New Tampa Neighborhood News, Volume 25, Issue 21, Oct. 6, 2017 by Neighborhood News

Volume 25 Issue 21 October 6, 2017

Inside:

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Pebble Creek, Cross Creek & Live Oak Could Lose City Fire Services By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com Since it opened in 2002, Tampa Fire Rescue Station No. 21 on Cross Creek Blvd. has not only serviced City of Tampa residents in New Tampa, but has also been contracted to respond to the homes in the New Tampa communities located in unincorporated Hillsborough County. That city-county agreement, however, is in peril. While it may not be time to call 9-1-1 on the negotiations just yet, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn says that unless the county bridges the gap between what it has been paying and what the city thinks the county should be paying, Fire Station 21 — located on Cross Creek Blvd. just west of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. — will no longer respond to calls from residents in Pebble Creek, Live Oak, Cross Creek and the other communities located in unincorporated Hillsborough County. “Effective Dec. 31, if some accomodation is not reached, the city is not going to be providing service to Pebble Creek anymore,’’ Buckhorn told the Neighborhood News on Sept. 29. The county is paying the city $218,000 a year, plus any adjustments related to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), to service unincorporated New Tampa, Buckhorn says that total should be closer to $1.46 million. “We have told the county, ‘Look, we are not doing this anymore’,” Buckhorn says. “You can pay us what we think we are owed and deserve, or you can go provide the service yourself or contract with Pasco County. We don’t care

Also Inside This Issue: News, Business & Sports Updates Kinnan-Mansfield Gets Boost Of Cash; New Tampa Rec Center Survives Budget Debate; Buckhorn Says New Tampa Should Be Pleased With 2018 Budget; Hurricane Relief Comes In Many Forms; Local Couple Helps With Mentoring; Girl Scout Collects Books To Help Kids; Freedom Football Finally Beats Wharton In Football; Plus, Multiple Local Business Features!

Pages 3-38

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Ciccio Cali Proves That The Impossible Burger IS Possible; Our New & Improved Reader Survey & Contest!; Cappy’s Pizza Keeps Doing What It Does Best; Plus, More Neighborhood Nibbles & Business Bytes!

Pages 39-52

(which one). We’re happy to be here for you, but we’re going to do it at a rate that compensates us appropriately.” Without a contract with the city, Hillsborough has limited options. One, according to Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Chief Dennis Jones, would be to stand up some kind of a response unit in the area. Another would be to contract with Pasco County, whose nearest fire rescue station is No. 26 in front of the Meadow Pointe I community in Wes- The City of Tampa and Hillsborough County are in a dispute over usage of Tampa Fire Rescue Station No. 21 on Cross Creek Blvd. (Photo: John C. Cotey) ley Chapel, about six miles away from the chief financial administrator Bonnie Wise. easternmost part uniAccording to the letter, Tampa has calcucorporated New Tampa. The nearest Hillsborough County fire res- lated the annual operating costs of Fire Station cue station is No. 5 on E. 139th Ave. in the 21 at $3,652,432, and 40 percent of that number is $1,406,973. University area. “In these tight budget times, we’re lookThe best option, according to Chief Jones, is reaching some agreement with the city. How- ing at every agreement we have and making sure ever, it is requesting that the county to pay 40 we are being fairly and adequately compensatpercent of the annual costs to operate Station ed,” Buckhorn says, “and this is one that is so 21, City of Tampa chief financial officer Sonya glaring and so out of line, we just said enough.” Jones said the county found the $1.4 milLittle wrote in a letter to Hillsborough County

lion figure “shocking.” According to numbers he says are from the city, less than two calls a day to unincorporated New Tampa are handled by Fire Station 21, or approximately 40 minutes a day (or 2.78 percent) of service. “We thought that was a little bit of a jump without some rationale behind it,’’ Jones said. “We measured calls and amount of time, and it’s a very small number for us to pay that amount of money.” Buckhorn doesn’t agree, however. “The frequency of the runs have increased significantly,” Buckhorn said. “We calculated down to the man hour, down to the cost of the vehicle, to be 40 percent of our time up there out of Station 21.” Jones says the City of Tampa is seeking money for everything from the cost of the building to vehicle depreciation to uniforms. “Basically all the costs to run the fire station,’’ he said. The county, however, is arguing that many of the costs the city wants to reimbursed for have nothing to do with the contracted services provided. Jones said the county is more than willing to make up for any CPIs that may have been missed in the past, and to pay its share of the operating costs of the fire vehicles used, as well as the materials and supplies associated with the calls to unincorporated New Tampa. But the city, Jones says, built the fire station for the residents of New Tampa, not to accommodate any contract with the county. It owns the station, and the land it’s on, and Jones doesn’t think costs associated with that should be passed on to the county.

See “Fire Station 21” on page 15.

Wesley Chapel Jazz Festival Returns To District Park October 21! By GARY NAGER

Although it always features a little more than “just” great jazz, it’s hard not to have a soft spot for the Wesley Chapel Jazz Festival, which returns to the Wesley Chapel District Park on Boyette Rd. (two miles north of S.R. 54) on Saturday, October 21, noon-8 p.m. Event organizer and promoter Tim Hancock of Jazz Tyme Productions has previously survived events where the heat index seemed to reach 120º and one cancelled by torrential rain as the headliner hit the stage. But, through it all, Hancock has brought great music, some excellent food and other vendors together for all-day shows that are appropriate for families but still allows adults to enjoy adult music and to a location only 15 minutes or so north of the Hillsborough/ Pasco county line. Hancock, who always seems to be flying by the seat of his pants but who has consistently delivered great events, did not send us the list of this year’s performers prior to our having to go to press with this issue.

Even so, bring your lawn chairs and/or blankets and grab the kids for some fun activities just for them. This year’s Jazz Festival sponsors include the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce, Rubenstein Law, DeSigns Signs & Printing, Serenity Village Insurance & Consulting, Kaptain Krab Seafood, Jazz Tyme Productions and the New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News. Food vendors already announced for this year Jazz Tyme Productions is proud to announce that the Wesley Chapel include JB’s Sweet Ad- Jazz Festival will return to the Wesley Chapel District Park on Boyette dictions, Anthony & Son Rd. on Saturday, October 21, noon-8 p.m. (File photo from 2016) Catering, Momma’s Empanadas, The Tea Jug, T-Momma Catering & Kaptain Krab Seafood. For more info about the latest Wesley Chapel Jazz Festival, visit JazzTymeProductions.com.

Another New Tampa Resident Taken Too Soon — Joel Miller (1988-2017)

An editorial by Gary Nager In February of 2015, I finally got to do the exclusive interview that former Wharton High football star Joel Miller had promised from Day One he would give me — where he finally got to tell me and our readers his side of the story of the locker room incident between him and former University of South Florida (USF) head football coach Jim Leavitt that ultimately cost Leavitt his job when Joel was a walk-on onto the USF team. Unfortunately, that incident became the defining moment of his too-short life and that interview was the last real conversation I ever had with Joel, who passed away unexpectedly on September 10 at the too-young age of 29. Joel was a month or so older than my older son Jared, who first got to know his friend when both played youth football for the New Tampa Wildcats. Jared and I spoke shortly after we heard the news that Joel had passed and both of us were heartbroken for his entire family — his mother Kathy, his father Paul and his siblings. “Joel and I became a lot closer after high school,” Jared said. “I can’t believe he’s gone.” Of course, Joel would become one of the top running backs in Hillsborough County when he played for Wharton, where he ran for more than 2,600 yards his final two high school seasons and won Hillsborough County’s 2006 Golden Helmet Award for Class 5A-6A players. He and Jared remained friends following the Leavitt incident, when all this smart, tough, talented young man wanted to do was to finally be able to tell his side of the story. We published my interview with Joel in our February 28, 2015, issue, and it was easy to tell that he still hadn’t reconciled how or why the

New Tampa Neighborhood News Address: 29157 Chapel Park Dr., Suite B Wesley Chapel, FL 33543 Phone: (813) 910-2575 Advertising E-mail: Ads@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Editorial E-mail: EditorialDept@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Publisher & Editor Gary Nager Marketing/Advertising Representative Tom Damico Advertising Sales & Office Assistant Jannah McDonald Assistant Editor / Photographer John C. Cotey Staff Writer Celeste McLaughlin Correspondents Brad Stager • Andy Warrener WCNT-tv Video Producers/Editors Gavin Olsen • Giuliano Ferrara Graphic Designers Blake Beatty • Georgia Carmichael 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 25, Issue 23, of New Tampa Neighborhood News is Monday, October 23, 2017. 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.

incident happened or how he ended up being blamed for what happened to Leavitt afterward. “I wasn’t the whistleblower who called the media after the incident,” Joel told me. “I never wanted anyone to find out what happened. I just wanted to play football.” I was sad that neither Jared nor I were able to attend Joel’s Celebration of Life at St Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church on Cross Creek Blvd. on Sept. 23, but I tried to picture myself in his parents’ shoes and my heart bleeds for Kathy, the long-time local school teacher who I know loved Joel the way I love both of my boys. Like many other people, I found out about Joel’s passing on Facebook, where I saw this post from Kathy: “My baby Joel passed away today. I am numb and heartbroken. As you all know, we were very close... I don’t even know what to say or what to do...I know he knows I love him and hope he is at peace... My Joely.” And then, after his memorial service on the 23rd, Kathy posted: “Our family would like to thank everyone for donating money towards Joel’s Memorial Service. It was beautiful. Thank you to all who attended the Celebration of Life. We truly appreciate it very much. It was great seeing everyone and hearing the stories that included Joel. We also appreciate all the cards, texts, phone calls, visits and food. This has been a very difficult time for all of us. It still doesn’t seem real. We want each and every one of you to know how much your support has meant to us. Love, the Miller Family.” A few days later, on Jared’s own 29th birthday, he posted: “I dedicate this birthday to Joel Miller. I will forever miss you man! Wish that you were here. Love you, bud. My prayers are with your family!” And, one of Joel’s former coaches at Wharton (and for the New Tampa Wildcats) Craig Rainey, who also was our neighbor when I first moved my family to Florida, posted this: “Joel, I really don’t even know where to start and can’t believe it. I will never forget you coming in as a freshman introducing yourself, telling me you were our starting running back. From that day forward I knew you were going to be fun to coach and you were. So glad that we developed a friendship and always kept in touch. I have many memories that I will never forget. You were a great kid and touched so many around you. I love you and am going to miss you kid. RIP. Godspeed. Heaven has gained another angel. My thoughts and prayers are with the entire Miller Family.” Rest in Peace, Joel. You are missed.

(Left): Kathy & Joel Miller; (Right): Joel with Craig Rainey

Table of Contents

Local News Updates.....................3-15

County Antes Up Money For Kinnan-Mansfield......4 New Tampa Rec Center Funds Stay In 2018 Budget...6 Buckhorn: City’s Budget Is Good For New Tampa...7 USF Credit Union Ready To Open.........................8 SBA Can Help Hurricane-Damaged Businesses......11 Heritage Isles Couple Teaches Mentoring Class......14 New Tampa Community Calendar..............................16

Local Business Updates..............20-30

Wesley Chapel Dermatology Has Saturday Hours....20 Richeson Wellness Added To Cypress Creek Chiro...22 Creative Permanent Makeup By Pam.......................24 Heartwood Preserve For A Natural Burial...............26 Tina Insurance Covers Home, Auto & Business........28

Local School & Sports Updates...32-35

Girl Scout Project Nets 1,500 Books & Counting......32 Freedom Beats Wharton In Football, Finally............34 Nation’s Cup Hockey Tourney Coming To FHCI.....35

Neighborhood Magazine

Ciccio’s Impossible Burger Surprises Our Panel...39, 50 Win Free Dining In Our 2017 Reader Survey!...........40 Cappy’s Pizzeria Keeps On Keepin’ On..................42 ‘Neighborhood Nibbles & Business Bytes’.........46 New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Classifieds...........48 @NTWCNews

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Hillsborough Puts Up $250,000 To Build Kinnan-Mansfield Connection By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com There are many things keeping the 60foot patch of dirt and grass separating Kinnan St. and Mansfield Blvd. concrete-free, but Hillsborough County District 5 Commissioner Ken Hagan wants to make sure money is no longer one of them. Comm. Hagan proposed adding $250,000 to the county budget on Sept. 14 to be used for a potential Kinnan-Mansfield connection, which the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners approved, potentially removing one of the roadblocks to resolving the long-standing dispute between Pasco, Hillsborough and the City of Tampa. Hagan says he has been told there have been recent meetings between Hillsborough and Pasco County’s MPO, and a traffic study Pasco commissioned to evaluate a number of connections between the two counties is expected to be finalized in November. “At this point, we are waiting for their traffic analysis to come back,’’ Hagan said. “Then, we will reach out to Pasco County administrators and see if we can finally break this stalemate.” Kinnan St., which runs north from Cross Creek Blvd. to the Hillsborough/Pasco county line, is located mostly in the county, although it does turn slightly west and into the City of Tampa boundaries as it nears Mansfield — where the barricades currently stand. Both Tampa and Hillsborough County have worked on the issue over the years, but recently the city has declined all requests from Pasco involving putting up any money related to traffic studies or potential construction of the connection. “I know the City of Tampa staff is unwilling to invest anything to make it work,” Hagan says. “I didn’t want the cost to hold us back, so we put the $250,000 in the budget to make the connection. I didn’t want money to be a deterrent or in any way delay making the connection.” The money, Hagan said, it to be used for the actual construction of the connection. The Kinnan-Mansfield link is seen as an important connection to help alleviate traffic on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. for drivers from both counties, particularly those driving between the residential communities in both New Tampa and Wesley Chapel. It would also serve as an economic stimulant, Hagan says, as well as assist in public safety efforts in an area where hundreds of new homes are approved to be built in K-Bar Ranch, which is entirely within the city limits.

“I know firsthand, from living in Cross Creek, the frustration of being essentially landlocked,” says the former resident of the Creekwood subdivision of Cross Creek, just two miles from the unconnected roads. Hagan, the longest-serving current commissioner in Hillsborough County, now in his 15th year, is no stranger to the dispute between Pasco and Hillsborough over the two roads. As the commissioner in District 2 (which includes Cross Creek, Pebble Creek, Live Oak and many of the communities located in the city in New Tampa) from 2002-10, Hagan has been involved in dozens of discussions about connecting the two roads. “We were told that once Wiregrass was fully connected to the north, Pasco would authorize the connection,’’ Hagan says. He said he grew so frustrated during negotiations that, at one point, he threatened to put a toll booth on Bruce B. Downs at the county line. “I got a lot of very, very favorable response from New Tampa, and a very very hateful response from Pasco County,” Hagan says. Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera, who represents New Tampa as part of the city’s District 7, has been a vocal cheerleader for the connection. Viera has called Hagan’s move a “game-changer.” “I’m glad the county took this step,’’ Viera says. “Pasco has its position, we have had ours, but now, this could potentially change things with the involvement of the money. It’s a very positive step.” Regardless, residents on the Mansfield side of the debate, as well as their local county commissioner, have remained cool to the idea because of fears that the two-lane road cannot handle additional traffic and that the location of elementary, middle and high schools, as well as Pasco Hernando State College (PHSC)’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, all along Mansfield is a safety hazard. “The study will probably come back late fall or into winter,’’ Pasco County District 2 commissioner Mike Moore said. “There’s not much more I can add.” Comm. Moore said the money appropriated for Kinnan-Mansfield wouldn’t have any effect on the decision by his county. He says many of his constituents in Meadow Pointe, particularly Meadow Pointe II & III, do not want Mansfield and Kinnan hooked up, even though it’s been in Pasco’s long-range transportation plan since Meadow Pointe was first developed in the early 1990s. Based on feedback his office has received, Moore puts the percentage of those opposed at 70-80 percent.

At a public meeting hosted by Pasco County planners at PHSC in April, three potential connections were discussed — Kinnan-Mansfield, extending the existing Meadow Pointe Blvd. to the proposed K-Bar Ranch Blvd. and extending Wyndfields Blvd. to both K-Bar Ranch Blvd. and to Morris Bridge Rd. While Dennis Smith, the chairman of the Meadow Pointe I CDD, said he wanted to see the connection made, others did not. The proposed extension of Meadow Point Blvd., two miles further east, had wider support, This photo taken by a drone shows the 60-foot gap between Kinnan St. (on Moore said. “Right now, the bottom) and Mansfield Blvd. Hillsborough and Pasco counties are stalein my mind, Mead- mated on the issue but continue to discuss connecting the two roads. connector roads Pasco County may request inow Pointe Blvd. would be an excellent location,’’ Moore said. stead. Multiple connections could be an option. “We always talk about regional connectiv“There is little to no objection to it.” However, Hagan made it clear the ity,” Hagan says, “and we have (other) connec$250,000 the county has allocated is only for tions between the two counties. It’s just absurd the Kinnan-Mansfield connection, not any other this road hasn’t been connected all these years.”

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New Tampa Rec Center, Fire Station Survive Budget Battle By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com Despite a Tampa City Council meeting that started on a Thursday evening and ended on a Friday morning — and, at one point, had nearly every Council member throwing up their arms and/or staring off into space in frustration over a property tax stalemate, the final vote at 12:06 a.m. on Sept. 29 preserved the Fiscal 2018 City Budget what most of the people in New Tampa who attended the public hearing were hoping it would: 1) Money for the expansion of the New Tampa Recreation Center (NTRC) in Tampa Palms, 2) Funding for a new fire station on County Line Rd. near Grand Hampton and 3 Money to plan and design an autism Sensory Park in New Tampa. “Last night was pretty good,’’ said District 7 (which includes all of New Tampa within the city limits) City Councilman Luis Viera. The seven City Council members voted 4-3 to raise the city’s millage rate from $5.73 to $6.21 per $1,000 of assessed, taxable property value, the first time in 29 years that city property taxes have been raised. Mayor Bob Buckhorn requested in his $972.4 million budget for Fiscal Year 2018 (which begins Oct. 1) an increase to $6.63 percent. The increase settled on by the Council means an increase of roughly $100 per year for a home in New Tampa, where the median price is about $260,000. Buckhorn’s original request to raise the millage by 0.9 percent (and produce $15 million in revenue) was voted down to 0.6 percent at the first budget hearing (by a 4-3 vote) on

Sept. 18. But, when the vote came up again at the second meeting on Sept. 28, the Council members voted against the 0.6 by a 4-3 vote, with Council Chair Yolie Capin (at-large District 3) changing her vote. That set off hours of negotiations between the council members to find an acceptable millage increase. The arguments included angry volleys lobbed at Buckhorn about future deficits of more than $50 million that many of the council members said they were A large contingent of New Tampa residents showed up in unaware of until recently. Almost red shirts at both budget workshops to speak to the council about every number between 0.3 and the importance of the New Tampa Recreation Center. 0.6 was debated and defeated— et was a winner locally, especially with potential including a motion by Dist. 1 (also at-large) Mike Suarez not to raise the millage lean times ahead due to a $50-million deficit rate at all, which would have resulted in massive the city is expected to be dealing with. “We got 100 percent of what we wanted,’’ budget cuts — until an increase of 0.475 passed with votes from Viera, Dist. 5’s Frank Reddick, Viera said. “The cut to parks and rec is a small Dist. 2 (at-large) Charlie Miranda and Dist, 4’s compromise we had to make. There’s no way we could get the rec center passed next year,; Harry Cohen. “When Mike Suarez proposed scrapping it probably would be a 5-6-year wait. This was everything and it lost by only one vote (4-3), the magic year.” The now-$970 million budget includes I thought I better compromise fast,’’ Viera said, leading to the 0.475 percent increase $1.9 million for expanding the NTRC, which is that pulled Cohen, who had been denied three one of only two facilities in the city that is home times after putting through a motion to make to the city’s highly touted dance, acrobatics and sports readiness program and has a waiting list the increase .45 percent, to their side. Because the millage rate increase is less of roughly 3,000, according to Tampa Palms than Buckhorn wanted, and therefore will bring resident Tracy Falkowitz. Falkowitz also has said that the current in less revenue than expected, parks and recreation will still endure almost a $600,000 cut in building itself will not be expanded. Instead, a operational costs. But, unlike past budgets that second building will be built on the property to had money included for the NTRC only to see accommodate more children. An additional $1.4 million of 2018 Comit pulled at the last minute, Viera said this budg-

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munity Investment Taxes are budgeted to complete the construction of Fire Station No. 23, which will be located in the Grand Hampton/ Grand Colony area off County Line Rd. The station will house 39 firefighters, an engine company, a truck company and a rescue unit. No. 23 also will be home to a new District Fire Chief, who will coordinate responses between all four of New Tampa’s fire stations. And, $90,000 is in the budget for study and design of a “sensory-friendly” park on the land behind BJs Wholesale Club, which will be developed in conjunction with the University of South Florida. Falkowitz, the attorney who spearheaded the push to protect the money earmarked for New Tampa in the budget, sat through the entirety of both budget hearings. She said she wasn’t surprised the debate lasted into the early hours, based on her many discussions with multiple council members. She said she was only worried twice that the panel might decide on a low enough millage rate that budget cuts would be required. In fact, she said that Miranda approached her during one break and told her “I don’t think you’ve got it”. And, when the .45 rate – which would have required cuts that could endanger the NTRC -- came up for a vote. “This never could have happened without all the community support,’’ Falkowitz said. “Without the New Tampa Council, the neighborhood associations, the rec center moms and dads and kids. That sea of red in front of the council and those that spoke up at those meetings was tremendous. Before this year, New Tampa was never heard and New Tampa was never really addressed. This time, we came together as a community and they heard us.”

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Buckhorn: New Tampa Should Be Happy With City’s 2018 Budget By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com City of Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn spoke with the Neighborhood News recently about a number of issues related to New Tampa, especially the $970-plus million city budget for 2018 (see story on previous page). While some city residents have expressed concern over the proposed property tax increase from $5.73 per $1,000 of assessed property value to $6.21, many local leaders appear pleased with the budget overall. NN: The wait for the expansion of the NTRC has been a frustrating one for many New Tampa residents. It seemed to make it into your budget proposals, but never survived the final cut. How important was it to make sure it survived this time? BB: I absolutely understand it is a very popular center. The problem that we’ve had is trying to balance the budget in the midst of the worst recession since the Great Depression, and we are not even back to 2007 property tax revenue numbers yet. In the 10 years since the 2007 recession really hit us, we have lost over $280 million in revenues as a result of the plummeting property values, as a result of reduction in the communications service tax revenues and the fact that interest rates are so much lower now. That loss of $280 million is a body blow to us. We are 700 employees less than we were in 2007, yet we have still managed to do the same job that we have always done and do it better than we’ve ever done it, with far less revenue (coming in). That tells you why some of the projects that would sort of be considered add ons have fallen off. It’s not because we wanted to, it’s because we had no choice. NN: The local frustration stems from the fact that proposed funding in the past ended up diverted to other projects, like last year with the Cuscaden Pool in Ybor City. Is the perception that you care more about taking care of South Tampa a fair one? BB: I get it. I understand. I don’t know that we choose one part of the city over another deliberately. There were some needs in other parts of the city that were more critical, but we’re doing far more with far less than we ever have. Hopefully, with this year’s budget, we’ll be able to do some of the things that people care about that five years ago couldn’t be determined to be critical.

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NN: There has been an emphasis on parks in recent years, to the extent I believe one of the City Council members said the budget put parks over people, or something to that effect. How important do you feel the park projects have been citywide? BB: I think they Mayor Bob Buckhorn are hugely important. I think one of the reasons Tampa is in the midst of a transformation is because we are building out the urban core and building an amazing city that is attracting some of the best and brightest talent in the world. If we’re going to compete for that talent, it won’t because we are building great suburbs. It will be because we built a great city and a great downtown. There is an economic reason that much of the attention over the last 5-6-7 years focused on building the urban core, including things like the Riverwalk and Julian B. Lane Park, because if we’re going to compete for that bright young talent, those millennials out there that can live anywhere in the world, you’ve got to have an urban environment that makes sense. If you attract the talent, then you attract the companies and you attract the jobs...when you add parks and open spaces and are taking advantage of that waterfront, then building an 18-hour-a-day city that people can work, live and play in is critical to that.

where. How did that come about? BB: If you recall in my State of the City address, we launched an autismfriendly city project to make Tampa a city that is recognized for being autism friendly. (Note: In April, Buckhorn announced the “Autism Friendly Tampa” project, in which the city will work with the Center Tampa Fire Rescue Chief Thomas Forward speaks to the Tampa City for Autism & Related Council on Sept. 28 on behalf of New Tampa’s Fire Station No. 23, which Disabilities at the is now in the city’s Fiscal 2018 budget to be built on County Line Rd. University of South Florida to provide connect that some people feel from downtown Tampa in New Tampa. I’m perfectly cognizant more services to residents with autism.) I don’t think people realize the number of that. We work hard to try and eliminate that of people in our community that are touched but I recognize that it’s there. by autism and have family members or friends NN: So, this is a budget New Tampa that are somewhere on the spectrum. The idea of a park that would be specifishould be happy with? BB: I think (District 7) City Council- cally geared towards those kids emerged out man Luis Viera has done a great job making of those discussions. We had an obligation sure the needs of New Tampa are reflected to finish building a park in the New Tampa in this budget. There’s probably more in this area as a result of a developer agreement goyear’s budget, if it passes at the higher mil- ing back probably 15-20 years. We saw that lage rate, than there has been in the last 3-4 location (behind the BJ’s Wholesale Club on years.... A lot of things I think the folks in Commerce Palms Dr. in Tampa Palms) as the perfect place to try and do it. It will be the New Tampa will be very very happy with. first that we have done in the city. Hopefully, NN: The $90,000 to study and design in next year’s budget, we can get the money a Sensory Park seemed to come out of no- for construction.

NN: Is that hard to explain to people who think projects in their area are being overlooked? BB: There is a method to the madness and it’s working. By every measure, this is a different city than it was six years ago, with the best chapters still to be written. Parks and green space are a big part of that. If you don’t have quality of life, all the brick and mortar projects don’t make a bit of difference. NN: For those paying taxes in New Tampa, though, is it not reasonable to expect more bang for their tax buck? BB: This is the (fourth) fire station that we’ve built in New Tampa. We’ve made a serious commitment to the health and safety of New Tampa for certainly the 6.5 years I’ve been the mayor. Is there more that people would like? Absolutely. I get it. I understand the dis-

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USF Credit Union Almost Ready By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com Deborah Clark took a behind-the-scenes tour of the new branch of the University of South Florida (USF) Federal Credit Union (FCU) last week, and it left her eager to share the new facility with the rest of New Tampa. “It’s beautiful,’’ says Clark, who is the chief marketing officer for the USF FCU. On Monday, October 30, the New Tampa branch, located at the northwest corner of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. and Imperial Oak Blvd., in the Trout Creek area in front of Winn-Dixie, will officially open for business. It won’t be fully functional until the end of the year, however. While the retail side of the branch will be ready to accommodate customers, Clark says that will be “just the beginning,” as other departments, like the contact center, collections and lending and real estate teams move in from their current location on the USF campus. “By the end of the year, everything will be there,’’ Clark said. “We’re moving a lot of different departments to that location.” While the USF FCU has six other branches off campus, the New Tampa location is the first standalone off-campus branch. The location, Clark says, was chosen in part to service an area that is rich in USF employees, students and alumni. She says roughly 5,200 alumni living within three miles of the new location. “We have a lot of faculty and staff that live in this area as well, and going back from here to the university might as well be like going to

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The New Tampa USF Federal Credit Union branch is expected to open on October 30. St. Petersburg, so this is going to be a nice hub for us,’’ USF FCU President and CEO Rick Skaggs said at last year’s groundbreaking. The two-story, 12,300-sq.-ft. credit union will feature an open-architecture feel, and will have a community meeting room that Clark says can host large events with up to 100 people. The larger credit union also will be able to expand its services. “We think our customers are absolutely going to love it,’’ she says. The USF FCU was chartered in 1959 for staff and faculty, and started serving students in 1990. It has more than $500 million in assets, more than 130 employees and lends in excess of $100 million per year. The New Tampa branch is located at 20610 BBD Blvd. For additional information, visit USFFCU.org or call (813) 569-2000.

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HG Kids Raise $400 For Hurricane Relief

A group of local Hunter’s Green kids decided to raise money for victims of Hurricane Irma by hosting a lemonade stand inside the Stonebridge community. Jacey Lucas, Ava Kapsa, Makenzie Haworth and Harper and Willa Soorus gave away banana nut muffins, lemonade and fruit punch in exchange for donations, which their parents agreed to match. According to Jeff Lucas, Jacey’s father, the group raised $401 and made their donations to One America Appeal, the disaster relief charity set up by the five former living U.S. presidents, and the Virgin Islands Relief Fund. “It was a good lesson and experience for the kids, because there are a lot of people who need lots of help,” Lucas said.

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Small Business Administration Provides Hurricane Assistance Loans By BRAD STAGER

New Tampa and Wesley Chapel residents whose homes, possessions or businesses suffered damage or loss as a result of Hurricane Irma may be surprised that the Small Business Administration (SBA) can help them get back in business or help them be made whole again. The SBA is providing assistance with lowinterest disaster loans for Florida residents and businesses in the 48 counties covered by U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s disaster declaration covering areas affected by Hurricane Irma. Hillsborough and Pasco are among the Florida counties eligible for federal assistance. Homeowners can apply for low-interest loans up to $200,000 to repair or replace damage to their primary residence and along with renters, can apply for up to $40,000 to cover personal property, including vehicles. SBA homeowner disaster loan rates are advertised as being as low as 1.75 percent with terms up to 30 years.

Help For Businesses, Too

When it comes to assisting businesses and private nonprofit organizations of any size, the SBA disaster loans address not only physical damage to assets such as real estate, infrastructure and inventory, but economic loss as well. Owners can apply for up to $2 million for physical loss and $2 million to cover working capital. Those loans, called Economic Injury Disaster Loans, are available even if no physical property damage has occurred. The SBA is advertising loan rates as low as 3.305 percent for businesses and as low as 2.5 percent for non-profit organizations.

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The SBA may not be the first place people might think of for homeowner or renter disaster assistance, so public affairs specialists like Mary Gipson and Laura Wages have been dispatched from the agency’s Disaster Assistance Field Operations Office in Atlanta to spread the word about the resource through local media, including a recent stop at the Neighborhood News office. Gipson says providing disaster assistance is part of the job. “In times of presidential or other federal agency-declared disaster, we make loans to businesses of all sizes, nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters,” she says. Applications for physical property damage loans need to be filed by Thursday, November 9, and the deadline to return economic injury applications is June 11, 2018. According to Gipson, if you think you have a claim, apply sooner, not later. “Do not delay when completing your SBA application,” she says. The SBA loaned $40,900 in Tampa in 2016, with no reported loans in Wesley Chapel, according to data on its website, sba.gov, where you can find more information and apply online. You can call (800) 659-2955 (or {800} 877-8339 (for deaf and hard of hearing applicants) or call Mary at (202) 579-3172. If you prefer to do business in person, there is an SBA Disaster Recovery Center serving Hillsborough and Pasco county residents 36 minutes south of County Line Rd. and Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., at Hillsborough Community College at the Regent (6437 Watson Rd. in Riverview). It is open daily from 8 a.m. -- 8 p.m., according to the SBA website. Applicants can get assistance filling out the form and have their application reviewed before submitting it.

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Local Couple Now Teaching Others How To Mentor At-Risk Kids By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN

celeste@ntneighborhoodnews.com Joe and Carol Gravante, residents of Heritage Isles in New Tampa, are empty nesters who say that God gave them a new purpose after their three boys grew up and left home. After raising their sons and hosting at least two dozen foreign exchange students, including 12 who stayed with them for a year and attended local schools, the Gravantes have turned their attention to mentoring at-risk kids in our community. “Carol and I had started working with a mentoring group in Tampa several years ago, and when we first started we had no idea what we were doing,” Joe explains. “The training that we received was more about how the foster care system works, the formalities, not how to actually deal with the kids themselves. There was nothing available (to teach us) how to communicate and how to handle certain situations you might be put in that are different from raising your own kids.” So, Joe says, he and Carol shared resources with other people they knew who also were mentoring. His sister-in-law in Missouri, for example, who helped him find school resources for a tenth grader who needed help to pass his classes. Joe also did online searches for answers to questions he had, and he tried different techniques with the teenagers he was mentoring. Now, Joe and Carol have taken their experiences and developed a curriculum to help people learn skills that will help them be good mentors. After teaching the class Joe developed last year, it is again being offered again this year

New Tampa residents Joe & Carol Gravante have turned their love of children and their own empty nest into an opportunity to teach a free mentoring class to help adults mentor at-risk kids. Everyone is invited to attend the classes at Bridgeway Church on Wells Rd. in Wesley Chapel. at Bridgeway Church, located at 30660 Wells Rd. in Wesley Chapel. The classes started on Sept. 25 and will continue to meet every other Monday. There is no cost to attend, and childcare is provided for people who sign up for the class and need it. Class topics include effective communication, anger management, time management, bullying, dealing with attitudes, when to say “yes” and “no” and much more. “Really, these classes are good for anyone who’s raising kids, or even in the workplace,” says Carol.

Other Options

Joe says they also are currently coming up with a schedule of opportunities for people who want to serve their community and help kids, but don’t have the time to commit to mentoring a child one hour every week. “We have two focuses,” explains Carol. “Some people want to get involved right away and do something purposeful.” For those people, the couple is organizing events where anyone can come out and interact with at-risk kids in a large group setting. Joe and Carol say they have a friend with a horse

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ranch where they have taken groups of kids, and volunteers help to lead the horses and play with the kids. “People find it’s quite fun!” Carol says. “Some people aren’t comfortable with the idea of working with at-risk kids. They worry they have too many limitations or the kids have too much baggage, but the events help people get more comfortable until they are ready for a one-on-one relationship with the students.” Their goal is to encourage more people to provide that time to help students who need it. After all, Joe says, every child he’s mentored has benefitted from the experience. “These kids just need time and attention,” he says. Joe knows that because he once benefitted from mentoring, too. “I had this (U.S. military) Colonel who changed my entire life,” he says. “I grew up in the city of Pittsburgh (PA). It was a steel mill town, and that’s all I knew. When I joined the military, this amazing man took the time and energy to make me see I could be so much more than what I was. He mentored me from 20 years old until 30-something. He was the one who really set me on the right path.” Joe says the cycle of being mentored, and now being in a position to pay his experiences forward and serve his community, continues with the kids he’s impacted. “I see the kids I’ve mentored already giving back in their communities,” he says. “It’s so good to see that you can make a difference that way, no matter how old you are.” For more information or to register for the mentoring class, contact Carol at (813) 753-8338.

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‘Fire Station 21’

Continued from page 1

Buckhorn said the agreement between the city and county (which dates back to 1998) has long been an issue downtown, when some of the county’s players involved in negotiations worked for the city. Wise was former mayor Pam Iorio’s chief financial officer for eight years before joining the county in 2011, and Jones was the Tampa Fire Chief before retiring in 2010. He was lured out of retirement in 2015 by the county. “The two of them well aware of the longstanding inadeuqacies of it,” Buckhorn said. Buckhorn said Jones complained about the agreement before retiring, but Jones says he doesn’t recall ever having that conversation with Buckhorn when he was mayor, or before

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that when Buckhorn was a city council member. Both sides will continue to negotiate. The interlocal agreement they renewed in 2013 states that either party can terminate the agreement upon 90 days notice, which would mean Buckhorn would have had to exercise the option on Oct. 1 to meet his Dec. 31 cutoff date. According to Buckhorn, the county has offered to pay an additional $40,000, which he said was “pretty much insulting.” Jones said the county has offered to pay $56,000 more, as well as an additional $32,500 yearly for expendables. Even using Jones’ numbers, the difference between the city and county is still roughly $1.3 million. “It’s a huge gap,” Jones admitted. “Is there a meeting place? I would hope there is. I’m confident we’ll come up with a resolution.”

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 21 • October 6, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

OCTOBER 2017 Saturday, October 7

BayCare Health Center Grand Opening - Stop by the new BayCare Health Center for a free, family-friendly “Breakfast Bash,” 9 a.m.-noon. Activities for the kids, free health screenings & flu shots while supplies last. 17512 Doña Michelle Drive. More info at baycare.org. Bay Chapel Food Pantry - Free food for needy families. Open every Saturday from 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., behind Christian Brothers Automotive at 20300 Trout Creek Dr. (off BBD). For more info, visit BayChapel.com/foodpantry. The Learning Experience Fall Festival - Join The Learning Experience New Tampa (20780 Trout Creek Dr.) for a free Fall Festival with petting zoo, arts & crafts, pumpkin patch, food and more, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. For more info, call (813) 534-6364, visit TheLearningExperience.com or see the ad on pg. 41.

Sunday, October 8

Golf Club). Guests are always welcome. For more info, search “New Tampa Noon Rotary” on Facebook.

Friday, October 13

Rotary Club of New Tampa - The New Tampa Rotary Club meets every Friday for breakfast at 7 a.m. at Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club (TPGCC, 5811 Tampa Palms Blvd.). For more info, contact David Lanigan at (813) 760-6548 or dave@davidlanigan.com or visit NewTampa Rotary.org.

Sunday, October 15

St. James Church 30th Anniversary Celebration - Rescheduled from an earlier date due to Hurricane Irma. St. James United Methodist Church (16202 BBD Blvd.) celebrates its 30-year history with a church-wide celebration and pot-luck starting at 10:30 a.m. Info at StJamesTampa.org. Let’s Not Be Still! - See story, opposite page.

Wednesday, October 18

GFWC Woman’s Club - The GFWC Woman’s Club of New Tampa meets at 1 p.m. at the New Tampa Regional Library (10001 Cross Creek Blvd.). More info at GFWCWomansClubNewTampa.com.

Free Yoga - Join Della Ruth Marsan, RYT 200, noon-1 p.m. or 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m., for a free, flow-based yoga class for all levels. Held at Jansen Dance Project, 5330 PrimThursday, October 19 rose Lake Cir. Bring your own mat & water bottle. Visit DellaRuthMarsan.com. Transformations Aesthetic Center Grand Opening - See ad on opposite page. Meditation Group - All faiths and all levels of meditation experience are welcome at Monday, October 23 this free meeting at Sanctuary Wellness Center, 8903 Regents Park Dr., Suite 120, 10 New Tampa Democratic Club - See ad on opposite page. a.m-11 a.m. For more info, search “The Sanctuary Wellness Center in New TamSaturday, October 28 pa” on Facebook or “New Tampa Intuitive Development Center” on Meetup. Oktoberfest - St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church will host Oktoberfest, 6 Tuesday, October 10 p.m.-10 p.m. at the Venetian Event Center, 9724 Cross Creek Blvd. Tickets are Keep It Local - This seat-specific networking group emphasizes small, local $15 for adults, $8 for children 5 & up. Purchase tickets at the church office. For businesses. Keep it Local meets every Tues., 11:30 a.m., at GrillSmith at more info, call 813-907-7746. The Shops at Wiregrass. For info, call Marino Cecchi at (813) 513-9001.

Wednesday, October 11

English As A Second Language (ESL) - The ESL group meets Wednesdays at Tampa Bay Presbyterian Church (19911 BBD Blvd. in Pebble Creek), 9:30 a.m.11:30 a.m. Classes are taught by native English speakers. The cost is $40 each semester for the workbook & class materials. For info, call Holly at (813) 360-2077. BNI Millionaire Makers - The BNI Millionaire Makers chapter meets Weds. at Heritage Isles Country Club (10630 Plantation Bay Dr.), at 7:15 am. $13 to attend includes hot breakfast. Call Lisa Jordan at (813) 621-6015 for info. Business Networking International (BNI) - BNI, a group of business pros dedicated to helping their member businesses grow through qualified referrals, meets every Wed., 7:30 a.m., at Mulligans inside Pebble Creek Golf Club (10550 Regents Park Dr.). Call Bill Sullivan at (813) 994-1143. Partners In Network (PIN) - Partners In Network is a group of professionals, one specializing in each area of business. Meets Weds. for lunch at Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club, 11:30 am. Call Georgianna Strickland (813-477-7306) or Ken Fernandez (813-334-6000) or email georgianna@strategicmarketingarts.com. Rotary Club Of New Tampa Noon - The New Tampa Noon Rotary Club meets Wednesdays at noon at Mulligan’s Irish Pub (in the Pebble Creek

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 21 • October 6, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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‘Let’s Not Be Still’ Walk To Be Held Oct. 15!

On Saturday, October 15, which is National Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Day, Heritage Isles resident Kimberley Asante will lead an event called “Let’s Not Be Still!” It’s New Tampa’s first walk to support the Star Legacy Foundation, which provides research, education and support for families who have lost their babies due to miscarriage, stillborn birth or death shortly after birth. “In 2016, I was pregnant with my daughter,” says Kimberley, who lives in Heritage Isles. “My cousin, who lives in Spain, was pregnant at the same time and was due 10 days after me. We shared a lot of our experiences, because this was the first pregnancy for both of us. On December 31, my baby, Maya, was born happy and healthy. Unfortunately, 2 weeks later my

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cousin’s baby was stillborn. It was such a horrible loss for the whole family.” Kimberley decided to do something in honor of her cousin and many other families who suffer similar losses. She says she tried to find an event to participate in, but couldn’t find anything closer than Atlanta. That’s when she decided to organize the event herself. The “Let’s Not Be Still” walk will start at Heritage Isles Country Club (10630 Plantation Bay Dr.) with registration at 8 a.m. and a family walk at 9:30 a.m. There’s a “diaper dash” for toddlers ages three and under, and a “kids fun run” for ages four through 12. Also, there will be a remembrance ceremony at 11 a.m. For information or to register, visit LetsNotBeStill-Tampa.org.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 21 • October 6, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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Wesley Chapel Dermatology Offers Medical & Surgical Dermatology For All Ages By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN celeste@ntneighborhoodnews.com

When it comes to dermatology, some people just want a knowledgeable, trained doctor who will treat them kindly and respect their time, without the frills of cosmetic procedures and fancy skin care lines for sale. That’s what Dr. Sujatha Tadicherla offers her patients, as the physician-owner of Wesley Chapel Dermatology, located in the Cypress Ridge Professional Center off of S.R. 56 just east of I-75. Dr. Tadicherla earned her Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (M.B.B.S.) from Andhra Medical College in Visakapatnam, India, in 2000. An M.B.B.S. is the equivalent of a medical doctor (M.D.) degree in the U.S. “I did medical school in India and came here after I got married,” Dr. Tadicherla says. “I continued to pursue what I wanted to do and worked extremely hard to be where I am now. (Dermatology is) a competitive field, and I’ve been fortunate to have guidance from mentors and people who have helped me.” Dr. Tadicherla did a research fellowship at the University of Miami (Florida) from 2005-06, and completed her residency in the Department of Dermatology & Cutaneous Surgery at the University of South Florida in Tampa in 2009. She then worked in private practice in Clearwater and Brandon, and at the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital before opening her own practice.

Dr. Sujatha Tadicherla (right) and her nurse Savannah Coll are available for appointments on Wednesdays and Saturdays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., at Wesley Chapel Dermatology, located off S.R. 56. screenings, treatments for acne, rashes, Although she first opened Wesley warts, skin allergies and other conditions, Chapel Dermatology in 2015, she had a as well as surgical dermatology, such as skin baby girl who is now 21 months old. She biopsies, cyst excision, mole and skin tag says she has been seeing patients in her removal, along with skin cancer treatments office regularly for the past nine months. She sometimes jokes that she has twins and surgeries. “I am a general dermatologist,” Dr. — her practice and her daughter. “Both Tadicherla says. “So, I see everything and of them are growing,” she says, “and both everybody of all ages.” She says all proceneed my attention.” dures, including surgeries, are performed at At her office, Dr. Tadicherla offers her office. medical dermatology, such as skin cancer

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“Most commonly, I see people for rashes, or concern about moles, spots, swelling, or if they have hair or nail problems,” she says. “Basically, if a patient sees something on their skin they notice and want to have it taken care of.” But, it’s not just people who see something abnormal on their skin who should visit a dermatologist. She recommends an annual skin cancer screening. “Skin cancer is not limited to the elderly population,” she says. “I have also seen it in patients as young as 18 years. While it’s not common to see it in kids, I have seen those atypical and unusual scenarios, too.” She says there are many kinds of skin cancers, but the three most common include basal and squamous cell cancers, and melanoma. “Everybody needs their skin checked annually,” she says. “If not, by the time the patient realizes something is wrong, sometimes it’s too late,” she says. “If patients can come to us annually, we can catch them at the early stage.” Since her practice is still fairly new and growing, and so that she can balance her home and personal life, the office is currently open only on Wednesdays and Saturdays, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. However, patients can call for an appointment anytime, as calls are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, even when the office is closed. “We are open on Saturdays, since most people are working during the week and it’s hard to take time off,” she says. “I wanted to make it more convenient for everybody.”

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Some Great Feedback

That’s one reason why Todd Wolk, a patient who began seeing Dr. Tadicherla after his wife, Jill, visited Wesley Chapel Dermatology, recommends her. “We can see her on Saturday, which is very helpful to us,” Todd says. “No doctors are usually open on the weekends, but we’ve been able to get Saturday appointments with her.” He adds, “We’ve had a great experience. When you walk in, she is so personable and treats you like a friend. She’s done a great job with everything she’s done for me, including minor surgery on my back. She’s very knowledgeable.” He adds that Dr. Tadicherla wrote a new prescription for his wife’s psoriasis — one that no previous doctor had recommended — and Jill has been thrilled with the new medication. Dr. Tadicherla says that both providing excellent care and being friendly are priorities for her. “I’m passionate about dermatology and what I do,” she says. “I love talking with patients regarding the problems they come in with, and I also like to get to know them entirely, not only their medical or dermatological problems.” She says that so far, most of her patients, just like Todd, have come from word-of-mouth referrals. Dr. Tadicherla thinks one of the reasons they do is because she puts her patients first. “My practice is physician-owned,” she explains, comparing it to going to a momand-pop restaurant instead of a chain. “It’s tailored to the patient. We can do what really benefits the patients we are seeing.” She recognizes that she’s running a

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business, but she wants to be sure everything she does is beneficial to the patients first, before the bottom line. “I always wanted to have my own practice,” she says. “It took a long time and it’s a lot of work, but still, when I see my patients, I just enjoy them and I do what is in their best interest.” She emphasizes that whenever you visit her office, you’ll see a fully trained, Board-certified dermatologist with a medical degree. And, she says, her hallmarks are compassion and empathy, especially if a patient is facing a tough diagnosis. “When my patients are diagnosed with skin cancer, we give a lot of psychological and moral support,” she says. “I’m the one telling the bad news to the patient. A primary care physician might suspect something and send a patient to me, but I’m the one who biopsies the spot and, if it comes back as cancer, has to break the news.” She adds, “At that point, they become more like a friend, as we guide them not only medically, but also taking into consideration the emotions they’re going through.” Dr. Tadicherla says all major insurance plans are accepted and to check her website at WesleyChapelDerm.com for details. She adds that self-pay patients are offered affordable prices and to call the office for specific information about costs. Wesley Chapel Dermatology is located at 26847 Foggy Creek Rd., Suite 101. The office is open on Wed. & Sat, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., but phones are answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more info, see the ad on page 7, call (813) 6660488, or visit WesleyChapelDerm.com.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 21 • October 6, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Get Healthy & Lose Weight With Richeson Wellness & NutriMost! By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN

celeste@ntneighborhoodnews.com

At Cypress Creek Chiropractic & Wellness in the Cypress Ridge Professional Plaza off of S.R. 56, Micah Richeson, D.C. (Doctor of Chiropractic) and his wife Mitze offer a variety of programs to help people get and stay healthy and feel their best. While Dr. Richeson focuses on wellness from a “structural” perspective (alignment of the spine), Mitze has been offering NutriMost, a weight-loss program supervised by her husband, for the past three years, Now, she’s pleased to announce the inception of Richeson Wellness, which will focus on nutrition and wellness through functional medicine (which is a medical practice that focuses on optimal body and organ function, generally through holistic treatments). Dr. Richeson is a third-generation chiropractic physician who opened the practice in 2008, after eight years in his father’s practice in Gainesville. He earned his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Public Health from the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond and his D.C. degree from Parker College in Dallas, TX, in 2000. Mitze received her Certification as a Chiropractic Physician’s Assistant in 2013 from the Cleveland Chiropractic College, which is based in Cleveland, OH. She is still offering NutriMost, a rapid weight-loss program that allows women to lose up to 25 pounds in 40 days (for men, it’s up to 40 pounds). It’s a national franchise with about 160 locations, with just

three in the Tampa Bay area. Now, in addition to that intense weight-loss program, Richeson Wellness offers a different option for women and men whose bodies aren’t quite ready for the type of drastic lifestyle change that NutriMost requires. “Some women and men do fantastic with NutriMost,” says Mitze, “but in some people, especially women, the program didn’t always work for them. They were frustrated, or felt lethargic, because their bodies weren’t ready to burn fat that rapidly, maybe because of thyroid issues, toxic Mitze & chiropractic physician Dr. Micah Richeson can help liver (when the liver is you feel better and lose weight safely with their Richeson Wellinflamed by toxins), or adrenal (gland) fatigue. ness and NutriMost, both located at Cypress Creek Chiropractic & Wellness off S.R. 56. in Wesley Chapel. I started thinking that there’s got to be a better They come in for an initial consultation way for people in that category.” with either Mitze, or either of the office’s two health coaches — with Jill Fischer or Different Approaches For Janine Kerschen. After the consultation, the program Different Needs includes weekly coaching sessions where Mitze says that many people hear participants are taught to eat healthy, about NutriMost from friends and family whole foods. They are given a variety of who have had success with the program natural appetite suppressants, using herbs in other locations across the U.S., and and amino acids, and supplement support. find her through the NutriMost website.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 21 • October 6, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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“Whatever area the body is weakened or lacking, we support those organs through specifically targeted supplements,” Mitze says, adding that NutriMost is a drastic program, and the body has to be healthy and functioning well for it to work properly. Even at that first consultation, she explains, sometimes it’s obvious that NutriMost just isn’t the right fit. “We know the red flags,” she says. “Sometimes, I’ve talked with a woman at her initial consultation and I have had to explain that NutriMost might not be the right fit for her.” Mitze says she no longer has to tell people she can’t help them yet: “Now, I would recommend that people in that category do Richeson Wellness first.” To prepare for the launch of Richeson Wellness, Mitze continued taking functional medicine classes and learning not only how to read and interpret blood work, but also the protocols that help balance the body. “This new program begins with intense blood work to (see what it takes to) get the body in a state where it’s ready to handle rapid weight loss,” she says. “We can’t push your body to lose a pound a day if it’s too tired or just has other things it’s trying to do. It’s like carrying rocks in a backpack and adding a bowling ball.” But, it works the other way, too. “If someone calls me for Richeson Wellness and they just want to get 50 pounds off fast because they’re carrying too much weight, but they are otherwise

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Deb Pullen lost 67 pounds in 10 months using NutriMost. “I found that my specially designed program was easy to do and has been life-changing for me,” she says. Deb now works at the front desk at Cypress Creek Chiropractic, where both NutriMost and the new Richeson Wellness are located. healthy and their blood work is normal, then I’m going to recommend NutriMost.” She adds that NutriMost, “is great because people get really great results really fast. With Richeson Wellness, we’re working on getting the body into focus first.” She does that by starting with a comprehensive blood work-up, showing her clients how their bodies are out of balance, and then helping them gain control over their bodies through proper supplementation and good nutritional choices. Mitze emphasizes that this blood work is much more comprehensive and will be better explained than what typically happens at most doctors’ offices.

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“I’ve had so many clients bring their blood test results and tell me their doctor didn’t explain it,” Mitze says. “They tell me their doctor said, ‘Here’s your blood work, you’re fine,’ or ‘Here, now take this prescription.’ Then they leave with no real hope for resolution. They just do what they’re told.” She says, in contrast, “We give a full, deep report of 17-25 pages that explains every marker in your blood tests, including (any) abnormalities (that could be affecting your ability to lose weight).” Then, she takes the time to explain the entire report and what you can do to correct those abnormalities.

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“When people understand what’s going on in their bodies, they are empowered to make improvements and take ownership of them,” Mitze says. “We want to educate and empower people to have control by how they’re eating.” So, while NutriMost continues to help people who want to lose a significant amount of weight quickly — and are healthy enough to do so — Richeson Wellness will focus on each client’s overall wellness. Mitze says weight loss may be a natural byproduct of getting healthy, and working with her will set people up to be ready to lose weight once the initial program is complete. “When the body gets into that balanced state, it starts losing weight naturally,” she says. “It might take 40 days to get to the point where your body is ready to lose weight. Then, once you get to that point, weight comes off pretty easily.”

habits, too. “I don’t have to take any prescription medicine for cholesterol or high blood pressure, and I have a lot of energy,” she says. “A lot of women my age feel like they need to slow down, but I feel like I can do anything I set my mind to. Before starting the program, I didn’t feel like exercising or doing anything, but now I have a lot more energy.” Cypress Creek Chiropractic, Richeson Wellness and NutriMost are located at 2304 Crestover Ln. For more information or to schedule an appointment, see the ad on page 30 of this issue or call (813) 241-7098 to reach the NutriMost staff or (813) 435-6643 to reach Mitze for Richeson Wellness. Also, visit RichesonWellness.com or search “Richeson Wellness” on Facebook.

Measurable Results

April Ray is a NutriMost client who started the program in January of this year. She says she wanted to lose 30 pounds and she did so, although it took her longer than 40 days. “With the tools that NutriMost gives you, I have kept it off (for the last several months),” April says. “NutriMost is a new way of eating. I eat more calories and volume than what I used to eat before I went to NutriMost. It’s taught me how to combine protein, fats, and carbs in the right proportions, so I feel satisfied. I don’t feel like I’m starving, like on most diets.” April, who is 59, says she loves the side effects of her new, healthier eating

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 21 • October 6, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

For Eyebrows That Don’t Sweat Off, Consider Creative Permanent Makeup By Pam By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN

celeste@ntneighborhoodnews.com If you’re tired of drawing on your eyebrows, just to worry you might sweat them off later in our Florida heat, Pam Edmonson says she has a solution for you. It’s called microblading, and Pam has been providing this popular eyebrow service since she was first trained in the technique in 2014. She uses a small blade and ink to create each individual hair. Her steady hands help draw on an eyebrow which she then microblades, with each stroke adding a more natural look to the eyebrow. As a State of Florida-licensed permanent makeup artist, Pam has owned and operated Creative Permanent Makeup By Pam since 2011. Last year, she and a business partner opened Serenity Salon & Spa Suites, located off S.R. 54 in the Brookfield Professional Park, about a half-mile west of Morris Bridge Rd. in Wesley Chapel. The suites are available to be rented by other small businesses, such as hair stylists, massage therapists, and licensed aestheticians. “As one of the owners of Serenity Salon & Spa Suites, I love the way that we enable other women to be able to do their own job and be successful at it,” Pam says. “We have an amazing group of women working here!” After many years of running a business in the manufactured housing industry, in 2009, Pam says she wanted to do something different, so — at age 46 — she became the “oldest student in hair school,” she says. While she enjoyed hair, Pam says she soon discovered something that interested

Creative Permanent Makeup by Pam owner Pam Edmonson says that eyebrows are her favorite and, when she can deliver results like those in these before-and-after photos (above right), you can see how she’s helped hundreds of women look better. site, which plumps the skin in the treated her even more. “I love detail,” Pam says. “As nent eyeliner, and is now offering permanent a detail person, eyebrows are what first drew lip color, too. “I used to not like to do lips, but area and produces cell turnover, reducing I learned a new technique,” she says. “It’s not scarring, fine lines and wrinkles on the face. me into the permanent makeup field.” as painful and the color stays beautifully. I had Of all of her services, however, Pam In 2010, she studied permanent says she still gets the most satisfaction out of makeup at the Boca Ta-2 School for Perma- mine done, and it looks so natural and full.” Pam also offers a scalp therapy treatdoing a client’s eyebrows. nent Makeup in Williston, FL, then began ment for women who have thinning hair. “Brows are always my favorite because providing permanent makeup services in of the drastic way they change how someone Zephyrhills in 2011. Pam is Florida-licensed She says that the scalp therapy doesn’t seem looks,” Pam says. “Our eyes are meant to be as both a cosmetologist and as a tattoo artist. to work well on male pattern baldness — it’s more effective on thinning hair — but womframed, and brows definitely complete the “Any time that ink is implanted into en tend to respond well to it. face. Some women look so much younger the skin, it is a tattoo,” Pam explains, “and She also offers microneedling, which when they have them done.” you must be licensed through the Florida improves the skin by producing a slight inPam says she is committed to conDepartment of Health.” The cost of Pam’s permanent makeup jury to the face with a tiny needle. The body tinuing education and frequently attends services starts at $400. She also offers permanaturally grows new collagen at the “injury” training to learn the latest, most advanced

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techniques. That’s how she came across a class called “Browmasters” in 2014, when microblading was a newer process and just beginning to take off. Now, as the process continues to grow in popularity, she already has lots of experience in doing it – several hundred sets of eyebrows, she says. Pam encourages anyone who wants permanent makeup to schedule a free consultation with her. “Do your homework,” she says. “Make sure the person who does your eyebrows does a consultation. They should sit down with you and show you their work before and after.” Having a set of eyebrows done by Pam takes about an hour. The price includes a free touch-up after the first four weeks, to help deepen the color and make them more permanent. Once completed, clients sometimes don’t need to come back for a year or two, although everyone’s skin is different. Those “touch-up” visits start at just $100. And don’t worry, she says, she’ll be straight with you. Pam says she isn’t going to take on a client who wants her to do something she can’t, or something Pam doesn’t think should be done. “Although microblading is my favorite,” Pam says, “it may not be the right answer for a client. There can be a better alternative, depending on the canvas that I am working on.” Pam treats clients of all ages, and eyebrows of all sorts, from those that need to be reconstructed to some — on blondeand red-haired people in particular — that tend to fade from view. Young clients come in for the convenience of not having to draw in their own eyebrows, while older ones come in to fill in plucked-over patches or to highlight brows that have faded with age and exposure to the sun.

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She sys she also helps a lot of women who come to her after a mediocre or poor experience with someone else. One such client is Janice, who lives in Wesley Chapel and asked us to only use her first name. “I had permanent makeup done by another provider about a year ago and was only marginally happy with the results,” Janice says. “It faded, and I had a terrible reaction to the tool that was used on my lips. It took weeks and weeks to heal.” Janice says she thought long and hard about doing it again, “but the ease of permanent make-up is so great that it superseded my fear. Once you have it, you just think, ‘Man, this is so great for every day.’ After doing my research, I felt that Pam’s method was going to give me better recovery and a better long-term result.” As it turns out, she was right. Not only did Janice love the spa-like ambiance, cleanliness, and relaxing feeling of Serenity Salon & Spa Suites; she says Pam’s work is “perfect. I couldn’t be happier.” She adds, “Before, it was just a tattoo. It faded quickly and didn’t look as natural as I wanted it to. With Pam, and microblading, the process was different, and the outcome is superb compared to what I had previously.” Pam wants to see all of her clients as happy as Janice. “I’m extremely passionate about my work,” she says. “When people tell me what a difference I made in their life and how they feel about themselves, that’s the reason that I love what I do!” Creative Permanent Makeup by Pam is located at Serenity Salon & Spa Suites, at 33913 S.R. 54, Suite 101. For a free consultation and more info, see the ad on page 39, visit CreativePermanentMakeupbyPam.com, or call (813) 997-6302.

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SPOTLIGHT ON: Karen Tillman-Gosselin! According to long-time Tampa-area real estate agent Karen Tillman-Gosselin, whether a person is looking to sell or buy a home, it is likely the most important and largest financial decision that they will make. “Having a real estate agent who can listen to your wants and needs and help you find that one house you will make your home is crucial,” Karen says. “That agent needs to put you first, then properly coordinate all aspects — from negotiations and inspections to ensuring that the transaction becomes a reality.” Karen, who lives in Tampa Palms, knows what it takes to do that. During her decades-long career in real estate, she has sold more than $150 million of real estate. She has been so successful, in fact, that she was named one of the top 25 agents in the Tampa Bay area in 2005 by the Tampa Bay Business Journal. Karen currently is one of the top 10 producers at Smith & Associates, a boutique firm based in South Tampa that has been in business 45 years and is the largest independent real estate office in the Tampa Bay area, with 245 agents and $1.2 billion in transactions in 2016. Karen’s husband, Renynold Gosselin (photo), has worked with her “behind the scenes” since they both got their real estate licenses in 2000. Renynold recently retired from a 30-year career with Verizon and is now Karen’s full-time partner in real estate. Karen joined Smith & Associates in 2012, after working for many years for local offices of Florida Executive Realty, Keller Williams and Casa Fina Realty. Although Smith & Assoc. is known as a luxury firm — and Karen does sell luxury

homes and specializes in relocating executives to the Tampa Bay area — she also represents buyers and sellers at any price point, even first-time home buyers. “We work with everyone, from CEOs to first-time buyers, and it doesn’t matter who the seller is, they all deserve to be treated the same,” she says. “We love what we do, because it is all about making sure that the client’s needs are met.” Karen first got into real estate when she was working as an interior designer, and that experience means, “I can stage a house so it looks good and sells faster,” she says. Karen says she and Renynold are by their clients’ side throughout the entire process, paying attention to every detail. “If something unexpected comes up, that’s why we’re there,” Karen says. “We try to keep everything as simple and open as possible. An inexperienced agent won’t know what to do, but we know how to handle those problems.” For info or to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation in your home with Karen Tillman-Gosselin, visit FineHomesOfTampa.com, call (813) 629-1502, or see the ad on page 2 of this issue.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 21 • October 6, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Consider Heartwood Preserve Conservation Cemetery For A Natural Burial By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN

celeste@ntneighborhoodnews.com Laura Starkey grew up running through the old Florida woods that made up her family’s expansive cattle ranch, much of which is now the 18,000-acre Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Preserve in the Trinity area of New Port Richey, just a short drive north and west of New Tampa. Now, her passion is conserving the land she loves, and connecting people to it. To that end, she has created Heartwood Preserve Conservation Cemetery, the first conservation cemetery in the Tampa Bay region. It opened this past fall, set on 41 acres of the original Starkey Ranch bordering the wilderness preserve, and Laura is the cemetery’s founder and executive director. One of just a few conservation cemeteries in the entire state of Florida, Heartwood Preserve provides environmentally-friendly options for people looking for a more natural burial. “The word ‘conservation’ in our name means that not only are we are providing a natural burial option for those who don’t want all the fancy bells and whistles of a modern burial with an expensive casket and vault, but we’re also really contributing to the permanent conservation of this ecosystem,” Laura explains. “We are both literally and figuratively becoming part of this land.” Laura and Heartwood Preserve manager Diana Sayegh explain that first and foremost, the cemetery is about conserving the precious longleaf pine flatwoods and cypress dome wetlands ecosystems of the preserve.

Heartland Preserve Conservation Cemetery in the Trinity area of New Port Richey provides a unique form of burial in a natural setting for your final resting place. “Land conservation is kind of tricky,” “We invite people to come and take a she says. “Sometimes, you think you just walk, hike and get some fresh air,” Diana buy the land and hold on to it, but you have says. “You can park for free, use our picnic to manage it and maintain it, including conbenches, and experience nature. There are trolled burns, managing invasive species and woodpeckers, owls and butterflies, and we different things you have to do to keep it have free events, such as silent meditation healthy and protected. I am always looking walks, yoga and even frog-listening events. for tools to do that. Sometimes land may This place is gorgeous, and we want the become a state or county park, but there are community to experience it.” other ways to do that, too.” Laura explains that using the land as She explains that there are layers of proa conservation cemetery is a tool that will tection in place to ensure that Heartwood allow it to be preserved forever.

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Preserve will always remain a natural burial preserve, with no above-ground burials, such as in a mausoleum, and a lower density than a traditional cemetery. In addition, when someone purchases a space at Heartwood Preserve, a portion of that fee goes to permanently protecting that ecosystem. She says that what started out as an intellectual idea for her has morphed all the way into a spiritual experience. “A conservation cemetery is a practical tool to help pay for protecting the land, but on a community and spiritual level, it’s an opportunity for the community to be connected to the land in a really deep way” she says. “What a beautiful thing to say your final wish — your final resting place — will protect the land.” Diana says the fact that Heartwood Preserve allows pre-planning sets it apart from other conservation cemeteries. “Like making a will, pre-planning for your cremation or burial is a gift to your family,” says Diana. “Your family is not left with the burden of the cost or the decision making. They have peace of mind for when that time comes.” She continues, “It is a cemetery, and it’s sad, but it’s not typical. It’s natural and beautiful and serene and peaceful.” Heartwood Preserve doesn’t allow embalming or vaults, neither of which are required by law. “The full body can be placed into the ground, wrapped in a shroud or buried in a biodegradable, natural casket,” Diana explains. “We also allow cremated remains to be buried directly in the ground or in a biodegradable urn, but we don’t scatter ashes.”

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Diana, who worked in a traditional funeral home for many years before joining Heartwood Preserve, says she had to learn about so-called “green burial” and, she says, “it was a big wakeup call for me.” She says she now considers it her personal mission to educate people that other options are available to them. “In my old job, I used to tell people, ‘This is what has to happen, and this is how much you have to pay.’ But, I’ve learned that you don’t have to be embalmed or purchase an expensive casket.”

Not For Everyone?

Diana says that Heartwood Preserve welcomes all faith and religions, but she understands that natural burial is not a good fit for everyone. “It’s okay if you want a more traditional burial. I respect that,” Diana says. “But, we want people to know this is another option.” Don Zegel’s son, Gregory, passed away when he was just 21. That was nearly five years ago and his son was cremated, but Don says that ever since, “I’ve been looking for something meaningful to do with his ashes.” When he and his wife, Gay Wasik, were biking through the Starkey Wilderness Preserve, Gay had what Don says was a “magical” experience. When she returned home, she began researching the preserve and came across information about Heartwood Preserve Conservation Cemetery. Don says he looked at the Heartwood Preserve website and it really struck a chord with him. “I love the woods, I love old Florida, and I love nature,” he says. “I was ready right then, but Diana told me I needed to come out and be sure that’s what I wanted for my son’s burial,” Donald explains. “I visited, and I fell in love with the feel of the place and with their philosophy. When I walked the property with Diana, I didn’t want to leave.” He says the feeling of peace and comfort that he

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felt extended to the burial service that was held at the preserve. “It was a small family thing, and Laura and Diana were both there,” Don says, “It felt like they were welcoming us into their family, like they had this land and were allowing us to be a part of it.” That’s exactly what Laura hopes people will feel if they choose Heartwood Preserve for their loved ones’ burials, or even their own. “We’re growing a family here,” Laura says. “It’s so moving to me, because that’s what makes me so happy to come to work. We’re just getting started, but it really feels like we’re doing the right thing.” Don says, “Now, when we think of Greg, Heartwood Preserve is where we take our minds. It’s been such an affirming experience. After five years of being in mourning one hundred percent of the time, I have started to go through some real healing.” Heartwood Preserve Conservation Cemetery is located at 4100 Starkey Blvd. Visitors are always welcome when the gates are open, Mon.-Sat., 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., and 11 a.m.–4:30 p.m. on Sun. For more information, call (727) 376-5111, or visit HeartwoodPreserve.com.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 21 • October 6, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

To Protect Your Home, Auto Or Business, Check Out Tina Insurance! By BRAD STAGER

There’s no better time than when a major-category hurricane is expected to arrive in your neighborhood to clarify the value of possessions, such as your home, automobiles and businesses. When it comes to protecting those assets, Tina Ricketts, the owner and principal agent of Insurance/Seguros of America Ricketts, LLC (aka Tina Insurance) in Wesley Chapel, says that doing business with an independent, licensed, professional agent has advantages over obtaining coverage online or through a toll-free phone number. “You have a face to go with the name,” says Tina. “When you call us, you deal with me directly.” She also cites the focus of her agency’s activities and relationships with clients as distinguishing it from its competitors. “The majority of consumers don’t know about insurance and don’t know what insurance they’re getting,” she says. “We teach them what coverage they need, based on what they’re doing.” According to its website, TinaInsurance.com, specializes in “trucking, business, homeowners, or auto insurance.” Trucking, you say? Tina has found that insuring commercial trucks is much different from insuring the family runabout. “The first thing is, it’s an 80,000-pound vehicle, versus a 5,000-pound car, so the damage that a truck can cause is way higher than what a personal car can cause,” she says, adding, “There’s

a difference between commercial use and personal use. You don’t use a semi-truck to ride around town.” The implications of a trucking industry that operates safely on affordable, sound, insurance are apparent to Tina, “You see them everyday on the road, bringing us our food and our goods,” she says. “(Trucks are) an important part of our economy.” Tina started out at Insurance/Seguros of America in 2006 as a licensed Certified Professional Service Representative (State of Florida Customer Representative License), which allowed her to advise on and sell insurance products under the agency owner’s Florida Agent License. When Ricketts earned her own license to sell property and casualty lines as an agent in 2010, she bought the agency, adding her family’s name to it. She has started marketing her agency as Tina Insurance, as an official Doing Business As (DBA) name. She is licensed for Property and Casualty insurance. She does not, however, sell life or health insurance. Getting into the nuances of a your business’ products and services to create a right-sized, beneficial policy, as well as serving the insurance needs of individuals and families, keeps the job interesting for her. “Every day you find something different,” Tina says. “Every risk (the probability of something happening being known, but not when it will occur, or the value of the occurrence) is different; they have their own needs they’re dealing with.”

She adds that she greets each new day at the office as an opportunity for “something new to quote,” such as coverage for a cryogenics salon that provides cold-temperature physical treatments for people. Tina Insurance’s commercial coverage emphasizes small, independent enterprises such as those opening their doors Tina Ricketts is the owner of Tina Insurance in Wesley Chapel. to the public each day in Wesley Chapel natural disaster strikes. and New Tampa. And, if those businesses Tina also says that one of the most rely on cars or trucks for commerce, Tina is confusing areas is how flooding is defined ready to find the right insurance coverage and covered, since insurers make distinctions to ensure that the wheels keep moving, between flooding that occurs as a result of whether they’re attached to pickup trucks an overflowing hot tub and rainfall or storm or 18-wheelers; owner-operated or part of a surge from a hurricane. transportation fleet. “A lot of people think they have hur“Every scenario is different,” she says. ricane coverage or they have flood coverage “It’s never boring.” and that’s not always the case,” she says. “It She adds that the first step to being cer- depends on how (your home or business) tain you have the insurance you need could gets flooded.” be checking what coverage you already have, Bu$iness Policies or maybe think you have, but don’t. Commercial and business insurance “We are here to provide a service to involves coverage for everything from help you understand what you have in case inventory to worker’s compensation. Tina of a claim,” says Tina, who notes that many says that minimizing exposure for her people make assumptions about what their clients means taking time to learn about insurance policies actually cover and often their businesses. discover coverage shortcomings in a time “Every business is different,” she says. of need, such as after a hurricane or other

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 21 • October 6, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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“Tell me about your business and your daily operations.” Tina Insurance which, according to its mission statement, is committed to protecting each client’s “American Dream,” and helping them financially recover from damages inflicted by natural disaster or incurred through the conduct of business. And, just as the businesses that Tina finds insurance coverage for represents the dreams and aspirations of the people who own them, Tina Insurance is part of Tina’s own American Dream that began when she came as a teenager to Tampa from Venezuela 17 years ago. The insurance agency is a family business as well, with her husband Nick also playing an important role in its success. “He’s the marketing director,” Tina says. “He handles the advertising, marketing and networking.” Tina has more than 10 years of experience in the insurance industry and purchased the Wesley Chapel agency, Insurance/Seguros of America, in 2010. She has been building her business ever since, keeping in mind a basic guiding principle in her daily quest for the best insurance values for her clients. “I want to treat my customers the way I want an insurance agent to treat me,” says Tina, who has lived in Wesley Chapel since 2005 and is a member of the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce. She adds that the community’s growth has created a lot of opportunity in the insurance business. “We’re growing so much as new homeowners come in, and a lot of those homeowners are business owners as well,” she says.

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The consensus among the six customers providing Google Reviews for Tina Insurance is that the agency provides Five-Star customer service. Andra Lo expressed appreciation for the high level of customer service in her Google Review: “Tina and her team were able to help me with all of my insurance needs, they were helpful and very easy to work with. I recommend them to anyone looking for great insurance service.” Meeting commercial insurance requirements was Jay Ellison’s need and his Google Review is unrestrained in its praise of Tina and her colleagues. “Tina and her team are wonderful to work with. They take the time to understand your business and find the best coverage for you for a price that works. She’s my go-to recommendation for commercial insurance!” Finding out whether Tina and her team can help meet your insurance needs begins with a free consultation which can be as simple as entering required information through the Tina Insurance website or through a conversation. “If you want us to review your policy, come in and show us what you have,” says Tina, who offers one piece of advice to keep in mind until the end of the 2017 Hurricane Season on November 30. “Keep your policy handy,” she says. Insurance/Seguros of America Ricketts, LLC, is located at 3823 Turman Loop, Suite #101, off Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in Wesley Chapel. You can visit online at TinaInsurance.com to learn more and get a free insurance policy quote, call (813) 907-1555, or see the ad on page 30 of this issue.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 21 • October 6, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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Local Girl Scout Has Donated More Than 1,500 Books…And Still Counting By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN

celeste@ntneighborhoodnews.com Elaine Feaster is a seventh-grade student at Liberty Middle School in Tampa Palms who lives in Richmond Place. She’s also a Cadette in Girl Scout Troop 1247 who believes in the Girl Scout Law. “It says to make the world a better place, and I want to do that for kids in need.” She’s been a Girl Scout for five years, in a troop that meets at St. James Church on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in Tampa Palms, and is comprised of 14 middle-school-aged girls from many different schools. As a Cadette, she’s eligible to apply for the Girl Scout Silver Award, which requires her to complete 50 community service hours and to create a project that will have a lasting impact on the community. So, she decided to collect books to help promote literacy, especially among underprivileged kids. “We have to get the books in kids’ hands in elementary school when they’re eager to learn,” Elaine says. “It’s like riding a bike or learning to swim. You want to learn when you’re young.” “I totally believe in what she’s doing,” says Elaine’s mom, Jane. “I was oblivious until Elaine started kindergarten at Clark Elementary and I overheard a teacher saying she had kids wanting to take books home because they don’t have any books at home. It blows my mind. It’s outrageous.” In Elaine’s research, she says she found statistics such as this: Students who don’t read skillfully by the third grade are four times more likely to drop out of school; nearly 85 percent of youths who face trial in the court system are functionally illiterate; and the more types of reading materials there are in the home, the higher the students’ reading levels. So, Elaine teamed up with an organization called Parents & Children Advance Together (PCAT) family literacy program, which provides free programs to underserved children to help them learn to read. At that time, Elaine collected about 175 books, just from

New Tampa Girl Scout Cadette Elaine Feaster is collecting books to donate to kids in elementary schools who might not have any books at their homes. word-of-mouth efforts, and donated them to PCAT. As support for her project grew, Elaine had to consider how to manage collecting even larger numbers of books, so she asked the New Tampa Family YMCA (16221 Compton Dr. in Tampa Palms), where she and her family are members, if she could set up a donation bin. Now, thanks to the New

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 21 • October 6, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Tampa Y’s support, anyone can drop off book donations for elementary school students there. In just a couple of months, about 1,600 books were donated through that bin. After sorting out cookbooks, calculus books, and others that aren’t a good fit for elementary school kids, plus setting aside some early education books that would be helpful for PCAT, Elaine still had about 1,500 elementarylevel books to donate. She gave them to Foster Elementary in the Old Seminole Heights area of Tampa, where she says 98 percent of the students receive free or reduced lunch. “We actually donated more books than there are students,” Elaine says. “There are only about 500 kids, and we donated 1,500 books.” She says she was told the teachers would select appropriate books for their classes, so the students would be able to check them out from their classroom libraries to take them home and read, then bring them back for new books. Elaine says she will continue to collect books at the collection bin until about January. While she’s currently only collecting books for elementary school reading levels, she encourages everyone to clean out their bookshelves and donate what they have to any local school or even the public library. Elaine hopes to earn her Girl Scout Silver Award with her efforts for this project, then hopes to build on her project for the Girl Scout Gold Award, which is the highest award in Girl Scouting and is available only for high school students. She says since she dropped the books off at Foster Elementary in September, she has probably collected an additional 500 books. She will be identifying another school for the next round of donations. “I just want to thank everyone in the community who has donated books so far,” she says. “When I started, I thought my goal would be about 500 books. I didn’t expect more than that, but everyone in this community is so caring. Because you donated a book, a child can be a doctor or really successful in life.”

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H.S. Sports: Finally For Freedom Football & Swimmers Head For County Meet JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com The streak is over. After seven seasons of lopsided losses to their neighborhood rivals just up Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., Freedom High’s football team finally has New Tampa bragging rights. The Patriots used a 99-yard drive in the final minutes, capped by junior Dominick Vazquez’s first rushing touchdown of the season with 1:42 remaining, to knock off New Tampa rival Wharton 12-7 on Sept. 28 in a Class 7A, District 8 clash. The Patriots’ win was their first of the season, and first over Wharton (1-3, 0-2 in 7A-8) since a 16-7 victory in 2009 under coach James Harrell. When he was told his team had ended a losing streak that long, said Freedom head coach Floyd Graham, who is in his second season, said, “It just blew my mind. I know it’s a huge rivalry with the schools just three miles apart, and a lot of the Jeremiah Ashe guys on both teams went to middle school together, so it was a big deal to win this.” The Patriots (1-3, 1-1) have had problems all season long finishing games, hampered by having to play so many players both ways due to a small roster of roughly 30 players. For the fourth time this season, the Patriots failed to score in the first half, but for the first time, they found a way to score critical second half points and offset a 42-yard touchdown run by Wharton’s D.J. Green that had given the Wildcats a 7-0 lead. And, they did it with a backup quarterback seeing his first action of the season. With senior signal caller Sebastian Cuevas injured near the end of the first half, junior Jayland Desue, the team’s leading receiver, entered the game under center and led the Patriots to a pair of scoring drives. The first was topped off by a 10-yard touchdown run by Stanley Elisme, cutting the Wildcats’ lead to 7-6. The second

was one Graham may never forget, both for the way it started and the way it ended. Three plays after taking over on their own 1 yard line with about six minutes remaining, Freedom faced a 4thand-2 from the 9. Never in 27 years had Graham gone for a fourth down inside his own 10-yard-line. He looked over at defensive coordinator Henry Scurrey, who said “We have to go for it. What do we have to lose?” So, Graham and the Patriots went for it. As Wharton scrambled out of punt return formation, junior Jeremiah Ashe (left) dashed eight yards on a jet sweep to keep the drive alive. “I just knew I had to do anything I could for my teammates to help get this win,’’ said Ashe. “I was a little nervous, but I did what I had to do.” The unlikely conversion created a spark on the Freedom sideline. A few Wharton penalties moved the Patriots along, and Vazquez scored with 102 seconds left to give Freedom its first lead of the season. Wharton’s last gasp attempt at a comeback ended on (l.-r.) Freedom swimmers Hannah Labohn, Genevieve Clark, McKaley an interception by Ashe, who now has had an intercepGoldblum & Abigail Leisure are headed to the county swim championships. tion in every game this season. freestyles – while Leisure and Labohn captured gold in the 200 “It’s one of the best feelings,’’ said Graham. “I can’t individual medley and 100 breaststroke, respectively. stress to you how hard they have played for three weeks and Clark advanced to the county championships after a seccome away with nothing.... They have given everything they ond-place finish in the 50 free. had, come into the lockerroom afterwards with blood on their The Freedom boys advancing to individual events at the knuckles and so dehydrated. We’ve been so banged up. That county meet were freshman Zach Kopel (first in the 200 free, makes this extremely special.” second in the 500 free) and junior Christian Morera (second in SWIMMING: The future is bright for the Freedom High the 100 backstroke). Kopel, Morera, senior Cobyn Panarelli and girls swimming team, which placed third at the Western Confer- freshman Glynn Morgan took second in the 200 medley relay. Wharton sophomore Charles Fields is headed to the ence swim championships in Brandon on Sept 27. county championships after a second-place finish in the 50 free, The quartet of sophomore McKaley Goldblum, sophoand first-place in the 100 free. He will be joined by sophomore more Abigail Leisure, freshman Hannah Labohn and senior Derek McDonald, junior Jeff Korver and senior Joseph Malone, Genevieve Clark (photo, above right) advanced to the Oct. 6 who swam with Fields on the winning 200 freestyle team. county championships at Bobby Hicks Pool by finishing in the Senior Raweerat Khunduang led the Wharton girls with a top two in two medley relays and five individual events. win in the 50 free and a second in the 100 free, while teaming The foursome finished second in the 200-yard medley up with junior Juliana Silva and seniors Kyra Okin and Valeria relay, and first in the 400 freestyle relay. Ramos to take second in the 200 free relay. Goldblum finished first in two events – the 100 and 200

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 21 • October 6, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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FHCI To Host Four Nations Cup Games

USA Hockey has announced the fall schedule for the U.S. Women’s National Ice Hockey Team, which includes three games to be played at Florida Hospital Center Ice (FHCI) in Wesley Chapel in November. The women’s team and defending gold medalist Canada will highlight the 2017 Four Nations Cup, which will be hosted by both FHCI and Amalie Arena in downtown Tampa Nov. 5-12. The Four Nations Cup is an annual tournament that has been held since 1996, and the U.S. has won it seven times, including the last two years. The U.S. women will play three games at FHCI — against Finland

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(Nov. 7), Canada (Nov. 8) and Sweden (Nov. 10). All games start at 7 p.m., and tickets will be sold at the door the day of the games. On Nov. 12, the first- and thirdplace games will be held at Amalie Arena in downtown Tampa at noon and 2:30 p.m. USA Hockey announced back in May that Wesley Chapel and FHCI would be its training home for the U.S. Women’s Ice Hockey National Team in preparation for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, in February. For additional information, visit TeamUSA.USAHockey.com.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 21 • October 6, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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Ciccio Cali Does The Impossible (Burger)…And We Actually Liked It! By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com Ciccio Restaurant Group’s Jeff Gigante is on a mission — to prove to the world that a meatless, 100-percent plant-based burger, including a secret ingredient called “heme” that you’ve almost certainly never heard of, can not only help save the planet, but taste good as well. And, that’s not just good for a “veggie” burger, which would be a low bar to clear. But good good...like a “real” hamburger. “We’re going after carnivores, not vegans and vegetarians,’’ Gigante said. The night before the beef-free Impossible Burger made its debut in Florida at eight of Gigante’s restaurants, including the New Tampa Ciccio Cali, Gigante promised us we’d be blown away. “It will change your life,’’ he said. It has certainly changed his. Since touring the Impossible Foods facility in California last year, Gigante has been obsessed with bringing the Impossible Burger to his restaurants. He beat out many others also eager to unveil the burger outside of food meccas like New York and Las Vegas. “It has taken me a year, and I did it,’’ Gigante said. Impossible Foods, headquartered in Redwood City, CA, was founded by Stanford University biochemistry professor Patrick Brown in 2011. After spending an 18-month sabbatical working to eliminate industrial animal agriculture because of its negative effects on the environment, Brown decided the best way to work towards solving the problem was by creating products that did so, including a plant-based burger that looks, smells and tastes like ground beef. Heme, a molecule in blood that makes it red (and makes meat look pink), is the key ingredient (and derived from the roots of a soy plant) that helps make the Impossible Burger

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burger-ish. The rest of the burger is intricately comprised of various plant, wheat and potato proteins that most mimic the smells, taste and texture of ground beef. The Impossible Burger launched last year in NY and Los Angeles. According to the company, the burger uses 95% less land, 74% less water and emits 87% less greenhouse gases than a burger made from cows – the livestock industry is known for requiring an abundance of food, water and land. It also has more protein and less fat and calories and is free of cholesterol, antibiotics and synthetic hormones (although it does have more sodium and more saturated fats). A 3-ounce Impossible Burger patty has 220 calories, 13 grams of total fat (but no trans fat), 5 carbs and 20 grams of protein. “It really is a noble mission,” Gigante says. “They say, and (Patrick Brown’s) numbers prove it, that the choice of one consumer choosing the Impossible Burger over a regular quarter pound of beef saves greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to driving 19 miles, 290 gallons water and puts 75 square feet of land back on the earth.” Which is great...but how does it taste? To find out, I gathered my wife and a few friends and we headed over to Ciccio’s on the day the burger launched. Let’s call it Mission: Impossible Burger.

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We weren’t the first to order it. Manager Shannon Hulton said there were five Impossible Burgers ordered the minute Ciccio’s had opened, and by the end of lunch more than a dozen had been sold. But, her staff had tried them, and everyone loved them. Ciccio Cali chef Dan Higgins and Gigante’s regional chef Tim Delaney cooked up the first batch. “The timing is a little bit different than with beef,’’ Higgins said. “But, it even sizzles like ground beef when it hits the grill.” While waiting for our burgers, I asked the group how close it would have to be to a regular burger to make it their burger of choice. The consensus was 80-90 percent, although Tampa Palms’ Clayton Smith was a hold out: “I need it to be 100 percent (the same),” he said. The burgers were served with Swiss cheese, a delicious mustard-based aioli that’s supposed to harken to a Tampa cuban sandwich, pickles and tomatoes. “Well, it definitely

looks legit,’’ said West Meadows resident Drew Fisher, who also noticed the heft of the Impossible Burger. Once everyone had their burger (they take a little longer to cook — we got ours in about 15 minutes), we all took our first bite on the count of 3. Everyone was surprised. It was far better than anyone at the table expected. “Not bad,” said local Realtor and Wesley Chapel resident Nikki Spirakis. “It’s not a burger, but it’s good. And I like the texture.” “It’s not ground beef,’’ said Phuong Cotey, “but it’s definitely tasty.” “It doesn’t crumble,’’ Clayton said. Bite No. 1 drew a thumbs-up and head nods from everyone. The group agreed it was way better than any veggie burger they had ever had, and that comparing it to any other See “Impossible Burger” on page 50.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 21 • October 6, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Win $50, $100 or $200 in FREE Dining Gift Cards In Our

New-&-Improved (& Expanded) Annual Reader Survey!

Our annual tradition of polling our more than 125,000 New Tampa and Wesley Chapel readers is branching out this year. Oh, don’t worry, we still want to know where you think the best burger and best sushi in town are served, but this year we want to know just a little bit more. For example — Where is the best place to get a licensed massage (hey, deadlines are tough here, we need a break every once in a while) in New Tampa & Wesley Chapel? Who can we trust to fix our leaky radiator? What neighborhood is the best to live in? And after years of listening to your traffic complaints, it’s time to let us know -- what is the worst intersection in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel? Fill in your favorites in New Tampa & Wesley Chapel ONLY, stick this page in an envelope and mail it “Reader Contest, c/o Neighborhood News, 29157 Chapel Park Dr., Suite B, Wesley Chapel, FL 33543.” Or, visit NTNeighborhoodnews.com and do it online. Or, email your responses to john@ntneighborhoodnews.com. And don’t forget to check out our Facebook page, which will also guide you through how to submit an entry and win a FREE dining gift certificate of $50, $100 or $200 just for entering (and entering correctly; more on that below). In order to win any of our three prizes (and, for your votes to count), you must have a legitimate answer for at least 20 of the 30 categories below and mail, email or enter online no later than Black Friday, November 24, 2017. Don’t let us down! No purchase of any kind is necessary to win a prize. — JCC & GN

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 21 • October 6, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Cappy’s Pizzeria Owner Is Happy To Focus On Pizza, Salads & Calzones! By GARY NAGER

EVEN THOUGH

I keep asking him to add some more menu items, Harold Hasselbeck, the owner of the Cappy’s Pizzeria in the City Plaza at Tampa Palms shopping center, says he’d rather keep doing what he does well than bring on additional menu items and spread himself and his small, but happy staff too thin. OK, I get it, especially when everytime I take the office to Cappy’s, everyone is still happy, despite the comparatively small menu selection. Although the laminated menus themselves feature way-cool album covers on one side and the menu on the other, which fits well with the super-funky décor and vibe at all four Cappy’s locations (Seminole Heights, South Tampa and Riverview are the others). In previous reviews of Cappy’s, I’ve always explained that even though this uniquely decorated, full-service dine-in and carry-out pizzeria serves both thincrust and deep-dish pizza, it’s a little bit of a misnomer to call Harold’s thin crust “true New York style” or his deep dish pizza “true Chicago style,” but that doesn’t mean that both styles aren’t delicious, because they are. But, we’ll get back to the pizza in a bit. For starters, Cappy’s only offers cheesebread ($4.25) and breadstix ($3.25, served with a side of a deep-red, thick marinara dipping sauce) and a variety of salads, all available in small sizes from $4.50-$5.50

and large sizes for $7-$8.50. Our favorites at the office are the large Greek salad shown on the next page — which features lots of feta cheese, kalamata olives, pepperoncini and a nice-sized scoop of Cappy’s house-made potato salad, with a slightly sweeter house-made dressing — and the small tossed salad with Cappy’s house-made Italian vinaigrette dressing, which is a perfect appetizer-size salad for two. Cappy’s also adds feta to its nontraditional Caesar salad and although I’m not the biggest fan of spinach salad myself, Cappy’s has a spinach & goat cheese salad with white raisins, shaved almonds and a house-made honey balsamic vinaigrette that got rave reviews from the couple at the next table on our most recent visit. .

Pizzas & Calzones

Cappy’s opens every weekday at 11 a.m. (noon on Saturday & Sunday), and offers great lunch prices, like single NYstyle cheese slices for $2.50 and $3 if you want one topping. I’m partial to the sausage and premium meatball toppings (see below) at Cappy’s, but there are almost 30 different toppings available, with veggies like artichoke hearts, banana peppers, carmelized onions and jalapeños to meats like anchovies, bacon and ham and premium toppings also are available. There are also lunch-sized calzones for just $5, which comes with mozzarella, a side of marinara sauce and two fillings of your choice. You can even add extra fillings for just $1 apiece. There also are lunch combos such as

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 21 • October 6, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Chicago-Style Pizza

Cheesebread

Tossed Salad

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Greek Salad two one-topping slices or a one-filling, lunch-sized calzone and a fountain drink for just $5.99, or add a mini-salad (smaller than a small) of your choice to your $5.99 combo and the price is just $8.50. You can order small- or large-size NY-style pizzas (with a truly crispy crust) and small-, medium- or largesize Chicago-style pizzas for lunch or dinner (Cappy’s Tampa Palms stays open until 9 p.m. on Sun.-Thur. and until 10 p.m. on Fri. & Sat.) and in addition to the regular toppings, you can add premium toppings like chicken, goat cheese, feta and sun-dried tomato. NY-style pizzas start at just $9.00 for a small or $11 for a large, up to $14.50 for the small and $18.50 for the large“Cappy” (with sausage, ham, pepperoni, fresh mushrooms, onions and green peppers). Our office gobbled up the large Cappy (we ordered it without sausage). Chicago-style pizzas cost the same for a small as the NY-style and the medium deep-dish costs the same as the large NY-style. The large Chicago style starts at $14 for just cheese and we ordered sausage and meatball that even if I wasn’t in training for a four-mile kayak race, I probably still couldn’t have finished more

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NY-Style “Cappy”

than two filling wedges of at a time. Cappy’s also offers a nice variety of beers on draft (I love the Peroni and Fat Tire), plus red and white wine and red and white sangria by the glass, as well as wines by the bottle. Cappy’s Pizzeria is located at 16019 Tampa Palms Blvd. For coupons worth $3 off a $20 purchase and $5 off a $30 purchase, see the ad on pg. 41 of this issue. For more information, visit CappysTampaPalms. com or call (813) 512-8947.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 21 • October 6, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

The Latest & Greatest News About Dining, Retail, Health Care & More In New Tampa & Wesley Chapel!

Dr. Nelson Earns Prestigious Diplomate Status

Local dentist Jay A. Nelson of Nelson Dentistry & Dental Sleep Medicine at 1928 Highland Oaks Blvd. in Lutz is helping Tampa Bay residents get a more restful night’s sleep. Dr. Nelson recently became an American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine (ABDSM) Diplomate. ABDSM is the board for the leading national organization for dentists who treat snoring and obstructive sleep apnea with oral appliance therapy, an effective alternative treatment to the standard Continue Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine. Earning Diplomate status from the ABDSM is a unique honor that recognizes special competency in dental sleep medicine. “Sleeping with a CPAP machine, which includes a face mask, tubing and a constantly running motor, can be difficult, and many Tampa Bay residents are unaware that an effective – and comfortable – alternative treatment is available,” said Dr. Nelson. “I’m committed to using my knowledge of dental sleep medicine to help treat my patient’s

Italian food options in New Tampa or Wesley Chapel, I was really excited to find a great, new classic Italian restaurant located, of all places, at 214 E. Bearss Ave. at N. Florida Ave., not exactly a hub for sitdown restaurants. But, the new, second location of Oggi Italian — the other is on Davis Islands — has everything from the most delicious tossed salad to a variety of savory roasted chicken dishes and, best of all (Above, left) The amazing pollo margherita at the new Oggi Italian Restaurant on E. Bearss Ave. for those of us who (Right) The sign announcing the second New Tampa location of New Identities Hair Studios. crave great pasta, the best al denté penne snoring and sleep apnea, and provide Tampa to schedule a consultation appointment pasta you’ll find for miles around. or see the ad on pg. 36. Dr. Nelson also Bay residents with a better night’s rest. Oral Owner Joe DeBartolo previously owned works closely with sleep physicians to appliance therapy often can equal CPAP treat snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. Fettuccine Street restaurant on Fletcher in effectiveness and offer a higher patient Ave., but has created a stir in South Tampa compliance.” with the Davis Islands location of Oggi and I Have You Tried Oggi Italian? Patients with loud snoring and hope to do the same for his Bearss Ave. locaI’m not the kind of guy to take it lightly diagnosed sleep apnea sufferers with tion, which is only a 10- or 15-minute drive when a delicious new restaurant opens anydifficulty tolerating their CPAP should from the southern tip of Tampa Palms. where near our area, but with limited “real” contact Dr. Nelson at (813) 949-0424

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 21 • October 6, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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The photo on the previous page is the “Specialita della Casa” at Oggi, the pollo margherita, which is pounded-thin-and-breaded chicken breast, topped with house-made mozzarella, marinara, fresh basil and roasted pomodori tomatoes, served on a bed of truly al denté mini-penne pasta that I could eat every day if I had to. It’s a delightfully different take on chicken parmigiana (which also is available) that should not be missed. Oggi has a somewhat limited menu, but even the fresh Italian bread and that amazing house salad served with every entrée by themselves are worth a short drive to check it out — and don’t forget to tell Joe (a New Tampa resident) and his staff that you read about them in the Neighborhood News!. And, Oggi also has craft beers on draft and a small selection of outstanding wines at very fair prices, with a daily Happy Hour from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. For more information, visit OggiTampa.com or call (813) 908-7778.

anchored New Tampa Plaza (at the corner of BBD and New Tampa/Cross Creek Blvd.) previously occupied by Bella Mia Salon. The salon space in the plaza, which is located next to our friends from Massage Green Spa (see ad on pg. 24), also was previously the second location of Bostonian Hair Studio, which also had a Tampa Palms location. Marc promises, however, that he and Kelly have completely redesigned the new salon. “You won’t recognize it when you walk in the door,” he says. “We’re definitely giving it that New Identities look — and outstanding stylists and color specialists — that have made our two existing salons so popular.” For more info, visit NewIdentitiesSalon.com, call (813) 579-1575 for the new New Tampa salon or (813) 979-0760 for the Tampa Palms New Identities.

New Identities To Open Second New Tampa Salon!

If it’s been a while since you ventured out on S.R. 54 east of I-75, you may not have noticed all the progress that’s been made on both the new Starbucks Coffee, located just east of the new Walmart on 54 or the new CubeSmart self-storage facility located just west of the intersection of 54 and Curley Rd. Prior to Hurricane Irma, we also saw some progress on the planned Chick-fil-A that is just beginning construction on 54, just west of the Walgreens at BBD. We will have updates on all three businesses in a future issue.

Congratulations to my friends Marc and Kelly Rockquemore, who already are the owners of two New Identities Salons — one in Apollo Beach/Riverview and the other which has been located at 15307 Amberly Dr., in the Shoppes at Amberly plaza in Tampa Palms (see ad on pg. 11) for almost 15 years. We re-introduced you to the Tampa Palms salon last issue, when Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Kwon Alexander brought the HBO “Hard Knocks” TV crew with him to get his hair colored. But now, Marc and Kelly are proud to announce that they will — by hopefully sometime in November — open in the space (at 19038 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.) in the Publix-

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Starbucks, Chick-fil-A & CubeSmart Getting Closer

Sorry that we didn’t have room for a list of Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce events in this issue, but for all of the latest Chamber events, (not all of which are free), visit WesleyChapelChamber.com. — GN

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 21 • October 6, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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HELP WANTED ROHE TWYMAN, an established and growing family law firm, with offices in Lake, Orange, and Sumter Counties, is expanding into the Pasco and Hillsborough area and is in immediate need of an experienced paralegal for its Wesley Chapel office. Ideal candidates possess three years’ experience in family law, however all applicants considered. Send resumes to Cindy Terry, at cindy@rohetwyman. com or call 352-742-0583. HIRING PERSONAL TRAINER. Private Women’s Studio with Boot Camp & Personal Training in Wesley Chapel & Land O’ Lakes owned by Samantha Taylor. Please no phone calls or walk ins.To apply part time: www.lolfitbodybootcamp.com/hire-pt. PHYSICAL THERAPIST (PT). An established New Tampa outpatient clinic is hiring a part-time PT to provide custom, one-on-one care. Fax resume to (813) 994-3080.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 21 • October 6, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

‘Impossible Burger’

Continued from page 39 veggie burger seemed unfair. The Impossible Burger was significantly closer to tasting like a ground beef patty than it was to a veggie burger. “I wouldn’t have known it was a ‘veggie’ burger,” said Drew. Each burger was cooked either medium or medium well. While billed as a “fake meat that bleeds,” ours didn’t, but they were still pretty moist. We poked, prodded, bit, chewed and swallowed bite after bite. Clayton even smelled it, noting it had a smell that didn’t really remind him of ground beef. An avid wine connoisseur, we trusted his nose. Drew likened the Impossible Burger to

a crab cake — it was seared on the outside, which gave it a slightly crispy outside layer, and did not have the traditional grill marks of a burger — but when he was done, he said he felt much better than he normally does after having a burger and fries at other places, “where it sits with you all afternoon.” Everyone commented on that same point. And it was true — afterwards, there wasn’t that bloated, unbutton-your-pants kind of feeling you can get from eating a large ground beef patty. It was refreshing. I thought it was delicious. There was a subtle sweet taste to the first bite. Minus the bun and condiments, I don’t think anyone would confuse it with ground beef; however, everyone at our table agreed that we would definitely order it again. For those who are socially and environ-

mentally conscious, choosing an Impossible Burger over a regular burger anywhere else is a no-brainer, even though on days I can suppress those feelings I may still sneak off to Oakley’s Grille (see ad on pg. 43). My wife took half of her burger home and ate it five hours later. She thought it tasted better than it did at Ciccio’s. Clayton said if it was available in stores, he would buy some for his next cookout. “I’d probably eat three of them,” he said. Nikki texted me the next day: “I’m craving that Impossible Burger!”

So, How Does It Stack Up?

On a scale of 1-10, the appearance of the Impossible Burger got two 9s and two 10s from the five people at our table, with only Drew giving it only a 7.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 21 • October 6, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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As for the taste, Clayton gave it a 7, and everyone else rated it a 9. The Impossible Burger got three 10s and two 8s for texture. I sent Gigante a text before I pulled out and told him he was right — the Impossible Burger was, actually, a little mind-blowing, and it did make me think about where our food comes from and the effects it has on our environment. I decided I would take my kids there for one, and see if they liked it, because something Gigante said to me the day before had stuck with me. “I have kids, and someday I hope for them to grow up to be good people, and meet someone they love, and they have kids,” Gigante said. “Wouldn’t you like for your grandkids to enjoy life like you did? The way we are going, that won’t be possible. That’s why the Impossible Burger is so important.”

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