Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News, Volume 25, Issue 22, Oct. 20, 2017 by Neighborhood News

Volume 25 Issue 22

Inside: Wesley Chapel Resident Makes It On ‘The Voice!’

October 20, 2017

In Neighborhood Magazine!

Please View, Like & Share Every Episode Of WCNT-tv On YouTube & Facebook! The Direct-Mail News Magazines Serving New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Since 1993! For the complete list of neighborhoods that receive this publication by direct mail in Wesley Chapel (zip codes 33543, 33544 & 33545), see page 46!

Updating The Map Of Wesley Chapel Along S.R. 54, From I-75 To W. Of Curley Rd. Starbucks, Chick-Fil-A & CubeSmart Among The New Businesses Coming To The Area By JOHN C. COTEY

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The 4,000-sq.ft. Heartland Dental office is under construction & will be going vertical by the end of the month. It will share its location with a 4,200-sq.ft. stand-alone building that is still seeking a tenant but has suitors.

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The convenience store, expected to be 5,411-sq.ft. with a 771 sq.ft. patio, is still going through the approval and permitting process, but is planned for the northwest corner of Vandine Rd. & S.R. 54.

CubeSmart will provide self storage in a three-story, climate-controlled 80,000-sq.-ft. facility, which will be surrounded by 14,000 sq. ft. of single-story storage.

Nail & hair salons are two of the future tenants signed up for Nye Commons, which has 14,000-sq.ft. of space and is hoping to possibly add a restaurant and as many as four other tenants before opening by the end of the year.

Wiregrass Ranch DRI

Starbucks is expected to open before the end of the year, and the 2,330-sq.ft. coffee hotspot will be flanked by at least three other retail tenants occupying another 5,700-sq.ft.

Simply Events Presents The WC Fall Festival At The Grove Oct. 28-29!

So, of course, the 13th annual Wesley Chapel Fall Festival has to be held between Friday the 13th and Halloween, the two spookiest nights of 2017. To that end, on Saturday & Sunday, October 28-29, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. both days, this will be the second year that Simply Events — a Pinellas County-based local event management company — will put on the free (to attend) Fall Festival, after wowing thousands of not only Wesley Chapel but also surrounding-area locals last year, the first time the Fall Festival wasn’t put on by the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC), which is a sponsor again this year. “It was a great event last year and we expect it will be even bigger and better this time around,” says Simply Events’ Sonya Bradley. This time, attendees can participate in a Pet Parade & Costume Contest, the Mr. & Ms. Pumpkin Pageant, a new Trunk or Treat event (on Saturday at 4 p.m.) and the Fall Festival Carnival until 10 p.m. both nights.

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

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Land is currently being cleared for Chick-Fil-A’s proposed 4,877-sq.ft. restaurant with indoor play area & drive-through.

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Kinnan-Mansfield Back In The News; Sale Of Shops At Wiregrass Won’t Change Much; U.S. Hockey Team Prepping & Living In Wesley Chapel; Corporal Honored For Fighting Trafficking; FHWC Celebrates 5 Years; High Schools Entering Postseason; Plus, Lots Of Local Business Features!

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News, Business & Sports Updates

Wesley Chapel’s second Wawa location was approved in Oct. of 2016. Ground just started to be moved near the site where the 6,119-sq.ft. convenience store will be located.

Map of S.R. 54, between I-75 & Curley Rd., Wesley Chapel -By John C. & Blake B.

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Also Inside This Issue:

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Developers are seeking approval for a 110,000-sq.ft. self-storage facility and a 160,000-sq.ft. hotel to be located directly behind the Walgreens at the intersection of S.R. 54 and BBD.

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After years of developer attention along the S.R. 56 corridor, which has FreeFall included the debut of the Tampa PreZone mium Outlets, the opening of a plethora of new restaurants and stores like Costco and the continued growth in the southern portion of the Wiregranch Ranch Development of Regional Impact (DRI), Dayflow er Bl things appear to be turning north. vd In and around the intersection of S.R. 54 and Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., which had begun to show its age since it was widened a few years ago, ground is being moved as a number of new projects begin to sprout up. Included in future plans at the intersection and westward on S.R. 54 is another Wawa, Chick-Fil-A, Starbucks, Racetrac and a number of commercial strip centers that will potentially provide office space to everything from small restaurants to dentists and doctors. “Everything’s moving north, and that is consistent with our growth pattern,’’ says Hope Allen, the CEO of the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce. “You’re starting to see that northern progression.” The interest in SR. 54 is likely also the result of the saturation of the market See “S.R. 54 Growth” on pg. 9

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john@ntneighborhoodnews.com

Presented by Simply Events, the Wesley Chapel Fall Festival Returns to The Grove shopping center off Oakley Blvd., Saturday-Sunday, October 28-29.

There’ll be live music, great fair-style food & beverages for sale, arts & crafts, a Halloween celebration & so much more. For more information, contact Simply Events at (727) 674-1464 or SimplyEventsFL.com or see page 47!

Two Weeks After Irma, The Wesley Chapel Rotary Gives Out Flags To Remember 9/11 An editorial by Gary Nager It’s now been about a year since I switched my Rotary Club membership from the Wesley Chapel Noon club (which meets Wednesdays at noon at Lexington Oaks Golf Club) to the New Tampa Noon club (which meets the same day and time, at Pebble Creek Golf Club in New Tampa). But, even though I left the Wesley Chapel club, my fiancé Jannah McDonald is still a member there, as are many of mine and Jannah’s close friends. One guy I never met until he started showing up at the Wesley Chapel Rotary meetings a couple of years ago is former New York Police Department (NYPD) cop Chris Casella. And, although Chris isn’t currently the president of the club (*Note-He is the club’s President-Designate, who will become the WC Rotary’s president after current President Kent Ross and PresidentElect David Gainer), he is definitely one of the people I miss most by belonging to another club, even though I still get to see him quite a bit. Case in point: A couple of issues ago, we told you on page 1 of this publication that one of the WC Rotary’s upcoming service projects was to give away a total of 3,000 American flags at both local shopping malls the weekend of 9/11. Chris, who has taken on numerous responsibilities and initiated service projects for the club, including the flag giveaway, says he, “lost a lot of friends on 9/11 and it was only because I was injured the year before that I wasn’t allowed to help my brothers that day. I felt a lot of guilt about that, so 9/11 has a special meaning for me.” Of course, Hurricane Irma reared her

Wesley Chapel 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 Advertising/Marketing Rep 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 Production Gavin Olsen • Giuliano Ferrara Graphic Designers Blake Beatty • Georgia Carmichael Nothing that appears in Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News writers are their own and do not reflect the publisher’s opinion. The deadline for outside editorial submissions and advertisements for Volume 25, Issue 24, of Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News is Monday, November 6, 2017. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News will consider previously non-published outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News will not return unsolicited editorial materials. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit &/or reject any advertising. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the actual cost of the advertising space itself, nor for the validity of any claims made by its advertisers.

Correction From Last Issue

In our last issue, at the bottom of page 1, I did a hastily-written preview about the Keystone United Methodist Church (UMC) in Odessa’s annual Holiday Craft Fair on October 14. Unfortunately, I got the info from the wrong website and totally got it wrong. Keystone UMC has a rich, 150-year history in Odessa and is currently led by Senior Pastor Chris Kirk. I apologize for an (Left photo, courtesy of David Alvarez) Wesley Chapel Rotary Club President-Designate Chris Casella organized the upset my error may have club’s twice-postponed American flag giveaway at both local shopping malls on Oct. 23 -24. (Right) In addition to the caused. For more info, visit flag giveaways, the Rotary Club also got multiple poster-sized Thank-You cards signed by hundreds of local residents for KeystoneUnitedMethodistChurch.com. all three District 2 Pasco County fire stations and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office District 2 office in Dade City.

ugly head on September 10, which forced the club to postpone the giveaway, first until the following weekend and finally, until the weekend of Sept. 23-24. “With so many people losing power and all the debris in the roads, we decided to postpone it one more week,” Chris says.”But, we finally got it done.” With 15-20 volunteers, not all of whom were Rotarians, on hand, Chris says that the flag giveaway ended up being a huge success, despite the postponements. “We gave away at least 3,000 flags and most everyone was so appreciative that we were still honoring 9/11,” Chris says. “But, the stories some of the people told brought me to tears.” For example, one woman said her son was a firefighter who ran into the World Trade Center after the first tower collapsed...and never came back out. “She said that some people may have forgotten how horrible it was, but she never can.” Another woman’s 26-year-old son gave up a successful construction business to enlist in the Army because, Chris says, “He just felt the need to help.” During his second deployment in Afghanistan, a roadside bomb ended his life. I know that many of us are concerned about the state of our country and the world these days, but when you hear stories like this, about military members and first responders of all races, colors and creeds, some of whom have made the ultimate sacrifice for all of us, I understand why some people are offended by those who won’t rise for our national anthem. No matter what other problems there are in this still-great nation of ours — and certainly there are — we are all Americans who should never forget that unless we all stand together, we could fall together.

Table of Contents

Local News Updates.....................3-13

Hillsborough Antes Up For Kinnan-Mansfield...........4 Shops At Wiregrass Mall Sold...................................6 U.S. Women Prepping For Winter Games.................8 Cpl. Wilkett Honored For Human Trafficking Fight..10 FHWC Celebrates Five Years Of Community Service...12 Wesley Chapel Community Calendar.........................14

Local Business Updates..............18-25

Bay Dermatology Has Options For Skin Maladies....18 Dr. Korivi Makes Medical Care Personal..................20 SPOTLIGHT ON: Realtor Karen Tillman-Gosselin...21 Florida Orthopaedic Institute Can Keep You Moving!..22 SPOTLIGHT ON: Beach House Assisted Living......23 KidsPark Hourly Child Care A Hit With Parents.....24

Local School & Sports Updates...28-29 High Schools Have Eyes On The Postseason

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Ciccio’s Impossible Burger Surprises Our Panel...31, 46 Wesley Chapel’s Alexandra Joyce On ‘The Voice!’...32

Our 2017 Reader Survey & Contest..............34

Cappy’s Pizzeria Keeps On Keepin’ On..................38 ‘Neighborhood Nibbles & Business Bytes’.........42 New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Classifieds...........44 @NTWCNews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 22 • October 20, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Hillsborough Antes 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 has tried to make sure money is no longer one of them. Comm. Hagan proposed adding $250,000 to Hillsborough’s 2018 fiscal 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. Tampa and Hillsborough have been working 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 Kinnan-Mansfield 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 (BBD) 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 Hagan, 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 au-

This photo taken by a drone shows the 60-foot gap between Kinnan St. (on the bottom) and Mansfield Blvd. Hillsborough and Pasco counties and the City of Tampa are stalemated on the issue but continue to discuss connecting the two roads. thorize the connection,’’ Hagan says. He said ful response from Pasco County,” Hagan says. he grew so frustrated during negotiations that, Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera, who at one point, he threatened to put a toll booth represents New Tampa as part of the city’s on Bruce B. Downs at the county line. District 7, has been a vocal cheerleader for the “I got a lot of very, very favorable re- connection. Viera has called Hagan’s move a sponse from New Tampa, and a very very hate- “game-changer.”

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“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.”

And, The Opposition...

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 Blvd. is a safety hazard. “The study will probably come back late fall or into winter,’’ Pasco County District 2 commissioner (and Wesley Chapel resident) Mike Moore said. “There’s not much more I can add.” Comm. Moore said the money appropriated for Kinnan-Mansfield by Hillsborough 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 who have contacted him at 70-80 percent opposed. At a public meeting hosted by Pasco County planners at PHSC in April, three potential connections were discussed — KinnanMansfield, 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.

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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, Moore said. “Right now, in my mind, Meadow Pointe Blvd. would be an excellent location,’’ Moore said. “There is little to no objection to it.” However, Hagan made it clear the $250,000 the county has allocated is only for the Kinnan-Mansfield connection, not any other connector roads Pasco County may request instead. Multiple connections (see map above) could be an option. “We always talk about regional connectivity,” Hagan says, “and we have (other) connections between the two counties. It’s just absurd that this road hasn’t been connected all these years.”

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 22 • October 20, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

The Shops at Wiregrass Mall Sold By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com Forest City Enterprises has decided to get out of the retail game, selling off its 10 regional malls, including Wesley Chapel’s Shops at Wiregrass. But, Wiregrass general manager Greg Lenners says neither Wiregrass shoppers nor tenants will be affected by the deal, which has been a few years in the making. “Absolutely not,’’ Lenners says. “There’s really no change. Shoppers and our tenants aren’t going to notice anything different.” Forest City Realty Trust, Inc., based in Cleveland, closed the $3.175-billion deal for all 10 malls to investment partner QIC of Australia on Oct. 2. The two companies have been in joint ventures since 2013, and Forest City had announced last year it was looking at making changes to its portfolio. The Shops at Wiregrass is one of the six malls that will be turned over to QIC by the end of the year, along with malls in Denver, Pittsburgh, Yonkers, NY, Palmdale, CA, and Redondo Beach, CA. The sale of the other four malls will be completed next year. “The sale had nothing to do with mall performance or business,” Lenners said. “This was just a matter of Forest City streamlining their business and getting out of the retail business in its entirety.” The Shops at Wiregrass, which opened in 2009, is currently undergoing some significant renovations. Two large fountains near the mall’s cent-

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 22 • October 20, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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er court have been removed, and some trees have been relocated, to create a clearer sightline from Paseo Dr. (the main strip of the mall) to the restaurants closer to S.R. 56, including Cantina Laredo, GrillSmith, Union 72, Primebar and The Brass Tap. The removal of the fountains also will create a more open environment for the events the mall hosts, and also has room for a second stage, or the area can serve as a loading/unloading zone. The area will be accented by soft furniture for shoppers to sit in. Pavers around the grassy area in front of the stage also are being replaced. The mall also will begin preparing next week for the return of its popular “Symphony In Lights” shows, with the tree lighting scheduled for Saturday, November 11. Because that is also Veteran’s Day, the tree will be programmed to play with patriotic colors in between the 15-minute holiday shows.

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U.S. Women’s National Hockey Team Prepping For 2018 Winter Olympics By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com Pasco County District 2 commissioner Mike Moore marveled at the collection of ice hockey prowess that gathered at Florida Hospital Center Ice (FHCI) on Oct. 3. “These are some serious athletes,’’ he said, while issuing proclamations to each player on the U.S. women’s national hockey team officially welcoming the team to Wesley Chapel. The team then went out a few nights later and showed just what Moore was marveling at, posting a pair of weekend victories over two men’s collegiate hockey teams, including the University of Tampa. That talent will be on display all winter long at FHCI, as the team continues to train at the not-even-one-year-old facility in preparation for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. So far, the members of the team are happy it landed in Wesley Chapel. “Honestly, it’s been fantastic,’’ said forward Meghan Duggan, a former University of Wisconsin Badger who won the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, given to college hockey’s best female player, in 2011. “I think Wesley Chapel and a lot of the different pieces of the puzzle coming together for us is a big reason why we’re down here.” Those puzzle pieces include an area that is ripe with off-the-ice activities that have included lots of golf, shopping and hanging out at the pool, a new hockey facility that Duggan says is state of the art, and outstanding accommodations at Saddlebrook Resort. The experiences in Wesley Chapel haven’t

The U.S. women’s hockey team poses with their official proclamations welcoming them to Wesley Chapel where they will train for the upcoming 2018 Winter Olympics. (Photo: John C. Cotey) been limited to hockey and hanging out, either. The U.S. team, like the rest of us in the area, got to experience their first hurricane when Irma swept through town last month. Bad weather is nothing new for players from the snowy and cold north, but a hurricane was altogether different as Irma’s approach made for some nervous hockey players. “I’ve never been through anything like that, where trying to get water and stuff was difficult,’’ said Jocelyne Lamoureux. “That raised the anxiety a little.” The team spent less than 24 hours in a shelter at Saddlebrook, which was only sub-

jected to windy conditions that reminded Lamoureux of the straight-line wind storms she’s experienced in her home state of North Dakota. Hurricanes aside, Duggan says Wesley Chapel has been an ideal spot for the team. “We scoped (the area) out in April and May with wide eyes and excitement,’’ she said. “It’s going to be hard to leave after the Olympics to go back to our colder climates.” The U.S. women’s team has a busy winter schedule planned, and much of the activity will take place at FHCI, including the Four Nations Cup in early November.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 22 • October 20, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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Formerly known as the Three Nations Cup before Sweden joined the United States, Canada and Finland in 2000, the tournament has featured the top national teams in women’s hockey since 1996. In the single round-robin tourney, the U.S. will play three games at FHCI, meeting Finland (Tuesday, November 7), Canada (Wednesday, November 8) and Sweden (Friday, November 10). On Sunday, November12, the first- and third-place games will be held at Amalie Arena in downtown Tampa at noon and 3:30 p.m. Although Canada won 11 of the first 15 Three/Four Nations cups, the U.S. has won four of the last six, including the last two. But what is really driving the U.S. women is erasing the memory of the 2014 Sochi Olympics, where they lost a 2-0 lead in the final four minutes to Canada in the gold medal game before falling 3-2. The U.S. women have reasserted themselves as arguably the best team in the world, winning every world title since then, and seven of the last eight. However, Canada has won the last four Olympic gold medals. The two countries also will square off on Sun., Oct. 22, in Quebec City, and Wed., Oct. 25, in Boston, MA, ahead of their showdown at FHCI, where expectations are sure to be high. “The way we see it, pressure is a privilege,’’ says Duggan. “We are coming off three world championships, so we’re feeling pretty confident. I’m proud of this team, and we’re looking forward to showing the world what we have in this next tournament.” For additional information, please visit TeamUSA.USAHockey.com.

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‘S.R. 54 Growth’

Continued from page 1 along S.R. 56. In fact, Kim Lohry of Berkshire Hathaway says that there are now 27 restaurants located in the S.R. 56 corridor between Wesley Chapel Blvd. and Mansfield Dr., and “it’s a natural progression” for developers to look for other areas more ripe for new Heartland Dental is expected to go vertical any development. day now at this site off S.R. 54 between Lohry is involved in a project Walgreens & Wesley Chapel Nissan. bringing a 4,000-sq.ft. Heartland attractive target for potential businesses. Dental office to the north side of S.R. “It’s most certainly a prime area for 54, between the Walgreens and Wesley development,” Allen says. Chapel Nissan, as well as a 4,200-sq.ft. “I sure hope so,’’ says developer free-standing building which will share Brent Nye of Nye Commercial Adviparking with the dental office. She says sors, whose retail strip center on BBD she has already fielded a number of just south of the Wells Fargo bank is inquiries from potential tenants. expected to open by the end of the year. Much of the area currently beginNye says he already has contracted with ning a developmental phase lies south a nail and hair salon, and plans to add of the so-called “Connected City” a restaurant as well. He adds that the project, including Florida’s first two 14,000-sq.-ft. plaza, where his business lagoons by Crystal Lagoons in the new also will be based, could accommodate Mirada and Epperson Ranch housing as many as eight tenants. developments. The Connected City Nye also says other projects — like is expected to add thousands of new a Racetrac and Bay Breeze Car Wash on residents, and many businesses and jobs S.R. 54 and Vandine Rd., as well as the to the area over the next 20 years. CubeSmart Self Storage nearing compleWhile this stretch of 54 has been tion on the southwest corner of S.R. 54 anchored by Publix and recently added and Wesley Chapel Loop — are signs a Wal-Mart Supercenter, the influx of that the stretch of S.R. 54 from BBD new businesses will find plenty of custo the entrance to Meadow Pointe will tomers located within a 10-mile radius. soon become populated with businesses. That, along with the widening of “I think this is the next area you S.R. 54 east of Curley Rd. — expected will see a lot of growth in,’’ he says. to begin this year or early 2018 — “You are already seeing it.” makes this area of Wesley Chapel an

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 22 • October 20, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

PCSO Corporal Alan Wilkett Awarded For Fighting Human Trafficking By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN

celeste@ntneighborhoodnews.com Most days, you’ll find Corporal Alan Wilkett at the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) community office at the Shops at Wiregrass mall. Cpl. Wilkett wears many hats, including that of the commander of the Pasco County Human Trafficking Task Force. For his work on the task force, Wilkett was recently recognized as the “Law Enforcement Official of the Year” at the 2017 Human Trafficking Summit, held in Orlando on October 2. The summit was hosted by Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office. She presented the award to Wilkett, along with awards for “Survivor Advocate of the Year,” “Community Advocate of the Year,” and “Prosecutor of the Year.” “The award was given to one, but it was earned by many,” says Wilkett. “I didn’t earn it on my own. It’s a team effort by a lot of people, all who are as passionate as I am about ending human trafficking in our area, in Pasco County, in Florida and in the United States.” Wilkett explains that working to eradicate human trafficking has been part of his job for about seven years. As efforts and awareness of trafficking have increased, he said he’s found that he’s spending more and more time fighting this heinous crime. “I’ve had the opportunity to work in law enforcement for 20-plus years,” Wilkett says, explaining that he’s investigated all kinds of crimes, including child abuse. “In the course of investigating complaints, we would stumble across things that now we would know as human trafficking. At the time, we didn’t

He adds that people often think of human trafficking as a prostitute and a pimp, or a laborer and a boss, but it’s much more than that. He says it’s a huge business. Using the lowest number that is agreed upon, from the International Labor Organization, estimates are that human trafficking is a $150-billionper-year business with 20.9-million victims. The United Nations says 27 million victims. “It’s abhorrent that in the U.S. — the land of the free, home of the brave — that we would have this modern day slavery in our communities. We’re Corporal Alan Wilkett, of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office and the Pasco going to end this. I County Human Trafficking Task Force, is presented an award from Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi for “Law Enforcement Official of don’t know that we’ll end it in my career, but the Year” at the 2017 Human Trafficking Summit in Orlando. I can sow the seeds.” really understand that we had something so comprehensive. When the Trafficking Victims In Wesley Chapel, Though? Protection Act became law in 2000, I looked You might think it’s limited to the seedier back over my career and saw opportunities to parts of the Tampa Bay area. But, is the human have made a much bigger impact in the lives of trafficking going on in Wesley Chapel? people who were affected by this crime. That’s Cpl. Wilkett says yes. when I became very passionate about ending “It’s so entrenched in our fabric, it’s in human trafficking.” every single community,” he says. “It could

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be the landscaping guy cutting the grass in a gated community, the construction crew on a new business, going on right in our own shadows. It could be a gated community in Wesley Chapel where girls are being kept during the day and then going to the street at night. We’ve seen examples of all of these things.” He says he’s seen a “groundswell” in Pasco County, where people are saying, “It can’t happen in our community, in Wesley Chapel, in our country.” And, Wilkett says there are ways everyone can get involved to end human trafficking. “If you’re a member of a group – any group – ask that group if they would consider having a presentation,” he says. “We’ll talk about what it is, what to look for, and how to stop it.” Your group could also hold a collection drive to gather toiletries, shoes or clothes to support the organizations that help victims of this horrific crime to recover. He says that once you know the signs, behaviors, and indicators, “you can be (our) eyes and ears out in the community.” He says don’t take direct action, but call 9-1-1 or the Human Trafficking hotline at (888) 373-7888. Also, January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Mark your calendar now and plan to attend “Light Up The Night” at the Shops of Wiregrass on Saturday, January 20. Search “Light Up The Night Wiregrass” on Facebook for more information. For more info, visit PascoSheriff.com/ human-trafficking, or to schedule Cpl. Wilkett as a speaker on Human Trafficking, email a PCSO customer service specialist at css@pascosheriff.org.

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FHWC Celebrates 5 Years; ‘Inspiration Place’ Women’s Center Set To Open! By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN

celeste@ntneighborhoodnews.com When 8,000 people attended the public grand opening of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC) a couple of weeks before it opened to patients on October 1, 2012, they couldn’t have imagined how much of an impact on the community the hospital would have had on so many of us, just five years later. FHWC continues to expand and grow, adding more services and technology to serve Wesley Chapel. In the last five years, FHWC has had 177,000 emergency room visits, more than 27,000 inpatient admissions and more than 1,900 babies born. And, the hospital’s medical staff physicians have performed nearly 17,500 surgeries. In addition, FHWC also features its Health & Wellness Center (which now has more than 5,500 members), the Center for Women’s Health, Outpatient Rehabilitation services, robotic surgery systems and a recently completed expansion, which cost $78 million and added a heart catheterization lab, nearly doubled the number of emergency rooms and operating rooms, and added 62 patient rooms to the original 83. FHWC also will add a new wound care center in the spring of 2018. FHWC also has provided advanced medical care for the Wesley Chapel community and has had a major economic impact on our area. For example, FHWC opened with 400 employees, but now the hospital and adjacent Wellness Plaza employ more than 1,000 people.

Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel celebrated its five-year anniversary on Sunday, October 1, with activities for the whole family. Since opening in 2012, the hospital has grown tremendously. It opens “Inspiration Place” for women on Monday, October 23.

The hospital hosted a community celebration on October 1, with family activities, food trucks and community partners from the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office and Pasco County Fire Rescue. The hospital also showcased its new ambulance, which will transport patients from a new offsite emergency department in Land O’Lakes (opening in January) and transport patients between FHWC and the other local hospitals in the Florida Hospital/Adventist Health Care family when necessary. “We are blessed and proud to have

served our community for the last five years,” says FHWC president and CEO Denyse Bales-Chubb. “Our expansion reflects the community’s trust in our care and the awards and recognitions we have received are a testament to the expertise and compassion of our staff and physicians.” She adds, “But, we’re not done. We continue to add services to better meet the needs of our community.”

True Inspiration!

A $2.8-million dollar women’s health

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 22 • October 20, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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center, which will be called “Inspiration Place,” will open in the FHWC Wellness Plaza, on Monday, October 23, offering comprehensive care for women at every stage of life. Services available at Inspiration Place include gynecology, obstetrics, and prenatal care, along with primary care services, wellness services and more. Inspiration Place also includes a spa, for services such as massage and skin care treatments. Appointments can be booked now on its website, FHInspirationPlace.org. An open house for ladies will be held at Inspiration Place on Wednesday, November 1, 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. For more information or to register for the mentoring class, contact Carol at (813) 753-8338.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 22 • October 20, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

OCTOBER 2017 Saturday, October 21

Northwood Community Garage Sale - See ad on this page! Wesley Chapel Jazz Festival! - See story & ad on next page!

Monday, October 23

Professional Business Connections (PBC) - PBC meets Mondays at 7:45 a.m. at The Happy Hangar Cafe (at Tampa North Aero Park, 4241 Birdsong Blvd., off S.R. 54, Lutz). For info, call Matt Archbold at (813) 782-1777. Wesley Chapel Speaks - The Wesley Chapel Toastmasters meets every Monday at 6 p.m. for networking, 6:30 pm for public speaking, at Wesley Chapel Nissan (28519 State Rd 54). For more info, call Martin at (813) 693-0969.

Tuesday, October 24

Wesley Chapel Lions Club - The Wesley Chapel Lions meet every 4th Tues., 6:30 p.m., at the Lexington Oaks Community Center (26304 Lexington Oaks Blvd.). For info about volunteering, community efforts, meetings, helping the vision impaired & more, visit WesleyChapelLionsClub.com or the club’s page on Facebook.

Wednesday, October 25

Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel - The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel (Noon) now meets Wed., at noon at Lexington Oaks Golf Club (26133 Lexington Oaks Blvd.). First-time guests attend for free. For info, call (813) 862-8989 or (813) 391-3895.

Thursday, October 26

BNI Networking Meeting - Business professionals are invited to attend this networking organization’s meetings on Thursdays, 7:30 a.m., at Savannah Church (3758 Maryweather Lane, off BBD Blvd., behind Dunkin’ Donuts). For more info, call Kyle Flischel at (813) 815-0250. Networking For Your Success - The Networking For Your Success group meets Thursdays, 8 a.m., at the Lexington Oaks Golf Club clubhouse (26133 Lexington Oaks Blvd.). All are welcome. For more information, call (813) 994-9944. RGA Network Weekly Meeting - The RGA Networking Group meets weekly for networking at GrillSmith at the Shops at Wiregrass mall. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m.; lunch is noon-1 p.m. For more info, visit RGANetwork.net. Marijuana Legalization & Regulation Awareness Symposium - Guest panelists Charles Spinner of Spinner Law Firm, Victor Walker of Trulieve, a Marijuana Dispensary, and Dr. Keith Stolte of Stolte Eye Center discuss medical marijuana prescriptions, policies regarding dispensaries, and the legal impact of the amendment legalizing the medical use of cannabis in Florida, at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch (2727 Mansfield Blvd.), 1 p.m.-3 p.m. in the Conf. Center, Building B, Room 303. For info visit phsc.edu/calendar. Celebrate Recovery - Meeting Thursdays at 7 p.m. at Bridgeway Church (30660 Wells Rd.), the purpose of Celebrate Recovery is to bring freedom from dysfunctional, compulsive & addictive behaviors through biblically-based principles. Dinner & free childcare available. For info, call (813) 907-1313.

Saturday, October 28

13th Annual Wesley Chapel Fall Festival! - See story on pg. 1 & ad om pg. 47! Spooktacular! - Avalon Park West holds a trunk-or-treat event with bounce houses and a haunted house. Free event from 5-8 p.m. 5227 Autumn Ridge Dr., Wesley Chapel. AvalonParkWest.com Oktoberfest - St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church will host Oktoberfest from 6-10 p.m. at The Venetian event center, 9724 Cross Creek Blvd. in New Tampa. Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for children 5 and up. Purchase tickets at the church office. For more info, call (813) 907-7746.

NOVEMBER 2017 Friday, November 3

Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Sunrise - The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Sunrise meets the 1st & 3rd Fridays of each month, 7:15 a.m., at Happy Hangar Cafe, 4241 Birdsong Blvd. For info, call Kathy Schenck at (813) 956-4436.

Saturday, November 4

Wounded Warriors Golf Tournament - See ad on the next page.

Tuesday, November 7

GFWC Pasco Junior Woman’s Club - Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Lexington Oaks Clubhouse, 26304 Lexington Oaks Blvd. Visit GFWCPascoJWC.blogspot.com or Facebook.com/GFWCPascoJuniors for more informaiton. NAMI Friends & Family: Mental Health Support Group - NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) of Pasco support group for friends & family of those with mental illness. The group meets the 1st & 3rd Tues. of each month, 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m., at Atonement Lutheran Church (29617 S.R. 54). For info, visit NAMIPasco.com.

Friday, November 10

Mental Health Support Group - NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) of Pasco is a support group for adults in Pasco County living with mental illness or in recovery. The group meets the 2nd & 4th Friday of each month, 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m. at Atonement Lutheran Church (29617 S.R. 54). Visit NAMIPasco.org.

Saturday, November 11

Sean Bartell Foundation Quarter Auction - See ad on the next page.

Monday, November 13

East Pasco Democratic Club - Meets the 3rd Monday of each month at American House, 38130 Pretty Pond Rd. in Zephyrhills from 7-8:30 p.m. For more info, visit EastPascoDems.com.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 22 • October 20, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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Wesley Chapel Jazz Festival Returns To The District Park On Boyette Rd. Sat., Oct. 21! Although it always features a little more than “just” great jazz, it’s hard not to have a soft spot for the fifth 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, Han- Jazz saxophonist Marlon Boone (right) returns to the Wesley Chapel cock has brought great music, Jazz Festival on Sat., Oct. 21, at the Wesley Chapel District Park. clude the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber some excellent food and other vendors together for all-day shows that are ap- of Commerce, Rubenstein Law, DeSigns propriate for families but still allows adults to Signs & Printing, Serenity Village Insurenjoy adult music and to a location only 15 ance & Consulting, Kaptain Krab Seafood, minutes or so north of the Hillsborough/ Jazz Tyme Productions, Papa John’s Pizza, the New Tampa & Wesley Chapel NeighborPasco county line. Hancock says this year’s lineup includes hood News & WCNT-tv! Food vendors you can expect this year his awesome smooth jazz band, Abnique, as the headliners, plus the triumphant return of include JB’s Sweet Addictions, Anthony & saxophonist Marlon Boone (at right in photo) Son Catering, Momma’s Empanadas, The and NJ Ladyfingers, plus Terry Edwards’ Latin Tea Jug, T-Momma Catering & Kaptain Krab Seafood. Jazz Band...and maybe some surprise guests. For additional information about the So, bring your lawn chairs and/or blankets and grab the kids for some fun activities latest Wesley Chapel Jazz Festival, visit JazzTymeProductions.net or see the ad on just for them. This year’s Jazz Festival sponsors in- this page (below right)!

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 22 • October 20, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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Bay Dermatology’s WC Office Offers Skin Health & Cosmetic Care By BRAD STAGER

When Bay Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery opened its Shoppes of Wesley Chapel office (on Bruce B. Downs {BBD} Blvd. across from Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel) last year, it brought local residents the resources of a medical practice that has been taking care of skin, hair and nail maladies throughout the Tampa Bay area for almost three decades. Bay Dermatology marketing manager Tom Agriesti says the health practice’s mission has been clear since it was established in 1988. It has grown to eight offices, including Homosassa, Spring Hill, Port Richey, Palm Harbor, Largo, St. Pete Beach, Wesley Chapel and N. Dale Mabry Hwy. in Lutz. “From day one, Bay Dermatology has provided the highest quality care for (our) patients and we’re glad to be able to do that for people living in the Wesley Chapel area,” Agriesti says. Services and treatments available at Bay Dermatology range from health-preserving therapies and surgeries to appearance-enhancing cosmetic surgery, as well as procedures that are non-invasive. Bay Dermatology’s Wesley Chapel office treats skin disorders such as acne, psoriasis (a condition in which skin cells build up and form scales and itchy, dry patches) and vitiligo, a long-term skin condition characterized by patches of the skin losing pigment. The office also offers treatments for eczema and rashes, the removal of moles and warts, as well as skin cancer screening and treatment.

Clinical dermatology treatments for conditions like psoriasis, eczema and rashes such lichen planus, an inflammatory skin condition, characterized by an itchy, non-infectious rash of small, pink or purple lesions, include topical and oral medications. Bay Dermatology also uses XTRAC laser therapy for psoriasis, which uses targeted UVB light to treat the condition without damaging surrounding healthy tissue. An extensive menu of aesthetic services, such as fillers, facials, Botox, peels and laser hair removal, also are available for consideration. Agriesti suggests having a customized, personal skin care consultation as a good starting point in providing patients with recommendations for treatments and products. Therapeutic facials offer a way to freshen your appearance and the Bay Skin Care Signature facial treatment brings together the cosmetic benefits of antioxidants, serums, light chemical peel, extraction and facial massage topped off with a mask-treatment application. There’s also a facial geared toward the specific needs of teen complexions, as well as a “Just for Men” routine that aims to ease irritations like razor burn and promote a well-groomed appearance. Chemical peels include glycolic, vitamin C and therapeutic combinations of salicylic and lactic acids as well as retinol and resorcinol. Generally, peels are intended to minimize the signs of aging, such as wrinkles, but Bay Dermatology’s VI Peel is a deep peel that aims to reduce if not eliminate blemishes such as age spots, freckles and acne scars as well. Many patients use the clinic’s aesthetician services as part of their

bridge, United Kingdom. According to Dr. Bennett, even though Bay Dermatology treats patients throughout the Tampa Bay area, it comes down to the one-on-one relationship between the patient and his or her dermatologist, which he frames thusly: “What would you do if it was your own family member or yourself?” “Every single person who comes through the door is treated that way, with the best principles of excellence in medicine applied to their situDr. Adam Bennett (right) joined the Wesley Chapel ation,” says Dr. Bennett, who office of Bay Dermatology on BBD Blvd. last year. adds that while he isn’t fluent in Spanish, he is competent in post-operative care for cosmetic, laser and “medical Spanish,” meaning other surgical procedures. he can communicate on medical issues with Dr. Adam E. Bennett, MD, PhD, patients who prefer to speak Spanish. joined Bay Dermatology’s Wesley Chapel “We try to give optimal time to our office last year. patients when they’re in the room with He earned his medical degree from the the doctor and treat all of our patients like University of Florida College of Medicine they’re members of our own family,” office in Gainesville and continued his education manager Vanessa Kirschner says. in dermatology at the University of South Kirschner says that Bay Dermatology Florida Morsani College of Medicine, comaccepts a large number of insurance plans pleting his dermatology residency at H. Lee and will try to schedule same-day appointMoffitt Cancer Center, the James A. Haley ments if requested. Veterans Hospital, Tampa General Hospital, Kirschner’s patient-reception colleague, and Florida Hospital Tampa. Anntoinette Sheppard, offers advice that will Dr. Bennett is Board-certified in dermake your introduction to Bay Dermatology matology and is a Fellow of the American more efficient and easier overall. Academy of Dermatology. His Ph.D. was “If you print out the paperwork (from earned at Cambridge University in Camour website), and have it filled out when you

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come in, it speeds up the process and I can get you in the back,” Sheppard says. Dr. Bennett says sometimes a patient’s first visit is a quest for an answer to an internal query, such as wondering if you have skin cancer. “If you have something you’re worried about,” he says, “that’s a great reason to come in.” Concern over a mole during a skin cancer screening prompted New Tampa resident Katie Floyd to visit Bay Dermatology’s Wesley Chapel office. “You have to be aware of what’s going on with your body and if you see something that’s grown or changed color it’s a good idea to have it checked out,” says Floyd. Floyd added that her experience at Bay Dermatology has been a good one, and conveniently located near her New Tampa residence. The consensus among Google Reviewers about Bay Dermatology’s Wesley Chapel office is positive, with a score of 4.9 out of five possible stars from 11 reviews, among them, Vicki Barnitt’s five-star rating. “Dr. Bennett was very thorough, friendly, and explained all procedures,’’ she wrote. “Staff are courteous and everything ran smoothly and on time during both of my appointments. Highly recommend Bay Dermatology!”

On The Cutting Edge

In addition to being a resource for personal skin health and cosmetic care, Bay Dermatology is undertaking initiatives that could bring cutting-edge, state-of-the art dermatological and cosmetic treatments and procedures to Wesley Chapel and New Tampa residents.

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Dr. Bennett, who says he has a professional interest in research, says that Bay Dermatology is making big investments in research on behalf of its patients in the Wesley Chapel and New Tampa area. “(Bay Dermatology) just opened our new clinical research center (in Pinellas County) and my goal is to expand it to all offices, including Wesley Chapel,” he says. By adding research capability, Bennett says Bay Dermatology will be able to ensure the efficacy and safety of the medical grade cosmetics it offers, and also work with national researchers who are developing experimental treatments for skin diseases such as psoriasis. Since opening just over a year ago, the Wesley Chapel Bay Dermatology location has been building its presence in the local dermatology and cosmetic community. The public is invited to get to know the staff and learn about some of the services and products they offer on Monday, November 6, 5 p.m.-7 p.m., during the office’s 2017 Fall Cosmetic Event. According to Agriesti, the cosmetic event is a good introduction to Bay Dermatology’s cosmetic services, with many of them available at special prices for attendees, such as a Buy One Syringe, Get One Half Off on all fillers, including Juvederm, Voluma, Lyft and Silk. Bay Dermatology’s Wesley Chapel office is located at 2653 BBD, Suite 120A. For more information or to make an appointment, visit BayDermatology. com, call (813) 514-0823 or see the ad on pg. 20 of this issue. To RSVP for the 2017 Fall Cosmetic Event, call (866) 967-3376.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 22 • October 20, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Dr. Praveen Korivi Wants To Make Quality Health Care Affordable & Accessible! By ANDY WARRENER

Accessibility is one of the major issues in obtaining health care in the U.S. Patients first have to find a doctor, then determine if that doctor accepts their type of insurance. Then comes the often arduous task of getting an appointment, which can drive you a little crazy. Even wait times in the office lobby can be an unnerving experience. Praveen Korivi, M.D, is trying to make his practice available and affordable for residents of the greater New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area and beyond. Located on E. Fletcher Ave. near Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., with convenient access to I-75 and I-275, Dr. Korivi prides himself on modeling his practice after the family doctor of yesteryear. “Primary care the way it used to be, where the doctor knows you and you know the doctor and staff,” Dr. Korivi said. “We have a more personalized, individualized approach.” When patients seek care at Dr. Korivi’s office, they see a Board- certified M.D., not a P.A. (Physicians Assistant) or R. N.P. (Registered Nurse Practitioner). The office is a doctor-operated clinic, not a corporation. Dr. Korivi intentionally leaves openings in his schedule for walk-ins, both for existing and new patients. “We find that our patients get seen when they are sick and avoid unnecessary trips to the ER or hospital,” Dr. Korivi says. “Even patients with high deductibles can be

Amy Morales (left) and Dr. Praveen Korivi invite you to experience outstanding primary medical care, located minutes from Wesley Chapel on E. Fletcher Ave. in Tampa. seen under our self-pay service.” While both a complete primary and urgent care facility, Dr. Korivi says that in most cases, he remains his patients’ physician even if they are referred to a specialist or hospitalized. Dr. Korivi’s office can admit patients to Florida Hospital Tampa, Florida Hospital Carrollwood and Florida Hospital Wesley

Chapel, as well as refer them to a number of specialists in the area. “We work with the highest-quality consulting and specialty physicians in the area,” Dr. Korivi says.

Quality Care; Familiar Faces

His observations as a student and resident doctor made him aware of the unnecessary boundaries that can be created and

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 22 • October 20, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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inhibit doctor-patient relationships. “I knew I wanted to work in a smaller setting where I was the practicing physician,” Dr. Korivi says. “I wanted a more personal approach.” For routine lab results, receptionist and clinical staffer Amy Morales makes direct calls to the patients. If the diagnosis is more serious, oftentimes Dr. Korivi himself will call the patient with the results. If the results are critical, the doctor will likely ask the patient to come into the office. It’s always a friendly voice and smile at Dr. Korivi’s office. Morales welcomes all of the patients and is fluent in Spanish. “Amy is a familiar face to patients,” Dr. Korivi says. “She provides continuity and helps build relationships.” Morales lived in New Tampa while studying at Hillsborough Community College, and says she has the same mindset as the doctor. “Patients like that when they come here, it’s always the same person to welcome them,” she says. “I like the fact that I can be close to the patients, and that they have trust in me.” Dr. Korivi grew up in Houston and attended the University of Houston, where he graduated cum laude with degrees in Biology and Psychology. He received his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree from the Spartan Health Sciences University School of Medicine in Vieux Fort, St. Lucia, in the Caribbean. He completed his residency in Family Medicine at The State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

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Dr. Korivi moved to the New Tampa area, just two miles from the office, because he saw greater New Tampa and the University area as an underserved part of Hillsborough County. “It feels like we are making a difference, especially with patients who might not have access to the quality of health care they need,” he says. Dr. Korivi’s office welcomes both new and established patients. Veterans can get immediate appointments at the office and can have the Veterans Administration (VA) pay for the services. The doctor’s office is just a half-mile from USF and the James Haley VA Hospital, roughly 20-25 minutes from Wesley Chapel. “Veterans won’t have to wait for access to healthcare or wait to be seen,” Dr. Korivi said, adding that USF students also can be seen right away. People without health insurance are welcomed through the self-pay option. Dr. Korivi says that patients’ self-pay prices are at a 30-percent savings. Even patients with high deductibles can pay using the self-pay service. “When patients find out the self-pay price, they usually reach for their credit cards,” Dr. Korivi says. Empathy is another hallmark of Korivi’s service. He says a patient from Cuba who came to him with a hearing impairment had gone through elementary and high school in Cuba with the problem, unable to obtain a hearing aid from her doctor there. Dr. Korivi was able to get her Florida Medicaid to pay for a hearing aid, and now that patient is continuing her education with the ability to hear her teachers. “There are many situations where doctors are left with reduced autonomy to

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make decisions,” Dr. Korivi says. “Ours is a practice where we are free from interference with outside sources and can make decisions based on individual judgment.” He adds that his background in psychology helps in this regard. “Mental health is very under-diagnosed and underfunded,” he says. “My background in psychology gives me a unique perspective into those situations.” Dr. Korivi has received high marks (4.5 stars out of 5 overall) on Zocdoc.com, a website that helps people find doctors and provides rankings for everything from scheduling and response time to rapid registration. He says his Zocdoc “awards” are a testament to his desire to strengthen the doctor-patient relationship. Dr. Korivi’s profile on Zocdoc.com has verified patient reviews where the majority are positive. He has been praised for his office environment, being a great listener and getting straight to the point. “I appreciated his professionalism and willingness to work with me for my personal wants and needs,” Shannon wrote. “He’s a very flexible and understanding doctor.” Dr. Korivi’s profile has been on the site since 2015 and, on it, patients can review openings in the schedule, descriptions of accepted insurance plans, his practice’s philosophy and even directions to the office. The office of Dr. Praveen Korivi is located at 2304 E. Fletcher Ave. in Tampa. Office hours are Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m., and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday. An answering service is available after hours. For more information, call (813) 615-CARE (2273), visit MedClinicFL. com or see the ad on pg. 46.

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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 more information or to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation in your home with Karen Tillman-Gosselin, visit FineHomesOfTampa.com or call (813) 629-1502.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 22 • October 20, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Specialized Care Available In Wesley Chapel At Florida Orthopaedic Institute SPECIAL TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

It’s been two years since the newest office of Florida Orthopaedic Institute opened in the Shoppes of Wesley Chapel on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., directly across from Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC). The staff and doctors at the office are meeting the increasing demand for specialized orthopaedic care that can help the residents of Wesley Chapel and nearby communities stay active. The Board-certified doctors and surgeons at Florida Orthopaedic Institute have been recognized globally for their expertise. Headquartered in North Tampa, the Wesley Chapel office is the tenth for the practice, which has been open for 27 years and now serves patients in or near Bloomingdale, Brandon, Citrus Park, Northdale, Oak Hill/Brooksville, Palm Harbor, South Tampa, Sun City Center, Temple Terrace and Wesley Chapel/New Tampa. The Wesley Chapel office offers physician services, physical therapy and X-rays, with three Board-certified physicians on staff: • Christopher Baker, M.D., a fellowship-trained specialist in sports medicine and shoulder reconstruction; • Brian Palumbo, M.D., who specializes in hip and knee replacement surgery, with a focus on diagnosing and treating hip and knee arthritis, and • Timothy Epting, D.O., orthopaedic foot & ankle surgeon, who focuses on injuries and disorders of the foot and ankle and general orthopaedic conditions. To maintain the highest level of orthopaedic skill, Florida Orthopaedic Institute only employs doctors who have had fellowship training. “This additional training is just part of what sets us apart,” says Dr. Baker, “especially when the sophisticated work of joints is involved. In order to keep our patients active, the precision of the treatment is paramount to success.” Dr. Baker, a partner at Florida Orthopaedic Institute, has been with the group for four years and has practiced in the area for seven. He graduated cum laude with his M.D. degree from the University of Florida in Gainesville and completed his residency in Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. His fellowship at the Steadman Hawkins Clinic of the Carolinas (in Spartanburg, SC) gave him an

You’ll find orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Christopher Baker at Florida Orthopaedic Institute’s Wesley Chapel Office on BBD Blvd., across from Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel. extra year of study in sports medicine and shoulder reconstruction, making him the only fellowship-trained shoulder specialist in eastern Pasco County. He also has been very influential in high school athletics, since he assisted in opening the sports medicine programs at Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills high schools. Dr. Baker continues to serve as the team physician for several schools in both Pasco and Hillsborough Counties. He also treats professional athletes and has served as the orthopaedic and sports medicine physician for the Tampa Bay Storm Arena Football League team. In addition to caring for athletes, he also treats patients who have shoulder pain stemming from aging or injury. Many patients avoid shoulder treatment because they are afraid they will need surgery or because of the misconception that pain is a normal part of aging, but Dr. Baker always informs his patients about all available alternatives. “There are a lot of options other than surgery, like physical therapy or cortisone injections,’’ he says. “Our mission is to do what is best for the individual patient.” Even when surgery is necessary, Dr. Baker says he does not go straight to invasive surgical techniques. He uses the latest technologies and says that many repairs are done with an arthroscope to minimize in-

cisions, pain and recovery time. The other doctors at Florida Orthopaedic Institute, like Dr. Palumbo, also believe that minimizing surgical trauma and muscle damage should be a high priority for any surgeon. Speaking of Dr. Palumbo, he served in the Special Operations Command for the U.S. Air Force. He later earned his M.D. degree from the University of South Florida in Tampa, where he also served as a resident in USF’s Department of Orthopedics & Sports Medicine. After that, he

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attended Harvard Medical School’s Hip & Knee reconstruction surgical fellowship for one year at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA. Dr. Palumbo specializes in hip and knee arthritis management, joint replacement surgery and the treatment of failed or painful hip and knee joint replacements. He is Board-certified by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, a member of the American Association of Hip & Knee Surgeons, and serves as an assistant professor for the University of South Florida’s Orthopaedic Residency Program. There are several unique aspects to Dr. Palumbo’s orthopaedic practice. He is a proponent of the direct anterior approach (DAA), also known as the frontal approach, for hip replacements. He says this technique minimizes surgical trauma and allows for faster recovery and decreased pain. He explains that, “Rather than cutting through or damaging muscles (with the DAA approach), you’re simply spreading certain muscles to the side, using their natural tissue planes. It’s like opening a window versus breaking through it.” His approach to joint replacement surgery also includes a technique for total knee replacements called Kinematic Knee Alignment. This technique is unique in that the goal of the surgery is to restore the natural position and dynamics of the knee joint, rather than implanting it in an alignment that the surgeon believes is correct. “Conventional total knee arthroplasty implants the knee where the surgeon thinks it belongs, while kinematic alignment implants the knee replacement in a way

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that attempts to replicate (that) knee before (the patient) had arthritis,” he states. Dr. Palumbo also is an advocate for partial (rather than total) knee replacements whenever possible. He feels that sparing hip and knee joint muscles and Timothy Epting, D.O. preserving bone (when possible) can lead to improved and faster recovery and long-term outcomes. He also firmly believes in the importance of fellowship-trained, specialized surgeons. “The added training and expertise this provides allows us to care for complex failed and painful joint replacement issues,” he says. “Approximately 30 percent of joint replacements I perform are re-do replacements for old or failed joint replacements.”

An Emphasis On Education

Educating patients is a core philosophy at the Florida Orthopaedic Institute, whose surgeons encourage patients to seek out options to ensure that they are getting a doctor who is experienced in treating their particular type of injury. Dr. Epting is an orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeon, the only one in Pasco County. He is Board-certified and did his fellowship training at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

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Prior to joining the Florida Orthopaedic Institute team, Dr. Epting served three years as an orthopaedic surgeon at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Jacksonville, FL. He also served as an orthopaedic surgeon in Operation EnBrian Palumbo, M.D. during Freedom in Afghanistan and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in 2010. “My military experience and fellowship training allow me to explore all options for my patients so they can receive the best possible care,” he says. Dr. Epting treats sports injuries of the ankle/foot (fractures, ligament and tendon injuries), as well as arthritis (fusions and ankle replacement) and foot & ankle deformities. He utilizes non-surgical measures (bracing and physical therapy) as well as surgical repair, arthroscopy and reconstruction, when appropriate. Orthopaedic surgery training gives him insight into foot and ankle conditions, as well as their impact on the body as a whole. For more info, stop in at Florida Orthopaedic Institute’s Wesley Chapel office at 2653 BBD, visit FloridaOrtho. com or see the ad on page 6 of this issue. The Wesley Chapel location is open Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Call (800) FL-ORTHO for appointments.

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SPOTLIGHT ON...Beach House Assisted Living! When the Beach House Assisted Living & Memory Care (located on S.R. 56, a half-mile east of Mansfield Blvd.) opens in January, it will include 100 residences and will be Wesley Chapel’s first full-service assisted living and memory care facility. “We’re bringing resort-style senior living to (Wesley Chapel),” says executive director Linda Mena. “It’s a very comfortable environment.” She says it’s called Beach House because it is intended to remind people of fond memories of summers past. “We are also building memories,” she says, “and want to help our residents make new memories.” The residences vary from “alcove” apartments to two-bedroom, two-bathroom units. Right now, Beach House is accepting deposits to hold a spot in the new facility, and Mena says it is already about 30-percent occupied. Of the 100 residences, 33 are specifically designated for memory care. “We have an amazing memory care program called Heartfelt Connections,” she says, “celebrating what’s left and not focusing on what’s been lost.” Amenities in the 93,000-sq.-ft. Beach House include restaurant-style fine dining, a movie theater, full-service beauty salon and barber shop, arts & crafts studio, shuffleboard, and a putting green. “We have many beautiful outside courtyards, covered porches, and a lot of common area space for residents,” Mena adds, saying

that the activities at the Beach House are chosen by the residents, as well. “We don’t do cookie cutter activities,” she says. “We don’t just do BINGO. We have a preliminary schedule, but it changes along with the audience it serves. If no one wants to play BINGO, we’ll do something else.” Mena adds that every aspect of care is designed to meet the needs of each individual person who chooses to call Beach House his or her home. “We offer resident-centered, focused care,” Mena says. “From our dining menu to meeting (our residents’) clinical needs to socialization, we personalize every aspect for each resident.” Mena invites people looking for assisted living for themselves or a loved one to visit the Beach House offsite sales office at 2754 Windguard Circle, Suite 101 (located across Bruce B. Downs Blvd. from Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel) to see the current pre-construction promotions. For more information, see the ad on pg. 21, call (813) 358-0554 or visit BeachHouseWiregrass.com.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 22 • October 20, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Wesley Chapel Families Love KidsPark’s Drop-In, Hourly Childcare

“Heather has been a huge help for me,” says Amanda. “My background is in science, so it’s great that Heather understands all of the licensing and requirements.”

By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN celeste@ntneighborhoodnews.com

In a little more than a year, KidsPark Tampa (located just off of S.R. 56, east of I-75, in Wesley Chapel) has registered nearly 1,500 families — totaling 2,800 kids — looking for the support and flexibility that no-reservation, drop-in childcare gives them. “The numbers here have blown away all the other KidsPark centers,” says Amanda Justus, the owner of KidsPark Tampa. “In May, we received the ‘Shooting Star’ award for fastest growth within a year among Kids Park centers nationally.” KidsPark also has been nominated for the 2017 Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce New Business of the Year. KidsPark is a national franchise, with just three locations in Florida (two are in Jacksonville). There will soon be four, as Amanda has recently signed a franchise agreement for a second location. While she’s still looking for the perfect place, she expects it to be close to downtown Tampa and hopes to open in the summer of 2018. She says the growth is because KidsPark meets an important need for families. “If you’re a mom, you get it,” says Amanda. She explains that KidsPark is available for children ages 2 through 12, for drop-in childcare. “We offer hourly childcare on days, evenings and weekends, with no reservations. For date nights, meetings, grocery shopping, appointments, anything… you just drop your kids off.” Amanda knows, because she’s been there herself.

Fun For The Kids

KidsPark owner Amanda Justus (left) and director Heather Perez invite you to bring your kids to KidsPark, Wesley Chapel’s hourly childcare center, located off S.R. 56. “My first experience with hourly childcare was when I was living in North Carolina and my husband was in the Marines,” Amanda says. “Hourly childcare saved my life. Sometimes, it was the only way for me to get to the store or clean the house.” Amanda and her husband Ricky now live in Wesley Chapel with their two children, Camryn, who is 11, and Gavin, who is 7. Amanda worked as a microbiologist at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel before leaving her job to focus on opening and

running KidsPark. While her undergraduate degree is in microbiology from the University of South Florida in Tampa, she also holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) degree from nearby St. Leo University, which she earned in 2013. “I’ve always wanted to own my own business, and I knew this was something the area needed,” she says. KidsPark’s full-time director, Heather Perez, has 20 years of experience as a preschool director in Pasco County.

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KidsPark has something for all kids, from dramatic play to air hockey, board games and puzzles, as well as karaoke, Wii dance, Wii sports, and Xbox. Kids Park also has a private, enclosed outdoor space so kids can get some fresh air. While visitors to KidsPark get time for open play, there also are scheduled activities. “We try to make sure every child takes home a craft or art project,” Amanda says, “so parents can see what they’ve been doing.” KidsPark serves lunch at noon every day, and dinner at 6 p.m. The meals are catered and cost just $4.25 per child. Snacks are provided at no additional charge at 10 a.m., 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. “It’s huge to know that you always have child care,” Amanda says, “and — unlike what might happen with a babysitter — that they aren’t just sitting there watching TV.

Preschool & VPK, Too!

In addition to hourly childcare, KidsPark offers both Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) for four year olds and preschool for ages two and three. KidsPark has two VPK classes, one from 9 a.m.-noon and one from 1 p.m.- 4 p.m. These classes, which are currently filled, are for families who use a voucher and pay nothing out-of-pocket for this time. On any day, whether the parent is running late or

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would like additional childcare, they pay just the regular hourly rate for any extra time. “Buddy Preschool” also is held each day from 9 a.m. to noon, but parents have the flexibility to choose which days they attend and pay hourly just for the times their child is there. “It’s such a different concept,” says Amanda. “You don’t have to wait for the next school year to start.”

Affordable Rates

“We try to make it so everyone can afford child care,” Amanda says. The hourly rate is just $8 for one child, or $12.25 for two siblings. Additional siblings are $3.25 per hour. A “preferred customer rate” is

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available for anyone who pre-pays $100 or more (in $50 increments, up to $250). Ten percent is added to your prepayment, so if you pre-pay $100, you actually get $110 credited to your account. There also is a day rate, so the price is capped at $56 for one child and $85.75 for two, per day. There is a $25 registration fee per family (not per child), which is a one-time fee, as long as you come at least once a year. Also, once you’ve paid the registration fee at any facility, you can use all KidsPark facilities across the country when you’re traveling. Amanda also offers discounts to hospital employees and to anyone in the military. On Sundays, before and after KidsPark is open, the staff hosts birthday parties and other private parties. “For a private party, you have the whole center to yourselves,” says Amanda. “You choose a craft and a game, and the cost includes face painting, two staff members to keep the kids busy, and also includes invitations, paper products and even decorations.”

Happy Customers

Samantha Weaver is a Wesley Chapel mom of three boys. “I have two who are old enough for KidsPark, and I have my one-year-old, who I desperately wish I could

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drop off at KidsPark!” She says her two older kids, ages 2 and 4, love KidsPark. “It’s their favorite thing to do.” As if on cue, one of her boys immediately interrupts. “Mommy, can we go to KidsPark?” Samantha says her kids are introverted and usually take a long time to warm up. “The first I took them there, they didn’t want to leave,” she says. Samantha also is a military wife, who says her husband is gone all the time, working. And, she’s a photographer. If she has a shoot in the evening, she’ll drop the kids off at KidsPark. “I take them there because I know they’re going to have fun, they’re going to be fed well, and they’re going to fall asleep,” she says. She says she also uses KidsPark instead of the gym daycare, which her son hates. “I’d rather pay to know my son is happy and having fun than to think that he’s miserable at the gym daycare.” Samantha continues, “Especially for people in my situation – moms who do it on their own, or single moms – I can’t imagine a better scenario than what KidsPark gives me.” At one of her first few visits, Samantha says she had a family emergency and had to drop the boys off, flustered and in a

hurry. But, she says, the way she was treated was helpful, generous, and reassuring. At that point, Samantha says, she realized, “I’m not alone. These are my people. This is my tribe.” The staff at KidsPark feels the same way. Heather says Samantha’s family has scheduled a birthday party there, and she thinks the entire staff is planning to attend. “We’re so attached,” Heather explains. “We all love this family.” KidsPark is located at 26240 Golden Maple Loop, just south of S.R. 56 (and just east of I-75). The center is open Monday–Thursday, 7 a.m.–10 p.m., 7 a.m.–midnight on Friday, 10 a.m.–midnight on Saturday, and 1 p.m.–6 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, see the ad on page 40, call (813) 803-4972, or visit KidsPark.com. Mention this story for half off of your registration fee!

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 22 • October 20, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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H.S. Sports: Local Teams Wrapping Up & Preparing For Postseasons By ANDY WARRENER

It would be an understatement to say that the Wesley Chapel High (WCH) football team has hit some potholes in the road. The Wildcats lost their home opener to cross-town rival Wiregrass Ranch High (WRH) by a touchdown. WCH lost its starting quarterback and top college prospect, Isaiah Bolden, to a shoulder injury in that game, and he was later dismissed from the team. The ‘Cats suffered a demoralizing Class 5A, District 8 defeat at Anclote 27-10, as Florida State University recruit Chaz Neal was ejected and suspended for the next game against Ridgewood. And, a rash of injuries has sapped the Wildcat roster down to the low 30s, even the high 20s on some days. The Wildcats, however, remain in the playoff hunt, and they actually control their own destiny. At 3-1 in Dist. 5A-8 (and 5-2 overall at our press time), WCH’s final games were against Hudson (also 3-1 in the district), tonight’s game at home against Zephyrhills (4-0), and next week’s home finale against River Ridge (4-0). Senior running backs Dexter Leverett and Malik Melvin are still a potent one-two punch. Leverett is closing in on another 1,000-yard season after running for 179 and two TDs in a 33-6 win over Ridgewood. Senior linebacker Austen Wittish leads the county in tackles with 104 (and five sacks), and senior wideout-turned-quarterback Justin Trapnell has solidified the QB position since the loss of Bolden. Along with the aforementioned standouts, sophomore receiver Jelani Vassell, junior tight end Tyler Wittish, junior lineman Seth Petty, and senior linemen Andrew Brooks and Matt Severson form a group that the team is rallying around. “It’s a special group of guys that stick together and have true grit,” Wildcats head coach Tony Egan says. “There’s not one of them that takes a play off and I anticipate them all playing at the next level somewhere.” “It’s been more responsibility these last couple of weeks but we tell each other to work hard and stay together,” Austen Wittish said. “We have to play together as a family.”

Bulls Also In The Hunt

After a season of narrow escapes, WRH

It has been tough sledding for the Wesley Chapel High football team (above) this season; a few miles south, Wiregrass Ranch volleyball players (l.-r.) Jaizah Anderson, Carolina Eichelberger and Destanie Aydt led their team to an SAC title. (Photos: Andy Warrener)

finally lost its first game of the season Oct. 6 to Gaither by a 23-12 score. The Bulls had opened their season with five straight wins, but only a 20-0 victory over New Tampa’s Wharton High was comfortable. The other four victories were by a combined total of 21 points. Cypress Creek Middle High (CCH), which won the first game it ever played 12-0 over Gulf, has found matching their hot start difficult. The Coyotes, who play their last home game Oct. 27 against Mulberry, had been outscored 204-0 the past four games heading into last week’s game against Tampa Catholic.

heading into the postseason with 159 and 135 kills, respectively, while senior Caroline Eichelberger rang up 113 kills during the regular season. “I’d like to say I developed them (the trio), but they came that way,” Wiregrass head coach Michelle Davis said. “We have a great feeder program in John Long Middle School and all three of those girls play on high-level club teams. It’s amazing talent coming in, I just have to fine tune it.” The three didn’t even come all the way together until this year. Aydt and Eichelberger played together in 2016; Anderson transferred in from Fivay High in Hudson. Now, the trio is a force to be reckoned

with. Davis doesn’t even need to have all three on the floor at the same time, even though Eichelberger can play middle hitter with Aydt and Anderson on the outside. Davis often opts to rest one of her hitters to keep them fresh, in case a team like Land O’ Lakes (15-8) takes them the distance. “It’s encouraging, we have not had this kind of power for years,” Eichelberger says “It’s always good to have someone on the team who can back you up, even if you get into slumps,” Aydt says.

Lankton Making Waves

WRH’s boys’ swim team also is showing some promise.

VolleyBulls Break Through

The WRH volleyball team has had a breakout season. Brimming with offensive firepower, the Bulls, who were 18-5 – the second-best regular season record in school history — have held their own with a 5-2 record so far in a brutal Class 8A, District 8 field, working into a three-way tie with district rivals Wharton and Steinbrenner for the second seed in the district playoffs, which started last week, after we went to press. The Bulls’ offense has been what’s carried them through a tough schedule and to a Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) championship, which they won 3-2 over Land O’ Lakes on October 10. Three Wiregrass outside hitters are in triple-digit kills for the season. Juniors Jaizah Anderson and Destanie Aydt led the team

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The Bulls are coming off of a fourthplace finish at the SAC meet, but even more promising is the rise of sophomore all-distance freestyler Doug Lankton. Lankton won the 200-yard freestyle at conference and placed second in the 500 free. Lankton also led off the 4x100 freestyle relay for the Bulls that wound up taking second at the conference meet.. Lankton, even as a sophomore, brings experience to the Bulls as a veteran of the Pipeline swimming club under coach Rene Piper. He is sure to be a factor in his strongest events, the 200 and 500 freestyles, when the Bulls take to the water for districts on Wednesday, October 25, at the Bobby SAC champ Doug Lankton Hicks Pool in Tampa. “We think he has chances in both events ,” Wiregrass boys coach Kyle Gramm says. “He’s just now coming up to his peak and cut five seconds from his 500-yard time at conference. It’s going to be exciting to see what he does at districts.”

Season Of Firsts For CCH

In its very first year of existence, everything accomplished at the new Cypress Creek Middle High School is a new school record.

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Sophomore boys golfer Jarrod Smith is helping to establish some of those records. Smith, who played for WCH as a freshman, is coming off a third-place finish at the SAC tourney held at Northdale Country Club. Smith shot a two-over 74 and made First Team All-SAC. He is no stranger to the sport, having picked it up six years ago and making Second-Team All-SAC as a freshman at WCH. He is and will be the guy to watch at Cypress Creek. “He is definitely our bright spot,” Cypress Creek boys coach Anthony Mitchell said. “It’s super exciting. Obviously, by this time next year and beyond, he’s going to be one of the favorites to win conference.” Smith’s strong suit is his putting game. He hit a 30-foot putt for birdie on the 10th hole at the SAC championships to help secure his third-place finish. He led the Coyotes into the Class A, District 13 championships at the Eagles Club Golf Club in Odessa last weekend. “I just try to go out and play the best round I can every day,” Smith said.

The Cypress Creek Middle High cross country teams enter their first postseason this week. (Photo: Gigante Productions)

over to CCH together, it just happened. “I knew I was coming over but we didn’t talk about it,” Passardi said. “We had a great team at Chapel where, between the two of us, we went to states two of the last three years.” CCH Cross Country Team The Coyotes, who are competing in Making Strides Class 2A, District 7 meet in Weeki Wachee In its very first year of existence, on Thursday, October 26, only have 11 Meanwhile, the CCH cross country team, cross country runners, with seven of them while tiny in its first year, has the benefit of boys. But, Hoffman thinks he has a couple veteran coaches coming over from WCH, of runners who could advance to Regionals where boys coach John Hoffman and girls in sophomore Joe Vreeland and freshman coach Eliza Passardi coached together for John Rowsell. three years. There will certainly be a lot more “New facilities, new rubber track and attention drawn to the program as spring it was exciting to be a part of a brand new track season rolls around. Hoffman, already program,” Passardi says. pegged for the head track coach position, The coaches didn’t even discuss coming will have the only eight-lane rubber track in

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CCH golf standout Jarrod Smith

Pasco County. CCH is already confirmed to host the conference track meet and Hoffman is trying to work out hosting a large invitational for the spring as well. “Everything’s new here at the school, it’s a lot to put together,” Hoffman said. “We even already have the hurdles for the track, packed in boxes, unassembled.”

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 22 • October 20, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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 in Tampa Palms, 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 22 • October 20, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Wesley Chapel Resident Alexandra Joyce Proves She Has ‘The Voice!’ By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com Standing backstage just moments before she would begin singing Taylor Swift’s “Wildest Dreams” on NBC-TV’s”The Voice,” Wesley Chapel’s Alexandra Joyce didn’t have a care in the world. The 16-year-old Wiregrass Ranch High junior had prepared for that moment since she was a little girl. She was in the All-State chorus in the fourth grade, competed in talent shows at John Long Middle School, taught herself to play the ukulele and guitar in high school and a day doesn’t pass without Alexandra showing off her pipes. “I don’t think there has been a single day of her life that music hasn’t been an important part of for her,” says her mother, Adrienne Reed. So, Alexandra had convinced herself this was just another performance. “I felt a lot of pressure on me, for sure,” she said. “An immense amount of pressure. I had to prove something to myself.” “But,” she added, with a laugh, “right before I went on I was cool as a cucumber, I was chilling.” Then, the doors opened and everything changed. Her heart stopped, she says, and her breathing grew heavy as she walked towards the backs of four large red chairs. “Nothing really prepares you for that,’’ she admits. After quickly composing herself, Joyce began singing, trying not to focus on the chairs in front of her. Then, one chair turned — “You could hear a little excitement in my voice,’’ she confesses — followed by two others. She finished her audition with three judges smiling back at her — Academy- and Grammyaward winner Jennifer Hudson, Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine and country crooner Blake Shelton. Whew. While Levine and Shelton offered some encouraging words while mentioning pitch issues (due to nerves), Hudson didn’t say much. Her nerves now settled, Alexandra wanted to know why. “She just kind of said to me like, you know, I can’t really compete with the other coaches, so good luck,’’ Alexandra says. “And I ended up calling her out and kind of saying, ‘Well, you haven’t said anything to me. What do you have to offer to me?’” Hudson perked up and told Alexandra that she saw the drive in her, and the passion. She told the young Wesley Chapel resident that no matter who she chose as her coach, she

had the right stuff to succeed. “Right when she stood up and really started to get passionate about it, that’s when I knew that was where I needed to go,” Alexandra says of joining Hudson’s “team.”. Alexandra’s audition only aired as part of a montage, and the Battle Rounds, which pit team member against team member with Hudson choosing a winner, hadn’t aired as of our press time. For Alexandra and her mother, mum’s the word. “They don’t tell you when the show will be on, they just tell you to watch,’’ said Adrienne, who took her daughter to the initial audition for the show in Baltimore, MD, earlier this year. Adrienne, who runs a yoga studio in Land O’Lakes, says the experience has been memorable for her daughter, who sent in a video submission to get the invitation to Maryland. In Maryland, she auditioned and was given a “maybe” by the show’s producers. Two weeks later, she received an email telling her the show was going to pass this time, but would keep her in mind for the future. Two weeks after that, another call — shockingly informing Adrienne that her daughter was not only getting another chance, but that it would be at the blind auditions in Los Angeles. “Is this a prank call?,’’ Adrienne asked the caller.

It wasn’t, and when she called Alexandra, she told her to sit down before she broke the news. “There was a lot of screaming and jumping around,’’ she says. Adrienne said appearing on a music competition has been a long-time dream for Alexandra, who would often as a child come singing and sliding down the foyer in socks and into her mother’s home office ready to put on a performance.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 22 • October 20, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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“We used to watch those shows when she was little,’’ Adrienne says. “When she turned 16, the (young) age limit for the show, she decided she wanted to go ahead and do it.” Alexandra, a junior at WRH who will graduate early next spring, describes her style as folk indie, but she says she can sing a little bit of everything. Ed Sheeran is one of her biggest musical influences, inspiring her to teach herself the guitar at the age of 13. And of course, there’s Adrienne, who encouraged Alexandra every step along the way. “I’ve never really had a music teacher,” Alexandra says. “If anyone, my mother has been the biggest rock for me. When I first started playing guitar, initially I didn’t think I was good enough, and she said ‘Yes, you are.’ She built me up, I really owe that to her.” Alexandra is limited by the rules to reveal too much about the show until after her Battle Round airs. She filmed her audition in June, and has been waiting to reveal to Wesley Chapel how she fared. If it didn’t air Oct. 16 or 17 (after we went to press), it will likely be airing this Monday and Tuesday. What Alexandra can say is that the experience has been awe-inspiring. “I think its definitely been kind of a stepping stone for me,” she says. “I know I have this assurance that I can do this. I have a single on iTunes; I never in a million years thought I would have a single on iTunes.” She says her favorite part has been the people she has met on this journey, which has been highlighted by being coached by the likes of Hudson. “That’s just freaking insane,” she says. “Absolutely freaking insane.”

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 22 • October 20, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.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 WCNeighborhoodnews.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

1. Best Restaurant In NT or WC

16. Best Primary Care Dr.

2. Best Mexican Rest.

17. Best Plastic Surgeon

3. Best Thai Rest.

18. Best Chiropractor

4. Best Sushi

19. Best Dentist

5. Best Chinese Rest.

20. Best Urgent Care/Walk-in

6. Best Breakfast

21. Best Veterinarian

7. Best Lunch

22. Best Gym/Fitness Center

8. Best Burger

23. Best Golf Course

9. Best BBQ

24. Best Hairstylist/Salon

10. Best Pizza

25. Best Nail Salon

11. Best Bar

26. Best Auto Dealership

12. Best Karaoke Show

27. Best New Business

13. Best Bakery

28. Best Neighborhood

14. Best Frozen Yogurt

29. Best Local Publication

15. Best Ice Cream

30. Worst Intersection

Name: Email: What Community do you live in? (Meadow Pointe, Lexington Oaks, etc.)

Mailing Address: Daytime Phone #:

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 22 • October 20, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 22 • October 20, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 22 • October 20, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.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 Hasselback, 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 22 • October 20, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Chicago-Style Pizza

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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. To get $3 off a $20 purchase and $5 off a $30 purchase, mention that you read this article in Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News! 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 22 • October 20, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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Freedom, Optimum, Humana Gold Plus, CarePlus and Wellcare accepted.

Rafael Crespo, M.D. • Specializing in General Practice • Fluent in both Spanish & English

Wesley Chapel MEDICAL CLINIC

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994-0800 5819 Argerian Drive

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 22 • October 20, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.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-area 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

(Above, left) GrillSmith at Wiregrass had a Grand Reopening & Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) Ribbon Cutting on Oct. 4, where some new menu items were unveiled. For info, call (813) 907-1900. The new Pet Paradise off S.R. 56 held a VIP event on Oct. 12. The uniquely upscale pet boarding facility features this dog bone-shaped pool and indoor-outdoor “condos.” For info, call (813) 778-0337. has been located at 15307 Amberly Dr., in the snoring and sleep apnea, and provide Tampa or see the ad on pg. 13. Dr. Nelson also works closely with sleep physicians to Shoppes at Amberly plaza in Tampa Palms for Bay residents with a better night’s rest. Oral treat snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. almost 15 years. appliance therapy often can equal CPAP We re-introduced you to the Tampa in effectiveness and offer a higher patient New Identities To Open Second Palms salon last issue, when Tampa Bay Buccompliance.” caneers linebacker Kwon Alexander brought Patients with loud snoring and New Tampa Salon! the HBO “Hard Knocks” TV crew with him diagnosed sleep apnea sufferers with Congratulations to my friends Marc and Kelly Rockquemore, who already are the own- to get his hair colored. difficulty tolerating their CPAP should But now, Marc and Kelly are proud to ers of two New Identities Salons — one in contact Dr. Nelson at (813) 949-0424 announce that they will — by hopefully someApollo Beach/Riverview and the other which to schedule a consultation appointment

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 22 • October 20, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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time in November — open in the space (at 19038 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.) in the Publixanchored 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. 36), 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.

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New Tampa Club To Host ‘Rotary Means Bu$iness’ Event

And, even though Wesley Chapel has two outstanding Rotary Clubs (see story on pg. 3), I did want to give a shout out to the New Tampa Rotary Club’s first-ever “Rotary Means Business” networking event, on Friday, November 3, 5 p.m.-7:30 p.m., sponsored and hosted by Parks Lincoln (10505 N. Florida Ave., Tampa). At the Rotary Means Business event, you can network with high-level decision makers, expand your referral base, meet local business leaders, learn more about the Rotary Means Business network, enjoy free food and beverages and enter a free drawing to win a Date night in a beautiful, new Lincoln! For more info, visit NewTampaRotary.org or call Craig Miller of Full Throttle Intermedia at (813) 624-3674! — GN

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 22 • October 20, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

New Tampa & Wesley Chapel HOME IMPROVEMENT WESLEYCHAPELPRESSUREWASHING.COM Soft pressure exterior house cleaning, screen enclosures, pool decks, driveways, sidewalks, fences, roofs, paver sealing and deck staining. We clean everything. No job too big or small. Experience the difference when you hire a pressure cleaning professional. Licensed and insured. Owner operated. Call for a free estimate or visit our website. 813-433-6015. DAVID BRIDGES PRESSURE CLEANING Complete exterior cleaning of your home or business with a professional & personal touch. - Pool decks and screen enclosures - All fencing/ driveways and walkways/roofs - Gutter and downspouts. Find your happiness in a fresh, bright clean home. Your neighbors will love you for it! All work guaranteed. Licensed and insured. Call 813-215-1177. GREG’S PAPERHANGING. For all of your wallpapering needs. Licensed and insured, clean, quick and reasonable. Call 973-2767 for a free estimate. RAYMOND PAINTING. Exterior & Interior Services. Exterior: Painting, pressure washing, clean & seal pavers, stucco, roofing, leaks & wood rot repair. Interior: Painting, plastering, ceiling & wall repairs & tiles. Licensed & Bonded. References avail. Free estimates. Your Neighborhood Arbor Greene Resident! We work 7 days. Call 813-994-5124. DRY WALL SPECIALIST. Not a handyman. Affordable Quality Work repairing water damage, ceilings and walls, retexturing, popcorn removal, room additions, cracks, holes, plaster and stucco repair. 26 Years Experience. Wesley Chapel resident. State Certified. Call Ron for free estimate: 813-7845999. MILLENNIUM HOME REPAIR.Professional Handyman. Cabinet Installation, dry wall repair, tile installation & repair, some plumbing, laminate flooring, light fixtures, interior painting, appliance installation, pressure washing, paneling, window repair, awning installation, carpentry, garbage disposal, fence repair, crown molding, window blinds, seal baths & showers, TV mounting & more. Call 813-400-1408 or email TYCOONUNION@YAHOO.COM.

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LAWN & LANDSCAPING

JASMINE’S LANDSCAPING. Complete lawn maintenance, Tree, palm and hedge trimming, Planting, mulching, stones, Sod replacement, Pressure washing, Gutter cleaning and more. Cited by your HOA for violations? Need to comply for: Pressure washing, Trimming, Mulching, Sod replacement, Sprinkler repair or Mailbox repair or replacements? Ask about our HOA SPECIAL & FREE ESTIMATE! For more info, call (813) 420-4465.

CLEANING SERVICES B CLEANING SERVICES: Over 16 years experience! Commercial & residential; Weekly, bi-weekly, monthly; New house & post construction clean-up; Window cleaning; Move-in or move-out cleanings; Pressure washing; FREE estimates; References available. Call today: 813-531-0154 or e-mail: bcleanings@hotmail.com D-ULTRA CLEANING SERVICE We have our own supplies and more than 400 clients in New Tampa! For more info, Call 758-9710. R HOUSE CLEANING SERVICES To Keep Your House clean, call Marlene! Working now in Wesley Chapel and the New Tampa areas. Monday through Friday, 8 AM - 4 PM. We can help: Call 562-637-5974 or email kolungaa@ hotmail.com. FREE estimates.

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 22 • October 20, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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Ronnie’s Carpets, Inc. “Our Prices Are Simply Better” WOOD - VINYL - CERAMIC TILE CARPET - LAMINATE

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 22 • October 20, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

‘Impossible Burger’

Continued from page 31 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.

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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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