New Tampa Neighborhood News Issue 21-12 by Neighborhood News

Volume 20 Issue 21

Inside: No Coupon Required; You Can Win FREE Dining!

October 6, 2012

See page 52!

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

Hunter’s Green CC Hosts Successful New Tampa Chamber Biz Expo! While the annual New Tampa Chamber of Commerce Business Expo on September 27 won’t be remembered for being packed with area residents, there’s no doubt that many of the 36 businesses who had exhibitor booths at the Expo (held, for the first time, at Hunter’s Green Country Club) did conduct quite a bit of business-to-business...um...business...with each other. The Expo has become the New Tampa Chamber’s “other” big event (the annual Taste of New Tampa is the Chamber’s signature event) and the HGCC ballroom, overlooking the club’s championship golf course, provided an elegant atmosphere as the new venue for the Expo attendees. Chamber president Regina Ramalheira, who introduced the afternoon’s sponsors — The Baker’s Gallery bakery, the New Tampa Men’s Wearhouse, Neil Heird of MindSpark Web Consulting, Karen Zicht of Zicht Wealth Management, Solar Solutions Inc. & John Lore of Prudential Financial — told those who did attend that the Chamber wants to do and is doing everything it can to make YOUR business more successful. So, for more info, see page 18, call exec. asst. Jayne Baker at 2932464 or visit NewTampaChamber. org or TasteOfNewTampa.info.—GN

(Clockwise from top left) With a new branch opening soon on Bruce B Downs (BBD) Blvd., representatives of BB&T were on hand to raise awareness of the bank’s first New Tampa branch. The Baker’s Gallery got to unveil new cupcake flavors at the Expo. Chamber exec. asst. & nutritional counselor Jayne Baker, Jim Henning of Florida Executive Realty & fitness professional Kat Ward mug for the camera. Chamber president Regina Ramalheira thanks the evening’s sponsors, which included the Men’s Wearhouse on BBD. For more Expo pics, see page 18!

E-W Connector Rd. Still Down The Road, But Unfunded In MPO Plan

NEIGHBORHOOD MAGAZINE!

Accidents In Our Area, The Legacy At Habitat For Humanity Builds In Wesley Highwoods Preserve To Begin Building, Chapel, New Tampa Man Prepares For NYC Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel Opens, Lots Marathon, Multiple Dining Reviews & Your Of Local Business News & More! Chance To Win FREE Dining!

Pages 1-40

Pages 41-56

ECRWSS

NEWS, BUSINESS, SPORTS & EDUCATION UPDATES

County Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO) long-range transportation plan,” says City of Tampa Transportation Manager Jean Duncan (formerly Dorzback), P.E. “So, yes, it’s still on the radar, but it’s simply not an active city project at this time.” According to the MPO’s 2025 Long Range Transportation Plan, the estimated cost of the E-W Rd., which See “E-W Rd.” on page 10.

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The question has lingered in the air since the early 1990s, but when the Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority officially shot down the plan for the New Tampa East-West Connector Road (E-W Rd.). In 2008, it appeared the plan to connect the southwest end of the bridge from Commerce Park Blvd. to I-275 was dead. Since then, some of the factors that caused the 2008 deal to fall through have changed, such as construction costs. These changes could eventually bring the project back into the spotlight and possibly spark talks between City of Tampa officials about taking another look at building it. “It’s still on the Hillsborough

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The New Tampa Gateway Bridge is nearly complete and getting ready to connect parts of New Tampa located north and west of I-75 to Tampa

Palms, eliminating the need to traverse busy Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. and helping to lighten some of our area’s sluggish congestion. But, what if that same road stretched all the way to I-275?

Dated Material Please Rush!

By Matt Wiley

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Editorial — ‘How Would You Feel After Kicking Cancer’s...Butt?’ An editorial by Gary Nager As many of you already are well aware, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and of course, there are always plenty of events in our area — and across the U.S. — to commemorate the event. Professional and amateur athletes everywhere wear pink all month long in honor of those who have been afflicted with the disease — and of course, to honor the memory of those who have lost their battle with this dreaded scourge. To be honest, because I have known so many people who have battled other malignancies, I never really understood why breast cancer was so singled out to have its own special month, especially when there are now about double the number of women who die from lung cancer (about 70,000) as from breast cancer (around 35,000) every year. At least that’s how I felt until about ten months ago, when I found out that one of my closest friends, long-time New Tampa resident Pegah Stegeman (the owner of the Alteration & Tailoring Studio in the Redfern Professional Park, behind Dunkin’ Donuts on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in Wesley Chapel), was diagnosed as being in an early stage. Even though a few people I was close to had previously lost their respective battles with breast carcinomas, with Pegah being such a young mom, I suddenly had a new perspective on how important it is to keep the public educated about this illness. The only thing I knew for sure was that if anyone was going to “beat” breast cancer, it would be Pegah, who has

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

Marketing Director/Senior Graphic Designer Ashley Knoblach/Porsha Lamos

Advertising Sales Reps Taylor Gardner/Jared Nager Nothing that appears in New Tampa Neighborhood News may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by New Tampa Neighborhood News writers are their own and do not reflect the publisher’s opinion. The deadline for outside editorial submissions and advertisements for Volume 20, Issue 23, of New Tampa Neighborhood News is Monday, October 22, 2012. New Tampa Neighborhood News will consider previously non-published outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. New Tampa Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates. New Tampa Neighborhood News will not return unsolicited editorial materials. New Tampa Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit &/or reject any advertising. New Tampa Neighborhood News is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the actual cost of the advertising space itself, nor for the validity of any claims made by its advertisers. © 2012 JM2 Communications, Inc.

always been one of the happiest, most positive people I have ever met. I met Pegah a year or two before she met and married her husband Adam, who definitely matches her smile-forsmile and positive-for-positive. The Stegemans today have added two beautiful daughters, Zayda & Donya, to the mix, the younger of whom was only months old when Pegah’s cancer was diagnosed, which made the news even that much harder for them, their family and all of their friends to bear. And yet somehow, despite having to deal with chemo, radiation, hair loss and surgeries, the thing that moved me to tears every time I saw Pegah was that she seemed to never even once consider the possibility of losing her battle. I’ll never forget the first time she said, “The doctors told me I’m going to beat this and I told them I already knew it.” Those doctors included USF Breast Care oncologist Dr. David Wright, surgeon Dr. Charles Cox and radiologist Dr. Harvey Greenberg, all of whom, Adam says, called Pegah’s optimism and gratitude “powerful” throughout her ordeal. She attributes a lot of her ability to block out the possibility of death because of her husband. “If you’re going to write anything about this,” she warned me with a smile, “You’d better give ‘mad props’ to Adam. I don’t think as many people would lose their battles if they had someone like him keeping them positive and doing everything for them so they could just focus

on getting themselves better.” For example, early on in the process, Adam gave his wife a beautiful sunflower bouquet with a card that read “You’re not sick at all, you’re just not getting enough sunshine.” In other words, the fact is that there are still tragically thousands of women (and a few men) who don’t beat back this horrific illness year after year and I am aware that many of them also have similar support systems. But, I still firmly believe that Pegah and Adam both “knowing” from Day One that they were not going to fail had a lot to do with why Pegah recently had her final radiation treatment.

And, even though she’s not blind to the statistics about possible recurrences, when I asked Pegah how she felt, she said, “I feel amazing! How would anyone feel after kicking cancer’s...butt?” (She may have used a different word, but you get the general idea). And, as I said, I know there are walks, marches, golf tournaments and other events this month to keep up the fight against breast cancer. If you or your group are involved in any such fund raiser and want to submit info and pictures (to NTNeighborhoodNews.com) about how things went, we would be happy to tell 23,000+ households of your `closest friends’ all about it.

Table of Contents

LOCAL NEWS, BUSINESS, EDUCATION & SPORTS UPDATES....................Pages 1-40 Legacy At Highwoods Preserve Coming To New Tampa..........6

New Tampa News Briefs..................................8 Blowout Causes Fatal Accident On I-75 Construction Accident Buries Worker Bicyclist Struck, Killed On BBD USF A Finalist In ‘Today Show’ Contest Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel’s Packed Public Debut...........12

New Tampa Community Calendar...............16-17 New Tampa Chamber Newsletter......................18

Local Business Updates...........................20-32 Cornerstone A/C Helps New Tampa Breathe Easy.........20 Plumbrook Creates Killer Custom Cabinets....................22 Beltran Dental: Your One-Stop Oral Surgery Office........24 Quality Cleaning Keeps Homes & Businesses Clean.................28 Dr. William Scheu Helps Get The Kinks Out............32

Education & Sports Updates...................36-37 New Tampa Girl Is Equestrian Reserve Champion.........36 Previewing New Tampa’s Annual Football ‘Battle’.........37

Neighborhood Magazine Habitat For Humanity Building Home In WC.........41, 43 New Tampa Man To Run NYC Marathon.....................42 Frogury Soothes Sunburnt Tastebuds.............................44 Pizza Kitchen For Great NY and Chicago Style Pizza.....45 La Pollera Colorada’s Great Colombian Cuisine.............46 Peabody’s ‘Freshly’ Reinvents It’s Menu.........................48 Grab A Pint During Brass Tap’s ‘Taptoberfest’...........50 Enter Our Annual Dining Survey & Contest!!!.........52

NEW TAMPA COLOR CLASSIFIEDS..............54

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 21 • October 6, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Legacy At Highwoods Preserve To Bring Technology, Comfort To Assisted Living By Matt Wiley Technology and medical care go hand-in-hand, and lately have been synonymous with the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel areas. In addition to the recent opening of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC; see page 12), another technologically advanced care facility will begin construction in New Tampa early next year. A company spokesperson says The Legacy at Highwoods Preserve will be one of the most impressive assisted living and memory care facilities in the country. A collaboration between Houston-based PinPoint Commerical, LP, and Thrive Senior Living, LLC, The Legacy will be a 104-bed care facility located between Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. and New Tampa Blvd., on Highwoods Preserve Pkwy. The Legacy will feature 44 rooms dedicated to memory care for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients, and 60 rooms dedicated to assisted living. However, its design allows the number of rooms dedicated to each purpose to fluctuate depending upon demand. “There is nothing like this facility in the area,” says Charles Turner, a principal for PinPoint. “Our design and use of technology doesn’t yet exist in the southeastern U.S.”

The design and technology also make The Legacy stand out from all of the other assisted living facilities in the Tampa Bay area, he says. According to a recent press release, the layout of The Legacy will allow residents and family members much more flexibility than those living at the typical assisted living center This is a conceptualized version of what The Legacy at by separating the cenHighwoods Preerve will look like once completed. ter’s wings into uniquely themed “neighborsome of the latest technology available, hoods” and allowing residents to hang including infrared motion detectors and out, either in their “neighborhood,” or even bed sensors, The Legacy will be in the “Main Street” area, which will able to keep track of every resident and feature a fitness center, restaurant, know when someone needs assistance, sports bar and movie theater. especially those living in the memory “The ‘neighborhoods’ will have “neighborhood.” some degree of redundant functionaliThe facility also will use radio frety,” says Turner, meaning that they are quency identification (RFID) bracelets more or less identical in design, even the secure memory care wing. “So the ‘Main Street’ area gives residents and their families the option to hang out somewhere other than in their rooms.” However, even though residents are given more flexibility to move around the complex, by employing

— eliminating the need for room keys — as well as wireless caregiver alert systems that are customizable for each resident. “We want to keep residents safe and give relative peace of mind,” says Turner of The Legacy’s technology. “We also want to keep residents connected to their loved ones. Feeling deserted and alone is one of the biggest causes of depression in assisted care facilities, and we aim to eliminate that feeling.” The Legacy is one of only nine assisted care facilities currently in the works in the southern U.S. from PinPoint and Trive. If all goes according to plan, the facility should break ground in January. “We’re currently in the planning and zoning phase,” says Turner. “We’re still waiting on some permits.” For more information about The Legacy at Highwoods Preserve, please visit TheLegacyAtHighwoods Preserve.com.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 21 • October 6, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

N EW T AMPA Tire Blowout Causes Fatal I-75 Accident

A woman traveling through the New Tampa area on I-75 has died in a single-car accident. According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), at around 12:30 p.m. on September 22, 24-year-old Hilda Yamilet Suarez experienced a tire blowout that caused her to lose control of her 1996 Chevy Blazer, just south of the Pasco County line. The FHP report says that after she lost control of her vehicle, Suarez veered off of the interstate and collided with a tree. FHP says she suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene.

Construction Accident Buries Worker

After several months of quiet construction at the busy I-75/Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. interchange, a construction accident has occurred that reminds people just how quickly an emergency can take place. According to Tampa Fire Rescue (TFR), a construction accident occurred around 11:15 a.m. on September 21 at the interchange that is currently under heavy construction as a newly expanded I-75 overpass is being built at the BBD exit..

News Briefs TFR says that a construction worker, who has not been identified, required extrication after a nine-foot hole that he was working in collapsed around him, burying the worker up to his waist. Several Tampa Fire Rescue (TFR) squads responded to the accident. The injured worker was removed from the hole, evaluated by TFR medics and airlifted to Tampa General Hospital. We had not yet received any updates on his condition at our press time.

Bicyclist Struck By Car & Killed Crossing BBD Details have been released about the traffic incident that resulted in the death of a bicyclist who was airlifted to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. According to the Tampa Police Department (TPD), at around 12:30 p.m. on September 10, an automobile struck 67-year-old Albert Dyson, of Lutz, at the intersection of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. and I-75 between Commerce Palms Blvd. and the I-75 entrance ramp. The report says that the bicyclist was crossing “mid-block.” The driver, 23-year-old Stephanie Miller of St. Petersburg, applied her brakes to avoid

the man, but could not avoid the collision. TPD says that it doesn’t appear as though Miller was at fault. TPD says that the man was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital (TGH) with life-threatening injuries, but died after several hours in the hospital.

USF A ‘Today Show’ Host Finalist

A stampede comes to a halt outside of the USF Marshall Student Center. OK, it’s not a stampede, but several hundred USF Bulls who gathered to show cameras from NBC’s “The Today Show” what they’re made of, in hopes of bringing the popular morning news talk program show to campus. Unfortunately, USF was ultimately beaten out by the University of Tennessee Volunteers, but the spirit shown in support of the cause was something of which the Bulls can be proud.

During the fourth hour of “Today” on September 20, members of the USF student body, band, cheerleaders and others, including USF president Judy Genshaft, squeezed together in front of NBC cameras facing the bull fountains outside of the Marshall Center (below) and appeared live for the nation to see, showing off as much school spirit as possible. USF was one of six finalists in “Kathie Lee & Hoda’s College Challenge,” a “Today Show” competition to see which college had the most school spirit. Among the other finalists were Ohio State, Syracuse, Tennessee, Creighton and Brandeis universities. To keep up with the latest news and other updated information coming out of New Tampa every day, visit NTNeighborhoodNews.com.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 21 • October 6, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

“E-W Rd.” Continued from page 1 would be a four-lane divided toll way, was nearly $66 million, although the plan was last revised in 2007 when construction costs were much higher. Duncan says that with the current Gateway Bridge project and the planned expansion of Cross Creek Blvd. to four lanes from Cory Lake Isles to Morris Bridge Rd., all of the city’s impact fees in our area, which would be used to help fund the E-W Rd., are tied up. Cross Creek Blvd. drivers can breathe a sigh of relief—that widening project isn’t scheduled to begin until late 2013. Previously, under former Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, the E-Wt Rd. was being approached as a “P3,” or privatepublic partnership, in which the city would partner with a private contracting firm to build the roadway. “The city owns the right-of-way for the East-West Road corridor, which would connect from Commerce Park Blvd. to I-275,” Duncan explains. “However, the type of roadway that this would function as is not a typical city-type road. Due to construction costs at the time, the only way to pay for the road would have been through a partnership with the Hillsborough County Expressway Authority or through a private firm that would come

in and build the road.” Due to wetlands across the corridor, several areas, if not all, of the road would have to be raised structures, increasing construction costs. Duncan explains that when the project was last considered, besides a lack of funding, another part of the reason it fell apart was due to the time it was taking to get federal approval for the interchange at I-275. The private firm that was in talks to construct the road couldn’t wait any longer. “It was one of those ‘perfect storm’ situations,” Duncan says. “It came down to timelines with several government agencies and private entities. Banks want a quick answer; but federal agencies can take a long time for approval.” So, for now, the only constructionrelated traffic nightmares that New Tampa drivers have to worry about are still the ongoing widening of BBD, a Hillsborough County and FDOT project that won’t be totally finished until 2015. However, the stretch between Pebble Creek Blvd. to I-75 is set for a December completion. As previously reported in the New Tampa Neighborhood News, the Gateway Bridge is being timed to open with widened Commerce Park Blvd. and BBD, once widening is completed south of the interstate to Palm Springs Blvd., sometime around April

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 21 • October 6, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel Now Open, After 8,000 Attend Event! By Gary Nager Photos by Matt Wiley In anticipation of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC)’s opening to patients (which was officially scheduled for October 1, or a few days before you received this issue in your mailbox), the hospital, in conjunction with the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce, recently opened for a tour by members of the media. That amazing tour was followed by a huge public Grand Opening event on September 21, where thousands of local residents and those interested in the finest imaging technology of any hospital in Florida came to enjoy a celebration of this truly state-of-the-art healthcare facility — less than two miles north of the Pasco County line on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd.! The $150-million, 83-bed hospital, part of the Adventist Health System was first unveiled to members of the media, who got to take the Grand Tour of Wesley Chapel’s first hospital, where unsurpassed technology meets new levels of patient care and security. We’ve already had the first fulllength video of the hospital on our website (NTNeighborhoodNews. com), highlighting all of the amazing

technologies and advances in patient care that are now part of FHWC and its 400 recently hired medical professionals. Situated on a beautiful 52acre site just north of the Shops at Wiregrass mall — with a direct interior access road to the mall, by the way — many of the technologies used in MRI and CT imaging are the first of their kind in Florida and some even first or second in the entire nation. And, to be honest, anyone who lives in or near Wesley Chapel who is looking for the best possible care for themselves and their family and friends, really needs to tour the hospital in person to fully understand just how incredible and unique a health care facility it is. Brian Adams, the president and CEO of FHWC, led the media tour, which included stops at the hospital's never-before-seen (in our state) 3-Tesla (3T) MRI machine and 128-slice CT Scan machine (most CTs are only 16slice, with 64-slice considered by many to be the industry standard). “Our imaging equipment, including for surgeries, is truly top-of-theline,” Adams said. “We believe we will draw patients from as far away as Her-

nando County, as well as from all of Pasco, northern Hillsborough and even further away for some of these surgical imaging equipment (Left) Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel’s incredible new we have, especially our vas3-Tesla MRI machine. (Above) ThunderBug was cular surgery and hybrid among the 8,000 who attended the opening. operating rooms.” even monitors staff hand washing and sanitizing every time they enter. More Than Just Imaging There are soothing nature scenes Every patient room offers the on every wall, including in each of the patient and their families opportunities to view videos about that patient’s con- hospital’s 18 incredible emergency room suites — where the variety of dition. Thanks to having the “Get Well Network” in every room, whenever any calming scenes, from cartoon to underwater and so many more, can be staff member appears in any room, the changed by the hospital staff. staffer’s name and photo appear on the Also part of the patient experience 42” flat screen TV in the room, which

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(Left) The public tours were packed throughout the opening. (Above) FHWC President & CEO Brian Adams led the tour,s which allowed visitors to see how the “Get Well Network” (below) works.

is a beautiful, 900-gallon Zehnder Family Foundation aquarium provided by the Florida Aquarium, to captivate and reduce the stress of the patients and their families waiting in the Emergency Room (ER). In addition, Wesley Chapel Toyota/Honda donated a truck for the hospital’s security personnel, Mini of Wesley Chapel donated a car

for FHWC’s lab courier, the Mary and Bob Sierra Family Foundation paid for the naming rights to the CT Scan room in the ER and Bright House Networks earned the naming rights to the pediatric play area in the ER waiting room. There’s so much more to tell and we will, both on our website and in upcoming issues of New Tampa Neighborhood News!

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 21 • October 6, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

New Tampa YMCA’s ‘Saturday Night Lights’ Returns Oct. 13! By Matt Wiley “It’s fun to stay at the Y-M-CA!” Well, you may not be able to stay there, but you can come watch some football, enjoy a few cocktails and support a good cause. On Saturday, October 13, the New Tampa Family YMCA will host its eighth annual “Saturday Night Lights” fund-raising event beginning at 7 p.m., in which all of the proceeds will go towards helping less fortunate children and families of the community to be able to use the New Tampa YMCA, which is located off of Compton Dr. in Tampa Palms. “We’ve already met our goal for the year,” says Jennifer Berenyi, special events coordinator for the Y. “Each year, we set a goal for our annual community support campaign. This year, we met our goal of $30,000 early, so this event will allow us to just keep on raising more money.” The event, which began eight years ago with a more formal “Passport to Paradise” theme, has since evolved into “Saturday Night Lights,” with a tailgating theme, which invites those that attend to

‘Saturday Night Lights’ returns to the basketball court at the New Tampa Family YMCA in Tampa Palms on Saturday, October 13. don their favorite team’s colors or in the middle of the New Tampa Y’s jersey — in this case, college football basketball court. Dancing is encour— and root them on as games are aged, as a DJ will be present to keep aired on several large TV screens. the party moving. “This theme allows people to “We do some serious ‘makeover come in wearing their favorite casual magic’ on the court,” says Berenyi. sports gear and still have a good A dinner also will be served, time at the Y,” says Berenyi. Although the dress code is somewhat more casual than the old “dress to impress” required for the “Passport to Paradise” events, the facility, which is usually echoing with the clanging of weights and the dribbling of basketballs, will take on the appearance of a banquet hall, right

with catering provided by several local eateries, including Ciccio’s California Cuisine, the Texas Roadhouse, Cakes by Laiza and more, followed by a “Must See” silent auction that, Berenyi says, never ceases to amaze, with its variety of spectacular items up for bids. Tickets for the eighth annual “Saturday Night Lights” at the New Tampa YMCA cost $50 in advance for general admission; $75 for MVP tickets (which include a seat at a table, as well as priority checkout following the silent auction); or $750 for a table of 10 MVP seats. Tickets can be purchased online at YMCASaturdayNight Lights.com. For more information, including sponsorship inquiries or table purchases, or info about the New Tampa Family YMCA (16221 Compton Dr.), please call Jen at 866-9622.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 21 • October 6, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

N EW T AMPA

Community Calendar

Ladies ‘Foodie’ Club Of New Tampa/Wesley Chapel

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

MOMS Club New Tampa

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

BNI Millionaire Makers

Wednesday, October 10, 7:15 a.m. - The BNI Millionaire Makers chapter meets every Wednesday morning at Pebble Creek Golf Club (10550 Regents Park Dr., off Bruce B. Downs [BBD] Blvd.). The $13 meeting fee includes a hot breakfast. Contact Lisa Jordan at 621-6015 for details.

Northeast Tampa Women In Business Meeting

Thursday, October 11, 6 p.m. The Northeast Tampa Women in Busi-

ness group meets the second Thursday of each month at Hunter’s Green Country Club (18101 Longwater Run Dr.). This month’s speaker is Krayl Funch, a published “lifestyle expert” and consultant. For more information, visit NETWIB.org or call 364-2174.

New Tampa Rotary

Friday, October 12, 7 a.m. - The New Tampa Rotary club meets at the Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club (5811 Tampa Palms Blvd.). Lora M.A. Thompson will be speaking about a psychologist’s perspective of supporting cancer patients and their families. For more info, call Eric Longphee at 202-1105.

Veterans Elementary Fall Festival Seeks Sponsors

Friday, October 12, 5:30 p.m. The PTA at Veterans Elementary in Wesley Chapel is seeking sponsors for its fifth annual Fall Festival, entitled “Pumpkin Palooza.” This fun-filled family night and school fund-raising event will include carnival games, inflatables, a dunk tank, photo booth, pumpkin decorating contest, marketplace vendors and concessions. Proceeds will benefit the Veterans Elementary PTA. For more information, please contact VeteranPTA1@gmail.com or visit VeteransPTA.com.

Hunter’s Green Trash & Treasure Sale

Saturday, October 13, 7:30 a.m. The public is welcome to find treasure amongst others’ trash at the annual Hunter’s Green community yard sale in Capt. Nathaniel Hunter Park. Attendees are urged to use the Cross Creek Blvd. entrance to HG. For more information, call 991-4818.

‘WeWork’ At Lifepoint

Monday, October 15, 7 p.m. “WeWork,” which meets Mondays at Lifepoint Church (on BBD, in front of Hunter’s Green), is designed to help you search for jobs, improve interview skills, write a resume, negotiate a job offer, improve your attitude, develop networking skills or discover your gifts. For more info, call 907-9818, or visit LifePoint.tv/WeWork.

New Tampa Tri Club

Tuesday, October 16, 7:30 a.m. A new local club has formed for the fitness-minded. Membership is open to runners, swimmers, cyclists and triathletes across the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area. All members receive club benefits, including a training schedule, group support, seminars and socials. The club hosts group bike rides/runs at the Morris Bridge Rd. entrance to Flatwoods Wilderness Park every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 7:30 a.m., and a group run from Kona Multisport (previously, the “Ironman Store,” in the same plaza as Sweetbay & LA Fitness at BBD/County Line Rd.), at 6:30 p.m. on Mondays. For more information, join the

Facebook group or e-mail NewTampa TriClub@gmail.com.

New Tampa Noon Rotary

Wednesday, October 17, noon The New Tampa Noon Rotary Club meets every Wed. for lunch at Hunter’s Green Country Club (18101 Longwater Run Dr.). Guests are welcome.

New Tampa Eve. Rotary

Wednesday, October 17, 6:15 p.m. - The New Tampa Evening Rotary Club meets every Wednesday at Hunter’s Green Country Club. New members are always welcome. For more info, call Liz DeAmbrose at 956-6487 or email homenet@gte.net.

Tampa Toastmasters

Wednesday, October 17, 7 p.m. Great speeches & great topics. Come hone your public speaking skills. Tampa Toastmasters meets every Wednesday at Pebble Creek Golf Club (10550 Regents Park Dr.) New guests always welcome. For more info, call 428-6356.

Free ESL Classes

Thursday, October 18, 10:30 a.m. - A FREE English as a Second Language (ESL) class is now meeting at Tampa Bay Presbyterian Church (19911 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.) on Thursday mornings. Activities for school-aged children also are provided during these classes, which are taught by a native English speaker using several ESL and Bible study resources. There is no charge to attend. The classes also discuss American culture

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and English idioms and slang. Come practice your conversational English and make new friends in a fun and relaxed environment! For more information, call the church office at 973-2484.

Food Addicts In Recovery

Thursday, October 18, 7 p.m. Are you having trouble controlling the way you eat? Are you underweight or overweight or obsessed with weight or dieting? You are not alone. Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous (FA) is a support group without any dues, fees or weigh-ins and is based on the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s a fellowship of individuals who, through shared experiences and mutual support, are recovering from the disease of food addiction. FA meets at Florida Hospital Tampa (on BBD) in the Camelot A room. For more info, visit FoodAddicts.org or call Roz at 355-4197.

CBC Networking

Thursday, October 18, 7:45 p.m. - Come together with like-minded professionals at the Christian Business Connections (CBC) Networking group, which meets every Thursday at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church (located at 5338 Primrose Lake Cir., near Freedom High/Liberty M.S. in Tampa Palms). Call Annete Faurote at 407-9225 for more information.

‘Arts & Crafts Under The Palms’

Saturday, October 20, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. - The Tampa Palms Women’s Club

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

Business Networking Int’l

Wednesday, October 24, 7:30 a.m. - BNI, a group of business professionals dedicated to helping their respective businesses grow through qualified referrals, meets every Wednesday morning at the Cory Lake Isles Beach Club clubhouse (18630 Plantation Bay Dr., off Morris Bridge Rd.). For more information, call Jal Irani at 451-8229.

Women-N-Charge

Friday, November 2, 11:30 a.m. Join the Women-N-Charge for lunch and networking at Pebble Creek Country Club. This month’s speaker is cancer survivor Sandra Mineria. For more info, call 600-9848 or email Info@Women-N-Charge.com.

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

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 21 • October 6, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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

Website: NewTampaChamber.Org

2011-12 Board of Directors President-Regina Ramalheira

Board Members:

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

Karen Hilton Earl Meyer John Lore Joyce Gunter Neil Heird

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

Recaps Of The RNC, A Great Lunch Speaker & More Business Expo Pics Hayes To Revisit The RNC’s Economic Impact Tues., Oct. 9, at TPGCC! Stephen Hayes, of VisitTampaBay. com & Tampa Bay & Co., who previewed the expected economic impact of the Republican National Convention (RNC) for New Tampa Chamber members on Aug. 14, will again be the featured speaker at the next Chamber luncheon, on Tuesday, October 9, at Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club (TPGCC, 5811 Tampa Palms Blvd.). This time, however, Hayes will be recapping the economic data gathered during the convention, to help Chamber member businesses understand the actual economic impact the RNC ended up having on businesses all across the Bay area. The Chamber is still seeking noncompeting $100 sponsors for the luncheon, which costs $18 for pre-registered Chamber members and their guests, or $20 each at the door. Please visit NewTampaChamber. org or call the Chamber’s executive assistant Jayne Baker at 293-2464 or 2012-13 president Regina Ramalheira at 245-8893 for more information about the luncheon.

Want To Host A Chamber Social/Networking Event?

Even if your business isn’t currently a New Tampa Chamber member, here’s a great opportunity to promote what you do by hosting a Chamber Social or Networking Event on Wednesday, October 17 (or another date in a future month). These events can be held any time of the business day and will allow you and your business to have the spotlight for Chamber members and all we ask is that you serve some light refreshments. We’ll even provide some great door prizes you can give away! The Chamber also is seeking a guest speaker for our luncheon on Tuesday, November 12, also at TPGCC. If you’re not yet a Chamber member, call exec. asst. Jayne Baker at 293-2464 and say, “I want to host the Chamber social on Oct. 17th,” and you’re on your way!

Thanks Again, Business Expo Sponsors! In addition to the sponsors shown on page 1, we thank the following, who also sponsored this year’s Business Expo (top to bottom): Karen Zicht (below, left) of Zicht Wealth Management, Joel Gray of Solar Solutions, Inc. (right), and Neil Heird (left) of MindSpark Consulting & John Lore of Prudential Financial.

Mark Your Calendars!

On Thursday, October 25, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Stonewood Grill & Tavern (17050 Palm Pointe Dr., Tampa Palms) will again host and sponsor the Chamber’s free “Connections” networking event, and will provide free appetizers and one free drink per visitor (must be at least 21 to consume alcoholic beverages)! Please bring canned goods for the Chamber’s Thanksgiving Food Drive. You do not have to be a Chamber member to attend.

for just $25 for two golfers!

Thanks, Stephanie!

The Chamber thanks longtime broadcaster Stephanie Roberts, who was our featured speaker at the Chamber luncheon held at Hunter’s Green Country Club on September 11. Stephanie, who has worked in broadcast news and weather for more than 20 years and is now a media consultant, talked about the power of TV and said there are many opportunities for local businesses to utilize the broadcast media to benefit them. “Sometimes, a four-line press release is all it takes to get the ball rolling,” she told Chamber members. “There’s no reason to be intimidated by the media!”

On Thursday, November 1, our popular “Networking on the Nines” rotates back to Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club. We are again looking for a beverage sponsor. The cost to participate is $15 for members and add just $10 and bring a non-Chamber member

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 21 • October 6, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

New Tampa Breathes Easy With Cornerstone Air Conditioning & Heating By Chase Griffin As we all know, Florida really only has two seasons — spring and summer. We’re also the only state where it’s acceptable to sport sandals and a T-shirt to a business meeting. Business people in other states are sweating just thinking about it. Seriously though, it’s hot out there, so it’s nice to know there is an establishment like Cornerstone Air Conditioning & Heating to provide services year-round as our swim-trunkwearing, ice-cream-melting weather rages on. This Land O’ Lakes/Wesley Chapel-based company has been cooling down the area since 2006. Cornerstone’s services stretch across the map, covering all of Pasco, Hillsborough, Hernando and Pinellas counties. The company provides service, installation, maintenance and repair of every major air-conditioning brand. “With a leap of faith, we opened Cornerstone Air with the idea of providing exceptional customer service skills and quality work to the community that we were born and raised in,” says founder and owner, Dana Goldsborough Spears. The company’s loyalty to the community also extends to Cornerstone’s participation in all local Chambers of Commerce and the com-

pany’s support for local events throughout the year. Spears says that customer care is the top concern of everyone at Cornerstone. Indoor air pollution is a much overlooked health issue and Cornerstone Air can be a literal cornerstone of home health. Dust mites, pollen and aspergillus (molds) are just a few of the harmful microbes floating around your house. Cornerstone also provides UV light disinfection, a germicidal technology installed into your A/C unit which stops airborne pathogens dead in their tracks. Mainly used in the hospital and food packaging industries, UV light is now becoming a widely used technology in the HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) industry. The company also provides a duct-sanitizing program, which is included in its $49.95 System Rejuvenation package, practically bringing your home up to hospital-code air quality. “We are always bringing the newest technologies available in our field to our customers,” says Spears, “and we’re always seeking new ways to help reduce electric bills and provide better indoor air quality.” Speaking of electric bills and new technology, you can receive a $300 tax credit and up to $350 in rebates when you upgrade to an energy-efficient sys-

The technicians at Cornerstone Air Conditioning & Heating will arrive at your home in uniform and in a clearly marked service van. tem, including such top brands such as volts/amps on your fan motor, the Amana, American Standard, Goodman, inspection and lubrication of your bearHeil, Payne and Trane, to name a few. ings and much more. Spears knows that customers not It’s not a shock why Cornerstone only want top-notch service and quality, received an “A” from both the Better but are also entitled to it. In a field Business Bureau and Angie’s List.com. sometimes known for high-pressure “We are seeking daily to expand sales and mountains of hidden fees, our services to better serve our comCornerstone Air stands out. munity,” says Spears. “Not here,” she says, “CornerCornerstone Air’s top-rated servicstone Air strives to always exceed your es don’t end with residential care. “We expectations.” The company has a simalso offer the highest-rated consumer ple pricing plan that includes a flat-rate equipment to our commercial cusdiagnostic (regardless of the length of tomers to provide them with the hightime taken by one of the company’s est quality service they deserve,” she certified technicians) and a 77-point says. Specializing in commercial and system cleaning and checkup guarantee business accounts as well, Wiregrass that includes calibration and leveling of Ranch developer Don Porter says, your thermostat, monitoring of the “From the onset, the Cornerstone

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technician was prompt and thorough, gave us all of our options, and educated us on the products available.” So, after a long, tiring day at the office, or an over-tanned afternoon at the beach, not only can you come home to cool off, but, thanks to Cornerstone Air Conditioning & Heating,

you can relax with wallet- and respiratory-safe efficiency. Cornerstone Air Conditioning & Heating offers same-day appointments and you can schedule at any time through the company’s website (CornerStoneFla.com). For more info, call 949-4445.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 21 • October 6, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Plumbrook Cabinetry Keeps It Classy With High-Caliber Custom Cabinets By Matt Wiley Your kitchen is the family gathering place, the room where everyone congregates at a party and the spot where countless hours are spent preparing meals and cleaning up after them. As the saying goes, the kitchen is the heart of the home. Naturally, you want this much-used space to feature the highest-quality materials and to reflect your own personal style, goals not lost on the craftsmen at Plumbrook Cabinetry, who understand that an integral part of a kitchen’s form and function is determined by what’s the cabinets lining its walls. After spending the past 22 years creating custom-made cabinets, Henry LaCroix, the general manager of Plumbrook Cabinetry in Zephyrhills, knows that he can achieve the look and quality that homeowners and interior designers envision for their dream kitchens. “Our slogan is: ‘If you can imagine it, we can create it,’” says Henry’s son, Josh, Plumbrook’s assistant GM. “We make everything right here.” “Here” is the immense shop located behind Henry’s Zephyrhills home. Smelling of wood and packed with

saws, sanders and every imaginable carpentry tool, the shop is where cabinet-making magic happens. “Most cabinet shops outsource all of their cabinet doors,” Henry explains. “We don’t outsource anything. All of the doors are made here, and we can create any style door, cabinet or molding. If you’ve got a broken or cracked door, we can make you a new one. We make everything from crown molding and door casings to window casings and baseboards. And, we The hand-crafted, custom-designed cabinets available from Plumbrook Cabinetry in Zephyrhills are able to make all those elerange from bright & airy (left) to the current trend towards darker wood cabinets (above). ments match in your home.” lumber to be used for each job, matching, “Since there’s no formaldehyde in Plumbrook proudly emphasizes its ing the wood to the application and the plywood or in the finishing produse of only high-grade materials, as also considering each plank’s tones for ucts, there are no fumes and no odor Henry proclaims, “We use only real the best appearance. In addition, when the cabinets are brought into wood, not particle board.” Plumbrook never uses filler pieces or your home.” Josh adds, “If you go to Home panels because the cabinets they create In addition to kitchens, our friends Depot or Lowe’s, you’ll find that even are all made to exact dimensions. at Plumbrook Cabinetry tackle baththeir high-end cabinets are still particle “Everything is made to fit the cus- room projects, wall units, entertainboard. And, the price for them will be tomer’s openings,” says Henry, adding ment centers, and built-in bookshelves. more than ours — even though ours that finished end panels are built right The company even recently completed are solid, real wood!” into the cabinets. a floating entertainment center, a unit Another big difference between Josh points out that all of mounted on a wall that gives the illuHenry’s cabinets and those purchased Plumbrook’s products are Greenguard- sion that it’s floating off the floor. at home improvement stores is that certified for indoor air quality, explain“You’d have a hard time finding Plumbrook Cabinetry hand-selects the

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happy” with Plumbrook’s performance and her new kitchen. The room now features increased cabinet space and stunning cabinets made from the wood of a sweet gum tree she had actually chopped down on her own property.

Keeping Current For You

(L. to r.): Henry LaCroix, Josh LaCroix and Alex Moghadasi of Plumbrook Cabinetry something like that (online or in stores),” says Josh. Customers appreciate the beauty and superior workmanship of Plumbrook’s products, of course, but chief financial officer Alex Moghadasi says the company’s clients also welcome the one-on-one attention and personal interaction with the owners. “Customers will always be able to talk to the same person here,” Alex explains. “They aren’t treated like a number.” That working relationship begins with the initial consultation, to which customers are encouraged to bring plenty of pictures of cabinets they like. Henry says the more photos you provide him, the better. It’s best to have some idea of your preferred style before your first meeting. Typically, he will show you three or four doors. If you are rearranging

your kitchen, he will sketch the new layout, which you can tweak, and then before the actual work begins, Josh will use an advanced computer software program to show you exactly how the finished product will look. Heidi Taylor, one of Plumbrook’s kitchen remodel customers, actually discovered Plumbrook through her granite supplier. “After searching three counties for someone to do my granite, I finally found a guy I liked in Zephyrhills, and he referred me to Plumbrook,” she explains. “Josh and Henry were easy to work with, listened to my ideas and then offered some of their own.” An electrical engineer who purchased her mid-‘80s-built Dade City home as a fixer-upper, Heidi says she is particular about whom she contracts to do work at her home and is “extremely

As for what’s “hot” in cabinets these days, Heary says, “The current trend is for large, dark cabinets with big hardware,” Henry comments, adding that he notices a preference for flat panels and a contemporary or Shaker style. When it comes to hardware, Henry says soft-close doors and drawers are standard, noting, “We use the best of everything, even hinges. We use

the best accessories in the industry.” One thing Plumbrook never uses is a subcontractor. “All of the work and installations are done by us,” says Alex. Plumbrook does, however, have close ties with select granite and tile suppliers, which is helpful when a customer is totally remodeling a kitchen or bath and requires those services. Despite the economy, business is brisk at Plumbrook Cabinetry, which currently serves customers from Boca Grande to Atlanta. To take advantage of Plumbrook’s fine craftsmanship and schedule a consultation, call 355-3974 or visit PlumbrookCabinetry.com.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 21 • October 6, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Beltran Dental Surgery Is New Tampa’s One-Stop Oral Surgery Stop By Matt Wiley Childhood memories of trips to the dentist are often the ones that many of us would like to forget. This is not the case, however, for José Beltran, D.M.D, M.D. In fact, it was growing up around his father’s dental office that inspired Dr. Beltran to one day open Beltran Dental Surgery (BDS) in New Tampa. Located just inside the main entrance to Hunter’s Green on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., BDS is one of New Tampa’s finest oral surgery centers, employing the latest in technology and software to provide the most comprehensive consultations and procedures for those requiring any type of oral surgery, including the common, “coming-of-age” wisdom teeth extraction, as well as oral implants (and sinus augmentations to support implants), biopsies, IV sedation and bone grafts. State-of-the-art technology combined with Beltran’s impressive educational background, make his office a onestop shop for oral surgery. A University of South Florida alum who also graduated from Harvard University Dental School in Cambridge, MA, and the University of Texas at Houston Medical School, he

holds both a Doctor of Medical Dentistry (D.M.D) and Medical Doctor (M.D.) degrees, Beltran takes pride in knowing that he can treat nearly any case that comes in for a consultation. “Even though the core of my practice is extractions,” he explains, “when a patient with multiple medical issues (allergies, complications) comes in, it’s easier for me to treat them. I know how to work around their conditions and how to prepare them for surgery. It may just be ‘minor surgery,’ but it’s still surgery, so you have to prepare every patient as if they were going into major surgery.” Beltran says that this is important when consulting patients about going under anesthetic, which is another aspect of his practice that he takes pride in: his devotion to his patients. “From the moment the patient steps into the office, my staff and I are here for them,” he says. “I, personally, do the consultation, and I’m with that patient throughout the entire procedure. A lot of doctors don’t do that.” Thanks to cutting-edge imaging technology known as iCAT, Dr. Beltran’s patients can see a three-dimensional walk-through of what their specific procedure will entail. Whereas many dentists’ offices only take a sim-

ple, two-dimensional X-ray, Beltran takes a CTscan of the patient’s entire head and can do precise measurements using the iCAT software to determine exactly what steps will be taken in the procedure long before it happens. And, the Dr. José Beltran shows off his in-office CT imaging patient gets to see machine, decorated in his alma mater’s colors. the walkthrough on a large, LCD community in which he was raised. television from the comfort of a plush, Beltran, 36, is happy to be practicleather exam seat. ing in the same neighborhood in “I must admit, I was very nervous which he grew up: Hunter’s Green. coming in to get my tooth extracted,” Before moving to Tampa with his famsays Rhonda, one of Dr. Beltran’s preily, Beltran and his younger brother, vious patients. “After my consultation David — also a D.M.D. and Jose’s and talking with Dr. Beltran, I was partner who runs the brothers’ Orlanmuch more relaxed about getting the do practice — used to get dropped off procedure done. He was very patient, at their father and uncle’s dental pracanswered all of my questions and tice in Quito, Ecuador. He says that explained everything about my procewhen they finished their homework, dure very thoroughly.” their father would sometimes allow A True Hometown Hero them to assist him with simple tasks To Dr. Beltran, he is not just around the office. helping patients; he is helping the “I never dreamed that I would

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become a dentist,” he recalls. “But, while I was in college, the pieces started to come together.” While living in Hunter’s Green, Beltran and his brother both attended Chamberlain High School — before Freedom and Wharton High were built. Jose went on to graduate from the University of South Florida in 1998, before earning his D.M.D. from Harvard in 2003 and his M.D. degree from the University of Texas in 2008. Since then, he has set up a Using iCAT technology, Dr. Beltran can scholarship fund to help those show patients 3-D demonstrations of the interested in becoming dentists. precedure he will be performing. The Beltran Brothers Scholarship is offered each semester to USF Beltran Dental Surgery, located pre-dental students. In addition, he at 8709 Hunter’s Green Dr. is conalso gives back by offering deals to stu- tracted with more than 30 PPO dents, such as the “Wisdom Tooth insurance companies and offers a Special.” He may not be the tooth 15-percent discount for MMO fairy, but he’ll yank all four wisdom insurance. For more information teeth while you sleep (under full anesabout BDS, or to set up a consultathetic, of course) for $2,000. tion, please call 373-4573 or visit BeltranDentalSurgery.com.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 21 • October 6, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Quality Cleaning Will Leave Your Home Or Offce Space Spotless By Camille Gillies It’s time to start sprucing up the house for Thanksgiving and all of your other favorite houseguest-inducing holidays. Can we get a “ho, ho, ho?” Well, breathe a sigh of relief because New Tampa and Wesley Chapel are chock full of businesses to help you get a head start on this busy time of year. One of the first things you might consider to make your life easier is hiring a housecleaning service…and the mother-daughter team of Suyanne Neves and Ingrid Hess are here to help! A year ago, they opened Quality Cleaning & Services to serve New Tampa and Wesley Chapel, and they are off and running – er, cleaning. Whether you need this dynamic duo for ongoing housekeeping services or just a one-time cleanup, they pledge to clean your house or office and more! Sure, choices abound when it comes to cleaning services, but Suyanne says her willingness to be flexible and her crew’s attention to detail distinguish Quality Cleaning from its competition. “If you want to change (appointment) days or times, or if you need us to concentrate on a specific area of your home, we are happy to do it,” she

explains. “We do whatever our clients ask. Every cleaning does not need to be the same, and if you need extra services done, we only charge a small additional fee.” For instance, one week you may want them to concentrate on cleaning your patio rather than on tidying the kids’ rooms. Not a problem. Or, your usual appointment happens to fall on a bad day. Fine. They’ll reschedule it to suit your plans. Need some windows washed? A minimal charge will get those sliders sparkling in no time. Quality Cleaning is not locked into a specific checklist of items that must be accomplished with every cleaning (unless that’s something a client wishes). Suyanne says that she is able to offer a wider array of services because, unlike some other maid services, she is not restricted by a rigid routine dictated by a corporate office. “My staff has even set up and decorated (clients’) Christmas trees,” Suyanne laughs, adding that the business also agrees to last-minute jobs. “I have had people call and ask if I can send someone over to their house with only two hours notice.” Suyanne agrees to late-notice appointments but insists on an onsite

visit before the start of every new job. “I meet with the homeowner and, after discussing what they are looking for and seeing the size and condition of the home, apartment or office, I provide a quote for our services.” A home that is Ingrid Hess (left) & Suyanne Neves of Quality typically well kept will Cleaning & Services will send a team of trained prorequire less time than fessionals to clean your home. one that is messy or dirty to begin with and Quality Cleaning last year after moving our price will reflect that. Suyanne says to Tampa from Sarasota, where for 14 Quality Cleaning has a four-person staff years she has run – and continues to in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel and operate – a successful cleaning business will always send at least two people to that spans Longboat Key, Bradenton, each job. Osprey, Sarasota and Ellenton. Her “We provide all of our own cleanhusband, Leonardo, had been commuting products and bring our own equip- ing from Sarasota to Tampa for his job ment,” Suyanne explains, stressing that in international stock settlements with the type of equipment is important. Citibank, and they decided it was time “We have special cleaning tools we like to relocate the family. They purchased a to use because they clean so much bethome in Live Oak Preserve in New ter than what most people have in their Tampa, where they reside with their homes. I want to make sure the home children Inna, 6, and Napoleao, 3. gets as clean as possible because we are Ingrid, 29, is their eldest child and lives proud of our work.” in Wesley Chapel with her husband, Suyanne, 46, decided to open Houston, a personal banker at Bank of

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America, and new baby, Damond, who is 2 months old. Ready to begin branching out from her banking job with Citibank, Ingrid partnered with Suyanne and together they launched Quality Cleaning. The team makes logical business sense. Ingrid, who attended Florida Gulf Coast University in Ft. Myers on a volleyball scholarship, graduated in 2006 with a degree in marketing. She has often helped with her mother’s business, even cleaning homes when needed. Meanwhile, Suyanne possesses the hands-on knowledge and years of experience in both cleaning and staffing. She began working in the cleaning industry in the ‘90s after moving to Florida from Brazil. “I didn’t speak English and was looking for work,” she recalls in a strong Portuguese accent. “I started cleaning the lobbies of condominiums in Sarasota and Longboat Key and got to know the residents of the buildings. They started asking me to clean their condos. To this day, my staff still cleans many of their homes.” She says many Sarasota-area residents are seasonal and they trust her to care for their homes in their absence. Suyanne says she treats clients as she would friends. “My clients say my crew spends

the time it takes to get the job done right,” she says. “And if they are not satisfied with something, I tell them to call and I will send someone back to their home right away to fix it. “Four or five of my staff have been with me for more than 10 years,” she says. “They are very thorough.” She adds that the detail of her company’s work will be the biggest difference between Quality Cleaning and other local services. Evidently, that’s the opinion of Fred and Sylvia Estrada, of Seven Oaks, who Suyanne proudly states have now been her clients in three different cities. “I cleaned their home when they lived in Sarasota, when they moved to Bradenton and now here in New Tampa,” she says. Speaking of moves, Quality Cleaning also offers move-in and move-out cleanings, which are especially helpful to Realtors when marketing a residence, as well as to buyers and sellers weary of moving hassles. Suyanne and Ingrid speak English, Portuguese and Spanish, so give Quality Cleaning & Services a call to discuss all of your cleaning needs at 381-1430 or 418-1217; or email them at QCStampa@gmail.com. They are always happy to provide references.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 21 • October 6, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

New Tampa Chiropractic & Injury Center: Total Wellness In WC By Michael Murillo In places like New York, Missouri and Florida, patients have been treated by chiropractors named “Dr. Scheu” for several decades. But, many of those patients did not see William (Bill) Scheu, D.C., who sees patients at the New Tampa Chiropractic & Injury Center, located next to Marshall’s in the SuperTarget-anchored Northwood Plaza on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. Instead, those out-of-state patients were seen by either Dr. Scheu’s father or grandfather. In other words, bringing relief to those in pain is something of a family tradition for Dr. Scheu, who graduated with his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Life University in Marietta, GA, in 1997 and received his chiropractic license in 1998. He also previously earned his Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from the same university. Dr. Scheu says he used to help out in his father's chiropractic office, where he saw the success that the patients who came to see Dr. Edward Scheu, III, had dealing with a variety of physical ailments, and he says he was impressed with his dad’s ability to treat them successfully — in a natural way. “Seeing people getting well with a guy using primarily his hands — without the use of medications- — was pretty significant to me,” says the thirdgeneration chiropractor. “I knew it was what I wanted to do with my life, too.” Despite what many people believe, chiropractors are able to help people with more than just issues relating to pain in the back, neck or spine. Dr. Scheu says part of his job is to dispel the misconceptions and confusion as to what chiropractors do and how important their work is to positive patient outcomes. One such common misconception is that chiropractors do little more than “crack backs,” which sounds both painful and detrimental to a person’s health. “We don't actually ‘crack’ anything," Dr. Scheu explains. “We’re

actually making specific spinal adjustments to enable the body to function better on its own.” Common treatments available at New Tampa Chiropractic include adjustments using certain chiropractic tools or by hand alone, licensed massage therapy (License #MM29709), traction tables to work on the lumbar spine and even an intersegmental therapy chair, which focuses on the thoracic (upper) and lumbar (lower) spine regions. By utilizing one or more of these techniques, patients can find relief from many types of pain and even muscle and nerve spasms. Another misconception is the educational background of a chiropractor. While a chiropractor is not a medical doctor and their studies are different, Dr. Scheu explains that it takes about the same number of years of post-Bachelor’s-degree schooling (about four years) to graduate with a Doctor of Chiropractic degree as it does to obtain a medical doctor degree. “The primary difference is that chiropractors don’t have to complete a residency or fellowship after they graduate to begin practicing,” says Dr. Scheu. “But, we truly are trained to understand and treat the source of many different types of pain.” The significant training chiropractors receive is what allows them to become familiar with many symptoms and causes of pain, and enables them to work in concert with a patient’s Primary Care Physician to ensure that each patient receives thorough and comprehensive treatment for their problems. Kellie Parrish, Dr. Scheu;s office manager, says that patients don’t always understand how chiropractic care can help them until they try it themselves. “It’s not just about your back,” Parrish explains. "It’s about your neck, your back...your whole being.” She adds that those who have never seen a chiropractor before are often apprehensive at first, but feel much better once they experience the benefits.

Scheu said that those benefits can even include relief from vertigo, dizziness, muscle weakness and digestive disorders. While those symptoms could indicate a variety of medical problems, people are often surprised to find that a chiroprac- The friendly staff at the New Tampa Chiropractic & Injury Center in the SuperTarget-anchored Northtor can help relieve wood Plaza wants to take away your pain, too. problems aside from back pain, and help patients who come in for their health as patients improve their digestion, sleepa whole, not just for pain management ing habits and stress management. He issues,” he says. also says that it’s important that a chiHe adds that patient convenience ropractor work with a patient’s existing is paramount, and his office works to team of doctors in order to get a truly accommodate busy schedules while comprehensive look at each patient’s providing the one-on-one attention health situation. After an initial consulnecessary to achieve positive outcomes. tation, which includes an exam, record- “We greet them with a smile and they ing of vital signs and computerized leave with a smile,” he says....not surspinal tests, nerve scans and on-site Xprisingly...with a smile. rays, Dr. Scheu sits down with his Parrish, who worked in the same patients to cover findings, treatment office before Dr. Scheu took over more options and a time frame for the than two years ago, agrees. “He really patient’s recovery. knows what he's doing and he’s a very Thanks to his background in nutri- caring person,” she says. “It’s just tion and his ability to also provide phys- warmer and friendlier here now with ical therapy services, Dr. Scheu has the Dr. Scheu being here.” ability to see and treat a diverse range While each patient is different, of physical issues. “We have many Scheu says that some visit his location

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 21 • October 6, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

patient happy and healthy,” Scheu says. “It makes you feel pretty good to make a difference in someone's life.” The New Tampa Chiropractic & Injury Center is located at 1283 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. It serves Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, Lutz, New Tampa and Dade City and is affiliated with the Conforti ChiroDr. William Scheu can help relieve many common practic & Wellness Centers in Trinity, Oldsmar, Carphysical problems by properly aligning your spine. rollwood & St. Petersburg. The Wesley Chapel office is once a week or even a few times a week open Monday -Thursday, 8 a.m.-6 to make significant progress, especially p.m., and 9 a.m. -noon on Friday. following traumatic injuries, such as a For more information about the cencar accident. But, once each patient’s goal is achieved, he says that a “mainte- ter’s chiropractic care, licensed masnance plan” can help the patients retain sage therapy (LMT), exercise, physthe progress they’ve made. These main- iotherapy or nutritional counseling, call 994-6111 or visit ConfortiChitenance plan patients might visit only every 4-8 weeks, which he compares to ropractic.com. *Most Insurance Plans accepted, visiting a gym to maintain the physical including but not limited to: Cigna, benefits gained from exercising. Medicare, Aetna, United, BCBS. The Regardless of how far along his patients are on their path to feeling bet- patient and any other person responsible for payment has the right to ter, Dr. Scheu says he enjoys seeing his refuse pay, cancel payment or be for patients’ progress and working with any payment or any other service, them to improve their respective situaexamination, or treatment which is tions. Like his father and grandfather before him, Dr. Bill Scheu knows that a performed as a result of and within 72 hours of responding to the free, good chiropractor can impact many discounted or reduced fee, service, people’s lives in a very positive way. exam, or treatment. “The overall goal is to make the

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 21 • October 6, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

New Tampa Girl Takes Second In National Equestrian Championship By Matt Wiley Emma Shaw is a 14-year-old “hunter.” She and her animal companion travel around the state and country, combining their talents to win championships. But, these are not the kinds of championships one might think of when the term “hunter” is usually thrown around. Quite the opposite, in fact. Shaw is actually an equestrian. Together with her horse, Farasi — a 13-year-old Hanoverian Warmblood — the duo traveled from Cory Lake Isles in New Tampa to Saugerties, NY, to compete in the 2012 Hits-on-theHudson Marshall & Sterling National Finals from September 12-16, where she was second in her division. “It feels really good,” Emma says. “It was such a good experience. There are so many horses around, but you have to focus on you.” Hunter is a term for a form of English horse riding, in which the rider and the horse have to jump a series of fences, as often seen in the Olympics. They are judged on their movement and form, rather than on speed. The Marshall & Sterling league, which is sanctioned by the U.S. Equestrian Foundation, holds more than 2,000 competitions throughout the country each year to determine the

nation’s top 60 riders, who qualify for the National competition. Shaw was ranked second going into the finals. Once the finals begin, all previous slates are wiped clean and the top 60 in the country face off. From the 60 that make it into competition, only the top 12 make into the final round. Shaw and Farasi placed 5th in the first round, securing a spot in the second and final round of competition. In her final round, Shaw scored better than all of her competitors, but, since the winner is determined by combining both round’s scores, the rider who ended up ranked ahead of her was able to squeeze by and win the competition by a 0.75-point margin, out of the 176 total points available. “We were on pins and needles watching that last girl ride,” says Shaw’s mother Michele. Despite not clinching the overall championship, Shaw was named Reserve Champion and was awarded a victory lap, as well as a large sash and ribbon, to commemorate her impressive performance. Shaw, an eighth grade student at Terrace Community Middle School, a charter school on E. Fowler Ave., has been riding since she was five years old. She says her love of horseback riding can be traced back to watching “Spir-

Emma Shaw and her horse, Farasi, show off their sash after completing their victory lap at the Marshall & Sterling National Finals.

located less than thirty minutes away in Lutz, it’s no wonder that she is now dominating the competition. “It’s very time consuming,” says Michele of the after-school training and three weekends per month of traveling to competitions around the state. Shaw says that balancing school with her riding schedule can be tough, and that she sometimes finds herself doing homework at the barn with Farasi, whom she calls “her giant teddy bear.” But, she doesn’t mind. “I just love being with my horse,” she says. “It’s my hobby. I love it.”

it,” an animated horse film, when she was a child. She says her interest couldn’t be contained. “When I was five, my parents put me on a horse because they thought I would be scared of it,” she recalls. “But I wasn’t.” Just a year later, she was taking part in her first competition. “When you’re that young, you’re basically just walking and trotting,” she explains. “You have to work your way up to jumping.” But, considering she spends three to four days per week training after school at the Cheval Equestrian Center,

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 21 • October 6, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Freedom And Wharton To Battle For The NT Football Crown By Matt Wiley The battle for New Tampa is upon us, and the Freedom High Patriots are poised to take on the Wildcats from Paul R. Wharton High on October 12 in the Pats’ backyard. The Wildcats have already proven to be a force to be reckoned with in Class 8A, District 6, currently standingat 3-1, following a heartbreaking 1312 loss to 4-0 Durant in another nondistrict game. “We’re looking good so far,” says Wharton head coach David Mitchell. “We’re just taking things one day at a time and trying to stay healthy.” Mitchell says that he doesn’t think the bye week will affect the Wildcats performance. He feels that Wharton’s offense will carry them past Durant. “Our passing game and offensive line are really coming together,” he says, speaking of Wharton’s star quarterback, junior Chase Litton, who has thrown for seven touchdowns (he also has rushed for two TDs) since the season started. “We’ve got a great crew of guys this year.” Other standout Wharton players include wide receiver Keith “KJ” Hopkins, who has rushed for more than 100 yards and caught two touchdown

passes, including a 13-yarder against Durant, and senior WR/defensive back Vernon Hargreaves, two receiving TDs and also set up a score against Durant with an interception. Deon Sampson caught a 57-yard TD from Litton and LB Rocky Enos led the team in tackles. As far as Freedom is concerned, Mitchell says, “We’re not even thinking about them (the Pats) until the week we play them,” he says. A few miles south of Wharton in Tampa Palms, the Patriots followed their first big District 7A-7 win over Steinbrenner High with a 35-6 thrashing at home in a non-District loss to Alonso, moving Freedom to a 2-3 overall record (but 1-0 in the District) going into their October 5 District game Chamberlain (1-3, 0-1). Pats head coach Todd Donohoe is confident after the previous week’s win. As far as Wharton is concerned, he says, “It’s exciting. They’ve got some good players, but we’ve been doing nothing but improving. Our defensive line is playing really well and making plays.” Among those protecting the Patriots’ end zone, senior linebacker Max Orr leads the team in tackles, followed closely by senior linebacker Nate Godwin. The Patriots will need to play better on both sides of the ball to hold

that line and force some crucial turnovers if they want to contain the highflying Wildcats, who have scored a combined 105 points (21 per game) so far. The Pats were whipped by Durant 57-7 in the opening game of the season. Freedom’s junior quarterback Taylor King, The Freedom High (white helmets) offense will have to click when the Pats (2-3) square off against New Tampa who is averaging about rival Wharton High (3-1) on Oct. 12. 70 yards per game with Photo courtesy of OurTownFla.com. three passing touchdowns and two INTs, was 8-for-13 for 119 yards through the air in the Steinbrenner victory, but only 5-11, 63, with a pick against Alonso. Donohoe says he thinks his Patriots can handle the expected offensive onslaught by the ‘Cats. “Wharton’s our rival,” he explains, noting that the two schools are both in New Tampa and are just a few miles from each other. “There’s going to be some serious competition. We definitely want to win.” The Wharton High Wildcats play at the Freedom High (17410 Commerce Park Dr., Tampa Palms) Patriots at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, October 12.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 21 • October 6, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 21 • October 6, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Habitat For Humanity Building A Home In Wesley Chapel! By Michael Murillo Habitat For Humanity (HFH), the non-profit Christian Housing Ministry with a Pasco County branch that has built and renovated 100 homes in places like Dade City, Crystal Springs, Zephyrhills and Land O’Lakes, has created a home ownership model for struggling families and stable, safe environments for children. By this time next year, Wesley Chapel will be added to that list of Pasco Habitat locales. “I am very excited about Habitat For Humanity building a home in Wesley Chapel in 2013,” says director of development and public relations for Habitat for Humanity of East & Central Pasco County Stephanie Black. “The family that will be purchasing this Habitat home currently lives, works, and goes to school in the area.” The 1,100-sq.-ft. house isn't designed to be fancy. But, with three bedrooms and two bathrooms, the wood-frame home, which will be constructed next to the Shops at Wiregrass mall before being transported to the Angus Valley neighborhood of Wesley Chapel by around May of next year, will be a dream come true for a needy local family. The local office is just one of more than 1,500 HFH affiliates in the U.S. — with an additional 550 participating in other parts of the world. HFH has built and renovated more than 500,000 homes for families in need of decent, affordable housing in 3,000

communities around the world since it was founded in 1976. Recipients are selected based on their level of need, willingness to participate in the program and ability to meet the terms of their mortgage; neither race nor religion is factored into the decision-making process. Black estimates that as many as one in six Americans are currently in need of stable, affordable housing. That would translate to thousands of needy residents in eastern and central Pasco County, and HFH can only make a small dent in that number: The Pasco chapter built or rehabilitated a dozen homes in its last fiscal year.

Shopping For A Cause

The local chapter’s goal is to increase that to 20 homes in the current fiscal year, but the organization also impacts thousands of residents when they shop at one of the Habitat ReStores. With locations in Zephyrhills and Dade City, more than 45,000 people each year take advantage of the local stores, which sell heavily-discounted building materials and household goods that have been donated new or slightly used. In turn, those proceeds go toward building and rehabilitating more homes in the area. While providing a homeownership opportunity is obviously good for the family receiving it, Black explained that it also impacts the general community in a positive way. “Owner-occupied housing has a beneficial effect on the local economy

by increasing consumer spending and providing tax revenues and fees,” she says. “When Habitat builds or rehabs homes, it raises property values in the area.” The organization also uses local subcontractors for related jobs such Habitat for Humanity is in the process of building a as electrical, home for a needy family in Wesley Chapel. plumbing and flooring, and all and develop friendships, which building materials are purchased localimproves company morale. ly as well. He explains that, like many local Much of the labor also is generat- businesses, the dealerships wanted to ed locally, as individuals, groups and be involved with helping a local charicorporations donate their time to a ty. As a person who has worked with good cause. The management team at the organization in different parts of Wesley Chapel Toyota and Wesley the country over the years, he feels Chapel Honda sends between eight there’s something special about and 10 employees to work on a HFH employees getting together to roll up project every couple of months, with their sleeves and participating in a positive results for both the people physical project. they help and the team sent to do the “We know that our hands are helping. making a direct impact on a family's “They love it,” says Eric Johnson, life,” Johnson says, adding that the the director of corporate community company’s next date with HFH is relations for the two auto dealerships. scheduled for October. “It's one of things where when you While HFH is a popular charity serve with Habitat, you feel better for groups and individuals, Black says about yourself.” there is still some confusion about the As an added benefit, Johnson says organization and exactly what it does. that the employees who work together See “Habitat” on page 43. on HFH homes form tighter bonds

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 21 • October 6, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

New Tampa Man Raising Money Ahead Of NYC Marathon Run By Matt Wiley Michael Almeyda has never run more than 14 miles. And, while that is much further than most would ever consider running, unless being chased by flesh-eating zombies or a velociraptor, he is looking forward to running 12 miles more than his longest-ever run to date come November. Add to that the fact that he will be competing in the New York City Marathon and raising more than $6,000 for cancer research, it can be assumed that he has his work cut out for him. Almeyda has been a New Tampa resident for the past three years and currently resides in the Vista Grande Apartments on Commerce Park Blvd. He says that if he were asked if he would be interested in running 26.2 miles when he first moved to New Tampa, he would have laughed and said, “No way.” The New York City Marathon will be Almeyda’s first at that distance, but not the first time he’s entered a road race. The marathon seeds were planted about six months ago when Almeyda was training for his first half-marathon by taking part in a 5-kilometer race. “The race was really unorganized,” he says. “I got there early and started running really fast, picking people off. I quickly realized that this 5K race was not ending and that I was running with the half-marathon (13.1 miles) group. I had a choice of either quitting, going home early with my tail between my legs, or to keep running and have a cool story to tell — that I ran a halfmarathon.” He says that he was “dying” with cramps and a headache after the more than two-hour run that was ten miles more than he had originally intended to complete, but that the overwhelming sense of accomplishment made it worth it. Almeyda says that he hopes to replicate that feeling on November 4 in New York City. With just more than six weeks until the race, he says that the training and fund-raising efforts have both been quite a challenge. “I have raised about $1,500 of $6,000 I need so far,” Alameyda says. “My family, coworkers and friends have

all been really supportive and helped me out by donating.” The $6,000, which he is committed to raising, whether he pays out of his own pocket or not, will go to fund cancer research at the renowned Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, also in NYC. “I wanted to make running the marathon worthwhile,” he explains. “So, I decided to get involved with ‘Fred’s Team.’” Fred’s Team is a fund-raising program that — according the group’s website — hundreds of athletes join each year to help raise money for the Kettering Cancer Center by taking part in many different kinds of races. Since the group’s inception in 1995 in memory of the NYC Marathon’s founder, Fred Lebow — who died of brain cancer in 1994 — it has raised more than $46 million for cancer research.

Going Big In The Big Apple “I wanted to go big,” says Alameyda of his first marathon’s venue. “Originally, I wanted to do the Boston Marathon, but I found out that you actually have to qualify for that one. I lived in NYC for two years and I have family and friends up there, so I figured (the NYC Marathon) would be a good atmosphere, and be good for my adrenaline when I’m running up there with all those people.” The race will take him through all five boroughs of NYC, including Manhattan and Central Park. Plus, the route will take him past the Kettering Cancer Center. The patients will be outside to watch him go by, something that he says will be overwhelming emotionally. By training with 2-3 runs per week, at least one of them a longer one than the previous week, he hopes to be in top shape for the November race. He says that even though he recently tweaked his ankle, he should be ready in time. He also uses Crossfit to train, which combines a variety of different workouts into one short, intense series of exercises. He says that Crossfit has been a huge help in preparing him for the marathon. When he’s not training, Alameyda works as a staffing manager for Kforce

Healthcare, Inc., in Ybor City, a company that helps place people in jobs at hospitals across the country. He also enjoys hanging out with his 15-year-old son Devyn Castro, a Freedom High sophomore, who also has taken an interest in running. Together, they are planning on running in the “5K Zombie Run,” a “survival” run through an obstacle course in which each runner has three flags, or “lives.” While on the run, people dressed as zombies chase the runners. The idea is to make it to the end of the race with at least one flag remaining to say that the runner “survived” the zombie “apocalypse.” Coincidentally, the race takes place on Saturday, December 22, 2012 — the day after the end of the Mayan calendar, what some refer to as “the end of the world” — at Little Everglades Park in Dade City. But, before he can shift his attention to figuring out how to survive the impending zombie apocalypse, Alameyda will have to focus on “surviving” the NYC Marathon and its grueling 26.2 miles through the city, as well as the necessary fund-raising. As time ticks by and the race gets closer, Alameyda says he definitely has

New Tampa resident Michael Almeyda does Crossfit to help prepare to run the NYC Marathon Nov. 4. no plans of not making his goal. “I like to come through in the clutch and under pressure, so I’m going to get the money raised no matter what,” he says. To help Alameyda in his quest to raise $6,000 for cancer research, please check this story out on NTNeighborhoodNews.com and follow the link to Alameyda’s website, or send him an email at MAlmeyda @kforce.com

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 21 • October 6, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

“Habitat” Continued from page 41 “The biggest misconception is that Habitat for Humanity gives away homes” she says. “Habitat works in partnership with low-income families and individuals to help them purchase simple, decent homes.” Selected families receive financing, training and support help, and contribute at least 400 hours of their own time to help build their homes and assist on other projects. Once their home is completed, they purchase it with a 30-year, zero-interest mortgage, and those payments are used to purchase additional houses and continue the cycle of home ownership. Contributing to HFH often takes the form of donating time for a day or writing a check, but Black stressed that there are other ways to help during these difficult economic times, including donating new or usable pre-owned items to a Habitat ReStore, holding a fund-raising event or simply participating in a car wash, golf tournament or other event benefiting the organization. Businesses, churches and community groups also can allow HFH to set up a table, distribute information or have a guest speaker attend an event to discuss the organization’s mission. However people choose to help, Black said that the end result — a stable home and ownership opportunity for a

family in need — is worth the energy and effort that goes into making those dreams a reality. “When children move into their Habitat homes, oftentimes this is a child's first time to have a room of their own,” Black says. “Sometimes, it is their first opportunity to have their own bed. The look on the children’s faces when they walk into their finished room is priceless.” Habitat for Humanity offers free pickup for larger ReStore donations, such as furniture or appliances. For more info about open hours, items to donate or financial donations, call (352) 567-1444 or visit HabitatPasco.org.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 21 • October 6, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Frogury Is New Tampa’s Independent All-Nonfat Frozen Yogurt Factory! By Gary Nager You may have noticed that the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area is suddenly packed with frozen yogurt shops, most of which are national or regional chains. Frogury Frozen Yogurt Factory, located next to Five Guys in the same plaza as LA Fitness at the intersection of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. and County Line Rd., was actually the first create-your-own yogurt shop to open in New Tampa (south of the Pasco County line) — and it isn’t a chain. Owner Ko Yung Chan, who calls himself “Jackie” (for obvious reasons), his wife Rita and daughter Sophia have created an all-nonfat-yogurt shop that offers eight different flavors at all time, including four that are always available — Tahitian Vanilla, Classic Chocolate, Very Strawberry and Mango Sorbet — and four other flavors which rotate in and out every two weeks. Among the yummy rotated flavors are Cake Batter, NY Cheesecake, Hawaiian Pineapple and Cherry Amaretto, to name a few. Most of Frogury’s healthy yogurt flavors have only 100-110 calories and no grams of fat per half-cup (4-oz) serving, but of course, you can add plenty of fat and calories with a variety of Monin syrups (from dark and white chocolate to caramel and more), as well

as fresh strawberries, pineapple, tasty gelatin pieces, white and dark chocolate chips, crushed Butterfinger, Reese’s pieces and other candy, peanut butter, lychee fruit, flavored Boba tapioca “balls” (more on them below) and even freshly sliced (on request) bananas. You design your yogurt, weigh it and enjoy! It’s always cold, creamy and delicious. In addition, Frogury also features outstanding top-quality Lavazza brand coffee drinks, also with a variety of Monin syrups, from almond to white chocolate, to make your coffee as sweet a treat as your yogurt. For those who prefer tea, Frogury also features a Variety of hot and iced teas, including the increasingly popular milk tea, which many people are learning to enjoy with plain Boba tapioca balls, also called “pearls.” Boba pearls, which add a chewy texture to any drink, were invented in Taiwan in the 1980s, but have become increasingly popular in U.S. tea houses, “But not usually at a frozen yogurt place,” says Jackie. “A lot of people like Boba.” Frogury also offers fresh fruit and

yogurt smoothies, fruit juices, fruit salads, and even fresh, moist muffins from Tampa-based The Happy Baker, which go great with a hot or iced cappuccino or latte. Since it isn’t a franchise, Jackie says he can add any other items whenever he wants. He hope you and your family will come meet his family sometime and enjoy some delicious yogurt. Frogury (6431 E. County Line Rd.) is open every day. Call 994-1960 or visit Frogury.com. And, you can receive 20-percent-off your purchase with the coupon in the Frogury ad on page 50.

At Frogury, in the same plaza as LA Fitness & Five Guys on BBD at County Line Rd., owner “Jackie” Chan and his daughter Sophia invite you to sample eight varieties of all-nonfat yogurt, with a nice variety of Monin syrups, fresh fruit and candy toppings and (top left) popular Boba tapioca “pearls” for your iced tea.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 21 • October 6, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

‘Eat At Joe’s’...Pizza Kitchen...For NY Or Chicago Style Pizza & More! By Gary Nager Whether you like hand-tossed, thinner-crusted New York-style or the thicker crust (but not deep dish) Chicago-style pizza, my friend Joe Khanafer and his family at the new Joe’s Pizza Kitchen in the Cross Creek Center plaza (in the former location of the Urban Culinary Café) definitely have got you covered. Joe, who was raised in Africa, has owned a variety of different businesses here in the U.S., including starting and eventually selling the Sultan Hummus Co., says he decided to open his firstever restaurant close to his home in the Cross Creek Blvd. area of New Tampa because, “I wanted something for them, my family. Plus, this is one of the few types of businesses you can open that, if it’s successful in one location, you can be successful opening multiple locations.” Joe says many of the recipes used at the Pizza Kitchen are his own, including his “secret” crust recipe. “I have a customer who begged me for my crust recipe,” says Joe. “I told her I would sell her my dough instead.” Joe says that very few pizzerias in the Tampa Bay area offer both New York and Chicago style pizza. “We have some customers who

only like one type of pizza, but a lot of them have enjoyed both styles,” he says. He also offers small, medium, large and extra large sizes (from $5.49 to $10.99) for either style, as well as a variety of specialty pizzas, from a traditional Margherita Whether you prefer the thicker crust Chicago-style cheese pizza (left) or specialty pizzas like the chicken parmesan (with olive oil, pizza, visit Joe’s Pizza Kitchen in the Cross Creek Center plaza — and please tell Joe we sent you! garlic, fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, parmesan and pizza sauce), zarella and parmesan), the “sizzler all available with extra pizza topsteak” (with mushrooms, bacon and pings (from pepperoni, sausage and your choice of peppers, and my favorite meatball to black olives, spinach, to date, the zesty chicken parmesan banana peppers and so many more). pizza, with Pizza Kitchen’s awesome For starters, I also recommend marinara sauce, mozzarella, parmesan Pizza Kitchen’s fresh garlic knots, and crispy chicken. mozzarella sticks and especially, Although I have yet to sample any, Joe’s unique wings, another one of Joe also is proud of his homemade calhis “secret recipes.” zones (pizza dough pockets filled with “I season my wings three days ricotta, mozzarella and parmesan); ahead of time and many of my cusstrombolis (rolled pizza dough filled tomers order them with no sauce or with your choice of two toppings, moz- with the sauce on the side,” he says. zarella and parmesan); and pepperoni “They tell me they’re the best in rolls (which feature pepperoni, moztown...and I agree.” I also enjoy Pizza Kitchen’s Greek and grilled chicken salads. My favorite of Joe’s hot subs to date is the zesty meatball parm sub (I order it with extra sauce), although the steak, onion, banana pepper and mozzarella sub will be my next one to try. You really have to taste Pizza Kitchen’s wings In the Pizza Kitchen ad on page 50 of this issue — and on his and meatball parm sub to believe them. menu — Joe offers a variety of menu when you visit for other great great specials, including a large cheese specials. pizza for only $7.99 (regularly $8.99), Joe’s Pizza Kitchen (10016 two large, two-topping pizzas for Cross Creek Blvd.) is open every day $19.99 (regularly $21.99) and two for lunch and dinner. For info and large cheese pizzas, with 20 of his awetakeout orders, call 528-8777 or some wings and a two-liter soda for visit NewTampaPizzaKitchen.com. $29.99 (regularly $34.26). See the

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 21 • October 6, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

La Pollera Colorada — Authentic Colombian Cuisine & More! By Gary Nager While we have quite a few very good Latin restaurants in the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area, there’s no restaurant in our area serving authentic Colombian cuisine, which is among my favorite Latin food. So, when I just happened to be on N. 56th St. in Temple Terrace recently, I strolled into a fairly new-looking restaurant called La Pollera Colorada, which had a sign in front saying it featured “Authentic Colombian Cuisine.” Once inside, I sat down with owner Carlos Villegas, a native of Medellin, Colombia, who moved to New York City 29 years ago, where he worked in a variety of restaurants for many years, where he says he learned a lot about many different types of food. “I mostly worked for French and Italian restaurants,” Carlos says, flashing his winning smile. “And I started incorporating some of those same flavors into my own cooking.” He eventually opened and later sold his first La Pollera Colorada (a “pollera” is the traditional dress worn by flamenco dancers and during Latin festivals and “colorada” means “colorful”) in Sunnyside, Queens, before moving to Tampa, where he opened his first La Pollera Colorada in Florida near

Our editor plans to try this sizzling NY strip with guacamole on his next visit.

the intersection of Armenia & Linebaugh Aves. “It was successful for nine years, but the problem there was that there were several Colombian restaurants in the same area,” says Carlos. “So, I decided to try a different location.” He opened La Pollera Colorada II on Highland Ave. at U.S. 19 in Clearwater. Carlos still owns and operates that restaurant, too, but he decided that other parts of Tampa would probably also enjoy his Italian-and-Frenchinfluenced Colombian cooking and he found his current location on N. 56th St.., in a small plaza located just south of Busch Blvd. La Pollera Colorada is open every day at 9 a.m. for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It stays open until 9 on weekdays and Sundays and until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. For breakfast, La Pollera lunch and dinner menus offer everything from an American breakfast with eggs in any style, sausage and bread to a traditional arepa casserole, with eggs, corn cake and cheese. La Pollera’s lunch and dinner menu is extensive, with a particularly sizable number of fresh fish and seafood dishes, as well as an equally huge selection of “Platos Tipicos,” or traditional Colombian meals. My favorite appetizer to date is the fried pork rind, which is served with an arepa, or corn cake and home fries, although I also love to order the pork rind as a side dish. But, don’t think of those disgusting fried pork rinds in a greasy bag. Colombian pork rind is basically the portion of the pig that attaches to the baby back ribs so many Americans love. The rind contains several delicious small bites of tasty, crispy but tender pork of which I can’t seem to get enough. Other appetizers on the menu include fried calamari, a fried spanish sausage (also with an arepa and home fries), a traditional shrimp cocktail and a Spanish-style shrimp in olive oil and garlic, none of which I’ve sampled yet.

For lunch, Carlos offers a variety of different-each-day specials for just $7.45, all of which are served with rice and red beans or French fries, with a soft drink and dessert. There are two lunch specials each day, including chicken in mushroom sauce or grilled pork chops on Mondays or your choice of fried trout or La Pollera’s popular fried, breaded chicken, which is pounded thin but is still juicy and delicious inside (and my favorite lunch to date), on Thursdays. The “Bistec Encebollado” at La Pollera Colorada Speaking of chicken, La Pollera on N. 56th St. is among our editor’s favorite dishes also offers fresh rotisserie chicken meal combos, which are all served mussels and more. And yes, Carlos does with rice and beans and sweet plantains. have Spanish paella on the menu, One whole chicken, which can serve 3- served with or without lobster. He 4 people, costs just $14.95 and three promises you will not be disappointed whole chickens (for 9-10 people) is just with the paella. $41.95. You can even get a quarter As for his country’s traditional rotisserie chicken with rice and beans dishes, you simply have to try the diffor lunch every day for just $4.99. ferent dishes which include the top Although I can’t eat shrimp, La round or skirt steak. My favorite to date Pollera’s seafood menu includes plenty is the Bistec Encebollado, which is a of it, but my favorite seafood dish to tender top round steak cooked in date is the flounder (or grouper) filet onions with rice, beans and sweet plan“Francaise style,” in a savory lemon, tains. Some of the Colombian meals butter and cilantro sauce. There’s also a also include pork rind, sausage, fried variety of salmon dishes, whole fried eggs and arepas. Carlos also suggests snapper and even mixed seafood offertrying his sizzling Churrasco NY al ings with lobster tails, clams, shrimp, Guacamole, which is a huge NY strip

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 21 • October 6, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

on a sizzling fajita dish served with a fresh guacamole sauce. A customer who ordered this dish absolutely raved about it, so it’s likely next on the list for me to sample. If you’d like to enjoy a drink with your meal, not only does La Pollera carry delicious Aguila beer from Colombia, but also what Carlos calls the “best homemade sangria in town.” And, adults of legal drinking age who mention this story or the ad on page 50 can receive a free small pitcher of sangria. If you’re avoiding alcohol, there is also a variety of natural fruit shakes, from papaya and mango to passion (Above) If you like fresh fish, try the flounder “Franfruit, blackberry and more. caise style” at La Pollera.The pounded fried chicken There’s also Colombian and lunch special (below) is huge and delicious! other Latin sodas and delicious (of course) Colombian coffee. For dessert, try a Colombianstyle flan or figs with cheese. For more information, visit La Pollera Colorada (8904 N. 56th St., Temple Terrace), or at LaPolleraColoradaTampa.com, or call 988-3030. Catering is available, too. For the Clearwater location (1226 S. Highland Ave.), call (727) 210-1908.

Caption Box

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 21 • October 6, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

The New, Smokeless Peabody’s Unveils A Fresh New Menu! By Gary Nager Photos by Matt Wiley You know the world has changed when Peabody’s Billiards & Games in Tampa Palms goes smokeless, but not only is the change not evidence of an impending apocalypse, owner Bryan Peabody says the move to a smoke-free environment has allowed him to greatly expand and improve Peabody’s menu. “We were already selling too much food with our old menu to remain as a smoking bar (according to Florida law),” he says. “So, we figured if we gave the menu an upgrade, maybe more New Tampa families would come in and appreciate that we’re now smoke-free.” So, even though Peabody’s, located in the same Shoppes of Amberly plaza as our office, still allows smoking for those sitting in its recently expanded outdoor seating area, inside, there are still the New Tampa area’s best and most pool tables, dart boards, video games, tons of TVs for watching sports and now, a much-improved, fresh menu that is catching almost as much attention as Peabody’s eye-candy servers and bartenders. My long-time friends and neighbors at Peabody’s warned me to focus

on the new menu and I promised I would, but rest assured, Peabody’s still has outstanding burgers, New Yorkstyle pizza and what I still believe are the best wings in town. The even better news is that now, there are many new menu items that rival those old reliables for quality and, of course, flavor. For starters, Peabody’s has added delicious and tender fried calamari, which is given a unique kick with the addition of banana peppers by Alex Sigeti, the new chef, and served with a tempting marinara dipping sauce. Another hot new starter is the crab and spinach dip, served with multi-colored, fresh tortilla chips. “We’re really focused on fresh ingredients, using fresh, local produce,” says Alex. That freshness shows in Peabody’s new blackened chicken salad. The romaine lettuce is crisper and the fresh, local corn salsa is perfect with the slightly spicy new balsamic vinaigrette dressing. Also new — and amazing — are the hand-cut fries served with most of Peabody’s menu items, although there is an appetizer version tossed in Kosher salt and parmesan cheese that I simply have to try. I recently took the New Tampa Neighborhood News staff to Peabody’s

The fresh, new menu at Peabody’s Billiards & Games in Tampa Palms includes the blackened chicken salad (above), West Coast turkey wrap sandwich (right) and grilled Signature Steak. (next page). for lunch to sample as many new items chicken sandwich, which is served with Monterey Jack cheese, chipotle mayo, as possible and we all came away pretty impressed. Graphic artist Porsha Lemos lettuce and tomato on a toasted ciabatta roll with a cup of those crisp, new said the new fresh caught local fish wrap, which was grouper the day we hand-cut fries. New sales rep Taylor Gardner visited, had an amazing mix of avocado, enjoyed the new Athena burger, which mango, lime and cilantro and the remoulade-like sauce is as “dynamite” is served with red pepper hummus, feta cheese, homemade pickles and red as billed on the menu. The fish wrap is onion on a ciabatta. served with a fresh side salad, too. And yours truly has already Office manager Nikki Bennett enjoyed Peabody’s yummy new roast loved the new West Coast turkey wrap, beef pressed panini sandwich, which is which also boasts zesty Boar’s Head made with Boar’s Head london broil, pastrami, avocado, red onion, crispy caramelized sweet onions, spicy muslocal Romaine lettuce, smoked bacon, tard and garlic aioli and provolone on sharp cheddar and homemade mayo. Assistant editor/photographer fresh herbed foccacia, as well as the Matt Wiley raved about the new Creole upgraded new “Signature Steak” on the

New starters at Peabody’s include the fried calamari (left) and crab & spinach dip (above).

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 21 • October 6, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

menu, which is a house-cut New York strip, marinated and grilled to perfection and served with char-grilled, local corn on the cob, caramelized onions and a roasted garlic aioli. Still hooked on Peabody’s pizza and wings? Us, too. But, to keep me from getting in trouble, sample the yummy, spicy new citrus chipotle wings and amazing new “Health Freak” pizza, which has olive oil, fresh garlic, farm fresh tomato slices, basil and mozzarella cheese. Both are must-try items, as are the homemade zeppole and brownie a la mode sundae for dessert. The fresh, new, smoke-free Peabody’s (1533 Amberly Dr.) is

open every day, 11 a.m.-3 a.m. For more information, including the upcoming entertainment schedule in the adjacent Palms Lounge, call 9721725 or visit PeabodysTampa.com. And, please tell ‘em we sent you!

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 21 • October 6, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Check Out The Brass Tap In The Wiregrass Mall For ‘Taptoberfest!’ By Gary Nager If it’s been a while since you visited The Brass Tap in the Shops at Wiregrass mall, or if you’re a beer lover who somehow has never checked it out, Wesley Chapel’s favorite “biergarten” invites you to a great weekend event. This weekend — Friday-Saturday, October 5-6, noon-2 a.m. — The Brass Tap at Wiregrass will be hosting its 4th annual “Taptoberfest,” and best of all, it’s free to attend! “This is the first time our Taptoberfest has ever had no cover, so we hope everyone will come and enjoy a great weekend of live music, with five live bands on the outdoor stage, festive beer, corn toss stations, contests and free prizes,” says The Brass Tap of Wiregrass’ Stephanie Coffie. “For those who love beer and have a competitive spirit, the 4th annual ‘Drink the Boot’ Competition will take place both days.” And, The Brass Tap has more than 400 glass boots (top photo) you can keep if you buy any of its German beers on tap either day of Taptoberfest.

And of course, The Brass Tap has great specials (and Happy Hour) every day, including Hospitality Night on Mondays, Karaoke on Tuesdays, live music every Thur.-Sat., and more. If you get hungry while hanging at The Brass Tap, the Wesley Chapel location allows you to order food from the great restaurants in the mall, all of which will deliver your food to your table at The Brass Tap. And, for a limited time, the beer bar (which also does serve a variety of fine wines) is offering great, Germanstyle soft pretzels. The pretzels go great with beer and you can come in and try two for just $4.95! In other words, whether you visit for Taptoberfest or any afternoon or evening, you can’t go wrong at The Brass Tap! Check ‘em out and please tell them the Wesley Chapel Neighbor-

hood News sent you! The Brass Tap of Wesley Chapel is located at 2000 Piazza Ave., Suite 110, in the Shops at Wiregrass mall. Call 991-4343. Or, for more information, including The Brass Tap’s other current and The Brass Tap features 40 craft beers on draught and future locations, 300 more in bottles you can sample. For Taptoberfest (October 5-6), you can get a cool glass boot (left) when visit BrassTapBeer you buy any German beer on tap. Bar.com.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 21 • October 6, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Win $100 In Free Dining In Our 2012 Reader Dining Survey & Contest! So, how would you like to win some FREE dining AND help local restaurateurs find out how many of you really enjoy their respective establishments? With super-couponing sites like Groupon and Living Social still growing in popularity, I’m hoping more of you will enter our annual Reader Dining Survey & Contest, where we reward you with FREE dining! This year, we will again offer a $100 gift certificate to the restaurant of your choice in the Tampa Bay area to one lucky winner, drawn at random from among all correctly submitted entries! We’ll also give away at least 10 other dining prizes valued at no less than $20 apiece and at least two of those will be worth at least $50 each! Submit your entry by U.S. Mail, fax, e-mail or you also can enter at NTNeighborhoodNews.com no later than Tuesday, November 20, 2012, to be eligible to win any of the prizes named above. — GN

My 5 Favorite Restaurants In New Tampa! 1. __________________________________________________________ 2. __________________________________________________________ 3. __________________________________________________________ 4. __________________________________________________________ 5. __________________________________________________________

My 5 Favorite Restaurants In Wesley Chapel! 1. __________________________________________________________ 2. __________________________________________________________ 3. __________________________________________________________ 4. __________________________________________________________ 5. __________________________________________________________ NOTES - “New Tampa” (NT) is anyplace in zip code 33647 (Bruce B. Downs Blvd., from Bearss Ave. to the Pasco County line & all of Cross Creek Blvd.) and “Wesley Chapel” (WC) is anyplace in zip codes 33543-45 (BBD from the Pasco County line north to S.R. 54, west to Lexington Oaks, east to New River Township, and all of S.R. 56). Votes for Wesley Chapel restaurants as one of “My Favorites in New Tampa” or New Tampa votes for restaurants in Wesley Chapel will NOT be counted! Votes for restaurants located outside of these boundaries (e.g., Benedetto’s, Amici Pizza) will not be counted. Votes for restaurants that are out of business (Selmon’s Circles, Wasabi, etc.) will not be counted. Please also note this year’s new category for this year’s Survey (below). — GN

My favorite NEW, NON-CHAIN restaurant in NT or WC that opened during the past 12 months_____________________________________________________________

My favorite Asian restaurant in NT or WC (Chinese, Japanese, Thai or Indian) __________________________________________ My favorite place for Latin/Mexican food in NT or WC _______________________ My favorite Pizza place in NT or WC ________________________________________ My favorite Sandwich or Sub shop in NT/WC________________________________ My favorite restaurant for Steak in NT or WC ________________________________ My favorite Bar or Tavern in NT/WC _______________________________________ My favorite Dessert/Ice Cream/Yogurt place in NT/WC ______________________

Your Name_________________________________________________ Mailing Address___________________________________________ Community (West Meadows, Tampa Palms,, etc.) ____________________ Zip Code______________ Daytime Phone Number _______ Valid Email Address _________________________________ Please include all information requested above on your entry form to be eligible, whether you enter by mail, e-mail or on our website (NTNeighborhoodNews.com). You must submit your entry form by U.S. mail, fax, email or on our website no later than Tuesday, November 20, 2012, to be eligible to win prizes!

New Tampa Neighborhood News 2012 Dining Contest 15345 Amberly Dr., Tampa, FL 33647 Fax: (813) 910-2483 E-Mail: EditorialDept@NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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NEW TAMPA & WESLEY CHAPEL H E L P

W A N T E D

PHYSICAL THERAPIST – An established New Tampa outpatient clinic is hiring a part-time PT to provide customized, one-on-one care. Fax resume to (813) 994-3080 HELP WANTED - Medical Billing Personnel, part-time, flexible hours, Local PT Clinic. Fax resume to 813-994-3080. HELP WANTED - Chiropractic office looking for outgoing, organized front desk receptionist to handle the day to day functions: open/close office, answer phones, greet patients, schedule appointments and follow office procedures. Computer literacy required. Must be able to multi-task, be responsible and pay attention to details. Some evenings / no weekends approx 36 hr week. Please fax resume to 813-991-5493 HELP WANTED - Part Time Medical Asst. for doctor's office. Experience preferred. Good salary & benefits. Fax resume to 632-7114 or call 6327111. VALETS WANTED! - For 20+ hours per week. Must have good people skills, be punctual, and have a clean appearance. Good driving record required. References encouraged. Please call: 813.312.0040. COUNTER PERSON WANTED! - Must have floral design experience. Please call 813.979.9453 for more information

EDUCATION / BABYSITTING PROFESSIONAL TENNIS LESSONS Recently relocated USPTA/PTR teaching professional available for private/group/team tennis lessons. Former Head Tennis Professional at the #2 and #3 Tennis Resorts in the U.S. Past coach of former #1 singles player at the University of Florida. Call Steve Brady at 843-422-3993 or email sbrady@hargray.com EXPERIENCED TUTOR AVAILABLE! Degrees: Elementary Education K-6, Reading Education K-12, Specialization - Intensive or Enrichment in reading K-12, FCAT Prep (Reading and Writing), ACT and SAT Prep. *References Available * Experience in Elementary and High School. Carrie Crockett -TutorCrockett@gmail.com or 813-679-5262

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IMPROVEMENT

DRY WALL SPECIALIST - Not a handyman. Affordable Quality Work repairing water damage, ceilings and walls, retexturing, popcorn removal, room additions, cracks, holes, plaster and stucco repair. 26 Years Experience. Wesley Chapel resident. State Certified. Call Ron for free estimate (813) 784-5999 NEED HOME MAINTENANCE – Almost any job, large or small, ext/int, fencing , screening, sm. concrete, sprinklers, painting, repairs, int. doors, locks, sheet rock, windows, paint, caulk, grout, trim, shelving, garages organized. Installations, removals, pressure washing, wood restoration & more. Call Dale’s Home Maintenance @ 973-0194 or 727-2582. GREG’S PAPERHANGING – For all of your wallpapering needs. Licensed & insured, clean, quick & reasonable. Call 973-2767 for free estimate. RAYMOND PAINTING – Interior & Exterior pressure washing, paper hanging, plaster, stucco, tiles, clean & seal pavers, roofing leaks, etc. Licensed & Bonded. References available. Free Estimates. Your Neighborhoond Arbor Greene Resident. We work 7 days. Call 994-5124. DAVID BRIDGES PRESSURE CLEANING Complete exterior cleaning of your home or business with a professional and personal touch. - Pool decks and screen enclosures - All fencing/ driveways and walkways/roofs - Gutter and downspouts. Find your happiness in a fresh, bright clean home. Your neighbors will love you for it! All work guaranteed. Licensed and insured. 813-215-1177

CLEANING SERVICES D-ULTRA CLEANING SERVICE - We have our own supplies & more than 200 clients in New Tampa! For more information, Call 758-9710.

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

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

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TRANQUILITY POOL SERVICE - New Tampa owned & operated. Great Pricing with outstanding customer service! LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED. See why we are New Tampa’s #1 Choice!! New customer’s ONE MONTH FREE! Call Chris Today @ (813) 857-5400 or visitTranquilityPoolService.com KJ POOL SERVICE – Enjoy Your Pool, While We Maintain It. Servicing pools for over 6 years. First Month Free, Plus Free Evaluation & Quote. Owner & Operator. LICENSE, BONDED & INSURED. Office:(813)909-9466 Cell:(813) 748-9817 kjpoolservice@yahoo.com. Visit our website @ kjpoolonline.com AQUATEC POOL SERVICE - keeping pools clear & swim safe since 1994. WE DO POOLS RIGHT! Commercial & Residential. CPO #33-303052 Licensed & Insured. Service guarantee. Call 813-312-5694 TODAY and get 1 MONTH OF QUALITY SERVICE FOR FREE. www.aquatecpool.com

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M.Y. CLEANING SERVICE - Offering Residential cleaning. We offer complete bath & kitchen cleaning, as well as dusting and polishing furniture. We provide our own supplies. Free estimates! Your satisfaction is our priority! With 5 years of experience, we guarantee meticulous cleaning! Call Mila: (813) 516-3554. QUALITY CLEANING & SERVICES residential & commercial with14 years of experience. We provide our own supplies and always the same crew. Free estimates! 813-381-1430 or 418-1217.

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

PROFESSIONAL TECH SUPPORT – in your home or small business. A+ certified computer tech with 15 years of exp. Maintenance & repairs, upgrades & tutoring. More affordable than the large chains! Friendly, personalized svc. Technical jargon explained in plain English. References available upon request. Call 957-8342 for free estimate. DO YOU HATE YOUR COMPUTER?!? WE CAN HELP YOU! Troubleshooting, installation, networking & virus removal. WE COME TO YOU! Servicing residential and businesses, with over 25 years experience. Contact Jeffrey Blank at 813.973.4507 today! www.WSICA.COM; Wsica@wsica.com

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FIND YOUR DREAM HOME FROM YOUR CELL PHONE! - Wish you could see home details while you are driving around looking at homes? NOW YOU CAN! With Team Bohannon's Mobile MLS Search application, you can search for any home in the area on your cell phone. Check out price, beds/baths, details, maps, even photos – all from the convenience of your cell phone. SEARCH PROPERTIES WHENEVER AND WHEREVER YOU WANT! GET IT NOW - Text: MLS4YOU to: 87778 Compliments of Doug, Annette and Dale Bohannon Coldwell Banker 813-979-4963

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 21 • October 6, 2012 •

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 21 • October 6, 2012 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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REMINGTON

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ASHINGTON ESTATES

5 BR, 3 Bath, 3 Car Garage, 3290 s.f. Wooded conservation lot. Pristine property has an upgraded kitchen with 42â&#x20AC;? white raised panel cabinetry, built-in recipe desk with glass front uppers, paneled refridgerator and thick granite counters. Pavered lanai, pool with heated spa package. Offered for $389,900.

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MEADOW POINTE

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3 BR, Loft, 2 1/2 Bath, 2 Car Garage, 1808 s.f. Model perfect home on stunning lake front lot. Large kitchen with white cabinetry, soaring two story ceilings offering a light, bright, open feel. Expanded screened lanai offers stunning views of the tranquil pond. Offered for $165,000.

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ARBOR GREENE

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%5 2IĂ&#x20AC;FH %RQXV 5RRP %DWK &DU *DUDJH V I Exquisite upgraded kitchen boasts Omega staggered cabinetry, thick granite counters, Thermador range and Subzero. Pavered lanai, pool/spa package and large rear yard. Offered for $429,900.

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MAYFAIR

4 BR, 3 Bath, Sun room, 2 Car Garage, 1887 s.f. Upgraded kitchen with 42â&#x20AC;? cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, volume ceiling, large private fenced rear yard on quiet cul-de-sac in maintenanc free village. Offered for $219,000.

EMERALD CHASE

CED

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WESTOVER

4 BR +Den, 3 Bath, 3 Car Garage, 2611 s.f. Custom Island built home with massive fenced yard overlooking tranquil pond. Large kitchen with stainless appliances, white cabinetry, custom builtin in formal dining room. Large pavered lanai with custom pool package. Offered for $300,000.

%HG 2IĂ&#x20AC;FH %RQXV 5P %DWK &DU *DUDJH V I *RXUmet kitchen with 42â&#x20AC;? white raised panel cabinetry, granite counters, built in recipe desk w/ glass front uppers. Exquisite scenic conservation lot w/ water view. Newly pavered lanai with pool / heated spa package. Offered for $450,000.

TAMPA PALMS

LANCASTER

4 BR, 3 Bath, 2 Car Garage, 2785 s.f. Kitchen with 42â&#x20AC;? white framed cabinetry with black appliance package, sleek black marble counter tops. Upgraded lighting, soaring ceilings, 3-way split plan. Private, fenced lot, mature landscaping. Heated pool/spa package. Offered for $325,000.

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CORY LAKE

4BR, 2 1/2 Bath, 2 Car Garage, 2214 s.f. Newly remodeled kitchen ZLWK *UDQLWH FRXQWHUV 0DUEOH VXUURXQG Ă&#x20AC;UHSODFH PDVWHU VXLWH GRZQstairs. Large pie shaped, conservation lot on cul-de-sac with pool. Offered for $239,000

5 BR, 5 Full Baths, 4438 s.f., 3 Car Garage. Gated village. Upgrades WKURXJKRXW +DUGZRRG Ă RRUV 3ODQWDWLRQ VKXWWHUV 2YHUVL]HG NLWFKHQ with 42â&#x20AC;? Maple cabinetry & S/SAppl. Lanai w/outdoor kitchen, Pool/ spa. Offered for $750,000

%5 %DWK &DU *DUDJH V I 0DJQLĂ&#x20AC;FHQW KRPH RQ VNL VL]H lake w/ private dock. Upgraded kitchen w/42â&#x20AC;? Maple cabinetry, thick JUDQLWH FRXQWHUV XSJUDGHG DSSOLDQFH SDFNDJH 5LFK KDUGZRRG Ă RRUV designer paint, professional window treatments, deep crown moldings & plantation shutters. Pavered lanai, heated pool & outdoor kitchen. Offered for $525,000

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