Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News, Volume 26, Issue 22, Oct. 19, 2018 by Neighborhood News

Volume 26

WESLEY CHAPEL

Inside:

NEWS

Your Last Chance To Win FREE Dining! In Neighborhood Magazine

Issue 22 October 19, 2018

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 50!

CYPRESS CREEK TAKING SHAPE

Now that the “Restaurant Row” on the north side of S.R. 56 has been completed, developers have moved into the retail phase in Cypress Creek. When Dilip Kanji, the president of Impact Development and developer of the new Hyatt Place Hotel on S.R. 56, told a crowd of local business leaders back in February about a dozen or more retail and restaurant offerings coming to the area known as Cypress Creek Town Center North, there were audible gasps. Nowadays, those gasps have been replaced by leering eyes, as those stores and eateries begin going vertical. Located across S.R. 56 from the Tampa Premium Outlets and to the west of the north side of 56’s “Restaurant Row,” trendy eateries like the Walk-On’s Bar & Bistreaux and Blaze Pizza, hip green grocers like EarthFare and mega-stores like Burlington and Home Goods are now taking shape. “What is going there” is now being replaced by “What is that building going to be.” More than a decade ago, this advanced transformation of the State Rd. 56 corridor hardly seemed possible, as Sierra Properties’ development of the Cypress Creek Town Center Development of Regional Impact was mired in delays, most caused by environmental concerns, that caused some of the plans — including, at one time, a 1.4-million-sq.-ft. regional mall and movie theater — to be scrapped and modified. When that happened, the Shops at Wiregrass was almost immediately developed a few miles to the east on S.R. 56. But once the hurdles were cleared, the transformation of S.R. 56 west of I-75 began, with the Tampa Premium Outlets and restaurants like Ford’s Garage and Chuy’s lining the road that has become the what some might call the main artery running through Wesley Chapel, which definitely has a strong pulse. Check out our exclusive map on page 4 to find out a lot more about what’s under construction right now in this busy portion of S.R. 56. — John C. Cotey

Wesley Chapel Fall Festival Is Back For 14th Year! Fall is here and, along with it, a host of festivals are scheduled in the Tampa Bay area. Foremost among them for locals: Simply Events presents the 14th annual Wesley Chapel Fall Festival, which will be held SaturdaySunday, October 27-28, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. (both days), at The Grove at Wesley Chapel. And, if you can’t wait until Saturday, come out the day before for the Fall Fests’ first Friday night Kids Dance Party. Presented by the Suncoast Credit Union, Wesley Chapel’s largest annual family-friendly, fall-themed event continues to get bigger and draw more festival-goers every year, drawing more than 5,000 for last year’s weekend.

This year’s event will have dozens of carnival rides, games and kid bouncers, face painting and a pumpkin patch, as well as a petting zoo. A number of local businesses and crafters also will be presenting and, as always, a variety of food trucks will be on hand. There will be two stages set up for live entertainment, and the always-popular Pet Parade & Costume Contest (Saturday at 11:30 a.m.), Trunk or Treat (Saturday, 4 p.m.) and Lil’ Miss & Mr. Pumpkin Pageant (Sunday, 11 a.m.) will once again be part of the weekend’s festivities. For more information, call Simply Events at (727) 674-1464.

News:

Business: News: Sports: News,Cabinet Business INSIDE Moore Looking Retain His & Stone & International Is Surprise! Bruce B.To Downs (BBD) Former Wharton High Football Also Inside INSIDE Commission Seat On Nov. 6 Worth Blvd. Is Our Area’s Worst Road Players Updates DeclareThe forTrip! NFL DraftEducation Page3-17 6 This Issue:Pages

Pages 22-23 34-37 Pages 3-32

Neighborhood Magazine: Neighborhood Magazine: Yes,Readers MOD Pizza Both The Have Is Spoken! Open Delicious!! Here Are& Their Favorites! Pages Page39-52 44

A Little About Political Ads, The Brew Fest & Our ‘New’ Managing Editor An editorial by Gary Nager If you check out the first 10 pages of this issue — and I hear so many of you read every page — you’ll see that we have a few political ads. That’s by design. I have always felt that if those running for office were made to understand that: 1) the Neighborhood News is the one and only news magazine serving New Tampa and Wesley Chapel, the only publication providing actual news New Tampa residents need to know and not just advertorials; and that 2) we reach more than 27,000 residences and businesses and at least 60,000 potential voters in New Tampa’s zip code 33647 (and roughly 23,000 residences and businesses and 50,000 voters receive our Wesley Chapel edition) by direct mail) who tell us they voraciously read every issue cover-to-cover; and that 3) it costs significantly less to put a 1/4- or a 1/2-page ad in the Neighborhood News than it does to do a solo direct mail piece (that more than 90 percent of the people who receive them throw away without looking at them), that 4) it wouldn’t make sense for those hoping to entice Wesley Chapel’s upscale, but notoriously non-voting public to not want to throw a few dollars our way in order to get their names and faces in front of all of those voters in a medium they already turn to for their local news. Well, it hasn’t been easy to get candidates to spend that money, but I’m proud to say this issue not only has a few political ads (including one on this page), but also offers a story you should check out about a candidate you probably have at least heard of before you set out to vote in the General Election on Tuesday, November 6.

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 Managing Editor / Photographer John C. Cotey Correspondents Celeste McLaughlin • Brad Stager • Andy Warrener WCNT-tv Senior Video Producer/Photographer Gavin Olsen WCNT-tv Video Production Assistant Giuliano Ferrara Graphic Designers Georgia Carmichael • Stephanie Vokes Flischel Billing Assistant Jannah McDonald 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 26, Issue 24, of Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News is Monday, November 5, 2018. 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.

Do NOT Miss The Brew Fest!

Even though I’m not the biggest craft beer drinker myself, I am definitely looking forward to the first-ever New Tampa Brew Fest, sponsored by Kling Law of Tampa, which is being hosted by the Rotary Club of New Tampa Noon (of which I am proud to be a member) on Saturday, November 10, 6 p.m.-10 p.m., at the Venetian Event Center in front of St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church on Cross Creek Blvd. in New Tampa. At our last count, there were 27 different breweries that were planning to bring 75 different beers for you to sample, all for one low admission donation of $35 per person ($20 per person for designated drivers and anyone else who wishes to attend but doesn’t plan to sample the brews, or for those who are at least 18 years old but who can’t enjoy the brews because they aren’t yet 21 years old, but who would still like to attend). Although food is not included in the price of your admission at the Brew Fest, there will be some great food trucks on hand, outside the Venetian Event Center, including Casablanca Fusion (Mediterranean fare; photo), Twisted South (homestyle Southern cuisine with a French flair), In the Middle (authentic Mediterranean Grille) and Jimmy’s Famous Seafood (as seen on The Food Network), with perhaps one or two more still to be added. And, all of the net proceeds from this event benefit the New Tampa Noon Rotary Foundation, which donates funds to the clubs selected charities, both locally and internationally. To order your tickets and to see the complete list of breweries participating in the inaugural event, visit NewTampaBrewFest.com or NewTampaNoonRotary.club.

Better Late Than Never, John...

A big part of why I have been able to be more involved in the sales side of this business is because for three years, I have had, hands down, not only the best assistant editor I’ve ever worked with in John C. Cotey, but truly one of the best local beat writers/editors in the entire country — with a sense of humor to match. John has been providing not only great local news and sports coverage for us since 2015, he also has found — and covered — some of the most touching and even heart-breaking human interest stories about people in and around New Tampa and Wesley Chapel we’ve ever covered. In addition, he has continued to put his own thumbprint on the look of our publications and makes sure we cover as many stories as we can in every issue, every two weeks. He also does an outstanding job of managing our excellent

freelance writers, including Brad Stager, Andy Warrener, Jarrett Guthrie and the incredible Celeste McLaughlin. (By the way, if you don’t read Celeste’s hippotherapy — which may not be what you’re thinking — story in this issue, you’ll be missing something great.) And of course, as soon as we put a Wesley Chapel issue to bed, John flips his hat (although

he rarely wears a hat) to provide the same coverage of New Tampa that he does here in “The Chap” two weeks later. In other words, there is no way in the world this publication would be what it is right now without him. So, that’s why I am proud to announce that John finally has gotten a long-overdue promotion. Instead of assistant editor, John C. Cotey is now the managing editor of both the New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News! The best thing about that, for John, may be the fact that now, WCNT-tv senior video producer and photographer Gavin Olsen has to answer to him. Ah, good times, guys, and congratulations and thank you, John!

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Table of Contents

Local News Updates.....................3-18

Check Out The Updated Map Of S.R. 56..................4 Mike Moore Bidding For Four More Years...............6 Wesley Chapel Indoor Rec Center Out For Bids.........8 Penguin Project To Partner With The ‘Players’.........9 Avalon Park West Downtown Breaks Ground........12 Chess Wiz Wins A State Title, Seeks More...............14 Wesley Chapel Community Calendar.........................18

Local Business Updates..............22-27

Cabinet & Stone Says The Time To Buy Is Now............22 New Tampa Plastic Surgery Demonstrates Artistry........24 Excel Music Can Teach You To Play Or Sing!....................26

Local School & Sports Updates..30-37

Husband. Father. Soldier. Leader

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Wesley Chapel Schools Name Top Teachers!.......30-31 School Notes: New Principal For Wesley Chapel......34 Wiregrass Linebacker Has QBs Within Reach.........36 Former Bulls Hoopster Earns Scholarship At UF.....37

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Hippotherapy Providing Answers For Some....39 Our Dining Survey & Contest Returns!........42-43 ‘Neighborhood Nibbles & Business Bytes’.........46 New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Classifieds..........48 @NTWCNews

Political advertisement, paid for and approved by Danny Burgess, Republican, for State House, District 38.

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Come to the Experts.

As Your County Commissioner

Mike Moore Will...

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Keep taxes low Welcome high-paying employers to Pasco Work with Sheriff Chris Nocco to fight crime Fix aging infrastructure in a growing Pasco

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Mike Moore Seeking Reelection To Pasco County’s District 2 Seat By Brad Stager & John C. Cotey If you’re looking for a reason to vote for Mike Moore, he can give you many. But, where he starts is pretty simple – his last campaign. When the Seven Oaks resident first ran for the then-open District 2 seat on the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) in 2014, he promised that he would 1) fight for increased funding for law enforcement to keep citizens and schools safe and secure, 2) he would promote industry and jobs, and 3) he would focus on transportation. “We’ve accomplished all those things,” he says, proudly. Moore, a Republican who is looking to retain his seat against Democrat Kelly Smith in the General Election on Tuesday, November 6, has represented almost all of Wesley Chapel on the BCC during its most tumultuous and expansive time. The area has continued to transform itself since he was elected, and he said he is proud of his role in promoting the things that he says make Wesley Chapel a desirable place to live, work and play. “Before I ran for office, I was just like anyone else — a small business owner who lived in the community, raising a family,” says Moore, who lives in Seven Oaks with his wife Lauren and their three children. “I think a few of the things that were important to me were important to the citizens, and continue to be important to the citizens in 2018.” Active in the community – he still coaches flag football at the Wesley Chapel District Park (WCDP) and rarely misses a public event or ribbon cutting in our area — Moore said what has made his tenure on the BCC an effective one is listening. He has supported small projects, like helping local cricket enthusiasts find a place to play or pushing for traffic signals in neighborhoods, to big projects like the “connected city” project that has led to the country’s first-ever Crystal Lagoons® amenity in Epperson, or the Wiregrass Sports Complex that is currently under construction. “There’s nothing too big or too small,” Moore says. “We’re a very diverse community. What’s important to one person may not be to the next person, but they’re all important issues.” Topping the list, according to Moore, is public safety, and he stands by his — and the current commission’s — record of supporting first-responder needs in Pasco County.

“Public safety is definitely number one,” Moore says. “People want to be safe and secure.” To fulfill that need, the Pasco County BCC last month approved a Fiscal Year 2019 budget that allocates 25.7 percent of total expenditures to public safety. That amounts to $232,689,204 out of $905,109,906 in total expenditures, making public safety the single largest expenditure in the FY 2019 budget. Last October, Moore was endorsed by Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco. Born in St. Petersburg, Moore grew up in Winter Haven before graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Radio & Television from the University of Central Florida in Orlando. He started a homecare agency that provided home healthcare to seniors and the disabled in 2004, before selling it in 2011, and he owned a business brokerage and mergers and acquisition firm before selling that in 2015. It was his time as a small business owner that Moore says began to spark his interest in politics. “When I was doing that, I realized how much government affected our day-today lives,” Moore says, referring to regulations he says can suffocate small business owners. “When I started having children, you really realize how much government affects your everyday life.” Moore became more engaged with the local community, he says, supporting candidates and volunteering for campaigns, most notably for Republican Will Weatherford, the former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives. “My interest in politics was gradual, but you don’t just jump in because, ‘Hey, I want to run for office,’” Moore says. “There has to be a message, a thought that you can make a difference. Then, you need to get involved in the community, and truly spend time there so you can understand the issues and what you can do to make things better before you can run.” And, Moore says he did just that, building relationships and listening to fellow members at the former Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (now the North Tampa Bay Chamber) and Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel, and being active in the community. He won his first election in 2014 with 58.9 percent of the vote. “I got a lot of support in Wesley Chapel (where he received 55 percent of votes cast),” Moore says. “I was grateful for that.” Moore cites a number of projects that the county has undergone since he’s been on the BCC — a blight ordinance, which

has helped clean up Pasco County; a host of flooding issues on the west coast; the whirlwind growth in Wesley Chapel; and a number of traffic issues (like the widening of S.R. 56, the diverging diamond interchange at the S.R. 56 exit off I-75 and the proposed I-75 interchange at Overpass Rd.) – and his stalwart stance that Mansfield Blvd. in Meadow Pointe II should not be connected to Kinnan St. in New Tampa. Moore, who has to make decisions that affect all of Pasco County, not just Wesley Chapel, thinks his resume the last four years fulfills what he promised to voters. And, he says those who decide to vote for him again can expect more of the same. “I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished the last four years,” Moore says. “I think I’ve done a great job of listening to citizens. In fact, a lot of the things I bring to (the BCC) come from the citizens. I think we’ve accomplished a lot.” He says the most challenging part of his job is finding a balance between being a commissioner and his family, which can be difficult with all the events and meetings Moore attends. He still manages to get his family away for vacations, often camping and fishing trips, in the family’s motor home. His daughter’s horse shows and competitions keep him busy, as does coaching flag football. When it’s time for work, though, he operates on a simple premise. “In the end, you have to make decisions that you feel are best for everyone,” Moore says. “Do what you think will be best as a whole, now and 20 years down the road.” For more information about Mike

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • VVolume 26, Issue 22 • October 19, 2018 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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Moore’s campaign, visit VoteMikeMoore. com or see the ad on pg. 5 of this issue.

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Pasco County To Take Bids To Build Indoor Sports Facility At WC District Park WCAA Sports At The District Park

By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneightborhoodnews.com The new and massive Wiregrass Sports Complex behind Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, which boasts more than 100,000-sq.ft. of playing area and a new Marriott-branded Residence Inn hotel, has grabbed all the headlines the past few years. Meanwhile, Pasco County is getting ready to seek bids to build a smaller indoor facility at the Wesley Chapel District Park (WCDP), which is located at 7727 Boyette Rd. near Overpass Rd. According to Pasco County District 2 commissioner Mike Moore (see story on page 6), bids will be sought to design and construct a facility to host indoor basketball and volleyball and other gym events, as well as additional activity rooms for the public to host meetings or even card games and crafts. The approximately 13,000-sq.-ft. indoor recreation facility will be similar to the Land O’Lakes recreation center on Collier Pkwy., which is built on 79 acres of land and offers not only indoor sports, but outside offerings like tennis, soccer and even swimming. The county has allocated $2.5-million towards the project, although Moore said he is unsure it will even cost that match. The money, he says, comes from developer impact fees, and “will not be a tax burden on everyday citizens.” The funding was approved in Pasco County’s Fiscal Year 2017-18 budget.

Baseball Basketball Competitive Soccer Cheerleading Flag Football Lacrosse Recreational Soccer Softball Tackle Football

The WCDP is much larger than the Land O’Lakes complex, with 143 acres and several lighted athletic fields for soccer, football and baseball. WCDP also has lacrosse fields, which have hosted the national DICK’s Lacrosse Championships for years, as well as three tennis courts, four basketball courts and grass fields for a variety of sports. The Wesley Chapel Athletic Association (WCAA) runs leagues for most sports at the WCDP, including basketball, which plays on the outdoor courts. But, Florida’s funky summer weather can wreak havoc on youth sports schedules. “Having the ability to play basketball or any sport inside will be a big deal, especially during the summer when it gets so hot,”

Comm. Moore says. An indoor facility will allow the WCAA to add other sports, like volleyball, which is difficult to play outdoors, and other sports that require indoor accommodations, like gymnastics. Moore also says the indoor facility will give local residents a place to gather, for weekly meetings, exercise classes or even parties. He says he has heard from a number of residents who think there is a need for such a facility. Moore said there has been talk of a Wesley Chapel recreation center for years, but it “just kind of went away.” He said he decided to pick it back up because he continues to hear requests for it.

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The Wesley Chapel District Park is located at 7727 Boyette Rd. For more information about the Wesley Chapel Athletic Association (WCAA), call (813) 994-6633 or visit WCAASports.org. A new Pasco County recreation center at the park may end up being more useful to local sports enthusiasts than the Wiregrass Sports Complex being built by RADD Sports. The Wiregrass complex is expected to be booked for basketball, volleyball, pickleball and gymnastics tournaments most weekends, although there will be Monday-Thursday access for locals, according to RADD Sports, which is developing that facility.

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Penguin Project Offers Special Opportunity For Aspiring Special Needs Performers BY JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com One of the goals of the New Tampa Players (NTP) performance troupe has always been to introduce people to the theatre, and make it accessible for everyone. The Penguin Project will help NTP meet its vision. The project, a national effort to involve special needs actors in stage productions, is coming to Tampa, as NTP will adopt the Penguin Project for a production of a “Junior” version of “Aladdin” which is scheduled to run April 4-6, 2019. Informational meetings about the production will be held on Monday, November 5, 7 p.m., and on Sunday, November 11, 5:30 p.m., at Family of Christ Lutheran Church on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in Tampa Palms. As a parent of special needs children, NTP president Nora Paine says she can’t wait to get started, adding that the response already has been greater than she expected, with interest from Bradenton to Brandon to Town N Country. “We are well on our way,” says Paine. The Penguin Project was founded by Dr. Andrew Morgan in Peoria, IL, in 2004. Dr. Morgan not only had a passion for helping disabled children, which he did as a pediatrician, but also for local community theatre. He saw no reason why he couldn’t combine the two, starting the Penguin Project, which pairs disabled children and adults ages 8-21 with mentors who aren’t disabled. Dr. Morgan has described the experience

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of Penguin Project productions as life-changing for the special needs actors who take part. Paine had been brainstorming ways to incorporate special needs actors into productions, but it was at a theater management conference in Venice, FL, earlier this summer that convinced her to reach out to Dr. Morgan. “There were several theaters all around the country there (at the conference) talking about it,” Paine says. “After I heard everyone talk about it, I thought it would be a perfect fit for the New Tampa Players. There’s nothing like this in New Tampa.” In Penguin Project productions, actors are paired with a same-age peer mentor, who will help the special needs participant learn his or her role. The mentor, who also has to learn all of the lines and choreography, will perform on the stage with their special needs counterpart, usually in the background of a scene, offering encouragement and whispering lines that may be forgotten. The mentors also help with stage footwork. “But, the special needs kids still get to be the stars of the show,” Paine says, “and they get to have that great theatre experience.”

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The special needs of Penguin Project participants range from Down syndrome and cerebral palsy to learning and intellectual disabilities and other neurological disorders. “I know there are organizations devoted to specific disabilities that do great things,” Paine says. “(With the) Penguin Project, however, it doesn’t matter what the disability is. They take the child where they are and supply the support that they need.” The NTP troupe has already done productions with children involved that have some learning disabilities, but Paine thinks expanding that effort will be a good thing for the entire Tampa Bay area. “I know the need for something like this is great,” she says.

During the four months of preparation for “Aladdin,” Paine says Dr. Morgan and his team will visit Tampa six times — including at the informational meetings at Family of Christ — to provide assistance with the production. Already, Paine says she has more than 30 interested performers and production workers, and almost as many peer volunteers. It will be a rewarding experience for both, she says. “It’s a two-way street,” Paine says. “Mentors are going to get a lot out of it. They can teach a lot of skills to the kids with special needs, and also get the reward of being able to help a child.” For more information about the New Tampa Players and the troupe’s upcoming productions, visit NewTampaPlayers.org.

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Avalon Park West Downtown Breaks Ground Right now, it may be little more than some piles of dirt and construction equipment along S.R. 54, a little but west of Morris Bridge Rd./Eiland Blvd., but within a year or so, the eastern portion of Wesley Chapel will be home to a new Charter School for grades K-8 (and one day, K-12), to be called Pinecrest Academy. The school, which is being developed by Academica, one of the largest Charter School developers in Florida (with nearly 20 schools in five counties) will be the first to open, but shortly thereafter, the first phase of Avalon Park West Downtown also will open with townhomes by Avex and Beazer Homes that will include local retail development on the first floor. This was the word from APW owner/ developer Beat Kahli, who already has hun-

dreds of single-family homes open a mile or so west of APW’s future Downtown area. At a groundbreaking ceremony on Oct. 11, Kahli promised that APW’s Downtown (and central park) would be much larger than those in Kahli’s Avalon Park in eastern Orange County, near Orlando, which has been a success for 20 years. “Avalon Park West will be a place where you can live, work and play without always having to jump in your car,” Kahli said during the ceremony, attended by at least 200 people, including Pasco commissioners Mike Moore, Ron Oakley and Mike Wells, Congressman Gus Bilirakis and North Tampa Bay Chamber president & CEO Hope Allen. For more information about APW, visit AvexHomes.com or Beazer.com.

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All The Right Moves

Cannon Farragut, an 8-year-old Hunter’s Green resident, recently captured a Florida State Chess Championship. Is there a national championship on the horizon for this chess wunderkind?

It began with a key on a laptop keyboard being plucked loose and set aside. Then another. And another. By the time William Farragut discovered what was happening and could stop Cannon, his then-4-year-old son, every key on his laptop had been removed. “I was furious,” William says. So, as a solution for his uber-curious son, William bought Cannon his own, cheaper laptop. He loaded it with math and science programs, and randomly ran across a chess app and installed that, too. “I was being totally stereotypical, but chess is for smart kids, right?” William asks. Within a month, it was the only thing Cannon was playing. By watching videos of matches, he learned not only how the pieces move, but how to “weaponize” those moves by stringing them together and outsmarting the opposition. His father was stunned. Four years later, Cannon, now 8, is the Arnold Denker Florida State Champion in the 1800-under division. High-level chess players don’t generally compete in age groups, they compete against others in the same

ratings group. Cannon toppled adults 3-4 times his age on his way to the championship at the 1800-&-Under level (more on this below). In November, he will represent the U.S. at the World Youth Championships in Spain. Then, in December, he’ll travel to the National Scholastic Chess Championships in Orlando, where the very best players in the country will be on hand to prove their rankings. Cannon is currently ranked in the Top 20 in the U.S. in his age group, but is in the top 10 of everyone in the 1800-&-Under rating group in the entire U.S. Can he win a national championship? “I think I can win,” Cannon says. On a typical Tuesday night. Cannon breezes through the meeting room at Compton Park, which is filled with dozens of young New Tampa chess players, members of the invite-only Champions Chess Club coached by Tampa Palms residents Mark Ritter and his wife Tania Kranich-Ritter, a former New York State champion. Cannon is happy, polite, affable. Even during his matches, he looks around the room, smiling, rising

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O R

ge r

o he

from his seat to walk around and watch some of his clubmates. On occasion, he’ll also practice his jump shot form, as Cannon also is a skilled basketball player. But Mark, an internationally rated chess master and one of only five Level 5-rated coaches in the country, and Tania, who coached teams at Tampa Palms Elementary and Liberty Middle School to national championships in 2005 and 2006, respectively, were skeptical when Cannon, then 5, showed up at the club hoping to join. “When I first came in, they almost pushed me away,’’ William says, laughing. Cannon hid behind his father’s legs. The club was mostly older kids, Tania told William, with players from 3rd grade to high school, with ratings ranging from 500 to 2100. William tried to explain that he thought Cannon had something, and Mark told him every parent says that. But, since they had already made the trip, Mark agreed to sit down at the chess board with the youngster. After five minutes, Mark looked at William, and said, “You know, there might be something here.”

Try, Try Again...

Cannon then played one of the lower-rated players in the club, and lost. The tears flowed. When he and William left that day, Mark wasn’t sure he’d ever see them again. Cannon did come back, however, and lost again, and cried again, a scenario that repeated itself several times the first few weeks. He was, however, getting better every visit. When he was six, he officially joined the club. Mark says Cannon’s appetite for chess was voracious, and he devoured more and more instructional videos as his rating started climbing and the wins began piling up. Even more pleasing was that Cannon slowly transformed from a shy kid into a social butterfly, making friends easily and becoming one of the club’s most popular members. “Cannon’s growing social skills emphasize a much-overlooked benefit of chess,” says Mark. “While most of the focus remains on improving one’s game and rating — too much in my opinion — important social behaviors, such as sportsmanship, communication and interaction, are part of the package, too.” Cannon has rapidly evolved from a kid plucking the keys

off his father’s computer keyboard to Florida’s best player among those with 1800-&-Under ratings, according to the U.S. Chess Federation ratings. As such, he rarely plays anyone who is not much older than he is, a fact that Cannon admits has created some awkward situations. “I think they are more nervous than I am,” Cannon says. “I don’t think they want to lose to a kid.” But, his recent Florida State title is certainly the biggest win of his career, at least so far. “It is a big deal,” Cannon says. “This is like my first major tournament I won and that inspires me to keep going, so I can become a Grandmaster and beat Magnus Carlsen.” Both are lofty goals — Cannon is currently rated at 1771; when you reach 2200, you become a Master, and at 2500 you are a Grandmaster. But, Carlsen ,the current World Champion, is a true chess prodigy with a rating greater than 2800. Chess is a hard game that very few master. So, how has an 8-year-old managed to do it? Tough to say, says Mark. “Nobody’s answered that question,” he says. “His ability to see tactics and combinations that most players can’t is phenomenal. He has a natural ability for spatial relationships, pattern recognition, things like that. How do you define that? It’s just wiring.” Well, there’s wiring and then there’s hard work. Cannon is a dedicated student of the game. He describes the chess board as a picture, or a puzzle. He says he sees what to do in his mind, “which is telling me what to do, like connecting the dots. Where the line starts is my first move.” Cannon’s tendency to move too quickly at times is one of his few weaknesses. When he sees a dot to connect, he does so, with supreme confidence, even if it only took him a few minutes to notice. Sometimes, he admits that there was a better move out there. That didn’t stop him in Jacksonville, however, when he won his State title. That victory netted Cannon $800 and a trophy (photo) almost as tall as he is. He loves his trophy. The money, he says, “I’m giving to my mom and dad so they can New Tampa resident Cannon Farragut proudly shows off the trophy he have some of it.” won in September at the Arnold Denker Florida State Championships. That should at least cover the cost of that laptop, new He routinely beats players 2-3 times his age and is the top-rated 8-year-old keys and all. chess player in Florida. (Photo: John C. Cotey)

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OCTOBER 2018 Friday, October 19

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. Drive-Thru Prayer - Takes place every Friday, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., at Atonement Lutheran Church (29617 S.R. 54). Drive to the front of the church, under the portico. Trained members of our Caring Ministry Team are available to share your cares and concerns in prayer while you stay seated in your car. Everyone is welcome.

Monday, October 22

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 meet every Monday at 6 p.m. for networking & 6:30 pm for public speaking, at Wesley Chapel Nissan (28519 S.R. 54). For more info, call Martin at (813) 693-0969.

Tuesday, October 23

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

Wednesday, October 24

Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel - The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel (Noon) meets Wednesdays at noon at Lexington Oaks Golf Club (26133 Lexington Oaks Blvd.). First-time guests attend free. For info, (813) 862-8989 or (813) 391-3895. Infertility Challenges: Educational Presentation at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC) - Please join Dr. Imudia for an educational presentation, group discussion and a place to connect with others in a safe environment. Located at FHWC’s Inspiration Place Wellness Plaza (2700 Healing Way, 3rd Floor), 5:30 p.m.6:30 p.m. Limited space available. Please pre-register online at FloridaHospital. com/wesley-chapel/events.

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). For info, visit NAMIPasco.org. Final Friday - Join the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce (NTBC) for another free Final Friday networking event. Hosted by Tijuana Flats Wesley Chapel (27709 S.R. 56,), 4 p.m.-6 p.m, this event gives members an opportunity to network in a relaxed environment.

Wiregrass Ranchers Kids Club - Free entertainment for kids, featuring Mr. Tommy, the first Wednesday of every month at The Shops at Wiregrass, 10 a.m.-11 a.m. More info at TheShopsAtWiregrass.com/events.

Saturday, November 10

New Tampa BrewFest!- See the ad on the facing page!

Saturday, October 27

Spooktacular!- Come to Avalon Park West (River Glen Blvd.), 5 p.m.-8 p.m., for a frighteningly free and familyfriendly fun filled night that is open to the public! Enjoy the costume parade, bounce house, trick-or-treating, a haunted house and more!

Sat.-Sun., Oct. 27-28

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Community address: Northwood of Pasco 27248 Big Sur Drive Wesley Chapel, Florida 33544 Siesta Key Beach

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Wednesday, October 24-Sunday, October 28

Wiregrass Fall Fair - The Shops at Wiregrass (28211 Paseo Dr.) is hosting its 2018 Fall Fair Oct. 24-28! Join us for rides, games, and family fun! Hours: Wed, Thurs & Fri: 5 p.m.-10 p.m, Sat & Sun: 1 p.m.-10 p.m. Armbands are $20 per person, tickets are $1.25 each, $18 for 20, rides take 3-4 tickets each. For more info, please visit ArnoldaAmusementsInc.com.

Thursday, October 25

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. 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. 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. Call (813) 907-1313. NTBC Economic Development Briefing - North Tampa Bay Chamber members and their guests are invited to Hunter’s Green Golf & Country Club (18101 Longwater Run Dr., New Tampa), 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., for October’s Economic Development Briefing featuring Bill Cronin, President/CEO of the Pasco Economic Development Council. The cost to attend is $15. Please visit northtampabaychamber.com to register for this event.

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Cabinet & Stone International Is The Place To Find Great Cabinets & Countertops By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN

Thinking about updating your kitchen or bathroom? Do it now, says Hui You of Cabinet & Stone International, which sells and installs kitchen and bathroom cabinets, granite and marble countertops and vanities from its showroom and warehouse on N. 56th St. Why? “The U.S. president is imposing tariffs on goods from China, and most cabinets are from overseas,” Hui explains. “If you wait until January, the price might go up.” Hui and her brother, Ron, are co-owners of Cabinet & Stone International, which owns the factories where the company’s cabinets are manufactured in China. “There’s no middle man,” Hui explains, “so we have cut out the cost of the middle man.” Cabinet & Stone is located just south of the Hillsborough River and across the street from King High in Tampa, south of Temple Terrace. It’s about 30 minutes from most of New Tampa and Wesley Chapel, but it’s well worth the drive. With 3,000 square feet of showroom space displaying cabinets, sinks and fixtures, along with a warehouse ten times as large, filled with merchandise that’s ready to be delivered and installed, customers can find exactly what they’re looking for at Cabinet & Stone, with expert help and low costs. “We do it all, from measuring, to design and installation and give a really quick

When you walk into the impressive, 3,000-sq.-ft. showroom at Cabinet & Stone International on N. 56th St. (across from King High and just south of Temple Terrace), you’ll find a unique sampling of kitchen cabinets and granite countertops in a wide variety of colors and styles.

turnaround time,” says Hui, who has lived in New Tampa since 2011. “We can do a kitchen within a week.” More of a do-it-yourself kind of person? Hui says you can come to the showroom, pick out your cabinets, and take them home the same day.

“We have them in stock,” she explains. Cabinet & Stone’s cabinet styles range from American Classic model cabinets made of solid oak with a honey-colored stain, to the modern lines and accents of the Manhattan Espresso cabinet, constructed of maple wood and stained to a richly dark hue.

Other color stains include cherry, toffee, mocha, café and several shades of white and off-white, such as French vanilla and creme de blanc. Hui and her staff recently built a kitchen in the Cabinet & Stone showroom using its newest color, vintage grey. “The new color is very unique. Not many stores carry this color,” explains Hui. “It’s not painted grey; it shows more of a natural look.” The showroom staff can help you choose the ideal color for your kitchen and bathrooms, along with granite countertops, hardware and a variety of sinks, all to design your dream kitchen. That’s what they did for Teresa Watkins, who says she, her brother and her mom have all been clients of Cabinet & Stone for at least 10 years. “I took pictures of things I liked on Pinterest,” Teresa explain. Then, she showed her ideas to the experts at Cabinet & Stone, who helped her get her kitchen exactly the way she wanted, including a custom-built range hood. “They are awesome at helping you to design and come up with the most aesthetically pleasing and functional design,” explains Teresa, “because you want to make sure your kitchen looks good and works the way you want it to.”

A Family Tradition

Teresa also says that many years ago, her mom had her kitchen remodeled by Cabinet & Stone. Then, her brother had

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the kitchen and bathrooms in his Wesley Chapel home remodeled, and then Teresa had her bathrooms in her Tampa Palms home remodeled, too. Recently, Teresa moved to South Tampa, where she had the kitchen in her home remodeled by — you guessed it — Cabinet & Stone International. “It’s a one-stop shop,” Teresa says. “They design it for you, prepare everything and then have high-quality installers who come to your house. The installers are very clean, very prompt and very quick at getting it done. You schedule your date and they’re there.” Teresa says she loves Cabinet & Stone’s beautiful moldings and the cabinets are very high quality. Plus, Cabinet & Stone International co-owner Hui Yu (not pictured) says that the more natural-looking gray in the photo of the kitchen above left she explains, they have everything and the different available white and off-white (right) kitchen color options are both extremely popular with her customers. from the most basic styles to almost “We went through hard times,” Hui close-ups to depictions of finished instaland Wesley Chapel are offered special custom-looking cabinetry, “for says. “But we survived the hard times, be- lations. You also can use the website’s discounts at Cabinet & Stone. See the much better than custom price.” cause we’ve always tried to keep our costs “virtual kitchen” to see how the different Cabinet & Stone ad on page 28 for the Hui agrees that she and her staff colors and styles of available cabinets and current special offer — which is 35% down for a greater value in cabinetry.” work hard to provide the best value for Hui and Ron moved the company to granite countertops look together. off selected cabinets, if you bring in the their customers. its current, larger location in 2007, where Whether customers visit in person Neighborhood News ad and present it at “Our customers are definitely paying it has served its satisfied customers for the or online, whether their projects are big less to get more,” says Hui. the showroom. past 11 years. or small, Hui and Ron and their staff In fact, she says, that’s probably why To learn more about how Cabinet say they offer the same commitment to Cabinet & Stone is not only still in busi& Stone International can help with Shop Online First fulfilling every customer’s needs. ness, but still growing strong, after going your kitchen and/or bathroom reCustomers also can start their through some rough years since opening “We want to be able to provide for modeling needs, call (813) 887-5658 shopping for new cabinets and counterthe original Cabinet & Stone Internationwhoever needs our unique line of cabior visit the showroom at 6606 N. tops online at CabinetnStoneIntl.com. nets with good service, quality products al Tampa location in 2004. 56th St. in Temple Terrace. You also There, you can view cabinets, counterIt was a great time to open, with and competitive pricing,” Hui says. may visit CabinetnStoneIntl.com, or tops, vanities and sinks in photographs real estate booming, but then the market And, when it comes to competicheck out the ad on page 28 for more illustrating the products, from detailed crashed in 2007-08. tive pricing, residents of New Tampa information.

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New Tampa Plastic Surgery Is Always Adding New Options For Its Patients SPECIAL TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

New Tampa Plastic Surgery, a premier cosmetic surgery “boutique,” has been helping New Tampa and Wesley Chapel residents look and feel their best since 2011. Specializing in the aesthetic plastic surgery of the face, breasts and body, Board-certified plastic surgeon Peter Fakhre, M.D., rejuvenates and enhances the natural beauty of his patients with the latest cutting-edge surgical and non-surgical procedures. Dr. Fakhre also has been named one of the top doctors in the country by Vitals. com (a medical review forum for consumers). According to the website, Dr. Fakhre was named a “Vitals Top 10 Doctor.” Of more than 870,000 doctors nationwide, Dr. Fakhre has been recognized as being in the top one percent, of all physicians, as determined by patient ratings. Located in the Windfair Professional Park off Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., across from Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC), New Tampa Plastic Surgery sees patients from all across Pasco and Hillsborough counties. And soon, you’ll be able to check out Dr. Fakhre’s new office at 2525 Cypress Ridge Blvd, behind the Mercedes dealership off S.R. 56. It is set to open in early 2019. Dr. Fakhre and his staff help everyone who walks through their doors feel welcome; their primary goal is to make the patient feel comfortable while exploring his or her best options for plastic or reconstructive surgery (as well as non-surgical alternatives, in some cases) in a professional and confidential environment.

You can see the results of Dr. Fakhre’s work when you visit NewTampaPlasticSurgery.com. Although his work definitely speaks for itself, he also is highly recommended by his patients. In a physician review on Vitals.com, Dr. Fakhre’s patient Jane Gibbons said, “Plastic surgery? More accurately — Surgical Artistry! Dr. Fakhre is a master of his craft. He not only is an accomplished surgeon, (he also) is a man of integrity who listens, counsels and guides his patients toward the goals they are seeking. (He) then satisfies those goals with skill and precision!” She continues, “Dr. Fakhre works with his patients to determine the best surgical

and non-surgical options that will achieve the desired outcome. As a bonus, his office staff is compassionate, efficient and shares his philosophy that everyone deserves to look their best. Unquestionably, Dr. Fakhre is the best that Tampa Bay has to offer!” Dr. Fakhre, who is one of the few plastic surgeons in the Tampa Bay area to be double-Board-certified by both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and by the American Board of Surgery, explains, “There are many things that are important in achieving successful outcomes in plastic surgery: an understanding of the patient’s desires, their physical examination, realistic goals, sound surgical technique, attention to detail and outstanding

postoperative care, all of which contribute to success in cosmetic plastic surgery.” He earned his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Biology from the University of South Florida in Tampa, graduating summa cum laude. He then elected to attend the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville. It was while he was at U-F that Dr. Fakhre’s surgical talent, aesthetic eye and love for plastic surgery were realized. Dr. Fakhre then completed a general surgery residency at the world-renowned Mayo Clinic, where he scored in the 98th percentile in the American Board of Surgery in Training Exam, the highest among all of the residents in his program. He was involved with numerous publications and research projects, which have been presented at a number of scientific meetings, including the distinguished American Society of Plastic Surgeons. During his surgical training, Dr. Fakhre was awarded the Excellence in Teaching Award by the Mayo Clinic Medical School and served as Chief Resident in Surgery in his final year of surgical training. Dr. Fakhre was then privileged to match at his first choice of Plastic Surgery fellowship programs at the prestigious Methodist Hospital, where he again excelled, scoring the highest in-service exam score among all plastic surgery residents in his program and serving as Chief Resident during his final year of plastic surgery training. “I had the wonderful opportunity to train with members of the original group of plastic surgeons that invented the breast implant, as well as facial and body plastic surgeons whose surgeries have been featured on The Discovery

See her inspiring story on our website that aired on ABC’s Morning Blend

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Channel,” Dr. Fakhre says. “Working in such an environment provided great exposure to a large volume of both primary and revision cosmetic surgery cases. This experience was priceless and I’m happy to bring this type of training to the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area.” This training and his own expertise helped Dr. Fakhre earn the highest score possible, in the 99th percentile among Plastic Surgeons in plastic surgery of the breast, on the American Board of Plastic Surgery written examination. In addition to refining his surgical skill and technique during his plastic surgery training, Dr. Fakhre also volunteered his time with Operation San José and traveled to Guatemala on a cleft lip and palate surgical mission. There, he helped deliver surgical care to many cleft lip and palate patients who otherwise may never have received the treatment they needed. Dr. Fakhre says that he was happy to return to the Tampa Bay area after his training and currently lives in Seven Oaks with his wife of 15 years and three sons, who keep them busy and entertained.

So Many Surgical Options

So many of us have things we would like to change about our bodies. Time, age and weight changes all take a toll on the body and these factors can affect your appearance and self-image. Dr. Fakhre says that cosmetic plastic surgery is a way to help you look and feel better. “When we are happy with our appearance, we feel more confident,” he says. New Tampa Plastic Surgery offers a plethora of cosmetic surgery procedures for women and men, including breast enhancement (augmentations, lifts and reductions), tummy tucks, face and neck lifts, eyelid surgery, liposuction and more. Known for his technical skill, eye for beauty and superior aesthetic practice, Dr. Fakhre will work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan to achieve your desired outcome and to make the “new you” a reality. “Cosmetic plastic surgery allows the surgeon to combine artistry with sound surgical techniques to produce superior results,” says Dr. Fakhre. Breasts, for instance, are often at the core of a woman’s femininity and self-confidence. Dr. Fakhre explains that breast surgery is one of the most personal decisions a woman can make. “Breast augmentation surgery can increase your self-confidence and satisfaction with your body,” says Dr. Fakhre. “By increasing or restoring breast volume, we can help our patients achieve a better-proportioned body.” Dr. Fakhre’s breast augmentation patients are first educated about implant size and types, so they can make informed decisions about which would best satisfy their personal goals. He says that the two main implant types available are still silicone and saline and that the implant selected depends upon a variety of factors. Currently, the most common implants that Dr. Fakhre uses are silicone implants, which he says look and feel more natural than their saline counterparts. Breast lift surgery removes excess tissue and repositions the breast and/or nipple to a more youthful position. This procedure is often chosen by women desiring to restore form to their breasts or reclaim their “before-baby” appearance. And, although breasts are intertwined with the feminine profile, women are not the only ones who have breast surgery. In fact, Dr. Fakhre says that he has helped many men feel better about their appearance with reduction surgery for men with female-looking breasts (also known as gynecomastia).

Liposuction, ‘Mommy Neighborhood News

Makeovers’ & More

Another popular cosmetic surgical procedure at New Tampa Plastic Surgery is liposuction, which can improve the body’s contour by removing fat deposits that are resistant to diet and exercise. Liposuction restores proportionality and minimizes problem areas. Dr. Fakhre says that if you find yourself shopping for clothes to hold your tummy in or help slim your thighs, liposuction may be your answer. He adds that liposuction offers significant results with minimal downtime. “In fact, many (liposuction) patients recover over a weekend and return to work on Monday,” he says. A full “Mommy Makeover” also is a popular procedure sought by women who want to get back to the body they had before they had children. Dr. Fakhre says that the most common “Mommy Makeover” combines a breast lift (with or without breast augmentation for reshaping), a tummy tuck to tighten the midsection that was stretched during pregnancy and liposuction to remove unwanted fat deposits. Dr. Fakhre, who also has surgical privileges at Florida Hospital Tampa and Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, says that he performs most of his surgeries at Tampa Bay Surgery Center, located at the corner of Dale Mabry and Fletcher Avenue, although he adds that he does perform minor procedures in his office as well. Wherever he performs his artistry, however, his satisfied patients are a testament to his experience and training. “From the moment I walked through the door in his office I was always greeted on a first-name basis, which made me feel like I wasn’t just another patient to get in and out,” Christina Vargas wrote in her patient testimonial about her experience with New Tampa Plastic Surgery. “The whole process — from scheduling my appointments to the day of the procedure, even my recovery — went so smoothly. I highly recommend Dr. Fakhre. I give him 10 stars!”

Non-Surgical Options, Too

New Tampa Plastic Surgery also is a true cosmetic boutique, offering skin care and other non-surgical cosmetic procedures, in addition to plastic surgery. Many of these non-surgical procedures — such as Botox and dermal fillers, Latisse eyelash lengthening and thickening and chemical peels that rejuvenate and energize the skin to beautify your natural state and more — often provide the results a patient is looking for, and are less “invasive” than surgical options. Board-certified nurse practitioner Christina Ahrens (in photo on previous page, with Dr. Fakhre) has more than 12 years of experience in dermatology and plastic surgery and performs all of the non-surgical procedures at New Tampa Plastic Surgery. “We are fortunate to have Christina as part of our team,” says Dr. Fakhre. “She does an outstanding job in the treatment of our patients.” For your free cosmetic surgery consultation with Dr. Peter Fakhre, call New Tampa Plastic Surgery at (813) PLASTIC (752-7842). The office is located at 2541 Windguard Cir. For a full menu of services, visit NewTampaPlasticSurgery.com. And, be sure to check out the ad on page 13 of this issue and ‘Like’ New Tampa Plastic Surgery’s Facebook.com page so that you can be notified of the office’s monthly promotions on various services. @NTWCNews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 22 • October 19, 2018 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Excel Music In New Tampa Helps Local Students Hone Their Musical Skills By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN

Since 2006, Excel Music in the Cory Lake Isles Professional Center on Cross Creek Blvd. in New Tampa has been teaching students of all ages to sing and play a wide variety of instruments, with some of the area’s top teachers. Now that your kids have settled into their school routines, this may just be the perfect time to bring them to Excel Music to try new musical endeavors. John and Sheri Thrasher are the husbandand-wife team who own the school. “We’ve helped thousands of students of all ages reach their musical goals while enjoying the journey,” says John. “We like to say Excel is both the place you start and the place you stay.” Excel Music has 20 teachers on staff and all are either university trained (many with Master of Music degrees) or they have at least 10 years of study and performing experience. The faculty teaches voice and nearly every traditional musical instrument, including piano, guitar, drums, violin and so many more. “There’s a lot of excellent science out there that shows the benefit of a broad education that includes the arts and music,” John says, adding that Excel provides a variety of opportunities for people of all ages to experience and connect with music.

Beyond Just Lessons

Excel Music offers the New Tampa Choir, a singing group for kids ages 5-12, and no experience is necessary to participate. “It’s a learning experience, and it’s

fun,” John says. “We want to give students a venue to sing songs they know, and some they don’t. In addition to traditional choir music, we do Broadway songs, Disney songs and more. We are always looking for more opportunities for this group to perform.” Excel’s choir is for those who aren’t interested in solo performance, although the choir will offer opportunities for small group instruction. John explains, “This is not a huge choir where no one Owners John & Sheri Thrasher of Excel Music, located in the Cory Lake Isles even knows each Professional Center on Cross Creek Blvd. in New Tampa. other’s name.” He adds that the choir age, skill level and instrumentation.” provides a way for local kids to meet new peoExcel Music offers a preschool music class ple and get involved in the music school. for ages 18 months to four years, enjoyed by The school also has again started up its both kids and parents. The class lasts 45 minExcel Rock Band for the fall, but students can utes, once a week, for 10-12 weeks. apply to participate at any time. “It’s a great way to engage with both “We’ve done a rock band a couple of the parent and the child,” John explains. “The times over the years, and its success depends smiles on the faces of the parents are often as upon the right mix of students,” John exbig as the ones on their children.” plains. “We make sure to group students by John adds that the classes help parents

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learn ways to engage musically with their preschoolers at home. “This is a participatory class in which we teach parents how to bring music into their kids’ lives,” he says, “especially if they’re not musicians.” The school’s students have the opportunity to take part in recitals twice a year, but John says these performances are always optional and low-pressure. “Recitals are part of what we do,” John says. “But, we aren’t a performance-driven studio.”

Adult Training, Too

While many of Excel Music’s students are kids, the opportunity to learn to sing or play an instrument is certainly not limited. “A lot of adults come in for lessons, too,” says John. “We get retired people who say they’ve wanted to play their whole lives, and now they’re finally going to do it.” He says one of his favorite stories was about teaching an 86-year-old man how to play the trumpet. Pete Laches is quite a bit younger than that, but he also is one of the school’s adult students. Pete says he has been taking guitar lessons at Excel since his daughters were in middle school and that one of them is now in college and one just graduated from college. “They started taking lessons right after we moved here, so they were in third or fourth grade,” he explains. “Rachel played the cello and piano, and Elizabeth played viola and guitar.” He says that while his daughters no longer play their instruments, the investment he made in their lessons was well worth it. “It’s a well-run place,” Pete says. “The

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come through our school can experience what we’ve experienced?’” They landed in New Tampa, where they had relatives, and have been building their school ever since. With twelve years now under their belts, some of John and Sheri’s long-term students are now growing up and moving on. “We’re seeing many students who have come through our school go on to college, and some are majoring in music,” John says. “This dream we had is starting to come true.” John explains, however, that he and Sheri recognize that the vast majority of their students will not go on to have professional music careers. About The Owners “Our teachers are good enough for that John explains that he and Sheri origitype of student, but most of our students will nally opened Excel Music with the dream of go on to have another career such as a doctor providing the opportunity for young people to be trained for the kinds of careers and lives they or lawyer or something else,” he explains. “We hope that when they go to a concert or once experienced themselves. experience music, they will appreciate it on a “We both had long careers in music, and different level, because they truly understand were professional musicians who were able to the challenge of playing music, and the dedicamake a living performing,” John says, adding tion and skill of the performers presenting the that he was the drummer for country singer music to them.” Mickey Gilley for many years, giving him the For the past four years, Excel Music has opportunity to perform on TV, at the White been a business partner at Hunter’s Green, House and for people all over the world. Clark, and Pride elementary schools in New In the 1990s, John and Sheri had success Tampa. Students who attend those schools can together with a band of their own in Japan enroll at Excel Music with no registration fee, called Tz, where he says they sold tens of which is a value of up to $45. thousands of CDs. They also found themselves Excel Music is located at 10353 Cross immersed in a culture that revered teachers, Creek Blvd., Suite I. It is open Mondaywhich led them to start thinking about passing Thursday, 2 p.m.-9 p.m., 2 p.m.-7 p.m. on on the knowledge and experience they had NOW ENROLLING Friday, and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday. gained to the next generation. It is closed on Sunday. See the ad on page “We met tremendous people, saw great 34 of this issue or call (813) 991-1177 for places, and made a living,” John says. “We started thinking, ‘What if some of the kids who more information or to schedule lessons. instructors are good, and it seems to be a pretty stable staff. I like that they can teach every instrument, so your kid never feels stuck if they try something and hate it.” Pete adds that, as an Arbor Greene resident, the location can’t be beat. It’s “right around the corner” — a huge convenience when his girls were taking lessons, and now for him. “I’m trapped in an office 40 hours a week, so playing guitar is an outlet for me,” Pete says. “It was a bucket list item and it’s a mental challenge, using a part of my brain that I usually don’t.”

Dealing with routine legal issues, such as creating a will or selling a home, is part of daily life and the attorneys of North Tampa Law Group, located in the Cypress Glen Professional Park, off Cypress Ridge Blvd., about a mile east of the S.R. 56 exit of I-75 (behind MINI of Wesley Chapel), are ready to help clients seeking legal assistance. The firm was established in 2014, and attorney Brian Arrighi boasts more than a decade or more of legal experience in areas that routinely affect families, such as real estate transactions, estate planning, probate proceedings and bankruptc. Arrighi says, however, that the North Tampa Law Group does not handle criminal or personal injury cases. Arrighi earned his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Stetson University College of Law in St. Petersburg, after earning an undergraduate degree from the University of Florida in Gainesville. He is licensed to practice in the courts of the State of Florida and the U.S. District Court, Southern and Middle Districts of Florida. With the active real estate market in the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel area, there are lots of deals being made, including a lot of “For Sale By Owner” transactions. Arrighi says that having an attorney involved can be a worthwhile expense. Estate planning is also a legal area where it can be beneficial to pay attention to the different options so that assets can be managed and distributed according to the client’s wishes — all with minimal cost.

A will is the basic document many people use to direct the distribution of their assets, but it involves a sometimes lengthy and expensive court process known as “probate.” North Tampa Law Group handles probate cases and Arrighi says it’s a good idea to consider all of the options available to minimize court involvement. “We’re really an all-inclusive kind of place for your typical family in the Wesley Chapel area,” Arrighi says. “There’s really a lot we can help you with. A lot of our clients are very relieved to find out it was not as expensive a process as they thought and it wasn’t as difficult as they thought.” The North Tampa Law Group is located at 26852 Tanic Dr., Suite 102. For more information, visit NorthTampaLawGroup.com, see the ad on pg. 32 or make an appointment for a free initial consultation at (813) 518-7411.

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CONGRATS TO WESLEY CHAPEL’S

TEACHERS OF THE YEAR!

The Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News congratulates this year’s Pasco County Teacher of the Year and School-Related Personnel of the Year nominees at Wesley Chapel’s 14 elementary, middle and high schools. The District-wide winners will be announced in January 2019.

(1) DOUBLE BRANCH ELEMENTARY TEACHER OF THE YEAR: James Collins SCHOOL-RELATED PERSONNEL OF THE YEAR: Denise Sherwood (2) SEVEN OAKS ELEMENTARY TEACHER OF THE YEAR: Juli Garcia SCHOOL-RELATED PERSONNEL: Michele Rizzo (3) WESLEY CHAPEL HIGH TEACHER OF THE YEAR: Meagan Cipolla SCHOOL-RELATED PERSONNEL: Delroy Lewis (4) QUAIL HOLLOW ELEMENTARY TEACHER OF THE YEAR: Karen Holbrook SCHOOL-RELATED PERSONNEL: Christine Woods (5) CYPRESS CREEK MIDDLE/HIGH TEACHER OF THE YEAR: Margaret Peacock SCHOOL-RELATED PERSONNEL: Dorian Ray (6) WESLEY CHAPEL ELEMENTARY TEACHER OF THE YEAR: Julie Hoffman SCHOOL-RELATED PERSONNEL: Sharon Thomas (7) WIREGRASS RANCH HIGH TEACHER OF THE YEAR: Jessica Diepholz SCHOOL-RELATED PERSONNEL: Tammy Hoover (8) JOHN LONG MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER OF THE YEAR: Erik Carlson SCHOOL-RELATED PERSONNEL: Margie Villafane (9) NEW RIVER ELEMENTARY TEACHER OF THE YEAR: Melissa Moline SCHOOL-RELATED PERSONNEL: Carrie Humphries (10) VETERANS ELEMENTARY TEACHER OF THE YEAR: Corie Coleman SCHOOL-RELATED PERSONNEL: Robert Cox (11) WEIGHTMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER OF THE YEAR: Donald Scott SCHOOL-RELATED PERSONNEL: Kathy Falco (12) SAND PINE ELEMENTARY TEACHER OF THE YEAR: Jeannette Mandell SCHOOL-RELATED PERSONNEL: Jeannine Lehmann (13) WIREGRASS RANCH ELEMENTARY TEACHER OF THE YEAR: Chandra Henry SCHOOL-RELATED PERSONNEL: Stephanie Steinmetz (14) WATERGRASS ELEMENTARY TEACHER OF THE YEAR: Lauren Turner SCHOOL-RELATED PERSONNEL: Rose Cozzolino-Smith

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Your Neighborhood Physician is Right Around the Corner.

When you need a physician, it’s good to know they are nearby. Our network of primary care physicians is growing to meet the needs of our community, and chances are there is one right around the corner from you. From minor coughs and colds, to major chronic disease treatment and preventative care, our physicians offer comprehensive, compassionate care when you need it most and are now accepting new patients.

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10/5/18 7:37 AM

School Notes: A Homecoming For The New Wesley Chapel High Principal to her that she was chosen to bring [Pasco Middle] back up to where it needs to be,” Choinski says. “She’s going to turn that school around.” Choinski acknowledges that there’s disappointment in losing Johnson, and in having yet another new principal. But, she says there is just as much excitement about McDermott. “His reputation is really good,” she says. “Some parents and teachers I talked to said they were hoping he would be selected, that he would be the perfect fit for Chapel.” At our press time, McDermott had been recommended as principal by Pasco School Superintendent Kurt Browning and was expected to be approved by the School Board on October 16, with a start date of October 17. “It’s a win-win for everybody,” Choinski adds. “Hopefully, everything will stay solid for a while.”

By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN

Matt McDermott is the new principal at Wesley Chapel High (WCH), replacing Dee Dee Johnson. Johnson was selected to take over as principal at Pasco Middle School, where former principal Jeff Wolff was removed in September amid concerns about low teacher morale at the middle school in Dade City. “I’m super excited,” McDermott says. “I’ve lived in the community since about 2000, and I was briefly an assistant principal there from 2009-2010, before I opened Fivay High (in Hudson).” Some of the young Wildcats approve. “The kids who live in my neighborhood have been by to say congratulations and tell me they’re excited to have me as their principal,” McDermott says. McDermott has worked for Pasco County Schools since 1996 and has been a teacher, coach, athletic director and school administrator. He started as an AP environmental science and biology honors teacher and football and wrestling coach, and became the athletic director at Sunlake High in 2007 before a brief stay as assistant principal at WCH in 2009. He helped open Fivay in 2010, and returned to Zephyrhills as an assistant principal in 2015. This is McDermott’s first appointment as a principal. “You always think you’re ready to be a principal,” McDermott says. “I have good mentors and people I can reach out to if I

FREE

REGISTRATION

Good As Gold

New Wesley Chapel High principal Matt McDermott. (Photo: @WCHS_Wildcats) need something. I’ve been in the principal pool for a while and prefer the southeast part of the county because that’s where I live. This is one of my dream jobs and I’m excited to be given the opportunity.” Judy Choinski is a parent of two students at WCH, and a member of its School Advisory Committee (SAC). She says she’s happy for Johnson, the school’s nowformer principal. “It’s a huge compliment

At a Pasco County School Board meeting on Oct. 2, Browning and members of the Board were presented with the Florida Healthy School District Gold Flag by Florida Action for Healthy Kids. The county received the Gold Flag “for establishing a culture and climate in which students and staff can reach their personal potential and for continuing to serve as a leader in the state in reducing and eliminating the barriers to learning, resulting in increased academic achievement.” Pasco County Schools earned the Silver

award in 2016, but this year is its first-ever gold. The district will hold the Gold award designation through 2020. To earn the Gold designation, the district demonstrated high scores in areas like creating a healthy school environment, contributing to employee wellness and excellence in counseling, psychological and social services and health education. The Florida Partnership for Healthy Schools is a grassroots partnership that advocates for school health issues and recognizes excellence among Florida school districts.

PTAs Honored Nationally

Double Branch Elementary and John Long Middle School have both earned recognition as a National PTA (Parent Teacher Association) “School of Excellence,” with a designation that lasts from 2018-20. The National PTA School of Excellence recognition program “supports and celebrates partnerships between PTAs and schools to enrich the educational experience and overall well-being for all students,” according to the National PTA website. Schools apply to be recognized, then complete a series of steps designed to improve relationships between schools and families, which are individual to each school. If they meet their goal, they earn the designation. In addition, the county-wide Pasco County Council of PTAs (PCCPTA) was recognized for having the highest increase of membership in Florida for the 2017-

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Drs. Lockey, Fox, Ledford, Glaum, Cho & Pepper DOCTORS LOCKEY, FOX, LEDFORD, GLAUM, CHO, PEPPER

(l.-r.) Superintendent Kurt Browning, Pasco County Council of PTAs (PCCPTA) 1st VP Mahalia Surin, PCCPTA President Denise Nicholas, PCCPTA Secretary Andria Roscart and Pasco School Board Chair Cynthia Armstrong. 18 school year. PCCPTA representatives Mahalia Surin, Denise Nicholas and Andria Roscart presented the trophy they received to Pasco School Board chair Cynthia Armstrong and Superintendent of Schools Kurt Browning (photo above).

Teachers Wanted

Want to work as a teacher in Wesley Chapel? Pasco County Schools will host a fall instructional job fair on Wednesday, November 14, 4 p.m.-6 p.m., at Sunlake High in Land O’Lakes. The district is looking for teachers in math, science, emotional and behavioral disorders/autism spectrum disorders

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(EBD/ASD), exceptional student education (ESE) and elementary education. They also have openings for guest teachers, behavioral analysts and school nurses. All education interns, teachers, student services employees, and those who have a Bachelor’s degree and are interested in becoming certified educators are invited to attend. Applicants can meet with administrators and hiring managers for on-the-spot interviews and job offers. Anyone interested in attending should register at https://pascofalljobfair2018.eventbrite.com, visit http:// www.pasco.k12.fl.us/hreq/ or contact work@pasco.k12.fl.us.

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TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 22 • October 19, 2018 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Pattern Recognition Propels WRH Linebacker Dylan Ridolph To Elite Status By ANDY WARRENER

Wiregrass Ranch High (WRH) junior linebacker Dylan Ridolph is a physical force, a hard-hitting 6-foot, 200-pound missile in the center of the Bulls’ defense. However, it is Ridolph’s mental approach that makes him one of the Tampa Bay area’s top linebackers. A self-professed bookwork and history buff who is flirting with a 4.0 gradepoint average, Ridolph often spends his free time watching history videos on YouTube, because, “it’s fun to see how in history, things connect. One event has a ripple effect that causes something else.” In football, sometimes those events, like a missed block or blown assignment, have a ripple effect like, well, in Ridolph’s case, a sack. Through six games, Ridolph is second in Florida’s Class 7A with 14 sacks, according to MaxPreps. That’s just one behind the Class 7A leader, Winter Garden Foundation Academy’s Warren Sapp — yes, the son of the other Warren Sapp, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Pro Football Hall of Famer. What jumps out even more than the number of sacks Ridolph has is the impact they have had on WRH’s opponents. His 14 sacks have resulted in 142 yards of lost yardage, more than 10 yards per sack. By comparison, Sapp averages 6.5 yards lost per sack. Pair Ridolph’s 14 sacks with his 22 tackles for loss, and you have a drivekiller specialist. “Tackles for loss and sacks are great but they depend on the yardage lost — is it a one-yard or a nine-yard loss?,” says WRH head coach Mark Kantor. “There’s a big difference between 3rdand-3 and 3rd-and-12. It’s also frustrating (for an offense) when you get a negative play on 1st-and-10. It puts you behind the sticks.” Ridolph, who had 15 sacks last season and has received college letters from Harvard, Yale and the University of Cincinnati, credits much of his success to his pre-game habits. He says that as much as he loves studying history, he loves breaking down game film. “I’ll call out where the play is going

Wiregrass Ranch linebacker Dylan Ridolph tracks down Wesley Chapel’s Jelani Vassell during the Bulls’ 43-14 victory back on Aug. 28. Ridolph had four sacks in the game. (Photo: Andy Warrener)

and who I would be going against on that play and I might watch that same play over and over again to see where the tackle is going, see how the blocker will set himself,” Ridolph says. “It gives me an easier time to predict them and make my read (in the game) from there.” Ridolph puts his homework to the test in games, and his analysis continues in live game action. “In the beginning, I won’t give them a full-force rush, I’ll wait for them to make their move on me,” Ridolph said. “Before long, I’ll know what they are going to do before they get to me.” Ridolph says he gauges if the offensive tackle he’s going against is a passive or an active blocker. It dictates which type of rush he’ll put on them. He’ll watch their stance. Do they lean a certain way? Are they in a balanced position? Ridolph will even look at the way their feet are pointed as an indication of how the tackle will try to block him or tip off which way the play is going. “By the lineman’s first two steps, I usually know where the play is going to go,” Ridolph says. This acumen for the game and attention to detail also makes it difficult for the Bulls’ offense to run plays against

Ridolph in practice. The fact that Ridolph knows no other speed but full-throttle makes it even more difficult. “Dylan goes 100 miles per hour, no matter what the situation,” Kantor says. “There are times in practice when we’re trying to get a look on offense, that we have to ask him to turn it down.” It’s a good problem to have. “If I had 39 guys that go like that every day, we’d be a pretty darn good

football team, even better than we are now,” Kantor said. “He makes the other guys a lot better.” Ridolph’s highlight reel shows a linebacker intent on getting to the ball carrier. He lines up in a three-point stance and gets around the right tackle for one sack. He lines up on the other side and bowls over the left tackle for another. Ridolph stands poised on either edge and is on the quarterback before he can even set his feet in the pocket, and when he does escape, Ridolph has the speed to catch him from behind. And, his ability to fend off blockers to be a force along the line of scrimmage and stymie the opposing running game is another attribute that likely makes offensive coordinators go batty. “I don’t just go upfield on every play, I try to do what’s best for the team and not just myself,” Ridolph said. “Getting sacks is great but I’ll take a win over sacks.” WRH was 4-2 this season (and 2-1 in Class 7A, District 8) heading into last week’s game, which took place after we went to press, against Freedom High. The Bulls are bidding for their thirdstraight playoff appearance, which will come down to a key District 7A-8 clash with first-place Plant on Oct. 26. Ridolph hopes the Bulls can keep moving forward, and plans on his doing his part by knocking the competition backwards.

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Former Wiregrass Ranch High girls basketball standout Stephanie Brower, a 2017 walk-on at the University of Florida, reacts with her teammates to being told by the Gators women’s basketball coach Cam Newbauer that she had earned a scholarship for this season. (Photo: Screen grab, UF video)

Former Wiregrass Ranch Hoopster Stephanie Brower Surprised To Earn U-F Scholarship By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com

Former Wiregrass Ranch High (WRH) girls basketball player Stephanie Brower was never one of the most recruited players in Pasco County. But, she was always one of the hardest working and, after one season as a walk-on at the University of Florida, it is probably no surprise that, well, she no longer is a walk-on. On Oct. 8, Brower received the surprise of a lifetime when, surrounded by her teammates, she was told by Gators head coach Cam Newbauer that she had officially earned a scholarship. Brower could only cover her mouth in shock as her face slowly turned red with tears. Her teammates mobbed her in celebration. The Gators team had gathered at the Delta Zeta house, which is Brower’s sorority, under the guise of promoting the team and drumming up attendance by inviting the sorority sisters to come to games this season. After Newbauer made his pitch to support his team, Brower took the floor to loud cheers. Newbauer then interrupted. “Come on now, how loud do you cheer for a Delta Zeta?,” he asked a gathering of about 50 sisters, which then erupted into even louder cheering. After they stopped, Newbauer continued: “How loud would you cheer for a Delta Zeta...that earned a scholarship?” Brower covered her heart with her hands -- “Oh my God, are you serious?” --

and then covered her face as her teammates jumped into the celebration. It was the second time this summer that Newbauer surprised one of the Gators with a scholarship. Brower joined Corey Staples, who was surprised with a scholarship after a carefully orchestrated scavenger hunt. “It’s been really cool for me to see Steph’s growth and development,” Newbauer says. “When I was coaching at Belmont (University) she actually came out to our elite camp and was really interested, but at the time we didn’t have any scholarships available or room on our roster. Then when I got here to Florida, she reached out about a walk-on opportunity. I was really excited to hear from hear because I remembered how hard she played. She will do anything to add value to the team.” Brower, a 2017 WRH grad, averaged 15.1 points and 10.5 rebounds as a 5-foot11 guard. She led the Bulls to the school’s first district title in 2016, surpassing the 1,000-point career mark with a 15-point, 16-rebound performance in a 59-47 district championship win over Freedom. Brower finished her Wiregrass Ranch career with 1,493 points. 1,059 rebounds and 514 assists. She walked on at Florida on Dec. 12, 2017, appearing in six of 30 games during the 2017-18 season, including four Southeastern Conference games. She played 24 of her 45 minutes against No. 15 Tennessee in February, scoring 2 points with three assists, two rebounds and a steal.

World Day

Thursday, October 25 11:30 am – 1:00 pm Grab a glass of wine and take a tour through our beautiful community. Take home a gourmet package of pasta, sauce, and a bottle of wine. Place a deposit on a selected suite and receive your first month’s rent complimentary!* Reserve your spot today and call us at

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 22 • October 19, 2018 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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Former New Tampa Resident Helping Veterans & Kids With Hippotherapy By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN At 11 years old, Sarah Clanton is finally learning to walk, thanks to the help of the special horses and people at Emerald M Therapeutic Riding Center in Brooksville. Sarah was adopted from an orphanage in the Ukraine when she was five. At just 19 pounds, she had been kept in a bed all her life. Her mom, Yvonne, says she could barely sit up. Yvonne and her husband, Jon, began helping Sarah in all the ways they could, including physical therapy, to help her learn to walk. While Sarah has special needs, including blindness and other conditions, doctors could find no reason physically why she wouldn’t be able to walk. “There’s no muscular or neurological reason she can’t walk,” Yvonne says. “It’s just that she’s missing all those milestones and all those years of development, and her brain just doesn’t have the ability to put it together.” Earlier this year, Yvonne decided to take a chance on something different. It’s called hippotherapy, and it uses the movements of a horse to help people like Sarah. Yvonne had heard about a place called Emerald M Therapeutic Riding Center, so she decided to try it out. “I did this just for the heck of it,” says Yvonne. “I didn’t really expect it to work.” But, it has. “It’s amazing,” says Yvonne. “We can walk with her now, just by holding one hand. Before, most of the time we just carried her — even around the house — because it was just easier.” Yvonne and Jon have four other children. Of their five kids, three have some sort of disability, and their son, Sam, also benefits from hippotherapy at Emerald M. Of all the therapies her kids have experienced, says Yvonne, “Nothing has ever been as dramatic as the change we’ve seen in Sarah.” Emerald M Therapeutic Riding Center was founded by Lisa Michelangelo, a former New Tampa resident who is a physical therapist. For about eight years, she managed the physical therapy department at the Fit 4 Life Personal Training & Physical Therapy studio in Tampa Palms. Lisa and her family always loved horses, so in 2013 – when her daughters were 13 and 10 – they moved out to Dade City,

Children and adults with a wide variety of special needs come to Emerald M Therapeutic Riding Center in Brooksville for hippotherapy, which uses the movements of a horse to help the body improve core strength and balance. where they could have a larger property and be able to live with their horses, rather than boarding them elsewhere. At that time, it occurred to Lisa that she had the opportunity to combine her love of horses with her professional career as a physical therapist. Lisa did extensive continuing education through the American Hippotherapy Association to be able to provide this unique therapy. “Through the use of a horse and movement, we target deficiencies and work on areas such as core strength, balance and walking,” explains Lisa. “The horse replicates human walking. I can put someone on the back of the horse, and they feel

like they’re walking on air. Once we can recreate the walking pattern on the horse, we can also recreate it on the ground.” In 2014, Lisa launched Emerald M Therapeutic Riding Center on her property in Dade City. “The name, Emerald M, comes from the emerald gem stone,” Lisa explains. “The emerald stands for hope, renewal and growth, and that’s what we provide to the people we serve. We provide hope and a renewed sense of self, and then they continue to grow.” She says the “M” is for her last name. Lisa explains that participants in her program have a wide variety of conditions that bring them to her. “We have kids and adults who come to us with autism, processing disorders, emotional disorders, cerebral palsy, paralysis and brain tumors,” she explains, “It’s a whole plethora of diagnoses.” She explains that sometimes a child or adult can complete hippotherapy, because they have successfully overcome the condition that caused them to need the therapy. At that point, they graduate to therapeutic riding, which is where they learn horsemanship skills and how to actually ride. In addition, Emerald M offers beginner riding lessons for siblings of program participants, too. “We know it affects the whole family,” Lisa says, speaking of the conditions that cause people to come to her riding center for therapy. “Often, the siblings of the children with special needs are watching their brother or sister ride, and they want to ride, too.”

Growth… And Tragedy

A couple of years ago, Emerald M became a nonprofit organization, with Lisa as its founder. “Since then, the program has exploded,” Lisa says, explaining that word of mouth and practitioner support continue to draw new people into the program. Soon, the programs Lisa offers outgrew the five-acre property she had in Dade City, so she moved the riding center to Brooksville. She says the new property is only 5 miles from the former one, and her participants coming from places such as Wesley Chapel and New Tampa don’t mind the drive.

See “Hippotherapy” on page 50.

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Neighborhood News

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 22 • October 19, 2018 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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Mercy Barragan 813-494-6797 Don’t miss out on this amazing Golf Course Views home w/ 3BR/2Bath PLUS a Bonus Room for under $250K! Flexible Dining Room also makes a great Office! Open Concept Kitchen, w/Breakfast Bar overlooks a light filled Great Room! Feel like you’re on vacation as you dine at the Plantation Palms’ very own Mulligan’s Pub, while Golfers will love the 18 Hole Championship Course & range (play rates apply). NO CDD, LOW HOA Fees! Minutes to the Outlets, Wiregrass Shops, Restaurants, Hospitals & I-75/275! $249,900

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Kim Hilliker 813-453-5657 2 Homes in 1. 3,781 Sq Ft, 6 Bed, 5 Bath, 4 Car, Pool/Spa on Pond. This home has a complete INLAW Suite with 1312 Sq Ft. 2 Bed, 2 Bath, 1 CarOversized. Contact Kim Hilliker - 813-453-5657 Get It Right Realty Group Khilliker@bhhsflpg.com | www.GetItRightRealtyGroup.com

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A Stunning Home in the Gated Community of Quail Woods! Spacious, with an Open Floor Plan, Lovely Neutral Color Scheme and Boasting 2,657 SF, 4 Bedrooms, 3 Baths and 3 Car Garage. Many Fantastic Features including Double Tray Ceilings, Coffered Ceilings, 18” Diagonal Tile, Den/Office, Formal Dining Room, Chef Inspired Kitchen w/Stainless Appliances, Granite Counters w/Stone Backsplash, Center Island and Large Breakfast Bar which flows to the Family Room w/Triple Sliders to the Lanai and Fenced Back Yard. Call for more information on this home before it’s gone!

Fabulous 2 story home on large and breezy pond. 4bd/2.5bth/2car 2000+sf, all bedrooms and laundry room conveniently on 2nd floor. Granite in kitchen, ceramic tile throughout entire 1st floor, separate garden tub and large shower in master bath. Close to I-75, full amenities. Offered at $195,000.

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Win $100, $50 Or $35 In FREE Dining In Our 2018 Dining Survey & Contest!

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For those who missed their chance to enter last issue, on the facing page is the entry form for our 2018 Reader Dining Survey & Contest, where you can win $35, $50 or our Grand Prize of a FREE $100 dining gift card to the restaurants of each winner’s choice, even if those restaurants aren’t located in our distribution areas. This time around, there is a lot less for you to have to fill out than in years past. All I’m asking for this year is for you to name your 10 Favorite Restaurants (of any kind) located in New Tampa (zip code 33647, although you can include restaurants located on or near Bruce B. Downs Blvd. between E. Bearss & E. Fletcher Aves.) and your 10 Favorite Restaurants in Wesley Chapel’s 33543, 33544 and 33545 zip codes (as well as 33559 in Lutz). In order to be eligible for any of our prizes (or for your votes to be counted), you MUST name 20 different restaurants and you also MUST use the name of each restaurant you choose only once for those 20 names. If you put, for example, Bahama Breeze or Bonefish Grill as your favorite in New Tampa, instead of Wesley Chapel, we’ll still count the vote, but if you put either one (or both) as one of your favorites in both markets, your entire entry will be disqualified. And, all 20 spaces in this section must be filled in to qualify for any prizes. Then, we only have ten additional categories for you to fill in, telling us your favorite specialty eateries (such as your favorite place for ice cream or frozen yogurt, for example) in either of our distribution areas, whether those places are located in (or near) New Tampa or Wesley Chapel. And please, put only one answer for each space in this section, too. And yes, I’m also well aware, from years of conducting these surveys, that many of you still don’t eat Chinese or Thai food (although you’re really missing out if you don’t, in my opinion) or go to bars, so I won’t require that you fill in all 10 additional categories, but you must fill in at least six of the ten in order for you to be eligible to win one of this year’s three prizes. And, here’s my annual note to those of you who only enter the contest to try to stuff the ballot box for your favorite restaurant — please don’t! You can only vote for your favorite place one time in one of the markets in the first 20 spaces and you also can’t just put that name in all ten (or in more than 2 or 3) of the remaining categories, or your entry will be DISQUALIFIED and NONE of your votes will count! Although you may only care if your favorite place wins every category (I’ve even had people vote for places that don’t serve alcohol as their favorite bar or tavern), this annual survey does help us tell local restaurant owners how well our readers know their places of business and I always have and always will disqualify those who try to beat the system. You can enter this contest using the entry form (right) by U.S. mail or by email, or you can visit NTNeighborhoodNews.com and enter online, but hurry! The deadline to enter the 2018 Neighborhood News Reader Dining Survey & Contest by email, online or by U.S. mail (it must be postmarked by) is Thursday, November 15! Good luck!— GN

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 22 • October 19, 2018 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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November 15

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 20 • September 21, 2018 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

MOD Pizza Opens On S.R. 56 — And It’s Delicious! Considering that it has a Facebook reach of more than 10,000 and more than 6,000 views, I know that some of you reading this have already seen our WCNT-tv segment preview of the Grand Opening of the new MOD Pizza on the south side of S.R. 56, next to Starbucks. Even so, MOD Pizza did open on Oct. 8 and held a Grand Opening celebration and ribbon cutting the next day — featuring Tampa Bay Bucs’ wide receiver Mike Evans and his wife Ashli, as all pizza sales that day (we don’t know the figure yet) were donated to the Mike Evans Family Foundation, whose mission it is to “support, empower. encourage and motivate today’s youth with an understanding that no goal is unattainable.” MOD serves individual, 11-inch artisan-style pizzas that are made on demand in minutes, using fresh-pressed dough and signature sauces. Customers create their own pizzas and salads, using any combination of over 30 featured toppings, or they can choose from a menu of MOD classics . And, no matter how many toppings you tack on, the regular-sized pizzas and salads all sell for a fixed price of $7.97. And, the staffers all make you feel as welcome as does store GM Lalani Rosado. For more info, see the ad on pg. 42 & please tell Lalani and her crew we sent you! — GN

(Left, l.-r.) MOD franchise owner Terry Frank of BBX Capital, Mike & Ashli Evans, VP of Operations for MOD Pizza Florida Brick Kerge, Lutz GM Lalani Rosado & North Tampa Bay Chamber Ambassador Valerie Rudmin.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 22 • October 19, 2018 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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W HERE L IFE H APPENS.

WaterGrass offers an easier, simpler way of living. Private neighborhoods that are nestled in nature, each featuring its own park, including playground equipment and half basketball courts. The WaterGrass Club boasts a state-of-the-art fitness center, social gathering rooms, Jr. Olympic pool and resort pool with splash zone, plus so much more. Visit our beautifully decorated model homes from the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finest builders. CalAtlantic Homes a Lennar Company, Taylor Morrison and Vitale Homes.

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Nibbles & Business Bytes The Latest & Greatest News In Dining, Shopping & Business In New Tampa & Wesley Chapel! Hilton Garden Inn Opens On 56!

Who else, other than the Neighborhood News, has been keeping you up-to-date on all of the new hotels coming to our area? A couple of issues ago, we showed you the opening of the Hyatt Place Hotel on the north side of S.R. (just west of I-75; see map on page 4), and WCNT-tv video producer/ photographer Gavin Olsen and I got a sneak preview a week or so before it opened on Oct. 5 of the new Hilton Garden Inn Tampa-Wesley Chapel, located on the south side of 56, just east of Texas Roadhouse and BB&T Bank. Director of sales Lisa Moore, who previously worked at another local hotel, led the tour of the new six-story Hilton Garden Inn, which is a full-service property with 128 beautifully appointed rooms (photo, right), the Garden Grille & Bar (far right), a spacious pool area, 24-hour business center, fitness center, an open-24-hours-a-day convenience shop and more than 3,6000 square feet of flexible meeting space, including a ballroom that Moore says can seat more than 200 guests. Moore also notes that she already has been swamped with reservations for events, even though the hotel has only been open about a week as we went to press with this issue. So, please give Lisa a call to arrange a tour at (813) 591-6900 and of course,please tell her that Gary at the Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News sent you!

The Hilton Garden Inn TampaWesley Chapel is located at 26640 Silver Maple Pkwy. in Wesley Chapel. For room reservations and more information, visit TampaWesleyChapelHGI.com.

PLEASE Call Rain & Shine To Clean Your Home Or Office!

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I’m a messy guy. I’m a clean person, I just seem to find a way to accumulate clutter in my car, my office and my home on an ongoing basis. I met Irene Joyner of Rain & Shine Residential Cleaning a little less than a year ago, when she first inquired about advertising in the Neighborhood News, and she has been cleaning the apartment my fiancée Jannah

McDonald and I share ever since. Why? Because Irene, quite honestly, is the best, most meticulous house cleaner I’ve ever invited into my home. She finds the little extras that most services miss (or ignore) — like wiping down baseboards and organizing pantries — she even cleaned our patio area and tells us when it’s time to change our air conditioning filter. And, Rain & Shine offers not only maid services, but also carpet cleaning, pressure washing, window cleaning, floor care and even painting and she and her crackerjack team can even handle commercial cleaning jobs. Irene is seeking new residential & commercial customers now, so please call (813) 451-3042 or visit RainandShineClean.com today and tell her I sent you!

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 22 • October 19, 2018 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

Goin’ Postal’s Grand Re-Opening!

It’s always great when folks who own businesses in our area also get involved in helping the community. Such is the case with the Grand ReOpening of the Goin’ Postal store (photo on next page) located at 2653 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Suite 108A, in the same plaza as The Hungry Greek & Dickey’s BBQ. Goin’ Postal Wesley Chapel owner Michele Schielka and her husband and marketing director Lee (who also owns Two Can Paint LLC, a house-painting company) hosted a North Tampa Bay Chamber ribbon cutting ceremony on Oct. 3, which was attended by at least 30 people and featured some great food

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provided by The Hungry Greek and the new Umu Japanese & Thai restaurant (which just opened in the former OTB Café location in the same plaza) and wine and beer provided by Cheryl Visalli of Time for Wine. But, the Schielkas also helped start the Bay Chapel Food Pantry — which offers anyone in need canned and dry foods every Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., at Christian Bros. Auto (at 20300 Trout Creek Dr., only a half mile or south of the Pasco County line), and also serve the community with their involvement with the Oasis Pregnancy Care

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Center, which provides free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds and counseling services for women who are pregnant, and has a satellite office in Wesley Chapel. At the Goin’ Postal ribbon cutting, Oasis executive director and found Peter Castellani praised the Schielkas for their service and wished them success at the re-opened Goin’ Postal. For more info about Goin’ Postal, call (813) 973-7781 or visit WesleyChapel@ goinpostal.com. For the Oasis Pregnancy Care Center, call (813) 618-5037 or visit OasisPregnancyCenter.org. — GN

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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.

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.

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.

FREELANCE OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS & WCNT-tv! Whether you want to write business stories for the Neighborhood News or you want to be involved in the production of the only Facebook and Youtube-based Webcast for New Tampa & Wesley Chapel, please forward your resume & one short writing clip to Ads@WCNT-tv.com. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

GREG’S PAPERHANGING. For all of your wallpapering needs. Licensed and insured, clean, quick and reasonable. Call 973-2767 for a free estimate.

Tutors Wanted! Part Time position with the AVID program at Benito Middle School pays $10/hr. Work during the school day on Tues/Thurs. Apply online at www.applitrack.com/sdhc/onlineapp/ (AVID tutor positions are listed under “support” vacancies) AND send email to patricia.brown@sdhc.k12.fl.us.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 22 • October 19, 2018 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 22 • October 19, 2018 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

‘Hippotherapy’

P.E.A.C.E. program, where he can tell his story to fellow veterans and share how equine therapy has helped him. “They are very small, very personal groups, and we are there connecting with the veterans one-on-one,” Franco says. Whether it’s working with veterans or kids with special needs, Lisa says she has been a part of incredible changes at Emerald M. “Miracles happen out here,” Lisa says. “A lot of times, it’s unexplainable. It truly is the horses. I facilitate it, but the animals do have a sense that we can’t explain. The changes that we see out here are monumental for both families and individuals.” For more info about Emerald M Riding Center, to donate to its GoFundMe campaign, or to purchase tickets to its Grand Opening Fundraiser on Saturday, October 20,5:30 p.m.-10 p.m., visit EmeraldMTherapeuticRidingCenter.org.

Continued from page 39 Sarah’s mom, Yvonne, who drives from Zephyrhills, says the hour-long drive is absolutely worth it, for the amazing results they’ve seen. “We had to make that move to accommodate the program’s growth,” says Lisa. “The new property is much more suited for the kind of work that we do.” In the midst of moving, the staff and volunteers at Emerald M experienced a tragedy. When a storm blew through the area, three of the riding center’s horses were killed by a lightning strike. “It was tragic,” said Lisa, who adds that says she has had support from the organization’s Board of Directors and volunteers, and throughout the community, as supporters set up a GoFundMe page to raise money to help with the cost of new horses. “They will never be replaced,” says Lisa. “However, we have come through and have brought in some new furry friends. The new horses help to carry the load.” To celebrate the opening of the new location and to continue to raise funds for the organization’s mission, Emerald M is hosting a grand opening fundraising dinner on Saturday, October 20, from 5:30 p.m.-10 p.m.

Helping Veterans, Too

About a year ago, Lisa began partnering with an organization called Veterans Alternative to help U.S. Military combat veterans and their spouses. Veterans Alternative helps vets from all over the country, all branches of the military, and all eras of war, by providing a week-long retreat to work through PTSD and other issues. Lisa facilitates the part of the program called P.E.A.C.E., or “Powerful Equine Assisted Counseling Experience.” She says she works alongside mental health providers who join these combat veterans and their spouses for a day of therapy with the horses at Emerald M. Each horse has a story — what jobs they’ve done, or what hurdles they’ve faced — which are relayed by the mental health counselors. And in turn, the veterans relate their own personal stories to the stories of the horses they are working with. Lisa says they begin to talk about things that might be challenging to them. “It’s incredible,” she says. Over the past year, 135 combat veterans have completed the program. “We even have combat veterans who have found so much reward in this program, that now they’re out here volunteering, giving back by helping their brothers and sisters in the military,” says Lisa. One such veteran is Franco Caro, a

Despite many years of traditional physical therapy, 11-year-old Sarah Clanton is finally now learning to walk, thanks to the hippotherapy she receives at the Emerald M Riding Center, with owner and physical therapist Lisa Michelangelo (right). former U.S. Marine who served from 200105, and who deployed to Iraq in 2003. After leaving the military, he struggled with finding a sense of purpose. “I tried to take my life nine times between 2005 and 2010,” he says. “To go from working nonstop in the military to being told you can’t do that anymore, you feel lost.” Working with mental health providers and taking medications didn’t keep him from attempting suicide. But, Franco’s last suicide attempt was in Pediatric Dentistry of New Tampa ROCKS with innovative 2010, before he found something to give him techniques and technology! the sense of accomplishment he was looking for. Franco says he first encountered horses New Laser Dentistry! Fixing cavities without numbing for the majority of patients! and the idea of therapy through riding and carLingual or maxillary frenectomies assistance and corrected with laser. New ing for them at a place called Rocking Horse ITERO, intraoral scanner, digital impressions, no goop for orthodontic appliances. Farm in New Port Richey. Just this summer, Clear braces and clear aligners to straighten teeth. he was introduced to Emerald M Therapeutic Riding Center, and he now volunteers there Services Provided in our office : two or three times a week. “I don’t realize how far I’ve come until I • Digital X-rays (Low dose) start thinking back,” Franco says. “When I go • Mercury Free Restoration there, instead of overanalyzing myself, it allows • Nitrous Oxide, conscious sedation, my brain an escape to focus on something else.” He explains that his role is to be sure • Limited & Comprehensive Orthodontics the horse he cares for, named Anna, is ready • Myofunctional Orthodontics to work with the hippotherapy participants. straightening teeth without braces He grooms Anna, rides her to make sure she’s • Custom Athletic Mouthguards properly exercised, gets her tacked up, and makes sure she’s comfortable. “I look over my horse from nose to tail, make sure she’s walking correctly, standing correctly, doesn’t have any wounds or discomSe habla fort,” Franco says. “She can’t tell me, so I form Español a strong bond with her. It puts me at ease, too, and Lisa’s getting a volunteer who knows horsemanship and what to do.” Those volunteers, Lisa says, are essential. “I couldn’t do it without them,” she says. Franco also volunteers with the

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 10 • May 4, 2018 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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BROKERS WELCOME Broker must accompany client during client’s initial visit to this community. Both the client and Broker must execute the Developer’s Registration Form on the initial visit. Broker must also execute the Developer’s Broker Participation Agreement.Prices subject to change. Please see a Sales Associate for details. The Ridge at Wiregrass is being developed and sold by Pasco County Associates II, LLLP. ©2018 9600-012 10-11-18

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