinner entrées. But, rest assured, I will eventually be dining in or taking out lunch from Treble Makers a lot in the months to come.

There’s even a make-your-own pasta option with your choice of five sauces that I will try.

For dinner, you can’t go wrong with a thick 6- or 8-oz. filet mignon, 12-oz. NY strip or boneless 12- or 16-oz. prime ribeye, all $23$32, and served with two sides (the fresh broccoli is perfect, and photographer Charmaine George says the garlic mashed potatoes shown above were outstanding; people also raved about the Brussels sprouts). I say the steaks don’t need the $3 per add-on toppings like port demi, gorgonzola or lemon garlic butter because the steaks are all tender, tasty and done to perfection — but they are available.

Mine and Jannah’s surprise favorite so far has been the coconut curry black grouper because we both thought we didn’t like anything curry-flavored. So wrong. The huge filet of

(Above left) Treble Makers not only has the well-marbled 12-oz. ribeye shown here, but also delicious filet mignon and NY strip steaks and more. (Above right) The dueling pianists always take requests. (Below) The veal Marsala is served “just so tender.”(Photos: Charmaine George & Gary Nager) absolutely fresh grouper shown on the previous made whipped cream and a super-rich page sits on a bed of basmati rice and keeps triple chocolate cake. the curry flavor from overpowering the dish What About The Music? with a hint of sweetness and you will get fish, I’m glad you asked. Every Fri. and sauce and rice in every delicious bite. Yum. Another excellent sweet-&-spicy combo Sat. night, the dueling piano shows — which are 9 p.m.-midnight and are a sepathat North Tampa Bay Chamber president rate cost of $12 per person (adults only) Hope Kennedy and her friend Matt let me have a bite of were the diver scallops in sweet — feature different talented pianists who really know how to get the crowd going. corn sauce garnished with jalapeños. Other great dinner entrées include Polynesian chick- They take requests — and tips help move “general admission” seating for the shows, but, your request up on the list — and Jamie en breast, pan-seared chicken or veal Marsala he says, they have no such plans. However, they delivers on his promise that every reservation (Charmaine said her veal, right, was “just so do plan to add trivia and karaoke and have algets you a socially distant table for four in the tender”; it’s also available with a port demi sauce), chicken or eggplant parm, salmon and main dining area with great views of the action. ready added live acoustic music on Thur. nights.

Treble Makers is open for dinner Speaking of Covid, Hess says Treble a totally unique seared rare yellowfin tun in every day except Sun., 4 p.m.-10 p.m., and Makers, like every tenant at The Grove, disthick “slabs” with green goddess sauce and a is currently open for lunch on Fri. & Sat., infects every table as it is cleared and has UV scallion medley that’s so much better than it when it is open 11 a.m.-1 a.m. For more light sterilizers to disnifect the air even sounds, if you’re a tuna fan like I am. info, including dinner and show reservaI told him I’d like to see the beautiful, Save room for dessert, too, as we have tions, visit TrebleMakersofWC.com, call ultra-premium, full-liquor bar area (with honsampled the three currently on the menu — (813) 406-4371 or see the ad on pg. 35.

Key lime pie, NY-style cheesecake with home- estly very fair drink prices) open to half-capacity

Have a Ball! (or, get down to business)

Check out New Tampa’s Lima Restaurant to find out

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 28, Issue 20 • September 29, 2020 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

31

Celebrating 1 Year In Wesley Chapel!

Wednesday, October 7, 11:30 a.m.

FREE CBD Basket Raffle ($150 Value)!

Refreshments & CBD Samples Will Be Served

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32

CURBSIDE PICKUP! SHIPPING! LOCAL DELIVERY!

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 28, Issue 20 • September 29, 2020 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 28, Issue 20 • September 29, 2020 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

33

Moschella’s Italian Eatery & Market (5648 Post Oak Blvd.) — Owner Billy Moschella says Moschella’s should be open by the end of October and will feature a deli, pizza, fresh pastas, a butcher shop, hot prepared foods and much more. He’s also hiring cooks, pizza makers, deli workers and cashiers. To apply or for more info, visit Moschellas.com or see the ad on pg. 30!

By Gary Nager

Pick Of The Week — Cigars International!

Even though I’m no cigar smoker, I have to say that I was impressed with the new Cigars International Super-Store & Lounge, which opened next to Rock & Brews (see story, right) on the south side of S.R. 56, in front and east of the Tampa Premium Outlets.

Although Cigars International was only serving beer and wine at our press time, bar manager Tina told me that the premium full liquor license should be in place by the time this reaches your mailbox.

Cigars Intl. also features a beautiful outdoor lounge area, lots of socially distant seating inside (with plenty of TVs for watching the games) and of course, the biggest walk-in humidor you’ll find pretty much anywhere, stocked with Padron, Macanudo and most other top cigar labels.

Cigars International (2691 Creek Grass Way, Lutz) is open every day. For more information, call (813) 249-7947 or visit CigarsInternational.com.

34

Chuck Lager America’s Tavern (2001 Piazza Ave., Suite 175) — So, according to the restaurant’s website, Chuck Lager is a worldwide archeological adventurer who decided to venture into opening made-fromscratch restaurants that exemplify his love of great cuisine. Lager met “Top Chef” fan favorite Fabio Viviani in Viviani’s grandmother’s Italian kitchen and a concept was born.

With locations in Pike Creek, DE, and Barrington, NJ, the Lager team came to “The Chap” to take over the never-good-enough former Primebar location at the Shops at Wiregrass. It doesn’t look like it will make it to an Oct. opening, but hopefully, we’ll see this tomato bacon grilled cheese with tomato bisque (above), homemade meatballs and chicken parm sooner than later. (Visit ChuckLager.com.)

SO MANY NEW RESTAURANTS!!

The months of Oct. & Nov. will be among the busiest times yet for new restaurants in the Wesley Chapel area.

Here are some of the highlights:

Rock & Brews (26000 S.R. 56, Lutz) — Our Rock & Brews will be the 18th link in this chain of rock-themed restaurants owned in part (and inspired) by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of the rock band Kiss. In order to preview Rock & Brews in this issue, I visited the aptly-named “Kiss”-immee location, and I definitely came away impressed with the look of the place (with images of rock icons from Kiss to Prince and from Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen adorning the walls) to the food, including the blackened redfish shown above (which comes with a Louisiana-style crawfish cream sauce that I couldn’t eat because of my shellfish allergy) to a semi-spicy bruschetta. Rock & Brews (visit RockandBrews.com) should open by Oct. 5.

Bonefish Grill (Sierra Center Blvd., Lutz) — Although Wesley Chapel has had a Bonefish Grill for years, that location on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. is expected to close when the new Bonefish opens next to Aussie Grill — which could be in October as well. Although we weren’t able to get an opening date from parent company Bloomin’ Brands, there is a “Now Hiring” sign at the new location.

Zukku-San Sushi Bar & Grill & Crumbl Cookies (25916 & 25922 Sierra Center Blvd., Lutz) — Of these two new options, located in the same building as the Woof Gang Bakery and the new Charles Schwab office (east of Bahama Breeze on the north side of S.R. 56), Zukku-San looks closer to opening, although both places have “Now Hiring” signs out in front. The guess here is that neither will open much before the end of October. For more info, visit ZukkuSushi.com or CrumblCookies.com.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 28, Issue 20 • September 29, 2020 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Gold Buys Holiday Mall!

The communities of Holiday and New Port Richey are about to get an economic boost, as Mishorim Gold Properties (which is developing The Grove here in Wesley Chapel) has announced that it has acquired the Holiday Mall for more than $8.56 million.

Developer Mark Gold says he plans to invest $4.6-$6 million into renovating the complex, to turn what was a stale retail center into a dynamic shopping and dining (see rendering above) destination. Bright lighting will add to the safety and security of the plaza.

“This is going to be the next up-and-coming community,” Gold said of Holiday/New Port Richey. “There is so much energy and excitement in the area right now for what is to come. I am excited to help the neighborhood and the surrounding areas soar again. This new mall is going to be a game changer.”

Located on U.S. Hwy. 19 N. at Moog Rd., the mall is anchored by a Winn-Dixie. The 130,177-sq.-ft. center features 18 tenants and seven available units. Gold purchased the property with a 40 percent vacancy rate and has already filled two of the spaces. For leasing info, call Keren at (407) 636-1266 or Sondra at (904) 442-1260.

Also Coming Soon (Oct./Nov.) To The Grove...

• Brooklyn Bagel Co. • King of the Coop chicken • Falabella Family Bistro

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

, h c n u L r o f n o i t a stin e D w e N ’s l e p a h nt! e m Wesley C n i a t r e t n E e im Dinner & Night T NOW OPEN FOR DINING 11a.m. - 10p.m. Every Day!

Dueling Piano Shows Every Friday & Saturday 9 p.m.-midnight!

To purchase tickets, go to www.treblemakersofwc.com

Executive Chef - Kevin Maggard

Our live entertainment will include piano players; acoustic & small band artists; karaoke; trivia & much more. On Friday & Saturday nights, Treble Makers will turn into an adults-only dueling piano bar with fun for all.

6 0 3 4 W E S L EY G R OV E B LV D W E S L EY C H A P E L , F L 3 3 5 4 4

8 13 . 4 0 6 . 4 3 7 1

w w w. t r e b l e m a k e r s o f w c . c o m info@treblemakersofwc.com Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 28, Issue 20 • September 29, 2020 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

35

New Tampa & wesley Chapel Classifieds HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME HEALTH CARE

WESLEYCHAPELPRESSUREWASHING.COM Soft pressure exterior house cleaning, screen enclosures, pool decks, driveways, sidewalks, fences, roofs, paver sealing and deck staining. We clean everything. No job too big or small. Experience the difference when you hire a pressure cleaning professional.

Licensed and insured. Owner operated. Call for a free estimate or visit our website. 813-433-6015.

SENIOR OVERNIGHT COMPANION SITTERS Two kind senior sisters seeking work safeguarding your loved one during the overnight hours. We’ve been working w/the senior population for 10 years & have seen a need for local, English-speaking, background-checked, Covid-tested, dependable companions w/their own transportation. Very reasonable rates. Call Diane or Elisa at 813-938-8614.

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.

CARING HEART, LLC. Private duty nursing care.

Personal caregiver, personal assistant, post hospital/rehab care, helping hand; medical appointments, shopping, light cooking/cleaning, moving assistance packing/unpacking/ organizing, pet care. For info, call or text 813-361-6439.

TJ’s PRESSURE WASHING LLC. Driveways, Houses, Fences, Lanais and Screened Enclosures.

Most residential 2 car driveways or vinyl fences starting at $75. House washing prices start at $150 for a 1 story home and $199 for a 2 story home.

Looking for an instant quote? Just text me a picture of the job you need done. Call Tj at 727-808-7775.

AMBLER ENTERPRISES Home Improvement.

Call James at 813-385-6402. 30 Years Experience.

Specialist in Kitchens & Bathrooms. Referrals upon request. All interior work: Drywall, Texture Paining, Doors, etc. Use us once & you won’t need to look elsewhere. Please Google us if you would like to see pictures: Wesley Chapel Ambler Enterprises. Also, see our display ad at the bottom of this page!

RAYMOND PAINTING. Exterior & Interior Services. Exterior: Painting, pressure washing, clean & seal pavers, stucco, roofing, leaks & wood rot repair. Interior: Painting, plastering, ceiling & wall repairs & tiles. Licensed & Bonded. References available. Free estimates. Your Neighborhood Arbor Greene Resident! We work 7 days. Call 813-994-5124.

CHARLES POPPE ELECTRIC. Electric of all kinds pools, spas, service changes, new circuts, low voltage, repairs, upgrades, changes to existing, trouble shooting, GFCI performance testing, generators.

Expert in the field - over 40 years experience. Discount 50% off labor for senior citizens! Licensed and Insured Master Electrician EC 13002399 - free phone estimates. Call 813-477-9068.

MILLENNIUM HOME REPAIR.Professional Handyman. Cabinet Installation, dry wall repair, tile installation & repair, some plumbing, laminate flooring, light fixtures, interior painting, appliance installation, pressure washing, paneling, window repair, awning installation, carpentry, garbage disposal, fence repair, crown molding, window blinds, seal baths & showers, TV mounting & more. Call 813-400-1408 or email TycoonUnion@yahoo.com.

CNA/HHA available to do private duty care in your home.

30 years of experience. Will attend to all of your daily needs. References upon request. Call Rhonda at 850586-1868.

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CLEANING SERVICES

A-to-Z CLEANING & ORGANIZING. House & Ofc Cleaning & Organizing Svcs! We use our own supplies.

Affordable & Reliable. Family-Owned & Operated. Wesley Chapel Resident. Weekly / Bi-Weekly / Deep Cleaning/ Move-In / Move-Out. Serving Wesley Chapel & New Tampa. Call today for a FREE No-Obligation Quote: 813-462-1270. Local references supplied upon request.

CLEAN-IT RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL CLEANING: Following all CDC Guidelines, 18 years cleaning in New Tampa & Wesley Chapel. Licensed & Insured. Call 813.505.0431 or email cleanitmc@gmail.com.

B CLEANING SERVICES: Over 18 years experience!

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

For more information, call 813-758-9710 or see our display ad below right!

COMMERCIAL SPACE AVAILABLE

1,850 sq.ft. Commercial/Medical Space Available to Lease. Address: 24420 SR 54, Lutz (in the MediWeightloss Building). For more info, call 813-293-4377 or email: gwillett@mediweightlossclinics.com.

LAWN & LANDSCAPING

_

NTLC Property Maintenance. Residential & Commerical lawn maintenance for New Tampa & Wesley Chapel. Sprinkler repairs, tree trimming, mulching, landscaping & clean-ups also available.

Licensed & Insured. CALLBILL @ (813) 973-3825.

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

Jasmine Landscaping, Inc. Complete lawn maintenance: Tree, palm & hedge trimming, planting, mulching, stones, sod replacement. Gutter cleaning, leaf removal & more. Cited by your HOA? Ask about our HOA Compliance Special, our Fall/Spring Special & FREE ESTIMATE! Licensed & insured.

Accepting new residential & commercial accounts.

We accept Visa, MC, PayPal, Zelle, AmExp. Call or text 813-420-4465. Now hiring full-time workers.

HEAVY HITTER LAWN CARE: Veteran owned and operated lawn care maintenance service, focused on lawn mowing, trimming, edging and blowing (flexible with extra services). Well maintained and professional laborer ensuring customer satisfaction and on-time cuts. Rain or shine, the quality and schedule will be kept. Licensed and Insured. Call or text 678-673-7856 for your FREE ESTIMATE.

COMPUTER/BUSINESS SERVICES

PROFESSIONAL TECH SUPPORT in your home or small business. A+, Certified computer tech w/20 years exp. Maintenance & Repairs, Upgrades & Tutoring. More affordable than large chains! Friendly, personalized service. Technical jargon explained.

Remote assistance available. References avail. Call (813) 957-8342 for a free estimate..

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

TREE SERVICE

FITZPATRICK’s TREE SERVICE. 25-years of Professional Service. Licensed & Insured. Free Estimates. Tree Trimming & Tree Removal. Stump Grinding. Dead-Wood Removal. Affordable Rates.

24-Hour Emergency Storm Service. Free Mulch.

Call 813-495-9541 or 813-788-TREE.

POOL SERVICES

ALLSTARPOOLSOFTAMPABAY.COM. Pool cleanups, & acid washing of old pool finishes. Marcite, quartz & pebble finishes from $3K. We offer cool decking, Eurocrete & paver decking options. Paver, river rock sealing, leak detection & in-ground vinyl liner replacements avail. We sell quality salt & ozone generators, pumps, motors & filters. Mention this ad for a $79 pool service (restrctions apply). Serving New Tampa & Wesley Chapel since 1990. Call/text 813244-7077 or visit AllStarPoolsofTampaBay.com. Also, see our display ad at the bottom of this page.

TRANQUILITY POOL SERVICE. New Tampa owned & operated. Great Pricing with outstanding customer service! LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED. See why we are New Tampa and Wesley Chapel’s #1 Choice!! Call or Text Chris today @ 813-8575400 or visit TranquilityPoolService.com. New customers get ONE MONTH FREE!

AQUATEC POOL SERVICE has been keeping pools clear & swim-safe since 1994. WE DO POOLS RIGHT! Commercial & Residential. CPO #33-303052 Licensed & Insured. Service guarantee. Call 813-312-5694 TODAY and get ONE MONTH OF QUALITY SERVICE FREE. www.aquatecpool.com.

NEIGHBORHOOD POOLS Wesley Chapel owned & operated since 1999. Weekly service. No long term contracts. Mention this AD for one-month Free service. Call 813-907-7322 for details or text Joe at 813-758-7608.

PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTOGRAPHER AVAILABLE! Retired Professional Photographer (45+ years experience) in the Tampa Bay area. Corporate Events, Personal Occasions, Portraiture, Pets, Commercial Photography & Real Estate. Reasonable rates. Ask me about “Front Porch Portraits,” taken from the safety of your front porch, FREE OF CHARGE! Great for Families, Children, Pets & more! Call or Text (813) 748-3901 or Visit: russellleprephotography.com.

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YOGA, PERSONAL TRAINING, NUTRITION & PHYSICAL THERAPY w/DR. LAUREN LEIVA, DPT! Phys Ed for everyone, including all children, w/a certified personal trainer who also is a degreed Dr. of Physical Therapy. Ask Dr. Leiva about her PE4ME sliding scale pay program!

For more info, visit TheExerscienceCenter.com, call 813.464.0313 or see the ad on pg. 12 of this issue.

Break It Down Productions. Customized Private Yoga Sessions w/Susanna Jones. Develop strength & flexibility, while learning how to breathe & relax. I specialize in working w/beginners and those requiring a more gentle approach than most group Yoga classes. I explain everything, and provide variations so that you actually feel good in the stretch instead of strained. Gift certificates available. www. breakitdownproductions.com or Call (813) 802-8393.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 28, Issue 20 • September 29, 2020 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

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5/28/20 1:44 PM

No matter what you may have heard... the Real Estate Market is still very strong in our area.

Demand is very

HIGH. Interest Rates are very LOW.

SELLING or BUYING...there may never be a better time than NOW.

Why Wait?

I can help you navigate today’s real estate market — call me today!

www.ChrisHenryRealty.com SCAN WITH YOUR MOBILE DEVICE

Stability in Uncertain Times CHRIS HENRY Realtor, Broker Associate

(813) 917-1523 / Chris@ChrisHenryRealty.com